#does two plus two equal six or

[the-io-collective]

not pro endos interacting with a research post on CDDs 💀💀 throw the whole post out. we do not want data from u. - ♠️

[thydungeongal]

I'm really interested in the mechanics of tabletops, which makes me want to know about the mechanics of disco elysium, but instead of a detailed mechanical analysis I can only (understandably!) find narrative commentary. As a Very Smart Cookie, I would love to hear what you have to say on topics such as... How does disco elysium work? What makes it different than other games? Is it *just* the quality of the writing? How do the mechanics synergize with the quality of the writing?

So okay, it's not just the quality of the writing, although to be fair; the writing is like really good.

But as for the mechanics: Disco Elysium is ultimately a video game. It is clearly inspired heavily by tabletop RPGs, even more so than most CRPGs are (like, Disco Elysium is pretty much a masterclass in terms of how well it manages to make a CRPG feel very close to a tabletop RPG in terms of player expression and the marriage of fiction and mechanics). Disco Elysium's actual game mechanics are not all that remarkable, but the game uses them in such a way that pretty much necessitates it being a video game.

At its core, Disco Elysium's resolution mechanic is based on a roll of two six-sided dice plus a skill rating, trying to roll greater than or equal to a target number determined by the difficulty of the action, and it uses a very traditional type of Pass/Fail method of determining results based on those rolls. It is, at the end of the day, unremarkable as a resolution mechanic. There is something to be said for the distribution of results on the 2d6 and how even a single plus can actually skew the probabilities in the player's favor and how this combined with the fact that the game makes various individual +1 bonuses from drugs and clothes and whatever easily available to the player is a great example of ludonarrative harmony. But ultimately the system isn't one that would exactly make tabletop enthusiasts hoot and holler.

But the game still uses that very simple mechanic effectively, not only because of the aforementioned stacking of bonuses (which is really easy to do in a video game but in a tabletop context often results in tedium) but also because the game is actually doing lots of hidden and rapid fire checks under the hood ALL THE TIME. When in a tabletop RPG you probably shouldn't want to stop the flow of a scene where everyone at the table is jamming and narrating together for the sake of rolling a knowledge check, Disco Elysium is doing that for you all of the time. That is something where the game is making the most out of the fact that it can offload that stuff to the program, to be handled in the background at a rapid fire pace.

There is definitely stuff that can be taken away from Disco Elysium for the sake of tabletop RPGs, but its prose is hard to imitate without sounding pretentious or insincere, and its mechanics would be hard to replicate in a tabletop format because they ultimately rely on a lot of book-keeping that may be tedious to do manually as well as doing LOTS of rolls in the background that could potentially introduce unnecessary friction into gameplay if replicated at the table.

[satorupasta]

JUJUTSU KAISEN IN . . .

jealousy

synopsis. you’re hanging out with your friend and he thinks you’re talking to him a bit too much. in his perspective, at least / jujutsu kaisen men being jealous.

content warnings. modern au ( except sukuna is in true form so i think it’s modern ), death threat ( sukuna ), fluff ( ? ), SLIGHT suggestiveness. pinch of salt

includes. ryomen sukuna . satoru gojo . kento nanami . choso kamo .

an. this was originally for an anonymous person’s request but i kinda messed up the thing so i’m making it separate……sorry if u see this buddy also gojo’s part was kinda rushed so erm.

RYOMEN SUKUNA

. Jealousy was a two-headed snake. Arrogant, and much too full of itself.

That’s what the King of Curses found himself thinking as he catches you, his partner, snickering as the guy walking alongside you makes yet another joke. And every time, you laugh. That statement from before seems to take an opposite turns while he watches your kind banter between the other.

He shouldn’t be, really. Some low-life feeling, and yet, here he is. Feeling nearly overcome by it.

Sukuna accompanied you for whatever reason. And at first, your mind wandered off to different reasons—perhaps he thinks you’d be unfaithful. (Who would dare to go against the King of Curses?)

It pisses him off, really. The mere thought of another man catching the even slightest upturn of your lips is (more than) enough for a beheading, in his eyes.

And it’s not that you’re unaware of what he’s pondering about. When you mentioned wanting to go out with a friend, who is another man, Sukuna had been stomping around with a seemingly irritated look ever since then. Well, he always looks like that. But there’s something adding to it this time.

"When are we leaving? I have better matters to attend." The curse questioned, one set of arms folded over his chiseled torso. Of course, what better would it be having an over six-foot-tall curse with intimidating tattoos pacing next to you?

You sigh and hold up a hand to your friend, signaling for him to wait a moment. "I told you that you didn’t have to come with me—"

"I wanted to! I’m just asking." He’s quick to reply for clarification, though you can tell he’s still mad because he scoffs when he finishes talking.

You start talking to your friend after a beat of silence, lowering your voice to apologize before picking up where you and him left off.

Sukuna, meanwhile, is still fuming about the fact that you’re still speaking to him. The tiny eye below his main one still narrows at you, and you miss this detail. So, he’s going to take matters into his own hands (without ending someone’s life, which was your request).

Without a word, he hoists you over his shoulder, turning around and walking off. You stare at him in protest, before craning your head to look behind you. Your friend looks even more perplexed than earlier, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

However, you don’t bother fighting back. You know it’d be worthless, because he’s not letting go any time soon. And so does Sukuna, because he’s shrugging.

He knows he’s won.

And, plus. He’ll make sure you’ll make up for that simple interaction when the two of you are back home.

SATORU GOJO

. Sky-colored eyes watch as your arm hooks around your companion’s shoulder, the both of your cackles filling the night air. Your friend is drunk, but luckily, you’re a little more sane than him to keep aware of your surroundings. And Satoru, who had come because you may need a ride home.

He’s considering giving you an early ride right now, despite the fact you said you won’t be leaving the party until three or so hours later—but you two aren’t even in the building anymore. Just wandering on the sidewalk mindlessly with a guy he doesn’t know.

Fine. Be that way. He scoffs.

It’s more playful, at first. But when you give him one reply that’s straightforward and equally annoyed? Oh, he’s pouting for the next ten minutes, but you don’t notice.

Too many inside jokes. Too many giggles, too much everything for his liking. And in that moment, unfortunately, Satoru realizes there’s no one to bother anymore. To talk to, so now he’s bored. Displeased, because you’re conversing with someone else that isn’t him.

Is it petty? Yes. Does he care? Absolutely not!

"I mean—who even is this guy?" He finds himself latching onto the thought, biting the inside of his cheek at the prospect. The more he thinks about it, the more he’s piqued.

A little while goes by of him hearing uneven footsteps and taps against the pavement, and he’s had enough.

"Hey, we should go get ice cream," Satoru suddenly suggested, not looking over in your direction.

"It’s the middle of the night—" "I’m sure there’s some place open! Come on. Plus, you don’t seem to care anyway!" he urges, nearly sounding like a little kid with the way he’s begging you to come with him.

"I’ll even buy your favorite flavor."

Your half-impaired self forgets about your friend for a moment at the mention of ice cream. Satoru makes eye contact with you, and before the silence can start, you’re quick to break it. "Okay!"

You practically skip off with Satoru, more than ready to stuff your mouth full with the sweet treat. It might be considered irresponsible, since you’d left your drunken friend alone on the sidewalk, but don’t worry. Satoru’s got that covered.

Hopefully.

KENTO NANAMI

. Nanami is at home cooking. It’s for no particular reason. He’s hungry.

You would be too. Well, if you were there.

You’d gone out for a few drinks with a friend. He doesn’t mind that, of course—he knows you’re faithful. You’re not someone who’d do that, he thinks.

Your presence, however, would be much more appreciated than the sudden silence that’s filling his usually calm house. It’s unusual. Because you aren’t there to fill it.

He doesn’t want to admit it.

He misses you.

A cold cup of coffee from earlier in the morning sits on the island counter. Untouched after two sips, because you’d distracted him.

You were there earlier simply because you wanted to bother him. You felt like he could use some company. And from the way he’s grabbing his phone every two minutes to see if you’ve messaged him—you haven’t since you left—it seems it was very much needed.

He eventually ends up texting you first. Something he rarely does, excluding if it’s an occasion, or requires his business.

Thirty minutes. Again, there’s still no response.

He’s slowly getting ticked off. Nanami knows this, but—not in the way one would think. Like…a clock. Time clicks every few seconds with the turn of the handles.

He runs a hand down his face. How bored does he have to be?

He finds himself feeling something that is unexpected for the sorcerer—impatience. It’s even strange to him, an odd feeling that he pushes down. He reads a book to pass the time.

Nanami hears the blaring of muffled music outside, and he’s aware you’re back. He has no idea why you’ve decided to return to his home instead of yours, but you aren’t exactly unwelcome.

He opens the door. And there you are, a little wasted, and…accompanied by someone else. Someone you know, apparently, since you give him a little thank you. Him.

Nanami’s brow quirked, staring at the other man. "Much appreciation for bringing her home." And he starts to close the door. The guy has the audacity to hold it open.

"You her boyfriend?"

"No."

He hums, staring Nanami up and down before waving him off. "I see."

The scent of smoke fills Nanami’s nose as the man moves, making his expression tighten for a moment. For a moment, he feels something akin to…protectiveness, seeing the man. How could anyone like that associate with you?

He watches as the other turns around, heading back into the car. Which is still, loudly, playing music that was heard down the street.

Nanami sighed, shutting the front door behind him. You try to greet him, speech somewhat slurred. But he hurried you along, unwilling to hear any of your sentences. "Get yourself fixed up."

His demeanor is still straightforward, the usual behavior. Though, he can’t deny the question from before is still lingering over in his head. It’s much to consider. Enough for him to believe that it’s a discussion for tomorrow.

He’s very tired after waiting for you.

CHOSO KAMO

. Initially, when you said you were going out, he was okay. He can wait. You’d promised movies with extra-buttery popcorn exactly when you’re back. His favorite part about any Friday, really—it’s become a tradition.

But with an interruption, it’s set on hold. And it’s a little upsetting. Of course, he doesn’t show this.

"I’ll be right back, Cho!" you shout, before stepping down and closing the front door behind you. When he hears the lock click, along with the loss of the car engine in the driveway, he now acknowledges that he is alone. Like, you are not next to him anymore, alone.

Oh, what will he do?

—

An hour goes by, and Choso recognizes yet another thing. Most of his activities when you’re over (which is almost everyday) include you.

Cleaning the rooms? You’re right there with the dustpan when he’s sweeping. Reheating leftovers? You’re there to clean up the mess. And, last but not least, he can’t watch any shows.

It’s not that he hasn’t tried to do each of those things, because he has. But he can’t sit still.

It’s just not the same.

And he has to force his eyes not to stare at the time because he knows it’s only been thirty minutes in (his time frame) since you’ve left.

At that moment, his phone dings with a new notification. He looks at the name—it’s you! His face practically lights up. You’re back, and now you both can finally watch that new movie rotting on your lists for a few months now!

He opened the message, but…it’s not what he’s hoping it’ll say.

You sent a photo. Still at the party, but you left an extra response at the bottom of the picture, saying you’ll be back in thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes.

That’s still something!

"Yes!" he whispered, his mind already wandering.

"Should I prepare the popcorn now, or twenty minutes later? It’ll be fresher then. Oh, and it’s pretty cold in here. I’ll warm the blankets." Maybe he should’ve texted you that, but he’s already off to getting the living room ready.

And you arrive. Five minutes a little late. But you’re back. And changed into some pajama pants so you can fully immerse into relaxation.

The movie starts. Only twenty minutes in, it’s quite interesting. The sound of quiet crunching and shuffling from the popcorn being moved around fills the room, aside from the dialogue between the actors.

"Y’know, I made a new friend today. He’s—"

"What?" Choso says, looking over to you when you mentioned his gender.

"…He was really sweet. I got his number, he should watch movies with us sometime."

"I’ll think about it. Let’s focus on the movie."

That’s all you get in response. Short and straight to the point, the movie starts back up again. A little difference in behavior, but you don’t mind it.

You bring him up again, and Choso’s a little more perked up this time. "Let’s keep watching the movie." he repeats again, as if on autopilot.

Okay, now you’re confused. Have you done something?

"…Sorry." You mumble, and the half-curse looked down at you.

"For what?"

"You know."

There’s a beat of silence between you two.

"Well, he’s just irrelevant. And I think the movie is much nicer than some stranger you met."

Choso awkwardly pats your back, clearing his throat. He’s gotten a little choked up now, for some reason. He’d rather not talk about a random guy when he’s the only man in the room right now.

"So, let’s enjoy the moment, yeah?"

You grin and nod, eyes immediately widening as the movie jumps right into action.

While your mind shifts on the topic, Choso’s staring at the screen and occasionally back at you.

He’s just happy to be there.

[marysdonuts]

Turning Tables

wants to be chased!Jeonghan x had enough of chasing!reader

Synopsis: requested in this two part ask

WC: 1.6K

Warnings: not much, making Jeonghan jealous, crack, implied oral (f)

a/n: both parts combined to one post. first half - your pov, second - Jeonghan's

masterlist / requests / taglist

Oh the almighty Jeonghan. Sent from above specifically to torture you. The popular guy who has six ladies lined up on each finger hoping to get their turn. Funny, easy on the eye but that personality? Ugh, you've seen better.

You made your interest in him more than clear, still.. to this day no definite answer. Only insufferable amount of teasing. You weren't one to play the game of push n' pull. It was getting on your nerves. Especially the constant flirting with anything that moved - just for sport. Or maybe not for sport per sé but to get you jealous. Making sure you saw him making move on somebody. There was even a moment when he jokingly almost kissed you only to pull away at the last moment, smug as hell. So full of himself.

Fuck it. Does he think he is the only one who has options? Isn't the last man on Earth for sure. The hell. Time to give him a taste of his own medicine.

//

And so you danced. You danced with every man who showed even drop of interest that night. Sending Jeonghan clear message - this is what you are missing by acting like a little bitch. Drowning one drink after another. Price? Didn't matter. They were paying.

When a friend of yours, equally as drunk, suggested to climb on the bar, you thought it an excellent idea. Both of you moving to the rhythm of some latino song with questionable, extremely toxic lyrics. Drink in hand, Great Gatsby style, you cheered the growing attendance at your feet. People going feral.

"I think you've had enough fun for today," Jeonghan's cold hand grasping your ankle "time to go home."

"Who are you to tell me if I had enough?" seemingly asking the audience a rhetorical question, crushing his fingers with your heel

"Your boyfriend~" squirming in pain

"My boyfriend?? Stop pissing me off Jeonghan. I had enough of your shit. It's not difficult to find somebody better than yo-"

Fuck, am I falling?

All the drinks from before picked the worst moment to take effect. Dizzy head, weak legs, heels plus slippery bar? Unfortunate combination. You were indeed about to hit the floor.

Next thing you know shawty got low low low - Music in the background mocking your life decisions

"Aaaaaaa" crashing down, drink spilled, body aching, pride hurt

"Actually.. It doesn't hurt that much? Guess this fat ass saved me once again." patting it lovingly

"Ugh huh, or it was someone's handsome ass that saved your fat ass" Noticing Jeonghan squished under you, also lovingly patting your bum in unison

"Yah!" jumping to your feet "Don't touch me you perver-!!!" intoxication not letting you fishing your sentence, making you wobble, once again ending up in Jeonghan's arms

"I would love to oblige, my lady," fixing strand of hair behind your ear "if only you weren't so desperate for my company." delighted smile painted on lips

This fucking bitch keeps playing with me!! You wanted to punch hole into his beautiful face. Body working faster than the mouth, clenched fist flew towards douchebag's face.

KAPOW!!!

Sadly, your fist was not at all clenched, flying much further from his face, finally landing on his chest. You weren't sure if his shirt was always this unbuttoned but what was staring at you currently - pair of *shiny* man-tiddies.

"wow" blinded by the sight

"Well, well, well," Jeonghan caressed your hand moving it over his heart "do you really want to know my feelings that much?" Mischievous eyes trying to meet the hazy ones.

"yea" gaze still kinda stuck on his tiddies

"In that case, let's go somewhere more private"

//

The first time Jeonghan kissed you was in backseat of taxi on the way to his apartment. It wasn't just a kiss. More like he was feeding off your growing excitement. Producing such obscene sounds the driver had to rise the radio volume.

//

Reaching the destination, the moment the door closed shut, you found yourself pinned against them. Jeonghan's urgent lips tracing the curve of your neck.

"You really made a number on me today, you know that?" sucking at the sensitive skin, leaving mark behind

"Oh? Allow me to laugh. The Jeonghan hot and bothered? Hard to believe." tauntingly, grasping the hair

"Tell me 'bout it..," defeated exhale tickling your ear "seeing you with all those men...didn't expect to feel like that. Made me want to jump every single one of them."

"Did it, now?" placing thumb on his bottom lip "little boy got upset when his toy was taken away?" full of irony

"I was never good at sharing" allowing the entire length of your finger feel the softness of his mouth, sucking it almost apologetically

"Forgive me?" Big brown eyes praying for redemption

Not sure if it was the residual alcohol but this time his words felt sincere. Seeing him sucking on your thumb like that, all docile and at your mercy..? Ufff, you were running too hot

"Want me to forgive you, huh, " making him sink to his knees under your authoritarian tone.

"you know what to do." parted legs offering not so subtle invitation to the sinner beneath you.

.

.

.

"At your service, my lady~"

Jeonghan's pov

Yes- he loved to tease you even after you confessed your feelings. He played games to make sure you were really up for the challenge. Testing your character and morals. Enjoyed torturing you a bit too much. However when it came to his feelings.. Jeonghan thought himself to be the only one worthy of your affections. He intended to show his interest soon enough, just wanted to frolic for a moment longer. Tragically that was exactly where he miscalculated.

And there you were, in all your glory, dancing with bunch of worthless peasants.

Jeonghan could literally feel the blood in his veins boiling. How dare they put their filthy, sweaty little hands on your holy vessel? Were they really so dense to think someone like YOU would be interested in them?

"Pathetic losers." Furiously gulping down his drink only to smash the glass on the floor. Making any bystander jump away in fear.

Tangible darkness emitting from Jeonghan's pitch black stare in direction of the unfortunate dude you were dancing with. Poor guy shivering, cold sweat running down his spine. He got the message and promptly took his leave.

"That's what I thought" Jeonghan scoffed, raking thru his hair

After not so subtly, striking terror into all the suitors, new drink in hand and in high spirits, he was watching your bar show. How your hair sparkled in the light, how you moved to the seductive latino rhythm - not a care in the world. He watched you cheer the crowd, queen in the castle.

"It's about time I made my move." few long steps, grasp on your ankle

"I think you've had enough fun for today," lifting his gaze, half entertained half worried you might come crashing down "time to go home."

"Who are you to tell me if I had enough?" the way you proudly pushed your chest out, the delicate curve of your décolleté, made it's way straight to his pants heart

"Your boyfriend~" damn, stepping on my fingers now? Guess I deserve that

"Aaaaaaa"

Jeonghan saw you falling in slow motion, drink spilled all over him, catching you at the last moment

"Actually.. It doesn't hurt that much? Guess this fat ass saved me once again."

"Ugh huh, or it was someone's handsome ass that saved your fat ass" rubbing your bum lovingly, it was very nice bum

"Yah!" jumping to your feet "Don't touch me you perver-!!!" There you were once again falling into his open arms. Jeonghan could hardly contain his enjoyment, pulling you closer

"I would love to oblige, my lady," fixing strand of hair behind your ear "if only you weren't so desperate for my company." delighted smile painted on lips

Angry palm flying in his direction made him chuckle. Such tiny hand managed to destroy four buttons on his shirt. He could see your eyes glued to the bare chest. Like what you see?

"Well, well, well, do you really want to know my feelings that much?"

"yea"

"In that case, let's go somewhere more private"

//

The moment taxi started moving all the repressed feelings came rushing to his head, famished animal, so so desperate, his lips on yours were searching for sustenance. You were so beautiful and his. After he's done with you tonight he will shout it to the whole world but right now he will at least let this old man behind the wheel know what's up.

He fucked up and was willing to do anything to make it up to you.

//

Once he had his hands on you he couldn't let go. Well, he could but didn't want to. Holding you so tight, no distance left between the two of you, it was almost unbearable. Every part screaming into the void of his aching heart.

He just wanted to make you feel good. To show you how much he really liked you. Spoil you rotten. Never let another guy touch an inch of your body.

"Forgive me?" Falling to his knees, just a sinner asking for redemption in front of your heavenly gates

"Want me to forgive you, huh," "you know what to do."

Oh, he knew

"At your service, my lady~" After finally receiving his absolution Jeonghan prayed more than dutifully

[thenightshadowqueen]

BBC Merlin as incorrect quotes (with quotes from SFTH)

Credit to this video by @morhido for compiling the quotes!

Gwaine: *gets stabbed by one of the conveniently constantly-available groups of bandits* Merlin, panicking and trying to keep him conscious: Stay with me. What’s your name? Gwaine, dazed from blood loss: ...Gwaine… Merlin: And what's my name? Gwaine: Heavenly... Angel... Merlin: Oh, for fuck's sake.

Merlin, pissed off at Arthur's inconsistent character development: Following your dad again, are you? Just like you used to, Arthur Pendragon. Arthur: I didn't always follow my dad; sometimes I did things my own way. Like... maths problems. Three plus two: maybe it does equal six.

Uther, trying to get Arthur to marry one of his friends' daughters: She's tall. Strong. Beautiful. And I think she would be a perfect union into this family. Here she is now. Arthur: Is she behind the short, weak, and mildly repulsive woman?

Child Arthur: I finally finished it, Dad! A wooden sword! I carved it all myself, and... Happy Father's Day! Uther: I miss your mum.

Arthur to his knights after they get into more shenanigans: I know I need your swordsmanship, but I don't need your problems, you understand me? Gwaine: We don't have problems! I just have ADHD!

Merlin: *listing different kinds of flowers, including marigolds* Percival, whispering to Elyan: What’s a marigold? Merlin: *stops mid-sentence* Merlin: Are you asking what a marigold is? Elyan: We'll get there together. :)

Merlin: People say crazy things when they're angry. Sometimes, when I'm angry with Arthur, I call him a fat cunt. Don't I? Arthur: *nods* Merlin: I don't mean it, though. He's not fat. Merlin: Arthur: Merlin: Arthur: But I am a cunt. Merlin: *shrugs in agreement*

Arthur: I will protect you. Morgana: Well, that's quite heteronormative, isn't it?

Young Arthur: Daddy—when I was just little little—he used to say to me, "Train." And I used to say, "I love you!" And then he would leave the room. But I knew, when he made me practice extra hard, that was his way of saying, "I love you, too!"

[the-ninja-legacy-whip]

sorry this is so random but what pokémon do you think the ninja would have

...Choco. Choco do u realize what u have just done. U have unwittingly and randomly handed me the keys to ramble about the Pokemon AU I've been stewing on the backburner since March. It's 5:30 in the morning where I am as of receiving this and I have never shot awake so fast to make a fool of myself

PREPARE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS

Sooooo I'm probably only going to go into details over everyone's "Aces", since a) I don't wanna spoil TOO Much in case I decide to write this in like 2028 and b) I haven't exactly finalized all the teams yet anyway, but. I have. a Lot of Thoughts. PREPARE.

Anyway.

*claps hands*

*spotlight turns on*

Allow me to set the scene, for those of you who have dared to plunge into the manic machinations of my mind...!

The Main Six have been friends and lovers of Pokemon Battles since Lloyd was a young child, but due to Lloyd being so much younger than the others, they were allowed to go on a Pokemon journey years before he could, not only leaving him behind but also going on to become the Core Elite Four + Champion (...which is the concept where this whole outrageous idea spiraled from hgfdds).

So as Lloyd bides his time to become a trainer to find them again (and maybe rough them up for leaving him behind so easily), he studies up on as much Pokemon knowledge as he can and single-handedly winds up memorizing the PokePendium (the PokeDex lmao) and becomes extremely passionate about all Pokemon as a collective

...but there's another issue: as he trains under Wu in the hopes of bonding with his future Starter Pokemon, he has a hard time bonding with any Pokemon that aren't Dragon-type, which...does not make for easy pickings when it comes to assembling a well-rounded team. (He sorta ends up with several of the pseudo-legendary Dragons by the end of the journey, but those aren't the only Pokemon he collects either. (A) that'd be boring and B) he wouldn't be able to get past the Fairy-Gym Leader very easily.....)

But otherwise he is very much Dragon-Trainer Class

Anyway when he's finally old enough, he sets out on his journey with his other closer-in-age friends Brad, Gene, and Sally who all get Applin as a Starter Pokemon while making their way through Wildwood. Lloyd is initially unimpressed with this, but Sally thinks its cool they're all starting the same way and will be a good comparison point for how their journeys get shaped uniquely to them (or something equally symbolic)

Lloyd's evolves all the way into Hydrapple, while Brad has shiny!Dipplin, Gene gets Flapple, and Sally gets Appletun

(I know there's probably a better initial pick for Lloyd but I felt like Applin would made for a good 'starter' Dragon plus it's a Grass-type which is also the closest thing to 'Life Energy' Pokemon has. I'm mostly going off vibes here sue me)

Ultimately I want Lloyd to end up with a team of Dragons that reflects the Core Four + Nya too. So Applin/Hydrapple reps his Element, and then he'd have a team of dual-type Fire (there are. two options for this. might pick Turtornator for uniqueness), Electric (gonna be Mega!Ampharos cuz I'm biased and the non-legend electric dragons are bleh), Ground (How can it not be Garchomp, other than that Flygon is green and more thematically fitting hgfdfd im on the fence. maybe I'll give Garchomp to Cole and then Flygon can be Lloyd's Fly user. decisions), Ice (Baxcalibur. did not know this was a thing until I researched), and a Lapras (not a dragon but still very friendly and helpful in water. also just has sisterly-Nya vibes), to parallel how his powers in Legacy!canon are technically a combination of all of them bla bla bla.

Miranda also eventually gives him a Poipole as the Sixth Ranger, as "he's gonna need it". Turns out its to help deal with her brother

And speaking of the Ninja, time to ramble about them! Obvs they each have their Element as a primary type, but I also gave them secondary-types just to vary things up a bit.

Kai: His secondary typing is Fighting because is that basic bitch hgfdgfd. On the fence about his Ace BUT now in this Post-Monstrosity world he's GOTTA at least have a Centiskorch on his team. Also has a Pyroar cuz Vulcanell

Jay: His secondary-typing is Flying of course, and his Ace Pokemon is Magnezone. I also imagine Miranda giving him a Xurkitree at some point, and he has a Grapploct because it is LITERALLY his colors, and an octopus, just not necessarily on his E4 team

Cole: He of course specializes in dual-type Ground and Rock, but his Ace is a Krookodile named Rocky <3 It would also be really funny if he had an Alcreamie strictly for its cake-based Gigantamax form, but that's one of Jesse's. ALSO why is there no ground-gorilla pokemon this is a crime-

Zane: His secondary-typing is Psychic, but has a few Steel-types in his back pocket too. His Ace is Alolan Ninetails cuz Eirlys <3 Can also see him having an Aurorus (very close to 'Aurora'), Abomasnow, and Alolan Sandslash. (but I have a LOT of ideas for Zane, but they don't make a super comprehensive team is the problem hjgfdfgd)

Nya: Her secondary-typing is Steel, and her Ace Pokemon is Empoleon, but also heavily favors her Milotic and Araquanid (it looks like the Water Strider + I LOVE this thing) and HAS to have a Palafin for her dolphin adoration, even if she doesn't necessarily use it in her Champion battle <3. Might also give her a Samurai-esque Pokemon, but I'm still thinking on it :d

Other Assorted Thoughts:

Wu is the dude that gives out people's first Pokemon. He manages the general overall Pokemon League, but he isn't the "professor"

...that would be Misako, creator of the PokePendium who also leads a double life as a vigilante Steel-type Trainer. No wonder Lloyd has such unlimited access to its info. Her Ace is Aegislash and probably has a Skarmory and a Duraludon (literal iron dragon)

Studying under her is Miranda, a Researcher of Ultra Beasts and Paradox Pokemon, aspiring to make her own PokePendium out of 'rarer' clarifications of Pokemon. Any Pokemon she finishes gathering data for she gifts out to friends (and especially her brother). I know I had assorted ideas about her in a Pokemon!AU years ago, but like, if you even remember any of that, throw most of it out the window lmao. Her Ace is a Rotom (she doesn't battle much, mainly only to test the capabilities of UB/Paradox Pokemon)

Sunni is a Pokemon Coordinator specializing in Weather-affinity Pokemon. Her Ace is obviously Castform, and other Pokemon that capitalize on Weather-changing moves (such as Cherrim). Hands out weather-rocks like candy. Runs into Lloyd a lot due to traveling for her contests.

Harleigh is a Pokemon Ranger specializing in Region-variant Pokemon, and her Ace is Sableye

Bridget is a Pokemon Frontier Brain that specializes in cultivating Shiny Pokemon, and her Ace is Cetitan

Mystake is the "Nurse Joy" and somehow simultaneously runs every Pokemon Center/Poke Mart, but Lloyd's not complaining. She has a little Sinistea and a Zorua prancing around her shops, and supports Lloyd as he gets farther and farther from home

Borg is the developer of all Rotom-related tech + creator of the 'PC Box' in this universe

Brad, Gene, and Sally are the rival characters, if we didn't pick up on that already. Brad is a Grass/Bug type Pokemon Breeder (the motivational!rival), Sally becomes a Pokemon Idol and has musically-inclined Pokemon (such as Chatot or Jigglypuff, and is the friendly!rival), and Gene has no specifications but he IS that Ace Trainer to try and min-max everything he has (thus is the jerk!rival jgfdsgfd)

Antonia and Nelson are like inverse!Team Rocket, who keep cropping up to support Lloyd but wind up leaving some kind of chaos in their wake jhgfdgfd

*stretches*

Garmadon ofc is the Boss of the evil Shark Army team. Buncha Dark-types on this guy. Maybe some Psychics for spice since I don't really have much psychic rep here otherwise hmmmm

Olivia is ofc the Admin of aforementioned team. Her Ace is a Sharpedo and also generally rivals Nya's Water-types gfds

Gym Leaders- Dareth (Normal, everyone's favorite gateway into the league), Ronin (Bug, cuz he's a roach lmao), Tox (Poison, channeling Leader Roxie vibes), Morro (Ghost, look guys he gets to be alive in this one. I could've made it Harleigh but I DIDNT), Pixal (Steel, all her pre-trainers are her sisters. her gym is in the central 'big main fancy city' and obv Borg Tower), Skylor (Varied, specializes in mimicking-Pokemon tho. her gym doubles a a fight club)...and then there's the last two

Dark-type Leader!Harumi is actually the previous Champion, vanquished by Nya and dropped considerably in rank after the crushing loss. This made her bitter to the entire Pokemon League, and sympathetic to the Shark Army's desire to reform the structure. Her Ace is Drapion with Spiritomb as a backup, but also heavily favors a Banette despite that being a Ghost-type. Emphasizes with Lloyd due to him technically being on a revenge quest of his own, but is surprised that he mostly just wants his old friends back

The Eighth Gym Leader is a (primarily) Fairy-type specialist who hardly ever gets to actually battle since so few people ever actually make it past Pixal, Skylor, or Harumi, but in Lloyd's dragon-oriented case, this guy might as well be his ultimate kryptonite. But just who could this mysterious, intimidating individual be???

It's Jesse it's fucking Jesse lmao

Jesse spends most of his time as a Pokemon Performer in Showcases in West Haven, given that his gym practically gathers dust otherwise and he's gotta make some bank and keep himself sharp somehow. Due to how well-know he is for his Performances, very few people register that he's also a Gym Leader. But his pre-Gym test for Lloyd is to make him do a performance and demonstrate his bond with his Pokemon hgfdgf

His Ace for Performances is a Blacephalon given to him by Miranda ofc, and like. this is THE Surprise Pokemon I don't care what anyone else says Blacey is peak Jesse vibes and I will die on this hill. It literally absorbs people's excitement (by surprising them) and uses it for its own energy. Did I ghostwrite this. I love this thing how did it appear in only ONE GAME–

Anyway, Jesse's Ace for Gym Battles is the Paradox Pokemon Iron Valiant, also given to him by Miranda. The Gender non-conforming energy too strong with this one. He also has a Florges (flowers!!), Alcreamie (as mentioned earlier, and of the Love Sweet +Ruby Swirl variety), a Granbull (nicknamed Pocket), and Tinkaton. i dunno WHAT i was thinking giving him Appletun before lmao

His job is literally to make sure people are prepared to handle the higher difficulty of the Corridor of Elders (Victory Road) ahead, hence why he (and Harumi) tend to have a higher spike in battling difficulty. It's just, especially so in the case of Lloyd (But Lloyd is OP anyway he'll be fine)

Also also imagine the legendary Pokemon just being the Guardians gfdfd. Lloyd goes on a sidequest post-game to the Guardians' homes to catch them?

And also also also imagine the "Legendary Mascots" being the Great Devourer and Genesis

Hence why I called this AU DestinyGreen and LegacyGold <3

...Soooo, infinitely more than you asked for and also hardly answered your initial question in the first place, but when I am given a soapbox and a microphone I WILL stand on it

[ladykailitha]

Of Butterflies and Backstrokes Part 6

Hello! It seems that people haven't quite adjusted to the new schedule yet, is there anything I can do to help get this in front of people? Just let me know and if I can do it, I will. Everything but changing the days of the week it's posted on, of course.

In this chapter we have Steve training Will's class and a couple of bullies emerge, and Steve makes some progress on the trauma front.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

~

Steve waited as all the kids and their parents came shuffling in. Joyce wasn’t there for Will but Jonathan was, with his arm over his shoulder whispering comforting things. Other than Will’s friends there were two other kids in the class. Troy and Angela. Angela was pretty blonde girl and Troy had curly brown hair and square face.

He could see the two of them whispering in a corner and Steve immediately knew they would be trouble. Their parents didn’t seem to be much better, so he braced himself for a long six weeks.

“Everyone listen up!” Steve called out after blowing on his whistle. “I’m Mr. Harrington and this is Miss Buckley. We will be your teachers. You will listen to both of us equally as one mistake could prove disastrous. Here are the rules.” He went on to list all of the rules and pointed to the signs that had them written out in big, bold letters.

“All right,” he finished, “girls go with Robin, boys come with me.”

Steve could see Troy eyeing up Will and knew trouble was brewing. But he knew how to nip it in the bud before it got started.

“Will could you keep an eye on them while they change?” Steve asked casually. “I need to ask her about the schedule for Saturday.”

Will blushed a dark red but nodded.

As Steve walked away he could hear Troy ask why their teacher would need to talk to Will’s mom. He smiled broadly. He of course did ask her about the schedule because he was thinking about taking Eddie up on his offer, but didn’t want to do it if Tommy was going to be there.

When he came back, there was an awkward tension in the air that was there before. Troy was off to the side, glaring at the four other boys, while Lucas and Dustin were trying to hide grins behind their hands.

Whatever had been said after Steve left, it certainly left an impression on Troy. Now to see what Troy would do with the information he was given to him.

Steve led them back to the kiddie pool where the girls were waiting with Robin. Angela was fake shivering and chattering her teeth.

“I don’t know why we have to shower before we get in the pool,” she whined. “It’s not like I’m dirty or anything.” She looked up at Steve through her eyelashes and batted them with a pout on her lips.

Oh no. Steve thought bitterly. She was one of those. Look, he knew he was a good looking guy, he wasn’t blind or stupid. But he faced many a crush from one of his students and he was going to have to have Robin deal with her exclusively. Because he didn’t want to lose his fucking job.

“No matter how clean the person is,” he said dryly, “the fact that you rode here in a car, walked out in the open air, and stood around other people means you have dirt on you. And because we don’t want you messing with the chemicals in the water that work to keep the pool clean with those dirt particles you bathe or shower before getting in the pool. Plus if you don’t want your pretty blonde hair turning green, taking a shower before hand will help limit that from happening.”

He turned and looked at all the other students, ignoring her shocked expression. “Does anyone have any other questions before we get started?”

The rest of the class looked at each other, shaking their heads. He nodded curtly. “Good, the only thing we’re going to do today is get used to being in the water.” He held up his hand to stop the protests. “I don’t care if you gone to the pool before. This is about building up stamina first.”

The kids grumbled but did as they were told. Robin and Steve had them wading back and forth doing laps and by the end of the two hours (with breaks in between) all the kids were exhausted.

“Why am I so tired?” Mike groaned as he flopped gracelessly on the bench to wait for his mom to come pick him up.

Some of the parents had stuck around to watch, but Mike’s mom had errands to run and left him in Steve’s care. She had stayed for the safety speech though, he had to give her that, Troy and Angela’s parents didn’t even do that. Hopper had been one of the ones that stayed through the whole thing, cheering Ellie on.

As the last kid was bundled off to their parents Steve sat down on the bench Mike had recently vacated and pressed his head against the wall. Not every class had troublemakers but having two in a such a small class was a nightmare.

“You okay there, Stevie?” Eddie asked, gently. He moved to sit next to Steve on the bench.

Steve rolled his head to the side to look at him. “First day of class is always the hardest. Learning the dynamics and singling out the bullies before they take hold and completely ruin the class.”

“Yeah?” Eddie asked with a lopsided grin. “You get many of those?”

“Depends,” Steve said, “there are always going to those entitled assholes who think they’re above the rules but that doesn’t always translate to bullying others. But if there is going to be a bully, it will absolutely come from that kind of person.”

Eddie snorted. “Don’t I know it?” He leaned his head back against the wall too. “When I was on the swim team, I was surrounded by kids who had their own swimming pools, personal trainers and parents who came out to meets. That wasn’t me.”

Steve breathed out through his nose. “More money than sense doesn’t make you the best swimmer. Just ask my dad. The fucker thought that if he kept pushing me that I would have had gold medals in every event I participated in. You wouldn’t believe the lecture I got when I only came in fifth my first Olympics. Even though everyone was telling him not to expect me to medal against twenty year olds.” He shook his head.

“Do you miss it?” Eddie asked softly. “The rush of diving into the water, the only sounds are the roar of the crowd and the rushing water, the way your body slices through the water, the thrill of hitting the touch pad and looking up to see your time?”

“More than you’ll ever know,” Steve said, his voice cracking. “But the best thing to happen from that horrible accident was my dad walking away and never speaking to me ever again. I can live without him, even if the trade off is that I can never get into the pool again.”

“My dad didn’t care what I did,” Eddie huffed, banging his head on the wall. “As long as I wasn’t a snitch. It was my mom that took to swimming every day, worked ten hour days seven days a week to keep up with the fees and shit. Probably wouldn’t have had to work so hard if my dad didn’t spend the money on booze and the slots.”

“So what happened?” Steve asked sitting forward and looking at him directly.

Eddie let out a derisive snort. “My mom got sick, like cancer sick and my dad in all his dumbassery thought the best way to pay for medical bills was to borrow money from a loan shark who had him knocking off rich people’s cars to pay him back.” Eddie gripped his fists together tight. “He got caught by police while she was literally on her death bed. She was calling out for him. And by the time the cops released him on bail she was gone.”

“God,” Steve huffed. “And I thought my dad had the monopoly on shitty behavior. Yours really takes the shit pile, man.”

Eddie snorted. Then the snort became a giggle and soon he was laughing so hard. Steve just watched with his head tilted. He wasn’t sure what he said to make him laugh like that, but he would do it again in a heart beat.

“Yeah, Stevie,” Eddie said once he could speak, “king of the shit pile, my dad.” He looked at his watch and then stood up. “My break is almost over, so I’ve got to go. You take better care of yourself, yeah?”

Steve smiled up at him. “You, too, Eds. You tell Murray not to work you so hard. You’re doing community service not slave labor.”

Eddie gave him that closed mouth dimpled smile that never failed to make Steve’s insides melt and then walked away, waving over his shoulder.

If someone were to walk by just then, Steve would adamantly deny staring at Eddie’s ass. He was watching respectfully, thank you very much.

Eddie not wanting to get back into get back into swimming made more sense after their little talk. Steve wasn’t sure he would want to get back into a sport that he only had one cheerleader for and she was gone, either.

At least Steve had Robin, but who did Eddie have now that his mom was gone?

He decided he was still going to go the staff swim, though. He wanted to see how good the boy was. Because even if Eddie never wanted to compete, Steve wanted to see him in action.

~

Saturday rolled around and Steve drove Robin to the rec center. They pulled into the near vacant parking lot. There was Nancy’s station wagon and a beat up old van.

Robin touched his shoulder. “If you don’t want to do this, you can drive off, right now and I’ll tell people you had a migraine. Okay?”

Steve shook his head. “If it gets too much, I’ll just go spend time in the endless pool.”

She gave him a squeeze and got out of the car, Steve following close behind. They entered the pool area, Steve hanging out a little behind Robin. Eddie spotted them first and he hopped out of the pool with a big grin. Jonathan and Nancy who had been chatting with him, turned the direction he was looking with their expressions going to from confusion, to surprise, to glee.

Eddie ran to go get a chair and set next to the pool about three feet from the edge. “For his majesty!”

Steve huffed out a laugh as he sat down. “I’m just here as spectator, don’t get your hopes up.”

Nancy and Jonathan shared a glance and then grinned.

“Whatever you say, man,” Jonathan huffed. “It’s still good to see you.” He moved away from the edge of the pool a little then created a wave that splashed Steve.

Steve just flinched away from the water so it wouldn’t get in his eyes. “Robin, get him!”

Robin who had been wearing a blouse and shorts over her swimsuit, looked at him briefly, before stripping right there and diving at Jonathan, taking him with her. Eddie and Nancy looked at each other and then nodded.

Nancy went for Robin and Eddie went for Jonathan and they wrestled in the water making bigger splashes then the one Jonathan made to get Steve.

Steve yelped and got to his feet, running away. Finally the four of them stopped and Eddie pushed his long hair out of his face, grinning up at Steve. Steve smiled back. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

~

Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Tag List: CLOSED

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2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

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9- @chameleonhair @sadisticaltarts @dreamercec @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @mac-attack19

10- @aol19 @eriquin @tartarusknight @gloomysoup @morallyundefined

[nanamineedstherapy]

Tactical Crocs & Emotional Warfare

F!Reader x Gojo Satoru x Nanami Kento

Previous Oneshot Chapter [Tumblr/Ao3] | Main Series [Tumblr/Ao3]

A/N: When your security team costs more than a small country's GDP but the real threat is a raccoon with a Hermès addiction. Enjoy this slice of domestic terrorism (ft. Gojo’s tactical Crocs). No spoilers, but someone does get scolded via Chopin.

Int. Private Security Room—Night—14 Hours To Cameras Up

The koi pond feed flickers. A baby sock drifts across the surface. Nobody flinches.

Half the screens are silent surveillance footage: nursery, koi pond vault, her lower office, the terrarium room that used to be a guest bath. Takahashi (the raccoon, not the CFO) sleeps curled on a miniature futon in a separate window—one paw flung over a satin pillow like royalty.

The red alert blinks in the upper left corner: VOGUE JAPAN CREW ARRIVES. TO BE HELD IN GREEN ROOM.

Nanami Kento doesn’t look up. His pen glides over a set of architectural schematics—his third revision in as many hours. He’s in matte black tactical Kevlar (no one knows why at this hour), sleeves rolled to the forearms, sorcery glasses glinting under sterile lighting. There’s a faint ink smudge on his wrist. He’s furious about it.

Gojo Satoru sits across from him in a Hello Kitty hoodie and tactical Crocs, chewing lychee Pocky like he’s running hostage negotiations out of a Daiso. His wayfarers reflect the screen showing his stolen blindfold around Takahashi’s neck like he’s cosplaying “Bandit” in his sleep. The six-eyes wielder looks like the kind of genius whose brain can calculate missile trajectory mid-nap but will forget to refrigerate breast milk.

Around them, the highest-paid security personnel on the Pacific Rim. A blend of private military, cyberwarfare analysts, and cursed-artifact consultants. Some sip espresso from tactical thermoses. Others pretend they’re not being paid eight figures plus to protect a non-sorcerer pregnant woman, two war criminals, and a possibly sentient raccoon.

The Executive Protection Team (Core Security) had primarily been assembled by Megumi, and they relocated with you to Japan after your marriage, remaining fiercely loyal but now having an equal number of Nanami and Gojo’s people, ex-Jujutsu Teachers (sorcerers).

Former JSDF Special Forces Operatives (1st Airborne Brigade or Special Operations Group)  (¥60M+ each).

Japan's equivalent to Navy SEALs/Delta Force, trained in high-risk protection.

Ex-Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Security Police (SP) Officer. (¥50M+ each).

SP protects Japanese VIPs (e.g., PM, royals). Only available if retired early. Know all police protocols to avoid legal issues.

Cursed Energy Security Specialists Team (for Sorcerer-Level Threats).

Ex-Jujutsu Tech Professors (Non-Gojo Clan, Independent) (¥100M+ each).

Detects/neutralizes curses without relying on Jujutsu High. 

Limitation: Hard to find; must be lured with extreme pay.

Cursed Artifact Security Consultant (¥80M+ each).

Prevents cursed objects from entering the home (e.g., "gifts" from enemies).

Background: Former curse-user turned private sector.

Cyber/Electronic Warfare Team (For Tech CEO Threats).

Ex-Unit 8200 (Israeli Cyber Intel) + NSA Hacker (¥120M+ each).

Best in the world for preventing corporate espionage/blackmail.

Loophole: Hired as a "consultant" to avoid gov restrictions.

Japanese Cyber Defense Force Veteran (¥60M+ each).

Knows domestic cyber laws inside out.

Perk: Can legally bug your own home (with consent).

Logistics & Emergency Extraction Team.

Private Military Contractor (PMC) Pilot (Ex-USAF/JSDF) (¥70M+ each).

On standby with a private jet/helicopter for emergency medevac (pregnancy risks).

Loophole: Based in international waters (Okinawa) to bypass Japanese airspace laws.

Medical Security Specialist (Ex-SAS Medic) (¥50M+ each).

Trauma Care + can extract during a curse attack.

Perk: Licensed to carry restricted meds (e.g., sorcerer-grade painkillers).

Most of them report to her.

The wife.

CEO.

Third trimester.

Currently asleep, head tilted into Nanami’s neck like a sleepy heat-seeking missile, his other arm absently braced around her to stop her from falling off the ergonomic stool she refuses to replace.

A hushed voice cut through the tension. “She’s got a bounty on her.”

Nanami slammed a folder onto the table hard enough to rattle the coffee cups, his sleeves rolled up to expose forearms corded with muscle. “If we die, Protocol A-47 activates. She goes to the koi pond vault. No exceptions. Tranquilize her if necessary.”

The ex-fighter pilot—a woman with a scar bisecting her eyebrow—leaned back in her chair, flicking a toothpick between her teeth. “We have tranquilizers because she once roundhouse-kicked a logistics officer during a VR Mortal Kombat session. Broke his nose.”

Gojo licked sugar from his thumb and added, “Double-layer barrier on the nursery and Takahashi. If something happens to that raccoon, I’m flattening a country. I won’t say which. It’ll be a surprise.”

The NSA hacker, a twitchy man with dark circles under his eyes, flinched when the raccoon sneezed. “Why does the raccoon have his own panic room?”

Keji—sleek in his silk shirt, biceps straining the fabric as he crossed his arms—didn’t blink. “He has three. One is lined with titanium. One is wallpapered with Gojo-san’s baby photos. We do not enter it.”

Nanami’s pen paused mid-note, his gold wedding band glinting. “She’s not a combatant. She can’t defend herself against c-users.”

Gojo’s smirk vanished, his voice dropping to something darker. “And now, her bounty matches mine.”

The silence in the room was palpable, a live wire. Takahashi, curled in his heated pet bed, let out a tiny snore.

The SAS medic—a woman with a coiled braid and a grip that could crush tracheas—rubbed her temples. “We’re glorified nannies. Emotional support detail. Decoys.”

Nanami didn’t look up. “In case both of us die, Keji initiates the escape route. She doesn’t know about it. She already has insomnia. And stop calling it Project: Dead Dads.”

A former JSDF SOG operative, a wiry man who looked like he hadn’t slept in days, swallowed audibly. “Do we evacuate Takahashi?”

Gojo’s fingers stilled on his watermelon lollipop wrapper, the crinkle deafening. “What did I just say.”

Keji turned toward the security feeds, his profile sharp enough to draw blood. “He has a private jet. Smaller than Madame’s. Faster. I’m not authorized to speak why.”

Nanami’s glasses caught the light as he flipped a page. “There are four exit tunnels. One goes through a matcha café. Another leads under the koi pond, keyed to her retinal scan and Takahashi’s scent profile.”

The ex-jujutsu sorcerer—an older woman with ink-black nails and a lazy, lethal posture—stretched like a cat. “I taught metaphysics at Yale.”

Gojo’s grin returned, wider. “Now you guard a raccoon with a Hermès sponsorship and a platinum AmEx. Life’s a ride.”

An ex-MPD VIP guard, a hulking man with a baby face, muttered into his comms. “I used to run fintech. Now I sterilize breast pumps and sleep beneath a floating shikigami terrarium.”

Ignoring him, Nanami’s thumb brushed the edge of his wedding ring. “In an active threat, she and Takahashi go in the bunker. Keji, you emotionally stabilize her. Feed the raccoon his lavender sardine paste.”

Keji’s jaw tightened, leather gloves creaking. “It’s handmade. Infused with omega-3 and respect. I recite Edith Piaf while preparing it.”

Gojo twirled his sunglasses. “He even sings La Vie en Rose during thunderstorms.”

The lights flickered. No one moved.

Takahashi’s screech echoed down the hall—a sound like an opera-trained kettle being murdered.

Nanami didn’t react. “Seventy-five minutes. That’s all they’re allowed in the residence. Treat this as a red-tier civilian intrusion. Assume bugs, surveillance, and attempted breaches.”

Gojo licked his lollipop slowly. “And no touching the raccoon. She said she’ll cancel the shoot if they mess with his whiskers.”

Every head nodded. No one questioned it.

The upgraded chief logistics officer—a woman with a steel-gray bob and a sniper’s stillness—tapped her tablet. “We’ve staged all bathrooms, prepped diversionary designer fragrances, and disabled motion sensor lighting in the koi corridor. It made the raccoon look too... strategic.”

Keji, adjusting his gloves, coolly added, “Takahashi is sentient. And emotionally fragile.”

Nanami’s voice was sharp as a blade. “Staff wears navy. Press wears tags. Anyone untagged after the 42-minute mark: detain.”

The ex-Metropolitan Police officer, a woman built like a brick wall with a matching smirk, raised a brow. “If questioned?”

Gojo’s teeth flashed in a grin. “Blame jet lag. Or say they threatened the raccoon and his wildlife habitat.”

Another nod followed, deadly serious.

Nanami’s watch gleamed as he switched tabs. “Lighting rig pathways are pre-approved. No one enters the nursery, gaming room, or her lower office. Those are closed sets. If they insist—deny with polite aggression.”

Gojo pointed at the NSA tech, who shrank in his chair. “If they get pushy, hand them the fake NDA. The one with clause 14 about raccoon-based defamation lawsuits.”

The tech, a freckled kid who looked barely old enough to be here, stammered, “We scrubbed her images from the mob lynch incident off the internet. All reverse image searches redirect to a red fox in a Dior scarf.”

Keji’s mouth curled into a smirk. “We paid extra for that one. The fox is a union.”

The medical lead—a woman with biceps that could crack walnuts and a glare to match—slapped her protocol sheet down. “She’s on four prescriptions. None are to be mentioned. If she starts to spiral—”

Keji’s smile was all edges, his gloved fingers tapping once against his biceps. “I’ll realign her using the 'accidental' footage of Nanami-san cooking shirtless last week. It’s preloaded. Subtitled. And scored with Chopin.”

Nanami’s pen froze mid-air. “That wasn’t for anyone.”

Gojo, sprawled across two chairs, licked his lollipop with deliberate slowness. “It was for me. Obviously.”

An ex-JSDF pilot—a woman in her 50s with salt-and-pepper hair and a posture that screamed combat-ready—adjusted her earpiece. “Chopper’s on standby. Six-minute extraction from Okinawa. The vault opens in two. If she won’t move, the fetal monitor’s embedded in her gaming chair.”

Nanami's wedding band caught the light as he massaged his temple. “She won’t move. Not if they bring up Gojo’s hair again.”

Gojo’s sunglasses slid down as he jerked upright, voice dripping with offense. “My hair is real. Shut up.”

The cybersecurity lead asked, “Do we allow footage of the nursery?”

Nanami didn’t hesitate, his voice a steel door slamming shut. “No. The twins will not be monetized.”

Gojo twirled his sunglasses, his grin razor-thin. “Also, the wallpaper isn’t finished, and she’ll have a hormonal breakdown.”

The MPD veteran, a barrel-chested man with a voice like gravel, scratched his stubble. “What if they film the raccoon singing? The sound’s been... described as ‘emotional.’”

Keji turned to the camera, his smirk all quiet arrogance. “He sings behind silk. You hear him only if he allows it.”

Nanami’s finger traced the exit tunnel diagram, his glasses glinting like a warning. “Only Keji knows all exit codes. If she starts crying—”

Another SAS medic—a woman with a shaved head and a stare that could curdle milk—didn’t blink. “We sedate her and blame prenatal yoga. Like last time.”

The mood in the room remained tense.

Nanami’s knuckles went white around his folder. “We protect her. We protect the twins. You protect that damn raccoon like he’s the crown prince of France. If she stubs her toe and Vogue sees it—this entire household is done.”

Another NSA hacker, a young woman fixing her gloss, muttered under her breath. “She has three degrees, and one of them is in an unknown field. So I’m pretty sure she could crush this whole network if she wanted to.”

Keji leaned back, satisfaction rolling off him in waves. “She has. Twice.”

Gojo chewed the last of his lollipop. “Accidentally.”

The lights flickered—once.

“One lipstick smear on the marble. One wrong tote bag. One smug remark about ‘modern poly households’—I will end this.” Nanami’s final note was a scalpel to the throat, but his gaze softened as he glanced at his wife dozing on his shoulder, her cheek smooshed against the Kevlar vest.

Gojo rose, stretching with all his lazy grace, kissed Nanami's temple just to annoy him before scooping their wife into his arms like she still weighed nothing. Her sleepy “mmf?” earned a chuckle as he adjusted the hem of her shirt over her bump as she put her arms around him. “Smile for the cameras tomorrow, people,” he purred to the team, but his wedding ring-adorned finger brushed her knee—a silent you’re safe—as he carried her toward the bed, her breathing already muffled against his shoulder.

The private feed cut.

The koi pond glowed an eerie blue.

The single baby sock is still floating over it.

Video Title Card: The Pregnant CEO, The Two Husbands, and The Raccoon With Executive Privilege.

---

A/N: If you laughed, cried, or now fear Nanami’s spreadsheet skills, scream at me in the comments. (Gojo’s ego needs the validation. Takahashi demands tribute in lychee Pocky.)

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All Works Masterlist

Beta - @blackrimmedrose

[skyfallscotland]

i saw you debunk the truth sayer theory, i’m curious to see what you think her second signet is then👀👀

Hooo, boy! Here we go...spoilers for Onyx Storm below the cut.

I think her second signet is one of two things, and the most likely option (I think) is kind of boring, and Rebecca's previously said she thinks we're going to be disappointed, so that tracks. I think she's going to make her an inntinnsic.

It was made very clear to us in Iron Flame that what Violet needs most is information. Look at these two lines side by side:

Xaden’s most pressing need is information.

(from when she figures out his second signet), and right before that, Violet says this about herself:

"I am a person who needs information to center myself.”

See the duality of this? The duality of them? Light and dark, they're mirrors of each other in the most cliché way, and I think that extends to their second signets.

I think this could also be backed up by one of the first epigraphs from Onyx Storm, leaked the other day:

The rarest signets, which appear once per generation or century, have been documented twice simultaneously with an equal counterpart, both during critical times in our history.

As much as I'm not stoked with this, I see it as being the most likely option.

If it were to be more fun though, my first thought and gut instinct when I originally read Iron Flame was soothsayer, in that her dreams were clearly prophetic—or the General was in her head.

“And the longest night has yet to pass.”

These were not just nightmares. I know a lot of people think she's seeing Xaden's dreams, but she isn't. Xaden is told he'll turn for love, and he did. Violet is told she'll tear down the wards for love when the time comes, and I think she will, we just haven't seen it yet.

It's also clearly (who we assume is) General Daramor in both their dreams and not Naolin, to debunk a second theory. He literally says he's lived centuries. Naolin died six years ago. (And Tairn does say he died specifically, it's Brennan who waffles about it).

So again, for lack of evidence so far that the venin can be in their heads from a great distance, through wards even, I'm going to assume it could have something to do with Violet.

Plus, signets are a chemistry between dragon and rider and Andarna's feathertail gift was time manipulation, and Andarna herself supposedly has seen the future.

"—and I knew. You would have the mind of a scribe and the heart of a rider. You would be mine.” She leans into my hand. “You are as unique as I am. We want the same things.” “You couldn’t have known I would be a rider.” “And yet, here we are.”

I think both of these are more likely than truth-sayer, given that Violet admits she never asked questions because she didn't want the answers, she didn't want to know those particular truths. Honestly, I don't have a solid, solid theory, I just think personally, based on the book I read, if Violet is a truth sayer, it will bomb her characterisation entirely.

Anyway, that's it! I could be proven wrong in two weeks and I'll cop it on the chin. (I won't, I'll throw the book across the room). xx

[strangersteddierthings]

What's Eight Plus Seven?

Part One🦇Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four🦇Part Five🦇Part Six

Being friends with Eddie is interesting, now that Eddie knows they're friends. Or trying to be. Or whatever it is that's happening.

If Steve thought Eddie was in his personal space before, it's nothing compared to now. It's not like this is a revelation to Steve, he's been around and seen how little Eddie cares for everyone else's personal space. It's just interesting to be part of that group, now.

He leans in close to stage whisper about anything and everything, especially if what he has to say will get a stir out of one of the kids. He gets to be on the receiving end of Eddie's touching now. Always touching. Eddie's hand on his arm as they talk, an arm flung around his shoulders as Eddie laughs about something and uses Steve to stay upright, so many high fives and fist bumps. Like, so many.

It's not like Steve is a stranger to touch. Robin leans against him all the time. The kids have no problem doling out hugs and attempted tackles in equal measure. And even the other Hellfire club members have warmed up to him, offering high-fives or handshakes when they show up for games. Except for Gareth, whose sole greeting seems to be clasping hands and pulling him into a half hug before patting him on the back like he's trying to burp a baby.

Not that Steve is complaining about the lack of personal space. He's just making an observation. He can now see just how much Eddie has been holding back when it came to touching him, back when he was still trying to befriend Steve. No, none of this is a problem. It's just, well, Steve didn't expect to crave the physical touch as much as he does now, is all.

It also turns out that beyond losing all access to his own personal space, Eddie is funny, can be kind, and is taking accountability. Steve was witness to Eddie pulling Lucas aside to talk, and even though he couldn't hear what was said, he did get to see the hug it ended it. And while Steve still declines all invitations to actually play Dungeons and Dragons, Eddie's been taking the time to explain it to him. To talk him through the words that swim on the pages of the Player's Handbook. He answers any questions Steve has after ever session of the campaign they play, and recaps the ones Steve isn't around to hear, whether because of work or a migraine (Dustin has a key to his house to let them all in when Steve is gone).

He and Eddie have been hanging out after ever Hellfire session, along with two or three more times in the week. Robin is still the person who Steve spends most of this time with, but Eddie is a close second these days.

So, overall, befriending Eddie has been interesting this last month, and that brings him to the now.

Now, Eddie has just finished cleaning up after the most recent game and Steve is lounging on the couch. It's perpendicular to the table, so Steve's laid out on it, head at the end furthest from the table so that he can watch as well as listen. Steve watches as Eddie fiddles with some papers, brows furrowed in thought, for a good five minutes before Steve speaks up to break the silence, "what are you thinking about?"

"I just- I made you something."

He props himself up on his elbows to get a better view of Eddie, "You made me something?"

"Don't, uh, don't get too excited. It's nothing fancy," he says, before grabbing the pieces of paper he was fiddling with and marching over with determination. "I know that you might never play a game with us, but here."

Steve sits up fully now that Eddie's approached the couch and reaches out to take the pages.

They're homemade character sheets. His character's character sheets. Three pages per character, where he can very clearly see that Eddie has taken the time to keep his handwriting neat, even, and as Steve examines the words, he can see Eddie has done his best to mimic Robin's handwriting, which Steve had mentioned very briefly, and only once, being easy for him to read. Robin's letters all look so different from each other with the 'f' having a slight curve at its top, but every 't' is perfectly straight. For reasons Steve doesn't fully understand, it makes it easier for him to read. Robin's writing rarely swims on the page like printed words do. Even the numbers are painstakingly written to look different. The 6's curve while the 9's are almost as straight at the t's. The 5 perfectly mirror a printed 5, with straight lines and a curved bottom but the 2 looks more like a capital cursive Q, all rounded edges.

The third page of each character sheet, however, has a character portrait drawn in a corner of the page. The top character is his dwarf paladin, drawn to look like Steve with a thick, full, braided beard. He laughs out loud at it, too touched and happy to keep it in. "Did you draw this?"

"Yeah. Will's not the only artist here," Eddie grins at him.

Steve flips to the last page, to see how well Eddie did with the elf magic-user. Steve didn't base this character on himself. When Eddie asked how he imagined the elf to look like, Steve had tried his best to describe him with words and gestures, demonstrating how long he thought his ears would be, and the length of his hair.

What he sees makes his heart skip, or stop, he's not sure. Because even though Eddie's never seen him, what stares back at Steve is Christopher. It's not perfect, the jawline is more angled than Christopher's was, and the hair is too long but that's because Steve described it that way. It's as close to being Christopher as one could get without seeing a picture.

It makes Steve's eyes water.

"Is it that bad?" Eddie asks.

He just shakes his head in response, setting the pages on the coffee table and stands. He disappears into the study and returns with a single photo frame. He reaches for Eddie's wrist, pulling his hand up and shoving the frame into his palm. Eddie grips the frame and frowns down at it for a moment, a confused expression on his face.

Steve feels a lump in his throat, emotion blocking words that usually come easily to him. All he can do is grab the page with the character portrait on it, offering it up to Eddie to see again. Eddie looks from the photo to the drawing and back a few times before quickly looking up to Steve. "I- is this... Christopher?"

He nods. There are three people in the picture frame. Christopher in the center with Amber and Robert on either side of him. A Santa hat hangs off his head while the twins are each wearing headbands with antlers on them, all three of them in ugly Christmas sweaters. It was sent along with a Christmas card and his mother, perhaps in a pique of nostalgia, framed it. It had sat on the mantle above the fireplace for a few years before migrating to the bookshelf in the study.

"Oh," Eddie whispers, looking between the two pictures again. Then he looks up again, a soft smile on his face and mischief in his eyes as he says, "you think Hopper'll hire me to do the police sketches? Turns out I'm pretty good at drawing from verbal descriptions."

That helps clear the block in his throat, helps him find his words again. Eddie's good at doing that. Saying just the right thing at just the right time to make Steve laugh instead of cry. "You? Working for the police?"

"The police!? No! Slander! I'd work for Hopper, though."

He does laugh, then. "I think your character is developing, or whatever."

Eddie snorts out his own laugh before passing the photo frame and paper back to Steve. "Yeah, well, I'm trying."

And Steve see it, is that thing. That Eddie is trying, has been trying. He makes less comments about conformity and says less snarky things about the customers that come into Family Video when he's loitering around. He does it even when Steve's not around to see this. Robin vouches for him, so do the kids, and even Wayne mentioned that Eddie sat and watched a full baseball game with him without his usual scoffing and ranting.

(And by mention, Steve means that Wayne pulled him aside when he went over to the trailer recently to tell him, "Eddie watched a whole game with me last night and didn't bitch once. And of course I questioned if he was gettin' sick and he said someone had given him a needed talkin' to about bein' a right ass 'bout some things and he was workin' on his way of thinkin' 'bout those things. I think I got you ta thank for that."

"What? Why?" Steve had asked.

"Eddie 'n I don't have much we bond over, believe it or not. Even though Eddie's decided baseball still ain't for him, he said he wouldn't be opposed to watchin' with me again. Don't think he'd of done that without ya.")

So, Steve sees it. He sees that Eddie is trying to be a better person than he was, and that he's drawn an almost perfect picture of Christopher because he listens when Steve talks. He wrote out character sheets that might just make it easier for Steve to read them, instead of just trying to argue that words don't move and if he'd just try harder he'd be able to read like everyone else.

He sees Eddie and it makes Steve want in a way he's been repressing since he was a freshman and first thought Eddie was cute. Eddie's fingers brush against his as he hands the pictures back, and even though Eddie's touched him probably a million times since that first talk, this is the time it makes electricity run through him and his stomach swoops and he feels his face heat.

Not wanting Eddie to see him blush, he turns on heel and speed walks to the study. He places the photo back on the bookshelf where it was before and then pauses to lean his forehead against the wall. They just got to the point of friendship! Steve cannot ruin this by catching feelings.

Although.

He did tell Robin he had a crush on her and got a soulmate out of it.

No. What are the odds he'd get two soulmates? No. He needs to talk to Robin.

He gathers himself and heads back to the living room, where he plans to sit and chat with Eddie like they do after every game and pretend everything is normal.

He crawls through Robin's window that night. She wasn't expecting him, but the window is always cracked.

"Rob, you awake?"

"Mmm," Robin hums back, rolling over in the bed to pop one eye open. She watches him untie his shoes and toe out of them before scooting herself to the edge of the twin, lifting the blanket she's under up for him to slide in. Usually when he does this, it's with his back to her, but this time he needs to see her face, to see the reaction to his confession. He climbs in and settles facing her, watching as she blinks herself more awake.

"What's happened?" she says around a yawn.

"I want to date Eddie."

Robin's eyes go wide. "Oh! Ah, so, that's definitely wake me in the middle of the night kind of news."

"It's barely midnight, but yeah."

"So... how, umm, did you find out?"

Steve sighs, wiggling to lay on his back and stare up at the ceiling now that he's dropped the bomb and it didn't explode instantly. "That I like boys, or that I like Eddie?"

Robin wiggles forward and slings an arm over his torso, curling into his side. "Were they different epiphanies?"

"Yeah."

He feels Robin nod her head against his shoulder. "So, how long have you known?"

He swallows thickly before whispering, "since the summer of '78."

A long silence follows that, and Steve doesn't try to fill it. Steve knows that there is no universe in which this confession to Robin ruins their friendship, but that doesn't mean she can't be mad or upset at him for not telling her. He tells her everything.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" is the question she asks after an eternity, and Steve feels tears in his eyes because she doesn't sound angry or hurt, just curious and maybe confused.

"It didn't matter before," Steve says and waits a moment to see if Robin will say something, but she doesn't, so he continues, "I thought it never would matter, living here in Hawkins. And- and a little part of me was afraid you wouldn't even believe me. If I said it out loud, if I'd let anyone know, and they scoffed, or, or rolled their eyes, or- I know I would have shoved it down. 'Cause I knew I could just like girls for the rest of my life and it would be fine."

She squeezes him with the arm draped over his torso. "Hmm, shoulda known that you'd like girls and boys, ya slut."

The laugh he lets out is way too loud to this late at night, but he doesn't care. That Robin is teasing him means they're okay. That she's not too hurt or mad at him for keeping this from her. For letting her think she was alone. His voice holds no hint of that laughter when he says, "I'm sorry."

"Unless the thing you are apologizing for is speed-running the gay crisis, which is unfair, you better shut your stupid mouth, Steven Michael Harrington."

"Don't government name me while we cuddle in your bed."

"I seem to be the only one doing the cuddling, so I'll say what I want."

He huffs out an exasperated breath but wiggles his arm under and around her. "Better?"

"Yes. Now, Eddie, hmm? I don't see the appeal, but neither can I claim he's a dud like Tammy Thompson. Give me a crush you had I can mock."

"... Tommy H in freshman year."

"No!" Robin is so flabbergasted by that she has to prop herself up on an elbow to look down at him.

He knows he's blushing because of the heat in his face but the room is only lit by the light of the moon, so she might not notice. "It was like for a month. A confusing time where I couldn't tell if it was a crush crush or a friend crush."

"Disgusting."

"Yeah. I know."

They giggle after that and Steve shifts so he can place a kiss on Robin's forehead, bending his arm to pet Robin's hair.

"Alright. You want to date Eddie. Do you... think he likes guys, too?"

"I don't know. We don't sit around discussing who we like, you know? Eddie's never mentioned liking anyone. Ever. Lots of talking about Dungeons and Dragons and his guitar, though. Hmm. He calls it sweetheart. Did you know that?"

Robin snorts. "What a dork. I lied. Eddie's a total dud and loser. Who gives their instrument a name, much less that name being sweetheart."

"What, you don't have a name for your trumpet?"

"God no. I'm a band geek but I'm not a total weirdo."

"Well, does Vickie have a name for her instrument?"

Robin gasps suddenly, a realization of some sort, and says, "Oh! This is why you were so sure Vickie liked me back at Warzone! Why you were so sure she could like both! Because you did!"

Steve shushes her. "Is this how you want to come out to your parents?"

"Right. Quiet time," Robin whispers, "I can do that. Anyway, back to you and Eddie. Are you going to... pursue that?"

"I don't know. I know I'm usually a Pursue Immediately kinda guy but this time... I'm scared, Robbie. I've never been friends with someone before dating them. I've never had something to lose if they said no."

"I don't know what to say," Robin says like a confession, quiet. "I don't know how to help. You're the only person who knows about me because I'm also scared. I don't want to lose our friends 'cause I don't know what they would say. You can never know how people will react about it until they, like, have to actually react. But whatever you decide, however you proceed, just know I'll always be here."

"I love you."

"I love you, too, you giant sap."

May gives way to June and graduation parties. Steve conspires with Wayne to hold Eddie's graduation party at his house. The trailer wouldn't have room for all of Hellfire and the kids. The graduation ceremony goes by quickly and the party is a hit. Nancy and Robin are at their own graduation parties hosted by their parents, so this one is only for Eddie.

Which is what Steve wanted. He didn't want Eddie to have to share this day, a long time coming, with anyone.

(He does make an appearance at Robin's party, because that's his soulmate, but she tells him to go away after fifteen minutes with a my parents already want to betroth me to you, if you stick around, they'll actually try).

"Thanks for hostin'," Wayne says once the party starts to wind down, plopping down into the camping chair he'd brought with him. He'd actually brought four of them, to ensure enough seating for everyone when factoring in the chairs Steve already had at the house. Wayne then gestures across the pool, where Dustin, Lucas, and Max are welcoming a recently dropped off Mike, who had to spend most of the day at Nancy's graduation. "Speakin' of hostin', you gonna let 'em play their game here over the summer? I can start chippin' in snack money."

Steve laughs. "It never even occurred to me that they'd stop once school ended. So, yeah, if they want to keep playing then my place is open. We can take turns buying pizza."

"Best tell Eddie that. He's been tryin' ta work up the courage to ask ya. I can hear him pacin' 'round his room, mutterin' to himself."

"Is he... scared to ask?"

"Nah. Just don't wanna overstep himself, I think," Wayne says, then leans forwards, elbows on his knees. His expression is serious and his voice is low when he adds, "Eddie might not look it but he's always had a fear of bein' too much, y'know? It's not anything you've done, son. It's just Eddie, gettin' up in his own head again."

That Steve understands completely. "Don't worry, Wayne. I'll make sure Eddie knows I want him here."

Wayne nods, reaching out to pat Steve's leg and then use it pull himself out of the chair. "No doubts, here. Now, I think there's some potato salad left callin' ta me."

Steve stands, too. Wayne heads inside to where the food has been safely stored away from the bugs, and Steve heads off to join Eddie, Frankie, and Jeff in whatever they're talking about. They're discussing band stuff, so Steve listens happily, chipping in when they ask his opinion.

Eventually, Frankie and Jeff claim they want to go throw Gareth in the pool as payback for some earlier misdeed, and Eddie opts to stay and chat with Steve.

"So, I originally came to ask if there were any DnD snacks you'd like to change up. We've been getting the same things for a couple months now. Any summer specific snacks?"

Eddie's face glows with delight, smile big and eyes bright. "You're not sick of us yet?"

"No way," Steve smiles back. "I like having you and the guys around."

Eddie's face softens into a fond expression and Steve feels butterflies erupt inside him. Eddie opens his mouth to say something but a shriek interrupts and they both whip around to the sound of splashing.

"Oh. They were serious," Eddie says, which is a weird thing to say. If Eddie didn't think they were serious about throwing Gareth in the pool, then he must have thought they were just making an excuse to get out of conversation. Why?

"Looks like it," is what Steve says, instead of questioning Eddie.

"Oh! Steve! I had an idea," Eddie blurts.

"Oh! Eddie! What?" Steve parrots his phrasing back at him.

"And, like, you can tell me this is none of my business and to drop it, but, uh, Christopher's younger siblings, they're the same age at like Dustin and the rest, yeah? I was thinking, maybe, you should invite them to come stay with you for a couple weeks. Like you used to do with your grandparents? I mean, what's the difference between one older relative and another, right?"

Eddie keeps going, talking about the pros and cons, how it might be cool to get their kids to be friends with Steve's cousins, and Steve hears him, but also isn't listening at the same time. It's a great idea. Steve wonders why he hasn't thought about it. There's nothing stopping him from calling up his aunt and uncle and offering. He doesn't know if Amber and Robert still spend a month of their summer in Michigan, but he wants to know.

And that Eddie has been thinking about it. Has been listing ideas for group activities so Amber and Robert have fun while here. He's got great ideas, and it sounds like he plans to be around for the whole thing, like he wants to be around for the whole thing.

The want swells inside him and Steve just acts. He grabs Eddie's wrist and drags him into the house, passing Wayne as he's heading back outside with a new plate of food. Which is good, because Steve had forgotten Wayne was inside but with him back outside, they are alone in the house as he drags Eddie into the kitchen.

"Uh, what-" Eddie starts to ask once Steve has stopped walking, but Steve cuts him off. He's turned to face Eddie, dropping his wrist to reach up with both hands and cup Eddie's face between them.

"Can I kiss you? Please? Please can I kiss you?"

Eddie's eyes widen but he's nodding his head almost frantically and Steve pulls him into a kiss.

It's electric, like that first time Eddie's fingers brushed his own the day he realized he had a crush on Eddie. Eddie presses in, his own hands wrapping around Steve's waist, pulling him in as much as he's pressing forward. He runs his tongue along Eddie's bottom lip and Eddie opens to him immediately.

Eddie backs him into the wall that divides the dining room from the kitchen, kisses turning heated, biting. It's a heady feeling for Steve, to not be the one pressing someone against the wall; to instead be pressed. There's a high-pitched whine that echos through the kitchen and it takes Eddie breaking away to kiss his way down Steve's neck for him to realize he's making that noise, encouraging Eddie with it.

"Fuck, Eddie," Steve says as Eddie shifts, his leg sliding between Steve's own. "Wait, stop. Wait."

Eddie pulls back, although reluctantly. "Hmm?"

"Anyone could walk in here. And your party is still going. We gotta slow it down."

"Right, shit, sorry," Eddie pulls away, far too quickly, and Steve doesn't like the uncertainty that settles on him.

"Hey, no, don't apologize. I just- Jesus Eddie, I want to continue so bad, but not if we have to rush. Not some quicky in the middle of your party."

Tentatively, Eddie reaches back out, takes one of Steve's hands in his. "So, this isn't just a- this is something you've thought about?"

Steve nods. "Yeah. I told Robin almost a month ago I wanted to date you."

"Yeah?" Eddie looks shocked and shy at the same time.

"Yeah. So, uh, let's finish this party and we can talk about us after?"

Eddie nods, bringing Steve's hand up to his lips and planting a soft kiss to his knuckles. "Definitely."

[stranded-labyrinth]

Will gets Hannibal betta fish one day.

easy enough pets for him to care for. plus, Will knows the world of fish, he's easily able to relay any information needed. he wants it to no longer seem as though he's crowding the house with solely his own pets, and give Hannibal a bit of leeway. he asks Hannibal one day if he would get a pet, and while he admires Hannibal's restraint not to side eye the six hounds Will has gathered, Hannibal does give a genuine answer: he would, if he happened to come across the right one.

and so Will arrives home with two tanks and two fish. both are male, because the store simply had more males. they're both equally beautiful, and Will takes great care putting them into separate tanks. he tells Hannibal to keep them separate at all costs, even during tank cleaning, because two male bettas will fight to the death.

the next day, Will comes home. he's greeted by the sight of one tank with solely water in it, and one tank with a betta fish that has some missing scales and a torn fin. he looks at Hannibal. Hannibal looks at him.

Hannibal looks by all accounts like he knows full well he is about to receive an earful, but had deemed it easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

[excalibur-gone-missing]

Paring: Dino x fem!reader

Requested: no

Genre: angst, fluff

Warning(s): cheating, angst, sadness, mentions of pregnancy (do inform me if there's more)

Summary: You were the light guiding Chan for the most of his life. now that you are not there anymore, he cant help but feel your absence as he reminisces his past and all those times you were there to ground him no matter what.

Word count: 6k

Other works

disclaimer: this is not the exact representation of the subjects in real life. I just use them for my inspiration.

special thanks to @spamgyu for helping me out 😭

a/n: I would greatly appreciate it if all of you could take a moment to comment on this fic. As an author, I find great value in your feedback, as it allows me to better comprehend my readers, and I thoroughly enjoy interacting with all of you. Constructive criticism is always welcome, so don't hesitate to talk about this fic or send me an ask.

[permanent taglist] [only for those interested, don’t fill the form otherwise]

Chan's life was determined before he had a chance to consider it. His family wasn't well-off. They struggled from early on to get food on their plates. He knew from when he was a child that he had to support his siblings because his parents refused to do so.

So that’s exactly what he did. He got into SNU with a full scholarship, secured a good job, and built a stable life with six figures coming in annually to his bank account, providing enough money to support his siblings’ dreams.

But what did it all get him?

Nothing!

He sacrificed his teens and his twenties because his father felt the need to be a raging alcoholic, and now he stands in the middle of Gangnam in his beautiful flat with its polished floors. But he lacks the most important thing in life: happiness.

To be truthful, he lacks a lot of things, but happiness takes the cake. If someone asks him, he lacks friends too. But our dearest Boo Seungkwan would like to disagree about that. In Chan’s defense, friends are absolutely not equal to friend (just a difference of ‘s’, as our dear ‘Kwanie’ said. Plus, his multiple personalities make up for the said lack of ’s’, which further raises the question as to why the man does not go for a checkup, as it seems he has self-diagnosed DID. We shall never know).

Chan is happy about his brothers doing what they like, though. It’s not that hard to not be happy when he literally raised them. Sacrifices need to be made, he has realized; some just make more than others, and there is nothing one can do about that. He accepts that he is indeed grateful for the friend he has made, the one who has stayed with him and accepted him as he is.

Now, it may sound sappy, and Chan swears he will never tell this to Seungkwan, but he has indeed helped him through the thick and thin of life. All those late-night drinking sessions and ugly crying have brought him to this stage in life where he thinks of the boy as more of a family than anyone else. He helped him when Chan’s life was falling apart, and he also was there to scold him back to the right track when no one believed in him, not even himself.

Although he lacks happiness, he is fine with that (he at least has Boo Seungkwan). He can live with being sad; he already has!

This is where you came in, the reason for Chan’s genuine smiles, from back in college to five years ago. It was a pretty serious relationship that you both had. Chan loved you. He had plans of making you his wife. For God’s sake, he was in a relationship with you for almost ten years! But somewhere along the way, he messed up. He became the exact thing he had hated all his life.

He became a person like his father.

You, being the nice kind, tried your best to stop him from spiraling down the rabbit hole of bad habits. But alas, it takes two to tango, and if he didn’t want to be better, no one, not even God himself, could do it for him.

It took losing you to realize how messed up his life had become.

--

“Chan, I’m heading out. Dinner’s in the fridge—please actually eat it this time. We don’t need two meal skippers in this household,” you quipped, watching as Chan chuckled and gave you a quick giggle inducing peck before returned his attention to the document he’d been typing for the past hour.

“Sure thing, Your Majesty. Your command shall be dutifully followed!” he exclaimed with a mock salute, drawing out another laugh from you. With a playful ruffle of his hair and another peck on his cheek, you left the apartment to begin your night shift at the hospital.

Chan, unlike you, has just started his new job after completing his MBA. It’s been tough, but he’s persevered, and soon enough, you both will be able to enjoy the luxuries he could only dream of growing up.

Your fifth anniversary is approaching faster than ever, and now Chan finally has the means to fulfill your dream of a trip to Europe. The pressure of this new job is more than the last one, but getting those tickets would be a walk in the park now.

Quickly finishing his document and mailing it to the head of the department, he immediately goes to check those flight ticket prices and hotel prices. He releases a happy sigh the minute he realizes that it’s exactly what he had expected the prices to be. So, without wasting a single moment, he buys those tickets. He knew this gift would make you happier than ever.

The next month, you had been notified about the expensive purchase only because you had to get a leave from your job, and you obviously can’t disappear for two weeks unannounced. He, in reality, had no plans to inform you about anything, but he couldn’t interfere with your job either.

But at the end it was worth it, the look on your face the minute you were informed about the trip. Oh, if only Chan could frame it and keep it away from the world, only if he could keep you near him and never let you go. But he didn’t think of that then. No, he was happy he had told you earlier.

The happiness radiating off you as you kept going on and on about the clothes you needed to buy, all the foods you were going to try once there. It was what helped him keep going throughout the day, even though the work became tiring with every passing minute.

If only he could have stopped time and lived in that moment forever.

—

One thing he never realized is how demanding his job would be once he got into a higher position. The calls kept him up at night; they came at the most ungodly of times, and Chan was expected to pick them up, because he always did.

You never complained; it was fine by you. If anyone understood him, it was you. Both of you had highly demanding jobs, and nothing could beat the expectations your colleagues had on you both.

But what he had not counted on was those calls interrupting your trip. During the entirety of your anniversary, he was glued to that phone of his, never once able to leave it. It was one problem at the office or the other.

Again, you kept your mouth shut, enjoying your own company as your boyfriend busied himself with work in the hotel room.

That was the last trip you both had gone on. You figured that it was too much to ask from someone who had so much work to do. But still, you understood his hunger to do better in life. You understood that someone had to compromise in the relationship and wholeheartedly accepted that it had to be you.

Coming to think of it, it was not supposed to be like this. Never! Both of you were supposed to communicate and figure out what your relationship was supposed to mean. But somewhere along the line, it just became regular sex and nothing else. When you talked about this with your friends, all of them had the same reaction.

‘Leave him!’ they had told you, ‘he wouldn’t change, he prefers his job more than you.’

It was a regular thing now. But you were scared. All the years you had invested in the relationship, you never wanted it to become what it had. You had held out hope that one day Chan would notice you. He would realize he had a girlfriend who also needs his attention as much as his job.

It didn’t take too long for those dreams to come true, though.

—

One night, you sat down with the man, asking him about the changes in his life. You begged him to look your way beyond the times he made love to you. It was an intense conversation, filled with words that neither of you actually meant, but hurt you both equally.

That night brought you both another few years, or that’s what you think. It became better, both your lives and the relationship. You both would talk more, spend time with each other, laugh with each other, and go about your days with lovesick smiles on your faces. Although none of your jobs became less hectic, it still was as painstaking as ever, but the scenery in your shared home was peaceful. It was both of your comfort zones.

What neither of you realized, this peace that you both had brought back into your lives, was fickle. In order to keep it like that, both of you had to put in some effort.

—

It slowly became visible to both of you how much more effort this relation of yours needed. Both of you saw the way your paradise was crumbling down bit by bit. Nights became lonely for you. Chan, being the perfectionist he is, would be stuck up in his office until the rays of sun hit the glass windows, reminding him of the fact that he indeed had stayed the night in his office. The hectic job took everything away from him. It stripped him of his identity, and slowly it was also stripping his happiness and sanity away. It was like the darker times had hit both of you again.

It was then that he suddenly passed out on the streets due to extreme fatigue and was brought immediately into the nearest hospital, which was the one you worked at. Lo and behold, you were the nurse on emergency room duty that day. This was the first time you saw the love of your life in that state; you saw what this new job had done to him. How it had taken this happy and healthy person you knew and turned him into this sick, unhappy, and overworked person. Your helplessness mocked you in your face. At night, you stayed by his side after the doctors had given their verdict about him being too overworked. You took care of him like never before, making sure to make him take an ample amount of rest.

Sadly, the industry is ruthless. As soon as the employers became aware that their once highly valuable employee’s usefulness had diminished, they ultimately opted to terminate him. Although Chan claims there were some more internal politics involved in this sacking, there was no way he could have evaded it.

Both of you soon realized it was the best thing that could have happened to him. While being the worst experience he could ever go through in his corporate career.

You stayed by his side through every hurdle though. You never once let him feel the need to be more than what he already was. But life was giving both of you a hard time.

It took Chan another month to get a new job. But only this time, it was a better, more important position in a better company. This is when life took off for both of you again. With Chan back on track, equipped with the newfound knowledge of not working more than necessary, he was on a roll. Almost unstoppable.

This change also affected your relationship, but positively this time. Chan and you would go on constant dates and enjoy each other’s company way more than ever.

—

It was nearing your seventh anniversary. Both of you had talked about getting married and starting a family enough times for him to know this was the perfect time for him to propose.

So, on the day of your seventh anniversary, he had planned to take you to this fancy Italian place. He claimed that you deserved only the best. No one could ever argue with him about that. You, along with Seungkwan, had been by his side for so long that he had forgotten the time when he didn’t have you both. Nothing, absolutely nothing, would change that fact. With that it brought him to the most important question of that year.

“But what ring do I buy her?” the stressed boy asked his best friend.

“Wow, I wasn’t informed about the fact that y/n suddenly had become my girlfriend!” Seungkwan exclaimed sassily.

“Dude, you can calm down. She is still my girl, ain’t no way you are getting her. Find a girl of your own,” the shorter boy retorted back.

Why am I being asked about her preference for a ring then, huh?”

“Because she said, and I quote, ‘if you buy me an expensive engagement ring that I can’t even wear out because it looks too expensive, I will castrate you’,” Chan said seriously, bringing out a seal-like laugh from the back of Seungkwan’s throat.

“Do something meaningful for her then, you dumb fuck,” making Chan almost cringe at the scolding. Without letting the boy talk, his best friend continued, “Put in some effort and do something that shows you care, without having to spend a copious amount of money. I have no idea what you should do, but bro, if it were up to me, a girl would for sure get a ring no matter what!”

Now, this made him think. It made him think hard. But even after all that thinking, he couldn’t come up with a good idea for an alternative for an engagement ring.

It was not until the next Saturday when he was sitting on the couch waiting for you to choose a movie for the weekly movie night, did he stumble upon the perfect idea for a ring? Like any usual person, the man was scrolling through TikTok when he found out that one could make rings out of clay.

Perfect!

If you didn’t want a diamond ring, you shall get a clay ring. For you might catch the sun lacking one day, but not Chan, never Chan!

—

This kick-started the learner phase of Chan’s life once again. He would visit the pottery classes every week because he needed to excel at the art to mold the perfect ring. One suitable for daily wear and also because this hobby brought him more peace than ever.

He made some friends here; they were fun to hang out with. You had met all these new people flooding into his life. He would parade about the with his hand on you showing you off proudly.

“Who wouldn’t?” he would ask whenever someone pointed it out. This question had the power to make him start ranting about you at any given point. So much so that after a point, people stopped asking him about you, no matter the context.

Because, oh boy, was he in love.

--

It took him one year and some friendships to finally complete learning everything there was to learn about pottery. In the course of that time, he had littered your shared house with his creations.

Oh, you wanted to buy a new bowl because you saw it on Instagram? No fear, Chan shall make it this instant. Oops, your favorite coffee mug broke? Chan has come to your rescue with a better, scientifically cute, usable, and overall better mug for you.

The creative spark of the boy never dimmed down, nor did his extroverted nature. Every other day, he would be out with his new friends, so much so that even Boo Seungkwan noticed. You both had chats with each other about the changes in Chan’s life over a cup of tea whenever Seungkwan would come over.

To say that you both were happy about him enjoying life would be an understatement. You had seen the pain the man had gone through in his life. It only made sense for him to have the best of the best experiences when he had the opportunities.

But again, as people say, one should do everything in moderation. It seems that Chan could do nothing in moderation. He would work himself half to death. In this case too, he started drinking and partying himself half to death. The outings that were done to unwind after a long hard day became parties that were making the day even longer.

The friends that helped him overcome the pressuring environment of his office became the ones who would pressure him to go way out of his comfort zone, all for the wrong reasons. People say twenties are times when people experiment with their life and gain new experiences.

The same was applicable for Chan too, the only difference being he was learning different ways of spiraling down holes that are hard to climb up from. The hilarious part being, these were the holes that he had carefully dug out himself.

It’s not like you never stopped him, because you did. The minute you realized these new friends were pushing Chan’s limits in the wrong way, you didn’t waste a second to tell him.

“I think you should calm down with this partying and stuff. It’s unbelievably bad for your health,” you had told him one night when he had come home drunk out of his wits.

“I know how to have fun, not my fault you don’t!”

The boy had shouted at you before collapsing on the couch. Realizing it was a waste of time to even try and talk to him in this state, you tried again the next day when he was far more sober.

“Do you remember what happened yesterday?” you ask Chan, to which he shakes his still-hungover head and winces. Sighing, you continue, “Chan, you can’t let them get to you like this. Moderation is the key here. Please don’t overdo anything, I beg you!” You hugged him, trying to coax him to understand where you were coming from. He obviously hugged you back and promised you to keep your advice in mind the next time they asked him out.

He didn’t. He swears he tried to. But the peer pressure got to him. Before he could even back off, they had already hauled his ass to the bar. He never wanted to disappoint you. So he chose to accept the most coherent plan his drunk mind could formulate: the plan to lie to you.

—

Your seventh anniversary had come and gone a year ago. The only gifts he could provide you that day were a fancy dinner and a solid promise that he would indeed get you the greatest ring you will have ever seen in your whole life. Now the time had come. The time to prove his skills. Those skills he spent an entire year honing.

During this cute date at home, he produced a small wooden box from his pocket. After you had enjoyed the homemade meal he had whipped up for you and you both were cuddling on the balcony, he proposed to you with stars in his eyes and hope in his heart.

He shocked you with the ring. Like your relationship, it was delicate, yet made with lots of love and care. You obviously said yes without hesitation. After all, you loved this man, and he loved you too. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could ever go wrong if he was with you.

--

It seems that no matter how hard you try, life always seems to have other plans for you.

The month right after you accepted his proposal, you received an invitation for a two-year-long workshop in Germany. Such opportunities don’t come every day, so you were elated.

Without wasting any time, you called Chan, informing him about the opportunity you had received. But like every coin, this great opportunity had its drawbacks too.

With the prospect of studying and learning under some of the greatest doctors and nurses came the hardship of leaving your fiancé behind. Chan didn’t like this one bit. He could barely stand to be away from you for a second, let alone two years.

But seeing the excitement on your face and hearing the joy in your voice, he couldn’t bring himself to ask you to stay back. He knew you had sacrificed a lot for him, compromised at times when you could have been happy if he hadn’t made decisions that ruined his life.

--

So he put on a happy smile and told you that if you didn’t take this opportunity, he would pack your bags himself and kick you out of the house. This assurance gave you the confidence you needed. Without wasting any time, you sent an email accepting the proposition to join the workshop.

The next five months passed in a whim. During this time, he had asked you to marry him before you went away, but with a peaceful and determined smile, you had told him, “I will marry you once I come back, like that, we won’t have to spend too much time as newlyweds. Plus, I will be smarter than you too.”

“You are always smarter than me. I can never surpass you,” was the answer you had received, along with a sweet kiss, making your heart swell like a balloon.

Life was starting to feel better again.

Chan had finally made his boundaries very clear. The boy felt extremely guilty for lying to you, though he never confessed to you about doing so. He made sure his actions proved his redemption. He ensured to let these new friends of his know that going out too much with them was affecting him in ways that he didn’t appreciate. Although they did sometimes win against him and force him to go out, it was not as bad as it was before.

—

Soon the day came when you had to fly away to Germany. To say that Chan was sad would be an understatement. He was devastated when he saw you off at the airport with Seungkwan. He had cried the whole way home, making Seungkwan scold him as if he were a baby.

“Now if you keep behaving like this, do you think she would be happy?” the older boy questioned him.

“No, but I miss her already,” Chan replied in a whisper while wiping his tears harshly.

“Be nice, be happy for her. You can talk to her all the time. It’s not the Stone Age,” Seungkwan said with an exasperated sigh, making the younger one stop his sad boy antics at once.

But it was not like Chan was okay. He started working overtime at the office, desperately waiting for you to call him when you got free. And call you did, religiously at six o’clock in the evening.

You both made the decision to talk at that time, regardless of any circumstances. This went on for six months. He tried his best to follow the routine of overworking himself before you would call and save him from killing himself with work.

But with all these works, his willpower also started to crumble down. The old ways came back to him. Before he realized it, he became a party animal. He made new friends at these clubs and bars he started frequenting. He thought you wouldn’t pick up. But you did. You saw how your boyfriend was slowly changing. It was not that obvious at first, but slowly you realized he was getting drowned with work.

Being the lovely girlfriend you were, you asked Seungkwan to take care of him. The boy tried his best to do so. But alas, he was not that successful.

It seemed to both of you that Chan had spiraled back into his overworking session. What you both were unaware of was that it was more than that.

Chan was not just overworking; he was over-drinking and over partying too.

—

One faithful night; he met Eva, his pottery class instructor. She was pretty. They talked the whole night, catching up like old buddies and having fun.

She brought a change to his life again. She started being there for him during times when he would lose himself. She was a great friend, so great that in no time you had the chance to meet her.

You had come back for a week’s vacation. Seungkwan thought it was important for all the friends to meet up because it had been a long time since he had seen you. This meeting was supposed to consist of only you, Chan, and Seungkwan. But Chan asked to bring in another friend he would like you to meet. It was Eva.

You liked her; she was nice. You wanted to be friends with her. Her sweet personality was something no one could resist, a great example of a sweetheart through and through.

For once, you were actually proud of your boyfriend’s choices in life. Your visit was over even before it had started. Suddenly, the week was over, and you were packing your bags to return to Germany.

This time, Chan was not as scared of things going downhill anymore. He knew that within a few more months, you would come back, and he could happily start the wedding preparations. He also knew he had a solid group of friends to have his back. Most importantly, he had learned the art of living without you. Not that it was happy, but now he could enjoy spending time by himself.

—

Time flew faster than ever. In no time, it was Chan’s birthday. Your program would finish that same month, so sadly you couldn’t visit him. All you could do was video call him that morning and congratulate him for hitting thirty before you, to which he grumpily replied, “Your birthday is in six months; I’m gonna make it hell for you.”

“Whatever, old man, get dressed. Don’t you have a job to go to?” You laughed at his grumpy face while teasing him even more.

“I miss you,” Chan suddenly called out, pouting.

“You will meet me next month, Channie. Don’t be this sad now.” Although that did make him happy, the thought of spending yet another birthday without you was saddening. But it’s not like it was going to last. You would be back in no time.

That thought put a smile on his face. Soon enough, he was skipping around the house cooking breakfast and answering numerous calls from his friends and family for being a thirty-year-old now.

Seungkwan and Eva had also planned a not-so-surprise party for him. It consisted of meeting in front of his office and dragging his ass to the bar to drink and have fun. Although the day was spent slaving away in front of the computer, that night he had a lot of fun. He talked to Seungkwan and Eva for hours, and the three of them were pretty intoxicated when they left.

The only thing he remembered from that night was the fact that Eva, being the one out of the three with the most alcohol tolerance, was the one who had made sure that all of them returned home safely.

There was just one slight problem. Eva started to avoid him. Now, in any other situation, he would not have noticed it, but the text the next morning asking him if he remembered anything from the night before had him confused. When he asked her what it was all about, she refused to answer him, opting to ignore him instead.

He had no recollection of the night before, and Seungkwan didn’t either, so it was a mystery to both of them. But then again, his gut told him the problem was bigger than what he thought it was and might come to haunt him if not solved now.

So he did the most sane thing he could think of: He asked her to talk to him about it. He knew the wedding preparations would start the minute you came back, so he wanted to make sure to fix any problem that might affect you both before it blasted out of proportion.

—

“You kissed me,” was the first thing Eva told him after sitting down, making Chan’s heart drop to his stomach.

“Huh, but I don’t remember anything,” Chan retorted.

“It’s not about you remembering or not, it really happened, Chan, and I hate it,” she said, her voice almost breaking.

“Hey, calm down. We were both intoxicated, and we didn’t do it on purpose. Any other time and we wouldn’t have done it,” this seemed to have little to no effect on improving the girl’s mood.

On the other hand, Chan’s blood pressure was rising. The last thing he needed was a big mistake from which he could never turn back. With you coming back from Germany in less than a week, he needed everything in his life to be sorted out, especially something that could jeopardize a relationship with so much love in it.

“Chan, I think I like you. I’m not sure when it happened, or how it did. But I like you. So please don’t tell me I wouldn’t have done it if we weren’t intoxicated.”

The impact of this statement was so immense that it completely shattered his world, leaving him in disarray. It was true that he liked Eva. What kind of feelings he actually held for her was a mystery to him.

So, in the spur of the moment, he kissed her.

Just a few minutes ago, it was bothering him, but once he took the step, he didn’t feel what he was supposed to. He didn’t feel the disgust and hatred towards himself he should have. It felt like sneaking out of his house when he was not supposed to. It made a rush of excitement run through his body. He could feel the adrenaline rush through him.

He felt alive. maybe it was the feeling of doing something forbidden or it was something else, he didn’t know.

But, that night, they did more than kissing.

—

Once you were back, it was all sunshine and rainbows in the first few weeks. You both were happy, spending all your time together and having fun relishing in each other’s presence.

But it didn’t take you long to notice the changes. He would be stuck late at the office but come back home surprisingly lively, or those random texts from his brother late at night asking him to come over, or even the most obvious of them all, the vibrant smell of floral perfume that you never wear.

But you held out. You had promised to give him a chance to explain himself if he came clean to you. But that day never came. You asked him about these odd behaviors, but somehow he would always evade the topic altogether.

All those questions of ‘where were you last night’, ‘when will you come home’, or ‘shall we go on a date sometime soon’, all went unanswered.

He outright ignored your presence at home. But this didn’t stop the wedding preparations. Because his siblings and your parents alike loved him, they had taken the responsibility to take care of the wedding plans.

Before he could continue with his little escapades, Seungkwan caught and confronted him. Not by you but by Seungkwan. The older boy’s disappointment was beyond words. He screamed at him for an hour straight and then he had sat Chan down and calmly said,

“Either you tell her or I will.”

“But I can’t; she will leave me if I ever tell her.”

“Then she will be right in doing so.”

“Chan, I love you to death, but either you stop this and tell your girlfriend the whole truth, or I will take matters into my own hands. She has put up with enough of your shit. Don’t hurt her more,” he had said.

“Give me some time; I will do it as soon as possible,” the younger one had strained out, fisting his hair.

“She better know about it all before the wedding,” Seungkwan had warned him before seeing himself out.

—

Chan had cut off Eva after that. He tried to change everything before actually marrying you. Then, being the kind person you are, you tried to understand your boyfriend. You really did. But this was the first time in ten years you considered leaving him.

This relationship didn’t make you happy anymore. But you had gone through so many troubles together. The effort to hold each other upright was taking a toll on you.

But you were a fighter. You had fought many battles with him by your side. You couldn’t give up on those years either. Your internal dilemma was killing you. But all of this came to a halt one day when you had come back from your night shift, only to find your boyfriend and the girl he oh so diligently claimed to be his good friend, talking in the living room.

It was not like they were trying to be quiet because you could hear every single word spoken by them.

“Chan, it’s yours.”

“Eva, I have a fiancé. I will never leave her. I already told you, I love her.”

“Oh, so you didn’t think about that before fucking me”

“It was a mistake”, Chan shouted.

“No, it wasn’t, we both were very sober”, came another shout

The conversation hit you like a truck, and with each sentence, you felt your heart shattering. The decision suddenly seemed a bit too easy to make.

You walked out of the chaos, leaving the ring behind on the shoe rack. That night, you stayed at your friend’s place.

Following that event, you called Seungkwan, informing him that you won’t talk to Chan anymore. He simply asked if you wanted any help moving out, to which you answered with a simple no.

That was the end of the relationship for you. You refused to talk or see Chan ever again.

—

Now, five years later, Chan is to be married again. Not with you; no, he missed his chance. It's with Eva. They figured the best way to raise Minhan was to be together. In a county like theirs, it wasn’t the best idea to raise a kid with two unmarried parents.

Chan loved Minhan to death. But he could never show the same love for Eva. Looking at her reminded him of the mistakes he made in life. It reminded him of the happiness he could have attained, but he lost due to his own faults.

He is happy Seungkwan is still beside him. He knows he doesn’t deserve a friend like him, so the fact that Seungkwan stayed beside him makes him feel grateful.

He knew that his wife and child would move in with him soon, but he didn’t have the courage to let them into the house yet. The house that held both your memories was a bit too precious to let go of so easily.

The next day came faster than he anticipated. As Chan stood there waiting for his bride, he saw a face that he had been longing to see for the last five years.

He saw your face, sitting there on the benches, a sad smile adorning your face. Your eyes filled with emotions and stories of the years you had spent together.

Oh, how badly Chan wanted to abandon everything and run to you. Apologize a hundred times and ask you to take him back. But he couldn’t; he had children to take care of and shoes to fill.

As he stood there saying his vows, hoping it’s you he saw walking down the aisle and it’s you he kissed, but they are called dreams for a reason. And not all dreams come true.

As he kissed his bride, he saw a glimpse of your teary eyes amongst the crowd, and a tear of his own fell. Wishing for a future he was never destined to have.

the end

[rhode-island-empire]

Imagine if we just carved up regions based on metro areas in addition to state borders. Like that means I get Bristol County for free. Yorkie gets all of Greater New York (including North Jersey) and Pennsylvania gets all of Greater Philly (including South Jersey and Delaware). Like honestly New Jersey has always been crazy to me you haven't seen a greater north-south divide. By this system New Jersey will no longer exist. Now if only we could do the same thing to Connecticut. See there's two combined statistical areas and they're Bridgeport-Stamford and Greater New Haven and honestly Bridgeport-Stamford is like THE ultimate New York commuter town area because that's just a fancy way to say FFC et al so Yorkie gets that. Including Bridgeport because idk if I can manage that any longer. And then I'll take Greater New Haven because sure I'll take Yale, pizza, and scammers. I've dealt with worse like remember the mafia? And the whole Buddy Cianci corruption thing, except we all kinda loved him anyways because everyone was corrupt? Anyways Western Mass is like its own state, and because I hate Masshole Country that much I'm going to split it up. Watch as Boston implodes without agriculture. Now honestly Northern New England is a weirder one like there are no major cities up there like do you think Portland (yes the other Portland not the Oregon one) and Manchester have national name recognition? No they don't. Now obviously geographically it'd work if they all combined into one state but culturally no because you have to account for how vastly different they are, Vermont is the socialists and hippies, NH has the anarchists and libertarians, and Maine kinda doesn't care and is already in a cabin deep in the woods 2 hours away from civilization. So recap in the New England area we have VT, NH, ME, Western Mass, Masshole Country, and the Rhode Island Empire. So still six states. Alright now let's go back to New York, I WOULD cut Upstate away because they all kinda hate the NYC dominance thing because let's be honest NYC rules New York State but NYC does NOT equal New York State. Now it's funny because 40% of New York State's population is the NYC area plus Long Island. But this still means there are 60% (a majority) in Upstate because remember that Buffalo and Albany exist. Wait Albany where's that? Well that's just the capital and nobody remembers it exists not even the Bills Mafia. But either way there's like 100k in Albany which is almost as much as here in Providence but because NYC exists and overshadows everything else in its own state that's why nobody knows Albany in comparison to Providence which is the biggest city in its own state oh and btdubs Rhode Island is not Masshole Country fuck you I will die on this hill and not all of New England is Masshole Country but I think I just said that like paragraph ago or something. Either way give Albany some love too. Also right next door is a town called Schenectady and that's where the General Electric people work. Like it's so fun to say like ska-neck-da-dee. Anyhoo my point is New York should just remain as one state but add on FFC and North Jersey to make commuting easier.

Now Pennsylvania is an interesting one because similar to NYC vs Upstate but this time it's West Penn (Pittsburgh) vs East Penn (Greater Philly). Pittsburgh is definitely closer to the Midwest both geographically and culturally like it's a steel town, work ethic, stoicism, football culture (then again all AFC North cities are likeat), next to Ohio, blah blah. And then Philly and friends are definitely East Coast like yes Penn is a landlocked state WHICH I JUST LEARNED LIKE YESTERDAY but it's right over there so it counts. So no you can't split up Penn but you can go add on stuff like South Jersey is basically Philadelphia Jr. and then you have Dela-where's that? No real Philadelphian is going down thinking "ooh I should really go down to Delaware" NO THEY'RE NOT they're focused on the Eagles and anarchism ft. Gritty. Actually not even anyone from Delco is going down to Delaware even though Delco was literally named after Delaware but no that's because it's in the region called the Delaware Valley which was named after the Delaware River which was probably named after Delaware or something idk. For a region called the Delaware Valley, Delaware gets forgotten about so much that Pennsylvania could annex it no problem. Now look I know I'm a Rhode Islander I shouldn't be talking but youse guys love angry Rhode Islanders with inferiority complexes and THAT'S why I'm memorable. Like Delaware is too calm and normal and doesn't really have anything to set it apart from the other states except idk tax-free shopping which is the ONLY reason a Philadelphian or someone from Delco is gone down. But either way. Anyways Pennsylvania is actually a great example of a balanced economy like economies have three sectors. The primary sector is agriculture, the secondary sector is manufacturing, and the tertiary sector is "services" like tourism, healthcare, blah blah. Like let's include Central Penn for a minute, Central Penn is like a bunch of rural towns and rural towns have lots of farms and you know what they do at farms? They farm crops. Which is basically agriculture. West Penn aka Pittsburgh takes care of all the manufacturing because that's just what steel towns do, you know hon? Wait shit that's Bawlmerese. What do they say in Pittsburghese anyways? Oh ya they're all like LEARN HOW TO FUCKING DRIVE YOU JAGOFF because they have road rage too like THEY GET US. Which is funny because usually Pittsburghers are kinda emotionless. But then you see a Pittsburgher smile and they're cute. So then they ask yinz jeet yet? And we're like no we didn't and then they give yinz a pierogi which btdubs THOSE ARE HEAVENLY. But I digress. Either way they make steel in Pittsburgh but apparently they also make trucks and industrial design things? And then finally East Penn aka Philly and friends are the tertiary sector because LOOK AT PHILLY'S TOURISM WEBSITE. Like if you're going to Pennsylvania then you're going to Philly and you're gonna party with Gritty and have wooder ass aka water ice. But no apparently there's a lot of hospitals there too so that leads to a major healthcare industry. So in conclusion you can't split up Pennsylvania because all three regions contribute a different sector which is why the economy works. Now if they were all actively trying to kill each other they'd be different but as far as I can tell intrastate rivalry is like passive-aggressive side-eyes and snarky comments.

Alright finally we can move on from Pennsylvania like why do I know so much about the area I'm not even a Pennsylvanian like literally I've only been to Philly. But right by NJ is DC and Maryland and Virginia aka the DMV. Now the DMV is weird by itself because it's supposed to be the DC Metropolitan Area but with a cool name but funnily enough there's also a coexisting region called the Delmarva Peninsula which is kinda like the DMV but you swap out DC for Delaware. Which makes no sense because I just spent the last paragraph talking about how Delaware is closer to Philly with the whole Delaware Valley shtick. Like sure Delaware is geographically there but not culturally. And to really create a region it should be bounded by geographical and cultural factors (which is why I want Bristol County because their culture is closer to ours than Boston's). So the DMV is actually the best way to classify it. But what about the parts of Maryland that aren't part of the DMV? Is Bawl-mer part of the DMV? What about 'Napolis? Because funnily enough sometimes the DMV is used to refer to those three states (DC should be a state because we should end taxation without representation, Puerto Rico should be a state for the same reason). But nope Baltimore just kinda does its own thing. She's like that one friend who isn't trying to show off, dresses practically, nobody really likes her so she doesn't like them either and thus she doesn't trust anyone. Like she doesn't wanna get hurt again and is wicked hard to get to know but once she finally trusts you then you've got a friend for life, hon. Of course she ain't part of the DMV. That's where all the boring bureaucratic stuff go. Where's the life? Definitely not the right environment for her. Meanwhile Annapolis is like Baltimore's polar opposite, her more serious cousin. Like yes Annapolis can go join DC in filing taxes and doing paperwork and politically debating in a mature and serious manner. Except when you go to DC it's TRYING to be mature and serious but the politicians aren't and she's really not so above it all like look at all the people protesting and starting fights in buses and taking pictures with Stumpy II (yes seriously). It's like the Boston of the Mid-Atlantic where it's outwardly serious but easily provoked and going to descend into chaos any minute now. Also genuine question like what does Virginia have outside of "it's right next to DC" like Arlington and Alexandria are practically DC suburbs. Fun fact they USED to be part of DC but then split off into Virginia in the 1840s or something. Also Virginia has areas that aren't part of the DMV as in Hellish Richmond, Newport News which is kinda like a New Newport but they wanted to make it unique and it just doesn't work, Virginia Beach where they clearly gave up, Norfolk because what the hell goes on in Norfolk, and the land with the horses that Misty wrote a back about. Sooo Virginia is hell but at least it's horseland? See the DMV doesn't work as a single condensed state like DC's a little snobby and scared of horses and then Baltimore is Baltimore. Yes I am using personification to prove my point but my other point is that metro areas can't really determine state boundaries because this is a tri-state area meaning they should stay as three states. So the DMV is really just a metro area in the central part of the region of all three states rather than encompassing the areas of all three states.

So in conclusion the Northeast equals New England and the Mid-Atlantic. New England consisting of VT, NH, ME, Western Mass, Masshole Country, and the Rhode Island Empire. The Mid-Atlantic is Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC, and Virginia. New York is part of neither. Now obviously New England's borders are nonnegotiable and Wikipedia says New York is Mid-Atlantic but clearly the Baltimoreans are like fuck New York they're all posers and the Philadelphians are like fuck New York the Giants SUCK ASS.

And I think that's it for today

[osc-incorrect-quotes]

Apple: I didn't always follow the teachers, sometimes I did things my own way!

Apple: Like maths problems.

Apple: Three plus two, maybe it does equal six!

[thedawningofthehour]

Okay I lied I do actually want to do something for the anniversary. (it won't be the anniversary by the time I post this but shhhhh)

It's not going to be turtle themed though. You guys remember last year when I made fun of rich people's houses? I'd like to do that again.

This...domicile comes to us from Camden, Maine, with seven bedrooms and six baths, tops out at 6,000 square feet and can be yours for a paltry two million.

They really wanted to show off that they had money for the fountain.

Also, is it just me or do rich people houses seem woefully cheap compared to regular people houses? Like, 2 mil is a lot, but if you do the math with the space and amenities they have-like, I highly doubt you could put three 2,000 sqft houses on this parcel of land and get one for 650k. Definitely not in Camden. I remember the first time we moved we looked at one house that was nearly 2 mil-for fun, even when we had money we didn't have that much money-and it was probably about half the size of this. And it was in suburban TC, not a ritzy summer colony. And had been built twenty years before, not the previous as this one was.

Plus this was 2008. The...particular economics of that year in regards to housing prices aside, two mil in 2008 is, uh...quite a bit more now.

So if you expand this picture, you'll see that there's Asian-esque map-looking things set into the wall, and Asian writing over the door. I think they're Chinese characters, but I'm not 100% certain. This entire house has a supposedly Asian theme. I have...things to say, but I'll hold off for now until I have more examples to show what I'm talking about.

Also I just can't with the stone choices. Kudos to them for actually trying to landscape though.

...

I mean, I will give them points for doing the complete inverse of a Lawyer Foyer. Those columns though. Like. When have those ever looked good outside a hotel lobby? When have they ever looked good inside a hotel lobby? How much dust does those bottoms collect? Why do they seemingly have hotel curtains as well?

Usually, columns like this are made of foam with a stone veneer, I think these are at least partially real. A lot of stuff in this house misses the 'cheap shit designed to look expensive' marker that defines McMansions, it looks genuinely decadent-it's just ugly as shit.

THEY HAVE TWO CHANDELIERS. ONE WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THEM, THEY HAD TO HAVE TWO MASSIVE CHANDELIERS TO PROVE THEIR DINGDONGS. AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE FOYER CHANDELIER.

I like how they put the bar in directly next to the front door. Like they know you're going to walk in and will immediately need a drink.

Why is there this ugly gold runner everywhere? I feel like I'm in Trump Tower. Or a gourmet candy bar.

Yes I see the cabinet, no we're not going to talk about it right now. While I love seeing houses that actually have color in them, I'm just...the teal and pink is fine, but it's hard to pull off different variants of a color together. Teal and true blue, it's just...it doesn't work. And these guys have TVs on like every wall for some reason?

Mostly just including this picture to point out the safe on the floor. In the dining room. And to call attention to the weird goldish-bronze border that doesn't seem to start and end where it's supposed to.

Also, yes, these walls are entirely done in tile. It's like they wanted to do something other than the beige but couldn't decide what to go with so they just worked the kitchen tile through the rest of the house.

Speaking of the kitchen...

What

I. I don't. I. I. Why the sink-

????????!!!!

There's...I just don't. Like. You can't even pick a place to start.

The fact that they picked pretty much the busiest tile pattern known to man wouldn't have been such a big deal...if they hadn't tiled the inside and outside of the cabinets. And removed the doors to said cabinets. And hadn't picked a second, equally busy tile pattern to play against the first.

Actually, let's go back to the two tile patterns. Not only are they both way too busy to work with each other, they're both browns...but completely the opposite variants of brown. The lower pattern has more blacks and greys and even a bit of blue in it, while the border browns are warmer shades. You really can't mix warm and cool shades of the same color. It just doesn't look good.

And we have to talk about that counter. It looks somehow like the cheapest 90s shit you'd see in a roller rink or an ocean-themed Chuck E. Cheese, but also you know it cost ungodly amounts of money.

Why is it so thin? Why is the sink so deep in the island? Why is the recessed lighting lopsided?

And we're not even touching upon the floor. These people clearly did not understand feature elements. The floor, counter, and both sets of tile are all dueling for dominance, and we're the neglected child caught up in the custody battle sitting on the lawn with our bags. This kitchen was designed by someone who didn't care if god forgave them.

Oh okay, so we're just using those tiles throughout the entire house now. Fantastic.

That...counter is not beating the 90s cheese allegations.

Is it just me, or does the second chandelier look like it would clip your head on the way down?

No yeah, it is straight-up Right Fucking There. Completely unnecessary too, considering the plethora of recessed lighting. And they've somehow managed to make this hallway look busy despite having absolutely nothing on the walls.

I'm putting in three photos to show that these are in fact different rooms. I'm not including the other bedroom photos because I literally don't know if they're other bedrooms or just different angles of these bedrooms, because every bedroom is decorated exactly the same.

But this is what I meant when I called this house 'Asian-esque' earlier. Now, granted, I don't know a ton about modern architecture and design trends in Asia or among Asian-Americans, so I very much might be putting my foot in my mouth here and I fully deserve the ridicule if that is the case. But to me this doesn't feel like...legitimate. This feels like someone who wants to look cultured, who considers the Far East to be exotic and elegant and would unironically use the term Oriental to describe their style. It feels like they designed this without actually understanding anything about Asian art and architecture and had no desire to learn. It doesn't feel like one thing in particular, it feels like they took elements from Japanese, Chinese, and even Indian styles and gestured vaguely to all of them because they were too scared to commit.

You know, I'll give them credit, the blue does look nicer with the brown. It doesn't look good, but nicer.

Still the same lack of cabinet doors. And the same glow-in-the-dark bathroom counter. It took me a solid few seconds to find the sink there-and then I burst out laughing when I saw it.

I don't know why, but the stone plus that golden window insert makes me think Rocky Rococo.

WHY DOES THEIR GARAGE HAVE THE GRANITE FLOORING?!!

God, this is like my grandmother and her carpeted garage. But she has an excuse in that she doesn't give a fuck what you think.

I don't know why but this is fucking hysterical to me.

Also it doesn't look like there's a...door? To the garage? In Maine? Like, even if it's a heated garage, it's still going to be cold. And it's also dirty, like, you don't want bugs and car fumes wafting into your living spaces?

I haven't even mentioned the ceiling decoration or the crown molding. Or the fact that the crowd molding, doorways, and candy bar wrapper walls are all different shades of gold. And I'd like to keep it that way.

On a side note, what is up with all the recessed lighting? Not that they have it, but doesn't it seem like...a lot? Like, I feel like they could thin them out a bit, you're practically under hospital lights. People with recessed lighting, is this normal? I've only had it in one room of one house, but I don't remember it being this...dense. (I do remember my sister and I once knocked the glass out of the baffle while playing. that's how I learned that those things get really hot)

This is like a church basement if it was also The Backrooms.