#it’d be cool to make it after the fourth..

[baigepueckers]

Caitlin Clark X Reader

Out of Frame Part 5

It’s late.

The team bus hums low on the ride back from the game, headlights sweeping long shadows over the walls of the hotel parking lot as the Fever pull in. The game had been physical..too physical. Caitlin had taken hit after hit, hard shoulders in the lane, elbows on screens, a borderline flagrant no one called.

And she’s been quiet since the fourth quarter buzzer.

You noticed. Of course you noticed. You always do.

The rest of the team trickles off the bus, dragging their bags behind them, laughing in that half exhausted way that says they’re too tired to be upset about the loss. But Caitlin stays in her seat, hoodie pulled low over her eyes, jaw clenched.

You hesitate, waiting near the front until everyone else clears out.

Then you make your way down the aisle.

“Hey,” you say gently, fingers brushing the seat back in front of her. “You okay?”

She doesn’t look up at first.

“I’m fine.”

You sit across from her. “No, you’re not.”

Caitlin exhales, finally pulling her hood back. Her cheek is red..has been since that third quarter shove. Her lip’s a little split, too. You hate it. Hate that no one stepped in sooner. Hate that she had to keep her cool when you could see the heat rising in her eyes with every missed call.

“It’s like they don’t even care,” she mutters. “Like I’m just a target out there.”

Your chest tightens.

“You’re not a target,” you say, voice steady. “You’re a threat. They’re scared of you.”

She laughs, bitter. “Yeah, well. Doesn’t feel great.”

Your hand finds her knee, a grounding touch.

“They couldn’t stop you,” you say. “So they tried to knock you around instead.”

Caitlin looks down at where your hand rests on her leg. She swallows hard.

“I wanted to say something” you continue, quieter now. “But I knew if I ran out there, it’d just make it worse.”

She looks at you, and her eyes…God, her eyes are so tired. So angry. So raw.

“But I was mad,” you whisper. “I am mad. No one should get to treat you like that.”

Her throat works around a reply. It doesn’t come.

So you reach out slow, careful and tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Your thumb grazes the curve of her cheek, just under the bruise blooming along her cheekbone.

She closes her eyes.

“I hate seeing you hurt,” you admit, and it’s the first time you’ve said it like that. Like it means more.

Because it does mean more.

When she opens her eyes again, something’s shifted. Her walls aren’t just lowered…they’ve fallen. Flattened by fatigue and frustration and the weight of how long she’s kept this all inside.

“I don’t know how to do this,” she says, barely above a whisper.

Your breath catches.

“Do what?”

“This,” she says. “Feel this way. Want someone so bad it makes everything else feel like background noise.”

You blink, startled by the clarity of it. By how open she suddenly is.

But she’s not done.

“I kept thinking I’d get over it” Caitlin says. “That it was just a crush or whatever. But then you’d laugh at something I said. Or look at me after a win like you were proud. Or touch my arm like you care, like I’m not just some player you have to mic up.”

You don’t move.

“And then tonight, when they kept hitting me, all I could think about was how you’d look at me afterward. Whether you’d still smile. Whether you’d still see me.”

She’s breathing hard now, eyes darting between yours like she’s terrified she’s gone too far.

And maybe she has.

But you don’t pull away.

Instead, you lean forward…closer, until she’s right there, lips parted like she’s about to apologize.

You don’t let her.

You kiss her.

Slow at first. Soft. Like you’re asking, not taking.

And she melts.

Her hands find your waist, fingers curling into your jacket like she’s anchoring herself. She kisses you back with months of longing..hesitant, then sure. Desperate but tender. You taste salt on her lips, sweat and adrenaline and something warmer underneath it all.

When you finally pull back, foreheads pressed together, her eyes are still closed.

“Don’t hide it” you whisper. “You don’t have to hide how much you like me.”

Caitlin lets out a breathless laugh.

“I’m not sure I can anymore.”

You smile, tracing your thumb over her knuckles. “Good.”

Then you kiss her again.

And this time, it feels like the beginning of something neither of you will be able to walk away from.

The second kiss is longer.

Less questioning, more real. Her hand comes up to cradle your cheek like she’s trying to remember what you feel like, like she already knows she’s going to replay this in her head for the next decade. You’re warm beneath her touch, still steady, but when you pull away and your eyes open, you’re smiling like you know exactly what kind of power you have over her.

And it’s honestly unfair.

She groans quietly, forehead falling to your shoulder. “This is so bad.”

You grin. “That’s not what your hands are saying.”

Her laugh is muffled into your jacket, shy and wrecked at the same time. “You’re annoying.”

“Me?” you say, lifting her chin with a single finger, playful now. “You’re the one who’s been looking at me like that for months.”

She flushes scarlet. “What look?”

You lean in just close enough to make her breath hitch. “That look.”

Caitlin blinks fast, like her brain’s buffering. “I wasn’t…I don’t…”

You laugh, eyes sparkling. “Relax, superstar. You already kissed me. The damage is done.”

She hides her face in her hands. “I can’t believe I did that.”

You tug them down gently. “I can. You’re brave when it counts.”

Her heart stutters again, and she wants to say something stupid like you make me want to be or God, you’re gonna ruin me, but she’s still not sure if her mouth works right now. You’re too close. You’re too everything.

So instead, she stares at your lips, then back up to your eyes, and mutters, “I’m gonna need you to stop looking at me like that.”

You tilt your head. “Like what?”

“Like you’re about to kiss me again in the middle of this empty bus and then never let me live it down.”

You smirk. “That’s exactly what I’m about to do.”

And before she can object…or think…you’re kissing her again.

Slow. Flirty. Dangerous.

She’s done for.

When you pull away this time, Caitlin’s eyes are glassy but she’s grinning too hard to hide it.

“We should uh…probably head inside,” she says, even though her voice has gone soft and wrecked and she hasn’t moved an inch.

You nod, gathering your bag, then giving her a look over your shoulder.

“Well?” you tease. “You coming?”

She stands slowly, adjusting her hoodie, trying to get her balance back. “Give me a second. My legs aren’t working right now.”

You just laugh and wait for her in the aisle.

And when she finally catches up, you brush her hand with yours…barely touching, but enough to say I know what this means now. I see you. And I want this too.

She doesn’t let go of that feeling the whole walk back to the hotel.

And when you bump shoulders in the elevator and smile at her like that again?

She starts wondering just how many nights it’ll take before she stops being so wrecked by every single thing you do.

Spoiler: it’s not happening anytime soon.

[formulaonecrumbs]

sorry for the inactivity junie!! spent most of the day on a bus fighting a flare up😵‍💫 anyway! osc and reader after his win in bahrain at a party when she suffers a flare up (mainly due to heat and walking a lot)

-🧸

the win after the win 🏆

Oscar Piastri x PCOS!reader

summary: reader has a pcos flare-up during oscar’s bahrain win party, and he puts her first.

warnings: pcos flare-up, pain during celebration, heat sensitivity, medical discomfort, landoscar crumbs if u squint

A/N: hiiiii, thanks for the req :> URE BACK YAY! dont u go apologising. it’s more important that u feel well and okay. though i did miss u and our little couple. i hope this is satisfactory, i also added a little ending scene of them celebrating in their own way cause idk i thought it’d be cute 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ and it’s longer in honour of my fav being back (even if it’s only for a bit) anywayysss as always, i love u, 🧸. MWAAHHHH ❤️❤️

⚘ ⚘ ⚘ ⚘

the music is loud, the lights are gold and hazy, and oscar is glowing.

you’ve never seen him smile this much, or this freely—his cheeks are flushed from champagne and adrenaline, the top of his race suit tied around his waist, black t-shirt sticking slightly to his back from the heat. everyone’s clapping him on the shoulder, raising drinks in his honor, cheering like they’re trying to break the sound barrier.

he just won bahrain. his fourth f1 victory. and for the first time in a while, he looks like he’s fully letting himself feel it.

and you? you’re trying not to pass out.

it started small—just a dull ache in your side, the usual crampy twinges that came and went like background noise. but then came the walking. the heat. the noise. the humidity in the air that felt like it clung to your skin and wouldn’t let go. now you’re sitting on the edge of a plush couch in the corner of the team’s afterparty, trying to breathe through it. your whole torso is throbbing, your legs ache, your back feels like someone’s twisting it with both hands.

you don’t want to ruin anything. not tonight. not his night.

“there you are,” oscar says, suddenly appearing in front of you with two drinks in hand. “i thought you got kidnapped by lando or something.”

you force a smile. “just needed a break. it’s loud.”

he nods, sitting beside you and handing you a water bottle. he’s still buzzing—you can feel it radiating off him. “you okay?” he asks, brushing a hand down your arm.

you pause, then give him a half-truth. “just a bit sore. it’s hot.”

his eyes narrow slightly. “sore how?”

you hesitate, but the pain pulses again and your body makes the decision for you. your face tightens and you curl forward slightly, pressing a hand to your side.

his smile fades instantly. “hey. what is it?”

“flare-up,” you whisper. “i think the walking and heat kind of… kicked it off.”

“why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“because you just won another race oscar,” you say softly. “you’re the moment.”

“you’re my moment,” he says, already standing. “come on. we’re leaving.”

“no,” you say quickly. “you should stay—everyone’s here for you—”

“and you are in pain. i’m not celebrating while you’re suffering in the corner.”

before you can protest, he’s already calling over someone from the team. words are exchanged. you hear lando’s voice somewhere in the background going, “she flared up? poor thing. okay. okay. i’ll keep people distracted. i’ll dance. i’ll lie. i’ll throw a chair if i have to.”

⚘ ⚘ ⚘ ⚘

you don’t even make it back to the hotel. oscar takes you to the driver lounge in the paddock—cool, quiet, and just far enough away from the party to muffle everything.

he grabs a hoodie from his bag and lays it out like a pillow on the couch. “lie down.”

you hesitate, but your body’s screaming and the air-conditioning feels like salvation, so you do.

he kneels beside you, pulling your hair gently off your neck, grabbing water, finding you painkillers. all with this laser-focused calm that only shows up when you’re really hurting.

“you’re allowed to be happy, you know,” you mumble after a while, eyes half-lidded. “you don’t have to baby me.”

“this is me being happy,” he says, brushing your cheek with his thumb. “i won a race. and now i get to take care of the person i love most. that’s a win-win.”

you groan softly. “stop being emotionally fluent, it’s unfair.”

he laughs, real and soft. “sorry. championship energy.”

⚘ ⚘ ⚘ ⚘

after a while, when the worst of it dulls, you sit up slowly. oscar’s stretched out beside you, back against the couch, legs splayed out, still in half of his race suit like he forgot to change. or maybe just didn’t care.

he turns his head toward you. “pain scale?”

“a solid five now. was at like… a nine earlier.”

he nods. “not bad. we’ll take that.”

you lean your head on his shoulder. “sorry i crashed your party.”

“stop that. you were the party,” he murmurs, kissing your hair. “i just won the race. you survived your ovaries in bahrain. we’re both champions.”

you laugh, weak but real.

“plus,” he adds, “lando just texted me that he tried to distract everyone by starting a dance battle and somehow ended up in a circle of five drunk engineers doing the worm. so. mission successful.”

“we really are surrounded by chaos.”

“yeah,” he says, wrapping his arm around you. “but the good kind.”

you stay like that for a while—sore, tired, but wrapped in the comfort of him. the music from the party is still playing somewhere in the background, muffled by walls and distance and everything that matters more.

and when he finally whispers, “you still made tonight perfect,” you believe him.

⚘ ⚘ ⚘ ⚘

by the time you’re back at the hotel, your pain’s dulled into something manageable. not gone, but distant enough that you can breathe normally again, walk without wincing every step, and smile without faking it.

oscar’s still hovering though—hand at your back, eyes flicking to you every few seconds like he’s waiting for the pain to sneak back up on you.

you unlock the door to the hotel room and step inside first, turning to face him. “okay,” you say. “sit.”

he pauses. “what?”

“you heard me. couch. now.”

he raises an eyebrow but obeys, sinking into the cushions with that familiar half-smile. “you gonna scold me for being too soft again?”

“nope.” you walk over and slide into his lap, straddling him carefully. “i’m gonna thank you. properly.”

his hands settle on your hips immediately, surprised but definitely not complaining. “you don’t have to—”

“i want to,” you cut in, brushing your fingers through his hair. “you put me first tonight. when you had every reason to be selfish, you chose me. i know you didn’t get the full celebration and i… i don’t want you to think i wasn’t proud.”

his face softens like melting chocolate. “i never thought that.”

“i know.” you smile, leaning in until your forehead touches his. “but just in case.”

you kiss him then—slow, warm, a little deeper than usual. he exhales through his nose like he’s been holding his breath since the checkered flag. his hands grip you tighter, like he still can’t believe you’re real, even after everything.

you pull back slightly, enough to whisper, “congratulations, champ.”

he blinks, a little dazed. “say it again.”

you grin. “you, oscar piastri, are a four time grand prix winner.”

“that’s crazy.”

“you’re crazy.”

“you’re in my lap.”

“exactly.”

he laughs into your mouth when you kiss him again, and you let the tension melt off both of you—his leftover nerves, your lingering discomfort, the weight of the whole night. none of it matters here.

he doesn’t rush. you don’t need to. this isn’t about fireworks. it’s about presence. about how your body still hurts but your heart is full. about the way he touches you like he’s memorizing something sacred. about the way you kiss him like you’re rooting yourself back into your own skin.

and when it’s quiet again, both of you tangled in sheets and half-whispers, you press your head to his chest and murmur, “you make this easier.”

his fingers trace your spine. “you make everything worth it.”

outside, bahrain is still buzzing. but here, in this little pocket of quiet, it’s just you and him. and that’s enough. more than enough.

THE END :>

[cheemscakecat]

Random theories about Jax after episode 5

Disclaimer, I have no idea if I’m even close with any of these.

*Spoilers*

Theory 1: Jax and Ribbit are siblings, or cousins that hung out literally all the time.

People keep saying Jax and Ragatha are siblings, because of farms coming up in both of their backstories. But I kind of doubt it, even though they definitely have history.

If Ragatha is the secretly abused daughter of the rich farm owners, maybe Jax is the son of one of the underpaid staff, or just a poorer person in the same town.

Another thing is that Jax and Ragatha have similar proportions, but Ribbit matches Jax more design wise.

Ragatha’s hands are mittens with pointer fingers, while Jax has classic 4 fingered cartoon hands. Jax has toes (short as they are) while Ragatha has little nubs for feet. Ragatha’s mouth is a 2D drawing and she opens it all the way to talk, Jax usually just talks through his teeth but he does have a 3D mouth and lips.

Ragatha has 6 colors in her design (not including black) while Jax only has 4. Her hair and frilly dress also add to her having a more detailed design than him.

Ribbit has the same kind of fingers as Jax, the same smile, and feet with stumpy little toes. They both have the same smile, and have big pupils (Ragatha’s pupils are usually smaller).

Ribbit only has 4 colors in her design if you include the whites of her eyes. And has even less clothes than Jax.

If Kinger and Queenie entered together and had the theme of chess pieces, maybe Jax and Ribbit entered together with the same theme too. They’re animals that look like they come from the same show or toy line.

I think Ribbit might actually be the older sibling/cousin of the two. And speaking of that:

Theory two: Jax was only 16 when he put on the headset.

We have the current, non-abstracted Circus members’ ages, and I’m going to assume that the show takes place in 2024.

Jax is the youngest at 22 years old, with Zooble being just a few months older. But in episode 1 he says they’ve all been trapped there for years. So he has to have been there for at least 2.

I think Zooble entered after Jax and was older when she did, and probably has only been there 2 years. Legally you’re supposed to be at least 18 to bartend, and if Zooble only did it briefly that would imply she didn’t grow up the child of a family with a bar/restaurant.

So if Zooble started tattooing after bartending for a while, she’d be at least 19, 20 years old when she entered the circus.

Breaking Bad’s finale dropped in 2013, when Jax was 11. We don’t actually know how old he was when he started watching, but it’s possible Ribbit let him watch secretly as the cool older sibling when he was a preteen.

I also think they were down to break into abandoned buildings to hang out one on one, and were probably just messing with the headsets at C and A as a joke when they got trapped in the digital world.

If Jax was 16 when he got trapped, that would mean he’s been in the Circus for 6 years. And after being there so long, it’d make sense he’d start breaking the fourth wall and get more influenced by whatever the Circus is doing to their minds. And also why he’s so quick to call Kinger crazy; projection.

It might also be the reason Ribbit abstracted. “I got my 16 year old brother/cousin into this mess and I can’t get him out. We’re gonna be stuck here forever and it’s all my fault!”

It would also explain why he’s so immature. He lost the real life structure and consequences that come from having to go to school and work and deal with your parents. He never grew up, his sense of humor is still that of a teenage boy.

Theory three: Jax will help the others escape but not make it out himself.

In I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, one of the humans puts the others out of their misery, but is caught by AM before he can free himself. We don’t know if any of the circus members will end up mirroring that.

It could be Pomni because she’s the main character. It could be Kinger because he helped make the game and it would be so tragic. It could be Zooble since she refused to go on the adventures and sent Caine into a downward spiral by mistake.

But I think if it happens, it’ll be Jax.

He’s the only one with a one Syllable name apart from Caine. He breaks the fourth wall. He has keys to everyone’s rooms. He’s realizing the Circus has some sort of influence over their minds now. He’s lost Ribbit and Kaufmo.

Jax is the one person who bullies the others. The one who’ll always be a jerk for better or for worse. He’s the one guy you’d never expect to get them out or give them something that allows them to find a way out before abstracting or getting lost to the Circus.

I think he’ll figure out something huge about the way the digital world and/or Caine is altering their minds and memories. Something that he and Kinger are already reeling from. But he might only manage to pass that info onto Pomni before getting captured or abstracted. And give her the room keys.

Theory four: Ragatha unintentionally smothered Jax in the wake of Ribbit’s abstraction and that’s why they had a falling out.

Ragatha is older than him and a people pleaser. I can see her deciding she’s gonna go all in on comforting Jax and being “the mom friend” and making it better. Thinking that her positivity is going to lift him out of his grief.

But that’s not what he needed, and he didn’t see her as a role model. Ribbit was the one person Jax looked up to the most and his only connection to the real world. His only family in the Circus. His main role model.

I think Kinger would have actually been more of a help, but not consistently. Kinger was probably the actual dad friend of the Circus, but his mental decline stole that away.

Maybe that’s why Jax distances himself from Kinger but doesn’t bully him; it was painful to watch his other role model deteriorate.

It’s also very possible he had memory relapses where he didn’t remember somebody’s abstracted. A couple badly timed “Where is Ribbit, anyway?”s might have been the thing that made Jax pull away from Kinger and start calling him “crazy”.

Losing Ribbit was something Jax obviously didn’t handle in a healthy way. But I imagine that giving him space to go off on his own would have helped a bit right after the abstraction. Space to be away from people and not have to talk about it or be seen crying.

Now picture, if you will, Ragatha constantly popping in to ask if Jax is okay and if he wants to talk about it and trying to get him to hang out with the main group.

Knocking on the door to his room with the “I just wanted to say” speeches and insisting on bringing him food, and reiterating that she’s there as a shoulder to cry on.

And then, since he’s not responding well to all of that and would rather be alone, Ragatha thinks she must not be doing enough/a good enough thing and doubles down. Not understanding that she needs to back off.

I think Jax was pushed past his limit and snapped at her for trying to act like “It’s okay, it’s all okay, us being trapped here is okay!” And on her end, he’s always insisting on being miserable and mean all the time, and rejecting actual attempts to help.

[rocknrollsalad]

Written for @steddieholidaydrabbles fourth of july "fireworks" prompt, @corrodedcoffinfest's "I know what you did last summer" prompt, AND @steddiebingo's prompt "starcourt mall" is that too many things in one? probably but it worked too perfectly (albeit loosely)

No Pressure

Word Count: 995 Rating: general audiences Tags: post vecna, everyone is alive and well and getting along, ptsd, mentions of russian torture, talk of stage fright/nerves, hints at medical issues/healing from injuries, pre-steddie, probably no obvious enough crushes, the word count really got me here AO3: coming soon

-

Hawkins had entered this period of rebirth. Some lame, middle of nowhere Phoenix that rose from the ashes of something that should have stayed dead. Eddie’s only hope was it got better. That the demons chased away the losers and left nothing but cool people. It wasn’t realistic but Eddie was trying.

Nothing revitalized an area more than capitalism though so the city planners started with Starcourt Mall. No one had a place to live but at least they’ll be able to spend the measly checks the government gave them all to “recover”.

Eddie had given private speech after private speech on the subject because it felt so tone deaf and backwards that he couldn’t be quiet. Any willing ear got to hear all about how bad of an idea this was. Wayne heard it several times.

Until they asked local-killer-turned-hero Eddie Munson to perform at the “ground breaking” ceremony. Then it was the greatest thing to ever happen to Hawkins. They weren’t going to know what to do. Especially after all the recovery and healing they’d gone through only to have Corroded Coffin melt their faces off.

Unfortunately, his own healing wasn’t far enough along to play guitar at the level he needed to. They’d either have to dial down the face melting or bring in a ringer. Eddie was open to either but first he needed to get Gareth and Freak back to the area.

Both had moved with their families before Eddie momentarily died and didn’t return after everything was deemed safe. It made the place kind of weird but what wasn’t weird after learning about other dimensions and losing friends?

After a bit of pressure, they agreed to come spend the week in Hawkins. Everyone could hang out, practice a bit, and then play a show. For a few days, life could feel normal again. Except the performing at a mall part. That was weird.

It’d be “selling out” were they on some stage by the food court but the mall wasn’t built so they’d be in the parking lot. The background would be piles of exploded consumerism and Orange Juliuses. One day it’d be filled with popular kids insulting freaks but before that, it was all Corroded Coffin’s.

The actual lame part came when they told Eddie and Jeff, the only two local enough to show up to planning meetings, that it would be on the Fourth of July. Something about reclaiming the date in the mall’s history or whatever.

Eddie didn’t hear them. He was too busy thinking about how it would decrease the crowd size. There wasn’t going to be a fair put on by the city this year, recovery was a long way from that, so this was going to make do for those who cared. The rest would be having family get togethers, going to nearby lakes, or camping. It was a busy weekend for people.

Yet when the day (finally) came, it didn’t look like the event organizers shared Eddie’s assumptions on attendance. There were folding chairs as far as the eye could see. Hopefully no one needed them but it was twice the crowd Eddie had been visualizing.

Eddie almost hoped he was right. Not that he’d voice that but looking out on all those chairs? Five hundred times what they normally played for, it was a little intimidating. Nothing he couldn’t handle, even with that sinking feeling in his stomach.

More intimidating than the show to come was the blending of two worlds in a way that hadn’t happened yet. Steve, Robin, Nancy, all of them welcomed Jeff in like he was one of their own, even if it was occasionally awkward when someone too casually mentioned what brought them together. Now it’d be all of them.

It’d be Corroded Coffin in all their we’ve-seen-Eddie-at-his-worst glory mixed with the we’ve-fought-bled-and-died-together magic of his new friends. It could go great or each one of his friendships could look like the mall behind him.

The band had been roaming the scene for an hour, familiarizing themselves with the stage, their plans, and how to deny they were experiencing stage fright. Steve and Robin were the first to show up and offer a distraction. Not surprising given Eddie practically lived at Steve’s these days but there’s always that part of Eddie that believed a little too hard that no one was coming.

“We had to come early,” Robin said, already annoyed.

Not a great start. It’s a bit more than the kind she usually turned on Steve and Eddie. This feels like his alone and he’s not sure why he’s to blame but he didn’t need this today so he ignored it.

“We didn’t have to,” Steve mocks.

Worse than recognizing Robin’s variety of annoyances was catching Steve’s whole thing where he doesn’t want anyone doing anything special for him. Unfortunately, that also meant this was the first Eddie was learning of the problem.

If Robin’s attitude was anything to go by, it’s Eddie’s fault that Steve felt this way. Maybe it’s his birthday. Surely that would have come up by now. The irony of a one time All-American good boy being born on the Fourth was too much for Eddie to accept, though.

“No, we definitely did.” Robin said and then with the comfort that came in the years since defeating Vecna, she turned to Eddie. “We were tortured here–”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Steve said, eyes flashing wide for a second.

“It’s definitely putting it mildly but it’s a weird place and a weird anniversary. Not one we like to relive.”

“True,” Steve sighed.

“So don’t blow it,” Robin said, ending the conversation as she walked away, Steve in tow.

“Shit.” Eddie dropped his head back. “No pressure, huh?”

Neither of them acknowledged it if they’d heard him but they didn’t need to. Eddie ran the opposite direction in hopes one of the other guys knew some vocal warm ups. He couldn’t blow this.

[aggro-my-beloved]

Asher + Babe HC’s

＊ after their first meeting, asher volunteered himself to do any and all miscellaneous errands involving paperwork and notarization if it meant going back to baabe’s place of work so he could chance running into them again

＊ they even timed each other’s schedules in order to squeeze in tens of lunch dates through the week before making anything official. one thing that took baabe by surprise during these rendezvous, though, was the same request asher gave to each waiter/waitress.

＊ baabe supposed hot sauce wasn’t that odd of a condiment to put on his burger, but amidst their fourth date when he was loading it on top of his mashed potatoes, they had questions.

＊ asher has grave mouth. his tastebuds are basically useless from all the sour candy he consumed as a child/teen. he can drink lemon juice straight without puckering. this info shut baabe right up, but left them satisfied.

＊ to ensure his meals aren’t entirely bland, he puts hot sauce on almost everything he eats. this has led to some questionable, if not disgusting combinations he has sworn against—including, but not limited to sriracha-topped waffles and red hot chocolate

＊ the pack beta also likes to skateboard, baabe disovered. cmon, they live in california—it was between skating and surfing and this man burns too easy at the beach. his mate would be lying if they said they didn’t admire his freckled face from time to time, though.

＊ give him a shovel on malibu’s finest sand though? he’d dig a hole so big it’d be considered a safety hazard. and he did, the one time he and baabe went on their shared day off. the lifeguard had to come and stop him, urging baabe to glance up from their magazine and gape at the trench a dangerous proximity from their beach chair.

＊ once they did leave, asher was sulking about how he could’ve made the hole so much bigger and deeper (hehehe) had he been shifted and able to use his paws and let primal instinct kick in. baabe consoled him with ice cream and an aloe massage later on, promising they’d try for a private beach and a higher spf sunscreen the next time around

＊ long-haired babe’s go to hairstyle is space burns. asher adores the style on them so much he asked for them to do the same to his hair. it didn’t turn out similar in the slightest (more like two tiny pigtails sticking out lopsided atop his head) but he was happy with the results and that’s all that mattered.

＊ “hell yeah, baaabe! you can’t even tell us apart!”

＊ the only way baaabe can remember to practice self-care is when asher reminds them. sometimes he’ll point out a soothing face mask in the store’s cosmetic aisle or run them a hot bath, but the only way for baaabe to fully indulge is if they offer asher to join them in the activity. and he always says yes, otherwise the task will be long forgotten on his mate’s part. and asher would be caught in a lie to say he didn’t want to see how that one bath bomb in particular fizzled out into the water.

＊ when the weather starts cooling down in the fall, asher likes to take walks in his wolf form. so baaabe can join him in public, they modified his spiked choker to act as a dog collar that baaabe can add a leash to, so no unempowered humans get suspicious at the sight of him. that’s right. asher is babe’s scary dog privelage.

＊ he gets a little too eager and excited on these walks though, best believe he’s pulling his mate down the sidewalk 90263692634962692 mph to take in everything while baabe tries not to stagger or fall flat on their face

＊ after several failed attempts at this, they repurpose ash’s skateboard as a mode of transportation for baabe to safely ride on as asher pulls them down the sidewalk. a much better solution than their twelve-year old heelies shoes that were falling apart at the seams.

＊ asher and baaabe are the only couple in the pack that collectively like horror movies/games/media. the only exception for baabe is haunted houses, which both discovered one fateful october at Dahlia’s local amusement park. one of the scare actors frightened baabe so badly, they left with a broken nose, and baabe with a bruised set of knuckles on their right hand.

＊ asher was quick to comfort them during the embarrassing ordeal, but just as quick to laugh and tease them about it later on. he’d be saying shit about how “you should’ve dressed as rocky with an uppercut like that”

＊ once they did leave, baabe sulked, arguing that “zombies are a different type of scary than werewolves and vampires—it was all self defense!” asher consoled them with ice cream later, promising no more haunted houses in the future for the sake of baabe’s hands and innocent workers’ noses alike.

〈 TLDR: baaabe and asher are adorkably sweet together and both love ice cream 〉

[positivexcellence]

Jared Padalecki Talks Boys Role (‘Just Let Me Know If I Have to Get Naked’) and How It’d Be a Supernatural Reunion

Jared Padalecki is hoping that if he visits The Boys, he’ll get to keep his clothes on.

Supernatural creator and The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke has been vocal about his desire to get his former leading man on the Prime Video drama, calling Padalecki “the Pokémon I haven’t collected yet.” Thus far, Jensen Ackles, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jim Beaver, Rob Benedict and Christian Keyes are among the Supernatural vets to pop up on the comic book series, while Alexander Calvert recurred on the spinoff Gen V.

Bringing Padalecki onto the show is a matter of “finding the right role. Look, I want to. I mean, even if it’s just for a guest shot,” Kripke told TVLine.

But with the announcement that there’s only one season left after this current fourth one, have there been any recent conversations between Kripke and Padalecki about how to make that guest spot a reality before time runs out?

“We talked a little bit recently. I mean, we talked today,” Padalecki told TVLine on Friday.

A month ago, Kripke called the actor following the cancellation of his CW series Walker, which will come to an end with this Wednesday’s episode.

“He’s like, ‘Hey, dude, a) so sorry about Walker. I know how much you loved it and great show. Would you be interested in coming to play up in Toronto [where The Boys shoots]?'” Padalecki recalls. “I was like, ‘Absolutely. Just let me know if I have to get naked or not because I gotta start working out now.'”

Despite the potentially urgent need to get into the gym, Padalecki notes that the role is still a ways off from actual production.

“He and I have talked about what it could look like. It’s not written yet. He said it wouldn’t really be until 2025. We wouldn’t shoot until probably January-ish,” Padalecki shares, adding that he’s game to “go play in the playground [of] the guy who created Sam Winchester. I’ve had good times in his playground, so I’m happy to do it again.”

As for what kind of character he’d like to portray, Padalecki has his sights set on a villainous supe, with “the power of wearing clothes,” he says with a laugh. “No, I don’t know. You know what’s funny is that, yeah, I have some ideas, but to Kripke’s credit, all my ideas for his time on Supernatural paled in comparison to what he came up with. So I wouldn’t even want to put anything in his head. I just want him and his f–ked up mind to think of something cool for me to come and do, and it’s going to be better than anything I could have dreamed up. The way his brain works is wildly interesting and outside of the box… So I’ll just go with what he creates.”

Of course, if Padalecki comes on The Boys, there is potential to have him in a scene with his Supernatural co-stars Ackles and Morgan, who play baddie supe Soldier Boy and CIA officer Joe Kessler, respectively.

“Let me just say that’s not the first time I’ve had a conversation where that has been pontificated. But yeah, that would be a lot of fun,” Padalecki says, before jokingly adding that all three characters would be naked for the reunion.

Well, Kripke does have a habit of putting Supernatural alums in nude scenes…

tvline

[z0n1x]

OK MEOWRTHER FUCKER WHERE DOING THIS WHERE MAKING THIS HAPPEN

aka my favorite moments and notes on the new hc:bc: “[S] 8r8k.” done right after i watched it because I AM GOING TO IMPOLDE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

MEGA FUCKING SPOILER WARNING! OBVIOUSLY!

(ignore how this is in windows media player i needed to slow it down a bit)

ok first frame up we got 3 preexisting scenes to ground us

with the calliroxy + john panel im not exactly sure why that little stain is there but probably just some like texturing idk id be surprised if it was relevent

sollux. soooollllluuuux >:[ this is a pretty funny gag though itll come back later

awwww little fork and knife dude! someonell probably think of a clever punny name for them so im not gonna bother right now

also it could just be the way the lighting affects colors here but that sort of looks like lime more than jade or olive to me. it seems too yellow to be jade but too light to be olive

would be cool if it was but i doubt it

with afformentioned knife and fork dude and swiffer and cliper and now this dude we seem to be getting a lot of greenish blooded background trolls

is that…. THE PINK KILOMETERS !!!! :0 lol

clear parallel to hic here

ok seriously what the hell is that?????? i wouldnt say its thief of life shit cuz then it’d probably be light blue but if were going by colors this would be a fuchsia blood thing?? i need to fucking know pleeeeease <<;;

neeeeever mind seems to be a thief of life thing though i would’ve thought stealing someones life to give to others wouldve been more of a rogue of lifes thing? whatever its still cool

cool ass shot

he still fucking uses those????????

those lil wrist things vaguely remind me of the signless’s handcuff association but these are a different kind i think so eh

ahhhh i get it ;3 its a bloodpusher

SHES GONNA FUCKING GET ME SCRAM!!! 0_0 (lol)

has (vriska) always wore knee high converse? if not thats a funny thing to add

NOOOOO DAVEPETA DONT EXPLODE YOURE TOO AWESOME D:

LMAOOOOO THE TROLLS FACE WHY IS HE SO D:,

ahhh partners in D:,-hood

GET EM GIRL WOOOOO!!!! KILL EM! yiffy 4 the win

indeed tavvy, indeed 0_0

im imagining him saying “GET DOWN TAVVY” in the same cadence one would say get down mr president

can someone with the genesis project put that code in to see what it has (first ones a 4)

(i love this little fourth wall addon with tavvy youth rolling across the scenes)

LMAO THE LITTLE EYE POP OUT also uncle? is this vrissy’s or yiffy’s? considering jade had it im going with yiffy

think about him next time you have boba….. smh

come on tavvy hit a corner cooome on (i like the video shaking here)

OH NY GOD ITS A JOHN METEOR PANEL FUCK DAMMIT

they are drawn so cute here in a panel so hard to pause on with 0.25 speed on T_T yiffy here is pfp gold

holy shit? of course they pull out the fucking painting for something that stupid. it’s beautiful

aw shit hopenado time

:0 godtier revives are always so pretty

IS THAT FUCKING BEC BLANC??????

(yes i think thats a good pun)

some one tag the gun identification guy we need to figure out what gun vriska is using on (vriska)

:o he’s actually controlling the hopey shit!!!!!

part 2 cuz the image limit:

[jhutchh19992]

Late Nights and Lost Words

plot: you and clapton had been best friends forever. and you like him. so you decide to go to the cinema together…

tags: hurt, soft, no smut, readerxclaptondavis, best friends, unrequited love, Part 2?

Clapton always chose the middle row, third seat from the left.

I always chose the fourth. It had been our unspoken tradition ever since high school. Sometimes we talked the whole ride to the cinema, other times we didn’t. I liked both equally — because I was with him.

Clapton Davis.

He was the kind of guy people either admired or misunderstood. Smart, a little scattered, unreasonably charming in that boy-who-hates-homework kind of way. He had this laugh that cracked halfway through like he’d surprise himself with how happy he could sound. I was addicted to that laugh.

We met in the ninth grade. He was the new kid who couldn’t figure out the lock on his locker. I helped him out, not because I cared, but because his frustration looked too funny to ignore. That was the start. A week later, we were skipping science class together. Three years after that, he was my best friend.

And I was hopelessly, stupidly in love with him.

That night was a cold one — a Friday in late October. The air smelled like rain on pavement and cheap popcorn, and Clapton had just found a little cinema that was doing a special screening of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

He texted me at 4:12 PM:

"Found your dream movie. You, me, 7 PM, no takebacks."

I smiled like a damn idiot.

The cinema was nearly empty when we got there. Clapton grabbed a large popcorn and poured half a bag of M&M’s into it like a psychopath. I teased him about it. He offered me a handful anyway.

“I still don’t get why you like sad movies,” he said as we sat down. “They feel more real,” I shrugged. “People don’t get happy endings all the time.” He looked over at me then, a little longer than usual. “That’s depressing.” I laughed under my breath. “Guess I’m a little depressing.” He smiled. “Nah. You’re... honest.”

I wanted to kiss him right then.

During the movie, I watched him more than the screen. The flickering light painted his face in shades of blue and white. He had a habit of whispering thoughts mid-scene — stuff like “This part’s genius” or “I’d erase my memory of high school in a heartbeat”.

My hand was inches from his on the armrest. I could feel the heat. I could reach out, lace my fingers in his, tell him everything — how I stayed up at night thinking about what it’d be like if he ever looked at me the way Joel looked at Clementine. But I didn’t. The credits rolled, and the theater went quiet.

He stretched. “That was heavier than I expected. „Yeah,” I murmured. “It kinda guts you.”

Clapton turned to me, smiled again — softer this time. “You’re so weird. I mean, in the best way.” I swallowed hard. “Thanks, I guess.”

We walked out into the cool night, the kind where your breath fogs and your thoughts do too. The parking lot was empty except for his car. Neither of us talked for a minute. Then he broke the silence.

“I’ve been talking to someone,” he said casually. “Like, dating, I guess.” I didn’t even flinch on the outside. I just smiled and nodded. “Oh? That’s cool.”

“Yeah. Her name’s June. She’s in my psych class.”

“Nice. She sounds… great.”

He chuckled. “You’d like her. I told her about you — my weirdo best friend who makes me watch melancholic films about memory and heartbreak.”

I laughed too. Not because it was funny, but because that’s what you do when your heart caves in quietly.

He dropped me off outside my place. The porch light was off. I liked it that way.

“Thanks for tonight,” he said, half-leaning out the window. “Let’s do it again next week. Maybe something lighter?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

He gave a mock salute and drove off into the darkness. I stood there for a while, hands shoved deep in my pockets, heart trying to unlearn the shape it had made for him.

He never found out.

And I never told him.

Some stories don’t end with confessions or kisses in the rain.

Some end quietly — with unspoken truths, half-finished sentences, and a third seat from the left that never gets any closer.

But I loved him.

God, I loved him.

And maybe that’s enough.

Even if he’ll never know.

[elliecore4eva]

The Decision to Have a Baby

It started as an innocent conversation one lazy afternoon.

You and Ellie were lying on the couch, your legs tangled together, a half-empty bowl of popcorn resting on your stomach. The fireplace crackled softly, and outside, the Jackson snow fell in thick, heavy flakes.

Ellie was absentmindedly tracing patterns on your thigh when she suddenly said, "What if we had a kid?"

You turned your head slowly, narrowing your eyes. "Like… got a dog kind of kid? Or an actual human child?"

Ellie snorted. "An actual kid, dumbass."

You blinked. "Are you dying?"

"What? No."

"Did you hit your head?"

Ellie groaned, shoving your arm. "I’m serious!"

"You? Serious about a baby?" You sat up slightly, propping yourself on your elbow. "Babe, you nearly had a meltdown when Jesse asked you to hold JJ for five minutes."

Ellie huffed. "Okay, yeah, but that was different! He pooped within the first thirty seconds. That was a violation of trust."

You laughed, shaking your head. "Ellie, a baby is all poop and trust violations."

Ellie hesitated. "Okay, yeah, but… I dunno. I just—I've been thinking about it, you know? I think we’d be good parents. And I think it’d be kinda cool to have a little us running around."

Your heart softened. You reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You really want this?"

Ellie exhaled, then nodded. "Yeah. With you? Yeah, I do."

And just like that, the idea took root.

Ellie swore she had faced some terrifying things in her life—Clickers, bandits, that one time Joel caught her sneaking out after curfew. But nothing, nothing, compared to watching Bunny grip the hospital bed rails and growl, "You did this to me, Ellie Williams."

Ellie gulped, gripping Bunny’s hand as another contraction hit. "Babe, we’ve been over this—I didn’t do this alone. It was a joint effort."

Bunny shot her a glare so lethal Ellie actually flinched. "A joint effort? Oh, really? Did you have to carry a human inside you for nine months? Did you just experience that contraction?!"

Ellie’s eyes darted to the nurse, silently begging for backup, but the nurse just chuckled and patted Bunny’s arm. "Almost there, Mama. Just a little longer."

Bunny’s head whipped back to Ellie. "A little longer?! Ellie, if I don’t make it out of this, you tell Baby Bunny I loved her, but I went out fighting!"

Ellie pressed a kiss to Bunny’s forehead, trying not to laugh. "Babe, you’re not dying. You’re literally the strongest person I know. You got this."

Bunny huffed, cheeks flushed, but Ellie saw the tiniest flicker of appreciation beneath all the labor rage.

Then another contraction hit, and Bunny crushed Ellie’s hand so hard she genuinely worried for her bone structure.

"OKAY, NEW RULE," Bunny panted. "WE ARE NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN."

Ellie, despite the pain shooting up her arm, just grinned. "Babe, I hate to break it to you, but that’s the fourth time you’ve said that today. I think we both know you’re gonna change your mind the second you see her."

Bunny narrowed her eyes but didn’t argue.

And sure enough, minutes later, when a tiny, wailing bundle was placed in Bunny’s arms, Ellie watched her wife’s entire world shift.

"Oh," Bunny breathed, voice cracking as she stared down at their daughter.

Ellie felt her chest ache in the best way.

Bunny traced a finger down Baby Bunny’s impossibly soft cheek, tears spilling down her own face. "Hi, baby," she whispered, awestruck. "We’ve been waiting for you."

Ellie, completely gone, leaned over and kissed Bunny’s forehead, then the baby’s.

"She’s perfect," Ellie murmured, voice thick.

Bunny sniffled, nodding. "She really is."

And then, in true Bunny fashion, she glanced up at Ellie with a completely straight face and muttered, "Still not doing this again, though."

Ellie just laughed, wrapping her arms around her girls. "We’ll see, babe. We’ll see."

[kiwimintlime]

A Simple Favor

SEASON 2 SPOILERS!

for @terrickweek2025

word count: 2.3k

prompt: betrayal (this is technically for the wrong day but I did want to post it today for @icy-book's birthday)

cw: angst

notes: this takes place like 2-3 years before the start of season 2. I'm bad with my timelines so if that doesn't make sense shhhhhh. this is definitely not my usual wheelhouse, but I did enjoy writing this. happy birthday Icy! (also I literally just finished writing this no beta we die like Doug)

Terry wondered if he was getting just as paranoid as Lark. All day he’d felt the sensation like he was being watched. Something just at the edge of his periphery, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He’d tried scanning the area with magic, and once he could’ve sworn that he just felt something, but no luck. And he could only look over his shoulder so times before he started getting weird looks.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” his date, Veronica, asked him, “You seem on edge.”

“Uh, yeah,” he did his best to give her a reassuring smile, though he had no idea how convincing it actually was, “just a bit stressed from… work… is all.”

“Oh, well we can end things early tonight if you’re too tired, I completely understand.”

“No,” Terry took her hand and smiled. “Being with you relaxes me.” He did genuinely mean that. He liked Veronica, he liked her a lot. And even if it was only their fourth date, he could see things going pretty far.

“I’m glad you feel that way.” The two of them walked hand in hand in the cool night air through the park, simply enjoying each other’s company. After a while Veronica slowed down, looking quite serious. “So, Terrance.”

“Yeah? “

“I like you, a lot,” she bit her lip, “I like what we have and I want to keep seeing you.”

“I feel the same way, “ Terry gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m glad, “ she brightened up a bit before steeling herself again, “I just feel you should know, if we are going to keep seeing each other and this thing is serious, that I have a kid.”

“Oh!” Terry didn’t know quite what to say. He didn’t mind at all, he just didn’t know what exactly was the appropriate reaction.

“She’s thirteen. Her name is Theresa, but she actually also goes by Terri.”

“What a coincidence, I like her already.” Terry grinned, “Thirteen huh? I’ve got friends with kids around her age.”

“So… you don’t mind? “

“Not at all. As a matter of fact—”

There! There it was again. That feeling of being watched, even more intense this time. It wasn’t just a feeling anymore either. It was more tangible, a presence, a… scent. And a scent Terry recognized all too well, no matter how many years it’d been. Something somewhere between wood smoke and incense.

“Terry? Are you okay?” Veronica asked.

“Uh, yeah,” Talk about shit timing. He had to get her out of here. “Um, no actually. Look, I hate to do this l, and I promise it’s not because of what you just told me, but I really have to go. I promise I’ll call you okay?”

She looked crushed, though she hid it the best she could. “Um, okay. I’ll be waiting on your call.”

Terry watched her leave, chest tightening.

“Ooh, yeah, she definitely hates your guts now. A real shame, she seems nice.” A voice said from behind him. Terry whipped around, swinging as he went. He’d always been the stronger of the two. But to his surprise the blow was easily blocked and parried, with his weight being used against him. He somehow ended up pushed up against a tree, wrists held above his head, a razor sharp tail close to his throat.

“Nicholas.” Terry spat out.

“Now is that any way to greet an old friend?” Nick flashed a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Oh and this,” Terry looked pointedly down to the tail at his throat, “is friendly to you?”

“Hey, you swung first.”

“What do you want?” Terry hissed.

Nick’s eyes slid away from Terry’s face for a moment. “I need to ask a favor.”

“You’ve got a funny way of asking for one.”

“I— oh for fucks sake” Nick’s tail darted away from Terry’s neck and into his pocket, snatching out his phone. He looked Terry in the eye. “I’ll let you go if you promise not to attack me and hear me out.”

Terry thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Fine.”

True to his word, Nick let him go. Terry rubbed his wrists. He didn’t remember Nick being that strong, especially with just one arm. He looked at Nick. “Can I have my phone back? “

“I think not. I’d prefer you didn’t call for back up, considering what happened the last time we were all together.”

“You mean the time I asked you for a favor? I don’t know what makes you think I’d do you one now.”

“Because this could solve all our problems.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“There are literally hundreds of other worlds out there, if not more. The problem is getting to them.” Nick explained, “You knew how to get to hell, which is why you needed me. I’ve spent the last ten years searching for access into any of them. Terry, I’ve found one I think could be perfect. And the access point is just about two hours from here.”

This was bullshit. It had to be. Terry himself and everyone at D.A.D.D.I.E.S. had spent just as much time looking for the same answer. For it to fall into his lap like this, hand delivered by the person who had the most reason to hate him… it just wasn’t possible.

“Why come to me with this?” Terry asked.

“I need a sorcerer, they’re not exactly easy to come by.”

“I know for a fact hell’s got a few of those. Hell, you’ve got a decent amount of magic yourself.”

“And all their magic, like mine, is touched with The Infernal. The portal I found is non reactive to natural phenomena, and extremely volatile to everything from hell. I need magic that doesn’t have Satan’s stink on it.” Nick’s voice got louder. “You think I didn’t try other options? You think I want to be here, asking you for help?”

Nick looked… desperate. It didn’t look good on him. Something tugged in Terry’s chest. Something he pushed down.

“I can’t trust you.” Terry said.

“The feeling’s mutual.” Nick sighed. “Look, the sooner we fin a solution the sooner our lives go back to normal. Wouldn’t that be nice? No more everyday battle, no more looking over your shoulder, no more constant worry about the safety of those you care about. I— I could see my son again.” Nick’s voice cracked. Badly. Terry reached out a hand without even thinking but Nick batted it away. “Don’t… don’t patronize me man. Are you helping me or not? “

Terry gave it a last thought. “Fine.”

Nick’s face brightened into the kind of smile Terry hadn’t seen in a long time. That tug on his heart was back, and it was harder to pretend that it wasn’t. He cleared his throat.

“Can I have my phone back?”

“Hell no. At least not until you see that my idea is viable. I don’t need to others jumping me again when I least expect it.”

“I— I wouldn’t do that.”

“Yeah, real convincing. Come on.” Nick led Terry around the corner to where a convertible was parked. It was covered in flame decals because of course it was. “Hop in.”

Terry did and once Nick was in the driver’s seat they sped off into the night. Out of San Dimas, out onto the highway . The night air was cool and the stars were stunning. What felt like a million lifetimes ago Terry and Nick had spent their summers just like this. Open road, less worries, more freedom. Sometimes with the others, a lot of times just the two of them. A million lifetimes indeed.

“How long have you been following me?” Terry asked.

“Don't flatter yourself. Just today. I wanted to know how much of a problem you’d be to deal with.” Nick smirked. “Clearly not much. Guess brawling with presidents pays off.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

They were quiet for another ten minutes before Nick asked, “Why you? Lark I would’ve understood. He thinks this whole thing is his fault and it’s his job to fix it. He’s the mot desperate of all of us. And Sparrow will go with whatever he wants. Grant… I dunno. But you? You were my best friend, you were my— Just… why?”

Terry exhaled a long breath. “I don’t even know anymore. I’ve thought about it for years and I— I think I thought you would understand. I didn’t think things would end up this way. I figured we’d force your hand and you’d make the right choice.”

“The right choice?” Nick’s voice was dangerously low.

“That’s not—” Terry sighed again. “I don’t know. All of us were so miserable, so worn down. I thought if it came down to it you’d choose us.”

“My dad is the king of hell, I have a responsibility—”

“I know. I know that now, I understand better.”

Another silence fell between them. Then Nick spoke. “I wasn’t just following you around today. I stopped by Taylor’s school. He’s doing alright. Could use some more friends, but he seems happy enough. Cassie’s doing a great job.”

“That’s good.”

“Mhmm.” Nick's voice was quiet again,“He doesn’t need me Terry. I’ve turned out worse than Glenn. At least he came home every couple weeks.”

The pit in Terry’s stomach grew deeper. He knew what it was like not to have a dad, and he’d taken one away from this kid.

“Did you ever think about taking him with you?”

“To hell? At the beginning yeah. But it was no place for a kid that young, a kid with no frame of reference for what was going on. Not to mention his mother had no idea about any of it. And now… now it’s too late. Can’t exactly show up with a gallon of milk, ya’know? Especially not with the FBI on my tail. I keep an eye on him, I’ll be there if he needs me, but until this whole thing is sorted out it’s better I keep my distance.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that Taylor had to go through all this.”

Nick just kept his eyes on the road.

“Me too.”

They drove on in silence. Terry must have fallen asleep to the sound of the engine and that wood fire scent, because next thing he knew Nick was shaking his shoulder.

“We’re here.”

Terry looked around. They were out in the desert, on a patch of road as unremarkable as the rest of the highway. “Where’s here exactly?”

“Come on.” Nick started walking out into the desert, stopping about 20 feet away from the road. He looked back. “Come on, it’s hard to see from far away.”

Terry got out of the car and walked towards Nick, peering into the moonlit night. Sure enough, if he looked just the right way, there was a ripple in the air. “Oh my god.”

“Right? Watch this.” Nick picked up a stick and tried to poke at it. The stick stopped just short of the ripple, evidently unable to go any further. He then set his hand ablaze with infernal flame and reaches out to touch it. This time, the tips of his fingers just barely made it through before the ripple spat him back out. For a split second Terry caught a glimpse of something beyond. Nick looked at him. “Your turn champ.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“I dunno, just… magic at it.”

Terry sighed and got closer to the portal. He reached out towards it, and as his hand got closer it almost felt like it was being sucked in. “I don’t know about this.”

“Are you kidding me? This is it! It’s another world, it’s exactly what we’ve been looking for. This will fix everything.”

Terry’s hand crossed the barrier. It felt almost like a soft, fleshy curtain. He felt himself being tugged further in, all the way up to his elbow. “Nick, I don’t like thi—”

“Yeah I bet you wouldn’t. It’s not the best feeling.” Nick's voice was velvety soft and dangerous, “But hey, at least you won’t lose the arm.”

“What the hell—” The portal was all the way up to his shoulder now.

“Oh don’t be so dramatic, it’s not like it’s a 1v4.” He was clearly holding himself back from laughing now, a dark chuckle in his voice.

“Nick!” Terry felt his chest being almost folded up into it, pulled in an unnatural way.

“I got stuck in here a little while back. It’s not like a full world per se, more like a pocket dimension. Kind of like the one Willy’s in actually. Definitely not pleasant, but I survived.”

Terry’s entire torso was inside the portal, his legs soon to follow.

“’Course, the difference is, I had people who knew exactly where I was. Dad sent some demons out here to get me in just a couple hours. You, on the other hand, don’t .”

If this thing followed any sort of natural logic, Terry’s legs should’ve been snapped backwards at the pelvis. As far as he could tell, nothing was broken, but it all just felt so wrong.

“A bit naïve, don’t you think? Following someone who hates you out into the middle of nowhere. I honestly didn’t think this gambit would be so easy.”

“Fuck… you…” Terry managed to spit out. His head was the only thing still sticking out.

“I’ve got demons in hell for that darlin’.” Nick leaned in, “It’s not a nice feeling is it? Being betrayed. Oh and before I forget.” He took out a paper seal and slapped it on Terry’s forehead. “Can’t have you figuring your own way out of here with magic.”

With that he pushed Terry’s head the rest of the way in. He just stared at the ripple for a moment before walking back to the car. Terry’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Nick looked at the screen. It was a text from Veronica. He shrugged before burning the device to ash in infernal fire. Not his problem. He opened up a portal to hell and drove back home.

[theology101]

I’m bored, so I’m rewriting fallout 4. Lets start with the big factions

Part 2

Fallout 4 Enhanced, part 1 - major factions

The Minutemen

So despite trying to uphold the values of Old World America, it’s a military junta made up of disorganized paramilitary troops. My brother in Christ, thats Yugoslavia.

After retaking the Castle, we should have the ability to form a democratic government and perfect the Commonwealth Provisional Government. And then have elections for Governor that the player can run for but also very much can choose not to. If you’re playing an evil Institute run one candidate should be Mayor McDonough as your puppet, but forbidding you from running. If we’re rebuilding America, let’s start with Democracy, eh? I think that the president should be Abigail Finch, but I’ll take Blake Abernathy or Preston Garvey.

Also, I want there to be a continuous through line of the Gunners-Minutemen rivalry. Honestly, once the Institute is gone, I want a big set piece battle against the Gunners in Quincy (maybe destroying the Overpass with Artillery?) and freeing the still captive population of Quincy. Give us a fourth act, semi protracted factional conflict

I think it would actually be fun if this was a multi faction battle, but we’ll get there.

Railroad

The biggest negative for them (besides the brain wiping) is that they put a lot of focus and effort into freeing *only* Synths. Which makes sense, because there are only Synth Slaves in the Commonwealth (besides ones explicitly being removed) - so here is an idea, say that is because of the Railroad. Make them be this famous and legendary group who’s broken up countless slaver groups and factions, and have no turned to the Synth as their latest Crusade.

It’d definitely give them a lot more good will with your average citizen who, even if they don’t like Synths, remembers their story. A large, established network that stretches across the entire East Coast that has the vast resources to fight the Institute on a level, if asymmetric, playing field. Hell, let’s even have a few long-term Brotherhood infiltrators who are leaking secrets to the Railroad (Maybe they’re a vertibird pilot who “throws their trash” and agents pick up the encoded message). They know of the Brotherhood and have agents in the Capital Wasteland, it isn’t impossible. There should be an option to assassinate Maxson and replace him with Danse whos more sympathetic and wont attack them, but also won’t work with them either.

Speaking of, during the Battle of Quincy, they should be freeing slaves. We see massive empty cages when we go in game, have them filled and make it the basis of the Gunner’s new slave trade operation. We convince Desdemona for a joint strike, so while our artillery is firing, a few squads of heavies and infiltrators hit the cages, free the prisoners, and bounce before anyone notices.

Brotherhood of Steel

This one is going to be the most radically changed, because I think the Brotherhood, while cool in principle, felt undercooked. Which is why I think there should be sub-factions within the Brotherhood of Steel - Hard Liners and Sympathizers, split between their view of Synths. Brotherhood Ideology is not monolithic, in fallout 2 there were debates if Super Mutants were bad, or Hostile Super Mutants only, and similar ones about Ghouls exist in Fallout 3. And then there are the ones who are Space Marines fighting for the God Emperor Elder Maxson.

Hard Liners: Kells, Quinlan and Teagen

Sympathetics: Ingram, Cade, Neriah and Madison Li

Maxson himself starts off as a Hardliner, but based off of choices in other questlines, the Brotherhood’s own new quest lines from the characters I just mentioned, and your charisma in dialogue checks, can be changed into being Sympathetic.

Kells is just a straight military man, also the easiest Hard Liner to convert once you convince him of the military impossibility of trying to actually find Synths, his quest would probably be making an airbase at one of your settlements for the Brotherhood. Quinlan is just a Maxson sycophant and propagandist and has fully bought into whatever Maxson says, even writing his propaganda piece, he also already has quests so he’s good. Teagan is a right bastard and Synth Racist, who will also disapprove of you making democracy if you’re a Minuteman - you have one quest were he sends a squad to intimidate your settlement and they kill the squad and you can either punish them or bring Teagan up on charges of plundering and terrorizing innocents.

Ingram feels a lot of sympathy for the Synths due to her own bio-mechanical nature and thinks that some institute tech can be used for good like agriculture or limb replacement. Her quests should be about finding a way to lessen her work load, maybe with robots, maybe by training and recruiting settlers, maybe by optimizing the Prydwen - her quest ends with her leaving the power armor frame and getting to sleep. Cade is a doctor, he isn’t too interested but since he cant tell a Synth from a Human under tests, he doesn’t really trust the Brotherhood to perform summary executions of them - his quest should just be getting the Covenant research to validate his assumption of ‘dont kill synths.’ Neriah thinks that Institute research in general, especially in bio science, and that Synth researchers with their long lives and rad resistance would be a massive boon for the Brotherhood, she also thinks Synths are similar to Star Paladin Cross and he was fine? - her quest already exists. Madison Li obviously values Synths and the Institute and, one step further, doesn’t want to destroy it either. Hold trials and take over? Sure, but not destroy a perfectly good lab filled with good people

Also, someone on the Sympathetic side is a Railroad agent but idk who, you decide! Not the only one, but definitely the highest ranking

Based off of all these people and their quests, I want a Far Harbor style “Everyone pause and let’s talk about it!” where there is just a full on debate between the leaders of the Brotherhood about wether or not Synths need to be destroyed, or just the method of creating and controlling Synths, allowing them to be free people. Hell, let this happen after Danse runs off but before you go get him. Make a case that the Institute records you stole have him as an escaped slave who then enlisted, of his own free will - while he needs to be taken off the active line of fire while the Institute still has the ability to control him (albeit only up close and if he hears it, so maybe just blast death metal?), let him be the thing that changes Maxson’s policy.

Or if you’re an absolute bastard, instead of doing anything that I just said you encourage everyone’s worst tendencies. Tell Cade that Covenant is almost there and that you let them carry on, get Proctor Ingram believing in conspiracy theories and Teagan an alt-right podcast where they debate whether or not the Brotherhood should have mandatory breeding regulations. I doubt anyone would play it, and all this option would do is lock you out of other stuff (probably preventing or toppling the Commonwealth Provisional Government but hey, at least you get to be Elder of the newly founded Commonwealth Chapter!), but if someone wants to be a bastard and not an unhinged freak who eats corpses, this is how

Let your choices in the story matter.

For the Battle of Quincy, just send a vertibird or two and drop in some guys in power armor and heavy weapons. Land them inside the walls while the Minutemen storm the gates - after the Artillery and Railroad have escaped, of course

The Good Ending

Before we get to the Institute, this is what I call the Good Ending. With the Brotherhood no longer having a desire to take down the Synth, and the Railroad, while powerful, very much lacking the firepower to take down the Institute, are both brought to the Castle for a meeting between Maxson, Desdemona, the Governor, Preston Garvey and you (if you’re not Governor-General). There is shouting, yelling, insults traded (maybe there is even an intermission) but unless you fuck up badly or intentionally screw yourself, you have a joint Minuteman-Railroad-Brotherhood attack force against the Institute.

The Brotherhood still play Pacific Rim, as a distraction, while Railroad operatives sneak through the tunnel system in the Charles. By the time Liberty Prime has blasted a hole into the Earth and Minutemen and Brotherhood troops are storming the base, Loyal and Rebel synths are already fighting on the ground for their freedom. Unlike in game, some of these scientists absolutely would not go down swinging. I can talk those nerds in bioscience or engineering are gonna fight to the Death? SRB sure, but come on. Maybe not all of them are genuine and there is some post game shit with that but with your planning and overwhelming advantage, the Institute falls rather bloodlessly

Now, you can decide to do what Arthur wants you to do and blow it up, or… you can decide to give the Institute to be jointly run by the three factions and the Synths. It’s just a social hub, maybe some act 4 shenanigans (racial conflict)

Oh boy,

The Institute

Hey what’s their goal?

Like, beyond keeping the surface permanently destabilized (Sabatouging any collective government, fomenting conflict between Goodneighbor and Diamond city, seeding Super Mutants at random to ensure chaos) so it remains their pretty, perfect little petri dish, what are their goals?

I got the idea for this from a youtube video, so I’m just gonna say it “Why did you program them to feel fear?” Like, what purpose does it serve to give the Synths complete, perfect sentience and then enslave them? The Gen 2s seemed to be doing just fine. Okay, maybe you wanted to make perfectly humanoid ones, why arent they all like Coursers? Why, why, why? And no one can give me a damn answer!

So, here’s an idea: Shaun is dying of Cancer, so he had his eyes set on True Immortality. A Gen IV Synth, perfectly capable of human thought and creativity, perfectly human in every biological way only superior - faster, stronger, quicker reflexes - immune to radiation, disease and starvation and, once they reach a certain age, become immortal. And I did say “reach a certain age.” Using biotech and nanomachines, lil Shaun is the first Gen IV Synth, born as an infant in a lab womb and fully capable of spreading as a new Ubermensch i mean, new tomorrow. Shaun was going to wait until the body was in its 20s, but his brain cancer is getting so bad that only fragments of his mind can be copied into the 10 year old body.

This should be an active debate of whether or not this is the next step in Cyborgs and Synths (after all, was Kellog not just a Synth at a certain point?) where as some view it as a gross violation of human dignity. Show me some angry academics, damn you! Regardless, some (especially older people) should be Quite Excited about getting flash copied into a “perfect” Gen IV body. This also, at least to me, explains why they needed to be perfectly human - they wanted a perfectly platform to hold onto their intelligence and not go insane or lose their “soul” like the Necrontyr-Necron. It gives an actual reason for all the weird shit they do

As Director you get to decide wether or not this gets to go ahead or not - also whether or not you should kill and replace people with Synths. Give me moral consequences, damn it, there is NO WAY Piper isnt getting replaced in an Institute Victory and you the player should have to carry that burden.

Also i want assassination missions where I replace people with Synths. I think it would be a fun stealth segment to get NPCs alone and either kill em or teleport em. We’re a shadowy cabal, we should be able to end all the faction disputes quietly. Send the brotherhood home, break apart the railroad in a single night. Right proper evil stuff. Or, if you want to play terminator, you role up with an army of death bots and destroy everything for the Gen IV Synth Army!

End Notes

Fallout 4 needed a fourth act. After the Institute is gone, nothing changes. I just blew up a solid chunk of cambridge and am i high ranking leader in two military governments and im a secret agent, and that’s it? No interaction with each other beyond killing? No “crossing idealogical boundaries for the greater good?” I don’t want to fanboy for New Vegas but there, I could cross boundaries and convince people to join their enemies for their own safety and betterment. Preston Garvey is just like “Hey, we can blow up the Blimp if you wanna. Danse is cool, and I know there are kids on board, but I don’t want them breathing down our neck.” Like, motherfucker I’m their Sentinel - no.

The point of the series is “War Never Changes, so Men Must Change.” There’s no change in Fallout 4. There is no seeing the bigger picture and reaching peace. Once the Institute blows up, most factions could probably just go home because the only reason they’d bother to do anything is to kill each other. And that’s deeply boring to me.

Next episode, the minor factions - Gunners, Children of Atom, Raider Gangs, and Super Mutants

[you-remind-me-of-the-babe]

Happy Wednesday friends! I’ve got 15 teaching days left and boy am I ready for summer vacation! 😎

I’m currently writing the fourth chapter of my time travel AU, Back and Back and Back. @cutestkilla and @emeryhall are graciously beta reading for me and thanks to their help, the first two chapters are shape up nicely. 🙏🏻

Here’s a little something from chapter 2 (no, chapter 1 is not posted yet, but I’ve already shared a good amount from it.) An older Simon is visiting ten year old Baz while he’s taking a breather from Malcolm and Daphne’s wedding:

I think about some of the comments I heard the guests making tonight. Discussions about babies and starting a family. Which feels like such an odd thing to say, because Father’s already got a family. Or at least part of one. That isn’t really starting is it?

I tell him a little of what I overheard tonight and he listens intently again without interrupting. He doesn’t give me sad pity eyes like so many other grown ups when they talk to me about things like dead mums. I like that about him. He treats me more normally than just about anyone else.

“Well,” he starts, “I don’t have any siblings myself, so I can’t really speak from experience. But I always thought it would be cool to have a little brother or sister.”

“Really?” I tilt my head, looking up at him.

“Mmm. I think it’d be nice to have someone to look after. Someone you’d always have in your corner. And they’d have you.”

Baby Baz owns my heart. As does an older Simon being nice to him ♥️

Tags/thanks/hello to @cutestkilla @emeryhall @artsyunderstudy @facewithoutheart @whatevertheweather @thewholelemon @raenestee @aristocratic-otter @valeffelees @ivelovedhimthroughworse @ileadacharmedlife @bookish-bogwitch @shrekgogurt @orange-peony @letraspal @nightimedreamersworld @run-for-chamo-miles @roomwithanopenfire @rimeswithpurple @iamamythologicalcreature @prettygoododds @monbons @blackberrysummerblog @that-disabled-princess @best--dress @brendughh @drowninginships @lookinforavampire @mooncello @hushed-chorus

[homestuckreplay]

To be fair, you have to have a very high wisdom to understand Colonel Sassacre. The mischief is extremely nuanced, and without a solid grasp of mangrit and maturity most of the pranks will go over the typical reader’s head.

(page 759)

If I was making a webcomic, I’d probably take a well deserved few days off between story acts, but not so in Homestuck. We’re back, and kind of, sort of, unofficially, maybe, in Act 3?

For Act3posting, I’m gonna do a couple things.

- Hard cap reaction posts at 500 words. Time to get economical.

- End reaction posts with a command suggestion. I can’t access the actual suggestion box, so can’t influence the story directly, but I still have ideas I’d like to share.

Starting now.

So, there’s a message from Nanna in the front of Colonel Sassacre’s – and not just any message. I’d call this a prophecy. This is real fantasy novel territory, with battles and royalty and chosen ones and protagonists with cool dramatic titles and wise old spiritual guides who know far more than they should. I eat this stuff up even when it’s cliché. I wonder if the story within Sburb and the story outside of Sburb could be totally different genres.

Nanna says this book’s ‘journey will end on the Final Day of [her] life’, with Final Day underlined, so we know it’s plot important. This means she wrote this some time ago, already knowing about John’s future. Signing up to be a Sburb beta tester because it’s the Game of the Year no longer feels like a happenstance. This is cosmically fated somehow, which… is a little sad, because it takes away some of John and Rose’s success from them, if they didn’t get to this point in the game through skill but through destiny. I’m gonna have to get used to that concept, and start thinking through how free will can be exercised in a story that plays with time this way.

These titles are SO cool. ‘...the Heir of Breath and Seer of Light, the Knight of Time and Witch of Space…’ these fuck so hard. I want one. These probably correspond to John, Rose, Dave, and their secret fourth player Todd from Missouri, maybe in the same order we meet the characters, although maybe there will be a surprise shakearound. After all, Rose seems way more associated with darkness than light, and ‘Witch of Space’ feels like it’d fit her way better than ‘Seer of Light’. And no way does Dave have the earnestness and devotion necessary to be a good knight – John, on the other hand, could rise to that challenge.

Nanna’s ‘P.S. HOO HOO HOO!’ could indicate that she knew all along that she would become Nannasprite, and perhaps knew that she wouldn’t be able to deliver this message directly in sprite form, as it would be game spoilers. Or it could be that she always liked to say hoo hoo hoo, carrying the spirit of the harlequin even without being prototyped with the doll. Personally, I hope both are true.

According to the Adventure Map, Act 3 is called ‘Insane Corkscrew Haymakers’. This is really different from the first two act titles, which are both very literary sounding, have musical allusions, and indicate a setup and inciting incident of a story, respectively. A haymaker is either ‘a powerful blow with the fist’ or ‘a machine for curing hay in rainy weather’, and this is not a farm story, so my guess is the punch. Act 1’s title related to John and Act 2’s to Rose, so this should be Dave’s, especially as his narrative is often treated less seriously. Perhaps these insane corkscrew haymakers happen during his rooftop battle with his bro?

> John: Find a prank to play on Nannasprite.

[ask-postcrash-curly]

Hey curls! So, a few episodes from now there’s gonna be more lava or magma or whatever. Do u think it’d be better if I asked the 3rd party to like, change the color of it? Make it less orange? Is there a color you’d prefer?? Let me know your thoughts

Btw, i think it’s a little silly u say we’re flying through the episodes now. I’m sending them at the same rate I always do, haha. I guess maybe because the other voices have been a bit quieter, it feels faster?

What I’ll do is I like to watch a whole batch of episodes, writing down TWs after each one. I’ve already seen this whole show like, almost twice (I was mid season four of my rewatch before I started over my rewatch to prepare episodes for you)

Since I’ve already rewatched it recently, I like to play Minecraft and put Steven universe on in the background, frequently looking up at the screen. Unfortunately this means sometimes I miss things. Also, the fact that I’ve already watched it twice means that like, even when I’m trying to pay attention to TWs, there’s some stuff I miss cuz idk I just process it anymore?? Idk. Sometimes I also try to fast forward an episode to catch stuff. Anyway, once I’ve prepared a batch and decided how I’ll pair the episodes up, then I’ll usually drop 2 episodes batches every day. This means I’ll usually send in 2 episodes at the least (if I decide to make them standalone), or, if I decide to pair them up (in which case it could be 2 batches of 2–so, 4 episodes overall in a day). Of course, some days I’m busy or get stuck on how to describe/warn for things, so it’s less. The amount of episodes you see in a day depends on how many other messages you receive in a day. I have a theory for how the whole thing works, haha. Maybe I’ll tell you later (I want to try to explain things to curly in a way that doesn’t break the fourth wall 😂)

Hey! Honestly, that might help. Any cool color would work, I guess.

Hahah. Hard to say.

You're doing that...? Didn't realize you were putting in so much work. Thank you. It— I really appreciate it.

It's completely okay. You're already helping me so much, yeah? Any warning is better than none. ...Right. Deeeefinitely understand that, hah.

[justabooknerdposts]

Percabeth Drabble: Fall in Love Questions

*Okay, so the idea for this came to me a few years ago—I was watching The Big Bang Theory and it was the episode where they discuss this list of questions that will allegedly make two people fall in love.  Sheldon and Penny decide to go through them—spoiler alert, they don’t fall in love, but they say they do feel closer at the end.  So anyway, I went online to find the questions, out of curiosity, and then, after reading them, I thought it might be a fun writing exercise to play with this as if Percy and Annabeth were answering the questions.  So here it is! 

The Scene: The Jackson-Blofis apartment, early fall.  Percy and Annabeth are sitting cross-legged on the floor beside the coffee table, leaning back against the sofa—a half empty pizza box sits in the middle of the coffee table, as well as a couple of partially full glasses of Coke.  Golden sunset light is coming through the window.  The baby monitor is also on the coffee table, showing Estell sleeping in her crib.  This is Percy and Annabeth’s first visit back to New York since heading off to New Rome University.  Tonight, they’re baby-sitting, giving Paul and Sally a chance to go out to dinner and a movie.

Re-runs of a sit-com are playing in the background as Percy reached for his third slice of pizza.  The characters on the TV show were talking about a list of questions that will allegedly make two people fall in love after answering them together.  So, Annabeth nabbed Paul’s laptop and, while Percy was debating a fourth slice of pizza, she looked them up.  After scanning the list, she told Percy, “Let’s try it.”

He looked over at her, right in the middle of taking his first bite of his fourth slice.  “What?”

“Let’s try it,” she said again, showing him the list on the computer.  “It might be fun.”

Percy looked skeptical, like their definitions of “fun” didn’t exactly line up.  “But we’re already in love.”

That drew a smile from Annabeth.  “I know.  But we might learn something new.”

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Alright.”  Percy finished his fourth slice of pizza, then took a drink of his Coke.  “Hit me with the first one.”

Annabeth kissed him on the cheek, then turned back to the questions on the laptop.  The TV droned low in the background.  On the monitor, Estelle’s chest rose and fell as she slept on her back, one arm curled up around her head.  The air conditioner chugged in the window, fending off the last heat of late summer as it gave way to early fall.  Percy’s arm lay along the couch cushions, lightly touching Annabeth’s shoulders.  He had his legs stretched out beneath the coffee table and she was sitting criss-cross, her left knee resting on his right.  It was a peaceful, relaxing evening.  Scrolling to the first question, Annabeth began to read.    

Set 1

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

[CAVEAT for them, can’t be each other or anyone you could just call up for dinner right now].

P:  My mom’s parents.  I never got to meet them, and I think it’d be kind of cool to get to know them.  Learn more about that part of my family and all.

A:  My mom.  I know that’s almost like cheating, but I would honestly just love to sit down and have dinner with her and just, you know, talk.

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

P:  Absolutely not.  I mean, when I was younger, I kind of wanted to be a famous skateboarder, but after everything, nah, I don’t want to be famous.  I just want to live my life.

A:  I’d like to be a famous architect.  But you already know that.

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

P: Sometimes.  I did before we were dating, when I would call you, sometimes, just to make sure I didn’t sound like an idiot.  And sometimes now, if it’s an important call and I don’t just want to blurt out whatever.

A:  Not usually.  If it’s a really important call, like a phone interview, then yeah, I might have some notes, but usually not.

P:  Huh, that’s kind of funny.  Almost seems like it would be the other way around.

A:  Yeah.  Interesting.

4. What would constitute a "perfect" day for you?

P:  Has to start with sleeping in, for sure.  Maybe my mom making pancakes.  Hanging out with my family.  Hanging out with you.  Just chill.  Maybe at the beach.  Pizza for dinner, obviously.  Hanging out with some friends and playing video games.  Then you and I curling up and watching a movie…and sometimes not watching the movie.  I guess just chilling with the people I love.  What about you? A:  Okay, for me, this might be a little bit in the future.  But waking up in my own home, um preferably next to you, and it’s still early, and I just make some coffee, go to my own office, which has lots of light, and I just sketch for a few hours.  Then, when you wake up, we go out to breakfast, or brunch, whatever, and then just hang out.  Maybe go walk around a park or something, go to a matinee movie or show, maybe meet some friends for a late lunch or early dinner, then yeah, I like the idea of coming home, curling up on the couch together, and watching a movie.  Just normal, relaxed, you know?

P:  Yeah.

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

P:  Not gonna lie, I was singing in the shower this morning.  And, uh, I sang to Estelle yesterday.  She likes when I do “Under the Sea.”

A:  I don’t sing.  I mean, I guess I kind of hummed to Estelle the last time I watched her.  And, oh, shoot, you know what, I did sing to Peleus before, because lullabies calm him down so he doesn’t eat people.

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

P:  I have no idea.  I mean…mind, I guess?  That’s a weird question.

A:  Mind, definitely.  But yeah, that’s kind of a strange question.

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

P:  Do I even have to answer this one?

A:  No, we’re skipping this.

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

P:  Oh, wow, this is an interesting one.  Um, I think we both really care about our friends.  We’re both good at putting important stuff first, especially when we really have to.  And, uh, good-looking?

A:  Dork.  But I really like those first two, and I agree.  I think we’re both tough, like resilient.  I think we both always want to do the right thing.  And I think we both have a good sense of humor.

P:  I like those, too.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

P:  Being here right now with you.  And, in general, for the people in my life.

A:  Same.  About the people in my life, too.  But I’m definitely most grateful we can just sit here together like this right now.

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

A [humorless laugh]: Pretty much everything.  I guess, if I had to say something specific, better communication.

P [takes her hand and laces their fingers together.  She smiles and gestures for him to go]: I don’t think I’d really change anything my mom did, like as a parent.  If I was going to change anything, it would have been that Smelly Gabe wouldn’t have been around and I wouldn’t have had to go to all those boarding schools.  They usually sucked.

11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

P:  Don’t we already know all this?  Are you getting out a stopwatch?

A:  Yes.  It’s one of the questions.  So get ready, Seaweed Brain, you’re going first.

[8 MINUTES LATER]

P:  Okay, that was actually kind of cool.  What’s the next one?

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

P:  I’m still pretty jealous that Frank can change into animals and I can’t.

A:  Is that seriously your answer? P [considers a moment]: Yes.  I mean, otherwise, I like my abilities.

A:  Yeah, they are pretty cool.  And you have a lot of good qualities. P: I do? A: Yeah, Seaweed Brain.  You definitely do.

P:  Aww, thanks, babe. [He kisses her cheek].  Okay, what’s your answer?

A [after considering]:  Honestly, I wouldn’t mind being able to breathe underwater or will my clothes dry.  That would be useful.  Especially hanging around you. [Nudges him with her shoulder].  For qualities, though, I could probably do better not getting so focused on my own stuff sometimes, so maybe paying attention to what other people need more.

P [shrugs]:  Maybe, but I like your intensity about stuff.  That’s one of your best qualities.

A [looks surprised]:  Really?

P:  Yeah, definitely.

A [leans over to kiss him]:  I like this question thing.  Alright, we’re moving on to the second level.  Or set.  Whatever.

Set 2

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

A: I think I’d want to know that we’re okay in a few years.  Like, I wouldn’t want the details spoiled, necessarily, because as much as I love planning, it’s also fun if some things are a surprise, but I’d like to know, just in general, that we, you know, kind of get our happy ending. [blinks quickly and swipes hand across eyes]  Oh wow, I don’t know why that made me kind of tear up.  Okay, you answer.

P [considers for a few moments]:  Honestly, after all the shit we’ve gone through dealing with prophecies, I’m not sure I’d even want to look.  I like your answer, but I think I’d like to just be…what’s that phrase?  Blissfully oblivious about the future.  And yeah, sometimes surprises are nice.  Good surprises, I mean, are nice.

14. Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it? P: I have to think about this.  You go.

A:  I’d really like to go to Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright’s place he designed.  But I haven’t had a chance to go yet.  I used to say the Parthenon, but we’ve been there.  I wouldn’t mind going back, someday, though, when we could actually spend some time there and enjoy it.

P:  Good to know.

A:  There was one highlight of the Parthenon trip though.  [smiles at him, and he returns it].  So what’s your answer?

P [looks down]:  So, I don’t know if this is really a dream, but I’ve wanted to talk to my mom about just…Gabe…and our life before I found out I was a demigod.  For a long time.  I just never want to bring it up though, don’t want to bring up the bad memories, you know?  And I usually try not to look back too much, or dwell on stuff, but I just feel like it’s something we should talk about at some point.  Dang, I actually didn’t really realize that until I had to think about it just now.

A [quietly]: I think that’s a good idea.  Maybe one evening when it’s just you two?  It might be good for both of you.

P:  Yeah, maybe.  [deep breath].  Okay, next question.

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

P:  Great, easy one.  Saving Olympus.

A:  Yeah, being designated official architect of Olympus was pretty good.  I feel like we could be more thoughtful with this one, though.  What would you say is your greatest accomplishment outside of hero stuff?

P [groans]: You never settle for an easy answer, do you? A: Nope.

P:  That’s okay.  It’s another one of the things I like best about you. [kisses her cheek again when she smiles at him].  Okay, outside of hero stuff?  I’m pretty proud of graduating from high school.  And getting accepted to college.  Because I wasn’t sure that was something I would ever be able to do.  So it feels pretty good.  Surviving almost two years as your boyfriend feels pretty good too. A: Graduating definitely feels like an accomplishment, especially after the past couple years.  But I am actually going to say our relationship, truthfully, because I never thought I’d have something like this.  It wasn’t in my plans, at all.  But coming up on our second anniversary, and going to college together, definitely feels like an accomplishment.

[question answering is briefly interrupted]

A: Percy, we really need to finish this.  I don’t think you’re supposed to take breaks.

P:  Fine.  What’s up next?

16. What do you value most in a friendship?

A:  Loyalty.  And honesty.  Those kind of go together.

P:  Yeah.  And somebody who does the right thing, even when it’s not easy. 

17. What is your most treasured memory?

P:  Underwater kiss.  For sure.

A: Under the Parthenon.  Easy.

18. What is your most terrible memory?

P:  Damn.  I mean, leaving Beckendorf, thinking my mom was dead, thinking Tyson was dead, thinking you might be dead when you were kidnapped, everything that happened in the Titan War, leaving Bob and Damasen at the Doors, a bunch of other stuff.  Should we do that four minute thing again?

A: Right?  What would you say the worst moment was, though?

P: Truthfully…well, no.

A: What? P:  I was going to say when we were dangling over that pit and I realized I couldn’t pull you up.  That was terrible.  But actually, what happened with Akhlys was worse.  When I realized you were afraid of me and what I was doing.  That’s my most terrible memory, because I was out of control and I was enjoying hurting her, and I don’t ever want to be that person again. [clears throat]  Um, your turn.

A: That’s pretty high on my terrible list, too, because that’s not you, Percy.  And yeah, leaving Bob and Damasen at the Doors was awful.  And so much that happened in the Titan War…everything with Luke…Silena…and, gods, those months when you were missing.  That was miserable.  But if I had to pick an absolute most terrible memory, it would probably be after the arai attacked, when you were dying of the gorgon’s blood poison curse, and I didn’t know how to save you.  Because all I could think, other than I can’t lose him, was that you were only there because of me.  Because I didn’t think to cut the spider silk off.  And if you died, that was my fault.  And I would have to live with that.

[brief silence, holding hands]  Okay, next question, right?

P: Uh, yeah, definitely.

19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

P:  Why did these suddenly get so depressing?  And honestly, that’s how I’ve been living for years.  So, no, probably not.  Other than maybe I’d spend less time on homework and more time hanging out with the people I love.  And I would eat only junk food.

A: I believe that.  I don’t know if I’d really do anything different.  Maybe, yeah, spend more time with the people I love.  Maybe try to complete some additional sketches and leave plans for how they could be implemented.  But otherwise, like you said, we’ve been living that way for years.  Now, for the first time, we kind of don’t have to as much.  So, moving on.

20. What does friendship mean to you?

P:  Didn’t we already answer this one?

A:  No, that was about what do you value in a friendship.

P [stares blankly]: Are those different?

A:  Yes.  What do you value is like traits, what friendship means to you is more…I don’t know…broad.  Or something.  I mean, friendship is incredibly important to me.  Especially when I wasn’t getting along with my family, my friends became my family.  So yeah, it’s important.

P:  Yeah, me too.  It’s important.  I mean, especially with what we’ve been through, you need people you can rely on, who you know have your back and care about you.  So yeah, friendship is important to me.  Is that the right answer?

A [rolls eyes]: There’s not one right answer, Seaweed Brain.  But yes, that works.  Moving on.

21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

P:  They’re good things?  I don’t know how to answer this one either.

A: Try.

P: Okay, I mean, if you want the deep answer, isn’t it all about love?  Not just romantic stuff, although that’s obviously important, but like love for family and friends, too.  I’ve only been able to do some of the stuff I’ve had to do because I love you, my family, and my friends.  Love gives you strength.

A: Wow, Percy.  That’s…that’s a really great answer.

P [shrugs]: It’s true.  What’s yours? A: I think, for me, because of how I felt when I was little, love and affection are almost painfully important to me.  If I want to go really deep, I think I associate them with acceptance.  When Thalia and Luke first took me in, they gave me hugs and tousled my hair and stuff like that, and acted like they wanted me around.  That blew my mind.  When I got to camp, Chiron would pat my shoulder or head when I did well.  Grover and Tyson give hugs to show they care.  So does your mom.  Piper, too, actually.  And then you came along, obviously.  And even when we were younger, just sitting by you, or holding your hand, always made me feel better.  So I guess, to me, love and affection go together.  Like physical affection is such a clear way people show that they care about you.  I know it’s not the only way, but it’s definitely important. [blushes]  Anyway, next question.

22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.

P:  Sweet, another easy one.  Okay, your eyes.

A: That’s very sweet, but it says “characteristic”, not “attribute.”  I think it means more internal stuff.

P: What happened to no wrong answers?  But I’m sticking with my answer, because, I mean, yeah, I think your eyes are beautiful, but they can also be fierce and intense and scary, so I still think it fits.

A:  Okay.  Your heart.  You have a really good heart, and I’ve always loved that about you.

P: Thanks.  I’ve always been amazed by your strength.  Like, just with everything.  You have more guts than anybody I’ve ever met.

A: Thanks, Percy.  I love your sense of humor.  You can always find something to lighten the mood, even when things are really bad.

P: I do my best.  I was going to say your intelligence, but that feels like a given, so I’m going with your passion for architecture and stuff.  Like, I love watching your face light up when you talk about stuff you’re excited about.

A: Really? P: Yeah.

A:  So, you can be goofy, and that’s great, but when something’s really important, you get this intense focus that I really appreciate.  And your confidence.  I admire that too.

P: I have confidence? A: Yeah, babe, you do.  Like when you were leading everyone during the Battle of Manhattan?  [smiles slyly] It was pretty hot.

P: Good to know.  Okay, my turn.  I like how you genuinely care about people and you want to help them.  I don’t know if everybody always sees that, but I do.  And I really admire that.

A [biting lip, trying not to smile]:  Thanks.  That means a lot.  You also just took my next one about you, because it was basically that.

P [grinning]: My bad.  You can still use it, too, if you want.

A: No, I’ve got a few others still.  Like the fact that you’re an amazing big brother.  Like how you stood by Tyson that first summer he came to camp, which I know wasn’t easy.  And seeing you playing with your baby sister is the cutest thing ever.

P: Well, it helps that Estelle is adorable.

A: That doesn’t hurt.  Okay, last one each.

P: Already? 

A: Yep.

P: Dang, I liked this question.  Okay, I like how you always manage to surprise me.  Ever since we met and you told me I drooled in my sleep.

A [leans forward and kisses him quickly]: I like your arms.

P: Huh? A [shrugs]: Your first one was my eyes, my last one is your arms.  You have nice muscles.  And, you know, you’re a very impressive swordsman, so it still falls under that characteristic thing.

P: Huh.  Again, good to know.  How many questions do we have left?

A: A few.  Ready to move on?

P: Yeah.  Let’s go.     

23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people's?

A: Oh gods.  Is this for real?

P: Do we want to just skip this one?

A [sighs]: No, we have to answer them all.  So, my family is getting better, but I don’t think I’ll ever describe them as close and warm.  Although things with my dad are much better.  And everything with Magnus is good.  But my childhood was definitely not happier than other people’s.  Your turn, Seaweed Brain.

P: I’m definitely close with my mom.  And Paul and Estelle.  And they’re all warm.  So’s Tyson, obviously.  Things with my dad have been good, can’t complain.  I doubt my childhood was happier than most other people’s, but there were some good moments, too.  But…never mind.

A: What?

P: But one day, in the future, like way out, when I have kids, I want to make sure they have a genuinely good childhood.  I mean, I’m going to do my best to make that happen.

A [holds his eyes for a long moment]: I love that idea.

P: Cool. [swallows hard] Um, next question? 24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

A [facepalms]: You have got to be kidding me.

P: My mom’s awesome.  Next question.

Set 3

25. Make three true "we" statements each. For instance, "We are both in this room feeling _____."

P: Okay, this is another kind of weird one. 

A: A bit.  Three true “we” statements each.  Okay, so we are both in this room feeling vulnerable?

P: Yeah, that’s true.  We are both demigods.

A: Percy!

P: What?  It’s true.

A: That’s practically cheating.

P: Okay, fine, that one doesn’t count.  How about we are both learning some new stuff about each other?

A: Yeah.  Nice to know we can still do that.  And we both believe we can build a future together.

P: Definitely true. [pauses, thinking] We believe in each other.

A: We do.  And we put each other first, or at least we try our best.

P: I agree with that.  And, most importantly, we love each other.

A: Absolutely.

P: That was a good one.  What’s next?

26. Complete this sentence: "I wish I had someone with whom I could share _____."

A: Umm…I have no idea how to answer this.

P: Yeah, I’m coming up blank. 

A: I mean, my first thought was maybe my love of architecture, but Malcolm and I have great discussions.  Leo, too, is great for talking about engineering and design type stuff.  And everything else I talk with you about.  Or Piper.  Or your mom.  Sometimes friends at school.

P: Yeah, maybe I’m not thinking deep enough, but I think you and I have a lot of those types of conversations.  Or I talk to my friends.  Or my mom.  I thought about my love of video games.  But guys from camp and school are around for that. 

A: Does it count if we at least had a discussion about how we don’t have an answer?

P: I’m good with that.  Next.

27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

P:  Gee, Annabeth, if we were friends, what would I need to know?

A [laughs]: Okay, I’m guessing this question is for people who don’t really know each other.  But if I was going to give an honest answer, even if you already know it, it would probably be helpful to know about my history, and why I hate people letting me down.

P: That’s actually true.  I mean, I felt like I understood you better once I learned some of that stuff.  Kind of similar, I think it would be important for someone to know how important my mom and family are to me.

A: Definitely.

P: And you, obviously.  That was a given.

A: Ditto, Seaweed Brain.

28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you've just met.

A: This is interesting.  I mean, I feel like we were pretty honest last time.  That was definitely not stuff I would say to someone I just met.

P: Same.  But I might be able to come up with something else.

A: Yeah, me too.  So, even more honestly, what I like about you is that you’re reliable.  I know you always have my back and I can count on you.  For me, that means everything.  And I also love that you’re kind and sweet and respectful and funny and cute and smart and strong and…well, a lot of things.

P [kisses her]: Sorry, couldn’t help it.  I love that you’re just yourself.  You don’t try to change to impress anybody.  I mean, I know you put a lot of pressure on yourself to do well and achieve your goals, and that’s impressive, too, but you’re always still Annabeth.  You stay true to yourself.  And I love that.

[brief kissing interlude]

A: Okay, let’s finish these last few questions.

29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

A: Oh gods.  Um, okay, this one time, I started my period in the middle of class and had to wear a sweatshirt tied around my waist the rest of the day to cover up the small spot on my jeans.  Your turn.

P: I dangled from a billboard in Times Square in my underwear.

A: You what? P: Yeah, it was a whole thing with Grover and Apollo and it was pretty humiliating, so I never told you about it.  Next question.

30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

P: In front of another person?  When we found out about what happened to Jason and everybody at Camp Jupiter.  I cried in front of you when we went back to your dad’s house.

A: Yeah.  I think that was my most recent time, too.  What about by yourself?

P: I mean, I’m not a big crier, usually.  I might have been upset about all that again, but the time that comes to mind, honestly, was after Estelle was born.  I don’t know why, but I remember standing at my bedroom window, looking out at the city, and I got all choked up.  But that was like, good crying.  Like, my mom was happy, she has Paul, now they have Estelle, I have this great family, this amazing girlfriend, I was getting ready to graduate high school and go to college.  I think I was just kind of amazed that was all real.  What about you? A: Honestly, I think it was something similar.  On the drive out to California, we stayed in that one hotel that had a balcony, looking out over that lake?  I couldn’t sleep, so I went out on the balcony, and I was just looking out, and thinking about everything.  Like that this was really happening.  And it was kind of overwhelming, but in a good way.  And I might have cried a little bit, but happy tears.

P: I didn’t know that.  You could have woken me up.

A: I know.  It was okay though.  I think I just needed that moment to process everything, you know?  Anyway, next one.

31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

A: Okay, this has to be for people who don’t know each other.

P: Yeah, but we can make it work.  Unless you’re out of nice stuff to say about me? A: Not even close, Seaweed Brain.  I like how honest you’re being with all this.  It’s really nice.

P: You too.  And I like that smile you keep giving me occasionally, when you like one of my answers. A: I am? P: Yeah.  It’s cute.  Next question.

32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

A: Sexual assault.

P: Yeah, pretty much anything related to abuse.  Not funny.

A: Moving on.

33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?

P: Wow, that’s an interesting question.  So, I think I do okay about telling people stuff.  But if I’m being honest, I might regret not telling Paul he’s a great guy and I really appreciate everything he’s done for my mom.  And for me.  I mean, I think he knows, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually told him.  Not for any reason, just haven’t.  But maybe I should.

A: I’m sure he’d love that.  And yeah, I don’t think there’s anything I’d regret not telling you. [nudges him with her shoulder].  But I think I’d wish I told my dad that I’m glad we’re getting along again.  And I appreciate the support he’s given me about my college choices.  I just don’t do well being emotional around him.  He’s not great at that either.

P: But I bet he’d love to hear it. 

A: Yeah.  Okay, we’re holding each other accountable.  Sometime before the end of the year, so no major rush, just when it feels natural, we’re going to tell them both, Paul and my dad, what we just said.

P:  Deal.  How many questions are left? A: Just three.  Almost there.

34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

P:  Huh.  Assuming I have my camp necklace on and Riptide is in my pocket, I guess I’d want to grab maybe some pictures?  Or the Minotaur horn.  There’s not much stuff I’m that attached to otherwise, though.

A: Same.  My camp necklace, definitely, but if I have that on already…probably pictures.  Oh, my sketchbook.  I’d definitely grab my journal and my sketchbook.  Is it okay that that’s two things?

P: They’re in the same category, so sure.  Also, we’re making up our own rules as we go anyway, and I’m fine with that answer.

A: Great.  Moving on.

35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

P: These are some strange questions.  But I guess if the point is to really get to know somebody….Anyway, I’d be devastated, obviously, if something happened to you or my mom, same with Paul or Tyson…or my dad, but I forget about him sometimes for something like this because…well, you know.  But if we’re talking about disturbing, it’s Estelle, hands down.  Just because she’s still so little.  It doesn’t feel like anything should happen to her, like she should just be in this protective bubble because she’s a baby.  I don’t even want to think about anything happening to her.  So, your turn.

A: Ugh, I can’t even stand the thought of something happening to Estelle.  Talking specifically about my blood-related family, yeah, if something happened to my dad, or Bobby or Matthew, or even my stepmom, I’d be devastated.  And probably feel really guilty, somehow, too, for not spending enough time with them.  Most disturbing, though, would have to be if something happened to Magnus.  Just because, you know…he’s already dead.  So it would be awful not knowing what else happened to him or where he went, like if he’s trapped somewhere worse or something. [pauses]  And obviously, if something happened to you, I’d be completely heartbroken.  Then I’d stomp down to the Underworld and drag your butt back.

P [grins]: Obviously. A: Alright, last one.

36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

A: Wow, this is kind of tough.  I mean, I already usually talk problems through with you.  And honestly, at this particular moment, I don’t have one. [pauses, looking pleasantly surprised] Wow.  I don’t have any serious problems right now.  That’s possibly the first time that’s ever happened.

P: Nice.  So nothing right now? A: Not really.  I mean, I’m a little nervous about starting college, especially with balancing UC Berkeley and New Rome, but I think it’ll be okay.  Any advice on how you’d handle that? P [small laugh]: Honestly?  Not well.  I don’t think I’d be great at running back and forth and balancing everything.  But you will be.  You’re good with organization and time management and everything, so you’re going to be fine, Wise Girl.  If I had to guess, I think you’re just nervous because you want to do well.  But you will.  Because you’re awesome.

A [smiling]: Aww, thanks, babe.  What about you?  Any problems right now? P [shakes head]: Nothing major right now.  Well, actually, now that I’ve said that…I’m kind of worried about my major.  Like for college.

A: Really?  Why?

P [shrugs]: I mean, marine biology kind of makes sense, because of my dad and all.  But I’m not like a major science guy or anything.  So I’m a little worried about it.  Any thoughts? A [considers for a few moments]:  That makes sense.  So it sounds like you’re a little worried you’ve chosen something that you can do, not necessarily something you want to do?

P: Yeah, pretty much.  I mean, I never really thought much about what I’d want to do for a major or a career.  I never thought I’d get this far.

A: That makes sense.  Do you want my advice?

P: Isn’t that the point of this question?  Also, yes, I’d want to hear it anyway.

A: I think you should just stick with it for this first semester, maybe this first year.  Most of the classes are gen eds anyway, so they’ll apply to any major.  Maybe keep an open mind during your classes and see if anything jumps out at you.  There might be something you’ve never even thought about that you end up loving.  And if you decide to change majors, I think that’s totally fine.  And I support you one hundred percent.

P: Thanks, Annabeth.  And I like that idea.  It makes sense.

A: Cool.  [leans forward and kisses him lightly on the lips].  So that’s the end of the questions.

P: Sweet.  Although that was kind of cool.  Is there anything else?

A: Yeah.  The last part is four minutes of eye contact.

P: Holy shit.  Four minutes?

A: That’s what it says.

P: Isn’t that awkward? A [rolls eyes]: Only if you make it that way, Seaweed Brain.  Just relax.  It’ll be fine.  [gets out phone for stopwatch again] Alright, time starts now.

[4 minutes elapse, which include some laughing, some comments, but also following the rules]

A: And that’s four minutes.  Done.

P: Cool.  So, what does that mean? A: Apparently we’re supposed to feel closer.  Do you think it worked?

P [considers]: Actually, yeah, I think so.  I mean, it was nice to talk about some different stuff that we might not have otherwise.  So yeah, I think it worked.

A: Agreed.  That was actually kind of fun.

P: Yeah.  But now can we just relax?  And maybe make out?  Just throwing that out there.

A: Gods, yes.

And that was the end of the question and answer portion of the evening.

[darkx-the-dragon-kn1ght]

Chapter 51- Part 10

You know, now that I think about it- I saw this Egg back when I was first exploring the Underroot, but because it kinda blends in with all the other greens around, I didn’t actually register what it was until now. At any rate, I actually can get that mystery item now, so I’ll take care of that while I’m up here-

Ampharosite!? OooooOOOOOOH, the white Poké Balls aren’t just Z-Crystals, they’re Mega Stones too! That’s awesome! I mean, I wouldn’t have expected to find the Ampharosite down here, of all places, but it’s still cool! Makes me wonder all the more when Xera’ll be allowed to have a Mega Ring or a Z-Ring, but- well, anyways, back to the Egg…and the bonus item alongside it.

Oh, nice! Now then, after all those tangents-

Well, we came all this way, it’d be weird to say “No” at this point-

Hmmm, very green indeed. With that shade of dark green on top, followed by that lighter greenish on the bottom…the only green-colored Pokémon I could find that really matches those is Axew, so I’m gonna wager a guess that this is an Axew Egg…

…is how my reasoning would go if I hadn’t beEN SPOILED ON WHAT THIS EGG WOULD BE WHEN I WAS LOOKING IT UP! THE GUIDE BETRAYED ME, I LIKE GUESSING WHAT THE EGGS ARE GONNA BE BEFORE THEY HATCH, AAAAH-

So anyways, apparently this Egg’s gonna take longer than usual to hatch, so I’ll keep it in the party next to Crater for the time being, hopefully all the traveling will be enough to get it to hatch by the end of this session. The next location is…

The incredible hole Saphira incredibly blasted out of Tanzan Mountain! If you’ll recall, there was another crystal in the tunnel through this hole, and now with the Crystal Key…

…I thought it was the red crystals that allowed for certain calls to be Rock Smashed, not green, but okay, we’ve got hidden stairs now.

A change of scenery, no doubt…I wonder if this was where Saphira got launched after Lin took out the giant Steelix?

Not a bad place to end up, they’ve got free Potions here!

Anyways, down the path and around, there’s another tunnel-

And a Strength boulder puzzle, but this one looks pretty straightforward. And as for where this passage leads, well…

Yup- welcome back to the Wasteland, folks. We’ve got more boulders still, and…ooh, a sign, I wonder what it says-?

…I don’t like that, actually.

Ignoring the fourth wall-breaking signage, I see a neat little item hiding behind those boulders, allow me to just-

Oh, that’ll be helpful. Now, onwards we go into…

Oooooh, eeeuugh, uuuum…yyyeeeeeah, this is stressing me out just to look at, I’m just gonna…look up how you’re supposed to move the boulders here, ahaha…

Worth it!

Oh hey, we’ve got a nice view of Chrysolia Forest from up here, though! This must be the top of the Wasteland Wall, then.

Another Field Effect Read-Out!? Oooooh, I’m being teased SO HARD right now!! Curse you, impassable rocks!!

Guess all we can do is go to the left instead, and…

…Hm- weird place. Guess I should…jump down the hole?

And push this boulder because that’s all I can do, here?

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