#which is not one and the same with saying it is a bad game

[starryoak]

#god i remember the start of this disc horse #and that the og op was being...reasonable actually #and saying that games such as sdv aren't ''games without politics'' actually and that all art has politics because politics is everywhere #and that cozy farming sims in particular are often resting on some reeeeeaaally nasty tropes with ugly history in the real world #and if that's what you think of as ''as story with no politics in it'' you are in fact laughably uninformed #and btw there's a reason that the fantasy of ''run away into the vast wild untamed frontier and make a home there'' is so popular in the us#and it's not a pretty reason #and calling that fantasy specifically ''apolitical'' is tone-deaf and uninformed at BEST #and like. the og op was responding to a different conversation about how tired certain people are of ''politics being in everything now''

#and they were talking specifically about sdv as an example but the overall point was that if you as a leftist are complaining about art #being ''too political these days'' you are in fact turning into a reactionary and you need to stop and remember that EVERYTHING has politics #BUT THEN A HANDFUL OF OTHER BLOGS GOT HOLD OF THIS TAKE. AND JUST IGNORED THE ENTIRE ACTUAL POINT IN FAVOR OF#CLAIMING THAT PLAYING GAMES SUCH AS SDV IS AN ACT OF RACISM IN ITSELF AND SHOULD BE SEEN AS A MARKER OF WHITE SUPREMACIST BELIEFS #truly some ''harry potter books were always evil and if you were a true leftist you never would have enjoyed them'' type shit #''i find this media annoying but seemingly everyone else likes it THANK FUCK i now have an excuse to call its enjoyers problematíque'' #and now we're here. with people making the completely unironic statement that if you enjoy harvest moon games you're a genocide apologist.

#(also i cannot help but notice that this particular bad take is lowkey obsessed with farming sims as the sign of a particularly usa sin) #(while just Completely Ignoring that stardew valley did not invent the genre actually and was/is a love letter to harvest moon) #(which is a distinctly japanese game with japanese politics)

#(but no. we're gonna ignore that in favor of claiming the entire genre of ''cozy farming sim'' is a us american invention and phenomena) #(DESPITE LITERALLY ALL OF THEM BEING MORE OR LESS DIRECTLY INSPIRED BY HARVEST MOON) #(YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT PLATFORMERS AS A GENRE WITHOUT AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING SUPER MARIO BROS) #(AND ARGUABLY HARVEST MOON IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO COZY FARM GAMES THAN MARIO IS TO PLATFORMERS) #(PLATFORMERS HAVE OTHER ARCHETYPES AND MAJOR INFLUENCES) #(MEANWHILE THE ENTIRE COZY FARM GAME GENRE IS HARVEST MOON CLONES ALL THE WAY DOWN) #(that is not a criticism of the genre btw i'm just saying it's maybe important to consider that Americans Did Not Invent This Actually)

#(if you're gonna talk about the politics of the cozy farm game genre you need to at least have a passing knowledge that harvest moon exists) #(and that harvest moon is very much a product of and reaction to the japanese bubble economy bursting in '92) #(but anyway. god forbid the disc horse acknowledge that not everything is about the usa.)

we shouldn’t judge people based on their sexual fantasies. We be smart enough to understand know the difference between fantasy and reality and we shouldn’t make assumptions about someone’s real life behavior just because they mentioned having a certain kink. but if someone says they like cozy farming sims then they definitely support ethnic cleansing.

[sevarchive]

જ⁀➴ blue lock ; kahoot edition

synopsis: in which nine blue lock players are forced into a “team bonding” on kahoot! starring: isagi yoichi, rin itoshi, shidou ryusei, bachira meguru, reo mikage, nagi seishiro, chigiri hyoma, barou shouei, gagamaru gin, and kunigami rensuke

a/n: this took me an entire day to write, edit, and recover from emotionally TT i really hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoyed losing my mind making it. have fun, i hope your brain short-circuits at least once. enjoy the ride 💀🧹

[ isagi started a call. ]

isagi: okay—okay, everyone’s here, let’s just—

barou: if one of you makes a fart noise into the mic i’m blocking you

isagi: i didn’t even say anything yet 💀

shidou: YOOOOO START IT I’M FOAMING AT THE MOUTH. MY MOUSE IS READY TO VIOLENCE.

bachira: wait i can’t hear anything is that my mic or shidou screaming again?

reo: your mic’s fine. shidou can we please act like people for two seconds—

shidou: NAHHHHH I’M LOCKED IN CHAT

nagi: …i still haven’t opened it btw

barou: STOP BEING LAZY. OPEN IT. YOU TAP TWO BUTTONS AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE’S NOT THAT HARD.

gagamaru: gu—ys—wai—i—he—lp—

isagi: gagamaru are you STILL lagging???

gagamaru: i’m in a forest

rin: bro what

reo: are you in the middle of a national park right now—

gagamaru: it’s fine, i climbed higher. might have signal now… i think

shidou (laughing way too hard): MY GUY IS PLAYING KAHOOT FROM A BRANCH. A BRANCH.

barou (losing it): IF I LOSE TO SOMEONE USING TWIG SIGNAL I’M FLIPPING MY WHOLE SETUP.

rin: i hope this kahoot crashes

bachira: same but in a fun way

shidou: IM READY LET’S GOOOOO

isagi: okay okay i’m sending the game pin—we're not starting until everyone’s in, alright??

reo: someone tell nagi it’s not a visual novel he actually has to do something.

nagi (deadpan): idc. i’m just here to breathe and get questions wrong.

isagi: code’s 666420. join the kahoot. don’t pick dumb names this time.

chigiri: …that feels illegal.

bachira: OMG that’s my angel number!!!

Nagi: too lazy to type it. someone click for me.

gagamaru (faint, laggy): wai—don’t—start—i can’t—my screen’s—fro—

[ gagamaru left the call. ]

bachira: GAGAMARU NOOOO

reo: bro he’s gonna rejoin and say “wait what question are we on” when we’re on like #19

kunigami: wait what’s the code again i just got here—

shidou: THE CODE IS 666420—YOU’RE WELCOME! LOCK THAT IN YOUR MUSCLE BRAIN

chigiri: someone mute him PLS

[ gagamaru joined the call. ]

bachira: OMG TREE WIFI IS BACK

gagamaru: uhhh so signal’s kinda better now. a crow moved off the branch so that helped ig

reo: bro kicked karasu off the tree just to join kahoot

shidou: LMAO karasu somewhere in the woods like “damn my bad bro, didn’t know you were lagging”

isagi: ok who the hell just joined as @ben.d.over

everyone (talking at once): NAHHHH

kunigami: wait why’s everyone laughing what’s wrong with ben

rin: read it again slowly

kunigami: …oh my god

isagi: i’m ending this game already and we haven’t even started—

rin: i should’ve muted you all when i had the chance

reo: too late we’re in the trenches now

[messi_is_me has joined the game.]

[rin has joined the game.]

[HUGH MUNGUS has joined the game.]

[ben.d.over has joined the game.]

[richdaddyreal has joined the game.]

[leftthumbonly has joined the game.]

[imagine losing has joined the game.]

[EMPEROR_OF_GOALS has joined the game.]

[muscle_reaper7 has joined the game.]

[forestwifi_survivor has joined the game.]

isagi: bro who the hell is HUGH MUNGUS 😭

shidou (already dying): NAHHHHHHHHH whoever typed that needs jail and a hug

bachira: sobbing at ben.d.over omg pls whoever you are never change 💖💖💖

kunigami: this is actually a crime against maturity

reo: bro we’re in 8th grade again and it’s kinda fun ngl

gagamaru (still lagging): wait who’s hugh? did another person join??

barou: TCH. EMPEROR_OF_GOALS has ARRIVED.

everyone: bro. we KNOW it’s you 😭😭😭

isagi: ok BUT why is someone just rin 💀 that’s worse than being cringe

shidou: LMFAOOOO bro typed his name like it’s a school test

chigiri: nah bro said “i’m not like the other girls” and then picked nothing

rin: i am literally just rin. i have dignity. unlike the rest of you parasites.

bachira: ok “rin” 🙄✨

[ host clicks “start game” ]

[ kahoot music starts blaring ]

barou (mic BUSTED): LETS GO EMPEROR OF GOALS! I WILL ASCEND.

shidou (yelling over him): AYYYYYYY GET READY TO LOOOOOOOSEEEEE 🔥🔥🔥

bachira (cackling): MY EARS JUST LEFT THE CHAT 💀💀💀

chigiri: somebody MUTE THEM.

shidou (immediately): EZ. it’s RED. next question.

isagi: BRO DON’T SAY THE ANSWER DIMWIT 😭😭😭

reo: YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY IT OUT LOUD YOU WALKING CONCUSSION

bachira: LMFAOOO not shidou speedrunning self-sabotage

kunigami: this is why we can’t have nice things

nagi: does that mean it’s not red? 🤨

gagamaru (from the trees): wait hold up i just got signal what did he say

barou: TCH. if you don’t know the answer, don’t play the game.

chigiri: bro has the audacity to scream the answer like it’s a flex

rin: first question and the stupidity’s already astronomical

shidou: ok but like. i was RIGHT tho. you’re welcome.

isagi: this isn’t a group project bro SHUT UP 💀

[ leaderboard after Q1: ]

🥇 ben.d.over 🥈 EMPEROR_OF_GOALS 🥉 messi_is_me 4th — leftthumbonly 5th — HUGH MUNGUS

barou: SECOND?! I AM THE EMPEROR. I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS.

isagi: how the hell am i losing to a guy named ben.d.over

shidou: i’m FIFTH??? i SAID the answer out loud 😭

reo: you helped everyone and still fumbled.

nagi: me being 4th is actually a miracle. i clicked by accident

gagamaru (finally loading): wait the leaderboard’s up?? guys. what place am i

chigiri: bro you’re not even on it 😭

rin: one question in and i already want to mute this entire call

bachira: #1 babyyyyy catch me if you cannnn

gagamaru (already overwhelmed): ok wait wait. it SAYS “red” but the box is BLUE! do i click the blue box that says red?? or the RED box??

reo: just click the one that says red 😭 it’s not a trick question

barou (yelling): NO—JUST PICK THE COLOR

gagamaru: WHAT—WHICH COLOR?? THE COLOR OF THE BOX OR THE COLOR OF THE WORD??

bachira: i’m wheezing he’s getting gaslit in 4K

shidou: bro’s fighting kahoot, barou, and his internet all at once 💀

kunigami: nah that was dirty i won’t lie lol i had an existential crisis

nagi: i think he just blacked out and clicked uno

isagi: whoever designed kahoot is actually evil for that one

barou: IF YOU FELL FOR THAT YOU’RE A MORON. WORDS OVER COLORS. THINK WITH YOUR HEAD.

rin (finally losing it): you are all COLORBLIND. you are COLOR. BLIND.

[ leaderboard after Q2: ]

🥇 leftthumbonly 🥈 ben.d.over 🥉 EMPEROR_OF_GOALS 4th — messi_is_me 5th — rin

gagamaru (finally catching up): NOOOO i should’ve clicked the blue one that SAID red

reo: bro that was 2 minutes ago 😭 you still processing??

nagi (deadpan): ayo??? how am i first

bachira: YOU??? i was #1 you fraud

barou: THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. EMPEROR OF GOALS WILL NOT STAND FOR THIRD.

isagi: i’m 4th. this is bullying.

bachira: wait bro where’s imagine losing 😭😭😭

reo: nah don’t tell me chigiri’s not even on the board 💀

shidou: bro’s the fastest in real life but couldn’t even click a button in time 😭

isagi: he’s got 40-yard dash speed but lagging in kahoot reflexes 💀

chigiri (furious): I MISCLICKED ONCE

barou: sounds like skill issue to me

chigiri: ok but when i beat all of you in sprints i don’t wanna hear a thing

shidou: not if kahoot beats you first 🫵

isagi: there is ONE correct answer here. and if y’all pick anything else i’m calling the cops

reo: WHAT IS THIS QUESTION??? 😭

bachira: i voted for my imaginary friend. he told me to

shidou: gagamaru’s wifi is NOT the goat that’s the villain 😭

gagamaru (suddenly cutting out): i clicked m– krrch —own wifi an— skshh—wait why— disconnects

[ gagamaru left the call. ]

chigiri: NAHHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭 HIS WIFI TOOK IT PERSONALLY

reo: he clicked “gagamaru’s wifi” and it jumped him on sight 😭💀

shidou: HIS WIFI SAID “WHO’S THE GOAT NOW?” AND YEETED HIM OFF THE CALL 😭😭😭

bachira: self-inflicted lag. beautiful

barou (suddenly SCREAMING): WHY. IS. MY. REFLECTION. ON THIS DAMN LIST. WHO. PUT. THAT.

isagi: you sound mad for someone who looks in the mirror every 4 minutes

barou: I’M MAD IT’S EVEN AN OPTION. THIS BETTER BE THE CORRECT ANSWER OR I’M ENDING THIS GAME.

isagi: calm down emperor palpatine it’s not that deep

barou: SOMEONE CHANGE THE QUIZ NAME TO “WHO WANTS TO DIE TODAY”

shidou: NO LMAO SOMEONE GIVE HIM A POINT JUST FOR SELF-LOVE

[ leaderboard after Q3: ]

🥇 HUGH MUNGUS 🥈 leftthumbonly 🥉 ben.d.over 4th — richdaddyreal 5th — EMPEROR_OF_GOALS

isagi: HUGH MUNGUS???? bro HOW are you first 😭😭😭

shidou (screaming): LET’S GOOOOOOO I AM HIM 😤💥💪

bachira: how did he climb all that from the pits of dumbassery

barou (still fuming): you’re telling me my reflection wasn’t correct?? YOU’RE SAYING RONALDO OVER MY MIRRORED GLORY???

reo: it’s literally a real person vs. your gym selfie 😭

[ gagamaru joined the call. ]

gagamaru (reconnected, confused): wait i got booted mid-question did the wifi option win or what

isagi: nah bro your wifi sabotaged you 😭

gagamaru: my router’s holding a grudge i swear

rin: i hate that HUGH MUNGUS is at the top of the leaderboard. i actually hate this.

bachira: don’t worry rin, you’re top 1...IN SULKING SPEEDRUNS

rin: i hate all of you

reo: WAIT. IS THAT RIN IN A BALLGOWN 😭😭😭

isagi: YO WHO MADE THIS QUIZ. WHO DID THAT TO HIM 💀💀💀

nagi: nah he lowkey serving… but also threatening

shidou: bro looks like he’s about to hit a pirouette and a homicide 💃🔪

rin (furious): WHAT. THE HELL. IS THAT PICTURE.

bachira: you in your disney princess era bestie 😚

barou: ENOUGH. I BETTER NOT BE THE RIGHT ANSWER. I AM FASHION.

kunigami: you wore zebra pants with gold chains last week–

chigiri: don’t forget the crown and the “born to score” crop top

barou: SAY THAT AGAIN AND I’LL SCORE YOUR FUNERAL

gagamaru (still buffering): wait why is rin dressed like elsa

reo: can we circle back to the fact that I’m an option too??

bachira: yeah that’s for all your rich boy yacht outfits 😭

rin: WHO MADE THIS. WHO ACTUALLY MADE THIS.

shidou: these questions got more violent than blue lock itself 💀

isagi: nah fr. this isn’t trivia, this is targeted bullying

bachira: AND I’M ENJOYING EVERY SECOND 😍

[ leaderboard after Q4: ]

🥇 HUGH MUNGUS 🥈 ben.d.over 🥉 leftthumbonly 4th — EMPEROR_OF_GOALS 5th — messi_is_me

shidou (wheezing): BAROU WAS THE CORRECT ONE 😭😭😭😭😭😭

bachira: LMAOOOOOOO I’M ACTUALLY CRYINGGGG

barou (screaming from his soul): EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!?!

reo: oh my god he’s gonna suplex the kahoot server

isagi: no bc the zebra pants were a crime and the quiz just confirmed it 💀

kunigami: justice has been served. with glitter and shame.

barou: WHO DECIDED THIS?? WHO HAS THE AUDACITY TO PUT EMPEROR OF GOALS AS A FASHION FAILURE

nagi: you wear gold chains to practice bro

chigiri: and you showed up in crocs once. crocs. with spikes.

rin: Y’ALL ARE LAUGHING AND I’M STILL IN A DAMN GOWN

gagamaru (delayed): rin look like he’s about to sing “let it go”

bachira: BC HE’S LETTING GO OF HIS DIGNITY

barou: THIS. QUIZ. IS. RIGGED.

reo: NAHHHH THIS QUIZ JUST WENT PERSONAL 💀💀💀

bachira: “rin (but he’ll never admit it)” is insane levels of violence 😭

nagi: picked blue. left foot supremacy

shidou: i picked yellow. i want drama 😈

isagi: bro this is less trivia and more emotional exposure therapy

rin (furious): WHY AM I EVEN AN OPTION. WHO ADDED THAT.

bachira: sorry rin ur tsundere lore is out 😚

shidou: “he’ll never admit it” is SO real tho

barou: I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GAME ABOUT SOCCER. WHY ARE WE IN A TELL-ALL CONFESSIONAL

kunigami: lowkey “the idea of being better than everyone else” might actually be the most accurate

gagamaru (late as always): wait did sae join the kahoot??

bachira: no but i wish he did just to see him pick “himself” and log out

rin: this quiz is sick. i’m reporting it.

shidou: what’s wrong rin. you don’t love yourself the way sae maybe does??? 😭😭😭

[ leaderboard after Q5: ]

🥇 HUGH MUNGUS 🥈 ben.d.over 🥉 leftthumbonly 4th — richdaddyreal 5th — EMPEROR_OF_GOALS

bachira: nooooo not “himself” 😭😭😭 SAE YOU SELF-LOVING BASTARD

isagi: bro really looked at love and said “me, myself, and i”

shidou: LMFAOOO RIN GOT LEFT ON READ BY HIS OWN BLOOD 💔💀

reo: can someone hug rin before he explodes

nagi: rin’s emotionally speedrunning all five stages of grief

barou: i don’t care if sae loves a brick, can we move on

gagamaru: wait so sae doesn’t love rin?? 😔

rin (low, dead inside): i’m. not. crying.

bachira: you’re just allergic to emotional damage??

shidou: guys don’t make fun of him. he’s top 1 in having a fictional situationship with his brother

isagi: can someone play sad violin noises over vc

reo: we need to end this before rin disconnects permanently 😭

nagi: yo is this next one the last question??

isagi: yeah yeah ONE MORE. FINAL ROUND. everyone breathe and brace!

isagi: WHAT AM I LOOKING AT

reo: WHY IS HIS APRON SO TIGHT WHO DID THIS

bachira: NOOOO HE LOOKS SO ANGRY YET SO SERVING 😭😭

nagi: this is the scariest and sexiest thing i’ve ever seen

shidou: TRUE. TRUE. TRUE. I CLICKED TRUE BEFORE IT EVEN LOADED

kunigami: what the actual hell is this quiz

barou (deranged screaming): WHO MADE THIS. WHO FOUND THAT PICTURE. I WILL END YOU.

isagi: bro why does he still look like he could bench press all of us in that outfit

gagamaru (in awe): wait fr… why is he kinda…

chigiri: no say it. we’re all thinking it.

gagamaru: …kinda bad

bachira: BADDER THAN YOUR WIFI 😭😭😭

rin: i think i'm gonna be sick..

shidou: maid barou supremacy forever. that apron’s doing heavy lifting

reo: he looks like he’s about to hand me a cupcake and then body slam me

barou (still unhinged): I’M ENDING THIS QUIZ. I’M DELETING KAHOOT. I’M BLOCKING ALL OF YOU

bachira: too late babe you're trending on maidtok 💅🧹

[ FINAL KAHOOT LEADERBOARD ]

🥇 HUGH MUNGUS 🥈 ben.d.over 🥉 leftthumbonly

shidou (screaming): I WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNN LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

bachira: NOOOOOOO WHY DID I GET SECOND 😭😭😭 i wanted the power

nagi: i was just pressing colors. what happened

isagi: i dropped from 3rd to off the podium like my stocks crashed bro

reo: wait. where the hell did I go. am i in NINTH??

kunigami: i’m BELOW gagamaru. and he picked options with lag.

gagamaru (re-entering from the woods): i think i clicked red but it was actually green and the crow started screeching again

chigiri: y'all just imagine me being the fastest in blue lock and the slowest in kahoot like shut the hell up

bachira: chigiri fumbled the click bag 💀

rin: i hate that HUGH MUNGUS is the winner. i genuinely hate it.

isagi: ok rules are rules… winner gets to choose anything, right?

shidou (with the most evil smirk): YES. and i’ve decided 😇

barou (already panicking): no. NO. WHATEVER IT IS, NO.

shidou: you… barou-sama…are going to wear. the maid outfit. AGAIN. 😈 but this time... we’re POSTING IT ON TWITTER 🧍‍♀️✨

barou (screeching): WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

bachira: LIVE YOUR TRUTH MAID KING 😭😭😭😭

reo: we are boosting the tweet. everyone turn on RTs

nagi: wait let me edit the photo. adding sparkles and cat ears rn

gagamaru: can we tag ego

kunigami: you are all going to hell gagamaru. DON'T

barou (frothing): I WILL UNPLUG EVERY ROUTER IN JAPAN. I SWEAR.

shidou (typing on phone already): caption: "maid barou ready to serve AND score 🧹💘"

rin: i’m leaving. i’m logging off. this is brain rot.

bachira: SEE Y’ALL AT THE NEXT KAHOOT 😍🎉

[ vc disconnected ]

જ⁀➴ © sevarchive ✦ masterlist like/reblogs are appreciated ꣑ৎ

[bewitched-hours]

Fantasy!Forsaken | Pirates!Noli7n7 x Siren!Reader (+ C00lkidd, Bluudud & Pr3typriincess)

When two pirates set out to find their kids, the last thing they expect is for a creature of distant tales to have grown protective of them.

Reader's getting She/Her~

You were a dangerous creature to behold.

Though you looked normal at first glance, most are smart enough to cover their ears when they notice your scales. That is, if they manage to before you spot them.

They say the voice of a siren is powerful but even more powerful was your wrath.

A simple scream can be enough to call forth the wrath of all the animals in your area and beyond.

To mess with you is to mess with the force of the ocean. A sin so great no sane person would dare to call upon it.

You always thought robloxians were ridden with greed and lust. Disgusting, vile creatures that will do anything for their own gain.

Even if the cost is that of innocence or whatever you used to believe in.

Back when you were still a guppy.

But you learned fast through your years.

They would do anything to get their sinful hands on your scales... And you didn't dare to wonder why.

Yet, you knew their young were as innocent as you used to be.

You couldn't fault them for the sins of their peers. Nor for the sins they had yet to commit.

What you didn't expect was to get into direct contact with such innocence.

You were stuck in a fishing net on a beach.

Although you were hidden between some boulders, it was getting harder to stay conscious with the lack of water and it caused you to have less and less strength to try and get yourself out of your restraints.

You were sure this would be the end. You just knew this would be the reason any Sirens outside of the deepest depths would be forced to lose to robloxians...

... Until you were suddenly splashed with water.

Taking a sharp and deep gasp, you sat up to notice your restraints had been cut open and you were glistening again.

And then you noticed three little shadows to your right.

Looking up at them, you noticed they were just kids. Innocent younglings who saved you from certain death with who you presume to be the eldest holding a pocket knife.

"Are you alright?!" The pink one spoke with concern and you couldn't do anything but nod with surprise.

Looking around, they seemed to be alone.

"Where are your parents, little ones?" You asked softly, glancing at each of them to note their unusual looks. Though you liked it, you had a bad feeling for the answer you might ge-

"They're still nearby! They're apparently looking for treasure!" The red child spoke with excitement and although you were glad your fears were for nothing, you knew from the way he spoke about it that you were dealing with the children of pirates...

Just your luck...

The blue one, who had cut you free, seemed a little confused. "Are you a mermaid or a Siren?" He asked bluntly, his straightforward question causing a chuckle to escape your lips.

"I'm a siren, my darlings. But I prefer to eat bigger meals than innocent children." You smiled, noticing that they seemed to have taken a liking to you. Only natural, given their instinctive curiosity and naivety.

They took turns keeping you from drying up as they asked you all sorts of questions and lifted you onto one of the boulders together to make it feel more like a game.

You couldn't remember ever having this much fun in a conversation but their honesty and innocence sparked an odd sense of warmth in you. They had to be protected.

For weeks you'd come back to the same spot and for weeks they'd find you to talk about anything and everything.

Sometimes you'd answer questions about the sea, sometimes they'd answer questions about the surface.

But unfortunately they would also talk about their parents which taught you some stuff you didn't bother thinking about but you remembered it regardless.

However, it might've been a mistake informing them where you've made yourself a home in an underwater cave...

You awoke in the gentle glow of the moon, smelling blood in your waters.

It wasn't just any blood, but robloxian blood...

That's when you perked up. What was a robloxian doing on the surface of your waters this late at night??

It sure as hell wasn't a pirate ship or you would've felt the water vibrate.

You groggily made your way towards the source only to break the surface and-

"Hi again!" C00lkidd's voice rang out gleefully.

... It was the kids...

... OH SHIT IT'S THE CHILDREN-

You panicked as the realization settled in and you quickly grabbed C00lkidd's hand, noticing the pocket knife in his other.

"Told you this was stupid..." Bluudud commented as you quickly drove back down and came back up within seconds to wrap the bleeding wound in some seagrass.

It wasn't much but it at least stopped the bleeding and could aid in the healing process. You just sighed in relief when he thanked you.

"We're sorry for the disturbance but we just really wanted to see you!" Pr3typriincess spoke with concern, likely not wanting to be scolded.

"Don't worry, I'm just happy to see you but please don't ever harm yourselves like that again or you might attract sharks." You lied, seeing as you knew sharks usually disliked robloxian blood but it was easier than to admit you might get hungry.

You didn't want them to fear you after all...

"I'm just surprised your parents would allow you out of the house this late..." You muttered, holding onto the edge of their little boat just in case.

"Oh, they didn't..." Bluudud answered, causing a small "Eh-?" To erupt from your throat.

C00lkidd kinda chuckled. "Yeah, we snuck out! We know when to go back though so they won't notice a thing!" Which brought a slightly louder "Eh-??" From your mouth.

"That's unless they wake up for a glass of water or something because I may have forgotten to close the day on the way out..." Pr3typriincess added, your "EH-???" Sounding more and more worried than before as you realized you probably had pirates to deal with now...

How many would there be?? Six- maybe eight??? Could you even handle that many without using your voice to lure them to their deaths???? You didn't want to cause your favourite children such trauma, for crying out loud!

But by the time you could finish that thought...

"Kids!" A voice rang out behind you and you instinctively turned around to prepare to protect them.

Surprisingly, it was a small boat with only two pirates that approached. They were equally as shocked to see you as you were to see them, though C00lkidd's voice brought you all back to reality.

"Hi dad! This is the friend we've been talking about!" You looked back in surprise. They've been telling these guys about you and they weren't immediately drawn to the hunt??? Surely they-

"Uh- yeah! That sure is a Siren..." One of them said and suddenly it made more sense.

They probably hadn't believed their own kids while talking about you. I mean, who would?

Still, you were hesitant to swim aside. "Alright, how about we all just relax. We came alone, so let us get our children back." The man in the back spoke up, his appearance not one you'd expect from a pirate but rather a jester but oh well...

"... You're lucky I'm a Siren with morals. For I refuse to destroy the innocence of a child." You spoke hesitantly, swimming to the other side of the boat and carefully pushing it towards them.

It wasn't a threat or a warning, it was a simple fact. And they could tell you cared as C00lkidd rambled on about you warning them of the sharks and helping with his cut.

But remembering the blood was making you hungry now... And that made you guilty...

You didn't want to be hungry... Not after the blood of a child was spilled...

"Uhm... How about we eat something? I happen to have brought some tuna with me." The gentler one spoke, seeming to notice your hunger first.

It was embarrassing but... You accepted.

That night was mostly spent talking about what you and the kids would often do while you secretly admired the way robloxians prepare tuna for consumption...

But ever since, you've decided to visit a cousin in the depths inbetween your visits to see the children and those... Pirates. You cousin was a sea witch who offered you a once in a lifetime deal for a favor. And you accepted.

Though you've waited to get close to your oddly charming robloxians, you eventually fulfilled your end of the deal by overthrowing a bigger pirate ship that had been heading past your territory and threatening the lives of those you actually cared about for once.

It was easy as can be, delivering the bodies to your cousin and receiving a necklace in return.

The necklace gave you the ability to turn into a robloxian when you dried up, allowing you to continue living but not being able to use the abilities of your voice in that form.

Really, it wasn't a complicated deal. And you'd be able to switch at will.

So it was obviously a shock to see you with legs for the first time, asking your pirate boys- Noli and 007n7- for help finding balance and learning to walk. It was like watching a baby deer wobble around. They found it adorable even when you'd scoff at them and tell them off for laughing at you, claiming they were cruel which was still a thousand times better than what you'd call regular robloxians.

But they weren't just regular robloxians to you...

They were your dumb but cute pirates with simply adorable children who gradually took to calling you their mother, making you emotional each time they first said it because the warmth and joy felt overwhelming.

"The change feels so weird every time..." You groaned, holding onto 007. You didn't have to re-learn walking necessarily but the first bit of path back to their home would always be spent with you getting used to the lack of buoyancy and needing to get used to moving your legs again instead of a singular tail.

But while Noli was making lighthearted jokes over it, 7n7 did his best to keep you upright while you slightly leaned against him to avoid falling. "Take it easy, love. You're being impatient." He spoke calmly, holding you gently against his body as you looked down at your legs to make sure you're moving them correctly. In sync with his.

Your voice was even a little off in this form but that was because the necklace covered your usually hypnotizing echo. "I swear I could kill Noli..." You muttered to your robloxian walking cane. "But you won't." He simply answered with a kiss to your cheek as a soft pink spread across your cheeks.

"Yeah, I won't..." You admitted as your tone softened, sighing. "You're both too cute to be harmed..." You decided to let out, watching 7n7 blush himself while the kids were waiting ahead.

In a way, this life was nice. You didn't have to give up the sea for love, you didn't have to give into the demands of some annoying pirate captain and you even became somewhat of a secret protector for this new home you've gained.

And news spread quickly. News how much safer the lands were that you lived in because any pirates looking to invade were mysteriously taken care of, how the two pirates in town managed to not only find themselves a wife to add into their relationship but also suddenly had a lot more power with you by their sides...

But you mostly focused on keeping this new life of yours. You were a wife, a mother, a guardian and still a siren. You could do it all and rarely had to crave robloxian meat after discovering that pig meat was actually a good substitute that even satiated you better.

As such, your unofficial(but you can't really make it official because you have nothing to prove you aren't a siren) husbands made sure to keep at least a bag of pig meat around for your visits. Just in case you got a craving.

The gesture surprised you when it first happened and had you getting flustered because of how sweet they were being with it but Noli's jokes obviously ruined the moment...

But you weren't a goody-two-shoes either. As stated earlier, you helped your husbands become more successful and would often join them in their searches for whatever treasure they set their minds too.

You were basically a natural at helping them, considering you could effortlessly delve deep into the waters and weren't afraid to get get your hands dirty or even recruit the help of nearby sealife.

They were both grateful, you knew that. Even if 007 was the only one to say it.

But this was nice... Just a family of your own...

It felt better than you would've thought...

This was actually really fun to write- I may love yanderes but by god do I love powerful women falling for pathetic men too-

Anything you'd like to request/ask? Check out my pinned post first and I'll be happy to write up whatever you want!

[hewinked]

you ever have fandom drama go down with literally all the big blogs for one fandom that you love so much, and then all the blogs you follow just start throwing tomato's at each other?

yeah thats pretty much me with the danny phantom x dc crossover tag argument thing rn

also im of the opinion that, this is kinda always how crossovers worked? you tag it with both fandoms it includes? and the tag thing is not that bad? or atleast ive had not that much trouble finding only solely danny phantom content

and i mean, danny phantom is an old fandom objectively, the only new content being some comic books which alot of people didnt read because they didnt wanna or couldnt spend money on it

it makes sense that even alot of old fans would get into dp x dc, and that because dc is such a big and active fandom in comparison, that a lot of dc fans would get into the crossovers, and become new danny phantom fans via the crossovers

but ik alot of people are arguing that they shouldnt be, because they think that dc fans have never even seen danny phantom because of small details they get wrong or mix up, which is like a whole nother "if youre in this fandom you have to know everything about the media or youre not a real fan" shaped problem that I dont care for at all

the truth is most of them probably are just going off of what they remember from their childhoods because ALOT of people watched danny phantom as a kid, and just havent had time to rewatch it fully, so yeah, theyre gonna not remember some things and have to fill in the blanks themselves or go off of what other fans say

and as far as im aware anyways, this isnt really just a dc and dp thing? Im in the miraculous ladybug fandom and fic wise alot of it is now danny phantom or dc crossovers, but ive heard no complaints and given no complaints (despite not liking them myself) because thats mainly on ao3 and you can just block it

the point im going to make is actually, that alot of the fandom on tumblr is reliant on ao3 in the first place, and like on ao3 this definitely isnt a problem, because you can block a tag easily and most people on ao3 know better then to not tag something that they have in a fic

thing is? people are used to that. it is considered heavily heavily impolite on ao3 to not tag a fandom or thing you have in the fic.

and most tumblr users are or started as ao3 users. its pretty much the same etiquette on here.

but somehow when you go on tumblr with specifically danny phantom fans? somehow people are offended by it?

thing is, same as on ao3, on tumblr you can block a tag and filter.

but lets say you are blocking that and still seeing dc crossover stuff like so many people are complaing

then isnt the problem logically that alot of these people just arent tagging the dc stuff properly then? because i imagine thats what you should be trying to block so.... why be mad that theyre tagging danny phantom when thats one of the correct tags to be using? so that anyone who wants to see crossovers plus regular content can?

like im just saying thats the logic i follow

and thats not me tryna say go and blame em for that either, im just saying youre kinda angry about something that its okay to be mad about, but you have put yourself in the wrong because your mad about the wrong thing anyways.

also even if youre mad about it, maybe stop bullying and critizing literally anyone who's writing dc and dp? like encouraging people to write what they like is the name of the game, you guys know that right?

you know you can just nicely comment without being passive aggressive or rude, and tell them that they should tag their posts a little better? and not take your anger out on them because they personally obviously dont sway the whole fandom by themselves? do you know that?

you also dont have to make big ol rant posts about how much you hate dp x dc writers for writing a crossover, that will hurt those writers feelings, and that you know will make all your followers mad at all those innocent writers also, right? you know that you don't have to and shouldn't be making posts like that right?

[lynzishell]

Epilogue 💛 Atlas

The rest of the year flew by in a rush of one event after another.

First, there was Spencer’s birthday party. It was the first family event that Ezra and I were both present at, and overall, it went okay. I focused on spending time with everyone else and just let him exist in the same space as me, which was the best I could do at the time.

Dawn also saw Ezra for the first time since high school that day. She did try to be kind and talk to him, as is her nature, but it was quite satisfying that Phoenix didn’t like him from the moment she introduced them. Maybe that’s petty of me, but it’s true.

The important thing though, is that, even though we all walked away a bit sore, Spencer had a great birthday, ice skating and celebrating with her family and two best friends.

When Winterfest came around, we stuck with our original plan to visit Phoenix and Dawn in the city. It was fun to see Aspen getting excited and opening presents. I know our little ones won’t quite be old enough to properly enjoy the holiday, but I’m still so excited for next year and our first Winterfest with them.

Dawn also surprised us with an amazing gift. She knitted two little onsies for Sadie and Simon, which I’m happy to report, they’ve both finally grown into!

That afternoon, when they were ready to head to Copperdale to see Pheonix’s uncle, Ash and I decided to spend the rest of the day with the Goodes after all. I’m glad we did. Even with Ezra there, it was nice to have our usual evening of games and music.

I’m absolutely in awe of Spencer with her violin. She finally mastered Einaudi’s Experience and wanted to play it for us, a duet with Pop on the piano, of course. The performance brought tears to our eyes. Listening to her play with such skill and emotion, she should be in a concert hall, not standing in our living room in her little mis-matched socks.

As happy as I am to have our own place again, I wouldn’t trade the time we spent living there for anything.

For New Year’s we’d planned to take it easy. Watch movies and likely fall asleep well before midnight. But, as you can see, that isn’t what happened.

We got a call from Lex saying that Evan had been dumped, so we cancelled our plans and drove to the city. Charlee raced to Evan’s apartment and dragged them to Lex’s where we were all waiting for them. After a bit of venting and a few tears, we were able to cheer them up, and we all celebrated the new year and good things to come. Charlee was even able to convince them to move to San Sequoia with her and Jay, which I know Ash is happy about.

I’m really grateful we ended up spending New Year’s with our friends because the going away party they had planned for us the following weekend ended up being canceled because… well…

The next morning, I woke up on Lex’s couch being jostled by Ash. He was in a panic because our phones were blowing up, and with the way I was laying on him, he couldn’t get to either of them. He was worried something bad had happened, that someone had been hurt.

But, when I sat up and checked my phone, it was the opposite. Li was in labor. All at once, everything became real.

We drove to the hospital as fast as we could and barely made it in time. But we made it. And now that our twins have arrived, life will never be the same again.

I suppose you want to meet them now. You will. Soon.

Prev // The Goode Life

A/N: I will try to introduce everyone to Sadie and Simon this weekend.. just know I’m completely obsessed with them! But this wraps up this part of my story. From here, I plan to split into two stories: The Good Life will focus on Atlas & Asher (and occasionally the extended Goode family) and my Star Sign Legacy will go back to Phoenix, Dawn, and Aspen as the main focus. I’m currently writing their next big arc, which will take some time, so for now I’ll be sharing sporadic gameplay of the boys (cos infants are my favorite thing in game)

[birdadjacent]

while "[x] reacts to [y]" style videos usually do nothing for me, i am really interested in music theory, so i've had a lot of fun watching music industry pros' initial reactions to the Clair Obscur soundtrack (most notably certified banger Une vie à t'aimer)

but what i really want is someone who HAS played the game to analyze that song (and others) from a story AND music theory perspective - like:

Specifically WRT Une vie à t'aimer:

the tension between the classical vocals/instruments and the rock/metal ones to represent the conflict between Aline and Renoir. To be more precise: the vocals and instrumentals representing Aline are very classical, while the blown out electric guitar and metal vocals are for Renoir - what does the clash of styles say about their respective positions?

The song largely switches between (based on my own counting; i haven't seen any notation) 2/4 (2/2?), 4/4, and 6/8, but there are odd bars with an extra beat specifically when verso's name comes up in the lyrics, and what that means in terms of how his absence is such a disruption

The 6/8 motif is repeated in Renoir's theme, but NOT in Aline's - what does this say about their respective feelings about the conflict between them?

And other things like

the environmental music that plays in the last area of stone wave cliffs before the lampmaster fight uses a simplified version of verso's theme, foreshadowing his appearance

Inversely: one of the last areas before the final confrontation with Renoir at the end of the game has Gustave's theme for its environmental music (which, of course, incorporates motifs from Lumiere)

Speaking of - I see people comment a lot that Verso's theme is the only character theme with no vocals. This isn't true - Gustave's theme, while much more instrumentally rich, doesn't have a vocal line either. Another way the game is putting them in the same role?

There's a low-pitched, husky sounding woodwind instrument (i'm pretty sure it's a clarinet? but i'm Bad at identifying reed instruments by sound alone) that's most prominent, if not exclusive, to songs that are associated in some way with Lune - her theme, for example. HOWEVER, there's a really similar register/effect, but on a flute, for some of the music in Sirene's arena - another thematic link between them?

The first vocal line in Lune's theme and Sciel's theme are very melodically similar (though they diverge after). Maybe a coincidence, but maybe a commentary on their shared origin? (though Gustave's theme doesn't share this, so maybe not)

Music that plays as early as spring meadows incorporates motifs from Renoir's theme and Aline's theme, which just adds to my "if you think the game 'suddenly' switched to being all about the Dessendres in act 3, you haven't been paying attention" reaction to that common line of criticism. (Let alone the beginning of Renoir's theme playing during the gommage in the first 30 minutes of the entire game)

And that's barely scratching the surface. Like, just breaking down where character themes and motifs sneak into world music and why could be an entire video. Don't even get me started on how pretty much all of the music for The Reacher doesn't sound like anything else on the soundtrack, and what that could mean. I realize I'm like halfway to writing the script myself with this post but the last time I took a music theory class was my senior year of high school (15 years ago) so there's gotta be someone out there better qualified than me to break this down. anyway give lorien testard every award. what an incredible ost.

[costello-xoxo]

'not proship not an anti but a secret third thing (dont care)' so ur proship. proship is the ideology of not caring bro

'not proship not an anti but fuck you if you like [thing]' so ur an anti. idk man it's not a grey area kind of thing.

proship, as much as some people like to say it is, is not a "community" or club. it's an ideology which holds its core beliefs as:

Don't harass people for their personal taste in fiction (primarily related to shipping and nsfw)

Be against censorship in fan spaces (i.e., the ao3 mindset of 'if it isn't actually harming any real life person against their will, it is fine').

Block people who post things you don't like / block tags you don't wanna see / tag ur stuff so others can do the same.

though people would like you to believe it means 'shipping illegal things' (a fictional ship can't be illegal because it isn't real, but we all know what you mean by this) or 'sexually harassing people who don't like your nsfw content' (no one should do this. Some people do, hiding behind 'proship' as if that makes it okay. It isn't okay, don't do that). But these aren't what proship ideology means. There is no one individual who represents proship, there's no club, no leader, just a bunch of people who have the same beliefs - and some bad actors who use the label incorrectly.

If you think fan work and other fiction shouldn't be censored, people shouldn't be harassed for their work, and fiction does not equal reality, you are proship. You don't have to use that label if you don't want to but... ideologically that's what you are.

If you believe in 'calling out' people for having certain kinks or making certain content, harassing instead of blocking and moving on, and/or that certain content is 'too far' and should be censored despite being fictional... you are an anti - or, simply, not proship.

It is nothing about personal preference. You can personally hate all nsfw and still be proship if you believe in anti-censorship and freedom for everyone to make the fictional works they want to make. There are certainly things I find icky but I simply block the tags for that content. I don't really label myself as proship as I don't see it as an identity, but I definitely subscribe to proship ideology.

Also, believing that fiction is not reality DOES NOT mean the same thing as 'fiction NEVER impacts reality'. Most people agree that fiction and reality are interlinked in many complex ways, but just as playing violent video games doesn't make you inherently violent, and watching horror movies doesn't make you a murderer, reading weird taboo fanfiction on the internet does not make you more or less likely to do bad things in real life.

I mean, I studied this sort of thing for my degree, for three years, so it would be insane to say fiction never impacts reality. It's just that fanfiction has very little impact compared to mainstream media, and the impact on the individual is not comparable to the impact of mainstream media to the wider societal hegemony. In fact, one could argue that since fanfiction often breaks many societal norms, in a Western heterosexist society at least, it is beneficial to the individual to consume such content in comparison to consuming mainstream media (e.g., blockbuster films). But whatever. I'm getting off topic.

Idk, if you like me and my content, you're probably proship. LOL!

[babymorte]

i think what sucks about this entire situation is i though they were different. i know i bitch and moan about my relationships whether friends romantic or familial but i don’t know they were different. for the first time i felt like i made a legitimate friend. one that actually cared. all i wanted was not to be lied to anymore. it was never about them not being good enough or not giving me enough clarity or how often we spoke i never cared about any of that. it was where it counted that mattered. the lies, the half truths, throwing others under the bus to protect themselves from the lies they couldn’t keep from telling and i was always left with silence or their projection of their own insecurities and you know what? i was okay with that because i saw through it all and i didn’t care. we had already gone through so much and came out fine so why can’t someone make simple promise of not lying. i saw the person inside and i wanted to protect them because i know what it’s like to go through what they have i mean hell even now our situations are exactly the same. it was just nice to have someone that i thought was on the same page. i never expected any of this.

i never wanted any of this.

i’m okay with being the villain though. if someone has to do mental gymnastics to make me the problem when they can’t face their own emotions and feelings and consequences that is fine do what you have to. it’s not desperation to want what’s best for those you care about or to fight to hold onto them and you’re not a bad person for holding your friends accountable that’s the bare minimum of friendship what’s respect without accountability?

people want to change but are too scared of taking the risks and it’s unfortunate.

they say i’m crazy but they never tell me im wrong and i don’t think people want to be seen for who they are because they can’t fathom being fully accepted mess and all.

and i refuse to believe all of this was a game or manipulation. i think it absolutely delved into that but it was all protection and that is what’s unfortunate.

i won’t stop caring and i won’t stop rooting for their success and happiness and i hope that they can heal and stop with the bullshit because they really do deserve happiness and love and care and understanding from the people they actually want it from instead of just having to settle with what they’re presented with that’s easy.

all i want is for the people i care about to be happy and be the best versions of themselves but im learning that some people no matter how much they say it don’t actually want help or at least not from you which is fine i just wish we could start being more honest with ourselves and the people we claim to care about

[venbetta]

I've been really getting into SOTM since it's come out, and I have to say, it's better produced than SW's other fnaf games. I'm not saying it's 100% perfect, I'm not gonna gas it up to be game of the year, but it feels cohesive compared to their previous games. It's the fact that when it was originally announced up until its release, I wasn't 100% on board; I didn't know what to expect. I've come out of it surprised by how potent some of the narrative beats are.

I've heard some people say that the story wasn't cohesive or that it didn't make sense, which i get, it took watching a few other playthroughs to catch things I missed during the first watch. And I know the mimic's origins are in the TFTP books, which usually doesn't help either, but the game does a good job at establishing the mimic's creation enough to latch onto. Plus, the Murray family feels real to me, Edwin's neglect, Fiona's caring natural. If they weren't in the game, i think it would've been a dull experience. There were slow moments when I was watching Fusion's playthrough, and I thought, "Gimme more Murray family lore." And when it did show up, I was engaged. Learning and finding out more felt rewarding (I don't have the game myself :( ... but watching other people play has helped).

I know I missed things, I probably still am, but I've grasped enough of it to understand a good majority of the story. The endings were nice, I can actually tell which one is definitely the canon one. The secret one was so sweet and heartbreaking. I loved Arnold, even if we don't hear him speak that often. Dispatch is a prick in the best way. The VAs did amazing.

My only complaint is that the minigames (the crane one) were kinda boring. I did almost fall asleep during that part. I don't have many grievances with SOTM, it surprised me.

I know people keep comparing it to Poppy Playtime, and all that other stuff, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it taking inspiration from it. They literally took inspiration from Alien Isolation and Outlast from what I've heard, and that shouldn't be seen as an insult to compare any of these games with one another.

And as someone who's been with fnaf since the beginning, I get why people are a bit discontent about this game's presence. I miss the old games, but I don't see anything wrong with mixing something up in this new Era. I loved Security Breach, even with its flaws. It's a beautiful mess with... a not very cohesive story, but it's fun. Saw someone try to compare SB with SOTM to criticize the latter when they are two distinct narratives with varying visuals. Of course SOTM doesn't have life to it, it's an abandoned, defunct factory with ROTTING bodies. It's a horror game. There's nothing wrong with SB switching up the environment either, it's still a horror game... even if it was catered to be child-friendly which there's nothing wrong with that either...

Comparing apples to oranges.

I digress.

I wish it was easy for people to admit and accept that SOTM isn't going to feel like FNAF, instead of chalking it up to being a bad game or spitefully comparing it to other games for the sake of criticizing when it's easier to just say "This isn't for me anymore." And also not blame any party responsible for making it that way (Steel Wool). Markiplier admitted it in his recent playthrough, it felt nice hearing that from him. To have that self awareness and acknowledge that it's not the same, but it's okay that he doesn't like it and it's no one else's fault!!!! GRGHRGH

I love FNAF, and it's complicated lore, and it's sometimes buggy games. Unless some other game comes along that completely alters my opinions on it, I'm willing to see where this franchise goes, honestly.

So now excuse me while I go make Freddy and Monty kiss each other like lil toy dolls

[francislangdon]

MILKY PLEASE we decide to play a game of chicken together which leads to one thing or another AU or we dated when we were younger and now we’re step siblings AU 🙇🏻‍♀️ on my hands and knees

we dated when we were younger and now we’re step siblings

It was barely even one year that she dated Frank Langdon.

Mel didn’t tell anyone. Not her friends, definitely not her dad— even Becca didn’t know.

It’s a warm secret, one that she keeps close to her heart, the only rebellious thing that she ever did as a teenager; date an older boy— a senior when she was still a freshman— and a boy with a girlfriend at that. “It’s not serious with Abby. We’re not exclusive,” Frank says, “But don’t say anything because she’ll freak out if she sees me with someone else.”

Mel nods, dumbstruck, her lips still tingling with the kiss they shared, clandestine and fervent against her locker when she should have been in math class.

The only time she ever skipped classes was that freshman year, asking for the bathroom pass and not so inconspicuously taking her bag with her so she could meet Frank during sixth period. He completed most of his credits already, doubling on math and science classes when he was a junior, taking no electives his senior year so that he could leave school early— usually with Mel in tow.

“You can probably do the same,” Frank says, while they’re sitting in a McDonald’s drive-through at noon on a sunny day, her classes forgotten, “You’re definitely smart enough.”

Mel already quizzed him about that, planned out exactly what AP and honors are worth it. Of course, she’ll need to make up for everything she’s missing right now, in Frank’s car instead of world history, but then he hands her fries and an oreo flurry to share and for once, Mel decides not to worry about it.

He’s a little bit of a bad influence.

Later, Frank kisses her syrupy-sweet in his bedroom, the house empty in the middle of the afternoon. It’s all clothes strewn on the floor, Nirvana and Oasis posters, an electric guitar in the corner. She’s worried he won’t like the press of her braces on his tongue, catching his lips, but he smiles against her mouth.

“You’re so cute, Mel,” before he kisses her again, deeper, doing something with his tongue that makes her quiver. Frank takes her virginity in that bedroom.

It’s always like something out of a movie with him. Cutting class to be with him, sneaking out of her window at night to meet him in the park. Sometimes, he even brings her around his friends, all older than her, hockey players and stoners.

Frank pulls her onto his lap as she declines the blunt and lets him pass it to one of friends instead.

“Who’s the freshman? I thought you were still dating Abby,” the guy says, eyes red and a laughing tone under his voice.

He shrugs, “If she asks, don’t tell her I brought a girl over,” he looks at her and winks, “Besides, Mel is like a sister to me. Nothing’s going on between us.”

“Nothing,” Mel repeats clumsily, blushing at their shared secret. It’s exhilarating to know something no one else does— only her and Frank. His arm tightens around her waist, squeezing her close to his chest.

He drops her off at home before the sun comes up, a few blocks away from her house so no one sees, and Mel climbs back through her window with shaky legs and an undercurrent of satisfaction.

They inevitably break up in the spring. Frank is going to New York for college, Mel is stuck in Pittsburgh for three more years with no expectation that he was ever going to wait for her. An expiry date was stamped on their relationship from the moment it began. It’s only a little melancholy when it finally does end.

She keeps a few pictures of them, a stack of his chemistry notes, his green hoodie, two sizes too big for her. Other than that, the memory of him is covetous, something surprising for her college roommate to giggle over when she tells her. My ex-boyfriend was four years older than me. Shaggy black hair, blue eyes. He was very cute. He played the guitar. But it’s only that— a memory.

It feels, almost, like dating Frank happened to someone else. It was so out of character for Mel, in those idyllic and unrepentant few months they snuck around. She could hardly tell you what came over her when they were together.

Frank is a ghost of a memory, one that Mel only glimpses occasionally. That’s why she doesn’t know how to react when she comes home from her first semester of college and finds him solid, standing in her kitchen, chatting casually with her dad.

Mel knows that her father remarried while she was at school. The woman is nice, she hears. Margaret, a widow as well. She has three sons, all older then Mel and Becca.

The youngest of which is, apparently, Frank Langdon.

Her dad introduces them. Or, he thinks he does. “This is my daughter, Melissa. Mel, come say hi to your brother.”

Mel cringes at the word brother when it’s describing Frank, tall and handsome still, a little more well-built than the last time she saw him.

“It’s…nice to meet you, Mel,” Frank says carefully, eyes roaming over her. His hand twitches in an aborted gesture, like he’s going for a handshake before thinking better of it.

She presses her hands against her neck, shaking her head slightly, trying to fight the automatic instinct to touch him, to play with his hair or pull him down for a kiss. Brother. Step-brother. “Um, l-likewise, Frank.”

He catches her eye and she reddens.

They’re going to be normal about this. She’s capable of being normal about this.

“These are new,” Frank says, later that night, after he sneaks into her bedroom. Their parents— their shared parents— are asleep. She’s in his lap, grinding against him softly as he plays with her tits, bigger now than when she was fourteen, “Guess my baby sister is all grown up now.”

“Please don’t call me that,” Mel winces. He pinches a nipple, grinding his cock into her through the layers of clothes.

“Don’t you think it’s kinda hot? You liked the whole forbidden thing when we were dating.”

“It’s gross,” her breath hitches when his clothed erection slides against her clit just right. She impatiently tugs at his sweats, “You’re not my actual brother. Our parents are just married.”

Frank swipes his hands over her hips to pull down her shorts, “My sweet little sister,” he teases, “Waited for me while I was away at college, right?”

An involuntary whimper comes out of her. It’s the thought of Frank coming back to her, like it’s a given. His cock rubs against her folds, gathering slick as they rock together. She fists a hand into his shirt, his body warm underneath her. He makes all those adolescent feelings come rushing back, everything raw and vernal where he touches her.

“Yeah,” Mel mumbles, “Missed you.”

He sighs contentedly, “Can’t believe I get to come home to this now.” His hips roll, he notches his cock at her entrance. “You have no idea how much I fantasized about fucking this cunt again.”

“Really?” she asks, nudging him deeper.

“Mmmh, fuck yes,” he groans, sliding home, “This pussy is just as sweet as the last time I had it.”

“Don’t leave again,” Mel blushes, starting to stutter out a desire that feels almost too filthy to speak, “You’re my big brother now, you can’t leave.”

“That’s right, baby, big brother’s not going anywhere,” Frank pulls her in close to his chest and starts to thrust into her properly, remembering exactly how she likes it. It’s so sedative, comforting— familial.

[liquidcrystalsky]

i saw someone say they never actually played a splatoon game and only watched two story modes. it felt a bit weird to me but i think there is something to think about.

most of all the story/lore/worldbuilding in-game is text and images and are basically identical if you read them on a wiki

The chat logs and sunken scrolls and alterna/dev logs, have nothing to do with whats going on. The gameplay, the things you do, don't inform what information you're given at all.

You unlock things either just with normal progression or as random collectables. In splatoon 1 and 2 the sunken scrolls corresponded to each level, but they didn't take advantage of that at all. Most sunken scrolls just were about whatever. They made it per area in splatoon 3. So it's even more detached from the gameplay.

The Dev Diaries and Acht's letters, are all unlocked in exactly the same way. Every single one, other than having to change what weapon you use, it's the same.

Shit, most of the god damn world-building, ISN'T EVEN IN THE GAME! It's on the websites, in artbooks, interviews (both in-universe and developers), soundtrack releases, whatever.

Other than the first two story modes, there are like Actual things which happen in the games which can't be summarized in a sentence (most of the story about Octo Canyon was in the "Squid Sister Stories." Not Even In The Game).

Octo Expansion has an amazing final sequence, which, is mostly cutscenes and you can just sorta watch on youtube. You don't need to know what happens in Girl Power station or any of the levels at all.

RotM had a Lot Of Shit Happen but... actually i think it did it the best for experiencing the story Through The Game (not by much). Though It sucks that the story has absolutely nothing to do with the gameplay and they often straight up contradict or just doesn't make sense. Oh yeah the whole fucking thing crashed and killed everyone. Don't ask why everything's in completely pristine condition.

Side Order sort of just cleared up all of the story points within the first 10 minutes of the game, right after the tutorial Marina just explains Everything and then that's just what happens for the rest of the game. There's no twist or any evolving story that isn't in the Dev Diaries which don't affect the Actual Game.

The thing i'd say you miss out the most on is small character moments, but there's also plenty of compilations and people pointing them out too. There's definitely a lot of things you'd miss, a lot of spectacle, and some emotions, but idk i feel like it's not too much in the grand scheme of things.

Splatoon has amazing world building, but kind of bad storytelling (i guess nintendo in general, i can see it a bit in botw/totk as well) and it kinda gives room for people to actually be genuine fans of the series, story and world, without even touching a game at all.

As much as I don't want to buy a switch 2 and all that, i really hope Raiders does this storytelling well.

I also have nothing against watching like longplays of the game or just like full game walkthrough or whatever. I call myself fans of games which i've only watched and not played. I'm saying you can totally be a fan with a really large amount of knowlege of splatoon without even doing that.

I have had this comparison of RotM to Outer Wilds in my head a lot and i'm gonna walk my dog then i'll write it out

[bwoahtastic]

I tried sending this before but I think it messed up cause I tried linking something :((

Anyways, inspired by the confusion au and also the Drabble you did recently of Oscar and Carlos hate sex turned dating!

Basically Oscar hates his apartment . Fortunately he has so many great friends in Monaco! He loves to hang out with them and if maybe he happens to stay a little late and crash in the spare room or on the couch well it’s just because he likes to spend time with them not because he can’t stand the thought of being alone kin his sterile apartment.

He’s a little self conscious of the facts he’s a grown ass adult and can’t live on his own so he devises a plan… he creates a roster, Max, Carlos, Lando, Charles, repeat. He has contingencies too, Max and Lando playing video games? That’s fine, he’s still got Charles of Carlos, in the event that all four of them are doing something he might even be able to pull of crashing at Alex’s place.

He manages this for about 6 months without seeming to draw too much suspicion, of course being away most weekends helps disguise the fact he’s over at their places so much. But eventually they corner him after a race and he’s expecting at best some questions about why he never invites them to his place and and worse to be banished from their hospitality doomed to return to his empty flat.

The last thing he’s expecting is for Charles to point and accusatory figure at him and say “you can’t just date all of us at once with out letting us know, that’s just rude.”

Date???? Oscar is confused.

“I can’t be dating all of you at once what are you talking about? I’m not dating any of you?”

He’s met with four cries of outrage

Carlos: I’ve been wining and dining you at expensive restaurants for months!

Charles: We coparent a dog together!

Max: We sleep in the same bed and cuddle most nights!

Lando: you literally had my dick in your mouth this morning!

It’s not Oscar’s fault that his perception of friendship is weird, he just liked spending time with them all especially if it meant not having to be alone in his damn apartment. Besides none of them ever said it was anything more than friendly.

“You can’t lecture me about communicating who I’m dating when not a single one of you thought to tell me that we were dating!”

KSKSKSKSK

Pls Oscar fucking HATES his apartment!! Its the worst, sterile, most boring place he knows even after Mark painted a random wall in a bright color to try and make it better skks

But luckily Oscar happens to have a lot of friends, a lot more than he ever think he would have amongst his fellow drivers and he keeps managing to crash at their places which are so much nicer and more homely

Oscar keeping a schedule in his calendar so he never stays somewhere too long because he doesnt want to overstay his welcome, and if everyone is busy he goes bully Alex (or even Mark, who would say no because he knows Osc is avoiding his aparmtent, but then Seb let's him in anyways sksk)

Oscar getting away with it pretty well and actually enjoying his time in Monaco now he is sharing it with them and he is just thriving! But naturally he didn't expect to get away with it forever so he isnt surprised when he gets cornered by the four of them, expecting rhem to ask why they never go to his place. But he doesnt expect to be accused to dating them all!!

Pls carlos who has been wining and dining Osc for months and being a true gentleman and he had been SO close to asking Oscar for a kiss okay!!

And Charles being offended that Leo's 2nd dad doesnt feel part of the family?? Like wow what a bad coparent!

With Max, Osc has never slept on the sofa or spare room, Max just alwsys made him sleep in his bed with him cos the cuddles were great and comfy and that means something right??

Oscar just being baffled cos to him, it was just classic friendship stuff. Also why did not one actually ask him to be their boyfriend?? Isn't that supposed to be a thing??

[liobi]

Finish the Job, a Mafia AU bad end

okay so for context, I was working on some lotus eater machine stellaron stuff for @thedeerus's Time Is Running Out au which involved Stelle having a dream where there were no super powers and she and Caelus were in college and everything was fine, and Haris jumped off that with an idea that Nanook and Akivili ran a crime syndicate and the stellaron hunters were there to probe some rich kids who probably didn't know what their parents got up to for information to make that organization collapse.

That led to "well, rich kids and arranged fiances, right?" So Dan Heng and Sparkle got in the mix, (then the bullet points for this ending made us so sad that we legitimately started shipping Stelle and Sparkle so there's also a happily after ending titled (Don't) Finish The Job where Sparkle and Stelle do something about their growing feelings for each other and Stelle acknowledges she has two hands and both Kafka and Sparkle are happy to share her)(Dan Heng and Firefly uhhhh sure do. get along extremely well with Caelus in the biblical sense.... absolute bunny shit). I'll probably put all this stuff on AO3 eventually once i clean it up/make it less like the fanfic equivalent of a sketch by my standards, same with Time is Running Out. So yeah Mafia au is an AU of the Time is Running Out au and I hope you enjoy the bad end, without further ado..... Title; Path of Destruction

The socially mandated date nights between the heirs to Nanook’s “art dealing business” and their arranged fiancees were generally uneventful. Dinners at nice restaurants, box seats at sports games or theatrical productions, maybe a red carpet or two, the usual things that rich brats with nothing better to do did with their arranged future marriage partners. These dates were public affairs so business was kept firmly separate unless absolutely necessary. But this time business was intruding on Stelle’s date whether she liked it or not.

One too many phones pointed in their direction, a car that had circled the block twice, rain had begun to fall hard enough that her range of vision had shortened, and most crucially her parentally mandated tail had vanished. 

“What's wrong, grey hair?” Her fiancee looked at her quizzically when she slowed on their run for cover, not having noticed yet. Sparkle was better than Stelle at navigating people, but Stelle was better than Sparkle at navigating situations and this one reeked. So Stelle made a beeline for the nearby alleyway, holding tight to Sparkle’s arm despite her protests, to where a beat up pewter goblet had been placed to collect coins from sympathetic passersby.

“Are you troupe?” Stelle stood over a rambling homeless woman holding a wet cardboard sign that said “repent” as a futile shield against the rain. The woman didn't stop her ramblings but she gave the slightest incline of her head, and that was good enough for Stelle. “We might be fucked, get her out of here.” 

The speed in which the woman showed her goblet, stood, and readied at least six different weapons under her clothes impressed and frightened Stelle. Sparkle was affronted by Stelle’s disregard. “Grey hair if you don't tell me what's going on-”

“Just some stuff me and my guys have to take care of. I'll be back soon.” Stelle interrupted her, turning over Sparkle's arm to the incognito Mourning Actor. Sparkle started to say something else but the sentence was silenced by a kiss that was rough, joyless, exhausted, and tasted like deceit.

It was not the usual kiss of obligation, not the occasional kiss between politically arranged spouses that belied the unspoken seeds of affection between them in their private moments, this was the kiss of farewells. “See you later, Hanabi.”

Without a moment to spare the troupe member hustled Sparkle down the alleyway despite her protests. “Asshole! Grey hair! Stelle!!” 

And then she was out of sight and Stelle walked deliberately step by step into the road in front of the oncoming car before it could circle the block again. She sent a text to her brother as the car slowed to a stop.

I’m probably fucked.

Woof, me too.

That wasn't exactly comforting but at least she knew she had company in her misery. Occasionally Stelle and Caelus would have double dates and she was kicking herself that tonight wasn't one of those nights. As long as they were together they were basically invincible. As it was now, she only had her knife for company.

But then she got a text in the family group chat. It was from Nanook, and it was only one word.

Run.

They were turbo fucked.

.

.

.

.

“Did you text the kids?” A voice from upstairs called over the loud sloshing noises. Nanook snapped their old flip phone shut and climbed the villa stairs to see Akivili splashing kerosene onto every potentially flammable surface. “I already got the East and West wings, and I sent the staff through the escape tunnels. I think I’ll be done in abouuuuut ten minutes if I’m being careful, and three minutes if you decide fuck it we ball.”

Nanook took in the house. The family portrait of the two of them and their children, the halls full of so many memories, the life that they and Akivili had managed to build for themselves despite being orphans that came from nothing. Granted, what they built when they came to this country was a criminal empire, but every family had its own quirks.

“Whoever is attacking us is using a PMC, and they turned some of our guys.” Nanook sighed. The gunfire was steadily getting closer, the intruders had made it past the security gate because someone from the inside had opened it. “I guess I wasn't thorough enough with our housecleaning.”

Akivili stepped closer and laid their head against Nanook’s chest. Nanook rested their chin on the crown of Akivili’s head. The two of them basked in the relative silence and kerosene fumes as the distant gunfire drew closer. Akivili broke the silence. “We had a good run, didn't we Nano?”

“Do you have to call me that right now?”

“Awww, are you pouting? I remember when you were sooooo much smaller than me, just a little kid taking care of some rich asshole’s horses to make barely enough to buy some bread scraps.”  Akivili leaned back to meet Nanook's gaze with a tired, defeated smile.

“And I still remember the teenager who had more in common with a raccoon than a person, who hid in a haystack while they were running away from the local thugs they'd pissed off.” the corners of Nanook’s mouth turned upwards despite themself. “As long as the kids get to your Nameless network they should be safe.” 

“And as long as they're with their betrothed, they won't risk a fight. So they'll be fine.”

.

.

.

.

“I don't think it's a good idea for us to get separated. I think it's an even worse idea for you to get out of the car.” Dan Heng said as Caelus directed the driver to pull into an upcoming gas station and immediately leave as soon as he left the car. “We can lose whoever is following us, Qingni is one of the best drivers the Loufu jituan has.”

“The car up front is some sort of custom model, heavily armored, and I can already tell has more power than we do.” Caelus was mentally kicking himself. They'd gone to the opera so he'd left his knives and gun at home like an idiot instead of leaving them in the car like a reasonable mafioso. As it stood, all he had was his phone, his credit card, and a lighter. “Their plan is probably to wait until we’re in a less populated area and run us off the road with that monster.”

Dan Heng refused to break eye contact. “I’d rather we risk that over you facing whoever is pursuing us alone and unprotected.”

He was so sweet. That was why Caelus had no choice but to ignore his wishes. Dan Heng was the child of a clan steeped in politics and business, not crime. The last thing he needed was to be wrapped up in the legitimately dangerous bits of Caelus’s life. Caelus shot a look to Qingni in the mirror and she nodded.

Caelus was already opening the door when the car rolled to a stop. Dan Heng tried to protest, but Caelus swallowed it all with a kiss. 

“Don't worry, I'll be fine.” He said, pulling out his phone. He pulled up a photo from a day prior, a pregnancy test with two pink lines on the indicator, and showed it to his half panicking fiance. Caelus grinned at the understanding dawning in Dan Heng's eyes. “I’m extremely invested in staying safe after all.”

“Is… it mine?”

“Wow, way to trust your fiance.” Caelus laughed at the blush spreading across Dan Heng's face all the way to his ears. “To be honest I have no clue, the only time I haven't used protection was when it was both you and Firefly at once.”

“Ah, well, that was-”

“We were all drunk, it's fine.” Dan Heng was looking away sheepishly and Caelus took the opportunity to slip out of the car. He shut the door and knocked on the roof and it drove off before Dan Heng could offer any more protests. 

Caelus made the insane preparations that he could in the time he had, but not thirty seconds later, eight cars pulled into the gas station and surrounded him, the nightmare car leading the charge. All Caelus had managed to cobble together was an idea with a lighter and the gas station itself but he wasn't sure exactly how useful it would be against that mobile tank.

From seven of the cars, a swarm of people in nondescript black suits emerged, their firearms poorly concealed in their jackets. From the driver's seat of the custom car a woman wearing a helmet climbed out before coming around to open the rear door for the vehicle’s single passenger and offered a hand.

A woman with long purple hair, dressed in designer fashion and finery, stepped from the vehicle ever so lightly taking the hand of the woman in the helmet. Caelus recognized her, she was in interviews and magazine covers often enough. Jade, the CIO of the International Peace Corporation, a conglomerate big enough to rival the combined might of the Xianzhou jituans. A man in shades with a sword emerged from the crowd of goons and stood next to her, and the woman in the helmet visibly relaxed at his presence.

“Come here often, miss?” Caelus was grinning but his mind was racing. If they were here to just kill him then he was out of luck, but if there was a different angle he was sure he could play his cards right to get out of the situation. “I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting an IPC executive before.”

Jade brought her hand to her mouth, giving a polite laugh. “Before we get into any more of this lovely banter, let me just make it clear. We have no intention of harming you, we just need you to come with us for a while.”

Ah, a kidnapping. Caelus was relieved he'd sent Dan Heng away after all.

.

.

.

.

Kafka watched Stelle’s eyes dawn in realization when she stepped out of the car with Topaz. Six other cars had partially surrounded her in a loose semicircle, and Topaz’s goons were already out with their hands on their concealed weapons. Kafka’s own guns were in plain sight in her shoulder holsters.

“Ah man.” Stelle said with a great heaving sigh looking at Kafka’s guns. “I thought I was good at spotting incognito IPC folks. You're on a whole ‘nother level Miss Kafka.”

She was surprised that Stelle addressing her formally stung as much as it did. Until this moment, she had gotten close enough that Stelle just called her Kafka even at school. “I'm not IPC, but semantics don't really matter all that much in this situation, do they Stelle?”

Stelle's eyes were full of something between exasperation, anger, and grief as Kafka could see her sizing up the gathered forces. She was probably figuring the odds of if she could either fight her way out or flee in a way that got her clear of the whole affair. Kafka wanted to say something, anything to dull the tired malice in Stelle’s gaze, but before she could Topaz cleared her throat.

“You must be Stelle. I’m Topaz, a strategic acquisitions project manager for the IPC.”  Topaz’s red umbrella was like a warning light against the black cars and black suits of the IPC goons. “I’ve heard a lot about you and I would love to hear more from you directly. Would you be so kind as to come with us?”

“So this is a kidnapping, not an assassination.” 

Topaz paused, then began to laugh. “Why on earth would we kill the daughter of an art dealer?” With a slight twitch of her finger, her team began inching closer and closer towards Stelle. “We would just like to discuss a brand deal for our fashion sector, your engagement photos made quite the splash online after all.” 

Kafka remembered the photos. Stelle and her brother wearing collars and muzzles standing next to their seated fiancees who had them on leashes. They had sparked things in Kafka. Igniting her libido for her target was one of them, but they'd also caused a pang in her chest she didn't quite understand. 

Stelle was a target for her job, not someone she was interested in. Her job just happened to be aided by hooking up the cute university student she was probing for info.

“We all know you aren't here to offer a brand deal, just like I know my brother is probably surrounded just like this.” Stelle finally said, still sizing up the approaching goons closing in on her. “My brother and I are mafia princes of the Caos family, we should all just be honest.”

“So you do know. When Kafka said it was only a possibility you might know the truth, we had to build some contingencies into our plan.”  Topaz took out her phone and typed something that Kafka couldn't see. “The brand deal is real, for the record. Who knows? After everything is finished you and your brother might just take us up on it.”

Stelle sighed, turning her weary eyes to Kafka. “So if you aren't IPC, what are you?”

“My group specializes in small-scale espionage and destabilization.” Kafka’s heart was pounding as Stelle’s eyes pierced her soul. Her adrenaline was spiking but she didn't know why. “We’ve taken similar jobs for other groups, this was just another one.”

She took a step towards Stelle, and then another. Kafka could see every single muscle of hers ready to bolt or fight, the younger woman just hadn't decided yet. “Come with us Stelle, come with me. I won't let anything happen to you.”

Stelle looked at the goons. She looked at Topaz. She looked into Kafka's eyes. She let out all the air in her lungs almost as if she was deflating. Stelle looked up at Kafka with a defeated smirk. “Can I at least get one last kiss? You're supposed to give those to people you betray.”

Kafka took the last step and then she was next to Stelle. She cupped the younger woman’s face as Stelle leaned into it, looking at her with her big golden eyes. She really was cute.

Their lips met, their breath mingled. Stelle's breathing hitched as Kafka's tongue pressed against her lips, her teeth, and at last her tongue. When Kafka came away they were both breathless and wearing Kafka’s pink lipstick.

And then Stelle pounced. Before Kafka or any IPC personnel could react, Stelle grabbed Kafka and spun her around. One of her arms wrapped around Kafka pinning her arms to her side, preventing her from pulling her own weapons out, while her other hand pulled a knife from god knows where. The sharp edge of the blade was cool against Kafka's neck. Stelle raised her voice. “Let me go, or else your very talented espionage specialist is going to bleed out in the gutter.”

The IPC goons froze, Topaz didn't. She pulled out her own gun and immediately shot Stelle in the shoulder. Kafka felt the impact. Blood splashed onto her face, hot against the cold rain. Stelle stumbled backwards and Kafka got clear.

Topaz stepped forward and fired again, this time hitting Stelle in the chest. Stelle fell to her knees and Topaz took one final step, leveling her gun at the Mafia daughter's heart. “Sorry things turned out like this, kid.”

And then Topaz shot Stelle one last time and walked back to her car. Kafka watched the younger woman fall back, dark red blood mixing with the flowing water on the street. Stelle’s eyes were half closed when they met hers, their usual vibrant golden hue now a dark yellow as the light was leaving them. “Why do you… look so… sc…”

Stelle’s final words were cut short as her body went limp and all life left her.

“Are you coming?” Topaz called from the car. When Kafka didn't respond, Topaz sighed dramatically enough to be heard over the rain at a distance. “I'll send a car when you call for one.”

Following their project manager, all the other goons got into their cars and drove off into the rainy night.

.

.

.

.

Sparkle heard the gunshots before she made it to the mouth of the alleyway. Her arms and knees burned and bled from the falls she had taken running away from her guard, but she kept running until she burst out into the open. Kafka was standing there, and Stelle was lying in the street with her blood washing away down the gutter. Sparkle dove for Stelle, scraping her knees all over again on the wet asphalt as Kafka stared dumbly. 

“Hey, grey hair! Get up, we have to go!” Holding Stelle, she felt how warm she still was. There was a hole in her shoulder and two in her chest and yet she was still so warm that Sparkle could have lied to herself that Stelle was faking, that they were about to go home, maybe climb into a bath because they were so wet and cold. Then they would curl up together in warm pajamas and blankets to watch one of Stelle’s old movies, because Sparkle chose the restaurant, which wouldn’t have subtitles and Stelle would translate every line of dialogue with an exaggerated Italian accent, and would probably throw some fakes in there to fuck with her.

That’s what was going to happen. That was the plan for the night. “Anata… Stelle… please…”

Kafka just stood there in the rain, silent but for the sound of her breathing. Stelle’s lips were stained pink with the remnants of Kafka’s lipstick. Sparkle brought her forehead to Stelle’s, and when she came away she too had the same pink-stained lips. Kafka cleared her throat, and Sparkle saw it then. The traces of emotions not known to Kafka but written on every inch of her face.

“What are you scared of, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Scared?” The “spider woman” as Sparkle had called her what felt like ages ago now had a dawning light in her eyes. “Oh. That’s what this feeling is.”

It started as a chuckle, then a bark. Then Sparkle laughed despite herself. She laughed and she laughed and she laughed and laughed until her voice was hoarse and the tears were streaming down her face. She held Stelle’s cooling body close. 

“I was ready to give her to you. Wasn’t that enough? Her love, her adoration, all of that was yours to have freely. So why did you have to take her life? The one thing she had to give me, the one thing that was mine and mine alone.”

When Kafka didn’t speak, Sparkle couldn’t help but fall into another grief-stricken laughing fit. “I’m sorry.” Kafka finally said.

Through her laughter, Sparkle managed to get her handbag open and find what she was looking for. She pulled out her snub-nosed revolver, and Kafka quickly pulled her own guns on Sparkle. She laughed again. “Relax, this isn’t for you.”

Sparkle loaded a singular bullet into the cylinder. “I told her I’d follow her anywhere she went no matter what. As a mob wife it’s only right, after all.” And with that simple proclamation, before Kafka could do anything, Sparkle put the gun under her jaw. “I’ll tell her you said hello when I get to hell.”

She squeezed the trigger.

.

.

.

.

And Kafka was left alone with two dead bodies in the rain.

She stayed like that for god knows how long, watching as the blood from the dead women mixed with the rainwater, separate blood trails joining as one as they meandered their way into the gutter and towards the storm drains. Maybe that’s all hell was, the storm drains where your blood finally mingled with those you couldn’t have.

Maybe that was the thought that finally broke her. Kafka pulled out her phone, dialing Silver Wolf’s newest phone number without having much conscious thought at all.

“You’re going to catch a cold if you don’t find an umbrella or something.” a sardonic voice said without preamble. 

Of course Silver Wolf was watching somehow. She had once bragged to Kafka how even though she rarely stepped outside for anything other than moving safe houses, she’d been to more places in the world than Kafka, Blade, and Firefly combined. “Do you want me to tip someone off to come get their bodies?”

“Are you done making the exit plan file?”

“You mean the one that’s a threat that guarantees us our safety from the IPC after this job so they don’t treat us like loose ends to clean up? Yes I’m done making it, I was done making it like a week after we took this job. If anything, I’ve just been tweaking it as I find more and more dirt on them. At this point it’s more of a hydrogen bomb than it is an exit plan.” Silver Wolf’s dry, sarcastic tone faded as warriness crept in and took its place. “Why?”

“I just…” Kafka didn’t know why she was about to do this, but somehow it was the only path she could see out. She felt sick to her stomach, she was hyperventilating, and in all likelihood this new emotion of hers was sending her into shock. “Give it to her brother, tell him I'm sorry. She wasn't supposed to die, none of them were. They're all more useful to the IPC alive than they are dead, and yet…”

The pause on the other end of the line seemed to last forever, until finally, “Are you really sure you want to do this? It might fuck us all.”

When Kafka didn’t respond, Silver Wolf sighed.

“I’ll send it. Depending on what happens I might not talk to everyone for a while, I'll contact you when it's safe again.” The line went dead, and Kafka knew that whatever she had done couldn’t be walked back any longer.

.

.

.

.

The first thing Caelus had done when they pulled up was to swipe his credit card at the gas pump, the second was to pull the nozzle from its nest, and the third was to grab his lighter. Firefly appreciated that her childhood friend turned situationship’s first instinct was to improvise a flame thrower when out of better options. 

She hadn’t removed her helmet yet, as she didn’t want to make things any more awkward or uncomfortable than they were already going to be. Once they took Caelus in she’d ask for some private time with him, explain that, while yes she was in fact part of a group that came to covertly extract information from them, she hadn’t realized that he or Stelle had known what it was their parents did for a living. 

Regardless, the original plan was that she and her friends were going to ensure that nothing bad happened to either of them while they were in IPC custody. They’d be taken to safe houses far, far away from here once the whole destabilizing a crime empire business was finished.

If she played her cards right, she might even come out of this whole situation with her childhood friends having a positive opinion of her. As long as neither of them were harmed in the whole affair, she was reasonably sure she stood a chance.

“Why don't you put the gas hose back where it belongs, and I'll promise neither you nor your sister will be hurt.” Jade said after a moment.

“Ah man, you guys are after her too? What guarantees do I have that you'll keep your word?” Caelus was clearly eyeing all the IPC mooks and probably doing his own risk assessment. 

“I never break my word.” Jade looked at Firefly and smiled. “But if it makes you feel any better, I can have my team draft up a contract and my driver here will bring it over to you.”

Firefly silently nodded. Caelus looked back and forth between the two. He finally sighed, resignation clear in his voice. “Alright, send them over.”

It only took Jade a couple minutes to prepare everything on a tablet before she sent Firefly over with it. Firefly handed it to Caelus who quickly read through it. When he was done he handed it back to Firefly.

“I still have some concerns, such as what will be our accommodations, a guarantee for the safety of our parents…” he clearly thought about something and laughed. “And a nearby toilet for me, morning sickness is a bitch.”

“What??” The word slipped before Firefly could stop it, and Caelus's head whipped towards her.

“No fucking way.” His gaze pierced her helmet, made her feel naked, exposed, and unbelievably guilty. “Please tell me that's not you, Firefly.” 

Firefly stayed frozen as his fingers gently slipped under her helmet and pulled it from her head. Her hair cascaded down around her face in a way that would have been attractive if not for the fact that Caelus wore a look of betrayal as intense as her own look of guilt. She could barely get out her choked response “Sorry.”

“Don't be too hard on her.” Jade’s voice seeped in like a sweet poison in the rain. “The IPC owns her artificial heart, and we’re the only ones who can maintain it. No other company or back alley doctor, no matter how skilled, could manage it. That's how we designed it after all.”

Before Caelus could do or say anything else, his phone chimed. He looked at Jade. “Surely you won't have me shot for checking my texts, right?”

“By all means, feel free.”

Caelus pulled it out, eyes scanning the screen. He paused, as if he was unsure what he was looking at. Then Firefly watched the light in his golden eyes go dark, any tension or defiance in his body deflated. 

In one second he went from being ready to take on the entire world to looking dead inside. He typed something on his phone before he dropped it onto the wet concrete, and with barely a pause he stomped on it again and again and again. 

Firefly, the IPC goons, and even Jade were taken aback by the ferocity Caelus used to destroy the phone. Light had returned to his eyes, but it wasn't anything resembling life. It was just white hot fury and hatred. He was panting by the time he was finished and his voice came out a snarl. “My sister, my other half, the best parts of me, is fucking dead.”

Firefly's heart dropped into her stomach. No, it wasn't supposed to be like this. The two of them were supposed to be safe. They weren't supposed to get hurt. If anything happened to either of them, her world may as well end. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, she could only stare at Caelus's face, once identical to Stelle's, twisted by rage to the point where he was almost unrecognizable.

“That… wasn't supposed to happen.”  Jade finally said.

That withering gaze slowly turned towards Firefly. She had to say something, anything. “I just wanted to protect both of you.” She managed to choke out.

“You sure did a great fucking job.” Caelus had a humorless bark of laughter. “Honestly if I knew this was going to be the end result, I wouldn't have asked Nanook to pay for your treatment when we were kids.”

She looked into his eyes, and there was no love, no tenderness for Firefly in Caelus's gaze. Only all consuming hatred. “I wish you had fucking died in that hospital.”

One of the IPC goons’ phones dinged, then another, and another after that. Then Jade’s rang and it was a never ending torrent of notifications. Some of the goons looked and their faces suddenly filled with shock and horror. Jade looked at her own notifications and her face crystalized cold anger. “Should I assume you're responsible for this?”

“Is it about a streamer leaking all the IPC’s dirty secrets? I'm glad Guinaifen already put it to good use.” Caelus now wore a grin with zero mirth.

“She's associated with the jituans if memory serves.” Jade’s own gentle, calculating smile was gone. “Firefly, come here.”

“Enjoy your board meeting tomorrow.” Caelus taunted.

Not even bothering to respond, Jade turned towards the car as soon as Firefly was by her side. “Shoot him.” 

Firefly whipped around but the IPC forces had already opened fire. The bullets rocked Caelus, riddling his body full of holes, but as he fell he looked almost at peace. He was joining his other half.

“Firefly, please return me to Pier Point. I'll have to make preparations to speak to the board.” Firefly was numb. Everything was too much, and all she could do through shock was to open the car’s door for Jade. “If that pregnancy was due to your own involvement with him, I do sincerely apologize.”

Later, Firefly would realize she couldn't recall ever driving Jade back to Pier Point. She couldn't recall much of the following days either.

.

.

.

.

When Aventurine and his team finally managed to breach the grounds of Nanook and Akivili's mansion, they had already donned full gas masks due to the “metric fuck ton,” as he would put it, of tear gas deployed against them. Due to that, none of the team noticed the fact that the manor absolute reeked of kerosene fumes.

There was a loud clack of a flip phone being shut violently from what Aventurine surmised was a sitting room when he turned towards it to see Akivili and Nanook sitting in high backed chairs on either end of an unlit fireplace staring directly at him. “Just the two I was hoping to speak to.”

“If you're here, should we assume that the rest of our people are dead?” Nanook asked.

“You Annihilation Gang folks can sure put up a hell of a fight, especially that Celenova.” It was true, Aventurine had lost about seventy percent of his forces just getting to the mansion. “Those we could take alive we did, but that wasn't many of them.”

“That's a shame, I really admired her.” Akivili sighed, slouching over in their chair as they pulled out an old lighter to fiddle with.  

Nanook looked at them with a raised eyebrow. “You hated the way she did things.”

“That doesn't mean I didn't admire her determination.” Akivili responded simply. 

“Regardless of the tragic circumstances of our meeting, all I was hoping for was to talk to you about a real estate proposal.” Aventurine held up his hand, leaving his forces in the foyer as he entered the sitting room alone. “I do deeply regret it took all this to get to this point.”

Akivili looked at him incredulously. “You did all this… to build a mall on our turf?”

“Not a mall per se, but we do have quite a vested interest in the area.” Aventurine smiled, now standing before the two of them. “Assuming we can come to an agreement, all of this unsavory business can come to an end this instant.”

Akivili and Nanook looked at each other and sighed. Nanook turned their gaze to Aventurine, staring into his soul. “Tell me boy, do you have any children of your own?”

“Can't say that's my thing, no.”

“It was difficult for us to bring them into this world to begin with, and even then the pregnancy was riddled with complications.” Akivili looked like they would have put a hand on their spouse’s shoulder while Nanook told the story if they could reach them. “Near the end, the three of us barely held on.”

“I admire your perseverance.” Aventurine said honestly.

“Those two are our everything, our twin stars for whom we have built this entire empire to eventually gift to them.” Akivili said, turning their dull gaze to Aventurine as well.

Nanook took a deep breath in and out as if they were about to reveal the secrets of the world. “And now those stars have been extinguished at the hands of your corporation.”

Oh. Well fuck, that wasn't the plan at all. Aventurine wanted to say something to try and get the odds of the situation even slightly in his favor but Akivili spoke before he could.

“Now that our little stars have gone out, we might as well let this entire empire burn and hope the ashes choke everyone responsible to death.”

The two crime lords clasped hands across the fireplace. Akivili struck the flint wheel of the lighter and dropped it, the flame igniting the very air around it as it fell. It struck the ground, the fire spreading so fast Aventurine didn't even have time to process what was happening. When the flames found the collections of explosives Nanook had set around the house, the concussive force ripped through every last IPC member until no one was left to witness the mansion becoming a fireball climbing towards the heavens, a funeral pyre memorializing the twin stars Nanook and Akivili would have given everything for.

At last, the awful night came to an end.

.

.

.

.

The following weeks were consequences and fallout on all sides of the conflict. Thanks to Caelus’s choice to send all the dirt Silver Wolf had given him to a streamer affiliated with one of the Xianzhou jituans, the story had been spun that their family had been embroiled in a real estate scheme managed by an IPC affiliated company. 

Many people correctly inferred it was a shell corporation and that there was more involved than that, but the majority of people only knew the narrative the Xianzhou was selling. A couple of art dealers who had come from nothing and were heavily involved in philanthropy and giving back to their communities had died in a house fire and their children had been shot all on the same night, all because the IPC wanted the real estate of the community they supported. 

They had died as heroes and shining examples of how good people could be, not as the horrifying crime lords they actually were.

Silver Wolf paid the price for supplying that dirt, though. Despite being at one of her many safehouses, they lost contact within a few days and she was found having apparently committed suicide. 

The Loufu group, despite only being involved in the political and financial worlds, had their own ways of dealing with things. They had apparently lost patience with their former member Blade the night that the fiance of one of the young scions of the clan died. So Blade vanished, and Kafka couldn’t find any trace. 

IPC stock had fallen significantly, sinking 35% in a single week. Several subsidiary companies went out of business all at once, including some supermarkets that had pushed all local competition out of the space. Their shareholders tried to replace Diamond as CEO, but for whatever reason the push for that ended the next day. 

Due to Kafka and Firefly’s potential involvement with the whole situation, Kafka had expected them to need to go underground. Much to her surprise though, whether out of recognition for their contributions or in an effort to keep them on a leash, the two of them had been offered jobs with the company. 

Firefly was offered the position of being the Board of Directors’ personal driver, a job she was guaranteed to excel in. After a long deliberation, she agreed to the position when lifetime maintenance and support for her artificial heart was included in the benefits package. 

As for Kafka, after a long and grueling session of questioning as to why immediately prior to Silver Wolf giving Caelus a nuclear warhead of scandal material she had called the woman, she was offered the chance to be a head of one of their new departments focused on “market research”. It was really just more corporate espionage and Kafka knew it. 

She rejected the offer and went into hiding, not wanting to be included in any last minute loose end trimming that the IPC may have felt it needed to perform so they could focus on stock recovery. 

Kafka would eventually go on to write a tell-all autobiography about her experiences with the espionage, the charming mafia princess, and the personal tragedies of the characters in the halcyon days before the IPC had completely consumed the city. She lived in a little cottage in the forest where no one could ever bother her unless she wanted them to, and that’s where she spent the rest of her days. She knew fear, she had known and lost love, and now she was learning to make peace with her soul.

And that was really all she could do after everything. 

They had finished the job.

[guillotinesandroses]

Artistic Expression; Vil Schoenheit + Genderfluid Reader

He has always valued fairness above all else, in every sense of the word. You have always been a little more of a rough-and-tumble kind of person. Perhaps it is true, all that they say about opposites attracting. In spite of all your differences and occasional arguments, you find yourselves back by each other's side before long. Together you are completed, simple as that. 

His brows furrow as he scoffs, adjusting your uniform once again. You roll your eyes as his hands work near your chest. To anyone else, the pining glances and softness between your glares would have been obvious. Even so, you continue the same way as always. He comments on your rough appearance, a disapproving frown on his face. 

A harsh retort falls from your lips, calling him out on barely being alive. Over time, these jabs have grown crueler and crueler. Still you stumble back together, whether by fate or loneliness. Now as you stand in the rain, a particularly bad fight from yesterday lingering in your mind, you wonder why you bothered to go to NRC to begin with. It is a prestigious school, but since your friendship with Vil is already so strained, you cannot help from wondering whether it was such a good idea after all. Being stuck on the past lights a flare of irritation within you; forgetting should be easier. 

A choked sob snaps you out of your thoughts. You blink, having thought you were alone. Much to your shock, you find Vil sitting in the mud with dirtied clothes.  

"What are you doing here?" 

"None of your concern, potato." He wipes his eyes, but it is not as if you could have discerned tears from the raindrops anyway. His makeup remains smeared nonetheless. "I was meant to search for potion ingredients before the rainstorm, then I fell. Not as if you could understand why I'm in such disarray." 

"I guess that's true." For a while you stand in silence as he collects himself. Wondering how you could distract him from this, you smirk. "Hey, I got an idea. How about we have a good old mud-fight, like we used to?" 

His nose scrunches in repulsion. "Have you lost your mind?! There's no world in which I'd partake in such nonsense!" 

"Your makeup and clothes are already ruined, aren't they?" You chuckle, offering your hand to him. "C'mon, be alive with me for today, won't you?" 

He stands muddied in the pouring rain. His purple, painted lips hang open in utter bewilderment. No words fall out as he gapes like a fish out of water before he finally sighs. Expensive robes shift as his shoulders relax. Your brows raise in surprise and excitement as his manicured hand reached toward yours. 

You pull him in, then immediately slather mud over his cheek. He seethes as you dart backwards with a cheeky grin. Thus begins a familiar back and forth of hiding and striking. Eventually, he gets the better of you and puts a stop to the game. Vil pins you to the dirt, gold and violet, wet locks of hair framing your face.

Your breath catches in your throat, he looks like a masterpiece as usual. Face heating up, you avert your gaze. He picks up on your mental absence. "What is it, potato? Had your fun already?" 

His breathing is the one to pause as you brush a strand of his muddied blonde hair out of his face. Absolutely enamored by his presence, you realize you have not looked at him like this in a while. "You really do work yourself to the bone. I've been... worried. As of late it seems like it's gotten a lot worse." 

"I don't want you to lose yourself because you feel like you aren't doing enough. I know the standards you hold yourself to. Though I... admire it, I can tell you're tired, mentally." 

"Your worrying may be sweet, though it is unnecessary. I can take care of myself, thank you very much." 

"I know. I just... miss this. I miss moments where everything didn't need to be picture perfect." 

He falls silent for a while. You get up when he indicates he is going to stand. About to turn away, you are suddenly tugged back. 

"I'm not letting you slip away this time." He grabs your wrist with a so firm it surprises the both of you, acrylics unintentionally digging into the skin. He offers no apology aside from an ashamed look cast to the side before locking eyes with yours again. "I entertained your immature desires for once. You will partake in what I wish to do now." 

You sigh, but agree to his demand. For the most part the both of you remain awkwardly silent as he washes your hair and cleans your face. The bath was relaxing, but your eyes avoid each mirror. You enjoy being around him, but cannot stand seeing yourself next to him. Only when he sits you down to remove your face mask does he talk again. 

"It isn't only due to keeping up appearances that I enjoy taking care of my own. I find it enjoyable and relaxing." 

"Each to their own," you mutter.

"Perhaps in terms of makeup, but it shouldn't be with self-care." 

"What do you mean? I do take care of myself." 

"Barely." He scoffs. "You always assume no one could see you as beautiful. That's why you let yourself rot, and you refuse any help. It's infuriating to watch such potential go to waste, you foolish thing." 

"Compared to you, what am I?" You huff. He pauses as you continue. 

"You're an actor, a model, a celebrity. You have been long before we reached adulthood. All these years I've watched you become more and more."

Taking in a breath, your chest weighs heavy as your frown deepens. "I know I should be happy... inspired, but nothing I try ever works or sticks. I can't become anything... so at least I can be happy and take it easy." 

"That sort of perspective is precisely why you stay stuck in place." He grabs you by the chin, squishing your cheeks. "You claim to be happy? Oh please, you may be free but 'happy' is not a word I would describe you with." 

You blink before he forces you to face the mirror you have avoided. "Look at yourself. All I did was clean out your hair and moisturize your face." 

You barely recognize yourself, reflection glowing with beauty. Eventually you chuckle, which turns into a short laugh, "...we should have had this conversation a while ago." 

"I must agree. Though I take it this means we understand one another better now?" 

"It does. Thank you for inviting me. I'm sorry for yesterday... and everything before that." 

"Likewise. I will be more considerate of your feelings in the future as well." 

"Pinky promise?" You hold out your finger with a goofy grin. 

He sighs, but the exasperated smile reveals his true thoughts. He connects your fingers, speaking in a soft tone. "Pinky promise." 

[sevinagreatergood]

Okay, I've realized a few things thanks to a different post. Harry would have many enemies if he grew up in Snape's era.

Let's say harry is still the kid he is now but not with James and Lily as his parents. He simply is that boy who lived, with different looks (but still handsome as he would be), and talented.

Marauders, lily and many others would be angry at his presence. Let's go with James:

James: Harry is a good quidditch star. Probably better than his father since harry had that natural talent within him. He never saw or played it before yet could instantly find something akin to a snitch in one go. Broke first year ruke and actually did bring home a cup because James was injured so harry and to replace him in a game.

Sirius: Harry would be popular with the ladies which Black would appreciate. But since Harry hates bullying, it would most often paint James and Sirius as the bad guys and have dark rumours about them going around in the school. Which automatically lifts Harry up the popularity list while marauders eat the dust basically. And we all know how Sirius gets when his precious James is being hated.

Remus: Remus would be shamed over and over again by Harry's natural good personality, although reckless, but good overall. He would be ridiculed for not putting an end to the marauders earlier. "Why did a new kid have to do that?" He obviously wouldn't be ridiculed by Harry, but his conscious.

Peter: He'd try to swiftly leave his own group to join Harry's side but it quickly shows that Harry isn't much of a "prankster" kind of person. Especially when it's pulled on kids that weren't on friendly terms with them or are used as the butt of a joke one times too often. Peter would be fed up rather quick, or he would have a change of heart.

Lily: she'd try to be nice and all but her words would rub harry wrong real quickly. With him being the explosive kind. Her words that always sound smart yet somehow stupid at the same time would annoy the hell out him. "What do you mean, give Potter another chance?" She would try to bring peace in her Gryffindor house because, at this point two groups exist. A small Marauders group, and a big Harry group. And she who loves James, is secretly in the marauders group but tries to play it off as neutral (sounds like Ive heard that somewhere, oh yeah. Her being a bitch to Snape.) and he would be done with her. I even think as payback, he would break even more rules.

Dumbledore who adores a rule breaker like Harry who at least contributes something useful unlike the marauders and their stunts, is Harry's rewards. Imagine the marauders and Lily simply eating their own intestines full of hatred or worry.

Every house would be upset. Because only harry seems to have that privilege. Any other student who is even caught outside curfew, is risking their house. Marauders even would try to call harry names like they did with Snape, but nothing would work against harry his immense popularity. Harry also has his cloak and map to get his stuff done.

Snape would be grateful now that marauders aren't pranking him, like many other unfortunate kids, but him the most. He wasn't too busy with competing like lily, and marauders. He wasn't busy trying to fit in like gryffindors and Slytherins. He was always in his own world. Pretty much like a few ravenclaws were.

Only difference between him and a ravenclaw is that his peace was disturbed often by marauders. Maybe, thanks to Harry his interference, he wouldn't have joined DE. He'd definitely remember Harry in a good way in his adult years.

[po1sonous-l0ve]

Grayson Hawthorne x diabetic reader that’s Gigi’s bff and she tries to set the two of them up, by having them to her house at the same time, but readers blood sugar gets too low while she’s there

I am soooo sorryyyyy this took so longgg i say this every time but i genuinely forgot tumblr existed anyways

Gigi's house was wayy bigger than you expected. Wayyy bigger.

You two had met at a random escape room two years ago, getting paired up with each othr, seeing as you were the only two people to come alone. Since then, you two had been firm friends.

Now, as she led you up the stairs to her house mansion, you tried not to gawk as she chatted your ear off.

"So, Savannah has a basketball game tonight so she won't be here until later because she's also going out with the team, meaning we'll basically have the house to ourselves because mom is also out except for-"

"Except?"

Gigi grinned and opened the door to the living room to reveal Grayson sitting calmly on a chair in the corner, scrolling through his phone. "He won't bother us," she winked.

You had met him a couple of times before; once over the phone whilst Gigi was bawling her eyes out over some show or another, and another time when he visited your favourite coffee shop, ordering a black coffee with unnecessarily intense eye contact. You had felt bad for the cashier. Someone get that man brown contacts.

This was the first time you were alone-ish with him.

Grayson looked up from his phone and gave a polite nod. “Hey.”

You offered a small wave, suddenly very aware of your posture, your face, your hair and the fact that you were incredibly dizzy.

“I told you she wouldn’t mind,” Gigi said to Grayson, not-so-subtly glancing between the two of you. “She loves movies. And popcorn. And Midsommar, which I happen to have queued up already.”

You blinked. “We’re watching Midsommar? As in the horror movie?”

Gigi nodded, utterly smug. "Peak of movies. Other than White Chicks and Funny Games."

"Those are... two very different genres competing for top spot."

Grayson leaned in and whispered, "She likes art house horror. Just go with it."

You shrugged. "I'm down to watch anything, to be honest."

And with that, she disappeared, leaving you in a sunken leather armchair opposite Grayson, who still hadn’t said anything.

You shifted slightly. “So. Movie night, huh?”

You blinked at him, mentally jolting awake. “What?”

He gave a soft smile. "She drags me along to one once a week. Says it's exposure therapy."

"Exposure to what?"

He shook his head. "Not a clue."

There was a small silence, and you bit your lip awkwardly. Eventually, Grayson spoke up.

"Are you alright?"

“You look a little pale.”

You furrowed your brow, suddenly aware of the faint tingling in your fingers. You glanced at your smartwatch.

52 mg/dL.

Oh.

You hadn’t eaten anything since lunch and the walk here had been longer than expected. Crap. You reached instinctively for your bag; gone. Still at the front door. With your emergency snacks.

“I—uh. Actually.” You tried to stand but wobbled slightly. “I need—”

Grayson was up in an instant.

“What do you need?” His voice had changed into quiet urgency.

“My blood sugar’s low,” you admitted. “I left my stuff by the door. I just need like a juice or something. I’ll be okay.”

“Sit,” he said gently, already moving.

He returned in under thirty seconds, somehow having acquired not only your bag but also a mini orange juice box from the kitchen. He handed it to you without a word.

You drank slowly. Grayson crouched next to the chair, his hand lightly brushing your knee.

“You feeling any better?”

“Give it a few minutes,” you said quietly. “It hits fast, but recovery takes a sec.”

He nodded, eyes scanning your face. “You didn’t say anything.”

“I didn’t want to make it a thing.”

“It is a thing,” he said softly. "Wellbeing isn't a burden. I learned that the hard way."

You nodded and gave him a grateful smile. "Well... thank you."

He shrugged. "Not a problem. The real challenge comes when watching a movie with Gigi."

You groaned. "God, yes. She doesn't shut up! Like, babes, just watch the movie, I beg."

Grayson chuckled before squeezing your knee gently. "You alright now?"

You ddidn't get the chance to respond due to Gigi bursting back into the room with armfuls of stuffed animals and popcorn. She raised her eyebrows at the scene. "I feel like I'm interrupting."

Grayson stood up quickly. "No, I was just making sure she was alright after a crash."

Gigi nodded sceptically, sitting down cross-legged on the floor. "Sure. Sweet, salty or toffee?" She asked, offering a bag of popcorn.

"Do you have caramel?" He said dryly, taking a salty bag.

You wrinkled you nose. "That's awful."

Grayson shrugged, and Gigi rolled her eyes, quietly leaning in close to you. "I think you should come to our house more often," she whispered, a grin plastered on her face.

You had to agree.