#‘You and me we’re like the sailor’ yeah. I got that

[upsidedownwithsteve]

If you’re still in the mood, could you write something for my camp!Steve fav boyfriend? I love him so much🧡🥹

18+

“I can’t believe you managed to lose an oar.”

Steve huffed, squinting at you in the sunlight from his seat across from you. The small rowboat was almost floating in circles now as the second oar disappeared downstream.

“You say that as if it was my fault,” Steve grunted, trying his best to steer the boat in the direction of the camp, with no real success.

You snorted, poking a toe into the boy’s stomach, your shoes abandoned in favour of lying back on the bench under the sun, your dress hiked up high on your thighs to feel the warmth. “It was,” you laughed, squealing when Steve grabbed your foot and squeezed.

“Just as well it’s our day off,” Steve mused. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glare on the water, craning his neck to see the lump in the distance that was Camp Upside Down. “I don’t think we’re getting back anytime soon. The current isn’t on our side.”

You sighed, too dramatically for you boyfriend to think you were actually annoyed. You sat up, stretching before leaning back against the wooden sides. “What a shame,” you pouted, pushing your sunglasses - Steve’s sunglasses - onto your head. “However shall we waste our time?”

Steve didn’t get a chance to ask what you had in mind before you were bringing one foot up to prop against his knee. The skirt of your summer dress falling to the tops of your thighs, smooth skin exposed under his gaze. His brows shot up, his hand slipping on the remaining oar before he swore, grappling before it slipping into the water too.

“Easy, sailor,” you laughed, grinning at his excitement. His cheeks were pink, rosier than before when only the sun affected them. “You okay there?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve waved away your concerns, his free hand slipping over your calf, bringing your foot to lean higher on his thigh, your legs falling open further. “I’m fine, keep going, baby, don’t let me stop you.”

You snorted, all affection but you continued like you’d planned, fingertips trailing over your own legs to bring your dress up higher, spread thighs showing off the bikini briefs you hadn’t gotten to get wet yet. A forest green colour, tied at the sides of your hips and so, so easy to make fall apart. You fingered the ribbons, teasing, eyes on Steve’s as his lips fell open at the mere suggestion of you baring yourself to him so publicly.

“Babe, you’re gonna fucking kill me.”

“Boo,” you pouted, brows drawn together. “Here I was, just getting used to having you around.”

Steve scoffed, a choked laugh that trailed into a groan because you were sliding two fingers across your covered cunt. “Normally I’d have something smart to say to that,” Steve breathed, “but there’s like, no blood in my brain right now.”

Grinning, you let your foot trail to his crotch, pushing a little at his hard cock through his sport shorts. You played dumb, head cocked to the side as you leaned back onto your elbow. “I wonder where it’s went to?”

“Princess—” Steve warned.

“Harrington,” you bit back.

“C’mon,” he pleaded. His hands were back on your leg, rough and warm and wrapping around your calf until his fingers were trailing upupup and tracing the edge of your bikini briefs. “Gonna lemme see?”

You pulled at one side of the strings, the material falling loose and exposing one hip. Steve swallowed audibly. It would be too easy to pull the green fabric to the side, to let him see how wry you were, how much you loved the idea of him getting to see you like this out in the open. How much you got off on putting on a show for him.

How much you loved to win.

“Say please, pretty boy,” you asked him prettily, your voice all soft and saccharine.

Steve glared at you, knowing this game, knowing you always won. He swore when you pulled your dress higher, a small hand running down the soft pudge of your navel until your fingers dipped into the briefs, toying with your folds. You moaned, eyes fluttering, tongue on show as you brought the same fingers to your lips.

You made a show of licking your digits, sucking one into your mouth as you met his gaze, acting coy, feeling triumphant.

“Please, princess,” Steve rasped out, his cock pressed hard to his shorts, twitching for your attention. “Please?”

[loveinhawkins]

i’ve recently become aware of this starcourt mall commercial & i’m dying at the thought of Eddie seeing it, bored out of his mind, until Steve appears on screen with that stupid sailor’s hat and the world’s most awkward, “Ahoy!”, and, oh, Eddie’s grin is evil.

“Why did you tape over Dallas?” Wayne asks that night.

“Wayne,” Eddie says solemnly, “I needed to record the best moment of my life.”

Of course, Steve finds the tape later, because the universe likes to laugh at Eddie, apparently.

Spring Break of ‘86 is a few weeks away—thanks to one distracted moment, Eddie unknowingly puts the wrong tape in the case before returning a rental to Family Video, then speeding off to band practice.

Steve doesn’t notice the mixup until a few hours later, when he routinely opens the VHS cases to check that the tapes have been rewound. When he sees the tape devoid of any movie sticker, he can’t resist watching it; his shift is dragging by.

He gets 20 minutes into Dallas before it cuts off, and the commercial plays.

His jaw drops, and he groans in embarrassment, but he’s laughing when he calls for Robin in the back room, and then they’re watching it together, cracking up. They both remember filming it, remember looking at each other and swearing to never speak of it again, but they’d never actually seen it, and well… it is pretty funny.

Steve gets an evil grin of his own when he sees that the rental account is in Eddie’s name.

When he calls, he gets Mr. Munson on the phone, and because Steve can also be a meddling little shit when the conditions are right, he makes up some story about the store having new forms, that he just needs Eddie to sign one quickly.

The next day, Eddie strolls in, and Steve looks him right in the eye.

“Ahoy, Munson,” he says, deadpan.

Eddie freezes in place. He briefly considers turning around and walking into traffic.

“Harrington,” he says stiffly.

“Hey, man,” Steve says, relentlessly chipper, “so we’re kinda down on one copy of—” He glances over to the computer. “—Life of Brian, and up one copy of, uh…” He lifts Eddie’s tape off the counter, smirks. “I guess, half of Dallas.”

Eddie stalks over. “It was… for school,” he blurts out unconvincingly. “Recording Hawkins history. Nothing personal, King Steve.”

Steve lets the venom in the nickname bounce off him. “Starcourt was pretty, uh, historic,” he says mildly, fighting another smirk.

“Whatever,” Eddie snaps, losing what little patience he has left—despite all of his performances to the contrary, the thought of people laughing at him still makes his skin crawl. “Let me get out of your massive hair, Harrington, and I’ll bring your fucking video back.”

Steve raises one hand, palm out. “Woah, chill,” he says, and as Eddie’s nostrils flare, he feels a little twinge of guilt; he didn’t actually mean for all of this to come across as mean-spirited or anything. “Sorry, man. I’m not trying to be a dick, I swear.”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “Could’ve fooled me.” But he looks a little calmer, raises an eyebrow. Well?

“Here,” Steve says, handing over the tape, and he doesn’t react when Eddie snatches it back. “Oh, and I extended the rental on your movie.” He shrugs. “Saves you a double trip, y’know?”

“Thanks,” Eddie says, after a pause.

“No biggie.” And when Eddie makes to leave, Steve calls, “Hey, Munson?”

Eddie turns at the door, no longer quite as cagey. “What?”

Steve shrugs again. “Thanks for the mixup, I guess?”

“You’re kidding,” Eddie says flatly.

“No, I mean it, dude. Like, once I got over the, well, embarrassment of, um, everything, it was actually kinda… nice to see it.” He nods to Robin in one of the aisles, guiding a customer over to a movie. “Me and Robin, we—it was nice to have something about Starcourt that we could laugh at.”

Eddie considers him. “Were you in the fire?”

Steve smiles, and if Eddie didn’t know any better, he’d say there’s more than straightforward sadness on his face. “Yeah, got caught up in it.”

Eddie slowly, thoughtfully, opens the door but doesn’t leave, leans against it. He looks Steve up and down. “Damn shame you don’t have a hat in your get-up here, Harrington.”

Steve mock scowls, ruffles his hair. “I’m not suffering through that again.”

Eddie finds himself smiling without meaning to. “You poor thing. I guess once is enough.”

And Steve rolls his eyes this time. “Yeah, yeah, once. You’ve goddamn immortalised it, Munson.”

Eddie snorts. “Oh, but I had to,” he says, tucking the tape under his arm, “for posterity. In a hundred years, there’ll be sonnets written about your sailor outfit, Steve Harrington.”

And, whoops, that wasn’t planned, Eddie thinks. Laying it on a bit thick there.

Steve laughs, but not at him; Eddie can tell now. “Go enjoy your Saturday, Munson.”

Eddie gives a lazy salute. “Ahoy.”

And as Eddie leaves, he spots a note on the counter, next to the usual Be kind, rewind reminders. It’s handwritten, with a cartoony winking face: And check what’s inside!

[powerfulblob]

puts on my clown hat

behold, as requested: The Trans Franky Essay. Like most of this is still jot notes and I wrote this when half-asleep so like. I don’t know

Please don’t shoot me.

Section 0: Most importantly...

Due to the Somerton stuff, I really am trying my best not to plagarize.

Unlike TikTok user @theyboss._.franky, I’m not planning to talk about if he’s trans based on physical features, personality, etc.

I’m here to talk about the narrative in particular, and allegory.

also kudos to @punkitt-is-here

[ID: A screenshot of an X post by @punkittdev that reads “this is also partially why i am a franky one piece trans man truther” It features Franky, a cyborg with a shirt that reads “I HRT”.with a sun between the words “I” and “HRT” Franky is a tall man with tan skin and blue hair, and has part of his arms replaced with blue metal with a star at the end. end ID]

Section 1: Cyborgs are inherently trans

I’m literally just going to link The transgender cyborg: an inexhaustive primer because the article does a much better job than I can, but to summarize:

Trans people are not only cyborg-adjacent because of the transphobes who call us that, but primarily because we are used in the same way cyborgs are in text: As a talking point, a disruptive metaphor about humanity as a whole.

That brings us onto the next place...

Section 2: Cyborgs are extra trans in this case.

The reason why I latched onto this in the first place is this character’s backstory.

Franky, who eventually becomes the Straw Hat’s shipwright, starts as a joke character in the Water Seven Arc.

He’s a 40-ish year old man who runs around in a speedo and shoots lasers at people, making a living off of dismantling ships.

However, as more information is revealed, the story starts to humanize and give him a backstory.

quotes from Chapter 358:

“My body got wrecked and parts of it weren’t working anymore... So I transformed myself using scrap metal. It’s how I survived!” 

“Waste wood, scrap iron... I fit right in. First I’ve got to... ... Do something about this useless body of mine!” 

What do these have in common? Retrofitting the self, and rebuilding the body. I think there’s something trans there but IDK

Deadnames (partially joking here): As said by another character “Cutty Flam of Tom’s Workers is dead. As long as you don’t use that name... ... There’s nothing connecting us”  (for context, Franky was changing his name to evade government capture, but shhh let’s just pretend we’re talking about deadnames)

Actual Section 2: The Boats are trans now

speaking of the self as a construct...

I think it would be giving Oda too much credit for doing this on purpose.

But, he also accidentally created one of the best analogies I’ve ever heard for gender identity and against gender essentialism:

And of course, it has to be boats.

chapter 353: “Franky, there’s no such thing as blueprints for a pirate ship!! If the sailors who board that ship run up a skull-and-crossbones, then it’s a pirate ship. If they fly a seagull flag, it’s a navy ship. Build whatever you want to build, Franky.”

Like again: It’s the idea that there’s no instructions for a person, it’s what you decide to create out of oneself?

Alright. So, in terms of most manga, he actually does a rather good job. One Piece is primarily a series about misfits and outcasts: The series is goofy and over-the-top as a rule. So, one could argue the extreme way in which he portrays trans people up until the Wano arc is just a part of the series.

yeah idk

[elderwisp]

◁ || ▷ now playing

[ knocks ]

Icarus: Come in. Hey, how are you?

Frances: Good, you?

Icarus: Good…

Frances: Cool. Uhm, I-

Icarus: [ overlapping ] Something happen?

Frances: I need to put in my notice.

Icarus: Ah! Of course.

Frances: It’s not because of the other night, I swear, between the commute and two jobs, I need to finish strong. 

Icarus: Frances, I understand.

Frances: I- Nice. Thank you, for everything.

Icarus: Mhm.

Frances: I’ll, uh, get going now. Yeah.

Winona: ICARUS! I’ve got a bone to pick with you!

Icarus: Christ- Pull the door! P-Pull!

Winona: Right- Oh! Frances. Suuuuup.

Icarus: [ clears throat ] H-How was school?

Winona: Terrible. I had to break up with my girlfriend because of you.

Icarus: Winona-

Frances: Wait why?

Winona: He bought us a ranch in the butt-fuck nowhere.

Icarus: Winona!

Winona: Ok no! You literally have the mouth of a sailor, don’t even!

Frances: He does?

Icarus: Surprise.

Winona: Anyways get this, we’re moving to Chestnut Ridge. I have to start over, what if I get cyberbullied? 

Icarus: You are not going to get cyberbullied.

Winona: You don’t know that!

Frances: If anything, you’re gonna be the bully.

Icarus: So true.

Winona: WHAT- I feel so attacked right now.

Icarus: I’m glad you know what it’s like.

Winona: I’m- Y’all suck, I’m leaving.

Icarus: Bye.

Winona: If you find a note on my bed, don’t even look for me. Already halfway to the city.

Icarus: Got it.

Frances: So… The Ridge.

Icarus: About that. I didn’t want to stress you out.

Frances: The fact that you’re worried about that. I don’t stress out that much, do I?

Icarus: Oh quite a bit. It’s wild, I thought I’d seen bad but you excel in proving me wrong.

Frances: Wow!

Icarus: Am I giving you a hard time now? My bad.

Frances: [ giggles ]

Icarus: You know, we really gotta stop sneaking around.

Frances: Pfft. You can always ask me on a date when I come back. Sorry that was sort of depressing… A-And weird. Very.

Icarus: We could always do that. 

Frances: Y-Yeah. I should go now. For realsies this time.

Icarus: Want me to walk you out?

Frances: Mhm.

[in-my-feels-probably]

I can’t remember fr 😭 but here’s maybe another idea? Carmenxreader where the reader works as a chef at the restaurant as well and one day when they’re specially stressed out carmy blows up on her face (kinda like how he does to Sydney on ep 7) and she straight up walks out as well, the difference here is that they live together and obviously they can’t exactly ignore each other at home OR as an alternative, he blows up in her face and she has that kinda silent anger that’s even scarier than when someone has a screaming match with you, so when she simply turns around and goes back to work, Carmy is afraid for his life because he can practically see the anger radiating off of her, either one is fine! And ending is up to you! (But make is happy pls because I am a baby and will cry at too much angst :’)) thank you!!

Crash and Burn

Request: Carmenxreader where the reader works as a chef at the restaurant as well and one day when they’re specially stressed out carmy blows up on her face (kinda like how he does to Sydney on ep 7) and she straight up walks out as well, the difference here is that they live together and obviously they can’t exactly ignore each other at home OR as an alternative, he blows up in her face and she has that kinda silent anger that’s even scarier than when someone has a screaming match with you, so when she simply turns around and goes back to work, Carmy is afraid for his life because he can practically see the anger radiating off of her, either one is fine!

Hi! I’m so sorry for the long wait, I’ve been so busy but I’ve got some time now. I’m still getting the hang of writing for Carmy, so bear with me if it’s a little bit rusty. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it!

(Warnings: swearing, shouting, slight angst, let me know if i missed anything)

—

Today was not your day. It wasn’t anyone’s day at the Beef’s, to be more specific. 

And to make it worse, you were prepping for a catering event Carmy couldn’t say no to. You needed the cash, and so it had to be done. But—of course—everything had to go wrong, one shitty situation after the other. 

First, the meat delivery man dropped off fifty pounds of the wrong kind of meat, which immediately put Carmy in a bad mood. Then, he accidentally scorched the bottom of a pan after he forgot to check it while he was whisked away doing other things, and he had to start his stock sauce over completely. Unfortunately for you, it was a new recipe, and he was the only one who knew how to make it. It set him back at least an hour, and now you were rushing to pick up the slack of his duties on top of yours while he continued his.

It seemed as if everyone was having a bad day. Marcus couldn’t get the consistency of his cake batter right. Richie left his cigarettes at home and was forced to work through his smoke break, loudly griping about it to you while he chopped vegetables. Tina was late to work because of an appointment she had to take her son to, and she refused to cancel it and make another. Not that you blamed her.

You could overhear the phone call she had with Carmy letting him know she was stuck on the L train. When he asked why she couldn’t have just rescheduled, her scolding could be heard even from outside his office door. 

“It took me three fucking weeks just to even get the place to answer the phone without putting me on hold, I’m not about to wait another month!”

Carmy sighed, wiping a hand down his face. “We’re really busy today, Tina, if you could just please hurry—”

“Yeah, I’ll tell the conductor to step on it. Give me a minute, kid, I’ll be there soon.”

She arrived shortly after her phone call, making herself scarce when she saw Carmy hunched over a pot, muttering fragmented sentences to himself that would make a sailor blush. You quickly hurried her over, telling her to grab a knife and help you chop. 

The icing on the fucking cake—metaphorical of course, since Marcus had yet to actually bake any cake—was the client calling Carmy in the middle of the lunch rush and demanding the event’s catering be pushed up half a day, or else they would cancel entirely and expect a refund. A refund you didn’t have, as you had already spent the moneyt, so you had no choice but to oblige them. Meaning that instead of the extra time in the morning everyone had to prep, they’d instead have to finish that evening. And as if that couldn’t get any worse, Richie was going to have to leave halfway through the dinner shift to go pick up his daughter, which was unmissable. 

It would be you, Carmy, Tina, Marcus, and Sydney after the restaurant closed, working overtime and scrambling until you finished. 

Although, it was hard to ponder the next few hours when you were up to your neck in to-go orders, wrapping up sandwich after sandwich that Richie was making and sending your way in between taking orders at the counter. In fact, everyone was up to their necks in duties, frantically working and bustling around the kitchen. 

“Sydney, I’ll sign the lease to my apartment over to you and my savings account for rent if you take that meat cleaver and hit me over the head with it. If I don’t die, at least I’ll get sent to the hospital and be able to get the fuck out of here,” you groaned, wrapping yet another sandwich and sliding it back to Richie at the counter. 

Carmy tsked, not looking up from the now four separate pots on the stove he was managing. “Considering I live there, too, I think you’re gonna have to tough this one out for me.”

“For fucks sake,” you whined, heading into the front of house to grab more wrappers. 

Richie patted your shoulder on your way back into the kitchen, chuckling when you glared up at him. In a rare moment of peace when there was a gap in customers, he headed back into the kitchen to help you with the online orders. 

“Hang in there, kid,” he said, reaching into his back pocket before he groaned. “Shit, do you have any smokes?” 

“Nope,” you replied, immediately souring his relatively calm mood. 

“Fuck!”

He then took to angrily assembling and wrapping orders, shooing you away from the to-go station. Not that you were complaining, you could practically feel the anger radiating off him as he worked. 

You chose to help Carmy, who looked like he was about ten seconds from a mental breakdown. You rested a hand on his back as you approached him, gently rubbing up and down. 

“Where do you need me, love? Can I help?”

He sighed in frustration, shaking his head. “Nah, I’ve got this. Can you help Tina in the walk-in? She’s been in there a while.”

“Yup,” you smiled, hooking an arm around his middle giving him a quick hug, before heading into the back where the freezer was. 

When you opened the door, Tina was standing on her tippy toes, trying to put a big container of sauce on the top shelf. You furrowed your brows in confusion, wondering why she hadn’t asked someone a bit taller, like Marcus, to help her lift it up. She’d been gone from her station for what was probably twenty minutes now, and it was hard to imagine her standing like that instead of simply asking for help. 

You let the door close behind you, stepping in to help. “Tina, what are you doing?”

“I’ve got it, it’s fine. I’ll be right out,” she replied, taking a step up onto the bottom rank of the shelf. 

“Tina—” you gasped, eyes widening. 

She quickly turned towards you, one hand clinging to the shelf, the other supporting the container. “Y/N—”

Suddenly, her foot slipped down off the shelf, and she lost stability. The container came crashing down, splashing sauce all over the floor and across your shoes and the bottom of your pants. You quickly jumped over the puddle, offering your hands for Tina to take. 

“Come on, then. Get down, I’ll get us a few rags and we can clean this up,” you said, taking her hands in yours as you helped her step down. “We only lost the top bit, I think the rest of this is salvageable. I’ll ask Marcus to put this up on the shelf once we get it cleaned up in here.”

“Damn it,” she muttered, slipping her shoes off at the door so she didn’t track sauce all over the kitchen. 

You did the same, opening the door for her. “It’s alright, I’ve done this at least twice since I started working here. Sydney, too. It’s not our fault these shelves are so fucking high.”

Tina managed a chuckle, grabbing the mop bucket. “What a shitty day.”

“Agreed,” you replied, heading over to where you kept the clean towels and rags stocked.

You passed by Carmy on the way, who raised a brow at your disheveled appearance. “Drop something?”

“Not me, just in the splash zone. Don’t worry, I’ll get it cleaned up.” 

He was slicing meat now, and he frustratedly paused, setting his knife down. “Which sauce?”

“Uh, the garlic aioli, I think. I’m not sure, they’re all the same color, but it currently reeks of garlic in the walk-in, so I think my guess is pretty accurate.”

“Shit,” he sighed, picking the knife back up. “Could you be more careful, please?”

You raised a brow. “Well, I wasn’t the one who dropped it, but—”

“Yeah, yeah, just be fucking careful, alright? I don’t think we’ll survive any more shit today, we’re barely gonna make it as is.”

You flinched back at his sharp tone and raised volume, trying not to look too affected by his words. Suddenly, Richie called over his shoulder, scolding Carmy. 

“Cousin! Be fucking nice, leave her alone. Don’t be a dick, it was an accident.”

Carmy’s face fell as he watched your falter, and he cleared his throat, sniffing. “I’m sorry, I know it’s not your fault. There’s just too much shit to deal with today.”

You nodded and went to grab the towels, circling back by him as you walked past. You spoke carefully, not wanting to make him feel any worse than he already did. You knew he was under a lot of stress and didn’t mean to snap at you, but you’d much rather avoid any further potential snapping if you could, letting him be. 

“Take a breath, Carm. We’re gonna be fine, we still have all evening.” 

He nodded, mustering up a small smile. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, really,” you said, rubbing his shoulder as you walked back into the walk-in. 

Sighing, you got down on your hands and knees and started wiping up the mess. Tina stuck to the higher bits of the shelf that the sauce splashed onto. It took about ten minutes, but you finally managed to get everything up. You wiped the bottom of your shoes last, and then all the sauce was gone. Tina ran a mop through the freezer one last time, and you were finished after you got rid of the dirty rags. 

You joined Sydney at her station, tying a new apron around your waist. 

“Shitty day?” She asked, reaching for a sharper knife. “Twenty bucks on it getting even shittier.”

You huffed out a laugh. “I’d lose that bet. I guarantee we’re all gonna want to quit by tomorrow morning.”

“Fantastic,” she said, plastering a fake exaggerated smile on her face.

—

The rest of the dinner shift was—as predicted—miserable. Richie practically danced as he clocked out, saluting everyone before running out the back door to his car. Thankfully, he closed the front of the restaurant before leaving, which saved you all an extra half hour.

Everything settled down a bit once you all were steadily working in the back, but you were still rushing to make your new deadline. Everyone stuck to their own stations, in the zone as they worked. 

You finished your first round of work, deciding to see if anyone else needed help with getting theirs done. 

“Hey, Tina—”

She put a hand up, stopping you. “I’m good, mija. Talk to Jeff.”

“Heard,” you grinned, before walking over to Carmy. “Need me to do anything here?”

He took a breath, eyes scanning over his work before he nodded. “Yeah, uh…I braised the beef earlier. Could you slice it up thinly, and then pass it to Sydney? She needs it for prep.”

“Yup,” you nodded, grabbing a knife and the tray of meat. 

You began to make small talk as you worked, first with Carmy, then with everyone else. It was beginning to get late, and you all were a little delirious. Soon enough, the kitchen was full of laughter and scuffling feet as you moved around, telling joke after joke. It was a little loud, admittedly, but everyone seemed to be in high spirits. 

“Alright, alright, I’ve got one,” Marcus said, loading a tray into the oven. “When does a joke become a dad joke? When it’s apparent.”

You stifled a laugh as best you could, but you failed when Tina burst out laughing, crossing her legs. 

“Stop it, I'm gonna piss myself!”

That got Sydney, who’s laughter was practically echoing off the walls. “That’s some popsicle stick shit right there.”

You wiped your eyes with the back of your hand, tears falling as you chuckled. You could feel the heat in your cheeks as you laughed, your stomach beginning to ache. You looked over at Carmy, and realized that he had stopped laughing. He had smiled and chuckled at the first few jokes, but now he was quiet, working with tired eyes. 

“You got any jokes, Carm?” You asked, taking a step closer to him.

“What?” He asked, finally looking up at you. “Uh…no, no I don’t.”

“Oh, come on,” Marcus drawled over his shoulder, turning to look at Carmy. 

“No.”

You nodded, urging him along. “Yeah Carm, just give it a shot.” 

“No,” he said curtly, turning back to his work. 

You gave him a grin, trying to put him in a better mood. “Carm, just try—”

“Y/N! No!” He shouted, dropping his knife on the counter with a loud clang. “Could you just leave me alone for a minute, please? I mean, fuck! What’s with you today? We’ve got shit to get done. Just work! Without all the yammering, preferably.”

“Woah!” Tina shouted, immediately coming to your defense. “Take the stick out of your ass, leave her alone!”

Your jaw slacked at his words, but you quickly recovered, standing up straight. You could feel the ache in your heart at his scolding, and the tinge of embarrassment heating up your cheeks. But you steeled your emotions, setting your shoulders back as you picked up your knife, continuing to chop. You could hear arguing around you, but you ignored it, keeping your head down. 

Carmy immediately regretted his outburst, and he would have reached out to you if Sydney and Tina hadn’t immediately put themselves between you and him. 

“You alright?” Marcus said quietly, coming to stand by your side. 

You nodded, giving him a small smile. “I’m fine, I promise. Thanks.”

“Y/N,” Carmy started, and you could see the regret in his eyes. 

He dropped what he was doing, trying to come over to you. But you raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks. 

“I said I’m fine,” you replied curtly, turning to Sydney. “Syd, I’ll finish slicing the beef so I can give it to you, and I’ll finish up with anyone else who needs me for something. But I’m leaving the second I’m done.”

Sydney gave you a look of sympathy. “You don’t have to, I can finish this.”

“I’m not gonna throw a tantrum and make your job any harder just because I want to leave,” you sighed, throwing a sharp glare towards Carmy. 

You could see his jaw clench, and he cast his eyes to the floor. You scoffed, quickly going back to your work. Working as fast as you could, you finished within the next half hour. Walking over to Sydney, you placed the tray of sliced beef in front of her. 

“Here,” you groaned tiredly, pinching the bridge of your nose. 

She frowned, patting your arm. “Go home, babe. Get some rest.”

“I will, let me just ask Tina—”

“I’m fine,” Tina interrupted, holding her hand up when you tried to speak again. “Marcus, too. Seriously, mija. Go home.”

You finally relented, nodding. “Alright, fine. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

“Love you,” they called out in sequence, watching you grab all of your things and head for the door.

You called back to them telling them you loved them, passing Carmy on your way out. He looked up at you as you walked past, his face full of regret, and a slight bit of fear. You smiled sweetly at him, making him shift back and forth uncomfortably. 

“See you at home.”

He visibly paled, and you choked down a sinister laugh as you walked out the door. 

—

Hours later, Carmy gently opened up the front door to your shared appointment. He was practically tiptoeing, trying not to wake you up. As he flicked on the lights, he took a startled step back when he saw you sitting on the couch, a book beside you that you had long since abandoned. The TV dimly lit the room, on a low volume.

“There’s leftovers in the fridge,” you said quietly, not taking your eyes off the TV. “Eat.”

You may have been pissed—beyond pissed—but you didn’t want him to starve. The whole day, and you couldn’t remember seeing him eat even once.

“Y/N—” He started gently, but you cut him off. 

“Eat…then we’ll talk.”

He sighed, nodding as he walked over to the fridge. After a few minutes of dawdling around the kitchen, he finally joined you, cautiously taking a seat next to you. 

You didn’t turn to him as you spoke. “Did you finish? Everyone get home okay?”

You could hear him fidgeting next to you, which led to you finally faltering and looking over at him. The look on his face almost made you take pity, but you waited for him to speak first. He finally did, breaking the silence. 

“I’m sorry,” he said, fiddling with his hands in his lap. 

You raised a brow, having to urge him to continue. “For?”

“For being an asshole,” he finished, his eyes softening on you. 

You nearly smiled, raising a brow. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“You were trying to help, and I was being a dick about it. You were under just as much stress as I was, and it was out of line yelling at you in front of everyone like that. I shouldn’t blow up on anyone like that, but especially not you. I’m sorry.”

“You really embarrassed me, you know,” you said, your voice beginning to waver. 

Carmy winced as you spoke, nodding. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry for that, too.”

Sighing, you gently took his hand. He immediately clung to yours, squeezing it as he turned to face you more. 

“You could just talk to me,” you whispered, rubbing your thumb along the back of his hand. “Tell me if I’m being too loud, or if you want me to do something else. I just want to help you. We all do. And we can’t do that if you don’t tell us what you need.”

“They all think I’m an asshole, don’t they? I would if I heard someone yelling at their girl like that.”

You shook your head, squeezing his hand again. “No, Carm. They don’t think you’re an asshole. They know you’re under a lot of pressure, and honestly, I think they’d say you’re handling the change of pace really well. Marcus and Sydney would, at least. Not sure about Tina. Definitely not Richie.”

Carmy let out a laugh at that, leaning back into the couch. “Yeah, well…he’s an asshole, too. Takes one to know one.”

You grinned, resting your head on his shoulder. “You’re not an asshole…at least, not all the time.”

“Fuck you,” he spat, although he was grinning, too. “And yes, by the way. We finished up, and everyone made it home safely. It’ll be a long day tomorrow, but we’ve done the hard part.”

You hooked your arm under his, leaning against his side. “I’m glad. It’s good money. We needed this job. Not sure it was worth all the rage, but I’m sure I’ll be saying differently tomorrow.”

“It’ll be worth it,” he said, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of your head. “Thank you.”

You smiled, grinning dramatically. “What would you ever do without me?”

He shrugged, leaning further into you as he let out a deep sigh. “Crash and burn, probably.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

—

A/N - Hi! So sorry again for the wait, I hope this is what you were looking for. Let me know what you think! Thank you again for requesting :)

[tteokdoroki]

hiii hey hockey au midoriya for you my friends

you don’t know shit about hockey let’s start with that, but you’re probably on the figure skating team and come to practice late at night not knowing the campus’ hockey team is booked in for today too. they’re already on the rink, big, rowdy and loud— a little too intimidating to ask to give you the rink since your name is already on the time sheet for this session.

you think of leaving, sneaking out the back but your sneakers squeak on the rubber flooring outside the rink and suddenly this team of huge men is staring you down— pushing and shoving at each other, whispering about how cute you are, no doubt making comments on you until someone makes their way over, leaning over the edge with his helmet flipped up and a smile that makes your knees woozy.

“hi there,” oh you’re fucked, oh he’s pretty. big green eyes, matching hair curled just above them— freckles and a crooked nose from how many times it’s probably been broken. hockey au midoriya reaching a big gloved hand out to yours, apologetically smiling over at you. “i’m so sorry about this, do you mind if we use the rink for a little longer? i saw your name on the sign up sheet but my team has a big game soon and—“

“yeah; that’s fine.”

“yeah?” hockey au midoriya gives you that big smile, makes your head spin and he sounds like an angel when he laughs breathily while talking to you. “thank you, give me your number so i can text when we’re done.”

hockey au midoriya you realise is only ever as sweet as he is with you— on campus he’s kind, shy despite all the girls and guys that flock him for the muscles in his back that ripple and the biceps that look like they could crush and his height that lets him tower over people and reach the highest shelves in the library. he talks to fans with patience but doesn’t believe they’re actually his, he uses his popularity on campus for sweet things like raising money for better books— he’s got the chance to go pro, handles the media well too.

but when he’s with you it’s like the notch has been turned up, always leaving you drinks out when your practice begins as his ends, bringing a spare jersey ( clean ) of his for when he stays to walk you back to campus late at night.

he’s bashful when you ask him to stay and watch you figure skate on the ice, when he asks you for pointers on speed. hockey au midoriya who’s cheeks then red when you watch him wipe the floor with his huge teammate kirishima during drills with cones, who tells you it’s fine with a wobbly voice after bakugou gives him a busted lip on the rink for fucking up a shot ( he got distracted by you walking in right on time ) and has you worriedly fawning over him.

hockey au midoriya who invites you to that one game he mentioned weeks ago and you have to force your eyes up to look into his because he’s just showered after practice and you’re on your way out— and his nipples are right in your fucking face, chest broad and bristling with laughter when you breathe out a simple. “yeah sure.”

you’re not prepared to see how much of a fucking bully hockey au midoriya can be when he’s in a real life game— backing kirishima up on the defence, cursing like a sailor when he misses a shot and gets up in the faces of the other team. you squeal in your seat, still shy and unlike the rest of their supporters but rush to your feet whenever deku makes a clean shot or score— screaming his name loud and proud.

seeing you there has hockey au midoriya smiling so bright, ripping off his helmet and chucking it down on the ice— curly hair matted over his eyes as he blows you a kiss and his team rounds up on him to tease him before everyone resets on their positions.

but then throughout the rest of the match, the other team makes him a target— keeping him up against the barriers as he zips across the ice, making snarky little comments about ‘how good a fuck the sweet girl with his jersey and number on will make’, it’s throwing deku off, pissing him off and bringing out the big bad player in him. the crowd goes wild and your stomach drops when he throws down his hockey stick, strips his helmet and gloves and grabs the nearest opposing player by the jersey.

hockey au midoriya’s knee goes straight into this guy’s stomach, elbow into his shoulder and fist straight into his face. he’s red hot, angry and cursing up a fucking storm not giving the guy a chance to breathe with kicks and punches flying about the place. not even the referee whistle can stop him.

it’s not until another member of the oposing team grabs deku and socks him in the jaw, but he’s up at it again— taking sucker punches to the face, breaking his nose again and smiling through the blood streaming from his nose and mouth.

‘cause it doesn’t matter to him, no one fucks with hockey au midoriya’s girl.

[fourstarsoutofnine]

To get away

Chapter 3; Roomies and Rumors

Part 1, part 2, part 3.5, part 4

You were afraid to turn your back. You didn’t want to let your roomie know you were awake. You felt him sit on the end of the bed to kick his shoes off. He didn’t feel as light as the sailor would be—nor the smith, so they were crossed off. And he didn’t feel as heavy as the old man or rancher would be… then, you heard a sigh… and he spoke.

“Can’t believe he wouldn’t room with me… but whatever, the champion’s your best friend now. Sure. Yeah. Thanks, traveler.”

That was the vet. Clear as day. You breathed in deep—but tried to keep it slow so he wouldn’t realize you were awake…

“You don’t have to pretend to be asleep, you know. I can tell you’re tensed up.”

So much for that… you sat up tiredly.

“I don’t like this situation any more than you do, but it’s just for a night. Two, at most. So just scoot over and we can handle this like adults.” He said, taking his armor and chainmail off.

You nodded quietly and scooted closer to the wall.

“And you can speak, you know. I’m not going to yell at you.” He rolled his eyes with a scoff.

“Sorry… I was just under the impression you didn’t exactly like me…” you spoke quietly, still worried that at the slightest chance to get upset, he’d take it.

“It’s not that I don’t like you.” He slid into bed next to you. “It’s that I don’t trust you. You arrive here and claim to not know how you got here, you have this mark on your hand.” He grabbed your wrist—very gently, actually—and made note of the triforce on your hand. “Which is the exact mark we heroes have, except on the opposite hand, and…I don’t know you. I don’t know your motives, if any, and I don’t know what’s to come of this. So for tonight and possibly the next night, we’re stuck sleeping beside each other. We’ll just have to take it with a grain of salt.”

That quieted you down again. He cleared his throat.

“So… goodnight.” He put a pillow between you and laid down, turning the lamp off. You sighed and laid down, turning over. The next morning, as you were still sound asleep, the vet was turned towards you, looking at you. He had a million thoughts running through his head. Who were you exactly? How did you get here? How do you have that mark?

Why couldn’t he bring himself to not feel for you?

He didn’t trust anyone besides his fellow heroes, and Hadn’t trusted anyone with his very guarded heart since Marin, and you know where that landed him. Heartbroken and alone. He was determined to never feel that again, and certainly not because of some mysterious stranger that was dropped in their world, unannounced and without reason. Alarms were going off in his head from that, bright red flags waving…

But he couldn’t hate you. He couldn’t hate you, cast you out, reject you.

Or at least, not directly, anyway. But he could distance himself from you. Put walls between you. Try to protect himself and the others, especially the traveler. And that’s what he was determined to do. He got up, frustrated with himself for lying there so long. He slipped his boots on and left the room.

“There you are. We were wondering when you’d get up.” The rancher grinned, crossing his arms.

“Yeah? Well it’s kind of hard to get out of a real bed after sleeping on the hard ground for weeks, forgive me if I want to pretend I’m home.” He jabbed back, the tiniest grin on his face.

“Is Y/n up yet?” The traveler asked, sending a shock through the vet.

“She’s still asleep. You’re welcome to try getting her up if you want.” He shrugged, rolling his eyes.

“Let her sleep.” The old man said. “She needs the sleep, I’m sure. Yesterday was rough on her.”

“Yeah she’s not too suited for travel, is she?” The sailor thought out loud. Unbeknownst to the chain, you were standing just outside your room, on the landing above where they were seated in the dining area.

“We could just leave her here, you know. The towns are safe. They’re always safe. She’d be better off here than with us. She can’t fight, has trouble walking long distances… she’d thrive in this lazy town.” The vet suggested. Your heart sank. It made you want to run. You wanted to run and hide. Tears pricked your eyes and clouded your vision. You didn’t hear the others protests to that idea, your heart was pounding too loudly in your ears, the blood that rushed your head made your ears and face hot.

The decision to leave felt right, even if it wasn’t. Not only was your vision clouded, but your judgement as well. Clouded by every hurt feeling in the book. You slowly crept down the stairs and out the door. If they didn’t want you here, they wouldn’t have you. You felt burdenous to them anyway. They had enough on their plate, too much to add you on top of that anyway. So, unarmed and stupidly, you walked along the edge of town with tears in your eyes. Your chest felt heavy and your head felt like someone was taking an ice pick to it all around. Your eyes burned, the edges of your eyelids stinging and feeling tighter with each blink you took to clear your vision from tears.

You didn’t notice the rustling in the bush…

[graysmiles-world]

Steddie Fake Dating Part 2

Part One, Part Three

Robin was whistling at work. She hasn’t stopped all day.

“What’s got you so chipper?” Steve grumbled, wiping down the counter. “Good night with your beau?” Robin was refilling the spoons and looked over to glare at him. 

“No,” she snapped. “But he is going to be visiting me today at work.” 

Steve raised a brow, “No shit. Really?”

“Yes, really,” she bit back. “So I’m excited about it, so what?”

“Nothing,” Steve shrugged, tossing the dirty rag underneath the counter to the bucket filled with other filthy rags. “Just nice to see you not so rude.” 

Robin huffed out what was close to a laugh, and Steve hid his little grin in the collar of his sailor’s shirt. “What time is he coming by?” 

“Around 2, I think. We’re supposed to go out for food after I get off.” 

Steve looked at the clock, which ticked slowly to the 11. The day was unusually cool for late June, and the mall was emptier than average. “How long have you been together?” he asked.

Robin turned to him with a furrowed brow, “Why do you care?” 

Steve shrugged, “I’m bored - you’re bored. Gives us something to discuss.” 

“Hm, okay,” Robin shrugged. “He’s a bit older than me, but we’ve been together since I was a sophomore.” 

Steve whistled, “Two years then, huh?” Robin nodded. “You think he’s the one?”

Robin bit the inside of her cheek before looking at Steve. “I don’t know. He’s the one for right now, you know?” Steve smiled at her. A few months ago, discussing any relationship would make him almost crumble on the spot, wrapped up in the explosion between him and Nancy Wheeler.

Now, however, he was thinking of Eddie. 

“What about you, Casanova?” Robin asked, knocking her foot against his. “You got anybody?”

Steve scratched his head, “Yeah. I do.” 

“And…” Robin started, “Do you think she’s the one?”

Steve leaned forward on the counter, trying not to melt like an ice cream cone in the summer sun at the thought of him and Eddie - forever. “I hope so.”

Robin looked at him in a way she’d never had before, her expression not one of disgust, annoyance, or any other emotion connected to it. Before he could ask about it, a gaggle of children with their parents entered the store - and they were too busy to talk much for the rest of the shift.

The closer it ticked to 2, the more Robin’s fingers tapped against the counter. Steve was leaning against the back wall, watching her watch the clock. “You know staring at it doesn’t make it go by faster, right?”

He could see Robin’s eye roll, even though she wasn’t facing him. “I know, but there isn’t anything else to do while I wait.” 

Steve was about to retort when his words died on his lips. Because out the mall, dressed in his usual get-up of dark clothing and silver, was Eddie Munson. He hadn’t turned to face Ship’s Ahoy! Yet Steve knew the nautical-themed storefront wouldn’t escape his notice for much longer.

He didn’t know what to do. Steve never expected Eddie to come to the mall, much less during Steve’s work hours. Eddie knew he had a job, but not what the job exactly was. And now he was here and about to find out. He was about to endure serious teasing about his uniform and in front of Robin, too. 

Steve darted a glance over to Robin, standing tall, staring out the doors. She must have just seen her boyfriend. 

Eddie turned to the storefront, something in his face lighting up at the sight. Steve felt that same warm feeling build up in his chest. Eddie walked towards the door, entering the storefront with a swagger Steve loved. 

Before Steve could do anything, not that he could do anything much out in public with his boyfriend, Robin rushed around the side and launched herself at Eddie. He caught her effortlessly, swinging her around like it was a movie and not a 2 p.m. on a Saturday in June. Steve just stood there. 

Eddie hadn’t seen him. He’d seen her, Robin. Robin, who was waiting for her boyfriend of two years. The boyfriend who was supposed to show up at 2 p.m. to pick her up. Eddie was that boyfriend. 

That warmth turned to ice and sank heavy in his stomach. It felt like he’d just gobbled down three banana splits. Like he was about to puke all over the display before him. Eddie still wasn’t looking at him. He was talking to Robin. Their lips moved, but no sound came out.

Robin said something, looking back at Steve with a smile that he couldn’t return. Eddie followed her eyesight, and finally, he saw Steve. 

They stared at each other until the ice in his torso shattered, and Steve could move.  He hurried into the back with as much dignity as he could. Steve collapsed through the bathroom, locking the door behind him with shaking fingers. 

He slid down on the wall, back pressed against stone, and feet out in front of him. Something was spilling down his cheeks, tasting of salt. Steve felt it and found shed tears shining on his fingers. 

There was no lump in his throat or squeeze behind his eyes to tell him he was crying. It was like a tap just turned on, and he was a victim of the water that flowed down his face. He couldn’t breathe, mind still reeling over what he’d seen.

Eddie was Robin’s boyfriend of two years. He was the one she thought might be the one, the person she probably loved, and she told him, and he told her back. Steve wasn’t that. 

He was crumbling down, breaking at the seams. He was a china plate shattered on the floor. There was no chance of putting him back together again. 

A knock pounded against the door, Robin’s voice echoing through the tiny room. “Steve, I have to go. Are you okay?” 

Steve swallowed, trying to sound like he wasn’t sobbing in the bathroom over her boyfriend. “Yeah, I just felt sick for a second. I’ll be out in a minute.”

Robin paused. “Okay. I’m going to go. I’ll see you later.”

Steve didn’t know if she had waited for a response or not before she left, but there was only silence afterward. He sat in there for a minute, two, ten. He waited for his heart to pierce itself together, but it didn’t. Eventually, he got up. He wiped his cheeks of tears and ran damp paper towels under his eyes. 

Steve went back to work. He gave out ice cream, cleaned the tables, and closed up shop at the end of the day. He locked the door behind him, leaving his heart on that bathroom floor.

Steve didn’t see Eddie that night, the day after, or the day after. The phone rang twice, but both times, Steve picked up. It was someone asking if his parents were home. 

At night, he imagined what he’d say to Eddie whenever he saw him next, how he’ll be cool and calm and explain that they’re done. Or maybe Eddie already knows they’re done, so he hasn’t been around. Maybe he’s glad Steve found out this way and was trying to find a way to tell him and break up with him.

Steve rolled over so his face was pressed into his pillows. He wet the cover with his tears and only slept a few hours, waking up throughout the night with a thundering in his chest, swearing that he heard Eddie’s loud van rumbling down the street. 

But there was never anyone there.

Steve stumbled into Scoops Ahoy! late the next day, he ignored Robin’s snide remarks as he punched in. He couldn’t talk to or even look at her without the urge to tell her everything burst out in word vomit over the tiled floors. And then where would that leave him?

Her comments slowly faded throughout the day, both working in silence, much like the day before. She didn’t ask him any questions, and he hoped she could sense how grateful he was for it. Steve sat in the back on his break, staring at the wall across from the table. He didn’t know what to think about. Nothing good enough in his life at the moment to distract him from the monotony of work.

He was only about three minutes into his break when he heard a familiar voice. 

“ Is he here?” Dustin asked Robin, who Steve was sure was staring at him with some awkward judgment. Steve stood up from the table, going to the swinging door with the closest thing he’s had to happiness in the last few days.

“Henderson!” he crowed at the sight of that little twerp. The brightness in Dustin’s expression smoothed over some of the cracks in his heart, and he didn’t feel like immediately falling into tears. 

“You got the job!” Dustin yelled, excited over something that Steve personally hated, but Steve couldn’t help but return the enthusiasm.

“I got the job!” They did a cool little handshake that Dustin made for them before leaving for camp, ending with Steve acting like all his guts were spilling out onto the floor.

After Dustin’s introduction to Robin and Scoops Ahoy!, he dragged Steve away to an empty booth and ordered a sailboat full of ice cream topped with whipped cream and hot fudge. Steve was still technically on his break, so he made no complaints. This was a way better way of spending his break than staring silently at the wall. He and Dustin spoke of ordinary things for a bit, Phoebe Cates, his apparent new summer camp girlfriend, all of the other shitheads ditching him, and something else he would only whisper. 

Dustin leaned down so he was closer to the table, his voice dropping considerably. He whispered something to the table, which Steve could not hear with all the chatter around them. Orange sherbert and chocolate, really, lady?

“Huh?”

Dustin groaned and whispered it again, but same as before, Steve couldn’t hear a thing. 

“Just speak louder-”

“I intercepted a secret Russian communication!” Dustin burst out, gaining the attention of everyone in the storefront, including Robin, who was staring at them with furrowed brows. 

“Jeez, shhh. Uh, that’s what I thought you said,” Steve said, leaning back so he was flush with the sticky cushions of the booth. “What does that mean?”

“It means, Steve,” Dustin leaned forward so Steve could feel the heat of his breath against his arm. “We could be heroes. True American heroes.”

Steve stared at him with a raised brow, wondering if the heat had gone to his brain. Dustin seemed to sense his apprehension and continued, “Just think, you could have all the ladies you want and more.”

“More?” Steve asked, taking a look at Robin. She was leaning over, scooping a cup of strawberry. He thought of Eddie, of his long hair and infectious chuckle. His excellent mood diminished a bit. Steve turned back to Dustin, who stared at him and cleared his throat. “I like more. What’s the catch?” There always was. Steve’s mind flashed to Eddie again. He knocked the image out of his head with a shake to the head, ignoring Dustin’s intriguing gaze. 

“No catch, I just need your help.”

“With what?” Steve asked. 

Dustin grinned at him, licking the plastic spoon clean of ice cream. “Translation.”

Next Part ->

[crazylittlejester]

I have two suggestions today: Sky and Wars bonding over crappy health conditions, and/or Wars teaching Wind first aid.

YOU GET BOTH!!!!! my apologies for odd spelling mistakes or weirdly autocorrected words- I am dyslexic 💅

First one (279 words) [Wars and his blood sugar issues + Sky and my headcanon he has epilepsy]:

Sky groaned, letting himself sink further into the grass. He still felt sore and exhausted from his seizure an hour or so ago, he’d just been lucky Wolfie had smelled it before Sky had felt it coming and had pushed him to lay down. This one had crept up on him fast, he hadn’t really been paying too much attention to himself. The whole group had been focused on the captain all day after he’d almost fainted from low blood sugar that morning. Warriors was of course doing better now, they’d gotten enough food in him, but watching his normally tan face go pale and his lips turn white had been a bit startling to watch.

“Doing okay?” Warriors asked, flopping down in the grass next to Sky.

“Tired,” he answered honestly, letting out a loud sigh.

“We’re stopping for the day,” the captain told him, stretching out until his spine popped. “Take all the time you need, kid. Take a nap if you want.”

“…Could you go get me some water?” Sky whispered, feeling a but guilty for having to ask. The captain was tired too and he’d JUST laid down.

“Of course,” Warriors smiled, even though Sky could see him fighting to keep the grimace off his face. He wobbled a little on his feet, and Sky frowned in concern.

“You okay?” He asked his brother as the captain raised a hand to his head.

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. Just feel a bit off still, I guess,” he shrugged, walking closer to the others where the water skins were, coming back quickly.

“Thanks,” Sky murmured when Warriors helped him sit up.

“Any time,” his brother smiled softly.

———

Second one (568) [Wars teaches Wind first aid]:

“Wind!” Warriors called to the sailor, squeezing his leg tightly and fighting to keep his expression neutral.

A group of bokoblins had caught them off guard, and while it hadn’t taken long to get rid of them, they hadn’t managed to dispatch them all before Warriors had gotten shot in the thigh. Wind had been asking him to teach him better first aid for a while now, with the captain being the only one of the group with field medic training, and there’s no one he’d rather have the kid practice on than himself.

The little sailor dropped down next to him, eyes wide in shock. “Oh Hylia, are you okay?”

“You still wanna learn first aid?” Warriors grimaced, trying to keep the strain out of his voice. The arrow had to have been coated in poison because he’d been shot plenty of times before but this BURNED like nothing else. They had red potions, he’d be fine. This wasn’t the war, they had plenty of supplies. He was going to be FINE.

“Y- Yeah?” Wind stammered, staring up at him in worry.

“Great,” the captain got out, breathing heavily. “Okay so we’re really lucky because the arrow went all the way through. I want you to take this knife and cut the tail off the arrow.”

Warriors handed his brother one of the knives he kept in his belt, ignoring how the kid’s face paled a bit. He bent his knee, lifting his thigh off the ground to give Wind a better angle to cut the arrow at. The captain instructed him to hold the arrow steady as he sawed through it, explaining to him while he worked that this would hurt a lot less than just snapping it in half and also reduce the likelihood of getting splinters stuck in the middle of his leg.

“Okay good, good,” he wheeze when the tail came off and Wind handed him his knife back. “I think you know what comes next, bud.”

“I’m sorry…” the sailor’s voice wobbled as he grabbed the end of the arrow and carefully ripped it out of Warriors’s leg.

The captain was just proud of himself for not yelling, it was hard to ignore every inch of the arrow as it was pulled through his leg. Eventually it was out, and Wind chucked it far away from them, it landed in the grass with a soft thud. Warriors let out several shaky breaths, blinking away the tears from his vision before forcing himself to smile at his brother.

“Good, good, that was good. And what’s next?”

“Red potion,” Wind nodded, handing it to him. Warriors downed it gratefully, letting himself flop back while he felt his leg knitting itself back together.

“Perfect,” he coughed, fighting to keep his eyes open. Controlling his expressions and tone had been a lot more exhausting than he’d thought it would be, but he’d much rather tire himself put than scare Wind.

“Are… are you okay?” The kid asked softly.

Warriors propped himself up on an elbow with a groan, looking at his leg to see it had perfectly healed up. There was just a small silvery scar that would fade with time. “Yup.”

“Good.” Wind fell on top of him, squeezing him tightly, and the captain rubbed his back comfortingly. “Thanks for teaching me, but please don’t… try not to get shot again.”

“I’ll try,” Warriors laughed.

[gentlebilady]

Some more of Casual

*

“Hey, Princess, what’s got your panties in a knot?” Billy was leaning back against the inside of Steve’s front door, watching as the Princess himself buzzed around the place, rooting around in the couch, trying to peer behind and between he washer and dryer, disappearing into his bathroom and bedroom for the third time since he let Billy in approximately five minutes ago. 

He heard Steve snort from the bedroom, his voice calling out.

“Funny you should say that. I can’t find, like, any underwear. All I’ve got is the old stuff and the uncomfortable stuff. I just bought a new pack and-,” his voice trailed off as he continued his search. He reappeared a few minutes later.

“I found a few pairs in the dryer but-.”

“Man, why are you talking to me about this?” Billy cut in, playing with an unlit cigarette. Steve sighed.

“Sorry. I know, we’re supposed to go out, we can go. I just got caught up.” Steve grabbed his wallet and keys off the counter in the kitchen and walked up to Billy - who stayed leaning against the door. Steve waited. Billy tucked the cigarette behind his ear.

Steve waited some more.

“We going?”

Billy grinned slyly, reaching a hand out to Steve, caught the waist of his jeans in his fingers, pulling Steve close. Steve’s breath escaped him and he didn’t catch it again, caught in the sparkling blue of Billy’s eyes and the plush pinkness of his lips. Steve’s eyes closed of their own volition as Billy’s lips touched his; his entire being was focused on the swelling tide where their mouths met, lips and tongues easing back and forth. 

Billy’s hands had grasped and gripped their way to the small of Steve’s back, almost too tight, holding on like a sailor in a storm, before they slipped down the back of Steve’s jeans and palmed his ass. Steve bit Billy’s lip before ripping his head away to gasp in air. Billy’s grin was brilliant.

“Maybe I’ll take these, too,” he rumbled. Steve stared.

“Huh? Take what?”

“These.” Billy snapped the waist of the briefs Steve was wearing.

Steve frowned, then his face cleared.

“You’ve been stealing my fucking underwear?!” Steve was laughing, his face bright, eyes glittering.

“No!” Billy’s voice was strident, but a smile played at his mouth. “That’s not what I’m doing, man. I just-,” his voice trailed off.

“Can’t even think of a good excuse, huh?” Steve grabbed the cigarette from behind Billy’s ear and popped it in his mouth. “No worries, ba- Billy. I can probably swing getting some more.” 

Billy huffed. “Probably. Yeah, I’m sure you can, Princess.” 

Steve giggled some more, absolutely tickled by the idea that Billy was keeping mementos. 

“How many pairs of my panties do you have, Hargrove?”

“More than three, less than ten.”

Steve whistled, and tried to do some math in his head. Over the last month he’d been over at  Billy’s apartment at least twice a week. Yeah, those numbers made sense. Billy had a soft smile on his face and it made Steve brave.

“What do you think about going out with Robin and Vickie? They wanna do dinner-and-a-movie, I’m thinking pizza. And since your dad’s out of town, I thought-.”

Billy pushed away from the door and passed Steve, deeper into the apartment, but Steve saw the smile drop.

“Let’s just order delivery and watch a tape. You’ve got Lost Boys, right?”

Steve persisted, following Billy’s path to the living room. “I could invite them over here. They’re a lot of fun, really.”

Billy’s shoulders were tight as he turned around, keys in hand.

“I just remembered, I promised Susan I would fix something at the house while Neil’s gone.” He walked back toward the front door, already reaching out a hand for the knob.

“What? But, he’s gone for, like, a week! It’s Friday night. Billy, come on, I won’t invite them. It’ll just be us.” Steve felt like he was on a rollercoaster, tipped upside down and thrown backwards by the change in Billy’s attitude. 

Billy stopped and turned back to Steve. His face was open and full of longing, but Steve also saw fear there. There was a long, heavy moment between them.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Billy said, with none of his usual sarcasm, then slipped out the door.

~

This is a snippet I JUST wrote. @irishbeings @darleenjade Here you go! This comes after that first part I posted, but there will likely be some scenes in between the two. I just really liked this.

P.S. I'm also pretty doped up on cold medicine, if that helps explain any major typos and discrepancies.

[sleepyskeleton-0]

Everyone was shouting over each other, at some point Legend may have possibly had Warriors by the shirt. Sky was in a corner trying to quell his nausea and Four was in the midst of the Hyrule-Twilight debacle. Time was too focused on digging in his bag for a fairy to care, and Wild, being the only one with sense at this point (surprisingly) had Wind up against him while he pressed a cloth to the boy's head.

Wild knew head injuries were always the scariest, which was why he needed to be calm for the sailor. Flora had taught him to be calm in situations like this, telling him that “panicking would do no good for anyone, you should treat the injured in a way you would like to be treated in the same situation. Comfort them the way you would like to be comforted”.

And so he tried his best.

Wind attempted to murmur something to him, but between the stress of waiting for that fairy and the screaming match going on behind him, he couldn’t make out what it was.

“YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!”

“YOU ALWAYS OVER REACT IN THESE SITUATIONS-”

“IS IT MY FUCKING FAULT I DON’T WANNA GRIEVE AGAIN?!”

“YOU-”

Wind’s breathing became startlingly shallow, the blood loss making him lose consciousness.

“Hey, Wind? You gotta stay awake for me, buddy, okay? Can you do that”

“Yeah…” he breathed out.

Wild almost cried at the relief the response gave.

“Okay, we’re gonna count to 10, alright? Keep listening to the sound of my voice”

The sailor hummed, too tired to speak.

Wild eyed Time as he furiously searched in Twilight's bag for anything that may help the kid.

“1”

The bleeding at the back of Wind’s head became sluggish, they were running out of time.

“2”

Legend’s shouting suddenly became louder. His panic evident in his eyes.

“3”

Sky tried to get Hyrule to calm down, he couldn’t use his magic while he himself was injured.

“4”

Time dumped out all the contents of Four’s bag. His jaw was set.

“5”

Warriors was now raising his voice louder too, likely to match Legend’s.

“6”

Twilight ran to help search for a potion, bandages, anything at all…

“7”

Wild’s hands started to shake. He could hear Four trying to reason with Hyrule.

“8”

Legend crumbled to the floor, an iron grip on his hair. Sky ran to help Wars catch him.

“9-”

“Got it!”

Time held out a bottle with a glowing light chiming inside.

Twilight grabbed it from him and ripped off the cork. The fairy got to work just as Wind’s head started to droop.

And just like that, the bleeding stopped.

Wind slumped fully into the Champion, fast asleep.

Time sighed, head in his hands. Twilight placed a trembling hand on his shoulder.

In Wars’ own panic, he had fallen into a spiral, but with Wind in the clear and the vet’s hyperventilating at a minimum, the Captain managed to calm down and help guide Legend upright.

Four and Sky had managed to sit Hyrule back down, making sure his broken leg was positioned correctly.

All was well again.

The colour returned to Wild’s face.

“10.”

[that-writing-raccoon]

MEET CHAOTIC PROMPTS

Alright, kids, listen up.

We’re all suckers for a good meet-cute. Don’t even try to lie to me. Like, yeah, they’re cliché, but, if done well, it can be really cute, hence the name.

Meet-uglies on the other hand can be super funny, and they almost always lead to enemies-to-lovers or rivals-to-lovers, even if just for a hot second. They’re great, too.

But here’s the thing:

I want more meet-chaotics. Not meet-cutes, not meet-uglies, meet-chaotics.

What do I mean by this?

Well, you know how crazy life can be sometimes? How wack shit happens, it makes a good story to tell your friends, and it makes you low-key question reality for a second? Yeah. Meet-chaotics are like that. How you met is just so weird and chaotic that it was a bonding experience.

Here are some prompts/concepts so you understand what I’m getting at:

“Normal”/Humor:

 “I’m an uber driver dropping off my last customer, and you and your friends(?) just jumped into my backseat right as they got out and yelled a variety of ‘DRIVE! FUCKING DRIVE!’ and ‘FLOOR IT!’ There are flashing lights behind me, but I panicked and stepped on the gas, and now you’re trying to assure me that it’s not what it looks like, but I’m too busy worrying that I’m a wanted criminal now.” 

Bonus points for found family and/or polyamory!

“I’ve had a really bad day, and it started to rain, so, because I’m dramatic, I blasted my ‘*insert playlist name here*’ and lied down on my sidewalk/lawn/driveway facing the sky, and you just drove by, backed up, and ran out to join me as ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol was playing. I have never met you before, but I’m pretty sure we’ve bonded and might be soulmates.” (Yes, I got this idea from a TikTok. What of it?).

“I was walking my dog at the park when he got off his leash, and now I’m running after him through the park calling his name and yelling to ‘GET THAT DOG!’ You’re having a barbecue/family reunion/birthday party, and my dog sprints towards you, knocks someone over, and begins eating your food. You see me sprinting towards you and trying to catch my dog, but he’s faster, so now we’re both chasing my dog, and I may or may not be swearing words that’d make a sailor blush. Eventually, one of us or a random stranger catches him, and we finally stop, and, hey, sorry about that, but, wazow! You’re pretty cute.” 

Bonus points for anyone vaulting over a table or something.

“We’re on our way to class, and I just witnessed you run past me down the stairs holding a bunch of books, trip, roll down two flights, and roll to your feet and keep running like nothing happened. And, like, we didn’t talk, and I don’t think you noticed me, but now I can’t help thinking of you. Like, that was impressive, but are you okay?”

“We’re at a house party, and it’s gotten pretty wild. Music is blasting from the speakers, people are dancing on tables, stuff is breaking, etc. Suddenly, the music shuts off, and someone yells, “POLICE!” and everyone s c a t t e r s. It’s pure chaos. I trip while running outside and curl up in a ball to not get trampled, but then a hand reaches down and pulls me up, it’s you, and we run off together still holding hands. Who are you, again?”

Bonus points if this goes back to the uber driver prompt. 

Bonus bonus points if this couple is coming from the same place as the folks from the first prompt, so it’s same universe, but they’re completely different people having their own meet-chaotics running from the police ‘cause they were at the same party.

Could be any illegal/big crowd scenario. A concert, a protest, etc. 

Sci-Fi:

“We live in a world where superheroes exist. One day, I’m minding my own business in my own apartment when you, *insert superhero name here,* crash through my wall while I’m just lounging on the couch, mug of coffee/preferred drink to my lips, feet up on my coffee table, and laptop open on my lap. We stare at each other. You get up, apologize, and fly off through the hole in the wall. Little do I know, you feel bad about the whole thing and decide to try making it up to me, except every thing you try just descends us more and more into chaos.”

Bonus points if this ends up being enemies to lovers, seeing as the protagonist, Character A, would probably be hella bitter about not having the specific superhero insurance needed to fix their wall. 

Bonus bonus points if Superhero has to save A from x during one of their attempts to fix the situation. 

“It’s the zombie apocalypse. I’ve set up camp in a (mostly) abandoned town, scavenging to survive. One day, there’s an unusual amount of zombies in the road. Panicked, I start to climb something. When I’m about halfway up, I hear a weird noise, and look down just in time to see you and your friend whizzing by on a shopping cart down the incline- you in the basket and your friend riding on the back. You’re screaming/yelling and swinging a bat around. The zombies are too slow and uncoordinated to catch up with you. At the last second, you look up at me and we make eye-contact mid-me making at wtf face. It’s such a stupid strategy that I’m low key in love.”

“It’s an alien invasion. We’re all running and screaming for our lives. Suddenly, there’s a spot light, and you start being pulled up into a ship. You panic and grab something. For some unknown, ungodly reason, I try to help you. It goes as well as it sounds. Cue us both getting beamed up while holding on to each other for dear life.”

“We’re on a spaceship. There are so many people on board that it’s impossible to truly know or recognize anyone. I’m working or reading or what have you, when I so happened to glance up at my porthole/window, just in time to see you, who’d been fixing something on the outside of the ship, floating away and doing some space gymnastics with your lead and etc., and swimming, to get back to the ship. I do what anyone responsible would do and sprint off to the docks to get you back safe inside.”

Bonus if Floating Person is just doing the absolute most ridiculous things to make it back.

I have more, but I feel like this post is long enough. But yeah. Something something meeting someone in the most chaotic, stupid, and unhinged way gets to me. Like, we’ve all have shared moments with a stranger because we both witnessed something or been involved in something dumb or crazy. And usually it’s like, eye-contact or brief, awkward commentary, then at the end of the day you go home and it’s just a funny story that only you guys experienced. Something about it just speaks to me.

[bokettochild]

Hello, Ketto

I have had two of your concepts/ideas pinging around my brain in a manner vaguely reminiscent of the logo screensavers. So I’m asking a question in the hopes that vibes will solidify into actual plot bunny or that maybe brain will be satisfied and let it go for a bit.

Chain and birth order dynamics:

Wind and Twilight are oldest siblings

Time and Hyrule are baby siblings

Where do the others fall? Is Sky the weird combination of “whatever he needs to be” since he’s a ward of the academy/Gaepora?

Is Legend an oldest, middle, youngest or only?

I’ve read 😅 way too many versions of people’s backstories to remember.

So, funny story! I actually was exploring this concept in a fic that has been giving me troubles since I sat down to write it T-T

I wanted to write a fic about Wind big-brothering the chain into taking care of themselves but the boy rambles and I feared it would become tedious to read. Unfortunately, that's why I never post any of the stories I write about or from Wind or Wild's perspectives; they won't shut up and I can't make them speak more concisely.

Long story short though! Wind was going to sort of dig into the temperament and behavior of each hero and started to go "clearly a middle child, that one's a youngest, good golly Time you are 100% obviously the baby of your family" to himself. It felt sort of weird when writing it, but it also seems to have potential now that I've reread it.

I classify Twilight, Warriors, and Wind as Eldest children, Time and Hyrule as Youngest kids, and Legend and Wild fall into the middle-sibling category (I'll expound on that in the story if you all would like me to write it again). Wind classifies Four as a single-child (the irony) who is still adapting to having siblings out of nowhere, and is utterly innocent of how accurately he's assessed the smithy.

As for his methods of forcing them to take care of themselves, I have a snippet of one of my many drafts below if you want

“From now on, if you say or do anything self-deprecating or otherwise diminishing to your value as a person, which yes, includes throwing yourself into the way of a weapon to save someone who’s got it handled,” back comes the stern voice, just for Wild, who only cocks a brow back at Wind in a challenge (yeah, middle or eldest sibling for the champion, one of those), “then you have to add a rupee to the jar.” 

  The vet scowls at him- an expression that is more mature, but not too very far from Aryll’s pouts when he scolds her. “And why should we go along with that? You’re not the boss of us, Wind, we’re adults.” 

  The sailor crosses his arms, staring over at the vet sternly. “Because if we do this, then Hyrule’s not allowed to call himself lesser than the rest of us.”  

  The vet’s ears twitch forwards, treacherously curious. 

  “Because if we do this, Wild isn’t allowed to throw himself in danger.” 

  Twilight and Time both sigh in relief (they all do, but those two are the most noticeable). 

  “Because if you all go along with this, Warriors isn’t allowed to hide his problems in a bottle.” 

  The captain thinks he is sly, but Wind knows, and it appears the man hadn’t expected that as his gaze darts away shamefully. Time looks even more relieved though; both he and Wind have been watching since the war, they know. 

  “Because Legend doesn’t get to refuse help when he’s in enough pain to cry.” 

  Hyrule is the one pricking up this time. 

  “Because Twilight won’t be allowed to take on everyone’s problems and bottle up his own.” 

  Wild’s turn to sigh in relief, to glance at his mentor in worry as Twilight avoids his gaze.  

  “And Four can’t bottle everything up and yell at himself in the woods instead of talking to someone about his problems rather than the air.” 

  Unlike the others, the smithy actually just looks insulted, but while the shortest hero does open his mouth to protest, he closes it a moment later with a hiss of frustration, crossing his arms. Yeah, single child. He isn’t used to other people calling him out unless they are leaders like Time or adults like his grandfather. 

  Wind isn’t done though. “And Sky?” Crystal eyes meet his, curious and a bit confused. “This means you don’t get to agonize over whatever nonsense has been eating you and not get help. It’s making you depressed and your sleeping habits are reflecting that.” 

  People who sleep a lot are usually only ill, injured, or depressed in Wind’s experience, and while he knows there are such things as sleeping disorders, he’s snitched some of Four’s books and none of them mention anything that matches whatever is up with Sky. Depression though.... Tetra had slept a whole lot when she’d been trying to come to grips with her self-image and identity after their adventure, and the constant exhaustion through that time is a close match for Sky’s own behavior. 

  “Alright.” It’s Warriors who speaks, stepping up to take the lead and meeting Wind’s eye with a nod. “I won’t lie, I don’t like the idea of all of you fussing over me, but if this means the rest of you will be getting help, which yes, Wind, I do mean you too, then I’m game.” 

  The sailor chuckles. This isn’t a roll your eyes and huff in annoyance moment, this is a peacemaker moment. They are negotiating with the others, he needs to set an example and be mature. “I was planning on including myself, Wars. If I need help, I’ll ask, but if one of you thinks I’m failing to take care of myself you can call me on it, and if the others agree I’ll pay up just the same as you will.” 

  And that seems to do it. There’s some debate about it of course, Legend and Wild putting up the most fight about it (them being the worst at self-care as he’s seen) but eventually all cave at the promise of their brothers actually taking care of themselves, which is what Wind was counting on. 

  Rules are set of course, by Twilight’s insistence. “We can’t just punish each other for whatever we want, there needs to be ground rules and boundaries, even if they’re just a loose framework to reference.” The rancher insists. 

  That goes uncontested, so Warriors pulls out one of his notebooks and Legend one of his pens and, because Wild’s handwriting is the best, they all gather around the Champion and consider rules together. 

  In the end, they have nine. 

Rule 1: Self-deprecating comments regarding skills, the worth of a person and/or the validity of their life will result in a 20 rupee fine and extensive cuddles 

Rule 2: Blatant self-neglect (i.e. refusing to eat, refusing to sleep, not tending injuries or allowing help with injuries, lack of bathing/basic hygiene etc.) will result in both a 15 rupee fine and someone helping to ensure basic needs are met 

Rule 3: Self-injury and/or allowance of injury through purposeful carelessness in battle or throwing of self in the way of danger will result in a 20 rupee fine and a long talk 

Rule 4: Joking comments regarding a lack of self-worth will result in a 5 rupee fine 

Rule 5: Ask for help.  

Rule 6: The group must be in agreement regarding fines and consequences whenever an offence is made (with the exception of the accused) 

Rule 7: All money in the ‘care jar’ will go towards the group and will not be kept by any one person 

Rule 8: If someone believes they have not been judged fairly in regards to punishment they will be allowed to contest their sentence and defend themself without interruption or correction (all comments/questions will be saved for the end of the explanation) 

Rule 9: If someone hits a depressive state, punishment will be with-held and will be instead replaced with discussion in order to not further aggravate the deteriorated mental state 

  The last one is something Wild adds himself, but no one contests it; it’s a good one. Personally, Wind thinks it’s a good list in general, and he knows the others agree. Legend and Wild specifically look relieved when he suggests the eighth rule, which makes sense. He knows those two don’t have a great record with being allowed to speak up for themselves in certain regards. The champion has only hinted at being made to be silent, but they all know about the vet’s criminal record and how it resulted from misunderstandings he was never allowed to clear. 

  Once done, the list is carefully pasted to what Hyrule has aptly titled the ‘care jar’ and the thing is slipped back into Wind’s bag for the night, waiting (hopefully for a long while yet) to be pulled out for the first offence. 

[sgt-morgan]

Of Cowboys and Daisies🐎

Summary: Jack is assigned to watch over a mother and her adorable little girl. As they get closer and closer to taking care of their problem, Jack worries he won’t be able to let go.

Warnings: AFAB! Female identifying reader, talks of cannon typical violence, death of a spouse x2, really a fluff piece.

A/N: I wrote this because I have that stupid Tik tok edit song stuck in my noodle.

Masterlist

Follow up fic

Agent Whiskey wasn’t sure he was going to survive this arrangement. Champ said it was temporary, but his idea of temporary passed about two months ago. It was a fairly simple assignment, and with everything that’s happened, an easy assignment is a lot kinder than getting kicked off the team. So he took the job, even though the rapidly approaching end of it made him want to drink until he couldn’t see straight.

“It’s a simple protection detail.” Champ had shrugged, pulling the file out of his desk and smacking it down in front of him with a sigh. “She’s a youngin’, at least to me anyway. She’s CIA, talented too, once her life is out of the red zone, I’ll probably recruit her. Sharp as a tack, quick as a whip, and she’s got the mouth of a sailor, she’s right up your alley.” Jack studies the files with interest, running a curious finger over the picture of you that was attached to the file. You were a looker for sure, he listened to champ go on, reading over your impressive and extensive file, until he ran across a bit of information that shocked him half to death.

“She’s got a baby?” He huffed, incredulous.

“Yeah, little girl, her names Daisy May, she’s three. She’s sweeter than a peach, got Tequila and Ginger wrapped around her little finger already, and Momma is just as bad.” Champ chuckled, pouring them both a glass of Statesman’s finest while Jack stared at him intent on hearing every detail Champ was willing to offer. “Her late husband was a SEAL. Top ranking, special ops, very high up on the food chain. One day she goes out to grab dinner with the baby, comes back and he’s dead with a note pinned to his chest with her cover details written all over it. Tried to deal with it on her own, then after about two months she pulls the bottle her daddy- former agent Brandy god rest his soul- left her and called us up asking us to make her disappear. So we called our buddies at the CIA, got her cleared, and we’re doing it. She’s our-specifically your- problem until we can take out whoever blew her cover.”

Jack stared at the amber liquid in his glass and thought long and hard about that one. It’s a dark story, indicative of his own. “Where are we keeping her?” He sighs, swirling the liquid once more before shooting it.

“Well son, that’s up to you. If you wanna do a safe house, that’s fine. We can radio y’all in and use satellite to do the rest, or you can use the ranch. Familiar territory for you, plenty of security, and it means we can all look after her and the little one when necessary.” Champ sighs when Jack slides his glass back over to him.

“Where abouts they from?” Jack questions, “They gonna be ok living in a ranch or am I working with city slickers?”

“Oh no, She’s originally from Prestonsburg, she’s Floyd county born and raised. They were living in Texas though. Her husband was a Texan, moved to Austin to be closer to family and all that. She ain’t got anybody but an Aunt back home, but she’s an Eastern Kentucky girl. She grew up riding horses.” Jack’s eyebrows shot up to the brim of his hat at Champs little interlude.

“Well Shoot Champ, you really shot the shit with her huh?” He laughs.

“Her daddy was a friend, and she’s just like him. She’s a good girl, you’ll like her.” Champ nodded him to the door, and Jack took the dismissal in stride. Champ had high hopes, and Jack just hoped he was right.

Reflecting on it now, it’s laughable how skeptical he was. You were a picture of perfection. When he first met you, he knew, and Daisy put the bow on top of the package.

Funnily enough his horse introduced you, Tequila and Ginger were walking you around the distillery grounds, and had stopped to let you show Daisy the horses. He found you standing outside of a stall, specifically the stall of his horse, Coke. Coke is an Appaloosa with a blanket with spots. He’s not normally friendly with newcomers, having a stubborn streak a mile wide, but Jack was shocked to see you stood in front of the Horse’s stall with no issue. You had the baby propped on one hip, with her head on your shoulder and a thumb in her mouth, and Coke’s muzzle resting on the other. You were casually talking to Ginger while Tequila stared on shocked as you fondly stroked the horse’s muzzle. Normally, everyone knew not to turn their back on his horse, unless of course you were him. Coke was known to be a jester, and liked to nip at your hair or push you around with his muzzle, but there he stood, cozying up to a woman he just met today. He stood back and kept watching, seeing what the horse was up to. He heard the horse nicker and huff, moving his head to push towards the baby and you laughed, letting the curious animal nuzzle at the girl.

“Yeah big boy,” you patted his crest as he moved his head off your shoulder to let the baby stroke his muzzle, “yeah- gentle Daisy May, be nice- yeah big boy, that’s my Daisy, you like her? Yeah, that’s the baby, are you a good boy? hmm?” You talked to the horse and he watched as you pulled a sugar cube from the shelf next to the stall and let the girl feed it to Coke. The big horse oh-so-gently took the cube from the girl, tickling her palm and she giggled. The horse huffed through his nose and threw his head a bit and you laughed. “Oh ho ho! Well, you liked that huh? I’d give yah another big boy but I don’t know if your rider would take too kindly to me fattening up such a pretty stallion, bet you make all those pretty broodmares happy huh? Yeah.” You laugh as he whinnies.

“Well, He took a liking to you quick.” Jack called, making himself known and getting closer to the stall. “Ol’ Coke here is usually a temperamental fella.”

“Who, this guy?” You smirk as the horse huffs again at Daisy’s hair making her giggle. “Why no, he’s a sweet fella. Ain’t yah big boy?” The horse bobs his head as if nodding in agreement and Jack chuckles.

“Don’t let him fool yah,” Tequila grumbled, eyeing the horse warily, “That menace picks on anybody that ain’t him.” He pointed at Jack with a glare and Jack chuckled.

“Now don’t be bitter sunshine, you’re just mad that he pushed you into the water trough last summer.” Jack grinned at you with a wink and you laughed. Then the girl on your hip tugged at your hair a bit and whispered in your ear. Like most children though, Daisy was not a good whisperer.

“Mama, wook, Cowboy.” She mumbled around her thumb, pointing to Jack’s Stetson. Oh how his heart melted, he knew he was a goner then and there.

“Oh man,” you gasped, “you’re right! I bet this is his horsey.” You nodded and the girls eyes twinkled with wonder.

“Horsey pwetty.” She nodded sagely, “Ask him mumma, wanna ride him.” She had the biggest eyes, her tiny curls were barely contained by the pigtails her hair was in. She was a pretty little baby, and a carbon copy of her momma, dressed in little denim overalls and a pretty flowered shirt. She was cute, almost too cute, he didn’t know how he’d survive the next month or so with those big eyes pleading with him to give her anything she wanted, he knew he would be too weak to say no, he has a hard time picturing anyone saying no to her, not even her momma. Speaking of the mom, she was beautiful. She had on a beat up Vietnam tiger stripe jungle fatigue with a patch reading ‘Brandy’ rolled up to the elbows. Her T-shirt read ‘Kentucky Strong’ and he recognized it as one of those charity shirts that raised money for the flooding in Eastern Kentucky. She had aviators perched on her nose and two dog tags around her neck, one that was clearly older than the other, one for dad one for her husband if he had to guess. The best thing about the outfit though, was the shorts, those beautiful legs on full display, so good looking he had to pry his eyes off of her with the strength of ten men.

Jack jumped in all at once, “Am I a cowboy sweet baby? What gave me away? Was it the belt buckle?” He playfully tugged on it and gave an exaggerated frown, the girl giggled a no, and he pointed to his boots. “Oh, must’a been my boots!” He kicked up a heel to show off the worn brown leather boots. The girl squealed and laughed again, and you watched delighted that your baby was having so much fun.

“No!” Daisy laughed again clutching her hands together while she giggled. “No it was the hat!”

“Oh! Why silly me!” He breathed a fake sigh of relief, “I forgot it was up there sugar! Can’t be a cowboy without the hat!” The little girl laughed again in delight and he grinned back. Tequila and Ginger stared on shocked, Whiskey hadn’t been this carefree in a while, this little girl was working miracles. “Oh but I’ve gone and forgotten my manners,” Jack smacks his forehead dramatically “I never got your name Little lady! My name is Jack, what yours?” He extended a hand to the girl and she beamed, tucking her tiny hand in his.

“I’m Daisy!” She grinned, shaking his hand.

“Well, ain’t that just first class, you’re as pretty as a flower, so you must be Daisy!” He grinned at the delighted little girl, then whispered to her conspiratorially, “And who’s this?” He pointed at you and Daisy nodded, her mouth an ‘o’.

She introduced you and Jack smiled, tiling his hat to you, “Pretty name for a pretty lady, I’m Jack Daniel’s, code name Whiskey ma’am, pleased to make your acquaintance, and this here’s Coke.” He patted the horse’s flank as he stepped closer to you.

Your smile was just as magnetic as your daughter’s, and Jack felt his knees buckle, “Pleased to meet you Whiskey, Jack and Coke is my favorite combo, so I got high hopes this’ll be a good arrangement.”

And it was, y’all got on like a house on fire, and now he was very used to having you in his home. He hadn’t invited anyone into his space like this since his wife died. He couldn’t find the appeal in it, but there was something about you and this little girl he couldn’t seem to shake.

You were more than willing to tackle any task, and it was one of the things that he enjoyed most about you. In the months you had been there you helped around the Ranch any way you could. Jack had gotten used to doing the chores on his own, but he was suprised by how easily you worked yourself into his routine. It wasn’t a big Ranch, it was near the distillery in Oldham county, right smack in the middle between Louisville and La Grange. The ranch hosted his three horses, six chickens, two barn cats, and about 10 or so cows. In the mornings, you were up just as early as him, you alternated putting on the coffee, then he would deal with the horses (Coke, Julep, and Sazerac. You got a big kick out of their names, and he loved how you chuckled anytime he mentioned them.) and the cows, and you fed the chickens and the barn cats (Tom and Jerry, all the whiskey themed names). When you finished gathering eggs and greeting the cats, he would come back to you bouncing the baby on your hip while cooking breakfast.

“Well, you feed my animals and make my eggs, aren’t you handier than a pocket on a shirt.” He grinned one morning and you rolled your eyes with a chuckle.

“Well Cowboy, someone’s gotta feed you, black coffee and a Marlboro red aren’t breakfast, and they never will be.”

You were also a brilliant agent. Once you were settled, you and Jack started digging into anything you could find about the people who killed your husband, and you proved yourself an invaluable asset in intel gathering. You dug up more in a single hour than some men hoped to find in a lifetime, but it took its toll on you for sure. Day in day out combing over your husband’s files and trappings, staring at the inner mechanisms of his whole life and wonder what it would be like if he was here to finish all of his loose ends. He understood, and he hated that he couldn’t just take the pain for you, but it was a comfort to the both of you to have someone to talk to.

“Oh, the first week after his funeral was hell,” you sighed, playing with your daughters curls as she slept peacefully on your lap in the evening sun, “I kept trying to call him, to vent with him about how scared and tired I was, only to be reminded this wasn’t a deployment or a buissness trip, he was just… gone. Daisy was a mess too, cried for him every night, wouldn’t sleep until I showed her this video of him saying he loved her that he made her when he went on deployment. It broke my heart.” You sniffled and Jack felt his heart ache with sympathy.

“I know all about that hurt,” he sighed, handing you a beer and settling next to you on the big wrap around porch, “I’d keep rolling over and reaching for her in the middle of the night, I’d touch the cold sheets and I’d remember and it would hurt me every time.”

“Oh god yeah, took me weeks before I could truly sleep on my own again, I used to put one of his shirts on his pillow and sleep with it, it was the only way I could get myself to bed.” You sighed, nodding and sipping the drink.

“I used to spray her perfume on her pillow,” Jack nodded, “When I ran out I forced myself to sleep without it, It was months before I could get a full nights rest again.”

“I couldn’t imagine having to deal with all that alone,” you grimaced, “I at least had Daisy, I hate that you’re alone.”

“Well, I was alone, but I’m not anymore, I got you.” He slung an arm around your shoulder and you basked in the sun together until Jack felt you go lax in his grip. You had fallen asleep in his grasp, and he was shocked at how good it felt to have you be so vulnerable around him. It melted something in his chest. What was he gonna do with you.

You and Daisy just kept growing on him. His life was no longer just solitude and shoot outs, now it was a little more tea parties and tag and it was a very welcome change. You both had him wrapped around your fingers, every moment he wasn’t spending working on the project with you, or with Ginger and Tequila at Statesman, he was with you and your little girl.

One evening you were playing a game of tag, when Daisy just about caused them both a heart attack. You were running around and chasing each other in the small creek out the back of the ranch. Daisy was a doll in her little floral one piece, her wet hair plastered to her forehead and her little feet splashing away. You were a sight too, a black bathing suit with a cut out under your breasts showing off an ornamental tattoo that he really just wanted to-

“Come on Dada, catch me!” Time froze when the little girl said it and your jaws dropped, when you finally met each others gaze, you snapped out of it and turned to your daughter.

“No sweetie, that’s-“ you tried but the little girl cut you off.

“I know mumma. It’s otay though, Dada is no here, so this is my OTHER dada. It’s otay to have two dada.” She smiled and meandered to Jack, squeezing him in a hug. The little girl was barely knee high to a grass hopper, but she had hit him with that bombshell so hard she might as well have been a giant. Then, she just toddled off, finding interest in the stream once more, gathering rocks.

“Darlin I’m so sor-“ he began and you waved it away.

“Don’t worry Jack, she’s three. She adores you, and her only other frame of reference for a consistent male presence is her dad. Besides, if she had to pick another father figure, I’d want it to be you.” With that, you went to go stop her from tormenting a frog, and he stood there like a statue. The way you so casually said that amazed him, you put so much unwarranted faith in him, and it made the hardened cowboy turn to mush. Whatever this turns out to be though, one thing is for sure. He would do anything in the world for you and that little girl, and this just drove it home.

Weeks passed and you all just continued to get closer. Daisy asked for him as often as she did for you now when she’s upset, and he was now totally attached to their evening ritual of snuggling on the couch and watching Bluey. Every day you got closer and closer, and every day you found out more and more about your husbands killer, which ultimately led you to today.

Jack had left early, sun not even being up and the morning dew had just barely settled over the grass. Jack had gotten the mission from Ginger last night, and you had prepped and planned with him until he swore the plans were tattooed on the back of his eyelids.

It was over quick, he took them out and got his necessary intel and now you were safe. No blown cover, no second attempt at murder, just efficiency.

You’re free. You could go anywhere you want and you’d be safe. Where would you go? Your aunt was in Pburg, not too far off, a couple of tolerable hours away. Your late husband’s family though… they were in Texas, and that was more of a stretch.

This was miserable, thinking of all the ways you would leave him, though you weren’t even his to begin with. You were never his, you were just his charge, someone he was meant to protect, you and that perfect little girl. He got so caught up in it, he forgot to protect himself, and now he was faced with an old companion he never wanted to see again, loneliness.

He finally pulled up to the ranch, and Coke and the others were grazing in the first paddock near the front of the house, until the clever horse sees him and trots over with something in his teeth. It was a little stuffed rabbit, Coke had it by the ear and dropped it in his outstretched palm. It was like another painful reminder of what comes next. What would he do when his life was no longer bows and bunny rabbits. How would he go back to the way things were before. He sighed and made his way into the house, he was somewhat confused to see the front room totally empty. Normally, you’d be feeding the baby at this time, she would be sat in in the booster seat he’d bought for the kitchen table, in the little pink bib she always wore, probably making a mess, but then she’s squeal and wave at him and tell him to ‘come sit cowboy! I share!’ You’d laugh and tell her he had his own to eat, and she would frown and say ‘mine better!’ Today though, the kitchen was quiet and he felt his heart hammering in his chest, had you already gone? Were you so excited to be rid of him? But no, there was the sound of a shower, his shower specifically. He wandered into his room, and the sight there strengthened his resolve and told him that he needed to buck up and tell you how he feels, because he never wanted to sacrifice this.

Daisy was laying on his pillow, the stuffed horse toy that was an exact replica of Coke was tucked up under her chin, and she contentedly snored away on top of his quilt. The only light in the room was from the lamp on his bedside table, and a sliver leaking out from the cracked door to his bathroom. He carefully tucked the little girls blank is up over her chin, and listened to you humming from the shower. He was used to sharing his bathroom with you, normally you used the one near your room, but when you needed to shower and Daisy was napping, you preferred to use his so you could hear her if she cried. The warm smell of your shampoo was wafting from the bathroom, and your clothes were laid out on his bed. He ran a hand over them with a soft smile, the whole thing just felt so domestic. The sleeping child, the woman in his shower, the three sets of boots by his door, the pictures on his fridge. They all just felt so natural, filling his empty space with the feeling of home.

“Jack? Cowboy? Is that you?” You called from the bathroom.

“Yeah Sugar, it’s me.” He called back softly, padding his way into the bathroom and leaning up against the sink.

“How’d it go Whiskey? Did all go to plan?” He heard the hopefulness in your voice.

“Yeah sweetness, we did it. You’re free.” He could hear you pause at the melancholy in his voice and he was kicking himself. ‘Don’t ruin this for her Jacky, she should be happy.’ He heard the water kick off and handed you your Terry cloth robe and a towel. Once you were decent, you opened the curtain.

“You say that, but why does it sound like you just signed my warrant?” You asked curiously, squeezing the ends of your hair with a towel. He hadn’t realized how comfortable you had gotten around each other, but he supposed he shouldn’t be all that shocked. All the small touches, the snuggles, then tender moments. He was addicted to them now, and he never wanted to kick the habit.

“Well, I reckon you’d wanna get back to your life now there ain’t a target on your back.” He sighs, removing his hat and running a hand through his hair.

“Oh Jack,” you chuckled and his head whipped up when your palms came to rest on his cheeks. “These past few moths have been some of the happiest moments of my life since my husband passed. My daughter loves you, you are so good with her, she’s had nothing but smiles and laughter. You make my days better, you make me happy.” You caressed his cheek and he was hanging on to your every word, staring into those beautiful eyes he dreamed after these days. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it clearer baby, you’ll have to pardon me for that, Lord knows I’ve been a little scattered, but I have my life, it’s right here, with you. That is, if you’ll have me.”

He was stunned, here in his arms he held everything he never thought he’d have when his wife died. A beautiful woman, a sweet baby, laughter, light, and maybe even love. “Oh honey,” he gasped, pulling you in and finally kissing you like he’s wanted to since he saw you that first day in the stables. “Wild horses couldn’t drag me from you and that little girl.” You giggled and kissed him again, and again. When you finally broke away, you grinned up at him, and in this moment if you had asked him to kill an army of a thousand, he would have asked you what time you wanted him home for dinner.

“Well then cowboy? Why don’t you get gussied up and we can celebrate our new beginnings. Together.”

[chaifootsteps]

God I’m so fucking tired of Vivziepop. I’m sorry, I love some of her stuff, and I’ve learned to do more dynamic poses with her art, but I can’t watch anything made by her anymore. She’s too much. Too many rumors(that may or may not be true), has too many characters that look white, too many curse words, inappropriate usage of voodoo and rape, and making a character that is a literal cannibal and serial killer be sympathetic. I get it, it’s hell, and no one’s innocent(EXECPT FOR THE FUCKING ANTI-CHRIST APPARENTLY???), but I’ve been too many people make Alastor have mommy issues and people in the comments with be like “NOT MY POOKIE ALASTOR!!”

BITCH HE WOULD OWN YOUR SOUL AND TORTURE YOU SHUT UP!!!!

Also the fucking problem with backbone of wires Vox, “my fashion is stuck in 2012” Velvet, and that dickshitter Val. I’m perfectly fine with conventionally attractive people being horrendous people, it happens a lot, but they also downplay (sometimes) what the other Vees do and make Val seem like the worst. Vel sells a date rape drug, and Vox literally makes stalking easer and enables Val. THEY BOTH DO!!

And dear FUCKING LORD STOP SIMPING OVER ALASTOR. sure I get simping over a character that has a good character design, but he would push you aside without another thought. He. Does. Not. Care. ALSO IVE SEEN TOO MANY “JUST THE TIP ALASTOR!” FUCK THE SHIT OFFFF!!!!! STOP IT YOU HORNY MOTHERFUCKERSZZ!!!

And also adams entire character. I genuinely hate him. I don’t care for him. He was done so dirty and no I will not say that his character is good. I get it, yes a lot in the Bible about Adam is very misogynistic(for fucks sake in the Jewish Bible he got upset at Lilith because Lilith wanted to have sex equally(side by side sex)), but he’s. Fucking. Adam. THE FIRST MAN!!! Would he not be monitored by the seraphim or god himself??? He’s very important!! And when he fought Charlie, I was disappointed. “The entire human race came from these balls!!!” FUCK OFF!!! Would the first man, whom was made in gods image, curse like a sailor and call his second in command “danger tits???”

Rosie I like. No complains, just the voice is a bit much.

Angel and Husk. “Oh we’re doing slow burn!!” BITCH WHERE. HUH??? MASQUERADE IS LITERALLY THEM JUST FALLING IN LOVE GET OFF MY DICK

Also it’s so fucking vile that she named Vaggie Vagina. What the shit. Huh??? “Oh it’s mysogonistic Adam! It makes sense!” Yeah and going with that logic the fuck is lute short for?? Yeah, it’s a joke about female genitalia and it makes me sick,, I don’t even like saying her name.

Also fucking Pentious and Cherri. Get the FUCKKKK OFFFF. I just can’t stand them. Ugh. I don’t like it. I really don’t. It’s bad

Nifty. No.

Sorry, this was a rant. I’m so sorry

Sometimes you just need to rant, and I don't blame you one bit.

it's so, so fucking much, all the time.

[aaasdgnklm]

hey hye wanna hear my epic rant too bad ur gonna anyways

spoiler warning for epic: the musical, the thunder saga

Ok so the thunder saga. genuinely I’ve been shaking so much every time I’ve heard it. I’m gonna go song by song and this is a rant so theres gonna be a shitton of tangents sorry

1. suffering

this title scared me SO MUCH when I heard it cause like oh fuck my poor little guy(hes a king and has fought multiple wars and killed thousands of people) doesnt need more shit happening to him like leave him alone and then the melody was so upbeat and I was like huh?? and then ‘penelope’ starts talking and I’m like. pardon. what. sorry?? I was confused as shit, mostly at how nonchalant ODYSSEUS was. my first assumption was its gotta be one of the gods fucking w/ him but then why is he so casual? so I thought it was a dream. but then there were little things, penelope’s asking him to get in the water(which. reminds me of. someone HAHSBHADBH), and then he says hes scared of the water and I’m like. my guy I hope youre not afraid of the water youre a captain on a ship. but then I realized theres no way odys afraid of the water unless its bcuz of posideon, and penelope WOULDNT KNOW ABOUT THAT so he wouldnt say “you know I’m afraid of the water”. and then ofc shes like “daughter” and I’m like nope. this aint penelope and its not a dream cause then it would be odysseus’ mind making her up and hed never think daughter. And then odysseus asks how to get home and at this point I’m like hm. ok. so this is some kind of water based monster trying to pretend to be penelope to lure him in, right? (ALSO the fact that the only time in the song odysseus drops the act is when he says “but scylla has a cost” is so mmmmmm)and then. and then.

2. different beast

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT THIS IS WHERE THINGS GOT GOOD. like I love suffering but different beast scratches my brain SO GOOD and the rest of the saga was uphill from there I ahhhhhhhh. initial reaction: odysseus’ explanation that he knew what had been happening the whole time was SO GOOD and had my mouth hanging open the whole time. and then when he says “cut their tails off, we’re ending this now. throw their bodies back in the water. let them drown.” ohhhhhhhhhh my god holy fuck this was when it kinda hit for me- odysseus was not fucking around in monster hes actually BRUTAL in the thunder saga and I honestly hope it continues cause fuck yeah character development. also there were SO MANY lines in this that are just SO GOOD. “youve been tryna take my life this whole time” “I know exactly what you are, youre a siren.” “my real wife knows I’m not scared of the water, and my real wife knows I dont have a daughter.” “we found a ship with no crew” “sirens know about every route and horizon now I know how to get back to my island!” “so you can kill the next group of sailors in this part of the sea? nah, you wouldnt have spared me. I made a mistake like this once it almost cost my life, I cant take more risks of not seeing my wife. cut off their tails!” “kill them all!” and then the “odysseus” at the end I’m like why does that sound familiar? MFER ITS CAUSE ITS IN THE “You dont think I know my own palace? I built it.” SOUND CLIP IM

3. scylla

silly little sounds. silly little men. silly little deaths. ok so I watched the livestream so I saw the anamatic and holy SHIT the moment that eurylochus realized why odysseus had him light six torches was BRUTAL. also eurylochus’ confession that he opened the wind bag? ohhhhhhh ok MOTHER FUCKING SON OF A BITCH also when odysseus said “not much to say” god he sounds so tortured I cant with this. and scyllas voice in general is so ahhhhhh ESPECIALLY the “Hello.” and DROWN IN YOUR SORROW AND FEARS. CHOKE ON YOUR BLOOD AND YOUR TEARS. BLEED TILL YOU RUN OUT OF YEARS. WE MUST DO WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE. GIVE UP YOUR HONOR AND FAITH. LIVE UP YOUR LIFE AS A WRAITH. DIE IN THE BLOOD WHERE YOU BATHE. WE MUST DO WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE. with the fucking crunching and screaming in the background lik e ok. I needed this in my life.

4. mutiny

THIS IS MY FAVORITE. eurolychus’ confrontation with begging odysseus to tell him hes misinterpreted the situation, comparing odysseus’ past actions and fights to how he dealt with scylla, finally ending with him yelling at odysseus to “SAY SOMETHING!”, odysseus’ “I CANT.” and the looong pause before the boss battle starts. odysseus and eurolychus’ fight, both of them clearly not wanting to but knowing they have to. the chanting their name in the background. and then when odysseus says “I am not letting you get in my way!” and the sound of a stab- I was so scared hed actually killed eurolychus(yes I knew he dies I watched the overly sarcastic productions video on the odyssey too) and then ODYSSEYUS’ labored breathing and asking “why?” like I’m sorry jorge DID THEY STAB YOU TO GET THIS LYRIC WHY DOES HIS PHYSICAL PAIN SOUND SO GENUINE and then the. the fucking. the fucking luck runs out reprise. the MOMENT I realized it was the melody from luck runs out this is when I started crying.(dw past me it gets worse) the way that the crew is basically like “yeah remember when we asked what would happen if you fucked up? well you fucked up. and now youre finding out.” plus the fact that they are so clearly driving home we dont trust you. you failed to keep us safe. basically telling him ‘youre a bad leader’. that must have HURT. and then the fact that eurolychus bandaged him up and was waiting for him to wake up ough my heart. but also the fact that hes tied to helios’ statue? like. um. buddy. looking an awful lot like a sacrafice there. hahahahahah I’m loosing it. anyways, the luck runs out reprise hitting hard once again. like HARD. holy shit, odysseus’ “please don’t tell me you’re about to do what i think you’ll do” when that was what eurylochus said to him and then EURYLOCHUS CALLED HIM “ODY” I CANT and the eurylochus clearly being fed up(but not fed) while odysseus is actually begging him to please please think about this you can HEAR the desperation the need to get home and knowing if eurylochus kills the cow they probably wont? and then odysseus’ scream of “euRYLOCHUS NO!” cut short by the sound of eurylochus killing the cattle. and then the instant ‘oh no.’ like just INSTANTLY knowing they’re fucked and eurylochus STILL LOOKING TOWARD ODYSSEUS FOR GUIDENCE EVEN THO HE LITERALLY MUTINIED AGAINST HIM LIKE A DAY AGO AND HAS ODYSSEUS TIED UP AND AT HIS MIRCY AND HE STILL DEFAULTS TOWARDS ODYSSEUS FOR LEADERSHIP CAUSE HE STILL TRUSTS HIM and odysseus IMMEDIATELY taking charge and trying to get them out. the rushed full speed ahead melody, the boom of thunder and odysseus’ dread-filled “we’re too late.”

5. thunder bringer

IT LIVED UP TO THE HYPE GUYS!! sure enough the teasers we’ve seen are FUCKING AMAZING in the context of the song, zeus having an inflated as shit ego and taking up SO MUCH space, just like constantly talking about himself even tho IT AINT ABT HIM its so in character for what a massive dick he usually is in the greek mythos. and zeus deadass saying “if i were to make you choose, the lives of your men and crew or your own why do I think theyd loose?” right before MAKING ODYSSEUS CHOOSE. I’m. also odysseus sounds so.. small in this song. I dont know if its the fact hes literally having a mental breakdown or that zeus needs to be the biggest cock in any room he walks into but odysseus’ little “choose?” and him asking “please dont make me do this” JUST LIKE WHEN HIM AND ZEUS FIRST MET, the when does a man become a monster melody playing as odysseus tries to decide with penelopes voice asking him to come home pushing him over the edge wow. just wow. and the the conversation between odysseus and eurylochus? “captain?” “I have to see her.” “…but we’ll die.” “i know” I’m SORRY I CANT FUCKING DO THIS WHY DOES HE SOUND SO BROKEN AND REGRETFUL AND SAD AND OH MY GOD. AND THEN THE FUCKING ANIMATIC SHOWN IN THE TRAILER THE WAY HE JUST POINTS TOWARDS HIS CREW AND THEY ALL LOOK SO BETRAYED AND LOST BEFORE THEY START ATTACKING HIM AND THE LAST SHOT OF HIM CLOSING HIS EYES AS THEY PIN HIM TO THE MAST BY THE NECK WITH THEIR SWORDS AND THEN LIGHTNING STRIKES THE SHIP HOLY. also if you think about it this choice was kind of the final stress test for odysseus, because this is the ultimate decision: should he be a good king, captain, and friend or should he take the small chance to see his wife again? cause its not just about who lives and dies, its about who gets to keep going, who gets to see home, who gets a chance and who looses right now. and how could he choose the people who just stabbed him in the back and have doomed them multiple times over seeing his wife whom he loves and would do anything for? honestly, with what I know about how odysseus is, I wouldnt be very surprised if he was weighing the choice both from the emotional (seeing his wife or saving his crew) and factual (hes probably the strongest and most fit leader among them, they might not do too well on their own, ithaca needs a king and he doesnt know if telemachus can be that, one person has a higher chance of surviving than a large group in a journey(ingreekmythologyanyway), and they did just make a really dumb mistake that odysseus wouldnt have made himself and yeah ok maybe hes a little salty but still.)

genuinly the whole saga is so amazing and I’m so looking forward to the wisdom, vengence, and ESPECIALLY ithaca saga. by the way I could actually do this for every song in the musical/every saga tbh

thanks for coming to my tedtalk, I fucking love epic: the musical