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gleamingrednuzlocke · 3 years ago

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Chapter 7: At The Base of Mt. Moon

Hello! Here is the next chapter/update for you all!

Before we start, let me just say I was having fun with Legends Arceus and a certain fandom brought me back in so I delayed this story a little longer to work on a story for that said fandom. Plus like always life stuff happened, work was busy, and it is starting to get busier now with many sports events starting soon.

Thanks to my good friend @gigilefache for being my beta reader.

Other than that, enjoy!

Neth was the first one to wake up and quickly yelled to wake his team up. Though this in turn only caused Morgan to get scared and bump his head on the bed. “Oh! Sorry, Morgan!” Neth apologized.

“It’s fine,” Morgan replied.

Still feeling bad, Neth picked up Morgan and checked to see if a bruise formed on Morgan’s head. “No bruise,” he said. “Are you sure you're okay?” Neth asked.

Morgan nodded. “I am.” He replied.

Neth sighed and gave a small smile. “Okay.” He put Morgan down and soon he and the team left their room to have breakfast at the Pokémon Center Dining Hall. Once he and his team finished they left Pewter City and continued to Cerulean City.

Just as they started to make their way to Cerulean City, Morgan and Neth’s eyes widened seeing the number of trainers on Route 3.

“Ready to do some battling?” Neth asked his team. The team chuckled and smirked as they battled trainer after trainer, that is until one Bug-Catcher and his Weedle came about.

“Weedle! Poison Sting!” The Bug-Catcher commanded.

The Weedle then launched Poison Sting towards Jasper, and while it didn’t do much damage, the stingers did poison Jasper.

“Gah!” Jasper gasped. The Rattata started to feel hot, and the poison started to take full effect on him.

Neth gasped seeing Jasper sick from the poison. Neth looked back at who in the team he could use to switch out, but Jasper interrupted him. “It’s fine Neth! I can do this!”

The trainer gulped. He wasn’t sure about his Rattata wanting to battle more, but Jasper was sounding confident to take down the Weedle.

“A-alright,” he replied, “Jasper! Tackle, once more!”

Jasper gave a weak smile and soon dashed towards the Weedle and that tackle was the one to finish the battle. “No! Weedle!” The Bug-Catcher shouted. The Bug-Catcher went over to his Weedle and picked him up to see if the bug-type was still alive.

As much as Neth wanted to thank the trainer for the battle, it didn’t seem to be the right time. He quickly scooped Jasper and dashed back to the Pewter City Pokemon Center.

Back at the Pokemon Center, Neth waited patiently for Jasper to get healed. Soon, Nurse Joy came in carrying Jasper in her arms. “Your Rattata is much better!” She exclaimed. “You made it just in time, any minute later we might’ve not saved him in time.”

Neth smiled and grabbed Jasper from the nurse and held him close. “Glad you're feeling better buddy.” He whispered.

“Make sure to have Antidotes and Peach Berries with you at all times. Just in case you're not near any Pokémon Centers.” Nurse Joy reminded him.

“Antidotes and Peach Berries. Got it! Thanks, Nurse Joy.” Neth replied.

Nurse Joy smiled. “You’re welcome.”

Neth and his team left the Pokemon Center and grabbed the Antidotes, as well as a few extra Pokeballs just in case, and went back to Route 3 where Neth and his team left off. Neth’s team battles the remaining trainers with no problems.

Then, something amazing happened. Neth did some switch training with Kunzite and Jasper against a Bug-Catcher and it was soon Kunzite’s turn to attack. “Kunzite, Tackle once more!” Neth commanded.

Kunzite hopped from the ground and soon rammed into the Weedle knocking it out. The bug-catcher sighed that he lost the battle. “Not again.” He groaned walking away.

“Well, that was easy! Right Kunzite?” Neth asked. He then saw Kunzite starting to glow. “Kunzite?” Soon Kunzite started to glow as a crack was heard and out came a bee-like Pokémon; Beedrill. Neth’s smile widened seeing Kunzite had evolved, though his other Pokemon were in fear of seeing their team member evolve into a well-known dangerous Pokemon.

“Come on guys.” Kunzite chuckled. “I’m still the same Weedle you guys know!” As Kunzite pointed his stinger to the group.

“Careful with that thing!” Jasper shouted.

Jasper gave a sheepish smile and put his stinger down. “Sorry.” He replied with a chuckle.

Meanwhile, in a grassy field, a male Nidoran was taking a nap in the grass. He was soon woken up hearing Neth and his team passing by him. Nidoran peaked through the grass, watching the team pass by. “Who are they?” The Nidoran asked, in a low whisper. His eyes narrowed, waiting to see where Neth and his team were going.

When Nidoran saw Neth was about to step into the grass that was his time to attack. He leaped into the grass and tackled Neth in his stomach causing him to fall. Neth groaned and looked up to see what attacked him. Nidoran growled and was ready to charge again, but Morgan used his Vine Whip to hold the Nidoran back. Nidoran tried to force his way through Morgan’s vines, but Morgan was able to hold the Poison-type a bit longer before accidentally pushing him away. Morgan gasped seeing what he had done and went over to see if Nidoran was alright.

“You okay?” Morgan asked.

Nidoran groaned and rubbed his head. “Hopefully. What are you guys doing here?” He asked.

“We’re passing through,” Amber replied. “We just need to pass here, head to Mt. Moon, and head to the next gym in Cerulean Gym!”

Nidoran smiled. “Can I come?” He asked.

Morgan opened his mouth about to agree, but he got nervous and looked up at Neth.

“Of course, you can,” Neth replied with a smile.

Nidoran smiled as Neth took a Pokeball from his bag and captured the Pokemon. Neth smiled and looked at the Pokeball as he thought of a good name for his new friend. “Welcome to the team, Titanite.” He said, after coming up with a name for his new team member.

“Alright. Let’s check on Titan’s data!” Neth exclaimed as he checked the Pokedex on Titan’s Summary. When going through Titan’s data, Neth saw how low leveled Titan was compared to everyone else. “Guess we’re going to do some training before we head inside the cave.” The team nodded and got ready to help Titanite or Titan with training.

The training wasn’t too bad, a few wild Pokemon here and there that helped Titan level up bit by bit. Morgan and the rest of the team helped as well, including Peridot. Speaking of Peridot…

Peridot used Tackle on a Spearow, which surprisingly did critical damage despite the type difference. “You were amazing Peridot!” Neth beamed. Peridot blinked and smiled before starting to glow and evolve. Soon Peridot was now a beautiful Butterfree that flew into the area.

“I’m a Butterfree.” Peridot realized. She laughed and flew some more, “I’m a Butterfree!” She repeated, louder and prouder. The Butterfly Pokemon continued to fly before slowing down and just fluttered near Neth.

Morgan smiled seeing Peridot had evolved with Kunzite all on the same day, but soon felt a pang of jealousy seeing Kunzite and Peridot evolving before him. Peridot saw her team member looking down and floated towards the Bulbasaur. “What’s wrong Morgan?”

“N-nothing!” Morgan replied. He didn’t want to tell his teammate how he was feeling. He didn’t want to make the situation worse. “I’m just happy for you.” Peridot floated close to Morgan’s face, making the grass-type very nervous.

The Butterfree knew something was wrong with her friend, she could sense it. She was just about to ask Morgan again when a loud thud caught her attention. Morgan and Peridot turned around to see Titan critically injured by a Jigglypuff.

“Titan! Get up!” Neth yelled. Titan struggled to get up as Jigglypuff was about to attack it once more, but Peridot came in and used her new attack, Confusion, to take down the Jigglypuff.. Once the Jigglypuff was defeated and scared off, Peridot and Morgan went over to Neth and Titan.

Titan groaned. “Did I win?” He asked.

“Well I did, but you got your thorny butt taken down by a Jigglypuff.” Peridot explained. Titan felt embarrassed and hid his face in Neth’s shirt. “But you should get checked out.”

Seeing she could fly, Peridot flew as high as she could and saw there was a Pokemon Center not too far from their next destination; Mt. Moon. “Neth! I found one!” Peridot yelled. She then floated down closer to him, “and it’s not too far from here.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Neth asked. “Let’s hurry!” The team nodded and dashed towards the Pokemon Center to get Titan treated. The second they got to the Pokemon Center, Neth gave Titan to Nurse Joy to get him treated.

As Neth sat down to wait for Titan to get well, a fisherman walked over to him. “Excuse me, young man?” He asked. Neth and his team turned towards the man. “Would you be interested in adopting my Magikarp?” The fisherman showed his Magikarp, which looked to be bigger than him.

“Uh…” Neth shuttered a bit. He wasn’t too keen on getting a Magikarp, and he already had a full team of six. “Sorry. I already have six Pokemon.” The man looked down and left the Pokemon Center, but Neth rolled his eyes.

“Excuse me, Neth?” Nurse Joy asked. Neth and his team turned to see Titan in Nurse Joy’s arms. The Nidoran had a bandage underneath his horn. “Your Nidoran is all better.”

Neth sighed and held Titan in his arms hugging him. “Thanks again, Nurse Joy!”

“You’re welcome.” She replied with a smile. “Now if you are going straight to Mt. Moon now be careful, I’ve been hearing rumors of some evil gang lurking in there.”

Morgan gulped hearing the words evil team. “Don’t worry Nurse Joy, my team and I can handle a group of bad guys!” Neth beamed. Morgan’s eyes widened and he started to sweat bullets.

“Are you crazy?” Morgan whispered. Neth ignored it and he and his team left the Pokemon Center and headed inside Mt. Moon. Morgan gulped as they stepped inside Mt. Moon.

Mt. Moon was a dimly lit cave, so there was no need for Neth to pull out a flashlight to explore the cave. Walking through the cave, Neth heard echoes from multiple different Pokemon that he didn’t notice Amber stopped him. “What’s wrong?” Neth asked. Amber didn’t respond and just pointed at the ground.

Neth looked down and saw a Paras that he almost stepped on tilted his head in confusion. “Aww hello there.” He said. Paras squeaked in reply making everyone aww in cuteness. “Would you like to join our team, cutie?”

Paras squeaked, jumping up and down in excitement. Neth chuckled and took out a Pokeball tapping the Mushroom Pokemon on the head, capturing it. “Welcome to the team Tourmaline.” Soon as Neth said that his Pokeball had pixelated and disappeared.

Neth’s team gasped seeing what they just saw.

“Where did Tourmaline go?” Jasper asked.

“To the PC,” Neth answered. “It’s a system where trainers who have more than one Pokemon send their extra Pokemon.”

“Will Tourmaline be alright?” Morgan asked.

“He will. Don’t worry.” Neth replied, petting Morgan on the head.

Neth and his team explored more of Mt. Moon, till eventually, they made it to a dead end. The group was ready to turn back when a man wearing an all-black uniform with a red R on the shirt walked over to Neth and his team.

“Well, well, well. Another newbie trainer is lurking around here.” The man said, tossing his Pokeball back and forth into the air.

“Who are you?” Neth asked.

The man chuckled. “It’s classified, but just call me Rocket Grunt.”

“So you're part of Team Rocket.”

The Team Rocket Grunt made a clicking noise with his tongue. “Correcto, twerp.” The grunt then threw his Pokeball and out came a Sandshrew. The ground type growled and tried to scratch at Neth, who jumped back at the Pokemon trying to attack him.

“Hey! What gives?” Neth snapped.

The grunt chuckled. “You see twerp, Team Rocket doesn’t play fair. We are Pokémon Gangsters.”

“Pokemon Gangsters?!”

The grunt chuckled again. “We use Pokémon for our own good.” The grunt then glanced at his Sandshrew. “Now Sandshrew get rid of that twerp for me.”

Sandshrew growled and went in with a Scratch attack towards Neth, but soon Morgan came in and used Vine Whip on Sandshrew, slapping him away from Neth. “Leave him alone!” Morgan yelled, a slight whimper was heard in his voice. Sandshrew growled and went to use Scratch on Morgan again, but Morgan missed the move. “Neth!” He yelled.

Neth nodded knowing Morgan is ready to battle. “Morgan, use Tackle!”

Morgan ran and rammed Sandshrew to a rock, knocking it out. The Team Rocket grunt growled and put Sandshrew back in its Pokeball. “I’m gonna need backup.” The grunt grumbled as he sent out his next two Pokémon, Zubat, and Rattata.

Morgan felt a bit nervous battling two Pokemon, but he then felt Peridot come near him.

Putting her wing on Morgan’s bulb she whispered. “We got this.” Morgan nodded, trusting in his friend.

“Zubat, Astonish!” The Team Rocket Grunt commanded.

Zubat flew by and was ready to make a scary face, but Zubat froze mid-air. It turned to see Peridot’s eyes glowing red. The Butterfree snickered as Zubat was confused as to why Butterfree was snickering.

“Peridot. Use Confusion!” Neth commanded.

Peridot snickered as she used Confusion to push Zubat away and slammed the Bat Pokemon to a rock wall. Zubat groaned as it slid before being returned to its Pokeball. The Team Rocket grunt had one Pokemon left and sent it out revealing a Rattata.

“Think you can handle this one?” Peridot asked Morgan.

“Y-yeah.” Morgan replied, nervously. He then stepped up and was ready to battle the Rattata.

The Team Rocket grunt chuckled. “Rattata, use Hyper Fang!” He commanded. Team Rocket’s Rattata ran towards Morgan ready to pounce and bite him. This is when time started to feel slow with Morgan and Neth.

Flashbacks to the day Morgan and Neth started their journey, and Morgan almost died at the hands of a Rattata. “Morgan! Dodge it!” Neth called out, but Morgan stood frozen. “Morgan! Dodge it!” He repeated, but Morgan was still frozen in fear. “Morgan! Dodge NOW!” Neth screamed.

Morgan gasped, snapping out of it, and jumped to the side before Rattata could use Hyper Fang on him. Morgan glared and was ready to battle Rattata. Neth sighed in relief seeing Morgan missed the attack.

“Morgan! Tackle attack!” Neth commanded.

Morgan glared and dashed towards Rattata and rammed into the other Pokémon. Rattata slid holding its ground ready for their trainer to command them the next attack. “Rattata, Tackle!”

Rattata followed the commander and ran into Morgan, who braced the attack.

“Morgan! Vine Whip!” Neth commanded once more.

Soon Morgan released his vines and used the attack to knock out Rattata. Morgan breathed heavily, tired from the battle.

“I did it,” Morgan thought, “but why do I feel so tired and woozy?”

Soon Morgan glowed as his body started to change; the bulb on his back got bigger as what appeared to be leaves started to appear. Soon the glow faded, and Morgan opened his eyes to see he was no longer a Bulbasaur, but an Ivysaur.

“I…evolved?!” Morgan exclaimed. Neth and Peridot chuckled in glee seeing Morgan had finally evolved.

The Team Rocket grunt yelled in frustration and pulled out a walkie-talkie. “I need back up!” The Team Rocket grunt yelled. As soon as he said that three more Team Rocket Grunts and their Pokemon showed up ready to take on Neth and his team.

“Alright, little punk.” A female grunt spoke up. “Let’s see if you can challenge all of us.” Her Zubat glared as it flew right in front of her.

Neth glared, ready to take on Team Rocket as his team was even stronger now. “Alright. Let’s go!” He replied.

Soon, Neth’s Pokémon took down Team Rocket’s Pokémon one by one. Morgan used Vine Whip, Peridot used Confusion and Tackle, Titan used the best of his attacks but was switched with Amber or Jasper if the battle got too rough on him. After the battle, the Team Rocket grunts looked in shock seeing their Pokemon defeated.

“Who are the twerps now?” Neth asked, in a smug manner.

Team Rocket growled as they put their Pokemon back in their Pokeballs. “You win this round twerp.” One of the grunts said. “Next time we won’t go easy on you.” The grunts then ran out of the cave, and Neth sighed gladly now that it was all over.

“You guys alright?” Neth asked his team.

“Yep.” Jasper replied. “That was fun.”

“Can we do it again?” Kunzite asked.

Neth chuckled and soon he put his Pokémon back into their Pokeballs one by one. “Of course, but now I’ll let you guys rest a bit.” He told them.

Neth kept on walking through Mt. Moon and saw no more disruptions. He was almost at the exit but soon saw two large rocks on the wall of the mountain. Once he got a closer look he saw they weren’t rocks, but fossils.

“Back off!” A nasal voice shouted. Neth turned to see a Super Nerd trainer marching over to him. “These are my fossils! You can’t have them!”

“Says who?” Neth asked, crossing his arms.

“Says me!” The Super Nerd replied. “Unless you want to battle me?” He asked, showing his two Pokeballs.

The second the nerd said “battle” two of Neth’s Pokeballs that carried Manky and Morgan came out. The Nerd’s eyes widened seeing the two Pokémon in front of him ready to fight his Pokémon. “So you want to fight, huh?” Amber asked.

The Super Nerd gulped before chuckling nervously. “I’ll let you take one if your Mankey doesn’t kill me.” He whimpered.

“Thank you,” Neth replied. “And don’t worry she won’t.” He added as Neth looked at the fossils to see which one to pick. Neth decided to pick the fossil on the right; the Helix Fossil and put it in his backpack. Neth, Morgan, and Amber then left the cave and breathed in the fresh air.

Neth saw the sun was ready to set and through the horizon were the lights turning on in Cerulean City in the distance. “Looks like we’re almost there!” Neth beamed. Amber and Morgan chuckled as they followed their trainer to Cerulean City.

Meanwhile, in the bushes, the Team Rocket Grunt from earlier glared as he grabbed his phone and dialed a number. “Hey, Boss! Got some big news for you.” He said. A reply was heard muffled on the other side of the phone. “Looks like we got a twerp in our hands.”

#Pokemon Fire Red Nuzlocke #Morganite the Bulbasaur #Morgansite the Ivysaur #Peridot the Metapod #Peridot the Butterfree #Jasper the Rattata #Team Rocket #Amber the Mankey #Kunzite the Beedrill #Tour the Nidoran

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moonlit-manifesto · 4 years ago

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Heartbreak Red Takeover 2021

Heartbreak Red’s “Delayed April Fools” 2021! This year the Heartbreak Red twitter Q&A session happened on April 3 instead of April 1. (Probably because Tsukino Productions dropped that huge 20 minute April Fools video instead lol). Heartbreak Red answers people’s tweets that have the hashtag #失恋ポスト (#heartbreak post) and are categorized as Advice, Message, Request, and Other.

Sometimes other characters from Tsukiuta or Tsukipro make an appearance too! Reminder that Heartbreak Red is Arata’s alter ego, so he’ll never refer to himself as Arata when he’s in character as Red. Since there are so many tweets, I’ll only be translating the interesting or funny ones. Read below the cut!

[MESSAGE] Heartbreak Red-san, it’s been a while! The weather was nice today so I went to an event at the Tobu zoo!! The cherry blossoms were beautiful too, and I had fun *sparkle sparkle*. I made some great memories. Thanks so much ( ´ ` *)

Heartbreak Red: “Whoa, thanks! Cherry blossoms, aaaaah I want to go see them too!”

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[REQUEST] I love Arata-kun and Aoi-kun as the childhood friend pair, so can you each tell us something that you did recently?!!

Heartbreak Red: “Eh~ Well, I’m not Uduki-san so here’s Aoi-kun!”

Aoi: “My childhood friend is too busy having fun playing a superhero right now (lol). Recently, Haru-san was telling me about that kaiju film he made [for April Fool’s Day].”

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[ADVICE] I’ve been wanting to feel some springtime refreshment as a break to my daily work grind. Eichi-kun, what kinds of things remind you of spring? I’d like your advice!

Heartbreak Red: “Eichi-saaaaaaan~~!”

Eichi (from QUELL): “Hello! I like cherry blossom viewing, but since we can’t gather this year I’ve been taking a lot of walks by the riverbank where they’re in bloom ♪ “

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[ADVICE] Hello! Right now I’m holding down two jobs and it’s hard to take days off... Please give me some encouraging cheers!

Heartbreak Red: “The force that keeps the economy going is: you----!!!! You’re a force to be reckoned with----!!!! Amazing---!!! But be sure not to overwork yourself, okay?”

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[ADVICE] I’m in love with Okui Tsubasa-kun from SolidS and I have a broken heart. But Tsubasa-kun is so cool, I can’t help but be in love again. What should I do? P.S. I look forward to this day every year, Heartbreak Red.

Heartbreak Red: “Gah~! Hmph!”

Tsubasa (from SolidS): “Hey, what was that, just call for me lololol. Anyways, to the you who is beyond my reach: we may be apart, but I will always love you. I put a lot of feeling into my songs, be sure to listen to them a lot ♪ xoxo”

Heartbreak Red: “As expected from Tsukipro’s best reader of women’s hearts...!! And thank you for supporting my activities!”

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[REQUEST] Yoru-kun! Tell us what you’re making for dinner today.

Heartbreak Red: “Yorurun~! What’s on the menu tonight~!?”

Yoru: “We’re having mapo tofu!!! Sorry it’s not anything super exciting to talk about!!!”

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[REQUEST] Please call Kisaragi Koi over (｡>_<｡)♡

Heartbreak Red: “Pink.”

Koi: “What’s with the lack of enthusiasm!? Anyways - hi there! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و I’m Koi-kun!! Thanks for calling for me! I hope you have a fun weekend!!”

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[MESSAGE] I really like Issei-kun and Ichiru-kun’s costumes from the Sweets Kingdom theme...!

Heartbreak Red: “Same~ It’s a double whammy of beauty and coolness.”

Issei (from QUELL): “Thank you so much!”

Ichiru (from QUELL): “I didn’t think the frills suited me, but when I heard everyone’s compliments I started to think they weren’t so bad (haha). Thanks!”

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[OTHER] That April Fools video was funny! By the way, how did Haru-san come up with the idea in the first place......?

Heartbreak Red: “The day after he slept a lot he proposed the idea for the video with a refreshed look on his face.”

Haru: “Yeah, I had slept well-!”

Kakeru: “It’s a given you'd ask about Haru-san’s peculiar sense of movie direction.”

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[MESSAGE] Whenever I’m feeling anxious or sad and I listen to Growth’s music, it always turns my mood around. I love the music that Mamoru composes and Growth puts out!!

Mamoru (from Growth): “On behalf of Growth, thank you very much! These feelings are like nourishment for the pachira of my soul!”

Heartbreak Red: “We’re looking forward to more amazing music!”

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[REQUEST] I’m not feeling confident in myself, and I’m worried about my future. I’d like to hear some words from Shun-sama so that I can live with my head held high!!

Shun: “Be proud that you were able to catch my eye with your request. Someone that is proud no matter their appearance, upbringing, or place is strong and beautiful.”

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[REQUEST] I’m worried about entering high school. I want to be encouraged by youthful SOARA!

Heartbreak Red: “Hey! SOARA!”

Sora (from SOARA): “Okay everyone, let’s go! Bursting~!!”

SOARA: “Youth!!!”

Morihito (from SOARA): “Be sure to make a lot of memories in high school!”

Heartbreak Red: “So refreshing!!”

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[ADVICE] Good evening, Red-san~ I’m a third year student at an overseas college. I study Japanese for six hours each day in addition to studying for my actual major, but I don’t think it’s a very efficient way to learn Japanese. I’d like to ask the two Six Gravity seniors if they know of a more effective study method.

Heartbreak Red: “Come on out, you two!”

Haru: “Six hours is a lot! Japanese seems like a difficult language to learn, but it makes me happy seeing you put so much passion info it♪"

Hajime: "I think you should study while having fun and use media you're interested in to help learn. Why not try watching movies with Japanese subtitles or reading manga as a study method? It will hold your interest and allow you to take a breather from regular studying."

Heartbreak Red: "Good luck with your studies!"

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[MESSAGE] Shou-san, every time I see you, your hair looks so fluffy! Do you have a shampoo recommendation?

Shou (from ROCK DOWN): "Thanks for your kind words. The shampoo I use is... whatever Haruto picked out... What was it called again...?"

Heartbreak Red: "Are all the white-haired people like this???"

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[ADVICE] I love Sakuraba Ryota-kun too much~ Help me, Heartbreak Red and Pool of Blood Red!! [Pool of Blood Red is Ryota's red alter ego] Ryota (from Growth): "I don't know anything about pools of blood, but if you're mind's made up about submitting your entire being to that deep sea I wouldn't mind."

Heartbreak Red: "So aloof, Pool of Blood R-"

Ryota: "That's not me!!!!"

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[OTHER] Good evening, Heartbreak Red-san! I've been waiting for this year's April Fool's Day! I noticed a lot of Uduki-san's visuals last year had his tongue showing, so I was wondering if this trend will continue? If Red-san were to do that too, it would be super cute~ Looking forward to supporting you in the future.

Heartbreak Red: "(´ڡ`)＜So you like me like this, do you?"

Heartbreak Red: "Ah, I'm not Uduki-san though."

You: "This is confusing."

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[REQUEST] Heartbreak Red-san! I want to ask what Dai-chan's favorite dessert he's had recently is!

Heartbreak Red: "Dai-chan-san!"

Dai (from SolidS): "Recently... Shiki brought back some souvenir snacks. It had cream cheese in it and since then I've been addicted to them. So those are probably my recent favorite."

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[OTHER] Roa-kun! Rei-kun! Let's have a remote flower viewing drinking party together!

Roa (from Infinit0): "Do you have any drinks on hand?"

Rei (from Infinit0): "While looking at the cherry blossoms..."

Heartbreak Red: "Cheers!"

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[REQUEST] I'm finally a college student~! Registering for classes is so difficult, but I'll try to fit in all my credits! I'd like to hear some encouragement from people who've already survived college!

Survivor Shiki (from SolidS): "College life aged me."

Heartbreak Red: "Please say something more supportive lololol."

Shiki: "The possibilities are endless. Make sure to enjoy the experience."

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[REQUEST] Good evening, Gaku-san! What's something that made you happy recently?

Gaku (from ROCK DOWN): "I went into this random restaurant on a whim yesterday and the pasta was really good... (beams). And the cherry blossoms I saw around town were pretty. It's those little things that I enjoy~♪"

Heartbreak Red: "Now I'm hungry..."

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[MESSAGE] To Hokekyo-kun: Thanks for healing me all the time with your cuteness! I love you! - From A Hokekyo-kun Fan

Heartbreak Red: "What an amazing fan mail!!"

Hokekyo (Haru's pet bird): "Ho~~~~Hokekyo!!!" [the bird is named after the sound it makes]

Haru: "That chirp was more perky than usual♪"

Hokekyo: "Hoo~ ❤️"

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(@tsukiuta1)

#tsukiuta #heartbreak red #april fools #twitter translation #my translation #ah yes pool of blood red #i stan

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anubislover · 4 years ago

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A Tea Party for Baby 5

(Gift fic for @velvety-love for the OP Secret Santa 2020! I really hope you like the fic - it was a ton of fun to write!)

It was quite the sight, the infamous Donquixote Doflamingo sitting at a small table in a child-sized chair, his knees practically pressed into his chest, but he would maintain that for a man of his status, any seat was a throne. Before him was a decadent assortment of pastries, chocolate-covered fruit, finger sandwiches, and quiches. Baby 5 had recently begun training to be the family’s maid, and this tea party would be a useful way to hone her serving skills. Since the eight year old girl was still too short to reach the dinner table, this was a perfectly reasonable alternative.

And yes, the dolls and stuffed animals sat up in their own chairs with cups and saucers was also absolutely necessary. She needed to learn to serve multiple people, after all.

“More tea, Young Master?” Baby 5 asked, hefting up the large china teapot, a hopeful smile on her face. There was a bit of tension around her mouth, though; visible strain from the weight of the pot that she desperately sought to hide for fear of disappointing him.

Doflamingo grinned, holding out his pink floral-patterned cup. “Yes, please.” The child had insisted on being useful to him, and while his main interest was in the deadly Devil Fruit powers she possessed, it was nice having some proper servants around.

However, her little arms trembled, the pot far too heavy for her, resulting in her inadvertently missing the cup and instead spilling hot tea onto his hand.

“Gah!”

“Oh no! Young Master, I’m so sorry! Let me get you a towel, or some ice!” she cried, nearly dropping the teapot in her panic. Luckily, Doflamingo was able to grab it before it could fall and set it on the table, preventing tea from splattering everywhere and staining his suit pants.

For a moment, his hand clenched and he glared down at her through the lenses of his fierce red sunglasses. The former Celestial Dragon wanted to be upset. She’d burned him! How dare she—

But then he looked at her distraught little face, eyes already wet with tears, and he was suddenly reminded of his precious little brother when they were children and how hard he’d tried to please him…

Picking up a napkin, Doflamingo wiped his hand clean of the tea. Honestly, it hadn’t hurt. Barely anything to someone like him. And she was trying. Really, it was impressive she could even lift the pot, considering it was nearly as big as she was and how thin her arms were. They really needed to get some meat on her bones—she wasn’t the half-starved waif who’d come to him in desperation anymore. She was part of his family. It was his job to take care of her.

Coming to a decision, Doflamingo removed a stuffed dog from the chair at his right and patted the seat. “No worries, Baby 5. Come here and I’ll pour the tea.”

“Ah! But Young Master, I—”

He gave her a reassuring smile, one as gentle as he could manage. “It’s fine, Baby 5; proper tea party etiquette says that the host should serve.”

“But then, you don’t need me,” she said sadly, small body slumping miserably.

Inwardly he grimaced. The last thing he wanted was for her to cry. So, he grinned more widely and picked her up by the back of the dress, plopping her down into the chair. “Sure I do! I need you to be a good guest! I can’t work on my hosting skills if I don’t have guests. These guys,” he said, indicating the dolls and toys, “are terrible conversationalists.”

Baby 5 visibly perked up, thrilled at still being needed in some capacity. “Oh! That’s true. Then I’ll be the perfect guest for you! I’ll be anything you need, Young Master.”

A small sigh of relief escaped his chest. Crisis averted. She was happy, and while serving himself was not ideal in most circumstances, the child could learn by example and he wouldn’t have to worry about his suit.

Getting an idea, he attached his strings to one of the dolls sat around the table, making it lift the teacup so he could pour. “Watch carefully; it’s important to hold the pot from both the handle and the spout to avoid spilling. We don’t want even a drop on the nice white tablecloth, do we?”

“No, we don’t,” she agreed, studying his technique carefully. Her dark eyes took in his every movement with near-reverence, her own little hands even miming him to ensure she would get it right later.

Satisfied, he filled Baby 5’s cup and offered her a blueberry scone. “Here, eat up—you’re a growing girl, and someone who works as hard as you deserves a treat.”

“Really?” she asked, even though she was already practically drooling as the smell of the pastries she’d baked that morning wafted up her nose.

“Really. Now have a scone, then some sandwiches, and then you can help yourself to the tarts and cupcakes.”

Practically glowing with happiness, she snatched one off the plate, but froze before she could shove it into her mouth. “Oh. Sorry,” she said, setting it on her plate and picking up her knife and fork.

Doflamingo shook his head. “Nah, you were right the first time. Eat the scone with your hands. Save the fork for the quiche.”

Thrilled that she was getting to sit at the Young Master’s side and enjoy the goodies she’d baked and laid out to his specifications, she tucked in, smile so wide her cheeks ached.

It was…kind of cute, seeing her so happy. Just a child eager to belong. Sure, she would make a fantastic assassin, but there was no reason not to let her have little moments like this, right? The chance to just be a kid and have fun? His father’s foolishness had denied him that joy after they’d left Mariejois, but he was far better than Homing.

He was the patriarch of the Doflamingo Family; it was his job to keep everybody happy. To give them all they could ever ask for so that they would do the same for him.

Looking her over, he wondered what else he could do. Her bow and dress were looking a little worn. He’d order replacements. Simple ones for everyday wear, but he was sure he could get her something cute and fancy as a reward the next time she got back from a mission. Dress her up like a doll and show her off. New shoes would be a must, too – he and his brother had constantly been outgrowing theirs, and while he doubted she’d every reach his exalted stature, she certainly would grow up to be a lovely young woman.

And lovely young women attract boys, he thought, scowling for a moment behind his teacup. Gonna have to watch her like a hawk once that happens. Can’t have anyone thinking they’re good enough for Baby 5 and trying to steal her away. I’ll make sure she’s got no reason to leave the Family. Who could provide for her like me, anyway?

On a whim, he got another idea – something that would surely amuse and delight her. Holding out his hands, he attached his strings to a pair of dolls. Like a puppet master with a pair of marionettes, he made them waltz around the table, chuckling while Baby 5 applauded and laughed with joy.

“Figured the least they could do was put on a show for us as thanks for our hospitality,” he explained, making a few more join in so it almost resembled a ball. “Too bad we can’t bring the toys to life—then they could dance without the strings.”

“Maybe there’s a Devil Fruit out there that can do that,” Baby 5 said excitedly, eager to help in any way she could.

“Hmmm, maybe there is. I’ll have to look into it,” Doflamingo agreed, rubbing his chin. The hand fell to pat her on the head. “What a clever girl you are.”

As she beamed up at him, there was a knock at the door, and without delay Corazon strolled in carrying Buffalo and Law by the back of their shirts like a pair of squirming kittens. Law even seemed to growl at his manhandling. Clearly, they’d been caught by his right-hand man doing something they shouldn’t, at least if the way he ground the cigarette between his teeth was anything to go by. However, all three of them froze at the sight of their leader serving tea to his maid-in-training surrounded by a bunch of dancing stuffed animals.

“What the he—” Law started, staring in utter bafflement.

“Ah, just in time! Baby 5 and I were having a tea party! Sit down and join us!” Doflamingo exclaimed cheerfully, indicating the newly-empty seats.

“Yes! Please, join us!” she chimed in eagerly. Even though they could be rude and mean, she considered the two boys her closest friends, so of course she wanted to have them involved. Corazon, too, even though he was grouchy and clumsy and might make the tablecloth catch fire.

Corazon looked between the tiny chairs and the uncomfortable-looking way his brother was sitting, then raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

“Oh, come on, little brother! It’s perfectly comfortable,” he said, even though he could already feel his legs cramping up. Ah well. At least he wouldn’t suffer alone, and Baby 5 could have some time enjoying herself with friends. She needed more socialization. Maybe he should call up Vinsmoke Judge – he had a daughter about her age, didn’t he? Maybe they could set up a play date.

“I’m not taking part in some stupid tea party,” Law groused, glaring at the utter ridiculousness around him.

“Kid, you can either sit down under your own power or I can tie you to the seat,” Doflamingo warned with smile. He turned to the child beside him. “But thank you for providing Baby 5 with another valuable lesson – boys are obnoxiously stubborn.”

“Law, c’mon, let’s play along-dasuyan,” Buffalo not-so-quietly whispered, eyeing the tray of cupcakes.

“Fuffuffuffuffu! But they’re easily bribed with food,” he added, smirking when she giggled. Pleased with himself, Doflamingo gave the three new guests a terrifying smile. “Now, you gonna join us like proper gentlemen, or am I going to have to show you to your seats?” he asked, raising his hand meaningfully.

A shiver ran down their backs and neither Law nor Buffalo argued as Corazon plopped them both in a chair before gingerly taking the spot opposite his brother, grimacing at how sore his legs and back would be after this.

Pleased that her friends were in fact joining the party, Baby 5 instinctively rose to her feet to serve them. A large hand on her shoulder stopped her, though, causing her to look up at Doflamingo inquisitively.

The patriarch smiled down at her, sincerity in his tone. “Now now, I told you the host should serve. The hostess who made all the preparations needs to take a load off and enjoy herself. Let us take care of you for once,” he said, pinching her cheek.

Yes, he’d take care of her, she’d take care of them, and they’d all live together as a big, happy family. What more could anyone want?

@op-secret-santa-2020

#op-secret-santa-2020 #One Piece Fanfiction #baby 5 #donquixote doflamingo #doflamingo family #donquixote rocinante #donquixote corazon #trafalgar law #trafalgar D. Water Law #buffalo #tea parties #tea party #tooth-rotting fluff

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ahatintimestorybook · 5 years ago

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AHIT Twin AU- Luka’s Trauma

Hey guys quick warning before you read.

This chapter contains abuse and a bit of violence. If it makes you uncomfortable please read with caution.

Yep this chapter is basically the Endgame to Vanessa and Luka’s relationship, and it is tense!.

Also its my first time writing an abusive situation or Vanessa being evil. Just another minor thing to bring up.

@winterpower98

Luka knocked on the door to the Queenzel manor upset. Vanessa hung up on him and he just got into a heated argument with his twin brother. He waited by the door tapping his feet hoping his finance would answer the door. “Vanessa! It's me Luka!” Luka shouted. Luka waited again, but still Vanessa wouldn’t answer.

“Vanessa! Can we talk!” Luka shouted again. This time the door slowly opened. Luka gulped and slowly walked in. “Vanessa?” He called out, a bit quieter this time. Slowly he walked inside the Queenzel manor looking for Vanessa. “Vanessa.” He called out one more time. He smiled seeing Vanessa sitting on the couch looking down. Luka sighed and walked over to his finance. “Look I know you're upset about wanting to delay the wedding, but we both lost our parents.”

Luka was right, just a couple months ago he and MJ’s parents were killed in a tragic car crash, and still nothing from the police about where the ice came from. Just a few months afterwards, while planning the funeral, Vanessa’s mother died in an accident. From what Vanessa told Luka, she tripped and fell down the stairs while she was taking a nap. Because of all this Luka thinks the two should wait on getting married, but that ended up making Vanessa upset.

Vanessa didn’t respond and still kept her head down. Luka sighed, but still put on a smile just for her. “How about this, give me how long you want for the wedding to be delayed. Two months, Three months, a year? I-it won’t be long, I promise. It's not like I’m breaking up with you. I love you Vanessa, and yes things are bad right now, but it will get better. Can we please negotiate?” He asked.

Vanessa gave a small smile and slowly picked her head up at Luka. “Alright we can.” She whispered. Luka smiled and gave Vanessa a huge hug, however, that was a big mistake.

Luka froze and let go of Vanessa. “A-are you okay? You feel cold.” Luka asked. Soon Luka saw Vanessa raise her hand and released ice blocking the exit. Luka ran trying to break free, but soon he was surrounded. He turned and saw Vanessa with glowing red eyes, and her arms black with the tips of her fingers having an icy blue glow.

The younger twin’s eyes widened seeing his fiance had magic. Just like him and MJ. “V-Vanessa? Y-you have magic?” Luka asked, stepping far back as possible.

“Yes, I have Lulu.” Vanessa glared, marching towards her finance.

Luka chuckled nervously as he stepped back, but Vanessa grabbed Luka by the neck. “Gah!” Luka shouted painfully.

The ice burned!

The ice was burning on his skin!

“Vanessa!” Luka yelled. “S-Stop!” He choked. Vanessa didn’t listen; she held on to Luka’s neck just glaring at him. Luka slowly opened his eyes to see ice trailing towards his neck. “Vanessa! P-please s-stop!” He gasped. Soon Vanessa smiled, but she still didn’t let go. She still had her grip on Luka, and held him there as he slowly closed his eyes.

When Luka opened his eyes again, he saw he was in Vanessa’s room sitting in a weird possession. He groaned wondering if everything that happened was a weird dream, or Vanessa thinking he was an intruder and didn’t mean to use her magic on him. Luka tried to move, but heard something kling together, like chains.

Slowly, he turned and was horrified to see his hands chained together on the wall. Luka struggled to escape, but the chains were tight on him. Even just pulling on the chains, just hurt his wrist. “Vanessa!” Luka yelled. “VANESSA!”

Vanessa giggled as she came to her room, her hair now down instead of in a ponytail. “Good morning, my love.” She said with a smile. Luka whimpered, the smile he remembered seeing on Vanessa now felt cold and sinister then filled with warmth.

“V-Vanessa, what’s wrong with you?! L-Let me go!” Luka yelled.

Vanessa gave a sinister smile and pulled out the key for the chains. However, she wasn’t going to let Luka go. Instead, the key turned to ice in her hand and dropped to the ground, shattering in the process. Luka gasped, as tears started to appear in his eyes.

“V-Vanessa?” Luka asked.

Vanessa smiled walking up to Luka and putting her hand on his face. Luka shivered, Vanessa’s hands still felt cold as ice and she wasn’t using her magic. “Now, now Lulu. Everything will be alright.” She whispered. Soon she pulled Luka close to her and forced him to kiss her, Luka’s eyes widened, tears falling down from his eyes.

The kiss lasted for a while, and Luka felt sick and uncomfortable. Vanessa’s kisses never felt like this before, why now that it felt wrong, dirty, like he wanted to throw up everything he ate. Vanessa let go and smiled at Luka, who just sat there as tears fell from his eyes.

“There, all better Lulu?” Vanessa asked.

Luka couldn’t respond to that. H-he felt sick at what Vanessa just did to him. “Vanessa.” Luka whimpered.

“Yes, my love.” Vanessa replied.

“W-why are you acting like this? W-what did I do? What DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!” Luka cried. He started to break down and cried wondering why Vanessa did what she did to him.

Vanessa put her arm around Luka and snuggled him. “Lulu, you broke a promise.” She said in a “soothing” voice.

“A-a promise?” Luka asked, sniffling.

Vanessa nodded.”Oh yes.” Without warning, Vanessa pulled Luka close to her glaring at her fiance. “You wanted to delay OUR wedding!” She growled.

Luka was appalled. “W-what? Vanessa have you seen what we’ve been through this year?” He asked. “I just wanted to delay it for a few or so months!” He shouted back.

Vanessa glared as ice started to form in her hands once again. “You don’t understand, Lulu! That wedding was our escape! MY escape! All my life my mother treated me horrible, and I desperately wanted to leave this place, but no. I have to stay here LONGER because you want to delay OUR wedding!” She yelled.

“That’s why you're so upset?! That’s why you chained me up?! Me! your finance in your bedroom!” Luka yelled back. He struggled to get out, but nothing. “Vanessa, you better let me go now!”

Vanessa laughed. “Let you go?” She asked. “Oh Lulu, Lulu, if I do that. Someone you love, someone you love more then me would have to take your place.” She explained.

It took Luka a few seconds to realize what Vanessa was talking about. MJ. Vanessa would only let him go if he traded with MJ. The image of his twin brother, chained up like him, played in his mind. Luka glared, all this time his brother was right about Vanessa, and he was blind to see it.

“You will NEVER touch my brother.” Luka growled.

Vanessa laughed. “Oh if you do anything, I would have to.” She replied.

Luka glared, he tried to summon his flames to get free, but he felt so weak he couldn’t. Vanessa chuckled before leaving Luka alone in her room. Luka looked down and started to cry. He should have listened to MJ the day he met Vanessa. Now everything has gone wrong. Luka should be home with his brother, comforting him, relaxing on the couch watching movies or TV shows that would get them laughing, or calling Cookie and having dinner with her.

Instead, he was locked up by his finance, or now ex-finance who would never let him go till she got what she wanted.

It felt childish to him, but he sobbed wanting MJ here for him, to rescue him, just anything for MJ to be there for him. He never should have yelled at MJ, slam the door on him, If he just stayed, none of this would have happened. Luka felt weak from all that crying and hunger that he started to close his eyes and sleep hoping to be rescued or at least let go.

A familiar tune woke Luka up. He looked up and saw his cell phone ringing on top of Vanessa’s dresser away from him. God, if he weren’t tied up he’d reach for the phone and call MJ and explain everything to him. To rescue him.

However, turns out Vanessa heard it too and picked up the phone not batting an eye towards Luka. She answered the phone and left the room. Luka gulped, scared what Vanessa was telling MJ. He hoped she did not invite him over. For one, MJ will die which is obvious, or two, Luka was scared he’d end up like him or worse MJ’s magic would go out of control and fight Vanessa.

Vanessa came back in and put the phone back on the shelf. “It was your twin, asking where you are.” She answered.

“What did he say?” Luka asked not to look up at his former lover.

“Oh you know, I told him where you are and that he doesn’t want to look for you.” Vanessa lied.

Luka’s heart sank. “W-what?” He asked, looking at her now.

“MJ told me that you made it your choice to be with me. Now, he’s given up on you, he won’t come for you, and if you do come back he’ll push you out.” Vanessa explained, lying to Luka.

Luka started to cry again, he knew MJ would never say anything like that to him. Did Luka piss him off that much MJ just gave up on him? He couldn’t believe it! He just couldn’t!

Vanessa “frowned” at him and went over to her bed to snuggle with him. Luka froze and turned to see Vanessa hugging him with her “sweet innocent” smile. “It's okay, Lulu. I can be MJ for you. I can be caring like him, sweeter than him, it’ll be like he never left you.” She explained her eyes glowing red with every word.

Luka was just crying his eyes out with every word Vanessa said to him. Memories of all the good times he had with MJ played in his mind making the younger twin cry. “N-no. Y-your lying! MJ would never give up on me!” Luka cried. “He wouldn’t!”

“I’m sorry Lulu. It's the truth.” Vanessa whispered before forcing another kiss onto Luka and leaving the room. Once she left the room she snickered and walked away. “Hopefully that will keep him in place.” She whispered to herself.

A week has passed since Luka has been made prisoner, and Luka’s stomach started to hurt. He hadn’t eaten anything since being here. It made him feel weaker then he was when he was captured. Luka looked up at his phone and saw there hadn’t been any calls from MJ in a while, not even text messages. The younger twin started to believe Vanessa was right; maybe MJ did give up on him.

Luka then heard Vanessa’s humming as she came in with a plate of her “to die for” chocolate chip cookies. “Morning Lulu.” Vanessa sang.

Luka glared, “please don’t call me Lulu.” He whispered.

“Aww, why Lulu? I thought you loved it when I called you that.” Vanessa replied, ruffling his hair. Luka shook his head to stop Vanessa from touching him. Vanessa moved her hand from Luka, before petting his hair again. She then stopped and put in front of Luka some cookies. “Look Lulu! I baked you some of my cookies.”

Luka turned away not wanting anything from Vanessa, despite being hungry. Vanessa gave a small glare, and grabbed a cookie from the plate and tried to force it down Luka’s mouth. Luka choked and slowly swallowed what he was able to eat of the cookie. It was dry, and he needed water to wash it down.

“See Lulu, wasn’t it good?” Vanessa asked.

Luka gagged and shook his head. The cookie was so dry he couldn’t speak. Vanessa gave Luka a peck on the cheek and left the room. Once she was gone, Luka let out a sob. He was glad she was gone for now, it was the closest thing to freedom.

More days passed, and it was the same old thing everyday; Vanessa trying to give him some of her cooking to eat, and him either refusing or being forced to eat it, as well as Vanessa telling him more about MJ and what he’s been doing with his life, which has made Luka believe Vanessa was right that MJ didn’t want him anymore.

It started to make a part of Luka decide to give up and just be with Vanessa, but another part of him didn’t want to be seen as a prisoner to her. He got out of his thoughts when Vanessa came back in wearing something that made Luka burst into tears.

Vanessa was wearing an outfit that MJ usually wore, an orange turtleneck shirt, and blue jeans. To represent MJ’s blue hair her hair was tied into a ponytail again, but with a blue ribbon.

“Why did you have to wear that?” Luka asked, his voice horse from lack of water, eating Vanessa’s cooking, and crying.

Vanessa smiled, “I figured it may cheer you up! If MJ doesn’t care for you. I do!” She beamed.

“Well it's not working.” Luka told her honestly. He would have yelled, but he couldn’t.

Vanessa frowned, giving a small glare. She went over to Luka and snuggled close to him holding his hand. “Come on Lulu, I’m trying my best to help you.” She groaned.

Luka struggled to let go of Vanessa, but she held onto him tight. “You're not helping!” He snapped. “You're just making things worse!”

This made Vanessa angry, her eyes glowed again and soon ice appeared in her hands making Luka’s own hands cold. Luka flinched and shivered at the touch of the ice. “I’m doing everything I can to make you feel better, Lulu!” She growled.

“V-Vanessa p-please...s-stop!” He whimpered.

Vanessa ignored Luka’s please. “MJ, doesn’t want you! You don’t want me! What choice do you have, Lulu?” Luka looked up at Vanessa with tears falling from his eyes.

He didn’t want to admit it, but despite not believing Vanessa, he wondered why MJ didn’t come for him. Luka knew MJ didn’t hate him, but why didn’t he rescue him. Luka sighed in relief, making Vanessa slowly let go of him.

“I’m sorry I had to hurt you Lulu, but I’m being honest.” Vanessa said leaving Luka alone in the room. Luka sniffled and tried his best to cover his face with his knees and cry.

It was already a month since Luka was held prisoner, and now Luka felt like death. He already believed MJ wasn’t coming to rescue him, and given up trying to escape. If he started to die, he’d just give up and tell Vanessa he wouldn’t leave her. That’s what it felt like.

Soon, Luka’s eyes started to close and then he passed out. He wasn’t sure how long he was out, but he woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door. Thanks to Vanessa’s door being open, Luka then heard the front door open and his eye’s widened hearing who came over.

“Oh! MJ hi!” Luka heard Vanessa say.

“MJ!” He whispered, getting up. He gave a small smile seeing his brother was here, but the smile quickly faded when he wondered why MJ didn’t call him back or look for him. Why now did his brother show up asking for his whereabouts.

Luka wanted to open his mouth and shout to MJ where he was, but held back because he knew if he just made one peep, MJ would be frozen or worse. He just sat there, quietly and waited to hear what MJ and Vanessa we’re talking about.

What Luka heard MJ say, made him realize he was right all along. “We both like Luka. I just need you to talk to him and tell him to see me.” Luka covered his mouth to hold his sob, MJ was looking for him all this time and Vanessa was lying to him so he could stay.

This realization caused him to get his power back, and it slowly turned him into his 50% form without him realizing it. The chains that bound Luka started to melt, giving the younger twin some mobility to move his arms again. “A-again?” He gasped. However, Luka didn’t have time to get out. Vanessa was going to be coming back any minute and he needed to leave.

Luka opened Vanessa’s window and took little steps, went off from her roof to the front yard of the manor and ran as fast as he could escaping into the woods. As Luka ran, he made sure not to look back, just keep running till he got as far from the manor as possible.

As he ran, Luka yelped as something in front of him kept from continuing forward. His eyes widened as he saw ice statues of three girls, and a couple. “D-did Vanessa do this to you?” Luka asked. Even though the statues couldn’t speak, Luka knew the answer, but what caused these people to meet this fate was a mystery.

Seeing his reflection through the ice he realized he couldn’t make it back to his house in his 50% state. He had to make it away from the manor, while staying alert if anyone, Vanessa or not was walking around. However, with hunger and thirst he didn’t know how long he could walk, but was relieved he escaped from Vanessa.

For now.

#ahit au #ahit twin au #twin au #tw abuse #MJ Prince #Moonjumper #Luka Prince #Snatcher #ahit the prince #Queen Vanessa

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camillemontespan · 5 years ago

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her one constant [part ten: head vs heart] [drake the bodyguard AU]

Master List

A/N: Such a cliche of a chapter but I don’t care, I enjoyed writing it! And it follows canon but with a twist! :)

Big thanks to @jovialyouthmusic for your pointers! Very helpful and appreciated x

@ibldw-main @jovialyouthmusic @katedrakeohd @moonlightgem7 @pug-bitch @princessleac1 @burnsoslow @notoriouscs @dcbbw @saivilo @rainbowsinthestorm @marshmallowsandfire @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @gardeningourmet @kingliam2019 @nomadics-stuff @kimmiedoo5 ***********************

The following morning, Drake and Camille joined each other in the Manor ballroom for self defence class. Drake had instructed Camille to wear something comfortable.

He wished he hadn't.

She was wearing tight black leggings and a pink sports bra that showed her toned stomach. Her hair was pulled into a ballerina bun.

Drake swallowed hard. Of course she looked good in gym gear.

'So, what are we doing today?' Camille asked eagerly.

Drake chuckled at her enthusiasm. 'We're going to learn basic self defence skills so that if you are ever in a situation where you feel unsafe or are threatened, you can hold your own.'

Camille nodded. 'Sounds good. What first?'

Drake smiled. 'How's your punch?'

Camille blinked. 'Um, I don't know.. I've never had to punch someone before.'

Drake smirked. 'I had a feeling.'

Camille rolled her eyes but smiled. 'Okay, so I'm a really nice person. I settle disputes with communication.'

'God you're such a Duchess,' Drake teased.

Camille giggled. 'And I also settle disputes with a bottle of wine.'

Drake laughed. 'Maybe not a typical Duchess..'

Camille gave him a wink and followed him to the centre of the room. She was trying her best not to eye fuck him but it was proving incredibly difficult due to the fact he was wearing a black gym vest that showed off his broad chest and muscles. His arms were corded with veins. Camille pushed down the thought: God I wanna lick one.

Drake cleared his throat and stood before her. He looked powerful.

'So,' he said. 'Punch me.'

Camille blinked in shock. 'Uh.. No.'

Drake sighed. 'Look, just punch me.

'No!' Camille protested, stepping back in horror. 'I can't punch you!'

'I need to see how you do it,' Drake explained. 'It's a basic move.'

'It's a shitty move,' Camille corrected him. 'Drake, I'd love to punch the Applewood intruder but I don't wanna punch you.'

Drake pressed his fingers on either side of his nose, trying to gather patience. 'Camille, this is self defence. This is for your own safety. If I'm not around, you need to be able to look after yourself. I can't walk around knowing you can't defend yourself while I am the person who can help you. So, punch me.'

Camille scrutinised his face. There was a long silence until she said simply, ' No. '

'Why not?!' Drake burst out, frustrated.

'Because you're handsome and I don't want to give you a black eye!' Camille cried. 'And you're my friend!'

Drake sighed. 'You won't punch me hard enough to give me a black eye,' he told her. 'Camille, punch me.'

'No.'

'Punch me.'

'No.'

'Camille, for the love of God, fucking punch - FUCK!'

He reeled back clutching his face. Camille stared at him with wide eyes, holding her painful hand to her chest as she watched him react to the sudden punch that she dealt him.

'Drake?'

He let out a deep breath and opened his eyes to give her a warm smile. A bruise was blooming around his eye but he didn't mind. Not one bit.

'Not that difficult, huh? ,' he asked her softly.

*********************

'Right, put these on.'

Camille stared at the stilettos in Drake's hands with her eyebrow raised. 'Drake, when did you break into my dressing room?'

'This morning,' Drake said casually. 'I chose your favourites.'

Camille took the Manolos and tried to hide the blush on her cheeks. He knew about her favourite heels. Was there anything about her he didn't know?

She slipped them onto her feet and swayed her body from side to side. Drake watched her, smiling at how cute she looked.

'Okay, so you're wearing these because you tend to wear heels on a daily basis,' he said. 'But these heels are your secret weapons.'

Camille let out a gasp. 'Oh my god, can I be like Catwoman?'

Drake chuckled. 'Sure, why not?'

'Does that make you Batman?' Camille teased. 'I mean, you are a loner. You wear black on a daily basis. Your voice is deep. You work alone. But are you Christian Bale Batman or Lego Batman? Lego Batman is the best Batman..'

Drake rolled his eyes, enjoying her banter. He moved to stand behind her and placed his hands on either side of her hips, making Camille stop chattering.

'What are you doing?' she whispered, turning her head to the side.

Drake smirked. 'Relax, Camille,' he murmured, his breath hot against her neck.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment. He could smell her perfume and her hair. Memories of the night when they kissed filled his mind. Hands. Silk. Coconut. Perfume.

'So,' he croaked. 'You're gonna stab your heel back onto my shoe -'

'No!' she gasped.

Drake reached out to place his hand over her mouth, shutting her up instantly.

'While you stab the heel down, elbow me in the gut,' he instructed. 'Fast movement, don't give room for any delay or they will know what you're doing to do.'

Camille's tongue shot out to lick his palm.

'Gah, Camille!' Drake groaned, pulling his hand away.

Camille giggled and turned to face him, a mischievous smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. 'Fast movement, don't give room for any delay or they will know what you're going to do, right?' she teased, raising her eyebrow.

Drake chuckled. 'I can't believe you licked my hand. Such a child..'

Camille stuck her tongue out, proving his point. Drake shook his head and gestured for her to turn around. Camille obeyed and turned.

'I'm going to grab your arm,' he told her. 'And you are going to strike the heel down and elbow me at the same time. Can you do it?'

'I don't want to..'

'Camille.'

'But I need to learn so fine!' Camille said quickly.

Drake nodded and took her arm, being gentle. He wasn't going to hurt her.

His fingers felt like fire against her skin. Camille felt goosebumps blossom on her skin. She hoped Drake wouldn't notice.

'Now.. Heel,' he said.

Camille brought her heel down, making Drake wince in pain but he didn't let go of her arm. Her elbow stabbed into his gut, making him let out a groan. He let go of her arm instantly.

'Well done,' he finally said once he recovered. 'Manolos are your weapon of choice now, okay?'

Camille grinned. 'I knew I had a good excuse to buy them.'

****************

'Last move,' Drake said, facing her. Camille threw her shoulders back and started to jog on the spot. She was filled with adrenaline now. Kicking ass was fun - though shame it had to be Drake getting his ass whipped.

'Knee me in the crotch.'

Camille stopped jogging. 'No,' she said. 'No, no, no -'

'Camille, as a woman, you need to kick dick head men in the balls if they try to hurt you,' Drake told her. 'Balls are precious. It fucking hurts. I've not worn anything to protect myself because I need to see how hard you do it.'

'But it'll hurt you!'

'I'll live.'

Camille sighed but stepped closer. Drake braced himself.

The things I do for her..

She kneed him in the crotch.

Drake fell to his knees, holding his groin. His eyes watered as he felt pain fill every nerve.

'You.. Did.. Good..' he choked out before falling on his back.

Camille raced to his side and fell to her knees beside him. Her hair fell like a curtain from her bun, so that all Drake could smell was coconut and all he could see was her brown eyes with golden flecks.

'I'm so sorry..' Camille whispered, reaching out to place her hand on his cheek. Her hand was cool against his skin. Drake closed his eyes, allowing her cool skin to soothe him.

'I asked you to do it,' he croaked. 'No harm done.'

Camille grimaced but she didn't protest. She knew this was Drake's job. He had to protect her and teaching her self defence fell into that category. But that didn't mean that sat right with her.

Drake awkwardly sat up, leaning back on his elbows. He looked at Camille now, taking in her regretful expression.

'Camille, I'm okay,' he murmured. 'Honestly. Stop feeling guilty.'

Camille let out a shakey breath. She looked down at her hands, wringing them together. Drake's heart softened more.

'Camille, look at me.'

Camille sniffled.

Alarmed, Drake reached out to rest his finger under her chin so he could raise her face up. Their eyes locked. Hers were filled with tears.

'What's wrong?' he asked gently.

'I know you're teaching me self defence,' Camille said, her voice trembling, 'but the idea that you could get hurt protecting me.. It really scares me, Drake. I can't.. I can't bear the idea. Like it kills me having to hurt you during this lesson. But what happens if you get hurt in real life? I can't stand to think about it.'

She rubbed her eyes harshly. Drake caught at her wrists, forcing her to look at him.

' Camille,' he said steadily. 'I am your bodyguard, first and foremost. My job is to be your human shield. If you are in danger, it is my job to get you out of it, no matter the consequences.'

Camille's eyes bore into his. 'You are so much more than a human shield, Drake,' she told him, her voice growing fierce. 'Your life has no less equal value than mine -'

'But it's something I will happily give away if it meant you're safe,' Drake interrupted. 'Camille, I knew when I became a bodyguard that I could get hurt or even die in duty. But I don't care. And when it comes to you, I will protect you with my life. Because its my duty but also -'

Camille blinked. 'Also?' she echoed.

Drake kept his eyes on hers. His heart was hammering inside his chest, threatening to explode from the way she was looking at him and the thoughts going through his mind.

'But also because you are the single most important thing in my life,' Drake finally said. 'I'll be damned if I let anything take that away from me. If that means getting hurt in the process, I don't give a shit. I'd never hesitate to take a bullet for you, Camille. So you better get used to the possibility-'

Camille's mouth crashed against Drake's.

He let out a surprised gasp as her lips pressed hard against his. When he realised what was happening, he automatically reached out to pull her into him, his hands spreading across her back. Camille kissed him hungrily, as if she had been starving for years and only now had found sustenance.

'Camille..' he said against her lips, his voice like a warning. Be normal. Be normal.

'Don't talk,' she whispered against his mouth, drowning out the warnings in his mind.

'Yes ma'am,' Drake growled.

He pulled her down onto him so he was lying on the floor. Camille straddled him, her kisses urgent as her lips travelled down his jaw towards his throat, kisses filled with heat and longing.

Camille could feel his erection through his sweatpants. Testing the waters, she rolled her hips against his.

Drake let out a visceral groan that rumbled from the pit of his stomach. Camille smiled like she had discovered a dirty little secret.

He rolled her over suddenly so he was suspended above her. His hands rested on either side of her head, supporting his weight, as he kissed her neck. He nipped at her throat with his teeth, making her curl her fingers into his hair.

'I like self defence classes..' she whispered in his ear.

Drake pulled back to give her a smirk. 'Oh really?' he asked. 'How about this?'

He pinned her arms above her head, holding her down. Camille arched her back as Drake's lips kissed her collarbone and jaw. As he kissed her, Camille's hand roamed down his chest to the waistband of his sweats. Her hand brushed his crotch.

Drake stilled.

Camille blinked, sensing a change in the atmosphere. 'Drake?'

'We should stop..' Drake whispered, his eyes dark as he looked down at her. 'Before we go too far.'

Camille looked down at the tent situation in Drake's crotch region. 'But its right there.'

Drake chuckled despite the awkward situation. 'We agreed to be professional,' he said. 'Be normal, whatever that means. Right now, we are doing the opposite.'

Camille cleared her throat and sat up. She arranged her hair, now a tousled mess, back into a neat bun.

'You were just saying all these things..' she muttered. 'I overstepped. I'm sorry.'

'Don't be,' Drake said. 'I meant every single thing.'

An awkward silence. Drake sighed, wishing things weren't so complicated with them.

'I'd never hesitate to take a bullet for you too,' Camille whispered, referring to their previous conversation, her eyes meeting his. 'I hope you know that. I care about you, Drake. I know how complicated our situation is and I'm sorry I've made it worse by kissing you.. My heart overruled my head.'

Drake smiled weakly. He reached out to take her hand and squeezed it gently.

'I've got to use my head when it comes to you,' he told her. 'I can't let feelings cloud my judgement. But that doesn't mean my heart isn't beating. It is, Camille.'

Camille brought her hand out to rest over Drake's heart which was indeed beating hard in his chest.

'I understand,' she murmured.

Drake's heart quickened, each beat betraying his determination to take it slow and be normal.

I love her. I love her. I love her.

**********************

The following night detailed yet another ball at the palace. Camille was sick of balls but as the newest Duchess, she had to go to the opening of an envelope.

She sat beside Drake in the car as Geoffrey drove them through the city streets towards the palace.

They were both acting 'normal'. There was no awkwardness between them after the kissing during their self defence lesson - far from it.

Drake and Camille were perfecting their performance of 'normal'.

To pass the time on the way to the palace, Drake and Camille were playing Rock Paper Scissors.

'Damn it!' Drake swore.

Camille let out a laugh. 'Everytime with the scissors, Drake!'

Drake groaned. 'You and your damn rock.'

Camille giggled and tucked her hair behind her ear. Drake smiled at her unguarded moment when she was just being free and silly. Camille savoured moments to be silly now - her role as a Duchess meant she had to hide part of her personality, something which she was still trying to get used to.

They arrived at the palace and as usual, Drake got out of the car first to ward off any photographers. He opened her door and shielded her from the cameras, making sure she felt comfortable enough to proceed.

Camille gave him her usual smile to show she was ready.

'Let's go, kid,' Drake whispered, giving her a wink.

*********************

Camille helped herself to a glass of champagne, feeling Drake's eyes on her as she did so. His eye never strayed from her whenever they went to these balls.

He was the reason why she could summon the courage to set foot in this ballroom again.

'So we meet again,' a sleek and revoltingly familiar voice sounded in her ear.

It was Leo.

'Your Highness,' Camille greeted him, curtseying to him. She resisted the urge to vomit as she played the part of the Duchess of Valtoria.

Leo smirked. 'After last time, I'm surprised you would even curtsey to me. I admit, I was very rude and inappropriate. So sorry.'

He didn't sound sorry. Not one bit.

Camille smiled thinly. 'It's water under the bridge,' she said. 'I have to speak to Liam, good to see you.'

She turned to leave but was stopped by Leo grabbing her arm. Camille's breath caught. She could see Drake standing in the corner, his eyes furious. Any moment now, Drake would leave his post and rescue her.

Camille closed her eyes. One day, Drake might not be in the room. He might be somewhere different. He wasn't in the room at Applewood. Camille was alone with a man who was holding her too tightly, asking for too much, demanding everything.

Enough now.

Camille's heel stamped down onto Leo's foot and her elbow jabbed him in the gut.

'Fuck!' Leo cried out, letting her go. Camille saw the nobles around them turn to look at them, curious at the disturbance. Without hesitation, Camille 'accidently' spilled her champagne down Leo's chest, acting as if that had been the reason for Leo to shout out.

'Soooo sorry Your Highness!' she cried. Leo had a face like thunder but Camille didn't care. She picked up two glasses of champagne and strutted away from him, her head held high. She looked over at Drake with a triumphant smile on her face and could see that Drake's expression reflected hers.

His eyes sparkled with joy as he watched Camille regain some of her much needed confidence.

Camille reached him and passed him a glass of champagne. 'Thank you,' she whispered, giving him a warm smile. Drake laughed and took the champagne glass, tossing the bubbly drink down his throat and grimacing at the taste. But the sickening taste faded quickly as his joy at seeing Camille free and happy enveloped him.

Leo watched the Duchess of Valtoria and her bodyguard stand too close together, sharing smiles that showed a hint of something more. He glowered as the Duchess threw her head back as she laughed at something the bodyguard had said. She turned to leave him, squeezing his hand before she went, and moved across the room to speak to Maxwell, but Leo's eyes slid across to the bodyguard.

He was watching her with a hopeless expression on his face. Hopeless and lovesick, that's what it looked like.

Leo clutched his champagne glass, feeling revulsion in the pit of his stomach as he put two and two together. The Duchess wasn't returning his affections because she was close with her bodyguard. No wonder Leo hadn't been able to break through to her. A literal human shield was in the way.

Leo would fix that.

#drake walker #drake walker x mc #trr fanfic #drake x camille

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flightfoot · 4 years ago

Text

Ladycat Ch. 8

AO3

Chat Noir and Master Fu stared at the record player on the floor, secret compartment empty.

“Well, this isn’t good,” Chat Noir stated.

Master Fu nodded mutely.

----

Nino examined the video, trying to figure out exactly where to make his edit.

Let’s see… need to try and cover most of its body without concealing its feet and…

There!

He adjusted the size of the pink poptart, dragging it over to the gray kitten’s body.

A few splices later and a new nyan cat video graced the internet, courtesy of the bouncy kitten who’d sprung all over the city a few hours earlier.

Sighing, Nino checked his phone. He frowned. “This isn’t like her,” he muttered, worried.

It was FAR from the first time he’d texted his girlfriend and not gotten a response for awhile. But usually just checking the news would tell him why she hadn’t messaged him.

This time several hours had gone by without a response, and with no clear reason behind the delay.

He didn’t like it.

And with Ladybug’s disappearing act added onto that?

He was seriously considering biking over to the Cesaires, uninvited or not. If something bad was going down he wanted to be there at Alya’s side.

Especially with what happened on Heroes Day…

He shuddered. Seeing her take that arrow for him, seeing her twisted, her love turned to hate, and her subsequent akumatization was one of the worst experiences of his life. He’d had nightmares about it every night since, and he doubted it was going away any time soon.

A news alert popped up on his phone.

Ah! So there was an akuma after… all…

He blinked.

HAWKMOTH was active?! Again?!

Was this going to become a regular thing?!

And the cat by his side… was that an akuma? Or one of those new creatures, like that purple moth that blew them all away last time they faced him?

*knock knock*

“GAH ah ah- oh,” Nino startled, only calming down once he saw the culprit. “Dude, don’t scare me like that!”

He opened the window for Chat Noir, expecting the cat-themed hero to simply jump through.

Instead he deposited some random old man in Nino’s room first.

“Um… dude, who’s this?” Nino asked, pointing to the stranger.

Chat rubbed the back of his neck. “This is gonna be a long story…”

Nino stared.

And blinked.

And stared some more.

Chat Noir - wait he’s ADRIEN, what the hell?! - waved his hand in front of Nino’s face. “Nino?”

Nino shook his head. “Sorry, dude. That was just… a lot.”

Adrien laughed bitterly. “Tell me about it.”

Nino winced.

“Don’t worry about me, I already had my freak out over Father’s actions,” Adrien hastened to add, noticing Nino’s expression.

He really thought that was enough? “I don’t think this is the kind of thing you can just get over in a few hours.”

“We came here for a specific reason,” the old man spoke up, taking off his bracelet.

A bracelet that suddenly looked very familiar.

“Nino Lahiffe, will you bear the Miraculous of the Turtle once more?”

-----

A few minutes later, Chat Noir and Carapace bounded towards the Agreste Mansion.

Fu was currently staying with Nino’s parents. Turns out “Chat Noir’s dropped by and needs to leave this elderly man somewhere safe for awhile while I help him with something” was all the explanation they needed before sitting him down and piling food onto his plate.

Chat Noir’s baton beeped. He stopped, opening it up and expanding the screen so Carapace could see.

“RENA!”

The heroine blinked, then smiled. “Miss me?”

“I was worried! You’re never silent for this long!”

She chuckled. “I’ve seen too many movies to risk leaving my phone on while I’m sneaking around.”

Her smile fell, resuming a serious expression. “You two need to get over to the Agreste Mansion right away, I’m on the second floor. I found Nathalie… and the Peacock Miraculous.”

-----

Looking at her resting on so many pillows, Adrien would’ve thought Nathalie looked peaceful.

After seeing his mother in her own magically-induced coma though? He couldn’t quite make himself see it that way. Especially after learning that she’d used the same broken miraculous that had evidently put his mother to sleep.

An arm came around his shoulder.

“How’re you holding up?” Nino asked him softly.

“I…”

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Nathalie.

Intellectually, he knew that she would probably be fine if she stayed here.

But part of him was still scared.

Scared that she’d vanish or die or… or just leave him in some way.

“Do you need a hug?”

Adrien nodded mutely, still not taking his eyes off his unofficial caretaker. Off of the woman he suspected (and had been hoping) would become his stepmother.

Nino embraced him, squeezing him tightly, but being conscious of Adrien’s line-of-sight, careful not to get between him and Nathalie.

The pressure broke something within Adrien.

He sniffled once.

Then twice.

And finally broke down.

It took a few more minutes to get through it this time, Nino gently stroking his hair all the while.

At last he looked up, eyes still rimmed red. He took a shaky breath. “We- we need to get the Peacock Miraculous back to Fu. And- and I want to get Nathalie to a hospital - to somewhere safe.”

Nino’s eyebrows drew together. “What about-?”

Adrien shook his head. “I can’t move Mom. I don’t know what’s going on with her, it might not be safe. I HATE leaving her there, but- but I’d hate accidentally hurting her even more.”

“I can take the Miraculous to Fu,” Rena chimed in. “It’s not like I don’t know where Nino lives, and I can hide myself better than you two can.”

Chat nodded. “Th-thanks. We’ll head back afterwards, so just be on the look out.”

------

Rena Rouge slipped through Nino’s bedroom window.

Hm… you know, if she got to keep her Miraculous, she had the feeling this wouldn’t be the only time she got to do that…

She shook her head. Focus Alya! You can think about sneaking over to see your boyfriend later!

Besides, it’s not like she actually NEEDED to sneak over. She was more than welcome at the Lahiffes, just as Nino was treated as one of the family over at her own house.

Still… sneaking over held a certain allure to it. It just felt exciting to get together in secret, even if it was something they could do normally.

“Rena Rouge? Where are the others?”

She jumped about two feet.

So the whole “don’t get distracted by your own thoughts” plan had failed.

“They’re fine, just taking Nathalie to a hospital before heading over here.” She fiddled with her flute, opening up a hidden storage compartment within it. These weapons were absurdly versatile. “I was assigned with bringing this back to you right away.”

Fu leaned in, getting a closer look at what she had in her hand.

“The Peacock Miraculous-!” he gasped, looking shocked… and a bit scared?

Maybe because it was broken? It’d already put one person in a coma and may have hurt a second one after all.

Gingerly he took it, as if afraid it would leap over and bite him.

“Are… you okay?” she asked.

He sighed. “Miraculous should never be misused. This one especially. I learned that the hard way.”

Wait, what? “You’ve used it before? What happened? Does it have anything to do with how Hawkmoth got ahold of it? How-?”

She stopped, noticing Fu’s pained expression. “I- I would prefer not to talk about it. Please. Not unless I have to. I made a big mistake when I was young, one I cannot take back. One that I’ve had to live with every day since then. I do not wish to relive it while I’m awake, when I already cannot escape it while I sleep.”

Her stomach curdled with guilt. “...Sorry.”

He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.”

This wasn’t the first time this had happened though. Sometimes she got started talking, asking questions, investigating, and it took a little while for her to realize that the other people around her were getting uncomfortable or bored, or that something else was going on with them that she needed to pay attention to instead.

Luckily everyone in class was pretty understanding. Most people had had the experience of getting really excited or concentrated on one thing, to the exclusion of everything else. It was just a little more pronounced with her than with most of the others - though Max could give her a run for her money, with how utterly engrossed he ended up being in whatever project or activity he decided to work on.

Fu examined the brooch. His eyes lit up. “I think I can repair this.”

Alya blinked. “Wait, seriously?!”

He nodded. “So long as I have the right tools and potions at least.”

“...Would these happen to be materials the Lahiffes have on hand?”

“How do you feel about retrieving some things from my shop while I start?”

------

Chat Noir and Carapace climbed back through Nino’s window, having dropped Nathalie off successfully.

Luckily people didn’t usually question two superheroes when told to keep an eye on a woman in an enchanted sleep.

Adrien thought about telling them that she had been working with Hawkmoth, but couldn’t quite make himself do it. Not when she’d apparently objected to his latest plan, with his father even knocking her out to ensure she couldn’t turn on him.

She still shouldn’t have covered up for him all this time, nor helped him near the end of Heroes Day, but… but he just couldn’t make himself turn her in.

Laughter thundered from the direction of the living room.

He and Nino looked at each other questioningly. “Do your parents like watching comedies?”

Nino shook his head. “Haven’t found a lot of good ones.”

They entered the living room.

“Have there always been this many bottles and…” Adrien picked up a round flat object that had fallen on the ground. “Gongs in here?”

“Oh, you’re just in time!” Fu greeted them, looking happier than Adrien had ever seen him.

Not that he’d seen him very often.

“In time…?” Adrien asked, confused.

“We’ve been working on fixing the Peacock Miraculous for the last few hours,” an exhausted-looking Alya told them, leaning against a nearby doorway. “Repairing Miraculous takes some weird things.”

“Does this have anything to do with the laughter we heard earlier?” Adrien asked.

Fu nodded. “A tear of joy! Ladybug helped me discover that secret ingredient.”

The mood instantly dimmed.

“Any word on her?” Adrien asked.

Alya grimaced. “A few sightings, but no havoc just yet. I think they’re trying to find us first instead of baiting us out. Hawkmoth doesn’t have a lair to retreat to this time, no safety net if he fails. I can see why he’d be more cautious.”

“At least it buys us some time,” Adrien noted.

“Speaking of that…” Alya turned to Fu. “Is it ready?”

He nodded, carefully unwrapping a small cloth bundle.

“The Peacock Miraculous…?” Adrien said.

It looked a little different from before, the colors more dark blue and purple rather than the traditional peacock coloring from before.

“This is hardly the first time a Miraculous has been damaged,” Fu said. “Luckily the Grimoire contained detailed repair instructions.”

“So then…?”

“It can be used safely now.”

Adrien grinned, moving to put it on. Fu stopped him, holding up his hand. “Just because it can be used without harming the wielder does not mean it should be used carelessly. The consequences of creating a sentimonster without firmly understanding what you put into it can be disastrous.”

“What do you mean?” Adrien asked. “Doesn’t a sentimonster just do what you want?”

Fu shook his head. “Sentimonsters are created based off of emotions. The Peacock Miraculous wielder’s explicit intentions play a large role in determining what kind of creature is formed, what it’s like, but their hidden emotions can distort those intentions.

Fu fiddled with his hands, making motions to turn something on his wrist, stopping when he realized he no longer had the Turtle Miraculous. “If you are say, hungry when you make the sentimonster, and… and angry at the Miraculous, at what they’ve done to your life, you can create a creature that- that will stop at nothing to devour all the Miraculous and anyone who gets in the way of that goal.”

Judging by the way Fu’s voice was shaking, Adrien doubted this was purely a hypothetical.

He may not be the only one coping with losing people.

Gently he reached out, putting his hand on Fu’s shoulder. “Thank you for telling me. Do you have any advice?”

Fu took a moment to compose himself. “Do not concentrate on hate or destruction. Try to set your mind to something else instead. Something that’s less likely to go out of control.”

That… may be difficult. Whenever he thought of his father, betrayal and fear roiled in his gut.

If he was going to create a sentimonster, he needed something to counteract his feelings towards his father, even if the sentimonster was meant to help him defeat Hawkmoth.

What calmed him? Made him feel safe?

Ah!

“Claws in!”

Plagg spiralled out of the ring. Adrien threw him a piece of cheese, then rummaged through a different pocket.

Nino blinked. “You really weren’t kidding about carrying Marinette’s Lucky Charm with you everywhere, huh?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Marinette made it, how could I not?”

Nino gave him an exasperated look. Adrien couldn’t understand why, the logic seemed obvious to him.

Alya just smirked.

His friends had weird reactions whenever he talked about Marinette.

“I don’t think we can do this alone,” Adrien said, putting on the brooch. “It took the three of us, PLUS Ladybug and Queen Bee to have a shot last time, and Hawkmoth still has Panther with him. We’re gonna need some help.

Duusu, spread my feathers!”

Adrien transformed, his skin turning blue, a blue tuxedo tail coat replacing his usual clothing.

Holding up Marinette’s Lucky Charm, he concentrated.

We need help.

The three of us can’t do this by ourselves.

We need something strong, something that can turn the tides of battle, even when things seem hopeless, like Ladybug does.

His eyes locked on the four-leaf clover on the bracelet.

Marinette gave him this bracelet when he kept on losing to her. Truthfully he knew that the bracelet had nothing to do with her wins, but the kind smile she gave him as she handed it to him, her soft voice as she told him to just try playing with it…

Whenever he saw the charm, he remembered that moment.

How she’d just earnestly wanted him to feel better, even if it was just over losing a match.

She was so smart and brave too. How could he forget the way she helped with Evillustrator, volunteering to go on a date with an akuma? Heck, she was even the one who figured out how to escape Evillustrator’s trap!

If the sentimonster could be just a little like her, they might have a chance.

He infused the feather with his emotions, touching it to the lucky charm.

A purple mass began to form in front of him, lengthening out, forming five off-shoots that began to resemble…

...Was that a human shape?

#ladycat #Miraculous ladybug #ml fanfic #adrien agreste #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe

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mlovesstories · 6 years ago

Text

Shake It Off Part 2

AN- @spngenrebingo: Jensen Ackles

Summary: Jared struggles to work through his trauma.

Warnings: self-worth, cussing, depression

Word Count: 1500

Jared x Reader!Platonic

Jensen x Reader!Platonic

Tag List

Ask Box

Masterlist of Masterlists

“But what if I don’t want to?”

__________

YN gasped internally.

“Well, you take it in small chunks,” she sighed.

“I know I need to be there for my kids and my wife, and the show-”

“No, Jared. You need to fight for you. Don’t worry about them right now. I hate to use your words against you, but you HAVE TO put yourself first,” YN offered a weak smile.

“You’re going there, huh?” Jared laughed. “Thanks, kid.”

“I’m not a kid. You know that, right?” YN rolled her eyes playfully.

“Compared to me you are.”

Jensen walked up to the table with his food.

“And he could be your grandpa!” Jared exclaimed as he looked to his TV brother.

“What?! How old do you think I am?” Jensen sat down, crashing into his folding chair to eat his food.

“You two need a mediator. Seriously,” YN rolled her eyes back at the boys.

“Thanks for the help, YN. I mean it,” Jared pushed his empty plate away from himself on the table.

“I’ve been there. I get it,” YN ate a bite of her lunch. Her phone went off. A screaming ringtone got the boys’ attention. “My mom,” YN huffed. “Yes, Mom?”

Jensen and Jared tried not to be nosy as she seemed annoyed with the female on the other end of the line.

“No, Mom. I am not famous… Yes, I know what I did… It’s not a stupid show! Why are you calling me anyway… No, I was not playing hero! If you’re going to bash me, I’m gonna hang up. Did you need to tell me something? No? Bye then,” YN took a deep breath before addressing the boys. “Sorry. She’s manipulative and worries that “I bring too much negative attention to the family, and ‘it’s a stupid show anyway.’” YN put her phone on the table and pushed it away from her.

“You saved my life. You know that, right?”

“And you kept me calm even though I was in shock.” Jensen added to Jared’s statement.

“I would want someone to stick up for me is all. And I know it’s not a stupid show. Mom is just trying to get in my head. Gah, she makes things so complicated. Good thing I only have to be around all them once a year.”

“Sounds like the Brady Bunch to me,” Jared chuckled.

“Yeah right,” YN responded sarcastically. “Nah. Let’s just say it’s more ‘Intervention’ than Brady Bunch.”

“Yikes,” Jensen pursed his lips.

Changing the subject, YN asked if Jared was feeling better.

“Yeah. My brain just…”

“Thinks too much,” YN finished for him. “I work out when I can’t stop the craziness in my head. Helps make me quiet, I guess. Maybe that will help you?”

“I work out already,” Jared sighed defeatedly.

“Rigorously though? That’s what makes the difference for me. If I can’t get to the gym, I do intensive workouts on YouTube. I was in a bad place the other night and a ten minute workout video helped me fall asleep. Granted, I sweated a bit, but it was totally worth it.”

“You should try those P90x videos. I have a few. You can borrow them,” Jense stuffed a chicken burrito in his mouth.

“Didn’t your mom ever teach you to not talk with your mouth full? You better not get caught by Wardrobe. There is a stain on the hem of your shirt, mister.” YN giggled.

“Oh, crap!” He looked down at the dark spot on his shirt. I’ll tuck it in my jeans. They’ll never-“

“JENSEN ACKLES!” Robin walked up behind YN, seeing Jensen trying to hide the stain. “What in the hell? Go change.”

“It’s fine! The camera won’t see it,” he defiantly defended himself.

“What about that glob of guacamole on your collar?” She pressed.

“Dammit!” He looked down seeing green on his shirt. “Fine.” With a scowl, Jensen stood up and stomped toward the wardrobe trailer.

“Wow. Attitude much?” YN folded over in laughter. “I know you’ve been feeling down. I get it. You went through something traumatic. But I know that you know to take it moment by moment. What are you scared of?” YN asked gently.

“I guess being embarrassed. It’s tough to not be in control of your own circumstances. I mean-“ he stopped and took a hurried breath.

“What, Jared?”

“I had no understanding of what was happening. I looked weak because-“

“Do you know how many people are complimenting your recovery online? They are wishing you the best and are not expecting you to fine right away. Everyone I’ve seen online has made comments about paying low and not pushing yourself because it’s what’s best. No one knows that you’re having these symptoms still, and they wouldn’t judge you anyway. They love you, Jared.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s called a family for a reason, moose.” YN laughed. “You HAVE GOT to get out of your head. Your seizure happened. We can’t change that. Your recovery is up to you though.”

YN could see Jared withdraw the next few days. She observed them walking toward her.

“Get out of your head, Jared. I can see it on your face.” Jensen clapped him on his back.

“I can’t, dude. My head is just too much.” They stopped walking for privacy reasons.

“Go for a run. We have time.”

“No, I don’t want-” Jared started.

I know you don’t want to. You need to.”

“Stop, Jensen.”

“YN!” Jensen screamed her name. She turned from her personal cast chair. “Come here!”

Concerned, she walked quickly to the boys.

“Can you knock some sense into him, please?” Jensen crossed his arms.

YN took a breath.

“What’s up, big guy? Come here.” They walked to some folding chairs off to the side.

“I am too much.”

“Why do you feel like that?”

“I saw stuff online by accident. People said stuff like I was too old to do this anymore. I’m too delayed, and I belong in a home, and-”

“Okay, woah. Deep breaths. Let’s talk through this. You didn’t look it up on purpose, right?” Jared shook his head. “Good. Those people aren’t part of the SPN Family. I know you want them to like you. Everyone wants that. Whether you had the seizure or not, you know that going to happen. What would you tell yourself about that before this happened?”

“It doesn’t matter because I like what I do,” Jared sucked in a breath.

“That still stands. I promise. Why don’t you and Jensen go to the gym trailer? You have a while before the next scene, right?”

“I can take him,” Jensen agreed.

“Can you come?” Jared looked at YN sadly.

“Sure.”

The three met inside the gym. Jensen started punching the bag while Jensen held it in place.

“I’m tired,” Jared slowed down.

“No, keep going.” Jensen groaned as he absorbed Jared’s punches through the bag.

“I can’t.”

“Jensen, switch with me,” YN stood from the bench she was sitting on. He gave her a questioning look, but he complied. When she took Jensen’s place, she slowly encouraged Jared to continue. “You can do this. You have to fight. Right now. Punch it until your brain shuts off. It will help you reset.” YN called Jensen back over to hold the bag as she coached Jared.

“Okay,” Jared agreed.

“Punch it. Come on. Deep breaths, let’s go!” YN raised her voice as Jared hit the black cylinder faster and faster. After a minute of solid punching, he collapsed onto a workout bench. Jared put his head in his hands. Hyperventilating, he wiped his hand over his face.

“It’s okay. Good job. You need a minute?” YN knelt down so that she was level with Jared sitting in his seat. He nodded. “Okay,” she stood up to leave.

“No, stay,” Jared said quickly. Quietly, she agreed and sat on a bench next to him. She stayed quiet as he processed. “I feel a little better. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she weakly smiled. “You’re worth it. Don’t forget it. I think you two need a minute,” YN stood up and left the trailer.

“She’s good,” Jared chuckled.

“YN gets it. It’s tough stuff, man. But you can’t give up. You’re worth it.”

“Thanks,” Jared offered a relieved sigh.

“BOYS! WE NEED YOU!” A PA pounded on the door.

“Dammit.”

“I’ll cover for you. Go shower.”

_______

“Hey, everybody! I wanted to come on here and tell you about my friend, YN. We actually have a little announcement. Say hi, YN!” Jared panned the camera over to YN. She waved to his Facebook Live fans.

“Hi!”

“We know that I had quite the experience a few weeks ago. It’s been a roller coaster, but YN saved the day at our last convention. She has been such a help, so we thought we would team up and raise some money. We had these shirts made, and we hope you’ll join us in donating to the Epilepsy Foundation.”

YN displayed her t-shirt that she was wearing with a smile.

“We love the SPN Family!” YN blew a kiss to the camera.

“Always remember to put yourself first! Love you guys!”

_____

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beckzorz · 6 years ago

Text

we are here ⟪seven⟫

Pairing: Bucky Barnes & OFC (platonic), Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers Warnings: Language, angst, references to sex Summary: In the age of mail-in genetic testing, Bucky Barnes discovers his family has grown bigger in the years he was absent than he thought. A/N: Sorry for the delay—life happens sometimes! Here’s part 7 xoxo

7. Exponential Growth, and Also Decay

⟪⟪⟪ Sep 2018 ⟫⟫⟫

September in Maryland was a fucking dream. Bucky was pretty sure he’d never been to Baltimore in the fall, but man, what a step up from New York City. The weather was perfect.

Of course, the summers here were hell. New York would do.

Alyssa hadn’t been back to New York since her first visit—something about her work being strict? He hadn’t pressed. She’d never fully explained her job, but he knew it was something in the nonprofit sector with crap benefits. But she liked it.

He’d known about Alyssa for three months now. Give or take three days and fifteen hours. She’d sent him a copy of her great-grandmother’s memoir, which he’d read in one long gulp. The two ensuing days of lying curled up in bed with Steve puttering around sympathetically—well, he hadn’t mentioned those. Based on things Alyssa had said over the last weeks, he knew they hadn’t quite reached the ‘share your trauma’ stage of the relationship. She probably knew all about his, if only by conjecture.

Bucky could have investigated her. He would have found out everything he itched to know. But she’d asked him to wait, to let her tell her story on her own terms. However much it hurt, however much it itched, he couldn’t refuse her that much. She was family. She wasn’t a mission.

She damn well felt like a mission, though. Cracking her… Man. It had been a long time since he’d had to get to know someone at their own speed at a two-hundred mile distance. In person, he could whittle down apprehension. But Alyssa was smart.

But maybe today was the day for opening up old wounds. After all, she’d asked him to meet her at a cemetery.

—

“What’s up with the rocks?” Bucky asked. “What happened to flowers?”

“Flowers die.” Alyssa nodded towards a wilted black bouquet left at a gravestone as they walked by. The ground was slightly spongy from a recent rainfall, but not muddy. “Rocks last. Anyway, here. This is it.”

She gestured to a trio of gravestones. Two were doubles, but the first was the one he’d been dreading most.

Ingrid Goodman 1921-2009 Partisan, Mother, Grandmother

Alyssa pressed a rock into his hand. He put it on his lover’s grave and swallowed back tears. His eyes burned, but he did not cry. He’d known her for one night. He’d shed enough tears for her.

“She bought these plots all together,” Alyssa said. “Before any of them died.”

Bucky stepped on and studied the other gravestones. His son Adam, buried with his wife Marlene. Both had died at fifty. Then there was Adam’s son Daniel with his wife Cindy. Alyssa’s parents. Both of them had died young, too. Only Inga had lived a full life.

Alyssa set two rocks on each double headstone. She lingered at her parents’ grave, standing above where her mother was buried. She crouched in front and pressed her forehead to the marble, her eyes squeezed shut.

Bucky put a hand on her hair, his chest tight. Here was his legacy. Dead, dead, and suppressing tears on the ground. Not that he was any better.

Alyssa took a shuddering breath and winced as she stood. She leaned against the headstone and rubbed her knee. Bucky frowned.

“You okay?”

“I’m alive, aren’t I?”

He rolled his eyes. “I guess I thought you wouldn’t have joint problems at your age, given everything.”

“Can’t say I blame you.” Alyssa shook out her legs and stepped back. “Look at when they died.”

“They all died young,” he said at once. “Except Inga.”

“My grandfather had powers,” Alyssa said.

Bucky turned and stared at her. “You never said so before.”

“So what? He did. So did Dad.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets and stared at the ground. “My dad could do more than my grandpa. At least according to Dad. My grandpa was already a mess by the time I was born.”

“What do you mean, a mess?” Bucky interrupted, but she continued as though he hadn’t spoken. She sounded like a recording.

“My dad had more ability. Neither of them shared it with anyone outside of the family. No one else knew. They could do more as they got older. But it wore on them. They died young. I can do more than either of them. And I don’t expect to live much longer. Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t—”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Bucky blurted. “You’re a kid!”

Alyssa ran her hands over her face. She sat heavily on the grass and crossed her legs. “My grandpa died at fifty. My dad died at forty. I can read between the lines. The pattern isn’t exactly complex.”

“Okay, first of all, you can’t determine a pattern based on two data points. There’s no way to know if it’s a linear model. Second of all, what the hell? There’s nothing wrong with you. What you mean, it wore on them?”

“Gah!” Alyssa reached out and punched his leg. He nearly fell from the force of it, but he caught himself with wide eyes. “You were packing that supersoldier shit when you slept with my gram, Bucky. It didn’t go anywhere. I shouldn’t have joint problems. But I do!” She squeezed her knees and bent over her crossed legs with a muffled wail. “Trust me, I’ve thought this through. I know what’s coming.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Bucky snapped. “You can’t die from arthritis.”

“Everyone dies when they get dementia.”

Bucky collapsed on the grass. He lay on his back and stared up at the blue sky. “You’re twenty-eight,” he murmured. “You can’t have dementia.”

“I don’t yet,” she said. She scooted over and took his metal hand in her own. She traced the gold lines in the vibranium. From here, he could see the veins in her eyelids. He could have counted her eyelashes, if he’d tried.

“My grandfather took years to die. My dad was already slipping when I—when my mom died.” She took a shuddering breath. “He died a lot faster. My mom wanted to separate. She couldn’t handle it. That’s when she—died. I don’t know what she’d say if she knew they were buried together.”

“You say your mom died.” Bucky sat up. Their faces were less than a foot apart, but Alyssa didn’t meet his eyes. “Did she die because of you?”

Alyssa’s breath caught. Her eyes flew to his and her mouth was open, though no words came out. Her silence was answer enough.

“It’s okay,” he assured her. He drew her into a hug and smoothed down her hair as she started to cry on his shoulder. He checked her mother’s grave, did some math. “You were a kid. It’s not your fault what happened.”

“I caused a hyperlocal earthquake and destroyed our swingset,” Alyssa said tearfully. “That’s what SHIELD called it, anyway.” She wiped her wet cheeks on Bucky’s t-shirt. “Or maybe they were HYDRA. I dunno.”

“They’re all whacks,” Bucky said. “I don’t give a crap about them. I just care about you.”

Alyssa sniffed and snaked an arm around his chest. “I love you, too.”

“Yeah.”

And nothing’s gonna happen to you if I have anything to say about it.

Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think xoxo

#bucky barnes #bucky barnes fic #winter soldier fic #bucky barnes family fic #stucky fic #bucky fic #mcu fic #becca writes #we are here

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lemonsandstrawberries · 6 years ago

Text

The Pitted Olive, part 6

fandom: Stony (Steve x Tony)

universe: Draq Queen!AU (Tony Stark as a drag queen)

summary: Steve takes Tony for his guys day out and he isn't really surprised with Tony's attitude. Until...

length: 4 639 words

disclaimer: this fic is written strictly for entertainment. I am not a specialist on drag and my whole knowledge comes from mainstream media. if there is something you will find incorrect or offensive in any way, there is always an option to contact me and politely voice your thoughts instead of flaming. thanks!

a/n: I am writing next chapters and heads up - the story is taking an unexpected kinda dramatic turn I didn't plan D: still thinking if I want to go that route though but decided to post this chapter without further delay and waiting for myself to make a decision. for now, enjoy the happy moments and new familiar faces appearing :D!

——————–

The Pitted Olive, part 6

(part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5)

"I can't… Gah… I can't anymore..."

"See, this happens when you smoke. Your lung capacity shrinks and this why you are already out of breath."

"Oh, shuuut up…"

Tony was sweating and so tired, and not in a good way. Steve was just snickering at him, which made him even more irritated. A stupid idea with a stupid guys day out. For starters, Steve had taken Tony out to a paintball park. So far, Tony was running where Steve pointed him to, walking on some hills and rolling in mud, in scorching sun while dressed in unflattering moro suit, all while carrying a paintball gun with himself. He wasn't having the best time.

"OW!" Tony yelled when a paintball pellet hit him between shoulder blades. That would leave a bruise.

There was some triumphant laughter, and Steve tried to locate the source, holding his gun high and ready.

"That's for using up my mascara!"

"I see them!" Steve called, firing back in the direction from where the attack came. He saw Bucky's mud splashed face, ducking behind some trees, Sam following, a grin shining on mud covered face. Paintball war was one of Steve and Sam's favorite past times, so it seemed a good idea to invite their friends over for a match.

"It is over, Steve," Tony panted out, rolling on his back and lying flat on the cool ground. "They got me. I am dead. You can go on without me."

"You are not dead! Stop dramatizing!" Steve scoffed, looking at his boyfriend, and wiping some sweat covered strands out of his forehead. He looked just as bad as Tony did, but somehow it was a much more flattering look on him. Rugged and soldier-like.

"Just leave me to die here."

"I AM NOT LEAVING MY BEST GIRL BEHIND!" Steve hollered and yanked Tony up, holding his hand and running to a safe place. Tony cursed loudly, not having a different option than to follow. He hated being a guy guy.

***

"That was fun, right?"

"Groossss," Tony complained, scrubbing off layers of mud off his skin in the bathroom. "How many bruises I have?" he asked, turning his back to Steve.

"Uhm," Steve cocked his head to the side, temporarily distracted by Tony's gently narrowed waist and bubble butt. He really didn't need much padding with such curves. "A bit?" he answered, smiling sheepishly, seeing at least five blooming purple marks on brunet's back.

"Great," Tony scoffed, taking a towel to wipe himself dry. "No backless dresses for a while."

"If you would run faster, you would be a harder target."

"I am not a runner, Steve!"

"Okay, stop yelling at me," Steve asked, standing behind his naked boyfriend and pulling him closer to himself. He pressed a kiss to the damp hair and Tony huffed, partially cheered up. When Steve moved his hands down Tony's torso and rubbed him just in the right places, Tony shivered, definitely more cheered up.

"Okay, stop, stop," Tony giggled, batting on Steve's hands when the touch turned more ticklish than soothing. He turned around and wrapped hands around his boyfriend's neck, standing on his toes and smiling.

Steve smiled back and pecked his boyfriend's lips briefly. "You know that this is not all that I planned for us, right?"

And like that, the smile was gone, replaced by a terrified grimace.

"Are Bucky and Sam tagging along with us?"

"No, they are not!" Sam called, his voice perfectly hearable from the changing room.

"We have our own plans! And the walls are pretty thin, so keep the gross stuff to the minimum!" Bucky added.

Steve pecked Tony's lips once more and moved away, slightly opening the door leading to the changing room and peaking his head in. "Hey, so -"

There was a loud, almost female sounding shriek.

"I AM CHANGING IN HERE!"

Tony doubled with laughter, when Steve closed the door, a wet towel slapped across his face. Judging by the laughter coming from the other side, it had to be Bucky who had shrieked, while Sam's was howling.

"I am glad they are not coming with us," Steve said in a grim voice, taking the towel off and twisting it.

Tony trotted to the door with an excited smile, and opened it, looking into the changing room. "Where are you going?"

"Back to the club. I have an evening show."

"I am gonna sit and drink."

"How come you can look but I can't?" Steve asked in a faked hurt voice and Tony laughed, closing the door.

"Once you teach a man how to tuck, the whole shame is gone," he turned to Steve with a bright smile. Steve still didn't look placated, and Tony came closer to wrap hands around his neck in a tender gesture. "What is the next torture in your guys day out?"

Steve smiled crookedly, putting his hands on other man's hips and pushing him closer. Holding Tony in his arms did get some of the sting out from the previous offense. "You will like it. We will eat something now."

That sounded more like something Tony would enjoy. He nodded his head to the plan.

"Get dressed."

"Ow," Tony hissed with a wide smile when Steve smacked his bottom for encouragement. "Kinky," he purred out, reaching for his clothes. Maybe Steve's day won't be so bad after all.

***

"I thought we were going to eat."

And the whining was back on. Steve honestly expected that.

"We are. Thanks!" he smiled at the hot dog vendor taking a paper plate with four hot dogs on a big soda to share. He handed the hotdogs to Tony and took his hand, guiding him to their seats.

"You expect me to get full on hotdogs?" Tony asked, eyeing the food with a grimace. "You don't even know what they are made from!"

"Um, pork?" Steve laughed, finding their seats and sitting down, Tony following.

"If you are lucky," Tony sighed, yet, he still took a hot dog, because he was hungry after all that running. Steve was undeterred. He looked forward to watching the game and managed to get some really good seats. The tribunes were filling up with people and the basketball game was about to start, just when Tony was finishing the first hot dog.

"Who should I cheer for?" Tony asked, raising his voice to make it through the applauding crowd when two teams entered the field.

"Green and red shirts!" Steve answered, screaming with everyone else.

Tony was never a fan of any kind of organized sports. He preferred individual work over teamwork and it showed in every aspect of his life. And watching sports was boring. So, so boring.

Watching Steve was a different story.

"What are ya doin?! My grandma moves faster than ya!"

The Steve Tony knew so far, was always calm and rational, sometimes even acting bashful in a sweet, innocent way. This Steve… This Steve was wild and swearing and angry, his voice getting a deeper note during yelling when his Brooklyn accent was showing up.

"To miss such a shot!" Steve growled as the crowd let a disappointed whine. Steve heavily sat on his seat, looking angered.

Tony considered that secret part of his boyfriend very, very hot.

"You know, baby, I didn't know there was so much heat hidden in you," Tony purred, moving closer to the blond, and putting his lips to the other's ear. Maybe they could find some private corner and -

"THE HELL ARE YA DOIN'?!" Steve suddenly sprung up, waving his arms wildly and Tony had to duck to avoid a hit. Okay, maybe it wasn't the right time. Steve clearly was deep in the game mode, and no matter how hard Tony tried, he couldn't reach half of the level of enthusiasm Steve was showing. He decided to occupy himself in a different way and scanned the crowd. He didn't have to look far, as the person on his left attracted his attention. It was a girl, looking as bored as Tony felt, sitting next to a guy around her age with silver hair (kids those days) and a dark goatee, who just like Steve was yelling at the poor players. But what really attracted Tony attention was the red blush on girl's cheek. It was matt finish, with some reddish brown tint to it. It would look perfect on him. The girl noticed him staring and turned in his direction, smiling insecurely.

"Um, hi?" she said, not understanding the intense look.

"Hi!" Tony replied cheerfully, trying to be hearable among the crowd. "Sorry I was staring! I really like your blush!"

"Ah, thanks," the girl smiled, turning more into his direction and leaving the boy she came with unattended. "It is from the new collection from Madam Viper-"

"They released a new collection?!" Tony asked, widening his eyes in surprise. He usually was more up to date with the cosmetic market. Just like that, he found himself a new conversationalist for the game.

Just as he and the girl were discussing the eye makeup collection, there was a honk, indicating that the first half of the match ended. Steve sat down heavily in his seat.

"How's the score?"

"We are losing," Steve replied in a grunt. He turned to Tony and saw two people looking at him.

"Steve, this is Wanda," Tony introduced, smiling at his boyfriend, "Wanda, Steve."

"Hi," the girl raised her hand, smiling shyly.

"Hi! Nice to meet you," he said politely, trying to mask his confusion. When Tony managed to make a friend?

"Wanda is here with her twin brother, Pietro," Tony continued, pointing to the currently empty seat.

"Yeah, he went to the bathroom and to get us some snacks. This is basically the only reason I come here, to get nachos," she said with a disarming smile.

"Nachos do sound better than hot dogs," Tony said, narrowing his eyes at Steve, and Steve mirrored the look in reprimand. Nachos were no food for a basketball game.

"Sorry, coming through! Ooops, watch out with that soda!"

"Ow, Pietro!" Wanda hissed, when her brother tumbled down on the seat next to her, holding a tray with nachos on and some licorice. "How did you get here so fast? Weren't there any lines?"

"Oh, they were. You just need to know how to navigate through the crowd," Pietro said, red licorice already hanging off the corner of his mouth. No one even noticed when he reached for it. "Hi!" Pietro grinned, noticing both men looking at him. "I am Pietro. Wanda's older brother."

"By twelve minutes. He loves pointing that out," Wanda hissed and Tony laughed.

"I am Tony and that is Steve," he said, motioning to his boyfriend, and Steve nodded, brightening when he saw Pietro's shirt with a green and red printing on.

"Fan of the Black Panthers?"

"Only the best team this side of the globe!"

"But you know, that Wakanda is on the other side of the globe?" Wanda taunted, but she was ignored and had to squeeze closer to Tony, when Pietro and Steve stood up, high fiving each other, forming some sort of magical bond over sports.

"I think we should switch," Tony laughed, having Wanda's face smushed against his face. He would happily discuss the remaining of the game with Wanda, and let Steve have his guy time with Pietro. And boy, Steve had a lot of points to discuss about the game, considering how heated the discussion above his head was.

"Love Shack, baby, Love Shack, baby!"

There was an excited whooping from the crowd and Tony looked at the screen with the score, seeing a heart in the frame, scanning the crowd for couples.

"Hey, Steve! Look!" he called, raising his hand up and tugging at Steve's sleeve. "Kiss cam!" he said, watching with a smile all the couples exchanging heated kisses.

"In a sec, Tony!"

"But-"

And then it happened. The camera zoomed on them, showing Tony and Wanda in a pink pastel screen, little red hearts floating around them. Wanda laughed shyly, and Tony froze, his hand still on Steve's sleeve. There was a cheer, urging Tony and Wanda to kiss, and, after getting a confirming nod from Wanda, Tony did the friendly thing and kissed her puffed out cheek delicately. It wasn't what was expected from them, and the camera didn't leave them, urging to a proper kiss.

"Bang bang bang on the door baby! Knock a little louder, sugar!"

It was when Steve finally looked. It was like in slow motion for him. He saw Tony on the screen, his Tony, becoming a little red under the collar in the pressure and seeming overwhelmed, and a blushing Wanda. Not thinking much, and being carried solely on the moment, Steve took Tony's wrist and pulled him up to a standing position, pinning his lips against Tony's in a long kiss, not wasting any second.

The crowd cheered, the loudest being Wanda and Pietro, but maybe because they were the closest. Steve could feel how tense Tony became, but he didn't move away, allowing Steve to take the lead. When the kiss ended, Tony stayed close to the other man, putting his heated face in the crook of Steve's neck, needing a minute for his racing mind to calm down. They had kissed in public. Again. It was some big steps for him.

Steve just kept Tony in his arms, grinning triumphantly, as the camera moved away from them to force more couples to show some affection to each other.

No matter if the Panthers would win the game or not, he was going home with the grand prize anyway.

"Love Shack, baby, Love Shack, baby!"

***

"Bye! Hope to see you soon!" Tony waved at Wanda and Pietro walking away. The game had ended and Tony and Steve said goodbye to the siblings, not before Tony invited them over to the Olive for his nearest show. Wanda seemed more interested than Pietro, especially eager to hear all about makeup tricks Tony knew and Tony already promised her an exclusive backstage tour to which she reacted very enthusiastically. Maybe going out for the game wasn't so bad after all.

"That was interesting," Tony smiled, hooking his arms with Steve as they started to walk their way.

"It sure was," Steve agreed. The day was eventful, but he had a feeling that they found some good companions in the twins.

"So…" Tony started, sounding somehow timid. Steve looked at him because Tony rarely was timid. "You like doing that a lot, huh?"

Steve creased his eyebrows in thought before his forehead smoothened again. "You mean paintball? It is fun if you have the right people around-"

"Not that."

"Then what? Watching basketball?"

"Nooo…"

"Tony, what is it?" Steve asked, sounding a little impatient.

"Kissing," Tony finally choked out, his face becoming pinkish. "Kissing in public."

"Oh," Steve replied, staring owlishly at the other man. Was it about the kiss cam? "I am sorry, um, did - did it bother you?"

Tony shrugged, focusing a lot on his shoes. "I… I think not. I am just not used to this."

"Do you want me to tone it down?"

"No," Tony replied after a while, getting even closer, so close, that Steve moved his hand to put on Tony's hip instead, drawing him into himself. "Just maybe not in front of the whole basketball team," Tony added, sounding timid again.

Ah, so it was about the kiss cam.

"Well, I didn't want someone else to swoop in and take you away from me," Steve teased, brushing his cheek over the top of Tony's head. He smelled like the soap used in the paintball place bathroom, which was a rather neutral smell, but there was some very Tony scent lingering. "People should know that such a pretty thing like you is taken."

"I am not sure how I feel about objectifying me, but I will take it as a compliment."

"Then how about I call you my lady?"

"Better."

Steve stopped. Still holding Tony, he reached down for brunet's hand and put it to his mouth, kissing the knuckles. Chaste and sweet. "Milady."

Tony groaned, looking away, some blush spreading over his cheeks. "You are doing it again," he tried to complain, but there was some weak note in his voice, something that told Steve that he didn't completely mind what was happening. And Tony blushing during sunset was a very pretty sight.

"I guess you were right, I like doing that," Steve replied sounding proud, resuming walking and leaving Tony alone. For now.

"Now I keep wondering if you would barge on the stage and kiss me during mid-show."

"Sure I would," Steve confirmed with a smile. He had such visions many times, long before he and Tony started dating.

"Then what is stopping you?" Tony asked in a whisper.

What was stopping him? This time the feeling of moist, red lips against his was replaced with cold, pale hands with long fingers, and the imaginary pain of snapping his arm in two.

Steve shuddered. "Loki," he confessed, hearing Tony's pearly laughter in return.

"Oh, come on," Tony kept laughing and even if it was at his expanse, Steve was happy. It was a good sound to hear. "Loki wouldn't hurt you."

"I am not sure of it," Steve grumbled, remembering the way the bodyguard had eyed him during his first visit backstage and continued to look at him every time he showed up. "I think he might have a thing for you, you know."

"What?" Tony continued laughing, somehow oblivious to his own attractiveness. "Nah. He is just doing his job."

"Sure, he is," Steve agreed, just for the sake of agreeing. He would have a close eye on Loki too. Just in case. Yet, if it would ever get to a confrontation, he would prefer to face Thor, the bodyguard who usually stood in the front of the Olive. Loki seemed like a type that carried a hidden blade in his pocket and wouldn't hesitate to use it. At least, he could dodge and block punches, knifes not so much. "Do you want to get a drink? I think Bucky's show is about to start," Steve asked. He had no more plans for today, and ending the day at the club seemed fitting.

Tony scrunched his nose. "Not that I am not in the mood to get drunk and listen to grunge music, but I was hoping we can go home. I need a proper bath, I feel like I still have some mud in my ass crack."

"I am willing to help you check," Steve offered magnanimously, trying to sound nonchalant.

Tony grinned, leaning his head over Steve's shoulder. "My knight in shining armor."

Maybe the day wasn't what Tony wanted, but at least in the evening, he was getting his way.

***

'Hey, babe! I am ending my shift, wanna grab some lunch?'

'Sure. I am at work now. Pick me up?'

Steve paused, looking at the text message. From what he knew, Tony didn't have a show tonight.

'You are at the club?'

'No, my day work. Come to -'

Steve read the address, putting on his helmet and starting the bike, making it roar beautifully. Fortunately, it wasn't that far and in all their dating time, he never properly asked what was Tony's day job. It was another step in their relationship and Steve felt privileged to take it, learning a bit more about his boyfriend.

After riding a few blocks, Steve parked his bike at the appointed spot. He leaned his head to the side, looking at the building in front of him. It was an auto repair shop, one belonging to the T&R franchise, located all over the country. That was Tony's day job? He couldn't imagine Tony working in a place like this. Maybe Tony was an accountant of some sort. Some office job. That sounded more like the Tony he knew, who didn't like to get dirty and went for manicures on regular basis.

Steve stepped into the spacious workshop. Before he noticed any people, he saw the cars first and whistled quietly. Those were some expensive brands. No surprise here, as those workshops were considered one of the best.

"Hello. Can I help you?" a guy with a friendly smile approached Steve. He was dark skinned and medium built, in orange coverall. He was wiping his hands with some cloth, leaving car grease stains on the material.

"Um, hi," Steve smiled back, turning to the guy. "I am actually looking for Tony."

And just like that, the smile and a friendly stance were gone and the man visibly tensed up. "For Tony?" he asked, his voice sounding lower and more rumbly.

"Yeah, he told me to come here and-"

"HEY, TONES!" the man called into the workshop. "Some guy is asking for you!"

"Is he tall, handsome and dreamy?!"

Steve heard Tony's voice, sounding a bit echoey, and looked around, not spotting his boyfriend anywhere. Only workers and the cars.

The guy eyed Steve critically. "He is tall!" he called back and Steve didn't even have time to feel offended when Tony's laughter rung in the workshop and his boyfriend emerged from underneath one of the vehicles.

"I will take a look at him," Tony said, sliding out on the rolling platform and sitting up.

And wow.

Steve was completely speechless. This wasn't like any version of Tony he knew. Red Velvet was poised, with perfect posture and perfect makeup. His Tony was always in ironed out clothes, with socks matching his shoes and the newest model of sunglasses on the top of perfectly stylized hair. This Tony… He wore a typical blue mechanic coverall, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. There were some smudges of car grease on his hands and face. He seemed heated up, and there was some sweat on his forehead, strands of curly hair falling on his nape and forehead, the coverall hugging his body-

"Close your mouth," the guy advised, and Steve clinked his teeth together.

"Hey, what do you know, he is also handsome and dreamy," Tony walked over, grinning adorably and swaying his hips. "Hi, baby," he greeted Steve, standing on his tiptoes and kissing him for hello. He smelled like grease and heated metal and sweat and Steve already felt dizzy.

"Ekhem," the guy coughed, pointing Tony's attention to himself.

"Oh, right. Steve, this is my partner, Rhodey," Tony introduced and Steve's mouth dropped open again.

"Tony," the guy, Rhodey, scolded his friend, in a lot softer voice than he used to talk to Steve earlier.

"My business partner," Tony corrected himself, emphasizing the second word, "I always forget to add that part."

Tony and Rhodey kept talking about something, but Steve pretty much muted the whole conversation out. It felt like he walked into an entirely different world.

"Hey, Harley!" Tony suddenly bellowed, and the loud noise made Steve's shoulders jump.

"Yeah?!"

Steve saw a teenager, popping his head from above a motorbike he was working on. Just like that, Steve bugged his eyes out. It was a prime condition Harley Davidson Panhead Chopper. A model from the 60s. It was an old-school type of bike and Steve never saw a one up close.

"Leave the bike, and get under the car! The engine needs some more tweaks!"

"But," the teenager hesitated, looking from the chopper to the blue Mazda RX-8, "I have to finish here first!"

"Oh yeah, Logan will come soon to get his bike, right?"

"Yeah. I think that there is like thirty minutes left before he shows up," Rhodey answered Tony with a mischievous grin as both men enjoyed the growing panic in the teenager.

"Aw, don't be afraid of Logan, kid!" Tony called, as Harley started to fumble, and the tools kept slipping out of his hands. "He is not that bad! He is like those… those… what do you call those animals that resemble small bears with long, sharp claws?"

"Wolverines, Tony."

"Yeah, that!" Tony snapped his fingers, and Harley groaned, well knowing what his bosses were doing, but still falling for it. And it still brought so much joy for Tony and Rhodey. "Okay, I still need someone to work on Scott's car… RIRI! Mazda is yours!"

"Whaaat?!" a young girl with a head full of black curls showed up, holding a notepad and looking irritated. "You told me to do a stocktaking! Do you know how many types of tires we have here?!"

"I actually do know that," Tony raised his eyebrows. "Scott and Logan are coming together to get their machines, and you know how those two get competitive over the smallest things, I don't want to trigger that in my workshop! Get to work, kids!" he ordered, and Riri rolled her eyes, but obediently took Tony's place underneath the car, while Harley kept working on the bike, focusing hard judging on the expression.

"Why do I even bother with having interns?!" Tony complained loudly, just for the sake of complaining. "Watch them for me, okay?" he said quietly to Rhodey, using a softer voice. Rhodey nodded, walking for starters to Harley, who seemed to be getting overwhelmed.

"Sorry for the delay. Let's go to my office," Tony turned to Steve, taking his hand and guiding him away. Steve looked over his shoulder, taking a last glance at Rhodey, who kept explaining something to Harley in a patient voice, slowly making the nervousness go away. Seemed that Rhodey was only harsh to him for some reason.

The office turned out to be a room full of stacks of papers and crumpled notes piling on a sturdy wooden desk and, to Steve's surprise, a calendar with photos of cats. Huh.

"Steve? Are you ok?"

After the question, Steve looked at his boyfriend. At his unruly hair and dirty face and did Tony always had such muscled forearms and overall had a very nicely muscled body?

"You're filthy," Steve stated, meaning the dirt from working underneath the car.

Tony laughed. "Yeah, sorry. I will get cleaned right away, there actually is a bathroom with a shower behind my office, so-"

Before Tony could make a move, Steve took his wrist, stopping him. He eyed Tony up and down, despite the growing confusion of the other man. Was this the same Tony who days ago had complained about being covered in mud?

"You're filthy," Steve repeated again. "And you reek."

Tony just blinked, not understanding.

Something new awakened in Steve. That was yet another face of Tony, one Steve didn't have an occasion to see.

"I think," Steve started in a heavy voice, feeling his throat becoming dry, "I think I like you this way," he twirled a wet strand of brown hair between his fingers, before tugging it behind Tony's ear.

"Oh, really?" Tony grinned, all teeth and sass, pressing their chests together.

"Really," Steve nodded, feeling Tony's heat and getting weak in the knees. It was unfair how gorgeous Tony could look in any circumstances. He leaned down to a kiss and-

"TONY! Logan came earlier!"

"Son of-" Tony cursed, drawing away suddenly. "Sorry, Steve, I have to handle this!" he said, nearly running out of the office. "LOGAN! How is it going, my friend?"

Steve took a deep breath and plopped down on the swivel chair, making it squeak. His heart was beating rapidly and he could still feel Tony's body pressed into his and the overwhelming heat lingering on his clothes and tingling his skin.

He looked at the closed door, trying to remember where Tony had said the shower was because he could use a one. A very, very cold one.

————-

<– previous part ….. next part —>

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tag list

(if you want to be tagged for updates in this series, send me an ask and I will add your username below)

@destiel-is-classic, @prithvik , @azurixx , @mangakats, @mystey-writes,@w1nters-stark, gloriousmarvellokiturtle, @the-pop-culture-geek

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ghostmartyr · 7 years ago

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Pokémon Black 2 Randomized Nuzlocke Run [Part 4]

Going into the fourth badge with a full team of six! Rocking!

Here we are:

Puff (Dratini)

Sylarana (Serperior)

Stella (Poliwhirl)

Nessy (Milotic)

Itsy (Cubchoo)

Caspet (Haunter)

Looking like a real squad, guys. Lesgo.

The bridge is still out, so it’s out to the desert we go.

...Ah, it’s the anime hair scientist.

Colress. He invites us to a duel in the desert route.

...I thought it was a joke that this lady just keeps picking fights with me every single time I try to pass through the route, but no. No. That’s what really happens. Ugh.

I can’t remember if Colress is really a bad guy or just a driven scientist guy.

In any case, he has a level 21 Magnemite out first. Nessy is handling it since I have nothing to deal Electric pokemon really and Nessy has a ton of HP. And yay, that doesn’t come back to bite me.

Level 23 Klink up next. Nessy Refreshes and Recovers back to the health the Magnemite took. Taking too long to beat back the Charges, so Sylarana’s going to try to be helpful. And hey, that’s all it takes. Fight done.

Ack, I don’t think this is the sort of place I can do anything with without wireless and the like.

I love how so many business people in this world see a random ten-year-old and decide that they are the best person they could possibly ask for to manage their affairs while they run off doing whatever.

I’m just going to ignore this place and take advantage of the Pokemon Center past it.

Hello, we have a new route.

HELLO!

Oh.

Wait.

...Did I...

Oh crap. I took a break in between catching Puff, so I forgot all about buying poke balls. Aha. Okay then. Okay. We got this. It’ll be fiiiiine. I’ve got two more whole chances to make sure that it’s fiiine.

One try left.

Come on.

You know you want to be on the team, buddy.

...Fine, you don’t. Damn it. Dead route.

...

While we’re here adding injury to insult.

Sorry Sylarana. Maybe naming you after a dead snake from a fanfic was a bad idea after all.

Dead route and dead pokemon.

This is shaping up to be a pretty harsh run.

Okay. Poke Balls bought.

The outside of Desert Resort has Magmar.

I’m just going to casually avoid trainers in the rest of the Resort until I find the castle place, aka new route for new friend.

If only I were actually any good at avoiding trainers. So far I’ve fought two.

Okay, this time, we’re going to keep from losing anyone in the process of getting a new friend. Agreed? Agreed. Awesome.

Oh.

...No can do.

Poliwhirl is one thing, since Poliwhirl can still be Politoed, but I used a Granbull in my Elite Four battles in the first version. Can’t repeat that. Dang it.

Larvitar’s down here as well.

No Sylarana and an Electric Gym next. I need to find a new route.

Route 5, help me out here.

Bianca!

She gives us Fly!

...Do we have anything that can learn Fly?

She also introduces us to Hidden Grottos, which I had forgotten all about and don’t really mean much to Nuzlockes.

I’ll say hi to it. If it’s randomized, this is my catch option, if it’s not, let’s just call Hidden Grottos liminal spaces that don’t have real route significance.

Not randomized. Bye bye Minccino. Now we go explore the grass.

I have a Water team. Yike.

This thing is not proving easy to catch.

But catch it I shall! Your name shall be Frill, and please do not take it personally that I’m going to go to another route to find things.

Oh dear.

Boruto, I expect great things from you. Please do not disappoint.

Meanwhile the next thing I see on this route is an Emboar.

No offense, Boruto, but my journey to find a new route continues.

Help me Obi-wan Keforest. You’re my only hope.

...Don’t I need a Dusk Stone or something to evolve you?

Um. If it keeps using Charge Beam it’s going to kill Nessy.

I can choose to catch it, or I can choose to run.

...Wait, can I run when Bind is used?

No, no I can’t.

Um.

This is.

Distressing.

I feel like I’m watching Nessy die in slow motion.

Heeeeeeeeeey.

Omchomp, welcome.

Hm. I have some choices to make regarding me team, but first thing first, I’m going to raise Boruto a level. There are Basculin and Lampent where we caught him.

Soooooo.

Now there’s the question of what to add to the team. Ninjask is cool as heck, and I’m not opposed to using one. Shedinja is a delightful, chaotic choice for a Nuzlocke. Using both isn’t something I think my team could survive.

...Okay I can’t resist being that stupid. Shedinja, aka Sasuke. Alllll the way.

Sasuke is Sassy and proud of its power. Fitting.

This is such a dumb idea. I can’t wait to watch what happens.

Let’s see... Fire bad. Flying bad. Ghost maybe bad. Psychic maybe bad.

...Fine, so I know what each type is weak against, but not which types the combination spares or makes worse. Making this an even dumber idea than its initial inception made it appear.

We are so doing this.

tfw I finally am playing at a time that gets me on the Royal Unova! Yay!

Boy howdy do I hope they don’t have things that will kill me dead!

Level 16 Pidove.

I think I’m good.

I swear if a move has a possibility of making me flinch it is doing nothing but making me flinch. I cry.

Oki doki.

The team.

Grinding time.

Ha, so since they couldn’t very well complain about the next Gym Leader still not having the bridge open, this time you can’t go left of Nimbasa due to a crowd of happy people. Gah. Being closed in is a lot more annoying when you have a limited number of resources dependent in part on map size.

OH COME ON THAT’S BULLSHIT.

Sigh.

Sorry, Sasuke.

I’d like to say some words, but well. I always knew I wasn’t really equipped to handle such a gimmicky creature on my team, I just thought it would be funny to try. And that I’d last longer. It’s probably just as well, honestly.

...Sorry this is not the emotional farewell everything else is getting. But let’s be real, we knew this would happen, and I didn’t delay it long enough to get invested.

Also your name is Sasuke. We both knew what this was.

Boruto, welcome to the team!

Uh.

Okay, Giga Drain. Not Itsy’s friend.

Noted.

...Give me a break she was still in the damn green and aaaaaaaaaa.

I am not doing well this run, am I?

Go away I can’t catch you. ;-;

I am so sorry, Itsy.

I wish I could say more, since unlike Sasuke I actually like you, but.

This is hecking bad.

Omchomp gets on the team to fill up a slot. I’m not sure I have the resources to properly train her, and I’m collecting too many creatures who I’m not sure I can fully evolve for my tastes.

But that’s how Nuzlockes go, right? You work with what you have.

Back to grinding. Maybe stick more to wild pokemon than trainers.

Cool, Croagunk is also here.

...

Okay look.

I will admit to being a bad trainer.

But one Bite taking out a pokemon at full health is not generally a foreseeable circumstance when super effectiveness isn’t at play.

-clears throat-

STELLAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

I am so sorry my friend. We will never know how if I might have succeeded in evolving you. That is a weight off my shoulders, but incomparable to the pain of no longer having you.

Ack.

What a mess.

I have to admit, part of me is hoping that I just wipe at this point. Starting over seems way, way simpler than this as it is. And then I ran into a trainer by accident, and the trainer has a lever 25 Watchdog.

Yeah, this will go well.

Eh, not well, but everything’s alive. I’ll take that. My mission at the moment is just training the heck out of Nessy, because she’s the only thing I can say with confidence probably can’t die to one hit from anything currently available.

Huh, I found an Audino. I’d guess I stumbled into wiggly grass without noticing. That’s cute, it’s actually where it’s supposed to be. ...Scratch that, enough of them are showing up that I’m wondering if it’s some time of day thing.

...So see, I have the problem of going on autopilot while I think.

...tfw Nessy is now level 34 and Caspet is 30.

Screenshots taken moments before disaster.

...Then there’s the return of Mightyena plus a Gengar. Not friendly grass, this. Maybe I need to pick another spot to train stuff.

There’s this one trainer here who won’t fight unless I have a Prop Case, which means I can’t avoid the Musical building forever. Well I can. But that would keep me from battling stuff, sooo.

Magnificent.

And random trainer beaten.

Now what.

Carnival rides to drown our sorrows.

Elesa built herself a new Gym. Her old one is now just roller coasters.

I should probably go to the actual Gym.

Ah. A random NPC to let us know that Elesa is in another castle.

Screw it, let’s go to the other castle.

...After finally checking out whatever this is.

Cool. Me and Rosa are going to fight the Subway Bosses. This is the only time this will ever happen in any Nuzlocke ever. Guaranteed.

Yay, we won against the level 26 Gurdurr and Boldore. Despite the horror that is Sturdy rearing its head once more.

Before I go to the Gym, I’m going to head out to the sportsball stadiums and have some fun. Hopeful, optimistic fun where nothing dies.

My solution to all problems now is to throw Nessy at them until they die. With a side of Caspet. The other members of my team are going to gain levels through Exp. Share only, probably. Omchomp is the only one that knows useful stuff and might live through first contact. Puff will one day be mighty indeed, but isn’t yet. Boruto... Boruto’s best move is arguably Leech Life.

Yay, Nessy and Caspet. You two are holding this team together.

That is not your cue to die.

To the Gym.

Ooooh, snazzy. Nicely arranged, Elesa.

She has a level 27 Elekid. Why don’t I have a level 27 Elekid. Or just an Elekid. Elekid is awesome. She also has a level 27 Flaffy. I want that slightly less. It is still of interest.

One mook down. Down the catwalk for another.

The level 27 Flaffy is first this time. Such variety. Then a level 27 Blitzle strikes.

This place has some dang style. Next up is same flavor with Blitzle and Elekid.

Elesa you are clearly amazing but what the actual heck are you wearing.

This is all going to be fine.

We know it’s true because I said so.

Level 28 Emolga out first. Caspet downs it with one Venoshock, then a level 30 Zebstrika takes the stage and panic is felt by all.

Oh lovely. It knows Pursuit. Not taking you out then, Caspet.

This has the makings of pain all over it, but I trust you.

Yay! Another Venoshock did it!

Last up is a level 28 Flaffy. Let’s finish this, Caspet.

Yes!

It was gory and scary, but we did it, gang.

Halfway there.

#Pokemon #Nuzlocke Challenge

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umbrahighpriestofgiratina · 7 years ago

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Rude Awakening Chapter 7

Well. And I thought the last delay was bad. It's been over a year. The reason being that my motivation to do fic at all was kicked in the nether regions throughout the latter half of 2017, and come 2018 I had enough writer's block on this particular project to delay it further as I focused on others. For that, I apologize to everybody who was even remotely invested in this fic. That said, here it finally is. A slower chapter, but one that sets up for bigger things to come. Chapter 7: Love and War

The mage fired a blast of dark energy at Palkia, aiming for her head. Palkia casually deflected the blast with her staff, then opened a rift in space that sucked the mage in before closing. ~Are you sure the non-lethal method for these guys is gonna work?~ said Hoopa's voice in her head. ~Well it's not like we can wanton murder the locals,~ said Palkia back. One by one, she spatially warped every that came after her, until there were none left. Soon, her group and the Shepherds were the only living people left in the battlefield. The Shepherds themselves were rather worse for wear; the local healers were getting together to patch people up. Meanwhile, Palkia looked over to Robin, who was putting away his spelbooks and cleaning off his robes. A green-haired girl in pink approached him. Palkia sighed. -------------- Palkia paced in her tent. Nearby, Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina were slumped over, exhausted. "Remind me of why we're on cleanup duty again, sis?" Giratina asked. "Again, the end is coming, and we need to stop it." "Shouldn't there be more to it than just... tagging along?" said Dialga. "Something could crop up at any moment. We need to be prepared." "We've been doing this for two years!" said Hoopa. "That's piecemeal for us, sure, but it's a decent while for the humans that make up, you know, ninety percent of this group?" "It's also peacemeal for the thing we're fighting. The dark dragon god that wants to, remember, be reborn through one of the leaders of this fucking group?" "Shouldn't we be taking care of that, then?" said Dialga. Palkia gulped. "I'm trying but..." "Let's just say things are getting complicated." ------------------ A couple weeks earlier, Palkia was looking for a good spot to sit down and eat, when she saw Robin approaching her. She perked up and moved to hand him some of the food she was carrying, only to notice he seemed rather nervous. "Something wrong?" she asked. "Can I ask you something?" said Robin. "Sure, what is it?" "It's about that Manakete girl we recruited a while back. Tiki." "Yeah, what about her?" "I think I... I... I'm in love with her." Palkia started. Several thoughts flooded her mind at once, but the first and foremost to emerge was: Robin x Tiki? Who even ships that? She immediately bit her tongue, going: Palkia you idiot these are real people you don't think things like that even though they are also technically fictional in your world and gah just give him advice already. "Is that so?" said Palkia, smirking and striking a pose. "Well well, I assume you need advice on wooing the lucky lady?" "Er, yes, I suppose. You two have a similar... energy, so to speak? I've already asked Gaius and he wasn't entirely sure what to do aside from offering her some candy. Which I did. Turns out she has a licorice allergy. We haven't spoken since." Palkia filed all those facts, especially the thing about Gaius, away for later before responding. "Well, uh... It's probably been long enough. Maybe just approach her casually, like in the mess hall, apologize, and work from there?" "I don't know, though, I'm... I'm still awfully embarrassed and she might still be mad..." "Knowing her, I doubt it. Just have some faith in yourself, alright? Or don't listen to me because I'm aro ace." "You're what?" "Er... Never mind. Just do it, buddy. I know you can." Robin shook his head, then nodded, and headed off. Immediately various thoughts started swimming through Palkia's head. Tiki is a demigod. The daughter of a previous incarnation of Naga. Robin has the blood of Grima, who they're trying to stop. The two of them together... Gaius. She had to find Gaius. She rushed off through a space portal as fast as she could. ----- Gaius was relaxing by himself, a bowl of candies before him as he slowly popped them into his mouth. This peaceful scene was interrupted by a rift in space appearing behind him and Palkia emerging, grabbing Gaius, and shaking him like a rag doll. "GaiusineedtoknowwhenandhowyoulearnedaboutRobinandTikipotentiallybeingathing!" "Gah! Slow down Spacey!" said Gaius. Palkia released Gaius from her grip and sat down. "Sorry..." "This isn't about the licorice, is it?" said Gaius. "No! I just... Need to know more about how this happened!" "Kind of a snoop, are you? I dunno, Tiki got curious about Bubbles, Bubbles got curious about Tiki, and the next thing I know he comes asking me for romantic advice! Honestly regarding Tiki I'm kind of jealous of her..." "Right. Why was she gravitating to him in particular?" "When I talked to Robin about it after the licoriche incident he said she gravitated to the "strange aura" he had. Weird dragon bullshit I tell you. "Strange... Aura... Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no." "Wait, wha-" Palkia had already vanished through another rift in space. Gaius shrugged and started picking up his candies. ----------------- "...And that's why we need to watch this relationship like a Staraptor and intervene if something's up," said Palkia. "Okay then," said Hoopa. "Why didya wait until now to tell us?" "I thought things would stay awkward after the licorice incident," said Palkia, "but then my advice worked! He talked to her and they kept talking and now they're kinda sorta dating?" "Well, that certainly backfired, sister," said Dialga. "I know..." said Palkia. "What do we do now?" "Simple!" said Giratina. "We set Tiki up with Wuzzles, give her a love potion from Hoopa's Stash, and presto! Problem solved." From outside the tent Wuzzles gave a growl of objection. "Do I even have a love potion?" said Hoopa. "Okay, that's not going to work." said Palkia. "I'll ask for Naga's advice on this. She's Tiki's mother, right? Surely she'll object and tell us what to do." "It's worth a shot," said Palkia. Dialga nodded, shifted to his monster rabbit form, and headed off. So did Panne, who was listening nearby. ------------ Despite the distance, Dialga arrived in short order, heading straight to Naga. "What is it, Dialga?" said Naga. "It's about your daughter, Tiki," said Dialga, reverting to his draconic form. "She's in love with the potential future vessel of Grima." "I understand," said Naga, "but there is little I can do." "Why not?" said Dialga. "Well, for one, it's not entirely accurate to say she's my daughter, more the daughter of a previous me," said Naga. "My responsibility toward her has long passed." "Yes, so?" said Dialga. "Second... She's seen so much to suffer for in her life. I like to let her be happy when she's awake and has the chance." "Hm," said Dialga "But her mingling with Grima's power... Could it be dangerous?" "For now Grima's potential lies within Robin and only Robin," said Naga. "It has no chance of passing on to Tiki." "And what of... Their offspring?" "That I cannot say. You are working to prevent Robin's manifestation as Grima, yes?" "But of course." Naga smiled gently. "Then nothing should come ill of this union." "If you say so..." said Dialga. He sighed. "It's been two years. That's nothing to you and me but a while to those humans. We haven't found a cure." "I have faith in you and your companions, my friend," said Naga. "...Friend?" said Dialga. "Of course," said Naga. "We've only known each other for a short while and yet you're the best company I've had in millenia." "Th... Thank you." said Dialga. "But I must be going." He shifted to his rabbit form and ran off as fast as he could, Naga waving him goodbye. ------------ "...So we do nothing?" said Palkia. "Nothing," said Dialga. "This stinks!" said Hoopa. "We've been doing nothing but watching and waiting since we figured out this place is scheduled for a shitshow! This world is doomed, aint it? We gotta do something to put a stop to that!" "We can't directly intervene, though!" said Palkia. "If we break out all our fancy tricks at once, the jig is up, and there's no telling if the locals will be with or against us!" "They're just humans and a few extras though," said Giratina. "We can deal with them eas-" "That's what we said about Cyrus!" said Palkia. There was stunned silence from Dialga and Giratina. Hoopa's eyes widened and he slowly started backing up. "I..." said Palkia. "I'm sorry, I just-" "Okay, that's enough." Panne suddenly barged into the tent, followed by Libra and Virion. "You four!" said Virion. "We've caught you in the act! Now you've got some explaining to d-" He was promptly interrupted with a scream as Wuzzles pounced on him. Giratina sighed and pulled Wuzzles off. "Bad boy! I told you, no eating the other Shepherds." Virion got up and dusted himself off, panting heavily. Libra continued for him. "Panne informed us of your conspiracies; we three have been suspicious of your activities for a while." "Just what is going on with you all?" said Panne. The group paused. Then, Palkia sighed. "Let me handle this, guys." She took a deep breath. "This is gonna be hard to believe but... We're gods. From another world. We came here for a good time, but things got hairy when we found out an evil god from your world's due to be resurrected. We're sorry." "Hah!" said Virion. "We knew as much, didn't we Libra and Panne?" "Indeed I did," said Libra. "Your divine presence was apparent from the start." "And with me discovering Quentin's true nature myself," said Panne, "All that remained was scrutinizing your motives. Which we've been trying to do for two long years." "I guess two years of me and Howard trying to throw you of didn't work..." said Hoopa.\ "At least the pranks were good," said Giratina. "So discard that charade of some dark god from our world you're trying to stop and tell us the truth!" "They are," said Libra. "Huh?" said Virion. "You've heard the rumblings about Grima, have you not? If they are on our side in that fight they could be valuable allies." "...Allies?" said Panne. "...So you'll help us?" said Dialga. "I will," said Libra. "Question is if my companions will." Panne looked between everyone and then snarled at Dialga. "Impersonating one of my kind is still a sore spot, but if you wish to do more help than harm, I will aid you." "...Well, I guess if they are I will too," said Virion. Palkia grinned. "An alliance it is." "Now what?" said Giratina. "We come up with a plan," said Libra. And they set to work, making charts and illustrations and discussing amongst themselves. ----------------------- Shortly after, Panne was standing outside, listening to the noises around her. A such, she soon heard Dialga approaching. "...You." "...Yes, it's me." "What do you want?" "I talked to Naga. Multiple times." "And?" "I want to bring your kind back." Panne sighed, then turned around to face Dialga. "Even if you truly are a deity from another world. You have a monumental task ahead of you." "I know. That's why I want your help." Panne paused. "...You truly wish to help someone such as me? And my kind?" "I do." The faintest hint of a smile crept onto Panne's lips. "I will say this. You are not taguel. But you are not manspawn either. And I can see you truly care. I will accept your help." A small smile crept onto Dialga's lips as well. ----------------------- Walhart had been defeated. After a ceremony to honor the lives lost - particularly that of the Feroxian Khan Basilio - a massive party among the Sheperds was held. Drinks, food, games, all were had, and even Wuzzles participated in the fun. Amidst the hullabaloo Palkia approached Tiki. "Yo?" "Oh, hello, Palkia!" said Tiki. "Hey," said Palkia. "How's it going?" "Good! I love parties! One of the few things that can keep me awake, haha..." "That's good. How are you and Robin doing?" "Oh! We're doing well!" She fidgeted noticeably. "I... I'm starting to think we're more than friends, though..." Palkia blinked. Right, that doesn't happen until S Support. Also I need to stop thinking in game terms. "Really? I can definitely see it." "H-Huh?" "Yeah, you're totally into each other. Like, super-into each other." "I don't know... I'm worried I'm projecting Marth onto him..." "Then don't. Value him as the person he is. And hey, I'm friends with him. He's a pretty great guy." "I just worry about what people will think sometimes..." "Don't. There's going to be people who want to stop your relationship. People who object. People who think it will end in disaster. Those people don't matter if you think you can have a healthy, supportive relationship with him." "...Alright. Thank you, Palkia." Tiki looked around. "He left the party to go do some paperwork... I ought to keep him company. She got up and left. Palkia sighed. "Good luck, Tiki. You and Robin both need it. And so will we." ***

#fire emblem #pokemon #rude awakening #fanfic #yangverse

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snacc-noir · 7 years ago

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Kim Week, Day 2: Hero/Villain

Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

(This is a continuation to my random-as story ‘Oblivious’ on Ao3, where basically Alix has a tantrum to Max and Kim about Marinette and Adrien not dating, so Kim suggests they try to set them up being quote: ‘shipping superheroes’. I had no idea what else to do for this prompt so here)

Three pints of ginger beer from the Kubdel’s pantry, a shambolically filled-up notebook of ideas and two exhausted teens lying on a pile of skater gear later and Alix and Kim were finished their game plan.

Unlike Alya and Marinette’s complicated ‘Operation: Secret Garden’-type schemes to make ‘Adrinette’ happen, the pair opted for creating a plan most defiantly quick and easy—that they were sure was going to work by the end of the day—as both had had enough viewing of slow-burn to last them a lifetime.

“Our class is going to love us,” Kim during his sleepy drowse murmured to the wearied pile before him. After discussing few ideas at Max’s the previous day, their scheming expanded into a sleepover (with zero sleeping) at Alix’s. “I told you this ‘shipping-superheroes’ idea was a good one.”

Her half-lidded eyes blinked up at him behind pink tuffs. “I still think the ‘superhero’ thing is a weird a title.”

The hoarseness whirring in her voice was so clear Kim would’ve mocked her about it if not his own voice were identical. “It’s the biggest ‘heroic’ thing we’ll ever do for our class, so let me have this.”

Alix closed her eyes and hummed in response.

…

The pair were so beat the following Monday morning that the commotion of the latest akuma attack was a mere buzz in their ears.

Kim only caught something about, ‘Gabriel akumatized again’, ‘Carapace, Queen Bee and Rena Rouge joining’, ‘LB and Chat leaving halfway to come back blushing messes’, and that the battle was ‘really long’.

At least whatever happened during the disastrous battle wasn’t going to affect their success in setting up Marinette and Adrien.

“You’re on phase one, remember?”

Alix couldn’t care less about yesterday’s kerfuffle if it distracted her from her task at hand. She’d waited enough months taking part in pointless operations that she wasn’t going to allow one bigger-than-normal akuma delay her plan, especially when her eyes fell like falling out from exhaust and arteries to burst from ginger beer over-consumption.

“Um, yeah.” Kim peered around the classroom to see Adrien slumped in his desk and without his usual bright smile. Only Alya was seated behind him. “I don’t think Marinette’s arrived yet, though.”

Alix planted her fists in the curves of her waist and glared at the class president’s vacant desk. “I’m astonished.”

“Do you think I should wait a bit, too? Adrien looks sorta out of it.”

She shot him a look that said her answer enough for him. “I’m not waiting any longer for the oblivious punks to make-out. Phase one happens as soon as Marinette walks through that door.”

Kim turned to scrutinise the entryway. Ivan and Mylène were sauntering in wearing smiles as they exchanged pleasantries with animated hand gestures.

“And if she doesn’t come until during homeroom?”

“Then do it as we’re walking to our next class.”

He nodded and moved off the stairs to take his place, as she did the same. Max was already performing calculations at his desk and didn’t address the pair in his usual form. Instead, he sighed as the two instantaneously began confirming details about their scheme again the moment they sat down.

“Are you two still doing the Marinette and Adrien plan? Or was the probability of success too low for you to proceed?”

Alix leant her weight on the wall behind to stare hopelessly at the door Marinette had yet to stumble through during her mad flap. “We’re still doing it. And we’re sure it’s gonna work.”

Kim drew out his tablet and slid it on his desk. “We figured out the phases and stuff last night. We’re going straight for the homerun instead of gradually easing them to get together, since there’s been enough time for that. By the end of today, our mission as shipping superheroes will be complete!”

Alix pulled a face. “Superhero thing’s still weird.”

“Certain, huh?” Max pushed his glasses up with a forefinger, smirking sideways at Kim. “You’re sure your need of force will have the appropriate impact you want it to have on their relationship?”

“Well, yeah—”

Kim cut himself off when hearing a, “Gah!” holler from nearby. He searched for the noise and was delighted to see the notorious sight of Marinette tripping headfirst through the doorway, only to catch herself in an odd position at the last minute.

He didn’t need Alix to tell him what to do next.

Whilst Kim ambled down the classroom’s staircase—attempting to do so as nonchalant as ever—he failed to see the way Marinette took one glance in Adrien’s direction and turned into a blue-headed fire hydrant, nor did he see how the model quickly resembled the same after his sight caught her.

When he headed to initiate phase one, he didn’t expect to see two furiously blushing teens in front of him.

Though the surprise wasn’t great enough to cloud Alix’s whispers of, “Go.”

“Whoops!” Kim blurted as he frantically stumbled away from Marinette—the same Marinette who he had just shoved bumped on his way down the stairs, leaving her ‘unfortunately’ in the lap of a wide-eyed and pink as a pig Adrien Agreste.

“I’m so sorry, Marinette.” He pressed a hand on his heart and looked at her earnestly for good measure. Alix’s wide grin behind him was almost palpable to sense. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Her awkward smile stretched beyond her crimson cheeks and her pupils were still frazzled. “Uh—um, it’s—it’s okay, Kim. I’m sure you didn’t mean it.”

Then, as if she’d just realised her position, Marinette gasped and flipping leapt off of paralysed Adrien and faced him with one of the most mortified expressions he’d ever seen.

“Oh! I’m terribly sorry Cha—Adrien! Adrien. The model. Yeah. That’s you!” She took a deep breath but it didn’t calm her. “I’m, uh—” It was only right to say she squeaked halfway through her sentence and bolted past him to her seat, while all Adrien could do was turn himself to stare stupidly at the front of the classroom.

Kim and Alix shared a victorious thumbs up across the room.

…

Phase two, in their opinion, went even better.

After a mad race of downing their food before even reaching their lunch table and finding their assigned idiot to corner, the pair had gained information only the class’s girls could dream of having.

When Kim discovered Adrien tossing a popper in the trash during a mission to ask him about Marinette and his love life, he did not expect a bottle of emotions to be flooded out to him during an extemporaneous therapy session.

“I love her—I really do love her,” Adrien had blabbered on, raking a hand through his blond tresses as they sat in the corner of the cafeteria, “but I know she doesn’t love me.”

Kim could’ve sworn he heard Adrien mutter, “anymore…” under his breath a second later.

Alix’s situation went likewise, and she reported that Marinette almost said the exact same thing during their private talk under the stairs, confirming their un-doubtful suspicions that good-old mutual pinning was involved in their set-up plan.

During excited bubbles of laughter after the story exchange, they declared ‘phase three’ to commence.

…

Phase three was the last and furthermost challenging aspect of their scheme. The risks of getting detention or even loss of friends, they decided, were totally worth it for the high chance of progression in Marinette and Adrien’s intimacy levels.

The girls in the class had spent hours constructing plans to set the two up on dates that always ended up in failure. Kim and Alix studied the approaches and realised its failure was because of A: spontaneous akumas. B: the time it would’ve taken Adrien to figure out it wasn’t a ‘friend date’. And C: how both teens had the sovereignty to flee the set-up scene whenever they wanted.

Hence why forcing Adrien and Marinette to be together without a chance to escape was to be the most successful idea.

In other words, locking them in empty room was the mission’s clincher.

…

“I cannot believe you just did that.”

Kim wiped his hands on his sweatpants to remove the imaginary lint, only glimpsing up to give Alix a smirk. “You better believe it. It was your idea anyway.”

“My one-hundred-percent joking idea.” She shot a nervous look to the boiler room’s door, barricaded with excessive amounts of stolen desks and chairs.

She could only hope her and Kim’s crouched place in the corner of the vacant hall was enough of a hiding spot for Adrien and Marinette not to hear their conversing. “How long are we giving them? The guilt’s eating me already.”

Kim rolled his eyes and shuffled up next to her. “There’s plenty of space in the boiler for them to sit twenty meters apart. It’s not like we went for the closet idea.”

Alix wondered if the closet idea would’ve even been easier. Luring Marinette to the boiler (‘Oh, I accidently left my spray cans there. Can you please get them while I help Kim with this thing?’) to leave her wandering on a wild goose-chase for invisible paint cans was difficult enough, but getting Adrien to stay there—Alix was surprised he even bought Kim’s, ‘You wanna meet up in the boiler to talk more about your Marinette situation and stuff? Just a warning; the door sticks. But I’ll come anyway if that happens.’

When they heard gasps of names inside the boiler after Adrien had stumbled in, Kim moved the desks to obstruct the door.

Alix hugged her knees. “That’s ‘cause our school doesn’t have a closet.”

“Whatever.” He tipped his head back to lean against the dim-lit wall. “Either they’re emotionally confessing to each other, trying to find a way to break the door, or making-out.” He slipped her a sidelong grin. “See? Nothing to feel guilty over.”

Her features pressed into a frown as she salvaged her phone from her shorts pocket. “You’re lucky Max prohibited me to punch you.” The illumination of her screen was a contrast to the dusky hall-light they’d been enduring for three minutes. She noticed she’d received two messages. “Nate’s in the art room for our free period. Everyone’s wondering where the art desks are.”

They simultaneously looked at the blockage items securing the boiler door’s lock.

“Um…” Kim trailed. “Say you and I are going for a hunt for them.”

“On it.”

…

Ten or so minutes past before Kim and Alix returned the desk and chairs to their original places, claiming they found them in the woodwork room (everyone bought it). The former revisited the boiler alone and burst out apologies to Adrien (‘Alix was helping me with this thing so I couldn’t come in time—by the way Marinette, she found her cans.’) to which Adrien responded positively; beaming at Kim with a ‘no worries’ and tightening his grip on Marinette’s hand as she discreetly wiped away—were those tears?

At Kim’s offer to continue talking about the Marinette problem, he was more than elated to hear the response: “We’ve worked it all out”.

Alix was more than elated too.

…

“So they’re totally together? Like together, together?” Alix practically squealed in question, trying to no avail to stifle her excitement as she bounced up and down on the school’s entry steps.

Kim stood with arms akimbo, smiling down at her. “Yup,” he said, popping the ‘p’. “Operation: Shipping superheroes was a success.”

She halted her bouncing to shoot him a look. “You know, for someone who as an akumatized villain had the aim of destroying love, I find it quite ironic you claim to be a ‘set-up superhero’ for Marinette and Adrien.”

He frowned. “I couldn’t help it; Hawkmoth’s fault. Besides, I was a villain tearing apart Ladybug and Chat Noir. Now, I’m a hero setting up Marinette and Adrien—different position, completely different people.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

He grinned and leant downward (goodness how she hated that) to be closer to her eyelevel. “Can you believe we actually did it, Kubdel? Like, us. We were the ones who set up Marinette and Adrien. It was all our influence and doing.”

Alix chuckled and pushed his face away. “Gaining ten pounds from sugar in ginger beer and waking up with your quiff in my mouth was worth it.” She released a sigh of contentment. “The two idiots are actually dati—”

She paused. Her eyes sparkled.

Kim gave her a questioning look. “What?”

“Does this mean we can do phase 4?”

His face dropped.

“No.”

“Yes!”

“If you dare—”

“Dare? Kim’s daring me to do something? Okay.”

He stepped forward. “Alix Kubdel you know that is not what I meant—”

“La la la, I can’t hear you!” she sing-songed in an unnaturally high pitch, bouncing around him with hands pressed on her ears and smiling giddily. “My senses don’t register rubbish!”

He huffed and glared at her twirling figure. “You were totally joking with phase four. We are not doing it.”

“Oh? Is that so?” she asked dubiously. “I thought I was totally joking with phase three, but we did that anyway. Guess we’re doing this too.”

Kim inhaled with frustration and tipped his head back, casting a defeated look to the sky. The girl was a nightmare.

“They’re gonna hate us forever.”

She retracted her hands from the sides of her head. “I’ll just mention what our plan did for them then. You could even speak at their wedding.”

Kim began to mutter something along the longs of, “Oh, so you heard that?”, but Alix’s jovial yelp cut his grumbling to a close.

“There they are!”

He glanced in the direction of her outstretched finger, smirking instantly at the love-sickening sight he’d usually cringe at.

Adrien was ambling out of the school’s bulky entry doors, a smiling Marinette attached on the side by the wrap of his arm, both seeming to be submerged in a world of pure bliss.

The perfect couple, it looked like.

So of course Alix just had to initiate phase four.

“Oi Agreste!” She cuffed her hands around her lips, and Kim was pretty sure his heart tripped out of existence at her bellow. “Hurry up and shove that tongue of yours in her mouth!”

To her astonishment and Kim’s—well to be fair his was more gaping horror—Adrien smirked at the incongruous demand as Marinette let out an incredulous squawk. Then, not only that, but it was another stilling moment of silence before the girl was swooped in a bow with famous Agreste lips planted on hers.

...

Kim and Alix walked out of school feeling like heroes.

#this is so stupid #and flipping long my goodness #le chien kim #kim appreciation week #we are miraculous #Alix Kubdel #Miraculous Ladybug #adrienette #adrinette

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amememightywarrior · 7 years ago

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[fanfic] The Echo, chapter 1

The Echo Chapter 1 Fandom: FFXIV Synopsis: What do you do when your only champion crumbles to pieces because of all she’s been through? Invent time travel, apparently. But how easy is it to put a broken woman back together again if no one has invented tape? Story tags: fem!WoL, OC (billions of them), AU, Time Travel, Ishgard (everywhere), dragons Rating: probably NC-17. Trigger Warnings: None in this chapter, I think? But definitely swearing. Or if you’re triggered by minor errors in lore, there are definitely some of those, probably. Author Notes: You already know where this is going. Or do you?

He had warned me there would be complications. I'd told Him to hush, I knew what I was doing—well, more than the first go around—so there was less of a chance of me fucking everything up than before.

He had said it was foolish to risk everything for the chance to fix one thing, and yet this one thing I wished to fix needed to be fixed to save...

Save what?

This must be one of the complications he had warned me about.

It was going to be pretty hard to fix anything if I couldn't remember what I was trying to do. I just had to...I just...

Who am I again...?

~*~

«Our covenant yet remains, champion of Hydaelyn.»

The effort it took to open one eye was monumental. The large, mirror-like eyes of a dragon pup greeted me upon success. The pup's tiny triangular snout dipped and its long, fin-like ears flicked as it inspected my face. Then it blew purple fire at me.

“Gah!” I said, jerking my head sideways. Both my eyes popped open, the ice encrusting them melting away under the fiery onslaught. “What the?! What was that for?”

«Rise, mortal, ere thou joineth the dead in these frozen wastelands.»

I sat up, dislodging the pup. “I'm in a snowdrift,” I said. “Why...?” I squinted at the pup, who perched on my knee and looked expectant. I knew this little guy and that deep, menacingly slow-paced voice talking to me. “Mid...Midgardsormr...?” Wind whistled in my ears. The very air was ice. It hurt to breathe. The dragon pup, Midgardsormr, crawled up my arm to sit on my shoulder. “What happened?” I asked.

«A choice hath been made and the price paid,» replied Midgardsormr. «Thou lieth within the embrace of Abalathia's Spine, betwixt two sides of a war once quelled but now rageth as before.»

I looked down at myself. My clothes weren't exactly winter-worthy, but I wouldn't freeze in the next two minutes either. Abalathia's Spine sounded familiar. I wanted to say...Coerthas? “What price?”

«Knowest thou of thy choice?» Midgardsormr asked. He sounded almost perturbed.

I stood and tried to find a landmark. There was a strange sort of castle in the distance that appeared to be mostly unattached to the rest of the world. The rest was mountains and snow. “I don't remember,” I said. “I don't...I know who you are but I can't remember my name.”

Midgardsormr was silent. I needed to avoid death by deep freeze, so I started walking along the lowest part of the terrain. A weight clanking on my back prompted me to look back. Ah, my axe. That was also familiar to me, much like my scaly companion.

«This life thou hast lived ere our arrival here,» Midgardsormr said at last. «Events long past led to a break in thy soul, and though thy strength carried this star for a time, the break soon split thy soul in two. To save the world, we must save the soul that split. The choice thus made, we traveled to the time before the injury was done and came to rest here.»

I stopped. “Wait a second,” I said. “You're telling me my soul split in two because of something and we went into the past to fix it? That's crazy! And you went along with this idea?”

«Thy strength is beyond comprehension, champion of Hydaelyn,» replied the pup, «yet like a diamond wont to shatter when struck upon the correct point, thy heart was pierced and the damage left to fester.»

“I don't see how that justifies the two of us going back in time,” I said. “You shouldn't mess with time. Bad things happen.”

«Thy reluctance is familiar,» Midgardsormr said. «This was the last resort. Know that I would not have allowed it if it were not all we had left.» He flicked his tail against my shoulder and stretched his neck out to point off to the right. «This way, mortal. The sons of Ishgard know not thy face, for thy deeds were erased upon our coming. Tread carefully, and do not make conversation with me around others.»

I kind of remembered that bit about our relationship. He was invisible...imperceptible? to everyone else. I vaguely recalled he could show himself if he wanted, but the details of how I came to know this escaped me. It did assure me that I was not, in fact, crazy enough to hallucinate baby dragons talking in bass voices. “What exactly split my soul? Since I need to prevent that to justify this little trip into history.”

«What destroyed it then will not now,» he said.

I rolled my eyes, exasperated, and started toiling towards civilization again. “So the world's saved already? Yay!”

«Thy flippancy is ill-advised. A powerful bond forged was destroyed in moments.»

I frowned. “So...someone close to me died...and that broke me?”

«As a wyrm breathes as one with their consort, so did thee with thine. With it, an inextinguishable light shone. Yet with the destruction of the bond, the light darkened with bitterness.»

“And if I don't ever have this bond in the first place?”

«Two shall ever be greater than one. That strength is needed, champion. Alone, the balance tips towards Darkness slowly but surely.»

Oh man, this was rich. “Saved by the power of love,” I said. “Come on, Midgardsormr. This isn't a romance novel. Surely there's more to it than that.”

«Thou shalt see in time,» he said. «Enough. I tire of pointless chatter.»

“Before you go, could you at least tell me what my name is?” I asked.

«If thou canst recall such information without help, we are lost,» he said, and fell silent.

He had a point. I spent the rest of time thinking about what I knew of myself. I was twenty-nine...thirty? No, twenty-nine. Or was I twenty-eight? Female. Dark hair, white eyes, pale skin. On the short side. Marauder—no, I was a warrior. I was from...Limsa Lominsa. No, I wasn't from there, but I usually stayed there. I wasn't a pirate. I could have been, though. I knew a lot of pirates. My name was on the tip of my tongue. Ammmm...nope, lost it.

“Midgardsormr, are we friends?” I asked.

His tail slapped my shoulder blade. I got the impression he was surprised by the question. «After a fashion,» he said. «The covenant binds me to thee, yet I do not find thy company intolerable. Thy life is but a mere thread in the long tapestry of existence, but I will never forget thee.»

I smiled. “I guess that's a yes. Sorry if you mourn me too much when I die of old age and all, but I'm still glad we're friends.”

«I will not mourn. It is the nature of mortals to die.»

“So it is.” I noticed some sort of brick edifice poking out of the snow ahead and walked faster. The wind picked up just as I arrived at the door to a strange circular building. I knocked.

The person who opened the door was well over a fulm taller than me, with pointy ears and silvery blue hair. He looked down at me and said, “An adventurer? Do you seek shelter?”

I nodded. He let me in and put his shoulder to the door to close it against the now howling wind. Inside, several other similarly tall and pointy-eared men sat at a table playing some sort of card game. The lone man not wearing chainmail smiled politely at me. He had a wool shirt trimmed with white ruffles and a hat with a big feather across the front. Though the other men in the room had bony, refined faces, his was something of a baby face, with rounder cheeks and a perpetual innocent look. I wondered if I knew him. “Ah, another adventurer,” he said. “Seeking work at Camp Dragonhead, I presume? I fear the blizzard that has just arrived will delay you, rather. What's your name?”

My name came out of my mouth reflexively. “Ameme,” I said. Oh yeah...My name was Ameme Ame. What a weird name.

“Well met, Ameme. I am Lord Francel of House Haillenarte and this is Skyfire Locks,” he said, waving around the room.

“Is Camp Dragonhead far?” I asked.

“Not terribly, but the storm outside...”

Welp, back out it was. “To the north?” I asked, just to be sure I was remembering correctly.

Francel looked concerned. “Surely you can't be thinking of traveling in that...!”

“I'll be fine,” I said. “Just a few minutes inside to warm up and I'll be off.” I seated myself by the rather weak fire and held my hands near the heat. Much better. When I had feeling back in everything, I cracked the door open and slid outside. It didn't want to shut thanks to the wind, but I got it firmly closed and started north.

Skyfire Locks had several buildings on the way to Camp Dragonhead, but they were not very far apart and the blizzard wasn't terrible enough to make me seek shelter every three paces yet. It had crept north as well, but I outpaced it before long and discovered I was on a real, honest-to-goodness road leading to a huge fortified outpost. I made it to about shouting distance of the gates of the outpost when a massive shape hurtled past me, howling like a banshee and waving noodle-like arms. The frost-covered goobbue, a giant block of a creature with a mouth able to swallow three adults whole, charged the gates.

“Great,” I muttered as the outpost guards raced to stop the rampaging goobbue. I unholstered my axe and ran. “Hyaah!!” I shouted, slamming the blade into the goobbue's back. It went through like a hot knife through butter, forcing me to carry my strike until I hit the ground. The goobbue staggered to a stop and, rather to my surprise, fell in two pieces. I hadn't realized I was that strong.

Between the two halves of the goobbue, I saw a group of men looking like they'd been prepared to be squashed, only to be disappointed. The one in front, another pointy-eared man with silver hair like the one who'd let me into Skyfire Locks, mouthed, “Wow!” at me and started grinning. Very dramatically, he pointed behind me. “To arms!” he shouted. “There are more!”

I whipped around to see a veritable army of crazed goobbues, their noodle arms flapping wildly as they rushed the outpost. This was getting better and better. I went to meet them, several other armed men on my heels. They weren't exactly strong, but there were a lot of them all over the place. We were at it for a good twenty minutes killing the lot, mostly because I was the only one who could dispatch them in a single hit and had to do a lot of running around to keep the rest of the men from being crushed. By the time the goobbues quit appearing out of the blizzard, I was starting to feel the burn in my legs. We withdrew to the outpost. I stuck by the gates since just walking in didn't feel right.

“What got into them?” grumbled the gate guard. “You there—the one with the axe. What's your name?”

“Ameme,” I said.

“An adventurer, eh,” he said. “Thank you for your assistance. I've never seen anyone cleave a goobbue in two like that before. Looking for work?” I nodded. “Excellent. We could use someone like you. Lord Haurchefant is—” He stopped and nodded deferentially to the silver-haired man who had just walked up. “Lord Haurchefant, I was just speaking to the adventurer who helped us. She is wanting for employment.”

Haurchefant turned out to be one of those enthusiastic types who gestured a lot when excited. “I saw, I saw! That was magnificent, my friend!” he cried. “To think there are women like you in the world who can bring down a goobbue in a single stroke! My heart skipped a beat when the beast fell in two to reveal your most gallant figure standing behind. Indeed, there is work aplenty for those such as yourself.” He waved to a building not far inside the outpost. “Come, warm yourself by our hearth. We can discuss terms of employment inside. Oh, Ser Hourefaut, if you could...” He started chatting with the gate guard. Figuring him for a talkative sort, I shrugged and entered the building he'd indicated without him.

The building consisted of two stories, with the first story devoted to a single large room furnished with a few chairs, a large table covered in maps and figurines of dragons and knights, a desk and office space in the back, and a large fireplace along the side. Three men exercised shirtless in one corner while a rather motley-looking group of men and women occupied the chairs in another. The biggest of the motley group waved me over, calling, “Oi! Oi, newbie! Over here!”

One of the women, who had cat ears and a tail, said, “Another new face! Welcome to Camp Dragonhead, newbie. They might all be Ishgardians but they're the friendly sort.”

The one who had called me over snorted. “Friendly? Bit more than that, some of 'em. The pay's good, though.”

“Oh, psh,” said the other woman of the group, a freckled brunette with large green eyes. “If ye can't handle Haurchefant staring at yer arse every now and then, ye don't belong here. Not like he does anything, anyway. He's all talk.”

“I think he's nice,” said the cat woman. What was she again...? Miqo'te? That was it. Weren't they more of a warm-weather sort? “At least he's more of an equal opportunity ogler. So what's your name, newbie?”

I was going to be introducing myself a lot, wasn't I? “Ameme.”

The Miqo'te woman beamed. “Nice to meet you! I'm G'buloleh, but everyone calls me Goobbue. The Roe is Moonlight River and my rough-n-tumble Hyur friend here is Essenta. Our silent Elezen companion is Soluvrian. Don't mind him, he's not much of a talker.”

Roe? Oh, Roegadyn. I recalled the names for the various types now. Moonlight River raised a hand in greeting, while Essenta and Soluvrain simply nodded. Soluvrain had his hood up, so all I could see of his face was a flash of red-brown hair and a stern mouth.

“Our new friend here don't seem to be much of a talker herself,” Essenta observed.

Moonlight River decided to continue the conversation about Haurchefant. “You only think he's nice because he doesn't mind when you trip and crash into him!” he told Goobbue.

Goobbue's tail flicked. “He's perfectly kind outside of that! Besides, I thought you liked it when someone complimented your muscles.”

“Not when it's a—hello, Lord Haurchefant. What was the commotion outside?”

I glanced over my shoulder at the man in question as he entered. Haurchefant shut the doors behind himself and dusted the snow off his head. “An army of goobbues—and not the bardic variety, either!” Haurchefant said, smiling at the Miqo'te woman. “I see you've met the hero of the hour already. She split the goobbues in twain as though it were nothing.”

“Really? Ooo, she didn't mention that!” Goobbue leaned forward, interested.

“Not that we gave her a chance,” Essenta noted. “So, Ameme, anything else you'd care to divulge?”

Everyone waited a beat as though they expected me to actually say something. I shrugged. Haurchefant said, “So your name is Ameme, is it? Come, come, let us discuss the terms of your employment.” He led me to the desk in the back and sat in the high-backed chair. As I shifted in front of the desk, he fetched out a sheet of paper and started filling it with beautiful calligraphy. The man's penmanship was gorgeous. “Hmm...you have demonstrated your ability to wield your axe most effectively, but is there aught else you would like to do?” he asked as he wrote.

If there was something else I could do, hell if I remembered. I shook my head.

“Very well, then. Standard pay for a week's worth of work is one thousand gil, not including pay for any extra work you choose to undertake. You also receive a standard sleeping mat and two meals a day. Does this sound fair to you?”

“What sort of work would I be doing?” I asked.

Haurchefant stared at me. I wondered if I had said something wrong, but then he blinked and said, “Oh, fairly standard work for an adventurer—escorting porters, fetching or chopping firewood, things of that nature. Though after what I have seen you do, I may ask you to undertake more dangerous tasks! Nothing as difficult as fighting dragons, of course, but there are many dangers here in Coerthas.”

“Dragons?” I thought of Midgardsormr.

“Yes, the Dravanian horde is a constant threat here,” Haurchefant said. “Outsiders are not expected to assist in any capacity so you needn't worry about getting involved. Should you come to be threatened by a dragon during your duties, we would not be ungrateful if you choose to dispatch it, of course. Ah, and you receive no extra pay for fighting them...I suppose that is something to keep in mind as well.”

“Seems like that might get more dragons killed if you did,” I said.

He shook his head. “It has been tried and we have discovered the skill levels of adventurers far too variable to make it standard practice. Now we actively discourage it, in fact. You can read, I take it? Excellent. Pray look over the document to ensure it is to your liking before you sign at the bottom.”

I took the paper and read it. 'The undersigned hereby agrees to render select services (resource gathering, escort, hunting) in exchange for a weekly stipend of 1,000 gil...'

He really did have the most beautiful handwriting. It was cursive with lots of pretty loops, all regularly sized and at a precise angle. I signed at the bottom with letters that looked like they'd just gotten out of a bar after a full night's drinking.

Haurchefant set the signed document aside and beamed at me. “I look forward to seeing your skills in action,” he said, sounding as though he meant it.

#ffxiv #fanfiction #writing #story #listen I'm sorry #I just started writing things

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libgds · 6 years ago

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As some of you may remember, one of my greatest frustrations and roots of my struggles in California was the tow dolly. A tow dolly is a two wheeled trailer for pulling a car with front wheel drive. It made everything harder and led to the infamous night where I had the cops called on me for a domestic dispute with myself (I Think I Just Became an Urban Legend) and then the tire blow out a couple of days later (I Have a Nemesis) , not to mention the lights not working delaying my trip home (This Is Beyond Ridiculous) and making to trip anxiety-ridden as they would go out for long periods only when I was driving (Zen and the Art of RV Maintenance). Granted, the light thing was Old Unreliable’s fault, but still.

While I have still have not made any definitive decisions about how long Old Unreliable will remain in my life, when I got back to Indiana, I immediately declared that the tow dolly had to go! I did not immediately list it back in October because I had bigger fish to fry like getting a job. Then it was winter and that job went until 6 or 7pm each night a, so I knew that would make arranging a sale difficult. The Spring came with a new job, and I was focused on learning that. Summer came and since the first job had paid so badly and the second teaching job had so little time left before summer, I had to get a summer job to get me through.

Finally, it was August and my regular teaching job was back in session. Oddly, having fewer money worries finally freed me up to wrestle the tow dolly problem. (Yes, I know selling it when I was the most broke would have made more sense, but here we are..)

I had sold many things using Facebook Marketplace when I was purging for the move to California. I had not sold anything so big and niche. Everybody uses TV’s and furniture, but how many people in the area are looking for a used tow dolly? When I had bought mine through Craigslist, many of the postings were as old as 6 months, so I as prepared for the long haul.

I joined several Buy it/Sell it groups on facebook in the area and pulled up pictures that I had taken for this back in October. I chose a price based on what I saw others being listed for and thought I would be waiting, but the inquires started immediately. My happiness over things quickly turned into annoyance after a few days. I am not built to be in Sales. I take things too personally and I am bad at confrontations and negotiating a price involved a lot of both for me. The first pet peeve I developed was a hatred for the phrase “What is you bottom dollar?” I got hit with that as the second question after “Is it still available?” so many times. I have a posted price, if you want to negotiate, then you need to make a counter offer, not ask me to jump right to as low as I will go. Rude.

I’m a little embarrassed by how many times that happened before I figured out “What is your bottom dollar?” is one of the automatic phrases you can choose in Messenger. Once I realized that, I gave people the benefit of the doubt and started a negotiating, but to a man, they dropped out instead of making a counter offer. GAH!

Then I switched tactics and would ask for an offer instead of putting down a number, but that would get me lowballed. We are talking offers for around 50% or lower from my asking prince. I had seen spindly ones that were over a decade old and rusted being listed for more. Then they would not budge on their offer. Insulting.

I was fielding af few inquiries and one of the first looked like it was shaping up to be a real offer. Sweet! I wanted nothing more than to be done with this. I started getting everything in order for pick-up when I realized that I could not find the tire straps! I looked everywhere. There was absolutely no reason that they should not have been in my car or in the RV, but I looked everywhere in both, plus the garage, my bedroom, and even the attic. My dad searched, he sent grandkids to search. Nothing. I don not know what happened. It such a weird thing to steal and not grab anything else in the car or RV. It is still a mystery. So the straps are soementing you can get two new ones for around $40, so I took $25 off the asking price. The guy dropped out. A Tow dolly that was around $1400 new a year ago and he’s out over $40 of tire straps, the easiest and cheapest part to replace and the one that I would be weariest about buying used anyway.

Ugh. That meant I was still in the game. At about this time, it had been a little over a week. I cam home from work and the power was out and the estimated time of it coming back was 9pm. This is when Rod appeared in my DM’s. Rod put his phone number in his inquiry and asked me to call him.

No. I am selling this online to avoid giving out personal information and the last thing I want to do is give a strange dude a hone number hc can call after the sale. I did not answers right away because I did not know how I wanted to handle it. I figured Iw as getting enough inquires that I could just let this one go and I forgot about it. Next morning, he has sent more messages and they are increasingly passive-agressive. Great, the one guy who won’t move on. I messaged back as I had some time to kill at work waiting for my time to work with a student. I told him about the power outage, so I was worried about saving my phone battery and I explained that I preferred just using Messenger so I can look up any technical questions he has and I doin’t like giving out personal info like my hone number to strangers. This was around 8am. When I got off work around 4pm, I looked and Rod has went on a multiple message tantrum. He went off on me not wanting to give my number and that there as no way he was driving all that way without talking first, and this is probably a fake post and he’s going to report me, but also I missed out on a sale and on and on and on. I had thought about replying, “I have a job, so I am not on FB during the day, but I want you to to take this thread and show it to your wife/girlfriend/daughter or any woman and ask her to explain to you why I do not feel safe giving you my number.” I figured he’s the type who has his head way too far up his butt to get the point, so instead I reported hime to Facebook for harassment.

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My next fun one was Richard (not making up these names, yes the biggest jerks had the phallic euphemisms for names.) I got up to get ready for work. At about 6:30am, I looked at Messenger and he had asked about the dolly at 11pm and then nudged me for an answer again at 6am. Dude, that is a level of impatience I cannot deal with. Sorry I do not offer 24 hour customer service. He did not get a response. I learned engaging does no good.

After a week and a half dealing with this sale, I noticed a pattern I had not seen when I was selling my other stuff: several more impatient buyers, lowball offers, and not willing to work out a price, and just generally being unreasonable. What was the big difference: I was mainly dealing with men this time. I think I would have gotten a lot less BS if I would have had a guy list it for me or changed my username and profile picture to make it less obvious they there talking to a woman. Wrestling has put me in many a male-dominated situation and I recognize when I am dealing with a guy who cannot tolerate that a woman may “put one over on him” in an area he thinks he should automatically be superior and working out a deal on a trailer falls into that category.

After a week and a half, I found a buyer and yesterday I took it to Greensburg driving my dad’s truck. There was no way I was risking Old Unreliable messing up my sale by making it look like the dolly lights do not work. It was a mercifully quick process to get rid of the thing and as soon as he had it unhooked form the truck and said we were good, I marked it as sold and got on my way back home. Cursed objects are hard to get rid of, so I was afraid to dawddle and give him time to change his mind.

Thank goodness I should not have to deal with anymore Rods and Richards for now.

Ding Dong, the Dolly’s Gone! As some of you may remember, one of my greatest frustrations and roots of my struggles in California was the tow dolly.

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