#ACE HIGH ME UP LT!!!!!

[quinttyz]

i hate cuno to bits but his actual respect for me hidden behind his mean ass words when i shot down the fucking body was….

[chaosandmarigolds]

Cabin

(the timeline is a lil weird in this so just go for the vibes, Pre-K verse. Fem!reader)

Based off this AWESOME ASK! so here's my lil take on it <3

“Think ‘m dyin.”

“You’re fine.”

”UGH- oi, th’ light- oi, Beth? That you? callin me, LT, they callin me.”

Simon doesn’t bother to look up from the tablet to his wounded comrade, who would be alright with some TLC and a long night’s sleep. Currently, he was trying to find somewhere they could all rest, somewhere safe, which seemed to be an easy task- as he knew this forest like the back of his hand. (After living in a town not even ten miles away for close to seven years) Not to mention, he happened to know where there was a cabin, which should be empty.

Technically it wasn’t his cabin, it had been your brother however when your brother moved he left it to you. And since it was the middle of the summer and the cabin didn’t have AC, Simon assumed you were most likely happily sitting at home with the kids, on an air-conditioned covered porch.

With that in mind, he made his decision to lead his team towards the cabin. It would be a bit of a trek, but it was the best option they had, it wasn’t far from where they had to leave the truck- the mission had been odd, just to accompany some international weapons dealer, and since they were the closest they had been assigned. Long- story short, it went to hell and they somehow made it back in one piece. They had to wait for pickup, to be treated, and then for the debrief, so he couldn’t quite just go home, though he wanted to.

“Since when do ya own real estate?” Kyle remarked as they approached the cabin, lit up by their flashlights and the moon that hung, he had gotten out with a broken rib and a graze on the arm- luckily he didn’t fall from any high places this time. It was a quaint thing, made of wood with a cute chimney, and a nice porch. A big red garage not too far away from it and a dirt path leading to the neat porch.

“Not mine.” Simon replied bluntly back, handing his backpack to Kyle, and then told them he would grab some emergency packs and the first aid kit from the garage. With one flashlight tucked under his arm, he went around the back of the garage while the rest went into the cabin, as he also told them the spare key was under the chair leg. He remembered building the garage, yet somehow he still would grumble about how loud the door was.

Normally the garage was barren, give or take the Christmas decorations you would have him store in there, a rack with his tools and weapons. As well a year’s worth of rations, and camping gear, both mundane and survival- to put it simply it had everything he would need if he simply needed to vanish for a while. Though he hadn’t needed to in a long moment, not since he met you and Ollie- and perhaps that could be summed up to he didn’t quite want to anymore, either way- he flipped on the flickering light expecting a vacant garage.

No. Instead, he found your car sitting in the darkness. He knew it was yours because only your car would have that dent he caused in the front fender. Within a millionth of a second everything began to make sense- you had said you had a project you were going to surprise him with, ‘take it off his shoulders’ as you gleefully had put it before he left. The air conditioning, you had taken on the task of installing the air conditioning while he was gone. Which meant you were in the cabin with Ollie and he just sent a team of men in there, armed.

All the same, he had taught you to fend for yourself, enough to where when he ran through the front door to the sight of a knife to Johnny’s neck and a panic-riddled fear within your eye. He wasn’t shocked by it. He quickly told Kyle to drop the gun, harshly at that, to which Johnny replied-

“WHA? Bonie’s go’ a knife-” “Simon?”

His eyes flash over to yours and almost out of habit, his hand went to take off the mask, to assure you, “S jus me, let Johnny go, baby. Jus me.”

“Oh my god,” You very quickly drop the weapon of opportunity and without much else warning you turn around on your heel to go down the hall, opening up the coat closet to pick up the three-year-old- who was still baffled on what was going on and why you told him to go hide.

All the while you were doing that Johnny very slowly looked back at Simon, a look of exasperation across his expression- because- well two things actually; he had technically seen the man’s face before, but never in good lighting and it wasn’t because Simon was trying to show his face it was more of a random moment post-OP. Secondly; “What do ya ‘ean ‘Baby?”

“ISTER RILEY!” The three-year-old shrieks with glee before any questions are asked and before any can be answered, the child in his blue dinosaur-themed PJs and his mob of hair messy from bed, yet he seemed as awake as one could be. Ollie tried to wiggle out of your grasp, failing so he frowned and looked to you, “Momma wan go ‘Ister Riley.”

You stand at the end of the hallway, beside the old couch and you look over the three men, one you happened to be in a relationship with, and the other two you had no earthly idea of their existence till two minutes before, where they rudely woke you up with clanking boots. You only glance the two over before returning your gaze to Simon, who is very slowly approaching his movements calculated, as if he knew a sudden movement would scare you. “Who…who are these people?”

“On my team, I didn’t know you would be ‘ere,” His voice was hushed, as if he didn’t want them to hear his words, as he got closer Ollie began to lean out of your grasp to move to him- and normally you would allow the transfer, yet not then. Which Simon was very aware of, “Needed somewhere to crash for the night, I didn’t know you ‘ere here. I wouldn’t have-”

Before he could finish his apologies, your voice was whispered through the silence, “You’re all bleeding, what? Do they not have medics? I thought- you told me you had people to take care of you.” Sure, you were very angry and more importantly scared, feeling unsafe in your own home and if not a bit betrayed, yet…for the moment you were willing to overlook that.

“Back at base, luv,” Simon was quick to reply, “Waiting for someone to ‘ick us up ‘n take us.”

You take a moment to process his words and you nod, “Johnny and Kyle?” Your husband very slowly nods, so you look back to the two beaten-up men, who were standing as if they were watching their best friend get yelled at by their parents. After a moment of breathing and slowing your heart rate you give a meek smile, “Hi, I’m sorry, that was a…well an awful introduction, I swear I’m nice.”

They were both quick to deny you being the guilty party, Kyle taking off the cap within a millisecond as he spoke, “No! We must’ve scared ya to death, completely rational reaction, Missus.”

Johnny nods and motions to Kyle as he adds on. Watching as Simon very carefully moves to stand behind you. He knew his best friend, and he somehow didn’t know of his secret wife- suspicions yes, yet he was tickled pink that he was correct. “Wha’ Gaz is sayin, you did not’in wrong, bonnie, fact o’ it is-”Ollie’s face crinkles as Johnny speaks and he moves his head to look back at Simon, seeing him from an upside-down view, “Ister Riley why does he talk weird?” As if on cue you move Ollie to sit happily in Simon’s arms and give a weak laugh to distract them both from your son’s rude question.

“Tea?”

—

“And Missus?” Kyle said after about ten minutes of silence, the night was peaceful, Ollie going from Simon to Johnny the entire night and asking about every question imaginable (”You fight bad people?””I do laddie.””Da’s so cool.”….”Wha’s your name?””Johnny.””Nuh-huh.””Nuh-huh?””Yea, ‘Ister Riley called ya someden different earlier.””Ah, Soap, tha’ my speical nickname.””SOAP??”) and you fussing about how crappy their medic was, they didn’t have one, and getting the first aid kits and clean clothes out, the night was oddly…pleasant.

Simon, who currently had a sleeping three-year-old against his chest, looks up from his tea and then clears his throat. “Wha’ bout her?”

Johnny had spent the last forty minutes thinking about it all, and he had figured out the timeline, or he thought so, so he looked to Simon- a look of pure shock and a little bit of mock upon his face, “Whatcha ‘ean ‘wha’ bout her? LT got a wife n kid ‘n we ‘ere nun wiser!”

“Tha was what I was hopin for,” Simon said dully in return, moving to stand up, an arm under the boy, and then giving you a soft smile as you came back from the garage, blankets in hand. “Gonna put Olls t’ bed.”

As your husband tells you what he was doing you give him a little nod and then set the blankets down on the couch, looking back to the very intimidating men, who were somewhat pleasant as you got to know them. “Unfortunately one of you will have to sleep on the floor. Si’s got a little cot thingy but I hate that thing so I will subject you to it. Trust me, the floor is better.”

Johnny laughs, “Nah we’ll jus cuddle on and we’ll be fine, Missus.”

“No, we will not.” Kyle deadpanned back, glaring at Johnny before looking back to you, “Thank you for opening your home.”

You smile at him, finding it easier to do so after a few hours, “Well after having to endure Ollie for hours it’s the least I could do.” It was a joke that they both caught onto, laughing lightly at it, though the air wasn’t stiff it was most definitely a bit awkward.

“Speakin of Ollie, is he-”

“Oh, he’s not Simons.” You quickly finish the thought, fully knowing that was going to be the question out of the Scotts mouth, then you clear your throat, walking to the kitchen as you spoke, “I mean- sorry, I met Simon when Ollie was about a year and a half old, my ex divorced me after Ollie was born and since he had been on deployment I didn- anyway sorry,” You wave your hand and grab your mug, “and Simon was volunteering at the school I worked at- for um, well John, you both know John of course- anyway, I needed a babysitter for Ollie and he offered and then…well the rest is history.”

“Ghost volunteering at a school?” Kyle echoed to clarify, “an the kids weren’t scared of him?”

“Terrified,” You reply, a laugh in your voice, “It was cute, he was cute, he’s good with kids, he won’t say he is but he is and oh lord, I…” A slight faltering and you shake your head, “Anyway, I’ll let you both sleep. You know where the bathroom is.”

With a few goodnights, you walk down the hall, leaning on the doorframe to the smaller room, which had a pull-down bed that had Ollie’s favorite racecar-themed blanket atop of it and a few select toys you had let him bring on the two-night trip. As you listened to the very faint conversation you stayed quiet, not wanting to ruin the moment between the father-figure and the boy.

“I like Misser Soap and Misser Kyle.”

“Mm, thos’ are my brother’s laddie, so ‘m sure they’re happy you like em.”

“If…if dey brother then- then they like Uncle Mark?”

“…Yeah, sorta like your Uncle Mark, alright, you get to sleep, yeah? Fore mum has both our hides.”

You move to stay in the hallway as Simon kisses the boy’s forehead and tells him goodnight for the billionth time, and you turn your head upward to look at him as he closes the door behind him. He looked tired if anything, so maybe you would wait for your scolding. Silence, as you had learned very quickly on within your relationship, was the cornerstone of who he was. Whatever you may want to be said he was already aware of, anything you wanted to be expressed he was already expressing in his own way. With that in mind you move to where he could easily wrap his arms around you, tucking you into what he felt was like a safe embrace.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Not scared of you, scared of what would happen without you.”

(annd yeah, that's all. Feedback, comments and all that mean so much to me <3)

[liamthemailman]

HBGBFBDBEBEBDHDHHDZ IM READY FIR THE ANGST THAT YOU GOT PLANNED LMFAO

You sure? You’re really asking for it? That’s a first for me. Usually all my angst is deployed against y’all’s wishes. I was actually saving this too.. Not even sure I wanted to share it, nut now that you asked..

Why not, yeah?

AceSoap being star-crossed lovers. Angst at the end. Implied MCD.

Note : Pre-House of Cards events, not canon to House of Cards universe, just an alternate timeline if they had met the 141 prior to HoC

I mean it, these two are made for each other but they just can’t be together. I always talk about them starting off as friends-to-lovers, but imagine if they never even make it past friends.

Imagine Task Force 141 and Task Force Cards being called together for a long and drawn out operation with the Major overlooking their progress. They’re having to reside on the same base for a considerable amount of time, but it’s nothing new to any of them.

The teams meet with a quick introduction from their respective captains and they get to work. Long days of recon, intel gathering, planning. A bit of rule bending but neither captains had any reservations on following by the book anyway. 

In between those days is where it starts, as Ace was trying to break through the firewall, sitting in front of his laptop for hours till the sun had set. He doesn’t notice the time passing or how exhaustion was bearing down on him.

Sergeant Soap comes along, noticing the bright blue light emanating from Lieutenant Ace’s laptop as he passes by the meeting room. His eyes land on the lieutenant of the other team. Sergeant Soap politely knocks on the door, catching Lieutenant Ace’s attention. He was met with a hard glare, but it wouldn’t be Sergeant Soap’s first rodeo on dealing with brooding lieutenants.

Sergeant Soap offered Lieutenant Ace a coffee, stating he looks like he could use one. Lieutenant Ace says he much prefers tea. The older man takes this opportunity to take a quick break from work, accompanying the sergeant to the pantry. They chat for a while before parting ways for the night.

Long days turn into long weeks, with progress to be made, albeit slow. It would ultimately pay off in the end. It always does. With the extended time, it only meant the two teams had more time to warm up to each other. Passing greetings in the hallways between the captains turns into short chats in the training room with the lieutenants which then turns into hanging out over a game of cards in their free time between the sergeants and an eager private.

Though, as all things go, they made a breakthrough, allowing them to have the go ahead for the mission. So they do, gearing up for a mission as they load up at the ungodly hour of 0230 hours, getting ready to roll out.

Soap catches up to Ace just before he joins Jack in the transport vehicle. Despite the looming dread of the mission, Soap still finds it in himself to approach Ace, having found it easier these passing weeks.

“Let’s get us a win, yeah, LT?” Soap flashes a playful smile as he greets him.

What Soap didn't expect was the smile to be returned. Ace smiles, and winks at Soap even, the crows feet at the corner of his eyes becoming a little more pronounced for a moment.

“With you on the team? Naturally.”

Soap had never had a boost of confidence that made him feel as high as he did at that moment. They part ways for the trip.

The mission was gruelling, but it was going relatively smoothly. A miracle in their books, considering their track record for things to go wrong as they were leading up to the much anticipated conclusion of this tiring mission.

Which coincidentally held a collaboration with the demolitions expert sergeant and arson in training private.

Totalling a building wasn’t really a sight that Ace held much regard toward but he understood the need for it to keep the enemies from any potential regrouping. He watched from the sidelines as Jack and Soap set off several detonations, the building going up in a fiery explosion, dust slightly blocking the stars in the sky for a hot second.

“What a fuckin’ beaut..”

Ace turns his head towards the voice, eyes raised as his lips curl into a slight smirk. He didn’t realise Soap was a fan of destruction just like Jack was. Ace’s eyes landed on the sergeant and his smirk faltered for a second as he took in the sight next to him.

Soap eyes gleamed, reflecting the explosion before them. Baby blue eyes seemingly shining bright even in the dark environment they were in. Pure, raw admiration, Soap completely enamoured with the scene.

“Yeah.. Real beautiful..” Ace says, his voice barely above a whisper. Maybe it was the fact it was the end of a tiresome mission, but Ace had never been so at ease during a detonation. They part ways at the landing zone on the way back.

For a high profile mission as burdensome as what they went through, it would be appropriate for a bit of celebration. Now, Ace wasn’t one to drink but Jack had pestered him to meet his social interaction outside of work quota. He came along with them, but he would have gone anyway without her chivvying.

Ace quickly retracted his statement as he found himself sneaking out the bar for a ‘quick smoke’. He stood in the alleyway, the area illuminated by a flickering tungsten lamp hanging overhead the backdoor of the bar.

He wouldn’t find himself alone for long, the door creaking open. He scowled at the intruder but his gaze softened when he was met with Johnny.

“Mind if I join ye, sir?”

“Not at all, Johnny.”

Doe took a drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke away as Johnny joined him leaning against the exposed brick wall. They stood in silence for a moment, content to listen to the cars on the street and the occasional howl of a stray cat.

“I don’t trust trees.” Johnny breaks the silence, clearly a little buzzed, earning a questioning side eye from Doe.

“They’re always a little shady, don’t you think?”

Doe snorts, barking a laugh as he blows smoke away from Johnny. It was a wonderful sound, Johnny thinks to himself. Doe’s laughing causes goosebumps to rise on Johnny’s arms.

The two exchange terrible jokes, their laughter echoing off the walls of that narrow alleyway. Doe was starting to feel lightheaded despite not drinking, finding Johnny’s company easier to bear than most he’s met.

A silence falls between them as they recover from their giggling fit, feeling stitches in their sides.

"I love you." Soap says, just showing affection to his newfound friend, excited for what the future might hold for them, what adventures they would experience together and the lives they would lead, intertwined with each other. He meant it even if he was slightly sloshed.

"It'll pass." Ace says jokingly, brushing it off quickly, but his smile falters as he was scared of the sudden intimacy of the situation despite it being platonic at the time.

The two spend a little more time in that alleyway, sharing a smoke, indirect kisses shared as they pass the cigarette between each other.

Soon they part, their respective teams calling for them to return to base.

With the end of the mission, they had no reason to stick around each other any longer, their duties doing a great job at keeping them busy. They occasionally come across each other in passing but that was it. A fleeting moment, gone as quickly as it came. Their eyes would meet from across the mess hall, the field where they trained, during night patrols but they were usually too far or it was too inconvenient to strike up another conversation.

The mohawked sergeant became a constant in Lieutenant Ace’s day to day, even if they never talked anymore, barely having the chance to wave at each other. It was the same for Sergeant Soap as well, cherishing every chance encounter he had with the stone-faced lieutenant.

Though, fate was cruel, and these coincidental meetings became less and less frequent, the two sometimes going weeks without seeing each other. They had other worries to distract them, more pressing matters to attend to, their own complex lives beginning to untangle from each other. 

It wasn’t clear when Sergeant Soap had disappeared, or why Lieutenant Ace even noticed or how. He felt a sudden aching longing for the man in question but no matter how hard Ace tried, he couldn’t find himself bumping into the sergeant again. 

Perhaps the sergeant had accidentally faded into the crowd, becoming a stranger again. It happens. Ace decides to drop it, ignoring the nagging feeling that was telling him that Soap was gone for good. The heart tends to overreact afterall.

Ace moves on with his life, reporting for a meeting with a task force about a mission concerning a potential political riot with a group of extremists.

[angy-mouse]

Puck Bunny Part 3

5.7k, no smut but definite M-rated banter and important plot (unless you're just here for the foursomes in which case you can skip this chapter ig but its pretty integral for the finale)

&lt;previous next>

do you wanna go on a date?

Read 5 Minutes Ago

You stared at the message, sent directly instead of through the group chat. As if that wasn't weird enough, you'd just gone on a date (with heavy air quotes) with the three of them and you had yet to get your panties back, thank you very much. You started drifting down memory lane and forced yourself to snap out of it. This was not lecture appropriate thinking.

You get another text.

with me, idk if that was obvious lol. sap + sam are stuck running drills all afternoon bc they suck

Okay, so not a group thing. That was good, at least. You might be able to walk after all. Except…

Honestly, you don't feel like sex. Not even mind-blowing, four-orgasms-in-a-row, written-by-a-woman sex. You were tired, and still sore, and really craving something fruity but also sweet? Maybe a chocolate orange. Point being you did not feel sexy and imagining a naked man only stirred thoughts of needing to buy lotion.

i was thinking shopping and dinner - my treat ofc - but whatever you want is cool too x

Fuck, you do need a sweater. Damn changing seasons making your sundress collection obsolete. 

You flipped your phone over and closed your eyes, taking a deep breath and rolling your shoulders back. Fuck the rest of the lecture hall, you were aceing this class anyway and you needed to check in.

Do you want to see Punz today?

You didn't even have to think about it. Of course you did, you wanted to see all three of them and maybe shove your face in their perfectly perky pecs, but so far seeing them entailed sex, which you were not up for. You didn't think for a second that Punz wouldn't accept a no, but you were 50/50 on whether you would cave at the first touch just to experience that intimacy.

Call yourself a slut, but it was kinda hard to deny a man who acted like you were a literal goddess. 

Next question: do you want to go on a date today?

As long as it was a date-date and not their last idea of a date, that would actually be nice. You were past the awkward small talk stage with Punz, so no fumbling or awkward silences should happen. Plus you already knew he would compliment you to the high heavens, which certainly couldn't hurt your mood.

So what were you waiting for?

You thought, but you couldn't find an answer. A handsome, fit guy who treated you amazing and was great in bed wanted to take you shopping and treat you to dinner. You'd have to be a fucking idiot not to.

You flipped your phone back over and found another text.

no pressure ofc, but id be a fucking idiot not to try spending time with you without the peanut gallery

You snorted, thumbs gliding over the screen to save him from his nerves. Even if he was cute when he rambled.

tbh shopping and dinner sounds exactly what I need rn

A beat where you thought too much and got lost for just a moment. You bit the bullet, putting a heart on the end and hitting send. Then, as an afterthought:

should I change?

what are you wearing?

For a moment you considered telling him you forgot about a lecture you can't miss, and you actually can't go and you're so sorry but maybe next time-

omg wait not like THAT

i just mean last two times i saw you you were wearing a cute asf dress and then that nice shirt with big sleeves and the black skirt so as far as im concerned anything you wear is perfect

He's talking about your lantern sleeve blouse. Something about the way he fumbles, not knowing anything about what things are called and only knowing that he liked them enough to remember makes you just melt.

oh lol well thank you. Did you wanna meet somewhere or…

The response is instant.

ill come pick you up! whens your last class get out?

You tell him and get a thumbs up and heart emoji pairing, then a gif of snoopy doing his happy dance that makes you laugh under your breath.

"Stop sexting in class,"

You flinch and clutch your phone to your chest before recognition kicks in and you glare at Niki. "I'm not sexting," you hiss. "Punz is picking me up for a date." She rolls her eyes. "An actual date." You didn't know why you needed her to be happy for you so badly. Maybe with both your long term best friend and slightly less long term boyfriend both kicked out of your life, you were just craving companionship. It would certainly explain your current disaster of a dating life. 

"Okay," she says but it doesn't sound like she means it. "Just so you know, I only have one romcom binge weekend in me a year, so if this harem breaks your heart, too, you're on your own." 

"I appreciated that, you know." She blinks like she wasn't expecting anything less than snark, but you meant it. You came into your dorm with eyes so full of tears you didn't even realize she was there until she was coaxing you into your PJs and shoving a carton of Ben & Jerry's into your lap. Suddenly your mysterious roommate you only saw once in a blue moon when your schedules rarely overlapped was the shoulder you were crying on, voice ringing through your ears promising you were still the baddest bitch and he was the loser here.

"It's no big deal," she finally decided. "You need to learn people don't deserve praise for not treating you like crap." 

You didn't have a comeback for that, so you finished class in silence.

"Do I get to meet this one, too?"

You can't fight your smile. "You want to?"

"Gotta make sure you're not dropping your standards. Again." 

"I changed my mind: fuck off." She curled her hands into a heart with a grin before you turned away, hearing her chase after you. 'Chase' very loosely translated to 'took four quick steps to easily catch up because she's a lot fitter than you.' Damn skinny people.

"If he just pulls up and honks, you are not getting in the car. Date ends there."

"Any particular reason?"

"A man who can't wait to get out of the car to greet you can't wait long enough for you to come."

You grinned over your shoulder as you walked into the afternoon sun. "Oh, believe me: not a concern."

"Ew,"

"You started it."

"And I'm finishing it." 

Tires screeching on pavement caught your attention, just in time to watch two students nearly get run over by a cherry red Challenger. You bit your cheek. "You don't think…" 

The car came to a stop right in front of the stairs (only because it was physically incapable of climbing them, you were sure) showing off the VAL-U sticker on the back window.

"I do think," Niki said solemnly. A single honk came from the car. "Oh, fuck no-"

"Niki, please," you begged as you watched Punz climb out of the driver's seat in a crisp collared shirt, buttoned only enough to be appropriate in public. You practically melted as he gave you that sparkling grin, running a hand through his blond locks as he climbed the stairs two at a time to join you. 

"I had one rule for you-"

"Sorry," Punz breathed out, pressing a tender kiss to your cheek, close enough you could feel the faint heat rushing through his face. "I slammed my elbow on the horn trying to unplug my phone."

You'd be embarrassed by the loud snort that left you if you weren't so grateful it drowned out Niki's, "you're lucky, valley."

"You look beautiful." It was hard to believe when you'd just sounded like a literal pig. At least, it would be if he wasn't looking at you like you hung the stars, hands sliding back on either side of your waist until he was holding you gently against him. His lips ghosted over yours. "I missed you, bunny."

You missed him, too. “You saw me two days ago,” you say instead, but you let your hands link against the nape of his neck as he gives you a soft kiss. Something more than a peck, but nothing you were embarrassed to do in front of Niki. Something just right.

“And it was painful,” he announced, squeezing you tighter against him like he knew it would make you giggle into his neck. “Forty-eight hours with Big and Rich for company.”

“Are you ever going to run out of demeaning nicknames for them?”

“Haven’t yet. Hi-” It takes you a second to realize he’s talking to Niki over your head. “Friend?”

That one was directed at you, so you hum an affirmative and gently peel yourself away to run through introductions. Punz only lets you get out of one arm, the other moving to hang over your shoulders with a squeeze that clearly said ‘that one stays.’ “This is my roommate, Niki. Niki-”

“Punz,” she mused, offering her hand. “I know all about you.”

“Is this a shovel talk?”

“No. I don’t talk before shoveling.”

“Niki,” you beg, but Punz gives her a firm shake.

“Big fan of that,” he declared with a grin. “I’ve got a buddy with a truck, we should get you two in contact.”

She nodded solemnly. “Alright,” she directed at you, “you can go on the date.”

“Niki!”

She took your keys off your bag. “I’ll take your car back to the dorm. Don’t get pregnant.”

“NIKI!”

“Bye, Niki,” Punz cheered with a cackle, arm around your shoulders keeping you from chasing after her to commit some mild manslaughter. “Nice to meet you!”

“Don’t say, ‘nice to meet you,’ when she’s humiliating me.” You got a kiss pressed to the side of your head instead of an apology as he started down the steps, dragging you along with. The gentle pressure of his arm on your neck solidified your feeling like a yappy chihuahua being tugged along by the leash. It all felt a stark difference to the usual sultry air that followed you around these three. This actually felt like a… date. Not a sex on the nearest surface date, but a proper meet the parents soon date. 

You tried not to think about how scary that was.

Instead, you thanked Punz as he held open your door, your hand in his as he helped you climb in. You held in a giggle as he shut the door behind you and raced around the hood like he was worried you’d leave without him. “What are we shopping for,” he asked as he threw himself into his seat, but you were distracted.

“Why do you have a suicide knob?”

He grinned, wide and toothy, tongue poking out as he used the knob to wiggle the steering wheel. “Because it’s fun.”

You buckled your seatbelt. 

“Oh, come on,” he huffed, pulling out of the parking lot. “I’ve never gotten into so much as a fender bender with this car.”

“This car?”

“Don’t say it like that! I haven’t gotten into an accident since I was a teenager, is that better?” 

“Yeah, and what are you now, twenty?”

“Twenty-five,”

“Oh my god, you’re old.”

You regretted it as soon as you said it. You were so not at the stage where you could make fun of each other and especially not something as potentially sensitive as his age and why he's still at University-

"Well, you're a brat, so I thought we made a good pair." There's a beat where your mind races, but Punz reaches over to take your hand off your lap and cuts it short. "That was a joke. I know you're not a brat." 

"Only a little bit," you admit, and squeeze him back, a little promise that you didn't take it harshly. "If you were serious about taking me shopping, I could use some warm clothes for fall.”

The car pulled to a smooth stop at the light, and he fixed you with a look like you’ve accused him of secretly kicking puppies. “Dead serious. I love shopping.”

“You’re clearly very passionate about this.” 

He took his stare off you to pull through the light, bringing your joined hands up to his lips. “Well, I have an addictive personality, a great credit score, and excellent fashion sense.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Hey, what’s with the doubt?!”

“Don’t get me wrong,” you promise, using your joined hands to gesture to his open shirt, “today’s pirate-with-no-inhibitions look is super sexy, and I’m a big fan of the pleather pants, but every other time I’ve seen you, you wore a hoodie and basketball shorts.”

“That’s not fair: you always see me after practice! I can't squeeze into these pants while I’m still sweaty.”

“Well, I’m very appreciative of your sacrifice.” You wait until he’s looking at you to pointedly eye up his thick thighs, practically seran-wrapped in black fabric. “Very appreciative.”

“Bunny’s secretly a pervert,” he accused, “God, I’m not a slab of meat.”

“Really?”

He finally broke, laughing so hard he hit the rumble strips and had to swerve back into the lane. “You’re such a little shit! You’re lucky it makes you lovable instead of annoying.”

“You three practically snap me in half every time I see you: I’m allowed some eye candy!”

“I’ll be your eye candy,” he promised, and flicked open another button on his shirt. “Boom.”

“Whoa, now,”

“Too hot?”

“I nearly creamed.”

“I hate you,” he wheezed, shoving the gearshift into park. “Get the fuck out of my car.”

“Rudeness!”

His hand snatched yours when you reached for the door. “Wait, I wasn’t serious!”

“I’m getting out!”

“No, wait for me!”

“I’m getting out, and I’m telling Sam you let me open my own door!”

“No, he’ll kill me!”

“Good!” Despite the snap, you can’t pry the smile off your face and you find yourself staying perfectly still in your seat as Punz races around the hood again. “Oh, Merci,” you chirped, taking his offered hand as you stepped out.

“De nada, my little bunny." 

His arm laid across your shoulders again like you were boyfriend-girlfriend on an average date. He even reached out to open the door for you as you walked into the mall. But you weren't boyfriend-girlfriend, you were a puck bunny brat. "Every time I think you're kinda sweet, you call me that." 

"It's a talent of mine: making an ass of myself. Where do you wanna look first?" 

“I usually go to Salvation Army.”

Punz started walking towards the Aeropostale, dragging you along with. “I’m offended you think I’d offer to take you shopping and take you to Salvation Army.” 

You started struggling, grabbing a fistful of his shirt to try and curb him. Your heels tried to find purchase on the tile, but he slid you across the floor like dragging a sled. “I’m a college student! And so are you, for that! I’m not letting you spend your food cash for the week on clothes for me- Jesus Christ, how are you this strong?!”

He stopped, but it had nothing to do with your attempts. He spun you in his arms as if you were nothing more than a doll to him, something he could carry with him and arrange however he wanted. The thought made you feel equal parts small and bratty, but his hands on your hips made you bite your tongue as he held you close. His eyes were stern, a slight tremble in his features betraying his nerves.

“Alright, I’m gonna tell you something, and I don’t want you to freak out.”

Oh, you were totally going to freak out.

“I didn’t want to say this so soon because it totally changes how people think of me, but you’re clearly going to fight me on this, so here it is.” He took a deep breath, eyes screwed shut in a wince. “I’m a trust fund kid. My parents are loaded.”

It didn’t click at first. Not until you blinked. “... oh my god?”

He nodded solemnly. “I know.”

It was a shock, the same way any new information about someone you knew was a shock: mild brain buffer as your mental file was updated. Other than that, though… You couldn’t seem to care. Other than, of course, another chance to mouth off. “Oh my god,” you performed, shaking his shoulders. “Eat the rich, Punz!”

“I’m not into butt stuff,”

“I hate you,” you lied, trying to push away. “I hate you and your gated mansion community-”

“I live in the frat house, it’s practically a homeless shelter.”

“You and your diamond studded underwear-”

“Where are you getting your information on rich people: Richie Rich?”

“You’re an old rich guy, too!” You gasped, clapping your hands on either of his cheeks. He gave a minor wince from the impact, but it was swept away just as quickly by rapt attention as you pressed your forehead to his. “Am I a sugar baby?” 

“Well, you haven’t actually let me buy you anything yet-”

“Wrong answer.”

He shook his head between your hands, essentially making you slap him repeatedly. “No, bunny, you’re not a sugar baby, not in the slightest. Now, can I buy you more clothes than you can ever wear?”

Your gaze narrowed, but it probably wasn’t as intimidating as you hoped when you had to cross your eyes to look at him. “You swear your wallet won’t feel it?”

“May lightning strike me down.”

It took a moment, but with not even a rumble of thunder, you supposed you had to believe him. “Alright,” you conceded, “but we’re going somewhere that actually carries my size.”

<3E>

“I’ve never been in a Torrid,” Punz admits to you as you walk in.

“Really? You don’t lurk in the lingerie section hunting for big women?”

“There’s a lingerie section?” He’s too excited at the prospect to entertain your sass, but evidently not too excited to take the pants you were looking at right out of your hands. “You’ll have to try everything on for me. Even though I’m adamantly opposed to anything that covers your legs.” 

You tried to take them back and he casually moved out of reach, adding a blazer to his haul. “Just because I’m built like an elephant seal doesn’t mean I’m actually insulated-”

“Hey-” You jump at the sudden appearance of a sales associate, a beautiful woman with an undercut and dangly earrings, and flush at the reminder that you were in public. She points an empty hanger at you sternly. “We don’t do self deprecation in here.” The hanger tip shifted over to Punz. “Are you not telling her how beautiful she is enough?”

You can feel your face turning purple as Punz claims, "I can't: I need to eat and sleep sometimes," and starts plucking one of everything off the racks without bothering to check sizes. 

"Wha- Punz! Stop that! I don't need-"

"What you need is to let me love you!"

Undercut woman has a giant grin as she turns to walk away. "I'll get a dressing room open for you. Name for the door?"

"I don't need-"

If Punz wasn't trying to smother you in twisted affection, you might've started to get pissed off at the way he interrupted you again. "Bunny!"

"You're gonna get a foot up your ass in a minute here!" 

"She don't bite," he insists, wrapping a thick arm around your neck to yank you against him. He starts pressing fat kisses to your hair, the kind where he just puckers his lips ridiculously and smacks them against you. The first few are gross. The next annoying. Then he starts cooing about she's just a sweet little thing and your attitude crumbles like a wall, entire body melting against him like a stray that's finally caving into affection. 

You can feel his lips curl into a wide grin against your head, but you can't make yourself rebuild that wall when he's nosing your hair away from your ear so he can whisper, "are we done being a brat, baby?" 

“...yeah,”

His finger crooked under your chin, gently lifting your lips to his for a soft kiss. “Yeah? My sweet girl’s gonna let me dress her up?” 

My girl.

You stole another kiss, dropping one on Punz’s jaw as you pulled away for good measure. “At least grab the right size, you big lug.” 

You may as well have promised him a puppy. His grin stretched wide across his face, bottom lip pulled between his teeth before he ducked his head, hiding from you. He nuzzled into your neck, puckering his lips so they just barely grazed your jugular, feeling your pulse race. “Yay,” he murmured, arm around your shoulders sliding down your back until he could grip your soft waist. “Because as hot as you look in this dress, I don’t approve of how the leggings hide away our tummy.”

“You mean my tummy?”

“I’m filing for joint custody. You don’t appreciate her enough.”

“I appreciate her just fine. It- fuck me, now I’m doing it! Give me something to put on!” 

He cackled, tugging your collar aside to check the tag and leaving you to rifle through the racks. “I’m gonna build you some outfits,” he promised, flicking through some camisoles to add to his armful. “And I wanna see every single one.” 

“I thought you wanted to make it to dinner at some point.” 

He found one in your size and handed you the completed stack. “Then you’d better run that cute ass into a stall for me. Ooh, swimsuit sale!” 

You huffed and rolled your eyes all the way to the back of the store and all the way into the dressing room until the door was shut behind you. You only allowed yourself the time it took to strip and redress to think about how warm you felt inside. How nice it felt to have someone who wanted to drape you in silks and pouted when you made him settle for overpriced plus-size fashion. Someone who was ready to watch you try on one of everything, knowing full well how long it’d take.

You settled the blazer over your shoulders and turned to the mirror, lips pressing together.

By no means were you ashamed of your body… but you leaned more towards ‘screw the world I don’t owe it to you to fit your beauty standards’ and less towards ‘I’m fat and fuckable.’ 

The flared pants sat just too low to tuck away your muffin top. No matter how you tugged on the camisole, it couldn’t cover that inch of skin- unless you wanted to walk around with your bra out.

“Shoppin’ for my baby!” Your gaze snapped to the door, hearing the rhythmic shuffle of feet. “Shoppin’ for my bunny!” You slapped a hand over your mouth to keep from laughing- if he heard you, he might stop singing. “Shop ‘til you drop! Bop-bop-bop! Gonna get a crop- top! Yeah, I could’a been a rapper. Fuckin’ missed my calling.”

“You so did,” you called out, threading the buttons on your blazer as you bumped the door open. “What would your rapper name be?”

“Lil’ Pucky,” he called back without hesitation as he turned. Blood rushed through your ears as his jaw dropped open, eyes cruising up and down your form so intensely you worried you’d forgotten to put clothes on at all. “Hello, bunny.”

“Hi,” you giggled. You gave a twirl and laughed when a swoon of “oh, ass,” passed his lips. “You like?”

“I love.” He groped for your waist, pulling you into his chest until you could feel his heartbeat through your right tit. “I changed my mind: you can wear pants, but only these.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yup.”

“These are better than the leggings?”

“Leggings are too tight. Anything that delays me from getting in your guts for more than six seconds is going in the bonfire.” 

Your hand came down on his shoulder and he pretended it hurt, stumbling into one of the plush chairs. “That’s why you wanted to take me shopping! You figure if you buy me enough, you can get rid of everything you don’t like!”

He couldn’t even pretend to feel guilty, a grin wider than a fucking canyon stretching across his face. “It’s gonna be short dresses and tight pants if I have my way.”

“And what makes you think you’ll get your way?”

He held out his hand, a silky two-piece bathing suit with a halter strap top and a skirt layered with frills dangling from his fingers. “Because I found this in your size-” his other hand revealed a mesh shopping bag half full, “and enough panties for Sam to steal as many as he wants.” 

You accepted the swimsuit to try on, but gave an apologetic smile. “I’m very picky about my underwear: I don’t want you to be upset if I don’t wear what you pick out for me, okay?”

“Don’t worry, I’m working off a reference.”

There’s two beats where you process his words before you’re beating him with the swimsuit. “You’re the one who ended up with my panties?!” 

Punz didn’t even move to block your hits, hand coming up to lay over his heart. “I pledge my allegiance every morning, first thing.” 

“Where did you hang them?!”

<3E>

“I can carry something, you know.”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” Punz piled the bags all onto one arm as if he took your offer as a personal offense to his strength and very manhood, looping the other around your waist. “Taking a fine lady out and making her carry her own bags- who do you think I am?”

You’re getting used to his dramatics: you barely acknowledge him as a stall catches your eye. “Ooh, boba!”

His arm doesn’t budge around you, but it doesn’t keep you in place like you’ve experienced before. Your path shifts towards the drink shop and his elbow pulls straight for barely a second before he shifts right with you, letting you lead him wherever you desired. “That milky stuff with the gross balls?”

“Yes, but no.” There’s laminated menus on the tables so you pick one up and scan the flavors. “You’re thinking milk tea with tapioca pearls. I get fruity tea with popping pearls.”

“You’re really cute, but I don’t know what you’re saying.”

“I’m gonna blow your mind right now.” You slipped your card out of your purse as you walked up to the counter to make sure Punz knew you were buying this time. “Hi, can I get a large strawberry fruit tea with green apple pearls?” 

He barely gets out the total and asks for a name for the order before Punz slaps his card on the machine from the side. "'Punz': exactly how it sounds, but with a 'Z'."

"I was gonna pay for it, asshole!" The only response you get from him is his signature on the pad- which is nothing more than a colon and a 'P'. You stuck your tongue out right back, skipping out of reach to snatch up a straw from the pick-up counter. "You're gonna let your guard down sooner or later." 

"You make it sound like you're gonna kill me." You drag the straw across your throat. "Wow," he snorted, pecking the tip of your nose, "total savage." 

“I know. I’m totawy scawy.”

“Fwightening.” 

“You’re a dork,” you informed him with a huff of laughter, stabbing your drink as soon as it arrived. “Poison check,” you claimed, taking the first sip. You skewered a pearl for him before handing it over. “Alright, taste that thang.” 

You waited eagerly as the straw passed his soft lips, on the edge of your nonexistent seat as he took his first sip.

He shrugged. “Yeah, it’s alright.”

You rescued your drink before smacking his arm. “No taste!” 

“It’s about as good as fruit can get, but it still tastes like fruit. Give me a burger any day.” 

“I’ve never met such a dumb man,” you huffed, sipping for yourself.… Okay, so it had too much ice, but it was still delicious!

“Liar,” Punz accused as you started your walk again. “You’ve met Sapnap.”

You bumped into him with purpose. “Yeah, but it’s cute on him.”

“Ouch, you’re really wounding my pride there, bunny,” he drawled, making sure his sarcasm seeped through every word. “As if I could be jealous of Sappy.” 

You could feel your lips curling into an evil grin around your fat straw before the thought of what to say even formed. “I don’t know: he’s cute, and strong, and a gentleman, and he’s great with his tongue-”

“Alright, you’re pushing it!” A cry left your lips as he snatched your cheek, pinching only hard enough to pull it around a bit. “Talking about another freaking guy this much, even if he is my teammate-” 

“Leggo uh meee!”

He gave another yank before releasing you with a huff. “Such a little brat…”

His tone changed. It was slight, but there was a definite change- enough to make you stop and backtrack. Did you push too far? Was he actually insecure and being compared to Sapnap was a jab in the gut? Or maybe he was just getting sick of your attitude when he was treating you like a princess. 

“I’m sorry.” Punz let out a small noise from the back of his throat that you took as prompting to continue. “I don’t know why I even said that, but I’ll try not to be such a- such a brat.”

“It’s okay,”

“It’s not-”

“Why are you upset?” He turned to look at you properly, pulling you to a stop once he saw your expression. 

You huffed, frustrated that you had to say it out loud, but more frustrated at yourself. “Because you’re wonderful to me-” His hand came up to your cheek, warm and soft, and suddenly your eyes were clouding up. “And you don’t deserve all the snapping I do-” There’s a lump growing in your throat. “And I don’t even know why I say that kind of shit because I’m having a great time with you-”

“Oh, honey bunny.” You caught a glimpse of his handsome face twisted into concern before he was pulling you into a nook for some semblance of privacy, setting your bags on the floor before hauling you tight against his chest. “Oh, you’ve really worked yourself up over this, huh?” You know it’s not really a question, but you find you’re nodding into his shoulder anyway. You don’t even feel like you’re crying: there are tears streaming out of your eyes, but that’s it. Almost like someone’s left the faucet on and forgot about it. 

Punz’s lips press firmly against your head, hands rubbing circles against the tense muscles in your back, like he was trying to find the button that would make it all better. “Can I tell you something, bunny?” His lips briefly twitch into a tiny smile when you nod mindlessly against his shirt. “I know you’re having a good time. And I am, too. And I know you just like chatting shit. Makes you feel strong, huh? Like you’re big and in charge?” You didn’t even realize it before he put it into words, but he was exactly right, earning another nod. “And you wanna know something else?

“I like chatting shit, too.” You pull back as you realize the tears have stopped, and he only lets you go a few inches before he’s holding you still with warm hands on your waist. “The boys told me all about your drive before our movie night. You know how Sammy threw his little tantrum over your seatbelt?” His choice of words pulls a throaty laugh from you that makes him grin. “We all want different things when we’re with you, bunny. Sam wants to make sure you’re taken care of, so when you brat, he’s gonna nod and take it until you run out of steam and ask him nicely, then he’ll give you anything you want.

“But I kinda like to fight, bunny. Nothing mean, but when you poke me, I wanna poke back. I think it’s fun just like you do, and I think we could have a good time pushing each other to the limit to see who gives.” His lips twitched. “Now, Sappy: I think that boy just wants to die under a big woman, so you gotta watch out for him, make sure he’s still breathing when you sit on him-” 

You try to smother your laughter because this is serious, but then you’re imagining a headline that says, ‘Local Man Attempts Suicide By Pussy,’ and you break into manic giggles that send you right back into Punz’s chest as he laughs with you. His hand rubbed up and down your back, slow and soft, melting your form against his. 

You turned your head once the giggles calmed down, taking a deep breath of his cologne while you listened to his heart. “I still feel bad,” you admitted. “Like I pushed too far.”

“I promise you didn’t, baby.” The speed of his answer makes you melt just a bit more. “I get being worried about it, though, because I do, too…” He hummed as he thought. “Sappy said you guys decided on a safe word?”

You nodded against him. “Pineapple,”

“Pineapple. Okay, so how about we both promise that if the other crosses a line, we say ‘pineapple.’ Then we know it’s an actual ‘no’ and not just more playing. How’s that sound?” You give another nod that he returns with a squeeze. “You want me to take you home, baby?” You’re shaking your head without a second thought, pressing yourself deeper against him. You get another squeeze in response, a silent, ‘I won’t leave you.’ “You wanna get some dinner?”

You forced yourself to pull away, his fingertips trailing over your body as long as they can until they hook onto yours. You beamed at him. “That sounds really nice, old man.”

Punz laughed. “Let’s go, then, brat.”

[ididntseeurbag]

turning point

pairing: heeseung x fem!reader

genre: (hints of) enemies to lovers, angst (?), fluff if you squint

warnings: none (i think? let me know if you spot anything!)

in which i-land is a program to make both a girl and a boy group and you and heeseung are the trainee ace rivals of hybe who are forced to perform together against the grounders.

a/n: part one of my mini-series! part 2 here | part 3 here &lt;3

it was late at night, and the i-land building residents had decided to go to bed so they had energy to practise for the ground vs i-land battle happening five days later. well, all of them were sleeping but two: heeseung and y/n.

the both of them were in the main practice room, still trying to cooperate and coordinate their moves, for they had to do a mixed stage. they were performing butterfly together, both cursing whoever decided that suddenly making a change in groups and mixing the male and female members was a good idea.

nevertheless, they ended up agreeing to suck it up and try to work as one so the team could get a high score. and there they were, still not matching each other’s energy.

stressed out, y/n stopped dancing and paused the music. “this is clearly still not working out,” she stated. “either we do something about it now or i’m going to bed.”

“what do you think we have been trying to do for the past two hours?” heeseung asked her, then muttered. “or at least i’ve been trying.”

y/n scoffed. “i’m sorry? mind you, i led this practice all afternoon and you always countered my opinions,” she said rather quickly and slightly offended. “i don’t know if you can call that trying, but sure.”

the boy sighed, visibly tired and not wanting to get into a fight again. “look,” he started. “i may not have been of much help-”

“clearly.”

“-but,” he continued after being cut off. “i didn’t do it to go against you, only to try and test things out from a different perspective.”

“well, we tried my and your ideas, and none are working,” y/n said. “maybe we need another point of view that’s not ours.”

heeseung looked at her through the mirror. “i can’t believe i’m saying this, but i agree.”

half an hour after y/n left to find help, she, surprisingly, came back with rain. how she had managed to get to him, heeseung didn’t know, but he was secretly grateful she found him out of every other producer.

they explained the situation to him and he nodded along. “so, basically you don’t know how to dance together without clawing at each other’s throats, huh?” he told them, although not waiting for neither to say anything. “and here i thought they were dating,” he muttered to himself. “talk about enemies to lovers.”

not hearing what he last said, y/n looked at the man and spoke. “do you think you can give us advice to turn this into a good performance?” to which he nodded with a warm smile and told them to show him the whole act.

they did just that, and right after the first chorus ended, rain stopped the music. “i know what’s wrong,” he half shouted. “you’re not close enough, both physically and mentally,” seeing the looks of not understanding the two teens were giving him, he continued. “you have to reach for each other, to feel what the other does and not put a barrier in between, you have to be as close as possible in order to make this credible.”

y/n and heeseung locked eyes and then turned to the producer. even though they thought rain was close to mad for even thinking they could get along, they nodded and thanked him for the advice. the eldest then excused himself and told them to record themselves if they improved so he could see it.

silence fell upon both of them and stayed that way for a bit, until the boy spoke. “i guess we have no chance but to try,” y/n agreed shortly after and pressed record on their tablet before they placed themselves in the initial position of the song.

with rain’s advice in mind, they started to sing and dance. firstly, they were doing nothing to cease the awkwardness, but during the first chorus they got a bit more near each other. unconsciously, they danced and sang closer and closer until there was little room between them.

both heeseung and y/n felt different as they saw they weren’t so separated, and loosened up when they realised that rain’s advice was actually kind of working. they met gazes more often, and fully made physical contact when it was needed in the choreo, instead of awkwardly hovering their hands over the other like earlier.

anyone that watched that last part of the song would’ve thought they had never had trouble with one another and they were inseparable from the day they met. in fact, when rain received the video, he saw a big spark of hope between the duo’s relationship.

the song finished with the ending pose, consisting of holding hands next to their faces and looking into each other’s eyes. it was supposed to be a fast ending, with them just standing like that for five seconds, but none seemed to want to let go. they kept staring at each other, their gazes then lowering to the other’s lips. they unconsciously leaned in and reduced the space between them, slightly closing their eyes-

“ayo,” anna (one of the female trainees and also one of y/n's best friends) and jay barged in through the door, anna shouting the short greeting. “have you seen my-”

y/n and heeseung quickly separated and put distance between them, looking at their friends with awkward smiles. y/n couldn’t believe herself. what was she doing, almost kissing her supposed rival?

“-beanie,” anna continued, realising she had interrupted a moment. “you know what? nevermind, i’ll search for it tomorrow,” she then dragged jay away with her. “let’s go, jay!”

“wha- but-” jay tried to speak just to be shushed by his friend while she pushed him towards the stairs.

after some excruciating silence, y/n took the courage to say something. “i’m... going to sleep, if that’s okay with you?” she didn’t even know why she asked for his approval, she could do whatever she thought best.

“sure, yeah,” the older answered. “i’ll go to bed too, then.”

they both walked to their respective rooms and went to open the door, but simultaneously turned around before twisting the knob.

“so-”

“well-”

“you first,” y/n let him speak.

“tomorrow at eight a.m, breakfast, then practice again?”

y/n was surprised to hear that he wanted to eat breakfast with her instead of being on opposite tables like they did before, but she gave him a barely visible smile and nodded. “eight a.m it is,” she turned and opened the door, looking back at him. “good night, heeseung.”

heeseung stood there after she had already closed the door, smiling to himself when he registered the fact that y/n had called him by his name and not his surname (like she always did until that night). “good night, y/n,” he whispered, still smiling, then went inside his room.

masterlist

[pisayers]

Prologue

Ahhhh, Pisay. Where do I even begin with you?

In all honesty, the thought of me graduating hasn’t really hit me hard yet. Sure, there were moments in our last day on campus that a tear droplet nearly fell out of my eyes as I walked through the corridors for one last time, but I can’t really describe what I’m feeling as I’m writing this. I liken it to a state of limbo in which I’m extremely hyped to dip my toes into the realm of college, but also torn to shreds every time I think of the people that I have to leave behind in the process.

If you ask me what I remember from my Pisay life for the past six years, the default answer I would give would probably be the grandest events. Buwan ng Wika with the best quartet in Pisay CARC history: Edryll, Maron, RP, Jamil. The field trip where I visited spots in Baguio for the very first time as a born and raised Baguio boy. Food Fair with my best performance as a dead weight. Pi Day which turned into a two-week break which turned into a two year blended curriculum. Last Intramurals season with my teammates helping me get to the Mythical 5, shouting out the Grade 12 peeps Wrenzel, Zyr, Paul, Rainier. Prom night. Isko night. My journey to Mt. Pulag. These would probably be the most common themes if you were to survey the batch regarding their best experiences here in this institution. However, what is going through my mind right now are the little things, fleeting moments that will probably be forgotten as years pass, but can’t help reminiscing over because of its raw sentimental value.

The jamming sessions, Harley on the guitar with Andrew blasting his vocals singing Ang Huling El Bimbo for the nth time. The random conversations with Wrenzel and Raizen where Raizen hits you with the most out of the blue question to the point that you can see a large ass question mark on Wrenzel’s forehead. The 3v3s with the teachers, chasing Sir Jed and Sir Ace around screens like they’re Pisay’s version of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, then proceeding to rotate to Sir Dems or Sir Jo violently backing you down like they’re Nikola Jokic. The pick-and-rolls with Johann, the dude seems to just get it to your hands at the right place at the right time every single possession. The chaotic games with the Grade 9s as Zach tosses up his Manny Pacquiao looking ass jumpshot and Kishan rebounds it to blow the putback layup. The high scores I would get in the English literature quizzes as I compare them with Kimee’s and Leah’s. The Grade 7s flocking around me on the yellow bleachers to dap me up after airballing their shots a whopping 60 times. The bear crawls across the 1st floor as punishment for the District Meet team, Kyle having the goofiest one there. The commute to Aurora Hill with Zyr where he is either in the deepest slumber possible or trying to get an update on my romantic situation. The blue store convos that can reach up to 7pm with Maron, Nicole, Neal, and Sam. The service days with Aya and Leah back when watching them get sermoned was hilarious. The nerve wracking debates, Aira and Pao carry me every time. The post-math LT verification process with Harley explaining what is basic trigonometry to me, The heart-to-hearts with Paul. The times I confessed my feelings. The times I got rejected. The times I cried myself to sleep doubting my physical appearance.

The little things.

Combine them all together and you have a melting pot in which you can experience what my Pisay life was like with just one sip from the ladle. If you notice, it really isn’t any different from a high school life in general. Pisayers get put with so much pressure and mounted expectations that we tend to forget that we’re not just robots churning out requirements, and while Pisay for me meant that in some sort of capacity, it also meant discovering myself more as a newfound adolescent. A sort of Holden Caulfield journey with less travelling around the States and more phony characters in play.

But it worked out in the end. Pretty high GWA. Academic award. Excellence award. Proficiency awards. Competitions under my belt. Personal projects on the side. Somewhat of a nice legacy. Pisay has also granted me the opportunity to see beyond the academic realm and discover who I truly am. No longer was I the valedictorian in elementary who was tasked to do pretty much everything for the image of the school. I needed my own niche. My own bubble. My own universe condensed into the palm of my hands ready to show the world what I can bring to the table.

And so, to end this stream of consciousness…

TO EVERYONE IN PISAY —

THANK YOU!!!!

To my parents, thank you for your unwavering love and support for me. I know it started out rough for me. It was the first guidance counsellor meeting for low grades and the first time I saw a flying saucer related to silverware and not aliens. However, knowing that I had a place where I could be unapologetically me helped in building my own sense of identity, and your caring nature got me to where I am today. To Dad, thank you for the late night snacks, and to Mama, thank you for the weekend dates. I’m going to miss both of you so much in QC.

To my teachers, thank you for imparting your knowledge and wisdom unto me. To be honest, I’m really questioning the real life application in half of the lessons I have learned in my Pisay journey, but one aspect I will never forget is the values and critical thinking skills that were passed down through diffusion along the way. To Ma’am Melai, thank you for always believing in me and my ability for every writing competition I participate in. To Ma’am Melki, thank you for your generosity and warmheartedness that I will treasure forever. To Sir Quantum, thank you for igniting my passion for Physics with your corny jokes and effort in crafting fun practice problems for us. To Ma’am Krystel, thank you for enlisting me in my very first competition, and subsequently increasing my self-confidence tenfold. To Ma’am Sol, thank you for your everloving care for us Stats babies; we really miss you and I hope to see you face to face some time soon. To Sir Arfe, thank you for teaching me how to cook; hopefully I can use it come college time. To Ma’am Abby, thank you for molding my writing ability into its current quality. To Sir Ariel, thank you for your unwavering kindness for our batch and your willingness to help us judge or critique our requirements in other subjects. Lastly, to Ma’am Eden, thank you for being the first teacher to see the potential in me to do great things here in Pisay. It sounded ludicrous at the start, but I’m glad I manifested it.

To my batchmates, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I know I started off being probably the most obnoxious and arrogant pre-teen in the fabric of space-time, but I am genuinely grateful that you gave me a second chance at life, given that it was probably easier for your mental health to just simply cancel me and cast me off aside as early as Grade 8. I also know that I did and will continue to make mistakes in the future, but I hope you know that I am going through all of these with the subconscious effort of making strides to better myself as a person. I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors.

To myself, well, you’re not done. UPD Economics is coming your way. New faces, new campus, new professors, new chinitas, but same old you. Don’t lose that spark inside you that has been igniting your motivation to study for the past 18 years you have been doing this. Don’t marry early either. Wear protection.

Thank you for everything Pisay! I’ll see you when I can.

[fxllen-rxse]

//Omg.... Wtf.....

Big vent rant under the cut to be deleted later. I may not be at home right now, but this explains how things are going back there. Scroll past if it's not your thing. I completely understand. I'm just venting because it frustrates me to no end...

So I'm from Tulsa, OK. On Saturday night/early Sunday morning a freak wind storm happened. Winds were 100+ mph. 80+ is the criteria to sound the sirens, which were indeed used. Local news tower cam at one point shows footage of almost every transformer within the shot blowing one after the other within seconds. The anticipation of the high winds even prompted a civil emergency alert to be issued at one point.

My husband and I had left for Minnesota the morning before. We knew it was supposed to storm, but nothing like this.

The damage was quite extensive. A vast majority of the city lost power. Poles were down in multiple areas, making most roads impassable. Structures are damaged or destroyed. For lack of better words, this storm has heavily disabled more than half of the city.

As a result, numerous businesses are closed and can't open. This includes multiple gas stations, which the ones who do have power and are open are being overcrowded with many desperately seeking fuel and what little supplies they can get their hands on. Not only that, but heat index this week is nearing or at the triple digits. As one can imagine, without electricity there's no AC.

The city has stepped up and began its own recovery efforts. The mayor immediately signed a disaster declaration. Cooling stations have been opened and crews are working around the clock to clean up and restore electricity. Obviously, it's not happening all at once, but slowly power is getting restored. After all, in one County alone it was near 150,000.

Though, lack of electricity means that most food left in the fridge for about 48 hours should probably be considered spoiled. Already, budgets are tight for many. Having to throw out and replace all of that isn't as easy as it is for some.

I think the major thing that is really bothering me here was that a state of emergency was not declared until 2pm today. The twist? It wasn't our "good ole" governor who did it. Nope, not the Lt. Governor either. It was the Senate President Pro Tem, who was apparently not notified that he was acting governor until about 1pm today.

As for the governor, he's enjoying himself in Paris. Even tweeting about it. No clue where the Lt. Governor is, but he is indeed out of state as well.

So... I'll give the Pro Tem, he got the state of emergency signed within an hour of being told he was acting governor. At least he's actually doing something instead of sending empty thoughts and prayers!

It's so frustrating and infuriating! So far, my husband and I have been fortunate enough to only come out of this with a downed section of fence and at least 2 days without electric. We will have to empty our fridge when we return, but aside from that, everything else looks to be fine. From what we can see, our house didn't appear to make it to 80 degrees inside. So I'm hoping that my refrigerated med will still be fine.

Even though we are not home right now, I can definitely feel all that frustration within the city. It has made it somewhat difficult to actually enjoy this vacation, but we're here and doing our best to make the most of it.

[shop-korea]

FUTURE - YOUTUBE - CHANNEL - I'M - PERFECTING -

RELOCATION - SPECIALIST - BASED - ON - COMEDY -

1 MIN - ADULT MOMENT - DANIEL HENNEY - ACTOR -

2 - BAD - COULD HAVE - BEEN - FAMILY - COMEDY -

ROMANCE - 'SHANGHAI - CALLING' - CHINA - DVD -

(+$5) - NO - AUTO - REPEAT - BLOND - GIRL - LEAD -

OF - FILM - THAT - WE SHE - DOES - SHANGHAI CN -

HIRING MANY - RELOCATION - SPECIALISTS - NOT -

JUST - WHERE - 2 - EAT - BUT - WHERE - 2 - GO -

OTHERS - THINGS - 2 - DO - WHAT MAKES OUR -

CITIES - SPECIAL - FOUND BETTER - CHEAPER -

WATERPROOF - NON-SEE - THRU - BAGS ALSO -

20L - NOT - SAME - SIZE - 4 - ALL HERE LARGE -

20 INCH - LENGTH - WIDTH - BOTTOM - 10 INCH -

$17.99 - AND - RARE - CAN - CARRY - BY - HAND -

DIFFERENT - WAYS - 4 - SHOULDERS - 1 SIDE OR -

BOTH - SIDES - WATERPROOF - IMPORTANT -

NEED - 2 - SHARE - ALSO - 4 - COMPUTERS -

U - WANT - 2 - SLEEP - BUT - LIBRARY - AND -

PUBLIC - PARKS - SINCE - THEY'RE - NOT -

SLEEPING - AS - WORKERS - NEITHER YES -

CAN - U - SPANISH - SPEAKING COUNTRIES -

SIESTA - WHAT THEY - HAVE - IN COMMON -

THEY - SLEEP - AFTERNOON - MANY - HRS -

2 - WAKE - UP - LATE - DINNER - BEGINS -

6P - BUT - ALL - AWAKE - EVEN - AT - 2 A -

SPAIN - OTHER - THAN - HOTELS - EVEN -

GROCERY - CLOSED - AFTERNOONS YES -

DURING - SIESTA - HOW - INCONVENIENT -

4 FOREIGNERS - TERRI SAVELLE FOY -

'TAKES - 3 WEEKS - OR - 21 DAYS - TO -

ESTABLISH - ROUTINE' - 21 DAYS - TO -

BREAK - BAD - HABITS - CREATE NEW -

ONES - YOU'RE - SO - HUNGRY LUNCH -

TIME - BUT - ALL - SLEEPING - SO - U -

ORDERED - ROOM - SERVICE - VERY -

EXPENSIVE - THUS - EVENING - THE -

GROCERY - OPEN - AS - THEY - YES -

BOUGHT - 4 - THE - NEXT - DAY - AS -

THEY - SHOPPED - AT - MALL - YES -

NIGHT - TIME - HOW - UNUSUAL - 4 -

ALL - OF - US - THEN - IN - HOTEL U -

SLEPT - AFTERNOON - THEY - AS -

SPANISH - SLEEP - EVERYWHERE -

PARKS - ON - THEIR - PURSES AS -

SITTING IN - PARKS - THEY SLEPT -

SITTING - 4 - THE - WEATHER AND -

AIR CONDITIONING - MOST - EXPENSIVE -

REASON - 4 - ELECTRICITY - BILLS BEING -

HIGH - PARK - TIME - JUST - ELECTRIC -

FANS - IN - THEIR - HOUSES - WHEN SP -

SPANISH - GO - HOME - THEN - THE AC -

IS - TURNED - ON - WHY - IN - PARKS AS -

ELECTRICITY - BILLS - LOWER - PLUS -

LIKE - ME - I - USED - ELECTRIC FANS -

INSIDE - 2 - INCREASE TEMPERATURE -

COLD - ELECTRIC - FANS - LESS NEED -

4 - COOLER - TEMPERATURES - THUS I -

SAVED - ON - ELECTRIC - BILLS - ALSO -

GOING - 2 - SUBMIT - I'M - HOMELESS -

WITH - EBT - FOOD - STAMPS - LET's -

SEE - HOW - MUCH - I'M - GETTING -

THUS - PAPERLESS - BECAUSE I'M -

HOMELESS - INFO - BY - EMAIL XO -

WHICH - THEY'E - NOT - DONE - SO -

CALLED - NEAR - BRICKELL STATION -

OPEN - PHONE - BUSINESS - TOLL XO -

FREE - $17 - TOOK - 15 MAY - FINALLY -

NOT - 14TH - VIRTUAL - ASSISTANT -

FEMALE - MY ANSWERING - VOICE -

LOVE - HER - VOICE - SO - PRO YES -

WITH - MY - TOLLFREE - LOVING IT -

GOT - MY - REFUND - OF - WILDLIFE -

FOOD - $10.10 - WITH - TAX - ON THE -

AMAZON - GIFT CARD - NOT 2/3 HRS -

MAYBE - AFTER - 1 HR - I - DIDN'T -

BELIEVE - SOONER - SO - I'M YES -

ORDERING - MARUCHAN - BEEF -

NOODLES - VEGETABLES ALSO -

ADD - HOT - WATER - TOTAL -

12 - FOR - $4.62 - AND - EBT -

GETTING - 24 - HUB LOCKER -

LA FITNESS - 2ND - FLOOR 2 -

YESTERDAY - ATE - 6 CHOCOLATE -

DONUTS - PUBLIX - $3.99 - THAT's -

IT - RAN - OUT - OF - CRYSTAL - LT -

LIGHT - SWEET - TEA - BUT - GOT -

MY - VEGAN - HYDRATION STUFF -

THAT - WILL - B - MY - FOOD FOR -

TODAY - 4 - KICKED - OUT - OF -

GOV'T - CENTER - THEY - YES -

REMOVED - OUR - FOOD - SUPPLY -

BUT - THEY - PLANTED - SO - AS -

WE - FIRE - ALL - POLICE - FR 50 -

STATES - REMOVED - OF - HAND -

CUFFS - FIREARMS - WITH - YES -

SEVERENCE - PAY - CRIMINAL -

RECORD -

PLEASE - APPLY - 4 - ADDITIONAL -

MILITARY - FORCE - MILITARY YES -

WEAPONS - FULLY - AUTO - STRAP -

MACHINE - GUNS - LIGHTWEIGHT -

LESS - THAN - TIC TAC - SIZE YES -

BULLETS - HIGHER - WAGER PER -

HOUR - 30 MIN - LUNCH

5 CONSECUTIVE - DAYS

THEY - ALSO - MUST - OBEY - THE -

TRAFFIC - LAWS - REMOVING - AX -

FR - FIREMEN - ALSO - THEY WILL -

B - USING - AIR - NOT - WATER - 2 -

END - FIRE - LIKE - EUROPE - FOR -

IN - MY - COUNTRY - WE - USE AIR -

NOT - WATER - IN - RICH - AREAS -

LIKE - MAKATI - PHILIPPINES - PH -

SO - USING - INFLATABLE - NECK -

AND - STRAP - THIGHS - WHAT TO -

WEAR - 2 - SLEEP - SIDEWAYS - AT -

R SIDE - CAN - BREATHE - BETTER -

SIDE - SLEEPING - BRAIN - CAN -

FUNCTION - BETTER - WHILE U -

ARE - SLEEPING - VERY ACTIVE -

THEN - ONLY - SIDE - SLEEPERS -

INCREASE - BRAIN - HEALTH -

AND - BRAIN - CAN B ACTIVE -

DURING - SLEEPING - SWEET

DESKTOP - DOWNLOAD - FREE - LIGHTSHOT -

SCREEN - CAPTURE - THIGHS - STRAP - GET -

NECK - PILLOW - WHILE - SLEEPING - SITT'G -

DOWN - BOTH - END - PAIN - OF - LOWER -

BACK - SHOULDERS - HIPS - ALSO - WITH -

NO NECK - PILLOW - YOU'RE - ALWAYS -

HEAD - GOING - DOWN - THAT's - VERY -

DANGEROUS - NECK - PILLOW - STOPS -

THAT - ALSO - WHILE - WORKING - PC -

STOPS - SLEEPINESS - ALSO - SO YOU -

CAN - CONCENTRATE - BETTER - ADD -

SHEA MOISTURE - VOLUMIZING - YES -

MOUSE - MY - FAVORITE - SUPER HAI -

EXPENSIVE - RIGHT - NOW - SO - I'M -

TRYING - THIS - INSTEAD - LOVE - AS -

SHEA WHITNEY - KRISTEN McGOWAN -

WHEN - THEY - SHARE - AMAZON - US -

STUFF - NON-SPONSORED - HOW -

ABOUT - THIS - WHAT - THEY - DO -

RELOCATION - SPECIALTY

I'M - HIRING - BOTH - 2 YES - SHOP -

AMAZON - WHAT - I'M - LOOKING 4 -

PAYING - THEM - PER - HOUR - AND -

PAYING - 4 - THE - PRODUCTS

KRISTEN - AND - DIY MOMMY - OF -

CANADA - LOVE - IKEA - WILL PAY -

BOTH - ALSO - PER - HOUR - 2 BUY -

AT - IKEA - AND - PAY - THE - IKEA -

PRODUCTS - WITH - KRISTEN AND -

DIY - MEANING - MORE - PLACES 2 -

GO 2 - THEY - WILL - NEED -

STUDIOS - 2 - SHOWCASE WHAT -

THEY - BOUGHT - FR - CANADA's -

IKEA - SO - BUYING CASTLES - FR -

CANADA - FORGOT - WHERE -

KRISTEN McGOWAN - IS BUT -

LOOKS - LIKE - FOR -

GBC - TV STUDIOS -

AS - KRISTEN McGOWAN - DESIGNS -

A - BEDROOM - A - KITCHEN - WITH -

AMAZON - PRODUCTS - IKEA - YES -

PRODUCTS - WE - CAN - PROVIDE -

CREW - BUT - FOUND - OUT THAT -

KRISTEN - IS - CANADIAN - ALSO -

AMAZING - MOST - LIKELY LIVES -

IN - CANADA - BUT - SHE - DID -

MENTION - MANHATTAN - NY -

BUT MAYBE - LAKE HOUSE IN -

CANADA - SO - EITHER - NEW -

YORK - OR - CANADA - WILL -

STILL - WORK - SO - HOPE 2 -

MEET - HER - DIY MOMMY - PAY -

BOTH - PER - HOUR - AND 2 BUY -

DECORATE - PLACES - IN - MY -

CASTLES - FR - WHAT BOUGHT -

AT - AMAZON - AND - IKEA - SO -

THIS - CAN - B - AMAZING - AS -

BIBLE - 'MONEY ANSWERS ALL' -

RELOCATION - SPECIALTY

RELOCATION - SPECIALISTS

OUR - COUNTRIES OF BIRTH

WE'LL - GO - FROM - THERE

EARLY - THIS - MORNING - LIKE

5A - OR - 4:45A - 2 - ASK - ME IF

I - NEED - MONEY - I - SAID - ME

RECEIVES - SOCIAL - SECURITY

DISABILITY - I - HAVE - MONEY

BUT - RIGHT - NOW - I HAVEN'T

EATEN - THIS - DAY - MONDAY

YESTERDAY - SUNDAY - MOM'S - DAY -

4 - BEEF - EMPANADAS - BOUGHT - 4 -

ME - HISPANIC - MALE - GAVE ME - $5 -

4 - COFFEE - BOUGHT - 6 CHOCOLATE -

DONUTS - INSTEAD - WITH - PUBLIX -

$1 - TALL - NATURAL SPRING WATER -

TODAY - HAVEN'T - EATEN - THUS IT -

LOOKS - LIKE - JUST - HYDRATION -

POWDERS - BUT - INTERMITTENT -

FASTING - HAS - CHANGED - ME -

I'M - NO - LONGER - LONGING - 4 -

FOOD - NOT - NEEDY - I - WATCH -

RAINA - AND - ROCKSTAR EATER -

THEY'RE - MY - FOOD - I - USED 2 -

B - SO - HUNGRY - ALL THE TIME -

GAINED - WEIGHT - NO - THAT - I -

ATE - ONCE - 12P - 6P - DAILY IT -

HAS - CHANGED - ME - I'M - NO -

LONGER - DESPERATELY - HUNGRY -

ANYMORE - 3 WEEKS - AND - I'M XO -

VERY - SATISFIED - HAVEN'T EATEN -

SINCE - 6P EDT - YESTERDAY - I'M XO -

MORE - THAN - FINE - LOVE - LOVE -

INTERMITTENT FASTING - BRICKELL -

CITY - CENTRE - MALLS - IN FLORIDA -

LESS THAN - 1 HOUR - AND - ONLY -

ONCE - IN - MALLS - LAW - OF - FL -

STATES - BODY LOITERING - AS -

HOMELESS - ESPECIALY - BODY -

LOITERING - IN - PRIVATE - FLORIDA -

PROPERTIES - NON-OPEN - CARRY & -

27TH - US - STATE - TEXAS - 28TH - & -

OPEN - CARRY - 31ST - CALIFORNIA -

AS - NO - LONGER - SLAVES - STATE -

INDEPENDENT - DEMOCRATIC - PARTY

50 STATES

BY - INTERNET - BRINGING - YOU - THE -

BEST - OF - THE - BEST

VALENTINO

CHANNEL

LOUIS VUITTON

CHRISTIAN DIOR

MOST - EXCLUSIVE - MODELS

RUNWAYS - INTERVIEWS - AS

WE - ALSO - HAVE - AUTHENTIC

SIGNED - CERTIFICATES - FROM

COUTURE - DESIGNERS

FREE - NEXT - DAY

BUT - HDG - BANKS - OFFERING

HDG - BUYERS - APP - FREE

DESIGNERS - COUTURE

ART - MUSIC - HISTORY

WE - BUY - BACK - BY - MONEY

MARKET - OR - AMOUT - PAID

WHATEVER - IS - HIGHER TAX

PAID - INCLUDING - JEWELRY

SO - WHEN - TIME - 2 - SELL U

NEED - MONEY - WE WILL BUY

WHAT - WE - SOLD - YOU - YES

HDG - BUYS - APP - FREE

U - BOUGHT - MICROWAVES

SMEG - REFRIGERATOR AND

SMALL - APPLIANCES - WASHERS

DRYERS - SODA - REFRIGERATORS

WE'LL - BUY - THEM - BACK SAME

MONEY - MARKE - OR - AMOUNT

U - PAID - TAX - PAID - FREE 24/7

PICK UP - FULLY - UNIFORMED &

WHITE - GLOVES - BECAUSE -

DECLUTTERING - IS - WILDLY -

EXCITING - MONEY - BACK - 2 -

LIFE - IS - EATING - EATING - & -

ENJOYING - OUR - HEALTH - & -

WELLBEING - DECLUTTERING -

WONDERFULLY - UPLIFTING & -

CLEAN - AND - MORE - SPACE -

IS - BLISS - MODERN - LIVING -

MODERN - SPACING - ITS YES -

EXCITING - COMING - IS - HAI -

MORE - INTERNET - THAN -

EXPENSIVE SHOP'G MALLS -

BUILDING - NEXT - 2 EMPTY -

LOT - IS - BUILDING OF YES -

CHASE - BANK - THEY CAN -

TRANSFER - 2 - MARY BRICKELL -

VILLAGE - NO - PROBLEM - ALSO -

MAGIC - KINGDOM - MEDICAL -

CENTERS - VARIOUS - AGES AS -

WE - BUY - SW 7 ST - SMALL FL -

STORES - AND - PARKING - LOT -

MAKE - A - TALLER - BETTER FL -

OUTDOOR - MALL - NO - TEENS -

KIDS - 12 AND YOUNGER - AND -

18 AND OLDER - SOUNDPROOFED -

PER - FLOOR - RED - PANDA - AS A -

BIG - PLUSH - DELIGHTING - KIDS -

AND - PREGNANT - FEMALES - I'M -

2 - MALE - TWINS - 2ND MARRIAGE -

BABY - BOY - AND - IT - AFFECTED -

MY - PREGNANCY - STRONG MALE -

TEENS - OF - SPANISH - SPEAKING -

AFFECTED ME - AND - I - LOST MY -

DONATED - BOTTLE - BABY - BOY -

06 APRIL 2023 - BUT - APP - SAID -

2ND - FINGER - 40 BOYS - LEFT 4 -

ME - B 4 - AGE 80 - SO - I'M - NOT -

SCARED - MALE TWINS - ALSO -

INCLUDED - IN - THAT - COUNT -

LIKE - SEOUL - KOREA - INTRODUCING -

EMBLEMS - NECKLACES - BRACELETS -

4 - PREGNANT - FEMALES - THE COUNT -

OR - NO - COUNT - SO - WE - WILL - YES -

RECOGNIZE - MONTHS OF PREGNANCY -

TALL - OUTDOOR - SHOPPING - MALL -

COMING - THERE - 24/7 - WE - WILL FL -

BANCRUPT - BRICKELL - CITY CENTRE -

THEY'RE - SECURITY - EMPLOYEES -

WILL - NOT - B - ALLOWED - OUR FL -

MALL - ELECTRONICALLY - WE WILL -

CONTROL - THEM - SO - THEY WON'T -

COME - NEAR - PUSH - CARTS - ARE -

FREE - FOODS - FREE - DRINKS FREE -

ICE CREAM - FREE - DESSERTS - TOO -

EACH - FLOOR - FREE - PUSH CARTS -

2 - DELIGHT - EVERYONE - LOTS - OF -

FREE - FOODS - DRINKS

FREE - BALLET - CLASSES

FREE - KIDS - TUTORS

FREE - COLLEGE - TUTORS

24/7 - HOLIDAYS

OUTDOOR - MALL - ESCALATORS -

ELEVATORS - INN - GROCERIES 2 -

AGE 12 AND YOUNGER

AGE 18 AND OLDER

DISNEY - PIXAR - MASCOT

'TURNING - RED' - THE CA

CANADIAN - CHINESE AND

THE - RED - PANDA - PLUSH - ALL

FLOORS - 4 - KIDS - PREGNANT 2

K POP - FLOOR - ALSO - 4 - STORES

CAFES - GRILLS - READY - 4 - WHEN

WE - INVITE - 4 - SMALL - CONCERTS

0400 - 4A - 0500 - 5A - 0600 - 6A

1 HR - FREE - BUFFET - 4 - TICKET

HOLDERS - ALL SHOPS OF FLOOR

OPEN - BUFFET - DURING - STAGE

SHOW - WHILE - PERFORMING - A

NO-SOUND - FIREWORKS DISPLAY

30 MIN - VERY - SHORT CONCERT

STARS - STAYING - IN - OUR - INN

INSIDE - AS - THEY - FINISH SOON

BUFFET - CONTINUOUS AFTER AS

SHOPS - REMAIN - OPEN 4 AWHILE

STORES - FILLED - WITH - ITEMS FR

STARS - CLOTHES - 2 - CHANGE - TO

SHOES - MORE - 2 B - WELL DRESSED

K POP - FLOOR - 4 - PERFORMANCES

MORE - BEHAVED - FANS - 19 AND

OLDER - KOREAN - DRINKING YES

AGE - HONORED - ALCOHOL - WILL

BE - SERVED - LIGHT - SOJU - LOW

CALORIES - COCKTAILS - THE BEST

NO - NATION - WILL - BIND - US YES

ILLEGALLY - WITH - THEIR - LAWS

'IMMUNITY - OF - CITIZENS' - USA

SO - WE - DON'T - NEED - FLORIDA

MALLS - SKIPING - DOLPHIN - MALL

NEXT - 2 - MIAMI's - IKEA - JUST YES

DOING - THEM - NEVER - RETURN'G

2 - AVENTURA - MALL - BECAUSE IT

IS BODY - LOITERING AS HOMELESS

JESUS - IS - LORD

2023 - YEAR - OF - THE - MAXIMUM

ALL - LEVELS - ATTAINABLE - NICE

DR JERRY SAVELLE

[lale-txt]

💓 One Piece men and how they would realize they have a big fat crush on you (PART 6)

[part 1 w/ Law, Zoro, Shanks & Smoker] [part 2 w/ Sanji, Sabo, Kid & Rayleigh] [part 3 w/ Ace, Izou, Marco & Thatch] [part 4 w/ King, Yamato, Denjiro & Who’s Who] [part 5 w/ Roger, Luffy, Rosinante & Killer]

a/n: this is without doubt my favorite fluff hc series to write ahh. also a wild mix of characters this time. was i looking for an excuse to write Kaido fluff and needed three more characters? yeah I GUESS. sorry Usopp for putting you next to all those huge scary men ily i swear

Usopp

you must have the softest soul if someone like Usopp crushes on you

he is drawn to you like the tide to the moon, radiating around you on tiptoes

watching you throughout the day, when you were both working in silence on your projects together, he couldn't help but acknowledge how his heart skipped a beat

he would definitely pick you flowers or braid you a bracelet, something that says "i've been thinking about you" without making it too obvious because he is shy after all

i can see him talking to Nami or Sanji about his crush first, seeking their advice on how to act or if they could tickle out some information out of you if it is mutual (of course it is...)

Usopp isn't the bravest but he sure would grab all his courage to write you a heartfelt letter where he confessed, leaving it under your pillow where you would read it late at night in the dim candlelight, your heart dancing just like the flickering orange lights on the wall

Crocodile

this man loves two things in this world: power and... you obviously

though he probably is still a bit in denial about that. because love? ain't nobody got time for that

he was busy man doing his silly little crimes, but still... he would make time for you

he would catch himself daydreaming about you, thinking about what your kisses would taste like, about you straddling him, how his name would sound coming out of your mouth between two moans...

sounds a lot like having a crush to me huh

Crocodile doesn't play and would command you to his office the next day, waiting for you leaning against his desk with his arms crossed in front of his chest

"am i in trouble?" "depends... do you want to be?"

you do. trouble never tasted sweeter...

Katakuri

babe are you made out of sugar? because this man wants to devour you whole

to his own surprise though

Katakuri is known for being calm in every situation... except when you were around

then his heart would do loopings in his chest, his head feeling all dizzy from this unknown feelings that crawled upon him

not even his merienda was fun anymore because all he could think about was you whenever he laid down and closed his eyes; and he couldn't help but wonder if you tasted just as sweet as all those doughnuts...

he would try and keep his calm facade when you asked him for help with some cake frosting, a lame excuse to make him bend down to you

his kenbunshoku haki would fail him because he certainly didn't see you kissing him on his cheek coming, blushing under your touch and hiding his face deeper in his scarf... but with a big, big smile underneath

Kaido

was he drunk or was he in love?

no matter how hard he tried, no amount of sake could wash away the mental picture of your face whenever he closed his eyes

he was used that people bowed to him, yet you were able to hold his piercing gaze with your head held high from the other end of the room, your eyes a mix between curiosity and hunger

you caught his attention with that, he couldn't deny that

after another drunk banquet he would often forget most of the night, but he could never forget the way your hand brushed his, how your slender fingers braided his long hair, how you called him "baby girl" without blinking (and how he kinda liked it)

he knew it was a serious crush when he sobered up first before asking you if you would like to keep him company in his private chambers, maybe longer than just a night

of course you did &lt;3

[incorrectrawhidequotes]

Intricate, Macabre, Spooky, Vintage

Intricate - what's a subject you have random knowledge about?

B-17 "Flying Fortress" planes. Four engine, nine gun bomber planes from WW2.

Random facts; Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, piloted B-17s when he served in the Pacific.

There are only around a dozen airworthy planes still left today.

Spitfire and Mustang fighters flew with the B-17s for extra protection. The bomber crews referred to them as 'Little friends".

Once when the fuses for the landing gear were shot up, an engineer used spent 50. calibre shell casings to fix the circuit. It worked and the plane landed safely.

The B-17 was famous for being able to survive heavy damage. The "All American" collided with another plane in mis air, nearly severing the tail. The crew had to make their way back to England at a lower speed and altitude, alone. It took two hours to turn the plane around because of the turning circle needed to not snap the tail off. And the tail gunner was still stuck there the whole time. The plane was eventually landed safely and the story goes that it was only after the last of the crew had left the plane that she finally snapped in half.

And my favourite fact/story:

In 1943, Lt Charles Brown was piloting the "Ye Old Pub" on a mission over Germany. In the fighting, plane was heavily damaged and the crew severely wounded. Brown was trying to get the plane home on 40% power. The plane was spotted by German ace fighter pilot Franz Stigler. When Stigler saw the damaged to the plane and the injured crew, he decided not to fire. instead he brought his Messerschmitt into formation beside the B-17 to protect them from anti-aircraft guns on the ground. Stigler flew escort until they reached the coast, saluted Brown and flew back to Europe. Brown's plane landed safely in England. In 1986, after retelling the story at a pilots reunion, Brown was inspired to try and find the pilot that protected them. It took four years but eventually he was reunited with Stigler. They became close friends, taking holidays and fishing trips together, for the next eighteen years before passing away within months of each other in 2008.

Macabre - you have peculiar interests?

Weird history and stories. Found these awesome podcasts like “The Darker Side of Life” and “Lore” that talk about strange stories from history, paranormal, true crime. I can easily binge listen for ages. Usually when driving or cooking so I have time to listen. 

Spooky - do you believe in the supernatural?

Definitely. I’ve hade encounters over the years that I can only explain as ghosts or spirits. Mostly positive or neutral. But once I was punched in the back by something invisible. There was nothing and no one near me but I felt the impact for the next five minutes. Found out later that the building I was in is very haunted. I’ve seen photos and EVP recordings from there and it’s very creepy. 

Vintage - Favourite decade?

The 1920s. I like something about a lot of eras but the 20s was just wow. The clothes, music, architecture. Bi-planes and Roadsters. The 20s has this amazing story telling potential. Things like The Mummy, Miss Fisher, High Road to China. The 20s just has this perfect feel for adventure stories. 

[thebrownssociety]

Hi, so I was wondering about the toons getting an education. You said that they didn't know how to read or write at the begining. First of all, when did they learn to read and write? And second of all, when they started learning those things, how did they do it? Did all of the toons go to school, you know, like kids do? Did they have classes and classmates, different subjects, different teachers? Or did they have private tutours?

So, first things first, thank you Ana for giving me one of my most complicated asks yet! That's why it's taken me so long to answer, I need to first of all sort through the strands of my brain in order to find the answer, and then translate it so it can be understood by normal people.

This headcanon is LONG, I hope you lot enjoy.

the majority of the toons [about 90 percent] are NOT created with the ability to read and write. In the olden days it was generally assumed that they didn't have the ability to learn either.

The other ten percent DID. They tended to be toons that were created to be doctors, lawyers or other professions that need the ability to read and write. Or members of royalty because the creators made the decision that royals would have been taught to read and write and so incorporated that into there designs. This is why Porky Pig is unusual, because he has the ability read and write, but he's not royalty and he doesn't have an official profession. Technically Porky is an anomality, it just happens that his anomality has helped him more than hindered him.

Moving onto the villains, it tends to follow the same rules as above. Grimhilde [wicked stepmother] has the ability to read and write because the creators assumed that as the now queen she had to be a princess before, therefore fit the rules.

Maleficent however, couldn't read or write [much to her frustration] because she was a villainous fairy and although she was [I think?] royalty of some sort within the fairy world the creators decided she didn't need the ability.

You might be getting an idea of the timeline from the movies I mentioned. I headcanon that the toon began campaigning to get an education during the 60's. They did this largely via peaceful means [mainly because one thing that has always been acknowledged by humans is that Toons are quite powerful and they aren't to keen to annoy them massively. The toons for their part don't want to cause massive distress to humans - they want to make them laugh! - so it actually works to a degree. During the 60's though the Toons decided something needed to be done.

The directors and other higher-ups had been promising to change the rights for the last decade and it hadn't happened. In 1965 the Toons decided enough was enough, they would start peacefully protesting. They adhered to the riles of there contracts to the letter. The LT's contract for instance says they have to arrive at least five minutes before filming starts, so they arrived five minutes before filming started when previously they'd been arriving half an hour so the director could run through everything with them.

They also left straight after seeing as there contract said they were free to go after the filming ended.

The LT's were also contracted to be available should WB ask them to do anything like help in the kitchens, but they only gave to do that for a set amount of hours each week. They worked those hours to the letter and went straight after. A few of the more devious toons even reasoned the contract just says they have to show up, not do any work, so they didn't. At first the studio got round that by asking toons who they knew would do the work properly, but it didn't take the toons long to figure out that was happening and then the 'good' toons wondered why they should bother when the 'bad' toons were being allowed to get off scot-free?

Eventually no toons was doing any work to help the general running of WB at all.

The above, I should mention, did not happen overnight. It took around 18 months, and it wasn't just happen at WB. Although Disney didn't have the exact same contract, they ran on the general principle of arriving at a set time and leaving straight after, so the toons just adhered to there contracted times.

18 months later and the companies decided enough was enough. They were having to go overtime to film the cartoons/movies now the toons weren't doing extra [previously unpaid] hours. [Which they did because the majority of them are perfectionist when it comes to the cartoons and wanted them to be the best they could be.] They were also having to pay the Human employees extra to cover the hours, often at extremely short notice. And unlike the toons they weren't contracted to come in just because the company wanted them to.

So anyway, the point of me detailing this is to explain the circumstances that meant that the companies were at there wits end and ended up petitioning the president to give the toons rights. Mickey Mouse also helped out enormously here as well. Walt Disney had died a few months earlier and Mickey was now running Disney. Which also meant control of the theme parks. Mickey decided that seeing as Toons clearly weren't valued enough to bother educating [despite being proven as intelligent] they shouldn't bother providing entertainment at the parks either.

The Disney toons also had it worked into there contracts that they had to make periodic appearances at Disney's parks [kinds like the people dressing up as the characters do now, except it's the actual toons] and are on a rota basis. Unless they're doing an events [like Halloween for the villains or valentines day for the princes and princesses] then each toon does at least one 12-hour day at Disney per year. It was this bit that Mickey was putting a stop to.

It had a real knock-on effect as, as well as the rides, most people went there hoping for a glimpse of there favourite toon. Without that...

As much of an absolute business-killer as this idea was, Mickey was more than happy to explain to anyone who would listen [read: most of the world news] exactly WHY he was doing it. With all this pressure it was really just a matter of time until the laws changed and the toons were able to gain an education. This was in 1968.

Now as fast as things work in Toontown, this was such a complicated area that it took a full 2 years for the various schools to be built, staffed and a curriculum drawn up (which followed the same basic guide as human education, but with some added stuff and some stuff taken out. It basically followed a 'would a toon actually need this in future life?' and went from there.

Here's were it gets slightly complicated. Because I mentioned before that toons age in a weird way. But the main thing is they go up and down in there age on a day to day basis until they are about 20. This makes educating them quite difficult, to say the least.

The studios solution to this was to bring in Human teachers to teach them at the grades human children would go through. So Kindergarten, Grade 1 ext. The thing was that a lot of the toons had learn some of th education already, like identifying shapes and coulors and things. And of course the ones who were professionals [Like Ludwig Von Drake and Gus Goose] already had a college-level of education, they just needed to prove it to the teachers.

The end result of this was that it wasn't unusual for a toon to be in a class for only a few months at a time while they did the work [don't forget, they only need 4 hours of sleep as well, so they could study for longer if they wanted]

It did eventually even up though and the toons ended up spending 9 months if the right class. For example, Porky Pig aced Kindergarten all the way up till 4th grade and then found he was struggling with 5th grade. This was a shock to him after spending 21 months in education [excluding holidays], to suddenly need help. Porky was forced to realise that he had centred a lot of his identity around being 'the one who can help his friends/family read.' and hadn't expanded his personality much beyond that.

So yeah, as an average most toons took about ten years to complete Kindergarten - end of high school.

Then a few of them took college courses, which lead to them getting degrees, which led to a couple of them getting teaching degrees. The majority of the LT's you see in Tiny Toons [excluding Foghorn, who decided he didn't want to be a teacher, and Elmer who took a undergraduate degree in law until 1992] did their teaching degrees from 1988 - 1992.

There's a couple of you who might had realised that they were filing Tiny Toons at the times and learning how to be parents at the same time. That was partly why they wanted to do it then, they realised that after Tiny Toons had finished the kid would need educating. Although the human teachers had been alright, they'd found it slightly difficult to cope and the LT's didn't want their kids to go through that particularly. Also, what's the point of building a school just to got rid of it after?

So here's the main schools: (After the toons gained teaching degrees)

Disney Elementary - Kindergarten- Grade 5.

Hanna-Barbara Middle School - Grade 6_8.

The Looniversity (the name stuck after the TV show) Grades 9-12.

So the Tiny Toons finished filming in 1992 and had it promptly explained to them that they would be attending school the next August [Tiny Toons were created in 1987, so were 6 by the end of filming.]

Toons don't do pre-school because there doesn't seem to be any point. Loads of Toons have coped without preschool for decades now, why would they start now?

So the TT's started Kindergarten at Disney Kindergarten, run by Snow White and helped out by Cinderella and Fairy Godmother. Kindergarten is the only school year where the toons have to do an entire year in it, the logic being they'll have longer to get adjusted to school if they're there for a year as opposed to three months.

Then it was decided which was the toon would go. Would they move upwards into Disney Elementary school, run by the Three Good Fairies? Or would they be taught by human professors? Or - the final option - they could be privately educated. [It's mainly royalty or the children of famous toons like Micky and Minnie that go down this option. The TT's were unusual in that all the LT's opted to send there kids to Disney Elementary with the hope it would help them make friends with other toons outside the LT bubble. Whether it did or not remains up for debate.

Anyway, they then go to Hanna-Barbera Middle School, which is then followed by the Looniversity. Now, despite what was shown in Tiny Toons, The Looniversity does not focus solely on Toon Physics and the like, the kids have to study the curriculum. They have options to take Toon Physics class if they wanted to, but they don't have to.

The Toons technically don't HAVE to finish High School, but they're strongly encouraged to. College is another matter, it's quite hard so only Toons who the adults know will stand a chance of passing are encouraged to do it.

Toontown University focuses primarily on The Performing Arts and Toon Physics. As well as those subjects, it offers Art, Physical Education, separate courses of Dance, Drama and Music and LAMDA.

If a Toon wants to study the likes of Maths, English and Science they can either be privately educated [A lot of the adult toons have ridiculous amounts of money due to there cartoons and the fact that until the 50's Toontown didn't exist and all there expenses were being covered by there respective directors/studios] or they could join one of the smaller colleges that specialised in what they want to do.

Push comes to shove, they find a Adult toon [over the actual age of 25] with a degree and try to mentor under them. This happens a lot.

[chroniclesofalonewolf]

BLOND AMBITION (Just Another Appreciation Post)

SAYAKA SAEKI (Bloom Into You)

Her Deal: Touko Nanami's bestfriend/classmate/rival of some sorts. She's been in love with Touko upon entering Tohmi Higashi High School. With the aftermath of the events of the Student Council Play that showed a drastic change in Touko, Sayaka took the next step, confessing her love during their school field trip (Episode 37 of the manga). And, yes, she's the hottest lesbian in the planet. Fight me.

Regarding Saeki Sayaka: Underneath Sayaka's calm and poised exterior is a young woman struggling with her sexuality and her relationships. It is chronicled in the Bloom Into You spinoff light novels ".... Regarding Saeki Sayaka". Book 1 focused on her chance meeting with a kid in her swimming class and her first relationship with a senpai in middle school. Book 2 centered around Touko (her narrative is almost in conjunction with the events in the manga) and what she actually feels about sometime rival - now friend - Yuu Koito. Will Sayaka ever find her happy ending? Her story will conclude on Book 3, where Haru (mentioned in passing in the final chapter of the manga and also appeared at the tailend of Book 2) will be formally introduced.

TAIGA AISAKA (Toradora!)

Her Deal: The female lead and Ryuuji Takasu's partner-in-crime.

The Palm-Top Tiger: Taiga earned her (in) famous moniker "The Palm-Top Tiger" in Ohashi High School due to her small stature and her fits of temper. But underneath her rough exterior is a kind and supportive friend (evident with her interactions with Ryuuji, Minori, and Yusaku - even Ami) that sets aside her own happiness for others.

TUESDAY SIMMONS (Carole and Tuesday)

Her Deal: Singer-songwriter, one-half of Carole and Tuesday. Plays guitar.

Parent/s Just Don't Understand: Tuesday comes from a rich family in Hershell City, Mars. She wanted to pursue a career in music, but her politician mother opposed to the idea. This lead to Tuesday running away from home, then headed to Alba City where she met her musical partner Carole Stanley. Their mother-daughter conflict is one of the story arcs in the series.

WINRY ROCKBELL (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)

Her Deal: Childhood friend of the Elric Brothers. Brilliant automail mechanic.

Equivalent Exchange: Winry has a deeper connection with Alphonse and Edward Elric, but as the story progressed, she gradually developed romantic feelings with the latter. In the concluding episode of FMAB, Ed finally proposes to Winry through the whole "Equivalent Exchange" idea, where Winry replied, "... why should I give only half if I could give my whole life to yours?" (or something like that... 😅).

YUUKO YOSHIKAWA (Sound! Euphonium)

Her Deal: Trumpeter in the Kitauji High School Concert Band. Haruka Ogasawara's successor as President of the band.

Dynamite: Yuuko is another one of the interesting characters in the franchise. She can be cheerful and friendly at one point, but have fits of rage when provoked. She's also a Minami Middle School band alumna, alongside Nozomi Kasaki, Mizore Yoroizuka, and Natsuki Nakagawa (though the latter only joined the band when they went to Kitauji). A faithful admirer and supporter to fellow trumpeter and senpai Kaori Nakaseko, and once antagonist to Reina Kousaka during the trumpet solo mess (they eventually made amends in Season 2). But her dynamic with bandmate/frenemy Natsuki has been one of the highlights in her time in the series.

SHION KARANOMORI (Psycho-Pass)

Her Deal: Goddess of Information Analysis. MWPSB Division 1's Eyes and Ears.

Love is Love: Shion is bisexual. She often flirts with Nobuchika Ginoza and Shinya Kogami at times, but Shion is actually in an intimate relationship with enforcer Yayoi Kunizuka.

YUI YAMADA (Kase-san and Morning Glories)

Her Deal: The hardworking member (then later on, president) of their high school's greenery committee. She eventually took up an agriculture course in college.

It's Not Easy Being Green: Her job in the greenery committee include planting, watering, weeding, arranging, etc. Her dedication to her work caught the attention of eventual love interest - now girlfriend - school jock Tomoka Kase.

MARY SAOTOME (Kakegurui)

Her Deal: Skillful gambler in her own right. Had a one hell of a ride in the series from falling to become a house pet then climbing back to prominence once more. Became Yumeko Jabami's ally in the process.

Face-to-face with the Devil: Mary seemed to be brutal, cocky and overconfident when she was first introduced in Kakegurui (because she always wins in her matches - one instance her beating Ryota Suzui in a game hence becoming Mary's house pet). But things went straight to hell when she faced the then newly-transferred Yumeko in a game of rock-paper-scissors. The latter exposed Mary's cheating ways that lead to her eventual downfall.

RIZA HAWKEYE (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)

Her Deal: Ranked as lieutenant and ace markswoman in the Amestris State Military. Well-acquainted with guns. Significant member of Colonel Roy Mustang's Unit. Just don't mess with her.

The Colonel's "Queen": Lt. Hawkeye is a close confidant to the Flame Alchemist himself, Col. Mustang. Her loyalty and dedication to him is chronicled throughout the manga/anime series to a point that she's willing to die protecting him. On a personal level, there are some subtle hints that the two can be romantically linked (Mustang do care about Riza, too) but military duties just gets in the way, esp. in Riza's part. But I still ship them though!

[confused-android]

Day 15 - Dirk Youth

--------------------------

The first time Svlad gets two activities right in a row, Colonel Riggins gives him a square of chocolate. He knows what chocolate is – his mother had brought it home sometimes, when he still lived with her – and he feels so excited to have earned it that he thanks the colonel repeatedly. It's already softening in his fingers, the edges smudging against his skin, but he waits to be told that he can eat before raising it to his lips. It's so sweet and startling that his eyes tear up, even though he is nine years old and doesn't cry.

That last part is a lie. Svlad cries at night, most nights. But it's under his blanket, so the cameras and guards can't see, and he tells himself that means it doesn't count.

He doesn't have a calendar ("we don't want to impede your progress with worrying about anything else, Svlad"), but he thinks it's been almost a year since Colonel Riggins brought him to Blackwing, to learn how to fix all of the things that are wrong with him. He bid his mother goodbye, endured her fixing his hair one last time, when it was spring; from the narrow windows above the recreation area, Svlad's watched it turn to summer and fall and winter, and now it's been several weeks since the snow melted.

He knows he's doing really well. Colonel Riggins tells him so, sometimes, and so do his teachers.

His teachers are… strange. Or maybe it's his classes that are strange. He's the only one in most of his classes, and he's not learning facts about history or English or maths. It seem more like they're experimenting on him than teaching him, but Colonel Riggins says that isn't true, that's silly, and that he has to respect his teachers, so Svlad does. Svlad will do anything Colonel Riggins says, if it means that he'll learn how to fix all of the things that are wrong with him and that he can go back to his mother and they won't get kicked out any council housing for stealing cats he didn't steal, or kicked out of school for cheating on tests he didn't cheat on.

Svlad is really hopeful that it will work. Colonel Riggins promised him that it will, though, so he sits through his strange classes and learns all of the weird ways to think and behave that his teachers tell him to.

For the last few weeks, he's been trying extra hard in the activity where he's supposed to sort cards into the right order without looking at their faces. Not that he wasn't trying extra hard before that! He was, he really was. He'd closed his eyes and scrunched up his forehead and thought really hard about them ending up in the right order, just like the teacher told him to. But now he's trying differently hard. Scrunching up his face and thinking about the cards in the right order hasn't been working, so now he's trying it his way.

He's not supposed to do anything his way, Colonel Riggins says. His way got him lost cats and answer cards he shouldn't have and jewelry that his mother says she didn't know she's lost. His way is trouble. But what if his way also means he does the classroom activity successful? Does that mean it's bad?

So he scrunches up his forehead and pretends to be thinking really hard about the correct order of a deck of cards while he's shuffling them. But instead, he thinks about the cat that he saw sitting on the narrow windowsill, high above the recreation room. He thinks about its dirty paws, and how it had closed its eyes in the sun and licked one paw for a very, very long time, until it was clean. Then the cat had taken that clean paw and cleaned one of its ears for a long time. By the time Svlad was finished with his thirty minutes on the stationary bike, the cat had one clean paw and one clean ear, and was beginning to work on the other ear. Svlad thinks about that cat, and how the soft grey color had emerged from beneath the dingy grey color, and lets his hands do whatever they want to do with the cards. He's so focused on thinking about the cat that when the buzzer goes off, marking the end of his five minutes, it's startling, and he jumps.

"Deck," says Lt. Andrews, sounding as bored as ever, and Svlad hands it over, blinking his way back into awareness, the cat already fading from his memory. Lt. Andrews turns the deck over, pen in his other hand, ready to mark it down as another failed test, but then he freezes. His eyes widen and he puts the pen down and spreads the deck out on the table, and Svlad is as astonished as Lt. Andrews is.

The deck isn't in order-order, but all of the aces are together, and then all of the twos and the threes and so on, all the way up to the kings. The jokers book end the deck, laughing at the fifty-two cards in between. Svlad says "oh."

Lt. Andrews gathers up the deck and spreads it out a second time, as if the order of the cards will change if he looks again, but they're still in the same places when he fans them out. "Stay there, Project Icarus," Lt. Andrews says, and Svlad does, lacing his fingers together and swinging his feet as patiently as he can. He can't wait until his feet touch the floor in the classroom chairs. Lt. Andrews walks to the door and hits the intercom button and says, "Gupta."

The intercom crackles for a moment, and then Lt. Gupta (who walks Svlad to and from classes and meals and recreation) says, "issue, Andrews?"

"Radio for the Colonel. Tell him we've got a successful trial, room A12."

"I know what room you're in," Lt. Gupta says, annoyed, but Svlad can hear the shriek of the radio before he takes his finger off the intercom.

Lt. Andrews comes back to the table, gathers up the cards one more time, and sets the deck carefully to one side. To show Colonel Riggins, Svlad supposes. He pulls out a second deck, shuffles it quickly (his hands are shaking. Svlad wonders why), and hands it to Svlad. "Again," he says, more brusque than usual. "Exactly the same as you just did. Concentrate."

Svlad knows that Lt. Andrews thinks he did it like he was told. To visualize each card in the order it belongs, and to will the cards to match his perception of reality. But he doesn't do that this time either. Instead, he thinks about the groove under his bed, the one that he's carved slowly over the last many months with his dinner fork each night. It's long and straight-ish, and doesn't actually mean anything, but it's a small change that Svlad can make in his room, all by himself. It's something he's chosen to do, that no one else told him to do. It dulls the edges of the forks a bit, but not enough that anyone has ever said anything to him. Sometimes, he gets one of the forks he's already used once, and he can't carve into the groove that night, worried that two uses will ruin the fork enough that someone will say something, and he won't be allowed to do it anymore. But it's his mark, his groove, and he likes working on it. He thinks about the sensation of dragging the fork further and further each night, extending the mark by millimeters at a time.

While he's shuffling, moving the cards around randomly, he hears the door click softly open and then closed, and he knows that Colonel Riggins is in the room. But he doesn't say anything, so Svlad keeps shuffling and thinking about the feeling of a fork in his hands, and the groove in his bed, until the buzzer goes.

Svlad opens his eyes. "Deck," says Lt. Andrews, and he doesn't sound bored at all. Svlad hands over the deck and rubs his thumbs against his index fingers. He hopes that it worked this time, too.

It did. Lt. Andrews spreads the deck out on the table. This time, the cards are organized by suite, and from kings down to aces. The jokers are right in the middle of the deck, between the spades and the diamonds.

Colonel Riggins whistles, and Lt. Andrews shows him the first deck. He whistles again, and then looks at Svlad. "Well," he says, after a long moment of contemplation. "I see someone's finally started to try."

"I was trying before," Svlad protests, and Colonel Riggins' hand lands on his shoulder, heavy and too-warm.

"And now you're doing it the right way. See, Svlad? I told you that you just need to listen to your teachers." Svlad opens his mouth to protest again, but the colonel's fingers squeeze his shoulder, and it's just a bit too tight. Svlad closes his mouth.

"Come with me," Colonel Riggins says to Svlad, and then he looks at Lt. Andrews. "I'll be taking Icarus now. Mark him off as handed into my care." He carelessly scrawls his initials onto the log-book that Lt. Andrews holds out to him, and pulls Svlad out of the chair and out the door.

Lt. Gupta is slouching against the wall, and snaps to attention when Svlad and Colonel Riggins step into the hall. "Sir," he says.

"Come fetch Icarus from my office at fourteen hundred hours," Colonel Riggins says. "I'll handle transport from here. He'll be back on schedule when you get him."

"Yes, sir." Now Lt. Gupta will have half an hour free. Svlad is a little bit jealous. He only has free time for one hour after lunch, and then after dinner in his room.

Colonel Riggins doesn't take his hand off Svlad's shoulder, and he has to trot to keep up with his strides. It's not that the colonel is a very tall man, but Svlad is a very short boy. His mother told him that he'd grow eventually, that he'd be as tall as she is, or maybe even as tall as his father was, but he's still quite small. By the time they make it to Colonel Riggins' office, Svlad is a bit out of breath, and his armpits are kind of sweaty. He sinks into the chair in front of the desk in relief.

Colonel Riggins sits in his big chair and he looks at Svlad. He looks at him for a while, and it's long enough that Svlad starts to squirm, but he tries his very best to stay still, because Colonel Riggins doesn't like it when he squirms. Finally, though, he stops staring at Svlad, and opens one of the drawers in his desk. He pulls out an opened bar of Hershey's chocolate and breaks off two squares, then hands them to Svlad.

"That was very well done of you, Svlad," he says. His voice is deep and he isn't smiling, but he sounds very happy. Svlad is happy that Colonel Riggins is happy, and he's happy with the small pieces of chocolate that he's holding in his fingers. "I hope you enjoy these, because I want you to know that you've done very well today." Svlad glows, and tries not to squish the chocolate between his fingers, and the colonel says "eat up, m'boy, and so Svlad does. He eats the first one very quickly, and savors the second one, and Colonel Riggins watches him. He looks satisfied, and Svlad is really glad that he did a good job. He hopes he can keep doing a good job, and learn how to fix everything that's wrong with him, and to go home.

--------------------

Link to: day one, Farah - Youth day two, Farah - Dance day three, Farah - Gore day four, Farah - GNC fashion day five, Farah - AU day six, Farah - Family (to be written) day seven, Farah - Pride (to be written) day eight, Todd - Youth (to be written) day nine, Todd - Dance (to be written) day ten, Todd - Gore day eleven, Todd - GNC Fashion day twelve, Todd - AU day thirteen, Todd - Family day fourteen, Todd - Pride (to be written)

prompt list

[melyzard]

Don't hate me, but I was poking around teh yootoobz and found SNL's "Fighter Pilots" sketch from 1/28/18. Permission for a detailed analysis of how accurate it is. 😅

So I’m assuming you mean this video:

There is....a lot wrong with this, but probably the funniest error is not that one dude has a callsign as blatantly childish and stupid as “Clown Penis” but that all the other dudes have cool callsigns like “Viper” and “Sidewinder.”

Actual callsigns of people I have flown with (including one that was temporarily my callsign before I earned ‘Pedals,’ but I’m not going to tell you which):

Maggot, Goo, FUNGUS (Fuck U New Guy Shut Up - and yes, I know the last two letters are swapped), Kweef, Skeetles (look it up on urban dictionary, I’m not explaining), Master (last name Bates - remember, all these names are written in their entirety on the side of the jet, so one jet in this squadron literally had “LT Tobias Master Bates” painted in big block letters under the cockpit), Raw Dog, Swamp Donkey, Noodles (it’s funnier/dumber in context)

Callsigns I have never heard on fighter pilots outside of movies:

Viper, Sidewinder, Maverick, Ace, Ice Man

Anyway, none of these callsigns, cool or stupid, would be said over the radio in normal comms. You would use whatever your mission-specific callsign was (for example: for a defensive mission, perhaps we would all be Shield, and all we would say to identify ourselves would be “Shield 1,” Shield 2,” Shield 3″ etc. Also, and I bring this up only because it is a thing in like, every movie ever and it drives me nuts: NO ONE SAYS “OVER” OR “OUT” Technically, IF you were to use it, you would only ever end your final transmission with “out,” because it means “Hey, I’m done with you now and I am turning off this frequency, this conversation is finished.” “Over” is a weird army thing, I think. No one says ‘Over’ in the air force or navy aviation.

But although this sketch gets the comms, the names, the implication that he named himself (a huge No in the fighter community), the fact that 50,000 feet is insanely high and not a normal operating area, afterburner is not a thing we go into for prolonged periods of time, and just generally everything else, there is one thing this gets painfully correct:

There’s always that one guy. You know, that guy, the one who is never in position, somehow inverted and with all his alarms going off, taking himself way too seriously, clogging up the radio with bullshit and making the female ground controllers uncomfortable.

[lolli4587]

Hey everyone!! Man, when was the last time I wrote a review. I hope everyone is doing okay and staying “socially distant.” We can combat this together!! So in this difficult time, I was so glad this episode happened, it got me so hyped up and made me forget the grim reality. So let's dive in!!

So about this episode, Ash wants to enter into the World’s Championship Tournament. He wants to compete so he can have his chance to battle with Leon, the current world champion. There are over 10,000 participants, and Ash needs to battle trainers with a high ranking in order to move up. With this in mind, he finds someone in the area with a high ranking, Visquez. She is currently the Vermillion gym leader and subbing for Surge while he is away.

Ash and Gou go to the Vermillion gym. On their way, Gou encounters a Spearow and wants to catch it. He and Raboot runs offscreen. Meanwhile at the Vermillion gym, we get our first look of Visquez and her Raichu against a trainer with a Hypno. She makes quick work of this trainer and notes he lacks “spirit.” She had Raichu to finish with Volt Tackle and easily won the battle. She was hoping to have a challenger that was participating in the World Tourney. Within seconds she got her wish and heard Ash and Pikachu outside!

Ash comes, introduces himself to her and wants to battle! She and the lackeys are taken back when they hear his name. This gets everyone excited. Visquez tells Ash that he is well known. She explains Lt. Surge had told them about their spectacular battle. She says she wanted to meet him and Pikachu. She was very honored to be his first opponent. Gou came back on time and was able to catch the Spearow!

The first battle takes place, Pikachu vs Raichu (classic). They both ordered a thunderbolt which was even. Visquez orders Raichu for Volt Tackle which then Ash orders Pikachu to counter it with Iron Tail and use it as a grounder. Visquez and her Raichu proved to be more formidable opponent then Ash realized and was able to overcome easily. Raichu was able to use his tail to stop Pikachu in its tracks. Ash tried several techniques to land a hit on Raichu, but couldn’t come up on top. He notices Pikachu is getting tired, and calls him back (smart).

Next Ash switches for Gengar. Ash starts off Gengar with Night Shade and Visquez has Raichu use thunderbolt. Gengar proves to be faster and easily overtakes Raichu. Visquez has her Raichu uses its tail to grip Gengar, but Gengar can easily make itself disappear. Ash has Gengar use Psychic and was able to finish Raichu off! 1 down, 1 to go.

Visquez sends her ace Pokemon, Electrode. She and Electrode had their own tricks up in their sleeve. Electrode uses Magnet Rise and uses the field to resist the ground. With the debris of the battlefield, bounces off and picks up speed. This combo overtakes Gengar and finishes off with discharge. Now Ash is down to Pikachu.

The final battle takes place on the ground and Visquez orders Electrode to use Rollout. At first Pikachu had trouble keeping up with Electrode, but Ash was able to regain control. Pikachu slowed and stopped Electrode by using Iron Tail. Pikachu got in several hits before Electrode reached it’s limit and activated its ability Aftermath. Ash orders Pikachu to use Electroweb as a shield and wins the battle.

Visquez smiles at Ash with defeat and promises to contact Lt. Surge about their battle. She thinks he would love a rematch against Ash one day. Ash gets his new rank of 3763 from 10,000, ending this episode.

Thoughts

Omg, where can I start?! This episode delivered a lot more than I ever anticipated. I went into the episode with very low expectations because I was bummed that Lt. Surge wasn’t making an appearance originally. The summary preview didn’t explain a whole lot. But I am glad I was wrong and it delivered beautifully. So let's talk about the humans first!!

Visquez

So when I heard about her, I have to admit, I was expecting to be a guy. When I first saw the preview, I was like okay, I am getting more so guy vibes. It wasn’t until I saw Rohanite twitter’s post, I read she was a woman. This was where I started to re-evaluate her. I noticed she has a plug as her hairstyle.  After watching the episode, I ended up loving her. For one, she does have a killer design. I want to say her design was definitely inspired from Lt. Surge OG anime design. And she has a killer body, I can’t recall if other women in the Pokemon anime with muscles have appeared before, so huge props to Pokemon. I think the reason I love her look, she gave me instagram vibes. There are women I follow on Instagram who have beautiful athletic bodies and I wouldn’t be surprised if inspiration was taken from there.

Her personality was very likeable. She has a very tough exterior. She is very serious and aggressive when in battle, but passionate for spirit. This was pointed out when she was first introduced. Her personality slightly mimics from Lt. Surge, except she commends her opponents for their hard work. She loves to workout with her Pokemon and train with them. Both her Pokemon, Raichu and Electrode share the same vibes as her which I will mention more in detail. She does have a soft side and cares about her Pokemon a lot.  

One thing I did not expect to hear from her was wanting to meet Ash in person. Lt. Surge told her about his battle with Ash. I really loved this callback and was my favorite moment in the episode. Ash was considered an inspiration to Surge, and everyone in the gym. They started to train harder and it shows through Visquez. The tactics Ash used originally against Surge did not work with her Raichu. She had some great counters and brought out unique strategies from her Pokemon. She proved to be a very formidable opponent.    

Ash

Ash surprised me in the episode. For one, he remembered Lt. Surge, so continuity!!! And he actually made a huge impact on Lt. Surge that he was a mini celebrity to Visquez and her lackeys. When I was younger, I used to write fanfiction. One of my fanfics, I did have Lt. Surge as a support character while Ash was abroad in America! I would picture Surge admiring Ash out of box battling style. Ash’s influence would push Surge to be a better trainer. Never in a million years this would happen in the actual anime which gave me goosebumps. From the original episode Electric Shock Showdown, this was a beginning of Ash getting more confidence in battling and a milestone for winning his first legit badge. Surge did give Ash a standing ovation.

Anyways back to the episode, it made me smile how confident Ash was going into this battle. He seems so confident in his abilities, and he still has these creative strategies to take control of the battle. He is able to quickly analyze the current situation and think quickly on his feet. I was glad Ash battled smart in this episode. All honestly, if he didn’t switch Pikachu with Gengar, he would have lost the battle. Gengar vs Raichu was my favorite battle in the episode, and will get to the Pokemon soon.

Plus, Ash’s smile is so contagious. I just love the energy he brought into the battle.

Gou and Raboot

Gou did take a backseat in this episode. He was super adorable cheering for Ash in battle. I wouldn’t be surprised if he took pics of Ash -shot-. I loved Gou’s reactions throughout the episode. He did say at one point, “That’s insane Satoshi” with the ehhhe.. look. One thing I did notice was that Raboot stuck around with Gou. In the last episode, Gou completely ignored Scorbunny when it was learning his fire move, which made Scobunny upset. Both Gou and Raboot have different ideals and goals. After Raboot evolved, it ignored Gou. This carried over to the following episode. Raboot acts like a moody teenager, and it acts like it doesn’t care. 

But during the battle, Raboot couldn’t resist, especially if it involved with Pikachu. Raboot cares so much about Pikachu and shows its support. Raboot is very interested in battling more vs Gou who at the moment not sure if he wants to stab at it. We will see in the future.

Pokemon

Raichu

Visquez’s Raichu is super adorable. I literally died how he got to shine in this episode. I loved how it had this admiration to train and battle hard. I found it super cute when it was training it’s tail with the dumbbells (my favorite part). This Raichu is no slouch either. Visquez revealed that it was trained under Surge. Apparently he did not make the same mistake with Visquez’s Raichu as he did with his own Raichu, and this showed in battle. This Raichu was able to counter Ash’s past strategies with so much ease. It did throw in some callbacks. One was utilizing it’s tail which was a callback from Pika and Goliath. The breaking of the glass when using Volt Tackle, throwback to ESS. It was nice this Raichu had the upper hand for once and it was a major threat!

Electrode  

This Pokemon over here, the anime made it look cute and threatening. This was the first time I have seen Electrode to be an actual threat. With that said, it broke out of the typical mold it was stuck for 20 years. Throughout the episode, they hinted quite literally the dents on the walls. This was all due to her Electrode. I really loved the Magnet Rise and how it uses that to it’s advantage. When using magnet rise, debris was lifted as well. It used the debris as pillars and gave Gengar such a hard time. At the same time, utilizing the speed Electrode has, it was super difficult to slow it down. Electrode vs Gengar was my 2nd favorite battle for that reason.

Pikachu

Pikachu had some great moments in this episode. For once, Pikachu didn’t have the rivalry with Raichu. He was level headed in this battle, and I was happy he was able to switch off. There were many callbacks. Ash has Pikachu use Iron Tail to ground himself just like ESS. The spinning Iron Tail was from Pika and Goliath. During the Electrode battle, Pikachu went on top of Electrode and used his iron tail to stop Electrode which was very clever, and then run in reverse like a hamster. This was a throwback from Pokemon snap where Pikachu was on top of Electrode. There was a callback how Pikachu used ElectroWeb as a shield from Sun and Moon.

Gengar

Wow, Gengar was able to shine. I didn’t think I would love Gengar in this episode. It was able to shine, highlighting all it’s strengths against Raichu, and he looked like he was having so much fun. Ash was able to use Gengar intangibility to overwhelm Raichu and it’s tail. Psychic to finish it off to show such display of raw power! Kinda bummed it lost over Electrode, but I can’t wait for more battles for Gengar in the future.

Battles

Wow, the battles did not disappoint at all. I was pretty much hooked on every battle. If I had to rank, my favorite out of the bunch was Gengar vs Raichu, and the least would be Electrode vs Pikachu. Pikachu vs Raichu and Electrode vs Gengar were in the middle for me. The reason I loved Gengar vs Raichu, it was so much fun to watch, the BGM was killer, and it ended on a hilarious display of Raichu getting smushed in midair and then getting smashed into the wall.

Pikachu vs Raichu battle is always a joy to watch. I already highlighted them, but I enjoyed seeing for once Raichu giving Pikachu a hard time.

Electrode vs Gengar was such a joy to watch as well. I really loved the Magnet Rise strategy that Visquez and her Electrode displayed. She was able to utilize all of Electrode’s strengths and I thought it was pretty genius and was able to overwhelm Gengar. I wished she did the same with Pikachu

Electrode vs Pikachu would be my least favorite, but I did enjoy the battle, it was smart for Pikachu to slow down Electrode which was a feat itself. I didn’t think rolling Electrode in a different direction would mess its vibe up, but who knew. I love when Electrode tried to use it’s ability Aftermath, it tried to take Pikachu down with it. This was quickly countered with Electroweb thanks to Ash’s quick thinking.

References

There were many ref and callbacks in this episode, I mentioned a couple in the Pokemon themselves so I won’t highlight here. So here are some major ones.

Lt. Surge

I had very little expectations he was going to be mentioned or even make a cameo, thank you episode for proving me wrong. He was one my favorite gym leaders growing up and he was one the reasons why I got into Pokemon thanks to Electric Shock Showdown. Also his cute Raichu. I always believed Surge was one the reasons that he shaped Ash into who he is today. Ash and Pikachu had to dive in deeper to draw out Pikachu’s strengths, and of course help from Brock. (Plus Ash more likely wouldn't be able get a pity badge from him if he tried. So he made Ash work for it). So I was so happy he was referenced and made the highlight for me. He wasn’t in the episode but he was referenced several times. The first time referenced was from Ash, and then when Gou asked Ash if he got the thunderbadge from him. Later Visquez retells the story of Surge and their fantastic battle.

One thing for sure, his design has changed. Lt. Surge definitely is not the 8 ft, tan, and super ripped compared to his update. In a way, I wasn’t surprised that they decided to go more with his game design. He is more white and normal sized in the games. My only complaint, I wished he had a bit more subtle skin color, like he could be a similar color as Ash or a happy medium, but ehh you can’t have it all. But his redesign isn’t too bad. Pokemon has been shying away the real world references, so it was inevitable that Surge would be getting a design change. He is no longer the Lightning American, he is now referred to as Lightning Lieutenant. And his most recent appearances, he has been shown in his game design more often..

I loved that Ash was able to influence Lt. Surge. Who would've thought that Ash was able to do that at someone. He was mentioned training to master the electric type more and trained Visquez’s Raichu. It was hinted that he might come back in the near future since Visquez was going to let Surge know about the battle. **Please, please, please, make this happen** One my dreams battle literally is a rematch in this current artstyle.

The other gym leaders were all shown in silhouettes.

The badges

The breaking of the glass. Both Raichu and Electrode did this.

Also towards the end, when Electrode destroys all the windows and smoke. Pikachu protects itself from huge attack. Callback to ESS when Raichu destroys the gym and Pikachu blocks the attack.

Final thoughts

This episode has given me a lot of hope of possibly bringing back old characters from the past. I love the World Tournament that regardless of class, everyone starts in the bottom. It’s still early into the series, but if they could bring back Surge for a cameo, I would love to see the other gym leaders from other regions, and some past rivals, such as Gary or Paul. I am not going to hold my breath of pokeani keeping this promise. The subtle callbacks were so great to see. Ash and Pikachu were mini celebrities in Surge’s gym,  it was almost a perfect episode for me which is rare. I didn’t think I would enjoy it so much especially the corona crisis going on that kept my mind off of it.  If I would rate this episode, I would give a solid 9.75 out of 10 and my favorite of this PM series. Maybe top 5 all time favorite episodes… (wait what!!)

[aricazorel]

Interview with Kaidan...

Major Kaidan Alenko takes some time to answer some questions from Dr. Liara T’Soni for her historical preservation project.

Read “Broken Road” here in AO3

INTERVIEW:

Liara: Alright, Kaidan. Just relax and answer the questions honestly.

Kaidan: Why exactly am I being interviewed? Isn’t Shepard the one history is going to remember?

Liara: I want this to be a complete record, whether we win or…not. Your participation in this war is just as important. You are just as important.

Kaidan: Okay. Fine. Let’s do it and get it over with.

Liara: You weren’t this annoyed when Diana Allers interviewed you.

Kaidan: That was just a morale piece for her “Battle Spaces” show, something to keep everyone’s spirits up. This is for history. And it’s you. You know things…

Liara: Kaidan, I would never divulge anything compromising or anything you did not want to be public knowledge.

Kaidan: Yeah. But it’s still you.

Liara: Perhaps we should just begin…Let me start recording…Okay. Let's start off with a brief introduction.

Kaidan: I am Major Kaidan Alenko currently assigned to the SVV Normandy SR2. I am also a Council Specter and an L2 biotic. I was born near Vancouver, Canada and enlisted with the Alliance after traveling a bit after graduating high school.

Liara: How would you describe yourself?

Kaidan: I would say that I’m a competent tech who just so happens to have biotic abilities. They don’t define me, but I’ve been told I spike high enough to compete with an Asari. While I do think I’m a good soldier and Specter, I would not be where I am today without the support of many others. However, a few people tell me I need to learn to relax.

Liara: What's your height?

Kaidan: 5’10” or 1.78 meters or 177.8 cm

Liara: (chuckling softly) That is awfully thorough, Major Alenko.

Kaidan: (shrugging) I find that speaking plain and being thorough keeps me out of trouble.

Liara: (smiling) What do you do to relax?

Kaidan: (exhales sharply) Relaxing? I’ve been told that fixing broken tech is not supposed to be relaxing. I, however, have always done it. But now I suppose listening to 20th rock music is something I do to relax, watch Star Wars, maybe read a book…possibly watch a certain Lt. Commander work from afar.

Liara: Interesting. What's your favorite color?

Kaidan: Blue. Matches the biotics

Liara: Do you want a hug?

Kaidan: (cocking an eyebrow) Right now? No. Later from the afore mentioned Lt. Commander? Yes.

Liara: (trying not to giggle) What's your favorite food?

Kaidan: Steak sandwiches

Liara: (staring straight at the Major) Do you love anyone? If so who?

Kaidan: (smirking) Of course. I love my family and my friends, but that’s not what you’re getting at is it? It’s not like it’s a big secret anymore. We share quarters…(shrugging with a big dopey grin) Look, it’s Lt. Commander Kora Reese, first officer on the SR2. She and I have been together on and off over the past three years. This time we’re staying together.

Liara: (nodding with a knowing smile) Do you have any children?

Kaidan: (obviously caught off guard) Not yet?...We haven’t talked about that yet. Not with the war on. Maybe after the war, when we win.

Liara: (expression turning serious) Have you ever killed anyone?

Kaidan: (sits up straighter in his chair) In the line of duty, yes. It’s to be expected unfortunately. Especially now. But my first kill? That happened when I was 17 and was an accident. I won’t go into the details. People can look that up, but it…I learned some important lessons the hard way and sometimes I still think I’m paying for it.

Liara: Do you hate anyone?

Kaidan: Once upon a time I would have said no. (looks away and then back at Liara) And I have disliked people in the past but now? Cerberus. The Illusive Man specifically. For all the pro-human propaganda his organization spouts, his tactics tell me he will always put himself before humanity. I hate hypocrites and he is the biggest one I can think of.

Liara: (pausing) Do you have any deep dark secrets?

Kaidan: Maybe. But that’s not for sharing…except with Kori. She’s the only one I’d ever admit those to.

Liara: (her expression softening) Do you have any bad habits?

Kaidan: (laughing wryly) Apparently, I can be stubborn, narrow-minded, and judgmental. Those aren’t habits I suppose but apparently they lead me to be too introspective and too solitary sometimes. At least that’s what Kori and Shepard say. If I don’t think things through though, bad things happen…

Liara: Do you play any instruments?

Kaidan: (grinning as if thankful for the change of subjects) Ah, no. Never had an interest in learning to play anything. I’ll sing along with AC/DC, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, or just about any 20th century rock band. I’m off key sometimes according to Kori. I’m actually not. I do it to annoy her. She’s cute when she’s annoyed.

Liara: (chuckling) What's your favorite thing to do?

Kaidan: (sighing) Honestly, nowadays, it’s nothing. Just to sit back and watching the stars pass by in the Normandy’s observation lounge, that is peaceful. For just a little while its like nothing bad is happening. Having Kori with me makes it better but getting her to sit still for more than a few minutes is almost impossible, especially right now.

Liara: Final question. Where do you think you'll be in ten years?

Kaidan: (raises eyebrows) You want an honest answer? Alive. Just to be alive and done with the Reapers is the most basic reply I can give you. Anything else would be icing on the cake. But if I could be that bold, I’d say settled down in the mountains outside Vancouver in my cabin married to Kori with a couple of those kids you asked about. Watching the Northern Lights every chance we got. That would make everything worth it.

Liara: Thank you, Major Alenko. (shuts down the recorder)

Kaidan: (stretching) How are questions like that going to help history?

Liara: (packing up her equipment) It will show future generations that we were people just like them, trying to fight for our survival. But that we also had hopes, dreams, lives that we still had to live.

Kaidan: (chuckling) You’re an optimist.

Liara: And I suppose you’re a realist?

Kaidan: (shrugging) I suppose, but Kori will tell you I’m a romantic too.

Liara: (knowing glance) I’m sure you are.

Kaidan: You are going to interview her too, right?

Liara: (just smiles as she stands and turns away)

Kaidan: Liara? Hey wait! If you already have, what did she say? Did she say something about me?

Liara: You can see the whole thing when I am finished. (walks away)

Kaidan: (quickly stands to follow) Hey! Whatever she said about using a tactical cloak was just a joke! I don’t…Damn it…I’m never going to live this down.