#Because it’s hilarious and it’s been making me laugh my whole shift

[caterpillarinacave]

A single chlorinated pool could end the royal bloodline of Atlantis

[dandylovesturtles]

discord likes to enable me

———

There’s a familiar clack-step-clack-step-clack-step, and Donnie un-shrimps himself from over his keyboard before he has to hear a lecture about posture.

“Heeey, hermano,” says Leo, and Donnie swivels his chair. He’s leaning on his crutches, an easy smile on his face that Donnie isn’t sure to trust. “You busy?”

“Yes, actually, I am. In fact, I have a prioritized list.” Which is ever growing, mostly because he keeps thinking of things to add.

An alien invasion that nearly kills your entire family is great for creativity and motivation.

“Yeah, I know.” Leo leans more heavily on the crutch so he can rub the back of his head. “Kind of a rhetorical question.”

“If you know then why are you bothering me?”

Leo’s smile falls a bit, and he shifts back and forth for a second. Donnie feels an itch grow under his skin the longer he spends not working, and he has to bite back the urge to snap at him to come out with it.

“Actually, don’t worry about it,” says Leo finally, taking a hobbling step back. “You’ve got enough to do, so… I’ll let you get back to it.”

And Donnie almost lets it go there, gets back to his work and lets Leo go back to whatever he was doing, but…

Something about the whole exchange does not sit right with him. Leo must want something, so why won’t he just tell him? It makes the same itch prickle in his hands, like there’s something here for him to fix if Leo will just let him know.

“You might as well tell me what you need,” he says, turning to his computer and pulling up his list. “I’ll assess it and prioritize.”

“No, no, that’s okay. It’s nothing,” Leo insists.

“Nardo.” Donnie levels his best stare at him. “What is it?”

Leo stops, hesitates again, and then slowly clack-steps his way back to Donnie’s desk. “Alright… but when I tell you, you can’t laugh.”

Donnie laughs once, preemptively. “Well, I can’t promise that. What if it’s funny?”

“Sheesh. You’re the king of sensitivity, aren’t you?” Leo rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t turn tail and bolt. He rocks back and forth one more time, then clears his throat.

“I, uh… I want… more lighting for my room.”

Donnie narrows his eyes. “What’s wrong with the lighting you already have?”

“I mean, it’s fine when I’m awake. I was just thinking, you know…” Leo clears his throat. “I could just have, like… some dimmer lights for nighttime. Just.. just enough that I can see, if I… need to get up in the middle of the night, or… something wakes me up, or whatever.”

Oh, thinks Donnie. This isn’t funny.

Of course, Leo asking him to build a nightlight would have been downright hilarious even just two months ago. But that was before the invasion.

That was before Donnie was woken up in the middle of the night by an alert from Leo’s heart monitor. That was before he found Leo huddled in a corner of the medbay, shielding his head with his arms and begging not to be hurt anymore. That was before they all agreed to leave the lights on, even when - especially when - Leo was sleeping, so he wouldn’t wake up in the dark.

He says he’s fine now. Donnie wonders why he believed that, because Leo said he was fine back then, too.

He turns back to his computer and adds a new entry to his list, under High Priority.

“What kind of lights do you want?” he asks. He doesn’t call it a “nightlight” because Leo would probably tell him to forget about it again.

“Uh, well, they have to be cool.” Leo rolls his eyes up like he’s thinking, even though Donnie imagines he’s rehearsed this in his head. “And not too bright - I don’t want them to wake up anyone else.”

He doesn’t want it to look anything like a nightlight, and he doesn’t want them to be especially noticeable. Donnie can work with that. Compared to everything else he has to do, this is a pretty simple challenge.

“I think I can work something out,” he says. “Just give me a couple days to find materials.”

“No rush,” says Leo quickly. “Whenever you get to it is fine.”

“Yes, yes,” Donnie says. “I’m not going to drop everything for a miscellaneous lighting project.”

He casually moves the lights up a few spots.

“Yeah, sure,” says Leo, already backpedaling out of the room. “I’ll leave you to your nerd stuff. And you better not stay hunched over your computer all day!”

“Scoff!” yells Donnie after him. He got the posture lecture after all.

———

It takes him a little over a week to finish Leo’s lights - longer than he wanted, but it took time to gather the materials.

He steps through the curtain to find Leo waiting for him, tapping his foot. Donnie had unceremoniously kicked him out hours ago with no explanation, but he still thinks the look he’s getting is a bit overdramatic.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re doing now?” Leo asks, and Donnie grins wide, ever the showman.

“Of course, dear brother.” He grabs the curtain in one hand. “I finished your lights, and I have to say I really outdid myself this time.”

Leo’s irate expression turns shocked. “Wait, seriously? Already?”

“Well, it took longer than I wanted, but yes, I am done. I think you are going to be pleased with the results.”

So saying, he throws the curtain aside with a flourish and reveals the room to Leo.

Leo’s jaw drops, and he pushes past Donnie to go inside, spinning around to get a good look. “Dude,” he says, a grin growing that stretches ear to ear.

He likes it. Donnie feels a rush of relief and satisfaction, and he grins just as wide as his brother. “Yes, I know, I’m amazing.”

“Dude,” Leo repeats. “It looks rad as hell.”

Donnie has to concur with that one, of course. He spent all day installing tasteful and aesthetic track lighting, currently glowing a soft blue. It’s running along the aisle through the middle of Leo’s bedroom, along with a line across the whole car at bar height, and more lines ribbing the ceiling. He even lined out spots on the wall for Leo’s posters, now custom framed in glittering lights.

It looks as rad as Leo said, but the most important thing of all is that now every corner of Leo’s room is lit, leaving nowhere for enemies to hide or threatening shadows to lurk. He will feel safe here, even if he wakes up from a nightmare. At least, Donnie hopes so.

He hands Leo a remote, pointing out buttons as he talks. “I’ve given you a few different options. You can turn the lights on, or set them on a timer, or use this setting to make them motion activated. And here you can change the colors, though of course I have preprogrammed in your signature. Oh, and here…” He presses a button, and the track lights begin to pulsate. “You can set it to different patterns if you’d like.”

“Oh man.” Leo grins, immediately playing with the buttons. “You seriously killed it - this is so cool, Dee.”

“Yes, yes, as I said, I am amaz- oof.”

He’s cut off by Leo grabbing him in a hug, arms squeezed tight around Donnie’s battleshell.

“Thanks,” he says, his voice surprisingly serious. “I really, really love it. Two reallys.”

Donnie sighs, but hugs him back. “I just hope it helps.”

“It will.” Leo steps back, his grin lopsided but real. “Anyway, it looks like a nightclub in here, bet I could throw some great parties.”

Donnie smirks. “Invite me and I’ll waive my fee.”

“Extortion,” says Leo, a laugh in his tone. “I should have seen that coming.”

“Yes you should have. How long have we lived together?”

“Forever.” Leo gives him a light shove with his shoulder. “It’s alright sometimes though.”

“That’s because I’m amazing, as I have said.”

Leo snorts. “Yeah, yeah,” he says, but his smile is real and genuine, and Donnie feels warm to his core.

Another thing crossed off his list.

[xoxoladyaz]

You're My Heaven, Angel (Paramedic Steve x Rockstar Eddie) - Part 2

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 (Coming Soon)

AN: I just wanted to say a quick THANK YOU to everyone who has been so kind and so supportive of Part 1! I hear you and I, too, want to create a whole series based around this idea. It's a lot of pressure following-up something that's so beloved, but I'm going to give it my best!

Robin must secretly hate Steve.

She must be the most incredible actress in the entire world. She must be the most prolific conman that’s in the business of conman-ing people or whatever. She must have made a blood oath with an elder god during a full moon that no matter how many days or weeks or months or years it took, she would one day make Steve Harrington’s life absolutely miserable. There’s no other reasonable explanation for why she insists on taking the scenic route to Eddie’s room - a scenic route which adds on two additional minutes of travel time instead of heading straight down the hallway (which maybe adds forty seconds tops). 

A route which means Steve has to bear two additional minutes of Eddie loudly introducing him to every single doctor, nurse, patient or family member that they come across on the way to his suite. Never mind that Steve’s worked with most of these doctors and nurses for years now, never mind that he actually goes to Sharla’s poker group when he has Thursdays off with the other fifty-something moms on staff (which Robin never ceases to find absolutely hilarious); no, Eddie is all smiles and arm flourishes, loudly – too loudly – proclaiming that they are now in the presence of his angel, his baby, his angel baby, the love of his life, the apple of his eye, his amor, his partner, his husband – 

“Congratulations, Steve! I didn’t know you got married!” Sue laughs as the entire production passes by. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve rolls his eyes. Eddie blows her a noisy kiss before clearing his throat. He takes a deep breath, and – 

“I’M GETTING MARRIED IN THE MORNING - ”

“Robin, he’s singing again!”

“I know, dingus, I can hear him.”

“DING DONG, THE BELLS ARE GONNA CHIIIIIMMMEEEEEEEE - ”

Steve turns back, risking a glare at Robin mid-step. “Remind me why we’re going the long way around?”

Robin snorts out a laugh, shit-eating grin firmly in place. “Come on, Stevie, we all need the exercise.”

“ – GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIMMMMMEEEE – Stevie? Stevie,” Eddie turns and sighs at Steve and okay, Steve can’t tell if Eddie’s eyes are super dilated because of the probable head trauma or if there’s a weird reflection from the fluorescents, but his eyes are, like, legit sparkling up at him. “Steeeeeevieeeee - ”

“Yep, I’m still here.” Eddie grins, flopping to the side so that their joined hands are resting up against his head. He sighs happily, his feet wiggling under the shock blanket, and it’s not cute Steve stop thinking it’s cute – 

“Steve!” He pulls his eyes away just as the gurney comes to a stop in front of Brenda, one of the intake nurses currently on shift. Brenda’s blonde and cute and ethically non-monogamous, but Steve is more of a one and done sort of guy. That doesn’t mean they don’t flirt like crazy anytime they bump into each other, though. (Hey, he’s gotta stay in shape somehow.)

“Looking good today. Is that a new shirt?” She asks with a smirk, her eyes running over his biceps. (It’s not a new shirt, Robin just ran it through the dryer, so it shrunk. Really, he should have gotten rid of it, but it makes his biceps look amazing.)

“Nah, it’s - ”

He has a line. He has a great line. But as soon as he opens his mouth to speak it, he’s cut off by a very loud hissing sound coming from his left and – 

Yep, it’s Eddie. Eddie, who’s glaring at Brenda like they’re mortal enemies. Seriously, it’s a good thing he doesn’t have laser eyes like that one superhero guy because if he did, Brenda would be at risk of getting too tan.

“MINE!” Eddie snaps at the end of his hiss and then, all while still maintaining eye contact with Brenda, he yanks Steve’s hand to his mouth and licks it. And not, like, a gentle lick that you’d get from a puppy. No, Eddie licks his hand like he’s trying to give Steve a tongue bath.

(His first instinct should be to pull away, but instead all Steve can think about it Eddie giving him an actual full body tongue bath - )

“Dude!” Steve exclaims when he does finally pull his hand away. (He hears Robin snort under her breath, clearly having caught onto the fact that his brain broke at the whole licking thing and shit, now he’s thinking about it again - )

“No, MINE!” Eddie growls, and Steve barely has a chance to wipe his hand on his pants before Eddie is grabbing it back, clutching it between both of his hands like it’s his special or something. (Special, was that the word that the guy used? The little creepy guy in that one movie? He needs to text Dustin and ask.)

“Aww, I’m glad to see you’ve finally met someone!” Brenda teases.

“Uh, yeah,” Steve replies distractedly, trying (and failing) to shake one of Eddie’s hands off of his hand because now that they’re actually at his suite, he’s going to need them. “Brenda, this is - ”

“The concussion patient from Lollapalooza, Sarah clued me in,” Brenda says, snapping her gum. “Eddie, right?”

Eddie pauses from wrestling with Steve to sniff at Brenda and honestly, as someone who spent way too much time at country clubs as a child because of his parents, Eddie has the whole I’m-better-than-you-you-poor-person-wearing-Adidas expression locked down. “That’s Mister Eddie to you, Briony.”

Briony? “Who’s Briony?”

Robin kicks the gurney forward with an eye roll and suddenly they’re moving into the suite. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, dingus.”

Eddie finally manages to tear his eyes away from Brenda. He perks his head up at Steve and once Steve’s face is in his line of sight his expression softens, the sparkles coming back in full force. “And it’s such a pretty head, baby.”

Such a pretty head SUCH A PRETTY HEAD – 

“I’ll show you – ow, Robin, seriously?” Steve yelps at Robin’s pinch.

“Stop being horny and help me get him on the bed.”

“I’m - ”

“Don’t listen to her baby, please, please stay horny, and lose the shirt while you’re at it!” Eddie sits up and starts frantically grasping at Steve’s sleeves. “Christ almighty, these arms, arms of heaven, arms of an angel - ” 

“Steve!” Robin barks and shit, he needs to focus. He takes advantage of the fact that Eddie let go of his hand to grab at his shirt and darts down to the other end of the gurney. They lift on a count of three, placing Eddie onto the bed and kicking the wheeled cart out of the way. (Eddie makes a loud WHEEEEEEEEE sound and then immediately goes back to demanding that Steve get naked.) Sarah, who’s followed the procession the entire time, grabs the empty cart and wheels it out of the room just as Brenda steps in.

“Well then, Eddie, let’s get started on intake,” Brenda nods, bringing out her iPad. “Are you ready to answer a few questions?”

“No.”

Robin groans and steps to the side, energetically fluffing and reorganizing Eddie’s pillows so he’s seated up. Somehow Eddie is able to lean around Robin’s wide-armed movements and fix Brenda with yet another piercing glare.

Brenda shoots Steve a look before nodding her head at Eddie.

Right.

“Hey, uh, Eddie, we really need to ask you a few questions - ”

“Hand!” Eddie snaps to look at Steve and sticks his hand towards him. He wiggles his fingers a few times before making a grabby motion. “Hand!”

It’s not cute. It’s totally not cute.

Steve sighs but walks back around from the foot of the bed and places his hand gently in Eddie’s. Eddie links their fingers and squeezes tightly. “Uh, how about now, is now okay to ask a few questions?”

Huffing, Eddie looks at their fingers for a few moments before looking upwards at Steve. Their eyes meet and he grins. “Hi angel,” he lets out a pleased sigh. “I missed you.”

Don’t say it don’t say it DON’T SAY IT - 

“I missed you too, Eds.” 

FUCK.

“Awwwww, my little schmoopers are being all schmoopy-moopy!” Robin sings in her best baby voice. (That’s it, he’s eating the rest of the Chunky Monkey.)

“I’m eating the rest of the Chunky Monkey.”

“Uh, like fuck you are.”

“I'd rather have you eat me,” he hears Eddie whisper and yeah, okay, that’s one he’s just going to choose to ignore for the sake of what little sanity he has left.

“Right, okay,” he hears Brenda try to get things back on track. “About those intake questions - ”

“Oh, don’t worry Nurse Brenda,” the lilting voice of Dr. Suzie Henderson floats into the room. “I can take it from here.”

Steve turns just in time to see Suzie strut into the emergency suite. She shoots Brenda a grateful nod and Brenda, with one last wink to Steve, hands her iPad off to Suzie and heads out of the room. 

“Bye Steve!”

“Bye Brenda.”

“Yeah, bye Brittany!”

Suzie has the best laugh in the world, and she lets it fly on her walk over. “Hey Steve,” Suzie grins at him as she makes her way towards the foot of Eddie’s bed. “How are things going today?”

“Oh, good,” Steve replies quickly before turning to look at Eddie. “Eddie, this is Doctor Suzie Henderson, she’s my sister-in-law.”

Eddie slowly scooches his butt backwards so he’s sitting up more. “No, she’s our sister-in-law,” he huffs before turning and smiling at Suzie. “Hey sis!” 

“And you must be Eddie! I heard you were thinking about marrying into the family.” She lets out a quick giggle at those words but then clears her throat and throws her shoulders back. “Well, if you are serious about joining our Steve in holy – or unholy – matrimony - ”

“Fuck yeah,” he hears Eddie whisper.

“ – then I’m going to need you to answer a few questions.”

“Proceed, milady.” Eddie starts gently caressing Steve’s hand with his fingers. Steve shoots a look at Robin, who makes exaggeratedly sappy faces while glancing between Steve and their intertwined fingers.

(Forget the Chunky Monkey, he’s eating all of the ice cream they have left tonight.)

“Full name?”

“Edward Anthony Munson.”

“Age?”

“Thirty-one.”

“Name of your emergency contact?”

“Oh, that would be Uncle Wayne and Chrissy! Baby, you’re going to love Wayne,” Eddie says, turning to gaze lovingly up at Steve. “And he’s going to love you! Not as much as I love you though, that’s impossible.”

(Steve’s pretty sure that Bambi eyes here is the impossible one.)

“Great, is Wayne and Chrissy’s contact information in your medical file?”

“Uh huh,” Eddie replies dreamily, still gazing at Steve. 

“Okay, speaking of your file,” Suzie taps at her iPad, “any major events in your medical history that we should know about?”

“Hmmm?” 

He can feel it on his face, he can feel his stupid grin on his stupid face, but he chooses to instead focus on helping Eddie pay attention. “She wants to know if there’s major health events in your past that we need to know about, Bambi.”

“Bambi?”

“BAMBI?!” Robin squeaks after Eddie.

Shit shit SHIT -

“I mean - ”

“Bambi,” Eddie hums, blinking rapidly as he slumps back against his pillows. Once he's settled, he tosses his free hand across his forehead and moans happily. “He loves me. He loves me, he loves me, HE LOVES MEEEEEE - ”

Don’t blush DO NOT BLUSH BODY STOP BLUSHING

“Oh my god that was amazing, I have literally never seen you this red, you look like an actual tomato. Oh my god, I have to tell Nance, like, now.”

“Right, yes, okay Bambi,” Suzie interrupts with a snicker, “like Steve said, is there anything we need to know?”

“Well, we’re in love,” Eddie sighs, pressing a quick kiss to the top of Stevie’s hand. “I think I’m still a little high but it’s only weed, I’ve definitely stopped doing cocaine since, like, five months ago. No need to worry about that, angel,” Eddie pats the top of Steve’s hand.

“Yeah, no, I definitely won’t worry about that.” (He’s definitely going to worry about that.)

“Well, thank you for your honesty, Eddie. I’m going to take a closer look at your files once we get them just to get a better picture of your overall health before we run our tests. Now, second set of questions,” Suzie loudly taps and drags a new window on her tablet open. “What is your annual income?”

(Huh. That’s weird. Steve’s doesn't think he's ever heard any of the nurses ask that question before.)

Eddie snorts out a laugh. “God, I make so much money. A fucking stupid amount of money.”

“You have something in way of a retirement plan then?”

“Doc, I could retire for, like, the next five hundred million years.”

Susie hums as she makes a note. “Do you have anything against sharing resources with your romantic partner?”

(Okay, Steve definitely hasn't heard anyone else ask these questions before.)

“Nah!” Eddie scoffs before gently tugging on Steve’s hand to get his attention. “You’ll be the hottest trophy wife, babe. Do you have an apron? I’m going to buy you an apron.”

“And what are your feelings on children?”

“Kids? I love kids. Is he good with kids? I bet he’s good with kids,” Eddie rushes out. “Fuck, you’re going to look so hot pregnant, baby.”

Robin makes a loud barfing noise which Suzie naturally ignores. “What exactly are you looking for in a relationship?”

“Suzie - ”

“Him! My angel,” Eddie slumps to the side so he’s leaning up against Steve’s hip. “I want to wrap him up in a warm towel and keep him forever and make sweet, sweet love to him under the - ”

“OKAY, next question please,” Robin loudly cuts him off.

“So what you’re saying is you’re looking for a committed relationship with Steve,” Suzie ignores Robin's dramatics. “Are you prepared for lifelong monogamy?”

“Absolutely.”

“Suz - ”

“And you’ll work every day to be deserving of Steve?”

“For the rest of my life,” Eddie proclaims and fuck, he actually sounds serious. He actually looks serious too.

Huh.

Suzie quietly observes him for a moment before her face relaxes into a warm smile. “I believe you. Now, dealbreakers. What are your opinions on outdoor weddings? Steve gets scared in churches.”

“What?!” Eddie gasps, snapping back to Steve.

“SUZ – what, no, I’m not afraid of churches - ”

“Uh yeah you are, you said that every time you visit one you get nightmares about being sacrificed on an altar,” Robin chimes in.

“Gee, thanks, Robin.”

“Baby, baby, don’t worry, I’d never let them sacrifice you,” Eddie tries to comfort Steve, but everything that’s happened in the last thirty seconds – hell, the last thirty minutes – is starting to finally sink in and yeah, okay, there’s an obscenely hot and rich and famous rockstar telling Steve that he loves him and sure, he’s partially concussed but the joke isn’t ending, he’s acting like he’s serious and they’ve only exchanged like maybe twenty words total but he’s acting like this is actually happening and what if it actually could – 

“Shoot, we’re going to have to wrap it up here, loverboy,” Robin waylays his runaway thoughts as her beeper goes off. “We’ve got a fainter with a broken nose."

“Okay, okay.” Steve shakes his head and tries to gently extract his hand from Eddie’s grasp but Eddie lurches at the feeling of Steve moving his hands and whines, digging his finger into Steve’s hand.

“Eddie, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get back to work.”

“But – no, angel, please,” he blubbers before turning his eyes on Steve and –

Oh.

Oh no.

They’re even bigger and shinier when he’s crying.

“I’m sorry, Bambi,” he replies totally deliberately, “but I’ve got to go finish my shift. I’ll come back when I’m done, okay?”

Eddie sniffles, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Okay,” he whimpers sadly, and – look, this joke isn't really joking anymore so if Eddie's gonna go all the way, he might as well go all the way too.

He leans forward and presses a quick kiss to the top of Eddie’s head. “Be good for Suzie, okay?” As he draws back, he glances back down at Eddie. Eddie is blinking dazedly at Steve, all glassy-eyed and rosy.

“Wow,” Eddie whispers, and while the smile that appears on his face is small, it’s the warmest one Steve has seen yet. “Whatever you say, baby.”

“Right, right.” Steve nods and then pivots, making a hasty retreat out of the room.

“Later, Bambi,” Robin sings behind him, and then she’s quick on Steve’s heels. The hall’s crowded, though, so they aren’t fast enough to escape the start of Suzie and Eddie’s conversation. 

(“So, outdoor wedding? Maybe in spring?”

“Can it be in Hobbiton?”

“Uh, it better be in Hobbiton!”)

“I’m kinda surprised to see you staking your claim already, dingus,” Robin says, thrusting the portable gurney mat into Steve’s arms as they walk. “I was worried I’d have to make you.”

“I shouldn't have done that. I mean, he’s a patient, Robin!”

“Not anymore, he’s not!” Robin gently bumps his hip. “He's not your patient anymore so now we need to start planning your next move. I mean, he’s obviously going to say yes when you ask him out, but it still needs to be smooth.”

“What – I’m Steve Harrington, I’m always smooth.”

Robin is purposely silent.

“Okay, first of all, rude,” he says after giving her plenty of time to politely agree. “Second of all, even if I did decide to make a move, there actually isn’t a guarantee he’d say yes. Even if he wasn't just doing this because he's heavily concussed, I’ve hardly talked to the guy!”

“I know, he has no idea how much of a dork you are, it’s great.”

Steve offers Robin a hand as he climbs into the ambulance. (Not without shooting her a look once they're both seated, of course because again, rude.) 

Robin shrugs Steve's frown off. “Look, dingus, I know you think that you have all these great lines or whatever - ”

“Uh, I don’t think, I do have them - ”

“ – but they’re, like, obviously lines. Whatever you say to him has to be more real. He needs to know that if he says yes, he’s going to be going on a date with a guy that has the ooiest, gooiest, squishiest little itty bitty heart!” She squeezes her hands together like she’s holding Steve’s heart in her hands (which definitely isn’t concerning given the fact that she’s technically a medical professional who knows just how vulnerable that particular organ is.)

“Robs - ”

“ITTY BITTY!” She kisses the tips of her fingers. “And that’s why we gotta plan, doinkus. Edward Anthony Munson needs to be constantly conscious of the fact that he’s dating the best guy on the entire planet because you are, Steve, you are the best guy on Earth and you deserve a Prince Charming even though the Prince Charming archetype is totally outdated and part of a patriarchal initiative to establish systematic gender dynamics - ”

Well, shucks. Maybe Robin doesn’t hate him after all.

“ - doesn't exist, its still what you deserve. But more importantly than that, if Eddie does start dating you, then I have a better shot of getting him to introduce me to Chris Hemsworth.”

“Chris Hemsworth?"

“Uh, yeah.”

"Chris Hemsworth - Chris Hemsworth? Out of every famous person Eddie could hypothetically introduce you to, you'd want to meet Chris Hemsworth?"

"Well, yeah," Robin takes a brief sip of her water before shooting Steve a playful smirk. “I mean, as great as you are, I wouldn't be opposed to upgrading my emotional support himbo.”

Never mind, she’s evil incarnate.

(And she’s going to be out of Chunky Monkey in about five hours.)

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[morganbritton132]

IDK if it’s actually a trend or just one couple’s hilarious communication style but I keep seeing reels/shorts of this one couple having “arguments” by pressing their faces/cheeks/noses against each other (like kissing but not) and whisper-shouting at each other and neither can keep a straight face and it always resolves hilariously.

Sort of piggy-backing off of your previous posts about Eddie and Steve being mid-tiff and ridiculous, I just imagine Steve coming in after the other teachers leave, sitting on Eddie’s lap and literally getting in Eddie’s face with his face like “hey, asshole, what gives?” Bonus point if Eddie had been live.

I am picturing this whole event happening a little after Eddie started using Tiktok.

So, Eddie (and Steve by extension) is nowhere near as popular on the app as he’s going to get. He has his following of metalheads and D&D nerds, but he hasn’t even explicitly said that he’s married yet.

After he said his hellos and goodbyes to Steve and the other teachers, he went down to the studio, picked up his guitar, and started a live-stream because sometimes it’s better to work out your creative process with an audience. He’s not great with the camera set up yet so the way it’s angled, you get the guitar, his hands, and his torn jeans, but it’s cut off at his mouth.

He’s in the middle of working the kinks out of an angsty guitar riff when the door to the studio opens and closes, and you can hear footsteps. A hand reaches into frame, pulls the guitar out of Eddie’s hands and replaces it with the hand’s owner.

Steve climbs into Eddie’s lap and straddles him, but all you see on camera is Steve’s nice jeans and his Christmas themed grippy socks. You also get to watch Eddie’s hands rest on Steve’s hips for just a second before sliding into his back pockets. Eddie’s voice sounds real fucking casual when he hums, “What do I owe this pleasure?”

Steve sounds anything but casual when he replies with, “What gives, asshole? You embarrassed me.”

“I embarrassed you?” Eddie said in a voice that sounds like he is about to go on a monologue across cafeteria tables. He ignores Steve’s pouty little ‘don’t’ start’ to instead slide a hand up to the back of Steve’s neck and pull him in closer. “Did the freak embarrass you, Ste-“

“Don’t call me that,” Steve huffs, a laugh in his voice. “What are you, my father? Call my what you always call me.”

“And what is that?”

“I’m not embarrassed of you,” Steve says instead of answering. “I never have been.”

“You won’t see a movie with me.”

“I want to see the movie!” Steve exclaims, shifting so their foreheads are pressed together. He looks Eddie in the eyes even though it makes him feel cross-eyed when he does that. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to go. I just – I don’t want to do the carpet.”

You can tell from the sound of Eddie’s voice that he’s pouting when he says, “I wanna show you off.”

“Next time,” Steve promises like he promised the last time and the time before that. He kisses Eddie on the tip of the nose and then pulls back, “You’re fogging up my glasses.”

Steve says that he’s hungry and wants to go get dinner, so Eddie reluctantly lets him out of his lap after one last squeeze of his ass. Steve pulls Eddie to his feet and they leave his live-stream audience with an image of the studio’s ugly orange couch as they go upstairs.

‘Eddie Munson gay’ trends on Twitter for the next week which is amazing to Eddie because, “Seriously, guys? It’s insane how many times I’ve had to publicly come out as queer when everybody in my high school seemed to know instantly.” 

[charmedreincarnation]

My shift to Bnha

I’ll start with the basics. For starters my reality is a bit different. The legal age is 25, so therefore school duration is longer, and our ages are different. I start UA when I was 19 years old, which made me a year 1 student. my parents are both prominent figures in hero society, and I was an only child to them. I only add this because I think it’s important to acknowledge background information because it shapes your experience and your placement in society, especially in a world filled with heroes everything is ranked and merit based.

UA .⋅ ۵♡۵ ⋅.

Contrary to popular belief, at least in my reality school is very much emphasized and just as important as hero work. For me a typical day looked like, getting up at 7:45 to prepare for classes that started at 8:30 and ending at 5. We do have a one hour lunch break, and a specific period to work on our specific quirks alone any way we see fit. A lot of people do use that time to slack off and hang out with friends, but they’ve recently become very strict about it. Credits to to Tenya Ida for informing the board of what people were really doing ! A lot of people were mad but honestly I am a teachers pet in this reality so I kind of appreciated it.

I can’t speak for the other classes, maybe it’s because of everything we went to, but we are not a class we are genuinely family. I am closest to Izuku, Sui, Ochacho, Mina, Todoroki and MoMo! Not in any particular order. I’m not going to talk about everyone but here are some of the reasons I love them <3

•Mina is just as extroverted quirky and bubbly as you would expect. Shes one of those people you meet and you can’t help but adore because they energy is so welcoming and they’re so loving. She’s kind of a prankster and a rumor starter and I find it hilarious. You can’t keep anything from her, though but once she has a narrative she has narrowed upon, you have a better chance of changing the devils mind.

For example i talked about this in a different post, but she started a rumour that bakugo is in love with izuku and that’s why he’s mad all the time. It got back to bakugo and he threatened to turn the cafeteria into a live bake oven. It’s honestly hilarious how she can make a whole room laugh. Or make anyone mad.. I guess it’s a talent regardless.

•Sui is the sweetest girl ever. She kind of keeps to herself but she’s honest and what you see is what you get. She’s also kind of emotional and I am kind of a cry baby too there so we get each other. We really just want to do our best and see everyone succeed. I would say both of us made friendships are bigger priority than hero training and we have both been called out for it too.

•Ochacho is very similar to Mina but she can also get down to business when she needs to. Everyone loves her, and her powers are super helpful in any situation, like for sneaking out quietly… but I wouldn’t know anything about that. I vividly remember having a conversation about our hero progress and she’s deeply insecure. She grew up impoverished and Monterey compensation is one of the reasons that really encouraged her to be a hero. I remember one time she was telling me how impressive I was during the first few weeks of school because I had a better handle on my quirk than her. She said something of how I was meant to be a hero. It made me sad because I admired her will and determination more than anyone. I had so many factors that put me ahead in some of my peers. My mother is a pro hero and I went to a profound middle school that molded me to be ready. I told her she was born to be a hero and I was made to be a hero. I was being honest and I didn’t think it meant anything but she always reminds me of how she thinks about that anytime she’s in a situation where she needs help. Nothing made me happier

•Momo and my quirks are very similar. My quirk is called clairvoyance somnium, and my hero name is dreamer. Kind of what she can do but I visualize whatever I need. I can also do more things that I won’t get into but a lot of it, I was inspired by my shifting methods ! Anyways she’s the sweetest and we live pretty close to each other so I’ve seen her around for a while. She’s honestly very gorgeous and we both struggle with insecurities and anxiety, so she really is someone I relate and rely on. Maybe it’s because our quirks or so similar or we have similar backgrounds and personalities but… she’s probably the person I am closest with! But I really do love everyone equally

Bakugo .⋅ ۵♡۵ ⋅.

Ok lots of people ask about him so let’s go.

Yes he’s so loud and always angry. You know I thought i would be scared of him but I honestly even I even give him snarky remarks sometimes (in a nice way because I am so nice in this dr) but wow he is the loudest person I’ve ever met in any dr but his powers are amazing we all respect it

Contrary to popular belief..no one is scared of him. As angry, loud and aggressive as he is he has proven time and time again all he wants to do is be a hero. Honestly it surprised some of us but everyone knows he has kind of good intentions under his wrath ??

He also makes everything a competition and he’s actually good at eveything. He’s good at school I’m pretty sure he placed after me in mid terms ! I got third and he got fourth. He’s a great cook and baker. We had a baking competition and he placed after sato. We made ramen and he made the best ramen ! Like he’s not as dumb as he looks. He’s also in a one sided competition with Todoroki but as we have all noticed he doesn’t give a fuck.

Powers .⋅ ۵♡۵ ⋅.

This may be egotistical but I could not imagine not being a hero in a world with 80% hero. Don’t let the league of villains hear this it will fuel their fire. 🥲 in all seriousness we are lectured that we are not better than anyone, and we are simply stronger than other people and that is it so we shouldn’t let it conflate our egos. The only way we would be given the green flag to pat our own backs is when are abilities begin to save millions of lives. But then I guess if we’re only being heroes to look good then would that really make us heroes. At least that’s what I wrote about in my English essay. Present mic did in fact eat it up, I got an amazing grade on it. But that’s not the point. The point is it’s easy to get a big head but we were simply genetically lucky, not better, smarter, etc.

Now that philosophy is behind us, having powers is so cool and coming back here the limits of other realities having no bounds never fails to amaze me. Our quirks are an extension of ourselves and literally are us. It’s not second nature, it’s first nature after having these abilities for so long. Especially my quirk, if I wanted I could “dream” 500 million yen, and well I wouldn’t be able to put it in the bank but I digress. Finding out what your quirk can do and how far your cbs push your limits always allows us to be going through moments of self discovery. Having a quirk is honestly it’s own life alone, and I genuinely could not be happier.

My favorite classes .⋅ ۵♡۵ ⋅.

As a student in this incredible universe, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to pursue many amazing topics of study.

One class I took was Hero Studies, where we learned about the many different hero theories and methods of justice, as well as what it takes to become an effective hero. We also discussed the history of the hero world and its evolution throughout the years. It was a fascinating subject and definitely one of my favorites!

The next class I took was Quirk Studies. Here we learned all about quirks, their effects on people and how they can be used to help protect civilians and stop villains. We even discussed how to best work with a partner with a different quirk, and how to combine two quirks to create a unique and powerful attack.

Finally, I also took a class called Combat Training. This class taught us all about combat techniques and how to use the environment and our natural abilities in order to survive any situation. We learned how to effectively dodge and block attacks, as well as how to use our quirks to create powerful attacks.

We of course also had the general classes of math, English, science, math, and music

The classes at UA High were some of the most interesting classes I have ever taken and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to explore them. Not only did I learn a lot about the world of My Hero Academia, but I also grew as a person and as a hero.

Random funny story .⋅ ۵♡۵ ⋅.

I’m going to tell you one of the funniest most embarrassing things that happened during the UA sports festive. This happened during the third event, when we were in teaams.

I was with Izuku, mei, Ochako, and fumikage. Everyone is trying to steal the headband from us because Izuku has all the points ! Everyone was targeting us and it was so unfair. during the last few seconds I started running to dream us a tower so we can hide and to grow into to the skies. Then someone came so they threw me the headband and i I was waiting for them but then they got attacked and they told me just go without them !?? I was literally shaking and my anxiety was at an all time high time so I quirked my tower or whatever and made it grow and then the time ran out! I had the headband and we thought we won and we were cheering but umm no. I was the only winner technically because I wasn’t with my team. BUT because that took away FROM the point of the team work part I was deducted points from my own Individual points because that wasn’t the point of the challenge. Honestly you win some you lose some. It was a fun experience regardless.

Also honestly i shifted here around the time of the World Cup, which I could not care less about, but I get the hype of sports witnessing Izuku’s fight against Shinso (manipulation guy.) it was so awesome !!! I was at the edge of my seat the entire time!!! So I guess Now I understand how some people feel about sports lol. By the end of the festival, I got third place overall and my mom was so proud of me. It was the honestly a great feeling.

Random dump with no correlation

my mother (Uwabami’s) Quirk gives her a trio of live snakes growing from her head. One of the snakes have acute senses, allowing her to locate hidden criminals and disaster victims.one snakes also has a scent that can make her victims mindless slaves, one snake produces poison and attacks her victims.

my father who also attended UA with my mom has Squirmy Fingers (can precisely bend and control his fingers, giving him great dexterity) As well as a High Scientific knowledge Skills IQ in engineering. I found this interesting because usually children are a combination of their parents quirks or either or, and mine has nothing to do with either lol.

Todoroki’s pretty smart though he places after Bakugou in the mid terms. he also loves to read ! He’s also politically educated and actually had profound knowledge on the history of heroes and how and why he believe hero’s and villains came to be so.. surprisingly he is more philosophical than I would think. He doesn’t really talk about it or bring it up because if you have a good conversation with him and get him to open up it is always worth.

Food

Tbh to no surprise the food options were eclectic and varied. There was something for everyone! I had everything from traditional Japanese dishes such as ramen and sushi, to western and American-style dishes like pizza and burgers. I even had access to a variety of international cuisines like Indian, Chinese, and Korean.

One of my favorite places to get a good meal was the school cafeteria. Every day it was full of delicious options, from freshly-cooked dishes to the convenience of pre-packaged items. There were also lots of drinks and snacks available. On certain days, the cafeteria also served special meals such as curry or tonkatsu.

If I was looking for something a bit more fast-paced, there were several food stalls and restaurants around town. I could find an assortment of things like ramen, takoyaki, and okonomiyaki. There were also locations that offered more unique dishes such as Japanese-style hamburgers or omurice (Omelette Rice).

Although I often ate at restaurants, I also cooked meals in my dorm room. I could make simple dishes with ingredients from the local grocery store, like fried rice, or make something more complicated with ingredients from the nearby specialty grocery store. I even tried my hand (well with sato as well) at making dango, the traditional Japanese dessert.

Tbh No matter what type of food I was looking for, UA had it though. With all of the different options available, there was something to satisfy whatever cravings I had.

I also write and speak in English so don’t ask any language questions because I do not know

[ssuperficialspacecadett]

i headcannon that benny and reader blast rihanna while closing the gym. it becomes a tradition that they blast music and dance around while closing. it gets to the point that the boys start wondering why benny keeps being late to their hangouts after his work. at some point they catch benny blowing his back out and reader recording and laughing at benny

Benny, Better Have My Money

Chapter Five | Drabble for the Through the Scope series | Chapter Six

*best read in between chapter 5 & 6*

Rating: IDK ?? everyone ??

Word Count: 1029

TW: tooth rotting friend fluff w/ Benny & some ass throwing ?!?!

Notes: anon, i wish i could kiss that beautiful brain of yours for thinking of this absolutely fucking hilarious scene thats now 100% canon in the through the scope series to me HAHAHA !! i hope i did some justice to your brilliant idea & thank u so so much for submitting it ((: this one is for u ! happy reading <3

*i wrote this w/o looking over it because the idea was just to good so if you see any grammatical errors.. no you dont*

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Closing up after a long shift was never fun. Well, it was never fun until you started working for Benny. After the last guests were ushered out and the doors were locked, you were put in charge of the gyms music. It was only fair since Benny had free reign during operating hours after all. Plus, your taste in music wasn’t exactly family friendly. 

“Alright, what are we feeling this evening? Lady Gaga? Megan Thee Stallion? Doja Cat? Maybe some Rico Nasty? What artist really says ‘I want to clean this whole gym and look hot while doing it’ to you?” 

“The evening song choices are all yours. I’m way too tired to even think about makin’ another decision right now.”

“Well,” You say as you start scrolling through artists on his phone to find one that will bring the energy that both of you need to get this done. “If you’re so tired, why are you going out with the guys after this?” 

“You know that doesn’t count.” He’s currently working his way through cloroxing all the workout benches and weights. “The only decision I have to make when I’m there is if I want another drink or not and that's easy. Of course I want another fuckin’ drink!” 

“Touché,” You laugh as you find the perfect playlist for the evening. “Let’s get this cleaning party started!” 

Rhianna’s Bitch Better Have My Money starts blasting at full volume from the gym's speakers as you make your way over to the basket full of used towels. 

Bitch, better have my money

Y’all should know me well enough

Bitch, better have my money

Please don’t call me on my bluff

Pay me what you owe me

“Oh fuck yeah! I love Rhianna!” He yells as he turns to you. 

You pull out a towel, point to him from across the gym, and start swinging it over your head as you lip sync to the song playing. 

Kamikaze if you think that you gon’ knock me of the top

Shit, your wife in the back seat of my brand new foreign car

Don’t act like you forgot

I call the shot, shot, shots.

Benny makes finger guns and pretends to fire them at you on each beat. “Sing it, girl!”

The two of you run dramatically to each other in the middle of the gym and start dancing like crazed animals. Each of your tasks having been long forgotten as soon as the music started. You both know by now that neither one of you will be leaving anytime soon.

***

“Where the fuck is your brother, Will?” Pope huffs.

Frankie, Pope, and Will have all been waiting at their table for Benny to show up for 45 minutes now. They turned the waitress away three times before they caved and ordered a round for themselves. Hoping that a light buzz would satiate them.

“I’ve been texting him, but he’s not answerin’!” Will explains. “His location says that he’s still at the gym.” He turns his phone screen over to show the others.

“This is the third time this week that he’s been late. He’s never taken this long to close up before.” Frankie adds. 

Pope tips his almost empty beer bottle in his direction and nods. “Fuck this. Finish y’alls drinks and let's go pay him a visit.”

They all do as Pope orders and make their way out of the bar. As they cross the street and enter the gym’s parking lot they see both yours and Benny’s cars in the same spots that they were in this morning. All of the lights in the building are still on as well. 

“Do y’all hear that?” Frankie asks the men walking next to him. “It sounds like -”

“Rhianna?” Pope says curiously. 

All three of them walk up to the gym doors and the sight that greets them will be burned into each and every one of their minds for all eternity. 

***

You’re currently holding onto one of the corner poles from the boxing ring with both hands and trying to explain to Benny how to shake his ass.

“Move your hips to the right, then the left, then shimmy down, and use your knees to help you bring your ass up and down!” You’re winded from both teaching your lesson and singing with Benny for almost an hour straight. It also doesn’t help that you’re trying to yell instructions over Rhianna’s S&M song.

“I think I got it now! Let me try!” 

He helps you down so he can climb up and get into position. You pick up your towel and phone off a nearby workout bench. There is no way that you aren’t going to document this moment.

‘Cause I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it

Sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it

Stick and stone may break my bones

“But chains and whips excite me!” You and Benny sing together.

You are struggling to hold your phone still as you record because you can’t stop laughing. Benny is throwing everything, and you mean everything, into his one man performance on the edge of the boxing ring. He definitely paid attention to what you showed him. Even put his own little twist on it by bringing his right hand back to slap his ass. You can’t help but get swept away in it all and you start hitting him in the ass with your towel as well.

“Let’s go, Benny! Shake that shit for me!” Your lungs threaten to burst from over exhaustion. 

S-S-S&M-M-M

S-S-S&M-M-M

Oh, I love the feeling you bring to me

Oh, you turn me on

***

“Should we tell them we are here?” Will ask hesitantly, still not entirely sure what he’s watching.

“I’m not even sure what we would say if we told them.” Frankie quips as he wishes you would get back up and dance again. “Pope?”

He looks to his left and sees him pulling up your contact information. “Let’s tell them that their audience wants an encore.” Pope presses ‘call’ and puts the phone to his ear with a devious grin.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

{tag list: @cutesyscreenname @rsquared31 @smol-beb @bitchwitch1981 @avastrasposts @hoeslingz @saltybutteredtoast @javicstories @c-justhere @pimosworld @modernperplexity @beboldbebravethings @modernperplexity  @mxtokko  @moonliqhtszn @tanzthompson @megcads @myloveistoolittle @casa-boiardi @jitterbugs927 @partyofone3413 @pedrit0-pascalit0 }

[impossiblesongs]

something borrowed, something blue (dhawan!master x reader)

Summary: Becoming lovers isn’t new, for him, but it is for you. He’d gluttonously taken to ravaging you as soon as you were in reach when he was Missy, but he finds he simply cannot abide gorging himself on you, not until he’s courted you efficiently.

Disclaimer: Not my characters. This is a disclaimer.

AN: tiny bit of a drabble for you this evening, master's pov AN2: title from 'every you every me' by placebo AN3: the thought of the master trying to be a stand-up guy after marrying reader and inadvertently sexually frustrating the hell out of her was hilarious to me and i hope it is to you too

✍️✍️✍️fic masterlist

something borrowed, something blue dhawan!master x reader master timeline: post OG fic (just married)

It doesn’t seem sensical to have waited, to draw out what is so evident in the ways you both dance around each other, here, after everything. He’s taken you to wife but he maintains that the performance is tantamount to where this is leading. Every heady glance, every lingering touch. It’s electric agony, a lush form of torture, and it’s mutual to be sure.

Becoming lovers isn’t new, for him, but it is for you. He’d gluttonously taken to ravaging you as soon as you were in reach when he was Missy, but he finds he simply cannot abide gorging himself on you, not until he’s courted you efficiently. Not until you’ve been dined and doted on and lavishly adored in every way you deserve, all but the one way that tests his virtual lack of self-restraint to the point of utter lunacy. He even wonders if he’s perhaps going too far, too tied to being a gentleman for you. Especially when you make him feel anything other than gentlemanly, you make him feel like an active predator, but even that’s putting it tenderly.

“You’re a terrible nuisance,” he breathes hotly into your mouth, body trapping your own up against a wall.

He could easily bash your head in, here in this alcove he’s trapped you up against, truly, because of the impertinence. Don’t you realize he’s just shy of losing his resolve? This precariously close to swallowing you whole?

“Our dinner is going to go cold,” he says, shifting his weight to alleviate his own suffering. You fit together so well already, clothes and all.

“Fuck dinner,” you say, unnervingly coarse in your frustrations. He could even dub you openly hostile, sitting sullenly at the dinner he’s gone through so much trouble to attain. Not that he didn’t enjoy it, but beheading a noble to attain a reservation is child’s play, it’s utterly of no concern.

What is concerning, is the lengths you’ve gone to, to thoroughly distract his plans. The dress, for instance, a shimmering translucent slip of a thing, is hugging every curve superlatively. You’re a woman with a cause, with cruelty. He shouldn’t find that so devastatingly enchanting.

He follows the goosebumps on your chest, the flush covering your neck. Your hands grip his biceps through his black tux, fingers pinching as they clutch him tighter in your desperation.

He’s all but crushing you between the wall and himself and you dare to groan pathetically against him. Is it alluring, he wonders, pinning you up like a butterfly that he’s oh, so tempted to rip the wings off of? 

He would laugh, if only he weren’t so desperately hard, his lust cloying and blotting out any sense he’d probably decided upon earlier, whatever it may have been, it’s hard to grasp now.

“Please,” your lips tremble and he can spy the glassy look in your eye. You are so very tempting; you are perhaps the most tempting thing he’s ever found in this godawful excuse of a universe. Nothing has ever managed to hold his attention more or for as long.

“Is that what you truly want?” He frowns, begs. “Do you want me to ruin you? You have no idea what you’re asking for, dear.”

“Master,” your body writhes in his hold, hips shifting against his just right, with determined purpose, “Just what are you waiting for?!”

He curses, slots his lips over yours and indulges, rocks his hips into your core, and feels the shudder pull throughout your whole body, inviting him further towards reckless abandon. If he takes, he will take until there is nothing left you can claim as your own, no part of you that he will not seek and conquer, he will fit himself so thoroughly, will have so you ruinously, that not a thought will occur in your mind other than the sounds he pulls out of you for days.

You bite down on his lip viciously but there is no pause in either of your assaults. He tastes his own blood on your tongue and every attempt at his composure is lost.

Oh, how he loathes you, how you are a sickly thing that fills his lungs that he will obediently always choose to suffocate from. You could crush him, hurt him, betray, and kill him, with your bare hands preferably, and he’d beg for more, more, if only it meant that you’d never take your hands off him. God, he loves you, he adores you, annoying and determined as you are, changing his entire course with the pliant temptation of your body.

But fine, he'll give in, and he’ll take, and you’ll enjoy every second.

[rshmra]

PRETTY BOY!

plot: niki swears he met the girl of his dreams at the convenience store late one night- however, his discovery proves to be misguided. the "girl" he likes is actually just a really pretty boy, and he's the main vocalist of the new and wildly popular boy group of four, X_CAPE.

<- prev. masterlist. next. ->

written: 2.4k words

chapter eleven: emo shins

"for the last time, stay away from abigail, she's mine."

"not if i get to her first."

"you bitch-"

the seemingly never-ending squabble for the fictional female continues, eventually resulting in yn losing the current battle.

he curses as riki's avatar manages to swoop in mere seconds before his can, gifting the girl a chunk of amethyst. "shit-faced ball licker." ni-ki's laugh fills his ears as he adjusts his phone's position with one hand, flipping him the bird with the other.

"that's a new one."

it's been well past an hour since they began the call, their other members preparing for bed at this point. the facetimes they have can get kind of random, but usually they'll either fall asleep watching a movie on netflix or just end up in a multiplayer game on switch. yn introduced stardew valley to riki a week or so ago, and since then they've been grinding co-op on their shared "peeniz farm". ridiculously immature, but both found the title hilarious. however, there seems to be a recurring argument over who gets a certain purple-haired character.

"she doesn't even like your gifts, all you give her is flowers."

"because i don't spend all my days in the fucking mines?! weirdo."

"who fishes and forages the whole time again?"

"me, ki. i'm the one that touches grass."

"hey."

"shut up," yn rolls his eyes exaggeratedly, finally relenting with a sigh. "whatever, you can have her. i'll just go for the emo instead, i guess."

"at last, you give up." ni-ki exhales contentedly, then frowns. "wait what emo."

"you know, the emo guy that never comes out of his room? hair looks like a bird?" yn racks his brain for the name, snapping his fingers once he gets it. "sebastian, that's it!"

"oh."

an elongated pause ensues.

on riki's side, it's due to a mild... celebration, of sorts. he has to move from the camera view in order to quietly pump his fist into the air, paired with a whispered "yesss" that has jay shooting him a weird glance as he passes by the living room. he hopes he isn't looking into the situation too much, but according to what just happened yn confirmed rather explicitly that he's into guys, which is a total win. yes, they flirt a lot, but not exclusively with each other. plus, it's not like they're being serious. they may have a close relationship, but they've never spoken about this subject before, and riki wouldn't ever make assumptions. he's not a dickbag, he doesn't think a guy's automatically gay just because he appears feminine.

don't get the kid wrong though, he's not quite gotten to finding a label for everything going on. he doesn't know what he... is, he doesn't know anything beyond the fact that he has a small, teensy-weensy crush on yn. he's had one the moment they met, it just took him a little longer to actually acknowledge it, since he's not felt this way for anyone. he hasn't told a soul about this, but clearly sunoo's pieced it together (the bitch knows EVERYTHING) and knowing him he probably let it slip to sunghoon. the others for sure have their suspicions, but they haven't fully caught on yet.

but what if he's only messing around? the possibility majes ni-ki grimace. it's not that deep, it's only a video game. this is much too complicated. does he casually inquire further, or does he leave the topic alone? dammit, decisions, decisions.

meanwhile, yn's kinda freaking on his end. he's managed to maintain a perfectly composed poker face as he shifts to lie down with his nintendo, but the silence is sloely unnerving him. did i just... unintentionally out myself... with a fucking emo? he runs a hand over his long hair, inwardly punching himself. it's okay, it's fine. why would riki judge? they're best friends, he'd never pull that kind of shit. he's nothing like him.

fuck, the overthinking's getting to him. he's ready to use an 'i was just kidding' card until his companion speaks up. "why him, though? go for a better guy, at least."

and just like that all his fears are chased away, replaced by an eased smile as he stares fondly at the boy on his phone rather than the game. "yeah? and who do you suggest?"

"i don't know, like... shane?"

"shane? you've gotta be shitting me."

"why?? what's wrong with him?!"

"what- he's a raging cunt and likes nothing but beer! not my type. incredibly not my type."

"oh?" feeling bold, riki perches his chin in his palm with a smirk, inquiringly peering at yn. "what's your type then, yn?"

immediately he returns the energy. "hm... i dunno..." he acts like he's pondering the question, despite already having a response in mind. "maybe someone like y-"

"yn is that your lychee jelly in the kitchen, 'cause otherwise i'm eating it."

kuli sticks his head im from the doorway of the jack-and-jill bathroom they share, and the moment's over as fast as it began. distracted, yn tears his gaze from niki's upon remembering his prized bucket of sweets he'd left. "touch my snacks and you're fucking dead. be right back," he excuses himself with a quick reassurance, and with that leaves two of his closest friends with each other.

kuli rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, leaning against the doorframe. "i interrupted something, didn't i."

"if you count arguing over who to go for in stardew valley, then yeah."

the corner of his lip quirks upward. "the correct answer is anyone but shane."

"...he can't be that bad."

"what- he's a raging cunt and likes nothing but beer!"

kuli's surprisingly the only other member of yn's group thar riki really got more acquainted with since being introduced. despite the amount of warnings about how "scary" he could be, kuli was the most friendly and welcoming toward him, especially when they first met. he kinda reminds niki of jungwon, to be honest (especially with the fear factor that plays into both's roles).

it definitely isn't that he doesn't like the remaining two. he just doesn't get the chance to talk to ivory a lot, and with chaeri... it's a little weird. ever since he dropped an absolute bomb with that "no repeat of last time" and conveniently forgot to elaborate, they haven't had much of a conversation. half of riki is tempted to ask about it, but the other half feels like it'd be an invasion of privacy on yn's part. it worries him from time to time, but he figures that if he hasn't been given the entire story then it isn't that important, right?

(oh how wrong he is.)

niki's mouth stretches into a satisfying yawn. it's past 11:30 by now, and he knows he's supposed to wake up early, but he refuses to be the first one to sleep. kuli laughs at him as he shakes himself awake. "just go to bed if you're tired, dude."

"i'm not tired."

"trying to hold out for longer, i see. how sweet!"

"you shut up."

"yeah, shut up." yn grins as he returns with a giant container of jellies and a white loaf in his arms, shoving kuli out of his bedroom as the older laughs and shutting the door. he moves to sit back on his mattress as the loaf jumps onto his head, giggling quietly at riki's sleepy blinking. "does kiki need his nappy wappy-"

"fuck offfffff." he mumbles, tired eyes lighting up once he hears a meow from the loaf. "is that... you have a cat?!"

"ki, i literally showed you him last night."

"...no you didn't." yn heaves a sigh, peeling his chubby pet from his hair and bundling him in his arms. "he looks like a dumpling."

"which is exactly why i named him mandu." he cracks a smile. "let me guess. stupid and unoriginal?"

well, to anyone else niki might laugh and say it's stupid and unoriginal, but this is yn we're talking about here. plus, simping aside, the name really does fit said cat. "no, i like it. it's very, very um... " he struggles to think of a word. "...food-related?"

"you need sleep."

"leave me alone, i don't wanna end the call and if i bring my phone back into the room sunoo'll never shut up and you know how annoying he gets."

"i'm telling him you said that." heeseung grins as he walks by. "night yn!"

"night heeseung!"

"don't you dare-"

riki tries to stand up from the couch, only for his knees to give out after being curled up on them for so long. yn unleashes a high-pitched cackle, and heeseung takes off to his room.

their night ends shortly after this, with both falling asleep within mere minutes (though not without a brief twitter login on both parts). however, as usual, the phone stays on for hours, even as they slumber.

notes: again, i apologize for the long wait... cant promise it wont happen again tho 😥. got carried away writing then got lazy at the end,,, do yall prefer written parts or not? also forgot abt the twt privs whoops, i js wanna jam pack as much fluff as i can into this shit before it gets SERIOUS 😆 yall arent ready

taglist: @silkentides @nikikids @totoroblop @winter-world @phantom-butterfly @simsoobean @byu @noredplz @sh0uj0-r3i @onementally-unstabel-kid @thepeachyhub @enhypen-reblog @ao5riki @bearseulgs @le0-0nidas @gothhyucks @to-toad @ddeonubaby @nootnootpinguuu @sunseeking-cryptid @priochebun

bold can't be tagged!

[nikolaidelphiki]

Since a total of zero people asked me: here are my opinions on Palia non-romancable NPCs after playing the game for about 100 or so hours. And as always SPOILERs:

Ashura: You are my dad. You're my dad. Boogie-ooogie-oogie. I actually don't take to him as much as I should.The fact that he was the chill one in his family makes so much sense. He's such a calming presence. But of course there's the Regrets.

Delaila: Ok but why is she the few Older adult Majiri OG in Kilima? Like have you noticed that she's kinda the only one that's originally from the village? Like, where did she come from? Is she the real leader? Did she secretly take everyone out that she didn't like and replace them with people lured in my her homecooking? Things to think about.

Kenli: What happens when you don't give a nepotism baby a coming-of-age redemption arc. This guy is just trying his best. He likes sandwiches and cute fluffy animals. His best friend is the town priest. But despite it all man understands capitalism like no other (see Maji Market).

Caleri: She's a fav. Maybe I'm projecting but I too would die for my books and eat sleep and breathe in the library. Intelligent, unbothered by village happenings. Yet, keeps a detailed leger of each book bowers status upon the borrowed book's return. However, deeply unhappy with the cards life has delt her. I try to bring her all the glass bulbs so she can read into the night.

Elouisa: The only real G's out there. Sending me on impossible tasks to prove her theories and beat to cryptid allegations. Of course she's the older twin. Intelligent, bothered by village happenings when it comes to her projects. Still watches over her sister and cares in her own way. I love her.

Badruu: Comedic genius. I'm pretty sure when he gave up the bard life for farming, he realized he needed to put his funny guy hat on and has been spitting puns ever since. And yet despite the dad jokes, he asks me me, the amnesiad human for parenting advice. The absolute honor. Also, I just need to see him talk with Einar, PLEASE. The comedic fallout would be unmatched.

Najuma: I make the journey to Bahari Bay every day just for her. Because 1) thanks for the glider I use that every day 2) we are besties and 3) it's good to keep a genius that can blow stuff up on your side idk. We may have different types of Momma Trauma but we are still going to bond over it.

Chayne: I don't interact with him much idk. His dad's raised him right I think. Basically, caretaker for the entire village. Also my Shepp-in-law, grand-Shepp?? idk

Hekla: Jina's caretaker. A bit aloof at first. I also don't interact with Hekla much, but one day I'mma find out what's in the tent.

Sifuu: That's my Shepp! Also a problematic mother that doesn't really understand her child and yearns for days of adventure. And ripped. There's something to be said that she gave me an ornamental sword as a gift. Like insta-loyalty from me even if I wasn't romantically pursuing your son.

Auni: We babe who needed someone is his bug hunting club but mysteriously sucks at hunting most bugs if his item requests are anything to go by. The fact that he ran away from home for the exact length of time that his delivery shift is and wondered why no one was worried is absolutely hilarious and yes I read his journal and laughed.

Zeki: First of all, why is Zeki the only one selling toilets and they are contraband? Has anyone asked this? Is it like illegal to use indoor plumbing and Zeki has the monopoly?? Secondly, I know this fool is scamming me and when I finally get enough gold I'ma buy out him and his whole underground establishment. Respectfully, of course.

Eshe: If Eshe has zero haters, I'm dead. Just because she didn't get with the politically powerful sibling, she makes it everyone else's problem while somehow still efficiently running the village. Even I gotta admit no one's doing it like her. Another member of the problematic mom club but don't tell her she's been grouped with Sifuu. She'll pitch a fit.

Tau: The fact that there's only one of him is a crime. The only good boy.

[nadinebrooks]

Here is the link to my masterlist.

Draco Malfoy x Reader: Princess

Warning: I don’t think there’s any

She had a blood line, a heritage, and a last name that demanded respect. She was at the top of the wizarding totem pole right along with the Malfoys. Her father makes the same exact amount of money as Draco Malfoy's father right down to the knut. However, unlike the Malfoys, they were never associated with the Dark Lord.  

Draco and (y/n)'s father had been business partners before the two of them had even been born. Draco and (y/n) met each other at the age of six and it was quite a terrible experience for the both of them. 

Neither of them remember exactly what Draco had said, but it was something rude about (y/n)'s hair. It caused her to give him a black eye, chip a tooth, and rip out a couple of tuffs of hair out.

Their fathers had found the whole situation hilarious, but the mothers were speechless. They had to pull the hissing children away from each other before more damage could be done.  They ended up laughing the whole thing off a couple of years later and became best friends.  

Even though (y/n) was placed in Hufflepuff, it didn't bother Draco at all. He could care less. She was his best friend and nothing could change that.  

"How are you Princess?" Draco asked sitting across from (y/n) at the Hufflepuff table. It was the nickname that Draco had given to her after realizing that she possessed so many princess-like qualities. Besides being absolutely stunning, she was wise, kind, humble, and selfless.  

"I'm doing good." She grinned back at him taking in his appearance. He was smiling which wasn't rare for (y/n) to see, but it was something that the rest of the castle rarely saw. "I'm super excited for the tournament to get started. I hope Cedric wins."  

"I don't care who wins as long as it's not Potter. I still don't understand how he got his name in that goblet. It isn't fair. He shouldn't be allowed to compete." He hissed glaring over at the Gryffindor table where he was sitting surrounded by his friends.  

"Why do you despise him so much?" (y/n) questioned cocking her head to the side. "What has he ever done to you?"  

Draco opened his mouth to respond, but then he noticed (y/n)'s attention had shifted towards the entrance of the Great Hall.  

"Wow. Isn't he perfect." She sighed as Cedric Diggory strutted into the Great Hall. A couple of people started clapping for him. Cedric swaggered among the tables until he passed by (y/n). He sent a quick wink to her before continuing his stroll to his seat.  

"What was that?" Draco questioned pale eyebrows raised. He wasn't surprised at all by the attention that (y/n) was getting. She was a very pretty girl. In all honesty, he just wasn't used to her swooning over other guys. Not that he noticed or anything.

"Nothing." She shrugged quickly picking up her mug of coffee and drinking some to hide the blush that was starting to creep across her cheeks. "I think Pansy is starting to get jealous." She pointed out nodding towards the dark hair girl at the Slytherin table.  

"You're right. I better get over to her before she storms over here and drags me away." Draco chucked looking over at the glaring Slytherin girl. "See you later Princess."  

"Yeah okay Draco." She nodded. "I'll see you later." But Draco noticed that she wasn't even looking at him. Her eyes were focused on Cedric who was sitting a couple of seats down. He couldn't help but notice that Cedric's gaze was kept flicking over towards (y/n).  

Draco had always assumed that the feelings he got whenever (y/n) was talking to other guys was because he looked at her as a sister. Lately he was slowly starting to believe it was because of something else. That feeling was jealously.  

Little did Draco know, his little Princess and Cedric had been sneaking around for a couple of weeks. Cedric had been wanting to come out public with their relationship, but (y/n) didn't see it as much of a relationship. Just a couple of snogging sessions here and there in empty classrooms along with cuddling in the common room when everyone else had gone to bed. It was just little things like that.  

They just had a little fling going on and she wasn't really sure what everyone would say if they found out Cedric, a 7th year, was dating a 5th year. But she was holding off on Cedric because she was secretly hoping that someone else would take notice in her.  

When (y/n) had finished eating, she gathered up all her things and started heading to her first class of the morning until she was stopped by the one and only Cedric Diggory.  

She couldn't help but keep the giddy smile off of her face. There were a couple of glances as people passed by, but she knew that nobody was going to question anything since they were from the same house.  

"Hi Cedric." She grinned up at him. She still couldn't believe that someone like him had taken an interest in her.  

"Hey (y/n). I was going to sit with you today, but I noticed you were sitting with your other boyfriend."  

"My other boyfriend?" She threw her head back and laughed as if she couldn't believe he was bringing this up. "It's nothing like that Ced and you know it. We've been friends since we were like six. Our dads used to work together." 

"You're right." He held his hands up in defense. "I'm sorry that I had gotten a little jealous, but I wanted to ask if you wanted to go to the Yule Ball with me?"  

"Wow." (y/n) was rather surprised. "Of course. I would love to."  

News traveled very quickly throughout the school that (y/n) was going to the Yule Ball with Cedric. Was Draco jealous? Yes. He was very jealous. 

Leading up to the Yule Ball, Draco didn't talk very much to (y/n). They weren't hanging out as much together which really worried (y/n). She was scared of losing her best friend. Did she say something wrong to him?  

But what (y/n) didn't know was that Draco had written multiple letters to his mother expressing his feeling for his Princess. His mother explained to him that he was just going to have to explain exactly how he felt towards her if she was someone that he truly wanted.  

When the day finally came, (y/n) was excited. She was wearing a gown in her favorite color that she had spent weeks looking for. There was a dance for the champions so she wanted to make sure that she looked her best. Cedric was waiting at the bottom of the steps for her looking stunning.  

"Wow. You look absolutely gorgeous." He held out an arm for her to link with his. She took it ginning up at the taller man.  

"You look amazing as well." She was grinning from ear to ear. While they were walking towards the Great Hall, everyone's eyes were on them. It was hard to look away. They looked great together. But (y/n) did notice Draco and Pansy off to the corner. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful his Princess looked.  

(y/n) felt as if the dance in front of the whole school with Cedric was perfect. Whenever she would spin around, her eyes would so happen to connect with Draco's. It took all that could to just leave Cedric's grasp and march over to him and tell him exactly how she felt about him.  

When the dance was over, Cedric took (y/n)'s hand and guided her over to the seats. "I'm going to go get us something to drink." 

"Okay. Thank you." (y/n) nodded. But when she noticed he had been gone for a little too long, she saw him standing talking to Cho Chang.  

Everyone knew that the two of them used to date, but (y/n) thought that was all over. They were obviously flirting and (y/n) had this sickening feeling that he had just been using her to make Cho jealous.  

Before she could throw up all over her dress, she quickly walked outside to get some fresh air. She did everything in her power to keep the tears from falling and ruining her makeup. She dropped onto one of the benches not being able to stop the tears. Her cries became quieter as she heard footsteps approaching her. She didn't want to have to explain to anyone why she was crying.

At least it was just Draco who had found her.

"Hey Draco." She gave him a small smile trying to wipe her tears away before he noticed. 

"What's wrong Princess?" He so very wanted to rush over to her and wipe her tears away planting light kisses all over her face until she felt better.  

"I think Cedric was just using me to get back at Cho." She shrugged. Draco noticed her bottom lip wobbling and before she could start crying again, he instinctively leaned forward pressing her lips onto him.

It was light and tender, but she loved it. Draco wanted to deepen the kiss, but (y/n) leaned back.  

"Isn't your date going to worry where you are?" 

"Pansy? I'm sure she's questioning where I am, but she'll be okay." They sat there in silence just enjoying each other's company. (y/n) leaned over placing her head on his shoulder. "I love you Princess." 

"I love you too Draco."  

"No." He shook his head taking (y/n)'s cheeks in his hands forcing her to look in her eyes. "I'm in love with you Princess. I finally realized that tonight when I saw you dancing with Diggory. And in that moment, I knew that should have been me with you."  

(y/n) was in shock. She wasn't sure what to say. She didn't even know how to respond to something like that, but then she stopped thinking. She leaned in and kissed Draco, deepening the kiss this time.  

Everything in this moment felt absolutely perfect. 

[stairset]

Alright now that it's the next day. I have to stress how fucking funny it is for me that Starset as a band has existed for 11 years and I've been a fan for practically that whole time and they had not a single song with any swear words to the point that it made them stick out because most of my other favorite bands DO swear. Which is not to say the concept of swearing was foreign to them, as Dustin's old band has several songs with swearing, the book has swearing, for the latest tour they played a whole ass short film that basically turned "Fuck the New East" into a fandom catchphrase which makes zero sense to anyone not familiar with the band and its Lore. But none of that is the actual Starset music. So you just kinda take for granted that they don't say naughty words in their songs and that's just how it is. Then comes the night of May 2, 2024. I'm at work cause I work the evening shift. My shift ends at 11:30 and it's 11 so I'm wrapping things up and getting ready to leave soon and needlesss to say I'm tired as hell and ready to go to sleep. The new Starset song just dropped so I listen to that as I finish up my work for the day. It's an absolutely epic banger which is no less than I expect from these guys at this point. And then. He says. FUCK. After over a decade of not a single no-no word these guys just suddenly drop The First Official Starset Fuck Song out of nowhere. They said what's so brave and new about this world you ask? It's a world where we say FUCK now, that's what. And I'm so surprised that I actually start to laugh out loud for a second before remembering I'm still at work so I end up just making a weird awkward half-laugh sound before stopping myself because if having a new song at all didn't wake me up then THAT sure as hell did. And then I jam to the song in the car on the drive home because a song like that can only be done justice by listening to it on a car stereo that's turned up way too loud. And I'm so into it I almost don't see a possum crossing the road in front of me and I barely slow down in time to not run it over. Which kinda freaked me out at the time cause I've never come that close to hitting an animal before but now that it's in the past it's hilarious because I can honestly say I found a song so good that it almost made me kill something. Truly a moment in Starset history for me.

[swirlysmile]

Hey i see that ur request are open!!! I wanted to request super angsty thing if you’re okay with it. I wanted a rooster x reader, where the reader is bob’s sister and she get badly hurt because she protect rooster in the uranium mission, so the three of them fell to the enemy territory and when mav and roos wanted to stole the f14 she also stole a plane but got shot at a vital part of her body but made it. She got back to the base but didn’t realize she’s hurt and lose a lot of blood to the point of almost dying until rooster was asking her to come down from her plane and rooster was losing his mind when he sees the bloods. Please make it super angsty where they have to resurrect her in front of roos, i wanted that suspense and angst. Thank you sm🤍🤍🤍

a little switched up, but the idea is the same! i’m not super great at writing angst, so let me know what you think of it.

thanks for the request, i hope i did your idea justice. i have some writers block so requests are taking me a bit longer, sorry!

word count: 3.5k

warnings; somewhat graphic mentions of blood and injuries, ends sort of happily

Conversation

“Bradshaw, as I live and breathe.” 

You’re off to the side, opting to watch Hangman and Rooster argue while Bob makes a miserable attempt at cleaning up the drink he spilled. They haven’t noticed you yet, and you’re deciding to make a game out of it. You straighten out your service khakis and play a game of rock paper scissors with Bob before they even think to look your way.

Honestly, it’s kind of hilarious.

You’re more outgoing than Bob, you’d have no problem revealing yourself. It’d be pretty funny to see their faces when you tell them you’d been there the whole time tomorrow, though.

“Well, what do we have here? Another Floyd?” Hangman says. He’s poking at your nametag and you smile uncomfortably, opting not to say anything. Bob is practically thrown a cue stick, and you’re trying not to laugh at his slight distress.

“Hands off my sister, Hangman.” Bob says, a little sheepishly, and Hangman drops your nametag that he was fiddling with. The bell rings for the third time tonight, so you’ve sort of caught on.

“Overboard!” The bar chants, and you don’t really have a great view of the man that Hangman and Coyote are throwing out. When the keys begin pounding, you follow your fellow pilots over to the piano.

What a night.

The next morning, you’re glad that Bob stopped you from having that last drink. You quickly do your hair and rush out of the military issued housing to make it on base in time. 

You slide into an empty seat in the back, Bob already being next to Phoenix. Rooster strolls up next to you, making it in in the nick of time before they call for attention. 

Honestly, you were expecting to see someone more renowned, certainly much less, what’s the word? Notorious. Rooster's friendly grin shifted into more of a hostile scowl, his distaste for Maverick being made known. You glance over at him in confusion, but the dull thud of an instruction manual hitting the wastebasket makes you snap your head back towards the front.

“So does your enemy.” At this point you wish you had been listening because everything coming out of Captain Mitchell’s mouth is concerning. 

“Good morning aviators! This is your captain speaking,” 

You’re up in the air right now while Maverick explains the rules. If you squinted and tilted your head, maybe you’d have a chance. 

Thanks to Payback and Fanboy’s big mouths though, Maverick is going all out when it comes to his already-fancy-flying. You end up back on the tarmac, cursing them for the 200 push-ups you have to do. 

“Lucky son of a bitch!” You say, lightly punching Bob’s arm when he and Phoenix get out of the air. They narrowly avoided the punishment because of Roosters pride. 

He’s out on the tarmac now, doing his push-ups. 

“I’m gonna go try and figure out his problem,” Phoenix says. 

You see them talking for a second, or moreso see Rooster sitting while Phoenix awkwardly squats. 

“No luck.” She shares when she returns, not giving you the full story, she’s wiping dust onto her pants. You groan.

You’re having a great time getting to know your colleagues over the course of the week, even enjoying some time with Hangman. He’s not so insufferable once you get to know him, and you’re thanking Coyote who begged you to give Jake a second chance.

Then, you move on from dogfighting and onto flying the course and everything falls to pieces again. 

“You just don’t get it. Either a man flies like Maverick here, or a man does not come home. No offense.” Hangman grins at Rooster, glancing at you and Phoenix.

“Yet somehow, you always manage.” Bob says, a tight lipped smile gracing his face. You’re about ready to tackle him yourself, and it had all been so good just 5 minutes ago, but Rooster beats you to it the second Hangman mentions his dad. Mavericks old RIO.

Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw.

“I’m cool, I’m cool!” Hangman shrugs everyone’s hands off of him, but Rooster still needs to be held back.

Well, that answers a question. 

Not by who should have answered it, but it was known now nonetheless. Rooster did not enjoy the looks of sympathy he was receiving, and the second you were dismissed he made a quick escape, avoiding any further conversation. You’re absolutely livid with Hangman, and the rest of the group is pretty upset with him too. You even hear Coyote say “Too far, man.” and murmurs of agreement are thrown out among the group as well.

At first, you think Maverick is crazy. It’s hot, and you feel pretty sweaty, but after a few minutes? You’re having the time of your life. Your hands are shaking while you hold the football. “Where do I run?” You ask, a little too loudly and Bob throws his hand up, pointing to the left. “Thanks, Bob!” Hangman and Rooster come flying towards you, and your legs start to move. 

The group erupts in cheers, and Maverick seems even more sane. This team building exercise was doing wonders for you, for Hangman. Hell, even for Rooster and Maverick. Rooster actually helped Maverick up, and the sight makes your heart swell a little. 

“Keep it up, Halo!” You call, taking a sip of your water. These are the people you’re starting to see as family. Sure, it’s quick, but being on a team for an incredibly difficult and dangerous mission brings people together. Rooster joins you, twisting off his bottle cap. 

“Hey,” 

“Hi Rooster.” You say, and with a minute of awkward silence, you set your water bottle down and run back to the game. 

A few more minutes and you’re sweating your ass off, and the only thing that would make this a little better is some frolicking in the ocean. One of the many perks of being stationed in California. 

You splash Bob, and he makes it his life’s mission to drown you. 

“Siblings,” Phoenix sighs. Rooster watches with curiosity. He never had the luxury of a sibling, someone who’d make him feel less alone. He’d always had his mom, and sometimes Maverick, and occasionally Ice and Sarah, and it sounds so weird to say that they didn’t understand him. They tried their hardest to play and entertain him, but it wasn’t the same. He wasn’t exactly the most popular kindergartener, always talking about planes and such, so he missed out on that too. Luckily, it got better as he got older. 

“Don’t just stand there, Bradshaw!” He hears from you, a huge splash of water hitting him. He slides his aviators back on and joins the rest of the team in the water, ready to take revenge. 

Everything was great for a little while, minus the not so great parts. Like Admiral Kazansky’s funeral, a man who you’d never had the pleasure of personally knowing. The aftermath was crazy, with Maverick stealing a plane. Then, your mission got bumped up, and it was terrible.

Everyone was right back to being at each other’s throats, specifically Hangman and Rooster. Yay team. Since the mission is bumped up, so is training.

“But nobody has successfully completed the course!” 

“Nevertheless, we have to move on.” 

You had a bad feeling about this settling into your stomach. Like some sort of void that everything your body uses has dropped into, you feel like an empty husk, like you’re spectating yourself. Especially after the climb out. You missed the shot, much to your dismay, but god the force. Maverick wasn’t lying when he said that your lungs would feel compressed. You aren’t even shocked when moments after you get down, Coyote passes out.

Or at least you don’t feel shocked, but you do feign it. Of course you’re concerned, but you almost passed out yourself. 

“Shit, I’m going after h-” Maverick says, and the comms cut out. You don’t know what’s going on, your hands are shaking a little bit. So, Rooster grabbed your right hand, on instinct, giving it a little squeeze. He always did that for Carole when he was little, before she started crying, her hands would shake a little bit. Even when he felt like crying himself.

Then, the reality of it all settled. One of his friends was going down, and he didn’t know whether or not he was okay because of a stupid malfunction. 

“m’ okay!” Coyote says, comms cutting back in before going out again, and he thinks that it’s an insane stroke of luck.

“Bird strike!” Suddenly the comms are crystal clear, and your head starts to spin. You grip Rooster’s hand tighter than you were before because, Bob. All of Phoenix’s ramblings about emergency protocol are lost in your head because, Bob. 

“Phoenix, you can't save it!” Mav says, and that resonated with you. “Eject, eject!” 

Your heart is pounding, practically beating your chest, and then Maverick announces that he saw parachutes. There’s still a chance Bob isn’t okay, but you’d take a chance over knowing he most definitely was gone. 

Your hand relaxes a little bit, so Rooster lets go. He didn’t know how thankful you were for his gesture, but no way in hell were you going to tell him.

“They’re alright Rooster, just being kept in the hospital overnight for observation.” You hear through the door, and maybe it’s not your place, it’s definitely not your place, but you’re curious.

“Why did you do it?” 

“Wha-“

“Why did you stand in my way!” 

You can practically feel the wince that Maverick is wearing. 

“You weren’t ready.” 

“Ready to what? To fly like you?” 

“No!” Maverick snaps, and you think that you’ve heard enough. The brisk walk down the hall feels much longer than it actually is due to the shouting.

It’s hard to hear your family fight.

The next day, everything is relatively normal, minus the glares that Rooster shoots Maverick. He hadn’t done that for a whopping week and a half. How do you even bring that up? Hey Rooster, bud, I have to be honest. I was eavesdropping yesterday, you good? 

Definitely not.

So, you didn’t. Didn’t ask about it, didn’t think about it, didn’t pay it any attention. “You okay?” Bob asks with worry. Your face is scrunched up in a mixture of confusion and sorrow, and you send him a measly thumbs up in confirmation. Some things you just can’t speak about.

The next day, your head was spinning. Goosebumps adorned your arms, and you weren’t so sure vomit wouldn’t decorate your uniform. Today was the day, would you be picked, would any of your family be left to die? It was terrifying.

“Phoenix and Bob,” Your heart drops a little knowing he’d be out there, “Payback and Fanboy.” 

“For my wingmen, Rooster and [callsign]” Bob shoots you a look, and you’re not sure if he's pissed or excited for you. You and Rooster share this glance, one that’s like Holy shit? This is happening? You hadn’t talked to him much since Bob had to eject, nerves getting the better of you. 

“Good luck.” Maverick says.

You’re sitting in the common room in the carrier, probably far past the acceptable hours, getting into your own head. Psyching yourself out. Rooster could relate, so he steps out of his room using water as an excuse. 

“Hey,”

“Hi Rooster, what are you doing up?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Touché.”

He snorts and grabs a cup, heading towards the tap. 

“I’m thinking a bit too much.” You say, twirling the class ring on your finger. “About this mission, I’m actually scared.” He takes his cup of water and comes to plop down next to you on the couch. 

“Me too.” It sounds more like a confession than anything, than a comfort. 

Then, he does it again. He sees the shake in your hands, puts down his cup, and grabs your hand. The one closest to him.

“We can do this,” He affirms.

“We can do this.” And you go to bed more confident than you’ve been in a while. 

You step out of your room, trudging through the narrow halls while you attempt to get to the runway. Everything is basically set up, you’re just being re-briefed and then thrown out there.

“Give ‘em hell,” Hangman says to Rooster. Rooster is surprised that Hangman didn’t come up and harass him for Mavericks' choice, it’s as if they have some unspoken pact now. 

“Bob, be safe.” 

“You too,”

“Don’t do anything stupid,”

“Tell that to Phoenix.” 

“I won’t!” She calls over the wind. 

“I love you,” You say to Bob, then it’s like clockwork. You “saddle up” and prepare for possibly the hardest mission of your life. 

“Good luck,” Rooster calls out to you just before you climb into the cockpit. You send him a half assed salute, nerves taking over. 

You felt like you were on autopilot, doing everything asked of you when it was asked of you. You’re flying behind Payback and Fanboy as a last resort in case Rooster missed. “Speed up!” They say, and when the plane in front of you starts to move, you clutch the yoke a little tighter and follow. It’s underwhelming to hear “We made contact!” and even “Smoke on the air!” On Maverick and Phoenix's end, even if you’re worried for Bob.

“Dammit, this laser isn’t working!”

“That’s it, I’m dropping in blind”

You’re close behind, but not too close, so when the huge explosion happens you’re still climbing. “Success!” You speed up even more, rushing to enter Coffin Corner. 

“Smoke in the air!” 

Once it’s you being targeted, you become much more aware of your surroundings. You start effectively communicating, the shock of the situation wearing off.

“Shit, I’m out of flares!” Rooster says. Maverick immediately switches course, his plane getting blown up in the process.

“I didn’t see a parachute!” You're still trying to shake some SAMs, but the second that more are on Rooster's tail, you’re rushing to help him. Maybe it’s stupid, it’s definitely stupid, but you cant watch him go down too. “[Callsign] no!” Bob shouts, but it’s too late. You’ve already intercepted, taking the likely fatal blow. “No,” 

The last thing you remember is pulling the ejection handles a little too late, winding up too close to the crash and passing out.

The second you wake up, there’s a searing pain in your wrist and ribs -but you conclude that they’re definitely not broken. You’re bleeding through your flight suit, pieces of shrapnel impaling you in various places. God did it hurt, but you’re not a pilot for nothing, so you brush it off as best you can. 

“Hello?” You utter, attempting to see if your comms were still working, and when you receive no reply you sigh. It’s likely they won’t send a rescue chopper for another few days, if they even decide to. They lost two pilots already, and Cyclone definitely wouldn’t risk more. 

“We can’t circle back,”

“Rooster, they’re gone.” Bob says, holding back some tears. He’s trying to keep a level head, but Rooster won’t say anything. “Rooster!” Payback calls the second Rooster turns his plane around, but his mind is made up. 

He’s going back for Mav, he’s going back for you.

Maverick is contemplating his life decisions, two life threatening crashes in the span of two months? Maybe he needs to reevaluate his piloting, but his thoughts are cut short when the whir of an enemy aircraft approaches. He’s dropping all his gear in an attempt to run, his radar, his parachute, everything. Maverick hops over a fallen tree, ducking down to avoid the shots being fired. When the aircraft follows him, he thinks he’s done for. And he didn’t even make up with Bradley. 

It’s cold, and it hurts to move. You’re shaking with every step, but if you’re correct and not hallucinating from blood loss, you saw something go down -or up- in flames. It’s dangerous to have hope, but hope may be the only thing saving you now.

“What were you thinking?!” Mav shouts, equal parts annoyance and anger. 

“You told me not to think!” Rooster yells back with just as much ferocity. They stand there for a second before he awkwardly clears his throat.

“It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too,” Rooster chokes out. 

There’s a thud in the snow alerting both Maverick and Rooster. They turn their heads to see you fall into the snow, and Rooster is rushing to get to you.

“[Callsign]! Are you okay?” 

“Just peachy, Rooster.” You cough a little bit while he pulls you up.

Maverick immediately gets to work, doing his best to temporarily patch the wounds you procured.

“All done, now let’s go.” 

You’re still a bit woozy, and definitely need some better patchwork, but that will have to wait until you’re out of this hellhole. You’re sitting on a ledge, staring down at the blown up runway. There are two planes, and Maverick has the bright idea of stealing them.

“Mav, no, this is not a good idea!”

“Best one we got,” He says 

“She can’t even fly!” 

You sigh and roll up the sleeves of your flight suit. “I’m trained for this Rooster, we’re trained for this. I can do it,” Your voice quivers a little bit, as if you're unsure of yourself. Maverick runs off anyways, leaving Roosters' protests in the dust. You follow at more of a hobble, and that’s when Rooster decides to go. 

Before you hop into the plane, you try fiddling with your suit, hoping it will make the comms work again. It doesn’t, so you’re flying with minimal communication.

“See you on the other side,” You nod in appreciation. 

It’s harder than you thought it would be, trying to follow Maverick’s lead without the guidance of his voice, but you’re the best of the best. If anyone can do it, it’s you, and the graduates selected for this mission. Even with impaired judgement, you’re following along. Down in the canyon, you’re being shot at. You narrowly avoid any bullets hitting your plane, but Maverick and Rooster aren’t so lucky. When they finally shoot the plane down, the pilot ejects.

Then you race out of there, being met by even more hostile jets. Your consciousness is bordering on loss, but you’re trying your hardest to push through. The sound of shots being fired, at you, is what snaps you out of it. The pain of being shot a few more times doesn’t really register, you’re already aching all over.

Then, Hangman saves the day. You’re assuming he says something cocky, but without working comms, you don’t know. It’s just you, the roar of the engine, and your thoughts. 

The second you land your plane, you take notice of the celebration crowding Maverick and Rooster. You hop out, and the second you do the weight of your injuries hits you, and you drop. 

“[Callsign]!” Both Bob and Rooster are shouting, Maverick is trying to find a medic, and Phoenix is standing there in shock. Your eyes drift to a close, the world around you fading into nothingness. 

Maverick brings a medic back onto the runway, they don’t even try to bring you down to the medical wing. It’s too urgent to wait that much longer, so the man drops down to his knees to make sure you’re still alive.

“She’s not breathing!” He says, and Rooster's head is spinning. He’s pinching himself while they try to save you, like this is all some kind of sick dream that he’s having. One that’s going to mess him up for the real mission, but the pinches aren’t doing anything. It’s real, scarily real. 

Blood is literally covering your flight suit, and he wants to say “Great Mav! You did a bang up job!” but he knows it’s not the older pilot's fault. He knows that it’s his fault. 

Even Hangman is staring, in a mixture of awe and worry. Phoenix is hugging Bob, having snapped out of her daze while Fanboy is running around trying to help. 

“She’s breathing,” The medic says, sounding sorrowful. “but she’s unstable, get a stretcher up here!”  

Rooster swears it was the scariest moment in his life, seeing you dragged away on that stretcher before he had the chance to have a real, good, and not awkward conversation with you.

Hours later, and there’s still no news. Rooster wishes it was anything but anxiety swelling within him. Pride? Totally, sign him up. He’s sure Bob is feeling just as bad, if not worse. Poor guy is literally shaking in the corner.

“She’s fine!” Maverick bursts into the room, the loud slam of the door making the group of pilots jump. “She’s out of surgery, and she’s alive. [Callsign] won’t be awake for a few more hours, but she’s alive.” He sounds exasperated and exhausted and excited all at the same time. 

You bet that he was in there right as you woke up, second only to Bob.

“Hey,” 

“Hi Rooster.” 

He’s holding your hand, the same way he did when Bob went down, and the feeling makes your heart race a little bit. 

“Can I kiss you?” He says, and the nod he receives is all he needs.

So much for conversation.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

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[thegreatlibraryfangirl]

Time to ramble about Khalila's temper. Because she really, really has one, and I think we all forget that sometimes. But if you actually pay attention, you can see that she's got a very quick, very hot temper, which, if she allows it, blossoms into violence.

The key there of course is if she allows it - most of the time she brings that flash under control again because violence isn't the right option. She appears to be very good at that emotional control, but less so at avoiding the initial reaction. Her anger is used as a tool, mostly, but the fact that it's there at all is often overlooked.

Let's go through some book quotes! (Non-exhaustive)

1. Ink and Bone

He made his countermoves, and almost laughed when her expression turned thunderously dark. Had she been Glain's size and temperament, he'd have been right worried, but on Khalila, thwarted ambition looked about as intimidating as a puppy's snarl. "I shouldn't have played fair and warned you, I suppose." "Not if you plan to win," he said. "I do like winning." She smiled, her fit of pique gone in an instant.

Here's Jess hilarious underestimating of Khalila, who later on in this same book will shoot a Burner at point-blank range. But here also is Khalila's temper. All they're doing is playing Go, and she's just realised that she's going to lose. Thwarted ambition and fit of pique indeed. She masters it almost immediately, and rightly so, but the fact that it flares so strongly here for such a minor event is telling, I think.

2. Paper and Fire

Here, we start to see what happens when Khalila doesn't restrain her rage, when she deems it acceptable to react. Hint: it involves violence and death threats.

Just, tbh, the entire bit where she attacks Jess because he won't go after Dario, but here are the highlights:

"And if you ever lay hands on me again, I will kill you, Jess Brightwell! ... Her face was set and terrible, her eyes like dark pits ... "Then let us run," she said, in a voice drained of anything but anger.

To quote myself from this post, emphasis today's:

This is essentially Khalila losing her temper. No-one will help her save Dario, which she takes as a moral failing, and then Jess tries to physically stop her. [...] So she hits him and she shouts that it’s all HIS fault, and then once she’s finished with that she shrugs him off with one well-placed knee. And a death threat.

Next, we have a titbit from the end of P&F when they are in the Iron Tower. This is an immediate reaction to Keria touching Morgan.

Khalila stood up. It was a swift, controlled motion, and although it wasn't threatening, there was a cold look in her eyes that made the Obscurist's focus shift. [...] "if you touch Morgan again, if you try to take her away and lock her up, then you'll have to kill me. I won't make it easy."

She is controlling herself here, because she knows that physically reacting isn't the play right now, but she is ANGRY and broadcasting it. Sadly we don't get to see her simmer down from this, damn Jess.

3. Ash and Quill

Obviously, we have the best scene of all for Khalila beating the shit out of someone because she knows they deserve it

(If you're not as obsessed as me, this is from the scene when they're first imprisoned in Philly, where they're all being frisked and a guard rips off Khalila's headscarf)

Khalila turned whip-fast to grab the man's wrist and extended and twisted his whole arm. She continue the spin and pressed her palm hard into the back of his elbow, reversing it to the breaking point and held him there as he cried out. [...] Her voice was steady but Jess could see her face. She was still angry.

This is a beautiful and amazing scene but it's not quite as useful for my points as some of the others, because the fury is perfectly understandable here (i.e. not quick/sensitive reaction) and she doesn't bother to calm herself down again afterwards. Though actually I suppose that is in and of itself interesting, that Jess notes some time late that she's still angry, maybe indicating that he hadn't expected it.

A quick second quote here, from after Rafa's death:

Khalila swallowed hard, and for a moment there was a shine of tears in her eyes, but then it was gone, as if it had evaporated under the intense heat of the anger she was banking inside. [...] "I can't think of a time I've needed [prayers] so much." A&Q

This is useful for a) suggesting that prayer helps her to regulate herself, and b) assuming that Jess isn't flat-out guessing here, she is externally showing her internal rage. Obviously again, it's an understandable one, but interesting that anger is her overriding reaction here rather than grief, fear, guilt or anything else.

4. Smoke and Iron

"No!" Khalila shook off Glain's restraining hand. "No, it isn't all right. They hurt him. There was blood-[...] There was a great deal of blood, and I want to go find him! Let me go find him!" "Khalila." Santi put his hands on her shoulders, and Wolfe saw the tense fury drain out of her.

Here, we have her 'righteously' losing her temper again and physically reacting. Yes, I am calling something as minor as shaking off Glain's hand as a physical anger response, fight me. But she masters it almost immediately, as soon as it becomes apparent that it won't be useful anymore. (Note, this very much mirrors that P&F scene with equally missing Dario, where she hits Jess but doesn't attack Wolfe. She knows taking out her feelings on the dads won't get her anywhere.)

5. Sword and Pen

I am actually, shocker, not going to address her verbally castrating Dario as the Pharaoh. I have a lot to say about that scene lol, but in Khalila mind she is completely in the right, so can be outwardly angry, and in control, so doesn't need to physically react.

Instead I'm going to use my probably second favourite example of her temper in the whole series, because it's the only time we get the process I'm talking about from her PoV.

"I can hardly blame them, to be honest. There’s panic in the city. They have families to look after. As do I, but my first duty is still here.” Khalila started to fire back a hot reply, but then took a beat to consider. There was no point in being angry; the woman’s point was well made.

Now, in Khalila's defense she's under horrific stress here. But this is just a conversation with a Library cook, who's pointed out that her coworkers might value their safety over making sure the ambassadors get wined and dined. And Khalila's first response is anger, that she shuts down once she realises she's being unreasonable.

Anyway, so, yeah, some examples of Khalila the hothead!

[eletaniaaa]

Just saw a post about Larian's trend of adding and changing content in Baldur's Gate 3 and instead of writing a novel of notes in the tags just going to put some of my thoughts into the void.

I don't think it's been too egregious so far. Not a fan of most of the changes personally, but they are overall 'whatever'. For context, I am once again at Act III 60 hours in and in the process of doing all the quests I skipped the first time I finished the game.

Act III is kind of odd for me? I won't go over the pacing issues that caused me to skip it thus far. But it's a big tone shift. Act I and II are just stellar. Every single time I get to Act III I can't shake the feeling it's just not as good. Not bad, just a bit of a mess? There's a lot of stuff that is hilarious/almost joke content: The circus. Just Minsc as a whole. Taking Halsin to Sharess's Caress made me laugh out loud with the Drow twins because it is framed very comically. The whole bear gag again...God.

And none of this is bad, but it does make me take the narrative and the game world less seriously. I would go far as to say it kills immersion . Getting taken out of the game to be entertained is not what I personally am looking for. Which is where for me this ties into changes they are making.

What have they done so far. Made a lot of character interactions friendlier. I don't want the rough edges sanded off! I like it when characters have their own agenda that doesn't revolve around me. Changes to some of Gortash's correspondence because they decided it didn't fit (well into full release.) Fan service like adding the god's favorite princess line, or references to bing bong. Ohoho I got those, I am pointing at my monitor. It's just more funny content that takes me out of the game world.

I think a lot of people love these changes, so these are obviously my personal feelings. I hope they don't go too far in changing what is an already released game. Adding things is fine. Changing things because they don't like them anymore or fans asked for it I kind of hate! When I'm trying to immerse myself in a universe/character I don't want to feel like I'm building that on quicksand.

[bengiyo]

I Told Sunset About You Rewatch Ep 2 Stray Thoughts

Continuing the rewatch for the retrospective, lets pick back up with my favorite crybaby boys. Coming back to ITSAY I'm floored again by just how fucking good the score, sound mixing, cinematography, and the editing are. This was the first Thai gay drama I watched that felt like it believed in its talent and trusted them to carry the scene. The shots are patient, and the story is so legible. It's not doing any slapstick to make sure you laugh in case you're getting bored. It makes you sit up and take notice.

They really had Bas dropping Oh-aew off at his romantic rival's house.

Once again loving the almost-Japanese approach to depth of picture with these static shots where they let the actors move about the frame. I just love seeing people act and exist relative to each other in the same space. I love having details to focus on at every level.

Teh's mom was very correct that Teh needed to not just blow off school.

Hoon may tease Teh sometimes, but he still got that boy a plane ticket. Makes me sad that Teh has so many hangups about his big brother.

Frustrates me to no end that Oh always viewed Teh impressively, and yet Teh has such an inferiority complex.

Billkin has multiple angles, and those dimples. It's not fair.

That's right, Tuty. Nothing gay better happen on your watch! Keep it up, you homophobic pup!

PP plays the shift in Oh to relax around Teh again really well this episode. He's so charming when he's not tensing. Billkin responds well by having Teh pretend he isn't a sap.

Man, this talk of boobs on the saleng is also worrisome foreshadowing.

Also, hilariously, there were so obviously on a trailer for most of that.

I just really love the shot of them running down the ramp to the pier.

Smile really was just so good as Tarn. I really liked her, and she's so lovely to watch this time too.

I feel the need to state very clearly here again that Teh did genuinely like Tarn. We know he had been flirting for two years. Even if he's brightening up and his blue is coming through loudly again because he reconnected to Oh-aew, he is still trying to be good to Tarn.

Truly the leitmotif of Skyline is unparalleled.

Oh, Teh, he doesn't even know why he's jealous of their oldest friends.

I also don't think any other show has used text chats and IG better than this show. Texting someone at the table with your friends is so real.

Teh is just so pouty with Oh. Just no effort to shield his feelings.

This boy is still being salty as shit about this at school the next day, and now is going across the damn city to sneak into their school because he doesn't feel close enough to Oh.

Absolutely incredible that he says it so plainly that he was jealous of their friends because he didn't feel like he was the BFF anymore. Teh is unreal.

Whoever was in charge of lighting for this scene where Oh and Teh talk at Oh's school? You did an incredible job. PP looks amazing.

I get so anxious every time we get to Teh trying to help Oh flirt with Bas. I think he was serious at first, but it gets complicated so quickly. Also, I remember being this age and any slight form of physical contact being so, so much.

The MoRaoYuLok chemistry workshops really paid off. They feel like dudes who've been around each other forever.

Hold fast, friends. Teh is about to do something to provoke Bas.

It's interesting that only Bas looked at Oh after Teh's admission. The rest of them focused only on Teh. Bas immediately schedules a hangout with Oh.

And now it's these two knocking knees under the table. I'm going to go insane again.

Now, PP, you did not need to drink from that coconut like that whole looking at Khunpol.

That transition from Oh's and Bas's backs to Teh's and Tarn's backs gets me every time.

PP and Khunpol have great legs.

Teh posting Tarn on IG like, "After tonight, don't leave ya girl around me. Real playa fo' real."

But on the real, we get mad about the situation in IPYTM, but Teh misuses Tarn's feelings repeatedly here and again in this show after he gets jealous of Oh.

Truly incredible performances from Billkin and Smile on this kiss. I love that they got this on one take after falling on each other the first time. Contrast that with the athleticism required for the underwater kiss later and you appreciate that Boss only asked for what was necessary from his actors.

Teh can be so mean sometimes, and often Oh has no idea why Teh is suddenly being grumpy or petty. Poor Bas can read what's happening, but also has no idea what's going on.

Excellent timing on battery death there, phone. I always love Teh doing donuts to get some power back just to angst over Oh again.

We talk about Skyline a lot, but Lost in Translation is used so well in the background of this show.

Here there go again holding the shot and letting people act again. I love how they trust Billkin to play Teh's nervousness and anticipation in extended takes. Oh-aew's return is also timed perfectly with the song.

My goodness. Oh will be begging Teh to just tell him what's bothering him for years.

They really were determined to make PP and Billkin glow this episode.

"Don't give my time to others." I'm just gonna go ahead and lay down again.

Coconut scent got this boy telling on himself. This final scene is just so much. Many of us fake wrestled as an excuse to touch.

I gotta stop for now. I can't go immediately into episode 3, because this episode always does me in. Despite both Oh and Teh making progress with their respective love interests, so much of this episode ends up being about their forward progress with each other. Both of them are checking in or checking on with the other while basically on a date, and both are thinking about the other while with Bas or Tarn. There's just so much here about their need to affirm their importance to each other after all this time.

[whereonceiwasfire]

I’m going to need you all to indulge in my Vlad/Harriet hyperfixation for a second, because if I have to make this much space in my head for this then so do you *watches helplessly as you scroll away from my rambling post.* 

Alright, well, that’s not going to stop me. I’ll talk to an empty room. Just you wait.  

Anyway, so, I love the idea that while Vlad is just one big red-flag wrapped up in a tailor-made suit (and Harriet hasn’t run away screaming yet) he’s still reticent to let on that he’s a half-ghost. Because that’s GOT to be the final straw, right? The last of what she’s willing to put up with? So he keeps it secret. And while there’s a whole host of hilarious ways that can go down (especially because Harriet’s a reporter, and sharp, and Vlad has been a ghost for 20-some-odd years, and doesn’t spend a lot of time around humans, so probably has some bizarre and unnatural little habits) the specific thing I can’t stop thinking about is how Danny would tie into all of this. If Harriet doesn’t know Vlad’s a half-ghost, she certainly doesn’t know Danny’s a half-ghost, and the potential here is just KILLER. 

First of all, this has got to be the absolute most confusing set of interactions Harriet has ever seen in her life. While she knows her man-child boyfriend has the emotional maturity of a damp washcloth, it’s bewildering just how much the son of their college friends drives Vlad CRAZY. Muttering under his breath about the Fenton boy, their weird silent stand offs whenever they’re in the same room together, the way Vlad blames absolutely anything that goes wrong on Danny.  Car gets totaled in a random ghost encounter while he’s in Amity? Daniel. Something goes wrong at Vlad Co.? Daniel. Coffee maker doesn’t work? Daniel. 

This could also potentially shift the power dynamic in a really fun way. Danny’s shocked, and frankly, a little nauseated, to figure out that Vlad’s dating someone. Don’t get him wrong, he’s thrilled the Fruitloop is finally off his mom, but it just doesn’t seem right that anyone could LIKE Vlad. However, he can tell the dude hasn’t told/doesn’t want his girlfriend to know he’s the literal thing of nightmares. And, as much as he’s doing a terrible job of it, Vlad is trying to act like he doesn’t have an ongoing rivalry with a fourteen year old whenever Harriet is around. Plastering on the dead-eyed smiles, offering polite platitudes through gritted teeth, etc., etc. Danny takes every advantage of this to drop in unannounced and pretend that Vlad’s just his weird uncle. Oh yeah, he absolutely definitely routinely has Danny over for dinner and movie nights, buys him expensive gifts, helps him with his homework. You know. The usual. And Vlad can’t say anything to the contrary because he can’t otherwise explain why Danny keeps showing up, not to mention the fact that Danny has made it VERY clear he’s willing to spill Vlad’s secret. Danny likes to pull Harriet aside with a deep and serious “I need to tell you something important,” then pause dramatically before he goes off about the frog he found at lunch or some such whatever. Vlad figures Danny probably won’t actually tell his secret, because the boy must know he’d be outing them both to a reporter if he says anything, but Vlad’s not entirely sure. After all, Daniel is an incompetent child who has done worse for less cause. So Vlad tries to be on his very best behavior. TRIES being the operative word. Anytime Harriet leaves the room, Danny and Vlad are at each other’s throats, wielding cutlery like weapons, exchanging heated barbs back and forth, threatening each other. Vlad’s got an arm wrapped around Danny’s neck when Harriet returns with a mug of tea. Vlad laughs good-naturedly, forces a smile, rubs his knuckles against Danny’s scalp. Ahaha, see, they were just playing around. Good ol’ Uncle Vlad, what a kidder, amiright? Nothing suspicious happening here.

Bonus points if Harriet thinks Danny is adorable and keeps inviting him over, despite the weird animosity between these two losers.   Harriet: Oh, Vlad, you know how Maddie and Jack are. I’m sure the poor kid hasn’t had a decent meal in weeks. And he’s so attached you. Tell him he can come for dinner. Vlad *under his breath*: I would rather throw myself into a pit of scorpions than put up with that insolent brat for another-  Harriet: What’s that? Vlad: I said...Daniel would you *chokes* like to join us for dinner? Of course, this arrangement does sometimes backfire on Danny when he’s inevitably around while Vlad and Harriet are being *gag* coupley.          

[ecoamerica]

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