#I AM PHYSICALLY TURNING INTO A SHRIMP

[spookyratking]

FIVE NIGHTS FIVE NIGHTS AT UH UH UHHHHHHGHMMMMMMMM

[leatherbookmark]

glass 🧅 (but not only that) inspired thoughts but sometimes i feel like some people treat References (callbacks, easter eggs, winks at the audience, etc, etc) as something Good, when often they’re just... neutral? for example: i haven’t seen the movie myself but i remember a lot of people excitedly talking about how endgame had a lot of callbacks/references to previous marvel movies, and how nice it felt. and like... okay, but what exactly was the point of those references? i’m not saying there always has to be a point, but if there are referenceS plural i think it would be nice if discovering, being able to read them would come with a bonus other than just satisfaction at having understood them. for example, now that you know that X is a reference to Y, this gives you a new little lens through which you can look at the dialogue/scene/movie/something. but if there’s no such bonus, and the references/callbacks/whatever plural are really there just to make the audience feel nice, then... ehhhh, what’s this, a special club for special little kids? what are we doing there, exactly, and why? for the aesthetic?

thinking abt that because the onion is a Very pandemic movie, and i mean. yes. it says so at the very beginning, but also there are some things -- like the among us scene -- that some people just... wouldn’t understand, i think? or even if they understood it, it’s like, mhm, and? were we supposed to laugh at it, was it just a reference for the sake of the audience going

? i am not sure*. but i’m pretty sure my mother didn’t really get that, and for her it was just a scene about daniel craig playing some game in the bathtub. why are they talking about it so much.

* while i was aware that it’s a thing, i never played the game and don’t really know why it’s funny aside from “it’s funny”. ah well

but then i was like well maybe the movie didn’t try to be universal. maybe it was supposed to be so deeply entwined with the early pandemic memes/jokes (the woman with the mesh mask!).

and then i started wondering about movies from like, the 80s, or 70s or 60s. the “PRL movies”. would i, a 90s kid, understand all references to the reality of life back when the movie was made/released? probably not, but would it ruin the pleasure of watching a movie? i mean technically if you take a random movie from the 70s and compare it to this one, they’re already very different because a random movie from the 70s wouldn’t necessarily be about that specific period and satirizing that specific person. unless it was, but. still.

BUT THEN i needed daniel craig to spell it out for me that “you gathered all those people who have reasons to fuck you up and planted the idea of murder in their heads” because it didn’t occur to me before he said it. so. a barrel of salt.

[mellowwillowy]

Let's talk about Yan! TWST!

The Yan that enjoys inflicting pain on you would be...

Riddle doesn't see the charm of hurting you and so are his card soldiers. But, that doesn't mean Riddle will not hurt you dear, oh noooo, do you remember the time your guardian punished you with something that hurt physically? A pinch on your forearm or a smack by the ruler? Take that double-fold.

"Now now, what did I say about standing straight?" Riddle fixes your posture with his staff before eyeing you from head to toe, "I assume you've been good today, you are safe from the... unsavory punishment, I'd say."

Cater can understand the charm of it, I mean, he enjoys biting you every now and then playfully! Now Imagine what if he does it with a different intention, hm?

Trey is, hm, 50/50. Just like Riddle except that part of him secretly loathes the fact that he wishes he could do more for you but that won't do good. He is not supposed to act like this.

The ADeuce duo? They are wholesome babies who just sometimes enjoy bullying you, just sometimes! Maybe a poke and prod here until it suddenly escalates into something that actually hurts you. Will immediately realize that and apologize to you nonstop.

Leona? You bet you got lots of bite marks and scratch marks! He treats you like his chewing toy and he loves it! Well, part of his sadistic side will sometimes take over and turn this into a much darker turn.

"Hey, come now, don't trouble me from having to find you, herbivore. Stop hiding unless you want me to drag you out with my fangs."

Ruggie and Jack don't really get it. Aren't they supposed to treasure and protect those who they love? Sure, the animalistic sides of marking might come every now and then but that's as far as it goes.

Alright, the Tweels are right off the bat. Any kind of pain honestly, physically and mentally. You get the drill. "What do you say if we turn you into a literal shrimp? Maybe... bend your back until you look like one, shrimpy?" "Kukuku, that is a great idea though I am worried about the aftereffects."

And the person who would be opposed to this would be the Octopus, Azul.

He prefers his angelfish to be unscratched unlike those brutes after all (Though he understands why they love seeing your fear-stricken expression, it truly has its own charm.) "You two! Stop playing around and go back to work if you have the time to bother them! ... Hey, are you alright?" Azul will check on you and tend to any bruises they leave after they are gone.

put that chain down! Real talk here though? Both Kalim and Jamil are on the same flavour but they leave different aftertaste.

Now I know Kalim is such a sunshine baby that is soooo sooo, free of threat and won't even have the thought of hurting you for fun. But what if he has no other choice but to do this...? Now he doesn't take any form of pleasure from this but what I'm trying to say is that he is not below from hurting you indirectly.

Take it when he feels the need to chain you down, should he let the others do this dirty deed or should he do this himself? The idea of someone else hurting you makes him sick but so does the idea of him having to immobilize you!

"I'm really sorry but I just, have no choice! I'll make it up to you, name anything you want and I'll give it to you in a blink! Everything... but leaving me... then I will grant it to you like a magic lamp..."

In Jamil's case though he just resorted to this method should his paranoia reach a certain extent. What if you leave him even though he hasn't done anything much for you at all? Should he charm you with his UM or... should he just straight up immobilize you and lock you away in the dorm, away from privy eyes? Or maybe should he shamelessly ask for Kalim's assistance in sending you to Scalding Sands for the time being?

"Rest assured, Najma will be there for you."

The Hunter, Rook. Now listen to me, no he doesn't find any pleasure in the same way the Tweels do. Take him as a hunter, only wounding you to keep you immobile and that's all, he'd prefer to not wound you at all to ensure your beauty unscratched like a taxidermized animal!

The people who would go against this would be Vil and Epel! Come on now, really? He'd rather inflict emotional and mental pain than this! How is he supposed to cover the bruises, let alone if it remains as a scar?

"Rook! What did I tell you about not leaving any mark on them? Can't you just ever listen?" "Aha, I'm so sorry~! It's just that they have been hopping around like a rabbit so I had no choice but to treat them as one."

As for Epel, he just doesn't see the charm in causing any pain to his dearest darling at all. He prefers seeing you smiling and laughing rather than crying. Oh gosh, these sick fucks are questionable!

"Even so, you shouldn't retort to this method! Oh no... it hurts so much, right...?"

Do not touch Ortho in the wrong way but damn this murder bot is on the loose. He will most definitely be doing the dirty job here for Idia like dude, he will stun you right on the spot should his system detect any suspicious movements and signs of doing something dumb.

Idia on the other hand is pretty neutral about this. Yeah, comatose, knocked out cold. Cool. You shouldn't have done that, noob, can't you at least make a plan that will allow you to evade Ortho's sight of view? Not like the phone he gave you will not save him from this trouble though.

"You thought you could sneak out of an enemy base camp that easily? You gotta at least watch the walkthrough from start to finish, anyway, off we go... to the enemy's underground chamber."

He'd prefer things to be as solace as possible so I think he doesn't enjoy partaking in this trope with these sadistic bitches. (He's just a silly meow meow after all)

Lilia has a kink in marking you with his fangs and it shows~ That, is on the playful note, what about the much darker note? Moments when the fistfight you two share turns into an uncontrollable fight that allows him to cut you with his nails and punch you right in your guts, hard, until you choke out.

"Ah~? Sorry, did I go too hard? I forgot that your body is now just as fragile as a stuffed doll!" He'll shrug it off playfully while relishing in your state for a moment before helping you ^^ (Ah, he misses those good' ol days so dearly!)

Malleus, Silver, and Sebek though? They are shaking their heads at Lilia but can't say anything about it.

Malleus sees this as a way to keep you still next to him, maybe by spraining your ankle or slamming your head so that you are knocked out.

Silver on the other hand does not lay a single finger on you with the intention of hurting you, at all! Cinnamon baby! huhuhu.

Sebek? After watching Lilia and Malleus, he deems this to be some sort of disciplinary action! He takes pride in it while secretly pushing away the guilt of hurting you and the fact that he was enchanted by the teary sight of you.

Divider Credit: @edith-is-a-cat

I have favorites and it shows. (Lilia)

[elliesbelle]

nobody compares to you

chapter 14

pairing: ellie x reader

synopsis: you're in your junior year of college and at a party, you run into the girl who broke your heart: ellie williams. despite the time it took to reset your life, will you risk a broken heart again for her?

content warnings: modern college au, cursing, angst, dealer!ellie, some setting is in a hospital, mentions of catheters and needles, descriptions and talk of anaphylaxis, mentions of financial difficulties, mentions of alcohol, mentions of toxic parents, mentions of death and suicide, minors do not interact

word count: 7.9k

chapters: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen

series masterlist

my masterlist

i have a ko-if if you like my work so much that you feel compelled to tip me ♡︎

the "nobody compares to you" spotify playlist

palestine will be free

The first thing you feel is something plastic poking the inside of your nose. It smelled of chilly, medicinal air conditioning. 

The next thing you feel is a massive, unpleasant weight on your chest. Then at the crown of your head. Then some weird pressure squeezing your calves every few seconds. Then an entirely full bladder. 

“I need to fucking pee.” You mutter, voice dry and raspy. 

“I think you can just go, dude.” A familiar voice replies. 

You fight against the crustiness of your eyes but immediately regret it. All you can see through the slits of your eyelids is a harsh, white light. 

“Am I… Am I fucking blind?” You whine. 

“I’m pretty sure that your eyeballs are still inside your head. So hopefully not.” You hear the voice chuckle. 

You fight against the unforgiving glare from above, forcing your eyes open. It takes a few moments to gain control of your body, but you’re eventually able to crane your neck towards where the voice had previously echoed from. 

“J-Jesse?” You croak. 

“Yeah. I’m here, bud.” Your raven-haired friend smiles. 

You spot him to your left, sitting in, what appears to be, an uncomfortable armchair. He wore a blue disposable mask over his nose and mouth, his hair looking unkempt and unshowered, and you notice how his clothes look wrinkled and slept in. 

“What happened? Are you alright? What’s going on?” You groggily inquire. 

“You’re the one all strapped to a hospital bed, but you’re asking me if I’m okay?” 

Jesse takes your hand and squeezes it appreciatively. He flashes you a soft, warm smile. 

“How are you feeling?” He asks. 

“I-I’m not sure…” You admit. “What… what the hell happened?” 

“Well,” Jesse starts slowly. “You went on a date with Anderson to Orchards yesterday. At the end of it, you were being a total dummy and made out with her after she ate a whole plate of shrimp.” 

“N-no, no,” You interrupt, scrunching your face up as you try to recall the previous day’s events. “She ate this whole soup thing for dinner. Some weird French dish with some weird-sounding name.” 

“Bouillabaisse,” Jesse clarifies. “It’s a fish soup. It doesn’t always have shellfish in it, but hers apparently did.” 

You groan. 

“Oh, I am such a dumbass.” 

“Please explain to me exactly how you were being a dumbass in this situation.” 

“You literally just said that I was a dummy!” 

“That was Jesse of the past. I’m a much more mature man now in my old age.” 

You attempt to smack his arm, but he’s saved by the many coils of IVs attached to you, pulling your hand back. 

As he playfully rebukes you for attempted physical abuse, another person enters the room. A kind-looking nurse walks in with a clipboard in hand. Wearing dark blue scrubs, a low ponytail, and a surgical mask, she greets you with a friendly wave. She approaches your bedside opposite Jesse, and her glasses-covered eyes indicate a friendly smile. 

“Hi there,” She nods. “My name is Yoojin. I’m your nurse today. I’m so sorry for not being here when you woke up. I had to step out for a few seconds, but your brother here assured me that you were in capable hands.” 

You turn to Jesse and mouth in amusement, “Brother?” 

He suppresses a laugh. 

“Later.” He whispers through his mask. 

You turn to Yoojin with a small grin. 

“No worries. I only just woke up now.” You assure. 

She gives you, what you assume, is another smile under her mask. 

“So how are you feeling?” 

Jesse remained by your side the entire time, only leaving briefly when he needed to use the bathroom or take a call. He sympathized with your gripes about being bedridden, making lighthearted jokes about your catheter, messing around with the IPC devices off your legs over and over until a nurse came in and kindly asked him to stop. 

The TV in your room wasn’t working, so he kept you entertained, cracking his usual dad jokes and telling some old stories of Jackson you hadn’t heard yet. You pretended not to notice that the anecdotes he’d recall always excluded an essential person in his childhood, and you tried your best not to remark on it. 

After a couple of hours, Dina finally came around to visit. She walks in as you’re berating Jesse for stealing a fruit cup you knew you weren’t going to eat. The sight of her immediately warms your heart. 

“Dina!” You exclaim. “Oh, I missed you.” 

Dina sets her bag down next to Jesse, lowers her face mask for a moment to give him a quick peck on the cheek, and pulls up a chair next to him. She takes your hand and beams at you graciously. You notice that her eyes are slightly glassy. 

“Oh, babe,” She sighs. “I missed you too. Sorry that I’m just getting here. Had to deal with a few things before I came over.” 

“Don’t apologize, D. I’m just glad to see you.” 

She squeezes your hand softly. 

“I’m so glad you’re awake,” She gulps. “You worried us so much.” 

“Sorry about that,” You grin sheepishly. “I was being a bit of a dummy.” 

Dina blinks for a moment before giving Jesse a smack on the back of his head at this. 

“Oy vey. You asshole.” She chides knowingly. 

“Hey! No need to abuse me! I’m delicate.” 

He caresses the spot where she hit him as you laugh heartily. 

The couple recounts the events of last night for you, explaining in detail as much as they know. You listen without interruption until they reach the topic of your EpiPen. 

“But how’d you guys get to my EpiPen so quickly? Did you pass by my apartment?” You ask them curiously. “I don’t mind if you guys did! It’s just not that close to the restaurant. Wouldn’t have made much sense to book it back to my apartment, honestly.” 

Dina and Jesse share a look you don’t understand. Your eyebrows furrow, confused by their hesitation. Eventually, Dina responds. 

“Uh, well…” She begins slowly. “Jesse actually happened to have a spare EpiPen at his place. Thank god, right?” 

“You did?” You turn your head towards Jesse. “I didn’t even know you had one, Jesse.” 

“Y-yeah,” Dina continues cautiously as you notice Jesse’s expression shift to a poker face. “He used to have an, uh, egg allergy growing up.” 

“What?” You ask incredulously. 

“Yup,” Jesse chimes in. “I grew out of it when I was in high school. But my mom still insists that I have an EpiPen on me. Just in case.” 

You continue to look completely discombobulated. You don’t fully buy their story, especially since neither were looking you directly in the face. But you’ve always trusted Dina as a sister and Jesse like a brother, so you half-heartedly accept the tale they’ve decided to present you with. 

“Oh, okay,” You say, slightly unconvinced. “Well, thank god for that, I guess. Is it okay that you used it on me, though? What if you suddenly need it again?” 

“No worries,” Jesse assures you. “I’ll call my mom and ask her to send me a new one.” 

His poker face improves, so you concede for now. 

The couple continue to recount the previous day’s events until they eventually catch up to the present. 

“Only family is technically allowed to visit you in the ICU,” Dina confesses at one point. “Jesse had to say he’s your brother to get past the nurses' station. The nurse manning the desk at the time could definitely tell we were lying, but she was really nice and allowed it anyway.” 

“Oh, gotcha,” You say. “Well, you’re basically my brother, anyway.” 

“You should feel so lucky to share the same genes as me.” He boasts, stealthily avoiding yet another smack from Dina. 

“What about you, D?” You ask, turning towards her. “What did you say you were? My sister?” 

“Nah, I didn’t wanna be siblings with Jesse, even just as pretend.” She grimaces. 

“Okay, yeah, didn’t think of that,” You realize, scrunching up your nose in total disgust at the thought. “Gross.” 

“Wouldn’t be able to get that image out of my head.” Dina shudders. “Anyway, I told them that I’m your life partner.” 

“My what?” You giggle. 

“Hey, it counts!” Dina defends. “Well, kind of. The nurse had to list me as your ‘spouse’ instead, which feels like a hate crime.” 

“Oh, shut up.” You laugh as Jesse chuckles. 

“What? You don’t wanna be married to me?” Dina asks in mocking shock and offense. 

“I am absolutely honoured to be married to you,” You assure her. “I’m just worried about poor Jesse. How in the world are we supposed to break it to him that we’ve actually been married for over ten years?” 

“Oh, please, Jesse’s known from the start that he’s always just been a side piece.” 

“Hey!” Jesse interjects in indignance. “I’m right here.” 

“Be quiet, side piece. The wife and I are speaking.” Dina waves him off. 

You burst out into laughter at Jesse’s playfully hurt expression. 

The three of you discuss what the doctors have told you, and you eventually bring up the conditions required of you to be discharged. 

“I know that the doctors and nurses saved my life and whatever. And of course, I’m very grateful. And I truly do not mean any disrespect,” You say. “But I want to get the fuck out of here, uhh, right fucking now.” 

Dina smiles and Jesse chuckles. 

“I know, babe.” Dina sympathizes. 

“You’ll be out sooner than you know, bud,” Jesse adds. “Don’t stress over it. We’ll get you out as soon as possible.” 

“Oh!” Dina suddenly pipes up and reaches into her bag. “I can’t believe I forgot. I brought your phone. I was able to grab your purse for you before the paramedics took you away. I turned it off and charged it at home, so it should have some juice.” 

She places your phone in your hand, and you flash her a grateful smile. 

“D, you need to be canonized for your good deeds, I swear. With a statue and everything.” 

“Oh, I know,” Dina smirks. “Brought your wallet too. Not sure if you wanna keep it here or bring it back to your apartment, though.” 

“I’ll ask them if I can keep it here with me.” 

A thought suddenly hits you. 

“I’ll… I’ll have to figure out how to pay for all this when I get out.” You sigh. 

“Oh, babe,” Dina says reassuringly. “Don’t worry about any of that right now. Just focus on resting, okay?” 

“Your insurance will hopefully take care of a huge chunk of it,” Jesse contemplates. “It’s through your dad, right?” 

“That’s what I’m worried about,” You say as your hands begin to fidget anxiously. “Something as big as this, they’ll probably contact my parents. I… I can’t let them know I’m in here. I know it’ll start shit and… I just know it won’t be good.” 

The couple give you identical, concerned looks. 

“D-do they know? Th-that I’m in here?” You ask timidly. 

“Not that we know,” Jesse replies. “Neither of them is on your emergency contact list. And you know that Dina and I would never speak to either of them. Unless it’s to tell them to shove a stick up their respective asses.” 

You and Dina giggle. 

“Speaking of which,” Dina adds. “You can ask your uncle. I called him yesterday while you were still out. I hope that’s alright.” 

“Oh, that was so thoughtful of you,” You say gratefully. “What did he say? I hope he didn’t worry too much.” 

“Honey, you almost died. Of course, he’s worried. He loves you.” She checks the time on her phone. “He should be arriving sometime later today, actually.” 

“Shit,” You groan. “He didn’t have to do that. He gets so busy with work during this time of the year. This must have been so inconvenient—” 

Jesse suddenly takes his thumb and middle finger and flicks you on the forehead. 

“What the fuck!” You exclaim in indignance, rubbing the spot you were hit, as Dina gives him another hard smack on the head. Jesse ignores you both. 

“You are more important than any goddamn job that exists in the world, in the whole motherfucking galaxy. Your uncle loves you, just as we do. So no more complaining about it, dumbass.” 

You give him a pouty look, but his words fill your heart. 

Your best friends stay the rest of the time until your uncle arrives around midday. Relief and affection overwhelm you when he enters the room. You squeeze him with the tightest embrace you can possibly give for someone essentially strapped to their hospital bed. You ignore the loud beeping resulting from the tangling of your many IV wires. 

After your friends help you unravel all the cords, they gather their things and get up from their chairs. 

“We’ll let you guys talk.” Jesse says, offering his seat to your uncle. 

“Oh, you don’t have to leave.” Your uncle graciously assures them. 

“It’s alright; have some family time,” Jesse insists kindly. “I’m pretty sure she can only have two visitors at a time, anyway.” 

The couple make their way towards the sliding glass door. 

“I cannot express how grateful I am for you two,” Your uncle says before they exit. “Thank you for saving her life. And thank you for keeping me in the loop.” 

“Please, no need to thank us, really.” Dina nods kindly. “She’s family. We would do absolutely anything for her.” 

“That means you’re both family to me too.” Your uncle concludes. “Thank you.” 

You hold back tears of vast emotion from three of the most important people in your life exchanging such caring sentiments. You’ve never felt luckier. 

“We’ll be in the waiting room,” Jesse promises. “Let us know if either of you needs anything, okay?” 

Jesse and Dina take their leave, and your uncle subsequently takes a seat next to you. 

“Oh, Uncle,” You start before he can speak. “I’m so, so sorry. You shouldn’t have flown all this way. I can’t believe I was so stupid to have—” 

“Hey, hey,” Your uncle interjects. “None of that. You have no reason to be sorry. You needed me, so I’m here. I’m not mad, and this is not your fault.” 

Tears form in the corners of your eyes. 

“I just feel like I’ve inconvenienced so many people. If I could have just paid attention…” You lament. “And now I’ve totally made you drop everything to be here. I know you’ve still got work—” 

“You are a thousand times more important than my job, sweetheart.” He shakes his head and squeezes your hand, echoing Jesse’s previous words. 

“But…” 

“You are my family. Nothing is more important than that.” 

You smile at his adamancy. 

“And especially since losing Rafael,” He continues. “I think of you as my own.” 

“I know, Uncle.” 

You squeeze his hand back in affection. 

“D-did…” You suddenly say. “Did you tell—” 

“No, your mother and father don’t know a thing about this.” He answers insightfully. 

“Thank god.” 

“Did you want me to tell them?” 

You grimace. Your uncle chuckles. 

“I figured as much.” He surmises. 

“I just don’t know how to keep this from them forever, though,” You continue. “They’ll see it through the insurance company. I…” 

“Don’t worry about that. I can talk to the nurses later today before I leave, see if I can pay it in full myself without needing to use your father’s insurance.” 

“Uncle, please. Please don’t do that. This is going to be so costly, and you’ve still got your mortgage and Raf’s leftover student debt—” 

“I just want you to focus on getting better, alright? I don’t want anything else on your plate right now.” 

“Uncle, promise me. Please. Please promise me. Do not spend a single cent on this. I want to do this on my own. I’ll figure it out. Please promise me.” 

He gives you nothing more than a smile in response. 

Your friends and uncle take turns rotating as your company for the rest of the day. They’d only leave your side when the doctors and nurses needed to conduct extensive tests to ensure that you were still stable. You were never on your own for more than a few seconds, your loved ones determined that you not feel alone. 

You’d turned your phone on almost immediately after Dina’d handed it to you. But as a small, gracious gesture of appreciation, you had set it aside to give your visitors your undivided attention for the rest of the day. 

It wasn’t until the evening, when your friends and uncle waved you goodbye as visiting hours ended, that you allowed yourself to finally glance at your notifications. 

Anxiously picking your phone up, the first thought you have is to call Abby. Jesse and Dina had mentioned she was with them in the waiting room the night before. But, like your friends, she was informed that she wasn’t permitted to see you in the ICU as she wasn’t family. Dina and Jesse sent her home with the promise to let her know as soon as possible when you finally woke up and that you were alright. 

You notice that she’d messaged you earlier in the day. But much too embarrassed to face her just yet, you decide instead to first call your old freshman roommate. 

Tara picks up after only two rings, almost as if she’d been waiting by the phone for your call. She greets you with a happy shriek of your full name, an amused giggle escaping your lips as a response to her sudden enthusiasm. 

“Thank fucking god!!! I’ve been waiting all fucking day to hear the sound of your voice!” 

“Umm, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” You reply, smirking. “This is actually Satan, here to leave a message. I’m calling to let you know that I will be collecting your mortal soul sometime during the next 24 hours.” 

“Oh nooooo,” Tara plays along. “What on earth have I done to warrant eternal damnation, Miss Satan?” 

“Not sure if you know, but homosexuality is actually a cardinal sin. And unfortunately, you seem to be a notorious, flaming homosexual. I know, I know; it’s quite disappointing. But alas, I do not make the rules.”  

“But Miss Satan, are you not a homosexual too?” 

“Well, that’s exactly how I know it’s a sin.” 

The two of you crackle at each other’s banter, and you make plans in your head to spend more time with Tara and the rest of the girls after you’re released from the hospital. 

You and Tara chat for a little while about the most mundane things, like her classes the day before and her plans for the weekend. She apologizes for not having more to say and for “being so boring,” but you’re genuinely happy to just hear her prattle off about anything. 

At some point, she hands her phone over to Astrid, who greets you with a similarly delighted shriek that her girlfriend had received you with prior. She gushes over you with love and concern, insisting that she and all the Wilson girls come to visit you as soon as you’re out and adjusted. 

“Tara just about broke down when I told her about it.” She reveals. “She was about to leave for her shift at Ruston’s when Dina called, and I’m pretty sure the whole dorm could hear her sobbing.” 

“What?! I did not!” You hear Tara shout from a short distance. 

“You had so much snot running down from your nose that I just about hosed your face down before you left!” Astrid yells back. 

“Stop telling her that! She doesn’t need to hear all that!!” 

You giggle at the couple’s repartee. 

“Anyway,” Astrid continues. “Kris, Sid, and I tried to come down for a visit, but they apparently only let family in. Jesse and Dina seemed to have monopolized the fake roles of being your family already.” 

“Yeah, sorry about that, Addy.” 

“Oh, don’t be sorry,” She brushes off. “I’m just glad that you haven’t been alone there. Those two really care about you, you know.” 

“Yeah, I know.” 

“Dina started to make a whole fuss when they wouldn’t let us past,” Astrid continues. “Threatened to sue the nurses, all the doctors, the entire hospital. The receptionist nurse didn’t even get a chance to kick her out ‘cause Jesse himself forced her to go leave and take a walk to calm down. I don’t think she came back until a couple of hours later.” 

“Yeah, that sounds like our Dina.” You snort. 

The two of you discuss what you’d like to do whenever you finally get released, Astrid swearing to get you out of your apartment nearly every day after your discharge. 

“I don’t think I have all the stamina for all that, babe.” You chuckle. 

“Then you better get yourself to the gym with Jesse, and build that stamina the fuck up! I want your sexy self at parties and clubs, living your best 20s life with us!” 

You chuckle warily at this, simultaneously pushing away the reminder of who Jesse’s daily workout partner is. 

After saying your goodbyes to Tara and Astrid, you make brief calls to the rest of the girls of the Wilson Crew. They all answer your calls with an assortment of jubilant greetings, each girl expressing their elation and gratefulness that you’re finally awake and safe. 

You send individual texts of love to Dina, Jesse, and your uncle, thanking them extensively for coming to your aid and expressing your excitement to see them again very soon. 

Having done your rounds of gratitude, you finally acknowledge that you can no longer ignore the unread texts of the blonde-braided woman you’d had your near-fatal dinner with. You open up your message thread with Abby to see that she’d sent you only three texts earlier in the day. 

You stare at her text. 

Oh. Huh. 

No part of you blamed Abby for the incident; in fact, you’d been feeling a tremendous amount of remorse for putting her through such a traumatizing and jarring ordeal. It had been plaguing you so much since you woke up that you were far too embarrassed to ask Jesse and Dina more about her. 

But something about her texts bothers you. There was very little warmth and familiarity in her messages. Her words didn’t seem that of the woman who had been walking you to your classes every day, who showed you off to her friends at the Bow and the Arrow, who treated you to a lavish restaurant on a fancy date. Who kissed you with so much passion on the sidewalk of that same restaurant the evening before. 

Is… Is she angry with me? 

You continue to stare at her strange messages for several more minutes, unable to process the situation you’re somehow in now. You can’t think of an appropriate response that would lead to something honest, so you decide to put your response off. 

A-at least until after they release me… At least until I get home… 

The doctors only began to discuss the possibility of your discharge early Sunday morning. Though it hadn’t even been a full two days since your admittance, it took everything in you not to practically beg them to let you go. You’d been insisting to anyone who’d listen that you were completely fine, that you’d walk right out yourself if you weren’t strapped to your bed with a million wires. 

It wasn’t until midday, as you were mercilessly beating Jesse’s Shy Guy as Pink Gold Peach in Mario Kart, that Yoojin walked into your room with good news. You don’t notice her at first, too busy taunting Jesse for landing in 7th place while you scored 1st. 

“You only won because I got Lakitu’d in the second lap! Fuckin’ Isabelle was sending red shells at me nonstop…” Jesse gripes. 

“Sucks. Sounds like a personal problem, man.” You shrug. 

“Alright, I want a rematch, but on the Egg course this time.” 

“You’re such a sore fucking loser!” 

“There’s a shortcut on Yoshi’s circuit close to where the finish line is, by the way,” Yoojin interjects, eyes smiling. “If you use a mushroom and drift to the hidden waterfall on the right, it’ll get you pretty far ahead.” 

You and Jesse look up, a bit sheepish at her witnessing your juvenile behaviour. The nurse looks completely unbothered by it, however, and she approaches your bed as you place your controller down. 

“Aww, come on, Yoojin,” You whine. “Don’t tell him that! I’m on a winning streak!” 

“Shh,” Jesse shushes you, attempting to cover your face with one hand. “Don’t listen to her, Yoojin. She’s delirious from all the drugs you’ve been pumping her with. I must know all your secrets, ‘cause I swear, this one is cheating.” 

“Maybe later,” Yoojin laughs as you flick Jesse’s forehead. “Because you might want to hear what your doctor just told me.” 

Your ears perk up at this. 

“I can go home?” 

“Your most recent labs just came back, and everything looks good.” Yoojin nods. “And your vitals have been stable for the last 24 hours. So unless you plan on wolfing down ten pounds of shrimp sometime before leaving, we can get started on getting you released sometime later today.” 

Your face breaks out in a huge smile, and you turn to grasp Jesse’s arm. 

“Dude! I can go home!” You exclaim. 

“Yes, I heard,” Jesse says. You can feel his smirk through his face mask. “Finally.” 

You turn back to Yoojin. 

“I can go right now?” You ask. 

“It’ll take a couple of hours to make sure everything’s set for your discharge,” Yoojin says, chuckling at your eagerness. “But just hang tight, and you’ll be out of here in no time.” 

“Why don’t you guys settle things here while I go tell your uncle?” Jesse offers. 

Your uncle had stepped out to get some lunch at the hospital’s food court not too long ago. He and Jesse had arrived on the dot when visiting hours began earlier in the day. Dina had accompanied them but left shortly after to take care of other obligations, promising to be right back the second she was done. 

“Oh, that’d be great,” You say. “Thanks, Jess.” 

“No worries, bud. I’ll be right back.” 

He gives you a pat on the head before leaving you alone with the nurse. 

“So before you leave, we’ll go over a few things to make sure you don’t suddenly relapse during the next few days,” Yoojin begins. “And we’ll make sure you go home with a couple of new, unexpired EpiPens, just in case.” 

You nod as she goes on to explain the plans for your discharge. You listen attentively, determined not to end up back in the hospital like this again. As Yoojin wraps up, you work yourself up to ask her a question that’s been at the tip of your tongue since the beginning of the conversation. 

“Hey, umm, before you go,” You mutter nervously. “I wanted to ask about how much all of this will cost me. I-I know it’ll be pricey and all, especially with two brand new EpiPens, so I just want to be prepared.” 

“That’s not really something I can help you with,” Yoojin replies apologetically. “That’s the jurisdiction of the hospital’s billing department. But I’m sure you can get it all settled with your insurance after you’ve been released. Depending on what you have, they should cover most of it.” 

You give her a tentative smile as you wring your blanket between your fingers. 

“A-alright then.” You sigh defeatedly. 

It takes about two hours for you to finally be released from all your restraints and another hour until you’re finally walking out of the hospital and into the sunny parking lot. Yoojin allowed you a quick embrace before you left, insisting that you promise to be much more careful from here on out. 

You lean against your uncle and Jesse for support as you exit the hospital’s automatic sliding doors, legs still a little shaky after being bedridden for so long. Dina pulls up next to you in her car and gets out to open the passenger door. 

“M’lady.” She says with a bow, gesturing to the seat. 

“Shut up, D.” You laugh, rolling your eyes. 

“You sure you’ve got everything?” Your uncle inquires. 

“I think so,” You reply. “Didn’t really bring anything with me.” 

“Alright, well, I’ll head to my hotel room first so I can take care of a few things. I’ll meet the three of you at your apartment sometime later today. Sound good?” 

You, Jesse, and Dina all nod in unison. Before he walks away, you wrap your arms around him in a tight hug. 

“Thank you so much, Uncle,” You murmur. “It means so much to me that you came.” 

“Anything for you, sweetheart. Anything at all.” 

He gives you a quick squeeze before releasing you, promising he won’t take very long before walking away towards his rental car. 

“So,” Dina chimes. “Wanna grab some gross, greasy non-hospital food on the way home?” 

 When you finally cross the threshold of your apartment, you’d already wolfed down the majority of your fries along with half a chocolate milkshake. You collapse onto your couch with a relieved sigh, your best friends falling next to you on either side. You lean your head onto Dina’s shoulder as you take her hand between both of yours. 

“I think I’m about to go into the world’s longest food coma.” You decree. 

“I’m right alongside you, dude.” Jesse agrees, having devoured one and a half burgers himself on the way. 

“No comas, please, or we’re gonna have to turn right back around and readmit you into that hospital.” Dina says. 

“Never again, please,” You beg. “If I have to hear the nonstop beeping of a heart monitor for one more second, I’m going into straight-up fight-or-flight mode.” 

Your friends chuckle. 

“Alright,” Jesse eventually says as he sits up straighter. “Now that you’ve been freed, what do you want to do first?” 

You hum as you ponder his question. 

“Get so blackout drunk that I totally forget this entire experience ever even happened in the first place?” You offer. 

“Right, well, perhaps we can do something that isn’t completely stupid and detrimental to your health. Especially after you were just in the hospital after almost dying.” Dina retorts. 

You boo her as Jesse chuckles. 

“Well,” You continue. “I guess I should tell the girls I’m finally out. I promised them I would. Or did you guys say anything to them already?” 

“Not yet,” Dina says. “They’ll probably want to hear it from you.” 

You groan. 

“You’re right. Ugh. I don’t think I can handle the sheer amount of screaming and excitement that’ll come with it, though. Kris sounded like she was going to smother me with so much love that I’d suffocate from it.” 

“You can always put it off, at least until tomorrow.” Jesse counters. 

“I guess so. You think they’ll be mad?” 

“Babe,” Dina says, squeezing your hands and rolling her eyes. “You almost died. I think they’ll survive a day.” 

“Alright, alright,” You giggle. “I probably should focus on getting work done before class tomorrow, anyway.” 

“Ma’am, I know you are not thinking of going to your classes right after you were just in the hospital all weekend.” Jesse scolds sternly. 

“I’m fine!” 

“Dear lord.” Jesse sighs, exasperated. 

“Like I said,” Dina repeats. “You almost died. School is not a priority right now. You need to be resting, not writing essays and doing homework.” 

“I don’t want to fall behind!” 

“Didn’t your doctor give you a school note before we left earlier? She said you can give it to your professors to excuse you from your classes this week.” 

“Yeah, but it’s not mandatory or anything. I’m fully recovered now, so it just seems totally unnecessary.” 

“Like hell it is!” Dina bellows before releasing your hands to stand up from the couch. You fall flat on your face onto her spot when her shoulder disappears from under your head, and you muffle irritated curses into the couch cushion. You look up to see she’s disappeared momentarily into your bedroom. 

“D… What are you doing?” 

Dina reemerges after a few seconds, your laptop in her hands. 

“Babe. What’d you get that for?” You ask suspiciously. 

“I’m emailing all of your professors myself to tell them that you will not be attending any of your classes this week. Especially since it seems that you want to be such a stubborn dumbass about it…” Dina says matter-of-factly, shoving your head away from her spot on the couch to sit beside you once more. 

“Never should have given you my password.” You grumble as Dina opens up your laptop and easily bypasses your lockscreen. 

“Alright, who are all your professors again?” She asks, opening up your browser to access your email. 

“I’m not telling you!” You reply stubbornly, crossing your arms. 

“Hmm… I know she’s got Olinick’s double class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mulligan at least on Mondays—” Jesse lists, counting your professors on one hand. 

“No, no, no, I don’t!” You turn towards him, shoving your hands in his face. 

“—I think Joslin from the English department too, but I can’t remember if that was last year or this year.” 

“Jesse!” 

By the time your uncle arrives at your apartment, you’d conceded to your best friends and allowed them to draft an excuse email to all of your professors. Dina opens the door for him after he knocks while you make final edits to your letters, and he settles into the ratty, secondhand armchair right next to the couch. 

Your uncle chuckles at the scene before him: you with a focused look on your face typing rapidly on your laptop, Jesse leaning back into the couch while gently patting the top of your head as he continued to make suggestions to your email, and DIna taking her seat right back next to you before kicking her feet onto your lap as you lift and place your laptop on top of her legs. It had been a while since your uncle had seen you so relaxed around other people, the last time being right before your freshman year of college. His fondness for your best friends quickly grows by the second. 

You look up from your work for a moment to smile warmly at your uncle, and he returns it with one of his own. 

“Hi, Uncle! Sorry, I’m just finishing up this email to my professors.” 

“No need to apologize, sweetheart. You telling them you won’t be attending any classes this week?” 

“Yup,” Jesse answers for you. “Took a lot of bullying on our part to convince her not to overwork herself with school right now.” 

“This dummy wanted to go back to classes right away as if nothing happened.” Dina rolls her eyes as she extracts a foot from underneath your laptop to kick you softly, earning her a stern “Hey, hey, hey!” from you. 

“Well, thank goodness she has you two to set her straight.” Your uncle chuckles. 

“Oh, she’s absolutely lost without us.” Jesse says, continuing to pat the top of your head. 

Your uncle smiles. He can tell that Jesse’s joking around, but he knows that the couple have both been selflessly keeping you alive for the past few years. 

“So how are you feeling?” Your uncle continues with concern etched on his face. 

“Not so bad,” You admit. “Just so glad to be among civilians once again.” 

You feel Jesse rub your upper back kindly. 

“I’m sure,” Your uncle smiles kindly. “How about we talk about what you’re going to do now that you’re out?” 

The four of you discuss what the next, post-hospital visit steps would be. They remind you of the check-up appointment you have later in the week, caution you once more about what foods you need to constantly be looking out for, and double-check that you have your new EpiPens handy and within constant reach. 

“I still have my current EpiPen in the bathroom,” You say. “It hasn’t lapsed yet. So maybe I can give you each of the ones they sent me home with, if that isn’t too much of an inconvenience to either of you guys?” 

You turn towards Dina then Jesse. 

“You sure?” Jesse asks. 

“Yeah, I mean, I obviously don’t want something like this to happen again. But if, by some hideous trick of fate, I end up in a repeat situation, it might be smart to just have one in multiple places. Just to cover my bases, I guess.” 

“I don’t mind at all,” Dina nods. “As long as you have easy access to one at all times.” 

“Yeah, that was my thinking too,” You agree. “Plus, I don’t want to have to use one of yours again, Jess.” 

“Mm, I guess.” Jesse hums. 

Your eyes meet his and you once again recognize his poker face. 

“That sounds like a good plan,” Your uncle agrees. “Let’s try not to rely on just luck next time around.” 

You give him an apologetic smile. 

The sun had been set for at least an hour when Dina and Jesse finally took their leave. Both offer to stay the night, in case you suddenly need either of them, but you assure them that you’ll survive one night alone just fine. You embrace each of them tightly, putting every ounce of gratitude you have into your hugs. 

You settle back onto the couch after you see them both out the door, and you turn towards your uncle still sitting in the armchair. 

“I know I’ve said this probably a hundred times the past day or so,” You begin. “But thank you for coming, Uncle.” 

“I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t come,” He replies. “Neither would Raf if he was still around.” 

You both share a sad smile. 

“I miss him, Uncle…” You whisper suddenly. 

“I know. I do too.” 

You sigh before continuing. 

“I wish he was still here. I feel… I feel so incomplete without him around. Like this has all been an awful nightmare that I have yet to wake up from.” 

“I know just what you mean,” Your uncle laments. “But our lives still go on, sweetheart. I think it’d make him sad to see us grieving him for the rest of our lives.” 

“But… it just feels so wrong. It feels so wrong to stop grieving for him, to move on from him.” 

“It’s not exactly moving on from him,” Your uncle ponders. “It’s more like… We make a place for him in our hearts. It’s sort of like he becomes a part of us. He’ll always be in everything we do.” 

Your eyes well up as a childhood memory floods your thoughts. 

When you were eleven years old, you had your first anaphylactic experience. You and Rafael were hanging out at his house, your uncle at work all day. You were making a mess in the kitchen, developing concoctions with half the contents of the pantry. As you were dumping a bag of marshmallows into a blender full of graham crackers and banana slices, Rafael fished an old bag of chips out of one of the cabinets. 

The writing on the bag was all in a language you couldn’t understand, but the superheroes on the front seemed to be enjoying the crunchy snack. Raf was tearing the bag open before your greasy fingers started grabbing at its contents. 

It didn’t even take two minutes until Rafael realized something was wrong. You were annoyed and taken aback when he slapped the chips out of your hand. It wasn’t until he was hauling you to the garage and strapping you into the passenger seat that you began to feel dizzy. By the time Rafael had driven to the emergency room, your skin had broken out into hives and your throat felt completely swollen. The last thing that you remembered before blacking out was your faithful cousin scooping you up and sprinting to the emergency room’s entrance. 

You didn’t hear the end of it from your parents when you’d woken up from being unconscious after a couple of hours. Your mother spared no shame in relentlessly admonishing you, regardless of who was in the room, for your “stupidity.” The doctors and nurses offered you continuous looks of pity as they had to witness your many verbal lashings, though none stepped in to interfere. You were blamed for inconveniencing the family, for forgetting your EpiPen at home, for “forcing” Rafael to drive a car when he didn’t have his driver’s license yet, for obligating your parents to pay for your medical bills. 

From that day on, your fear of your parents’ wrath was far greater than the fear of possibly falling prey to your fatal allergy. 

All that gave you hope was your uncle and cousin coming to your defense. Unlike your parents, they showered you with care and love, especially Rafael who felt guilty and responsible for your admission. They nursed you back to health after you were released, Rafael promising you that he’d never let it happen to you again. 

 “Can I tell you something, Uncle?” You ask. “I didn’t even tell Jesse or Dina this. And I don’t think I ever could.”  

“You never even have to ask, sweetheart. You know you can tell me anything.” 

“I…” You gulp. “There was a point… while I was in the ICU that I was a little lucid for a few moments…” 

You wring your fingers together in uneasiness as you stare down at your lap, unable to meet your uncle’s eyes. 

“I… I didn’t know what was happening to me. I didn’t know I was going through anaphylaxis again. But I just knew… I felt that something was wrong with me.” 

Your uncle listens to you intently, his chin on his hands folded as if he were praying. 

“Something inside me… Somehow, I knew that I was dying,” You continue. “Or I knew that at that moment, I could die. I could keep going… or I could choose to let my body give out completely.” 

You finally meet your uncle’s gaze. 

“And I wanted to. I wanted to just… go,” You confess. “Not in a s-suicidal way. Not exactly, at least.” 

Your eyes fill with thick tears. 

“But… I wanted to be with him again. I knew that if I gave in, if I succumbed to whatever was killing me, I would see him again.” 

Your bottom lip shakes as you continue. 

“I miss him so f-fucking much, Uncle. I don’t know how to go on without him around. I’m so l-lost and confused, and all I want to do is talk to h-him about it. But I can’t. There’s n-nobody else in this world that I’ve ever felt as close to as him. Maybe except—” 

You break off before you can finish, shaking off the memory of ocean green eyes and a constellation of freckles. The look on your uncle’s face tells you that he already knows how your sentence was going to end, but he says nothing. 

“He told me he’d never let anything happen to me. He was always supposed to be here with me,” You sob. “I know that’s selfish. I know that his life didn’t revolve around me. But so much of mine did. I planned… I built my life to always include him. Now what the hell am I supposed to do?” 

Your uncle’s sad eyes watch as you roughly wipe your cheeks of the tears uncontrollably streaming down. 

“Sweetheart…” Your uncle begins as he stands up from the armchair to sit next to you on the couch. “You are not selfish. I know how much he meant to you. How much he still means to you.” 

He takes your hands between his. 

“I just…” You sniffle. “It’s been years. I thought I’d healed from it already. I thought I’d moved past all the pain.” 

“It’s not a continuous thing, dealing with your grief.” Your uncle smiles softly. “You’ll have moments, hard ones where it’ll all feel raw and fresh again. It doesn’t mean you’re weak or selfish. You just have your own way of handling your sadness.” 

You nod in acknowledgement of his words. 

“But I think we both owe it to Raf to live our lives, to be happy without him around,” He continues. “His gift to us was time. Time with him and great memories. Even if he’s no longer with us, we’ll continue to carry that gift with us wherever we go.” 

Your uncle smiles and you return it, though wistfully. 

“I’m very grateful that you trusted me to share this with me,” Your uncle begins. “But don’t be afraid to talk about this with your friends. Especially those two.” 

“Jesse and Dina?” 

He nods.��

“I see just how much they love you,” Your uncle says. “They seem like they would do absolutely anything for you. And I am so grateful that you have people like that in your life.” 

“Yeah, they… mean so much to me.” 

“I’m glad. So, please. If I’m not around, don’t be afraid to confide in those two. I’m sure if the roles were reversed, you’d do the same for them.” 

“I’d do absolutely anything for them.” 

“Exactly. So don’t be afraid to embrace the love in your life. You deserve that. And that’s exactly what Rafael would want for you.” 

You throw your arms around your uncle and sob into his shoulder. 

You and your uncle continue to talk for a while until you realize that it’s nearly midnight. Like your friends, he offers to stay the night in case you need him. But you know his flight home was only in a few short hours, so you insist that he go back to his hotel to get a bit of sleep before he needs to leave for the airport. 

It took everything in you not to beg him to stay, but you couldn’t bear troubling him further. And you longed to finally have some time to yourself, so you put on a brave face.  

After your many assurances that you would take care of yourself better, you walk him to your front door. When you open it up, you both notice a simple brown box with a thin bow placed on top of your doormat. You pick it up, noticing how light it feels in your hands. 

“What is this?” You mutter. 

“You got a package?” Your uncle asks, looking at the box. 

“No… I didn’t order anything.” 

“Strange. Maybe your friends Dina and Jesse left it for you.” He offers. 

“I… I guess,” You frown. “Although, I don’t really know why they wouldn’t just give it to me when they were here earlier.” 

“Hmm, that’s true,” He hums, squinting his eyes at it. “A secret admirer, perhaps?” 

“Ha ha, Uncle. Very funny.” 

You give him an amused grimace before untying the bow and removing the lid. You gasp as you recognize what it contains. 

“Oh…” 

You drop the box and embrace its previous contents. 

“My Barbie Bear…” 

author's notes:

thank y'all so much for you patience waiting for this new chapter to come out. i literally wrote like, half of this while in the psych ward, and that was all the way in decemeber sldkfjlsdk

tbh i meant this chapter to be a lot shorter than it turned out to be but lskdjfs more content for y'all ig!

reader's first words after waking up is inspired by me saying, "i need to poop so bad" when the doctors were busy working on me in the emergency room lmaoooo

silver lining of me being in the icu back in december is being able to describe it in detail in this chapter hehe. being in the icu suuuuucked but mostly cause it was boring and cold and i wasn't allowed to get up to pee!!!

the nurse yoojin is named after one of my nurses while i was in the hospital. i loveddddd her, she was such a sweetheart and it made me so happy whenever she was assigned to me. i was rewatching arcane while i was in the hospital, and she saw and asked me about it, and then we gabbed about the show and league of legends (cause she religiously plays the game but hasn't watched arcane yet), and i eventually convinced her to actually watch the show heeeheee

reader’s uncle saying he sees reader as his own is what uncle iroh says to zuko in atla, fun little easter egg heehee (you know me and my love for easter eggs)

reader greeting tara on the phone as satan was how i first greeted my best friend when i was finally able to call her through the public phone in the psych ward (hi rhi LOL)

pink gold peach is my main in mario kart lol

reader's professors mentioned are all named after old professors from my former college's theatre department (rip dennis, miss you always ❤️)

reader’s uncle telling her “we make a place for him in our hearts” in regards to rafael is what tara in buffy the vampire slayer says to dawn when their mom dies (can you tell i love btvs)

working on the next chapter asap, lmk what you think of this chapter in the meantime!

also i made an ao3, so if you wanna read on there too, check it out!

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[pippin-katz]

I need a cast audiobook of RWRB. If no one else, then at least Taylor and Nick reading Alex and Henry. I need it in my life.

And in ACD fashion, here’s a few lists of lines/conversations from the book that I am desperate to hear them say. I want to hear them read all of the lines, but these are the ones that pop out to me!

Post Writing Note: These turned out to be way longer than I thought they were going to be 😭😂

Alex Lines:

Oh yeah, that was a wild night. Two whole keynote speakers. Nothing sexier than shrimp cocktails and an hour and a half of speeches on carbon emissions. - page 5

'Archnemesis' implies he's actually a rival to me on any level and not, you know, a stuck-up product of inbreeding who probably jerks off to photos of himself. - page 7

Jesus Christ, it’s like they can see into your soul. Cornbread knows my sins, Henry. Cornbread knows what I have done, and he is here to make me atone. - page 77

I always thought you’d kill me in a more personal way. Silk pillow over my face, slow and gentle suffocation. Just you and me. Sensual. - page 80

Shut up, shut all the way up, oh my God. - page 131

For fuck's sake, man, you just had my dick in your mouth, you can kiss me good-night. - page 145

What in the rich-white-people-sex-dungeon hell? - page 149

Bisexuality is truly a rich and complex tapestry. - page 194

Listen: I'll fly to London right now and pull you out of whatever pointless meeting you're in and make you admit how much you love it when I call you "baby". I'll take you apart with my teeth, sweetheart. - page 204

You don't get to sit up here and pretend like it's someone else's problem. None of us do. - page 209

i want to see a cage match between your grandmother and this fucking ghoul running against my mom. - page 221

I do think I got a gut feeling with you, I just didn't have what I needed in my head to understand it. But I kind of kept chasing it anyway, like I was just going blindly in a certain direction and hoping for the best. I guess that makes you the North Star? - page 244

Henry! Your Royal fucking Highness! - page 269

Really nice. Fuckin' ghost me for a week, make me stand in the rain like a brown John Cusack, and now you won't even talk to me. I'm really just having a great time here. I can see why y'all had to marry your fucking cousins. - page 270

I fucking love you, okay? Fuck, I swear. You don't make it fucking easy. But I'm in love with you. - page 271

I'll leave, as soon as you tell me to leave. - page 275

Okay, I'm into making history. - page 280

I completely fucking love you. - page 291

I'm there for whatever you decide you want to do, just, like, let me know if I need to start practicing gazing wistfully out the window, waiting for my love to return from the war. - page 296

AN INCOMPLETE LIST: THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WALES Note: just the entire list, I need it, but I'll point out some of the best ones anyway lol

9. How hard you try. 10. How hard you've always tried. 11. How determined you are to keep trying. - page 303

16. Your huge, generous, ridiculous, indestructible heart. 17. Your equally huge dick. 18. The face you just made when you read that last one. - page 303

20. The fact that you loved me all along. - page 303

God, I want to fight everyone who's ever hurt you, but it was me too, wasn't it? All that time. I'm so sorry. - page 303

Listen, I'm telling you right now, I will physically fight your grandmother myself if I have to, okay? And, like, she's old. I know I can take her. - page 312

You and me and history, remember? We're just gonna fucking fight. Because you're it, okay? I'm never gonna love anybody in the world like I love you. - page 312

Sería una mentira, porque no sería él. (It would be a lie, because it wouldn't be him.) - page 317

but i've kissed your mouth, that corner, that place it goes, so many times now. i've memorized it. topography on the map of you, a world i'm still charting. i know it. i added it to the key. here: inches to miles. i can multiply it out, read your latitude and longitude. recite your coordinates like la rosaria. - page 319

give yourself away sometimes, sweetheart. there's so much of you. - page 320

Zahra, you're my mean friend. - page 339

I've never... I haven't been through anything like that. But I've always felt it, in him. There's this side of him that's... unknowable. But the thing is, jumping off cliffs is kinda my thing. That's the choice. I love him, with all that, because of all that. On purpose. I love him on purpose. - page 344

For what it's worth, that is the bravest son of a bitch I've ever met. - page 347

My life is a cosmic joke and you're not a real person. - page 371

You are, the absolute worst idea I've ever had. - page 372

FIRST SON ALEXANDER CLAREMONT-DIAZ'S ADDRESS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, OCTOBER 2, 2020 - pages 372-375 Note: just, the entire speech, the whole thing

America: He is my choice. - page 374

Henry Lines:

Hmm, I always liked Luke. He's brave and good, and he's the strongest Jedi of them all. I think Luke is proof that it doesn't matter where you come from or who your family is--you can always be great if you're true to yourself. - page 45

The turkeys are not going to Jurassic Park you. You’re not the bloke from Seinfeld. You’re Jeff Goldblum. Go to sleep. - page 82

You are the thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life. - page 73

fucking eyelashes - page 142

I shall just have to make it the best orgasm of your life. What can I do to make it good for you? Talk about American tax reform during the act? Have you got talking points? - page 196

How is a man to get anything done knowing Alex Claremont-Diaz is out there on the loose? - pages 202-203

They wanted something less fruity than the truth, but truly, what is gayer than a woman who languishes away in a crumbling mansion wearing her wedding gown every day of her life, for the drama? - page 205

Someone else's choice doesn't change who you are. - page 229

Most things are awful most of the time, but you're good. - page 230

The phrase "see attached bibliography" is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me. - page 241

Should I tell you that when we're apart, your body comes back to me in dreams? That when I sleep, I see you, the dip of your waist, the freckle above your hip, and when I wake up in the morning, it feels like I've been with you, the phantom touch of your hand on the back of my neck fresh and not imagined? That I can feel your skin against mine, and it makes every bone in my body ache? That, for a few moments, I can hold my breath and be back there with you, in a dream, in a thousand rooms, nowhere at all? - page 242 Note: based on the parts of this we did get to hear Nick say in the film, I think this would kill half the fandom lol

When have I ever, since the first instant I touched you, pretended to be anything less than in love with you? - page 272

I never thought I'd be stood here faced with a choice I can't make, because I never... I never imagined you would love me back. - page 273

The Mail will write mad speculations about where I've gone, if I've offed myself or vanished to St. Kilda, but only you and I will know that I'm just sprawled in your bed, reading books and feeding myself profiteroles and making love to you endlessly until we both expire in a haze of chocolate sauce. It's how I'd want to go. - page 294

Here lies Prince Henry of Wales. He died as he lived: avoiding plans and sucking cock. - page 298

"Because I'm not like the rest of the men of this family, beginning with the fact that I am very deeply gay, Philip." - page 298

But the first time I saw you. Rio. I took that down to the gardens. I pressed it into the leaves of a silver maple and recited it to the Waterloo Vase. It didn't fit in any rooms. - page 300

I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I though, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire. - page 300

And then, inexplicably, you had the absolute audacity to love me back. - page 300 Note: I really wanted to just type out most of the page, but I restrained myself lmfao

I don't know if I would have chosen it yet, but it's out there now, and... I won't lie. Not about this. Not about you. - page 338

Bit short for a stormtrooper. - page 340

I've bloody well had it. I've sat about long enough letting you and Gran and the weight of the damned world keep me pinned, and I'm finished. I don't care. You can take your legacy and your decorum and you can shove it up your fucking arse, Philip. I'm done. - page 347

I've been as gay as a maypole since the day I came out of Mum, Philip. - page 353 Note: there's never too many times to hear the words "gay as a maypole" and the emotional infliction here is lot different lol

Both:

Am I offending you? Sorry I'm not obsessed with you like everyone else. I know that must be confusing for you. Do you know what? I think you are. Only a thought. Have you ever noticed I have never once approached you and have been exhaustingly civil every time we've spoken? Yet here you are, seeking me out again. Simply an observation. - page 18

This is idiotic. Let's get it over with. I'd rather be waterboarded. Your country could probably arrange that. Go fuck yourself. Hardly enough time. - pages 36-37 Note: yes, I know Nick read this part in his book-to-screen video thingy but it's not the same as having them both saying the lines fully in character.

What does Jedi have? Fuckin' Ewoks. Ewoks are iconic. Ewoks are stupid. - page 52

yo there's a bond marathon on and did you know your dad was a total babe I BEG YOU TO NOT - page 84

I'm going to die. I'm going to kill you. Yes, you are. - page 133

You were jealous. You want me. Yes, you preening arse, I've wanted you long enough that I won't have you tease me for another fucking second. - page 137

Hi. Hello. I'm gonna take your pants off now. Yes, good, carry on. - page 141

Ugh, you look ridiculous. Should I-- What? No, of course not, keep them on. Oh my God, what are you doing? I can't even look at you. No, Jesus, I just mean--I'm so mad at you. Just, come here. Fuck. I'm quite confused. Me fucking too. - page 150

I'm not... historically great at talking about things. Well, I wasn't historically great at blowjobs, but we all gotta learn and grow, sweetheart. - page 165

Bitch, you took me there. alskdjfadslfjad NORA YOU BROKE HIM - page 212

D'you know what I want? What? I want, to do the absolute last thing I'm supposed to be doing right now. Then tell me to do it, sweetheart. Fuck me. Well, when at Wimbledon. Just so we're clear, I'm about to have sex with you in this storage closet to spite your family. Like, that's what's happening? Right. Awesome, fucking' love doing things out of spite. - page 217 Note: I think this conversation could singlehandedly kill the fandom if we got to hear Taylor and Nick deliver these lines

Can't you ever just do one thing without having to be so goddamn extra about it? That is bloody rich coming from you. - pages 260-261

What do you want? I want you- Then fucking have me. -but I don't want this. - page 273

You seem... less pissy. You're one to talk. I wasn't the one who stormed the palace in a fit to call me an 'obtuse fucking asshole'. In my defense, you were an obtuse fucking asshole. - page 277

I honestly have never thought I deserved to choose. But you treat me like I do. You do. I think I'm actually starting to believe that. - page 279

What about you? What about me? Christ, Alex. The whole bloody time. The whole time? Since the Olympics. The Olympics? But that's, that's like- Yes, Alex, the day we met, nothing gets past you, does it? 'What about you,' he says, as if he doesn't know- Shut your mouth. - page 283-284

Hello, what was that for? I just, like, really love you. - page 286

What are you doing? I'm taking a picture of a national gay landmark. And also a statue. It's funny. I always thought of the whole things as the most unforgivable thing about me, but you act like it's one of the best. Oh, yeah. The top list of reason to love you goes brain, then dick, then imminent status as a revolutionary gay icon. You are quite literally Queen Victoria's worst nightmare. And that's why you love me. My god, you're right. All this time, I was just after the bloke who'd most infuriate my homophobic forebears. Ah, and we can't forget they were also racist. Certainly not. Next time we shall visit some of the George III pieces and see if they burst into flame. - page 289

If Alex from this time last year could see this. He'd say, 'Oh I'm in love with Henry? That must be why I'm such an arse to him all the time'. - page 387

[finniestoncrane]

Hello !!! Nice restaurant you got there

A sit-in please! And I'll take the signature Cocktail with Question mark shaped nuggets (Capullo if possible) and Popcorn Shrimp!

(With AFAB Transmasc reader if possible 👉👈, You probably know who this is)

capullo!riddler x afam/transmasc!reader, word count: 350 content (warnings): humping, desperate eddie orders open here! 🔞minors dni🔞 • masterlist • kofi link • tag: finnie1500 (to follow or to block) a/n: mhm i think i've got you 'anon' lmao and i made him extra desperate 💚

There was no use putting up a fight against one of Eddie's hugs. When it came to physical affection, it was a battle of the wills and his was stronger. His desperate need to touch you and hold you won over most other things in his life, and consequently yours too. But you were more than happy to give in usually, as long as it didn't always lead to...

"Eddie! Come on!"

What had begun as a warm embrace, his arms around your front against your stomach, face nuzzled into your neck as he breathed softly, exhaling with a gentle hum, had quickly turned into yet another lewd display of wanton carnality as you felt the familiar stiffness pressing into your lower back.

"Can't really help it... you know how I am..."

You could hear his grin on his words as he began shifting himself against you, writhing and squirming. His hands, palms flat against your stomach, travelled up to your chest, holding you firm in front of him as he started bucking his hips.

With mewling whines, you felt him rubbing himself up and down your back while he flexed his hips in and out, like a poorly trained dog rutting into you.

Eddie let his fingers find the bottom of your shirt, pulling it up, letting them travel over your skin as his mouth hung open against you, hot breath on your skin, drool pooling in his bottom lip and dripping onto your neck and shoulder as he curled his body around yours.

His body had moved around to your side, humping against you like it was his last bastion of hope for getting himself off, and you let yourself go ever so slightly limp in his arms, held up by the strength of his desire.

"Please... please..."

You weren't quite sure what he was pleading for, but he knew you were weak to him. Whatever he wanted, you were happy to oblige, and if that meant standing there while he rubbed his cock to the point of friction burn against you, spilling his warm and sticky load into the front of his pants, then who were you to deny him that?

[creacherkeeper]

hi!! um. what. what do you mean you nearly died of heatstroke??

(warning for near death experiences, medical, puke, & child neglect ahead)

.

.

.

oh,,, well that's just One of the times ive nearly died (like the car crash. or the carbon monoxide poisoning. or the dog mauling. or the mrsa. or the second gas poisoning. or the-)

but essentially i went horseback riding. i hadn't gone for a while. it was 105f/40c and 105% humidity. all i had eaten that day was doritos and diet coke bc my parents were oh so responsible

am doing the lesson. the instructor does not offer me any water. it's in full sunlight the whole time. florida sun. she knows i have not ridden in a while but is pushing me to do physically demanding moves like trotting (hate trotting)

im doing this for like 30 min and go hey. can i take a break. and she's like yeah i guess

i stop the horse. sway for a moment. lean over to the side and puke everywhere and she's like Oh Shit

the horse does Not enjoy this so it bucks me off. i manage to land on my feet (ive landed on my feet all three times ive gotten bucked). i stand there for a moment and go Hmmm i can't see anything and collapse

i was unconscious for about 30 minutes. during the time i was partially awake i did not have any vision and could only see shrimp colors (i remember thinking they were really pretty and trying to remember them for later but i can't now). the instructor drags me under the shade of a tree and simply. leaves me out there. goes inside her house. i might've puked again but i don't remember. she never got my parents number so she couldn't call them to come get me. it's very touching spirit bear

(i feel like it's also important to note im allergic to horses)

finally my parents show up and im like hi ive been unconscious and still can't see anything and they're like oh so true so they pour some water over me until my vision comes back and then throw me in the backseat of the car with the ac blasting. take me home (not the doctor)

we get home and they're like soooooo. we have plans? so like. go sit in a tub of cool water and then sleep it off. and they leave

i got in the tub fully clothed because i was not coordinated enough to get anything off and riding clothes are tight. just sat in there for a while drifting in and out of consciousness. and then i dragged myself into bed and passed out

i don't super remember the next few days. but i lived lol? i just had a very bad brain injury that lasted for all of high school and some of college bc it was the summer before my freshman year (i had just turned 14). this brain injury did not get diagnosed until i was 24

so yeah :o) 👍 when i looked it up at age 24 it was like oh yeah if you have these symptoms it's like an 85% chance of death and i was like oh worm? didn't tell my parents that but i already wasn't talking to my mom and i only talked to my dad a handful of times after that (as im sure yall can understand)

truly i have survived so much i am invulnerable i think. and that's the story of my heat stroke

[samantha-and-her-chaotic-desires]

Due to your recent post:

🖊+ Lacrimosa Ambrose (what a woman <3)

P.S.: Have a nice day! :3

SDFGHJKLJHGFDFGHJKKJH I love you I love you I love you and you ALSO have a nice day!!! <333

HOOOOOOOO BOY I'M GONNA DUMP A L O T OF STUFF :D I'M GONNA GET LENGTHY BUT HHHHHHHH PLEASE BARE WITH ME

DISCLAIMER: Lackadaisy belongs to @lackadaisycats and it is a beautiful animation and web comic, I HIGHLY recommend.

Below The Surface is my 2023 Lackadaisy fic. It will be linked below <3

Lacrimosa Ambrose - The Siren:

FIRST IDEAS:

At first, I wanted to make a villain for Lackadaisy. I was doing this purely for the sake of my Murder Mystery fic Below the Surface (posted here and currently being worked on here!) and I wanted someone who was a REALLY big threat. And so, I created a new mafia-like group: The Rose Brigade. But who would be the leader? I wanted a powerful---and also a plus sized woman in official art I'm making!---who is no-nonsense and irredeemable.

I wanted to originally make her a Bombay cat, but as I looked through more cat options, I decided to settle on a Chartreux cat! They're so pretty!!! Below is an image I wanted to reference, yet alter at the same time.

Her voice claim is very much Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil. She has that badass, sultry tone to her that makes me fold over for this queen that can very much kill me.

She was originally going to be redeemed, but I decided "hell no she deserves a whole villain arc that DOESN'T give her a chance to turn good" and I am very much happy with that outcome.

I didn't know WHAT she would be job-wise? I originally wanted to make her an actor, though when I designed and wrote for Silas Tueuse (another Lacka-OC whom I love dearly), I wanted to mix things up, and wanted diversity. So Miss Jazz-Singing-Sensation was born! Her color palette and drawing her dress KILLED ME.

Choosing her name wise, I wanted to allude to Tracy's work, and allude to a villain. So when I was scrolling through the website, I noticed the Lacrimosa poem, and BOOM. Her name was chosen. Last name means 'immortal' in Greek, plus it's a play on the dish ambrosia. :)

FACTS/HEADCANONS:

She owns a jazz lounge, and is a famous jazz singer! The name is TBD, but she gets a LOT of traction there.

While she was from Boston, Massachusetts, she is Latin! She often refers to people as mei deliciae (translated to my darling), and one of her favorite foods is ceviche! It consists of either shrimp or fish, as well as lime, lemon, onion, chili pepper, and cilantro! From my understanding of it, you can dip chips into it and eat it like that. Sometimes you can even avocado in it, if that's your fancy! Below is a photo example.

She is a horrible driver. Horrible. Picture Cruella De Vil but drunk. Sooo yeah, 100x worse.

She has a daughter, but she's distant from her, and she rarely---if never---checks in on her.

She is incredibly narcissistic, but does NOT have Narcissistic Personality Disorder: she does have empathy, though it's hard to tell if she's being genuine or not.

Prefers suits over dresses, but will wear dresses for performances to keep up her professional image. For casual meetings, she wears a dark indigo and dark blue suit with a fedora and a rose pin on her jacket lapel. The outfit accentuates her curves nicely, and I will draw her more in a suit in the future <3

She has a Colt M1911 Revolver that her husband gifted her before he passed. She uses it constantly.

ROLE/PURPOSE/OTHER STUFF!:

She's the main antagonist, and she is the leader of the Rose Brigade. She tries to hide behind a sweet, motherly facade, but she is emotionally and physically abusive to certain people. She is also a bit overconfident in certain abilities.

She had ties with Atlas May, though so far I have yet to confirm or deny if she killed him. So with her relation to Atlas, she slithered her way into trying to manipulate Mordecai, seemingly present as a mother figure towards him while in St. Louis. Ivy gushes over Lacrimosa's singing skills and performances, so her meeting her in person, she's just all giggly. Nonetheless, Lacrimosa is a softie for praise, and can't help but feel slightly more appreciated.

Lacrimosa might be manipulative and a full blown awful person, but she has been taught common courtesy. She knows to be respectful, she believes everyone is equal, and will not discriminate against those who are in the LGBTQ community. However, this does NOT excuse her awful behavior. She is MEANT to be an awful person.

She will ALSO absolutely break anyone who tries to tamper with her. She CAN and WILL call you out on your bullshit.

Her song (if it were 2023) would be Medusa by Kaia Jette!

HHHHHH THIS WAS SO MUCH???? AND THAT'S NOT EVEN IT????? FGHJKHGFDXFGHJ I might add on later

[jkknight98]

Tidal Waves

See, I promised that I wasn’t dead or gone, I was just working on a story for you all. With the craziness of being a grad student, turning another year older, and being a responsible employee..its hard to sit down to write a story. But i hope you guys enjoy this one even if its way past may.

Warnings: Soft vore, Safe vore, gaslighting, manipulation, physical abuse.

All Tommy had ever known was Dream, and that Mer’s like him were bad, he had to be better than them. But what happens when two brother’s try to find a pesky human, and find a new baby brother instead?

Dream was the only thing Tommy had ever known, his face was the first he’d seen when he broke through the membranous skin of his egg,  holding him in his warm hands as he took his first breaths of air. He understood why he looked so different from him, he was a mer and Dream was a…human, a thing without the same scales and luxurious fins. Humans were boring, but he was the only family he had… especially since other Mer’s were dangerous. When Tommy learned to speak...English .. he asked Dream when he could meet another mer like him, it was boring to be in his tank alone and the man barely played with him anymore. That led to another one of his lessons for asking such a dumb question and Tommy was forced to eat just kelp for a month, but he did learn that mer’s were nothing but monsters. They could take the shape of humans and use some sort of hypnotic voice to lure those to their death, but Tommy wasn’t like those monsters, he was a good mer. He only sang when Dream said he could and let the man hold him to clean his scales, even if his fingers were rough on his delicate fins… he had forgiven the man when he accidentally tore a small portion and left a gap in the fin after all. 

It was only an accident.

“That fucking bastard,” Tommy flinched and hid towards the bottom of his tank as the blond man slammed his way into the room, green eyes blazing as he threw a bundle of papers onto the desk and trudged his way to the bedroom, not sparing a glance towards Tommy as he slammed the door. Tommy slowly moved towards the lid, barely able to see the bolded words at the top of the closest page. Treaty with Mers ends decades of bloodshed. What did the treaty mean? The door slammed open again as Dream came back to his desk, a large bag slung over his shoulder, panting harshly as he stopped before Tommy’s tank. 

The man leaned forward and placed his fingers inside, smiling slightly as the child swam up to cuddle the digit,” I’m going to be going away for a bit Tommy, do you remember Sapnap?” He smiled as Tommy nodded excitedly, he was the nice human that played with him for hours and gave him more shrimp than usual,” He’s going to come here in four days when I send him the coordinates, I have to leave for a while, but he’ll take care of you until I can take you back.”

Tommy whined and let out a sad chitter before correcting his mistake,” why do you have to leave…what am I going to eat before Sapnap gets here… there's no more fish or shrimp,” Normally when Dream left for a long while he left a wide variety of fish and shrimp for Tommy to both play with and eat while he was gone, he had to eat the last fish not too long ago...He had promised to get more, but he knew that Dream was just too busy at his human job.

This made Dream frown and the fingers holding him started to tighten,” are you complaining Tommy, and what did I tell you about not speaking English..,” The pressure got worse before the man dropped him fully,” No matter, you’ll be fine for four days, I’ll get you something big when I pick you up from Sapnap... Just hide in your skull if anyone else comes in here.” Dream walked away from the tank for the front door, taking one last glance at the small boy,” be good Tommy,” before shutting the door and locking it behind him.

Tommy could only give a low whine as he gently placed his hands on his tail, whimpering in pain that would definitely be bruised in the morning, he should have known better. He sighed as he moved to lay across the top of the skull in his tank, not ready to go inside it to sleep yet, he’s going to be the best boy for Dream and for Sapnap when he gets here. Tommy couldn’t help but yawn slightly to himself, maybe Sapnap will be early….the last time he saw him he got into a big fight with Dream…Maybe this means they made up and they can play again. This was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep…

*_*

Tommy couldn’t help but grumble as he pulled his tail tighter to him as he blew some bubbles, he couldn’t tell how many days had passed now, he couldn’t see the sun or use his sleep schedule since it was the only escape from his boredom. In his dreams, he could be swimming in a massive pool with shrimp and fish plenty, and singing with Dream again.

He jumped when a loud bang rattled the front door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and swimming to the top of his tank in excitement, it took Sapnap long enough to get here. He called out happily when the door slammed open, but the happy trill was cut off when a group of men in dark suits entered the room, holding weird objects in front of them…and none of them were Sapnap. He quickly dived down to hide within his skull, peering out the eyehole fearfully as the men began to tear apart the entire apartment, emptying every drawer onto the floor and bashing open plant pots to search inside them. He had no idea what they could be looking for, he softly whimpered to himself when another pair of men entered the room and they just oozed predatory energy. The boy knew immediately what the two of them were when their faces turned in the direction of his tank, with a scattering of scales and slitted pupils eerily similar to his own when he saw his reflection, they were dangerous Mers.

The shorter of the two Mers snarled loudly as he kick over the tub that held umbrellas,” how did that bastard escape us, we've been tracking him for weeks,” The curly brown hair on its head almost seemed to curl tighter in rage, but Tommy was sure he was just imagining things in his terror, especially as the other one turned to stare at his tank before walking over. It had long pink hair that framed its face with intricate braids and its blood-red eyes were slowly scanning his home,” He can't have been gone long, there's not much dust on this furniture, search for anything that could point us to his trail… Techno what are you doing?” 

The now named Techno didn’t answer as he lifted a hand to place in the water and brought it to his mouth to taste, humming thoughtfully as he continued to scan,” Why did he have this tank still running when everything else is turned off.” Tommy had nearly burrowed himself completely into the sand in his skull hide, he remembered the stories of these monstrous Mers, they ate humans, and what would stop them from eating him!! He wanted to growl as the hand reached in to take his plants and other rocks out of the tank, those were his things and they had no right to take them. So when the pale fingers curled into the empty eye sockets and despite the lessons to not bite, he open his mouth wide and dug his teeth into the closest digit. He just as quickly released when a loud “HEH?!” echoed from outside the tank, and smiled to himself when the hand was pulled away from his hide and out of the water.

`-`

Techno looked at his finger in annoyance, whatever had bitten him within the tank didn’t break the skin, but the fact the thing inside bit him got on his nerves. Only something extremely stupid or brave would bite him. Wilbur was quick to stride over to look at his hand,” what would be dumb enough to bite a Mer, the tank is too small for one of those pistol shrimp, it's still salt water so not a stupid piranha…” Techno ignored him as he reached into the tank again to grip the sides of the skull and pulled it from the water, and felt his instincts flair in panic as it registered the distinctive shriek of a baby mer in distress. He quickly turned the skull in his hands and Wilbur was pressed to his side and staring at his hands,” is that a ??”

A quick shake led to a small red tail sliding out of one of the eye sockets, the older two Mers both winced at how thin the child was, it clearly hadn't been fed properly and its body was covered in old scars and bruising before the tail slipped back into the skull. Wilbur was quick to turn to the humans in the room hissing some orders at them while Techno gently turned the skull over so he could scoop more water into it, he didn’t want the child to dehydrate on him. He jumped and growled aggressively at his brother when the brunette shoved a glass of water at him,” That skull isn’t going to hold water as we travel back home, you're going to need to store the pup…you’re, unfortunately, bigger than me and they don’t need to be too compressed until we can look at their injuries,” Techno warily took the cup as the other glanced back at the tank,” when the fuck did that asshole find a baby…”

Techno looked at the skull in thought as he could now see a small pair of blue eyes staring back at them,” He’s not super young, but definitely past the infant stage… probably old enough to speak if he’s been taught.” Techno gave a soft croon to the child safe…safe... But the only thing he received was a low growl that made him smirk, this child had spunk… but spunk wouldn't keep him healthy. He lifted the glass high and quickly drained the salted water into his brood pouch, feeling the organ swell slightly and shove his formerly rumbling stomach aside, preparing to hold the child where nothing could reach them... Techno looked back down at the child again and crooned one last time before he tried to remove them from their hide, “this is probably going to terrify them if they've only been raised by a human. “ Safe…protector..safe.. Warm.

`-`

Tommy was terrified of the whole situation, the big Mers were using the sounds he wasn’t supposed to, and they were breaking the rules, which proved they were as bad as Dream said…But the sounds the pink one was making made his body want to relax on its own, and it took a lot in him not to chirp back in return to them…but he forced himself to growl instead. The fingers came back again and he went in for another bite, digging in his claws this time to increase the pain, but that made it easier for him to be pulled out of his skull and into the open air. He held firm while glaring at the pink-haired one, but shifted his eyes angrily at the brunette when they made that same calming noise at him, what a bastard. He flinched when he felt warm hands grab his tail, fully expecting them to crush his body, but they were gentle as they moved across it. He tensed up when the finger hit the space in his fin… he knew Dream didn’t mean to rip it, it was his fault since he jumped in the middle of cleaning, but the area was still very sensitive. The pink-haired mer snarled in rage, but seemed to stop when Tommy accidentally let out a whine of fear… what did this monster want with him?

Tommy got his answer when he was lifted over the pink-ettes face, and when the tip of his fins brushed against the lips, they opened wide to show sharpened teeth and the dark abyss behind them.

`-`

The child grew frantic when he opened his mouth, clamping tighter with its teeth and arms around his fingers as the tail tried to thrash away from him. Wilbur was at his side and tried to croon to the child like he had, telling them it was safe and to calm down, but it was useless. He only sighed and pulled away,” just get him stored quickly so we can get out of here, I’ll stand guard outside since there's nothing here for us to find,” and he stepped out with that,  giving a final look that was mixed with both concern for the child and envy that Techno got to store them. Techno could faintly hear him talking with the agents they had brought with them, but he turned back to the child as he lowered the fins into his mouth, using his tongue to protect the already damaged skin from his teeth. A burst of spiciness hit his tastebuds with every flick and it took a lot of self-control on Techno’s part not to hum, but he held it off as he lowered the boy further, gently slicking up the soft scales that almost flacked off; bad sign... Techno was going to rip this Dream character apart for what he did to this child, they were clearly underfed and mistreated probably since his hatching since the child didn’t understand mer. The more he lowered his hand, the more panicked the whines got, tugging at the formerly nonexistent heartstrings he had, and almost crooned when the little spitfire detached and began to verbally plead with him.

`-`

Tommy was terrified, his biting was not stopping the monster, would it even listen to him if he pleaded with it…there was only one way to find out. He pulled his mouth away from the scarred skin (noting sadly that his teeth left nothing but indents) and began to plead,” I’ll do anything if you don’t eat me…. don’t eat me…what did I do to you!!!” He swore the red eyes seemed to soften for a moment as the massive tongue paused in its tasting of his tail, and his heart rose as the giant hands shifted a bit, but he wailed as the new hold let the bigger mer push him further down its gullet. He didn’t want the bigger mer to see him cry, but as the heat of the mouth traveled up his body and could feel the clingy saliva left by the tongues swipes, he fell into an instinctive state of fear. He was so longer speaking English, but dissolved into the primal language his human “parent” tried to erase in him,” SCARED…PARENT… HELP….Danger!!

`-`

Techno’s eyes dilated as his instincts registered a fearful child, he wanted to take the process slowly to not scare the child any further, but he had to hurry them into the safety of his pouch away from the ‘danger’. He gave faster and faster swallows to shield away his new charge but kept his fingers around them until his knuckles knocked against his teeth, he needed to let the child go now. He rumbled softly when the child released another panicked whine as he pulled away, the tiny fingers scrambling against his skin until he was looking at his own saliva-drenched fingers. He gave the final swallow to pull the child from his maw and towards his pouch. Once his voice box was clear he began to chuff and click softly to the child, he could clearly feel the panicked twitching as they traveled down, doing his best to calm them by keeping his heart rate low and keeping his breaths shallow. He brought a hand down to his torso and waited, giving a soft huff when the warm weight dropped into his core, making him shudder as the unused organ tried to make sense of what was happening. But the more the child moved, the more the walls started to ungulate in soothing waves in tandem with his heartbeat, massaging the tense form inside while he hummed softly. He continued this until the child began to still, breathing deeply but no longer fighting against him, and almost seemed to lean into the touch of his fingers.

With a satisfied huff Techno moved to leave the crummy apartment, pausing long enough to tuck the skull into his pocket, he wasn’t going to leave the child's possession in this place. It also made him smile over their shared love of skulls. He gave a quick nod to Wilbur as he strode out of the apartment,” He’s calmed down a little bit, but we need to get some food for them, I wouldn’t know I was storing anything if he didn’t move.” Wilbur placed a gentle hand over his storage and gave a low thrum of safe as he felt the child press back, causing Techno to let out a deeper thrum of happiness at having His child and brother so close to him, the only thing that would make it better would be his father. Phil is going to be so happy to have another child to care for. He motioned for the few armed men that remained to get into the car,” take us to the nearest market and find me the freshest shrimp you can find.”

`-`

Tommy didn’t know what to think anymore as he floated in the mer’s stomach, all he could taste was salt water, not the bitter stuff that came out of him when Dream punished him for being too greedy. He whined as the walls gently brushed up against him again, the flesh was the softest thing he ever felt, even more so than the skin of his egg. He didn’t want to relax though, what if everything suddenly changed and it tried to hurt him, who cares if the giant Mers said it was safe; you can’t trust them. He couldn’t help but sway along with each step the mer took, listening to the sounds of their heartbeat and rumbling words around him, it was very humbling and almost made him feel like he was nothing compared to these things. Dream was right about that, he always said that Tommy was nothing like these things, and this being proven made him feel very small… He jumped when a sudden pressure rubbed against his side and the low rumble of a sound that somehow clicked in his mind as Guppy Safe. Why was it comforting him, and why did he want to chitter in response, it went against everything Dream taught him, but his body went against him. He opened his mouth and let out the softest chirp of Protector, it was a sound he made when he first hatched and Dream rarely allowed him to use it, and he flinched for the punishment he was used to receiving.

But instead of pain, the walls grew closer to him in a firm embrace as the mer let out the deepest and happiest sounding purr he had ever heard, the pressure returning to rub against his side. Tommy wanted to slap himself as he realized it was the mer rubbing its hand against him, acknowledging his existence… and praising him for using his chirps. The larger mer rumbled again and switched to using English to speak with him, which both relieved and saddened him somehow,” I bet that you’re hungry guppy, shrimp is your favorite right?”

Tommy couldn’t help his excitement as he pressed into the walls around him, swapping between English and happy chirps, and he grew excited when he heard the sound of swallowing. He swam around the small space and jumped when a weight dropped onto his head…It was a full shrimp! Tommy let out an excited squeal before chomping into his prize, not caring how messy he got as he enjoyed the meal given to him.

Maybe...

Maybe these big Mers aren’t so bad.

=-=

Sapnap was excited to see the little mer again, gently adjusting the package of sliced tuna in his arms as he ran for the apartment, this could be his only chance to feed the kid properly before he was forced to give them back to Dream. He didn’t like how the man was treating them, it was like having a child, not training an animal to be a guard dog like Dream wanted. He remembered that fight all too well when he promised to take the mer from him, but the threat of Dream “disposing” of his project made him back down, but here was his chance.

He paused when he saw the door to the apartment was wide open… almost looking like it was bashed in, he didn’t care about holding the tuna anymore as he rushed for the door, screaming for the kid. “Tommy? Tommy can you answer me, whistle if you can hear me!!” The only thing that answered him was the humming of an empty tank, fake plants laying next to it, but missing both the skull and little mer that hid inside it… that and the mess around the entire apartment just made his heart sink. Sapnap slowly raised his phone to his ear, not giving the person he dialed any time to answer as he spoke,” Dream… I think you're going to have a major problem.”

[spiderh0rse]

stark's mind notes part 7, e31-33, -1, and stark's mind 2 chapter 1. those last two aren't crucial to the plot and sm2e1 is noncanon, I believe, but they're fascinating regardless. the series is functionally in a hiatus at the moment, so this is all there is.

e31

sounds far more calm now. off to the lambda labs!

his tram has locked into the fastest setting! He has to jump off of it! Inertia! Fuck!

honestly I do think he ends up the most hurt from his own accidents than being attacked

tries to gripe for a second and gets shot at

admits that though he's not the paragon of virtue, morality, so on, the military is Still Worse. Score one point for self esteem??

confused about how the tram broke open a blast door, then shakes it off claiming he's wasting time

he says he can't shoot at shoddy and decrepit infrastructure and that makes it more dangerous than the things actively trying to kill him. OSHA inspector Stark when

having a rough time staying afloat

underwater mumbling

glad he didn't fall into the water from too high up. Surface tension and all that

a physics puzzle! Yippee!

confused about how a marine can die to a headcrab zombie

continues to be mad at poor construction and poorly maintained infrastructure

gets water in his mouth on accident

very thankful that none of the aliens are aquatic...

sprinklers! But yeah that and the water in the silo probably washed the blood off!

spots. The ICTHYOSAUR

thinks grenades will have killed the icthyosaur. Confusing that they don't tbh considering what being underwater near an explosion does to you

e32

deep breath. sigh.

so confused about the room layout of the icthyosaur encounter

claims he's been conditioned to kill every dangerous alien in his path. Relieved he doesn't have to kill this one

almost slips into the water! This shakes him badly

collapsed hallway > the fucking pool

"if there is a god, this door will lead to the lambda labs! I hear beeping and booping!"

a week. Stark doesn't comment on the timeline here.

stark does NOT want to talk to this pushy guy who's trying to get him to kill the icthyosaur

so so so beleaguered by this asshole scientist. Very quiet to him.

ignores the shark cage in favour of shooting into the water. Admits it isn't working

finds this while detour stupid

visibly struggling for air while turning the valve

seems to be shaking a bit for a while there! The water drains out of his suit when he stands up

wants seafood now! Get him some shrimp

likes the scope on the crossbow

likes that being able to see things at a distance with the scope affords him some safety

when you can teleport, everything's an ambush!

enjoys peeking around with the scope

climbs a grate! Poorly!

Colleague.

it's 2:34! PM? AM? Hell if i know

e33

spaced out for a minute there! My word he's exhausted

you know I think he'd have pieced together this puzzle easily a day or two ago. Hasn't eaten has barely slept...

yeah! Right there! Admits he missed something earlier! He's slowing down!

wonders if he'll be able to catch up to the man he saw

ignores the puzzle and stacks boxes

bangs his head on some metal

"the electricity won't kill me, it just hurts" man this'll give you brain damage, pal

agrees heartily to being called Gordon Freeman

cooooooold

shivering terribly. Has never been this cold in his life

goes and huddles by some warm pipes until everything clears up

still pissy about the icthyosaur

Stark's compliment of choice for the aliens is "sneaky"

alas that guard there is probably not Arlen

20 FOOT VERTICAL JUMP

handles the black ops pretty well!

considers the skintight bodysuits very impractical for combat

it's morning. It was 2:34 not too long ago. Wanna bet that little space out was him being asleep on his feet for a bit?

pretty sure he's doing very well right now. Nothing has stopped him so far. Nothing will! He's in complete control of his situation!

came back to the facility because of a promise

surface access is not his ideal direction right now

makes a dark joke, considers it may be too far, then figures he's allowed

hears the ambush, kind of gasps, shoots around, gets hit over the head, and hits the ground with a whimper

the voices of the HECU dragging him are much harder to make out than in Half Life. Stark is silent.

e-1

new titlecard! Neater hair. shorter.

on a coffee break! Likes the taste.

was manually delivering paperwork to Management

on his way, was mistaken for Freeman five times

and now a sixth. Politely corrects the man.

works with Freeman! Seems to think he doesn't like Stark

waits around watching the monitors for a tram schedule for a while

Kleiner has lectured him on tardiness before

makes a little ditty about walking around

so happy some random guy didn't call him Freeman!

responds to What's Up with The Ceiling

has been working at the company since he was 19, before Freeman was hired on

pretty sure the Freeman thing rn is a prank

picks Felix and Ramirez as a good example of someone who'd prank him

wonders how Ramirez would convince people to join in on the prank

he and Ramirez have had some manner of prank war going on for a while now

Stark managed to convince maintenance to swap the orange soda in the vending machines for lemon lime, which many were unhappy about

the racquetball incident saved Stark from being fired over the Soda Swap

hasn't heard from Ramirez in weeks due to some... Research project he's on...

Ramirez doesnt have to witness his prank to be happy about it

sees an exploded printer and compliments maintenance nearby for their work

knows a janitor! Marty! Considers helping him clean up a puddle if he weren't so late.

leaps a spilled puddle. Proud of his jump. Most physical activity he's done in a while

hazard course training next week!

considers shaving his goatee

sm2e1

fancy slow title screen. No card.

however ending up in the train worked, it is unpleasant.

oh yeah man's just whispering the whole time

does get a bit louder to protect someone

tells some combine (Barney) "You don't know who you're dealing with."

prepares to attack the combine

doesnt object at all to Barney calling him Freeman

only slightly objects to Kleiner

just. Deeply confused.

knows who Alyx is

exasperated at the combine, at Barney urging him along and offering no explanations

claims it's good to be back.

claims this is Black Mesa all over again, in the map department

throws away the can

figures out they're being watched pretty quickly

knows what Xen is called!

finds the Citadel imposing

talks about the man in the suit

a bit shocked at the sight of a strider but pushes past it

thinks Gman may have brought him back to Earth to mock him

realizes he hasn't seen any kids.

insults someone who doesn't fight his impending doom

a lot better at keeping calm under pressure than we're used to seeing him

[incarnateirony]

God it's so unfortunate it's had to go like this.

You know when this started, we could have reached, "Oh, it's octopus jibberish? You know maybe I shouldn't steal your old stories and stuff, I'm obviously doing it wrong. Wait, I'm on the wrong path, maybe I should turn around." like day one I pointed it out but no. No we had to go off the honkai star rail and she had to make an utter fucking specimen of herself to a point where her hole is so exponentially deep I can't even see the way out for her, especially as long as the people around her enable this.

In another lifetime, where she had people who actually paid attention, supported, and had best interests rather than old grudges at heart, we might have been able to have a good laugh about the lemonade snowglobe sportsdome and video game cartoon physics real, but no, now we're here, in her dying a decade ago in some timelines and trying to process reality around her in all the rest--to no success, while wanting it to fit a written narrative, rather than reality. But no you had to encourage her to keep shaking the dragon graveyard.

Shame on y'all.

There used to be a day and time that elder practitioners summarily warned young students to not fuck with things they did not understand, and people generally understood there were reasons for that and accepted that. The last month has been witness of a probationer spinning in circles, pleaing her right to know nothing after a lifetime and charge for students to follow the circle.

What part of, you are literally disturbing the infinite dead at this point is not hitting. well. dead is relative. the infinite. that sounds like i'm god. but you know i am that i am a man and all that. but you know. hermetics. it's a thing. you should look it up some time. but yeah sure be mad i get spicy when you refuse to stop jerking off shadows

the sign was always for you.

And thus? Worse? It's all things you already felt somewhere, and we both know it.

I just shoved The Big Game up its ass. In honor of my tremendous bicycle you love to ride. You do love your games.

What? Music and Tricks and Messages are already claimed, I had to have a little bit of my own thing. That's what having your own Identity is. Games is adjacent enough we can co-op great, sis! I refuse to be the mangod of giving Jackles Destiel Brainrot. And you know, Shadow Sonic was born in a great era to just karate chop a portal into the internet.

hey guys you wanna know how to pop a lid off? third secret trick. There's a jar in a box in a hole in a nuclear reactor at the bottom of the sea o/~ There's a jar in a box in a hole in a nuclear reactor at the bottom of the sea o/~ Yo why is there two of everybody. As hermes' great grandma said, if you've got to throw a box into the sun, you've got to do it yourself. It's in the bag, so burn my dread.

I already burned my flower.

Your turn.

You can get off San Bernadino boy's Cucumber Latch road, now. Funny story, only road like it in town. The Twilight Shard Cat Distribution system is functioning, but the internet keeps breaking and screaming something about things in the room with you that sound real familiar to one specific person that won't listen. Mister choccy milk Unknown is giving you lemonade, live, from Vegas, there's a new casino sportsball music field snowglobe at Tropicana Park. Plankton is attacking the Superbowl, squidward downsmash tartarus shrimp krabs real. Archetype Lemonada is doing great. We moved Bikini Bottom somewhere else.

Those are my Air Jordans.

[doubtingthomasin]

🎀✨🎄 Dec. 4 - Mistletoe 🎄✨🎀

@hellcheerxmas

Eddie makes his way to the props room of the drama department, his mind racing even faster than usual. Not only is his brain full of D&D facts and storylines, but he's trying to think of more things he can do that'll make Chrissy smile.

Earlier in the day, he'd noticed the melancholy in her eyes again, even from across the classroom of the one class they shared. He wondered-still wonders-if Jason ever gives her a hard time, and just the possibility of it pisses him off. So he's walking a little faster than usual when he almost physically runs into Mike and Dustin, leaving the props room. They'd been laughing to themselves and still find it hard to stop even after almost colliding with their DM.

"Ah, Shrimp and Stretch," Eddie sighs, gesturing to the door. "To what, do I owe such an early arrival? I said no meeting until five and it is-" He checks his watch briefly. "-three-thirty."

"Nothing, we just forgot," Mike says, suppressing a grin.

Dustin nods too hard to be convincing. "Yep. Hey...are you still meeting with Chrissy first?"

He narrows his eyes at them. They know he does, every Friday. "Yeah."

"Cool, cool, uh...have fun." They part to pass on each side of him, and he turns to offer a confused glare to their backs. He can tell they're silently laughing from the way their shoulders shake.

"Fetuses."

He only has to wait a few minutes inside before he hears her running down the hall-followed by the sound of books skidding across the floor. He's up on his feet and out the door in a second, relieved to see that she didn't trip.

"Thank God," he says dramatically, already bending low to help her. "The only casualties were...Chemistry and Spanish."

She laughs lightly, evening out the edges of her papers on her knee before standing. "Thank you. I am so clumsy sometimes."

They walk as he nods. "They say that's one of the most desired traits in a cheerleader." He makes her giggle again and hopes he always can. "Besides, who would I be, if not your chivalrous...what?"

She's looking up, and that's when he notices they're in the doorway, standing under a sprig of mistletoe that definitely wasn't there a few periods ago.

His confusion turns to silent ire as he stares, remembering his sheep's earlier departure. "Those dastardly little bastards." He looks down to see her wide, piercing blue eyes boring into him, and his sudden nerves make it difficult to read her expression. "Th-This wasn't me, I swear-"

But she's already up on her tip toes and he freezes, her warm hand wrapping around the back of his neck. His eyes close when her lips brush his cheek, planting a firm kiss there.

His eyes stay closed and she giggles. "Eddie?"

He opens them, a bit fluttery, his skin tingling where she'd kissed. "Yeah?"

She smiles, her eyes alight with a hint of mischief. "Ready to start studying?"

[sheviolentlyher]

Do not weep for me, I am no longer hungry

Today I feel so loved. I feel seen spiritually. Do you know how hard it is to be seen spiritually? Everyone is so distracted by the physical vessel that we neglect seeing into this vessel.

Everyone has spirit. I can feel it when I walk by them. Like their spirit looks right at me, turning its head but never the vessel.

I think about the man in the grocery store and our interaction. It was nothing short of spiritual, and I believe that he was also longing to feel. I do feel a bit of pity for him, he hides behind his good looks, and wants someone more intelligent to teach him about life and what it means to love. I wanted to dive into him simply because I can feel this energy spewing from his vessel. It was oceanic and after all I am the goddess of love. Well, now that’s just my womanly ego speaking.

I think about him often and if our paths will ever cross again.

I know that I am not like most women, I dive without holding my breath and willingly drown. I feel like my own husband sees me as a something so shallow, but I think that is my own insecurities beating me to the punch. 🥊

There was a long period of time when I walked through life with my spirit completely deceased. Unmotivated and closed off from the energy fields, and I am convinced that the majority is currently walking around cut off. Only a handful of people truly listen to their spirit and I can easily recognize this. I don’t want to say that I was lost, but I was. I found myself somewhere laying in a dark forest, but now? Now I am the moon, and most people don’t understand how significant the moon’s light can be in total darkness. I’m learning to accept this and to not take it personally, for it does not reflect on my power. I remain open to the world surrounding me. I remain consistent in the spreading of love, truth, beauty, perspective and peace. It is what people long for in such a world of spiritual illness. I am not the cure by all means, I am simply the medicine.

Today I added two more snails and shrimp to my little aquarium. They bring me so much stimulation and joy that I couldn’t resist the urge to add more life. A world within a world. Two different ways of life taking care of each other. It serves my womanly nature perfectly.

Stay true to yourself and your spirit and you will find it to be the most advantageous choice you have ever made in your entire life. Giving you the confidence you indirectly seek. I am eternally grateful that I have the time to look inside myself and truly be alone with myself. That I have the ability to detach from myself and observe. I will admit that it is a hard process at times, but nothing good is ever easy. The more I practice the quicker I can learn. I want to help people be able to do the same.

In several months I will have all my children in school and entire seven hours will be devoted to me and me alone. I get impatient thinking about it because I haven’t had this much consistent time alone in sixteen years. I imagine what I would do with that time and I’m overwhelmed with ideas. I think the first few weeks I shall do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Stare out the windows as long as I want, take my time with errands, slow my walking, slow my processing. I am working on valuing the time I have with all of them right now. Sometimes it is hard to connect with all of them at the same time because of their various ages, but I have always enjoyed a challenge. Getting to know my children on a personal level brings me great joy. I am pleased to hear their creative minds speak. I am working on providing them a safe spot for them to be themselves and learn how to self regulate emotions and thought. To think that I there is something much more rewarding in the world is ridiculous. This is what I was born to do. Change lives.

-x

[lesbiradshaw]

in a shocking turn of events, i’m back with another list of little steve details i love, this time from the tfa junior novelization because Yes i am that desperate for steve content at this point. also this novel was So stevebucky coded it’s crazy.

1. steve saying he has a big heart to try and make up for what he thinks he lacks physically is so :( he goes on to say he failed again at the end of this scene when he’s given a 4F (and calls himself a failure more than one time throughout the novel). GOD. he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders all the time.

2. him saying no one would miss him if he went to war because bucky would already he over there ???? and this isn’t even a stevebucky fanfic THIS IS CANON MATERIAL.

3. steve viewing bucky as a hero and not being aware bucky has always viewed him the same way …. MAN. this novel is so full of steve and bucky tidbits like i swear steve thinks about or talks to bucky at least once in ever scene LMFAO.

4. i feel insane …. bucky finally snapping and being blunt about how worried he is for steve’s safety … his voice softening … steve being SURPRISED he’s saying it ??? god.

5. see? i told you he thinks about bucky for 90% of this novel. WE GET IT. YOU LOVE HIM.

6. like i’m not even exaggerating ITS EVERY SCENE.

7. sorry but i’ll never stop gloating about being right in saying tfa steve can’t swim <3.

8. MY BABYYYYYY YOURE NOT A FAILURE….

9. bucky calling steve a little shrimp is so personal to me they really will always be childhood best friends above everything.

10. steve is so funny and snarky when he wants to be … i want to shake him around like he’s a christmas present.

[docholligay]

Shamash Answers: Some more!

I hope to get a chance to work on these more tonight, and have them done tomorrow so we can draw for SHAMASH DAY

Lena opens a pub called the _____________ and _______________

The Plane and Grain! --Indigo,1 point. I can SEE this pub in my mind.

The Shrimp & Grits They sell neither shrimp nor grits. It's a callback to both her short stature and her enduring love of shrimp crisps, and her "gritty" coworkers at Overwatch -- @rhiorhino AHAHAHAHAHAH incredible

The Lion and Abolish The Monarchy --Q, 3 points. I have no idea how you came up with this but I love you

Overwatch:Something Sad

Pharah not only obviously outlives Tracer a la your universe, but also outlives Mercy and most of the rest of the crew -- Furi,1 point This one’s actually true, for me, other than Dva, of course. Fareeha lives to a ripe old age, like her mother, and Lena of course dies relatively young, depending on how you feel about 36, and Angela is not particularly long-lived, and Winston is, you know, a gorilla, so long-lived for a gorilla, which only puts him in his early 40s.

After Lena is gone, when it's still new and fresh and it feels as though a chunk of his brain and heart have been scooped out, he will sit down on their couch in front of their television in the dark and turn on one of their favorite movies and let himself forget that she's dead. She's just run off to the bathroom, he thinks. It never really works. Except when he falls asleep and he dreams she's still alive and when he wakes up for a minute, just a minute, he thinks she really will walk back through the door. Slowly, he does it less and less until he doesn't do it at all anymore. It feels like she's died all over again.   -- Geeky, 2 points I DO love this, this idea that he tries to will himself to believe her alive again, even for a moment, even with everything else. Then he wakes up and gets up to check on her, only to walk two or three steps before realizing she’s dead. There’s nothing to tell her, nothing to do for her, nothing, because she’s gone for real now. And then it stops being a shock. 

Winston is not able to find a solution to Lena's chronal dissociation. 

Despite his best efforts, he can't save her. She begins disappearing for longer periods of time. Winston continues to work. He unintentionally manages to tether her 'spirit' to the present and to linear time, but makes no progress on anchoring her physical form. This is almost worse. When she now disappears into the ether, she drifts as a wraith through the world, visible to none.

 "I am so sorry, my friend. I won't give up." Lena continues to disappear.

 One month, near Christmas, she disappears again. Days pass. Then months. Eventually years go by. 

 Lena watches as Winston continues to tirelessly search for a solution. As Overwatch falls and then rises from the ashes. As Emily slowly loses hope, accepts that her wife is unlikely to return. As she moves on. As Pharah and Mercy pass as two ships in the night, a relationship unborn without a loud, infectious Brit to make an introduction. 

 As her friends and family age. As they celebrate birthdays. Milestones. New family members. As they die. 

 And through it all, Lena watches. She celebrates. She mourns. And always, always, she is alone. --Seolh, 3 points Wow this is horrifying! Amazing. Well done. 

[gardennuggie]

alrighty. headcanon time. starting with the imps because i have. brainrot

Imp/Z-Mech

#gamer, #animefan. Listens to so much nightcore (and sings karaoke at 2 am, much to Steve’s dismay). He’s extroverted but not obnoxiously so and is popular with the other imps. He can be mischievous but knows when to quit, he’s pretty good-natured actually (that last part does not apply to plants). In pvz heroes, the reason why he’s called Z-Mech is because Zomboss wanted a hero name less generic than “Imp,” so Imp named his hero persona after Steve. Steve is very flattered but refuses to admit it.

Lil’ Drake

Y’know those 4th grade Warriors fans who literally hiss and scratch each other on the playground. That’s Drake, but with dragons. He is very very passionate about dragons, but he has trouble focusing on other stuff. Imp got him addicted to Bubble Bobble and now he drags around this Bub plushie that he refuses to wash. He has low spice tolerance but tries to eat spicy food anyway. His Z-Mech is called Drake Sr. and he’s very proud of his kiddo :)

Shrimp

Kind of a bookworm actually. He reads a lot of books about marine life and entry-level biology, many of which are lent to him by Marine Biologist. While he’s a bit less prone to mischief than the other imps, he’s still an imp so he’s definitely not above it. He’s pretty serious about fighting the plants and has a surprisingly good work ethic. His favorite snack is saltine cracker + roasted seaweed sandwiches.

Pylon

How do I say this. He gives me stereotypical construction worker vibes. He is physically stronger than the other imps and always beats them at thumb wars. He’s stubborn and a little brash, but when it comes to imps he’s relatively down-to-earth. He never gives up on a project he starts. He is very dedicated to his craft, and will rant about the intricacies of the road-cone industry to anyone who’ll listen.

Party Imp

Despite being a blast at parties, he’s on the more assertive side and is always ready to kick some plant butt. He has an aggressively energetic dancing style and listens to a lot of punk-rock music (he can actually do a killer guitar solo). When it’s his turn to hit the piñata, no one is safe. Due to him being permanently on the party life, I don’t see him hanging out with the other imps that often.

Z7

Like with Party Imp, the other imps don’t see Z7 around very often, mainly because he's always busy doing super elite missions that are “super confidential sorry can’t tell you :(”. Though he’s proud of his skills, it does get a lil’ lonely at the top sometimes. The only other imp he really talks to on a semi-regular basis is Z-Mech Imp, so whenever time permits it they play video games together. Probably stuff like Titanfall? idk.

Scallywag

The ship Scally got booted off of was Captain Cannon’s, who warned him to never show his face around his crew again. It’s ok tho, because Deadbeard later invited him to “the most waterlogged treasure-hunt of the century” in what is effectively a pirate apprenticeship and Scally’s been having the time of his life ever since. His facial hair is all fake, and he wears it to look more like a cool pirate. He’s the master of improvising the worst sea shanties ever but the other zombies can’t help but indulge him.