#I'm waiting for the all caps ''IT'S FAKE??'' message

[elias-the-corvid]

Sooo I went and got a bunch of posters for my room

And my partner asked what Goncharov is...

To which I obviously responded "the greatest mafia movie ever"

I have been telling him about this amazing movie for like an hour and even brought up these screenshots

And she's so hyped bc "how could I not know about a Martin Scorsese movie??? I love the guy why have I not heard of this?"

I don't know how much longer this is gonna go for but I'm having fun.

[marvelfilth]

The mustache

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x f!reader

Warnings: none

Summary: Natasha crashes your date

Masterlist

You let a fake laugh bubble out of your mouth for what feels like a hundredth time this evening. Your date looks smug, her eyes trailing over your form, almost leering. She takes a sip of her wine and licks her lips slowly, daring you to look.

You don't.

You can almost hear Natasha say I told you so.

You clear your throat and take another bite of a perfectly made steak - the only saving grace of this disastrous date.

You mentally cringe, closing your eyes briefly. Objectively, the date is going well - she showed up on time, held the door for you, helped you to your seat and made perfect small talk, occasionally throwing in a joke or two. You can excuse her wandering eyes, knowing you've been throwing mixed signals all evening.

You nod along to whatever story she's telling, smiling and chuckling when it's appropriate. You barely resist the urge to excuse yourself. You chew on your lower lip, wondering how you allowed yourself to get in such a mess.

Your phone chimes once, screen lightning up with a new notification.

Natasha.

Yep. Here's your answer.

You look at your date, hating how different her smile is from your best friends. It's too large, too open and not even half as genuine. Natasha's smiles are small, barely noticeable, but they're enough to make your breath come short.

You sigh. You need to stop comparing your every date to Natasha.

“Do you mind if I take a look? It might be important,” you ask, reaching for your phone. She nods happily, waving the waiter over for another glass of wine.

How bad is it?

You snort, coughing immediately to cover up the sound and reaching for your glass.

Another message appears right in front of your eyes.

That bad?

You choke on your wine, discreetly looking around, but coming up short.

Six o'clock, dumbass.

You wait a moment and look right behind you, mouth falling open when you finally see her.

She's sitting three tables down, wearing your favorite hoodie and a black cap. With sunglasses covering her eyes. In a dimly lit restaurant. What makes you let out a strangled laugh, though, is a perfect old fashioned mustache glued right under her nose. She twirls both ends around her fingers, curling them up, before lowering her glasses and sending you an exaggerated wink.

The best spy in the world, the woman who made entire governments collapse, is sitting right behind you, looking like a child playing dress up.

You whip around, your face red, and wave off your date's concerned look. “I'm alright.”

She nods, all too happy to continue talking about all of the famous people she's met through her job.

You hide your phone under the table and shoot your best friend a text.

You're ridiculous

Her reply comes instantly.

And yet you love me.

Her words hit a little too close to home.

You are hopelessly in love with your best friend.

Another message comes through.

What's wrong?

You frown, eyes darting around. You didn't even do anything to warrant the question.

And don't even try to lie. I can tell something's wrong.

You sigh, tell Natasha everything is fine, and place your phone face down on the table, your date still recounting a story of how she met some actress.

The next half an hour is tense. You can feel Natasha's eyes on you. You can hear her plotting a way to get you out of here, but you know you have to at least try to make it work, if not with… Connie? Courtney? Then with someone else, before you go completely mad.

Your phone rings. You can't stop yourself from picking it up.

“Sorry, it’s an emergency.” Your excuse sounds bad even to your own ears, and you wince when your date pointedly looks away with pursed lips.

“Do you want me to throw her out of the window?” She starts without a preamble. “If not, I have a knife in my boot and you know how good I am with knives.”

“Can't you handle it without me?” You ask, knowing Natasha will play along. Your date reaches for her purse, dejected. Guilt swirls in your chest, and you contemplate your next words. Maybe you should stay and-

“Don't feel bad, she's been looking at the blonde to your right since she came in,” Natasha drawls, “and no, I can't handle it without you. I need you back home.”

You blush, biting on your lower lip.

“I'm sorry, but there's been an-”

“Just go,” your date cuts you off, “I'll handle the bill.” Her eyes are on the blonde girl before she's done speaking, and you leave with your conscience clear.

Natasha catches up to you outside and leads you to her corvette - her sunglasses and cap are gone, but that ridiculous mustache is still in place.

“What do you think?” She asks as she opens the door for you before going around the car and taking a seat behind the wheel. “I like the look.”

You snort and shake your head, amused with your best friend's antics. “It's… something.”

She rolls her eyes, starting the engine. “I know you love it.”

You hum, relaxing against the soft leather, your worries stoved away by Natasha's calming presence.

“Why do you keep going on dates if you hate it so much?” She asks when you reach Compound gates.

You sigh, think of an answer that would get her off your back without making her suspicious.

“I just… I-” you stutter, wincing.

Great.

She raises an eyebrow, looking absolutely ridiculous, but so, so beautiful, it makes your entire chest ache.

The car comes to a stop, and Natasha focuses all of her attention on you.

“I need to get over someone.”

There, you've said it.

“Who?” She asks, and for the first time in all the years you've known her you can't read her at all.

“You don't know them.”

She looks ahead, her jaw clenched tight. “How long?”

You blink away the tears. “A few years.”

She looks down at her lap, her fingers tapping against her thigh. “Who?” She asks again.

“Natasha…”

“Is it Carol?” Her voice is tight, her eyes dart around the street.

“God no,” you chuckle, thinking about your blond friend. Valkyrie would kill you on the spot if you even looked at her the wrong way, not that you're interested anyway. They need to get over themselves and finally admit their feelings to each other. Anyone can see their pining from a mile away.

“Kate?”

You shake your head. “You don't know them.”

“Then tell me. What would it matter?”

“Nat, can we just-”

“Tell me.”

You groan, and turn to open the door, but Natasha’s hand landing on your thigh stops you. You swallow, freezing on the spot.

“Please.”

You close your eyes, bracing yourself for the inevitable. “It's you,” you whisper.

The hand on your thigh clumps tight. “What?”

“It's you,” you repeat, feeling braver after the admission. “Always you.”

She lets out a deep, shaky breath, before reaching for your face with her other hand. “Look at me, please.”

You face her, eyes still closed, a few tears sliding down your cheeks. They're wiped away a moment later, and your face gets enveloped in the softest warmth.

“Open your eyes.”

You swallow, and do as she asked. She looks at you like you're the most precious thing in the world.

“I love you.”

Your heart skips a beat at her words, lips falling open. “What?”

She smiles, her thumb tracing patterns on your wet cheek. “I love you.”

You look at her for a long moment, taking in her features - her forest green eyes, tender and soft, the slope of her nose, so kissable. Your eyes trail lower and then suddenly a loud laugh makes its way out of your chest. You bend, clutching your stomach, happy tears gathering in the corners of your eyes.

Natasha looks delightfully confused.

“I'm sorry, it's just…” you giggle, pointing at her face, “the mustache.”

She groans, tearing it away. “I've been going crazy all this time, you know.”

“Yeah?” You grin, head spinning.

“Yeah,” she says before claiming your lips. She's soft, so soft it makes your toes curl and your chest get warm and fuzzy. The kiss is gentle, loving. You mewl against her, opening your mouth and welcoming her tongue.

The kiss grows heated.

“I,” you gasp between the kisses, “I love you. So much.”

You can feel her blinding smile in the next kiss, and the one that comes after.

[coastle-skewers]

New song lyrics

[Staccato Verse] Silence, No texts, like my phone's dead

Waiting, Are you okay? Are you upset?

Faking, Like I'm fine, but I'm not.

Hoping, You'll come back, but am AFRAID YOU'RE NOT.

[Verse] Can't get these worries out of my mind

Did I misread the whispers that you left behind?

Each message unanswered, a small bruise on my heart I'm falling apart, I'm falling apart.

[Chorus] GONE - like spores in the wind.

FELT REAL - was it all pretend?

Feeling like I can't move on Tell me, where did I go wrong?

GONE - like spores in the wind.

FELT REAL - but it was all pretend.

Pretty toadstools, rotting inside.

Clinging on to our last goodbye

[Verse] Your presence, like a ghost in my head

Haunting, every corner of my bed

Like a death cap in disguise

You're poison, caught me in your lies

Shattered the world we made

Still, can't let go of the memories we saved I'm stuck in the past, can't move on

Wishing you'd come back, but you're already gone

[Chorus] GONE - like spores in the wind.

FELT REAL - was it all pretend?

Feeling like I can't move on

Tell me, where did I go wrong?

GONE - like spores in the wind.

FELT REAL - but it was all pretend.

Pretty toadstools, rotting inside.

Clinging on to our last goodbye

[clairethecutepup]

Ed Edd n Eddy (Assassin AU): The Newest Addition (Scrapped Writing)

No, I don't mean "scrapped" as in I'm no longer making a fan series of C2ndy2C1d's AU, this is just the original version of it and back when I decided on pure literature than comics. I just figured, may as well share it here, not just on Wattpad, for those who might've been interested in what the official "pilot" and original version would've been like. Y'know, back when I decided on the concept of "werebeasts" being included and all that, rather than save the living "assassin tools" for an ENTIRELY original series instead. There'll still be original characters involved, but as apprentices and new partners to SOME of the now-assassin cast: Nazz (Yami), the Eds (Cio), and Sarah and Jimmy (Claire).

If you want to read the two chapters, click "read more."

Chapter 1: Greater Team Quantity, Greater Team Quality?

I end the call with our higher ups and proceed into the "living room," if you will, of our hideout. I spot Ed and Eddy on the couch, the former playing his handheld console and the latter indifferently watching our TV set.

"Attention, please," I announce.

"In a minute, Sockhead," Eddy doesn't bother glancing my way, "it's gettin' to the good part."

"Sorry, Double D," Ed fiercely taps the gaming device's buttons, but with a thrilled smile, "I must save my fellow astronaut and wife-to-be, before all her bones are eaten by the evil marrow-sucker of Nebulon 5!"

Oh, for Heaven's sake... At the very least, they could simply feign an interest in what I have to say. Although, I've never understood why Eddy still calls me by that old nickname, given a fedora is less sock-like than the cap I'd wear in my youth. Old habits must truly die hard.

"Perhaps," I try again, "I should specify that I'm relaying a message from the organization itself? They wouldn't be quite happy if we chose to ignore them."

"Oh great..." Eddy turns off the television with the appropriate remote, "What do they want now?"

"It appears our scientists have completed a new invention of sorts," I explain, "which could result in easier job completions."

Eddy suddenly perks up with greater interest.

"'Easier job completions'?" He grins, "Like, 'easier cash'?!"

"Possibly..." I slightly shrug with a hand, before lowering it, "But whatever it may be and whatever it may accomplish, we're to head over and collect it."

"Then what're we waiting for?! Ed! Put your stupid game down already, Monobrow!" Eddy yanks Ed from the upholstery, "We've got an easy money-maker to get a hold of!"

Eddy drags Ed away.

"Can we stop for ice cream on the way?" Ed asks, never looking away from his device.

"Eddy, wait!" I chase after him, "It's about 'field testing,' more than anything...!"

Eddy can be quite difficult to follow when he runs at this eager speed, but I somehow manage. We head into the appropriate wooded area, where the large log sits beside its equally-sized rocks. Eddy zips inside, still dragging Ed behind himself, and I follow them into the faux tree remains. Eddy knocks on the fake moss patch within, and the panel underneath it moves downward and reveals the chip scanner. Eddy holds the back of his hand against the red sphere, before moving Ed's and mine there-- despite my protests of easily being able to do so myself. Now, I'm also being literally dragged along, by the wrist...

After our descent down the staircase, made visible with the opening of the log's bottom hatch, we arrive in our (literal) base of operations: the "Killer's Quarters," we dub it. Of course, this isn't the only hidden location for our assassins and other members to function within, it's merely the closest base to where we were... "stationed," if you will. Eddy finally stops in the lobby leading to the laboratory, and releases both Ed and myself. He repeatedly slams a fist onto the large, steel square that serves as the blocking entrance door to the lab's interior.

"Have you forgotten about the intercom?!" A female voice hisses from the small speaker.

I recognize the faint German accent and annoyed venom in that voice, and I fear we're already trying Sherubi's patience. Eddy presses the black button under the rectangular device.

"Yeah, yeah," he responds, "just give us this thing that's gonna make our jobs easier already!"

"Who exactly might this be, first?" Sherubi's voice shows signs of possible eye-rolling, "As if the unpleasant, loud shrieks of a familiar Dummkopf doesn't give me an idea already..."

"'Triple E,'" Eddy's eye-rolling is more obvious to me, "made up of Ed, Edd, n' Eddy...?" he furrows his brow, "And you're one to talk about 'unpleasantries' and junk! Unless, it's a 'takes one to know one' situation we're talking about here."

"Of course, I knew that had to be you just now... Miserable Backpfeifengesicht."

"Hey, you're the 'miserable back-pie-fee-'... Look, just quit your whining and get that new tool, or whatever it is, out here already! Boss' orders, y'know."

"Keep in mind, they made no additional 'orders' that prohibited your face from earning any actual assault on my part."

"Ooo, I'm so scared, someone get my mommy to save me from the big, bad Sherubi."

"Sorry, Eddy," Ed frowns, "no idea where she is."

Eddy and I stare at him for a moment. Bless dear Ed, he certainly tries his best. Eddy simply turns toward the intercom again.

"Look, I ain't asking again!" he demands.

"Fine, but you'd better be hiding behind your companions by the time I finally come out..." Sherubi hisses.

A few moments pass, and the door opens upward. Sherubi steps out with two things in hand: a scalpel in her right hand, and... Some type of small, humanistic being in her left arm?

Eddy furrows his brow, "You think I'm scared of that stupid little--"

Sherubi's thrown scalpel perfectly strikes his nose. Oh dear, now I'll need to heal his damaged part later... Yet, there's clearly something of greater interest here: I've never before seen a combination of, what I can only describe as, human and animal. It resembles an older child, possibly "tween-like" in that regard, but it's obviously no human offspring: I suppose Ed describes it best when excitedly proclaiming it a "little werewolf," despite the lack of coating fur or it having a human's face in place of a wolf's.

"No, she's not a 'werewolf,'" Sherubi corrects Ed, "but you are half right: we call them, 'werebeasts,' despite the lack of transformation capabilities. This particular one has been nicknamed, 'Claire,' but you're free to change the name if you'd prefer."

"A 'werebeast'?" I curiously repeat.

"Indeed," Sherubi explains, "they're living weapons that utilize human intelligence and ability, combined with the lethality and heightened senses you'd expect from the carnivorous predators of the wild. An assassin's perfect tool, and Claire here will be yours to use however fit."

Eddy finally pulls the scalpel from his nose.

"'Predator,' my foot!" he throws the tool onto the ground, "That twerp doesn't look like she could take out a mouse, so how's she gonna take out an actual target?!"

I'm afraid I feel skeptical, myself... I see there are capable nails on those paw-like hands and I'd imagine sharp teeth are hidden from view, but there's not much visible strength and promise to be seen.

"Hmph, I wouldn't be surprised if the concept of 'prototypes' escaped someone of your feeble mind," Sherubi frowns and glares at Eddy, "I'm certain they'd have told you these are a recent breakthrough, so of course they won't be at their prime just yet."

"But there's still gotta be some better ones in there," Eddy points to the lab, "right? So, how's about grabbing us a new one?" he lowers his hand and grins, "I'm thinking something bigger, with--"

"--Can't we keep her, Eddy, pretty please?!" Ed walks over on his knees, clasping his hands tightly in plea, "She is such a cute little werewolf! I promise to love her, and feed her, and take her for walks; oh, and I also promise to make sure she does not bite anyone and turn them into werewolves, to--"

Eddy smacks him aside, causing Ed to tumble away.

"Hey, 'cute' doesn't get cash!" Eddy crosses his arms, "Skill does, and nothing about that twerp screams it..."

"Well, tough luck then," Sherubi smirks, walking over to Ed, "because she's the one you three are getting, like it or not."

"Oh, boy!" Ed excitedly retrieves Claire from Sherubi, "Our very own werewolf!"

He crushes the poor thing in a tight hug that audibly cracks her bones. Claire's eyes widen and her tail's fur sticks on end, while her cheeks puff out and her face turns a slight blue.

"Ed, be careful!" I plead, "You're suffocating the poor thing!"

"Oh, don't worry," Sherubi smiles at me, "werebeasts were built to withstand this level of assault," she then frowns at Ed, "Although, you may want to ease up a little... I strongly advise against making your werebeast hate you."

Her words help Ed realize he's doing more harm than intended and he loosens his embrace. Claire immediately begins squirming in a desperate attempt to flee; but Ed's immense strength prevents that, despite how violently she causes his arms to shake. Oh, poor Ed... He seems so remorseful and saddened by the rejection. I also don't want Claire to be fearful toward any of us, if we'll be working together. Perhaps I could find some way to help? I whisper some useful tips, on how to come across less strongly, into Ed's ear. He smiles more hopefully and looks down at Claire.

"Aww, I am sorry," he says gently and soothingly, "Ed did not mean to hurt you, little one," he pats her head, ceasing her resistance and gaining her full attention, "he is only happy to meet you. I hope you can be happy to meet me, too..." he lifts her high enough to lie his head on hers.

Claire still seems a tad uneasy, but she's less eager to break free from Ed. I'm relieved I could patch the rocky start to their relationship, somewhat, but it'll be Ed's responsibility to leave a better impression on our new assistant. Personally, I don't like the thought of referring to something alive as a mere "tool" instead, given it undermines the idea of them being a living creature with their own brand of thoughts and feelings to consider.

"Well, I ain't happy about this!" Eddy snarls, before storming over to Sherubi, "Come on, there's gotta be a better 'werebeast,' or whatever, you can give us..."

"Like we'd give you three one of our better prototypes," Sherubi glowers at him, "considering how 'well' you've been doing your job, as of late. Don't worry, though," Sherubi pats Claire's head, "despite being the literal runt of the litter, she should be more than enough help for a trio that couldn't possibly do worse."

"But if you guys all want us to do better, why not give us one of those 'better prototypes,' right?" Eddy shrugs, "I mean, 'better means better,' don't it?"

"We'd prefer avoiding any losses of more decent 'blueprints' to build off of," Sherubi explains, "so we'll let the better assassins have the better prototypes," she smirks, "After all, 'better should mean better,' ja?"

"Yeah, and a smart mouth should mean a toothless one..." Eddy shakes a fist.

"I can stab you with worse than a scalpel, you know..." Sherubi pulls a throwing knife from her lab coat.

Oh dear, I best prevent worse injury to Eddy... I quickly hurry to Eddy and firmly, yet politely, pull him away.

"Well, we certainly appreciate the privilege of being considered," I nervously grin, "so thank you very much in that regard."

"Get off me, Sockhead!" Eddy shoves me off.

"Anyway," Sherubi puts her knife away, "here are some notes on werebeasts, before I get back to previous affairs."

I retrieve the stapled set of papers from her extended hand, giving them a quick glance-over. I hope she won't take offense, if I decide to take a few notes of my own. After all, personal examination proves the best learning method one can use.

"Well, love," Sherubi places a hand against Claire's face, "you're finally ready to go out there and see the world. Take care and make everyone back here proud."

When Sherubi turns to leave, Claire grabs her arm. She looks over her shoulder, frowning at the upset werebeast.

"SSS'errr'iii..." Claire winces as if speaking pains her.

"Now, now," Sherubi firmly, yet gently, removes her hand, "you're of more use to everyone outside the lab than in it. You need to go with them..."

Claire sorrowfully watches Sherubi depart back into the lab, the wolf ears on her head hanging limply and her eyes tearing up. Ed turns her around, before holding her up to his kindly smiling face.

"Aw, do not worry, little werewolf," he assures, "Ed will take good care of you."

"What's she so miserable for?" Eddy motions a thumb to Claire, "I'd be glad to finally get away from Ms. Hyde back there."

"Not everyone shares your sentiments about specific individuals, Eddy," I remind him.

We take our leave, with Ed consoling our newest addition about her newfound separation. Hopefully, this proves to be a change for the better, indeed. Not just for our own sake, but Claire's as well.

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

Chapter 2: Familiarity Breeds Boredom (and Annoyance)

That lousy Sherubi... "We decided," my foot, you mean you decided! I bet Ms. Hyde just wanted to increase my chances of finally getting bumped off, by sticking me with the weakest "werebeast," or whatever, they had... Guess she's fine with Sockhead and Monobrow here also buying the farm, as long as I go down. Jerk... Well, if we already have the kid, might as well put her to work.

I head over to the "Bounty Board": it's where they hang up all the ugly mugs that we can hunt for a buck-- but keep your mitts off those higher bounties, I saw 'em first! I find a good one that's at least eight figures, so all I gotta do is tell the boys we're going hunting again. Or, we would, if Sockhead didn't decide to make a big deal out of it!

"What D'ya mean: 'later'?!" I point at the paper I'm holding, "It probably won't be here 'later'!"

"Eddy, we've just now received Claire," Double D tries explaining, "We don't know how well-prepared she is to handle a mission, just yet-- especially one of a higher reward. You know higher bounties mean higher difficulty..."

"So?" I ask, "She was literally built for this stuff!"

"Even machines need test runs, before they're ready for any matter of job, Eddy," Double D keeps at it, "It's all about ensuring there are no kinks nor other issues that could lead to trouble."

"Oh, come on," I shrug, "if it's 'test running' or practice, or whatever she needs, there ain't nothing like the real deal!"

"Eddy..." Double D holds onto his hips.

Great, I hate when Sockhead gets like this... Why can't he just go along with whatever I say, like Ed does? I'm supposed to be the leader here, for crying out loud! Well, looks like I've got two choices: either I just go ahead with what he wants already, or wait until I can't stand him whining anymore and just go along with it to finally shut him up. What I'm saying is, there's no winning with this guy... I guess I also wouldn't want to give Ms. Hyde the satisfaction of finally killing me off, so it'd help to make sure the kid can actually fight and stuff.

"Fine..." I roll my eyes, "We can wait until the kid's ready, or whatever..."

"And with an easier starting target..." Double D crosses his arms.

I wince, while putting the poster back. Goodbye, cash mountain... I swear, this twerp better be worth giving that kinda moolah up for now.

"You better help us get, like, three times this much when we're done!" I warn her.

She winces and shrinks in Ed's arms, looking like I hit her instead.

"Eddy!" Double D moves me away. He turns to the kid and pats her head, "Never you mind him, I'm sure we'll all learn to get along just fine."

"Yeah, and it starts by making up for that lost cash," I remind 'em.

What's with that harsh look from Sockhead? It's his own fault I'm not exactly happy right now... So, we leave the KQ and head back to our place. I'm sitting on the front steps, with my nose finally patched up, and watching Ed do whatever with the kid: right now, he's making her do tricks-- and doing them with her. He's standing on his hands and knees, and the kid's standing on all fours like an actual animal: on her feet and those paws she's got for hands.

"Roll over, like this!" Ed tells her.

He laughs to himself and rolls away, before he stops and lies on the ground. The kid copies him and stops in front of him.

"Good werewolf!" Ed pats her head and gets a tail wag out of her, "Okay, now sit!"

Lumpy sits up like a dog, even with his hands raised up on either side of him. The kid copies that, too.

"Good job!" Ed grins, while he pulls out some buttered toast from his shirt pocket, "Here, a treat for obeying."

After he throws it, the kid catches it in her paws and sniffs it. I wouldn't eat it, 'cause who knows how long Lumpy's had it in there? If it ain't mold to be worried about, it's the fact there's gotta be at least three diseases sitting inside that thing. Forget washing his clothes, Ed barely even washes himself... Well, looks like werebeasts don't get poisoned easily, since that kid's eating the toast just fine. She doesn't even gag, even though that butter has to be all spoiled by now.

"Do you like buttered toast, too, little one?" Ed asks.

The kid nods, but still keeps that nonchalant look on her face. Jeez, it's almost like she can't feel anything beyond: "crybaby sadness" and "big baby terror"...

"Come on," Ed turns away, "let's go have some more fun!"

The kid follows Ed, while they both stay on all fours. Come to think of it, what's Double D even need those notes for? Monobrow here's even more of an animal than the kid-- especially when he smells worse --so we've basically been trained to take care of werebeasts our whole lives! Of course, I can count on Sockhead to whine and moan about still needing to "properly research," or whatever... It's bad enough I had to wait till he finished reading those scientists' notes on werebeasts, but he's really gotta make his own, too?

"Very interesting..." Double D writes on his notepad, while he watches Ed and the kid howl together, "It appears the animalistic side goes beyond simple anatomical modifications to the human body," he chuckles, "It's like a child adorably at play," he frowns, "save for actually being able to tear one's throat out..."

"So, you're basically saying the kid that's part animal acts like an animal?" I ask, "Gee, I never would've guessed!"

"I know it sounds obvious, Eddy," Double D sighs and looks at me, "but you mustn't assume someone's entire nature by appearance alone. We should learn how closely she actually behaves to an animal, in order to avoid insulting her intelligence or simply being... creepy, to put it mildly."

"I say, just treat her like we do Ed, just with a few more newspaper smacks," I motion a thumb to them, "I mean, can you really tell 'em apart?"

"Dig a hole," Ed does, "dig a hole, dig a hole!"

The kid's helping him on his right, while they're sending dirt flying everywhere behind them. Well, looks like getting rid of bodies might be a whole lot easier now, if they can make a hole that big and that fast. Hey wait, they're messing up our base!

"Hey, you idiots," I yell, "cut it out! You two better fill that up, 'cause if I end up falling down that thing...!"

Ed stops and looks at me, while the kid hides under him like a scared cat.

"Listen to Eddy, please!" Double D adds, "Let's not engage in destruction of our own property, nor do anything that involves coating ourselves in needless filth. Why, just imagine the mess awaiting our base's interior, if you two decide to track all of that dirt and mud inside."

"Oh no, not dirt and mud..." I roll my eyes, "That's worse than the blood and other things we sometimes bring back here..."

"There's nothing wrong with avoiding messes when possible, Eddy," Double D frowns at me.

"Anyway," I say, "when can we start getting to work? I agreed to let ya train that kid first, but all we've been doing is screwing around, 'taking notes' and stuff..."

"Eddy, you need to understand how something works, before you can use it," Double D sighs, "Or, train, in this case."

"Well, hurry up already!" I glare at him, "While we're sitting around here, everyone's taking all the good bounties back at the KQ!"

"Alright," Double D sighs and stands up, "I think we've learned enough to avoid any issues." He walks over to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, "Ed, Let's begin preparing her, shall we? First, we should practice combat in closer proximity," he pulls the kid and makes her stand up, before holding one of her paws, "It does seem like the fighting method you'd excel most at, given the sharpness of those teeth and nails, so it may prove the easiest starting point."

Later, I'm still sitting on the steps and watching my pals train that kid: Ed's all dressed up in one of those tough suits police use to train dogs, while Double D's telling the kid to show off what she can do. This oughta be good...

"Alright, Claire," Double D holds the kid's shoulders from behind, "sometimes a target will be wearing a matter of armor, such as bulletproof vests," he points at Ed, before lowering his finger, "When that's the situation at hand, it's important to find some manner of bypassing it, and you'll be assisting us in rendering them more vulnerable," he lightly pushes her forward, "Now, try to get through Ed's padding, but be careful not to actually harm him. Consider it an additional test of restraint."

"Wooooo," Ed towers over the kid and wiggles his fingers, "I am a big, scary target! You will never defeat me, puny assassins of no hope!" he leans down to the kid and whispers, "Do not worry, little one, it is only me," he stands up again, "Come forth and do your worst, plus infinity and one!"

The kid just frowns at him all sad-like, while those ears on her head flop down. Then, she looks back at Sockhead to protest with those eyes of hers. Great, nice "tools" you guys made, Sherubi: when they're not too scared to fight, they probably wouldn't end up doing much damage anyway. At least the kid probably wouldn't, when she looks like she came from some middle school classroom than a secret organization's lab...

"It's okay," Double D smiles at her, "precautions have been taken to ensure no one's actually harmed, and Ed understands there's no ill intention on your part."

"Do not worry, little werewolf," Ed grins, "Eddy likes to beat me a lot, but it does not mean that I do not like him."

"Only when you're being an idiot, Lumpy..." I groan.

The kid looks like she's psyching herself up: she's breathing in and closing her eyes. After she opens 'em, she growls and pounces. She actually manages to knock Monobrow onto the ground and slide them both across it. Huh, maybe she's not so weak after all. She digs and tears into the padding, sending shreds everywhere.

"O-Oh dear," Double D runs to them, "Claire, that's enough...!"

"Get her off, get her off!" Ed waves his arms and legs around.

Eh, I ain't too worried about Lumpy, he's been through way worse than that. I'm just glad the kid might not be so useless after all. Say, if she can make quick work of someone like that, maybe she doesn't need all this training! ... Hey, wait a minute, that means I gave up that giant bounty for nothing!!! That's it, if we do more training in the future, Sockhead's gonna be the one used for target practice...

"Okay, that's enough!" I call over to them.

They all look at me from where they are: Ed's still on the ground, Double D's standing over him, and the kid's held in Double D's arms.

"Look," I go on, "it's clear that kid's gonna do fine on the field, so let's go grab ourselves a target!"

"But Eddy," Double D argues, "we've only practiced close combat, thus far-- and even then, it's only slightly better than a trained attack dog."

"Seems like she'll do fine to me!" I tell him, "Now, quit whining and let's get back to the Bounty Board!" I point to where the KQ is up ahead.

After we enter the log and all that, we make our way back to that wonderful wall of cash opportunities. Of course, the target I wanted is gone-- thanks a lot, Sockhead --but you never make it anywhere by whining all day, so it's time to find ourselves a new cash cow to bring to the slaughter.

"Alright, kid, listen up..." I look at her.

She's riding on Lumpy's back, by hanging from his shoulders and looking over them. She returns the gaze with that usual nonchalant face.

"Now, ya see this?" I grab her chin, and point both her face and my finger at the board, "This's our secret to getting rich: the higher the number after that dollar sign, the higher the cash stacks we'll get from the 'Golden Goose' over there," I turn us toward that glorious, golden and bird-shaped stand behind us, "Our goal's to get as much of those fat stacks as possible," I let go of her, "so make that a reality and we'll get along just fine," I realize something and frown, "... Hey, you can read, right?"

She nods. I smile again and tell her to scan the board, while the rest of us do the same.

"Whoa, what the heck are you?!"

Hey, wait a minute... I know that voice! Sure enough, we see Jonny 2x4 standing there, with that annoying splinter in my side: Plank. Of course, that idiot just had to go and freak the kid out! While watching 2x4 finish his outburst, she jumps off Ed, probably to get away from that bald pain, and crashes right into me! Jeez, if she wasn't such a literal lightweight, that fall to the floor might've killed me by cracking my skull open! Lucky me, I just get stuck with a concussion instead... I'm real ticked off about it, so I grab that twerp, chuck her into Ed's arms and storm over to the jerk that caused this to happen.

"What D'ya want, Jonny?!" I glare at him, "Don't you have better things to do than be a real pain in the--?!"

"--Hey, if those parts are real," Jonny pulls on the kid's right ear and tail, making her wince, "then what kind of animal are you supposed to be? How'd you become like that, anyway?"

"Jonny, please..." Double D pulls his hands off the kid and stands in between them, "Can't you see you're frightening and hurting the poor thing? Let's not forget potentially causing yourself to be harmed via provocation. You really must learn to be more mindful toward others..."

The kid's now hiding her face in Ed's chest, like the big baby she is. For crying out loud, what the heck happens when she has to deal with a real injury during a job, like being stabbed or shot? That should be fun...

"There, there, little one," Ed pats her head, "It is only Jonny."

"Or, 'Dynamino,' if you prefer code names!" Jonny holds his hand out, "Nice to meetcha!" He points his other one at the wooden board on his chest, "And this here is, 'Plank'! What's that, buddy...?" Jonny frowns at him for a second, before smiling at the kid again, "He says: just make sure you don't give him any fleas, 'cause he already has termites to worry about."

The kid doesn't turn away from Ed, just turning her head slightly to look back at Jonny. He grins wider, and opens and closes his offered hand a few times.

"Come on, don't leave me hanging here!" He tells her.

For crying out loud, it's a handshake, 2x4... The kid slowly reaches her own hand out and finally holds onto Jonny's. He shakes her hand and arm at a fast pace, before he stops and starts squeezing her hand, like a stress ball. Surprisingly, the kid's cool with it and decides to finally chill out.

"Wow, you've got squishy paws, too?" Jonny smiles down at the one he's holding, before looking back up at her, "No really, what are ya?"

"Well," Double D tells him, "Claire is something known as a 'werebeast': they assist assassins through a combined effort of humanistic and animalistic abilities."

"And they are so cute and cuddly," Ed hugs the kid, "See, little one? Ed knows not to hold too tight now."

"Say, I heard they were making a new thing to help us," Jonny finally takes his hand back, "is that what they were talking about?"

"Sure is," I step in front of him, "So, how about you let her do that job of 'helping assassins,' by buzzing off?" I wave him off, before lowering my hand, "I'm sure there's some building or something waiting to be blown up..."

"What's that, buddy...?" Jonny listens to Plank, before looking up at me, "Plank says: 'Maybe we should use you to take people and things out instead, Eddy, since you're easier to set off than our explosives. Excuse us for existing and acting curious over something that's so common, like animal people.'"

"Don't get smart with me, Termite Chow," I lean into that board's face and press a finger against him, "I got a headache, in both senses of the word, 'cause of you two just now!"

"Plank says," Jonny keeps sharing that jerk's thoughts, "'Always happy to give you worse than that, Eddy. Too bad we can't be annoying enough, so you'd get just half the taste of what dealing with some no-neck, short-stacked chump is like. Maybe then, you'd learn to stop giving everyone such a hard time.'"

I'm going to turn this hunk of wood into mulch, and then I'm turning that mulch into sawdust. I don't know what I'll do with that stupid sawdust, but I'll think of something even worse to put him through after it!

"Hey, Jonny," I grit my teeth and clench my fists, while I stare Plank down, "maybe you can go ask the scientists for your own werebeast? I'm thinking a nice beaver one!"

"Err, Eddy...!" Double D suddenly holds a poster in front of my face, "I-I think I've found a suitable target for us...!"

I snatch it from him and look it over: it's got the face of some lady and a pretty good amount under it. Besides, I don't feel like staying here to be annoyed by 2x4 and his lousy partner in crime, or doing any arguing with Sockhead over other targets being "too difficult" for a first timer.

"Alright," I look up from the poster, "Come on, boys, we're heading out," I lead them away from the board and those two pains, before I look toward the kid, "Time to show us what you can do, Shortstuff..."

I swear, kid, you better be worth getting stuck with...

[jacob-nix]

Whoever sees this:

LISTEN, IM GOING TO BED. I AM SUPER TIERD AND ITS 11:32 WHERE I AM. SO, WHEN I WAKE UP TOMORROW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE THAN 20 ROLEPLAYS, QUESTIONS IN MY INBOX! Please, Ima stop with the caps bc my finger hurts. So yeah.

Please. Also Im gonna tag a few people so that they see this and if you get tagged then send this to somebody and then that somebody send it to somebody and so on...Ok?

THANKSSSSSSs

Tag: @irummna @purplegirl1987fnaf @flamb0yant-g0d @wat3rpillar

@zenitsu-blog @ask-sanemi @ky0juro-r3ngoku @muzan-sama

@kokushiboutsugikuni @oc-x-cannon-on-main @rafael500pro

and @asksenjuro actually ima add more

@ask-makomo @eleventhforms @ask-tamayo @sanswdgaster

These are random people!! Except the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9 and 10. Those people i'v talked to. I hope I did not waste your time. Sorry.Again.

Also, if you do not know what the inbox is, it's this:

I'm going to check all of the messages tomorrow- so for now START SENDING START SPAMMING!. wait my caps is broken and my fake nail too. so yeah just spam and do those stuff.

[astrologgeek]

⚠️ I do not give any permission to anyone reading this post to re-post my content nor plagiarize it. This content belongs to me and myself only @astrologgeek ⚠️

My ✨astro✨ notes

Part 1.

This is my first post on tumblr, I've been learning astrology for over a year now - and I have finally succeeded and wrote my own personal astrology notes! ⚠️these are my own personal observations and notes, which means that whatever I'm saying here isn't 100% astrology accurate & approved by any professional astrologer⚠️ hope you enjoy I guess <3 (BTW: if anyone wants to repost or anything pls tag me, and don't steal pls!! I've worked so hard on these.)

• Taurus risings have 2 types of luaghter: crying-like laugh because of their 3rd house cancer or a smirky / deep-like laugh because of their capricorn 9th house. As a taurus rising I approve this message.

• speaking of taurus risings: gemini 2nd house ppl may joke a lot about their self worth. They also have a very big vocal range - whether they can sing or not, they can be great at dubbing.

• Neptune in the 2nd house have dreamy voices / amazing singing abilities or they may sound like a someone that does drugs / smoke / just high.

• having your mars in the 10th house can indicate a modeling career, especially if your MC is in good aspects with your ASC.

• virgo 9th house people have the most provocative sense of humor, they are also a "know-it-all". Yet, they are extremely loyal, so passionate and devoted to their duties.

• whichever house your pluto is in explains your deepest fears and where there is true chaos in your life (I'll make a post about it!)

• having your pluto in libra - as pluto being the planet of our generations - means that these people have always tried to fit into norms and into society, to not stand out, to be the most basic they can try. I believe that if they had a catchfraze it would be: "fake it 'till you make it".

• whatever house you have libra in is an area in your life that tries to fit in norms / society / normality (libra 11th house: have friends that are normal & basic / you try to to fit in society to make friends)

• aries rising's facial expressions are IMMACULATE (aries rules the face, so it's fitting that their face and facial expression will be very dominant)

• if your lilith conjuncts your saturn then solving the dark and hidden parts of you will help your career life grow and evolve as well.

• Mars-neptune aspects makes your anger blurry - like you don't know when your angry or how to feel / express your anger. Bonus points if the moon has contact with mars.

• There are 2 houses that rule the feeling of not belonging: the 11th house (not belonging because ur special, unique, weird, not normal) and the 12th house (not belonging because of your lonely energy, your blurry energy that makes you feel drifted from everyone automatically)

• Parent & children 🤝 not understanding each other's generation. Why, you may ask? Most if the time the age gap between children & their parents is 25 - 40 years, now if pluto is changing it's sign every 12 (mostly) - 31 years it means that the gap of the signs is creating a square! Example: gen z (pluto in sag) & boomers and karens (pluto in virgo), yet gen z (pluto in sag) & gen of pluto in leo (our grandparents) are creating a trine aspect (good relationship between generations).

• Capricorn stelliums are the most impatient people ever, time just moves with their own schedule and they are the ones that are always perfectly in time. Why? Saturn, which is ruled by capricorn: is ruling time.

• 12th house placements in general but especially 12th house NN & chiron 10th house people have a hero complex, that we must help everyone and save everyone. It's because the 12th house is about selflessness and empathy.

• Sagittarius rising feel so intimate and private, like no one really knows them - because of their 12th house scorpio, which makes their intimate side hidden, and makes them a mystery.

• Your 7th house sign is also the sign you have celebrity-crushes & obsessions on.

• You can know leo's even without them having a sun, moon or rising in leo. They are just SO noticeable! Their energy is just IMMACULATE

• I think that 12th house people are very intersted in prisons, mental hospitals, illusions and parties actually! Now all of them are understood because of our natural will to search for the unkown and the mystery and the unrealistic stuff in our lives, stuff that makes your soul change.

But why parties? Parties may be a place filled with people and noise which 12th house ppl won't like but the thing is parties are a fun illusion, with the lights changing all the time and the music that makes our body adapt to an entirely different environment because of it - it makes u very much aware of everything within the noise and loudness and madness.

• Talking about parties and 12th house people - I have noticed that they have 2 options of how they act:

1. They sit in the corner and analyze literally anything or just drown in their own thoughts or distract themselves from "all of the eyes looking at them".

2. They try to dance and get involve in the party but they're or getting to carried away and then feel embarrassed af and isolate themselves or immediately regrets it and goes to isolate themselves.

• 10th house transits for ppl who haven't graduated high school / university yet will be manifesting in their school life because it's where you're "supposed" to find your career path.

• In my opinion, the co-ruler of fun (which is ruled by leo) is sagittarius. Why? Leo rules entertainment and sagittarius is the ruler of jupiter, which resembles happiness, optimism (, expansion, growth) which is like the soul purpose of fun and entertainment.

• Even tho communication and the social media are a mercury - thing, I actually think that specific parts have 2 or even 3 rulers. For example: articles are ruled by gemini, virgo and aquarius (gemini to represent the creativeness and flowing speech in the article (also gossip if included), virgo to represent the order and wording of the article and how it's represented and brought to the readers and aquarius is for the fact that articles always talk about new, innovative or unusual things that are happening currently [little bit of cap right here lol] in the world, which also bring awareness (def an aqua theme).

• As the 8th house representing secrets, intimacy and shared resources - it must mean that people with this stellium or placements LOVE gossip. gossip is the combination of shared resources (media - which related to my last note - so gossip pages are gemini scorpio thing), intimacy and secrets.

• I have a theory - vehicles, as all materials and machines - are ruled by earth signs, so here are each vehicles rulers in my opinion:

virgo rules the air-vehicles (plains, helicopters etc.) Because that's a mutable sign that's adaptable of change the most out of every earth sign, and because the sky is so unpredictable and there's infinite courses of ways to reach ur destination - virgo fits the most to it.

capricorn rules the sea-vehicles (ships, boats, submarines etc.) Because that's a cardinal sign, an initiator that doesn't wait for things to happen, but makes sure every sudden change has a stable solution, also the sea is such an exotic place - fitting for a Capricorn's rich taste in views and life. Other than that, water may be unpredictable as well, but less than the open air and sky. Capricorns are the sea goats for a reason ;)

And last but not least - taurus rules the earth-vehicles. As The most stable, grounded, stubborn & down to earth sign it's kind of fitting for the vehicles that moves through the earth to have taurus as it's ruler. As cars, motorcycles etc. Have roads, so does taurians have their own, only path. They depend on the only thing they trust and any sudden change will make chaos. It's also the most comfortable - the thing taurians are craving for most.

I HOPE U ENJOYED my astro-notes :) I'll def try to keep them coming lmao if y'all would want to. Hope y'all Have a nice day 💕

[jboofan]

Chances 12

YN's about to find out that sometimes a gorgeous man can come up with a plan all his own, and it's a given that it'll mess hers up.

Jungkook x YN

Chapter 12 New York & Busking

Jungkook stood, aching from the fourteen hour flight, stuck between Jimin snoring, and Jin hogging the armrest. Too excited to sleep, he pulled his sunglasses off his head and onto his face, as the superstars were ushered into huge SUVs to get to their hotel.

"Hey they got some sick clubs we should check out! Single and ready to mingle!" Jimin couldn't stop smiling.

Namjoon laughed, "if you're gonna mingle as you perform live and then back to our room for a live with Army, then yeah knock yourself out."

"The only one that stands a chance of getting some is the maknae. That's if he finally gets the confidence to go after her," Hope encouraged.

"She doesn't even reply to my messages. I doubt it highly."

Wanting to do nothing but sleep, his own punishment for not having slept on the plane ride over, Jungkook shook his head and declined the offer.

"I think I'm gonna go get some sleep. I literally do not even know my own name right now."

"Shit man, when did you get so old?" Jimin asked, ready to get out and live up to his flirtatious ways. "I'm ready to go out, have a coffee and at least wink at a few honeys!"

"Hobi, you carry some hobi water on board?" Jin tutted.

"Never leave home without it," he replied nonchalantly, already opening a bottle of water and spraying some at Jimin. "Thot begone!"

After enough of them harassed him, and a short nap, Jungkook bowed to peer pressure and got changed into some light jeans, and a lose v neck t-shirt and joined them a few minutes later in the lobby downstairs.

Na-Ri turned around briefly checking the reception lobby of their hotel as she waited for a spare key to be made for her.

There walking across the carpeted seating, wait was that JK? He had a bucket hat on, but she swore it was him. Thought lost in time as the receptionist interrupted her suspicion Na-ri shrugged, turned around forgetting altogether.

Jin and Namjoon wolf whistled at him, to encourage a smile whilst Jimin slapped his back and congratulated him on finding his balls, and joining them for a boys night out.

The seven of them found themselves in the outdoor seating area on a cobbled street, eating the most delicious seafood ever, and drinking the most refreshing of beer before deciding what to do next.

*

"Thanks for doing this," Chan handed YN a churro as they walked slowly taking in the sights.

"You literally fake cried at the dinner table you turd. Put me right off my steak."

"Not enough to put you off the wine though," he sniggered as she gave him the Bang side-eye.

Chan shuddered, "Fuck don't so that, it gives me the creeps. You really are our mother's child."

"Let's just be thankful we don't look like Dad," they both agreed.

Chan's eyes widened, a massive grin plastered to his face. "Come on let's do it!!"

"Do what?" mid bite, lips flicking odd the cinnamon sugar, she turned the direction of where he was running off too.

"Busk!"

YN looked at him as though he had stepped in something.

"I want to sing!"

Grabbing his sister by the handbag he dragged her through the crowd. Pulling her cap further down her face, they were soon at the front of a crowd of people taking it in turns to sing.

"Here, us!" Chan shouted in his mashed up American-Australian accent.

"Ya! Pabo, what are you doing!" she shout whispered at him as Chan pushed her forward, enduring her hitting his shoulder.

"Guys give my sister a hand! She is a little shy!"

Embarrassed, YN watched everyone look in her direction, encouraging her to take a mike.

"Sis, this is how it's gonna be," he rubbed her back, "think of it as practice. Bang's have no fear cmon!"

"I'm gonna kill you," she gritted her teeth and snatched a mike off him.

**

"I say we go walk around, I need to digest this food," Yoongi offered to much consensus. Jungkook nodded and then it was five against two as they paid their bill, before following the distant sound of music, several streets away. They walked towards the sounds, often stopping and asking for directions in their limited English, until they stopped at the edge of what looked like a mini carnival in the middle of a car free zone, people spilling out onto the street from the local restaurants, a live band playing popular music.

Jungkook watched as a woman was long blonde brownish hair weaved her way through the crowd, until but she disappeared. He couldn't see her face, but she wore an oversized jumper and scarf and he for a moment wondered, isn't she cold?

Why did he recognise those legs? The way she cleared her throat, how those fingers that held onto her cap looked?

The woman now hit the guy on the shoulder, and Jungkook strangely felt as though he knew what that might feel like.

Her voice and the way she spoke almost shyly together suddenly became amplified to his ears, as his legs helplessly moved towards her. 

"G'wan bro!" Taehyung egged him on, encouraging him to try and flirt. Ignoring the shouting, he found himself looking for her, she was no where to be seen. He hadn't seen her, but the way she walked and carried herself just had him feeling some kind of way. He heard the crowd cheering "Cmon, you can do it!" and he pushed his way into the crowd further.

He pushed past people, and there she was standing with a mike in her hand. She had a smile, a carefree and vulnerable smile and Jungkook suddenly felt so blessed to have seen it.

Soon the others moved towards where he was, what was this smooth light voice. When she spoke in Korean, calling someone a pabo he couldn't hold his bunny smile in anymore.

It couldn't be.. Jungkook spun around desperately. She was here. She is here??

He called out her name, but the acoustic guitars, the singers and the music was just too loud, and drowned him out.

**

YN smiled as she moved through the crowd and found herself dancing a little as she held the Mike loosely, the words dripped out like honey, so easily and free flowing. Skin bubbled with goosebumps, there was something special in the cold New York air tonight, it seemed super charged, magical even.

The music was calling to her, and YN found herself swaying to the beat, arms in the air as she twirled them sexily, dancing the scene as the crowds moved back, to give them some space.

YN looked over at her brother belting out the chorus with so much passion, how did she miss this? She stopped, holding the microphone to her chest and watching him, in his element as he added a little ad-lib, a little bounce and bop as he commanded the crowd.

YN pointed her toes, rolled her hips, and spun around, her hair following her. Her partner clicked his heels and mirrored her moves before they both fell into giggles and laughs.

People were stuck to their phones, recording and applauding loudly.

Jungkook found himself mesmerised, unable to make out her face, her big hair was shielding her face like a curtain and he couldn't see who it was. Maybe deep down he knew who it was, but his eyes couldn't quite believe it. For the first time in a long time, he stood and watched as this unknown women danced on behalf of the female human race, taunting her male partner almost. Bewitching him.

"Butter" rang out across the speakers in the court yard as people started to join in singing.

She was singing. Dancing. then the two of them were dancing trying to outdo each other. But her dancing?. So dirty, so sexy, and without shame.

Only when she finished swinging her hips, and threw her head back in victory, her smile was replaced with that of shyness.

Jungkook's mouth dropped as he saw her, standing there in all her glory. She hadn't seen him, and he trembled, scared to move, scared to be rejected by her.

By now, the other guys had joined him and he moved closer to her.

"Isn't that Y-YN??" someone shouted shocked, later it was Jimin who admitted the high shocked voice was his.

"Did she really sing that? Like that?" Hobi was patting Jin's shoulder continuously unsure what was going on, again.

YN finished the song, feeling the air suddenly freeze in the middle of her chest, she gasped for air and stood still. She could feel something.

He's here. Nah, I have had too much wine this evening.

**

YN went to adjust her cap, realising it wasn't on her head any longer. Hair tucked neatly behind her hair she bowed to the audience and handed the microphone back to the owner.

Jungkook wrestled some eager new fans, pushed through in time to touch her elbow, and as she turned around slowly, YN's eyes opened in shock, as she couldn't believe it was him. Here of all places.

"YNnah" he croaked.

"Jungkook?" she managed before he could say anything, a hand swooped in, reached out to her, "YNnie let's go!" it cheerfully exclaimed and she was pulled off into the crowd where she disappeared.

"YN!!" Jungkook shouted, but as the crowds dispersed, she was no longer there.

**

No! No! YN!" he found himself shouting, "Come back!" 

He waved her cap in his hand, but she was no where to be seen. By now some other song was blaring out of speakers as he looked around, a headache forming.

Jungkook blindly ran through the crowd, stepping on people's toes and spouting off his apologies in broken English as he scoured the perimeter of the square, fighting against the heaving bodies dancing on one another.

"Fuck!" He swore, running a hand desperately over his face, now sticky from sweat. He caught a glimpse of her, and his breath caught.

"Ya, Jungkook-ah where you going!" shouted Namjoon.

"I did not come all this fucking way to have you disappear on me!" He mumbled to himself rhetorically as he pushed through the crowds more desperately, until there she was. Standing speaking to someone, tall, and from his outfit bloody handsome.

"BANG YN" he shouted, his voice tinged with frustration, jogging up to her.

YN simply stared, her heart in her mouth, eyes darting to his tattooed hand as she realised.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, as the tall stranger appeared by her side smiling.

"Who's this?" he asked in English as Jungkook watched on, he listened to her speaking natively to him, hand still clutched to her scarf, as though it was the only thing keeping her head on her shoulders.

"A work colleague," she told him, which winded Jungkook as soon as she said it. 

"Really? That's what we are now?" Jungkook said, "that's all I am now? From that to a work colleague?"

A masked up Chan looked at him, then back to YN, slightly confused. Why was this dude looking at his sister like he had run a marathon and she was a glass of water?

He moved forward a little, unsure if this dude was some love sick puppy or a fan.

YN grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back a little, and this seemed to neutralise Chan straight away. She shook her head, and touched his arm, "I don't want to discuss it," she explained, and he nodded back, gave her a hard stare as they telepathically shared that sibling connection.

Chan moved away to give them a little space, just as the other six found him.

YN looked at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I saw you. And then I wanted to see you."

"Uh, okay.."

"I don't like the way things happened. And I can't stop thinking about the way you kissed me. Why can't I stop thinking about you," he blurted out. He held out her hat to her.

"My cap, where did you find it?" she gasped picking it up off the palm of his hand. 

"It fell to the ground when you were dancing. I had no idea you could dance like that," he gave her a small surprised smile. "Or sing. Is that the big project?"

He refused to let her take it herself, but when she grabbed his wrist with remarkable force he opened his palm and she took it from him.

"Who is that?" Jungkook demanded.

"I have to go. Good luck with the AMAs," she spoke to him as though she was talking about the weather, and he scoffed.

"I haven't seen you in a week and I feel it's like, I ain't see you in almost a year. You're always busy, I hoped to catch a break and grab you a minute at work, have a coffee, maybe catch-up?"

"Jeon Ssi," the cold front rolled in, and he felt like he'd taken a beating. "I am on holiday, please can I be given the same courtesy I would give you. I'm not here for work," she pointed around her.

"You know my schedule, we are here a few more days," he grabbed her hand and held it there as their eyes met. "If you don't agree to meet me, then I'll just keep coming to you till you agree."

"That will not be necessary. Ihave to go, he's waiting for me."

"Let him wait," Jungkook drawled, YN could see his eyes watering in equal measures of frustration, anger and sorrow, her cold personality ignored it immediately.

"I'm not that anymore," she forced herself to say. She chose her words carefully, accidently saying fake or girlfriend would only result in Chan bugging her for information, a sport he could win gold in. "We're not even friends," she cleared her throat. "We just work for the same company."

**

The ride back to the hotel was pin drop silent. Taehyung, closest to Jungkook cleared his throat several times before he finally figured out what to say.

"Are you alright?"

"Course I am?" Jimin replied in super speed.

"Ya, pabo, does it look like we care about you right now," Suga rolled up a magazine and whacked the younger one on the back.

"Then he should specify which of the SEVEN of us here he was referring to," Jimin realised what he had said, apologising immediately.

"Ah man, sorry JK. I wasn't thinking—"

"When do you," Namjoon muttered loudly.

"But seriously, JK say something man. You haven't said anything since we left that place."

Jungkook scoffed to himself, he couldn't understand why he was feeling territorial, what if this guy hurt her like Kai had in the past? Who would look after her? Help her?

"I'm here on holiday?" He repeated, his jaw stiffened, and his shoulders broadened, unable to believe what she had said to him. "So when was I going to find out? When I got the wedding invitation?" He scoffed, "Oh wait, I forgot, you're so fucking cold you didn't even think to extend the common courtesy to me that you were going to traipse around int he same fucking city as me with some other guy.." his voice rose with every sentence.

"I know we weren't even together long," he continued his angry monologue, "but at least fucking pretend like you're hurt!" he kicked the air with his foot angrily.

"Ok, well that explains why man couldn't open his mouth the second we found him," Jin looked at him.

"You just need to cool off, concentrate on what we are here for. And talk to her when we get back," Hope interjected diplomatically.

"It's clear that she obviously means a lot to you JK. And it must have been a shock tonight."

Jungkook pursed his lips, "No. I refuse to let her mean anything to me," he paused, exhaling loudly "Well, I guess that's that then."

The others looked back at him. "It is?"

Jungkook shook his head, and exhaled loudly. Pushing his bucket hat back on his head, as he nodded.

"I guess so," he looked back out the window into the darkness, chewing his lips in distraction.

[themanbehindthemystree]

I have a feeling there's a cat on the loose.

Let's start with some details about Spamton, you'll see why this is important in a moment.

(Keep in mind i will be referring to his left and right)

Spamton's right len is pink while his left len is yellow (Notably, these are also the 2 colors you can make enemy SPARE names in Undertale. I'm sure they're not the same shade of yellow and pink however).

His NEO-form's element is CAT(Remember this). Tasque Manager and Tasque also use this element, but only for their attacks that specifically have to do with strings, such as Tasque's yarn ball and Tasque Manager's whip.

This may tie in with Spamton-NEO's strings and the fact that he's become a puppet.

But why cat? Why couldn't it be called "String" or something? Well this element is also element 6.

The number 6 is basically Gaster's thing at this point, while also being the Devil's number.

I wont go into too much detail but some examples are his "unused" encounter in Undertale, where his ATK and DF were 66666, his HP 666666 and his ID 666. The fun value Gaster events also all start with 6 (61, 62, 63 for his followers, 65 for the sound test, and 66 for the fake hallway) these fun events are also basically a Schrodinger's cat, since they're the only fun events that only have a chance of ocurring, even with the correct fun value.

We all know by now how Gaster connects to Spamton so i won't go into full detail about it.

Now i'm gonna go a bit off-track here, there is a face in the basement of Queen's mansion that appears only for a few seconds upon going back to the end of the teacup room.

It has pink and yellow eyes, so you would think it's just Spamton, right?

No, this is impossible, Spamton is currently at his shop waiting for you to get the EmptyDisk from the machine.

The whole reason Spamton gives you this sidequest is because he cannot enter the mansion, as the swatchlings will kick him out (Or presumably torture him in the acid pool if some of his dialogue is taken into consideration) if he could get in the mansion and transfer himself into the machine, he would've done so a long time ago.

It gets weirder, this basement face is connected to the vessel creation sequence from chapter 1, being labelled as DEVICE_FRIEND

Gaster is likely the one who wanted you to create a vessel, as he speaks in all-caps and his typer value is "666" just like in ENTRY NUMBER SEVENTEEN(I won't fully explain what a typer value is but basically it's a number that determines which text is used for certain dialogue), along with the soundtrack that plays in the background in the sequence, "ANOTHER HIM", being a reference to Gaster's theme, "him".

So this face being connected to his survey program is very odd.

The sprite itself is called IMAGE_FRIEND

Now, to dive deeper, it has the same color of eyes as Spamton, but have you noticed that the colors are actually inverted?

Their right eye is yellow while their left eye is pink, its the other way around.

Wanna know who else changes their eye colors around?

Spamton NEO

The smile in the basement is also similar to Alice in Wonderland's Cleshire cat, they both leave wide toothy grins while disappearing (Honestly this is probably a stretch but i thought it was a cool similarity that was pointed out).

Now to dive deeper into it, the basement door in the Snowgrave/Weird route has scratches on it.

This is gonna get weirder but Bratty has made jokes about eating cats before, twice, one in the Undertale character QnA, and in the Pacifist epilogue for Undertale.

Interacting with her house's window in Deltarune brings up this message.

Why am i bringing up Gaster's connections to cats and the basement face? Why am i ignoring the possibility that Bratty literally keeps cats in her house and eats them? And why am i bringing up scratches?

Well in chapter 1, there is some "unused" text, that's someone calling for help, presumably lost in the code.

"Where... Where am I? Hello...? Anyone...? Is... is anybody out there...? Someone!? Anyone!? Can anyone hear me!? ... It's dark. It's so dark here. Someone, anyone, if you can hear me... Say something... please..."

This is similar to one of Spamton's static messages.

Now, how does this have anything to do with all i said earlier?

Well, in chapter 2 this text was updated, to this...

"Where... Where am I? Hello...? Anyone...? Is... is anybody out there...? Someone!? Anyone!? Can anyone hear me!? ... It's dark. It's so dark here. Someone, anyone, if you can hear me... Say something... please...

No one can hear me, can they...? I guess not. To be honest, I'm not even sure if I can hear myself. It's so quiet here... ... and yet, sometimes, I swear I hear something... Something like... scratching?"

If what i'm trying to imply i think is going on is still confusing, i'll explain...

Because of the text the narrator gives upon interacting with Bratty's house, who presumably is keeping cats, the scratching noise the lost text is talking about may be coming from some sort of cat we may meet in the future who's connected to Gaster, Spamton and such.

Hopefully these aren't just coincidental connections (or dumb pieces i put together) and that we'll actually get to know what's going on with this.

There are many more loose connections to this that are more of a stretch than anything, such as...

The many references to cats in chapter 2 (Cute internet cats comment by plug npc, orange cat poster mentioned by Kris, Mario Paint meows in WELCOME TO THE CITY etc.)

Unused sprites of Ralsei in a "green" yarn ball (The ball itself isn't green however.)

Pizzapants and Catty's dad "predicting" Spamton in chapter 1 (Though Asgore does sort of too.)

Noelle finding the Dealmaker "familiar" and the Frayed Bowtie reminding her of Asgore.

The possibility that the text lost in the code is Dess, Noelle's presumably missing older sister, however, i have heard from someone that the text in japanese is more similar to Asriel's speech patterns, but i have seen no proof of this myself.

Yeah this is one weird first post, but i tried my best, hopefully i didn't end up making this sound like some serious investigation. If you're interested in this kind of stuff, check out HalfBredChaos' video on Element 6, i kinda probably copied everything in their video for this post lol

Also i got a lot of the information for this post from Deltarune reddit posts, such as the unused text and the basement face stuff, i'll link those 2 here:

Yeah this got really long... hope i did alright for my first post though, some feedback would be appreciated, thanks!

[hawksugarbaby]

Bakudeku- tongue tied

Lime + Tattoo/piercer Au

A/N: TO BE CLEAR. I don't ship toxic bakugo who told Deku to kill himself with baby deku who can't stand up for himself. I ship emotionally mature, developed, redeemed bakugo who is helping deku become a hero (more evidence in the manga than anime right now) with a strong independent deku who can stand on his own feet now.

It was a slower day for the parlour today than typical but this early in the year less people were interested in getting tattoos or piercings since it was cold and people would be wearing fleecy layer over layer and covering every stretch of skin on their bones to keep warm. What was the point in permanently altering a part of you if most of you was covered up?

Of course the tattoo side of the department had it harder than the piercing side as the piercers had enough options on the face and ears to keep them going. And that was where the great Katsuki Bakugo came into play. Hovering around the parlour like a moth waiting for the lights to flicker on, the annoying buzz of his angry voice that never shut up infiltrating Izuku's ears without of a choice making him unwillingly blush whenever he said anything that caught the freckled boy off guard.

The blonde barged into the shop like he owned the place and tapped his foot at the front desk ringing the bell for service continuously until someone paid attention to him. Izuku looked at his colleagues who all turned around and pretended to work, drawing scribbles on their page for new designs which looked like toddlers artwork until it was refined and then, if they felt like it, coloured.

The green haired boy stood begrudgingly from his desk and sauntered over to the front desk to greet his most common customer. "Afternoon Kacchan" he faked a smile and ran his hand through his curly emerald locks grabbing a pen from the pot, flicking the cap off so forcefully it flew across the room like a rocket for someone else to deal with. "It's evening deku" he argued and leaned his bulging arms on the counter smiling irritatingly at izuku. "Sure whatever. What are you here for" he asked, chewing the end of his pencil and glancing from the blonde's face to his muscular arms without a second thought.

Bakugo stuck his tongue out laying it flat against his chin and stared seductively into Izuku's green eyes. His face lit up red and he closed his eyes ignoring the taller man's angry flirtations. "A t-tongue piercing then?" he stuttered, turning around to face the wall and scribble on the clipboard. "Date of birth" he asked, not looking back at the angry customer being ignored by the reason he was there in the first place. "20th of april 2037" "making you 22" Izuku muttered filling in the information on the sheet. He knew Bakugo's phone number and email by heart by now, in case the courage ever took over to message him.

"Sign here" izuku said, turning and handing the clipboard to bakugo who was cracking his fingers as if it was a time killer and pointed to the line for bakugo to sign his loopy name on. For such an aggressive personality his handwriting was saccharine, it felt ungenuine watching the way his wrist flicked so smoothly with each curve connecting every consonant and vowel. "Can I get a hole in my tongue now or?" he asked placing the board on the desk and leaving the question open ended.

"Is everyone else busy!?" izuku shouted to his coworkers who all shouted yes back not wanting to deal with bakugo's attitude when he wasn't being pierced or tattoo'd by izuku. Izuku didn't have a problem around Bakugo, the problem arose when he couldn't focus on the work because his customer was seemingly attempting to seduce the poor artist. His insistence to be with Izuku was also an issue because god forbid he be with another customer when he came in, the indistinguishable groan when he was told to wait was enough to make the customers waiting to book flee the establishment.

"I guess it'll have to be me then" he sighed and walked to the back of the shop expecting bakugo to just follow behind (which he did). Izuku spun a wide leather seat towards the blonde and slapped the seat making a loud thump and he rolled his neck cracking the bones like loud enough you'd assume they broke. "Y'know for someone who's done this too me a bunch of time's i thought i'd know you better" bakugo sighed slumping into the seat while Izuku stretched a pair of latex gloves over his thick fingers, pinging the band against his wrist then pulling the other one on fiddling with the blue rubber.

Izuku his his blooming cheeks unable to tell if bakugo meant for his words to have a double meaning or if Izuku's mind was just all the way in the gutter. "What could you possibly want to know?" he grumbled looking to bakugo from his peripherals. The red eyed male fiddled with his ash blond locks of hair trying to spike them back up but they were flopping down and plastering to his forehead. Izuku's mini studio was ludicrously warm for the beginning of the year when it's supposed to still be winter, but his box felt like a trip to hawaii! "I dunno, why'd you start tattooing and piercing and shit" he asked gulping nervously at the needles laying out on the metal counter.

Izuku turned with the clamp looped on his fingers, a sure way to shut him up and scooted his own chair forward. "Tongue out" he ordered and bakugo smirked leaning forward "very demanding of y-" Izuku rolled his eyes and caught bakugo's tongue while his mouth was open talking and pulled it out by the clamp. "Eenngg! he huuh?" ("heey! The fuck?") bakugo began to gripe incoherently and izuku pressed harder making bakugo gasp and wave his hand "eh ehh ohay ohay" ("eh ehh okay okay"). He stopped attempting to talk but rested his warm hand's just above izuku's knee's making the green haired boy burn pink.

He fiddled with the needle and held his hands in front of him until they stopped shaking and held the clamp firmly grasped on bakugo's tongue "I started tattooing because my mum was struggling with money and I wanted to help her so I found an apprenticeship. Piercing just came easy after tattooing" izuku explained thinking about his mothers partially impressed, mostly shocked when izuku came home with his first tattoo. But she never stopped him if it was what he enjoyed. "Then you became obsessed with me and now I can't leave" he chuckled.

Bakugo's eye's rounded at the sound of Izuku's sweet laugh he'd never heard before. He would have smiled if he could have but there was a needle encroaching slowly. The tip of the sharp metal balanced on his tongue and izuku checked the placement again and nodded to himself "okay i'm going to count to 3 and on three take a deep breath through your nose okay" he quirked an eyebrow and the blonde nodded hesitantly.

"Okay 1... 2... 3 deep breath" he instructed and katsuki inhaled sharply as the needle went through the pink flesh a tiny dribble of blood and izuku switched in the jewellry so quick bakugo hadn't even realised the needle went through. "And you're done. You can exhale now by the way," izuku said, keeping the clamp on his tongue for longer than he needed to just for the satisfaction of silence but of course he had to take it off sooner rather than later.

"Did' ethen hur. Fuck i hath a lithp" he rolled his eye's and wiped away the drool at the corner of his mouth. "Hard to be sexy with a lisp," Izuku threw him an icy bottle of water he barely caught before the words caught up to him. "You think i'm thexy?" "not right now I don't" he laughed and sat back in the chair leaning over the back and hanging his arms over the armrest. "In about 5 minutes when your not afraid of moving your tongue, probably" he glimpsed at the blushing blonde and sighed. "Not afraid" he mumbled "then why do you have a lisp?"

Silence.

"Exactly." izuku retorted quickly and pushed bakugo into the leather seat climbing onto it himself and sitting between bakugo's thighs and grabbing his face. "I hate you you know that" the green haired male pushed bakugo's hair out of his face giving him a clear view of his sparkling red eye's and leaned into him pressing his soft lips against bakugo's rough, cracked ones. Bakugo's hand's hovered around izuku but izuku's gloved hands pushed them down so they rested on his waist gently.

He kissed back softly trying to pull izuku back so neither were in danger of falling of the chair and nothing could be heard except the heavy breathing and their hearts hammering rapidly in their ears. Izuku pulled away resting his forehead against bakugo who was intoxicated by his lips. "I really hate you" the freckled boy muttered and put his hands on bakugo's chest separating them slightly. "Can I come back for a tattoo?" bakugo mumbled not sure what to say and Izuku snorted sliding off the chair and standing up putting his blue gloves in the bin. "Just a tattoo?" he flirted and bakugo, still trying to reboot his brain just blinked and nodded dumbfoundedly.

"Sure come back for a tattoo" izuku laughed and showed him to the door trying too brush his hair down so he wouldn't draw any attention from his coworkers. Bakugo finally formed coherent thoughts and at the door leaned next to izuku's ear "you know why I really got my tongue pierced?" izuku shook his head and bakugo dug his hand into his pocket pulling out a pill sized piece of metal and held it in front of izuku's eye's. Clicking a button on his phone it started to buzz lightly and izuku shoved him out the shop. "GO. NOW. HERE'S YOUR CARE PACKAGE" he shouted shoving a small poly-bag in his hands and slamming the door shut behind him, hard enough an earthquake line ran up the glass.

His brunette coworker bounced up to him, "SOOO" her sweet voice started and izuku shoved her away jokingly. "Get away!"

[wild-horses1]

Just Married.

1922.

When Hannah's father, Edward, turned up on her doorstep, her face fell. She'd been in a happy, newlywed bubble, and enjoying the space and comfort of her marital home. Of course, Edward took a pin to that bubble like he always did.

Edward Gold had been a negligent father, even before Hannah's mother Katerina died 6 years earlier, of tuberculosis. He had always favoured drink over his family, and would leave for days at a time. Katerina never knew where her husband was, but he always came home when he was hungry. Like a dog.

Nobody talked about it. The neighbours gossiped about Katerina Gold's black eyes and bruised neck, but nobody said a word to her face. She had nowhere to go, and she resigned to live in misery with a man she had grown to despise.

Katerina did her best to protect Hannah and Jack. She locked them in their rooms so Edward couldn't get to them, and sometimes there were in there for hours listening to his screaming. And then, Katerina got ill. Started coughing and coughing, all through the night. Blood appeared on her handkerchief.

She died a week later, leaving her children with a man who was indifferent to them.

Hannah had never forgiven him. She had begun a new life, with a man she loved, and she was not going to let her father spoil that. The problem was, the little girl in Hannah was terrified of him.

"What are you doing here?" She said, almost breathless with fear.

"Heard you got married to Alfie Solomons."You could almost see the pound signs in his eyes.

"He's not here."She whispered like a child. Edward had waited across the road, hiding, and waiting for Alfie to leave. Until Hannah was alone.

"I'm here to see my daughter and congratulate her on her new marriage. Now, are you going to let me in, or not?" A threat hung heavily on his lips. He was not giving her a choice.

Hannah said nothing, and moved so he could go in. She closed her eyes and willed Alfie to come home.

Edward sat on Alfie's armchair, cap in hand.

The silence was deafening. Hannah couldn't find the courage to speak. She made them both a cup of tea in silence, and the tea tray shook as she walked into the living room.

"I have to-" Hannah began, but Edward grabbed her wrist. He squeezed it so tightly she was scared it would break.

"Sit down." He ordered.

Hannah mustered a smile. She had to fake happiness, and love for her father or things would go south quick.

"I have to use the bathroom. I'll be back, dad."She smiled sweetly. His eyes narrowed, and then he quickly relaxed his grip on her.

"Fine." He said, letting her go. She resisted the urge not to run. Her wrist throbbed with pain, and Hannah knew for sure she'd get a horrid bruise.

When she out of his sight, she ran into the back garden, where the outhouse was, and out into the alley.

She had to be quick, very quick.

"Hannah? What's going on?" Thank god. Ollie. She breathed the biggest sigh of relief she'd ever breathed, and grabbed him.

"Ollie, I need you to get a message to Alfie. Tell him my father's here. Tell him to come home right now." She breathed, quickly, and squeezed Ollie's arm and ran back into the back garden before he could reply.

"Nice cup of tea."Edward said as Hannah walked back in, trying to make herself look normal. Nothing was going on. She was fine.

"Yes."

She kept looking at her watch. It would take Alfie 15 minutes to get home. She had to wait it out until then.

**

The front door opened and then shut with a huge, angry bang.

Alfie.

Hannah stood, and smiled in relief. Her husband walked in, in a fit of rage, with a loaded gun in his hand. He pointed it right at Edward.

"I'll fuckin' kill you."Alfie walked over to his father-in-law and pressed the gun to his temple.

Edward's bravado had disappeared the minute he saw Alfie. He whimpered and pleaded, and apologised until he was red in the face.

"If you ever show your face in Camden again, if you ever come near my wife again, I will fuckin' kill you. I fuckin' promise you that." Alfie snarled at him.

He removed the gun from Edward's temple. It had a left a round mark.

"Get out. Now."Alfie yelled, and Edward ran for his life. The door banged, and Hannah breathed out. She collapsed into Alfie's arms.

"I'll buy you a gun, darlin''. Just in case."Alfie said, squeezing her tight. He gently held her bruised wrist, and kissed it.

He'd make sure nobody would hurt her again.

[elcorhamletlive]

Fandom: MCU (post-Avengers) Ship: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Tags: Fluff, Pining Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and the 21st Century summary:  As Steve discovers the internet, he also discovers old memes.

As Tony and Bruce climb out of the lab, the sound that echoes in the room is so foreign that it takes Tony a moment to realize it’s a laugh, and one more moment to realize it’s Steve’s.

At the top of the staircase, Tony sees him on the couch, and yeah, he’s laughing. Not politely chuckling or awkwardly forcing a laugh, mind you, but actually, genuinely having a belly laugh, complete with a pink flush all over his face, his eyes turning into tiny blue streaks as he wipes them with back of his hand, catching his breath.

It’s—well. It’s a vision, to be blunt.

“Sounds like you’re having fun,” Bruce says, and that’s the understatement of the year, because Steve looks downright delighted. He struggles to catch his breath, still grinning helplessly as he looks away from his phone.

“Oh,” he says, as if he’s just realized their presence. His flush deepens, Tony notices. Steve’s has kind of an ugly flush, that shows up in red spots coming up from his neck as well, instead of sticking prettily to his cheeks. Tony sticks his hands in his pockets to control his itch to touch it. “Hi.”

“Hey, Cap.” Clint throws himself on the couch next to him and leans, trying to take a pick at his phone. It’s rude, but Tony can’t really blame him, because he’s one step away from offering actual money to find out what made Steve laugh like that. “What are you looking at?”

Steve controls his grin into a more schooled smile, but he still perks up , and in a moment Tony is right behind the couch, leaning forward to place his hands over the cushion. From behind Steve’s broad, sculpted-by-the-Gods back, he catches a glimpse of a Twitter feed.

“I was trying to learn how to use, hmm—Twitter, right?” He pronounces it correctly, which really shouldn’t make Tony want to kiss him in congratulations, but it absolutely does. “And I found this, this page…” His face twists in an effort not to laugh. “You’re not gonna believe it. Here, I’ll show you. You guys need to see this.” He holds up the phone a little higher for Tony and Bruce to see.

As he types – a little slower than most people would – a name into the search bar, Tony’s heart kind of breaks.

“It’s genius,” Steve says, as the account opens. “I was just looking at this one—”

“Wait,” Clint interrupts. “Are you serious?”

“What do you mean?” Steve asks, with a little frown between his eyebrows that Tony’s hand itches to smooth it out. “I know it seems silly, but it’s really funny.” He turns, and, at Clint’s gaze, grows more indignant. “The pictures are very good and the captions are really creative.”

“I know,” Clint says bluntly. “It’s Dog Rates, Cap. They have over eight million followers. It’s a huge account. Everyone knows it.”

Steve’s frown vanishes, but it’s replaced by something a lot worse: surprise, and then a clear, raw disappointment that he does his best to mask. His posture deflates, his hand going to the back of his neck, rubbing it.

“Oh,” he says, and he’s back to his usual man-out-of-time voice, probably feeling old and stupid, the excitement from before already a distant memory.

It’s legitimately like someone turned off the sun. So, really, nobody can blame Tony for saying, “I didn’t know it.”

Steve looks at him. “Really?”

“Really?” Clint asks, a thousand times more skeptical, and Tony gestures flippantly at him.

“Not all of us have free time to troll on Twitter, Barton,” he says. Then he turns to Steve, who’s watching him with wide blue eyes that almost make him forget how to form words. “So? What’s all the fuss about?”

“Oh, yeah,” Steve says, a hesitant smile already blooming on his face. He turns further to show his phone exclusively to Tony, signaling for him to lean further so their heads are closer, which isn’t a configuration Tony minds, at all. “See, it’s very simple – they post a picture, and give it a rate. At first, I thought it seemed a little harsh, because, really, which dog should ever get a low rate, right? But, see—all their rates start out at ten.”

He proceeds to show some of his favorite posts. Tony’s seen them all, either from following the account or from random dog memes Rhodey sends him sometimes, but he plays along, ooooh- ing and ­ awwwww -ing at the right moments, and in no time Steve is grinning again, glad to be explaining something to someone else for a change, feeling in the loop.

Some people could say what Tony’s doing is lying, but he disagrees, because he isn’t faking it at all when he grins back.

-

After Steve finds out Dog Rates, it doesn’t take him long to find Thoughts of Dog, which he finds even more delightful. He shows it to Tony during breakfast, sitting next to him on the counter as they go through the tweets together.

“This is amazing,” Steve says. He’s at that stage where it seems like his cheeks hurt from smiling. Tony thinks he should look like this more often. Maybe all the time. “When they explained it at SHIELD, I thought the internet was more of a tool, like a huge encyclopedia. And obviously, it is, but it didn’t occur to me it could be…”

“Fun?” Tony asks.

Steve looks at him and smiles. Tony is quite fond of that sequence of events.

“Yeah,” he says. When he smiles like that, a dimple shows up in his cheek.

Tony isn’t even a dog person, but it couldn’t matter less.

-

Steve eventually expands his knowledge of animal memes and pages to include cats, which means Tony starts receiving lots of videos that were, at one point, considered the pinnacle of internet humor, with cats playing piano and sliding over wood floors.

Steve finds out about Grumpy Cat a few hours before he learns she’s dead. In between, he texts Tony a bunch of pictures of her with a message reading “this is how you look at morning team meetings”.

Tony honest-to-God giggles, because, really, he’s a lost cause.

A few moments afterwards, he receives a lengthy message of Steve saying he just found the cat in the picture had died, but she had apparently lived a long and happy life and so he hoped Tony wouldn’t be sad by finding this out.

Since Tony doesn’t immediately answer (because there’s a marching band leading what is apparently an eternal fourth of July parade in his chest), Steve then apologizes for sending the memes in the first place, and, look—if nobody sees Tony sighing, nobody can prove anything, regardless of what the dopey smile on his face might suggest.

-

On a remarkable occasion, Steve sends in a “important Avenger news – waiting for your thoughts, Iron Man” e-mail, and, when Tony opens it, he’s rick-rolled in front of his entire office.

“This is the cringiest shit I’ve ever seen,” Clint, who’s there to get suit upgrades, says.

“Shut up,” Tony says.

“SHIELD has informed him we think it’s best if he doesn’t have a Twitter account,” Natasha, who’s there to have lunch with Pepper, says, and even through her supreme spy training Tony can tell she has to try hard to keep an even expression. “For his… reputation.”

“Oh, shut up,” Tony repeats. “It would only make him more popular, and you know it.”

Natasha shrugs with a knowing smile. “To some people, maybe.”

Tony looks away, his face heating.

-

Eventually, Steve confronts him about it.

They’re on the couch, right after what wasn’t exactly a date, but also wasn’t definitely not a date either—Steve had said he was hungry, and Tony had asked if he wanted to get dinner, but then Steve said “sure, there’s pasta in the fridge”, and they had ended up eating in the living room, plates full of large portions of heated up pasta from lunch (which, against all odds, tasted really good).

Now they’re on the same couch, bodies lax and full of carbs, and sitting pretty close to each other already, although Tony does take advantage of any opportunity to slip a little closer. They’re watching as Steve scrolls through a series of images on his phone, all historical pictures or paintings with a photoshopped, photobombing squirrel.

Tony chuckles, because he barely remembers this one, and because Steve seems happy and relaxed and this makes it easier for him to laugh.

“How come you don’t know any of these things?” Steve asks with a raised eyebrow. “You work with tech.”

“Machines don’t make memes,” Tony says. Then, after a second, he adds: “At least not good ones.”

“Your profile is one of the most followed of all time on Twitter and Instagram,” Steve counters.

“Wow, okay—cyber-stalking much?” Tony replies, which makes Steve’s cheeks grow a little pink, but he doesn’t seem too embarrassed, just a little shy as he opens a small smile. Tony takes the opportunity to nest a little closer.

“I was just looking,” Steve says, his eyes landing on the point of contact between his and Tony’s shoulders. They’re so close now they’re basically leaning against each other, and Tony is about to retreat and mumble an excuse to leave and save himself the embarrassment, when Steve adds: “It’s nice. That—that you don’t mind me sharing things.” Then, to Tony’s bafflement, he comes closer and leans his head on Tony’s shoulder. “There’s so much to catch up on. Sometimes it’s nice to—to feel like I’m in the loop for a change.”

There’s a knot in Tony’s throat, and yet his body is reeling, completely taken by the warmth of Steve’s frame cuddled up against him.

There must be something in Steve’s eyes, too – something more than what his words say, something brighter and warmer that’s almost blinding as he stares at Tony, something that makes Tony confident enough to lean forward and press a kiss on the top of Steve’s head.

“No problem,” he muffles against Steve’s hair.

Steve hums pleasantly and then asks Tony if he’s seen the world’s fastest skateboarding bulldog yet.

Of course, Tony hasn’t.

[dukereviewsmovies]

Duke Reviews: Ant-Man And The Wasp

Hello, I'm Andrew Leduc And Welcome To Duke Reviews Where Today We Are Continuing Our Look At The Marvel Cinematic Universe...

Where Today We Answer The One Question Everyone Had On Their Minds When Watching Avengers: Infinity War...Where Was Ant-Man?... By Watching Ant-Man And The Wasp...

In The Aftermath Of Civil War, Scott Grapples With The Consequences Of His Choices As Both A Superhero And A Father As He Struggles To Rebalance His Home Life With His Responsibilities As Ant-Man When He's Confronted By Hope Van Dyne (Who Has Taken On Her Mother's Identity As The Wasp) And Hank Pym Who Come To Him With A New Mission...

Will They Succeed?

Let's Find Out As We Watch Ant-Man And The Wasp...

Starting In 1987, We See Janet Van Dyne (Played By A Digitally Aged Michelle Pfeiffer) And Hank Pym (Played By A Digitally Aged Michael Douglas) Tell Their Daughter They're Going To A Conference When Really They're Going Another Mission...

And Unfortunately, It's The Mission That Cost Janet Her Life When She Shrank Between The Molecules Of A Soviet Missile So She Could Disable It Shrinking Smaller And Smaller Until She Entered The Quantum Realm...

With The Hardest Thing He Did Being To Tell Hope That Janet Was Dead, We Cut To Now Where Hank Recalls How Scott Went Subatomic And Came Back Which Give Him The Idea To Dust Off Some Old Plans Of A Quantum Tunnel Which Will Shrink Them Small Enough To Enter The Quantum Realm To Get Janet Back...

Meanwhile At Scott's House, We Him Spending Time With His Daughter, Cassie In A Homemade Playhouse That He Made And Is Running With The Help Of Luis, As Scott's Been Under House Arrest After Helping Captain America In Civil War Which Was A Violation Of The Sokovia Accords...

But After Taking A Plea Deal, Scott Was Allowed To Return To The US And Was Sentenced To 2 Years Under House Arrest And A 20 Year Prison Sentence Waiting For Him If He Leaves His House Or Defies The Accords Again

And As Pym And Hope Had Provided Lang With The Technology He Used Against Iron Man, They Have Also Been Ruled In Breach Of The Accords And They Have A Warrant Out For Their Arrest Which Forced Them To Go On The Run And Sever All Contact With Scott...

Spending The Next Two Years Trying To Find Ways To Keep Himself Busy Including Learning Close-Up Magic And Setting Up A Security Company With Luis And His Partners, He Unfortunately Has A Dream Where He Relives Of Janet's Memories Of When Hope Was A Child 3 Days Until His Release From House Arrest...

Contacting Pym On A Burner Phone He Put Away, Scott Briefly Tells Him What Happened Before Realizing He Sounds Like An Idiot, He Apologizes For The Trouble He Caused Before Smashing The Phone...

Later That Night, Scott Hears A Buzzing Noise Before He's Knocked Out By A Small Tranq Dart...

Waking Up The Next Morning, Scott Finds He's Been Kidnapped By Hope, Who Left A Decoy In His Place To Not Arouse Suspicion From The FBI. Angry At Scott For Helping Cap And Forcing Her And Hank Into Hiding, Hope Tells Scott That His Dream Coincided With Hank Briefly Opening A Quantum Tunnel...

Seeing Scott's Message As A Sign That Janet Is Alive, Hank And Hope Work In Their New Lab To Create A Stable Tunnel So Hope Can Take A Vehicle Into The Quantum Realm To Retrieve Janet...

Reuniting With Pym Who's Bitter For Scott's Actions But Puts His Anger Aside As He's Their Only Hope Of Locating Janet Inside The Quantum Realm...

Hope Arranges To Get A Part From A Black Market Dealer Named Sonny Burch (Played By The Unicorn) But Realizing The Potential Profit From Pym And Hope's Research, Burch Double Crosses Her Which Leads Her To Suit Up...

(Start At 0:06)

But Despite Getting The Component, Hope Soon Faces A New Opponent In The Form Of The Ghost, Scott Goes In To Help Hope With The Ghost But Unfortunately The Ghost Escapes With The Part And Pym's Mobile Lab...

Hiding Out At Scott And Luis' Security Firm, They Tell Hank That They've Heard Tales Of This Ghost Of Theirs While Also Wondering If He Had A Tracker On The Lab Which He Did But It Was Deactivated At The Time The Lab Was Stolen And That Not Only Did The Person Who Stole It Knew What They Were Doing But They Were Phasing...

With The Lab Emitting Radiation, Hope Suggests Modifying A Quantum Spectrometer To Track It But To Do That It Means Going Into The Matrix...

I'm Just Kidding...Or Am I?

Meeting Hank's Former Partner, Bill Foster (Played By Morpheus) At The College Where He Works, He Helps Them Locate The Lab Just As The FBI Shows Up On The Campus...

Wondering If Foster's Idea Of Tracking The Suit Through The Regulators Could Work Hank Says It Could But They'd Need An Old Suit As The New Ones Don't Have Diffractors Which They Need To Track It...

Luckily, Scott Saved His Old Suit After Using It To Fight With Cap But The Bad News Is It's Inside Of A Trophy That's At Cassie's School For Show And Tell...

(Start At 1:01, End At 4:02)

Getting The Diffractor Out Of The Old Ant-Man Suit They Use It To Track Down The Lab To A House In The Middle Of The Woods Where They're Immediately Captured By The Ghost...

Wow, You Guys Think You Can Go 5 Minutes Without Being Captured By The Bad Guy...

Capturing Hank Too, Ghost Reveals Herself As Ava Starr...

Any Relation To Ringo?

Surprisingly No, But She Is Related To Another Former Partner Of Hank's Named Elihas Starr Who Hank Not Only Fired But Discredited And In An Attempt To Get His Good Name Back He Continued His Research Only For It To End In The Death Of Him And His Wife During A Quantum Experiment That Caused Ava's Affliction...

Though She Was Found By Bill Foster, Who Has Tried His Best To Keep Her Safe Since The Accident, He Couldn't Protect Her From S.H.I.E.L.D. Who Built Her Containment Suit And Used Her As A Stealth Operative In Exchange For A Cure..,

But Discovering That They Were Full Of Bullshit, Ava Left With Foster Who Created A Containment Chamber To Slow Her Decay But It's Too Progressive For Him To Stop...

Despite Ava Wanting To Kill Hank For What He Did, She Instead Watched Him Where She Discovered That Hank Was Building The Quantum Tunnel Also About Lang And His Vision Of Janet..

Revealing That They Want To Use The Quantum Tunnel So They Can Extract The Quantum Energy From Janet So They Can Repair Ava's Molecular Structure But Knowing That It Would Kill Janet, Hank Says No...

But Threatening To Turn Scott Over To The FBI, If He Doesn't Help, This Leads Hank To Fake A Heart Attack So Bill Can Open An Altoid Box With Ants That Will Grow Large When Opened So They Can Escape...

Getting The Lab Back Before They Leave, Hank Grows It Back To Large Size So They Can Get To Work Where Hank Reveals That Elihas Starr Was A Traitor Who Stole His Plans For The Quantum Tunnel As They Work...

But As They Do That Burch Captures Luis And His Partners So He Can Question Them About Scott As Ava, Desperate To Be Cured Decides To Kidnap Cassie But Before She Does Bill Tells Her That If She Does She's On Her Own Which Leads Her To Go After Other Options...

Injecting Truth Serum Into Luis, We Get Another One Of Luis' Stories As He Tells Burch Where Scott Is...

(Start At 1:14, End At 3:21)

Knowing That If Ghost Gets The Technology, He'll Be Ruined, Burch Decides To Call The FBI Believing It'll Be Easier To Steal It From Them As He Has A Contact There..

And While That's Understandable I Still Kinda Have To Say Where's The Logic In That?

Despite Having One Contact It's The FBI, There Are Agents That Are Likely To Recognize You And Are Likely To Get You...

Opening A Stable Tunnel, Pym And Hope Are Able To Contact Janet Who Gives Them A Precise Location But Warns Them That They Have 2 Hours To Do So Due To The Quantum Realm's Unstable Nature...

With Scott Back To Normal, He Gets A Call From Luis Who Tells Him Everything That Happened With Burch, Telling Hank And Hope Everything They're Rightfully Pissed And Sever Ties With Scott Once Again As He Takes The Suit To Rush Home Before Woo Can See Him Breaking House Arrest...

That Which He Doesn't But That's Just The Good News...

The Bad News However Is That Hank And Hope Are Arrested And The Ghost Kills Burch's Man On The Inside And Takes Back The Lab...

Convinced By Cassie To Rescue Hank And Hope From The FBI Despite The Risks, He Decides To Help Them Escape The FBI And Use A New Tracker To Track Down The Lab, While Scott And Hope Distract Ghost While Hank Deals With Bill Before Quantum Realm To Retrieve Janet...

Shrinking The Lab, Ghost Is Rightfully Pissed As Luis And Hope Drive Away With It Only To Be Confronted By Burch And His Men Which Leads To A Car Chase And Our Stan Lee Cameo...

Stan Lee Cameo!

With The Lab Going Back And Forth Like A Football On A Football Field Between Ghost, Burch And Team Ant-Man, It's Team Ant-Man That Gets The Lab Back However At The Last Second, Ghost Steals It And Enlarges It In The Middle Of Pier 39 In San Francisco...

But As All That Was Going On, Hank Finds Janet In The Quantum Realm, But With The Lab In Ava's Hands She Attempts Sabatoge Their Return So She Can Start Stealing Janet's Energy But Luckily Scott And Hope Stop Her And Hank And Janet Return From The Quantum Realm...

Using Some Of Her Quantum Energy, Janet Stabalizes The Ghost So Her And Bill Can Go On The Run While Burch And His Guys Are Arrested And Scott Manages To Get Home In Time For The FBI To End His House Arrest Despite Being Suspicious Of Him...

While Scott Reunites With Cassie And Gets His Buisness Up And Running, Hank, Hope And Janet Restore The Family Home On A Beach So They Can Live Happily Ever After For A While...

Or Until The Mid Credits Scene, Where Scott Ventures Into The Quantum Realm To Collect Particles In An Attempt To Heal Ava While Being Monitored By Hank, Janet And Hope, But Despite Being Successful He's Unable To Return As The Pyms Have Been Snapped Out Of Existence By Thanos...

There's Also A After Credit Scene But It's Not Important To Go Over So I'm Skipping It...

And That's Ant-Man And The Wasp And I Will Say It's Better Than The Original Ant-Man...

The Story Was Interesting, The Characters Were Better Written Than They Were In The First Movie, The Villain Was So-So But She Was Interesting I Will Say That Either Way I Say See It...

Now, Before I Sign Off I'd Like To Say A Few Words And Tell You About The Future Of Duke Reviews After We Finish The MCU...

First, I'd Like To Apologize For The Lack Of Clips In This Review But That's Because I Could Barely Find Any Good Ones On YouTube And Unfortunately It's Going To Be The Same Story With Next Week's Review Of Captain Marvel, I'll Post What I Can But For The Next 2 Weeks Be Patient With Me...

And Second As I Said I Want To Go Over The Future Of Duke Reviews After I'm Done With The MCU, Good News Is We Are Not Going Into The DCEU Or Any Other Superhero Properties For A While (And I Do Mean A While) As We're Going To Be Covering The Movies Of A Company That's Been With Us For Generations...

In Fact We're Going To Be Covering It For So Long That I'll Have To Pause In October, November And December So I Can Continue Our Traditions Of Duke's Monsterween And Duke's Yultide Reviews But Know That In January Of Next Year We'll Probably Be Back Working On That...

Now As To Which Studio I'm Not Going To Reveal Which Until My Spider-Man Far From Home Review Which Will Be In 3 Weeks But Next Week As I Said We'll Be Looking At Captain Marvel, So Until Then, This Is Duke, Signing Off...

[cyberwavelit]

Gamer's Debt (Short Story)

"Crap, all I wanted was the gold chest so I can buy some extra lives. If I don't get any more extra lives, I'll lose all my gold when I die. How am I supposed to win if I have to pay for every damn thing?" Joden stepped down the ramp of his Blourgan cruiser and surveyed the alien landscape. It was barren except for the remains of a small village that he had just annihilated with a two-ton necro-missile.

"That's life. People are generally selfish, impatient, and insecure. Game companies use these weaknesses to motivate players. Maybe you shouldn't have blown up the village, is all I'm saying." The pilot of the cruiser, Jershamalama, spoke through his comm.

"But how does anyone get the hell out of this game if they can never win? I've been stuck in this hell hole for thirty days! My body’s back in the real world, rotting away.”

"Hey, you wanted to play, didn't you? Maybe if we travel to a non-npc sector we can trade off some of this junk we get every time we kill an enemy.” His pilot stared at him from the cockpit.

Joden looked back, “I feel like a slave. That garbage is only worth a pinto cent. It’ll take decades to get to the end game. And besides, that's if we can take off with all that junk. It'll take us a few hours to get back into the atmosphere. It's like a Fetch-22."

"You mean a fetch quest?"

"Yeah, something like that." said Joden taking out his cent-o-meter. It consumed his health bar as it scanned the surrounding sector. His eyes darted around his visor interface, looking at all the blips and bubbles that pinged. “I wish I could afford the Super Hyper Gold Jetpack that all the booster players use.”

“They only release that on the first Wednesday of every other month with a sign-on fee, an option to buy stocks in EternaEntertinament, a monthly fee, a mental evaluation, and maintenance fees when your able to grab it from one of the random places it spawns, like the Hell planet Infernum or the planet Madness Descent. Plus, I hear they only give you like a 3 second jump.”

“What?!” He nearly tripped over a crumpled alien body. “You can’t be serious. My mom’s going to kill me. I told her I was going to school. I figured I could just sign up for a few games, try my hand at Galactic Teamslayer, and be back at the rent-a-plex by nine. That was a month ago!”

“Relax. They won’t even notice you’re gone. Most parents have been sucked into this new thing called Binge Child Raising. EternaEntertinament created it too. It’s a simulation where adults can raise children and not have them become reclusive, angst-ridden failures. They’re really gouging everyone for money, real and fake, young and old.”

Joden was too focused on the horizon where a few blips were going off. They were purple, which meant that they were low-value targets. Everything seemed to be purple. “I never asked--how long you been here?”

“You shoulda seen it when it was it first came out. The servers would never load and you had to sit there, in the darkness, watching a timer run out as they patched their simulation. It was like holding your breath under water.” The pilot sucked his teeth. “Hang on a sec. Have to rate the game again—after this ad.”

“Yeah, I hate doing this every hour.” The astronaut picked up a child’s toy from the clutched hand of a sloblarian. “Wonder what this is worth. I heard that we used to play with things like this, not just video games where you pay to win. Up, hang on a sec, got an ad playing.”

Joden’s reality changed. He was sitting on a park bench. A duck came up to him, honking and pulling at his pants. The countdown to the end of the ad appeared in his peripheral. It quaked and quaked until Joden threw down a few coins to skip it.

Back in game world he was still holding the toy. He threw it down with distain and a lack of remembrance for such physical trifles.

He was then asked to rate the game. He voted as he always had, giving it a one-star out of three. There was a chime and a message: “We’re sorry you’re not enjoying your time in our game world. Perhaps if you were more openminded and understanding of the fact that you may not always get what you want, you might have a better experience with our merchandise. Please lower your expectations. Thank you.”

Joden coughed to drown out the message he had heard a hundred times. “I’m so tired of game companies stealing from us. Don’t they realize that it’ll only make the game suffer?”

“Yeah,” responded the pilot, “let’s go steal something.”

“I’m so tired, Jersh. I just want to go somewhere where we can kill an alien race and grind their bones into dust. What’s so wrong with that?”

“If you only knew, kid. On its launch the game world wasn’t even finished. Eterna used the gamers to construct most of the planets using the build-and-play incentive. Those gamers signed a contract that said that they had to make at least four hundred ‘products’ before they could actually the game. They called it the ‘fix-it-later’ release. The products they were referring to was one galaxy. Those designer gamers are probably still waiting…”

“Four hund--?” Joden held up his fist to the pilot, who had been watching from the ship’s windshield. “That’s extortion!”

“Welcome to the world. They get away with it because it’s a game world. You can do anything in the game world like gambling, murder, blackmail, forced labor, and forced sodomy. Nothing’s real so nothing matters.”

The astronaut had disembarked about five hundred meters from the ship. Steam bellowed from its worn exhaust. “Why did you call me kid? How old are you? I mean I know you have the same avatar as me…”

“Age doesn’t matter either. Yeah, I couldn’t afford the customizations either.” Jersh tapped his helmet. “So, I guess we both have the same face.”

“And same weapons, gear, armor, boots, ships, weapon skins, and abilities.” He noticed a large oval blob on his visor’s HUD. It was moving closer behind a small series of stone pillars.

“Oh no, I have the blue-skinned Rigormortis rifle. It’s got this badass blue stripe on the side. Cost me 20,000 gold, 200 platinum, and 4 of my lifesaving’s accounts. If I didn’t have this stripe, I’d probably go insane or worse, color blind.”

“Shut up, dude. Something’s coming. I think it’s a surviving sloblarian. I hear they get angro really quick. I don’t want to die here, man. I never bought a 600-gold resurrection pack. It’ll take sixty days to load back in…”

Jersh responded, sounding distracted, “You’re fine. Just cap it in the head or something.”

The purple blob was twenty meters away. If it wanted to attack it would have to come out into the open and charge him. He could tell there was movement but it was more restless than threatening. Joden took out his rifle and fired at the rock tower. The gun exploded in his hands, sending his obliterated fingers in multiple directions.

“Ah damnit! I forgot about the maintenance fee!”

The figure bounded from the pillar and slunk slowly towards the enemy astronaut. It skulked across the yellow, Phallusian sand with its omni-dexterous flippers. Arriving to the hunched-over human its tugged at his spacesuit and motioned for him to come closer.

“Gross dude, it wants to talk to me. What should I do?” The rounded head bobbed up and down like a rubbery ball. It seemed to be injured or at least miserable.

Joden heard distinct crunching noises emanating from the pilot’s mouth. “IDK. Step on it I guess.”

The polymorphous blob at his feet opened its crevice-like mouth and appeared to gasp for air. But it wasn’t gasping. It was whispering. He leaned down and listened.

“Dunk…prrray…Donk pppreeeey.” It was saying, and gargled as its lips flapped. “Doooonnk plllaaaaay. Chooose nut to pprraaaaay. Fyind sumting essl to do wilth yourg tyhme.”

“Oh, hell no!” shouted the man, as he squashed the creature’s face with his boot. It was like stepping on a water balloon filled with pebbles. He looked at where his hands used to be and screamed into the sky. “What does it all mean? Why do I always have to be punished! I’ve been in the same place for too long!”

"It's not good to live in a dream.” More crunching came from the ship. “You sometimes forget what life is like."

Virtual blood splashed onto the dry dirt from his nubs. A few splatters mixed with the alien’s internal fluids. The reflective pool at his feet showed his avatar’s face, the same face of his pilots. He searched rapidly for any signs of wealth or material possession. There was nothing but ooze and viscera. Tattered cloth around the dead alien’s head was smushed and torn.  

He turned toward the ship with a look of bewilderment. “How many gamers are trapped here? We can’t be the only ones. This game isn’t anything like what they advertised. They lied to us! Who would want to be stuck in this perpetual nightmare of pay-to-play, pay-to-build, pay-to-live, pay-to-pay mechanics?”

“I don’t think you get it.” The pilot was still eating. “Companies do this to consumers because consumers let them. The general belief is that consumers are very smart but when’s the last time you heard someone say: ‘I won’t buy that because it goes against my code of ethics?’ None, no one’s ever said that. People like spending money. It’s in our blood. Its our nature to trust rich people. They seem to have all the right answers even when they don’t. They make the truths that we all follow. Besides, how could they get all that money if they had bad intentions.”

Joden used his character’s remaining strength to rush back towards the Blourgan cruiser. He felt a draft of air coming in the direction of the ship, and heard the engine roaring to life. “What the hell are you doing?”

The mercenary vessel hovered three feet off the ground and its nose pointed at the runner. Its pilot could be seen through the windshield, “Sorry newb, you’re becoming to be a real downer.”

“I thought you were my friend!” he whimpered, his nubs heaving back and forth.

The ship elevated to ten feet. “None of us are really friends. We’re all just trying to make a living. And I need one more kill for the Slayer Award. We’re all just numbers.”

As he came to the plateau where he had disembarked, he held up his invisible hands to shield his face. “I just want to go home! I just want to go home.”

A cybersonic laser beam burst from the cruiser’s forward cannons. He felt the hot bathing light of the beam and then felt nothing at all.

“I can’t get out…I can’t…” He awoke in darkness. A screen appeared that read the same message he received hundreds of times, “You have died. Looks like you have low gear and feeble weapons. Would you like to buy a booster pack?”

“No.” he responded.

“A looter box?”

“No!”

He said the same words over and over before. The message continued, “You have elected to refuse game-provided assistance. This is a poor decision. In order to continue gameplay without using game-provided assistance please insert thirty-seven-point-one resurrection tokens.”

He wanted to cry but said, “I don’t have any.”

The automated voice paused and spoke again after popping up a sixty-page form. “Well that sucks. In order to continue please complete the loan agreement in front of you. The loan is for $6,000. Sign here, here, and here.”

Joden lowered his shoulders and looked at his current debt. It read: “-387,000.” He breathed out, collapsing his chest, and grew red-faced. “No!” he shouted.  

There was another pause and the form disappeared. For several moments there was darkness and silence. “Very well.” The automated voice returned. “You have chosen reincarnation. Goodbye.”

“No!” he screamed defiantly. “No!”

Then, all of a sudden, he felt strange. He looked out through oddly-colored eyes. His hands had returned but they had three fingers instead of five. When he tried to speak, he could only gasp through what felt like a straw. The sand that he walked on grew hardened in his webbed feet. An alien girl danced toward him, carrying a toy. She hugged him with pencil-thin arms and turned towards the sky. Tattered robes fell along his arm and he patted the girl’s head. He looked up, to where the girl was gazing and saw a massive fireball break through the atmosphere. A necro-missile came out of the fiery plume, heading straight for their small, stony village. 

[laurent-ofvere]

♥ Hii I'm back. Btw, this story is from another fandom i wanted it to share it with you. Maybe it makes you and a few others happy ♥

22 ♥ … Later, Damen learns that the kid hasn’t claimed anything, that most of the claims were made for him or followed him from his previous school, VT High School. He learns that the only reason people weren’t boring their eyes into his back on his first day back was because they were too busy boring it into the new kid’s with the skin issues on his sixth day.23 ♥“How was my favorite son’s first day back?” his mother greets him with a copious dinner, steak and veggies and side dishes that will last them for days. “It was very good,” Damen says, smiling. They eat their roasted vegetables, Damen does the dishes, then they both on the couch with Netflix. When she falls asleep, Damen carries his tiny mother to bed, pulls the covers, then apologizes for ruining her life and chasing his dad away, the same way he always does when she’s finally asleep.24 ♥ Damen goes to the pool before school today. He puts on his silicone swim cap and his speedos and dives head first. He does five laps of Breaststroke, three of Freestyle, and two of Butterfly. The latter is the toughest but he needs to work on his upper body, and it’s proving to be the most effective. By the time he’s finished, he is exhausted and happy. He lets himself float before the pool starts filling up with other people and spreads his limbs in a star shape25 ♥ He floats for a few minutes, closes his eyes, and breathes through his nose, doing his very best to ignore the smell of chlorine and chemicals. He dives into the water until he reaches the bottom then comes back up again. He plays around the pool like a child and lets water heal him how it knows so very well to. Water all over and around him.26 ♥ When he is in water, he is not surrounded by air. He is free from it, from him, from everything. Only in water is he completely free. Or fire, he thinks, then shakes his head. The only reason he started swimming in the first place was because his therapist recommended to establish or at least attempt a relationship with water as opposed to fire.27 ♥ And while he was skeptical at first, Damen ended up falling in love with it. The water. It kept his mind off of air and fire. Fire… Laurent… Damen doesn’t know why his mind flashes to the new kid and his skin condition, but it does.28 ♥ They don’t have many classes together despite both being third years. Damen is in creative arts and Laurent is in science, he learns. He sees him running from one class to another in the countless layers he bundles himself in. He sees him running from the library to the counselor’s office. He sees him running from the counselor’s office to the entrance of the school.29 ♥ Damen sees him running everywhere, suddenly hyper aware of his every movement. And his body almost tingles whenever Laurent walks past him in the hallways—although the boy never spares him a glance. It’s almost pathetic how he wishes the boy would spare him a glance.30 ♥ Damen isn’t sure why but he feels somehow connected to the new kid with the weird skin condition. He had once been the kid with the weird mental condition and weird mental breakdown after all. He had been the kid at the receiving end of ‘What if it’s just made up? What does bipolar even mean?’ and all of Arvid and his group of bullies’ torments.31 ♥ He notices that Laurent doesn’t have any friends, that he doesn’t speak to anyone and that nobody speaks to him. When he isn’t in classes, he’s usually in the library with a book, or somewhere Damen can’t see him.32 ♥ “What’s your obsession with this guy?” Lydos asks when they’re both smoking in the yard while Damen hurts his neck trying to catch a glimpse of Laurent doing his daily run from the building to the gates. “I’m not obsessed with him,” Damen scoffs, pulling his black ray bans down so that everyone could stop looking at where his eyes are wandering to. “Dude, no offense. I know you like underdogs and stuff, but that guy is not an underdog.”33 ♥ “What do you mean?”, “I heard he’s actually pretty horrible and mean.” Damen rolls his eyes. Has Lydos seen the kid? He looks absolutely harmless and adorable in his huge puffer jacket and his two thousand layers. He actually wore a beanie to school today, and Damen could almost see his eyes. He can’t believe he doesn’t know the color of his eyes yet. But it’s okay, because at least he got to see his flushed cheeks.34 ♥ “Seriously, he’s quite a bitch. Don’t go near him. I’m serious. He’s like those cute little dogs that bite you if you get too close,” says Lydos. “He’ll rip you a new one.”.. “Oh, wouldn’t that be nice,” Damen smiles. “Shut up! God!”.. Laurent is not horrible and mean. He’s as harmless as Damen imagines him to be. He’s worked on this script in his head the night before. He knows he can make it work. If this boy won’t meet his eyes, Damen would give him a reason to.35 ♥ So that Wednesday afternoon, Damen waits for it to hit 13:58 right outside of the library. He knows Laurent sees the counselor at 14:00 because Damen’s session is right before his. Only this time, Damen faked a bathroom emergency to let himself out early and camp outside the library. Laurent should be coming out any second now. It all works according to plan. Well, almost. The doors swing open and Laurent and his twenty-one layers nearly bump into him, nearly.36♥ It’s as though Laurent’s body is conditioned to feel another being’s presence and stop or change its route right on time. He’s like those self-driving cars that know exactly when to pull the breaks. Laurent, however, seems shaken from the near proximity, and his eyes—blue, so blue, a beautiful contrast to the red on his cheeks, so red—are wide and scared. He’s breathless and Damen almost feels bad. He feels terrible.37♥ Perhaps Laurent really made this whole thing up because he cannot stand to be touched. Perhaps Damen is making him uncomfortable by stripping him of his personal freedom and forcing him into a triggering situation. “Are you crazy?”, Damen has spent a few days imagining the first words Laurent would say to him, but these weren’t on the list. “A little bit actually. Yeah,” Damen smiles. “Forgive me if I—”..“Don’t do this again. Are you new or something? You can’t come near me.”38♥ Damen does see fear in the short moments they spend staring at each other. But it is not fear of being touched. It is not fear of holding one’s gaze. Laurent doesn’t look half as withdrawn as Damen pictured him to be. If anything, he is glowing with confidence and self-assuredness. He is glowing with it, but he is taming it. It’s being strangled by an all too consuming fear: the fear of hurting a being, not of being hurt.39♥ Laurent walks away after that and Damen is still buzzing from the warmth and the heat that just spread inside him. He’s smiling to himself as though he’s just been injected with a happiness serum, the same one people who do not suffer from depression believe exist. Being near this kid is similar to standing next to a fireplace in Christmas with a hot cup of chocolate milk, and Damen’s fingers are aching to touch, to hurt with it if it’s going to hurt.♥ hope this doesnt annoy you, byee youre not annoying me but tbh im way too lazy to keep copy and pasting every single one of these messages in order so if you wanna share this story and post it properly then i can check it out that way!

[thebridgehqs]

Question from someone who has had bad experiences in large groups/gets overwhelmed easily- how do you suggest going about keeping up with everything going on? In a group this big it seems like it might be a little impossible or overwhelming to form connections. Thank you!

I'm sorry to hear you've had issues in large groups. To be honest, while we do have a lot of characters taken, we still feel like a small group because there's only ten of us players, and we really do our best to ensure there aren't any cliques.

Now, for practical advice on our group! We have an starter blog where we reblog all open starters, which is always one of the best places to get started, and we also have a thing we call Free Post Fridays where you can participate in meme day. These both often help create random connections as they allow creativity and most of our players don't mind if you assume friendships for those.

As for plotting, I can guarantee that you'll have plenty of people interested in that. If you decide to join our discord (which is not fast paced, if you're worried about that, we mostly use it for offering plotting options in a casual way), we have both a starter call channel and a plotting call channel.

In the starter call channel, you ask if anyone wants you to write starters for them (capping is allowed if you get overwhelmed), and if they want the starter for a particular muse of theirs, they'll let you know.

In the plotting channel, you let people know what kind of plots you want, ranging from offering a vague thing of "anyone want to be friends with my muse" to specific. For example, I recently offered plots where my character could be their tattoo artist. Once they react to your post, you then message them to work out the details.

People love different kinds of connections here, with people developing families, friends, work relationships, and of course, the usual of shipping. Given the fake lives, that means you can create headcanons that form connections a lot faster, so you can feel included straight away.

Generally, we are a fairly character driven rp where you're just expected to keep track of your muses, so trying to follow everything that's going on isn't a big deal. When there are plot drops or events, that's usually the catalyst for some more plotting, but unless you choose to participate, your muses don't have to be affected, as we know some people get overwhelmed by such things.

I'm sorry the answer was so long, I just wanted to list all the different options you've got. I'd also like to say, all of us admins are also happy to help if you're not sure where to start, there's almost always one of us available on mobile for you to talk to if you need help. In fact, I'm mobile right now and got so excited seeing your question, I couldn't even wait for whole admin team to approve my message, so this may get edited once they're online.

I really hope you join, we're a tight knit group but not so tight knit that we won't be unspeakably excited for a new friend.