#LET ME OUT LET ME OUT AAAAAAAAAAAAH

[kil9]

living in england is hell on earth

[fckyouiwontdowhatyoutellme]

I should do important stuff but my brain was like "hey remember that thing that happened to you years ago? Yeah well make that steddie and give it to the tumblr crowd!" Yeah so i do that now instead. (Apologies for mistakes, I'm only halfway through my first coffee)

Eddie was touchy, that was known amongst pretty much everyone by now. He was also a menace and a bisexual desaster and while the latter was only known by certain people, evryone knew he was a menace too. The current victim of his touchyness was no other than Steve. Yep. That Steve. Notorious ladies man and hopeless crush of one Eddie Munson since 4 years.

Through the unfortunate fate of the Upside Down Eddie got closer to his crush than he ever dreamed before. Sure okay it took him almost dying and months of physical therapy and healing but he'd take anything if it got him closer to the man of his dreams. Sue him, he's in love.

By now it was nothing unusual to be invited to hang out with the older teens of the Upside Down crew, wich is how he found himself squished between Steve, Robin and Nancy on the Wheelers couch. Was the couch made for four people? No. But it got him almost on top of Steve wich was more body contact than he expected from today. Counting in the poking/tickling attacks on Steve earlier today.

He loved to tickle Steve ever since he found out where to poke. It was an accident when Eddie was slipping on the tiled floor of Steve's kitchen, arms flailing and grabbing the first thing within reach to stabilize himself. Said first thing was Steve, who flinched as soon as Eddie grabbed his sides. He tried to play it off as being surprised by the sudden impact of the other's hands but being the menace he is, Eddie dug his fingers into Steves side, earning a yelp and a slap to his fingers. That was the moment he knew Steve was ticklish and he was gonna use it as an excuse to be close to him.

You see Eddie may be a little slow on the uptake when it comes to flirting, but he knew how to bother people the right way to get a reaction out of them. With Steve that meant poking his sides at random whenever they were together. Usually it earned him a playful slap on the fingers or Steve would just duck away with a "Come on man, stop it". But recently his reactions had changed the slightest bit. He'd still duck away or slap Eddie's hands but the last few times it was always accompanied by the faintest blush on his cheeks. Eddie took that as a hint to up his game and see where it would lead him, maybe his crush wasn't as unrequited as he thought.

Today he was this close to screaming in frustration. When he met up with Steve, Robin and Nancy to search a birthday present for Mike, he didn't let the presence of the girls stop him from being all over Steve. A poke to his ribs here, coming up behind him for a surprise double poke attack there. Eddie couldn't help himself, he just had to touch Steve or he'd feel like exploding. But not only Eddie had upped his game, no to his delight Steve finally got the memo to show an actual reaction to his teasing. And what a reaction that was. One moment his hands were poking Steve, the next he found himself pinned to the nearest wall. His hands held in a strong grasp above his head and body very close to his own. "You really are a menace today, are you?" Steve asked with a surprisingly sweet smile.

For a moment, Eddie was speechless. Was this some crazy realistic dream? Because the only time this happened so far was in his dreams. But he quickly found his words again when he saw the playful glint in Steve's eyes. "What you gonna do about it Stevie, huh? You know this won't stop me for long" he said with a grin, hoping his voice didn't sound as squeaky as it was in his head. Speaking of wich, his brain currently was an endless loop of 'holy shit, holy fuck, steve is touching me, aaaaaaaaaaaah'.

Steve let out a small chuckle and released Eddies hands from his grasp, taking a step back. "I'll find a way to stop you, trust me Eddie" with that he turned around and went back to searching Nancy and Robin. Eddie took a few deep breaths and only now noticed that his face was burning. He probably looked like an overripe tomato and his pants felt a little tighter all of a sudden but holy shit that reaction was only egging him on more. Call him crazy but he wanted to see what else Steve came up with.

Wich gets us back to Eddie being squished on the Wheelers couch. The day of shopping and hanging out had turned into an impromptu movie night/sleepover and now they were watching some movie. Eddie had no idea wich one because his brain was still racing with memories of earlier and 'holy shit i am so fucking close to steve'. The other three teens were commenting the movie and usually Eddie would be with them but not today, oh no he was still on a mission. Mission Get-Steve-to-do-something-to-me-so-I-know-if-I-can-kiss-him, wich was resuming after Eddies internal freakout of being very very close to Steve. He was so close that he could see every freckle, every mole on his face and neck and he wanted to trace every one of them wether with his fingers or his tongue. There were two moles on Steve's neck that looked like a vampire bite and before Eddie knew it he reached out to run his finger along them.

Steve's breath hitched ever so slightly and Eddie could feel him shivering the tiniest bit. Was he ticklish on his neck too? Only one way to find out. Steve's eyes were still glued to the TV, like he was trying to ignore Eddie's fingers on his throat. Slowly Eddie moved his fingers around the side of Steve's neck, featherlight in his movements to lull him into a false sense of security. There. When he reached the spot just below his ear, Steve let out a muffled little noise. Feeling a grin spread across his face Eddie moved his fingers a bit faster around the spot, resulting in Steve twitching and pressing his lips together to stay quiet. He shot Eddie an annoyed look but it was disrupted by red cheeks. Eddie only grinned wider, trying to look as sweet and innocent as possible, still slightly scratching Steve's ticklish spot.

And then, just like earlier Steve was on him in a split second. Grabbing Eddies hand, yanking it away from his neck and quickly intertwining their fingers. Eddie barely heard Robins protest of almost getting elbowed in the face over the blood rushing in his ears. Steve was holding his hand. Their fingers were intertwined and it felt like a puzzlepiece clicking into place. Eddies heart was racing and he suddenly had the terrifying thought that Steve could probably feel it through his pulse. It only got worse when Steve leaned over and whispered: "Is that what you wanted Eds?". Eddie tried to tug his hand away from Steve, this was too much to handle for his brain right now. "Nope, you stay here. I don't mind holding your hand if it means you stop tickling me" that fried Eddies brain entirely and he actually stayed still for once in his life. Or at least for the rest of the movie.

As soon as the movie was over, Robin announced that she was hungry and so Nancy called for a snack break. The girls went to the kitchen to order some pizza, leaving the boys alone in the living room. Steve has let go of Eddies hand when Nancy turned on the lights and he already missed the warmth. When Steve went to go to the bathroom he used what little time he had to gather his thoughts and make some mental notes to his mission status. So far tickling Steve got him an embarrasing half boner at the store and some really nice handholding. That could have been enough for now but no, Eddies lovestruck gremlin brain (or heart?) demanded more. If he didn't control himself at least a little bit he'd probably do something stupid tonight. Like jumping Steve and kissing him senseless infront of the girls. He had at least a bit of decency to not make them watch this, but well a man can dream.

They decided to pop in another movie until the pizza came and this time Steve took Eddies hand without a word, the "Stay still" was left unsaid. Somehow it helped slowing down Eddies racing thoughts and kept him grounded. It was nice and he liked the feeling of Steve playing with his rings. It felt so nice that his only logical conclusion was to shift the tiniest bit closer to Steve and rest his head on the other's shoulder. He didn't care that Nancy gave him a knowing look from where she was nestled to the armrest, he didn't care that Robin was eyeing their intertwined hands with a tiny grin (she held Steve's hand all the time no need to make a big deal about it) all he cared about was his hand in Steve's and the fact that he didn't get pushed off his shoulder yet.

About halfway through the movie the doorbell rang and destroyed the peace in Eddies mind. As soon as Nancy, Robin and Steve jumped up to get the pizzas his brain was in gremlin mode again. Before he knew it he was back to poking Steve in the ribs and found himself slammed to the wall only seconds later. Steve's body now flush against his, hands pinned above his head like earlier. "I told you to stop that" Steve sounded a little breathless and Eddie only managed an apologetic grin when he saw the tiny little blush covering Steve's cheeks. They both were aware that the girls were only a few feet away at the door. Eddie still wanted to do something stupid, but he managed to hold back. He didn't know how exactly, but it was an impressive effort.

"Make me!" was the only thing he said with a smirk. A challenge. To see if Steve would go as far as he would. Judging by the fact that his eyes flickered down to Eddie's lips for a split second, he would. Their moment was interrupted by Robin announcing loudly that they should get a room because she didn't want to watch this while eating. Steve let him go, strolling back to the sofa and grabbing his pizza as if nothing happened. Eddie quickly followed, trying to be as normal as he could.

The rest of the night went by fairly uninteresting, besides Steve casually holding Eddie's hand during the movies. Sometime after midnight they all got tired and decided to call it a night. Nancy retreated to her room, Robin curled up on the lazy boy and Steve arguing that Eddie takes the sofa because he sometimes has back pain. Steve himself decided to just sleep on the floor.

When Eddie woke up the next morning he instantly knew it was way too early. To his surprise he found Steve already awake when he turned around. Had he been watching him? Eddie gave him a sleepy smile and quietly asked for the time. Steve awkwarly contorted and tried to look into the kitchen from his position on the floor wich had Eddie stifle his laughter. "Uuuuh I think 7:40am" came a whispered answer when Steve rolled back facing Eddie. It was unfair how sweet he looked with sleep rumpled hair and disheveled clothes. Eddie felt his heart beat faster again and a smile threatened to spill over his face. Steve gave him a confused look. "What?" he asked but it was swallowed by a yawn, wich made him look even cuter in Eddies eyes.

"Nothing" he answered and sat up, patting the space next to himself, "C'mere, that floor can't be comfortable". Steve huffed out a tiny laugh and hoisted himself on the sofa in one not so graceful movement that had his spine crack.

"What makes you say that?" Steve's voice was muffled by the pillows he fell face first into and Eddie had to stifle his own laughter. Steve adjusted himself, curling around Eddie like a dragon around his hoard and bliked up at the other boy. "Mornin' Eds" he said softer than he ever talked to Eddie before and aforementioned metalhead wanted to melt. If anyone had told him a year ago that he would be graced by the sight of a sleepy Steve Harrington looking up at him with nothing but sleepy fondness, he wouldn't have believed them. But here he was, Steve pressed against his back, his head almost in his lap and if Eddie didn't know better he'd think he was still dreaming. It felt all too natural to sink back into the couch a little deeper, leaning against Steve's torso and burying his hand in the boys incredibly soft hair.

"Mornin' Stevie" he whispred back, equally soft. If this really was a dream he never wanted to wake up because right now, pretzeled together with Steve on the goddamn Wheelers sofa of all places his life felt perfect. Not even Robins snoring could disrupt that moment. Steves eyes had closed again the moment Eddie started playing with his hair and his hand came up to search for Eddie's unoccupied one, slotting their fingers together like the night before.

Eddie must've fallen asleep again too, because he woke up to something tickling his neck. Said something turned out to be none other than Steve. Precisely Steve's lips that were currently trailing the softest of kisses up and down his neck and cheek. He turned his head slightly to see Steve still having his eyes closed but in between the kisses he saw the tiniest smile on his lips, like he knew exactly what he was doing to Eddie. "Your heart is racing" he whispered.

Eddie was still half asleep and mumbled out a "Uuuh its always like this". He instantly felt stupid when he heard Steve giggling and couldn't help but bark out a laugh. Unfortunately that only startled Robin awake, wich made Steve laugh even more. They were both by now laughing and almost slipping off the sofa while Robin shot them a death glare. So much for a little more time in the soft bubble they created for themselves. After that Robin woke up Nancy and whatever mood was between them evaporated by the time they made breakfast.

The rest of the day went by without anything else happening. Eddie didn't want to provoke Steve in broad daylight, the thing they had this morning was enough to last him a few days without the constant need to be around Steve.

Or so he thought.

Because two days later he found himself at Steve's place for another movie night. This time without the girls, just the two of them. Was that supposed to be a date? Had his weird approach of flirting worked? Eddie was nervous all of a sudden.

"You're right, your heartbeat is actually that fast all the time" Steve commented from where he had laid his head on Eddies chest.

Eddie just poked his ribs, grinning at the way Steve twitched. "Told you so" he sing songed in an attempt to mask this nervousness. He actually like puking his guts out any minute now and wouldn't that be romantic? As if Steve sensed his inner turmoil he grabbed Eddies hand and began playing with his rings. It instantly calmed both of them down.

For a while they silently watched the movie, only for Eddie to let out a "blergh" when two characters on screen kissed. Steve looked up to him with furrowed brows. "What? You don't like kissing Eddie?".

Eddie only looked back perplexed, stammering out: "What? No.....I uh......uhm.....i don't hate it but.....i dunno". Smooth Munson, very smooth.

Steve wiggled himself up a bit higher so he could look Eddie in the eyes, his gaze only flickering down for a second. Eddie was pretty sure he looked like an overripe tomato again, and he was sweating. Neat. But despite that he felt a soft pair of lips press to his own and his brain short circuited.

Yep that's the death of Eddie Munson. Death by kissing the most beautiful man he knows, what a way to go. 'Kiss back you fucking idiot!' was the only helpful thing his brain supplied to all this and as soon as he did, it shut down again.

He doesn't know how long they were kissing but it didn't matter, he was kissing Steve, Steve was kissing him. That's all that mattered.

When they finally parted, Eddie sunk back into the couch cushions. "You okay there?" Steve asked with a smile in his voice, still hovering over Eddie.

"Eeeh no, because the fucking man of my dreams just kissed me? I am so not okay in the best way, how about you?" Eddie answered, shoked by how strangled his voice came out.

"Hmm, in that case I am also so not okay because I just kissed the man of my dreams too and he even kissed back" with that Steve leaned down, resting their foreheads together. "And if he doesn't mind I'd love to kiss him again even if he can be a menace sometimes"

Eddie just nodded dumbly and pulled Steve down by his shirt to crash their lips together. They didn't know how long they kissed, with wandering hands and barely a break to take a breath. In the background the movie ended but neither of them cared, too caught up in one another.

They only broke apart for a bit longer when Eddie poked Steve's ribs again, earning a delightful squeak from the younger. "Just for the record, don't think you can distract me with kisses sweetheart" he said with a smirk.

Steve only smirked back, snaking his hands towards Eddies wrists. "Maybe not with kisses, but I have my ways"

[maeshelix]

HI HI... it's Leolithe here! FINALLY INTERACTING. I see you in the notes of my Lotus posts and i am DEATHLY curious to know your opinions on the Lotus system! Both as characters in general and also what you'd love and/or hate to see in their story. The idea of a Sentient AI mimic who is a system is so incredible to me, but I wonder if there's anything about Natah, Lotus or Margulis you would change?

Also, how many of you have played Warframe? Has everyone tried it or is it just not everyone's cup of tea? Should I direct my questions to specific people in the system? I'd love to hear more Lotus thoughts!! :3

Before we respond, here's a message from Rokoko:

LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOUR ART IS SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOD AND YOURE SO RIGHT ABOUT THE LOTUS OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG AAAAAAAAAAAAH 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃

Now, to answer your questions. I'll start with the last ones.

We've all played Warframe, and each have found something to enjoy in it.

We used to play it on the Switch, long before we found out we're we. Eventually stopped for reasons I can't remember. Probably because it was Warframe on the Switch. Lmao.

Recently ported our account to PC, which has been nice. Caught up on everything, so now we're just taking turns making frames and enjoying the loop. Learning how to mod. Deep in the grind. Ignoring rivens cause they scare us. The usual, I'm sure. Lmao.

Asking specific members for their opinions is fine. Just will take longer to get answered. Unless you're lucky. We can't really control who fronts, unfortunately. But you can still do it, if you're curious about one of us. They'll definitely appreciate the attention. Probably. Lmao.

On the Lotus, we absolutely love her. Love all three of them.

Zero loves Lotus and Natah the most. She's an AI, so she relates to their struggles, but we are all enamored with them.

Marguils' resolve, Natah's tenacity, Lotus' deducation. Their histories with Ballas. Their histories with the Orokin in general. Their histories with eachother. With Marguils' memory, her legacy, before she came back. Their love for the Tenno. Their children. Their dedication to protecting the origin system.

All three are amazing. Their plurality is very interesting, originally being a synthetic mimic with two different sets of memories in them. Eventually culminating in three different entities in one. It's unique and engaging.

Our favorite characters in Warframe, to be sure. They're amazing.

We'd love to seem their plurality be more noticable, in the future. We're all in on them being plural, but it is admittedly easy to miss. A line of dialogue unheard, a helmet left uninteracted, a line of text left unread, and you're probably not gonna know they're plural. We want them to start bickering during a mission. We want Lotus to be explaining something, ony the go silent for a time, then for Natah or Marguils to take over. We want some way to talk to them outside of missions, for character moments.

I don't know how likely any of these will be, personally. But we'd like to see them.

That's also what we'd change, honestly. The inability to change between the three was annoying, so we'd remove that from The New War. Or add a fourth option of "take turns". We want to see them interact. We want a blatenly in-your-face system.

We'd hate for Natah and Marguils to be forgotten, eventaully. For Lotus to be considered the default. For some convoluted story beat to fuse them all into one mind, as is annoyingly common in system stories. Since that's the only good end singlets can imagine for a system. Natah and Marguils getting forgotten would be disappointing and annoying, but if they all fused into one we'd probably drop Warframe immediately.

Hope these answers are good @leolithe. Don't know if I did a good job of expressing our love for this system but, we do truly love them. Thank you for the question.

[danicadenniss]

DreamWorks Trolls: The Beat Goes On

Rapunzetroll

Once upon a time, there is a happy king Peppy, his wife Queen Tulip and his older daughter Viva, in the castle, Queen Tulip is pregnant with their second child, she groaned in pain.

Queen Tulip: (grabbing a small glass cup of water by take to sip and then it’s dropped on the floor. Groan) Peppy! My water is broken, I’m in labor.

King Peppy: (screaming in echo) AAAAAAAAAAAAH!

At the forest, a small golden yellow flower blooms on the ground, in the cabin, white skinned man with black spotted, wearing a rag clothes, his name is Spot, he heard over the castle.

Spot: What’s that sound?

Back in the castle, He screamed in his horror, Queen Tulips slapped his face and pulled his body.

Queen Tulips: Don’t say that again!

Young Viva: Daddy, where are you going?

King Peppy: My guards and I are going to the forest and back the flower for her.

Young Viva: Daddy, I’ll go with you!

King Peppy: No! It’s too dangerous for you, I want Toad to keep you safe.

Toad: Yes! Your highness!

King Peppy and his guards walked out of the castle and entered into the woods, he seemed a pink flower, Spot wrote Don’t ever steal my flowers from me!

Toad Guard #1: What’s are we going to do?

King Peppy: Now, I want you to glad that flower over here.

Toad Guard #1: As you wish, your highness.

The guards walked in the garden, they pick the flower and put it into a bag, they race on time back to the castle, Spot walked and see his flowers is gone.

Spot: (Gasp) Who’s the hell, did it? (looking at wood) Did the king do that’s? I’ll get them soon!

Back to the castle, doctors and nurses make the medicine, with a golden yellow flower to heal Queen Tulips, it’s a beautiful baby dark pink troll, a princess is born.

King Peppy: We are going to named our baby princess.

Young Viva: How’s about Poppy?

Baby Poppy: Mama and Dada (giggling) Viva

Young Viva: Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! She saying my name.

King Peppy: Hahaha!

Queen Tulips: Awww, welcome to our family and the world, Poppy, yes we do!

-6 Months Later-

After she was born, she fast asleep in the cradle, Spot broke in the castle, he walked to her room, then he put a pillow replaced in the cradle.

Spot: Give me, my flowers back to me. (Grabbed Poppy in his bag and he out of the castle, he jumped down to a small trampoline)

King Peppy: Poppy, it’s feeding time…. What the? (Looks at a pillow in a cradle) My daughter! (Screaming)

Queen Tulips: (gasp) No!

Young Viva: NOOOOOOOOO! (Sobbing)

King Peppy: (echoing in the castle) Somebody kidnapped my daughter!

Spot: (running out of the castle and going back to the forest, and then he saw a tower for hiding spot.) HAHAHAHA! I will never get caught! Hahahaha!

-20 Years Later-

Poppy grew up into a beautiful and sad adult, with her rag clothes and her hair is long inches. She swept the floor and sat down in the chair. Spot walking back to and says.

Spot: Rapunzetroll, let’s down your hair now!

Poppy throw down her hair, Spot climbed up and tells her about to do chores and never get out again. With his evil laugh.

Spot: Hahaha! (Slide down out of the tower, pull up her hair.)

Poppy: Let’s me out of here!

The brave prince and his older knight brothers, are got hired by the king, and search for a wanted criminal who kidnapped her, 20 years ago. The prince arrives at the tower.

The Prince: Ahem, Rapunzetroll, let’s down your hair. (Throw down her hair and he climbed up to the top. He saw her and smiled at him.)

The Prince: Are you the lost princess?

Poppy: Yes, I’m Poppy, and I’m a lost princess, I got kidnapped by a criminal, I was a baby. I was being a slave to him.

The Prince: I knew that criminal is out there, but how’s?

Poppy: Are you Prince Branch?

Branch: Yes, I do! My brothers are looking a dangerous criminal. (Held a wanted poster of Spot who’s been charged for kidnapping a princess.)

Poppy: We could set a trap for him. How’s?

Branch: I got some backup, to trap him.

Poppy: I’ll cut my hair short and it’s grew back. (He cuts her hair short and Spot walked to the tower.)

Spot: Rapunzetroll, let’s down your hair! What! I can’t believe, she can’t even hear me! Well the guards are going to capture me! But I’ll come up to the tower. (Climbing up to the top, the brothers sneak up to the tower, they hide behind a table, looking at each chair as he sat down)

Branch playing his guitar in a song by making him asleep.

Spot: Hmm, I wonder if I’m going to…(yawn) sleep (snoring)

Poppy: (whisper) Thank, Branch (kiss on his cheek and make him brush)

Branch: (whisper) Ready

Poppy: (whisper) Ready

Knight #1: (whisper) Let’s bros!

Poppy: (throws her hair pieces like a rope at him, but Spot is awake now, he got stuck in the chair with glue on it) Yes!

Spot: Hey, hey, hey hey! Don’t do that like this and you can’t get out from the tower again! Wait, wait, wait!

The brothers tied Spot in to a notch, Branch got the handcuffs on him. He say.

Spot: NO! Don’t ever arrest me! (Poppy disliked being treated like a slave and kidnapped by him, Tiny Diamond jumps up on the table.)

Tiny Diamond: You can’t get away so easily!

Spot running out of the tower, Tiny Diamond jumped up to Rhonda and hustled towards him.

Tiny Diamond: Treat your own medicine! (Rhonda hustled coming closer to him and then knocked him out of the forest and send him to the dungeon.)

Poppy, Branch and the brothers put him behind bars and he begged for his own mercy.

Spot: I learn my lesson, I swear I sneaked into the castle and treated all the children with responsibility.

Queen Tulips: (walking in and gasping)

Poppy: Hi mom, I’m back! (Queen Tulips hugged her) I’m explaining, Branch and his brothers are my heroes.

King Peppy: Poppy, is that’s you?

Poppy: Dad! (Hugged him)

Viva: Poppy!

Poppy: Viva (Hugged her)

King Peppy and Queen Tulips: Thank you for saving our daughter.

Branch: My pleasure!

They fall in love then they got married and they live together a happily ever after.

The End

[lovetransaction]

happy dadfucker friday! as a fellow canadian, if you had to set a d/j story in canada, where would it be?

AAAAAAAAAAAAH IN MOTHAFUCKIN TRANQUILLE

I mean more properly in Kamloops but they'd be there in order to break into Tranquille. My friends and I once drove out there onto the lands and it was creepy as shit and we didn't break in because we were in our thirties and didn't want criminal records lol but--

john and dean would go there and they'd be cranky because john sold it to the boys as a trip, a family vacation, hey there's this weird place we'll drive past that's a buncha polka-dot lakes, bet that'll be cool. but the spotted lake, you can't really go down into and it's underwhelming, and they're tired of feeding off boxes of timbits, and sam is scrunched down in the backseat with his arms folded loudly declaring periodically that this isn't a vacation it's just MORE DRIVING and it's BORING, and john takes them onto a service road that seems to go on forever.

until he pulls up and shuts the car off and says, sam, go to sleep. your brother and me are gonna be back in three hours. if we take longer than that, get the mossberg and the blessed rosary and come to the solarium. dean's heart leaps in excitement and sam finishes drinking the last clearly canadian and grumbles and burrows under the jacket dad throws over him.

it's an abandoned asylum like any other but john talks about his theories out loud and dean nods with a thoughtful frown at each one. he even manages to make an observation about the ectoplasm behind some of the rotted peeling paint on the wall and dad scuffs his hair. the ghost turns out to be a boy who was sent to the nuthouse by his father as a convenient way to avoid the mounting suspicions that the father was molesting the boy. dean feels sorry for him but also disdainful. they get back to the car with eighteen minutes to spare, and sam wakes up long enough to say, i thought you forgot me.

let's find some breakfast, john says as he starts up the car and eases it out in reverse, arm slung across the passenger seat with his fingers brushing the ends of dean's hair. blueberry pancakes, whaddyou boys think?

sam's already asleep again now that he knows he's not needed. dean reaches for the timmy's cup with two inches left of a cold double double and feels very grown-up as he says, we could keep driving a while longer.

[sebsxphia]

I just worked a 14 hour shift and I just can’t stop thinking about Rhett giving you back rubs after a long day n telling you to quit your job(s) to be his lil house wife!! Like, you’ll be on the couch, legs across his lap n he’s massaging your feet just listening to you ramble 🥹

“And then Lily started waving her hand in my face like I don’t know how to do my job! like— girl, we’ve been here the same amount of time!” you exclaimed, head falling back against the arm rest.

“So quit.” Rhett said matter-of-factly.

You sat up tensely. “Rhett, what are you on about?”

“Baby, I’m just sayin’. I make enough to support both of us. I got some land in my name, and I got enough saved up for a few years. we’ll be fine. I just want my sweetheart to be happy and healthy.” He said, still rubbing your feet.

“Rhett I couldn’t—“ you started, but he interrupted.

“I don’t wanna hear it. It’s your choice, m’ love. You know I’ll always be here to support you. No matter what.” Rhett said, pulling you on his lap.

“That does sound nice…havin’ babies ‘n lookin’ all pretty for you when you get home..wearing those sundresses you like” You said, playing with the curls on the nape of his neck, resting your forehead against his.

Rhett groaned, resting his head in your neck. “You keeps talkin’ like that I might have to take you upstairs ‘n fuck you full of me.”

You let out a content sigh, “That also sounds nice.”

Rhett took you in his arms, and you guys made your way upstairs.

GIVE ME MY COWBOY NOWWWWWWWW

AAAAAAAAAH DEAR ANON GIVE ME MY COWBOY NOWWWWWW AAAAAAAAAAAAH

oh just to be his pretty, perfect housewife who cooks him warm meals, keep my belly full with his babies and lets him love on me when he gets home from the ranch 🥹 this is so, so sweet my dear anon! this was so wonderful to read, thank you so much for this! 💌💗

[steves-strapcollection]

For your WIP Wednesday Thursday Probably Friday: spent all winter waiting for the sun to arise!

OF COURSE UR ASKING FOR THIS ONE. 💕

Again... the 3 sentence rule is so short and I churned out so many words so I'm posting more than that.

Steve frowned because this guy sounded bored and relaxed, nothing like Nancy had been describing earlier which made him a bit angry. She rode his ass about this rooming list and the guy was actually super laid-back? “Yes, hi Chris, I’m Steve? The event manager for your group arriving in July?” Steve repeated, keeping his voice pleasant even if his building headache was making him bitchy. “I was just following up to introduce myself over the phone, and also to confirm that you received the rooming list I just sent.” “Oh shit, let me check,” Chris huffed, and Steve could hear him messing with the phone. “Yep, looks like we got it. You’re fast.” Steve preened under the praise. “Thanks. I understand how important speedy confirmations can be, especially during a stressful tour,” he said sweetly, and Chris laughed. “It’s a stressful tour, alright,” he sighed. Steve hesitated a couple seconds before he said, “Alright, I’m glad you got the list. I won’t reach out again until the beginning of June, but please—do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or requests.” “Oh, you’ll definitely be hearing from me, Stevie,” Chris teased, and Steve blushed a bit at the nickname. He knew he should be annoyed by it a little, but it was cute, and Chris’s voice really did it for him. “Sounds good, Chris,” Steve said, and he wasn’t pretending to be nice completely. “I’ll talk to you later.” At that, Steve hung up his phone and stared at his keyboard for several long seconds. He hadn’t dealt with a flirtatious guest or client since he left front desk a year ago, and already this felt unfamiliar territory. Maybe Chris would lose interest and settle down as they worked together. Steve found himself quietly hoping that didn’t happen, though.

Aaaaaaaaaaaah I'm hoping these snippets are doing this fic justice 😭

[itsuki-minamy]

"AYAKA – SIDE STORIES 04": AFTER THE RAIN

TRANSLATION: NARU-KUN

* List of Chapters

Amano Yako moved for the first time in his life in the summer when he was seven years old.

Previously, he and his parents lived in Ichinoshima. However, due to the volcanic eruption that occurred in Shinoshima, the area where the Amano family house was located was especially damaged. As a result, they were forced to move into temporary housing provided by the city.

At that time, or rather, even now, construction work was carried out daily on the island of Ichinoshima in order to achieve early reconstruction. Frequent noise and dust. And it seemed that Yako, who was born with a weak body, would not be able to bear it. The mild fever and cough continued for more than two months.

Concerned about the health of their only child, his parents decided to move to an old house in Ninoshima where Yako's grandparents once lived. They have been there many times and are sure that Yako knows it, it's quiet and the air is clear. His parents thought that perhaps his condition would improve.

And today is moving day. Unfortunately, has been raining since morning.

Despite having trouble walking, his parents carefully moved furniture and other items. Fortunately, the surrounding residents, who had already greeted them previously, lent their support, so the work went smoothly.

Yako also wanted to help, but they wouldn't let him do anything because they didn't want to make him sick. He thought that at least he would have some of his personal belongings, especially the cardboard box that contained his favorite adventure novel, but even that didn't come true. A boy of about the same age who had come to help him quickly took it away.

He couldn't do anything; they wouldn't let him do anything.

Yako felt so pathetic that he hugged his knees alone on the porch. When he looked outside, he can see his parents and neighbors working hard in the rain.

"Ah..."

He doesn't know how many times he sighed. When Yako dropped it...

"Hey..."

A boy was sitting on the terrace. He was the one who went ahead of him carrying cardboard.

"Your name is Yako, right? I'm Chatarou. Fukuwake Chatarou."

"Thank you."

When he suddenly called out to Yako and was nervous, Chatarou immediately extended his hand.

"Let's be friends."

Honestly, Yako was happy to hear Chatarou's words. Because he is physically weak and cannot play actively, he was unable to make friends in Ichinoshima.

However, Yako was unable to take Chatarou's hand. The reason was the four people standing at the front door, beyond Chatarou sitting next to him. Yako's parents and probably Chatarou's parents. They looked at him as if they were waiting for something.

The clever Yako understood that. A boy who was standing in front of him asking for a handshake was approached by adults who asked him to do it.

"If you have any problems, tell me. I'll be a great help."

Chatarou smiled, showing his white teeth.

They probably told him about Yako's situation.

--- He has a weak body.

--- He has no friends.

--- So please be nice to him.

--- Please help him.

No wonder his parents asked Chatarou to do it. They had been watching his only son look lonely for a long time.

However, that wasn't the kind of friend Yako wanted.

"No..."

"Eh?"

"I don't want to!"

Yako glared at him and forcefully pushed Chatarou's hand away.

It can't be helped that he can't make friends because of his physical weakness. However, asking someone to befriend them out of sympathy is different. Yako was still young and his budding self-esteem did not allow it.

"Hey!"

Chatarou's eyes narrowed and he pushed Yako's chest. The strength of the pusher's arms and the lightness of the pushed. As a result of their confrontation, Yako fell backwards and received a severe blow to the back.

He was choking and felt like coughing.

However...

--- Is it okay to give up?

Yako swallowed it and stood up, colliding with Chatarou with his entire body.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Speaks!"

The two tangled ones ran off the porch and fell into the Amano family's garden, which was muddy with rain.

"I don't need friends like that!"

"I don't even want people like you!"

In the rain, they hit each other, ripped each other, bit each other and pulled each other's hair. Both parents ran in and intervened, but it took more than five minutes to completely separate them.

The next day.

Yako had a fever and was in bed. That was a reaction to the big fight the day before. The day after he overexerts himself, his body usually asks for rest.

"Cough, cough..."

Coughing, Yako looked out the window. His eyelids were puffy and what he could see in his reduced field of vision was the perfect blue sky. The rain that had continued since yesterday stopped an hour ago.

"...The weather has been pleasant."

Yako felt resentful of his body. He was sure that he... that active boy would already be running around the slightly humid beaches and forests of Ninoshima. It was easy to imagine what he would look like.

"You are very clever..."

When Yako murmured that with envy...

"Are you still sleeping? It's already noon."

The window burst open and a boy looked out from there. It's Chatarou.

Due to yesterday's fierce battle, he has therapeutic gauze stuck all over his face and arms.

"You... cough, cough..."

"I really hope you get better soon."

Looking at Yako who was coughing, Chatarou said that with admiration. Strictly speaking, Yako's symptoms were different from a cold, but Chatarou's parents may have explained it in an easy-to-understand way.

"What do you want...?"

"This. Mom asked me to bring it to you. It's an apology gift."

Chatarou threw a rectangular box into the room. When Yako sat down and opened the lid, the contents were dorayaki. The number is three. The number of pieces is extremely small considering the size of the box.

"Eh?"

"Your family is a family of three, right?"

Chatarou laughed without a trace of guilt. If you look closely, you can see the skin of an azuki bean on his lips.

"Hurry up and get over your cold. Then, let's get back to finishing yesterday."

"Eh...?"

Yako's eyes widened at Chatarou's statement.

He was very surprised that he was still trying to get involved with him after all the mud and wrestling they had been doing.

"Yesterday my father and the others stood in my way, but next time I will win."

Chatarou moved his fists from left to right as he exhaled. It's probably an imitation of boxing. He may be good at working out, but he looks pretty good.

"I'm in a bad mood. Just like you."

"Eh...?"

When Yako asked him, Chatarou began to roll up his sleeves. There is a tooth-shaped scar around the exposed shoulder.

"Of course. You were crying next to me, and even when I hit you, you didn't let go."

"I'm sorry too..."

At that moment, Yako knew it for the first time. The identity of the mysterious energy that gave Chatarou a good fight because of his superior physical strength. That something like that was swirling inside him.

The Ichinoshima children, who were similar in age, treated him as if they were treating with a boil, or did not want to get involved with Yako in the first place because they thought it would be a hindrance to their playtime. As a result, Yako has never had the chance to show his competitiveness.

In a sense, Yako may have become the "real Yako" after having a serious fight with Chatarou.

"Then I'll be off like a frog. See you later."

"Tomorrow everything will be better."

Chatarou waved and started to leave the window, but Yako called him to stop him.

"So it will finally be tomorrow. This time I will win again."

"You didn't win yesterday either! I mean, if they hadn't stopped us, it would have been me!"

The two boys stared at each other through the window.

But soon they began to laugh.

"See you tomorrow, Yako."

"Yes. See you tomorrow, Chatarou."

That's what they promised.

+++++++++++

The rivalry between Amano Yako and Fukuwake Chatarou began after a childhood fight. That continued even after they entered elementary and middle school.

Their daily life is to compete in everything and go through joys and sorrows.

"Damn! I lost to Yako again because of the number "5" on my report card!"

"It doesn't matter, Chatarou."

Yako gave Chatarou a sarcastic smile as he stomped to the ground.

The two were walking home from high school under the scorching summer sun. That day was the closing ceremony and they were playing with the report cards that had just arrived.

By the way, Chatarou's report card had only a "5" in health and physical education, while Yako had five in Japanese, social studies, mathematics, science and foreign language.

"I will pay this debt at the table tennis tournament at the neighborhood association next week! Wash your neck and wait!"

Chatarou stuffed his report card into his bag with one hand and pointed at Yako with the other.

"Huh... table tennis."

Yako groaned with a slightly pale face.

Seeing this, Chatarou smiled and showed his white teeth.

In that short time, his expressions had completely changed.

"Can you stop my slice serve, Yako-kun? Well, do your best not to fall asleep the day after the tournament."

Chatarou patted Yako on the shoulder as if to provoke him.

"Uh, ah. That room for maneuver is the key to survival."

After saying that, Yako pointed back. Chatarou... or rather, the glasses he started wearing last year.

"You don't know if my strong smash breaks your glasses again like it did in the last badminton tournament, right?"

"What's with the "hard hit"? It wasn't the ball that broke the glasses, it was your racket that got away!"

"Is that so? That day Chatarou made me run so much that my consciousness and memory were confused..."

Cough-cough, Yako coughed deliberately.

"Aren't you suddenly sickly and weak? Not only your body but also your head has become weak?!"

"It's loud, idiot. You just know how to exercise."

"Shut up, Yako. All you can do is study."

The two landed light blows on the other's shoulder while uttering childish curses. These skirmishes were also part of their daily life.

The two have been competing against each other since childhood, but now that they are in the second year of high school, it has become clear that the other has strengths and weaknesses.

Yako is good at using his head and bad at exercising.

Chatarou, on the other hand, is good at moving his body and weak with his brain.

Therefore, if you want to win for sure, you only need to compete on your own field. But they didn't do that. Like today, they compete based on qualifications, and that time they competed based on exercise.

If they get the chance, they will compete by solving puzzles and, of course, they will compete by eating lunch boxes too fast. Neither Yako nor Chatarou had the option of "I won't do it because I don't think I'll win".

--- I don't want to lose to this guy.

Compete driven by that feeling. That's the rivalry between two people who hate to lose.

"If you say so."

Chatarou's hand, which had already been about to launch a counterattack blow an unknown number of times, stopped.

"Have you heard the rumors about the ruined cabin? It's said to be haunted."

"Yes. I've heard about that several times."

Yako nodded to Chatarou's question.

A ghost appears in a ruined cabin that stands peacefully deep in the forest.

The current hot topic at the high school Yako and Chatarou attend is a ghost story that has been told a million times before. The cabin had been used as a residence and studio by a painter, but was now intact and in ruins.

"Let's get rid of the ghost."

"Do you believe in such a common ghost story?"

Yako frowned, as if saying it was nonsense. So...

"Hey, Yako. If you're scared, tell me honestly that you're scared, okay?"

Chatarou raised his glasses and the corners of his mouth and smiled provocatively.

"If not, let's go now to the old cabin. It's a test of courage."

Apparently, whether ghosts appear or not is secondary, and Chatarou's intention is to have a match before the next table tennis tournament.

If that is the case, Yako's answer is already decided.

"Let's follow the results and win two games in a row."

Yako said a brave line. However, contrary to his words, his expression was full of joy as he went out with his friend.

The rumored dilapidated cabin was located in the forest at the foot of the mountain on the southwest side of Ninoshima. The thick branches and leaves of the trees block the intense sunlight and a fresh air floats that doesn't feel like summer. However, at the same time, visibility is extremely poor because light no longer reaches the area.

In conclusion, there were no ghosts in the ramshackle cabin. However, he appeared right after Yako and Chatarou left after completing their quest.

A monster made entirely of wood that can only be described as a "giant walking tree".

At the sudden encounter, both Yako and Chatarou couldn't help but let out a stupid voice, "Huh?". What glared at them was a large eye that opened in the center of the monster's body.

And the monster raised high his green arms that looked like trunks...

"Yako!"

Chatarou quickly regained consciousness, grabbed Yako by the neck, and fell into the cabin behind them. Immediately afterwards, a roar and impact hit the two of them.

"The cabin..."

Yako's voice shook as he hovered over his butt. The body that should have escaped into the cabin was now exposed to the outside air. A loud bang crushed it from the ceiling and the entrance itself disappeared.

"If he had hit me, I would have died..."

Chatarou, who had been lying on his back, suddenly sat up.

Then, through the smoke of dirt and dust that had filled the area, he saw the shape of that monster.

Furthermore, he once again waved his arms in the air.

"Run away quickly!"

"Yes!"

Yako and Chatarou immediately got up and ran towards the back of the cabin. They stepped on the easel and drawing table on the floor, kicked down the back door, and ran.

The next moment, a loud noise and wind pressure that was not comparable to before reached the two from behind. They were able to imagine it without looking back. The monster's second attack destroyed the cabin.

"Chatarou, that monster could be..."

"Ah. This is the first time I've seen one so close, but I think it's an Aramitama."

The two looked at each other as they fled through the forest.

Aramitama.

A mysterious creature called Mitama floats around Ayaka Island and is invisible and harmless to ordinary humans. However, the story changes when strong emotions are absorbed and stagnated. It acquires a body by absorbing surrounding matter and goes crazy without orbit. This kind of thing is called Aramitama on this island.

How many people must have visited that cabin after hearing ghost stories before Yako and Chatarou? Although it varies from person to person, they brought a strong emotion of fear to the place.

The two children acted as the final trigger, and the Mitama around the cabin transformed into Aramitama.

"There's nothing we can do about the Aramitama. Is there something about the pulse connector boy?!"

"Chatarou?!"

At this moment, Chatarou, who was running beside him, stopped. When he looked, he saw that a thick vine was wrapped around his neck, and was growing from the Aramitama of the great tree behind him. Apparently, that arm was shaped like a long swirl of vines.

"Let go!"

Yako picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground and smashed it against the vines that trapped Chatarou. However, that did not cause them to drop it, as it only caused small scratches on the surface. As he did so, the vines dug deep into Chatarou's neck.

"Ah... gah... ugh...!"

"Please wait! I'm definitely going to... cough, cough!"

At that moment, Yako's body began to scream, as if he paid the price for the quick exercise. He tried to hit him with another rock, but he couldn't get enough force.

That is not the case now.

The life of his dear friend is at stake.

"I don't care how bad it gets later, just for now...!"

With tears in his eyes, Yako tried to scream, but his body did not listen to him.

However, his most sincere wish had definitely come true.

A pure wind blew from beyond.

"The softest thing in the world, the most solid thing in the world are conquered and nothingness enters nothingness."

The moment a clear voice echoed around them, a tornado was born between the Aramitama and Yako. And he broke the vine that had captured Chatarou into thousands of pieces.

"Kuh... haa... haa...!"

Chatarou was finally allowed to breathe and crawled on all fours, desperately trying to get oxygen. Yako sat next to him and said, "Okay..." as he coughed and his expression fell.

There...

"It's okay now, guys."

He could hear the clear voice from before. This time he was close. Before he knew it, there was a young man in a hunting uniform standing right next to Yako and Chatarou. He must be in his twenties. Not only is he beautiful in profile, but the way he stands there is already beautiful.

"Leave the rest to me."

When he said that to the two children, the young man extended the tip of his unfurled fan ("Heaven") in front of him. At the end of this line was the Aramitama, who has had one of his arms cut off along with the vine.

"Furious Mitama, return to the great flow."

"......!"

As if resisting the young man's words, the giant tree monster trembled silently. Then he pointed his uninjured arm forward.

Frush!

The vines grew again. The thick and flexible whip attacked the youths at high speed while cutting through the air.

"Ugh...!"

Yako instinctively turned his head.

However, no matter how much time passes, Aramitama's vines do not appear.

Instead, a singing voice reached his ears.

"Those who do not lose their place are long gone; those who do not die live a long time."

When Yako cautiously looked up, the wind swirled around him, Chatarou, and the young man. It became a wall that protected them and prevented the vines released by the Aramitama from reaching them.

"It must have been hard. Getting carried away by the emotions caused by humans."

The young man made a sad face as the Aramitama hit the vines against the wind wall again and again. Then, he gently extended his hand.

"...Now, let's rest."

The next moment, the Aramitama flew into the sky with a booming sound. His height was greater than the surrounding trees. It seemed like he had decided that a half-hearted attack wouldn't work and he was planning to crush the young man with his weight.

If he could destroy a hut with a single swing of his arm, what would happen if his entire body crashed into it?

Yako and Chatarou imagined the "end" in a few seconds and were terrified.

However, such a desperate future did not come.

"Nothing is called the beginning of heaven and earth, and being is called the mother of all things."

The young man sang three times.

The soft voice spread across the wind and enveloped the Aramitama in flight. Before long, the once strong tree began to crumble and rot, and all that was left in the air was a large, extravagant eye. However, it turned into pale particles of light and finally turned into a bright rain that fell on the forest.

"Ah, that's very strange..."

"Yes... it's ayakai..."

Yako and Chatarou spoke with their eyes and mouths wide open, speaking only in the exclusive language of Ayaka Island.

A young man approached the two with a smile. It's hard to believe that he has just defeated Aramitama's threat, and his steps are light, as if he had just arrived in the neighborhood to do some shopping.

"Are you hurt? Yako-kun, Chatarou-kun."

"Ah, thank you, Kurama-sensei."

"Thanks to you I saved my life..."

Taking a hand from the young Kurama, Yako and Chatarou staggered to their feet.

His name is Haruaki Kurama. He is the priest of the Kaizumi Shrine in Minoshima and is one of the rare "pulse connectors" who can pacify the Aramitama. He is famous for being a person of character who lends his wisdom not only to cases involving Aramitama, but also to the problems of the island's residents. Therefore, both Yako and Chatarou knew Kurama since they were children. However, it's the first time they've had a face-to-face conversation like that without an adult involved.

"I've been worried about the stagnation around here for some time. I came to see if the Aramitama was about to leave..."

"Does that mean we were in big trouble?"

Chatarou took Kurama's explanation with a wry smile. Despite being almost suffocated by the vines of the Aramitama, the boy with glasses had already recovered his usual vigor.

In comparison, Yako spoke less. Unlike Chatarou, he had not received any direct damage, but the fact that he had forced his body to flee and try to save Chatarou had left a trail behind him. He tried to keep the noise down so as not to disturb Chatarou and Kurama's conversation, but he continued coughing.

"Yako-kun. I guess you're not okay."

Kurama noticed Yako's state and called out to him.

"I heard from your parents that you were born with a weak body. But now that I've seen you up close, I can see it. It seems that's not the only reason for your condition."

"What do you mean?"

Yako asked confused. Meanwhile, Kurama was watching the sickly boy alternately from the front and back.

"There are places where the flow of life energy is stagnant. If we can successfully resolve it..."

As he muttered to himself, Kurama put his hand in front of Yako's chest. When he closed his eyes, Kurama's palm took on a faint white glow.

"It's warm..."

Yako surrendered to the comfort of the light shining in Kurama's hands. The shortness of breath that ate away at his throat and lungs after overexerting his body gradually subsided.

"What about now?"

"Breathing feels so easy... it's like magic..."

Kurama was looking at his face and Yako responded in shock. Hearing that, the young connector nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's good."

"Kurama-sensei is amazing! You did it, Yako!"

Chatarou got excited and jumped while he shouted hurrah. He has seen up close his friend go through difficult times due to a physical illness. As a result, he was filled with joy as if it were his own.

"Ah, that! Thank you very much!"

Looking directly at Kurama, Yako bowed his head so deeply that his forehead almost touched the ground. Not only did he save him from a crisis, but he also broke the chains that had bound him since he was born. The depth of his gratitude was also reflected in the angle of his bow.

"Even if you're no longer short of breath, that doesn't mean your body has gotten stronger, right? Please don't overexert yourself."

Poof-poof. Kurama patted Yako's chest as if he were going to hit him gently. Then, he looked up at the roof of the forest, where a large hole had been left by the flight of the great Aramitama tree, and beyond it the sky was beginning to turn blonde.

"You two, it's time to go home. Regardless of whether there are ghosts or not, the dark forest is dangerous."

After saying that, he turned to the two children and said with a smile, "I'll take you home.".

That night, Yako looked out the window, excited.

If his body had been exhausted from spending time in the forest after school, at that moment he would have started to have a fever and cough if everything had continued as usual. However, perhaps because he was able to regain a normal flow of vitality, he only felt a little lazy and not enough to fall asleep.

All that too...

"Thanks to Kurama-sensei...!"

Yako spoke the name of his benefactor with great regret. His gratitude for Kurama grows stronger every time he thinks about it, and now it's starting to turn into admiration.

"I want to be like you. Someone who can save lives and hearts."

Yako spoke forcefully of the dream that had just been born that day. At the same time, the image of Chatarou suffering in agony as the Aramitama nearly suffocated him returned to his mind.

He felt frustrated and helpless because he could only watch his friend approach death. If he could be like Kurama, he's sure he'd never have to feel this way again.

"Tomorrow I will ask Kurama-sensei to make me his apprentice."

One night later, Yako set out to make his dream come true. He was so nervous and excited that he couldn't sleep well that day.

The next day, Yako left home early in the morning. He wanted to become Kurama's disciple as soon as possible, so he planned to board the first sea train bound for Sannoshima.

But...

"Ah..."

In the center of the platform at Ninoshima Station, which was thought to be deserted, Yako saw a boy with familiar glasses. This is Chatarou. He noticed his presence immediately and made a "Hm." sound with the mouth.

When the train arrived, the two boarded without saying a word. Although they sat opposite each other during the trip, they only stared at each other and there was no conversation. As soon as the door of the train that arrived in Minoshima opened, they began walking side by side towards the Kaizumi Shrine on the top of a small mountain.

Yako stepped forward with an indifferent look on his face, and Chatarou quickly passed him as he whistled. Clicking his tongue, Yako took the lead in a short race, and Chatarou, not to be left behind, increased his speed as well.

As they repeated that, they started running as fast as they could while trying to push each other with their shoulders. Immediately after arriving at the area filled with morning fog, they were in such a tie that they had to sit down on the spot.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

"Haa... haa... haa..."

Yako and Chatarou continued to look at each other in silence, both out of breath.

At that moment, Kurama appeared from beyond the mist, holding a bamboo broom. When he saw the children, he narrowed his eyes and said, "Hello.".

"Are you coming to visit so early in the morning?"

At the same time Kurama asked that, Yako and Chatarou, who had been sitting on their butts, quickly moved to sit up straight. Then, they straightened their backs and bowed their heads at the same time, as if they had practiced beforehand.

"Take me as your disciple."

"I guess that's impossible."

Kurama said with a bright laugh.

On the other hand, Yako and Chatarou, who were rejected while expressing their wishes, both made faces that said, "Why?".

"What you want to be is a close disciple, right? I'm sorry, but I have no intention of accepting disciples."

Turning his back on the boys, Kurama began to sweep the floor with his broom. Although it was not a clear rejection, it was as if he had no intention of discussing the matter further.

Still, Yako did not give up. That is a newborn but important dream. There is no way for him to give up easily.

"Do something about it! I really want to become your disciple!"

"Yako..."

Yako tried his best to appeal to Kurama's back. Chatarou smiled when he saw it, because he felt the same way.

"I will not move from here until my master makes me his disciple!"

Pashin. Chatarou patted his thigh and declared that. Immediately, Yako became competitive and said, "I won't move either!".

"No matter what you do, my opinion will not change."

Saying that with a sigh, Kurama entered the office without even looking at the boys. There doesn't seem to be any island to reach at that time.

"If this happens, it's a matter of patience."

"Yes."

Yako nodded at Chatarou's words.

Waiting will be a tough battle, but they are not alone. As long as there is a rival at your side, the feeling of not wanting to lose will continue to increase. It seems like they can last forever with just that. Both Yako and Chatarou felt that way, although they wouldn't say it out loud.

"Is it already noon?"

Kurama looked at the clock on the wall and muttered that. After finishing the morning cleaning, he took refuge in the office at the back of the shrine, where he had been sitting at his desk and writing on the amulets with a brush.

"......"

Suddenly, Kurama looked over his shoulder. There is nothing special in that direction in the room. But...

"Wow, Haru-nii."

The sliding door opened with a languid voice. The person who entered was a young man in his twenties who exuded a calm aura. This is Kurama's youngest disciple, who is actually like a younger brother to him.

"Hey, don't you have some pocket money? I was playing cards with my friends and for some reason I ran out of money."

Jingi said, sitting cross-legged on the tatami.

"Jingi. I can't spend my pocket money if you're going to use it for gambling."

Kurama said with a surprised expression, and Jingi held his head in a theatrical tone and said, "That's very true.". However, he immediately raised his index finger as if to say, "I have an idea!".

"Okay, I'll stop asking for pocket money! So lend me the money! I'm sure I'll pay it back eventually!"

"Isn't that how people say things when they don't return something?"

With a sigh and a wry smile, Kurama put down his pen and said, "You're right.". He then took out the wallet that he was carrying in his fist.

Kurama thinks it's sweet even for him. However, perhaps because he has been taking care of him since he was a child, he can't help but want to help him. He is like a grandfather with a grandson.

"Hehehe, thanks."

Jingi smiled widely as he put the money Kurama had lent him into his pants pocket. Looking to the side, Kurama picked up the brush again and began writing on the amulet.

"By the way, Haru-nii. There were two kids sitting outside, what was that? Are you punishing them for stealing money?"

"......"

When Jingi asked, Kurama's neat writing became slightly messy. It seems that neither Yako nor Chatarou have given up yet.

"It seems that they want to become my apprentices."

"Be a disciple of a priest?"

"...That would have been nice."

Kurama laughed, looking worried. With just that, Jingi understood the situation.

"Hey, are you hoping to hook up with someone? There are strange people out there too."

Although he spoke in a mocking manner, Jingi's expression seemed somehow happy.

"And then? You made them your disciples?"

"That's not my intention. I told you so."

"So they're just sitting around complaining? Ha, they're doing a good job in this damn hot weather."

Jingi laughed and blew a breeze around his neck with a fan.

At that, Kurama made a surprised face.

Looking closely, he could see beads of sweat on Jingi's forehead and neck. He didn't know it because he had been locked in the office the whole time, but maybe the temperature and sunlight outside were not comfortable.

"Jingi."

"Eh?"

When Jingi turned at the call, he saw Kurama rummaging through his desk drawer.

"It would be a disaster if they collapsed from the heat. Could you pass the umbrella to them both?"

Kurama said as he handed Jingi a folding umbrella.

"Why would I do something like that?"

For a moment, Jingi refused, but then he remembered what was in his pants pocket and reluctantly accepted the umbrella.

"Plus, they're probably thirsty, so bring some water and a towel to wipe off the sweat. Plus, it must be hard to sit up straight all the time, so they'd have to sit in a chair and, oh, maybe they're hungry. Could you make them some rice balls?"

"If you're going to get this far, accept them as your apprentices."

Jingi looked at Kurama, who was doing his best to take care of the children, his eyes narrowed in shock.

"Okay, you can make them your disciples. I think Haru-nii is suitable for teaching someone, right?"

It was a sincere and honest feeling. He is sure that his elder brother will teach and guide his disciples with kindness and patience.

But the person in question doesn't seem to believe it. Kurama silently shook his head.

"I couldn't stop my brother and friend from going astray... even though he was the closest to me. There is no way he can guide others in the right direction."

Kurama looked down sadly.

The person he mentioned was Aka Ibuki, who studied and grew up with the "great hermit" Makoto Yanagi. Currently, Ibuki has deviated from Yanagi's teachings and has become an evil follower. Even now, several years later, Kurama still regrets not being able to stop him beforehand.

Of course, Jingi was well aware of the circumstances around him. After all, when Yanagi was alive, he, Kurama, Ibuki, and Yanagi's son Yukito lived under the same roof. In other words, just as Kurama is an older brother, Ibuki is an older brother to Jingi as well. That's why he can painfully understand Kurama's regret towards Ibuki and his hesitation in becoming a mentor because of it.

However, Jingi deliberately ignored him. There are times when a certain kind of callousness is necessary. His deep intuition told him that now was the time.

"No, it's Aka-nii's fault for becoming like this. He's always been reluctant to listen to what others have to say, he's an ultra-stubborn person."

After happily criticizing Ibuki, who was not there, Jingi sat on the corner of the desk. Kurama tried to warn him about his bad manners, but missed the opportune moment when Jingi pointed his finger at the tip of his nose a second earlier.

"Aka-nii doesn't care about that. But doesn't Haru-nii have an obligation?"

"Obligation?"

"Okay. Isn't it the role of Haru-nii, the greatest disciple of the "great hermit" Makoto Yanagi, to pass on the teachings of Yanagi-ryu to the next generation?"

"Passing the teachings of Yanagi-ryu to the next generation..."

Kurama repeated his words carefully.

Then, Jingi brought his face closer to him.

"If Haru-ni doesn't accept disciples, the future of Yanagi-ryu will be completely dark, right? After all, the only ones left are the one who has gone astray, the one who is only interested in living freely, and the one who doesn't even has trained yet.''

"You still have a mouth that turns a lot."

Although Kurama had a worried expression on his face, he let out a sigh of admiration. Instead of being persuaded logically, he was overwhelmed by an avalanche of verbal attacks.

"I can't compete with Haru-nii in terms of ability as a connector, but I don't think I lose when it comes to talking."

Jingi proudly rubbed his finger under his nose. He then asked Kurama again.

"And? In the end, will you accept the disciples, yes or no?"

"......"

Kurama didn't respond.

However, his gaze, which he used to look downwards due to regret and hesitation, was now looking straight ahead.

The heat of the sun falling directly from above. As a result, Yako felt like his neck was slowly being burned.

Several hours had passed since the early morning sit-in began and it was almost noon.

His legs, which have been sitting straight for so long, have overcome the numbness and pain and have lost all feeling.

"Haa... haa..."

Very hot, thirsty. They were hungry too.

(Let's just give up.)

He could hear that whisper inside his ear.

To be honest, Yako almost gave in to that voice many times. But every time she did that, he directed his attention to his neighbor. He looked at Chatarou, who was also sweating and continued sitting.

When he noticed Yako's gaze, he laughed.

(What's with that relaxed look on your face?)

At that moment he felt as if his feelings, which had been on the verge of falling apart, had found their core again. He looked like he could give his best again.

So there...

"Oh. You're still sitting there with stupid honesty."

Jingi approached with a flirtatious smile. He then stood behind the children and pushed their feet with his fingers.

"It's not like anyone is watching you, so you should just stand at attention or retreat into the shadows."

"Aaaaaaaaahhh!"

"Ah, the feet! Don't touch my feet!"

The lost sensation of pain was restored and Yako and Chatarou fainted from the pain, as if they were receiving an electric shock. Seeming to find his reactions very amusing, Jingi continued to move their legs rhythmically, as if he were playing a musical instrument.

"P-please take it easy!"

"Go away! Shhh!"

The boys sat up and waved their arms, trying to shoo Jingi behind them.

But...

"Is it okay for you to talk to me like that? I'm your benefactor, benefactor."

A significant statement made by someone who was thought to be a nuisance. As a result, Yako and Chatarou's attacks were temporarily stopped.

"You were in trouble because Haru-nii refused to make you his apprentices, right? You should be grateful, the great Jingi-san sincerely asked him to accept you. "Please accept them as your disciples", that's what I said."

Jingi made a supplication with many parts expressed. The performance is strangely detailed, with slurping and choking on the words in between. He seems to be good not only at speaking but also at acting.

"Then we...!"

"Can we be his disciples?"

Yako and Chatarou twisted their upper bodies to the limit and looked at Jingi behind them. Perhaps in reaction to the difficulties they have had so far, the two were filled with joy.

"I'm glad your wish came true. Well, then, 5,000 yen per person, including the persuasion fee and brokerage fee..."

He extended his left and right palms to the children and prepared to collect money. But soon, a hand came out from the side and grabbed his wrist, squeezing his joints.

The older brother even criticized the younger brother's problematic behavior.

"I thought it was taking you too long to call them both, but you ended up doing unnecessary things, right, Jingi?"

"It's painful! It's a light joke, Haru-nii!"

Although he groaned in pain, Jingi smiled and insisted that he was joking. Kurama let out a sigh at his lack of remorse. He then approached the boys who were sitting, bent his knees and looked them in the eyes.

"They both worked hard for a long time."

Kurama gently touched Yako and Chatarou's heads. And...

"First of all, eat and rest. After that, let's talk about turning you into apprentices."

Kurama then took Yako and Chatarou to a residence next to the main shrine where they ate.

Surprisingly, the one who cooked the food was Jingi, and his skill was at the level of a small restaurant. The boys were about to reconsider Jingi, but witnessed Kurama lecture him in the kitchen after dinner. Apparently, he was secretly trying to charge Yako and Chatarou for the food. Therefore, the evaluation remained negative.

"Well, let's go now."

About an hour after eating, Kurama called Yako and Chatarou. The three moved to a forest a little further away. The trees lined up are peach trees. Right now it's all green, but in the spring, one corner of the sanctuary will be painted bright pink.

"I can sense your desire to be a pulse connector. However, I would like you to try one more thing."

Kurama stopped at the edge of the forest, right where the row of peach trees ended.

"Will you be able to connect to the life line?"

Kurama took a seed out of his pocket and let it fall to the ground. He folded his hands, closed his eyes and sang.

"Everything is created with the blessing of the great way."

The next moment, a small sprout emerged from the ground. It continued to grow and in less than a minute became as splendid as the surrounding trees.

"Wow, that's amazing..."

Yako muttered as he blinked repeatedly at the magical phenomenon that occurred nearby. Chatarou and Yako opened their mouths and ran their palms along the trunks of the newly grown tree, as if to confirm that it was not an illusion.

"What I just showed you is Yanagi-ryu, the basic training at the school where I learned. It cultivates the sense and power to connect with the life line."

When Kurama said that, Yako and Chatarou's faces became even more surprised. Both boys looked nervously at the surrounding trees.

"No way..."

"The peach tree here is..."

Kurama responded with a slight smile at the boys' question, which seemed to be a soliloquy.

"Of course not all of them, right? But at least the trees around you were grown by Yanagi-ryu members through training."

It is said that miracles like the one Kurama performed previously have been performed as many times as there are peach trees in that area. Both Yako and Chatarou were so amazed by that fact that they both trembled and at the same time their hearts warmed with admiration.

"Someday we will too..."

Yako and Chatarou looked at each other and nodded.

Kurama stared dazzlingly at the two, whose eyes shone like those of little children. But soon his expression tightened.

"I will ask you both to do this training as well. Of course, I will not ask you to grow a tree from the beginning."

Kurama raised three fingers again.

"Grow the seed in three days. If you can do it, I will accept you as my disciples."

"Yes!"

Yako and Chatarou nodded without hesitation at Kurama's conditions. It's not about whether it's possible or not. A strong will to "do it" overflowed from their bodies.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

As he said that, Kurama took out two seeds. Then he placed them in Yako and Chatarou's palms.

"Once you have planted the seed, chant: "Everything is created with the blessing of the great way". If you are successful, you will be able to encourage the seed to germinate. But don't forget this."

Kurama leaned his tall body to meet the boys' eyes.

"The most important thing is not the words. It is connecting with the life line that flows deep underground."

"Connect with the life line..."

When Yako repeated his words, Kurama agreed with a satisfied "Yes.". Then, he straightened his back and spoke in a clear voice.

"So, now we will begin the learning exam. The deadline is until sunset the day after tomorrow."

Kurama clapped his hands loudly as a signal to begin.

Immediately afterwards, Yako and Chatarou stood side by side and dropped the seeds on the ground. Then they placed their fingers in the shape of a cross and sang.

"Everything is created with the blessing of the great path!"

The boys' voices overlapped.

Kurama heard that in the background as he left Jingi. Then, he suddenly stopped and opened his mouth, looking ahead where no one was looking.

"Sometimes it's okay. Can you check on them?"

"I don't have enough free time to protect those children."

Diagonally behind Kurama, leaning against a tree, Jingi frowned in annoyance.

"Once a day, I'll give you some pocket money whenever you see how they're doing."

"I'm bored! I'm such a lazy person that I'm going to protect those children!"

Jingi smiled and ran away. The destination is where Yako and Chatarou are training.

Kurama smiled bitterly at the actions of his younger brother, concerned about money. And...

"In my case, if I saw two people in trouble, I would help them."

He muttered with a hint of self-mockery.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

It was Yako who was crawling on all fours and breathing heavily.

Beside him, Chatarou was breathing on his shoulder.

The setting sun illuminated them and the forest where they were.

The two of them had been chanting spells relentlessly since the beginning of the exam. However, the seeds planted in the ground remained silent.

"Danm..."

Muttering in frustration, Yako dug his nails into the dirt floor.

The life line Kurama mentioned runs deep underground. To connect with that, Yako has continued to focus his attention on his feet. However, he still doesn't have an idea what the omen will be.

"That I have to do?"

Chatarou also moaned as he scratched his curly-haired head. The rivals seemed to be equally eager.

"Looks like you're in trouble."

Among the peach trees, among the deep shadows cast by the setting sun, Jingi appeared. Slimy like a monster. He doesn't know how long he had been waiting, but he was definitely waiting for the right moment when he appeared during a lull in the boys' conversation.

"Jingi!"

"Add the "san", brats."

Jingi lightly tapped Yako and Chatarou's foreheads.

"Well, how do you know my name if you haven't told me yours? Are you my fan?"

"I don't know anything about it, but you are a famous person in Ninoshima... no, on Ayaka Island."

Yako said as he pressed his forehead against Jingi who looked at him suspiciously.

"Am I really that famous? Well, recently I started doing connector-like things."

Upon learning that his name is known throughout the island, Jingi ruffled his hair. He is in a very good mood.

But...

"You are famous for being the problem child of Ayaka Island.", Chatarou said, and Yako continued, "All the adults say you are a bad example."

"Who is the problem child and the bad example, idiots!"

Exploding with dissatisfaction, Jingi held Yako and Chatarou's heads in his arms and squeezed them.

"It wasn't us who said that, Jingi!"

"That's right, Jingi! It's a false accusation!"

"I told you to add the "san", right?"

Since the boys didn't change his name, Jingi strengthened his strength even more. However, the guys not only received one-sided treatment.

"Stop!''

"Please let go of me!"

They counterattacked Jingi with their fists and feet.

When that fight lasted about three minutes...

"This is not the time to do this!"

With a particularly loud voice, Yako forcefully slipped out of Jingi's arms. He then turned to him with a penetrating and determined look.

"We are taking the exam to become Kurama-sensei's disciples! Please don't bother us!"

"Exam?"

Jingi looked stunned for a moment.

"That's right, it's an exam! That's why I called you!"

As he laughed out loud, he let go of Chatarou, who was still pinned down.

"Shall I help you with the exam?"

"You?"

Chatarou asked with a frown. The expression on his face was not only caused by the pain in his head, but also by disbelief.

"Okay. I look like this, but I am the third disciple of the "great hermit", right?"

Jingi dropped a seed at his feet, crossed his right and left fingers, and said, "Everything is created with the blessing of the great path!"

Finally, a bud appeared from the ground, and after a while, it turned into a peach tree with splendid branches.

"It's more or less like this."

Jingi put his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest as if he were going to back away, and laughed.

"Oh, I will. There's nothing to be proud of..."

Lifting his glasses, Chatarou honestly spoke words of praise. He was able to easily complete the task he was having trouble with. He couldn't help but admit it.

"If you leave it to me, this test will be over in seconds."

Saying that with confidence, Jingi extended his left and right palms towards Yako and Chatarou, respectively.

"Well, the helper fee is 5,000 yen per person. What do you think? Huh?"

"After all, the purpose is to make money."

Chatarou sighed with an exasperated look on his face.

However, Yako's reaction was different.

"If you can do this difficult task for 5,000 yen, it could be a good deal."

"You..."

Seeing Yako nod in admiration, Chatarou's face turned into a mixture of surprise and anger. Then, Yako noticed the look in his friend's eyes and let out a small laugh.

"If you think it is impossible to pass, let me know at any time. I will lend you 5,000 yen."

"Who's going to borrow it from you? Don't be stupid!"

Even when he raised his voice, the corners of Chatarou's mouth raised.

"It's a shame. If you had asked, I could have told Kurama-sensei that Chatarou cheated."

"You really have a bad personality."

The two began to move slowly while chatting lightly. Then, as before, they lined up side by side. They were still going to do the test.

"Hey, don't you need help? If you don't have much money for out-of-pocket expenses, you can split the fee."

Jingi opened his doors again. But...

"Please stay back!"

"Get out of the way!"

The boys looked over their shoulders and refused in unison. They then began to recite the spell they had repeated many times that day.

In the end, although they persevered until the last train, Yako and Chatarou were unable to advance on the first day of the exam.

Still, the two never looked down.

On the second day they were in high spirits and arrived at Minoshima on the first train.

"Everything is created with the blessing of the great path!"

The boys' voices echoed through the morning fog. They look a little blurry compared to usual. It is definitely the result of yesterday's fight.

However, they don't have the luxury of worrying about whether or not their throat hurts. If the sprouts do not sprout before sunset tomorrow, they will not be able to become Kurama's apprentices.

(Connect! Connect, connect, connect!)

It was Yako who echoed the voice of impatience in his heart.

Kurama said: "The most important thing is to connect with the life line.". And it is said to flow deep underground.

Therefore, Yako has been focused on his feet since the beginning of the exam. However, there was still no tangible response.

He may simply not have the talent to connect the threads and he simply does not realize that the thread of life flows beneath his feet. Such a faint thought crossed his mind.

But...

"Come out noooooooooow!"

Yako suddenly came back to his senses when he heard the powerful voice that echoed. When he looked next to him, he saw his rival, who was thinking about the peach seed, without even taking the time to wipe the sweat.

He can't stand losing.

When Yako demonstrated the competitiveness he had known since childhood, he returned his attention to his feet.

"It" happened on the second day of the exam, just as night began to fall.

"What?"

It was Yako who let out his stupid voice. But it was understandable. He felt a sense of crisis, as if he had been swallowed by a torrent, and a sense of security, as if he were being huddled against a large tree. He experienced a strange mix of those sensations in less than a second.

"Right now..."

Blinking, Yako looked at his feet.

Deep, deep, deep.

As a result of sinking his consciousness underground, Yako was able to connect, even if momentarily.

Yes, it was the life line.

"Yako, maybe you..."

Pushing up his glasses, Chatarou looked closely at Yako's face. Then the thin boy suddenly smiled back.

"It's a shame, Chatarou. It looks like I'll be Kurama-sensei's number one disciple."

"Guh...!"

Chatarou gritted his teeth in frustration, sensing from Yako's attitude that something had been accomplished.

"It seems that the connection has not been established yet. Ah, the life line is deeper than I thought."

"Loud, loud! I'll connect right now too!"

Chatarou turned his head and returned to his usual position.

After saying goodbye to that, Yako also headed to the place where his seed would be buried.

(I will try to connect again.)

Taking a long, thin breath, Yako once again regained consciousness…

"Cough, cough."

A cough escaped his mouth. That sound, the impact hitting his lungs, broke Yako's concentration.

And as if that were a sign, all the strength left his entire body.

Yako's body, which had been overworked for two days in a row, seemed to have already reached its limit.

"Just a little more... just a little more..."

As he fell to his knees, Yako grumbled sadly.

"Why am I so fragile...? Why...?"

Yako dropped his fist on his thigh as if questioning his own body. But even that power was already weak.

"Yako..."

Chatarou tried to call Yako, but stopped talking just before doing so. He didn't know what to say at that moment.

So he had no choice but to look at the sky. The moon shone faintly in the night sky. However, thick clouds were slowly approaching.

Third day. The last day of the exam.

Clouds completely covered the entire island of Ayaka, bringing rain to the island since midnight.

And that continued in Minoshima as noon approached.

"Everything is created with the blessing of the great path!"

Chatarou was the one who cast the spell. Along with the surrounding trees and the ground, it was bathed in gently falling raindrops.

Actually, he was wearing a raincoat when he left home, but perhaps because it was cheap, he got so hot that he started sweating while taking the exam. So he decided to take the plunge and get rid of it.

"...It feels spacious."

Chatarou turned to the empty space next to him and let out a sigh.

That morning Yako did not appear on the first sea train. He has contacted him but has not yet received a response. Judging by his appearance yesterday, there is a good chance that he is already in bed at home.

Yako didn't come.

However, somewhere in Chatarou's heart, he was waiting for his rival to arrive, even though he wasn't supposed to.

At that moment, he heard the faint sound of shoes walking on the muddy ground.

Step by step he approached.

"......!"

When Chatarou turned around with a confused look on his face...

"Ugh. How are you?"

What appeared was an umbrella. What he could see underneath were mud-spattered pants and shoes.

He couldn't see his face because his upper body was completely covered by an umbrella, but judging from his tone and voice, there is no doubt that it is Jingi.

"What's wrong, Jingi?"

"Hello, listen."

Jingi let out a voice of dissatisfaction at Chatarou's clearly unwelcoming attitude. But soon after he said in his usual tone: "Here we are!"

Not Chatarou.

Jingi spoke to someone who was under his umbrella.

"Thank you."

Accompanied by a weak voice that seemed drowned out by the sound of rain, someone landed on the ground from Jingi's back.

"Sorry... I'm a little late."

"Yako..."

Chatarou said his name with a smile on his pale face, an expression between crying and laughing.

"Can you pay the transportation fare from the station to here now?"

When Jingi called him, Yako nodded timidly. He began to walk with hesitant steps and arrived at Chatarou's side.

"I will not lose... Chatarou. I will become Kurama-sensei's number one disciple..."

Yako spoke to Chatarou looking forward and he made a seal. And...

"Everything is created... with the blessing... of the great way..."

As he said the spell, Yako's body slowly leaned back. But he didn't fall and was covered in mud.

That's because Chatarou supported him.

"Ah, you just collapsed. I was planning to start working as an assistant from now on."

Jingi let out a sigh, as if he was wrong. But he immediately smiled at Chatarou and said, "It's okay, I still have you.".

"Why aren't you doing well on the exam? Hmm? How about a reliable helper...?"

In the middle of speaking at a good pace, Jingi clicked his tongue loudly.

"No, it's already out."

"Eh...?"

For a moment, Chatarou couldn't understand the meaning of Jingi's irritating words. However, he quickly realized that and looked down, still holding Yako.

All he could see was the black, wet ground. However, there was only a small green spot there.

The buds of the peach tree peeked out slightly.

"Why...?"

Questions left Chatarou's mouth in joy. That couldn't be helped either.

After all, Chatarou still hasn't felt as connected to the life line as Yako felt last night.

However, that is something that Chatarou himself did not realize.

From early in the morning until this time today, Chatarou dedicated himself to the exam with even more zeal than the first or second day.

It was partly to forget the loneliness of not having a rival at his side, but the environment sharpened his concentration.

"The path of life is deeper than I expected." He continued to chant the spell innocently and honestly, keeping in mind the words of Yako, who had just connected to the life line.

As expected, Chatarou managed to connect with the life line.

However, it was so thin that he couldn't even notice that he was gaining life force.

That's why he had doubts about the outbreak.

"I don't care why, do you? You passed the test anyway."

Jingi secured the center pole of the umbrella between his neck and shoulders and used his free hands to say "Congratulations." and give a slow applause.

Passing the exam is the result of hard work. However, there was no smile on Chatarou's face. On the contrary, he was looking at Yako in his arms with a confused look in his eyes.

Chatarou soon looked up. Then, with a determined expression on his face, he focused on the mission.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"......!"

Yako jumped up. The first thing that caught his attention was an unfamiliar Japanese-style room.

"Where I am...?"

His head, still dull and sore, began to think.

If he remembers correctly, he had been feeling unwell since last night and could barely move in the morning. But he couldn't just sleep like that under the futon.

He would make a peach tree sprout and become Kurama's disciple.

With that in mind, Yako crawled out of the house and boarded the sea train, dragging his heavy body.

Then, dazed, he somehow makes it to Minoshima... and doesn't remember anything after that.

"Are you awake?"

Suddenly, he heard a voice nearby. When he turned his attention away from him, Chatarou was sitting cross-legged.

"What? How so?"

Yako frowned. Chatarou was not wearing his usual clothes, but rather a white Shinto priest's robe.

"I got soaked from the rain. I asked Kurama-sensei to lend me a change of clothes. Just like you."

Yako finally realized it after Chatarou told him. He was also wearing a white coat.

"Thank you, okay? I was the one who carried you here after you collapsed, right?"

Chatarou nudged him on the shoulder condescendingly. Accepting that, Yako asked him what was worrying him.

"Collapse... where?"

"Training ground. You looked shaky, chanted a spell, and then collapsed. Well, I wanted to show you. That wonderful fall..."

"That... caused problems."

Yako apologized sincerely, which was rare. A headache different from his physical condition was coming.

"Ugh..."

"Do you still feel bad?"

It must have been because Yako let out a sigh, Chatarou looked at his face with a worried expression on his face.

"It's not like I'm going to collapse anymore. But if I collapsed, I thought I probably didn't do well on the exam."

Smiling weakly, Yako looked at Chatarou.

"How was it, Chatarou? The exam."

"I..."

Just when Chatarou started to open his mouth...

"How is Yako-kun?"

A soft voice came from behind the shoji screen.

"Ah. He just woke up."

When Chatarou responded, the shoji door opened silently. The person who appeared was Kurama. Behind him you can see a black and rainy sky. The deadline for sunset had already passed and night had arrived.

The reason why he could immediately see what was happening outside was because Kurama was standing on the terrace, and the room where Yako and the others were was adjacent to it.

"Your complexion has improved a lot."

"I'm sorry. I borrowed your clothes and bedding."

When Yako lowered his head, Kurama stopped him with his hand.

"I'm the one who should apologize. I purposely avoided visiting the training grounds for the past three days, so as not to disrupt the exam. But as a result, I couldn't do so because I was worried about your health."

Kurama bowed deeply and said, "I'm so sorry.".

"I promise that from now on, as your master, I will take careful care of you, my apprentice."

"Master... apprentice...?"

Yako bowed his head.

Seeing that, Kurama asked Chatarou, "Didn't you tell him?".

"I thought Yako would be happier if Kurama-sensei told him."

"I see..."

With a small nod, Kurama cleared his throat. He then bent his knees and looked directly at Yako on the bed.

"I accept you as my disciple. Together, let us protect and defend the Yanagi-ryu."

"Eh, yes?!"

Yako was shocked by Kurama's words and unconsciously kicked the quilt that covered his waist.

"Oh, did I pass? I don't remember anything..."

"Look this."

Chatarou held out his cell phone. The image of a small cocoon appeared on the screen.

"Didn't I just tell you that you collapsed while chanting the spell? That's when the seeds sprouted."

"I also went to the training ground and looked at it. I can be sure that the sprouts have sprouted correctly."

Kurama's testimony was added to Chatarou's photographic evidence. At this moment, Yako finally clenched his fists tightly as if he felt happy.

"I... will be Kurama-sensei's disciple...!"

"Good for you, Yako."

"Yes!"

Chatarou's blessing came to his side and Yako responded with a relieved face. But suddenly a question came to his mind.

"What about Chatarou? What happened to Chatarou's exam?"

"You can tell by this face, right?"

Chatarou laughed and shrugged, looking embarrassed.

"So..."

In a normal match, it is normal for the winner to provoke the loser a lot. However, perhaps because he had seen his rival sweating up close, Yako did not feel that way this time.

"You also worked hard for three days."

"Ah..."

Chatarou scratched his head at Kurama's praise. At that moment, he noticed that Yako was giving him a complicated expression.

"You won't be happy if I'm here. I'll go home first."

Chatarou stood up.

"That's right, I..."

"Say it's okay. Losers just leave."

Chatarou greeted and left the room. "I'll take you to the entrance." Kurama said, following him.

In the end, only Yako was left in the room.

"Kurama-sensei's disciple, huh?"

Yako whispered softly.

It's a dream come true and he's happy, but something is missing.

He knew why. There is no rival.

That doesn't mean his relationship with Chatarou will change. However, as Kurama's disciple, they would not compete. Thinking about it that way made him sad.

While he was immersed in that feeling, he heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the room.

"Phew, that was a nice bath."

It was Jingi who appeared with a towel around his neck and covered in steam.

"Oh. Did you wake up?"

When Jingi found Yako, he formed a circle with his thumb and index finger.

"Don't forget, okay? The fare for the "Jingi Taxi" that took you from the station to the training ground."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you trying to take me down?! What a villain!"

"I'm sorry, but my memory of today is very vague. I remember until the moment I arrived in Minoshima, but..."

"After that! After that, I, the great Jingi-san, carried you to the training ground on my back!"

"Hmm..."

"Seriously, this guy! This is the height of ingratitude!"

Jingi shook his head in disbelief.

"Hey, the guy with glasses! He saw me carrying you! So what's going on? Where's the guy with glasses?"

"Chatarou? He just came back, but..."

"What?! I'm sure that guy is trying to lower the price too!"

"Why does Chatarou need to pay you?"

"Well, I gave you a hand, so..."

When Jingi was about to say that, he let out a soft murmur of "Oh, no!".

"What do you mean?! Chatarou paid you to help him?!"

"How noisy! I can't answer that for reasons such as protecting the client's privacy! It's a secret! It's a secret!"

Jingi covered his ears with both hands, blocking Yako's questions.

However, a hand reached out from behind and grabbed his head. In contrast to his kind expression, he asked in a cold voice.

"I would like to hear more details too, Jingi?"

Under pressure from Kurama, Jingi easily revealed the situation.

The truth is that Chatarou was the one who took out the buds. And at his request, he replaced it with Yako's seed.

"Guh...!"

Immediately after learning the truth, Yako ran away.

The destination is the maritime train station. No, he can't just go back to his friend.

"Haa... haa... haa...!"

Under the pouring rain, Yako ran as fast as he could, forgetting about his physical condition.

"Chatarou!"

It was just after running down the stone steps and a long straight line that Yako saw the open umbrella. That's the area where food stalls line up during the festival held four times a year at Kaizumi Shrine.

"Yako...?"

Surprised by his friend suddenly approaching from behind, Chatarou turned around.

"Your body is already..."

"What do you mean, Chatarou?"

The umbrella rolled on the ground.

That was because Yako grabbed Chatarou's chest so hard that it seemed like he was going to push him away.

"Jingi has confessed everything! I heard that you replaced the seeds that sprouted with mine?!"

"......"

Chatarou looked uncomfortable, but he remained silent.

Frustrated by his attitude, Yako asked more questions.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because you wanted to be Kurama-sensei's disciple, right? So..."

"Did you take the exam with such a cheerful mentality that you could easily hand over your position as a disciple?"

"Do you feel light?"

Chatarou, who had been blamed for so long, could see the anger in his eyes.

"I wanted to be Kurama-sensei's disciple! I wanted you to give up!"

Chatarou began the conversation with a regretful expression on his face. Then, he screamed, letting out his pent-up emotions.

"But today, when I saw you trying to continue with the exam despite your habit of getting dizzy, I thought to myself...!"

Regretful and satisfied. Chatarou made a complicated expression that shows the two of them living together.

"I don't mind losing to this guy who's working so hard!"

"I..."

Only a little. A murmur escaped Yako's mouth.

A complete change from his fiery energy from before, he lowered his head helplessly.

"They've always made it easy for me. Even after I moved to Ichinoshima and Ninoshima, they told me that I shouldn't try too hard because I'm weak. Everyone gave me priority. But..."

Yako doesn't look up. Still, he said, "You were different.", and he squeezed Chatarou's neck tightly.

What goes through Yako's mind at that moment is that meeting on that rainy day.

"You were serious from the first time we met. You didn't hold back. You didn't treat me any differently."

The voice that spoke wistfully of his memories slowly became hoarse.

"Please don't say, "I don't care if I lose". Don't take pity on me and give up your victory."

It was raining.

Not only from the sky, but also from Yako's eyes, which were still downcast.

"I want to be the same, only with you...!"

"Yako..."

After hearing Yako's complaint, Chatarou regretted his actions. If he had used a little imagination, he should have figured it out.

If the situation had been reversed, he is sure that Yako would not have wanted to lose the victory in that way. He might have spread his anger even further than the night before.

"I will apologize to Kurama-sensei for exchanging seeds."

As he spoke, Chatarou patted Yako on the shoulder.

Then, Yako seemed to have calmed down and slowly loosened his grip on Chatarou's neck.

"I'll go with you. I'm the reason Chatarou cheated."

Yako laughed as he said that, but Chatarou frowned and asked, "Is this cheating?".

"Well, are you sure? I cheated. However, I passed the test by my own ability, so it's strange to say that I cheated, right?"

"But fraud is fraud, right? It's a fact."

"That's it! You know who I paid to do that dishonest thing!"

It was just a smile, but this time Chatarou grabbed Yako's chest and lifted him up.

Then, Yako seemed to get caught up in Chatarou's condescending comment and reached out to touch Chatarou's neck again, saying, "Even though I didn't ask you to do that?"

"What's that?!"

"What did you say?!"

Will there be a fight in the rain for the first time in several years?

"That's all."

It was Kurama who spoke to stop him. Under an open Japanese umbrella, he seemed as relaxed as ever.

"You two, please follow me."

After saying that, Kurama turned on his heel and started walking.

Yako and Chatarou were stunned for a moment when he stopped them just as they were about to warm up. However, they quickly looked at each other, nodded, and followed the young priest.

Kurama took Yako and Chatarou to a training field lined with peach trees.

That is exactly the place where the children had been sweating in line for three days.

And there, still, a cute little cocoon peeked out of the ground. The number is two.

"Ah, the cocoon!"

"Hey, there are two?!"

Yako and Chatarou's eyes widened and their bodies arched even further in surprise.

"It is possible that Yako-kun put his life force into the soil. Then, he gradually transmitted himself to the seed, causing it to sprout late."

"But I didn't arrive in time for sunset..."

Yako had a depressed expression on his face.

Kurama then scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Part of the reason you collapsed was because I wasn't supervising you properly. With that in mind, I'll give you a lenient score on this exam."

"What's happen?"

Chatarou and Yako held their breath as they looked at Kurama.

Immediately after, he smiled deeply.

"You two passed."

"Yahoooooooooooo!"

The boys hugged each other and rolled happily on the muddy ground. If they get so dirty, it wouldn't be enough to change their clothes. It looks like they'll have to wash off the mud in the hot springs at the back of the main shrine.

Kurama narrowed his eyes as the boys were having fun. Jingi then approached him, holding an umbrella.

"It's not just a lenient score, it's super lenient, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Kurama tilted his head.

Seeing his brother's innocent attitude, Jingi smiled and shrugged.

"Well, when I dug up the seeds, I felt like I was just one step away from germination. He has enough talent."

While saying that to himself, Jingi looked at Kurama with an unusually serious expression on his face.

"Anyway, are you okay? This is your first disciple, and suddenly there are two."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried."

Kurama made a worried smile. But right after that, he said, "But...", and turned his gaze directly towards Yako and Chatarou.

"I thought it would be better for the two of them to be together, although it might be a little difficult for me. The environment where you have your rivals by your side is what helps you grow more than anything."

"Don't speak like someone experienced."

When he said that jokingly, Jingi started to walk away. He got some money and could see that his older brother became more positive. His mission had already been accomplished.

"Don't get too excited and catch a cold, idiots."

On the way home, Jingi called out to Yako and Chatarou, who were throwing their bodies on the ground, exhausted with joy. However, he suddenly noticed something and decided to look over his shoulder and make a slight correction.

"No, from now on, you're my stupid little brothers!"

"......!"

Hearing Jingi's words, Yako and Chatarou jumped up.

That's all.

They have now become disciples of Kurama Haruaki, a pulse connector.

Then, as if he sensed their conscience, Kurama approached the boys.

"From now on, if you want to receive training, please come to the shrine. However, Yanagi-ryu training is not easy, understand?"

The young master made a stern expression and asked.

"Are you ready? Chatarou, Yako."

"Yes, Master!"

The newborn disciples sat upright and responded loudly.

Before he knew it, the rain had stopped and there were only stars in the night sky.

+++++++++++

"I cannot follow you."

"What?"

Yako, who was walking next to Chatarou, asked as he let out a deep sigh.

They are both in Minoshima. Under the gray and rainy sky, they walked along the long path that led to Kaizumi Shrine.

"It's the first day of our memorable training and it's raining, isn't it? Not a good omen, right?"

Waving his umbrella vertically as if to get in the way, Chatarou sighed again.

On the contrary, Yako was not depressed. In fact, he seemed to be in a good mood.

"It is just a thought."

"But you will get wet, the ground will be muddy and it will be difficult to walk, the bottom of your pants will get dirty, the visibility will be bad, it will be wet and your hands will be blocked by the umbrella, right?"

Chatarou listed all the negative points of the rainy days that he could think of.

"That's right." Yako agreed with a wry smile on that point. But he quickly continued: "But...".

"I don't hate it. Wonderful things always come after the rain."

The reason he was able to form a bond with his only rival, was able to become an apprentice to his long-awaited master, was after the rain.

He doesn't know if there will be a third time, but after the rain there may be an encounter or event that will change his life.

There was no way Yako could hate the rain at the point where he was able to make that dream come true.

"Did anything good happen after the rain? The other day we were covered in mud to the point that even if we took a hot spring bath, we couldn't get rid of it."

Chatarou tilted his head in disbelief.

Yako looked at him out of the corner of his eye and smiled.

At that moment, a light shone through his feet.

"Oh. It finally stopped!"

Chatarou took his hand out of the umbrella and checked if the rain had passed. Then, he excitedly began to fold his umbrella.

Following his example, Yako also lowered his umbrella.

Immediately afterwards, his blocked field of vision suddenly opened and a perfect blue sky caught his attention.

And in the background, a young man in a hunting uniform waved in the distance. He is Kurama. The boys were greeted at the bottom of the long stone steps.

"Come on!"

When Yako said that, Chatarou also responded with a strong nod.

Then the disciples began to run up the stairs.

They were aiming for a much higher place where his master was waiting.

[ghosts-and-blue-sweaters]

Hewwo, 1, 12, 21 and 22 for the ask thing, pls! :3c

Hello, anon!! :D

the character everyone gets wrong

Okay, I’m gonna cheat a little bit and give you three XD

1. Ghostbur! I feel like a majority of the fandom sees him as “silly ghost guy” and don’t acknowledge that he’s anything other than childish, innocent, naive, or dumb. It’s proper annoying.

In actuality, he’s a very interesting, very smart, very unique character!! It makes me so mad when people see him as shallow, or anything similar >:/ Because he’s not. He’s such a cool guy like genuinely 😭

2. Technobladeeeeee. I’m talking specifically about fics here—not so much art or fandom analysis.

I’ve read a handful of stories that characterize Techno accurately—no literally, a handful! I could count the number of fics on one hand!

It’s to the point where fanon Techno and canon Techno feel like two completely different characters 0-o It’s really weird.

3. Tommy! I just… I feel like so many people reduce him to “victim” and take away all the interesting bits about him; all his humor, his weirdness, his fire, his personality, even. I see this way more often in fics than anything else, especially SBI fics.

the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

I feel like I’ve answered Ghostbur for most of these but… Ghostbur 😅

LIKE!!! GHOSTBUR!!! HE’S AMAZING!!!

He’s so interesting and so unique and I can’t really think of any other character like him and he loves sheep and he cares so deeply about others especially Tommy and goes out of his way to help them and he feels so many things and has so much difficulty letting himself feel those things and he’s so smart and cunning and resourceful and DREAM FREAKING SAW HIM AS A THREAT THAT’S WHY HE SENT HIM AWAY INTO THE WILDERNESS and Ghostbur is far from dumb or stupid no no no he’s actually very perceptive and has such a cool way of viewing the world and he sees the good in everyone even if they’re villains and he always gives people second chances even if they’re villains and his best friend is a sheep and he loves that sheep to bits and he loves Tommy so so much and was fully prepared to leave the entire server just the two of them if that would make Tommy happy and oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh.

I freaking love Ghostbur, man.

part of canon you think is overhyped

Mm… oh!

I guess this isn’t so much overhyped as it is a fandom idea, but the whole thing where Niki is girlboss-y and needs to kill Wilbur to get revenge on him or something aksgaksgkagshs

It’s so horribly out of character, and really doesn’t… help anything?? I don’t know, I just think it’s weird.

your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

Already answered this (Ghostbur and Tommy’s friendship!!) but my second choice might be…

OH!!! NIKI AND WILBUR’S FRIENDSHIP!!! YES!!! I ADORE THEM!!! Especially during the L’manburg days; they clearly had such a lovely and close bond, and cared so deeply for each other.

They’re also one of the very few platonic male-female duo’s I’ve seen in media alsgaksgajgshsv and I absolutely love those types of relationships :D

THEY CARED ABOUT EACH OTHER SO MUCH AND SO MANY BAD THINGS HAPPENED TO THEM AND SO MUCH PAIN AND HURT AND ANGER AND REGRET BUT THEY STILL LOVED EACH OTHER TO THE END AND AAAAAAAAAAAAH

[yandere-sins]

I’ll see you yan!Miya/Tweels double trouble and raise you yan!Genshin Impact double trouble. Thinking of Diluc-Kaeya and Childe-Scara in particular, or perhaps Zhongli-Xiao or Ayato-Thoma for an unbalanced ‘team’. And poor darling stuck in the middle.

To be fair, we did talk about that briefly before in this post but yeah, that's exactly what I mean. Ayato/Thoma is already supreme, especially with my personal love/hate relationship with my double crowned Ayato, I have so much planned to write for him, save me. But let me copy out the tags I made real quick:

(Ignore the highlight lol)

Just... so many possibilities... OTL

I want them all, and I want them now, and I know I could write them, but with what time?!?! What does a gal have to do to get absolutely suffocated by yandere pairs?!!!?

And those aren't even all, but no matter what pairing you use, I promise you it'll be good. I can't think about one pair that isn't good and it'll be hard to convince me otherwise. And if you are throughly thirsty and down bad (like me), what about triples?!?!?! What about the fandom-made polys?!?! What about Diluc/Kaeya/Thoma? What about Ayato/Ayaka/Thoma? Signora/Scaramouche/Childe? Venti/Zhongli/Baal? Lumine/Aether/Paimon?

With three you always have one that is like the caretaker and then one responsible one and then one feral, and they rotate. And like the other two invite the caretaker who's hesitant to join them in destroying their darling and they are so happy and needy like a big, unwilling family!!! Also jealousy with three is even more intense because two can team up!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAH

I will say two yandere are supreme, but the possibilities are endless. I can't even lie and say I am not also a sucker for like... one darling for a whole group/town/cult/etc. As you can see from my other posts haha.

Wow, I am really passionate about that, have been smiling about it while writing this post, thanks for stirring my passion!

[my-shields-are-down]

Chenford + I've got you Lucy

“FUCK ME! He did this to me! OW- this hurts, this hurts, this hurts!” Lucy is screaming bloody murder. She’s in so much pain. So much preventable pain. “Don’t let him touch me! AAAAAAAAAAAAH.. him touching me, got me into this situation.”

The doctor, flipped her hospital gown down and said, “ sorry love - you are only at 9 cm. One more to go and the baby can come out. What do you want to do? What’s your go position?”

Lucy looks at her OBGYN and says, “please get my husband; he’s likely hiding on the roof smoking a cigar. If I’m in this much awkward pain, no needs to be here too. And my “go” position ? I’m in it. No I don’t want to walk around, I want this baby out of me.”

The nurse hurries out and tracks down “the husband” who is indeed on the roof with several cops smoking cigars. Sheila uses her outside voice, normally reserved for her 4 year old boys and yells, “Lieutenant Bradford - your wife is having a baby and you are going to miss it. Put out the cigar and head downstairs, she needs you now.” Sheila loves Tim and a Lucy. They are so in sync, so hilarious and so in love. They are by far her favorite patients at the moment. Tim hearing “baby -now- go” triggers something primal within him, he drops the cigar, stand up straight and runs out.

He gallops down 4 flights of stairs and trips on the threshold of the room, skidding across the floor and stopping at his wife’s swollen feet. Lucy let’s out another “pit of your soul” yell and bends over, “I need to push, omg, Get a nurse please get this out of me.” Tim can tell she’s about to lose it, so he climbs up off the floor, kicks off his shoes, and climbs into the bed. He then turns his wife around so she’s facing away from him and pulls her into the bed so she’s leaning back against him and resting her legs on his legs.

“I’ve got you Lucy” he whispers in her ear before licking the sweat off her neck and wrapping his arms around you. You are so beautiful and this baby is so lucky to have you as a mom. He undies her messy up do, and massages her scalp while continuing to whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Lucy stops to relax before the next wave of contractions hit. “I love you Tim, but we are never having sex again. It’s too much. I feel too much. “.

Tim chuckles in her ear and twists her hair up off her neck and blows on her neck to cool her. “You are so powerful, and fucking gorgeous and you’ve made all my dreams come true. I’ve got you Lucy.”

Lucy leaned forward as the doctor walked in again and yelled, “something moved, this baby is coming now!”

Timothy Xavier Bradford (known to friends and family as “Jack”) arrived less than 5 minutes later.

—————-

Babies!

[danicadenniss]

DreamWorks Trolls: The Beats Goes On

Haunted Nightmare

Warning: Blood & Gore In Horror Of Blumhouse

It’s a dark and stormy night, in the abandoned house, the BroZone are frightened and open the door.

Floyd: What’s this?

John Dory: I wonder if a hotel, I see a spa that’s my kind of vacation.

Spruce: Bar Keepers Friend’s Paradise Hotel?

Clay: (shaking) We’re all scared of haunted houses because of this stuff but it’s not like we have.

Branch: Guys, I’m not scared of anything.

Floyd: Me too!

Spruce: Me three!

John Dory: Nope, Clay! I don’t think so either.

Thunder cracking, an elderly jet black male troll appears in the background.

Elderly Jet Black Troll: Welcome, foolish trolls!

Spruce: Gross, that’s creepy man!

Elderly Jet Black Troll: Don’t ever say that, you five are going to spend the night at Bar Keeper’s Hotel, fear expert missing out.

Clay: Missing?

Elderly Jet Black Troll: Unfortunately yes! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (It’s go a blackout, goat screaming and the lights turn back on.)

Branch: Let’s check it out.

Spruce: Let’s see!

John Dory: I don’t wanna let you guys see this because I don’t wanna!

Clay: Jonathan Dory, you coming with us to see this.

Floyd: It’s looking a horror movie.

Branch: Speaking of horror movies, we could go to sleep in the middle of the night.

Spruce: (yawn) I’m agree with Branch, I’m going to sleep now.

Clay: I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight.

John Dory: Mmmm, so cozy, and so much warm inside tonight.

Floyd: What, no! I don’t want to go to bed early, because it’s too creepy here.

Branch: Night, guys!

John Dory: G’night, Bitty B!

Branch: Actually I’m grew man, not a baby.

John Dory: G’night, bros!

Spruce: Good night! (In echo)

Clay: Nighty night, Floyd, John, Spruce, I mean Bruce and you too Branch.

Floyd walked into the room, looked at the background and then he is fast asleep.

In John Dory’s dream, he yawned and stared at the mirror as he smirked charming.

John Dory: Lookin good, J.D.! (Sniffing) Hoo wee! I’m gonna to take a nice warm shower.

After he took off his clothes and google on the chair. He turned on the it on, he sang in the shower.

Grandma Rosiepuff: Johnny?

John Dory: Huh? What was that thing? Granny? Gran Gran? Is that’s you, Granny?

Grandma Rosiepuff: Awww! You’re so sweet but… I want revenge! (Smiled wickedly, the curtain opened)

John Dory: AAAAAAAAAH! (Looking at a knife, and he whipped it.) Granny? What ya doin? Are you gonna to kill me with a knife? (He put his clothes and goggles back on, by looking up and revealed Grandma Rosiepuff disguise was Dante Reye.)

John Dory: (gasp) Holy Shit!

Dante Reye: Hey, Dory! I want to get revenge!

John Dory: What’s kind of revenge? What are ya talkin about now?

Dante Reye: For whipping me with my new mask!

John Dory: AAAAAAAAAAAAH! HELP! (Running of the bathroom and calling 911, pick a phone and calling for help.)

911 Operator: This is 911, what’s the emergency?

John Dory: Help! I beaten attacked by a man who disguised as Gran Gran. He is gonna to kill me with a knife.

911 Operator: I’m sorry, we can’t help you with this.

John Dory: NO, NO, NO, NO, NO WAY! THIS CAN’T BE! (Looks up at Dante cut the power cord, with an evil laugh, as he gasped at him.) TTTT….THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING?

Dante Reye: Boom!

Dante pulled a lever and John screamed in horror as he falling down into the darkness.

Out of the dream

John Dory: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! NO! DON’T KILL ME WITH A KNIFE! I DON’T WANNA TO DIE! (Panting)

In Spruce’s dream, at the beach, he walked out of the room.

Spruce: What’s a release date for this project?

A spider crawled on his right leg and he looked at his right leg.

Spruce: This can’t be happened. Hahahaha!

Spider: It’s can, it’s can, oh yes it can!

Spruce: AAAAAAAAH! Who’s that? Who’s talking my right leg?

Spider: I am!

Spruce: (gasping) THIS CAN’T BE! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!

Spider: (jumping off and got bigger 10 times) It’s can, it’s can oh yes it’s can! (Roaring)

Spruce: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

End of the dream

Spruce: NOOOOOOOOOOO! (Panting) I can’t take it anymore because of monstrous things like a horror movie!

In Clay’s dream, he walked into the book club and he open the door.

Clay: Heyo! Everyone! Sorry I’m late but let’s get started on chapter three.

The trolls giggled at him with no clothes on and then he looked down at he’s naked.

Clay: AAAAAAAAAAAAH! THIS CAN’T BE! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING! NO! ALL MY CLOTHES IS GONE! (Sobbing)

The trolls laughed at him by humiliating him.

At the end of dreams

Clay: WHHHHHHHHYYYYYY! WAAAAAAAAAAH! WHY! WHY! WHY! WHY! THEY LAUGHING AT ME! (Sobbing)

In Floyd’s dream, he walked out of the room and he see a mirror.

Floyd: Huh? No way! This can’t be real or not.

He see a ghost troll, and wave at him.

Floyd: (gasping) THIS CAN’T BE! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING, MATE!

A ghost troll with an evil smile, Floyd as running away from the mirror and then it’s broken.

The background, a ghost troll with an evil laugh.

At end of dream

Floyd: (woke up and gasp, which in the mirror and panting) What’s was that’s thing about that’s mirror look tricky, and I got to warn my bros!

In Branch’s dream, he blinked at a voice in echo, he runs into a forest.

Branch: Poppy, we’re worried about you…

Vampire Poppy snarled at him, as she clawed his back and ripping his vest.

Branch: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Vampire Poppy: There’s no Poppy, only Shadowbite!

Branch: Shadow Bite? Poppy, be coming a monster is…

Vampire Poppy/Shadowbite: You think, that’s I am!

He looked at the Trolls Tree, cut down.

Branch: (gasp), this isn’t a dream, this is a nightmare!

Vampire Poppy/Shadowbite: If it’s dead you want, it’s dead you get!

Branch: What’s did you mean? What are you doing? Are you going to kill me?

Thumping noise from the ground, began to hear, as dirt to glows.

Branch: What!

The orange feet kicked out from the ground.

Branch: AAAAAAAAAH! Fuzzbert!

A dead Fuzzbert with upper body torn off dripping blood.

Branch: (Screaming)

Around the dead Fuzzbert more of his friends around emerged from the grave as dead zombies.

Smidge rolled out of the ground with a broken jaw and her eyes popping out her sockets of blood. Biggie with his head torn off his body and stitched his eyes sockets with a creepy grin, and the twins blood splattered on them with mixed up body parts.

Branch: NO! THIS CAN’T BE!

Another area trolls tree more hands from the ground.

Zombie female troll: Branch, why are you doing your traps?

Zombie male troll: You did it!

Branch: NO, NO, NO! NOT YOU GUYS TOO! THIS IS FAKE RIGHT!

Vampire Troll Poppy/Shadowbite: Branch, you got another one, let’s me explain, this is all your fault I talking to you!

Branch: (gasping) No way!

Zombie Trolls: This is all your fault for being all of us killed by you.

Branch: No! It’s not my fault! I..

A zombie Keith with a leg torn off, bone shoulder out and crazy eyes.

Zombie Keith: Freshly from the ground!

Branch: NO! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! WHAT DID I GOING TO DO?

Vampire Poppy/Shadowbite: What’s are you doing to do? Prepare to die, Branch! Enjoy the show!

Zombie Troll Cooper: Let’s Rock, Creek!

Zombie Troll D.J. Suki: YEEAAH!

Zombie Troll Creek: What’s a poor scare Branch!

The zombies in on him, moaning and groaning, want to kill him.

Branch: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Zombie Keith: NANANANANANA!

Branch: Get away, Keith!

He running from the zombies trolls clawing and tearing his vest off and pants on his body.

He throw a rock on them and he runs to the abandoned house.

Branch: Ha! (The zombies trolls groaning at him.) Oh come on! AAAAAAAH!

He opened the door and closed the door, by bar the window. He running in the hallway.

The zombie trolls moaning and groaning at him and he saw that’s he want to stop the madness.

Branch: NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! HOWS THIS HAPPENED! WHY!

Vampire Poppy/Shadowbite: Too late, seize him!

The zombie trolls groaning at and planning to kill him.

Branch: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

At the end of dream

Branch: (panting) It’s just a bad dream, Floyd is right, this is creepy! My brothers and I are getting out of here!

John Dory: Spruce, Clay, Floyd, Branch! I have a bad dream, I’m going to take a shower and a madman who’s disguise as Granny, I got out of the bathroom, I got called 911! And then the power cord went off and a madman pulled the lever with an evil laughter. I fallen down into the ground.

Spruce: I have a terrible dream, there’s a spider on my right leg, and it’s turning into giant spider monster.

Clay: (sobbing) I have a horrible dream about I came to the book club without my clothes and I felt naked!

Floyd: I have a darkest dream about I look at the mirror and I see a ghost smile at me and I always get away from it because it broke!

Branch: Guys, I have a nightmare about what happened to Poppy? She turned into a vampire and my friends are zombies rise up from the dead, it’s will to kill me and I ran into a haunted house just like a hotel.

Floyd: It’s true!

John Dory: We got to get out now!

Clay: WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE….

Thunder cracking down, Dante Reye opening the door with an evil smile.

Dante Reye: Oh Dory! I got surprise for you and your brothers!

John Dory: What’s surprise?

Spruce: Oh no, you won’t!

Clay: But!

Branch: How?

Floyd: How’s could you mate!

Dante Reye: I bring a dead adorable tiny little worm while a dog in his mouth for you! After I went to Mrs. Scrubitt's to take care their dog. They gasped and looked at a black dog chewing it dripping blood in his mouth.

A zombie version of Mr. Dinkles wiggled up in horror.

Zombie Mr. Dinkles: Meh!

John Dory, Spruce, Clay, Floyd and Branch: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Goat: (jump up) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The End! (Thunder cracking)

Blumhouse filmed the new movie, Swim Night only in theaters, January 5th.

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

BUBBLES!!!!!!! HIIIIIII 🥰 I'm so so SO excited and you wanna know why???? WELL! first I had a pretty nice day BUT ALSOOOOO NEW BUBBLE MASTERPIECE JUST DROPPED AND OH BOYYYYY 🫠🫠 BEFORE I DIVE IN can I just say that I've been thinking for a few days now about something very similar and then I saw the story and was like hang oooon is she...did she look inside my brain??? but then I thought it wasn't possible because you would've been so deeply traumatized you wouldn't be writing anything ANYWAYYYYY

I loved it, really (oh, wow, shocking 🙄) but seriously, I adore Ellie and Joel's relationship as well as Ellie and reader's and I know that BUT THEN you write stuff like that and I KNOW why they matter so much to me you know??? like...you make my already very emotional state even more emotional by giving me all this blessed content!!! but let's break down some of my favorite part (okay the right answer is ALL OF IT but I'll pick out some extra faves)

Ellie and Joel being so similar and having their own little way of communicating YES!!!!! it's just...how I play out their relationship in my head. Obviously reader is also very much needed because she's...some sort of catalyst between them, you know? they work well on their own but with her, they really get out of their shells and learn to express their emotions better. But yeah, Ellie randomly finding Joel after she couldn't sleep and just...enjoying each other's presence made my hear melt

THAT scene in the beginning with Reader being like...morning affirmation-ing with Ellie omgggg this is so good, so healthy and exactly what a kid like Ellie needs!!

Joel being safe in the cabin and not worrying about how they'll come back or if they have any food bUT WORRYING ABOUT HIS GIRLS WORRYING ABOUT HIM AAAAAAAAAAAAH (insert one of those screaming into the void memes)

on the same note: Joel not giving a flying fuck about anybody as soon as he steps into Jackson and just running home back to you <33333333

AND THEN ELLIE CALLING HIM DAD FOR THIS FIRST TIME!!!!!! yeah he knows she refers to him as dad but she never dared crossing that line with him, always kept calling him Joel but in her hazy, half asleep state it slips and it's just the best way to welcome him and aaaaahhhh

and of course finishing on a good cuddling session yaaaassss

oh and that silver fox comment was just a genius way to finish the story and I loved it!!!!

OKAY I AM DONE!!! do you still want to hear about the headcanon I had? It's kinda similar to the story but not really the same so as you wish!! and yeah, hope you've had a nice day and uuuuh thank you for the service, ma'am🫡 ily little bubble <3

-🪷

Hi my gorgeous flower! I'm really happy that you had a lovely day! You deserve that.🤍✨🤍✨ Look... maybe I have slipped into your brain by accident. A possibility is absolutely there. 🫢

Thank you for the love and always be so sweet. I'm really really happy that you enjoyed it! And I love reading through people's thoughts. Gives me an idea of what people pick onto, what they enjoy and so on. So seriously thank you for always coming here! 🤍😭

Of course! Send them in! Told you many times that I'm excepting everything that you have and want to share with open arms. It's my pleasure. 🤍✨

[samsspambox]

I know this probably wasn’t an invitation, but okay then :D

-

"He was a pillar. He was a pillar that wasn’t allowed to break... But as they say, pillars under stress often break." (Penne for your thoughts?, ch 4) I think all of the little prologue bits at the start of each chapter in this fic are really well-thought out and good hooks, but this one might be my favorite. Just the whole metaphor and the descriptions in between that I've omitted to save space. I don't know, the figurative writing here is just wonderfully done and I love how much it adds to the characterization / greater idea.

"Vyn may have won the academic battle, but he had yet to win the war." and "Vyn flinched, “Excuse me?” / “You’re excused. I have two doctorates and am close to completing a third.”" (Two Degrees (of Separation)) Tone shift from the pasta fic, but this fic just feels very wittily written to me (esp with all the banter) so I've just selected a couple of lines I thought were particularly fun!

"“Ah,” the old lady said, “The mask does not let you see clearly. Don’t worry, you will figure it out soon. Most people do. I will ask you to do this: play a game with him. That is the quickest way to learn what is a mask and what is a mirror.”" (stripped wires (soldered together), ch 2) Not pointing out a particular line, but I still think that the whole masks and mirrors thing in this chapter was really well thought out! Like the analogy and the contrast between Luke and Marius. Very well done

"At that moment Vyn didn’t think he was looking at a kid with coral eyes, but a kid with golden eyes instead." (stripped wires (soldered together), ch 3) It's just the subtle reflection of oneself!

"MARIUS: That was fun. We should do that again sometime. / LUKE: Dude, the mansion blew up. We’re being charged with property damage even though it’s not our fault." (the grand drive (thru adventure)) Also I still think the NXX Investigation Team being charged with property damage is hilarious

Bonus line: “Ahahaha. I wish I was back in my cell accused of murder.” (running from the past (doesn't mean it wont catch up with you))

I’ve commented before about most if not all of these, but it’s always nice to see which lines have continued to stand out since I’ve first read them.

Have a nice day! 💛

screaming cRYING YOU'RE THE SWEETEST PERSON AAAAAAAAAAAAH

i literally can't express in words how this makes me feel dude i am sCREAMING i wish i could hug you,,, i sEND YOU ALL THE INTERNET HUGS IN THE MEANTIME I LOVE YOU SO MUCH WAAAAAAAAA

[ahundredtimesover]

AAAAAAAAAAAAH AUTHORNIMMMM I DONT KNOW WHERE TO STAAAART now i know why this chapter is your favourite – because it has become mine too! The shock, the regret, the LONGINNGGGGG!!!!! and omg as much as i felt bad for yaewon, im actually glad they broke up LOLOLOLOL at first i was like slowly reassuring myself that its okay, maybe the author will give more angst first so that you'll get to see more fluff towards the very end but then BAMMMMM jungkook is back!!!!! could you imagine the gasp leaving out of my dumbfounded self, authornim??????? hes bacc and he proteccccc gaaaaaah i cant believe im happy for a fictional couple! but honestly, i really hope this is really IT, the beginning of their story 🥺🥺 because i know that oc is slowly letting herself fall, and jungkook, being the gentlest and most loving person ever (esp for oc) will be there to catch her, as well as to be there to see heejin grow (i hope!) 🥹 this is the best chapter ever so far, thank you for not making me feel heartbroken anymore authornim, i TRULY appreciate the fluff in the end lol 🥰🥰🥰

Shock, regret, and longing - yes, all the emotions I wanted for chapter 6! And yknow me, all aboard the angst train before the fluff comes (which is rly the most I’ve done ever!!) and this isn’t even much yet. Wait til the next chapters ☺️☺️☺️ and it’s totally fine - I get so invested in the characters, too! And if you love jk now, you’ll love him even more after 🥺🥺

Thank you so much for reading and enjoying like always 🥰🥰

[formalpeacaps]

2/14/24 Recap Part One

Good morning, my beautiful, wonderful chickadees, I’m back! We’re all back! We’ve missed some things, haven’t we? Unfortunately all my old recaps are gone, but don’t worry, I’ve learned my lesson and now am writing all of them in Google Docs, which means that Paige can delete the entire sub, she can delete videos I’m writing about, but I will always, always have receipts, and I will continue to pop up, like a very persistent little fungus. 

Anyway, I refuse to recap Paige being incoherent in the Bahamas as a birthday gift to her, and as soon as I finished this of course Paige posted another vlog, but let’s start with last week’s vlog and work our way into this week’s, shall we?

A “florida for the winter” vlog

I don’t know “why” this title “needed” “quotations”

Nine seconds in, and 1.75 fonts. It’s all one font technically, but she changes the color and if it’s italic or not three times.

Paige is hosting dinner. Paige is wearing all black in Florida because she’s “a cold person”. I think what she means is that she’s always freezing due to a lack of body fat, but I would accept that she’s also kind of cold emotionally speaking. That seems like an accurate statement as well.

Paige complains about getting a blowout because she “never feels like herself” when she gets her hair done like that, which begs the question why she pays money to get her hair done like that. Also I find it funny that as Paige says, “when my hair looks good it just doesn’t feel right”

We’ve seen your $20 Amazon extensions, Paige, we know.

Paige makes sure to let us all know she’s sending PR slippers from Rao’s tomato sauce, because heaven forbid we don’t know she gets free things in the mail as a very important influencer.

Paige makes dinner for Tommy’s - sorry, their friends. (You can tell it’s actually Tommy’s friends because it’s all guys, they refuse to acknowledge Paige or her camera, and several of them aren’t white.) Dinner is the world’s most basic cheese board, spicy rigatoni, grilled meats, and a salad, because our girl is a one trick pony. Oh, and her single dessert (banana pudding) afterwards.

The dressing recipe takes us up to 2.75 fonts and it’s just multiple types of mustard and multiple types of vinegar.

We also get to see a new DB glassware sample and it looks so weird? It’s shaped like an upside down coke bottle, but it has mason jar threading? This makes no sense

Look, okay, hi. I’ve looked into Paige’s demographic and I know that she could release a literal dog turd but put a white hydrangea next to it and her 2,000 die-hard sorority girl fan squad would buy it and they don’t care. I understand that none of these girls whose frontal lobes have not fully developed grew up watching Antiques Roadshow with their mom. But I did and I am bothered because glassware is made into certain shapes for REASONS, design elements like threading for a lid exist for REASONS, also I can tell just by the weight and clarity of it that glass is probably mostly plastic and it would feel wrong if you clicked your nails against it. Again, I understand, I’m not the target demographic. I know no one else cares, this is a nitpick, blah blah blah. But between you and me, as someone who gets very into nerdy minutiae about material design and history, I’m bothered. Had to just throw that out there.

IT HAS LIKE A RUBBERIZED LID WITH A PLASTIC STRAW IN IT BUT THEN WHY DOES IT HAVE THE THREADING THAT LOOKS SO WEIRD AAAAAAAAAAAAH

If you’re also weird about this stuff you can DM me and we can read Bill Bryson’s At Home together and discuss this in further neurodivergent niche interest detail

After dinner is over and everyone’s gone Paige and Tommy pretend that they’re cute and into each other but as always just come across as middle schoolers trying to prove that they’re very cool and like the opposite gender now

Okay I’m calling it, it’s the same font but now it’s in yet ANOTHER color and italicized so we’re officially up to 3 fonts now. 2.99 fonts? 3 fonts.

The next day, Paige “works” (puts on her AirPod Maxes and does Woman Laughing At Salad at her screen on what we’re led to believe are business calls) and then blathers on about all her brand deals. Two things about this. One: her face is so disconcertingly shiny. Like she looks like an overly waxed cafeteria apple, or like if you touched her face it would make the new sneakers on a gym floor squeak. Why is she so shiny? Second of all, maybe because I don’t follow influencers, but I have never found an influencer who talks so much and so inorganically about their brand deals. Paige never misses an opportunity to be like, hello, I have a BRAND DEAL, did I mention there’s an upcoming BRAND DEAL, soon I’m going to have a BRAND DEAL and yet somehow never legally discloses ads in a very Mikayla Nogueira fashion. The result is both technically illegal and yet deeply inauthentic feeling so it’s like not even worth the FEC violation. My memory is faulty because I simply do not care, but considering how bad Paige is at doing the one thing she’s supposed to do, it doesn’t exactly surprise me that I think the only people Paige has worked with repeatedly over a long span of time are brands that will work with literally anyone (Mejuri, Intermissi, Revolve), Revlon makeup, Frankie’s bikinis, PJ Place, and maaaaaaybe Butcher Box and Thrive Market? Speaking of -

Not legally disclosed Thrive Market sponsorship! Paige eats three entire chips with salsa to prove she’s a girl’s girl who totally eats normal amounts. Paige claims she needs to subscribe to this company to get her Poppi fix in the boonies of “not being outside a major city” in Florida but Poppi had an ad during the Super Bowl and is in my local Shaw’s (that’s New England’s big basic regional grocery store chain, like equivalent to a Roche Brothers or Market Basket or Kroegers or whatever) AND Whole Foods, so that doesn’t strike me as… correct.

Tommy decides he wants stir fry so they go to Whole Foods and Paige makes “Asian-inspired peanut sauce stir fry”, I assume to bait me into screaming at her. [NOTE: there used to be now-deleted rant about Asian cooking that I have edited out in post production because Tumblr says it makes this text block too long and lol who cares] I don’t like being this person because the idea of “authentic” cuisine is bullshit and gatekeeping, and so if you, a normal-ass person, like your Americanized Paige style stir-fry, you can keep your Americanized Paige style stir-fry. But if you’re cosplaying as a food influencer and great chef and claiming to make the food of another culture, it’s just basic respect to actually try and understand what the fuck you’re doing and make clear to your audience where you’re adding your own twists.

Love to play my favorite game, Guess Why Paige’s Followers Are 99.99% White Sorority Girls/Former Sorority Girls Challenge

Paige doesn’t vlog for a fascinating day of filming ads and watching Tommy fish (oh no!!!) and then lays out in the sun and philosophizes on how zen and calm she is in Florida because of the weather and because Tommy’s a “super grounding person”. As she says this Tommy screams and hits her with the hose and she adds in font number four “So grounding <3”. Before Paige and Tommy go to the beach for him to surf and her to film people without consent on her drone, she rhapsodizes about citrus season and how oranges are better than candy.

“It’s eighty degrees at the beach and I’m wearing a sweatshirt. I’m probably the only girl in Florida to do this. I don’t know if you can relate to this but if there’s a slight breeze, the hoodie’s going on” - Yeah weird it’s almost like what happens when you don’t eat enough or have a proper amount of fat on your body????? You’re cold??? Even when you shouldn’t be??? Like that’s not a cute little girly thing it’s a symptom you need to be eating more???? ANYWAY.

Paige pretends to care about manatees and them getting hurt by boats but I would also bet she and Tommy go on the exact type of boats that hurt manatees all the time.

Paige body checks herself in a Free People Movement outfit (undisclosed PR from Australia!) and then they play tennis and eat… Mashed potatoes and gravy? Sure.

New font in the end credits (yellow on a puke-y olive background) which brings this video’s font count up to five.

[EDITOR'S NOTE - the second vlog I recapped is in part two, there's a character limit.]