#Oh the good ol' Whose Line days

[ghostssweetgirl]

Good Girls Get Rewards task force 141 x reader smut

CW: gangbang, oral (m + f), vaginal sex, anal sex, double penetration, name-calling, degradation, size kink, creampies, overstimulation... being a good girl for the 141? a whore... for the 141...

A/N - So for my first time writing a "gangbang", it's pretty okay right? Maybe it's not considered a gangbang or it's more orgy but you get the gist. I've been working on it for days. Hopefully, it's enjoyable. I wish I could make it longer but my brain farted and I had trouble finishing it off (it's not terrible but not great). My grammar in this... could be better 😅. I also tried to give everyone attention, so I'm sorry if your favorite didn't get a lot of attention. Not my best, but it's fun :)

WC: Over 3k.

Minors, do not interact. 18+ only !!

--

Being a medic for the guys was honestly stressful, but you truly loved your job. You always had something to do and wounds to tend to. Sure, you didn't truly get time off, or away. You didn't get to do much to relieve yourself either as privacy was little to none in this environment. It also didn't help to be around these good-looking men in their tactical gear. Oh, they got to you. How they praised you as you fixed them up.

~

You're really good at this, Maus.  König nicknamed you.

Do you know how beautiful ya are when you tend to me like this? Ghost purred in your ear.

I'd hurt myself on purpose just to see ya, bonnie. Soap flirted.

Be careful touchin' an ol' man like that, angel. Captain Price undressed you with his bright, blue eyes.

Gaz flirts with you through slick pick-up lines.

Alejandro always uses 'hermosa' as your nickname. Biting his lips as his eyes crept over every curve of your body.

~

You make your way to the showers as you caught up on your paperwork and duties. Grateful to find no one else there, you undress as you grab a towel and washcloth, slinging them over your shoulder while you occupy a corner shower, turning it on. You set your stuff down and undo your hair, brushing it with your fingers. 

After lathering yourself with soap and fully washing, you indulge in some self-pleasure. Your hands snake down your body, one hand grasping at your plush tits, one gliding down your tummy, creeping towards your warmth. You throw your head back against the wall as you apply pressure to your clit, moving in slow circular motions, earning a slight mewl from your parted lips. 

Your hardened nipple grazing between your fingers sent small shockwaves through your body as you leaned on the brink of orgasm. 

~Oh... fuck... 

Right as you reached your peak, you're interrupted as the group of men walk into the stalls. 

Shit, shit, shit. You were definitely caught.

You quickly turn off the water and wrap the towel around you, trying to get out of there without being seen, only for the exit to be blocked off by everyone.

~

"You okay, darlin'?" Price asked, staring into your soul.

"Y-yes, I am, sir, sorry, didn't mean to be in the way..."

"Oh, thought you were hurt with all the commotion I heard in 'ere..." 

You froze in place, looking at him like you were a deer in headlights. "Oh... No... I'm not hurt."

You dared to look at everyone, whose hungry eyes were already on you.

"Hmm..." the captain nodded at the group of guys.

"I-I was just about to get going, guys..." 

Price stepped forward to you, eyes now dark and lustful. "Oh, no, you're not."

You gasped as he sternly caressed your neck, backing you against the cold tile. "Captain, wh-"

"Shhh..." His thumb pressed against your lip as his eyes darted between your eyes and mouth. As you made eye contact with Soap, you silently begged him, Price ordered your attention back on him, "Don't look at him. He's not gonna help you, darlin'. Look at me."

You whimpered as you couldn't help the feelings that erupted from the group of men staring at you like they were. Like you were their prey. Their catch. They cornered you, getting what they wanted.

"Those pretty sounds you were makin'... Did it feel good, love?"

Your lips pursed as you withheld your answer.

"Answer me, love..." he growled. "That's an order."

"Yes... sir," you admitted.

"Good girl..." he chuckled. "Good girls get rewards, don't they, fellas?"

Unanimous "yes sirs" echoed in the room. 

"Be a good girl for us, yeah?" he slipped the towel off of you as he forced your legs apart with his knee, letting a hand rub between your folds. "Already wet... Mmm..."

"Price~..."

He nodded at Soap as he walked over to you, towering over you as well. 

"She's fuckin' beautiful," Soap smirked as his hand reached out to grope your breasts, Price's rough hand massaging at your waist.

"That she is," Price agreed, leaning down to suck on your neck, whispering in your ear, "You like this, don't you, sweetheart?"

You nodded as Price's fingers now found your clit, Soap's wet warmth sucked on your bud. "Fuck... yes."

"Atta girl," Price stepped back, allowing Soap to give you his full attention. 

Your hand finds Soap's hair, earning a groan from him as he kisses up your chest to your lips. Pulling away, he whispers, "Yer so hard to resist, hen..." before going back to kiss you. He uses one hand to pin both of your wrists above your head while his other slaps your pussy gently. "Ready for us to use ya, bonnie? Yeah?" 

"God - fuck, yes..."

"Step the fuck back, Johnny," Ghost snapped as he pulled Soap away from you. 

You're weak against the wall, your arms falling to your side with no attempt to catch them, Ghost is quick to replicate the same movement, using one hand to pin your wrists above your head. 

"You look delightful like this, luv, but we can't fucking wait to get you cock drunk..."

He picked you up against the wall with your thighs over his forearms. König walked over, able to help keep you up with his tall height. While you were between both of them, legs draped over their arms, Ghost was quick to prod at your entrance, sliding one thick finger in. König made himself busy by rubbing at your clit ferociously while your legs were shaking.

"Oh, my god!~" you wailed.

"You like this don't you, Du Schlampe? (you slut) Ahh~" König purred with his German accent.

"Look at how wet you are for us," Ghost teased you as his finger scissored inside of you, kissing the gummy spot of your walls. "You wanted this, didn't you? You wanted us to treat you like the little fuckin' whore you are."

"Yes, yes, yes, fuck yes, please, Ghost, I'm gonna-!"

"Don't let her cum," Price ordered.

"Not quite yet," he hissed, taking his finger away from you as König stopped his motions.

You whimpered, looking around at all the men around you, hoping for mercy. 

"Alejandro..." you begged him.

"Si, mi hermosa?" he chuckled. 

"Please..."

"Hmm?" he walked towards you as you were still lifted by the brute men.

"Please... I wanna cum..."

"I'm afraid I can't let you, hermosa~... Oh, but you know I wish I could..." he wet his lips as he leaned down enough to lick a straight stripe up your cunt.

"Please fuck- please fuck me, please!" you begged. "Gaz..."

Gaz chuckled as he leaned against the wall, stroking his hard cock. Soap and Price were jacking off too, and the sight weakened you even more. The mere thought of them pleasuring themselves to you made your stomach grow tighter as you were trying to take in everything happening. You're hardly able to focus as Alejandro tightened his lips around your clit, making your body jolt in Ghost and König's arms.

"Please someone fuck me!" 

"On your hands and knees," your captain ordered and you followed, being put down by the masked men. "Crawl to me."

Embarrassed, you do so. You crawl to where Price and Soap stand, sitting up on your knees in front of them.

"Open your mouth..." 

He slapped the tip of his thick cock against your tongue, groaning at the sensation. "Fuckin' hell, I've been wanting to put my cock in this mouth for a long time..."

With no warning, he slammed into the back of your throat. "Put your fuckin' hands to work, don't be a lazy slut."

Instantly, you hold your hands out, one grabbing Soap's length, the other grasping Alejandro's. The men's groans fill your ears, giving you a boost. Gaz leaned down and stuck two fingers in your hole, letting you bounce on them. 

"Good girl," Price praised holding onto both sides of your head as you bobbed up and down. 

"Just like that, lass, fuuuck~," Soap moaned, fucking himself into your grip. 

You eagerly took turns switching from cock to cock, hand replacing the one you just left, doing your best to be a good girl for the 141. 

"Think she's about ready for a cock," Gaz moaned out as he heard the wetness of your cunt through each thrust of his fingers, arousal glistening in his hands.

"Is that so?" Price cooed at you, caressing your cheek as you let Alejandro's cock go with a pop. 

"Yes sir, I'm so fucking ready, please!"

Even at this moment, he's still ordering his squad around.

"Soap, lay on the bench."

"Y/n, get on top of him, face up."

You both obey, and as you lay down on Soap, his hands greedily explore your body. His tip nudges at your asshole. Price spits on your cunt, letting the juices leak down. He humps between your folds collecting juices. Your eyes screwed shut as both dicks intruded your tight holes as you bit your lip while you whined.

"Steamin' Jesus, hen, you feel so good," Soap praised as he nibbled on your earlobe, hand grasping your throat. 

"That's a tight fuckin' cunt... Do you feel both of us, darlin'?"

"Yes~, yes, yes, yes, fuuuck~"

As both cocks moved in synchronized motions, Ghost towers over you and demands you open your mouth with his cock.

Gaz and Alejandro stand on either side of you so you can jerk them off.

Your attempt to moan was pitiful as your throat was stuffed full of Ghost's thick cock, you let your tongue play with the vein that ran along his shaft as you thoroughly enjoyed the grunts that came out of his mouth.

"Such a good slut," Gaz purred while his hand rubbed your arm. 

"Th-mmmgh y-oummgg~" a sad attempt at "thank you" earned a laugh from Price.

"Little princess can't speak with a mouthful, huh?" 

Ghost slapped at your face as he agreed, "Mhm... Mind your manners now darlin'..."

Soap's thrusts got more sloppy as he reached his climax, his hand closing around your throat tighter as he felt Ghost's length protruding out. 

"Fuck, m'gonn' cum, bonnie..." Soap sucked on your neck as he used your tit as a stress reliever, squeezing it tightly enough to cause a bruise. 

As Ghost pulls his tip in and out of your mouth, Pride's thrusts are deep and long... Alejandro is praising you in Spanish, also music to your ears. 

Strings of cum spray in you anally as Soap thrusts every last drop into you. "Yer gonna be so full of cum by the time we're done, hen. Mmm..."

Price slaps your pussy as you shook, lunging into your pussy one last time before spilling his seed in you. "Fuuuck, good girl, y/n. Good fuckin' girl." Price's accent through that praise made your eyes roll to the back of your head. As you were free of all cocks, you were now empty. Everyone decides what and who's next. 

Gaz gets underneath you, Alejandro on top of you, but you face Gaz.

König walks to the side of you and Ghost stays put, now on your right. 

Gaz pulls you into a deep, passionate kiss. His hands caressing your neck. You felt Alejandro's hands massage your ass cheeks.

"Mmm, you want to get fucked, yeah?" Alejandro pulled your hair, making you arch your back as he rubbed your face. You shook your head doing your best to make eye contact with him from the weird angle you were in.

Pushing you down, you sink onto Gaz. Cum that leaked out of both holes being used as free lube. 

"You are... so divine, y/n," Gaz whispered in your ear, letting you adjust. You shrieked as Alejandro slammed into your ass in one agonizingly slow thrust. You felt like you were being ripped in half from the bottom up. 

Unlike Soap and Price's pace, these two weren't synchronized at all. Gaz's flow was more slow-paced, and less rough while Alejandro's had no relent.

"Can I please cum, fuck, please?!" you begged. 

"Stroke our cocks, liebchen (dear)..." König demanded softly.

You do so as you clench down on the two intrusions in your holes, trying your best to wait for permission to cum. 

Eyes widening when you feel König's length, you can't fit your hand around the girth - I mean, you can't Ghost's either - but as your hand slipped down his cock, it was almost neverending. 

"Cum for us, baby," Gaz pulled you into a kiss, sucking in your moans as you struggled to have two cocks in you and one in either hand. You soon worked your hips to make a new rhythm, hitting you in the best spots. 

König and Ghost grunt as your hand tightens, though your handjobs get sloppier as you start to see stars, pressure being built up inside you that needed release. Ghost pulled you by your hair, making you look into his dark eyes. "Didn't you hear what he said, luv? Be a good whore and do what you love, yeah?" He placed his gloved thumb in your mouth and you didn't hesitate to suck on it.

Finally, Vargas and Gaz synchronized, allowing you to release. 

"Thank you, thank you, thank you~..." you panted as your body shivered, gushing white liquid onto Gaz's cock. 

"Ah, fuck!" Alejandro hissed as he then spilled his load into you, Gaz following shortly after. 

You hunched on your side on the bench, out of breath, fucked out while you looked up at Ghost and König, the two very tall, intimidating masked men. You almost feared what they planned to do to you, considering they're the last two...

You look around you to see Price fully dressed, puffing on a cigar. Soap fully dressed as well, watching the scene in awe. Gaz and Alejandro leaned on the wall. Thankful for the break, you didn't even register what was said to you.

"Pay attention, pet..." Ghost leaned down to your face.

"Y-yes sir..." you muttered.

"Hands and knees."

You carefully obey, trying to get in a comfortable position on the not-so-thick bench. König walks in front of you and you have to lean up higher to reach his cock. 

"Sei ein braves Mädchen (be a good girl)," König cooed, looking down at you through his mesmerizing eyes, caressing your face. 

Ghost holds onto your waist for leverage as his tip kisses your entrance. "Fucked like a whore and still fuckin' tight..."

The leather of the bench rides under your fingernails as you grip it, trying to pay attention to König's cock. The thickness of Ghost is hard to adjust to, being much thicker than the past partners. 

"Ghost~... feels so good... so big..."

"I know, luv."

"Suck my cock, Maus... Ja (yes)..." König gritted his teeth. Aiming to please, your hands place themselves on his thighs for leverage. He helps his cock enter your mouth as you hollow your cheeks, sucking on the tip while he eases further softly.

Ghost's thrusts are hard, causing you to choke on König's cock as you're slammed forward. Each - and - every - thrust. 

Deep grunts from behind you as his thick Manchester accent helps you reach your high.

"You feel so fuckin' good, y/n. Gonna fill this pretty pussy with my thick load and watch all the cum leak out of your holes. Bein' a good fuckin' slut for us."

"Mmmm~" you vibrated against König's cock, his praise filling your ears also.

"You're taking me so well, y/n... So proud of you, baby..."

"Does that feel good? Ja (yes)?"

You manage to reach back to spread one of your cheeks for Ghost. He leans back, angling himself deeper and you can feel the bulge pressing through your tummy. 

König slides out of your mouth and starts jacking himself off, and in between pants and deep moans, you screamed. "I'm gonna fucking cum, right there, Ghost, please, oh fuck~"

"Is that right, you sexy little fucking thing?"

"Ghost~... please..." you looked back at him. He pulled you up, getting you in a chokehold between his arm and bicep. Your back is folded in half as you're pulled into him. Grabbing onto his wrist, you beg him with a voiceless plea, "Ghost... please let me cum. Please, sir."

"Oh, fuckin' hell..." his thrusts got sloppier from hearing you beg. He releases you from his hold and fucks you to your euphoria. "Cum for me, pet."

His chest kisses your back as he's nestled into your neck, riding out his high. Pulling out, leaving your pussy clenching around nothing, he slaps your ass, leaving red handprints. Fluid oozes out of you, drenching you in stickiness - your shower is now useless. He pulled out of you lazily, both of you moaning out at the feeling. 

"Ready for me, Schatz (darling)?" König asked with his soft voice.

"Yes, sir," you slurred as he helped you flip onto your back, leaning down between your legs. 

He sucked in a moan seeing you under him. 

His huge cock glided between your folds before he slowly inched in, stopping to let you adjust. 

"Oh fuck, König~..."

"Yes, Maus? Does it feel good?" he kissed your jaw while you hugged his biceps, pulling him close as you nodded your head.

With how tender König was being, you forgot that there was everyone else in the room, watching you be used. Fucked. Slutted out.

König's attempt to bottom out was nearly unsuccessful, you couldn't take all of him. 

"Tight fuckin' pussy, baby... even after all these cocks, you're still fucking tight..." he growled in your ear as he slammed into you in slow deep thrusts. 

You couldn't respond. Your mind is broken right now - too foggy - too much pleasure. 

"Is Maus feeling too fucked out to respond?" he chuckled. "That's okay, I'm gonna take care of you, darling..."

You respond in a broken "mhm" as he kept thrusting, kept pleasuring himself, further pleasing you. 

"Ahh~ Schatz (darling), the way you clench around me... I can't last long like this..."

"M'sorry... sorry..." you mutter out with a broken voice.

"Shhh... shh, it's okay, Meine Liebchen (my dear)."

He was using his cock as a battering ram to intrude your walls, tip kissing past your cervix. Your face contorted into a pleasured one as white sparks flash in your eyes and your stomach tightens. 

"I can tell - ahh, fuck~... you're about to cum... Gutes Mädchen (good girl)..."

Tears welled in your eyes as you feel too good, and your orgasm washed over you easily - taking control. You were determined to take each and every cock like a good girl and you succeeded - almost. 

"Scheiße (shit)! Ja... ja... ja (yes... yes... yes)... I'm going to cum so deep in you, Maus..."

As your tightness coaxed the cum out of König's cock, you felt too full as the last creampie overfilled you. He pulled out of you slowly, leaving you laid there like the fucked out slut you were.

"There she is... fucked out medic," Price shouted as he got up to walk towards you. "You okay, sweetheart?"

You nodded - no energy to talk.

"Y'did so good," he praised.

"Mhmm..."

"Take care of 'er, Soap... We gotta get back to work, unfortunately."

"Aye, captain," Soap obeyed.

~

Soap helped you up and showered with you, and didn't let you do any of the work. He washed your face, and your hair, and was even gentler as he washed your body that was undeniably sore. 

"Ya did so well for us, hen," Soap smiled as he met your lidded eyes.

"Thank you..."

"Mm, no, thank you..."

You giggle as your face fell into his neck. "'M so tired..."

"Let's get you dried off and to bed, then, lass."

--

[spontaneousglitterbees]

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The paper has it spelled out like sunrise over a lake; she can’t help but look at it until she has to make herself look away. Her first ‘client’, the fellow student she’s meant to be shadowing for the week, the person she is tasked with protecting if she wants to pass this class after transferring in partway through the semester is none other than–

“Ooh, bad luck.”

(Part of the TAPP AU, also on Ao3)

Ouma’s voice squeaks out from beside her upper arm so suddenly she flinches.

“Oh please, Harukawa, don’t tell me I caught you off guard. That’s like, your entire thing, now!” he sounds so jovial, without a care in the world, but his chest heaves as though he also just shuddered down to the core.

“You did this.” She states it without room for uncertainty.

“Why the hell would I do that?” he flicks his hand toward the sheet of printer paper pinned to the corkboard, the one that has condemned them for the next one-hundred-sixty-eight hours. It’s up there for the whole school to see. “It’s not even my MO to hack this school’s ancient copy machine, or whatever, I’m out for a good time. Besides, I’d like to live, thanks much.”

Maki is entirely unimpressed. “It is precisely your MO to stomp on my nerves in every way you can,” she enunciates with each step forward.

His grip tightens around the handle of his cane, still smiling. His knuckles threaten to rip themselves to shreds.

“Actually,” a voice chimes in, stern but not unkind. “It makes perfect sense, does it not? You are both in Class 79, which ought to alleviate some of the initial awkwardness.”

Silver hair catching the artificial overhead light, teaching assistant and upperclassman Peko Pekoyama overshadows the pair from behind. “Besides, as the Ultimate…” her eyes narrow, incredulous. “... Supreme Leader, Ouma is going to need a security detail someday.”

Maki glares up at her for all of a split second before dutifully lowering her gaze. It's less that the Ultimate Swordsman is intimidating than that she's so... coldly supportive. The kind of person whose praise is lined with mist and whose fury is a downpour. It'd be a shame to disappoint her, especially over Kokichi, of all people.

"Oh, but Peko-peko-chan, don't you know? Maki and I have been sworn enemies since we were kids! You'd really let that mean ol' teacher pair me up with my nemesis?! That's so cruel!" Kokichi leans in on his cane for leverage, arms crossed in front of him as he acts out the phrase in big, encompassing gestures. That's a lie. But...

Unfortunately for both of them, it only seems to reassure Peko that the path forward is clear. "It'll be a fine challenge for the both of you, then. You’ll be able to focus on two objectives at once: gaining experience staying alert, and equal experience working with difficult clients.”

Kokichi scoffs in the background, of course, but it's hardly worth arguing. He tries to get in your head and stay there, after all. If anything, being ‘difficult’ is a point of pride for him. His eye still seems to twitch a little at the admission. It’s probably just the dry autumn air.

Maki, inventing new curses in her head and keeping them there, nods sagely. "Of course, Ms. Pekoyama. I won't let you down."

She looks over to her current mark.

It's going to be a long week.

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

The week starts off innocuous enough. The worst of it comes at the beginning of each day as Kokichi pulls his books out of his locker. Literature, World History, ... Calculus II? Each slams into the floor with a resounding thud, one after another.  Some of them won't even see use until near the end of the school day, but he insists she carry them now. Spiteful little shit.

Many of their general education classes are shared to begin with, fortunately, meaning the two of them simply have to walk between classes together for a while. It isn’t quite embarrassing as much as it is frustrating for Maki. Does he even really need a cane, or is it just a ploy to get the teacher’s sympathy? They saunter down the hallway in either case, uncaring of the actual time they arrive. Five minutes late, ten minutes, even; neither incurs a penalty, a bit of an affront to her own persistent punctuality. ‘This school is his’ indeed.

No. The real trouble starts brewing during their free periods.

"The autumn leaves are home to a variety of bug species," lectures Gonta, sitting cross-legged in the courtyard. Kokichi sits beside him, dredging through a pile of leaves; pick up, flip, sort, over and over. Maki remains stock-still and focused on defense. Peko could be hiding around any given corner, assisting a teacher lying in wait for an ambush just to make a point about vigilance. 

But it’s a bit hard to stay on edge when things are so… unremarkable. So normal. 

"As an example, early-emerging populations of Actias luna in North America lay eggs on the undersides of leaves to keep larvae and pupas safe during winter until the adults appear in March." Despite Gonta’s better efforts choosing a more palatable bug for discussion, neither Kokichi nor Maki seems to be paying actual attention. 

"Which has to be why the leaf piles make such a good crunch when you jump in'em, riiiiight?" Kokichi teases, crushing the pile of leaves he's sorted beneath the base of his palm. He throws his back into the motion with a sadistic smile. It breaks into the same mischievous laugh as usual soon after, nishishi~! 

Gonta, however, seems unalarmed; perhaps he sees the un-smashed pile, the ones with even just the potential to have 'stuff on'em'. Instead, he smiles. "That might be the beetles, they love hiding in leaves."

"Ewwww!" Kokichi wipes his hand on his pants, despite the distinct lack of bug entrails on them. "Great! Gonta, you can't just ruin fall like that! Now I'm gonna be thinking about nasty beetles when I just wanted to have some fun..." he makes a point to frown, but seeing no real reaction the expression disappears as quickly as it came. 

"I not– I'm not ruining fall, it's too hot out to be real fall. It's messing with the bugs’ hibernation cycles...."

Maki finds she's won a fourth consecutive mental game of tic-tac-toe with herself before she finally sighs. Would it be out of line to suggest going inside? Perhaps a more enclosed space will help her readjust to the objective. 

Before she can suggest such a thing, Kokichi beats her to it.

“Yeah, it’s waaaay too hot out for September, I’m beat. Harukawa-chan, can we go back inside now?” he doesn’t bother to pout, eyes going from half-lidded to three-quarters wide seeing the barely-contained irritation on Maki’s face. 

“Gladly.” She stands without hesitation, turning to Gonta. “Thank you for having us.”

“Of course, is only polite thing to do,” smiles Gonta. Kokichi is a touch intrigued.

“What are you thanking him for, I bet you weren’t even listening! You haven’t taken that scowl off your face all day.” He leans a bit to his left, accentuating the roll of his eyes.

“I knew that you wouldn’t.” Maki says simply, opening the cold glass door.

Kokichi is shocked, appalled he’d tell you, with a loud gasp! Then he shrugs a little. “Eh. I wasn’t bored, anyway.”

Gonta waves, cheerful as ever, as the door swings shut.

The foot of his cane practically skids across the terrazzo tile as Kokichi takes off down the hall.

“What’s got you in such a hurry?” Maki asks before she can think better of it; Ouma is still faster than she’d given him credit for.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, Ultimate Assassin.” The reply comes quick and sharp, bitterness rising in his voice that hasn’t seen the light of day since well before the game ended.

Before she can ask ‘why now?’ or some such thing, as though there’s any logic behind what Ouma does in the first place, he’s looking at her expectantly from his perch just at the threshold of the main library doorway.

“Dunno about you, but I, for one, have homework. I’m looking for a book, silly, don’t you guys use those?” he shakes his head lightly, keeping the door open by leaning on it and waiting for her to go through. It takes a moment of the two staring at one another to determine who is going to relent; Maki walks a step inside as Kokichi beelines for the reading chairs.

Ah, the reading chairs. Only marginally more acceptable than the stiff, borderline crunchy upholstery of most of the furniture on campus. At least there’s no punishment for sitting on these. Surrounded by deep forest green carpets and a dim, subdued atmosphere one risks sinking into should they stay still for too long, the library is quiet. Starkly quiet. The sound of breathing itself seems to echo, not at all damped by the depth of archways and sub-sections of books and books upon books.

Kokichi looks idly up at the rafters, looking for something he must not find.

“What’s wrong?” Maki reluctantly asks, curiosity overpowering her better sense.

“It’s hot in here,” Ouma replies, his voice… uncharacteristically soft. It’s impossible to tell what emotion comes attached, if there is one at all.

“The air conditioning has been broken in this building all day, I hear.”

There is an awkward silence between them, an absolute vacuum of small-talk.

He takes a deep breath, only to look back over at Maki. “Welp. This place is huge, so. Might as well get crackin’, book’s not gonna find itself!” He smiles a little too wide for his face as he launches upright, looking over his shoulder and taking off into the canopy of books. “Be back in a bit!”

“Alright,” says Maki, striding over to meet him. “Where are we going first?”

Kokichi shakes his head. He’s sorely mistaken if he thinks it’ll be that easy to get rid of you. “Hmm, iunno. I’ll know it when I see it,” he chirps as he changes directions, taking a few dizzying turns before coming to a brief pause.

What is his problem? What does he get out of making this difficult for the both of you? Surely boredom can’t overtake the selfish want to do less work… yet, sure enough, he’s speed-walking away again.

Maki doesn’t need to look up to explain the sudden chill down her spine.

“Kiyo-chan! Fancy meetin’ you here,” Ouma laughs, stepping to the shelf opposite Korekiyo as Maki walks up to the two of them.

“Not exactly, Ouma, you know quite well I’ve been tasked with the maintenance of some of the anthropology department’s rarer books,” Kiyo shakes his head, adjusting his mask. “... No, I won’t be taking you to them. I was actually looking for a project on Minoan mythos in relation to pre-Hellenic…” he cuts himself off. 

Really, Maki thinks to herself, it’s hard to believe this awkward kid could have been the monster he once was. That’s the thing about monsters, though, isn’t it? In real life they don’t have horns or tails like the minotaur…. 

“Say. What are you visiting the library for? Your field is not precisely predicated on a large literary basis, is it?” 

“Kiyo-chaaaaan! No fair! Are you telling me I don’t look like I read? ‘Cuz I can read plenty, as long as it’s not BORING me to death!!” Kokichi leans on his cane, slightly swaying. “I like libraries. They’re like obstacle courses, and half the time nobody is even in them to get in the way!” he smiles. “But that’s a lie.”

“He’s looking for a book,” Maki chimes in, startling both Korekiyo and Kokichi back a few steps. 

“Oh, is that all? What kind of book are you looking for, Ouma? Certainly I could be of assistance.” Kiyo nods, possibly(?) smiling, and at the very least visibly trying to maintain a less standoffish posture.

“That won’t be–”

“Binary star formation,” the two phrases come in at the same time. Kokichi continues, “and the history of their discovery.” 

Kiyo stares at Kokichi for a moment, in (confusion? Disbelief? It’s difficult to tell, with so much of his face obscured and those piercing eyes ready to strike at any time…) before nodding. “Of course. I believe I recall where that one is, it was returned quite recently.”

Ouma stares idly into the distance for a split-second, an automaton re-calibrating on the fly. “Right. Duh, but I need it now, so.” 

Sure enough, Korekiyo is only away for a matter of minutes before returning with a single large tome. The book seems more focused on general astronomical phenomena, but must have a chapter or two dedicated to binary stars. Should have picked something more obscure, Maki huffs at the thought, if you really just wanted to cause trouble. Let me guess, that isn’t–

“That’s exactly it!” says Kokichi, who excitedly starts flipping through the pages. Korekiyo looks like he wants to scold him, be more careful, but restrains himself from doing so. Nonetheless, the two share a look; Kokichi suddenly feels like maybe he should slow down, lest unsavory things happen to his nerves. 

Just a feeling.

Things look, for once, to be going well again. Ouma is reading (or, at least, glaring at a page), freeing up Maki’s attention to better scope out the area.

… At least, until “Kiyo-chan? The text is so small, I can barely read a thing!”

Don’t get involved, don’t worry about it, Maki, you have a mission!

“Then why don’t you take it back to one of the reading areas? It’s certain to be brighter there.”  Korekiyo shrugs, back to looking at the shelf ahead.

“Can’t you read it to me, Kiyo-chan? Pleeeease, you have such a nice reading voice!”

Korekiyo stops, for a moment, glaring at Kokichi. “And that’s a lie, certainly.”

“What! You’re calling me a liar! Kiyo-chan, that’s so, s-so,,” the tears start to well up, if only slightly. Is he losing his touch with the waterworks? “Accurate, yeah, but not this time! If I didn’t tell the truth some of the time, it’d make the lies too obvious! And that’s no fun at all.”

“... Ah,” says Kiyo, uncertain of how to take a compliment.

“So?”

“Oh yes, right. Hmm. It can’t be that large of a diversion, surely…”

Such is how Korekiyo winds up over by the reading chairs, telling a dubiously-interested Kokichi about disk and turbulent fragmentations. “Where the instability and arbitrary motion cause a core to split off into multiple masses of gas and dust that collapse into independent protostars,” so the reading goes, “that are close enough to one another they become entangled in mutual orbit.” 

Maki can hardly say she’s particularly invested, even if it would be nice to have a better idea of what Kaito’s blathering on about half the time now that classes are in full swing. Still, something in her can’t help but hang on to this itch of unease, as though at any moment something will go wrong. She’s supposed to be watching Kokichi, but finds herself looking more at Kiyo than the surroundings. There is no danger there, anymore, though you’d have been more likely to get hurt than Ouma. But this feeling you can’t… no. That you refuse to name, this resentment, it takes residence in your bones and won’t let go. Is it because he’s been programmed as having been a killer? Aren’t you the very same? And when it really mattered, didn’t both of you decide to k–

The slightest sound makes Maki jump into action, fists at the ready to block an incoming blow, only. Huh. It seems it was just the weight of the book closing.

Kokichi sits up a little straighter, speaking a little louder (before, begrudgingly, quieting down, because this is a library). “Thank you, Kiyo-chan~ That would’ve been soooo boring to get through alone, you know? Nishishi, I’ll still be expecting your application for DICE one of these days! Best not disappoint,” he leans back in the chair, only to swing up to standing.

Korekiyo simply rolls his eyes, but there’s something undoubtedly fond in the gesture. If there weren’t, the fact would make itself known near-immediately; instead, Kiyo simply picks up the book to put it back on the shelf. “Is that all you needed, then?” 

Kokichi exaggerates a sigh. “Not by a longshot, but I think I left the rest in Miu’s lab,” he rolls his head back, momentarily looking at the spot where Maki has planted herself, arms crossed. “So I gotta run. Laters!”

As Kokichi is picking his cane back up (and staring at the foot for a moment, making sure he’s placed it on the correct side for now. Working on making the ruse more realistic, perhaps, Maki posits, though she dares not say such a thing aloud), Maki nods in acknowledgement of Kiyo. 

After an awkward pause, Kiyo nods back. “Miss Harukawa.”  

But the pair are off again, out of the library and en-route to Miu’s lab.

The silence between the two of them is thick. Neither is perturbed by the light traffic traveling in either direction down the hall, staying steps apart but not quite identifiable as a ‘group’. Much remains unsaid between the two. Neither dares disrupt the precarious balance maintaining a stoic facade, and the awkward silence stays.

At least, while only in the company of one another.

“Hey!” Kokichi yells, swinging open the door to Miu’s lab with reckless abandon, startling a very focused Chihiro and Kazuichi sitting at the far end of a long table. “Where’s that boisterous blonde–”

“That is the best most bodacious boisterous blonde bitch to you, ‘ya shitstain.” Miu looks up from her workbench, approaching the opposite side of the long table with a haughty laugh. 

“Mm, nope. Too wordy. Might mistake you for a nerd,” he teases, pointing up and down at a Miu dressed in her lab coat and covered from goggles to toe in smears of motor oil.

“Oh please, haven’t you figured out yet that I’m beauty and a brain?”

“And a nerd, yeah, I got that.”

The pair bicker like old friends, though it’s only recently they’ve had a chance to talk over their time in the killing game. Perhaps it’s easier for them to act like it never happened; it’d be hypocritical of Maki to judge.

Although…

“So you’ll concede she’s beautiful?” Maki tugs on her hair, wrapping it around her finger with a smirk. One sentence sparks a good five minutes of playful arguing, nuh-uh yuh-uh, and mild shoulder-punching. In terms of the assignment, it’s permissible, but on thin ice.

The perimeter seems clear in here, anyway, only the five of them. Chihiro and Kazuichi seem too engrossed in whatever project they’re working on to bat an eye at the two’s banter, and there’s no good angle for an ambush. Besides, it’d be irresponsible to initiate a confrontation with so many metal scraps and machines around. Still, she has to remain on alert.

… Though she can’t help but listen when she hears Miu launch into a small tirade: “What I’m always working on, dumbass, and a couple things besides. Picture this: you’re me, and you’re ‘getting a regular checkup’ because you’re ‘recovering from a traumatic experience’ and all that junk. And I’m sitting there, wasting valuable workable time between classes, just for them to call me up to do, like, the same three tests they always do? And I think to myself, man, wouldn’t it be genius if you could just step into a booth, or a pod, or something like that when you get there, and it does all of that preliminary stuff on you at once so you can just be done with it already? And this was like, two? Days ago? So you know I have a prototype.”

Kokichi looks nonplussed, to say the least.

“Haven’t you been working on anything less… totally mundane, than that? Maybe like a shrink ray, or a portal device or a body-swapper, or something exciting?”

“Well, you know I’m building an android, but we all know how you feel about that.”

“I do not need the list of features you’re giving that thing. Nobody, needs the list of features you’re giving that thing.”

“W-W, h-hey! I’m not gonna be weird about it,” Miu pouts, voice getting soft for a moment. “That’s like, totally crossing a line…” only to pick back up. “Nah, I’m not gonna load in any kinky shit until I can ask him about it!”

“Is that finally an answer to the question I’ve been asking for like three months now? We’re going with ‘robots only have dicks upon request?’”

Maybe it’s better to stop listening, actually. Not that Maki is given the choice.

“Point is, I still need a test subject! Why not you, while you’re right here? Every experiment we’ve run so far has been demonstrably fine, quit your worry-warting already ‘ya buzzkill.” Miu scoffs, rolling out a wardrobe-sized booth on a dolly.

“But Iruma-channnn,”  Kokichi whines. His eye twitches, scanning the new device up and down, only more resolute that “there’s no way I’m gonna go in there unless it’s got AC!”

“That can be arranged,” says Miu, writing at the bottom of a spare paper. “Now, get over here so we can get this show on the road!” 

“Nnnnn can’t make me.”

“Come on.”

“Nah.”

“It’ll be fine!”

“For you, maybe.”

“You know what? Fine. Hey Maki!” Miu calls, waving to where Maki is stationed around the corner. “C’mon, this’ll only take, like, two minutes, you in?”

Great. You’ve been Acknowledged.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Maki starts to stammer, but Kokichi has suddenly lit up.

“Ooh! Do it, do it Maki!”

“I really don’t think I should distract from–”

Suddenly, both Miu and Kokichi are peering over the table, all but pounding their fists against the wood as they chant “Do it, do it!”

If anything, their exuberance makes her want to give in less, but the coast is clear, for now… Chihiro gives Maki a withering look. Doesn’t seem like they’ll run out of steam any time soon. 

“... Fine.”

Kokichi and Miu turn to one another and high-five, cheering in unison. 

“Great,” Miu breezes by, opening an entrance to the box. “Come on in.”

Maki is immediately enveloped in what at first looks like a photo booth but, upon examination, has too many blinking lights and moving parts to be one. In lieu of a screen, a plexiglass barrier shows off the dim reflections of the moving mechanics, leaving the subject to back up into position. A thermometer pops out of the front panel at the same time as a blood pressure cuff restrains her left arm, a bar descending to the top of her head to record her height. Every metric is recorded on a tiny screen on the outside of the chamber.

Experiment: success. The device certainly does its job. Whether it’s been done well is questionable, but it certainly has been done.

Meanwhile, Kokichi has been lounging in quite possibly the single Good Chair in the entirety of Hope’s Peak, talking to Miu about something indistinct. By the time Maki walks out of the machine a matter of minutes has passed.

It feels like it’s been hours. 

And Maki is not happy.

“Ouma? I need to talk to you.”

“Can’t it wait? I sorta–”

“Now. Ouma.”

Kokichi keeps his head down, but follows Maki’s footsteps.

“We’re leaving. Goodbye, Miu. Hope you got your data.” Maki states, perfectly deadpan. She turns, practically dragging Ouma by the wrist.

“Harukawa, I’m sorry i–”

“That’s a lie,” Maki helpfully completes the thought, marching out into the hallway. “You’ve been lying all day, making up any excuse you can to be as distracting as possible just waiting for me to screw up. But it isn’t going to work. We are going, to your room, and you will stay there, and it will be quiet. Do you understand?”

Kokichi stops walking. He does not pull away from her hand any further than the natural distance that comes as he stops, glaring up at her with an oddly-canted eye. 

“You think you can ground me, Child-Caregiver? All I want is to hang out with my friends, and get to do it at a decent goddamn hour, and that’s SO bad? Aww, am I inconveniencing you? What would you rather be out doing. Huh? Would you rather be hunting me down for sport–”

Maki snaps out of her shock, shaking her head. “UGH! Not everything is always about YOU, you know!” She storms a few steps ahead.

“Well excuse me if you aren’t exactly open about your hobbies,” Kokichi scoffs, jogging up a few more stumbling steps to meet her. “If you insist on making our little forced-bonding-time absolutely miserable, I guess, be my fucking guest.”

“It’s not about fun, it’s about salvaging the entirety of this semester! Out of all of us, you should understand that!”

“Oh, so there is an ‘us’! I thought it a mere myth on the breeze, oh please, Harukawa, regale me with tales of how our miserable myriad of troubled teens that calls itself a class constitutes any kind of Unit,” he coughs on the end, running out of breath. A bit of spit drips from the corner of his mouth, hastily wiped away by a hand before he makes a big swinging gesture with his cane. 

This, it turns out, is a mistake.

First, his cane clatters to the floor. In and of itself, this isn’t surprising; at least it didn’t go through a window or otherwise launch across the hall, instead dropping down at Kokichi’s side.

Then Kokichi falls down with it.

He nearly faceplants, the only buffer coming in the form of outstretched arms in front of him that immediately buckle. 

Maki stifles half of a laugh. That’s what your overly-theatrical-ass gets when you try to act larger than life itself. She holds out a hand to help him back up. Frustrated as she may be, she isn’t cruel.

… But he doesn’t take it.

In fact, Kokichi doesn’t seem to be moving much at all.

Thinking fast, she immediately turns him onto his side in a recovery position. Still breathing– heavily, at that, as it’s taking up the majority of his focus just to do that much. It’s a full minute before he starts trying to talk. 

“Mmaki’alls sumiki,” is about all he can say, saliva rolling down his face, eyes glassy. One eye moves slower than the other as he tries to look up at her in that disturbingly blank way of his.

He says it again.

She doesn’t know what to do.

In for four, hold for four, out for four.

You can’t react this way to a little surprise. Cool heads prevail, Maki, you know this.

She feels a hand on her shoulder.

“Maki? Thank goodness I was following you. Listen, both of you, I’ve called my classmate Mikan. She is a nurse. What I need you to do, Maki, is help me pick him up. Ouma, just keep breathing…” Peko Pekoyama commands, picking up the cane to carry with her bag as she prepares to pick up Kokichi.

There’s an upset indignant note from him, an ‘uh, no shit,’ that pierces through the existential terror. That’s a good sign. That means not every scrap of consciousness needs to be dedicated just to staying alive. “I ‘ust, ‘eed’an ninit,” he tries to speak again, getting steadily more exasperated with himself. Even so, he does not cry.

No matter how he may want to, he does not cry.

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

Kokichi Ouma finds himself in a hospital room yet again. Maki Harukawa, however, finally finds herself at liberty to have him out of sight as she leans against the closed door.

Now you can panic.

“Maki?” Peko asks, tilting Maki’s chin up to meet her gaze.

Nevermind.

“You did the right thing, initially. Okay? You put him in a position where he could breathe, which is probably the most important thing you could have done.”

Maki stammers, tugging on her hair with an iron grip. “I did not do the right thing, initially. That’s the problem,” she admits, shaking her head. It’s difficult to stifle the ghost of tears blocking out her vision.

“Hm? What do you mean?” Peko asks, guiding Maki over to sit in a pair of chairs beside one of the many windows on this floor. 

No matter how hard she tries to stop them, once they start the words won’t stop flowing. “I mean that it’s my fault he’s like this!”

“... Maki, I saw it, it was an accide–”

“In the game, I shot him. Twice. With laced bolts, he. He just took Kaito, and was planning, s-something, and we were all so scared and I thought he was going to kill him so I covered them in strike-nine, and I shot him. Twice! And I went for a third…”

Peko is taken aback for a moment. Class 79 tends not to talk about their experiences in the simulation, so to hear things like shot and kill only confirm every terrible rumor she’s heard about the entire debacle. She blinks, once, then twice.

“Maki, I. I had no idea.”

Maki pulls on her hair, looping it around her whole hand and it still isn’t enough. “I know, I know, I’m an assassin, Ms. Pekoyama, and he’s the only mark I’ve ever actually killed myself.”

Peko is loath to let the silence spread between the two of them, yet she isn’t sure of what to say. Still, she says anyway: “I am. So sorry, that happened between you two. I assure you, I did not have an understanding of this. History, before I suggested you be paired together.”

“A-and now, now it’s my fault he collapsed, because whatever is wrong with him started because I poisoned him, because I’m a heartless, murder machine a-and,,” Maki hiccups, a hand over her face. She hasn’t even gotten this far into the story with her therapist, yet she sees enough of herself in Peko to entrust her with this secret.

“... I know what it is like to live with regret.” Peko offers. “It is never easy to choose one life over another. I don’t think that it should be, either. You should never have had to make that choice, but you did, and you made it as well as anyone could. You wanted to defend your friends, Maki, and you did. You cannot agonize about how things might have been after the fact if you want to move forward.”

Maki just stares at her hands, and cannot scrub away the illusion they are bright, bold magenta.

“... Maki?”

But Maki is far down the hall, watching Kaito close the door to that damn hospital room, because he’s betrayed me, again. 

“... I hated him.” She takes a deep breath, and lets the words swish around in her mouth for a moment before spitting them back out: “I hated him. I wanted him to suffer. He was irritating, and a threat, and I didn’t– I don’t understand him, and I wanted him to get away from me and everyone I care about.” Deep breath in. “So I shot him, with a crossbow, and I laced the bolts with the slowest-acting poison I could find, so he wouldn’t know peace the same way the rest of us hadn’t.”

“Ah,” says Peko, surprised but without any tone of judgment. After all, it is Peko’s turn to think, wouldn’t that be hypocritical? “Multiple things can be true at once, you know. Just because some part of you wanted vengeance does not overwrite your intentions to defend. I’ve only ever known you to want to protect the innocent, Maki, and even if you haven’t always been that person, that is the kind of person you are becoming. Every last one of you was in significant distress at that time, and that includes you. You shouldn’t let self-hatred cloud your perception.”

Maki nods ever-so-slightly. 

“What you did was. Excessive, yes, and you should not have done it. But it is in the past now, Maki. The fact that you feel remorse for it proves you aren’t ‘heartless’. You made a poor decision, with a high price. All that can be done for it now is to atone in ways you can. Sometimes, remembrance is all you can offer. But you,” Peko points at the flower on Maki’s uniform, “have a unique gift in all of this. Ouma is still alive now. In this life, you can still make amends.”

Maki sniffs, then holds her breath. In for three, hold for five, hold for four, hold forever… the tears just won’t slow. “It was cruel. I, was cruel, I don’t. I don’t want to be that way, not even to him. I-I want to. Amends, I want to,”

Peko smiles. She takes both of Maki’s hands into her own. “Then you will. You’ve already started, after all.”

The more Maki thinks of it, this whole shadowing experience has shown off facets of Ouma’s personality she hadn’t seen before. He does not like bugs, but still tolerates them out of care for his friendship with Gonta. He could have been cruel and smashed all the leaves, but he picked out any that even may have had eggs on them. Kokichi could have been legitimately cruel, yet he wasn’t. Kiyo, quiet as he is these days, is willing to accept him because Kokichi has accepted him in return. Even Miu, after she tried to bash in his skull with a hammer, has come around to not just tolerating his presence, but coming to enjoy it. Enough to make a machine for the medical wing since he, her friend, is in and out of the hospital so often… so he’s claimed.

Maki can only reconcile now that at least some, possibly all of those claims of chronic pain and complications are very real. Part of her knew this all along, but didn’t want to believe it; it’s easier, after all, to lie to yourself. Hadn’t Kokichi said something to that effect, so long ago?

Despite how irritating he is, despite his best attempts to get under her skin, despite being Kokichi Ouma, he’s… admittedly, a decent friend when it counts. And, perhaps, someday they can be friends as well.

“I still. It. It’s so stupid,” she shakes her head. “I-I better not…”

“But you want to say it, right?” Peko nods.

“I still feel. Jealous? Kaito can do what he wants, of course, but ever since the simulation it’s felt like our trio with Shuichi is… different. Like he’s choosing Kokichi over us.” Over me, she does not say. Peko can see it in her watery eyes.

“That, I’ve certainly understood,” Peko laughs. “Sometimes the person you admire can be… short-sighted, maybe. But your admiration is your own, you know. You have to own it, and, if they don’t ultimately feel the same way…” She looks off into the distance. Imagining someone, no doubt.

“... Right. Right, thank you Ms. Pekoyama.”

“Just Peko is fine, Maki.”

“Thank you, Peko.”

“Of course.”

“... But maybe they do feel the same way. You. Never know until you ask, right?”

Peko snaps back to attention. “I… suppose.” 

“It’s just a matter of gathering the inner strength to ask, whether you like the answer or not. … I think you should,” Maki shrugs, drying her tears. “And maybe I should too.”

“Perhaps,” says Peko, unshaken as ever, until… she smiles, conspiratorially. “I will if you will.”

“Alright,” laughs Maki. “Deal. But I have someone I have to address first.”

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

Meanwhile, Kaito slowly closes the door to the hospital room. The cool air hits him almost immediately upon entering; the air conditioning must be turned up significantly higher than in the rest of the building. It’s a different room, this time; the slightly different decor is disorienting for a moment, while he allows it to be. There’s something far more important than misplaced flowers and chairs and abstract paintings at its center, though.

“Kokichi?”

There’s a disgruntled sigh from the hospital bed, and an equally disgruntled Kokichi hooked up to not-even-a-fourth-of the equipment he was last time, to Kaito’s knowledge, he actually had to stay here.

“‘eah. Yeah, ‘s me.” He even sounds tired, still slurring words together a touch at this point.

Kaito takes his left hand, the dominant side. The uninjured one.

Kokichi can barely curl his fingers around Kaito’s, for now.

“Like the worst case’a TMJ you ever had,” he tries to smile, but finds the effort fruitless to try. Out of everyone, Kaito won’t mind if you don’t pretend for him. He already knows what you are. “‘Cept it’s everywhere. Mostly.” 

“Maybe you shouldn’t be talking so much–”

“Tsumiki-chan said, as long as I focus on breathing, I can do what I want. Mostly wanna not-do-things, though. Boring. What’d you do today?”

“You’re asking me?” Kaito laughs, but humors the thought. “Class, mostly. Went out to train with Shuichi, he’s actually coming along pretty well. Still has trouble keeping up with me in the real world, though, lung capacity and all. Been missing Maki, though. She’s really trying her hardest for this class, you know, she’s even talking to that Peko girl right now.”

Kokichi looks away, both eyes now in-sync as he tries to look to the tile floor. “Yeah. She’s still Harukawa, alright.”

Probably not a great time to talk about it, it dawns on Kaito just a little too late.

“What even happened, man, can I ask that? Figure I may as well instead’a dancing around it,” Kaito says, just to banish the thought. To get it out of the way.

Kokichi laughs a little under his breath. It hurts, but there’s a degree to which he can’t help it. “Ask’er yourself.”

Kaito is confused for all of a moment before looking around the–

“Ah! I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you! I-I just thought I could answer any q-questions, so Ouma doesn’t have to-o…” Mikan Tsumiki, Ultimate Nervous Wreck, holds her clipboard to her chest.

Kaito is beside himself, unsure of how to get her to calm back down. Kokichi’s hand squeezes his a little tighter. Give her a moment.

“R-Right, sorry, you were wondering about his condition, right? Ouma’s, I mean. T-There’s good news! And. Bad news, which we’ve already talked about before you arrived, or. I did most of the talking because he’s having a hard time at the moment, but you knew that– Bad news we’ve already talked about, and good news.” Mikan looks up at Kaito expectantly, straining a smile. 

“... Do you want me to pick one? Because I’m sure whatever the bad news is won’t look so bad compared to the good,” Kaito nods, resolute.

“Oh yeah, s-s. Sorry. Yeah. SO the good news is this is just a flare-up, probably caused by a mix of stress and the heat outside. He’s been doing a lot better in this building since we have a backup generator for our climate control,” she continues. “But the bad news is that if he doesn’t take care of his condition, he could end up in a full-blown crisis, mister,” a darkness casts over her eyes “and if you do you won’t be able to breathe on your own, then it’s back on a ventilator for up to weeks at a time, and I know how much you hate that.” She picks her head up. “But, hopefully it won’t come to that!”

… It’s a lot to take in at once.

“What. Exactly, is his condition? How could he deteriorate so suddenly?” Kaito asks despite Kokichi’s half-hearted protest.

“It wasn’t sudden. I’ve been feeling it all day… it just got too bad to deal with. That’s all.” Mikan looks over to Kokichi before he relents and nods. “Someone else should know.”

“It seems to be an autoimmune disorder caused by the program. Not one that we’ve seen before, but one that’s kind of unique because of how it happened. The device ‘taught’ his immune system to attack danger that wasn’t physically there, so it started attacking what was there instead. It seems to include some of the signals sent between muscle groups to get them to move, leading to muscle weakness that varies in severity. This would be a moderate exacerbation, I think, so it really could be much worse!”

Mikan is still working on her bedside manner. Kokichi huffs a little, amused, while Kaito is still processing.

“Is. Is it ever going to stop?”

“I think you know the answer to that,” Mikan sighs, a little shake of her head. The same thing Kaito had been told about his lungs. “It’s impossible for us to know, but don’t count on it.”

“So… So what can we do? There has to be some kind of training we can do to make it a little less severe, right?” The impossible is always possible, is it not?

“Well. Physical therapy might help as part of the treatment, but it’s most important he’s taking his meds regularly and getting enough sleep,” she says. “But it’s pretty near impossible to enforce.”

Kaito looks over at Kokichi for a moment, then back to Mikan. 

“Maybe, on his own. What if he had a roommate? Then we’d share responsibility.”

“You’re kidding me,” Ouma says, doing his best to sit up a little. It’s more effort than it’s worth, but that does not stop him from trying.

“It’s that, or have you check in even more regularly than you already do. Even if I have to fish you out of the dorms,” Mikan shakes her head, tsk-tsk-tsk. “It’s not a bad idea. I’ll take it up with Administration. Unless you’d rather have an aide following you around…?”

“NO. ‘m good. It’s good. Could be way worse…”

“And I’ll see if I can get you an air conditioner in your room? It is very literally medically necessary.”

“Yessss,” Ouma seems happy enough, and settles down. It’s distinctly possible he’s too tired to put up much more protest, and takes the opportunity to start to nod off.

Kaito smiles fondly, and shakes his head.

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

Several hours later, Kokichi wakes up to the creaking of his door. He tenses, finding that he can, even if it’d be too much to disengage himself from ensnaring wires and monitors. He doesn’t bother. A moment later, it’s clear enough who it is.

“... Hello, Ouma.”

“Harukawa.”

Kokichi stares upward, idly counting holes in the ceiling tile.

The silence is deafening.

“I’m sorry,” Maki starts, a meandering sentence unto itself that unravels slowly from her tongue. 

Too slowly, for Kokichi. “Yeah, alright. For what?”

“Take your pick.” The courage she’s built up is thrown to the wind as she strives to just say it,  or at least say something.

“Sure. Forgiven. Whatever. Now, what’s it you want?”

“... That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.”

“Ooh, she catches on! Maki Harukawa, how do you do it,” he laughs. It’s a strangled sound. 

“Cut it out, Kokichi, I’m sorry. I’m sorry about what happened today. I’m sorry about pushing you too far–”

“You didn’t push me too far.” he says, but it sounds… hollow. Sincere, insincere, it doesn’t seem to matter; there’s no substance to it, but it’s also packed with double-triple meanings and spite.

“I’m sorry anyway,” Maki says. 

This appears to appease him, if just for a minute.

“I’m sorry about pushing you around, and for blaming you for my own inability to properly focus.” she sighs. “… In my defense, you don’t make it easy, but. That’s not the point. The point is, I should not have done that. I got angry, and when I get angry sometimes I act rashly. So I’m sorry.”

There’s something bigger to that statement, of course. Something he cannot help but respond to with a brutal truth:

“I don’t know if I can forgive you. I want to stop being scared of you, but it’s not. Suddenly okay again.” He turns his head, half-muttering. “I’m not sure I’ll ever really be ‘okay’ again….”

The silence returns.

“... That’s. That’s okay. I mean, if you don’t. You don’t, have to. Respect is earned, and so… so is forgiveness, I think. I hope I can earn that in your eyes.”

“... Alright,” says Kokichi. “Fair enough.”

“See you around,” Maki shrugs, halfway to closing the door.

“And Maki?”

“Yeah?” she pauses.

“Thanks.”

[stonyponyofficial]

oh shit? whats that skanking this way? are those some more summer songs? are those some summer songs spliced seamlessly alongside some ska since Skaugust started? seems interesting, maybe u should pick em up and take a listen if u get the chance... might be the rudest sounds of the SKAmmer...

🎺spotify link ⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜ yt link🎺

notes on each ⬜⬛⬜⬛⬜⬛ below the cut :3

Remember Summer Days - Anri: my city pop kick has not ended as you will continue to see. its the kinda shit that makes me wanna be taken on a warm evening drive. yeahh bitch i control the music and im not even driving >:3 sorry. umm also the horns make the song fit our skankin tone this time around so very well. they are like sisters <3

Car Song - Danny L Harle, MC Boing - speaking of drives! if, say, you are ever driving in a car, or perhaps playing music in a car this would be the track to signal to those around u that u are doing those things. i just love mc boing also. so much dumb hype that i cant help but follow his lead and bounce along. check out his like three other songs if u get the changce soun

Death Grips is Online - Death Grips: i was looking at my 'summer rewind' on spotify and this was apparently a death grips song i had listened to a lot a few years ago just without getting into any more death grips after that? it makes sense tho i was listening to a lot of igor of tyler the creator fame around that time. i was probably like ooooh this has that hard cunchy igor bass i like. and was like 😂 what the heck is the rest of their stuff tho seriously tihs is craazy 😂. probably is how i was like back then. tch. fool.

Flaunt It/Cheap - Rae Sremmurd: amen break waveform tattooed on my forehead running up to u voice HEY U SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS SONG THEY. HEY> THEY RAP OVER AN AMEN BREAK ITS GOOD. okay thats misleading they only do that for a bit but after that the flow is very amen break inspired..but then beat switch thats still very good i love a good beat switch and all.... i just wish he kept spitting over that pure amen break sample. paws in pockets kicking the dirt as i walk away.....

Helium - Ecco2k (Drain Gang Archives): comes back excitedly to talk about draing gang ^w^. this time around our drain gang entrance is actually a bootleg posted by a drain gang leak aggregator on spotify. in case u were wonering this is probably the best of those unreleased/leaked songs ........... ecco's voice fits this song so well with all his falsetto stuff (get it it's like helihey it's like a helium balloon get it his voice it's hifh) but he also does that on his other songs bc he's a beautiful angel. GOd and his pouty fucking sighs in the chorus god i just wann[

Merlin's Staff - Ski Mask The Slump God: as i posted about before i love me some ski mask :) i hadnt listened to a lot of his new stuff until i watched his most recent interview with nardwuar. it is from here that i found this song bc ski mask references nardy on the track. HOWEVER. i would be remiss if i did not talk about my favorite lyric from this song that ive refrained from just posting as is. makes me GIGGLE every goddamn time.

"On the go like Mario, drive in a kart

Lisa Simpson, her head sharp"

now he does bring this back around to be a joke about her "giving brain" but just that line alone with the cadence gets stuck in my head. Li. sa. Simp. son. Her. Head. Sharp.

Morning Bell - Radiohead: speaking of... head? been catching up with ol mr. head recently on account of people i know whose music opinions i trust liking his tunes a lot (hai :3) this is My preferred morning bell btw.... for u music perverts out there who wanna know (hai :3) .... the drum groove is irresistible and the piano feels so cooold. cmon its in 5/4.... like im sorry to those whom i may have disappointed i do like amnesiac morning bell it feels a lot eerier.. yet brighter with all the bells? and the 'release me's in that one are very pretty but. kid a morning bell 👍

your clothes - Jane Remover: still havent listened to new jane BUT i have gone back to revisit old stuff i hadnt listened to in a while. upon listening to this one i was reminded Wow! Jane just doesn't miss! so congrats to Jane the Remover on being the only artist to have never left some songs thus far. may ur reign be long.

Last Summer Whisper - Anri: i leave you with this. the last whisper of summer. the last whisper of my city pop kick. the last whisper of some songs until fall right guys? do u guys hear a train?

⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️

⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️⬜️⬛️

Train to Skaville (Live) - The Selecter: ALLLLLLLLL ABOOOOOOOAAAARRRD. THIS TRAIN. IS BOUND. FOR. SKAVILLE!!!!!!!!! wait oh shit i can't leave yet i have a train to catch 😳someone made a joke to me last year about this song (i believe it was in September they said 'the train to skaville has left the station') and i straight up didnt get it at the time bc i was kind of a poser skahead when i made my skaugust post eheh nervous laughs bc i pretended to know it in that post ehehe ^^ . i do believe in ska fans beliefs (that ska is good, and anticapitalism probably) i just didnt know much about it besides like stupid horse did it that one time and that post about a kid getting an extra mozz stick.. anyway fast forward one year this fucking song is the idle music in my head. i pretend to be that funky ass bass on this song a lot too hehe. there are MANT live versions of this song on yt so i chose the most fitting one for the playlist but the one ive been listening to is the spotify one -w-

Superman - Goldfinger - this is the archetypal ska song to me. and u know why. that fucking post about that kid getting an extra mozzarella stick and ska plays in his head. from uo there ^. this is the song on that post. this is like capital s Ska to me. u know how people associate dnb with really slick games u grind on rails and skate/snowboard in. make the main character 12 and sucking ass on his first shitty skateboard rolling around his neighborhood and the soundtrack is now ska. only this song actually. it is good tho is the important thing

Never Meant - Skatune Network, JER:

.

I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - Skatune Network, JER:

.

Come on Eileen - Save Ferris:

.

Take On Me - Reel Big Fish: what can i say im a sucker for a ska cover? SKA-ver. heh so true

Old SKrAp - Jeff Rosenstock: i believe jeff rosenstock has done other things which i will get to eventually like all things but i know him specifically for having made an album called No Dream (that i... havent listened to :/) which released in 2020 (05/20 specifically). and then.. on 04/20 of 2021 (!!!!!!!!!!! WEEED WEED ITS WEED) he released Ska Dream, which, of course, is a complete reworking of No Dream but to be Ska instead. the original title of this song is Old Crap which they still sing in the song i just love how they put SKA into the title. all of them are like this btw.

stupid horse - 100 gecs: the OG. also s/o aimkid amv. s/o all aimkid amvs but thats beside the point. there was a point in 100 gecstory that there were maybe only a few interviews they did after 1000 gecs and ofc not many live performance videos besides minecraft festival screen recordings and maybe one video of a show from the secret tour. but there was an interview from skullcandy of all places with an accompanying live performance of stupid horse that i rewatched sevreal times :) ......... i thought the neon green and yellow set pieces and outfits were cool ok??? anyway fucking stupid horse yeah a swordfish dancer spend my money on a fishnet carousel go go go go goin so fast now go go go go goin so fast now.

Frog On The Floor - 100 gecs: and then they did it again :)

I Got My Tooth Removed - 100 gecs: and did it again :)

Two-By-Four-And-A-Half - Thee Goblins: as i said before ive been narding it up recently with some nardwuar interviews. my favorite thing about him is his elusiveness as like. a guy who does things besides being nardwuar. and my favorite story about him doing other things is that on his quest to interviewing kurt cobain, he tried talking to dave grohl and somehow dave recognized nardwuar from a band he's in (this band Thee Goblins :3). but the band wears masks when they perform so u cant see its nardwuar. and he still knew it was him without the mask and i guess felt enough respect for nardwuar in that moment to decide to get him an in with kurt, which did come to fruition BTW. anyway this song is a SKA SONG by NARDWUAR himself.... this isn't on the yt playlist unfortch but there is a good video of the nardman himself and others as thee goblins.

Ska Sucks - Big D and the Kids Table: found this one while just ska-ouring ska-tify for more ska. and idk theres just something in a good subversive title (and lyrics if u venture to take a listen >w< ).anyway this ska doesn't suck its quite good actually :) this is a theme in ska if u could not tell. being quite good not sucking. sorry if that was unclear.

yyyaWWWn ummmmmmmn.. okay This is ewher i leave u.. with all the skanking ive been doing i believe ive kicked up a month long ska storm... but i hear there are some pretty rude winds forecasted to come in later today so oerhaps keep ur ears to the wind on that front 😳... um anyway peels off in my car i am sooooo licensed to operate leaving u behind with this helpful guidento steer your path. and this, thjs last SKA-mmer whisper, is how ill leave u until fall music fans :3 <3

[pseudopeachy]

Ran Haitani x gn!Reader: I won’t say I’m in love

Genre: Fluff

Character: Ran Haitani, Tenjiku timeline

Warnings: Violence, curse words, a bit of misogyny if you squint

a/n: I think Ran fits perfectly in the best friends to lovers trope. I had a looot of fun writing this. Hope you enjoy! 🖤

Please consider reblogging as well 🖤

Ran thinks you’re perfect. The universe took its precious time in making sure that you’d be one of the ethereal individuals to ever grace the Earth, it gave you the brains every genius would be envious of and gave incomparable beauty after being bestowed Aphrodite's blessing.

But Ran also wants to strangle the lights out of you because you’re dumb as fuck.

He can look past your questionable fashion sense and sheer audacity to fall asleep when he wants to ramble about what happened during one of their fights, but he can’t overlook your taste in your partner.

He shouldn’t one to talk as his preferences were something along the lines of good and pretty enough for a fuck or two. But you? Oh, sweet ol’ you whose face is buried between pages of books and sighing when the love interest does something that piqued your interest?

You, who wants to experience dancing in the rain with your lover or slow dances at two in the morning while making pancakes?

Ran thinks you’re adorably stupid to want such surreal things. Settle for bondage like the rest of humans, for fuck’s sake.

“Why must you always be an asshole, hm?” Your voice, dripping with utter annoyance, brought him back to reality. You’d always get in such a sour mood whenever he turns down a confession or two.

He doesn’t care for the poor soul, or souls on some days, who was pouring their heart out in front of him; not when he’s thinking of dragging you and Rindou to another café somewhere after the person was done rambling.

You’ve been with him through ups and downs. Hell, you frequently visited him and Rindou more than their parents when they went to juvie. You always arrive after a call or two, not once questioning why they were so enamored with the gang life and instead pressed a bit harder on their bruises and wounds when you’d clean them up after a fight while nagging their ears off.

Why on Earth was he going to trade you out for someone mediocre? Are you that stupid?

“So, you’re saying that you’re in love with (y/n) and you want to date them instead. Is that it?”

Ran almost spat out the alcohol he’d been sipping upon hearing Izana’s question. He looked at their leader as if the silver-haired man grew three heads. His lilac eyes scanned the room in hopes to find someone who’d think otherwise, only to find every Tenjiku executive awaiting his answer.

He immediately regrets bringing up the topic of you and his relationship status after their meeting.

“No! Oh my God, where did you guys get the impression that I’d date (y/n)?”

Izana and Kakucho exchanged glances while Rindou sighed defeatedly. Everybody knows Ran Haitani is an intelligent man, a feared gangster who actually knows how to strategize fights.

But he was very dense when it came to you.

“So you’re telling us that you don’t love (y/n) more than a friend even though the first person you’d think of dragging around is them and not Rindou or anyone else?” Mochi slurred out the words as if the older Haitani can’t understand Japanese.

“Absolutely.”

“Even when they’d cook you and Rindou bentos for lunch? Not when you don’t want anyone to clean up your wounds but them?”

“I don’t trust anyone but (y/n) with those things. They also know what I like so.”

Hanma then reasoned, “So it’s ok for (y/n) to start dating others, then?”

The dramatic gasp from Ran gave hope to the members. “What kind of an idiotic question is that?! Do you want them to get their feelings played with?!”

“You are fucking hopeless, Haitani.” Was all they heard from Muto as he and Sanzu walked out of the room, clearly tired from hearing Ran’s bullshit.

“You don’t get me, you assholes. Do you know what kind of person (y/n) likes? That little shit wants to date someone they can make things with at ungodly hours in the morning, or get cozy somewhere with a book or a movie! They have unrealistic standards, they could get hurt out there!”

The room stilled, on the verge of giving up on the frustrated heavenly king.

“You’re in love with (y/n), you stupid fuck. You’re just in denial because they’re your best friend.” Kakucho sighed as he massaged his temple.

Ran only groaned in response, clearly done with them.

They don’t understand him; it was normal for the both of you to go on café dates and have skincare nights as you dish out gossip. It was normal for him to think that no person deserves you because you were truly a cinnamon roll that’s too pure for this world.

He’s always had your best interest at heart because he’s your best friend. He’s been with you ever since, you both don’t need anyone to change that.

All hell broke loose when you introduced Ran to your suitor, though.

His ears kept ringing while you were rambling about god-knows-what, your eyes shining bright whenever you’d look at the other guy.

And the guy in question, Hiro was what you called the creature, was smiling at you as if you were the best thing he ever laid eyes on.

That was true, but Ran wasn’t adamant about sharing you with some sad excuse of a person.

“Does he even know what type of books you are reading? Does he even know how to read?” He earns a well-deserved smack from you after that, although still whining like a child about your suitor.

“Try to get along with him, please? I don’t want you to think I’m replacing you just because he wants to be with me.” The older Haitani was still salty with the whole thing, but he can’t say no whenever you’d pull out your puppy dog eyes at him.

But getting along with Hiro, or the little shit as he’d call the guy, was becoming a real challenge as the newcomer was replacing him in your life.

You want brownies in the morning? Hiro’s got a fresh plate delivered to you.

You say you want Ramen after class? Dear Hiro’s there to save the day.

There’s some tea you need to spill? Hiro’s already on your couch, all ears.

“I am going to stick my baton right up his ass, he’s going to feel it in the afterlife.” Ran said when he and the rest of Tenjiku saw the both of you walking to your home, hand-in-hand.

“Are you saying you’re jealous of one measly guy?” Shion snorted, only to meet cold lilac eyes that dared him to speak up again.

Ran? Jealous? That’s bullshit.

“Why not be happy for them instead? Aren’t you glad (y/n) finally has someone who loves them?” Kakucho muttered, his eyes fixated on the braided man whose jaws only tightened at his remark.

You are happy and loved, Ran thought. You have him and Rindou and your less important friends to prove that.

But what the fuck did Hiro have that he doesn’t? What were you even seeing in him? It’s only been three weeks at most and yet you practically forgot that the Ran Haitani, your best friend, exists.

Instead of taking Kakucho’s advice, Ran was keen on making sure that Hiro knows his place; that he wasn’t going to amount to anything in your life as the lilac-eyed man does.

Did you want to buy a newly released book? Ran’s got you covered.

Do you want to take a night stroll because you can’t sleep? This particular ruler of Roppongi’s got you.

You want to experiment with hairstyles, you say? Well, there’s a dashing, young man with luscious locks waiting for you.

“Just admit that you love them, for fuck’s sake!” Kokonoi screeched, clearly annoyed with his colleague who was currently contemplating whether or not should he just kick your suitor and call it a day.

It was one of those times that Ran and the rest of Tenjiku would see you strolling the city with your admirer. You were enjoying his company, and the gang thinks the both of you are cute as fuck.

But those weren’t important to a particular man who wanted to punch the daylights out of said escort who had been hogging your attention and affection. It hurt Ran’s ego to lose to some poor excuse of a man.

He grumbled as he saw Hiro twirl you around, giggling like children as you stopped in front of your favorite café-

He was going to fucking kill the both of you. You practically betrayed him when you entered the cute shop with some random dude. That should’ve been him!

That should’ve been him you’re trying new cakes with. That should’ve been him you’re leaning on to as you wait in line That should’ve been him you’re annoying when you wanted to taste his order.

Ran was losing you, and as much as he wanted to be in denial about it, you were clearly in love with that guy.

He had been sulking when you didn’t message him for three days, pouring out his frustrations during gang fights. Rindou tried to console his brother but the former would just brush him off and would just go straight to his room.

He couldn’t even hook up with someone just to vent out his frustrations! For some fucked up reason he couldn’t understand, he was seeking you. He didn’t want anyone but you.

He wanted to listen to your rant and gossip as he drifted off to sleep. He wanted you to cuddle up next to him until you decided that it was time to mix pancake batter and whip up some fluffy pancakes before the sun was up.

He didn’t know what kind of devil possessed him to want you so much. You were the first thing he’d think about in the morning and his last memory as he drifted off in the night.

Ran just missed having you around.

The man almost cried when you finally called him on a Friday night. He was about to talk your ears off when he heard you sniffling at the other line.

“Ran, can I come over please?”

It broke Ran’s heart to see your puffy eyes when he opened the front door. There weren’t any words spoken as he caressed your hair and calmed you down. Your grip on him was desperate, like a child whose mother said no.

“H-He said that it irked him that I have a lot of guy friends,” You whimpered, “He was pissed when I asked him to get along with you and Rindou, saying that we weren’t safe if you guys were around.”

He was right. The bastard was no good for you.

“We fought when I defended you both. He wouldn’t believe me when I said that you were nice and we’d been friends since we were kids.” You then started crying into Ran’s chest.

“I slapped him when he said that I must have been fucking a lot of gang members for me to defend you guys like that. He called me names and decided I wasn’t worth shit and left me all by myself in the middle of the night.”

And you cried in his arms, too heartbroken to do anything but whimper as he tried his best to calm you down. It took a bit of time, but he made sure to cover you in the fluffiest of blankets before knocking at Rindou’s door.

“Keep an eye on (y/n) for a bit. I just need to have a little talk with a certain piece of shit.”

And did it feel so good to finally beat the stupid fuck into a pulp when the older Haitani saw Hiro lounging in a convenience store near your house, courtesy of one henchman. He was giddy as he dragged the man beside an alleyway before proceeding to pound some sense into the other person.

“You motherfucker,” Ran muttered, “(y/n) trusted you so much that they were going to pick you over me.”

Metal on skin resonated in the air as the older Haitani continued, “(y/n) deserves the whole universe and yet you couldn’t give ‘em the love they deserve?! They’re an angel. Angels are supposed to be cherished and treated like gods themselves yet you made mine cry.”

Ran then called up a few of their minions once he had his fun. After getting your favorite snacks at the convenience store, he jogged his way back to the apartment.

It both warmed and broke his heart to have you greet him by the door as you clung to him in dear life. He tossed Rindou an energy drink before waddling with you to his room.

“I’m going to kill him.”

“Of course you do, sweetheart.”

“Gonna sell off to the Yakuza and have him thrown in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.”

“Sounds like a plan, love.”

And as the world slept and you finally drifted off to dreamland, Ran found himself looking at you from his side of the bed.

He loved the way your hand fits perfectly in his. He loved the way you melt into him whenever either person would offer a tight embrace. And he absolutely loved the way he’d do anything for you.

He’d give you every star and moon in the cosmos if it meant he’ll never see you cry again. Especially if your tears were for some unworthy motherfucker.

You were the definition of perfect. You deserve nothing less of it.

That night, Ran found himself accepting the fact that he can’t live without you. He’d rather not love at all too if it meant you’d disappear in his life.

He was more than willing to lose some hours of sleep to whip something up in the kitchen whenever you’d feel like it. He was more than willing to fight any demon that may invade your head from time to time. He was willing to lay his life down for you if it mean that you weren’t going to leave him.

Ran would do anything to see you smile and make sure that your most vulnerable state was for him and him alone. He’d do anything to have you cradle him to sleep every night.

Was this love?

Was love defined as sacrificing yourself for the one you love? Or to put them before yourself? Or to want them to silence your demons and vice versa? Or to make sure their smile never falters?

If this was indeed love, then Ran wouldn’t say he’s in love.

Not until you admit that you loved him first, that is.

-🖤-

[fiftytwotwentytwo]

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Fantasy / Children - Middle Grade

Page Count: 309

How did I come across this book?:

I wanted to see what all the hype was about.

I feel like my age group may have been on the edge of becoming or not becoming Pot/PotterHeads... - but I truly don't recall anyone gushing over HP in school - my nephew did, but not my peers.

I do have one vivid memory tied to the Harry Potter - couple days before the first film was supposed to be released our local priests visited the nightly CCD classes and urged demanded us to boycott the movie - there was sooooo much that made this plea so lasting.

First, I'm not going to name names, but this person's actual last name was an adjective that was synonymous with "fun" - "being hip" and the speech was far from fun or hip.

Also, said priest - not knocking but pointing out - sweated profusely... I don't know why - hot itchy garments? Overactive sweat glands?? But anywhosel- the man looked like he had an SNL prop tucked underneath his hair because his brow was basted in sweat.

Now, juxtapose this with being in a Catholic Elementary classroom where you have a priest whose sprung a leak and is standing in front of a backdrop of student crafted scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, cornucopias, and the ever so popular framed photo of Jesus teaching a youngster how to hit a fastball baseball. Again, it felt very SNL-elly.

And lastly, there was just one line that stood out - one line I've always remembered - he said buying a ticket or reading the book was like buying a train seat to hell - I found the analogy very appealing as I never ridden a train, but thought "Is a train really the fastest transport to hell"? Don't get me wrong - it definitely sounds scenic, but why not a plane or just simply have the Earth's crust gobble you up.

Anyways... I saw the movie opening weekend.

And I've seen all the movies and... I'm not really a fan - BUT - adhering to the age ol' adage, The Book was Better Than the Movie - I decided to see if the book could change my mind on the Harry Potter franchise.

I ended up purchasing a copy from Amazon because I did not want to possibly damage a friend's beloved copy.

Review:

I personally had a hard time diving into this book, but it did pick up a little steam once Harry got to Hogwarts.

The world building was great. The introduction to the main cast and side characters was also well done, but I am not sure how much the films filled in some gaps.

The book eventually became fast and easy read. But up until the last 40 pages/last two chapters - the book just seemed to have great moments and no rising crescendo - no anticipatory ascent of a roller coaster - it felt more like snapshots.

Once I hit those last two chapters I fell hard - I loved the action - but the last two chapters also had a few moments where I had to remind myself that this initial story was geared towards grade schoolers - moments like solving a logic puzzle (because wizards are not well known for logic - actual statement from the book) or having a huge locked door and leaving a "hidden" key in the room with a means of transport/tools to find the key.

The last chapters were winning me over - but - the last closing pages I felt cheated. A massive break in the action/battle - a fade to black - and our hero just randomly wakes up 3 days later???

I guess Rowling "appeases" the reader by having a 3rd party tell our hero how the fight ended through exposition and info dumps... but Muggle-Oh-Muggle - it was absolute theft.

So, was it a good book?

It was okay.

I bet if I read a copy as a grade schooler - maybe even an illustrated copy - I would have yielded to the fandom.

Will I read further into the series?

Yeah, I think I'd I check it out... I mean what else am I going to read on my Train to Hell?

Personal Rating: 5.5/10

Yearly Book Total: 42

Total Page Count: 15,355 pages

* Achievement Unlocked *

It Weebles... It Wobbles... It Won't Fall Do--

OH, Lordy It's Falling!

It Officially Fell!

Forty-Two Books High

But... We Must Rebuild:

Huzzah!

[fkyumerica]

age group

all gay

ms.dahl, anne marie, chris, beth, elizabeth taylor, taylor swift, carrie, john deere

they are all gay

are you keeping any of them?

they send dogs back at people to kill them

odds are they wont be adopted

and they let them in a field

and that gay of a family will do it

i named them off

and ms.dahls mom,, obviously a old woman

you can tell when you see her

not going to lincoln park you did not learn their whoreing

seriously

a field

you saw won

one

amanda

and come in and out of the house

no this was mass group orgies here

homes, bars, outside

and no one complained

and you got to see ol whore her

and him in a truck

your pool

fucking on your trampoline

and a no stop

from anyone

they told me too

no he didnt see it

and shoot her to death for the face plant face lift

top and under ears

disney

cartoon

btch

and he draws all the time

and stole what i drew

to do it

thinking he was touching me the whole time

alix is ms.dahl

and would go up to ttouch me

then finger fuck guiermo from behind

then you in the ass

you just saw em leave

fucked you last night unconcious

and

i told guiermo it

and the younger guys didnt get hooking groups to happen killing them

because they didnt talk to me

and instead

liked them as their family

using them, no wanted a mom got a mom

now watch ugly her who cant brush her hair to wear a ugly dress

like homecoming

all of them

being retarded and fucking liking each other

or i would kill them

i still will

https://www.facebook.com/reel/5507956552662089 ugly dike bitch

wanted to be black oprah courtney

its not what he wanted

so it was free gay irish shit

now st.patricks day

and you all celebrate her

freedom

and her moaning

on microphone

they dont even have pompompurin

the star of this fucking show

curtis mated with all of them

and is her inbred son

and of who

your date for st.patricks day aaron

i say it it happens

they got everyone to do that their switch

and fuck her off

and her and him

4real

will leave you his hat

and she knows it

get her to stop or i will go

heres a video of me doing my hair now tell me not to

and i did learn to whore and no look at this face i am not one i did it for free

no cerebral

you cant spin it around

she did jenny it in front of him too

on the road again metallica

she just wanted you to know it

her next date

so many lines she survives

and kurgan

whose don

honks three times

gay male boston map

from zune

gay disney movies

of her fucking men and their other wives

and she says she is his wife

ms.dahl

renee right

no cidney

and shoot her for 9 lives

two white girls

and a whole black family

we're good right? all she wanted to do was show off to fuck another family. can we get it free this time? and i dunno we only got this. every fucking day get us two. from anyone yea halloween. and it was the school. the house big. big money. and the cars. peepee me. and a name the warners. I dont care you got a name? thats after they got ice cream again. and next day after fishing and car fucks new family with food too paid for all of it. warners. mmm commercial?

her own

now she is crucified

to find tony again

kaori will lose

she didnt go with him at 4

he didnt have a line

or a reign

she is not scottish and neither is her

so they all lose a line

and a def smoke spot

to confuse me

she didnt go either

took her spot

kentucky

now guess whose who

i said it

curtis

angelas mate stevie

and is that you careese

amber said yea

disturbs new wife

and old is out

her 15th

right?

birthday find out youre dead

and 3 face lifts for guys who look it

any time guys

now lets fuck

any time

restuarant guys

i wait for anyone

and she thinks she can point a finger at me

she can fuck herself

it wont let her live

she is already dead

noroi

do it to her

so yea

it happened

no black wig

went straight

dumped him

didnt go

took a dress

edited

instead

to be alix

and fuck you too she said

aaron

seriously

kill her

and all you could do is light her on fire

oh guiermo

you cant kill anyone

look at you

she said it

she is ugly to her and the whole cast

or youd kill her

to not fuck her next

didnt get a marriage

got a hoe

and freedom rings

end of school

just kill her

did it to liane instead

with three guys she didnt know

to fuck them next

and whoa all colored

so stupid, mallory did, her mom courtney

and whose it

to fuck you up still

kill all the whites who moved in to do it

had kids they are perfect

and innocent

thats just the moms

and kids what are ya gonna do

nothing theyre perfect

and innocent

amanda said it

with agnes too

and why go to her

you know it

curtis didnt and fucked agnes too

the disturbed guy is him

and chucky

one in the box

84 stood there to fuck him

black panther movie

and yea

meant she told you to fuck her

know a hoe

and what a hoe

is

still dont know

amanda

get to know her

greg said it

too

decorate cakes and feed it to your kids

find your hoe. the boat with the plastic surgery of only 12 people to live as after crypto life. the 13th is madonna. in movie we can leave mad and brth. O_O

no

haha

then her husband died

or they fuck underwater and its on tv

so they oops run away

illegal

theres william

and they all are

so

took her phone number right

she shot him

it is anne marie on the right

she lost her face right

oh your grandma

you dropped her off to live here everyday

youre shit

to make me what

for your crystal lake

he heard it

he is it

you

are

a pedophile

and other guys they fuck will come in and make them dream shit

and pioneer shit was always ugly

those people too

so why switch

they knew they would die

for having three wives already

and the wives met each other

and could talk

and walk

without drugs once

amanda got them

i made her do it

its about time they fess up

about ruining the country

with mexicans now

to fuck you for free shit

they wanted the pedophile shit

plastic toy store crap

everywhere

for all of them

to fuck her in stores with

and i mean any age

toilet

she kept having kids with him too

anne marie

and i shot off her face

with her gun for her

now whose a whore make your mom ugly

that one took care of her and that ones her mom

they all sit and wait for him

face lift face mask and no, they all had saggy meat faces, the mask is a face lift

im from gilligans island

and we all loved him

forever and ever and ever and ever

and her too

next group here kurgan

to him too goat

and they cant follow up after

next guy head butts them

and drugs shitss in their mouth and oh you found him

and oh i send in pussy drugs you feel it on your pussy now

and the girls heard it oh save me girl

s

get a blow job

and prom dress

i wont pay for it

and she gets one

now show me her naked

and build a bear work shop

he shot his dad then did it

james corbin to megadeth singer

then slayer

then type o negative

she got the map

now shes going to kill him, then drop the gun, then fuck him

never kills him though

makes you listen right youre that way

and molested who

ooh ooh ooh jo have my kid or youre mad i got the drugs in my hand

syringe

and too hoo

found her too

sacajawea

now masturbate to her

same ice skating duo every year

took care of them in lincoln park as kids

whore kathy bell sandradee

retarded too

didnt go outside after one class with her mom ms.dahl

and didnt marry either

and was his wife

kathys male

kathy and james

without a paddle

whose dad now

we got smart

and i was always a old man

jurassic park

https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/Jay-Strongwater-Jay-Strongwater-X-Peeps-Rock-Box-0400018961005.html?site_refer=SOC_BEH_S5_STITCH_FBIG_TRAFFIC_Q124_ALL_A18+_oCPM_AutoP_Timeless_ALL_MIO_SAID%3DI4B8A8ShwjTN-2wE&fbclid=IwAR2D27K97i7xySR4CKmDWEjxGIxt4WLATdcQxBti7mHGwJQ-sr3uJsckp1E hahaha what does he make

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and kathy is swarowski

https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/l-objet-haas-brothers-butts-up-box-0400017689131.html?dwvar_0400017689131_color=WHITE

this is how they fuck

each other

kathy was in the movie too

then after

both looked female

edit

and timmy, our dad

mexican black disney guy out of a hat ol graham glasgow

who she date for a boat ride for him

and 85 women and 300 gay men

hide the women

hahahah

fuck yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

they sscream it

the women do

then their free boat ride after to fuck you

their 3 gears

truck, car, semi, bike

and so slow he cant catch you

so what molested

and james said he made everything in the stores

gay with rick james that is him

right

or whose boat

dont confuse me im gay

now im gay

ahhh mama

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ckvHyBEgnO8 this is james too how gay is he

the other guy is kathy i opened a thing of bread and threw it on the ground now were gonna eat it

kathy is fred/vince mcmahon

and greg is the mcmahon son

carrie is him

and their boat attacks everyone too

then james turns into that white short blonde hair woman in wwf that would come out and yell at them

was it vince mcmahons wife i dunno

it was gregs

caidence

thought he was a gay creator of life

and is a man too or hides

as amanda

take off his wig this is him

amanda did marry chauncey leopardo/tim harris/doctor guy/stone cold dad in trailer park aka steve austin to cheat/luke skywalker/josh walinski/ryan/marilyn manson/mullet/trailer park trash/dad in noroi but wife was a male. he takes the anne maries gets them pregnant and leaves. trailer park showed it. he is david/curtis/bill/tom whoever/jeff/dopey/tony

he doesnt have hair he has that flat of a head

1st inbred

second

noroi

he was his dad in the show

movie

whatever

that thing holds up its head with that

skin and a stick

star wars

come on

john travolta/dan/hhh

curtis/his son

curtis is james corrbin

and jimmy corbin

and zach juwad

so happy no one knows im in a suit

[translationandbetrayals]

How Fate/ Stay Night Betrays Its Premise

Every anime fan has their own special little title that, from the moment they saw it, it turned into an instant obsession. Maybe it happened because of a character’s design, or they saw a fight scene that blew their minds, or they read the premise and went “Woah, that rules”, regardless, once it happens, there’s no turning back. From that point onward, that show, light novel or VN becomes their entire personality. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. Unfortunately for me, that title happened to be Kinoko Nasu’s Fate/ Stay Night.

  Fate’s premise is a simple stroke of genius. Seven mages summon seven historical figures into the modern day to fight in a no-holds-barred battle royale, with the last pair standing earning the right to have their wish granted by the almighty Holy Grail. 

  For those of you new to the franchise who read those lines, thought “wow, that sounds awesome” and started dreaming up all of the possibilities that could come from it, then you can imagine how I felt all those years ago. And as a life-long veteran of the franchise, I’m here to tell you that the show we got was… nowhere near as cool as I just made it out to be.

  For starters, as any fan can tell you, almost every word of that pitch turns out to be dead wrong. Not just that, but a lot of the interesting ideas one could draw from it are either neutered from the outsetor go entirely unexplored, and some of the interesting concepts it adds atop it end up not mattering at all.

  Take Noble Phantasms, for instance. It's a Servant’s(the in-setting word for these heroes) signature move. Medusa’s sight, Arthur’s sword or Zeus’ inability to keep it in his pants. It’s an ace-in-the-hole, but by using it, they reveal their identities, which could lead to their opponents discovering their weaknesses. If you’ve summoned Achilles, you wouldn’t want the competition finding out, because then, they’d all be gunning for his heel. It’s a neat twist on the ol’ Stand Power formula that a lot of shonen anime like to use.

  Here’s the problem with Noble Phantasms:

   First of all, a lot of them are just stupid. A good chunk are just made up powers that have no relation or bearing to the historical figure that uses them. Some, like Hercules’ 12 lives as a result of his labors are reasonably justified, but others are just… bizarre. Take Gilgamesh, for example, whose Noble Phantasm is… all of them. He just has every weapon in existence? Why? Because he was the oldest king Nasu could think of. Oh, and he also has a stupidly overpowered sword as well that… never appears in the original Epic.

  Secondly, it turns out that in most cases(especially when you account for spin-offs), learning a Servant’s identity can give you… no advantage whatsoever. Oh, you learned that the magic-wielding Servant was the Greek witch Medea? Well, good on you for piecing that one together, shame it tells you absolutely nothing on how to beat her.

  Another infuriating aspect of its premise the show fumbles is one of its first central mysteries. The main Servant we follow, Saber, keeps her identity a mystery because she doesn’t trust the protagonist’s ability to keep a secret. You see her doing all of these awesome feats and you can’t help but ask, who is this strong, cool, badass woman? First-time watchers may spend a lot of time theorizing which one of the many oft-neglected women she could b-its King Arthur. They genderbent King Arthur because the artist thought the VN would sell more than if it simply had two male leads. That’s literally the reason.

  Well, its not all bad, how about all those cool ideas that come from the premise? Like all the wacky ways historical characters could learn and adapt to our modern world, commenting on it from a new pers-NOPE, before they’re summoned, all Servants have any and all relevant information about our time downloaded into their brain via convoluted lore.

  There’s still other strong concepts, like seeing various different important figures meeting and talking in the flesh, comparing and contrasting their cultural values and ideals against each other? Or how about characters who met or were from similar cultures, or even the same countries? How would a Hero react to seeing their friends once more, being on opposite sides of this unfair conflict? How would a Greek hero react to seeing Hercules, consumed by the very same rage that killed his family? Well, guess what?!? None of this happens in Fate/Stay Night! There’s three characters from Ancient Greece and none of them share a single scene with each other. 

  WHY?!?

  Uhh, how about the genres? Battle Royales are great for building up tension. By their very nature, nobody is safe, anyone could die at any moment! In some cases, even the main charact- Despite the many, many, many perilous situations the protagonist puts himself in, he is never in any real danger because he has a ridiculously powerful healing factor. This isn’t a spell he has or learns, but comes from King Arthur’s magical scabbard, which was placed inside of him before the start of the story. Oh, also, that scabbard was made up for the show, it never shows up in any Arthurian legend.

  Now all of this doesn’t make Stay Night bad, by any means. Its still a pretty good urban fantasy shonen story about survivor’s guilt, the weight of previous generations’ ideals, and the contradictions of trying to do good in a complicated world. They’re not even bad in the abstract, as shown by other shows of similar genres that explore them to much greater effect, but their prevalence in the narrative conspires against what is one of the greatest elevator pitches in Anime history.

  FINAL RATING: Fate/ Stay Night(2006) - *** ½

Fate/ Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works - *** ¾

Fate/ Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel - ****

-Nicolás Izaguirre Gallardo. P.S.: Forgot to put the scores for the works featured in my last post so I'll add them here for the sake of completion.

Digimon Adventure Movie(1999) - *** ½

Digimon Adventure - ***

Digimon Adventure: Our War Game - *** ¾

Digimon: The Movie - MINUS ****

To explain, when I say a movie is MINUS X stars, it doesn't mean that its so bad its offensive to the senses. When a movie is rated on the negative star scale, it means I think its best enjoyed ironically, in a group call with friends, possibly with some substances to help with the experience. A high negative star rating means that the movie probably has little artistic merit, but is a blast to watch when trying to take the piss.

[harrowharkwife]

for the ask game: 1, 10, 21, and 45!!

!!!!!!!

1. who is/are your comfort character(s)?

oh man ok here goes... I'm sure I'm missing people here but the ones coming to mind are evan buckley bc he hits me right in the dysfunctional family issues and watching that man look at his parents with tears in his eyes and say "love me anyway" rewired all my neural pathways, eddie diaz bc he is my ultimate babygirl most beloved and also The Best Dad. castiel will always have a frankly embarrassing grip on my psyche, the tenth doctor (a new but very beloved addition to this list!), eliot waugh, gansey from the raven cycle, eve and villanelle from killing eve, dani from bly manor, the lady in the lake from bly manor, nell from the haunting of hill house, lucretia from taz balance, every character from the big ship at the edge of the universe book series, all the characters from the wilds, taissa and shauna and lottie from yellowjackets, spencer hastings and hanna marin from PLL lmfao

any character whose story involves adoption or found family probably belongs on this list, especially dads, and any character that takes genuine pride in having made the conscious choice to make caring for their lover/their family their Life's Purpose, not in a "this is the only way i can contribute to the world" misogyny patriarchy way but rather in a radical gay "fuck the concept of success and careers and leaving a legacy, just loving each other and building a safe and happy and quiet life for your family and friends and community is in and of itself a massive fucking accomplishment" way. the eliot waugh life in a day brain damage if you will.

also the trope of immortal or nonhuman characters falling in love with humanity and/or experiencing immortality as a very lonely and painful thing... oh man. love that shit. see also: characters who know they're going to die and have to deal with that. MAN i love that trope.

10. would you slaughter the rich?

if i could absolutely guarantee i wouldn't get in any trouble for it I'd line all the billionaires up like a trolley problem and then run them over in my Mazda and then put ol' girl in reverse and do it again for good measure

21. something you’ve kept since childhood?

i still have the BEAT up hardcover copy of anne of green gables that my mom grew up with and passed down to me, a quilt made out of old t shirts from my childhood, and a license plate from the car i learned how to drive in

45. can you remember what happened yesterday?

uhmmm i slept in a little bit, i went to visit my dad and my grandma and my brother to keep them company because my mom was at the ER with my grandpa, he's thankfully doing a bit better today. my grandma made chili for lunch, i helped my brother with his homework, i finished some last minute work for my job, then i went and had family dinner with my wife and my mother & brother & grandmother in law at my MILs house, wife and i brought her brother back to the house to hang out for a bit and smoke weed and watch dr who, then we dropped him off at his house and went to bed lol

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 305: Worst Intervention Ever

Previously on BnHA: Shinomori, whose name took me an entire week to memorize, was all, “nice to meet you Deku, I’m ten feet tall, do you want to know how I died?” and without waiting for an answer explained that he kicked it from old age at forty thanks to good ol’ OFA. Deku was all “wait a minute, then how come All Might, who’s fifty-five and is definitely dyeing his gray hair, is still alive?” First and Shino were all, “we really have no fucking clue but we think it’s cuz he’s quirkless, JUST LIKE YOU!” So basically, since quirkless people don’t exactly grow on trees these days, Deku is probably going to be the last user of OFA. The chapter ended with Nana being all, “psst, Deku, about my grandson. Uh, can you kill him?” which is sure to lead to a very interesting conversation this week.

Today on BnHA: Nana And The Gang are all “so, Deku, how can we put this delicately. The thing is, we’re pretty sure that AFO really fucked my grandson up, so on the off chance you can’t save him, how would you feel about, you know... [throat slitting gesture].” Deku is all “idk you guys, I kinda feel like he’s really just a traumatized child at heart and he’s in a lot of pain and stuff and so I should try to help him.” The Vestiges are all “BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN’T” and Deku is all “BUT I WANT TO TRY, DAMMIT” and the Vestiges are all “well when you put it that way, we, uh, were just testing you, so congrats, you passed!” The chapter ends with First being all, “ANYWAY SO WHY DON’T YOU TWO SHY BOYS STANDING OVER THERE IN THE SHADOWS COME SAY HELLO” before we CUT AWAY FOR ANOTHER WEEK, goddammit.

seriously, Nana

just... have you met Deku?? look, if you really want Tomura dead, just sic him on the U.A. first years and tell Shouto and Honenuki that it’s a training exercise

oh my god lmao

we’re too far away to see Nana’s face here so I will just assume that she turned and is staring DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA for this one line lmao. “I just wanted to clarify in case anyone felt inclined to take my dialogue out of context and spend an entire week complaining about it”

oh my god?! are you all purposely trying to make me sad??

someone stop me before I launch into an impromptu rant about all my Tomura feels. WHY IS NOBODY STOPPING ME. oh my god but yes, exactly. he’s just in pain all the time. this is exactly why I think Tomura has such high redemption potential even though so far he seems to lack so many of the redemption arc essentials such as feeling remorse, wanting to change, and taking responsibility for his actions. the reason why I’m willing to overlook all that in his case is because Tomura has essentially had zero agency his entire life. AFO molded him into a killer by making sure he was in constant mental agony, and making it so that the only thing that even slightly relieved that agony was killing peeps. like, please don’t think I’m making excuses for him or anything, but if you take a child and manipulate their existence to make it virtually impossible for that child to grow up as anything other than a killer, and basically never give him the chance to be anything else, then no shit he’s gonna be a killer?? he’s basically never had the choice not to be. it’s never been an option for him. anyways I feel like I am EXPLAINING MYSELF SO BADLY but nonetheless I am prepared to die on this hill

anyway so now Nana is all “that’s a rhetorical question btw because Our Hearts And Minds Are One so we can feel everything you feel bro.” so yeah, that’s interesting

now Banjou is getting started on the “let’s try and talk Deku out of wanting to save Tomura because it’s insane” part of their OFA Mystical Space Void Reunion agenda

look, Banjou, I feel you, I really do. you guys don’t think it’s realistic that Deku can defeat Tomura without killing him. so if it’s a choice between killing Tomura vs letting Deku and everyone else in the entire world die, then duh, you think Deku should kill him. I get it! and if this were a real life mass murderer I’d totally agree with you. but the problem is that this isn’t real life, this is a sympathetic shounen villain with a tragic past who might as well have FUTURE REDEMPTION ARC RECEIPIENT stamped on his forehead at this point

so First is all “look, there’s absolutely no doubt my brother has fucked this kid up good and proper by now”, which, again, fair

though, that’s kind of exactly my point though. everything that Tomura is, everything he’s done, he’s done because of AFO. AFO has so effectively shaped his personality and his worldview by this point that it’s all but impossible to penetrate that. he’s AFO’s puppet. but the problem is that rather than treating him like a victim, you all are treating him like a casualty. like he’s already a lost cause. but good luck trying to convince Deku of that

WHOA WHAT, RANDOM SUPER-IMPORTANT AND BIZARRELY UNRELATED EXPOSITION DROPPED IN JUST LIKE THAT??

way to still not reveal Sixth’s name, btw. THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, DAMMIT. but also so this confirms something we basically already knew already, which is that not even AFO can steal OFA. it literally can’t be taken away by anyone unless the owner wills it. SO SUCK ON THAT AFO YOU EGG

(ETA: so I have no idea why this was omitted from this translation, but apparently the Sixth’s name was revealed as “En”, which is obviously not his full name but at least it’s something. also he most likely has a fire or smoke-related quirk based on the kanji used, 煙.)

so Banjou is saying that Deku’s “lack of an iron will” could be a disadvantage against AFO. hahaha what?? Midoriya “I’ll break all of my bones without blinking an eye just to protect someone” Izuku lacks an iron will? do tell

he says this is going to be a test of Deku’s determination. well yeah, no shit. but just not in the way you guys think

OH HELLO AGAIN

darker hair again here! but I don’t trust the contrast in these scans at all after last week. his coveralls are way darker than they looked before too, and you can clearly see he’s standing in the shadows now

(ETA: yep, once again the raw shows that his hair is considerably lighter than what’s shown in these scans here. although there’s no mistaking now that his hair is consistently being colored in this slightly darker shade, and it’s not just the lighting.)

anyways lol First was saying something about how AFO can’t steal OFA, and they’ve spent all this time cultivating it as the ultimate weapon against AFO, and blah blah blah. go on then, keep lecturing

NANA GODDAMMIT NONE OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT

girl what?? you did everything in your power to protect your family, and AFO, fucked up man that he is, targeted them anyway. there is one person and one person only to blame for what’s happened to Tomura, and that potato-faced asshole needs a good kick in the balls

NANA GODDAMMIT DON’T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE

SO HELP ME GOD!! I WILL GIVE YOU THE BIGGEST HUG YOU’VE EVER HAD!! THAT IS A THREAT

so now Nana is all “I’m just going to call my grandson a Thing to ensure that fandom has only the freshest, grass-fed no-hormones-added discourse this week”

I don’t even need to drop into the tags to know exactly which specific people are going to respond to this, and what kind of posts they are going to write lmao. everyone’s all caught up in the “that thing”, and meanwhile I’m over here completely hung up on this “nay” that’s appeared out of NOWHERE you guys. look at that. she really said “NAY”

Nana, my love, my dearest, I feel you girl I really do. but he’s not an unforgivable manifestation of pure evil, Deku is exactly right actually, he’s a boy in pain. you guys need to stop questioning Deku’s shounen protagonist instincts here and just let him work his sparkly magic. “let’s try and convince Midoriya Fucking Izuku that he can’t save someone” is a plan that is NEVER going to turn out well you guys

“DEKU GODDAMMIT WHAT IF WE CAN’T SAVE HIM” lmao it’s like an intervention

“DAMMIT DEKU JUST ADMIT YOU HAVE A SAVING PEOPLE PROBLEM!”

RED ALERT IT’S ANOTHER CLOSE-UP OF THE BACK OF MISTER TWO BON CLAY’S HEAD OMG

(ETA: I was too distracted with freaking out about Two and Three to really appreciate how ridiculously handsome First looks in this panel. but on my second readthrough it stood out so much that I had to go back and add an extra bullet point just to talk about how hot he is. look at him. wtf.)

THAT IS DEFINITELY AN UNDERCUT. THE PLOT THICKENSSSS. also those are fucking exhaust vents on Mister Three’s neck. MISTER THREE COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE IIDAS, PLEASE TELL ME YOUR SECRETS I’M DYING OVER HERE

so now Deku is launching into what will undoubtedly be a “saving people problems require SAVING PEOPLE SOLUTIONS” heroic counter-speech!

I mean, they can already feel the “lol nah I’m gonna try and save him” feelings running through him lol. ~OuR hEaRtS aNd MiNdS aRe CoNnEcTeD~ and all that. this is just a formality, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love a good shounen protag speech

oh wait hold up, do you mean to tell me that the whole “hearts and minds are connected” thing I was just mocking just a paragraph ago actually allowed Deku to feel what Tomura was feeling?? like literally feel it??

YET AGAIN these Tomura feels are pounding on my front door you guys?? they just will not quit?? people my house is already full of feels, does it look like I need you to sell me any more of them?? -- what do you mean, they’re free??

AW YISS THAT’S IT DEKU. THAT’S SOME GOOD SPEECH RIGHT THERE

I appreciate the contrast here between the Douchebag Triumvirate of Overhaul, Muscular, and Stain versus the Misguided Twosome of Gentle and La Brava. never let it be said that Deku doesn’t know the difference between a redeemable villain and an unredeemable one

OH NO -- OH MY GOD

someone please help me I need directions to the OFA Spooky Galactic Nebula Realm in this fictional Japanese manga land. it’s not on google maps. I need to give these two babies a big hug and wrap them up in a blanket and treat them to some McDonalds Happy Meals please help

other things: (1) ENDEAVOR CHILLING OUT IN DEKU’S “PEOPLE I HOLD DEAR” PANEL LMAO NEON DISCOURSE EXTRAVAGANZA, (2) “ONE FOR ALL IS A POWER TO SAVE, NOT TO KILL” I’M ABOUT TO CRY DEKU I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HOW IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO FEEL ALL THIS LOVE, (3) [SLAMS HANDS ON TABLE] THERE’S YOUR MOTHERFUCKING IRON WILL!!!!!!!! -- I’m sorry, please don’t call security, I’ll be good

I just randomly remembered that Deku is still saying all of this in his muffled “FMMPHHMMPHMM” voice and I’m somehow cracking up lol. so actually it’s a very good thing Their Hearts And Minds Are Connected, otherwise they’d no doubt be all, “...what?”

(ETA: so I completely missed this on account of it literally not being visible in the scan at all, but in the raw you can clearly see Baby Kacchan and Baby Shouto fanboying over All Might in two of these panels, and excuse me, ma’am??

thank you very much Deku for including them in your montage, particularly since you’ve never seen Baby Shouto before lol. amazingly accurate image you managed to conjure up, all things considered.)

SDKFJLSKHG -- AS IF ON CUE???

HE’S SO ADORABLE HELP?? Trippy Space All Might looks like he’s about to cry, and First is all “don’t crack a smile... you have to be Firm and Serious here... dammit, don’t smile” omg

anyways! YOU GO DEKU. “MY QUIRK MY RULES, BITCHES” damn, son

KLJLKKHLG TRIPPY SPACE ALL MIGHT LITERALLY ACTUALLY IS CRYING ALL MIGHT HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME

“I JUST... [CLENCHES FIST] REALLY LOVE SAVING PEOPLE” FUCKING HELL LMAO THIS IS THE WORST INTERVENTION OF ALL TIME

Deku is literally all “sure, maybe I’ll have to kill him, but have you guys also considered, MAYBE NOT??” it’s no use Nana he’s too powerful

LMAO FIRST

“like I’ve been saying this whole time, you should definitely try saving Shigaraki Tomura.” “but, uh... First, didn’t you just -- ” “shut up”

(ETA: clearly it’s not just his brother who inherited those smooth-talking genes.)

so now Deku has turned back into a sixteen year old and his clothes have gone missing again. just OFA things

dskljdlsklgk

yes... sure... “testing” you...

HEY

FIRST OF ALL, DAMN YOU HORIKOSHI YOU MADE NANA CRY. even if I’m pretty sure they’re actually tears of happiness/relief. and SECOND OF ALL, “TELL MY BOYFRIEND I SAID HI” DJSKDLKJJL ANYWAY MAYBE GRAN, NANA, AND MR. SHIMURA WERE IN A THROUPLE

[SCREAMS]

WHY WOULD YOU END IT THERE?? WHY WOULD YOU END IT THERE!!!!!

(ETA: and two-to-one odds that we cut away to some other scene once they finally start to turn around next week. I’M CALLING IT NOW. giving myself a week to brace myself for the rage.)

fucking hell. well if anyone needs me I will be adding Horikoshi fucking Kouhei to the list of irredeemable villains, peace

[dumdumsun]

And Dusk

A/N: Just a heads up, the sensitive content in this chapter will be marked "<<<<<<" as the beginning and ">>>>>>" to signify the end. The racial slurs used in this chapter were targeted towards African Americans (and still are) and I chose these because I, myself, am African American and used them as a sort of “default” for any POC readers. ⚠️Please, never use these towards anyone. Whether it be in a “joking” manner or not. They are hurtful and were created to be that way⚠️ I wrote this chapter the way I did to bring awareness. Proceed with caution. Much love ❤️

Warnings: ⚠️racial slurs⚠️, violence, mentions of guns and dying/death

Word Count: 3707

—————————————

Chapter 3: The Frankel Footage

Shaking himself out of his shock, Five stood from his seat and hurried after his brother, grabbing onto his arm and stopping his strides. “The hell is wrong with you, Luther? I just told you the world’s gonna end in ten days!”

“Yeah, well, you’re always saying that.” Luther nonchalantly spoke before moving away, but Five intervened yet again.

“And so far, I’ve been right.” He hissed as Luther sighed and shook his head.

“Look, you want to go save the world? Knock yourself out, alright? I already got a job.”

“Wait, you work in this shithole?” The boy furrowed his brows.

“Yeah. Well, my boss owns the place,” Luther only received a nod from his brother, so he clarified. “I’m his body man.”

But this only made Five even more confused. “What’s that? Like, a masseuse or something?”

“Okay, you can make fun all you want, but I take good care of Mr Ruby.”

“Wait, Ruby. The Jack Ruby? The gangster who shot Oswald.”

Despite Five’s concern, Luther proudly smiled a smug smile as he glanced over at his boss. “Yeah. The one and only.”

“Well, it finally happened,” Five sighed. “That gorilla DNA has finally taken over your mind-”

“Hey, watch it, alright? Jack’s a good friend-”

“And you’re Number One. Numero Uno. Remember?”

Luther clenched his jaw and shook his head. “There is no Number One. Not anymore. Not in 1963,” When Five stared at him in disbelief, Luther sighed again. “Look, I’ve been stranded here alone for a year. What did you expect?”

Five scoffed. “I get it, alright? You watched Pogo die, the world exploded, and I marooned your big dumb ass in time. I’m sorry, okay? But I’m asking for your help, Luther. The Umbrella Academy needs you.”

“It doesn’t need me,” He slowly spoke to draw out his words. “It never did.”

“Luther, honey,” The waitress from earlier approached the two. “Jack’s about to lose it on some half-wit. A little help?”

“Ah, shit,” He groaned and began walking away. When Five tried yet again to stop him, he whirled on him, his lips pulled into a thin line. “Listen. You’re the genius who said we should jump, right? You’re the one who got us stuck here. And you’re the one who brought Vanya. So, if there is a doomsday coming, she’s probably the cause. And if I was gonna do something about it, it sure as hell is not gonna be with you. That’s (Y/N)’s job, being dragged around into your messes-”

“I don’t drag her into anything.” Five swallowed, blinking rapidly.

“Yeah? Well, she wasn’t stuck as a thirteen-year-old and constantly worrying about her kids until you showed up. I’m surprised she isn’t sick of you yet.” And with that, he stomped away to his boss. This time, Five let him go, his words sending a pang through his chest as he thought back on it. Grabbing his drink, he sighed and shook his head.

“Dad should’ve left him on the moon…” He muttered, taking a sip of his drink before moving to leave his seat. When he felt his jacket snag on something, he looked down to see an object in his pocket. Taking out the tape, he frowned and turned it over.

Date: 11/22/63

Subject: FRANKEL FOOTAGE

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This world was unfamiliar to (Y/N). She knew she had to have been somewhere in America, but she didn’t know where. The cars, fashion and stores bringing the street she walked to life told her she had to have been in the sixties. But she didn’t want to believe it. Surely Five hadn’t time travelled that far? She had to have been dropped during some type of sixties-theme festival. But the voices suddenly beside her quickly prove her doubts wrong.

“What do we have here?”

“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a lost little colored girl.”

Tensing, (Y/N) continued her way down the sidewalk, slightly speeding up her pace, but the men fell into step beside her with ease, flanking her sides.

“You’re on the wrong side of town, girl.”

“Yeah, we don’t like coons around here.” One of them hissed right in her ear. Her eyes welled up with tears before the other shoved her forward.

“Gon now, get!” He ordered as if she were a dog. She realized that’s how they had seen her. An animal. Nothing more. Tripping on a crack in the sidewalk, she fell to the ground, smacking her face on the concrete. She choked out a sob as the two men cackled. And to make matters even worse, she felt the pitter patter of raindrops start to freeze her skin.

(Y/N) gasped out in shock when the men spit two wads of saliva in her face. She knew she must’ve looked a mess with spit and tears sliding down her cheeks and blood oozing from her nose. She hiccupped on her sobs and began to stand, much too tired from her previous fight with Vanya and literally being dropped from the sky to successfully do so. The men backed her up against a wall and one fisted the front of her vest before a voice called out.

“Take your hands off of my child!” Whipping around, the men were half expecting to find another target, but (Y/N) coughed and sputtered nonsense upon the person her gaze fell upon.

“M-Mom…?”

Before her was Grace, but… she wasn’t robotic in any sense. She could tell by the raw anger etched into her features. She took a brave step forward. “I said. Take your hands. Off my child.”

And that was another thing: her accent. (Y/N) was immediately comforted by the stern southern accent the woman shared with her attackers. It was a voice she never thought she needed. The two looked between Grace and (Y/N) with smirks. “You mean this lil ol’ jigaboo-”

“Is my daughter. Now you let her go before I call the police.”

“Woman, I don’t care if you call the police-”

Grace took it upon herself to step closer and grab the child by her arms, yanking her into her warm embrace. (Y/N) immediately latched onto her, quivering in her hold. The men scoffed and shook their heads, beginning to walk away. “Make sure to keep that thing on a leash if you’re gonna have it out, ma’am.”

“Oh, fuck off.” She growled before turning and walking back in the direction the girl came from. As they walked past the alleyway, Grace took out a handkerchief and began wiping the girl’s face clean of what the raindrops hadn’t already washed away. “It’s alright, hun, they aren’t gonna hurt you anymore.”

“T-Thank you.” (Y/N) sobbed and gently held her nose in pain. Grace crouched in front of her and gently held her face in between her hands.

“Don’t thank me, darlin’, it’s how everyone should be treatin’ you ‘round here… Where are your parents? I could take you to ‘em.”

(Y/N) thought for a long moment, watching as the rain soaked Grace’s hair and clothing. The woman didn’t seem to mind as she watched the girl before her swallowing thickly. (Y/N) skimmed over her current choices. She didn’t have any choice.

“I don’t have parents. I-I don’t remember them…”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“I’m tellin’ you, Reggie, she’s highly intelligent for a child her age.” Grace proudly presented (Y/N) to the man she had grown fond of over their time working together. (Y/N), however, was frozen in her spot. Sir Reginald Hargreeves. The man whose death she had wished upon for years, whose death had finally graced her existence, was back in her life. She flinched at the disapproving look on his face, much too acquainted with it by this point in her life. “And she’s very respectful. Talented, too, this girl can speak several languages.”

“You seem rather fond of this child.” The man observed as Grace squeezed her into her side.

“She’s my pride and joy.”

“And you cannot remember anything of your past, child?”

“N-No,” (Y/N) shook her head and stared down. “Not a lot. J-Just my name and birthday.”

Reginald hummed and stared her down with an unreadable expression. When she met his eyes again, he was crouched down to her level, his monocle clutched in his fist. “(Y/N), was it?”

“Yes.”

“It would be an honor to have your presence within my home, along with your mother.”

“O-Oh, that’s okay-”

“I insist. Besides, you have been living with her for almost half a year, correct? It is highly unlikely that she will share a home without you.”

“He’s right about that, hun,” (Y/N) glanced up at Grace, who was smiling warmly at her. “I’m not leavin’ you.”

(Y/N) could have cried.

And she did.

One year later, (Y/N) had been living quite the comfortable life with Grace and Reginald. She had been introduced to the ape, Pogo, for the second time since Grace first started working with him. As much as she loved being around the chimp, it brought back so many memories. She almost felt silly, looking after him sometimes knowing he had done the same for her in the original timeline.

Her relationship with Reginald was nothing she ever expected. He was gentle, well as gentle as Reginald Hargreeves could get, he cared for her, spoiled her, even. She wouldn’t have to ask for anything half the time. If he were to overhear a conversation between her and Grace about a dress she oh-so wanted, it would suddenly be laid out on her bed the next day. She usually had a say in dinner meals every Thursday and Sunday and Reginald listened intently whenever she would voice any discomfort or concerns with her living conditions. (Y/N) never had a real father, but she assumed this is what it was like to have one. She never wanted to let go of it.

For her birthday in 1963, she was surprised that he had actually gotten her a present. As she entered the parlor, she was met with the tiniest bark and an even tinier golden retriever, bounding up to her. She gasped and stopped low, letting him jump into her arms. She let him lick her face and giggled in the joy it brought her.

“Your mother said you would like it. Though I would never allow dogs in my house, I have come to understand that there are rules I must bend for you, my child.”

(Y/N) turned to her father. Yes, father. Reginald, also growing quite fond of their father-daughter bond formed between them, decided to adopt the girl. As much as his beliefs and his deep distaste for children protested. There was just something about this child. Or perhaps it was Grace’s insisting, reassuring him that he would make a wonderful father. (Y/N) was very hesitant at first for her own reasons she never shared, but eventually came around to the idea of being his daughter again.

This was the same Reginald Hargreeves who locked her in a dark room for five days straight, but also an entirely different man. Perhaps it was her fascination with the differences, or maybe she just wanted a real father for once.

“Thank you, Dad.” She softly smiled, the man nodding in response.

“But this is your pet, (Y/N). It is your responsibility. I will not find it in my study, in my bedroom, you are to train it yourself-”

“Can you-”

“And no, I will not help you pick out its name.”

The girl softly groaned and looked back down at her new puppy. Looking into its eyes, she smiled softly at a distant memory as a small child.

“Welcome to the family, Mr Pennycrumb.”

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

(Y/N) groaned when she felt the sunbeams of the early morning sunrise hit her eyelids, coloring her black vision with the stinging fire of orange. Rolling onto her other side, she stretched her blanket over her head. They were yanked away the next second, causing a whine to leave her lips. “Mom… Five more minutes.”

“I let you sleep in long enough, hun, it’s time to get up. You have a date with Preston this afternoon.” Grace gently pulled her daughter to sit up, giggling quietly at her look of disgust.

“Preston? Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously, let’s get goin’.” Grace patted her leg and walked to her door, waiting patiently. (Y/N) sighed and rubbed her face, letting her feet slide into her slippers. As they descended the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast, Reginald could hear his daughter’s sleepy complaining from his place at the table.

Setting his utensils down, he turned his head in their direction. “My child, how many times throughout each week must we have to repeat this conversation?”

“Until it starts making sense.” (Y/N) stepped into the dining room, now in her robe, and crossed her arms over her chest. Reginald sighed and stood from his chair at the table.

“You are one of my greatest accomplishments,” He began towards her. “There is no doubt in my mind that you would make a fine successor. I do not believe you will need a husband. In fact, you would be better off without another individual holding you back from what you are truly capable of.”

“But?” She raised a brow.

“But… I have grown to know you more than I expected… and I know that you would need someone to help manage your finances you inherit once I am gone. Preston is a fine young man who was born into this life, made into this life. He will take good care of you.”

(Y/N) knew there was only one person in this world who would truly take good care of her. But he wasn’t here, and she needed to play the part as the amnesiac adopted daughter, so she huffed and nodded. “Fine… I’ll go…”

“Thank you-”

“But only if Mr Pennycrumb can go, too.”

“Very well, but you will not be gifted another animal if you lose it.”

The outing wasn’t entirely bad. (Y/N) didn’t mind the picnic or the art museum, it was the company that made her blood boil. Preston is anything she would have expected out of him. This had been their seventh date, tenth of the ones he planned. (Y/N) sought out any opportunity she could to cancel on him to save herself from the unbearable three hours she would have to spend with the kid. He was arrogant, smug, selfish, narcissistic, and overbearing. Of course, this was not the Preston he presented to her parents. No, to them, Preston was ‘a fine man with a bright future ahead of him’, or as Grace would put it, ‘a delight to have around’. He laughed like a drunk, talked like a husband, and smelled like a man. All at the age of fifteen. (Y/N) had to remind herself on several occasions that she was mentally the older out of the two and to not stoop to his level when he got under her skin.

“Don’t you think, (Y/N)?” The voice brought her attention back to the boy beside her. She looked up from the grass they had been strolling through. When she hummed in question, he amusedly scoffed and side-step closer to her. “Never mind. I should have known you wouldn’t have been interested in politics.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” The girl raised a brow. At her confusion, he laughed and gently tapped the side of his head.

“You’ve always got that head of yours in the clouds. Or turned behind you- like right now.”

(Y/N) turned her head away from where she had been looking over her shoulder. “What? Sorry, Preston, I’m a little preoccupied today.”

“With what, exactly? You don’t seem to be the type of girl to have very many issues. Nothing to worry about.”

“And you wonder why I don’t listen to you.” She sighed as her puppy ran in between her legs, rolling in the grass once he was a few paces in front of them. Preston frowned in distaste and shook his head.

“You should really keep that thing on a leash, sweetheart.”

She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, clenching her teeth as she folded her hands behind her back. “Really now?”

“Really. You know, I’m not very fond of dogs, so I’m not sure how it’ll work out once we’re married. I think we should get one after we have kids, you know? Just so the kids could grow up with it.”

(Y/N) quickly turned her head to the left, pointing out across the street. “Preston, would you look at that?”

“Look at what?” He gullibly looked in the direction, (Y/N) quickly checking the area before almost silently singing her tune. From her shadow, her clone formed and robotically walked behind the two. She quickly switched spots with it and ordered the clone to walk with Preston before scooping her puppy into her arms and rushing off in the opposite direction. Once she was behind a diner far away from their date location, she let out a sigh and gently patted her dog on the head.

“Were you sick of it, too?” She chuckled. Resting the back of her head against the brick wall she leaned on, she let out a slow breath and began to relax. The sound of guns cocking had her head snapping up so fast, she swore she could have dislocated it. Just down the end of the line of stores were three white-haired men, one in a milkman uniform, training their guns on her. (Y/N) didn’t waste a second tucking her dog in front of her and spinning around, charging down the opposite direction as bullets whizzed past her. She dodged them the best she could, jumping a few feet in the air at the ones that threatened to take their place in her feet. It was like a dance; the twisting, spinning and jumping, and she was to perform this dance until one of those bullets killed her if she didn’t find a way out soon. Sliding to the side of a clothing store for cover, she gently shushed her pet as she caught her breath.

The three sets of footsteps eventually found their destination and rounded the corner with skilled quickness, shooting at the girl until she was nothing more than a bloodied corpse on the ground, bullet holes lodged in almost every inch of her body. The three men nodded to each other and turned around, making their way out from behind the stores.

(Y/N) had already been down the street from her house by the time her attackers found the clone in her place. She couldn’t have been bothered to check herself for any wounds, too worried about Mr Pennycrumb’s potential bullet wounds. But the pup was perfectly, happily nuzzling into her arms and wagging his tail. This left (Y/N) to ponder.

Who the hell were those men?

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

“Is it on?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? There’s an ‘on’ button. Just- There’s something over- that jigga-ma-thing, whatever.”

“I hit the jigga-ma-thing!”

“Okay, well, just- Give it to me. I know how to do this.”

“Alright, here, here. Hurry up.”

“Okay, alright, let’s see…”

Lila didn’t look up from her task of painting poor Elliott’s toenails, his bindings he received after threatening the trio with a gun preventing him from moving too much. Which was beneficial to her, as it kept her from ruining the paint job. She softly smiled as she listened to the argument between the elderly couple on the film Five and Diego were intently watching. “They’re so cute,” She commented. “I love old couples. I’m always so proud of them for not murdering each other.”

Ignoring her, Diego turned to his brother from his seat on Elliott’s counter. “Why are we watching this?”

“Shush.” Five replied, eyes trained on the film before him, searching for any clue to the approaching apocalypse, brows furrowed in concentration.

“Yeah, I… I’m Dan Frankel. And…”

“I’m Edna Frankel.”

“...Edna Frankel. We are in Dallas, Texas, to see the president. Today’s date is November 22, 1963.”

Five nodded as everyone’s attention was brought to the projected screen before them.

“That’s six days from now.” Lila spoke as Elliott thrashed about more against his bindings. Diego sat forward in interest.

“Holy shit. This is it. The grassy knoll. Kennedy’s about to get shot. How do you have this?”

“Hazel died to get me this footage,” Five answered. “It must be the key to stopping doomsday.”

“Hazel…?” Diego frowned, remembering the man he spent hours searching for and planning to kill to avenge the death of Eudora Patch.

“Long story.”

“What’s doomsday?” Lila looked up at the boy.

“Longer story.”

“What exactly did he say to you?” Diego asked as Lila turned her head back to the film.

Five shrugged. “Well, he was killed before he could explain. But whatever he wanted us to see, it’s on this film.”

“This is very exciting.” The old man smiled before the sound of gunshots and screaming could be heard, the camera moving around in blurs due to the shock of the old woman filming.

“Oh, my god!”

“Oswald…” Diego whispered, setting his knife down as Five leaned in closer.

“The president!”

When the camera was steadied to record across the street, Five and Diego both stiffened in their spots at what their eyes caught. “Oh, no…” Five breathed and moved behind the projector, rewinding the film and scooting the cart backwards to zoom in closer. The room was silent as Diego stood to his feet and Five rounded the cart before standing beside his brother, directly in front of the film. “This can’t be…”

“Okay, you gonna fill me in now, boys?” Lila glanced between the two. “What the hell is this shit we’re watching?”

But she was ignored yet again.

“No, that’s impossible…”

“Clearly, it’s not.”

“What… What is it?” Elliott muffled past the gag in his mouth.

A beat of silence went by before the two Hargreeves whispered in unison,

“Dad.”

—————————————

Taglist: @unfortu-nate-ly @sapphicsyn @m00n-sh @starcurrent @alexander-hamilhoe @youcandalekmyballs @wonderlandfandomkingdom @yrdadjstcallsmekatya @sm0kingcrack @a-t-h-r-e-e-n-a @moatsnow @bubblegumflamingos @starstormssymphony @meowiemari @magicalgothpandamaker @simping-4-fictional-men @hehehehannahthings @harrystylescherrie @rhain3 @himikaphoo @zerocanonlywriteshit @xxeiraxx @camerondiaz48104 @isawachickeninatree

[mde1011]

when i got into the dsmp i started a note and wrote down any quotes or moments i thought were funny, and im bored at 3 am so enjoy some of them

how is being arrested real? just walk away!!!”

⁃ “once an american always an american. go...go protests masks...or something”

⁃ “...yEAH BUT DID YOU HAVE WAP” “what’s...whats wap?” “...WORSHIP AND PRAYER”

⁃ “HOW DO YOU LIKE POLITICS MOTHERFUCKER”

⁃ “i’m naked” “...no you’re not” “i can be...”

⁃ “uhhhh i’m in a high stress situation....i deal with these poorly”

⁃ “i should go first i’m naked”

⁃ “yEAHHHH WE KILLED AN OLD MAN WITH HEART PROBLEMS”

⁃ “what are you going to do?” “i...have no idea i think i’m gonna start out by punching a tree”

⁃ “tOmmy...did i just hear you say shit ass looking mofo?”

⁃ “i aM gOinG to gEt nAkeD to iNtiMidAtE HiM”

- “...i want freedom !” “you want BALLS.”

⁃ “...down the line. yeah that’s where we discover the art of cannibalism” “oh it’s an art?” “it’s an art”

⁃ “oh there’s some logs here. wonder what they’re saying to me. uh huh. uh huh. oh yeah that’s very racist” “tommy you gotta burn those logs.” “burn ‘em before they spread their racism to other logs”

⁃ “are you pooing?” “*whisper* i’m charging up-““ “he’s ejaculating on the tent.” “he’s WHAT?”

⁃ “he’s sPEEDING. LOOK HOW FAST HES GOING” “i’ve taken so many drugs. someone tell badboyhalo”

⁃ “we should make a pact. and that pact is, uh, we make a book...and in that book...we declare that saying ‘muffin’ is a, is a slur”

⁃ “i was thinking what if one day your bladder just,,,,stopped working.....AGGGFFFFF i was tHINKING ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY IVE GOT TO PREPARE IVE GOT YO PREPARE thisiswhydiapersaintthatbad”

⁃ <sapnap> i think i was ordered to um

<tommyinnit> boobed

<sapnap> kill you

<tommyinnit> boobs

<sapnap> if this happens

<tommyinnit> think about boobs man

<sapnap> tsk tsk tommy

<tommyinnit> iM DISGRUNTLED

⁃ “why is this deadman so good at making drugs”

⁃ “i just learnt that a girl hero is called a heroine and it freaked me out”

⁃ “memento memento me-“ “that’s actually the worst word i know so you can’t keep saying that” “oh, really.....? have you ever heard the term ‘racist’?”

⁃ “the person who invented the phrase ‘be yourself’ hadn’t met you!”

⁃ “you seem like the type of guy whose dad would throw him overboard as a joke but he would just drown”

⁃ “shout out to dream for twerking!”

⁃ “let’s talk......let’s talk about sex” “wonderful. what do you think about sex, lazarbeam?” “i ain’t saying SHIT in front of a sixteen year old”

⁃ “what the- i think i’m seeing things” “....tommy i told you not to drink the sea water” “well i DID drink the sea water because it TOLD ME TO”

⁃ “it’s like the movie when that guy gets stranded on an island and has sex with a coconut” “whAT?? dream- dream, you vastly misinterpreted this” “it one hundred percent does”

⁃ “oh mastICATE.....isn’t that when a fish turns inside out?”

⁃ “what are some bad words YOU know, clay?” “i don’t-“ “what about ‘terrorist’?”

⁃ “my mind has to be on the same frequency as jesus when he walked on water”

⁃ “you wanna know why i was late?” “no i really do-“ “i was having a MASSIVE poo. really just a HUGE poo”

⁃ “jUST CUZ YOU TALK ABOUT POO ONCE AND THEN YOU SEE A BIG GREEN BASTARD AMD YOUR LIFE IS FLASHING BEFORE YOUR EYES AND THEN YOU CANT REMEMBER- YOU CANT REMEMBER IF IT WAS YESTERDAY OR TOMORROW YOU HURT THAT WOMAN”

⁃ “i love america. mmmmm patriotism

⁃ “LIFE IS NOT A HAPPY SONG KERMIT THE FROG”

⁃ “please stop taking the cock”

⁃ “two four six eight who do we appreciate? not the government let’s gooooooo”

⁃ “oooo look at the dogs😍” “wHAAAAAT. WHAT. THERES ACTUALLY LIKE. A MILLION DOGS HERE. WHAT THE HELL.”

⁃ “yeahhhhh bitch i stab- i don’t stab women-“ “woooooooah tommy you stab women?” “heyyyy sapnap”

⁃ “do you know what happens whne you reach the top of the ladder? there’s only one place to go.” “.....side to side😨” “down.” “...i really thought you were gonna say side to side🥺”

⁃ “one last time.” “just like in hamilton😓”

⁃ “you don’t know how many times i’ve mistaken trees for hot women”

⁃ “ i don’t feel better i just destroyed penis”

⁃ “i’ve never seen a snail with bad morals”

⁃ “awwwwwwww😢 i’m doin’ drugs🤧 just like the good ol’ days😓” “.....define the ‘good old days’” “back when i did drugs”

⁃ “have you ever fought a baby? i have and it was trivially easy to defeat, phil.”

⁃ “the only other i egg i know about was the one i learnt about in school....not allowed to say which one....”

⁃ “did you know one of my new years resolutions is to be more like 2010 justin bieber?”

⁃ “apparently cats don’t lay eggs”

⁃ “thinking about trees- if i saw a tree with a beard mmmmmm...holy shit id hit it”

⁃ “we’re in hell dude. science doesn’t matter here”

⁃ “i cant die i cant die i’m GOD”

⁃ “hey pig your letter is the same as pussy, hmm?”

⁃ “are we cool are we COOL guys? CRYSTAL COOL like CRYSTAL METH”

⁃ “he- he’s crying because - because i killed his mother isn’t that right? mother dearest mother deadest mother gonest”

⁃ “bro ive been drinking since i was six and let me tell you...it’s not good to be drinking that young. led to some poor life decisions when i was 8” “what did you do” “i cant say” “...who did you hurt” “....only myself”

⁃ “je suis” “ay i know what that mean you prick” “what does it mean” “it means you’re racist dickhead”

⁃ “i’d never poo in the presence of a women- which is why i’m scared to get a girlfriend i think i’d just explode”

⁃ “biff tannen is one of my idols”

⁃ “black widow died and i thought ‘wow it should’ve been the man’ because he’s a man”

⁃ “there’s a character called captain america and i think he’s stupid”

⁃ “i’m a GOOD LAD i’ve got GOOD MORALS and if i’ve DONE SOMETHING WRONG it WASNT MY FAULT I JUST GOT A LITTLE EXCITED”

⁃ “sam....what’s the longest you’ve ever wiped your arse? for me it’s 48 minutes”

⁃ “why are you standing in the shitter?” “....that’s a SINK” “uhhh welllll” “hAVE YOU SHAT IN THE SINK?????”

⁃ “you’re like a living ghost” “...i think that’s called a human, tubbo”

⁃ “maybe i accidentally kill ranboo and we just never see him again *laughs* ay? and then i go ‘april foooools!!!’ and then i kill their child. i kill him”

⁃ “you built a penis” “it’s a PENIS OF SAFETY”

⁃ “i saw the penis of safety and i pressed mouse button four my friend”

⁃ “the penis on the other side of the river is larger” “ive heard that before....”

⁃ “you’ve turned the penis into a wall” “a wall of safety is better than a penis of safety” “i think the penis was better”

⁃ “if you wanna make a penis i know where we can make a penis and i know how big we can make it”

⁃ “i don’t conceptualize death but i think i just saw it!”

⁃ “yeah i- yeah i know i’m- my first impression on eret was making him read a shrek fan fiction so- i’m not one for first impressions”

⁃ “i-i’m scared for him- i’m scared OF him. yknow the first thing he did when he saw me was imMEDIATELY strip down then jump off then immediately die?”

⁃ “where are you?” “getting stabbed, one second”

⁃ “you’ve seen the joker?” “yea-“ “i resonate a lot with that man” “...oH. oh. that’s- that’s not-“

⁃ “he bURNT DOWN MY HOUSE” “out of LOVE”

⁃ “ohhhh my god stop making me play with the neighbor kid” “o-okay if you don’t go play with him i’m kicking you out of the house-“ “wHAT THE FUCK???”

⁃ “there’s a STRIP CLUB” “oh yeah for wood!” “are you into strippers?” “i mean all it does is make the wood look different so....yeah it doesn’t really do much”

⁃ “no no we have categories, we have the poo-saster- you might have to take a shower after-“ “no, no i’m gonna stop you right there”

⁃ “as i was saying you can have a 1-to-3 wiper, that’s an A-tier poo, my friend”

⁃ “i want you to eat your sock”

⁃ “you know i’m a child- i’m a minor” “sO AM I DICKHEAD”

⁃ “everyone is calling you dresus” “yeah i am”

⁃ “ayyyy ayyyy los DROGAS LOS DROGAS” “no no big q- she’s thirteen- how does this happen with every 13 year old girl you meet?”

⁃ “my poo has muscles like i do”

⁃ “i cant hear the words among us without crying they’ll say there are aliens among us and in the back youll just hear me *choking noises*”

⁃ “tubbo...tubbo is like...tubbo is like mary” “.....did you just call me the Virgin Mary?”

⁃ “i’m just saying, have you ever seen me and jesus in the same room?”

⁃ “do you smoke sam” “all the time”

⁃ “i thought you were talking about the- the speeeeed drug”

⁃ “have you ever sold drugs to kids sam?” “......no”

⁃ “we can’t let the girlboss rule because she will gatekeepe my feelings” “that would not be good”

⁃ “THEY DIDNT INVITE ME TO KILL ME???? NOW I HAVE FOMO”

⁃ “you have obviously taken part in scientology-“ “i have not-“ “you’ve donated to tom cruises cult shit”

⁃ “....am i worse than david dobrik?” “are- are we worse than david dobrik?” “oh- oh god”

⁃ “he has broke one of the rules of the hit best seller ‘the bible’- this kind of looks like a cock”

⁃ “well i’ve moved now, KING”

⁃ “what is an angsty teen and am i one? because when i USED to hang out with my friends they use the word angst a lot”

⁃ “yeah yeah yeah i bench”

⁃ “sam i think i’m angsty i think i’m an angsty tik tok teen looking for a community to help me out”

⁃ “i don’t think you’ve followed the train of logic all the way-“ “there’s a TRAIN INVOLVED????????”

⁃ “i’m like the orange fucker from that animated rom com”

⁃ “i’m under the influence of big cock”

⁃ “it’s meeee big cock man”

⁃ “i cant look away” “sam please use your twitter alt for this” “he’s horny on maaaainnnnn” “and what’s wrong with that?” “.......”

⁃ “you’re a FUCKING IDIOT” “IM NOT A FUCKING IDIOT, BIG COCK”

⁃ “i’m gonna call you ‘cockity’ big cock” “sHUT THE FUCK UP SHUT THE FUCK UP-“

⁃ “STOP LOOKING AT IT” “ITS SO VIBRANT”

⁃ “at least this guy doesn’t have a cock-“ “itS NOT A COCK” “horny on main jesus-“

⁃ “is that a cock” “SHUT THE FUCK UP”

⁃ “.....i wanna see the inside of it again do a split”

⁃ “okay sam-“ “tommy that guy wants your cock-“ “no- no he doesn’t sam”

⁃ “sam, sam and i need you to hear this....dont. act. up.” “i don’t act up-“ “you were acting up-“ “i-“ “you were caught in 8k.” “but- but we both agree it’s not a tie-“

⁃ “please don’t tell me to kill cockity i am overwhelmed”

⁃ “why is there an anus in my tie?”

⁃ “what are the legal implications of this?” “...i mean besides hell you’re good”

⁃ “whatre the legal implications?” “i mean usually that’s a no-no but today, today it’s fine” “yeahhh lets go murder his family”

⁃ “i’d be an antivax landlord”

⁃ “jesus never does drugs” “well- well you turned water into wine king and wine is alcohol”

⁃ “can you put on pants i can’t- i cant stop looking at it- sorry tommy i know you said-“ “yeah sam i know you tried-“

⁃ “you know i fuck with satan”

⁃ “i’m sorry jesus lucifer is just such a good man-“ “oh you- hold me BACK FROM THIS FUCKER HOLD ME BACK ILL SEND HIM TO HELL YOU LIKE HELL-“

⁃ “are you jesus or just a man who grew a beard and put on a suit?”

⁃ “even the guy with his cock out is telling you to stop-“ “oh jesus, and i mean jesus-“ “shUT THE FUCK UP MAN”

⁃ “the best best way to slander him is to stop his offspring; we need to kick him the balls.....no? not a good....? alright us four each take a ball-“

⁃ “......why did jesus give him four scrotums man🙁🙁”

[blackmissfrizzle]

Angel’s Girl

Characters: Angel Reyes x black!reader

Summary: Angel wants everyone to know you’re his girl. Also, part of a request from @brownsugarcoffy​/  Hi! I don't know if your taking any request, but I saw this picture of this necklace with Angel on it. I was wondering if you would write a imagine of Angel Reyes giving the reader a necklace with his name to claiming her as his old lady and now Angel now wants to only see her wearing his name as they make love. I really adore your writing and know you will do it justice. ❤

Warnings: A lil angst, a lil smut, a whole lotta fluff and cheesiness. 

Here’s more of my work or if you would like to be notified here’s my taglist

At some point, you and Angel knew you had a forever kind of love. The kind of love where you get tattoos expressing that love. When it was your two-year anniversary, he propositioned the idea.

He showed you the sketches he drew of your name. He was so excited, that it physically hurt you to burst his bubble. “Angel, I love you, but there’s no way I’m getting your name tattooed on me.” Angel grabbed you by the back of your neck and pressed a kiss to your forehead. “I know, mi dulce. You’re too practical for that, so that’s why I drew you these.”

Moving his page of his drawing of your name Angel revealed a sheet of paper full of angel wings drawings. The one in the center, immediately caught your attention. “That one! That’s the one!”

“Yeah? You like it?” He asked nervously. Angel had only shown his drawings to you and EZ. He was too insecure to share them with to anyone else.

“Duh! And I’ll get ‘em on my fingers and go like this,” you flicked your wrist. “And tell them my super amazingly talented boyfriend drew them.”

“Handsome. Your super amazingly talented handsome boyfriend.”

“Oh, how could I forget!?” You smacked your forehead. “It’s okay, I forgive you.” He kissed your temple and listened to you plan when you and he would get the tattoos while he rubbed the ring finger you flicked at him earlier, thinking how well it would look with an engagement ring.

--

Angel just loved how you showed off your tattoos. Or better yet how you explained the meaning behind them. Club hang arounds? You flaunted that shit and in the next breath you threatened to punch them dead in the face if they ever disrespect you by flirting with Angel. Dudes hitting on you at the bar? You shot them down with the quickness and told them you only belonged to one person and fluttered your fingers like you were already married.

But one day the tattoos weren’t enough. Angel didn’t know what it was, but he knew he needed something else to say you’re his. An engagement ring was out of the question because he had yet to find the perfect one. Luckily, one day he stumbled onto a heart locket that had his name engraved in it and he knew that was it. That would show everyone you were his old lady.

When he brought the necklace to you, you were automatically in love, but you also had to tease him. He was practically going all caveman on you when he requested you always wear it. “Damn Angel, I might as well get your name tattooed on my forehead.”

“Angel!” You hit him as he was seriously mulling over the idea. “I’m just kidding, querdia. We want to take attention away from your big ole forehead not bring more to it.”

--

With your forgetful self, one day you forgot to put your necklace back on after the gym. That didn’t sit well with Angel, especially since you and him weren’t on the best of terms.

“Where the fuck is your necklace, Y/N?”

“In the car. I forgot to put it back on.” You set down your gym bag, went into the kitchen and got you a bottle of water.

“You forgot? Didn’t I tell you to keep it on at all times?” His insecurities were flaring up, driving him to be crazily possessive.

“Angel, I’m not your damn property! When you get that through your thick ass skull give me a call!” And with that you ran out the door with him calling after you was cut off by you slamming the door and running into your car.

That’s how you ended up at the bar, listening to some lame pickup lines.

“Angel, that’s a pretty name.”  The guy pointed to your necklace.

Soon as you decided you were going to the bar you put the necklace back on. “It is.” You replied in a monotone voice, keeping your eyes straight ahead. He didn’t take the hint that you were not interested and continued to talk to you.

When you raised your glass to take a sip, he noticed your tattoos and made some corny joke. Somehow, he kept going even though that was like the fifth joke you didn’t laugh at.

From afar Angel was watching the interaction partly amused and partly jealous. He wanted you to tell the guy get lost, but he could clearly see your annoyance and it was funny to him. He decided he’ll let it go on for a little while longer to let you suffer some more unless it got out of hand.

“So, Angel what’s a beautiful girl like you doing here alone?” The stranger was about to put his hand on your thigh, but he finally picked up on some social cues and stopped himself. “I was enjoying my drink and my name’s not Angel.”

“What? It says it right there.” He pointed to your locket. Oh, this man was dumber than you thought. “Doesn’t mean it’s my name.”

“Then whose name is it?” He got defensive, he didn’t appreciate being made a fool of.

“Her boyfriend’s.” Angel finally decided to intervene when he saw the guy become agitated.

The sleazebag was about to be Billy badass, but then he saw Angel’s kutte and became a stuttering mess. “Sor-so-so-sor-sorry man, I didn’t know she was your girl. My bad.” He didn’t even give Angel time to threaten him. He ran off afraid of what could happen.

“Took you long enough off.” Halfway through your one-sided conversation with your unwanted suitor you saw Angel’s reflection through the bar’s mirror. “You knew I was here? Why didn’t you stop him?”

“I thought you would.”

Angel took your glass and drunk the rest of your drink. “Nah, it was too much fun seeing you suffer.”

“Asshole!” You playfully shoved Angel.

He started to laugh but it eventually died down. “I’m sorry, querida.”

“For being an asshole at home or being one here?”

“At home. That shit here was too funny.” He backed away before you could hit him again. “Seriously though, I’m sorry. I don’t think of you as my property. Yeah this,” Angel moved in closer to grab your necklace, “it means you’re my girl, but the deeper meaner is that you own my heart.”

“So that means I’m not your whore you can fuck however and whenever you want?” You asked with a smirk.

“Check, please!”

—

Angel had you twisted up like some damn pretzel, but you loved it. As soon as you got home, he got on his knees and made you cum three times with his mouth and he would’ve gone for the fourth if you didn’t beg him to fuck you.

“Shit! Who’s pussy is this?” Angel was pounding into you, his eyes were focused on your locket swinging against your neck. “It’s yours Daddy!”

“Damn right it is.” He took your left hand and sucked your ring finger. With his hand he took a hold of your neck. “And next time some little bitch tried talking to you, you shit that shit down. You understand me?”

“Yes, daddy,” you whimpered with tears streaming down your face. Angel was too good at this. You could feel another orgasm mounting up and it felt like it would be the most powerful of all.

Angel noticed you trying to hold back your orgasm because he didn’t give you the permission to cum. “Good girl.” He praised you, leaning forward until your foreheads met. “Daddy’s making you feel good?”

“Yes,” you nodded your head, “You’re so big, I can feel you deep in my tummy.”

He pressed a hand to your stomach. “You’re right, princesa. I’m deep in them guts. But can you do me a favor baby girl?”

“Anything for you.” Angel smiled against your neck. “Cum all over daddy’s cock.” And just like that you did. You screamed Angel’s name at the top of your lungs almost drowning out his own shouts of pleasure.

After that thorough round you wanted to bundle up and go to sleep but Angel made you get up. “Hygiene over comfortability,” he said.

As you went to use the restroom, he changed the sheets and started the bath. Just before you joined him in the tub, he handed you your shower cap. It was blissful silence as you two cleaned up.

Again, Angel was rubbing in your left ring finger. Ever since you got the tattoo there, he’s been obsessed, but he never gave the same attention to your middle finger with the other angel wing.

“Angel?”

“Yes, querida?”

“Why do you keep a hand on my ring finger?”

“Man, I thought you were the smart one of us two.” You splashed some water his way and he quickly apologized knowing you could start a splash war like nothing.

He brought up said finger to his lips and kissed it. “Because I can’t stop imagining how good it’ll look with a ring on it.”

His answer appeased you which led you to your conditions of your proposal. Angel listened eagerly and ingrained each requirement in his head. There was no way he was gonna mess this up.

--

He hadn’t been shopping for it, he just accidentally stumbled on it while at the mall. Weeks later, Angel finally found the perfect engagement ring for you. He was so excited that he planned to propose that night, but your nails weren’t done and one of your requirements were to make sure your nails weren’t ‘raggedy’ as you would put it.

Then another couple of weeks later the opportunity presented itself. You were on your lunch break and you came to the clubhouse to spend it with him and the guys. Your mouth was full of tacos like chipmunk cheeks while you yelled ‘No fucking way!’ at Coco and Angel thought there was no one he rather spend the rest of his days with.

He did a quick check of your nails and they still look good from the day before. Yeah there were people around, but it was people you and him consider family. Your hair was done, and you had a nice outfit on, so all the boxes were checked.

“Querida,” he called out to you to stop you from arguing with Coco.

“Yeah babe?” You turned to him and found him on one knee. “Oh my god!” You jumped up and started wiggling around doing some weird celebratory dance.

The guys turned to see what was happening and they all cracked a smile. “About damn time.” Coco slapped the back of Angel’s shoulders. The rest of the Mayans came out with their guns out when they heard your screams, but quickly put them away when they saw what was happening.

Each time Angel tried to say something you would just squeal and continue dancing, not giving him a chance to get one-word in. “Prospect, get her.” Bishop ordered, seeing how uncomfortable Angel was getting from kneeling on the gravel.

EZ wrapped one arm around your shoulders and the other over your mouth. “I know you’re excited to be my sister-in-law, but you can’t say yes if he can’t ask the question. So, can you be quiet and be still?” You nodded your head fervently and EZ released you.

“Thanks, bro.” Angel cleared his throat before looking at you. He was getting nervous again, but then he saw how you had to contain your excitement and he was overwhelmed with love again. “You know I’m not good with words and shit, but I’ll try. You’re my everything, Y/N. You’re my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night. I honestly can’t think of my life without you because it would be too depressing. God, I hope this isn’t too corny, but here it goes: what’s the point of an angel if there’s no heaven? So, with that being said, Y/N, will you marry me?”

“Yes!” Angel was lucky he started to stand up because you tackled him once he slid the ring on. He was attacked with kisses all over his face and he wondered how could he had been worried about you saying no at all.

“You know you’re gonna be stuck with me forever, right?”

“Yeah, I’m perfectly fine with that. What’s the point of heaven if I don’t have my Angel with me?” Forever with Angel sounded like paradise and you couldn’t wait.

Tagging: @tomhardydallasstarsgirl​ @sadeyesgf​ @woahitslucyylu​ @starrynite7114​ @angelreyesgirl​ @blessedboo​ @ourlittlesecretsoveragain​ @sambucky8​ @mygirlrenee​ @ljstraightnochaser​ @my-rosegold-soul​ @angrythingstarlight​ @richonne4life​ @brattyfics​ @lovebennycolon​ @langiinspirations​ @chibsytelford​ @trulysuccubus​ @spookys-girl​ @brownsugarcoffy​ @thesandbeneathmytoes​ @fvckthisbxtchup​ @theartisticqueen​

[sometimesrosy]

Rosy that's fantastic news for your book!! I'm really happy for you. And just seeing "bellarke consum their love and even have grandkids" makes my heart full. Bob and Eliza said tthey were disappointed that 1/the charaters couldn't have kids in the end and that 2/ there was no hope. I totally agree with their interpretation of the end. Some people said the ending was super cool, and inkeeping with the whole show, and somehow hopeful. HOW WAS IT HOPEFUL?? the human race gets wiped out...

People said the ending was “super cool?” How?

Wait. I need to wrap my head around that. What are they looking at that seems super cool?

I actually don’t have a problem of the concept of transcendence that they worked on all season, nor Cadogan, the fake-spiritual, love-your-fellow-man-but-also-sacrifice-them-because-they-mean-nothing cult leader who favored his daughter, used his son, tossed his exwife into the apocalypse and killed Becca because she had power and knowledge beyond him.

Like, that could have been super cool if they’d kept him the villain, the antagonist, but instead they made him the protagonist who was, somehow, right about transcendence as if it wasn’t just another fucking doomsday cult that wanted humanity to end. I mean, it WAS just another fucking doomsday cult that wanted humanity to end, and the aliens vacuumed up humanity and allowed for no dissent. Here, have your perfect happy transcendence...but your body dies, the world ends, and humanity is gone. That is EXACTLY what ALIE did, and she was a villain. Perhaps a well meaning villain, but a terrifying villain.

How did the SAME story, get switched around to being some sort of victory for the state of humanity? How did the end of humanity, no chance to continue on, because they removed their ability to have children and carry on?

Why couldn’t they just fucking stay on The Ring if that was going to happen. At least they could have a small community up there.  But no. Without the info that our heroes brought, they wouldn’t have reached transcendence. 

That wasn’t transcendence. It was judgement day. Transcendence means you have worked your way to a higher state, and yes, it might be condescending and elitist, but you at least worked for it. And it wasn’t really a judgement day because they just took everybody, despite the fact that those idiots were fighting for no fucking reason. It was a PUNISHMENT day for Clarke, one of the only people who was actually TRYING to be better and do better. 

What was cool? The way the aliens brought back the people they cared for? Yes, that was cool. It wasn’t them of course, but some people would be impressed by the alien dressed up in the costume of their fav. I could see that being considered super cool. But honestly... that’s a story line that would have worked better in season 3 and in fact DID work remarkably well in season 3 when Lxa showed up in the COL. And it was ACTUALLY her, not some facsimile.

Was it cool to take away the agency of the hero of the story who we’ve been following for 7 years? Was it cool to erase the personality and motivation of our dual protagonist? Ok. So lets say you didn’t love Clarke or Bellamy. Octavia’s character was erased and she didn’t have a thing to do until the final battle, and then she got a romance that frankly made me uncomfortable but that’s taste. Echo was erased and she didn’t have a thing to do until the final battle. Raven was also erase although she got to be the one to convince the aliens that they weren’t totally awful beings. That was cool, but it seemed like a patch put on top of a story that had failed. The story being about how Clarke saves humanity, and Bellamy saves Clarke, which has been THE STORY FOR SIX YEARS. We spent six years building up a team with these two heroes who have been through so much shit and made the CHOICE to be the good guys, and in the end, Bellamy gives his power over to a charismatic obsessive leader (also happened in season 3 with Pike who was a great character and FAR better than Cadogan and actual sympathetic awful villain who thought he was saving his people while doing evil.) And Clarke actually becomes THE BAD GUY, who loses her sense of reason and commits violence due to loving too much-- a really tired, misogynistic storyline. Give women power and they go crazy. The hysterical woman. THIS DOES NOT FIT WITH CLARKE GRIFFIN. Also, we saw her go through that trauma of fear for her daughter, and she DID NOT GO CRAZY. Ruthless, yes. And then she worked through what she had done and recognized she was wrong and promised not to do that again. I honestly don’t know why she did it again.  Even if Bellamy betrayed her again, it didn’t make sense that she couldn’t work through it.

They had to keep the two characters apart in order have that ending happen. Why? Because Clarke acts as the center to Bellamy and Bellamy acts as the Center to Clarke. This season is the story of the FAILURE of the duo protagonists of the show. They separated them and broke them individually, and this meant they were unable to save the universe. 

Is it cool to make a show about heroes and then destroy them in the last season? But frame that destruction and the end of humanity as a VICTORY and positive ending? Maybe if you hate those characters and humanity and think there’s no hope for us anyway, so lets just burn it down.

Oh wait. I’m trying to figure out what’s SUPER COOL about that ending.

The purple sparkly aliens. Ok. How is that cool? That there’s actually an omnipotent alien out there that has the ability to just snap a whole race of people out of existence or into their big ole stew pot of consciousness.

1. Why? 2. How? 3. Where did that power come from? 4. Who are they? 5. What do they get out of erasing races and basically eating them?

Okay, putting aside the questions about how these omnipotent gods aliens came to be... is it possible they can be see as “super cool?” Let me go through.

1. Omnipotent aliens going through the universe, deciding when life forms were “ready” to be judged and then either wiping them out totally, or wiping them out totally but accepting their consciousnesses into their massive consciousness where they don’t want any “bad” lifeforms, which makes them now a higher lifeform but not at all what they once were. 

Cool/Not Cool. I dunno. Kind of seems like some sort of puritanical god who willy nilly decides if people are worthy of heaven. Will He, Nil He. That’s what that means. If we’re gonna get aliens at the last minute, I want aliens. I want to know who they are and what’s up with them. THAT’S the story. Those alien guys. Instead, the story was about the flotsam and jetsam at the end of humanity, either getting swept up into the god-form in the sky or being pounded to bits on the rocks. The heroes of our story have no say in what happens. They’re toast either way. Oh you mean we can be erased into nothing or erased into your hive mind? The only way this is cool is if you like nihilism. Which, yeah, some people do. NONE of their struggle over the past six years meant a damn thing. None of it. Their beliefs, their sacrifices, their mistakes, their heroism. It al reduces down to whether those sparkly purple aliens like them or not. That’s some bullshit. 

Not cool. 

2. Cadogan. Cult leader from the first apocalypse who conned the bulk of his followers and left them shady shelters that let them die. Kept the good stuff for his “best” followers. Paternalistic, obsessive, ruthless, megalomaniac framing his leadership and personality as “Love for Humanity,” while discarding every human who he deemed unworthy. Including his own family. Actually. Pretty cool.  AS A VILLAIN. Ending up at his cult colony in space hundreds of years later with thousands of years of development in time dilation. Cool. They’re creepy but make some bit of sense. Ok. Waking him up and then making him this fucking GURU who preaches love for humanity but sacrifices 99.9% of humanity all so that he can reach his mythical transcendence which is really the eradication of all humanity.... well, that’s actually cool. AS A VILLAIN. But somehow in the last season, Cadogan turned out to be the one who was right all along, and the story seemed to accept HIS concept that transcendence was the best thing that could happen to them, because humanity sucks and they always fight so they should be erase by paternalistic omnipotent gods. CADOGAN’S choices were the ones that were enacted. Bellamy gave his will to Cadogan and made CADOGAN’S choices, not his own. Never before in all the seasons did Bellamy “need it all to make sense.” He fucking KNEW it made no sense and he didn’t want to make those choices any more. And he did it to be a better person and make better choices and keep his family safe. The excuse they used for our hero to side with Cadogan did not fit. CADOGAN became the protagonist in the second half of the season. CADOGAN made all the choices that furthered the story. Our heroes were reduced to either brainwashed followers or ineffective, hysterical messes, our really not wanting anything to do with anyone’s salvation and just interested in their love life. It left Raven, Echo and Octavia to scramble around in the end and try to convince the purple sparkly gods not to erase them out of existence, just erase them and swallow them. :/ Cadogan as protagonist bringing humanity to “transcendence.”, Our supposed heroes as useless flotsam and jetsam floating around on the wreck of humanity whose choices and actions make no goddamn difference.

NOT COOL.

3. Character Storylines

Clarke’s storyline. NOT COOL. Bellamy’s storyline. NOT COOL. Octavia’s storyline. S.A COOL. S.B NOT COOL. Raven’s storyline. COOL. Echo’s storyline. S.A COOL. S.B NOT COOL. Murphy’s storyline. SUPER COOL. Emori’s storyline. SUPER COOL. Indra’s storyline.  COOL. Hope’s storyline. S.A COOL S.B NOT COOL. Jordan’s storyline. NOT COOL.  Diyoza’s storyline. COOL Gabriel’s storyline. COOL. Madi’s storyline. NOT COOL The grounders. Fucking morons. You really shouldn’t make a whole culture’s choices based around being absolutely too stupid to be allowed to live. EVEN when you get past xenophobia and learn about who they are and why they do things. NOT COOL. The culty people. Cool set up and world building. The society was dumb and had too many plot holes. MIDDLING SHEIDHEDA. NOT COOL. pointless plot device just used to make everyone forget everything they learned from 6 seasons. CADOGAN. COOL AS A VILLAIN. But he was the protagonist. So the ruination of the entire show and universe they created. NOT COOL.

SEASON A COOL OVERALL.  SEASON B NOT COOL. TOTAL SEASON NOT COOL

I think if people think the ending was supercool, they’ve never heard of a deus ex machina, and how that’s a BAD ending that is really just a cheat because you can’t figure out a way to get out of the story mess you made. 

I really hate post apocalyptic fiction that ends with no hope for humanity. JR kept telling us there was hope. I mean narratively, not in interviews, although he did that too, and in the last half season, he switched it around so they wouldn’t have hope, not even just our heroes, but all humanity. It was a bait and switch I did not appreciate. And I’m not talking about ships, I’m talking about the essential genre of the show. 

PS. thanks. I love my book and I hope someone picks it up so you all can read it. It also has elements of Han/Leia and another couple, Brashen/Althea from the Live Ship Traders book by Robin Hobb. They are, however, less traumatized than the characters in The 100. 

[vaguely-concerned]

TF x Graves, 2500 words, complete and utter fluff

Stifling another yawn against the back of my hand I glance over at the window, which shows only the flat dark of a moonless night outside, before turning my eyes back to the line of T.F.’s naked back.

I’m already undressed and perched on the side of the bed, watching as T.F. is still in the middle of his nightly ritual of hanging or folding his fine clothes up all properly and neatly, lest they, I don’t know, unduly crease somewhere they ain’t meant to or somethin’. Listen, I keep my clothes in a pile on the floor by the side of the bed, right next to the shotgun, both within easy reach in the case of a middle-of-the-night emergency skipping of town. Our priorities in these matters don’t really intersect much, but to each his own and so on.

I don’t know why I’m waiting for him to come to bed to lie down myself, exactly — my eyes are already making a spirited attempt at staying shut on me whenever I blink, I’m pretty sure I’d be out and snoring in about three seconds once I got settled — but my skin has that thin restless thrum all through it that I know from experience won’t be satisfied until he’s settled into place against me and besides, the view is nothin’ to sneeze at in the meantime. He stands there shirtless, belt unbuckled and hanging loose around his narrow hips, though the fastenings of his trousers are still done up. In the light of the oil lamp across the room he’s in a rare state of relaxed unselfconscious disarray, his hair grown out long enough again that it spills over his shoulders and down his back while he fastidiously fastens the cufflinks back into place on the empty shirt so they’ll be easy to find in the morning. As he finishes up with the cufflinks he sings to himself under his breath, a good-natured jaunty little tune I vaguely remember the Brick would sometimes break out once you got a couple of drinks in him.

The hum under my skin grows higher and keener.

Stretching an arm out I hook my fingers into one of his belt loops and gently pull him in by it towards the side of the bed, until he’s standing between my legs. It prompts a half-bemused noise from him, but he goes along easily — when I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my forehead against his belly he seems to catch on, though, a sound of amusement vibrating through his chest.

He slides his hand to the back of my neck, twining his fingers into the short hair there, thumb trailing back and forth along the hairline.

T.F.’s too damned scrawny to have much in the way of padding anywhere, but there’s the warm body softness to him here nevertheless, the sweet yield and shift of a living thing whose pliancy belies the supple strength beneath. I rest my cheek against the flat of his stomach and sigh, moving my hand at the small of his back in slow caressing circles.

“Come to bed already,” I murmur, too sleep-softened along the edges to worry overmuch about makin’ sense.

He chuckles, fingers stroking through my hair. “Well, I was on my way, but then I was waylaid by some deplorable fellow in the process. Hell of a thing.”

I grin and turn my face up to him, so that my chin is resting against his belly and my lips brush his skin when I talk. “Huh. Sounds like a real shady character. You want a trustworthy sorta guy to escort you safely the rest of the way?”

“With such dangerous reprobates skulking around in the area, that’s probably for the best,” T.F. nods somberly, fond amusement deepening his voice. He runs his thumb down the bridge of my nose. “Could I afford to hire the services of a strapping upstanding gentleman like yourself, though?”

I make a nonchalant sound in my nose, squeezing him closer against me for a moment. “Eh, don’t worry ‘bout it, this one’s on the house.”

His thumb drifts down to rest at the upturned corner of my mouth as he grins back at me. “Hey, looks like it’s my lucky day.”

I kiss his stomach and lean back enough so I can start in on the fastenings of his trousers — not with any sort of heat behind it, there’s no hint of sex in the air, but in a weird way this is equally satisfying, the everyday-textured contentment of being close without any particular purpose, being the one to slowly render him naked in front of me for no other reason than that he lets me, his hands still smoothing patiently through my hair while I work.

Once I’ve got all the buttons sorted I run my thumb along the sharp edge of his hip bone until I can tuck it into the waist of his trousers and use it to tug them down. We get them about half-way down his thighs like that before we have to pause for him to shimmy out of them the rest of the way on his own, his hand resting on my shoulder for balance as he does the traditional one-legged hop to extricate his foot. Serves him right for only ever wearing pants that might as well have been painted onto him. I mean, not that I’m complainin’, mind.

“Whoa!” he says, laughing as he almost overbalances at the last hurdle, but my hand shoots out to steady him by the hip before too much disaster can be wrought. “Well, not the smoothest strip tease I’ve ever pulled off, sorry about the inconvenience.”

I nose at the newly revealed crease of his hip over the edge of his underwear. “Eh, that’s okay, if I actually wanted a proper show I’d just suggest a round of strip poker again and sit back and watch while you lose.”

“Oh, that’s a strange yet beautiful dream world you’ve made up for yourself there, Malcolm. It’s touching, really, the things the mind will do to protect itself from the truth. Positively — aah!”

T.F. jumps as I draw some of the skin of his hip between my lips and use them to nip sharply at it. His startled yelp turns into a snigger as I let go, possibly ruining the castigating effects somewhat when I brush my lips soothingly over that spot right after.

“Let that be a lesson to ya,” I say sternly.

“A lesson on what, that your mom was apparently half turtle?”

I grunt, still trailing soft kisses over his skin. “That judge in Piltover was right back then, you are an incorrigible menace to all decent and right-thinking people everywhere.”

“First of all, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Malcolm, thank you. Two, including yourself among the ‘decent and right-thinking’ feels like the invention of some fresh new form of fraud by way of imposture unfolding before my eyes, and it’s an honour. And third, that seems to me to be some very selective memory you have there, considering His Honour Judge Highton had some even more colourful words for you after you blew up the entire north wall of the court building breakin’ me out.”

“He might’ve been given to wearing a damn silly mop on his head, but you couldn’t fault him on his vocabulary,” I concede. Before that whole incident I’d honestly thought the wigs were some sort of practical joke the Pilties would play on gullible outsiders, but as it turns out no, if you get sent to jail in the twin cities they add the indignity of makin’ someone wearing a dead badger on their head break the bad news to you. It’s a strange ol’ world out there, alright. In Bilgewater, where people are much more sensible, the justice system basically boils down to the bounty board, or — if you’ve really managed to make a nuisance of yourself — a bunch of captains may call a temporary ceasefire with each other and go get your ass together. I’ve found that the risk of getting on the bad end of an unfair trial is about the same in both places, though of course the Bilgewater one tends to be harder to come back from if carried out to its fullest. I consider myself a bit of an expert in these things.

T.F. makes a thoughtful sound. “To be fair I don’t think anyone had ever given him cause or inspiration for profanity like you did.”

“Aw. That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He leans down and kisses the top of my head before he straightens for long enough to work his second foot free as well, standing there in just the sleek silky underpants he somehow seems to have an endless fresh supply of wherever we go. (My money’s on some sinister underground ring of lingerie-oriented tailors across south-eastern Valoran, for the record; when it comes to secret societies the Noxians just can’t help themselves.)

“I do my best. Hang on just one moment, I’ll be right back,” he says and ruffles my hair before he turns around, which I would complain about except that the view is, as previously mentioned, impeccable, and I’m sleepy enough to be magnanimous.

After meticulously folding his trousers and leaving them with the rest of his clothes, T.F. moves over to the table across the room and extinguishes the oil lamp, then whistles under his breath as he produces a card from somewhere — he does this, seemingly from thin air and no matter how little he’s wearing; I prefer not to speculate too much about how, exactly — and lets a little magic into it so it gives off a low glow, only enough to light his way the short walk back across the room, ‘cause in T.F.’s world the stubbing of toes and smacking of shins against unexpected furniture in the dark is somethin’ that happens to other people. That probably says some things about him I’m not ready to go puzzlin’ out at this time of night, and that he wouldn’t want to have anyone go puzzlin’ about too hard in the first place anyway.

When I hold out my hand for him in the dark he smiles and takes it, twining our fingers together, and I use the hold to tug him in and deposit him, in a neat controlled wrestler’s roll held close against me as I lay down, to his side of the bed. He laughs again at that, a surprised delighted sound that edges dangerously close to a giggle but hey, I ain’t no snitch, so who’s gonna testify against him, huh?

The card ends up on the far side of his pillow after the tumble, still giving off a glow, enough to illuminate the bed and lend the shadows around it some warmth. It makes the bed seem a small cozy island, the rest of the world rendered a not-unfriendly ocean of darkness around it.

T.F. looks at me like the world’s most contented castaway, bourgeoning crow’s feet punctuating his smile on either side and fingers still linked with mine. His hair is mussed from the meandering fall onto the bed. If I were only fractionally less about five seconds away from fallin’ asleep, my body might start to get ideas about it. Well, tomorrow is always another day.

With the back of my free hand I brush some of his hair away from his brow, and he cranes into it like a well-pleased cat. Even with the blankets tangled around our feet and the not-quite-right positions we’ve ended up in, having tumbled into place rather than settled ourselves with purpose, everything feels warm and loose and comfortable, like I could fall asleep like this even with the decidedly odd angle my arm is at.

As if sensing that the drowsiness is about to claim me for real, T.F. brings our linked hands up to his face so he can press his lips to my scarred knuckles before he lets go, then reaches to pull the covers over us, taking a moment to tuck the blanket around my shoulder properly before snuggling under it himself, hooking his leg over my thigh as he settles into place. I shift until we fit together, the familiarity of how to rest against each other just right comfortable like an old and well-loved piece of clothing. On a sigh he rests our foreheads together, craning forward the tiny amount needed to brush our mouths together and humming contentedly when I meet him there. It’s a slow kiss, but it lingers, a dry sweet press of lips like one last spark sending the day off down into the gently drifting murk of sleep that’s about to claim me for a few hours.

When it ends — I don’t think either of us was really the first to pull back, at some point the kiss simply, in the way of snowflakes on tongues, melted into something different and less defined with the warmth — there’s a moment when my eyes can still fight against slipping shut. It’s weird, the way you can look at someone every day for years and still not feel like you’ve had your fill. T.F.’s sharp narrow face, his high pointy little cheekbones and mouth still curved with a smile as he watches me back — there’s something to knowing I’m gonna see all that again tomorrow morning that all the damn money on Runeterra couldn’t get you. And take it from me, from what I’ve seen of the world there ain’t a lot of things in this life enough money won’t buy. Stumbling across one of them long before we even knew what we had, by a stroke of little more’n dumb fucking luck… sometimes it feels like the biggest heist we ever pulled.

“Hey, Tobias?” I say, brushing the tip of my nose against his as my eyelids finally give up both the battle and the war and slide closed.

“Hmmm?” he says, cheerfully drowsy as well.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I murmur, because I can’t think of any damn happier thing in the world to say to him.

He wraps his arms around me, his hand stroking meanderingly up and down the scar-crossed span of my back, fingers trailing over my skin with the perfect amount of firmness because he’s taken the time to learn exactly how much pressure it takes to make it comforting. As sleep starts pulling me under to calmer depths I tuck my head under his chin, so my face is pressed to the line of his throat and to his chest. He smells so nice, all warmly real and well-known like my own breathing.

“Tomorrow,” he agrees on a yawn, nuzzling at the top of my head and tightening his arms around me, just for a moment.

I've been trying to write stuff -- literally just anything, no matter how meandering and nonsensical -- to try to break out of a writer's block; it's not really working so far but at least I've got SOMETHING tangible to show for it at the end of the day, so, you know, uh... partial success I guess?? haha

The idea of T.F. having a judge somewhere out there who considers him the One True Nemesis of his career, J. Jonah Jameson style, even though T.F. barely even remembers his name, came from a wonderful conversation with @inversway, and the idea makes me laugh so hard every time I think about it.

ETA: Also put this on AO3, so I have somewhere to put these ficlets that isn't just tumblr! I'm grimly clinging on to this blue hellsite like a obstinate barnacle to the hull of the Titanic, but I do realize it's not the best place to archive uh anything lol

[carissimipaixao]

─ T̷̞̾̌H̴̩̃͊Ȓ̴̡͙̰̄̿Ō̷̰̮̉̈U̸͗͛͜G̷̛̟̥H̷͎̿͛ ̴̝͔̍ͅT̷̡̘̙̋͒̓H̴͓͑̾̚E̸̼͕͊ ̶͚͙̬̍̅Ŵ̵̠̮O̸̬͊͝R̸̭̋̒̎L̴̥̺͎̋͆̑D̷̻̟͔̀͝L̸̼̈́́͋ͅḮ̵̺́N̵͓͖̪̕Ĕ̸͇͂͠S̵͓̤̑̓

published on: september 23, 2021

pairing: okabe rintarou & reader

word count: 1.8k+

gif credit: me!

note: had this laying around and thought it’d be a stupid idea to let it go to waste. so, here you ago! by the way, this is a crossover with loki (2021), because, while rewatching steins;gate zero, something clicked in my monkey brain.

additional note: everyone (but okabe) is speaking english, thus the western-style of okabe’s name popping up here and there. no loki involved, i’m afraid. just good ol’ mobius and the tva, whose building i still don’t know or understand.

The intercom on the desk beeps.

Mobius immediately reaches for it, although his gaze never strays away from your own. ‘Yes?’

‘We’ve got an issue.’

The man’s shoulders drop with a heavy sigh. ‘We always have an issue. What’s the issue?’

‘A prisoner has escaped.’

You raise an eyebrow, unable to keep the interest and curiosity from your face. Mobius notices. He puts the intercom away as he stands. Mobius walks around the table and pulls out a key. Once your handcuffs click open, he ushers, ‘Time to go.’

‘And where are we going?’ You ask, rubbing your wrists.

‘Well,’ he starts, ‘if there’s something I’ve learnt from you, it’s that you can’t be left alone for too long.’ He winks and knocks twice on the table, before moving to the door. ‘Let’s move.’

You don’t hesitate.

As you scroll through the hallway, meeting the skeptical but wary eyes of many soldiers, Mobius reaches for his intercom. ‘Who are we looking for, exactly?’

‘Rintarou Okabe,’ a hunter replies. You raise your head at the name, and you swallow dry. ‘A variant from Beta Worldline.’

‘Oh, at least it’s not from Alpha,’ he chuckles. He turns to you, mouthing “crazy”. But, you don’t care enough to ask for an explanation.

No. Suddenly, all you care about is wrapping your hands around the throat of that one variant. No matter the worldline, no matter the timeline, he is still the very same — the same scumbag who has blessed your days with blood and scars.

‘What do we do?’

‘Track him,’ Mobius says. ‘But, whatever you do, don’t engage with the variant.’ His gaze is back on you. ‘I have a plan.’

‘What are you planning, exactly?’ You snap, narrowing your eyes. ‘If you think I’m going to help you—’

‘I’m afraid you don’t have much choice, D6.’ The man is already inside the lift, holding the door up for you.

You have already stopped walking, crossing your arms. ‘What makes you so sure I won’t just kill him?’

The sudden question makes him hum in thought, before he tilts his head and points to the collar around your neck. ‘That will keep you from doing as you please. I know how you feel about Rintarou—’

‘You don’t know shit.’

‘I know a lot of things about you,’ he says, but his tone makes her believe he has said that line many times before. He pauses, staring at her face. ‘But, looking at you now, it’s clear to see you are dying to see what this is all about. You want to see a familiar face, because you find comfort in what’s familiar and close to you. Isn’t that why you joined the organization?’

You tense up.

‘Right, sore spot,’ he mumbles. ‘Well, come on. The quicker we find him, the quicker we can go back to our pretty game of twenty questions.’ The intercom begins beeping once again, and he instinctively reaches for it but doesn’t answer at first. No, he keeps staring at you with this expectant look on his face. ‘What do you say?’

You glance to the side, only for a moment. You are curious to know where you are and how this whole place works. You want to know what the hell is the TVA and who is behind it, just so you can go home — once and for all. Most importantly, you want to know why Okabe, of all people, would be here. Then again, perhaps he was here for the same reason as you were. For a crime against the sacred timeline.

Whatever that means.

You finally respond by entering the lift and watching the doors close in silence.

Mobius, next to you, answers the intercom, smiling faintly.

‘Sector Nine,’ the same hunter quickly announces. ‘He is moving towards the Northern balcony. We are keeping a safe distance from the variant.’

‘Good job,’ he praises. ‘We’re on our way.’

The older man presses a button, and the elevator quickly begins its descent. You take a deep breath, clenching your fists by your sides — your normal reaction to when you are nervous or anticipating conflict. Mobius glances at you, observing, but turns back to the doors. For some reason, the silence feels welcoming. But, it doesn’t last long.

As soon as the doors open, a robotic voice welcoming you to Sector Nine, Mobius all but rushes down the hall, having turned right. You follow him closely, rolling your shoulders, and observe the multiple posters that line up the walls, as well as small monitors which display the current state of various worldlines.

‘Here’s what I want you to do,’ Mobius begins. ‘I want you to approach the variant, and I want you to be calm.’ He gives her a look.

You frown. It’s as if you’re being scolded by your mother, all over again.

‘Chances are, Rintarou will see you and think you’re just your Beta self. He will calm down, he will let you get closer.’

‘Do you really think he can be that easily convinced?’

‘If you play your role right, which I know you will, then yes,’ Mobius reassures. He places a hand on your shoulder, stopping you as you approach the end of the hall. ‘I want you to get close to him. Make him calm down, and just be patient and selfless.’

‘I’m not—’

He shushes you gently. You pause, and his lips turn upwards into a smile. ‘Despite what you’ve gone through with the organization,’ he starts, his voice lowered into a soft whisper, ‘I know you haven’t changed that much. I know you’re still you, deep down.’

Who are you, exactly?

The man suddenly presses something onto your hand. ‘Be careful.’ He raises his hand towards the entrance of the balcony and nods approvingly. How can someone you have never met in your life and, yet, someone who seems to know you so well be so positive? How can Mobius, despite knowing your deeds, be so encouraging, expecting the best of you?

He may be disappointed.

You peek around the corner, through the arched doorway. You swallow, upon seeing a figure stand in what appears to be awe and shock. Your eyes roam the figure, up and down, and, as they fall upon the messy hair, you recall the faint memory of grabbing onto those black locks, shoving his head back and pressing a knife to his throat.

Take it easy, you tell yourself.

You step out of the hall and quietly begin to walk into the room. The variant remains oblivious to your presence, and you know it is due to your training and experience when it comes to sneaking behind your targets. He exhales shakily and he leans to support his weight against the railing, his head dropped.

The sight makes you stop.

Somehow, you have never seen him look so defeated.

You understand that he may be feeling just as lost as you are, but, there is something about Okabe — about this variant, you remind yourself — that pulls slightly on your heart strings. He looks like he has given up, like he is ready to embrace whatever is thrown at him.

It unsettles you.

You glance over your shoulder and find yourself sharing a look with Mobius, who gives a firm nod before disappearing around the corner once again. You roll your eyes and turn back to the variant. You take another set of steps forward, although, this time, you are bolder. And, it earns you the response you had expected.

He spins around, his eyes wide and fearful.

You frown, tilting your head to the side. ‘...Okabe?’

The young man opens his mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a strangled breath, broken and confused. Even from the distance between you two, it is easy to see how he shakes.

You slowly approach him, your eyes fixated on the way his body grows even stiffer, on the way his eyes wander across your face, down your body. He seems to be in search of something, you conclude. But, you’re more worried about his stance, about how he may react to you.

You don’t know him, not as much as you feel like you know him, despite how similar they look. In the man that stands in front of you, you see nothing, however, that reassembles that blunt and cold person that you have been fighting for a long time. There is no emotionless stare, no chin held up high, no weapon in hand. He looks normal, perhaps as normal as both of you would have been — or perhaps how you are in another godforsaken worldline.

He calls your name, and the vulnerability makes you flinch.

‘What—why?’ He mutters. 

You only feign a gentle smile.

He stares at you, as if he is looking directly into your soul. You begin to think that, as you had suspected, he knows you are not who he thinks you actually are. But, the silence is killing you, more so than the pain that is clearly visible in his eyes. Something must have happened.

‘Okabe,’ you call.

Somehow, those words make the young man’s walls finally crack and, before you know it, his arms are wrapped around your body. You are stiff in a flash, but he doesn’t appear to notice. No, he is more preoccupied with pressing his face against the crook of your neck, as he leans against you.

‘You’re here,’ he whispers, breathlessly — and you hear his voice crack. ‘You’re here and you’re safe.’

‘From what?’ You ask, lowering your voice. Yet, despite Mobius’ request to play your role, you find yourself unable to embrace the man, even if your heart has broken a little bit. Maybe, you look just like your Beta variant, but you would never allow yourself to be as passionate and vulnerable as she.

Especially to him.

He still hasn’t answered your question; instead, he presses his face harder against your skin and you feel something wet dripping down your neck. He’s crying, you realize. But, why?

‘Okabe,’ you slowly raise your arms. ‘Everything’s okay.’

He sniffs, refusing to move away.

‘It’s okay,’ your lips curl into a calm smile. ‘Sleep.’ The Beta variant of Okabe pauses, and you repeat, ‘Sleep.’

When he opens his mouth, a confused sound escaping through, it suddenly morphs into a strangled scream.

He goes stiff and begins to fall back, his muscles completely paralyzed. You only watch, clear disinterest in your eyes. Okabe gasps for breath, as he lays on the floor. ‘W-what?’ He attempts to speak louder and clearer, but you realize that whatever tool you just used is too strong for even someone as Rintarou Okabe.

‘Sleep,’ you say the same word, and your voice is harsher, your eyes colder. His gaze is stormy — confusion, betrayal, shock. You don’t know which one hurts you the most, but you tell yourself that you aren’t supposed to care, even if he was a low variant of your enemy. ‘Sleep, Okabe.’

Mobius appears by your side, and both of you tower over the Japanese young man as he tries to fight off the inevitable. His eyes swin between you two, but, before he can say anything, they close and his body finally stills.

‘Good job, D6.’

[zimms]

written for @omgcpanniversaryweek day 2: friendship!

Ollie sits cross-legged on the kitchen floor in the dim light of the fridge, bowl of Frosties in one hand, spoon in the other. He's not usually a cereal kind of guy; he far prefers the dining hall's cooked breakfasts, but at 3am, it just hits different, okay.

The silence lays over him like a blanket, cozy and welcome, wrapping around him and keeping him company in the darkness, broken only by the crunch of frosted flakes.

He's so fucking scared for tomorrow. Like yeah, he's only a third line sophomore player on a team with Jack fucking Zimmermann, so it's not like he'll see that much game time, but it's still the NCAA final. It's still the biggest game that Ollie will ever play in his life, especially considering the fact that he isn't going to go pro like Holster, or Jack, or, heck, even Chowder, so yeah, he has a right to be terrified nervous about it.

Anyway, his parents are finally coming to watch one of his games and everything is absolutel-

The door to the student kitchen creaks open and Ollie's head snaps up to see who it is.

"Hey, Ol." Pacer steps into the room and Ollie feels his face involuntarily break into a grin in spite of his nerves. "Couldn't sleep either?"

Ollie looks down at the cereal bowl in his hands and back up at Pacer, whose face is glowing softly in the twilight. "Was it that obvious?" he asks.

"Maybe." Pacer's lips curl into a smirk and he reaches into the fridge to grab the milk. "But I mean I can't really say anything when I'm here to do the exact same thing."

Ollie can't really think of anything to say to that, so he doesn't, instead he just has another spoonful of Frosties as he watches Pacer pour his own bowl.

"D'you mind if I-" Pacer hovers awkwardly above him and Ollie can't gesture quickly enough for him to sit down next to him. He can't work out why his heart race has suddenly elevated with Pacer in such proximity, but he doesn't linger too long on it; if it's important, he's sure that non-sleep-deprived Ollie will figure it out.

Ollie swallows. "Yeah, go ahead, dude." He coughs up a flake that got caught in his throat; that must be why his throat felt so thick, right? Right? "'S free real estate."

Pacer musters a chuckle and the tension in the room splinters into a million pieces and suddenly the silence is just as comfortable as it was before.

It's nice.

(Ollie ignores the revelation in the back of his mind that there was tension to break in the first place.)

"So, what brings you to the kitchen at 3am? Y'know, aside from sleep deprivation."

"Oh, uh," Pacer says, rubbing the back of his neck, "it was my game day tradition back in high school. I used to get pretty nervous, so frosted flakes were one of the only things that I could eat without being sick, whilst also having some form of flavour, so it just sort of evolved from there."

Oh, that actually kind of made sense.

Or at least it did compared to Ollie's reason.

"What about you?"

"Oh." Ollie swallows his mouthful of flakes. "This is literally my first time. I couldn't get to sleep and had a weird craving for Frosties, so here I am." He makes a little tadah action with his hands before immediately regretting it. "It's pretty good though; I might need to do it more often."

"That's valid, dude." Pacer smiles across at him. "I mean, I'll always be in here on game nights, so if you wanted to make it a pre-game ritual, that would be cool."

"That would be nice," Ollie says, "but, it's your pre-game ritual."

"I don't mind sharing; it can be our pre-game ritual."

Oh.

Oh.

This is what being at home feels like: 3am in a dark kitchen, lit only by the fridge and Pacer's smile, eating frosted flakes together.

Ollie doesn't mind that as concept of home.