#PAR::Packer

[paddedlittleparadise]

When Words Have Two Meanings (Ream Teaser)

Little Andy's about to go to a birthday party for his fellow Little! But unfortunately, he's having a hard time convincing his Mommy not to interpret the party's theme in a very embarrassing way…

–––

"Nno- Mommy, no! It- it's not that kind of par-mmmmphhh!"

Into Andy's mouth the giant spoon went once more, forcing yet another wad of oily, gritty mush deep into his half-choking throat. He gulped, straining in his high chair, his hands waving helplessly as he muscled the icky goo down. He knew this taste all too well: the taste of laxative-laced oatmeal. But before he could even recover, his wife Lila – affectionately known to him these last four years as Mommy – gave a knowing chuckle and drove the spoon into the half-empty bowl for a fresh load.  

"Oh, sweetie, hush! Don't tell me you really know better than Mommy now? You said your Little friend's birthday party is a wet and messy party, right?" Lila's green eyes twinkled, and deep between his messy lips went the loaded spoon again. "Now I can't speak for Charlotte's Mommy, of course. But any adult with half a grain of sense will know that, when it comes to two big babies like you, "wet" and "messy" can mean one thing and one thing only…"

She giggled over his gurgling protests, merrily oblivious to his discomfort. "You're my little stinker, after all. Aren't you? My sweet little super-soaking pampers packer. And if that's what Charlotte's Mommy wants this party to be about… well, we need to make sure you're primed and ready!"

Of course Andy tried to reason. But reasoning with Mommy wasn't exactly his strong suit at any time – and least of all now in this hapless position, locked in his chair, wearing his night-soaked diaper, and being forcibly spoon-fed his gooey breakfast. So he let out a sticky sigh… and down the hatch it all went.

After that? Down too went the contents of his one-liter bottle. Because, after all, Mommy cheerfully informed him that if he didn't drain it all quickly, she simply wouldn't have time to change him. And, well… rocking up to his Mommy's friend's house in a swollen – and probably by that time leaking – night diaper wasn't exactly on his list of favorite things ever.

"Hmm… you really think it's a party for messy play? Like finger painting?" Mommy was smirking now, glancing brightly backward from his closet full of onesies, shortalls, and diaper covers and giving her now freshly double-diapered husband a wink. "In that case, maybe I should just leave you like that: in nothing but your diaper. Surely it's better not to get your pretty clothes dirty…"

"No, no, it- it's okay," Andy hastened, his stuffed and already gurgling belly giving a little flip-flop of fear. "Please, I- I wanna wear something! I- I can stay clean-" Oh, he did! How embarrassing to show up with this waddly, stuffer-filled monstrosity of a double diaper on display for everyone to see?!

At that, Mommy let out a triumphant laugh. "Such a silly little thing," she reproved, tugging one of his newest onesies over his head and beginning to guide his arms through the sleeves. "Well, never mind that. At least this one will be appropriate no matter what! Oh… but of course my baby can't read!" She giggled anew, her fingers dexterously snapping the taut fabric shut around his bulging crotch. "See these words on the front? They say, "Mommy's Little Messmaker! And isn't that exactly what you are, sweetie?"

Well, Andy would have let out a disconsolate bleat of dissent. But Mommy was already stuffing his pacifier into his mouth and bending down, her lovely cleavage full on display within her sundress, and planting a warm kiss on his forehead. "Well, aren't you adorable! Now let's get going. It's an hour to your Little friend's house, at least – and we can't keep sweet little Charlotte waiting on her birthday!"

–––

Want to read the mortifying end to this little story – along with many, many other one-off, multi-part, and commissioned stories? We'd be delighted to see you over on our Ream (i.e., the Patreon that's NOT run by bigoted assholes). Lots of steamy, femdommy, diaper-y, BDSM-y, sissy-y goodness awaits! 😁

[monosanimegenericzone]

yknow what fuck it.

manga speculation time as the october release draws ever closer.

but read it how you want bcs this can be taken in or out of its context.

who can actually handle hisoka in the instance of a 1v1 in the phantom troupe.

hisoka knows the abilities of 7-8 members of the troupe by the time they part ways in yorknew city. four of which are already dead so he knows at least 4 more. information to hisoka is basically like an instant win unless you discombobulate him enough with overcomplicated strategy like Chrollo did.

the only four safe from hisoka's intel are: Bonolenov, Nobunaga*, Kalluto, Feitan.

*Nobunaga is a question mark because we dont know if he has a fully realized hatsu or not. and if he does we dont know if hisoka knows about it or not.

so in order:

Chrollo: YES, I think Chrollo is in more than a good enough position to kill hisoka for a second time. with Contagian running wild and so many assorted nen abilities to choose from, he technically has enough bandwidth to limitless nen abilities. will he do so while hunting for hisoka? that depends on if he gets in contact with team phinks or not. but i think he has a good shot of a round two.

Nobunaga: MAYBE, i think nobunaga is the only one in possession of an ability to cut bungee gum, but i only say that because we've never actually seen anything attempt to cut bungee gum. if he can't then he's most likely fucked XD. this also depends on if he has a hatsu or not because as it stands right now, he's very much not ready for this fight.

Feitan: YES, i think its very likely at least. it's not gray enough to be a maybe, but it's leaning towards the very likely. he just has to endure at least one blow from hisoka and its basically over. but even base feitan has a good shot. he has several tricks in his funky lil umbrella that i doubt hisoka knows about and a lot of speed. on top of all that. there are higher forms of pain packer that hisoka is more than capable of unleashing if he decides to play with his food.

I WANT THAT BOAT OBLITERATED BY A NEUTRON STAR. FORGIVE ME BUT I WANT TO FUCKING SEE IT.

Machi: MAYBE, this one i cant be sure about. hisoka is aware of machi's abilities just as much as she is aware of his. It'll come down to what each has prepared for the other and their respective reaction times. personally im rooting for machi in this fight but who knows.

Kalluto: NO, as he is right now, that's a no if hisoka genuinely tried to kill him. he has a get out of jail free card with Illumi being on the team, but with the way hisoka is right now who knows how much value that has.

Phinks: MAYBE, hisoka knows about kaiten, which is a huge disadvantage for phinks. however, phinks can easily get on par with blows equal to uvo if he has enough set up time. which he may or may not get in this hypothetical. hisoka might just straight up rip his arm off which- who knows if that will actually stop him- is Not Good(tm)

Shalnark: YES, honorable mention because i will not let him go. im coping so hard. Autopilot shal has a good shot, it just might end up with both of them dead instead of just one.

Franklin: NO, with his current set up no. unfortunately guns and long range aren't a good counter to hisoka unless theyve got a hell of a lot of power behind it

Shizuku: NO, shizuku herself said it, i dont gotta say shit. but also yes, she'd have to use gyo through the entire fight just to make sure she isn't grabbed and she'd be stuck on the defensive. Unless he bleeds, then she can stay at maximum range and vampire drain him. but he has a hard counter to that so yeah shizuku solo is very much fucked.

Bonolenov: YES, i disagree with bono on his self analysis. Battle Cantabile is a nen ability i haven't talked about much because it's 100% speculation on my end. but as a music nerd i just have to put this here: i think jupiter is part of a suite.* Therefore, i think bono has seven planets at his disposal and i will elaborate more in another post. that and hisoka doesn't know about his abilities, so he has extra upper hand.

*suite being a form of music composure of multiple movements, usually led with a prologue

I REPEAT. I WANT TO SEE THAT BOAT GO D O W N. I WANT IT SUNK I WANT THAT THING EXPLODED SO BADLY.

Illumi: YES, just because hisoka wants to fight him. illumi is a wild card so i cant say for sure. in a 100% all out fight, they have enough knowledge about each other to understand how each other work.

thats my two cents anyway. in the situation they're in right now, its impossible to tell who would win purely because of the number of eyes on any number of them, therefore a fair 1v1 is out of the question.

i enjoy thinking about these funky fellas and please im coping so hard before togashi inevitably rips my soul to pieces.

[bookish-bitch]

∆ Eddie Dear ID Pack ∆

Names:

Andy, Arty

Billy / Billie, Bowie, Bennett, Bundle, Bindle

Charlie / Charley, Connie, Cap, Card, Carton, Courier, Conveyance, crafty

Donnie, Darling, Dearest, Dearly, Dearie

Ed, Edward, Ethan, Edmund, Epistle, envela

Freddie

Logan, lilac, lavender

Mail, Missive

Nolan, Note

Parcel, Post, Packet, Postal, Postie

Ronnie, Robbie, Rory, Remy, Rowan

Stamp

Telegram

Violet, viola, violin

Willie

1st p prns:

I / me / my / mine / myself

Ai / arte / arty / artine / artself

Cri / cre / crafty / craftine / craftself

Ci / carde / cardy / cardine / cardself

Ei / Eddie / eddy / Eddine / eddieself

Li / lette / Letty / lettine(letterine) / letterself

Mi / maie / maily / mailine / mailself

Pi / poste / posty / postine / postself

Pi / packe / packy / packine / packageself

Pi / parce / parcy / parcine(parceline) / parcelself

Pi / pe / purply / purpline / purpleself

Sti / stampe / stampy / stampine / stampself

2nd p prns:

You / your / yours / yourself

Ao / art / arters / arterself

Cro / crafter / crafters / crafterself

Co / card / carders / carderself

Eo / eddier / eddiers / eddierself

Lo / letter / letters / letterself

Mo / mailer / mailers / mailerself

Po / poster / posters / posterself

Po / packer / packagers / packerself

Po / parcelr / parcelrs / parcelrself

Po / purpler / purplers / purplerself

Sto / stamper / stampers / stamperself

3rd p prns:

They / them / theirs / themself

Ar / art, art / arts, art / artsy, art / craft

Cra / ft, craf / craft, cra / craft, craft / crafts, craft / crafty

Car / card, card / cards, ca / ard

Ed / Eddie, edd / Eddie, edd / ie, Ed / die, Eddie / eddies

Let / letter, let / ter, le / letter, letter / letters

Mai / ail, mai / mail, mail / mails, mail / man, mailman / mailmans, mail / carrier, mailcarrier / mailcarriers

Po / st, Po / ost, Po / post, pos / st, pos / post, post / posts, post / card, postcard / postcards, post / man, postman / postmans

Pack / age, pack / package, package / packages

Par / cel, parc / el, par / parcel, parc / parcel, parcel / parcels

Pur / purple, pur / ple, purp / le, purp / purple, purple / purples

Sta / mp, sta / stamp, stam / stamps, stamp / stamps

Titles:

The mailman, the mail carrier, the delivery *man, the guy who delivers the mail/letters, the one who delivers your mail

The clumsy one, the forgetful one, the caring one, the kind one, the friendly one, the generous one

(prn) who delivers mail, (prn) who is tasked with delivery, (prn) who works for the post office, (prn) who has taken on the family business

(prn) who's favorite colour is purple, (prn) who loves to help (prns) friends, (prn) who loves to join (prns) friends activities

Coinings:

Eddie dear - FranklyDear

Boy/guy/manmailman

Eddiedearic - enbymailman - femmailman

Gendermailman - gendermailman - girl/gal/womanmailman

Loverboymailman - lovelettermailmain

Mascmailman - MLM4MLM

Neighboric - neumailman

Transmascmailman - transfemmailman - transneumailman

Welcomehomehypfixic - welcomehomecoric - welcomehomehearthic

*man/guy can be replaced with any other term (person, woman etc)

Gift for @hewasanamericangirl

Tagging: @sanguinaryfreaks and @the-church-of-strabismus

Please see pinned for dni

[translatingtradutor]

[Dicas] Manejando disforia como transmasculino (foco no armario)

A disforia é realmente algo avassalador. Considere pegar apoio psicologico se ela estiver te afetando muito, mas há maneiras de amenizar ela.

Cabelo

Sobre o cabelo, existem algumas opções.

Você pode convencer os outros que está o cortando para doar para instuições que fazem perucas para crianças com cancer. O tratamento do cancer faz elas perderem o cabelo, então elas precisam e são muito caras as compraveis. Essas ONGs são muito importantes, então se você fizer isso pode inclusive acabar fazendo um bom ato com isso de cortar! É possivel enviar o cabelo via correio.

Exemplo do site do Cabelegria

Caso eles sejam contra, pode fazer um verdadeiro chilique e drama sobre como seu coração doi pelas crianças com cancer que você viu no documentario do jornal ou algo. Fica muito feio mesmo socialmente eles dizerem que você não pode. Por isso recomendo ate mesmo ter essa discussão em um lugar publico ou com mais familiares na casa para dar vergonha na pessoa falando contra.

Caso ainda não funcione, você pode cortar facilmente indo no cabeleleiro mais perto por uns 60 ou 50 reais, se tiver coragem de ir contra.

Caso não queira ir contra, você pode usar ele em uma "manbun" ou esconder ele dentro de um chapeu como um bone. Para esconder ele, utilize grampos de cabelo. Leva um tempo pata aprender como colocar eles no cabelo certo para não sair debaixo do chapeu e ficar bem firme, mas é assim que as pessoas de cabelo longo costumam fazer para ficar com perucas, e tudo.

Exemplo da manbun:

Veja também a página de recursos de cabelo, que contém catálogos do tipo caso você esteja com dificuldades de achar um estilo masculino ou androgeno que goste.

Além disso, talvez te ajude raspar a "barba" em geral, mesmo que não tenha. Siga guias, mas se não tiver os cremes certos usar uma esponja para ensaboar o rosto e depois passar a gilette ja ajuda. Costuma deixar as pessoas euforicas. Também dá para usar isso para tirar o buço, que são os pelos leves acima da boca que homens cis não tem devido a sempre rasparem a barba. Aproveite para raspar os cantos das costeletas também, caso te fizer euforico, porque isso imita o corte de pessoas que tem que se barbear todo dia.

Dormindo

As melhores posições são as seguintes:

De barriga para cima e braços levantados e dobrados com as mãos tocando sua cabeça mais ou menos, oque permite que o peito não mova.

De barriga para baixo, que também faz o mesmo, mas se o seu peito for muito grande pode incomodar. Nesse caso, coloque seus braços retos para baixo e angulados par aficarem baixo da sua barriga, aumentando o espaço de descanso que o peito vai ter e a sustentação do seu corpo vai par aos braços ao inves de lá.

Para dormir de lado, é possivel dormir abraçado com um travesseiro, que irá impedir você de sentir ou mover o peito e ainda dara sustentação par ao de cima.

Algumas pessoas sentem euforia a dormir sem camisa, outras não. Considere tentar uma vez se isso te fizer sentir mais masculino. Dormi com packer também ajuda, mais na proxima seção.

Desconforto genital

Quando ao desconforto genital, é possivel fazer um packer com meias simples. Além disso, você pode comprar esse e outros itens afirmativos de gênero feitos de maneira mais profissional também. Isso ajuda muito emsmo com dormir.

Veja esse guia de como comprar escondido (mais sobre roupas, mas tambem funciona)

E esse de como esconder itens afirmativos de gênero.

Alguns packers profissionais também funcionam como STPs/urinols, que são dispositivos para urinar em pé. Você pode comprar STPs mais barato e separado como aqueles "negocios de fazer xixi em pé" por menos que 20 reais e reutilizaveis. Esse são de uma borrachinha geralmente e maleaveis, geralmente o pacote é feminino. Dá para dizer que você queria uma forma mais higienica de fazer xixi em eventos ou na universidade. Lembre de treinar no banho antes.

Tomar banho e ir ao banheiro no escuro pode ajudar, as vezes. Isso também vale para disforia do peito.

Binder e desconforto do torso

Você não pode dormir com o binder (compressor dos seios), mas ele é uma otima opção para outras partes do dia! Para esconder e comprar ele, siga as informações nos ultimos dois links. Também lembre de seguir o tempo a risca, porque é sim uma pratica perigosa se feita errado.

Veja esse compilado de informações sobre binding.

E a Trans Tape é uma opção que até mulheres cis usam as vezes, então dá para enganar.

Para sentir euforia nisso, essas praticas costumam ajudar, principalmente ao olhar no espelho e passar a mão vendo que ficou mais liso.

Mesmo sem binder, é possivel passar os dedos levemente no vão entre o peito para sentir que pelo menos aquela parte é lisa. Pode dar alguma euforia.

No caso de usar sutiãs, dê preferencia a tops de academia ou sutiãs que sirvam bem para você. Em alguns paises não há um bom sistema de tamanhos de sutiã que leve em conta tudo necessário (um número não é o suficiente, existem varias medidas!) e você talvez precise costurar seu sutiã para ele ficar melhor a forma. Isso faz maravilhas para te fazer sentir melhor, porque você sente muito menos o peito. Dê preferencia a materiais como algodão que dão menos sensação e movem menos, mas cada pessoa tem seus favoritos.

Esse forum do r/ABraThatFits te ajuda a descobrir seu tamanho se precisar, mas é em inglês. Eles são amigaveis a pessoas de todos os gêneros e não bináries, se especificar no post que você é, e ainda podem te dar dicas de medidas para o quanto costurar apertando caso seu pais não tenha um sistema bom de medir sutiãs.

Em geral, evitar movimento e ter uma boa sustentação é o melhor! Não bote todo o peso no ombro, espalhe também um pouco para o elastico de baixo.

Afirmação de gênero

Lembre de tentar se apresentar certo na internet. Isso pode te ajudar muito. Ver jogos que te deixem botar seu nome e aparencia podem ajudar muito também. Considere jogar Visual Novel, porque elas falam muito o nome do seu personagem.

Se afaste de redes sociais tudo que puder se estiver usando seu nome e pronomes antigos. Elas não fazem bem de maneira alguma. Mesmo que esteja com seu perfil transicionado, tem chance de você estar procurando validação lá. Reconheça isso e evite o maximo possivel se esse for seu comportamento. Elas vão te fazer ficar pensado se passa ou não, se é o suficiente, etc.

Evite o maximo que puder ficar indo e se olhando no espelho refletindo. Isso não faz nada bem se for algo desse tipo, e pode contribuir para uma visão deturpada de si.

Roupas

Se possivel e do seu agrado, tente ter o guarda roupa mais masculino possivel. Vá no link de como conseguir roupas afirmativas de gênero caso precise de roupas baratas ou gratuitas. Isso te ajuda a se sentir mais confiante. Mantenha peças que gostava antes, é claro, mas evite as manter só por obrigação.

Ademais, nunca engaje no comportamento de vestir o mais feminino possivel para se machucar! Isso é um tipo de auto mutilação mental e emocional! Apenas se vista feminino se for do seu agrado. Por isso, se você estiver em perigo desse comportamento, é melhor dar todas suas roupas femininas que puder embora, principalmente as que você costuma usar para esse comportamento. Isso não é saudavel.

Para doar suas roupas, as dê ou venda para brechos (até dá algum dinheirinho), dê para igrejas, organizações de dar roupas para os necessitados, casas de acolhimento trans ou até mesmoe ntre em contato com outra pessoa trans do outro genero na area para trocarem roupas antigas ou doar para ela sua antiga roupa.

Utilizar broches de pronome pode ajudar, principalmente se forem debaixo da roupa. Roupas de baixo masculinas também ajudam muito mesmo e serem coisas escondidas, mas deve tomar cuidado no ciclo mensal porque muitos absorventes não colam bem em roupas masculinas. Considere utilizar boyshorts nessa epoca, que colam melhor.

Voz

A testosterona em si já vai mudar sua voz. Se não puder usar ela por qualquer motivo, ou não engrossou sua voz, existem cirurgias que fazem isso. Também pode fazer o treinamento vocal, que é a forma gratuita, flexivel e mais utilizada para aqueles cujo hormonios não são uma opção ou não alteram sua voz.

Mesmo antes da testosterona (porque é proibido para menores de idade sem permissão dos pais, cara fora do SUS e ainda perigosa sem acompanhamento médico) é possivel treinar a voz vendo videos sobre isso no Youtube ou se juntando a grupos como a Trans Academy (https://www.transacademy.org/ em inglês) que fazem workshops de voz semanais, ou servidores do Discord em português feitos para o mesmo. Treinar a voz permite trocar entre a voz original e nova, então seus pais não saberiam.

Em geral, veja esse compilado da transição escondida transmasculina se for seu caso.

Muitos garotos tem vozes finas mesmo assim, e você pode falar que é só um problema hormonal. Quanto mais você agir ofendido por alguem ter te lido errado, mais a chance deles acharem que você é um homem cis que teve a masculinidade fragil ferida.

Proporções corporais

Se lembre sempre que altura e proporções corporais não te definem. Além disso, sabia que esqueletos de generos diferentes não são facilmente reconheciveis de maneira alguma? Leia mais aqui.

Visto isso, a maior diferença mesmo é em distribuição da gordura com testosterona ou não. O tratamento hormonal vai te ajudar muito com isso. Mesmo que não tenha isso ainda, considere fazer exercicios para diminuir sua gordura dos seios ou melhorar as proporções de gordura e musculo da maneira que você quer. Esse site é otimo apra ver exercicios do tipo e bem categorizado, mas use a categoria masculina mesmo que dá na mesma! https://musclewiki.com/ (inglês, use o plugin do Google Tradutor se necessario)

Pescoço

Caso a falta de pomo de Adão te incomode, a testosterona vai resolver isso para você. Caso não queira ou não possa hormonios ainda, usar chokers pode ajudar a esconder isso e ainda dá uma pressão no pescoço que te faz sentir como se tivesse algo lá.

Mitos trans

Por fim, lembre de ver a página de mitos trans para ver se essas coisas qur você acredita sobre si são verdade ou não. Por exemplo:

Sua voz vai ser natural com treinamento de voz sim.

Seu cerebro funciona sim como o de um homem cis se você for homem trans

Esqueletos não tem facil identificação por gênero.

[knightroid]

it's a little funny (it's not) how people try to sound inclusive and end up more reductive. "afab/amab genitalia" to denote a vagina or penis respectively and it's like, bottom surgery exists. intersex people exist. penis and vagina are not vulgar words. being someone who downloads game mods, I see bulges being labeled as "amab option" (also not a vulgar word), or different body type frames being described as like, amab & masculine as if those are innately hand in hand. or curvier ones are described as feminine, afab. You literally sound on par with going male and female at this point, because, like, you are. You literally are. What about a bulge denotes it as "amab". Women can have them. Packers are literally a thing too. Then flat is the afab route. There are ways to get a flat crotch. Top/bottom surgery exists and nullifies these classifications further but I feel like literally everyone forgets. Or again, like... the very existence of intersex people, but I guess when we're being faux inclusive we're not THAT inclusive. Literally just say bulge/penis/vagina/breasts/so on, those aren't nasty or vulgar words, plus you sound like less of an idiot than boiling these down to the state of Amab Or Afab.

[sabraeal]

If the Mind Is Willing, Chapter 6

[Read on AO3]

Written for @claudeng80, who has been waiting longer than a month now for this birthday fic, and who has indeed beta'd this birthday fic as well, for we long ago passed the point where we pretend with each other that our final drafts are our first drafts. And though she cannot and will never see those first drafts because that is a layer of vulnerability on par with peeling off my skin to show off my bones, she can at least see my seconds drafts. Where she will then promptly tell me that I am missing a crucial word in a sentence, and maybe I should consider a comma or maybe a whole ass period, or possibly learn to spell words the way the god or at least the Oxford Dictionary intended. Because that is what friendship is all about 🤣

The problem is: it feels like too much.

The suitcase had been a given, of course; Chizuru only had the one, a gift from Father on her twelfth birthday, meant to be used on the single vacation he’d set aside time to take her on. Even after six years, the flower decals still looked like they’d been applied yesterday, pink a vibrant cherry blossom, only the dint on one corner to serve as proof it had ever been used. Disney World might have only lasted two days before a work emergency had them hopping the next flight back home, but at least the Orlando baggage carousel had left its mark. It’d been a happy reminder of better days when she’d been living out of it for those few weeks, unsure of where she would land— or whether she ever would.

It’s only— she hadn’t thought it would be full. Chizuru wouldn’t call herself a light packer by any means, but the event’s only three days, at a hotel that is possibly twenty minutes door-to-door, at least when school’s in session. It hardly seems like the sort of thing that calls for a suitcase filled to the brim. Above the brim even, if she were gutsy enough to take Kimigiku’s costume out of the garment bag— which she isn’t. It’d been heart-pounding enough putting Sen’s paper-wrapped kimono in there, let alone something with parts and pieces and things that could very easily scatter under her bed skirt and be lost for eternity.

Which brought her tally to one suitcase (over laden), one garment bag (to be treated with care), and the small travel pack she’d slung over her chest (overstuffed), gone over a half dozen times each, pared down to the barest bones, and still, still—

She can’t possibly take up this much space. Even in Shinpachi’s Range Rover, it’s too much. Maybe if she tried again, this time—?

3:15, her lock screen reads, a little snowflake sitting beside the 33°F below. Haah, with a four o’clock check in, there’s no chance of her whittling her luggage past the basics. Not unless she want to be late, and if she’s late, then—

Then everyone will be waiting for her. All of them clustered at the bottom of the stairs, watching the time tick down as she tries to decide if she really needs an extra pair of underwear or another package of hair ties. Just the thought threatens to have her break out in a full-body rash.

With a steeling breath, she adjusts her travel pack and rolls out to the hallway. A proposition that would be easier if not for the wall-to-wall carpets in the hall, but Chizuru manages to steer her suitcase competently enough, drawing up to the stairs with enough confidence to survive the six sets of eyes sure to turn her way—

Only to find two instead. Not waiting on her either— no, Yamazaki’s got his head bent close to Hajime, hands shaking with emphasis as he hisses, “I don’t care if he’s done hours before anyone else, I’m not getting in a car with him.”

“I was not insinuating that I would make you,” Hajime intones with weary patience. “I merely wanted to mention the likelihood of Souji being the first of our companions to finish with his preparations.”

“And I’m telling you that I’m not—”

It’s not on purpose; between fight or flight, Chizuru’s legs have chosen freeze, and she’s perfectly resigned to stand statue-still up here, silent and just out of sight. But her suitcase chooses to make it known to everyone in the major metropolitan area that one of its wheels is not perfectly situated on the landing. It tilts, the aggrieved wheel letting out a plaintive squeak— and that’s all it takes for Hajime’s eyes to narrow, slanting up to the top step.

“Good afternoon, Yukimura,” he says, oddly pointed. “It seems you are ready to head to the hotel.”

“Ah…” Her suitcase clunks down the next step with her, wheels spinning. “Yes. I just, um…”

Have to survive these stairs, she swallows down, gritting out a smile instead. She tries to lift her case and garment bag all together, but—

“Yukimura.” Long, well-clipped fingers wrap around the side handle, quite literally taking the weight out her hands. “Would it be alright if I handled this for you?”

“Oh.” Yamazaki’s not a tall man, not by any measure, but in the dim light of the stairway, he looms, and it— it flusters her, free hand fluttering uselessly between them. “I-I can’t possibly ask you to—”

“You’re not.” Hajime hovers at the bottom of the banister, a strange sort of lightness in his voice. If Chizuru didn’t know better she might call it…bubbly. “He is.”

“O-oh.” She stares down at the hand still clenched around a handle, willing each finger to release knuckle by knuckle, so slow it feels like someone else’s hand entirely. “Then…thank you, I guess.”

Yamazaki spares her a nod and a terse, “No problem,” right before he lifts her suitcase and—

And rams it right into the floral wallpaper.

“Nice,” Hajime hums, appreciative.

Yamazaki’s still flushed when he glares down, snapping, “I don’t see you helping.”

“And get between you and serving hime-sama?” Hajime’s not one to smirk— honestly, he’s not much on smiling either, save by millimeters— but a corner of his mouth trembles as Yamazaki tromps down the last few stairs, stormy as one of their winter squalls. “I would never.”

His jaw doesn’t so much open as fall, working, as if he needed a good running start to get his next words out. Chizuru simply slips around his side, asking brightly, “Have you been waiting long?”

“We were just discussing who we thought would be next in finishing their preparations,” Hajime tells her, not really answering her question. Experience tells her that means ‘a long time.’ “Although Shinpachi could fit the seven of us in his vehicle, we would more comfortably divide into three and four amongst two cars, and since I have a perfectly serviceable sedan”— Chizuru’s confusion must show her face, since one look at her has him hauling to a stop, coughing to clear his throat— “I mean to say, we were waiting for our third.”

“Oh.” She blinks, glancing between the two of them. “I guess that’s me?”

“So it seems.” There it is, that tremble at the corner of Hajime’s mouth, threatening to curl. For a moment, she’s certain it will, but he turns his head away, casting a speculative look down the hall. “Should we wait to take on another passenger, or—?”

“Better not risk it.” Hajime half-turns toward Yamazaki, disappointment palpable, and he adds, “Oh come on, Nagakura has the bigger car.”

“That doesn’t mean we should—”

Whatever Hajime means to say is lost in the tangle of boy and bag clattering down the stairs, the struggle so loud Chizuru’s ears still ring even after it’s over.

“Oh hey,” Heisuke says, cheerfully emerging from the tumble. “You guys haven’t left?”

Yamazaki blinks. “Not…yet…”

“We were just discussing if we should wait,” Hajime says. “Since Shinpachi’s vehicle might be preferable to the remaining passengers.”

“Nah, those guys are gonna take forever to get ready. Sano has a whole bag just for his freaking hair! And not only that, but him and Shinpachi have been fighting for the last ten minutes over who owns this styling gel or whatever, which like, who cares? But still” — Heisuke stops to catch his breath— “You got room for one more?”

Yamazaki and Hajime exchange looks. Just what exactly they’re saying, Chizuru can’t even begin to guess.

“Well,” Hajime hums, bemused. “That does handle one problem.”

“Fine.” Yamazaki sighs, hefting a bag over his shoulder. “Let’s just go already.”

*

Despite all her fretting, her suitcase fits easily into the back of Hajime’s Elantra, slotting into the last spot in the trunk with little more than a twist and a lift. It helps that all Heisuke has is a duffel, crammed into the corner with all the care of a dirty sock being returned to the hamper.

“Don’t you have costume parts in there?” Yamazaki manages around a grimace; one that only deepens at Heisuke’s shrug.

“It’s fine.” He gives the bag one last good shove, wedging it firmly against the side. “I just threw it together. And Sano says he’s gonna bring all the sticks or whatever—”

“They’re boffers,” Hajime interjects, “technically.”

“Yeah, that.” Heisuke claps him on the back. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. Hotels have those iron thingies, don’t they?”

Both eyebrows hitch up to Hajime’s hairline. “You know how to use an iron?”

Heisuke’s face crumples in confusion. “Well, no. But how hard can it be?”

Plenty is the answer, though Chizuru’s in no mind to give it, not when she’s preoccupied with trying to hang her garment bag on the hook over the window. Yamazaki and Hajime had made it look easy, but hers just keeps sitting wrong, taking up too much space and—

“You can take the front.”

She blinks up, half spilled out of the back seat, right up into Yamazaki’s concerned frown. “Excuse me?”

“I mean, if you wanted. It’s probably, er, nicer than having to share the back with—” his gazes darts over her head, to where Hajime patiently coaches Heisuke in the proper way to treat his personal items— “anyone.”

Her hands fly up, waving between them. “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly! I can’t have you sit back here with my bag in your way.”

“We have bags back there too,” he reminds her, leaving the ‘and we’re definitely making Heisuke deal with it’ unspoken. “It’s only fair for me to make the offer.”

“Ah, I suppose…” She runs her fingers down the seam of her garment bag, considering. “But really, I’ll be fine. I’m sure Hajime would prefer to have you as his copilot!”

His mouth furrows, the perfect counterpoint to the storm brewing on his brow. “Yukimura—”

“All done!” Heisuke bursts onto the bench seat beside her, quivering with the same energy as a dog wagging his tail. “We gonna get this show on the road soon?”

Yamazaki’s mouth pulls too thin for a sigh to slip through; instead it all rushes out of his nose, coming to an abrupt halt when he glances down at her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to change seats?”

 “Hey! What’s up with this thing?” There’s not a lot of Heisuke, but what there is stretches across the seat, reaching out to give her garment bag one good tug. It’s like magic— one minute it’s shoving a shoulder across her seat, and the next it’s tucked into the handle, laying flat against where the door would be. “There, all set.”

He settles back, utterly nonchalant, as if he didn’t realize he’d done anything exceptional at all. Chizuru fails to stifle a laugh.

“Yes,” she says, giving Yamazaki one of her brightest smiles. “I think I'll get along just fine.”

*

“Woah? This is the place?” Heisuke jabs a finger toward the glass doors beneath the portico, duffel slung over his shoulder. “You sure?”

“Of course it is.” Yamazaki steps into the revolving door, suitcase clattering at his heels. “Haven’t you seen the campus hotel before?”

“Well, like, not up close,” he admits, following him through. “But this is nice. Like nice-nice. Are you sure they’re gonna give us discounts on a place this swanky?”

Chizuru has to admit, she’s thinking the same. From the outside, it didn’t seem like anything much— just another brutalist building squatting on campus, only with better parking access— but on the inside…

“Is this marble?” she murmurs faintly, nervously mincing across the floor. A hundred dollars for the weekend seemed like a steal when she’d thought it’d have the same level of amenities as a Holiday Inn Express. Now it’s practically highway robbery. “And the chandeliers…?”

“Satsuma Estates has been very kind to our organization since it started,” Saito informs them as he emerges from the door, his own suitcase coming to rest at his heels. “Most of their meeting spaces are influenced by traditional Japanese aesthetics, which meets our standards for a desirable location, and on their part, we are regular, respectful customers who—”

“We hold our biggest events during the part of the fiscal year where there isn’t much in the way of guests.” Yamazaki’s mouth slants, almost sly. “Spending New Year’s Eve on an empty campus in the middle of nowhere isn’t exactly on anyone’s bucket list.”

“So we get to have this place all to ourselves?” Heisuke eyes a vase that could have been just as at home in the Forbidden Palace as it was in a hotel lobby. “And they don’t have a problem with us running around in our costumes? I mean, with the swords and everything?”

“Boffers,” Hajime reminds him at the same time Yamazaki sighs, “They’re just foam.”

There’s a look that passes between them; a weary one, at least for Yamazaki’s part, though Hajime…well, Chizuru could hardly pretend to be an expert on the minute changes that marked a shift in his moods. But if she had to hazard a guess, she might say…amused.

“The more regular players typically bring foam or rubber replicas, with little intention to use them outside of aesthetic accuracy.” Hajime nods his chin toward a plastic pipe leaning against the front desk, both ends thickly padded and wrapped in what looked like duct tape. “New ones or the more…martially oriented roles usually elect to use boffers. Regardless, any weapon paraphernalia is inspected and registered at check-in.”

“They are also not allowed to be drawn outside the designated bounds of a scene,” Yamazaki adds, not a little stern as he surveys the crowd. “Personal combat sequences usually require advanced warning as well, since they have to prepare an area especially to accommodate—”

“Hold up. ‘Personal combat sequences?’”

“Duels,” Hajime clarifies.

Heisuke’s eyes pulse wide. “Duels? Really? We can have one of those?”

“As honor demands.”

“Woah.” There’s a new level of respect in Heisuke’s eyes as he scans the room. “And everyone follows the rules?”

“Yes,” Hajime says as Yamazaki grunts, “Mostly.”

Another look slings between them, though this time Chizuru doesn’t mistake the censure in Hajime’s stare.

“They say we’re better behaved than a regular convention,” Yamazaki allows, begrudgingly. “Or at least, we smell better.”

Heisuke blinks. “Smell better?”

He huffs out something in the neighborhood of a laugh. “You don’t want to know.”

“Should we get in line?” Chizuru eyes the crush creeping toward the front desk, barely contained by the black tape borders. “It seems like there’s already a bit of a wait to get through…”

“Jeez! That’s a lot of people!” Heisuke startles, like he’s only just noticed. “I thought this was supposed to be small?”

“Our usual group is around twenty to thirty members.” Hajime casts a speculative look over the lobby. “But for our weekend events, it can easily double.”

“Dude, this is definitely more than double—”

“Why don’t we check into the event first?” Yamazaki juts his chin toward the hall past the lobby, tightening his grip on his bags. “If everyone’s out here, then there can’t be much of a line there.”

Heisuke’s mouth clicks shut with a shrug. “Sounds like as good a plan as any.”

*

The event’s check-in is down the hall from the real one, just inside the first exhibit hall they come across— nearly empty, just like Yamazaki said, the number of people loitering around denser behind the tables than in front of them. For the two boys who are best known as the only ones in the roommate agreement who possess some sense of caution, there’s no hesitation, no moment for them to take in the currents of the room and pick the best course— both beeline straight for one of the tables, lining up with all the ease of habit. Chizuru follows after them, not on their heels, like Heisuke, but taking in the size of the room, in how there’s a few people clinging to the corners, their conversations hushed but curious as they pass.

There’s a mountain of a man in front of them, made larger for how the seams of his button down strain at the shoulders to contain his hunch, and she can’t shake the feeling that it’s familiar. Especially when he stands, unfurling head and shoulders taller than all of them and—

“Yamazaki.” The man doesn’t so much speak as rumble, like far away thunder, turning to them with a warm smile. “I see you did bring your friends after all.”

“M-Mr Shimada,” Chizuru gasps, heat flooding her cheeks. “I didn’t even—?”

Recognize you, she nearly says, but he’s wearing the same button down and slacks he does behind his desk, looking every inch like the professor he is. Or at least, will be, once he’s made the jump from adjunct.

Think you’d be here is more accurate, but the longer she considers the idea, the less improbable it seems. He’s a history professor after all— the kind that keeps replica swords mounted on his office wall, right above the pictures of his wife and kids. An active kendo instructor at the campus gym too, plus a dozen other martial arts she can only half remember the syllables of. She’d already seen him do demonstrations with live steel at the freshman orientation fair, dressed up in a kimono and hakama. And when she thinks about it like that, it’s honestly more surprising that he’s the only one from the department here.

A chill shivers up her spine. He’s the only member of the department she sees. That doesn’t mean he’s the only one in attendance. Her eyes skitter out over the hall, searching for stiff shoulders or the lingering scent of Marlboro—

“He’s brought quite a few friends this time.”

Chizuru startles, but it’s not an expletive that’s been dragged over gravel— no, it’s the reedy voice of the man behind the table, a wide smile pulled across a face as dainty and delicate as a doll’s. And yet when those large eyes fix on her— not the same shocking green of Souji’s, but something softer, mossier, more natural— there’s no innocence behind them, just the ceaseless churning of a great machine.

“Though I see not all of them have made it yet.” He rises, half out of his seat and hand outstretched. “I take it this is…?”

A narrow set of shoulders steps between them. “Heisuke!”

The man blinks, impossibly long eyelashes batting against porcelain pale cheeks, but his smile doesn’t lose any of its shine. “Ah, yes, of course, Heisuke. How nice that you’ve decided to join us. I’m Keisuke Ootori, one of the game masters.”

“Thanks for having me,” Heisuke says, so easy, and— and it would be nice to be like that, to be so confident of being welcome that pleasantries don’t turn oddly personal; that saying hello doesn’t come off as desperate. “It’s my first time doing this whole LARP thing!”

“You don’t say.” Keisuke’s mild gaze slants toward Yamazaki, mouth hitched at a corner. “Well, any friend of Hajime and Susumu’s is a friend of ours.”

“Su…Susu…?” Heisuke blinks, rolling his eyes to stare at Yamazaki. “…Mu..?”

“Don’t start.”

“Now, you were playing…?” A finger runs down the binder in front of him, stopping with a victorious tap. “Matsu Yoshitora, the beastmaster.”

“He’s lion clan!” Heisuke leans over the table, practically quivering without a tail to wag. “Because that’s my fursona.”

“Oh.” There it is again, that little wobble at the corner of his mouth, that dart of his eyes to where Yamazaki stands, hands clapped over his face. “Isn’t that nice.”

“I don’t know him,” Yamazaki says through his fingers, ears blazing bright red. “He just followed us in.”

“What Heisuke means,” Hajime interjects with beatific levels of patience, “it that the lion is his favorite animal. At least out of the options presented in the player’s guide.”

“Ah, I see.” Teeth peek through his smile when the game master turns back to Heisuke, fingers knitted over his binder. “You know, one of our other players has a whole functioning tengu suit. I think you might get along.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Yamazaki grumbles, but it’s too late, Heisuke’s already nodding his head, saying, “I have no idea what that is, but it sounds cool.”

“It sure is. Technically impressive too. Now, if you have weapons”—his hand sweeps out toward the table cozened up to his, and the girl behind it— “Marie can take care of their registration.”

“They’re not here yet,” Heisuke hurries to tell him— and as an afterthought, her. “They’re in the other car.”

“If you can describe it, we can get the process started.” The girl— Marie— smiles, but it doesn’t have the same warmth as Keisuke’s. It’s perfunctory, precise, and certainly satisfies Heisuke, since he slides right over and starts trying to gesture dimensions. But still, Chizuru can’t quite shake the feeling that there’s something cold beneath that polite smile, something pointed about the way her eyes avoid anything past the midline of the tables—

“Now, you”— Keisuke’s angles sharpen, teeth flashing behind his smile— “must be Hime-sama.”

Conversation careens to a halt, even the restless murmurs from the corners of the room pressed into silence.

“Ah…um…yes.” Chizuru shuffles a hesitant step closer. “Chizuru. I mean, I’m Chizuru”— he only smiles wider at her blush— “I’m playing Doji Kaoru.”

“Ah, a pleasure to meet you, Chizuru.” He presses a gallant hand to his chest, a sparkle lurking in the corners of his eyes. “And Kaoru. We’ve been waiting a long time to do something with Hime-sama…”

“O-oh! Really?” Her stomach knots itself before hurtling to her throat, bile sour on the back of her tongue. “I’m sorry— it must be so much trouble to— I can always play someone else if it’s going to ruin—”

“On the contrary, Chizuru! You saved us quite a bit of trouble. Especially poor Marie here.” He jerks a thumb toward where she sits, studiously ignoring their conversation. “But on that note— once we’ve wrapped up with check-in, I’d like to talk to the three of you.”

“U-us?” Every hair stands on end. “Are we in…in trouble?”

She could pass out just considering it. Her name’s barely gotten crossed off the list, and already she’s being called in to the principal’s office to explain herself. If only—

“No, no, not at all. In fact, the opposite”— he laughs as he leans in, lowering his voice to a stage whisper— “we’d like you to raise a little trouble.”

“O-oh.” She clasps her fingers to keep them from trembling. “Okay? I guess.”

“We’ll discuss it in a bit.” He settles back, tilting his chin toward the table next to him. “Now if you have any weapons to register, you can—”

“I don’t.”

His words grind to a halt. “You…don’t?”

“No.” She blinks, fingers clenching painfully tight. “Is that…bad?”

“No, no.” He shakes his head, the warmth still radiating from his smile— but there’s a sharpness to it too. An edge an unwary finger could cut itself on. “That’s perfect.”

*

“Hey, Shinpachi! Sano!” Heisuke bolts like a dog let off his leash as they round the corner to the lobby. There’s more than a few people that stand head-and-shoulders above this crowd, but no-one besides Harada shines bright apple red under the light, hair so glossy and soft Chizuru wonders just what he uses for conditioner. “Look! I got this cool bracelet.”

His wrist thrusts out right under their noses, fluorescent green so close their eyes nearly cross just trying to look, but Shinpachi just pushes it out to a visible distance and grins. “Sweet, bro! Where do I get myself one of these babies?”

“Around the corner.” Heisuke puffs out his chest, free hand hooking onto his hip. “There’s a girl handing them out. Look, Chizuru’s got one too, and—”

“Do they really think I’m going wear that?” Souji doesn’t so much arrive as appear, gone one moment and holding her wrist the next, like the neighborhood cat that only winds itself around her ankles when she’s throwing out old chicken bones. One finger slips beneath the pink band, tugging like he hopes it’ll give. “I’d rather cut my wrist off.”

“If you’re not having fun,” Yamazaki sniffs, “you can just go home.”

Souji’s sneer hones to a point. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, nerd.”

Yamazaki’s jaw works, breath so heavy Chizuru’s half worried it might steam, but before he can manage to marshal anything beyond ‘you—’ Hajime replied, “Yes, the bracelet is required. It marks us out as participants in the event, as well as informs security at a glance that any weapons on our person have been registered and approved by the game masters.”

“Wow, really?” Shinpachi blinks, prodding at Heisuke’s band. “Is there some sort of chip in there or something? RFID or whatever?”

“Er, no.” Yamazaki scratches at the back of his neck. “It’s just the color. Green means he’s only got one registered.”

“Blue is two,” Hajime offers, flashing his own wrist. “As I wear both tachi and tanto.”

“Oh!” Chizuru blinks down at her pink band. “What about mine?”

“You do not possess any weaponry,” he tells her, tone taking a surprised lilt. “Either visible or concealed.”

“What?” Yamazaki catches her wrist up in one hand, long fingers feather-light across her pulse, and he blinks at the band like he’s never seen a red paler than fire engine. “You didn’t bring anything?”

“I…” hadn’t known that would be an option. “Is that bad?”

“Ah, no.” His eyes meet hers, pulling wide before his fingers flinch, both hands and gaze skittering away from her. “Just…unorthodox, maybe.”

“I just thought…Kaoru is a courtier.” She shies beneath a shrug, cheeks flushed. “That means that she would put more weight on her words rather than, er…”

Hajime nods. “A good character choice, Yukimura. One that may also have complicated consequences, depending on the sort of story the game masters would like to tell.”

“Oh.” Her throat squeezes, the first prickle of tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry.” A hand falls gently onto her shoulder, fingers tightening in the barest squeeze when she dares to glance up. Yamazaki may not be one for smiles either, but there’s a faint one clinging to the corners of his mouth now, both amused and— and something else. Fond, maybe. “You’re with us, Yukimura. Experienced players live for complications.”

It’s warm where his hand presses to her, even through her coat, and her tongue tangles trying to find the right word, to find the compromise between thank you and I’m sorry, but—

But Souji saunters right up between them, flicking the band at Yamazaki’s wrist. “Hey, if all these colors are supposed to have some meaning or whatever, what’s with the lame ass purple?”

Yamazaki snatches his hand off her shoulder, cradling it against his chest. “What if you just—?”

“It means that he keeps up to the event maximum,” Hajime informs him mildly. “Concealed.”

Harada frowns, considering the band. “And just how many is that?”

“Five.”

“Woah!” Shinpachi takes a half step back, Heisuke quick to follow suit. “That, uh….that’s pretty impressive. Do a, uh…lot of people do that, or…?”

“No, it’s special dispensation,” Hajime clarifies casually. “Only a handful of players ever display the responsibility and mastery of play to earn the right.”

“No way!” Heisuke suddenly no longer shrinks from but stretches toward Yamazaki, an eager grin tugging at his lips. “Dude, are you like, really cool?”

Souji sniffs. “Only if hell has frozen over.”

For once, Yamazaki doesn’t rise to his bait, merely shaking his head. “No, no. It’s really not that big a deal—”

“Uh-huh.” Harada crosses his arms, one corner of his mouth curling toward a smirk. “And just how many people have a band like yours?”

He hesitates— too long, since Hajime is quick to offer, “Three.”

Yamazaki flushes under the sudden spurt of attention turned his way. “Saito would have one too, if he wanted it! It’s just— shinobi carry knives!”

“Lots of ‘em, apparently,” Shinpachi mutters, impressed.

"That's not--!"

“Ah, hey, Chizuru…” Harada turns to her with a sheepish look, rubbing at the back of his neck. “You know, the bunch of us already checked in here, so uh, why don’t you guys go on up?”

“M-me?” She blinks, on hand resting against her chest. “B-but…”

It’s habit to turn to Yamazaki, to leave space for him to air his own thoughts, his own opinions drawn from forethought and experience, but—

But he’s too busy stumbling under the hand Shinpachi claps to his back, looking like he’d like the carpet to swallow him whole.

“Ah!” Her fingers squeeze tight. “Um, yes. Sure. I’ll…get on that.”

*

The line’s smaller than it was when they first arrived; no longer a crush of people and garment bags and boffers, but a more subdued queue. It’s in no way quick— it moves along, but there’s time to idle between their forays forward, Heisuke pressing Hajime about clans and combat and conspiracies while Yamazaki surreptitiously checks his phone. Never for long, just a click on and off of the screen, like he’s waiting for something, and—

“Next, please.”

“Yukimura,” Hajime intones, utterly serious. “It is your turn.”

She jolts up from her suitcase, eyeing the open desk. “O-oh! Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you all from—?”

“Next customer, please!” another clerk calls from further down as the cluster of people in front of her walk away, polite smile already tacked in place. “Please approach the desk when you’re ready to check in!”

“That’s us,” Yamazaki says, skirting his suitcase wide as he steps around her. “We’ll wait for you when you’re done.”

“Don’t look at me,” Heisuke says, even as she does. “I’m just here for the company. Sano and Shinpachi already handled my room.”

“A-alright.” Hand wrapped tight around her suitcase handle, she rolls forward, knees barely trembling. “H-hello. I have a reservation?”

The receptionist smiles down at her. “Can I have your name?”

“Chizuru Yukimura?” She rises onto her toes, neck craned to watch the woman key her name into their computer, as if that might somehow help her find it. “I should have a single—?”

“Single…? Oh, hm.” The receptionist sits back in her hips, stymied. “I’m actually seeing one of our queen suites?”

A chill races down her spine. “Ah, no, but I— it definitely was supposed to be a single.”

At least it was when she booked it; it was the only thing she could afford, even with the discount. And even then—

“Oh! I see.” A couple clacks across the keyboard brightens the receptionist’s smile by a couple of watts. “It seems you’ve been given a free upgrade to one of our deluxe suites!”

Nothing good comes for free, Father’s voice blares in her ear, they only want to hide a cost you would hesitate pay. Her stomach twists, cold seeping up her throat. “F-free? I don’t have to, er, sign up for anything, or…?”

The receptionist relaxes with clear relief. Chizuru wishes she could do the same. “Yes, completely for free, at no extra charge!”

It’s impossible to swallow past the lump in her throat. “W-why? Did I do something…?”

“It doesn’t say on the reservation.” Her shoulders offer up a scant shrug under her blazer. “We must have run out of single rooms.”

“But…” It’s worse this way, she wants to say, the words clawing in her throat. Because I didn’t earn it. “I…”

“Yukimura.” Yamazaki steps up beside her, furrowed brows already aimed over the counter. “Is everything all right?”

“A-ah, yes!” Chizuru drops her heels, shuffling back from the counter. “It was just…something with the room…?”

“Ms Yukimura received a free upgrade to her reservation,” the receptionist replies cheerily. “Give me one moment, I’ll activate your key.”

“Free upgrade?” He blinks down at her. “Is there something wrong, or—?”

“No!” It’s ridiculous how much of a scene she’s making— anyone else would have just received it with a smile, happy to have gotten the extra mile out of their money, but here she is, half faint, making a mountain out of a molehill. “It’s fine, really.”

The corners of his mouth bite deeper into his cheeks, unconvinced. “Are you sure? One of us could always—?”

“Here you go, ma’am— 1204.” The receptionist hands over a small envelope, two keys nestled inside. With one glance at Yamazaki, her smile slants, angle all-too knowing. “Enjoy your stay. Next customer, please?”

He frowns, knuckles blanching where they grip his bag. “Yukimura—”

“It’s fine!” Her teeth grit down in a smile. “Really, it is. Let’s just get settled in.”

*

The elevator doors ding in distress as Harada wraps his whole hand around one side of them, refusing to let them slide shut. “Are you sure you don’t want one of us to come with you? It’s not that far out of the way.”

It’s four floors at least— her twelve to their eight— and with how the halls stretch across this landing, the lobby central to the rest of the rooms, it’s impossible to say how far of a hike. “No no, it’s fine. I can handle finding it myself.”

“We’re not worried about your sense of direction, Chizu.” Shinpachi crosses his arms over his chest, forbidding. “But what if someone gets weird with you while you’re wandering around up there?”

“Of course that’s your problem with all this,” Souji snorts, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Chizuru gets an upgrade and suddenly you’re all acting like there’s lions trying to split the lame gazelle from the herd. What’s the problem, think someone’s going to make eyes at her getting ice if she doesn’t have at least three of you to scare ‘em off?”

“This is serious,” Shinpachi spits. “There’s a lot of people in this place right now—”

“A serious waste of my time.” With a desultory wave of his fingers, Souji stalks off down the hall, calling over his shoulder, “Chizuru’s already said she’s fine. Call me when it’s time to eat.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Harada hums, his too-kind eyes looming over her. “If you don’t feel comfortable, it’s fine for one of us to—”

“No, I’m okay, really.” Chizuru lets her mouth pull wide, hoping her smile is more confident than she is. “You guys need to get your stuff settled. We can meet up later for dinner.”

Harada hesitates, struggling against another distressed ding. “I don’t know…”

“You have your phone, don’t you?” Yamazaki drags his glare from Souji’s back to where she stands, softening. “You’ll call if you need to?”

“Ah, yes!” It takes a moment to fish her phone from her bag, opening and closing zippers as Harada slowly, by inches, loses his struggle against the doors. “Right here!”

She waves it, lock screen bright in the car, and Harada loosens his grip. “As long as you’re sure…”

“I’m sure.” The words echo behind closed doors, her stomach rolling as the elevator lurches upward. She glances down at her screen, just in time to see it flash 20% at the corner before going black. “I think.”

*

It’s the toots that startle her as she creeps down the hall, suitcase wheels rattling across the close-textured carpet, the loudest noise she’s heard since the elevator doors closed behind her. Her grip tightens around her garment bag, weight shifting back on her heels, ready to turn tail and run, but—

But it’s her. The tooting, that is. Or rather, her phone. Embarrassing how long it takes her to think of it, really, but she does, slipping it right out of the pocket she’d tucked it into. 15% it reads now, but that’s not what draws her attention, not when there’s a notification with Sen’s smiling face beaming beside it. did you make it?

The breath rushes from her lungs, half-sigh, half-laugh. Two steps away. Thanks for asking.

It takes an improbable amount of minutes to manage those two-steps, however. Maybe Harada could have made it in one— or Shinpachi, even— baggage all happily come to heel, card in hand, but Chizuru has to trip over hers first, juggling garment bag and suitcase and half-unzipped travel pack until she realizes she can just put her phone away to free up that critical hand. Even still, there’s rustling and shuffling to trade one flat slip of plastic for another, the envelope half bobbling out of her hands before she manages to prise one of those little cards free.

And then, with a wave of her hand— well, a couple of waves, trying to figure out just how to place the card before she just presses it to the pad at the handle— she’s in. Except—

Except it’s not a bedroom. No, it’s a small living area, couch and TV and a half-wall of a kitchenette, a few chairs scattered around. Chizuru toes off her shoes, parking her suitcase neatly beside them, and peers into the next nearest door— bathroom, the glass enclosed shower tucked into one corner and a huge tub beside it, big enough to fit at least three of her inside without touching. She pads her way across, tiles cold even through her socks, and opens the other door, leading out into—

The bedroom, finally. The queen suite with what has to be the largest queen she’s ever seen.

Her fingers fumble her phone from its pocket, flicking past the lock screen straight to the camera—

Only for, anyone swallow their tongues yet?🤭 to flash right across the top of the screen.

There’s no costumes tonight, only a dinner! Tomorrow will be our first opportunity to be in character Though I don’t think anyone will be swallowing their tongues when I’m dressed as a boy 😅

Chizuru clicks back through to the camera, tapping the screen to focus, but—

“Are those leaves?” She blinks, first at the screen, and then, as she lowers it, the bed covers. Which, as she suspected, is littered with…some sort of nature. She steps close, pinching one velvety piece of detritus between her fingers and murmurs, “Petals?”

Well, she can’t have that.

boo have some confidence!!! you look super cute in that jinbei i bet *someone’s* heart will flutter at the very least

Her neck swivels, this way and that, trying to find someplace— anyplace— where it’s safe to put down her phone, hopefully close to hand, and— ah, there it is, the bedside table. She sets it down, turning back to the bed with a shake of her head. To think, in a hotel as nice as this one, they had just let someone track in half the outside with them.

It takes her a moment to find the trash can hidden beneath the table, but after that, it’s just a matter of goading all the plant stuff off the cover and into it. A bit more work than she thought she’d be putting into settling it, but it’s worth it to have a clean place to sit when Sen asks, is your room nice?

Very!!! I reserved a single, but it seems they had run out of them, so they gave me a free upgrade 😱 The room’s huge! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bed this big!

With a proud grin tugging at her lips, Chizuru takes a quick picture of her newly cleaned covers and sends it off.

omg LOOK at that 😱😱 a real princess bed for hime-sama

Ah, she hadn’t thought of that. Her heels hook around the bed frame, knees cradled up against her chest, and— and Yamazaki might find that funny too, wouldn’t he? Hime-sama having her own palatial accommodations. It’s nothing to flick open his thread and attach the picture, thumb hovering over send—

the only question is who is going to warm hime-sama’s bed 😏

Heat floods her cheeks. What do you mean?

i hear what happens in feudal japan stays in feudal japan you have any idea who you’d like to share with 😏😏😏

I thought princesses didn’t have to share beds

😩 you’re killing me

It’s not new, being teased like this— about this even, not when she lives in a house with six men and a solid half of them only begrudgingly allow themselves to be clothed. But Sen won’t be placated with a blush and stuttered denial— no, once she gets a whiff of romance, she doesn’t know how to give up until she’s got it clenched between her teeth. And unless she wants to pick out one of the guys as her, er, target, well…

It’s funny though! When I got here there was stuff all over the bed

Distraction is the only way out.

stuff?? like…fluids??? gross 🤮 pls tell me you called housekeeping

No, no fluids thankfully! Just some leaf stuff I handled it myself! It took me a while, but I finally got all those little petals off 💪

leaf stuff? petals??

A knock startles her, enough that she finally sees 8% hovering in the corner, her screen flicking over into power saver mode.

“One minute!” she calls out, rummaging through her bag until her fingers catch on the charger cord, tugging it out—

And half of her travel bag. The knock comes again, no more insistent, but Chizuru’s sure it sounds impatient.

“Ah, just another minute, I just have to”— miss the outlet at least twice before she gets it seated— “do this—”

Her screen lights up, the charging icon taking the place of the percentage, and it immediately toots with, where are you staying again?

She has just enough time to dash off, Satsuma Estates, before the knock comes again, and she yelps, “Coming!”

She hurries over, nearly tripping on the corner of her suitcase, but she gets the door open.

“Good evening, Chizuru,” Hajime says, once she does. “It’s time for dinner.”

[lacefuneral]

girl, packers are so overwhelming.

i've been doing a ton of research and looking at different websites and comparing shapes and sizes and materials and and and and and

and the thing is like. it's not choice paralysis. i know EXACTLY what type of packer i would want. but it doesn't exist

i'm not going to explain what i'm looking for bc that's like. personal.

but it's like. c'mon, man.

like i'm looking at a brand and considering it but it's way out of my price point AND according to every single review i read it tears. and despite being made out of silicone the actual mold is like. full of holes and grooves and definitely is not refined enough

so it's like. why waste my money on something that i know is sub-par and will break

but also they do custom paint jobs. but also the size and shape seems okay

sigh. i think realistically i will just. not get a packer

[tradingmysorrows]

Ma revue littéraire que personne n'a demandé :

Notes On An Execution par Danya Kukafka

"It does not matter how Ansel felt. His pain is irrelevant, beyond the horizon of her consideration. It does not matter why he killed those girls, or [spoiler]. [spoiler] believes that a person can be evil, and nothing more. There are millions of men out there who want to hurt women—people seem to think that Ansel Packer is extraordinary, because he actually did."

"Notes on an Execution" présente une analyse captivante du genre du true crime, et du système corrompu. La narration de Kukafka met habilement en lumière les femmes dont les vies sont à jamais bouleversées par la violence et la tragédie, donnant voix aux victimes souvent négligées qui se trouvent dans l'ombre des aspects plus sensationnels de ces histoires. Dans une déconstruction brillante, l'auteure démystifie le mythe du tueur en série supra intelligent, révélant que ces individus sont en réalité ordinaires, peu remarquables et médiocres.

Dès la première page, j'ai été captivé par l'exploration par Kukafka de ces thèmes importants. Sa capacité à donner vie aux luttes, aux désirs et aux vulnérabilités des personnages m'a plongé dans leur monde et m'a tenu en haleine jusqu'au tout dernier mot.

[christophe76460]

LE CŒUR DE L'ÉVANGILE

"Nous avons tous entendu l'Évangile présenté comme la réponse triomphale de Dieu aux problèmes humains – problèmes de notre relation avec nous-mêmes, nos semblables et notre environnement. Certes, l'Évangile nous apporte des solutions à ces problèmes, mais il le fait en résolvant d'abord un problème plus profond – le plus profond de tous les problèmes humains, celui de la relation de l'homme avec son Créateur.

Et si nous ne précisons pas clairement que la solution de ces premiers problèmes dépend de la résolution de ce dernier, nous déformons le message et devenons de faux témoins de Dieu. […]

Aucun lecteur du Nouveau Testament ne peut ignorer qu'il connaît tous nos problèmes humains – la peur, la lâcheté morale, les maladies du corps et de l'esprit, la solitude, l'insécurité, le désespoir, la cruauté, l'abus de pouvoir, etc. – mais aucun lecteur du Nouveau Testament ne peut ignorer qu'il résout tous ces problèmes, d'une manière ou d'une autre, en un problème fondamental : le péché contre Dieu.

Par péché, le Nouveau Testament n'entend pas en premier lieu l'erreur sociale ou l'échec, mais la rébellion, le défi, le recul et la culpabilité qui en résulte devant Dieu le Créateur ; et le péché, dit le Nouveau Testament, est le mal fondamental dont nous avons besoin d'être délivrés, et pour lequel Christ est mort pour nous sauver."

JI Packer, « Le cœur de l'Évangile », dans Connaître Dieu.

[p0984756]

Shreeram Packers Prayagraj (Allahabad) me trusted aur reliable car carrier service provide karte hain. Agar aap apni car ko ek city se doosri jagah safely shift karna chahte hain, to Shreeram Packers ki team aapko secure, timely aur professional service deti hai. Yeh company specially designed car carrier trucks ka use karti hai jo aapki car ko damage-free delivery ke liye protect karte hain.

Unka trained staff car ki proper loading & unloading karta hai, aur transit ke dauraan car ka full safety ka dhyan rakha jata hai. Prayagraj ke andar ya long distance (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc.) car shifting ke liye yeh ek trusted naam hai. Aapki car chhoti ho ya SUV, har type ke vehicle ke liye customized solution milta hai.

Company ka aim hai ki customer ki car time par, safe aur scratch-free destination tak pahunch jaye. Car relocation ke saath aapko insurance coverage, tracking facility aur affordable rates bhi milte hain. Shreeram Packers Prayagraj me car shifting ke liye ek accha option hai jo quality aur professionalism dono maintain karta hai.

[atplblog]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] The Z f inherits the iconic Nikon FM2 design you’ve seen before, but comes packed with features you haven’t. A new dedicated monochrome selector accentuates the beauty of black and white photography. Shoot multiple NEF (RAW) files with Pixel-shift for reduced noise and enhanced image quality, and video performance on par with the Z 9. Superior VR performance. Creative Picture Control for creative colours, tonality and clarity. The first vari-angle monitor in full-frame/FX-format series and the first touchFN camera in the Z Series for your operability needs. A new era of possibilities. Batteries ‏ : ‎ 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15 x 15 x 10 cm; 750 g Date First Available ‏ : ‎ 10 October 2023 Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ NIKON ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKW2356F Item model number ‏ : ‎ VOA120AN Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Japan Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ NIKON, NIKON Packer ‏ : ‎ NIKON Importer ‏ : ‎ NIKON INDIA Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 750 g Item Dimensions LxWxH ‏ : ‎ 15 x 15 x 10 Centimeters Net Quantity ‏ : ‎ 1 Piece Included Components ‏ : ‎ Camera Body Only Generic Name ‏ : ‎ DSLR CAMERA Timeless elegance. Modern performance. Timeless design. Immerse in the world of monochrome. Experience breath-taking video footage in any lighting condition with H.265 10-bit and N-Log/HLG recording. Shoot cinematic 4K UHD/60p up to 125 minutes1. Skin Softening and Portrait impression balance. [ad_2]

[teemoonley]

If This Flag Offends You It’s Because Your Team Sucks T-Shirt

Show your Green Bay Packers pride with a little attitude in the If This Flag Offends You It’s Because Your Team Sucks Shirt! Featuring the iconic Packers logo paired with the cheeky slogan, this shirt is designed for fans who aren’t afraid to defend their team. Whether you're tailgating, watching the game at home, or hitting the stadium, this shirt is a fun and bold way to represent your love for the Packers.

Made from premium, soft cotton, it offers both comfort and durability, perfect for game day or casual wear. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, it ensures a perfect fit for every fan. This is not just a shirt; it’s a statement to rival teams—if they can’t handle the Packers, maybe their team just isn’t up to par. Grab your If This Flag Offends You It’s Because Your Team Sucks Shirt today and wear your Packers pride with confidence!

[saltypeanutnerd]

Unités de réparation de puits hydrauliques, Prévisions de la Taille du Marché Mondial, Classement et Part de Marché des 13 Premières Entreprises

Selon le nouveau rapport d'étude de marché “Rapport sur le marché mondial de Unités de réparation de puits hydrauliques 2024-2030”, publié par QYResearch, la taille du marché mondial de Unités de réparation de puits hydrauliques devrait atteindre 2228 millions de dollars d'ici 2030, à un TCAC de 4.9% au cours de la période de prévision.

Figure 1. Taille du marché mondial de Unités de réparation de puits hydrauliques (en millions de dollars américains), 2019-2030

Selon QYResearch, les principaux fabricants mondiaux de Unités de réparation de puits hydrauliques comprennent ABB, Siemens, NGK SPARK PLUG (Niterra), Honeywell, Amphenol, Emerson Electric, 3M, DENSO Auto Parts, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, BorgWarner, etc. En 2023, les cinq premiers acteurs mondiaux détenaient une part d'environ 62.0% en termes de chiffre d'affaires.

Figure 2. Classement et part de marché des 13 premiers acteurs mondiaux de Unités de réparation de puits hydrauliques (Le classement est basé sur le chiffre d'affaires de 2023, continuellement mis à jour)

The Hydraulic Workover Units (HWUs) market experiences growth due to several influential factors, reflecting the evolving needs of the oil and gas industry. Key drivers include:

: As global energy demand rises, exploration and production activities in both conventional and unconventional oil and gas fields are expanding. HWUs play a crucial role in these operations by facilitating workovers, completions, and interventions, which are necessary to maintain or enhance well productivity.

: Compared to conventional rig-based workover operations, HWUs offer a more efficient and cost-effective solution. They can perform tasks such as tubing/packer changeouts, stimulation, and repairs with minimal downtime, reducing overall operational expenses.

: The growth in shale gas and tight oil production has significantly increased the demand for hydraulic workover units. These resources require frequent stimulation and maintenance, making HWUs indispensable for their extraction processes.

: Offshore oil and gas fields pose unique challenges due to their remote locations and harsh environments. HWUs, with their compact size and mobility, are well-suited for offshore applications where space is limited and quick response times are critical.

: Technological advancements in HWUs, such as improved hydraulic systems, remote operation capabilities, and enhanced safety features, have increased their efficiency and operational flexibility, further driving market demand.

: With the focus on maximizing the output from existing wells, workover operations are becoming more frequent. HWUs enable operators to conduct interventions that extend well life and enhance recovery rates, making them a strategic investment.

: Stricter environmental regulations are pushing the industry towards less intrusive and more environmentally friendly methods of operation. HWUs, with their targeted and controlled intervention capabilities, align with these requirements.

: Many mature oilfields require retrofitting and upgrading to maintain production levels. HWUs are ideal for conducting such operations, including slot recovery, sand cleanouts, and installation of artificial lift systems.

: HWUs offer a wide range of applications beyond workovers, including well testing, coiled tubing operations, and snubbing services, making them a versatile asset for oilfield service companies.

: While the world transitions towards renewable energy sources, oil and gas companies are focusing on optimizing their existing assets to ensure profitability during the transition period. HWUs support these efforts by maintaining and enhancing well productivity.

These market drivers indicate a robust outlook for the Hydraulic Workover Units market, as they continue to be an essential tool in maintaining and enhancing oil and gas production efficiency in the face of complex operational challenges and evolving industry dynamics.

À propos de QYResearch

QYResearch a été fondée en 2007 en Californie aux États-Unis. C'est une société de conseil et d'étude de marché de premier plan à l'échelle mondiale. Avec plus de 17 ans d'expérience et une équipe de recherche professionnelle dans différentes villes du monde, QYResearch se concentre sur le conseil en gestion, les services de base de données et de séminaires, le conseil en IPO, la recherche de la chaîne industrielle et la recherche personnalisée. Nous société a pour objectif d’aider nos clients à réussir en leur fournissant un modèle de revenus non linéaire. Nous sommes mondialement reconnus pour notre vaste portefeuille de services, notre bonne citoyenneté d'entreprise et notre fort engagement envers la durabilité. Jusqu'à présent, nous avons coopéré avec plus de 60 000 clients sur les cinq continents. Coopérons et bâtissons ensemble un avenir prometteur et meilleur.

QYResearch est une société de conseil de grande envergure de renommée mondiale. Elle couvre divers segments de marché de la chaîne industrielle de haute technologie, notamment la chaîne industrielle des semi-conducteurs (équipements et pièces de semi-conducteurs, matériaux semi-conducteurs, circuits intégrés, fonderie, emballage et test, dispositifs discrets, capteurs, dispositifs optoélectroniques), la chaîne industrielle photovoltaïque (équipements, cellules, modules, supports de matériaux auxiliaires, onduleurs, terminaux de centrales électriques), la chaîne industrielle des véhicules électriques à énergie nouvelle (batteries et matériaux, pièces automobiles, batteries, moteurs, commande électronique, semi-conducteurs automobiles, etc.), la chaîne industrielle des communications (équipements de système de communication, équipements terminaux, composants électroniques, frontaux RF, modules optiques, 4G/5G/6G, large bande, IoT, économie numérique, IA), la chaîne industrielle des matériaux avancés (matériaux métalliques, polymères, céramiques, nano matériaux, etc.), la chaîne industrielle de fabrication de machines (machines-outils CNC, machines de construction, machines électriques, automatisation 3C, robots industriels, lasers, contrôle industriel, drones), l'alimentation, les boissons et les produits pharmaceutiques, l'équipement médical, l'agriculture, etc.

[yes-bernie-stuff]

Samedi 6 juillet 2024 Connaître Dieu, est-ce possible ?

“Que le nom de Dieu soit béni, depuis toujours et à jamais ! Car la sagesse et la puissance Lui appartiennent…” Dn 2. 20

On peut connaître beaucoup de choses sur Dieu, sans pour autant Le connaître, de la même façon que l’on peut découvrir beaucoup de détails sur la vie d’un chanteur comme Francis Cabrel en tapant son nom sur Google, sans pourtant le connaître ou l’avoir jamais rencontré. Les prières de Daniel nous donnent un aperçu de quelqu’un qui connaissait Dieu et entretenait des relations étroites avec Lui. Ecoutez : “Ah ! Seigneur, Toi, le Dieu grand et redoutable qui garde l’alliance et la fidélité envers ceux qui L’aiment et gardent Ses commandements ! …. A Toi, Seigneur, la justice… Au Seigneur notre Dieu appartiennent la miséricorde et le pardon… le Seigneur notre Dieu est juste dans toutes les œuvres qu’Il a faites…” (Dn 9. 4,7,9,14). James Packer nous pose la question : “nos prières expriment-elles une telle conception de Dieu ? Cette même conscience extraordinaire de Sa sainte majesté, de Ses perfections morales, de sa fidélité miséricordieuse nous garde-t-elle dans l’humilité et la dépendance, dans la crainte et l’obéissance, comme c’était le cas pour Daniel ?” Voyez-vous Dieu seulement comme le Dieu d’amour, facile d’accès, prêt à répondre à nos prières même si elles sont parfois un peu égoïstes, en oubliant qu’Il est aussi et surtout un Dieu majestueux, le Créateur des Cieux et de la terre, un Dieu jaloux de Son nom, à qui appartiennent la sagesse et la toute puissance ? Une fois passé l’exaltation de la nouvelle naissance et l’émotion de se savoir sauvé par grâce, Dieu s’attend à ce que nous cherchions à toujours mieux Le connaître, et pour cela la lecture et la méditation de Sa Parole sont irremplaçables et pas seulement 5 minutes à la sauvette chaque jour. Les applications qui vous envoient sur votre téléphone un verset par jour pour vous encourager ne suffiront jamais à vous faire connaître Dieu tel qu’Il est vraiment. Apprendre à connaître Dieu est un engagement de longue haleine et un engagement de profondeur.

[the-whispers-of-death]

forever and always toying with a transmasc sylvester. i gave him top surgery scars on pure accident in that drawing but now im like. yeah. i see it. no bottom surgery tho, this guy likes changing dick sizes on a whim via packers ((or straps))

also i dont know if i mentioned it anywhere but katie is mtf. she looked at me in the eyes last week and said "if you dont make me transfem im killing you" and i just had to be like "you got it girlie"

theres also dominic and elias who are both transmasc, but everyone else is cis. noones yelling at me about their gender yet.... if it werent for elizabeth who just fucking told me they're a demigirl and like she/they pronouns. literally as im typing this. ma'am why. why NOW.

~ rusty

Sometimes OCs decide their gender at the most random of times.

Simba told me he was trans as I was writing his basic info post. Cerberus still makes me question if he's cis or not.

I'm starting to think this par for the course.

[bode-leone]

using a par of socks as a packer because my legit one didnt make it to australia in time is so insane like wow that's a BULGE 😳