#agile messenger

[opendirectories]

[kidspawn]

THE BIRDS MOTIFS!

AFTG - Bird mafia (Ravens)

TRC - Ravens (Chainsaw is the best mascot)

Haikyuu - Crows

SOC - Crows

CORVIDS! (Little too excited about this but I do love corvids)

CORVIDS! NO YOU ARE NOT TOO EXCITED!! I LOVE CORVIDS! I AM ALL ABOUT CORVIDS!

(I keep nuts in my bag and I feed the crows by my apartment like.... once a day minimum, and they follow me everywhere and it's the sweetest little thing. When they see me and they get all excited when I shake my backpack and it's sorhefj I love corvids so so so much.)

Corvids, especially crows and ravens, being incredibly devoted and protecting those who gave them kindness and comfort. And the way they mate for life, and they form packs and bonds. And when you're with them you're with them for life. They remember your face, the little mannerisms that form you I just rtgejfds I love corvids so so so much. I love found families with bird motifs, especially corvid motifs.

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Goals (healthy edition):

Get my forearms to stop feeling like they’re going to give way at any moment so I can stilt walk like a madman without straining my tendons a second time

Standing back bend (and exorcist crawl)

Be comfortable riding in fifth gear for an extended period of time on my bike so I can go ~fast~ on my very much not-aerodynamic beach cruiser with panniers so I can scare the shit out of people in cars by keeping pace with them

Even out left and right sides of body so I am strong everywhere

Practice quadrobics more

Start jogging

[travismartiinez]

YELLOWJACKETS + ANIMALS

SHAUNA - WOLF

The Wolf is a powerful creature with its unwavering ferocity and long fangs, known to represent sharp intelligence, dominance, resilience, and even isolation. When alone, it is sometimes used to symbolize a lack of trust or deception. 

It is also known to symbolize determination, an appetite for freedom, greed, a reliance on instinct, and feeling threatened. As a pack animal, the Wolf understands the importance of social connections and power. 

TAI - COUGAR

While quiet on its feet, the Cougar is an extremely fierce creature capable of standing alone and it often represents leadership, primal power, responsibility, and confidence. It is also known to symbolize standing behind convictions and living without guilt. 

The Cougar has been regarded as a messenger between humans and the divine, with connections to the spirit world. This, along with its solitary nature, makes the Cougar an enigmatic animal though its strength is unquestionable. 

JACKIE - FIREFLY

The Firefly is small and does not pose a threat, but its beauty captivates those lucky enough to witness it. With its light, the Firefly represents guidance in the dark, hope, and the transience of life. 

The Firefly is often associated with the souls of those who have died. 

MISTY - RACCOON

While the Raccoon is small, it is an incredibly capable creature due to its dexterity and thus it often symbolizes resourcefulness, elusiveness, curiosity, and mischief. It is also known to represent the ability to be innovative in challenging situations. 

The Raccoon is sometimes considered deceitful and secretive due to its masked appearance and suspicious behavior. However, this may also symbolize the need to uncover the hidden truth and explore mysteries. 

NAT - DEER

The Deer is a swift and agile creature, known for its gentle nature. It often represents sensitivity, empathy, vulnerability, and compassion for others. It symbolizes sharp instincts, love, timidity, and perception as well. 

It is also a symbol for the Hunt. The Deer is prey to many predators in the wilderness and has been used to represent a nomadic lifestyle as it must always be on the move. 

LOTTIE - BEAR

With its shaggy fur and formidable strength, the Bear commonly symbolizes untamed wildness and the primal nature within oneself. It also represents protection, territoriality, courage, fear, and power.

The Bear has also been seen as a symbol of spirituality, teaching, healing, and even rebirth. As such a powerful force of nature, it is linked to intuition and the ability to see beyond the surface level of the world around us.

VAN - MOOSE

The Moose is a large and imposing creature, with mighty antlers that symbolize spiritual illumination and intuition. It is known to stand its ground, and naturally commands respect as it strides through the wilderness. 

It also represents authenticity, stubbornness, confidence, and isolation as a result of self-reliance. The Moose has been regarded as incredibly wise, symbolizing the ability to share knowledge. 

BEN - GROUNDHOG

Despite its gentle nature, the Groundhog is a creature capable of withstanding extremely harsh conditions and thus often symbolizes resilience and practicality. The Groundhog is also a symbol of resistance to change, stubbornness, and isolation. 

It represents introspection, as well as the ability to retreat and reflect as the Groundhog hibernates through the brutal cold of winter. 

TRAVIS - ELK

The Elk, with its large antlers, is often seen as a symbol of masculinity and strength, as well as guardianship. It protects the herd when needed and represents bravery, strength, as well as resilience. 

Beyond its physical prowess, the Elk also symbolizes elements such spiritual awakenings, dreams, love and a strong connection with nature. 

AKILAH - MOUNTAIN GOAT

While not large or ferocious, the Mountain Goat possesses unyielding strength and determination thus it is often a symbol of balance. It represents exploration, stubbornness, the ability to navigate challenges, ambition, and grace. 

The Mountain Goat has also been regarded as a connection to the divine, with the ability to deliver messages. In addition, it is deeply connected to the wilderness and the unknown within as well. 

LAURA LEE - DOVE

The Dove glides gracefully through the forest and appears as a symbol of peace and faith. Its soft and beautiful nature represents positivity, spiritual growth, and finding harmony amongst the chaos. 

In addition, the Dove symbolizes freedom to connect with spirituality especially in regard to its ties to Christianity. 

MARI - WOLVERINE

Though it is not very large, the Wolverine is undoubtedly fearless and capable of being very fierce. Thus, it often symbolizes strength, voracity, and an ability to standing ones’ ground even against larger opponents. 

The Wolverine is capable of holding its own in conflict with other predators, such as wolves or bears, due to its cunning nature. It has been linked to mischief and spirituality. 

JAVI - FAWN

The Fawn, as a young Deer, is extremely vulnerable within the wilderness. It represents youth, innocence, and defenselessness. 

Because of its vulnerability, the Fawn can also symbolize fear and timidness. 

GEN - SKUNK

Due to its distinctive spray, the Skunk is often regarded as repulsive in its effort to defend itself against larger predators. It may even symbolize over-reliance on defensive tactics and hostility. 

CRYSTAL - MOCKINGBIRD

The Mockingbird, with its ability to mimic other animals with its songs, is often used to symbolize innocence, playfulness, and communication. The killing of the Mockingbird is often seen as a horrific act due to their gentleness. 

MELISSA - POSSUM

Because of its ability to play dead, the Possum is a very capable creature. It is often used to symbolize strategy, adaptability, and awareness. 

[aggresivemenace]

MAGNUS AND HIS FELINID!GF

Anyway, Magnus will ADORE the Felinid!Reader.

Prosperian culture is very cat-friendly, those old terrestrial creatures are symbols of good fortune and prosperity (no pun intended)

Even though no one had seen a living cat for many millennia, they were loved on this blooming planet.

Originally, it was Fulgrim's idea to take Felinids into his service. These abhumans, unlike beastmen and Ogryns, were in no way inferior to ordinary humans, in fact, they surpassed them in agility and dexterity. Because of this, Fulgrim did not share the disdain that some others had for them.

Oh, how he enjoyed seeing you and your kin by his side, bringing him wine, assisting with his garments, fastening the armor adorned with intricate patterns. Your eyes, the charming twitch of your ears, and the beautiful, diverse markings on your sleek, glossy fur delighted the heart of Fulgrim, ever in pursuit of exotic beauty.

When Fulgrim saw a cat on Magnus' robe, he asked how he felt about Felinids. To the Phoenician's surprise, his brother shook his head and admitted that he didn’t know who they were. Without hesitation, Fulgrim assured him that he would like them and almost immediately promised to gift him a quarter of his fluffy servants.

Magnus was absolutely delighted when he saw you. He warmly thanked his brother, while Fulgrim simply smiled and said that they were some of the finest servants - neat, excellently trained, and far from unintelligent.

Magnus treated you well. He spoke with all of you, showing interest in your lives before serving the Primarchs, listening attentively, and sharing his own thoughts. He told you how, in his youth, he had wondered what it would be like to have a pet cat and even asked if you caught mice. There's no mice on Prospero btw.

You quickly became his favorite. He was captivated by your slightly shy yet playful nature. He allowed you to sleep in his chambers, curling up at his feet. When he read one of his books or worked, he let you jump onto his lap and doze off, only to find himself unable to move, unwilling to disturb your sleep.

He was fascinated by how you could raise all your fur in cold weather and how your vertical pupils shifted in size when something caught your interest.

After his frequent Warp manipulations, he often suffered from severe headaches, migraines that no medicine could ease. That was until you offered to purr for him. The moment you lay on his chest, emitting that gentle, resonant sound from deep within your throat, your body vibrating ever so slightly, all of Magnus' pain disappeared within minutes. He stroked your soft fur, sometimes brushing it to help you shed.

Ah, how Magnus loves cats.

And later, he would learn that cats had always been associated with mysticism and that in the culture of Ancient Egypt, closely tied to that of Prospero, they were seen as messengers of the gods and guides to other worlds. As it would turn out, in the Warp as well.

[imimprisoned]

Hermes: Messenger of the Gods, God of Boundaries, Roads, Travelers, Merchants, Thieves, Athletes, Shepards, Commerce, Speed, Cunning, Language, Oratory, and Wit.

Offerings include:

1. foreign foods

2. souvenirs/objects from trips

3. white or red wine

4. stuff you like from other cultures

5. silver objects

6. statues/depictions of Him

7. honey

8. written stories, letters or messages

9. postcards

10. crystals/gemstones like amethyst, quartz, smokey quartz, orange topaz

11. olive oil

12. incense scents like frankincense, lavender or myrrh

13. maps

14. flowers like crocus, hydrangea or chrysanthemum

15. coins or money

16. zodiac or astrology related items

17. turtle-shaped objects

18. caduceus

19. petasos (winged helmet)

20. talaria (winged sandals)

21. naturally shed feathers

22. strawberries

23. depictions/imagery of cattle, turtles, rams, hawks, hares, roster, guard dogs, snakes

24. silver/yellow/light blue/purple candles

Prayers to Hermes:

Swift Hermes, provider of fair fortune, who travels freely among the worlds.

In pennies found, in laughter and delight, in messages trifling and essential, in unexpected twists of our life's plan, with these you touch us, genial son of Zeus.

Hermes, guide of souls, light-hearted one, swift as thought; you know the depth of impulse, quick-witted god of those who live by luck.

We thank you for the path unworn, for cleverness, for gifts unearned, for change unbidden.

Excellent Hermes, we praise and honor you.

2. Keen-minded Hermes, light fingered one, light footed one, quick and cunning, bright and merry, ever watchful, ever agile, ever sharp of wit. The wings at your feet carry you to any landing-place, in any realm; wearing the cap of Aidoneus, you tarry, unseen by mortal men. Wielder of the golden sword, player on the shepherds pipe, god of herdsmen, god of thieves, god of cities and of pastures, rustic and urbane, you walk the line between contradictions. Hermes of the borderland, Hermes of the threshold, god of the uncertain, consistent and contrary, you stand in the doorway, you stand at the edge; the knife-sharp boundary between two worlds is yours.

Hermes, child of rich-tressed Maia and thundering Zeus, Ithank you for your many gifts, I praise your might.

3. Hermes of the ready wit and the lightning smile, Wing-footed one who carries the words of the gods,

Compassionate one who guides the newly-dead to the hall of Hades and fair Persephone, Quick-thinking one who takes interest in the world and works of mankind, whose hand we see in a run of luck and a clever scheme, I call to vou.

Hermes, bearer of the herald's staff, your gifts

are great.

You guard our homes with constancy and care,

You grant to us a portion of your own craft and wile,

You join with us when we revel and are merry, You stand with us when we are far from home, alone.

You are ever with us, O Hermes;

He who holds in hand the good of men, I honor you

4. Swift Hermes,

Provider of fair fortune.

He who guides travellers,

He who treasures wit and humor, I reach out to you.

Grant me peace,

Grant me protection, And I shall give you My devotion.

5. May Hermes bless you with safe travels, and protect you from theives.

[dioslesbianwife]

Idk if you were asked something similar before, but I was thinking if the villains had to pick an animal to be or have as a fursona, which would they choose and why. You can also include your own opinions on what they’d be as opposed to what they’d choose if you like!

ooh sure that's an interesting idea- thank you for requesting <3333

Dio

What he’d choose: A lion.

Regal. Dominant. Has a mane. Roars loud. Sleeps 20 hours a day while others hunt for him. Checks all the boxes.

What he really is: A peacock.

Flashy. Vain. Intimidating from afar, but absolutely useless in actual functionality. 99% feather, 1% bite. Screams loudly for attention.

Kars

What he’d choose: A black panther.

Sleek. Graceful. Predatory. Deadly. Smart. Has a flair for style. He’d be like, “I am the apex predator. Bow.”

What he really is: A cat with a superiority complex. Like a Himalayan that sits on a throne of silk pillows and claws you when you blink wrong.

Wamuu

What he’d choose: A wolf.

Loyal. Fierce. Strong sense of honor. Fights for the pack. Big dramatic howl energy.

What he really is: A very good dog- like an Akita or German Shepherd.

Protective. Stoic. Dies for his master with no hesitation. Sleeps curled up like a cinnamon roll.

Esidisi

What he’d choose: A tiger.

Flashy, strong, emotional, big claws, hot-blooded- he’d absolutely want to be a tiger.

What he really is: A chihuahua.

Screams. Shakes. Has zero chill. Will literally bite someone’s ankle and start crying about it five minutes later.

Santana

What he’d choose: A snake.

Silent. Observant. Fluid movement. Definitely thinks he’s cool and mysterious.

What he really is: A lizard that basks under a heat lamp and doesn’t move for six hours.

Just chilling in the background like “hm.” Would do great in a terrarium.

Yoshikage Kira

What he’d choose: A cat. Obviously.

Clean. Private. Elegant. Sleeps a lot. Hates loud people. Will murder someone for touching his things.

What he really is: Also a cat.

But like... a housecat that will lick his paws, knock a cup off the table, and go right back to grooming. Doesn’t care if you live or die.

Diavolo

What he’d choose: A red dragon.

He wants to be majestic, terrifying, untouchable. Full RPG final boss mode.

What he really is: A housecat trapped in a closet having an existential crisis.

Hisses at his own reflection. Paces for 20 minutes. Screams. No one can find him half the day.

Doppio

What he’d choose: Some sort of dog. He can’t decide which.

Loyal and wants to protect and serve his boss.

What he really is: A bunny, but like, one that bites unexpectedly and you have to be careful how you pet it.

Soft and precious but very chaotic.

Pucci

What he’d choose: A white dove.

Symbol of peace, holiness, purity. Definitely wants to be seen as a messenger of God.

What he really is: A raven.

Elegant. Steals shiny objects and hides them in his evil bird lair.

Funny Valentine

What he’d choose: A bald eagle.

Patriotic screech. He’s not even pretending to be subtle. It’s the national bird or nothing.

What he really is: A fancy angora rabbit.

Fluffy. Looks dignified. Can be held, but bites viciously if it doesn’t want to be touched. Still acts like it’s better than you.

Diego Brando

What he’d choose: A raptor, like a hawk or a velociraptor hybrid.

Agile. Deadly. Fast. Reptilian. Makes people nervous.

What he really is: A green iguana.

Spiky. Defensive. Has resting bitch face. Loves heat. Basks in attention. Secretly adorable when eating fruit.

Tooru

What he’d choose: A black fox.

Mysterious. Clever. Elusive. Pretty. Definitely sees himself as cunning and cool and a little tragic.

What he really is: A raccoon.

Messy. Manipulative. Digs through emotional trash. Will bite you and cry about it. Doesn’t sleep.

Bonus: If They Were in a Furry Discord Server Together

Dio gets banned for being too horny.

Kars and Funny Valentine argue in the lore channel constantly.

Esidisi sends 20 “AUUUGHHH” voice messages per day.

Kira uploads 45 paw pic refs.

Doppio is a beloved mutual in every channel.

Tooru tries to gaslight the mod team into unbanning him for drama.

Diavolo keeps leaving the server.

Wamuu and Pucci are normal. But they will pick sides in any arguments involving Kars or Dio.

Diego and Santana ignore most every message.

[astrolocherry]

Gemini Season Lips Sink Ships ~ 20/05 - 20/06

If your phone is blowing up, your brain's short-circuiting, and your personality feels like it has 16 tabs open you are here on earth during Gemini season

It's that time of year when we are gifted Hermes's bag of tricks - full of wit, agility, and cleverness to pull off ultimate mischief

Did you know the Gemini sign was the one who bought us astrology? Hermes is the anointed patron of language, alchemy, and astrology, and through the stories delivered by the messengers taking on His archetype throughout the Ages.

random, unpredictable moods

talking like you've already had lines of cocaine

accidental genius moments

ghosting/being ghosted as a temporary vibe shift

Cherry

[tower-of-dreams]

✨Tower of Dreams Cast (2)✨

✨Letterman & Swan Flake✨

Letterman is the mailman of the tower, having similarities with Mercury, Roman God and Messenger! On his free time he draws on a giant canvas in his studio. With a magical paintbrush that can get color with any tone and saturation of color known.

Flake is the most famouse ballet dancer in the tower. Her favorite piece being the "Swan Lake". She also has performed "Romeo and Juliet", "The Nutcracker" and "Cinderella". She has the ability of flying and floating like a feather.

✨Gustavo, Muffy & Brick✨

These three somehow ended up in Peppino and Trix's dreams. Gustavo is almost the same but for some reason he now has zoolingualism powers, being able to communicate with Brick and The Virtues!

Muffy seems to be a Shepherd who works along with Vigert and Patricia in the Meadows of Chamomille, Herding the Cloudies and making sure there are 100 of them. She has

Brick is some sort of pegasus rat (? She would trade you a cloudy ride through the sky if you give her a good portion of Moon Cheese! She's still the loyal best friend of Gus and Muffy ✨

✨The Caretaker and

The Caregiver✨

Vigert Lantte is the main protector and heir of the Meadows of Chamomille. Previously belonging to his grandfather and now inherited to him and his wife, Patricia. They are often seen wandering on the meadows, Watering the flowers, Fertilizing and harvesting fruit for the tower to commercialize. He's the sweetest guy around and will lead you through the meadow, telling you the stories of the tower. He's very strong and agile. He will do anything to protect the meadow, his wife and whoever is in danger.

Patricia Creampuff is Vigert's wife. She takes care of the Ethereal Fruit Patch. She carries around a scepter that contains healing powers. If you ended up injured (which is less likely), she will heal your wounds and take care of you, heading to her house. She has a motherly vibe and manner with everybody.

✨The Virtues✨

These 5 little adorable babies are the seen around the tower playing and wandering around. Instead of being trapped in cages, you have to collect them with each puzzle you complet in a level. (5 puzzles, 5 virtues). They are friendly and cuddly!

✨Next to be presented: Noise, Twila, Noisette, Fake Peppino, Fake Trix, Snotty.✨

Flake & Muffy owned by @sisi-chan-draws, and also idea for The Virtues by her! ✨

[leftshiftwashere]

It's my favourite time of the year! Slugcat time!

I had a couple of thoughts about them two!!

So! First of all, Prowl was raised by scavengers

He was probably somehow seperated from his family, found by some group and followed them out of curiosity and later started bringing them stuff. So eventually they just warmed up to this weird slugpup that wouldn't go away and started teaching him stuff

Had the idea to give him a skull as a mask he started wearing at some point to fit in (except it probably just freaks out most of scavengers who see him. Whoops!)

I also love coming up with different abilities for whenever I turn someone into a slugcat, so another thing Prowl takes from scavengers is the ability to carry several spears on his back. Yahoo!!!

For Jazz, I thought it would be fun to let him be agile and immediately remembered about my favourite cyan lizards!!

Since Jazz is a messenger for an iterator (not sure who those will be yet. I was thinking maybe the primes could be iterators ?) speed is key so the pearl gets delivered faster, therefore he gets the best features of the cyan lizards - the ability to climb walls and the ability to leap

Unfortunately that's pretty exhausting

Thinking about how Jazz could know the more advanced names for things because of being a mailman for giant supercomputers which would leave Prowl confused often

By the way his visor is supposed to just be a glowy fur pattern but sometimes I can't get it to look right on sketches auufhhghgh

[sleepynoons]

kaeya x gn!reader, sfw

cw: n/a

notes: cross-posted from my ao3 (with some minor fixes). i don't usually write in past tense, so don't get used to it lol. the day genshin returns to mondstadt is the day i return to the game LMAO

KAEYA ALWAYS ran cold. it was natural, being a cryo swordsman and all. but his “cold-bloodedness” – as you like to call it – proves to be a problem in the height of monstadt’s winter.

mondstadt is a small nation. everyone knows each other, and secrets and rumors spread like wildfire. the whole population is like a large family, with the shopkeepers as nosy aunts and the older hunters the boisterous uncles. while this proved to be quite problematic at times (the only reason you and kaeya got together was because your mother’s friend’s daughter had revealed your crush to the blue-haired knight, but that’s a story for later), it did help you save kaeya.

kaeya is a renowned cavalry captain under the knights of favonius. though he has a flirtatious attitude and is quick to delegate all of his responsibilities away, when he is sent on a mission, he is determined and sets his life on the line for his comrades.

right before the beginning of mondstadt’s annual winter festivities, kaeya and a few select knights were sent to handle some fatui agents on the southern shore of dragonspine. the trip would take a week in total, and you spent your days cleaning, helping out at your mother’s bakery, and picking out presents for close friends and relatives.

this year, you decided to gift kaeya a cream muffler and a set of glass earrings made from frostshield potion. kaeya required extra layers during the cold, and as much as you admired the fur and leather he routinely donned, it was not enough to keep him warm. the earrings would be the first pieces of jewelry from you to him, so what better reason to get them?

it wasn’t until two nights before kaeya’s designated return did you rush out of your house to visit dragonspine.

as you were wrapping kaeya’s presents late at night, there were a series of knocks at your window pane. turning around, you realized those knocks were actually pecks. a messenger hawk was perched outside, gripping a small, crumpled note in its beak. the crimson ribbon tied around the note indicated not only the sender but also the urgency of the message.

after sending the hawk away with a small snack, you unfurled the paper and skimmed it.

how you made it through dragonspine was no surprise. as a teenager, you were an up and coming knight, and you trained in the same cohort as jean. recognized for your speed and agility, you were supposed to become a leader for younger outriders, such as amber. but after a gliding accident that hospitalized you for several months, it was impossible to regain your former strength and become a full-fledged knight. regardless, you knew what you were doing.

given kaeya’s descriptions in prior conversations and the details listed in the letter, you navigated across the snowy plain and steeled past hillichurl camps. along the way, you noticed remnants of kaeya and his team’s trek across dragonspine, such as the occasional tent branded with the knights' crest and unlit campfires. as long as you followed these traces, your path was bound to intersect with theirs.

you reached the camp a little past sunrise. a large campfire was set up in front of a damp tent, and the knight on watch was sifting through a notebook. you approached the knight, and after explaining the situation, he led you into the tent.

on the ground, sleeping, was kaeya. you sighed as you knelt down and opened up your backpack.

as you brought out some medicine and additional blankets, you ordered the knight on watch to hurry back to the city to fetch a few horses.

“i told you to wear more.”

kaeya’s eye fluttered open. “ah, but darling, you know i can’t sacrifice style.”

“you need to rest. you have a fever.” placing a warm towel over his forehead, you brushed his bangs behind his ear and tucked him in. you whispered, “just a few more hours, and we’ll be right back at home.”

you slipped your hand under the covers, gripping his palm when you found it. kaeya let out a breathy chuckle and said, “we could've gotten home faster if you brought some horses with you.”

you smiled in response. “i was too worried about you to think things through.”

–

by the time you and kaeya arrived home, his fever had worsened. you stuck close to his side, despite the possibility of falling ill yourself, and focused solely on him. after all, kaeya was often away, and it wasn’t common to see him with his guard down.

“please, continue to admire me. i know my face is enchanting,” he remarked through a fit of coughs.

“with your inflating ego, i’m sure your cold will be gone soon.” you checked his temperature only to see it had risen. “i’ll go make some more soup.” but before you could stand up, kaeya wrapped an arm tightly around your torso, dragging you back to your seat. even though kaeya’s eye was closed, the slight tremble in his body gave way to his embarrassment.

“just ask next time,” and you removed his arm before repositioning your body to face him.

you don't know when kaeya fell asleep. nothing, from his facial expressions to his posture, changed. even though the two of you have been together for years, many aspects of him are still a mystery to you. but you’ve never gotten annoyed or frustrated. rather, you appreciate the gradual build-up and find it fun to learn more about your partner every day.

so the next morning, before you entered kaeya’s bedroom with breakfast, you witnessed for the first time a child-like glee on his face as he examined the muffler and earrings you put on him in his sleep.

[lycorisketch]

Affogato Cookie Rant

Ok everyone @doomteensy asked about Affogato Cookie Headcanons and I'm gonna explain mine. Strap in this is a rollercoaster now.

(While I did playthrough the game, read the wiki, and try to ingest as much info as possible, there are chances I have missed information. Please bear with me here)

We know canonically Affogato was a resident of the Coffee Village (as is mentioned in his dialogue for his first ascension “The Coffee Tribe? I barely remember my time there…”). We also know via episode 13 when players first enter the Dark Cacao Kingdom that the Coffee Village has long since been abandoned and was left in ruins (If you have Espresso in your party when you visit the village you’ll learn that the Coffee Tribe left a long time ago.) Affogato was likely just a child when the village was abandoned (most likely falling to monsters in the area, as the only other individuals of Coffee Tribe descendent we meet are Affogato (Who is the only coffee cookie we see in the Dark Cacao Kingdom) and Espresso (Who is actually from a line of coffee cookies in the Creme Republic, likely a family branch who moved there sometime before the fall of the tribe).

The fact we only see a few coffee cookies in basically the entire game (I’m not counting Latte since that heritage is unknown) one of which is not from the Coffee Village, it’s not hard to believe that most residents were wiped out and hadn’t simply “left” as Espresso said. The Coffee Tribe residents are mentioned to be very agile and can go days without sleeping, making them good as scouts, infiltrators, and messengers for the Kingdom, yet Affogato is the ONLY one we see in the Dark Cacao Kingdom in game. No others are even mentioned.

In Affogato’s loading screen text it mentions that he had left home Affogato wandered the land and learned a lot about magic and witchcraft. It says “left” but if we consider what likely happened to the village its more likely he fled, then found solace in magic and witchcraft. It’s possible he found a group of shamans or other magic users who he then learned from, hence his strange concoctions and mysterious chants (it’s possible he learned these from individuals not originally of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, hence the words “mysterious” and “strange”.)

Note: Shamanism, referred to as mu-ism or musok in Korea, was an influential religion prior to Joseon-era Korean (Which the Dark Cacao Kingdom's design/culture was influenced by) when Confucianism became the state religion. The reason that Affogato's concotions and chants may be viewed as strange is because of a lack of practioners in the kingdom, or possibly that he is practicing a type of shamanism that has elements influenced by a different culture such as Buddhism or Daoism that are not common to the Dark Cacao Kingdom at that time. (Note: This is a fictional game that is not 100% real world accurate, Affogato's practices may be noted as mysterious or strange simply to mark him as an outlier in the kingdom, but for the sake of my ramblings I want to note possible explainations based on reality. They also note that Affogato uses witchcraft, so whatever they drew inspiration from for that also likely influences the shamanism rites he may perform). It is entirely possible that Affogato's village has practioners of musok within it (likely hereditary as was common) and that after it's destruction he was the last remaining practioner. (Sidenote: Practioners of musak were typically female and referred to as mudang. This could explain why Affogato takes on a more feminine appearance).

Otherwise Affogato would have become a baksu (male shaman) during his time after the tribe's destruction as I noted before, though for this to have happened he would have to be an initiated shaman. He may even fall under the category of shaman called a posal, a sub-type of mudang who had a spiritual experience but is not worthy to perform orthodox rites. If he falls under this sub-type it may have influenced his self-worth and drive for comfort, not seeing himself as good enough in the eyes of his religion. (Also despite my searching I still cannot find any reason Affogato refers to the Roman Goddess Fortuna so frequently. My only guess for linking it to his practices is that he wants good luck to oppose possible soul loss (chronic bad luck is a sign of soul loss in shamanism which can cause illness)).

We can’t be sure what drives Affogato completely but we know he wants to live a life of comfort, mentioning in one dialogue that he’s spent his whole life on his knees, and now even with a seat it’s still not comfortable. This implies he lived poorly in the past, likely in his time after fleeing the village, though perhaps even before. Living out in a snowy climate without proper protection, especially as a young child, can be devastating on one’s health. Even wearing many layers, Affogato might still feel a chill of cold that will never leave his bones. Any illness or injuries he sustained during that time likely weren’t treated quickly or well (unless he found help as I suggested he might have when encountering whoever taught him his witchcraft) leaving lasting damage to him.

He’s greedy and enjoys sugar, something he might not have had the luxury of enjoying much before. He’s also shown to enjoy eating more than others, possibly due to the aforementioned poor life prior to becoming Dark Cacao’s retainer. Though he does share in his momentary success of taking the throne by throwing a feast with his disciples. (I believe it’s likely because he doesn’t want to see others “starve” when he has the power to ensure they eat well. Likely trauma from watching his village fall around him and then being alone in the snowy land of the kingdom.)

Based on what we can see of Affogato’s body (which is not a lot) he appears to have a more feminine body type or appearance (regardless of his presented gender), which, mixed with a poor upbringing would lend to a smaller or thinner body size. He presents as someone possibly physically weaker than other residents of the kingdom, even females like Caramel Arrow look strong in how they present themselves.

Also if he did receive help from a group of shamans or others, he likely learned to make medicines and incense that could help any lasting ailments he might have.

TLDR; I think Affogato is prone to sickness, is actually quite physically weak, and hides it with his many clothing layers and arrogant personality. He is likely one of the only survivors of the Coffee Village

[mystic-rubysunflower]

SOLAR TRANSITION INTO ♊️ SEASON

when the sun dances into the realm of the twins* 💫👬

•CORRESPONDENCES•

*the mutable air sign of duality and quick wit*

🌬️ **Element:** Air - the breath of curiosity and communication

🔄 **Modality:** Mutable - adaptable, flexible, ever-changing

📅 **Season:** Late Spring (May 21 - June 20)

🌟 **Symbol:** The Twins ♊ - representing duality, versatility, and multiple perspectives

🎭 **Keywords:** Communication, curiosity, wit, adaptability, learning, connection

🔮 Magical Correspondences:

✨ **Colors:** Yellow, silver, light blue, mercury chrome

🌿 **Herbs:** Lavender, mint, parsley, fennel, dill, lemon verbena

💎 **Crystals:** Citrine, clear quartz, agate, amazonite, fluorite

🌸 **Flowers:** Lily of the valley, sweet pea, jasmine

🕯️ **Incense:** Sandalwood, frankincense, eucalyptus

🍃 **Essential Oils:** Peppermint, lemon, bergamot, rosemary

🐦 **Animals:** Birds (especially songbirds), butterflies, parrots

🔢 **Numbers:** 3, 5

📖 **Tarot:** The Lovers (VI)

🏠 THIRD HOUSE CORRESPONDENCES 🏠

*the house of communication and local community*

🗣️ **Domain:** Communication, short journeys, siblings, early education, local environment

💭 **Themes:** Learning, writing, speaking, networking, curiosity, mental agility

🚗 **Associations:** Local travel, neighbors, daily conversations, social media

🔮 Magical Correspondences:

📚 **Focus Areas:** Study magic, communication spells, travel protection

✍️ **Workings:** Writing rituals, blessing new projects, sibling harmony

🌐 **Energy:** Quick-moving, intellectual, social, restless

📱 **Modern Rulership:** Social media, texting, blogging, podcasting

🎒 **Travel Magic:** Short trip blessings, commute protection, safe passage

🗣️ **Communication Magic:** Public speaking confidence, writing inspiration, clear expression

👥 **Community Work:** Neighbor relations, local activism, networking

☿ MERCURY CORRESPONDENCES ☿

*the swift messenger of the gods*

⚡ **Planetary Energy:** Quick, intellectual, communicative, mercurial

📊 **Rulership:** Gemini & Virgo

🌙 **Day:** Wednesday

⏰ **Hours:** 1st and 8th hours after sunrise

🔮 Magical Correspondences:

🎨 **Colors:** Orange, light blue, yellow, multicolored

🌱 **Plants:** Mercury-ruled herbs - mint, parsley, caraway, dill

💎 **Stones:** Agate, aventurine, citrine, opal, quicksilver

🔥 **Metals:** Mercury (quicksilver), brass, mixed metals

🎵 **Musical Note:** E

📿 **Symbols:** Caduceus, winged sandals, the Mercury glyph ☿

✨ Mercury Magic:

🧠 **Mental Clarity:** Enhance focus, memory, learning ability

💬 **Communication:** Improve eloquence, writing skills, teaching

🛣️ **Travel:** Safe journeys, travel planning, navigation

💰 **Business:** Negotiations, contracts, commerce, trading

🔍 **Divination:** Enhance psychic communication, spirit contact

📖 **Study:** Academic success, exam preparation, research

🌟 GEMINI SEASON RITUAL SUGGESTIONS 🌟

💫 Mercury Air Ritual

*Light yellow candles while burning mint incense*

*Call upon Mercury for swift communication and clear thought*

*Write intentions on yellow paper and release to the wind*

🌬️ Twin Flame Meditation

*Sit facing a mirror during sunrise*

*Contemplate your dual nature - light and shadow*

*Ask the Twins to help you integrate all aspects of self*

📚 Knowledge Gathering Spell

*Create a study altar with citrine and mint*

*Charge your books, laptops, and writing tools*

*Ask Gemini to bless your learning journey*

🦋 Social Connection Working

*Use blue candles and lavender*

*Focus on strengthening friendships and community bonds*

*Send messages of love to those you haven't spoken to in a while*

⭐ GEMINI SEASON AFFIRMATIONS ⭐

🗣️ *"I communicate with clarity and confidence"*

🧠 *"My mind is quick, sharp, and receptive to new knowledge"*

🌪️ *"I adapt gracefully to life's constant changes"*

👥 *"I connect authentically with others through honest expression"*

✨ *"I embrace all aspects of my multifaceted nature"*

📖 *"Every conversation teaches me something new"*

🦋 *"I am curious, clever, and endlessly creative"*

🌙 WORKING WITH THIS ENERGY 🌙

**Best Times:**

🌅 Dawn (ruled by Mercury)

📅 Wednesdays

🌬️ When the wind is blowing

📱 During Mercury hour

**Magical Focus:**

✨ Communication enhancement

📚 Learning and education

🤝 Building connections

✍️ Writing and creativity

🛣️ Safe travels

🧠 Mental clarity

*Remember, witches: Gemini season is about embracing change, staying curious, and connecting with the world around you. Let your mind dance with the Twins! 💫*

🔮 *"As above, so below - as Mercury flies, so our thoughts soar"* 🔮

[superwholock36]

~ A Little Taste of Heaven ~ (Peter Parker x Fem!Reader) (4/10)

____________________________________________

🎵🎶Too Sweet by Hozier 🎶🎵

____________________________________________

Warnings: Explosions and danger/Mild peril and action/Emotional tension/Fluff

Summery: 'After saving a child during an explosion, [Name] crosses paths with Spider-Man, who saves the day. Later, unaware of his secret identity, she agrees to a date with Peter Parker. Their connection deepens over dinner at a cozy Chinese restaurant, filled with playful banter and warm moments—until duty calls, pulling Peter away.'

_________________________________________

It was a lovely afternoon in Manhattan, the kind that felt alive with possibility. The streets buzzed with energy—yellow cabs honking, food carts lining the sidewalks, and clusters of people laughing as they hurried past. [Name] adjusted the strap of her messenger bag as she waited at the crossing, balancing a to-go coffee cup in her other hand. Her outfit—smart-casual, sharp but comfortable—reflected her readiness for whatever the day might bring. She checked the time on her phone as the light stubbornly stayed red.

Suddenly, a deafening BOOM! ripped through the air, shaking the ground beneath her feet. The sound hit before she even processed the flash of light, the explosion so close it left her ears ringing. The shock jolted her hands, the coffee cup slipping from her grasp and hitting the pavement with a muted splatter.

Around her, the once-busy street descended into chaos. People screamed, some running in every direction, while others ducked behind cars and newspaper stands for cover. [Name] stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding, before instinct kicked in. She crouched low, shielding herself as best she could, the acrid smell of smoke and burnt concrete stinging her nose.

Overhead, a shadow zipped past, its sleek shape cutting through the smoke-filled air. She glanced up, her eyes wide with alarm, and saw him—a figure clad in dark armour, mounted on a high-tech hoverboard that emitted a low, menacing hum. He let out a sharp, grating laugh as he hurled a spherical device into the street below. The bomb landed with a clang, exploding into a blinding flash that sent a wave of heat and light across the block.

[Name] scrambled to her feet, trying to find cover behind a mailbox as her breath came in short, panicked bursts. She clutched her bag tightly, her mind racing. The hoverboard-wielding villain swooped low, surveying the destruction with a cruel grin.

Through the thick haze of smoke, she caught a flash of red and blue moving impossibly fast. Her heart leapt as Spider-Man appeared, swinging between the buildings with practiced precision. He fired a web line, dodging one of the villain’s bombs mid-air before flipping out of the way of another. The explosions left trails of fire and smoke in their wake, but Spider-Man was relentless, twisting and somersaulting with agility that seemed almost effortless.

“Hey, hoverboard guy!” Spider-Man’s voice carried over the chaos, his tone almost flippant despite the danger. “Is this your audition for worst neighbour of the year? Because you’re really nailing it.”

The villain snarled, turning sharply on his board to hurl another explosive Spider-Man’s way. [Name] ducked again as another flash of light and heat roared just a few feet away. She clung to her makeshift cover, her heart pounding as she watched the battle unfold above her.

Spider-Man swung low, gaining ground on the villain as they zipped between the buildings. His webs snapped out with precision, sticking to the hoverboard’s underside as he yanked hard, nearly throwing the armoured figure off balance.

“Not so fancy now, huh?” Spidey quipped, flipping mid-swing to dodge another incoming bomb. “Seriously, where’d you get that thing—Discount Death Gliders R Us?”

The villain snarled in frustration, swerving sharply to shake him off. But Spider-Man was relentless, his movements a blur as he closed the gap, firing another web line to tangle the hoverboard’s thrusters. The machine sputtered, briefly losing stability, and the villain cursed as he reached for another bomb.

With a flick of his wrist, the villain hurled the explosive—not at him, but toward the street below. Peter twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the bomb as it sailed past him. It struck a parked car with a metallic clang, the device embedding itself in the hood. A high-pitched beeping began, sharp and insistent, cutting through the chaos.

[Name], crouched behind her cover, froze as the sound reached her ears. She glanced around, her heart pounding, trying to locate the source of the noise. Her eyes landed on the car just as the bomb detonated, the force of the explosion ripping through the air. The car was hurled upward, flipping violently end over end.

The blast sent debris scattering across the street, and through the smoke and chaos, [Name] spotted movement—a small child, no older than five, wandering into the road. The child’s wide, tear-filled eyes darted around, searching desperately for their parents. In the distance, a woman’s scream pierced the air, frantic and filled with terror.

Without thinking, [Name] bolted from her hiding spot. Her legs moved before her brain could catch up, sheer instinct and adrenaline driving her forward. She reached the child, scooping them into her arms as the car’s shadow loomed closer, flipping toward them with terrifying speed.

In that split second, she made her choice. [Name] turned her back to the oncoming car, wrapping her arms tightly around the child to shield them with her body. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear coursing through her veins, but she held firm, bracing for the inevitable impact. The thought barely crossed her mind—it didn’t matter what happened to her, as long as the child was safe.

“Move!” Spider-Man’s voice rang out, sharp and urgent, but there was no time. The car was too close, the weight of it bearing down on them like a tidal wave.

Just as the crushing weight seemed certain to hit, a red-and-blue blur streaked into view. Spider-Man landed in front of them, his movements impossibly fast. Planting his feet on the asphalt, he caught the car mid-flip, his arms straining as he held the massive weight overhead.

“Okay, okay—definitely heavy!” Peter groaned, his voice cracking slightly as he adjusted his grip. He glanced down at [Name], who was clutching the child tightly, her face pale but determined. “You guys good? Please tell me you’re good, because I’m kind of having a moment here!”

[Name] nodded quickly, her voice shaky. “We’re—we’re fine!” Adjusted her grip on the child, her arms trembling slightly as she backed up a few steps to give Spider-Man room. She tried to keep her breathing steady, but adrenaline still coursed through her veins as she glanced at the masked hero holding up the car.

“Great, awesome,” Spider-Man said, his tone light despite the strain in his voice. “Now, uh, if you could scoot out of the way, that’d be fantastic. No pressure, just… gravity.”

She did as he asked, moving quickly but carefully, her focus still on the child she had cradled tightly. Only once she was a few feet away did she look back, just in time to see him lower the car to the ground with a heavy thud. He straightened up with a quick roll of his shoulders, but something about the way he froze when their eyes met—well, his lenses and her eyes—made her pause.

Peter’s heart stuttered for the briefest moment. Her… The realization hit him like a jolt. She’d run into danger—a metaphorical fire—to save a child, without hesitation or a second thought. As much as the idea of her rushing headlong into chaos made his stomach twist with panic, there was another emotion that pushed its way forward: respect.

He couldn’t help it. She’d done something so undeniably brave, so instinctively selfless, that it caught him off guard. And despite the wreckage around them, the smoke still hanging in the air, and the distant shouts of chaos, for a fleeting moment, he couldn’t focus on anything else. She didn’t have powers. She wasn’t wearing a mask. And yet, she’d done what even some heroes struggled to do.

Before he could say anything, [Name] gave him a hard look. Not quite hostile, but there was something undeniably sharp in her expression. A scowl of sorts, almost as if she were daring him to say something. The tension in the air was palpable.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice a touch quieter now as he took a step closer. He kept his usual light tone, but there was an undercurrent of something else—concern, maybe, or guilt.

“Fine,” she replied sharply, her jaw tight. She adjusted the child on her hip, not meeting his gaze directly.

Peter hesitated for a split second. The way she snapped at him, the edge in her voice—it wasn’t just the adrenaline talking. He knew that tone.

“Hey, uh…” he started, rubbing the back of his neck reflexively even though she couldn’t see the sheepish expression beneath his mask. “I mean, I’m sorry. For, y’know… Last time.”

Her brow furrowed slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn’t reply, but her expression said plenty.

Spider-Man hesitated for a beat before stepping a little closer. Lowering his voice so only she could hear, he said, “For leaving you webbed to the wall. I came back—I really did—but you were gone."

There was a note of sincerity in his voice, an almost vulnerable edge that made the words linger between them. As he spoke, he slowly extended a hand, hesitating for a moment before gently reaching out, his intent clear—to check her over, to make sure she was okay.

Her reaction was immediate. She recoiled slightly, pulling herself up straighter as a flicker of irritation crossed her face. “Shouldn’t you get back to the issue at hand?” she snapped, her voice sharp but steady.

Peter blinked behind the mask, momentarily taken aback by her tone. He pulled his hand back, nodding slightly as he let out a small, awkward laugh, trying to diffuse the tension. “Yeah, right. The whole ‘flying maniac with bombs’ situation. Totally. I’ve got it covered.”

With a small shrug that masked the ache in his chest, he took a step back, his usual playful confidence slipping back into place like armour. “Stay safe, alright? And, uh, we’ll call this a rain check on the apology thing.”

And with that, he was gone, swinging into the chaos above. The distant cheers of the crowd rippled through the smoky air, their relief and gratitude palpable. “Spider-Man!” someone shouted, and soon the chant took hold, voices rising in unison as people clapped and hollered for their hero. Peter didn’t linger to take it in—there were still lives to save—but the sound followed him, faintly warming the ache in his chest.

Back on the street, the tension shifted, the echoes of the crowd’s cheers mixing with quieter, more intimate cries of relief. The mother of the child bolted from where she’d been frozen moments before, her face streaked with tears as she ran to [Name]. She practically collapsed, her hands trembling as she reached for the child, who clung tightly to [Name].

“Oh my God, oh my God,” the woman sobbed, clutching her child as though afraid they might vanish. “Thank you. Thank you so much,” she choked out, her words barely coherent through the flood of emotion. “You saved them. You saved my baby.”

[Name], still shaken, managed a small, reassuring smile. “It’s okay,” she said softly, though her voice trembled. “They’re okay. That’s all that matters.”

The woman nodded frantically, her gratitude overflowing as she turned her gaze upward. “And Spider-Man,” she added, her voice rising toward the red-and-blue figure swinging into the distance. “Thank you, Spider-Man!”

_________________________________________

The rhythmic tapping of her shoes against the pavement was drowned out by the persistent ringing of her phone. [Name] sighed, juggling her bag as she fished the device out of her pocket, the name “Mr. Caldwell” flashing on the screen. Perfect, she thought, already bracing for the tirade. Swiping to answer, she brought the phone to her ear.

“You’re late,” Mr. Caldwell barked, not even bothering with pleasantries. “I needed you in the office twenty minutes ago, post haste! Care to explain?”

“There was an incident on my way,” she replied, keeping her voice as steady as possible. “An explosion—Spider-Man was there. I got caught up in the chaos.”

There was a brief pause, followed by a dismissive “Hmph.”

“Well, I don’t pay you to get caught up in chaos, do I? I pay you to be here, at your desk, doing your job. Hurry up—I need those reports on my desk yesterday!” His tone was sharp, each word chewing into her already thinning patience.

“Yes, sir,” she said curtly, biting back any retort that might only make things worse. Before she could add anything else, the call cut off with an abrupt click, leaving her staring at the screen in frustration.

She let out a breath and was about to put the phone away when a notification popped up—a text from Peter. She blinked, surprised for a moment, before her lips curved into a small, unintentional smile.

Peter: 'Hey, how’s your morning going?'

She paused, glancing around to make sure she wasn’t about to walk into anyone. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she replied:

[Name]: 'Let’s see. Explosion, Spider-Man, yelling boss. So, just a normal morning. How about you?'

His response came almost immediately.

Peter: 'Wow, sounds… intense. Did you at least get Spider-Man’s autograph, or was he too busy dodging explosions to notice you?'

[Name]: 'I don’t want his autograph. He could shove it up his butt for all I care.'

There was a noticeable pause before Peter’s response came through, and she could almost hear the faint “uhhh” of his hesitation as he typed.

Peter: 'Whoa. That’s, uh… that’s a strong stance on Spider-Man. Did he, like, cut you off in traffic or something? I mean, sure, he’s not perfect, but still. That’s kind of harsh, no?'

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, she typed back.

[Name]: 'Let’s just say I’ve got some beef with him. And no, I’m not going into it.'

The three little dots of Peter’s typing indicator flashed on and off a few times before his reply finally appeared.

Peter: 'Beef? Like… actual beef? Or, like, metaphorical beef? Because if it’s metaphorical, then, yeah, totally fair. But if it’s actual beef, we might need to have a serious talk about your diet.'

She rolled her eyes, the faintest flicker of amusement breaking through her annoyance despite herself.

[Name]: 'Metaphorical. Obviously. And don’t try to joke your way out of this.'

Peter: 'Noted. No jokes. But I mean, hey, whatever it is, maybe give him a break? Saving the city’s gotta be, like, super stressful. Not that I’d know or anything, but… you know.'

The reply made her pause, a small frown tugging at her brow. Something about his tone—however awkwardly phrased—made it feel like he was trying to smooth over some invisible crack. But she wasn’t about to entertain it. Not yet, anyway.

[Name]: 'I’ll keep that in mind the next time he webs me to a wall.'

Another pause, longer this time, and she could almost picture Peter nervously laughing under his breath as he read her text. When his reply finally came through, it was predictably awkward but undeniably Peter.

Peter: 'Okay, yeah, I can see how that’d be a sticky situation. Literally. I mean, not that it was… Anyway, uh, let’s just say I hear you. Loud and clear. Moving on.'

She shook her head at the message, tucking her phone back into her bag as she finally reached her office building. Her mood was still sour, but as ridiculous as Peter’s messages were, they somehow made the morning feel a little less unbearable.

__________________________________________

[Name] sat at her desk, the rhythmic clatter of her fingers on the keyboard punctuating the otherwise quiet hum of the office. Her screen glared back at her, overflowing with emails, memos, and reports—all the tasks Mr. Caldwell had graciously deemed “beneath” him. She let out a quiet sigh, her gaze flickering to the stack of papers beside her. She understood the pressure he was under, trying to keep the paper afloat in a competitive market, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow. She could be doing so much more than running his schedule and typing up his notes. She wanted to be a journalist—to chase stories, uncover truths, make a difference. But for now, here she was, tethered to her desk by a mountain of "important but trivial" work.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Megan appeared, a wide grin on her face and a takeout container in hand. “I come bearing gifts,” she announced, setting the container on [Name]’s desk with a flourish.

[Name] raised an eyebrow, her expression softening as she eyed the familiar label. “Is that…?"

“Banoffee cheesecake,” Megan confirmed with a smirk. “As promised. Consider it payment for bailing me out last week.”

[Name] smiled, leaning back in her chair as she took a moment to appreciate the gesture. “You’re too good to me. Seriously.”

“Don’t mention it. But speaking of bailing out,” Megan said, pulling up a chair and dropping into it with an exaggerated sigh, “I need your help. Again.”

[Name] glanced at her curiously, pushing her keyboard aside. “What’s up?”

Megan groaned, rubbing her temples. “This piece I’m working on—it’s driving me insane. Caldwell wants it airtight, but the angle’s just not clicking, and I’m about two hours away from ripping my hair out.”

[Name] tilted her head, intrigued. “What’s the story?”

Megan hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting from frustration to something more conspiratorial. “Okay, don’t laugh, but… I’ve been trying to figure out who Spider-Man is.”

[Name] blinked, taken aback. “Spider-Man?”

“Yeah,” Megan said, leaning in slightly as though sharing a secret.

“There are so many rumours floating around—some say he’s a college kid, others think he’s a billionaire in disguise. I’ve even heard he might be, like, an alien or something. I just… I don’t know. He’s fascinating, you know? And I keep thinking, if I could crack who he is, it’d be huge.”

[Name] pursed her lips, her gaze narrowing slightly. “Megan, don’t you think there’s a reason it’s a secret? He probably doesn’t want people to know for, I don’t know, safety reasons. Or privacy.”

Megan shrugged, clearly undeterred. “I get that, but come on—doesn’t it make you curious? Like, who he really is under the mask? What kind of person does what he does?"

[Name] leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Curious? Sure. But it’s not our business. He’s out there saving people, and I think that’s enough. Besides, do you really think Caldwell would run with a piece like that? He’s not exactly the ‘superhero scoop’ kind of guy.”

Megan sighed dramatically, slumping further into her chair. “You’re probably right. As usual. But still, I can’t help wondering…”

[Name] shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

Megan grinned, grabbing a plastic fork and nudging the cheesecake container closer to [Name]. “Maybe. But that’s why you like me. Now, eat some cheesecake and tell me my story doesn’t completely suck."

Megan leaned forward, propping her chin in her hand. “You know what’s weird? We know nearly all of the Avengers’ identities, right? Like, Tony Stark held an entire press conference to announce he was Iron Man. Steve Rogers—everyone knew Captain America’s story. Even Black Widow wasn’t exactly undercover by the time she joined up. But Spider-Man? He was introduced already in the suit. We’ve got no idea who he really is.”

[Name] glanced at her, quirking a brow. “And you find that weird?"

“Well, yeah!” Megan said, gesturing animatedly. “Think about it—when the Avengers had that big press release to welcome him, it was all about the suit and the powers. No name, no backstory, nothing. He just swung in, waved at the cameras, and that was it. Doesn’t that make you curious?”

[Name] shrugged, though she couldn’t help but glance briefly at her own screen as if trying to look busy. “Maybe. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? Keeping his identity a secret probably keeps him and the people he cares about safe.”

Megan sighed dramatically. “Yeah, yeah, I know. ‘It’s for safety!’ But come on—it’s Spider-Man. Who wouldn’t want to know who’s under the mask?”

[Name] rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched into a faint smile. “Well, it’s not like you’re going to crack the mystery over lunch, Megan. But…” She leaned forward slightly, the teasing edge in her tone giving way to a bit of genuine curiosity. “Show me what you’ve got so far. I’ll take a look—if you promise to give me credit for helping.”

Megan’s eyes lit up, and she grinned. “Deal. You’re the best, you know that?”

“Yeah, yeah,” [Name] said, waving her hand dismissively. “Now, let’s see what kind of conspiracy board you’ve got hidden in that brain of yours.”

Megan laughed as she slid her tablet across the desk. “You’re going to love this. Or maybe think I’ve completely lost it. Either way, I’ll take what I can get.”

Later that evening, as the office quieted down and the glow of her monitor became the only source of light at her desk, [Name] leaned back in her chair, stretching out her arms with a groan. It had been a long day, and she was more than ready to call it quits. But just as she reached for her bag, her inbox chimed with a new email.

From: Megan Subject: Spider-Man Intel (aka my soon-to-be Pulitzer)

[Name] rolled her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she clicked the email open. Megan’s enthusiasm practically leapt off the screen. Attached was a folder labelled “Spider-Research,” and beneath it, a quick note in Megan’s usual casual tone:

Thought you’d want to take a look. It’s not perfect yet, but I’m getting closer! Honestly, some of this stuff blows my mind. Think you’ll love the Stark/Spider-Man connection. Let me know what you think—and don’t forget, I expect my name in lights when we crack this! ;) – M.

[Name] hesitated for a moment before clicking into the folder. Inside were several files: articles, snippets of footage, and what appeared to be Megan’s pieced-together timeline of Spider-Man’s known activities. She scrolled through quickly, catching familiar headlines like “Ferry Disaster Narrowly Averted by Local Hero” and “Spider-Man Teams Up with Iron Man in Berlin Airport Incident.”

It was the deeper connections that caught her attention, though—Megan had outlined Spider-Man’s presence during Tony Stark’s public appearances and even highlighted the now-famous press conference where Stark had named him an Avenger. Guess they didn’t include the part where Spider-Man turned it down, [Name] thought with a small, amused huff, remembering the controversy that had surrounded that revelation.

As [Name] scrolled through the folder Megan had sent, she skimmed over headlines and notes until something caught her eye—a passing mention of Stark’s internship program. Megan had jotted down a quick thought, wondering if Spider-Man could’ve been involved in some way, but there wasn’t much detail beyond that.

[Name] paused for a moment, her brow furrowing. It was… plausible, she supposed. Stark was eccentric enough to pull something like that. But with no solid evidence to back it up, and plenty of other notes and theories cluttering the folder, she quickly moved on, dismissing the thought as just another interesting possibility.

[Name] packed up her things, sliding her notebook and phone into her bag before looping it over her shoulder. The office was quiet now, the hum of the fluorescent lights overhead the only thing breaking the silence. After the chaos of the day, she was ready to head home and sink into her couch for a good few hours of nothing. Just as she reached for the elevator button, her phone buzzed in her bag. Fishing it out, she glanced at the screen, Peter’s name lighting up the notification.

Peter: Hey! So, uh, random thought—what if we grabbed some food after work? You know, assuming your boss isn’t still screaming at you.

She couldn’t help but smile as she typed back, her fingers moving quickly over the screen.

[Name]: That sounds nice. Where were you thinking?

His response popped up almost immediately, as if he’d been waiting by his phone.

Peter: Anywhere! I’m not picky. Where do you work? I could swing by and pick you up.

She hesitated for a moment before replying.

[Name]: I’m at the New York Bulletin. Meet me out front?

There was a pause before the three little typing dots appeared again.

Peter: The Bulletin? Fancy! Okay, yeah, I’ll be there. I mean, obviously, I’ll be there. Not like I’d suggest grabbing food and then not show up. That’d be weird. Anyway, uh, see you soon!

[Name] chuckled softly at his rambling message, slipping her phone back into her bag as the elevator doors opened. There was something endearingly awkward about Peter that she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but it made the idea of seeing him again after such a long day surprisingly appealing.

_________________________________________

The hoverboard swerved violently, forcing Peter to fire a web at the nearest lamppost to swing himself out of its trajectory. "Okay, buddy, could you maybe not destroy all of Midtown while you make your getaway? Some of us are trying to keep the city intact here!" he shouted, though he doubted the villain could hear him over the roar of the board’s engines.

He flipped mid-swing, landing briefly on the side of a building before leaping off again to close the distance. The guy was fast—faster than Peter liked. But Spider-Man was persistent, if nothing else.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y, any chance you’ve got a way to slow him down? Maybe a hoverboard-killer app?" he asked, launching another webline toward the retreating criminal.

"Unfortunately, Peter, hoverboard neutralization software is not currently in the database," F.R.I.D.A.Y responded, her tone as dry as ever.

"Figures," Peter muttered before ducking under a metal sign the villain had toppled onto the street below. His muscles burned, but adrenaline kept him moving. It was moments like these where the city seemed so much bigger than it actually was.

Still, his mind drifted. [Name.] The thought of her brief but pointed glare from earlier that day crept into his brain. She wasn’t exactly thrilled with Spider-Man right now. He couldn’t blame her. But Peter? Peter she liked—or at least, he hoped she still did.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y," he called, panting slightly as he swung around a water tower, "can you send a text to [Name]? Ask her how her morning’s going. Keep it simple."

"Simple text composed: ‘Hey, how’s your morning going?’. " F.R.I.D.A.Y confirmed.

Peter released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, gripping the webline tighter as he turned his attention back to the pursuit. If Spider-Man had managed to tank her good graces, maybe Peter could still salvage things. He wasn’t ready to entertain the thought of her not liking either of him.

A moment later, Friday’s voice chimed back in. "Reply received: ‘Let’s see. Explosion, Spider-Man, yelling boss. So, just a normal morning. How about you?’"

Peter groaned softly, flipping over a billboard as he thought a quick response mid-air. "F.R.I.D.A.Y, dictate: ‘Wow, sounds… intense. Did you at least get Spider-Man’s autograph, or was he too busy dodging explosions to notice you?’"

As F.R.I.D.A.Y sent the reply, he couldn’t help but grin at his own awkward humour. It was short-lived, though, as the hoverboard shot straight up into the skyline. "Oh, come on!" Peter muttered, following suit.

Another notification pinged in his ear. "Response from [Name]: ‘I don’t want his autograph. He could shove it up his butt for all I care.’"

Peter nearly missed his next webline, the response throwing him for a loop. "Whoa," he muttered, steadying himself. "F.R.I.D.A.Y, compose: ‘Whoa. That’s, uh… that’s a strong stance on Spider-Man. Did he, like, cut you off in traffic or something? I mean, sure, he’s not perfect, but still. That’s kind of harsh, no?’"

Peter couldn’t help but wince. Yikes. She really doesn’t like Spider-Man right now. His chest tightened slightly, the chase temporarily taking a backseat to his racing thoughts. What did he even say to that?

Friday interrupted his spiral. "Incoming reply: ‘Let’s just say I’ve got some beef with him. And no, I’m not going into it.’"

Peter fired another webline, his brain working overtime to come up with something that wouldn’t make things worse. "Okay, F.R.I.D.A.Y, let’s try: ‘Beef? Like… actual beef? Or, like, metaphorical beef? Because if it’s metaphorical, then, yeah, totally fair. But if it’s actual beef, we might need to have a serious talk about your diet.’"

He cringed after F.R.I.D.A.Y sent it, Classic Parker. When in doubt, go for awkward humour. Real smooth.

Her reply came back just as the hoverboard veered into a construction zone, forcing Peter to focus on dodging beams and girders. "Message reads: ‘Metaphorical. Obviously. And don’t try to joke your way out of this.’"

"Noted," Peter muttered, sighing as he gripped the webline tighter.

"Friday, tell her: ‘Noted. No jokes. But I mean, hey, whatever it is, maybe give him a break? Saving the city’s gotta be, like, super stressful. Not that I’d know or anything, but… you know.’"

As he sent it, Peter launched himself toward the hoverboard, finally close enough to snag one of its engines with his web. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed, yanking hard.

The pursuit came to an abrupt halt as the villain angled sharply upward, his hoverboard propellers whining against the wind before he landed with a heavy thunk on the rooftop of a high-rise building. Peter landed a beat later, his feet skidding slightly across the gravel as he straightened, his muscles taut with anticipation.

"Okay, buddy," Peter said, his voice laced with mock irritation as he adjusted his stance. "We’ve done the whole ‘cat-and-mouse’ thing, but I’m really more of a dog person. How about we wrap this up?"

The villain didn’t respond—not verbally, anyway. Instead, the faint hum of his dark, angular armour filled the air as the small propellers embedded in his back and arms whirred to life. Before Peter could react, the villain shot forward with a burst of force, slamming into him hard enough to send him stumbling back.

"Whoa—okay! Someone’s been hitting the gym!" Peter quipped, barely dodging another lunge as the villain swung a heavy, gauntleted fist at him. The swing missed by inches, the displaced air whistling past Peter’s head.

The rooftop trembled beneath their feet as another bomb exploded several buildings away, the distant flash of orange lighting up the sky. Peter winced, momentarily distracted by the chaos unfolding below. The brief lapse in focus cost him—a sharp jab landed against his ribs, and though the armour in his suit absorbed most of the impact, the force still sent him staggering.

"Right, focus!" Peter muttered to himself, ducking under the next strike. "Eyes on the bad guy, Parker!"

He steadied himself, catching the villain’s next punch mid-swing. For a split second, he had him—grip firm, momentum halted. "Gotcha," Peter said, a triumphant grin tugging at his lips beneath the mask. But the villain only chuckled—a low, mechanical sound that sent a chill up Peter’s spine. "You’re predictable, Spider-Man," the villain sneered, his free hand suddenly snapping up to release a canister from his gauntlet.

Before Peter could react, the rooftop erupted in thick, choking smoke. "Oh, come on!" he groaned, instinctively letting go and stumbling backward as the dense cloud consumed him. His lenses adjusted to the new conditions, but even the enhanced vision didn’t help much. He swung blindly, hoping to catch something—anything—but his fists connected only with air.

The whir of propellers cut through the smoke, growing fainter with each passing second. "No, no, no—you’re not getting away!" Peter shouted, coughing as he tried to chase after the sound. But the smoke was too thick, and by the time it cleared, the villain was gone.

Peter let out a frustrated sigh, resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "Great," he muttered. "Just another day in the life of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Loser edition." He stood up straight, scanning the horizon for any sign of the hoverboard before pulling out his phone. No new messages from [Name.]

Peter swung through the city, his muscles burning but his focus sharp as he scanned the streets below for any sign of the hoverboard.

“Come on, where are you hiding?” he muttered, firing another webline to propel himself across the skyline. The air carried the faint echo of sirens and chaos, but the villain himself was nowhere to be seen.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y, any luck tracking him?” Peter asked, landing briefly on a rooftop to catch his breath.

“Accessing local CCTV feeds now,” F.R.I.D.A.Y replied, her tone calm and efficient. “Traffic cameras in Midtown show no sign of hoverboard activity. Checking surrounding boroughs.”

Peter groaned softly, crouching on the edge of the rooftop as he kept his eyes trained on the streets below. “I’m starting to think this guy’s got teleportation powers or something. Hoverboards shouldn’t just disappear, right?”

“Unlikely,” F.R.I.D.A.Y said. “However, the density of the smoke released during the encounter may have provided sufficient cover for evasion. Suggest recalibrating search parameters to account for potential underground movement.”

“Underground?” Peter repeated, tilting his head slightly. “You think he ditched the board and went into the subway or something?”

“It is a possibility. Multiple access points in the area you last encountered him could facilitate such movement,” F.R.I.D.A.Y explained.

Peter stood up straight, launching himself off the rooftop with another webline. “Great. Guess I’ll add playing mole to my skillset. Keep checking those cameras, though—just in case he pops back up.”

“Understood,” F.R.I.D.A.Y replied, the soft hum of her data processing filling the silence as Peter swung lower, skimming close to the streets in hopes of catching any trace of the villain’s path. But as the minutes ticked by, the city revealed nothing. No hoverboard, no dark armour—just the faint remnants of smoke and debris left behind.

Eventually, Peter slowed to a halt, perching on the edge of a water tower as the frustration settled in. “Well, that’s just perfect. Great job, Spidey—save the day, lose the bad guy,” he muttered to himself.

F.R.I.D.A.Y interrupted his thoughts. “Search results inconclusive, Peter. No significant matches detected across available feeds.”

“Yeah, I figured as much,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked out at the sprawling city, his grip tightening slightly on the edge of the tower. “Alright. Guess it’s back to damage control. Let me know if anything pops up.”

"Of course, Peter,” F.R.I.D.A.Y replied as he fired off another webline, diving back into the chaos below.

______________________________________________________

The city stretched out before him, a sea of twinkling lights and restless energy. Perched on the edge of a rooftop, Peter drew his knees up to his chest, the wind tugging lightly at his hair. He’d been here for a while now, his gaze skimming the streets below as he tried to convince himself he wasn’t just stalling. Swinging through the city always gave him clarity, but tonight it hadn’t worked. The knot in his stomach stubbornly refused to loosen.

His phone buzzed in the pocket of his suit, and he sighed as he fished it out. The glowing screen lit up his face beneath the mask as he stared at the message thread with [Name.] He hadn’t heard from her in a bit—not since earlier.

“Alright, Parker,” he muttered to himself, running a gloved hand through his hair. “You can do this. Just a text. Super simple. Totally no big deal.”

He tapped out the message quickly, rereading it about five times before pressing send.

Peter: Hey! So, uh, random thought—what if we grabbed some food after work? You know, assuming your boss isn’t still screaming at you.

He sat there for a moment, frozen, his heart hammering against his ribs. Why did I word it like that? Too awkward? Should I have added a joke? His mind raced, the city below completely forgotten as the typing indicator popped up on the screen.

[Name]: That sounds nice. Where were you thinking?

Peter blinked, staring at the message as though it might vanish if he looked away. “Wait… she said yes?” he muttered, his voice rising slightly in disbelief. He scrambled to type a reply but hesitated again. Play it cool, Parker. You got this.

Peter: Uh, awesome! Where should I pick you up?

The response came back almost immediately.

[Name]: I’m at the New York Bulletin. Meet me out front?

Peter exhaled a soft laugh, tucking his phone back into his pocket as a grin spread across his face. “The Bulletin. Okay, cool. Very cool. You’ve got this.” With that, he stood, stretching briefly before firing a webline and swinging into the night.

It didn’t take him long to reach the area—a handful of web swings, tops—but instead of heading straight to the building, he dropped down a few blocks away, slipping into the shadow of a dumpster in a quiet alley. “Alright, time to de-Spider,” he murmured, peeling off his suit and shoving it into the backpack he kept stashed nearby. He slipped into a pair of jeans, a simple geeky shirt, and a jacket, zipping it up just enough to keep warm in the brisk evening air.

As he adjusted his jacket and ran a hand through his hair, his nerves started to creep back in. Swinging through the city? Easy. Facing down supervillains? No problem. But dinner with [Name.]? That felt like a whole different kind of challenge.

The city lights cast a soft glow as Peter rounded the corner of the New York Bulletin, his steps slowing the moment his eyes landed on her. She was standing near the entrance, scrolling through her phone, completely unaware of the way the city seemed to fade in Peter’s view. His gaze softened as he took her in—the casual confidence in her posture, the faint flicker of a smile playing on her lips. For a moment, the world felt a little quieter.

“Okay, Parker,” he muttered under his breath, tugging at the hem of his jacket. “You’ve got this. Be cool. Cool-ish. Just… don’t trip over your own feet.”

Taking a breath, he stepped forward, his nerves bubbling beneath his attempt at casual confidence. “Hey!” he called, his voice slightly higher than he intended. Clearing his throat quickly, he continued, “Hey, uh—[Name.]”

She glanced up at the sound, her brows furrowing for a split second before her gaze landed on him. Recognition sparked in her eyes, and almost immediately, a wide smile spread across her face.

“Peter!” she said, her voice warm and inviting. Her smile grew as she tucked her phone away and turned fully toward him. For a moment, she just took him in—the messy hair, the geeky shirt peeking out beneath his jacket, and the way he seemed both nervous and confident all at once. There was something so endearingly Peter about him that it was impossible not to admire.

Peter stopped a few steps away, rubbing the back of his neck as his lips quirked into a lopsided grin. “So, uh, you survived your boss, huh? He didn’t, like, spontaneously combust or anything?”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Not yet, but there’s still time.”

That laugh. It settled something in Peter’s chest, even as his nerves refused to completely quiet. “Well, lucky for me you didn’t call it a day early. Otherwise, I’d be standing here talking to myself like a total weirdo.”

“Oh~, I wouldn’t want you to suffer through that,” she teased, tilting her head as her smile lingered. “You look good, Peter.”

Peter blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Oh, uh, thanks! You look... Pr-Pretty!” He scratched the back of his neck, his grin turning a little sheepish. “Anyway, where should we head? I mean, if you’re still up for grabbing food.”

Her smile widened as she motioned toward the street. “Wherever you want, Peter. Lead the way.”

Peter straightened slightly, his confidence growing as he gestured dramatically toward the street. “Alright then. Prepare to be wowed by my totally average taste in food.”

__________________________________________

Ned jogged up the steps to his apartment complex, his bag slung over one shoulder and his brain still buzzing from the brainstorming session with MJ. They’d made some solid progress—or at least, that’s what he told himself. Peter would be grateful… eventually.

As he reached the front entrance, his foot nudged something. He glanced down to find a small parcel sitting on the step, unattended. Frowning, he bent to pick it up, flipping it over in his hands to check the shipping label. “Let’s see…” he muttered, squinting at the address in the dim light. “Oh, hey, it’s for someone in the building.”

Ned straightened, balancing the parcel in one hand as he unlocked the door with the other. The shipping address caught his eye again—Apartment 4B. His brow lifted. “That’s… literally across the hall from me,” he said to himself, stepping inside and letting the door swing shut behind him.

The elevator was broken again (no surprise there), so he took the stairs two at a time, the parcel tucked snugly under his arm. As he reached his floor and made his way to his door, he glanced across at 4B. He’d never met whoever lived there, which was weird, considering how often their paths probably crossed. Maybe this was a good opportunity to make an impression—or at least do something nice.

Pausing in front of his door, he looked back at the parcel, then at 4B, then back at the parcel. “I’ll just… leave a note or something,” he decided out loud, nodding to himself. “Yeah. Nice guy move. Totally non-creepy.”

Ned unlocked his door, stepping into his apartment with the parcel tucked under his arm. “Alright,” he said to himself, kicking off his sneakers and setting the box down on his small kitchen table. “I’ll just hold onto this until they come looking for it. Way better than leaving it outside.”

He pulled his bag off his shoulder, tossing it onto the couch before grabbing a sticky note from the stack he kept near the fridge. Scribbling quickly, he wrote: Hi! Found this on the steps. I’ve got it in 4A—just knock! He added a little smiley face for good measure, nodding to himself as if to approve his own work.

Peeling the note from the stack, he headed back to his front door. Stepping into the hallway, he stuck the note carefully onto his neighbour's door at 4B, smoothing it down so it wouldn’t fall off.

“There,” he murmured. “Good deed of the day, check.” Returning to his apartment, he glanced at the parcel sitting innocently on the table. “Now,” he said, heading toward the kitchen and opening the fridge. “Pizza time."

________________________________________

The restaurant was tucked into the corner of a quiet street, its rustic charm illuminated by soft, warm lighting that spilled out onto the sidewalk. Peter stepped ahead, holding the door open for [Name.] as the faint scent of soy sauce and ginger greeted them.

“This place looks nice,” [Name.] said, her gaze flickering over the cozy décor. The wooden tables, mismatched chairs, and faint hum of conversation gave it a welcoming vibe.

“Yeah, it’s one of my favourites,” Peter replied, running a hand through his hair as he approached the lady at the front desk. “Uh, hi—table for two?” His smile was slightly sheepish, but endearing all the same.

The lady behind the counter nodded, grabbing two menus before gesturing toward a small table near the window. Peter followed her lead, pulling out a chair for [Name.] as they sat down. The faint glow of the hanging lanterns overhead added a warm intimacy to the space.

“So,” Peter started, fiddling with the edge of the menu, “how was the rest of your day? You didn’t run into any more explosions, did you?”

[Name.] laughed softly, shaking her head. “No, thankfully. Just the usual chaos at work. Though I think my boss might be running on coffee fumes at this point.”

Peter chuckled, leaning forward slightly. “Sounds intense. You’re handling it way better than I would. I’d probably be hiding under a desk.”

“You? Under a desk? I don’t buy it,” [Name.] teased, her smile widening. “You’ve got more confidence than you think, Peter.”

Peter felt his cheeks warm, a small laugh escaping him as he scratched the back of his neck. “Maybe. Or I’m just really good at pretending.”

Their conversation paused briefly as a waitress approached to take their drink orders. Peter ordered jasmine tea, and [Name.] opted for something fruity.

As the waitress left, [Name.] glanced around the restaurant again, her smile softening. “This place is cute. How’d you find it?”

“Honestly? Accident,” Peter admitted, gesturing vaguely toward the door. “I was starving one night, and it was pouring rain. Ducking in here was probably the best decision I made that week.”

“Well, good decision,” [Name.] said, resting her chin lightly in her hand. “It feels… comforting.”

Peter smiled, watching her for a moment before realizing he was staring. He quickly shifted his gaze back to the menu, fiddling with the corner again. “Uh, yeah. Definitely comforting. So, uh, what’re you thinking? Kung Pao? Fried rice? The dumplings here are, like, legendary.”

“Well, if they’re that legendary, we’ll have to get the dumplings,” [Name.] replied with a playful smile, resting her menu flat on the table. “And some fried rice. Can’t go wrong with fried rice, right?”

“Solid choice,” Peter nodded enthusiastically, flipping the menu over in his hands. “I’m definitely getting dumplings too. And, uh, the Kung Pao chicken—it’s kind of my go-to.”

“Oh, branching out, are we?” she teased lightly, her eyes glinting with humor.

Peter laughed, leaning back in his chair. “What can I say? I’m a creature of habit. You’ll thank me, though—the Kung Pao here is ridiculously good.”

As they finalized their orders and the waitress disappeared to pass them to the kitchen, the conversation shifted naturally. Peter glanced across the table, his fingers drumming lightly against the edge. “So, uh, enough about your yelling boss and Spider-Man explosions,” he started, his tone light. “What about you? Like… what do you do when you’re not dodging chaos at work?”

She tilted her head, her smile softening as she considered the question. "What do I do? Hmm… try to survive, mostly," she said with a small laugh. "But when I'm not fending off chaos? I read. A lot, actually. And, uh, I sketch sometimes—nothing serious, though."

Peter’s eyebrows rose with interest. "Sketch, huh? Like… buildings, people, or random Spider-Man sightings?" he joked, his grin widening.

She laughed, shaking her head. "Definitely not Spider-Man sightings. It’s more… people, I guess. Faces, mostly. Sometimes I see someone on the subway, and I just feel like I need to capture whatever it is about them that stands out. You know?"

Peter nodded, leaning in slightly. "That's actually really cool. I mean, you’re like, immortalizing moments of people’s lives. Way more impressive than my 'doodle on the edges of tech manuals during troubleshooting' level."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Something tells me you aced physics anyway. But yeah, it’s a hobby. Helps me slow down when everything feels too much, you know?"

Peter smiled thoughtfully, and for a moment, the table felt quieter. "I get that," he said softly, his voice carrying a rare seriousness. "Sometimes, when everything’s spinning out of control, you just need… something to ground you."

She studied him for a moment, curious about the shift in his tone.

“That makes sense,” she said, lightly tracing the rim of her glass. “So, who’s your grounding force? Family? Friends?”

Peter perked up, his grin returning as if the serious moment had passed. “Oh, yeah, totally. I mean, there’s Ned—he’s been my guy forever, you know? He’s like my go-to for everything. And MJ—she’s kind of this brilliant, sarcastic genius who never lets me get away with anything. She keeps me in check.”

“MJ,” she repeated, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile. “Is she your girlfriend?”

Peter blinked, caught off guard. “What? No. No, no, no, no,” he said quickly, waving his hands for emphasis, the words tumbling out in true Parker fashion. “She’s not—it’s not like that. I mean, she’s amazing, but she’s, uh, not my girlfriend. Nope. Just friends. Great friends. Totally great friends.”

She tilted her head, clearly amused. “Okay, okay, I believe you,” she said, holding back a laugh. “You don’t have to over-explain, you know.”

Peter let out a breath, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “Yeah, well, over-explaining is kind of my thing. But seriously, it’s not like that. Just friends.” His gaze flicked back to her, and for a moment, his usual easy-going confidence returned. “Why? You jealous or something?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Her laugh bubbled up, and she shook her head. “Nice try, Parker.”

_________________________________________

Peter gave her a quick grin, the kind that made his eyes crinkle at the corners, as he ran a hand through his hair—a gesture so effortlessly endearing it caught her off guard. She felt her heart skip a beat, heat creeping up her neck before she could reel herself back in.

Peter noticed the faint shift in her expression and froze, his grin faltering ever so slightly. “Wait, do I have something on my face?” he asked, his voice tinged with alarm as his fingers instinctively went to his chin, then his cheeks, searching for an imaginary smudge.

“No, no, you’re fine,” she said, biting her lip to stifle the laugh threatening to escape. She shook her head, her shoulders trembling as the laugh finally broke free, soft and unbidden.

Peter tilted his head, narrowing his eyes in mock suspicion. “You sure? Because you’re laughing, and now I’m convinced there’s, like, sauce or rice stuck somewhere.”

Her laughter bubbled up again, and she waved him off, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I promise, you’re good. You’re just…” She trailed off, cheeks warming under his curious gaze. “Never mind.” Peter raised an eyebrow, his grin returning with a touch of mischief.

“Wait, hold on, you can’t just ‘never mind’ me like that. I’m officially invested now.”

She huffed a small laugh, rolling her eyes. “Let it go, Parker.”

“Not a chance,” he teased, leaning forward slightly, his usual confidence creeping back into his voice. “You’ve got me all paranoid now.”

Peter grinned, running a hand through his hair in that casual, endearing way, and leaned back in his chair. “So, no sauce on my face, right? Or rice? We’re good?” he joked, gesturing lightly to the table cluttered with nearly empty plates and a few stray grains of rice.

She shook her head, smiling as she speared the last bite of her fried rice with her fork. “You’re good, Parker. No rogue food particles. I promise.”

He sighed dramatically, feigning relief. “Okay, great. I was worried for a sec—”

His phone buzzed on the table, interrupting him mid-sentence. He glanced at it quickly and then ignored it, reaching for his drink instead. When it buzzed again, then a third time in quick succession, he froze, his fingers tapping nervously on the edge of the glass.

“It might be important,” she said, setting her fork down and giving him a gentle nudge to check.

Peter hesitated, chewing the inside of his cheek. “Uh, yeah, okay…”

Reluctantly, he picked up the phone. His eyes scanned the screen, and his heart sank as F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s alert flashed in bold: Incident at Hudson Yards. Immediate action required.

“Oh no,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. Looking up, guilt already written all over his face, he started scrambling to grab his wallet. “I’m so sorry—I have to go. It’s an emergency.”

She raised her hands to stop him. “Peter, it’s fine. Seriously, don’t worry about it.”

“No, no, the food’s on me,” he insisted, fumbling through his wallet and tossing some cash onto the table. “Order dessert, get it boxed up—whatever. I feel really bad about leaving like this.”

She stood as he got to his feet, brushing her hair over her shoulder.

“It’s okay, really. Go take care of whatever it is you need to do.”

Peter paused, his wallet still clutched in his hand. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” he said, his voice as earnest as ever. “Like, next time—more food, extra dumplings, the whole thing.”

She laughed softly, adjusting her bag. “Just text me when you’re done, okay? I’ll let you know when I’m home.”

His face softened, and he gave her a quick smile, the kind that made her heart skip for just a second too long. “Thanks,” he said, his voice warm and genuine. Then, with that classic mix of clumsiness and urgency, he nodded and hurried toward the door, pausing just long enough to glance back at her before disappearing.

_________________________________________

The city night had fallen into a peaceful hum by the time she reached her apartment building. As she climbed the stairs, the memory of Peter’s hurried exit lingered. She didn’t blame him—emergencies happened—but it didn’t stop the small pang of disappointment from settling in her chest. She pulled out her phone as she reached the third floor, her thumb swiping across the screen. No messages from him yet. She exhaled softly, tucking it back into her pocket as her steps carried her upward.

By the time she reached the fourth floor, the yellow post-it on her door caught her attention immediately. Peeling it off, she read the message: Hi! Found this on the steps. I’ve got it in 4A—just knock! Intrigued, she glanced at the apartment across the hall—4A—and made her way over, rapping lightly on the door.

There was a brief pause, and then chaos seemed to erupt on the other side. A loud crash, followed by a muffled “Oh, shoot—wait! Wait, hang on!” and what sounded like a chair being hurriedly shoved aside. She frowned, taking half a step back out of reflex, until the door finally opened.

Standing there, slightly out of breath, was a familiar-looking guy with wide eyes, round glasses slightly askew, and the unmistakable energy of someone trying to pull it together.

“Hi!” he said, his voice a touch higher than usual. He glanced at her, then at the post-it she held, connecting the dots. “Oh! 4B, right? Hey, uh—sorry about that. I was… reorganizing my desk,” he explained, motioning vaguely to the apartment behind him, where a chair lay tipped over, and a few scattered action figures were visible on a shelf. “You know, uh, feng shui. Anyway, I’m Ned.”

She raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a small smile. “Hi, Ned. I got your note…?”

“Oh, right!” He snapped his fingers, backing into the doorway and pointing over his shoulder toward the kitchen counter. “Yeah, I found your—wait, uh, what was it again? Oh! Yeah, it’s here!” He shuffled over to grab whatever he’d picked up earlier, his movements quick and slightly clumsy. “I didn’t want to just leave it out there, you know? Could’ve been stolen or, like, blown away or something.”

He turned back, holding her item out with a triumphant grin.

“Thanks for keeping this safe for me,” she said with a warm smile, reaching out to take her parcel from his hands.

Ned grinned, rocking slightly on his heels. “Oh, no problem! Always happy to help. You know, neighborly stuff!” His eyes flicked down, catching sight of the to-go box she was holding. “Oh man, is that from Yang’s on 7th? That place has, like, the best dumplings. And the Kung Pao chicken? It’s, like, life-changing. Did you get the Kung Pao? Wait—no, that’s probably fried rice, right? Oh! Or the dumplings? Definitely dumplings. Or both?”

She blinked, surprised by his sudden enthusiasm before laughing softly. “Uh, yeah, the fried rice was great. I had dumplings too,” she added, balancing the box in her hands. “The food was amazing.”

Ned nodded vigorously, clearly thrilled. “Right?! Me and my friends go there all the time—it’s, like, undefeated. Honestly, the sweet and sour pork? A sleeper hit. You’ve gotta try it next time. Just saying inc-” He stopped himself, his eyes widening slightly as if realizing he was on the verge of rambling. He laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “Sorry, uh, sometimes I just… food’s kind of my thing, I guess.”

She laughed again, shaking her head. “It’s okay. You’re, uh… really passionate about good food, I get it. And thanks again for keeping this safe for me.”

Ned straightened up, giving her an overly dramatic salute. “Anytime! That’s what neighbours are for.”

As she turned to head back to her door, she couldn’t help but smile to herself. Ned’s slightly awkward, sweet demeanour felt familiar—just different enough to remind her of someone else she knew. Someone with a knack for rushing off into emergencies but always leaving an impression.

_________________________________________

Hi! the more I get into this story, the more I seem to add this was supposed to be a 2 part thing and even I don't know where its going but I am having so much fun!

[evolutionsvoid]

The terrors that befell the followers of the Church of Divine Wealth seemed to have no end. The war brought forth many woes, but none could match the sheer horror that came from the Teraknon. When one of them appeared, death and destruction were imminent. The only hope people could cling to was the idea that some of these monstrosities targeted specific areas or members. If one were to stay away from crucial Church areas and avoid important figures, perhaps the Teraknon would leave them be. Sadly, this was a false hope, as Miteras had children whose job was to simply terrorize the Church’s people and territories. She would make all who dared even stand on the Church’s land suffer, and perhaps change their minds on who they aligned with. If life tied to the Church was so deadly and miserable, then maybe folks would be forced to find sanctuary within the realm of Miteras. There is no telling if such a method worked, and if so how much, but the terrors of the Teraknon will always be remembered. Especially the terrifying sight of a winged beast soaring through the heavens, its mere presence an omen of death. The tale of Avisodo is a reminder that horror lurked everywhere during the reign of Miteras, and one particular abomination ruled the sky. 

Avisodo was a bird-like monstrosity that haunted the skies of the Church’s land. Her great winged form was the result of Mother using a bunch of feathers to relieve her sexual frustrations (folks aren’t exactly sure how she achieved this with a pile of feathers but Miteras was well known for partaking in many odd practices in the pursuit of stimulation). As the only Teraknon with the gift of flight, Avisodo was given the honor of being messenger and scout of Miteras. Upon her wings, she would soar across the territory, noting the movements of people and supplies through the eyes on her tail feathers. If she saw anything of real importance, she would fly back to Mother and report. When Miteras’ forces were on the move, she would also relay messages for them. Such a task was an incredible gift to Avisodo, as it meant she was not only the watchful eye of her beloved Mother but also the bringer of her word as well! Faiths always spoke of divine messengers from the gods, which meant Avisodo had the honor of being one! But scouting and moving information wasn’t her only task, as Miteras also told her to spread fear and chaos upon the wretched followers of the Church. If she were to find suitable targets to cripple the efforts of the Church or make the people of its faith question their choices, then Avisodo had permission to unleash death. This was the part Avisodo greatly enjoyed. 

The winged terror known as The Soaring One filled hearts with terror and minds with panic when they spotted her in the sky. She flew with incredible speed and agility, to the point where none could hit her or escape her. Arrows and magic may as well have been lazily tossed stones with how she dodged them, effortlessly dancing past any attack. Victims that ran or rode away would never make it, always doomed to be her next meal. This was because of the nasty weapon she wielded with her deformed limbs. Below her great wings was another pair, but this one stripped bare and fleshy. Though they lacked typical feathers, they were instead coated in horrible thin quills. In truth, each quill was a crude calamus, modified to be a weapon instead of a tool of flight. These structures were like hollow needles, and inside was a nasty paralytic venom. A single stab was enough to freeze the muscles around the entry point, rendering the area useless and stiff. One or two could be survived, but victims rarely got away so easy. This was because Avisodo unleashed these quills with reckless abandon, raining them down upon her prey. People and beasts would try to run, but would quickly realize the futility of it. These quills were not simple darts, as they homed in on their prey when fired. So even when victims had the speed to outrun the flying fiend, the tracking needles would chase them down and leave them frozen statues. 

Prey would be riddled with these quills til their bodies locked up and they lay exposed. When they were disabled, Avisodo would swoop down and seize them in her coiling spiked member. This vile limb would carry victims away, as The Soaring One had preferred spots to dine. Even though she was a master of the skies, she knew she was vulnerable when on the ground feeding. This was why she would scoop up her prey and fly off to high up spots, that way she wouldn’t be disturbed. Mountain tops were her main go-tos, and it was there where she would dump her meal. To feed, she would lay atop her victims, smothering them with her strange brood patch. This patch of bare skin secreted a powerful digestive enzyme, which melted food down. This nutritious soup would be absorbed by the very same brood patch, burning away at victims til nothing but a sticky stain was left. After that, it was off to find more prey or points of interest to spy on.  

Avisodo’s presence was a clear problem, as she gave Miteras valuable intel and she made every person in Church territory terrified to leave their homes. There was no telling when a shadow would fall upon them as they traveled or worked, followed by a deadly rain of quills. The Soaring One had also started going after animal herds, driving away food sources for the locals. This Teraknon had to be stopped, and Nameless was the Finger who arrived to do it. With a flying foe, it would seem that a long range fighter was needed. Secundus would have seemed the right choice, as his marksmanship was unmatched. However, Nameless felt that arrows and bolts would be useless here, as Avisodo had yet to be felled by such simple weapons. Their mastery of Blood lightning could be the key to ending this abomination, but even then, Nameless felt uncertain. She was a fast one, and knowledgeable about the heavens she soared. Surely lightning was something she was used to. As they puzzled over it, the task seemed impossible. How to down a bird whose mastery of flight prevented them from being struck? In a flash of inspiration, the answer came. Their power of lightning would indeed be her doom, but it all hinged on time and place. 

Before Nameless went to track down Avisodo, they visited lands that she had previously terrorized. They spoke with locals so they could lead them to spots where she had taken a victim. These sites of tragedy where given a prayer to the lost souls, but Nameless wasn’t just here to honor the dead. They were combing the area looking for Avisodo’s quills, those that had embedded themselves in the environment as they rained upon the victim. After visiting several sites, Nameless was able to collect over a dozen of these deadly needles. Each would be cleansed of their wicked energy and cleaned of their venom. Once this was done, they stocked up on Blood vials to fuel their crimson lightning for the coming battle. With this, it was time to deal with The Soaring One. 

Since she flew over a wide territory, tracking her down would be difficult. Thankfully, her task as scout and spy meant she had an eye out for anything unusual or interesting. All Nameless had to do was get her attention, and the vile Teraknon would come to them. Imbibing in some of their Blood vials, they unleashed bolts of crimson lightning all around them, firing them off with reckless abandon. Though this seemed like a waste when there was no foe to fight, the entire point was to make enough light and noise that it would catch the curiosity of Avisodo. And indeed, The Soaring One took notice. She flew to the source of this commotion and immediately spotted Nameless standing ready. They proudly bore the symbol of the Church, their golden trinkets making their allegiance very obvious to her. The mere sight of it drew her ire, and she wasted no time swooping down to confront this warrior of gold. Nameless quickly opened fire by unleashing several bolts of Blood lightning, but their fears had been confirmed. The winged wretch spun and swerved round these crackling missiles, emerging from this storm without a single feather singed. Now it was her turn. 

From her malformed wings spewed forth a hail of eager quills, each locked onto their quarry and loaded with deadly venom. They shot towards Nameless like a hungering pack of arrows, but the Finger knew better than to try and stop them. Dosing themselves with another Blood vial, they called upon the energy within the humor to fuel their limbs. They burst into a sprint with unnatural speed, using the Blood to drive them forward. Avisodo continued to pursue, and so did her venomous needles. No matter which direction Nameless took, they could not shake off these gaining spines. They were not worried though, as they had a different idea. Their planned retreat was heading straight towards a forest, where Nameless could lose Avisodo in the trees. The thick canopy forced her to break off pursuit and circle above the trees, but her needles did not back down. Under the cover of the forest, they swerved and juked as they ran, radically altering their path. The quills would continue to lock onto them, but the crazy changes in direction caused them to imbed themselves into tree trunks as they tried to keep up. With enough maneuvers, they were able to lose all the pursuing needles in this manner, but Avisodo was still out there. She was looking for an opening in the canopy so she could get down there and continue the hunt. Nameless knew they didn’t have long before she would find them, so the next step of the plan was enacted. 

They pulled out the many quills they had collected and cleaned, then started stabbing them into their body. Such action would make many hesitate, but as a weaver of Blood and a believer in penance, Nameless was quite used to such self-mutilation. They jabbed many of these prepared quills into their back, while also getting some in the limbs.There was Blood and pain, but this was necessary. They downed the last of their Blood vials and then dropped to the ground to lay frozen and motionless. Within the minute, Avisodo burst through the canopy and at last laid eyes on her hiding prey. She was pleased to see them unmoving on the ground, the many quills in their body showing that their little trick had failed. Her venom had surely frozen their limbs, rendering them helpless, so that meant it was time to feed. Though the forest provided cover, Avisodo still didn’t like eating down here. She would dine on this foolish warrior at her favorite spot. Her spiny member constricted the faking Nameless, who had to bear its thorny grip without making a sound. They had to keep up the ruse, never moving or making noise or else she would realize her prey was still functional. With Nameless caught in her coil, she launched herself out of the forest and headed to a nearby mountain top. 

Here, the Finger was dumped unceremoniously onto the cold ground, still playing the role of frozen corpse. She would jab the warrior a few times with her wing claws to double check that they were down for good, and her prey didn’t move a muscle. Everything looked good, time to eat! With the meal laid out, Avisodo brought her body down atop Nameless, beginning the feeding process. Her brood patch pinned them to the earth, her hungry flesh and weight pushing them down. In mere moments, the acid would be released and Nameless would be consumed. But as she smothered the Finger in her feeding embrace, they mustered every bit of energeiai inside them and called out to the Blood. It wasn’t just the crimson humor in their veins that they summoned, but also to the fluids in the clouds above. Their Blood cried out, and the heavens answered. In less than a second, they turned their body into a lightning rod and the fury of the sky came down. Avisodo never knew what hit her, as a single deadly bolt of crimson lightning descended from the heavens and struck the beckoning Nameless. The Soaring One, caught between the sky and its target, was run through by the great bolt, its incredible energy blowing her to pieces. Nameless would survive this lightning strike singed and scarred, but The Soaring One clearly did not.                

The remaining chunks of Avisodo’s corpse would be stripped of all her feathers. Many of them would be used as fletchings for the Church’s arrows, unleashed upon Miteras during the final battle. Those that remained would be used for quills and flabellum, these wicked materials turned into blessed tools to further spread the one true faith.

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

I think I got a few pieces mixed up when putting this bird together. That part is supposed to go there, right? Ah, I am sure it is fine!

[linguisticdiscovery]

Ways English borrowed words from Latin

Latin has been influencing English since before English existed!

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of ways that English got vocabulary from Latin:

early Latin influence on the Germanic tribes: The Germanic tribes borrowed words from the Romans while still in continental Europe, before coming to England.

camp, wall, pit, street, mile, cheap, mint, wine, cheese, pillow, cup, linen, line, pepper, butter, onion, chalk, copper, dragon, peacock, pipe, bishop

Roman occupation of England: The Celts borrowed words from the Romans when the Romans invaded England, and the Anglo-Saxons later borrowed those Latin words from the Celts.

port, tower, -chester / -caster / -cester (place name suffix), mount

Christianization of the Anglo-Saxons: Roman missionaries to England converted the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity and brought Latin with them.

altar, angel, anthem, candle, disciple, litany, martyr, mass, noon, nun, offer, organ, palm, relic, rule, shrine, temple, tunic, cap, sock, purple, chest, mat, sack, school, master, fever, circle, talent

Norman Conquest: The Norman French invaded England in 1066 under William the Conqueror, making Norman French the language of the state. Many words were borrowed from French, which had evolved out of Latin.

noble, servant, messenger, feast, story, government, state, empire, royal, authority, tyrant, court, council, parliament, assembly, record, tax, subject, public, liberty, office, warden, peer, sir, madam, mistress, slave, religion, confession, prayer, lesson, novice, creator, saint, miracle, faith, temptation, charity, pity, obedience, justice, equity, judgment, plea, bill, panel, evidence, proof, sentence, award, fine, prison, punishment, plead, blame, arrest, judge, banish, property, arson, heir, defense, army, navy, peace, enemy, battle, combat, banner, havoc, fashion, robe, button, boots, luxury, blue, brown, jewel, crystal, taste, toast, cream, sugar, salad, lettuce, herb, mustard, cinnamon, nutmeg, roast, boil, stew, fry, curtain, couch, screen, lamp, blanket, dance, music, labor, fool, sculpture, beauty, color, image, tone, poet, romance, title, story, pen, chapter, medicine, pain, stomach, plague, poison

The Renaissance: The intense focus on writings from classical antiquity during the Renaissance led to the borrowing of numerous words directly from Latin.

atmosphere, disability, halo, agile, appropriate, expensive, external, habitual, impersonal, adapt, alienate, benefit, consolidate, disregard, erupt, exist, extinguish, harass, meditate

The Scientific Revolution: The need for new technical and scientific terms led to many neoclassical compounds formed from Classical Greek and Latin elements, or new uses of Latin prefixes.

automobile, transcontinental, transformer, prehistoric, preview, prequel, subtitle, deflate, component, data, experiment, formula, nucleus, ratio, structure

Not to mention most borrowings from other Romance languages, such as Spanish or Italian, which also evolved from Latin.

Further Reading: A history of the English language (Baugh & Cable)