#all my friends bullied me for not even lasting 14 hours before caving and getting him

[hsr-texts]

wait why did u get him if u hate him 😭😭😭

I needed a dps also I have a gacha addiction

I swear I don't like him

pls ignore that I've maxed him out completely and also gave him the absolute best relics I have

he's the worst

he pissed on my wife /reference

he's stinky

he's a man

he's a liar

i hate him

[weeklyfangirl]

Frat Boy Pt. 22

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7 (1), part 7 (2), part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 13 , part 14, part 15, part 16, part 17, part 18, part 19 , part 20, part 21

Hope everyone is keeping themselves mentally/physically well... here’s the next update in your adventure. Please safely read from home ;) 

The sun moved slowly up my window, illuminating the dancing dust in the air. Even though I knew dust didn’t have feelings, it all still looked very peaceful, suspended there in space. 

 I wanted to be suspended, floating, with no obligations or pressures. 

 Instead, I watched time slip by, slowly, as the shadows stretched along my floor and I lay still, wrapped in a giant Winnie-the-Pooh sheets burrito. 

I called in sick the past three days to work and to all my classes, my lack of attendance probably dropping me a letter grade in a few classes. Instead of checking on my academic scholarship, I begged Renny to drop off Dr. Rhinecuff’s papers for me. She did, lamenting about how his office smelled like roast beef and how she probably needed a nose job from it shrivelling up from the stench. Tired, I sent her three hearts, ignoring all of her calls and voicemails. 

 In a random bout of restless energy, I looked up the University of Oxford in England. No one would know me there. And maybe that wasn’t a bad thing when you didn’t even know yourself. I stayed on their site for an hour, avoiding my take-home assignments, and speculating which classes I could take in the spring semester. My eyes grew tired though, and even if I were accepted as a transfer student, it wasn’t like I could ever afford it without scholarships. 

 I closed the computer. 

 It’d been cloudy, rainy. The random storm that’d come in from Mexico lasted longer than the usual morning fog that’d roll in and out by the time it was 9 AM. This storm lingered, heavy, full clouds looking to burst and unleash a steady rain for three to four hours before the clouds rested, storing up all they could until the next downpour. 

 My parents didn’t question me when I came in, used to my random visits. But when I went straight to my room without saying hello, rain-plastered hair covering puffy eyes, my mom basically collapsed at the sight. 

 She followed me to the bed, trying to see my face, but I buried it in the pillow, ignoring the way the purple fringe tickled my nose. 

 “What’s wrong sweetheart?” 

 I just groaned. Her voice was too gentle, too well-intending for the dark thoughts sitting in my mind. She’d be heartbroken if she heard them. 

 She huffed, not out of annoyance, but distress. “What’s bothering you?? Is it Renny? Did you breakup with Harry?” All those reasons were too simple. She ran her hands lightly along my legs, but I cringed away from her touch. It was something I rarely did. She paused. “You can tell me anything...” 

 I shook my head against the pillow, my last attempt to tell her to leave without speaking. She waited a moment longer. 

 “Okay,” she said. And that was it. 

 Father didn’t ask questions, not even when I was here for the third consecutive day. Mom had probably come to her own conclusions, and shared them with him. 

 “Mom said you aren’t feeling too well,” he said over cereal one morning, confirming my suspicions. It was the first time he’d broken our three-day spree of comfortable silence. 

 “What else did she tell you?” 

 He shrugged his shoulders, his usual buoyant self replaced with a quiet voice. He looked at me, and all I saw was pity. If I were him, I’d probably look at me the same way. I hadn’t showered in a while. “Well don’t let anything get you down. You’re too smart for that.”

 He’d tried. He’d put in an effort. I just nodded, scooping up another spoonful of cereal. He followed suit. 

 And that was that.  

 A week passed like this. 

 But overnight, the clouds had blown away, and the sun came back full-force this morning just in time for the weekend, renewing my guilt. That traitor. 

 I’d cried all of Monday and Tuesday, but when the last tear was shed in the middle of a New Girl episode, I was empty. My tears didn’t leave anything to replace them with. 

 On Wednesday, a phone alarm reminded me I had a therapy appointment. I hit snooze multiple times. It was only when I got up to pee, and I hated what I saw in the mirror that I threw on an oversized sweater to go over my pajamas and headed out the door. 

 “Is it good?” I asked. 

 Her hands reviewed my wants list.  

 “That’s just a coffee stain on the corner..just...ignore that bit,” I added. 

 She surveyed it briefly, not really focusing on it. “Were you honest?”

 I nodded.

 “Then there isn’t good or bad. It’s just your truth.”

 “But I still feel… I don’t know. I don’t think I know what that is. I don’t feel like I’m… progressing. Doing anything towards that,” I said. 

 She looked at me with a level gaze. “Then that’s your truth. And that’s okay for right now.”

 I shot her a glance.

 “I see a common struggle with people your age. They feel this….” -She adjusted, quirking her head- “immense pressure to be perfect, to figure it all out, to achieve success so early.” 

 “Everyone’s doing it,” I began. “They’re getting internships, keeping up their grades, involved in ten clubs, doing community service…” I could’ve droned on, but didn’t. 

 “You have an internship, your grades are good, you’ve joined a sorority, and up until recently you’ve been involved in tutoring. Those are extracurriculars.” 

 I couldn’t argue with her. 

 “Is it too much?” she asked.

 Too much. It was everything I’d been feeling until I’d felt nothing. But hearing her list off what was waiting for me just beyond her doors made me feel the weight of it all over again. 

 “I’ve just been overwhelmed.” 

 “Who have you been thinking about?” 

 She noticed I started picking my hangnail. 

 She started gently, knowingly. “Has it been Harry?” 

 “Ow,” I cursed. A bit of blood prickled up where the hangnail used to be. 

 “He seems to be a major stressor in your life. Would you agree?” The clock ticked behind her, filling the silence. Her hands rested in her lap, while mine swiped away the bit of blood. I could never remember my therapist’s name, but somehow it wasn’t important. 

 “Yeah, but … I mean …. there’s a lot of stressors.”

 “Like his friends?”

 His friends, in the abbreviated story I’d told her, stood in place for the gang. I’d used terms like … intimidating, mean, basically painting them as bullies who didn’t like us together. I wasn’t expecting to get much therapy from a lie. “Out of curiosity, if I were to tell you something… would you be obligated to report it to the police?” 

 “Not necessarily.” Her legs crossed, creased brows zeroing in with a laser focus. “Has something happened to you, Y/N?”

 I swallowed hard, the truth lodged in my throat. But I had gotten too used to the weight of the secret. “I was just curious…” My mind raced to change the subject, and I blurted about Zayn’s art show. 

 “Do you think this panic attack was induced by this heightened sense of scrutiny from Harry’s friends?” 

 “Probably.” 

 “You said there were others. What are your main stressors?’ 

 I settled in, more comfortable with this question. “There’s financial stressors, for one. And it’s exasperated here.” 

 “You’ve been dealing with financial difficulties for a while, now. Have you been feeling this anxious the entire time, or has it been recent?” 

 My foot tapped impatiently. We both knew the answer.

 “Your panic attack was a first,” she explained, gently. “Some new factor in your life pushed you there.” 

 I picked at the hangnail, wincing. It was gone. My skin was raw. 

 “Maybe it all links back to Harry.” She waited a moment to see if I’d speak. When I didn’t, she leant back, and pulled out a new sheet of paper, scribbling something down. “I want you to write a pros and cons list about your relationship with him, for next time. When your feelings are overwhelming, it helps to get everything on paper. In a list. Puts things in perspective.” 

 I drove home, her words had pushed themselves into my empty shell and now they clinked around, jostling up my insides like a pinball machine and giving me a headache. 

 Just because I hadn’t left the house all week didn’t mean I didn’t feel guilty for ditching work. God, I did. It killed me. I knew I was lucky to get that internship. Harry had mentioned how people killed just to get on the waitlist, and I didn’t doubt it. An OC internship with, if not the top, at least the most publicized private practice? I mean, I was typing in appointments next to a Southern Stanford grad if that speaks to the competition here. 

 And here I was, retreating back to my house, too drained to face the world. 

 As for Harry, after what I’d said to him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t want to talk to me ever again. 

 I’d been so cruel. 

 I was weak.  

 I felt guilty for feeling this way at all. 

 And then I would watch the dust again.

 It was a cycle. 

 About three blocks from my house on my way back from the therapist session, a familiar car passed me. It happened suddenly, unexpectedly, like most things do. We made eye contact before he passed, and my foot instantly lifted off the gas when my eyes connected with my brain. I whipped my head around but the matte black maserati sped up, disappearing from sight. 

 What was Harry doing this far from campus? 

 My heart beat erratically as I pulled into the driveway, and it was only seconds before I made it into the house. Father held up a hand in Grandpa’s old room. Phone call. Trudging silently to my own, I wrapped myself in a blanket burrito. 

 I’d been avoiding my phone, but I caved this time, checking J’s social media to see if he’d posted anything about being in the area to prove I WASN’T crazy and DIDN’T just hallucinate. Nothing. I tossed my phone on the other side of the room before I spiralled.  

 It didn’t matter. I was in my room. Alone. Safe. I focused on the dust. 

 Two little knocks disrupted my exciting mind game - which dust particle would fall further than the other. 

 “You’re turning ripe,” Father noted. His briefcase was still in his hand and he was coming startlingly close to my depression burrito. 

 “What are you doing-!?” I protested. But it was too late. He ripped the sheets off, exposing me in the t-shirt I’d been in since Monday. “Your mood won’t change if you don’t make an effort.

Come on.”

 “Where are we going?”

 “You’re coming to the water with me.” He hesitated at the door. “Shower first.” 

 In the car, a sense of comfort washed over me. He’d been right. Clean wet hair smelled nice and felt good slicked around my head. Even if Mom would complain I’d “catch cold,” it felt good to feel something. Dad’s speakers switched between classic rock and reggaeton as I sipped on the chocolate shake we picked up from the Shake Shack. It was a short drive away to the harbor, and once parked, a shorter walk to the public docks. 

 Our feet dangled above the water. It was too cold to go swimming this time of year, but my body buzzed with yearning despite the goosebumps on my skin. I wanted to feel encompassed by salty water. I wanted to be submerged, where everything was muted, a barrier between me and the world. Between my wet hair and the icy shake, I could pretend my body was as cool as the water below me. I could just…. dissolve. 

 “So what’s going on?” he opened up the conversation. “You having a hard time at school?” 

 “I don’t like the sorority.” 

 His brows raised, not expecting me to be so honest so soon. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, don’t you hate that shit?” 

 I looked at him, almost shocked he’d agreed with me. 

 The boats squeaked as they rocked with the rolling tides coming in from the ocean. I watched as a duffy boat wandered to the end of the jetty - where the harbor opened to the ocean. I took another big gulp of my shake, feeling the cold run down, freezing my esophagus. 

 “I liked frats, but sororities are different,” he mumbled, spooning his shake into his mouth. He’d gotten his usual Neapolitan, and it’d somehow stayed solid on the drive over. We hadn’t been to the Shake Shack in years, but I guess seeing his daughter waste away beneath her comforter was enough to break the dry spell. 

 “Why? Because its girls?” My lips were breaking into a smile without my consent. He didn’t make sense. 

 “They’re more catty.” He shrugged his shoulders. 

 “Dad! That’s verging on sexist.” 

 “Eh, I don’t know. I’m just saying things. Did you tell Mom you want to quit?” 

 I shook my head. 

 “Yeah…” he looked out at the boats, a quiet understanding passing between us. “She was really excited for you to join.” 

 “It’s not all bad…” 

 “Well if it’s not making you happy, don’t do it. Your mom doesn’t want you doing anything you don’t want to do. I was in a frat to shoot the shit with friends and it was something fun to do instead of study. If it’s not something fun for you, drop it.” 

 I could hear the words he was telling me, but it was like they were rolling off my shoulders, not really penetrating. He made it sound so easy, but it seemed like it was a million times harder than that. Everything was entangled, just as Harry had said. Not to mention Renny. If I quit, I felt like I’d lose her forever, too. I knew I could use a better friend, but that couldn’t erase the years of memories we had together. Losing Renny would feel like losing a part of myself. Not that I knew who that was anymore. 

 “Dad?” I asked. The question that'd weighed on my mind ever since I got home rested on the tip of my tongue. 

 “Yeah?” 

 “This is going to sound weird, but did you see Harry today?” 

 “Yeah. He stopped by,” he said, casually, spooning another mouthful. 

 I practically choked. “What? Why?! Weren’t you going to tell me?” 

 “Y/N, I’m working. I have a thousand things bouncing around in my head all the time.”

 “And?!!?”

 Harry couldn’t reach out to me beforehand? He drove by but- what? Didn’t even want to see me? 

 He sighed, not understanding the urgency. “He just stopped by, said hi. That’s all.” 

 My brows stitched. “Why would he say hi to you? What’d he say, exactly?” 

 “Oh, come on, I don’t know. I can’t remember-”

 “Dad!” 

 “All right, all right. Hi, how are you…” -his brain tried to remember- “he asked if you were doing okay. Then he left. He was nearby for a family brunch or something.” 

 “He asked about me?” 

 “Yeah. I mean, he didn’t go on and on, he just asked a question. He was in a rush.” 

 The shake froze me from the inside, and the breeze froze me from the out. But while I shriveled into myself, my guilt grew. “Dad?” 

 He hummed. 

 “Why are people so fake?” 

 He looked out at the harbor, peaceful for a winter’s morning. Only one small fishing boat headed towards the harbor’s edge, the sole fisherman at the helm facing the wind with the grace of a husband dealing with a temperamental spouse. 

 Father looked to our shoes as a random swell came, the water rising perilously close to our soles. Then, with all the untapped wisdom I seldom remembered parents had, “People are fake because they don’t know who they are,” he said.

 He got a call from the restaurant and drove us home. 

 In bed the next day, I ignored the pros/cons assignment, watching New Girl and making collages of Oxford in a word document until my eyes were burning from blue light exposure. I knew I was pushing it staying this long away from school, away from my problems. I was pushing myself, seeing how far my apathy could go. I woke up Thursday night at 2 AM from the rain pouring against my shutter and anger pricking my insides. 

 Harry was the reason I was in this position. As well as Viv, who fucked Harry. And Kiki, who gave me a DG Pretty Please, that just so happened to involve Harry. 

 I wanted him, but I wanted him to fuck off. Nothing was changing. Nothing was getting better. 

 It was all Harry, Harry, Harry, and no matter what, I ended up feeling insane.  

 At one point, I was going to have to choose myself. 

 I rolled over, blindly reaching for a pen, and scribbled in the dark. 

 If my therapist wanted a list, she’d get one helluva list. 

 -----------

“I’m glad you’re going, honey.” Mom released me from the lung-crushing hug. 

 I’d created enough Oxford collages and daydreamed about a new life until I couldn’t think of any other imaginary scenarios (or postpone collegiate life any longer). 

 The Friday sun had set. The game had already started. I thought about the crowd, all the people I’d see… 

 “Can I just stay the weekend?” 

 “Oh.” Her arms dropped from my sides. “Didn’t you promise your friends that you’d go?” 

 Renny. I’d promised Renny. Singular friend. My hand was in a fist, thumb rubbing anxiously over my fingers. I didn’t listen to her voicemails, there were seven of them. But she’d texted me fifty times in the past twenty minutes, declaring that she’d Venmo me gas money if I’d come to the game. 

 I’d been in my hole long enough. 

 “Yeah, I did.”

 “Well, you COULD stay-”

 I broke away, shaking my head. If I let her coddle me another minute, I think I’d crumble all over again. 

 “I love you,” she reminded me. “You’re my precious angel.” 

 From the living room, the muffled applause from the game show Father had fallen asleep to faded further as I left. 

 Momma’s robe-bundled frame waved on the driveway, her sad smile burning in my mind long after she disappeared from view.

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

 Come on, come on, come ON. 

 The path to the stadium took forever. No shame, I was full-on running, braless, fresh pit-stains on display as I booked it to the gate. 

 It was completely dark now, and the usual fleet of cop cars seemed to have all but disappeared the week I’d been gone. Only one passed me by, and the rest of the student body probably all congregated around the stadium. 

 When I saw the art studio, I slowed. It was completely dark, except for one entry light. The paintings would still be displayed... My pounding heart told me to keep running, and I hesitated, listening to it for a moment before walking to the door. I tugged on its metal handles, parts of me seizing up as it opened, giving way to my touch. 

 I crept into the space, feeling like an intruder as I walked through the exhibit. 

 For some reason, I expected it to look differently, to see it blurred together as I’d seen it before in a panic. 

 I was still hanging amidst the vines, but this time the paintings looked less threatening. Maybe it was the fact that I was alone, maybe it was because I’d already felt the worst of it. 

 Each piece was sold. 

 I looked over my shoulder a couple times before letting out a small shout. A tester. 

 It echoed in the space. 

 I did it again, louder, at my full about-to-be-murdered capacity.

 I must’ve looked absolutely mental, but as I heard my shout reverberate around me, at least I felt something.  

 Five charcoal sketches in particular ran horizontally together. 

 Lust / Longing / Love / Lost / Loss

 Had he seen all of this in me? He’d certainly seen other bits I hadn’t shown him. 

 My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out. Renny. Without thought, I started her stream of voicemails.

 Y/N where the FUCK are you!? Zayn’s concerned and I’m concerned and you’re not in the room-

 Next. 

 Are you really sick? Or is this just some BS excuse. Or is this real and Harry gave you tonsilitis or something. I want to hear your voice. Ilyyyyy. 

 Next. 

 It’s meeeeee. Niall’s busy and you’re sick and I don’t know what to dooooo. Housewives isn’t as fun without-

 Next.

 BABE WHY AREN’T YOU ANSWERING ME CALLS DO YOU HATE ME, AND YES I MEANT TO SAY ME INSTEAD OF MY I HOPE YOU’RE LAUGHING-

 Next.

 DUDE. You will not believe what just happened- Harry just stopped by. 

 My thumb paused, letting it stay. 

 I was avoiding his texts because I think he’s a dick. Well, he IS a dick, even if Niall said he was going through a lot. It’s still not an excuse. But Harry LEGIT found me on campus, like not even when I was with Niall at the house, but at our APARTMENT...I-hold on. Ew, pastrami professor just passed me. What are the odds? OKAY BUT SERIOUSLY, I almost punched him when I opened the door because remember last time he basically told me off. But… I don’t know. It was different this time. He seemed… so concerned. Frazzled. I don’t even know the word to describe it. Ugh, if you were here you would be able to TELL ME what the word is. I miss you. Come back. 

 The voicemail rolled into the next. 

 I’m just pretending to talk on the phone right now because the boy I hooked up with last year is staring me THE FUCK down right now-

 A creak in the pipes startled me, and the voicemail was all but forgotten. 

 My heart beat fast. 

 It was very, very quiet. 

 With one noise in the dark, the art pieces turned menacing. An oil painting in the corner of the room morphed into the Styles’ portrait. It wasn’t here. It couldn’t be here. I squinted, blinking through the dark. The portrait I thought I’d seen was just a painting of two silhouetted men facing each other. My heart still beat like I’d just ran a marathon though. I wasn’t about to be a part of the next horror movie “art comes alive.” 

 I booked it out faster than I came, answering Renny’s call on the way. 

 ---------

“Thank fucking finally,” Renny huffed, leaning over Lynn to draw me in a hug.

 “You didn’t miss much,” Lynn said, looking past me towards the game. I sat on Renny’s other side so she was in the middle, but when I looked at the scoreboard - Home, zero. Guest, two - I knew it was a done deal. Some people had already left, but half the stadium was still here, either hoping for a miraculous recovery or refusing to put their tails between their legs for pride’s sake. I noticed a group of parents in Chapman gear huddled together, waving their flags. No Mary or Lionel Styles in sight. 

 “How’s he been?” I asked. It’s like my head already knew where to turn, because as soon as I looked to the field, I found him. On the bench, elbows on his knees, head bent over.  

 “How’ve YOU been?” Renny asked. “I was seriously about to drive over to your house and check on you.” 

 Someone beat you to it. The thought was sour. For as much as Renny could claim her undying love for me, I was struggling to see the actions to support it. Everyone was disappointing. 

 “He’s been playing like shit,” Lynn answered.  

 “Brought back some...” His sentence died. Of all people, Zayn stood there, stopped, popcorn in hand. “Hey, Y/N.” 

 Felix stood behind Zayn, giving me a small wave. Zayn was clearly waiting for me to make the first move, but I turned away to the field. I didn’t know what to say. 

 From my peripheral, I saw them sit down by Lynn. 

 As soon as he did, it hit me like a flashfood. I knew what I was feeling. Anger. Discomfort. Shame. That he could expose me so easily, that he’d looked through my clothes in a way I never permitted. That he could sit down so comfortably without apologizing, as if nothing had happened. 

 Renny leaned in. “Are you okay?” 

 “No.”

 She flinched at the abrupt answer. “Do you want to leave?” 

 I stopped myself from saying yes. I didn’t want to have to climb over Zayn to get out of here. That would be more than uncomfortable. 

 “No, I’ll tell you later.” 

 I didn’t speak the rest of the game, pretending not to hear him cheer or laugh or make a snide remark to Felix every other second. Like the annoying click of a fan when you’re trying to fall asleep, Zayn’s every move made anger shake my bones. Lynn gave me sympathy looks every once in a while. It wasn’t like me to be this quiet, and even with our friendship being as new as it was, she knew that much. 

 The crowd didn’t roar this time. They were silent as the clock hit zero, staring blatantly at its twin beneath Home. The Guest team’s few Minnesota supporters jumped like little beans on the other side of the field, but their cries were faint. 

 We’d lost. 

 Everyone stood, and Renny linked her arm with mine. A familiar habit. “We’re going to Viv’s for some post-game depression drinks now.” 

 But I stopped her. 

 “I think I want to go back to the room,” I winced. 

 “Come on, PLEASE? It’ll be fun, you were barely here for the game.” 

 “I don’t know, depression and Viv in the same sentence… You really know how to sell a party.” 

 “Aren’t you coming, Y/N?” Lynn made moves to follow the rest of the crowd that was funneling out of the stands.  

 I shook my head at the same time Renny nodded hers. 

 She huffed. “Why not? It’s going to be chill. We lost. It’s not going to be like the usual ragers.” She popped her hip, completely deadpanned. “You haven’t seen another college-aged person in a week.” 

 “Yeah and there’s a reason for that.” 

 Concern washed over her, voice lowering. “Tell me.” 

 As if on cue, Zayn and Felix stopped their descent down the bleachers and looked up at the girls, waiting for them to join. It was all I could do to not scream at them. 

 “Later,” I said. “You’re leaving now.” 

 “I don’t have to leave right now, it’s not starting yet...” Renny began, but Lynn gave her a look that said yes, they were leaving now. 

 “She wants us to help set-up,” Lynn explained. 

 “But it’s a small thing, right?” I teased Renny. 

 My bestie rolled her eyes, lips pinching. “Are you SURE?” 

 I nodded, sitting down on the cool metal bleacher again. Renny took a step towards me, a sad look on her face, but I held up my hand. 

 “I’m fine,” I said, when I felt anything but. “I just want to wait until the crowd leaves.” I picked up the popcorn bag she’d left behind and threw a handful in my mouth with a cheesy, hopefully convincing grin.

 She grimaced, briefly looking back to Lynn who was anxiously waiting. “Fine. But we’re still talking about this later. I friggin miss you.”

 She left with the others, funneling out towards a party she’d probably stay at until the early morning. 

 I didn’t want to go back to the room. I didn’t want to go anywhere. 

 The lights were so bright on soccer fields. Bugs flew in and around, racing each other faster than the dust in my room. It wasn’t until the janitors walked past me that I realized I’d been sitting there for too long. I reached in the popcorn bag, but my hand came up empty. They’d gone overboard on the salty butter, but somehow, I’d still managed to eat all of it. 

 Even with everyone off the field though, I didn’t feel alone. An older Hispanic woman taking out the trash saw me walking down and opened up the bag. 

 “Thank you,” I said, smiling. 

 She just smiled in return, nodding her head as she continued down the aisle.

 Leaving the field’s gates, I was prepping for another mini run-for-my-life-and-back-to-the-dorm anxiety episode, when I heard someone shuffling. There were faint groaning noises, and I sped up my pace. 

 For a flash second, I thought someone was winning the “sleep in the locker room” bet, but when I tossed my head-back mid-run, I stopped so quickly, I almost tripped. 

 “Harry?” 

 There, in the dark, barely concealed by the shadows, he stumbled out. His abdomen looked… glossy? But then the light reflected crimson. 

 I ran to him as he fell, his white jersey stained with blood. “Oh my God, oh my God…” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “What happened?! Are you okay!?” 

 He pushed me back. “M’fine.” But his voice was strained. He stumbled again, and I reached out before he fell. 

 I thought the blood from his shirt had fallen from a bloody nose, but his hand moved to my arm in a vice-like grip, revealing a gash in his jersey, I saw more liquid pool out from his gut and I almost gagged. 

 “You are BEYOND fine. You aren’t fucking fine!!” 

 “We have to leave. Have to… get out of here.” He grimaced. His face, his beautifully chiselled face was swollen on one side, his lip cut from impact. 

 “Okay. OKAY. I need to call the cops. The cops. I’m going to call them.” Shaky hands took out the cellphone, but he threw it down. “HARRY!” 

 “Take me to the physical therapy room?” 

 I looked at his chest. “You’re bleeding. A LOT.” My free arm reached for the tossed phone, but he tugged me back. 

 “No. They’ll write a report. I can’t have a-” he winced, sucking in a breath, and I reached for the phone again. “DON’T. Fucking hell. Don’t call anyone.”

 My eyes racked his frame again, and I immediately applied pressure to his ab area, right where the gash was. He sucked in a breath, unleashing a string of curses I couldn’t hear right now. “Oh my God,” I breathed. 

 “Answer me,” he growled. 

 My mind scrambled for his question… he wanted me to take him to the physical therapy room.  “YES! Yes. I have the- fuck, yes, I know where the keys are.” I looked at him again. What the FUCK.

 “Stop freaking out,” he grunted, but he weakened the next second, his eyes fluttering before coming back to me. 

 “Okay, hold on. Hold onto me. Keep applying pressure.” 

 The physical therapy room wasn’t too far, bits of blood that’d fallen to his shoes marking our path.

 “Why aren’t all the cops here?” 

 “They’re on rotation. The parties... they’llbestationedthere-JESUS.” We paused, letting him catch his breath. But it was shallow. Too shallow. 

 “Can you wait here for a second?” I asked.

 He nodded, resting against a lamp post. 

 I hurried to the lockbox located behind the planter, punching in the code and unlocking it at lightning’s speed. 

 I didn’t know if there were cameras. I didn’t know if this was illegal. 

 I didn’t care.

 We made it through the doors, and he was just about to sit on the table when- 

 “WAIT!” I ran to grab several rags and laid it beneath him before heaving him up. The soft cry he made when sitting down was like a knife through my own chest. 

 I grabbed scissors, cutting his t-shirt. I didn’t have time to linger, I didn’t have time to notice the way his tattoos were completely concealed by a red current. There were two wounds. One, deeper, the other, more shallow. Both in the lower left abdomen, just above a prominent v-line.  

 I wiped around the area, pausing above the gashes. “This is going to sting,” I warned. 

 There wasn’t fear in his eyes. He watched me, and I, him, as I pressed it against the open skin. He trembled, wincing, mouth opening in silent exclamation.  

 “You’re doing good,” I whispered. 

 “So are you,” he gritted out. 

 I swallowed, reaching for the butterfly bandages. But as soon as I did, more blood rushed out. I held a rag to him. “Save your breath. You need it.”

 The thin white bandages seemed too little in the wake of his wound, and just as one bandage was placed, he cringed away, regretting his decision to move almost immediately.

 “Fucking hurts,” he groaned. 

 “Stop moving! I need to close the wound up. You’re bleeding too much.” 

 “Y/N, just take me home. Call Lionel,” he panted. 

 “I’m calling 911 if you don’t let me at least attempt to close this wound because if we leave now you’ll bleed out.” 

 “You’ve done enough, please-”

 “STOP. TALKING. I’ll call him after.” He saw a flame behind my eyes, and quieted, too weak to protest much more anyway. I came closer, and this time he didn’t flinch. The butterfly bandages at least minimally shrunk the open gouges. 

 With no other choice, I left him there alone, running across campus to my car and driving back in less than five minutes. It was illegal to drive through student walkways, let alone drive 60 mph, but there wasn’t a choice. I kept picturing Harry passing out, his limp God-like body, turned mortal, weak, bleeding out all over the training room floor. My foot hit the gas pedal harder. I could’ve been a damn marathon winner/race car driver. Let the cops add “speeding” to the file they already had on me. 

 Once we were both in the car, I looked over at him every two seconds. An entire roll of tight gauze around his abdomen kept the wound from bleeding out, but it was still turning pink. It was the second time blood would have been on my car. 

 Of all the revenge daydreams I’d had, I would’ve settled for Harry seeing me make out with Andre on the dancefloor over THIS. Would he die in my car? Would I be responsible?? I looked at the cheesy Angel pin my mom had given me for my car mirror. Never Fly Faster Than Your Guardian Angel Can Fly. Where was my angel now?? 

 “Where are we going?” He asked, between fading in and out.

 “To your house.” 

 His hand grabbed mine on the wheel and I practically swerved into the center divider from shock. 

 “HARRY!” 

 “We need to go to my house,” he said suddenly, panicked, as if I’d told him the opposite. 

 I placed our interlocked hands above the console. A safe distance away from the wheel in case he lurched again. 

 “Don’t worry, we’re going there. We’re going to your house. You’re just in shock, it’s okay,” I cooed, but it was desperate. And it was definitely not okay. 

 “They’ll ask… less..less questions...” 

 His grip was unbearably tight for three long seconds before it relaxed. 

 “Stay with me. Stay awake,” I urged. Harry’s lids kept drooping and I was desperate, blasting the Air Conditioning to an uncomfortable temperature. 

 Lionel picked up on the second ring. 

 “It’s Y/N. I think Harry’s been stabbed-” 

 “What?!” 

 “- I told him we should call the cops, but he was adamant we call you instead.” 

 “Seal the wound with whatever you can-”

 “I did that. Not well, we didn’t have wound sealant- Okay, I’m rambling. I don’t know what to do, but he needs to see a doctor. Immediately.” 

 There was a long pause. 

 “Hello?” my voice wavered. 

 “Bring him to the practice.” The voice over the other line was that of a doctor, matter-of-fact, somber. 

 Hoag Hospital passed me, a nagging thought telling me that’s where we should be going - where there was paperwork, evidence, some legitimate accountability. But I wasn’t his father. I wasn’t responsible. 

 “On my way. I’m getting off the freeway now.” 

 The call ended, and as I looked at Harry, fading dangerously out of consciousness, my hands trembled more from fear than cold. Out of all the reactions, I hadn’t expected this one. The voice on the other line hadn’t seemed surprised at all. 

come talk to me about the chappie or just about how you’re doing! now’s the time to stay connected :) 

[gaamagirl565]

Matters of the heart ep 14

slight language warning but it's only in one line Matters of the heart Episode 14:

A mission of memories {OPENING CREDITS} {Open to inside Varian’s house; Quirin is setting up a banner that says “Happy Birthday”} Varian: I cannot believe he’s turning 13… Quirin: it goes by fast doesn’t it? Varian: Whatever happened to the little blonde headed doe-eyed little boy that used to come home with one of the deadliest creatures you could possibly find and all covered in mud!? {A loud crash is heard and everyone turns to see Isaiah hanging off the railing with a rope around his foot} Isaiah:..hi dad… Quirin:...He's still here he just got bigger... {Zapada runs out from the kitchen covered in flour and frosting} Zapada: What happens here!? AH! Isaiah! What are you doing!? Isaiah: you know, just hanging out… {Zapada helps him down; Varian walks over to them} Varian: Well that's the last time I asked you to hang decorations off the railing…*he takes some frosting of Zapada’s nose*...mnnn strawberry... what are you doing by the way? Zapada: baking the cake! If I am to be a good mother I need to make a cake for copilul meu! Varian: ……. Zapada: what? {Varian spins and dips her} Varian: What a woman you are… Isaiah: ew...Okay well now that I've had my daily gagging... I'm going to go find Nathaniel. Varian: Nathaniel? I thought you two hated each other. Isaiah:  well... ever since the incident with the “beast”  we've been getting to know each other and actually…. he's not that bad. Varian: Are you telling me you've managed to get through to one of your past bullies and put your bad blood behind you and become friends? Isaiah: Yeesss? {Varian picks him up and hugs him} Varian: I’m SO proud of you! Ohh! So grown up! Isaiah: DAD! Spine cracking! Disks slipping! Varian: oops sorry! Isaiah: okay well i’m off! Varian: Be back in time for the party! Princess Lily and, the king and queen are coming over! Isaiah: I will! {Isaiah leaves} Varian:  he's a good kid... by the way did you get it made? Quirin: you know I did... {Quirin takes out a case and opens it to reveal a sword with an eclipse engraving on the bottom of the blade and a metal golden snake wrapped around the hilt} Zapada: Well now that's a sword if I have ever seen one! Quirin: Only the best for my grandson. {he places a hand on Varian’s shoulder; cut to the tree line of the forest} Larkspur: Marvelous... what a quaint little town. isn't it cute Noremoth? Noremoth: If you want to think that go right ahead. Larkspur: ugh,  what's the issue now? Noremoth: there is no issue! me and Corona just don't exactly... get along. we have some history just leave it at that. Larkspur: whatever.  the point is we're finally going to be able to make our move. is our vessel ready? Cassandra: please don't make me do this… Larkspur:  see but that's the sad thing you don't exactly have a choice. either you activate the device or We could just kill the whole town now. Your choice. Cassandra: NO! Please! Larkspur: Well? make your decision. Cassandra:.. I'll.. I'll do it… Larkspur: that's a good girl... bring it in. {Two cult members roll up a much smaller version of the Demanitus device only this one is only 10 feet tall} Larkspur:  it took us many years to perfect the device.  we took the blueprints of the original and.. modified it if you will. We made it travel-sized!  and we altered the effects. Cassandra: altered? Larkspur:  yes... altered.  you see the original device protected Corona this one will bring devastation.  once it implants itself in the ground this device who create such a large rainstorm that it will completely waterlog all the crops. that and provide substantial damage to the nearby villages.  Corona will be so weakened from the devastation and so distracted by it they won't suspect an attack. We’ll slip in, kill the alchemist and any that stand in our way, and take the moonstone shard for ourselves. Cassandra: NO! I WON’T LET YOU! Larkspur:... how cute... you act as if you have a choice. {magic zaps around Cassandra turning her eyes a different color and she screams; cut to black; fade to the orchard and Isaiah sneaking in} Isaiah: Nathaniel?...You here? CAW-CAW! Nathaniel: that is still the stupidest way to alert somebody. Isaiah:  more stupid than you? Nathaniel:  way more! {He playfully tackles Isaiah and they tussle in the dirt; Nathaniel pins him} Nathaniel:  And The Mighty Nathaniel bring down his enemy! The Crowd Goes Wild! Ahhhhhh! Isaiah: alright you made your point! Haha! {Nathaniel helps him up} Nathaniel: come on better get back to the party before the princess gets there. Isaiah: good point...By the way I-!? {the ground shakes for a second and clouds form in the sky; thunder and lightning crashes as the wind picks up; Isaiah’s eyes dilate in fear as rain falls heavily on them} Nathaniel:  what's going on!? Isaiah: I-I...I don’t… Nathaniel: Isaiah? {Isaiah kneels down and curls into a ball as the rain pelts them} Nathaniel: Isaiah! Snap out of it! Isaiah Isaiah:..I...I..mum...I… { Nathaniel smacks him} Nathaniel: MOVE! {Nathaniel grabs him by the arm and pulls him as they run through town} Nathaniel: I can't see! I have no idea where I'm going there's too much rain and wind! Isaiah: ngghh… Nathaniel: look dude I know you're scared but I need you to focus! Isaiah: R-right...so..rry.. {they stand in the rain trying to get their bearings; a distant voice calls out} Isaiah: huh? {Varian calls out from the doorway} Varian: Isaiah! Isaiah can you hear me!? Where are you? Isaiah: DAD! Varian: Isaiah!? Isaiah: DADDY! Varian: FOLLOW MY VOICE BUDDY! Isaiah: OKAY!... {Nathaniel leads them both in the direction of Varian} Varian: Come on! Just keep walking! I’m right here! {once they come into view Varian rushes out and grabs them both; he takes them inside to which Isaiah promptly falls to his knees and starts gagging} Varian: Isaiah!...there we go. Let it out. {Lily runs over to him} Lily: you okay? Isaiah: *nods* Eugene: What could be causing a storm like this!? it was dandy not even 5 minutes ago! Rapunzel: I don't know! *she takes off her coat and wraps it around Isaiah*  here sweetheart you'll catch your death. Isaiah: th-thank..you...your majesty… Varian: I'll get a fire started… {Varian runs over to light the wood in the fireplace but stops and looks out the window; he sees the rain as snow for a spit second; lightning flashes and he’s 14 again with the amber behind him; he shakes his head back to reality and lights the fire} Rapunzel: Varian are you okay? Varian:  it's just... just like last time. storm out of nowhere...Just as violent too. {Rapunzel hugs him; Quirin places a hand of him from behind making him jumps slightly} Quirin: It won't be like last time... we're all together.. all we have to do is wait this out. Nathaniel: My dad was out hunting today. I hope he's going to be okay. Varian:  Nathaniel if I know your dad he's one of the most stubborn people I've ever met on this Earth. he'll be just fine in fact he's probably already home. Nathaniel: you're sure? Varian: I'm positive... besides it would be too dangerous to send a search party right now. Nathaniel:... you're right… {Zapada walks over and hands him hot cocoa} Zapada: Here...drink.. Nathaniel: thank you Mrs.Varian Zapada: oh! Please just Zapada! That is far too formal...ohh.. {they all giggle} Nathaniel: *laughs* {Cut to the cult taking shelter in a nearby cave} Noremoth: you never thought that the evil weather storm would come down on us two now did you? Larkspur:  calm yourself Noremoth... it is but a minor setback. Noremoth: MINOR!?  you're not the one who had to carry the vessel’s unconscious body here! {he points to an exhausted Cassandra} Noremoth:  and on top of all of that! how are we supposed to turn the machine off!? Larkspur:  relax it'll run out of energy in a few hours... until then you're just going to have to sit here and be patient.  you can do that can't you? Noremoth: *mockingly* You can do that can’t you!? {Thunder crashes and a man yells} Larkspur: Someones coming! Everyone to the back of the cave! {they all move back; and Joseph walks into the cave} Joseph: Bloody weather...I'm going to catch my death out here... I hope this doesn't lead to pneumonia. {he accidentally hits his foot against a piece of metal} Joseph: *picks it up* what the-!? {Larkspur pins him to the wall and holds a knife to his throat} Joseph:  I don't have any money!  I don't have anything right now! please don't kill me! Larkspur:  just who are you? Joseph: I’m Joseph of old Corona!  I was out hunting.  I got stuck in the rain. please I'm only looking for a place to take shelter! Noremoth: What are you waiting for Larkspur? just kill him... we don't have time for this. Larkspur: now wait a minute... I have an idea... I'm sure a little friend here would love to keep his life. {Joseph nods vigorously} Larkspur:... you're from old Corona correct? well then can you tell me some information? what do you know of a Varian? Joseph:  what do you want to know about that traitor?  he's a spineless weakling that doesn't deserve the title that he's going to be given. Larkspur: Is that so?  so I can assume you quite dislike him? Joseph:  I hate the bloody bastard… Larkspur:  well then it looks like our interests align for the time being. Joseph: huh? Larkspur: you see... Varian has something of ours... and he's caused a great deal of trouble for us. we would be very glad to see him “disappear” if you catch my drift. Joseph:.... keep talking. Larkspur: if you could give me some information I could make it worth your while.  think about it. I kill Varian.  I get what I need from him.  and you get him out of your life forever.  it's a win-win. what do you say? will you help me? Joseph:.... what do you want to know? {Larkspur smirks and we fade back to the inside of Varian’s house} Isaiah: ACHOO! {Varian walks over and hands him a box} Varian: Sorry this isn’t the birthday you imagined, bud. Isaiah: Dad what are you talking about?  okay yeah the rain storm was kind of out of left field but other than that this turned out to be a pretty good day.  I got to spend time with my friends and family.  there's cake. and presents. what more could I ask for? Varian: aww buddy! {Isaiah opens the box} Isaiah: no way...this..this is a Scabbard...why would I need a-? {Quirin hands the sword to him} Quirin: Happy birthday, Isaiah. {Isaiah holds it and poses} Isaiah: ALRIGHT! MY OWN SWORD! THANK YOU! {he swings it around} Lily: eep! Eugene: oh sure the kid is already a walking accident magnet but sure throw a sword into the mix. {Zapada walks out with a lop-sided cake} Zapada: who wants cake? {They all stare} Zapada: Do not stare it is rude! I tried! Varian: and you succeeded! It still looks... moderately edible. {Zapada cocks an eyebrow}

Varian: and this is the moment I shut up. Zapada: good call, Iubirea mea… {She sets the cake down} Everyone: Happy birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear- Nathaniel: -Scarface Everyone else: -Isaiah!

Everyone: Happy birthday to you! Eugene: And many mooorrree! {Isaiah blows out the candles} {END CREDITS}

[natsspammityspamspamham]

Dino Watches Anime (April 26)

I haven’t made one of these for a while, and after the first draft went and deleted itself, I wondered whether it was worth making another one (I make these primarily for myself then get really surprised whenever people notice these). During harsh times like these, I find myself being drawn to the cheesiest and the most cringe-inducing shows, but maybe I just like them because you can put them on double-speed without missing a thing because you know what’s going on. It’s like instant noodle broth: satisfying, warming, but you know it’s going to kill your insides with self-crisis. Seriously, I didn’t come to terms that I really, really like romance as a genre until a little while ago. 

With that being said, I want to take a short break from romance now. 

I often ask myself, “Why are you watching these when you can be watching really good anime?” Well, that’s probably because I don’t want to have my analytical brain on right now. I want to watch an anime that takes two brain cells to enjoy. I only have two. Once I garden some more, maybe then will I get into the stuff I know I will enjoy like Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Things that I just started but couldn’t get into

NHK ni Youkoso! (1/24)

For one, I didn’t want to watch this before because it would’ve hit too close to home. The show’s about a NEET aka a freeloader (not in employment, education, or training), and I’m... almost that description (but that’s mostly because of the pandemic). Really, this show is riddled with paranoia, and it wants you to really know that with its changing art styles to its cynical script lines to its main character honestly needing some help (seriously, he needs help). I read further (aka spoilers) and realized that I probably won’t have fun with this anime right now, and I will never touch the manga because that stuff is even more insane than its adaptation. NHK ni Youkoso is about people who fall between the cracks of normal standard society and their desire to seek their own normal by any means necessary, and during stressful times, I think it belongs on the backburner.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2/12)

After seeing how much I enjoyed Kakushigoto (which will be mentioned later, I just thought, “Wow, I want to see that other really famous work!” I didn’t enjoy it at all. I forgot why I put the series on-hold. It’s about a suicidal teacher who will stop at nothing to die then ask people why they almost killed them. Through a bunch of errors, he ends up becoming some sort of a harem king to his students (and he attracts the weirdos). I enjoyed the lengths Studio Shaft went to to make this anime appear the way it does (which helps in a lot of ways), but I just can’t continue with it until a much later date.

Appare-Ranman! (2/?)

I just lost interest after looking at the rest of the cast. I’m all for being vibrant and out there, but some of those character designs imitate more of a “racial stereotype/caricature”. I’m not saying that I dropped the show only because of that (I’m quite dense when it comes to that), but I didn’t like the characters either. I can’t get behind a show that won’t let me enjoy it a single moment over two episodes. 

I’ll pick it up again later (probably)

Free! (5/12)

I feel like they’re shoving fanservice a lot. I try to skip every fanservice scene, and I managed to watch up to episode 5 in less than an hour, and I didn’t even get through them all. But I will say that ending is stuck in my head now. (humming)

This show has taken me at least two attempts to watch so far. Let’s see how many more it takes before I finish/give up!

Darker Than Black (18/25)

I’ll probably finish this one for the sake of finishing it. I just find that the episodic nature gets stale after a while, and the overarching story is often disregarded. In exchange, we do get some fun side stories, character development, and world building, but I’d like to settle down too, you know?

Clannad (1/23)

Yeah, I’m doing that now. I’m going to see whether my feels bones are as strong as they were before... after I take a hiatus because I’m not sure if I’m in the appetite for that kind of romance now that I’ve watched two shoujo in a row. 

Sousei no Onmyouji (20/50)

I bet you, someone was like, “Let’s throw all these shounen cliches into a pot then see what comes out!” Bruh, this is bordering that story I wrote when I was 14, and I’m not even dissing this anime. I enjoyed it but need a break now. It’s very cliche, predictable, and honestly, I can see why it has such a low rating. Studio Perriot likes cutting corners sometimes with their long-running series (*stares at Naruto*), and this anime is no exception. Sometimes, it feels like a visual novel. “We don’t need to animate anything if she’s so fast that no one can see her.” Dang, but it gets repetitive. It also has a magical girl power that only works when the main couple does it? Cool, but that also gets repetitive. I just didn’t see myself watching the same thing another 30 times (at least right now).

Maison Ikkoku

I’m actually on the fence about continuing this one. It’s really sweet, but I’ve had my fill of romance. I have been wanting to watch some more Rumiko Takahashi works though. There’s no reason for me not to continue this. It gives me strong Princess Jellyfish vibes (which I should also finish). 

Recently Finished

Itazura na Kiss

Just... end my suffering. It’s not worth it. The thing about shoujo anime is that I watch it late at night when my brain is at its worst when it comes to analyzing or taking in any emotional circumstances. Then I asked myself, “Would I want any young, impressionable people to watch this?” And my first thought was “F**K NO!” This anime was an absolute trainwreck. As my Discord friend put it “It’s so bad, yet you can’t look away!” But what makes this anime unique? What sets it apart? It shows life after high school. Just like Clannad, it shows that life is more than your secondary education. There is more to life than just being a teenager. I’m not saying these characters ever grew though because that’d be a FAT JOKE. 

Episodes 1-13: Girl gives boy a love letter. He laughs and doesn't even want it and goes "no thanks". Girl gets upset. Then they find out they're living under the same roof after the girl's dad made them a house out of popsicle sticks (because the dads are childhood friends). She keeps trying to push herself onto him, and his mom joins in and is plotting so much more than you'd expect. The best part is that this main girl already has a childhood friend who's like "please marry me. I'll cook for you, work for you, take a bullet for you, slice my head off if it means you won't chip a nail--" then the girl replied by chasing after the guy who calls her stupid on a daily basis and genuinely believes she can't do anything. 

Episodes 14-25: Guy gets dragged to his own wedding and generally does not care for the girl unless she’s either not looking or is on death’s bed. He practically deserts her every other time, and we’re supposed to think it’s romantic when he finally gives a crap about his wife (even when she’s pregnant). The show constantly reminds you that even other characters have doubts that our main character cares about anyone other than himself and his aloofness. They have a bunch of missed affairs including a hoe that tries to leave her husband on her honeymoon to get with Mr. Aloof and a nursing student that genuinely cares about MC and the fact that her husband doesn’t care about her at all.

The moral of the story of this anime: If you chase after somebody long enough, they will cave in and marry you even if they don’t like you, want you, insult you, bully you, or generally show all the signs of an unwilling partner.

Anyway, this anime is crap. I can’t believe I watched it. I want those few hours back (I fast-forwarded a lot, okay?) I can’t believe I finished it. Looking back makes me want to press undo. Having this under my history is a shame to my family. Even if I was sleepy and generally out of it, that’s no excuse for choosing this. Sayonara

 I will say that Daisuke Hirakawa and Nana Mizuki did give good character voices despite the circumstances. That, and I haven’t heard from Hirakawa besides those couple of scenes from School Days (which... is a different type of romance), Free! (which I dropped when his character joined), that gumball scene from Jojo, and that introduction to him being the new Demon Slayer villain. I didn’t realize he was that old though.

Special A

This is one of the anime that my sister watched, and I thought, “I need to be reminded of what a somewhat healthy relationship can be” I wasn’t disappointed because the last anime left such a bad taste in my mouth that literally anything could’ve soothed the aching wound which was bad decision making. Even under regular circumstances, I probably still would’ve enjoyed it, but since it came at the right time, I give it an extra nod of approval. I also never realized that the second opening was inadvertently drilled into my brain because I kept overhearing my sister watching it. Now that I’ve grown up, I realize I was listening to the voices of some of my favourite seiyuu. Go figure. 

The story was really sweet with characters that I genuinely liked by the end (not my favourite cast by a very long shot, but it was slightly above average). It was slightly above average for me in a lot of ways (ironically), and it was enjoyable. The art is very fitting for its time, the music was very... ordinary, and the story was simple enough that you knew exactly what was going to happen at any given moment. This show should be titled: Special A(ppreciation for those brave people who have fallen in the friendzone; we’ll get ‘em next time). 

Akatsuki no Yona OVAs 

Unlike the actual TV series, this stuff actually ends conclusively without ending on the CLIMAX OF THE BIG ARC. SERIOUSLY, I WAS ROBBED. You can say, “There’s a perfectly good manga right there.” Shut up. I want my fight scenes animated with a big helping of a strong female lead. It gave me a sudden appreciation for Hiro Shimono and his character Zeno who literally just inserted himself in last minute in the anime (but these OVAs perfectly explain everything). You probably shouldn’t watch the anime without watching these OVAs because they’re canon, funny, and touching at times. It enhances the series.

According to the animation, we know it can do fight scenes. Give us another season, cowards! Actually, it’s Studio Perriot, so if we ever get it, it might be two stickmen duking it out. 

Haikara-san ga Tooru Movie 2

You know, I really enjoyed the movie. The first one. This one? Not so much. Actually, I felt so done. I was looking forward to this so much. It’s like going to a restaurant, expecting really good pasta, and then being served some leaves from the weeds out back. Eventually, it tastes better when you add some dressing and cheese, but it still isn’t a bowl of pasta. This show casts aside everything I like about it (present-tense because they didn’t kill everything of it) and leaves one little inkling of its valued ideas. Instead, we get a romance-chasing movie that feels a bit more like an amnesia fiction that’s slightly higher quality than usual. I can’t say I regret watching the movie. There were some redeeming qualities, but they jumped from a 9/10 to a high 6/10 that managed to squeak itself into an overall 7/10. 

(This gif is from the first movie, but I can’t find any from the second movie anyway)

Currently Watching (Not Seasonal)

Samurai Champloo

This anime is a staple of Shinichiro Watanabe, and after this, I will probably watch Cowboy Bebop, Carole & Tuesday, and Space Dandy. I did enjoy Sakamichi no Apollon and Zankyou no Terror. 

Plus, after all that romance, I need some samurai slaughter. The fight scenes and the music get me every time. I don’t even need to say anything else about the anime. The fight scenes are enough to watch alone.

[twerkhammett]

1-154

Holy fuck, good thing I have a long train ride😂1. Full nameAngelica DeLillo2. Age213. 3 fearsFailure, getting snatched up one of these nights im on the train alone, losing the people i care about4. 3 things I loveNik, food, and our cat5. 4 turn onsBiting, slapping (ass face and tits), being tied up or held down, and when he gets that mean look on his face and i know hes gonna be really rough with me ugh6. 4 turn offsI have had these experiences with almost every person I've been with except Nik..bad hygiene, being rushed (you cum yet?), bad oral and when i tell them what would feel good they dont listen..and worst of all sex that feels half assed. They just want to cum real quick, theres no passion or effort, they don't care if they please you at all. Fucking horrible..7. My best friendIn cali my best friend here besides Nik is Ashley, and I get to live with them both its awesome! In Florida I cant choose one cuz ive known them all forever and love those dudes..Mels, Denzel, Brauston, and Alicia8. Sexual orientationBisexual9. My best first dateWith Nikolas obviously 😉10. How tall i am5'611. What do I missMy friends and family back home12: What time were I born3:55pm13: Favourite colorGreen14: Do I have a crushOn my boyfriend😂15: Favourite quoteIdk man16: Favourite placeHard to choose one, maybe my bed😂17: Favourite foodI hate favorites..pizza and wings18: Do I use sarcasmNever :)19: What am I listening to right nowSlayer 20: First thing I notice in new personIf they're fuckin rude or not21: Shoe size822: Eye colorBrown23: Hair colorLight brownish? Auburn?24: Favourite style of clothingBlack25: Ever done a prank call?Yup27: Meaning behind my URLKirk twerkin28: Favourite movieKung Fury29: Favourite songCant choose30: Favourite bandStill cant choose my dude31: How I feel right nowMeh32: Someone I loveNik33: My current relationship statusIn love af its disgusting34: My relationship with my parentsPretty good these days35: Favourite holidayHalloween36: Tattoos and piercing i haveNips, lips, and ears37: Tattoos and piercing i wantA lot, whenever i get the money..38: The reason I joined TumblrMels made me join lol39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?I don't think he hates me, but i hate his bitch ass..40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts?I used to get them from Nik but we live together so now he can just tell me lol41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?This morning42: When did I last hold hands?Yesterday43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?15mins, its caffeinating myself that can take time44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days?Noooope45: Where am I right now?On BART46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me?Nik, been a while since thats happened tho47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?Loud48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad?Nope49: Am I excited for anything?For class to be over so i can relax lol...haven't even got there yet50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to?Nik, Denzel, Brauston51: How often do I wear a fake smile?At work lmao52: When was the last time I hugged someone?Does my cat count? An hour ago lol53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?This would never happen, but I would go to jail if it did lol54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not?Not that i know of?55: What is something I disliked about today?Nik had to work early and I've been sexually frustrated af56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?James57: What do I think about most?Nik and food are tied i think58: What’s my strangest talent?Idk59: Do I have any strange phobias?Eh not really60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?Behind61: What was the last lie I told?Not sure, probably at work lol62: Do I perfer talking on the phone or video chatting online?On the phone63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?Aliens yeah64: Do I believe in magic?Nah65: Do I believe in luck?Not really66: What’s the weather like right now?64 and clear skys67: What was the last book I’ve read?Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas68: Do I like the smell of gasoline?Yesss69: Do I have any nicknames?Besides the ones Nik has for me no70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had?Cut my knee open71: Do I spend money or save it?That shits gone pretty fast dont get to spend it on anything fun tho haha72: Can I touch my nose with a tounge?Nah73: Is there anything pink in 10 feets from me?My backpack has some pink on it74: Favourite animal?My cat😂75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?Fucking76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is?Trump77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?Nightcrawler78: How can you win my heart?Be Nikolas or James Hetfield79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?Nothing80: What is my favorite word?Fuck81: My top 5 blogs on tumblrIdk man i like a lot of yall82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say?Someone please assasinate the orange one83: Do I have any relatives in jail?Not that i know of84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power?Invisibility or time travel85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on?Not sure86: What is my current desktop picture?Some nature pic bc i havent change it87: Had sex?On a daily basis my dude88: Bought condoms?Yes89: Gotten pregnant?No90: Failed a class?Yup91: Kissed a boy?Yup92: Kissed a girl?Yep93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?Yes, Nik94: Had job?Sadly95: Left the house without my wallet?Fucking yes!!!96: Bullied someone on the internet?No lol97: Had sex in public?A few days ago lmao98: Played on a sports team?Yep99: Smoked weed?This is where my extra money goes..sigh100: Did drugs?Nothing crazy but yeah101: Smoked cigarettes?Yes102: Drank alcohol?Yeah103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?Noo104: Been overweight?Nope105: Been underweight?Nope106: Been to a wedding?Yep107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?Yes lol108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight?Yeah109: Been outside my home country?Not yet, but I plan on it110: Gotten my heart broken?Yeah couple years ago111: Been to a professional sports game?Yep112: Broken a bone?My finger lol113: Cut myself?A while ago114: Been to prom?Nope115: Been in airplane?Yes116: Fly by helicopter?No but I want to!!117: What concerts have I been to?Megadeth, Metallica, Exodus, Testament, Carcass, Slayer, Midnight, Kreator, Obituary, Children of Bodom, Rammstein, and a few more but those were the best ones118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex?Quite a few times119: Learned another language?Some German and some ASL120: Wore make up?I wear mascara121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?Yeah122: Had oral sex?Yupppppp123: Dyed my hair?Yes124: Voted in a presidential election?Yep!125: Rode in an ambulance?Nope126: Had a surgery?No127: Met someone famous?Nope128: Stalked someone on a social network?A while ago hahah129: Peed outside?Yep130: Been fishing?Yes131: Helped with charity?I donate to greenpeace monthly132: Been rejected by a crush?Sorta133: Broken a mirror?Im sure I have, I def had a big ass mirror fall on my fuckin head one time tho!134: What do I want for birthday?Some dick😂135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?2 max, no idea about names, havent thought about it much136: Was I named after anyone?No137: Do I like my handwriting?Its a bit sloppy but yeah138: What was my favourite toy as a child?Barbies lol139: Favourite Tv Show?DBZ😂140: Where do I want to live when older?The forest, somewhere in Colorado maybe141: Play any musical instrument?Not well lol142: One of my scars, how did I get it?Accidentally stabbed myself at work143: Favourite pizza toping?Mushrooms144: Am I afraid of the dark?No, I need it to sleep145: Am I afraid of heights?A bit146: Have I ever got caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?Yes lmao, many times by my dad usually147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?Did you mean my last relationship😂😂148: What I’m really bad atProcrastination149: What my greatest achievments areGetting the fuck out of fl, some of my artwork, learning to cope with my depression150: The meanest thing somebody has ever said to meProb something my ex said lol151: What I’d do if I won in a lotteryQuit my job, build a house, and open a cave bar (me and Ashley were just talkin about that)152: What do I like about myselfWell i guess i never stop trying even tho i fuck up a lot hahah153: My closest Tumblr friend@stalkhome-sindrone probably😁154: Something I fantasise aboutA stable income...Thanks for that big ass ask my anonymous dude!!😂To the rest of my followers, sorry for the long post and some of the tmi questions😊

[dansphlevels]

12 Days Of Prompts (2017) Masterpost

‘12 Days Of Prompts’ is the 12 days of stories I wrote on the days leading up to Christmas 2017! This year was filled with fluff, with a touch of darkness (‘Smelling Of Smoke’), of humor (‘Red Nails And Chapped Lips’), and of fantasy (‘Caudal’ and ‘Turquoise Stains’), with a long oneshot filled with stolen Calculus books, angst, and slurred quotes from Homer, ‘The Odyssey’. Click under the cut to see the full list of fics with summaries, and if you want me to write a story for you or have an idea for one, you can request it here (even if it’s not December)!

December 14 - Prompt: Fluffy Cuddling

Title: Bliss <1k 

Summary: Fluffy!Phan cuddling in bed with absolutely no desire to get up.

December 15 - Prompt: Artist!Pastel!Dan having relationship issues, comforted by Phil

Title: Beautiful Browns 1.2k

Themes: fluff, artist!pastel!dan, artist!caring!Phil, crappy high school dating dynamics

December 16 - Prompt: Mermaid!AU

Title: Caudal 8k

Summary: The cave has two exits. One, a hole in the ceiling, wide enough that Phil could see the stars glitter at night. The other exit was through the pool in the middle of the cave, where they’d come from. The siren leaned against the cave wall a few meters away, tending to his wound. It wasn’t bleeding anymore, but the damage was done. Sharks circled in the pool, desperate for a taste of the merman. The hole in the ceiling was too high up, the walls too steep to climb. The sharks circled in the pool of water, ready to eat whatever comes their way. No way out. Phil was stuck, with no food, no fresh water, no hope to escape, and a siren who had tried to drown him not hours before. Themes: merman/mermaid/siren!au, sharks, survival, enemies to ?

December 17 - Prompt: Dan realizes he liked Phil during tatinof and asks him on a date and they share a milkshake with two straws

Title: Nothing And Everything 3.5k

Themes: tatinof, friends to lovers, ‘friendly kissing’, cereal stealing, milkshakes with two straws

December 18 - Prompt: Smelling of Smoke pt. 5

Title: Smelling Of Smoke (And Hearing Voices Not There), Chapter 5, 1k

Ao3

Summary: Phil was a quiet type of crazy. Dan’s eyes were so loud that they made everyone take a step back from his madness- everyone but Phil, who instead, stepped forwards.

Themes: chaptered fic, au, mental asylum, trigger warning, insanity, dark

TW: mental illness, schizophrenia, depression, mentions of suicide/suicide attempts, mental hospital, abuse

December 19 - Prompt: Dentist

Title: Words Aren’t Always Needed 2.5k

Summary: After a bad reaction to painkillers administered by his dentist, Dan loses the ability to speak for a few days. Which wouldn’t be that big of a deal if they didn’t have plans, including an important business meeting and going to the Star Wars premiere.

Or, the one where Dan loses his voice and Phil has to interpret for him like an extended, inappropriately timed game of charades.

TW: For light (but semi-frequent) cussing

December 20 - Prompt: Fluffy ‘But Love Is Overrated Anyways’ Chapter

Title: But Love Is Overrated Anyways (Pt. 15 = 2k)

Summary: Dan is an angry mutant with the ability to control the cold. He shares a tent with a man Phil, who has powers over fire but refuses to use it for evil. Dan has no such moral qualms.

Theme: Superpowers, Mutants, Dark, Dystopian

Ao3 / ‘But Love Is Overrated Anyways’ Masterlist

December 21 - Prompt: Color Schemes

Title: Turquoise Stains <1k

Themes: Fluff, colors, a lil bit of fantasy

December 22 - Prompt: Nail Painting

Title: Red Nails And Chapped Lips 1.8k

Summary: After Dan goes and gets his nails painted at a professional salon, he and Phil embark on a quest to Target for last minute Christmas shopping, and together they must decide whether having painted nails is gay or just hipster. Includes Dan and Phil style bantering, questioning of gender stereotypes, chapped lips, and a clerk at Target who horribly misunderstands what Dan needs vaseline for. 

Themes: nail painting, Christmas shopping, domestic!Phan, humor, innuendoes.

December 23 - Prompt: Asexual  

Title: Aced It 2.5k

Summary: Dan and Phil are in the process of pursuing a relationship. There’s only one issue: Dan’s asexual and doesn’t want to get physical with Phil but has no idea how to tell him.

December 24 - The Odyssey (enemies to friends to lovers, highschool au) 

Title: The Odyssey 12k

TW: bullying, homophobic slurs, language, drinking

Summary: High school au where Phil is bullied for being gay and Dan thinks he should have just stayed in the closet. But it just so happens Phil has a big family and can’t get any studying done, and Dan’s house is the perfect place to study.

Themes: highschool au, enemies to friends to lovers, bullying, boxer!dan, studious!phan, Homophobia, family/sibling drama

December 25 - Prompt: Fluffy Oneshot Where Phil Meets Dan’s Family Dog

Christmas With Colin (And The Rest Of Dan’s Family) 1k

Summary: Dan and Phil go to meet Dan’s family for the first time, and things go better than accepted, especially considering that Dan’s parents hadn’t always been accepting of his sexuality. They’re more interested in questioning him on other things- like, for example, when Dan’s planning on giving them some grandchildren.

Themes: fluff, meeting the family, Colin the Good Boy (Dan’s family dog)

So much fluff, I’ve had to think such cute, wholesome thoughts to finish these. I hope you enjoyed them! You can request a fic here, or check out all of my fics here.

[gbonillla]

1-134 ahahaa

is this the same anon? lol. 

1: Name: Ma Gessele Bonilla

2: Age: 22 y/o

3: 3 Fears: Lizards, Clowns, and Frogs

4: 3 things I love: Sleep, food, sunsets

5: 4 turns on: Charming, funny, clear skin, humor

6: 4 turns off: douche, guy who thinks he’s all that, takes forever to reply, smells bad, etc. 

7: My best friend: I actually have two but mainly Shan. 

8: Sexual orientation: I’m straight. 

9: My best first date: July 2 2016, when Daren took me to see the sunset. 

10: How tall am I: 5 ft. LOL

11: What do I miss: What or who? LOL. In terms of what, cuddling and in terms of who, my grandfather. 

12: What time were I born: I really don’t know. 

13: Favorite color: Gray and black 

14: Do I have a crush: Nope.

15: Favorite quote: idk, rn. “If it’s meant to be, it will be”

16: Favorite place: Tantalus, Spitting Cave. 

17: Favorite food: Spaghetti

18: Do I use sarcasm: lol, rarely. 

19: What am I listening to right now: Sixteen by Chelsea Cutler.. I’m on youtube sooo. haha.

20: First thing I notice in new person: Face LOL

21: Shoe size: 6

22: Eye color: Dark brown

23: Hair color: Dark brown/ Brown

24: Favorite style of clothing: Baggy clothes + Jeans + Shoes (Slippers) LOL, Tomboyish type of style…can be girly when I want to. 

25: Ever done a prank call?: Yes, back in middle school. 

27: Meaning behind my URL: nothing really. just took the first letter of my second name and add my last name with extra L. 

28: Favorite movie: London has fallen and transformer. 

29: Favorite song: Quit You by Lost Kings

30: Favorite band: none. LOL

31: How I feel right now: Alright haha. 

32: Someone I love: Family and Friends. 

33: My current relationship status: S I N G L E

34: My relationship with my parents: Like cats and dogs haha. 

35: Favorite holiday: 4th of July and Thanksgiving. 

36: Tattoos and piercing i have: Tattoos: NONE. Piercings: Earlobe (2 both sides)

37: Tattoos and piercing i want: Crescent moon on my right shoulder blade.

38: The reason I joined Tumblr: My friends had it, so why not? 

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other? Nah, we hang out. 

40: Do I ever get “good morning” or “good night ” texts? From my friends yes–thats if we feel like it. Mostly just “YOYOYO”, “sup” “I fell asleep” HAHA

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?: Nope, because I don’t kiss girls. 

42: When did I last hold hands? 2 months ago and it’s because my friend told me to hold the shift or gear stick so I can control it. LOL Does that count?

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?: 20-30 mins. I don’t put on make up soo, it’s not that long. 

44: Have You shaved your legs in the past three days? I don’t shave my legs, they’re perfectly fine. 

45: Where am I right now? In my room

46: If I were drunk & can’t stand, who’s taking care of me? Bestfriend: Shan

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level? Reasonable level. 

48: Do I live with my Mom and Dad? Yes

49: Am I excited for anything? Nope. Nothing really excites me anymore. 

50: Do I have someone of the opposite sex I can tell everything to? Nah, cut them off my life recently. 

51: How often do I wear a fake smile? Everyday.. just kidding ! mostly everyday though because I work in a retail job soo

52: When was the last time I hugged someone? Last year.

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me? That’s fine. Do whatever you want. 

54: Is there anyone I trust even though I should not? nahh, I trust my friends. 

55: What is something I disliked about today? nothing, it just started lol.

56: If I could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be? uhhh, Selena Gomez LMAO

57: What do I think about most? what most?

58: What’s my strangest talent? Idk, 

59: Do I have any strange phobias? uh, I just really hate lizards. 

60: Do I prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it? Both. 

61: What was the last lie I told? uh, about doing my chores LOL

62: Do I prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online? Video Chat

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens? Ghost yes, aliens…sure. 

64: Do I believe in magic? nah, they’re all tricks. 

65: Do I believe in luck? Yes. 

66: What’s the weather like right now? the sun is up but it’s a little gloomy. 

67: What was the last book I’ve read? Milk and Honey

68: Do I like the smell of gasoline? Sure

69: Do I have any nicknames? Yes Jess (Gess), Gee, (my coworkers call me these names: Jesabelle, Jai, Jaiisel. 

70: What was the worst injury I’ve ever had? I think the cut on my forehead. 

71: Do I spend money or save it? Spend money with food. Yes. 

72: Can I touch my nose with a tongue? nope

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feet from me? nooo, people in this house rarely uses that color. LOL

74: Favorite animal? dogs

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM? Obv, sleeping lol.

76: What do I think is Satan’s last name is? Not my last name for sure. 

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it? Anything but a sad song. 

78: How can you win my heart? Give me your attention, text me, etc. 

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone? brahh. Haven’t thought about this and I don’t want to think about it. 

80: What is my favorite word? Fam 

81: My top 5 blogs on tumblr. Does it matter? LOL

82: If the whole world were listening to me right now, what would I say? I have nothing to sayy HAHA

83: Do I have any relatives in jail? Not that I know of. 

84: I accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super-power of my choice! What is that power? Make this guy fall inlove with me…jk. The power to give me the brain so I can reach my goals in this life. 

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on? The question that I’ll be afraid to tell the truth on. 

86: What is my current desktop picture? Just a plain ass gray color. 

87: Had sex? yes

88: Bought condoms? yes

89: Gotten pregnant? no

90: Failed a class? nope

91: Kissed a boy? yes, 

92: Kissed a girl? nah

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain? yes

94: Had job? still have 

95: Left the house without my wallet? no fam

96: Bullied someone on the internet? nah, I’m not that bad. 

97: Had sex in public? noooo way

98: Played on a sports team? nahh

99: Smoked weed? nahh, 

100: Did drugs? noope, only drugs I’d be taking are tylenol, advil etc. 

101: Smoked cigarettes? nope

102: Drank alcohol? Yes

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan? Nah. Though I eat vegetables I like. 

104: Been overweight? nope, 

105: Been underweight? yes

106: Been to a wedding? yes

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight? Yes, when I’m binge watching. 

108: Watched TV for 5 hours straight? Nah

109: Been outside my home country? Yes

110: Gotten my heart broken? Yes

111: Been to a professional sports game? Sure

112: Broken a bone? Yes

113: Cut myself? Once

114: Been to prom? Yes, junior and senior year

115: Been in airplane? Yes

116: Fly by helicopter? nope, have you? lol

117: What concerts have I been to? I forgot what it’s called. LOL

118: Had a crush on someone of the same sex? NOOO

119: Learned another language? Yes, Japanese and Korean

120: Wore make up? Nah, rarely. 

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18? After 18

122: Had oral sex? Yes

123: Dyed my hair? YEs

124: Voted in a presidential election? Nah Fam.. didn’t want to LOL

125: Rode in an ambulance? Nope. 

126: Had a surgery? No

127: Met someone famous? Nah, I don’t go out. Jk

128: Stalked someone on a social network? HAHA yes,

129: Peed outside? Brahh, yes. Bonfire night at the beach LOL

130: Been fishing? Once or twice. 

131: Helped with charity? Uhhh, i guess so

132: Been rejected by a crush? Yes, middle school days

133: Broken a mirror? I think.

134: What do I want for birthday? Idk, my birthday isn’t until 11 months and so days. 

[ex-shark-virtue-005]

A few reasons why the Star Fox series is my favorite video series of all time.

Beneath a cut because it’s gonna be kinda long:

Let’s start at the beginning.  One day when I was about 7 or 8 years old, I went to play at a friend’s house after school because my mother wasn’t able to pick me up that day (I went to a private school that didn’t provide bus services to and from school, well it did but you had to pay for it and the closest school bus stop was almost 2 miles from my house).  My friend wanted to play her new “Wheel of Fortune” Nintendo 64 game (it was 1997 maybe 1998, the N64 was the most current Nintendo system) but her mother thought that the game would be too difficult for me (that friend was 2 years older than me).  She suggested that her daughter play something that I could play with her, so we played the multiplayer mode in Star Fox 64.  It was the first time I played a Nintendo system that wasn’t a Game Boy.  And I liked it, and begged my parents for a Nintendo 64 and for Christmas in 1998 they compromised and got my brother and I a Super Nintendo (we would eventually get an N64 but not until Christmas 2000). 

In 2002 that friend ended up moving to Arizona and the last time I saw her and her brother, they gave me their copy of Star Fox 64.  They had already moved on to the Nintendo GameCube (we would too, just at the end of that year).  Let me tell you, I played the shit out of that game. I was relentlessly bullied at school that year, and the whole “Never Give Up” line that series is known for got me through that hellish school year. I’d come home from school and would take my emotions out on the countless enemies in the game and would end up feeling much better by the end of the play-through (seriously that game was ridiculously therapeutic for an angry 12 year old me).  And Star Fox 64 is literally my favorite video game of all time and I don’t get tired of playing through it. 

In 2003, I got Starfox Adventures as my end of the school year gift. It took me a while to convince my mother, who was worried about the T for Teen rating as I wasn’t 13 yet, but eventually she caved and got it for me (thanks to some help from the guy at GameStop who assured her that there was nothing abhorrently inappropriate in the game).  I think I also got the game guide for a penny or something since I was also buying the game.  I couldn’t play that game for long periods of time at first, as certain video games triggered photo-sensitivity induced migraines.  But thankfully it only lasted a few weeks. 

That was the same year I transferred schools for the third time in four years.  The way Fox handled being out of his comfort zone in Adventures gave me confidence to start at a new school, where I didn’t know anyone.  It took me a good 8 months to beat Starfox Adventure and I beat it for the first time on February 14, 2004.  I’ve beaten it a few times since then (in much less time, I’m slightly better at video games now).  I really enjoyed it because, while I loved watching my brother play through the Legend of Zelda games, I was never very good at them (even thought I knew what to do in them).  And Adventures was in the same style as the Legend of Zelda games, just a lot easier (I still haven’t beaten a Legend of Zelda game, I don’t know what it is about those games...)

Almost exactly a year later, when I found out about Star Fox Assault I begged my mom to let me get it the day it came out. She reluctantly said okay, but thanks to a snowstorm, we had to get it the day after it came out (we got it on February 15, 2005, it came out the day before).  Thirty days later, my grandfather passed away.  And for the third time in about four years, a Star Fox game got me through a pretty difficult time.  My brother and I spent countless hours playing the multiplayer mode in that game as a way to take our minds off of things. I don’t know how many times I’ve played through Assault, it’s definitely one of my favorite video games of all time.

So, yeah, as cheesy as it sounds, the Star Fox Series has helped me through a lot of difficult times in my life and will always be one of my favorite video game franchises.