#and i got the kirby cup extra to keep!

[kyuuppi]

help, my boyfriend has no sex drive! (5)

Pairing: Kenma x reader (f)

Contents: smut; established relationship; feminization, "femboy", heavy praise kink (Kenma); rough sex; creampie; Christmas themes

Words: 3.4k

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4

“But as long as you’d love me so—

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snoooow”

Kenma tries not to visibly cringe at the cheery music as he emerges from his office, finally finished with his obligatory three-hour “Christmas special” stream.

As you had been for the past month, you’re softly singing along to some Christmas carol playing from your shitty laptop speaker. You had busied yourself with reorganizing the presents under the full-sized tree—something you had insisted on buying for the apartment.

Kenma had little more interest in most holidays than the “free day from school” perks. But as he watches you scurry around your shared living room wearing candy cane-themed stockings, an oversized ugly Christmas sweater, and a hundred-yen-store Santa hat, Kenma is thankful you had expressed your desire to celebrate with him. He will gladly participate in anything that makes you this innocently cheerful. 

Your background music is abruptly cut short and you frown when you realize your laptop has just died again. But the disappointment is cut short when you notice Kenma, standing awkwardly by the couch in the dark Christmas sweater you had insisted he wear for his stream. 

“KenKen—your stream is over?”

Kenma smiles softly at how eager you look, eyes practically sparkling. 

“Yeah, I’m free now. You wanted to open presents, right?” 

You nod quickly, guiding him to the couch and leaving only to retrieve a cup of hot cocoa—extra whipped cream—and a slice of homemade apple pie, placing them both in front of him on the coffee table. He thanks you quietly, predictably digging into the apple pie first. 

“So I think we should start with your family’s gifts first,” you begin, already passing him a small stack of presents, all wrapped in identical green and red paper. 

After nearly half an hour you two had finally worked your way through nearly all of the presents. Most were the typical things–an abhorrent amount of socks and pajamas from your families, Kenma’s mother gifting both of you very cringey matching couple sets with any video game character she saw. You had to try very hard not to laugh at Kenma’s face when you opened a matching Kirby and Jigglypuff sweater set with a handwritten heart note.

“Aww, don’t pout KenKen, your mom was just being thoughtful.” “They’re not even in the same series.” 

A few gifts had been surprising–namely Kuroo’s cat ear headphones—to which Kenma promptly sent a text telling Kuroo to never buy him Christmas gift ever again— and even a signed pro jersey from Hinata. Even if he didn’t voice it, you noticed how touched Kenma seemed by the gesture and you made a mental note to buy something to display it in the apartment. A few gifts were even from Kenma’s fans, sending various game merchandise, snacks from their country, and even fan art of the two of you. 

Finally, the last remaining gifts were the ones you made for each other. You didn’t want to pressure Kenma to buy you anything fancy–and you also couldn’t afford to reciprocate with anything fancy, so you set a strict budget. 

Kenma was unexpectedly good at keeping secrets so you weren’t sure what he had gotten you–probably a game he wanted you to play together but the box was unexpectedly big—

Regardless, you knew what you got him , and it was something you had been thinking about for months. Needless to say, you were eager for him to open it. 

“Who should go firs—”

“I’ll go!”

Kenma raises a brow but complies as you all but shove your gift into his hands. The outside is unassuming—a flat package wrapped in red paper with a holographic silver stick-on bow in the center. Somehow, he feels vaguely uneasy. 

Cautiously, Kenma begins unwrapping the gift. You practically vibrate with excitement in your seat, eagerly watching as his thin fingers peel away the final layers of colorful paper. 

Finally, your present reveals itself, soft nylon fabric in a bright red shade. Kenma seems confused, unsure of what exactly he is looking at until he shifts and the fabric unravels into two long strips. 

“Ta-daa,” you cheer, “your very own pair of thigh-high stockings!”

Kenma looks horrified. 

“This is a joke,” Kenma states, sounding like he’s trying to convince himself just as much as you. 

“What do you mean? Don’t you like them? Look, they’re even Christmas-themed!”

You guide his hands over to the top of the socks where a large red ribbon sits. Two short red strings dangle the ribbon with a small, fuzzy white ball at the end each. You make him squeeze the soft ball for good measure. His expression doesn’t change. 

“Why would you buy me these? You wasted actual, real-life money for this,” Kenma bemoans. 

“Didn’t your fans suggest something like this before? I think they called them programmer socks—”

“ Oh my god please stop talking.”

Kenma lets out a long, suffering groan as you eye him with an absolute shit-eating grin.

It’s fine, he thinks. You wanted to be a little shit like Kuroo but it was just a prank. He could probably Venmo back the money you wasted on this and never have to think of this situation ever again. He’ll toss them in the back of the closet next to those cat ear headphones Kuroo bought him. 

He is proven wrong when you nudge his shin with your own stocking-clad toes and give him an expectant look. 

“Well?”

“What?”

“Aren’t you going to try them on?”

Kenma’s brain very obviously fries and you have to resist the urge to laugh at his expression. 

“C’mon, I spent actual, real-life money on these," you tease, throwing his words back at him, "I wanna see you wear them at least once!”

“You have to be joking,” he all but whines. 

Your excited expression tells him you are very much not joking. Kenma considers refusing more firmly. He knows you genuinely care about him and would never push him to do something he was uncomfortable with—or at least so long as it wouldn’t actually kill him.  

But your eyes are wide and practically sparkling as you look at him expectantly with that cute little grin–the crippling humiliation that will likely haunt him every night for the rest of his life is nothing compared to your happiness. Kenma sighs deeply and you know you’ve won. 

He ignores your excited squeals as he stands up and shuffles towards the bathroom in something akin to a walk of shame. 

As Kenma stares at his own lithe form in the mirror he’s positive that he has never felt so mortified in his whole life. Not when he accidentally set a ball into Lev’s face during a match in high school. Not when he missed his ult in a team fight and cost his team the ranked match in League. Not even when he came so hard he nearly passed out while getting his dick sucked during a live stream. 

Kenma can barely even recognize himself in the mirror, eyes flitting from his familiar golden gaze down to his oversized black and white Nightmare Before Christmas sweater and, finally, to his thin legs wrapped in an inappropriately bright red pair of thigh-high socks.

Somehow, the stockings feel even more exposing than if he were just naked. He feels like some cheap, poorly drawn femboy character in a hentai. One of his first thoughts was they don’t look nearly as appealing on him as they do on you. His legs are too lanky–straight and lean from years of volleyball but missing the curve of healthy fat yours have. His face heats up as he visualizes your thighs currently clad in your own pair of red and white striped stockings. 

“KenKen are you ready yet? You’re taking foreeeeever!”

His heart rate picks up and he tries to remind himself it's just you, the person who makes him feel safest. He’s going to go out there, you’re going to see how cringe he looks, then you'll both laugh and never talk about this again. 

He takes a deep breath and opens the door, immediately meeting your gaze as you sit on the couch where he left you. Breath bated, he watches as your eyes dart down his body, darting around his lower half with your mouth agape. He tries his best not to squirm under your stare. 

“Fuck, Ken,” you chuckle breathily, “you look amazing.”

Kenma’s breath hitches, certainly not expecting that type of response. As you continue to take him in he realizes your gaze looks almost hungry, like you’re ready to devour him–shit, are you seriously into this?

He finds his answer in the way you motion him over, helpless in how his body obeys before he can even process the silent request. You reach out hesitantly, fingertips so close to his thighs he can feel your body heat even through the thin fabric. You glance up at him, asking permission, and he’s nodding immediately, desperate for your touch.

Your fingers land near his left knee, trailing up slowly and making his whole body tremble lightly. When your fingertips catch on the hem of the stockings he nearly gasps and then you're brushing his soft skin directly, only stopping when you reach the edge of the sweater that’s just barely covering his rapidly hardening cock. 

“You’re so pretty,” you praise, "my pretty boy."

Kenma makes a choked sound, surprised and mildly offended but also awfully turned on to hear any form of praise from your lips. No, he wants to argue, you’re the pretty one –but you look up at him, so pleased, that he can’t remember how to speak. 

“And now we match,” you sing, tone innocent as you raise your leg between his own. His eyes follow, nearly hypnotized by the contrast between your red-and-white stockings against his red ones before your clothed shin brushes against his crotch in a way that is anything but innocent. He has to grab the back of the couch near your head to keep his knees from buckling as he groans.

You seem to take some form of pity on him because you let up on his crotch with a giggle, making room for him to sit down beside you and catch his breath. Even when you let him rest your attention never strays from the item of clothing, hand idly stroking his thigh while you continue to drink in the sight of his pale skin contrasting with the scarlet cloth. 

“Do you really like it that much,” he asks, almost hesitant. 

He’s surprised at how sheepish you become, moving your hand away as your face slightly flushes. 

“Um–yeah. I know it’s kinda weird, sorry, you just look really pretty sometimes.”

Kenma frowns slightly and takes your hand back, returning it to his thigh with his own on top of yours. The action was meant to reassure you but it felt too bold and he avoids eye contact as he speaks.

“You don’t have to apologize, I don’t hate it…”

He sees the way you perk up, practically beaming, from the corner of his eye and is quick to clarify less you try to buy him a pair of panties or something next year. 

“It’s not my thing—I prefer seeing you in cute clothes…but I can try things like this if it makes you this happy.”

“Aww, KenKen, that’s so sweet!”

Kenma huffs, breath nearly knocked out of him when you launch yourself into his chest, planting noisy kisses all over his face. He tries his best to scowl but he’s pretty sure he’s failing by the way you giggle at his expression. Your Santa hat gets knocked off in the commotion but neither of you care. Kenma even takes the opportunity to bury his fingers in your messy hair as your kisses finally focus on his lips. 

Eventually, the kisses deepen, morphing from quick pecks to slow and open-mouthed. Your tongue invades his mouth, gravity giving you a clear advantage as you take charge of this kiss. But not one to easily accept defeat, Kenma takes the opportunity to grab a handful of your ass in a way that has you gasping in surprise. You start to grind on him, both of you letting out soft sounds between kisses. 

It’s you who pulls away first, making Kenma softly whine in protest, gaze hazy as he blinks up at you in question. 

“Wanna ride you,” you explain simply. 

Kenma hisses out his approval and obediently waits as you pull down your lounge shorts. You yank them down your legs and fling them across the living room with a little too much force, accidentally hitting the Christmas tree. You laugh at the sight of your fuzzy white shorts hanging on the tree like some soft of kinky Christmas ornament but Kenma is quick to redirect your attention by pulling you back down for another kiss. 

He grips your ass again, this time bare, and moves his fingers to prepare you for his dick but—

He abruptly stops and pulls away from the kiss in shock. 

“You’re already this wet?” His expression looks genuinely surprised and you can’t help but giggle. 

“I told you, you look really pretty.”

Kenma groans, not sure if he’s annoyed or turned on but his cock throbs all the same. You pull up the bottom half of his sweater to reach his black boxers. He’s so hard that it's almost difficult to get them off but he helps you pull them down just enough to free his leaking cock. It takes a moment to properly position yourself from this new angle, hindered by your bulky sweater and the headrest of the couch digging into your side but you manage to guide his leaky head to your drenched hole and ease down.

You both groan as he breaches your cunt, your wetness making the slide smooth even as you reach his thick base.

“F-fuck, Ken, you always feel so good,” you moan.

The praise feels like a punch to the gut and he’s thankful he’s already lying down so he can’t embarrass himself further by losing his balance. He’s coming to realize even if feminization isn’t his thing, praise might be. He thinks he'd do just about anything if it pleased you—if it made you look down at him with those shiny eyes and call him your good boy—fuck. Kenma has to force himself back to reality before he makes himself cum too quickly just by his own fantasies. 

You readjust your weight, leaning back and using his bent knees as leverage. Your fingers dig into the fabric of his stockings as you begin to move, raising to his tip before dropping your whole weight down. It feels good—mind-numbingly so—but he finds it looks even better. The angle you put yourself into gives him an unobstructed view of your face–eyes pinched closed and reddened lips open in pleasure, your breasts–soft and bouncing with every movement–and, best of all, your tight hole sucking him in with every uptake. 

He can’t tear his eyes away from where the two of you are connected. A creamy white ring is quickly forming at the base of his cock from how soaked you are, thin strings sticking to your pussy like webs. Framing it all are your thick thighs, muscles straining with your movements and squeezed by those god damned red-and-white striped thigh highs.

Fuck, he wishes he could record this.

He has apparently said that aloud on accident because now you’re grinning down at him conspiratorially. 

“Y-yeah?” you stutter out, “you wanna make a movie with me?”

Kenma doesn’t verbally answer but he doesn’t need to. Instead, he’s gripping your hips and guiding your pace, making you bounce on his cock faster while his own hips start to meet your thrusts. 

It has only been a few minutes but it's becoming clear your stamina is far from athletic. Your thighs burn and your pace stumbles but Kenma is quick to take advantage of the situation, using a strength you didn’t know he was capable of to roll you over and push you face down. 

“Kenma, wh—oh!”

Any dissent you had intended to make is abruptly cut off when your boyfriend, one knee digging into the couch for leverage, feeds his length back into your greedy hole and sets a pace that has you nearly screaming. His hips snap into you, hard, and you scramble to find something to hold on to. One hand finds the armrest of the couch near your head, nails nearly tearing into the fabric, while the other ends up behind you, digging into his thigh as he rams his hips into you. You’re drooling as you manage to stutter out a barely coherent statement through your moans.

“K-Ken, so h-hard, fuck—”

“Yeah,” He replies, sounding breathless but not nearly as wrecked as you. You curse his retired high school athlete stamina. 

“Am I still your pretty boy?”

The question momentarily shocks you. You aren’t sure what response he’s looking for but you answer honestly, too fucked out to ponder on it. 

“Y-yesyesyes, the prettiest! ”

“You like getting fucked by your pretty boy?”

“Yeeeess, I l-love it—oh god—”

One hand reaches up to grip your hair, tugging your hair in a way you aren’t sure is punishment or a reward. You cry out all the same, cunt squeezing him for dear life as he hits something deep deep deep inside of you. You’re fairly certain you’ve never been fucked this hard in your life. The sweet, no-sex-drive-having boyfriend trope becomes little more than a pipe dream as his hips smack into your ass without reprieve. 

“‘m g-gonna cum,” you warn.

Kenma’s grip on your hip tightens and he adjusts his angle to hit the spot he knows makes your toes curl and your pitch turns airy. The nail in the coffin comes when he releases your hair, but only to start rubbing your clit, remembering your favorite rhythm from the time he watched you masturbate. 

Expectedly, you cum, toes curling and squeals reaching a pitch you think might cause your boyfriend hearing damage. Your whole body seizes with your orgasm, cunt spasming and thighs squeezing shit as you please for him to stop, go harder–you aren’t sure. 

Kenma forces you to ride through it, fucking you even as your hips stutter violently and never letting up on your pulsating nub. It's only when you're nearing tears from the overstimulation that Kenma stops, moaning sweetly as his own orgasm overtakes him. He collapses against you in exhaustion as warmth fills you from deep inside, making a mess on your thighs as it gushes out between you. 

“Mm, y’r heavyyy,” you complain sleepily. 

Kenma grunts something in response but doesn’t bother moving. In fact, he seems to make himself more comfortable by moving his hands to find your own. He slips his long fingers in the spaces between your own, locking your hands together. Your heart swells at the action, constantly reminded how much this boy loves you even when he doesn't vocalize it very often.  

You allow him a few more moments of peace, listening to his harsh pants die down into something more calm before you speak again. 

“By the way, what was my present?”

Kenma stiffens against you, having completely forgotten about Christmas altogether. Quickly, he pulls away from you and the loss of warmth almost makes you regret saying anything. On shaky legs, Kenma shuffles over to the forgotten box, wrapped in royal blue paper and topped with a pretty gold ribbon. He comes back to the couch, gingerly helping you sit up before placing the box on your lap. 

You’re immediately surprised by the hefty weight of the box and grow curious as you tear at the paper. Within seconds, the logo and picture on the box become clear, making you gasp in shock. 

“Kenmaaaa,” you whine, trying not to tear up as you pout at him. 

To his credit, Kenma looks honestly guilty as he avoids your eyes. 

“We set a twenty-thousand-yen spending limit, ” you remind him.

“I know but—this is basically a necessity. Your old one was going to die any day now,” Kenma reasons, helping you pull out the shiny new laptop –in rose gold no less. 

“And it's a gaming laptop–that means you can play with me more so it’s basically a gift for me more than you,” he continues. 

You know he’s absolutely pulling excuses out of his ass but you can’t help the rush of affection at how much Kenma wants to spoil you. He always buys you the things you want, even when you insist on not wanting to take advantage of him as a wealthy streamer and businessman. He usually comes up with some excuse, I was going to buy one anyway so we can share or I have too much money this month, taxes will be a hassle if I don’t spend it. 

But he is right–your old laptop was on its last leg and every time you opened a Word document for school you had to pray it wouldn’t crash before you could save your draft.

You softly smile as you trace the box with a finger, elated that he even remembered which color you wanted. He grins at how pleased you clearly are, even if you won’t say it. 

“Besides,” his grin suddenly turns sly as he places a hand on the swell of your hip, “I heard the webcam is really great for recording movies.”

[duck-at-midnight]

Little Duck Origins

Summary: With Sam in therapy, Kirby evaluates the couples stance in life with Tara

Content Warning: a bit fluffy, little Tara, non-verbal Tara, slight Scooby-Doo diss

Sam woke to someone crawling into her bed. She remained still as the small figure settled next to her, keeping her breaths even. There was hope that Tara would notice she was still asleep and sleep a little longer with her. With a few moments of silence, Sam relaxed fully thinking her sister had fallen asleep. 

To her disappointment, she felt Tara nudge her and let out a low whine. 

“Good morning to you too.” Sam said, opening her eyes to meet her sister’s. 

Her sister had climbed into her bed with her pink elephant, Cuddles, tucked under her chin and thumb in her mouth. She was staring with her wide brown eyes that were begging her to get up.

”Hungry?” The girl nodded. “Pancakes?” Another nod. “Chocolate chip?” Another nod with a smile forming around her thumb. “Alright, let’s get up.” Sam said as she unwrapped herself from her blanket.

Tara walked to the living room area as Sam got dressed and brushed her teeth. She sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Her eyes never leaving Scooby-Doo as Sam walked in. 

“Here, let’s get that thumb out of your mouth.” Sam pulled her thumb out to replace it with a pacifier. There was a small whine, but with a small pat on her head, Tara was back to Scooby-Doo. 

Cooking while listening into the TV, Sam made quick work of the pancakes for her and Tara. She topped Tara’s off with extra chocolate chips and a glass of orange juice.

”Come eat, Tara.” Sam called out as she got her plate together. She poured her coffee and set her plate and cup on the table. “Tara, now.”

With the TV still playing, Tara walked over to the table and sat across from Sam. She took out her pacifier as she took a big bite from her pancake. 

“Hope you like it.” Sam said moving the pacifier away from the edge of the table. 

The girl hummed with approval and a nod. 

“Nonverbal day?” She was met with a silent look. “It’s ok. Just wanted to give a heads up to Danny and Kirby.”

She gave a confused look.

”I have therapy today. They’re going to come and watch you unless you want to sit there in a boring therapy office.” They both had weekly therapy but had it on different days. 

She shook her head. 

“Yeah, I thought so. You’d rather be here having fun with Danny and Kirby.”

After breakfast and followed by a small lunch at noon, Tara took off to play with a few of her toys in front of the TV, pacifier secured in her mouth. Cuddles never leaving her sight as she moved around on the floor. Sam was in her room drying her hair from her shower. 

The door opened making Tara look up from her toys feeling slight fear wash over her. 

“Hey, kiddo.” Kirby said as she opened the door. Danny followed closely behind. “Having fun?”

Tara smiled widely letting the pacifier fall from her lips as she ran up to Danny who picked her up. 

“There’s my favorite girl.” He said, swinging her around making her giggle. 

“Is that right?” Kirby said with a teasing tone.

”What?” He said, stopping his swinging. Both sets of eyes fell on Kirby. “You and Sam are my favorite women. But Tara, Tara is my favorite girl. Who else is going to watch Scooby-Doo with me?”

”You say that like Sam and I don’t watch it too.” 

“Hey, thanks for watching her again.” Sam said, greeting them both with a kiss. She laughed at her sister leaning her cheek out for her own kiss before giving her one too. “She’s not really talkative today.”

”That’s ok, we’ll still fun.” Kirby said, poking at the girl’s stomach making her giggle more. 

“I know you will.” Sam said confident in her significant others. “But please call me if you need anything or if something happens.”

”We’ll be fine. You have a good session and we’ll have dinner after.” Kirby reassured. She opened the door for Sam. 

Sam gave all three of them a kiss again before walking out. She took notice of something missing from her sister’s mouth. “Make sure you wash her pacifier before giving it back to her.” 

“We will, we got her.” Danny said, putting Tara down. 

“Ok, love you all, bye!” Sam said before closing the door and heading to her appointment. 

The two turned and saw Tara immediately putting her pacifier back in her mouth and going for Cuddles. 

“I should have waited to put her back down.”

Kirby shrugged. “It’s just a little dirty. Nothing that will hurt her.”

Danny walked over to Tara. “Sorry, kiddo, I’m going to need this.” He pulled it out of her mouth that was followed by a cry. “I just have to wash it.” 

She followed him closely behind and observed him washing it in the sink. Her thumb snuck its way into her mouth as she leaned towards Danny. 

He handed it back to her and was met by her wide eyes looking up at him. “You know Sam doesn’t like it when you use your thumb.” Her thumb remained in place. “Come on, Tara.” He pleaded.

Kirby walked up and tickled her sides making her giggle before pulling her thumb out. She quickly grabbed the pacifier and put it in Tara’s mouth before the girl could notice. She smiled before walking over to the couch making sure not to move Cuddles as she leaned back. 

“How do you do that?” Danny asked, walking over to the couch. He sat down and let Tara climb into his lap. She sunk into him with her eyes focusing on the TV playing Scooby-Doo. 

“You’re too gentle. I just prefer to get it over with.” 

He shook his head, “I’m not too gentle.”

“You’d let Tara walk all over you.” Kirby laughed, making Tara look over at her with curious eyes. She picked up Cuddles gesturing with the stuffed toy. “Guess I’ll cuddle with my good friend Cuddles.”

The girl whined before climbing over to Kirby and laying against her. She tucked Cuddles underneath her chin and refocused on Scooby-Doo with heavy eyes.

“That was dirty.” 

“What?” Stretching out the rest of the couch to rest her feet in her boyfriend’s lap.

“You bribed her.”

“I wanted time with our girl too.” She patted the girl’s back and kissed the top of her head.

Danny leaned forward to look at her face. “She’s asleep.” 

The blonde smirked. “Good, naptime won’t be a fight.” She laughed at Danny. “What? Are you jealous?”

“She went out like a light.”

“She probably woke up early.” Kirby pointed out. She knew when Tara woke up little she tended to wake up early. “She'll follow you around like a little duck when she wakes up.” 

Danny scoffed. “She does not follow me like a duck.”

“Oh yes, she does.” Kirby teased. “She loves you. You’re the fun one, letting her get away with things and swinging her around. Anytime you’re here, she sticks close to you.” 

“If I’m the fun one then what are you?”

Kirby’s eyes lit up. “The cool one, obviously.” 

“I can be the fun and cool one.” Danny said defensively. 

“Yes, that’s our job as the boyfriend and girlfriend of the mother duck.” Kirby pointed out. “To keep Sam sane and to remember to let loose.” 

“I think we do our jobs well.” He leaned back.

“Yes, we do.” A comfortable silence fell over the two as they focused on the cartoon. “Can we watch something else though? I’ve had enough Scooby-Doo. It’s all she watches.” 

He laughed. “And you call yourself the cool one.”

[applepies-and-starlight]

hi, hello, you mentioned you have ocs and i would like to learn abt them if thats ok, could i get some fun facts abt them?

Y'know, I was planning to make a list of OCs anyway so this is a good excuse to do that

Gonna giving their names and fandoms with a couple of facts under cut (i feel like this might get long Very quick)

(Mid-edit Apple: minor Canto VI spoilers, nothing really story-related but I do use terms mentioned in 6.3 in passing; better safe than sorry tho)

Tamami Mochizuki (Persona Series)

As her last name implies, she's related to Nyx

She's my watsonian/in-universe explanation to where the rest of the arcana shadows are

Her persona variant is Akhlys; heavily based off Riordan's interpretation of her, meaning she can control poison

Her appearances changes a lot more than her brother's since the collective idea of suffering/misery changes over the ages while death stays stagnant (I've been considering making her look gyaru since that seems to be associated with japanese mean girl tropes)

Ena Kutsuki (Persona Series)

Initially, her name was Era, but I changed it somewhere down the line (did you know that the name 'Ena' has japanese origins too?)

Demigod of order; got a certain cup's magic handed to her after Striker's AI takeover attempt

Her bones are fucked up because of said magic (her spine can literally burst out of her back and turn into extra arms doc ock style)

She is being rizzed up by the goddess of misery and neither are aware they're in the slowburn plot and mutually believe they are friends (both of their friend groups can see how lovesick they are)

Cai An-Yue (ProjMoon; Lobcorp)

She's named after me! (My chinese name is Cai An Yu)

She has stolen her world's Library and made it her own

I'm considering classifying her as some flavor of Erlking because she's been fucking around the timelines and superimposing herself on various people and/or corpses

Transfem, any pronouns; ENA Dream BBQ is her voiceclaim (both voices)

Unit O-1 // Cordelle (Smash Bros/Kirby)

Their favorite attack is F-smash; their second favorite is Side-B (hammer flip)

They have a weird relationship with their creator (Octave), since they were initially made as a murder protocol and ended up accidentally developing a personality along the way; by the time the incident cleared out their creator went "wait, shit, I didn't expect that to happen I'm not ready to be a mom–"

They're on good terms for the situation they're in though

Their original name was Ocean before i changed it to Cordelle (Ocean started to sound less like a word the more i said it)

Whaleship Essex (Azur Lane)

Heavily inspired by Ishmael from Limbus Company

Very post-adventures 2!Shadow the Hedgehog coded

Feral; very prone to biting people regardless of whether they're friend or foe

(I'll be adding more on another post since someone else asked about her specifically and I'm still figuring out what to say about her)

Galatea "Gamma" Soliel (Miraculous/Genesis)

Ladybug holder; she's in a different timeline where the Miraculous have landed outside of Paris

All of her teammates are idiots and she only Vaguely tolerates the Black Cat because she Knows he's in a perpetual state of "Nagito Komaeda in his bad luck cycle"

Has shanked the Butterfly once; the Butterfly keeps trying to do homoerotic swordfights with her (they're similar in age)

May or may not be inspired by Mitsuru Kirijo from Persona 3, I can't tell you because if she was then it was likely subconscious

[duskythesomething]

omg the past two days were a blast i'll ramble in tags

[lovely-necromancy]

A Cure for Insomnia Ch 13

Waking up late was so not the plan for today.

What was supposed to be a nice lovely day is slowly turning into your personal hell. Racing around the kitchen trying to keep an eye on your potatoes as you cut up the other veggies for the pie. So you can shove it into the oven then get ready.

Christ why hadn't you thought to prep your ingredients earlier?

Thankfully the cobbler was super simple tossing the sugar and flour into the bowl followed by the a cup of lemonade. Perfect cobbler base. After the batter was creamy you threw in the freshly washed blackberries. They bled a deep red into the batter around them. You had high hopes as you topped it with butter and threw it into the oven.

Both dishes had very quick bake times so you weren't too worried or stressed about them taking forever. In all honesty the only reason you were frantically running around your kitchen was prepping the inside of the forager's pie. And giving the mashed potatoes an essence of rosemary and garlic as if you were a chef on par with Gordon Ramsey.

Should you do dishes?

No, there's no time to worry about that.

Soon the cobbler is out of the oven and you have replaced it with the two pans of forager's pie. You don't give the cobbler any time to cool as you place the aluminum lid to the pan so the heat stays.

With that taken care of you speed off to your room and grab your outfit. The mini pencil skirt you'd purchased yesterday paired with some shorts so you didn't have to be careful with your movements all day. A plain block colored shirt in a cute primary palette. Finishing with yellow converses.

Changing doesn't take long but you do take some extra time on your hair choosing to style it a bit different today. As you're debating on if you should put the time into a fun makeup look your neck snaps harshly to the right.

There is no crack but it did hurt like hell.

As if that had been a sign from God you opt for your normal look. There will be other events and times for you to do fun looks, but not today.

The oven beeps as the timer goes off letting you know the pies are ready. Just a sprinkle of cheese on top before you cover them with the lid and you are all set to go.

Checking the time you see it's nine-o-two, and while the picnic was scheduled for ten thirty you are a committee member and should be there early to help set up. So without anymore hesitation you are flying out of the house and into your car.

You rush back from placing the food in the backseat to make sure your door is locked.

It is and you are free to enjoy the day...you hope.

Speeding would be the biggest understatement of the year. You were practically at the lodge in fifteen minutes and bustling up to the door. Opening it you rush in ignoring anyone you pass by in your mad dash to the kitchen.

“Hello to you too.” Barclays voice carries from the stove as you whisk past him to place two of your pans on the counter.

“Hi, Tim?” you say out of breath from your one person marathon. Practically vibrating in place unwilling to loose your momentum despite your need for a second wind.

Barclay just points to the den and you're out of the kitchen just as fast as you had entered. Most patrons in the den don't spare you a second glance used to your whirlwind mannerisms when your trying to follow a deadline. As self appointed as it may be.

There is one trio however giving you a mix of concerned and amused looks. Which quickly turn into concerned and interest when you make a bee line straight for them.

“Hi,” you say to Toby and Brian before looking at Tim and pushing the cobbler at him, “Thanks again  for last night.”

Tim can't even get a word out because as soon as he grabs the pan you're already back off to the kitchen. Determined to help Barclay with something before everyone starts moving to the Archway. You hear the chorus of chuckles coming from everyone as you leave a confused Tim, who now has to answer to the questioning glances of his friends, in your wake.

Barclay needed no help as you guessed but he was however open to you covering the food and stacking certain items together before helping to load everything into crates for easier transport. It wasn't long before the others start to make their way into the kitchen to get briefed on the plan.

You notice the trio being motioned in by Jake who holds the door open for them to make their way in too. Brian politely takes the door from Jake as Tim steps in place in front of him and Toby. The jerky movements of Toby's eyes as he scans the room is really hard to ignore. But it doesn't seem like he's looking for anything just taking note of who is in the kitchen and where they are.

“Ok, first thank you all for helping set up the picnic today. I really appreciate it.” Barclay's baritone voice says jostling you out of your thoughts to focus in on him.

“Second, we really don't have much to do for set up since most guests already have their baskets with them. We do have a few spares to lay down though. We'll be splitting off into three teams.” Barclay then points at you, Hollis, Jake, and Kirby.

“Team A is in charge of setting up the spare baskets.”

After getting your group's approval he continues down the line.

Team B consists of Brian, Tim, Toby, and Indrid. Their group is to bring out and set the tables that'll hold the food. Team C is Barclay, Aubrey, Dani, and Madeline. Team C will bring the main courses along with the heaters to keep everything warm.

With teams set and in place you all take to your positions and get a move on before the public arrives. You vaguely wonder why the Hornets aren't here yet but remember most had decorated and cleared out the Archway over the past couple of days. Pushing the thoughts away you grab two baskets and follow after your team. Thankfully there were only a few left over baskets, eight if you include Jake and Hollis' and then your own. Each member of your team carried two baskets through the thicket of trees until you reached the clearing of the archway.

It looked amazing, you'd only been out here one other time back when Bambi was still around. She took you out at night and the two of you just talked about anything and everything, including theories about the giant archway that towered over the clearing and just how it may have come to be.  Back then it had been a field of long grass and purple wildflowers. The grass was so thick the two of you used sticks to move it and insure there'd be no snakes harmed in your late night hike. Now though the grass had been cut save for aesthetically calculated patches of wildflowers and clovers here and there. The field was absolutely perfect for the event, and with the gorgeous blue skies partially clouded the scenery really seemed to pop out.

Especially the small lake glittering just past the archway. You'd never noticed it before but then again you came here in the dead of night.

Getting back to work you set out on placing the spare baskets a reasonable distance from the others. Close enough  to other blankets to feel included but far enough away to have their own space if that was their thing. When you had finished you take your own basket and join Hollis and Jake who finished placing their four baskets down faster with two people. They'd been setting up their own blanket on the outer rim of the perimeter, closer to the treeline than to the Archway. As if they were going to overlook the even and keep an eye out. Which they probably would be, just to ensure that everyone had fun and stayed safe.

Seeing you standing just a few feet away from the blanket Jake gives you his patented superstar smile.

“C'mon, join the party YN.”

With the easy going invitation you fix your blanket beside theirs. This way at one point or another you'd see a majority of your friends today as you knew for a fact they'd come over or be dragged over into seeing the couple beside you.

Kirby joins you three after lazily placing his baskets side by side closer to the archway. With the hustle and fuss of your prep work being done you can take a moment to take everything in.

“I love the shirt.” you say looking at Kirby's 'I'm not Allo but 20$ is 20$' shirt.

He gives a grin before presenting a folded up shirt out of his messenger bag.

“Thought you might...don't wear it now though. Don't want you copying my style, that'd be sad.” he jokes.

“Pfft, please everyone would know it's you who copied me.”

Jake and Hollis watch as the two of you continue your playful banter. Occasionally voicing whose side they were on, Hollis took Kirby's while Jake took yours. It was a fun way to pass the time as the other groups finished setting up.

Especially since you had Mr. Cool Guy himself on your side. How could you possibly not be the trend setter sibling with his vote.

Before long the other groups were also setting up their own baskets, which had been brought out by Barclay and Indrid a few hours earlier. And some Hornets started showing up not too long after that. Either rushing around trying to set up their baskets or sit down with friends after placing their food away. Though the event hadn't really started yet you could hear Aubrey starting up her music a few blankets away. She'd already gathered a small crowd that was chittering away.

Taking it all in you notice a certain trio looking incredibly awkward and out of place. You get up and make your way over to the men ready to invite them to sit with you. After all it's an eight person blanket it'd be a shame to sit all by yourself next to another full blanket.

Toby's dark eyes lock on to you first, you really suspect this boy has ADHD with his quick reflexes and spacial hyper awareness. He actually seems to deflate a bit, like the tension in his shoulders started to disappear the closer you got. You apparently weren't the only one to notice the subtle change in the brunette as Tim focused in on Toby. Meanwhile Brian clocked you just before you were within ten feet of their little group.

“Hey I have an empty blanket if you guys wanted to join.”

Just getting straight to the point was your thing. Most see your bluntness as rudeness but you just don't see a point in dancing around your message.

“Yea, that'd be nice.” Toby spoke before the other two could.

Smiling at him you hold a hand out for him to grab. You aren't really sure what possessed you to do that, but figure you must be in a rare tactile mood. Unlike when you're touched if you initiate the contact it doesn't hurt or squick you out. He grabs your hand and you can feel the scratch of his callouses. You remember Hollis said something about him being a mechanic, that would explain the tough hands.

You lead the trio over to your blanket where only Kirby sits, seems like didn't bring his basket and was going to share with you. Not that you mind at all, in fact this was the perfect time to introduce one friend to another.

“Kirby time to make a good impression.” you call out gaining his attention.

He takes a moment before taking note of the group you're guiding over. Kirby stands up to greet you all.

“Kirby this is my friend Tobias, and his roommates Tim and Brian.” you motion to the other two with your unoccupied hand.

Noticing for the first time that they have their hands interlocked. Not holding like you and Toby are but a more intimate hand hold.

'These bitches gay...good for them. Good for them.' is just playing on repeat as background noise in your head. Ignoring the loop in your brain you continue the introduction.

“This is Kirby, my brother or whatever.” Kirby snorts at your short introduction.

“I'll take it, 's a step up from gremlin.” he turns to the trio hand extended, “Nice to meet you guys.”

After the weird neurotypical ritual is over the five of you sit down and talk while you wait for the festivities to begin. Tim and Kirby dragging Brian along for the deep dive of god awful horror movies.

“You didn't mention a brother.” Toby says fiddling with your hand, someone really needs to get this guy a fidget toy.

“Huh? Oh no. No, not like that Kirby's more like a brother than my biological brother.” you pause while thinking how to explain this more articulately.

“We're just really similar and people thought we were dating, I guess, before we started calling each other 'sibling'.” it's really weird that that was even an issue. At least to you but Allos tend to be weird about mixed gender relationships.

For instance Brian and Tim can get written off as the best of best friends. But you and Kirby decide to sit next to each other for one Saturday Night Dead and the town is already waiting for wedding invites. Maybe this is a small town thing...you'll still blame the Allos.

Toby nods along, whether he actually understands or is trying to move from the topic you can't quite tell. You look down at his hand that's bending your fingers into your palm. His nail beds look better than last week you hope it means he wasn't picking at his skin. It's really not a great coping mechanism.

You let out a small sigh as you get lost in the feeling of Toby playing with your fingers. You're trying to think of something to talk about but the motions are kind of drowning out your thoughts. You can see why this might've been helpful the for Toby last week in the forest.

“...We're friends?” you aren't really sure if that was a question or a statement.

“Yea! Well at least I'd like to be. It's fine if you don't want to though.”

Toby gives a small smile to that, and releases your hand. It seems his anxiety has gone away for the most part. Maybe having the reassurance of another friend is all he needed. Just a little more moral support to get him out of his shell.

You smile back at him as he leans back on his hands. It's nice that you both can enjoy the day without your masks, even if you do feel a bit naked without yours. You wonder how Toby's been holding up wearing only the bandage over his scar. But you know you probably aren't at the friendship level needed to question him about it. No matter how nonchalant he'd been about eating in front of you that first day.

“How're the repairs coming?”

Toby rolls his eyes and lets out a frustrated groan, and for a moment you're concerned you upset him.

“It's a fah-fah-cuck...king rust bucket. Like Jesus fucking Christ first the AC blows out so I check the compressor...” he pauses and squints his eyes at you, “do you know cars?”

“Dad's a mechanic so I know enough. But you're talking about an RV unit and not a regular cabin AC might get a little lost but I can at least lend an ear. Like a rubber duck.”

The right side of Toby's mouth pulls a confused sneer, but his attention is soon turned to Brian who's chuckling having heard what you said.

“'s a coding thing Toby.”

“Uh...okay?” Toby just resigns himself to not understanding this particular topic and continues on.

“Yea so sorta the same basis, I guess. The units still pull air from outside into the vents and use a refrigerant liquid to cool the air it pushes out.” he pauses to make sure you're still following.

After you nod he continues to explain how it runs so the fans and circuits seem to be in order. There isn't a leak in the coils and the liquid's been replenished but it still isn't running cold. You nod while giving him a patient smile as you let him tear through his rant about the “piece of shit unit” because it seems this has been building in him for the past few days.  When he comes to the end of his rant the only thing you can really think to say is.

“That sounds rough.”

Not the most eloquent thing but Toby seems to come down from his vent high, after a few deep breaths.

“Yea it mrrow was. Well is.” he cuts his eyes back to the trio across from you noticing how they all seem invested in their own conversation now.

“Why'd you give Tim a cobbler?” looks like you two will be playing twenty questions today.

“He scared off the creep for me last night.” you shrug causing your neck to jerk to the side.

“'the' creep? Wait! The one that drugged you?” Toby is so lucky he can't feel pain because even you felt that crack that ripped through his neck as he whipped his head towards you.

And honestly you're kinda surprised it didn't draw anyone's attention to you two.

“First I don't think I was drugged, he might've just sent me into a panic attack.”

“Oh sorry the creep that sent you into a panic attack.” you really hate when people interrupt you like that he's really lucky you understand he's actually just paying attention to you rather than talking over you. You'd punch him if it wasn't the case. Punch him right in his cute snarky face.

“Bitch.” You do punch him, in his arm, he lets out a monotone 'ow'. You decide against punching him again for that, it was a hard choice though.

“Anyway, second yea same one. I just really don't like the guy and last night he'd been bothering Ronnie when I stopped by the gas station. She'd apparently forgotten Tim had gone on break and when I tried bluffing that he was there well...”

You took some time to explain the situation last night to Toby. Leaving out the parts where Not Tim showed up. After thinking on that you figure there was a possibility of Tim having an alter that he may or may not know about. And you aren't sure what the etiquette is for this sort of thing, like if Tim did know were you suppose to let him tell you or should you let him know you'd technically met his alter. Judging from Toby's face, the guy really wears his heart on his sleeve, he seems confused about something.

Maybe Tim  didn't remember last night and Toby was asking for him. That does put a bit more weight on your alter theory. And it seems to have more traction as something seems to click in Toby's head. He doesn't share whatever is making him nod. So you leave it be.

Before you know it an hour has past the field nearly full of town residents and Barclay, with his mighty megaphone, start calling people over for food so you all grab a plate from the basket.

“I want purple.” Kirby tells you.

“I could literally hand you any of these and you'd tell me 'thanks'.”

“That's pretty fucking ablest YN.”

You pause and look at the other three on the blanket.

“Is being colorblind a disability?”

A “Yes” from Brian followed by Tim and Toby's deadpan expressions and “No”s.

“Three against two, not ablest just honest...this is purple.” you had half a mind to hand him indigo.

Your group goes and gets food, debating the legitimacy of colorblindness being a disability, before heading back to your blanket. No sooner had you sat down are you body slammed into the ground. The familiar weight of an overexcited eleven year old smothering you.

“Hi can I sit with you?” before you can reply the rest of the Cowell family finds their way over.

“Josephine Cowell, I'm so sorry YN she's just been so excited all weekend. Josephine get off of YN you know they aren't very tactile.” Dia called.

Unlike her husband's hulking form Dia was a petite frail woman, you honestly wouldn't be surprised if Jo towered over her mother in a few years. And though she was small she had a fierceness to her that normally kept both the Jos in line.

“It's not a problem Dia. Jo I think you should eat with your parents first, we have all day to hang out.” Her eyes seem to sparkle with excitement and you can see her mother's apologetic expression just past her.

Understandably Dia is concerned with Jo taking up your personal time. The young girl sees you as an older sibling and wants to spend any second she can with you, but you aren't family. You're a young adult who has their own life to live. The last thing you need is to be babysitting the tween while you tried to relax with your friends today. Dia would do her best to have Jo give you some space.

“Hey you guys can just drop your blanket over here, we don't mind.” Janette, local mean lesbian, calls from Hollis and Jake's blanket.

Jo looks ecstatic at the thought and rushes to her father to pull him over to the area so they can place the blanket down. Booping her nose occasionally in her excitement.

“Hey Dia, Marnie's coming in an hour or so, soccer game got rescheduled. Jo will have someone her age to bug.”

“Marnie's coming?” leave it to a tween to finish setting up and get a plate of food all in under five minutes.

She's not even trying to be on her family's blanket as she plops down next to you. Taking notice of you staring she gives a wide grin practically buzzing with excitement. A bit too much excitement as she starts rapidly blinking, triggering your own as well. At least you have practice eating like this, unlike Jo who only just developed this tic.

After your tics subside Jo eats with you and just goes on into her usual tween drama stories. She's got to keep you up to date after all. It's like a soap opera just less adult topics and no evil clones. Kirby and Nate catch up and somehow rope Tim and Brian into their conversation as well. Toby just sits quietly eating and giving you amused looks every time you lock eyes.

You can't help but feel you're forgetting to do something every time you lock eyes with the brunette. The issue seems to resolve itself when a 'mrrow' slips from Toby as he takes a drink, causing him to cough from swallowing wrong.

An unconscious effort on your part, you lean and rub small circles into his back. Trying to calm his coughs. A mistake as the tween in front of you zeros in on the man as if she's just noticed he existed.

“Hi! Who are you?” if her eyes could turn into stars they would.

“uh...” Toby looks to you for help, as if the child talking to him was an alien species. “Toby...” he says uncertainly after receiving no input from you.

“Toby....”

“Rogers?”

“Are you YN's boyfriend?” Toby wishes he had an excuse to cough now.

His face flushes at the question and before he can sputter out any tongue tied response another 'mrrow' rips through him and his head harshly tilts back. Jo's eyes widen at the tic, she excitedly looks between the two of you. And you aren't sure what's going through her mind at the moment.

“OMG Do you have tourette's? Does he have tourette's or is he like you?” she's practically vibrating as she bounces between questioning both of you.

“umm...touretter's?” you say in Toby's place as the man beside you can't function a sentence right now.

Jo literally squeaks in excitement at the new development.

“I'm Jo Cowell, YN's self appointed sibling. I have tourette's too, I've had it since I was five. How long have you had tourette's?”

It felt like Jo's never ending barrage of questions was just that never ending. Toby took everything in stride, aside from the awkward dating questions. And for how worried she was about her daughter bugging you today every time you tried to catch Dia's eye she was somehow wrapped up in another conversation or her husband. Your saving grace came in a four foot two package wearing a dirty soccer uniform and sporting a fresh black eye followed closely by her frazzled step mother.

“Yikes, ball to the face or fight with the other team?” Janette asked her daughter as she walked towards the blankets.

“Fell off the bleachers.” fucking how? “Jo want to run some drills with me?” Marnie asked with a grin missing her front tooth, and before you know it your blanket was down an occupant and Toby was free of the never ending hell he'd been placed in.

“Do...do you want to take a walk? Get away for a minute.” you asked looking at the positively ruffled man next to you.

He nods numbly and follows after you into the tree line. You both just walk for a bit until Toby's complexion looses any rosiness. When he's back to his normal greyish cool tones you stop to rest. Leaning against a tree Toby follows your lead but slides down the base resting his arms on his knees as his head hits the tree behind him.

“Sorry about her, Jo can be excitable.” you'd remembered as soon as her tirade began that you should have warned him she'd lock on to his tics.

That was a near replica of your first encounter with the tween. Too late to change that now.

“I didn't mind,” he gives a boxy grin up at you “'s just how siblings are.”

There's a fond tone in his voice as he says that. And the gleam in his eyes tell a story of experience with that sort of thing.

“You've got siblings?”

“Yea, an older sister.” he sighs and looks down and the grin falls into a neutral look.

There's a story there, but you aren't one to pry. If he wants to indulge you or even himself he will in his own time. However, a joke should be able to disturb the tension that threatens to darken your moment.

“Oh I bet you were an absolute menace to her.” giving a good natured chuckle, one Toby returns as the fond look in his eyes came back.

“For your information I was a delight as a child.”

“Pfft yea I bet. And just how many times did you break an arm falling out of a tree?”

Toby looks stunned for a moment. Was that something weird to say? You remember the summer nearly everyone in your grade broke their arms falling out of a tree. Hell you would've too if you hadn't landed in a bush, all you got were some gnarly bruises and a few thorns stuck in you. Then you swore a vow to only climb thick limbed trees.

“Like twice...but..how did, how did you know?”

“It wasn't a universal thing? I just figured since we were both from Virginia like your class would've also had like sixteen kids break their arm or something over the summer.”

“Well I was home schooled so I wouldn't know.”

“Wait, like home schooled home schooled, or church home schooled. There's a difference.” giving you a sneer he just shrugs.

“Fucking home schooled home schooled. Don't see how that makes a difference.”  he pops his knuckles. Jerkiness of the motion indicating his tic rather than his choice.

“One you're supposedly taught science and the other you're told Jesus loves you.” you deadpan as you slide down the tree mirroring Toby's position.

“I had two friends, they were twins, who were church home schooled until high school. Nice girls but only so many times I can pretend to know what the hell a veggie tale is.”

Toby snorts and shakes his head. This is probably all you'll get from him about his early life. But he's not dancing around the questions as much as he was a few weeks ago. The quiet is nice and you could honestly just spend the rest of the day in the forest. A cool breeze blows through the trees and you catch the smells from the picnic. For some reason it seems to make you queezy, you'll probably stay here a while longer. You might be getting overstimulated.

“What...what was public school like?”

The question sort of shocks you breaking the moment. And you just stared at Toby for a while before you actually thought of an answer. The answer you wanted to say was “hell, it was straight hell”. You don't think he's talking about the institution itself and more the experience. So you tell him.

You start to weave together a picture spanning twelve long years for Toby. Telling him of pranks or jokes learned, older siblings bugged, holidays celebrated, tearful goodbyes, joyous reunions. Paint pictures of gossiping friends, Jane Austin worthy rumors, unified students banding together to change outdated rules, snowball fights in the courtyard, Snapchat stories shared through the school. The distance that gets put into place the second you aren't legally required to spend all your time with people. The feeling of emptiness as you try to navigate a world you were never prepared for...and doing that alone.

You tried to condense it but you went off into a lot of stories and probably gave him way too much context for everything. But Toby sat there and absorbed everything you had to say. When your mood dropped as you finished he only had one thing to say.

“Sounds like it sucked.”

Looking at him you could see the worried brow and small half smile on his lips. It was reassuring in a sense.

“Yea, yea it did.”

The two of you sat and stared at each other for a bit. A sort of connection being formed from a not so similar but not quite unsimilar schooling maybe. Or the acceptance that someone didn't have to be just like you to get you.

There isn't really a lot of time to dwell on that as a pop is heard followed shortly there after by a crack and sizzle. Soon Toby's face was bathed in a blue glow, as was the surrounding area. Another pop came and the crack and sizzle followed after. Bathing the forest in a neon green hue. Looking up in time to see a third and fourth flare go up and watching them expand in a firey orange and yellow burst. Fizzling out as they made their way down.

“I didn't know there'd be fire...fireworks.” he's tense at his tree as he swallowed the lump that you clearly heard in his throat.

“Yea I...I didn't either.” looking back to Toby you hold out a hand, “Wanna head back to the lodge?”

He pulls his dark eyes away from the sky to look at you and your outstretched hand. Not a moment later he has grabbed your hand and is yanking you into a standing position with him. Leading the way to the lodge as if he were a bat flying out of Hell. His ability to lead you both deftly through the dimly lit forest with barely any sunlight was pretty impressive. At least it would've been had you bee able to focus on it rather than cringing from the noise.

When you get to the lodge Toby doesn't say anything, nor does he let go of your hand. You feel like he's completely forgotten about you even though you're literally joined together. Toby pushes through the doors and makes his way up the stairs. Without a word you let him lead you to where ever it is he's going.

Based on his behavior you have a pretty good guess. When Toby pulls out his room key with his other hand you know you're correct. And that waiting inside would be a very good boy.

“Connor pressure.” are the only words out of Toby's mouth as he flings open the door and falls back onto the ground.

Thankfully he'd let go of your hand. Since he all but dragged you here you figure he could use the company. Closing his door you go over and sit beside his prone form. Not saying a word to each other, just waiting for the others to get back from the festivities.

[beecherdrysdale]

Hiiii my bbs, I have literally been dreaming about going to Greece sooo I hope this is good

Adding onto brigids thoughts:

Okk so half of us pass out in the Uber that we take to the airport, so everybody is just holding onto each other barely awake or literally just fall asleep on you while waiting in line to get to security. Hehe ofc Ryan gets lost, and he’s like panic calling us and I just start laughing at him through phone. But then he finds us and I get beeped at security as usual and he’s chirping me and he gets beeped too and I chirp him, so it gets a bit chaotic at security.

Look at you brigid being organized and not over packing anything. I do the same thing to I just always add extra everything hehe. Hehe yes ‘Quinner how do you have more shit then me’ quinner likes pack extra as well hehe . We have a mini competition to see who brought more clothes lol.

Okkk everybody, Brigid has chosen, she is officially Jamie’s girl :)). Anywayssss you and Jamie are just sleeping and cuddling each other. You are in Jamie’s hoodie 🥺. Kesh and Kirby are also cuddling each other. Aww yes I’m in Quinners beanie !!. So far me and Ryan aren’t chirping you lol cuz it’s reallyyyyy early.

I wear a hoodie and sweats as well or for my bday my brother bought me a really cute sweatsuit so I might wear that lol. But I would love to wear Quinners 😌hehe we get on the plane and it’s you + Dylan and cozzy and Jamie sees and gets jealous ‘no Jamie I just got comfortable’ ‘please cozzy she’s my GIRLFRIEND’ and cozzy gets mildly terrified and says ‘only for $50’ so that happens and Jamie is super happy that he gets to sit with you. Hehe me and Ryan chirp you guys. Ok so I’m behind you, Jamie and Dylan. Then quinton, Braden and Peyton are behind my row. Kesh and Kirby are just sitting away from everybody because they aren’t ready to deal w us yet lol.

You+ Jamie +dyl. Okk so you are watching an action movie. Dylan falls asleep real quick, and you see that he’s in an uncomfy position so you just help him get more comfortable. So now that Dylan’s passed out Jamie cuddles up to you and you start playing with his hair and he loves it and it’s making him fall asleep but he’s still trying to stay awake because he wants to be w you. But you reassure him and help him get comfortable. You wrap him in a blanket hehe. Brigid you have a hard situation here because you have two hockey players asleep on you. After a bit they wake up to eat and make you rewatch the movie and your like why do I have to I didn’t pass out. Oo uno is fun, same with poker. But Jamie gets bored and just starts to braid your hair while you play with Dylan. Also when Jamie wakes up he whisper ‘thank you baby’ and you give him a kiss. Oo also while he’s sleeping you trace his freckles 🥺.

Kesh and Kirby are just chilling and being adorable. They both just make sure that they are comfy. Top tier couple.

Lexi+quinner(+Ryan)- hehe yes Quinner is immune to coffee even after drinking his two cups and half of mine. We made Ryan carry the drinks cuz we are clumsyyyyy. Awww yes, I’m vv in my Quinner feels tonight so Quinner falls asleep on me and I cuddle him and play with his hair because I am not giving back that beanie. I’ll make sure he’s comfy and all. Haha yes me and Ryan are just super loud and competitive w the game we are playing, probably uno, poker or connect 4 lol. And you turn to us and say ‘guys can you shut up, Jamie and everyone is sleeping’ and we are like ‘ok and?’ And you chirp us and we chirp you back until we realize that we really don’t want to wake everybody up lol. Ya I get up a lot on the plane so Ryan and I and you would just be walking along the aisles hehe. Ryan gets tired eventually and passes out and Quinner wakes up and we have some cute moments🥺. We just cuddle and I lay my head on his shoulder and he kisses my mild freckles.

Let’s say we are in first class cuz we got good salaries lol and we really need the leg room since we tall. Airplane food isn’t to bad. But the snacks would be elite. I’ll make sure to get our snacks brigid cuz we have similar tastes in snacks :)). Hehe yes I keep stealing snacks from them, and then get hungry and ask me to give you some but I get annoyed lol. So the y start throwing the snacks and accidentally hit Jamie and Dylan in the head but thankfully they didn’t notice.

Okkkk so now the captain announced that we are landing in like 10 mins and everybody is just super excited to get off the plane. Oo Jamie keeps showing you things through the window 🥺.

Ok so we landed, I get up quick and so do some off the other boys so that the team can get off the plane first. It’s kinda chaotic with everybody trying to get their luggage and some people get smacked in the face. Question does your hair start to curl when the air is humid. Cuz that always happens to me and it’s what I love about traveling to warm places because my hair looks good lol.

Okkk so pass border control etc and all get out of the airport. Also you and Jamie are holding hands the entire time ;)). Would you rather rent a car or take a taxi to the hotel?. Anyways we leave the airport and everybody is just so happy that we are in Greece right now!! It’s sunny and beautiful.

Skip to getting to the hotel: I think our hotel is pretty nice, and we get there at like 2 . would you share your room with Jamie or get a solo? Anywayssss we get to the hotel and all say that we are going to meet up to go to the beach for a bit? Because we just wanna wake up and cool off in the water and possibly tan.

Brigid you walk out in your bikini and Jamie is in awe like how is she that gorgeous. And some boy makes a comment and he glares at him. And he literally carries you into the water. Kesh and Kirby just want to be constantly around each other so they are cuddles to together under an umbrella sipping on drinks or possibly swimming together. Quinner and I are racing each other into the water, and then we both tackle each other at the same time. And then we see who can jump over the wave. And maybe we just hold onto each other and have moments😏 same w you and Jamie .

Side note: I’ve had some bad/funny experiences w waves because some big ones just pulled me under and I would just land on the shore lol. It would take me such a long time to regain my breathing lol.

Some of the boys are chilling and tanning because they want to get some good tans. Some boys have already met some girls and some are in the water with us.

Later we all go shower and get changed to go out for dinner w the team. I never blow dry my hair esp on vacays because it dries really quickly and I get curls wbu? You me and kesh get dressed into really cute summery outfits, I see myself in a flowy skirt and a tshirt or a sleeveless top- I am owning the freckles on my arms hehe. Brigid I can see you in shorts or maybe even in a denim skirt? And in a top that shows your pretty bralette. Kesh I see you in a sundress? Like a red or yellow sundress that looks amazing !!

They boys are speechless because we are owning our outfits. Anywayssss we all go to a restaurant by the beach and just have such a nice time. And maybe after some Brigid +Jamie and Kirby +kesh time on the beach at night 😏

Okkk I hope this was ok. Pt 4 will be more of our trip !!

omgggg i love all of this! lexi you’re amazing, thank you for providing the quality team canada content it is amazing. anywayssss long post

haha all of us just falling asleep on each other in the car and then when we’re in line for security. like jamie just rests his head on my shoulder while we’re standing there and somehow falls asleep lol. and then ryan gets lost bc ofc he does and we’re laughing at him but then we’re like oh shit we need to help him find us so we don’t miss our flight. so then we help him back to security where he and lexi both get beeped and chirp each other about it lmao

hehe yes i finally chose jamie🥰. dyl and i are more like chaotic best friends who are maybe a little flirty but ultimately are just friends lol. so anywaysss jamie is the softest bf so he lets me wear his hoodie and we cuddle up and sleep together in the airport🥺 and kesh and kirby are also cuddling and lexi is wearing quinner’s beanie that she stole lol. and thankfully ryan’s still tired and lexi’s busy with quinner so they won’t start chirping me and jamie yet. and also we’re all wearing the boys’ sweartshirts that they gave to us

hehe yes then we’re on the plane and jamie sees me with dyl and cozzy and he just begss cozzy to switch with him. and cozzy’s already gotten comfortable so he’s like “no jamie just sit in your own seat". but jamie’s like “pleaseeeeee it’s my girlfriend”. so then cozzy seeing the perfect money-making technique (and also mildly terrified lmao) it like “fine i guess i’ll switch but only if you pay me $50″. and jamie’s just like “done” and hands the money over. so then jamie and i are both really happy and ofc you and ryan are awake enough to chirp us now lol. and the two of you are sitting behind us with quinner and then quinton, braden, and peyton are behind you guys. and kesh and kirby aren’t ready to deal with us bc it’s too damn early so they purposely chose the seats far away from us lol. and the other boys are just scattered throughout the plane

me+jamie+dyl - so we’re watching our movie and dyl falls asleep realllll quick bc he didn’t sleep at all in the airport. so then i help him get comfy bc besty things and i feel bad for him bc i think sleeping in airplanes is uncomfy lol. and then jamie cuddles up to me and i start playing with his hair🥺 so then he starts falling asleep again so ofc i help him get comfy and give him a blanket so he can sleep. and then while he’s sleeping i get to play with his hair and trace his freckles🥰 so then when he wakes up he just kind of mumbles “thank you baby” and i’m like “of course” and kiss him. and then they make me rewatch the movie with them and i’m just like “whyyyyyy” but then i make them play uno and poker with me so it’s all good. but then jamie gets bored and starts playing with my hair and braiding it🥺 and it actually turns out decent this time

kesh+kirby - perfect, amazing, adorable together. trying to keep us under control, but eventually just give in and ignore the chaos and pretend they don’t know us lmao

lexi+quinner(+ryan) - hehe yes lexi and quinner made ryan carry the coffee bc they’re too clumsy and then quinner drank a shit ton of it, but he still manages to fall asleep on the plane. and then lexi makes sure he’s comfy and starts playing with his hair, all while wearing his beanie ofc. but then you’re being super loud and competitive with ryan playing a ton of games and stuff. so then i’m like “guys stfu, jamie and the other guys are sleeping” and you guys are like “so what?” before realizing you really don’t want to wake everyone up. so then you guys shut up and start wandering the plane lol. but then eventually ryan gets tired and falls asleep and quinner wakes up and you guys are being all cutsie. and you’re cuddling and kissing each other’s freckles and then me and jamie chirp you guys bc payback lol

hehe yes first class bc rich boyssss. so we actually have pretty good food but the snacks are still better. and then eventually the guys just start throwing snacks to me bc it’s faster than handing them to you to hand them to me lol

and then we’re about to land so jamie’s pointing out things out the window to me and getting super excited, so ofc i’m excited too. and then we land and all get up fast af bc we’re not waiting for other people to get off the plane lol. also i pray to God that no one in our group claps when the plane lands bc that shit pisses me off lol. so anyways it’s just chaotic getting our stuff and getting off the plane lol. my baby hairs would be getting curly from the humidity, but the rest would just turn wavy. so anyways then me go through border control and me and jamie are holding hands and so are kesh and kirby but lexi and quinner can’t bc they both have sm shit to carry lol. and then we rent a car to take to the hotel and everyone’s just in a super good mood bc we finally made it

hehe then we finally get to our hotel which is nice bc again rich boyssss. and then me and jamie would share a room bc i’m broke lol and also bc i love him and want to be as close to him as i can😍 so then we put our stuff in our rooms and get ready to go to the beach. and then obviously all our boys are so impressed by us in our swimsuits, and each of them (jamie, quinner, and kirby) is just like “damn she’s gorgeous, how’d i get so lucky” and then some guy tries to like catcall me and jamie just death glares him lmao

hehe jamie just carrying me to the water “jamie i can walk myself yk” “ik i just love you, i want to carry you” “ok thank you bb” and then kesh and kirby ALWAYS together. swimming together, cuddling together on the beach, going to get food together etc. and then lexi and quinner racing and tackling each other into the waves and stuff lol. and i make jamie join bc i’m a competitive bitch lol and i obvi can’t just leave him alone. hehe getting pulled under by waves isn’t a problem for me bc i have good breath control lol. and then you and quinner and me and jamie could have moments😏 esp bc we’re in the water which makes everyone look extra hot. meanwhile the other guys are like all playing volleyball together or picking up girls lmao

then we all go shower to get ready for dinner. personally i never blow dry my hair and my showers are really fast so i would be ready fast lol. ooh lexi and kesh looking cute, lexi with her sleeveless shirt and flowy skirt and kesh with her sundress. i’m wearing shorts bc i basically refuse to wear anything else lol. hehe but i have a cute shirt that shows off a cute bralette so it makes up for my lack of skirt lol. and then the boys are just speechless bc of our outfits and they’re making sure to keep us close the whole night. oooh and then beach time at night😏

okkkk i love all of this and i’m so excited for part 4!!

[genaleah]

Theremin Labs basics

*cracks knuckles* Let's do this.

To start off, here's a recap of names and fates:

Dr. Lino Rodriguez Eadful - Super Villain "Dr. Dreadful" 

Dr. Harold Manuxet - Fish Person

Dr. Parie Wernicke - Visible Nervous System

Dr. Vic Oersted - Shadowy Force of Nature??

Dr. Rosemary Lorraine - Extremely Haunted Woman

Dr. Neil Kirby - Computer with a Trapped Consciousness

Lexin - Neil's Formerly Unconscious Body 

They weren't terribly close before "The Incident". They knew each other's names, but even then, some of them were more comfortable calling each other 'Dr. [Surname]'. Acquaintances, but not friends. The only exceptions to the rule were: Dread & Harold who were college roommates, Neil & Vic who had lots of lab experience working together, and Dread & Rosemary who became close friends at Theremin because of similar tastes and personalities! Harold also had a big ol' crush on Parie (and still does). 

As for what exactly happened during the Mad Science Bender! If you ask them, the details are kind of fuzzy - everything happened really quickly, and it was late at night. And the one guy who should know the how and why DOESN'T- it was an accident! Dread didn't mean to attack everybody. He wasn't thinking clearly! 

You know how you shouldn't keep your drinking water on your desk when you're painting, because you might grab the cup full of paint water instead? That's what happened to Dread - except the beaker he grabbed was full of an unstable, untested energy drink that he was working on. It boosted his adrenaline, senses, and brain power... But at the cost of his inhibition and critical thinking. 

In his mind, he thought he was helping everybody - helping them get closer to their life's work, cut out the barriers, etc... For him, the bender is a TOTAL blur, he only sort of remembers vague dream-like impressions of what he did and mostly came away from it with the memory of how he felt... Totally confident, excited, passionate, gleeful, helpful, *happy*. 

For some reason I keep thinking of this rage comic about Oreos when I try to picture what it was like for him. 

He came away from the experience with a bunch of negative health side effects, including permanent sensory issues. His tinted goggles protect his eyesight, and he wears a pair of modified hearing aids to treat the constant ringing in his ears. He also has a hard time keeping his attention on a sole task now. 

He's got a LOT of guilt over what happened, but he deals with that by whole-heartedly embracing his role as a "bad guy". The super villain career also had legal advantages... By accepting a mad scientist job offer from the League of Villainous Entities in Ultropolis, he was able to dodge jail time. Their intervention in the court proceedings also covered up his criminal history. This resolution wasn't totally negative for Theremin Labs either... They get a cut of his income, and their identities are protected from the public. Some of them (especially Neil) still think Dread should've gone to jail, though. 

Speaking of! Here's a quick run-down of what that night was like for the others...

Neil was targeted first - not on purpose, Dread was running and gunning for whoever he saw first. One moment Neil was minding his own business, working diligently on his AI project, and then WHAM! Suddenly he couldn't move. He never found out exactly how Dread knocked his consciousness into the computer console, and he didn't get a chance to ask. Dread was getting a little tired of all the yelling and questions, so he turned Neil's volume off and left him there while he went to 'help' the others. Neil had to sit there and stare at his own unconscious body until the others found him... About 10 hours later. 

Harold got attacked next, and was dumped into a big ol' aquarium full of some kind of fishy, mutagenic concoction. Dread tossed him in head-over-heels, so unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately?) Harold's mutations only reach as far as his thighs. His legs were sticking out of the tank! The shock of the transformation knocked him out for a while. 

Vic overheard the commotion and came to check what was going on. Before she could really see what happened, Dread hurried to her office and started messing with her heavy machinery. He shoved her right into the path of an industrial array of magnets and flipped the switch. 

(Honestly, the changes that happened to her are the weirdest to make sense of. Something about magnetism, gravity, and quantum physics? Dread had no idea what he was fiddling with, and in the aftermath Vic isn't sure how he managed it, either.) 

Vic had no idea how to control her own powers and was stuck helplessly in midair, pelted by random objects around the office and being alternately repelled/pulled toward the walls and ceiling. It took her awhile to find the others, and with it came the unfortunate discovery that her magnetic field is bad for Neil's health. 

Parie was next, and another straightforward attack... Just one quick injection! Their entire body became transparent except for their nervous system and eyelids. The rest of their body is still physically THERE, it's just invisible! Their nervous system lights up on contact like fiber optics, and they were given the power to heighten and dampen the nervous senses of others. Which is great! But the change was still HORRIFYING. They were able to recover more quickly than the others and run for help. 

Rosie was always a little psychic, a little extra sensitive and open-hearted. That openness is what led to her interest in child development, learning devices, and toys. She had been working on a helmet that would help make the feelings of the wearer a little clearer for whoever they were trying to communicate with. Dread tweaked it- he thought he was helping- and reversed the idea, so that the wearer would have an easier time reading the thoughts of others. 

Rosie had no idea what had been happening to her coworkers that night. He gave her the "fixed" helmet for a test run, and she was BOMBARDED with the thoughts of restless child spirits. It turns out the Theremin building used to be a creepy old orphanage! Seeing the horror, confusion and pain on Rosie's face was the sharp slap in the face that Dread needed to start waking up out of his altered state... But instead of helping to undo what he'd done to everyone, he panicked and ran. He tried to steal one of the cars in the parking lot and crashed it into a nearby tree. He wouldn't start remembering the full extent of what he'd done until he woke up in jail the next day. 

The entire crew (minus Dread, obviously) became a really close family unit in the aftermath of becoming living lab experiments. They all lived together in the shuttered laboratory, trying to function as normal despite all the weird changes they were dealing with. It's a very 'Willy Wonka' situation. Nobody ever goes in, and nobody ever comes out, but they kept working. Their shared traumas, frequent teamwork, and shared living spaces made them all grow closer together. 

Rosie stopped living in the labs pretty quickly when she realized she was the target of EXTREME ghost experiences and was making the building super haunted. Now she lives in the nearby city and works in a creepy antique shop (where the ghosts are a feature, not a bug!) She helps bring food and supplies to the labs, and acts as an occasional middleman for the crew's scientific work.  She stops by at least once a week, maybe more.

Lexin was an unexpected addition as Neil's formerly empty body slowly developed a sentience of its own. Neil did NOT take it well at first. But now they all see him as a younger brother / child member of their very weird family. 

I've got a lot more info about each of them, but I think this is a good sum-up of the basics! And that name resemblance is no coincidence, all of them have references hidden in their names. ;)

Thank you for asking these questions! I love these characters a lot and I'm glad that people are liking them so far! As a reward for making it this far, here’s a drawing of the gang when they were still relatively normal.

[tybalt-tisk]

Its a few days late, but here it is! Happy Birthday, @breezycheezyart (Art above is also my Breezy!)

We talked about this Au {BikerBoy!Shiro and his PreppyGirlfriend!Allura} some time ago and I finally decided to write it for you since you liked it so much! You are a blessing to the Shallura community and i’m so happy to call you my friend!

.kitten mittens

//

Allura took another sip of her hibiscus tea and she couldn’t help but close her eyes in delight as the hot drink coated her tongue in liquid gold. She didn’t often dine at this cafe because it was ridiculously overpriced and the clientele was always so pretentious. However, today she made an exception because it was her father’s turn to choose their destination for their weekly lunch date. As much as she disliked this cafe’s uptight demeanor, she had to give them credit for having one of the best tea selections in the city.

She listened eagerly to her father’s weekly report of their family company, Voltron Tech, and asked questions whenever she saw fit. Even though she gave her father the attention she knew he deserved, she couldn’t stop her mind from wandering off. Her perfectly manicured nails danced on the edge of the porcelain cup, creating a song only she knew the lyrics to and her eyes constantly shifted to her watch to check the time.

It had only been 5 minutes that went by after their agreed meeting time but, “Where is he?” she asked herself. She wasn’t annoyed by his tardiness but it was unlike Shiro to run late without telling her first. Out of the two of them, he was always the punctual one.

“Is there something on your mind, Allura?” her father asked her suddenly. When she came back to reality, her father had already received his second cup of coffee. He watched her through his thin-rimmed glasses as he poured in his milk then stirred in just the right amount of sugar.

She felt embarrassment rush over her because she was caught daydreaming. “No, it’s nothing, Father,” she assured him and she looked over the lunch menu in a useless attempt to distract him. Allura herself was extremely observant but she was nothing compared to her father. He sees the things in people they don’t see themselves and Allura was no exception. She was his daughter, heir to a tech empire, and trained from birth. He definitely knew that something was up with her.

Nevertheless, he gave her the chance to speak up before he did. He took a sip of his coffee before he responded. “Are you sure?” he pushed.

She gave a short nod, something she always did when she told him a lie. “Positive.” She read through the expensive French dishes with little to no effort, but at the moment, she wanted nothing more than to enjoy a burger from the shady restaurant on the corner of Richmond and Kirby.

He made an undecipherable sound, one that walked the line between contentment and amusement. He ordered another coffee – black, from the waiter, and told him to make it to-go. He looked over the menu as if it were a newspaper. “It’s unusual for Shiro to be the one running late, is it not?” he said casually without looking up at her.

She was a fool for thinking she could mislead her father. She rolled her eyes and sat back with her arms folded over her chest. “It would seem so,” she responded dryly and Alfor laughed at her display. She always hated it when he told her exactly what was wrong with her before she could admit it herself.

The waiter came back his requested coffee in a fancy to-go cup. Alfor thanked the young server and took the coffee away.

With her arms still folded, Allura raised a brow in confusion. “Why do you need two cups of coffee?”

As soon as she asked the question, she heard the familiar rev of a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic. Her eyes lit up and a smile split her face at the sound. She whipped her head around just in time to see her boyfriend turn the corner before he pulled up in front of the posh cafe.

Allura turned her head towards her father and eyed the coffee that was packaged for travel. She narrowed her eyes at him. “You knew.”

He grinned. “He texted me about 15 minutes ago and informed me that he wasn’t going to be able to stay for lunch.”

“He texted you but not me?” she said in disbelief. “I’m his girlfriend!”

“Maybe he wanted to tell you personally?” He hinted towards Shiro who stood just outside the cafe and gestured for her to come to talk to him outside. “Or maybe, here’s a suggestion, maybe he likes me more than he likes you?” He chuckled when she stuck her tongue out at him.

“You’re insufferable,” she said through a smile as she stood from the table.

She took the hot coffee from the table and walked out to meet her boyfriend. She couldn’t help but feel the thrill of the attention. All eyes were on her as she approached Shiro. By no means did they look like they were from the same social circle. She was an heiress, practically a princess. She attended all of the parties hosted by only the city’s wealthiest and, to her disdain, also the snootiest.

And he was...he was her exact opposite. Clad in all black and full of piercings, he was made of muscle and he stood 6’2”. A scar stood proudly over the bridge of his nose and he wore boots that haven’t been cleaned in days.

And he was hers. Just as much as she was his.

She suppressed a giggle when she heard whispers as she walked towards the door. She absolutely loved the attention she got when she defied society’s expectations of what it took to live like the upper class.

She walked out of the cafe where she came face to face with Shiro. She wanted so badly to be mad at him for not telling her he wasn’t going to stay for lunch, but as soon as she looked into his kind, steely eyes, the words died on her tongue. Instead, she offered him his coffee with a smile. “You’re late, Shirogane.”

He gave her a boyish grin. The same one that she fell in love with the first time she met him and one that will forever be her favorite part of him. He took a step forward and gave her a chaste kiss to lips as a greeting. Deep down, Allura hoped the woman who sent her food back three times fainted at the sight.

“I know I’m late and I’m sorry babe, but…” he paused when he licked his lips and gave her a surprised look. “You taste like flowers. What is that? A new lipgloss?” He was genuinely curious and it made her giggle.

“I was drinking hibiscus tea,” she said. “Do you want some?”

He licked his lips again before he answered. “No thanks. I’m sure it doesn’t taste the same in a cup as it does on your lips.” He gave her a sly wink. She really hoped that bitch was on the floor now. “Anyway, I’m sorry that I’m late and I’m sorry that I can’t stay for lunch.” He paused for the sole reason of dramatic effect. “But I have a good excuse.”

She raised a brow at the look he gave her. “Try me.”

“I got a little distracted,” he told her playfully. “because something else caught my eye.” He rocked on his heels because he found great joy in teasing her. He actually laughed at the look of jealousy in her eyes. “Don’t worry babe, you know no one could ever replace you, buuuut you might have a little competition.”

Before she could speak, he brought out a tiny, black kitten that he somehow had hidden under his leather jacket. It was as big as his hand and it had his purple bandana tied around its tiny neck. Allura held back a squeal of excitement so she wouldn’t startle tiny creature and Shiro knew exactly what she wanted.

Carefully, he rearranged the kitten so he could hand it over to her. “Careful now, I think it’s back leg is hurt,” he warned. The kitten let out a tiny mewl at the new arrangement but quickly found gratification in her warm arms. It purred up against her chest and Allura heart melted at the sight.

Allura ran her hand over its slightly dirty fur. “Shiro where did you find it? It’s absolutely adorable!” She cood.

He reached out a hand rub behind the kitten’s ears. “I found her wandering around in the middle of a busy street. And I couldn’t just leave the little thing there. So I got off my bike so I could stop traffic and get her.”

“Aw, my brave little hero,” she said as she stroked the kittens tail.

“Only the bravest,” he replied. “So I pick her up and she immediately nuzzles into my chest and it’s probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I was thinking of dropping her off to that shelter down the street but if you want to keep her…” His voice trailed off with a smirk.

Allura held the kitten closer to her chest and it’s little paw lashed out to play with her silver curls. “Don’t you dare drop of this...this angel to that shelter. Of course, we’re keeping her!”

He chuckled a rich laugh. “I’d thought you’d say that. I’m going to take her to the vet, which is why I have to miss lunch with you and your dad.” He looked behind Allura and into the cafe before he waved boldly at Alfor who smiled warmly and tipped his mug towards Shiro in a greeting.

She nodded, understanding exactly why he couldn’t join them. “That’s fine,” she told him as she held the kitten above her head and giggled at the way it swatted at a passing butterfly. “I don’t think this is your crowd anyway. But I do love seeing their reactions when they see you.”

“Don’t worry, their reaction was amazing. I made sure to wear my best footwear.” He wiggled his dirty shoes for extra measure.

“Those aren’t even yours, those are Keith’s,” she said when she realized.

“Hey, I stuffed my feet in these just for you since you have this weird obsession with wanting people to faint when they see us together.” Oh yes, she loved this man.

“Your effort to encourage my behavior is appreciated. I’ll make sure reward you later.”

“Remember to bring that flower tea,” he said lowly as he snaked an arm around her to bring her closer.

She giggled when she heard glass break from within the cafe. “It’s like music to my ears.” When the kitten mewled again, she shifted her attention back to the black fur ball in her arms. “What are we going to name her, Shiro?”

“I was thinking Black. Because you know, she’s black.”

Allura frowned in disgust at his suggestion. “Shiro, I swear if you name this precious ball of miracles ‘Black’, I’m going to divorce you.”

Shiro laughed at her words but it quickly died down before he said seriously, “You gotta marry me first, Princess.”

Her eyes searched his and when she found not an ounce of sarcasm, she replied. “I suppose I do, huh?”

He smirked. “We’ll see if that can be arranged.” He was back to his teasing ways but Allura knew he was serious. It was only a matter of time before he asked the big question and she had a lifetime to give.

She gave the kitten back to Shiro so he could take their new family member to the vet for a checkup. He got on his bike so he could start it up and the engine roared to life. She leaned over the bike to give him a kiss goodbye.

He returned the kiss chastely, but not as much as he would have liked. He couldn’t care less about the crowd that watched them, but he would rather not make out with Allura in front of her Dad. Reluctantly, he pulled away from her lips. “I’m taking you out to dinner later tonight, okay?”

Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Ooh! Can we go to that burger place?”

“The one on Richmond and Kirby?” She nodded her head enthusiastically. “You got it, baby.” He placed the kitten back under his jacket before backed up his bike carefully onto the road.

She waved to him goodbye before she returned to sit with her father. He let her settle down before he spoke. “Allura, dear, I love this restaurant and I would love it if you didn’t try to burn it down with chaos because you love to prove a point.”

[blankdblank]

Coffee Pt 7

Pt 1 - Pt 2 - Pt 3 - Pt 4 - Pt 5 - Pt 6 -

Tags –

@himoverflowers​, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator​, @sweeticedtea​, @ggbbhehe4455​, @thegreyberet​, @patanghill17​, @jesgisborne​, @curvestrology​, @alishlieb​, @jogregor, @armitageadoration, @fizzyxcustard, @here2have-fun, @lilith15000, @marvels-ghost, @catthefearless, @imjusthereforthereads

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Smut, fluff, first public event outing. Adding random celebs, making up award winners and presenters so don’t quote me on it.

…

Hours after leaving you Tom grinned at his car on the drive back to your home again. Between the run through of the first scene they would be filming the following week he kept an eye on your social pages and grinned at the updated pictures and short clip of you from a hike with Bobby and Kirby both with frogs on their heads in your lap as you smiled widely for the camera with your hawk friend on your shoulder with wings extended and cocking its head in a happy screech making him chuckle to himself.

Though his cyber stalking was short lived at the text message from his Handler Luke stopping at his side for a moment to say, “The staff for Bafta called, they were wondering if you and Jaqi were attending as a couple?”

Tom wet his lips feeling his brows furrow in thought, “I’d have to ask her-.”

Luke, “They are asking because she is presenting as well.”

Tom, “She is?”

Luke nodded, “Last minute fill in apparently.”

Tom nodded, “Then yes. We will.” Luke nodded and stepped out into the hall to call them back with his answer. The painfully idiotic grin that formed on his face while he peered at his phone trying to word just what he would text you drew Chris’ attention making the blonde Aussie walk over to his side asking, “Jaqi texting you?”

Tom met his eye stating, “Jaqi’s also presenting at Bafta, I just confirmed we’re attending together.”

Making Chris chuckle, “Ah, finally claiming that plus one seat. Congratulations. Oh, saw your post earlier, no wonder they asked since you posted you’re both title official.”

Tom’s grin grew only to dim at Luke beside him once again stating, “We have to get you to that interview.” Tom nodded accepting Chris’ hug on their path out to their cars while Tom followed his handler to the office by the beach he was being interviewed in. Thankfully for him it was on his upcoming project and they focused entirely on that keeping his relationship to a tiny blip of a mention centered in the focus of his life if he was able to focus fully in character through projects when in relationships or if it was easier to handle single. But not long after he was freed to race back to you with a hope of inviting you over to his so he could cook for you and properly bring up the flight to England and your first official event together.

..

Parked outside your home he drew in a deep breath then climbed out of his car only to freeze halfway across the path to your door at the loud moans coming trough the front of the house. Everything in him locked and the world seemed to stall leaving him just standing there staring at your front door for only a few moments that seemed to last hours for him. A pair of eager paws on his lower leg broke his focus on the door to little Bobby happily bouncing around him and rubbing against his legs with Kirby trotting to his side before his eyes rose to see you smiling and sending him a wave as you stepped up onto the curb and crossed your yard and crossed it to him. At his side however your brows furrowed at the door before you shook your head mumbling, “My neighbors are going to hate me if they get any louder.”

Tom’s finger pointed at the door, “Who-?”

You chuckled awkwardly, “Miley and Liam wanted some alone time since Elsa and the kids have been all over them since they flew in. Have to fly out tonight.” Your eyes met his to ask, “Work go well?”

He nodded then shifted sideways to face you completely then motion with his shoulder to his car, “Since yours is occupied, care to eat at mine?”

You smiled at him, “I’ll get my spare bag from my trunk. Might need to borrow your shower.”

He grinned trying to slyly purr following you to the back of your car, “A shower sounds lovely.” His eyes scanned over you and your growing blush in his lean in while you opened your trunk and peered up at him melting into the kiss he claimed from you. The simple peck he had planned drew an awkward chuckle from you at your pulling back when it was growing a bit too heated in his growing relief at it not being you inside the moaning house. He let out a weak chuckle then claimed your bag from the trunk and carried it to his car he let you and the dogs into for the short drive.

..

Through the garage you entered the house that Bobby led the charge into, guiding Kirby to his favorite spots while Tom led you through to his bedroom where you joined him in his bathroom where he started his shower. Within moments of his head turning he chuckled against your lips at your lips meeting his. Layer by layer you were stripped and led into the shower and happily pinned against the wall in the path of a couple of his angled shower nozzles sending warm water over you on his path to his knees as his lips trailed across your chest and stomach drifting lower. In a hazy water soaked blur your gasps and moans echoed in the glass room until he rose to claim a fiery kiss silencing your sounds but not his as your hands dipped lower on his navel to grip and stroke him. A drop to your knees in return earned a surprised chuckle from him dying in a low moan at your lips molding around him. Steadily you brought him to the edge and tipped him over with a single teasing lick drawing an even louder moan from him in return.

In a lean down he helped you to your feet and cupped your cheek lovingly through his lips melting hungrily to yours while his free hand dipped between your thighs slowly teasing you, testing to see how ready you were for him again. From your lips to your neck his lips traveled earning a soft gasp from you just moments before he murmured against your neck, “Mind if we take this to bed Dearest? I would like to lay you down.”

Had his arm not been wrapped around your back holding you against him you would have dropped from the weakening of your knees as you still had yet to believe you weren’t locked in some sort of teasing dream. The water was shut off and you were wrapped in his arms in another knee buckling lip lock on the path to his bed to be laid out on the towel he grabbed along the way. Between your legs he settled his knees and flattened above you planting his lips on yours again as his hands smoothed over you and eventually dipped to stroke you again until the following climax drew him lower to taste you again.

Across your navel he pressed his lips again then knelt above one of your legs peering down at you again seemingly in awe as your eyes scanned over him in return, dropping to the pulsing muscle resting against your hip as he said, “I was thinking I could cook for you.”

Against your thigh his erection tapped your hip while your fingers hosted over his thighs stirring his eyes to darken lustfully again as you teased, “You want to cook. Right now?” Inching your hands higher towards his ass his smirk returned when your hands guided him higher above you until he was kneeling above you with a gasp at your lips easing around him after a teasing lick that drew a low moan from him. Above you his hips rocked cautiously in his slump forward to rest against the headboard until his climax that drew him to pull back and lay across you again looping his arms around you through a content hum filled kiss at his glee from having you in his arms and being entirely yours.

Nuzzled securely in his arms on your sides you giggled softly at his lips pressing to the tip of your nose before he stated, “Dearest, I have a surprise for you you’ve probably already heard of, but I would still enjoy sharing it with you.”

“What would that be?”

He chuckled at your lips pressing to his cheek, “My Handler Luke got a call from the staff for Bafta who asked if we were wishing to attend together.” Your head tilted to meet his eyes, “Luke mentioned you were asked to present something and since you would already be going, I confirmed we would be attending as a couple. I hope you’re not too upset for me not asking first.”

You chuckled weakly through your claiming a kiss he melted into, “I would love to go with you.” Making his smile grow, “Though, we will have to work on the posing part if you wanted to let them get pictures with both of us. Since you’ve done this before.”

“Of course I want pictures with you.” His lips met yours again, “Let’s get your hair dry and us dressed so I can start on lunch and we can practice a bit.”

You nodded and joined him sitting up and back to the bathroom to use his blow dryer and your comb to dry your hair as he ruffled his hair dry with a towel and brushed it back and trailed after you to get dressed. Pulling on the spare underwear jeans and t shirt in your bag while he pulled on his briefs, jeans and a t shirt as well making you giggle at his matching your clothes on the walk to the kitchen where he claimed another kiss and started to prep the meal. “So you just have the, what, two days off for the flying and all?”

“I have three nights off actually. You?”

“Um,” His brow rose when he glanced at you, “I actually got a call to replace a photographer in a shoot back in Scotland, so I’ll be staying an extra night.”

He nipped his lip then glanced at the food he was prepping and sheepishly asked, “You, um, do you prefer to do shoots alone?”

You couldn’t help but smile, “You wanted to come with me?”

He smiled at you, “Of course. If you don’t mind.”

You wrapped around his middle hugging him, “Trust me, you will most likely always be fully welcomed on any of my traveling jobs, as long as it won’t hurt your work schedule.”

“It won’t.”

.

Lunch was prepped and enjoyed. After you were both lumped in a set of giggling hugs in front of the mirror in his closet testing out a few poses for later only making you laugh harder at how unintimate they made even the closest of couples seen just to show off your outfits and mostly face the sea of cameras. Eventually your laughter brought you to his couch in the living room where he laid out with you across his chest, cupping your hand lovingly with his left as his right was stroking your back with a deepening smile at your head moving from his shoulder to kiss along his jaw then rest on his shoulder again. Looking to the movie playing again your hand was raised to his lips for a gentle kiss on your knuckles then moved to his chest again until your next stolen kiss triggering a game leading to his rolling you over to claim a fiery kiss ending with his nuzzling his head in the crook of your neck laying across you in your arms murmuring to you sweetly.

Tangled together you stayed until the alarm went off and you were gripped tighter with a grumble coming from the man clutching you so tightly. Softly you giggled running your fingers through his hair until you asked, “Want to come to dinner?”

Tom’s head rose to meet your eyes with a excited smile, “Really?”

You nodded, “Theo called earlier Troy wants to show off his figurine he made.”

“He made?”

You nodded, “Theo helped, it’s Loki. Really took to his pottery lessons.”

Tom smirked, “I look forward to seeing it.” Making your smile grow as he helped you up to add your shoes and feed the dogs before he drove you over. Excitedly before the meal Troy led Tom around showing off his room and the figurine Tom snapped a picture of and gladly signed the poster he had on the wall at Troy’s asking made of a blown up picture of him and Theo in Loki costumes on set. A call from the kitchen brought them to the table where he joined in the joking conversation mingled with the sharing of your days along with news of your travel plans that brought out a usual request from Troy for another stamp for his collection of your travels. A short drive later you were back at his place again and pulling out of your jeans to cuddle up together in his bed for the night with the dogs sprawled out across you.

…

Noon the next day after packing and locking up your house you left Little Tom in your home to watch and walk your dogs for the few days you would be gone you were both off to the airport to catch the flight Big Tom claimed the chance to get you both tickets in first class taking you his home in London so he could have as much time with you as possible. Bags packed through the crowd of cameras you walked with Tom’s hand woven around yours leading you through the entrance of the airport to get your tickets and pass through security to get to the gate. Ignoring the crowds of people snapping pictures of you under Tom’s arm in the chairs you had chosen and both watched a show on his phone while you waited, sharing a set of headphones to keep yourselves occupied. But soon enough you were called to board and passed through the tunnel onto the plane where Tom chuckled and helped you add your small duffel bag to his in the overhead bin and smiled as he buckled into the seat beside you.

With his hand fixed in yours you waited until you were in the air to shift and lean against his side allowing him to steal a peck on your forehead as he picked the first movie you would watch. For over 15 hours you enjoyed the movies, shows and your short nap before you had landed again and joined him on the walk out hand in hand to cross the street to the subway to catch the train taking you to his home in the early hours of the morning. Around you more cameras stole snapshots of your trip that brought you into the path of more of his friends that had met up with you along the way on their own paths to the homes around his. Behind the locked door Tom smirked through your muffled giggle when his lips met yours in a hungry kiss, your bags hit the ground and his hands wrapped your legs around his middle carrying you through to his King sized bed upstairs.

All morning you stayed tangled up in his bed locked in his arms, breaking apart only for a breakfast, after which he showed you through the home he silently hoped to share with you when you moved back to London the following year. Wetting his lips he walked to the door allowing your Agent Lee and Luke inside, both of them carrying wardrobe bags for the both of you. With a nip at your lip you and Lee went into Tom’s room while Tom accepted the suit from Luke and listened to his recap of the full schedule for the event as you showered once Lee had left promising to meet up with you at the event. Once Luke had done the same Tom hurried upstairs to join you in his shower with a firm kiss that ended when you slipped out to start drying off to get ready in time.

A few minutes later Tom joined you in the cooling room watching as you twisted your hair back into a tight bun using the jeweled pins Lee had brought you. A smirk eased onto his lips at your tip toed stance in the lacy panties while you added your eye primer and a simple thin black outline with eye liner under neutral peach and tan eye shadow, finishing with a light pink lip stain through Tom slicking his curls back. After closing your makeup bag you walked through to the bedroom where you unzipped the dress you were gifted bringing a smile to your face as you carefully pulled it out. 

The long flowing strapless and backless grey velvet gown with a tall slit up your left leg slipped on like a glove with the silver strings of pearls draping from the top up around your neck connecting with two sets of strands resting in loops over your bare shoulders connecting in a set of strips across your back secured to the lacy and pearl trimmed cutout. Reaching up to secure the string around your neck your head turned to meet Tom’s stunned expression making you giggle and adjust your hem to turn and sit to add the tall dark grey velvet wedges while Tom moved closer dropping his towel to pull on his boxers and suit on over you helped him secure in place deepening his adoring gaze as he stated, “You look magnificent.”

With a dopey grin you replied, “Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself Mr Hiddleston.” Flattening the collar of his shirt over his black tie. Once his silver suit jacket was added you giggled asking, “Did you plan for us both to be in silver?”

He smirked replying in a turn, “I thought it might be a nice touch.” Walking to a small velvet lined box laying beside his now empty suit bag he collected and carried over to you, “An early birthday present.”

The open box revealed an overlapping pattern of hearts forming the chain in white gold coated half in emeralds and the diamonds covering the rest of the chain he adoringly draped around your wrist and secured with the interlocking final heart filled in with a white gold plate etched with both of your initials. “Tom-,”

He couldn’t help but smile and let out a nervous laugh paired with a faint blush on his cheeks when your eyes locked on his, folding his hands around yours, “It, My Gramps when he met my Gran they were out on Holiday in Italy, not together, just ended up meeting. And he found this, little woven bracelet with a small little heart pendant with a fake ruby on it, it cost next to nothing,” he let out a weak chuckle.

“Which happened to be all he had left until they went home again. But after they spent all day together he knew he wanted to be hers, so he asked her for her number and gave her the bracelet promising they would meet up again back in England even though they went to separate schools. Well, they’ve been together near seventy years now and my Gran still wears that same bracelet. A tradition my Dad copied, well, they didn’t work out but still, I would like to continue the tradition with you.” 

He wet his lips as his thumbs stroked the back of your hand still in his. “As a promise, this isn’t something casual. You have a Son and even though our jobs take us everywhere, I do want you to know I will do what I can to ensure you come first and are always taken care of and happy no matter what random corners of the world we’re sent off to.”

Almost in tears you weakly replied, “I can’t even think of what to say. Thank you?”

He chuckled easing your arms around his neck leaning in and moving closer to stop an inch from your lips, “You don’t have to say anything Dearest. Just know my heart’s yours.” Ending his words with his lips pressed gently on yours soon melting into a deepening kiss ending with another doorbell echoing through the home earning a growl from him making you giggle. 

Lovingly he looked you over once again when you parted on your path to grab your silver pearl accented clutch as he slid his phone and a thin billfold into his pockets in case you wanted to stop for dinner after. Another kiss was stolen before he led you down the stairs unable to stop his smirk at the glimpses of your leg through the tall slit up your thigh revealed more as you held the lower half of your dress out of the way for the path down the stairs to the waiting car outside.

The four sets of actors along the street also filed into their cars for the drive to the lit up and camera infested Royal Albert Hall. The long red carpet outside was packed with cameras and a wave of screams from fans in the distance calling out Tom’s name earning a wide grin and a wave from him when he climbed out of the car and straightened his jacket when you readied to stand then helped you onto your feet through the barrage of flashes you both smiled through. 

Carefully his arm snaked around your middle guiding you onto the carpet to start your walk that he got pulled away from you on a few occasions while you chatted with the other dates for the actors you had arrived after, Sophie, Benedict’s Wife especially remaining at your side getting to know her Husband’s best friends new Girlfriend. Cheerfully you both giggled through your shared comments as you passed along the back of the carpet moving apart from your dates, keeping up with them until another roar from the crowd sounded out causing your heads to turn as the flashes started again.

Lee was once again at your side ushering you closer to the set of cameras waiting with questions for you as you caught a glimpse of the couple drawing the raucous reaction stirring unsettled emotions across the faces of the celebs around you. Arm in arm Taylor in a pink silk gown and her new beau Joe in a maroon suit walked up the carpet and stopped at the first set of cameras for Taylor to ask some questions while out of the corner of your eye you caught Benedict gently nudging Sophie away from the pair, unwilling to have her in her current condition anywhere near the pop star and her now not so well hidden temper around Tom. She was led inside by Elsa who had just shown up with Chris, who shared the arrival with Tom, who turned too scan around him ensuring you were safely away from the approaching blonde.

Agents and Handlers swooped in ushering people to where they were needed keeping the line moving as Tom was led to another interview while you stepped back again straight into the path of Joe. Another wave of flashes grew ready for anything, well, anything but the wide grins and warm hug you both traded. Around you flashes grew as you pulled apart and his lips met your cheek before your arms dropped and he looked you over, “Flawless as always Bunny.”

You giggled and replied, “You look incredible as well.”

Smiling wider as he fired back, “Only because I didn’t pick it.” After wetting his lips he asked, “So, I haven’t been able to email, hectic and all that, but Billy just won his first science ribbon.”

Making your smile grow even more as he drew out his phone and pulled up a picture of his little Cousin and his small hamster powered toy car he had constructed earning a giggle form you at the young boy holding up his hamster with a huge smile beside his massive blue ribbon, “Oh that is incredible. Little engineer you’ve got there.”

Joe nodded, then asked, “How’s it on your end? Can’t seem to go twenty minutes without hearing about you and Tom.”

“Um, every now and then, only when others bring it up mostly past the odd comment when trading stories of our travels.”

“Ah,” you giggled at his awkward chuckle as you felt Taylor’s eyes lock on you both with a stern gaze at his hand adjusting one of the strips of pearls resting on your arms, “Just my end then. Heard Troy moved out there, how’s he?”

Your smile grew again, “He’s good.”

“Next time he’s back in London we’ll have to set up another play date, get our mad inventors together again.” Making you giggle again then accept his parting hug and peck on the cheek when Taylor had called out his name. “See you Bunny.” Flashing you a brief wink and turned away as you turned your head to smile at Tom in time to catch Lee coming to collect you for your first couple photo.

Carefully you raised your hem to quicken your pace to rejoin Tom’s side as his grew in return as you passed the confused Actors around you while Taylor and Joe stopped speaking to the waiting cameras and went inside so they could argue in private. At Tom’s side you caught his curious glint in his eyes signaling you to say, “I dated his Cousin.”

Through a weak relieved chuckle he turned wrapping his arm around you with a huge grin as you nestled against his side through the wave of flashes for the few minutes until he glanced down kissing you on the forehead before he murmured Luke’s requesting him to head inside you happily agreed to join him. Once inside you felt around you Benedict, Sophie, Chris and Elsa joined by Martin just moments after through Benedict’s asking, “What are we missing?”

You let out a weak chuckle replying, “I dated his Cousin. Didn’t end well but his family still keeps in touch.”

Benedict chuckled as Sophie said, “Bet she didn’t get that bit of information when you two got together.”

Your smile grew as Tom’s arm curled around your back again leading you to the station in the back where you both learned when you would be called back to present your awards before you were shown to your seats, conveniently right near the aisle with Taylor and Joe all the way up in one of the balconies on the wall on your left.

.

For nearly an hour you stayed under Tom’s arm through the opening of the show as his arm draped around your back rested on your crossed legs, stroking the bare strip of skin under the front of your dress absently while his friends around him all shared soft whispers about when they were presenting as well. A silent tap on your shoulder brought you up first while Tom smiled after his stolen kiss to take your clutch from you so you wouldn’t lose it back stage.

The large back hall once warm now somehow frigid brought bumps across your bare arms and back while you waited and clutched the envelope you were granted. At your side you offered a smile to Andrew Garfield who was nudged closer to you with statue in hand. Unable to hold back your comment you asked through a giggle, “How did you get stuck with me?”

The comment must have caught him off guard splitting him through his apparently decided sour mood at having to attend the event after a long series of flights making him say, “You didn’t see the room of men scrapping back there to get partnered with you?” To which you giggled again, “No, swooped in and stole it.”

“Impressive.” You looked him up and down, “Jet lag?”

He nodded, “Absolutely knackered. Like I got hit with a train.”

You smirked, “Well hopefully it’ll be just like a band aid.” Making his brow raise as you were ushered closer to the edge of the stage as the current recipient gave their speech, “Quick and painless.” Making him chuckle again before the music played and you both strolled out to recite the lines you memorized from the sheet they had after sharing your dyslexia would make the teleprompter useless for you. Stunning Andrew when you continued your part when the text looped, glitches in a brief flicker then switched entirely to his part before you opened the envelope and you both read out the winner’s name. 

With an eager trot Eddy Redmayne took the stage as you gripped your hem allowing you to step out of the way only to pause at his greeting hug and whispered comment on his favorite song of yours before you joined Andrew on the path off the stage with Eddie glancing back at you both before finishing his speech to rush after you to get a few more minutes with you. Happily after shaking his cold hands for the third time he accepted your email and went back to sit beside his Wife as you and Andrew split up to take yours again trying to hold you’re your shivers.

Tom’s large grin met you when you found your seat again, dimming for a moment as he caught your body trembling when you nestled against his side again, his hands planted on your arms only for him to lowly state, “You’re freezing!”

You chuckled as he wiggled out of his jacket and eased it around you and rubbed your arms for warmth when you pulled them through the sleeves. His arms wrapped around you snuggling with you to get you warm again until he claimed another kiss when he was called into the back with Chris behind him who couldn’t help but smirk at Tom still having your clutch fixed in his hand. 

Quietly you sat hearing Benedict and Martin chatting behind you as Elsa leaned over Tom’s seat to ask what you had planed for your birthday only to go silent at him and Chris stepping out onto the stage to give their assigned speeches with Tom holding the envelope and Chris with the statue. Cheers sounded and casually Idris Elba turned as he finished his acceptance speech, smirking at Tom’s hand as Chris patted him on the back after their traded hugs. In his sultry accented voice Idris told Tom, “That’s a lovely clutch Tom.”

To which he replied with a large smile, “Well my Wife has my coat.” Behind him Chris’ head tilted back through a loud laugh that grew into a continuous stream of laughter causing his shoulders to shake while Idris smirked widely as Tom asked Chris, “What is so funny?”

Chris responded mid chuckle, “You said Wife!”

To which Tom glanced at Idris asking, “Did I?”

Idris nodded with a chuckle of his own, “You did.”

Tom let out a breath with his brows furrowing anxiously as he stated, “I can almost feel my Mum dialing me as we speak.” He looked forward stating, “No Mum I would not get married without you meeting first.” His eyes turned to you when you pulled his phone that was buzzing in his inner jacket pocket bringing out a blush on his cheeks along with a large smile, “My Mum’s calling?”

You looked at the screen seeing the name Emma and a blonde woman on the screen in Tom’s arms with Santa hats around a little girl on their laps in a full Santa themed outfit, behind you Benedict peered over your shoulder calling out, “Your Sister!” Making Tom chuckle in relief along with the laughing crowd as Benedict claimed the phone to tell her Tom would call back later then passed it back to you as Tom looked you over trying to gauge your reaction to his flub.

Wetting his lips Tom chuckled as Idris hung around through his saying, “Alright, let’s give this presenting another try.” Then started to read his bit, which Chris followed before Alexander Skarsgard trotted up to claim his award after a round of hugs that signaled Tom to slip back stage along with the still chuckling Chris for another set of interviews that freed them to take their seats again.

Biting his lip Tom’s eyes shifted to you as you giggled and scooted closer to his side and left a peck on his cheek then whispered, “I flub words all the time. I bet you tomorrow it’ll be claimed as staged.”

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around you kissing your cheek in return, “Won’t calm my Mum down any. Oh, we’re expected for supper tomorrow, probably why my Sister called.”

“Did you want your phone back?”

He shook his head, “Nope, I can call later.” Kissing you on the forehead again.

Under his arm through the next three hours your hair grew more painful pressed against Tom’s arm leading to your reaching up to undo the braid drawing his eye and his free hand to help you remove the painful jeweled pins until you could ruffle your instantly recoiling curls out and over your left shoulder as Tom added the last of your pins to your clutch and snuggled against you again. 

The change was enough for a few of the presenters you had bumped into earlier to do a double take until finally the point where you could slip out of the show early with your group had arrived after Sir Ian McKellen had been called up to accept his award. 

The flub Tom had been so thankful to have been forgotten wasn’t as Ian took his last few moments to lock his eyes on you both and state with a grin, “And of course Tom Hiddleston,” Making Tom’s brows raise curiously at the mention, “Whom I have known and worked with on occasion before. We aren’t as great of friends as I would hope but I would like to remind you should you not know, I am ordained,” Making Tom chuckle weakly as his blush and embarrassed grin grew again, “So if you did wish to pop off somewhere tonight and handle the nuptials now I would love to oblige.”

Unable to help it you giggled brushing your hair behind your ear as Tom nodded replying, “Thank you.” Earning a wink from the seasoned actor who turned for his own interview back stage. 

In the next short break you all slipped out to head to the waiting set of cars taking you to a nearby restaurant that more of the celebs, including Idris, who had brought Ian, met up with you for the meal until you all split up to head home for the night. Carefully you were helped out of your dress that was hung up with care before Tom, still fully dressed carried you straight to bed. You giggled being laid out across the bed as his lips melted against yours again and he flattened above you. 

Again you stayed in bed curled up ignoring the pings and buzzes from your phones at the reactions on your social media pages, sharing the desserts you had brought home from dinner watching a movie lounging behind him with your legs wrapped around him. Over his shoulder he fed you between your fingers tilting his chin allowing you to claim another kiss until you held him closer as his head nuzzled against your shoulder as he drifted off leaving you awake for a bit flipping through the channels, settling on one of your favorites already halfway through that lulled you to sleep just as Tom rolled over in his sleep so he could hold you tightly in return.

Pt 8

[bastionkeeper]

Taako somehow gets hurt and he's on the good shit. Taako just watches Joaquin play games usually because the colors are bright and pretty and the TV makes funny noises while he plays. Joaquin Doesn't mind, he however made the mistake of playing a Kirby game First. Joaquin had to drag Taako's giant Kirby pillow (basically a bed) down so he could give Kirby a hug while he played. Taako slept through most of the gameplay, but Kirby has good music, so when he was awake he liked it lots

2) Joaquin just pats Taakos head while he relaxes and saves dreamland. When he beats it he tells Taako Kirby wants to sleep for a while, and that pacifies him before he starts to ask questions. Honey is just sitting on Taako's lap, making sure they don't move too much and upset their stitches. Joaquin plays a lot of Overwatch too, and Taako just asks Joaquin why Kravitz is on the TV and so Grumpy. Joaquin fucking loses it and just quietly tells Taako "because he doesn't get any kisses"

3) Taako fully accepts that and asks Joaquin if he can tell Kravitz that he can have as many kisses as he wants when he gets home. Joaquin, trying to compose himself, just nods before going back to playing. They have lunch (stew for Taako, A couple of sandwiches for Joaquin.) and Taako just fucking sleeps for the rest of the afternoon after that. When he wakes up he's confused because he's hurting, but he's on his Kirby pillow? Joaquin is here? Why does he hurt????

4) (sorry for the gap) Honey just goes to get Joaquin, and Angus who's home from school now, and Taako is really confused because he doesn't remember getting hurt? Or anything from yesterday to be honest and that's worrisome to him because his memory is already fucked. Joaquin and Angus fill him in with what happened, apparently Taako fell down the stairs and Dex or not he had a nasty land and fucked up his leg. Kravitz gets home a bit after and is glad to see Taako is Lucid.

5) Taako however tries to still cook, Kravitz is all like "Dove, no, you're hurt please rest or at least sit down and watch me make dinner please?" Joaquin and Taako walk him through the steps, while Taako focus's more on helping Angus with his homework because this boy is smart but he worries about tests so much. Joaquin takes a picture because Taako's smiling happily and he knows Kravitz will want that for the family scrap book. It hits him that he's been adopted by a Wizard and a Reaper. Huh.

Sorry Honey didn’t make an appearance I forgot all about her until I was nearly done!!! :(

Not even cleric magic could completely cure a stabbing that bad. Luckily modern medicine was on the rise in Faerun, so after Taako was run through by a rather angry fighter, the moonbase medical team managed to get him stitched up in time. 

Kravitz had been so angry hearing about the bandits that had nearly killed Taako just for a couple of his rings, that once he was sure Taako was stable and back safe at home, he rushed out to find the bastards and make them wish they’d never been born.

That left Joaquin with a rather drugged up elf with a gaping stomach wound who had strict orders not to leave the couch or bed unless absolutely necessary. 

“Wh’sat?” Taako asked, leaning over Joaquin’s shoulder and gesturing towards the Earthen setup. The teen had brought his playstation and television from the plane of thought, something that was now possible thanks to Lucas Miller bringing electricity to most of the upper class. 

“I’m gonna play some Overwatch,” Joaquin explained. 

“Wha? Dude you’re....you’re speaking...wha’s the word....gibberish,” Taako groaned, rubbing at his temples. He slumped back onto the couch, hissing with pain and clutching at his stitches. 

“Uh-uh, don’t touch those,” Joaquin pulled Taako’s hands away quickly.

“But they itch,” Taako complained. 

“Do you want me to put you in a cone?” Joaquin joked. 

“Cone of cold....s’level five evocation...” Taako murmured. Joaquin shrugged, the wizard wasn’t exactly all there at the moment so it wasn’t fair to expect him to make any sense. 

He played his game for awhile, making sure to keep a glass of water where Taako could reach and ushering him back to the couch whenever he tried to leave, which wasn’t often to be fair. Taako was pretty tired, he dozed off more than a few times. It didn’t help that he was on round the clock pain pills that Joaquin guessed where the fantasy equivalent of oxy. 

“Hey.”

Joaquin looked up. He was sitting with his back against the couch so Taako had room enough to stretch out. The elf was laying on his side, and had lightly patted Joaquin’s curly hair with one hand to get his attention.

“Yeah?”

“Wha’s Kravitz doin’ in your game?”

Joaquin snickered, this wasn’t the first time Taako had made such a joke about Reaper, but it was certainly the first time he’d actually believed it was Kravitz in the game. 

“Oh you know, reaper stuff,” Joaquin said, casually using his ult as he explained. If he didn’t get play of the game for that one he’d sue. He was channeling wifi across the planes that alone was play of the game worthy. 

“He looks so grumpy,” Taako hummed. “He gets like that when he’s hungry or when he’s tired.”

“Nah, it’s not that, he just needs kisses.” Joaquin said with a grin. 

“Oh shit, dawg...listen...” Taako grabbed Joaquin’s cheeks, squishing them. “I can do that.”

“Yeph you shure cahn,” Joaquin said through squished lips. 

It was at that moment that a portal opened into the living room and Kravitz stepped out, looking vicious with a glare and blood covered clothes. Joaquin shivered. It was easy to forget his two goofy fantasy dads were actually...you know...a powerful wizard and a grim reaper who killed people as easily as he killed video game characters. 

“How are you feeling, my dove?” Kravitz asked Taako, running a hand through the elf’s hair. The other hand went to cup his cheek softly. 

“C’mere!” Taako insisted, and Kravitz complied, kneeling down next to the couch and putting his face close to Taako’s. Taako immediately started covering the man in kisses until Kravitz was giggling and kissing him back. 

“What’s this all about?” he asked. 

“S’cause you were grouchy, nerd,” Taako slurred. “Lemme kiss the smile back onto ya.”

“Only if I can kiss you back,” Kravitz beamed, kissing Taako several times. 

Kravitz went to change out of his bloodied clothes, meanwhile Joaquin paused his game so he could go and get Taako’s pills for the next dose. He was paused by a knock at the door which turned out to be Angus home from school. 

“Do you knock everytime?” Joaquin asked as he let the kid in. He was pretty sure Angus was living with Taako and Kravitz now, whenever he wasn’t staying in the dorms or visiting Magnus and Merle. 

“I just prefer being polite,” Angus said, blushing slightly. “Is Taako doing okay?”

“Ango!” Taako was at the door, silky bathrobe swaying like his usual trademark cloaks, dragon slippers shuffling on the tile. “Welcome home, kiddo.” He kissed Angus on each cheek and ruffled the kid’s hair. “After school snack?”

“I can make one for myself, sir!” Angus piped up. “You should really be resting!”

“Nah, ol’ Taako’s head is clear for the first time all day, I’m getting bored. Let me cook you something.”

“Taako, come on you know what the doctor’s said,” Joaquin said, but Taako was already on his way to the kitchen, humming happily. 

Angus sat down at the kitchen table, emptying his bookbag and opening a journal that was full of notes way more complicated than anything Joaquin had seen in twelfth grade algebra. Taako appeared to be fixing up some grilled cheeses, and Joaquin guessed that was simple enough that it was okay for him to do it. 

Kravitz disagreed once he came back downstairs and saw Taako at the stove-top. 

“My dove, we talked about this,” Kravitz said, gently pulling Taako away from the oven. “I can make the meals while you’re recovering, okay?”

“Awww, but I wanna cook for my man and my boys,” Taako said, teasingly poking Kravitz with the spatula. 

“Nope, you’re on bedrest, you shouldn’t even be up from the couch,” Kravitz took the spatula from Taako and took over the grilled cheeses. “If you take it easy I’ll let you stay in the kitchen with us but anymore rushing around and I’ll carry you straight up to bed.”

“Tough guy, huh?” Taako chuckled. “I don’t remember this concern when we first met and you tried to crack my head open like an egg.”

“There’s still time for that if you prefer,” Kravitz joked back with a smirk. Taako stuck his tongue out at Kravitz before turning to Angus. 

“Whatcha got there, kiddo?”

“Oh, it’s theory of magic homework,” Angus showed Taako his notes, and the wizard nodded seriously at them. 

“Here, this part, you’re overthinking it,” Taako said pointing to a sigil Angus had drawn. The rest of what he said flew right over Joaquin’s head as the two got into the magic talk. Angus scooted his chair up close to Taako’s and put his elbows on the table, leaning in close to the elf. Joaquin grinned and snapped a few quick pictures with his cell phone, he knew Kravitz would like to see them later. 

It was a nice atmosphere in the kitchen, it had all the feeling of a lazy Saturday afternoon. Kravitz was humming symphony music as he served up sandwiches, Taako and Angus shared notes, Joaquin took pictures and interjected now and then with jokes and puns. 

A couple hours passed before Kravitz insisted Taako get some more rest. 

“I’m fine, y’treating me like glass...” Taako said, only to groan with pain as Kravitz helped him stand. “Okay....maybe...m’a little bit glass...”

“Come here, love,” Kravitz lifted Taako into his arms, careful not to brush against the stitches. “Angus, Joaquin, thanks for helping today.”

“No problem Mr. Kravitz,” Joaquin nodded. “Same time tomorrow?”

“I’ll be home tomorrow to take care of him,” Kravitz said. “....but, I could use some extra help. He is a handful when he’s ill.”

“I’m a handful all the time y’baby,” Taako stuck out his tongue, and then because he was still high as a kite and lovey dovey as always, licked Kravitz’s cheek and giggled. Kravitz gave Joaquin a deadpan look that seemed to say: you see what I mean?

“If you come back tomorrow, it’s my day off, you can teach me how to play your game!” Angus said excitedly. 

“Oh hell yeah,” Joaquin said, ruffling Angus’s hair. “Same time tomorrow then.”

The three locals said goodbye to Joaquin (Taako gave him a peck on the forehead) and the outerplaner headed home, sure to come back to his second home tomorrow.

[cutiecrates]

Cutie Reviews: Gacha Gacha Crate Jan 20

Right after I began to work on my last review, this box showed up the exact same day <3< but maybe that’s good because look, I’m back again! This is also good timing because I bought a brand new storage container for my Gachapon as my previous one is way too full. If I was making videos I would show you guys my clean-up, transfer, and organization process of the whole ordeal I’ll be dealing with once I finish this. But I’ll be sure to include some pics with my next post for anyone curious!

With that, I hope everyone enjoys themselves~

One Punch Man Keychain

Our first item is this detailed keychain featuring 5 characters from a superhero manga-turned anime One Punch Man. These are by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.

As you can expect I don’t know this series at all, it’s not really in my preferred genre. So besides some pictures i know nothing about this series, other than the fact the character I got is named Genos.

The figure is about thumb-sized and features a hard-rubber plate with the series name written on it. It’s probably hard to tell from the pic but the detail on this little figure is really good. You can see all these little creases and metal pieces on his torso, and his hair is nice; it even looks like he has earrings.

Initially I didn’t think I would keep this since I’m not into the series, but out of my 5 options I feel like this is who I would have wanted to get anyway, and he’s pretty cool looking. I’m kind of curious in learning more about him.

Banana Animal Keychain

Our next item is this adorable little banana-themed bird from Epoch. There was 12 different banana birds in total (6 birds but one half came on a strap while the other half did not, or in the case of mine, 2 color schemes). These included a banana bird, a choco dipped bird, one with a pink banana peel, a cockatiel with a greenish-yellow peel, one with a brown peel, and a little parakeet in yellow or green.

Birds are so cute, and I love animal-food combi’s, so I thought this was a very sweet little set. I got the little green parakeet; and I’m not joking when I say little, he’s about the size of one finger segment. As a figure its fairly simple, but the coloring is very clean. This would be an adorable little figure to use in a display.

Cinnamoroll Keychain

Are you guys sensing a theme yet?

This is another TTArts gachapon, this time featuring the adorable Cinnamoroll doing a variety of cutesy little things. Each figure includes a nice silver ball chain (and is wearing a hat) and there is 5 in total: Cinnamoroll wearing a vest and holding a cane, Cinnamoroll in a cup, Cinnamoroll balancing on a ball, Cinnamoroll relaxing on a ball, and Cinnamoroll standing with a horn.

I was impressed with the quality of this little figure. In height its about one finger segment, in length its about two (obviously because of his ears :P). The coloring is perfect with no sign of discoloration or uncolored spots, and believe it or not but his entire body is in the cup. Sometimes companies will take a short-cut by finding a way to cover the body or not including the entire thing, but I assure you his is there.

I really like this cute little charm, I’ve been considering hanging it off of something.

Tanuki/Kitsune Mug Warmer

Our next item is from Kitan Club, based on a cute pair known as Tanuki & Kitsune (I might be a little inaccurate on that but I assume thats what it is), a raccoon and fox pair. Each mug warmer is 300 yen, and there are 5 available styles: 2 expressions for each character, and one that resembles a fence post with Tanuki wedged in it.

These fit Small to Medium-sized bottles/cups/containers/tubes, from 260 to 340ml. What makes these extra cute is that they also have a tail on the back, and a ball chain.

Out of the two I would have preferred to get Kitsune/Fox, but they are both really cute.

I didn’t have a drink near me at the time and I wasn’t in the mood to make anything, so I put mine on a bottle of lotion. He seems to like it.

The piece is made from a really soft plush fabric, while the face, ears, and tail are made from a smooth, thin fabric maybe like a very thin imitation leather? I’m not really sure what its called. The lining inside feels a lot like a really soft sponge and is in several layers, ensuring the heat stays in while its being used and probably making sure the hands aren’t burned holding it.

It’s not something I would deem necessary- but it’s very cute and I like cutesy little things like this.

Sumikki Gurashi Watch

Our next item is this big, obnoxiously adorable watch by Koro Koro Collection and is an official licensed product by San-X. Besides Penguin? who I got, there is Neko, Shirokuma, Tonkatsu, and Tokage. Honestly, I was surprised I got Penguin? because usually I end up getting my 2 favorites, Shirokuma or Neko- but I also get Tokage a lot. I think this is actually my first Penguin? piece of merchandise. I really wish I got Shirokuma looking at the colors (and because I got him for another watch two years ago), but they are all very cute.

Anyway, this watch is obnoxiously big but its colors are soft and sweet, and its jelly strap is a really light pretty color with glitter through it (matching the capsule it came in) and it feels very comfortable on the wrist. Also, I wanted to mention it was extremely easy to set even if you can’t read the writing on the included paper (which I couldn’t), so you can put in the exact time and date. I like wearing it, and while I usually don’t wear watches anymore, I’m excited to get a chance to coordinate this with some clothing~

If you need a watch or just like cute Sumikko Gurashi merch, I’d recommend picking one up if you can find these (like on the merchandise store for this brand, or Rakuten. There’s a few gachapon shops I followed on there).

Kirby Dishes

Our last item is this adorable Kirby themed set of dishware by TTArts. As you can see there are 8 pieces in total, a mug and matching plate. The little dishes are ceramic and about half-thumb size. The coloring is pastel and on the back of the mug is the characters name or a saying; as you can see I got Waddle Dee. I really wish I got Kirby (especially one of those last two plates, they look so precious), but I seem to get a lot of Waddle Dee’s from these boxes. He’s cute too though so it’s cool.

The piece itself comes in bubble wrap to keep it safe from any possible cracking or breakage (or as a fun bonus if you like popping bubble wrap like me). I’m not sure it would be worth trying to use, but it would make a really cute big doll or re-ment set piece. Or maybe you could find something to store in it, like some paper clips or a pen.

- - - - - - - -

With everything mind, I enjoyed this box :3 it was all very cute and the details on everything is clean and perfect. But in all honesty, I kind of feel like its a little limited in comparison to the past 2 boxes, which I felt like had better sizing with the items and more involvement. I’m not sure with all the tiny pieces we got that this was worth the price, but I did like the items and I would still recommend them if any of them sounded interesting to you. I also like how most of the capsules came in my favorite type, the colored clear sphere with a clasp you have to lift. I LOVE those ones.

If I had to pick a favorite item, I believe mine would be the Sumikko Gurashi watch! It’s so cute and fun, and unlike everything else I know it will be used. In fact I plan to wear it while I go through my collection~

Until next time, stay cute~

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/homemade-spicy-bread-and-butter-pickles-yum/

Homemade Spicy Bread and Butter Pickles - Yum!

Spicy and Sweet, So Fun to Eat (and Make)

Howdy howdy howdy - Daniel Jr again. For Christmas this year Sherry got me a Guide to Preserving by Ball, along with some canning supplies. Best. Gift. Ever.

We made up a batch of bread and butter pickles a few days ago, and holy cow are they good! Better than any bread and butter pickle we've ever purchased at the grocery store. By far. By a mile.

We made up another batch today, this time adding some jalapenos for a bit of kick, and will be diving into those in a week or so.

The process is very easy, and if you find yourself with a few hours to kill, why not make up a few pints of these scrumptious goodies?

It took us about 3 hours start to finish to make up 6 pints of these delicious bad boys. If you're wanting to make some, we've got the step by step for you.

I'm not going to go into great detail about prepping your canning supplies here. If you're looking for more information on that please check out Ball's excellent write-up - they literally wrote the book on canning.

Ingredients:

For 6 pints, you will need the following:

4 pounds of cucumbers. We used big honking waxed cucumbers that were on sale, but typically you would use 4 to 6 inch non-waxed kirby cucumbers.

2 pounds of onions, thinly sliced

1/3 cup pickling salt

2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons mustard seed

2 teaspoons turmeric (wear gloves!)

2 teaspoons celery seed

1 teaspoon freshly minced ginger

1 teaspoon whole peppercorn

3 cups vinegar, 5% acidity

1/8 tsp per jar pickle crisp (optional)

2 jalapeno or other spicy pepper (optional)

1 bag ice

You will need 6 pint jars, bands, lids and a large bowl. NOTE - never ever reuse canning lids. They are a one-time use only affair. You can reuse the jars and bands. Replacement lids are cheap. We try and keep an extra dozen on-hand at all times should the canning bug bite us.

Step 1: Cut your onions and hot peppers

Cut the onion crosswise into thin slices, place in a bowl

If using spicy peppers, wash under cold water and cut however you like. I left the seeds in the jalapenos and cut into rings. Add the peppers to the bowl with the onions and cover (optional, but I hate to cry with all the onion fumes)

Step 2: Cut the cucumbers crosswise

Wash the cucumbers under cold running water and drain. For the big honking cucumbers I'll cut a good half inch from both ends. If using the smaller kirby cucumbers you'll remove the stem and 1/16 inch from the blossom end.

Cut the cucumbers crosswise into 1/4 inch slices. This is a LOT of cucumbers to slice up. If you have a mandoline slicer, now is the time to pull it out! With a mandoline you can use a wavy blade that gives the pickles the classic crinkle cut look. It's certainly not necessary, but sure looks groovy.

A mandoline will also allow you to set the thickness of your slice, and provide consistency with the thickness of each piece, along with saving some serious knife time.

These suckers are sharp! Using one of these incorrectly or not paying attention to what you're doing is a real easy way to win a trip to the emergency room after you slice the tip of a finger off. I HIGHLY recommend you use a protective glove when using a mandoline. It can be a real flesh saver.

Step 3: Salt and Chill

In a large bowl, combine the cucumber slices, onions and peppers.

Sprinkle the 1/3 cup of salt over the top and toss well. I've found that digging in with both (clean!) hands and tossing a half dozen times or so does a good job of mixing the salt with the veggies.

Cover the veggies with the bag of ice - told you that you would need a large bowl! I sprinkle a wee bit of salt, maybe a half teaspoon or so, over the ice to keep it super cold.

Let stand for 1 1/2 hours.

Step 4: Prepping the pickle spices

While the future pickles are chilling under ice, combine the the sugar, spices and vinegar in a large saucepan. Do not add the pickle crisp at this time! Do not turn on the burner just yet.

Let's chat about turmeric shall we? Turmeric is an amazing spice, but this stuff stains anything it touches. Fingers and wooden stirring spoons are all fair game. My wife won't let me touch the stuff unless I'm wearing disposable gloves. We have a huge 2 pound bag of the stuff, and it stays inside a large gallon ziplock bag for storage.

Once you have your pickle spices in the saucepan you can begin heating up your canning supplies, which brings us to...

Step 5: Prepping your canning supplies

Wash your jars, bands, lids and canning tools in hot soapy water, rinse well and place in your canning pot, bringing the temp up to 180F. Do not boil yet!

If you have a bbq thermometer it comes in handy  to monitor the temperature of the water to ensure it's hot enough, but not too hot.

Depending on the size of your canning pot and the heat output of your stove top it can take quite a while to bring the water up to temp.

We just picked up a 21 quart pot, and takes a good half hour to bring it up to 180F. The lid will help speed things along.

Step 6: Rinse, repeat, repeat

After the future pickles have been under ice it's time to rinse.

You're going to rinse the bejeezus out of these to get rid of the salt. I do three full rinses under cold water, starting with a colander, then back to the large bowl fully submersing under cold water, back to the colander, bowl, colander, bowl, colander. Whew!

Step 7: Time to cook!

Bring your spice mixture in the saucepan to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add the cucumber mixture to the pot and bring back to a boil. It's going to take a bit as the future pickles are quite cold from the ice bath. Once you have a full boil turn off the burner and remove pan from heat.

You're almost there - now comes...

Step 7: Can the pickles!

A canning funnel is your best friend for this next process. Keeps things MUCH less messy.

Using a ladle, pack the hot pickles and liquid into a hot jar, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace (the space between the top of the jar and the liquid). Don't be stingy with the pickles - fill those jars up!

If you're using pickle crisp now is the time. Add 1/8 teaspoon to a pint jar.

Remove air bubbles.

Clean the jar rim using a damp cloth.

Center lid on jar and adjust band to fingertip-tight, then place jar on the rack elevated over simmering water.

Repeat until all jars are filled.

Lower the rack into simmering water. IMPORTANT: Water must cover jars by 1 inch. Adjust heat and bring to a rolling boil, using lid. Boil pint jars for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and remove cover. Let jars cool 5 minutes.

Remove jars from pot; do not retighten bands if loose. Cool 12 hours, then check the seals.

You'll hear a distinctive 'pop' sound as the lids form seals. It typically starts within 10 to 15 minutes after we've removed the jars from the pot, but can take longer. If they haven't sealed after 12 hours you can place the jar(s) in the fridge.

We've been lucky - we've yet to have a jar that didn't seal. Hoping that trend continues!

The pickles will be ready to eat after 4 days, even better after a week, and fantastic after 2 weeks.

Let me know how yours turn out!

Happy canning, and thanks so much for reading!

Daniel Scurlock Scurlock Farms

[lovely-necromancy]

A Cure for Insomnia CH 13

Waking up late was so not the plan for today.

What was supposed to be a nice lovely day is slowly turning into your personal hell. Racing around the kitchen trying to keep an eye on your potatoes as you cut up the other veggies for the pie. So you can shove it into the oven then get ready.

Christ why hadn't you thought to prep your ingredients earlier?

Thankfully the cobbler was super simple tossing the sugar and flour into the bowl followed by the a cup of lemonade. Perfect cobbler base. After the batter was creamy you threw in the freshly washed blackberries. They bled a deep red into the batter around them. You had high hopes as you topped it with butter and threw it into the oven.

Both dishes had very quick bake times so you weren't too worried or stressed about them taking forever. In all honesty the only reason you were frantically running around your kitchen was prepping the inside of the forager's pie. And giving the mashed potatoes an essence of rosemary and garlic as if you were a chef on par with Gordon Ramsey.

Should you do dishes?

No, there's no time to worry about that.

Soon the cobbler is out of the oven and you have replaced it with the two pans of forager's pie. You don't give the cobbler any time to cool as you place the aluminum lid to the pan so the heat stays.

With that taken care of you speed off to your room and grab your outfit. The mini pencil skirt you'd purchased yesterday paired with some shorts so you didn't have to be careful with your movements all day. A plain block colored shirt in a cute primary palette. Finishing with yellow converses.

Changing doesn't take long but you do take some extra time on your hair choosing to style it a bit different today. As you're debating on if you should put the time into a fun makeup look your neck snaps harshly to the right.

There is no crack but it did hurt like hell.

As if that had been a sign from God you opt for your normal look. There will be other events and times for you to do fun looks, but not today.

The oven beeps as the timer goes off letting you know the pies are ready. Just a sprinkle of cheese on top before you cover them with the lid and you are all set to go.

Checking the time you see it's nine-o-two, and while the picnic was scheduled for ten thirty you are a committee member and should be there early to help set up. So without anymore hesitation you are flying out of the house and into your car.

You rush back from placing the food in the backseat to make sure your door is locked.

It is and you are free to enjoy the day...you hope.

Speeding would be the biggest understatement of the year. You were practically at the lodge in fifteen minutes and bustling up to the door. Opening it you rush in ignoring anyone you pass by in your mad dash to the kitchen.

“Hello to you too.” Barclays voice carries from the stove as you whisk past him to place two of your pans on the counter.

“Hi, Tim?” you say out of breath from your one person marathon. Practically vibrating in place unwilling to loose your momentum despite your need for a second wind.

Barclay just points to the den and you're out of the kitchen just as fast as you had entered. Most patrons in the den don't spare you a second glance used to your whirlwind mannerisms when your trying to follow a deadline. As self appointed as it may be.

There is one trio however giving you a mix of concerned and amused looks. Which quickly turn into concerned and interest when you make a bee line straight for them.

“Hi,” you say to Toby and Brian before looking at Tim and pushing the cobbler at him, “Thanks again  for last night.”

Tim can't even get a word out because as soon as he grabs the pan you're already back off to the kitchen. Determined to help Barclay with something before everyone starts moving to the Archway. You hear the chorus of chuckles coming from everyone as you leave a confused Tim, who now has to answer to the questioning glances of his friends, in your wake.

Barclay needed no help as you guessed but he was however open to you covering the food and stacking certain items together before helping to load everything into crates for easier transport. It wasn't long before the others start to make their way into the kitchen to get briefed on the plan.

You notice the trio being motioned in by Jake who holds the door open for them to make their way in too. Brian politely takes the door from Jake as Tim steps in place in front of him and Toby. The jerky movements of Toby's eyes as he scans the room is really hard to ignore. But it doesn't seem like he's looking for anything just taking note of who is in the kitchen and where they are.

“Ok, first thank you all for helping set up the picnic today. I really appreciate it.” Barclay's baritone voice says jostling you out of your thoughts to focus in on him.

“Second, we really don't have much to do for set up since most guests already have their baskets with them. We do have a few spares to lay down though. We'll be splitting off into three teams.” Barclay then points at you, Hollis, Jake, and Kirby.

“Team A is in charge of setting up the spare baskets.”

After getting your group's approval he continues down the line.

Team B consists of Brian, Tim, Toby, and Indrid. Their group is to bring out and set the tables that'll hold the food. Team C is Barclay, Aubrey, Dani, and Madeline. Team C will bring the main courses along with the heaters to keep everything warm.

With teams set and in place you all take to your positions and get a move on before the public arrives. You vaguely wonder why the Hornets aren't here yet but remember most had decorated and cleared out the Archway over the past couple of days. Pushing the thoughts away you grab two baskets and follow after your team. Thankfully there were only a few left over baskets, eight if you include Jake and Hollis' and then your own. Each member of your team carried two baskets through the thicket of trees until you reached the clearing of the archway.

It looked amazing, you'd only been out here one other time back when Bambi was still around. She took you out at night and the two of you just talked about anything and everything, including theories about the giant archway that towered over the clearing and just how it may have come to be.  Back then it had been a field of long grass and purple wildflowers. The grass was so thick the two of you used sticks to move it and insure there'd be no snakes harmed in your late night hike. Now though the grass had been cut save for aesthetically calculated patches of wildflowers and clovers here and there. The field was absolutely perfect for the event, and with the gorgeous blue skies partially clouded the scenery really seemed to pop out.

Especially the small lake glittering just past the archway. You'd never noticed it before but then again you came here in the dead of night.

Getting back to work you set out on placing the spare baskets a reasonable distance from the others. Close enough  to other blankets to feel included but far enough away to have their own space if that was their thing. When you had finished you take your own basket and join Hollis and Jake who finished placing their four baskets down faster with two people. They'd been setting up their own blanket on the outer rim of the perimeter, closer to the treeline than to the Archway. As if they were going to overlook the even and keep an eye out. Which they probably would be, just to ensure that everyone had fun and stayed safe.

Seeing you standing just a few feet away from the blanket Jake gives you his patented superstar smile.

“C'mon, join the party YN.”

With the easy going invitation you fix your blanket beside theirs. This way at one point or another you'd see a majority of your friends today as you knew for a fact they'd come over or be dragged over into seeing the couple beside you.

Kirby joins you three after lazily placing his baskets side by side closer to the archway. With the hustle and fuss of your prep work being done you can take a moment to take everything in.

“I love the shirt.” you say looking at Kirby's 'I'm not Allo but 20$ is 20$' shirt.

He gives a grin before presenting a folded up shirt out of his messenger bag.

“Thought you might...don't wear it now though. Don't want you copying my style, that'd be sad.” he jokes.

“Pfft, please everyone would know it's you who copied me.”

Jake and Hollis watch as the two of you continue your playful banter. Occasionally voicing whose side they were on, Hollis took Kirby's while Jake took yours. It was a fun way to pass the time as the other groups finished setting up.

Especially since you had Mr. Cool Guy himself on your side. How could you possibly not be the trend setter sibling with his vote.

Before long the other groups were also setting up their own baskets, which had been brought out by Barclay and Indrid a few hours earlier. And some Hornets started showing up not too long after that. Either rushing around trying to set up their baskets or sit down with friends after placing their food away. Though the event hadn't really started yet you could hear Aubrey starting up her music a few blankets away. She'd already gathered a small crowd that was chittering away.

Taking it all in you notice a certain trio looking incredibly awkward and out of place. You get up and make your way over to the men ready to invite them to sit with you. After all it's an eight person blanket it'd be a shame to sit all by yourself next to another full blanket.

Toby's dark eyes lock on to you first, you really suspect this boy has ADHD with his quick reflexes and spacial hyper awareness. He actually seems to deflate a bit, like the tension in his shoulders started to disappear the closer you got. You apparently weren't the only one to notice the subtle change in the brunette as Tim focused in on Toby. Meanwhile Brian clocked you just before you were within ten feet of their little group.

“Hey I have an empty blanket if you guys wanted to join.”

Just getting straight to the point was your thing. Most see your bluntness as rudeness but you just don't see a point in dancing around your message.

“Yea, that'd be nice.” Toby spoke before the other two could.

Smiling at him you hold a hand out for him to grab. You aren't really sure what possessed you to do that, but figure you must be in a rare tactile mood. Unlike when you're touched if you initiate the contact it doesn't hurt or squick you out. He grabs your hand and you can feel the scratch of his callouses. You remember Hollis said something about him being a mechanic, that would explain the tough hands.

You lead the trio over to your blanket where only Kirby sits, seems like didn't bring his basket and was going to share with you. Not that you mind at all, in fact this was the perfect time to introduce one friend to another.

“Kirby time to make a good impression.” you call out gaining his attention.

He takes a moment before taking note of the group you're guiding over. Kirby stands up to greet you all.

“Kirby this is my friend Tobias, and his roommates Tim and Brian.” you motion to the other two with your unoccupied hand.

Noticing for the first time that they have their hands interlocked. Not holding like you and Toby are but a more intimate hand hold.

'These bitches gay...good for them. Good for them.' is just playing on repeat as background noise in your head. Ignoring the loop in your brain you continue the introduction.

“This is Kirby, my brother or whatever.” Kirby snorts at your short introduction.

“I'll take it, 's a step up from gremlin.” he turns to the trio hand extended, “Nice to meet you guys.”

After the weird neurotypical ritual is over the five of you sit down and talk while you wait for the festivities to begin. Tim and Kirby dragging Brian along for the deep dive of god awful horror movies.

“You didn't mention a brother.” Toby says fiddling with your hand, someone really needs to get this guy a fidget toy.

“Huh? Oh no. No, not like that Kirby's more like a brother than my biological brother.” you pause while thinking how to explain this more articulately.

“We're just really similar and people thought we were dating, I guess, before we started calling each other 'sibling'.” it's really weird that that was even an issue. At least to you but Allos tend to be weird about mixed gender relationships.

For instance Brian and Tim can get written off as the best of best friends. But you and Kirby decide to sit next to each other for one Saturday Night Dead and the town is already waiting for wedding invites. Maybe this is a small town thing...you'll still blame the Allos.

Toby nods along, whether he actually understands or is trying to move from the topic you can't quite tell. You look down at his hand that's bending your fingers into your palm. His nail beds look better than last week you hope it means he wasn't picking at his skin. It's really not a great coping mechanism.

You let out a small sigh as you get lost in the feeling of Toby playing with your fingers. You're trying to think of something to talk about but the motions are kind of drowning out your thoughts. You can see why this might've been helpful the for Toby last week in the forest.

“...We're friends?” you aren't really sure if that was a question or a statement.

“Yea! Well at least I'd like to be. It's fine if you don't want to though.”

Toby gives a small smile to that, and releases your hand. It seems his anxiety has gone away for the most part. Maybe having the reassurance of another friend is all he needed. Just a little more moral support to get him out of his shell.

You smile back at him as he leans back on his hands. It's nice that you both can enjoy the day without your masks, even if you do feel a bit naked without yours. You wonder how Toby's been holding up wearing only the bandage over his scar. But you know you probably aren't at the friendship level needed to question him about it. No matter how nonchalant he'd been about eating in front of you that first day.

“How're the repairs coming?”

Toby rolls his eyes and lets out a frustrated groan, and for a moment you're concerned you upset him.

“It's a fah-fah-cuck...king rust bucket. Like Jesus fucking Christ first the AC blows out so I check the compressor...” he pauses and squints his eyes at you, “do you know cars?”

“Dad's a mechanic so I know enough. But you're talking about an RV unit and not a regular cabin AC might get a little lost but I can at least lend an ear. Like a rubber duck.”

The right side of Toby's mouth pulls a confused sneer, but his attention is soon turned to Brian who's chuckling having heard what you said.

“'s a coding thing Toby.”

“Uh...okay?” Toby just resigns himself to not understanding this particular topic and continues on.

“Yea so sorta the same basis, I guess. The units still pull air from outside into the vents and use a refrigerant liquid to cool the air it pushes out.” he pauses to make sure you're still following.

After you nod he continues to explain how it runs so the fans and circuits seem to be in order. There isn't a leak in the coils and the liquid's been replenished but it still isn't running cold. You nod while giving him a patient smile as you let him tear through his rant about the “piece of shit unit” because it seems this has been building in him for the past few days.  When he comes to the end of his rant the only thing you can really think to say is.

“That sounds rough.”

Not the most eloquent thing but Toby seems to come down from his vent high, after a few deep breaths.

“Yea it mrrow was. Well is.” he cuts his eyes back to the trio across from you noticing how they all seem invested in their own conversation now.

“Why'd you give Tim a cobbler?” looks like you two will be playing twenty questions today.

“He scared off the creep for me last night.” you shrug causing your neck to jerk to the side.

“'the' creep? Wait! The one that drugged you?” Toby is so lucky he can't feel pain because even you felt that crack that ripped through his neck as he whipped his head towards you.

And honestly you're kinda surprised it didn't draw anyone's attention to you two.

“First I don't think I was drugged, he might've just sent me into a panic attack.”

“Oh sorry the creep that sent you into a panic attack.” you really hate when people interrupt you like that he's really lucky you understand he's actually just paying attention to you rather than talking over you. You'd punch him if it wasn't the case. Punch him right in his cute snarky face.

“Bitch.” You do punch him, in his arm, he lets out a monotone 'ow'. You decide against punching him again for that, it was a hard choice though.

“Anyway, second yea same one. I just really don't like the guy and last night he'd been bothering Ronnie when I stopped by the gas station. She'd apparently forgotten Tim had gone on break and when I tried bluffing that he was there well...”

You took some time to explain the situation last night to Toby. Leaving out the parts where Not Tim showed up. After thinking on that you figure there was a possibility of Tim having an alter that he may or may not know about. And you aren't sure what the etiquette is for this sort of thing, like if Tim did know were you suppose to let him tell you or should you let him know you'd technically met his alter. Judging from Toby's face, the guy really wears his heart on his sleeve, he seems confused about something.

Maybe Tim  didn't remember last night and Toby was asking for him. That does put a bit more weight on your alter theory. And it seems to have more traction as something seems to click in Toby's head. He doesn't share whatever is making him nod. So you leave it be.

Before you know it an hour has past the field nearly full of town residents and Barclay, with his mighty megaphone, start calling people over for food so you all grab a plate from the basket.

“I want purple.” Kirby tells you.

“I could literally hand you any of these and you'd tell me 'thanks'.”

“That's pretty fucking ablest YN.”

You pause and look at the other three on the blanket.

“Is being colorblind a disability?”

A “Yes” from Brian followed by Tim and Toby's deadpan expressions and “No”s.

“Three against two, not ablest just honest...this is purple.” you had half a mind to hand him indigo.

Your group goes and gets food, debating the legitimacy of colorblindness being a disability, before heading back to your blanket. No sooner had you sat down are you body slammed into the ground. The familiar weight of an overexcited eleven year old smothering you.

“Hi can I sit with you?” before you can reply the rest of the Cowell family finds their way over.

“Josephine Cowell, I'm so sorry YN she's just been so excited all weekend. Josephine get off of YN you know they aren't very tactile.” Dia called.

Unlike her husband's hulking form Dia was a petite frail woman, you honestly wouldn't be surprised if Jo towered over her mother in a few years. And though she was small she had a fierceness to her that normally kept both the Jos in line.

“It's not a problem Dia. Jo I think you should eat with your parents first, we have all day to hang out.” Her eyes seem to sparkle with excitement and you can see her mother's apologetic expression just past her.

Understandably Dia is concerned with Jo taking up your personal time. The young girl sees you as an older sibling and wants to spend any second she can with you, but you aren't family. You're a young adult who has their own life to live. The last thing you need is to be babysitting the tween while you tried to relax with your friends today. Dia would do her best to have Jo give you some space.

“Hey you guys can just drop your blanket over here, we don't mind.” Janette, local mean lesbian, calls from Hollis and Jake's blanket.

Jo looks ecstatic at the thought and rushes to her father to pull him over to the area so they can place the blanket down. Booping her nose occasionally in her excitement.

“Hey Dia, Marnie's coming in an hour or so, soccer game got rescheduled. Jo will have someone her age to bug.”

“Marnie's coming?” leave it to a tween to finish setting up and get a plate of food all in under five minutes.

She's not even trying to be on her family's blanket as she plops down next to you. Taking notice of you staring she gives a wide grin practically buzzing with excitement. A bit too much excitement as she starts rapidly blinking, triggering your own as well. At least you have practice eating like this, unlike Jo who only just developed this tic.

After your tics subside Jo eats with you and just goes on into her usual tween drama stories. She's got to keep you up to date after all. It's like a soap opera just less adult topics and no evil clones. Kirby and Nate catch up and somehow rope Tim and Brian into their conversation as well. Toby just sits quietly eating and giving you amused looks every time you lock eyes.

You can't help but feel you're forgetting to do something every time you lock eyes with the brunette. The issue seems to resolve itself when a 'mrrow' slips from Toby as he takes a drink, causing him to cough from swallowing wrong.

An unconscious effort on your part, you lean and rub small circles into his back. Trying to calm his coughs. A mistake as the tween in front of you zeros in on the man as if she's just noticed he existed.

“Hi! Who are you?” if her eyes could turn into stars they would.

“uh...” Toby looks to you for help, as if the child talking to him was an alien species. “Toby...” he says uncertainly after receiving no input from you.

“Toby....”

“Rogers?”

“Are you YN's boyfriend?” Toby wishes he had an excuse to cough now.

His face flushes at the question and before he can sputter out any tongue tied response another 'mrrow' rips through him and his head harshly tilts back. Jo's eyes widen at the tic, she excitedly looks between the two of you. And you aren't sure what's going through her mind at the moment.

“OMG Do you have tourette's? Does he have tourette's or is he like you?” she's practically vibrating as she bounces between questioning both of you.

“umm...touretter's?” you say in Toby's place as the man beside you can't function a sentence right now.

Jo literally squeaks in excitement at the new development.

“I'm Jo Cowell, YN's self appointed sibling. I have tourette's too, I've had it since I was five. How long have you had tourette's?”

It felt like Jo's never ending barrage of questions was just that never ending. Toby took everything in stride, aside from the awkward dating questions. And for how worried she was about her daughter bugging you today every time you tried to catch Dia's eye she was somehow wrapped up in another conversation or her husband. Your saving grace came in a four foot two package wearing a dirty soccer uniform and sporting a fresh black eye followed closely by her frazzled step mother.

“Yikes, ball to the face or fight with the other team?” Janette asked her daughter as she walked towards the blankets.

“Fell off the bleachers.” fucking how? “Jo want to run some drills with me?” Marnie asked with a grin missing her front tooth, and before you know it your blanket was down an occupant and Toby was free of the never ending hell he'd been placed in.

“Do...do you want to take a walk? Get away for a minute.” you asked looking at the positively ruffled man next to you.

He nods numbly and follows after you into the tree line. You both just walk for a bit until Toby's complexion looses any rosiness. When he's back to his normal greyish cool tones you stop to rest. Leaning against a tree Toby follows your lead but slides down the base resting his arms on his knees as his head hits the tree behind him.

“Sorry about her, Jo can be excitable.” you'd remembered as soon as her tirade began that you should have warned him she'd lock on to his tics.

That was a near replica of your first encounter with the tween. Too late to change that now.

“I didn't mind,” he gives a boxy grin up at you “'s just how siblings are.”

There's a fond tone in his voice as he says that. And the gleam in his eyes tell a story of experience with that sort of thing.

“You've got siblings?”

“Yea, an older sister.” he sighs and looks down and the grin falls into a neutral look.

There's a story there, but you aren't one to pry. If he wants to indulge you or even himself he will in his own time. However, a joke should be able to disturb the tension that threatens to darken your moment.

“Oh I bet you were an absolute menace to her.” giving a good natured chuckle, one Toby returns as the fond look in his eyes came back.

“For your information I was a delight as a child.”

“Pfft yea I bet. And just how many times did you break an arm falling out of a tree?”

Toby looks stunned for a moment. Was that something weird to say? You remember the summer nearly everyone in your grade broke their arms falling out of a tree. Hell you would've too if you hadn't landed in a bush, all you got were some gnarly bruises and a few thorns stuck in you. Then you swore a vow to only climb thick limbed trees.

“Like twice...but..how did, how did you know?”

“It wasn't a universal thing? I just figured since we were both from Virginia like your class would've also had like sixteen kids break their arm or something over the summer.”

“Well I was home schooled so I wouldn't know.”

“Wait, like home schooled home schooled, or church home schooled. There's a difference.” giving you a sneer he just shrugs.

“Fucking home schooled home schooled. Don't see how that makes a difference.”  he pops his knuckles. Jerkiness of the motion indicating his tic rather than his choice.

“One you're supposedly taught science and the other you're told Jesus loves you.” you deadpan as you slide down the tree mirroring Toby's position.

“I had two friends, they were twins, who were church home schooled until high school. Nice girls but only so many times I can pretend to know what the hell a veggie tale is.”

Toby snorts and shakes his head. This is probably all you'll get from him about his early life. But he's not dancing around the questions as much as he was a few weeks ago. The quiet is nice and you could honestly just spend the rest of the day in the forest. A cool breeze blows through the trees and you catch the smells from the picnic. For some reason it seems to make you queezy, you'll probably stay here a while longer. You might be getting overstimulated.

“What...what was public school like?”

The question sort of shocks you breaking the moment. And you just stared at Toby for a while before you actually thought of an answer. The answer you wanted to say was “hell, it was straight hell”. You don't think he's talking about the institution itself and more the experience. So you tell him.

You start to weave together a picture spanning twelve long years for Toby. Telling him of pranks or jokes learned, older siblings bugged, holidays celebrated, tearful goodbyes, joyous reunions. Paint pictures of gossiping friends, Jane Austin worthy rumors, unified students banding together to change outdated rules, snowball fights in the courtyard, Snapchat stories shared through the school. The distance that gets put into place the second you aren't legally required to spend all your time with people. The feeling of emptiness as you try to navigate a world you were never prepared for...and doing that alone.

You tried to condense it but you went off into a lot of stories and probably gave him way too much context for everything. But Toby sat there and absorbed everything you had to say. When your mood dropped as you finished he only had one thing to say.

“Sounds like it sucked.”

Looking at him you could see the worried brow and small half smile on his lips. It was reassuring in a sense.

“Yea, yea it did.”

The two of you sat and stared at each other for a bit. A sort of connection being formed from a not so similar but not quite unsimilar schooling maybe. Or the acceptance that someone didn't have to be just like you to get you.

There isn't really a lot of time to dwell on that as a pop is heard followed shortly there after by a crack and sizzle. Soon Toby's face was bathed in a blue glow, as was the surrounding area. Another pop came and the crack and sizzle followed after. Bathing the forest in a neon green hue. Looking up in time to see a third and fourth flare go up and watching them expand in a firey orange and yellow burst. Fizzling out as they made their way down.

“I didn't know there'd be fire...fireworks.” he's tense at his tree as he swallowed the lump that you clearly heard in his throat.

“Yea I...I didn't either.” looking back to Toby you hold out a hand, “Wanna head back to the lodge?”

He pulls his dark eyes away from the sky to look at you and your outstretched hand. Not a moment later he has grabbed your hand and is yanking you into a standing position with him. Leading the way to the lodge as if he were a bat flying out of Hell. His ability to lead you both deftly through the dimly lit forest with barely any sunlight was pretty impressive. At least it would've been had you bee able to focus on it rather than cringing from the noise.

When you get to the lodge Toby doesn't say anything, nor does he let go of your hand. You feel like he's completely forgotten about you even though you're literally joined together. Toby pushes through the doors and makes his way up the stairs. Without a word you let him lead you to where ever it is he's going.

Based on his behavior you have a pretty good guess. When Toby pulls out his room key with his other hand you know you're correct. And that waiting inside would be a very good boy.

“Connor pressure.” are the only words out of Toby's mouth as he flings open the door and falls back onto the ground.

Thankfully he'd let go of your hand. Since he all but dragged you here you figure he could use the company. Closing his door you go over and sit beside his prone form. Not saying a word to each other, just waiting for the others to get back from the festivities.

[daizybethea-blog]

Canada settles for men’s basketball silver at Commonwealth Games

After the euphoria of a buzzer-beater semifinal win over New Zealand, there was a actuality test for Canada on Sunday within the men’s basketball gold-medal recreation at the Commonwealth Games. The younger Canadian aspect was thumped 87-47 by host Australia in a contest whose end result was by no means unsure. The Boomers had overwhelmed Canada 95-55 within the match opener for each groups. However Canada’s progress all through the competitors was acknowledged going into the ultimate — one Australian bookmaker had Canada as a 33.5-point underdog. Each groups have been with out their prime expertise. However whereas Australians fielded a workforce comprised of pros from the home Nationwide Basketball League, Canada’s squad was made up of college gamers. “They’re definitely an skilled group of veteran professionals and I believed they confirmed it tonight,” Canada coach Kirby Schepp mentioned of the Australians. “Clearly very well-coached. “For us, particularly with our younger guys, only a nice expertise. Enjoying Australia in Australia in a significant worldwide recreation, [it’s] priceless expertise for these younger guys to have that.” For the primary time in Games historical past, @cgc_jcc has medalled in Males’s Basketball after incomes a silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games! #GC2018 #GoldCoast2018 #GoldCoastGoldRush pic.twitter.com/PijioxND8b —@DAZN_CA The medal was Canada’s first in men’s basketball at the Commonwealth Games. Canada didn’t enter a workforce at the Melbourne Games in 2006, the one different time basketball was on this system. It was additionally medal No. 82 for Canada at these Games (15 gold, 40 silver, 27 bronze), tying the Canadian whole 4 years in the past in Glasgow (32-16-34), and the lone medal received by Canadian rivals on the ultimate day of the Gold Coast Games. Basketball might be on this system at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, England, however it is going to be the three-on-three selection. Gradual begin dooms Canada Sunday’s recreation went south within the second quarter when Canada, which trailed 20-10 after the primary, was outscored 25-9. The Canadians missed their first 9 photographs of the quarter as Australia went on a 14-Zero run to extend the result in 34-10 earlier than a delighted crowd at the Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre for the 11:30 a.m. native time begin. Australia led 45-19 at halftime, outrebounding the Canadians 30-10 (together with 10-1 in offensive rebounds). Canada shot 6-for-27 within the first 20 minutes with Ryerson’s Ammanuel Diressa and UBC’s Conor Morgan a mixed two-for-17. The Canadians confirmed some spark to start out the third however regular service resumed and Australia led 63-29 going into the ultimate quarter. Carleton’s Munis Tutu led Canada with 10 factors. Chris Goulding had 11 for Australia, which had seven gamers rating eight or extra factors. Mamadou Gueye, the College of Alberta product who sank the profitable basket towards New Zealand, was held scoreless and went to the locker-room within the second half after a shoulder knock. “It did not come out the best way we needed however I feel it is only a nice studying expertise for us,” mentioned Gueye, who reported his shoulder was effective after the match. Gamers leaving with priceless reminiscence Gueye leaves with a silver medal and a priceless reminiscence because of his long-range buzzer-beater Saturday. “Crucial shot in my profession,” he mentioned. “I”ll at all times keep in mind that.” Morgan, held to 4 factors on one-of-nine capturing, additionally savoured the Games expertise. “The journey that I have been on with these guys in these three weeks right here has type of felt like a full season virtually. We have come collectively they usually’re people who I am going to name up the remainder of my life,” he mentioned. “Despite the fact that we did not win gold, I feel [the semifinal win] was one of many craziest Games of my life and it is one I am going to bear in mind for the remainder of my life.” A historic second for @cgc_jcc because the Males’s Basketball workforce receives its silver medal. #GC2018 #GoldCoast2018 #GoldCoastGoldRush pic.twitter.com/AAPgxjbo7J —@DAZN_CA Canada by no means led Sunday and shot simply 27 per cent (17-of-63) — 23 per cent (6-of-26) from three-point vary. It was outrebounded 56-31 and outscored 36-20 within the paint. After a 1-2-Zero preliminary spherical that noticed a win over Nigeria (82-62) and losses to Australia (95-55) and New Zealand (82-60), the Canadians dispatched England 97-79 in a qualifying last after which avenged the sooner loss to New Zealand by stunning the Tall Backs 88-86. Whereas acknowledging the victory over New Zealand was a bodily affair, Schepp refused accountable the loss on a hangover from the wild semifinal. “I would not blame it on that. I’d give extra credit score to Australia for type of punching us within the mouth early,” mentioned the College of Manitoba coach. Luck on residence workforce’s aspect Canada did not get have a lot luck on the day. No less than 9 Canadian photographs rimmed out. Whereas the ultimate did not actually replicate it, the Canadians got here a great distance on a Games journey that began March 26 at the Vancouver airport. “From that time ahead our solely focus was ‘Can we get higher each single day that we’re right here,”‘ mentioned Schepp. “And I am actually pleased with the blokes. I feel we did that.” The Aussies received 5 straight at the match — outscoring the opposition by a mixed 185 factors. The Australian squad didn’t lack expertise. Goulding (Melbourne United) and Damian Martin (Perth Wildcats) have been a part of Australia’s Rio Olympic workforce whereas seven gamers helped the Boomers win the FIBA Asia Cup final 12 months. The roster featured 5 NBL rookies of the 12 months. Brad Newley (Sydney Kings) was a part of the Australian workforce that received gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. New Zealand, in the meantime, was left coping with the semifinal loss, which the New Zealand Herald referred to as an “embarrassing defeat.” “Usually, a loss to Canada wouldn’t provoke shock. Canada are probably the greatest basketball nations on this planet — however this explicit iteration isn’t. With all their skilled gamers unavailable, Canada chosen a workforce of native collegiate gamers, from the likes of the College of Calgary,” the newspaper reported. Australia received the ladies’s gold on Saturday, defeating England 99-55 to cap an unbeaten run at the match. Canada misplaced 74-58 to New Zealand within the bronze-medal match. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/commonwealthgames/commonwealth-games-basketball-canada-silver-1.4620499?cmp=rss https://www.news9ontime.com/canada-settles-for-mens-basketball-silver-at-commonwealth-games/