#bugs and monkeys are neat :)

[floralpotions]

rb this with an f/o and/or s/i and i'll make you a stim board !!

feel free to add themes you'd like to see, or ones you wouldn't like (i.e. bugs)

proship dni | status: CLOSED ty everyone :>

[angstandhappiness]

NEAT

The Hollow Knight to lmk pipeline is real

Yep! Glad to see more buggies joinin the monkey kid gang!

also i drew someone wearing macaque's outfit but you need to guess in the tags of your reblog of who it might be before you look

look he was my previous blorbo im not gonna pass up the chance to dress him up as my current blorbo

[crows-in-the-house]

The human form

Summary: Hcs for Bill in his human (canon) form

pairing: Bill Cipher x reader

tw: none

Ok so let's get it straight - this guy doesn't care about his human looks at all. Like there's milions of great looking species and you would be asking him to look attractive in this vile-monkey-fleshy form? Come on, he has standards!

He will make it look as bad as he can just to spite you. Of course he could make it handsome and interesting for you, but since you still don't want to make a deal with him - why bother?

this is when this canon form comes into place

little does he know you don't really care about the outer layer - it's the insides that matter!

hold his cheeks and poke them while he speaks. He may act like he wants to bite them off, but until he doesn't actually do it, it's just a play! Wanna see how long your fingers will last?

talking about his mouth, make him wash his teeth. They are crooked, and sharp, ready to bite off a dentists hand.

style his hair! And wash them! And burn them if you see another bug crowl out of them!!!

you can also sprey him with a cologne cuz he smells like rotten flesh. But atleast it's your rotten flesh, right?

actually give you two a self care day. He doesn't know how to take care of anything, and the longer he uses this form, the worse it looks.

can he change it back to make it look clean and neat with a snap of his fingers? Yes. Will he do that to spare you work? No.

give him glasses for actual depth perception, he may be in a 3D sensing form, but it doesn't change the fact that he's a 2D seeing being. Same with a cane.

also, give him other clothes! He definitely likes fancy outfits so whatever you bring that isn't a mystery shack merch (and is from you) will be accepted.

you better get him two top hats tho.

why? Mind your business that's why.

he will help out with your skincare as a little payment - he's a benovolent demon after all! Get ready for lots of mud, nettle and leeches kid!

do his make up! He would just love you sitting on his laps, firmly holding him in place, lightly pulling the mascara on his lashes, and then smudging all your work and laughing at your expression!

not that he would do that all the time, he enjoys spending time with you like that.

he will try to open himself up. Litteraly. Better hide all knifes in his proximity, he wants to see his insides!

he also likes to loom over you. It's funny how scared or tired of his bullshit you can get. Imagine going to your kitchen for water at night, it's dark, quiet, it doesn't help you watched a horror film earlier. Suddenly you hear a raspy breaths against your back. You move your head a little, seeing the gums of a sharp canines, stuck in a smile. Large, claw like hands keep you in place, they could dig into your flesh-

if only you didn't pour the water on this fucker

since he has a higher build now, he likes to hold you, rest his head on your shoulder or dramatically lay his chin on your head - just so he can iritate you and laugh at how small you are now

[abiiors]

a midsummer night's dream - matty x reader ˚˖𓍢ִ໋`🔆:✧˚.🍉⋆𖧧🐚

a/n: i will be so honest, there is no plot. the plot is matty and bug being in love for 4.5k words. also alex turner cameo hehehe cw: i'm warning all of you that there's a lot of fade to black smut in this because writing smut is my mortal enemy wc: 4.5k

matty wakes up to a scream on one fine day mid june. 

he scrambles awake, drenched in sweat because it��s already so warm in london, and because the scream is startling. he’s about to run to make sure she’s okay when he hears another one—a squeal this time. a high-pitched, excited sound. 

“bug?” he calls out, his voice scratchy still, “what’s happening?”

footsteps thud on the floor. a moment later the door swings open and she comes into view, laptop balanced precariously in one hand and her eyes as round as saucers. matty sits up on the bed. the covers fall around his waist, exposing his entire torso right down to his happy trail. 

“what—”

“i got it!” she hoists the laptop high up in the air. “that summer gig with arctic monkeys! i got it! i got it, matty, me!” 

matty’s sure his eyes widen an equal amount then, and he jumps off the bed. there he is, standing naked as the day he was born in the middle of their room. the kisses on his chest from the night before have already darkened, leaving a neat little trail from his sternum to just below his belly button. and yet, matty cares about none of it. 

“you got it! fuck, bug—”

“i got it!” she squeals, eyes brimming with tears now that it’s sinking in, and almost chucks the laptop on the bed. none of them care that he’s naked and she’s not. she makes a run at him, jumping into his open arms and wrapping her bare legs around his middle. she even presses a kiss square on his lips, too excited to deepen it. he just twirls them around until they both end up in a heap on the bed. 

“shit!”

“shit!” he laughs. “you’d be in europe all summer, one country after the other. surrounded by hot rockstars—”

“matty!” she chastises even though he can tell she’s busy trying to stifle her shit-eating grin. “i’m going to work. take photos!”

“of hot rockstars,” he bumps his shoulder into hers.

she turns and eyes him properly, from his messy curls to his naked chest and down. he doesn’t shy away from her though, if anything he feels a little smug. 

“i already take photos of hot rockstars,” she giggles, tracing a finger over the tattoo in the centre of his chest. “sexy photos too.”

“oh is that right?” he takes a hold of her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. her day old perfume surrounds him. his too, he realises, is in the mix, clinging to her skin like it’s meant to. “you won’t be here all summer…” he kisses her shoulder and pulls her leg over his waist. 

“i’ll send you postcards,” she giggles, “like we’re in the 90s or something.”

“sexy…postcards?”

she pinches the skin on his stomach lightly making him hiss. “pervert.”

“you’re a photographer, bug,” matty’s mouth moves from her shoulder to her chest, right where the fabric of her cami ends, not exactly where he wants to be. “i’m sure, you can get…creative.”

she quirks an eyebrow. “and what will i get in return, hmm? i’ll be ‘surrounded by hot rockstars’, don’t you forget.”

“oh, all of this isn’t enough?” matty points at his naked body, earning a flirty giggle from her. 

he already feels hot all over again, simmering right beneath his skin, and from the looks of it, she feels it too. gently, she pushes him on his back, climbing on top of him until she’d on his stomach, her ass touching his dick. matty pulls the strings of her shorts and helps her out of them, out of her underwear too. 

“gorgeous,” he murmurs once she chucks her cami somewhere in the corner, entirely naked and on top of him, grinding on his stomach until she’s practically dripping onto him. matty loves it when she uses him like that, when she gets lost chasing her own pleasure and forgets the world around her. 

matty loves looking at her then—now—when her lips are parted and eyes rolled to the back of her head, when her jaw is slack with pleasure and she moves her hips in a hypnotising rhythm. getting herself off on his stomach.

his hand snakes up her naked thigh till he's grabbing her ass. praise after praise tumbles out of his mouth and each one has her moving faster, rocking hips. his head spins from the blood running so fast through his veins. it's electric, to see her like that, to feel her like that. he’s dying to feel her around him too, but right now matty is just content to lie back and watch. 

when she finally finds her release and slumps forward on his chest, breathing hard, matty presses a kiss on her crown. 

“had your fun, didn’t you?”

she hmms, giggling a little. “your turn?”

and of course, he doesn’t need to be asked twice.

the week before she’s set to leave, she makes him sit in front of the dresser, bleach and blue dye held up in her gloved hands. matty’s doing it because she won’t. because she wants to ‘look professional’. and so he agrees to dyeing his hair blue. 

she’s more than happy to do it too, pressing kisses on his bare shoulder and neck every two seconds. matty dips a finger in the dye and flicks her nose, painting it blue. 

“oh i will kill you,” she screeches, giggling away from him when he tries to get more dye on her, on her clothes and skin, and tries to kiss her while he reeks of bleach. 

and even though they're happy, somewhere in the back of his mind he already misses her, even when she’s right here in his arms. 

“i love you…” he murmurs and places a soft kiss on her lips, she indulges for a few seconds before frowning. 

“why did you say it like that?”

“like what?”

“like it’s a sad thing.”

she can be quite perceptive when she wants to be. but matty simply shakes his head and hooks a hand under her knees. she laughs so loud when he throws her over his shoulder that it echoes around the house. matty hopes the house traps it, her laughs and her giggles and moans, he’s going to miss hearing it. 

“matty?” she nips his earlobe. 

“hmm?” 

“i love you too. more than you’ll ever know.” 

he doesn’t bother correcting her, or telling her that he knows. he knows because he feels it in all of her touches and her kisses and her smiles. and he knows because no matter how upset he is about spending two months apart, he knows she’s coming home to him at the end of it.

he only sets her down once they get to the bathroom, kissing her so deeply that her whole body reacts to him. the dye on her nose smears against his cheek, the dye on his hair gets on her hands, but matty cannot stop smiling like a fucking idiot. smiling and touching her and kissing her while they shed their clothes and get under the shower. 

the water turns blue instantly, rivulets running under their feet, and matty gets down on his knees. 

“let me…” he breathes, throwing her leg over his shoulder. his mouth is instantly between her legs, hands grabbing onto her thighs and her ass, while he looks up at her. her head is thrown back in ecstasy, fingers tangled in his freshly dyed hair. 

he keeps going until she cums on his tongue and cums again. he keeps going until his knees hurt and the water runs clear. he keeps going until she can quite literally no longer stand. 

then matty picks her up in his arms, and carries her to bed.

“i’ll be in brussels this time tomorrow,” she murmurs next to him the night before she’s set to leave.

it’s so late at night, she should be asleep. he should be asleep too, but he suspects they’re both up thinking the same thing. trying not to toss and turn and wake the other up… matty laughs at the irony. 

“go to bed, bug,” he whispers. “you’ve got to be up by 7.”

she turns to him, barely visible in the moonlight. and yet matty doesn’t need to see her face to know what she’s thinking and how she’s feeling. he simply needs to listen to her breathing as it turns shallow. 

“i do,” she nods and moves closer to him. matty opens up his arms and lets her find a comfy spot until she’s practically on top of him, until they’re one tangled entity. “i’ll be in brussels and you’ll be here.”

“we’ve been apart before,” he replies lamely. 

“that was different! we were just friends then, and…”

“and?”

she shrugs, pressing a kiss onto his shoulder. “and i’d learned to suppress my feelings for you. it was fine then, i was fine!”

matty presses a kiss into her head. “i wasn’t. i missed you everyday.”

“liar!”

“i’d never lie to you, bug,” he giggles. “and i know it’s different now, but we have options. i can call you everyday, text you 24/7, fuck, i could show up to any country you’re in. it’s only europe, you’re right here!”

she laughs, and matty can hear the wobble in it. a second later, wetness touches his shoulder. “i don’t think the band does ‘bring your boyfriend to work’ days.”

“alex would love to have me around,” he teases. 

that makes her snort properly. “you’re such a fanboy, it’s adorable.”

“rude!” he flicks her forehead. “go to bed now, i don’t want you feeling like a zombie tomorrow.”

she doesn’t respond after that, she just snuggles more into him, drawing circles on his arm until eventually her breathing deepens and her fingers stop moving. matty doesn’t sleep a wink though. he stays awake playing with her hair, fingers trying to memorise its softness, the precise texture of it. it’s only when the sky is on the verge of twilight does he manage to fall asleep. 

it’s a quick, dreamless sleep, over like a flash in the pan, and before he knows it, her alarm goes off and matty groans awake.

she’s waking up too, eyes still closed and face so sleepy and soft that matty wants to tuck her back in bed and not let her go. but no matter how hard he wishes for it, she has to go. it’s a good opportunity for her, it will be so good for her career. 

and yet and yet and yet. 

matty sighs and places a kiss on her head. 

“bug? you up?”

she mumbles sleepily. matty laughs. 

“come on, you won’t be ready in time if you don’t wake up now.”

and that’s how they go back and forth—matty tries to coax her out of bed, she mumbles something and buries her face wherever she can, until finally he manages to shake her hard enough. 

it’s funny to him how she stomps to the bathroom and comes out as a completely new person once she’s had her shower. he’s ready for her though, two steaming mugs of coffee in hand. it’s the last time they will sit across from each other and have coffee for two months. last time before he’s sentenced to seeing her face on a tiny phone screen. 

“you’re not gonna cry are you?” her eyes widen, and matty schools his face back into a smile. “if you cry, i’ll cry and then none of us is going anywhere.”

“i’m not a crybaby, love,” he flicks her nose, kissing it straight after. “i’ll miss you though. more than you’ll ever know.”

there’s not much he can say that won’t make him actually start crying. so he just enjoys the coffee with her and holds her close. he stays there, for as long as she needs until she has to finally get up and get ready to leave.

“matty, look!” she holds up a snail to the phone screen, eyes bright, excited. “i’m having snails.” then she puts on an exaggerated french accent. “escargot!”

matty laughs. “you don’t even like them, bug.”

“i do when they’re given to me in bed by room service.”

he briefly looks away from her face and behind her. there’s not much of a view, just the fancy headboard and a nightstand littered with jewellery and contact lens case and her frayed old headphones. matty smiles at it fondly and looks at the nightstand on her side of their bed—it’s empty, clean. he feels a pang in his chest. 

matty looks back at her just in time to watch her make a face.

“okay maybe i’ll have them later,” she tries not cringe, he just snickers at her. 

a bit later once she’s done eating, she gives him a tour of the room. it’s much of the same really, similar to the rooms she’d stayed in in rome and milan and berlin. he’s no stranger to any of it either, and yet he gives her his full attention, cooing at the view from her window even though they can barely see the eiffel tower. she looks happy about it, and so he is too. 

“how was you day?” she asks once they’ve both settled in bed. 

matty sighs, “much of the same really. worked a bit, then worked out a bit and now i’m talking to you.”

he doesn’t say that he could barely eat because he hates eating alone and misses her so bad. he doesn’t tell her that he forced george to be on call with him while he ate his sad little dinner of day old pizza and some chicken tenders. 

“worked out,” she waggles her eyebrows, “gonna be fit before i come back to you?”

“for you? maybe.”

her breath quivers a little and matty sees the precise second her face shifts from a teasing smirk to something a little more intense. he sits up too, propped against his pillow. and sure it is july, the nights have already grown hotter, but something tells him the heat in the room is not because of that. 

“did i show you photos from the show?” 

“of alex?” matty raises a brow and she rolls her eyes, biting her lip a little. 

“of me, idiot! was dressed like a proper 2013 arctic monkeys fan.”

he can see the image so clearly—her in a black mini-skirt and knee socks—and when she sends him a few photos his guess is confirmed. except there’s also her tight-fitting t-shirt that shows off everything matty wishes he could touch right now. he lets out a shaky breath, swiping through the photos. 

“you like them?” her voice is shier than before, matty smirks.

“you look like a fantasy,” he breathes down the line, already half hard in his pyjama shorts. her breathy, seductive giggle doesn’t help matters. matty can’t help but palm himself lightly at the sound, imagining doing things to her in that tiny little skirt. 

“what are you thinking?,” she speaks into the phone, mischief dancing in her tone.

“what do you want me to think?”

she twirls a little strand of hair around her finger, one long fingernail combing through her soft hair. he’s been dying to touch them again, dying to feel her fingernails scratch on his back while she moans and screams his name over and over again. 

she touches her lips subconsciously, and that’s pretty much the last straw for him. 

“what were you doing?” he asks. and then, pulls down his shorts. 

he’s painfully hard by now, aching and desperate to feel her around him. but she’s a million kilometres away, alone and cold in a foreign bed and not in his arms like she should. so he has no other option but to touch himself like a sixteen year old boy. the thought of her doing just the same drives him insane. 

“nothing. just wondering what you’d do if you would have seen me in that outfit.”

he hears her breath quiver over the last words.

“you want to know?” matty wraps a hand around the base of his cock, letting her uneven breathing wash over him. this is so horny and reckless. he can’t even go a few weeks without her for fuck’s sake…

but he can’t help himself, not when it comes to her. 

“touch yourself like i would,” he says, “and then i’ll tell you everything i want to do to you…”

the phone sex doesn’t stop after that. if anything it opens up so many new avenues for him. almost every night a week, while he’s in the same old bed and she’s in a different bed each time, matty finds himself spilling in his own hand, wishing it was her hand, her face, her stomach. wishing it was her. 

sex aside he misses her so dearly it’s like a hole has been carved in his chest precisely big enough to fit her. 

“alex was so good today!” she squeals down the phone one night while she’s in madrid. 

better than me? he almost says but keeps the words to himself. it’s jealousy rearing its ugly head, nothing more.

“oh yeah?”

she frowns at his disinterested tone. “you alright?”

“i’m just tired, bug.” matty runs a hand over his face, “i just want to sleep.”

“oh.”

her small voice instantly makes him open his eyes. she’s smiling at him, of course she is, but he can tell when her smiles are fake and when they are real. and the one right now is stretched so forcefully over her face that he wonders if it hurts.

“no, no,” he shakes his head, “i can stay up for a bit, it’s no big deal.”

“are you sure?”

he hates that he’s made her feel so unsure. of course he wants to stay awake and talk to her, all night if it weren’t for the fact she has busy days and long hours to work. 

the sun hasn’t even properly set yet and she’s already in bed, looking quite tired if he’s being honest. she looks different than he’d last seen her too, suntanned and freckled—probably after spending fun afternoons at the beach with all these attractive people all around her—

stop it.

“we should go to the beach when you come back.” matty changes the topic abruptly. “just us, a proper beach day. it will be fun i think.”

“yeah?”

she settles deeper under her covers, resting her phone against a pillow so she won’t have to hold it upright. matty does the same, sleeping on his side. if he fools himself enough, it’s like they’re sleeping side by side again. if he fools himself, she’s back in his arms, snuggled up with him no matter how hot it is. 

“you look so sleepy, bug,” he laughs, touching his phone screen like he’s caressing her cheek. “oh wait, a snug bug.”

“poetry,” she snorts, stifling a yawn. “i’m fine matty, i wanna talk to you. tomorrow’s a busy day, dunno if i can even text you all day.”

his mood sours instantly, but he tries not to show it on his face. she is working. this is not some holiday where she can set time aside to call and text him. besides he’s seen some of her photos posted on the band’s social media—her hard work shines through instantly. and ever time he sees them, pride swells in his chest. 

“do you want to hear something george and i came up with the other day?”

she nods, pulling the covers up to her chin. 

matty doesn't waste more time explaining what it is, he just starts humming. it’s at the very beginning stages of its creation—a song inspired by this summer—and yet, the more he hums, the more the melody just comes to him. the lyrics are gibberish, mostly just a lot of oohs and hmms but it’s accomplishing the goal he’s set out with. 

her eyes droop more and more with each passing second, breathing deepening more, until he’s almost at the end of the song and she’s fast asleep.

her mouth is parted like always, hands tucked under her chin and knees pulled up to her chest like she’s preserving warmth even on a summer night. he wonders if she feels cold in hotel rooms, he wonders if she misses him just as much as he misses her, so strong it keeps him up at night sometimes, touching her side of the bed and her pillow. 

he doesn’t hang up though. he stays on call, watching her sleep. he stays on call until she’s completely unmoving and unaware of anything else happening around her. he stays on call until her phone dies eventually and his screen goes black. then he cradles the device to his chest like it’s trapped her essence. and maybe it has. 

when matty falls into a restless sleep that night, he only dreams of her.

the dreams become a permanent fixture. not like he’s complaining, not when he’s sleeping anyway. but then he has to wake up to the bleak reality that she’s not here, day after day, week after week.

they talk on the phone every single day of course, and with each passing day he knows her homecoming gets closer. somehow it’s harder. 

days before she’s supposed to come, matty’s in a mood so foul that he doesn’t even call her. he just makes up some silly excuse and skips out on it. 

her :( text makes him feel worse, but all he does is get in bed at 8 pm when it’s still light outside, and bury himself under blankets no matter how hot it is. 

somewhere hours later, he falls into an uneasy sleep. 

“shh, go back to sleep,” matty feels the bed dip in the wee hours of the morning, her voice a hoarse whisper. it’s a dream, his sleep-addled brain tells him, it’s another dream fueled by loneliness and missing her and being so so cold every night. it’s—

“baby?”

“hmm?”

“you’re not cold, are you?” she slides in behind him, still fully clothed. her soft, worn jeans rub against his thigh, then she drapes a bare arm over him. “you’ve got goosebumps.”

“you’re a dream,” matty mumbles, sleep coating each word. her deep laugh resonates all around him, surrounding him like a warm blanket. 

“am i?” she kisses the shell of his ear. “how do you know?”

sleep threatens to take him under once again in the comfort of her arms. the feel of her hair brushing against is shoulder is familiar, it smells like her—like peaches and lilies. matty smiles to himself, this is by far the most realistic dream his brain has produced all summer. 

“hey,” she kisses his shoulder, sending butterflies fluttering in his stomach. 

“you’re a dream…” matty repeats, “because i’ve had this dream before.”

“oh yeah?” he feels himself being pulled into a chest—so solid and real and warm. her fingers dance on his arms, from his shoulder to his elbow and back up, tickling just a little—not enough to fully wake him up, but definitely enough to hold him there, suspended in a limbo between sleep and consciousness. “what happens in your dream?”

“you come into our bed…”

“like this?” the smile in her voice is prominent. 

“mm-hmm,” matty nods and turns, eyes closed, face burrowed into her chest now. her scent surrounds him stronger than before, with new things added to it—faint smell of coffee and the outdoors in general. he can feel his face squished between her boobs, which isn’t a new detail as far as his dreams go, but his brain has certainly upped the quality of it tonight. 

it’s a dream it’s a dream it’s a dream, matty chants in his head over and over again till the words meld into each other and turn gibberish. 

“and then?” her voice cuts through his spiral. 

“and then you hold me, bug”

“i am holding you…” he feel her nod, and yet her arms tighten, cuddling him closer. the next time she speak, matty feels the vibrations of her voice running through his chest, passing through his heart. 

“and then?”

instead of answering, he focuses on her fingers—up and down, up and down. from his shoulder to his elbow and back up. “sometimes you touch me,” he breathes into the crook of her neck, “other times you hold me until i wake up.” his voice is muffled, barely audible. it’s alright, though. she’s just a dream, a figment of his imagination, a part of him. how could she ever not understand him?

“i touch you?” she laughs, a little giggly, and matty nods. “how do i touch you?”

he takes her hand in his, traces the pads of her fingers, the lines on her palm. then he places her hands on his bare chest—smooth, small fingers touching his ribs, trailing downward toward his stomach and his belly button. matty sighs. “you touch me like that. like you do when you’re really here…”

“matty, i am really here!” she laughs, kissing his head this time. her thumb moves in circles on his collarbone. “open your eyes, ‘m right here.”

“‘s a trick,” he mumbles. a moment later his mouth finds the hollow of her throat. her skin is slightly cold to the touch, halfway to warming up. against his lips he feels the chain she always wears, like she’s come back home and gotten straight into bed. matty scoffs, what a strange thought. 

“you’ll disappear if i open my eyes. and i want you to stay. i miss you…” he says, “i can’t wait two more days till you’re home.”

“you don’t have to,” she giggles—it’s a giddy, breathless sound that makes him smile too. 

“you’re a good dream,” matty holds onto her tight, relishing how solid she feels in his arms. “the best dream i’ve ever had.”

her hands move over his body again until they’re on his face, cradling his cheek. then he feels her tilting his chin up, feels her lips on his—just one tiny, soft kiss. she smiles against his mouth, says something too but the words don’t fully register in his mind. 

“i’ll see you soon,” matty murmurs, properly sleepy now, unable to hold on for much longer. 

“you will,” her voice holds a promise. “go to sleep now, i can’t wait to see you in the morning.”

he chuckles at her words. just before sleep properly drags him under, he places his hand on her cheek, feels the familiar soft skin under his palm and hears her sigh. 

“and you’ll be here in the morning?” he teases, “will you be here as a daydream, bug?”

she threads her fingers through his hair, playing with them till it’s impossible to hold on to consciousness. just as he’s about to slip under, he hears her exhale. “i’ll be here as anything you want me to be,” she murmurs, kissing the crown of his head. 

matty succumbs to sleep.

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[bitchinbarzal]

Elodie breaks a bone and insists her dads whole team signs it

It happened on the playground.

One minute, Elodie was showing off her new trick on the balance beam. The next, she was flat on her back in the wood chips, holding her arm with an expression that screamed: this is very dramatic and possibly historic.

By the time Kaia arrived at school, Elodie had already told the nurse, two teachers, and a kid from the second grade that she’d probably never use her arm again. She was a pro at this point. Her last break had been two years ago — she still had the signed pink cast in her closet like it was a museum piece.

At urgent care, when the nurse asked if she’d ever broken a bone before, Elodie nodded solemnly. “Left arm. Age three. Livingroom table. Daddy’s old girlfriend yelled. It’s kind of my thing.”

Clayton showed up during x-rays, wide-eyed and breathless straight from the rink. Elodie beamed when she saw him. “Hi Daddy. I broke it again.”

The break was clean. No complications. When the tech wheeled in the casting materials and asked what color she wanted, Elodie didn’t even blink.

“Pink. With glitter. Obviously.”

The next day, they were at the rink before practice and Elodie was already cradling her cast like a precious gem. She marched right into the locker room like she owned the place. “Okay,” she announced, holding it out like royalty. “It’s time.”

Clayton turned from lacing his skates, confused. “Time for…?”

“My cast,” Elodie said seriously. “You need to sign it. You and the entire team.”

Kaia, standing just behind her with Weston on her hip, mouthed an apologetic sorry to the guys.

But the team? They were already grinning. Keller’s kid? No way were they saying no to her.

Logan Cooley drew a full cartoon of himself scoring a goal. Doaner signed with a motivational quote that was far too deep for a seven-year-old. Kess added a glitter sticker and wrote “Queen Bug Forever” in bubble letters.

“Save the top,” Elodie told them all. “That spot’s for Daddy.”

Clayton signed it last, slow and neat across the curve of her cast:

“Love you always — Dad.”

She looked at it like it was a trophy.

That night, as Kaia helped her brush her teeth one-handed and tucked her into bed, Elodie yawned dramatically. “I think this is the best cast yet.”

Kaia smoothed her curls. “Better than the first one?”

“Way better,” Elodie nodded. “More glitter. More autographs. Higher drama.”

Kaia laughed. “You planning on doing this again or…?”

Elodie grinned. “Only if the monkey bars ask for it.”

Kaia rolled her eyes. “Okay, maybe we skip the monkey bars next time.”

As Kaia turned off the light and kissed her forehead, Elodie whispered, “They all signed it. Even Kess. He said I’m tough.”

“You are,” Kaia whispered back.

And in her bed, cast propped carefully on a pillow, Elodie Keller fell asleep with a smile. Because breaking her arm? Not ideal. But making it a whole event?

Now that was what she did best.

[angstea]

things that you can't say tomorrow day

Fandom: Ghostbusters

Ship: Peckman

Series: Whumpril 2025

<- Previous | Masterlist | Next ->

Summary: Peter visits Peck in the hospital

TW/CW: Hospitalization, injury recovery

AN: Written for Whumpril Day 4: Threat

Title is from Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys

Read on AO3

"Hey there Dickless."

The hospital room smelled...gross, to put it bluntly. Made sense, Peck was all sweat and blood, even if he was patched up and...recovering.

"I figured you hadn't woken up yet."

The pale face didn't move, features immobile as stone. His mouth was unflatteringly agape, completely unlike Peck's usual neutral line of a mouth and wide bug eyes.

"You know, you're being really stubborn! Staying unconscious for this long."

It really hadn't been that long, only two days. And from the sounds of it, he should be asleep. At least if Peter had correctly understood what "medically induced sedation" meant.

"You'll have to wake up some time soon."

Surely it can't be good for Peck to be out this long. If Peter liked the man, he'd be worried. But he didn't, so naturally he wasn't all that concerned.

"You're going to wake up soon."

The boys had been dragged to a meeting with the EPA yesterday and Peter had taken a glance at Peck's empty office, still pristine and neat. Like Peck himself really, not a hair out of place. Normally. Not when the firehouse had gone kablooey a few years back. Not like the other day when the ghost made Peck its target after he'd come thundering in, all bluster and pomposity. Not like now, tucked up in a hospital bed surrounded by machinery.

The sight of the empty room had made Peter want to tear it apart to stop the guilt shame fear worry anger eating at his chest.

"Because I'm gonna trash your office if you don't."

He could all but see Peck rolling his eyes and sneering about security dragging him away before he got within two strides of that stupid office.

"I know they wouldn't let me in!"

Nevermind the fact that he'd gotten in plenty of times before, much to Peck's annoyance. He'd somehow managed to avoid getting security called on him though. Maybe Peck just didn't like the security guys and nothing else. Maybe that's why he never did anything when Peter showed up unannounced, despite his growled threats and wide-eyed glances at the door.

"I'd find a way in, you know I would."

Maybe Peck hadn't wanted Peter to leave. The thought was ludicrous. Utterly ludicrous. But surely that was the simplest answer. The simplest answer as to why Peck never followed through on his threats, why Peter managed to find his way into Peck's office day after day. Why Peter knew what Peck's lips under his felt like, all teeth and tongues and venom. The hand against his chest had plenty of chances to push him away, but it never did.

"So yeah, you're gonna wake up soon."

He didn't have the time to visit Peck in the hospital everyday. That was it. He was far too busy to check in on an unconscious man that he didn't like all the time. Of course he didn't have to stop in everyday but...something inside him drove him towards the damned hospital at least once a day. Maybe it was the recollection of Egon telling him to keep an eye on Peck on that day, a responsibility that Peter had shrugged off because surely Peck wasn't so idiotic as to draw the ghost's attention. Or maybe it was just the fact that the nurses said he was the only one who visited.

It was probably just pity.

"I don't really care if you do, of course."

It'd probably be a nightmare if Peck had to be replaced. The Ghostbusters had formed a tenuous partnership with the EPA and the only thing holding it together was the minutely civil attitude held between Walter and the boys. Peter couldn't imagine having to deal with anyone else, for reasons that were entirely unrelated to the fact he could remember Walter grabbing him by the front of his flightsuit and kissing him breathless, with bitten lips and slightly bloody smiles.

"I just think-"

Peter's breath caught briefly at the slight stutter of the lines on the monitor. Something horrible and unfamiliar squirmed in his stomach, lingering even after the numbers and lights settled back into a pattern. Truly, he could only describe his current state of being as dread. Dread that had lingered since he heard Walter's screams and known he'd fucked up. Seeing Walter sprawled on the ground like a puppet cut from its strings, bleeding and wheezing when Peter had emerged scraped and bruised but fine.

"I just think you need to."

He spared one more glance at Walter's face, at the pale skin and dark bruises and blood-dyed guaze covering his cheek. He ignored the tightness in his chest.

"Ray wouldn't be happy with me if you died on us."

He turned and fled the room as quickly as possible, door clanging shut behind him. He tried his best to sound cheery and unbothered but his strained voice gave him away.

"See you tomorrow, Wally!"

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug on 'Tribe'

When not turning his home into a giant light hazard for Jesus's Birthday or getting into yelling fights in the alley with Bobby Lee (another redneck neighbor who is a DIE HARD 'Bama fan) about SEC football, Doug's been randomly texting me things about the Jedi.

I'll update y'all on that soon enough. (Plo Koon = Sexy Shrimp Daddy?!)

Meanwhile, here is his review of his favorite episode of Season 2 of The Bad Batch...TRIBE, or as Doug calls it 'Chewbacca Junior and the Weed Business'.

Yes, a random fetch quest one in which Clone Force 99 helps out a random Wookiee kid. His favorite. Don't ask.

Need a Doug refresher? Check it out under Doug Talks Star Wars here.

TW: Doug Doug's as is his Doug-like wont. Hold onto your butts. A little calmer since Daddy Warcrimes is MIA in this one.

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

So we got Daddy Rambo and the gang making counterfeit licenses for underage drinkers or whatever. You gotta do what you gotta do, I guess, and Daddy Rambo will do a lot of things, but obtaining gainful employment ain’t one of them. 

Ryan-from-Accounting is smug as hell about his counterfeiting operation. You’re so smart, Ryan-from-Accounting, why don’t you go to law school and start practicing corporate licensing? At least you can get equity there, ya dingaling.

And Little Orphan Blondie runs away because she’s embarrassed to be seen around them. I get it, kid.

Woah, it’s Chewbacca Junior! Are the lizard and robot people trying to sell him to the circus or something? Oh, he’s a Jedi?! When did this happen, this is awesome! I loved Chewbacca! I love Wookiees! AWESOME!!!

And Little Orphan Blondie is protecting him, go Little Orphan Blondie, go! 

I hope they adopt Chewbacca Junior and get him a collar and a nice bed on the floor of the HMS Search Warrant. They need a pet. Little Orphan Blondie can brush him and put bows in his hair! Do you think he uses a litter box?

They’re taking him home, and look! Little Orphan Blondie is giving him her Lunchables. I’m proud of the Dad Batch, they’re teaching Little Orphan Blondie good morals. Oh, poor wee Chewbacca Junior, he has no family and when he talks it sounds like Jimmers when he’s treed a squirrel*.

But Ryan-from-Accounting can understand him! Ya know, I wonder if his helmet can translate Bitch and that’s how Ryan-from-Accounting talks to his Bitch Wife Laura. 

It would be awesome if they adopt Chewbacca Junior and he attacks people with his lightsaber. He’s like a pet version of an MR-15! Imagine the DAMAGE his furry ass would do on the battlefield! 

Ooh, they made it to Wookieeland! Ya know, it always reminded me of where Jenny and I used to camp in northern California. I wonder if there’s a brewery nearby? I bet Toaster Strudel needs to throw back, that man needs a beer and a restraining order from Daddy Rambo. 

Oh SHIT, looks like the bugs from Klendathu made their way down to Wookieeland. Somebody call the Starship Troopers! Oh, wait, they can talk to those things like Dougie Houser did? Woah. Neat. 

Looks like the Empire found the Wookiee weed farm and torched it. Poor Wookiees, they’re just trying to make an honest living growing herb. Leave ‘em alone!

Which planet makes meth, my money’s on Tatooine, it looks like New Mexico and that place is meth Disneyland, there was a whole TV show about it. 

(Above is...Tatooine?! - Dr Meat Muffin)

Oh man it’s Houma-BBQ-Bitch’s shitty brothers and they’re burning the whole weed operation to the ground. Guess they work for the DEA.

Kick their asses, Wookiees! Now they want Chewbacca Junior, but the Dad Batch is saying FUCK YOU! 

Go Dad Batch go! Fire ‘em up! Destroy the tanks! GO JULIO GO! It’s like Apocalypse Now with Bigfoot!

More Wookiees! And they’re riding giant monkey-cats! AWESOME. Man, I feel stoned just watching this episode. Why can't I stop giggling.

Granny Wookiee says come on in and have some weed! Oh, shit, are they doing ayahuasca? Toaster Strudel ain’t having it, but Julio’s down. Julio’s down for anything, he’s probably gonna stick around, use his pipe laying skills, and get some free ganga out of the deal. Man, we all need a Julio in our life. Love him. 

Oh, poor Chewbacca Junior can’t find a home. Come on, Granny Wookiee, just let him crash with you guys! He can clip weed on the side, he’s got that lightsaber, let ‘em have it. But first, let’s talk to the trees! Did they take mushrooms before this scene, Jesus Christ this really does take place in Humboldt County, doesn’t it.

Ah, nevermind, the gators that run the DEA are here. With Stormtroopers. Oh shit, are the gators wearing Wookiee pelts while fighting Wookiees? That’s some Silence of the Lambs shit right there.

Welp, time for fire fights, Smokey the Bear does not approve of this episode, especially as one of the lizard men chases Chewbacca Junior and Little Orphan Blondie into the woods with a flamethrower. 

Oh shit, there are the bugs! Shit, am I actually cheering on the bugs from Starship Troopers? What is going on here, I’m so confused. Whelp, they’re eating Houma-BBQ-Bitch’s brother, good for them.

Back to Granny Wookiee’s Pot Palace, where Toaster Strudel and Julio throw back her questionable moonshine and smile at each other. If they end up with Wookiee girlfriends, it will be weird, but I will be happy for them. 

And Little Orphan Blondie and Chewbacca Junior are talking to the trees, again. Just watching this episode makes me wanna go back to Electric Forest. Except I don’t think Oceana County has wookiees, but it does have crazy people in the woods I guess. 

*=Jimmers is Doug’s extremely handsome poodle mix dog. His full name is Jimmers Jimothy Jimerson III and they found him as a stray when he was eating trash behind a bowling alley in Nacogdoches. 

Where my Doug fans at? @amalthiaph @eyecandyeoz @merkitty49 @sued134 are the biggest, but let me know if ya wanna be tagged in the next installment!

[glowingsquiddragon]

Am I doing this? Yes. Yes I am

macaques team:

Hisuian zoroark (his ace, both illusionists, back from the dead and fuled by spite). Umbreon (evolves with the power of the moon). Xatu (because sees past and future ). Armarouge (Gifted by wukong) Absol (pokemon no one ever seems to trust) Shedinja (an empty shell of what once was)

honorary mentions, Marshadow (travels in shadows and fighter), dusknoir (reflections of his time under LBD, his darkest times of following orders from another to survive, judge jury and executioner), mimikyu (lonely baby that just wants friends hiding themselves to try and protect people), and Banette (puppet master and puppeteer filled with malice), Darkrai (forced to live in isolation because its mere presence gives nightmares to anyone nearby)

Wukong’s team will include:

Volcarona (secondary sun) Cereludge (gifted by macaque) Darmanitan (Firey monkey that meditates) Lucario (well trained aura warrior) Espeon (day babygirl) Rhyperior (Big heavy rock)

Honorary member: weedle. A bug he just found and it’s following him around

runner ups: solrock and daytime lycanroc

Mei’s team is:

Noivern (ace, loud, party vibes) Dragionair (big noodle) Charizard (fire dragon cretur) Hydrapple (she feels like she’d try to use mostly only dragons, even a slightly silly one. Also she went apple picking with MK and found a tiny apple dragon with him so she kept it) Golurk (family guardian) Sigilyph (artifact protector. Follows the sword and its master to keep both safe)

honorary mention: goodra (just feels like she’d vibe with em)

MK ‘s team:

Tyrogue (Practice and get stronger together) Meinfoo (kunfu massttterrr) Riolu (like mentor, ace) Hakamo-o (gift from mei) Passimian (Monkee, but consistantly works in groups, mk needs to learn to accept assistance but also he dosent ever wanna lose his friends) Monferno (also monkey. Update apparently infernape is based off of sun Wukong and I never realized but put it as one of his anyway so that’s neat)

Redsons team :

Chandelure (ace, reflection of the lost samahdi fire) Tauros palden blaze (bull) Coalossal (Powering his inventions) Magnazone (also powersource inventions n such) kingsgambit (it appears to be skill based but its heavily on tricks that it got to where it is dark type) Hydregion (highly dangerous and agressive, constantly thinking of destruction it was kept because its powerful)

honorary mention: cofegregus

Sandy’s also fun, i dunno a lot about him but

His ace absolutely Drampa (parental creature) Rosesrade (for tea leaves). Gloom (smelly but sweet <3) Leavany (arts and crafts and making stuff likes to make clothes for other pokemon) Leafeon (therapy cat helps other plants grow) And wooper (because i love wooper and i feel like hed like wooper)

Honorary mentions: shroomish, butterfree , sprigatitio other small pokemon

[quitealotofsodapop]

I want to ask what the Monkie Kid crew relationship with animals is? I know Sandy loves/is loved by cats, and there is a funny theory that I seen that Wukong is just an animal magnet. But what are your thoughts on this?

Wukong has Disney Princess-level animal magnetism. But especially towards Horses. Sun Wukong is barred from most derbies/tracks cus if he walks in, all the race horses will immediately trot over happily cus "The Bimawen is here!!" And he'll happily jump the fence to give every horse a petting. And yeah almost all wild animals (save apex predators) just feel happy around him.

("Havok in Heaven" 1961)

Macaque, despite his foreboding aura, often ends up swarmed by younger/baby animals. He pretends not to know why. It's cause he has shameless mom instincts. Even if he was considered an Outsider to the original Monkey demon troop, he was adored by the infants he cared for. Those said infants are now grown immortal monkeys who see him as their many-times great-grandmother. If Sun Wukong is the honorary "Grandfather/Yeye/Waigong Sun" (as said in JttW) to all monkey demons, then Macaque is "Grandmother/Nainai/Zumu Liu'er". A similar effect occurs in rabbits (decendants of the wild moon rabbits he knew when he lived with Chang'e).

Sandy ofc loves cats and has similar Disney Princess-energy towards wild animals as seen in "To Catch a Leaf". Also tarantulas - you know why.

Pigsy claims to hate animals, but he folds if a cat or dog even headbutts him. Makes a million excuses why he doesnt run off the alley cats the hang out outside the restaurant. ("They're good for pest control.", "Leftovers gotta go somewhere.", "Tang you're petting one right now." Etc).

Tang loves animals like cats, but its a 50/50 if they'll even indulge him. I hc that he's a little scared of dogs and large birds (cicada instincts), but will pet a friendly good boi if they make a good first impression. Thinks pet bugs are really neat and underrated (Pigsy has banned him from getting any).

MK loves dogs. He is pure dog loving energy. Will look at an immortal celestial warhound and ask "Who's a good boy?" and he'll most likely get a tail wagging. Also thinks turtles are mega cool.

Mei I hc wasn't allowed pets in the Long/Dragon household, so she can be over-enthusiastic when meeting new critters, and gets sad when they scurry off startled. Wukong has been teaching her some of his old Bimawen tactics though, since she really loves horses (literal horse girl energy) and was def the little girl who asked for a pony every birthday.

Red Son is def a lizard/bird parent. I love the hc that his fave animals are chickens, and could def see him having a loose hen in the palace (wearing hygenic birdy pants ofc). He also seems like he'd vibe with desert/hot climate reptiles who see him as a heat lamp. Towards cattle and big farm animals tho? His territorial bull instincts flare up and starts picking fights.

Nezha likes snakes. Don't look too deep into it. (They remind him of Ao Bing). Thinks cats and dogs are overrated.

Bai He. Cats cats cats! She loves them in all their forms. Big, small, fluffy, sphinx! Like Mei she can be over-enthusiastic, and often gets scratched/bitten by street animals she tries to befriend. Big cats seem to like her for some reason.

+Bonus au character: Chenxiang loves birds. Especially water birds. They remind him of his very early childhood when ducks, geese, and crane would follow him and his mother while lotus harvesting. Will not stand for goose slander. Will get swarmed by flocks of birds if left alone in a public park.

[hurristuff]

Regarding the Teraleak, got any thoughts on some of the designs people found? Any favorites, least favorites?

This is gonna get long with a lot of pictures so-

It's interesting, quite a lot of the old beta sprites and stuff were clearly just works in progress and it can safely be said they were improved upon later.

That said... it is really satisfying getting to see that Latiken had a sprite before it was split into 2 different designs.

The concept design was revealed ages ago, so it's not technically anything new, but seeing what it might've looked like in game is neat. Objectively? The designs they were split into are better. Personally? For reasons I cannot quite articulate, I just like it.

Most of the other gen 3 beta designs... I can see why they were scrapped. There were some cool ideas that could be recycled for other designs.

Least favorite by far is probably this one.

Um.

For what it's worth, it's probably meant to be based on gyaru. But like... yeah. I can see why that's scrapped. On to gen 5, mentions to elemental monkeys with body variation, Lalonde bug, and that shithead little bear. And bug Meloetta. She's funny, I like her.

It isn't until gen 6 that I really start feeling the "oh I wish this was real" take over. For example:

Look at this evil hornbill. I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. This is some Monster Hunter ass shit. I'm actually bereaved over this. This is knowledge I wish I didn't have.

Chameleos??? What the fuck is this thing. I would've used it.

NOT THE PEANUT DRAGON AND THE FUCKASS TOEBITER BUG????

They even almost made Mega Venusaur and Blastoise actually look interesting.

Some people find this Venusaur ugly but like... idk. It's interesting to look at. With some small changes I think they could've made it work.

And lastly... cunty-ass bird. With a comparison.

High heels flamingo definitely wouldn't have been everybody's favorite, but... at least it has more of a design. I'm not allergic to simplicity but Flamigo isn't even interesting.

Also not a beta design but look at him go

[imsogayyippee]

playlist anon back again here's the highlights

Butch 4 Butch - Rio Romeo

I Love You Like An Alcoholic - The Taxpayers

Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!) - Will Wood (you ever see those videos of cosplays where one person is sitting on a chair and the other person is walking around them kinda pushing them around while this plays? Yeah that.)

Baby Hotline - Jack Stauber

Trees II - McCafferty (this is just vibe but I think it makes sense)

Choke - I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME (my friend says this is THE timlex song)

505 - Arctic Monkeys ("I'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck" / "or I did last time I checked")

Milk Carton - Mercy Necromancy

GAHHH sorry im gonna yap about butch 4 butch n more gay shit i hope youdont mind.

this song is SO FUCKING ENTRY 54 TO ME. AUGHGUHDUSHGS.

"My sweetheart's piano is rat filled/And mine is infested with bugs/The music we make is unnatural/But it sounds just like falling in love"

DO YOU GET ME. CAN ANYONE HEAR ME.

"Tomorrow we'll dig through the garbage/And we'll fish out all kinds of neat trash/And when we go back to my apartment/She'll probably kick my fucking ass"

"I sing her songs in my garage/And make her fall in love with me/And once we're done/The sun is gone/We both just sit so nervously/I talk real slow/And speak real low/Hoping she'll lean into me/But we just laugh cause/What was that/We can't take ourselves seriously"

"She makes me go weak in the knees/But I can't let her see me swoon/Or else she will think I am sweet"

IM SICK IM SICK AOAIUAHGU THEY MAKE ME SO SICK.

--

anyways. i love you like an alcoholic

"Cast that first glance: your smile, my veins"

entry 84. it was love at first sight btw. yeah im right it's canon.

"Kissed that first night/And then the rain opened up the sky to get"

RAIN??? LIKE ENTRY 54? 😦😦😦😦

"I need you like I need a broken leg"

adding this cause it's funny

"Some handsome dark stranger/You were standing there on the corner/You had those compelling magnetized/Eyes you must have lost when you got older"

um. what role did alex immediately give tim when they met. yeah

"Seven blocks in, my fingers brushed your hand/I blushed and you laughed/But you seemed a little sad/I ain't one to jump a ship/But I absolutely knew/I was six steps in when I fell into you"

I HATE THEM I HATE THEM I HATE THEM!!!!! /nsrs

--

anyways i listened to laplace's angel (i didn't remember which song it was even if i had heard it bfore. btw no i havent seen those videos sorry 😭😭) and um. kills them with my mind

"Could you take a look at me?/Am I bad, am I bad, am I bad, am I really that bad?/And now we're singing, ooh, whatever you think of me/If you were in my shoes, you'd walk the same damn miles I do"

PARALELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"It doesn't take a killer to murder/It only takes a reason to kill"

AUGHGHSH THEY MAKE ME SICK. ALEX FUCKING KRALIE.

"The only ones in need of love are those who don't receive enough/So evil ones should get a little more"

I THINK I HAUVE COVID.

"If you were in my shoes, you’d see I wear the same size as you"

FALLS HITS MY HEAD AND DIES.

--

sorry i would talk about baby hotline but the kind of lyrics it has are kinda hard to "analyze" like im doing with other songs 😭

--

"Cute guy, nice face/Wrong time, wrong place/I knew in a matter of a minute/His face was smashed/His skin was burnt/His shirt was torn in the dirt"

oh. ok then,dies

"I need you more than you need me/You're beautiful and smart and kind/While I am ugly, full of lies" "And I can't be with you anymore/I can't live like this anymore/I can't hold your heart anymore/I need you to go on without me"

.🙁🙁

--

read the lyrics of choke um. yeah i see it. all i have to say is toxic old men yaoi except theyre not old

--

"I'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck/Or I did last time I checked" "But I crumble completely when you cry/It seems like once again you've had to greet me with goodbye"

.🙁

--

"When you put a knife to my neck/My stomach doesn't fill with dread/It's fill with butterflies instead/And when you threaten to do things to me/I don't scream"

ANON WHEN I GET YOU. /VPOS

anyways. that's it i hope yuo liked me talkig about gay peopel like and subscribe for more!!!!!!

[youngerfrankenstein]

Since you've been playing pmd rescue team, how about anything Pokemon? 16,12,15!

Oooh!

12. the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

Simisear is not a spectacular Pokémon but it has a neat concept (part of the three wise monkeys, as well as a second starter trio) and is perfectly serviceable as a Pokémon! I also just like that it’s pre-evo has a very “monkey” moveset.

Volbeat is a bug meant to look like a greaser! How can you not love that!

As for like, human characters, I have never understood the Hop hate? He’s just kind of a good-natured kid and I just want to give the poor guy a break.

15. that one thing you see in fanart all the time

N. The Eeveelutions. Gardevoir.

I mean, I can’t even complain. I love all of them too.

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

Why do people like Giovanni??? I’m genuinely confused he’s so boring.

[starsfic]

Mental Health Week

Summary:

Sun Wukong comes to a realization about his mental health.

Ao3

Notes:

So I began this after S4 dropped and I barely managed to finish it before the special dropped in English today. So, heads up, that's why things are a little weird.

Sunday (three days after realization)

“Welcome, Mr. Sun.”

The office was…nice. The carpet was some shade between blue and lavender while the walls were sky blue, which made Sun Wukong think of the Baigujing. However, he couldn’t feel panic. Instead, he focused on the softly steaming tea set on the center of the table.

The therapist sat waiting for him. Dr. J. C., according to Sandy, according to the therapist who had recommended her. “Would you like some tea?” she asked, platinum blonde curls pushed away from a too-perfect face with the flick of a hand. Wukong nodded and she reached over to pour some. As she made him his cup, Wukong looked around some more.

The furniture gave off the faint scent of lavender and vanilla. There was a brown stained chest that was open, revealing a number of toys, from children’s toys to fidget items. Artwork decorated the walls between the open windows that bathed the room in sunlight.

“Would you like a fidget toy?” He looked back at the question. The therapist smiled at him as she held up a cup of tea. “I find that it helps.”

Wukong tried for a chuckle. “If you think so.” The noise came out duller than he intended. He was probably still tired from…everything that had gone down. He reached over and pulled out a little monkey plush. It was small and white, wearing a cute blue dress, and Wukong felt a small, close-lipped smile form. He couldn’t help but think of his monkeys, at least the ones willing to wear human clothes. “So, how do we do this?”

“It’s up to you.” the doctor said, leaning back. A notepad and pen had appeared in her hands, although he was pretty sure he hadn’t seen her grab those. “Some of my patients prefer to start with what made them want to come in, like Mr. Sha. Some prefer a little get to know you game-”

“My ex friends.”

“What?”

Wukong cleared his throat. “My ex friends. That is the incident that got me here.” He could still hear their voices, clamoring over each other, begging him to understand. “I recently came to a realization about some things and they pushed me to that realization.”

The doctor hummed. “If I may ask, are these friends still in your life?”

“Yes. At least one of them is.” Azure and the other two were sealed away at Camel Ridge, waiting for a decision to be made about their fates. Wukong couldn’t count the number of times he or the others had to give a testimony for the Queen Mother and Buddha. “The other kinda just comes in and out. I’m never sure when I’ll see him again.”

“I see.” She wrote something down before looking up with a smile. A warm, reassuring feeling rushed over him. “This is really helpful, Mr. Sun. Would you like to continue down this path?”

Wukong nodded. “Yes.”

Let’s do this.

Monday (fourteen days after realization)

The moment the doors opened and he took everything in, Wukong wanted to immediately give up.

But he couldn’t. Today was the day. Everyone had taken the time to come out here and help him. Wukong couldn’t just slam the door and give up at the visible sight of work.

He needed to clean up his hoarding room.

It had been a suggestion from Dr. C. Okay, her actual suggestion had been “Why don’t you try cleaning up some of your house and setting that space up for relaxation?” That was when she went into the explanation of how bad cluttered space could affect you.

Wukong had done that and had been bit by the productivity bug now.

Which is why they were all here now, staring at the hoarding room.

“What was this room?” Qi Xiaotian’s voice broke through his haze. Wukong glanced back at his successor. “I’ve been meaning to ask. The floor’s way too neat to be a normal cave.”

“Oh, it’s a ballroom.” Wukong said. “I made it after I met DBK since Azure-” He shut his mouth as something sour filled his mouth.

Azure had told him about the parties Heaven had thrown with huge, elaborate banquets. They were meant to forge alliances and such, a huge waste of resources according to the complaining lion. Wukong had thought they sounded fun- not as fun as the small parties he threw for his brothers but still fun- and had a cave in mind. A few days later, he had presented the fruits of his labor to the shocked lion.

“Wukong, what-”

“We can throw better parties than them!”

“...yes. Yes! Of course we can!”

“With dancing! All those parties were eating, right? What’s more fun than dancing and eating?!”

“In that case…may I have the first dance with you?”

The memory hurt.

“Ooh, maybe we can have a dance party in here!” Long Xiaojiao’s weight snapped him back. She was looked around with a huge grin, clearly imagining it. “Dance the night away, hell yeah!”

“Well, first we got to get this room cleared out.” Wukong pushed up his sleeves. He pushed back the memory and focused on the now. “Ready soldiers?”

“READY!”

Tuesday (thirty days after realization)

“New clothes?”

“Yeah!” Long Xiaojiao set the last box outside of the cave. His hoarding room was finally empty, ready for him to figure out how to use the space. Maybe he would keep it as a ballroom. “No offense but your style is…” She looked him up and down, as if trying to figure out the right way to say this. “Uh…”

“Out of style?”

Xiaojiao growled as the scholar passed before barking out a “Tang!”

Wukong looked down. He had been wearing the kingly armor and phoenix cap less and less, letting himself breathe out of the king weight, but she did have a point. His style, on a good day, could be called vintage and on a bad day was just old. The only modern clothes he could think of wearing was his hoodie and the sunglasses in Lantern City.

She did have a point.

“Do you have places in mind?” Xiaojiao looked back at him, her eyes wide. Wukong chuckled. “I have a black card and a few people in mind if you don’t.”

Her gasp and sparkly eyes were answer enough.

What felt like a minute later (probably more of an hour later), Wukong found himself surrounded by clothes. Unlike what he suspected Xiaojiao would take him- some place filled with gaming references and heavy metal- this place was warm and filled with pastels and floral prints.

“Okay,” Xiaojiao was already starting to flip through some shirts. “I saw this place and instantly thought of you.” Hangars clicked against each other. “There’s another place like that and if-” She pulled a shirt free- similar in color to what he wore as part of his king outfit, but made in some kind of lighter fabric. “That doesn’t work, we can go to more common places.”

Wukong nodded. “Sounds good.” He looked around. The place wasn’t too busy. “So, uh…”

“Go see if there’s anything you like,” Xiaojiao had grabbed another shirt in yellow and was eyeing a red shirt as though it was next. “I’ll get some basics for you.”

“Right!” Wukong nodded. “On that.” He looked around. His eyes first landed on a worker, drawing close with a friendly smile. He smiled back…

And walked the other way.

You could’ve just said you didn’t need help.

Well now he felt bad. Still, Wukong walked on, looking around. There was some cute outfits, some hanfus, other stuff… His eyes landed on something and he came to a pause.

“Hey, Xiaojiao!” He couldn’t even bring himself to feel bad about shouting across a store. He saw the green hair move up and he pointed. “What about these on me?”

Xiaojiao emerged, holding a armful of things that seemed to be more than just “basics.” She looked at the wall and raised a brow. “Dresses?”

“Yeah!” Wukong eyed the selection of dresses in front of him. Most of them were light and flowy with gentle floral prints. “I only really wore them when I was luring in human men to eat-” Xiaojiao stepped forward and grabbed a dandelion yellow dress that reminded him of his shirt. He shook his head and looked around. “But I always liked wearing them.”

Soft green met his eyes.

For a moment, Wukong could only stare. It wasn’t the same- short puff sleeves instead of sleeves long enough to cover the hands, cotton instead of silk, mint green instead of spring green- but grief hit his chest. He wished Ao Lie was here.

He grabbed the dress.

“This one.”

She nodded as she grabbed a few more green dresses. (He pretended to not notice the yellows she also grabbed.) “Okay! I think we’ve got a good haul. ” Xiaojiao held up the other hangars. “Let’s go try them on, okay?”

Wukong nodded as he took the hangars. “Right.”

It was easy to find the changing room. He did feel a smidge bad when he saw the assistant’s eyes go wide at the amount he held, but he pushed it down. He was treating himself. He was helping himself. He shouldn’t feel bad for that.

Inside, Wukong hung the hangars.

His first choice was the dress.

It slid over him, gently wrapping him in soft green. Wukong pulled the fabric down and over his head and then looked to the mirror.

It was cute.

It was nice.

Wukong felt tears poke at his eyes as a smile formed. He gave it a whirl, unable to help a giggle as the skirt floomed around him. Ao Lie would have loved this.

Even if they had found nothing else today, Wukong was happy.

-_-

“Thanks for going shopping with me.”

“No problem!”

Wukong and Xiaojiao had hit up a bunch more stores and boutiques over the course of the day. The moon now hung high in the sky as the cloud lowered, dropping them off in front of the cottage. Several bags and boxes sat in their arms and a few more were heading to his mailbox thanks to some online cleverness by Xiaojiao.

“It was really fun,” the younger girl said as they headed up the stairs. “I’ve been meaning to go on a fashion overhaul with Xiaotian and Red, so you got to be my test subject-” She stopped and raised a brow. “What’s that?”

“Hm?”

Something hung right in front of his door.

It was a small accessory bag. Wukong pulled it off, yanking off the tag with his name carefully written on it.

My sun-

I saw you and the Dragon Girl shopping today. Sorry if this is presumptuous of me, but I couldn’t help but buy these for you. I thought of you when I saw them.

“Creepy,” Xiaojiao huffed and Wukong nearly jumped. He had forgotten she was there. “What did he buy you?”

“I don’t know. Let’s see…” Wukong passed her the bag and reached inside. The first were a set of dangling earrings, decorated with a charm of a half sun-half moon. “Sun’s not even what my surname means,” he grumbled before reaching in again. The second was a soft purple scarf that reminded him of Macaque’s magic. He pushed the possessive declaration aside and reached inside the bag.

Xiaojiao picked up the note and cleared her throat. “The hat reminded me of the good days,” Xiaojiao read out loud as Wukong pulled out a yellow beret. “Back when we were happy together. You promised me that we would spend the rest of our lives together.” Wukong felt bile rise up in his throat. He remembered what that meant. “I still want that. I hope that we can talk things out.”

There was something else in the bag. “What is this?” Wukong said as he flipped open the envelope. A purple-patterned ticket marked VIP met his eyes. 

Xioajiao’s eyes scanned the note before she groaned. “Apparently, it’s a date,” Wukong sighed. That made sense. “He wants to show the new play he’s been working on to you and get dinner afterwards.” She squinted at the paper. “And afterwards, if you’re feeling up to it, we can…” Her face went pale, rigid with disgust. “Yep, I’m burning this.”

Wukong could guess what it said.

“Yeah, you can, while I give Shaoqing a call.” She would be more than delighted to finally sue Macaque. He reached out and gave Xiaojiao a shoulder squeeze. “Thank you for helping me, Xiaojiao.”

“No problem.” She saluted him. “Have a nice night!”

Wukong chuckled. “Keep an eye on your packages.” Xiaojiao’s eyes went wide as he shut the door.

He couldn’t help it. Xiaojiao deserved something nice too.

Wednesday (sixty days after realization)

“Wow, you were not lying when you said you look good in a dress.”

The woman who had just stepped into Pigsy’s Noodles chuckled, pushing up her sunglasses. “Nice job, bud!” Qi Xiaotian beamed in pride as Sun Wukong sat down. It had been a while since he had taken his preferred human form- one of a gorgeous woman in her early thirties, hair done in an elegant high ponytail, dressed in a cute pink dress he and Xiaojiao had bought. “So, how’s it going?”

Xiaotian raised a brow as he set the mop aside, hopping up next to him. “That’s why you’re here?”

Wukong shrugged. “Well, yeah, honestly.” Honestly, at this point, he was making more of an effort to get off his mountain. Not too far, not enough that if someone tried to take over he wouldn’t be able to get over in five minutes. “I wanted to-”

“Order some noodles, hopefully.” Pigsy’s gruff voice made Xiaotian jump. Wukong instead turned his head lazily, smiling at the pig. Honestly, he was surprised he didn’t realize Pigsy and Zhu Bajie were related. Pigsy sounded just like Bajie did when he started getting grandkids. His thoughts returned to the present when Pigsy sighed. “C’mon, I just made a fresh batch. They’re piping hot.”

He felt his smile fade at the words.

C’mon, eat your meal. It’s piping hot!

Ooh, looks like someone’s gonna be naughty!

“Uh…” Wukong shok his head, dispelling the mocking laughter, before trying to plaster a smile back on. “Quick question. Is there any way you can make a meal that isn’t…piping hot?”

Pigsy raised a brow. “What?”

“I mean, I know it’s a weird question but…” Xiaotian was staring at him as though he was crazy now. “It’s a monkey thing, you know?! Just…cooked food in general isn’t great for monkeys-”

“But you’ve eaten noodles before?” Xiaotian spoke up and Wukong wanted, just for a split second, to smack him. “I mean, stole from me, yeah…” Yeah, after it had gone cold. “But-”

“Is this about that whole copper thing Tang told me?” Pigsy interrupted his son, looking very serious. Wukong blinked. He knew about it?! There was an audible click of teeth from his side, suggesting Xiaotian had shut his mouth. “I mean, I noticed you preferred fruit but I just chalked that up to you being a monkey.” He leaned forward, staring him down. “Is it that?”

Wukong couldn’t help it. He nodded. “Yeah. But, you know, you don’t have to-”

“Hang on.” Pigsy pushed away from the counter. “I’ve been doing some research.” Before Wukong could insist, he was already pushing his way into the kitchen.

A warm hand pressed against his shoulder. Wukong didn’t dare look. He knew what he would see. Xiaotian would be upset that his mentor didn’t trust this with him. “You could’ve told me.” And there it was.

“It’s not a big deal bud,” Wukong sighed, reaching up and squeezing his hand. “I have my ways to manage these and other things. I don’t need you to worry about me.” He could imagine Xiaotian cocking his head. Before he could speak, however, a bowl was set in front of him.

“Suān là lěng miàn.” Pigsy said with a proud nod. “I’m actually thinking of making a special summer menu.” He set a pack of chopsticks next to the bowl of noodles, piled high with green and orange. “Try it. Let me know what you think.”

“Thanks, Pigsy.” It did look nice and Pigsy’s food did tend to taste good whatever, even when hot. Wukong picked up the chopsticks, hearing another bowl being set down. Xiaotian gave a cheerful thanks and began to chow down.

This tasted…great! The tang of the chili oil mixed nicely with the soy sauce and the veggies added a nice crunch. Wukong felt a smile form as he ate. “This is great!”

Pigsy chuckled, crossing his arms with a proud smile. “I can tell. Your tail’s wagging.”

Wukong blinked and glanced back. His tail, true to the chef’s word, was wagging happily. Usually, he kept his tail from wagging, no matter how happy he got. It was “undignified” according to Subodhi.

…but…

Wukong found, at that moment, with good food in his mouth and good company around him, that he didn’t give a damn.

He took another bite.

Thursday (one hundred days after realization)

“I’m glad you guys could join me.”

“No problem!”

“This is fun!”

“Not for me…” Wukong chuckled at the variety of answers he received, focusing back on his loom.

During the clean-up of his living space, Wukong had found supplies for almost all of his hobbies. From his pottery craze that had spawned some (very nice) monkey vases to the massive cases of seashell collecting to the old computer he had first started coding on, all of it was here.

Including his loom.

A few smaller looms had been with them, spares that some of his grandchildren used when they wanted to weave. Now Xiaotian, Xiaojiao, and Tang sat, weaving. At least, the younger two were weaving, albeit with the minor uneveness and knots that marked newbies. Tang was caught in threads. Wukong chuckled as he worked, his expert hands running the shuttle through as his foot tapped the shed stick.

“You’ll get it eventually Tang,” he sighed. “I believe in you.”

There was a grumble before there was a “Hey, Wukong, where did you learn to weave anyway? I thought it was women’s work when you were born.”

Wukong chuckled at Xiaojiao’s angry noise. “Oh, it was. But back when I was looking for a master to teach me immortality, I ended up staying the night with a merchant. His wife was a silk weaver.” He could still remember asking what the big thing in the side room was. The wife, at that point used to the strangeness of her house guest, had politely explained. “I asked her to teach me and, to pay them back for housing me, I helped her weave several bundles of silk.” He chuckled. “She sent word down the road to her relatives to house me and that’s how I learned how to weave stuff like blankets.”

Now that he was thinking about it, he did have an idea for a blanket.

Friday (one hundred and fifty days after realization)

Today was a nice day.

Of course, every day was a nice day on the mountain. That was one of the perks of living on a magical island paradise. But, today was especially nice. Wukong sat on his porch, taking a deep breath before sipping his tea. Today was the latest day he hadn’t woken up with the heavy weight of self-loathing on his shoulders! That was enough to make it a good day in his books-

CRASH.

Wukong yelped as everything shuddered at the sudden drop-in. Faintly there was the screech of frightened monkeys. His tea splashed and he grabbed it before it could spill, holding it close. Not his tea!

Before he could yell, demand to know what the big idea was, the dust cleared to reveal familiar pink armor. The annoyance lingered but Wukong felt a grin form. Despite his usual reaction to his presence, he was fond of the god he called didi. “Nezha!” he called, waving. “What’s up, bud!”

Nezha straightened. “Hello, Sun,” he said. There was a strange waver in his voice, making him sound strained. Of course, that could’ve just been from all the work he’d suddenly taken on.

Wukong held up his cup. “Want some tea?” he offered.

“No, thank you.” Wow, that was way more polite than Wukong was used to. Nezha slowly made his way up, coming to a stop next to him, awkwardly hovering next to him. Wukong set the cup down, smiling up at him. “So, what’s up?” One reason for the sudden visit popped into mind and his smile vanished. “Is everything alright? Do you guys need help?”

“No- I mean, yes, Camel Ridge has been displaying concerning behaviors-” Wukong was already standing but Nezha held a hand up. “We’ve been keeping an eye on it. So far, Azure hasn’t moved from the place. That’s not what I’m here to talk about.”

Wukong nodded. “I see,” He sat back down, patting the porch. Nezha remained standing. “What’s up?” “We were discussing things,” Nezha began. “Guanyin had joined us with Moksha.” Wukong nodded. It was always nice to hear about the Bodhisattva- they had been a great source of knowledge and comfort through the journey. Much to his shame, however, he hadn’t kept up with them. “The meeting came to and end and Guanyin wanted to ask me about how I was doing.” Nezha rubbed his side, where Wukong knew one of Peng’s feathers had hit. For a brief moment, his side burned in sympathy. “And then Guanyin asked me if you had received the map safely, as they requested, and…” Oh. Oh, no wonder Nezha looked so shaken. “I mistook their message because of my poor assumptions about you.”

“Did Moksha get mad?” Guanyin didn’t really get mad- he could count the number of times he had seen them get mad on one hand. Guanyin got disappointed, which was worse.

Nezha nodded. “He yelled. For a really long time.” He looked down at his feet, looking more like the scrawny twelve-year-old Wukong had met when he began working in Heaven than the twenty-something he was now. “He told me that you had proven yourself multiple times and the fact that I still bore a grudge against you was a failing. That I could’ve destroyed the universe because of it.” His shoulders trembled.

“Okay, okay, that is harsh.” Wukong reached out with an internal prayer that Nezha didn’t snap his wrists. But there was no wrist-snapping as he gently held his shoulders. “Nezha, I need you to look at me and tell me you understand that you would not have destroyed the universe.” Nezha looked down at his feet and Wukong sighed. “Bud, please.”

“But I could’ve,” He was not prepared for openly upset Nezha. Brown eyes were starting to fill up with tears. Definitely not crying Nezha! “The Lady Bone Demon could’ve been stopped faster if I didn’t let my own feelings get in the way.” He reached up and wiped them away, looking away. “So, I’m sorry.”

“Kid, it-”

Nezha held up a hand. “Don’t say it’s not my fault. I just…” he sighed. “Please?”

Wukong sighed. He should probably bring up therapy to him later, but not right now. “Okay. I forgive you, for doing your job.” Nezha’s eyes went wide. “As long as you forgive me for being shit at talking. And nearly blowing you up.” Wukong leaned forward, meeting his eyes. “As long as we’re apologizing. Okay?”

Nezha nodded, tears beading up in his eyes, a little smile tugging on his lips. “Yeah,” he rasped. “I forgive you.”

This was nice. Weirdly nice, with all the apologies and crying, but Wukong found a smile forming. It had been so long since he and his little brother had been chill.

Chill…

“Oh!” Wukong held up his hands. Nezha leaned back at the bark. “Hang on, I got something for you!” He stepped back, still holding up his hands. “Stay right there! Don’t move!”

With that, he rushed into the house, thanking Guanyin he had gotten back into crotchet. It was easy to find the blanket he had made, grabbing it and running back out. Nezha raised a brow before Wukong tossed him the folded blanket and he yelped, scrambling to catch it.

“What is…”

“Well, I’ve been getting back into some old hobbies,” Wukong watched as Nezha unfolded it. “I was thinking of you when I made this. It’s a blanket.”

Nezha unfolded it completely, revealing the image. He gasped at the image of the beautiful pink lotus, little flames leaking from the center. “This is…”

Wukong chuckled. “It probably doesn’t fit your whole “cool fiery prince” aesthetic-”

“Shut up.” Nezha held it protectively close. “It’s mine now.”

Wukong chuckled. “Good to hear-”

A ball of red flames landed right next to them, once again making the mountain tremble and the monkeys screech. Wukong jumped, faintly hearing a swoosh of flames as Nezha pulled out his spear. The red flames cleared.

Red Son stood there.

“Hello.” he said, almost blandly. “Apologies for the sudden visit.”

Wukong glanced at Nezha. The lotus prince glanced back with his mouth in a firm line before dispelling his spear. “Why are you here, Red Son?”

Red Son sighed. “My father sent me.” He snapped his fingers and a small box appeared. “He is aware that you probably don’t want to see him, but he wanted to reach out and begin the process of making amends.” He took a step, paused, and then looked away with the box outstretched. “He wasn’t sure if you still liked peach cakes, but that’s what’s in the box.”

Wukong blinked and took the box. He glanced it over with his gold vision. No spells or curses popped out at him. He undid the poorly done bow, buying back a snicker, and opened the box. Peach cakes were neatly lined and the scent of fresh baking wafted out at him. “Oh, these are great!” He grabbed them and took a bite and almost could’ve started crying. The memories hit hard. “Oh, so good.” Wukong took another one and barely remembered his manners to offer the box.

Nezha took one. Red Son took one. Both took bites.

“...wow.”

“I knew my father was an excellent cook but these are great!”

“I know! I’ve tried to get the recipe for these for years and the big brat always refuses!”

“Well, I see you three are enjoying yourselves.”

The cold voice sent shivers down Wukong’s spine. A hard wind blew through the cavern as the Golden-Winged Peng landed, their wings disappearing in a flash of gold. They looked tired but no less angry. “Sun Wukong.” 

“Peng.” Wukong passed the box to a monkey before crossing his arms. He thankfully hadn’t had to see the Brotherhood since their defeat. At least it was just Peng. Nezha stepped up with his spear back in hand. “Why are you here instead at Camel Ridge?”

“Playing messenger bird.” They reached into their pocket and pulled out a scroll. “Azure wishes to bridge the gap caused by his misunderstanding and sent me to deliver the message.” The scroll was held out. “Take it.”

Wukong leaned back. “No. Go away.”

Peng groaned and thrusted it out again. “Wukong, just take the damn thing. You’re acting like a child.” The words were nasty and Wukong almost apologized on sheer instinct. He hated making his brothers upset, even if that relationship had died years ago.

“He has every right to!” Wow, he had never expected to hear the day that Red Son defended him. He glanced back to see his nephew’s hair starting to smoke as he glared at the bird demon. “You are trespassing on his land! He had said that he has no interest in speaking to any of you!”

Peng scoffed. “Oh, shut up you stupid brat. I should’ve smashed your head in.” They chuckled at whatever image had popped to mind. “It would be sweet to see that bitch you call a mother see it.”

Red launched forward. “DON’T YOU DARE-” Nezha launched forward and grabbed him, yanking him back. Red still struggled. “-FUCKING CALL MY MOTHER- YOU-” He dissolved into Middle Chinese and Wukong had to bite back a gasp at some of the swears.

“Peng,” Wukong needed to take back control. “Leave.” Peng raised a brow. Wukong glared back. “Now. Before I call your sister and your niece.”

Peng’s eyes went wide before they let out an angry hiss. Their hatred of his sister was well known, especially after the Buddha removed their wings. The hatred of their niece, the second Rooster Zodiac, was new. Still, they wouldn’t want to repeat the ass-kicking they had given them.

“Fine, Wukong,” They dropped the scroll. “I’ve done my part. Now, find your own way to respond.” There was the gleam of gold and Peng was in the sky before he could blink.

Nezha hissed angrily. “This is bad. I wonder why the guards didn’t stop them…” As the celestial considered guard rotations, Red Son scooped up the scroll and offered it.

Wukong shook his head. “No. I already got a creepy letter from Macaque. I don’t wanna see what Azure said. Mind reading it?” 

Red unrolled it without a second word. His eyes darted across the page. “It’s an invitation to dinner,” he reported. “The fact that he thinks you will agree to spend time with me after his messenger so rudely insulted my mother…” His eyes darted more. “There’s lots of mentions about the days of the Brotherhood. Oh, and he would kill the Jade Emperor again if you asked him to.”

Wukong sighed. “That’s what I figured.”

Hopefully this was just a once-off incident. He wasn’t sure if he could handle this again.

Saturday (two hundred and twenty days after realization)

“You okay?”

“Hm?”

Xiaojiao raised a brow. “You keep wriggling.”

Wukong came to a stop, feeling heat light up his face. He hadn’t been aware that he was so obvious. But he couldn’t help it!

Sandy had knitted him a sweater. It was hideous and adorable, with little monkeys dancing around with peaches. It had probably had taken weeks of work and Wukong had adored it on sight. There was only one problem.

It itched.

Not against him or anything like that, no. But it itched against his scars, scars that nobody knew he had. Wukong had hidden them well with a thick layer of glamor. Except now he wished people knew because this fucking sweater hurt!

“I’m fine.” Wukong scratched his shoulder. “I’m just not used to wearing sweaters.” Xiaojiao’s face evened into a faintly annoyed look. How Xiaotian kept stuff bottled up with that look around, he had no idea. “It’s just a little itchy against my scars.”

Xiaojiao’s flat look faded and she looked him up and down. Wukong wasn’t sure why she looked so puzzled until she spoke. “You have scars?”

Oh, right. She didn’t know about his scars. Wukong had fussed with the idea of removing his glamors over time, revealing his weakness to the group that was slowly becoming part of his new family. Still, however, worry had made him still his hand. Now, however, he had regrets.

“I mean, yeah. I just keep them hidden.” Wukong had to look away from those suddenly understanding eyes. Gods, she reminded him of Ao Lie at the worst times. “I don’t want to scare you guys.”

“It can’t be worse than what we’ve seen before.” Xiaojiao tucked her phone in her pocket. “Let me see.”

Wukong glanced around. They sat outside the shop on a usually busy street. Now, however, in a sick twist of fate, it was empty and silent. “Are you sure? It looks pretty bad.”

Xiaojiao nodded. “It’s still you.”

Well. If that didn’t make him feel a touch better, he wasn’t sure what would. He took a deep breath, glancing back and down the still empty street. Pigsy had the windows closed and Tang was actually at work. He could do this. It would be quick and easy.

Wukong took a deep breath and let go.

He felt it. The moment his glamors came off it was like thick layers were inally being pulled off. His fur, now more of a rusty red color than the orange-ish strawberry blonde, felt like it was actually touching the sun for a very long while. He blinked and glanced at Xiaojiao.

Her eyes had gone wide. “Huh.” she finally said. Wukong braced himself for her next words. “You actually look like a really tough warrior now.”

Wukong blinked. “Eh?”

“I mean, you always look so soft and cute!” Xiaojiao spread her hands, trying to gesture out her words. “If I hadn’t seen you fight before, I would’ve thought you were like a plushie.”

“A plushie.” Wukong felt a laugh burst out of him. He probably should’ve been more offended, but at the moment, he couldn’t help but laugh. “A plushie?!”

“You’re so soft and cute!” Xiaojiao slapped his shoulder. “You’re so rugged now-” She paused as he hissed, his mirth dying down as he rubbed his shoulder. “Oh, shit, sorry! Did I hit one of your scars?!”

Wukong nodded. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

Xiaojiao didn’t look less concerned. “If you’re sure…” She pulled out her phone and typed out something. “But, seriously, you should wear your glamors less. You don’t look as bad as you think you do.”

Wukong hummed. “I’ll consider that.”

(A few weeks later, Sandy would present him with a new adorably hideous sweater with a small, apologetic smile. This time, it didn’t irritate his scars.)

Sunday (three hundred and sixty five days after realization)

One year.

It had been one year since Wukong had come to his realization.

He circled the date and leaned back with a satisfied huff, feeling the tea in his hand cool. Xiaotian had actually drawn his attention to the anniversary at Movie Night a few days ago. “We should have a party!” his excited successor had squealed. “One year of you getting help and a year of no world-ending disasters!”

Wukong was now considering it, studying the calender.

“Is everything alright, my king?”

“It’s the anniversary of me beginning therapy,” Wukong admitted to the little monkey hovering next to him. “Xiaotian suggested throwing a party.” He tapped his chin. “I like the idea. But...”

The little monkey cocked her head. “But…?”

This idea had been sitting with him for a while. Ever since his subjects had started, jokingly, calling Xiaotian ‘the little prince’, Wukong had considered introducing him. Still, he had never gotten everyone’s opinions on the matter. Maybe now was the right time?

“I was thinking that…maybe we should tell them about you guys.”

It had never sat well with Wukong, the fact that his subjects hid their true forms. In the beginning, he thought it was a clever strategy. Who would think that Flower Fruit Mountain was protected by the sweet little monkeys? As the years went by, as he watched the monkeys being viewed as ‘just monkeys’ despite the high intelligence they displayed, his excitement had waned. Was it wrong to want them to have the same respect he garnered?

The answer, it turned out, was no. It wasn’t wrong.

“Really?” the little monkey gasped. Excitement had lit their eyes. “You mean that?”

Wukong nodded, swallowing back the upset feeling. He knew he could visibly be upset around his monkeys, but not right now. “How about you tell everyone and get the old banquet hall ready?” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll send out invites-”

The monkey was already throwing open the door. “EVERYONE! WE’RE BEING INTRODUCED TO THE PRINCE!” Scrambling footsteps and shrieks of joy followed. “WE NEED TO GET THE BANQUET HALL READY!”

Wukong blinked at the sounds of happy monkeys.

Well, at least they were excited.

-_-

Monkeys were fantastic party planners, at least in his opinion.

Even with the short call, his grandchildren had hoisted together a wonderful party. Wukong stood in the banquet hall, feeling the skirt of one of his fancier dresses swish around his legs, and took everything in. Yep, everything was wonderful.

His phone beeped and he pulled it out. Wukong gave a quick scan of the screen and grinned. “They’re here!” All of his court looked up at the boom. “Who wants to go greet them?”

Several monkeys immediately scrambled for the door. The king chuckled at the eager cries and screeches. Yeah, this was gonna be great. He knew it.

All too soon, his monkeys’ chatter returned.

“Welcome, little prince! Welcome!”

“Over here, over here!”

“Come! Come! Come!”

Wukong turned in time to smile at the sight that greeted him. The monkeys he had sent were practically dragging Xiaotian out into the cave, the others trailing behind with their jaws dropping. Wukong had to admit, it was a nice sight.

Lanterns lit the cave in a warm and cozy glow. They had dragged the old banquet tables out of storage and covered them in an arrange of fruit-based dishes, although by the ice chest Sandy held and the supplies Pigsy held, more food was coming. Most of the monkeys wore their finest clothing- it had been a while since they had a good party! Even Wukong couldn’t help but get his throne out of storage, even though there was a good chance he wouldn’t actually sit in it throughout the evening.

“Kid!” Wukong spread his arms out. “I’m so glad you could come!” He bounded down the steps and swept Xiaotian up in a hug. The kid was even in monkey form! Even better!

“Uh, what- how-” Xiaotian looked around with wide eyes. “Are these the monkeys?!”

Warm laughter answered his question. “Yep!” Wukong didn’t even have to look up before his shoulders were leaned on. The elder twin leaned forward, offering her hand. “Ba.”

The younger held out his hand. “Beng.”

Wukong pushed Xiaotian to shake their hands. “They’re my generals and marshals, with…” He looked around, to see monkeys move aside to see two more figures follow. “Ma and Liu!”

“It is my pleasure, my prince.” Ma bowed elegantly when they reached them. Liu bowed quickly after, less elegantly and refined than the eldest marshal. “We have been eager to make your acquaintance.” She straightened to gently shove Liu forward. “Especially since you’re the same age as dear Liu.”

Xiaotian blinked. “Oh, really?”

Tang pushed Xiaotian aside to eye Liu. “I thought you were chosen back when Sun Wukong came back from the Celestial Court.”

Liu leaned back. “That was my mother, sir.” Tang opened his mouth and she glanced at him. There was a silent plea in her eyes.

Wukong clapped his hands together. “Let’s get this party started!” 

Music began to play. Xiaojiao lit up and grabbed Xiaotian’s hands, dragging him onto the dance floor, followed by several other monkeys. Sandy helped Pigsy and Tang take the food over to the table that Ba and Beng directed them to.

Wukong chuckled, sitting down on his throne.

This was great. This was his perfect moment. His kingdom was happy and celebrating. His successor danced with his best friend, joining in with the happy and energetic dances the monkeys dragged in. Pigsy was making sure food was perfect, grinning brightly as curious monkeys gathered. Lit by lanternlight, the stars looking down with smiles, Flower Fruit Mountain was happy.

“Um, my king?”

Of course, nothing could last. Why not this?

Wukong glanced over his shoulder. Ba, Beng, Ma, and Liu all stood there, frowns clenched on their faces. “Is everything alright?” he asked. “I thought you were at the party.”

The four of them exchanged looks and Liu stepped forward. “I just stepped out for some air, my king,” she explained. “And I heard something on the beach and…” She winced at whatever she was about to say but took a deep breath. “It’s Azure Lion and Liu’ Er Mihou, my lord.”

…what.

“What.” Wukong set down his glass and glanced back. Xiaotian was glancing at him, brows starting to furrow with worry. He waved and tried for a smile. That only made his successor frown harder. “I thought I made it clear that they weren’t welcome.”

Ma stepped forward and grabbed his hands. “We know, Shihou,” His old name should’ve made him relax. He only tensed more. “We can deal with it. Attend to the party-”

“No.” He stood. “I can’t, in good faith, leave you four to deal with those idiots.” Wukong straightened and pulled his hands gently away. “I’ll deal with them. Keep Xiaotian and the others distracted. I’ll explain what happened later but, for now, I don’t want their party to be ruined.” Wukong barely managed to smile at Liu. She was the youngest of the four heads and, even though he had been shit at it, it was hard not to notice how out of place she felt. “Thank you, Liu.” He leaned forward and kissed her brow. “You are one of my most valuable subjects.”

She leaned into his touch with a happy little trill. “Thank you, my king.”

Wukong nodded back before somersaulting. He heard several gasps as the cloud formed under him and he zoomed away, out of the cave. Hopefully the little show would keep Xiaotian from asking until later.

Right now, he needed to focus.

The beach soon came into view. It didn’t take very long to find the beach Liu had been at, based on the noise.

Yells and shouts echoed through the night, joined with the sound of explosions and magic. Sparks and zaps of power shot through the air. Wukong couldn’t help a pause and facepalm at the sight. It was so…so…ridiculous!

He had said to leave him alone.

Neither had done so. Not Macaque with that stupid note, not Azure with that little stunt with Peng, neither of them. And now they were here?!

Enough.

Wukong slammed down on the beach, allowing his skirt to flare in a dramatic way, glaring down the intruders.

There was a bouquet of sunflowers that looked to have been smashed. There was a picnic basket with food spilling out. In a crater, frozen to the spot, Azure and Macaque stared at him. Both were dressed nicely- Azure in fancy robes he had only seen him in once or twice while Macaque was in a full suit. At least, they had looked nice. Now their clothes were torn and ruined in their fight.

“WUKONG!”

Suddenly both were in his face, talking and shoving each other in their attempts to get his attention. Something about the theatre, something about a picnic, come Wukong, come come come-

“SHUT UP!”

The sudden silence was almost deafening.

“What.” Wukong ground out. “Are you doing here?” He met their eyes, hoping that it conveyed the anger he was feeling.

“I wanted to see you.” Azure spoke first. “It’s been a year since I’ve seen you.” He reached for his hand. Wukong yanked it back and a hurt look formed over Azure’s face. “We haven’t talked about things. I wanted to discuss things for the future and try to fix things between us.”

“Yeah, same here. Talking is important.” Macaque frowned, crossing his arms. “You’re not wearing the earrings I got you.” His eyes rolled over his form. “I mean, the dress looks great. But what about the scarf.”

“I got rid of it.” Wukong crossed his arms. “I didn’t want your stupid little bribes hanging around my house.”

Macaque rolled his eyes. “They weren’t bribes, Wukong. They were gifts. Big difference.”

“Not to me.” Wukong leaned forward. “Especially considering what you offered in that fucking letter of yours.” Macaque flushed as Azure’s eyes turned towards him and rapidly filled up with fury. “I mean, what the fuck were you thinking?!”

Macaque opened his mouth. “I was thinking that you would either be amused or pissed at me for trying.” He shrugged, as if trying to soliciting sex was something regular people did. “Either way, I would get to spend time with you.” Of course that was his excuse.

Azure sighed. “And that disgusting behavior is why Wukong would never take you as a lover.” He stepped forward, reaching out again. “Meanwhile, I-”

Wukong pulled his hands away and clenched them to his chest. “Have been blatantly ignoring your house arrest.” He crossed his arms. “And you attempted to kill me once I pissed you off enough.” Wukong still had nightmares about Azure howling for his blood as Qi Xiaotian zipped and zapped around him, his monkey form in full display. Azure tensed and opened his mouth to retort. “You only stopped when you had evidence I was trapped under a mountain.” Wukong glared at him. “The thing I told you centuries ago.”

“I thought you were covering for your weakness.” Azure hissed.

To be fair, that was something he did. Right now, however, Wukong was tempted to keep covering. “Whether I was or not, that doesn’t excuse the fact that you attacked us without any warning, blamed us for the attack, and then manipulated Qi Xiaotian to imprison me.” Macaque cleared his throat and Wukong turned his glare to him. The black-furred monkey stiffened. “Both of you did that. Hurt the kid just because you wanted to get at me.”

Macaque took a deep breath and opened his mouth. More excuses would pour out, he knew that on instinct. Azure shifted, probably for his own excuses, attempts to get Wukong to stay.

“I want you off my property.” Wukong let his fist light up in golden magic. “I want you to stay the fuck away from me, my successor, and my family.” Both of their eyes went wide. “I don’t care what you have to say. I know you have your own reasons in your mind to bother me, but I don’t want to hear it.” He lowered his fist and turned away. “Go. Away.”

Wukong didn’t linger to hear their responses.

[hikennosabo]

trimax volume 6 random thoughts

chapter 1:

oh, hey, it's the guy from the 98 anime!..... or not?!

i'm not keeping track of this TOO closely, so there may be other instances of this that i missed, but the guy from 98 episode 1 also showed up in trimax chapter 7. it makes me wonder if nightow provided character designs/ideas to the 98 team, or if it's the other way around and he decided to incorporate anime-original characters into the manga. either way: neat!

HAVE I MENTIONED I LOVE MERYL, BY THE WAY.

i love the bits of characterization we've been getting for her. she (and milly) are our tie to humanity, after all

i must say it is nice to have a goofy fight after... all that in volume 5. and before... the rest of volume 6.

chapter 2:

aaaand now we start the next chapter with wolfwood's nightmare/flashback! hurts just a little bit! (the trio IS kinda serving tho ngl... when you have a fashion show at 7 but need to terrorize the orphanage at 6)

^ completely and 100% unironically, they were in love here.

i just... ugh. this is such a vashwood chapter. the absolute trust and fighting together completely seamlessly, they are just. ugh. ughhhhh. this kind of trust just GETS to me.... sorry. i'm normal about them. i'm NORMALLLLLLaauughghghgh

ANYWAY. chekhov's table made me laugh

i am physically restraining myself from going crazy over vw again as i reread this chapter to write this post.

anyway anyway. ww calling himself "nicholas" is cute :)

just kidding one more vw comment as a treat

HE'S SO IN LOVE. FUUUUUCK.

chapter 3:

legato continues to be fascinating to me. i'm observing him like a bug in a jar. which is appropriate, considering...

WHEN I CALLED HIM A BAGWORM IN THAT ONE POST I WAS JOKINGGGGG I WAS JOKING!!! THIS MADE ME LAUGH FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES STRAIGHT WHY DID SHE HANG HIM FROM THE CEILINGGGG IT'S SO FUNNY

this is actually making me fucking cry.

...i got so distracted laughing at bagworm legato that i almost forgot to say literally anything else about the chapter, but anything else i have to say mostly boils down to "wow, legato is such a freak (affectionate)"

also, whenever something that was in tristamp is brought up i feel like the leonardo dicaprio pointing meme. like "oh hey, i know this!" going into this manga with prior knowledge from stampede is... an interesting experience. all that being said, i can't WAIT to see more of the manga version of double fang. oh nightow we're really in it now

chapter 4:

oh, finally, FINALLY!!! last volume i asked where the knives nuance was and now we're FINALLY getting some knuance, thank god. seeing knives react to just how badly humans treat plants is SO effective. and we're not even up to the juicy part yet. it makes me want to eat glass.

speaking of eating glass.

i thought something like this might've been the case, but still... this hurts to read.

i want to eat glass!!!! fuck!!! this reveal is so insane, it's like monkey's paw of "this is a way knives can be defeated, but by the same method, vash is closer to death than knives is." WE don't want vash to die, and neither does knives, and this chapter is the first (and possibly the only, idk) time the reader's feelings and knives's feelings are... well, aligned. at least in a sense.

chapter 5:

this chapter is really something, because it starts off almost seeming like another lighthearted "we're in a random town fighting a goofy enemy of the month" romp much like the early chapters were, heck like chapter 1 of this very volume. but it's just wearing the skin of that. which is, y'know. the thesis of this entire chapter. smiling to hide the pain and all that.

i don't think i can really... articulate anything of substance. the chapter just kind of... speaks for itself, i think.

although i DID laugh at ww trying to enjoy his noodles and failing, and also the phrase "needle-noggin-isms." thanks for providing some levity, we actually really do need it.

chapter 6:

ohhh boy we are REALLY in it now!!

i enjoy seeing knives ponder like this. legs crossed, arm slung over his face... i don't know. maybe it's because i myself sometimes lounge in this pose.

what exactly is he thinking about, i wonder. that in awakening/forcing vash to use his powers, he unintentionally pushed him closer to death? maybe? i don't know. either way it's very on-the-nose for what their relationship has been like.

and then of course we cut to this shot of vash, looking in a mirror created by knives's slice

this shot is making me think a lot and i'm reading too much into it, but- obviously the reflection puts vash's beauty mark on the opposite side, so there's the knives resemblance, so also, i suppose vash must see knives every time he looks in the mirror, right? also vash looking at his reflection featuring his own black hair- which we're all still thinking about... i dont know. i dont even know if this is anything LOL. i feel like i have the dots but i'm failing to articulate the connection. anyway

this made me laugh. thanks for the levity again, wolfwood :)

BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA NEED ALL THE COMIC RELIEF WE CAN GET, BABY!!!

maybe i'm just insane for this because it's Generic Party Imagery but the specific combination of rem flashback + party popper + funny glasses makes me think of the similar scene in 98 when the seeds crew celebrates finding planet gunsmoke. like is this another instance of nightow nabbing stuff from 98 or am i just making things up.

the twins are so cute and baby knives smiles so much, i want to microwave myself.

knives wants to believe in humanity. man. MAN!!!!!

what comes next... i'm absolutely carrying my prior stampede knowledge into this, but fuck, man. fuck. even then, i know that stampede didn't show everything, so i don't even fully know what to expect. which is fun! but i can't believe the volume ends right in the middle of the flashback, MAN!!!

[mistakenot4892]

Nebula devblog March '24

This is a crosspost from cohost.

Nebdevblob time! Fair bit of neat stuff to talk about this time, though it's a bit delayed due to work.

Nebula SS13 is an open source project based on the Baystation 12 version of Space Station 13. SS13 is a topdown multiplayer simulation game where you play the crew of a ship, station, colony, etc. depending on your fork and map, with the Nebula and Bay forks having a focus on roleplaying and simulation interactions.

Notable changes

We have finally managed to kill /turf/simulated. This sounds a bit arcane probably, but it represents a project I've been plugging away at off and on for a couple of years. Basically the previous system used a specific kind of tile to represent parts of the map that could participate in the atmospheric simulation - if you weren't on /turf/simulated, things like depressurization, poison gas, etc. ceased to matter. This was a problem for modelling large areas like the surface of planets, because if we made them /turf/simulated it would cause horrendous performance impacts when the zones had to be rebuilt (as Polaris experiences whenever someone leaves the Cynosure front door open). Our workaround in the past was a whole new turf type, /turf/exterior, that did some hacky workarounds. Now all our turfs are unified as /turf/floor and /turf/wall and we can go forward with some cool plans that weren't possible in the past, like material-based turfs.

Similarly, we're closing in on killing /mob/living/carbon. This is a very outdated middle-man type harking back to the days when monkeys and xenomorphs were their own mob type. Killing this has no real impact other than making a lot of previously human-only behavior like breathing and metabolism available to mob types outside the human type tree.

There's been a bit of a fey mood resulting in a fantasy-themed planet map called Shaded Hills with a focus around more low-tech crafting like carpentry and pottery, as well as survivalist mechanics like cutting down trees for wood, making campfires, and harvesting wild plants. It's a lot of fun, and provides a very different experience to the standard space station style of play. I wasn't intending for it to be a 'main' map, but with Penny and I working on it in tandem, it's starting to shape up into something that might actually be playable at some point.

Outstanding bugs of note

No big or funny bugs to talk about this time, just the usual gamut of smaller ones.

r5 staging has begun, so we should find some fun ones over the next couple of weeks. We're shooting for an April deadline, so it should be nice to hear the whooshing sound as it flies past.

Current priorities

Testing r5 is the other big ticket issue. We'll probably organize some test rounds between now and April so we can do some shakedowns.

Getting my fire source rework in is important as it means I can get pottery and metalworking into a state where we can playtest and potentially merge them.

We're so close to removing /carbon and /exterior entirely I can taste it. I'm going to be working on that as/when my current PRs are merged.

The skeleton of a fishing minigame is done, but there's no fun UI stuff or skill testing yet. Perhaps...

[vexic929]

Top 5 bugs you can tolerate?

Top 5 non cat beings you would keep as pets?

Top 5 DC artifacts that fit in your hand you would like to have

bugs I can tolerate? none lol

top 5 non cat beings I'd keep as a pet if allowed:

monkey

bat

axolotl

fennec fox

dog

top 5 small DC artifacts (kinda depends on your definition of DC artifact lol):

the rings of Azar

Flash and/or Reverse Flash ring

a chunk of Kryptonite, just a little chunk I think would be neat to have lol

one of Nightwing's escrima sticks

a Batarang (preferably not thrown at me)