#but like. why... why a human playground... what is your dog going to do with monkey bars and a slide...

[rubberbandballqueen]

also. oh my god. before i go to sleep tonight. today at work i was watching the kids on the playground when some RANDOM ADULT WOMAN and her definitely-older-than-twelve-year-old daughter(?) tried to bring their DOGS onto the playground equipment. like they were trying to walk up the playground stairs with their dogs on leashes and trying to coax them up, and i generally try to keep my nose out of rando park-goer nonsense, but for this in particular i had to be like:

"HI. please do not bring your dogs onto the playground equipment."

and for some reason this woman was like, "well, why not?"

(WELL MA'AM THIS IS A PLAYGROUND FOR SMALL HUMAN CHILDREN.)

i was so flabbergasted. "because the playground equipment is not designed for dogs?" (she didn't seem to fully buy that.) "there are a lot of small children here, and we do not know how they will respond to having dogs on the equipment with them."

and the woman fortunately stepped off the playground, but she had this expression of almost suspicion on her face. "i'll get off because you asked, but there aren't any rules posted about how you can't have dogs on the playground," she said. as if she was merely humoring me.

MA'AM, THIS IS A PLAYGROUND. FOR SMALL HUMAN CHILDREN.

[unfortunately-obsessed]

It's Called: Freefall

Relationship: Machine!Connor & Reader. AO3 link.

Tw: canon-typical violence and behavior.

Summary:

You were assigned to work with Connor against your best wishes.

And there's something. Connor shouldn't be able to touch a gun, ever.

It was supposed to just help with forensic bullshit, investigation, take your job. Whatever. Not do that shitshow it did on the Eden Club.

When you were eight, your father had two dogs and the terrible habit of beating things into shape.

Two dogs. Dobermans. Trained to watch the door.

You still remember how they curled up close to you. How warm and soft and gentle they were with you. How your father kept them outside, pitilessly.

Remember how they kept going back to him, wagging their docked tails, love and forgiveness in their eyes despite all the pain.

Never forget: how your father trained them into obedience, until they loved him, and how they believed wholly they could be loved back as long they're good.

~*~*~

"Can I ask you a question, detective?"

You open your eyes, not startled by Connor. The cold hurts your cheeks, and you're not dressed for the weather.

It's difficult to remember why you're here, at first, head pounding with pressure. Eyes dance on the freezed playground and Detroit's river running cold.

Years on the job and your ears still ring with gunshots.

But there's a beer on your hand and an android in pristine clothing before you. You take one step back, back meeting the rail, body instinctively retreating. Shuffling with your feet on the white-covered ground.

"Do all androids ask so many personal questions–, you take a sip of the beer, voice too coarse to talk loud, "–or is it just you?"

Something on your mind tells you it's just him. And this little voice also sends a shiver down your spine– Connor shouldn't be able to touch a gun, ever.

It was supposed to just help with forensic bullshit, investigation, take your job. Whatever. Not do that shitshow it did on the Eden Club.

Connor tilts its head like it's analyzing your thoughts, reading you like an open book. Like it's innocent, and can feel how you tremble from the cold. "Why are you so determined to kill yourself?"

You glance up the sky, scoffing, unable to look it in the eyes. The sky is breathing and crying, tonight. And you pretend Connor's voice doesn't bury a knife between your ribs. How you almost flinches at it.

Humans are so irrational. At the end of the day, it rots between your teeth.

"I don't know what Cyberlife did with your social program, but it's not working," you say, baffled. Then, shaking your head, you mock, "An android with all the virtues I dislike and none the vices I admire."

Connor stands still, snow upon its shoulders. "Woking with an officer with personal issues is an added challenge, but adapting to human unpredictability to is one of my features."

Your eyebrows rise. If you didn't know better, you would say Connor were sarcastic, or even sassy, right now.

But you do know better, and your lips are bleeding red, tongue tasting blood from the mean uppercut that blue-haired Traci gave you, splitting your lips and toring a wound in your jaw, and how the android is better dead.

And Connor died once, already. In the interrogation room, Ortiz's android killed Connor before killing itself. And the paperwork was a headache. Thirium stained Gavin's favorite tshirt, too.

You don't like Connor.

But you don't like Gavin even more.

So you weren't too mad about the paperwork.

(Death is the only real elegance; a promise kept. Those two Tracis never lived but now they are dead. You could throw this at Connor's face; say, even androids want to kill themselves. )

Connor adjust his tie and you roll your eyes. "Cyberlife really thought of everything, huh. They even gave you delusions of adequacy."

You take another sip from the beer, hoping it'll wash off the blood aftertaste. Bitter fighting bitter. Tell yourself it happens to everyone; this reason-less undying grief.

Connor draws closer, never not scrutinizing you. It'll try to make it work between you both; your collaboration matters to the mission, and nothing matters more than the mission– Connor itself told you so.

"You should stop drinking, detective," Connor says, hunching on the rail by your side, human-like. "It could have serious consequences for your health."

You cringe. It sounds genuine, this feigned interest. And you remember that Cyberlife ad, how humans dislike perfection. Connor has uneven dimples, a soft jawline, and nearly-invisible wrinkles– and it infuriates you.

Rage is blood in the water– rage is something that gets stuck on throats–

"That's the idea," you say. And take another sip just to challenge it, or perhaps yourself. Irrational as it is.

Connor decides to ignore the fierceness in your demeanor, setting its eyes on the river. And you decide to swallow more beer, mindful of what battles to fight.

It furrows eyebrows, yet again mimicking human body-language. "We’re not making any progress on this investigation," it says, matter-of-factly. "The deviants have nothing in common. They’re all different models, produced at different times, in different places."

It was taking too long for Connor to rumble back to its ramblings. You sigh, tired. You're clocked-out and this android followed you to talk about work, and you're too sober for this bullshit.

You wish to put Connor's head between the asphalt and the tire of a very heavy truck. Making you work without payment. The audacity! "There must be some link."

With fascination, you watch his jaw visibly tense. "We know the deviants experience an emotional shock, a violent trauma or a sense of injustice," it says, forehead creased.

You glance at the empty and melancholic beer bottle on your hand. "Those android at the Eden Club sure had a reason to feel a sense of injustice."

Connor's eyes shot back to you, nearly indignantly. Nostrils flared and face washed in bafflement. "Nothing in their program allows them to feel wronged," it says, copying the mocking tone you used earlier. "They can simulate human emotions, but they're machines, they don’t feel anything."

You agree. And maybe you should keep your big mouth shut for once, but the edges of your visions are blurry from alcohol. "What about you, Connor? What are you really?"

A defiant act of creation. A crime.

A machine that can not only get your gun from you – you, an officer of the law, – but fire without hesitation. For its own benefit, no less.

"You know exactly what I am," he says, monotone. And it's true, but not what you want to hear. "In any case, I don’t see how that’s relevant to the investigation."

Connor tilts its head again, like a kicked puppy, like you are going to make sense at a 45° angle. You copy him.

"Were just executing a program when you shot those androids, them?" You question, an edge of impatience creeping into your tone.

Were you just executing a program when you left me to die?

You open and close your hands, flexing fingers, a dull pain radiating from the knuckles, spreading through the entirety of the muscles. You had to pull yourself back from the edge of a building.

Not that you were surprised when Connor chose the suspect over you. It made all logical sense. Especially when the deviant could have all the information you needed.

And, of course, Connor did not hesitate when he shot that Traci. Connor's hands can't waver nor tremble like yours.

Humans are too complicated, you'll give Connor that. This resentment bubbling on your chest doesn't belong.

"I did what I was programmed to do," it says, because Connor is just an echo of Cyberlife and Cyberlife doesn't care about who dies and who lives. "I didn't have any doubts, if that's what you're asking."

Suddenly, you are made aware of the gun sitting in your hip. The weight pulling your center of gravity down, how you won every shooting championship within Michigan in the last three years. And Connor knows that because Cyberlife knows everything.

You're so very aware of your gun that you can almost ignore adrenaline running through your veins until your hands shake, nor from fear nor pain, but from sheer instinct. How everything feels hot, burning.

Breathing deep and focusing hard on Connor, you say, "When you took the gun from me, did you feel anything? Didn't you feel it was wrong?"

"I'm sorry," it says, not even trying to pretend some kind of regret or confusion, "but I don't see what you're getting at."

You can't help but give a mirthless laugh.

("What do you want from this?" "A lot. Everything.")

Connor looks at you, brown eyes dull, empty. Studying you to the marrow, burning down like wax, slitting like razor.

What an age to live on! The world is collapsing. Nothing truly matters. Everyone is dying, and everything is dying also. You're going home with your own blood in your mouth.

The night gets heavy, like they always do. "Are you afraid to die Connor?"

Connor is sharp-edged steel and you're prone to cut yourself on it. "Why would I be afraid?"

Another chill creeps through you, lacing your throat with a knot.

" No. No," you say, shaking your head, vindicated if not exasperated, "I know that if I shoot you right now you'll just come back like nothing happened. They'll re-upload a backup. I know that."

Snow sets between you two. And something burns on the gaze Connor's giving you; stern, a furious snow storm behind artificial eyes.

"I am asking, are you afraid to die, Connor? " you say, more force behind your words than necessary. "What happens then?"

It takes a good minute for Connor to digest what you just said. I am afraid to die, you think, unashamed of your own weakness.

But looking at Connor right now, the aloofness behind dull eyes, you finally understand a pivotal element standing just before your eyes.

Connor is a dog someone beat into obedience.

And Connor truly believes that, as long as true effort is put into the mission, as long as the massacre is done and the blood is shed, Cyberlife will turn around and smile and will not raise its hand anymore.

He replies shortly, "Nothing. There would be nothing."

[smaragdines]

headlock (kang daeho x reader)

words: 3.8 k

v. this weather's bringing it all back again

"DO YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GAME? If you wish to play, please state your name and date of birth."

"Is this ddakji man?" 

Gi-hun hadn't expected you to be as composed. Smoke was swirling over your head, you having picked up on smoking again due to being exposed to it the whole time you had been with Gi-hun, the cigarette elegantly held in your one hand, while the other held the phone horizontally in front of your face, the speaker on as to let Gi-hun listen too. 

"The one that approached me in Club Pentagon," you added. 

"Ah, Miss Lee," suddenly came the voice of ddakji man, sounding totally different from the voice you had heard a few seconds ago. "Do you wish to participate in the game?"

"What game?" you asked without waiting for Gi-hun to give you any instructions. 

"The game that you can make a lot of money with," ddakji man said. 

"I am rather interested in another game," you uttered, the tone of your voice changing to something that caused a horrified expression to wash over Gi-hun's face. You were not going over through the dialogue the two of you had planned beforehand. "Would you like to participate in it?"

"I am sorry, Miss, I do not understand."

You definitely understand, you perverted fucker, you thought.

"You know, you haven't really left my mind, Sir. And I think you're really hot -," at least you were a good liar, "so what say you to another kind of game? I have enough space inside of my apartment -"

Suddenly another voice spoke through the phone. "Lee Y/N." 

Gi-hun would recognise it anywhere. It was a dream. Think of it that way. The same voice. The game master.

"Why would you want to do nasty things with a man twice your age?"

"Are you the dog owner?" you asked, not fazed at all.

"The horse owner, actually."

Gi-hun's patience snapped in that moment, for he ripped the phone out of your hand. "Listen here, you fucker, I know what you're doing. You think you're that much better than us "horses", but you're not, because only a piece of trash would do something as inhumane and unlawful as you do. And your ddakji man is as bad as you for wagging his tail like an obedient little dog -"

"Player 456," the game master greeted him. "Long time no see -," Little did Seong Gi-hun know that he was watching him through a camera. "I hear you've been looking for one of my employees."

"I wanted to speak to you, personally," Gi-hun pressed out, his cheeks hollow, eyebrows raised as if conversing with his worst nightmare. 

"Well, I am talking to you now," Front Man replied neutrally. "Did you run out of your faith in humanity or will you continue harassing my employees' workplaces?"

The man next to you exhaled as if tempted to throw the phone against the wall. "Workplaces? Your salesman cons innocent people into deathly games. I would hardly call it workplace. More like a playground for your hellish games. Did you have fun playing the villain?"

"Villain? Hardly. I give those people a chance they couldn't get in any other life."

"People like me get many chances in life -"

"Easy to say as a billionaire," Front Man cut him off. "Say I hypothetically shut the games down - which is what you want, isn't that correct? Do you think that the world is going to change? Do you think trash is going to be more than it can ever be? There are loan sharks, gangs, drug rings - you name it. The trash will wither away through drugs or alcohol, if a bullet doesn't find them first."

Gi-hun stared at you. "Not all of them. Some will turn their lives around."

"Are the odds of that higher than one in 456?" 

Even you felt the weight of that statement

"If I can help them, yes," Gi-hun said.

"Ah yes," Front Man said, "your charity work didn't go unnoticed, Player 456."

He was using his former player number to remind him of what he had lost, how many souls had been left behind in the hall, and to never have him forget that he was one of them - a piece of trash drifting through an endless ocean of helplessness. 

"What do you want from her?"

The chuckle that came from the game master made you shiver in disgust. "Do you think she would make it to the sixth game like that friend of yours? The only thing that killed him was himself - a tragic ending, don't you think? Almost poetic in a way - the way you held him. He must've felt alone and sad when he died."

He was sticking a sharpened knife into Gi-hun's chest and twisting it with no end, as if knowing that each twist made him lose more of his breath. His heartbeat quickened with each and every degrading word coming from the man that had taken everything away from him that he valued. Was he getting off of the pain that he had caused to resurface in the former player or did it merely satisfy him to know that Gi-hun could not spend the blood money in peace? Either way, the sadism wasn't lost on him nor you, and you gently took the phone from his hot shaking hands. 

"Listen here, you asshole," you told the Front Man, "If you want to play dirty, I will do so too. Whatever is it that you're doing to the people your ddakji man lures it - it ends here or I will find you and end it myself, do you hear me?"

"And what will a small and weak girl like you do?"

"I will find your employees and make sure you won't have any left," you threatened. 

Maybe you were even more intriguing than Player 456, "What makes you so sure that there's more than one?"

Gi-hun wondered the same thing.

"You said employees', not employee's," you revealed.

"That is right." You had taken the breadcrumb Front Man had intentionally left for you. "But what makes you think that I can't hire more?"

"You're right. If you want to change the world, you have to change the systems that makes it miserable. I wish to participate in the game."

"Y/N -," Gi-hun pleaded.

"The next time you call us, you can enter the games. However, you must use a different number and do it on your own, Lee Y/N."

Your name sounded foreign as it rolled off of the rich voice of the man that was clearly toying with Gi-hun. 

"How will I get the number?" you asked, returning Gi-hun's shocked stare with a somber one.

You looked determined, your face not a mask of neutrality, but that of someone who knew that they would win whatever it was that they were doing. Like Sang-woo had always been. Confident, to some extent cocky - rightfully so, you knew your skills and talents better than anyone else in the world.

"My employee will make sure you get a new card," came the answer. 

"Please send that pretty one again," you openly asked, "the one that looks like Gong Yoo. I want to talk to him."

"I will send someone else," Front Man said.

"But -"

But Front Man had ended the call. 

Your hand sunk, the phone with it, your eyes scanning the table in front of you as if you would find an answer to all of your questions scribbled onto it somewhere, even scratched into the wood of it. The man next to you exhaled heavily, and you knew what he was going to say.

"Yes, he is too old for me. I wanted to lure him in so you could interrogate him."

A pregnant pause, and Gi-hun nodded weakly. He was paler than usual, the bones beneath his skin more prominent than you were used to, and his breathing uneven. 

"So you were Player number 456 out of 456?" 

The silence was answer enough.

"Have you ever considered just letting it be?"

He broke the silence by snapping his head to you, and if you hadn't been sat next to him, you would've thought someone had snapped it for him, sending him up into heaven, but it had been him, turning his head quickly in a ninety degree angle to completely face you, his expression that of horror.

"Letting it be?" he echoed. "Almost five-hundred people died when I played these games and you want me to let it be?" 

"I fear that you may be underestimating them," you offered an explanation, knowing that there was no changing his mind. "You think you can fight them with guns, but what if they got the police on their side? What if that guy isn't even the game master and only wants you to think he is?"

"The game master is dead," Gi-hun said, his gaze sliding away from you, the twenty yard stare he gave his own hands concerningly long. 

In his head, a thought crossed his mind - what if I let her help me? You had casually mentioned things he wouldn't have come up with without you. It was far too late to push you away, for ddakji man had made it clear that it was personal. He hadn't even asked you for the exact words ddakji man had used, for something told him that you would lie to him as to not concern him any more than he already was. The ticket he had sitting comfortably in his pocket suddenly weighted more than anything else in the world - a one-way to Massachusetts, the flight going tomorrow evening. On Monday morning, the third of September, you would already be in the States, all of the arrangements made for you to continue studying at Harvard. Naturally, you would live under a false name, a false date of birth, even a different eye colour (they could be mistaken for a lighter shade), and you would have to wear a wig or dye your hair completely, including a new haircut. Perhaps shorten it to the length of your curtain bangs? You could certainly wear a bob.

Gi-hun didn't know if he wanted to rip the ticket to pieces or stuff it into your hands and order you to take the plane. You would put up a fight much worse than a few hours ago. Would he be able to hurt you enough to leave? His words meant something to you, he was aware of that instance, and he could say things that would make you turn around and leave for good. But could he live with that? Sending you away, like an unwanted child that couldn't grasp onto why their parent didn't want them? 

His father had left him when he had been young. Could he do something as unforgivable as that to you? 

You had been right. He wasn't your father, and he didn't feel like he could ever be. He was more than an ajeossi, yet less than an appa. And he didn't hold himself highly enough to think that you viewed him as the father you wished you had growing up - someone you could turn to when in need of wise words and experience, someone that would always help you out if you needed it, someone that loved and protected you unconditionally. Yet, Gi-hun sometimes tended to overdo it, for losing you was the only thing he was scared of.

His gambles had lost him everything he held dearly, and he couldn't bear you joining the dead. A gambler would always be a gamble. Which of his gambles would make him lose you for good? 

"If you really want me to go, I will. I will go anywhere, if it helps you," you said, and he swore he saw your lips wobble with the negative emotions that flooded your body. "Just don't... overdo it... you are losing yourself, trying to find whatever had taken your old self away."

Sometimes your way with words reminded him of when Sang-woo would scold him - not rudely nor derogatory, but calmly, poetically, as if knowing that words such as those would actually stick with him. You would've made a great best friend, while growing up, Gi-hun thought. Would Sang-woo have liked someone that could match his wit and intellect shamelessly?

Rip the ticket to pieces or give it to you. Rip the ticket or give. Rip or give. R.i.p. or give. He rummaged through his pocket, pulling out the strip of paper. 

"The flight is tomorrow," he rasped out, "Cambridge... I organised you a spot in a university."

"Lesley university?" you wondered as you took the ticket from his hands, examining the words printed onto the paper. Your sight for blurry, the words fading into syllables, then consonants, vowels, and lastly it all became a conglomerate of black and white. 

"Harvard."

You were crying, he knew it. He felt like crying too. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried where he had not freshly woken up after a nightmare. In fact, they had lessened when he had met you. Would they return once you were in the States, living all on your own again? You would never have to return to Korea again, you didn't even have to study. You could live comfortably, spending the money you would get from his will once he had died. You would get a part, as would Ga-yeong, Mrs Cho, and Kang Cheol. Funny how most of the people in his life that weren't dead were young. Sae-byeok had been young too. Would she have become friends with you?

"You remembered," you whispered, because you didn't trust yourself to speak clearly anymore. You had told him about your childhood dreams once, where you both had had a few sips too much soju intus. "Thank you."

"Of course I did."

And when you threw your arms around him, full on sobbing - why were you crying so much? -, he already missed you despite you still being there.

—————————

SAYING GOODBYE TO NAM-GYU HAD BEEN NOT HARD, for you couldn't find him anywhere. He didn't answer your calls nor messages - they didn't even enter his phone, as if you were texting a dead person (you were convinced that he hadn't died or been stabbed overnight, for one of his coworkers had told you that he had went on a trip for the weekend, accompanied by a guy with purple hair that had been spluttering a mix of English and Korean words that didn't even mean anything particular). 

Mi-na, on the other hand, firstly made inappropriate comments about Gi-hun, as he stood in the doorframe of her dorm, and only became serious upon noticing the look on your face. You looked like a pet owner that had chosen to put their pet to sleep as to end their suffering. She hugged you, cupping your face, bombarding you with questions. All three of you went to eat tteokbokki together, naturally, Gi-hun didn't let the both of you pay, and laughed over the memories you had made. You didn't tell her that you left for safety reasons. Instead, you spoke of how Harvard had reached out to you after one of your professors had recommended you, and asked you to study with a scholarship. 

"Harvard!" Mi-na had exclaimed excitedly. "I knew you could do it!"

The guilt you felt was palpable, but through her genuine exhilaration, your friend couldn't tell, and instead she ordered you to send her some tequila and a cute boy. You promised to do so, and after that, Gi-hun brought you to the airport. You had been there once, a few years ago, holding a similar ticket, but this time, you could live the dream you used to have. But was it still a dream when you didn't even want it anymore? The health system was poor, the elections were coming up - Harris versus Trump -, you feared that the country would go downhill, and you felt like Americans wouldn't be able to understand your culture. You were basking in the Koreans you were still surrounded by, probably listening to the language the last time for an extended period of time. 

You wore a sweater from Gi-hun, the same way he had worn his mother's cardigans after her death, your aviator jacket on top of it. The aviator jacket had once belonged to your father. 

Your suitcase was heavy, your backpack too, and Gi-hun carried both of them through the halls of Incheon Airport. He had driven you al the way from Seoul here, the phones and tablets in his car showing incoming messages of men sending him selfies where they would stand in front of various train stations.

You checked in, handed your suitcase over to the airline, before a stewardess kindly asked you to follow her. Apparently, Gi-hun had booked you business class. 

You turned to him. "Thank you, for everything..." 

You sometimes called him oppa, but you felt like that term didn't even fit anymore. 

"You're welcome, ttal." 

Ttal.

"I will miss you, appa," you returned the affection. "I will call you once I've landed..."

It didn't feel as if you wouldn't see him for a long time. It was like he would ring your bell tomorrow, visiting for dinner, and you would have some of your books crowding the table, and he would help you sort them away, and you would cook for him in return. You had often heard stories from female friends and acquaintances how their fathers had started despising them once they became teenagers and stood up for their mothers. Gi-hun seemed the opposite, for anytime you would speak your mind, he would listen to you and appreciate the words you shared. Hell, you had even urged him to vote for the DPK during the legislative election. 

You had changed his life to something he would've perhaps enjoyed more at any other point of his life. You had given him a will to live, a reason to wake up every morning and continue searching. When he had been at his lowest, the way you had approached him had restored his faith in humanity. 

"I will be there to take the call," Gi-hun said with a finality that made you go on your tip-toes, press a kiss to his cheek and hug him tightly and quickly as to not linger so long to there point where you couldn't let go of him. 

"I know," you whispered, detaching yourself from him. "We will see each other soon, right?"

"Of course we will."

You trailed the stewardess, waving at Gi-hun before leaving it all behind - the memories, the people, the life you had wanted to escape so desperately from and that you had grown attached to so suddenly you didn't want to part with it anymore. Your legs were urging you to turn around, but your head made you follow the woman to the gate. You flawlessly passed the security control and got freshly cooked dinner, a steaming bowl of bibimbap in front of you. The egg had been cooked so perfectly that the yolk was reflecting your eyes as you stared down at it, having lost your appetite upon biding farewell to Gi-hun.

"Thank you," you told the server and picked up your chopsticks. 

You had left him behind half an hour ago and you were already missing Gi-hun. 

You spend the next three hours waiting for your plane to get ready for boarding, and for some reason, it took a particularly long period of time until boarding was started. You and other travelers for business class were led outside, as you couldn't enter the plane through the hall that was connected to the side of the plane and the building. The sun was going down, different shades of yellow, orange, red, and marine blue mixing into a palette of beauty that entranced you. 

Yet, you couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened. You looked up the stairs that led up into the plane. American Airlines, was scribbled onto the side of it. Years ago, you wouldn't have hesitated, for there had been nothing for you to leave behind. Now you left Gi-hun behind, and your intuition was urging you to run over the runway, dodging planes and cars, find a taxi and get back to Seoul. 

You stopped, letting everyone behind you board the plane, as you longingly stared at the horizon. You had gambled before, and if you did now, for the first time you couldn't calculate the outcome. You would be like Gi-hun, and you would bet on yourself, on your success. You could seize the chance and just step into the plane, up the stairs and into the machine. Your gaze fell onto the plane again.

The beautiful weather and scenery was bringing something back again, a sense of longing and worry. It shouldn't be as stunning outside while your feelings were a tsunami.

A little girl was staring at you wide-eyed through one of the plane's windows...

Cars honked, operators were yelling at each other through their ear pieces, and amidst the chaos was your figure, running over the runway. You climbed over the fence, making any athlete jealous with how quickly and smoothly you left the obstacle behind you, onto the side-walk of the busy street, and stopped a taxi. It halted immediately, as if fate had listened to your prayers for once, and you practically jumped into the back seat, throwing your backpack next to you.

"To Seoul," you told the driver, your body breathless and sweaty. 

He just nodded.

"- I will pay you triple if you can make it in less than two hours to the Pink Motel."

"You must be crazy," he muttered as he started the engine and drove through the streets, following each sign towards the center of South Korea. 

In the meantime, you called Gi-hun. He didn't answer. This instance only deepened your worry, as something must've happened.

Anxiety was clawing at you, similar to a beaver nagging on a piece of wood, relentlessly boring his teeth into the sturdy material, of which nothing would be left behind eventually. Perhaps you were a beaver too, for you called and called Gi-hun and he didn't take any call. Usually he took each call of yours. 

Once the familiar streets of Seoul were passing by, you leaned forward, watching the corners you were leaving behind, each of them one step closer to the Motel. 

What if Gi-hun wasn't there? What if he still thought you would board the plane to Cambridge and had thus silenced his phone to any incoming calls? It was possible, sure, but your belly told you otherwise. 

The Pink Motel loomed over you, and you opened the door with the spare key that you knew was hidden in a plant next to the entrance. For someone with security cameras in- and outside, Gi-hun was sometimes naive. 

You took the stairs, up to the familiar fourth floor, your backpack feeling heavier than before.

Room Number 406, 407, 408, 409..., but the door to room 410 stood wide open, a familiar white-toothed smile greeting you.

[kfkr1ze]

[002-A06] Anemic Killer Horseshoe Crab～Night before the Counterattack～

Summary — ✈︎ Kaede visits the Lion Theater to watch the movie that Akuta produced by himself. When he enters the theater, though, he finds Akuta sitting there with a gloomy expression on his face.

Characters— ✈︎ Akuta

Location: Lion Theater

Kaede: Excuse me…

(This place is the Lion Theater, isn’t it?

I guess it hasn’t started yet. No one seems to be hereーー)

Akuta: ……

Kaede: Hee!

Akuta: …… Ah, it’s… Sensei?

Kaede: That scared me… Just what on earth is on your head���?

Akuta: I’m, the demonic, horseshoe crab. This whole world, I’ll curse it.

Kaede: I-I see… That’s a pretty unique way of talking…

Akuta: …… 

Kaede: Umm… I came to watch the thing on this tissue…

Akuta: Human, if you, want tissues…

There’s, still some, in that, mountain over there.

Kaede: (That box is filled to the brim with tissues…!

He definitely ordered the wrong amount…!)

Akuta: Go ahead, and take, as many, as you like.

Kaede: Don’t be so hasty! You can still use them for the next screening! You should save them for later!

Akuta: …… 

Kaede: (He has such a gloomy expression… It’s hard to see him like this, especially based on how he was before… I feel so bad for him.)

Is it fine if I sit next to you?

Akuta: Do what… you please…

Kaede: Thanks.

… They’re still doing screenings here, huh?

I thought this place was abandoned a long time ago.

Akuta: They’re not, it’s my, playground, that I sneak into…

Kaede: But isn’t the screening…?

Akuta: I rented, the projector… Got a bunch, of part time jobs… like, demolition, shopping for women, walking dogs, and stuff.

Kaede: I see… You worked really hard for this day huh.

But I don’t think it’s good to sneak in here though.

Akuta: …… 

Kaede: (He’s shaking his sword tail sadly…

I wonder if I could do anything to cheer him up)

Let’s wait a bit longer.

Someone else might show up after all.

Akuta: … Mm, nah it’s fine.

My ass is starting to hurt… Ahaha.

Kaede: ……

Akuta: Y’know.

In the past, this place used to be where entertainment began in HAMA.

Kaede: … Yeah. I heard something like that. 

Akuta: I wish I could’ve filled it with a lotta people again.

If only I were a more famous, a galactic filmmakerーー

If only I was the type of human… that could have an influence on people more.

Kaede: … Akuta-kun…

Don’t stay stuff like that, cheer upーー

Akuta: Then… I’d be so popular I could die… And I’d be swarmed by a loootta women…!

I wanna play tag shirtless on the moon～～～！

And I’d eat lots of mochi with Bunny-chan and Bunny-kun～～！

And then, we’d build a huge 365LDK [1] house up there, and we’d have a drinking party where we’d drink a lotta shots～～！

Kaede: Akuta-kun.

Akuta: Yup!

Kaede: Since I’m here, I wanted to watch the movie that was going to be shown. Is everything ready?

Akuta: ーーOf… Course!

Everything’s all set!

I’ll get everything started real quickly…!

Akuta: Hey hey, look look, this is a real projector! Isn’t it SUPER cool～～～!?

It’s so incredible. It has the weight from all these years… and the brightness is completely next level!

Didya know? When you’re talking about projectors, they project the film directly onto the screen. Directly! Isn’t that cool? It’s not data at all!

The colors from the film are projected exactly as they were from recording! 

It’s the real colors, not ones from an electric signal , y’know?

That’s why! I put a lotta effort into making the visuals look good!

Now then, now then… Take a look!

“Mysterious! The Anemic Horseshoe’s Counterattack!”

Jessica [2]: “NOOOOOOOOOO!”

Philip: “What’s wrong!? I heard a scream just nowーー Nee-san!?

What’s wrong Nee-san!?”

“NEE-SAAAAAAAAAAAAN!”

Dr. Henry: “Yet again, there’s another dead body just like this…”

“The only common thread between them was that they were struck in the head with a terrifyingly sharp blade.”

“It’s almost like… they were stabbed with the tail sword of a horseshoe crab.”

Demonic Horseshoe Crab: “Guh… GUYAAAAAAAH!”

Dr. Henry: The demon is scared!? Just what on earth could scareーー”

“It can’t be… The syringe!?”

“I see… After having your blood taken for medical reasons for tens of thousands of years… You must’ve grown to resent humans.”

“I pity you, demon.”

“Butーー … This is goodbye.”

Akuta: Whatdya think!?

Kaede: … Um… It was very innovative… Like it’s Avant Garde… Or like a roller coaster.

It was unprecedented… It was…

… It was a bit incoherent.

(Ah. I said it…)

Akuta: OH, incoherent! Yayyy〜 I’m happy〜! WOOO〜!

Kaede: (Wah, I’m relieved… Even though I accidentally said what was on my mind, I’m glad you don’t seem to be hurt…)

( … But really, everyone…)

( Really, could they not have come to watch even just a little bit?)

……

( I need to calm down… I’m sure that Akuta-kun is a hundred times more frustrated than I am)

(Today, this kid was both the star of the film and the director. I didn’t really get the message, but it was a great film in my opinion.)

(I’ll just return home today without showing him the proposal. I wouldn’t wanna spoil the mood.)

Then, it’s about time I go.

Akuta: Stoーp.

Kaede: Eh?

Akuta: Didn’t you come here to finish talking about that thing?

Kaede: No, but…

Akuta: Let’s hear it. …As a thank you gift for watching.

Location: Cafe 369

Akuta: D-Delicious… Meat buns are SERIOUSLY delicious～～～～！

Heyhey! Is it okay if I get 20 more!?

Kaede: Yeah, get as many as you want.

Akuta: YAYYY! Thanks! You’re like a god, Sensei!

Munch munch, it’s too gooood!!

Kaede: (He told me he’d hear me out, but ended up asking me to get him something to eat instead…)

( I can’t believe he spent all the earnings he got from those part time jobs on equipment, costumes, and those tissues… He hasn't had a proper meal in days.)

Are you gonna be able to fill up on those meat buns?

Akuta: I will I will! They’re super tasty and big, and they’re fluffy and dense! It’s like eating a proper meal!

Kaede: I’m glad then… But what about your family? You didn’t say anything?

Akuta: Nah. I’m pretty much the only one there.

Kaede: … I see.

(Maybe he has a complicated family situation…)

Okay then, feel free to eat as much as you want.

Akuta: Thanks!

Kaede: Then you can just listen to me while you’re eating.

So the plan isーー

We have decided that the members of the Community Revitalization Club will participate in a study tour as candidates for Ward Mayors.

During this training, they will experience work that a Ward Mayor typically does, and thus gain a deeper understanding of the job.

By the end, they will be graded based on their performance and contribution to the missions assigned on site.

If you pass this test, you will be officially appointed as a Ward Mayor…

That’s how the plan goes.

Kaede: This is the plan and the parental consent form…

Akuta: I didn’t get it at all. It’s stupidly difficult.

Kaede: To make it a bit more understandable… Oh I got it.

Akuta–kun, you want to be a more popular person right?

Akuta: Eh, that’s what you’re saying…?

Kaede: Yes it is. Listen closely, Akuta-kun.

First up, I think that using videos as an expression is a great way to boost tourism.

Also, by having a lot of people watch the video, many more people will start to get interested in Akuta-kun’s work. You’d gain people who look forward to what you want to put out!

Akuta: ……

Kaede: What’s more, being a high school student as the Ward Mayor is sure to give you more attention at school too.

Andーー

The tissues that Akuta-kun worked so hard to make ended up getting treated so poorly.

Even though they were at a party, it was so carelessーー

Akuta: ……

Kaede: The people who let the equipment Akuta-kun spent all his money on go to wasteーー

I think we should make them look back on this day and regret not coming!

Akuta: ーーHaha!

Sensei, somehow you ended more fired up than I was～～!

Suddenly, you looked all fired up like a punk, it was crazyy! 

You’re more interesting than I thought～～～!

Kaede: S-Sorry. I got heated without realizing.

Akuta: Nah. Thank you for that.

Kaede: ……

Akuta: Alright… Let’s do thisss!!

For the sake of movies! And to be more popular～～～！

The others are being kinda reluctant too aren’t they?

I’ll find a way to get them to agree, so it’s all good!

I’ll get them to go on that study tour thingy!

Leave it to me!

Kaede: T-That’s reassuring, thanks.

But tomorrow is summer break, isn’t it? Do you have their contact information?

Akuta: ‘Course I do!

Kaede: ( I see, so they stay in touch with each other.)

(At school they didn’t seem to be all that close at school when I saw them though. 

They had a strange distance between them.)

Previous — ✈︎ Masterlist — ✈︎ Next

Notes — ✈︎

And LDK stands for "Living Dining Kitchen" Typically you'd say like 1LDK or 2LDK for a one or two bedroom house respectively. 365LDK is . a 365 bedroom house.

For the film, every character is voiced by Akuta.

[patibato]

[Bitter Sweet Sixteen] 002-A06 - The Anaemic Killer Horseshoe Crab ~Counterattack's Eve~

*door creaks open*

Momiji: Excuse meee…

(Lion Theatre should mean here, right? I don't think it's started yet. Doesn't look like anyone's-)

Akuta: …

Momiji: Hee!

Akuta: …Ah, that's… Sensei?

Momiji: You surprised me… What on earth is that on your head…?

Akuta: I'm… the demonic, horseshoe crab… I'm going to curse this entire world.

Momiji: I-I see… You've got a characteristic way of speaking, huh.

Akuta: …

Momiji: Umm… I came to watch this.

Akuta: Human… if you want… a tissue… There's still… a whole mountain's worth, over there.

Momiji: (There's a cardboard box packed full of tissues…! He ordered the completely wrong amount…!)

Akuta: Please, feel free… take as many… as you want.

Momiji: Don't be hasty! You can always use these at the next showing! Keep them safe!

Akuta: …

Momiji: (From what I'd seen of him so far, I'd never imagine Akuta-kun making such a dour expression… I feel bad for him.)

Could I sit next to you?

Akuta: Do what you want…

Momiji: Thank you.

*shuffle, clack*

Momiji: …So this place is still running, huh. I thought it was abandoned a long time ago.

Akuta: It's not running… it's my playground… that I sneak into…

Momiji: But, it said there'd be a screening…

Akuta: I rented… a projector… did lots of part-time work, like, demolition… shopping for older women… walking dogs… that stuff.

Momiji: I see… you worked hard for today. Though, it's not good to sneak in here.

Akuta: …

Momiji: (He's shaking the tail-sword* sadly… Is there anything I can do to cheer him up?)

Let's try waiting a little longer. Maybe someone will turn up.

Akuta: …Nah, it's fine now. My butt's starting to hurt. …Ahaha.

Momiji: …

Akuta: So.

In the past, this place was known as the origin of amusement in Hama.

Momiji: …Right, I heard about that.

Akuta: I wanted to make it full of people again.

If I was more famous, a galactic movie director-

If I could become… a human who could influence everyone more.

Momiji: …Akuta-kun…

Don't talk like that, cheer up-

Akuta: Then… I'd be so popular I could die… and have a HUUUGE number of women fawning over me…!

I wanna play topless tag all the way to the surface of the moon~~~! And eat as much mochi as I want with bunny girls and bunny boys~~!

And then, I'll build myself a three hundred and sixty five bedroom house there, and we can all have shot drinking parties every evening~~~!

Momiji: AKUTA-KUN.

Akuta: Yes!

Momiji: Since we're here, I want to try watching the movie you planned to show. Is it ready?

Akuta: -Of… course!

Everything's already set up! I'll get it started lightning quick…!

Hey hey, look look, this is a genuine movie projector! It's so cool~~~!

Impressive, right? It's the weight of all these months and years, the difference in brightness is insane!

Did you know? Projectors display the film directly. Di-rect-ly. Isn't that amazing? It's not data!

So the colour of the film is projected as-is! Not electric signals, the genuine colours!

Which is why! I was especially fussy over the surface of the shots!

Okay okay… feast your eyes! "Uncanny! Counterattack of the Anaemic Horseshoe Crab!"

*music*

Jessica**: "AAAAAAAHH!"

Philip: "What happened!? That scream just now - Nee-san!? What happened, Nee-san!"

"NEE-SAAAAAAAN!"

---

Dr. Henry: "Another corpse in this state…"

"The common thread it that they were all stabbed by something frighteningly sharp."

"Almost like… they were pierced by a horseshoe crab's tail-sword."

---

Demonic Horseshoe Crab: "Gh… GUGYAAAAAAAHH!"

Dr. Henry: "The demon is frightened!? But just what-"

"It couldn't be, the syringes!?"

"I see… having your blood sampled for medical use for tens of thousands of years… you must hate us, us humans."

"I pity you, demon."

"But- …this is goodbye."

Akuta: How was it!?

Momiji: …Umm… it was very experimental… avant-garde, maybe, or rather like a roller coaster.

Certainly original… um…

…It was kind of incoherent.

(Ah. I said it out loud…)

Akuta: OH, it's incoherent! Yesss~ I'm so happy~! Whoo~!

Momiji: (He's happy… I said it bluntly without thinking, I'm relieved I didn't hurt him.)

(…But really, everyone…)

(Really, couldn't they have come to watch even a little?)

…

(Calm down… Akuta-kun's got to be ten times more frustrated than I am.)

(Today, this kid's the lead role as a director. I didn't understand it, but I saw a wonderful piece.)

(I'll go back without showing him my proposal. I don't want to rain on his parade.)

Well then, I think it's about time I get going.

Akuta: Stooop.

Momiji: Huh?

Akuta: You came to continue that conversation, yeah?

Momiji: No, well…

Akuta: Let's do it. …As thanks for watching.

Akuta: S-so good… meat buns are so GOOD~~~~! Hey hey! Is it alright if I get twenty more?

Momiji: Yep, ask for as many as you like.

Akuta: Hooray! Thanks! You're seriously a god, Sensei! Nomnom, it's so crazy good…!

Momiji: (I said I'd treat him in exchange for listening to me, but…)

(I can't believe he put all his part-time earnings into the equipment, costumes, and tissues, and hasn't eaten for days now.)

Are you going to fill up on meat buns?

Akuta: Absolutely! They're huge and delicious and fluffy and well-made, they're like a proper meal!

Momiji: That's good then, but… what about your family? Haven't you told them anything?

Akuta: Nah. It's basically just me at home.

Momiji: …I see.

(I suppose… his family situation is complicated.)

Okay, don't hold back and eat up plenty.

Akuta: Thanks!

Momiji: Alright, let's get started while you eat. This is the proposal-

We have decided that, as Tourism Ward Mayor candidates, the members of the Regional Revitalisation Club will undergo a study tour over the Summer break.

At the training site, they will gradually gain a deeper understanding of the role through close work and personal experience with being a Tourism Ward Mayor-

And finally, they will be graded based on work method and contributions to achieving the goals set at the site.

If they achieve a passing grade, they'll be officially appointed as a Tourism Ward Mayor… that's how it goes.

Momiji: This is a proposal and letter of consent aimed towards your parents…

Akuta: I didn't get that at all. It's too stupidly difficult.

Momiji: How could I put it more simply, then… I know. Akuta-kun, you want to be a popular person, right?

Akuta: Eh, is that what this is about…?

Momiji: It is. Listen closely, Akuta-kun. First off, I think using video as a means of presentation is a great way to boost tourism.

On top of that, if we show the videos to a huge number of people, there'll certainly be an increase in those who are interested in both your current and future works!

Akuta: …

Momiji: Furthermore, being a Tourism Ward Mayor as an active high schooler will definitely attract attention at school.

And-

Those tissues you put your all into making were treated so roughly. Even if it's a party, it's so thoughtless-

Akuta: ……

Momiji: The people who let the equipment you spent all your money on go to waste-

I think we should make them look back on today and regret not coming!

Akuta: -Haha! Sensei, why're you more fired up than I am~~!

You suddenly started looking all evil, that's wild! You're more interesting than I thought~~~!

Momiji: S-sorry. I got worked up without realising.

Akuta: Nah, thank you.

Momiji: …

Akuta: Alright… let's do this thing! For the sake of movies! For the sake of popularityyyyy!

Anyhow, the other guys are holding back too, right? I'll eloquently persuade them, so it's a-ok!

I'll definitely bring 'em on the day of that "study tour", so leave it to me!

Momiji: Th-that's reassuring, thank you. But Summer break starts tomorrow, do you know where to contact them?

Akuta: Of cooourse.

Momiji: (I see, so they're keeping in touch.)

(They didn't seem that close when I saw them at school, the sense of distance between them is strange.)

*"尾剣", using the kanji for "tail" and "sword" respectively. I was originally going to translate it as "telson", because that's the proper name for a horseshoe crab's tail, but - while this kanji doesn't seem uncommon to use - the JP term for telson is different (尾節), so I figured I'd go for a more literal translation since it fits the context as well

**All characters in the movie are played by Akuta('s voice actor)

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Masterlist

[ulircursed]

TOA Aniversary Munday

From Neffi!

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: eri

Pronouns: she/her

Birthday (no year): 9/30

Where are you from? What is your time zone? Taiwan! GMT+8, currently 12 hours ahead of TOAST. Good news: the apocalypse hasn't hit the future yet!

How long is your roleplay experience? Probably around 10+ years at this point, unless running around as Pokemon on the playground counts, in which case more like 20 years ahaha

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? I'm reasonably certain Fire Emblem was my first foray into tumblr RP, and Emmeryn was my first muse! There was a little indie community that I joined back then, though I haven't kept in contact with them

How were you introduced to TOA? I don't really remember, but all I know is that I lurked around the masterlist around the time of L&K but didn't pluck up the courage to join until nearly a year later when I saw there was a Reyson (shoutout to birdie!)

Do you have any pets? Nope! Moved around too much as a kid and current living situation doesn't support having one. Closest I got was sharing an apartment with my roommate's floofy cat for two years in college; his name's Chester and he was super adorable. I'd like to have a dog someday though!

What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) WINTERRRR I am a human furnace and summer is suffering. Every spring I start counting down the days to the next winter ahaha

What is your IRL occupation? I work at the counseling department in a junior college!

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? Learning languages, singing, obscure fun facts and watching Youtube video essays

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? Used to be a big Pokemon person but I stopped playing the mainline games by Gen VII (not for lack of interest! RL circumstances changed around that time and I just never got back into the habit of buying those games); nowadays I play a few mobile games daily but that's about it

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: Water; too many, but if I had to name just one I will probably say Rufflet

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! The first fun fact is that the moment I get asked questions like this I immediately go Brain Empty and this is why I rarely fill out toa monthly feedback forms dakfjslfj uhhhh my favorite color is blue! I joined an archery club in grad school (two years ago) to understand what shooting a bow feels like. I love swimming but haven't been to a pool for maybe like 9 years now. I really like going to zoos.

How did you get into Fire Emblem? My older brother introduced my younger brother and me to Japanese FE4 when we were kids, when we knew absolutely no Japanese and just messed around the first map and never beat it. I properly started playing when I was in high school, with FE7 being the first game I beat! I normally count my official FE gaming journey as starting with 7 in high school :'D

What Fire Emblem games have you played? All the mainline ones except 1-3 and Echoes (I'm...... working on it)

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: FE7; FE3H

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! You can't do this to me man. UHHH ok Lucius is my very most favorite FE character. Andrei needs to be here. I lump the Heron sibs as one unit for questions like this. Tibarn. Sylvain. There are probably a dozen more but

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! HONESTLY Andrei thanks to the Oosawa manga. His arc changed my brain chemistry permanently

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳 I don't think I've really crushed on fictional characters before ahaha

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? - Awakening: Chrom I think; uhhhh Lon'qu or Cherche?? - Fates: Silas I think???; I'm currently partway through a Birthright playthrough and I seem geared to S support with Jakob so him - Three Houses: Dimitri; started my first and only Myleth run a few months back and I'll probably go with Miss Thea :flushed: - Engage: None; man I don't know

Favorite Fire Emblem class? Bishop

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? I think I could be a War Cleric wielding a giant hammer. If you don't go to bed on time I will forcibly join your army and make you

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? Blue Lions I guess!

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Axe boon, Reason bane, Riding budding talent

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? Brodia

How do you pronounce TOA? TOE-uh

Current TOA muses: Just me and my bow man for the moment

Past TOA muses? Leanne, Lucius, Altena, Nino

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Leanne was my first! Honestly she always lives in a cozy little corner of my head, so she can be back at any moment if RL permits

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? Nice Girls (gender neutral) who have no quarrel with 99% of the world. As you may be able to see, Andrei does not fit this mold.

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? Flirts. They're so much fun to read but I don't think I could flirt my way out of a paper bag irl so I would never know what to write

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? I honestly love fluffy cozy fun friendshippy situations!!! Again, Andrei is not conducive to this. I mean I do also like painful scenes but--

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? that Yngvi AU where Brigid never disappeared because things will still go to shit but the circumstances would be so different. Honestly Brigid doesn't even need to explicitly be there for this to work so if any Gen I Jugdrals ever want to do this then I grip you

Favorite TOA-related memories? So many, but the West Faerghus Croc lives rent free in my brain forever.

Present or past tense? I started off with past tense, but now default to present. When the stars align and I notice my partner using past tense, sometimes I will also switch, but not always.

Normal size text, small text, no preference? Small text, though I am happy to switch for my partner's preference if needed!

Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 Waves goodbye to my faceless Glenn delusions honestly thank u new anniversary ruling for saving me from those eternal brainworms

[iamvegorott]

Ink Month 2023 Day 11

Playground

“Humans gave up on this location long ago,” Dark explained as he jumped up on a merry-go-round. His long fur settled as he sat in the center. Anti followed, holding Robbie by the scruff in his mouth. He sat the small raccoon kit between his front paws.  

“So you just took over?” Anti asked.

“Humans are so wasteful. They never see how to take full advantage of what they have. So, yes, we took over to ensure we all have our own place while still staying within our pack.” Dark held his head up and puffed his chest with pride. 

“You look like you enjoy bossing others around too much.” Anti scoffed. 

“I maintain the peace. We are all happy, well-fed, and we have no fear of others hurting us.” Dark glanced down at Robbie. “Or our young.” Anti softly hissed without a thought, moving a leg to cover Robbie from Dark’s gaze. “I offer our home to you because of him. Yes, he is a raccoon, which is odd, even amongst our group and connections, but he is innocent. He can be raised, trained, and help our pack grow more.” 

“Then why have me here if you only care about the kit?” Anti asked, not moving his arm and shoulders still hunched defensively. 

“Because you would kill me if I tried taking him away from you,” Dark stated. “You made that promise to his dying mother, and I will not take that away from you or her.” 

“You saw?” Anti’s shoulders went down, as did his ears. 

“I did. And I saw the fight you got into afterward. That cat was nearly twice your size, and you sent him running with his tail between his legs.” Dark sounded impressed, there even being a hint of a purr. 

“He had it coming.” Anti twitched his nose. 

“Indeed.” Dark swished his tail. “Now. If you agree to stay, you must contribute however you can and follow our rules. We mostly keep to ourselves outside of meals, and we take turns with hunting. With your current situation, you won’t need to worry about that for the time being. But helping with maintaining our territory will be required.”

“So…like keeping stuff tidy?”

“Exactly.” 

“You’ll feed me and Robbie, provide us shelter, and keep others away if I help with dirt?”

“For the time. Your duties are mainly focused on the kit since I assume you won’t let someone else do that.” Dark lifted a paw to point. “The cat and dog dup over there are Chase and Marvin. If you need help regarding the kit or need someone trustworthy to watch him while you are away, they are the best to go to.” 

“You don’t trust yourself?” Anti asked with a tilt of his head, tone playful. 

“I am too busy to worry about that.” Dark sniffed, keeping his head up. 

“Yeah, sure.” Anti shook his head. “I’m guessing the others will introduce themselves?”

“Correct. They have all been filled in on who you are and will come at their own time.” 

“Alright.” Anti licked the top of Robbie’s head, getting a little squeak. “I’m going to Chase and Marvin then. Give them a real look.” He picked Robbie up by the scruff again and jumped off the merry-go-round, heading for the slides where Chase and Marvin were resting in the sun. 

Dark stayed where he was when he felt a heavier weight join him and wasn’t shocked when Wilford laid down next to him. 

“So? Is he a keeper?” Wilford asked before scratching at his muzzle with the bottom of his paw. 

“I’ve told everyone to keep an eye on him. He’s smart in his own ways, ways most of us don’t understand due to our upbringing, but he could still be dangerous. I think the kit is likely what’s keeping him from lashing out. I don’t know how long that will last.” Dark answered, eyes not leaving Anti as he went to Chase and Marvin, still keeping the kit as close to him as possible as he spoke to the two. 

“He’s lost,” Wilford said, resting his chin on his paws. “Reminds me of when I first found you.”

“He’s nothing like me.” 

“Sure, Dark. Whatever you say.” 

[flintandthedog]

THE GOLDEN RULES OF THE ELEVATOR: WHAT A DOG NAMED BREWER TEACHES US ABOUT RAISING HUMANS

There’s a new gentleman in town, and he’s covered in golden fur.

On April 28, a now-viral TikTok from @mybuddybrewer quietly made waves by doing something pretty radical: it reminded us what grace under pressure looks like—and it came from a Golden Retriever. In the clip, Brewer the dog patiently waits inside an elevator. He doesn’t bark. He doesn’t bolt. He doesn’t treat the doors like a game of whack-a-mole. He simply waits for his cue from Mom, ears perked, tail still, gaze fixed. Then, like an actual furry butler, he follows her out. That’s it. That’s the video.

And somehow, it’s everything.

Why Does This Matter Now?

Because we’re living in a moment when public manners have gone the way of fax machines: extinct, except in niche corners of TikTok. Airports are battlegrounds. Playgrounds are shout-fests. Customer service calls are spiritual endurance tests. We’ve all seen it: grown adults pushing onto trains before others exit, screaming on speakerphone in restaurants, rage-quitting checkout lines. We're not just watching social norms erode—we’re slipping on the ice of a cultural freeze where basic decency is the casualty.

And then here comes Brewer. A dog. Demonstrating what we’ve somehow forgotten to teach ourselves: wait your turn. Follow the signal. Don’t make the elevator weird for everyone.

Brewer’s elevator etiquette lands because it’s simple. And in this moment of social overload and digital noise, simple feels like a revelation. He's not solving climate change. He’s not delivering a TED Talk. He’s just standing still until it’s time to go. And it stops us mid-scroll, because somewhere deep in our frayed, overstimulated brains, we crave that kind of calm obedience to social order.

One Good Dog in a Small Box

Let’s get granular. This video is 15 seconds long. It has no flashy music, no talking dogs, no "wait for it" punchline. Just Brewer, standing in a little metal box with the patience of a Buddhist monk. His eyes lock on Mom. The doors slide open. She says, "Okay." He exits—purposefully, politely, perfectly.

If you’re a parent, you know the miracle here. Getting your toddler to wait for the ding before sprinting out of an elevator? Herculean. Teaching your teenager to say “excuse me” in a crowd? Rare. Seeing a dog do it? It hits like a bolt of warm electricity: Oh. This is still possible.

It’s more than a party trick. It’s a snapshot of what it looks like when respect is taught early, consistently, and without shortcuts.

Dogs, Kids, and the Lost Art of Modeling Behavior

What makes Brewer feel so impressive is that he’s showing us something we wish more humans would do. He’s a mirror, but a polite one. The truth is, dogs don’t come pre-loaded with public decorum. Brewer didn’t emerge from the womb knowing elevator protocol. He was trained. He was guided. Someone spent time shaping his response to novel, potentially overstimulating situations. In short: someone parented him.

And that’s what hits the hardest. In a world increasingly overrun by instant gratification, distracted parenting, and apps that promise to do the hard work for us, Brewer is a reminder that nothing—not even basic good manners—comes for free. You get out what you put in. That’s true for dogs. It’s true for kids. It’s true for us.

When Did “Sit and Stay” Become Revolutionary?

There was a time when etiquette books flew off the shelves. Miss Manners was on the bestseller list. Public schools had home ec and classroom rules that didn’t spark lawsuits. We weren’t perfect—but we agreed on some shared social norms.

Fast forward to now, where “don’t be a jerk in public” feels like a controversial opinion. Some of that erosion is tech-driven. Some is pandemic aftermath. And some of it is just sheer emotional burnout. But we’re raising a generation of kids who, through no fault of their own, may never see a daily model of respect in action. That’s not their failure—it’s ours.

And this is why a dog waiting in an elevator hits so hard. It’s not nostalgia. It’s a warning. When we stop modeling the basics—patience, obedience, eye contact—we lose the connective tissue that holds communities together.

Brewer is not just “cute.” He’s competent. And that’s revolutionary now.

The Ripple Effect of Small, Well-Trained Creatures

Here's the hopeful part. Brewer isn’t an anomaly. He’s evidence that good behavior is still being taught somewhere—in kitchens, on sidewalks, in small, quiet moments that never go viral. He’s a reminder that it can be done, if we’re willing to invest the time.

Because good manners are contagious. They shift the energy of a room, a household, even a feed. Watching a dog like Brewer makes you sit up straighter, open the door with a little more awareness, maybe even slow your scroll. And if it can shift a TikTok viewer’s mood, it can definitely shape a kid’s worldview.

So if you’re parenting right now—whether your kid has two legs or four paws—take heart. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about modeling consistency. It’s about rewarding calm over chaos. It’s about remembering that every elevator ride is a tiny classroom.

The Gospel According to Brewer

We joke about wanting to be the person our dog thinks we are. But what if we wanted to be the person our dog is?

Loyal. Polite. Focused. Aware of others.

Not every day. Not in every moment. But maybe in small spaces, under fluorescent lights, when no one is clapping—just standing still until the doors open.

📹 Watch the original video here.

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Support us on Ko-Fi — every little bit helps, and we’re so grateful.

© 2025 InSequel Digital. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. The content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.

[gorgonstaringcontest]

Took Dog to the self-service dog wash yesterday, and managed to - well, I think normal people would be embarrassed but I honestly think it was more confronting for the other human in this situation, rather than myself.

For context - Dog is a rescue, and when she was dumped, it was in winter. For this reason, she doesn't just dislike being wet, it actively makes her scared.

We're working on it - every bath has gotten a little bit easier. I'm basically taking the approach of diluting her previous bad experience with good ones. Before she gets a bath, we go for a long walk somewhere with lots of places to explore and sniff, we go where she wants and I let her just really have a good time and have her own agency. Afterwards, I let her pick her own treat from the shop the self-service dog wash is in, and she gets it as soon as we get home. She gets lots of little treats and reassurance and positive talking the whole way there, during and back - and this talking is how the situation IN the self-service dog wash happened.

By the time we get there, I've been talking to her for about an hour and a half. The part of me that realises people are hearing me talk to the dog is long desensitised - but what does it matter? I'm just asking if she sniffed something good, if she saw a bug, if it was a good stick, that the noise was just a kid on a swing in the playground nearby, and on and on.

So IN the self-service dog wash, I'm talking her through it. I'm telling her she's a good girl, that I'm proud of her, that she's being so brave, what body part I'm working on now and next, what the stage of wash I'm doing is and what it's for.

Now, Dog had her first oestrus cycle a little while ago. So there's been lots of joking about how she's boy-crazy, she loves boys, the boys are all crazy for her, etc. etc. etc.

So I'm at the "Conditioning Rinse". We've shampoo's and rinsed, this is stage three. Still have a couple left - flea and tick leave-in rinse, then two stages of blow-drying. And by this point, my mouth is on auto-pilot. I'm talking absolute garbage, to help reassure her that everything is okay. I'm working my way down, and I say something along the lines of -

"You're being so good, such a good girl! You're going to be so sleek, and so smooth. Let's just start at the top, rub it into your little head, and your neck. Just think, all the boys down the park are going to be like 'who is she? She's so smooth. Who is this sleek diva?' and you can be like 'yes boys, notice me! Come play!' and then steal their toys and run away. Now we'll do your back. You're such a good girl, I'm so proud of you baby. The boys are going go ballistic. Chew their way off their leads to come play. But it's up to you if you wanna play, don't forget. Don't be like your dad, I had terrible taste when I was your age. Now we gotta wash your boobies, and I think that's weird for both of us so let's just get through it-"

And it's at this point, I hear a stifled laugh. A middle-aged woman has come into the dog wash area without me realising. She has heard... Well, too much to even begin to pretend like I was saying something normal. So, fuck it. Dog feeling comfortable is more important than covering it up. This poor woman has heard up to ten minutes of me yammering on about boys, and more "good girl"'s than a trashy BDSM romance novel.

I finish up, and have to walk past this woman and her dog. She says to me "need a lot of reassurance, does she?"

Now - most people think Dog is a boy. I don't know why, but probably because she's a 'dangerous' breed (bullshit, imo. She's only dangerous if you're made of peanut butter) and because she doesn't have a pink collar. Everyone random so far has assumed Dog is male, or, have asked instead of assuming. I know for sure she's heard my ridiculous monologue, and the likelihood of the laugh being at something else is extremely low - because of the boobies comment.

I just said "Yep. She was dumped as a puppy in the rain. This was the first bath that she didn't panic during, even if she still hated it.". The woman obviously didn't know what to say, so just said "have a good day then" and we left.

So, yeah. For the first time, Dog wasn't the most uncomfortable one during bath time, even if it's by virtue of me accidentally treating a random stranger to 20 non-stop minutes of life advice, narration, and compliments from me to Dog.

Dog had forgiven me before we got home. I think the dried kangaroo strips might have had something to do with it.

[mrs-pattie-thinks-things]

PAX story time - Furries are doing just what we did as children, plus wholesome stories

Something that caught me off guard was the furry panel. My brain was trying to process really hard how being a furry was a game. Don’t get me wrong, they fit right in, as lots of people were dressed up and at PAX, we welcome all, but I had questions. How do they play games with their hands in those giant gloves? Would they not simply sweat alive playing Just Dance? My conclusion that being a furry in and of itself, at least for many of them, was the game. Someone explained that it was like they create their own characters and act out different scenarios in an ongoing format, and they play exclusively as that one character?

Me: Oh, like D&D?

Apparently not like D&D. Their storyline’s are much more about domestic life and family relationship dynamics.

Me: Oh, like how little girls play House?

If you don’t know what playing house is like a child, each child would choose a role in a family household, be it the mum, the dad, the baby, the dog, the weird uncle, and you’d just act out their roles in the playground. There often be one boy who was roped in and he’d have no idea how he got there.

Apparently not, because, unlike house, there was elaborate relationship dynamics, complex themes and scenarios, scandals, significantly more dramatic than just acting out roles in a household.

Me: Oh! They’re playing Horsies!

Now, I don’t know if horsies is a universal game little girls play, but after school, we’d play with these little plastic horses. We were all horses in a field. We’d each choose a horse character, or a number of horses, and act out various melodramatic scenarios. For example, one afternoon I was playing the two “grownup” horses who had both lost their spouses and decided to fall in love and get married so their family could be one happy Brady bunch. Lo and behold, one of each of our children also fell in love. They were so upset with us for wanting to get married because they were pretty sure it’s illegal, or at the very least, really weird, to marry your step sibling. There was a back and forth, - “no, we’re older, so we should be the ones to get married!” ‘You’ve already had your chances at love, give us a go!” It ended up being a literal race to the alter because we couldn’t choose who was in the right.

For some reason, in our little eight-year-old brains, play acting these melodramas as horsies ways WAY less weird than acting them out with human dolls. I think, when you make them out as humans, there might be something in the back of your head that might remind you of people in your real life. That’s possibly why House, in comparison, had very tame. Horsies? That’s a massive free-for-all.

I’d also like to add that nothing can re-create the exhilarating shock of finding out your potential future horse-step-children have fallen in love. Not in any way that’s still fun and entertaining, anyway.

I also wonder if these kinds of games are the reason why girls are less likely to be diagnosed with Autism than boys.

So, if, by some unlikely chance this story happens upon an actual Furry - is being a Furry like playing Horsies? Are we all wrong and have no idea what we’re talking about?

And now for wholesome PAX Furry stories:

Proud Furry dad

There were a couple of dads talking about their (I’m assuming adult) children. One had a daughter who was non-verbal almost for her entire childhood. Somewhere around twelve, she expressed wanting to spend her time dressed up as (if memory serves) a puppy. She started with really simple outfits that she made for herself - just paper masks and a simple tail, but she became very focused in her sewing skills that by the time she was in her late teens, her skills were to a professional standard. He was saying how thankful he was that there was a community where she could feel safe to express herself and interact with other people. He was so worried that when he and her mother died, that she might not be able to look after herself or find a community to interact with. There was another furry dad who agreed, saying his son is autistic, but feels comfortable communicating with others when they’re all in a fur suit. There’s no pressure to be verbal, and the mask helps him feel safe.

Cult of the Lamb Furry wedding

I wasn’t there, but after the main events, there were two weddings that took place at The Cult of the Lamb booth. One was between two Furries. I have heard people say it was really sweet, and one attendee say they cried tears of happiness for the new couple.

There’s a short of it on games hub YouTube channel. I’ve seen plenary of more footage than just this video, but this one is at least googlable.

[clairethecutepup]

The Dreams and Nightmares We Share... Bonus Content: Deleted Scene

From Chapter: "In Your Dreams (Too)"

Chapter one was originally planned to have things differently, with Seve and Alexis going to find Claire on their own; while Sarah and Jimmy would've stayed behind in the village to absorb the pigs' admiration (Jimmy mostly), until the two goats brought Claire back as the actual ones to (hopelessly) disprove her "dangerousness." This deleted scene takes place after Sarah and Jimmy return to the village, where they come across a searching Seve and Alexis (the latter searching a trash can's insides), after their run-in with Claire outside. Be warned: lacked revision and all, so a possibility of typos and whatnot, as it wasn't the final product.

“Hmph, I guess they could’ve just been freaked out because she’s so weird-looking…” Sarah rolls her eyes, “At least, it LOOKED like a girl, I guess…?”

“Oh, I wanna see!” Alexis lifts her head, the lid hanging off it, “I love ‘weird-looking’ things!”

Seve asks, “Is that why you filled your ‘playground’ thing with those sock monsters?”

“How could you NOT love them, Seve…? They’re so silly and a neat, new way for socks to be inside shoes!”

“Because they were always trying to literally kick my butt?”

Alexis then hops over to Sarah and Jimmy, foregoing her “hat.”

“Please, can you guys show me?” Alexis gives puppy dog eyes, “Where can I see it?”

“Good luck,” Sarah folds her arms, “she basically ran for the hills, after Jimmy and I got too close.”

“I admit,” Jimmy adds, “I can’t help but feel a little worried about the small thing… She seems to be quite the nervous wreck, and others seem to easily have it out for her.”

“Who cares?” Sarah looks at him, “She’s probably not even another ‘real’ person sharing this dream, or however you guys put it…”

Alexis grins larger, “I still wanna see!”

“... Just keep going THAT way,” Sarah points, “Maybe you’ll catch up with her, but you might wanna hurry…”

***

Claire catches her breath, after hiding inside a log that slightly sits behind the forest line. First, some “pig-hybrids” started screaming at her and panicking, now two “full-humans” were doing near-similar! Yet, Claire found the pigs odd… Sure, it was possible for SOME hybrids to look more like anthropomorphic animals, hence their nickname of “anthros,” but it’s quite rare for someone to have enough animal genetics for such a thing. Usually, the presence of paws or extra fur would be the ONLY further addition to the standard tail and ears-- excluding the paw pads that could be found on almost any hybrid’s hands, even when they’re of the standard humanistic nature.

Come to think of it, those full-humans were odd, too… Hybrids are just as common as those entirely human, the former even outnumbering the latter in Claire’s hometown, so why were they acting so terrified and surprised toward her? Better question: how did Claire get to THIS town? All she remembers is climbing out of this very log and trying to see if she could find any friends or family. Claire begins to sniffle, feeling all alone and scared she’ll never find her way back home. Unfortunately, that fear is about to be heightened, now that goat-girl has found wolf-girl. Alexis could never miss a big, blue tail sticking outside of a log.

She peers in, “Hi!”

Claire jolts up, easily standing on all fours without hitting her head. Before her equally-lengthened arms and legs can bolt off, she looks over her shoulder to see who exactly it is. Wait, was this ANOTHER “anthro” hybrid…?

“Oops, sorry!” Alexis continues, “I didn’t mean to scare you, I just wanted to see what you were like! So, can I? I promise I won’t bite!”

Well, this strange person wasn’t acting all scared and shouty, so maybe Claire didn’t need to get out of here…? Trembling, Claire slowly turns around, still having her arms serve as additional legs. Well, she’s not as “weird” as Alexis might’ve been hoping for, but that doesn’t mean she has no appeal! Those big, blue eyes, those big and soft big paws for hands-- how could Alexis NOT just need to squeeze her?! Claire barely had time to react toward the sudden oncoming hug, much to her horrified dismay…

“Oh my gosh,” Alexis squealed, “you’re so cute!”

Alexis always fawned over whatever non-goat creature was currently before her, whether it be: spiders, puppies, or whatever THIS was. Of course, many often dreaded the thought of her actually caring for such things, with Seve even fearing the idea of Alexis being trusted with a simple pet rock. Actually, mention the name, “Hamilton” and you’ll get a sniffle from Alexis, as she recalls the shattered rock she found herself burying the pieces of-- little coffin included. Not to say Alexis was some oblivious abuser to whatever couldn’t speak and all, she just had her… quirks.

Fortunately, Claire is luckier: Alexis’ hug is tight, but not crushing nor suffocating. Still, despite how kind and gentle Alexis may be, Claire is STILL being held by a complete stranger and without any comforting, familiar face around to help if things go wrong. Plus, Alexis’ appearance made the pup uneasy: there was something about the dreary and gothic nature to Alexis’ overall appearance, alongside the sharp horn and sharpness of her hooved digits… Alexis frowns at how Claire trembles against her and keeps her eyes shut tightly, as if expecting the goat to suddenly tear her apart.

“Aww, don’t be afraid…” Alexis nuzzles her head into Claire’s, “I really WON’T hurt you, I promise!” she giggles, “You’re so soft and tiny, how could those pigs think you were some big, scary monster?”

Claire opens an eye, finally believing that Alexis was more cuddler than murderer.

“Hey, Lexi, where are ya?” Seve calls out, “Did you get your fill of ‘weird looks’ or whatever?”

“I found her, Seve!” Alexis comes out, still holding Claire, “Say, do you think we could keep her around…?”

Seve folds his arms and raises an eyebrow.

“Hamilton.”

Alexis sniffles a little, but shakes her head and snaps herself out of it.

“I don’t mean it like I’m gonna ‘KEEP her, keep her,’ Seve, just keep her with us until we wake up!”

“I don’t know…” Seve looks up and taps his foot, “It feels kind of creepy to basically FORCE someone to just tag along with us.”

“Maybe she WANTS to!” Alexis then looks to Claire, “Please, come with us…? We promise to be a lot nicer to you than those pigs were…”

“Actually,” Seve protests, “MY treatment’s gonna depend on how YOU treat me first…”

Alexis repeats, “Please…?”

Well, it’s not exactly like Claire already had someone else to depend on currently… Not to mention, though intense as Alexis may come off to the pup, she genuinely seems to like Claire and probably won’t do worse than surprise hugs. Plus, Alexis’ friendliness and energy did have a soothing familiarity to it, akin to her “big buddy” of Leena. Claire nods, causing Alexis to tighten the embrace.

“Yay, we’ve got a new friend!” Alexis cheers, “So, what’s YOUR name? I’M Alexis, and THAT’S Seve!” she then notices the collar worn, “Oh wait, is it on THERE?” she takes the tag into a hoof, “‘Clarissa Vellll--’... Uh, Seve, how do you pronounce that other name?”

Wait, this girl wore a collar…? Was she someone’s weird pet? Well, whatever, Seve’s seen crazier in his dreams. May as well take a look himself… Only to realize he’s also plum out of luck on figuring out how “Vlcek” is supposed to be pronounced.

“I think we’ll be fine just sticking to the first name,” Seve sighs, then perks up, “Hold on, it looks like she’s got phone numbers on here…”

Oh right, Claire’s tag! Some preferred medical bracelets for those of health issues or… “mental concerns,” to put it nicely, and some found collars more convenient. Hey, in a world of animal-hybrids, such neckwear could be considered fashionable beyond standard pets. Maybe she could get them to call home and have her family take her back? She needs to literally point it out and tell them-- to the best of her abilities, anyway.

“Call home!” Claire smiles, “Call par--”

Claire freezes. Did she just speak out ENTIRE words…? 

“... Am I talking right?” she asks, “I think so…”

“Uh, yeah, you’re talking…” Seve raises an eyebrow, “So, you’re saying you want us to call your house or whatever?”

Claire nods, as her eyes dart around in wonderment toward her mouth’s sudden lack of missing syllables and letters.

“Oh, I know!” Alexis suggests,

[End of Content]

[clouduru-chan]

Gunpowder

synopsis: Soul mates always meet, Vash always thought he would never find love because of his sins, and Knives didn't care much for it, but as incredible as it may seem, a young woman familiar to them emerges on the sand of no man's world.

(first of all, let me clarify something, I decided to do a crossover between jujutsu kaisen and Trigun Stampede, and with some references to chainsaw man, so I hope you like it)

chapter 1

Vash was sleeping in his bed on ship 5, Rem had told him and Knives a bedtime story, and soon the little blond was sleeping softly on his bed.

But something starts to warm his face slightly, forcing him to open his eyes, and when he wakes up the radiant sun forces him to close his eyes again, and soon the blond opens his eyes slowly to get used to the brightness, and soon he realizes that he is in a different place, he was lying on the floor, the small stones were hurting him, forcing him to get up.

He looked at the strange place where he was, it was different from what he had ever seen, soon he felt the presence of someone, the little blond looked back thinking it was his brother, soon he saw something else, a girl with hair (hair color) looked at him with curiosity, she wore a strange outfit from Vash's perspective was somewhat strange, she wore a white blouse that was with yellowish stains, and at the bottom wore a pink shorts, and on her feet wore a slipper.

Her hair was adorned with different clips, Vash looked on in admiration.

(???): Are you okay? Why were you lying on the floor of the playground?

(Vash): Huh? Playground?

He looked around, he saw strange objects, but he had seen them in some files that rem had given him to look at, they were some kind of toys.

(???): What's your name? Where are your parents? Are you lost?

The small child asked Vash several questions.

(Vash): I'm fine.... My name is Vash! Where are my parents? I don't have any... And I don't know where I am

(Y/n): Um.... Well, first of all, my name is Y/N! If you want I can help you, do you have any responsible people with you? How old are you?

Y/n was asking several questions to the humanoid looking boy, he was a bit confused by this.

(Vash): I have a guardian? Her name is Rem! E... I am one year old!

(Y/n): WHAT?! One year old? But why are you so big?

Vash knew he wasn't a human, he was a little afraid of the girl running out of fear of him on that account and leaving him alone in that strange place.

(Vash): Well ....

(Y/n): You are not human, right? You don't have the same energy as those things... Dad had told me there were some that looked human. Are you a curse?

Vash didn't understand anything.

(Vash): Curse? I am not what you are talking about.... And not even human....

(Y/n): No? Hummm.... What are you then?

(Vash): A PLANT....

(Y/n): A what?

(Vash): A PLANT....

(Y/n): (Vash): *aims at the tree* Are you that?

(Vash): I am not a tree!

Then the girl points to the grass.

(Vash): I'm not a grass!

Soon the one with eyes (eye color) walked a little away from Vash and picked up a small dog that was passing by, and soon returned to the blonde.

(Y/n): That?

(Vash): What is it?

(y/n): a dog....

(Vash): I am not a dog

Soon the girl offers the dog to Vash, so he can take the little puppy, the blond took the little dog in his lap, he felt the heat emanating from the little animal, he liked the feeling.

(Y/N): I really have no idea what you are.... But what the hell, PLANT, tree, dog, whatever! But the important thing is to help you! Do you even know where you are? Like where were you before you came here?

(Vash): I don't know where I am, and before I came here, I was on SEED ship 5

(Y/n): Ship? Like Star Wars?

(Vash): What is Star Wars? You know what, can you tell me where I am?

(Y/n): You are in Saitama...

(Vash): Saitama?

(Y/n): Yes, Saitama, in Japan!

(Vash): Japan?

(Y/n): This is going to be complicated....

[beef-brisket]

Lucifer nods: I do- but only to talk, no... messing around with my mind-.

Adam: What?! Babe, you can't be serious! After what she did-?!

Just as Adam turns towards Hela getting ready to charge at her, Lucifer grabs his arm: Adam. Trust me.

Hela laughed and dropped herself down onto Lucifer's throne: Well done, Lucifer. You've trained your dog well~.

Adam: You fucking-!

Lucifer tightened his grip on Adam, he growled as he felt himself get dragged a few steps: Adam! Enough!

Hela: Hmm, not trained well enough, it seems~.

Lucifer: Hela! Stop. You're here to speak with me.

Hela: Well, I WAS here to talk to both of you, but that's off to a good start! So, if your mutt has calmed down, I have a few questions.

Lucifer: He's calm. Right, Adam?

After a few moments of silence, Lucifer looked up at Adam, who was glaring at Hela.

Hela: Don't make me put you down.

Adam: ...Fine. Ask your fucking questions.

Hela: Oh, I will! I don't need your permission. Anyway, Lucifer~. My favourite person~. I have many people looking for me- for different reasons. Why are you different from the rest?

Lucifer: ...You've shown yourself to me, surely you have the answer to that.

Hela: Hm. Fair enough. I find you interesting to answer your question.

Lucifer: I didn't ask one-.

Hela tapped the side of her head with her long nail, smiling at Lucifer: Oh, yes, you did~. Not only were you a human with an archangel soul, but now you're the king of Hell- not that that means anything to me, but even I know when someone's impressive~. Now, speaking of impressive, what to you intend to do with me~?

Lucifer: We- I want to end the war and keep Heaven out. Permanently.

Hela: Oh, how interesting~.

Lucifer: They've been hanging around. There's a rumour going around that they want to destroy Hell altogether. And I'm sure you don't want that to happen.

Hela: Hm... you're not wrong. That wouldn't be in my best interest. Too bad for you, that I have other plans.

Hela jumps up from the throne and dusts herself off.

Adam: The fuck does that mean?

Hela sighed: Ooh, I really wish you wouldn't talk to me, dog. But, if it'll stop you from talking, I'll answer your question~. Being back in Hell has opened my eyes to just how... revolting, the place is. So, I'm going to aim for higher amd better things~.

Lucifer: ...Heaven?

Hela: Smart boy! Heaven will be my new playground. It's about time those rats learned their place-.

Lucifer: Hela- you can't! You start a war between Heaven and Hell- and we have enough war! Just- please, just help us!

Hela: Oh, but I am helping you, pet! Once Heaven is mine, you'll be able to travel between the two! Aren't you lucky~.

As Hela started to walk off, Lucifer ran over to her: Please- Hela! Just-.

Hela smiled downa t Lucifer amd pinched cheek: Don't worry, sweetie~. Once I'm ruling all of the realms, I'll take you away from this glorified ape you call a husband, and give you a throne that's worthy of you~!

In shock, Lucifer let Hela walk off. What was he even meant to do? He stood no chance against her.

Adam: You'll get yourself killed.

Hela: No, mutt. You'll get yourself killed.

Suddenly, Hela was in Adam's face, and her claws started to dig into his ribs.

Hela: Remember, you have something of mine. Don't make me take it back. You won't like it~.

Adam: L-Lucifer helped me-.

Hela: I don't know why, I would have let you rot if I was him. But no, he had to do something, didn't he? Not that it matters. You had my blood in you for over a week, I'm everywhere now~.

Moving away, Hela smiled at Lucifer: If you want to remain king- and alive, I highly recommend staying out of my way.

In a blink of an eye, the life came back to the throne room, and the air became lighter. She was gone. Leaving Adam and Lucifer in silence.

Adam: ...Fuck sakes...

Lucifer: You can say that again.

I miss our God!Adam Au

Sequel 👀

In Canada Eh! Lmao

CANADA FOREVER

Yes plsss! I miss our stupid, power-hungry boy 😫😫

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

One Small Step

Snow is slippery. But she spent half her life - no more than - around a guy that makes ice and snow. She can stay on her feet on snow, even if she was running at full tilt. So before Simon's sled could gain more momentum, more speed, more distance from her, she dashes forward and she doesn't fall and she grabs hem of Simon's coat.

She pulls, using all her weight to keep Simon here with her. The dogs do the rest, snatching the sled out of Simon's hold as they drag it away.

Marcy and Simon tumble onto the ground and Simon is full grown but he treats Marcy like she's made of glass. And Marcy is about the weight of a cat soaking wet, and she is feral and she is mad and she grew up in a world where her jungle gyms are ruined buildings. She wrestles Simon to the ground, knocking the Crown off, and pinning him down as she plays keep away.

"Marcy, no! Stop! I'm doing this for both of us!"

"No! You're a coward and you're doing this for yourself! I want you to stay here!"

With the Crown in her hands, she runs from Simon. Her goal is to keep it away from him for as long as she can. Maybe if she kept it away for enough time than Simon will see some sense. He will see that she's right and he's a donkhead and then they get to stay together forever.

"Gunther! Gunther, no! Bad Gunther! Bring me back my Crown!"

"My name is Marcy!" She yells back as she dives into the rubble that she called her playground.

Without his powers, Simon is slower than her. He climbs well enough but the broken buildings - with pipes sticking out, walls dented in, and debris everywhere - all that takes time to navigate. But not for Marcy - she's an expert. She knows with barely a glance where to jump, where to find the next handhold. In her industrial park, she knows her way over. She's really good at park-over (or parkour when Simon says it funny).

This goes on for hours as Marcy plays keep away as best she can. But she stops hearing Simon behind her. And she grows worried. He could have fallen. He's not nearly as fast as she is. He could have hurt himself. Without the Crown, Simon is so much weaker. She circles back to where they started, hoping to at least catch a glimpse of him.

She sees no one.

Then, before she can react, there's a crunch of snow and a hand falls on her shoulder, yanking her back. Another hand - familiarly blue - immediately reaches for the Crown.

"NO! STOP!"

"Hey, buddy! Get your hands off my girl!"

A second voice shouts. Both Marcy and Simon freeze. Marcy hears wind whipping hard as if somethin was flying through. Then she sees a dark blur appear out the corner of her eye.

"Karate kick!"

Simon gets knocked back. Both his hands are empty. Marcy still has the Crown.

"And stay there!"

Marcy looks up at the stranger that came out of the Nightosphere nowhere. Something about his face - the pointed tips of his ears, the slitted eyes, the fanged mouth - something seems so familiar about him. But... how?

With a crack of his neck, the stranger looks down at her. "Long time no see, Marceline! How have you been? Let's go suck some souls!" He cracks his head again, finding the fallen form of Simon. "Hey, why not start with this guy?"

The stranger Dad takes a step forward.

"Noooo!" Marcy flings herself away from Dad him, and plants herself in front of Simon. "Don't touch him! Stay away from Dad him, Dad!"

Wait. What. Did she just call this weirdo -

The stranger - her Dad? stops moving. He stares at her as the twisted attempt at a smile forms on his mouth. "Aww! You remember me! You know, Elise wasn't so sure that you would because human babies, except you aren't completely human - only half. But you remember! That's my girl!"

Marcy blinks. She's who's girl? This guy's? Is Simon okay? Who's Elise? She's not human???

In the span of maybe fifteen seconds, her already weird life just got weirder.

[letarasstuff]

Little one being sick and just wanting cuddles with baby!barnes

CW: Sick child, medicine

Bucky has to be honest: The concept of sickness became foreign to him through the years. The super soldier serum also enhanced his immune system next to other things. And even before that, back in the 40s, he wasn't usually one to get sick (after all, this was Steve's job). That's why it takes him a while to place his daughter's symptoms into the big picture.

"Daddy, I icky," (Y/N) mumbles into the crook of Bucky's neck. He got a little visitor in the night, which surprised him since she usually slept in her own bed. "What do you mean by icky? Did you hurt yourself playing with your friend on the playground?" But the little girl shakes her head. "My tummy and my head no feel good." This confuses the father. Her symptoms can't come from eating something wrong, that much he knows. Also, all she did yesterday was meet a playdate from kindergarten and after that they walked back home… in the pouring rain.

Gently Bucky presses his human hand on (Y/N)'s forehead. The feeling of her heightened temperature worries him. "Oh doll, I think you are sick." The news definitely doesn't make the grumpy toddler any happier. "I no want feel wike this." "I know. Wait here, Daddy is gonna get some stuff to make you feel better." Just as he is about to get up, (Y/N) is holding onto his sleep shirt with all her might (which is not much to her father, it feels more like a little tug). "Don't leave me," she begs and looks at him with well trained puppy dog eyes (thanks to Peter, who taught her those). "I wanna cuddle." A sigh leaves the father's lips, contemplating on how he will handle this situation.

Long story short: He carries the toddler with his metal arm (bringing her extra comfort for her small fever) while going into the kitchen, where he keeps a few child-friendly medicines. Bucky kind of has to make her swallow the "yucky juice", bribing his daughter with the prospect of spending a day in, watching TV and eating on the couch. "Plus cuddles!" (Y/N) demands before coughing. Bucky agrees to that requirement, finally getting her to swallow the cough syrup.

As promised, the two of them stay the whole day in the house on the couch with the little one mainly laying on her father's chest sleeping the sickness away and him petting her back.

[yamithediaperdork]

Rewarded as a bully deserves (HunterXhunter)

Killua was in a rotten mode as he headed for the closet park in town, huffing and growling over him and Gon having a fight.

It was just so stupid! Here he was, a deadly assassin and for the 6th time this month they'd woken up in a bed drenched with pee. Lord knows Gon was trying to be kind and supportive but really, who could blame him for getting tired of waking up soaked?

Gon wanted Killua to start wearing 'protection' at night to bed, but the deadliest bed wetter alive refused to go that far, he had already comprised and let Gon put rubber sheets on the bed so hotel staffs stopped giving them a hard time hadn't he?

In any case they had taken a shower and gotten dressed, and Gon asked Killua to go for a walk by himself and think about what he had said.

'Screw that nonsense.. I'm go and cheer myself up the best way I know how!' Killua thought as he came to the playground area of the park. Nothing lifted his spirits like a little bit of harmless bullying.

Scanning the play area Killua spotted a good first target. a 5-6 year old with dark tanned skin and a black brush cut was digging away in the sandbox, making a moat around a sad looking sand castle he'd made with one hand, while licking away on a mint chocolate ice cream cone with the other.

spotting a plastic bucket with some water in it for the moat, Killua smirked and strolled over.

"Nice fort little guy." He said sarcastically, getting the boys attention and the kid gave him a smile.

"thanks! I was working on it for like ever!" The little guy said, apparently not recognizing the tone.

"Heh, Would be a shame if something happened to it though." Killua chuckled. "you did get house insurance against giants right?"

"Uhhh what?"

"well what if some big mean old giant.." Killua started, stepping into the sand box now. "Just came up..and did THIS!" Killua asked and stomped his foot down on top of the fort, snickering as the little guys eyes went wide.

"HEY! WHY'D YA DO THAT?!?" the little guy yelled, starting to stand up and with tears welling in his eyes.

"Because i'm better, stronger and therefore better then you. Little dorks have to get put in their place." Killua sneer and then grabbed the arm holding the ice cream cone and make the kid smuch it onto his hair. "Geez you little dorks are SUCH messy eaters!"

The boy squealed as the sudden cold on his head and how icky it felt.

"S-Stop this! I-I" the boy tried to make his threat clear but he was also trying not to full on bawl.

"heyyy don't worry about it, I'll help you clear up!" Killua laughed, then snatched up the bucket with the water in it and dumped it on the boys head, then tugged it down over the kids eyes.

"Hey, that's a good look for you, but it's missing something." Killua said and sneered, then turned the boy around and tugged back the kid's short then tanked up on the poor little guys briefs.

"Awww, a fan of sailor moon I see!" Killua teased and hooked the back of the briefs on the back of the bucket, then booted the kid in the ass, sending him sprawling out of the sand pit.

"Alright, I had my fun, get the fuck out of here before I decide to be mean." Killua said cheerfully.

the thought that all of this had been Killua being nice light a fire under the boy's butt, and he ran/crawled off, not even trying to remove the helmet or pick the wedgie out of his butt.

"well, I feel better already." Killua commented to himself, though he noticed a few other kids and adults glaring at him.

"Oh by all means, anyone who wants to try and punish me.. " Killua said, going from a happy goofy look to his slash smile. "Step up."

no one did.

After scaring two more little guys into give him all their ice cream money Killua was in the middle of getting a cone (Double chocolate mint just like the dork had had, it had looked good after all) when he heard a familiar voice.

"That's him Carlo! that's the bully!" cried the dork from before.

Turning around slowly Killua smirked, Carlo was clearly the dork's big brother, and while he was a little bit taller then Killua he had a slim build and the same tanned skin, though his hair was a bit longer while still being short.

"Ok mister, I'm going to give you ONE chance to say sorry to my little brother, and get him a replacement cone. If you don't.." Carlo said, crossing his eyes and glaring at Killua with a death glare.

Killua, who gave those out with ease froze for a tiny fraction of a second, and his bladder twitched, but he shook it off and took a long lick of his ice cream to show he wasn't scared, and to give him time to regain his composure.

"What? If i don't you'll do -what?-" Killua asked. "Try and fight me and end up hanging from the teeth ball pole by your undies? I mean, I'm mostly in a good mood now but if it's a ass kicking you want." Killua sneered.

Carlo rolled his eyes, then smirked.

"You know..I've been in a bit of a funk lately, and beating up bullies always makes me free better.. so thanks." He said.

Killua raised a eyebrow to thank but before he could react, Carlo was right next to him, and much like Killua had done before, taken a gripe on the arm with the ice cream cone.

On small difference though, Carlo wasn't going to make him put it in his hair and had tugged open the front of Killua's shorts and undies.

"W-Wait d-don't!" Killua shrieked, his plea fell on deaf ears though and he was somehow powerless to over come the taller boy power.

As such, a high pitch wail was heard as Killua's twig and berries got a double mint chocolate coating.

Killua's eyes crossed and a cartoonish image flashed in his mind as it felt like his private had just been transformed into two ice cubes and a Icicle, then there was sudden relief and warmth, making him stick his tongue out the side of his mouth in blessed relief.. at least until he noticed the warmth was traveling down his legs.

"heh, Carlo the bully wet himself!" The little guy pointed out, snickering and getting out his phone to take pictures.

"I can see that buddy, Aww, did the cold cold ice cream make da big bad bully go wee wee?" Carlo asked, folding his arms over his chest and baby talking to Killua.

"i..I uh.." Killua stammered, Sure, he was no stranger to soaking his pants at NIGHT while he was asleep, but this was a new one for him! "I..didn't go tinkle?" He finished lamely.

"Rightt then whats that making a puddle on the ground right now and staining your shorts." Carlo asked.

"..I don't have to answer that! In fact, I've had enough of false accusation's and I'm leaveing!" Killua huffed and turned around to do just that, but also exposed his back to his new found enemy.

Carlo, knowing that Killua had wedgie his little brother Hector, moved in and with on hand tugging Killua's shorts back the other grabbed the waist brand of Killua's Barney briefs and lifted up before the poor hunter even had a chance to fight back.

Killua's mouth opened as if he was screaming, and while dogs howled in pain no one with human ears could of heard the noise coming from his mouth, it was that high pitched.

Carlo smirked at the response and said "Awww, Barney briefs? that's just soo..fitting! But I wonder how strong they are?" then adding his other hand to the back of the waist band even as Killua looked over his shoulder and shook his head no, bringing his hands together pleading, Yanked the soon to be ex-hunter off the ground by a good 2 inches if now more and dangled him there as Killua turned pale and went blank eyed.

"Oh wow, those must be reinforced Carlo!" Hector marveled, recording this all for YouTube.

"I know, kinda a shame, if they weren't they'd of snapped by now and he'd know SOME relief." Carlo chuckled then turned him and Killua better into frame for the camera.

"hi I'm Carlo and this is a big bully who tried to pick on my little brother..Huh, never caught his name.. Hey wedgie boy, whats your name?" Carlo asked and holding Killua up with just one arm delivered a hard swat to Killua's buns, which also ended up making his shorts slide down around his ankles showing off his pee stained undies.

"A-AH! M-Mah name is Killua Zoldyck and I'm super super sowwy! Pwease stop!" Killua begged and pleaded, in a voice that sounded like he'd sucked on some helium.

"I dunno Hector, what do YOU think? Has Killua had enough?" Carlo asked, and Killua shot the boy he'd bullied a pleading look, bottom lip trembling and tears welling up.

"Hmmm you know I really think..that you should use him like a yo-yo till his undies snap. THEN I'll forgive him!" Hector giggled.

With both hands on the waist band Carlo went to work even as Killua started to blubber and cry for his mommy.

It ended up taking a record breaking 55 bounces before Killua's undies snapped, and by that time Killua had gone to la-la. with his undies snapped and ripped off off he was too out of it to notice that he was currently face down butt up with nothing covering his der rear and his bubble butt and little package showing.

"oh man.. that explains why he was in such a bad mood.." Hector giggled, having turned off the camera for now but uploading the video. (after all, even with a member as small of Killua's the mods on YouTube would of removed the video)

"man, makes me feel like I picked on a over sized toddler. feeling a little guilty." Carlo said, though in truth he wasn't really.

Killua's shorts were gone by this point as the boys who's ice cream money he had stolen had retrieved them, and after finding some of the cash and taking Killua's wallet, had tossed them in a bin meant for dog waste.

"Well, nothing we can do now, we don't have any spare pants for him." Hector pointed out.

"Well not quite..remember that weird vendor we passed on the way in?" Carlo said, digging into his pocket and pulling out some bill's.

"Heh.. you don't mean.." Hector asked.

"A yup. be a good boy and run and get widdle Killua something to wear." Carlo said, handing the money over and keeping a eye on 'sleeping beauty' while Hector ran off.

Killua was having a wonderful dream about having a endless buffet of candy and chocolates and it was so nice after what must of been a nightmare where he was tormented and bullied beyond belief.

He was slowly waking up and rolling over to sit up and rubbing his eyes. "Nggggh Heyyy Gon, you wouldn't believe the night..mare..I.." Killua started to say then opened his eyes, seeing Carlo and a semi crowd all around.

"Welcome back to the land of the living tiny!" Carlo said.

Killua huffed at that and stood up, about to tell Carlo off, he wasn't THAT much shorter when a breeze blew and he noticed how much he felt it on his on buns.

Looking down his face went crimson and Killua grabbed at his shirt and tugged it down, trying to cover up his privates.

"W-WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY UNDIES? MY SHORTS?!" Killua yelled, getting roars of laughter from the crowd.

"Well your undies were totally wreaked so we tossed them." Carlo said, nodding over to a waste bin for normal trash. "As for your shorts, there was a couple of boys you really seemed to annoy earlier and after getting back they're ice cream money with interest, they tossed them in the dogie waste bin..I doubt you'll want them back."

"but..but.. I can't go around with my ding dong on display!" Killua whined and whimpered.

"That's true. don't worry, I already thought of that shrimp." Carlo said and nodded behind Killua.

Killua turned to look and there was Hector, the brat he wished he'd never of picked on, running back with a pack of...DIAPERS!?

Killua whimpered loudly, a spurt of pee coming out and soaking the bottom of his shirt as he turned back to Carlo with pleading eyes.

"Please no! anything but diapers!" Killua whimpered. "I'm not a baby!"

"heh, Are you SURE about that?" Carlo asked, looking down and making Killua's gaze follow to the damp spot on Killua's t-shirt.

"i..but..that was because.." Killua mewed then shrieked and jumped, grabbing at his bun's as Hector came in range and walloped Killua's baby butt.

Ironically when he came down he landed in Carlo's waiting arms, like a blushing bride.

"Awww how cute, but you really think I'm gonna save you?" Carlo asked, then dropped Killua onto the hard ground and onto his tender buns.

"S-Stop being s-so mean to me!" Killua whined, on the verge of anther crying fit.

"Sheesh, I should of gotten him a paci." Hector said, handing the pack of diapers over to Carlo then tugging the shirt up and off of Killua, using it as a tear rag then tossing it out.

"Oh wow, Lookie here Killua~" Carlo said, reading the pack then holding it in front of Killua's face then read from the back. " 'New little poopers punishment diapers are perfect for your so called big kid who refuses to use the potty! extra thick to ensure they waddle, it comes with a embarrassingly babyish nursery print we promise to have your little stinker blushing bright red. with a special stink guard you and the big baby won't have to deal with their stink!' Heh wow, Oh look, they offer alt versions, that's something to keep in mind if you need more lessons."

Killua meanwhile was looking at the front of the package, showing sobbing pre teens in the bulky diapers and smirking parents.

"I-I changed my mind! I'll go home naked!" Killua whined.

"Nonsense! what kind of person would I be if I let you go without the diaper you CLEARLY need!" Carlo said, as if he was doing Killua a favor. "This is gonna go down one of two ways loser. You can either lay back and suck your thumb while I put as many of these as I can on you, or I can kick your ass, knock you senseless..then put as many of these as I can on you. Either way, you're going back to diapers. YOUR choice."

Killua pouted, started to ball a fist up.. then sighed and laid back, popping his thumb in his mouth and turning away from the crowd as laughter and taunts rang out.

"Loser!"

"Big baby!"

"Wuss!"

Carlo was a little disappointed that Killua decided not to fight back, but he had to admit seeing the wanna be bully accepting his big baby fate was kinda cute.

ripping the back open open Carlo smirked, dispute being the size of a pack that should be able to hold 16 diapers, there was only 6 of them in the pack and he pulled on of the massive things out, making sure everyone could see all the rattles and paci's and teddy bears and the like all over the diaper then unfolded it.

"Ok Shrimp, Butt up! If i have to lift you up I'm giving your buns a swat!" He said and wasn't shocked when Killua's butt almost levitated up in a instant to avoid any more punishment. "good boy!"

getting the almost pillow like diaper under the loser's butt, he gently pushed Killua's butt back down and smirked as Killua loudly sucked on his thumb, getting drool going down his chin as Carlo pulled the front up nice and snug and then taped it up.

"Welcome back to babyhood Shrimp." Hector said, leaning down and snickering, and making Carlo beam with pride.

In the end they only manged to double diaper Killua, the diapers were just too massive and they ripped a third one trying to get it on the babfied brat.

After he was all nice and snug in his diapers Carlo told Killua to try and get up and to Killua's massive shame, not only could he NOT get up on his own, but he couldn't even get close to bringing his knees together.

The fourth time he just plopped down on his butt trying to get up, Carlo rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"-sigh- Ok Shrimp, let me help you." Carlo said as if he was doing Killua a favor.

Holding out his hands Killua took them and got yanked up to his feet, legs wobbling as he tried to center his balance.

"heh, you might need a bit to get used to waddling in there. Try waddling over to that tree over there." Carlo said, pointing to a tree that would of only been 10 seconds away normally, but with this massive bulk taped around his hips it might as well been a mile away.

Still, Killua knew better then to argue at this point and took a wobbly step, then anther, and smirked, thinking he was getting the hand of it.

'I got this! I can-' He was thinking when his fourth step went wrong and with a loud yelp Killua plopped on his butt, a shocked look on his face but not hurt considering the thick padding under his butt.

"Awww, widdle baby Killua doesn't know how to walk!" Hector giggled, getting more laughter from the crowd.

"yeah, guess you better stick to crawling shrimp..you CAN at least do THAT can't you?" Carlo asked, tilting his head and smirking.

Killua huffed, he wanted to try and walk again but knew he wasn't getting any help and there just wasn't anything to help him get up to his feet with around. He toyed with getting in the crawling position and pushing himself up THAT way but had a feeling while he'd be in the middle of it Carlo would just smack his butt and send him face first into the dirt.

getting on all fours and trying to drown out the snickers and flashes of camera phones going off, Killua rolled around and got on all fours and then slowly crawled over towards the tree, glad that he had been right that he could crawl at least.

'at least i didn't have to do a diaper scoot across the ground, knowing my luck it would of ripped apart the diaper and I'd of gotten a spanking.' Killua thought with a sulk as he reached the tree.

"Well well, at least you can crawl, I was worried I was gonna have to carry you over." Carlo snickered. "Now use the true shrimp and get to your feet, and shake that diapered ass and sing us a song about what a big dumb baby you are and how happy you are to be back in diapers."

"..Your joking right?" Killua asked, jaw dropping. "There is NO WAY in hell I'm gonna d-" he started started to say but Carlo cracked the knuckles on his right fist and and light tapped his fist into his open left hand.

"You SURE about that?" Carlo asked.

"..W-what If I can't think of any lyrics because I'm a big dumb baby?" Killua squeaked out, flooding his pampers.

"I'm sure you'll think of something. It's ok if your dumb is lame though, your just a diaper baby shrimp." Carlo said.

Grunting with effort, Killua pulled himself to his feet, hands braced on the three and looked over his shoulder, the crowd was watching with delight and he trying to think of something, anything to sing.

"I...I'm big baby Killua and I'm so happy.." he started, wiggling his diaper, shutting his eyes.

"Because a big strong boy put me in a nappy!

Diapers are totally wear I belong!

so I hope all of you love my big dumb baby song!

I thought I was a bully but I'm just a dweeb

filling my diapers up with pee pee

If i ask for undies look at me like I'm a nut

then make baby poop with a punch to the gut!"

The act of singing the song and keep his eyes closed so he didn't have to see the crowd (though he could hear them laughing and cheering him on) had Killua's body getting into it and he was shaking his diaper booty like there was no tomorrow.

"Stupid babies like me we don't need to think!

we just sit in our diaper and super stink!

Watch me prove that as a baby I'm the best

I'm gonna fill my diapers with a super big mess!"

Killua's eyes shot open at that, had he really just promised that!? worse, his body was again moving on it's own accord and he was squatting down now, grunting and pushing, puffing out his cheeks.

'no no no no! why can't I stop myself! GOOOON! HELP!' Killua thought.

"Killua? whats going on?" Came Gon's voice.

Killua almost didn't believe it at first, it was just he wanted Gon to save him that he heard the voice of his boyfriend! But no, a look over his shoulder showed Gon standing there, eyebrow raised.

"G-Gon you have to s-save me! I-I-I.." Killua tried to tell Gon about what had happened, how he'd been victimized but before he could get the story out, something else came out in the back of his diaper. "I'M POOPING!" Killua cried out.

if the muffled farts hadn't of been hint enough, the back of the THICK diapers bloating out and getting even bigger would of given it away, and despite the diaper's boast of super stink guard, Killua's backed up stinky load (he hadn't gone in 5 days) was filling the area with a rotten smell, driving part of the crowd away.

Gon for his part just held his nose and then shook his head.

"Really Killua? You won't wear diapers to bed despite being a bed wetter, but you'll load them in public..Your coming with me mister man." Gon scolded and walked over.

"Um.. Should we tell him-" hector started to ask Carlo, holding his own nose.

"Nah, it's better this way. you can get out of the area of effect though, I'm gonna go say by by to baby Killua."

Walking over Gon was scolding Killua and swatting his boyfriends mushy butt as Killua whined and whimpered, sucking his thumb and still going.

"Hi, I'm Carlo...I was watching your little guy today." Carlo said, holding out a hand.

"Oh, well, thanks. I'm sure he was a handful." Gon said, giving Killua a look then shaking Carlo's hand.

"well he wasn't that bad. it was a lot of fun actually. anyways, here's the rest of the diapers Killua got and asked me to put on him, and if you even need a babysitter, give me a call." Carlo said.

"Heh, i just might, give me your number." Gon said, taking out his phone and handing it to Carlo, one hand still mushing Killua's tush.

"there we go. anyways, you two have fun! Byeeee baby Killua! you were LOTS of fun to play with." Carlo said and waved bye to the stinky big baby.

"Killua, don't be rude!" Gon scolded.

Killua whimpered, knowing there was no way he was living this down, he was gonna be in diapers for at LEAST a month..and knew it was pointless to try and tell the truth now.

Sliding his thumb out of his mouth as he finished loading his diaper, he gave a weak wave to Carlo and in a small voice said

"Bye bye."

The end