#fun fact originally this was gonna be a painting but i went hmm what if i do the thing

[cathalbravecog]

QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK

[haechanhues]

Like Unrequited IV

Part ONE | Part TWO | Part THREE | Part FOUR 

pairing : heeseung x fem!reader / sunghoon x fem!reader 

genre : angst/fluff. bulleted. 

warnings : hmm, swearing. a little bit of a scuffle. 

summary : where the curse of unrequited is given to another. 

It was almost night time when you and Sunghoon dawdled into a Subway together 

Hungry from just walking through the city 

Getting to talk to each other about the randomest things 

Playing little games 

Not letting go of his hands once 

You didn’t really want to

His hands felt nice in yours and after the shittiest couple of months you just had 

You wanted to be selfish 

You wanted to hold a hot guy’s hand when the air was getting colder, roaming around and being the teenager all those Pinterest boards motivated you for 

He pressed his lips together as he recognised the music playing 

He turned towards you 

Pumped up on the adrenaline of the cool air outside 

You picked out the cookies you wanted to try 

Collecting almost a baker’s dozen 

You turned towards him to ask a question 

It wasn’t really important anyway 

Because when you looked at where he was sitting 

He was smiling at you, wiggling his eyebrows and shimmying his shoulders to the beat a little 

You danced a little in reply 

And it felt like all the possible magic in the world surrounded you in this moment 

Time wasn’t really time 

You had felt a similar type of way once (with Heeseung) but this was different 

You truly felt it this time 

There was no fear of rejection or fear of the unknown 

You didn’t really care 

Not with Sunghoon anyway 

You grabbed the cookies with a sweet smile which was surprisingly returned from the owner 

You still wore it as you approached Sunghoon 

‘What are you smiling at?’ 

Sunghoon asked, his expression somehow mirroring yours 

You decide to be brave 

‘You.’ 

‘Me?’ 

‘You.’ 

He licked his lips, grasping your hand in his again and braving the cold wind together 

The two of you were acting all mushy when you returned through the school doors 

It wasn’t as free as being outside at night time was but- you two were stuck together  

Your friends watched you both in the corner of their eye but didn’t say anything

However 

Ryujin being Ryujin 

Made a comment about it 

‘This....This is feeling a little grosser. More sappy if you get what I mean. So are you dating yet or what?’ 

It went a little quiet 

Uhm 

You both looked at each other 

And didn’t say a single word 

Ryujin raised her eyebrows and chuckled a little before staring at the little shit in the corner 

.. 

She grabbed Heeseung’s collar and yanked him upright 

‘Oi, get up, you sick bastard’ 

Ryujin pulled him to the side whilst he grimaced at his messed up clothes 

She stood in front of him 

‘You fucked up didn’t you?’ 

He pursed his lips 

‘Don’t you know about it already?’ 

‘No, Y/N knows I’d fuck you up if you did something wrong.’ 

‘Then how come-’ 

‘I can tell by your face, and the fact you’re sulking in the fucking corner.’ 

‘I just- I don’t know what I’m feeling and she’s with Sunghoon all the time and I feel like I’m losing her and it’s driving me crazy, Ryujin’ 

‘Is it possible that you’ve liked her this whole time?’ 

‘That’s crazy. If I liked her, I would be dating her by now.’ 

Ryujin sighed 

‘I doubt it. I don’t think you even realise that you didn’t actually like that girl.’ 

‘- Okay fair point. But I think if I liked Y/N, I would know, at least.’ 

‘....Think of it this way, Imagine dating me.’ 

Heeseung shivered 

‘No thanks.’ 

‘You don’t have to be a bitch about it.’ 

‘Sorry but’ 

He clenched his teeth together 

‘See? And how did you reject Y/N? Did you even think about what she was saying to you? Did you let yourself actually process it and make a decision actually based on your feelings?’ 

Heeseung nodded, barely looking at her 

‘So stop the bullshit.’ 

‘You’ve liked her this whole time and it’s time for you to realise what you could’ve had.’ 

‘I could still have it.’ 

He was adamant but not confident 

‘You could’ 

Ryujin admitted

‘But, for now, you can’t.’

She offered a sweet smile as she said he next words 

‘I won’t tell you I was rooting for you, because I wasn’t, not really. None of these boys are deserving of her. But I guess you’re marginally tolerable. A little less tolerable than Sunghoon, and honestly, that relationship is a lot easier to digest. But you’re not terrible.’ 

‘Thanks’ 

Ryujin clicked her tongue as she sauntered back inside, collecting his chair to drag it back to the group. 

Where it belonged. 

Heeseung dawdled as he slid into the seat next to you where Ryujin had left it 

You were focused on what Jay was saying to you and Sunghoon looked like he was ready to punch him 

But when he finally sat down

You barely looked at him as you reached over to squeeze his wrist 

Forgiven 

Slightly 

But expected to suck up to you a lot more 

Jake poked Sunghoon’s cheek to focus on you, rather than Heeseung next to you 

It wasn’t that hard to do 

‘Ugh, you’re so whipped.’ 

‘Shut up.’ 

You pull Sunghoon dramatically into the library - ditching the last class of the day 

He looked at you confusedly before scoffing at the surroundings 

‘Is there any particular reason why you’re pulling me into the library?’ 

You pretend to ponder for a second before a grin takes over your face 

‘Just one’ 

You feel a lot less coy now, instead you’re overtaken with nervousness but not one that feared rejection 

You were determined 

A little nervous 

But fuelled by the way he was looking at you and how pretty he was 

And the boy you haven’t stopped thinking about 

Your hands find purchase on his cheeks, where you find has become a habit between the two of you in the past week or so 

He watches you with soft eyes,

He doesn’t quite know exactly what you’re doing 

But he has hope swimming behind his pupils and it drives his heart a little wild

When you press your lips against his for the first time, his heart feels like it’s going to explode out of his chest and paint the whole library red 

His hands find themselves supporting the back of your head as he leans further into you 

The movements between you are slow, sweet and almost dreamlike 

His lips are soft and when your tongues meet, it surprises you that you’re not disgusted by it 

Instead you welcome it 

He angles your head upwards with his thumbs pressing lightly on your jawline 

He smiles when he feels the heat on your cheeks and just how flushed they’ve become 

You need to breathe 

But you refuse to 

He pulls away, his eyes dancing between you both and with a giddiness 

‘At a library of all things, Y/N.’ 

You let out a real lovesick giggle as you go to pinch his elbow 

You were happy 

Sunghoon was happy 

But a boy in the corner, who had been watching the whole thing doesn’t feel the same 

Instead he feels regret, sadness, frustration 

All of it leeching of the happiness he was supposed to feel for you 

‘This is giving me a little deja vu.’ 

The voice pulls him from the scene and instead has him focusing on the boy beside him 

Heeseung has never talked to Jake properly before 

Jake is closer to Sunghoon than he is to Heeseung 

And Heeseung never felt the need to get to know him on a deeper level 

Because Heeseung had hoped that they were temporary 

‘He really likes her. You know? He may be shit stirring, he probably was. Don’t get me wrong. But he sincerely likes her. She’s in good hands.’ 

Heeseung sighs 

‘..I know that now.’ 

Jake looks at him with kindness, swirling with warmth and comfort but it had a hint of something underneath 

Warning 

‘Good.’ 

Jake reaches over, cradling Heeseung’s head in the wing of his arms 

‘If you’re up for it. I know a great place to eat.’ 

‘I’d like that.’ 

Heeseung smiles, even when he doesn’t really want to 

He looks back at the two of you 

And this is all he can do 

Just like that, like unrequited takes a new host. 

authors note : this was fun :) originally it wasn’t supposed to have this many chapters, it was just gonna be a one-shot kind of thing but idk it just had a mind of its own. :) i have a lot of confessions about this too <3 I’d probably post an authors confessions soon too. ALSO thanks for the 100 followers. 

[oneletterelliot]

Hot Sauce (NCT Dream) - liveblog reaction

Disclaimer: I did listen to this album once through already, plus the previews and whatnot, so this is not quite a first impression reaction.

Hot Sauce - Is it just me or do the opening shouty vocals not sound like any of the dreamies? Chenle’s line. I was NOT ready for how low his voice was? It sounds so good. The mumbly nonsense bit sounds kinda like that one song that gets memed a bunch, doesn’t it? The vocal quality to Jeno’s rapping here really reminds me of how he sounded in “Misfit.” I think I like it. Lots of good harmony moments. Renjun’s voice is lovely as always. I’m digging his and Chenle’s harmonizing in the bridge. Haechan’s high note. Yes. I like the beat of this song. Definitely makes me want to dance. Mark going, “I’m the one!” I’m a fan. More “Hot Sauce” thoughts here.

Diggity - Okay, so based of the dreamverse (that’s what it’s called, right?) video, I said here that I didn’t love the song but I liked the choreography a lot. Not loving the song is holding up for now, but it definitely has the vibe of one of those NCT songs that I don’t originally care for but the more I listen to it, the more I like it (see also “Punch”). It is pretty catchy. Renjun’s voice is swaying me, I’ll admit. Also I do really like the instrumental. I think it’s the rap I’m not sold on (yet). Is that Jisung’s low voice at 2:49 underneath the higher harmonies? I’m kind of into it. God, I didn’t even watch the dreamverse video that much but I can so clearly picture the choreo while listening to this song, it’s that good.

Dive Into You - I love this opening arpeggio instrumental. Thinking about Jisung’s voice again. I always forget how much I it. I really like the chorus, nice harmony and fun melody. Renjun’s and Haechan’s ad libs (I think it’s them at least) make me happy. 2:07, Jisung’s voice again? (Edit: I looked it up and yes, of course, it’s Jisung. It’s just that for a second I thought it could be Chenle because...) Tbh my brain has been rattled by Chenle’s lower register he displayed in “Hot Sauce.” I want more of it. Is that Renjun who closes the song? Sounds good. (Edit: It’s CHENLE actually. Uh-oh, Renjun, look out, he might be coming for your crown as my favorite NCT Dream vocalist lmao.)

My Youth - This song sounds SO coming-of-age movie. Of course it’s called “My Youth.” I know I keep gushing about Renjun’s voice, but he always sounds so good holy shit. Jisung’s voice again! I guess I’m gonna keep gushing about him too. Oh, Mark, you sound amazing too. Whoever is rapping at the 2 minute mark (Jaemin?), the cadence of this bit really reminds of the “baby, it’s 4:35 / maybe I’m barely alive” part of Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” lmao. Mashup, when? The “ooh-ooh-ooh”s over the chorus sound amazing. Oh my god, the harmony in the bridge is SO GOOD. My brain couldn’t even focus on thinking about which of the Dream vocal trio was singing it, but damn, it was so good. (Edit: According to the lyric video I looked it, it was Renjun/Chenle harmony I was reacting to, and then a Chenle/Jisung harmony! Jisung’s harmonies this album have been really nice!!)

Rocket - Funky start. Supremely makes me want to dance. I think this would be a cha cha, but there is something a little samba-y about the beat. I know I, like, haven’t said anything about the vocals—I do like them—I’m just enjoying this beat / instrumental so much. No thoughts, only vibing. Digging the vocal mixing of the chorus. I’m shoulder-dancing in my seat as I listen to this. “Yeah, yeah!” Strong contender for my favorite song off the album. Shit, maybe it is a samba? Man, it’s been so long since I’ve gotten to ballroom dance :(

Countdown (3, 2, 1) - Oh, what time is it? IS THAT CHENLE’S ICONIC DOLPHIN LAUGH UNDER MARK’S VOICE? Renjun’s voice here reminds me a bit of “Ridin’,” so you know I like it because I believe in Renjun “Ridin’” supremacy. This also might end up being a song that I don’t really like until I listen to it a several more times. You know that thing in the instrumental that sounds like “90s Love?” Yeah. Mark sounds good in this song. I bet this song samples something. Not clue what. But I just Feel™ it does. Haechan’s high note at the end of the bridge did not do it for me, sorry bud :( Oh, I guess I like Mark’s “tick tick tock” bit.

ANL - Intro feels VERY similar to “Dive Into You,” doesn’t it? Same kind of feeling with the arpeggios, yeah? Like “My Youth,” it would feel right at home in a coming-of-age movie. 1:12, did they just say, “Yeah, we can bang all day?” “YEAH, I GIVE IT TO YOU EVERY NIGHT” ?!?!?!?!?!??! IS THIS A SONG ABOUT SEX? IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A SONG ABOUT SEX? (No comment on the fact that “ANL” looks like............. well, you know.) (Edit: So apparently it’s “we can PAINT all day,” but the other line is actually “I give it to you every night,” which is, hmm, well.) 1:51, is this Jaemin? I like it a surprisingly large amount. (Edit: Yes, it’s Jaemin. Is this the comeback that makes me fall in love with his rapping? Hmm.) This song also makes me want to dance, but in a different way than “Hot Sauce” or “Rocket.” RENJUN IN THE BRIDGE?! THE HARMONY?! VERY NICE HONESTLY. Is this Jisung after the bridge at 2:53? Wow, I really do like his voice, huh? (Edit: yes, it’s Jisung, so jk, Jaemin, the rapper I’m falling in love with this come back is him and not you.) The line “I want to be your sunshine, girl” makes me cringe. The type of English line they’d give to Johnny in an NCT 127 song.

Irreplaceable - This song is SO funky, and I love it. I’ve said before that Haechan’s voice isn’t my favorite (I acknowledge he’s a very good singer; the tonal quality of it just doesn’t appeal to me personally), but it does fit this song very well. Kind of has a Motown, Jackson 5 vibe, which I really dig. Another song that makes me want to dance. Another contender for — did Jaemin just say “climax” (1:31)? I’m sorry? (Edit: Look, I know that’s not an inherently sex-related word, and that’s obviously not how it’s being used here, but it’s just a funny word to be used for the one random English word in the middle of the song, you know?) — my favorite song off the album. “Yeah, we about to hug and kiss,” okay, Mark. I don’t know why, but I really want to do the “Touch” dance with the arms to this song?

Be There For You - It makes sense to put the ballad after the bop that was “Irreplaceable.” I haven’t really been following all the promotional material for this album, but this is a vocal trio unit song, right? It kind of reminds of “My Everything.” Like, there’s a range of type of NCT ballad, and I think this and “My Everything” fall into the same category. 1:22, god, Renjun, your voice is so good. (I know my favoritism is showing so hard but whatever, I don’t care. I love his voice.) I like the backing harmonies. Very soft. I probably won’t listen to this song much, simply because I don’t listen to ballads much (Chinese ballads notwithstanding) but I do like it.

Rainbow - Back to the coming-of-age vibes like in “Dive Into You” and “ANL.” I can’t decide if I like the similar vibes for cohesiveness of the album or if I dislike it because I think they’re too similar. Wow, this is really a “get your lighter and/or cellphone out and wave in the air” kind of song, huh. Rap at 1:40 (Jisung?), I like it. (Sorry, the title “Rainbow” is just reminding me of how I recently told my parents, “oh, I think this guy I went to high school with is queer because he has the rainbow flag emoji in his insta bio,” and my dad said, “maybe he just really likes colors.” PLEASE.) The harmonies are nice. Renjun’s ad libs towards the end (3:05-3:17 ish), yes. I like the song, it won’t be a favorite, but this is a nice note to end the album on.

Over all thoughts: It’s a good album. Really enjoyable and definitely feels cohesive. I love the mix of peppy, dancey energy and this kind of soft yearning coming-of-age feeling. It makes a lot of sense for NCT Dream’s first full album. Chenle and Jisung are both pleasantly surprising me, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their voices continue to develop in the future. (Side note: SM, please let Chenle sing in his lower register more! His high voice is lovely, but so is his low voice!) Favorite songs currently are “Rocket” and “Irreplaceable.” 

[phoebehalliwell]

Prue gets together with Mitch (reincarnated Micah) and lives. How does their relationship evolve over the rest of the series?

okay so fr because like i've been thinking about this I've Been Thinking About This. WHY give us that connection if we're not gonna do anything with it??? WHY make it worse my literally giving us the guy THE EXACT SAME GUY and then never mention him again What is the motive?????? okay okay okay so here's what i'd do: 2.6 undercut lmao

because prue has really only had two boyfriends in the series so far: andy & jack (bane doesn't count as he was more of a tryst and also he's in jail :'( could have been fun tho! he could have sacrificed himself for somebody else and become a whitelighter he already knows the ins and outs of the underworld like. could have been something there. but as they were only together twice, once when prue was posing as a hitwoman and then again when he kidnapped her, he, tragically, does not him boyfriend status.) so here me out andy is a cop he represents protection and familial ties / ties to the past (prue's childhood best friend, already friends with the sisters, he's also a third generation cop so like there's that too). he represents prue's early stage, where she feels like she has to be the protector of the whole family, of which she is basically the matriarch. she doesn't get to have fun, she has to protect her sisters and now the whole world, and her past is having some very real effects on her life right now. that's her andy era.

jack era is at buckland's, it's her breadwinning era. we even saw in morality bites (which, i am once again bringing up, is fake) that she goes on to be superbillionaire whatever. so jack kind represents professional ambitions, amplified by the fact that the fonet also served as a blatant metaphor for their relationship (prue, the world is made up of almost perfect. it's nothing but near misses and necessary compromises. in this case, i think we got a little bit of both. that's okay, i know how you feel. i'm just asking you not to look so close. nothing bears up under that kind of scrutiny. are you talking about the monet? yeah, that too.) and that their relationship ends when she decided to leave bucklands to pursue a career in photography.

so now we enter season three, which is prue's artist era, her passionate like zeal for life era she finally seems to have a weight lifted off her shoulder for the first time in a long time like you can tell she like. trusts her sisters more than she ever has before she sees them in a new light and knows that they are strong and smart and independent and she doesn't need to protect them every waking hour. this era's for prue. so i'm pitching that micah mirrors this by being an artist, too. i wouldn't say the same medium (photography) as prue because like. prue's definitely someone who would compare herself to him just like subconsciously constantly that's the type of woman she is, but maybe like a painter. not a writer because they're all insufferable. lmao 🤙🤙. but someone who lives in a hella nice studio type loft filled with art and just like life. passion. something prue hasn't really allowed herself in like. a hot minute. and i would make micah (mitch??) a witch. haha it rhymes. scratch that i'd make him a warlock. or a darklighter i'm cashing in my half-darklighter character. it's mitch now. idk how this would fit into phole narrative foils maybe or we scrap phole but they're really coming from two different perspectives where cole is entering the joint like i am evil and here to murder and then he catches feelings whereas mitch would be like yes i have some dark past but i'm not letting it define me bonus points is prue is able to piece together the clues of his origin just by looking at his paintings. this also adds to the rift between prue and phoebe on prue's cole stance like oh your evil boyfriend is fine but mine, for some reason, is still evil? yes. oh you know what we keep the source's heir in this au let me continue.

instead of introducing mitch in p3 because like WHAT WAS THAT, we instead, parallel their first meeting. mitch's origin story is

his mom was a future whitelighter knocked up by a darklighter this was not intentional on anyone's part mom wasn't trying to become mom dad wasn't trying to become dad Nor did dad know mom was a future whitelighter. because well he's not great at being a darklighter in spite of maybe being like the. head darklighter's son he's like the fucked up son who doesn't wanna run things. he doesn't know he has a kid!! until something something an oracle or something tells him he has a son But he can't find mom because she's cloaked by her whitelighter. mom dies doing something heroic idk (maybe mom was a firefighter??) and then cloaking on mitch is lifted when he's in his late teens his dad finds him his dad is now like proper leader of the darklighter clan and is trying to bring mitch into the fold which initially he is game for because mitch has all these powers black orbing touch of death that he doesn't understand and finally a community to explain that to him! he gets a crossbow (which is lit) but um. quickly catches on to how blatantly evil the whole thing is. he's secretly teamed up with some whitelighters (not his mom tho. friends of his mom, but he's not allowed to see her :'/ ) to help get other halflings like him out and cloaked.

leo's been taken hostage by the darklighter something something something a plot a plot a plot we do some solid pleo angst we maybe have cole drop some thinly veiled advice about the underworld without coming out as a demon, something that will help the sisters later. but what's really important here is they're sneaking through the underworld maybe they've been split up and they need to find leo so either they're looking for him Or they're looking for a darklighter to interrogate. and prue hears shifting behind a rock and goes over to look and it's mitch and some kid and the kid immediately summons his crossbow but mitch knocks it away just like prue did with piper in the past and piper's like prue u see anything and she's like no nothing here and then mitch and the kid blackorb away which just leaves prue with this sinking feeling like what the fuck?? because. what the fuck??? a) that was the same guy from puritan times and b) she still feels the same she felt back then and c) it's clear he does do but d) --and this is the crucial one-- D) he's fucking evil????? so blah blah blah we save leo but now prue is left with one crucial question what the fuck is going on?

so what she's gonna do is research the town the colony whatever that melinda warren was born in she astral projects to salem or whatever and steals. maybe the mask mitch wore at the party she recognizes it from all hallows eve. and she brings that home and scrys with it. and she finds him!! and um bonus points looking at his place she sees he's an alum of the college she went to because backstory!! when prue was in college back when she was still pursuing photography before grams got sick, they had met before! once before, at a party, and it was this instant spark, this instant connection, but then something pulled them apart be it one of them was already in a relationship or their ride was leaving something but like. again! this connection has always been there. so like blah blah blah prue has broken into mitch's place she sees their college connection she sees his art and starts to pull together a life story he sees maybe some paperwork that just says like in bold letters like saving kids: good person activities something real obvious you know and that's Right Next To his crossbow. ~juxtaposition~ so like. what the fuck is this. but whatever that'll be dealt with later she has to get to work! but!! at the magazine her boss is like hey prue some guy came by here earlier asking for you you know [description of mitch], [description of mitch], [description of mitch], you know him? and prue's like ummmmmmmm. no. ?. and her boss is like ?? i don't really care. photography! but now she knows that while she's been digging up on him, he's been doing the same with her. so that night at p3 prue's like okay i've got to come clean with u guys remember micah and phoebe's like oh yeah that hottie from the past who was like . spiritually in love with you? and prue's like yeah i found him. and piper and phoebe are like 🤗🥳😃 and prue's like. and he's a darklighter. and piper and phoebe are like 😳😶👎 and prue's like yeah remember when like we were trying to save leo and you asked me if i saw something? well i did. it was him and and this kid and i think he was trying to save him and phoebe's like wait you think? and prue's like well i mean yeah phoebe like. it was like the same thing when he saved us in the 1700s. and phoebe's like well no because we're good witches and he saved us you saved a darklighter? and prue's like he's more than that phoebe and phoebe's like but how can you know (flash forward to her sparing cole in about three episodes and being like hmm 😐 those words are gonna bite me in the ass).

the point is they're hashing it out phoebe's devil on the left and piper's trying to be angel on the right But he is in the clan that kidnapped her husband so like..... but prue is explaining the good person papers she found on his desk, the fact that she went to college with him, she's like. she thinks he's only half darklighter and he's helping others like him and piper phoebe are like ....................do you just want him to be half darklighter and helping others like him but prue's not even listening but look who's coming down the stairs!! so she beelines over and phoebe's about to follow but piper holds her back bc wait let this play out they'll watch from afar and piper will freeze the room if she has to.

and something something something blah blah blah they tal and there's this tense like. what now. because like. What Now? you're evil and i'm a charmed one but this invisible string pulling me here whether i want it too or not. and i think prue kinda shifts back into her earlier seasons self where. it's family above all else. like i need you to steer clear because if i see you again i will vanquish you. and mitch knows she's bluffing. because he know that if he tried, even if he really wanted to, he couldn't harm a hair on her head. and it's clear she's like. suffering from the same ailment so to speak.

something something something maybe they have a couple quick brushes but not actual meetings And Then we get another time travel/past life episode where!! as it turns out. prue and mitch r soulmates cursed by a spurned lover to always be on opposite sides. meanwhile we just got cole demon reveal/cole's still alive reveal so prue's like hi mitch you're. evil. evil-adjacent. what do you know about belthazor/cole turner. and mitch does his due diligence and like. the stuff on belthazor is appalling. genuinely terrifying. but then there's some stuff on cole turner that's like kinda okay. this is were mitch does is big tragic backstory reveal, kids born of dark magic falling in with the wrong crowd blah blah blah and this kind of. supports our theory moving forward it's not really a theory. our endgame moving forward of healthy!cole. also prue and mitch still have not gotten together through all of this in spite of the cosmic pull and the past evidence of like. soulmatism. because they're both a bit too pragmatic they both think it's kind of a lost cause. blah blah blah pining we give prue a mini love interest here someone to keep her mind off mitch and we do make him good. kind, attentive, caring, smart, hot, but like. it's so painfully obvious she's not all in. so he calls it off. heart to heart with piper because piper's like hi you're in love. and prue's like yeah with a doomed relationship i think i'd rather not and piper's like hello you're talking to the queen of doomed relationships you wanna know the secret? and prue's like yes :( and piper's like just go for it. the time you have together is. it's better than anything else you'll ever have. there's gonna be heartbreak, but hell there's always gonna be heartbreak in the halliwell family. wouldn't you rather spend your time with someone you love?

something something something leo/mitch/cole buddy episode b plot. leo/mitch/cole/DARRYL buddy episode b plot. :D. prue and micah get their big first kiss in a very tv show build up way my heart is saying new years and all the fireworks go off around them.

we're bringing in paige because i love her she's first introduced by some seer oracle whatever as your other sister and the girls are like respectfully, bullshit. but micah's like hey......... she's half whitelighter. because he can sense those kind of things, being a darklighter. and piper and leo are like patty's affair....................... and all the pieces are falling together and in this one. paige either gets a witch love interest a cupid love interest or we keep henry because fwiw i do really like mortal love interests. if we do do the witch love interest it won't be richard i love him to piece i do but he sucks <3. source!cole time.

oh we introduce paige thru mitch trying to help one of his kids and that lands him at social services.

source!cole. idk what happens here but like. using our nifty-difty tool box the squad has been assembling over the years helping all of these wayward souls born from evil, things mostly work out fine. source's heir is born, a girl, but since prue isn't dead her name is either colette or victoria. depends if cole died or not.

prue moved out at some point and lives in a hella nice studio apartment with mitch they r both artists (who the fuck is paying for that?) phoebe moves back in the manor post-source fiasco paige moves in the manor but spends a lot of time with her sister prue and soon to be brother in law (??) mitch. (paige is like fr dude when are you gonna pop the question and mitch is like woahhhh pump the break because paige is new here and when she saw them she's like oh. married couple. but then they're not married. engaged? nope. no just loosely dating? okay. lame. bad idea. but as it turns out one of them always dies so they're just trying to avoid that for as long as possible) but paige spends a lot of time at pritch's place because not only is it The Art Zone it's also the rehabilitating kids zone, of which paige is a grand help. prue jokes about how much paige reminds her of phoebe as a kid, and since we're already muddying the timeline, we're having paige enter and solid advice columnist, married phoebe and paige is like haha what the fuck??

source's heir born twice blessed born magic school located under the charmed & co squad becomes integrated with children born of all magic and like our season 8 wrap up saccharine finale is like how magic has reached a new era of peace n understanding. <3

[apollo-writes-random-shit]

“Damn, damn, damn, double damn!”

Fun fact: This was originally going to be angsty but I decided to save that idea for later. So have some worried Jack who’s stressing about a ‘first date’ with Davey.

I added one of my favourite ideas about a reincarnation au for like a paragraph lol.

Oh yeah before I forget. #LetCrutchieSayFuck

Crutchie grinned as he watched Jack toss around clothes. 

"Damn, damn, daMN, DOUBLE DAMN IT!"

He chuckled, watching his brother rush around. "Someone's nervous." 

Jack jumped, spinning around, clutching a shirt in his hand, pants in the other. "No shit I'm nervous! I've actually got a date with David!" 

"David? Damn you really are nervous." He laughed, shaking his head before entering the room. Despite his teasing, he was willing to help out his older brother considering the other looked five seconds away from breaking down. "Alright...I'll help you pick out ya clothes. Just relax okay? You'll do fine you moron."

"I don't want to stuff up! What if I do something stupid and scare him off?"

"Jack...He's dealt with your bullshit this long and it just so happens he's taking you on a date so fucking chill." Mockingly, he pat his cheek. "I see you need my help. So where are you two even going?"

"The library..."

"Heh, a nerdy date huh?" Crutchie paused as he looked between pants. "Hang on...This is a date right? Not just studying or working on a project?"

"Umm.."

"Jackson Kelly-Larkin you fucking moron. You're stressing over going to the library to study and you're acting like it's a date?"

"H-Hey! Normally, it's a group thing and he invited me and me alone! He was blushing when he asked Charlie!"

"What if he was worried about coming off strange?" Crutchie smirked, knowing full well that Davey had asked his brother on a date. Hell, the other had been texting him, freaking out about the fact that Jack had agreed. "Look. Just act normal you moron. You'll do fine. So take deep breaths. Everything will be fine. I promise." 

"But-"

"No buts Jack! Everything will be perfectly okay so just chill out." He slapped him over the back of the head before going back to sorting through the massive pile of clothes, putting the paint-stained ones aside. "Right. Go grab your shoes."

"Which ones?"

"Just grab whatever ones you feel like wearing. As long as it's not covered in paint considering you get that everywhere."

Without protesting, Jack left to grab his shoes, knowing better than to argue with the blond. 

As he waited, Crutchie scrolled through his phone, chuckling at the latest message. 

Davey's freaking out. How's your moron doing?

Being a fucking moron and throwing clothes around. I sent him to grab his shoes so I can help better.

Davey legit pulled out a formal top earlier. They're just going to the damn library, not some fucking restaurant. 

What, like you and Kath?

Oh, fuck off Charlie.

Whatever you say, Sarah.

"Who ya texting?" 

"Hmm? Oh, just saw Race did something stupid over in Brooklyn."

"Again? How the fuck does Spot put up with him?"

"Who knows." With a grin, he tucked his phone away before he went back to matching pants to shirts, glad to see that Jack at least was calming down. He had honestly never seen him so nervous for a date and that just confirmed in his mind that Davey was special to Jack. That and he had been putting up with Jack annoying him for a while and somehow hadn't lost his mind. 

"What do I do Crutch? He's fucking amazing and I don't want to stuff this up...He's different from everyone else and I mean it this time. I'm actually scared...I don't wanna scare him away but freaking him out..."

"For once, shut up. You won't scare him off. After you two are done at the library, see if he wants to grab a coffee or some shit. Just act normal for god's sake."

"Don't use the lord's name in vain you gremlin!"

"Since when were you the good religious boy of the family? That's meant to be Race."

"Please. That asshole isn't anywhere near being a good Christan boy." Jack snorted, shaking his head as he remembered each time Race didn't follow the bible. He knew that didn't make him any less Christan though. He just enjoyed teasing him but always made sure not to push too far, seeing how it was one of his fondest memories involving his birth parents. "It's like he looked at the bible and said Fuck you. I'm gonna do everything you tell me not to. 'm surprised that cross o' his hasn't burst into flames."

The two looked up at the sound of giggling, shaking their heads at the sight of their younger twin brothers, staring in. 

"Jackie's got a date!"

"Jack's wants to kiss Davey!" 

"He's gonna get cooties!" 

"Yeah and he'll give them to you two if you don't leave!" Crutchie waved his hands towards them, watching as Mike and Ike just giggled and rushed off to do gods knows what. 

Jack sighed as they left, shaking his head with a soft smile. "They'se dorks." He couldn't help but wonder how long the two had been watching him worry about what to wear.

"Yeah, and they get that from you and Race. Out of the three of us, I'm the most mature one. Once again, the middle child is the best child." 

"Aw shut up." He tossed a pillow at Crutchie, grinning as the other boy laughed and leaned to the side to dodge it.

"You love me. Now put these on." He tossed a shirt and pants at Jack before leaving the room. Jack shook his head, getting changed while listening to the familiar light sound of his brother's crutches tapping the floor as he went to go check on their twin brothers in hopes they weren't making a mess. 

Quickly getting changed, he nodded to himself, inspecting every small inch. Once again, Crutchie had pulled through and found an outfit that worked for a date yet seemed causal enough that no one would suspect he had been panicking. Sure, there were some small dots of paint on his jeans but it was basically his brand at this point so it wasn't really a surprise. Taking a few minutes to debate with himself, he quickly scooped up his cap, smiling softly as he looked at it.  While some people looked through thrift shops and found caps like his, Jack's had actually been passed down through the years, each owner leaving a small mark. One of them was a carefully stitched name of Jack Kelly. He didn't really know much about that Jack considering they lived hundreds of years apart but he still felt a connection with him.

All he really knew was what had been printed in the papers. He chuckled softly, putting it on. Specs liked to speak of reincarnation, saying he had felt a natural connection to them all and the picture of the newsies on strike just solidified that thought considering all their names were listed in on the front page. Jack couldn't lie...He felt a connection to them all as well but he didn't want to say it out loud for the fear of sounding cheesy, though he suspected some of them knew. 

"Thinkin' bout the past are we?" 

Jack blinked, looking over at the reappearance of his brother. "Eh, not really. Just wondering if it goes with the outfit...Like a good luck charm you know?"

"Mmmm sure." Grinning, Crutchie shook his head. "I thought you'd want to wear it so I made sure it matches." 

"You know me too well Charlie..."

"I also know if you keep staring at yourself in the mirror and freaking yourself out, you'll be late so you better hurry up." 

Panicking, Jack checked his phone before swearing. "Fuck you're right. You're fine with watching the kids right?"

"Jack, it's going to be fine. Unlike you, the twins and Smalls actually listen to me most of the time. So, don't worry about us okay? Just go have fun. Everything will be fine."

Brushing off the teasing insult, Jack rushed off after giving his brother a quick hug, shouting a goodbye over his shoulder, only to bolt back inside to grab his car keys, quickly running back outside, ignoring Crutchie's laughter. 

Taking deep breaths, he drove himself to the library, doing his best to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. "It's no big deal...We're just studying and I'll see if he wants coffee or something later. It's just studying...That's it...Sweet Jesus give me strength." 

Time passed by too quickly and he soon found himself parked next to a familiar car. Adjusting his cap, he slipped out of his car, heading inside, praying to everything out there that he'd get a boyfriend by the end of the day. 

[always5hineee]

The Final Bell- Chapter 7: A Single Slip

Chapter warnings: Mild language and violence

Word Count: 2137

Story is also available under Taffysamg on Quotev and Wattpad.

To see the full chapter list, go to the “Final Bell” Tab on my page.

-----

       "Y/N's first raid!" Haechan cheered as they pulled up to a run-down town. She wasn't nearly as excited as the boy, however. In fact, her stomach was turning at the thought of having to face any zombies again. Their sources were pretty good, and suggested that there was a strong chance that they would run into at least a few. There were always stragglers that hung behind in their old homes, and some formed stationary hordes. While this would help in their moments of running away, it would be rather difficult to raid houses as such.

       "Who's going in, and who's staying in the car?" Taeyong asked, surveying the van.

       "I'm driving." Taeil called out. It seemed like he didn't fight very often.

       "And Jungwoo is running the other car." Taeyong added on.

       "I went last time." Jaehyun grumbled. "By myself."

       "You wanted to go by yourself." Mark corrected him.

       "If Haechan is so excited about it, send him." Jaehyun countered.

       "That could work. How about Haechan and Yuta go with her?" Taeyong suggested.

       "Three people seems excessive..." Yuta said softly, but Taeyong had already made up his mind.

       "Haechan and Yuta, we're bout ten minutes out! Dig in the back for your weapons." The boys nodded, (Yuta a bit reluctantly). This was quite interesting for Y/N. She hadn't seen either of these men fight before. Yuta seemed too innocent and passive, but she had no reason to doubt Taeyong's judgement... It would be strange to watch, but interesting.

       "Grab a rifle." Jaehyun muttered in her ear, causing her to jump.

       "W-what?"

       "Calm down. All I'm saying is you should grab a bigger gun. I won't be there to save your ass this time." He explained with a glare.

       "Wouldn't it be better for you if my ass went un-saved?" She offered.

       "Oo, and what will Jaehyun come back with?" Haechan commented, already back in his original place.

       "Shut up, idiot."

       "Almost there." Taeyong cut off their fight, trying to get them all to settle down. Sure enough, she could just barely make out a few buildings through the dusty atmosphere. "Remember, in particular Jungwoo has given you a list of materials he's looking for. Many of them can be found in convenience stores or family medicine cabinets. Unless you're planning to eat it tonight, don't pick up anything perishable."

       "I am sooo gonna get something good." Haechan said, acting like a little kid.

       "The more flour you pick up, the more we can bake." Taeil put the thought in his mind.

       "Ohh, good plan." Haechan laughed. "Anyway, let's roll!" As the car was still slowing down, he opened the door, launching himself out and rolling onto the ground, lugging something close behind.

       "What the hell is wrong with you?" Yuta asked, but laughing and following suit."

       "Wait, what?"

       "Your turn. It's easier if you tuck."

       "Wait, what?" Jaehyun kicked her lightly in the back, sending her careening out of the car. The breath was knocked out of her lungs as she hit the ground, rolling a few feet before finally slowing to a stop.

       "Woah... are you okay?" Yuta asked, trotting over and helping her to her feet. She rubbed the back of her legs, grumbling.

       "Yeah, I'm fine."

       "Well, in that case, let's go!" Haechan said excitedly, practically skipping towards the town.

       "He seems excited..." She mumbled.

       "Yeah, he doesn't get to go on missions much anymore. He get's a little... hyper."

       "Hyper?"

       "...You'll see."

       The closer they got, the more jittery Haechan seemed. It was as they walked that Y/N got a good look at what weapon he was sporting. As far as she could tell, he had no gun or knife- or if he did, they were well concealed. The only tool he carried in his hands was a slim, colorful baseball bat covered in barbed wire. It had clearly been painted, but it was splintering in places, as if it was often used for blunt hits.

       "Do you... actually use that?" She asked incredulously.

       "Hmm? Oh, the bat!" Haechan laughed, swinging it proudly. "Yeah, beautiful, isn't it? Taeyong even painted it for me. It gives him something to do, too. I uh... tend to break them pretty often."

       "That's nice of him." She said absentmindedly, still eyeing the blunt object.

       "Yeah- don't get to use it much anymore, so this'll be fun. I hope there are at least a few stragglers, you know?" He laughed again. "Speaking of which, who wants what? I want to pick up some more art stuff for Ty, so I can take the stores if you want. Do you guys want to check out houses or what?" She didn't realize Haechan was such a confident leader. Judging based on Yuta's attitude earlier, she thought it would be best if they sticked together- for both of them.

       "That's fine." She agreed.

       "Well, in that case, let's start center, work our way out?" He offered. "Maybe draw out some fun while we're at it." Okay... that wasn't creepy. Still, Yuta and she followed him to the center of town. With every breath of wind and creaking door, she turned, afraid of what might lurk behind. It wasn't until they were almost to the main building when they were attacked.

       A zombie ran out of a nearby backyard, smashing through a rotting fence to get a taste of human flesh.

       "Look out!" She yelled.

       "Mine!" Haechan countered, jumping forward. He swung the bat with immeasurable force, smashing the creature's head clear into a pulp. It splattered everywhere, leaving her shocked. He had taken it out with one swing, and now, he... he was laughing? But not just regular laughing... truly entertained laughing.

       "We should get going," Yuta said softly, "Leave him to that." Nodding shakily, she followed Yuta's lead into the surrounding houses. She made extra sure to grab everything Jungwoo needed. After that, she began focusing more on fridges and closets. The power had been out for ages, but some chests had good enough insulation to preserve food. All the meat they came across was rotting, but some frozen vegetables and such were salvageable. It was sort of like a scavenger hunt, and it was good to get out, so she didn't mind.

       On about their seventh house, she took the upstairs while Yuta shuffled through the kitchen drawers. One room that caught her attention was behind the last door on the upper floor. Upon revealing it, she saw a white bedframe draped in a pink lace. There were stuffed animals and dolls littered across the floor, as well as atop the white play desk with gold accents. The whole scene was sickeningly untouched- if she hadn't known better, she would have thought everything was back to normal.

       She forced herself to root through the stuff, looking for anything valuable. Obviously, there was nothing too notable. She did pick up a pack of stickers that, for some strange reason of intuition, she thought Haechan would like. As she tried to shut the door, though, something got in the way. Looking down, she saw a small white stuffed mouse blocking the door. She picked it up and pocketed it, just as Yuta screamed from downstairs.

       "Uhh, Y/N! I could use some help!" She shot down the stairs, running to where the man was facing three zombies. Scrambling to pull out her rifle, she shakily loaded it. "Now!" He yelled, staving them off with a knife. His free hand couldn't reach a more effective weapon. Finally getting it to fire, he jumped out of the way, bullet narrowly missing his arm. She evidently needed to learn better aim, but he didn't say anything. Opening created, he pulled out what looked like a sword, slicing the other two's heads off cleanly.

       "We should go meet up with Haechan." He said, breathing heavily. She nodded in agreement, walking with him out of the house.

       "Did you get anything cool?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

       "Uh, I mean... food?" She offered blandly. He laughed, although his fatigue was sticking out.

       "I'd hope so."

       "Oh, and this," she said, pulling out the mouse. She felt stupid immediately after, but it was better than walking in silence.

       "That's cute," he smiled softly. "You know, I used to- Oh my God!" He shouted, running forward. She looked over, trying to see what he was scared of. Catching a glimpse, she realized that it wasn't something he was running from, but rather towards. There was a pile of carcasses, each with a mutilated head. In the middle of it all, Haechan sat cross legged, head in his hands. Was he... crying?

       "Hae, what's wrong?" Yuta asked, gently shaking his shoulder. The boy was alternating between laughing and sobbing.

       "I'm really sorry Yuta, I am!"

       "Sorry for what, Haechan, what happened?"

       "I kept counting! One, two, three, I got to at least eleven!" He smiled, looking up sadly. "I got so many, Yuta!"

       "Good, Haechan. Get up, let's go to the van, we can-"

       "Yuta..." Y/N interrupted in a whisper. "Look at his arm." The boy paused, and then turned to look. Sure enough, Haechan's pale skin was stained in an all-too-noticeable pattern. He had been bitten.

       "Oh, Haechan..." He muttered, kneeling down next to him.

       "You have to cut it off, Yuta." He laughed. "Take my arm off!"

       "Maybe it hasn't spread, we can still get the infected blood out."

       "You know we can't! Do it!" He laughed. "It's fine, it's fine... Y/N can do it for me. Y/N! Get over here!" She froze, eyes wide.

       "I-"

       "Now!" Reluctantly, she walked over, moreso to make sure Yuta was alright. "Get out that shiny machete, hun! The longer you wait, the more you'll have to chop!"

       "I... I can't do that, Haechan, I..."

       "Consider this," he posed, talking incredibly calmly. "You let me be, fine. You didn't hurt me, but. I turn, I eat you first- obviously because you look so delicious," he winked. "Then I eat Yuta. And now you've killed him! Do you want him to die? Or me, for that matter?"

       "No, I-"

       "Then do it. Look, I'll help. Take out your thingy-" He directed. She glanced at Yuta, who wasn't saying anything. Well, it looked like she didn't have much of a choice. She pulled it out, holding it in front of her like a bomb. He held out his arm, pointing things out with his left hand.

       "This is the bite," he directed. "And you can see some of the infection up to here," he moved his fingertips up. Now, the infection usually spreads past where it's visible, by at least two inches. At least, that's what Jungwoo says. I think you should be safe-" he made a chopping motion with his hand, "And cut at the elbow." The idea was making her sick.

       "You're going to have to put some real weight behind it," he warned her, "If we had an axe, that would be ideal, but... I trust your strength."

       "How can you be so calm about-"

       "WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE?" He screeched. After the following silence, he shook his head, laughing again. "Sorry, sorry... that was uncalled for. Just, please do it. Quickly." He held out his arm, looking away. She wanted to close her eyes, but she was too afraid to miss.

       The first swing only cut about halfway through his arm, getting lodged in what she could only assume was the bone.  The blood spurt into her face and over her clothes. Surprisingly, Haechan was gritting his teeth- the cry that rang out when she did such was thrown from Yuta's mouth. Panicking, she firmly planted a boot on his upper arm, yanking the blade out and throwing it down again. In total, it took four strikes- her first one, two to completely splinter the bone, and a final one to finish it off.

       Yuta had tears streaming down his face, now with his head in his palms.

       "Hey," Haechan said weakly. "I know it's super emotional for you or whatever, but I'm gonna need your help." Yuta breathed in deeply, trying to pull himself together. Nodding, he began to wrap Haechan's arm, trying not to look. They all agreed not to look back to the... reminder of it as they stumbled towards the van.

       Yuta carried most of the bags as Y/N wrapped her arm around Haechan's waist, and his around her shoulder. It was an effective means of supporting him without putting stress on his open wound. Yuta also continued trying to call the guys. By the time he finally got a hold on them, the van was in sight.

       "Come on, Haechan..." She muttered into his ear. "We're almost there."

Go to Chapter 8

[avengerscompound]

Legacy - Chapter 6

Legacy: A Hawkeye Fanfic

Series Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Clint Barton x  F!Reader

Word Count:  1820

Rating:  E

Square filled:   @clintbartonbingo - Cuddling

Warnings:  Pregnancy, domestic abuse, post-endgame, angst, developing-relationship, hurt/comfort, smut, Laura and Clint have broken up.  Comic Clint/MCU Clint mix.

Synopsis: Nothing is the same after the events of Endgame.  When Clint has trouble returning to a life where his family hasn’t changed but he has lost everything, he moves back to the city and tries to move on as a single parent. When Nate finds you bruised and pregnant in the stairwell of his building, he decides that there might be another way that he can make Nat’s sacrifice worth something.

Chapter 6

You woke slowly and moved a little closer to Clint.  His arms closed around you almost reflexively, pulling you closer to him still.  You kissed his neck and he made a happy little grumbling sound.  You kissed a little lower and ran your hands up his back and he slowly pried his eyes open.

He hummed softly.  “That’s a really nice way to wake up.”

“Mmm hmmm, well you do have to wake up, we have a big day today.”  You said.

He whined and nuzzled into your neck.  “Really?”

“Yes, really.  We have a doctor’s appointment and then we gotta drive upstate and get the kids.”

Clint whined again and he wriggled against you like he was trying to hide from you by burrowing inside of you.  “Can’t we stay a little bit longer?”  He mumbled against your skin as his hands skimmed up your sides.  “I can think of something fun to do.”

You chuckled and tilted your head back.  “I allocated time for that.”

He chuckled and raised his head looking into your eyes.  “You did?”  He asked.  “You know me so well.”

You burst out laughing and kissed him.  He deepened the kiss, his tongue coaxing your lips apart and circling yours.  He cupped your breasts and teased your overly sensitive nipples with his thumbs, drawing out a deep moan from you.

You trailed your fingers over him, running over the dips and curves of his body, and tracing over old scars.  He hummed softly and began to kiss along your jaw to the pulse point under your ear, where he sucked softly.

You moaned softly and ran your hands down to the waistband of his boxers, you slipped one inside and slowly began to jerk him off.  He groaned and kissed lower, pulling one of your nipples into his mouth and sucking on it, sending a dull ache through it.  As he did his hand slipped into your panties and began to tease at your clit.

“How are you already this wet?”  He teased as he ran his finger up and down your folds.

You mewled and pushed against his hand.  “Don’t know.  Stupid being pregnant.”

“That seems like a nice side effect to me.”  He teased and pushed two fingers inside you.  You moaned and squeezed around them and he bit down on your nipple sending a sudden jolt through you that seemed to spread right down to your cunt, making your fluids run down his fingers.

He curled his fingers and slowly moved them in and out, seeking out your g-spot.  When he finally hit it and pressed down on its surface you gasped and bucked up under him, your legs tensing and your toes curling.  “Fuck, Clint!”

He looked down at you with a smug smile on his face and started dragging his fingers over your g-spot again and again until your whole body quivered and with a sudden jerk you came over his hand.

“There you go.”  He hummed stroking you through your orgasm.  When he pulled his hand away he licked his fingers clean.

“They weren’t lying when they said you never miss your target, were they?”  You joked.

Clint snorted.  “Nope, I hit it every time.”

You kissed him and rolled onto your side.  He pushed his boxers off and spooned you from behind, one hand going to your breast, the other cradling your stomach.  Slowly he began to rut against your ass, his cock rubbing up and down your folds and becoming slick with you wet.

He angled himself a little and with a snap, he entered you.  You moaned and leaned back against his chest, nuzzling and kissing at his neck as he began to rut into you.  “Harder, Clint.”  You moaned, and he picked up his pace, thrusting hard up into you as he squeezed and massaged your tits.

“Fuck!  That’s it!”  You cried, moving with him.

He ran his hand down over the swell of your stomach and began to finger your clit as he pinched and pulled on your nipples.  It was too much, your whole body spasmed and clenched and you came with a cry, arching back against Clint.  He groaned and with a few more thrusts he came with you.

You both stayed like that for a moment.  Him still inside you, cradling you.  “How much more time do we have.”

You hummed.  “A little bit.”

“Good.”  He said, nuzzling into your hair and slipping out of you.

You ran your fingers down his arm, tracing along the sinewy muscles and defined veins.  “Does your tattoo mean anything?”

Clint made a small sound against your neck before clearing a throat.  “It represents a Ronin.”  He said.  “You know a samurai without a master?”

“Don’t you use a bow and arrow, not swords?”  You asked.

Clint laughed and pulled you a little closer to him.  “Alright.  You’re gonna get my tragic backstory.  You ready?”

You rolled in his arms to face him and looked up into the blue of his eyes.  “Your tragic backstory, huh?”

He rubbed his nose against yours.  “Mm-hmm… in all its gory detail.”

You kissed the tip of his nose.  “Go.”

“So … when I was a kid, my parents died in a car accident.  I wasn’t very old and me and my brother went into foster care and got bounced around from abusive family to abusive family.”  He said.

You felt a slight pain in your chest.  The reason why he’d originally taken such an interest in helping you now seeming that much clearer.  You cupped his jaw and stroked his cheek with your thumb.  “I’m so sorry, Clint.”

He shrugged a little.  “Wasn’t any better when they were alive, to be honest.  Didn’t catch much of a break with decent adults to model myself after.”  You pressed your forehead against his and he smiled sadly and ran his hand over your stomach.  “Eventually me and my brother ran away and joined the circus.  Yes literally.  It wasn’t that much better there but at least no one hit me.”

“Clint…”  You said softly and he shook his head.

“Told you.  Tragic backstory.”

The fact he had to hide behind the humor hurt you just that little bit more.  You frowned and ran your fingers through the back of his hair and pulled yourself a little closer to him.

“Anyway, I had these two mentors who taught me things that they thought would work both in the circus and with the circuses less legal things.  One taught me archery.  The other taught me how to use a sword.  I was good at both.  Like really good.  I liked archery more so in the circus I mostly did that, and then when I was recruited by SHIELD I just went with sharp shooting.  I mostly used a gun you know?  Swords and bows don’t work that well in the spy world.  Just, I do better with a bow.  So if I could use one, I would.  Then the Avengers happened and I figured I’m just some guy with a bunch of people with gimmicks, I’ll give myself the bow as my gimmick.

“Then the dusting happened and I snapped.  I went to my sword.  It’s more personal like that.  Up close.  Face-to-face.  That’s how I wanted to kill them.  I didn’t have the Avengers anymore.  I didn’t have my family.  I was alone with my sword.  Like the Ronin.”

“Now you’re stuck with it.”  You said.

He let out a huff and nodded.  “Yep.  But… maybe that’s for the best.  I don’t want to hold on to all that, but I did do it.  This can be my, chill out Barton tattoo.”

“It is pretty hot for a chill out tattoo.”  You teased.

He chuckled and rolled so he was above you, looking down into your eyes.  “Well, as long as it’s hot.”  He brought his lips to yours and you kissed him deeply.  You hummed and tugged on his hair before pulling back reluctantly.

“We better get ready to go.”  You said.

“Yeah alright.”  He said and rolled out of bed.

The two of you showered together and got ready to go.  Clint drank coffee with breakfast and then packed two more to go.

“Is there a reason you haven’t found out what you’re having?”  He asked when you got to the hospital.

You shrugged.  “Just… felt like something you learn so you can get all excited with your partner with and then go paint nurseries and get all pink or blue clothes.  I didn’t have anyone to get excited with and I don’t really care for gender stereotyping.  I also don’t have any idea what to call the little peanut.”

Clint took your hand, linking his fingers with yours.  “You can get excited with me.  I mean if you want.  We don’t have to buy a baseball glove or a tutu or anything.”

You chuckled and leaned against him.  “If I can find out today, we can find out.”

“Hi, I’m Doctor Swann,”  Your doctor said introducing herself to Clint.  “You must be the father.”

Clint shook her hand and laughed a little.  “I’m the boyfriend, not the father.  Clint Barton.”

A whole slew of reactions seemed to pass over your doctor’s face before they settled to a slightly off neutral.

“Okay, judgy.  Be a little professional.”  Clint said and you grinned and kissed his cheek.  He wrapped his arm around your shoulders and gave you a squeeze.

“Alright.  I’ll start with your blood pressure, was there anything you were worried about.”  She asked getting out the blood pressure cuff.

“We were wondering if there was a way we could find out the sex of the baby today.  I know that’s normally a blood test or ultrasound tech thing that happens way earlier, but …”

“It should be fine.  I wanted to take a look with the ultrasound machine anyway.”  She said.

She went through all the routine things for the appointment.  Then got you up on the table to take a look at the baby.  She checked measurements and the heartbeat then moved the wand around to find out the sex.

“Okay, so… it looks like you’re having a little girl.”  She said.

Clint grinned at you and kissed the top of your head.  It was a weird sensation having someone to share this with after so long of just drifting through this pregnancy thinking about how much harder things would be when the baby was born.  “A little girl.”  You said.

“Wanna go buy a tutu now?”  He teased.

You hit him in the chest and he leaned down and kissed you lovingly.  He pulled back and looked down at you.  “It feels good knowing doesn’t it?”

You nodded and cuddled into him as the doctor cleaned you up actually feeling really excited to meet your daughter.  Now you just had to think of a name.

// NEXT

[diegoh4rgreeves]

Butter Peekin

Story Summary: Reader is a music director of the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy. One day the main cast initiate a lunch break together only to have David Castañeda and reader unable to find them at their supposed meeting spot. Reader and David decide to spend their lunch break together with ice-cream and they start to feel a connection. They’re so into their time together that they run late back to work. Their coworkers tease them over it, including Gerard Way! The next day, David asks reader out on a date and gets their number. This prompts reader to try and kiss him until they get cock-blocked by Tom Hopper. The day after that, David kisses reader just days before their date.

Pairing: David Castañeda x Fan

Chapter: 1/1

Word Count: 3,263 words

Warning: Fluff

A/N: I referenced a podcast David was recently a guest on (x). I was originally going to make this a drabble that ends when the lunch break does. Then it just got so cute. I couldn’t stop typing! I hope you all get the same warm and fuzzy feelings I did when I wrote this. Also I made this gender-neutral hence the lack of details for the reader and referring to them in they/them pronouns. Enjoy!

The ice cream shop on Queen St. E is cramped, just as any other place in downtown Toronto is. The whole colour scheme is pale yellow and primary blue; some walls are painted one colour or the other. There’s a chalkboard with the specials written on it.

Out of all the places you could have been hanging out with your celebrity crush in, you never thought it would be Ed’s Real Scoop.

“A butter pecan on a cone, and whatever they’re having.” A tall and built man with a beard signals the ice cream shop server to you with his wallet. He is wearing cargo shorts, a grey sweatshirt, a cap, socks, and running shoes.

You never thought of David Castañeda wearing something like this. He’s Diego Hargreeves in the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy! Diego wears leather clad and swings knives at targets. Then again, David is David. The actor must be different from the character. Also, he wore this same outfit in an hour-long podcast you so watched in the summer. The podcast happened when he was in Thailand.

Now, he’s filming for season 2 of The Umbrella Academy, which gets you out of your day job. You are a music director on the show and that pays your bills. David and you are acquaintances, or so you think.

You shyly smile at David and thank him for offering to pay for your ice-cream. Then you tell the server your order of choice.

As the server prepares both your ice-creams, you look the opposite direction of David. David and you get along in the studio. You’re just used to seeing him with the rest of the cast and crew. You only have this alone time with him because theoretically the rest of the main cast ditched you both. You all originally planned to have lunch together. David and you failed to find them once lunch started, so David decided to take you out for ice cream.

Just as you are accepting this silence between David and you, he lets out a laugh. You look up at him and can’t help but to laugh along. His smile and his laugh are so cute and contagious. You just love his teeth. “What, what is it?”

He takes a moment before laughing again. “Okay, I wanna tell you something and you have to promise not to laugh. You swear?”

You giggle. “No promises.”

He beams up at you. “Y/N, please. This is top-secret info, okay?”

You hold your hands up and let out some incoherent sound. You weren’t sure if to say Okay or Fine.

I promise probably would have cut it. You let it go. He’s still smiling so hard.

“Okay…” He begins. “So, you know that I was born in Mexico, right?”

“Uh huh.” Of course, you know that. You’ve only googled him a hundred times.

“And that I went to high school in LA.”

You nod again. God, you really hope that David doesn’t know about your big crush on him.

“Right, so I could speak English fluently then. I just couldn’t pronounce certain words. Like, butter pecan!” He shudders. “Why do people say it like pikahn? That sounds so bougie!”

You actually remember hearing him tell that fun fact in the podcast. You’re not sure how to react to something you’ve already heard before. You decide to tell him another fun fact. “You know that you can say pee-can.”

He looks at you in amazement. “Wait, really!? Why didn’t anyone tell me that?” He looks the opposite of your direction and mutters the other pronunciation for his favourite ice-cream flavour. Then he looks at you and laughs once again. “Pee… can. Can of pee.”

You choke out a laugh. Right now, he’s just as fun-loving and weird and gross as he is to you with the group. You wonder why you were so nervous and anxious just a few seconds ago. He’s such a lovely human being with good energy. You decide to confess something to him. “I actually listened to the podcast you told the butter pikhan story.”

He beams up. “Oh really? What did you think of it?”

You’re oddly relieved at his response. Come to think of it, why did you think that watching the podcast would be a bad thing? “Well, I mean… the butter peekin story was great.” You realise you didn’t let him finish his story. He used to pronounce butter pecan as butter peekin. He chuckles anyway. “Can I… be honest about the podcast guys though?” You ask.

David smirks. “What is the tea?” He makes a sizzling noise.

You roll your eyes and laugh. “Can you ever give a serious answer to anything?”

“Sorry,” he laughs.

“No no, it’s fine! It’s entertaining.”

He gives you one last smile before the server calls you both for your ice-creams. David walks to the end of the counter where the cashier is. He takes out a $20 bill for both your ice-creams and he puts some of his change in the tip jar.

“Do you wanna stay here or take a walk on Woodbine Beach?” He takes a lick of his butter pecan ice-cream.

You give him a puzzled look. “What about fans? They’re going to stop you and ask for your autograph!” You take a lick of your ice cream and accidentally get a big chunk of the frozen treat in your mouth. You let it melt inside. You like the numbness on your tongue.

He leads you both out the shop and you passively follow him. Then he rolls his eyes and chuckles. “Y/N, you flatter me. First you watch my podcast and now you believe I have fans.”

You spit out your ice cream from a burst of laughter. You didn’t even care he pointed out the podcast. His self-deprecating humour reminded you why you love him so much.

“You okay there?” He chuckles.

You scoff and roll your eyes. “Yeah, thanks, David.” It was your turn to be sarcastic.

“Here, I picked up some napkins.” He pulls some out of his shorts pockets. You let out a hand with the assumption that he’ll hand you the napkin. Instead, he stops you both on the sidewalk outside the shop and he wipes your ice-cream covered lips with it. This might be the closest you’ve ever gotten to him besides a hug. He’s touching your lips and it’s great, even though he’s not touching them with his lips.

He lets go. You clear your throat and thank him.

It feels like a movie moment. You think that you should let the tension last as the streets had their usual noise of honking cars and beeping bus stops. In that sound, he’d think of kissing you. Instead, he picks up your conversation from the ice-cream shop. “So, what didn’t you like about those interviewers from the podcast?”

“Hmm?” You look at him as you try and adjust to a new conversation topic. “Oh right.” You’ve processed what he said. “Well, call me a social justice warrior, but I thought they were so politically incorrect, you know? Like… after you said the butter peekin story and you called an old friend a coconut. They thought that was racist? Seriously?”

David rolls his eyes. “Yeah… I was confused by that.”

“You seemed it!”

“I wanted to ask them how was that racist, and they just said that we weren’t gonna get into it. I mean, I couldn’t really do anything after that, you know? I didn’t wanna cause a scene, especially in my big break!”

“I thought you didn’t have fans.”

He opens his mouth and leaves it hanging. “Touché.”

You chuckle. Gosh, does he have such a good sense of humour. You look at him with a serious look. “There is another thing I wanna point out about those guys.”

“More tea!?” He grins. “Damn Y/N, I never took you for a gossip girl!”

You guffaw. “Wow okay! So that’s how you see me now?”

He chuckles. “Maybe… I like it anyway. You’ve got spunk and don’t take shit from anybody.”

You blush. David paid you a compliment and you’re trying so hard to see it as a friendly comment. “Yeah, well…” You play off your bashfulness with an exaggerated hair flip. “You know you love me.”

He lets out a hearty laugh, and that only makes you feel overwhelmed. Have you always been this funny? Does anyone else laugh this hard at your jokes?

You’re having such a good time with him that you never mind the talk about the podcast anymore. Who wants to rant about two white guys when you’re with the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen!?

David and you take a stroll on the beach. It isn’t until you’re walking on it and feel the cool air from the lake that you felt how hot it was outside earlier. The beach really soothes you. David and you are still on a sugar high from the ice-creams, and you rush finishing them so that the sand doesn’t rush up on your treats from the wind. You’re laughing so hard as he slurps his cone and tilts it up. It’s probably a disgusting view to the people around you, and that makes it more entertaining for you.

David turns around to see if anyone’s looking at him. There does appear to be an irritated family sitting on some lawn chairs. He looks at you. “And you thought I had fans.”

You hold your stomach from laughing. “Don’t kill me!”

He smiles along with your laugh. When he finishes his ice cream, he rubs his hands to get the crumbs off. He pulls out his smartphone and gasps. “Uhh… Y/N.” He shows you the time. “I think break was over looong ago.”

You gasp. “Oh fuck… You have some missed calls too!”

“It’s okay! We’ll get an uber.”

“Yeah?” You check with him. “Will it cost much?”

He slings his wrist and purses his lips. “It’s on me, it’s fine.”

“You already paid for ice-cream. Let me split this with you.”

He shrugs. “Okay. Whatever. We’ll figure it out. Let’s just get back now!” David opens the Uber app on his phone and starts ordering a ride. You both wait at the parking lot of the beach together until your ride’s here.

David and you come back to the studio in a panic. You only see the main cast and crew laugh at your dramatic entrance of running inside. David and you freeze as you look at them. You’re especially worried over what Gerard Way thinks.

“Why are you guys running!?” Emmy Raver-Lampman looks like she’s about to cry from how hard she’s laughing. You’re quite embarrassed by that. You’ve also had a bit of a crush on her. Now this woman with goddess-like features and long curly hair is seeing you all sweaty and covered in ice-cream stickiness and you’re heavily breathing.

“Yeah, you’re late, you’re late.” The 16-year-old actor with a page-boy haircut lets out a chuckle. Aidan Gallagher is like his character, Five, in real life. He’s stoic.

Robert Sheehan, the tall and scrawny man with the messy brown hair, green eyes, messy black eyeliner, and funky and colourful clothing chimes in. “David and Y/N sittin’ in a tree…”

“Honestly, where did you guys go?” The short girl with the brown hair and button-like eyes cuts in. Yes, this is your idol since tweenhood, Ellen Page. “We waited for you.”

“Where!?” David yells out.

This gets everyone to bicker over the original plans of where to meet up at lunch time. Before this can go on, a tall and burly man with long dyed-red hair and bright blue eyes cuts in. “Alright, guys. David is back. Now you can film again!” He looks over at you. “Well Y/N, you don’t have to work again for another while, unless there are scenes you can add music to right now.”

You nod your head. “Yes sir. I’m on it. Sorry we’re late!”

He rolls his eyes and laughs. “I don’t even wanna know what David and you got up to.”

This gets the cast to make scandalised faces at David and you. “As I said!” Robert calls out. “David and Y/N sittin’ in a tree!”

“Robert!” Gerard calls out. “Go back to filming.”

You lose David in the crowd of the main cast, so you don’t get to wave goodbye and thank him for a fun lunch break, which had a surprisingly pleasant and wholesome ending.

—–

It’s the day after. You enter the lounge room of the studio. You put down a box of doughnuts on a table there. On top of the box, you leave a sticky note. It reads, Sorry I was late yesterday. I got an assorted range. Hope you all enjoy these. -Y/N

You take one last look at the box and then turn around to see David. This makes you jump up. You didn’t expect to see him in. In fact, you didn’t even hear anyone come in! “Hey David.” You let out a breath.

He looks at you all confused. “Did I scare you?”

“Kind of. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Oh, my bad.” He chuckles. He looks over you and takes notice of the box of pastries. “What’s this?”

“Hmm?” You turn around to see what he’s looking at. “Oh.” You turn around back to him. “Just an apology gift for yesterday.” You laugh nervously.

He nods. “Can I split the money with you since I wanna apologise too?”

“Are you mocking me?” You scoff.

He laughs. “I mean I do feel bad about yesterday actually and I don’t wanna be late again from getting a box of doughnuts. So…”

You shrug. “It’s on me. You did pay for the Uber.”

“Thanks.” He nods.

You nod back. You’re not sure what to say next. “I should probably head to my department.”

“Yeah, sure. But first…” He looks down at the ground and then back at you. “I just wanted to say that I had a lot of fun yesterday.”

Your heart warms up and you open your mouth. You know that you should say something. “Yeah. Me too. I mean, I had a lot of fun too. With you.” You clear your throat.

He smiles. “If you… ever wanna do this again some time, I’d be down.”

You cannot believe what you’re hearing. You have been asked out by other people in the past year, and you were just irritated. You could sense the bad vibes from those people. David though, he reminds you of your crushes back in high school. You are purely excited. “Yeah. Yeah definitely.”

“Something longer than a lunch break.” He smirks.

You giggle. “Yeah, I hear that. Do you want my number by the way?”

“Oh.” He beams up. “Right, yeah. I was going to ask for that next.” He chuckles and takes his phone out of his jeans pocket.

You smile and accept the phone. He has the page for you to add your name and number on. You type everything in and hand the phone back to him. “Okay, text me at your own will.”

He laughs. “I will. I might call after work actually. Is that okay?”

You open your mouth and wanna exclaim something. You remember to play it cool though. You just love phone calls so much. They’re so intimate and they’re one of the few old-fashioned things you value. Instead of freaking him out, you simply nod your head.

He smiles one last time before saying bye and heading out the lounge room.

You know that you won’t see him in another while. He’ll be working the whole day, and so will you. You look back and forth to your side and then to his direction. You want to kiss him. But is it too soon? You don’t know, but you decide to go in for the kill. You head out the lounge room only to be stopped by Tom Hopper, the tall and muscular actor with the buzzed haircut. He shows you a photo of his babies that his wife just texted him. He’s British. It’s 1pm in England. You go along with his excitement and compliment his babies on how cute they are.

You’re in your apartment after a long day of work. You decided to stay in at the studio for your lunch break. You ate a sandwich you brought from home and watched a few finished scenes of The Umbrella Academy. You brainstormed which songs would be fitting for all of the scenes you watched today. There was a meeting for it afterwards.

You change into your comfy clothes at your apartment and get a sense of relief. You prepare some food and plop on the couch. You turn on Netflix and watch the TV show of your choice. You can’t really get into what you’re watching though. You’re too busy mindlessly munching on your food and zoning out. You wonder if Tom cockblocking you was a good idea. Chasing after David for a kiss would have definitely been a desperate move. You also try to justify your decision with the fact that you’ve known David for a while now. There are romantic implications. Maybe he wants to kiss you too.

Before you can ponder on this, you hear your phone quickly vibrate. You pick it up and see a text letting you know that it’s David. You beam up and immediately save his name and number on your phone. You text him “Hey!” He texts and asks if it’s okay to call you right now.

You text a thumbs up emoji. You anticipate the call as you look at the text thread. Your phone gives longer vibrations this time, which shows that you’re getting a call. You pick it up. “Hello?”

“Y/N.” There’s that sexy deep voice. “Hey. How’s it going?”

You can feel your heart fluttering. You’re relieved that you didn’t kiss him. It would have scared him off. Tom cockblocking you made all this worth it.

—–

You see David the next day at work. You’re both in the lounge room before your times to start. You’re the only ones in the room and smile at one another as you walk in. “So, I guess we just awkwardly look at each other before Friday?” You quip. Friday is your date with David. You’re getting dinner and plan to go back to the beach.

“Yeah, I guess so.” He smirks. “That or…” He looks away and sighs.

You furrow your brows. “Or what?”

He walks over to you from the coffee machine and holds your face. He rubs one of your cheeks with his thumb and leans in. He eyes the room before touching your lips with his.

You’re quite surprised over this. You still close your eyes and go along with it. He tastes like the black coffee he just made and sipped. He smells really good from his body spray and you get a whiff of his shampoo. He must have showered before coming here. Your lips are so relaxed on each other until he presses harder and holds your waist to lean you in. You wrap your arms around his neck. You both sigh in the kiss until he decides to let go.

He looks at you and rubs your cheek with his thumb one last time before pecking your nose and walking out the room.

You are stunned. Much to your luck, he also had an urge to kiss you.

[piperemerald]

I'd be interested in the answers to all ten questions for both Declining the Queen's Gambit and Falling For Your Voice if you don't mind.

Welp this is gonna be a long and self indulgent post, but if you’re interested I’m excited to talk about this!

1. Of the fics you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?

That’s a hard pick because a lot of my fics are different and were written for different reasons. Even thought it’s been over two years since I wrote it, All My Hope (my longest and more emotional Dear Evan Hansen fic) still holds a special place in my heart and it kind baffles me that I’m still getting comments on it from people who felt moved by the story or connected to how I portrayed Connor. 

For the specific questions I’ll start with Declining the Queen’s Gambit.

2. Which scene was your favorite to write in [title of fic]?

There are a lot. I like the romance bits where Ray’s being an idiot, but I also liked the more serious part with Isabella. But also the parts where I went into Norman and Emma’s POV were fun because I got to describe Ray and set out of his head. Ah, I don’t know if this is even an answer…but yeah.

3. Which part of [title] was hardest to write?

Probably the confrontation with Peter Ratri and his crew. I didn’t want it to feel too much like just Ray monologuing, but still wanted it to have the same effect as in the manga when one of the trio turns everything on it’s heals. 

4. If you could change anything in [title], what would it be?

The lack of Norman’s squad. I only mention them here and there because this wasn’t a Norman fic and I wasn’t sure how to make them interact with the others. But looking back it would have been cool to have a bit of how they coped with thinking Norman was dead and just being in the human world they didn’t think they’d live to see (in my defense when I started I didn’t know they were “dying”).

5. Did you make an outline for [title]? Did you stick to it?

Oh yeah. It was really long too. I pretty much always make outlines, but once the plot twists started coming in I really needed to lay everything out. I stuck to it pretty well. There were some details that weren’t in it at all but I didn’t end up straying much.

6. Which scenes did you cut, and which were added in [title]?

I don’t think I cut anything, but I added quite a bit. Initially all the Don and Gilda stuff wasn’t there, but I had Ray talk to Gilda and their sub-arc just kinda happened. 

Also that whole bit where Emma tries to get Ray’s camera and ends up tackling him and he’s just like O-O was not in the outline and I do not know how I wrote it without dying of second hand embarrassment. 

7. Who was your favorite character to write in [title]?

Kinda ironic cus it’s a Rayemma fic, but Norman. I liked throwing him into the mix and the way Ray was able to face his own emotions once he was back with them. Also Ray needed someone to call him out and Norman was more than ready to do that. 

8. Which came first, the title or the fic?

The fic. I went back and forth between a few chess related titles, since the chess game was a pivotal part of the story and the amount of chess metaphors used. 

9. Which idea came to you first in [title]?

I wanted to write something Rayemma and post cannon where Ray had to deal with his PTSD and feelings for Emma. Initially Norman was gonna be dead the whole time and it was just gonna be a romance and study on how the both of them handle their grief, but then I decided to make the plot a bit more complicated. 

10. What are some facts readers may not know about [title]?

Hmm…that the whole idea of the moms rebelling came from something my beta said off handedly after we finished showing season one to our friend. We also has a handful of post fic head cannons, most of which include the trio struggling in college and Emma explaining to Ray that one time that girl was talking to him at the mall she was actually flirting with him and that was why Emma made her go away.

Also, the reason I made Norman kinda crush over the guy he met at the college tour was because I wanted to give him the change to get over Emma (and Ray), but I didn’t want to just shove him with someone else. So maybe he dates that guy, maybe he meets someone in one of his classes, the most important thing is that he’d ready to connect with someone aside from his two best friends. He’s also bi. That was important to me for some reason. 

And that’s it. Onto the Norray! I’ve already answered 5, 7 and 9 here for Falling For Your Voice, but here are the rest (or what I can tell so far of the rest since I want to answer these now but not everything is posted yet) 

2. Which scene was your favorite to write in [title of fic]?

So it’s low-key in one of the upcoming chapters. So instead I’ll answer what my favorite was so far. I liked writing the tag bit and how smug Ray gets, but since I’m kinda dramatic my favorite was probably both the paparazzi incident and the fallout after it. I like the moments where Ray surprises Norman and they get closer to being a real relationship (even though they don’t realize that’s what’s happening).

3. Which part of [title] was hardest to write?

The ending. But. That hasn’t been posted yet. So. Also every time Norman is a smooth fucker. I hate him.

4. If you could change anything in [title], what would it be?

Since it’s still coming out nothing really. If there was anything I wanted to change I would do it now while I still can. 

6. Which scenes did you cut, and which were added in [title]?

Nothing was really cut from the fic, I did initially not have a lot of scenes in the outline/original idea. The paparazzi thing wasn’t gonna happen at first, neither was half of the next chapter (that will be posted either today or tomorrow)

8. Which came first, the title or the fic?

The fic. I’m awful at titles and the document was just labeled Pop Star Norman while I was writing it.

10. What are some facts readers may not know about [title]?

The whole Oedipus inspired painting that Emma made is a metaphor for Ray, but I don’t touch on it a lot because of the tone of this fic. 

Emma is a lesbian. I mean, that’s kinda obvious but I don’t think I ever have her outright say it.

Ray types really loudly when he’s in the zone because my best friend says that I do and it either sounds like I’m angry or gonna break my keyboard.

Thank you for the ask!

[smilingformoney]

Platinum Diamond Scene: Act in a Sketch with Raleigh

Josh Morello: Awesome! Josh Morello: First off, we wrote two different versions of the script. Would you rather play a parody of yourself, or a parody of Jaylen Riaz? You: Jaylen? Fiona: Playing up your beef with Jaylen would amp your popularity up immediately. Avery: Then again, Cadence, it really just depends on whether or not you want to play up your rivalry with her. You: Hmm…

Who do you play on Last Call? -Jaylen

You: The people want what they want. Besides, I don’t owe her anything. Fiona: Good call. Josh Morello: Works for me!

-Yourself

You: I’d rather just make fun of myself. I barely know her, anyway. Josh Morello: Works for me!

Josh Morello: And don’t worry, this is last minute, so we’ll have teleprompters in case you forget your lines. Shane: Go forth and slay, you guys! Shane and Josh leave together. You: Guess we’re really doing this… Raleigh: I guess we are…

Soon, it’s almost your turn to go onstage with Raleigh for your skit. The curtains roll back. The lights blink on. The studio audience roars. You wait in the wings for your entrance. Host: Hello, hello! We’re back with Pop Star Jeopardy, your favourite place to feel validated when you know a piece of trivia a celeb doesn’t. Host: With us tonight, we have… your favourite rebel and heartbreaker, currently in the head and in trouble for crashing yet another yacht… Host: …Raleigh Carrera! Raleigh Carrera: Yo, what’s good. I didn’t think I’d be able to make it tonight… but turns out it’s pretty easy to blow off community service when you’re famous. The crowd boos loudly, but they’re loving it. Raleigh Carrera: What? What’d I say? Host: O… kay! Next up! Our other contestant decided it was better for their image to do charity work in Africa for the Pictagram posts… so we found a replacement! Host: Don’t ask which country in Africa… because they won’t remember! The audience boos again! Host: Bravely taking up the mantle, we have a surprise guest, your fave pop star killing it on Charttopper…

-If you’re playing yourself

Host: Cadence!

-If you’re playing Jaylen

Host: Jaylen Riaz!

You walk on stage, trying not to trip, and place yourself behind the podium. The crowd cheers loudly, stomping their feet, when they recognise that it’s you.

-If you’re playing yourself

You: Hi, New York! I was busy… -Writing Raleigh Carrera’s name with hearts in my diary, but…

You: …I’m here now! You: Have I told you how head over heels in love I am for my wonderful partner yet?! Have you seen the thing they do when they flip their hair? They’re amaz--

-Talking about how much I idolise Avery Wilshere, but…

You: …I’m here now! You: Have I told you how big an inspiration they were and is to me, my life, and all of my music?

Host: Yes… many times! Let’s move on!

-If you’re playing Jaylen

Jaylen Riaz: Helloooo, New York! I was busy… -Adopting all the sick kittens in a shelter, but I’m here now! +2000

Jaylen Riaz: I was, like, definitely not gonna tell you guys I did this awesome, angelic thing because I hate humble bragging… Jaylen Riaz: But honest is just like, the most important thing to me, you know?

-Having ghostwriters write all my music, but I’m here now! +2000

You: Which is to say, I wasn’t busy at all!

The audience laughs appreciatively, which encourages you. +5000 Audience Member: Cadence acting onstage? What a twist! She’s so multitalented! Host: In Pop Star Jeopardy, all of the winnings go toward our celebs’ charity of choice… Host: …which typically means their next booze cruise in Ibiza! But we deal with it because of the ratings! Isn’t that right? Raleigh looks up from texting. Raleigh Carrera: Oh, sorry, you were saying? Something came up with my private island off the coast of Bora Bora. Host: …I think that means it’s time to start the actual game! Host: Today, our categories are… ‘Living Frugally,’ ‘Methods Of Public Transportation,’ and ‘How To Be Relatable.’ Host: Raleigh Carrera… You’re up. Raleigh Carrera: Thanks, Josh, you’re the man. I got this on lock. I’ll do ‘Living Frugally’ for 400. Host: Alright! You’re on a first date, but you only have $20 on you. How do you make that money go far… and win your date’s heart? Raleigh Carrera: Easy. What is… ‘Take them back to my penthouse for a topshelf nightcap…’ Raleigh Carrera: ‘…and spend the $20 on a Ride XL Lux Black so send them home and make sure they don’t spend the night?’ The crowd erupts into more jeers, but they’re all grinning. Raleigh Carrera: What, come on? It’s cost effective! Raleigh Carrera: I’m just saying what I know y’all are thinking.

-If you’re playing yourself

Host: That is… an incorrect answer! Cadence, take us home.

You: Well, Josh, what is… ‘Skip the date and donate $20 to…’ -‘Singer-Songwriter Broken Hearts Foundation?’

You: It’s for a good cause. We pour everything into our music. We have a lot of feelings. You: We also say ‘heart on our sleeve’ a lot.

-‘Escaped My Hometown And Never Shut Up About It Club?’

You: No one even knows where my hometown is, but I feel like it’s important to remind people of this a lot. And I support other people who do the same.

-If you’re playing Jaylen

Host: That is… an incorrect answer! Jaylen Riaz, take us home.

Jaylen Riaz: Well, Josh, what is… ‘Skip the date and donate $20 to…’ -‘Yachts for Tots?’ +1000

Jaylen Riaz: Because no one should have to grow up and not have a Tubular Two birthday bash along the lush, golden sands of Turks and Caicos.

-‘Screens for Teens?’ +1000

Jaylen Riaz: This foundation puts 4K TVs with 3D options into every classroom. Jaylen Riaz: Because no student should have to suffer through low-res movies.

-‘Equestrian for Pedestrians?’ +1000

Jaylen Riaz: Because no one should have to get to their destination in anything less than a gold-plated saddle.

The name of the organisation gets a big laugh, and you see Josh smile at Shane backstage in the wings. That must have been one of Shane’s lines! Shane: … Host: And that response is… also incorrect! In order to win, you have to actually go on the date! Host: Who hurt both of you? Host: Let’s just skip forward to our final round!

-If you’re playing yourself

Raleigh Carrera: Alright, let’s go, Cadence. It’s getting real now.

-If you’re playing Jaylen

Raleigh Carrera: Alright, let’s go, Jaylen. It’s getting real now.

Host: The category is… ‘What do you do for fun?’ As long as you write or draw your answer, you will win! Host: So please… be sure to follow directions! Host: And don’t forget to select a wager!

-If you’re playing yourself

You glance behind the podium to see two notebook props.

Pick a notebook! -Diary with hearts -Journal titled ‘Poetry’

Host: And now… It’s time to reveal the answers of our celebrity contestants! Cadence, you go first. You lift the notebook up so the crowd can see.

DEFINITELY YOUR OWN, ORIGINAL WORK! -Show the hearts diary/poetry journal

You: In my spare time, I love to write beautiful songs… And let people know that I wrote my own songs! You: Like, I really, really write my own songs. Did you know how much I hate using ghostwriters? Host: Oh, yes, actually! This is a well-publicised fact! Host: You know, you only had to write a sentence or draw a picture on the lectern, not author a whole book… You: In my pursuit of authenticity and art, I cannot be silenced. Host: Marvellous, I suppose! And what did you select as your wager? You: I went all in.

-If you’re playing Jaylen

You glance behind the podium to see two painting props.

Pick a painting! -Rembrandt Self-Portrait prop +1000 -Mona Lisa prop +1000

Host: And now… It’s time to reveal the answers of our celebrity contestants! Jaylen Riaz, you go first. You lift the painting up so the crowd can see.

DEFINITELY YOUR OWN, ORIGINAL WORK! -Show the Rembrandt/Leonardo da Vinci painting

Jaylen Riaz: In my spare time, I love to create beautiful art… Especially those already created by other people! Host: Beautiful, Jaylen! Most people just, uh… Use the pen we offer on the podium. Not create a whole painting. Jaylen Riaz: In my pursuit of truth, my art cannot be restricted by any medium. Host: Marvelous! And what did you select as your wager? Jaylen Riaz: I went all in, so to speak, just like my ailing grandmother raised me to do. Host: How moving! You mention your ailing grandmother so often, I feel like I already know her!

Host: And Raleigh, what do you have to share with us today? Raleigh lifts up something from behind the podium. Raleigh Carrera: This is what I like to do for fun, no doubt.

BOTTLE OF ABSINTHE -Watch Raleigh take a swig!

Raleigh hiccups. Raleigh Carrera: Is this show over yet? I have places to be. Host: Uh, Raleigh… That definitely does not qualify as a written entry or a drawing! Host: In that case… given that she wagered all of her earnings thus far and won this round, I’m pleased to announce that the winner is…

-If you’re playing yourself

Host: …Cadence! You: Ohmygod, thank you so much! You: I’d like to thank my family and my best friend Shane, who I talk about repeatedly even though none of you know who he is…

-If you’re playing Jaylen +2000

Host: …Jaylen Riaz! Jaylen Riaz: Ohmygod! Ohmygod! I’m so moved! I’m speechless! Jaylen Riaz: I’d like to thank my family, my life coach, puppies, marshmallows, rainbows, the cat I definitely didn’t kick on the way here…

The audience oohs, ahhs, and explodes into laughter as confetti bursts from the ceiling and begins to rain down above you. +45,000 Host: Congratulations! Raleigh: And now, live from New York… +50,000 You: …IT’S LAST CALL! Josh Morello: We got a great show for you tonight! Cadence is here! Stick around!

You run backstage together with Raleigh, giddy from the rush of performing. Soon, you can hear Josh beginning his opening monologue… Josh: Now, I don’t know about you, but I have been keeping up-to-date on the newest season of The Debutante… You: (That monologue must be what Shane helped write! I’m so proud of him!) You head back to wardrobe and change…

Raleigh: That was pretty wild, huh? You: That was… thrilling! My heart’s still pounding in my chest. Raleigh: Well, congrats, superstar. Looks like you’ve got a back-up career in comedy if this whole singing thing doesn’t work out. You: Oh, hardly. I had to keep biting my lip to not break into laughter because of you and Josh. Raleigh: Happens to the best of us. You: You know, it’s cool that you didn’t mind making a bit of fun of yourself. Raleigh shrugs. Raleigh: Yeah, it’s good to not take that stuff too seriously. I had a blast up there. Raleigh: Besides, it’s like my image has a life of its own, one that’ll carry on even without me. It’s not fully mine anymore. You: You think so? That must be unnerving. Raleigh: We have images of ourselves, whether we want them or not. I’d rather have this one. You: Rather than…? Raleigh just grins, not answering your question. You: Okay, have it your way. You: So… I guess I’ll see you later after my performance? Raleigh: Sure. Unless… Raleigh’s eyes gleam mischievously.

You: (I should…) -Make out with Raleigh.

You lean in close, and cup Raleigh’s chin in your hands, placing one soft kiss on their lips. Raleigh: Oh, I see. Trying to wind up in the headlines with your fake partner, huh? Raleigh: Starring in a Last Call sketch together, making out backstage… You: I’ve got a taste for the headlines now… Although I doubt anyone will find us back here. Your lips meet again, and Raleigh’s arms enfold around you. They draw one of your knees up, pulling you closer. Raleigh: Cadence… You jump and they catch you, holding you at the thighs as you wrap your legs around her. Raleigh walks backward until they reach the couch, and you fall down upon it together, hopping on their lap and kissing them more. You: Mmm… You intertwine your hands together, until they gently push you back so you lie against the cushions. On top of you, they trail kisses down your neck. You reach a hand back behind you to brace against the couch. Raleigh: Shouldn’t you be getting ready soon? You: Shhhhh… You groan as they press against you, your fists clenching, bunching up cloth on her shirt. They slip a hand under your top… You: I… The door opens. Zadie: Ugh, I’m so glad I moved my silk swatches away from that couch before you all got to it. You break apart from Raleigh, blushing furiously. Zadie’s standing behind a rack of costumes, blinking rapidly. Zadie: Not to bust this up, but Cadence needs to get dressed. Not un-dressed. You: I should, uh, go do my fitting… Raleigh: No problem. Gotta give the people what they want right? You: See you later? Raleigh gives you one last kiss on the lips. Raleigh: Maybe. Raleigh squeezes your hand as they slip away.

-Give Raleigh a hug.

You lean in close, and wrap your arms around Raleigh. You: See you later, partner. Raleigh: Yeah, we did great up there. Good luck during your show. You give Raleigh one last squeeze, and then you let them go.

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Shield Hero 20 - 22 | Sarazanmai 7 - 9 | BSD 32 - 34 | Fruits Basket 8 - 9 | Demon Slayer 8 - 10 | OPM 20 - 21

Shield Hero 20

Motoyasu getting dragged by Filo was funny…not enough to get a proper laugh though. Just a smirk or two.

Stop narrating and just get on with it, Naofumi and friends…!

“I was saying we should fight together all along.” (from Itsuki) – Were you, now…? (skeptical)

Ass-pull! I call “ass-pull” at the power to swallow the phoenix flame! Seriously, when did the dragon get the opportunity to teach Naofumi how to do that???

How did Naofumi not die after losing so much blood…?

What does the Q even stand for in the queen’s name…?

Sarazanmai 7

The seagulls…so fluffy…

For some reason, I expect a fakeout, but then it never arrives…these boys are really connecting…

I found some kappa croquette thingy online, but it referred to a “Shiki City” which probably isn’t in Asakusa…

The shirt…Kazuki’s shirt says “frog” but I get the feeling it also means “return”.

Shirohasu water. It’s Irohasu in Japan.

Was the lyric to Kawausoiya (the otter song) “gonna take ‘em”…?

Nice ET reference, Sara.

Balls…not just sport entendre, but…y’know. The sort of humour I don’t like as much.

Ooh…Keppi is shaping up to be the bad guy. But what plans does he have? Am I speculating too much and is he being framed? Hard to know until next time…

BSD 32

When Kyouka is eating the sundae, she looks like the Tofu Kyouka from Mayoi…hmm.

Can I confess something? Before I saw the illustrations for s2, I thought Louisa’s hair was much darker than what it is in the anime…hmmm, indeed.

I don’t think we were ever told (in the manga or the anime) what Louisa’s wish was…

This bit with Fyodor…I don’t think it was in the manga.

Subarashi-sou is a pun on “it seems wonderful”. That wasn’t in the manga, but it’s a great pun (because it’s right up my alley).

Fitz laughing at the neighbour’s TV wasn’t in the manga either, but that’s just the anime director’s humour peeking through.

“Blalack Daniel’s”, LOL.

Ohh…a quick Google reveals TJ Eckleberg is from the Great Gatsby. In there, he’s an eye doctor, but here, he’s an engineer.

George B Wilson is also from the Great Gatsby…Here be spoilers, but…George dies in his original work too.

Manhasset is a place in New York…I assume it’s connected to the Great Gatsby as well…

Oh yeah! Random Poe moment. That’s in the manga, so Igarashi (or whoever’s responsible for the terrible humour) doesn’t have to fake that bit.

Cue “Objection!” by Fitz, lemme guess. Even if I know the outcome and how it was done, I’d like to have my memory refreshed (by stabbing in the dark…and making an Ace Attorney joke in the process).

I already know, without googling, that Tom Buchanan is part of Great Gatsby as well…

Bank of Amerigo…LOL.

Fruits Basket 8

“If you show up for the banquet now…”

“The banquet sounds just like the folk tale!” Honestly, subbers, proofread…

Haa-kun and Haa-san. No distinguishing between them (aside from honorifics), even though they’re two completely different people.

Hatori’s squinty face was…hilarious, to put it simply.

Oh…I forgot the dance seems to be something the animal of the year does. So if Yuki was 3 years ago, it makes sense Momiji is doing it this year.

Best seat in the house for a sunrise, huh?

Kimetsu no Yaiba 8

I’ve seen Muzan being described as “Demon Michael Jackson” and now I can’t get that out of my head when I see him…sorry.

Tsukihiko, huh? It translates to “moon’s radiance” or something like that. That name is appropriate for a bad guy, isn’t it?

This is the first time I’ve really listened to the OST (aside from the OP and ED), so it’s…really something.

Ooh, I didn’t realise until now, but Ufotable even imitated the paper Jump is printed on with the next-ep previews…

OPM 2 8 (OPM 20)

Er…I haven’t mentioned it for the past few episodes, but Suiryu is hotttttttt. (No? I said that? Okay, next step.) That’s basically the only reason why I’m watching anymore…I can’t seem to find anyone who thinks positively of this tournament arc enough to do reviews of it that I can read, which has made my own opinion of this beloved series go down the drain…Also, if you weren’t aware, my taste lies not in Suiryu’s huge bulk, but rather in the fact he’s got long hair.

Didn’t Suiryu get pierced in the abs??? Where’s the blood coming from his injuries??? Update: He does have injuries there, they’re just not bloody…that’s all.

The main criticism for OPM 2 is the fact that it keeps cutting between different events, so it’s hard to follow. Well, I’ve had worse (see Concrete Revolutio) so that’s why I’m still here.

People say that clothing changes you – say if you put on a new outfit, you feel like a new person. (Of course, that’s all glamorising and praising consumption, but that’s beside the point here.) I think that’s what’s up with Max and Snek.

Shield Hero 21

“…the Shield Hero is worshipped.”

Really? Boob jiggle, at a time like this??? (Context: Malty is getting th slave crest painted on her.)

Wait, was there ever a Shield Church???

Okay, that felt like a real seasonal ending. What the heck is going to happen in the last few episodes, I wonder…?

Sarazanmai 8

Chikai knows the real meaning of YOLO…heh. I’m only kidding…

To be honest, I think I like Toi best out of the main trio. I tend to like the boys in blue…and no, I don’t mean the otter police.

Kazuki’s service provider is “Kappa Phone”, LOL.

When Reo held up the gun, I was yelling, “Enta! Get it for him!” (i.e. take the bullet) I didn’t expect him to actually do it…

…and here I thought tragic yuri was common enough and we don’t have enough Tragic Yaoi Dudes…

Notably, Toi was registered on Enta’s phone as “Kuji”, while Kazuki is registered as “Kazuki” (katakana) on Toi’s.

Shots fired…!

Update: I didn’t notice this, but the evil dude with kamome written behind him (I think it’s in this episode, but it might have been in the last one instead) must be based on a seagull…because that’s what kamome means.

Bungou Stray Dogs 33 (BSD S3 Ep 8)

I think it was around here I stopped reading the scans, because the series was picked up legally anyway…but I can see the death flags for a certain Port Mafia man…one who stands at the top.

As expected…butt shot. Igarashi (or whoever’s responsible for that shot) likes butts, so between this and Sarazanmai…*imagines image of kappa!Kazuki holding a shirikodama* There’s absolutely no buts about it (LOL), there’s no shortage of butts this season.

“To think that the rabbit being hunted would show its face…” – I think it’s hard for you to say that, Akutagawa, when you yourself have no face in that frame…

Why are both Akutagawa and Fyodor Naruto running today???

“So you’re doing this for that woman.”

What is “Mukurotoride”? I don’t seem to remember…maybe I never learnt what it was. Update: Apparently a tower in Dead Apple is called Mukurotoride.

Conspiracy time! This book sounds like Kunikida’s Ability…so imagine if it were under Dazai’s nose the entire time…

Fruits Basket 9

I love how the synopsis for this episode goes, “Kyo fights Yuki, Yuki fights a cold…”

Hatsuharu’s wearing such an ostentatious fluffy jacket…LOL, I love it.

Holy cow (LOL), I forgot how old Hatsuharu is…so that means he’s 15-ish, right?

Come to think of it…I see Fruits Basket characters in Ro Te O, which I started writing at about this time in 2013. The Azrael of that time was a hybrid of Hatsuharu, Ritsu and Ayame, Tetsuya is basically Yuki and Ryou is Kyou…hmm.

Apparently, Shigure had in the 2001 anime a song that went like, “High school girls, high school girls, cute high school girls for me.” So that’s where it was??? (Context: I haven’t seen Fruits Basket 2001, but read the entire manga.)

Kimetsu no Yaiba 9

Recap time, recap time…so the lady’s in the back room and Tanjiro conveniently forgets the man is in the basement…? Wuh?

Moya was complaining about how repetitive this show can get when it comes to the script (i.e. it repeats itself because it doesn’t trust its audience, but I think that’s because this is originally serialised on TV week by week that people may forget if they’re not bingeing, taking notes or following the manga). I’ll talk more about that in my KnY collab post, I guess…

When Yushiro said “watch your back”…he really meant it, huh?

Temari are the balls, but kemari is when you kick the balls.

“…the eyeballs on his hands are creepy.” – LOL.

Shield Hero 22

The ep title just says “Hero Council”…not specifically that there are 4 of them.

My stream’s been buffering more than usual, so I went “like mother, like daughter” before Naofumi did…

It would’ve ben massively funny to hear Melty call Malty either “Trash” or “B****”…especially the last one, because that’s always a fun way to end a sentence (especially for a girl as young as her). Update: She does, but the way she does it isn’t as funny as I thought it would be (and she doesn’t end her sentence with her sister’s new name).

Wait, I thought they got rid of her slave pact??? I thought it was only for the duration of her trial that she needed it for.

L’Arc and that lady seem like they’re foreshadowing for later…hmm. Update: The next-episode synopsis says “yes”. So does that new visual.

Sarazanmai 9

I can’t believe this show’s almost over…That means I gotta get a move on with RobiHachi, but to be honest? Non-anime things are probably going to kep me busy until…a few days from now. So I’ll get RobiHachi watched then.

Characetrs are dying en masse in this episode, aren’t they??? I saw a spoiler that (well, SPOILER) Chikai’s gonna die, but I don’t know about Enta or Keppi…Update: To be honest, I thought Chikai was going to become the next monster – a gun monster, perhaps. Maybe now that I’ve finished the episode, he’ll become a real zombie. (Hey, see what I did there with the bolding…? How’s that for hiding spoilers, eh???)

Oh yeah…I forgot Enta’s sister was Kazuki’s teacher…

There was a sign behind Masa that said”Hinode Asakusa” – “hi no de” meaning roughly “under the sun” or “leaving the sun”.

Tokarev…? The gun? Gun monster, maybe? Is this a critique of the American gun…(exaggerated voice) Nah, can’t be…this is Japanese.

Lionel…Lionel…for some reason, that name in relation to soccer seems familiar...I just can’t put my finger on who it reminds me of, though. Update: Is it, perhaps, Messi…? Yes, I think that’s the guy I was thinking of…!

Aw…I’m not crying, you are…But these words were running through my head before Toi chucked the bag of money away and yelled, “F***!”: “Everything I do, I do it for you.” Isn’t that cute…?

Bungou Stray Dogs 34

“…one by one?” Junban means “sequentially”, so I don’t see why you have to use the phrase “one by one”. Or “one at a time” would also work.

Hardbank…to contrast Softbank (a phone company in Japan).

Face-stealing aliens strike again…(re: Atsushi)

Oh flip. This reminds me of my Kunikida fic…yeah, I bet you don’t remember it.

Hey, this dude! Apparently he’s from one of Kunikida’s stories. I really am approaching the end of what I know of canon…*gulp* Update: Oops, we already passed that part…

I wonder if the real Fyodor could play cello…? Or is this just a thing to make him ominous and villanous…?

The cross on the wall behind Kunikida…makes this show more like Eva than Kekkai Sensen…exquisite. Absolutely exquisite, isn’t it?

Another cool cross, behind Tanizaki!

What’s a tatamigatana? Also, I didn’t know other people could be synchronised using Doppo Poet and Ranpo’s deduction…

Does Kouyou mean (by “the one I most despise”)…Chuuya? Or herself? It’s definitely not Ace.

Kimetsu no Yaiba 10

Headpats for Yushiro as well! Headpats for everyone!

There’s a lot of Tanjiro being terrified in this episode…

Wait…Kizuki? I thought they were the 12 Moons? (Well, “tsuki” means “moon”, but then what’s the “ki”?) Update: The “ki” means “demon”, so the Kizuki are the 12 Demon Moons.

Being alone with the body…that’s always a scary thought in murder mysteries…for the people who dissect them to determine the cause of death, that is.

Considering the name of the episode is “Together Forever”…nup, I don’t see Nezuko and Tanjiro separating anytime soon…

The Kasugai crow is what happens when you can’t turn off your Google Assistant…or GPS…or Siri.

If Tanjiro knows the name of his crow, how do the crows get their names? Do their trainers (is that the right term for a crow breeder in this case…?) give them names?

OPM S2 Ep 9 (Ep 21)

LOL, that one shot of the ants…JC Staff really don’t care about this series, do they…?

I kinda forgot about Genos after a bit more than a week…sorry, I was watching other anime in between. (More than usual, at least. I started playing Chibi Tamago – a forum game for AniList where you collect badges for watching anime - that’s why.)

Did he (Pri-Pri Prisoner)…store his phone in his butt…?

[firebirdsdaughter]

Quick, while the ibuprofen kicks in!...

... Zi-O 20 raw!

In no order:

Are the Wozes gonna be switching off for the recaps now?

Okay. Why has my computer managed to learn Geiz, Tsukuyomi, and Sougo’s names but not the word ‘the.’ So every time I mistype it as ‘teh’ I have to go back and fix it?

I’ve already watched this once, Kuro Woz, I know you’re lying to me. Or maybe it’s just your wishful thinking.

Sougo needs to learn that Geiz’s main method of tacit communication is punching things.

Geiz’s eternal war against having feelings. The boy is losing.

Honestly, though, he’s probably also got some pent up aggression right now, and Hiromu was being so obnoxious I’m not surprised someone as intense as Geiz would want to punch him at some point.

Sougo has come to the conclusion that if he just yells Kuro Woz will show up. And honestly, Kuro Woz has yet to prove him wrong, so...

Shiro Woz is conveniently in suit during this whole opening so that Keisuke doesn’t have to change costumes too quickly.

JK I know scenes are often filmed out of order to make things like this easier.

Congrats, Kuro Woz, you’ve been promoted from Another Rider detector to teleportation service!

Were Ora’s fingernails painted before?

God, I hate Shiro Woz’s laugh.

But on the bright side (literally) my precious tsundere child is so pretty and I love him! He looks so sad here I wanna give him a hug... ^^

While I listen to the theme. Fun fact is that the image translator I use for the mandarin/Japanese subs (there’s both on the versions I watch) periodically translates random words into things like ‘kiss’ and ‘hold’ and other romantic-esque stuff. It literally at one point translated one of Geiz’s lines to Sougo as ‘I want to kiss you’ it was hilarious. The fact that it just does it completely randomly sometimes.

Anyway, Hiromu’s a good actor. Like... His movements are all really fluid and he comes across and really confident? I dunno. I like it.

Geiz is moping around outside, and Tsukuyomi literally just made a ‘really?’ face at him. XD

He’s too embarrassed to come inside, bc that might make him have feelings, so he’s hiding outside pretending he’s angry.

You know Geiz trusts you when he’s willing to at least sort of admit to having feelings around you. This is super cute, actually. I wanna more about the history w/ these two as well... Also him worrying about what Sougo is gonna do is so cute. You do care.

Geiz and Tsukuyomi on their own is really interesting, though. He's much less guarded around her, and she obviously knows him very well.

OH MY GOD. YOU CAN SEE IT. YOU CAN SEE THE EXACT MOMENT HE GETS THE IDEA.

Also this ep was literally Geiz playing Shiro Woz and I love it.

Ya know, I was kind of hoping we’d get some info on Tsukuyomi’s past with this... After all, she’s the other member of the cast we can almost certainly confirm has dad-angst. Admittedly, that’s probably more related to dad getting dusted by Puma Zi-O after pushing her to safety, but...

Come to think of it... Why hasn’t that ever been brought up? Like ‘yes, Sougo, I know you want to be a good overlord and all, but in the future you literally killed my father, can we discuss this?’

Geiz is looking sadly at children playing w/ their parents and I want an explanation.

Apparently he’s here to see Shiro Woz. ... Why is Shiro Woz hanging out at a playground, that’s creepy.

Though the translation was apparently ‘contact.’ But then... How did he contact him?

Geiz just looks so very tired right now. That would definitely be my response to this bastard.

What the hell does Oct-Sox mean? What the hell is Sox?

They’re all so cute though, it’s unfair.

Oh, wow. He goes right at Sougo. That was super obvious.

Geiz is like ‘oh my god, just go already, I only have so much pent up aggression I can throw at this oaf, he’s too cute and I’m kinda fond of him at this point.’

That’s something I kinda wanna write at some point. Like, the fact that Sougo is just so tiny and adorable that he’s like a puppy that makes people instinctively feel the need to protect him or something. And Geiz is just like ‘no what the fuck.’ That was a bad explanation, hopefully it got across.

I’m getting the implication that the Ride Watches have turned into ‘whoever grabs it first from the holder’ and that is bloody hilarious to me.

Okay, so he deHenshins him, but... Sougo isn’t actually that injured. He’s fine, he gets back up and fights later. Geiz actually did him better than Sougo did him during the OOOs thing.

Sougo is picking on Woz again. Woz is literally like ‘you do this every time’ and Sougo looks so proud of himself. This is so funny.

Woz is trying to tell Sougo what to do, and Sougo is like ‘nope.’ And Tsukuyomi’s like ‘please do kill anyone.’

Like I said, this whole ep is Geiz playing Shiro Woz and I support this endeavour.

I love how Tsukuyomi clearly knew very well that Geiz was way softer than he was trying to act, bc she’s straight up giggling at Sougo asking her the same thing. Like, I’m sure she is worried about how this well turn out, but she knows both her boys are going at it w/ good intentions.

Also the fact that they both turned to Tsukuyomi. She’s their glue and they know it. It’s like that line from Harry Potter ‘We won’t make it ten steps without her!’

Aw, Sougo’s so happy to know that Geiz was worrying about it, too. XD

I think she’s noting that originally, Geiz wouldn’t have cared what Sougo would do. And that’s true and it’s cute and I love it.

Sougo just figured it out.

I love how Geiz pauses in front of the door, for some reason.

He literally uses Shiro Woz to get around Ora’s time freeze. I don’t know if he thought that far ahead in the moment from the beginning of the ep, or if that was what he was asking Shiro Woz about before, but that’s freaking brilliant.

Also, it’s totally the feathers. Is there a time bird?

The fact that Shiro Woz is hiding by the air conditioner units writing in his Nook is bloody hilarious to me.

The wild Hiromu is confused.

Geiz is like ‘hell no, I just attacked you guys before so that the asshole in the beret would believe me enough to negate Ora’s timestop’

Shiro Woz here, to ruin everything. Shut up dude, Geiz isn’t sure he wants to do it that way anymore.

Also, side note, the image translator did it as ‘Your mission is to defeat the ostrich.’ And now. I can’t.

It’s interesting how, even though they both wave their arms around, the Wozes are different. Kuro Woz is very stationary w/ his arm waving, while Shiro Woz’s body often follows his arms and does weird noodle motions.

Sougo showing up to back Geiz up. *clutches at my chest and cries bc cuties*

Geiz is mortified at having been caught having and acting on feelings, especially by Sougo.

Okay, so these room shots are nice and dramatic, and everyone looks quite well, but... Where the devil are they? What is this place? I know I joked about air conditioners but that was a joke I don’t actually see any.

He’ so embarrassed, oh my god. I love my tsundere baby so much.

Hiromu’s like ‘holy shit, dude.’

Still would like to point out that Geiz clearly went way easier on Sougo during the ‘fake fight’ thing than Sougo went on him during was was allegedly a fake fight. Though, I will absolutely grant that those had slightly different circumstances. But still.

The only valid things about Shiro Woz is his suit, his henshin (which I still unfortunately love) and the fact that Keisuke seems to be having a great time playing him. That’s it.

I feel like it should be meaningful that Sougo’s breaking out the Double Armour for this. Ya know, the show about partners and their unbreakable trust in each other. Or maybe I’m reading too much into everything. Probably the second one.

I think they changed the effects of Hiromu’s Rider Kick?

A for effort Sougo. But we can’t be beating the tertiary Rider just yet.

‘Who are you?’ ‘I am... Red Buster! No! Wait! Shit! Wrong show again!’

Okay, so he’s just like ‘it’s your mother,’ but... How does he know who his mother is? Has he already met her? How old is Hiromu? My first guess is in his twenties, but hat doesn’t confirm anything. I’m assuming this will be made clear once this is subbed, and the main issue is my not knowing any Japanese and the clunkiness of online translators.

Hiromu thanks Geiz and Geiz’s response it to immediately look away awkwardly. I love him.

Shiro Woz just straight up backhanded Geiz and that is extremely rude. Also let go of Hiromu you meanie.

Shiro Woz has already cottoned on to the fact that Geiz is too good to do what he wants. This is bad.

Geiz why would you take something this guy hands you? Though it’s also freaking adorable how his first reaction is to try and hand it back to Hiromu.

Also, Shiro Woz looking minority offended at Geiz’s first response being trying to give it back.

Also all three of them are still wearing their Drivers and this is somehow hilarious to me.

 Aw, Hiromu smile! So sweet! Your hat is still dumb, though, sorry. XD

I am not comfortable w/ the weird electric Watch shock or Shiro Woz at all. I strongly suspect that he’s gonna try and force Geiz to do what he wants at some point.

Doesn’t Geiz Revive have two forms? That looked like only one of them... Maybe him getting the other alters time again? Hmm... Be really cute is he got mind controlled into using one form and then achieves the other by breaking out of it?

Well, Sougo’s clearly at least slightly worried. I’d be freaking out. But I guess at this point this kid might have hit his ‘weird’ quota.

Okay, I think he’s saying something about ‘You have to defeat the Overlord, so you can’t have feelings for/about/care about him’ something like that. Too late loser. Though I can see Geiz trying (and failing) to distance himself just in case, not bc he wants to, but bc he’s scared of actually being hurt if he does have to do it. Did that make any sense?

Hiromu is literally like ‘holy hell, are you okay?’ but also like ‘I... don’t know what I can do if you’re not and now I really don’t wanna cross this guy... Don’t have much choice...’ Like, him looking back in concern was really sweet.

My melodramatic, friendship etc. obsessed side is like ‘Nooooo! Sougo, why didn’t you go after him!’ but my logical half is like ‘oh, gee, I don’t know, maybe the unconscious man on the ground, probably in need of a hospital?’

Tsukuyomi’s outfit was cute again this ep, and I wish I could’ve seen more of it.

Still really hoping Sougo at least tried to look for Geiz. Like, he’s very valid in being super down at the end there after that weird shit, but I really wanna know he at least tried. Like he probably did have to get home, but he must’ve had time to at least try to look...

Apparently, nobody questions why it looks like Kuro Woz just came from upstairs.

Any conversation about what just happened is prevented by Junichiro’s appearance! Man, of all the times, Oji-san.

Also Kuro Woz just ‘ya’d again. That was it. That was all he said.

Kuro Woz just whips out the Zi-O power up and hands it to Junichiro. Like... Why? What is going on here? Sure, Junichiro is acting like he doesn’t recognise it, and maybe he doesn’t. But maybe he also is the one who originally made the Ride Watches, in the past or the future?

Also, Kuro Woz, did you have that the whole damn time?

Maybe Another Ryuuga is the mirror world version of Shinji? And that was why he was creepy smiling? Bc that smile was creepy!

Sougo has to fight his mirror self, it seems. Also, looks like the boys are back together. So either they found Geiz, or he got home on his own. Hoping there’s a ‘we were so worried about you’ scene. I’m also hoping that one day, Sougo, like, hugs Geiz, and Geiz freaks out and is like ‘is this an attack? Am I being attacked?’ and Tsukuyomi’s just like ‘no you nincompoop it’s a hug I know you’ve been hugged before you big baby.’ What? I have absolutely not imagined something like this/already put it into a scene. Sort of. Too bad that at this rate, no one will ever see it.

Also, does mirror Sougo mean Geiz is going to finally have a go at ‘Guess Which is Which?’ Bc I would love there being a time where that happens and he nails it, and then tries to pretend his knowledge of Sougo/ability to tell the difference was not sentimental at all.

Oh, my god. Like that episode of Gekiranger, where Retsu got switched w/ a mirror monster and only Gou noticed? Like, Sougo gets replaced by something, but Geiz, Tsukuyomi, and even Junichiro notice? It would be so cute!

I used the word cute a lot in this post, didn’t I...

Alright, well, that’s all for now. Virtual shortbread for anyone who read my nonsensical ramblings all the way down here.

The tea and the shirts remain on standby if necessary.

Which is not gonna make sense to anyone who didn’t see that one dumb post I made ages ago. XD

Oh, right. And my fave image translator moment from this ep:

I can totally imagine Shiro Woz saying this.

[afterspark-podcast]

G1 Episode 1: Transcript

Episode Show Notes

[This can also be found on AO3!]

Stinger:

O: So, why don’t you tell me the worst possible thing the Bay movies did?

S: Basically, everything everything about them.

[Intro music plays]

O: Welcome back to [the] After Spark Podcast! I’m Owls!

S: And I’m Specs!

O: And today we’re here to talk to you about More than Meets the Eye Part One!

S: Oh, and part one is part one of three.

O: Yes. So basically let’s sit down and talk about giant robots, shall we? SO! This is the very beginning of the Transformers cartoon, so we get an opening in space. Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away… On Cybertron! There was WAR. [quietly] I didn’t know if you wanted to talk about the environment. [laughing]

S: [laughing] Oh, yes, there’s some lovely environments paintings here. They’re just, they’re really nice. And then we get to the giant robots.

O: And then we get to the giant robots! But I do want to pause, you actually found some, like, concept art-

S: Oh.

O: -Of the original.

S: Yeah, it’s, uh… I forgot the artist, I’d have to look him up. They’re very, very pretty! We’ll,  uh, we’ll find the post and link to it.

O: Sure! Uh, they’re a little bit more watercolor than you normally expect considering the, the color scheme on the show, but they are very pretty.

S: They’re very rainbowy- lot’s of yellows and pinks and golds and yes.

O: Anyway! So we start out on the planet Cybertron, which is the Transformers, ah, home planet, in the middle of WAR.

S: [laughing]

O: With the Autobots vs the Decepticons. And by Decepticons, I mean, Pure Evil (TM). [laughing]

S: That’s what they’re driven by. It’s-it’s their life goal.

O: It’s not that- because they were created to do war entirely and they really didn’t have anything else to do with their lives.

S: It gets weird depending on-

O: what continuity

S: -which continuity you’re in, or creation story. Because I think it’s implied later in the series that the quintessons built them and the Decepticons are warbuilds and the Autobots are like, the consumer-

O: Yeah-

S: -products.

O: -Something like that. Basically, what we’re getting at it. Is when you build someone only to fight, what options do they really have? But that’s not the point here, the point here is the Decepticons are the bad guys and run on PURE EVIL.

S: Yeah.

O: [clears throat] Anyway, so we open up and see two Autobots, which is Wheeljack and Bumblebee and, unlike Bumblebee from the movies, this Bumblebee can talk just fine. If you’re only familiar with the, uh, Bay-verse-

S: Mh-hmm.

O: -That does come around some of the animated ones later, but not here.

S: Yeah.

O: So they’re both snaggin’ some energy to take back to their base, which is based out of Iacon, which is an Autobot city-

S: Mm-hmm.

O: -Where they are jumped by the Seekers. Why don’t you give us a summary of the Seekers and then I’ll go into this stupid continuity shit because Oh My God.

S: Yeah, ok, so there’s Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker, They’re the main Seeker, ah, Trio, Trine? That we see in the series, except that basically Starscream is Megatron’s second in command and then the other two just sort of hang around for shits and giggles. [laughter]

O: They’re also all jets .

S: Yes, and on Cybertron they’re pyramid jets instead of being... F-15’s? Or whatever the heck they are on earth. I forget.

O: A few- A few characters, like during this part where they’re on Cybertron, have their own cybertronian designs. Not very many, most of them don’t transform, and the ones that even though they do transform still have the elements of their designs from earth, so like Wheeljack still looks like a lamborghini, which is pretty-

S: -Actually, he’s a Lancia Stratos.

O: OH, thank you! Wheeljack still looks like a Stratos, even though he turns into this weird hover car later. So-

S: And Bumblebee just. I don’t know what the heck his altmode is, but somehow [laughter continuing through rest of line] he has teeny, tiny wheels.

O: Somehow he, in fact, has teeny, tiny wheels. We’ll get to that in a moment. Anyway! So,they’re jumped by the Seekers, right.

S: Yes

O: Which-which seems pretty reasonable, but then the voice that come out of Starscreams’ mouth is not his. It’s definitely not his. It’s this really deep voice that’s going, “Get them,” or something. Along those lines.

S: Yep.

O: And so! I, because I was- I-I was curious what was going on here and I actually went and looked it up, because I had assumed that either Skywarp or Thundercracker’s voice was coming out of his mouth there. And then I just sort of, it just kept getting dumber the [laughter] more I looked. So, apparently, that’s actually Bumblebee’s voice actor. It’s not either of the other two jets, because it was probably supposed to just be a generic Decepticon but the animators stuck the Seekers here.

S: Mm-hmm.

O: Which doesn’t make a lot of sense [clears throat] for a variety of reasons. Mainly because Starscream we’ll see back in a couple minutes, is back in the base with Megatron, so uh, but then it got better, because when they cut, they turn into three completely different Seekers and one of them has a flamethrower. [laughter]

S: Yes, [laughter] That throws out perfectly spherical, well, no it’s not spherical, a perfect circle of fire just around the Autobots.

O: Yes! At which they promptly ignore and drive through anyway so you have to ask yourself, “What was the point?”

S: Yeah, Wheeljack has these stupid little, twirly spinny things? [The word I wanted was propeller] That he deploys before they drive through the fire and it’s like, “UM?”

O: I don’t know how it worked, but it did apparently? Um, so they manage to escape after Bumblebee gets hurt.

S: It’s, apparently, his rear axle or something, and you see him lose a [laughter] teeny, tiny wheel.

O: Which makes no sense because they’re both hover cars.

S: They look like hover cars except I don’t what the heck Bumblebee’s supposed to be because he’s sort of a weirdly-

O: He’s very weirdly shaped. Anyway, so Bumblebee [clears throat] hops on into Wheeljack and they, ah, drive off and escape the Decepticons.

S: Oh, and Wheeljack deploys, like, a shield or something which I don’t think we ever see again.

O: Get used to that!

S: It really weirds me out. It’s like Wheeljack, what’s the point? Why don’t you use this again? Does it go away when you’re on earth?

O: We then cut back to the Autobot base, which is strangely… booby shaped.

S: [Laughter]

O: I’m not sure why, but whatever. Anyway, outside the base you see Soundwave is spying on the Autobots and is just chilling out there. Now the fun part about this is, um, Soundwave, when they get to earth, will turn into a cassette player and right now he turns into a street lamp. [Laughter]

S: [Laughter] Apparently a street lamp. He could also be, y’know, like some sort of weird phone thing, except I don’t think the street would need like eight of those.

O: I’m pretty sure it’s a street lamp, but what kills me is that you see him turn back into robot mode and deploy Laserbeak, which is one of his cassette robots, but he still has a cassette deck despite turning into a, um, street lamp.

S: Yeah.

O: Which Ijust find kind of hilarious. We-we see Jazz drive by and somehow completely miss Soundwave who, I swear to god, turned back into a street lamp within the line of sight.

S: Yes, yes, he pretty much did, and I mean, why don’t the Autobots have a camera monitoring their front door?

O: Cause Laserbeak just, y’know, is gonna fly in there and what kills me is, they never have a Laserbeak detector? Laserbeak, on earth, enters their base multiple times, you’d think there would be something but no. I-Soundwave’s just like, yeah, I know what’s going on in the Autobot base at any given point.

S: Yeah, I mean, I’m sure at some point they end up with like, pressure sensors on the floor.

O: That doesn’t help with the bird. [Laughter]

S: [Laughter] I know!

O: Maybe it helps with Ravage?

S: It doesn’t help with ninjas.

O: [Snorts] Yeah, that’s coming, [Laughter] thank you for reminding me.

S: [Laughter]

O: We see Jazz drive back into the base and we’re introduced to the leader of the Autobots, which is Optimus Prime. Who, even if you know nothing about Transformers, you probably know who Optimus Prime is, because he’s one of the most recognizable ones. I would argue his design is a lot more recognizable than Megatron’s-

S: Yeah.

O: -especially G1.

S: Mm-hmm, he’s big, he’s red and blue and he turns into a Mack truck.

O: So, you know, he feels very burly and American-y, I guess. Because he turns into a freaking semi. Ah, so after we get our introduction to Optimus, we basically cut back to the Decepticon base because this show can’t focus too long on anything. But we’re finally introduced to the Decepticons and their leader, Megatron, who is going to be delightfully campy, and his posse.

S: [Laughter] And then Shockwave, he kind of ends up being the elevator guy later in the series. But he’s purple, he turns into a gun that can fly, and apparently he just likes chilling in his altmode.

O: Yeah, like, it cuts to the base and he just in gun mode and Megatron’s like, “Shockwave!” So I don’t know how that works.

S: Starscream, as I said earlier, is Megatron’s second in command and he really doesn’t hide his ambitions well. He doesn’t. At ALL.

O: So, again, depending on the continuity, but the general gist of Starscream, every Starscream, is that he wants to lead the Decepticons and doing so means basically he needs to kill Megatron because Megatron would probably rip him to pieces otherwise. [Laughter]

S: Except that he keeps telling Megatron, to his face, that he [Starscream] should be the leader of the Decepticons.

O: YES, and I can only assume that Megatron at this point and later only keeps him around for shits and giggles.

S: [Laughter]

O: That’s all I got. [Laughter]

S: Either that or, y’know, your own personal theory on that.

O: UH.

S: I don’t know if you want to share.

O: Personally, I think they’re in some sort of relationship and it is not a good relationship, and they should really not be in a relationship, but I feel like that makes the most sense for why Megatron just doesn’t rip the guys head off. BUT moving on, so after Starscream is Starscream for several minutes.

S: Mm-hmm.

O: Basically, the gist of it is, they find the Autobots are gonna leave Cybertron and Megatron’s like, “Well, clearly they’ve gotta be looking for something, we’d better follow them.” Because of course you are.

S: Gotta get that energy!

O: Gotta get that energon! Because energy shortage. Cut back to the Autobots who are now getting ready to blast off in their spaceship.

S: So basically, the cover on top of the city just sort of peels back and then-then the ship. There’s like nothing around the ship holding it up. It’s just hovering there and it’s like [bad sound effect] basically they fire up the engines and they blast off and it’s like ok, there’s nothing.

O: There’s no supports, so this thing goes straight up.

S: And you don’t see anything else in the city so, what, did they cannibalize entire the city for this thing? Or is it mostly underground and was- this was just their, “this is our spaceship hanger.”

O: Yeah.

S: That makes no frigging sense.

O: So, uh, they blast off. They clearly don’t know what the hell seatbelts are. [Laughter]

S: Yeah

O: Because, no one’s wearing them.

S: Yeah, they-they also don’t know what a rear view camera is. [Laughter]

O: As we’ll see! In just a moment! So the Decepticons follow them up into space.

S: In their really, really depressing purple spaceship. It looks so sad.

O: It-it has this really droopy nose and it looks like saddest spaceship in the entire universe. Anyway, basically, the Decepticons are following them, the Autobots don’t know this because aforementioned, they have no rear cameras. [Laughter]

S: Yeah

O: Suddenly, there are asteroids!

S: Yeah.

O: And-and then the Decepticons board the Autobot ship.

S: Yeah, there’s like some steam and stuff coming from where the hook-in is and then there’s just fighting. And-and Soundwave takes out three or four Autobots at once and then you see him, like, [laughter] face-down over a console.

O: Yes, he takes out three or four guys. He’s there being a badass because Soundwave is a badass, and then, like, the next shot, he’s like flat, he’s like face-down over a panel or something and your like, “What happened in those interim three seconds?”

S: Yeah, like, some of the guys that he was, that he was fighting and beating up last time are fighting someone else. Ok.

O: Yeah.

S: Ok

O: You have no idea what happened. SO While they’re fighting, with apparently no time in between, suddenly earth is there and they crash land on it.

S: How did these weirdos miss eight to nine planets and, I mean, and a sun, and how was this a surprise? Even if they were fighting. Shouldn’t there have been some sort of warning system or something?

O: You would think! This is a spaceship you’d think not running into asteroids or planets would be a bit of a concern.

S: And, I mean, how long has this been happening cuz, I mean, what? It took, like, thirty years for one of our spaceships [a probe, actually] to get, basically, from earth to the outer edge of our solar system.

O: I mean, I would assume they’re-they’re faster than what our spaceships could do definitely, but it does beg the question, “How long was that fight going on?”

S: Were they just beating each other up like Rock-Em, Sock-Em Robots-

O: -For like a hundred years? [Laughter]

S: I mean, considering their lifespans that’s not improbable but, uh, still really weird to think about.

O: Yes. So! They all crashland on earth and fall asleep for four million years, and four million years later they wake up from the world’s weirdest giant robot slumber party with the universe's worst hangovers.

S: Yeah.

O: Of course, they don’t wake up until the volcano they’ve apparently crash landed into-

S: Mt St. Hillary!

O: Mt St. Hillary erupts and jostles Skywarp into the ‘repair zone?’ [Laughter]

S: [Laughter] So it turns- Apparently the volcano blowing up, like, wakes up Teletraan-1 and then it knocks Skywarp into Teletraan-1’s weird repair beam and the ship! How does the ship not know who it’s crew is?

O: You-you would think, cause, like, I know we kind of mentioned earlier, but Skywarp is a Decepticon, he’s one of the Seekers. How would this thing not have, like, oh, a Decepticon signal is-is, y’know, detected- don’t repair this one, you’d think? But clearly they don’t! So, Skywarp gets- So, Skywarp wakes up, we see Teletraan-1 flying around earth, scanning earth vehicles so that’s gonna be the alt modes everyone gets.

S: I think it’s probably a Sky-Spy that’s doing the scanning.

O: Fair point.

S: But I don’t remember if it’s a Sky-Spy or if Sky-Spy’s were only invented later, by Wheeljack. I don’t remember…

O: Anyway, we-we see some sort of little device running around earth, scanning alt earth modes for bots. So Skywarp woke up first- he, basically, drags Megatron over to the Heal Zone. [Laughter]

S: [Laughter] Yeah, the Heal Zone!

O: The Heal Zone!  And Megatron wakes up and, thus, they heal the rest of the Decepticons and instead of doing the smart thing.

S: Like, y’know, killing your-

O: Mortal enemy.

S: -Yes. That are, y’know, incapable of fighting back.

O: They’re like, we’re just gonna olly out of here, because this is a waste of energon.

S: Pretty much, gotta go find some cool energon, gotta go fuel up. [Laughter]

O: ‘Cause it’s the Eighties, so it’s ener-GON! [Laughter]

S: [Laughter]

O: While they all, like, sort of group up on a cliff-

S: -outcropping? [muffled]

O: I don’t know.

S: Villainously, maybe?

O: Villainously. Basically, the question of, “Hey, why don’t we kill the Autobots?” sort of comes up and Megatron’s like, “That’s a waste of energy, they’re asleep. Come on, let’s do our shit,” And Starscream, being Starscream, shoots at the, uh, shoots at the Ark, the Autobot spaceship. And-which jostles Optimus into the heal zone. [Laughter]

S: Well, he [Starscream] actually shoots, like, an overhang of rock that fall- that collapses and then that jostles Optimus into the heal zone.

O: Right! But what I’m getting at here, is it’s all Starscream’s fault!

S: Pretty much, pretty much.

O: [Laughter] And again, second in command of the Autobo-, er, the Decepticons, here, folks. Cut to the Decepticons who are now setting up a new base, which is also purple!

S: Yep, like, it’s obviously Megatron’s favorite color- I guess Skywarp is Megatron’s favorite Decepticon, since he’s the most purple one that we see right now, except for Shockwave. And he’s also the one that, like, Megatron was the first dude he went to help. So, it’s like, A) his boss, B) the dude that is, like, his favorite person. [Laughter] Or something.

O: Basically, what we’re getting at, is Megatron’s favorite color is purple, and I have comic panels that prove this. [Laughter]

S: Mm-hmm, yep. Lost Light, I think? Probably.

O: Probably, ‘cause I think it’s, like, he painted this entire ship purple or something. [Laughter]

S: Yeah, yeah, that’s it.

O: Anyway, Decepticons are setting up their new base. Starscream, Soundwave, and Rumble, which is another one of, ah, Soundwave’s cassette bots-

S: -Cassette- cassetticons.

O: -Cassetticons, ok, thank you.

S: You’re welcome.

O: Basically, see a human powerplant in the distance and are like, “Yo, we need energy!” So they fly off to go do that. All of them fly, yes. You, too, will believe a cassette- [laughter] -a cassette player can fly. [laughter]

S: Oh-ok, so, the reason they’re going over there is a, a little less energy, and more, “Let’s get materials to build this stupid base!”

O: Right. But they’re like, “Let’s go over there! [Laughter] Let’s do this.”

S: Mm-hmm.

O: Ah, Soundwave is not allowed to come up with, like, operation names, I forgot what this one was, but y- later he just says some really generic ones. I’m like, “Buddy, buddy, noooo.”

S: Yeah, they’re kind of… “Operation: Devastation.” Or something.

O: Operation: Tidal Wave-

S: Yep.

O: -was my personal favorite, because it was just like, no they’re just trying to make a tidal wave. There’s nothing else going on here right now.

S: Except that’s not how tidal waves work!

O: I know! I know! So, the Autobots have woken up and they’re taking stock of their surroundings and they’re determined to find and stop the Decepticons, so Cliffjumper and Hound are sent off to scout.

S: Yep. OK, so we see Optimus, like, give-so, the Autobots are taking stock of what’s going on, that they’re on a new world, and that they need to go, go out and scout and do things! And so we’ve got Hound, who is A) our scout, B) he’s got hologram powers and other things, and he’s a pretty neat dude. And then there’s Cliffjumper, who’s Mr. Triggerhappy [but not Triggerhappy]. Don’t send the triggerhappy one, Optimus, just don’t.

O: But he does! So, I’m sure you can guess what happens next! The show is not that creative.

S: It-it isn’t. It isn’t.

O: So Cliffjumper and Hound find the Decepticon base and a basically listening in to Megatron as he is monologuing, ah, to, I think, Soundwave. But, because of how it’s shot, it just kind of feels like Hound is jacking into Megatron’s brain-waves with the satellite and I don’t know that’s so funny to me but it is. [Laughter]

S: It is pretty funny. [Laughter]

O: Only ‘cause you don’t, you don’t, like, a lot of it is shown from, like, Hounds perspective with his like satellite thing listening. [indistinct, we talked over each other]

S: His little radar dish.

O: Yeah, so it’s just sort of like, are they just jacking into Megatron’s head? Cause that’s kind of what that looks like. So then, Cliffjumper gets the brilliant idea to shoot Megatron.

S: Like, he says he’s in his-

O: Crosshairs?

S: No, it’s not crosshairs, it’s like, “In his viewfinder.” I think viewfinder’s the word that he used.

O: He had one job, which was to go scout and he couldn’t do that but, what made it worse is, HE ALSO FUCKING MISSED! [Laughter]

S: [Laughter] That wasn’t in your line of sight, or your crosshairs, or whatever! You triggerhappy little, red lunatic.

O: Red lunatic, yup, yup yup. Anyway! So, after Megatron almost gets shot, Soundwave’s like, “Laserbeak, go get them,” and ejects him again.

S: Mm-hmm.

O: So then, one of my favorite things in this episode happens, which Hound and Cliffjumper are like, “ Oh no, if we split up, they can’t get us.” So they’re like, this is a great idea. And Laserbeak, not being a fucking moron, shoots a missile that’s gonna follow...Hound? [indistinct]

S: The missile follows Cliffjumper.

O: The missile follows Cliffjumper and it’s hilarious because it keeps cutting between Hound and Cliffjumper, and the missile is, like, strangely sentient? [Laughter] And it’s dodging?

S: It’s really good at following Cliffjumper, really good!

O: It just sort of feels like Laserbeak popped out a baby that is sentient and is following Cliffjumper.

S: And then dies.

O: [Laughter] And then dies. Um, so it misses, so Cliffjumper’s okay, but Hound gets hit to we can get introduced to the ambulance bot, Ratchet.

S: Mm-hmm. [indistinct] Ratchet, Ratchet’s portable medibay that I think we only see this one time.

O: Keep remembering this is a pilot and they did some weird things that don’t show up at any point later.

S: Yep, and we also meet a dude named Hauler, who I think we never see again. We might see him once, I don’t think we ever… Maybe once more, I don’t think we ever see him talk. But yeah, Hauler does not equal, equal Grapple. And-

O: Very similar looking, I assume? [Transcription note: yes, they are very similar looking]

S: Well, I think Grapple only shows up in Season two,

O: Hrm.

S: So, yeah. And so this dude may be more elusive than cartoon Skids, who I think shows up, like, twice. And may or may not ever talk.

O: After all that junk happens, we cut to Thundercracker and three, I know they’re not mini-cons but they’re really small?

S: They’re closer to being minibots, I guess.

O: Ok-

[talking over each other]

S: Mini-cons are basically the tiny little dudes that in, that showed up in Armada that basically, basically they, uh, like tie in and provide power boosts to other Transformers and so minicon, like, specifically means… that. Unless we’re talking about 2005, 2015 Robots in Disguise, in which case, they’re just tiny dudes. [Transcription note: … I was wrong about that, 2015 RiD mini-cons do provide power-ups.]

O: Ok, which is kind of what I’m operating [under]. But anyway, you’ve got three smaller robots who can turn into a polaroid camera. [Reflector]

S: Yeah, they- they’re a weird little combiner dude.

O: They are. Anyway, so Thundercracker picks them up takes- snaps a picture of a truck and mistakes it for an Autobot. I don’t know why he needed a polaroid camera- [clears throat]

S: To identify an Autobot.

O: That wasn’t! That’s- I think the best part here is he’s wrong, so of course they send somebody out to investigate and, oh no, it’s actually humans, who are then attacked by one of Soundwave’s other cassettes, which is Ravage who turns into a giant panther.

S: Mm-hmm.

O: By giant, I mean he’s, aah, about as tall as a person probably.

S: He’s, uh, he’s a cassette, a cassetticon.

O: Cassetticon.

S: Yeah, his shoulder goes up to, like, human shoulders? Or something?

O: Probably. Something along those lines. The Autobots mobilize after being warned by Cliffjumper and Hound of the Decepticon plan. Why Cliffjumper wasn’t punished for just not fucking scouting I’ll never understand, but whatever.

S: They then make a joke about it, about, “Oh, you shouldn’t have missed!” and it’s sort of weirdly lighthearted. Being in a military unit. [talking over each other]

O: Oh, that scamp! [Laughter]

S: Kind of. And I mean, the humans that Ravage attacks are the honestly most sensible people in this whole cartoon, ‘cause they get the hell out.  

O: Yeah!

S: [talking over each other] They olly on out!

O: When the giant panther attacks attacks you get the hell out. Anyway, so the Autobots mobilize and do what I can only describe as toy roll call because they are introduced by name one at a time, except for like two characters who aren’t on the screen at the same time, b-but mostly it’s a toy roll call, y’know, for the kids so y’know what- what toys to buy the kids. Remember the toys, kids? The toys.

S: Pretty much and it’s Majordomo Jazz leading the roll call, so we’re not quite sure what the Autobot, like, hierarchy here is, ‘cause I think, Prowl’s generally the second but I don’t think he’s introduced as the second and Jazz, like, is the one who leads most of the, like, troop actions, apparently.

O: I’m going to go with Jazz is just more of a people person [laughter] ‘cause Prowl is kind of… He’s the one who’s, like, gotta keep discipline.

S: Pretty much, yeah.

O: So, the Decepticons! Land on an oil rig because they want to get power to make energon.

S: Oh-oh, and apparently energon cubes aren’t really a thing for Autobots, like, it’s specified that they’re gonna put energon in a cube when Hound reports back.

O: Yeah, they’re like some kind of cube things, so clearly what we’re saying here is Energon Cubes has been trademarked by, ah, Soundwave.

S: Mm-hmm.

O: Ah, obviously, and now I just want to imagine him in like, y’know, an actual trademark office [Specs laughs] and trying to fill this stuff out and, like, maybe Perceptor’s in there doing the same thing for some sciency thing and they’re just kind of like, “Hey.” “Hey.” [Then they] get back to doing paperwork.

S: Yeah, like, he’s [Perceptor] trademarking his anti-cosmic rust thing.

O: [Laughter] Yeah, something like that.

S: Um, so the first time we see Sparkplug and Spike, they’re on this oil rig and, what is it? Is it take your child to work day? Even if it’s an oil rig?

O: Yeah, ‘cause Spike’s, like, what? Fourteen? Sixteen? Something like that.

S: I feel like he’s supposed to be sixteen though in the original comics he’s older than Buster, who’s the the main human that hangs out with the Autobots, so he was like eighteen or twenty one in that, so I don’t know what to expect. [Talking over each other]

O: You-We don’t know what’s going on there and why a chi- a fourteen year old- sixteen year old, whatever, would be on an oil rig with his dad.

S: I feel like he’s supposed to be sixteen but… Y’never. It’s never clarified.

O: Pretty much. Anyway! So, Decepticons attack an oil rig and humans freak out about the forty foot robots that have suddenly landed. And by freak out, I mean, humans are territorial and will attack anything and are throwing all this shit at Megatron and like, ah, what like, tools and a crowbar and like all these other various things. They’re just like, “Oh my god! There’s this giant thing, throw shit at it!” [Laughter]

S: Pretty much let’s make it go away by assaulting it with-with tools.

O: Yes! Then Soundwave makes Energon cubes which the Decepticons promptly fill with oil and then squish, and somehow that turns into energon?

S: Yeah.

O: I don’t know.

S: It’s weird, it’s- oh god it’s like those- So you know there are those, uh, plastic bag things that you can like vacuum se- you put clothes in-

O: {Laughter] Oh god. You vacuum seal.

S: - With a vacuum in order to condense it, and for y’know storage, and that’s all this reminds me of, except somehow that’s how they process your oil into energon.

O: Vacuum sealed energon, got it, cool, cool. So Decepticons are creating mass chaos as you do and the Autobots arrive. By flying… Remember that later!

S: Mm-hmm.

O: Because they’re FLYING!

S: Yeah.

O: And it doesn’t look assisted.

S: Yeah.

O: Uh, so all out fighting breaks out. Megatron does what I can only describe as a trust fall, by alting into his gun and being caught by Starscream-

S: Yeah.

O: -Um, who’s firing him. Insert joke here, something. Anyway, there’s laserfire everywhere, on an oil rig. Good thing there’s not anything combustible here, right?

S: Except the oil is running free.

O: Yeah. So, that’s happening and then Megatron and Optimus are trying to fight, and then Laserbeak tries to attack Optimus Prime.

S: And ok, he’s probably trying to, like, rip his optics out or something, but all-all we get is bonk! [Laughter]

O: They use a bonk sound effect, so you just, it kind of feels like it was something running into a glass window or something. *clnk* *clnk* *clnk* *clnk*

S: [Laughing] Basically- He’s basically just bonking him on the head.

O: [Laughing] And which, I’m sure is annoying, but probably isn’t going to do any damage to Optimus Prime. So then the Deceptions escape and only now are there explosions. But only when Megatron wants explosions.

S: And he’s laughing alone with fire.

O: He’s laughing alone with fire! See the true power of the leader of the Decepticons!

S: [Laughing]

O: Cause then we gotta save them humans, uh, and that’s basically where the episode cuts.

S: More or less. Yeah, like Sparkplug and Spike are trapped under some weirdly unsinkable metal bits that they apparently can’t dive out from under and there’s some weird stuff going on with Sparkplug’s arm where you can just see his forearm and it doesn’t look like it’s connected to his shoulder at all.

O: Animation errors. So we cut to it and it’s like, “Next episode: Dams! Arch enemies! And,” my own personal favorite, “how rubies are a warlords best friend! So stay tuned!”

S: [Laughing] Yeah! I’m looking forward to the rubies.

O: So this episode of More than Meets the Eye part one is a- part one of a three parter so, y’know [indistinct], but that is where the episode ends is, “The oil rig is exploding!” and “Oh no, save the humans!” So! That’s the end of our first episode and we’ll have the next one up soon if it’s not already up. Something we wanted to bring up here is that originally, it would have been kind of fun we could of gone over some of the more memorable animation or continuity errors while we were doing this…

But holy fucking Primus, there are so many! Literally, it is six and a half pages single spaced. If you take all of the sections off of, like, the TFWiki for just this site, which is, I think, animation and technical errors, continuity errors, and trivia, which I know isn’t errors but, still, fun information. SO, ah, I think it’s safe to say we’ll call ‘em when we sees ‘em, but only if they’re going to be particularly amusing for us because, oooh, we’re not going to go over six and a half pages of animation errors. If that’s your thing, though, the TFWiki is a fantastic resource, definitely go over there, get your fill of trivia, ‘cause they’ve got it all!

S: Yeah, I’ll note animation errors if they particularly annoy me.

O: So! Specs, what is our fanfic recommendations for the week!

S: Well, I’ve got two recommendations, both of which are complete. There’s Transformers: Juxtaposition by Vaeru, which I may or may not be pronouncing their name correctly, um, yeah. So, rating- it’s rated T, it’s gen, there aren’t really any pairings. The main character is an OC [Evelyn], an original character, but everyone else is the G1 cast with a few other OC’s, original characters, that show up. So, in summary, “A car wreck on a rainy night leads to the oddest partnership imaginable. A disembodied voice, possessed cars, alien robots, kidnapping, rescue, abduction, sparks, keys, and tomato sandwiches... Read if you dare.”

S: So, part of why I chose this is that it’s a first contact story, it’s just. Evelyn is a really fun human character, she’s very entertaining, she’s a linguistics professor, and [spoiler alert!] basically her first contact with alien robots ends up in, basically, with one of the alien robots stuck in her head. And she thinks she’s going kind of batty but then he bodynaps her onto an alien spaceship and the other alien robots are very nonplussed by this.

O: [Snorts laughter]

S: So, and then, ah, our second, ah, recommen- well, my second recommendation, our second? Let’s go with ‘our’ second recommendation is-

O: [laughing] I’ve actually read this one!

S: I’ve recommended that you read Juxtaposition, but it’s like forty chapters long, and I should probably mention that. So, yeah, forty chapters long. It’s really long and it’s only the first part.

S: But, yeah, the second recommendation that we have is, “Why the Ark has no Doors” by Princess Artemis. So, continuity is G1, it’s rated K, it’s gen, no pairings, and the characters are the G1 cast, focusing mainly on Wheeljack and Wheeljack’s inventions. So-

O: And the shenanigans, therefore.

S: Mm-hmm, so in summary, “It has been asked why the Autobots never tried to make the Ark more secure. Well...they did. It just didn't work out as planned. G1.” So the theme or basically the reason why I put this in is, Ark security or surveillance and/or the lack thereof, like my comment, uh, earlier in our, uh, conversation today.

O: So, ah, our fanart recommendation for the week is Taiyari and I’m so sorry if I’m not saying that right, you can find them at taiyari.tumblr.com,  we will have a link. I’ve included some examples of the art that I’ve personally really liked, uh, they tend to do a lot of Megatron and Optimus stuff, but I actually came across them ‘cuz Specs had reblogged a kickstarter they were doing for pins of Soundwave and his cassettes that were super adorable! I may have ordered one. But their other stuff is great, too, and you should check them out!

O: So, thanks for listening to us today! Uh, just to kind of give a rundown of our social media, you can find us mostly on Tumblr at Afterspark-Podcast.tumblr.com. We are on Twitter and Facebook at AftersparkPod, all one word, and you can reach us via email, at Aftersparkpodcast [at] outlook [.] com. All this information can be found through our Tumblr as well.

O: Anyway, that’s it from us today! Please join us next time for More than Meets the Eye, Part two of the original three part pilot of Transformers!

O: This has been Owls!

S: And I’m Specs!

O: And thanks for listening to us, we’ll see you next time!

S: Toodles!

[affectionatespy626]

Title: What Might Have Been

Type: AU Fan-Fic

Origin: Mystic Messenger

Genre: Slice of Life (?), School Life (?)

Words: 1680 (?)

Prompt: School Life

Day 2 Entry for @saeranchoiweek

______________________________

Spring season hails the start of a new school year for the little new student Macy who is about to enter kindergarten and yet her anxiousness is clouding her with fear, causing her to freeze on the spot. Standing before the face of the school gate, her small hand, palm all cold and sweaty, clutched hard at the hem of the ginger lad’s olive green colored shirt, warily glancing around from place to place, trying her best to identify and familiarise the place. The last time she went there was during her enrollment accompanied by her mother. But now, her absence is further paralyzing the child with uncertainty and uneasiness from attending school.

“Saeran-oppa…. I wanna go home.” She could not bear it any longer and finally voiced her concern to her current guardian and company. “....I… don't wanna go inside…” She confesses fearfully as she inches backward, trying to pull him away from the foot of the gate.

“But Macy, your mama would be sad if you didn't go to school, won’t she?” Kneeling on one knee to meet the face of his little friend, his smile a bit awkward and lonesome somehow, Saeran gently patted her head as he spoke. “Look how many possible classmates or friends are now walking through the gates. All smiles and wonder filling their faces. Don't you at least want to experience the same joy and wonder they all are having? Won’t you be happy having friends?”

Yet despite his best intentions to encourage the dear child, her shyness only grew, her head hanging low as she bit her lower lip, tears beading up at the corners of her hazel colored eyes. Seeing her acting as she was worried him, and thus he desperately thought of a way to at least ease her anxious heart.

‘What am I going to do? I’m not sure what I should say next….’ 

Sighing deep inside, he momentarily fell into a thoughtful state before deciding to lift up and cradle the little lady on one arm  while he hoisted her school bag on his other shoulder. Even though he felt self cautious with curious gazs momentarily falling upon the sight of them and his action, his sole focus was to find a way to cheer the disheartened child, making mental notes in finding ways to reassure and cheer her wary little heart.

After informing the teacher in charge of Macy’s class about their small predicament, the young lad was able to get permission on allowing the dear child to skip the day, then promising to properly attend classes when the little lady is fully prepared and finally  finds the courage to face this new page of her life.

Still cradling the little miss with one arm, the lad and the child made their way into a nearby garden park, carrying  two pints of ice cream (with each being their favorite flavors), sitting side by side by the concrete bench painted in wooden colors, and in silence, both began to enjoy their favorite dairy treat. Despite his silence, his mind was cluttered with thoughts of what he should be doing next in order to put a smile onto the little girl’s saddened face. His thoughts ran on and on about several ideas but the one to break the chain of silence was the small voice that weakly called for him.

“Oppa… May I ask something?” Her eyes still looking downward, Macy meekly speaks, her voice laced with worry. “Do you think…. I fit in with them?”

“Hmm?” The lad hummed, his eyes curiously assessing the child’s emotion, and feeling a sense of sadness in her hazel eyes also flicked his heart. He didn’t like seeing anyone sad, especially not this little one. He could often recall how he was back then as a child when he was with her. But unlike her, he did had a mother and a brother at least, despite the heavy misfortune he and his brother had to endure from the moment of their birth.

“Oh.” Then it suddenly hit him. A memory from the past from when he was younger. “You know, what? There was once a time I also had that very same thought.” A bashful smile curved his lips as he began, and urged by his words, the child curiously looks up to face him, her eyes visibly wondering.

“Really?”

“Yup. Back then, I was just starting to learn basic education. You know, reading,writing, maths, sciences, literature, all those kinds of stuff that I wasn’t able to learn when I was little.” Recalling his own past somehow brought back bitter flashbacks, yet he dismissed them immediately because he didn’t wish to worry his company. Thus he tried his best to sound as calm as he could be as he continued his story.

“I had always dreamt of going to school since I was little, sitting in class and learning new things, making friends as much as I could, play with classmates or study with them, those sort of things. Unfortunately though, an inevitable circumstances prevented me and Saeyoung to receive proper education back then, so I was only able to experience it when I was finally able to go to church with my guardians. I remember how elated I was when I found out that I was going to attend classes and get to experience the one thing I had always wondered about as a child. However, my class wasn’t held inside a school but rather in the church where volunteer teachers would conduct lessons similar to the ones they do in regular classrooms. Even still, I was overjoyed upon the amount of learning I was able to receive. And then one time, I was asked by one of the teachers about a particular scenario. ‘What if you’re given a chance to attend regular school, sit in an actual classroom with classmates, will you grab the opportunity?’ At that moment, I solemnly prayed for that opportunity to become a reality and my mind screamed that I definitely would want that. But the words that escaped my lips were brought from the heart, and it was too late for me to stop the words that left my mouth.”

‘I don’t think I can ever fit in anywhere without Saeyoung. Please help me find Saeyoung.’

He wasn’t sure if his story was inspiring or boring for the child who managed to maintain attention to his continued blabbering and this caused him to halt for a bit and think back on what he said so far. In fact, he wasn’t even the type to talk so much, but finding himself being so talkative is always at the presence of this dear child, though he does often wonder why that is.

“Oppa, are you going to cry?”

“Huh?”

Hearing the child’s inquiry while she was staring at him so full of concern while her little palm patted his shoulder abruptly startled him and cause confusion to surface.

“What made you think that?”

“Well…. Because you looked so sad…..If you’re gonna cry…. I’m gonna cry too… Don’t cry Saeran-oppa…. Macy is here for you.”

Just hearing those words from her shocked him, but at the same her thoughtfulness poke strongly at his heart, letting himself be embraced by little arms that wanted to cheer him up when it was supposed to be the other way around. Finding out things were turning into an irony, he couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh, ruffling the child’s head of hair before heaving a sigh.

“I was supposed to be the one encouraging you, and yet here I am, being the one encouraged. Hahaha.”

The little lady who finally let go stared back at him in wonder as to why he was laughing, but his laughter was oddly contagious that it also made her smile and laugh too, filling the quiet gardenscape with happy vibes.

“Oppa, did you enjoy your classes?” After a while of spending time at the park, the two were now on their way home, hand in hand as always.

“It was indeed fun while it lasted. In fact, my only regret was that I couldn’t be classmates with Saeyoung.”

“Really?! But that is sad! Saeyoung-oppa and Saeran-opa should always stick together!” “Hahaha, nah. We can’t be together all the time. And… he had his own valid reason why he couldn’t too at that time.”

He would be lying if he denied how lonely he was back then, but the past was no longer important because now he and his brother are together once again. Still, he couldn’t stop thinking back to what might have been if he went to school together with Saeyoung, and experience a regular school life like how he had always dreamt.

“Oppa! I want you to attend school with me tomorrow!” Her cheerful smile and voice made a wry smile crawl on the lad’s lips.

“I can’t do that. Your teacher might get mad.” “Don’t worry! I will politely ask teacher if you could be my classmate.”

“What? But don’t you think I am too old to sit in with your class?”

“Mama said no one is too old for school, and I believe her. Hehe!”

“Hah…. She does make a sound point.”

“Oh! And I will also ask teacher to have Saeyoung-oppa as our classmate!”

“Whoa.. I don’t think that’s a good idea….”

“Macy is now excited for school! I hope we can all sit on the same group!”

“And she’s not hearing me… Hehe.”

Despite his protest about the child’s idea of having him and his brother as classmates, deep inside his heart Saeran was quite amused and grateful for this little angel who made the most change in him for the past months after she came into their lives. And because of that, his wounds from his drastic past were slowly mended and healed.

“Perhaps it won’t be such a bad idea to be sit in one class with you and Saeyoung after all, Macy. Who knows? Maybe we could finally live a dream come true.”

[bigasswritingmagnet]

Mech in Shining Armor 2.0 Chapter Three

Fandom: Transformers G1

Pairing: Jazz/Prowl

Summary: Jazz is a prostitute, left for dead. Prowl rescues him. Jazz doesn’t trust him. Prowl just wants to help. Jazz might be falling in love with him, just a little. And that’s the least of Jazz’s problems.

AO3 link

The white minimalist decor extended to the rest of the apartment. In the bedroom, it had been classy, if a little stark. Now it was cold and depressing, and said some unflattering things about the mech who lived there.

Speaking of...

Jazz listened, but could make out no sign of his rescuer-slash-possible-kidnapper. He made his way through to the kitchen. This was a bit of a risk, helping himself to Prowl's fuel without being offered, but he needed the energon. He had to get as much as he could to heal as quickly as possible. For that, he was willing to risk Prowl’s wrath.

The kitchen was decorated like the rest of the apartment: in white. White walls, white floor tiling, a white table with two black chairs. The only decoration was a picture on the wall across from the dispenser; the Old Iaconian glyph for 'peace' drawn out in gold paint on black.

"Not much of an interior decorator," Jazz muttered to himself as he poured himself a cube of energon.

He was a little stuck on the apartment, mentally.  He’d never been in a living space so empty. It didn’t seem like a home at all. Even the shabby little room Jazz had been renting above the brothel had some decorations. He’d had a music system, pictures, little knickknacks he’d picked up to brighten up his day-to-day.  

He wondered briefly if this was even really Prowl's apartment, or if he had just broken into some place for sale-- No. Suspicion was good;   that was a little too close to paranoia. But what sort of person could walk into an apartment like this and think “yes, this is home, I am happy and relaxed in this space”?

"Good morning."

Jazz jumped, slopping the energon over his hand.

"Sorry," Prowl said, having the good grace to look properly apologetic. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you. Let me get that."

Prowl took a step forward and Jazz automatically took a step back. If Prowl thought Jazz was going to stand there and let him lick it off, he had another thing coming. Nothing grossed Jazz out as much as being licked .

They stared at each other.

Slowly, Prowl extended a hand, reaching for a drawer. This time, when he took a step forward, Jazz let him. The other mech opened a  pulled a cleaning cloth out and handed it to Jazz, who took it and began to hurriedly scrub at the energon on his hand.

Prowl opened his mouth to say something.

"Sorry," Jazz said. "I didn't hear you. When I came out, I mean. I'm not the kind of bot to go sneaking around people's homes, usually."

"I'm quiet," Prowl said.

"Bet that comes in handy on the job," Jazz said.

"I prefer to use it to startle my colleagues and frighten new recruits."

Startled, Jazz looked up. There was the faintest hint of a smile on Prowl’s lips.  

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was a joke.”

“I never joke. It’s bad for my digestion.”

Jazz smiled. Prowl was funny. Who would have guessed?

"How are you feeling?" the officer asked.

"Better.”

"Do you mind if I take a look at your arm? I want to see how the patch is progressing."

Jazz silently held his arm out. Prowl placed his hands on it and leaned in to examine the wiring. Jazz waited for Prowl's fingers to slide to sensor nodes or trail down his arm. It didn't. Those hands remained strictly professional, touching only where necessary.

"It's not incorporating as fast as I'd like," Prowl said, "but the damage was extensive."

He straightened and met Jazz's gaze.

"I don't suppose you'd like to tell me who did this to you."

Jazz snorted.

"I am a police officer," Prowl reminded him.

"Nobody cares what happens to people like me.”

"I care. If there's someone out there who hurt you, he needs to be brought to justice.”

Justice. This confirmed Jazz’s previous assumption. Prowl believed in the system. Believed in justice, and probably honor. Definitely not a serial killer, almost certainly not aiming to trap Jazz as a personal interface mech.

If Jazz could get an explanation for that locked cabinet, he might be able to actually relax around Prowl.

"There's no justice for shareware, Prowl. You're a cop. You should know that. So what do you do for fun around here?"

“What?”

“Fun. You know what fun is, right? What do you, Prowl of Tyger Pax, do to achieve it?”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Yes,” Jazz said brightly. “I am.”

Prowl’s optics narrowed. Jazz smiled widely.

"I read, mostly,” Prowl said, giving up. “Or go over case files."

Bonded to the job. Three for three.

"What do you do when you have friends over?"

Prowl didn’t answer right away. Jazz could actually see the mech trying to think up some sort of answer or excuse.

Mm-hmm. Exactly as Jazz had expected. No friends, or at least only work friends. Lonely, almost certainly did not admit that to himself, probably referred to himself as “independent”.

Was that what Prowl had rescued him for? Not a pleasure bot but a companion, someone to talk to? That was a cushy gig; might even be worth sticking around for.

Jazz needed to say something before the silence went from “embarrassing” to “humiliating”.  

"Everybody has a hobby, Prowl; there’s gotta be something. ”

"Well..." Prowl hesitated. Jazz quirked two fingers in a "come on" gesture.

"I don't suppose you enjoy strategy games?"

Jazz detected a note of carefully hidden, desperate hope. It was enough to break your spark.

"I like all kinds of games. You know Iacon Twenty-two?"

Prowl's optics lit up.

The game board was made of polished steel. That was expensive. Jazz wondered why Prowl shelled out so much for one if he never got to play.

Prowl's hands deftly placed the pieces on the board. Though it didn't show on his face, Jazz could tell Prowl was excited. It was all in the doorwings, really.

They settled on opposite sides of the kitchen table.

"Guests first," Prowl said.

For the first few minutes, they played in silence. As the game went on, they both began to relax, and soon conversation flowed. A new aspect of the game evolved -- for every piece played, a question had to be asked and answered.

Jazz turned a piece over and over in his hand, considering his choices.

"What made you want to be a police officer?"

He placed the piece down on the corner of the board. Prowl frowned at it.

"Individuals succeeding at the expense of others, or preying on those weaker than them have always frustrated me. I can't stand any sort of injustice. It was only logical to make this my career. Though that's not what I started out doing."

Prowl placed his piece, locking Jazz into one of three moves, none of which was tactically advantageous.

"Your accent tells me you're not from here. Where are you from originally?"

"Iacon. A lifetimetime ago.” He placed his piece. "You said that law enforcement wasn't what you started with. What did you start as?"

"A medic," Prowl said. Jazz looked up, startled.

"So that's how you knew how to patch me up," Jazz said, running a hand over the welding marks.

"It comes in handy," Prowl said.

"It’s a pretty big leap from medic to cop."

Prowl shrugged.

"That was the life my mentor wanted for me. I was never happy with it, but I wanted to make him proud. Then about a month before I finished my education, I realized that if I went through with it I would be miserable for the rest of my life. I left, and joined the force."  

“What did your mentor think?”

Prowl shook his head.

“My turn first. You say you’re from Iacon, but your playstyle isn’t Iaconian. Where did you learn?”

“Group of friends taught me how to play. They were from all over, and I picked up what I knew from them. I’m a quick learner.” He set his piece down. “ Now tell me what your mentor thought.”

"He disowned me."

Jazz jerked in his seat, knocking several pieces off the table.

“ Primus .” He scrambled to gather them up. The knowledge was shocking enough, but the way Prowl had said it was even worse. As if it was a simple fact, as if Prowl didn’t care .

Prowl placed his piece.

“So what do you do for fun?”

“Really?” Jazz managed. “You’re just...just gonna drop that bomb on me and keep walkin’?”

Prowl looked slightly puzzled.

“I don’t follow.”

“Your mentor disowned you! For doing what you wanted to do!” It was a mentor’s responsibility to take a newspark and teach them the ways of the world, to help educate them, and if not love them then at least care for them and their happiness.  To have one reject their charge entirely was...was...

“Yes, he did. I’m sorry if that upsets you.”

“Upsets me! He’s your mentor, shouldn’t it upset you ?”

Prowl shrugged his wings.

“It was a long time ago. We were never particularly close. He was not particularly kind. I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I think that something would have made him disown me eventually, even if I had become a medic.”

“But...But…”

“I appreciate your concern,” Prowl said, “but it was a long time ago.”

He smiled, but it was a small one, purely for the sake of putting Jazz at ease.

Jazz’s own mentor had died a long time ago. When it had happened, Jazz had mourned her bitterly. Now, though, he was sometimes glad that she was gone. At least now she would never see what he’d become.

Why was he even concerned with what had happened in Prowl’s life? He barely trusted Prowl. He barely knew Prowl. He pushed the feelings away. It wasn’t his business.

“You asked what I do for fun, right? I watch movies. I play games. I used to be a musician."  Jazz snapped his mouth shut. Why had he said that? What had possessed him to tell Prowl that? He never talked about his old life, not ever. Was it because of what Prowl had said?

"I almost played the lyre," Prowl said, casually, as if Jazz's hand wasn't so tight around his game piece his joints were starting to ache. Jazz looked up, startled out of his reverie.

"Almost?"

"It was a respectable instrument for the charge of a mentor from a respectable profession."

"But?" Jazz place his piece, stealing three of Prowl's and turning the game in his favor. Prowl frowned at the board.

"I wasn't against it at first, but it very quickly became evident that I do not have an ounce of musical talent in my frame. Every week, the tutor would come to the house and I'd sit there for an hour and get scolded for every wrong note. And they were all wrong. No matter how perfectly I put my fingers, no matter how hard I tried, it sounded horrible.

"But my mentor wouldn't let me stop. ‘I do not tolerate failure from my charges’, he said.”  

The more Jazz heard about this mech the more he hated him.

"Then what happened?"

"One day things went very badly. The tutor told me that I wasn't trying hard enough, that I was lazy and disrespectful and would never get anywhere in life. As soon as he left I lost my temper and told my mentor I was quitting. He was giving me the lecture about failures, and I snapped and told him that I was quitting, and then I could be the first person in his charge to succeed at being a failure. And then I threw the lyre out the window."

Jazz was so delighted by the mental image that he almost missed Prowl moving a piece into an attack position.

"That's not all," Prowl said, with a smile of his own. "The tutor was standing right under the window.”

" No ."

"Oh yes. Hit him right on the head. Knocked him out cold."

Jazz couldn't remember the last time he laughed so hard.

[jumpchain-drop]

Chapter 3.31: 6.91 Years

Year 7, day 333: Humba has contacted us. The posters for the ad on the milk carton have finally managed to respond. A letter was delivered to her with a meeting location where the tip could be heard: Witchyworld’s Crazy Castle Stockade, a week from now right after the park closed. Come alone, it said.

Define “alone,” assholes.

Year 7, day 334: We have one chance at this. If they’re having the meeting to get the tip on Tooty, they wouldn’t probably bring all their gear and potions to bear like they did in the raid on Spiral Mountain. However, it was very unlikely that all of them would show up to just get some information, and it definitely wouldn’t be the boss. If these guys were that stupid, they wouldn’t have evaded the underground for so long.

The detaining of the entire Police force, I had to remind myself, was the ideal outcome. Ultimately, what mattered was that we got the contract targeting Tooty canceled.

Today I got Banjo, Kazooie, and Jamjars briefed on the news. There are a lot of preparations to make.

Year 7, day 340: Dilberta walked nervously into the Stockade surrounding the massive yellow bouncy castle. The sky on the inside was still painted in daylight, but with most of the lights off it looked anything but.

A henchmen was there, in the back. Not as bulky as Klungo, but by no means skinny.

“You the one that knowsss where girl bear isss?” he asked. “Better have come alone, or I’ll have to sssmash you...”

“P-Please don’t…!” she stuttered. “I-I’m the one that called, a-and there’s no one else with me…!”

“Ssso I sssee… Then ssstart talking before I-”

And then I, from my hiding place underground, Dug a hole under him and pulled him down to his shoulders.

“We got him we got him!” Bitbit squawked from his perch at the top of the bouncy castle where he had been hidden since noon.

“You tricked me!” he yelled at Dilberta as he struggled to escape my sinkhole, but she was already scampering away home, as we agreed, and the rest of us were around him in moments.

For a drill sergeant, Jamjars is one mean interrogator. Having Kazooie and Bitbit around to peck his head didn’t hurt either. Well, it didn’t hurt us.

The gun was the most junior of the ten mercs that make up the Police. Only about five of them were Klungo-brand; the rest were various other animals, including the chief whose identity he didn’t know, he swore. The chief chose the jobs, and was the only one that would be able to enforce a cancel.

He did, however, know the current location of the Police hideout; a warehouse in the far outskirts of the Quagmire.

I left Jamjars and his team to gift-wrap the guy for the underground. I took mine, along with Banjo and Kazooie, and we went to catch a few quick winks before the big showdown.

Year 7, day 341: Seeing as fighting nine guys armed with weapons and numerous potions on their home turf when four of them managed to hold us (without B-K) to a standstill was the stupidest idea since Canary Mary (fuck Canary Mary), we opted for the stealth approach to their hideout. Terra, Piddle, Bitbit, Shadow, Banjo, Kazooie, and I went in in the early morning hours, but not quite at dawn because Witchyworld closes pretty dang late.

The Police weren’t locked and loaded, mostly cleaning their weapons with some chatter about how the guy probably should’ve been back by now. I didn’t like the vibe; they were suspicious and not in any way off-guard, like the consummate professionals they were.

I pulled the team back outside. “I don’t know how to say this, guys, but I’m certain in a straight-up fight, we’d be completely destroyed.”

“Just let me Wonderwing through the lot of them!” said Kazooie. “They can’t be any harder than Beaker Boy.”

“You didn’t have to fight upwards of five ‘Beaker Boys’ at once before,” I said. “Sorry, Kazooie, but we’re gonna have to go with plan B. Terra, you have the stuff I talked to you about earlier?”

A couple minutes later, I knocked on the warehouse door.

“Hey, I come in peace.”

It’s terrifying having more than one giant knife pointed at you. I kept my hands where they could see them.

“Who’re you?” one of them asked.

“Hmm, you look a little familiar...” said another. Now that I think of it, I was a Sandslash for pretty much that entire original fight so long ago. My pangolin form was visually distinct enough that, at least for these brainiacs, one wasn’t immediately connected to the other.

“What do you want?” the third asked. “You better not be with the underground; they’ve given usss nothing but trouble lately.”

“I assure you, I’m not with the underground.” Officially, I added in my head. “I just need to talk with your boss about something important.”

“We’sss not just sssome band of mercs, dillo-boy,” the second said, which made my temper spike a good bit. “We’sss the Rubbisssh Character Policcce. We have channelsss for ssstuff like thisss if you want sssomeone rubbissshed.”

“Now hold on there, blokes.”

That voice came from an approaching figure in the back. Emerging from the shadows was a sizable looking stoat, almost a Banjo and a half tall at full height.

“Name’s Breakline,” he introduced himself. “Breakline the Boss. I’m the chief of this here Police. And if you sought us out so badly you came directly to us, well then, you must really need us.”

“Come on, chief, can’t we just rubbisssh him a little…?” one of the others whined.

“Hey, what do I tell you?” Breakline replied. “We don’t rubbish anyone for free, not even if we want to. You’re going to have to pay for it, and we don’t take credit.”

The merc just growled.

Breakline turned his attention back to me. “So, I hear you have something important to talk to me about. So speak up before I start charging you for my time.”

“I understand that you have a job out on my friend,” I said, trying my best to not let the sizeable stoat intimidate me. “One female bear named Tooty.”

“I think I remember someone by that name that got away,” he replied. “But so what? Why you bringing up something that ain’t nothing to do with you?”

By now, I had a good handle on the value of a Note. For example, each of those ten Jinjo plushies were roughly 18 inches tall and had cost 5 Notes each. A plushie of that size on my world would be about $20, so a Note was about equal to $4, a value that held in comparison to other items whose Earth prices I remember. By that logic, the 20-Note silo trips cost $80, which seems ludicrous, but those silos were meant to evade witches, magical detection, and all other sorts of things. They were not cheap to maintain, and were the primary way for the underground to fund itself as far as I knew. Not to mention vehicle parts in Showdown Town could (would?) run into 40 Notes and higher pretty easily.

So I knew the full weight of what I was about to say.

I looked Breakline square in the eye. “I will pay you 300 Notes to cancel that contract.”

Silence filled the air, and then all at once, almost everyone shouted and exclaimed in complete shock and disbelief, even my teammates that were hiding nearby in case things went wrong. The only one that didn’t was Terra, as I cleared the amount with her first this time. I had originally planned to spend 500, but she talked me down.

Well, Breakline didn’t react with shock either. Instead, he stared at me. I’ve played enough poker to know why; he was sizing me up, seeing if I was bluffing. It was a little freaky, but paled in comparison to the terror from being around an embodiment of nightmares.

And then suddenly, he burst into laughter, as if he just remembered a really funny joke.

“Oh man. You’re serious, kid. Tell you what, the entire Spiral Mountain gig was only worth 200 to us! And I hate having that sword over my head! Looking for years and never able to pin her down! I’d be glad to get rid of it! You got the money?”

Slowly, to avoid setting of the jumpy and clearly more vicious mercs (of course, Breakline had to keep them in line with more than money somehow), I pulled a smallish sack of Notes from my backpack and tossed them to him. He held the bag for a while, giving it a few tosses, as he gauged the weight before peeking inside.

“You just keep on surprising me, kid.” I didn’t feel like telling him I was like twenty-seven. “You hang tight and let me sort this out. And don’t you blokes be causing any trouble for the customers, or I’ll cut your pay and SUPLEX YOU TO THE DARK SIZE OF THE MOON!”

I covered my ears quickly as Breakline suddenly roared like a wild animal just long enough to finish his sentence before snapping back to his original demeanor. His employees flinched significantly.

“N-Not a problem, chief…!” one of them said.

“I thought not.”

And so Breakline went back deeper into the warehouse. The other mercs stopped aiming their weapons at me, but mostly kept a perimeter up to keep me from following him.

The wait was excruciating and quite odorous, but eventually he came back.

“OK, your friend is off our to-do list,” he announced. “And if any of my blokes try to bother her again, they know what’s coming, don’t they?” He gave them a massive stink-eye for a moment.

“Y-Yesss, chief...”

“Fun fact: I have them call me that because the droning when they said ‘boss’ took forever to stop. Anyway, pleasure doing business with you.”

“A pleasure as well,” I replied. “Say, if I may ask, who made the contract on her in the first place?”

“Well, since you made my day and I watched him die, I’ll tell you free of charge,” said Breakline. “You know that really fat witch that used to live on the mountain?”

“Blobbelda, yeah.”

“It was her cat.”

“...Huh. Didn’t see that coming.”

“Yeah, surprised me too. Cats are tricky types. Way too quiet, they are.”

I dismissed myself from their company and headed back. I reconvened with the others in front of Grunty Industries, as we planned if they didn’t need to come out.

Year 7, day 345: I managed to pass the news to Tooty today. She was actually a little disappointed, as she wanted to kick their butts. Banjo was with us, and he could tell that she was still happy she didn’t have to hide anymore. She, in returned, noted that he had been gaining a good bit of weight.

With who she was hiding from no longer a problem, she was free to go, but she volunteered to keep going for a few more years. “I’m not tired of this adventure yet!” Her leave time would still be increased significantly.

I’ll have to remember to get in on some of that.