#he may be a good big brother

[milimeters-morales]

top ten reasons to live: this !!!!!

[cheshiresense]

[From Here]

Dithered over which pov to write next, figured I’d try Yuzu.

-0-

When Yuzu gets a phone call from Ichigo that they would be having two guests for dinner tonight, she is delighted. In all the years she’s known him, her brother has only ever introduced one person to them as something of a friend. Mizuiro is half a sibling at this point, trusted enough to be around them even when Ichigo isn’t, but before him, and after him, nobody else has ever caught Ichigo’s eye enough to warrant an actual invitation to dine with their family.

“They’re related to ghost stuff,” Ichigo adds bluntly, and Yuzu understands that to mean that these two will at least be tougher than the average yakuza on the street, even if they can’t match up to her brother.

“I understand!” She chirps back cheerfully. “I’ll let Karin know. I can’t wait to meet them!”

Then she hangs up, rolls up her sleeves, and gets to work in the kitchen. No guests of her brother’s will ever accuse them of being ungracious hosts on her watch.

(Karin comes home from soccer practice half an hour later. She laughs, as Yuzu does, when Yuzu tells her of their impending guests.)

-0-

Two hours later, Yuzu is putting the finishing touches on the meal when the sound of the door being unlocked carries through the apartment.

"Welcome home, Onii-chan!" She calls out, plating the last dish before carrying it over to the dining table. "Dinner's ready!"

She can hear Karin leaving their bedroom and coming down the hall on deliberately heavy footsteps. She appears just as Ichigo comes in from the front, Mizuiro a step behind him, with two men bringing up the rear, vaguely middle-aged at first glance, younger at the second, and then just ageless the more you stare.

They're tall, is Yuzu's first thought, but everybody's tall from her perspective. Still, they're taller than Ichigo, especially the one in the very back, and bigger too, even if they've got that same elegant dancer's gait her brother walks with, the one that whispers danger in the hindbrain even to those who don't know what to look for. They're also both blond, one darker than the other, but both with hair that nearly reach their shoulders. One wears modern clothing, the other more traditional, and one is empty-handed while the other carries a cane, but both of them take in the whole room in one calculating sweep that misses nothing. And they're both already smiling politely as they walk in, one with a harmless playful edge, the other with a harmless mysterious air, but both as fake as each other.

Yuzu exchanges a glance with Karin just to check she's not seeing things. Karin gives her the eyebrows that means she's noticed too.

Mizuiro had given off a far less dangerous aura when Ichigo had first brought him home. And he still feels much less threatening than these men now, no matter how much Guest One and Guest Two are probably trying to play it down. But back then, Mizuiro had also come in with sharp eyes and a guileless skin-deep smile, and that at least is exactly the same.

Their big brother sure does have a type. Yuzu sometimes wonders if Ichigo goes out and picks the most suspicious and unsettling people he can find to entertain him, or if he just somehow attracts them with his innate charm.

"My sisters, Karin, and Yuzu," Ichigo introduces without suspense, then jabs a thumb at Mizuiro. "And Mizuiro lives next door but he eats with us when we're here."

Then he gestures at the two men. "This is Hirako Shinji and Urahara Kisuke." He pauses for a brief half-second, and his eyes flash gold in Yuzu's, and Karin's, direction. "Hirako's a bit like me." He pauses again, and a funny half-smile hitches at one corner of his mouth. "They both are actually."

He says nothing else, so Yuzu takes that as her cue to sketch a neat half-bow paired with a bright smile. "Hello! It's nice to meet you!"

Beside her, Karin parrots the motion, if in a more perfunctory manner, but they weren't raised in a cave, so they know how to be courteous.

The men murmur back their own greetings even as their gazes shift back and forth between them and their brother like they're trying to pick up on a second unspoken conversation, but it's not as if there's anything for them to hear either way.

It's just that the introduction was short, names and little else, so Yuzu knows that they're equally untrustworthy, which makes sense because Ichigo couldn't have known them for more than a week or two. But the little else he'd tacked on had been a sign as well— not just that they're like him in some ways, in different ways, but also that Ichigo likes Hirako more than Urahara. Nevertheless, the fact that he'd brought them here at all means that they're interesting enough to make them both tolerable.

Yuzu understands, as does Karin, but they give no indication of it as everyone shuffles around to wash their hands, and Yuzu quickly scoops out a bowl of rice each for everyone in attendance.

"Onii-chan never invites anybody over, so I made a lot of extra food today," Yuzu tells them happily. "Please eat as much as you want!"

"Everythin' looks delicious," The darker blond, Hirako, grins at her, and this time, the expression seems more genuine. At the very least, it gives her a warmer feeling than the other blond, Urahara, who also smiles and trills agreement but radiates more distance than an overseas phone call.

Everyone settles around the dining table, although Mizuiro spares a moment to pull an exaggerated moue of aggrievement. "Never invites anybody over? Have I been forgotten, Yuzu-chan?"

Karin rolls her eyes while Yuzu giggles merrily. "You don't count, Mizuiro-nii-chan. You already eat with us almost every day anyway."

Mizuiro drops the act in favour of a smirk, though he looks pleased too, to be counted as family, as if the novelty of it still hasn't worn off. To be fair, it had taken a whole six months before Ichigo had been willing to leave him in the same vicinity as Yuzu and Karin on their own, and Yuzu knows that being trusted like that by her brother is no small feat.

Conversation drops as everybody begins digging in, and Yuzu lets her gaze drift casually over to their guests as they too pick up their bowls and chopsticks.

It's Urahara she lingers on first because he's the one who lifts his bowl to his mouth, only to stop at the last second, chopsticks poised. His expression doesn't really change, and the lapse only lasts a fraction of a second before he's moving again, smoothly pretending to eat a mouthful before lowering his bowl again, chewing and swallowing thin air masterfully. Even Yuzu only spots it because she's been watching the whole time from behind lowered eyelashes as she grabs some eggplant from one of the vegetable dishes.

She lets her gaze drop completely when she feels the man's eyes move from the food to her and then to Ichigo. Still, she can't quite suppress a pout, although she supposes she can't be too disappointed either since Hirako at least eats a good five bites of his rice before suddenly stiffening, glancing down sharply even as his eyes flicker with the same burnished gold colour that her brother possesses.

Then he looks up, looks at Urahara, looks at her, looks long at Ichigo, and then-

-he laughs. It's a bark of one that echoes with a snarl, except the mirth in it is also entirely genuine, enough for Yuzu to glance up with startled eyes. But the rest of the table does as well, so at least she doesn't stand out. Of course, that doesn't prevent Hirako from grinning at her, all teeth, with a bite that would feel like claws at her throat if not for the fact that it's coloured by something even warmer than when he'd complimented her spread. Appreciation, maybe.

"Is it the rice?" He muses candidly, and then actually eats another bite. "Nah, can't be, it was from the same cooker. It's the bowl, right? Not bad, I can't smell or taste anythin'."

Yuzu blinks and shares another look with Karin, who looks largely bored by the proceedings and hasn't stopped eating. Soccer practice always makes her hungry. But she also shrugs in agreement that Hirako is being sincere, so Yuzu relaxes and looks at her brother next.

Ichigo also hasn't stopped eating, although he isn't shovelling food into his mouth as speedily as Karin is. He swallows, glances leisurely at their guests, then looks back at her. "Not bad. Nothing in the food though?"

Yuzu frowns. "It's the first time you've invited them over, Onii-chan. I didn't want to scare them off."

Also, they're tolerable, and Ichigo even likes one of them, so she'd chosen the mildly poisoned bowls over the severely poisoned ones.

Ichigo just looks amused. "They don't scare easily."

Yuzu pouts again before glancing at their two guests, who are both watching them openly now. Hirako still looks like he's just heard a grand joke, while Urahara seems more than a little bemused, but neither of them feels angry.

Her big brother really is an excellent judge of character.

"You really didn't notice anything at all?" Yuzu asks in earnest, peering at Hirako before squinting at Urahara. "Then how come he did? And did you already shake the poison off?"

Hirako snorts and reaches for the communal chopsticks to swipe another chicken wing. "My... constitution's pretty good at negatin' toxins. And Kisuke's trained for this sort of thing."

Trained? Yuzu stares wide-eyed at Urahara long enough for the man to stop exuding caution and start manifesting awkwardness, which isn't what she wants so she hastily blurts out, "Are you really? So you can identify any poison? But the one I made is an original, so you shouldn't have come across it before."

Urahara stares back at her for a long blank-faced moment, not even bothering to stitch on a smile anymore, and like this, he matches the flat undercurrent of his emotions much better, like ice over water, except the water is the ocean and you don't know how deep it goes or what's waiting underneath.

"Ah," The man finally says, lifting a hand to his hat for a moment and pressing down on it so that his eyes are hidden. Then he looks up again and eyes her like he's seeing her for the first time and is pleasantly surprised by what he's found. "I may not know the exact poison, but I could still tell there was something off. Also, it's plant-based, isn't it?"

He pauses, and then, just like Hirako, he picks up his rice bowl again and swallows a decent mouthful, chewing almost thoughtfully beforehand. "And refined with reiatsu. That's actually more difficult to hide from me. Your technique is clumsy too. Give me an hour and I could probably also tell you the strains you crossed to make it. For now, at the very least, I can say there's definitely wisteria in this."

Yuzu is rendered speechless for a full five seconds. And then she snaps out of it and rounds on her brother with the best puppy eyes in her arsenal. She knows they don't actually work, but Ichigo tends to give in to her when she pulls them out anyway because it means she really wants something. "Onii-chan, you'll invite them back again, won't you? Urahara-san is amazing! I could learn so much if he teaches me!"

Ichigo's eyebrows go up for a moment in a way that speaks of indulgence, but he also glances lazily at Urahara before going back to his food. "Ask him yourself."

Yuzu pulls up short, always slightly stunned whenever her brother refuses her, even when it's not a direct refusal. But generally speaking, if she or Karin wants something enough to ask for it, Ichigo has always been the sort to simply make it happen for them. The only times he's ever refused is when he'd thought it too unnecessary - Karin really shouldn't have asked for a flamethrower for her birthday, it's unwieldy and she can't hide it in her backpack, plus they know how to make Molotov cocktails already anyway, which is almost the same thing - or when he'd considered it important for them to get what they want on their own, usually because it would make for a useful life skill in the future.

Never has it been because of a person.

But for the first time ever, this situation seems to have fallen into that exact category, which... She looks back at Urahara with more curiosity than before. For someone Ichigo only finds tolerable, something about this man has... impressed him? Is that what's going on here? Not even Mizuiro has ever succeeded in that before, so for once, Yuzu has no precedent to draw from.

Well, that doesn't matter right now. The important thing is that Urahara will probably remain in her big brother's life for some time to come, which means-

"Urahara-san!" She shoots to her feet, chair clattering back with the force of it as she bows. "Please teach me more about poisons! It's okay if it's just a little bit, whenever you have time. I promise I'll work hard! And of course, I can pay for the lessons!"

She does some mental tallying. There's a bake sale coming up for her club, and the venue they've chosen is close enough to the Karakura border to attract people from the neighbouring town. If she plays her cards right, some thugs from nearby yakuza groups probably wouldn't mind donating to her cause. Pretty little girls offering pretty little cakes are bound to reel in at least a few idiots.

Of course, she'll have to ask Ichigo to get rid of them afterwards. It's better not to risk putting anything too lethal into a school bake sale, just in case of an accident, so she'll have to stick with upset stomachs at most. Once they've paid up, Ichigo can make them disappear. Those upset stomachs can get really gross, and blood and guts aren't much better if cleanup gets messy, so Yuzu would rather not deal with that part.

Unlike her siblings who don't mind it, Yuzu is unfortunately something of a clean freak. Karin always taunts her about having inherited their father's delicate constitution, and Yuzu can't even refute it, no matter how insulted she feels. It's seriously unfair because she can gut a fish in the kitchen no problem, but human intestines make her gag.

"I-" Urahara starts, jolting her out of her thoughts. The man looks taken aback all over again, and like he's missed a step somewhere. He even feels a bit nervous as he whips out a paper fan of all things, one that hides half his face from view. His gaze bounces between her and her brother, emitting enough anxious vibes that Yuzu suddenly wants to give him an emotional support dog or something. "I'm not sure I would be the... best choice for this sort of thing, Kurosaki-san."

Yuzu is unsure who he's talking to, but just in case it's her, she rearranges her face into the most kicked puppy look of disappointment she's capable of. "Why not? You know your poisons, and it looks like it'll be hard for me to kill you. Onii-chan can only teach me so much, it's not really his area, so I've only been able to trial-and-error it for months now. But I'm a quick learner, and I swear I'll listen to anything you're willing to teach me. Or, is it the money? Just name your price."

Even if she can't come up with it all on her own, she's certain Ichigo will help pay the rest. Honestly, even if it's within her budget, he'll just pour the same amount she shells out back into her bank account. The only reason they have to go in a big circle like this is because Ichigo wants them to learn how to handle money responsibly.

"That's not-" Urahara stops again, then snaps his fan shut, and then all of a sudden, it's like a wall comes up, and everything about him shuts down. He straightens, features as unreadable as the rest of him, and then he turns to Ichigo so that it's unmistakeable who he's talking to this time. "Kurosaki-san, is this really alright?"

Ichigo's basically finished eating at this point. Karin gets up for another bowl of rice. Mizuiro watches them like he's binging one of his romance dramas. And Hirako has his head propped up against one loose fist, eyes half-lidded but intent.

In response, Ichigo only shrugs. "I mean, you can say no. But like she said, I can't teach her much more than I already have, and it's not like she's gonna find a better teacher than you at this point, right?"

"And where did you learn it from?" Urahara asks, grey eyes riveted on Ichigo with the sort of focus that feels like he might've forgotten anyone else even exists.

Ichigo actually quirks a smile, sardonically amused. "Same place I learned everything else."

He doesn't expand on it, keeping the conversation on track instead, much to Yuzu's delight. "Anyway, if you're asking for permission, obviously it's a yes. I wouldn't have let her ask in the first place if I wasn't okay with it. And she's smart. You could do worse for a part-time student."

Urahara remains motionless and unblinking for another few seconds. "...Was this why you invited us for dinner?"

Ichigo shrugs again. "Not really. It's not like I knew you knew poisons. I just thought my sisters should meet you, that's all."

"And why's that?" Hirako interjects, also watching Ichigo with gleaming eyes that never waver. "Cuz ya don't seem the type to let jus' anyone get close to your nearest and dearest."

Ichigo turns to him, and his eyes are fond in a way they very rarely are when aimed at anyone not Yuzu or Karin or Mizuiro. It's not quite on the same level, but it does make it even more obvious that Hirako has her brother's favour.

"I thought it'd be good if they knew a few Shinigami," Ichigo says offhandedly, although judging by the slight stir of surprise from both guests, they hadn't expected he would just come out and say it. Or perhaps they're surprised he's talking about it in front of Yuzu and Karin and Mizuiro? But they're family. Yuzu doesn't know everything about Ichigo, but that's just because she doesn't want to know that much about her brother's life, not because Ichigo wouldn't tell her if she or Karin asks.

"You seem like you might bring trouble to my doorstep one day," Ichigo says, somewhat out of the blue, and all at once, Urahara tugs at his hat again just as Yuzu gets a sense of shifty-eyed discomfort all but waving support lights over the man's head. Hirako sort of feels the same, but in a less... personal way.

So whatever's going on, Urahara's probably the one in charge.

Ichigo seems to sense it too, or he's long guessed it considering his not great feelings for Urahara. Either way, he scoffs, and the light in his eyes says he's annoyed, but not annoyed enough to do something permanent about it. Yet. "Yeah, that's what I thought. So I figured it's better for you to know who you should do your very best to protect if shit goes down around them, because otherwise, I might not even feel like hearing you out. Understand?"

Hirako glances at Yuzu, at Karin, even at Mizuiro, then he turns back to Ichigo, solemn in a way Yuzu hasn't seen since they met, "I understand."

It sounds like a promise.

Ichigo hums, satisfied. Neither of them prods at Urahara for an answer, and Urahara doesn't give one. He feels flat again, like a scrap of paper.

"So like I said," Ichigo continues briskly. "If you wanna teach her, knock yourself out. You can send me the bill."

Yuzu beams at him. Looks like she won't have to waste any cakes.

From his seat, Urahara heaves a sigh, and now he just seems tired and still a bit baffled, but he also finally looks at her again like he's assessing her potential. Yuzu straightens and adopts her best imploring face.

This of all things makes Urahara's mouth twitch, and he even feels amused, except it's the sort of amusement that's all wrapped up in razor-wire mockery. That bit doesn't show on his face of course. Still, Yuzu's fingers suddenly itch with the urge to swap out his bowl with the other one after all.

"So clumsy," The man muses, one finger tapping at the cane leaning against his chair. "...Very well, I suppose I may have a few things I can impart to a budding... chemistry enthusiast. On one condition however. And I don't want money."

He looks at Ichigo again, except he doesn't say anything. Ichigo seems to understand anyway because a grin pulls at his lips, a touch too savage to fit on a human face, and aimed at anyone else, Yuzu knows they wouldn't even have time to pick out a coffin.

Urahara seems to be an exception. It makes Yuzu wonder if he's just that strong, certain in his ability to forever remain stronger than her brother, or if he's simply gambling with his life, and it's Ichigo instead who's decided to be uncharacteristically patient.

She hopes it's not the former, because she has no faith in anyone who thinks themselves capable of staying ahead of her brother forever. But if it's the latter, then maybe she'll have enough time to wheedle out everything Urahara knows of poisons before Ichigo snaps and kills him.

"That seems a bit unbalanced," Ichigo remarks.

Urahara inclines his head, and this time, his voice rings of the same vow that had reverberated in Hirako's earlier. "Upon my blade, my life before your family's, should the worst come to pass."

Ichigo laughs, soft and without humour. "This trouble must be something else. That, or you don’t think your life’s worth all that much. But fine. We'll hash it out tomorrow. Keep your word, and I might even go along with whatever you and your people have been cooking up. But Yuzu gets to bug you for lessons any day of the week from now on."

And once again, between one breath and the next, Urahara trades the gravity for the false affability from before.

It's like watching a performance, Yuzu thinks.

She glances at her brother and watches him watch Urahara, still annoyed, still a bit like he could put a knife through the other's ribs if it wouldn't mean the hassle of mopping blood off the floor.

Ichigo likes Hirako. Yuzu does too, even though they just met not even half an hour ago. There's something about him that makes him approachable and friendly despite the very obvious beast lurking beneath his skin. But that too might be part of the charm because Yuzu's long used to the same thing from her brother. Knowing even just that much, it's not a shock that Ichigo has clicked with him - a fellow monster - in a way he never has even with Mizuiro.

But Urahara is different. Urahara is treated with tolerance only, with irritation and discontent and even derision, on and off. But Yuzu knows that her brother has killed people for a whole lot less than that, and yet here Urahara sits at their family's table while Ichigo looks at him from time to time, tolerant and irritated and discontent and derisive, and he can't stop looking.

She wonders if even her brother is aware of what he's doing.

"I'll leave my number," The man offers, complete with a genial smile. "And you may stop by my shop anytime. Allow me a few days, and I shall have some reading material organized for you."

Yuzu perks up, nods, and finally sits back down, then gets up again to fetch two extra bowls of rice, this time clean of any poison. Hirako snickers but accepts his with a nod. Urahara does the same, with that same winning smile, and then dinner restarts, this time uninterrupted.

Well, who cares if Ichigo is aware or not? He’ll figure it out sooner or later. And besides, it’s all the same in the end— people who push her brother too far will face the consequences, and those who don't will not. That's just the simple truth of it.

But in the meantime, Urahara at least won't be going anywhere, which means Yuzu can finally get some guidance for one of her favourite hobbies, and honestly, that's all she really cares about.

[salsa-di-pomodoro]

Ok but can we talk about the absolute horror of being watched and monitored 24/7 that the ancients must have had. The citizenship drones being like an Alexa that's constantly following and listening to you (except it's five pebbles and not Alexa lmao). The fucking OVERSEERS. THEY'RE CALLED THAT FOR A REASON. BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHING THEIR CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENT ALL THE TIME. (I would talk about the fact that they all show arti fucking ads as well but honestly idk what else to say about that. Capitalism got yet another society 😔). That's some fucking nightmare fuel dystopian society settings we are being hinted at. You know the Big Brother Is Watching You thing. The book. Yeah that's what it reminds me of.

The Iterator Is Watching You.

[mutantmayhems]

once again thinking about how even though leo was dodging punches left and right and should’ve been preoccupied with himself, he still yelled “mikey, watch out!” because all he was focused on was making sure his little brother was safe

[iknowwhereyousleepatnight]

:(

[istherewifiinhell]

time for nightshade clips

[VD: Transformers Earthspark clip of the Malto's (The human father, 2 human kids and two bot kids), Bumblebee and Optimus meeting the three new terran transformers (each unique in size and shape, but still in their protoforms, which have more nondescript soft shaped details, in white, metal grey, and glowing blue).

full transcribe below

The Malto's emerging from a collasped cave. Bee walks over them, kneeling, reaching out: Oh thank Primus your alright.

Mo Malto (the human daughter), clinging to her Dad's (Alex) side: Mr. Optimus, we... we lost the emberstone.

Optimus makes a sorrowful expression, Bee nods in understanding. They both gasp as the three new terrans pop out from under the cave's rubble.

Optimus, joyful: But look at all you've gained!

Bee: More terrans!

Optimus goes on one knee to be at better height to greet them: Welcome, young ones. I am Optimus Prime. It warms my spark to meet you. What are you're names?

The terrans all look at each other and shrug.

Robby Malto (the human son) looks to the flashing cyber sleeve on his hand: She's... Hashtag!

The largest of the terrans crouches in front of him, excitedly. She has a visor: [Gasp] You're right! Oh, I didn't have a word for my name, just a feeling!

The shortest and chunkiest of the terrans gestures nervously with his hands: Well, what am I called?

Mo, gasping, walking forward: His name is Jawbreaker! (She takes on of his fingers in both her hands) My favourite candy! 

Jawbreaker, softly squelling: Really?!

The remaining terran, tall and narrow, bows theactrically: And I am Nightshade! It is a delight and a surprise to mean you all!

Alex, solemnly: Not all of us, [picking up a name tag reading "Malto"] Mandroid still has Dottie.

All four of his children come in to hug him. Jawbreaker, looks around, upset and clutches his head: [Noise of upset] How do we make the bad feelings go away?

Roddy: We have to save Mom and Megatron.

Twitch Malto (bot daughter), shaking her head: Mandroid is no joke. We barely escaped last time we met him, (nervous gesture, upset tone) and only because... Mom saved us.

Nightshade steps forward: We don't know this "Mom"... [Places a hand to their chest] but we feel your love for her burning through our hearts.

Hashtag, steps forward and points to her chest with a thumb: We want to help!

Jawbreaker, stepping forward, timid: If you'll let us?

All the Malto's smile, touched. Mo runs forward and jumps into Jawbreaker's hands. He catches her and brings her up to hug.

Mo, resting her cheek and hand on his chest plate, looking up: Thank you.

END]

[widevibratobitch]

i hate them with a passion

[seagull-scribbles]

Some brothers for @squorkal

One of the best things about learning to draw is I have the opportunity to give back to some on the Artists that I really admired from all my past fandoms over the years xxx

[kingjasnah]

stormlight needs to return to actually having discussions about pacifism i cant do another infinity war type book.....like i recognize that rhythm didnt focus on philosophy the way the others did partially cause it wasnt a big dalinar book and while the moral quandary between dalinar and taravangian is probably going to consume his kowt chapters, it just looked silly from adolin's eyes like. i really do think the discussion of imperialism and colonialism and war needs to be had by literally anyone who isn't a kholin

[florallylly]

so CLEARLY the stobin big brother au brain rot had to come out some time and tbh this is going to be so scatterbrained bear with me

based off of my favorite season ... bb4 with jun song like well yes....like yeah i LOVE this season but also like. i have to think about this because i want to open up the possibility of there being a pre-established stobin relationship.

like OKAY clicking from the first day creating a final 2 alliance immediately ... i see it. initially enemies becoming begrudging allies using a final 2 alliance to keep each other loyal becoming genuine friends who honor that final 2 alliance despite knowing it wouldn't help their game. LIKE.... i am Sick to my Stomach. BUT some type of x-factor WOW.

if they go in as exes, i think i could only see them purposely bamboozling producers into thinking they would never work together when they have a shared google drive of strategies for their game or like fuckin... idk i don't strategize u tell me

OKAY BUT maybe a home town high school reunion type theme, where they make sure to include duos that would have been in the same high school at the same time blah blah. so there are two steves that could possibly have applied for big brother.

one steve was encouraged by His Boys (and carol) to try out bc he's athletic AND good at the social game. king steve is in it to win it, but as time goes on, steve harrington's bleeding heart prevents him from being as ruthless as he planned to be.

stobin seeing each other ep 1 and just the most evil glares toward each other, but actually they're nonverbally setting a meeting to discuss their alliance. they don't know it but it's their strongest, longest lasting alliance and the one they are ultimately the most loyal to. thinking jun and jee picking fights to throw people off their scent.... robin and her you suck/you rule board like. YEAH.

i think that in this scenario, steve is more jee in using his physicality to prove his worth to the team and winning comps. and robin is more jun in that she (unfortunately) is not the most liked in the house bc she has smth of a "floater" strat. WHICH not a coasting strat. a floater strat. okay. she is instigating and she is lying and she is scheming.

however also steve being jun with the kitchen strat like YEAH like yes. using cooking as an excuse to stay in the most central part of the house and eavesdrop like well yes. have a neutral reason to always be present for drama and make people not want to eliminate you bc if they do, they lose ur cooking too.

i think that like robin would win in this season, but only because steve didn't make it to the final 2. both of them knew that steve would have jury. like he just played the social game so well that even people he beat and blindsided wanted him to win. like he proved to be loyal while still pushing his game and he was on good terms with everyone in the house. steve threw the last hoh so he would be eliminated esp since he knew that robin would be the obvious winner against the other contestant

the Second steve would be a post-demogorgon or bullshit kind of checked out steve harrington who doesn't have it in him to fight for his crown. maybe he Did apply before the upside down and unlucky enough to have a life altering experience right before appearing on television. or maybe he was just throwing shit at the wall instead of applying for college thinking whatever. face card never declines.

picturing a taylor hale-esque journey where robin hears that King Steve is joining the house. and she has her preconceived opinions about him and obviously it's beneficial to her game to completely undermine a good social player before he even gets a chance to speak. so she starts turning people in the house against him but not in a paloma way me think. less intense, but still just as detrimental to steve's game.

but steve is able to make a couple solid connections in the house, and despite being put on the block, he's not eliminated. the first month in the house is pretty rocky for steve, and he's put on the block nearly Every Single Week. now he starts giving a jag performance and winning comps left and right like. power of veto every week baby and that's why he will Never Be Eliminated. people are beginning to look at steve differently now

they're like okay he's a bit of a free agent, and obviously a strong player. he could be used as a shield, he could be used as a buffer, keeping him could be beneficial to my game. robin is still iffy about him, but she sees his merit.

just like taylor, steve is one to one in convincing people to support him in his game. he appeals to them so effectively that people who were vehemently against him just boom.... appreciate. like robin is not immune to the harrington charm and she's already the worm in his brain

thinking some Big Drama involving steve though and literally daniel's tirade on taylor (which was SO undeserved and like? insane?) yeah.... and then the turn around and calling out of his previous treatment like. YEAH. that's what i want...

robin taking the longest to come around to steve, but being the most ride or die. they're like jag and matt just. ur my minute man baby.... i know i'd have a better chance against this guy but. we made a final 2 alliance and i'm not going to blindside you.

and steve would win in this case. he's just so strong with the jury and really good with comps like okay... was there a q.... robin argued her social game was more refined (it violated constitutional rights or smth)

but yes yes stobin big brother au... of course after the season they become the platonic soulmates they ARE in every universe. and like. people don't expect them to stay friends for so long after, but at some point like. okay now they're a duo. like that's bert and ernie.... acshually the old man muppets who sit in the nosebleeds and criticize the show loudly (was this only a thing in disneyland idk idk)

[eikonbound]

“you are not them.” @ clive !

SENTENCE MEME ⟶ RUPI KAUR / THE SUN AND HER FLOWERS

This, Clive feared, would always be a hard pill to swallow. Although he'd come to terms (as much as one could) with the fact of his own Dominant status, that night at Phoenix Gate remained a blur. He could recall only a few things -- destruction and mayhem surrounding him, the sight of Joshua, fully primed into Phoenix, crying out in uncontrollable grief above him -- and then the sounds of blow after blow dealt to Phoenix, brief glimpses of the onslaught. It had taken many years for his mind to allow Clive to even consider that perhaps the second Eikon of fire wasn't a malevolent stranger. All he'd been living on was the promise of vengeance, and without it, what was Clive's plan? 'Find the other Eikon of fire and kill him, or kill yourself,' as Cid had so simply put it years ago. If not for the forgiveness and understanding that Cid and Jill had granted him, Clive certainly would not have survived the days and weeks following that painful revelation. But the one most impacted by that night was Joshua. He had every reason not to offer Clive solace. It was miraculous that he'd been able to make it out alive but that didn't erase the inevitable trauma brought on by such a violent, ruthless fight. Clive may not have voluntary primed but primed he did all the same, and there was no Ifrit without him as a vessel. Joshua would have had every reason to fear him, hate him, shame him, hurt him. Instead, he was a uniquely effective balm that got to the heart of Clive's fears -- that he would forever carry the stain of the lives he took. It meant more coming from him than anyone else in the world. Clive drew in a breath through his nose and then slowly exhaled it, nodding his head to Joshua. "I'm trying my best to believe that is true. I used to have dreams all the time of Sir Rodney and others I knew at Rosalith. And you, of course," he said quietly, glancing over at his brother, "While one might assume that these dreams ought to have been nightmares, they were actually a much needed respite. The dreams themselves weren't the issue -- it was waking with a brand on my cheek, not a single familiar face beside me, knowing that I'd lain to waste so many lives, and that those people would never return." Clive reached his hand out to warmly clap Joshua's shoulder, giving him a warm smile. "But you came back. And if you of all people believe I'm worthy of redemption, then who am I to disagree?"

[permanentreverie]

Would like to respectfully throw my uterus into the sun

[stark-alchemy]

Okay I've gotten up the nerve to post my Sun&Moon/Reader drabbles I've been planning! Bare with me cuz it's a bumpy ride though my brain:

Visiting Artist!AU or You're 'Kiln'ing Me Here and Other Bad Pottery Puns for Your Jester Friends

So basically this story would revolve around Reader coming in as a Visiting artist to teach kids at the Daycare and the parents <to an extent> about artists in the nearby area. It'd be after the events of FNAF with the Freed Princess ending so the building isn't burt down/destroyed. With Fazbear trying once again to try and smooth over any bumps with the public, corporate decides the best way to do this is by becoming more community involved by inviting guest artists, musicians, dancers, and community groups to come in and work with kids. It's totally a cash grab as well as Corp is paying the artists tons to make merch or promote their deal with Fazbear Ent. and get more groups in. It works really well with a bit of a caviot. That's we're Reader comes in; a small business owner who specializes in pottery and sculpture [totally not projecting XD] and is on a year long waitlist to even get considered for the position. They're not super hopeful but they could use with the good business promotions and the cash doesn't hurt as they'd like to branch out more. However, suddenly a bunch of groups drop out either early or all together leaving the wait from a few months to a few weeks! In their excitement, they don't question the drops and sign up immediately getting lesson plans, extra materials, and even little aprons for kids of all ages and walks of life with the money Fazbear paid in advance. Shame they didn't read that new clause in their contract that by accepting the cash they kinda have to do the whole gig to its full completion....for 5 whole months. But who cares about that; new job, potentially a great broadcasting of their skills, and working with kids: Dream come True! So a few weeks later they're standing outside the Pizzaplex, all smiles and excitement. They meet the new and improved Glamrocks, including one surly kid who hangs around Freddy like thats his dad, the strange blonde security guard who claims is her kid, and the larger than life DJ after getting slightly lost. When you finally arrive to your new studio and teaching area you're absolutely amazed by the charitable space <one of the largest party rooms that'll fit your tables, the temporary vinyl floor to keep the carpets clean, and even shelf space for kids to put unfinished projects> and even more by the 7 foot tall "helper" in the form of a bouncy and excitable animatronic named Sun. He seems more than happy to be apart of this project though he bemoans that nobody stays long. Asking about it gets you no answers just nervous looks, and deflections but that's okay! After all you're here to make friends and teach art...shame there's a mystery that drags you into the struggles of your new animatronic friend and his mysterious 'bro'ther-half. Good thing you've got a few months to get to know them both. Yeah, you really should have read that contract.

The second AU is a Gods!AU or "In the Shadows of the Forest"

This AU revolves around a small village on the outskirts of a large city in ancient times. Magic is a vehicle for life's convenience and is gifted to very few, but those with the strongest magics can talk to the Gods themselves. In your village you live in what used to be known as the Valley of the Sun and Moon, because legend was that half of the surrounding forest always seemed to be shining with light while the other was shrouded in darkness. Your grandparents used to claim that the forest would glow a beautiful gold when twilight or first light would be on the horizon to symbolize the bond of the brothers. However recently the good will of the Gods seems to have dried up and the phenomenon was not as prominent today, due to rumors of a corruption spreading though the magic itself at the hands of a dark Sorcerer and his followers. It has faded the powers of those who use magic in your village and decended nightmares to the people...even worse were the mysterious vanishing of several of your village and the neighboring city's children. You attempt to find out what's happening only for you to find yourself pursued at knife point by a follower of this dark Sorcerer before you take refuge in an old temple deep within the forest. While you're hiding a mysterious person helps you escape the danger, but you soon find yourself wisked away to another plane entirely one that only fae and the supernatural can traverse to and come face to face with the Sun The God of Light and Joyous Laughter and his brother, Moon, the God of Night and Peaceful Dreams...though there's something sinister in the works as you try to help these Gods save their magic and their fellow Gods from the clutches of a monster abusing the magic they weird. (This fic has all of the Fazbear cast as Gods; Freddy as the God of Wayway Stars and Righteous Justice, Chica as Goddess of Agriculture and Fine Feasts, Roxanne as Goddess of Speed and Beatific Beauty, Bonnie as God of Protective Charms and Valiant Spirit, Monty as God of Second Chances and Radiant Strength, and DJ Music Man as God of Storied Musicians and Watcher of the Portals to the Worlds. Gregory is Freddy's guardian as much as Freddy is Gregory's and Vanny/Vanessa are the unwilling followers of the dark Sorcerer, William, who is an Undead ass in all universes...)

[girlcrushau]

x

[emphistic]

Bf!Sukuna who sometimes calls you 'girlfriend' — and not in a flamboyant way

"Girlfriend, c'mere."

"What do you want, girlfriend?"

"Sure, girlfriend."

Bf!Sukuna who loves having your lips on his; he'll just randomly come up to you and slot his lips against yours without a word

Bf!Sukuna who walks around the house shirtless, and teases you by saying, "You should try it out," only to get a pillow thrown at his head

Bf!Sukuna who would pause his video game just for you

Bf!Sukuna who is actually super clingy, and cannot function without having you in a foot radius — but will never admit it

"I'm going to go get groceries now."

"I'll come with you," he said, immediately standing up from the couch.

"I thought you hated errands."

Sukuna shrugged, "'m bored."

Bf!Sukuna who spits in your food when you're not looking

Bf!Sukuna who, when he can't sleep, will just stare at you — a few times, you've woken up to his creepy crimson eyes staring back at you, and you socked him in the jaw

Bf!Sukuna who claims to hate your music, but whenever you two are in the car, he'll always let you handle the aux

Bf!Sukuna who purposely forgets to do your laundry so he can see you be forced to wear his clothes instead

Bf!Sukuna who is the king of keeping eye contact

Bf!Sukuna who'll hover around while you do your makeup and just ask random questions

"What does that do?"

"Why the fuck is it shaped like that?"

"It's almost as big as my dick."

Bf!Sukuna who steals your things and raises them above his head where you can't reach just to mess with you

Bf!Sukuna who never gets cold, and while that may seem like a good thing in the winter because you have a personal heat generator, it is the absolute worst during the summer — you have to ban cuddling because Sukuna is just too damn warm

Bf!Sukuna who doesn't help you bring in groceries, even if your hands are full

Bf!Sukuna who ignores you for the rest of the day if you forget to give him a good morning kiss, or good morning text (if you guys are temporarily apart)

Bf!Sukuna who is good at everything he touches

— a/n: kinda irrelevant if you ask me, but I just had to include this

Bf!Sukuna who pretends to forget if you guys have planned a date together

Bf!Sukuna who gets a hard-on when he sees your angry face; he loves having you pull on his ear and drag him away to a secluded area to hear you yell at him — he thinks you sound so sexy and look so hot

Bf!Sukuna who isn't above doing extreme pda when he sees someone staring at your ass

Bf!Sukuna who whines about going to work, claiming it's boring, but in reality: he just doesn't want to leave you — or vice versa: he doesn't want you to leave for work

Bf!Sukuna who swears up and down he doesn't want kids and hates children, but when he sees you taking care of his little brother Yuuji, he finds himself doing a mental 180°

Bf!Sukuna who goes into a trance staring at your ass

Bf!Sukuna who has no purpose for an Instagram account: you forced him to make one — he never posts on there, but when does, it's only pictures of you and occasionally him and you

Bf!Sukuna who has a drum set in your guys' shared apartment, but refuses to play it for anyone but you, and even then, he only plays to annoy you or wake you up from your nap

Bf!Sukuna who permanently quit smoking when he saw you plugging your nose near him

Bf!Sukuna who enjoys chasing you around the apartment, sometimes with a knife in hand just to make you extra scared

Taglist: @starlets-things @sad-darksoul @mochimoee @r0ckst4rjk (pls lmk if u only want to be tagged in my boy nextdoor series or all of my work) @lillycore

[tizeline]

Some snippets into Donnie's relationship to his brothers in the Separated AU

So after having figured out that Donnie is in fact their Long Lost Brother, the Drax Trio obviously want him back, and while Donnie is initially excited to find out that he has a bunch of siblings, he's less excited to find out that they're a bit, uh, evil. And they keep insulting April!! How dare they!!! Not to mention, he already has a dad, he doesn't need a new one! So no, Donnie isn't planning on just leaving his current family behind for this new one, and his brothers react to this in various different ways.

As much as Mikey wants Donnie back, Dr. Feelings understands that this is quite the adjustment for Donnie and that he may need some time to come to terms with the fact that he actually belongs with them and not with the humans. Mikey doesn't wanna force his brother to reunite with them, so instead he tries to convince Donnie to come home willingly through various ways. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but AU Mikey is essentially trying to give Donnie a redemption arc like Canon Mikey did with Draxum

Raph, however, sees Donnie and immedietly goes full Protective Big Brother Mode. He thinks the best course of action is to "forcefully rescue" (kidnap) him and and then convince him to stay and be apart of their family. He's can't help catastrophizing about all the way his baby brother is definitely being mistreated by Lou Jitsu and April and all the other evil humans oh NO they have to SAVE HIM!! The only reason he doesn't is because no one else in the Draxum family thinks it's a good idea

And then Leo. I'll go more into detail about Leo's character in this AU at a later dat cuz hhhhhhh but basically, he's still dealing with pretty intense Middle Child Syndrome and the LAST thing he need is another middle child joining the family! Why are all his family members so obsessed with getting Donnie back anyway? He's already clearly chosen the human side so why waste their time on him! .....Now that's not entirely the whole truth, he's kinda ecstatic when he first meets Donnie, except Donnie doesn't seem to care about them any, which... ouch.

Another way to describe their dynamic would be similar to their canon dynamic, a lot of friendly bickering.... except they don't really know each other and are also enemies here so like.... UNfriendly bickering.... which is just bickering lol. They fight a lot, is what I'm getting at.

Anyway you know the family dinner scene with Draxum in season 2 of the show? Yeah, Mikey tries that tactic here too. Like I said, Mikey wants to be patient with Donnie, but he does eventually get a bit tired of Donnie acting so hostile all the time so he starts organizing hangouts for the four of them (attendence is mandatory!)

And poor Donnie, this whole situation is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for him, as you might imagine. Reuniting with your secret lost family is fun for all of five seconds before you find out that they're actually kinda messed up uh oh. A big reason why Donnie acts so hostile towards his brothers is because it's easier for him to just dismiss them as mere enemies that he feels no attatchment to. He's basically being made to pick between this new family and his old one is Not Fun.