#i am loving the snail arc

[sopuu]

pesky…snail?

[shatteredsnail]

if the orv webtoon doesn’t do dark castle justice i’m going to be so upset. that arc is so important to me

[gible-love-nibles]

*(drops this here and doesn’t elaborate)*

[lovelywritinglady]

Smokin’ With A Crocodile

Sir Crocodile x Fem!reader

In which you and crocodile share a blunt.

Mentions of smoking and using drugs, sexual themes, established relationship, set during the alabasta arc. (I wrote this just for fun)

“So you’d like to get high with me then.” Crocodile teased sitting in his chair.

“Yep.” You said emphasizing the “p”

“Why?” He asked leaning back

“Because I though it might be fun. And you and I have been working a lot lately and I think we’ve earned a break.

“Sure, why not.” Crocodile said picking up his transponder snail. He then called Mr.1 inquiring about getting the thing you desired. After about 30 minutes the two of you heard a knock on the door.

“Yes!” You cheered making you way to the door.

You opened it revealing the man you were looking forward to seeing. Mr.1 then handed you the rather large bag of weed. Your eyes seemed to popped out of you head at the sheer amount of weed that was available. It was a massive bag that was at least half the dose of you. You then turned to your lover, Crocodile, with a confused but amused expression. He just shrugged putting out his signature cigar on his golden astray.

“You said you wanted to relax and get high my love. I feel like I don’t need to remind you but I am a big man. It’s going to take a lot for me to feel it.” Crocodile teased getting up from his chair after he dismissed Mr. 1.

“Fair, I guess that would make sense.” You laughed. “Alright you got some papers?” You asked

“Of course I do.” Crocodile said confidently

The next 10 minutes we’re filled with the two of you rolling a massive blunt. And for some reason Crocodile was really good at it. And it made you question to yourself whether or not he use to smoke a lot of weed back in his younger days.

“Alright, light her up.” You said to Crocodile as he grabbed the lighter from his pants pocket as he lit one of the blunts the two of you were going to share.

He took a puff allowing for the smoke to fill his lungs completely as he exhaled. He did this once more leaving you slight impatient but soon handed it to you. You followed him taking a puff of it. You let the smoke sit in your lungs for a second before exhaling, enjoying the sensation of the drug that slightly started to kick in. You then passed it back to him feeling satisfied.Whatever weed this was, it was strong and you knew that after only a few more hit you’d be out.

“Take it easy there love.” Crocodile teased taking the blunt from you and doing an even longer drag. He then did something you did not expect.

Crocodile pulled you towards him, capturing your lips into a sweet but heated kiss. You could taste the drug as you breathed him in. It was intoxicating and downright sinful the way he was kissing you. He then pulled away exhaling with a smirk on his mouth as he looked at your flushed and slightly high face. Crocodile laughed slightly before passing it back to you.

“What the hell was that?” You asked feeling hot.

“What you didn’t like it?” He teased giving you a wink.

“You know I did.” You huffed taking a hit before blowing it out on his face.

“Good. Kiss me y/n.” He demanded

However, before you did you took an even longer drag on the blunt. Your lungs slightly hurt but you knew this wouldn’t last long. You then placed the blunt on the ashtray. You pulled your lover by his expensive suit and forced his on your lips. In response he put his hand on your thigh stroking it up and down which made you whimper into the heated drug filled kiss. You pulled away letting some much needed air fill your lungs once more. However, this was short lived as Crocodile pushed you to him once more feeling more needy for you, to which he blamed the weed. Normally he was a composed man. It was rare for him to lose his composure like this, but with all of the high quality weed in his system, he felt like he was completely losing control. And it definitely didn’t help with you being as attractive and alluring as you were. To say the least normal Crocodile was completely in love and obsessed with you, but high Crocodile was on a completely different level.

“I thought you said that it was going to take a lot for you to ge high, my love.” You cooed stroking his flushed cheeks. To which he grumbled feeling slightly shy.

“Just kiss me, woman.” He demanded trying to get the upper hand.

“Oh I’ll kiss you. And I’ll take good care of you took, darling.” You spoke pulling toward you again feeling even hotter than before.

The rest of the night consisted of the two of you being tangled in your rather large bed. Your combined moans were so loud that they could be heard by anyone who was in close walking distance of your home. However, due to your high state neither of you cared. All you cared was the ecstasy of being filled with each other. And the next morning you woke up with hickeys and bruises littering you body. Crocodile too had hickeys on his neck and chest from your own domination. It took the two of you hours to realize that you hadn’t used protection.

“I’ll call Daz to get a pregnancy test.” Crocodile said admiring your body as he held you close to him.

“Good, because I don’t remember you pulling out last night.” You remembered

“No matter what happens, let’s not get that high again.” Crocodile sighed.

“We’ll see.” You cooed feeling happy that you finally got to smoke weed with Crocodile.

Thanks so much for reading💜This was just something I felt like writing. Lol.

Feel free to like, comment, request, and reblog

Click here to see what I’ll write for and HERE to see my master list.

•I do NOT own any character except y/n•

-L.W.L

[mkcannothelpyou]

Mission: Buy the Armored Core VI Blu-rays

1. "621. Here's a request from a friend. Street dates for the Armored Core VI Blu-rays are in. Volume 1 includes Episodes 1 and 2. Deluxe Limited Edition packs in a bonus novella, if you wanted to know how G4 and G5 ended up in the Redguns. Audio commentary from me and Michigan too. Bring it home, 621."

2. "This is V.II Snail. I am commissioning you for this request—consider it a privilege. Having been favorably received, Volume 2 of the Armored Core VI Blu-rays is now available for reservation. Episodes 3 and 4 detail the events up to and including Operation Wallclimber. Packaged as a bonus is a novella that lays bare V.IV's induction into the Vesper Squad, as well as some of the meager deaths of Walter's mutts. Proof of your ability is on the line—you will not return empty-handed."

3. "Raven, it's me. Volume 3 of the Armored Core VI Blu-rays is going on sale. That means Episodes 5 and 6, where you take on the Watchpoint. I've looked into the bonuses. There's a novella in this one covering the Fires of Ibis, and a report on Dolmayan. I don't have any funds with which to buy it... Would you preorder it for me?"

4. "Tourist. This is "Chatty" Stick from RaD. There is a date set for Volume 4 of the Armored Core VI Blu-rays, which has made the boss very happy. Episodes 7 and 8 will cover the Crossing. There is a novella about how the boss created me, and a bonus CD of Arquebus and Balam corporate anthems. That's all I had to say. Later, tourist. "

5. "Hey, buddy. V.IV Rusty here. They just announced a date for Volume 5 of the Armored Core VI Blu-rays. That's Episodes 9 and 10, but word is they're going deluxe—a fresh cut of Episode 11, the one where we down the Ice Worm. Still going strong with the bonuses, too—a spin-off courtesy of Arquebus PR's radio station... one whole hour of Vespers VS. Redguns on CD. Don't miss out on it, buddy."

6. "Hey, tourist. It's your old friend, "Cinder" Carla of RaD. Looks like they're pushing out Volume 6 of the Armored Core VI Blu-rays. They're capping this one with the special where you intercept the Redguns. And hey, the viewers didn't vote for it, but someone up there loves us, because they're throwing in the alternate ending too. Chatty, boot up the ACs! Something tells me we're gonna go shopping!"

7. "V.II Snail, come in! This is V.VI Maeterlinck! They've gotten too lavish with Volume 7 of the Armored Core VI Blu-rays! On top of Episode 13, they've brought out a reveal-all OVA about the formation of Overseer, and a top-secret Institute report from Professor Nagai! They even have a CD where Handler Walter sings for the Episode 13 ending theme!? Requesting backup, stat!"

8. "Guess who's calling, tourist. Listen to your lucky numbers—Armored Core VI Season 2, Boxset 1, coming to stores. Sounds like they've got Episodes 1 through 4 in the "Fires of Raven" arc. Bonuses are... an old diary written by that little Ayre interloper, and a drama CD they're calling "MIND α, Release Phase 1". Happy face, tourist! Let's have ourselves the last laugh!"

9. "Hey, buddy. V.IV Rusty here. Just got a message about Armored Core VI Season 2—they're readying to sell Boxset 2. Contents are Episodes 1 to 4 of the "Liberator of Rubicon" arc. They're packing an Alternate Limited Edition with a figure of STEEL HAZE ORTUS. Your ideals brought cinders to life in the production team. I'm moving out to preorder, buddy."

10. One new message. "Rb23, independent mercenary Raven. Armored Core VI: The Movie -Alea iacta est- is now on streaming services. A UHD-BD, containing audio commentary by myself and Ayre, a CD of the main theme as sung by Ayre and ALLMIND, and a storyboard collection, is also available for purchase. This ending exists for all mercenaries."

[noonesgaylikegatson]

A Definitive List of over 100 Films featuring Gay/Bi Men of Color

Macho Dancer (1988)

The Fruit Machine (1988)

Tongues Untied (1989)

Young Souls Rebel (1991)

Anthem (1993)

Farewell My Concubine (1993)

The Wedding Banquet (1993)

Shinjuku Triad Society (1995)

Happy Together (1997)

The River (1997)

Pusong Mamon (1998)

Hold you tight (1998)

Gohatto (1999)

Punks (2000)

Iron Ladies (2001)

Lan Yu (2001)

The Road to Love (2001)

Mango Souffle (2002)

Yossi and Jagger (2002)

Proteus (2003)

Brother to Brother (2004)

Formula 17 (2004)

Star Appeal (2004)

Chicken Tikka Masala (2005)

The King and the Clown (2005)

My Brother Nikhil (2005)

Boy culture (2006)

No Regret (2006)

RagTag (2006)

Blueprint (2007)

Soshite, Harukaze ni Sasayaite (2007)

Pleasure Factory (2007)

All of my life (2008)

Antique (2008)

City without Baseball (2008)

A Frozen Flower (2008)

Lovebirds (2008)

Noah’s Arc, Jumping the Broom (2008)

Boy (2009)

Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish (2009)

Soundless Windchime (2009)

Bashment (2010)

Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun… (2010)

Fit (2010)

KickfOff (2011)

Lost in Paradise (2011)

My Brother the Devil (2012)

Mixed Kebab (2012)

Morgan (2012)

One Night and Two Days (2012)

The Skinny (2012)

Speechless (2012)

Leave it on the Floor (2013)

La Partidoa (2013)

Peyote (2013)

Snails in the Rain (2013)

Hot Guys with Guns (2014)

My Bromance (2014)

Night Flight (2014)

Praybeyt Benjamin (2014)

The Way He Looks (2014)

Yo Soy la Felicidad de esta Mundo (2014)

Aligarh (2015)

Beauty and the Bestie (2015)

Blackbird (2015)

The Blue Hour (2015)

Daddy (2015)

Eat with Me (2015)

Fire Song (2015)

How to Win at Checkers (Every-time) (2015)

Out in the Dark (2015)

Loev (2015)

Naz and Maalik (2015)

Thanatos, Drunk (2015)

Time Out (2015)

2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (2016)

Dear Dad (2016)

Front Cover (2016)

LUV Don’t Live Here (2016)

Kapoor & Sons (2016

Moonlight (2016)

The Pass (2016)

The Super Parental Guardians (2016)

Alaska is a Drag (2017)

God’s Own Country (2017)

Method (2017)

My Son is Gay (2017)

Play the Devil (2017)

The Wound (2017)

I am Happiness on Earth (2018)

Noblemen (2018)

Dear Ex (2018)

I Miss You When I See You (2018)

Voyage (2018)

Kalel, 15 (2019)

The Panti Sisters (2019)

Socrates (2019)

Funny Boy (2020)

Your Name Engraved Herein (2020)

B-Boy Blues (2021)

Gameboys: The Movie (2021)

Bhaadai do (2022)

Cobalt Blue (2022)

Fire Island (2022)

Golden Delicious (2022_

Marry My Dead Body (2023)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2023)

[rollinouttahere-writes]

Just wanted to hop in and say that I’m so excited for when you reach the Dressrosa arc, because Bartolomeo is just the perfect platonic yandere for Lizard… (and maybe romantic for Lucky..?)

And what’s good/bad (good for Lizard, bad for everyone else) is that Lizard would absolutely get along with him and love his troll-gremlin-goblin behavior, taking notes on how to be an even worse menace to society

And also:

Lucky, fed up with yandere BS and desperate for a break, seeing how Bartolomeo pisses off an arena full of people just by being there:

And then later, when Bartolomeo burns Shanks’ flags on multiple islands and replaces them with the Straw Hat flag, Doll calls him on the transponder snail and just says “You are brilliant. I love you.” And hangs up. Bartolomeo almost dies from joy.

I'm really excited to get to that arc too! I saw film red when it was in theaters (I am obsessed with Ado, I had to), and it took like three seconds of screen time for Barto to endear himself to me. He's a goofball and I love him. I cannot put into words how disappointed I was when I checked to see when he debuts and saw that it was like over half way into the series.

I can very much see Lizard and him getting along and taking notes from each other on how to be the most feral gremlin possible. Doll is definitely going to become his number one fan the second he starts burning down Shanks' flags, and might even recruit him into helping with her plan to eliminate him (heavily dependent on if she can get Kid to be okay with it).

I do plan to make him a romantic yandere for Lucky. He's already obsessed with the Straw Hats, it just makes sense. However, thanks to how much he worships them, he refuses to take Lucky away which leads to him being the general favorite amongst the Straw Hats as far as Lucky's suitors go. Lucky gets along well with him too, and has gotten him to use his barrier on multiple occasions to shield herself from the other yanderes. Bartolomeo is on cloud nine because not only is he helping a Straw Hat, but now he gets to spend a prolonged amount of time with her while they wait out whoever was pursuing her.

[defeateddetectives]

9 Fandom Peeps to Get to Know Better

thank youuu @coquelicoq for the tag! yes this is an entire month late because of who i am as a person :'D

3 ships you like: actually gonna give some real estate to the ones i have NOT been rotating nonstop on this space like a rotisserie chicken lately to mix things up!

1) hiyakawa/mikado (the night beyond the tricornered window) - a plug for my tiny, spooky, hilarious and obscure af manga series that blindsided me with its pathos (and because i want everyone to read it and then create some very niche fan-content for me specifically! :D wait who said that!) emotionally oblivious loser 4 emotionally oblivious loser!!! except they're emotionally oblivious in fun, complementary ways! their whole journey is absolutely bonkers and unexpectedly heartfelt, and yes, exorcism should be this hot always!

2) natsume/tanuma (natsume yuujinchou) - i know that no one will believe me when i say that this is still THE natsume yuujinchou ship to me at the end of the day! something something if i loved it less i might be able to talk about it more! but lonely kids finding one another and making each other's lives SO MUCH BETTER solely for existing in each other's orbit and being such a paragon of healthy, functional communication and trust and growing connection that still floors me to this day (and with such courage and eloquence that most adults still cannot manage...i say...sideeyeing two v specific adults)!!! theirs was the thread that pulled me into the series to begin with (i literally just watched all the tanuma eps on first pass) and i'm still so grateful for them and everything about them

3) jack rackham/anne bonny (black sails) - platonic/queerplatonic/romantic/whichever combo or other nebulous way you slice it! THE soulmates of all time that haunt me on the regular and really said to the audience: watch us take your expectations and definitions and parameters of love, joyfully smash it to smithereens, and create something so tremendously unrecognizable and beautiful. truly partners till they put us in the fucking ground!!!

first ship ever: the first fanfic i stumbled upon in my life featured taichi and yamato from digimon adventure. i still remember this because it was interspersed with an edit of yamato in a dress and posted on ye olde personal webpages and shown to me by a school friend, both of us looking like the :o face incarnate. we were Babies. it was a Time. i don't even think i knew what a ship was at the time but hashtag formative things!

last song you heard: it's been a grimes & janelle monae - venus fly kinda day

favourite childhood book: soft spot for whitechurch by chris lynch forever. i think i read it maybe in high school? it rewired my brain and is probably a huge part of why i am the way i am/write the way i do subconsciously.

currently reading: does vi bullying me into danmei count? in which case, global examination....at snail's pace. in this house we love and appreciate a good arson!

currently watching: recently started rewatching the original a:tla for the first time since it finished airing after trying and failing miserably with the live action :( only a few episodes in but augh its still so good and some things hit even harder with foreknowledge. there will never really be another character arc like zuko's ever again.

currently consuming: a smoothie! i've discovered i am a fan of almond butter when dunked in a blender with berries, yogurt and milk. 11/10 would recommend!

currently craving: earlier today i was daydreaming of bbq so let's go with that

super low pressure tagging @endless-season @half-infinite @argyros @fadedclxssic @caroline-hill @kastellaran @doubleboyfriend @constastan @spookirou and as always, everyone is welcome to steal

[seasonschange32]

I'm trying to watch Athena P lore videos because god are they entertaining and so funny. But here's some shows/movies I would love a lore deep dive on and why:

Inspector gadget reboot - the 'romance' between penny and Talon was so confusing yet endearing. Also, loving how chief Quimby just Disguises himself just to give gadget a misson

Total drama - not only was it a huge fan of gross out humor and has our overlord chris mclain, it literally introduced me to the ' bad boy x good girl' trope before ripping it out and taking a character ( who was literally perfect with another) and forcing them together due to aesthetics.

Transformers: robots in Disguise ( 2015) or Transformers prime - two shows that have fanbases debating ( seriously), each saying why each respective show is better. But other than that, both are fine for what they are and gave me two crushes that I hold dearly.

Mia and me - a fairy show that's not only animated but live action? With the main character having an ability to talk to unicorns? And with one of her bullies DISCOVERING HER SECRET LIFE??

Ben and hollies little kingdom - super wholesome and I love how the humans coinside with the fairies

Max and ruby - there's a tiktoker who made a whole series on why ruby was annoying. Need I say more?

Trollhunters and the spin off 3below - honestly from what I remember, I loved the stakes of the show and how cool the Armour the main character had. Regarding the spin off, loving how the bully I think was into the alien girl

Max steel ( not the 2000s one. sorry) - Max having to come up with the most unbelievable excuses as to why he has to go is cliche but also kind of funny? And the fact that the company Max's dad works for has lore as well is kind of interesting

Dino squad - I actually remembered this show through a cringe compilation of all things and had to add it. From the theme song, to the plotines, to the fact that I had a crush on Laruzo even though he was obviously queer coded ( his Dino form was cool though)

Jem and the holograms - the I am a giant song from the misfits lives in my head rent free. Also, jem practicing trying to reveal to that one guy only from him to yell at her is funny to me

Lolirock - same with jem as revolution is iconic as well as the villians. Plus, why is was eventually taken off

The tinker bell movies - forgot I was supposed to mention movies as well ( sorry). But I love them and how the fairies each have their own abilities ( as well as different kinds). From pirate fairies to winter fairies, it's really cool.

Barbie: a fashion fairytale - I love all barbie movies equally but this...this just takes the cake. What other movie will you see ken making a child cry, fairies with attitude, rotting dresses, and a roller skating aunt?

Zoom (2015) - the trailer showing a scene of the main character and her character arguing is honestly what made me want to watch it ( I haven't but I'm planning on it)

Super hero squad - kid me was laughing my butt off when falcon married his bird. So...

The little prince movie - I didn't even read the book but when I saw that the old man had died, I was emotionally devastated, especially after listening to all his stories which inspired the main character to go find the prince UGHHH

The book of life - is it cliche? Yes. Is it like coco? Yes. Do I like that in the end, the main boy has to sing a guitar version of creep to calm down a bull? Absolutely yes!

Epic - josh hutcherson, beyonce, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny knoxville, an enemies to lovers storyline, a snail, a royal guard having a love for the queen, the enemies being bugs, and ANDD a nerdy dad. That's it.

Rise of the guardians - I absolutely love it followed jack and his arc of being seen and when he finally is, the kid and him are just so excited! Also, the fact that a lot of people are simping for the Easter bunny is a testament to how many people will call anyone sexy.

Daniel spellbound - wanted to add this because there's an awesome creator ( cough cough @bonkalore) who's made an amazing au out of this show and I wanted to see what you thought of it and your theories

Bonus options ( just random one's I think could fit): the rainbow fairies series, Lego friends, the complicated life of Claudia Christina Cortez, sonic underground, drama or sisters ( but any book by rainia would be great), Junie b Jones, stoked, barney, goddess girls, glitter force ( that's what I remember it as), invisible sister, a monster in Paris, Maya and miguel, and Martha)

If you want anymore, let me know!

[themurphyzone]

BatB AU: Ch 28: Under the Apple Tree

AN: It's been a super long time since I updated this story. But now I think it's time to get the ball rolling on the next story arc!

Ch 28: Under the Apple Tree

AO3 Link

“Over here, Brain!” Pinky shouted from atop the small hill. He swung the picnic basket in a wide arc, one hand on his floppy sunhat. The mint green ribbon tied around the brim swayed gently in the fresh spring breeze, matching perfectly with the cute bow around his waist. Marita had embroidered his sundress with beautiful white daisies and yellow daffodils, and he loved how the fair weather was just perfect for springtime fashion. “Come on! I’ve seen snails move faster than you!” 

Brain promptly dropped the red, apple-decorated blanket in his hands, his cheeks turning as pink as his eyes when he stared up at Pinky. Stunned, he hastily scooped up the blanket and hurried to the hilltop. 

“And how would you know that, Pinky?” Brain asked, breathless from his climb. “You can’t sit still long enough to watch a snail move that far.”

He spread the blanket on the grass, right underneath the blossoming apple tree. This spot had just the perfect mixture of sunlight and shade. The blooming flowers were beautiful shades of pink and white, gently fluttering in the breeze. 

Pinky reached up, catching a falling blossom in the palm of his hand. He inhaled slowly, taking in its sweet aroma. 

“You should smell this, Brain!” Pinky exclaimed, tail wagging in excitement. “It’s like a little whiff of heaven!” 

Brain hesitated for a moment at the flower in Pinky’s hands, but after an encouraging nod, he leaned over and scented the flower for himself. 

“The scent is…familiar,” Brain admitted, placing a hand to his chin in thought. He seemed rather puzzled by it. “I know I’ve smelled it in the castle before, but I can’t pinpoint the source.” 

“Maybe the maids were using it? I’ve been meaning to ask what they’re using to get those really stubborn stains out,��� Pinky suggested. 

But Brain shook his head. “No, no, it wasn’t coming from them or their cleaning tools. I’m fairly certain it was in the library.” 

Pinky tucked the blossom behind Brain’s ear, giving his outfit an extra springtime touch. Brain tended to favor muted colors in his casual outfits, and he’d chosen a simple yet elegant white, short-sleeved shirt with black pants for this outing. 

Pinky smiled at his handiwork while Brain reached up and touched the flower, confusion all over his face before securing the flower and giving a small, hesitant smile of his own. 

“Really? I always thought the library had that dusty old book smell,” Pinky admitted. 

With all the time he’d spent in the library, it had become a comforting scent to him. 

“It’s not from the books either. In fact, I smelled it more when…we’re in close proximity to each other.” Brain’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait! Now I’m sure of it! You’re somehow the source of that scent, Pinky!” 

“Am I?” Pinky said, lifting his arm and smelling his fur. A pleasant, floral scent filled his nostrils. “Well I’ve been using this really nice apple blossom bubble bath lately…” 

Then a playful, mischievous idea came to mind, and he coiled his tail around Brain’s waist, pulling him close. Brain tensed up, his fur turning a bright shade of crimson. 

“Are you trying to tell me I smell nice, Brain?” Pinky crooned through half-lidded eyes, his voice low and teasing. 

“N-no! I mean, yes!” Brain stammered, unable to answer Pinky’s question. “Maybe? Y-you don’t smell like a skunk!”

Giggling, Pinky took pity on Brain and released him. Brain’s face was still bright red as he hurried over to the picnic basket and began unpacking items at lightning speed. 

Pinky’s stomach rumbled from hunger as the scent of freshly made cheese intertwined with the apple blossoms, and he couldn’t resist breaking off a piece of a large wheel that Brain had set aside. 

He popped it into his mouth, a sweet, nutty flavor exploding across his tongue. It was absolutely divine, and Pinky couldn’t resist taking a second helping. But before he could break off another piece, Brain reached behind him and moved the plate out of reach. 

“Don’t be greedy, Pinky,” Brain scolded, though his tone was light and lacked any real bite to it. “I’m not finished yet. You need to wait.” 

Pinky pouted. Withholding cheese just wasn’t fair! 

“But I’m hungry, Brain! Narf!” he protested, placing his elbows on the closed lid of the picnic basket and resting his head in his hands. “I haven’t eaten in forever!” 

Brain rolled his eyes. “You inhaled an entire stack of ten pancakes with cream, chocolate, berries, butter, sugar, and syrup this morning.” 

“Yeah, but that was then! This is now!” Pinky insisted. “Pleeeeaaaaaase?” 

He clasped his hands together, his tail hopefully wagging.  

Brain’s stern demeanor melted into uncertainty. “Pinky, don’t you give me that look now…” he stammered, crossing his arms in an attempt to remain in control. “You know I can’t re-I mean, of course I’m completely immune to your simple charms, and I will not surrender the cheese under any circumstances.” 

Pinky’s ears drooped against his neck. 

And with a sigh of resignation, Brain finally broke off a piece of cheese and threw it into Pinky’s open mouth. The cheese melted in Pinky’s mouth, and he licked his lips with a contented narf. 

“...you have got to stop doing that,” Brain groaned, running his hands down his face in frustration. 

Pinky just smiled, because amidst the spread of sourdough bread, cheese, berries, butter, and drinks, there were two very special items left in the basket that Brain hadn’t brought out yet. Brain had entrusted the food preparations to Pinky, while he focused on scouting the perfect spot for their picnic. Brain hadn’t seen all the contents of the basket yet. 

“Brain, allow me to present the creme de la creme of this basket! It’s a super special recipe passed down through the family for generations, and I can’t wait to share it with you!” Pinky opened the other half of the basket to reveal two slices of strawberry cheesecake. “It’s made with crushed crumbs, cream cheese, the first harvest of the ripest and reddest strawberries of the season, and love!” 

“Should we really be eating the dessert course first?” Brain asked, though he swiped a finger through his cheesecake and carefully gave it a test lick. His entire body perked up, a happy gleam in his rose-pink eyes. 

Pinky shrugged. “Who’s gonna stop us? We can eat cake first if we want!” 

“Dr. Scratchinsniff would have something to say if he knew,” Brain said, though he’d eaten half of his cake already, flecks of cream cheese dotting his muzzle. 

“Troz! Well, ‘ol Scratchy’s not here now, is he?” Pinky smirked as he shoveled the cheesecake down his throat. “And it’s not like he can stop us if he wanted to.” 

Brain shrugged. “I suppose not.” 

He finished his cheesecake and grabbed a slice of bread. But before he could bite into it, he suddenly let out a loud burp and quickly covered his mouth, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Pinky gasped, clutching his chest like somebody had just stepped on a puppy. “Now, Brain! Zu should not burp like ze chimney!” he exclaimed in his best imitation of Scratchinsniff. “Eet iz not very prince-y of zu, ja?”

He punctuated his outrage with an exaggerated, nagging wave of his finger. 

“Your imitation is truly impeccable,” Brain said, a short laugh escaping him. “Down to the accent and enunciation.” 

Fur bristling, Pinky quickly leapt behind Brain, glancing up at the apple tree and ready to duck for cover in case there were any birds perching on the branches.   

“I’m peckable?” he yelped, clutching Brain tightly. “Are there any crows up there?” 

Brain sighed, loosening Pinky’s arms so he could slip out. “No, Pinky. Only two songbirds, and they haven’t noticed us.” 

“Oh. Well, that’s a relief,” Pinky said, instantly relaxing. 

One songbird had bright yellow feathers splashed across its chest, while the other was a plain brown. The yellow-feathered bird sang a beautiful melody to its counterpart, fluttering along the flowers and budding leaves to entice her with his song. 

But the female only pecked at the branch, not seeming particularly interested. 

“Narrrf, I think he’s trying to woo her, Brain!” Pinky whispered in excitement. “He’s singing such an adorable song for her! That’s so romantic!” 

What sort of romantic imagery went with birdsong? Maybe a blue sky, or soaring somewhere exciting, or building a nest together? 

“She doesn’t appear to share your opinion, Pinky,” Brain said, crossing his arms with a frown. 

The female bird wasn’t outright rejecting her suitor, but she was flicking her tailfeathers at him, like he needed to work harder to win her over. 

And the male was trying awfully hard, but his song faltered, every beat of his wings becoming more unsure. If he didn’t find his groove, he was gonna lose her for sure! 

“He needs a wingman,” Pinky declared, his mind made up. He hurried over to the shadow of the apple tree’s largest branch, whistling along to the male’s birdsong. He filled in the spaces of the faltering melody with his own, but kept his voice lower so he didn’t completely overtake the song. 

The female stopped pecking at the branch, cocking her head as he listened more intently to the song. Bolstered by her rising interest, the male dared to hop closer to her, puffing out his yellow feathers to make himself appear more attractive. 

That’s it! You’re doing great! 

The male was just inches away from her, stretching out his wing as if inviting her for a flight. 

Suddenly, the female broke away and fluttered down to the roots of the apple tree. She regarded Pinky with interest. 

Pinky rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather awkward now. 

“Oh…um, hi,” Pinky said, trying to be friendly without being too friendly. “I think he likes you?” 

He pointed up at the male bird, who’d stopped singing, his beak open from shock. 

But the female ignored Pinky’s hand, warbling at him with keen interest. 

“Don’t get me wrong! I’m flattered, truly!” Pinky waved his hands frantically and backed away. “But I don’t think I could eat worms straight out of the ground!” 

Yet the female hopped even closer, her beak pressing against Pinky’s nose. 

Then Pinky felt a hand clamp down on his wrist, yanking him backwards. 

“Stay behind me, Pinky,” Brain ordered with a warning glare directed at the female bird. 

His short white fur bristled, and Pinky giggled quietly to himself. Brain looked like an adorably spiky cloud with his fur puffed out like that. 

The female bird threw her wings open, feet scraping at the ground with indignation. 

“He’s. Not. Interested,” Brain growled, his voice low and dangerous. A deceptively quiet rumble came from his throat, and Pinky realized that Brain truly was growling the way he used to do under the curse.

Pinky rubbed Brain’s spiky fur between his fingers, admiring how soft it still felt. Brain’s growling faltered, then quickly picked back up, like he’d briefly forgotten and remembered why he was growling in the first place. 

Brain kept Pinky behind him while he stared down the female bird. 

Finally, the female bird chirped and lifted her tailfeathers haughtily, flying away until she’d disappeared over the treeline. The male warbled frantically and hurried after her, leaving several feathers behind him. 

Brain continued to glare at the horizon, as if silently daring them to come back. His fur still wouldn’t lie flat, so Pinky gently smoothed it down for him with soothing, broad strokes. 

The tension in Brain’s shoulders slowly disappeared, his growls becoming softer and quieter. He leaned back into Pinky, letting him support his weight as he returned the affection with a brief nuzzle of his own. 

“No more interfering in the love lives of avians, Pinky,” Brain sternly told him, though his exasperated scolding was punctuated with a kiss to Pinky’s nose. 

“Okey-dokey, Brain,” Pinky giggled, returning the nose kiss with one of his own. 

Brain’s face immediately turned as red as the picnic blanket lying on the ground. 

“G-good…” he stammered, quickly rushing back to the picnic blanket and burying his face in the fabric. 

Brain always seemed like he wanted to sink into the nearest fabric whenever Pinky kissed him on the nose. 

Before Pinky could surprise him with another kiss, several loud squawks came from somewhere in the sky.  

“QUICK! I NEED ANOTHER SHINY THING! WE GOTTA FIND ANOTHER SHINY THING SO EBONY WON’T GO OFF WITH THAT STINKIN’ CORBIN!” 

“Pesto, just calm down-” 

“CALM DOWN? ARE YOU SAYIN’ I’M NOT THE VERY PICTURE OF SERENITY AND PEACE?” 

“N-no, I’m just saying-” 

“THAT’S IT! GET OVER HERE SO I CAN PLUCK YOU LIKE A TURKEY ON THANKSGIVING!” 

Two avian bodies plummeted to the ground, tangled in a feathery gray ball. Pesto was completely incoherent now, while Squit ineffectually tried to push him off. But there wasn’t much force in Squit’s kicks. 

Pesto’s shrieks quickly turned into gasps and sobs, his entire body shaking as he collapsed on top of Squit. 

“Cheer up, Pesto. There’s plenty of other birds in the sky,” Squit said, patting Pesto’s back awkwardly. 

“N-not like Ebony! We could’ve made a beautiful nest together!” Pesto wailed. 

Pinky and Brain awkwardly glanced at their romantic picnic setup. 

Bobbi, who’d always been the calmest out of the Goodfeathers, ducked his head in apology. There was a brown satchel on his back, a piece of parchment sticking out from the flap. 

“Sorry to crash your little date,” he said diplomatically, ignoring Squit’s clumsy attempts to comfort Pesto, who was sobbing into his shoulder. “Pesto acts like this every spring. Always wantin’ to chase every pretty tailfeather that flits his way.” 

“Oh no, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” Pinky replied. Brain’s eyes were trained carefully on the picnic basket, and he fidgeted awkwardly next to Pinky. “So this Ebony…um, it didn’t work out, huh?” 

Bobbi nodded. “I told him not to chase that crow. Those birds like to be courted with shiny gifts, but they’ll steal ‘em and leave you heartbroken in the end.”

Pinky gasped, hands flying to his mouth. “Poor Pesto! That’s just horrible!” 

He felt a little better when Brain’s hand started patting him on the back.

“A most unfortunate outcome,” Brain added, turning his gaze back onto the picnic blanket with all their food lying haphazardly under the tree. 

Bobbi shrugged. “Eh, he’ll get over it. He’s probably just overwhelmed. Been a long time since any of us have really stretched our wings. The carrier pigeon gig’s doing wonders for us.” 

Ever since the curse had been lifted, the Goodfeathers had been flying in and out of the castle to celebrate their freedom and report on anything interesting that occurred from the surrounding land. Though Bobbi and Squit were willing to carry messages from the castle occupants to the outside world, only Pinky, his father, and Wakko really took them up on their offer, and the only recipients of their letters were Slappy and Skippy Squirrel. 

The entire castle was made up of a hodgepodge of misfits and outcasts with nowhere else to go and nobody to write to, and there was no need to send letters when the person you wanted to talk to the most was living in the same castle anyway. 

“Must be nice to have wings,” Pinky mused. The world must look really nice from a bird’s eye view. “Can you really see everything way up in the wild blue yonder?” 

“Yeah, you can!” Squit exclaimed, hopping over and dragging a despondent Pesto behind him. “Flying is the greatest thing in the world since bread crumbs! Oh, and that old squirrel lady responded to your letter. Here you go!”

He lifted the parchment out of Bobbi’s backpack and gave it to Pinky, an unwavering grin on his beak. 

“Egad, I’ve been waiting for this all day!” Pinky exclaimed, quickly ripping the seal and letting the parchment unfurl. 

“To the Godpigeon, you and your dodo-minded flock have slighted me for the last time. Make good on our deal or else-”

Before Pinky could read any further, Bobbi quickly ripped the letter out of his hands and forcefully stuffed it into Squit’s beak to hide the contents. 

Squit choked on the parchment for a few seconds before finally swallowing it whole, a visible bulge sliding down his throat all the way to his stomach. 

“You. Saw. Nothing,” Bobbi grounded out, and Pinky hugged Brain to his chest nervously. 

Bobbi’s eyes were blown open in warning, a confusing sight for Pinky since he’d never seen Bobbi act like this before. His feathers puffed out so that he appeared even bigger as he loomed over them. 

“Of course we haven’t seen anything! Ow, Pinky, not so tight!” Brain exclaimed to placate Bobbi, with a sharp gasp. Pinky loosened his grip so Brain could breathe a little better. “You accidentally gave us another job advertisement for a shepherd boy! There seems to be a high  demand in the nearby villages! Haha!” 

Brain’s elbow jabbed Pinky. 

Recognizing his cue, Pinky laughed alongside Brain. “Oh yes, somebody’s gotta watch those poor sheep! And I definitely did not accidentally read a vaguely terrifying letter from an unknown sender that wasn’t meant for my innocent eyes! Zort!” 

Bobbi’s eyes narrowed, a move that made Squit dive for cover under Pesto’s wing. Pesto, who finally snapped out of his heartbroken stupor, watched anxiously and didn’t try to shove Squit away for once. 

Suddenly, Bobbi shook Pinky and Brain’s hands with his wings, his feathers lying smooth like he hadn’t been enraged just seconds ago. His eyes were closed once again. 

“Well, it’s a pleasure being on the same page with you fine gentlemice,” Bobbi said affably, his tone calm like he was only talking about the sunny weather. “Here’s your letter, Pinky. The correct one this time.” 

He gave Squit a pointed look. Clearly, they’d be discussing the consequences of revealing such a dangerous message once they were alone. 

Squit only let out a nervous laugh.

“Thanks…” Pinky said, taking the letter from Bobbi’s outstretched wing, which smelled of oak leaves and acorns. He was still unnerved by Bobbi’s threat. 

“No prob,” Bobbi said. “Squit. Pesto. We gotta report to the Godpigeon immediately. Let’s leave these lovebirds to their picnic.” 

Pesto’s eyes lit up as soon as Bobbi said ‘picnic’. “Wait…that’s it! I’ll land a girl with a picnic! Well, maybe if I could find a really pretty birdfeeder with a flower pattern-” 

He continued to ramble about all the ways he could impress larks, nightingales, and doves all the way into the sky. Within minutes, the Goodfeathers’ silhouettes disappeared over the horizon. 

Now that they were alone, Pinky and Brain returned to the blanket under the blossoming apple tree. 

“Brain?” Pinky said as they settled near the trunk together. “Where would you go if you could fly like the Goodfeathers?” 

Brain lifted his head towards the sky, silent as he pondered Pinky’s question. His pink eyes glittered with curiosity, but it didn’t last long before they turned downwards. He heaved a sigh, like flying was completely out of the question for him. 

“Don’t know,” Brain admitted. “What would your answer be?” 

That was an easy choice for Pinky. 

“I think I’d fly to Warnerstock,” Pinky declared. 

“You don’t know anything about Warnerstock, Pinky,” Brain said. 

“Neither do you,” Pinky pointed out. “Or the Warner siblings, or anyone else! I’ll explore the country myself and tell everyone what I saw! That way, it’s not so unknown anymore and the Warners won’t feel disconnected to their homeland!” 

Yakko was the only one who had any solid memories of Warnerstock. Wakko’s were fuzzy at best, and Dot was an infant when they fled. Her brothers and their life in France were all she remembered. 

There was a gleam of admiration in Brain’s pink eyes. “That’s…a surprisingly noble reason, Pinky. And I can’t argue against the pursuit of knowledge either.”

Pinky nudged Brain. “Okay, now it’s your turn. Where would you go if you could fly?” 

He wasn’t going to accept an ‘I don’t know’ for an answer. There were lots of places in the world one could visit if they could fly! Brain had to have one, or two, or even eighty-four places he wanted to travel to at some point in his life!

When was the last time he even got out of the castle anyway? 

“I…well, perhaps my answer might be…somewhat childish,” Brain murmured, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. Pinky didn’t see what the big deal was. “I’d like to visit Sherwood Forest, the home of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. It’s always described with such vibrancy and life. Seeing the real forest where his legend began would be amazing.”

His hands were clasped to his chest with wonder, though he quickly caught himself and lowered them again. 

Pinky nuzzled Brain’s ear. “Then I’ll take you there myself, Brain. You can ride on my back while I’m flying!” 

Brain stared at Pinky in surprise, though he shook his head with a brief chuckle and returned Pinky’s smile. 

“I’ll look forward to it then,” he said. 

Pinky tilted Brain’s head and captured his lips in a kiss. He tasted like strawberries and cheesecake, and Pinky hummed in delight when Brain pressed back too. The letter fluttered in Pinky’s hand, nearly forgotten until Brain pulled back, his chest heaving for breath. 

Pinky could’ve kept going with the kiss forever, and all the way to eternity, but he didn’t mind reading Slappy’s letter while he waited for Brain to catch his breath.  

Gonna keep this letter brief, Pinky. Can’t give away too much in case someone swipes it before this reaches you. 

Skippy and I are packing everything so we can get out of this backwater village. They’ve treated us like dirt and I’ve only put up with it for this long so Skippy could grow up in a stable environment. He’s been maturing a lot though, so it’s finally time to say see ya suckers to those jerkwads. They haven’t learned squat ever since we beat the everloving crap out of them at the castle. 

You weren’t a half-bad neighbor (seriously, why couldn’t you have lived next to me instead of that prissy, pearl-clutching Candi Chipmunk?), and the kid’s gonna miss you too.

We’ll be leaving in three days. If you wanna come see us, that’s your window. 

-Slappy. 

P.S.. Hi, this is Skippy! Come visit us soon! 

P.P.S. Little scamp added this postscript while I was making dinner. Got some friends housesitting for you since your door isn’t fixed yet. Your rich new boyfriend can pay for any damages that happen when you let Daffy Duck crash at your place, can’t he? 

P.P.P.S. Be careful when you head into town. Trouble’s brewing. 

Pinky reread the letter multiple times, the reality of Slappy and Skippy’s situation sinking in with every passing minute. He couldn’t stop the worried thoughts whirling through his mind. 

Were the villagers giving them trouble after their defeat at the castle? They’d followed Snowball’s cruel orders in separating them on that horrible night. Were they still trying to accomplish that? Trying to take revenge for siding against them in the battle? 

He understood why Slappy wanted to move away from the village, away from all their judgment and stares and whispers. Neither he nor Papa missed the villagers all that much after they’d permanently moved into the castle. 

But Slappy and Skippy were the only ones who’d been nice to him for years. He’d never expected them to move away so quickly. 

While he didn’t expect everything in his life to stay the same, the change was still so unexpected that he didn’t know what to do. 

Brain carefully pried the letter out of Pinky’s hand. He read through it quickly, his fingers intertwining with Pinky’s for support. 

Pinky took a deep breath, taking comfort in Brain’s presence. He wasn’t alone, he wasn’t lost and wandering without a destination in sight. 

“...I want to check on them, Brain,” Pinky said quietly. “And not just through the mirror.” 

Maybe he could’ve used the mirror, but it wasn’t the same. He couldn’t talk to the Squirrels or wish them a safe journey through it. 

But at the same time, he couldn’t just leave Brain behind in the castle either, even if it was only temporary. The first and only night Pinky had spent away from him after an entire winter together had been the loneliest one in Pinky’s life.  

“Will you come with me?” 

Brain was silent, his eyes staring off into the horizon. His fingers twitched in uncertainty, his ears falling against his back. 

He wasn’t going to say no to Pinky visiting his old friends. No, his reaction was something else entirely. While Pinky wasn’t sure why Brain was reacting this way, he was sure Brain would tell him eventually. 

Finally, Brain’s pink eyes met Pinky’s. He swept his arm out to the picnic spread. 

“Let’s pack all of this away, Pinky. We’ll begin preparations immediately.”

And Pinky planted a grateful kiss on Brain’s forehead.

End AN: A nice, fluffy chapter so the mice can chill by themselves for a while. They deserve a break.

Brain being unable to say no to Pinky and being grumpy about it and protective Brain are my favorite things. I will never get tired of those.

Decided to let the Goodfeathers have a chance to shine in this chapter, just cause it's fun to let minor background characters have a little spotlight.

Next chapter, Brain's venturing out of the castle for the first time and we're gonna see how that affects him.

[outofthiisworld]

𝐓𝐀𝐆 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑!

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑(𝐒): Sage Green! (purple & black also. shocking i know)

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑(𝐒): Savory, Sweet-and-salty, SWEET-AND-SAVORY

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂: i've been listening to Hot Milk on repeat (PARTY ON MY DEATHBED my love) but my spotify wrapped told me it's pop

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄(𝐒): y’know i used to have a list of all my favorite things for these very questions and prompts and i just found out i lost it. a shame really. <- brain goes blank with these questions

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: UUHH UUH UHH r.ottmnt, justice league (2001)....umm The Adventure Zone (balance and amnesty arcs) uuuh— animal crossing, monster hunter and pokemon for games uhh MOB PSYCHO HOW COULD I FORGE—

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: HORROR SHOW by hot milk

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: [eyeing scott pilgrim takes off for when i have the attention span to sit down and watch it] soon………….it will be you…….

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄: Marcel The Shell With Shoes On! Beyond adorable. I laughed. I cried. Laughed again. CRIED AGAIN.

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆: Miracleman 2014! It's not that long of a series, but my reading speed ie. attention span can be the equivalent of a snail even w/ things i enjoy 🐌 (too many cool things to engage with, so little time, end up napping instead)

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆: Midnight Snap! New episode of RDR.2 got released so i am. all over that rn (getting sleepy unfortunately)

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍: for today? Absolutely nothing. Letting the brain rest this sunday, a mini break if you will (otherwise it’s usually personal projects and drafts!)

tagged by: @lambfated (thank uuuu! <33)

tagging: [looking over my list of mutuals] most of you got tagged huh? feel free to swipe this if you so desire and tag me :3c

[fanaticsnail]

Just thinking thoughts just thinking things just having thoughts about things

Idk if you know what dimension 20 is but for anyone that doesn't it's a show where people play ttrpg games (mainly DnD but also other systems), and bc they have characters and storylines and arcs and seasons it's essentially a show but with a different format bc instead of actors or drawn characters it's people around a table. In one of the shows (Fantasy High: Freshman Year - there are different seasons of the same show bc it's so popular) there's a character Bill Seacaster. He's a pirate who took a deal with the government to be able to live on land free of being arrested if he promised not to pirate anymore, or only pirate as an adventurer (i.e, with the government's permission) though he's an anarchist and plays it pretty fast and loose. Honestly there are a lot of funny bits with him that really suit Buggy - he offers children drugs bc "when you have a guest in your home they are welcome to what is yours", he talks about there being two types of men and someone coughs and says women and he goes "that's on me" and starts talking about the people he's had on his ship who don't fit into man or woman such as a tornado who once "just helped". He also happens to be killed by his son (he asked him to do it tho so it's fine) and then takes over hell despite not being a devil.

But one of my fav bits is how he met his wife, which I feel fits more than just Buggy but any one of the pirates: Bill Seacaster has an eye patch, we assume that this is just because he's a pirate. Until he tells his son that he can learn to swordfight from his mother (who up until this point has been a very fancy rich wine milf and no one suspected otherwise bc she was rocking it). He explains how he met his wife when she fought him with her swords and with one swipe took out his eye and he dropped to his knee and told her to either marry him or kill him and she chose the first.

Who do you think this would best fit out of one piece characters? And what do you think each interaction was (like maybe they fell in love when they got beat but did they show it, and what did they get beat in?)

The tornado bit: https://youtu.be/Lu4WN5OmZTs?si=2_jh1jdkZkt47uPD

@sexc-snail you have my attention and I am actively listening intently.

As someone who has been playing D&D from childhood (my dad used to DM for my siblings and myself, we have an active campaign running {that we played last night}).

Critical Roll and Dimension 20 are very much in my radar in that sense. I admit I haven't watched anything not tabletop (apart from Vox Machina), so I'll have to add Fantasy High: Freshman Year to the list - but based on the character you described: I see Shanks, truthfully. Dangerous, playful, drunk is just the vibe.

The wife origins definitely fit Buggy, though. I love that so much.

Please continue to think your thoughts, fellow snail. You've got several ideas floating within my consciousness and my requests are currently open if you had any further thoughts ❤️

[mavis-merry-magnolia]

I am (re)reading Mayoi Snail. It occurs to me now that Senjogahara watched Araragi try to talk to an elementary schooler she couldn't see - twice. Then, upon his third attempt, she watched him fight, win, and loudly boast about his victory against a child.

And she still chose him anyway. Love wins (?).

God, that entire sequence kills me EVERY time I see it. Honestly one if the funniest bits in Bake. Koyomi being so caught up in the moment and so full of adrenaline that he's just FEELING it when he gets done beating up that elementary schooler, laughing like a cartoon villain. Completely and utterly soggy human being.

And yeah Hitagi REALLY went along super hard with something that literally anyone else would have seen as raw insanity. But in a way, it just ends up showing to her how insanely compassionate of a person Koyomi is, and also leads to their promise to just be open and honest with each other from then on.

Mayoi Snail is such a fun little arc all around and one of my favorites to revisit. Episode 3, taking place entirely in the park and Just being Hitagi and Koyomi talking, is one of my top favorites in the series so far.

[wondereads]

Weekly Reading Update (11/13/23)

Reviews and thoughts under the cut

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher (9/10)

This was a great historical romance. It was super sweet with a lot of great representation, even if it wasn't what most would consider historically accurate. Both relationships developed naturally with some pretty realistic bumps along the way. Some scenes felt a little forced, but more in the uncanny probability of the world, not the characters. Gwen was my favorite character, and I loved her arc of self-improvement. There was an unexpected bit of plot at the end, but I think it worked well in the context of how the characters were developing and what needed to occur for a happy ending.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (6/10)

This book has some great classic fantasy vibes, and it immediately brought me back to my early fantasy days. Unfortunately, I really didn't like any of the characters except for Molly Grue, as they were pretty unlikable and, in some cases, incredibly flat. I did like the ending and the message of moving on after grief and allowing yourself to let go of happy times. However, the worldbuilding is really lacking; I was under the impression that magic was generally thought to be a thing of the past until Prince Lir started slaying dragons.

Lodestar by Shannon Messenger (CR, 54%)

I don't really have anything to say about this, I read like two extra chapters.

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon (CR, 53%)

This book is starting to get a lot more tense. I will say, I'm not a huge fan of plague storylines because they always make me feel a little sick and the helplessness is kind of overpowering. However, I am enjoying this book enough to vote for it in the Goodreads Choice Awards (go vote!) because it is seriously amazingly written.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (CR, 50%)

Cassandra Clare books are always kind of slow paced, but this one is taking it to a whole other level. Things are moving at a snail's pace. Tessa has been kidnapped for like 50 pages and she hasn't even made it to where she's being taken. Also, I realized, that for something that the entire first book is named after, the clockwork angel really didn't do shit in Clockwork Prince. It has really only just came back, halfway through the last book.

[fallensnowfan]

I was going to wait until the anime got to this chapter at the end of Wano to talk about it, though inspiration hit first.

First, a standing ovation for these mighty Samurai. They have all been through so much, together and apart, for the sake of bringing about Wano’s freedom. I’m so so happy for and am proud of them.

Also want to note that this panel is framed as an ideal image of the samurai for the people to be inspired by, meaning it’s non-diegetic, as we see the trio from Tokage Port returning to the Flower Capital immediately afterward.

Getting into specific thoughts and composition within the panel, there is the nice symmetry of Kawamatsu and Raizo standing at the out most positions. Moving inward there are Kin and Shinobu, Dog and Cat, Tama and Denjiro, then Yam and Momo line up in the center. It’s nice how balanced they... Hey hold the transponder snail! Kiku isn’t symmetrically paired with anyone. Why not?

I will say I love Kawamatsu standing next to Kiku in a position that helps obscure the missing arm, ever the gentlemanly kappa. Kawamatsu is the one of the group who I see as being the most similar to her and one who understands her the best. Kawamatsu spent a lot of time in the region Kiku is from, and the two have similar personalities, being very friendly and willing to help. Both were also very close in age growing up, before Kiku was sent to the future.

Kiku and Kawamatsu’s cute sibling bond aside, her breaking the symmetry is something I noticed from the first time I read the chapter. Kiku is standing kinda off to the side with an odd expression. Tama being the one with Kin, two who had not had any on page interactions before this point, surprised me a bit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cute, but also adds to the feeling that something about Kiku feels out of place here. It’s too strange to not bring up.

Kiku helped rescue Tama early in the arc, stayed with her for much of Act Two as well, and was practically raised by Kin and Tsuru, yet it’s Kin and Tama who are paired up. I mostly chalk it up to Kin being his naturally oblivious self, he can’t help the fact that Tsuru/Denjiro have all of the brain cells, though Kiku’s placement still feels strange to me. Even the two who are new to being shown as a part of the group seem to fit in here more than Kiku does. Really lends to the feeling that, similar to Oden, Kiku perhaps feels that Wano is too cramped for her.

Something I’m sure Luffy picked up on during Act One, is that her being a samurai was always something of an act for Kiku. She followed the way of samurai because it was the only path that life offered her, though she is her own person now, if she wants to go to sea with Luffy, that can happen. Even if she has some reservations, maybe she just needs a push from her samurai family to go with the pirate crew she grew pretty close with since meeting Luffy. Is that what the timeout cage Luffy was in was originally for? Carrying a hesitant though willing Kiku to the Sunny? I sure hope so.

Seeing beyond the act to the genuine sides of people is one of Luffy’s strongest traits. He was around both Tama and Yamato when those two said they wanted to go to sea, though never really commented on their words. I’ve been wondering, how much was that goal truly theirs and how much was it something they wanted to do because Ace/Oden made it seem cool? Maybe freedom from being oppressed is what Tama and Yamato sought, though didn’t fully grasp the idea until it had happened. Maybe the freedom they now have within a liberated Wano turned out to be what they really wanted or is enough for them for now.

[jeoseungsaja]

Hello, yes, I'm still alive, just too tired to be fully around. Work's been consuming most of my energy (wEEPS) but I hope you've all been doing well and having a wonderful time 💕; wanted to give just a few updates:

˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗ Detective grumps Lee Hyuk is now SINGLESHIP with the one who brings him happiness and peace like no other; his BFF & soulmate: Patrick Myungdae Grace (@ofgentleresolve). This also applies to all arcs derived from Verse Three (such as arc two and any other arcs developed in the future where Hyuk is featured). ˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗ Revamping is still in process; I know it's been taking me 192839839123 years but the bits of energy I get during my free time, I've been depositing them on this. I put threads/asks on a halt for now because my brain's been mush and I don't wish to give your lovely writing a flimsy reply 😔 ˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗ I am going to sue Ferre for all the angst and suffering they've been giving me through their posts, wHAT IS THIS NEWFOUND INFO ABOUT THE BLACK KNIGHT, WHAT ARE THESE ACHING PARAGRAPHS ABOUT THE THG VERSE, WHAT IS---IWEUHDIUEHUHD ˗ˏˋ ☆ ˎˊ˗ Thank you so much for tagging me in memes/posts 🥺I SEE THEM AND I WILL GET TO THEM (THE AESTHETIC ONE??? IT'S SO GOOD, I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT WIEUDHIHD, I ALSO LOVE THE ONES I'VE BEEN SEEING, I ADORE LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL MUSES); thank you for taking me into account despite my super slow snail pace 💕 I appreciate you all so much ;W;