#i might do that while friendship farming actually

[tossawary]

In "The Princess Bride", Westley is (forgive this phrasing, I mean it relatively fondly) "a petty bitch of a man", but I can kind of see where he's coming from giving Buttercup a hard time at the beginning. It's a very human thing to have a temper.

He went off to seek his fortune and was attacked by pirates, which I assume was a bloody and unpleasant experience. He had to beg for his life and spent a long time as their captive, threatened with death every single day, even if it later turned into a less serious morbid joke. Life on the crew of the most famous pirate in the world was presumably pretty harsh at times and he worked his ass off training himself up to be worth feeding and keeping alive, then to be able to hold his own in this new life. Piracy is hardly a very safe profession.

For all we know, Westley did attempt to send letters home, but he probably had to work hard to scrounge up the money for it and find someone semi-legitimate willing to carry it, and this is hardly an era of reliable mail. He probably had to just hope that Buttercup 1) wouldn't hear the news of his first ship's destruction and/or 2) would trust in his love for her enough to know that he was alive and fighting to come back.

When Westley finally becomes the Dread Pirate Roberts, he's still stuck with the former Dread Pirate Roberts for a little while, and then he has a pirate crew who have expectations of him. He cannot sail the damn ship himself. It probably took a lot of work, threats and persuasion and the slow building of trust, in order to get a ship full of men to eventually take him back to Florin. Like, would he even have told them about Buttercup? (It would be funny if there's a crew of pirates out there cheering Westley on in True Love.) Would he have had to promise them some reward?

He also went out in the world to make his fortune and he already knows that he's dreadfully late, so maybe his position is, "Okay, I will build up trust with my crew by building up our fortunes, WHILE slowly but surely moving back across the world in the direction of Florin so that I can see the love of my life again. This hellish experience traveling all over the damn world will all have been worth it for her."

It's possible that Westley was mostly having silly pirate adventures worthy of a comedic operetta, but based on the tragedies of Inigo and Fezzik's own backstories, this world is not actually that nice. Westley is being flippant and lighthearted when he later summarizes things for Buttercup, but he does seem to be one to make light of / ignore his personal suffering. I do think that he did probably make some friendships through this hardship and had some good experiences along the way, especially near the end, but I also think that the beginning of his journey must have been really shit.

So, Westley fights hard to get back home, then lands somewhere in Florin and is on his way back to the farm, but then finds out from some random villagers (or Buttercup's parents) that his shitty former prince is marrying an incomparably beautiful milkmaid named Buttercup. Like...? The love of his life didn't wait for him (she thought he was dead and is also being forced into this, so that Humperdink can murder her to start a war, Buttercup did nothing wrong) and traded up for some SHITHEAD PRINCE??? That has to HURT. (And Westley does not like admitting to feeling pain!)

Even if he loves mischief and drama, Westley is being an unnecessarily huge jerk when he kidnaps Buttercup away from her kidnapping, but also yeah, I see how his temper might be running hot. He's struggling with the fact that his True Love might have moved on after he's probably been using her memory as a thin rope of sanity for years.

[hlficlibrary]

Remember to leave kudos and a comment on the fics you enjoyed to show your appreciation! You can find the library's other recs here.

🩷 Light, Spark and Fire (series) by green_feelings / @greenfeelings {E, 239k}

Life’s pretty ordinary for Harry. He lives with his best friend, got into university just like he’s planned, and manages to support himself just fine for an unbonded omega. If he sustains that lifestyle by getting paid to help alphas through their rut every now and then, that’s nothing to be hung up on. Until he’s hired by an alpha that turns everything upside down.

Or, Harry’s working on taking Louis’ walls down, until he builds his own up.

🩷 Say Something by @kingsofeverything {E, 105k}

At fifty years old and recently divorced, Omega Harry Styles isn't interested in dating. When his doctor suggests a heat and rut matching service, he signs up out of necessity. It’s the only use he has for an Alpha in his life.

Twenty-eight-year-old Alpha Louis Tomlinson aims to change that.

🩷 Ace of Spades (series) by @allwaswell16 {E, 90k}

Living as a sheltered omega in a farming village has not prepared Harry for life aboard the most notorious pirate ship to sail the Atlantic.

Or Louis is a pirate, Harry is his captive, and no one is who they say they are.

🩷 The Pros and Cons of Breathing by @hellolovers13 {E, 81k}

Omega Harry has always known he'd be married off someday, so when he's betrothed to Prince Louis, he's anxious about having to leave his life behind, but hopeful for a happy marriage.

The hope doesn't last long, with his husband avoiding him at all costs and Harry being left to fend for himself.

Can he find happiness even in a broken marriage?

🩷 I like the way you say my name (when you soak it in grace) by louisismycat / @liminalkittyfics {E, 73k}

“It’s like I’m fucking orbiting around you, you know? Like you’re some huge, beautiful planet, and I’m a piece of space junk lucky enough to be pulled in by you somehow, and now I can’t leave, even if I wanted to. And I really fucking don’t want to leave.”

OR Louis is transferred to a new city to temporarily cover for his counterpart while he is on maternity leave for the next six months.

His new co-workers talk endlessly about Harry, the omega who he’s covering for. And Louis finds himself jealous of whatever alpha as snatched him up.

Until he learns Harry is actually an unmated omega three months out from becoming a single parent.

🩷 Si Pudiera Volar by @softfonds {E, 69k}

When Harry’s fiancé leaves him for his cousin, he looks the other way for the sake of his happiness. He’ll do anything to forget about him, including joining a monastery. It isn’t until his cousin’s former lover, a pirate, appears that he realizes everything is not as it appears, and an honest pirate might be the only person worthy of his heart.

Or, a fic loosely based on Corazón Salvaje.

🩷 Little by Little by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense {E, 65k}

Harry Styles is an omega who works at the London Planetarium, has lived in the same flat for ages, and is happy enough on his own. When he gets home from his first (horrible) attempt at dating in years, a new pregnant neighbor knocks on his door after smelling his cooking. He and Louis quickly become close, but their friendship gets complicated when Harry begins questioning who he is and what he likes.

Or Harry discovers figuring out who you are is more complicated than a potato metaphor.

🩷 and i would search the night sky to find you by devilinmybrain / @thedevilinmybrain {E, 56k}

Harry Styles is a high class, well-bred Omega attending Bosworth Academy - a prestigious boarding school looking over the small town on Kinsey. He has his whole life already planned for him, learning his place as the potential mate for an important Alpha, practicing his home making skills, and be obedient above all else.

When he attends a school trip into town though, he meets Louis Tomlinson - a blacksmith and mouthy Alpha who doesn't particularly care for the standards of high society nor for the people in it. But things are not always what they seem and a past grievance may change the lives of everyone involved forever.

🩷 Just for Tonight (I can be yours) by @sadaveniren {E, 42k}

Harry, prince of Cestrescir, has been betrothed to Ludvic, prince of Yorvik, since birth. He'd accepted a loveless marriage as his duty to his country, until an accident threw him in the path of a gentle alpha

🩷 crown me with your heart (your love is king) by @perfectdagger {G, 41k}

The universe must’ve had a field day when it decided to plan Harry’s life. There was no plausible explanation for anything that happened in his life anymore. Try as he may, he would never be able to control his life nor predict what would happen next.What were the odds that the one person he was sure he had fallen in love with but had completely let him slip out of his life, already resigned to the fact nothing could ever evolve between them due to Harry’s future with Eroda, happened to be the same person who had Harry’s future in his hand?

A The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Wedding au in which Harry is the Crown Prince of the small island of Eroda and Louis’ uncle is trying to take the throne from him, with a slight a/b/o twist and some more.

🩷 Endgame by @brightgolden {E, 38k}

Harry has been told all his life how grateful he should be for being born as a male omega, and how blessed their people were because the heir to the throne would be carried by The King.

What they neglected to tell Harry was what would happen if he failed to become pregnant.

OR

Where omega Crown Prince Harry Styles is trying and failing to get pregnant for four years, but all that is about to change when courtesan alpha Louis Tomlinson comes into the equation.

🩷 You're Not My Type (still I fall) by Imogenlee / @imogenleewriter {M, 38k}

His mum is going to kill him!

Well, not kill him. Just give him a right telling off, make him admit she'd been right, then try to confine him to his room until they found a hefty Alpha to look after him and rein him in or something.

She wouldn't manage, of course. Harry is only twenty-four and has no inclination to settle down at all, especially not at the behest of an Alpha.

But, as his mum would point out, that was the same stubborn attitude that got him here: in his car, in a thunderstorm, on the side of a forsaken lane of some little countryside town in Yorkshire. His mobile's got no signal, his GPS isn't working, and he's running low on petrol, so he can't even use the heater.

Oh, and most importantly, his car is stuck in the mud, so even if the GPS was working and he knew where to go, he wouldn’t be able to.

He's been in stickier spots; he reminds himself. Way stickier. This is just a bit of rain; it'll blow over. Then Harry will just... well, alright, he isn't entirely sure what to do when the rain stops because he'll still be stuck and lost. But, hey, there won't be any rain, which is something to cheer about.

🩷 dip you in honey by delsicle / @eeveedel {E, 28k}

Princess Harry, the pearl of England, is set to be married to the youngest prince of France in just six months. Anxious about his performance on his wedding night, he enlists the help of his loyal handmaiden Louis to help him practice everything he needs to know

Omega/Omega AU

🩷 It's Been Ages by @2tiedships2 {NR, 13k}

“We need to talk,” Niall said as he plopped down on Louis’ bed. “It’s you and Harry. You like him, he likes you, it’s a match made in heaven and you will one day be mates,”

Louis shook his head in exasperation. “If you’ve been watching, you would see that Harry is interested in, like, alpha alphas. Not me.”

“What the fuck is an alpha alpha?” Niall asked with furrowed brows.

“You know what I mean,” Louis said, giving Niall a pointed look.

“I literally have no idea what you’re talking about.”

🩷 I've Always Liked the Fireworks by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird {T, 12k}

When alphas and omegas reach the age of twenty-one they are required to attend a Proving Day ceremony. Omegas watch as alphas do their best to compete in events, show off their skills, and prove how good a mate they can really be. The whole thing is a bit ridiculous, but Louis Tomlinson has always dreamed of finding his mate. He's got two unsuccessful Sheffield Proving Days under his belt and decides to go for the much more competitive one in Manchester. His goal is to play his best, leave it all out on the pitch, and hope that one of the omegas watching just happens to be his mate.

🩷 Come In and Change My Life by lightswoodmagic / @lightwoodsmagic {E, 12k}

He’d had the same neighbours since he’d moved into the building, a lovely, wealthy couple in their late sixties who had always invited him around for tea on Sundays. Martha had dropped off homemade biscuits the day he’d moved in, so Harry figured he may as well repeat the sentiment. He could hear someone getting closer to the door just as a flush ran through his body; oh fuck. His heat was close, too close to be knocking on a potentially unknown alpha’s door, but it was too late. The door swung open, and Harry’s mouth dropped. He’d never been overly interested in football, couldn’t find the fascination in watching men run around after a ball for hours aside from their uniforms, but he knew who this was. Louis Tomlinson, alpha, captain of Manchester United, star in a number of Harry’s heat addled fantasies, was his new next-door neighbour.

Or, Harry and Louis become friends when Harry looks after Louis' cat during away games, until one night at a party changes everything between them. It's just a shame Louis' going to be away for the FIFA World Cup for three months.

🩷 Just Jump by @jaerie {E, 9k}

Finally, after years of suffering alone, the insurance plan at Harry's new job covered omega heat services. As a grown omega adult, it finally felt like the right time to try it out. And, since taking an entire week of heat leave would really put him behind at work, using a service to shorten it seemed like a responsible decision. At least that’s how he rationalized it. He was nervous about his decision but it was too late. The doorbell rang.

“Hi!” The alpha said again and Harry took the hand he offered and shook it firmly. “I’m Louis from Omega Services. It’s nice to meet you.”

🩷 a body wishes to be held & held by @turnyourankle {E, 9k}

Harry wants to return the favour after Louis helps him out with his heat.

🩷 How Much My Heart Depends by @lululawrence {NR, 6k}

Louis is an alpha working as a fraud analyst who keeps having Bad Days. Harry is an omega working in Quality Support who shares a cubicle wall with Louis and only wants to help. Maybe this is the perfect chance for them to finally meet face to face.

🩷 As one we are everything/We are everything we need by louloubaby92 / @louloubabys1992 {M, 5k}

Harry finally marries the love of his life. He's got the mating mark, he's got Louis' ring on his finger.

And now, he's on his honeymoon. Louis is but a door away, waiting for him.

Honestly, he doesn't understand why he's nervous.

[queenshelby]

THE FUTURE (PART THREE)

Pairing: Emmett (A Quiet Place) x Original Female Character

Warning: Age Gap, Forced Procreation, Past Sexual Abuse, Angst

Three weeks after Caitlyn and Emmett returned to the Island and Caitlyn was afforded some time to settle back an, the Council summoned them for a meeting to discuss some arrangements for them and Caitlyn's fostered children.

Evelyn was on the Council as well, and she was sympathetic towards Caitlyn's precarious position as a young woman who, before coming to the island, had escaped from the clutches of those who had destroyed her life. She could not imagine what Caitlyn was going through now that, due to her age, she was asked to partake in the procreation program and, therefore, tried to help her as much as she could. 

Emmett also understood Caitlyn's plight, and he sympathized with her even though he was usually rather harsh and private.

He had known loss, pain, and sacrifice himself, and as he witnessed the vulnerable young woman navigate her own struggles, which somehow made him soften a bit. Despite his reservations, he agreed to move in with her and act as a guardian to her children. Essentially, he was to play the part of father and lover without actually being neither, but the Council did not know this, other than Evelyn who was privy to Emmett's plan.

"Emmett," one of the members of council began to speak. "It is our understanding that you have agreed to be paired with Caitlyn and, considering her youth, we expect this collaboration to yield results quickly, as per the new procreation program," the representative decreed, bringing forth a chuckle.

"You fucking people," he sighed, rubbing the crease between his brows. "Why someone would go through the trouble of reproducing when we can barely offer a decent life to those who already live here is beyond me but, yes, I agree to be paired with Caitlyn," he exclaimed, making his position clear. 

The air in the room grew heavy with tension, intensifying with every word he spoke and a ripple of unease crept through the Council's ranks, challenging their demands and causing uncertainty to bubble beneath the surface. Evelyn observed the exchange silently, proud of Emmett's defiance and confident in his abilities to navigate the challenges that lay ahead and, yet, she had to caution him.

"Emmett, we need your assurance that you will comply with the program," she emphasized, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, causing him to sigh again. 

Then, Emmet nodded nonetheless, understanding the implications of his earlier words. Being paired with Caitlyn meant that she was safe from other men who might abuse her just like the men on the mainland did before she was rescued. This was not something Emmett wanted for her and, as thus, he agreed to comply.

"We will do our best," he then reassured the council while you sat there, silently, nodding and wearing a forced smile. You tried to hide how you felt about this arrangement, but the subtle glint of distress in your eyes gave you away. Yet, you silently hoped that this would be enough to keep you safe from the prying, and at times malevolent, eyes of those that ruled over this strange island.

The meeting carried on for a while, as they discussed all the details of your new living arrangements and it was decided that Emmett had to move in with you and make available his cabin on the beach for new arrivals.

You were also told that you had three months to fall pregnant, failing which you would be paired with someone else. 

Emmett observed the distress etched on your face, knowing the immense anxiety this news provoked. But like the strong and resilient woman you were, you reframed the situation in a different light. Three months was enough time to devise an alternative plan. Three months meant you could continue working on your farm, growing food for the community. Three months was enough time to consolidate your relationship with Emmett, forging a friendship that could ultimately buffer the emotional storm that was about to unleash upon you.

And this is exactly how you chose to look at it, on the outside at least.

***

That same day, Emmett brought his belongings to your house

. You watched as he carried his bag, taking in the sturdiness of the worn leather, the way it hung from his shoulders, remnants of a once simpler time before everything changed, before the world as they knew it collapsed.

"I will take the floor," he signed, rolling out the swag in the living room which is where you too were sleeping. In the corner of the Livingroom there was a small bed which was yours and in the one small single bedroom next to it, the two boys were sleeping on mattresses on the floor. You had no kitchen and only an outdoor shower. Your house was simple as you had built it with your own hands, but Emmett did not seem to mind. 

It was a roof over their heads, after all. He nodded approvingly as he surveyed the small but cozy home. Despite the austere conditions, Emmett could not help but appreciate the tranquility of your surroundings.

"You did well here, Caitlyn," he complimented, as you watched him shed his worn-out jacket, revealing the muscular contours of his upper body beneath. The cuts and creases on his arms were fitting reminders of the life you both led on this island.

Though Emmett was a seasoned survivor, Caitlyn wondered if he was capable of fathoming the inner turmoil you harbored as you navigated your complicated existence on the Island.

Emmett's eyes fell on the crude drawings that adorned every vertical surface of your wooden walls. They were children's stories, representations of their lives that your two boys had curated. He smiled warmly at the simplicity of their stories, the pure joy and imagination they conveyed.

They reminded Emmett of his own children who had died on the first day of the invasion and his look softened almost instantly.

His thoughts were miles away, lingering on the memories of their soft laughter, beaming smiles, and his heart caught in his throat with a longing so deep, only the silence of their world could contain it.

But things were different on the Island. Life was fragile, but Emmett had learned to be resilient. It's all about adjusting to new situations, and this was one of them.

Reaching for his bearded chin, you made him look at you as, clearly, he was lost in his own thoughts right now.

"Thank you," you signed, grateful for his genuine show of support. "I truly appreciate it."

Emmett met your gaze, his piercing blue eyes radiating strength and resilience, as well as a shared understanding. "You are welcome, Caitlyn," he signed back sincerely. "But don't expect too much from me," he went on to add, his wry smile serving as a reminder that, despite his strong-willed appearance, Emmett still grappled with his own demons and unresolved issues.

"The boys are your responsibility, and I will stay out of your way wherever I can and I expect you to stay out of mine," he continued, his hands swiftly conveying his message, as Caitlyn studied him with equal parts curiosity and suspicion.

His blunt honesty startled her, and she found herself struggling to respond, until eventually, she nodded her assent. "Understood." She knew that he did this merely to protect her and this was enough for her to be grateful to him.

It was a sham they were running for the sake of the procreation program and she had no intention of falling pregnant. Living with Emmett saved her from being abused by other men and offered her a measure of protection which, at least for now, was all that mattered to her.

To be continued...

Tags:

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[pinovapie]

DRDT Headcanons!! (1/idk)

Decided to post some headcanons for various characters!! (there might be some mild projection on my favourites lol) idk if i'll do more for other characters?? Also, sorry for less Teruko HCs,,, i meant to do 5 for each but uh,,, you can tell who my favourites are i guess??

Also, disclaimer, these are headcanons!! I wrote these before Chap 2 Part 2, they may be disproven and become out of date in the future!!

Under a read more to not clog up space,, also TW: (unintentional) Self harm

Ace:

He grew up on a farm.

His parents had a ton of kids in the hopes that at least one would be successful. Whoever got the best test results/ won an award/ has the highest salary (based on age, idk how old Ace's siblings are) was the favourite and showered with attention.

This meant Ace and his siblings grew up willing to literally and metaphorically shove eachother face first in the mud to be the favourite child. There was a lot of sabotage, insults and threats constantly.

He struggles to form meaningful friendships due to trust issues.

He'll hold a grudge for years. He probably still despises and talks shit about some kid who stole his chair when they were 6 or something.

He used to love animals until one day he woke up and the world was more terrifying than he remembered. The comforting bark of a dog is now a horrifying sound that sends him spiraling with panic.

He's overly sensitive to light and sound.

He chews his lip, bites his nails and scratches his arms/wrists when bored or uncomfortable. Maybe that's why he always wears gloves, to do less damage?

Nico:

Sometimes when it's too much they'll go non verbal. They're fluent in sign language as a result.

They sometimes judge the things people name their pets. They'd never say it out loud but they think certain pets have really stupid names.

They struggle with tone, often coming across as sarcastic and fed up when they're being genuine.

If they get postively overwhelmed (like flustered due to compliments etc.) they make cat noises instead of speaking (like meows, chirps, etc.). They find in really embarrassing.

If they are in a downward spiral, they'll grip something (their cloak, hair, a soft toy, etc.) and just hold on to try and ground themselves.

Nico took a couple skirts from the dress-up room to wear in private.

In a non killing game au, they'd join Rose in painting more frequently. They end up preferring watercolours though.

They may have a journal where they might talk shit about certain individuals in the class.

Teruko:

Despite her trust issues and bad luck with relationships, she's a romantic at heart. It may take a while for her to admit her feelings but she'd like someone to give her flowers and take her to dinner just as much as anyone else.

She likes horror films because she can experience the thrill without being in danger. I think she'd also like those rollar coaster simulators since an actual rollar coaster would probably be too dangerous with her luck.

She loves sliced cheese because she can avoid having to cut cheese with a knife. Similarly, she'll spread spreads with a spoon because it's less risking than with a knife.

Due to constantly moving, she owned a couple of those plastic picnic sets (the plate, bowl, cup sets) and had to wash them frequently. As a result she's secretly super grateful to Hu and Eden for cleaning after meals because it's one less thing to worry about.

She had to remind Charles to seperate his dark and light washing a couple times, even after the initial explanation of washing machines.

Levi:

He's on the Asexual spectrum. Like he'd never consider it himself but if his partner wanted to, he'd be comfortable with it because he likes making his partner happy.

He's usually trying to keep the peace but he will argue with friends or customers if they try to pick/buy a god awful outfit.

He worked at a boutique before becoming a personal stylist. He kept giving customers unwanted fashion advice that made their outfits the talk of the town. Word spread and after a little while people started showing up for the advice.

Does not understand humour or sarcasm at all.

He's fond of baby animals but would never hold one out of fear of hurting it.

In a non killing game au, he'd probably find out peoples fashion preferences so he can get them suitable clothes as presents.

He's probably the only cast member to politely listen to Veronika's rambles without wanting to throw up. He'd probably get roped into movie nights after Arturo and Ace triple locked their doors to avoid such movie nights.

Various people have caught him raiding sweet foods (sometimes even just eating sugar straight out the bag) at like 3am on multiple occasions.

[fiddlefordisms]

Canon Details and Analysis of Fiddleford McGucket Part 1

I'm writing a series of meta posts centering around everything we know about Fiddleford McGucket as well as what can be gleaned from those details and some theories of mine. At the very end of this series, I will also do a detailed look, analysis, and theorizing about Fiddauthor (a ship which I love) - however, this series of posts will be focusing mainly on what's actual canon (and thus written in terms of Fiddleford's friendship with Ford) and will be mainly focused on Fiddleford's character even as it stands outside of his relationship with Ford. Because he deserves to be his own character outside the context of a romantic relationship, and he deserves it in general.

Fiddleford was raised on his father's hog farm in Tennessee. We've received very few details about his family life other than that the hog farm belongs to his father, Fiddleford has a cousin named Thistlebert who believes in aliens, and Fiddleford's grandmother who does not approve of "coffee" (whatever that is). What we can glean from this is that Fiddleford is pretty familiar with his extended family. We also know he grew up "dirt-poor."

In Journal 3, Ford mentions that Fiddleford crosses himself while stepping over graves and chastises him for saying "what the devil." Tennessee is also located deep in the Bible Belt. This tells me Fiddleford was likely raised Christian and because of the "crosses himself" thing - likely Catholic. He's the first McGucket to ever go to college.

Fiddleford has anxiety issues, possibly an untreated disorder - a fact commented on by Ford in Journal 3 (knee-bouncing, a tendency towards pulling at his hair, his superstitious nature might lend to this as well, and the "SORRY" photograph mentions that he's "mighty nervous" about his first day, he also mentions having the hiccups that day - probably due to how nervous he is). Given how these things go, it's probably been with him since childhood, and he was probably belittled for it. Especially given the stigma around mental health issues, it would not surprise me if Fiddleford has been told multiple times "to get over his anxiety."

Before meeting Ford, Fiddleford had a low sense of self-confidence (and even after meeting Ford, it might still not have been the greatest). His very first day of college, after being laughed out of class, he's already arranging for a tractor (the joke is he's Southern and from a farm) to pick him up. He was going to drop out of college on his first day had it not been for Ford. This tells us that he was led to believe that he was "not right" or "not smart enough" for college. Because it's only his first day at college, he probably didn't get these ideas ingrained in him from the campus itself. Theories? A few. One: His father probably wanted him to stay and help out on the farm - maybe even take over the hog farm one day. Two: Fiddleford easily leaps to the idea that he "got his math wrong" and that his theory must be incorrect because everyone else thinks so. This tells us he does not consider himself "brilliant" despite the fact that he is HIGHLY intelligent. He's also at Backupsmore instead of a first-rate school. Because Fiddleford has a lot of anxiety, I think it's highly possible something that could have led him to believe this is test anxiety. Schools put so much importance on testing, and because of his anxiety, Fiddleford might not have been able to perform very well on tests. He probably really excelled at doing his homework, though, and probably already had a bit of an inventing streak. He might have been persuaded by a teacher to give college a try and probably had an interest in it due to his affinity for machines and likely a love of mathematics and physics (and possibly chemistry given that Old Man McGucket mixes up a voice-changing serum at one point). Fiddleford mentions in the "SORRY" photograph that he thought making a friend was more impossible than solving relativity. This is extremely sad and points to Fiddleford having been lonely through his childhood and school years up until college. It's not hard to imagine that he might have been bullied for being a "nerd" as well. People tend to look down on those who display Southern mannerisms and interests (Fiddleford plays the banjo, has a strong Southern accent, and was probably raised to take pride in his Southern upbringing) as "dumb hicks" - and this might be a cause for even more bullying while he's in Backupsmore and continued confidence difficulties.

[imabeautifulbutterfly]

Hello Mimi!!!! Me again!!!!! 9 and 11 from your amazing prompts please! 👉🏻👈🏻 For Hunter? 😁

@dragonrider9905 girl thank you for choosing these amazing prompts.

9. “Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” — Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

11. “You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.” — Cormac McCarthy, The Road

I hope you love what I did with your request. It’s fluffy and sweetish.

Love oo

By My Side

Warnings: Concern for a sibling, unrequited love (somewhat), discussion of emotions, hesitation, fear, mentions of deserving better, angst-ish, fluff, fear of cognitive issues, reassurance of love, kissing. I think that’s it, if I miss any please let me know.

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“You okay?” 

You called out to Hunter as he sat on the boulder of the hidden docking port, your eyes noticing that Omega had taken the shuttle and left, you gently sat beside him while he pet Batcher loving, almost methodically. 

“Hmm” he grunted in response. 

“She’ll be okay.” You gently pressed your hand on his shoulder, you knew him well enough to know he didn’t like being babied over when he was emotional. 

“Hmm.”

You let out a sigh, as you stood, “Alright, well if you want to talk … you know where to find me.” You began to walk away when his hand gripped your wrist; you turned to look at him, his eyes barely looking at yours. 

“Please … stay.” His voice was low barely above a whisper, but it conveyed more in that second than anything else before. You gently took your seat again, surprised when his hand slid down and intertwined your fingers.

There had always been a longing and desire between the two of you, something unspoken, but between being on the run, trying to get Crosshair back, losing Tech, and then rescuing Omega and the clones from Tantiss, there never seemed to be a time to discuss it. Then when peace finally allowed you all to breathe and live, Hunter became hyper focused on Omega and his brothers. You couldn’t blame him, and you eventually gave up all hope of there being anything more between you than friendship. Yet, in this moment, something felt different. 

“What is it?”

He turned to look at you, “I’m sorry.”

You furrowed your brow in confusion, “For Omega leaving? That’s not your fault. Why would you apologize for that?”

“No. Not for that … for …” he let out a sigh as he gently rubbed the back of your hand, “for so many things. For hiding and not … not being honest about what I felt.”

There was a silence that filled the space between you two, you gently rested your head on his shoulder, “Honestly, I thought it had all been in my head… that you moved on… before we even … were anything.”

Hunter shook his head pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head, “No, cyare, I’ve always wanted you, I just …” he let out a sigh as he rested his cheek on the top of your head, “I couldn’t imagine that life; you … you’ve deserved a better life than you’ve had. You deserve to have a home with plenty of farm, for your herbs and farming that you always try to get going.”

“Why do you think I want something different? All I’ve ever wanted is this” you wrapped your arms around him, holding him close as you nuzzled closer.

He let out a sigh, wrapping his arms tight around you, “We should’ve done this sooner.”

“Yeah, we should’ve.”

Silence fell between the two of you as Hunter gently ran his thumb on your back drawing tiny concentric patterns, holding you almost impossibly close. “Promise me, you’ll remind me of all our moments, if I ever forget them.” His voice was low and soft as he spoke, afraid that what he feared most would come true. 

You shifted looking at him, as you cupped his cheek, “Hunter, I’ll never let you forget. Are you afraid that might actually happen?”

His head tilted further into your hand wanting and needing to feel your soft touch against his skin, “I … yes. I’m afraid, you forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.” He looked into your eyes, “I’m afraid I’ll forget you.”

You pulled him close, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead, shifting as his hands gripped your hips guiding you to his lap as he tilted his head to look into your eyes. 

“Hunter, I will never let you forget. Even if it means I have to remind you who I am 50 times a day; even if it means you don’t remember the first time we met. I’ll just tell you the story of us over and over again. I’ll start it by saying, ‘Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.’ And I’ll tell you about our first argument. First time, you called me your friend. All the times you made me laugh on purpose just to hear my laugh, or you made sure I was looked after.” You pressed your forehead against his, “I’ll tell you all about our adventures, and every time our hands accidentally brushed and made my heart skip a beat. Or the times when you would tuck a strand of hair behind my ear when you were trying to convey what you felt without actually saying it. I’ll tell you everything, over and over again.”

Tears welled up in Hunter’s eyes as he realized the depth of your love for him. All he could think about was how much of a fool he was to have wasted so much precious time with you. All the nights he could’ve been holding you in his arms. All the moments he could’ve kissed you but didn’t. All the missed opportunities to tell you how much he loved you. All those moments he let slip away. 

He resolved within himself, he wasn’t going to let one more second pass, not one more moment will slip away. His hand went to the back of your head as he gently leaned in, pressing his lips to yours, “Stay by my side, for as long as you’ll have me.”

“No. For much longer than that.” You pressed your lips against his holding him tight as years of desire and want melted away in the first kiss you two ever shared. 

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[choccy-zefirka]

We previously had a whole Discourse Session about x reader fic on this blog, but I just saw this in visual form on my dashboard (Blorbo hugging/kissing a greyed-out silhouette instead of the artist's OC), and I am back to thinking how being expected to insert my OC into the author-prepared slot is not my thing (and makes me a bit sad, actually) because... all my OCs fall for their love interest, even if it's the same person, for different reasons.

Isk and Wyll are childhood friends who keep being torn apart by circumstances but inevitably find each other. Mariposa and Wyll are gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast; he is the radiant guiding light that inspires her to rise above her Dark Urge. Wilhelm is a classic sad dad, so his partners Wyll and Karlach help him find joy and whimsy in life again. Or, for example, Alyrr stirs Halsin's heart because she is kind to him, while Cinder falls for Halsin because he is kind to *her*; same goes for Niamh and Zevlor vs Dee and Zevlor.

Likewise, in other fandoms, Azelma Cadash and Blackwall initially despise each other because she thinks he's a boring straight-laced fuddy duddy, and he thinks she's a spoiled princess luxuriating in her father's crime spoils and wearing a Stop Being Poor T-shirt, but as their friendship progresses, each discovers that the other is a more nuanced person than their first impressions might suggest. While Naali Adaar teams up with him as Protector of the Small, and Adiba Adaar turns his head with her incredible Nerd Powers (Nana Lavellan is somewhere at the intersection of that, because she is both a nerd and a professional babysitter in her clan). Thraer Aeducan bonds with Morrigan like a golden retriever excitedly following her around; and Revas Mahariel sits across the room from her like they are a cat and she is also a cat, slowly getting accustomed to each other. Nella Amell gets to Zevran with her sweetness and faith in people, and Zevran gets to Brianna Cousland with his roguish charms, even as she appears to have hidden herself behind a wall of ice and grief.

Alisa Shepard is a neurotic perfectionist, Natalie Shepard is an enthusiastic, confident space adventurer; Garrus loves each of them. And in my newest obsession, Cyberpunk, my current rough and tough but secretly artistic street kid V is going to employ different tactics when convincing Takemura to ditch Arasaka through the power of love (shhh, let me have my headcanon) compared to a hyper-stressed, disillusioned corpo V and a happy-go-lucky nomad V I also have planned. And so on and so on and so on.

Can all these different love stories truly be expressed through x reader fics? Even if x reader is mostly focused on smut, I am not sure how much maneuvering you can do while leaving it generic. Again, going back to my own OCs, Arryn Lavellan, a hot-headed 20-something Dalish First, is a virgin who pretends to be sexually experienced to win Respect Points, and then learns the lesson that he did not have to do that; while Elgara Lavellan, a Circle mage and ex-Tranquil, is also a virgin due to her life circumstances, and her lesson is that there's no shame in having a "first time" after 40. Cinder the Tav is a half-Orc, half-Tiefling, used to being fetishized by intimate partners because of her appearance, so she gets her mind blown when Halsin worships her body as a great gift of nature. Laulu the Tav is a half-Orc, half-Halfling, a humble farm girl with dreams of someone who will love her for her, not her glamorous elf bard persona (courtesy of Disguise Self), so she gets *her* mind blown when Gale takes her, the real her, on a journey through the stars. But Amaya, a full Halfling this time, is a vengeful paladin who used to be married to an evil wizard that entrapped her in illusions of love and bliss in order to manipulate her to do his bidding, so she opts for the humble tryst in the woods, blowing *Gale's* mind this time as he realizes that he can be wanted for more than his magic. So for all of them, even smut will flow differently.

Some anons I got argued that inserting your OC into a love story focused on a canon character is too self-centered; you have to give other people a chance to imagine *their* OCs in this blank spot! And I guess it works for some people (a lot of people, in fact), but I would rather write stories and make art about specific OCs and read stories and admire art with *your* specific OCs and all the endless ways they can kiss that Blorbo.

[royalcolls-cccc-au-act]

MIND/APOLLO LORE !!

This is up until the current timeline of the story

.

.

.

> Apollo, that isn't his birth name but he didn't like the name he was given. He found it boring and way too common for someone such as himself, strong, smart, someone worth remembering. No one knowa what his actual name was besides his family and his best friend, June, and lord knows that they knew better than to tell other's that information.

> The boy grew up in a small town, one that had a lot of other poorer family's. So, the town wasn't as good as others. Not many people complained though, as they had enough to survive and live. It was worse of for those of bigger families, like Apollo's family. There were 5 kids all living under the same roof with both parents working to support it. The eldest of the siblings would work alongside their father as well as hunt for some decent animals and meat. The second eldest were to look after the younger ones, make sure they got to school and came back just fine.

> And this is how Apollo met June. In school.

> Long story short, they got on well. Inseperable. There was barley a time that they were seem away from eachother, and to others it was nothing dhort of a miracle as Apollo typically was snarky or just cold towards others, not liking to interact with people. But with June, he was happy. He was also chaotic, sure, but happy. When they were both late teens, around 16 (Apollo) and 17 (June), they went a few towns over to go check it out, and saw how it was a more well off town than theirs, as well as the fact that one or two people owned cars. Nice cars, big too. They exchanged a look and they both ended up stealing one of the cars. It took a bit, but they got it running. Bad news though, the sheriff noticed and as they drove off, the sheriff followed. The were eventually caught, but June lied and told the sheriff that Apollo didn't do a thing to help, and that June had done everything and dragged him along. They were both sent to jail, but for different times. Apollo got 6 months, while June got 4 years. Pretty unfair, but June didn't mind, he was just happy that he saved his friend the time in jail that he would've got.

> Apollo was forever grateful.

> 6 months later, Apollo was let out of jail, and he made his way home to his parents. Parents, who chewed his ear off for a good 2 hours straight about how stupid it was to go stealing a car. That wouldn't stop him though, as the next few months, Apollo continued these crimes and everything as he went on to successfully steal a car, and start robbing places, getting the money to dress nice and support himself. He also ended up moving out of his parents house. He didn't buy a house, didn't want to. He just spent time in his car, going from town to the jail June was held in, visiting his friend once a month.

> It got quite... lonely by himself. He didn't have June to hang about with, and god forbid he have any other friends. He didn't like that idea, but one day when he was collecting some fruit from the farmer, he decided to actually strike up a conversation.

**"Hey, what's this ranch for for? It doesn't look like you're usin' it for a whole lotta storage."**

> The farmer had laughed from where he was sat on a hay block, resting from the days work he had done.

*"It ain't used for storage, you're right. It's used as a stage, rehersal room. There's this... girl that uses it to practice. Darrel here helps 'er."*

> He gestured to the chicken that was pecking idley at the hay block that the farmer was sat on. He picked up the chicken and held him comfortably in his arms.

***"Tell me how she'd doin'. I might wanna meet lil' miss moviestar some day."***

> And then Apollo left. That was how the start of their friendship. Atlas knew that Apollo robbed others, but they had a mutual agreement that Atlas wouldn't snitch if he didn't steal from the farm and actually buy the crops and animal products.

> Moving to a while later, Apollo had been away from the farm for a while, as he was out of town, but that day he had to seek cover in the farm. He had been in one town over and saw a dog being mistreated, sand beinf kicked in its face and probably some other horrible things, so when the owners weren't looking, he hopped the fence and took the dog off its leash, taking it to the car and running off. The owners saw though, and chased him all the way to the farm. When Apollo got to the farm though, pulling up to a stop by the fence gate, there was a problem. A huge problem.

> The ranch was on fire.

> Now, Apollo was usually one to think quick on his feet, but in that moment he froze. He stares at the ranch and how it was up in flames and prayed that Atlas wasn't inside. Hoping to whatever god was out there that he didn't have to lose a friend, like how he lost June temporarily.

> After what felt like an eternity of just watching the flames burn the ranch, he ran inside the place, looking for any sign of Atlas. There was nothing but smoke and flames inside, evident by the fact it was like Apollo was coughing up his lungs. He spent what seemed to him as an eternity looking for Atlas, knowing that the man had nothing else to do besides be on his farm working all day, so he must be here, right? Well, he had to leave the ranch before finding out due to the smoke getting to him. He'd check though, every day after. For now he just has to get to a safe place where the fire didn't get him.

> It's a few weeks before he actually goes back to the farm, people were saying no one wa allowed near there, and they'd have to get their food other ways until the ranch was rebuilt. During the rebuilding time, Apollo visited, seeing the wooden frames and ladders, people working on the ranch. They were getting things done in a good time. And Atlas was there, outside the ranch with Darrel under his arm as he leant on a cane (Well that was new) watching the men working on his ranch.

> And life went on as normal from then on out.

> Until the day Apollo met someone new, of course.

> He drove up to the ranch like he did every week, but on a different day than he normally headed up there. He humed as he walked into the ranch, looking as Atlas seemed to be setting out some wooden planks on the floor.

**"Wha's all this for then?"**

> Apollo asks, confused as all hell.

*"A stage."*

> Is all the farmer had given in response as there were footsteps in the ranch. Apollo turns, then smiles.

**"So you're the famous lil' movie star Atlas has been talkin' 'bout?"**

[phoenixwatchesmovies]

Dracula Season Watch Party: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

The centuries old vampire Count Dracula comes to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker's fiancée Mina Murray and inflict havoc in the foreign land. - Dir. Francis Ford Coppola

I haaaaaaaaaaaaated this the one and only other time I watched it because, for a movie calling itself Bram Stoker's Dracula, it sucks ass at adapting the novel. It hits all the beats but misses the themes and adds extra stuff, and Jonathan doesn't even go after the Count with a shovel, ffs. However, it is technically one of The Most Faithful adaptations we have to date, which is impressive considering how much story there is to adapt. And if I stop being such a purist turd.... *sigh* it's a good movie.

Like..... REALLY good. The costumes, the colors, the music, the camera work, everything has such a surreal vibe, and the scene transitions move with something like dream logic. Actually, I think "movement" sums up everything I loved. Shots moving around a scene, SO MUCH gauzy fabric moving in a breeze, Dracula and Mina moving through a crowd. It's ✨pretty✨

It's also horny AF. Jesus Christ.

That being said, I think the criticism I've seen saying this version turns Lucy into a slut is pretty unfair. She and Mina gossip about their relationships (and kiss in the rain, by god I ship it), and she's flirtatious with the suitor squad, big deal. She's never overtly sexual until she starts becoming a vampire, and that's nothing that doesn't already happen in the book. The two scenarios don't compare. One is established friendships that come equipped with camaraderie and intimacy, the other is a corruption. Like, that's literally what's happening, and that's where the horror comes from. As for this version's take on her sleepwalking, we are NOT calling that slut behavior. That's all I'm saying.

Speaking of the suitor squad (Lucy's potential fiances, for the uninitiated), I understand there is only so much you can squeeze into a two hour run time, but I wish they had more time to shine. I need more of Quincey being a manly man with the most golden heart of gold ever. I need more of Jack being the most lovesick and emo wreck of a human with a side of medical malpractice. Most importantly, I need Cary effing Elwes to have more to do as Art. Not that any one of Lucy's boyfriends loves her more than the others, but I feel like Art's devotion to her is given more weight because he was the one Lucy chose to marry, and ASDFGHJKL. You can't cast CARY ELWES, aka WESTLEY THE FARM BOY, of Thee Greatest Movie Ever Made The Princess Bride, and then NOT give him any room to work in that space. He could have eaten that shit up! You know it! I know it! The only people who apparently don't know it are the people who called the shots on everything from the script to the casting, because if we had spent more time with canon couple Art and Lucy and less with fanon couple Drac and Mina, WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ALL. *insert Adele gif because I couldn't actually find one*

While we're on the subject of Dracula and Mina as lovers doomed across centuries, YES, it's fucking romantic as shit and I've come across the concept in other stories and would have snorted that shit if possible, BUT. The addition here detracted from time we could have spent on Lucy, as mentioned above, and despite what I've said about that so far, I understand why you'd make that call. If there's going to be an epic Gothic romance, it might as well be the focal point of the story and therefore needs to happen between the leads. But.

BUT.

THAT'S ALREADY IN THE SOURCE MATERIAL. IT'S MINA AND JONATHAN!!!!! Jonathan Harker is peak Gothic wifeguy. Dude never stops thinking about how awesome his wife is and how much he loves her, and I can't even think about his refusal to let her be condemned to hell alone and his determination to damn himself with her if she became a vampire without getting in fits about it. He said "fuck God if he doesn't love Mina, he's not good enough for her and I love her enough for both of us," and you think ANY other love story can beat THAT??? They did my good friend Jonathan so so dirty.

On the subject of my good friend Jonathan, I know I'm not the only one who thinks Keanu Reeves would look so. Fucking. HOT. With gray hair. I don't know what they did to him in the back half of this movie, but rather than be disappointed in how fake it looks, I'm choosing to look forward to the day we finally get Silver Fox Keanu.

Other details I loved now that I'm done complaining include Mina's wardrobe echoing Elizabeta's gown in the prologue, red light reflecting off Renfield's glasses when he's talking about his master, red appearing more prominently in Mina's and Lucy's wardrobe as they fall under Dracula's influence, the zoom-in on the bite marks on Lucy's neck transitioning into the wolf's glowing eyes in the next scene, Dracula's shadow moving independently of his body, everything Anthony Hopkins is doing as Van Helsing, and the entire standoff between him and Mina and the brides.

I think I've said all I feel like saying, and it took a full 24 hours to stop talking, so in summary: I DO like this more than I used to, but I like it more when looking at it on its own merit and not as an adaptation. What I like, I really like. What I don't like, pretty much has to do with how it differs from the book. The most important part is that I had fun watching. Even if there aren't any flappy bats on a string.🥂

[toomanystoriessolittletime]

Remember me

Summary: You haven't been able to reach Jack since he left for a business trip, making you worried. Having no other way to contact him, you decide to drive to Statesman, unprepared to find him walking out of the building perfectly fine. You question your relationship, asking yourself if he would just ghost you after so many years of friendship until a Cowboy finds you crying in your car, and tells you everything about Statesman. And what happened to Jack.

Pairing: Agent Jack Whiskey Daniels x fem. reader

Wordcount: 2.5k

Rating: G

Warnings: memory loss, Friends to lovers, little angst, some fluff

A/N: This has been sitting in my drafts since December. Hope you like it (cause I'm not sure I do lol)

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“When will you be back?” you listened to his steady heartbeat, your ear on his chest. 

His arms were around you, cuddled under the warm covers of his king sized bed. 

“A week. Tops,” he hummed and you felt him kiss the top of your head. You smiled, pressing your lips to his chest. 

“I’ll miss you,” you mumbled. 

“You won’t even notice I’m gone, sugarplum.”

“Hello, This is Jack. Leave a message after the…”

You sighed, ending the call. Again. It’s been almost three weeks. 

Three weeks in which you hadn’t seen or talked to Jack. He usually finds a way to let you know, if his job takes longer. 

You did not know exactly what he was doing, but you had your suspicions. He was often gone for weeks, not being able to contact you. 

Which was a surprise when you first learned about it, being under the impression that he  was the CEO of a whiskey distillery. 

“One day I’m gonna tell you everything about it, sugarplum,” he used to say. And for whatever reason you trusted him that he would. Even way before you both finally realised that your friendship was way more than that. 

You hadn’t been together for a long time. 

But you had known Jack for years. 

The little coffee shop you owned apparently lay on the way to his work and he started stopping by almost six years ago when he moved to a little town just outside of the city. 

You would always remember the first time he stepped into your little café. 

You had seen your fair share of cowboys throughout the years but Jack? Deep down you just knew he would be trouble.

You just did not know if in a good or in a bad way. 

He had ordered a plain black coffee and a muffin for breakfast. 

“Surprise me, Sugarplum,” he’d smirked at you when you asked him what kind of muffin he wanted. And yeah, that southern charm was trouble from the first day.

After that he came in every single day on his way to work. You’d only learn that he sometimes stopped by in the afternoon too much later, one of your employees telling you that he seemed a little disappointed when he did not see you. 

He had only asked for your actual name almost half a year later.

The friendship that had formed between the two of you always lingered on the line to becoming something more. 

It started with him inviting you to go out to the farmers market out of town one saturday. 

Then you invited him for a home cooked dinner which quickly became a weekly Thursday night thing.

You started spending time at his farm outside of town too. He had beautiful horses, some cows and chickens. 

He taught you how to ride and care for the horses.

You would have thought he had a dog too, but instead he had two cats called King and Queen. 

Two very cute fluffy white cats who followed him wherever he went once he got home. 

They loved to sleep on top of Jack when you had movie night. There might be a folder of pictures in your phone just of him with the cats. 

It would take more than five years of friendship until one drunken night left you sleeping in his bed, waking up the next morning in his arms, his lips brushing over the back of your neck, asking is this okay to which you only nodded while he kissed himself down your neck until you turned in his arms so he could kiss your lips for the first time. 

He took you out for your first date that very same night. 

You had talked to each other every single day in the last months, even when he had to get away. You practically had moved into his house, leaving your apartment in the city just for the occasional nights when you were too tired to drive back to his place after work. 

Or you stayed there when Jack was gone. His house feeling way too big and empty without him. 

But earlier today you had been at his place, finding it as deserted as it had been the last weeks.

You had no idea how to contact him outside of his phone number. You did not have any information on contacting his family or friends. The latter only being two men you had met briefly throughout the years. 

What you did know however was where he worked.

You took a deep breath, exhaling through your mouth as you looked at yourself in the mirror as you got ready for work. 

You missed him. 

You loved him. 

Maybe it was time to drive to Statesman across town to finally get some answers. 

You had been staring at the entrance for an hour. 

You hadn’t planned on staring at the entrance for an hour. 

You were about to get out of your car and demand answers but then you saw him walk out of the door. 

Jack. 

He was smiling as he talked to another man, one of his friends you had met whose name you had already forgotten, before you saw him climb into his Bronco and speed off. 

Why was he ignoring your calls?

Why didn’t he let you know that he was alive and well?

A constant stream of questions seemed to go through your head, only stopped when someone knocked on your car window. 

You blinked your eyes before you let the window down, an older man, another cowboy, looking at you. 

“Evening Ma’am. I noticed that you have been waiting here for a while and I was wondering if you need any help?” he asked. 

You sighed. 

“Yes… No. Sorry. I’ll… I’ll leave,” you mumbled, still confused. 

“Are you okay?” he asked and you huffed a laugh. 

“Just asking myself if my boyfriend decided to ghost me on purpose. He’s working here, you know? Haven’t seen him in almost a month, haven’t talked to him, but I just saw him walk out of those doors, looking perfectly fine to me.”

You were rambling. 

“I haven’t even told him that I love him. I think he loved me though. We’ve known each other for a long time. Used to flirt shamelessly with me every day when getting a coffee.”

“Now hold on there  for a minute there,” the Cowboy said and your lips pressed shut, looking at the man. 

“You don’t happen to be talking about a tall Cowboy with a preference for banana strawberry muffins from that little café across town?” he asked you. 

“I bake the muffins myself,” you whispered, looking at him. 

The man sighed. 

“Jack didn’t tell me he finally got his head out of his ass and made a move on you. You might wanna come inside with me? I think you deserve some answers.”

You were staring again. 

This time not at the entrance of Statesman, but at the door of Jack’s Farmhouse. 

The house that had become a home to you more than your own apartment was. 

Agent Champagne, Champ for friends, had explained to you that while Statesman was still a distillery, it always was a front for a secret organisation. 

And Jack was one of its Agents. One of the best apparently. 

Something had happened on his last mission and the short explanation was that he had come back from the dead and might have lost more memories than the agency first thought. 

Champ had encouraged you to drive out and visit Jack. He’d apparently been talking about stopping by the next morning at the café. He had only been released from the medical wing today.

He didn’t almost die, he had been dead. 

For almost three hours before they could bring him back. 

You took a deep breath before you got out of your car, walking the familiar path towards his house. Out of habit you reached for the key he gave to you to unlock the door, stopping with a head shake before you brought your hand up to knock on his door. 

The time it took before you heard footsteps behind the door seemed like hours, giving you time to school your face into a neutral expression when the door opened, revealing Jack standing in front of you, dressed in dark sweatpants and a faded Game of Thrones shirt. Your shirt. 

His face lit up when he saw you. 

“Sugarplum, I wasn’t expecting you,” he said with a smile and you felt tears welling up in your eyes, as you smiled at him. 

“Hi Jack,” you whispered as you looked up at him and as if it was pure instinct he opened his arms for you as you took a step towards him, his strong arms wrapping around your body as he kissed the top of your head. 

“I missed you so much,” you mumbled into his shirt, feeling his arm tighten around you.

“Are you sure, you’re okay sugar?” he asked and you took a deep breath before you looked up at him, finding his eyes looking down at you with concern. 

“I think we need to talk,” you said quietly. He frowned, but nodded, before he released you to close the door. 

King and Queen were sitting on either side of you as you sat on the sofa, waiting for Jack to come back from the kitchen. He’d offered to make tea and you had agreed, using the time to gather your thoughts. 

King was climbing into your lap as Jack came from the kitchen, your favourite mug, the one he had bought you only a couple weeks ago in his hand, your favourite tea in it. 

He set the mug down on the coffee table before he sat down on the couch next to you. 

“These two usually hate people,” he hummed, his hand stroking over the fur of Queen who meowed before she laid down in between the two of you. 

“I’m not just any people,” you smiled a little and Jack smiled back. 

“No you’re not,” he said warmly. 

“How was your work trip?” you asked and if he was taken aback by your question he did not show it. 

“Longer than expected but okay in the end. I’m actually gonna stay for a while now. Got some time off,” he explained and you nodded. 

“Did I tell you about leaving town?” he frowned in the next moment.

“You did,” you whispered, your hand stroking King on your lap who was puring by now. 

“Jack, what’s the last thing you remember? About me?” you asked.

He seemed confused before he took a deep breath. 

“I… I think the last time I saw you you were cooking in my kitchen? Some roast that burnt…” he murmured. 

You nodded. 

“Okay. That was… almost three months ago. It was your birthday. And I promised to make your favourite dish,” you said as you carefully took the mug of tea to drink some. 

He looked at you as if trying to figure you out. 

“We watched Star Trek after and you told me how you hated the new ones,” you continued, but he just kept looking at you. 

“I… I don’t remember?” he said and you closed your eyes, releasing a deep breath. 

“Jack, I talked to Champ today. And he… he told me what happened to you,” you whispered, sucking your bottom lip in. 

“Why would he do that?” he asked. 

“Because usually when something happens to an Agent on the job their family or spouse is informed. But we… you hadn’t told anyone. About us yet.”

“Us?” he asked, looking at you. 

“We’re… We’re together. Or we have been until you had to leave for your last job? I’m not really sure what we are now. I mean you can’t remember me…”

“I do remember you. I just… this is…”

“A lot. I know,” you sighed, fighting down the tears as you looked at him. 

“We both… Really? I finally told you how I felt?” he asked after a while and you huffed a laugh. 

“Not really. We were both drunk and I woke up in your bed…. we kissed the first time tight then in your bed,” you explained and he nodded. 

“I was wondering whose clothes were in my wardrobe,” he said with a huff and you nodded. 

“I… you actually asked me to move in with you before you left.”

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. 

“And you had no idea what happened these last weeks. I’m so sorry,” he reached over, squeezing your hand. 

“You’re very relaxed for someone who just got told he has a girlfriend he can’t remember.”

He chuckled. 

“Let’s just say, worse things have happened on the job.”

“Gee thanks,” you rolled your eyes with a smile and he grinned. 

You sighed. 

“Well, I’m just gonna grab some stuff and leave you alone,” you gently put King from your lap, standing up. 

“Why?” Jack asked, also standing up. 

“Because you can’t remember me, Jackson,” you smiled sadly.

He shook his head. 

“I do remember you. I remember everything about you. Just not… the most important part. The part where I finally got you in my life like I’ve wanted for a long time,” he whispered, taking a step closer towards you. 

You sighed. 

“What if you help me remember?”

“What are you proposing?”

“They… They use triggers when getting someone back. They always use a picture of my late wife that usually gets my brain back in the right lane. And it worked to some extent.”

“Just not for me,” you could not help the tears escaping your eyes now and Jack came even closer, his hands framing your face, as he wiped your tears away. 

“I knew something was missing. I just did not know what,” he whispered. You closed your eyes. 

“I know that I’m in love with you though,” he said and you gasped, opening your eyes. 

“I have been since the day I took you out to the farmers market. When I saw you in that beautiful dress I’m sure my heart stopped.”

“Jack,” you smiled through your tears. 

“So you see, I do remember you. I remember everything about you. I just don’t remember finally being with you.”

“You haven’t even told me you loved me yet,” you whispered and he groaned. 

“Pre Memory loss Jack was a real dumbass,” he grinned and you chuckled. 

“Can I kiss you?” he asked. 

“Yes,” you breathed and then his lips were on yours. And it was if no time had passed, your arms wrapping around his broad back as you melted against him, his lips moving on yours, his moustache tickling you, making you grin against his lips. 

“I love you sugarplum,” he whispered against your lips and you smiled. 

“I love you too, Jack.”

[allay-uxini]

Ok, Ok, so you know how Lizzie and Joel got married and then Joey and Shelby saw the goodies and were like “You wanna get married?” “Just for the gifts?” “Yeah!”

….well what if they ACTUALLY got married

It’d be a platonic marriage (obviously) for convenience, forming an alliance and resources (both from each other and from the wedding gifts). At first when referring to each other as spouses to the other empires they’d be weirded out but after a while they wouldn’t even bat an eye at the romantic connotations from the status and refer to each other as spouses with ease. They don’t call each other husband or wife when talking to each other however they will play the spouse card on the other when they want something.

For Example:

“Hey Joey what are you doing rummaging through my chests?”

“Ah, Shrub! My what a coincidence, I was just…”

“You were trying to steal from me weren’t you”

“I wouldn’t call it that. I was just….. borrowing some things AND as your husband I feel like this already belongs to me. You know ‘What’s yours is mine’ so really I’m not doing anything wrong”

“I don’t remember that being in my vows”

“Ahem! ‘I shall support you and your empire in order for us to become stronger’. This is just……supporting my empire’s builds!”

“You know what, sure! I’ll let you ‘borrow’ as much stuff from my chests as you like”

“Gre-”

“Only if I get to do the same after all I am your wife so it’s only fair”

“…well I suppose that could be arranged”

“That includes your totem farm”

“What, do you want me to make a special wife chest in my farm”

“Yes”

Their marriage is actually REALLY good and healthy to the surprise of EVERY SINGLE EMPIRE as they were all sure they were going to be awful (the perks of marrying your best friend I suppose). Then Xornoth gave Joey the crown.

You see the best thing about a platonic marriage between Shelby and Joey is that it makes Jornoth infinitely funnnier because the entire arc Joey was after Shelby and she’s like:

“Is this REALLY how you want to treat your wife”

*gasp* “Shelby are you, jealous? Oh Shelby, don’t you remember our marriage is strictly political and I can love whoever I want”

“What! No, I just think that my husband should have better taste in men!”

And then you also remember that Xornoth was mostly targeting Shelby so Joey is like “Xornoth! Are you flirting???? With my wife???? Instead of ME???????” Though after the whole Xornoth situation I feel like they’d still have a pretty good marriage just with more teasing, bickering and banter.

Joey and Shelby's friendship in season 1 is underrated and just thinking about all the hilarities this marriage can create is making me giddy. Or maybe I’ve just been reading too much of Rain’s marriage of the state au and Mochi’s secret husbands au that I also wanted to make a marriage au.

(If this gets enough traction I might open up my ask box for this au and maybe talk about some fairytale trio shenanigans for this)

[aria-ashryver]

Welcome To The Jungle | Choices MC Colony | Episode #4

Dorian: so, just to recap: a nearby settlement hired a PI to investigate whether a neighbouring faction of theirs were actually cannibals -- turns out they are, and now that PI is running for her life and needs our help? Rin: That's pretty much what I picked up over the comms, yeah Marianna: Seven pirate raiders from the Venom Chokers Daenarya: Oh, hey I know those guys! Yeeeeah, yeah they'll eat you. Brienne: Some of them also spit fire. Luca: Sorry-- they spit what, now? Anitha: We're helping her, right? Dorian: …Us versus seven angry, fire-spitting, cannibal raiders? Oliver: Yes, we are helping. Dorian: Yeah, totally! Nothing about that sentence is terrifying! Luca: snorts Rin: …chicken. Dorian: I'm not scared. Marianna: Yes, you are. Dorian: Shush.

Aaaahhhhh oh god everything is fine aaahhh

Good news! Carina is safe and (mostly) well! And since we did such an excellent job on the rescue mission (and were sooooo brave and not at all terrified) she's decided to join us for good.

Welcome to the Jungle, @stars-are-within-me's Carina 💖👋 Lovely to have you aboard

[LINK] - Episode 3.5 (ask) - a little overview of the base so far!

Okay, welcome to Episode #4, folks. Its been an exciting few weeks of raids, illnesses, and wild animal attacks, so I think our MCs are due a nice period of calm to relax, take stock, build up our base, and enjoy the bonds of friendship.

ok so we took stock, the stocks aren't great.

Turns out doubling your colony size overnight really hits you in the food department! Who knew. Fortunately, we do have some folks who know a thing or two about crops and gardening, so we've now got two thriving farms, as well as some chickens (Wilbur and Clementine) and our new cow (Tallulah) who we traded some nomads for.

omg the baby chicks are sleeping in the hay that's so cute 😭

(also, something weird happened and all of our crops were turned into strawberries for like a week before I noticed? We had to replant everything lmao. Idk who was behind that one)

Its been nice to just see folks bonding and chatting about stuff while they work too 😊 At the moment, Evie and Luca are the OG colony besties - Evie helps Luca with their building projects quite a bit, so they have lots of time for Top Notch banter. Clearly.

Luca: *ADHD-fuelled rambling* Evie: yeah, i like this one he's weird

Some of the other colonists are finding comfort in each other in this harsh and unforgiving jungle too 👀 A few situationships have started to crop up here and there?? (and I find it utterly hilarious that once again, its mostly the Blades MCs who are Blades MC-ing)

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to change/update any of these settings (bc I'm limiting things like lovers and marriage, etc at the moment), just let me know! [Here is a link] to current sprite stats!

Luca and Oliver have both been flirting a lot lately, so I feel like they might the next two to become a thing lol.

Luca: Great party, Oliver! Just what we needed after getting attacked by cannibals. That was crazy, right? Oliver: Yeah, that raid was a nail-biter. Ha, good thing no one else got bitten though. Luca: …You could bite me. Oliver: … Luca: If you want. You seem broad-minded. Oliver: ...what? Luca: what?

Speaking of biting people (apt segue is apt); a group of vampires have asked if they could host a coven meeting at Cedar Station! (They'll pay us with books!! Fuck yeahhhh books!)

Ricky, stop interrupting the coven meeting. Read the room. It's full of purple smoke and spooky spectral demon eyes.

One of them liked Cedar Station so much, she decided to stay! Cameron? Sergio? No, we used aliases. It's Jiahao. Yes, my cape is amazing.

Welcome to the Jungle, @choicesmc's Jia!! ✨ (I've never had a vampire colonist before, I'm hyped)

Ooh, and right on the heels of this! A roaming caravan of hunters and traders passed by the colony (and enjoyed the seaside for a little bit lol) -- and one of the guards who had been helping herd and protect their animals decided to stick around too!

Welcome to the Jungle, @dutifullynuttywitch's Autumn!! *wipes tear* our lil family keeps growing 🥹

I'm so glad this has just been a period of relaxing and making new friends. I'm really enjoying this calm. Surely nothing bad will happen, right?

Surely nothing bad will--

Surely nothing--

*grits teeth* Surely nothing bad will--

SEVENTEEN MAN-EATING MONKEYS???????

Guys please not now, do you not see us hiding from the swarm of angry monkeys??? 😭😭😭

ok no, we can always make time for humanitarian aid. We were sooo brave and fought off enough monkeys so Marianna and Oliver could sneak away and donate money to *checks notes*: Norma Rubivine the child brawler who is very good at mining despite being only 7 years old because she is a Dirtmole.

(me, crying: Norma come back and hhelp me w the monkeys. Please. Norma.)

Surely nothing bad will hap--

Surely nothing-- AGAIN with the insects???

(*through tears*) Surely nothing bad will--

Aaahhhh ow ow ow almost everyone is downed we have run out of hospital beds aahhhh

So uhhh. Let me end this episode by saying: Dorians arm got cut off by raiders and he almost bled to death and I felt really bad so I made him mayor.

🎉🎊🎉

Thank you once again for letting me borrow your darlings @dr-colossal-pita @choicesmc @rosesnink @stars-are-within-me @lover-also-fighter-also @cadybear420 @storyofmychoices @dutifullynuttywitch ✨✨✨

[mushed-kid]

okay klance au time

(i don’t think it counts as an au, because it’s not changing canon, its just something that could happen after canon)

warning this is long and hard to understand i cant be bothered. u either get it or you dont.

so i haven’t actually thought out all the details and stuff, this is very much just a thought i had:

It’s set after canon, aka everything stays the same. I KNOWWWW that farm lance gets a lotta hate and i get it trust me, but that also stays the same. Non-negotiable because this whole au basically built around that fact!!! so yeah suck it.

okay so everyone’s doing their thang, the paladins are growing up and like young adults, but they’re not teens anymore!

lance is at the farm, and keith works with the blade of marmora or whatever he ended up doing. i can’t remember but that’s what we’re going with. and you know there’s obviously some klance scenes in the last season and in this au that has developed as the next few years passed.

they might’ve started out hating each other and slowly getting better at standing each other, and then friendship developed into a little more, and now they’re basically dating. except they have never said that they’re dating, but neither of them wants to be with anyone else so it’s fine, they know. and they like it that way, it takes the pressure of. (everyone knows but it’s not something that’s brought up)

and anyway point is keith works in space right? and he comes back to earth often because that’s where they all meet, and they try to meet frequently. and that’s where lance lives, so why wouldn’t he? so he stays there when he visits, and it’s nice.

Lance, as always, goes hand in hand with angst. so add some of that. lance has gotten over his feelings for allura. obviously none of them have fully moved on, but with help from the others (and especially keith) he’s come to terms with that. however, that doesn’t mean it’s not constantly affecting him anymore.

he’s already lost allura, and he’s not actually dating keith, but he’s realized that he might not be as straight as he thought over the last couple years. and maybe there’s more to it than just letting keith stay at his house when he visits because he doesn’t have a house, and more because well he might be dating keith but he doesn’t know if keith considers them that. even if it feels that way sometimes

and he’s worried that it’s gonna be another allura-situation. he doesn’t want that, and keith is out in space trying to spread peace and stuff. and lance worries. lance doesn’t want to lose him before he’s even sure that he had him.

and he’s been trying to ignore that thought because everything is fine. keith wont get hurt. he knows what he’s doing and the war is over, so what’s the chances?

but then keith gets hurt.

and the whole thing basically boils down to lance going straight to proposing. because that’s just what he’s like, it has to be good, it has to be perfect. because keith deserves perfect. and it’s not like he can ask keith if they’re dating.

and this is honestly the part i haven’t thought that much about, this idea is mostly based on the setting. but im thinking he gets some help from the other’s at earth to plan it. everyone gathers at lance’s farm because that’s what they always do when they meet up. and everyone is there because keith comes back injured and stays with lance while he gets better.

and lance is nervous because what if he read all of this wrong, he did imagine the rival thing back at garrison, but the others help calm him down. and idrk how but he proposes to keith and asks him to spend their lives together and whatnot.

they have a BEAUTIFUL wedding, and the flowers that remind him of allura are all over btw. they’re in love and everyone’s happy despite it all.

yeah idrk i haven’t worked it out but i like the story. it’s based in the song Found by Dan Davidson. I think it’s cute and it fits with the farm thing. you have to listen to it to get my vision:

[fractiflos]

Here's some ideas for Heroes Week!

And here's the link to the idea list I did. You can also use these any future fics (or drawings).

Hikage leads his fellow vestiges (except they're alive here) on a weekend camping trip. We can only imagine the chaos

In honor of Third's name reveal he has to be the victim of some AU where the original work stars a guy named Bruce. Or put into the outfit of a guy named Bruce.

All For One gets turned into a rabbit and Yoichi finds him, thinks he's an ordinary rabbit, and takes him home to where he lives with Second. He then suffers having to watch his brother live a happy romantic life with coral head. Naturally, he tries to communicate who he really is to Yoichi, who remains oblivious. Unfortunately, Second picks it up instead. Shenanigans ensue.

The same AFO hates his brother's boyfriend(s) stuff, blah blah blah, except... AFO isn't Yoichi's brother.

It's En's birthday and nobody has any idea what to get him. They all scramble to get a good gift and learn a lot about him on the way.

AFO is the owner of Cat Yoichi. He's one of those super annoying rich cat owners who brags about their purebred cat and how he only gives him *Expensive food brand that's actually really good which makes him even more annoying* and stuff like that. Cat Yoichi is very much an indoors cat, but only because AFO wants him to be. If he had his way, he'd be outside exploring all day. Meanwhile, Second and Third are alley cats starving for food. They see Yoichi living a good life and scheme to try and get in.

Some sort of farming game AU. I say Animal Crossing, but that's only because it's the only farming game I have played. Hikage enjoys his peaceful life maintaining his vegetable garden, only for a ridiculously loud neighbor (Banjo) to choose to put his house right next to his. And for added fun, Toshinori is the mayor of One for All Isle

Nana competes in a cooking competition.

You know all those jokes about men figuring out they're going to have a kid because they start making dad jokes and stuff? Okay, now imagine that All Might starts doing that after he meets Midoriya... And AFO notices the sudden dad behavior.

AFO messes up while cutting his brother's hair and Yoichi has too try and hide it.

Genderbend! I put this on the last one, but I haven't seen a lot of genderbent 4-7 so I'm putting it here too.

According to the wiki, Banjo shaved his head. What circumstances would lead up to that?

It's almost Christmas which means it's time for the MISTLETOE TRAP TROPE!

Yoichi sees what a great match Inko would be for the Eighth and ropes everyone else into helping them get together. To make up for her being unfortunate enough to marry his brother.

Something for the Vault Breakers ship! Yoichi is losing his mind trying to get the two together, because no matter what, they seem to think any romance-like actions come from friendship. "You two SHOWER together?" "Well yeah, we're saving money." "You KISS each other?!" "Of course, we do, we're best friends."

Referring back to a certain birthday post I once made, Hikage is a librarian in a small village who fights back when an evil CEO tries to destroy the forest the village is built on.

Users 1-8 are turned into animals (you pick which) and Izuku is forced to take care of them.

There has to be a classic trope in here: Yoichi is struggling to make ends meet as he tries to achieve his dream of becoming a manga writer. There's no way he's going to his brother, but he needs money and fast. He decides to get a second job at the coffee shop next door to his apartment, and ends up serving some very interesting people. Including a mysterious (and handsome) spiky-haired man.

To refer to a meme I once made, En, Banjo, and Hikage babysit little Izuku.

Villain Second and Third.

I forgot to put this on the last one, but please tag me if you do use any of these. I want to see it!

[survivalist-anon]

Log 23: Changing Gears

Back at Pine Hills, me and Fjord were preparing for a quick trek around the mountain range.

I had become infamous in the local outdoorsmen shop in town over the past few years. With every visit, I would make a small bet on my own survival on the local bulletin board. The shop owners have had to state warnings to certain folks that betting on me is a losing bet.

Everytime I comeback, at least someone loses a few bucks.

But today I wasn't in the gambling mood. Neither was the store owners, who were close friends of my grandfather. As I was browsing for new equipment or anything else we needed in terms of gear, Fjord was exploring the store with me.

He stuck to me like a holster, it was a strange for me considering prior to my ex and afterwards I had been single for the longest time.

It was.... refreshing to have a companion to say the least.

We head towards the gun displays for some extra arrows for my bow. I used a standard lightweight hunting bow. It was a small thing but practical for long treks.

Doug, the owner was looking at the both of us curiously, "I see you moved on to bigger and better 'things' I assume, dear.". He was referring to Fjord.

His ears nearly visibly perked up. "Ugh?"

"Oh, he's a friend, he'll be staying with me for a while.", a while it seems could be until I'm on my death bed considering how old Fjord could actually get.

He looks down and smiles a little, "yes, my name is Fjord. Pleasure to meet you.", he shuffles his shoulders a little. Likely flexing his broad frame.

"Hm, pleasure to meet yah, Lorey my condolences by the way. He was an honored friend here ...", Doug let out a deep sigh. "I assume the usual?", he goes to a corner of the display case and brings out a box of specialized hunting arrows. "Honestly even if they discontinue these there'll still be enough for you to buy for the next years. Most folks use guns and ammo.", he showed a large wall of different hunting rifles, guns and replicas.

"Hmf, I've seen bigger. They're delicate pieces aren't they lass?", nudging my back a little.

I look to the wall, "yeah, at least I can find and reuse my arrows."

A gruff huff from Doug let's out like a frustrated hog, in spite of his friendship with my grandpa, he wasn't too keen on my preference of weapons. Just that good ol'merican love for the Smith & Wesson I suppose. "Bigger egh? You from the fort up north?".

Fjord, a little distracted at the wall, glances down at Doug. "Oh no, I am part of a squadron but I'm not from around here.", he than glances over to the target wall. Seeing targets of bears, deer, wolves and a masked man with a gun. ".... interesting selection."

I gather my arrows, but as I pick some of them up, I noticed a Wonder Mart logo on the box, just poorly stuck on. "... they bought this brand too?", pointed at the sticker.

Doug glared at it, "yeeeep. They've been here, they pay well too actually. The store owner actually did a partnership ship mostly because so many folks buy here. I get a few deductibles from purchasing at Wonder Mart for doing my part. So it's a win win for me. Hehe.".

"....you might want to see this than.", I take out my phone and show the picture of McGregor's property. "They're sabotaging the farms now, the egg box was smashed up.".

Doug's mouth drops agape, "well I'll be damned!? You've shown this to McGregor?".

I shake my head, "no not yet, I'm waiting to see if I hear some more complaints. I'm not sure if it was a disgruntled employee or something management directed, so I'm not saying anything yet."

"well now....I'll sure ask around than. I'll bet I can get a few tips too.", Doug pondered.

"well thanks for the help", I nod.

Me and Fjord look around the store a little more, collect a few more items for the trek and pay for the items.

Entering the car, the both of us try to figure out what to do next.

"hmmm, I say we head to the fort lass, than we set up the cameras the way Aldercon wants. Just to be safe.", Fjord suggested.

I can't argue with that logic, after all.

"Yeah, he may not like our joke plan too. Better stay on his good side.", I start the car and head back home where we can gear up.

After an hour or so, he head inside and get the gear ready. "You're going in your armor I assume?", I ask Fjord.

"Yes I believe so lass, remember that traitor marine from your facility's camera?", Fjord had just reminded me of that footage....this may actually be a better opportunity to place more eyes in the forest.

"actually.....you've just gave me an idea....we can use the cameras in more harder places to place them, seem of we find anything else and just tell Benedict the footage got lost.", it's closer to stealing and lying but it's the lesser of two evils in our case.

Fjord's chuffs a little, probably feeling very clever to have inspired me. Which is a fact. "Hehe, I see we have a mission, I'll go and put my armor on.", he headed to the garage where he had left his things.

It has passed maybe a few minutes and I have already finished getting on for the smaller essentials, it was now time to get the bigger stuff like a tarp and some rope. As I head to the garage and just as I was about to knock...

I hear Fjord... praying? It was in a language I couldn't recognize at all....I stood there listening to it, then the clicking of what I assumed is him equiping those big, metal plates for his armor. Than just him stomping a bit, likely taking a step or two.

*knock knock*, "Hey Fjord, you doing ok? May I come in? I just need to get some things.", he opens the door and see him in full armor again.

It had been a days or so that I have seen him without his armor, he looked massive in it. In fact I had completely forgotten that this was his norm.

"Ah hello lass, are we almost ready?", he glinted a smile.

I smile back, "yeah, just need to prep a few more things and than we're all set. Speaking of which, let's check that box the other guy gave to us.".

He nods at me, at first he had readied himself to come through the already small doorway, until he had realized he was a little too big to fit. "oh, hehe, right. I can grab the items here and we look at the supplies outside, no?".

"yeah, hold on then.", I press the garage button, as the door opens, it revealed someone was at the opening.

Waiting just outside the garage door.

It was Ronnie. Just standing on the little slope leading down the hill.

"Hey Lorey.......", he wasn't surprised or shocked. In fact was worried me the most is that he looked like as if his suspensions were confirmed.

As for the both of us, I could hardly imagine the look of shock on both our faces. Feeling like we've been caught in the act.

"ugh.....Ronnie....I ...ugh...I can explain....", I genuinely had no idea how to explain this situation nor how I was going to convince him not to ask anything more about this whole..... situation?

I could see Fjord's hair was standing on end, but I could feel he was conflicted about having to choose to attack Ronnie or risk having his cover blown so easily.

Ronnie walked up slowly, his face stoic as if he was putting a front of confidence, but his movements betrayed a level of caution often seen in the field: it's the stride of someone heading directly to danger without wanting anyone knowing they're scared shitless.

"so.....that explains a lot....", Ronnie casually pointed out. "So......which one are you?"

If I could see from a fourth perspective, I was sure both me and Fjord had tilted our heads in syncly. "I beg your pardon lad?", Fjord asked carefully.

"...which one...of those metal men....are you?", Ronnie's expression hadn't changed, but the assertion in his tone said otherwise. "Are you the one....who's been attacking people? Hmm? The one some of the families around town have spotted in the campgrounds?"

Ronnie was interrogating Fjord? Did he not recognize the armor from the videos, he should be smarter than that.

Or was he so afraid of Fjord that all he could think about is what he is capable of.

This wasn't like Ronnie at all, he was usually more laid back than this .....what happened recently?

Ronnie turned to me, "....well ....Lorey, which one is he?", the stoic expression on his face soften to seek reassurance from me.

"Ron, he is one of the trio that walked passed the cameras, he isn't the one that killed the campers.......", it was than I realized something, Fjord's armor was covered in teeth, patches of pelts and runes, could it be something had developed back at the station? "Ron....what happened?"

Ronnie gave a sadden huff, it's....one of the volunteers.........Carly...she....she was heading to the ridge with one of the new hire, Conner......she was attacked, Connor said it was one of them.", he pointed to Fjord, glaring at him. "Said it was greyish, with fur, and claws....just like Fjord's ...armor....she was sent to the hospital and....she didn't make it", he stared daggers at Fjord.

This was horrible, the fact that Carly was attacked had made my heart crash right down to my stomach. There was no way another Space wolf was here, even if there was, why would they attack Carly of all people?! She wouldn't hurt anyone, this had to have been attacked by one of the 'corrupted ones'.

"I assure you, Ronnie....I am the only one of my pack here for the moment.....I am sure there is a good explanation for this...", Fjord was doing a much better job at keeping his composure.

I shake my head in disbelief, "Ron, he's been with me the whole time. Tied to the hip practically, when did this happen?".

He looked at the both of us, "this morning.....". I could see his shoulders and chest moving up and down even faster. "...rrrrrrRRRAAHHH!", he suddenly jolted at Fjord his a closed fist and landed a blow on to Fjord's chest plate.

With an audible cracking of broken finger bones.

Tears rolled down his eyes, but I doubt it was from the throbbing pain of his now broken fist. He lifted his damaged hand off of the plate and it had left four little blood smears.

Fjord hadn't reacted at all, but he felt for Ronnie. "...lad....I'm sorry.....w-we...will investigate this murder......I swear it....also....I'm... certain you have have broken yo-"

"I FUCKING KNOW THAT MAN!", Ronnie yelled at him, cradling his hand.

I was getting too old for this level of bullshit, I calmly head to the first aid kit, take out some wood scraps from the tool drawer and go straight to tending to Ronnie's hand.

"Ronnie.....what do you always tell me when I loose my shit....and jump to conclusions.....no matter how terrible shit gets?", I ask putting a disinfectant on his now swelling knuckles.

He was shaking in frustration, honestly I commend him for that considering he just raw punched an Astartes in the chest without any hesitation....it's either bravery or something else....

"......n-never...lose y-your cool....w-when you know....t-theres two sides-AH-", he flinch as I had probably touched a tender area, "-of the same story....".

I nod my head, "yes... because the truth?", I look to him eye to eye.

He looks at me, his gaze soften at little, "...is just hiding under the surface....". He lets out a heavy sigh, looking at his wrapped up hand. "Lorey....what the hell is going on around here?", his question felt very vague....

I look to Fjord, "....I...think we may need to tell Aldercon about this.....".

His expression says it all, "....I believe so.... maybe he will be a little bit.... willing?".

Ronnie looked at Fjord, "what the hell are you talking about? Willing for what?".

I could feel he still didn't fully trust Fjord anymore, but I'm certain he didn't have much of a choice. "Willing to let you....know about ugh...well...all of this.", I point to Fjord, than some of my gear. "....we were going to place cameras around the parts of the mountain the team hadn't placed yet.....it's for that guy, Benedict."

The stern face loosen to a face of realization, "....that Gabe Newell looking guy?.... Lorey yah know he's fucking weird right?". It was as if all his anger had just evaporated, as if the tension broke with some shitty joke.

"yep.....he literally accused Fjord of being a space dogman.", he look at him....dead in the eyes with no change in tone.

He looked to Fjord, who had given an awkward smile, "if it will make you feel better, I did find the accusation very upsetting.", obviously he was lying.

Suddenly, Ronnie was chuckling to himself, "....man...I cannot be this dumb, there ain't no way it's the same guy.....but...what Jeff had said about you....is that shit true?", his seriousness came back but just barely.

The smile had shrunk a little, "...I threw his vehicle at him...yes....".

Ronnie was piecing things together, "aight...fine... Lorey just please tell me what the hell is going on?".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been an hour after that whole Punch incident, as the three of us trek down the same path as before.

"How are you doing there, Ronnie? You're hand still hurting?", he turned over his shoulder to see Ronnie still looking at him with a slight glare.

"ya...I'm fine....", he curtly answered.

I couldn't help but feel the tension between the two of them hadn't changed much, "ugh hey Ronnie, I have this ointment the other space marines had given me and Fjord, maybe it will fix your hand a little?", I take out the healing ointment, it was a heavy metal tin with wording I couldn't recognize. "....hmf, I wish I can read this...".

Fjord than stopped a little to look at the tin, "it says 'Lubricant', it think it's the other tin, lass.".

"oh, one second", I rummage through the bag again and find another tin.

"Ah that's the one.", Fjord cooed.

Ronnie was still emotionless, probably thinking the same thoughts as me earlier this week. "Man come on, they speak a different language too?".

"Yep, different cultures and everything.", I open the tin and the strong, musky, and shockingly bitter smell of the ointment hit out nostrils. "Holy shit what the hell is this?!"

"Ah fuck no! It smells fucking foul man I ain't putting that shit on m-AHOW FUK!", Fjord had gently grabbed Ronnie's arm, had already stuck one finger into the ointment and gently spread it under the tourniquet.

"there we go, it should be fine in a few hours, heals everything from most infections to broken bones.", he grinned a little at Ronnie.

However, Ronnie was skeptical, "are you telling me this is some miracle cream or something shit?". He looked at Fjord than at his arm.

As it turned out, it was healing rather quickly.

"yo...this is something freaky shit.", he could even move his fingers a little bit now.

"Let it rest, it should be better by the time we head to the Fort.", Fjord turned and began walking ahead.

Ronnie's head shot up, "Fort?! The fuck these are in a fort for?".

I shake my head, "well it's what they're use to. They're more comfortable in a military environment, so...they make do.", I motioned to him to hurry a long.

He stood there speechless, "....this better not be some secret underground government bullshit...we already work with that kind of shit.", he sounded upset but he was still willing to accept some of this new insanity.

"Well, let's just say, the government doesn't know about them....much.", it's all I could reasonably state.

End of log 23

@kit-williams @barn-anon @egrets-not-regrets @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan @walking-natural-disaster @starfrost740 @squishyowl @sleepyfan-blog @lawnchair86

[thunderberryart]

One thing I hope they never do is make the Rune Factory protagonists blank slates in terms of personality. I know there are a lot of people who are weirdly defensive of the idea that the Rune Factory protagonists are literal self-inserts, specifically because there is some player choice involved (being able to change their name, choose their birthday, and pick who they romance, as well as some conversations and story scenes having dialogue options) but the thing is unlike true self inserts, the Rune Factory protagonists actually have their own voices and personalities. Their dialogue isn't just dialogue options selected by the player: they actually have their own thoughts and opinions during conversations and they aren't afraid to say them. And as far as those dialogue options go, most of them don't really matter in terms of the protagonist's characterization, as most often all they do is change the direction of the conversation or what information is gleaned from the person you're talking to. They don't actually have an effect on the outcome of the main story or your relationships in town.

I know this is very much a "me" thing, but I tend to have less fun with video games where self-inserting yourself as the protagonist is all but a requirement for full enjoyment. Prior to Rune Factory, the farm sim I had the most experience with was Stardew Valley and it's a very fun game, but outside occasional dialogue options that do have the potential to raise/lower friendship levels, the Farmer is just a blank board you draw a face on and say "that's me!" And while I understand why a lot of people enjoy being able to self-insert themselves onto a protagonist, I personally don't like the extra hassle of having to imagine what I would say in a given situation, especially since what I would say might not necessarily sit well with Sebby or whoever I'm trying to romance in that particular file.

In contrast, Frey has very quickly become one of my favorite female video game protagonists and it's not because of any personality I created for her. The Frey presented by RF4 is sweet, kind, helpful, playful, and has a good sense of humor, but is also plain-spoken, sassy, and has a very low tolerance for bullshit. She's brave, hardworking, and very determined to achieve her goals, but is also emotional, can be unsure of herself, and will cry when sad or upset. And again, this isn't anything I made up: this is all based on the stuff she says in the main story, during town events, and in everyday conversations with the villagers. Hell, the reason I ship Arthur/Frey so hard is not just because I enjoy Arthur's plot and the way he interacts with Frey, but because I enjoy Frey's interactions with him the most out of any of the villagers. The handful of blanks I have to fill in with Frey—things like her backstory prior to getting amnesia and her preferences in food/hobbies—don't actually matter in terms of her overall characterization, and that's why I like her so much. I don't have to imagine that I'm Frey—Frey is Frey and I'm watching her story unfold.

I do hope in the future more customization options are offered for the Rune Factory protagonists, or at least the devs branch out in terms of who they are (ex: all the protagonists up to this point have been white/pale-skinned, and there are many POC fans of the series who wish they could play as a black protagonist), but please please PLEASE do not make them blank boards. The whole reason I became attached to Rune Factory is because it's a series I don't have to self-project on to the protagonist in order to get the most out of the narrative, which is part of what sets it apart from other games in its genre.