#it’s white people as far as the eye can see. shocker. however. then it gets a bit closer to the stage. not too close. but sorta. right there

[genderqueer-karma]

what the fuck i didn’t expect to cry just now. it’s so amazing how you can connect to people you’ll never meet.

[pandaponderart]

Underrated Anime Part 1:

Hello my fellow Weebs, I’m back for some more Anime blogging, this time to talk about so not so well known ones. Some that have got forgotten with time, some that new Anime fans have maybe never heard of and the ones that I feel deserve more love and recognition. I’ve been watching Anime for about 13 years so I’ve seen a lot so this will be in at least 3 parts, so hopefully you like this and look forward to more. Til then enjoy, hope you can find some new anime you’ve never heard of thanks for reading and look forward to part 2!.

1. Azumanga Daioh(2002)

Starting off with an older Anime, and one of the best and earlier comedy, slice of life Anime that paved the way for a lot of other Anime in the same genre like Nichijou and Daily Lives of High School Boys. Off the wall and highly unrealistic, this comedy is completely over the top in the best way possible. it’s old but gold and should be crowned as one of the best comedy Anime to exist.

With the most lovable cast, you have Chiyo the 5th grader who is so crazy smart she gets placed in a high school class, then there’s Osaka, who’a real name is Ayumu Kasuga who’s named that because she‘s from Osaka. Osaka isn’t the smartest and neither is her other classmate Tomo Takino who will do anything to avoid studying. Then to balance out the cast is Koyomi Mizuhara aka Yomi, the smart one who keeps everyone in line and Kagura the sporty one. Then of course can’t forget to mention the teachers Yukari Sensei who is anything but the normal responsible teacher and to balance her out Minamo Sensei the responsible one. There’s no real plot with Azumanga Daioh but there’s not meant to be it’s just an over the top comedy slice of life, with moments that will make you laugh from your gut. It’s all about the characters and the ridiculous situations their put in and each one is a lovable idiot that really drives the show. Give this one a shot if you want a show that will put a big smile on your face the whole way through.

2. Eden of The East (2009)

Another older Anime, not everything on this list will be older Anime but there’s so many good ones like this!. Eden of The East is an action, mystery with elements of romance with one of the most unique stories I’ve seen in Anime. It’s a short watch being only eleven episodes with two movies following after which I recommend watching because they continue the story. I’m really surprised not more people know or talk about this show but it need to be talked about more!.

With one of the funniest and most bizarre starts to an Anime, our lead charcter Saki is on a trip to Washington D.C, when she gets in trouble for throwing a coin in the White House’s fountain she’s saved by a naked man who claims to be a terrorist. Not only is this mysterious man naked and claims to be a terrorist, he also has amnesia and is carrying a phone with 8.2 million dollars. Saki befriends this strange man and throughout the story they try to uncover more of his past, his involvment in an incident called careless monday and a dangerous death game with other players. They must also spend all of the money as instucted by the mysterious voice in the phone Juiz as well as try to save the world.

3. R.O.D The TV( 2003)

Ok I know I said this list wouldn’t only be older Anime but I guess the older Anime just has my heart and this one has a special place in mine. One of my all time favorites and one of the earliest Anime I saw and it still holds up to me til this day. It is hands down probably the most underrated show on this entire list and if you only watch one of these Anime please make it this one. The story is completely original, the characters are complex and endearing, there’s action, heartwarming moments, comedy and mystery, I wish there was more Anime like it, it deserves to be a classic.

It‘s a one of a kind show about the paper sisters Michelle, the oldest bubbly bookworm, Maggie the seemingly intimidating quiet giant. Then you have the youngest sister Anita who unlike her sisters hates books, she’s a bit rough around the edges but loves her sisters. Although they aren’t actually sisters they have a detective agency to help find lost books to help pay for rent while also doing odd jobs like being body guards. Their first assignment is to protect the author, Nenene Sumiragawa who is being threatened to be killed at her book signing. The paper sisters aren’t called that just because of their love of books, they can turn paper into weapons and whatever else they please, but each having their speciality. Nenene finds out they‘re paper sisters just like her friend who ‘s missing, Yomiko Readman and asks them for help finding her. They try to help Nenene find her friend, while solving other cases and saving the world with the power of paper.

4. Baccano(2007)

Probably the most well known but also I think one of the most under appreciated Anime, from Durarara’s creator, Baccano. I feel like most newer Anime fans won’t know this one and although it’s a beloved series by many, I still feel it’s underrated. Also another bias opinion shocker, it’s one of my absolute favorites but that’s why it’s here. It’s once again a shorter anime with only 13 episodes but it somehow manages to combine all of the storylines cohesively, it’s a wild ride full of mystery, murder, and magic that will keep you on board the entire time trying to piece everything together. Also warning it jumps around a lot so make sure to pay attention everything pieces together!.

Based in the 1930’s in the prohibition era you have several stories involving different characters going on but they‘re all connected to one thing the transcontinental train, the flying pussyfoot. Yes that’s actually the name of the train, why, still no idea but all these characters from different walks of life end up here somehow. Now to introduce some of these crazy characters, first off the goofy thieves in love Isaac and Miria, who aren’t the brightest but can steal just about anything. Lad Russo the sadistic hit man who loves to see people die, including fantasizing about killing his fiancé one day. Then you have the ones involved in gangs, all In different ones, but nonetheless involved in some sort of crime. First there’s Firo, the youngest of the Martello family and one of the immortals in the show, then there’s Jacuzzi Splot and his partner Nice, Jacuzzi is a big wimp and crybaby but will protect his loved ones with all he’s got and Nice is a bomb expert and his childhood food. Those are some of the main characters it’s such a large cast it’s hard to name and explain them all. This one is a must watch especially if you liked Durarara, jump on the hype train of this wild show.

5. Black Cat (2005)

Now quick disclaimer before I begin talking about this one, I haven’t watched this in years so it may not hold up as well as I’m remembering but when I watched it I really enjoyed it so that’s why it’s here. This was one of the earlier Anime I watched I’m pretty sure my friend showed me it but it caught my interest from the beginning. It’s not the most groundbreaking show to exist and I’ve heard that the manga is apparently better but that’s for almost every show. It’s got cool action, funny moments and a great cast of characters, plus not gonna lie I had a crush on train when I was younger. its just a fun show and definitely worth giving a watch!

Train Heartnett is an infamous cold blooded assassin who works for the organization Chronos, and because of his lack of empathy for killing he’s named Black Cat. But after a chance encounter with a bou hunter named Saya Minatsuki, they become friends and Train decided he wants to leave Chronos to pursue an honest living as a bounty Hunter. However chronos and particular his fellow member Creed Diskenth are not pleased with this and try to get Train to rejoin Chronos. Along the way Train teams up with fellow bounty hunter on the brink of broke Sven, the bio mech weapon and little girl Eve and master thief and seductress Rinslet Walker. Together they try to escape from Chronos and get enough money for their next .

6. Arakawa Under The Bridge(2010)

Where do I begin with this one first off, this is one of the weirdest Anime I’ve ever seen but just like Azumanga Daioh that’s what make it so good. Beautifully animated by Studio Shaft with some of the most colorful and visually appealing animation I’ve seen, it’s pure eye candy. it’s equally as strange as it is hilarious and it’s just a fun time that’s not meant to be taken seriously. So if you want a good laugh and something thats truly one of a kind in story and characters give this crazy show a shot.

The show begins with one of our main characters Kou Ichinomiya getting stuck by his underwear on a bridge by some kids, he falls into the river and is saved by a mysterious girl. Kou is the son of a wealthy businessman and his life motto is to not be indebted to anyone, so when he’s saved by this girl he asks what he can do. He finds out that her name is Nino and what she wants is to fall in love, so she asks Kou to be her boyfriend. At first Nino seems like a regular girl but she claims to be an alien from Venus and lives in a box under the bridge, not wanting to be in debt Kou agrees and begins living under the bridge with Nino. However Nino isn’t the only one who lives under the bridge there are many other strange characters like hoshi, the aspiring musician who wears a star on his head, and the captain who’s a human in a kappa suit. I highly suggest watching this strange sci-fi romantic comedy for something different and fun to watch.

7. 91 Days (2016)

The newest Anime on this list so far, see I told you it wouldn’t be only old ones!, this is also the darkest Anime on this list so far. This has been highly overlooked since it’s release in 2016, it reminds me of baccano and in parts like death note. If you like mafia movies or just a dark gritty story with some light hearted moments, it s short show but nothing is rushed and it’s solid from front to back and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Just like Baccano, 91 Days takes place in the prohibition era in a town called Lawless where crime is rampant and illegal alcohol sales are thriving. In this town our protagonist Aviicio‘s family is killed by one of the mafia families, The Vanetti Family. He receives a mysterious anonymous letter telling him to return to lawless to infiltrate The Vanetti Family. He tries to befriend the families son Nero, to find an opportunity for revenge, the story keep you constantly guessing if they’ve truly become friends or if he’ll kill him. Please watch this wonderful mafia crime drama of friend vs foe.

8. Yamada Kun and The Seven Witches (2015)

This is one of the ones that I still really want to read the manga for because I just couldn’t get enough of it! i’m still hoping for a sequel one day! The premise of body swapping has been done many times in Anime and cinema as a whole but this one adds a unique enough of a twist to keep it fresh and interesting. I looked forward to watching this weekly each week meeting a learning about each new witch and learning what power they had.

Ryuu Yamada is a high school delinquent who wants a fresh start at a new school, despite the intention to start with a clean slate he soon falls into old habits of laziness and getting into fights. One day he trips on the stairs which leads to an accidental kiss with fellow student Urarara Shiraishi which causes them to switch bodies. Another student Toranosuke Miyamura learns that they can switch bodies and recruits them to his Supernatural Studies club. There they learn about the other seven witches that all have different powers

9. Arslan Senki (2015-2016)

The second to last of the list comes from the creator of my all time favorite Anime Fullmetal Alchemist, while it’s a very different series and not quite as good as FMA it’s still deserves a spot on this list and deserves your time. It’s hard not to compare it to FMA but it really is it’s own thing, and it actually came out before Fullmetal, it’s a historical drama about war and strategy and a character growing into his potential. Just as Hiromu Arakawa is known for there’s still some comedic moments and some great character development and a well done story, Plus if you like this there’s two seasons so there more to enjoy.

Ok I promise from this point forward I won‘t say anything more about Fullmetal Alchemist this is about Arslan Senki, here’s the story. In the year 320 the Kingdom of Pars is at war with the neighboring kingdom Lusitania. Pars is ruled by the ruthless king Andrangoras III who has a son who’s the complete opposite of him Arslan. Although he doesn’t know how to fight Arslan tries to prove his worth by joining the battle, but things take a turn for the worst when one of the kings officials betrays him. The once prosperous Kingdom of Pars is seized, and since Arslan is the kings son he must flee to avoid capture. So he sets off with his loyal bodyguard Daryun to find allies to help take back the kingdom. Knowing that Arslan is still alive he is still faced with pursuers from other kingdoms and the head of the Lusitania army, a mysterious man with a silver mask who knows a secret that could jeopardize Arslan‘s succession to the throne. Arslan is a gentle, kind person that doesn’t enjoy fighting, he must learn to fight and protect himself and gain the courage to lead an army to regain his home.

10. Shingeki No Bahamut: Genesis (Rage of Bahamut) (2014)

Leaving one of the best for last, not to be confused with the popular series with a similar name Shingeki no Kyojin(Attack on Titan) this show is just as good. One of the first shows from one of my favorite Anime studios, Studio Mappa. I had low expectations when I heard this was a card game adaptation from a new anime studio but I decided to check it out despite that and it was the best decision. This has all the elements of a great anime, the beautiful animation, the unique characters and the compelling story and all the cool action scenes are just a plus. There is a second season too but I’ll leave that for another time, ok time to stop gushing about this wonderful show, time for the story!.

Years and years ago the ancient powerful dragon Bahamut reeked havoc on Mistarcia, a land where gods and demons lived harmoniously with humans. The gods and demons manage to seal away Bahamut with the god key and agree to split it to keep him sealed. Now that the the peace has been restored we meet the main characters and one of my favorites the orange Afro haired bounty hunters Favaro Leone. Favaro is constantly on the run from his adversary and fellow bounty hunter Kaiser Lidfard who‘s main purpose in life is to get revenge on him. One day both of their lives are thrown into chaos when they meet the mysterious girl Amira who holds half of the god key sealing Bahamut and wants help reaching the land of Helheim. I also can’t forget to mention my other favorite character and the fourth member of this unlikely crew Rita the zombie necromancer little girl she is just the definition of cool. Then there’s the characters that want to steal the god key the demon Azazel and the knight Jean D’Arc who are constantly in the characters way but you’ll find out more about them in the show. These unlikely heroes must face the threat of the battle of gods and demons, the pursuers of the god key and incoming threat of Bahamut awakening.

[woah-were-halfway-there]

The Sweetest of Them All

A/N: just another little bonus part of the AFTR universe that I came up with out of nowhere. Also, I left this as third person instead of second. Enjoy!

Word Count: 3.2k

Y/N has never been a big fan of Valentine's Day.

To her, it was overrated and expensive. But, she'd be lying if she said she didn't love the fact that it gave an extra reason to love on Auston a ridiculous amount. Sure, she did that every day, but to be fair, she loved how the title of Valentine's Day added a bit more fun and excitement to something she'd normally do any other day. It felt different for some reason, so even though she didn't love the so-called holiday, she still tried to plan something special for it every year.

Admittedly, she and Auston almost got competitive about it with trying to one-up the other with affection. They didn't care about gifts. They cared about the time they spent together and the thoughtfulness behind it.

Usually, it was Y/N that came up with something ridiculously sweet for Valentine's Day to do for Auston. However, this year, he had her beat.

For some odd reason, Y/N woke up very early that day. Maybe it was the baby waking her, or perhaps it was her internal clock saying sleep was no longer necessary. But, regardless, she was awake much earlier than usual. She also knew Mia wasn't awake or else she would've heard her, so she took that time to lie back in bed and relax for a few minutes on her own.

The bed felt incredibly empty, given that Auston was with the Leafs in Washington and wasn't expected to be back in Toronto until late that night. Frank was a good cuddle buddy alternative, but sometimes the Goldendoodle just wasn't enough when Y/N was missing her man. Of course, this was one of the days when she missed him a lot, so she took that as an excuse to text Auston and at least get this so-called holiday kicked off.

Y/N Happy Valentine's Day, Aus 🥰 can't wait to see you tonight

She wasn't expecting him to message back right away, seeing as it was only 7:30 in the morning, but much to her surprise, he did.

Auston Happy Valentine's Day, babe 💕 Can't wait to see you either. Did the flowers for Mia get delivered?

Y/N Yes, they got here last night. They're beautiful. I set them on the kitchen counter, so once she's awake and we go downstairs, she'll see her little V-Day gift from you

Auston Perfect. I got part of your Valentine's thing with me right now too. Ready for it?

Y/N Is it going to make me cry?

Auston Probably

Y/N Great. Hit me with your best shot

She stared at her phone screen for a moment, expecting it to light up with the notification of an incoming FaceTime call from her husband or a picture, but instead, he sent her a link. But not just any link, it was the link to the video recording of a new Spittin' Chiclets podcast episode that was over an hour-long called 'Love Day: Part One.'

Confused, but also insanely curious, Y/N then leaned over to grab her laptop from the bedside table and got into the most comfortable position her growing baby bump would allow so she could watch the video like that. As soon as she was about to press play, her phone buzzed with another text.

Auston This was filmed a couple of weeks ago when the Chiclets guys were in Toronto. They interviewed at least 10 different guys in the league at different times, and they're kind of long, which is why there's more than one part. Just watch the intro, then I'm the first interview. Mitch is on part 2 if you want to watch that as well, but yeah... call me when you're done 💕

Still unsure of how to process what was going on, Y/N just shook her head and followed the link.

The video started with Biz, Whit and Rear sat all-around a table, each wearing a different red, white or pink shirt with heart-shaped balloons positioned behind them. Empty bottles of Pink Whitney sat on the table, acting as vases for bouquets of roses, making Y/N roll her eyes and chuckle at how far these guys would go for good product placement. But, she kept watching, and unsurprisingly, Biz was the first to speak.

Biz: "For Valentines Day this year, we wanted to do something different. Something more soft. So, we're going to tell, well, I guess, show some love stories."

Whit: "Bet you all didn't know that some of the greatest love stories to ever be told have happened to some of the guys that play in the NHL. Don't believe me? Guess you'll have to listen to find out what they are."

Rear: "We asked some players to come in and talk to us about their relationship stories and give as many details as they were willing to give. And let me tell you, they were great. To start us off, we have Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs telling us his fairytale romance."

The video then clipped to a shot of Biz sitting next to Auston in what Y/N assumed was the hotel downtown that the Chiclets guys were staying at. Auston wasn't dressed extravagantly or anything, just wore a grey hoodie, black pants, and his signature Raiders snapback.

Y/N immediately recognized his outfit. She remembered Auston coming home in those same clothes early one afternoon after he did some running around downtown with Mia, and started thinking of how not once did he mention doing anything for the podcast. He kept this very on the down low, and Y/N was excited to see how it would all play out.

Biz: "Alright, with us today, we have none other than the Leafs number 34, Auston Matthews. Welcome back to the show, Auston. How ya doin?"

Auston: "I'm great. Thanks for having me. How are you guys?"

Whit and Rear: "Good."

Biz: "Great, real good. Now, Auston, you know what you're here to talk about, right?"

Auston: (chuckling) "You're acting like you didn't spend the last week blowing up my phone until I agreed to do this."

Biz: "Amazing! You do know. So, here's how it's all going to go down. We've got a list of questions about your relationship with your significant other. Your obvious better half. And are going to take turns asking them so the people listening at home can get a bit of insight on your, and I quote, iconic love story. Why don't you give us a little summary of your relationship before we dive in?"

Auston: (hesitantly) "Sure, okay. So, my wife Y/N and I have been married for almost two years now. Our anniversary is at the end of July. She accidentally forgot it last year, which I haven't let her live down. Y/N, babe, this is your six month in advance warning that our anniversary is indeed coming up again this year… She's going to hate that I mentioned that. We, uh, we've been together since my first season in Toronto, so for a pretty long time now, and it's been amazing. We have a daughter, Amelia, but everyone just calls her Mia unless she's in trouble. She just turned two on January 25th, and we have our second baby on the way. They're due to be making their grand appearance in late June. We also have our firstborn, Frank, the Goldendoodle. Can't forget about him. But, yeah, that's my little family."

Whit: (nodding along with Biz and Rear) "Fair enough. Now, how and when did you and Y/N meet exactly?"

Auston: "We met on the night of my first NHL game back in 2016. She was at that game."

Biz: "Oh, yeah? Was she there for a reason?"

Auston gave him an unimpressed look.

Biz: "What?"

Auston: "You know why she was there!"

Biz: (shrugging) "Our listeners don't. C'mon, refresh my memory. Was she there to cheer someone else on?"

Auston: (shaking his head) "Yeah. She, uh, she's a cousin of one of my teammates, so she was there with their family to watch him during our first game."

Biz: (grinning widely) "What teammate?"

Auston: "The one out in the hallway keeping my daughter occupied while you keep being annoying and asking me questions you already know the answer to."

Everyone laughed at that, including Y/N, as she shifted onto her side, being mindful of her growing bump that seemingly became more noticeable each day, and got comfortable as she braced herself for what the rest of this interview would entail.

Biz: (still laughing): "Just to clarify for everyone who still doesn't know, he's talking about Mitch Marner."

Auston: "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

Rear: "I take it that Mitch and Mia get along really well? I haven't heard a peep from her since you came in here."

Auston: "Oh, she loves him. Yeah, that's her Mitchy, alright. Him and Steph, who you will hear all about once Mitch comes in here, are Mia's godparents and some of her favourite people."

Whit: "That's awesome. And how was that at first, though, being romantically involved with one of your teammates' family members? Sounds like grounds for some chaos, if I'm honest."

Auston: "It sure made meeting the family a bit more nerve-wracking. I'm just kidding. No, it was fine. It was definitely a little awkward at first trying to figure out how I was going to tell Mitch that I wanted to date his cousin. Like, he and Y/N are very close. Always have been. And the last thing both me and Y/N wanted was for Mitch to be uncomfortable. He did handle it really well, though. It's because of him I was even able to get to know her in the first place, which I'll never be able to thank him enough for."

Rear: "Now, you're a pretty private guy. You post the odd picture of your little family from time to time. Y/N is rather private, as well. So, really, no one knows your guys' story other than those who have lived it with you or watched it unfold. I'm sure many people will jump right on the chance to listen to this, seeing as you and Y/N are one of the most beloved couples in the NHL. But, what exactly made you want to come on here, give a bit of insight into your private life, and talk about it all?"

Auston: "Well, for one, Biz would not stop asking me to do it. Literally kept calling and texting me for days until I finally agreed."

Whit: "Shocker."

Biz: "Hey, now."

Auston: (chuckling) "That and also I figured, why not. I love my wife, and I love our little story. It's nice to think back on everything that's happened and see how it all got us to where we are now. With all the ups and the downs, its uh, it's been an amazing ride for sure, and I wouldn't change it for a thing. Also, it's for Valentine's Day. I haven't told her I'm doing this, so when you guys drop the episode, I'm just going to send it to her without much context."

Whit: "Do you think she'll cry?"

Auston: "Absolutely. I know this kind of thing would make her tear up regularly, but those pregnancy hormones have got her bad. Without a doubt, she's going to call me crying once she's done watching this."

Y/N scoffed as he said that and grabbed some tissues to wipe away the waterworks she already felt coming on.

Biz: "I've met Y/N many times now. The first time being back in what, 2018?"

The screen then showed an old picture of Biz sitting in a restaurant with his arm wrapped around Y/N's shoulders, both smiling widely as they held up their drinks, with Auston seemingly moping off to the side a little bit. Y/N chuckled at the image, instantly thinking back to the day she first met Paul Bissonnette and how wild it was before the photo faded away and showed the guys again.

Biz: "Yeah, it was when she was in Scottsdale visiting you during the summer. Great girl, completely out of Auston's league."

Auston: "Hey!"

Biz: "I'll never forget you sassing her when she commented on how hot Arizona was, with her being Canadian and all, but damn she was fast putting you in your place by calling you a, what was it?"

Auston: (grumbling) "Desert Boy."

Everyone burst out laughing again, except Auston, who just rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.

Auston: "Whatever. She sasses me all the time when I complain about the snow, but the one time I do it back, I get called a Desert Boy and can never live it down."

Biz: (still laughing) "Ugh, amazing. Okay, moving on because we don't have much time and can probably fit in like two more questions. So, Auston, tell us how you knew that Y/N was the end game for you. How did you know that she was the one?"

Auston: "Oh, man. I don't even know how to explain it. Growing up, you see all these movies and shows, or read books where people always find someone who is their soulmate. Their perfect match. And I never knew what the feeling of finding that person was because I had never experienced it. My mom would tell me that when I did find that person, I'd know. That it'll be such an intense feeling, and to be honest, I didn't believe her. Until I met Y/N, I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true. The first time I met her, something drew me in, and I knew I wanted to get to know her better right away. Mitch spoke so highly of her, so did the other guys on the team that had already met her and over the first couple of months of us knowing each other, I saw what they meant. She quickly became one of my best friends ever. When we started dating, I saw more of how good a person she is, which attracted me even more. She is so selfless and caring for everyone around her; it truly blows my mind. I had never seen my family welcome a girl I introduced them to as quickly as they did her, and I trust their judgment the most. But even if they didn't do that, I know they would have accepted her regardless because, honestly, I probably seemed like a lovesick idiot. I still do. Y/N became this significant light in my life that I knew I wanted to be there forever. I began thinking about what it'd be like spending the rest of my life with her. Then it became something that I knew I needed. I can't imagine my life without her, and I never want to. She makes me so happy and has given me more than I could ever thank her for. I'll never understand how I, of all people, was the one to capture her massive heart, but I do know how lucky I am."

As he spoke, the screen showed a little picture slideshow of Y/N and Auston over the years of their relationship. It started with one that Ema took the first time Y/N had ever gone to Scottsdale. Y/N was sitting on the edge of a pool, and her legs dipped into the water. Auston stood between them as he wrapped his arms around her middle and leaned against her while looking over at where Ema stood taking the picture. The next one was from a Christmas party where the two were under a mistletoe as Auston leaned Y/N back and was kissing her cheek as she laughed and held onto him for dear life. There was a picture of them with Auston's family, one of them with Mitch and Steph, and another of Auston with his arms around Nate and Mya, Y/N's younger brother and sister, as the three smiled at the camera and Y/N was in the background looking confused.

The last few pictures were a bit more recent. They showed Y/N holding Frank as a puppy, a maternity photo of her and Auston posing when she was pregnant with Mia, and one of them on their wedding day with Mia and the rest of the gang. Then, the slideshow concluded with a very recent picture of them taken just a couple of weeks prior at Mia's birthday party, where Auston has his arms wrapped around Y/N from the back, showcasing her growing belly. At the same time, she leaned against him and glanced over her shoulder at him lovingly. The photos then went away and showed the guys again as Auston finished speaking.

Auston was right. Y/N was full-on bawling by that point.

All the guys were smiling as Auston finished saying his thing, but were soon interrupted by a knocking noise followed by a door opening.

Mitch: (offscreen) "Wait, no! Don't let her in!"

Mia: (also offscreen) "Daddy!"

Mia then came into the frame as she ran towards Auston, not caring about what was going on or who was there. Auston was quick reacting as he smiled widely and scooped Mia right up into his arms, making sure to place multiple kisses on her cheek as she giggled and squirmed in his hold, while Mitch became visible too and shrugged.

Auston: "Hi, mini. I missed you. Did you have fun with Mitchy?"

Mia: "Yeah! Where's mommy, daddy?"

Auston: "She's at home, baby girl. I'm almost done, then we can go get a Timbit while we wait for Mitch to be done. Sounds good?"

Mia: (knuckling at her eyes, tiredly) "Mhmm."

Rear: "This is adorable."

Biz: "Hi, Mia."

Mia: (shyly while hiding against Auston's chest a bit) "Hi, Biz."

Whit: (laughing) "Okay, I think we've kept you long enough now, Auston. Is there anything else you and Mia would like to say to Y/N?"

Auston: "Yes. Happy Valentine's Day, babe. I love you so much, and I'm sorry I'm not there right now. You're going to hear a lot more from me on actual Valentine's Day, but for right now, I think that's just about it. Mia, can you blow a kiss to the camera so mommy can see it and say 'happy Love Day!'"

Mia: (blows the kiss) "Happy Love Day, mommy!"

Auston: "Can you tell her that you love her?"

Mia: "Love you!"

Auston and Mia then waved to the camera and said bye as the clip faded out, and a new interview of another NHLer began playing.

Y/N's heart felt so full. She couldn't stop crying over how much she loved her family and how badly she needed to hear something like that. Life had been particularly hard on her as of late and seemed to keep throwing her curveballs, but this, this was exactly what she needed. To be reminded of how loved she is and that she genuinely is never alone.

She then grabbed her phone to call Auston and remind him of how much she loved him, that day and every day. The two talked for a few minutes before Y/N was pretty sure she could hear Mia waking up. After saying their goodbyes, Y/N found herself thinking about how, regardless of how she feels about the actual day, this was a Valentine's Day she will never forget.

[sarunohadaki]

Lovestruck Summer Days

Fandom: DQXI but can be read fandom blind! (or so I hope lol)

Summary: A casual volleyball player and resident cool man (or, not so cool anymore, given the heat) meet at the beach. What happens next will shock you. (Especially when the hot surfer boy enters the picture).

Word count: 6,446

Read it on AO3 here! An excerpt is under the read more.

There’s only so much reading you can do under the flimsy protection of a sun umbrella in July heat before it starts to become unbearable. At hour two, Erik slathers another layer of sticky sunscreen on his pale skin and slides shades on over his eyes. He lays back in his lounge chair with his hands clasped over his bare stomach, trying to catch some zees.

That plan works for all of one minute before there’s a loud crash, followed by all-over pain at the sudden weight on Erik’s body.

It feels like a fat man has belly flopped onto him. When he opens his eyes, however, Erik sees a flash of blue sky from beyond his canvas cage. He struggles out of the blue and white stripes, arms flailing a little for something to hold onto, when he feels soft hands curl around his and heave.

Erik crawls out of the destroyed umbrella and stares up at his perpetrator and savior.

She has a blond braid over each shoulder, with little bow ties at the bottom. A straw hat sits over her head, casting her lilac eyes in shadow. Erik only takes one glance at her figure, concluding that yes, she’s athletic enough to be the one who almost took him out with a volleyball.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so terribly sorry about all of this,” the girl says. “Are you alright?”

A big part of Erik knows what he should say. But dammit, it’s summer break, and he’s going to take his shot.

“Pretty much, though I wouldn’t mind a kiss to make it better,” he says, accented with a wink.

She pauses a second, blinking, then brings up a hand and giggles. “Where does it hurt?”

“Right here,” Erik says, and points to the soft skin of his cheek.

He closes his eyes as she leans forward and kisses his cheek. Then she pulls away, the cutest blush covering her cheeks.

“Serena! Stop dawdling over there and get the ball!”

A shout draws their eyes over to the volleyball field where the girl's friends patiently wait for her to return. The one who’d shouted her name looks awfully similar, though with more something to her posture that rubs Erik the wrong way.

"Coming!" Serena shouts back, then turns to Erik with a smile. "Do you mind helping me find my volleyball?"

"Sure," Erik says.

They scour through Erik's destroyed patch of sand, pushing aside bits of broken umbrella, including the punched canopy and the tilting metal pole that suspends it. They eventually manage to get Erik's belongings into some semblance of order, finding the volleyball lodged under the lawn chair in the process.

Once Serena has it back in her arms, she rises to her feet and turns to Erik.

"So sorry again for interrupting you," she says.

"It's no biggie," Erik responds. "Your name's Serena, right?"

"Yes! I'm here on summer vacation with some of my friends. What's your name?"

"Erik. It's really nice to meet you."

He can tell from the blush on her cheeks that he's got this one in the bag. She flips her head back toward the net then to Erik. "Do you want to join us?"

"I'd love to."

Erik follows Serena across the sand, eyeing her as they meet her friends.

---------

By the time the sun has started to set, Erik's spent most of the evening with Serena's friends. From the way it was explained to Erik, they’re all part of the same church group. That's not a huge shocker to Erik, given the way the others took one look at his pierced ears and wild hair and sent him a few disapproving huffs from their noses.

But if there's one thing Erik knows how to do it's charm people into liking (or at least tolerating) him. And Erik has a real huge propensity for brown-nosing, since it can get you pretty far in life.

Erik's helping to take apart the net, arms stretched above his head as he reaches to unlatch it from the pole, when Serena approaches with her arms behind her back and a shy smile on her face.

"Hey Serena," Erik says.

"Hi Erik," she says back. She clears her throat. "I was wondering if... if you wouldn't mind hanging out with me this evening?"

Erik arches an eyebrow. He drops his arm and the net follows, hitting the sand with a  shhhft.

"Sure. You down for dinner at the Crab Shack at six thirty?"

Serena's eyes light up and she grins. "Oh, that would be splendid! Let's do that then."

"See you there," Erik says.

Serena bends down to gather the net up in her arms and Erik moves to the other end to help her. Once they have folded ends of the net in their hands and moved to the center to join the pieces together, Erik reaches for Serena's hand and kisses the top of her palm, savouring the way her face lights up once more.

Once Erik returns to his own spot in the sand, Derk's there with his hands on his hips, gesturing to the destroyed umbrella.

"What did you do?" he asks.

Erik grins. "I was taking your advice and talking to cute girls."

[seyaryminamoto]

I feel like i'm gonna regret asking this but what is hiby

Oh. Ohohoho, oh. I recently answered this to someone else (not on this blog), I suppose there are so many newcomers in this fandom lately that HIBY has become slightly less known than it used to be.

HIBY stands for How I Became Yours, the most polemic and catastrophic fancomic in the history of the Avatar franchise. If you thought any of the official comics were problematic in any sense, woah boy, they’re goddamn flawless masterpieces compared to this thing.

Every possible angle of HIBY is problematic. Spot-on accusations of tracing were the main reason why Deviantart took down Jackie Diaz’s profile and comic from their platform. I heard Nickelodeon also got involved legally, not 100% sure on that front, but if true, they cracked down on her because she attempted to profit off this clunky mess of an inconsistent story by claiming it was somehow an official sequel to ATLA. To clarify, this last thing is something I was told, I can’t find actual sources to confirm it… so maybe I heard an exaggerated account of the tale of HIBY and it never went that far. Nevertheless, this comic didn’t need to escalate into a legal problem to be absolutely abhorrent.

In regards of art, HIBY somehow keeps discarding the asian-inspired setting seen throughout ATLA and instead favors showing the characters in European castles and outfits that don’t fit anywhere within ATLA’s world at all:

Katara is basically wearing a red version of Belle’s dress from Beauty and the Beast, if I’m not mistaken. The architecture of the place they’re at is so European it’s baffling (if I’m not mistaken, this is supposed to be Toph’s family’s house :’D). Also, it’s blatantly obvious that the background is a photograph, so she could’ve just as easily looked for photos of asian locations instead, but she picked european architecture because yes. Yet more blows against the possible artistic merits someone could offer this comic (if there’s any).

Now, though, the BIGGEST problem in HIBY is, of course, the story:

To recap: ATLA ends with Aang and Katara kissing at Ba Sing Se. Whatever problems someone may have with their relationship, or Mai and Zuko’s, or Sokka and Suki’s, it’s unquestionable that those three ships were canon by the end of the show.

Jackie Diaz’s SEQUEL COMIC doesn’t acknowledge this finale: somehow, Aang is in love with Toph but they’re not together despite there’s literally NOTHING in their way, since Aang and Katara weren’t together at all, according to Diaz. And Katara? Oh, she’s pining endlessly over Zuko, who somehow married Mai…

… Despite wanting Katara too.

… Despite he literally knocked up Katara back when the war was ending, which resulted in a miscarriage because of Mai’s wicked schemes~~!!

Can someone please explain to me in what world does it make sense for Zuko, FIRE LORD ZUKO, to be in a relationship with someone he doesn’t want, when the person he does want is RIGHT THERE, AVAILABLE, when there’s no real political consequences to ANYTHING that happens in this comic? You could say “oh no the Fire Nation people wouldn’t accept a Water Tribe woman…” … but then Zuko ends up with Katara anyways and the only problem is that Mai wants to kill them for that :’) so… no excuse works.

Basically there’s no real plot, the whole thing boils down to “I want these ships to happen and I need them to face hardships even if they don’t make sense”. The main hardship is that Mai doesn’t want her HUSBAND to carry out an affair with Katara. Zuko’s response to Mai’s obvious and reasonable complaint about their illicit relationship is to TURN VIOLENT WITH HER. And he’s the good guy :’)

Mai has a non-existent older brother Sho, who looks like a BLEACH character with Ozai’s hairstyle, and together they will try to kill Katara because, welp, someone has to give them trouble, I guess. In all fairness, the only character with a relatively logical flow of thought in this damn trainwreck is Mai. I mean, “my piece of shit husband married me for political clout, got his mistress pregnant, I didn’t want the kid to be a problem for me so I induced a miscarriage in Katara by poisoning her, probs just wanted Katara dead altogether but whatever, I only got the kid. Then Zuko threw me away despite I’m his legal wife and I’m really pissed about it so I want Katara dead” is the smartest writing in this entire comic. And no, that’s not a compliment, it’s still stupid as fuck but that’s how much more stupid everything else is. 

So, the happy couples are, like I said, Zuko and Katara, who get together despite Zuko is married to Mai, Aang and Toph, who somehow weren’t together despite there’s nothing in the way, AAAND… 

… Sokka and fake!Azula. Because I refuse to acknowledge that thing as the Princess we all love and adore.

Frankly, I consider it a miracle that HIBY didn’t destroy our ship completely when it was posted online, seeing as it was amongst the most talked-about fanmade content in Avatar’s fandom at the time. If people no longer associate Sokkla with HIBY immediately, we’ve definitely done a good job saving our poor ship’s face and showing it’s got a fuckton of potential compared to the shitfest that comic portrayed.

Why is Sokkla so problematic in HIBY? Because of fake!Azula, of course. Why is she fake!Azula? Because she’s got plot-convenient amnesia! Turns out that, for some reason, Azula forgot all the events from ATLA (let’s be real, so did Jackie Diaz so it’s not just her) and she shows up in this comic as a completely different character, so much that, upon hearing about the TERRIBLE THINGS SHE DID AND WAS, her reaction is…:

Fascinating, am I right? :’D She’s nice, sweet, shy and as good as brain-dead. And as she’s so sweet and cute now, somehow that becomes absolutely appealing for Sokka. And he falls for her, she falls for him, they bang dramatically, and so on and so forth…

Eventually Azula sacrifices herself in the final battle when Mai and her brother try to kill everyone and oh no! Sokka’s love interest dies again! Such a shocker, however, that Sokka goes to the Spirit World to save her, and unlike Iroh he succeeds… but what does Azula look like post-Spirit World shenanigans?

… Yeah, okay, fake!Azula calling anyone her “little angels” is just proof of how IC she is, if you had any doubts still.

But isn’t it FUNNY. Isn’t it HILARIOUS. That Azula not only undergoes an atom-deep brainwipe that turns her into a flat non-character, but that after dying she’s revived with WHITE HAIR, dressed in blue clothes and whatnot…?

My interpretation, and honestly, I don’t know if there’s any other possible interpretation… Jackie Diaz wanted Sokka to be with Yue :’) She fucking wrecked Azula’s character to turn her into a fake!Azula, who would eventually turn into fake!Yue after being resurrected because oh that’s just perfect to close off Sokka’s storyline, isn’t it? Only, he’s not with Yue nor with Azula because it’s neither of them. Just as it isn’t really Sokka either, or Katara, or Zuko or Aang or Toph.

Now, revisiting this trainwreck, there is a throwaway line where Ty Lee, in her (I think) only appearance in the story tells Katara that Suki and Sokka broke up. So um, Suki does exist, officially, in this comic, and she did date Sokka but it ended, and she’s back in Kyoshi Island with her team. 

Which elicits the question… why the fuck is she Mai’s maid?

I assure you, if you decide to delve deeper into this mess, you’ll absolutely find a lot more things to laugh about, to be outraged about, and to facepalm about while you wonder how on earth would someone, ANYONE, create something like this and not die of cringe looking at the finished product. It’s baffling to me.

At any rate, if you’d like to torture your own eyeballs reading this comic for yourself, there’s a Tumblr blog that gathered HIBY perfectly neatly for all curious eyes eager to torture themselves with this OOC fest. If you want more details than I care to remember about this catastrophic mess of a story, there’s always the TV Tropes page, which I think illustrates everything rather well. 

So… that’s HIBY. While I don’t think it should be sentenced to oblivion (we had best never forget the lowest lows the fandom has reached, else someone might be tempted to outdo them), this particular fanwork is quite the trainwreck in just about every regard. I really don’t think there’s anything worth salvaging in it. So, if you wanna read the whole thing (I’d be surprised if you would xD), knock yourself out in the blog link I posted up there. Otherwise, have a nice day if you still can after reading my answer to your ask :’D

[susoftjockau]

The Plan - Part Three (Ophelia)

Ophelia had a simple home. Well, an apartment. From what Connie could tell — through the rambles she endured and how Ophelia would stumble into the living room with a giddy languid nature — is that she stayed with her mother, kept the chores three-fourths on her, and she loved baking.

And baking was a pastime that made itself very apparent.

In the small kitchen, cornered by a bookshelf and a stack of beanbag chairs, the cabinets were filled to the brim with flour, bags, chocolate and white chip sacks, and cocoa powder en masse. The oven had trays with baking paper already in place — dabs of cookie dough, other pans filled with chocolate mix under the searing orange through the compartment window. Connie never knew someone's enthusiasm for baking could outweigh how logic for working in such a small kitchen. She noticed the surfaces, the amount of ingredients just for it, where only a few packages of vegetables, eggs, and a cheese slab made their home inside of the main contents of the apartment fridge.

How long had this been going on? Was it a passion? A hobby?

"You hanging out fine?" Ophelia, smile dazed and ready, lounged right next to her on the couch as music from her radio fizzled with pop and R&B. Both of them had their hair held up by scrunchies — a precaution, knowing how it wasn’t that tasty finding hair in one’s own baked goods "You look sore, or whacked out, or something."

The word choices put her off for a second, but she answered, "I'm okay. I'm just surprised you prepared all this just to hang out." She rubbed her neck. The preparation was an understatement. The cheerleader, while cooking, would cradle the mixing bowls like they were children, keeping everything in-check, peering at a wrinkled notepad decked with sticky notes on an open space between the utensils and ingredients; she got Connie involved from the very beginning, leaving her to help with measurements, pouring powder and sugar and cracking eggs till they covered their fingers in batter. It surprised her they could clean themselves up so well in the aftermath, but the main shocker came from the passion, the fixed wanting for it.

"Aw man, it's nothing. Well, actually, cooking's pretty gnarly stuff when you come down to measurements and everything, but I wanted to make you feel okay with me." Ophelia grinned at her, flexing her bicep a bit — she didn’t know why. "Cause when you think of cheerleaders, what do you see?”

Connie blinked at that. “Well, I’d expect them to be talkative and charismatic.”

“But have you seen those old flicks where they were seen as bimbos or the cruelest sons of bitches in the world?”

“Erm.”

“Heathers. Mean Girls. Glee. Bring It On. Romy and Michele’s Highschool Reunion. Pretty in Pink. Always perceived as the promiscuous bunch, the mean ones, the rowdy socialites?”

She pressed her lips. She did see those stereotypes before. In fact, she still saw the cheerleaders in that way; it wasn’t out of malice, but it was hard to relate to a talkative bunch of people like them without drowning somehow. “Yeah.”

Ophelia nodded to herself, clicking her tongue. “People always see cheerleaders as preppy mall types, so I wanted to ease you out of that with something nice, so why not baking? It’s something that I’m into, no doubt, but isn’t it just nice to focus on an activity where you’re busy and the only goal was to just chow down or be satisfied — to be happy with one’s progress rather than speak much and make it a lil’ awkward?” Eye contact. “Ya’ feel me?”

She had a point. It definitely did get her to ease up over this whole ordeal, especially at the waft of chocolate and vanilla. It had a quality, charming overall, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was the ease of something calming and focus-oriented? Something she could just work on without allowing her brain to focus so much on something that could leave her anxious and terrified? It probably was that. Maybe. "Well, I had fun with it," she couldn't help a smile, just a small one. "I haven't done baking in a long time so it’s a nice recap."

"Then when the oven’s finished, feel free to chow down on the grindage." She leaned more into the cushions, the smell of old wood and flour becoming a bit more intoxicating — a dance of two worlds, of homely delight. "We deserve a good day's work."

It took hours of batter creation, but it was worth it. "All right, I will." But there was a question on her mind. Before they started their entire process, she always wondered why they didn't touch the brownies under the baking paper — the one that laid aside from the rest, the wafting of a keen smell that made her lick her lips at the thought. It was the usual smell of chocolate, but with a specific drift in it that left her intrigued over why such a platter was left alone. "But why didn't we just eat the ones you'd left alone?"

Ophelia looked at her. "What?"

"The ones near the microwave. Were they for your mother or?"

"Oh, don't eat those."

"Why not?"

"They're edibles."

"Oh."

Well, that explained everything. However, the fact that Ophelia indulged in that type of drug wasn't something that made her feel...quite reassured, to be frank.

"It's not like I take this stuff like it's crack or something," the cheerleader piped up, voice going a tad higher. She looked relaxed before but now there's a wearing plagueness — probably from her own reaction, which didn't help the sliver of guilt. "I only take it when I have to relax. If I can give you the skinny about this whole deal, I just take CBD if the stress spikes; recreation is just that, keep a schedule on me so I don't just," she made a hand motion, a little explosion (sound effect included), "get into the weird statistics people like to harp about."

“Oh.” Statistics. The type schools would always harp about over the safety of ‘the youth’, even if they go a blind eye to many other things and become hypocritical of their own stances. “You won’t be part of it.”

Ophelia hummed. She left her body reclined, eyes closed to the world — a little beat in her shoes still there with its small rocking back and forth, pressing against the coffee table. “I keep myself healthy. I know the risks, it’s not like I’m an idiot. So I’m glad ya’ think so too.”

There was still uncertainty, but yet, there was the question of how far Connie could question this. Ophelia was responsible; Steven kept telling her back at the taco truck that she was a tank; always exercised on the daily and kept her own visual schedule to make sure her habits were intact rather than crumbling from lack of strong will. She saw the workout cords up on the walls, the dumbbells at the door. She couldn't just notch her as someone who didn't know what she was doing. It felt unfair to peg her like that at all. “I’m sorry about that. I’ve never considered that, I’m just—”

“Not use to recreation?”

Connie gazed at her. Then gave a relieved sigh. “Yeah, I’ve never had the opportunity to take these types of drugs. Never had someone tell me that they used it before, edible or otherwise.”

“And, don’t want to assume much,” Ophelia asked, “but you’re thinking I’m going to peer-pressure you too, huh?”

Silence. Then a nod.

“Well, no worries on my end, Constance.”

“It’s Connie.”

“Connie.” She coughed to herself, giving a nervous chuckle. Ophelia looked more relaxed, however, something Connie could look at as a good thing, better than just awkward chit-chat on a couch with nothing really that simple to fawn over. “I only give the edibles to people who want to go to the max on this stuff, and that’s that. I’m not going to be that weird guy who forces it at a dead-end party, basically any PSA villain that’s falling off the deep-end; it’s all up to the person and nothing else.” Her voice softened more, almost motherly in its tone. “The people who’ve done this do it than just for pleasure, sometimes it’s hard to cope with the fact we have tuition up the wazoo and sometimes we can’t handle the anxiety of problems we can’t handle. I could go on and on, but who needs a lil’ preaching in this day and age? Not me, even if it’s fun.”

She could finally feel herself calm down, relaxing into the cushions like a weight had been pulled. Ophelia wasn’t going to do anything wrong. She harbored a soft personality; she wasn’t going to coerce her or be intimidating about the whole thing. She was just Ophelia, and Connie was Connie. She didn’t have to be weird about it anymore. “Thank you.”

The cheerleader raised an eyebrow. “Why are ya’ thanking me?”

“For...educating me.” It was a simple answer. Nothing else had to be said.

Ophelia rang up in a giggle, eyes cracking open from their rest. “No problem.”

A ding went off. After a moment, both of them turned and peered at the kitchen entrance — the smell of chocolate so thick in presence, enough to overwhelm and please the senses. "Welp, the brownies are done." She stood up, bringing out a hand to her. "Ready to get stuffed?"

Connie smiled up at her finally. She grabbed her hand, allowing herself to be pulled up onto her feet. "I’d love to."

And maybe she could bring some courage to try out the edibles. But for now, she was okay as is.

- @morkthebork

[rareandbeautifulthing]

Updated my Ari & Dante fic with a Christmas Eve chapter :) Did something a little different, as it’s in Cecilia’s POV. Read the whole thing here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19470853/chapters/52363339

CECILIA

It’s been so long since I’ve seen my family. Well, not Sylvia - we get together every couple of weeks for house-cleaning day. We rotate between her house and my house, and we just spend the day sipping on wine, catching up, and doing a thorough cleaning while the kids play together. We have this arrangement where I do the “dry chores,” like sweeping and dusting and vacuuming, and she does the “wet chores” like mopping and scrubbing. She doesn’t mind the wet chores, and I don’t mind the dry chores, and it works out perfectly. One of the perks of being twins, I guess. In many ways, we’re either just alike, or else we’re polar opposites. 

But I haven’t seen the rest of the family for months. We were supposed to come for Thanksgiving, but then Mrs. Quintana had the baby, so Sylvia and Juan and the kids just came over and we had a smaller Thanksgiving at our place. 

I’m not even going to pretend that I’m not dying to meet this family that has completely upended my family’s life and transformed my little brother and my parents. Sylvia told me all about Ari’s birthday dinner, and how he and Dante are so grown up and comfortable with each other, and how my dad actually talks and laughs now, and how Ari actually talks and laughs now. I couldn’t quite picture it. Our family has been always been so...closed. So private. Just a bunch of private people, living private lives, at least since my dad got home from his time in Vietnam. Sylvia and I were the exceptions, but only when it came to each other, and I guess that doesn’t really count since we’re twins. I mean, of course we’re close. 

It was kind of funny when my mom told me Ari and Dante had gotten engaged, because she started out saying, “Do you remember me mentioning Dante?” 

I was like, “You mean the guy Ari almost died for? Yeah, Mom, you’ve mentioned him. You talk about him as much as you talk about Ari, or Dad.” 

My mother said, “Yes, well. I’m sure Syliva told you that he and Ari took their relationship to the next level.”

“She did. I think that’s great. Can’t wait to meet him.” 

“Oh yes, you’ll adore him. And they’re not just dating now. They’re engaged.”

That was a little surprising. “How’s that going to work?” I asked, genuinely curious. “They can’t actually get married, can they? And they’re so young.”

“They can get married. It may not be acknowledged by the government, but marriage is about commitment, not a piece of paper. And I know they’re young. But when you see them together, Cece...well, your dad and I were young, too, and I’ve never regretted a day of it. And they’re just so good for each other.”

This was over a month ago, obviously, and she’d also told me all about the baby that was coming, and it was crystal clear from how she talked about the Quintana family that they had somehow integrated right into our family. Almost like our family had simply expanded.

So when I’d called her to talk about Christmas a couple of weeks ago, it wasn’t a total shocker that she talked about the Quintanas’ home like it was an extension of our own. 

“You and Leo can stay at the Quintanas’,” she’d said. “So can Sylvia and Juan. It just makes the most sense. We only have the one guest room, as you know, and they only have one guest room, so the boys will stay together here in Ari’s room and all the little ones can stay here - well, not Joaquin, obviously, but all the grands. They can stay with us in the guest room. We’ll put down a bunch of sleeping bags. They’ll have a blast.”

“Really?” I’d asked. This sounded a little too good to be true. I love my kids more than life itself, but having them stay with Abuela and Abuelo while Leo and I were in a totally different space seemed like a mini-vacay. “Are you sure the Quintanas are okay with this?”

“Of course, honey. Why wouldn’t they be?”

“You talk about them like they’re family.”

“They are.” 

So that was that. 

The first time we encounter Ari, I see immediately what Sylvia was talking about. He had always been so dark in this way. So sheltered in himself. When we get to the house and come in, he bounds down the stairs and doles out hugs like it’s not the first time he’s ever done so, and I have to consciously keep myself from staring, because he has somehow gone from exuding darkness to exuding light. He looks like a different person, just from the look on his face and the smile in his eyes. And the hugs. So many hugs, for all of us. Like he hadn’t been a kid who shunned physical affection all his life. 

Who is this Dante, I think, to have changed him so completely? Was it just Dante that had changed him? Had almost dying had something to do with it? My mind is full of questions as I smile back at him, speechless. 

Leo and I offer to help with dinner, but my parents insist that we take it easy, so Leo and I pour ourselves some eggnog and settle into the family room with the kids, who are coloring in coloring books on the floor. A little while later the front door opens, and I assume it’s my sister Sylvia. I mean, who else would just walk into the house without knocking? 

Leo and I have a clear view of the foyer from where we’re sitting on the couch, so we see that it’s not Sylvia. It’s a teenage boy I can only assume is Dante, except it’s a little hard to believe. For one thing, he walks into the house like he owns it, which I guess shouldn’t actually be surprising considering my mom’s whole “they’re family” comment. But he’s disarmingly confident, and also he’s  just...old. He looks like a young adult, and while I can objectively see that Ari is also a young adult, I still see him as a kid. I can’t not. I mean, he’s my brother. When I look at him I don’t really see him. I see his essence. And while, yes, his essence has changed, I still hadn’t really appreciated him as a “young adult.”

But this guy definitely is. He’s fairly tall, and he’s got dark brown hair that was clearly cut short at some point, but has grown enough that it looks tousled, like he can’t be bothered with a comb. His faded jeans are so worn they have frayed cuffs and a couple of holes in them, and his sweater looks like it might have once almost fit, but it’s been stretched out and now just hangs on him like a rag. He toes off his beat-up sneakers in the foyer, revealing mismatched socks. His facial features stand in contrast to all this chaos; they’re sharp and defined and truly lovely, almost catlike. He’s quite striking, to be honest. 

If this is Ari’s fiance, well. Good job, Ari.

He proceeds to the living room, which is just past the stairway and therefore still in view, and proceeds to start unpacking the paper grocery bags full of gifts he’d carted in with him. As he goes, he rearranges the gifts that were already there, and I’m again struck by how he didn’t announce his presence or greet anyone, and how he’s now taken complete control of the Christmas tree space. For one absurd moment I wonder if this kid actually lives here, and my parents just forgot to tell me. 

As if he can feel our gaze, he looks up at Leo and me. His face immediately lights up into a brilliant smile full of bright white teeth, and a moment later he’s standing in front of us, hand extended. 

“I’m Dante,” he says. “I’m Ari’s prometido. You must be Cecilia and Leo.” 

The use of the Spanish word for “fiance” catches me off guard. I’d forgotten that Dante was Mexican, too; he doesn’t look it. I glance at Leo, who is glancing at me, and then I stand and take Dante’s hand. “I am. Nice to meet you, Dante.” 

His handshake is like everything else about him. Strong and solid and warm. He reaches for Leo’s hand next. Isabella and Rafael have clambered up from the floor and shimmied over to us, and now they’re looking up at Dante expectantly. Not surprising. We’ve raised them to own their space in the world. 

Without hesitation, Dante crouches so he’s at their level. “And you must be Isabella and Rafael,” he says, pronouncing their names perfectly. He is extending his hand to them just as he did to us. “I’m your Uncle Dante.” 

I have to admit, I’m impressed. 

I’m even more impressed when Bella shoves him and yells, “You’re it!” and takes off running. Isabella is my shy one. She doesn’t typically initiate play, and only rarely does she engage with strangers. But here she is, dashing out of the family room, and as if he’d expected it, Dante is close on her heels. They round the corner and disappear from view, but I can hear her shrieking in delight. Instinctively, Leo and I step out to where the family room opens out into the hallway, Rafael hovering close. We can see into the living room, and also down the hall into the kitchen where my mom and dad and brother are cooking. As we stand watching, Bella appears around the corner, darting expertly between her grandparents and her uncle. Ari has just taken a pan of cookies out of the oven with a potholder-clad hand, and he lifts them far above her head as she whizzes by him. 

Then Dante appears. He also blazes between my parents, but I can see him slow a bit because of Ari. “Hey,’ I hear him say, and he plants a kiss on Ari’s mouth mid-run. He’s quickly brought up short, however, because my brother snakes his free arm around Dante’s waist and stops him mid-run. 

“Hey yourself,” I hear my brother say in a husky voice I’ve never even imagined could come out of him. Then he pulls Dante against him, and Dante immediately responds by pulling on him, too, and then they are kissing so thoroughly I feel myself blush. Bella has stopped right here in front of us and is staring down the hall just like Leo, Rafe and me. Just staring at her uncle Ari and her uncle Dante making out in the kitchen while my dad bends over the oven, checking the temperature of the meat and my mom scoots around the hot pan of cookies that is still in Ari’s hand. Neither of my parents seem to even notice that my brother is sucking face with a dude right in front of them until my mother scoots around the cookies for a second time just as Ari shifts. I wince, because she almost gets burned by the hot pan. 

“Boys! There’s too much going on in here,” she chastises, and immediately Ari and Dante break apart, laughing. 

Then they let go of each other and a second later, Dante is back in the game, charging for Bella. She squeals in delight and takes off again, this time stopping just around the corner, on the other side of the stairs, and peers through the banisters. She hovers there as Dante skids to a stop in front of us, hovering as well. They look like two feral cats with only a staircase between them, dancing back and forth on their feet, sizing each other up. 

“Why were you kissing my Ari?” Rafael asks in a quiet voice.

Dante answers matter-of-factly without looking away from Bella, still involved in the game. “Because I’m in love with him.” My heart absolutely melts. I mean, really? This awesome, adorable young man, in love with my sulky little brother? And yet I believe it. Anyone who witnessed the way they just kissed each other would believe it. 

Then Dante does look away from Bella, turning suddenly to Rafe, a quizzical look on his face. “Wait...are you playing?” he asks, and then he makes his hands into claws and hisses at my son. Rafael screams in delight, and I realize he wanted to be included. How did Dante get that when I didn’t? A moment later Rafael has taken off towards the kitchen, and Dante is fast on his heels. Bella doesn’t want to be left out, so she circles back in front of us and races after Dante. 

“Dante!” my dad bellows as the three of them dart through the kitchen, and for the millionth time since Dante showed up, I do a double take. My dad is not the bellowing type. “Take it outside!” he yells.

“You heard your abuelo,” Dante hollers back to the kids, taking a detour through the back door. “C’mon!”

And then my kids are through the door, following their new uncle into the backyard, and I can feel Leo’s eyes on me. I look back at him, as amazed as he is.

Who is this guy?

“Okay, this sounds awful, so please forgive me. But you were always such a sullen little loner, Ari.” I say over dinner. Sylvia catches my eye, and she’s smirking. I ignore her and continue on. “How did you manage to land Mister Sunshine here?”  

This makes the entire family - meaning my parents, Dante’s parents (who arrive a little while ago and greeted all of us with kisses like they’d always known us), my sister and her husband (who had also arrived a little while ago), and the boys themselves - erupt into laughter. I feel slightly irritated, because I don’t get what’s so funny, but it’s hard to get too annoyed because the sight of my family belly-laughing is too good to be true. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before. 

“Well, ya know. I played hard-to-get for a while, but he eventually won me over,” Dante says, which provokes more hysterics. Then Dante speaks again. “Seriously, though. I pined after him for over a year, and the whole time he was like, what a cool bromance we have.”

“I never used the term ‘bromance,’” Ari argues, the disgusted look on his face betrayed by how his eyes are dancing with amusement, and I can’t believe how playful my brother is now. It makes me wonder if he’d been playful before, and none of us caught on, or whether Dante inspired something new in him.

“Well, you may as well have,” Dante retorts, and Ari smirks at him. “At any rate, Cecilia, yeah. It took him a minute. Worth the wait, though,” he finishes up, leaning his head onto Ari’s shoulder. Ari leans over and kisses his forehead. I can’t do anything but stare. 

After dinner, everyone crowds into the family room. My dad lights a fire in the fireplace, and Mrs. Quintana sits down at the neglected piano and plays some Christmas carols until Joaquin wakes up from his nap (my parents actually have a bassinet in the family room, just for when the Quintanas are over), and then she picks him up and feeds him in the rocking chair (which is also new, and seems to be just for this purpose). I snuggle up against Leo on the sofa, feeling young again, and try not to stare too hard at Ari and Dante, who are so entangled in an armchair that it’s hard to tell whose jean-clad legs are whose, or my parents, who are standing close together with their arms around each other like they’re teenagers in love. Sam and Juan are on the floor with all the kids, playing a board game with them in front of the fire. Sylvia is on the sofa on my other side, leaned up against me with her head on my shoulder. 

This is the warmest, sweetest Christmas Eve this family has ever had. It makes me think about Bernardo. I want to say something, but I know the topic is off-limits. Except maybe it’s not anymore. There are photos of him on the wall, now. There hasn’t been for years and years. 

“Mom?” I ask, tentatively. She looks over at me. “Have you...heard from Bernardo? It’s just, I noticed his pictures are up.”

She smiles sadly and shakes her head, but then Ari says, “I have.”

Everyone turns to stare at him except Dante, who is smiling widely, clearly aware already.

“You have?” my dad asks. Ari suddenly looks flustered.

“Yeah,” he says. “I wrote to him.” He shrugs. “He wrote back.” He smiles at his parents. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I happened to get the mail the day his letter arrived, and then once I read it, well.” I see Dante put his hand on Ari’s thigh and give it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s wrapped. Under the tree. For you guys to find tomorrow. But I guess I just spoiled the surprise.” He doesn’t look the least bit sorry about it, and neither do my parents. Their faces are both lit up brighter than the Christmas tree in the next room. 

“What...what did he say, Ari?” my mom asks, quietly.

“Go get it. It’s the present in the big box.”

My mother hurries into the living room and returns a moment later with a box big enough to hold a record player. “This one?” 

Ari nods. “I put it in a big box so you wouldn’t guess what it was. It was Dante’s idea.” Dante nods proudly.

My parents sit down on the sofa next to Sylvia and together, they unwrap the present. Once they get the letter out, they read it in silence. My mom starts crying, and then my dad does, too, which is quite jarring--I’ve never seen him cry. Everyone’s looking at them. 

“What does it say, Mom?” Sylvia asks. My mom just shakes her head, unable to speak, so my dad reads it out in a shaky voice. 

“Dear Ari. First of all, I’m really glad you wrote. You were always my favorite.” This gets an emotional laugh from all of us. “I can’t believe you’re so old. You’re a man, now, and all I can picture is you as a boy. I wish I knew what you looked like. I can’t say I’m not a little weirded out about you being engaged to a guy, but at the same time, it’s cool. I’ve met a lot of different kinds of people in here, and one thing I’ve learned is that the ones who have your back aren’t always the ones you think. There’s a guy in here that I’ve gotten to be pretty tight with, and he’s gay. When I first met him, I hated him just because of that. But he’s been kinder to me than anyone else, and he actually listens, and thinks about things, and he’s really funny, and after a while I realized I didn’t care that he’s gay because he’s just a good dude. He’s my bro now. That’s made me reflect a lot on what I did. I don’t know how much you know about that, and I don’t really want to talk about it. It makes me feel kind of sick, to be honest. I was a different person then. Really lost. It sounds like you were lost for a while, too, and I’m really glad you aren’t anymore. 

It’s not so bad in here. Not anymore. It was at first. Thanks for telling me about Mom and Dad. I feel too awful about all that to think about it, which is why I haven’t written to them. Maybe I will someday, now that I know they’d still want that. I figured after what an ass I was, they wouldn’t want to hear from me. I was just ashamed, and scared, and angry. I don’t even know why I was angry. Anyway I don’t want to talk about it. But if you get a chance to tell them I love them more than anything, do it. Same goes for Syl and Cece.

Merry Christmas and happy engagement and all that. You should write again if you feel like it. Getting a letter from you was the best thing to happen to me in a really long time, and I wouldn’t mind another. Maybe send a photo of yourself, and your boy, too. I’m curious to see what you look like now, and I want to see this guy who captured your heart. Bernardo.”

We all sit in silence for a while. I have tears coursing silently down my cheeks, and so does Sylvia, and my mom is holding on to my dad, sobbing. “Thank you, son,” my dad says quietly, and Ari smiles at him and nods. 

Mrs. Quintana eventually hands baby Joaquin to Ari, and he takes him like it’s second nature, like it’s something they’ve done a million times. Then she leans down and kisses my mom on the temple, and goes to the piano to play some more. That helps shift the mood a bit, and after a while my mom stands and takes the baby from Ari and stands there, rocking him back and forth, singing the lyrics of “O Holy Night” quietly to him as his mother plays it. She’s still crying a little, but just a little. 

After a while, my eyes are feeling heavy. I look at my watch and realize it’s close to midnight. 

“Oh my,” I say. “Kids, it’s time for bed!” That breaks any remnants of emotionality in the room.

The kids - all five of them - set up a howling lament. 

“Don’t even start,” Leo says next to me, just as I say, “It’s way past your bedtime.” Juan is nodding his support as Sylvia sits up and runs her fingers through her hair. “What your tía said,” she murmurs. 

Bella gets up and climbs onto Ari and Dante. They shift around a bit and Ari wraps an arm around her so she doesn’t fall off their laps. “Are you going to be here in the morning?” she asks Dante.

“Yep. I’m spending the night with Uncle Ari, so we’ll both be here when you wake up,” Dante assures her.

“Do you like to spend the night with Uncle Ari?” she asks.

Dante gets this wicked little smile on his face.

“Oh, yes. Sleeping with your Uncle Ari is my favorite thing in the whole world,” he says earnestly.

“Dante,” his mother admonishes, while Sam groans and my dad closes his eyes and shakes his head and my mother rolls her eyes, embarrassed. Ari flushes and bites his lip to keep from laughing. 

“Uncle Dante?” Sylvia’s son, Max, says, standing up and drifting towards their chair. “You weren’t always part of our family.”

“No, Max. I wasn’t.”

“Will you always be part of our family now?” Max asks. Dante grins. 

“Yes, I will. I’ll always be here. You can get used to me.” And then he snakes out an arm and pulls Max onto their laps as well, and both kids are giggling and squealing. 

“Can Uncle Ari and Uncle Dante put us to bed?” Rafe asks, and I smile at him, because I know he’s a little jealous of the attention his sister and cousin are getting.

“It’s okay with me,” I say, glancing over at Leo and then at Juan and Sylvia. They all nod in agreement. “If they want to,” I add, glancing at Ari and Dante. They’re both beaming. 

“Of course. Get in line, kids! We’re making a train,” Dante says, carefully depositing Bella and Max on to the floor so he can extricate himself from Ari and stand up. “Ari, you be the caboose.” 

Ari scowls at him playfully. “Why do I have to be the caboose?” he asks, his eyes narrowed. 

“Because I’m always the caboose,” Dante says over his shoulder, winking, and Ari’s eyes get wide and he doubles over laughing and frankly, I’m a bit embarrassed. I have no idea what the statement even means, but it’s clearly something sexual because Sam is groaning again and Mrs. Quintana says, “Dante!” again in an exasperated tone. Thankfully, none of the kids have a clue that Dante keeps making jokes about his sex life with their uncle, so I just lean into Leo and laugh. 

“This whole situation is so bizarre,” I say, once the kids have all kissed us goodnight and made it upstairs. 

“Tell me about it,” Sylvia says. She’s pulling on her coat, as are Juan and the Quintanas, so Leo and I follow suit. 

“I’m not sure you can understand,” I say to the Quintanas. “How much my family has changed because of you guys. Because of Dante.” 

Mrs. Quintana smiles, and then she says, softly, “I think we do understand. At least somewhat. Dante was never as...sad...as Ari was, but he was always alone. No matter how many friends he had, it was clear he was alone. Sometimes Sam and I would worry about him, worry that he would never find a soulmate.” She glances to her husband, who nods. “The day Dante came home from the pool and told us he’d met the coolest guy in the universe, we knew something was different. He was glowing. After he went upstairs, Sam looked at me and said, ‘everything just changed.’”

“So you knew?” Leo asked.

She glanced around at the other parents, unsure how to respond. My mom is the one who answers. “I think we all knew,” she says. “But we all took different amounts of time admitting it to ourselves.” 

I smile at them, in awe of...well, everything. 

“We’ll see you in the morning,” my dad says, pulling me into a hug. I can’t remember the last time he hugged me.

I hug him back. 

[yagirleddie]

the agency (2)

~min yoongi x reader 

~warnings: swearing 

You feel the prickly static of the intercom from outside your cell door before you hear it. The inconvenient buzz in the air and makes the rest of your floor restless with nerves, turning the air sour. The rustling of their movements add to the uninterrupted whispers and shouts of agony in your head; an unforeseen side effect that The Agency promised to fix.

“Cellmate 613~?”

“1023?”

Cellmate 1023 generously occupied the cell next door to yours and has been a pain in your ass ever since it emptied and became his. The first couple months being his neighbour almost made you want to kill yourself but despite that, he’s the only other Acher on this floor.

Achers were what they called people like you and cellmate 1023. Coined after the head splitting headaches that came with using the abilities. 1023 was much better off than you though and just looking at the mirth in his sunken eyes made your blood boil with vexation.

“Did you hear 613? They need us on floor 7.”

1023’s skin looks pastier than usual. His dyed blonde hair is unkept and looks greasy, no matter how many times he runs his fingers through it. You almost comment on it before he turns from you and drags you all the way to floor 7.

 *************************************

“You’re actually kidding right?”

Yoongi tears his gaze away from the tree he’s been perched on for the better half of three hours to the now mint haired airhead behind him.

“What?”

“Seokjin works here too.”

At the name both Yoongi and the shortest of the trio, Jimin, stupidly reach for the binoculars hanging from around their tanned necks while a dazed Taehyung takes an angry sip from the watercooler over his shoulder.

“Shit. When’s the last time we saw the old guy? Can’t believe he left us.” Jimin is the first to jump down from the branch responsible for the discovery of their lost friend, walking back to the camp site with a hand scratching the back of his neck.

“Yeah, he left shortly after Namjoon did. Took him awhile to get back on his feet but last I heard he became a doctor in the Capitol. Only the Capitol is now the fucking Agency that took Kook and Hobi.”

Half a year ago while looking for loot in a nearby city Yoongi, Taehyung, Jimin, Jungkook and Hobi were met with a rival group that they thought only wanted the loot they’ve been eyeing since that morning. What they didn’t know at the time was that ‘rival gang’ were looking for new test subjects and found just that with Jungkook and Hobi that stupidly suggested they split up. Fucking idiots.

Jimin was surprisingly quiet when Taehyung and Yoongi returned from the offending tree. They were talking idly over the makeshift fire and only occasionally asked Jimin for his input, marking the extent of their concern.

“Jimin what the fuck is up with you?”

Taehyung whispers hoarsely at the blonde that night, even going as far as to nudge him so that Jimin would face him. They argued after that. Yoongi could hear it from where he sat against a rock, playing with the dying fire in front of him so he didn’t fall asleep.

“I can’t handle him when he’s like this.”

Taehyung flops down onto the ground next to Yoongi, only turning back when he hears Jimin close the tent in annoyance. Yoongi stays facing forward, only moving to usher Taehyung’s head on his lap and place his hand on his head to play with his mint hair.

“Like what?”

“Like a pissy bitch. Ever since Y/N left, he’s been having these episodes where he’s super quiet and…”

Taehyung continues to talk, not noticing how his confident has suddenly become tense only calling him out when Yoongi’s hands have been still for too long.

“You miss her, don’t you?”

Yoongi’s breath hitches at the deep timbre of his company’s voice. Whether it’s because he’s thinking of how you left or the answer to Tae’s question, he doesn’t know. Yoongi wants to say he doesn’t but no matter how much he’s grown to hate you for leaving and breaking up their little family, he cant help but miss having his girlfriend with him.

“She’s not coming back so what’s the point anyway?”

Silence ensues until Taehyung abruptly sits up and forces Yoongi into looking towards him with a pointed look.

“Do you?”

Taehyung pretends to think hard about Yoongi’s question but judging by the prolonged silence the elder believes he won’t answer until Taehyung clears his throat.

“Of course I do but not more than Jimin, I guess. You know,” Taehyung moves to stand but only stops when he’s on his knees. “Jimin told me that he saw Y/N noona acting a bit weird one day. She was hunched over the balcony tables writing something down on her lap. From the back it looked like she was crying. I guess now we know what she was writing.”

Taehyung offers a sad smile before retreating to the tent that he shared with his best friend, leaving Yoongi behind to wallow in the fact that he just withheld information from the kid he’s been trying to protect since the beginning. Jimin was in love with Seokjin.

 ***********************************

 Floor 7 was the only floor in the Agency that didn’t have any cells or subjects on it, being used mainly for offices and the interrogation room that the whole compound called The Pit. No one except the boss knew what the room was used for but there was always screaming coming from it. Today however you and 1023 would find out.

Upon entering The Pit you were met with shocked gazes and the potent smell of old blood. You and 1023 move further into the room and stand side by side, adjacent to the-still shocked- mint haired boy with a blank look on his face.

“What are we here for?”

At this the males who were previously staring at the ground as if it were the most interesting thing in the world, look up in search of the voice that neither have heard in a very long time.

The dark haired man turns to you with a devastating look on his face. His cheeks were red and his eyes filled to the brim with a wetness that made you want to comfort him. The onyx feline eyes pull you in and suddenly you’re hit with how good he looks like this. So heartbroken and helpless, tears cascading down his face and knuckles white from gripping his knees in an effort to not reach out and touch you.

Your name dies on his tongue when Yoongi sees you eye the blonde with a dark look and reach out to card your fingers through the locks of hair that fall in his eyes. Yoongi feels his chest constrict at the sight of your bony hands being placed on another man’s body. He glares at the way you trail your hands down his dongsaeng’s shoulders before turning to the man you came in with, silently communicating.

He moves forward and roughly grabs the back of the chair that Jimin occupied.

“NO!! Wait, please leave him alone!”

“What are you gonna do with him?! Bring him back, please?!!”

A commotion breaks out and before you know it a strong hand pulls back on the hold it has on your wrist. The touch of the male being so foreign and it takes everything in you not to immediately kill the mint haired man.

“Taehyung what are you-“

Yoongi struggles out before the sight before him completely knocks the air out from his stomach. You’re kneeling in front of the seemingly in pain boy with your elbows resting on your knees. Yoongi sees your mouth moving but cant make out what you’re saying due to his vision becoming blurry with tears. His ear drums are filled with the agonising screams and shouts of pain from his friend and Yoongi can only watch helplessly as you hurt the boy he thinks more of as family.

“Y/N stop!!”

The dim sclera of your eyes replace the black that was there just a minute ago making your whole body freeze at the name that left the lips of the man furthest from you.

“What did you just-“

The sound of your voice is interrupted by the loud buzzing coming from the shocker collar around your neck and Yoongi swears he hears his name roll off your tongue before you pass out. Taehyung lets out a breath of relief and slumps into the same position that you fell into.

Yoongi asks Taehyung if he’s okay and only gets a pained grunt in response before hearing the door swing open to reveal the face of someone they haven’t seen in a long time.

“Namjoon?”

[ask-alaska-and-hawaii]

TV Tropes: Alaska

Acting Your Intellectual Age: He has the looks of a first-grader but the mind of a seasoned mountaineer and has no interest in connecting with children that look his age. However, this could just be because he has no interest in connecting with anyone outside his ‘pack’ after what happened last time.

Adorkable: Has his moments, such as when he’s gushing about dogs. He really loves dogs.

The Alcoholic: Being Alaska, Alaska has a love for the sauce, especially salmon vodka. This usually leads him to pass out by the end. 

Animal Motif: Dogs and wolves obviously. Specifically Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies for the former and Arctic Wolves for the latter.

Badass Bookworm: Loves to read but is a natural survivalist and gunslinger.

Berserk Button: For your safety, do not mention Russia or Texas within ten feet of him. Also, don’t call him small.

Big Brother Instinct: To Hawaii and by extension the other states if they are threatened as he does genuinely care about all of them even if they do think he’s rather odd.

Big Brother Mentor: Also to Hawaii by sharing his experiences to teach her that the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. She, however, hasn’t taken on his nihilism and still believes in the best in people.

Big Eater: Given that he smokes marijuana, is a state, and is stress eater this is no big shocker.

Blue-and-Orange Morality: Being raised by wolves, Alaska has a mindset closer to animals than humans. For one Alaska, cares nothing for morality besides protecting his ‘pack’ (America and the other states) and judges things like disloyalty and irresponsibility far more harshly than someone being outright malicious. He also thinks that politicians need to start fighting to the death for their position. Literally. (This also could just be because he just hates politicians since they often lie to gain people’s favor)

Broken Bird: After so many years of tragedy and isolation, Alaska is understandably rather cynical.

Break the Cutie: See ‘Dark and Troubled Past’.

Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: A platonic version but he is the brooding boy to Hawaii’s gentle girl. 

Brutal Honesty: Everyone agrees that Alaska is probably the most honest of the states, however, his honesty is usually extremely impolite to which he just says ‘I say the truth, it’s their fault if they can’t accept’.

Byronic Hero: Alaska is snarky, stoic, stubborn, excessively cynical but is passionate about his beliefs and has a soft spot for the environment and its creatures.

Celibate Hero: While not asexual, he has little interest in ever having sex and it’s not just because he looks six.

Color Motif: White and gray.

Comically Serious: He does not understand jokes so he will often take these at face value.  

Crazy-Prepared: Winter’s in his state are intense, so he leaves nothing to chance. 

Dark and Troubled Past: Imagine being locked into the form of a baby, abandoned by the people who were supposed to love and protect you, find a new family in wolves only for them to be killed leaving you to survive on your own while looking a like a toddler. When you finally found someone they also die leaving you to want to curl up and die and then be adopted again but seen as odd by your adopted siblings. Yeah, Alaska having depression and anxiety makes a lot of sense.

Deadpan Snarker: Usually this, especially when at states meeting or when he’s answering asks.

Defrosting Ice Queen: Alaska is not an easy person to get along with and can be extremely rude and sarcastic especially to ask blogs that star Texas, however, it is possible for him to warm up to some people outside his family like Dave (@alaska-ask-blog-aph) or at the very least learns the ability to bite his tongue.

Emotionless Boy: Most of the time, he is extremely stoic due to the fact that when he does express emotion, he can come off as rather intense.

Everyone Has Standards: He has a strange morality, however he is openly disgusted by ‘people’ who would rip away children’s innocence.

Foil: To Hawaii. They are both disconnected states and the child of a Native mother and Caucasian parent with trauma happening to them at very young ages which caused them to act the way they do, with Alaska being very stern and no-nonsense while Hawaii is energetic and enjoys making people smile.

Friendless Background: Because of his inability to relate to children his physical age and his autism causing him panic attacks whenever he is in close proximity to others, he has very few friends other than Hawaii. 

Friend to All Children: Zigzagged. He doesn’t connect with older children very well but he does have a soft spot for toddlers and babies and even makes an attempt to be openly kind to them. He also considers the worst people the ones who would purposefully steal their innocence and wouldn’t hesitate to pull his gun on such people.

Friend to All Living Things: Hey, I said humans, I never said anything about animals but yes he does love animals particularly dogs, wolves, and eagles.

Good is Not Nice: Not nice is an understatement. He has a strange moral code, is rather rude to new people, and mainly keeps to himself but if someone dares and tries to hurt his little sister or anyone in his family, they better start running.

Guilt Complex: Blames himself for what happened to his crush.

Hates Being Touched: The only one who he will willingly let touch him, much less hug him, is Hawaii. Other than not, hands-off.

Hates Their Parent: Openly refers to Russia as ‘a sperm donor’. And that’s when he’s being nice.

The Hermit: Lives like this whenever he’s at home in his state.  

Hidden Depths: 

Instead of hockey as one would think, he enjoys figure skating and is actually pretty good.

Not shown on the blog, yet but he actually enjoys the company of toddlers like Nunavut as they are far less complicated than people who are older.

He also enjoys writing and even creates stories in his free time. He also uses it along with his personal journal as a form of therapy for himself.

Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Brother/Sister version. Alaska is the huge guy to Hawaii’s tiny girl, especially once they’re older where he’ll be at 5′11 to 6′0 to Hawaii’s 5′3. Justified as Alaska is one-fifth the size of the lower 48 and is larger than Montana, California, Texas COMBINED.

Human Mom, Non-Human Dad: While his biological father is Russia, his mother was a normal Yup'ik woman named Uki.  

Hypocrite: Alaska calls Russia a ‘cruel, crazy manchild’  when he openly calls for the deaths of anyone who betrays their country. He also wants Hawaii to seek help when he resists any for him.

Hypocrite has a Point: To be fair, being lenient with traitors is a recipe for disaster for this country.

Ice Queen: He’s a rather cold and rude person but still a nice guy underneath.

Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Cynical, rude, stubborn are all words that would accurately describe him but also family-orientated, protective, and generous when he needs to be.

Knight in Sour Armor: He does see the world as a cold and dark and is a self-proclaimed misanthrope but still does his best to protect his family and people.

Meaningful Name: Alaska’s name Inuit name, ‘Nukilik’, means ‘strong’ and given everything, he’s gone through and still living to see today, no one can say he isn’t strong. As for his European name of ‘Peter’ meaning ‘stone’ and he is stone-faced and it’s also a nice reference to Peter the Great of Russia.

Mixed Ancestry: He’s half-Slavic, half-Inuit. 

Nature Lover: Growing up most of his life in the forests of Alaska, it makes sense the woods are where he’s most comfortable especially among the animals there. He is also disgusted by hunters who hunt merely for the game and not because they need it.

Not Good with People: Type 2. My beloved grumpy boy is unsurprisingly not good with people as he can’t understand their feelings or why he offended him. However, he is good at reading the feelings of animals and emphasizes more with them.

No Social Skills: Justified due to both his upbringing. He also is very indifferent to having them at the end of the day.

Older Than They Look: Being a state this a given. However where he differs, since he was born in 1800, he’s actually older than most states but since he was basically deserted by Russia he was never given the ability to grow.

Only Sane Man: Certainly sees himself as this among the other states as he feels that they play bloated, bureaucratic politics far too much instead of working together to help their father.

The Pessimist: Alaska physically can’t bring himself to hope in the best in people since all he’s seen was the worst in people since he was young when everyone he loved just ditched him or died. 

Raised by Wolves: Played completely straight. After his mother’s tribe abandoned him in the woods an Alpha She-Wolf who had just lost her pups adopted Alaska.

Socially Awkward Hero: Alaska can scale mountains, survive massive earthquakes, and survive on his own for years. However, the ability to interact with humans or even other anthropics is the hard part.

Strong Family Resemblance: Besides his dark skin, black hair, and eye shape, Alaska is basically a younger version of Russia. This has gotten him into quite a bit of trouble like when he was accused of being a communist during the McCarthy era due to his Russian heritage and Belarus has tried to kidnap him on more than one occasion.

Sugar-and-Ice Personality: In spite of cold, loner nature and dislike for society in general, Alaska at his core is a genuinely familial, protective person who just wants to take care of those he cares about. This is best showcased in his relationship with Hawaii, who might be the only person he openly gives affection to and he did go as Elsa twice just to make her happy even if it was embarrassing for him.

Trauma Conga Line: Abandoned, seen as a threat, had his pack murdered, only person he ended up caring about dying, and nearly froze to almost-death. All when he looked 2. Someone get this boy a therapists.

Used to Be a Sweet Kid: When he was young, Alaska was a sweet and gentle boy, even while living with his wolf pack. However, due to the many tragedies in his life, he has become extremely bitter and cynical towards the world.

When She Smiles: Has given a few in some comics and chats. He even admits that the main reason he loves Hawaii (as a sister) is that she is one of the few people who can make him give a genuine smile.

[palettemin]

Countdown | Part 4 - Fragmented

Soulmate AU [Jimin x Reader]

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5

From the age of 16, people are bestowed with an imprint on their left wrist which counts down to the moment they finally find their soulmate, leaving behind the scarring of their soulmates initials in their skin.

However, you seem to be an exception to this. On the dawn of your 16th birthday, your elation had shifted into confusion when there was nothing but a single digit glaring at you from your pale flesh; a stark red 0. Your parents had tried to console you as you cried silent tears whilst only assuming that you were meant to be alone for the rest of your life. The 0 imprinted on your flesh was a harsh reminder that the Gods didn't seem to favour you in this lifetime.

Despite this, fate likes to play cruel tricks on people as you come across a face from the past unwillingly.

Ongoing series.

“What do you mean he didn’t recognise you?”

“Exactly that! He asked for my name and he looked directly at me but still didn’t know who I was.”

You pouted towards Yuhzen as you sat beside her on a bench just beside the venue’s exit, your lower lip trembling ferociously whilst you reverted your gaze back to your feet. You and Yuhzen had distanced yourselves from the crowd, well, in actuality it was more your best friend dragging you along by the hand to avoid being crushed by the plethora of fans attending the fanmeet.

She watched you with a saddened gaze and with an unsure flick of her wrist, she placed the palm of her hand lightly atop of your head before gently brushing her fingertips into your scalp.

“I’m sure he must of recognised you, my little butterfly. You were all he could talk about for years. He can’t of just suddenly stopped-“

“Well he did and there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s not like I’m going to be seeing him again, is it? Even if you try to drag me, I’m not up for further emotional torture.”

“Y/N...”

“Even though he was so close...he still felt so far away from me. He’s no longer the chubby cheeked charmer from school who was good at contemporary dance and academics. He’s an idol now. A man who outgrew his younger years and is loved by many. What chance do I have of ever getting his attention again? None.”

“That’s...”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“That’s-“

“Hyung, I have to find that girl.”

“What, and just rush off into a large crowd of fans looking for her whilst also letting down the fans who are still waiting to still see us?”

Jimin uttered a soft curse under his breath whilst Hoseok watched on with a gaze of confliction as the boys were given a momentary break.

“Jimminie-ah...did you meet anyone familiar?”

“Aside from Noona? No...”

“So why do you sound so unsure of that?”

“I just...can’t get her eyes out of my head. They feel familiar, yet they were swimming with sadness as she looked at me, Hyung. Despite that...”

“Despite that..?”

“She felt like home...”

Hoseok sighed softly under his breath and reached out with an agile finger to point at Jimin’s forearm, gesturing for him to peel back the oversized sleeve of his white and red jumper.

“What’s your soulmates initials, Jimin-ah?”

“C.Y/F/I.”

“And you still haven’t clocked it...?”

“Clocked what, Hyung?”

“Aish.”

Hoseok pressed a sweat licked palm to his forehead and sighed in disbelief.

“The girl...she’s a friend of Yuhzen’s.”

“Oh? Really? That’s cool-“

“Her name is Y/N. Choi Y/N. That seem familiar to you..?”

It was at that moment that time seemed to cease, everything surrounding Jimin coming to a slow halt whilst fragmented memories littered his vision whilst your soft laughter flooded his ears, the sound soothing the inner conflict bubbling inside him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Yah, Jimminie! Stop it!”

You cried out in laughter despite your protest as a young Jimin threw a snowball at your back, a gummy grin tugging on his lips only for it to fade as he took note of you forming your own snowball, a much LARGER snowball.

“Come here, Jimin!”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

“I’m about to become a trainee.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“When are you leaving...?”

“Tomorrow.”

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Y/N...”

“Remember now? Wait, Jimin-ah? Where are you going..? Oi!”

“I’m going to find her. I need to see her again!”

Before Hoseok could even try and reel the younger back into his seat, Jimin had already set off into a hurried sprint, his fluffy blonde locks bouncing against his cheeks with each stride that propelled him forward and closer to you, ignoring the surprised and excited chatter of the fans lining up.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Here, lets go home. I’ll tell Hoseok that I’m taking you back because you’re not feeling well.”

“No! You don’t have to do that! I can walk back myself-“

“Hush child, let Mama Yu handle this.”

A warmth spread through your chest at the affection that laced your friends voice, smiling faintly in return as Yuhzen smiled down at you with fondness swimming in her electric blue orbs. The two of you were unaware of the collective screams of the fans surrounding you. Until...

“Come, lets go home, Y/N-“

“Y/N!”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Edited 22/05/18]

Hi guys! Mochi here with the next update. Honestly, I was hoping to get this done on Friday but I forgot plans I already had. Shocker. 😳 Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

[witchin-bitchin-twopointoh]

ANALYZING WHO KILLED MARKIPLIER CH. 1: PART TWO

Once again, this will be long. This is every notable piece of dialogue, action, clue, relevant theory, or anything else I see fit to include about the second half of the first video. Hold on to your hats, buckos. I’m a detective.

Part One

Scene 5: The Detective (7:02 - 7:51)

After the Mayor leaves, the Detective gives you the preliminary autopsy. 

After a totally procedural and trustworthy rectal exam, our detective has established that Mark died “around” 1:30 AM. Note the use of around.

Also, our Detective is clearly not a real Detective. Why then, I wonder, does The Mayor not have anything to say about it? Nor The Attorney (you)?

A pattern is beginning to develop; the Detective does not want any sort of authorities involved.

Which is odd, considering you’re an Attorney and the Mayor is involved.

You apparently give him your alibi through flashback. Must be that main character privilege. This is definitely Markiplier Logic, so I’ll let it slide, but you do learn something about yourself: you sleep with your eyes open. Weird.

Also, this drug induced flashback alibi is apparently 100% solid, despite there being no witnesses to confirm you didn’t just get up and murder Mark. Methinks the Detective trusts you a bit too much.

At this stage, the Detective says we need to find out everyone’s alibi (without directly saying “alibi,” a term a Detective would definitely know and use during an investigation).

However, after asking about alibis, he hastily includes that you should find who was with Mark last “at the very least.” This could imply that the Detective may not have an alibi.

You are sent off to try to piece together the events of last night, leading up to, including, and following the murder.

Also, you leave the Detective with the body to do more, er... rectal examinations.

Scene 6: Damien and The Colonel (7:52 - 9:46)

You duck under the crime scene tape and walk up to a room where you can see The Mayor through a door left a bit ajar. He’s talking angrily to someone we cannot see.

He accuses them of being flippant, and the Colonel responds from inside the room, out off view, that he is taking the matter very seriously. He sounds rather insulted.

The Mayor doesn’t believe it, and says that he knows the Colonel “hated” Mark, but that apparently Mark had “reached out” to him. What animosity did they have? This is a clear motive for murder, and just short of an active accusation that he did it.

The Mayor is upset. Clearly the most distraught of anyone.

He tells the Colonel he wants him to care. Others have pointed out that he may be saying this because the Colonel is throwing suspicion on himself by acting too aloof.

Meanwhile, the Colonel insists that he does care.

The Mayor expresses disbelief then leaves in an angry huff. This seems like it would be typical of the Colonel, so why the disbelief?

You enter the room once the Mayor leaves, and you approach the Colonel.

He believes that you are the Mayor, and inadvertently reveals the Mayor’s name is Damien.

The exact quote is “Damien, I don’t-” You don’t what, Colonel?

He is immediately quite interested in you.

Just like Damien, he reminisces about how wild you were the night before, calling you a rapscallion. Considering that multiple punches were thrown, Damien did a keg stand, and the Colonel pointed a loaded gun at people, just what did you do last night?

The Colonel doesn’t believe Mark was murdered.

He then gives us a black and white flashback of his version of what happened, voiceover and all. As of Chapter 2, this is the only explanation of what happened by a suspect.

This is silly, but there is some very important information about the Colonel here.

Whilst mocking Mark, he says “My name is Markiplier now.” Then follows that up with “forget all the friends who helped me along the way, just look at my money!” What happened between Mark and The Colonel?

Despite the Colonel insisting that Mark couldn’t hold his booze, Mark never actually drank.

The Butler and The Detective are next to Mark when he says “I need to pay people to be my friends.” Why them, specifically? If he was going for hired help, why not the Chef instead of the Detective? Is Mark indeed paying people to be his friends? If not, why would the Colonel seem to think so?

“You like me? Too bad!” What?

“Gotta go off to the little boy’s room, who wants to join me?” Is this a Detective-like innuendo or a clue?

“My house has more than one staircase!” Indeed it does. Why do you know that, specifically, Colonel? And why is it important?

Mark definitely didn’t die by falling off the stairs. But we have no real reason to believe the Colonel doesn’t believe this, so off you go to investigate the entire house. 

Interestingly, this also means you’ve stopped looking for alibis.

Scene 7: A Domain of Evil (9:47 - 11:02)

The Butler approaches you as you are leaving the home theatre you spoke to the Colonel in. Was he listening?

He has something to show you. Vague and ominous, but okay.

“Now if you’re looking for answers, there’s really no mystery at all.” Is the Butler hinting that he knows what happened?

The Butler knows every detail of the house, and claims he has vetted every guest. Is this a trustworthy claim?

This also makes everything the Butler says and does extremely important.

“A domain of evil this is.” Was this where the murder took place?

Some have claimed to hear an additional voice in the background here, but I simply can’t hear it. 

“You first.” He appears scared. What is he expecting to find?

This is a wine cellar, and the first obvious clue.

A bottle with a red top is smashed on the floor, though there is no liquid anywhere to be seen.

On the racks, there is one row of seven larger gold-topped bottles. Directly next to that is what should be exactly the same except in red, except there’s a gold bottle in the midst where the now broken bottle used to lie.

This means whoever smashed the bottle had to leave and come back to get the 8th gold bottle.

They also had to know and have access to where the wine bottles are kept, or even leave the Manor to get more.

Also, the Colonel’s flask is here. Hm.

The wine bottle appears split in two. That’s not how it’s supposed to look if it was smashed over something... say, a head. It’s safe to assume, due to how intact the bottle is, that something fishy is going on with that.

(...Or teamiplier didn’t want to clean up a bunch of broken glass.)

The Butler is extremely upset. Hysterical even. This is his first display of grief.

He asks you to avert your eyes. Is it because of the mess, or the clues?

He sobs loudly as you exit the cellar.

Scene 8: The Chef and His Little Buddy (11:03 - 13:01)

The Chef is in his kitchen as you approach, angrily chopping... something.

He threatens you in much the same way as at the beginning, brandishing a knife. This is a rather common murder weapon.

Once he recognizes that you’re investigating, he outright threatens you if you were to suspect he’s the killer, and he then launches into his alibi.

He was cleaning up after the food he prepared leading up to the time of the murder.

Obviously this line is funny, but what blood was he "sopping” up?

He retired to his room at 1 AM. 

His chef statue is a security camera.

The FNAF-style security footage has already been analyzed, far before the videos themselves came out...

However, we now have video and audio of the 1:17 AM meeting between Mark and the Detective.

Mark reveals that the Detective’s name is Abe.

Also, according to Abe, both the Chef and the Butler are “clean.”

Where did this occur? There are odd bars in view.

When you finish viewing the security footage, the Chef is gone.

Also, there’s a bottle of red wine on the counter with an empty glass.

Deciding there’s nothing left to do here, you move on to the courtyard.

Scene 9: Damien (13:02 - 14:12)

When you walk up to him, Damien is agitated, fidgeting with his walking stick.

Upon seeing you, he sighs. He then begins to explain himself from earlier.

He apologizes that you had to see him lose his temper. 

He also still seems to believe that the Colonel is acting uncharacteristically, even for him. He thinks that he is in shock.

Apparently, the Colonel is an eccentric. Shocker.

Damien is/was, apparently, friends with both Mark and the Colonel. 

Curiously, this seems to imply that Damien knew everyone at this party, if the familiarity with which he spoke to the Detective in Scene 2 is any indication of prior acquaintanceship. He and Mark are the only characters with this trait.

“I know I’m supposed to be a leader in this scenario...” Because you’re the Mayor? Because you were Mark’s best friend? Why, exactly?

Damien has known Mark since they were kids.

Also, Damien seems to be in denial.

“I don’t have any answers right now.” Damien assumes that his grief exempts him from possible guilt, and he doesn’t provide any sort of alibi.

He leaves to think.

Scene 10: The Body is Gone (14:13 - 14:40)

Abe calls to you from behind, clearly agitated. 

Apparently, the body has vanished.

There is crime tape to mark where the body was found. 

Also there’s a dick. Ha-ha, but Mark may literally have been naked when he vanished.

Also, what’s with the strange head shape?

The scene fades out, and the audience is called to join the hunt.

This took far less time than part one, but it’s also less detailed. I’m running out of steam, lol. This is abt two hours of work so reblogs would be super appreciated, and comments even MORE so!

[heavenbursts-blog]

of simplicity and fortitude. rating. teen and up. ch. 1/23 word count. 5,134 summary. a johzenji-centered / terushima-focused story following terushima’s metamorphosis. as he changes his image to rebel against his parents expectations and regulations, terushima stumbles upon the johzenji volleyball club. what was supposed to be a one time thing suddenly becomes a life consuming thing. he grows, learns, falls, and flies with the rebirth of the johzenji volleyball club.

can also be read here.

Terushima wasn’t a morning person. Not much of a shocker considering he had no concept, or respect , for time. Waking up in the morning was a process. He’d wake up to his alarm only to turn it off and sleep in another fifteen minutes. He would miss school entirely if Bobata didn’t come into his room every morning to drag his ass out of bed. Because best friends did that for one another.

“I’m going to start charging you for this,” Terushima yawned and Bobata rolled his eyes. “How late did you stay up playing video games, huh?”

Terushima began to pick up clothes from the floor, trying to find a shirt that didn’t smell too bad. He grabbed a white one and sniffed, “Ugh yeah no.” he balled it up and threw it into his hamper. “Uh like, a couple of hours? I dunno what time does the sun start to rise—?”

“You’re a mess dude!” Bobata flopped onto Terushima’s bed, pulling out his phone to play some games while Terushima got ready. This was  their daily routine. It started with Terushima being dangerously close to oversleeping until Bobata swooped in to get his ass in gear. Terushima always took extra time getting ready because, if they were to be real, neither one really had the desire to go to school. But they went anyways because Futamata would beat their asses collectively if they didn’t. Again, just best friend things.

“I mean you’re not wrong,” Terushima pulled on a shirt that didn’t smell like ass and pulls on his blazer. He refused to put on the mandatory tie on principle. Ties were a representation of capitalism and oppression! Two things Terushima would never support. “I’m a hot mess, though.” he added in with a wink

Bobata snorted, “Unbelievable. That’s what you are.” Terushima walked over and stood in front of Bobata, backpack hanging off one shoulder. Bobata reached a hand out and urged Terushima to bend down. “Lemme take a look at your hair real quick.”

Terushima’s was going through a metamorphosis. Changing his appearance and dynamics and well, his entire being. A revolution was in process. As Terushima bent he suddenly felt awkward. And he hated it. His transformation was complete now with his hair cut. His natural hair was dark brown. However yesterday, on impulse, Terushima had went to get it cut, styled, and dyed . Now he was rocking a blond undercut that became the cherry on top for his new look. Coupled with his earrings that he got pierced over a week ago and his tongue ring that he got done the same day, Terushima looked like a fully bonafide delinquent.

Which was fine . Delinquent was what he was going for.

Bobata’s hands fell to his hair and carded through Teru’s hair. Teru shut his eyes, stomping down his awkwardness to enjoy the careess. “Mmm, stop that. I might jump you.” Terushima purred.

“Shut up, idiot.” Bobata was having none of Terushima’s shit. Teru laughed, “It feels soft,” Bobata continued his petting slowed. “How’d your parents react?” his voice got quiet. Terushima tensed.

But the tension didn’t last. He was smiling shortly after, standing up straight so they could get a move on. And push through the discomfort of talking about his parents in any way shape or form. “They haven’t seen it yet.” Both his parents were off on a business trip. Nothing too uncommon in the Terushima household. He wasn’t looking forward to their return. But he was looking forward to their reactions once they saw his hair. They would be utterly disappointed and filled with resentment. Terushima could practically see it on their faces now. “Come on, man. Let’s go. I feel like Takeharu’s gonna call us any minute now—”

His phone started going off just as he mentioned their other friend’s name. Bobata threw his head back and cackled while Terushima got his phone. The two were heading out the door as Futamata’s screeching rattled Terushima’s ears. “ How long do you plan on making me wait!? ” Futamata yelled.

Futamata was the final piece to their trio. He lived closer to their school so he would wait up for the two at school. Bobata had been Teru’s friend for years but Futamata had joined their duo in middle school. They all ended up attending the same high school, Johzenji because the three musketeers could never be separated. Such a fate was unacceptable. The three got into so many hijinks the teachers stopped attempting to discipline them. They acted like a domino effect: if one person was going to do somethingfuckinig stupid , you better believe the other two weren’t far behind.

Bobata’s laughter carried as they walked down the street for the train. “Uh, we just put on our clothes.” Terushima covered his mouth to hold back his laughter, moving it away from the phone to shot a look at Bobata. Bobata was snickering along with him, shaking his head.

“Oi! Yuuji! Let’s just stay home today! I’m already tired!” Bobata played along, hitching his voice higher than usual.

“Hmmm, Kazu~” Teru pretended to contemplate the idea. “That sounds like a good plaj. I was gonna rage play after school but why wait till then? I could just rage play now and skip school all together! You in?”

“Oh I’m so in.”

“ You’re both dumb as shit. You’re already at the train station, aren’t you ?” Futamata wasn’t buying their shit and rightfully so. He had to deal with the dynamic duo’s antics all last year. He was immune to their nonsense.

Terushima and Bobata broke out into laughter while they entered the train station. Businessmen, students, and citizens walked haphazardly throughout the station. “Yeah, how’d you know?” Terushima asked through laughter.

“ Because you’re idiots who aren’t that hard to figure out. Can you just hurry up? I’m hiding out in the convenience store a few blocks away from school and I refuse to walk in late without my squad! ”

“Yeah yeah yeah, we’re coming soon. Bobata! Say goodbye to our child!” Terushima held up the phone and Bobata took it, making kissy noises into the receiver.

“Daddy loves you so much we’ll see you soon son!”

“Oh sweetheart,” Terushima cooed, pinching Bobata’s face as they boarded the train. “You’re gonna embarrass him in front of all his friends.”

“ I HATE YOU BOTH GOODBYE! ”

Terushima was met with the angry beeping of an ended phone call. Him and Bobata exchanged glances before breaking out into laughter. They were dumb. But they were dumb funny together and that was the best kind of funny to be.

/

He expected staring. Terushima walked down the halls with his hands in his pockets and his head held tall. As he did, he attempted to pay no mind to the whispers and the pointing from his classmates. Blond hair and piercings were a sure sign of defiance. He knew very well how much he was deviating from the norm with his decision. In the moment, he didn’t give a fuck. Terushima was impulsivity incarnate. He went with his gut first and listened to his head later. He rarely, if at all, experienced regret. Or rather, he didn’t linger long enough on the negative attention to let regret seep into his bones and weigh them down.

Girls stared or moved out of his way as he walked down the hall. Guys tensed, not knowing if they should pick a fight or prepare for a fight. Terushima already had a reputation for being wild. He did what he wanted, when he wanted. But changing his appearance was apparently the last straw for some people. Too bold.  

He walked into his class five minutes late, sliding the door open as his teacher was going through attendance. He ignored the weird ache in his stomach and slapped on his usual, shit-eating smile.

“Mornin’, sensei~! You’re wearing the green suit again? I keep tellin’ ya it doesn’t go with your eyes!” the whispers came again. Some were heated. They asked what he was doing and what the fuck went wrong. Others were envious, commenting how bold of a choice it was to dye his hair blond. He was used to it. He expected this.

The very same thing happened when he pierced his ears. And when people found out his tongue was pierced too? God, he remembered sitting in the teacher’s office for hoursgetting lectured about how appearance was everything and he practically felt his soul astral project out of his body to Pluto.

Keiichi, his teacher, looked annoyed. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his hands on his hips as Terushima lazily strolled into class towards his seat. “Late again I see, Yuuji-san. Rather than sharing unnecessary comments about my fashion, which is great mind you.”

“Lol yeah okay,” Terushima said just loud enough for the few people around him to hear. The class laughed and he felt energized. He loved this. Loved causing a scene and seeing the reactions he earned afterwards. He was such an attention whore and he wasn’t even ashamed to admit it.

“But you’re late!” Keiichi-sensei pressed, scowl deepening. “Consistently, for the fifth time this week. Which is unacceptable. Therefore, meet me in my office after school.”

Terushima acted as if he hadn’t just heard his teacher’s rant. Perking up delayed a few seconds after. Eyes widened and mouth opened in feigned shock, “Oh what? Sorry I zoned out.”  Terushima bit back on his grin as laughter broke out and his teacher’s glare turned deadly . Boy … if looks could kill. But Terushima felt so satisfied .

Sure, maybe Terushima should down the sass a bit.  Give his teacher a chance to, well teach . But Terushima was feeling so antsy. He blamed the staring and whispers from earlier. The negative attention, though he loved attention and swallowed it up greedily with every chance he got, grated on his nerves more so than he thought they would. He bounced his leg up and down as his teacher continued with class, taking the high road by ignoring him. Terushima snorted.

His teacher was going to get his excess snark to balance the universe out. Such was how the world was going to play out. Class went on without much issues. As time passed people cared less about giving glances and more about their schoolwork. Great, for Terushima! Who could turn his attention to the window because he couldn’t pay a lick of attention for longer than five minutes. Especially on boring content. Terushima would rather wax his legs then sit through fifty minutes reading some dead guy’s poetry who was severely caught in his feelings. He’d just get notes from someone later. Maybe from Mimi-chan. She was cute, and they normally flirted a lot during lunch. So he could hit two birds with one stone easy peesy.

/

Thank God lunch had finally rolled around. Terushima looked down at his notebook. Rather than having taken notes on the math problems they learned, his book was filledwith designs for characters, monsters, anything his mind could think of. He held up his book with a childish-like pride. “Man, Terushima your a Picasso in the making!”

“What’s that, Teru-kun?” Ah, it was Mimi-kun! Terushima lowered his book and in front of him was Yoshida Mimi. They’ve shared classes before their first year of high school. They clicked immediately, Terushima liking her carefree attitude and Mimi liking his no-strings-attached mentality. They hooked up quite a bit last year, and some more continuing into the new school year as well. She was beautiful, in Terushima’s eyes.

Her black curls bounced, framing her round face. Whatever mascara she wore was magical because it made her eyelashes look ten times longer and curlier than what they should have been. And, Terushima’s eyes immediately went to her cleavage and a goofy grin curled on his lips. She had great breasts too.

“Oi! Teru-kun, my eyes are up here.” but there was no venom in her voice. Another thing he digged about this girl was her super chill personality. Any other girl would have slapped him sideways but not Mimi! A true ride or die she was, in Terushima’s eyes. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

“Haha, sorry Mimi-chan. Got distracted,” he stuck out his tongue, leering. but it dissolved into laughter shortly after as Mimi huffed and pulled up a chair to sit by his desk. He laid down his notebook, hands splayed at the ends as he proudly displayed his newest work. “It’s another masterpiece! I title it, Aliens vs Dinosaurs !” he pointed at a T-rex covered in armor holding a sword, facing off against a three-headed alien with a flaming gun. Terushima pointed, “See see! The Aliens have come trying to colonize the Dinosaurs but the Dinosaurs are like fuck that and you man so they’re defending their land!”

Excitement danced through his voice as he rattled off to Mimi more of his story. Mimi laughed, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand. “You’re really talented, ya know? Oh, oh! Draw me next!”

“Hmmmm, maybe~” he didn’t comment on the talented part. He leaned closer, lowering his voice in her ear. “Like a … nude portrait?”

“Ewwww, gross! What foul things are you whispering about during lunch time?” A book dropped onto Terushima’s head. Mimi laughed and Teru stuck his tongue out, caught in the act but not even a least bit ashamed. Bobata, who had dropped the book, stared back with little to no amusement. Though Terushima wouldn’t be fooled. He knew that bastard was smirking underneath his fake deadpan.

Futamata was standing behind him, lips pulled up in a grimace. “Why are you like this?” and then he saw Terushima’s notebook and laughed, “Nice notes you got there, dude. What subject ya’ll working on?”

“This is my masterpiece!” Terushima would put more energy defending his artwork than his own reputation ten times over. “Besides, Mimi-chan was gonna gimmie her notes to copy, right?” he batted his eyelashes and Mimi hummed.

“Maybe~ Depends what I get in return,” her foot rubbed against her leg and the two shared a secretive smile. Futamata gagged and Bobata scoffed, reaching out to grab Terushima by the back of his collar. He gave him a good tug, dragging him up by his feet. “Enough out of you two. Save the nasty for elsewhere! If you keep flirting like this they’re gonna run out of weiner pan,” Bobata said.

He didn’t really have to say anything more after that. Terushima was already halfway out the door, running in place as he waited for his friends to catch up. “Oi! Ya’ll gonna stand there or are we gonna make moves ?”

“I hate him,” Futamata sighed. Mimi laughed, moving back to her group of friends now that Terushima was gone like the wind. They heard distant sounds of gasps, screams, and laughter. The general reaction to a wild Terushima on the loose.

“Yeah, same.” Bobata huffed but they were both grinning as they ran after him.

They found Terushima flirting it up with the lunch lady. Who was significantly older than the three of them combined but age never stopped Terushima . He was chatting her up, asking about her day, trying to finesse extra weiner pans. Everyday he tired to get three instead of one and everyday he failed. But today could be different!

“Come on! Pleaaaaaaaaase!” he whined, laying his body dramatically against the counter. “I’m a growing boy! I’ll starve!”

“I doubt that,” the lunch lady laughed. Bobata and Futamata came just in time to see Terushima throw a fit over being rejected. Again. “Now none of this whining! I tell you the same thing I tell everyone else: you can have extras if there are leftovers .”

“Leftovers? In this economy?” Terushima threw his hands in the air, ready to cause a scene. Bobata and Futamata slipped in underneath his raised arms, snatching their own meals and resting them on their trays. They also got a meal for Terushima. Who, no doubt, forgot to get his main one while he was trying to schmooze the lunch lady over a piece of bread.

“Hey, hey, there’s a line ya goon.” Bobata nudged Terushima with his shoulder.

“But!”

“Let’s goooooo!” Futamata led the fray and the three fell in line as they exited the lunchroom. Their go to spot for lunch was the rooftop. Off limits to students but Futamata had excellent lock picking skills and could get into the rooftop with ease.

The three took their seats on the roof, springtime sunlight shining cooly upon them. The weather was nice. There was a light breeze that made it cool, but not so cold that it was unpleasant. Clouds lazily strolled above their heads , thin and airy.

Terushima took a large bite into his bread as Bobata said, “So your costume change is a big discussion in my class. Well, amongst the girls anyways.”

The blond raised an eyebrow, swallowing, “Why can’t people mind their own business?”

“It’s funny how you act like you’re bothered,” Futamata smirked.

“I am!” a bit, kind of, more so than he’d let on. But also not, at the same time. Because the change was what he wanted. He actively seeked to make a ripple, a disturbance. Just, not from his peers. “Don’t they have something more important to talk about? Like the latest episode of Super Sentai!” another angry bite of his bread, “Now that’s discourse material.”

“Nerd,” Bobata snorted.

“Geek,” Futamata followed suit.

“Shut up!”

“Anyways!” Bobata laid on his back, looking up at the sky. “What do you guys wanna do after school?”

“Hmmm, arcade? We still gotta break the tie between you and Teru on Street Fighter.” Futamata offered.

“Ooo, that’s an idea,” Bobata hummed.

“I gotta meet with my teacher after school.” Terushima jammed his straw into his juice box and slurped, “Apparently my comment on their whack fashion sense was uncalled for   and necessary for reprimand. ” Terushima used air quotes around uncalled for and necessary for reprimand. “But jokes on them! Cause I’m not going.”

“A true rebel with a cause,” Bobata snickered.

“Oi! Can you not come for my neck for like two minutes you little—!” and thus a fight broke out between the two. Like clockwork, their lunches surrounded a two-v-one drag session with the one lone ranger inciting a full out brawl. Terushima had Bobata gripped by the collar, Futamata snapchatting it all, when his phone buzzed.

“Pause!” Terushima, still gripping onto Bobata’s shoulder, pulled out his phone. ONE NEW MESSAGE flashed on the screen. When he opened it and read the message his eyes lit up. “Oh fuck yes!” he typed out his response, his eyes a lit with excitement.

Bobata rested his chin on Teru’s shoulder, peering at his phone. “Oh, it’s from your uncle?”

Terushima’s uncle was perhaps, one of Terushima’s favorite human beings to ever walk the earth. They met once a month, sometimes even more, on the weekends to hang out. He was Terushima’s saving grace on multiple occasions. “Yeah! He just confirmed our plans for this weekend. Ah, I’m so hyped!”

“You’re gonna come back with more fox things, aren’t you?” Bobata teased, flicking the little fox charm that dangled from Terushima’s phone.

Teru sniffed, “They’re cute!”

“For now, until you find something new to obsess over.” Futamata said. “Speaking of obsession, what’s up with you and Yoshida?”

“Noooothin,” Terushima drawled. His phone buzzed again, a new message from his uncle. Then one more time, but it was a message from a girl in the neighboring class. He grinned, saving that text for later. Flirting was, of course, all about the reactions and Terushima learned rather quickly in his debauchery that keeping a good distance always made the heart grow fonder. “We’re still foolin’ around, if that’s what you mean.”

“She has such a thing for you dude,” Bobata shook his head. “It’s a damn shame she’s being wasted on you! Mr. Can’t Handle a Stable Relationship.”

“Mr. Doesn’t Date Anyone for More than Three Days,” Futamata added.

“Mr. Doesn’t Believe in Love,” Bobata grinned.

“Mr. Says he Doesn’t Believe in Love but is Actually the Biggest Hopeless Romantic of all—”

“OKAY SHUT UP I GET IT!” Terushima’s neck grew hot and he threw punches at both Futamata’s and Bobata’s shoulders. “You guys are the worst.”

“True,” they said at the same time.

“Just because ya’ll are jealous.”

Bobata snorted. Futamata gave him the dead eyes and Terushima flipped them off. And like that, they fell into casual routine. Finishing their lunches up as the bell rang. But the sound didn’t rush them one bit. They always took their time getting back to classes. Usually because they were fucking around for so long they lost time. Five minutes after the bell rang they finally made their move. The game plan was to meet by the shoe lockers after school and head to the arcade. Invite some girls along and then maybe finish the night with some karaoke. The later they stayed out, the better.

/

Classes were over and Terushima’s brain sighed in sweet relief. He had no idea what his history teacher spoke about for the last fifty minutes but he could only assume it was something boring and not worth his time. He yawned, leaning back on his chair as the sound of desks being pushed back and chairs being moved echoed in the background. Terushima should stay for cleaning, but then he remembered about his meeting after school. Fuck.

“Oi! Class Rep Izumi!” a brown haired teen with thick, black glasses turned around. “Can you do me a favor?”

Izumi sighed, “I already feel myself aging five years…”

“Aw, love nugget. That’s so sweet. I didn’t know I had such an effect on you~”

“What is it that you want, Terushima-san?” Izumi folded his arms and Terushima grinned, all lazy and catlike.

“Will you—?”

“No I’m not taking your cleaning duties.” Izumi shook his head and went back to moving his desk. Terushima whined, getting up from his feet and walking over to Izumi. Izumi yelped as Terushima’s arms wrapped around his middle, his nose pressing into his shoulder.

“Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase!”

“Terushima’s begging?” Nico, their other classmate, laughed. “God Terushima where’s your dignity?”

“Um, at home?” he grinned against Izumi’s shoulder, noticing the red that flushed on his neck. Ooo , he blew air against his neck, watching the hair stand up. Izumi’s reaction was priceless! He dropped his desk and turned around, fixing Terushima with a glare. He was shaking, entire face red, and Terushima was cackling , holding his hands by his sides.

“Class Rep, red is such a—such a good color on you—” he wiped at the tears forming in his eyes and went to grab his bag. “So I can leave my clean up duties to you, yeah?”

“What—?”

“—Thanks a million dude!” Terushima patted Izumi’s cheek and bolted out the door before he Izumi had a chance to complain. He snickered, another excellent escape by none other than Terushima! As he darted down the hall people turned to wave at him. Apparently, a day was enough time for people to get used to his change. Good. He waved back at them, his phone buzzing. No doubt getting messages from his group chat with Bobata and Futamata.

“Terushima!” his teacher slid back the door Terushima just ran by, hands on his hips. “Where do you think you are going? We have a meeting right now, remember?”

“Right now?” Terushima jogged in place  at the end of the hallway, “Mmm, maybe tomorrow? Tomorrow works better for me, ya know? Cause time’s a social construct after all and I’ve got plans so, bye!” and he’s off, darting down the hall. He heard footsteps and when he looked over his shoulder he saw his teacher hot on his heels.

Damn, for someone in their mid thirties they can really haul ass.

Terushima ran at full speed down the hallway, cackling all the while. He turned around a corner, jumping onto the railing of the stairs so he could slide down. “And he sticks the landing!” he posed in front of a group of girls who were standing at the bottom of the staircase. Most of them clapped. One just raised her eyebrow at Terushima, unimpressed.

“Were you not amazed the first time? Should I do it again?” he teased, ready to do it again when he heard the teacher’s voice. “Okay another time! Bye girls!” he stumbled a bit before booking it down the hall and outside.

Johzenji’s campus was pretty big. They had two main buildings that connected with an archway. Johzenji looked the best in autumn, when the leaves were changing. There were so many trees that were planted around campus, some people considered it a forest more so than anything else. Johzenji was best known for their academics, above else, which was why they had two buildings dedicated to academics. Terushima couldn’t escape to the western building, where other classes were held. The teachers would rat him out immediately.

So he went for the gym, which was one of the smaller buildings on campus. With any luck, he could hide in there for a few minutes until the coast was clear and then text his friends that he was safe and sound and ready for debauchery. He slipped into the gym, panting and ran for the nearest hiding spot: the storage room. Thankfully, no—luckily—the door was unlocked. So he slipped inside without a hitch. He hid behind one of the jumping boards and waited.

A few minutes passed before he decided to check his phone. “Dammit! No bars,” he couldn’t even send a hey guys the teacher’s got it out for me so if I die Bobata, you get my games and Futamata you get… all my love text. “I’ll just dip then,” he went to stand up when the door opened. Jumping, he’s expecting it to be the teacher who sniffed him out with their greyhound nose.

Instead, it’s some dude with a buzzcut he’s never seen before. And by his side was, probably, one of the prettiest girls Terushima had ever seen. He blinked. They stared back. Terushima immediately assumed they were staring at him because of his appearance, and he bristled. Ready for a fight when Buzzcut spoke up.

“You here for tryouts?” he smiled softly, but there was a hint of excitement mixed with anticipation in his eyes that made Terushima feel… odd. Terushima was not… expecting that.

“Uh—” words, use your words . “No I—” there’s movement outside. He heard voices. The squeaking of sneakers against gymnasium floors. And above them all, he heard the voice of his teacher. He tensed again. Buzzcut and Pretty Brunette shared looks before Terushima heard the teacher’s voice grow closer. He gasped and ducked back down behind his hiding spot.

“Hey you two,” Keiichi wiped the sweat from his brow, fanning himself. “Have you seen, have you seen a student go by here? Blond hair? Piercings?”

Terushima’s heart flew up to his throat. They were gonna rat him out. He felt it in his bones. That soft smile be damned. All they had to do was mention seeing him and he was—

“Nope,” Buzzcut said. “Sorry, sensei.”

“If he comes by we’ll let you know,” Pretty Brunette followed.

The teacher disappeared. Buzzcut turned his gaze back to Terushima who was rising up again now that the coast was clear. Surprise colored Terushima’s face. He didn’t even bother to hide it.

“What? You thought we were going to rat you out or something?” rather than sounding offended, Buzzcut actually looked amused.

“Yes. 100% absolutely definitely,” his response came with little to no hesitation.

Pretty Brunette, God he needed to know her name out of principle, crossed her arms. “Just like you to not leave a stranger in need, Seiji-san.” she sighed, casting a glance over at Terushima. He winked in response and she scowled. “Even if they’re troublesome.”

“Trouble’s the new sexy, haven’t you heard?” Terushima maybe do less?

Buzzcut—no wait, his name was Seiji, laughed. “He’s funny, Hana-san. And he appeared just in time for tryouts. Which you’ll be staying for, right… ah, what’s your name?”

“Terushima Yuuji. And no! I won’t be staying for tryouts. I got a basketball game tomorrow and I’m running late for it so—Thanks for the offer!”

“Wait!” Seiji grabbed Terushima by the arm as he walked by, releasing when Teru shot him a look. “Ah, sorry. I—it would be a waste if you didn’t try out. Since you’re here after all.”

“Me?” Teru raised an eyebrow, “Try out for volleyball? I’ve never played.”

“That’s fine!” Seiji smiled and Hana shot him a look. “Terushima-san, was it? I actually saw you running into our shed. You’re fast, and you look like you’re really athletic. You’d be a great asset to the team if you tried out.”

This was a joke, right? It had to be a joke. Terushima had never joined an organized sport before. But no, the look in Seiji’s eyes said he was very serious. Ah, his phone buzzed again in his pocket. He looked down and there were ten new messages from his group chat and a few messages from Mimi. He should go. He really should but.

He made the mistake of looking over his shoulder. The team was warming up with sets and spikes. He watched in utter fascination as the ball was set and a player ran up by the ride side, jumping in the air, and spiking it down the other side of the net with great force. The sound of the spike resonated with Terushima. He looked at the spikers jumping and suddenly, he wanted to do it to. It looked fun. And it was just for a few hours.

He turned back to Seiji and Hana, and Seiji was looking at him as if he already knew the answer. Terushima shrugged, feigning nonchalance even though the smile on his face was pure giddy excitement. “Yeah sure. Okay. You saved my ass back there so why not.” He’d try out today, at least to repay the favor. He’d also explain to Bobata and Futamata why he bailed, which they’d hopefully understand. And then tomorrow he’d get back into his routine of fuckery incarnate and avoid the gym at all costs so he didn’t have to go back the next day.

Yeah. That’d work.

“Awesome!” wow, Terushima winced from how bright Seiji’s smile was. He had one of those smiles that made you want to trust him with all your secrets and then some. He patted Terushima on the shoulder. “Let’s go get you a penny and a change of clothes.”

[stevefromitreviewsgameofthrones]

The Long Night / S8E3

Ok took a bit but here it comes… kinda clinical recap as it is a fight recap mostly…

The dead has arrived and our forces are standing at the ready

In Comes Mellisandre not the most popular gal but she lights all the Dothraki swords on fire before they charge into battle… the fire did not seem to help them but when it went out we knew they all died

Death Toll: All Dothraki

Kinda expected that no matter how good they are they rode into a no-win situation.

Now it is the undead armies turn they swarm over the Unsullied. All forces join in and it is a massacre when they realize they are losing they retreat to the keep and the unsullied stand and fight. At this point Jon and Dani join the battle and burn as much as they can. Until a sudden snow/cloud forms blinding them from everything including each other ..few mid-air collisions. The dragons were to light the pit but well blind as I said after some futile efforts Melisandre is brought out by Greyworm and company to light the pits. Greyworm also drops the bridge keeping the undead on the other side and trapping many unsullied. Once lit we retreat to the keep.

**undead do not care about dying so make a great body bridge don’t ya think?**

Death Toll: Most of the unsullied Ed Many wildlings Many Northmen I’d say Wights but they just get back up

The battle proceeds in the castle attacks on the walls and the door. Sansa is sent to the crypts with a dragon glass dagger and Arya joins the fight.

Soon a Giant breaks in and is fighting the Mormont clan at the door. ..

Arya gets swarmed and flees Lyanna Mormont gets her body crushed in the hand of a giant the **sound was sickening** but not before she kills him with a stab to the eye

Beric and The Hound Pursue

Death Toll: Lyanna Mormont House Mormont More Northmen and Unsullied More wildlings

OK thus far this is really not going well… moving on

Arya, stealthy girl she is, flows around avoiding all undead and slips out a door only to be attacked and trapped. In comes Beric and the Hound to save the day, they pull her away and the Hound leads her out while Beric tries to buy them time. They finally make it to a room with Melisandre. Beric dies…. He has fulfilled his mission for the Lord of Light Arya has more eyes to close … specifically Blue ones.

What do we say to the God of Death? Not Today.. unless you are Beric in which today might suffice..

Death toll: Beric

We then find Jon on a Dragon battling the Night King who falls from his Dragon Jon crashes to the ground and Dani flies in to burn the Night King.. who does not burn. Would have been good to know that upfront. He tries to attack Dani and misses. The Night King raises all dead.. god damn we were almost there. Dani swoops in and cooks the undead attacking Jon who then chases the Night King… Dani makes her mistake she is on a dragon she should be in the air instead she sits on a battlefield, the dragon gets attacked and flies to try to shake the undead off.. in the process he shakes off Dani. Jorah comes out to protect her and acting as her shield dies for her.

**special note here**8 anybody else notice when the dead were raised all had blue eyes except Delores Ed who’s eyes were white?

So we find Theon and the Iron born in battle in the godswood protecting Bran all Iron Born die except Theon..

Back to Jon running through Winterfell in pursuit of the Night King to end this fighting his way through ignoring friends who may or may not need help. Heading to protect Bran and kill the King.

Meanwhile down in the crypts… uhhm who exactly thought putting people who can’t fight in a crypt while fighting a guy who can raise dead needs their head examined… anyway must have been fun for Sansa being attacked by long gone relatives.. so battle ensues in there and it appears like Tyrion and Sansa either made a suicide patch or just a ok lets go run out and die brave pact so off they go. Anyone else think they will re-marry?

Where the hell is Arya??? Oh NM we’ll come back to her…

Back to Jon still making his way but runs into Vyserion ok man vs undead dragon.. not an easy fight I think Jon will be a bit late… hopefully Theon can hold out..

Back to the Godswood the Night King and his entourage has arrived but Theon is a good man… so instead of running as is his usual tactic he fights and dies immediately and the Night King heads slowly to Bran guess he wanted to Savor this moment..

Suddenly Here’s Arya diving down on him out of nowhere which is a great tactic for no one he catches her and in an extreme badass Arya move our favorite assassin appears to drop her knife but only to swap hands and stabs him in the chest with Valyrian steel… all undead cease to be including Vyserion.. the north survived… somewhat..

Special note the knife that started this all ended it

Mad props to Arya my favorite little Assassin.. shame though she could not score a face from the Night King

Upon the morning Melisandre walks out to the battlefield to die.

Death ToLL confirmed: Beric Ed Dothraki – all 10,000 Unsullied – most 8,000 Wildlings most All house Mormont Many Northmen Lyanna Mormont Jorah Mormont Theon The Iron Born Night King All White Walkers All Wights Vyserion

Pre answers to questions

Yes Jon is Aegon Targyrian 6th of his name blah blah and has had his staredowns with the Night King. But every time they faced off the Night King ended up on top and Jon ended up making it out alive. Why think it would be different. Plus every standoff the Night King just raises an army and shows Jon he can never win. As much as people feel Jon should be the one..

What was all Arya’s training for? Just so she can slit Little Finger’s throat? Nah she had a purpose and as Mel pointed out her own prophesy and she was the one the Night King would not see coming. So her purpose in all this has been realized there is no real shocker here. I was pleased not disappointed.

All the Wights and White Walkers died because he controlled them all so once he died they died simple.

Whereabouts of Gendry and Sam So last we saw Gendry was on the wall and then not again. Somebody was pulled over the wall to their death I rewatched and the person’s hair was too bushy to be Gendry so his whereabouts are unknown but all things I check on the internet has him among the Living. Last we saw Sam he was on the ground fighting and looking to be losing when Jon ran by. We do not know the outcome and when all survivors were seen after the dead were gone he was nowhere to be seen. Still no confirmation of death so likely still alive. Neither were shown in the preview for next week either… in all fairness we never actually saw ghost dead but he never returned either I have less hope for him Direwolves do not live long in the Stark family.

I myself am wondering about next week.. from what I saw Cercei is now mobilizing, and while Dani seemed loaded with confidence they lost almost all their armies so… does not look good unless dani just takes the armies out with the dragons but lets face it who will respect her as queen if she does..damn it I keep forgetting I don’t think there are any families left north or South.

And now my watch has ended

*******************

A note on Arya killing the Night King

For starters way back in Season 1 Arya was taught the only god is death and what do we say to Death? Not today

Melisandre saw her and told her she had darkness in her and she sees eyes looking back at her, brown eyes, green eyes and BLUE eyes and they would meet again

Bran who sees all past present and future gave the Valyrian steel dagger to Arya for a reason.

Arya displayed her slight of hand Knife moves sparring with Brienne

And remember the ones who need protecting are the ones who get in her way..

Then something I noted on re-watch

The Hound hiding Beric trying to get him to help the Hound this is death you can not fight death. Beric: tell her that and looks to Arya. Beric had been brought back by the Lord of Light for one reason – Arya. He might have known both his and her future

The Dagger Arya used was pictured in a book in the Citadel which would indicate it is a legendary weapon 

All Northmen who did not back Jon that also were not between Winterfell and the wall would join them after that battle.

***Follow up questions and Steve’s answer in italics***

1. When that undead first busted through the wall into the crypt, was that someone who had been buried in there, or was it a wight who found a way in? Can the Night King only raise those who have been killed by him/his kind?

It is corpses from the crypt if it is dead he could raise it

2. I saw Gilly get attacked in the crypt, did she make it? My original thinking was no, she didn't. 

I dont think it was Gilly a lot of people were in there, however I saw Gilly in the crypt after the battle was over.

3. I know you want Tyrion to kill Cercei, but the prophecy of green eyes...does that mean Arya will kill Cercei? Maybe wearing Jamie's face, or do we thinking Jamie lives? 

Actually have been telling Susan it will be Arya wearing Jamie face. Tyrion is the most popular theory though. Jamie is still alive and redeemed himself a bit doubt she will kill him for his face.

4. Any theories about where Dani/Jon are going to find an army to fight Cercei? Maybe some Dornish people who hate the Lannisters? 

Nick and I were discussing this last night. If both Sam and Gendry lived...Gendry can be legitimized making him lord of Storms End giving him the ability to summon the bannerman and the Baratheon Army. Also Storms End is a great place for them to relocate to for the war. The outer walls are 40 feet thick facing Kings Road and the sides facing water are 80 feet thick and face Aptly named Ship Breakers Bay. So protection from sea and land attack and close to Kings Landing. Sam is now Head of the Tarly family so can summon the remaining armies and banners. With Cercei's prisoner Dorne would also join. And fleets from Iron Island.  Let's also not rule out Howland Reed and the Crannogmen

[tokupedia]

Kamen Rider 45th Anniversary File: Double

2010:

Protecting the Earth is an Angel’s Duty! Tensou Sentai Goseiger debuts as the 34th Super Sentai season.

HeartCatch Pretty Cure aka THE BEST CURE SERIES EVER as deemed by some of Pretty Cure’s fans debuts and joins Goseiger and Double on Sundays. The season is slightly more mature with the subject of grief over the death of loved ones as one of its story arc themes and has great action in it. It also has a connection to Sailor Moon in the fact that Cure Moonlight is voiced by Sailor Mercury! 

After years of silence with nothing new on TV or film whatsoever, Garo returns in Garo: Red Requiem, a full-length feature 3D film which introduces the awesome Makai Priestess Rekka and the lovable Makai Priest Shiguto as the allies of Kouga.

After the successful crossover with Decade in the cinemas last year, Kamen Rider Fans get even more Den-O with the Cho Den-O Trilogy.

Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger: GinmakuBang!! debuts in Japanese theaters and marks the only appearance of Hyper Go-On Red. 

Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial, the sequel to the Ultra Galaxy movie, debuts in theaters.

Space Battleship Yamato gets a live action adaptation on the silver screen.

Tokusatsu actor Shunsuke Ikeda, best known as Ichiro/Kikaider 01, died from complications of his long battle with diabetes. He was 69 and fans in Hawaii and around the world mourned his passing.

During the All Kamen Rider vs. Dai Shocker film, the evil Shadow Moon was laying the smack down on Kuuga Rising Ultimate and Decade, when the rev of a motorcycle stopped the super villain in his tracks and a mysterious figure on a bike broke the two parties up by stopping in the middle of the brawl.

On opposing sides of the field, the Riders saw a Green Rider...

while Shadow Moon saw a Black Rider (No, not that one)

But then the mystery Rider spoke up after a disagreement about his color from the two sides: “I’m both actually. My name is...Kamen Rider... Double. *turns towards Shadow Moon* “Now...Count up your Sins!”

This strange hero spoke with two voices and could easily beat up Shadow Moon using USB thumb drives that contained his powers. However, things got weirder when the hero got into an argument with... himself as one half of him said he wanted to go home as the rest of the Kamen Riders could finish off the weakened Shadow Moon. The other wanted to stay and “get to the good part” (possibly his Rider Kick or weapon finisher), but reluctantly agreed and then drove off....much to the bewilderment of his seniors who witnessed his fight.

This was the start of a brand new tradition, where the old Rider would get a bit of help from his successor and pass the torch.

Planning

Toei needed to change the schedule up to stay on budget, so they made a bold move as Kamen Rider’s premiere would be moved into the Fall of the year and air throughout the majority of the following year. This also put the series in a unique position as it would run alongside 2 Sentai seasons before switching up for the next show. The merchandise sales of the single Rider Series in tandem with the 2 Sentai seasons would in theory give enough cash revenue to balance the books.

Another change is the fixture of Support Robots, while Hibiki is considered the alpha prototype of the concept, this season cemented its place in the Kamen Rider series (With Gaim being the only series thus far to opt out.)

Then the belt itself began to change, while Ryuki switched the belts away from the format of being attached to the bodies of the Riders, Double improved the belt’s combat ability even further. No longer was a Rider constrained to a single form or weapon via a singular input system, but now could diversify their abilities in various ways by using multiple input modules and transformation devices. 

Sure, this was done to make Kamen Rider even more toyetic to boost profits and cover rising production costs, but writers and staff when on their A-game made it feel like a natural evolution of the franchise and not a forced toy commercial.

When it came time to plan W....I should explain that real quick. The show and titular Rider are different in terms of label in a manner similar to Faiz. The English word “Double” sounds like the Japanese pronunciation of the letter “W”.  But since the show romanizes the hero to Kamen Rider Double on toys and on the title card, the Rider is referred to as Double and the show is W because of the Japanese text of the show’s title showing the english letter W.

Anyways, when it came time to plan W, the “Fall 10th Anniversary Project”, the staff was debating on ideas and one argument they had was that Double should be all red. Toei thought since Red was a heroic color it would test well with focus groups. PLEX disagreed with the Toei staff and saw inspiration from the Showa era, wanting a Rider who harkened back to the original Double Riders with a green and black body color. 

(Double, as drawn by Ishinomori assistant and concept designer Masato Hayase)

In fact, the designers wanted a lot of Showa elements back in the franchise, something the producers and writing staff were adamant about or outright felt was a bad idea. One of them was Yasuko Kobayashi, when the design staff proposed the return of a beloved aspect of a Rider costume that had been missing for over 25 years for the main heroes: the classic scarf. She at first saw it as unsightly for a modern audience and too “Showa-y”.  But she eventually caved into the pleas of putting it on under the condition that she chose the color: silver instead of the proposed white color.

Another proposed idea when the writers decided on a neo-noir detective theme was that the hero would wear a Sam Spade/Columbo style trench coat over the suit. But the staff nixed this as they realized it would make Seiji Takaiwa’s job more difficult as he would be wearing a heavy coat over a costume.

(*in a Peter Falk voice* “The last time I trusted a dame was in Tokyo in 1971, she said she was going out to get a bottle of sake. Two hours later, the agents of Shocker marched into Japan!”)

The love letter to the Showa Era didn’t stop at a scarf and a color scheme. Double has allusions of influence from Kikaider 01, Kamen Rider X, Black, Chojin Barom 1 and The Skull Man. The main Gaia Memory that Philip carries is called Cyclone, a reference to wind energized Riders from days of old and the original motorcycle Ichigo rode. There is even Bat and Spider monster villains during the early days of the incidents of the story and Bat and Spider gadgets the heroes use in the grand tradition of that mythology gag.

The next phase was marketing and whoo boy, did this series get the royal treatment. In addition to the new Movie Wars series and a summer film, the series had its own clothing line, several radio shows on a fictitious radio station with some connecting to the show and continued the promotion of Ganbaride with Double getting his own sets of cards. This was also the start of the Legend Rider series of toys, as Bandai made Gaia Memory toys based on each Rider.

Avex got multiple bands and artists together to create exclusive new “bands” for the show with most named after a Hurricane event such as Labor Day or Galveston 19. The music entertainment label even pulled some strings to get 2 members of the hit idol group AKB48 to be recurring supporting cast as Queen and Elizabeth. It truly was a love war..

Futo itself feels like a real city, with locations, businesses and people that you get to know. The world building was so well done that future Rider entries still touch it up every now and then. (Ex. In Drive, we learn Futo is just outside Tokyo and later see Futo Tower in the distance at an amusement park when Drive is fighting a monster!)

Now, let’s meet Futo’s resident local Superhero!

CYCLONE! JOKER!

Real Names: “Phillip” (Raito Sonozaki) and Shotaro Hidari

In 1999, a criminal element unlike any that ever had been seen before in Futo began emerging; distributing a drug-like device that enhances humans into superpowered monstrous beings known as Dopants. The only force that could stop the source of the city’s tears was someone Shotaro would later simply would refer to as “The Boss”, Sokichi Narumi, a private detective who was a real man’s man and moonlighted as a Kamen Rider with the help of his childhood friend. Despite his best efforts, the crime of the city continued.  

Later, while on a case to bust the bad guys on Christmas Eve 2008, Shotaro and Sokichi snuck into a warehouse distributing the drug-like Gaia Memories. Unfortunately, the bad guys found out they were sneaking around and a fight broke out. Due to his youth and stubbornness, Shotaro disobeyed an order to stay put from his boss and found a young eccentric man who had no memories that they dubbed “Phillip” after the famous private eye Phillip Marlowe from the Raymond Chandler novels. While trying to escape, The Boss got shot up pretty bad in a hail of gunfire. With his last breath, Sokichi told his protege to finish the case and become a man worthy of wearing his hat, giving him his prized fedora as he dies from blood loss.

Surrounded by guards, an armed helicopter and a monster later known as the Taboo Dopant, the eccentric Phillip asks his new friend a question and opens the briefcase they were carrying: Do you have the courage to ride with a Devil?

The two use a belt in the briefcase with Gaia Memories and as the guards and helicopter fire their guns....a new figure emerges from the blaze unharmed and destroys the entire floor with a gust of powerful wind (helped by the helicopter crashing into the building).

Jump ahead to late 2009 and Akiko Narumi has come to collect on her father’s detective agency as its new landlord (unaware her father has died). She gets ready to evict Shotaro until a case comes up and she finds all the weird stuff they do, like a hidden garage with a massive vehicle and Phillip scribbling on boards any data they can find on cases. But then Akiko finds out her evictee is a superhero and at first wants to evict the both of them right away, but then decides after being saved it would be better to help people and continue the Narumi Detective Agency. The trio continue investigating cases and stopping Dopants, while under the vengeful eye of the Sonozaki crime family and learning much later there is an even bigger enemy in the shadows pulling the strings.

But as their exploits grow, the citizens of Futo christen their masked savior as “Kamen Rider” and Philiip and Shotaro work hard to deserve that honor, fighting crime to wipe away the city’s tears and making villains count up their sins!

Gear:

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Double_Driver

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Gaia_Memories

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Memory_Gadgets

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/HardBoilder

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Rotation-Interchange_Base_RevolGarry

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Metal_Shaft

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Trigger_Magnum

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Transforming_Gaia_Dinosaur_Fang_Memory

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Transforming_Gaia_Bird_Xtreme_Memory

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Prism_Bicker

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Lost_Driver - Used in emergencies only or when one of the halves of Double isn’t available.

Powers and skills:

Phillip has a genius level intellect on par with a supercomputer and thanks to his connection to the Earth’s True Gaia Memory essentially has a mystical kind of Google search he can call upon. This allows him to accurately find people, places and objects if specific keywords are given that produce the results he is looking for.

Shotaro is a skilled brawler and a competent detective as he was trained by Sokichi. He is able to see small details the police sometimes overlook.

Both of them as Double are pretty diverse.

Cyclone: levitation or slowed descent via wind manipulation, wind energy blasts, capable of creating tornadoes and elemental augmentation of weapons

Joker: Enhanced strength, superior fighting skills and reflexes.

Luna: Mr. Fantastic like-Elasticity on the left side of the body, illusion generation and homing projectiles or giving the Metal Shaft rubbery lasso/whip-like capabilities.

Heat: Pyrokinesis, explosive generation and elemental augmentation of weapons.

Metal: Higher defense and strength and elemental augmentation of weapons. Summons Metal Shaft weapon

Trigger: Expert Marksmanship, enhanced firepower which can be strengthened further by elemental Gaia Memories. Summons Trigger Magnum Weapon

Fang: Feral instincts, Bladed weapon/projectile

Xtreme: Laser blasts, Twin Maximum Drive capability, instant analyzing ability to discover weak points, shield generation, swordsmanship. Capable of evolving to a higher state using wind power to give Double wings and stronger attack power.

Weaknesses:

When Phillip enters Shotaro’s body via memory transfer or vice versa in the case of the Fang memory, their bodies are at risk of being taken or destroyed, which could result in one of them..one of them....dying. *Cyclone Effect starts playing and the typer fights the urge to start crying*. If one or both of them has a status effect inflicted by a monster, that will carry over to Double in some cases unless Xtreme form is activated. Even then, there is a chance they will still be affected. Phillip has a one track mind as once he finds something that fascinates him he won’t stop until he knows everything about it, usually this could take hours or days for him to finish depending on the subject. (I like to think we on the internet have all had moments like that)

The key to Double is keeping the two users in sync with each other, if they cannot agree on something that causes them to fight intensely or in one instance where a villain used Phillip’s amnesia against him, the sync destabilizes and Double either de-transforms or gets weaker.

Speedy opponents can swipe away all of Double’s Gaia Memories save for the ones in his belt, thus putting the two-in-one hero at a major disadvantage.

Lastly, the Memories themselves have risk. A “Twin Maximum”, a move where Double uses more than one Gaia Memory in his base forms, is very dangerous as the suit will overload with energy and the Double Driver will act erratic. The energy surge will cause possible harm to both users, but Shotaro gets the worst of it as it causes physical damage to his body and could kill him. Its only perk is a more powerful attack but it is too foolish to attempt such a life threatening tactic unless it is a last resort. Twin Maximums can only be pulled off by teamwork with Accel or using Xtreme form. 

The Fang Memory causes Philip to go berserk if Shotaro does not reign in his partner, as it regresses Philip to a savage mindset if he does not impose his will into it. As explained in expanded universe material, there is a FangMetal and FangTrigger form but the Joker Memory’s compatibility combined with Shotaro’s will make it the best candidate for Fang. The use of the other memories would result in Shotaro losing control and Phillip going completely wild. The use of this memory also tires out Shotaro as he needs to use all his willpower to keep Phillip’s mind stable from its side effects.

The last one is that Gaia Memories are capable of breaking, so it is possible that the duo could lose their powers on a more permanent basis.

Signature Finishers:

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Maximum_Drive

Enemies:

Dopants

(A Masquerade Dopant, an example of Dopants and the common grunts of the Museum)

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Dopants

Dopants are superhuman beings created when an ordinary human injects a Gaia Memory directly into their bodies. Each Gaia Memory is based on an object, concept, person or animal. (Ex. Dr. Shinigami, Apple, Time and Triceratops) 

Due to the drug-like effects of the Memories being directly inserted into the body of the user, some people who use Gaia memories have mental or physical health deterioration and become unstable and even more violent. There are also side effects in some cases if the memory is destroyed, such as the Yesterday Dopant having a mind wipe occur from the powers leaving her. Some side effects are more fatal if the user has “O.D.” on the Memory as their body will break down and dissolve. Basically, this show in its own subtle way is sayin’: Don’t do drugs kids, it’ll mess ya up and you could die.

Double uses his Driver to filter out the bad stuff of a Gaia Memory to use its power safely with no ill side effects (for the most part). But so does...

The Museum and The Sonozaki Family

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Museum

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Sonozaki_Family

The Museum is an organization run by the aristocratic Sonozaki Family whose goal is to evolve humans and save life on earth in an event called the Gaia Impact. The Sonozakis have Memory Drivers that filter out the negative side effects...not that it changes who they are on the inside as they are wicked in some regards. (Though they redeem themselves in some ways) The head of this prestigious crime organization is Ryubee Sonozaki. Despite being an old man, you do not want to underestimate him as the Terror Dopant...

Also this is the first time in Rider History we have had a pet as a monster lieutenant: A cat.

(*Dr Claw Voice* Ryubee: I’ll get you next time Kamen Rider...next time. Mick: MRRREEEEEOWW!)

And lastly we have...

NEVER and Foundation X

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Category%3ANEVER

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Foundation_X

NEVERS or Necro-Overs are, to put in the simplest terms, sentient pseudo-zombies who retain the knowledge, skills and faculties of their former living selves and are designed to be a breed of super soldiers. Despite interest and development by Foundation X to use them, they were soon abandoned after Gaia Memories were developed. One of them was a Kamen Rider who proved troublesome for Double and nearly killed him, though he was once a good person who slowly went mad from his undead nature.

Foundation X makes their presence known in this season and after the failure of the Sonozakis and their own ranks to stop Double and prove the value of Gaia Memories, the organization got word of another power source even greater than that of Gaia Memories to research...

Though Double/Joker gets to have fun (Maximum) driving them outta their town every so often when they try to reclaim their former territory to set up sinister research projects.

Final thoughts

Kamen Rider W is a beloved entry of the franchise and many newcomers get it recommended to them when asking where to start. The mindset is it is much like a western superhero show with a bit of Scooby Doo/noir mixed in. There is a mystery to solve and a bad guy to catch, defeat and unmask. (Though some of the mysteries are a bit smarter than that cartoon by giving you a bait and switch on who the monster of the week is!)

Unlike most Rider shows, the bad guys for the most part get their powers taken away after the beatdown and they are handed off to the police or get help instead of killed outright (though there are exceptions). In fact, this is the first time since Agito we see a Rider cooperating with the cops and even helping them. (It also helps that Accel is a cop too.) 

I on the other hand say you need to go to Decade first as that first Movie War depends on you watching that show to see that final story chapter and understand what is going on.  But if you don’t want to watch the Movie War...you kinda have to given Kamen Rider Skull is part of it and the episodes plug the film blatantly at one point to tie into the story. 

Other than that, you will have a Hard-Half Boiled good time watching a recent perennial fan favorite!

WBX~ CRIME IN THE CITY!~

[dinoalexander]

The Semi-Quotable 2017 Part 4

I never had his problem with Livejournal. I’ve had several problems but never this... Part 4.

——

"Note to terrorists: During WWII, London endured this thing called 'The Blitz'. Google it. They will endure your petty stupidity. Note to Trump: During WWII, London endured this thing called 'The Blitz'. Google it. They will endure your petty stupidity. Keep calm and carry on." -Kevin

"When you scroll to find your name, don't see your name for a really long time, and wonder if you could have squeezed just a couple more fucks in there. Missed fucking opportunities!" -Laura

Jay: "Who doesn't love a Brazilian steak?"

Joe: "Who doesn't love a Brazilian ass!"

C: "Who doesn't love a Brazilian?"

"As soon as American Idol came to America, we were all fucked." -Jenna

"This isn't football, it's boy bands!" -Q

"To quote the great philosopher Cornell Haynes Jr., it's getting hot in herre." -C

"I'll always love UNC but Gonzaga destroyed Tokyo." -Austin

"Make chicken salad out of that chicken shit!" -Q

"If one more person adds me to LulaNotLemon group without asking me, I swear I am going to find every pair of leggings on this island and burn them in a huge bonfire at Bayview Park. #YouveBeenWarned" -Shannon

"Stranger at Walmart just coughed in my face. So I have two, maybe three days to live." -Q

"I got some antibiotics for the bug I've had for over a week. I think it's adorable that CVS colored the antibiotics green for St. Patrick's Day and they taste like mint. I think those lazy bastards just gave me a container of Tic Tacs." Klauss

"I used to date somebody with lazy eye, but she was seeing someone on the side." -Rammson

"Is that a thing? Because I just made it a thing." -Jordan

“What is the current bar for "most awkward human on the planet" in the Guinness Book of World Records? Cause I wouldn't mind getting something back for all my suffering.” -Christina

“You’re like a WetJet with a lab degree!” -Q, on cleaning up the ER doc’s messes

“Supporting my husband’s love for this awful team.” -Kyle

“THANKS FOR NOTHING, CRABTREE!” -Robin

"Had homey on some Globetrotter shit." -Jabari

"NBC: Where Every Night at 8 PM is Fuckin' Christmas." -Klauss

“Diane, it’s ‪Tuesday, August 1st‬ and I’ve stumbled upon quite a few mysteries here at Fashion Peaks. Tully the horse has been sent to the glue factory, The Ascension has a very peculiar taste in music, and my partner, Deputy Dango, has been abducted - possibly by extraterrestrials. That leaves me with two questions: One, who kidnapped Fandango? Two, why didn’t I just call you instead of record this?” – Tyler Breeze

“Wait, so that giraffe still hasn't given birth? Have we explored the possibility that the zookeeper just overfed her a few months ago and lied instead of admitting the mistake?” - Nedeff

“Just finished watching ‪Die Hard‬ for the first time (we can discuss later). ‪Die Hard‬ is 100% not a Christmas Movie. Just because it ends with Christmas Music doesn’t make it a Christmas Movie.” – Dan O’Toole with the most wrong hot take of 2017

“We're still gonna get near-daily articles trying to Understand The Le Pen Voter though right” @pattymo

“Of course any portrayal of a real-life figure is about so much more than physical resemblance, but come on guys: how did they NOT cast Christopher Plummer as J. Paul Getty in the first place?” – Richard Roeper

“Danny Ainge the only American who can outsmart a Russian.” – David Dennis Jr.

“The Yankees haven’t been in the playoffs in a while so I forgot how punchable Brett Gardner’s face is” – Brad Rutter

“HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” – Dougie Jones

“There’s no fucking way he sold 200 Streamdaddy’s” – Prez on IYH

“By far the most bizarre trivia fact about Dean Stockwell to me is that he’s a trained martial artist.” – Allison Pregler

“Don’t Worry, We’ll Let You Know When The Last Surviving World War II Veteran Dies” - ClickHole

“And I thought Ashley Judd’s sleaziest boss was Benjamin Horne.” – Ken Jennings

“Because hey, if you lose $35 Million one time, try try again!” – Scott Keith on Vince McMahon relaunching the XFL

“I don't recommend going to Wal-Mart 2 days before Christmas. And by "2 days before Christmas", I mean ever.” – BFG

“Pepsi: That was the biggest PR blunder of the week, year maybe.

United: Hold My Beer

Sean Spicer: LEEEEEEEEEERROOOOOOOY JEEEENNNNNNKINS!” - @Lance_Bradley

“IF THE TITANIC HAPPENED TODAY: “Sir, we’re heading straight for that iceberg. / That’s a fake iceberg. / Sir, it’s a mountain of ice and it’s right in front of us. / Full speed ahead! / Sir, we just hit the iceberg and now we’re sinking...Sir?...Women & children first, Sir...” – Jeff Daniels

“Hot on the heels of his triumphant rebranding of MySpace, Justin Timberlake brings sexy back to the NFL.” – Kevin M.

“Derek Jeter is so freaking hot. I hate the Yankees!” – Greg’s friend Kat’s mother

"Marty Jannetty couldn't buy a date..." thankfully 24 years later Marty will make sure his dates don't share his DNA...” - Dane

“Next year's State of the Union should have an In Memoriam montage with everyone who's been fired.” - Nedeff

“What can bring an end to an angry dance montage? FUCKING ‘NAM!” – The Cinema Snob

“IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BUNNY! ………… Is it about the Bunny? ………. No, it’s not about the bunny.” – Tommy “Hawk” Hill

“WARREN WHAT DID YOU DO!?!?” -Jimmy Kimmel after the Oscar Best Picture fuckup

“GOODBYE AOL INSTANT MESSENGER GO FUCK YOURSELF” – The Iron Sheik

“A producer pitches a show to an NBC executive.

"Wow me."

"Okay- it's The OJ Simpson Trial... but wacky!"

"Go on..."

"It's a procedural comedy where we don't know whether he did it until the end of the season!"

"But... this is a murder, right? Someone dies?"

"Oh, yes- good 'n' dead."

"I see... and who were you thinking would play the role of the is-he-isn't-he murderer?"

"The Trinity Killer from Dexter, John Lithgow."

"Dick Solomon?! GREENLIGHT THAT ISH" - Fard

“EVERYTHING TRUMP TOUCHES DIES!” – Rick Wilson

“Can’t believe Weinstein didn’t go with the old “locker room talk” defense.” – Matthew Yglesias

“So here's what we're gonna do. Without my knowledge, my husband came to you for a loan of $20,000. You were nice enough to give it to him. But he should never have been gambling like that. I'm gonna pay you back. Now, at my bank, where we make less than one percent interest on what little money we have, people would be turning cartwheels just to get 25 percent interest on any loan, and that is what I'm generously gonna give to you right now, $25,000. That is my first, last, and only offer to you. What kind of world are we living in where people can behave like this? Treat other people this way without any compassion or feeling for their suffering? We are living in a dark, dark age, and you are part of the problem. Now, I suggest you take a good, long look at yourselves because I never want to see either of you again.” – Janey-E Jones

“If professional wrestling isn't real why have I spent the past hour watching Bobby "The Brain" Heenan videos quietly alone in my hotel room?” – Tom Arnold

Gordon Cole: “We’re not anywhere near Mount Rushmore.”

Albert Rosenfield: “I brought a picture for you.”

Gordon Cole: (Looks at picture) “There they are Albert, faces of stone.”

“This is pretty exciting to be apart of this nomination for @VeepHBO especially since my mom watched the entire last season of Madame Secretary and was confused why I was never on it.” – Paul Scheer

“Nice to know that while other industries are turning to tablets and screens, game show hosts are still plugging away with those little cards.” – SC Duncan

“We will remember the unappreciative, ungreatful, evil, awful, Anthem owl men and the man who’s fond of slapping nuts on how they treated us on our exodus from Impact Wrestling YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” – Matt Hardy shooting on Double J’s business practices

“Steve Bannon gets tonight’s Last Word – which for him, is the complete silence of utter humiliation” – Lawrence O’Donnell

“SHOVEL YOUR WAY OUT OF THE SHIT!” – Dr. Lawrence Jacoby

“Sorry I took your suit. I mean, you had it coming. Actually, it turns out it was the perfect sort of tough love moment that you needed, to urge you on, right? Don't you think? Let's just say it was. Look, you screwed the pooch hard. Big time. But then you did the right thing: you took the dog to the clinic, you raised the hybrid puppies... alright, not my best analogy. I just wanted to mention that I think with a little more mentoring, you could be a real asset to the team. There's about 50 reporters behind that door, real ones, not bloggers, so when you're ready...” – Tony Stark

“In the Alabama Senate Race, the predicted result among many pundits was a narrow margin of victory. Roy Moore himself, however, was hoping for a shocker in the teens.” – Nedeff

“Sports Illustrated called and said I was probably going to be Sportsman of the Year, but it was going to take a long photo shoot and interview. I’m not proud of my recent perm and have a interpretive dance class at the interview time so I turned it down! No Thanks SI!!” – Noah Syndergaard

“Wow, if I had invested $1,000 in Bitcoin last week, today I would have... still no idea how Bitcoin works.” - @StephenAtHome

“In a confusing twist, Han Solo's name will be revealed to be Luther Campbell.” – Jeff Gerstmann

“Lordy, I hope there are tapes!” – James Comey

“This is the water, and this is the well. Drink full, and descend. The horse is the white of the eyes, and dark within.” – The Woodsman in Episode 8 of Twin Peaks: The Return 

“We need some loving profiles of a small town in northern Alabama that thinks obstruction of justice is fine because Drumpf respects cops.” – Matthew Yglesias

“Why are Greg Gumbel and Seth Davis sitting at a desk for ants?” – Andrew Bucholtz

How many more of these things will Tumblr tolerate? Stay tuned...

[zerosuspensiongogo-blog]

Double Sided Coin || Self

Gogo wasn’t Hogwarts’s biggest fan, but she always dreaded when it ended. It wasn’t necessarily what she’d be missing: her small group of friends, easy access to knowledge and resources, or the freedom of the grounds.

No, it was what she would be forced to gain. Which was the presence of the man waiting for her when she stepped off of the train on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He was tall with broad shoulders, salt and pepper hair, and a scruffy beard matched his somewhat scruffy getup. He had thick, dark eyebrows that mirrored Gogo’s own and they raised when he saw her. A forced smile tugged at his lips as he waved her over. Her stomach churned but she ignored it, sluggishly shuffling towards him while blowing a large bubble. The popping noise rang with distaste.

“Hey kiddo! Long time no see. You ready to go?” He asked, his voice saccharine to the point that she wanted to gag.

“Mm,” was all she responded with, giving a half-hearted shrug. She could see his features twitch a little as he sighed deeply and held out an arm. She glared at it, purposefully not moving for long enough to be inconvenient but not long enough for him to say anything. Then, she merely stepped back.

“Can do it myself now,” she said simply. He blinked in surprise.

“I didn’t know you got your appiration license.”

“My birthday was in April, I turned 17,” she reminded him in a deadpan voice.

“Ah, right. I knew that,” he added quickly at the end. And indeed, she had gotten a card from him with the bare minimum “Happy Birthday From Dad” on it on time, but she was sure at this point that he had some sort of timer and forgot about the date at all other times.

“Are you sure you want to try apparating all the way to the portkey? It might not be safe--”

“I got it.”

“I really don’t think--”

“I got it!” She snapped more aggressively, shooting him a glare. He frowned deeply but then shook his head with a sigh.

“Alright...you go first and I’ll stay behind in case you splinch anything.”

‘Maybe I’ll get lucky and splinch my fucking head off,’ She thought to herself, without an inch of sarcasm. With a loud, resounding crack, she disapparated.

Much to her misfortune, she apparated in the right place, body parts and all.

Her father owned a small house in the Irish countryside. Some would call it cozy, with worn architecture and massive fields of wheat going in all directions. A dirt path several kilometers long would eventually take one to a small muggle town, where the locals gathered in the pub every night to communally drink and make merry.

Or to drown out the misery of their shitty lives, Gogo thought to herself. The sparse, insect infested home was a prison for the Slytherin girl, one that she’d been subjected to for months on end ever since her parents separated. It had only been for holidays and winter break when she’d started school. But after her mother lost her job, she couldn’t afford to raise Gogo in the summer months while also taking care of her ailing parents. So after some good old fun custody disputes, she was forced to waste her summers away in a home that she hated with a man she hated even more.

Most of the time, she’d walk, bike, run, skate--whatever method of escape she could use to travel into town. But there were only so many times you could cycle through the same handful of buildings before you wanted to blow your brains out. And Gogo was already way past that point.

So she sat in her father’s garage--no, it was a joke to even call it that. First of all, they didn’t have a car. Even if they did, it would have to be one of those smart cars if it ever hoped to fit. Instead, it was just a crappy dusty room littered with miscellaneous crap. Gogo was pretty sure there was garbage in here that she’d tossed out last summer. But, it was one of the few spaces that had a halfway decent fan and that she sat under, working on some schematics for an invention she’d been working on for awhile now. She’d been reading up on magnetic levitation and had some ideas on how to combine it with magic to create even faster methods of transportation. Many of the first editions had been duds but she had a feeling this time it would be different.

However, she had to stifle a groan when she heard the door open up behind her. She didn’t even bother looking up from her notebook, nor did she stop her sketching. She could just feel his ooze creeping up behind her, breathing down her neck.

“What’cha drawing there, kiddo? Is it anime?”

Her grip tightened on her pencil, her knuckles turning white. She took a deep breath and tried to force herself to relax, just continuing her work as if he wasn’t there.

“No. They’re schematics for an invention I’m working on. It’ll use electromagnetic suspension and free-form levitation charms to reduce friction and enhance speed and maneuverability,” she replied dryly. She could feel her father shifting uncomfortably behind her.

“Ah. Right.” A silence fell between them. She hoped that he would take a hint and go away. He did not.

“So, how did quidditch go this year? Did Slytherin win?”

Gogo felt her jaw clench. “How should I know? I’m not on the team.”

“Aw c’mon, but you have to at least watch, right? Y’know, you should really consider trying out again. I’m sure you’re better now than you were a couple years ago.”

“It wasn’t because I wasn’t good enough, it was because people on the team fucking hated me,” she growled, her pencil strokes becoming a little harsher.

“Merlin, Leiko, not everyone is out to get you. It’s alright that you didn’t make the cut the first time around, you don’t have to go blaming it on everyone else.”

She could already feel her hands beginning to shake in anger. No one else could get her as worked up as he did--and in record time too. He didn’t have a fucking clue what he was talking about but here he was, spouting off his unwarranted and nonfactual opinion. And as much as she didn’t want to argue about it, there was still something she couldn’t let go.

“I told you, it’s Gogo now.”

The condescending chuckle behind her made her want to shove her pencil through the notebook. Or his face. “Are you still going by that? C’mon, don’t you think you’ve outgrown it? I mean, ‘Go-go’,” he repeated in a mocking tone, “Sounds a bit ridiculous in’nit?”

“Just as ridiculous as ‘Kris-to-fer Dun-nuh’,” she repeated back in just as mocking a tone. His silence was enough to tell her that she’d managed to get under his skin as well. He sighed deeply, running a hand through his greying hair.

“Are we really going to do this again this year? Really?”

“What thing is that,” Shed asked, deadpan.

“The thing where you treat me like absolute shite and I’m supposed to just laugh it off like ‘Hoho, that’s my girl!’ because you report even the slightest hint of discipline as abuse?”

Gogo couldn’t help but give a ghost of a smirk at that. “No, yeah that sounds about right.”

“Fuckin’ hell--” He muttered angrily to himself. She could hear him start to pace around behind her. “You know, I’m actually fucking trying here.”

She inhaled sharply through her nose, practically scratching her pencil and nearly ripping the paper. “Are you? Because you came in here and degraded my drawings before immediately changing the subject to something that only you care about, pretended to have a clue what goes on with me at school, and made fun of my fucking name!”

“Well what the hell do you want me to say!? I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about half the time!”

“You never even tried to learn! All you’ve ever done is try to get me interested in the things that you like, you have never once tried to relate to any of my interests or hobbies or anything that goes on with me!”

“What the fuck do you expect when all you do is sass me and treat me like fucking garbage!” There was a part of her, the teeniest, tiniest sliver that almost felt bad for him. In his eyes, he probably didn’t realize why his daughter hated him so much. He didn’t know that she knew things that she wasn’t supposed to. But those things that she knew far outweighed any semblance of pity into pure malice. “Y’know, any other parent would smack you across your smart mouth for saying half the things you do!”

“Yeah, let’s see how well that works out for you,” she growled dangerously, hunching over her work as she furiously drew. At this point, she’d all but completely decimated any decipherable measurements. Now she was just drawing angry scribbles and furiously stabbing at stick figures that resembled her father.

She thought that would be the end of it. By now, he usually gave up in a huff and that would be the last they’d speak to each other for several more days before the cycle continued. But instead, she could hear footsteps coming up behind her.

“Y’know, you should be fucking grateful for the life I’ve given you. I work hard, every day so that I can earn money to support you, despite the fact that you treat me like dirt. And I let you get away with being an ungrateful, spoiled little--”

He was interrupted by Gogo throwing her notebook and pencil on the desk in front of her and loudly slow clapping. “Oh, congratu-fucking-lations, you’ve done the bare fucking minimum by being a decent human being and taking care of the spawn that your reckless behavior made,” she drawled sarcastically, finally turning to glare at him. His face was bright red by this point and he was fuming just as much as she was.

“Hey, I didn’t have to come back to support you or your mother! But I did because, despite what you seem to think, I actually do give a shit about you!” He yelled at her, aggressively. Yeah, some way to show love and care.

“Do you? Or did you do it because you’re trying to convince yourself that you aren’t a shitty, terrible human being?” His eyes widened and he straightened at that, looking almost like she’d slapped him. With the verbal upper hand, she continued. “’Cuz yeah, I tried to do that once too. But shocker, you’re terrible and I’m your terrible fucking child that you brought in the world. Guess you’ve got to deal with the fucking consequences!”

He stood there in a stunned silence. She glared at him before spinning back towards her work, drawing it close to her body again. Surely this time he would take the hint and piss off. But no, much to her chagrin, he started speaking again.

“Wha-- What the fuck is wrong with you? Who says this kind of stuff?!”

“Me, apparently,” she replied dryly, the anger draining from her voice. The anger was always quick, and then it would subside, replaced by emptiness. No, she’d replace it with something else. With racing thoughts, or invention ideas, or anything else. She turned to a new page and began to lightly sketch, trying to fill the void. But her father wouldn’t let it go that easily.

“What, you can’t even be grateful that you’re fucking alive? That’s how much you want to spite me?!” He demanded. She could practically feel the heat radiating off of him. She scowled, every muscle in her body tense and itching to explode. But she ignored him, remaining silent as she continued to sketch. He stood there, waiting for an answer. One that she refused to give. Finally, fists and jaws clenched, he took a step back and shook his head.

“Bloody hell, if that’s the case, then you might as well fucking kill yourself, eh?” He huffed. It was supposed to be sarcastic. It was supposed to be a joke, the same kind of dark, destructive and hurtful humor that she’d been throwing at him for years now. But those words, strung into that exact sentence, in that exact tone, seemed to set something off in her. She didn’t mean to say it, but the words slipped out of her mouth.

“God, I can only hope someday!” They both stopped in that moment. She sat there, frozen, feeling his eyes boring into the back of her head--searching her, trying to figure out what truth hid under a mountain of sarcasm and cynicism. But after a moment, he scoffed.

“Can you not be sarcastic for like, a minute in your fucking life?” Gogo had to keep herself from giving any visceral signs of relief that he wasn’t going to push her on this. That like everything else, this was clearly just another one of her facetious statements.

“Maybe someday,” she retorted with a hollow tone. His glare worsened but he shook his head, seemingly finally giving in.

“I don’t fucking get it with you. No, you know what? I do. You were upset about the separation and you’re upset that you have to come live with me in the countryside instead of being in London with your mother. I get how that can be annoying. I get that you’re a teenager, and it’s ~fun and edgy~ to rip your parents a new one. But y’know, someday you are going to realize and appreciate just how hard I work to provide a roof over your head, food on the table, and money for your education. I don’t even ask for you to thank me for that, it’s all coming to you and your mother in the form of child support. All I do is give and let you verbally beat me down and do whatever the fuck you want. Maybe you don’t realize just how fucking lucky you have it, but you will someday.” With that, she heard him turn and start to walk back towards the main house.

And normally, she would leave it at that. She’d be grateful that he was backing off and leaving her the fuck alone to do what she wanted. But there was something about the condescension in his tone and how she knew that it was all bullshit that seemed to trigger something in her. She didn’t mean for it to come out, but just as he always did, he managed to bring the worst out of her.

“Forgive me for not pitying your hard work, but I’m sure you’re plenty fine if you can own two houses,” she said, her voice dripping in acid. As she turned to him, she caught a glimpse of him absolutely freezing in his place. When he turned back to her, his eyes were wide in a way that she’d never seen before.

“Excuse me?” 

“You heard me, Mr. Shwartz,” she spat the name that had sat on her tongue for so many years. For so long, she’d imagined his reaction for when she finally revealed her knowledge to him. Much like her fantasies, all the color drained from his face, and his whole body tensed. His mouth even fell open. But instead of feeling empowered and rectified, she only felt seething rage and pain boiling in her gut.

“Wh-- I-- Ho-- What the fuck--” He started to stammer. She wanted to feel triumphant but instead, she just cut him off.

“What, you really didn’t think I knew?” She hawed skeptically. The utter bewilderment on his face was enough of an answer. But she gave a few of her own, scoffing. “I looked around the school. No signs of a ~star Slytherin quidditch player~ named Christopher Dunne, but there sure as hell was a Christopher Schwartz. Not to mention the fact that all the letters you get while we’re here are mailed to a different address. Combined with the fact that you’ve never introduced me to any family members and this place doesn’t look like it’s touched except when I’m here...it’s not fucking rocket science.”

Her father just stared at her. It was almost hard to read his expression. There was confusion, anger, shock, but also hints of something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. In between a clenched jaw, through gritted teeth, he finally demanded. “How long?”

Gogo scoffed again, folding her arms and leaning back in the chair. “Years now,” she rebutted simply. The color seemed to come back into his face, a deep red flush rising.

“And why the hell did you wait until now to say something?!” The more he spoke, the more loud and unraveled he seemed to become. Gogo seemed to do the same.

“Because, up until now I’ve needed your fucking money to survive!” She shot back, verbally throwing him off guard. He blinked and looked to her with that stupid fucking bewilderment again. She sighed sharply. “Child support, dumbass.”

The insult seemed to kick him right back into his fury as he squared his shoulders. “What-- you think if you told me earlier I wouldn’t pay child support?!”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Merlin, Leiko, I would never do that! I’m not the fucking monster that you think I am!” He screamed, a vein now pulsing in his neck.

“Could’ve fooled me with all the fucking court cases in my life! And I told you, it’s Gogo!”

“It’s stupid!” He roared, violently swinging his arm out. It wasn’t anywhere close to her, clearly just a way to blow off some steam, but she felt her muscles instinctively tighten. “Any disputes in child support were because your mother wasn’t spending the money on you! Wasting the money on her leech parents--”

Something seemed to snap in Gogo and she slammed her hand on the table, going to stand. “Don’t you dare even put their names in your mouth! ‘I’m not a fucking monster’, look at you! You can’t just knock someone up and then try to drop everything except your shitty seed!” 

“I tried to make things work with your mother! But she was too--”

“Too what?” Gogo started, pushing herself off of the desk and towards her father. The man twitching with violent aggression. “Too muggle?”

“Wha-- No!” He shouted. Gogo caught a glimpse of his fist tightening, the muscles in his arm tensing.

‘Do it. Hit me.’

She gave him a sickening smile as she drew closer. “Too or-i-en-tal?” She emphasized each syllable with a hideous broken English accent.

“No!” His face was bright red by now and his body was trembling.

‘Do it old man. See what fucking happens.’

“That’s why you have the fake name, right? And the second house? Why your family is “estranged”? Because we’re the estranged family not good enough for your hoity-toity, stuck-up, inbred, garbage pureblood family! But guess what, Kris-to-fer Schwartz, you aren’t as fucking smart as you think you are! In fact, I’d say you’re a right fucking dumbass! You go out, shoot your load without protection like a fucking moron and then spend the rest of your life floundering about trying to deal with your mistake so you don’t have to face the reality that--Oh that’s right! You’re a terrible fucking human being who’s too much of a ballsack coward to commit to either being a fucking father or being--whatever the fuck a Schwartz is! But that’s you! That’s who you are! And nothing is ever going to change that!”

By the time she was done ranting, she was standing in front of the seething man. With every sharp inhale, every pulse of the vein, she waited for anything. A twitch--any movement to indicate a violent reaction. In her eyes it was a win-win-win either way. Either she would have an excuse to beat the ever-loving crap out of him or he’d somehow get the upper hand and she’d get him thrown in jail. Or the third option was that he’d go completely fucking nuts and just murder her but again--win-win-win.

He inhaled sharply through his nose and she braced herself. With his exhale, he spoke sharply through bare, gritted teeth. “You-- have NO fucking idea what you’re talking about!”

And then a crack echoed throughout the room. Gogo acted on instinct, bringing her arms up to block herself, just like countless sparring matches had taught her. But nothing made impact. In fact, when she lowered her arms, she saw that the garage was now empty.

He’d disappeared. No, more actually, he disapparated.

He was running away.

Just like he did with everything fucking ELSE!

The thought roared in Gogo’s mind as she spun around, harshly kicking the chair across the room. It clattered against the far wall and fell over, but Gogo didn’t dare stop moving. She couldn’t. She grabbed her notebook and raced up to her room, grabbing her bag and hapharzardly throwing in whatever was in her reach. Clothes, toiletries, her wand, various tools and supplies that she’d transfigured into much safer, travel-friendly form. Then she practically flew to the kitchen where she raided the place for food that wouldn’t expire--taking her father’s favorite snacks just to spite him. Then when all was said and done, she returned to the garage and grabbed her favorite form of transportation that she so rarely got to use at school--her bicycle. It was one of the first one she’d ever made magical modifications on, with tires that could change their tread depending on the terrain. All but slamming the button to open the door, she mounted the cycle and peddled off into the night as fast as possible.

Sure, it probably would have been much easier to apparate to the portkey that would take her from Ireland back to London. But for once in her life, she wasn’t going to take the fastest route possible. She was going to peddle, and push, and force out every horrible toxic thing out of her body until she was nothing but an empty, exhausted shell.

Besides, she could afford to take the time. Because now she had the summer all to herself.