#like i said they're all So incredibly normal it'll make for a great time

[quirkle2]

I was wondering if there are any rare happy ritsu moments in ur zombie au since hes always miserable I think,, like is he always miserable or is he happy/not miserable and feeling kinda good sometimes?

VWHDGDGD NO YEAH OFC HE'S HAPPY SOMETIMES im just horrible and enjoy putting him through misery

ive never been able to get a genuine smile to look right on his face in my art style either i think thats part of it. as ive said his face is just built to be mildly uncomfortable and bothered and i lean into it sm it's starting to get kinda funny

but yes ritsu is happy plenty! i think, canonically, he just seems like the type of person to me that tends to turn lemonade back into lemons. he's easy to scare and his first reaction to things is often Dread and Anxiety. he dwells on the negatives a lot and seems to be a "hope for the best, expect the worst," kinda guy, but there's a section in this post abt shigeo always loving the little things in life, and ritsu steadily learns throughout the journey on how to do that and how healing it can rly be. even if he had to grow up too fast during this whole thing and learn things a kid should never have to, the journey also gave him some good insight and lessons in other places! ritsu is smart, he figures it all out

in terms of little things here n there he's the happiest lil guy on the planet when he finds one of his favorite foods—swings his legs while he sits and munches on a kitkat bar like he's got absolutely nothin in the world to worry abt. sometimes mob does smth funny that he laughs at; for the longest time i've had this silly image in my head of mob accidentally knocking down a bucket from a store shelf and it lands on his head and he just kinda stands there and makes noises.when the noises continue out of pure curiosity about the weird echoey quality it's giving them ritsu cannot help but lose it

besides tiny things tho, when tome comes around ritsu in general is a lot happier, just cuz he has somebody to talk to that will actually respond in some way. they're sorta reluctant partners in crime at first (at least on ritsu's end) but over time and over bonding they grow to rly like each other's presence. they bicker constantly but it's almost always fond eventually, and they shove each other and playfight until mob gets antsy enough to get worked up about it. rly, tome is a godsend to ritsu's mental health—after months and months of being effectively alone with his thoughts, he finally has another person to converse with. a person His Age, too!

tome is rly good at knowing when ritsu is thinkin himself into oblivion and she's Also rly good at being the most annoying girl on the planet to yank him outta that and replace any misery with Oh My God Get Off Me You Freak. she doesn't even do this on purpose at first, but over time she learns how to tell when he's thinking too hard and, ofc, she's grown attached and she cares, so she's as obnoxious as possible to lighten the mood

when they find reigen n teru, ritsu gradually gets Much happier still. now that he knows they're safe and the gang is finally back together (and now that there's an Adult present and he can relax a lil and let himself be taken care of) his stress levels r exponentially lowered. having teru back is another instant lift to his mood—im always a big fan of teru and ritsu friendship, and i think adding tome to their dynamic simply makes it more chaotic. truly a trio of the 3 most normal teenagers in existence which will surely bring nothing but good (reigen sweats offscreen)

actually this makes me feel bad for forever torturing him im gonna go draw happy zau ritsus brb ,.,.ok imback <3

[wileys-russo]

kiss and make up II a.russo x unc!reader

gif credits to @russogifs & @ohgrays

request - unc era remains her most powerful & my all time fave. kiss and make up II a.russo

you glanced up from your book hearing a knock on your dorm room door, repeated by a few more impatient knocks when you didn't answer in five seconds, only confirming you knew who was there before you even opened it.

"go away!" you called out, not moving from your place on your bed with a roll of your eyes. "babe come on, open the door." a familiar english accent called out, the girl knocking again as you shook your head.

"i am not in the mood to argue again alessia, go away." you repeated firmly. "baby please! i didn't come here to argue, let me in." your girlfriend groaned, and a small thud lead you to believe her head had thumped dejectedly against the wood.

the two of you had been seeing one another for six or so months now and you were normally nothing but enamored with the superstar striker.

her energetic personality paired with her effortless charm and accent was a combination that had you swooning after just a couple of dates. so much so that when she'd asked you to be her girlfriend she hadn't even finished getting the question out before you'd said yes.

you rarely argued, normally too busy being disgustingly smitten with one another and teased relentlessly by your friends for it. though when you did argue neither of you ever backed down both incredibly stubborn and sure you were right while the other was wrong.

last night you'd both been dragged to a frat party with some of alessia's teammates, none of them drinking given the fact they had a game the next day but the fomo of not going was too strong to stay away from the event regardless.

not any sort of athlete yourself you'd had no reason not to drink, and though you'd only had a few it was enough that alessia had accused you got a little too handsy with another girl and disrespected her in front of her teammates and friends.

though your recollection of events was that all you did was dance with a girl from your ethics class you got to talking to, which you only did because your own girlfriend refused to get up and join you. too busied in the company of her teammates to pay you much more attention than wanting you sat on her lap all night while she chattered away to them.

"lessi are you sure this is the best idea? you've got a game tomorrow." you checked in with a slight frown of concern, finishing your makeup and turning toward where she sat on your bed.

"it'll be absolutely fine babe. none of the girls are drinking and i'll be keeping a sure eye on that as captain. i think most of them are just going for a hook up or because they're scared something cool will happen like the foam party last time and we'll all miss out." alessia laughed, making grabby hands at you soon as you were within reach.

"okay, so long as you're sure." you gave in, still not thinking it was a great idea but with no commitments of your own tomorrow you could still enjoy yourself, and parties were never as much fun without your girlfriend.

not that there was a chance in hell she'd ever let you go to one without her anyway.

"sit still please." you warned, settling yourself to straddle her lap as her hands fell to your hips, just slipping up the inside of your top .

"baby do you want this done or not? because i can't be expected to concentrate if you move your hands much higher." you warned with an amused smile as her large hands started to rub up and down your sides, causing you to flinch a little as her rings brushed your ribs.

"i thought women were supposed to be able to multi task?" the blonde teased with a grin, leaning in to press a few sweet kisses to your lips but you pushed at her shoulders before she could take them any further.

she seemed to settle after that, allowing you to finish her makeup as her hands now lay dormant on your thighs, her knee bouncing a little underneath you but you were more than used to that, the english girl hardly ever able to sit entirely still.

"done, you look perfect as always." you complimented, pecking her lips and trying to stand but her arms tightly encircled your waist preventing that. "where you goin?" the blonde rasped, your heart swooning at her thick accent, hand moving to the back of your neck and tugging you into a proper kiss.

"you look so beautiful, my lovely girl, my pretty girl." your girlfriend mumbled as she pulled away, lazily kissing your jaw a few times, focus shifting to your neck. within seconds she found your sweet spot, tongue gliding teasily over the taunt skin before her lips began to shower it with attention.

though before her teeth could join the party to mark you like she so loved to there was a sudden and endless amount of knocking on your door, a mixed chorus of voices yelling for the two of you to hurry up.

"that's our cue." you smiled, cupping her face and stealing one final kiss before you stood, hurrying over to open the door as a horde of girls all piled in, grabbing both you and alessia as you managed to snag your phone before you were dragged away and your door slammed closed behind you.

it was a couple of hours later and you were nursing your third drink of the night, pleasantly teetering on the edge of being tipsy as you sat on alessia's lap, her chin resting on your shoulder as she talked with her friends.

her large hands sat possessively on your hips, squeezing every now and then to gain your attention when someone asked you something and you didn't answer, lips occasionally pressing a tender kiss to the back of your bare shoulder blade or your cheek. but beyond that you were starved for any sort of real attention from the blonde and that was taking its own toll.

admittedly quite bored of the conversations between the group you were sat with, which all seemed to center around team couple drama or strategies for tomorrows game, you found yourself frequently zoning out and watching on as your peers danced and drank around you, seemingly having a much better time.

"wanna go dance?" you leaned back a little and murmured in your girlfriends ear with a hopeful smile. "later baby." she answered, returning your smile and pecking your lips before immediately tuning back into another conversation.

still watching as the party raged on you looked longingly to where you spotted see a group of your own friends playing beer pong.

your best friend alex caught your eye, frantically waving you over as you gestured to your girlfriends hands holding you firmly on her lap and within a second she was in front of you.

"can i steal your girl for a game of beer pong russo?" alex winked, hand finding yours and pulling you up to your feet. "you can but good luck winning with her as your partner." alessia smirked as you scoffed, playfully shoving her head to the side and bending down to kiss her goodbye, tugged away by your best friend.

you'd meet her eye every now and then, watching you protectively as her gaze flickered between you and her friends, making sure you were still within her sight at all times as you finally started to relax and let your hair down a little more.

unfortunately given alex was practically blind drunk and you had horrific aim you'd lost your game, kicked off the table and forced to down a 'punishment shot' of god knows what but it burned as you swallowed it with a grimace.

"the music is calling me babe lets go dance!" alex yelled in your ear as you nodded, telling her you'd go and meet her as you set off back toward alessia who perked up at the sight.

"hi gorgeous." the taller girl smiled happily, quick to tug you back down onto her lap. "alex wants to dance, come with me? please?" you pouted hopefully, cupping her face as you sweetly kissed her, thumb tracing tenderly over her bottom lip.

"mm but i missed you baby girl, just stay here with me." alessias hands gently squeezed your hips and she watched happily as you melted at the term of endearment, ready to give into whatever she wanted as she knew was normally the case if she pushed the right buttons.

but catching your best friend waiting patiently for you across the room, giving you hurry up eyes you snapped out of it.

"baby i'm tired of talking about soccer or whose sneaking around with who, just come dance with me pretty please." you whispered, kissing beneath her ear a few times as her grip tightened, you also knowing exactly how to push her buttons to get what you wanted.

"russo! you listening or what?" but she too was snapped out of it as one of the girls smacked her shoulder, jolting her attention back toward them as she nodded, ignoring your request as you rolled your eyes.

"where you off to?" she questioned as you stood, grabbing your wrist with a raised eyebrow. "you don't want to dance? fine. but i'm not sitting here on your lap all night like some sort of trophy." you tugged your hand away, walking off before she could say another word as a few of her teammates whistled and oohed teasingly.

"shut up!" alessia warned them sharply with a glare as she scowled after your retreating figure, ordering one of the girls to swap seats with her, still ensuring you were within her eyesight as you were twirled away by alex.

"this is mia!" you looked up from where you'd been dancing with alex and a few of your friends to the girl who'd joined you. "oh hey you're in my ethics tut?" you recognised, hugging her in hello as she nodded.

"you're russo's girl right? i've seen you at the games, i'm good friends with lois we have a few classes together." she smiled making you roll your eyes.

"i am. but i also go by y/n!" you replied making her laugh, alex squealing happily as one of her favourite songs came on and she pulled you both into a hug, drunkenly belting out the lyrics and swaying side to side making you grin.

alessia felt her jaw clench as she watched on as alex was swooped away by a boy leaving you to dance with a girl she didn't know, seeing the way her arms wrapped around you, pulling your body into hers and making you laugh.

the way alessia should have been holding you, and the way she normally would make you laugh.

"don't pay them enough attention and they'll find it somewhere else hey less!" one of her teammates teased with a wink, lotte shoving her harshly with a glare for the comment.

she turned to try and check in with alessia but she was already gone, marching her way over to you. "lessi baby! lets dance." you cheered happily as she appeared, face lighting up as mia stepped back and alessia fixed her with a hard glare.

a look which didn't go unnoticed by you as alessia took the half full drink out of your hand, placing it on a table and possessively wrapping an arm around your waist, tugging you away as you quickly sent mia an apologetic look.

"babe what are you-" "we're leaving."

unsure what had happened to cause the drop in her mood you allowed her to guide you outside, her hand falling to the small of your back as she pushed her way through the crowded frat house, the two of you finally inhaling fresh air as you made your way outside.

"less what's wrong? what happened?" you stopped to grab her face with a concerned frown, the taller girl only pulling off your hands and shaking her head, storming off as you hurried to keep up.

"hey baby, talk to me." you grabbed her hand stopping her in her tracks, the two of you alone and a fair way away from the party now. "are you trying to disrespect and embarrass me?" she scoffed suddenly causing your frown to deepen.

"what? of course not, why would you even think that?" you asked, hopelessly confused to where this was all coming from.

"first you yell at me in front of my friends and then you get all handsy with some other girl in view of the whole team when you think i'm not paying you enough attention? im the captain, do you know how bad that looks?" she continued, fixing you with an unimpressed glare as your face hardened.

"alessia please tell me you're joking." you laughed, though there wasn't a drop of humour behind your tone. "you're the only one laughing." she'd warned, and that was enough for you.

"for starters i didn't even want to go to that stupid party in the first place, i'd have much rather spent the night just with you like we normally do before your games." you started with a shake of your second.

"second of all once we got there you basically ignored me all night to talk shit with your teammates who you already spent the entire day with training. you barely made an effort to include me in any of the conversation bar wanting me sat on your lap to show off to everyone that mighty captain russo has a girlfriend." you snarled, pushing at her chest angrily as the taller girl barely moved despite the force you'd shoved her with.

"third of all i wanted you to come and dance with me but of course you were too busy being captain alessia russo tar heels superstar striker!" you mocked with a roll of your eyes, your girlfriend grabbing your hands tightly in hers as you tried to shove her again.

"so you don't get your own way and decide to go throw a tantrum and grind on some other girl to disrespect and humiliate me in front of the team and try to what? make me jealous?" alessia chuckled as you yanked your hands away.

"oh fuck you! of course you make yourself the victim." you shook your head in disbelief, hands flying to your neck as you undid the necklace she'd given you, the small silver A silently claiming you as hers.

'don't talk to me until you pull your head out of your ass." you warned tossing the necklace at her as she caught it, storming away and flipping her off as she called after you.

you made a beeline for your dorm building, alessia watching you go with a glare before she scoffed and headed off toward her own room, head swirling with a mess of different emotions.

and that brought you back to right now as your girlfriend knocked impatiently on your door and whined for you to let her in, neither one of you having spoken since your fight last night.

getting up with a huff you pulled the door open, the blonde perking up as you did so, already dressed and ready in her uniform for her game later.

"have you come to apologise then?" you asked sharply, crossing your arms and fixing her with a glare as you blocked her from entering your room with your body. though really you both knew if she wanted to move you it would be a more than easy task for the taller well built soccer star.

"can i come in so we can talk? please." alessia pleaded, eyes flickering around to the nosy gazes from some of your peers who lingered in their doorway watching the couple.

not particularly wanting an audience for if round two of your argument kicked off you rolled your eyes and stepped aside so she could come in, closing the door after her.

"don't sit. unless you're here to say you're sorry for being a self obsessed jealous asshole, you won't be here long." you snipped as she moved toward your bed, jaw clenching and posture stiffening slightly at your words but she stayed standing none the less.

"i hate fighting with you. can we please forget it happened and just move on?" the english girl asked hopefully, rocking back and forth on her heels as you laughed. "was that your idea of an apology then? get out." you pointed back to the door as alessia groaned, throwing her head back.

"i'm sorry! but we've not spoken all day and it's killing me. i miss you baby, miss my pretty girl." the taller girl pouted taking a step closer and playing with the bottom of your hoodie, looking down at you with her alluringly bright blue eyes and your stubborn resolve wavered for just a moment until you snapped out of it.

"don't you have warm ups to get to?" you pushed her hands away with a raised eyebrow, eyes running up and down her navy blue uniform, number 19 splashed proudly across the front of her chest and given it was coming into the cooler season she'd put a matching navy long sleeve on underneath.

"well yeah but..." she trailed off, pursing her lips and looking anywhere but you as you just raised an eyebrow at her behavior. "you know we always...before every game." alessia hinted still refusing to meet your eyes, as you finally caught on to what she wanted.

"alessia. please tell me you didn't only come here to say a half ass sorry because you want me to kiss you good luck?" you scoffed in disbelief, letting out a bark of sarcastic laughter.

"whats wrong with that? i wasn't lying i hate fighting with you babe and it's part of my pre game routine its our little ritual. i'll play terribly if we don't kiss!" alessia whined, the taller girl grabbing for your hands with another pout.

"you are unbelievable!" you pulled them away, turning around and opening the door, gesturing for her to leave. "just a small one? or on the cheek? a peck even? baby please!" alessia tried again with a whine and a pleading look, hovering by the door.

"fine, but just a peck." you agreed bluntly, her entire face lighting up as she pursed her lips, just moments before they tasted wood as you promptly slammed your door in her face.

"hey!" alessia scoffed with a scowl, only met with a firm request from you for her to fuck off as she huffed, kicking your door angrily and storming off.

~

you glanced down by your side as your phone vibrated over and over, but assuming it would just be your friends trying to convince you to come and watch the game you didn't bother to look.

but as the notifications continue to pour in your curiosity got the best of you and you grabbed the device, flipping it over and quickly realising it had been calls not texts that you'd been screening.

another one coming in you clicked accept, holding it up to your ear. "what al? i'm trying to study." you sighed. "you need to get here and fix this mess!" you frowned at her allusive words. "sorry?" you asked in confusion.

"alessia has missed five sitters, two of them the goalie wasn't even there and she still missed! i don't care what you're fighting about, she needs you." the girl remanded making you groan. "less is a big girl alex! so she has an off day, those happen." you rolled your eyes.

"um excuse me where is your school spirit? this is bigger than some stupid argument and i personally have money riding on this game. and they need these three points to be in a good place for if we want to make the championships!" the girl huffed as you again let out a groan, putting her on speaker and hurrying around to get ready.

"and that's my fault? how! she's the one who messed up and got all moody and jealous over nothing." you scoffed, shoving your feet into your shoes.

"i don't understand how her wanting you causes an issue? if anything babe jealousy is hot! honestly i'll never understand you silly little lesbians. just be happy and in love with each other keep it stupid simple. now get your ass here and save this game!" and with those wise words of wisdom imparted on you your best friend promptly ended the call as you stepped out of your room.

~

"finally! god it's almost half time dude." alex groaned, grabbing your hand and yanking you harshly down into the seat beside her, causing you to send an apologetic smile to the boy next to you who you'd almost sat on.

"what happened to her hand?" you questioned, eyebrows knitted together as you spotted your girlfriend with two fingers taped up together, her usual pink med tape headband making her easy to find on the field.

"got stomped on by that huge number four when she slid in for a tackle, also something that never happens to her!" alex shoved you, clearly insinuating it was somehow your fault.

"okay you clearly don't know her well enough off the pitch then because she is a walking hazard. she's like one of those puppies with massive paws who hasn't worked out how to walk!" you huffed as the whistle blew signalling the first half was over.

"go fix it! now." alex ordered as you were once again manhandled by the impatient brunette. "god you're so bossy. why do i keep hanging out with you?" you huffed quietly causing her to smack you with a playful glare.

hurrying down the stairs you waited by the sideline as the team had already entered the change rooms for their half time talk, well most of the team.

"you came! does less know you're here? she's been a mopey miserable mess man." you jumped as lotte appeared, not playing today due to a small strain in her calf.

"no we sort of had it out before when she came by for her good luck kiss and didn't come with an apology for last night." you rolled your eyes as lotte winced. "look mate we both know she's far from perfect but some of the girls took it too far with the teasing comments. i'm not saying whatever happened was justified but they did push her." lotte squeezed your shoulder with an empathetic smile.

"yeah well until she apologises and speaks to me herself about it i'm still pissed off with her. but i heard she's having a stinker and i think if i don't try to fix it i'm gonna be public enemy number one." you sighed, nodding to where alex was watching on with narrowed eyes.

though before lotte could say another word the team began to file out, lead out by their captain who spotted you almost right away, lotte excusing herself as your girlfriend replaced her.

before she could speak you grabbed her hand, pulling the two of you a little more out of sight in the tunnel. "i'm still angry with you but you have to get out of your own head less. you're better than this!" you reminded firmly but not unkindly as the blonde only nodded.

you cut off her attempt to speak as you balled her jersey in your fists and pulled her into a kiss, pushing her away as her eyes widened in shock. "now go score a goal, captain." you ordered, pointing back to the pitch as alessia could only nod again.

she turned to leave as you did too but before you could take a step your body was pressed against the wall of the tunnel, the english girl looming over you.

"i'm really sorry for last night baby, you were right and i was out of line and i'm so sorry for making you feel ignored. i'm gonna say it all properly after the game but i want you to know that i love you, so much." and with that her hands flew to your cheeks and her lips were back on yours.

angry with her or not there was no denying the erruption of butterflies in your stomach as she kissed you, running her tongue along your bottom lip before it evaded your mouth, the blonde stealing the air from your lungs before the whistle blew and she pushed herself away.

"gonna go score for you now pretty girl." the striker smiled, pecking your lips a few more times with a soft smile before sprinting off as her coach screamed out her name, 19 on her back disappearing onto the pitch as you blinked a few times in shock.

pulling yourself together you hurried back to your seat beside alex who smirked seeing your flushed cheeks as you ignored her teasings, focusing on the game.

and score for you she did, with two cracking the back of the net within ten minutes as alex almost pulled you onto her shoulders with glee. the final score winding up 4-0 you joined in with the rest of the spectators and students, whistling and cheering loudly, not missing how alessia's eyes found yours with a big dopey grin.

leaving her to shower and change you hung back with alex who eagerly recounted with far too much detail how the rest of her night went, rolling your eyes at her midnight encounters with the same boy she'd been hung up on who never paid her any mind unless he was drunk.

a gentle hand on your waist pulled you back from her story telling, alex stopping mid sentence with a knowing smile. "and thats my cue, i'll call you later with the rest. you better look after her russo, i know where you live!" alex warned, jokingly though her words were somewhat serious as alessia nodded feverishly.

"hi." you turned to look at her, the taller girl now changed out of her uniform and into grey sweats and an oversized black and blue tar heels hoodie, one you frequently stole from her. "can i walk you back to your dorm?" alessia asked hopefully causing a small smile to curl onto your lips as you nodded.

"i'm so sorry for my behaviour last night. i shouldn't have let the girls wind me up or have taken it out on you, i know you'd never cheat or do anything like that. i just don't like seeing someone touch whats mine." the possessive words sent your stomach into a flip despite the soft and caring tone they were said with.

"i'm sorry if i embarassed you in front of the team i promise i didn't mean to. i just wanted to spend time with you, even at a stupid frat party. but i shouldn't have just snapped." you apologised, slipping your hand into hers causing a surprised smile to appear on her features as the two of you made your way across campus.

"no you were right babe i was being a dickhead, but i won't lie i do like showing you off." alessia smiled charmingly, bringing your intertwined hands to her mouth and placing a gentle kiss to your knuckles.

"why you laughing? that was a nice comment!" alessia frowned as you laughed. "it sounds funny when you say dickhead in your cute little accent." you grinned as the two of you reached your dorm, you letting the pair of you in.

"come here." you squealed as the blonde dropped her kit bag to the floor and wasted no time grabbing your thighs, hauling you up into her arms as your legs wrapped around her waist and she flopped down onto your bed.

"there's much more graceful ways to get me into bed russo." you teased, kissing her nose and beaming as she scrunched it up adorably. "thats baby to you thanks." the girl pouted as you wasted no time kissing it away, alessia flipping the two of you over so she was hovering over you.

"think you forgot something though." she sat up, hips hovering over yours as she reached into the pocket, pulling out the necklace you'd tossed at her last night and shuffling back so you could sit up.

you sat up and held your hair back as you felt her settle behind you, moving to clasp it back around your neck, her lips peppering gentle kisses across the skin before you turned to face her.

you let out a laugh as she playfully tackled you back down to the bed, holding herself up above you with one arm her thumb pawed at the silver A now hanging rightfully back around your neck before they moved to gently traced the curve of your jaw.

bright blue eyes staring adoringly down into yours as you reached up to pull her hair out as it fell around the two of you like a curtain and she leaned down closer, her lips ghosting yours.

"my girl."

[artistsfuneral]

Crushes

"Oh my," Jaskier chuckles quietly from where he's sitting across from Geralt in one of the big chairs by the hearth. Immediately alert - because Jaskier is never quiet about anything - Geralt looks up at the bard. He follows his friend's gaze to Coen and Ciri at the other end of the great hall. They're doing nothing out of the ordinary as far as he can tell; The griffin is outwardly relaxed, listening to Ciri's enthusiastic chattering with an idle smile on his lips.

Grunting in hope of an explanation, Geralt returns his focus on Jaskier who seems to be beaming with a mix of glee and something other the witcher can't point. "It seems," Jaskier answers the unasked question with his voice hushed, "that our favorite princess is harboring a little crush."

He doesn't know what to feel as his head whips around back to his daughter and one of his closest friends. Denial at first, because surely Jaskier is wrong about this. There's no way it's true, right? Followed by the horrible possibility of Jaskier being correct about it. Geralt gulps audibly.

Judging by the way Coen suddenly looks paler than before, the griffin has very much listened in on their conversation and is now rethinking his life choices. Good, Geralt says to himself. Ciri stays blissfully unaware.

"Now, now, don't look so shocked, Papa Wolf." Said shock might be the only thing keeping Geralt from knocking Jaskier off his seat for the usage of the forbidden nickname. "It's a perfectly normal thing for a young girl to develop a crush or two. And I mean look at Coen-dear, he's quite a catch, isn't he? Tall, pretty, well-mannered and kind. I can't say I'm surprised," Jaskier goes on, either just as blissfully unaware or gracefully ignoring that Coen could hear every single whispered word.

"How can you be so sure? It's not like she ever said anything," Geralt argues in the hopes of being able to hold onto his denial. (He denies that too.) Jaskier hides a laugh, "Of course she wouldn't say anything, especially not to her Dad. It is fairly obvious though, I'm afraid. Isn't she spending more time with him than usually? She's constantly chattering him up, trying to figure out his likes, dislikes and special interests. Tries really hard to impress him during these conversations and training. Look at her, the way she's beaming every time Coen-dear smiles at her. It's adorable."

Geralt still doesn't know how to feel about all of this. The worst part of it is, that the bard is making a horrible lot of sense. Geralt - who just started to enjoy his fatherhood - is in no way prepared for this, he realizes. "But isn't he too-" old? He doesn't finish the sentence.

The bard returns his concerned look with a soft smile. "Of course, but that's completely normal too. She just realized for the first time that Coen-dear is a great man. He is incredibly talented in the same skills she wants to learn, he is kind to her and rather good-looking. It's the perfect combination for a crush." Geralt is almost afraid to hear the answer of his next question, "What do we do?" Across the hall Coen visibly straightens, mentally preparing himself to jump out of the next window. Meanwhile Jaskier looks at Geralt like he just bit into a broom. "Do? We're doing absolutely nothing. It's a crush. It'll go away in a few weeks. As long as Coen-dear doesn't do anything stupid." The last part Jaskier voices with a sharp edge, definitely addressed to the griffin. "If he simply acts like he normally does, nothing will happen and we can peacefully watch Ciri blush and stumble over herself. Geralt, my dear, I didn't tell you so you can make a battle plan. I just thought it was adorable and wanted to share that with you."

Nothing happens for a moment and then Geralt and Coen visibly deflate with relief. Across the hall, little Ciri places her hands on her hips and huffs at the griffin. "Are you even listening to me?" She asks, lips forming a royal pout that worked like magic back in Cintra. In Kaer Morhen it's not different. "Of course, princess, please go on." The smile on Coen's face is warm and adoring. Maybe, one day - he decides silently - when Ciri is all grown up and a witcher undoubtedly much stronger than him, he will tease her about her crush. For now he just lets her be a kid.

Jaskier grins knowingly and waves his hand in the air, addressing Geralt once more. "If that's been a shock to you, just wait a year or two for her first rebellion. I bet 100 crowns she'll fall for Lambert."

No, Geralt thinks. Not if Lambert is conveniently locked up in the basement.

[bookwyrminspiration]

do you ever do headcanons? if so, can you do some sophitz pregnancy hcs?

Sure! I'm not great with headcanons, but hopefully this is up to par! it is. a little longer than I meant to make it but i should've expected that. i think they're very sweet <3

I don't think Sophie would realize; she's too caught up in life, so it's Fitz who realizes her behavior has been...off, recently

He's worried she's mad at him for something, but can't think of what it would be

when he confronts her, she has no idea what he's talking about and promises they're fine, and says she's probably just tired

but now that he's pointed it out, she notices how off she is, too. and it keeps nagging at her for the next several weeks because it's just not going away

Fitz asks her to talk to Elwin about it, but she keeps pushing it off because there's nothing overt, it's just this feeling

but when the nausea shows up, he insists, and she agrees, but partially convinced she's just overworking herself

Spoiler alert: it's not that (though she could ease off herself once in a while)

They're both taken completely by surprise--kids weren't even on Sophie's mind, and since her belly button didn't pop like other elves, Fitz had no idea either

But you can bet he's thrilled out of his mind, and practically strangles her with a hug that lifts her off her feet before he comes back to himself and sets her down, incredibly gentle

Sophie simply stands there, staring into the distance, hands tight on Fitz's arms; surely there must be some mistake, and her mind is whirling a thousand directions at once before Fitz's voice in her head calms the chaos

And as terrified as she is, his whole face is lit up, focused on her, and his enthusiasm is infectious

But she's nervous to tell people--human upbringing is part of it, but it's also so personal, and there's so many feelings to sort through; Fitz simply presses a kiss to her forehead and tells her they'll wait as long as she needs

He tries not to be overbearing, but he can't help himself sometimes. He never wants to let go of her hand, holds her even tighter at night, and is always looking at her with this childlike wonder

It feels like he's constantly hailing Elwin with questions, doing what he can when the nausea and aches get bad, his mind never more than a thought away from hers

Sophie, for her part, just tries to live as normally as possible; she has a lot going on, and if she doesn't keep up, it'll tip people off; even though Fitz wouldn't mind that, and would like her to relax a little more

Keefe is ultimately their secret's undoing; when he'd quietly pressed her about the terrified excitement, he'd respected her wishes not to pry. But when he feels the nausea rearing it's head the next time they're all together, he pushes, concerned

Sophie freezes, and looks to Fitz; he breaks the news, grinning, and arm around her shoulder squeezing her tight

And even though Sophie's now the center of so much mothering and pampering, she's relieved to have the secret out

Fitz doesn't let go of her the rest of the night

And now that their friends now, Fitz begs her to let him tell their parents--he'd made Biana promise not to spill

They start with his parents, and there are tears in Alden's eyes as he pulls Fitz close; Della's delighted, but quickly gets herself under control and starts asking a million questions; how does she feel? is she sleeping well? why didn't you tell us sooner? any cravings? tell us anything we can do for you, my dear, and Sophie can't keep up

Sophie wants to take the lead with her parents, and she swears her heart is going to leap out of her chest--it's the first time she's said the words herself, and she nearly doesn't hear the response the way her ears are ringing

Grady's hug is even tighter than Fitz's was the day they found out, like he's never going to let her go, and he kisses the top of her head and looks over Fitz like he's never seen him before and needs to win him over all over again

Edaline's questions are less overwhelming, but Sophie's face burns anyways, and she's smiling as wide as Fitz as she assures her that yes, they've been talking to Elwin and following his advice

Now that others know, it starts to feel real to Sophie, and she has no clue what to do about that; Fitz's excitement is enough to dull the worst worries, and it rubs off on her, too, but not enough

One afternoon alone, she gets too caught up in her thoughts and breaks down; arms around her knees, she finds herself stretching her mind to Silveny of all people, and the exuberant mama alicorn helps ease her worries

To say Fitz is panicked when he finds her on the floor would be an understatement, but she just pulls him down to her and rests her head against his chest; his arms fall automatically around her, and a hand goes to her hair as Sophie finally lets herself press one against her stomach

they sit there awhile, not speaking, and Fitz's eyes are still worried when she finally pulls back, but he can see something's settled in her

When Sophie starts to show, Fitz tries very hard to be respectful about it, since she's shown a preference against touching so far; but he can't help it if he starts asking more, if he trails off when talking as his eyes linger on her stomach, and she swears every time it's like they've just found out all over again

Sophie wears loose clothes in public to keep it hidden, but she swears everyone's going to figure it out the way Fitz and her friends and their families keep looking at her

Fitz always has a hand on her; in hers, on her lower back, and arm around her shoulder, arms linked. And he's always looking for excuses to be nearby. it's both very sweet and incredibly annoying

When they're out, he can't help the longing glances at baby things--clothes, toys, you name it, he wants to get it; but if he did it'd be a dead give away for gossip, so for now he just yearns

Sophie wants to kiss him silly every time she sees that look on his face, and very nearly does a couple times

Once she leapt them straight home so she could wrap her arms around him, face in the crook of his neck because she's so glad it's him.

they're mid conversation in bed when baby first kicks, and she startles and grab's Fitz's hand, cutting off. in answer to his questions, Sophie silently guides his hand to rest where she felt it, eyes unfocused as he watches her, until baby kicks again and Fitz can't help pressing closer as their eyes meet, and he kisses her softly as she starts crying

She starts saying yes more when he asks permission to touch; every time he's unbelievably gentle, to the point it nearly tickles, and she watches his fascination with rapture

Fitz hates that there's so little he can do, so he's always looking for ways to help and brighten Sophie's day, especially when she's moody

He already did most of the cooking, but he starts bringing her breakfast in bed--especially when she starts sleeping heavier and longer

He even learns more of her childhood favorites when its what she's craving--and he does employ the help of friends to get the ingredients

speaking of friends, it seems like they're always over, or always sending messages checking up on her--though sometimes she has to kick them out, since she doesn't have as much energy to spare anymore

it frustrates her to no end, and she's ranted to Fitz many a time about how unproductive she feels, and he reminds her she's literally growing a person with her body 24/7, how could that possibly be unproductive?

she still complains

he still listens

they revisit a cognate skill long forgotten, and Fitz starts visiting her emotional center more and more to tune in to how she's feeling; it's nowhere near Sophie's experience, but it does help

Fitz's mind is almost always seeking out Sophie's, not making contact but just there, near, waiting just in case. he's not sure for what, but it makes him feel more at ease

because the further things go, even he's starting to get nervous--though maybe that's Sophie's anxiety bleeding over a little. her knowledge of human pregnancies and birth does not make this easier for her, even with all her experience with elven medicine

when they finally start collecting baby things to his immense delight, it seems like every time Fitz goes out he comes back with something new.

not only for baby, but he's spoiling Sophie, too. she tries to stop him after a while because it's ridiculous, but there's no reasoning with him, and she is flattered

one of her favorites is a balm he consulted Elwin on for her back, as baby's big enough its really starting to ache; he helps her put it on in the mornings and night, and it quickly becomes one of her favorite parts of the day

when he's done he always kisses her shoulder, and hugs her from behind once she's put her shirt on, and her hands rest on top of his for a moment over their baby

Fitz isn't sure exactly when the habit started, but he's started transmitting to the baby, not that they can hear it; but he likes to say it, doting on them and whispering sweet things just between the two of them as he and Sophie settle for the night

Sophie falls asleep easier, which he's grateful for, because she's always exhausted, which he's not

he brushes his thumbs against her skin as she sleeps, transmitting towards her stomach, and he can't help staying awake to stare at her in awe, still giddy all these months later, and hoping the baby will have her eyes

[the-sidekick-club]

Mender needs a Hug

Written by:

@heroes-villains-side-blog★​​@tratieisdabest★@just-a-space-rabbit​​  

TW:Bullying, Child Labor Mention, Potential Violence, Defending Bad People

❘〣❘〣❘ ✿ ❘〣❘〣❘

Mender was on one of her solo patrols, and everything was fairly normal. She'd stopped a couple of smaller villains and some villain sidekicks, and now it was pretty quiet. That was, until some random civilian came up to her. 

At first, she thought they were a villain, and she narrowed her eyes at them, but they raised their hands and started a weird speech before she could speak. It almost felt practiced. 

"Hey, I'm just a civilian," they began. "My name is Conner, and I'd just like to talk for a second." 

Mender wasn't easily fooled. She didn't believe that was his real name. And just because they said they were a civilian didn't mean they actually were one. 

But it was agency policy to give people the benefit of the doubt and ever since she was little, she had a sort of natural ability that gave her a way to almost feel people's auras, probably linked to her healing powers. So she could usually tell if people had powers if she was super close to them, though she did have to focus to do so. 

And she was definitely focusing as this "civilian" was super suspicious. 

But, she didn't feel any sort of powers from him. So, after a long silence, she replied. "Listen Conner, while I'd love to talk, I'm on patrol, so I can't really do that right now." And she didn't particularly want to talk to Conner at all anyway. 

But Conner continued, "Oh, come on, Mender. It'll only take a minute of your time." 

Now, normally Mender would've just politely told Conner that she couldn't and that if they needed to file a report to do so at the police station, but she could just tell he would find a way to talk to her another time. 

So, she relented. "Alright, fine. Do you need something? Want to file a report of a crime? Interview me?" She really hoped it wasn't the last one. 

"None of the above, Mender. Just wanted to say something." 

She gestured to him to continue, choosing to lean against a wall in the alleyway they were in. It felt like she'd probably be here for more than just a minute. 

"Why do you work with Lady Alexandria? Like, you seem pretty cool, and she's all dumb and stuff."

Mender looked at him with confusion before replying, "Lady Alexandria is an incredibly intelligent person, and I am always honored to work with her. I know lots of people think of me as the brain and her as the brawn, but she is plenty smart on her own, and while I don't have super strength, I'm definitely stronger than average.” 

But Conner just rolled his eyes, making Mender angrier. “If you don't believe me, just look at the child sidekick cases! She started that when she was barely out of uni, and managed to get some of the agency's board of 'Elders', as they're called, on her side! She built a case against one of the most powerful entities in the world and won, forever changing how superheroes operate everywhere! 

"It takes a very brave and intelligent person to do that, especially when she was at risk of losing her job, which I know she loves dearly." 

Mender was getting a bit upset, but surely this would be the end of it. Almost every civilian in Nizorro had heard of what Alexandria did and supported her, so this should shut Conner down. 

Conner was not shut down. "Oh great, you're one of those 'don't let children fight crime' people." He clenched his fists. "They consented! And they have powers! They should be used to save the lives of the rest of us! Agency money is being spent to fund that new abomination of a school, when most of those people won't even end up using their powers to help us. Or worse, they'll use them for evil! Lady Alexandria is an idiot who put people in danger with her court case, and is still allowed to work at the agency? It's ridiculous!" 

Mender was sent reeling. Obviously, she knew some people thought like that, but to hear it from this random person who didn't even know what they were talking about was just insane. They'd said so many wrong things it was ridiculous, and also angering. "How dare you say those things about Lady Alexandria! People's powers are not yours, or anyone else's to wield! And they were children! Who in their right mind would just let them go into battle, whether they said they were fine with it or not?!" She pushed off the wall and looked towards Conner with fire in her eyes. 

"Ah ah ah, Mender, let's calm down a bit. Remember, you're a hero. And what kind of hero would attack an innocent civilian, just because they were a bit rude? I don't even have powers, and you're going after li'l ol' me?" Conner smirked, like he wanted her to come punch him.

Mender froze. 

She wasn't sure what she had been planning, she just wanted him to pay. Those were innocent children he was insulting, her friend he was insulting, and he seemed so smug too. Maybe she was going to punch him, but she would've stopped herself, she was sure. 

But then he continued. 

"Oh come on, you know you want to. Just one little punch-" and he was pinned to the wall. But not by Mender, but —

“— Kim?” she yelled out in surprise as Conner tried to wiggle out of the tight grip Kim had on their collar. 

“Not so brave now, are we?” Kim said, glaring at him.

Immediately, Conner's eyes widened. 

"You're right, Conner,” Kim said in a mocking tone. “She is a hero, and she can't punch you…" their gaze darkened. "Good thing I'm not a hero then." They raised their other fist, causing Connor to scream, but Kim tossed them on the ground instead, unharmed from the fake punch. 

“Go on, Conner, run. Before I decide I'm not bluffing." 

Conner got up on his feet and ran away, as there were two supers here now, and one of them was more than willing to beat him up. 

Mender turned to Kim, but she immediately broke down, dropping to the alleyway's floor. “Thank you so much! If I hadn't been able to stop myself I could've hurt him! And he probably would've deserved it, but just… why would he say that? Just for a dare? Literal children were martyred, and he tries to say it was good?! Did he actually mean it? I just can't—" 

"Hey, calm down, Mender." Kim moved to sit down beside her. "You didn't do anything wrong. He went for exactly what would get a rise out of you. Honestly, I think you should've been allowed to hit him." 

There was a silence before Kim continued. 

"Are you okay?" They asked gently, because by now Mender had scooted so close to them that it looked like there was only one person in the dark alley. 

"I just… I hate that he did that. There's nothing I could do to stop him, and that just sucks, ya know?" Mender said, though her voice was slightly muffled since she was pressed into Kim's side, which Kim had shown they were okay with by putting an arm around her. 

Kim paused. 

There wasn't much they could do for their friend. There was no talk that could make everything better, they couldn't go back in time and stop stupid Conner, and they couldn't magically erase Mender's emotions (not that that would even be a good solution). 

So they slowly stood up, bringing Mender up with them, and gently asked, "Do you want a hug?" 

Mender looked up at them in slight surprise. 

Normally she was the one to offer a hug and comfort, but Kim was so kindly turning the tables. She did not even answer, just grabbed onto Kim like a lifeline. The two stood still for a little while, before Mender let go again. 

“Thank you.”

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

[gust-jar-simulator]

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

Introducing: The Adventures of Plinko.

The base concept I went into this with was based on some fanart I saw of a korok dressed as Link. Then I thought about it. Then I stared at my other WIPs. Charge of the Goddess, for instance, crosses Link with Great Fairy and Korok flavoring to give me the fae antagonist from hell. I love making him forest flavored. Link is Farore's special little enby.

And then there's the challenge, which is like dangling catnip in front of me. Koroks are round little guys who can only be seen by children and the spiritually inclined. They're largely pacifists, and in their own way protectors of children. Koroks aren't exactly built for wielding swords, much less meant to. To say nothing of cross-country sprinting or battling lynels. So the question becomes: how would I make that feasible? Never say never.

And then the little voice in the back of my head that chewed on the furniture while watching My Hero Academia went, I bet nobody else would believe he can do it. I bet we could say a few things about ableism. You're still so incredibly mad about your old D&D DM who said adventurers can't be in wheelchairs. Get angry. It'll be fun.

So.

Once upon a time, Princess Zelda Liliana Hyrule was a very lonely child with no business being away from her minders in an open field, who used to fall asleep to stories of the forest folk before her mother's passing. And in that field outside the castle, in the way of children, she made a friend.

He didn't have a name, or if he did he wasn't telling, but that was okay. The important bit is that he was very very concerned about why she was crying, and offered to take her away. She had to refuse, obviously, princesses belong in the castle, even if the castle is big and cold and lonely- but the strange little tree stood a little straighter and declared that if she couldn't come with him, he'd just have to go with her then. It was very sweet. Very naïve. She got collected by her minders and taken back inside, and the korok didn't follow. She forgot about the whole thing in the wake of her mother's funeral arrangements and her father's steadily closing iron fist.

The korok never forgot a single moment, and started training.

Thus began years' worth of foolishness, strangeness, and the kind of fiery determination that made the Great Deku Tree blink his heavy eyes and sit up straighter. Koroks don't do real anger. They're simple, and kind, and playful. They don't know loss or pain, so neither do they know sacrifice or real determination. But this one little korok is training, of all things, spying on the military camp outside the forest and copying them as best he can with a firm little frown and unyielding persistence.

There's a little girl who's terribly lonely, and this korok is going to do something about it. Which means becoming a knight.

Despite everyone telling him otherwise, he eventually goes to the Great Deku Tree to ask his blessing in his quest. Koroks don't normally need names, and they're dangerous besides, but any decent adventurer needs one. And something about the look in his eye is... terribly familiar.

Can he have a name, to take into the wide world?

The Great Deku Tree names him Link, and says he can.

He takes the safe-name Plinko, so no one can steal the gift he's been given, and heads out to find the princess to make sure she's never lonely again.

Honestly, his initial plan is to just sneak in since nobody can see him anyway. Plinko neglected two very important facts: the spiritually inclined can see him, and Princess Zelda is notoriously unable to communicate with spirits. Also, she's a teenager. Time flies in the Lost Woods.

Impa catches him before he gets anywhere near Zelda's rooms and asks him why the hell a child of the forest is in a city of stone.

Plinko goes on in a very earnest chirping rant about how it doesn't MATTER if he's invisible and tiny and everything else, he's here to protect the princess, and he's going to do it!!! She's alone! She told him so and it was horrible. It just won't do. It's so unacceptable that Plinko trained for years to use a sword, even, so he's absolutely qualified and should be left to his devices.

Impa pokes all of the appropriate holes in his argument, but doesn't... discourage him either. She gives him a look. Plinko doesn't know much about Sheikah or the way they look at things, but he definitely gets looked at in a way he can't interpret, and then she tells him about the legend of the Master Sword. Anyone who can wield that, she says, would unarguably be the Princess's bodyguard and protector, at her side every day. Isn't it in the Lost Woods?

As a matter of fact she is! Plinko knows exactly where she is, his friends put flower crowns on her sometimes. He can just go get the sword, come back, and then that'll be all the proof anyone needs that he and Zelda should be best friends forever immediately. That's a great idea!

It is, in fact, a great idea. Barring the side effects.

The Master Sword has a habit of changing her wielders, when she deems it necessary. And nobody believes a korok can actually defend the Princess, not even the sword that seals the darkness.

Plinko's hand locks up around her like he's been electrocuted, and he's terribly awake for the whole thing. When he can finally control his own limbs he ends up vomiting sap all over the forest floor, disoriented and overwhelmed and incredibly clumsy, because the Master Sword in her ruthlessly efficient kindness twisted him into something Hylian, all leg and arm and terribly maskless, and he hates it so much he's sick. He doesn't know what grief is. He's learning.

He wanted to do it as himself. He doesn't even look like a korok anymore, not really- his skin is bark-patterned and smooth like stripped wood, body still too light to be flesh and bone, but he's... not right, anymore. Not himself.

He's what the Goddess would like for a hero and thinking about it too long makes him want to yell or cry or vomit again, but he might as well not waste the chance. He takes the sword and goes.

He can't speak Hylian, the musical chirp of forest-speak mistaken for humming at best, but he doesn't need to. Plinko shows up with the sword and the guards do the rest. He has to give some display of his abilities, but it's... not even really a question. The castle and its people swallow him like a dragon, and he goes willingly, because he did everything for the chance to keep a promise to a grieving little girl and he's going to live up to it now.

It's a shame, then, that she absolutely hates him.

(gonna let this sit for everyone to enjoy and come back with a part two later)

[the-firebird69]

Watch "The Byrds - Eight Miles High - 9/23/1970 - Fillmore East (Official)" on YouTube

His escape route involved the USS Constitution he went on the actual ship with his parents he said we're here we're back I said who are we I said my mom and dad and me where's my brother and they looked around and said we know what time it is and I said I bet he does so ask him and I said we don't know what's going on and we're blinded I said where's George and they went and look for him they found him watching and said we don't know what it means either I don't know what day it is usually it's the day the numbers and what happened in the past they looked it up and it was right there they started crying a little I said can you get it to them while we're here and he was okay so they started doing it this is what it's like for us difficult.

The bridge is going up the cross members are in place on the west side to the bottom and upper and on the east the bottom and up upper and we're putting in Cross bracing on the top and bottom in the middle and that will keep it rigid and we'll keep stanchions up until it is complete and those are pretty big too like five miles deep and huge I beams and we are working very hard and it is going fast but we have a lot of work to do in it it's going to be a massive massive piece of work and we have to build a bridge section ourselves it goes on top of the top lattice it's incredible this idea but it goes on the bottom you don't have to go up in the air I got to mention that you can go up and we have to make a road that goes up there the service it and people think it's much more incredible cuz you don't have to do all the stuff no but we have to do that and it's good for commercial stuff bypasses traffic

Thor Freya

Certain commercial stuff and we might need to do that wow this is incredible what a day that thing is so giant now tons of people are going to look

Mac

You got a little lost about this idea but he does know what he was doing he knows how princesses are built from crying out loud and there's a big fight over DC right now so War really and they're fighting over his rent check in fort Myers and it's hectic it's very fierce and a lot of people are getting killed and it's the warlock and they get the wrong idea

Hera

I'm going to go ahead and put in for the money no we did but we're watching we know what to do this is great what an awesome story and an awesome idea he's added to Willy Wonka himself a couple candy ideas too and cakes we are thrilled this is terrific really want his wacky candy line and regular candy is pretty normal and we mean it too fruit candy and all sorts of things will be in that category people love it for parties and things this is going very well

Olympus

He wants Apollo and got to swipe to head up starting the Christmas versions of the candies and each country would submit a few and will have a traditional candies as well and cakes and we can send it all over the world I'm going to get going on that now and we have to advertise today and tonight and throughout the day and throughout the night all over the place and try and get on TV but slap it all over YouTube and we have to deliver it fast we'll have to make some local bakeries and chocolatiers and we're going to do it ASAP it's a great idea and it'll help it start after Christmas and New years too for Christmas is the big one and we really have to do it right now it's coming up this weekend and all these all this week at parties I'm approving it we're approving it and we're going to send it out

We know how to advertise we know how to get it out there and we're going to use all sorts of things including flyers and we're going to sell the grocery stores and we own the grocery stores so it's simply going to put them there it's going to be intense cuz people can actually eat it they probably won't even get one piece because of them it says boy I wouldn't that be interesting if we could sell it here that way and say we're hoping to get some to the boy and we bet you can't stop it by ordering it and buying it and they say well if it's here you might get some is what Max says and they're ordering now

[cheeryfairygender]

Oh, that's so swag about sharing a b-day with Nagisa! /gen /pos That's neat tbh /gen

In terms of Vocaloid/UTAUloid recommendations, I've currently been listening to Pyrite Girl and What Gave It Away, both songs made by R.I.P. (with Pyrite Girl originally sung by Kagamine Rin, and What Gave It Away originally sung by Otomachi Una) on loop. Oh, and if you ever wanna listen to some good Kasane Teto covers (and I genuinely mean good /gen), look no further than Tanjiro Taidana and their covers. They're an amazing ass UTAUloid song artist/tuner, and while they primarily use Teto, they also occasionally use other UTAUloids and even Vocaloids.

Yeah, buffalo wings can be spicy, heh. In terms of wings or the sauce of whatever food item, there's usually a mild option, a medium option, a hot option, and so forth (sometimes). Depending on that, they can be spicy. However, I have a tolerance with spicy food, as well as a huge love for spicy food, so I'm a bit bias in terms of if a certain food is spicy or not /lh However, I completely respect you not tending to not like spicy food! /gen /nm I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Yeah, I can definitely understand your opinion on the artstyle. Looking at the examples you provided, it honestly makes complete sense /gen (not /s). And considering I've completed DRV3, yeah, it's kind of unique compared to the other two [main] games /neu

Oh, and as for the air fryer thing you mentioned in the tags, you can usually figure out how to use it+how to airfry certain things by looking it up! Just type in Google if you can airfry XYZ food, and it'll usually give the suggested temperature and time. I'm sure you can airfry sweet potato fries, as you can airfry regular French fries (whether they're frozen or from a fast food place)! /gen /nf I feel that sounds dumb and easier said than done, but if it makes you feel better, I didn't know how to use it at first for quite awhile /gen /lh (not /s)

Oh oh, and don't worry about not adding reply icons! It's all good /lh /gen /nm

TBH I want to like spicy food but it's a sensory issue for me because I can't tolerate the pain very well, and I don't like a lot of flavors of the actual food that has spice. But oddly enough, I like Japanese style curry. It's super good. Apparently as a little kid I liked spicy food though which makes it super weird I grew out of it. I really like sour food, though! I think the issue is that spice stays in your mouth even after eating, but sour goes away super fast (unless you injure your mouth/tongue from too much/too strong sour food).

I just generally don't like things with strong flavors...like, I don't even like how black pepper tastes. I tend to eat...bread. And sweet baked products. I usually just eat a lot of samefoods but my sister is an incredible cook so I eat whatever she makes when she cooks! Otherwise I just kinda graze on snacks.

Also I listened to the music and it's super interesting /positive, I like finding smaller vocal synth artists! Also yes yes I've heard Tanjiro before and he's GREAT at utauloid tuning. I feel like utauloids are often tuned better than vocaloids nowadays because you have to put in more effort to get them to sound good and it's easier to just put less work in for vocaloid.

Airfryers are just super intimidating IG I think we got ours for free from someone who didn't need it??

Also to make it clear I don't like...dislike v3? It's a cool game, it just doesn't satisfy the itch the first two games give me, which honestly makes sense. The original Danganronpa series ended on purpose--they reached a good end for it. V3 is kinda like a new beginning so you can't go into it wanting what the original series had. I feel like the graphics/art style for Danganronpa didn't age well with time. For the original games, it made a lot more sense considering when they came out and the consoles they were released on, but that kinda sloppy, eccentric style doesn't transfer well when there's a higher production value like v3 has I think.

I think the WEIRDEST thing is how...much worse the games got in terms of jokes/content. Like, the things about incest and any homophobia got way worse. Kaito says slurs against gay men/trans women in the Japanese version more than once, I think.

In SDR2, most characters are implied to be bi and wlw or mlm. There's less in DRTHH, but they're still there. The original games write queer characters subtly but in a very good way. You still have this subtle writing for v3 but they completely upped the explicit jokes to the point it isn't silly or funny...just uncomfortable. (Mikan, Teruteru, Kazuichi, Nagito, Hajime, Imposter, and Nekomaru are all implied to be queer off the top of my head. Makoto, Mondo, Taka, Chihiro, Hifumi, Mukuro, Junko, and Leon are all implied to be queer iirc as well.) Like with Leon in DRTHH, his cousin has romantic feelings for him, but he makes it SUPER clear he hates it and it makes him super uncomfortable. But then I think v3 just has straight up incest with the monokubs? I'm not sure if the other characters reacted uncomfortably to it or not, though. But just...the way the characters talk/the jokes they make totally changed. It's super odd to me. It really takes me out of it and it

I guess my main issue is the shift in how the characters act, less context for the behavior of the characters (like, DRTHH extends into SDR2, and vice versa. Each game lends into each other), transferal/execution of the Danganronpa style, as well as the user interface. The user interface is super busy and confusing for me.

Also, the characters are intense like usual but in a super weird way. Like...negatively? In DRTHH, they were all extreme in a way normal teens could be. Instead, they feel like...superheroes. Like, their whole talents are pushed too hard. In SDR2, they were still extreme but in an, again, rather normal way.

I just seriously love the characters though. I think it's a good game, but you can't play it and expect an experience like the original series. You can only really play it and do your best to not compare it at all.

[morelikesin]

You Know You're Cute, Right?

ANOTHER APEX FIC BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTROL MYSELF SKNDLWKDM,, this time I wrote differently than how I normally do - it consists of quick snippets of a day-in-the-life type thing, featuring Mirage-Octane-Bloodhound-Caustic as a polycule 💕 Huge inspo from this song (as well as included in the fic)✨

Take this as a late Christmas-early New Years gift ✨ Super fluffy and casual type work, with a heavy dash of romanticism because I'll be damned if I'm not a romantic. Fic under the cut 💕💕

"You call your cat sweetheart? 'Zander-"

"Not a word."

Elliott suppressed a snort. That cheeky little smile he had when he found an opening for playful jabs was always so irritating - the kind of irritating that made the scientist want to kiss it right off of him.

"I think it's cute," Octavio hummed, leaning back into the sofa with his arms crossed behind his head. "That means you're cute. Que lindo."

The way Alexander scoffed an "Octavio" would've been more intimidating had it not been for the big, sleepy cat he cradled in his arms. She stretched her big fluffy paws, made a squeak as she yawned, and buried her head into the man's chest.

Blóð smiled.

"Vhatever helps you sleep at night, elskan."

It was incredibly late. The last time they had checked the clock wasn't that long ago, and apparently it was supposed to be sometime around 4 in the morning. It didn't feel that way at all.

They knew it'd kick their ass in the morning - getting so little sleep.

Well, Octavio might be fine. But Elliott had made it a habit to wake up at 8, Blóð still hadn't made much progress on getting more sleep to begin with, Alexander had his internal clock waking him at 7, and they all had somewhere to be at 9. This entire night was probably a huge mistake. They normally try to get to sleep by 2, but admittedly, they may or may not have a bad practice of keeping each other awake for company's sake.

And now that an entirely new subject was brought up after Alexander had rather adoringly picked up Bear, his senior cat, and called her "sweetheart," the prospect of playfully pestering him about his soft spot was all too enticing to go to sleep just yet.

"You've never even called us sweetheart," Octavio began. "You save it for her?"

There was a brief pause. Alexander had kept petting her back paw with his thumb, as his eyes remained averted until he sighed. "It...is something I've grown accustomed to for her, yes."

Elliott made a pleased hum. "Well isn't that just adorable," he teased before leaning over and petting Bear across her back - fur unbelievably soft.

It started as a joke a while ago - the way they noticed how Bear could make anyone sleepy just by looking at her - her cozy looking fur, her sweet little face, her ability to get comfortable and sleep virtually anywhere - but over time the joke had increased its humour when the idea became seemingly true. Alexander occasionally would mention how he'd sometimes stop working at his desk late at night because Bear was sleeping in his lap, and turn in a few hours early compared to his usual 2 in the morning bed time. This was deemed an exaggeration until the three others experienced it for themselves.

This happened to be one of those magical sleepy-Bear moments, as made evident by how Blóð made a quiet yawn shortly after leaning over to give Bear a loving scritch under her chin.

Octavio staved off a matching yawn. He rubbed at his eyes, began to stand, and nodded to Alexander's bed. "We should probably try and get some sleep."

-

The sun coming in through the blinds was a rude awakening. Elliott instinctually raised an arm to cover his eyes - making a soft groan in annoyance at the bright rays somehow coming through at a perfect angle to hit him in the face. Turning, he lowered his arm and began to sit up slowly as to not wake up the sleeping Octavio who had his arm wrapped around his waist.

Elliott sighed, and leaned down to give him a kiss on the temple. He lingered for a moment before sitting up again and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He noticed a weight on his legs, and looked to see a peacefully sleeping Bear curled up in a ball. As he went to pet her head, his eyes glanced up to see Blóð sitting in Alexander's desk chair - hands busy sewing a thick-fur item. From the time spent with the hunter, Elliott had picked up on the types of hides they'd hunt and use - this one appearing to be rabbit fur. What they were making, though, wasn't clear yet.

Elliott's voice came deeper, and a bit more throaty in post-sleep fashion, "Morning."

Blóð briefly looked up, gave a gentle smile, and proceeded to look back down to continue their work. "Góðan morgin. How did you sl'leep?"

"Pretty good, considering." He took in a deep breath, and stretched his arms out in front of him. He rested his hands in his lap as he went to speak again, "When did you wake up?"

"Before Alexander, but not by long."

Elliott frowned slightly. Blóð took notice when they looked back up to gauge his reaction. They made an effort to ease his concerns.

"I'm sure Octavio will get me to take a nap vith him later today," they assured, "don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Elliott made a small hum indicating reluctant agreement. "...Alright. Just promise me to keep doin' what you're doin' - trying t'get more sleep, I mean."

"I promise, ástin."

If Elliott was a sucker for anything, it'd be terms of endearment - especially when they're used so casually. Having all four of them be big on using said terms made for an eternally happy Witt.

"Beloved, right?"

Blóð hummed, "Yes. Closest tr'ranslation I can equate to it." They briefly stopped their handiwork in the wake of a smile they couldn't seem to get rid of. "I'm touched you remembered."

Elliott smirked and made a quiet laugh, turning his head to find the time on the side table clock - 8:21 AM - before looking back over. "I try my best. Making it a goal to learn as much as I can from you and Octavio."

"We find it very sweet," Blóð assured, letting it be known that Octavio and they had seemingly discussed the language efforts before. "Alexander said as much, that you and he were doing so."

"Think I can speak for him when I say that we love learning it. Speaking of him...?"

"He's downstairs."

Elliott made a quiet "Ah." As much as it pained him to do so, he gently lifted Bear and set her on a free spot of the blanket so he could get up - her being left generally unfazed, besides her slightly annoyed tail wag in being moved from her spot.

With Octavio being so small, Elliott could easily leave the bed without disturbing him too much, albeit moving his arm so it wasn't draped across his body anymore. He stretched, walked over to Blóð, and gestured for a kiss. They hummed, seemingly still in their work, but Elliott knew they were keen - the hunter picking up the hint and looking up so their lips could gently meet.

"Que lindo, mis amores."

The two of them made a small hum in surprise before pulling away from one another with a blush. Blóð was smiling to themself shyly, while Elliott made a small chortle and flirted with the newly-awakened Octavio, wearing his darling little smirk.

"Welcome to join us."

Octavio laughed - the sound half-purr, half-grain. "I'd love to. Watching is only so much fun."

He started to rise, stretching his arms upwards and making a groan before reaching over the bed to grab his prosthetics and put them on. Standing, shaking his legs to help himself wake up, he made a small yawn before walking around the bed and giving a kiss to each partner - looking satisfied with himself.

"Big guy downstairs?"

Blóð nodded.

Elliott and Octavio made a mutual decision to go see him - the latter turning around before they headed out the bedroom door to question Blóð. "You comin' down?"

They shook their head, hands busy sewing the fur item again. "I will soon. I von't be long in finishing this."

Octavio nodded, and proceeded to take Elliott's hand as they went downstairs.

-

Dr. Somers and Alexander seemed to be having a chat when the two made it to the kitchen, their hands busy with mugs of black coffee all the while. Elliott could never understand how people drank their coffee so bitter, much less Octavio.

Dr. Somers was the first to notice the two, as she was facing the stairs leaning against the counter. Giving a small wave and giving a nod to Alexander, she drank from her mug and gave them a minute to exchange expected affections - something she learned the polycule are incredibly prone to do, despite several joking complaints about PDA from the others.

Octavio quipped with a laugh between his words as Elliott and Alexander exchanged a coffee-flavored kiss, "Not even creamer, 'Zander?"

The man bore an amused hum. "Black coffee actually tastes like coffee. You may as well drink candy if you add so much sugar to it."

"You sound old."

"No avoiding that, I'm afraid." He gestured for a kiss, to which Octavio happily gave, before drinking from his mug again. "How did you sleep?"

"Great!"

Elliott gave a "Ditto" in response, though he followed it up with a fitting yawn and a "Wish I slept some more, though."

The statement was seconded by the way Alexander made a soft hum in agreement, and thirded by Octavio and his rightly timed yawn.

Dr. Somers waited a few quiet moments before stepping forward and piping into the conversation. "It'll just be a few stores we stop by, darlin's. Doubt we'll be out that long."

"That's still gonna' be so long," Octavio complained, his voice coming as a whine.

It was common knowledge that Octavio wasn't exactly big on shopping. Elliott, however, could spend all day doing it. If they had to disagree on anything, it'd be how long they were out for things - Alexander and Blóð keeping things relatively frustration-free during a shopping trip, though Blóð would always get antsy to go home if they stayed out longer than a few hours out in a city.

"It'll be fine, babe," Elliott assured the man while rubbing his back. "It's kinda'- kinda' just mainly food shopping, isn't it? You like doing that."

"Aren't we going to the pet store after, though?"

Elliott rose a brow, "'Tavio, are you complaining about that?"

Octavio snorted and began walking to the fridge - grabbing a Bang from inside and popping the can open. "No, para nada - prefer that to everything else, even food."

Mary laughed at that, shaking her head before taking a gulp of coffee and making her way to the living room. Before she left, though, she spoke with her back still facing them, "Oh, remind me t'grab a level while we're out -  puttin' up a shelf an' think I lost the one I had."

"Lucky for you, I'm the best at reminding people of things," Elliott half-joked. Mary laughed again and took her leave with a "Thanks."

Being left alone in the kitchen, the three stood in comfortable silence for a few moments. Alexander prompted a question shortly thereafter;

"Is Blóð still upstairs?"

"Yeah," Octavio began, "Think they were working on something - dijo no tardará mucho. I can go see them if-"

The stairs creaked a bit as someone walked down the stairs, causing Octavio to cut himself off as he turned to see who it was. In seeing so, he sighed damn near dreamily and softened his gaze a bit - Elliott and Alexander softening all the same.

Pulling their past-the-waist long black hair behind their jewelry-adorned ear, they rounded the last stair and looked up to see their partners - smiling warmly and lowering their hands to fold their arms. The coyote jaw necklace (that Octavio had gifted them this past holiday, knowing they loved real animal items), that rest against their lower chest rose slightly with every breath, as quaint a detail it was to notice. Not a day goes by do any of them not love seeing their pretty face.

And Elliott made sure to tell them that.

"Not a day goes by do we not love seeing your pretty face."

Blóð bore a chuckle and rolled their eyes, though it didn't mask the rosy blush the comment gave them. "I should say the same for you, ástin."

They unfolded their arms and looked back to the three. They couldn't suppress the amused hum they made in seeing that the three were still checking them out - becoming more flushed and brushing their hair behind their ear again, looking away with a shy smile.

They always looked at each other with such warmth. They got playful tease about it from the others, especially Alexander given he was quite brooding to most things, but the gazes never subsided. They'd like to say they were subtle about it - but everyone else would vote against it. And it'd be true.

They were obvious about it. So sticky-sweet obvious - embraces and hand holding and gazes and kisses and all. They didn't mind.

-

By 10 till 9, mostly everyone was ready - save for Loba, Renee, and Elliott, who always took a while to clean up to their own high standards. Elliott called from upstairs whether he should wear his orange body mist or his cologne, and with the majority vote leaning towards cologne today - well, he must please the people.

With Renee in tow, Elliott had finally come from upstairs. He looked handsome as ever, however, wearing a black turtleneck and an orange, knee length open-front sweater. His hair looked meticulously tended to, tossed to the opposite side of his pierced right ear and framing his face well.

The cologne served him wonders, too, with Blóð and Alexander taking a clear liking to it.

Octavio walked down the stairs with a pep in his step - smoothing back his hair as best he could just so it could partly fall into his face once again. Swinging around the corner, he spotted his partners and proceeded to greet Blóð and Elliott with a firm smack on their behinds. They were startled, sure, but Elliott only looked down to give Octavio a laugh and a smack of his own, while Blóð merely scoffed in jest.

Octavio bit his lip. "Don't you all look good? Eres tan sexy," he gave a wink while unabashedly checking them out. Blóð was always so pretty, even when showing their strength in the games or when they hunted or chopped wood (Octavio could go on for days about that), Elliott was always so charming and confident (even if his suave attempts happened to fail, they were all the more charming), and the rolled-sleeve button up that was unbuttoned just enough to show collarbone and brief chest on Alexander was something Octavio (and the other two, admittedly) would store in the memory bank for personal satisfaction.

"¿Qué hubo?"

"Just talkin' about whatever." Elliott adjusted the cuffs of his orange jacket sleeves, rolling them up his forearm a bit. He took notice of Octavio's outfit. "You gonna' be alright out there? You know I love you in your crop tops, but-"

Octavio made a "Pshhh" and scrunched his nose up a bit in response to that, cutting him off. "I'll be fine, bebé. Can't be that cold outside, can it?"

Alexander seemed to check his phone for confirmation on that. "Sixty degrees."

Elliott did find the temperature better than he had anticipated, but still swiveled his head back to Octavio with brows furrowed in concern.

"You don't even have a jacket."

"I can grab one before we go."

Elliott seemed satisfied by that and left the discussion there.

Loba came downstairs, holding the car keys and jangling them as her other hand brushed her hair past her shoulder. "Any takers on being driver?"

Alexander motioned her to give the keys to him, to which she happily did - she was a great driver, but happened to not be particularly fond of doing so, rather liking going on drives as a passenger.

Octavio quickly claimed shotgun.

Before they left, Blóð gave Octavio the fur item they'd been sewing earlier - the latter finding that it was a soft rabbit fur coat. The delight in his face was all Blóð needed to feel assured that he liked it, and helped him put it on. It was a little big, and just how Octavio liked his sweaters and coats. To all of their agreement, he looked rather stylish in it.

-

They were out for most of the afternoon, starting with a two hour Costco trip (that Octavio nearly made his partners carry him for), several smaller shops in between just to browse, a liquor store to buy champagne and sauvignon to celebrate New Years tonight (along with sparkling juice for Octavio who nay drank alcohol), and a hardware store mainly for Mary to pick up that level Elliott reminded her of. By 4:30, their last store of the day was the pet store - everyone individually needing one thing or another.

When they got inside, Elliott asked his partners if they could accompany him for a minute - guiding them to the aquarium section and proposing something.

"Pick one of these guys that you like," Elliott gestured to the wall of individually kept male betta fish, of all sorts of colors and sizes. "You remember those 5 gallon tanks I got a while back? Thought I'd use 'em, and thought a' you guys."

Like Blóð was simply an animal person, and how Octavio and Alexander were cat people, Elliott was partial towards fish. The two large tanks he manages in the living room are rather serene, and despite Renee's concerns, the fish kept there seem to love the foot traffic of everyone coming through.

"One collectively, or-?"

Elliott shook his head, politely cutting Alexander off, "Three total. Was thinking you all pick one, and I set their tanks up in my room. I-I thought it was a cute idea, I dunno'-"

"It's sweet, actually," Alexander softly spoke.

"Think so?"

Blóð made a content hum - leaning down a bit and surveying the curious little fish to see which one stood out to them. "Incr'redibly, my love."

Octavio's approval was nonverbal, made of him apparently finding which one he wanted immediately and picking up the container the little guy was kept in. He looked to Elliott with stars in his eyes and a grin, "Can we name them?"

Elliott chortled and waved his hand dismissively, "I enco- en- enco- implore you to."

"Octavio Dos."

His answer was so quick the others couldn't help but bear a laugh.

And by the time everyone was at checkout, there was definite fawning over the three new additions to Elliott's personal tanks - Ljón, the cream-colored, fiesty little thing that had fins flowing long behind him that Blóð adored, Violet, the red, pink, and white dumbo betta that was adorably curious much to Alexander's affection, and the deep-red colored Octavio Dos.

-

On the way home, it was decided to just grab something to eat on the way - near everyone could cook, but the idea of standing around in the kitchen to cook for fifteen people was lost.

Natalie passed the aux cord to Octavio, who was just taking his coat off for the ride home. He looked a little beyond himself.

"You trust me with the music? Wow - what'd they put in these fries?"

Natalie held off on a laugh while she tried to finish chewing, though her smile was tell enough on her amusement. "I actually like your music taste."

Makoa requested simply, "Nothing too dirty though, please, Silva."

"Me? Liking dirty music?" Octavio snorted, "You know me so well. How about flirty music?"

The man chortled. "That works, brotha'."

Octavio hooked the cord to his phone, and swiped his screen for a few moments before stopping on something. He looked hesitant, briefly, and pressed his screen. He set his phone down and put his hand on Alexander's, their arms both resting on the armrest.

The song sounded so dreamy. When the intro became a little more recognizable, before the lyrics, Loba made a snort from the back.

"You like this song?"

Octavio feigned offense, looking back to her with a "Of course I like this song!"

He shook his head and laughed softly - looking over to Blóð, who sat behind Alexander, he sang over the song and moved his hand from Alexander to cup their face.

"You're so uwu," his voice came sweet and a bit grainy, moving his hand from their cheek to their chin. Blóð practically giggled - blushing and leaning forward into his touch.

"You make me wanna' do," Octavio took his hand away and gave them a wink, "Naughty things to you - all these things to you, you."

Elliott joined the flirt-singing, joining Octavio in the chorus while they oh-so shamelessly wooed their other two partners (and each other, mind you). The others would've said a joke about it, but Ajay was busy holding Natalie's hand and cuddling up to her, while Anita was busy running her hand through Loba's hair and speaking quietly amongst themselves. The others didn't have the heart to interrupt their moment.

Besides, the song was catchy.

"You know you're cute, right?" Octavio sung in Alexander's direction, who shook his head. Still, he wore a soft smile and kept his hand reached over to rub Octavio's thigh.

Elliott leaned over to the side behind Octavio's seat, Blóð matching the movement from the opposite side, and wrapped an arm around the hunter's waist. He continued the phrase with a cocky smile, "Cute as a button-"

Then the two sang together, "Undoing the buttons and pushing your buttons, I just wanna' get you right-"

It was a red light, and so Alexander took the opportunity to lean over and kiss Octavio - lingering for a moment or two before pulling away and focusing back on the road just in time for the light to turn green.

Octavio's heart was a puddle.

Blóð reached a free hand across the armrest to drape his hand over the one Alexander had over Octavio's leg, their fingers soft and gentle in the way they caressed the back of both their hands. Elliott went to continue singing the song, but Octavio stole a kiss much to his surprise. He hummed, and just before they pulled away, Elliott opened his eyes and let his gaze linger at the man driving.

The glimpse of one another was quick, but just as warm as everything else, and left Elliott with a bigger smile than previously.

Octavio pulled up his leg that wasn't currently the resting place of Alexander's and Blóð's, resting his arm on his knee.

He was so lucky.

-

And finally by 6, everyone was tuckered out - ready to take some personal time alone before reconvening later tonight for celebrations. Putting groceries away, Elliott setting up the bettas (as well as having a bit of an audience while doing so), and having a pre-celebratory drink from the sauvignon left the group in need of a quick sit-down. They found themselves just comfortable in the living room, along with Bear and Octavio's cat, Octave, sleeping on one of the couches. Rightly, this was the couch the four of them decided to occupy.

Renee crossed her legs, her black-painted nails running over the leather of her knee-high boots. "Any plans before tonight?"

"Oh?" Tae Joon began, "I thought we were just going to be alone before- ah, ten tonight?"

"I'm just wondering if that was the time we could agree on."

Octavio gave a nod. "Should work for me, at least. I plan on getting blasted, hah."

There was a heavy silence - his other partners looking rather surprised and, especially Blóð, flushed upon hearing that.

Elliott cleared his throat. "Come again?"

Anita snorted at his wording. Elliott gave a quick "Not- not what I meant, uh-"

Renee shrugged, wearing a look painfully smug. "I mean...a bit too much information, but I'm sure that'll go well."

Alexander cleared his throat.

Octavio, despite his nature to immediately take things dirty, just now got what the issue was. And did he find it hilarious.

Through a series of snorts and laughs, he reiterated what he meant; "If I meant I was gonna' get pounded, I would just say that-"

Blóð, Elliott, and Alexander made a simultaneous "Octavio-!"

He kept laughing, shaking his head, "I meant- like, I'm gonna' smoke a joint. Ay, Dios mío - but hey, if that other option is on the table-"

There was another simultaneous "Octavio!" and it seemed to get him to stop talking and simply laugh. He and the others found this absolutely hilarious, leaving his partners to be lost for words and red in the face.

Octavio snorted, and dared to entertain a final joke.

"Like a refreshment."

"What?" Loba narrowed her eyes, leaning forward in interest in what he could possibly say right now.

"Y'know," Octavio snickered, "Quickie's like a refreshment. And there's four of us - heh, call that a concession stand."

Loba couldn't hold the shocked, boisterous laugh she made hearing that - no one really could.

There was a silence after the laughter died down. It was broken when Ajay snorted, though.

"Stop encouraging him-!" Elliott near scrambled to say, but was cut short when Ajay gave him a laugh and a 'look.'

"I know the one flirting wit' 'im all day isn't telling me t' not encourage him. Don't act like you don't like this."

Elliott quickly bit his tongue and raised his hands in the air.

"Touché."

Another small bout of quiet settled.

Loba snorted.

Octavio looked at her, and when their eyes met, they both snorted, and had to turn away to not outright laugh.

Given the situation, a little fun was wanted out of it. Of course, trivia about one another was a frequent, and a favourite, activity amongst themselves. If they all had any one exact thing in common, it'd be that they were all unabashedly nosy.

Loba uncrossed, then recrossed, her legs as she sat up a little. "Truth or dare without the dare, anyone?"

"I think that's a thing called 'having a conversation,'" Anita jokingly mocked.

"Then let's have one." Loba hummed, "I actually had a question for you," she pointed a nude-shade manicured finger towards Dr. Nox, who looked suddenly surprised.

"What is it?"

The woman leaned forward a bit, cusping her hand around her face as if she was telling a secret - the hand facing no one, ultimately defeating the purpose - and talking somewhat low but audible for everyone to still hear.

"Be honest. Is that sweetheart thing true, or was Octavio being dramatic?"

"Oh my god."

His exasperated expression made his partners in particular so delightfully entertained - Octavio especially, laughing and giving a shrug as he left the man to answer the question for himself. He must've mentioned it to them when they were at a store earlier today.

"The people are waiting," Ajay chimed in. It earned the approval of Loba, as told by the way she looked smug about someone else prodding it.

Alexander lifted his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose in thought, and when he couldn't stave the answer off any longer he was brought to the doorstep of needing to say something.

With hesitation, he sighed. "True enough that she responds to it as well as her actual name."

As if on cue, right after he finished speaking and everyone was ready to pull the expected "big guy soft for a cat" card, Bear shifted her position from simply lying beside him to lying on her side and pressing her face against his upper leg. Despite it all, the instinct to lower a hand and pet her big sweet face was lost not in the man.

The onslaught of "Aww!"s would've been anticipated.

[ma-gic-gay]

For some reason, Michael had been a lot more controlled lately.

He was hiding what he felt, never really showing emotion unless it was anxiety about Brook Lynn or happiness around Willow. Sometimes, of course, he'd show emotion but not normally.

The gym was the only place he really let out all his anger, as always, but lately he'd been punching the bag harder, working out more intensely. Maybe it was because he was trying to get into shape, but Michael was already in great shape. So maybe it had something to do with the fact him and Willow were getting an annulment and he hadn't done anything to try and stop it from happening. For God's sakes, he'd suggested it, thinking Willow needed to hear she had an option.

Dante was right. He is an idiot. Suggesting that him and his wife - the woman he's in love with - get an annulment may have been the stupidest thing he's ever done, and he killed someone, kept a kid away from his dad, and did a lot of other morally questionable things in his life.

Willow knew all of this and still spoke his praises. She still told him he was a good person, that he's different than he was when he kept his little sister from his dad, or killed Claudia. She thought he was amazing for changing his life around, told him she was a different person back then too. People evolve and grow, she said, and so whatever you've done in the past, it doesn't reflect on who you are now.

They met, and then he fell. It was slow, him falling for Willow. At first, it was just a friendly face at their support group. Eventually, though, it became more than just friendship. It became a marriage, a marriage built upon love for their son and keeping him safe, a marriage built upon truth and honesty in the face of dishonesty and lies that Sasha and Chase had told them. When they got married, that was their promise. No lies, never. Lies complicate everything too much, make it easier to fall into what Chase and Sasha did.

She was way, way out of his league and he knew it too. Willow was a genuinely good person, who had always been honest and kind. Not to mention, drop dead gorgeous. So that probably had something to do with the fact Michael was skirting around the one rule of their marriage and not telling her he loved her. But she hadn't asked, so technically he wasn't lying to her, just holding back the truth.

Thinking about he suggested the annulment, Michael punches the punching bag harder. All of his anger starts to leave as he punches harder and harder.

And then Chase and Sasha walk in the gym for their workouts, talking about something. The punches hit an abrupt stop when he notices them, but the anger that just left comes back tenfold. Sasha smiles at him, but there's something off about her in general. It's probably just the breakup.

"I just realized, I forgot my phone at the Metro Court. I'm gonna go back there," Sasha says, backing away.

When she leaves, Chase is still there. "It's been a while," he breaks the silence.

"Yeah, it has been," Michael agrees, frowning at him.

"If you want, I can come back later, or we can work out together," Chase offers.

Michael ponders the offer for a minute. He either gets a workout partner or ends up keeping someone from the gym. "Yeah, sure, we can workout together."

A few minutes into their workout, Chase brings up Willow. Before that, the conversation had been all about sports and stuff like that, easy conversation. "For whatever it's worth, Michael, Sasha and I never meant to hurt you or Willow."

"Well, you did. Regardless of intent, you both cheated on people you supposedly loved," Michael says, punching the mitts harder.

"I do love her, Michael, you've got to believe me on that," Chase tells him. "That's why Sasha and I didn't want to tell either of you, we didn't want to break your hearts."

"You don't love her if you can break her heart, Chase! If you could cheat on her, if you could want another woman, you don't love or deserve Willow. She loved you with every fiber of her being, and you broke that. You broke something precious," Michael says to him, feeling a sense of relief as the words leave his mouth. "And I know that will never happen again."

Chase looks confused. "Michael, I love her so much. It kills me to see that she's not with me, to know that I broke her heart and that she's moving on with you, who I considered to be my best friend."

Huh? They've only kissed once, and Michael doesn't think Chase knows about that. "What happens with Willow and I hasn't been your business for a long time and it still isn't, but I want you to elaborate."

"You- maybe it's her that's in love with you, I don't know, but I can tell one of you is in love with each other, at least," Chase says as his phone rings. He steps away to answer it.

It's possible Willow's in love with him too? Michael had been in his head so much, maybe he didn't see what was right in front of him.

"Look, I hate to put a stop to our workout, but I've got a work thing. I'll see you later maybe," Chase leaves the gym.

Jason walks in, confused by what's going on with his nephew. "Why do you have that look on your face, Michael? What happened? Is Willow alright, Wiley? Your mom?"

"Jason, everyone's fine. It's just something Chase said about Willow and I, that's all," Michael reassures him.

"You only get that look on your face when you noticed something great or terrible happened, so what great thing happened to you?" Jason asks.

Michael smiles, "Chase said that apparently Willow's in love with me."

Confused further, Jason asks, "Are him and Willow close enough where they talk about who they're in love with now? Because the last I knew, Chase was in love with Willow and she was in love with him and you two were getting an annulment and you were in love with Sasha."

"I can't believe I forgot to tell you! Sasha, she was great, but I'm not in love with her anymore. The longer I spend thinking about Sasha and I, we weren't going to last long term. As much as I loved her, and I did, I don't feel that anymore."

Smiling at his nephew, the assassin asks, "But you and Willow?"

"We're married. I'm married to a woman who is incredibly out of my league and adopting my son. I-I love my wife, Jason. I love Willow," Michael smiles.

Jason pulls him in for a hug, saying, "I think you two make a lovely pair, especially if she makes you this happy. You're smiling wider than you have since you won custody of Wiley. Do you want my advice?"

"I'd be dead if I didn't take your advice," Michael truthfully tells his uncle. "So yes, I'll take it."

"Tell her how you feel before the annulment, Michael, please. You do this thing, I do it too, where you wait to say what you feel or you don't say it because you're afraid of what you could do if you actually said what you feel. Let down your guard and tell Willow the entire truth, nothing left unsaid between you two," Jason advises his nephew.

"When do you think I should tell her? Should I set something up like a date thing or-" Michael starts, anxiety creeping up into his voice.

"I think you need to breathe deeply for a few minutes and be calm," Jason emphasizes his breathing, "but I also think you should just tell her. Don't stress out so much or overthink it, because overthinking messes things up. If you tell her, honestly, how you feel, let her respond, you'll be okay."

"And if she doesn't love me back?" Michael asks anxiously, starting to stutter.

"I doubt she doesn't love you, Michael," Jason tries to assure him, "but if she doesn't, we'll cross that bridge when we reach it, and you're getting an annulment anyways."

Michael breathes, letting his anxiety leave. "Alright. I'm gonna go get cleaned up, I'll tell her when I get home."

"I'll leave you to it," Jason says, leaving the gym as Michael showers.

Arriving at the Quartermaine mansion, Michael can tell something's up. Opening the door, he sees Chase. In his home. Talking to Willow, who Michael can tell isn't in the mood but is also intrigued.

Chase leans in to kiss her, their lips connecting briefly as the door closes behind Michael and he doesn't, turning his head abruptly. "Hi again," Chase says awkwardly.

Calming himself, Michael asks, "Why are you in my home kissing my wife?"

Willow walks over to her husband, glancing at Chase fleetingly. "I can explain," Chase stands, eyes following Willow.

"Then please explain what inspired you to come into my house, which is very out of your way, and kiss my wife. I'm sure it'll be enlightening," Michael responds.

"I was just talking to her and realized that she loves me as much as I love her so I kissed her," Chase smiles, getting a pair of glares in return from the married couple, who don't seem to agree with what he said, especially Willow.

Michael looks at Willow, who looks visibly upset and anxious, as he says, "You tell me an hour ago you think she loves me, then you come to my house and kiss my wife, who you cheated on, by the way, and somehow think you're justified? Chase, you're playing mind games is all you're doing."

"When I said she loves you, I was wrong. I know, in my heart, that Willow and I will be together," Chase smiles again. "So I kissed her."

Anger takes over Michael as he fights for controlling it, suppressing it until he can get to the gym but he can't hold back anymore as he shouts, "Do you think, truly, that if she loved you she wouldn't tell you? You broke her heart, and yet you're justified in kissing her because you can rationalize anything, can't you, Detective?"

Willow looks at Michael, confused, as she's never seen him like this before. However, his rant continues. "When we found out you two had cheated on us, I told you that I wasn't going to let someone treat her like that ever again, and I'm still not. Everything I said to you that day was completely true, so leave my house before I do something you'll regret."

"What did I do here to make you so angry?" Chase asks calmly as Dante walks downstairs.

"You think this is just you kissing her, Chase? You broke everyone's heart, even your own, and now you're trying to escape taking any responsibility whatsoever for your actions by kissing my wife, because you can't move on!"

Dante tries to intervene, standing between the two as Michael still yells, "I can't believe you act like this now but an hour ago you were convinced that she loved me. Chase, I love Willow, and I'm her husband, so it's my job to make you realize that you need to get out of my house before I do something we'll both regret!"

Willow looks at Michael, pulling him out of his anger and into a soft face he makes around her. "You love me?" She asks, a small smile playing on her lips.

"This isn't how I intended to tell you, but yes, I love you, Willow. I had a speech to go with that too, but life doesn't always work out how it's planned," Michael says, smiling at her. "But if you don't feel that way back, then of course we'll just forge-"

She cuts off his anxious ramblings by kissing him, the pair melting into the kiss that felt perfectly right. When they pull apart, she smiles widely at him. "I love you back," as they kiss again.

"What the hell, Michael?" Chase asks, ruining the sweet moment for the two. "You're supposed to be my best friend."

"And you were supposed to leave my house," Michael's voice is at an icy level, one that could explode at any second if tempted to. "So leave before I have a guard throw you out."

Dante smiles at his little brother as he addresses Chase, "Leave dude. It's clear you're not getting her back."

"I can't believe this. Willow, you know that he's just your rebound. You don't love him, you're going to come back to me," Chase says.

Michael, unable to deal with this anymore, serves a strong right hook to Chase's head area. Jason taught him how to punch and how to take a punch when he was in high school, Michael's pretty good at it by now. "That was on purpose and assaulting a police officer!" Chase shouts at him. "You're under arrest for assaulting a police officer. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you."

"Chase, stop! Don't arrest him because you're mad at me," Willow pleads, looking upset. "Please."

Looking at Willow, Chase takes Michael and handcuffs him. "No."

The ride to the police station is absolutely silent, Michael angry and happy at the same time about Willow loving him back but him being arrested for punching Chase.

When he's being processed, Michael's allowed to make his two phone calls they allow and calls Willow. "Michael? Are you okay, did Chase hurt you? Have they detained you yet, or processed you fully?" She anxiously asks, sounding just like any wife would when her husband gets arrested. Michael can't help but chuckle quietly. "Why are you laughing?"

"Willow, I'm fine. I need to be bailed out, but I'm absolutely fine. No one hurt me and I'm being processed again but I'm not injured except for my ego. You sound so much like my mom everytime my dad or Jason gets arrested right now, it's funny."

"It's stressful having your husband in jail for punching a cop!" Willow laughs back. "How much is bail?"

"Bail is $1,000. I wanted to let you know I'm okay, but I'm gonna call Jason for bail money. He's been through this before and won't be as much of a stressed out mess as you," Michael tells her, smiling.

"I can handle bailing you out, but you're right, I'd be too stressed. I'll meet you at the station, though, and hopefully you'll be out as I'm there," Willow chuckles with her husband. "Alright, well I'm not gonna keep you any longer. Go call Jason."

"I love you," Michael smiles as a way to end the call.

"I love you too," Willow says as she hangs up the phone and he swears, he can hear her smile through the phone as he dials Jason.

"Jason Morgan," he answers the call.

"It's Michael. I'm at the station and need $1,000 for bail money because I punched Chase. Can you bail me out and not tell my mother?" Michael asks.

"Why the hell did you punch Chase?" Jason asks him.

"He kissed Willow and started saying she was in love with him, even after she said she's in love with me and we kissed again, twice," Michael smiles again, thinking about the kisses.

Jason sighs. "I'll be there in twenty minutes. Should I be expecting to see your wife there, pacing?"

"Probably not. She's going to be here, but I don't think she'll be here for a few minutes after I get bailed out. Are you telling my mother about this?" Michael asks again.

"I'm not dealing with Carly finding out you got arrested. You can."

"Thanks, Jason. I'll see you soon."

The twenty minutes pass and Chase continues booking him in, taking pleasure in it. It's sad how what was once a beautiful friendship is now so pathetic that he's booking him into a jail cell.

Bail is given, and Michael gets out roughly fourth minutes later, being uncuffed and getting his cell phone and wallet back. Willow isn't there yet, but Jason is and looks like he's trying not to laugh as he hugs his nephew. "Michael, your parents and I have always told you to follow the law. A part of the law is not punching police officers," he says in a fake stern voice. "You're so lucky that they didn't have to call Carly or she would've been down here raising hell and you'd be either let go free of all charges or she'd be in jail too by now."

"I know. Mom's not exactly silent about her beliefs," Michael smiles as their hug ends.

Willow runs into the station, clearly stressed but holding it together as she runs to him. "You're okay? Nothing happened? Did Chase drop the charges?"

Michael hugs his wife, glancing at Jason in his happy moment. "Willow, look at me. I'm fine. Nothing happened to me and Chase agreed to drop the charges because it's a first offense. All that's been injured is my ego."

Smiling at the sight in front of him, Jason says, "I think that it's safe to say this is a sign you're really married now, she's worried you got hurt in your short jail stay."

"Hey, we've been married for months!" Willow objects, chuckling as Dante walks in casually with Wiley in a stroller.

Dante greets the staff he knows and says to Wiley, "See Daddy? He did a bad thing to Chase and now he had to get bailed out. But it looks like him and Mommy are finally admitting they love each other, so something good happened."

"Uncle Dante is a little bit too excited to see me bailed out, isn't he, Wiley?" Michael asks, pulling apart from his hug with Willow to take his son from Dante.

"Yes, I am, little brother. If you weren't an idiot, we wouldn't be in this situation," Dante cheekily responds. "As cute as this moment is, I'm going to leave you two to it and go do something else. Jason, Carly needs us for something. I will be telling her that you got arrested, Michael."

Michael glares at his brother while he leaves the station. "Great, now my mother's going to be mad at me too."

"I'm not mad at you," Willow tells him, smiling. "I think he deserved it and abused his power. And I think Mr. Wiley agrees with me."

"I think Wiley would have to agree with me as well that he's got the greatest mommy in the entire universe," Michael smiles at her.

"Greatest parents," Willow corrects him, kissing him again. "You don't give yourself enough credit."

Their family leaves the station together, laughing.

aH

[pbandjesse]

I can't believe it's 11:30. If both feels way later than that and we're earlier. I'm tired. But I'm not as exhausted as I think I would be normally. Today was a really good time. It just feels like it was 6 days in one.

I slept okay last night. I woke up at 8 and got ready to go to the museum. I got there a couple minutes late because of traffic but it was no big deal. I setup my project and the kids came basically on time. It was the largest group ever had for in the neighborhood but they were really good kids. I had 21 but four of them were special needs and so they didn't really participate and then they just kind of walked around the museum when we were on tour. So I had 17 and that was fine. It was nice. They were good kids and paid attention and did all the things I wanted them to do. The teachers and chaperones we're just on point and it was great. Whenever I needed help they were right there. It was awesome.

I finished up there around 12:30. I had agreed to do an extra half an hour but that made me late to work at the school. Not that it actually matters besides my paycheck but not a big deal. I'll make it up somewhere else. But since I already knew I was going to be late I stopped at Chipotle and had nachos.

While I was eating my nachos I solve two ends of the spectrum of police officers in Baltimore. I saw traffic cops wearing fluorescent vests and I saw Baltimore Police in camo. So the most visible and the least visible. Very strange. You're in the city why are you wearing camo.

I missed the bus right as I was going up the hill. But another one was about five minutes away so it was fine. The blue line runs all over the place so I don't know why I ever bother worrying about the next bus. It'll either be there in the next 2 minutes or it will take 45. No in between.

I got to the school at 1:30 and got to work on some prep for the day. There wasn't a ton to do. When I went and got the kids I have them come right upstairs with Chelsea and had everyone bind a book. So there's only like three or four left. So that's excellent. And the kids were mostly really good today. We did have one thing happened at the end of the day that wasn't cool. But Chelsea really laid down the law and their were tears but I think they got some understanding.

Right before the end of the day though me and Damien took Otto my clock and turned him into a graduation Furby. I had really wanted to get a graduation for me to bring to Charlotte's graduation tonight but it just didn't happen. And that's not what I really need. It's just a black and white wearing a little hat. And Otto is black and white so we made him a little graduation cap. And then Damien told me he wanted to make a certificate. And I didn't know what he was talking about but I told him go ahead. And he brings me a little scroll with a little ribbon on it because he made a diploma. He didn't know that's what it was called that's what he made. Absolutely precious.

All of the kids got picked up real early and I was able to make the early bus. So I got home before 6. I took a shower and I got changed. I redid my makeup and fix my hair. I packed my purse up and then I called a car.

My driver was really nice and we had a really nice conversation all the way to the tap room. And James was outside. And it was so nice to see him. He looks so handsome. His hair was all done up and his shirt was really cute.

And I had a great night. I helped set some stuff up. I took the plastic off stuff for his mom. I said happy birthday and happy graduation to his sister because both happened today! So congratulations to James's sister Charlotte for graduating from Hopkins with 9 cords. I think that's what they're called. The colorful ribbons that they put around their necks when they have a bunch of extra things. Because she's incredibly smart. And she's very nice. And tonight was a really good celebration.

I got to meet a bunch of change this family and family friends. I got to tell stories. And I got to meet Hopkins grads that thought I was fascinating and that was cool. I wish I would have had more time to learn more about them but they kept asking me questions. I had a really nice time. We got to go on a brewery tour and there was a bunch of rats back here and we all thought I was hilarious. Not uncommon because you know wheat and barley and things. I don't know why other people were surprised by it. It's Baltimore. I'm sure everything is clean enough in the actual process of beer making.

I had a really good night though. At the end of the night James mom told me to take as much stuff home as possible. So I got three plants and two plates of food and both the Diet Cokes that they bought for me. Someone accidentally crushed with my plants but I think I'm going to be able to save them. When I got home after my Lyft ride. Which was very good. The man was very very nice and we had a really nice conversation. I use chopsticks to take them back together. So I'm hoping with some babying I'll be able to save them

James stay behind to finish helping clean up. And I got home and got washed up. Brought all of my stuff inside. Put all the food in containers and opened up my new package. Which is my new weird pink robot dog. Which is absolutely incredible for a 14 year old dog. It rolls over and plays dead and it does guard Duty. I'm very excited to explore this thing a little bit more. The books that came with it has a basic function and an advanced function and there's a lot of things that can do and I'm excited that has autonomous features. Those are my favorite kinds of robots.

I'm going to get ready for bed now. I'm very tired. I have the next four days off and I'm going to finish my tooth sculpture and I'm going to finish my lesson plans. I'm going to go to the Xfinity store and figure how to cancel my internet because there is no option for that on their website or explanation on how to do it. I keep saying I'm moving. But it just wants me to move my service to my new place. James has internet I don't need to internet. But I will figure it out. But I'm hoping it's just a nice weekend. And I can take the bus long distances to stores I don't get to go to often. And James has his job interview on Saturday and then we have the whole afternoon together. And hopefully we'll move some more stuff to his place. And I'm just hoping it's a really good day.

I hope it's a good night for you guys as well. Sleep well everybody. Stay safe out there.

[miraculous-clowncar]

ok i just have to throw this out there because im kind of back on my lukanette bullshit (tho it's not all lukanette i promise) and the amount of salt I've been seeing after truth and lies is making me sad :(

After seeing what happens in gang of secrets, we now know that marinette still has feelings for luka (and adrien obvs but thats kind of a given). However, I think the show might revisit lukanette later in the season because lukanette hasn't fully worked through its potential yet. And by potential, I don't necessarily mean their success as a couple, but rather the potential for character growth, and not just for luka and marinette.

The creators do make some questionable writing decisions, yes, but I highly doubt they would go as far as to leave lukanette where it is right now and call it a day. The creators know how much fans adore luka and lukanette, and there is no way in hell they aren't going to milk more moments out of them. Hell, even after they broke up they're still milking it, like with juleka showing just how sad Luka is :( poor bby yes i am deliberately choosing to ignore the fact that juleka just has this photo of him on her phone in 4k for some reason??

not to mention, we still need to see the development between luka and his father, and it's been confirmed that there will be an episode in season 4 where luka plays the violin! You can't sit here and tell me that there won't be lukanette moments in that episode!

Now, self-indulgent Lukanette stuff aside, I also want to point out something else since I think it'll become very significant later on. So at this point, we've all noticed the difference between the lukanette breakup and the adrigami breakup:

I think this is an indicator of two things, especially now after watching gang of secrets:

1. Marinette wants to be capable of juggling all of her responsibilities without relying on others because she feels like she has no other choice. However, she needs to learn that there is no shame in relying on the people she loves. In the same breath, she also needs to learn how to nurture and maintain her relationships.

2. Adrien, on the other hand, desperately wants to connect with people and be a normal teenager, but he cannot do that unless he asserts his independence. For Adrien to have the freedom to be with other people, he needs to build up the inner strength to assert himself and go after what he wants.

You know the two people who have these traits mastered? Luka and Kagami.

Luka is excellent at maintaining his relationships. He isn't afraid to express the way he feels, whereas Marinette struggles with expressing herself. He's there to serve as a reminder that there is always someone that Marinette can lean on without judgement, but there is a caution that even the easiest relationship is a two-way street.

In contrast, Kagami is not afraid to go after what she wants. She's as direct and forceful as they come (to a fault, probably). Adrien is a people-pleaser and afraid of confrontation. Kagami is there to serve as a reminder that confrontation is sometimes a necessary means of getting what you want from others, even if you hurt others in the process. Additionally, Adrien isn't all that great at picking up social cues, whereas Kagami is incredibly perceptive to other people. She has hinted many times to Adrien about wanting to be alone with him and spending more time with him, but Adrien doesn't pick up on her efforts. That's why the nature of their breakup is such an interesting contrast to Lukanette's; Adrien didn't hurt Kagami with anything he said (or didn't say, in Lukanette's case), but rather his ignorance and unwillingness to act.

Luka's presence is there to help Marinette with her character development, whereas Kagami's absence serves to help Adrien with his.

This is what Miracle Queen was preluding to in season 3. It's not solely about the romance or the ships. It's about things that people often overlook when they're too preoccupied with romantic relationships (which, interestingly enough, are the same things that some of the fandom is overlooking as well). Marinette has been neglecting the needs of her loved ones, and Adrien doesn't trust his own judgement. As a result, their romantic relationships have suffered for it.

[existentialstatesofmind]

Weekend Fun

Clare: had forgotten his family was probably listening to everything she said. She wondered how often she or her parents were slipping up and revealing too much about what was going on at home. Luckily no one outside of the Jesus Club seemed suspicious. Clare hadn't shared much with them, she hadn't been ready to open up to a group of people, but they'd pressed the issue because some of them attended her church. The few friends who knew she'd told because she trusted them. "I don't know why some boys are weird about it but really it's no one's business anyway." Clare said making the zipping motion with her lips. She didn't judge Dallas for having sex. It was a personal choice. "That's smart." Clare hoped it worked out like Dakota and his friend thought. Even though Dakota had the fighting skills to defend himself and protect the girl from her dad and ex-boyfriend, those kind of situations were unpredictable. What if one of them showed up with a weapon? Clare smiled. "Thank you." She buried her face in her hands and giggled. "It's true though. There must be something else." She removed her hands when Dakota started talking about his family's heated pool. "Lucky! What a great way to spend Christmas. I took swimming lessons when I was about Emi's age. It probably is better to bring her there and ease her out of the fear." Clare smiled. "I really do. Oops?" She polished off the slice in no time. She decided to snag a third slice before they were all gone. Normally Clare would've been embarrassed to eat so much in front of a cute boy but Dakota knew she'd skipped breakfast. She looked at Emi curiously when the little girl excitedly handed him a guitar. She hadn't known he played much less what song it was Emi wanted to hear. Clare sat down on the couch to watch Dakota and Stacy perform. She was slightly shocked when Dakota started to sing. He had a great voice. She listened to the lyrics and watched him strum the strings of his guitar. His playing sounded great too. She grinned widely and clapped a little when Dakota and Stacy finished, not caring if it was silly. Stacy deserved applause too, she could sing, Clare just hadn't been paying as much attention to her. "Well it definitely was a stroke of fate! You're really talented. All of that practicing paid off. I like the song too, I hadn't heard it before." She admitted. Clare listened to Dakota and his brothers describe all of their activities and what Kelly could do too. "How incredible! It sounds to me like you've all got plenty of possible careers to chose from and having hobbies is fun too. I took a lot of different lessons too. But mostly because my mom didn't really care if my sister Darcy and I liked something or not. She just wanted us to keep busy so anything I quit, I had to find a replacement for." Clare said truthfully. "I tried learning how to play the piano first and then the clarinet another time but I'm kind of tone deaf so that didn't work out too well. I played softball for about four years even though I hate most sports but I finally found one I like besides swimming, Badminton. Dancing, gymnastics, and cheerleading were Darcy's thing so I kept trying to veer away from that and find stuff I enjoyed. Like writing classes and participating in children's theater groups. I took some beginning art and craft classes too. I even took sewing. Making things like pillows and dice is fairly easy but I never learned how to make complicated things like clothes. Oh, and I was in Girl Guides." Clare shared. "I want to be a writer. My dad says that's not realistic so I told him it is if I go into journalism. But I'm not sure if I will yet or not."

Kota: chuckled a bit as Clare moved her hands over her lips in a zipping motion. "Guys at school will bully us if they knew. It's a double standard, it's ok for a girl to be a virgin when she's over 18, but for a guy it's different." he explained. "Ash and I, even though we're virgins, no one at school knows. A guy on the football team got cast out for being a virgin, they bullied him to the point where his girlfriend felt pressured to have sex with him. He rejected her because he knew they weren't ready and quit the football team. Though he didn't tell anyone about being bullied, the football team pointed to the cheerleaders that the was a virgin and made other negative comments about him to them and they told the girls. The girls didn't tell a teacher, but took matters in their own hands and often stood up for him about it and consoled him, the quarterback's girlfriend broke up with him and cheerleaders refused to cheer because they knew about the bullying. The bullying got worse to the point where the teachers found out from the girls and suspended the football team, the quarterback of the team blamed him so the kids that didn't know about him being bullied, bullied him in return blaming him for the suspension of the team. Ash and I decided to put a stop to it, but the cheerleaders stopped us saying it'll only get worse if we butted in since they dumped paint on the captain of their team causing the rest of the cheerleaders to defend her. It got so bad teachers took over and when the bullying stopped he didn't have friends nor did his girlfriend. If you talked to one of them on your free will, you lost your friends and got bullied. We all decided to talk to them once and a few upper classmen told us that if we did that we'd regret it. They'd outcast our whole class and grade if they had to along with giving an explanation of how they'd do it and there wasn't anything we can do about it. They would make whole grade would stand in the caf during lunch by taking over the tables, they'd make us sit on the back of the bus on the way home so they can trip us as we walk down the aisle among other stuff." Dom explained. "Which is why we don't tell anyone." Kota said honestly and smiled as Clare covered her face and spoke. "Eh, there's a lot to do to keep up with it." he said honestly. "Plus there are days we don't feel like swimming and if people at school knew we have a pool here we'd get used. We would make friends easily because of it. It happened in elementary school. Kids would become our friend just to go swimming in our pool. The lesson is what made her afraid of water. When she was a year old, my aunt came here to take her to swimming lessons and they dunked her under water to 'get her one with the water' she choked on it and has been afraid ever since. My mom told me about it." he explained and kissed Clare's cheek. "I'm glad you like it." he smiled and looked at her before taking his second piece as well as getting Emi another piece. "I think you should've made three pizzas." Stacy laughed a bit. "I wish I had enough dough for three." he said honestly as they cleaned up. The minute the song was over and Clare spoke, he smiled. "Maybe I could play the whole thing for you. It's too depressing for Emi. It's called Hold On Till May by Pierce The Veil. I'll reblog it for you." he assured. As Clare spoke, Kota put his guitar down and walked over to Clare only to put her on his lap. "We need badminton equipment." Dallas nodded after Clare stopped speaking and Kota looked at her. "Journalism is a good trade to go into." he smirked at her and watched as Dallas and Stacy walked off. "They're probably going to go make out." Ash said and Kota looked around for a moment. "Game room?" he asked and helped Clare up. "Our basement has a ton of games in it thanks to Dom with his old summer job." Kota explained. "Though some of it we also brought from money we saved up snowing, cutting grass, and raking leaves." he said honestly as they walked to the basement. When they got down there he automatically saw Dom handing him a pool stick. "Oh, we all know how to fight. Ash and Dom know how to box." Kota added and looked at Clare. "Do you know how to play pool?" he asked.

[youwereroleplayingitsannoying]

I'm a sucker for some vamp!lock... Pun intended!

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

You both like Johnlock.

Stranger: [vampire/unilock; John and Sherlock used to be good friends for a while in secondary school; there's been a lot of rumours going around about Sherlock is practising Satanism and drinking blood and killing animals and stuff like that; Mycroft who's a vampire as well decided it would be best to fake his dead to put an end to it and not risk that their secret would be unconvered, he made up a story about Sherlock having had a car accident and told the school he was being in a coma, asking everyone to refrain from visiting and after a month announced that Sherlock had died; it's set two years after that; John spotted Sherlock (who's calling himself William Scott now) at his university and keeps trying to prove that it's Sherlock]

Did you seriously try to lure the secretary into giving you my file? Stop spying on me. For god's sake! WS

You: [Reading, bear with]

You: No, you don't get to turn this back on me. Do you think I'm an idiot? JW

Stranger: I don't know anything about you! I just know that you tried to charm the secretary to get my fail. You might be charming, but I have her loyality. She's sort of a distant relative. WS

Stranger: *file

You: You know everything about me, and I know enough about you to know that this isn't you. How far do I have to go to get you to stop fucking hiding from the real world? JW

Stranger: I'm not hiding. WS

You: You're hiding. People started spreading rumours, the atmosphere got bad. I understand that. I was there, I saw you, I saw what it did to you when they spoke about you like that. I believed him, for a while. Mycroft, I mean. I really thought you were dead. I thought they'd bullied you to an early grave, do you know that? I thought you got so depressed from being so sorely bullied that you just went and offed yourself, and there was nothing I could do to save you. Did you know that? JW

Stranger: The official explanation was a car accident, not a suicide. WS

Stranger: I mean.. that's what I've heard. WS

You: Please, everyone assumed the worst, no matter how they might have spun it. JW

You: I deserve at least the truth, Sherlock Holmes. At least. JW

Stranger: (delayed) You should know that I wouldn't just "off myself". SH

You: How could I know? You were a mystery to me. We hung out, sure. You showed me some incredible things. But you didn't show me any of yourself. JW

You: I'm sorry that I didn't see how bad things had gotten. I should have helped sooner. JW

Stranger: Oh Christ. It had nothing to do with you or the rumours. At least not in a way that it affected my mood or anything. SH

You: I don't understand. What else could it have been? JW

Stranger: Precautions. SH

You: Precautions... For what? Did they get physical with you? JW

Stranger: No. But they did get too close to the truth. SH

You: What truth? Did you do something? JW

Stranger: You remember the things they said about me drinking blood? SH

You: Of course I do. Nonsense stuff, though, just because you're a bit pale and your hair is dark. Teenagers being shitty teenagers. JW

Stranger: Teenagers being on the right track there. SH

You: Are you talking about those weird experiments you'd do? Because I never told anybody about those, I swear. JW

You: I thought they were interesting. I liked seeing them. JW

Stranger: It's not about my experiments. I am drinking blood. SH

You: Let's humour this for a moment: Why? JW

Stranger: I'm a vampire. SH

You: Oh my God... What's happened to you, Sherlock? Did they really drive you so crazy? JW

You: I'm so sorry. I should have looked harder. JW

Stranger: And this is why I didn't tell you about me faking my death. SH

You: Because you knew I'd want to get you some professional help? It's called being a friend. I'm still here. I still want to be that. Please let me be that for you. JW

Stranger: No because I knew you wouldn't believe me. John, I didn't start to think I'm a vampire somewhere along the way. I already was. And this is certainly not the first time I've faked my death either. SH

You: Sherlock, you have to understand how this sounds. Please, I know it must be hard talking to a person from such a difficult time, but I want to help. You're not a vampire. JW

Stranger: Fine, explain to me then how I'm still alive, when I was born in 1812. Explain to me why I live of blood. SH

You: This is... Delusion, Sherlock. You don't need blood. Luckily, it's not the kind of thing to hurt if you drink it, but you need other food as well. JW

Stranger: It is something that is harmful to humans, John. Human blood contains too much iron for a human metabolism. It's poisonous in large amounts, despite that humans can't digest blood either. In larger amounts than just a few drops from a cut or something, the stomach revolts and you throw up. SH

You: You're definitely Sherlock. I'm going to fail all of my exams this term. JW

Stranger: Perhaps you should have paid more attention to your studies than trying to prove I'm alive, just to claim that I'm insane. SH

You: Not insane. Deluded. There's a very fine difference in that one comes with no control and no respect for those other than yourself, and the other just means you've been misled somewhere along the way. JW

Stranger: I was not bloody mislead! Nor delusional. You are just being a bad friend for not even trying to believe me. SH

You: You left me. JW

You: I needed you and you left me. JW

Stranger: For good reason as we see now. SH

You: Fuck you. You don't have a high horse to climb onto right now. Get over here and fucking prove it to me if you want it to be real so badly. Stop insulting me and tell me why I shouldn't be insulting you after what you did. JW

Stranger: Fine. You want proof? I've got a gun over here. Shoot me. If that wound doesn't instantly close and heal up within a couple of days, you can still consider me nuts. SH

You: I'm not going to shoot you, Sherlock. JW

Stranger: How else am I supposed to prove it to you then? SH

You: I dunno. Show me your teeth. Burn in the sun. Turn into a fucking bat, I dare you. JW

Stranger: If I show you my original birth certificate you'll think it's faked, if I'll show you old photographs you'll say they're manipulated. I have the feeling I have to be drastic here. SH

Stranger: I can't turn into a bat! This isn't a low budget movie! SH

You: Oh, sure, you being a vampire is completely sane, but turning into a bat is too far. JW

Stranger: Yes it is. Bit insulting too, it's like calling humans monkeys just because they share some of the same traits. SH

You: Find me proof from someone that isn't you, then. Show me a friend. Find me someone else you can't have faked. JW

Stranger: I also don't burn in the sun. That myth developed because most of us used to go out at night to feed because it would look a bit odd to go out in the middle of the day and bite someone. SH

Stranger: What do you mean find someone else? SH

You: Get me an opinion that wouldn't lie to me. JW

Stranger: Mycroft. SH

Stranger: No, hang on. Lying is basically his job description. SH

You: Give me a photo and a birth certificate and leave them with me for a day. JW

Stranger: How about Ms Lucas? You know that secretary you tried to charm? SH

You: Why are you so intensely set on this? Why can't you just admit to me that you're too embarrassed to tell the truth? JW

Stranger: I don't have photos from before the mid 1800's. But I have portraits, one's actually painted by my mother. And if you're going to take it anywhere, I'll come with you. SH

You: You're not going to come with me, because then you're going to manipulate the source I go to that will judge the authenticity of the date. JW

Stranger: Then you are not having it. SH

Stranger: Out of the question. No way, José. SH

You: You can come with me and wait outside. JW

Stranger: Most of my belongings are antique singletons, John. I'm not going to let some idiot calling himself an expert close to them unless I'm supervising. SH

You: Then bite me. JW

Stranger: What? SH

You: I mean it. Bite me, Sherlock. JW

Stranger: You don't even know what you're talking about. SH

You: I definitely do, and I'm ready. Hit me. Show me who you are and bite me. JW

Stranger: No you don't. You'll get high. SH

You: High? JW

Stranger: It's my saliva. It works like a drug. It's not unhealthy or anything. You just... Well, it's a bit like getting drunk, just with a shot of endorphins. SH

You: Then there's no danger in proving yourself to me. JW

Stranger: I haven't done that in ages... SH

Stranger: Quite literally. SH

You: And here's a willing volunteer, waiting right here for you. How lucky. JW

Stranger: Oh god you're really starting to annoy me. Fine. Come over then. Do you need my address or did you find that out while stalking me? SH

You: Give the address to me, if it'll make you less of a bitch about it. JW

Stranger: 221B Baker Street. SH

You: Of course you can afford to live in Central. Typical. JW

You: [If you want to move into para, would you mind starting? At least just give me a couple of details of any notable way he looks/how the flat is laid out etc]

Stranger: ((oh no, I can start it's fine.. oh and I was thinking except for the fact that he doesn't age, he doesn't look any different than normal, no hard skin, he does have a heartbeat .. I'm just tired of all the vampire cliches xD))

You: [That's okay :D I like everything so far, it's great

[the-firebird69]

We're right at or near high tide and usually yes it would be like 2 ft lower than this and it is normal after a large rain it was a very large rain and flushed a lot of stuff out too and we were down there pulling it out we were amazed at how much stuff came out especially skeleton is way too many hint also we said it's 7:00 p.m. we expected to drop what do you mean the diamonds the whole thing at least I did it's going now at 3 miles an hour which is a head of Thor and freya's estimate at least what they announced, and yes her son does it too will not doing it to each other on purpose and it's a matter of timing it's now 2:30 it's going about 3 1/2 mph but it's increasing speed exponentially and if you follow the curve if you keep the curve in the current trajectory meaning increases at the same exponential rate the diamonds will be falling at about 800 mph in 20 minutes not that right you'll be in the hole in 10 minutes or less we'll keep an eye on it see what the rate of increase is does it mean slow depending on the viscosity of the material right now it's red hot it's not molten but it makes it faster cuz it's very smooth after the front edge and the weight of the entire rear of it explicit pushing the front edge which doesn't break but only heats up and it will speed up right now it's 4.5 mph and soon it will be very fast he's going to stand on the line because it's going to speed up he says does it just left 1 mph. I agree it's 6 mph now.... Now seven..... Now it's 10:00..... It's going up to 20.... Now up to 80.... 120.... 300.... In about 2 minutes it'll be out it's going 400 now now 500 now 600 and it's approaching the whole and it's in and that was one of them no there's three the others are following shortly behind they're going 300 500 700 and they're in. That's all five there's a six the small and it will be in in moments and it is falling fast at about 80 mph now 120 $150 300 500 and it is in. I estimate 3 hours it'll be depressurized and Thor says different but there's no rain up north and it won't refressurize 3 hours now 5:30 and you can see you incredible amount of pressure coming out of the tunnels they might be less than 3 hours so I'm recalculating it says two and a half hours. If you calculate the tunnels in the normal depressurization rate add them together that the computer says 2 hours now compensate for flow which is faster than we thought and might be one hour now they're saying 20 minutes and we shall see it's a great deal of pressure and there will be a tidal wave here about 8 ft at the mouth by the time it gets here it's 3 ft and it's not big enough to go even up onto the pier he wants to move the bike in case that's what we're suggesting

Zig Zag

Did you suggested and it's moving now

Thor Freya

Olympus