#oh well. I'm not going to be complaining about it

[zarnzarn]

They'll argue over it for millenium to come, but Hob always loudly maintains that there was quite literally no possible way for him to jump to the conclusion that a bit of an itch was a cosmically relevant first symptom.

It starts after a bar fight in Cornwall, to protect some kid from being jumped by a dozen burly men with sticks up their arses. Hob doesn't quite make it out of the fight without broken bones and a bit of a skull injury from the fire iron, but smiles through the blood at the youngster as he picks him- her?- up off the floor.

"Alright?" He asks, and the kid nods back hurriedly before scampering off. He winces at the crick in his broken neck as he wipes his face on his sleeve and stumbles out the door.

("HOB GADLING," his furious husband thunders at him at apocalyptic-level, atomic bomb volume that night, as soon as he lies down to bed.

He groans. "Yes, yes, I know. How do you even find out-"

"The sixteen year old is having wet dreams about you," Dream says savagely in punishment, grabbing Hob by the face to tilt him this way and that, ignoring his loud complaining disgust. "How many times do I have to tell you-"

"-Stop getting into bar fights," Hob intones dryly along with him, rolling his eyes. The argument lasts well into the night.)

But the next morning when he wakes up, the back of his neck is itching. He figures it's a rash of some kind and goes to work without bothering to check it out, grimacing now and then when he feels the discomfort as the scratchy sweater catches on it.

It continues the rest of the week, spreading to his arms and shins, but Hob Gadling is a man who has been personally skewered in the gut with a rusty lance, chained to a heavy metal ball and drowned in a muddy river and been the guinea pig of his husband's favourite Nightmare. It doesn't even register on his pain scale.

"I know you can do it, dear," He tells his student, clasping her by the hands. Her wrists have unhealed scars, still. "Just keep fighting. It doesn't matter what your grades are, as long as you love what you're learning, you hear me?"

She's famous for being stoic and disdainful whenever anyone tries to help her, but Grace Matty's eyes well up with tears as she nods, breathing hard. The she frowns, tilting her head. "Sorry, uh- did you get a new tattoo, Prof?"

It's such a weird subject change that Hob frowns also. "What?" He looks down to see intricate swirling patterns on his forearms. Great. Another possible curse slash adventure slash assassination attempt. "Oh, yeah, hah, got it last week."

She tilts her head, sniffing and wiping her nose with a sleeve. "Suits you."

"Thanks," Hob says, because they actually kind of do. The bright kind of golden, making his skin look rather nice when he tilts it in the sunlight. "But you can't deflect with me. So, let's talk about a study plan..."

Later, he pulls off his shirt to find the same swirling patterns across his shoulders and shins, beautiful swirls of flora and spirals that stretch down his body and actively grow more as he looks at them, the color of new wheat.

He sighs and goes to bed, yawning. There's time till it reaches his full body. He'll deal with it next week.

("Next week," Dream says scathingly, a couple thousand years later.

He rolls his eyes. "Acting like I don't know you deliberately ignored that fae assassin entering the castle because you wanted me to keep giving you head."

"It was a calculated risk-" )

He gets up the next day, groaning at the fever heat he can feel radiating from him, pushing his hands into his aching eyes. Still, there's the shop to run, so he pushes himself to his feet and keeps going.

Every person who comes in smiles at him, losing the tension in their shoulders as soon as he makes eye contact.

"I think I'm going to do it," one of them leans over the counter to whisper. "I think it's time I started following the damn dreams I've had since childhood."

Hob grins at the stranger, reaching out to squeeze their hand. Oh, but Dream would love to hear that. "Do it," He enthuses, more than used to being on the other side, talking random shite to people he didn't know in his immortal mania. "You'll succeed eventually!"

They grin, eyes crinkling, before departing.

It is a fast day, and a busy one. Everyone wants to chat- leaving Hob thrilled- about anything from their sick relatives to school grades to football matches to confessions. It is a good day, but it leaves him immensely drained, and he's practically falling over by the time it's time to close up.

He takes the longer route to let the brisk air help him, brushing his fingers against the barks of the scattered urban trees, imagining he can see their leaves unfurl wider and prouder as they survive another winter. "You'll make it," he tells the birds huddling together in the nest above, smiling.

What a lovely day. He looks out over the bridge-

"Don't jump," he says suddenly. His eyes feel hot. The man jerks, swirling around to face him. His eyes widen when he sees Hob. Can't be more than 18, barely an adult, and still has misery lining every inch of him.

Hob swallows. "Don't jump," He repeats. "Life is worth so much if you go look for it, kid."

The boy straightens, searching his face, eyes welling with tears. "There is, isn't there?"

"Yup," Hob says. His arms burn. "Come down."

Miraculously, the boy listens, trembling in the winter cold. Hob's heart melts, and he takes off his jacket to drape across the other, ignoring the protests and the feeble whispers that they couldn't afford to repay him.

"Don't need horseshit from you, little one," Hob says fondly. "There's money in the pockets, go grab something warm. And my card is in there, call if you ever need me; you have a place to stay?"

A nod. Fairre wishes for a bigger one, with central heating, but the one he has will be good for the night.

How did I know that? the thought whisps across his mind, then dissolves when he sneezes.

"Ah, hells, I must go home before this damn cold does me in," Hob jokes, patting the boy on the shoulder. "You run off too, and no more bridges for you, understand? Call me tomorrow."

"Thank you!" The boy shouts as Hob walks off. "What's your name?"

"Hob!" He shouts back before he can think it twice.

"Thank you, Hope!" He yells and-

Something in his stomach drops. He stops for a second as he turns the corner, and feels oddly like he's in freefall.

Time slows down, like he's moving through molasses. You are not terrible, I suppose, it sniffs disdainfully, before the world resumes again. The sky flickers, abruptly black as the void. Ah, the first counterpart, it whispers. Always told you our third was too impatient.

The sky turns blue again. No one else has so much as looked upwards.

Something is happening.

The tattoos, he remembers, and breaks into a run, cursing as he sprints the few blocks back to his home.

Food, he thinks, even though they're not his thoughts. Not at all. So many wish for food, hope for prey. From the deepest oceans to the highest peaks, what more can you want from the universe except food?

Shelter, also, although the living usually possess it already. But better shelters are always coveted.

A mate, children. The greatest achievement to strive to- to live on.

"Excuse me," He says, although maybe he says it in the wrong language as he sprints past the bewildered doorman, taking the stairs.

A good wind. A good monsoon. A good life.

"Dream," He says, panting, standing in the middle of his room.

A good winter. A good catch. A good field.

"DREAM!" Hob screams, holding his head in his hands as it starts splitting at the seams. He can't see anything. He can see too much. There is so much more out there- how stupid, to think that it was only Earth, only one universe? And each one comes with its own near-infinite entities, hopes and wishes and wants and-

"DREAM!" Hope roars, sobbing, and his husband crashes into him at full speed in four dimensions, catching the insides of him as they spill over through the cracks of the worlds, sand banking the liquid gold of hope's endless ocean.

(Water is a constant. Anywhere you go, water is a constant. Life always begins in the seas.)

"Hob," Dream gasps, a thousand hands and shadows pushing Hope back into a physical form, like trying to mold a running stream. Dream is scared. His husband is terrified and it is calling the others, and Hope cannot bear for anyone else being here at the moment.

"I want to go home," The last flickering flame of humanity within him sobs. He is scared, and he is everywhere and too big and too scattered, and he can remember every memory he has ever had with picture-perfect clarity, and he wants his ma, his pa, his three elder siblings and one brat of a niece, in their small and filthy cottage in an insignificant village in the middle of the forest. This hurts. "Dream, take me home."

"I cannot," His husband whispers, heartbroken. Hope sobs, even though he already knew this, because they were gone. Long gone. "But I can be your tether, if you open your eyes."

Hope trembles and considers resisting. Does not want to.

Hands cradle his face in fractals. Home fades away, humanity fades away at the touch, so dear and familiar, that his panic abruptly abates. The hurt lessens. "Hob Gadling," Morpheus says. "Open your eyes."

He takes a breath and does.

"Oh," Hope says, tears falling down. He always knew Dream was other, but to finally see him as he was meant to be seen, as all species simultaneously, as a whisper in the shadows and croon in a lullaby, in all dimensions, with all eyes- "You are so beautiful."

Dream shakes his head, horror and grief reflecting back in his eyes, darting through all the places Hob's soul is bleeding from, where Hope burst through. He looks like he is already mourning him.

Hob takes a breath and- pushes himself up, wincing. Stretches and feels the ends of the universe, and recoils back in horror, not ready to face it yet.

It is easy to ignore, really, with the beauty in front of him, crying and whimpering in fear for Hob.

Hope smiles. "So dour, love mine." He whispers, chuckling. Pushes herself up, against their husband, their stranger, their ever-running darling, their complement. Hopes and Dreams. "Beautiful love. Stop looking so sad and bothering Despair, you ninny, I'm still here."

Dream exhales and gives the impression of sitting back on their heels, as they make space for Hope in his metaphorical lap. Arms as strong as uranium bands wrap around all the unending facets of him, clinging on and shaking in fear. "I don't. I don't understand, what has happened-"

"In a minute," Hope whispers, feeling the answer- knowing the answer, knowing their darling concept of a partner also knows the answer and just needs...

They look beyond for a moment, and see the impression of Time. He doesn't finish the thought.

"Hob?" Dream asks, trembling. Hope moves back so they're looking at each other once more, heart clenching in adoration at the resplendent horror all around him, holding him together as he calms down, slotting into his place in the system.

"Still me," Hob whispers. She presses forward and wills them both into humanoid shapes, so he can kiss his wife. "I don't- I don't know why either. Or how. But- still me. Yeah?"

"Love," Dream rumbles, whispers, moans. She's still trembling.

"Easy," Hope whispers. Kisses him again. "Breathe. It's not a calamity. Just something new."

"It is-"

"If the next words out of your mouth are 'my fault', sweetheart, you're going to get slapped," Hob says in a stronger voice, as he shifts himself back into his usual form to glare. "Just- we'll figure it out. Everything's alright, yeah?"

Hope smiles at Dream. Tentatively, half in awe, its spouse smiles back, before it wavers away and Hob is yanked back into the shaking grip, in all universes at once.

Hob chuckles and closes his eyes. Sighs as they rock back and forth, feeling the mantle of a new era of adventure hover over their shoulders, ready to press down, and uses his function to hope fiercely that they'll make it through, until the fear no longer holds as heavy.

"So," It says finally. She grins, flips into a coy brown bird, a skittering shrimp, a playful whale, a swaying stamen, a displaying spider, a rumbling earthquake- flitting around her wife in well-worn paths of enticement, filled to bursting with the hope that the mate acquiesces, accepts. Steps out from under the influence of the rest of the family for a second, so he can push his startled husband backwards onto the mattress of their bed in the Dreaming.

Dream grunts as he hits the sheets, mouth falling open in shock as Hope climbs on top of him.

"I'm assuming we won't be free for ages and ages after this," He says, rolling its eyes. Then she grins, spreads themselves out into a marvellous display across all the space available to him, in which he exists, lapping against the shores of her lover. Preens seductively, watches the essence of the Dreaming flare up in excitement, snorting, bristling, stiffening, dancing, pressing back, trembling from holding themselves back. "Bet you'd fuck so much better at full power, hm?"

"Is this really the moment for a seduction?" Dream demands, even as his hands close on her hips, all eyes end-to-end black in lust. He understands. Now that the panic has abated, arousal is practically burning her alive.

"Yes, of course, now c'mon, quickly, before they get here," Hope kicks its husband lovingly, pressing their weight down harder. "Became Endless just for you, and you can't even give me an orgasm?"

Hob laughs as Dream's palm closes on his nape immediately, dragging him down. The reflection of himself in his husband's eyes is golden and bright, yet the love within shines twice as strong. And when they kiss, Hob can taste off the other's lips the hope that Dream can keep him forever.

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

⋆⭒˚.⋆ Johnny, Bee, Jaehyun, Sweets and the double date! ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Johnny watched as Bee pulled her thumbnail between her teeth for the nth time as they walked to the restaurant. He wants to pout, complain, whine, and throw a fit about his girlfriend pulling her hand out of his hold... again. He keeps his mouth shut though. It's clear as day that she's beyond nervous. He'd told her that she has nothing to be nervous about, but it didn't quell her anxiety.

In her own mind, she's freaking out. Meeting her boyfriend's best friend, meeting his girlfriend, the frat sweetheart at that... it was a lot. And Sweetheart was a force to be reckoned with. All the guys loved her and spoke so highly of her.

The restaurant loomed ahead, neon lights meant to entice and excite its patrons but it only fills her with dread. She's never been the type of person to do well in social situations. She gets too in her head and she knows that her interests don't align with a lot of people! Hell, Mark has told her more times than she can count that the irrigation systems of Ancient Rome aren't as interesting as she makes them out to be! What if she starts talking about something boring like paper in Ancient Egypt?!

Johnny opens the door for both of them, placing what he hopes is a comforting hand on the small of her back as he looks out for Jaehyun and Sweets. It's Sweets who finds them first. She's standing from her seat and calling them over while she waves her arms like she's front row at a concert.

Johnny smiles and waves back, leaning in to place a small kiss on Bee's temple before whispering, "come on, Honey. You're doing great. You look gorgeous and you're going to blow them away with how cool you are too." Bee nods and gulps, trying to calm her racing heartbeat as she follows her boyfriend to the small table.

Sweets squeals excitedly and smacks Jaehyun's shoulder with excitement. Jaehyun chokes on his drink from the force of his girlfriend's whack on the arm. He coughs as Sweets dances in her seat with a smile, "oh my gosh! Her dress is so cute! Baby, do you think she'd let me borrow it? It would match my brown strappy sandals perfectly, you know the ones, right?"

Jaehyun clears his throat as he stands to greet Bee and Johnny, "please don't ask her right away. John said she's nervous. Take it easy before you start threatening to steal her clothes."

"It's not a threat Jaehyun-" Sweets pouts before her face breaks out into a smile and she's bounding out of her seat to embrace Bee, "Bee! Oh my- you gorgeous creature, hi!"

Johnny furrows his brows as Sweets seems to completely disregard him and guide his girlfriend into what used to be Jaehyun's seat. Jaehyun takes it in stride, grabbing his drink and taking his new seat as Johnny sinks into his own chair with a look of confusion on his face. Jaehyun chuckles, "we've been replaced, bro."

Johnny wants to be annoyed, he really does. It's a double date as in, Bee is meant to be on a date with him, but his girlfriend hasn't so much as looked in his direction since she ordered her dinner 10 minutes ago. Since the two girls sat beside each other, they haven't stopped talking. Clothes, makeup, nails, skincare routines, tropical girl stuff that Johnny always knew girls talked about. Then he can't fight the smile on his face when Sweets seems to have mentioned an unexpected interest.

"I was a history major in my first semester, but I really only had interest in ancient societies and I'm not a fan anything newer than the 1800s," Sweets mentions off-handedly before popping a fry from Jaehyun's plate between her lips.

Johnny watches as his girlfriend hides an excited smile with her straw. He knows that Sweets has just wormed her way into Bee's heart and is about to make her way into Bee's list of best friends forever. Johnny feels a great sense of admiration for his friend. Sweets made Bee feel comfortable right off the bat and didn't even leave her a chance to feel nervous or self conscious. Knowing that Sweets will be a great friend to both him and his girlfriend now makes fills him with a sense of happiness that makes him feel warm. He can't even be mad that Honey has barely spared two glances in his direction the whole dinner.

Now, he's glad that he finally gave in to Sweets' endless complaints about she and Honeybee being "two ships passing in the night" since she never got to meet Bee properly. The two women had said hi in passing, nothing more than an introduction and a few hellos. Sweets was always huffing and puffing to both Jaehyun and Johnny, blaming the two men for keeping her from a potential friend. She had even gone as far as accusing them of keeping what "could be the best female duo Nu Chi Theta had ever seen!" They couldn't control Bee's busy schedule! She rarely spent the night at the frat house, had classes from early morning to early afternoon and worked or studied into the hours of the night. It was just case after case of missed connections with the two girls until now.

Jaehyun watches on with a similar look of admiration, love for his own girlfriend. He loves the way she makes people open up and gives them a sense of easement. The reluctant girl he had fallen for all that time ago was long gone, leaving behind a transformed butterfly. She was all smiles, all warmth, sunshine, and happiness. She met people, made connections and people just loved her. It made Jaehyun fall even more in love with her than he already was.

Johnny's not quite at the point of thinking about marriage as he watches on, but Jaehyun is certainly unashamedly wondering how much those rings on Sweets' not-so-hidden section on her accessories Pinterest board cost.

At least until the moment is ruined when Sweets turns to the boys with a look of surprise, "oh! I forgot there were males here!"

Bee pouts softly, "so did I... Lovie, did you order that dessert I like?"

"The chocolate lava cake?!" Sweets gasps in surprise with excited claps as Honey nods with equal excitement.

"Lovie?" Jaehyun snorts with a raised brow as he turns to look at his best friend.

"Dude," Johnny scoffs, "you proudly did a TikTok interview and announced yourself as baby to the whole internet."

"Baby is cute," Bee coos.

"Oh, but I love Lovie!" Sweets giggles.

Johnny and Jaehyun look at each other, twin looks of happiness and apprehension. They've just created what could be the best or the worst partnership of all Nu Chi Theta history. And the way that Sweets and Bee refuse to break their hug after dinner tells the guys that it's only going to get worse from here. They suppose sacrifices: dates, time alone with their girlfriends, uninterrupted alone time with their girlfriends, etc. must be made in the name of their girlfriends' happiness. It's a sacrifice they can both reluctantly, but mostly happily, live with.

-

a/n: I'm back and I have no idea how to tag this... if you found it, congrats! and pls let me know how we feel about these types of pieces aka multi-gf fics, 3rd person pov, etc

[hjparisian]

picnics and presents- harry j potter x reader

p: harry potter x fem!reader w: fluff, small sexual insinuation at the end if you squint s: harry spends his birthday in the presence of the one he loves the most a/n: happy birthday to harry! a little blurb i made since i haven't posted anything in a while due to work and school </3

Harry didn't want to make a huge fuss of his birthday, especially since he's been used his birthday being ignored by the Dursleys.

So when his girlfriend had offered him to spend the afternoon with her, he quickly accepted, wanting to get away from his bothersome cousin and uncle.

The two resided under a tree by a lake close to the L/N's cottage. A picnic basket laid close to them, Harry's favorite foods spread all across the gingham pattern blanket. Y/N had made the effort to learn how to make his favorites, telling him it was easy work. Though with the amount that was made, Harry had a feeling it was less than easy.

Stomach full, Harry laid on the blanket chatting with Y/N, head in her lap. One of her hands rubbed across his scalp, creating a pleasurable and relaxing feeling. The other held onto one of Harry's hands. She stared down at boy, eyes ghosting across his features. He was absolutely gorgeous.

"Hermione got me new gloves and a cleaning kit for quidditch," Harry told his girlfriend as he recounts the mail he received earlier this morning.

Y/N smiles. "That's good. You've been complaining about how you've been needing new gloves."

"Just in time for the season coming up."

The girl nods before tapping Harry, making him sit up as she moves towards the basket.

"Guess it's my turn to give you your present," she says to him. "Now close your eyes and hold your hands out."

Harry stares at her quizzically before ultimately following her instructions. As he held his hand out, he felt a weight being placed. A box?

"Open them."

The boy opened his eyes and looked to see the small box in his palms.

"Happy birthday Harry."

He smiles, softly thanking her. He opens it to find a silver chain. A locket. Harry stares at it before opening the locket to find two photos. One was a photo of them back in third year, Y/N hugging Harry tightly. The other was a photo from this past Christmas at the Weasley's, showing the two of them kissing under mistletoe.

"I know it's not exactly your style, but I wanted to get you something that'll remind you that I'm always with you. I could take it back if you don't want it. I got you clothes too I just left them in my room and I-"

Harry cuts her off as he leans over to kiss her. Hands cupping her face. Y/N's shock melts away as she reciprocates, arms wrapping around his neck as she pushes back.

The two pulled apart for air. Harry's bright green eyes looking into Y/N's own eyes with love.

"I love it."

"Really? You don't think its weird or anything?"

"Y/N, I promise you I love it. Now put it on for me, please?"

Y/N smiles and nods, grabbing the locket as she goes behind him to clasp it. When she finished, Harry turns back around to face her. The locket sat above his shirt. A perfect length, not too long, not too short.

Harry pulls his girlfriend onto his lap, pulling her into a hug.

"I love you Y/N"

She squeezes him tighter. "I love you too Harry."

The two sat there for a moment, taking in the moment. Y/N pulled away and got up, confusing Harry.

"Where are you going?"

"Well, my parents won't be home for the rest of the afternoon, and I have one more present to give to you," Y/N says with a mischievous look in her shining eyes. "And I guarantee you'll love it."

Harry raises an eyebrow. "What does your parents being gone have to do with this present?"

Y/N giggles. "Let's just say, you wouldn't want my parents to see you unwrap this present. Best to be seen in private."

Harry was puzzled. After a moment, it suddenly clicked for him. A small oh coming out his mouth.

A grin appears on the boy's face. "Then what are we waiting for?" Harry gets up and drags his girlfriend to the cottage, eager to unwrap this next so called present.

[lunatf-ao3]

JUST LOVE² ❣︎

[TFP] Dark!Optimus Prime/Human!Reader

[⚠︎]: toxic dynamics, controlling behavior, possessiveness, overprotection, manipulation

...

-

---

Touching your skirt, Optimus scrutinized your outfit with discontent, the same discontent he had every morning. "I do not like it."

"...It's my uniform, you know that. I can't work without it."

"Hmm."

"Optimus... calm down, it's just a skirt and an apron." You repeat, as you have done too many days this month, trying to appease his discontent. You can't let him forbid you from going to work; you've already been too close to complete captivity.

You probably already are.

His digits tightened, threatening to tear the fabric. "It's too tight, too short."

"Don't start again."

"Ah?"

You immediately regret your words.

"No, I... I'm sorry, I meant you didn't have to worry so much about me, Optimus." You take his servo, rubbing it nervously against your cheek. "I promise to cover myself more, look at the ground, not talk to anyone if that makes you feel better."

That seemed to appease him.

"I don't need attention from anyone else, Optimus, you're all I want."

"Hmm... Oh, my little one, you do not know how much I had prefer you at home, away from all the stares." He sighed. "But if you assure me so sweetly that you will take care of yourself, I will trust you."

Liar. You think, but instead you give him a smile, receiving the sweet kiss he leaned down to give you.

His servos run possessively over your body, feeling your buttocks through the long-sleeved shirt you're wearing, like a collector with his most prized piece.

His kiss strayed, moving down to your neck, where he made sure to leave his mark. You don't complain, simply leaning on his shoulder. "And could you give me my phone? Please, I don't want to be cut off from you in case something happens."

"...Okay. I will pick you up when you get out today," he announced, right after stopping. Bumblebee or Arcee usually did that when he was on missions, and you liked it better that way because you could take an extra ride with their help.

"Understood."

"All right, little one."

Leaving the room, the base is almost empty. Ratchet is focused on his work, and Bulkhead doesn't dare look at you.

When Optimus transforms, you quietly get into the passenger seat. The doors lock, and as he drives out of the base, his holoform materializes in the seat next to you.

He doesn't leave you alone, not in any way possible. He needs the whole town to know that you're with someone, that you're with him. And since he can't show himself in his normal form, he'll do it in another way.

-

It's 8:30 p.m. when you leave work. It's uncomfortably cold outside, but Optimus is already parked there, waiting for you since who knows when.

You take one step and someone calls your name.

You turn around to find one of your coworkers, the new one you talked to yesterday.

Optimus probably investigated him, because how could he leave you out there without knowing what kind of people are around you?

He was young, just starting his first job. He had the energy of a recent graduate, friendly, clumsy, and flirtatious.

"Hey, you forgot your phone." With a bright smile, he offers you the small device. You glance sideways at the parked truck.

"Thanks." You take it, immediately putting it in your bag, ready to leave.

"No problem." He put a hand on your shoulder, patting you friendly. "Did you see that truck over there? I wonder whose it is, it's been parked there for an hour."

You cough, trying to distance yourself a little. "It's my partner's. He came to pick me up."

"Your partner?" He seems disappointed, but immediately cheers up. "Well, it's a really cool truck! Your partner is very lucky, and I'm not just talking about the truck." He winks at you, walking away. "See you tomorrow!"

And he leaves before you can even think of responding.

Your hands are shaking.

The night is quieter than when you left.

Your boots echo with every step to the passenger door, which opens a second later.

The driver's seat is empty, and Optimus slowly starts the engine.

"..."

"Optimus-"

"Does he always say goodbye like that to you?"

"N-No, of course not." You stammer. "It's the first time, it took me by surprise. Besides, he's new, we've only been living together for two days. I guess he's just trying to make friends, he's new and fool, I... I won't talk to him anymore."

Optimus speeds up, staying silent for a second. "I do not want him to touch you again."

"Understood." You murmur, playing with your fingers.

The seatbelt tightens against your body. "I love you, little one."

"I love you too, Optimus."

PREVIOUS

[idontknowmanijustlikereading]

OKAY SO AS PROMISED I GOT THE GOODS >:]

Wound up redoing the Zoey closeup shot because the first one was iffy to me (and not in that Unique!Zoey uncanny valley way haha), and I drew a Mira with her tail. East Asian dragon tails are fun <3

Now for the record, the rest of these are Mira, because the dragon noodle calls to me <3

Ngl I went a bit crazy when you mentioned in your latest post that Mira would’ve been sent off to train with some Tibetan-coded martial arts guy, because I am generally a huge Chinese martial arts nerd so I took full advantage to nerd out— I know they’re Korean but WALK WITH ME HERE— also Tibetan culture is situated around the Himalayas and ngl I’m not nearly as well-versed in Korean martial arts specifically so walk with me here— that being said upon further research taekkyon would’ve absolutely taken that position of martial art she was forced to learn if we’re going for a Korean martial art specifically

I went with inspo from Wudang martial arts, because generally speaking they’re more… chill? Less explosive? than Shaolin martial arts. Shaolin is a lot of explosiveness and speed and throat-ripping screaming, while Wudang literally has tai chi and Baguazhang, which vibe more with what you said about weightless ethereal grace. Speaking of which, Baguazhang :D the epitome of grace and effortlessly taking down the opponent through the path of least resistance, which is why Mira would despise it the most as a martial art (otherwise tai chi would take that spot, but I’m sure even her mentor knew for a fact that she would’ve downed a bottle of soju and used it to spit fire if he forced her to learn tai chi). Doesn’t help that Bagua training exercises would’ve started with her simply walking around in a consistent circle while facing the middle of said circle, so she would’ve been understimulated to hell and back

Kinda winged it with the mentor, very strict guy as all martial arts teachers are, tried to make him look like what the historians say look “draconic” in a human, which was fun. Those are uh, fleshy catfish-y whiskers that he has there. Don’t think about it too much if the mental image disturbs you :3

Anyway hope you like this little care package haha

Hi hello, I would like to kindly(and consensually) kiss you on the fucking mouth.

LOOK AT THEM LOOK AT MIRA MY BELOVED!!

Holy shit, the movements the poses! HER FLUFFY FUCKING TAIL!!

I wasn't expecting to get a lesson in different kinds of martial arts here, but I am not complaining in the slightest! It's so interesting to learn about different cultures and practices from around the world!

Oh she hates her fucking life so much in those shots, fucking hates it. She is not a happy camper at ALL. It does look like she's having fun trying to whip her teacher with her tail tho, good for her.

Honestly, I can fully see her parents sending her out of the country to the Himalayas to get her training, despite them being Korean. They thought maybe distance would make the heart grow fonder and all that, and that she'd come back more agreeable.

Jokes on them, one of the only things she enjoyed about this trip was the distance. Everything else sucked ass. It wasn't event that cold! She thought they'd be camping up in the mountains so that the climate would at least be comfortably cold for their draconic genes, but noOoOOo! They were at the foothills were its just mild and boring!

And the master! I love his design so much, especially the horns! Y'know, just because of this artwork, I'm making it canon that the older a dragon gets, the spikier their horns get. Mira is young, so she only has the og horn itself, the master dude is old, so he has his og ones and two splits as well.

They have a mutual love/hate relationship for each other. On one end, Mira dislikes the guy for his strictness, his arrogance and his general "respect your elders" attitude when she is most definitely a "respect is earned" type of person.

On the other hand, while he is controlling, he is controlling in reference to the martial arts(the extremely boring martial arts, but the martial art nonetheless). I'm gonna go right ahead and say it was her parents that forced her to cut her hair in preparation. The master dude would've let her keep it as long as it didn't prove an obstacle. He didn't control her in the same way her parents did, even if he did throw her annoyed and disapproving looks about the miss-matching and defiling of her uniform.

On his end he found her to be rude, obstructive, but passionate. Not about the training, not at all. But he saw the fire, the ability and tried to hone it (he didn't fail as much as Mira simply didn't want to learn). They were both graceful in different ways, and they clashed a lot. Somehow they still have a better relationship with each other than Mira has with her parents.

Mira hated her time training, but she hated her time with her parents even more.

Thank you again so much, these are so beautiful hdshjshjhjsdh

They also reminded me to continue writing about another teacher/mentor of theirs in this fun little AU of mine...

[yellowwwcrayon]

"Also him giving the senior staff the talk as well, but Recruiter is attending the call over zoom in a BDSM dungeon"

I feel like Inho would need hours and a whole ass PowerPoint presentation just to make his point to the Recruiter.

Recruiter, interrupting Inho after two hours of him going on and on about the sex policy talk: "Why am I the only one here? Shouldn't the rest of the staff be here too for this?"

Inho: "I already gave the standar talk to the guards and the rest of the higher staff. This is a especial talk only meant for you. No, wipe that stupid smile off your face, that wasn't a compliment."

Recruiter: "Oh."

Inho: "You're one of the most, if no the most, promiscuous employee in this company. You're a menace. You need to understand the possible consequences of your uncontrolled impulses."

Recruiter, thinking to himself: 'I don't hear his little brother complain about my "uncontrolled impulses" tho..'

In the Recruiter's defense, it's not his fault that everyone is throwing themselves to him 🤷🏻‍♀️

I adore this. and he's still texting with his hoes while Inho's giving that multi-hour special. Junho sends him a thirst trap pic and he decides to show Inho - "Boss, this is the one I'm banging currently."

(incidentally, also what I imagine one of the billion stupid scenarios that Hwang Inho accidentally finds out about them in wallflower - he accidentally shows Inho one of Junho's nudes on his phone instead of the fish he caught last Sunday or something.)

[somewhere-elena]

(Pre-relationship)

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

It's the first date.

He doesn't know how long he's been staring or if you even noticed, given you were deep into your story, but he sat across from you at the table, the food had arrived a while ago and he's been mostly eating it to distract himself from getting distracted by you (if that makes sense).

His chocolate brown eyes shimmered in the dim light of the restaurant as he stared. You were so passionate about what you were talking about, and so pretty too. He couldn't mess this up-

"Ino?" You call out, noticing he was spaced out.

He immediately snapped out of it, face flushing pink, though he tried to hide it.

"What? I- I wasn't staring- call me Takuma!" He rambled out, adding a nervous smile.

"Uhhh- okay..." You reply in confusion.

He was a really sweet guy, offering to pay for dinner, he was funny too and not to mention; hot as hell. You were really surprised to see he was the one to message you first on that dating app, but you weren't complaining.

'Oh shit, oh shit, you're blowing it, Takuma! Just say something, anything so you don't fumble.' Is what was going through Takuma's head right now. His thoughts were a mess.

"So tell me more about you." You say with a smile and genuine interest.

'NOOOO' Takuma's screamed in his head.

He couldn't exactly say he was a sorcerer. Yet.

"I uhhh- there's not much about me honestly; I'm just an average guy." Takuma said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"What do you do for work?" You ask.

'goddamnit. What do I say?!' He thought in his head. Jujutsu Sorcery was a job the government kept hidden from the public.

"Ahh- uhm.. Y'know- it's a job.... And it pays well-" He said.

Shit, he probably sounds like he sells drugs for a living.

"But what do you do?" You ask with a small laugh.

"I take care of things around Japan... Like issues that could potentially hurt civilians or cause property damage." He said.

That only made you admire him even more. You didn't know what the hell his job was... But he kept the public safe?? And he was attractive. Bonus.

"That's amazing... You save people from threats basically?" You ask.

"Yeah- basically." He said.

And that's how the rest of the date went, you talking, him admiring you, you asking him to talk more about himself, you admiring him.

This was only the beginning.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Notes: SORRY FOR NOT WRITING ANYTHING I'VE BEEN HAVING SUCH BAD WRITERS BLOCK this was just something I thought of, I MIGHTTT make it into a series idk

[yearningforthelearning]

Chapter 3!!!

Enjoy :)

Chapter 3

I woke up warmer than I had expected to be. I stretched and yawned, and paused, as my fist hit something soft and squishy and warm. For a moment, I thought it was a critter, but I could have cried in relief at the sight of Senku.

Wait-why was he here?

"I'd tell you to take a picture, but, well..." the falsely sleeping boy gestured to the world around us with a smug smirk.

I snort. "Fair. So, how did you find me out here? And why did you stay?" I was curious; this was perfect for my mental file on Ishigami Senku.

I wanted to know how he works, after all. His face got red again, and he looked up towards the morning sky. "You're just too heavy for me to carry, lard ass. And I found you cause I thought I heard the sound of a dying alpaca and just couldn't believe that to be the case. Lo and behold, there you were, passed out under a tree root. You could've died. Not to mention, you were wet and shivering. Did you try to bathe out in this chill? You can't get sick when we have no way of healing you!" He was ranting.

How sweet. He was worried after all. "I totally did not try to bathe out here, and I've totally got no clue what you're talking about!" It was an obvious lie.

He was right, and we both knew it. But at least I was alive, and we were a team. He punched me in the shoulder, and I stood and straightened my clothes and hair, as I moved around a lot in my sleep. "I was thinking-what if we try to find a walnut tree or something similar? I want to make a miswak stick, which is pretty much just a primitive toothbrush. It's been used in many civilizations for dental care. Plus, my mouth tastes awful. Maybe we can find mint too, somehow." I was already off on another tangent again, giving Senku control of piloting me back to camp.

"I know what a miswak stick is, dummy. But that sounds like a good plan, I'll keep an eye out for something like that." He kept pace with me, his hands on his hips as he walked.

Every so often, I would branch off to collect a plant or some other forageable I spotted to start our collection. Like clockwork, Senku would materialize and guide me back on track. After about four hours of walking, we finally made it back, and I had plants stuffed wherever they could sanitarily fit. Including Senkus's weirdly stiff hair. He did not complain, so I took it as his consent and kept adding to it. Next time I'll have a basket with me.

I then begin diligently sorting everything into its respective categories: edible, medicinal, or both. I'm so into it that I nearly jump out of my skin when I see a leaf with cooked warabi and zenmai ferns (high in potassium among other things, particularly good find in my opinion), I had spotted earlier being pushed into my face. "Eat." That was all he said before sitting next to me on the ground.

"Oh, thanks!" I dropped what I was doing to take a lunch break with him.

I was happily chewing on my little fern find when I realized – we've got salt! "Hey, Senk-" he cut me off with a small bottle of, you guessed it, salt!

"You're literally the best, dude."

"I know."

We sat in silence, not that I minded. I continued with my sorting, and he sort of just stayed beside me, observing. He probably deserves a break with all he's done since waking up anyway, so I don't say anything.

Finally, I smiled and sat back in satisfaction. "Viola."

Now, the only reason this took me some time is because of the sheer number of things rather than the diversity. Mostly, I've found the warabi and zenmai ferns, but there were also some Giant Butterbur sprouts and kogomi, which will be good to keep us going if we aren't able to find game right away. Senku hummed and collected them, putting them in clay bottles that I didn't notice him carrying over with him. Then, he casually disappeared into the hut, I'm assuming to put them away on a shelf. I know I'm not the best at any other science than Anthropology, but I think it may be time to learn. For Senku's sake, and my own.

"SENKU!" I shout, maybe a little too loud, but can't a little guy just be excited sometimes?

"Geez, woman, are you trying to burst my eardrums?" he came out from the hut, pinkie in his ear and a stupid ass face on his face.

"Maybe. I dunno. Teach me science." He seemed taken aback by my eagerness, knowing I have no interest in it otherwise.

Or, rather, had no interest in it. Before.

But this is a new dawn, and things must be done. "You sure?"

"Ten billion percent sure, Senku." I was grabbing onto his tunic, on my knees like a beggar in a drama.

"Sure, no problem. Get off the ground, though, dumbass, and get excited." He kicked me away dramatically, and I fell as if I had been shot in a bad movie.

From that point, we were inseparable. If he had an idea, there I was, and vice versa. I took part in all of his experiments, and he listened and shot out ideas when I was on a tangent about our process. We foraged together, making even the tedious tasks quicker and easier. We built together, making a drying rack for herbs and more pottery as well. Slowly, we filled up his science shed with stone birds, each tagged with dates and the mixture components we poured over it. We also had a pretty decent stockpile of dried or drying herbs and smoked fish, which we caught most when I convinced him to find someplace for a swim on a particularly hot day. I just happened to think quickly enough to make a net for catching these fish. We caught a ton of fish with half the work; the hardest part was getting them back to camp and preserving them as best we could. Things started looking even better when one day, on a routine gathering trip for wood and food, we came across a remarkably familiar face.

'At least he had the brains to make a wee-wee covering, unlike me...' I thought bitterly, recalling my first reunion with Senku. That man has seen more of me than I had ever wanted him to, but that's fine. It was a pretty desperate situation to begin with, so I'm just letting it go at that. "So, you finally woke up, you big oaf!" Senku said, standing in what I would call an anime protag pose, light shining from behind him like a divine blessing.

I snorted. Loud. He is so dramatic. Though Taiju is just as, considering he nearly tackled poor Senku off the tree in pure desperate joy, much like I had reacted. This time, I laughed, boisterous and emotionally charged by the day's events. "You both are such drama queens! I missed your antics, Taiju." I was nearly in tears from laughter.

"I didn't even notice you! How long have you two been awake?" He turned his attention to me fully, but Senku took back over with the explanation.

"Today is October 5, 5738. You really overslept, you big jerk. Sunspot and I have been up and working for over half a year now." There was a relief hidden in his gaze when he looked at Taiju, and I swear I could see tears threatening to spill, but they were gone just as fast when Taiju asked how he had known the date. "Huh? I counted, of course. How else would I know?" as if this was the most normal thing in the world for someone to do in an event like this.

Taiju was stunned, and rightfully so. "In the darkness? This whole time? For real?"

Senku pulled out that stupid smirk he had when his ego was inflating. "I knew that if I could, at some point, will myself to awaken...emerging in winter bare naked and without food would mean an instant game over." He turned back to look at him, stopping short of the bushes that led to our clearing. "Survival depended on making my start in spring. That's why keeping an accurate calendar was an absolute necessity."

He turned back and cut the topic short. "Look, we're here. Enough chatter. Time to get to work."

I think he still hasn't fully processed everything that's happened, because, despite dodging the topic after a basic explanation, I can still see that lingering pain in those eyes of his. '3700 years and those eyes still give him away like a neon sign. Not that he was using those too much during that bit, anyway.' I make a note to pull him aside later after he's done giving Taiju the grand tour of our little settlement. 

Remembering something, I rushed up into the hut ahead of Senku, grabbing some clothes I had made preemptively for him when I helped Senku move his statue into the miracle cave. I didn't want them to get gross in all that bat guano, so I figured I could give them to him here. I toss them down to Taiju, sitting and swinging my legs over the edge of the hut we made home. Looking down at him, I smile as Senku goes on something he's probably thought over a thousand times in his head to ensure it sounds the coolest it possibly could. I tuned in halfway through. "I've been waiting for you for a long time. Because I was ten billion percent sure you were still alive! A man determined to confess his love to Yuzuriha, who got interrupted halfway, wouldn't let a few measly millennia stand in his way. You're made of stronger stuff than that!" he was practically shouting at this point.

"Yeah..." Taiju started, looking up with steely determination laced with pure motivation. "Darn right!" Such a pure boy, my heart melts for him, almost.

"Thinking and brainpower are your guy's departments, so just leave the heavy lifting to me!" He then proceeded to carry the largest log on one shoulder over to the bitch ass fire pit and started working away with the fire starter.

"Bro, how the fuck did you carry that?" I deadpanned.

He was a real-life Herakles.

"Transitioning from the Stone Age to modern civilization took humanity about two million years." Senku gazed into the raging fire, his eyes lit up with a flaming determination that made my heart palpitate. I should ask him about that later, just in case.

"We're gonna jumpstart that process. All three of us, we're taking back this world. We'll also use the power of science to figure out what caused the petrification and our subsequent revival." He was trying to get us revved up, so I guess now it's time for the real fun to start.

I mean, we may as well have been sitting around eating bugs for these past six months with the progress we've made. "And then, we'll save Yuzuriha!" Taiju added.

Ah, to be young and in love. How precious.

"Get excited, guys. We are rebuilding civilization from scratch!" I couldn't help but beam at him.

After all, we had a roaring fire, good food, and good company. The only thing that could make this any better would be moonshine from back home, but there's no way any corn survived on this island nation, let alone any shine from back in our day. Despite that, things were looking up, and so quickly, too. To my surprise, Senku beamed right back. This is one of those rare moments where he embraces his humanity, shows me that he isn't just a computer under that skull like anyone would assume.

The darkness was consuming, but with the fire, it was less terrifying than it had been. Taiju headed off to bed, ever the early to bed and early to rise kind of guy, while Senku and I stayed out next to the fire, relishing in the turn of events from today and each other's company. "Are you okay, Senku?" I blurted.

"What do you mean, exactly?" he asked quietly.

"I mean, I saw that look in your eyes earlier when Taiju was asking about your time being petrified. There's something you're not processing, and I want to help if I can. If I can't, then I'm at least a shoulder to lean on and an ear to hear your thoughts and troubles. You can trust me, Senku. Forever and always, ten billion percent." I looked up to see him staring intently into the fire, obviously lost in thought as he petted my hair absentmindedly. Almost like muscle memory in a way, but he has always been a fidgeter when he's thinking. Especially about emotionally stressful things.

"I'm fine, Sunspot. I swear. There's just been no proper time for me to think about it, so I'm still a little touchy about it. Can't talk about what you're not too sure of yourself, really." His hand dropped to rest on my shoulder now, pulling me into him for a hug that I'm certain he'd deny to anyone else that it had happened. "Thanks for checking, doofus." I hummed in response and got comfortable.

Soon enough, I was curled up on Senkus' chest as we lay near the fire for warmth. It was easier if we stayed together, and I wouldn't lie that sleeping so close to him made me feel safer, even if I was stronger than him by ten billion percent, as he would say. And if he cared, he would have pushed me off already.

I let out a small sigh, and I felt the warmth and pressure of his hand on my back, exposed and chilly since that side is faced away from the fire more than the rest of me. He was creating gentle friction to warm me up, and I was grateful for that, as it lulled me to sleep with the rhythmic movements. I think he was doing equations on my back, truth be told. I couldn't decipher them, at least so that's what I assumed, anyway. "Goo'ight," I managed to yawn out before completely switching off for the rest of the night.

Senku

I woke up before her, and looking down at her peacefully sleeping was low-key calming, too. I felt her shift, and I almost tensed up, closing my eyes and pretending to be asleep in a panic.

Why was I pretending? Why was there panic? Maybe I'm going insane.

She stretched and punched my face a bit on accident (I hope), to which she decided to stare at me for a little too long for my liking. "I'd tell you to take a picture, but, well..." I gestured around us to the nature that replaced what used to be civilization, popping one eye open to look down at her.

She snorts, "Fair. So, how did you find me out here? And why did you stay?" Geez, right to the point as usual.

It's not like I can tell her 'Oh yeah, I followed you out here cause I know you were gonna get yourself lost, and I saw your entire meltdown, and I even saw you bathe. Oh, also, I then decided to sleep with you only after you had fallen asleep so I could avoid any questions because I don't think I'll have the answers for you.'

Yeah, no. "You're just too heavy for me to carry, lard ass. And I found you cause I thought I heard the sound of a dying alpaca and just couldn't believe that to be the case. Lo and behold, there you were, passed out under a tree root. You could've died. Not to mention you were wet and shivering, did you try to bathe out in this chill? You can't get sick when we have no way of healing you!" I managed to scold her while insulting her, but she paid no mind.

A look of satisfaction crawled onto her face, and she spoke. "I totally did not try to bathe out here, and I've totally got no clue what you're talking about!" Liar.

She sorted herself out, though I'm not sure why she cared since it was just us. I'm smart enough not to ask that, though. "I was thinking-what if we try to find a walnut tree or something similar? I want to make a miswak stick, which is pretty much just a primitive toothbrush. It's been used in many civilizations for dental care. Plus, my mouth tastes awful. Maybe we can find mint too, somehow." She did have a good point.

It prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems that can negatively impact your ability to eat, speak, and smile. Good oral hygiene also reduces the risk of serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. We can't have any of that happen, so I agree ten billion percent!

"I know what a miswak stick is, dummy. But that sounds like a good plan, I'll keep an eye out for something like that." I tried my best to keep pace with her, but she just kept wandering off in different directions.

Each time, I would go and get her, but she always had some sort of plant stuck somewhere. It's not a bad plan, though, so I'll let her keep doing what she wants. Even if she is using me as storage in a way. Since she decided to get distracted so much, it took us 4 hours and 28 minutes to get back, but we did have a good stockpile. I took the ones she had in my hair, only small fern species like Osmunda Japonica and Pteridium Aquilinum, and decided that since she found it, the least I could do would be cook it up. She's too focused anyway, I doubt she even remembers she needs to eat with how hard she's focusing. She's got to be starving, though. She always is.

I cooked them on a particularly flat rock in a fire I was able to start, salt to season them. She's going to want more – she loves salt. Maybe a little too much. So, along with the salt, I bring the food over and some clay bottles and shove them into her face. "Eat."

She startles, but a grin breaks out onto her face, and I swear my lungs stopped working for a split second.

She took the food with a happy "Oh, thanks!" and dropped literally everything to sit and eat together.

"Hey, Senk-" I held up the salt instinctively.

"You're literally the best, dude."

"I know." Pain in my chest.

I didn't say anything, trying to will away these thoughts and watch her sort out the plants she found. Damn hormones. Her hair glistened in the midday sun, still slightly messy from all her foraging on the way back. She had it up in a ponytail, long and draped over her shoulder as she knelt. She smiled and sat back in satisfaction. "Viola."

I let out a hum and took out the clay bottles with stoppers I grabbed earlier, which was my excuse for waiting for her this whole time, after all. Just the bottles. I took them into the hut before I let the blush I was fighting back win, no way in hell I'm letting her analyze that. I really need to figure out what's going on – which. I mean. I know what's going on, but why? Why me and why her and-

"SENKU!" I jumped.

"Geez, woman, are you trying to burst my eardrums?" I stuck my pinkie in my ear – a nervous habit -and meandered towards her, nonchalant as I could muster.

"Maybe. I dunno. Teach me science." What.

This is probably the one thing I never expected to hear from her. Eyes for one thing and one thing only, she simply stayed by my side while I did my thing, and she did hers.

"You sure?" sweaty palms.

Racing heart.

Snap. Out. Of. It.

"Ten billion percent sure, Senku." She was on her knees before me, acting like a beggar.

There goes that plan. I panicked and kicked her away.

"Sure, no problem. Get off the ground, though, dumbass, and get excited." She pretended to be shot, and I rolled my eyes and walked away, thankful she's as oblivious as she is.

After that, it felt like I had no time to myself, but I was glad for it. The distraction is just what I need after 3700 years of being alone. I've had enough of that for one lifetime. With her help, I felt like there was almost nothing we couldn't get around. We built, prepared, hunted, even made sure Taiju was under the nitric acid, and she had a set of clothes prepped for when he wakes up, if he does. I have high hopes, though. Nothing would stop that oaf from finishing what he started so many years ago. Not too long after, on the cusp of true fall, it finally happened.

Taiju was back.

Anyone else would have cried. Alas, I am not everyone else, but I won't deny the relief I felt when I saw him. Another step closer, another set of hands to move forward. "So, you finally woke up, you big oaf!" I said, looking down from my spot atop the tree roots, a smile on my face.

She snorted, for what reason I've not one millimeter of an idea, but I don't really have much time to dwell on it since a very naked Taiju practically jumped me. "DON'T YOU DARE HUG ME ALL NAKED LIKE THAT!! I'LL KILL YOU!" I was screaming in disgust, pushing him away with my foot as best as I could. Tears poured from his eyes, and he sobbed out, "You survived, Senku!! I'm... I'm so..." which was what I expected of him, but still.

"You both are such drama queens! I missed your antics, Taiju." We both stopped what we were doing, distracted for different reasons. Me, from the sound of her laugh, like music from someplace I've forgotten. Familiar and safe. Him, because he forgot she existed. She was my tagalong, and he didn't pay much attention to other women besides Yuzuriha. But he was still kind to her and considered her a friend.

"I didn't even notice you! How long have you two been awake?" He switched his attention to her and, despite my previous thought, a feeling of mine, and don't look at her flashed through my mind. I spoke up to grab his attention back onto me.

"Today is October 5, 5738. You really overslept, you big jerk. Sunspot and I have been up and working for over half a year now." I was still brimming with relief and joy that my friend was okay.

"How do you know the exact date?"

"Huh?"

"I counted, of course. How else would I know?" What else was I supposed to do?

"In the darkness? This whole time? For real?" Is he really shocked about this?

Might as well explain for the poor guy. "I knew that if I could, at some point, will myself to awaken...emerging in winter bare naked and without food would mean an instant game over. "I turned back just before going into the clearing for dramatic effect (you know, important stuff). "Survival depended on making my start in spring. That's why keeping an accurate calendar was an absolute necessity."

I'm done with this topic. I push open the bushes ahead of me, diverting the topic successfully. "Look, we're here. Enough chatter. Time to get to work."

I drag Taiju along around the camp, showing him everything we've put together over the past four months. As if remembering something, Sunspot runs up to the hut and throws down some clothes for Taiju. She sits below me, swinging her legs over the edge and listening with a smile on her face. I hate how perceptive she is, honestly. I ignore her painfully obvious presence beside me and open my mouth to speak, "I've been waiting for you for a long time. Because I was ten billion percent sure you were still alive! A man determined to confess his love to Yuzuriha, who got interrupted halfway, wouldn't let a few measly millennia stand in his way. You're made of stronger stuff than that!" I was getting way more worked up than usual.

This is the first time I can see more than just the basic survival we've been pulling off until now. We have a chance with his endless stamina tank.

"Yeah..." Taiju started, looking up with steely determination laced with pure motivation. "Darn right!" I knew he would agree with whatever I had planned.

Maybe having him here will stop these intrusive feelings, too.

"Thinking and brainpower are your guy's departments, so just leave the heavy lifting to me!" He then proceeded to carry the largest log on one shoulder over to the fire pit I've established and got to work.

"Bro, how the fuck did you carry that?" Honestly.

This guy is a monster when it comes to strength; it never ceases to amaze me.

"Transitioning from the Stone Age to modern civilization took humanity about two million years." I held my gaze steady on the fire that Taiju managed to get raging just minutes before.

"We're gonna jumpstart that process. All three of us, we're taking back this world. We'll also use the power of science to figure out what caused the petrification and our subsequent revival." I need them to get serious now that we have our third Musketeer, because we have so much to get done now.

"And then, we'll save Yuzuriha!" Taiju added.

"Get excited, guys. We are rebuilding civilization from scratch!" Her smile was like poison; I almost lost all logic right then and there.

The orange of the fire illuminating her skin, her hair down and around her body for what I assume is the warmth. She refused to cut it, though I'm not sure why. I think she wants it to be as long as she is tall or something. Impractical, if you ask me.

'But it'll be so breathtaking,' something evil whispered from the back of my mind.

I shook away the thought and beamed right back at her. Now's not the time to be getting all weird.

I sat beside her, closer to the warmth both she and the fire gave off. "Are you okay, Senku?" See? Way too perceptive.

"What do you mean, exactly?" I practically breathed that out, so I'm surprised she even heard it.

"I mean, I saw that look in your eyes earlier when Taiju was asking about your time being petrified. There's something you're not processing, and I want to help if I can. If I can't, then I'm at least a shoulder to lean on and an ear to hear your thoughts and troubles. You can trust me, Senku. Forever and always, ten billion percent." I know taking my eyes off the fire is a bad idea.

She's looking at me with those eyes, and they're so concerned, concerned for me of all people, and I just. I breathe in. "Calm down.'

"I'm fine, Sunspot. I swear. There's just been no proper time for me to think about it, so I'm still a little touchy about it. Can't talk about what you're not too sure of yourself, really." I dropped my hand from petting her hair to pull her into a hug, too embarrassed to do anything other than that. "Thanks for checking, doofus."

She seemed content with that answer as she snuggled up closer to me, her head on my chest and her legs tangled in mine. Her skin was so cold, we really needed to make her warmer clothes. I put my hand on her back and tried my best to warm her up without having to break away for a blanket. I eventually began writing out things on her back, which lulled her to sleep, I think. She yawned, and I think she said goodnight, but it was too difficult to tell.

I wish I were able to carry her so I could carry her to bed. Another night outside won't hurt me, though, especially since we have the fire to keep warm. It's so huge, I doubt it'll stop burning for hours. Besides, there were worse places I could be right now. I just hope Taiju doesn't say anything when he wakes up. Maybe we can beat him to the punch.

I yawn and stretch out the best I can, pulling her sleeping body closer for comfort. 'Why am I acting so irrationally? I swear I'm acting like Taiju-No'. No way is that happening. She's my lab assistant. 'But lab assistants don't sleep on their scientists.' There's that evil little voice again. I'm just doing what I need to ensure all of our survival. 'So, get her a blanket.' Shut up. Now I'm arguing with myself. Great. Just more proof that I'm going mad, and not in the cool mad scientist kinda way.

Even with all that, I hold her tighter after I feel a shiver run across her body to somehow fight the cold away. Finally, I'm able to get some shut-eye, even if Taiju wakes me up not too long after. He did go to bed pretty early, after all. "What do you want, ya big oaf," I grumble, trying to ignore how cold it is.

"What are you doing out here with her, Senku~ Do you have a girrrrrrlfriend?" he was teasing me.

And so early, too? Cheeky bastard. "No, you big oaf. But would you carry her up into the hut? I can't pick her up." Can't even come up with different excuses? That's what I said last time, too. Pathetic.

He did as asked, though, and I followed suit. "I'm going to get some actual shut-eye, Taiju. See ya in a little while." I closed the makeshift curtain and lay down next to her. I can't deny it anymore, I think. Eventually, others will question, and she will too. But the thought is banished as I snuggled down into the warmth of her body heat and the animal skin and pretended my heart wasn't going to explode from the immature rush I felt from holding her so close. 

Self Insert Senku fanfic

Idk what I'm doing. Haven't even thought of a name yet. Check it.

Edit: I thought of a name.

From the Ground, Up ↑ Senku x Self-Insert

*Nondescript Character – This is a Self-Insert fan-fiction. A nickname is used for the main character, and she has little physical description outside of clothes, height, and hair. Bits of fabricated background given to drive plot.

Introduction

I awoke to the blaring screech that was my awful, horrible, evil, not- good alarm, and the bustling sound of life in the outside world. Too much to wake up to in my opinion. But beggars can’t be choosers, I guess. At least it was nice out and I was awake on time for once. I stood from my bed, shutting my window and turning off my alarm, which I kept on the other side of the room for motivation to get out of the bed. I stretched, yawned, and went to start my morning routine of brushing my teeth, throwing my hair into a banana clip, and getting my uniform on as quick as possible because I’m usually (always) late. Breakfast isn’t a worry, but coffee is for sure so I always make a quick latte with instant espresso before I go on my way.

Making sure to double check I have everything I need, I rush out of the door that I have locked and triple checked. In fact, I rush out so quick I nearly ruin said coffee on the shirt of some poor passerby that I barely even bother to look at as I’m shouting an apology and rushing past. Until a familiar voice rang out and stopped me in my tracks, “Good morning to you too, Sunspot.”

His tone was leaning towards annoyed, but the amused smirk gave away his true thoughts on my, ah, hasty greeting. “Suppose I wasn’t as late as I thought…Sorry for nearly running you down, Senku..” I sheepishly laughed out.

I was greeted with an eye roll and a protein bar shoved in my hands. “Eat, we both know that latte is all you’ve got for breakfast.”

“Well, aren’t you just such a sweetie pot pie to bring me breakfast-and even greet me at my front gate! To what do I owe this honor, oh great and all-knowing Senku-sama.” I spoke, my Appalachian drawl coming out more near the end of my sentence, and I went into a deep bow.

I got but a snort in response and a shove- playful but also a reminder of our current mission (that is-not being late for school). I rolled my eyes and began eating the protein bar with a happy hum. Thank goodness it was chocolate peanut butter-this guy knew my tastes well and I was not complaining one bit. Ever since I came here, around 2.5 years ago, I somehow ended up determined to make the grumpy teen my closest friend – to get in where few can. Not quite sure why, but usually when I get this feeling they always end up being a very good friend, and for now it seemed intuition was on a winning streak so far. So I followed him. Studied him – all in the name of science, of course, specifically anthropology. That’s my specialty, if we are comparing me to Senku in an academic sense. He was an interesting subject to observe, and it was an added bonus I got a good friend out of it too. Never pays to be alone in a place you’re unfamiliar in, that’s what my dad always told me, and thankfully I made friends quicker than I could say my first greeting. All because of this strange boy I decided to ‘study’. After all, he was the most un-human human I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Anyway- back to the point. We were close. Besties, one might say *note: Senku WILL NOT say this. She is delusional..or is she? 0.o*

And now, here he is, nearly three years later, awaiting her with sustenance. Oh, how I would swoon if it were any other guy – because isn’t free food just the dreamiest, but unfortunately this one for sure has an ulterior motive behind the simple breakfast gift. I still took it, I just know what’s coming. Always be prepared for any situation. “So, my dear boy, what can sensei help you with today? This couldn’t just be because you missed my pretty face so much that you made up a reason to be here?” I teased with a grin, walking backwards on the street, oblivious to legit everyone around me.

The slightest twitch could be seen in his eye, and was that some red on the tops of those ears of his that I saw? “I need your help with a project – specifically relating to rebuilding society from scratch. Think you can spare that ditzy brain of yours?” he said this almost with an air of nervousness, but I’m not really sure why he’d be nervous. It’s just me, after all.

But something didn’t seem quite right-why is the smartest guy I know asking my opinion on something he could probably crank out in like thirty minutes before school or something? Maybe I should play along out of curiosity.. but first, I must take my toll for him trying to be tricksy with me. “My help? Surely you know the book basics and advanced topic better than even I do- why ask me for help?” I tried to sound genuinely confused, which I suppose wasn’t hard since I was, admittedly, confused to a degree.

Its not like it’s a hard topic, truthfully. A ten-year-old could do this project.

His face just got stormy, like he himself didn’t know the answer to that, and shrugged nonchalantly. “Okay, spill it. What’s your angle for this project.” Right into business mode, because you really couldn’t ignore a friend in need, even if it was some sneaky bullshit.

“I wanted your opinion since you take into account emotions and behaviors more than I would. Not only that, but you have such a great grasp on the super small things I may overlook somehow.” He said casually, but you caught something he was trying to hide.

Fidgeting. A nervous trait not seen coming from the cool and calculated Ishigami Senku, not ever in these past 2.5 years. Not only that, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes either. ‘What gives?’ I wondered. “Okay, okay, you know I’m a sucker for flattery. You’ve got me hooked. Do we have a starting scenario for why we are rebuilding everything? Details, man I need DETAILS!” I got a bit overexcited and may have shouted near the end of that, whoops.

Sorry to everyone’s ears, I guess. He grinned, that fire coming back and whatever random nervousness that had been there passed as quickly as it came. Maybe it was just some weird coincidence, whatever. Not my business. You know what my business is, however? This project that Senku got me all hyped about. That I won’t be able to stop thinking about until it’s done. That I was so wrapped up in that I had no idea we had arrived and I was following my good buddy into the science club, where he goes every morning. I only did find out when I ran smack into a sturdy frame, that being Senkus stronger-than-I-thought chest. I grabbed my slightly hurting nose to dull the pain from me walking full force into this poor man, and muttered out a distracted “Ah shit, sorry, I was in my head again.”

He simply chuckled and went back to his whatever machine. He’s probably told me what it does at some point, but I usually forget pretty easy. Only thing I got room for in this noggin is anthropology/history/archaeology related. And cooking recipes. Lots of them.

Yes, it’s true, I have a Senku-level obsessive passion. Anything historical is my heroin, and even fake scenarios that involve human culture and the possibility of using historical knowledge gets me drawn in. And drawn in I was, because I was getting as much as I could from him. “Location of origin I am assuming will be Japan, or is there a specific starting-er, restarting-location that I need to consider? How many people are left, how many men, women, children and elderly are there? How many sick and injured? Did this happen from something like a war or some sort of a freak event? What technological-ah!” I was cut off from my rambling by a super soft and warm and did I mention soft? hand over my mouth.

Senku shut me up! How rude! I puffed and crossed my arms. “You were getting ahead of yourself-one question at a time Sunspot. Take a breath.” Senku was gently chastising me-though he had a good point.

Senku was smart, not superhuman. He can’t take my verbal vomit and turn it into results sadly. However, no one silences my greatness. So, doing an experiment of my own, I licked his palm. Result? Palm removed from face hole. Success! I cackled (think wicked witch of the west) and ignored the slight glare I got from our buddy in green. I heard a mumble, unsanitary or whatnot, but I was already tuned out of our interaction. I was back in my head over this world rebuilding project-thoughts going faster than a greased pig in a senior prank-and I truthfully forgot this was even for Senku. At this point, the project was mine, and maybe Senku could spruce it up a little with his big brain when I was done. Maybe. Then, a thought hit me. “When is this due?” I turned to him, his small bit of fluster not going unnoticed by me.

“We have some uh…time. It’s not due for a while, I hope, so don’t worry about that. You know how I am with these things.” His tone was blunt, but once again I noticed the red tipping his ears, and he said ‘I hope”, did he forget or something? Maybe he’s getting sick? I get closer, climbing on a stool to become eye level with him, and then I use an old trick my ma taught me for fevers. I, before he can know what I’m doing, place my lips on his forehead, much to the shock of literally everyone. Including Senku. “Hmm..you don’t seem to have a fever..”

I was ignoring his now very red face to look into his eyes and throat, looking or any signs of illness. “What the hell are you doing?” he practically pushed me away and right off the stool, my ass hitting tile and my chin hitting the desk on the way down. 

“Ow you dirty son of a bitch-I was checking if you had a fever!!! Your ears keep turning red and I thought you might be coming down with something. I’ll not check on your health again, that’s for sure.” I was holding my chin from the throbbing pain, I’m pretty sure I bit a slight hole in my cheek, too.

Then I tasted blood. Well, shit. I stood, dusted myself off, and spit into the nearest lab sink. That’s a lot more blood than it should be. Gross. I quickly rinse it down the drain and turn to my now admittedly less red lab buddy. “You made me bleed dumbass.” I grumbled through the lots of slobber and blood pooling in my mouth.

Shouldn’t this have kinda stopped? The blood seems to be getting worse and its becoming really hard to talk, which is basically all that I do. I try to think of what I can do, but there already a hand outstretched with a small piece of clean cloth. “Put it on the wound, and apply steady pressure for the next fifteen minutes. That should stop the bleeding.” Damn, not even a sorry?

Still, he was kind enough to help and I would not refuse. I slur out a thank you and very gracefully (ha) hold the cloth to the wound in my face. Yeouch. “You’re lucky I grew up the way I did or I’d probably be in tears right now.” I grumbled.

“Just make sure to rinse with saltwater- or a one-to-one ratio of hydrogen peroxide multiple times a day, especially after meals. Just don’t swallow em’.” He then started explaining everything I had asked before I had fallen.

Totally not pushed.

Anyway.

How the hell did he remember that? Maybe he is superhuman. “Anyway,” he started “Origin location? Yeah, I’m assuming Japan, obviously. Probably somewhere in the Kanto Region would be ideal, but you can go about that part as you please. Population wise, maybe around 120, but I’m not sure how they would have survived. Remember those birds I had been studying? Well, I-!” He was cut off by a loud Bang as the door to the classroom we were in slammed against the wall. In came Taiju, loud and boisterous as always.

“LISTEN UP, SENKUUU!” I nearly fell again from the surprise! “Theres no stopping me! It's gotta be today! After five long years of having feelings for Yuzuriha, I’m finally gonna confess my love!!” Everyone tensely looked over to us, or rather him, as he (very dramatically, might I add. Bro is the biggest drama queen I know) turned around from the machine he had in front of him-wait. Machine? The hell did that come from? Has it been here the whole time? Am I that oblivious? He then responded. “Interesting…Very interesting.” And with a deadpan look and a flat voice, “I’ll be cheering for you so hard from here in the science lab that my vocal cords will snap.”

I snorted. Like hell he would. Taiju didn’t get the memo, though. “Oh yeah? Thanks, Senku!” he was so happy, honestly it was adorable. Like seeing a kid look at their first Christmas tree. Senku liked to ruin these moments, though.

“Silence. I won’t cheer even one millimeter for you, you big oaf.” That was harsh.

“Wait, so which is it?!” Taiju bellowed.

“A fool who takes five whole years to say anything is the epitome of absurdity. So, allow me to provide you with a method so rational it’ll kill you.” He turned around from his doohickey holding a beaker, filled with a semi clear liquid.

“This will send your pheromone production into overdrive. Basically, it’s a love potion. Your success is ten billion percent assured if you drink this!” he said this, mind you, with the most evil scientist madman look I’ve ever seen.

“No fuckin’ way..” I was in awe. Love potions with science? Sneaky but intriguing. Senku ignored you, his gaze locked on Taiju who was staring intently at the beaker.

Then, he dumped it into the same sink I had spit in. Bad day for that sink, huh? With the look of an anime protag, he spoke. “Thanks, Senku, But…No thanks! I can’t go and cheat my way into her heart.” And just like that, he left, determined as ever.

“Was that really a love potion, Senku?” One fo the nerdy, blushing boys asked.

He gave them a look like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Of course not. Its just ordinary gasoline,” he used a lighter and the sink burst into flames. “I produced it from plastic bottlecaps.”

‘Really bad day for the sink.’ I thought with a slight snort. “Just think about the atomic structure of polyethylene, you fools! It’s merely long gasoline molecules chopped up by a few hydrocarbons. Simple enough to understand.” He had that look on his face he got when explaining something to me. ‘ The idiot stare..’

Then it dawned on me. “Wait, what if he drank that? You’re so mean to the poor guy.” I pouted at him.

He chuckled. “I was ten billion percent sure he wouldn’t drink it. He’s an honest fool.” His eyes revealed the fondness he held for the young man, they always betray him.

He pulled out two energy drinks, handing one over to me. “Well aren’t you full of surprises today!” I chirped, taking it gratefully and with a smile.

Our attention was then pulled to the chattering students at the window, all of whom were staring at a very nervous Taiju and obliviously sweet Yuzuriha. “I bet you 100 yen that he’ll get totally rejected.” Said one boy.

“Five hundred says she’ll reject him.” Said another.

“Put me down for a hundred!”

But Senku broke the cruelty like it was a stick of pocky. “Ten thousand yen says she’ll accept him contrary to expectations.” A small smile was on his face as he watched them.  

“Aw, aren’t you a big softie~” I giggled, but a look of shock from Senku made me stop in my tracks.

Next thing I knew, I was pulled close into Senku (huh?), his grip almost frantic and borderline possessive, and darkness. ‘Well, not much else I can do I guess. Freak out never, plan always. Might as well work on what Senku asked me to, we may need it after all.’

Senku

It’s 7:43 a.m.

I’m standing outside of her apartment, as I had been for ten minutes now, a protein bar in one hand and a slight grimace on my face from the sun in my eyes. The morning was hotter than I was hoping, but at least she doesn’t seem to be running late today. My hypothesis was proved when a very familiar over-caffeinated hurricane of a girl came rushing out her front door and right into me, nearly spilling her latte on my very clean white shirt. She didn’t even glance at me as she apologized and kept going. ‘Still unprepared and on autopilot I see.’ I chuckled. “Good morning to you too, Sunspot.” I shouted, an amused smirk tugging at the corners of my lips.

She skidded to a stop and turned to smile sheepishly at me. ‘Of course she would try to play it off.’ I thought with a snort.  “Suppose I wasn’t as late as I thought. Sorry for nearly running you down, Senku..” her voice, a slight twang of what I want to say is embarrassment ever so present.

She laughs again. Nervous habit of hers. I roll my eyes and hand her the protein bar. “Eat, we both know that latte is all you’ve got for breakfast.” She takes it with a grin like I had just gifted her a massive feast.

“Well, aren’t you just such a sweetie pot pie to bring me breakfast-and even greet me at my front gate! To what do I owe this honor, oh great and all-knowing Senku-Sama.”

There it is. That drawl. That ridiculous way of speaking she slips into when she’s teasing or flustered. I give her a light shove to keep her moving. We’re going to be late. Again. Not that I care about any of our classes, but punctuality matters.

She hums as she eats the bar – chocolate peanut butter, her favorite, not that I’d ever admit to remembering that on purpose. How I can recall her snack preferences but she can’t even remember her class schedule is beyond me.

 It’s been 2.5 years since she moved here. She’s an Anthropology nerd, talks a mile a minute about Neolithic kinship systems and symbolic behavior. She decided I was worth ‘studying’ for her own weird reasons, but it never really bothered me. Honestly, she’s... tolerable. Smart, if chaotic, and kind of interesting from a scientific standpoint. Annoying, but…the kind you don’t mind sticking around. She’s one of my closest friends at this point, honestly, but I’d rather be caught dead than admit that out loud.

“So, my dear boy, what can sensei help you with today? This couldn’t just be because you missed my pretty face so much that you made up a reason to be here?”

I twitch. Just slightly. Definitely not blushing.

“I need your help with a project – specifically relating to rebuilding society from scratch. Think you can spare that ditzy brain of yours?” I wanted her perspective on what would happen if we turned out like those birds I keep finding everywhere. Not entirely sure why I lied about the origin of my question, it’s not like me to panic even slightly.

But, ever the perceptive girl, she squints at me. She’s suspicious. Of course she is. She knows me too well.

“My help? Surely you know the book basics and advanced topic better than even I do-why ask me for help?”

I shrug, but I can feel the weight of her gaze. Damn it. She’s studying me now, not even hiding it. I felt it then-fidgeting. Something I hadn’t done since middle school chemistry club. “I wanted your opinion since you take into account emotions and behaviors more than I would. Not only that, but you have such a great grasp on the super small things I may overlook somehow.” I wanted to be casual, but for some reason I felt my ear heating up.

And just like that, she was hooked. I knew that would work, flattery always gets her. As if she had read my mind, “Okay, okay, you know I’m a sucker for flattery. You’ve got me hooked. Do we have a starting scenario for why we are rebuilding everything? Details, man I need DETAILS!” Her shouting scared away a nearby flock of birds, but she kept her focus on me.

Even if I had just been flattering her to say yes, it’s still true. She sees things that I ignore. People stuff. The glue of society. I need that if I want to build a blueprint that’s more than just technology and dreams.

And now, she’s practically bouncing with excitement. I grinned despite myself, relief washing over me. Nervousness? Gone. She didn’t suspect a thing. Before I knew it we were already at the science club. She didn’t even realize until she walked face-first into my body. Literally. “Aw, shit. Sorry, I was in my head again.” She rubbed her nose while I stifled a laugh.

She was already talking again, rattling off questions faster than most people could breathe. “Location of origin I am assuming will be Japan, or is there a specific starting - er, restarting - location that I need to consider? How many people are left; how many men, women, children and elderly are there? How many sick and injured? Did this happen from something like a war or some sort of a freak event? What technological - ah!”  I clapped a hand over her mouth.

“Breathe. One question at a time, Sunspot.”

She puffed up like a cat in the rain. Then – God help me – licked my hand.

Disgusting.

Effective.

I snatched it back with a scowl. “Unsanitary.” I muttered. She cackled like a cartoon villain and danced back into her brain again, already chewing on the hypothetical world we’d build. I barely had to explain anything. She was already too deep into it.

Then, she paused. “When is this due?”

Uh-oh.

“We have some… time,” I said flatly. “It’s not due for a while, I hope. Do don’t worry about that. You know how I am with these things.”

Why was I so nervous? I feel like an idiot. She squinted at me. Climbed onto a stool. Her face was close – too close – and before I could ask what she thought she was doing she leaned in and…

Kissed my forehead? What?

I pushed her back instinctively, harder than I meant to. She fell to the floor with a thud and cracked her chin on the table next to us. “Shit!” she hissed. “Ow you dirty son of a bitch-I was checking if you had a fever!!! Your ears keep turning red and I thought you might be coming down with something. I’ll not check on your health again, that’s for sure.”  She was clutching her chin in what I can only assume was pain. Then, I noticed something.

Blood.

Great, now I’ve injured the Anthropologist. Not gonna hear the end of this one. “Just make sure to rinse with saltwater- or a one-to-one ratio of hydrogen peroxide multiple times a day, especially after meals. Just don’t swallow em’.” I mumbled.

She then stood, dusted off, and spit into the nearest lab sink. That’s a lot more blood than I was expecting, and now I feel even worse. She turns to me and says “You made me bleed dumbass.” Slurring through the blood and spit.

I handed her a cloth, biting back my own guilt. “Put it on the wound and apply steady pressure for the next fifteen minutes. That should stop the bleeding.” She grumbled but took the cloth and my advice, easing my worry just a bit.

“Anyway,” I started “Origin location? Yeah, I’m assuming Japan, obviously. Probably somewhere in the Kanto Region would be ideal, but you can go about that part as you please. Population wise, maybe around 120, but I’m not sure how they would have survived. Remember those birds I had been studying? Well, I-!” I was rudely cut off by a loud Bang at the door- Taiju standing proud and very nervous.

“LISTEN UP, SENKUUU!” Beside of me, a certain girl nearly fell for the second time today.

 “Theres no stopping me! It's gotta be today! After five long years of having feelings for Yuzuriha, I’m finally gonna confess my love!!”

I turned to face him, taking my attention off the machine I had been patiently tinkering with before he bounded in. “Interesting…Very interesting.” Deadpan.

“I’ll be cheering for you so hard from here in the science lab that my vocal cords will snap.” I said without blinking.

I sheard a subtle snort beside of me.

Taiju wasn’t as good at catching on like she was. “Oh yeah? Thanks, Senku!” he was like a kid in a candy store.

“Silence. I won’t cheer even one millimeter for you, you big oaf.” I rescinded my support as fast as I had given it.

“Wait, so which is it?!” Taiju cried in confusion.

“A fool who takes five whole years to say anything is the epitome of absurdity. So, allow me to provide you with a method so rational it’ll kill you.” I turned towards him more, holding a beaker filled with gasoline and my best evil grin.

“This will send your pheromone production into overdrive. Basically, it’s a love potion. Your success is ten billion percent assured if you drink this!”

“No fuckin’ way..” she whispered next to me. ‘Gullible.’ I had to hold back a chuckle myself. Instead, I kept a steady and unflinching gaze on Taiju.

Then, he dumped it into the same sink she had spit in earlier. With a look of utter determination, he spoke. “Thanks, Senku, But…No thanks! I can’t go and cheat my way into her heart.” And just like that, he left, kicking up dust in his wake.  

“Was that really a love potion, Senku?” One of the other guys in science club asked with obvious nefarious intentions written all over his stupid little face.  

“Of course not. It’s just ordinary gasoline,” I used a lighter and the sink burst into flames. “I produced it from plastic bottlecaps.”

“Just think about the atomic structure of polyethylene, you fools! It’s merely long gasoline molecules chopped up by a few hydrocarbons. Simple enough to understand.” I snorted and gazed at everyone with a look of superiority – I knew they wouldn’t understand that.

“Wait, what if he drank that? You’re so mean to the poor guy.” Sunspot pouted next to me, disappointment obvious in her eyes.  

I chuckled. “I was ten billion percent sure he wouldn’t drink it. He’s an honest fool.” I then pulled out two energy drinks, handing one over to my lab partner.

“Well aren’t you full of surprises today!” she practically sang to me in response, taking the drink happily.

Our attention was then drawn to the chattering students at the window, all of whom were staring at a very nervous Taiju and Yuzuriha. “I bet you 100 yen that he’ll get totally rejected.” Said one boy.

“Five hundred says she’ll reject him.” Said another.

“Put me down for a hundred!”

“Ten thousand yen says she’ll accept him contrary to expectations.” I hated their doubting him, even if he was loud and stupid sometimes. Those two were ten billion percent in love with each other.

“Aw, aren’t you a big softie~” she giggled from beside of me, but I couldn’t even register it before I grabbed her and pulled her close to me in an instinctive act as an eerie green light descended over everyone as far as I could see.

Until I couldn’t. It was dark. And all I had were my thoughts to keep me company. So, I started counting.

[neverendingford]

um not like to freak you out or anything at this hour of the night but i think about things a lot and im a bit high so im sorry if its alittle incoherent

"how much is false and how much is just animal instinct" i think all of its "animal instinct" at its core, and i guess the truthiness of it depends on what you classify as true or false.

i think morality is just a social construct to help groups cooperate and survive, same with the tendency to assimilate and fall into categories. and really there's nothing inherently wrong with constructs, theyre just our animal instincts. it's okay to fall into them i think. they are quite handy and like you said you can make your own. i think the emphasis should be more on being aware of them than breaking free of them. you're only human, i think. scritching your chin

and with entropy and meaning and all that. i think its so easy to get lost in the big picture. we don't last long in the grand scheme of things and we dont really have an inbuilt purpose besides existing. you can make your own purpose(s) if you want. but like just on its own you exist and thats pretty cool. you're the only one that will get to live your life. you will get to experience emotions and get a peak into the wide breadth of things that exist. i think all that's pretty awesome and reason enough to be alive. it's really grounding (for me at least) to just remember how cool and rare it is for me to exist and get to experience so many things.

Shit.. yeah you're right it's all animal instinct huh. outside of conspiracy shit like aliens and divine revelation, everything we're working with is stuff we've developed ourselves (and like.. our interactions with other animals on the planet). it's a very "Hypocrite that you are, for you trust the chemicals in your brain to tell you they are chemicals." situation. all that we are is derived from our existence.

guess I was too baked into the false dichotomy of mind/body, where really it's all just body and extrapolations from it.

I think that's actually a pretty relaxing thought though. it absolves any existential duty to some sort of "higher cause" and simply lets me exist in a neutral state.

yeahh, it's so easy to lose myself in the big picture. like when people see pictures of space and get scared because they're so small in comparison. the urge to find an answer to all my questions right now. it's both comforting and frustrating to know that people have been doing this for as long as we can remember. digging deeper and deeper hoping to find hell. building higher and higher hoping to find heaven. and all that's left is the things we've built. monuments to nothing else but our own efforts to make sense of things.

data is neutral until it gets interpreted, right? knowing that I'm small in comparison to other things isn't anything until I feel something about it. whether I feel scared and hopeless in the face of the enormity, or if I feel excited because of the chance I get to live whatever short tiny life I have. it's all still a framework I've constructed around the information. it's all input -> processing -> output. and that's infuriating because recognizing that you're interpreting data skews that interpretation. that thing where quantum particles are disturbed by the very act of observation. being self aware enough to be resistant to common therapy approaches. recognizing the mechanism fucks with the mechanism.

[camellcat]

"cordelia could you please drive me home?" "of course" OF COURSE she replies to buffy, softly, without hesitation. even if she goes right back to harping on about the world ending, of course she'll help buffy. head in my fucking hands

[bonehilda-deactivated]

One of the best things about Disco Elysium by far is that it does not fear ugly women. The world is full of ugly men, but ugly women are so hard to come by.

[sage-nebula]

What's funny is that Friede isn't even haunting the narrative, because the narrative never fucking mentions him.

[pcktknife]

s13 is definitely a season for skins

[sysig]

Second floor done! (First Floor)

[bluejayblueskies]

keeping this vague for now as the christmas special is still a patreon exclusive, but putting a tasteless caricature of fans who "hate Arthur and love John" and are "heading home to complain on the internet" into a supposedly lighthearted episode and slapping a laugh track behind it is not the inside joke "i'm laughing WITH you not AT you" that HG thinks it is

[elytrafemme]

i have [remembers the thousands of discourses i have lived in my time on this platform] complicated feelings about men rn