#playin' 4 the city

[powderblueblood]

NO SLEEP TILL - a runaway eddie au

summary sticking around town after the queen of hawkins high dies in your trailer is a fool's game. anyone could tell you that. but eddie munson's making a point of it; shaving off the excess. a canon divergent season 4 runaway eddie au with elements from flight of icarus. word count 1.1k warnings none, only that this is mostly an experiment.

Can you shut up and tell the story already?

It starts with a shedding. 

A snip, snip, snip and all recognition falling away under the dinge of a green-lit gas station bathroom. The acrid smell of piss burns through the stall, the kind that’s baked in and gets curdled by the heat. No bleach can cut through it. The ghosts of more’n three shakes and you’re playin’ with yourself rise when it gets above a certain temperature.

And it’s hot. Uncharacteristically so, for spring break. 

Snip. The last curling rat tail falls to the floor and he releases his breath. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding it. 

Looking at himself, shorn, his eyes water. Not from the smell. 

He cranes his neck to the left, to the right. Tufts of hair stick up from his skull like he’s just shoved a fork into a socket. 

He wishes he’d thought of that instead. But.

A sound chokes up the column of his throat as he grips the sink’s edge, ringed fingers slipping on grime. He allows himself to the count of ten. 

‘To the count of ten, and then we dust ourselves off and get back at ‘em!’ His mother’s voice. Embedded in the recesses of his brain, this high rasp he’s never stopped harkening back to. It’s almost fourteen years since he’s last heard it. ‘There’s always a good reason to keep going.’

True. There’s always a reason to keep going; it doesn’t even have to be good.

He doesn’t have time to get all vitriolic about what’s been snatched from him. Not yet, anyhow. 

He’s still all hot with panic, even though it’s been hours since he left the trailer park. Gained a little clarity since then. 

Not much, but enough to shoplift a pair of scissors.

He tosses the hair in the sink into the maw of the shitcaked cistern and tears open a pack of disposable razors with his teeth. 

—

The red line he draws on the map squiggles up and shoulders out. A straight shot from where he sits across the state of Pennsylvania to New York City, a bullet out the nose of a rifle. He intends to make it there just as fast. 

He couldn't sleep if he wanted to. 

Every time his eyes fall shut, it’s a clear vision of her. Suspended in midair, sneakers hovering above the stained rug of the trailer. The lights flipping out, making him wonder if he wasn’t tripping out. The snap of her jaw to a crude angle, one that it can’t come back from. 

He wasn’t tripping out. He knows what he saw. Her skull impacted on itself. The sound of her tongue squelching as she choked on it. 

Like something was inside her. Tearing her apart.

He knows what he saw.

Doesn’t he?

Eddie groans as his stomach lurches. His hands tighten on the wheel. He can’t afford to spit up any more bile, not tonight. 

No time. No sleep. 

A crumpled envelope sits on the dashboard of the van. 

A letter he never responded to, because it’s easier to forget people when they’re not right there, bumming rides from you. 

A return address in Brooklyn. 

—

The moment the phone rings, she knows something is wrong. It gets yanked up in her gut, some feeling she’s tried to stamp down because she’s a grown up now and she can’t be caught mourning sandbox shit. 

The competitive pace of her life doesn’t allow for it. She doesn’t have room in her schedule for homesickness like that. Can’t cram it in between classes and looking for an internship at a law firm that can overlook her humble beginnings. 

This marks the second year she’s been away from home for spring break. It was harder to fill the gap the first time around, and to talk her grandmother down, but she made good use of being a country mouse in the big city. Found some bars and libraries and bookstores she’s kept as favorites. 

Tried not to think about how she was so bummed out that she was forced to enjoy them alone. And failed. 

She wrote a letter, a long one, in a dinky dyke bar on St Mark’s Place which was all strung up with Christmas lights. She’d obviously flinched when she heard it called a ‘dyke bar’--so open and proud like that. It wasn’t like when people flung the d-word around where she was from. It wasn’t derogatory; just a descriptor. Toothless, in the mouth of a chick with a shorn head that had told her so. Almost friendly. She told her that her name was Tina, too. 

“I knew a Tina,” she’d nervously said, plucking at the label of her beer bottle, “She was captain of the cheerleading squad. At my high school.”

Tina sniffed a laugh. “You’re a long way from home, ain’t ya?”

About a ten hour drive. 

She got an impulse to write after two Mai Tais and another beer and a half. Dug a copy of The Dark Tower out of her backpack and started tearing out the flyleaves.

Tina let her borrow a pen and she scrawled and scrawled away in that half-light, letter becoming more illegible the drunker she got. 

She remembered that she’d written this, in closing–

‘In closing, I think you’re a fucking piece of shit stubborn asshole. A naive moron who’d step on his own uncle’s neck for an opportunity that looked shiny enough. Fuck you, and fuck California, and I can’t believe you’d fucking do this to me after everything and not even call or anything. I think you’re just like your dad. 

If you ever need a place to stay, you can’t come here.

But if you show up, there’s nothing I can do about it, I guess.’

Weeks later, gripping onto a pole on a crowded subway train, she got a chill down the spine that she was sure meant the letter had made it to Indiana. 

He never wrote back. Probably for the better. 

The same chill pulls in her gut when the phone trills at 6:30 in the morning. The phantom umbilical cord. 

She’s up, because she’s become all regimented now. Riding on a scholarship will do that to you. 

She picks up the slippery seashell pink handset so as not to wake her roommates, because they hate her enough already. 

Though, she really nearly doesn’t. Because she’s scared.

Silence on the line.

“What happened?”

“Ronnie…”

“Wayne? What happened?”

“He’s gone.”

Her whole throat constricts, her body fighting against whatever those words mean. Thoughts start running at hyperspeed– absolutely not, there’s no way, no possible way, I would know. I would know. It’s not that. 

“Whaddayou mean, gone?”

“Can’t find him anywhere.” The beat Wayne leaves makes her realize there’s cold sweat icing her brow. “But I found something else. Something bad.”

Not gone as in dead. Gone as in missing.

—

REBLOGS AND COMMENTS KEEP THE FIC ALIVE. lmk if you enjoyed this because i may continue to write it extremely non-linearly! as an exercise in examining friendships, paranoia and hanging out with eddie and ronnie.

[tobybestupid]

omg omg i love your writing so much! can you do a Steven Adler request where the band is filming the Paradise City video and Steven is just being so sweet to your kid whome you had in another relationship, and he just watches her and lets her sit in his lap while he plays?

Ah!! This is so cute, and TYSM!! Of course I can!! And sorry this came out a little late!!

Paradise City

Steven Adler x Reader

(so sorry I haven't been posting much, I'm trying it's just some personal family stuff!)

Tw: none, pure fluff!!

Your daughter, Tilly. Was kicking her feet as she sat on the stool, watching the band practice, well getting ready to.

"I'll be right back Tills, I'm gonna get us some drinks. Want a pop?" You'd ask her, making her nod.

"Pespi" Tilly simply said, and you nodded as you walked off, trusting your boyfriend and his band mates to keep an eye on her.

Tilly then waddled up to Steven when you left, "Mr. Popcorrrrnnn" Tilly mumbled, tugging at the hem of his shirt.

"Mhmmm? What's up Tilly?" Steven asked as he looked down at her, waiting for an answer out of the 4 year old.

"Wha you playin'?" She simply asked, kinda tapping at the drums curiously.

"Drums—"

"Nooo! Song?" She cut him off, it made him chuckle softly.

"We're making a new song, it's called Paradise City." He smiled gently at her,

"Yeah and my part is super cooooool!" Slash exaggerated to make Tilly laugh.

"Is you part supa' cool?" Tilly asked Steven, tilting her head softly to the side.

"I mean it makes the song, well a song. I think it's cool" Steven shrugged, watching Tilly try to climb into his lap, making him pick her up and place her onto his lap.

"Be careful, can't have you fallin'" Steven said.

"Alright- let's try this out huh?" Axl said, looking over at the other four.

Everyone agreed as Tilly looked at Steven. "I wanna try!" She smiled brightly.

"Maybe later tills" Steven said, rubbing her back as he put her on the middle of his lap. "Sit there so you'll be nice and safe, so ya' won't fall" He smiled softly.

You came back into the room while they were playing, smiling softly as you looked at your daughter, smiling brightly as Steven played.

✓==========================✓

Sorry I haven't posted in a little bit!!

[gotham-ruaidh]

Little Bit Better Than I Used To Be

Catch up: Chapter 1 (Starry Eyes) || Chapter 2 (Save Our Souls) || Chapter 3 (Dancing On Glass)|| Chapter 4 (Merry-Go-Round)|| Backstage (1) || Backstage (2) || Chapter 5 (Danger)|| Backstage (3) || Chapter 6A (Love Walked In) || Chapter 6B (Without You) || Backstage (4) || Chapter 7 (Stick To Your Guns) || Chapter 8 (Time For Change) || Backstage (5) || Chapter 9 (Take Me To The Top) || Backstage (6) || Chapter 10 (Home Sweet Home) || Backstage (7) || Chapter 11a (Nightrain) || Chapter 11b (Nothing Else Matters) || Chapter 12a (Handle With Care) || Chapter 12b (I’m So Tired of Being Lonely) || Chapter 13a (Angel) || Chapter 13b (She’s My Addiction) || Chapter 13c (Patience) || Chapter 14a (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 14b (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 14c (Where Do We Go Now?) || Chapter 15a (Dreams) || Chapter 15b (I Sing A Song of Love) || Chapter 15c (You Can Do This If You Try) || Chapter 16 (Let That Feeling Grab You Deep Inside || Chapter 17A: Never Tear Us Apart || Chapter 17B: It’s Tough To Be Somebody, And It’s Hard Not To Fall Apart  || Chapter 17C: I'm Wishing, Lord, That I Was Stoned ||| Also posted at AO3

Chapter 18: Turn The Page

New York City || September 1988

So you walk into this restaurant All strung out from the road And you feel the eyes upon you As you're shakin' off the cold You pretend it doesn't bother you But you just want to explode

-- “Turn The Page,” Bob Seger (1971) [click here to listen]

Claire Fraser took a long drink from the glass of water beside the bathroom sink. Closed her eyes. Counted five deep breaths.

Bob Seger’s voice flowed through the tiny portable radio that she and Jamie took everywhere on the road.

Here I am, on the road again There I am, up on the stage There I go playin' the star again There I go, turn the page

She opened her eyes. Listened to the man sing so passionately, so desperately, about his exhaustion and heartbreak from living in the spotlight. Touring relentlessly. Feeling displaced in his own life.

“Claire?”

Jamie poked his head around the door, humming along with the song.

Not for the first time, Claire was grateful that the tour had wildly exceeded all expectations – the private plane instead of tour buses; limos to and from the gig; and hotel suites that were so large they typically had two bathrooms.

Not that they minded sharing, of course – but living on top of each other could be hard sometimes. On nights like these, she needed her own space.

And now, Jamie met her eyes in the mirror.

Enjoyed his surprise.

“What…you…”

She turned to face him. Took a moment to admire him in all black – the dress shirt that she had ironed for him this morning, black jeans, black belt with silver studs, boots. The leather jacket whose inside pocket she tucked a love note into every morning.

She raised her arms. “What do you think?”

The red dress wasn’t something she had intended to buy, that afternoon in Miami when the band needed a few hours with Colum to discuss the European leg of next year’s tour (“the leg owed to the fans, after the shit Jamie pulled last year before he got clean,” he had reminded them). She had kindly suggested to Charlotte and Molly – Angus’ groupie girlfriends – that rather than spend another afternoon inside, they explore the shopping mall attached to the hotel. Jamie had insisted that one of the roadies go with them, to deal with any photographers or aggressive fans – but Claire had only smiled and said that it would be fine.

She had been correct, of course. It was such a breath of fresh air to walk up and down the long corridors, eat Cuban sandwiches in the food court, browse the selections in the department stores and specialty boutiques. Anonymous. To interact with sales clerks not as the wife/girlfriend of the biggest rock musicians in the world – but simply as three women having a nice afternoon out together.

And, truth be told, it was good to get some time with Charlotte and Molly. They asked – respectfully – about her relationship with Jamie, and she in turn asked – respectfully – about their relationship with Angus. Watched them tear up when Charlotte started talking about the uncertainty before them when the tour ended, and when Molly wondered whether they would ever be enough.

Not quite knowing what to say, Claire absently pulled through a clearance rack – and then…

“Ohmygod Claire!” Molly exclaimed. “You have to try that one on!”

Startled, Claire focused on the sleeveless, ankle-length red dress.

“Jamie will freak when he sees that on you!” Charlotte smiled, shifting an armful of lingerie to look closer.

Claire pursed her lips. Thinking.

“Come on, Claire! You need to look like the rockstar wife you are.” Molly grabbed the dress. “Let’s go try it on. Come on!”

Initially she had only wanted to placate Molly. But when she saw herself in the dressing room mirror, she immediately knew how Jamie would react.

Three weeks later, she was correct.

She swirled slightly, enjoying the feel of the fabric swishing around her calves. The bite of cold air on her bare chest and belly. And the incredulous look on Jamie’s face, eyes dark.

“It’s very…red,” he stammered. “Are you wearing a bra?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s our first event as a couple. And as husband and wife. We need to make a splash.”

He swallowed. Stepped closer to take her elbows, thumbs stroking the soft skin.

“I suppose. Every man will have his eyes on you tonight.”

She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll only feel yours.”

His eyes darkened. “I like knowing, that at any time tonight, I can just do this…” One hand trailed across the fabric of the dress, over her breast, until it reached the strip of exposed skin spanning her neck to her navel. “And then this…” His thumb edged under the flap, teasing the underside of her breast, in the way he knew would drive her absolutely crazy.

Her lips parted. His eyes locked on hers – taking in the red tones sweeping her eyes and cheeks, and her scarlet lipstick, and the silver hoops hanging in her ears.

“Can we just stay here tonight?” he asked softly, not exactly joking.

She shook her head. “Jamie, Lou fucking Reed came to the show at Madison Square Garden last night and not only insisted on meeting you and complimenting your music, he invited us to his party tonight. He’s had his own addiction issues, he’s not a dummy. And we’ve talked about this, we can’t avoid parties forever. It will be good for all those people to see you.”

He removed his thumb from her breast, and bridged the gap between them to lean his forehead against hers. Without words, their hands found each other, twining and grasping.

As was their habit now, he pressed their thumbs together. The C she had tattooed at the base of his thumb, mingling with the J he had tattooed at the base of her thumb.

“It’s going to be so hard, Claire. Not that I don’t want to see people, or show you off, or help you get to know them.” He swallowed. “I’ve been to these kinds of parties before. Huge open bar. Waitresses in low cut dresses handing around trays of drugs like it was a tray of snacks. People doing lines on the tables. People…fucking in the bathroom.”

She swallowed. “I’ll stay with you the whole time. You can be my excuse to stop talking to someone if it gets too awkward. Or to say no, if something like that is offered to you. You know I don’t care, right?”

He nodded. Hands shaking.

“Do you want to call Raymond?”

He shook his head. “Not right now. Tomorrow, definitely. Let me see how I get through this. Maybe we agree on a few points for tonight?”

“Anything. I love you.”

He smiled. “OK. I’ve got gum in my pocket – that will keep us from getting too thirsty. And if we need something to drink, we’ll ask for club soda, and we’ll watch the drink poured in front of us. I don’t care if it’s awkward. I can’t trust.”

She released one hand from his grip, and slid it into the back pocket of his jeans. “Got it. And you know it’s easier if we touch, right? Hold my hand. Put your hand on my hip. I don’t care. I’ll be right there with you. And you’ll be right there for me.”

He stepped closer, and she parted her legs, and he stood between them. Pressing her hips against the bathroom counter.

“If we get separated, Jamie, I promise I’ll stay true to my sobriety, and to you.”

“I promise the same. I only want you.”

“I’ll touch my letter on you. Will you?”

“Yes,” he swallowed. Kissing the arch of her eyebrow. “That will help. But let’s also agree on a signal, if one of us feels need for love. And the need to go.”

She rubbed the tip of her nose against his. Breath so warm on his lips. “How about…” She tapped the center of his chest. “Touch here. Close to your heart. That’s where I feel need, when I want to love you. Is that where you feel it, too?”

“Yes,” he breathed. “It pools here. Like fire. God, I need to kiss you, Claire. Please let me kiss you.”

She turned her face away, smiling. “I don’t want you to smudge my lipstick. And I want you to hold that thought all night, Jamie. Hold on to that pool of fire. Can you do that for me?”

She felt his smile against her jaw. “Gonna be so, so good when we get back here,” he growled.

“I know, baby. It will keep us strong and true tonight. I love you.”

He pulled back a bit. Raised her hand to his lips. Kissed her wedding ring.

“I love you, Dr. Mrs. Fraser.”

She smiled. “I love you, you idiot. Come on. The limo should be waiting.”

[yakool-foolio]

I feel like Vivia’s DLC is gonna be sad. 😿

Once Kodaka stated that Vivia and Yakou's DLCs should be played only after finishing the main game, you know they aren't playin' around. We're definitely going to get some chapter 4 tomfoolery. I've curated a few predictions/theories, some more serious than others. I'll stick to just showing my Vivia DLC predictions for now, my Yakou ones might come later.

Since this DLC releases close to Halloween, it'd be interesting if it actually partly involved more of Kanai Ward's culture regarding holidays, such as how they might celebrate their own version of Halloween. I'd love to see more tidbits about the city's multicultural aspect, so this would be a nice opportunity.

Focuses on Vivia watching over Yakou with the anonymous letter. Perhaps Vivia monitoring Yakou in ghost form out in the city, paranoid he'll discover the chief doing something suspicious.

Worried Man cameo. Very unlikely, but it'd be fun.

Taking the DLC title literally, Vivia experiences his own near-death experience like Yakou in the prequel novel. Yakou rescues and saves the ghostly detective, piling on to the deep admiration Vivia feels for him.

Vivia and Yakou's DLCs have a connective throughline of some kind. Could involve the anonymous letter or more specifically Yakou's wife.

[askjewelandkurt]

(@ask-the-shiny-pokemons) Rimi: "Oh, hiya, I'm glad to see you playin' some instruments!" she was exited to see a Grovyle and Buneary. "I wanna hear this song, because it gives me hometown vibes."

@ask-the-shiny-pokemons

Jewel: Hope we reminded you of home, even if just a little!

“Virbank City” from Pokémon Black & White 2 - Hitomi Sato

((I got an answer out!!! I’ve got a few more interactions backlogged and I’ll post them over the next few days.

Also, this one is a beast; most sheet music says it’s in 4/4 but I’m a firm believer it goes 3/4, 4/4, 4/4, then 5/4. The second section was a bit easier, luckily. I also even tried a little improv the second time through!))

[oplishin]

tag game etc

tagged by @solo-uno !! thanks :]

shuffle your on-repeat playlist, then list the first 10 songs

(my current on repeat playlist is. exclusively wrestlers' entrance themes which is boring so. ima do the playlist i usually listen to when i haven't lost my whole min

1)Hurricanes by Rina Sawayama

2) Another Day of Sun from La La Land

3) Brand New City by Mitski

4) Watch Me Shine (Bianca Belair) by CFO$

5) A Lovely Night from La La Land

6) Sky's the Limit (Sasha Banks) by CFO$ (i think)

7) Curses by The Crane Wives

8) Cult of Personality by Living Colour

9) Verbatim by Mother Mother

10) Feed the Machine by Poor Man's Poison

okay the original prompt was "your top 15 favorite shows" but i hate watching shows, so i'm gonna do my favorite video games instead because that seems more representative of. me

Breath of the Wild: the game that turned me into a Gamer

Who's Lila? has a very sweet spot in my heart, as just a very well made small experience that was suitably numb and pretentious but also very emotional

Spiritfarer: waghrsh wahr

Hollow knight: i fucking love it

Inscryption: game play loop breaks my brain

Norco: my brain keeps coming back to this game months after I played it, tiny good indie game with gorgeous art and capital F feelings about living in a tiny dying, industrially choked town. play it

Outer Wilds: sometimes the feelings in this game come back to me and i just. oomph hit in the heart and now im crying

return of the obra dinn!! good

disco elysium: god i should replay this game; it didn't really click for me the first time around but it seems like something i would like

Where the water tastes like wine: playin that right now, and i have mixed feelings about it but its definitely an experience

fear and hunger: a game that didn't really land for me as well as it did for other people but yk. its neat

minecraft: i hate playing this game on my own but i have very good memories of hanging out with my irl friends who i now miss dearly

yakuza 0; a game i have to actually go back and play at some point

the original hyrule warriors, my first video game that i ever played 8 years ago

pathologic at the very bottom of this list because i have a complicated relationship with this game but it did fundamentally change me as a person so. it's earned its spot

absolutely no pressure but here's who's getting tagged!!

@swampbestie @im-new-in-town42 @tubercloset @gayrmlin @existentialcrisisetcetera @god-is-a-dyke @sethjolras @sanpape

if you want to do top 15 for a different form of media (ex: books, looking at you K). yeah go ahead!!

[igot-the-juice]

The Scarred - Chapter 4

Masterlist

Summary - Penelope Miller works at a florist shop in Gotham, barely getting by in the corrupted city. Her life is shrouded by trauma and judgement with little light to find her way with. However, when a certain painted face starts making himself known to her, things take a turn.

The vase fell from her hands, the shattering glass echoing through the hall. Penelope’s mind and body grew petrified as she stared at the card sitting in the mess of glass, water and flowers. She fell back against her door frame, her breathing sharp and fast as she began to hyperventilate. She gripped onto the front of her bra to pull it away from her chest, looking for any kind of relief, any way to find space for her to breathe properly. Yet it did nothing. She knew she was making a scene, and she wanted so badly to hide away in her apartment.

But what about the mess? She asked herself amidst the chaos. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the ambience around her.

“’Scuse me -?” Penelope shot straight up, eye frantically darting towards the new voice. A tall, average built man stood before her, hands held out in front of him as an offering of peace. “Apologies, I didn’ mean to alarm ye. Are ye alrigh’?” His bright eyes held a gentleness in them, the same as his voice. It was soothing in a way she had never before experienced. It was hardly able to calm her, however, in her panicked state. “Righ’, dumb question…” He mumbled to himself, glancing between Penelope and her welcome mat. “I’ll clean this up righ’ quick fer ye, tha’ alrigh’?” She gave the smallest nod, letting go of her bra to wipe the tears from her face as he disappeared.

She closed her eye, grounding in an attempt to compose herself. Never had she broken down in front of a stranger. And never had she felt more humiliated by it. She hated coming across as weak and vulnerable, and she felt as if she was both in that moment.

Her eye snapped back open when she heard the sound of a plastic bag, eyeing the man warily as he walked back to start picking up the glass shards. He noticed how her breathing had only slightly improved, but it was progress.

“Why are you helping me?” The sound of her voice caught him off guard as he continued picking up the pieces.

“Juss doin’ my duty.”

“In Gotham?” The man sighed and looked up at her from where he was crouched on the floor.

“‘Ard as it is to believe, miss, not erryone in this city is a crook.” It wasn’t until then that she noticed his thick accent. It was a surprise to her, however one she greatly accepted. She felt childish for it, but she was excited as it was her first time meeting someone with one. “Ye wann’ keep this?” He asked, holding the Joker card between his index and middle fingers. She hesitated before reaching to grab it. “Now, I’m not all tha’ superstitious,” He stood up with a huff. “But if tha’ is a genuine Joker card, I’d watch out if I were ye. Yer either really lucky, er ‘bout to be really dead.” He noticed the growing fright in her eyes. “Or! Some guy is juss actin’ the maggot and playin’ wit’ ye.”

“People are scared enough to impersonate Batman, I don’t think they’d dare to impersonate The Joker himself. Seems like he gets more bold by the day for a nobody, anyhow.”

“Then pray yer juss really lucky. He’s gainin’ reputation rather quick, if I do say so meself.” He spoke in a softer tone. He began to tie the bag as she continued to carefully watch him. “I don’t believe I’ve caught yer name yet?”

“Penelope.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Miller.”

“Penelope?” The name left his lips in curiosity. “Tha’s a new one.” Her eye shifted to the ground. “Bu’ it’s refreshin’.” The man offered her a friendly smile, but her expression remained constant. “Liam Garson. Juss moved in couple a doors down.” He pointed off to his left.

“Why?” He threw her a confused look. “I mean, why Gotham?”

“Oh!” Liam chuckled. “Well, why not? Barely any restrictions with the mob and cops runnin’ ‘round lie’ chickens wit’ their ’eds cut off. Sure, muggers an’ the lie’ crawl abou’, but tha’s the price ye pay fer freedom, righ’?” He contained himself from beaming when she gave the ghost of a smile.

“Well, I see where your morals lie, Mr. Garson.”

“Liam.” He jested. “An’ I may lack some, but I’m better off than over ‘alf the boyos ‘ere.”

“’Boyos’?” Penelope gave a small chuckle.

“Males, juveniles, youngins.” She nodded in understanding. “Well, I’ll let ye be. Juss wanted to check on ye and make sure ye were alrigh’.” He started to back away. “If ye need anythin’, I’m in 329.” With a final salute, he disappeared into his own apartment. Penelope slowly turned around to head into her own, closing her door softly.

She looked down at the card caught in her nimble fingers. She couldn’t help the jolt that rushed through her body when she realized that if it was his card, he knew where she was. He knew who she was. She was somebody to him and she wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or terrified. It made her start to question her own morals. Any other person wouldn’t even think to be flattered, so why would she?

He was a murderer, a psychopath. And yet she had half a mind to consider being flattered.

Really lucky or really dead.

Why would she be dead? Had she angered someone without her knowing?

She froze.

“The boss.” She whispered to herself in realization. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. The bald man had to be working for The Joker. Which meant he knew where she worked.

How much else did he know? Who all knew? How many people were following her?

Question after question ran through her head and it was almost unbearable. She didn’t know what she even did to be on his radar in the first place.

“- patrolling the streets trying to trace his whereabouts for the time being, but so far -“ The news anchor’s voice hummed softly from her TV and she practically ran over to it, snatching the remote from the coffee table to turn up the volume.

“Well, John, I think it’s safe to say that The Joker’s slow uprising is truly fascinating for the people of Gotham. Not only in the sense that he is beginning to make a name for himself, but it gives the chance for other criminals to wreak havoc on the city knowing that Batman could possibly be busy with him if things start to get out of hand, more than usual for what the mob calls a ‘nobody’.” The woman on the other line spoke. Penelope scoffed at her words.

“Way to give them ideas.” She mumbled to herself with a wide eye.

“Let’s just hope that Batman is able to do what he does best, and fast. Cause -“ Penelope switched the TV off, having heard enough of it.

It upset her that the city was putting their faith in a masked man, that none of them had the nerve to do something themselves. That they couldn’t even rely on their own first responders. That she couldn’t rely on first responders.

She began to peel off her bandages, dragging her feet towards her bathroom. So much had happened in only a week and it all started to catch up to her, her head starting to pound from it all.

The note. The glass. The bald man offering her a large sum of money for just a vase of flowers, that he possibly worked for The Joker, finding out The Joker had been tracking her for who knows how long.

Penelope reached into her medicine cabinet for pain killers, deciding on taking two with a glass of water. Finally she laid down on her bed, snuggling up to her fuzzy blanket with her eye closed in an attempt to fall asleep. She briefly thought about telling Emma, but if she truly was dealing with The Joker, she wanted her involved as little as possible.

For her safety. She thought to herself in reassurance before sleep took over.

The sounds of rushing water and seagulls filled the air around her, the occasional pair of footsteps passing by that she grew wary of from time to time. The sun began to disappear in the horizon, painting the sky with breathtaking shades of pink and orange on the rare cloudless evening. Music played softly from her phone that sat on one side of her, her dinner left half eaten on the other. Her legs dangled over the ledge as she watched from the pier. It was almost tradition on warmer nights, as it was a rarity. It would’ve been perfect if it wasn’t for the littered concrete and occasional plastic bag that floated by as a reminder of where she was.

Along with the gun that clicked from behind her.

“I’d say just jump and save me the work, but then I wouldn’t get your money.” A gruff voice spoke. She didn’t dare move. Didn’t dare turn her head or flinch a finger. Her heart rate picked up, stomach churning. “Well?” The man urged, losing patience.

“I don’t have any.”

“How’d you get that nice dinner, then, huh?”

“Been saving up for it.” A lie. The man just chuckled.

“Alright. How about you get off of there, put your hands up, and then face me. Slow.”

“I only have one hand.”

“So, raise your one hand, then.” Penelope awkwardly turned around on the ledge.

“Alrigh’, enough talkin’.“ The man halted, red quickly seeping through his jacket. She watched in horror as he collapsed.

Penelope looked up to see the man who had helped her the day before. He walked around the mugger towards her, switchblade in hand. When he saw her flinch he slowed his pace, tucking away the weapon to make her more comfortable.

“Y - you just -“ She spoke frantically, pointing towards the now dead body with a shaky hand.

“Killed a man?” She nodded quickly. He tilted his head dismissively. “Aye. The bastard ‘ad it comin’.” She shied away from him as he took a seat next to her, arm folded in front of her. “Relax, miss. I juss saved yer life, did I not?” He looked over at her to see her chewing on her cheek.

“Why?”

“Why what? Why did I do it -?”

“Yes.”

“Why not?” The man shrugged. “Was either he killed you or I killed ‘im, an’ I wouldn’t dare let such a beautiful woman go to waste lie’ tha’.” Penelope scrunched her nose and scoffed.

“Beautiful woman…” She mumbled to herself. “If you think I’m easily won over by flattery, you’re wrong.”

“With all due respect, miss, I wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout fer meself.” The brunette noticed her eye take on a more gentle stare. He sighed, scratching at his beard.

“Why’re you here?” She asked, rubbing her left arm.

“I could ask ye the same question.” Penelope looked at him quizzically.

“Dinner.” Liam nodded.

“Was on a walk. ‘Eard the ruckus. Came to see what was ‘appenin’.”

“That’s quite a coincidence.”

“Aye. It sure is. A damn good one, if I do say so meself.” Silence fell between the two of them, however it was peaceful. Penelope quite enjoyed it. “If ye don’t mind me askin’,” Liam broke in. “What do ye plan on doin’ wit’ this Joker business? Assumin’ it’s not too late already. I mean, ‘ave ye told anybody?” She shook her head, focusing on her breathing.

“I haven’t.” Penelope swallowed as Liam raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Ye ‘aven’t? Well, why not? Not even the cops?”

“What’ll they do?” She finally looked up at him. “What will they do? You’re the one that was saying yesterday that they’re all ‘running around like chickens with their heads cut off’.“ She began to rant, everything starting to catch up to her. Her eye began to glisten as it watered over. “And if they can’t help me, who can? Certainly not Batman!“ She spit the masked man’s name with venom. “They're all bought out by the mob, anyways! Why the hell would they care to keep The Joker from coming for just a single person, from coming for me -!”

“Miss!” Liam held onto her shoulders, keeping her steady. In a moment of desperation, she clung to him, and once again she caught him off guard as she started to break down for the second time. He began to gently stroke her back, letting her take in the silence to collect herself.

A van sat in the distance, tinted windows making it impossible to see through. It was cracked enough for him to see who was in it and he made eye contact with a pair of almost pure black eyes, giving them a faint nod.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, May 4th

LORNE: It'll be fabulous. Believe me, Jerry. Yes. It's Grapes of Wrath in outer space. Uh-huh. Oh, it's got heart. Yes, it's got laser battles. (takes off his sunglasses) It's got a timely message of interstellar poverty. Uh-huh. Listen, have your assistant call my assistant. We'll set something up. Good enough. (chuckles) (hangs up the cell phone and tosses it to his assistant) (talks to the other cell phone his assistant was holding) J.C., Listen, just got off the Nextel with big "B." Yeah, intrigued, but wants to know who's playin' Tom Joad. Uh-huh. Well, I'm pretty sure that Henry Fonda's dead, sweetie. Yeah. Bring him back to life? Let me talk to my science people. OK, no promises. (hangs up) (to his assistant) Directors.

~~Life of the Party~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Graveyard Tango by CoffeeHunt (Angel/Spike, T)

The Wreckage of the Fall by MadeInGold (Spike & Riley, M)

blood sticks, sweat drips by Anonymous (Buffy/Spike, M)

He's good for her by Max_n_space (Buffy/Faith, M)

MedWhump May 2024 Day 4: Sedated by MadeInGold (Angel/Maggie Walsh, T)

Cherish the Day by Maxine Eden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Lies in Your Eyes by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

[Chaptered Fiction]

With Arms Wide Open, Chapter 34 by jaybird023 (Buffy/Giles, E)

Thirty-ish Days (and Thirty-ish Years), Chapter 29 by Dynapink (Buffy/Giles, T)

Greatest Love Story Postlude, Chapter 16 by FalseGinger (Angel/Spike, M)

Ever After After The Fall, Chapter 12 by aboutafox (Buffy/Angel, M)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Chapter 7 by tsohg a ma I (NinjaGirl2211) (Buffy/Riley, E)

In the Company of Witches and Slayers: Chapter 22 by VladimirHarkonnen (TheLightdancer) (Tara/Willow, E)

Highlands and Tropical Islands, Chapter 4 by QuillBard (Buffy/Faith, M)

In the Dark of the Night, Chapter 9 by norik23 (Buffy/Spike, M)

I hate the way, Chapter 5 by DancingAngel0013 (Buffy/Giles, E)

The Eternal City, Chapter 2 by reader304 (Buffy/Angel/Spike, E)

Sacrifice: Chapter 4 by VladimirHarkonnen (TheLightdancer) (Willow/Tara, E)

An Impossible Task, Chapter 6 by Laqt15 (Spike/Andrew, T)

Surviving Together, Chapter 19 by ionlylikebadboys (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Love Lives Here, Chapter 57 by Passion4Spike (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Hand in Flightless Hand, Chapter 6 by tragic (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Afterburn: In The Dark, Chapter 6 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

A Ripple In Time, Chapter 19 by CheekyKitten (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Secret Obsession, Chapter 18 by Maxine Eden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Something Lingers, Chapters 5-6 by goodbyetoyou (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Something Lingers, Chapter 6 by goodbyetoyou (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Incarnate, Chapter 1 by Sigyn (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Some You Lose, Chapter 11 by lyapunov (Buffy, Stargate crossover, FR13)

Early One Morning, Chapter 38 by all choseny (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Lightning in a Bottle, Chapter 1 by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Banner: He Brought Flowers by Passion4Spike (worksafe)

Manips: Carnival by scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: All The Lies You Told by Grief Counseling (Buffy, worksafe)

Sims 4 Tara by redroseproudrosesadrose (worksafe)

Fanvid: Buffy the Vampire Slayer | The Prophecy by Eden

Fanvid: BTVS S03 Humor - "You're Gonna Wake Up In A Coma" by DarkEleni

Fanvid: Buffy S8 by Lewys Tapscott-Nott

Music: Nova Sings - "Rest in Peace," Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Cover) by Nova Dogood

Artwork process video: Draw Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanart by Lia Livingstone (Buffy, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

I'll be rating the Buffy seasons, especially based on your survey responses by Cailly_Brard16

Video: The BEST Buffy the Vampire boardgame is from the year 2000? by StarlitCitadel

Video: Older and Faraway-Slayer Sunday by Jane Talks Buffy

Video: Buffy Season 4 Review by SundayScariesReview

Podcast: Stay Doomed 210: Buffy the Animated Series by PlusTwoComedy

[Community Announcements]

Join the Buffyverse Discord Server! by reallyreal-madeingold

[Fandom Discussions]

Season 7 Faith being worried about Buffy is my all time favorite thing ever by fictiongods

Btvs sseason 1 ep 7/8 thoughts by thatweirdomidas

Fictional Friday: Rupert Giles by digitalnewberry

This argument with Tara and Willow is so fucking weird by nicnacsnonsense

How did the knights know that Buffy & co were in that RV? by nicnacsnonsense

I've been reeling over Spike's speech in s7e2 all day by stardust-kiddo

Rewatch thoughts and questions continued by GoSpuffy and others

The dynamic between Maggie Walsh and Riley continued by vampmogs

My personal comparisons between Buffy and Angel by ukcountrylover

My top 5s (best to least favourite) [from Angel] by ukcountrylover

An observation season 5, e19 [of Angel] by sugarintheboots

Thoughts about final season [of Angel] by MarvelNerdess

Where are the characters now? by speashasha

Does anyone have a skip-watch guide of Angel season 5? by cre8ivemind

Who had the funniest scenes while under Willow's accidental spell in "Something Blue"? by jdpm1991: r/buffy

What was really supposed to be the takeaway with Riley in S5? by brwitch

How was Spike received when the show first aired? by stnkykermie

Spin-off series [Ripper] by Booty_and_theB3ast

Kennedy can bugger off. It should have been these two [Willow and Fred] by Eldon42

Question... Buffy/Spike by jenyovation

Andrew appreciation post by Potato_Direwolf

A Question about Holy Water by Seer77887

Buffy vs. [Xin Rong and Nikki Wood] by FoxIndependent4310

Top 5s by Pumpkins217

Xander vs Anya: An Olivia Rodrigo Perspective by Prometheus321

Is this an example or not of the “bury your gays” trope? by Caldel1992

What was your reaction when Angel lost is soul in season 2? by Anyanka_Tin

The main characters at their best and at their worst by TheAncientSun

Vampire's Drinking Habits by UbettaBNaked

Willow as “Warren” in season 7 by diamondapple17

Ripper season 6 by SvenVersluis2001

Joyce and dawn. (Appreciation post) by BetterFriend9895

Video: Snyder's Downfall on Buffy by Pensive Whiskers

Podcast: Storytelling Through Costuming by A Girl, A Guy and A Buffy Podcast

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Article: Angel Was So Much More Than The "Adult Version" of Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Den of Geek

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[rainbowfic]

Today's prompt list is: Avocado

Theme: Music 1. The full moon is calling / The fever is high / And the wicked wind whispers / And moans - The Eagles: One Of These Nights

2. And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune / Then the piper will lead us to reason / And a new day will dawn for those who stand long / And the forests will echo with laughter - Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin

3. All the people we used to know / They're an illusion to me now / Some are mathematicians / Some are carpenter's wives / Don't know how it all got started - Bob Dylan: Tangled Up In Blue

4. There's room at the top they are telling you still / But first you must learn how to smile as you kill / If you want to be like the folks on the hill - John Lennon: Working Class Hero

5. Heard the singers playin', how we cheered for more / The crowd had rushed together tryin' to keep warm / Still the rain kept pourin', fallin' on my ears / And I wonder, still I wonder who'll stop the rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival: Who'll Stop The Rain

6. The exodus is here / The happy ones are near / Let's get together / Before we get much older - The Who: Baba O'Riley

7. Keep me in a daydream / keep me goin' strong / You don't wanna save me / sad is my song - Stevie Wonder: Superstition

8. But oh how it feels so real / Lying here with no one near / Only you and you can hear me / When I say softly, slowly - Elton John: Tiny Dancer

9. What'll you do when you get lonely / And nobody's waiting by your side? / You've been running and hiding much too long / You know it's just your foolish pride - Derek and the Dominos: Layla

10. Now she walks / through her sunken dream / To the seat with the clearest view / And she's hooked to the silver screen / But the film is a saddening bore / For she's lived it ten times or more / She could spit in the eyes of fools - David Bowie: Life On Mars

11. Then the door was open and the wind appeared / The candles blew then disappeared The curtains flew then he appeared / saying don't be afraid /Come on baby... and she had no fear - Blue Oyster Cult: (Don't Fear) The Reaper

12. Seeing her skin feeling silky smooth / Colour of cafe au lait / Made the savage beast inside / Roaring till it cried More, More, More / Now he's at home doing 9 to 5 /Living his brave life of lies - Patti Labelle: Lady Marmalade

13. This city desert makes you feel so cold / It's got so many people but it's got no soul / And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong / When you thought it held everything - Gerry Rafferty: Baker Street

14. Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions / I keep my visions to myself / It's only me / Who wants to wrap around your dreams and... /Have you any dreams you'd like to sell? - Fleetwood Mac: Dreams

15. Too hot, too greedy / How could you leave me / When I needed to possess you? / I hated you. I loved you, too. - Kate Bush: Wuthering Heights

16. There is no pain, you are receding /A distant ship smoke on the horizon / You are only coming through in waves / Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying - Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb

17. Love is an angel disguised as lust / Here in our bed until the morning comes / Come on now try and understand / The way I feel under your command - Pattie Smith: Because the Night

18. But there are times that you feel you're part of the scenery / All the greenery is comin' down, boy / And then your wife seems to think you're part of the / furniture oh, it's peculiar, she used to be so nice - Supertramp: Take The Long Way Home

19. But what a fool believes he sees / No wise man has the power to reason away/ What seems to be / Is always better than nothing - The Doobie Brothers: What A Fool Believes

20. You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name / It felt good to be out of the rain / In the desert you can remember your name / 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain - America: Horse With No Name

--

RainbowFic is an original fiction (and more) community on Dreamwidth. The pinned post has more information.

[veggieblt]

4/22-4/28 GHOSTS!

Monday: FIVE IS NOW A GAMER! Chances are we're gonna kill each other a good 20 more times as we dive into the very depths of the ring in Halo: Combat Evolved! 6:00 PM

Tuesday: P'JORKCHOP WIDEBOD AND C'RANBERRY MINT ADVENTURE THROUGH EORZIA! More FF XIV with Min! https://www.twitch.tv/partydemoness 4:00 PM

Thursday: Oh god I have almost 70 hours in Pacific Drive WE NEED TO END IT. Any time left over will be spent exploring The Forgotten City! 6:00 PM

Friday: Anything for content. Content Warning with Radia and maybe Helldivers and maybe other stuff???! https://www.twitch.tv/radiaactive 2:00 PM Followed by more Forgotten City! 6:00 PM.

Saturday: Five is heading back to Teyvat to playin Genish Implapt! 3:00 PM https://twitch.tv/fivetail

Sunday: Bad Game Bingo 4:00 PM Straight into more FF XIV with Min! https://www.twitch.tv/partydemoness

[priokskfm]

#MixOfDay #Podcast #Radioshow #LiveDjset Big Love Radio Show – October 2023 – Art Of Tones Big Mix BIG LOVE RADIO SHOW – OCT 2023 HOUR 1 1. The Shapeshifters – Giving Me Something Better (Aeroplane Remix) – Glitterbox 2. Miguel Migs feat Martin Luther – Back Tonight (Lovebirds Disco Sketch Mix) – Soulfuric Deep 3. Benny Musa – Save My Life - MOS 4. Illyus & Barrientos feat Phebe Edwards – Wait – Big Love 5. Art Of Tones & Inaya Day – Give My Love - Glitterbox 6. AC Soul Symphony – Windy City – Z Records 7. Laroye – First Sight (feat Javonntte) – Freerange 8. Jéroboam – Turn Down The Lights – Space Grapes 9. Roy Ayers – Evolution (Art Of Tones Rework) - White 10. Urban Blues Project presents Mother of Pearl featuring Pearl Mae - Your Heaven (I Can Feel It) (UBP Classic Mix) – Soulfuric 11. Urban Blues Project presents Mother of Pearl featuring Pearl Mae - Your Heaven (I Can Feel It) (Micky More & Andy T Remix) – Soulfuric 12. Roach Motel – The Night (Fred Everything Unreleased Tribute Mix) – Faith 13. Dam Swindle – Soul’s Lament – Heist Recordings 14. Shakedown & Bootsy Colllins - Funky And You Know It (Shakedown Work That Mother Extended Mix) – Glitterbox 15. Flush – Bateau Blanc (Kid Créme Remix) – Glitterbox 16. Bushwacka – Sunday School – Classic Music HOUR 2 The Big Mix – Art Of Tones 1. Sauce81 - Natural Thing - Eglo 2. Souleance - La Fête - Heavenly Sweetness 3. Brother Julian - Kay Watt Edit - Disco Mind 4. Underdog Edits - What Cha Doin - Underdog Edits 5. Ava Cherry - You Never Loved Me (The Patchouli Brothers Edit) 6. Riva Starr - How It Feels - Glitterbox 7. Rose Cornelius - Here (Art Of Tones Reedit) 8. Art Of Tones Feat Inaya Day - Give My Love (Piano Dub) - Glitterbox 9. Patrick Cowley - Primitive World (Hifi Sean Bonus Beats Remix) - Kookoo 10. Donna Washington - First Things First (Art Of Tones Rework) 11. Jeroboam - Turn Down The Lights - Space Grapes 12. 1Major Lee Vincente - Let Me Take You Higher (The Whiskey Barons Nitetime Rework) - Whiskey Barons 13. Javi Frias - Keep Playin - Street Edits 14. Ferry Ultra - Rising Up (Art Of Tones Extended Mix) 15. Detroit Swindle - Were You Ready For That (DS Rework) - Schnitzel Cuts 005 16. Bim Marx And Master Khan - Dont Fall In Love - Stillove4Music Disco, Electronic, House, "Nu Disco", "Deep House", "Classic House", "Jackin House" www.priokskfm.online https://ift.tt/s3jkUTb

[pgoeltz]

20 views Aug 26, 2023

Warlocks.Friday 4th August 2023.

Show Strat 21:00.JST

Setlist

1. She Belong to Me.(Japanese)

2. Promised Land.

3. Uncle John's Band.(Japanese)

4. Playin' in The Band.

5. Morning Dew.

6. Playin' in The Band.

7. Tennessee Jet.(Japanese)

8. The Music Never Stopped.

9. U.S. Blues.

10. Good Lovin'.

Encore

11. Scarlet Begonias.(Japanese)

12. Touch of Grey. (Japanese)

13Johnny B. Goode.

Liquid Lighting : Taniyan From “Over Heads”.

venue: chikyu-ya kunitachi city tokyo jp.

[error404vnotfound]

rant incoming because i am. so tired.

so. my best friend has had this crush on another girl from our high school friend group since forever. she told her about it like 2 years ago, not for them to start dating, just so she knew. no expectations no nothing. a few weeks ago they talked about it all again because the other girl had been saying some things and acting in a way that were upsetting to my friend. to no one's surprise, she likes my friend back. they agreed to stay friends tho

thing is, every time we met up before, be it us three or all five of us, it was pretty plain there was something going on in there. me and the other two guys had very third wheeling vibes on us.

after they talked this last time, it's gotten downright unbearable. if we hang all together it's just them two in their little bubble and count yourself lucky if they remember there's more people around.

I'm not very close to the two guys, and I don't particularly like the other girl either. so I've been declining to hang up with them all as a group more and more. I don't particularly like hanging out with more than one person at a time anyways, and I'm not gonna make the effort to be uncomfortable and sad because I can't even have one conversation with my friend

now, onto why I am. so tired.

the other girl wanted to go to a museum/exhibition/zoo in the city. they decided to go. I wasn't, at first, because I knew what it would be like. but then the other girl was like "no, you passed on coming last time we hung up, it's been so long since I've seen you!" and my friend told me that she wanted me to come because "we would have fun" and "it wouldn't be the same without me"

so I said I'd go. and if what I thought was going to happen, were to happen I could just be my little autistic self and wander around drawing animal skulls and turtles fighting

and yeah. it was as bad as I thought it'd be. on the bus they talked just them two, as we walked there, more of the same. as soon as we got in they both went off and left us three behind. if my friend by some miracle found me, the other girl would drag her away to look at something she wanted to look at, and even if my friend complained about it, she didn't struggle against being walked away

okay. well. can't say I'm surprised. I filled 4 pages of my sketchbook and talked to a polish family for a while (one of their kids saw me drawing and i showed him what I'd done. he then asked his mom for a notebook and pen and started drawing the fish and turtles I was also drawing. that little kid made the day worth it, ngl).

then we had lunch on a park. and yeah, more of the same. we almost missed the bus back because of them too. (and of course on the actual bus it was much the same as the whole day had been. worse even. I tried to drown the sound of their talking with my headphones and was half successful)

and it's like. look. date or don't, I couldn't care less, but if we hang up as a friend group, we hang as a friend group. it was just so uncomfortable when we were all together because it would be them two aggressively cuddling or hugging or holding hands and saying veiled comments to each other and just. deeply uncomfortable. third wheeling to the fucking top

and somehow. somehow. this wasn't the worst. I said at the beginning that I don't particularly like the other girl. I have some reasons which are a me problem, her personality just doesn't agree much with mine. fine, I'll live

but then I have other reasons, mainly that since forever she has been playing cat and mouse with one of the other guys (who very obviously likes her). she'll flirt and say things to him. and the poor guy tries and tries but it's a lost cause and we all seem to know it except him. but then, for the past two years, she has been doing the same to my friend. she'd flirt, or say things, or do things, that were obviously done in not a platonic way. (which upset my friend because she'd told her how she felt about her, and the other girl kept on playing with both my friend's feelings and the guy's). has she stopped? not at fucking all, with either of them

my friend and the guy can barely hold a conversation now without one of them provoking the other with annoying or veiled comments. for the guy it's embarrassing, and my friend is honestly behaving like a little shit (derrogatory)

there's no actual conclusion to this thing. im just tired of it all. as if friendships weren't complicated enough already now we gotta deal with this mess too. needless to say, I won't be saying yes to hang out as a group for a while, and certainly not for a whole fucking day

worst thing is, I think, that they both don't even realize what they are doing (to the guy, yes, I mean to me and the other guy). because the other girl hugged me goodbye and told me to hang up with them again (bestie you barely exchanged two words with me today), and my friend did say "it wouldn't be the same without me" but girl you didn't even bother to talk to me

they two probably had a great time, and like, good for them. just next time maybe don't drag the rest of us on your date

[gabree-undead]

I recently finished Pokémon Sword, and I loved it madly, waiting for Legends Arceus and Scarlet I want to rank all the villains team.

9)TEAM YELL: My brothers! not bad but are so funny!a beautiful refreshing.

8)TEAM SKULL: Not so bad but at least they conquered a city

7)TEAM ROCKETS: M4fia, a c a group of delinquents. pity that the backstory of Giovanni father of Silver is only DLC

6)TEAM PLASMA (pokemon black 2): a mad Team Rocket

5)AETHER FOUNDATION:real bad, and manipulator to make their objective.

4)TEAM HYDRO/MAGMA:.mad Greta Thunberg playin with climate. they almost control a legendary

3)TEAM FLARE:They capture a legendary and destroys three house (WOOOOW!!)some "we live in a society" guys

2)TEAM PLASMA: good backstory and mad at all With a evil master of puppet.

1) TEAM GALAXY:an evil visionary, they subjugated two legendaries and ruthlessly captured three. scary

[jmkitsune]

Games I streamed this year

So like with it being december, I realize like "shit what did I wind up playing for 52 weeks this year?) so I went back and looked only at the stuff I've streamed/uploaded to youtube this year and yeah was both MORE than I expected, but also less lol

Final Fantasy X (replayed for fun)

Minecraft (replayed for fun)

Batman Arkham Origins, Asylum, City, Knight (replayed cause THE BATMAN came out back in march)

Some Breath of the Wild (tried to finish it on stream...still can't lol)

Final Fantasy Pathfinder Game (started another dnd game on stream again)

Horizon Forbidden West (Thanks to Britt for buying it for me)

Lego Star Wars Skywalker Saga

Mass Effect 1-3 (Legendary Edition)

Overwatch 2 for like a day

Lego Marvel SuperHeroes

Uncharted 1-4 (replayed for fun)

Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider (first time STREAMING)

Modded Fallout New Vegas (replayed for fun)

so like 20ish games in 52 weeks

NOT AWFUL if you ask me

here is to 2023

starting my star wars dnd game and my homebrew world hopefully so I can have 3 ttrpgs going on my channels

and whatever other games we wind up playin :D

What games did you spend the most time playing this year?

[dezmodiangaming]

This is going to be a fun lil blog for gaming exploits! 40+ year old gamer, got a family and a full time job I actually love (strange, right!?), but... I just spend a lot of time gaming lol. I’m trying to work more on my art stuff and get a webcomic going... but... yeah, I’m never going to stop gaming haha! ***art related stuff is goin here: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/dezmodian

I’ll be streaming more on Twitch: 

https://www.twitch.tv/dezmodian

So, games I am focusing on these days:

World of Warcraft - Horde Tauren Warrior (because Dragonflight... its... dragons) (played on and off since day 1 of public release)

Stellaris (streaming this one) (1770+ hrs)

Starbound server with wife and friends (2300+ hrs)

Warframe - Chroma Prime MR20, Unyielding Valkyries clan, 1500+ hrs, really enjoy this one!

Final Fantasy XIV - still kinda new, but playin with wife and friends. Dragoon

Terraia - 1500+ hrs, haven’t finished this one, lots of restarts because of awesome mods: Calamity, Elements Awoken, Thorium... couple more.

Minecraft - lots of hours, building a 1k diameter city replica of a capital in a book I’m writing, FTB Revelations server with wife and friends.

I also have a YouTube channel... but I haven’t really put anything up there in a while. I will be finishing a video for Disciples II: Servants of the Dark (more details on that later on): https://www.youtube.com/user/dezmodian

Games I’ve played a LOT of and probably will resume again:

Guild Wars 2 - Charr Guardian

ESO - EbonPact caster

Endless Legend - 300+ hrs

Endless Space 2 - 560+ hrs

Fallout 4 - 800+ hrs, holy crap... still haven’t finished this: mods!

Skyrim - 490+ hrs, ...yeah, still haven’t finished this either haha, damn mods

No Man’s Sky - 800+ hrs, lots of restarts on this one lol

Path of Exile - 470+ hrs, good fun! Waiting on PoE2

Cyberpunk - 110+ hrs, still haven’t finished finished it, but damn fun!

Star Trek Online - Federation with the Vonph Herald Dreadnaught Carrier!

lol ... just a few games >< I’m married to a wonderful woman who loves games as well, and we have a wonderful time playing together! Casual family gamers ftw hehe! Step-kid also likes to game, but different tastes, though we are all together on Warframe at least! Hope you’ll find this page amusing at least heh