#please freak out over the artwork

[swaps55]

Cover art by the utterly phenomenal @legionofpotatoes!

Mezzo

Pairing: mshenko | Rating: M Tags: Canon-typical violence, trauma, dealing with your problems poorly, body autonomy struggles   Summary: The twists and turns of ME2, through the eyes of everyone but Commander Shepard. Chapter Summary: Death was the only way

Chapter 1: Stars | Read on Ao3

At first, you think you can survive this. Your ship is in pieces, your momentum catapulting you away from the wreck, the planet you call Alchera watching serenely as your life burns. You tell yourself, you’ve faced worse. The first time you fought death was the first breath you took, into lungs that weren’t ready, in a body too small and fragile to survive on its own. You struggled for days in a vessel adrift between our stars, an insignificant speck of heat in our cold universe, determined to burn as bright as a sun. When your mother finally held you for the first time, she showed you to us and asked if we were what you were in such a hurry to see for yourself. You have always been ours. You were ours when your father sang you to sleep while we gleamed through the shutters. You were ours when you rose for the first time on unsteady legs because you wanted to see us. You were ours when you felt our power come to life under your skin and understood that we are part of you in ways you’d never imagined. How many times did you palm the glow of dark matter in your hand and imagine you were one of us? But no matter how bright you burn now, it won’t be enough to save you. There is fear, now, but you swallow it back.    The second time you fought death it wasn’t your life you were fighting for. You begged, pleaded, to march into the unknown and rescue a father who didn’t come home, and when no one listened, you turned to us in the dark and begged to take his place. That was when you learned we could be cruel.   We felt your pain, we heard your anger, we wi ditnessed your tears and did nothing. And you forgave us. We wonder if you will forgive us now.

Read the rest on Ao3 | The Mezzo Playlist

[feyspeaker]

Attention, artists!

reposting this thread from Twitter because I think it's important.

I know it can be really tiresome to keep reporting your stolen artwork on Redbubble, Etsy, etc. but I encourage you to keep doing it. Keep filing DMCAs and protect your stuff. The only way to dissuade these art thieves is to keep making it harder for them.

It can seem intimidating to file them, but do it. It can be discouraging when you have a claim rejected, but still keep doing it. It feels like an uphill battle but we can't go out without a fight. I don't think you should obsess over finding stolen pieces, but if you happen across it in the wild or someone send a link to you to warn you about one, just take the time to file that DMCA. Hopefully it will help those platforms put in place stricter protections for artists, or at least discourage these thieves from doing it again.

I will emphasize again that please do not ruin your mental health by spiraling searching for every instance of your stolen work out there, but make sure that if you are made aware of one just file that DMCA- it seems scary but it's not at all.

A bootleg shirt seller I posted about the other day on Twitter is secrectly subscribed to my Patreon and using my /personal use only/ high res files to make bootleg stuff. These people are getting really freaking ballsy and we have to do our best to fight them.

Oh yeah, and I will add that you know, completely unrelated but if you see a bootlegger that stole your art making Disney merch, the Mouse has a narc tipline email you can submit to. Just you know, completely unrelated fun fact of the day.

[wally-darling-hyperfixation]

The Show Must Go on Darling. Part 2: Wally x Parent GN Reader

@malamilkbeats made this artwork. I like it so much. I hope you like the story. Someone on here has been making boarders and I absolutely adore them and use them. I’ll reference them in another post. I’m now. Making Wally part blue.

You wake up from a jolt in your bed. Your daughter Zoey is bouncing up and down. “ Today we go to the studio! Today we go to the studio,” she squeals jumping up and down. You let out a chuckle and grab her tickling her causing her to grab her stomach. “Yea we are my little silly monkey. We going to have a wonderful day together,” you say laughing as you tickle her. She laughs and surrenders so you stop and she rushes to get dressed for today. You laugh and go the the closet. You have these billowy rainbow pants you been dying to wear but they weren’t work appropriate so you put them on with this nice loose long sleeve white shirt. You put an ascot on (it’s either in your hair as head band or pony tail or on your neck). You slip on some nice leather shoes you had. Comfy and head out to the kitchen where little Zoey was in her tie dye dress waiting. You hum and cook breakfast real quick. Just some eggs and toast and fix her a glass of apple juice. “Go ahead and eat and we will head on out ,” you say setting a plate in front of her biting into your toast. She quickly eats her food gulping it down super fast. You pat her back so she don’t choke. “I’m all done! Can we go ? Let’s go!!!!” She says excited putting dishes in sink running out to car. “Wait , I’m coming,” you laugh grabbing your keys chasing after .

Wally was rubbing his hands nervously. Ronald had made sure that the parent and the little girl were the only ones to show up today. He was pacing on the stage back and forth. The others were so confused about why he was pacing. “Hey Wally, are you ok? You are passing across the stage. You look like you are about to have a panic attack,” Julie says worried. “We just having a shooting today,” Sally says confused. He honestly didn’t want to say why. Not really sure what he was feeling. He just really liked how a parent loved their kid. He was just really excited about the idea of seeing you again. It felt really weird this new feeling. “You can do this Wally,” he says this to himself. He fixes up his hair and looks toward the window fidgeting when he sees the two walking in.

You were confused walking in seeing how y’all were alone . Zoey was so excited. They could get front row and be close up to the window to watch. “Come on. Come on. Let’s sit down (P/N). Please ? ,” she grabs your hand pulling you to the front and y’all sit down. You fix her hair gently and the show starts . This episode seemed to be about painting but you were freaked out cause it seemed like Wally was staring at you. But Zoey was enjoying the show. She watched everyone draw what they loved and they all put pictures and you were just happy Zoey was enjoying it. Wally thanks the viewers for watching and heads into Home. Zoey claps her hands. As you and her head to leave , Mr. Ronald stops by and starts talking. “Did y’all enjoy the show,” he asks. Zoey sets down her bag and starts aching all excited. She explains how she wants to paint and was so happy about the episode and her love of the puppets.

Wally sneaks off the stage and was in the room. He watches the people talk and sees the backpack. He sneaks over and gets over to the backpack. He unzips and climbs in. He really wanted to get to know them. The back pack was picked up and he was watching as they leave. He gives a thumbs up to Ronald as they leave and hides in the back pack. As they drive , he loved listening to your voice. He watches as y’all stopped to get burgers and such to go home. He really wants to see where y’all live. He was so comfortable listening to your voice. He fell asleep for the rest of the way .

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

[factual-fantasy]

One why are you scared of horses and two do you mind if we show you art not fanart like stuff we drew ourselves just a general question?

People are always free to show me what ever artwork they happen to make! :0 I don't mind at all! :}

But if you're wanting to show your appreciation for me/my artwork, don't draw something specifically for that- comments/asks/reblogs are all I want please <:}

As for the horse thing.. you know what time it is?

✨FACTUAL'S RARE VAGUE STORYTIME!!✨

Ok so when I was very smol me and a friend of mine went out into a field that had one big black horse in it.

The horse was allll the way across the field just minding his own business so I figured he probably wouldn't bother us.

Now this field had a pond and a HUGE WALL of blackberries that divided the field in two. Me and my buddy wanted to go to the other side of the pond and explore.. but the literal only way to get there was to carefully trudge through this narrow path that was formed in the blackberry bush wall.

So up we went. Slooowly stepping through this narrow path.. stomping down the protruding spiny blackberry vines and carefully pushing them out of the way with our bare hands. I think we were wearing shorts and sneakers which just added to our slowness and carefulness.

Now picture this, we're almost at the top. There was probably about 2-3 meters left to go before we were finally through the blackberries.. then we hear..

We turn around and the black horse was running up the path towards us. Keep in mind that we were very small, and this very much larger than us, horse was not stopping. He was absolutely going to mow us over.

"thumpthumpthumpTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP"

We. freaked. out.

We scrambled as fast as we could up the rest of the path, tripping in the blackberries and getting cut, screaming all the way-

We made it through just in time and stood flat to the fence. The horse made it through right after us and then jumped around and kicked his feet in the air, nearly nailing my friend in the face.

After a moment the horse stops jumpin around and just kinda looks at us. My friend and I have jello legs and are scared out of our skin-

So for several hours, tiny me and my tiny friend slowly wandered around the space behind the pond. Blubbering and shaking the whole time. With this giant black horse just kinda following us around and sniffing us.

We were terrified of this horse, and we wanted to go back to the house asap- but the only way back was through that narrow spiny path. We didn't want to risk the horse chasing us again..

Eventually an adult came looking for us and was calling out our names. The horse got spooked by them and ran through the path and back out into the field. The adult came up and escorted us through the berries and back to the house.

So anyways, since that day I have learned that horses are way more scared of you than you are of them. All you gotta do is wave your arms around and scream and they'll run. But even so, I don't go out in the field without the scary adult or horse expert by my side. And I'll only feed or pet them through the fence. I am just forever spooked by horses <XD

We found out later that the horse was just playing. Seeing us and running up to greet us and to jump and play! Only for us to be completely spooked and not really engage with him. Causing the horse to kinda sniff us and follow us around like "?? :0 Play? Hm?? <:0 What happen? (Sniff sniff) We're having fun? Play..?? Why not look at me...? So slow..??🤨"

[ymaohoh]

Masterlist

So I've fallen right into the deep end of the HellCheer fandom. Ride or die. I'm in love with Chrissy Cunningham and Eddie Munson. The fans are fucking talented too, alright? I've been binging fics and the artwork but there's certain troupes/ideas/prompts that keep rattling away in my brainbox. I'm going to note them here for if (or when) I maybe write something for the two...but (public service announcement) if anyone knows a fic out there which can scratch these little itches please link me up.

Updated: 18.04.24

My Completed Fics

Eddie wants to buy something nice for Chrissy. Candles are romantic, right? He ventures on a quest to the mall - Yankee Candle Baby - oneshot.

Chrissy is such a Brat with Eddie and Jason watches it (while hiding). Jason's POV - Chrissy Cunningham is a Brat - oneshot - mature

What if Chrissy ran from Eddie after her vision? What if it pushed them apart? They later share a joint and things get much much worse. My take on 'Chrissy lives' but it takes a little while for them to get back on the same page - Chrissy Runs Away - Chapter 3/3.

Eddie and Chrissy have unprotected sex against a brick wall after his gig because they can't wait - “We could always just…do it anyway?" - oneshot - mature

Eddie and Chrissy die but they're summoned again for the final fight Ft. time travel and angst - my hope for season 5 - Howl - oneshot

Gender Swap AU where Ellie Munson saves Chris Cunningham - a play on 'Chrissy Lives' - Rule 63' - oneshot

Ongoing

Vecna keeps Chrissy in hell - 'and she's a bride of the fucking devil' - 1/2 chapters.

My Mess of Drabbles

Eddie dies and Chrissy is waiting for him - end of passion play, crumbling away - short drabble only

Chrissy the Vampire Slayer AU

Labyrinth AU

X-Files AU

Pirates AU

Headcannon Prompts

Max's relationship with Hellcheer

Dustin's relationship with Hellcheer

Chrissy and Wayne Munson's (beautiful) relationship

Chrissy and The Party headcanons

Favourite Fanfictions Masterlist

Need a new fic? Not sure where to start? Check out these INCREDIBLE Hellcheer fanfictions

In need of/ Prompts

Chrissy gets her first tattoo. A cliche at this point no? I'm torn between her getting this done without Eddie knowing as a surprise, or if I want him right there holding her hand.

Eddy eyeing her up in the school cafeteria or class. Basically Eddy simping over Chrissy.

Anything with Eddie and Chrissy reuniting after death / or in the upside-down (manifesting the second).

Chrissy and Eddie getting high together. Maybe a dash of 'will I remember any of this tomorrow?' as they confess their feelings and frustrations.

Eddie loves Chrissy in a sundress. The more feminine, girly, and flouncy the better. He wants to get his hands under it.

He also loves her in a Hellfire top. Anything really that marks her subtly as his.

Other character POV's watching them flirt. Sweet sweet music to my...eyes?

He loves it when she wears one of his rings. She has plenty of her own jewelry (and it's all real gold/expensive/fit for a princess) but it doesn't mean anything really. Her eyes light up at his rings, though.

Together they create a D&D character for her to practice with. They discuss what type she's most likely to be (Eddie's a bard right?). I'm feeling Chrissy might also have that bard energy (she's THE hype girl, right?) or a healer? They definitely get distracted though and don't actually finish it.

He is a rambler. He talks when he's nervous - and Chrissy finds it easy to keep up.

Chrissy tells the jocks to leave the Hellfire club alone in the school corridor. She gets annoyed when she hears them referring to the kids as 'freaks'. Eddie adores the fire and nerve he sees in her eyes because it only really ever comes out when she's in protective mode (bonus points 1) if she tells Jason to fuck off 2) she walks away with the Hellfire club after).

Chrissy is the only one who gets him to study (and pass). He knows he has a reason to now, you know? They've got plans and he isn't wasting time.

Eddie has doubts about Chrissy really truly loving him - she's way out of his league, after all, so she makes sure to create visual reminders. She takes their photo together and tacks it up in her locker for all to see.

Eddie loves fucking Chrissy in her cheerleading uniform. She loves fucking him when he's backstage. They will want to mark their place in each other's bizarre worlds.

Eddie worries about his future with Chrissy (what's his dumbass supposed to do while she excels at college?) but he likes the way his last name suits her.

Eddie is ONLY soft for Chrissy. A scene where he's trying to be big and scary for the club and she unknowingly fractures this image by doing something oh so achingly cute. Maybe she giggles or squee's during a D&D session? It takes him ages to drag himself back into his DM role.

I'll be adding to this , fo' sure.

Is there an official name for this dynamic? Unpopular baddass x sunshine princess?

All aboard the ship. Ahoy ahoy.

[eddie-van-munson]

Keeping You Safe (Eddie Munson x Byers!Reader)

***********

Summary: Your dad (Lonnie) drops in at the house unannounced one afternoon while Will and Eddie are scheming for Hellfire, leaving Eddie black and blue. Hearing you talk about your childhood brings Eddie back to his own.

Warnings: Stories about the Reader and Eddie's Abusive Fathers, Talk of Blood/Bruises, Series Typical Violence, Cursing, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Mentions of Death/Grief, Mentions of Bullying, Cigarettes, Fighting, One Sex Joke, Abuser Uses the Word 'f**', She/Her Pronouns.

A/N: I teased this FOREVER ago and its finally here! I wanted to say that while I didn't go into detail in the story, Eddie DEFINITELY got in some punches. I don't know how to feel about this one over all but I love the song Eddie's mom wrote. I'm so soft for momma's boy Eddie.

Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!!!

***********

Your heart nearly stopped when you picked up the phone. Will sobbed into the receiver, croaking unintelligibly. You gripped the storefront counter, panic frying every last one of your nerve endings, just as the phone had fried in your mother's hands two years ago as she listened to those same cries. 

"Will? Will, what's wrong? Are you hurt? Wha-" 

"Eddie...E-Eddie is..." 

You hadn't realized it was possible to be hit simultaneously with relief and more panic. "Eddie's hurt? Are you at home? What happened?" You snatched the keys from the desk, stretching the phone chord around the wall as you scrambled to clock out. 

"D-Dad was here."  Will choked through deep breaths as you fumbled with your punch card, shooting your coworker an urgent look. "Dad was here and I'm scared-" 

"It's ok. Hey, no no no. It's ok buddy. I'll be there in five minutes, alright? Give me five minutes." 

You threw your coat on frantically as you ran out to your car, the only indication your boss had received being the ring of the bell when the door opened. 

***********

"Who the hell are you?" The man spat, his brow furrowing at the sight of Eddie.

Ah. Lonnie Byers.

Eddie had never met the man in his life, but he had enough experience with abusive fathers to know that this guy was definitely yours.

"I'm Eddie." He kept his voice still and confident, trying to look unbothered. He propped his arms across the back of the couch confidently. "Who the hell are you?"

Lonnie scoffed, "What are you doing in my house, kid? You want me to call the cops?" 

"I don't think that'd end up well for you, man. But, be my guest." He shrugged non-chalantly, crossing his legs on the coffee table.

Lonnie opened his mouth to shout, forehead creased with anger, but paused. "Wait a second...I know exactly who you are." 

Eddie's brows crooked as he stared down the older man.

The man's jaw flexed, "You're Manson's kid. You run that cult over at the school." 

The corner of Eddie's mouth tugged mischievously, "It's Munson, actually." 

Lonnie grabbed the game book that'd been left open on the table, glancing at the artwork before flinging it across the room carelessly. His muddy boot planted itself on the table in its place.

"You killed that little Cunningham girl didn't you?"

Eddie's expression went slack, anger boiling in his stomach. He swallowed thickly, ignoring the jab.

"What the hell are you doing here, you freak? You gonna pluck my daughter's eyes out? Break her bones?"

The room went silent as Eddie's face slowly split into a knowing grin. "No." He looked him directly in the eyes. "But I do have a date with her in an hour."

Lonnie lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him up off of the couch. "You're not gonna lay a fucking hand on my daughter." 

Eddie choked through a laugh.  "Oh, trust me. Your daughter is very well acquainted with my hands." 

Before he even knew what happened, Lonnie's fist gave a sickening crack against Eddie's temple. Stars danced in his eyes as he was flung down onto the rough carpet, the wind knocking from his lungs. Eddie wheezed through a weak laugh, groaning. God, he hoped Will would stay quiet in his room. Based on the blow he'd just taken, Lonnie would have no problem busting down a door.

"You think that's fucking funny, freak?" Lonnie yelled, towering over Eddie's crumpled form. 

Eddie struggled to breathe, "A little."  

He turned just in time for the toe of Lonnie's boot to ram into his ribs instead of his stomach. The second blow was worse. Eddie could taste copper in his mouth as he tried to remember how to breathe. 

He much preferred Jason Carver

***********

Your hands trembled as you drove, tears clouding your vision. 

This was your worst nightmare. It was why Will was never left home alone, even though he was well old enough to be. Your dad had always had a temper and a violent streak. When you were young, it hadn't been uncommon to hear the sharp sound of a slap cut through the air during his arguments with your mom. Ever since the divorce, Will had become the target of his anger. He was always calling to shout at your mom, accusing her of "raising that boy to be a fag". That, and bitterly claiming that "That boy needs a father around, Joyce. He needs someone to beat some sense into him." 

Your driving was getting hazardous by the time you reached the house. You flew through the front door, heart sinking at the sight of your boyfriend sitting propped against the hall's wood paneling. Will sat beside him, looking visibly shaken. 

"Eddie..." You breathed his name, hands trembling as you dropped to your knees beside him. You held his face gently in your hands, assessing the damage. 

He smiled at you through a wince, "Hi, sweetheart." 

"Christ, What have you done?"

He smirked, nodding towards your brother.  "Well, I had to stand up for Will the Wise, didn't I? It's party rules." 

You cursed under your breath as you pushed his bangs back from his hurt forehead. A dark bruise painted his temple and cheekbones, a smeary trail of blood dripping from his nose all the way down to the collar of his shirt. It'd be a miracle if his nose wasn't broken. His pretty lower lip had a bad nick in it, and anxiety churned in your stomach when you noticed how stiff his movements were. 

"Jesus, Eds. Stay here, ok?" You darted around the house quickly, locking every door and window you could find, before grabbing a clean washcloth from the kitchen. You took your brother's hand sweetly when you returned, "I need you to do me a favor alright? Do you think you can call Hopper? Tell him what happened?" 

Eddie groaned at the idea of involving the cops, but Will nodded solemnly. You ignored your boyfriend's complaint, propping your shoulder beneath his arm. 

"Let's get you to my room, Bruiser." 

He chuckled, eyes scrunching pain as you helped lift him up onto his feet. "Princess, I know I look awfully pretty right now, but it might not be the best time for you to have your way with me." 

You rolled your eyes at his smirk, wondering how he was still able to be a cocky bastard with an actively bloody nose. 

You were gentle as you helped him sit on your bed, heart aching sympathetically at his soft curses. "Hey...shhh 's ok. Tell me what hurts."  

He slowly fought to catch his breath, scrunching his eyes. "It'd be easier to list what doesn't hurt, actually." 

You noticed him tense with every rise and fall of his chest. "He got your ribs, didn't he?" 

Eddie chuckled weakly, "Yeah. A couple of kicks to the stomach."

You bit your lower lip, shaking your head at the mental image. You fought it hard, but your eyes glossed, lip quivering.

 "Hey...It's alright." Eddie stroked your hair,  biting back the pain as he brushed the beginnings of a tear from your lower lashes. "Everything's alright, sweetheart. Will's ok, huh? That's all that matters." 

You sniffled, "What about you?" 

"Me?" He chuckled, wiping some blood from his nose with the back of his hand. "I'm right as rain, babe. You should see the other guy." 

A tear finally welled over as you gave him a sad, grateful smile, but you quickly brushed it away when Will peeked his head into your room.

He looked nervous still, guilt swimming in his eyes. "Hopper said he'd be on the look out for dad's car." Your brother fiddled with the latch on the little red first aid kit he'd retrieved from under the bathroom sink, his eyes unable to meet Eddie's. "He's going to come by later to file a report, but he said to make sure the doors are locked."  

You took the kit from his hands, laying it on the bed beside you. You scrambled for words, unable to think of a way to ease his mind when your own was racing. Eddie supplemented. 

"What's wrong, dude?" He patted an empty spot on the bed, inviting Will to sit.

Will was quiet for a moment, his voice soft when he finally spoke. "You got hurt and it's my fault." 

You took your brother's hand, soothingly. Eddie shook his head. "No, man. I got hurt because your dad's an asshole. That's not your fault." 

Will focused on the comforter, toying with the fabric. "I could've...I don't know. I should've helped." 

Eddie nudged him gently with his sneaker. "Oh come on, Byers. You've faced some pretty gnarly shit all on your own. It's ok to let me help out every once in a while." 

"But I just sat there!" He argued, pitifully. "I just sat in my room while he-..." 

Will trailed off, tears welling. Eddie sat up, biting back the pain as he crooned to meet his eyes. 

"Hey..." He mussed his hair, lovingly. "I know it sucks, man. But can I tell you something?"

Will nodded.

"When I was a kid,  my dad used to show up out of nowhere too...pull all the same shit. My mom always told me to go to my room and lock the door and all that, right? Just like I told you to do earlier."

Will nodded, listening dutifully as he blinked back tears.

Eddie shook his head, "I fucking hated it. They would fight and I would just be stuck in there listening to it."

Eddie's eyes glazed with memories. You could tell they hurt.  Your stomach churned.

"So when I got older and dad was locked up, I asked mom about it, you know? 'Why did you make me stay in my room? I could've helped. He was hurting you, mom.'"

Your eyes stung.

"But you know what she said? She said 'Your dad did hurt me, Eddie. But it would've been so much more painful for me to see him hurt you."

Will stared off, pensively.  You took his hand, squeezing it gently.

Eddie nodded, "I'd so much rather get my ass kicked than to see you get hurt. I mean that. You did what I told you to. You stayed safe and that's what's fuckin' important."

Your brother's shoulders relaxed a bit, "I suppose so." 

A smile tugged at Eddie's lips. "I know so. And what I say goes because I'm the Dungeon Master. So there." 

Will laughed, and the sound was like pure sunshine. You took Eddie's hand, squeezing it appreciatively. He squeezed yours back. 

Eddie's dimples were pretty as he smiled. "You know what would make me feel better?"

Will narrowed his eyes, "What's that?" 

"New character sheets for Hellfire....drawn by the most skillful renderer in all of Hawkins, The William Byers..." 

Your brother blushed, hiding his smile, "Come off it, Eds." 

"I mean it!" He laughed heartily as he clutched his ribs. 

Will stood from the bed, crossing his arms, "I'll think about it." 

Eddie laid back against the headboard, "Well you better think quick, because your sister's about to take my shirt off so she can doctor me up, and things are liable to get pretty steamy. She's a total animal when she sees me-" 

"Eddie!" Your cheeks went pink, but Eddie only giggled at your indignation. 

Will threw his hands up in surrender, immediately hightailing it out of your room. "Fine! Ok! I'll go!" 

 ***********

Eddie gave a borderline pornographic moan when you carefully laid a hot water bottle over his side. You cooed to him softly, pushing his hair back from his forehead. "Theerree it is. Too hot?" 

He shook his head dumbly, enjoying your hands in his hair. "Feels good." 

You smiled as you knelt beside him. He was all clean now, and while he definitely had some bumps and cuts, he looked much better. You pecked his forehead and his nose gently before finally granting him a soft kiss on the lips. 

He hummed, smiling lazily. "What was that for?" 

"Because I love you." 

He chuckled happily, "Well shit, baby. In that case..." He tugged the collar of your shirt gently as he brought your lips back to his, long and slow and deep. 

You were breathless when you finally parted, and Eddie looked very proud of himself as he guided you up to lay beside him on the bed. 

You sighed, playing with his hair, adjusting the cold pack you'd given him carefully so it better rested against his temple. You watched his big brown eyes flutter shut as you worked, "If Jonathan were here, he'd welcome you to the family." 

"Hmm." Eddie winced as he adjusted the pillow beneath his head. "Why's that?" 

He saw your eyes glaze a bit with memories, your expression fading. "He used to say you're not a Byers unless Lonnie's knocked you around, some." 

The room was quiet for a long time. Finally, Eddie reached over to rub your arm soothingly, squeezing your hand. He had questions that he didn't want to ask. 

"Did Will see him hit you?" You rasped, keeping your face hard and emotionless. 

"No." Eddie reassured you. "I told him to go the second I heard someone coming up the driveway. He didn't see anything." 

Your shoulders relaxed a little. Will didn't need to have anything added to his list of nightmares. "Do you think he heard?"

Eddie swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the anger that swelled in his belly at the thought of Will hearing his own father berate him through the walls. "I'm not sure. I think he might have put on some music." 

He hadn't, but Eddie knew the idea would ease your mind. 

You thought through his words before sighing, reaching into your bedside table for a cig and a lighter. "He used to shove him around when he was little. Jonathan and I too, but it was different with Will..." You choked, hands trembling as you lit your cigarette. "Will's always been so…so small. Too small to hold a heart so big." 

Your voice tightened, words croaking. 

"Mom had to work during the week and I would pick Will up from Pre-K on my way home from school." Eddie's heart ached as he watched you recall it. "I'd carry him around on my hip all afternoon because I was so worried he'd stumble into Dad's path and-" 

You shook your head, abandoning the thought. 

"The night mom threw dad out of the house, Will was only three. He saw dad using the TV remote and he wanted to try too." Eddie could hear the anger in every word. "He was just a baby…he picked up the remote from the coffee table and dad grabbed his little wrist so tight in his fist. I thought he was going to snap it." 

"Jesus…" Eddie cursed thickly, nausea settling in his upper stomach. 

"Mom heard Will crying and she ran in and saw what was happening. She made him leave…said she'd call the cops if he came back." You chewed your lower lip. "We all slept in her room with her that night." 

Eddie was hit with a wave of emotion, a memory he'd long packed away resurfacing. He used to do the same on particularly bad nights. He could vaguely remember his mom's hands stroking through his short curls, soothingly. 

There was a long silence. Finally, he reached for you, and you were quick to put out your cig and melt into him. He held you as best as he could, ignoring the ache in his muscles. He'd long since abandoned his ice pack, but you didn't have it in you to argue for it. 

You stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms as you listened to his steady heartbeat. You thought he might have drifted off by the time he finally spoke again. 

"I used to do the same with my mom." He hummed it so softly against your head that you almost didn't catch it. "On the nights dad came around…" 

His eyelashes fluttered as you reached up to graze your thumb ever so lightly over his bruised cheek. He stared off, lost in thought. 

Your heart stilled. Eddie never talked about his mom. His conversation with Will was the first he'd ever mentioned her.

You only knew two things about her, and those you'd learned from Wayne. He'd given you a pat on the back one evening when he saw you admiring a photo of her and Eddie together. "I wish you could've known him before we lost her." He'd hummed weakly.

 He told you she'd died a few weeks before Eddie turned eighteen. Eddie had been asleep beside her hospital bed, head resting in her lap when she'd slipped away. 

He told you Eddie had loved her more than life itself. 

It was hard for Eddie to think about her too much, now. It made him hurt. Still, he found himself remembering her so often around you. 

 Growing up, it'd been him and his mom against the world. It was the sweetest time he could remember, filled with memories of her mussing his hair  and running barefoot with him outside. He could see her smile so vividly in his memories from childhood…hear her giggling as she strummed up silly little songs about him on her guitar. 

My baby will only eat meatballs. He likes them with parmesan cheese.

My baby will only eat meatballs. That's why I call him Spag-Eddie.

My boy, he's as wild as a grizzly. He's even got curly brown hair.

My boy, he's as wild as a grizzly. That's why I call him Eddie Bear. 

Everything sweet soured when his dad starting coming around.

You'd always known Eddie's dad had abused him. You'd found out one night as you'd been tracing a scar on his shoulder. It was oddly shaped in comparison to the countless others that'd been left by the bats…small and round. 

"This one is already healed up." You hummed softly, pressing your lips to it gently. 

Eddie tensed. "That one wasn't from the bats." 

There was a long silence. "What was it from?" 

His voice was soft when he finally answered, as if he was a little boy.

"A cigarette." 

You were overcome with a sense of protectiveness, holding him tighter at the memory. He groaned, "Ribs…" 

You gasped, pulling back. "Fuck, Eds. I'm sorry." 

He smiled, " 's ok. I mean, I think I've got a punctured lung now, but it's fine."

Giggling softly, you crooned over his sore body to kiss him. He sighed happily against your lips. 

"We need to take you in for an x-ray…" You hummed softly, hoping your kisses were enough of a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down. 

He made a displeased sound, scrunching his nose. "I don't need an x-ray. I'm fine. I've never felt better." 

You chuckled against his lips as he pulled you closer greedily. "Ed's half of your rib cage is purple. Your nose is broken."

He bit his lip, shooting you a pretty boy smile. "You still think I'm pretty though, right?" 

You snorted, giving a roll of your eyes as you gently pinched his cheek. "You're always pretty." 

He giggled, "Well that's all that really matters."

**********

Your mom loved Eddie. She had from the moment she saw him. Joyce Byers had a special place in her heart for "strays", and Eddie was most definitely one of them. 

She'd known of him long before you'd started dating. Whispers about the Munsons were harsh and abundant around town. A few of the moms on the PTA had even started a petition to have him removed from school when he'd first started classes, claiming that he "was a loaded gun with a father like that." 

Joyce had never bought into it. She saw the boy every morning when she dropped you off at school. He wasn't dangerous. He was tired and lonely. He didn't have a mother looking after him anymore.

 It became a habit for your mom to glance around for Eddie when she dropped you off in the mornings, double checking that he was carrying a lunch, and that no one was bothering him. 

The two of you became quick friends as the school year went on. Joyce was always ready and waiting to greet Eddie with a hug and a snack every time he visited. By the time the two of you started dating, he was practically part of the family, already. 

Your mom and your brother were on a college visit together in California when you called to tell them what had happened with Lonnie. Eddie could hear you trying to calm them down from the other room as you explained the situation over the phone, but he knew your family well enough to know it wouldn't do much good. 

Eddie had managed to escape the encounter with little more than a nasty bruise and a cracked rib, and luckily, that would heal all on its own. By the night after, he was already feeling well enough to help you make dinner. That's where he was, in fact, when your mother and Jonathan got home. 

Your mom practically burst through the front door, dropping her suitcase.

"Where is he?" She glanced around the room, expression immediately crumbling at the sight of a still-bruised Eddie. She let out a sob, rushing to him. "Oh god…"

she squeaked, checking him over protectively before pulling him into a hug.

"Thank you. Thank you. Oh, sweetheart..." She croaked, petting his hair.  "You're such…such a good kid." 

Maybe it was the way Joyce had always taken care of him. Maybe he was just feeling sentimental. But for just a moment, Eddie felt like he was hugging his mom again. 

***********

@krispypotato @lem0nb0iii @badgirlforeddiemunson @for-hearthand-home @ajokeformur-ray @eddie-swhore @bibieddiesgf @hawkins-heartbreak @munsond-mayhem28 @running-on-nitroglycerin

[funshape]

intro post go

hi im kaz/diego/victor. he/him, im 18 years OLD

used to be @/campyvillain but i moved here hii

i make stories and artwork of a cartoony variety. im going 2 school for the latter

dni if proship/anti anti, anyone whos weird about minors, discourse acc, terf, exclus, nsfw/fetish etc. idc if i find out you're weird ill likely just block you on my own.

minors: please only follow if you are 15 or older, to everyone that is/is over 18 im aware that some younger ppl are mutuals w me and follow my work, so dont be a freak on my posts, it also just makes ME uncomfortable so cut that shit out!!!

dont post any of my posts onto tiktok or youtube. no surfclown containment breaches if you think something i make is funny keep that between you and god

if i catch you behaving weirdly around any of my friends i get to blast you with a beam

my main art blog

heres the blog for me and my friends ocverse btw

⬆️this is the californiaverse btw since people do NOT KNOW‼️

commissions are open! i have a variety of stuff listed come check it out (CASH4PP ONLY)

ok thats it bye

[pippin-katz]

Alright before anyone asks me:

yes I’m aware Taylor used an AI app/filter thing

no I don’t like that he used it

yes it’s a little problematic that he used it

no he did not violate the strike by using it

yes I have seen the tiktok of those two white bitches demanding queer roles only be played by queer characters

yes they are completely fucking stupid and hypocritical

The SAG strike is fighting against the use of AI to write scripts, create footage, recreate their likeness and voice to steal their identity, and all that fantastic bullshit.

The AI app Taylor used has nothing to do with that.

If the app’s algorithm was trained by photos and artwork that the developers had permission and consent to use, it would be completely fine.

However, 99.9% of them do not have permission. That is also an important AI issue, but it is not the same as what the SAG strike is about. It’s not great that he used it, but he did not do anything wrong regarding the strike.

Also, I’d like to point out that most people are unaware of the theft that goes on behind the scenes. It may seem obvious to people like me, an artist, or people who spend a lot of time on the internet looking at art, but most ordinary people who hop on something like TikTok and use an AI filter are not aware of the thievery that is taking place.

It is not impossible that he isn’t familiar with this issue either, especially given how much he seems to travel, and his attention being on sustainability, specifically in the fashion/clothing industry. He’s busy doing stuff in real life. He’s also a bit of a bookworm, so he’s probably not on the internet nearly as much as people like us.

Is it still bad that he used it? Yes, but it is not something to freak out over. Inform him of the problem and move on.

As for the bitches, I would probably punch the one with braces in the face if I was put in a room with them. They had the gall to complain about Love, Simon being “too happy”, citing how miserable queer people are and how we’re scared to come out of the closet, right after demanding all queer characters be played by queer actors.

Please let this idea DIE. It does far more harm than the good people have in mind.

The idea is that it would get more queer actors hired and more representation overall and whatnot, but if you actually stop to fucking think about it, it is completely stupid.

1. Sexuality is an invisible trait. Anyone can identify as anything simply by saying it.

2. Any queer actor would have to out themselves just to play a queer character on a screen.

3. Actors do not owe the public details about their personal life and identity.

4. Stop assuming everyone is straight until said otherwise. It’s heteronormative and harmful.

One of the best lines in the entirety of Red, White & Royal Blue is this one from Alex’s speech:

“The forced conformity of the closet cannot be answered with forced conformity in coming out of it.”

There are far too many queer people who are failing to understand this. By pressuring people to come out, you are harming them. There are a bunch of different reasons for why they haven’t, with the most important one being that they simply don’t want to. It is their decision, and your opinion is unwanted and irrelevant.

Alright there, I addressed the stuff. Moving on!

[nyashykyunnie]

MY TIME HAS ARRIVED!! Here another simp present from daddy Sung Jin woo.... Ahhhh!! Well my application has the yandere element because I'm addicted to this genre, sorry if it bothers you (you can remove it even though my application would lose meaning) Well then, I'm sorry for my shitty memory and stuff, since I read the manhwa 3 years ago and barely I remember a potato. So, could you make a yandere request Sung Jinwoo where he is slowly falling into his obsession and more as he rises through the ranks as a hunter until almost reaching shadow monarch? You see, the reader was his friend (sorry I'll use the feminine term) She always supported him and gave him love, however behind all those smiles and joy, (Y/N)/Reader had other problems (it's not anguish) Basically it's sung Jinwoo being a big baby trying to protect his beloved from everything hahahaha.... incidentally killing bad people and monsters as well as possessiveness involved. I'm sorry if this bothers you, to compensate I leave a drawing of denji made by me... it's not the best, bye!!

a/n: LET ME TELL YOU HOW I FREAKED OUT WHILE I VISUALIZED YANDERE SUNG JINWOO I WENT WRRRR!!! YANDERE SUNG JINWOO HAS MY HEART I LOVE HIM AS A GREEN BUT A RED FLAG JINWOO????!!!! SIGN ME UP PLEASE!!! I hope you don't mind me using Gn<33 ALSO I LOVE THE LIL ARTWORK THAT CAME WITH THE REQ ITS SO ADORABLE!!!!

Yandere! Sung Jinwoo x Gn! Reader

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕘 𝕁𝕚𝕟𝕨𝕠𝕠˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

﹢　˖    　✦      ¸ .　﹢　 ° 　¸.    ° ˖ ･ ·̩　　 ｡　☆.     　﹢　˖    　✦      ¸ .

It was enough points when your are a friend. But the fact that you've seen Jinwoo way before he transcended as the Shadow Monarch and the world? Oh his obsession is much more concerning

Unlike the typical yanderes that looses control every once in a while, Jinwoo has great control over his emotions.

His obsession is quiet, as if it was poison.

The stronger he gets, the more manipulative he gets.

Do you notice? No. Of course you dont.

Jinwoo is so nice after all.

The best way to manipulate someone is to make them believe you're harmless.

His way of manipulating you is simple.

Jinwoo makes you rely on him. Solely on Him only.

No one else but him. Just him alone.

Perhaps he purposely puts you in danger. Not really in danger-danger.

Just... Shaking you up a little by letting monsters go your way and he swoops in the moment you're absolutely frightened like the knight in shining armor he is.

He'll comfort you. Cooing at you gently, letting you know he's just there for you.

You're fine...You're fine... Your Jinwoo is here, he'll protect you no matter what.

Don't be scared. He's here. Don't be scared.

He'll use this method. Over and over again until you are paranoid without his presence.

He's the type of obsessive lover that wants you to solely rely on him and him only.

Just him.

You know that he only wants the best for you, right? There, there.

He'l slowly put that venom into you, until you're nothing more than a paranoid, sweet little thing who only seeks to be in his loving arms.

Jinwoo isn't the direct type after all.

He'll just play you like a doll.

You know that he's only doing for you anyway.

It's for your own good.

Oh, but of course he's not only does he manipulate you.

He can be quite jealous too.

Jinwoo isn't vocal about this though. He'll just continously glare at the person who is talking to you.

He'll give them three warnings.

The First Time: He'll let them off

The Second Time: He'll start paying more attention.

The Third Time: They better enjoy their last meal.

After all, they won't be waking up tomorrow anymore

After that, he'll be a bit pouty. He'll be cuddling you gently as his mind goes dark on trying to figure out ways to make people stop approaching you.

He ponders deeply as he held you in his arms

Oh well.

He'll just has to figure that out soon.

[esprei]

VOLO TIME *cue piano* OK SO... I’ve been meaning to write this up for a while now - my thoughts, observations and general musings on Volo (and maybe a headcanon or two?) (please keep in mind this will be very jumbled - literally just me trying to talk about why this character has grown on me and why I love him so much now so without further ado, let’s go! also, big shoutout to @sunnyluma for helping grab most of these screenshots tyyyyyy ;-;)

((under a cut because this will be loooong))

Ah, Volo... where do I even start?  I was pretty indifferent towards him at first and the same can be said as I played through the game. I honestly thought that he was just a Legends Arceus version of Cynthia, nothing more nothing less (since, y’know he had similar looks, mannerisms and things, not to mention the whole various characters as ancestors bit). For some reason gen 4 is the gen that resonates with me the least (I’ve uh... never actually finished a gen 4 game or fought Cynthia 😬), and while I do think Cynthia is a really cool champion and character in general, I definitely don’t feel a lot of the same hype for her that others do. So that, in turn, applied to Volo for me as well. It was like a... he’s just there kind of situation. But fast forward from finishing the game to hyperfixation on submas to maybe... two months ago? Three now? I dunno, can’t remember the timeline, but what I DO remember is looking at Volo one day and being like... wow. He’s cool. I like him. More specifically, I was looking at his character design sheet at the time. And in that moment it really sank in that, wow this guy is freaking tall. 190cm? equivalent to 6′3″? What in the world. And just... something about that cocky smirk of his in his artwork, coupled with the fact that it’s right next to his goofy Arceus cosplay with that hair... He hooked me. Seriously. Look at him:

(This outfit has also grown on me btw I unironically love it because look at him he’s in his Arceus cosplay and he confidently rocks it like i can’t-) Anyway part of it is probably because I love characters who have crazy or sinister expressions. They can be fun! So then I rewatched the cutscene that happens after you win against him and Giratina because I couldn’t quite recall the sequence of events that happened there and I was curious. And MAN I was shocked... I did not really remember ANY of this?? Seriously, there’s so much packed into these last few lines before he walks away (forever... sobs...). I feel like I really see a glimpse into Volo’s complexity during this whole cutscene. Or, at the very least, his insecurities. Just take the following for example:

HE LOOKS SO SAD... SERIOUSLY, this particular little scene always gets to me. Like... ok. Yeah, he not too long before this ordered Giratina to strike you down to get the plates because he said he wasn’t above using force to get them from you, but it’s here where I really see a guy who’s questioning himself in this moment. It’s like he’s putting so much worth into Arceus’s view of him, he’s so convinced that he’s the chosen one because of his bloodline that when Arceus doesn’t choose him he’s lost. Confused. Surprised Pikachu face even. 

I dunno... we unfortunately don’t have a lot of backstory on him, but I feel like this guy has (or feels like he has) a lot of pressure on his shoulders due to the nature of belonging to a bloodline that has pretty much since died out, save for himself and Cogita. Or maybe even that he put that pressure on himself? Which brings me to this... a scene that REALLY caught my attention when watched it again because I actually read what he says???

If you follow me over on twitter, you might have seen me talk about this scene a while back - more specifically what he says in the first two screenshots. It’s honestly one of the ones that led me to look into Volo even more because seriously... Volo. Who or what hurt you. What happened. Talk to me. PLEASE...

In all seriousness though, the lack of backstory kills me because I like to imagine something tragic happened to him in the past for him to have this viewpoint. And to not only have this viewpoint but to be driven enough to make a change in the world... err... rather, just make a new one!

But. Back to the lines after you defeat him and Giratina... what stands out to me here as well is Volo’s admission and acceptance of defeat. Watching it back the first time I was honestly a little caught off guard. He really kinda humbles himself and gives you the last plate, the Spooky Plate, admitting that his journey ended when lost to you. I don’t really focus too much on the other Pokemon villains admittedly so I’m not sure if others did this, but this sequence just stuck out to me because he gives it up after being so aggressive right before this. Like before he was confident, smug, hellbent on doing everything that he could to get you out of his way, you outsider, then when he Giratina ran off he was at first angry, then confused, questioning Arceus about it all, left with burning questions that he can’t bear not knowing the answer to... It’s like this man goes through the five stages in grief all in the span of like... 30 seconds.

Seriously, this man looks tired here. Done. Defeated. He knows it’s over.

He accepts it all, even if it’s just for a moment. ...Then right after that the Azure Flute forms for you and he’s right back to being an angry, petulant brat about it all... But that’s why I love him! He’s morally gray. He fights with himself, he fights with the internal emotional turmoil that he’s feeling about you being the one Arceus wants to see rather than him, about him not being good enough for Arceus to spare him even a second of its time, him thinking that he was doing something that needed to be done, rebuilding a new world free from pain and strife and other horrible things he’s had to experience, that others have no doubt experienced... (at least, this is what I see asfkldfj) And all of that, at least to me, makes him more interesting than the Volo I had first impressions of. Makes him feel more human to me. More than just “oh shoot, he’s the Cynthia ancestor who’s actually the villain instead of Cyllene!” Like... yeah. He made bad choices. He tried to use Giratina to strike you down. He wanted to subjugate Arceus and force it to create a brand new world, erasing the current one. Not a good look. I’m not trying to excuse any of that, and I’m not the best at organizing these thoughts probably, and I will admit that I also saw Volo as the manipulative, conniving guy early on because for me it was such a twist that he was the villain, so that’s what I focused on. And why he was such a great twist villain for me was because of the setup. By that, I mean you already had a well established character in Cynthia right - an all good, helpful, friendly and strong person - then you apply that to Volo and... boom. HE’S NOT THAT?? I was thinking at a certain point it was just going to be Kamado as the big bad because of the events that unfold, which is why with Volo it was EVEN BETTER because you had that sort of fake out I guess (for lack of a better term)? Kamado banishes you from Jubilife, Volo finds you in Obsidian Fieldlands and helps you, takes you to Cogita to help with the lake spirits and the Red Chain and all, you eventually hear that Kamado is going up to the temple to deal with the rift, then after those events Volo gets kinda sus at the Giratina statue riiiiight before you go up to the temple and then when you get up there... JACKET COMES OFF, OUTFIT CHANGE, etc etc. And like... I get why some people just do not like Volo and never will. I respect that. Trust me, I did NOT like Melli during the main game at all, I’ll tell you what. The little bit of background we get on him in the daybreak update was what changed my view on him, though. And for me what changed my general view on Volo were these scenes. I dunno, maybe I’m a broken record at this point, and maybe I’m a little biased now because I adore him, but I now see him as someone who maybe in the beginnings had noble intentions and just ended up going down the wrong path unfortunately.

Like... look. Right after he questions Arceus about what he’s lacking he asks this:

To me, he’s doubting it all now. And like the moments I mentioned above, him questioning the grand ol’ creator what it is he’s lacking, what makes him not good enough, we see a bit of his human side. Scenes like these and scenes like when he gives you the Spooky Plate lead me to think he has a lot of insecurities hidden underneath that confident (and other times cheery and playful) demeanor. Whether it’s a burden, an expectation, his own self-imposed pressures... there’s just a smidge that we can see and so much more that could be possible if he had more story elements focused on him. (WHICH IS WHY I WANT PLA DLC SO BAD I KNOW IT’S WISHFUL THINKING BUT PLEASE) I’d also like to mention that I think it’s very very interesting that his trainer class for his last battle is “Pokemon Wielder” rather than the “Ginkgo Guild Member” class he has for his other battles. I don’t feel like “Pokemon Wielder” is negative in its connotation - rather, I’d like to think that it derives from his bloodline, the Celestica people, and the thought that perhaps they were the first tamers of Pokemon in the land of Hisui. This thought is due to the fact that he’s excited to see another person (you) who uses Pokeballs for their Pokemon (rather than the Diamond and Pearl clans whose leaders and wardens do not use Pokeballs at all - with Ingo being the (other) exception to that rule of course). That coupled with the fact that he looks genuinely disappointed that more people don’t use them (this line here):

And, of course, how can I fail to mention his Pokemon team itself? Look. Really. If you know anything about me lately it is that I ADORE the idea of Volo adoring his Togepi. Which then would evolve into a Togetic through high friendship. And then into a Togekiss through use of Shiny Stone, but you get my point right? Budew into Roselia, Riolu into Lucario... Yes, I know, I know, Volo is Hisuian Cynthia so the team matches for the most part outside of H. Arcanine, and the joke about him gaslighting his Pokemon into evolving is funny on the surface, but in reality I think he genuinely loves his Pokemon. For goodness sake, there’s a photo of him and Togepi outside of the photo booth! And and and the standee that was recently announced as merch?!

LOOK AT HOW HE HOLDS LITTLE TOGEPI. YOU CANNOT TELL ME THIS MAN DOESN’T LOVE HIS EGG. LOOK AT HOW HE HOLDS EGG. EGG DAD. ...Sorry. Got a little carried away there. But yes! I think he loves his Pokemon, genuinely. Which is why it kills me when he says this:

Like bro. Your Pokemon were right there in that battle. VOLO PLEASE- (ALSO JUST A QUICK MENTION ABOUT THIS LINE, it also leads me to think that he’s kinda... always been alone for the most part, outside of his Pokemon team maybe 🥺 probably more of a headcanon than anything but that’s just how I feel sdflkjsdlfkj) Alright... I think I’ve said enough at this point and it’s a mess and I’m not too sure I can ever put quite how I feel about Volo into proper words because I’m not the best at this kind of thing but... I just want to say that he’s a character that I have accelerated in love and appreciation for because he’s just... I dunno, he’s got a lot going on. And I think maybe some of that gets missed because of his ties to Cynthia and his betrayal. But I’m reaaaaaally hoping to see him again in the near future. A random house in one of the cities either in the new region or in Unova (if we get B/W remakes) will suffice 🥲 So uh... YEAH. tl;dr I think Volo is a great character with a little more under the surface than just the villain reveal twist at the end of the game and I’m rooting for him all the way. Him and Togepi (Togekiss?). 

Alright. That’s all I got! Byeeeee y’all 👋

[gachawolfiebloom]

Your Pursuit of Perfection

Story and Artwork By: @GachaWolfieBloom

Chapter 4: A New Challenger

Summary: A few months after the events of WOTFI 2023, SMG4 starts having really bad dreams about the "Its gotta be perfect" incident. One night however, his fear allows the nightmares to break through and he gets taken to a horrific dimension. He finally meets the tv adware, who manipulates him into returning to his insane ways, intent on claiming much more than the perfect video. Now it's up to his friends to stop this madness and save SMG4. Can they do it in time or will they lose SMG4 forever? (In case you are unaware this is a sequel to the its gotta be perfect movie)

Tags: angst, its gotta be perfect, love confession, luigi, mario, meggy, melony, nightmares, scary, smg3, smg4, smg34, smg3 x smg4, tari, tv adware

They all went back to the castle to think of a new plan. Meggy was pacing back and forth while everyone else was worried. Mario was the most freaked out as he kept running around screaming "SMG4 IS GONE!!! MARIO'S NEVER GOING TO SEE HIM AGAIN!!! DO SOMETHING SMG3!!!" Tari tried to calm him down. "It's okay Mario! We'll find a way to save him!"

"Who was that and where did he come from?" Meggy pondered. "Whoever the hell that was, he's so dead when I find him." Three said with a serious tone. After what he had witnessed back in March, he was not taking any chances this time. If anyone hurt or killed Four, consider it their funeral. Boopkins asked "That icky stuff looked kind of familiar..."

Meggy had a realization just then. "You're right Boopkins! That's the same substance that we saw engulf Four with the its gotta be perfect incident!"

"The what?" Melony asked. Right. She wasn't there when they faced the insane man. "Oh sorry Melony. We faced some kind of weird goop and Smg4 got possessed from his obsession of making things perfect." Melony felt distraught when she heard that. "That's horrible! I hope that Smg4 is okay. Maybe we should have paid more attention to him." Three's face changed into a guilty expression when he heard Melony say that. "Three? Are you okay?" Meggy asked.

"Yeah sure..." Mario suddenly got an idea and ran up to Three. "SMG3! YOUR MEME POWERS! USE THEM TO BRING SMG4 BACK PLEASE!!!" Before he could say a word, a voice behind them spoke "I'm afraid that won't work."

They all turned to see Smg1 and Smg2 standing behind them. "Your meme energy won't connect with each other when you are in different realms." They all looked in confusion at the meme guardians. "What do you mean different realms?" Tari asked. The two shared a glance with each other and sighed. "We know who has been targeting Smg4 and where they took him."

"WHO!?" It was finally time for them to know about the mysterious figure who was watching from the shadows all these months. "His name is the TV Adware. He has taken Smg4 to his world, The Realm of Torment or as you call it, The Nightmare Realm."

"Well then what are we waiting for! Let's go over there and kick his butt already!" Three said, about to make a mad dash for the door. "Wait!" called Smg2. "We don't know what he's planning."

Smg1 lowered his voice. "You deserve an explanation. This is something that we had hoped would never come to pass."

"The TV Adware is a being that likes to corrupt others by using their disabilities against them. Back when you faced Smg4, he apparently knew exactly what to say to convince him to his side. He used his fear and hatred to give him the powers that you all encountered. After you defeated him, we hoped that his forces of darkness would back off...but we were wrong. He has watched you all these months and has now gained enough strength to claim what he wanted all those months ago."

Meggy pipes up with curiosity "What would that be?" Smg1 did not hold back when delivering this announcement. "TO CLAIM ENOUGH POWER TO BREAK THROUGH AND TURN OUR WORLD INTO HIS OWN DARK KINGDOM!!!" They all gasped and a few even looked scared. Luigi and Tari clung onto each other, shaking. Smg1 calmed down and apologized. "Sorry. We realize this is a lot."

"You're telling me! It's not like we just learned that our friend is kidnapped by some evil tv guy and is going to be used to let all hell loose!" Smg2 decided to help out. "We should have told you sooner, but there's no time for that. We must travel to his dimension and save Smg4 before the TV Adware can take control of him again."

"H-h-how are w-we g-g-going to stop h-h-him..." Luigi said nervously. "If we can all join our powers to Smg4, we might have a chance to save him." Smg1 said. "But what about our home?" Meggy asked. "Leave that to us!" Another pair of characters came up behind them. Swag put his sunglasses on while standing in a cool pose and Chris just rolled his eyes. Chris explained "The US military can hold them off while you guys go stop this guy."

"But how are we going to get there?" Tari asked. Smg2 pointed out "We know of a place where we can open to his world." Meggy rose up "Let's all be strong for Smg4! Who's with me!" She put her hand in the middle as Melony followed. "I might not know about your first encounter, but I'll help in any way I can!" Tari put her mechanical hand on top and says "It sounds scary, but I'll do it for Four!" Boopkins had some trouble, but put his hand in the middle as well. "Count me in!" Bob followed "FINE. I'LL BE NICE THIS ONE TIME." Luigi shakily puts his hand in as well. "I-i-i'll try..." Mario excitedly slaps his hand in the middle as well. "YIPPEE! MARIO WANTS TO RESCUE SMG4 AS WELL!" Saiko put her hand in and says something in anime.

Only one person left. "Well Three..." He thought for a few seconds and said "As much as I hate to admit it, I really don't want to lose that idiot." He put his hand his in as well and they all lifted them up. "We're coming Smg4!"

Smg1 said "We must hurry... we don't know how long Smg4's bravery will protect him..."

Your friends won't save you this time...

Chapter 5: The Return of I̵̤̫͘ǹ̷͇̇s̸͈̦͗̆ȁ̵̟̉ñ̷͔̰ḯ̶̲͇̅ṫ̵̝͗y̴̺̠͆̀

[13as07]

Outing

(Shino Aburame)

[Artwork is not mine! Credit to uttttate]

Requested by: Anonymous

Word Count: 4,595

Warnings and/or Pre-Notes:

None

———————————————————————

     I eagerly wait by the door, sitting on the ground and glaring at the door as if that'll make my date show up earlier. My fingers toy with the pedals of the sunflowers I bought, occasionally having to nudge one of the dogs when they try to eat the blooms I've situated again and again in their vase. Maybe I should fix them again, this arrangement looks stupid too... or maybe I've been glancing at it too long.

Or maybe I'm just a little nervous. I don't know how Shino is going to react to me getting him flowers. It's probably a stupid idea but beetles enjoy sunflowers - I think - so I figured it would be a good gift for my date. From what Naruto has told me people tend to avoid Shino because his kikaichus freak people out. I want him to know they don't freak me out, that they're not a 'turn-off' for me, and that they won't be a damper on our - hopefully - developing relationship.

There's a knock on the door, making both the dogs and me jump to our feet. "I'll get it!" I yell, over the dogs' barks, carefully placing the vase on the door side table.

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed. It's not like you've been sitting in front of the door for the past hour," my dad mumbles, getting a nose puff and an agreeing head bob from Pakkun who didn't bother climbing to his feet or joining the rest of the pack at the door.

I tap my hip, before leaving my palm pointed towards the pack. Seven of the eight dogs - Pakkun ignoring me as he stays situated under my Dad's feet - obey the command, their noses tapping against my pale as they situate themselves on the side I ordered. My hand closes in a fist, shifting down to give them their next command. Again, they all listen, falling into their sit command.

Another knock comes from the door, a round of howling answering it once again. I pat myself down, flatting my clothes and trying to brush off the dog hair I always seem to be covered in. I glance at the dogs again, letting out a shaky breath as I look them over. "Please don't be weird," I tell them, a mix of tail wags, poked-out tongues, and barks being my response.

"They're going to be weird, and if they're not, I'll be weird," Dad teases, getting a chuckle out of Pakkun this time.

"Dad!"

"Open the door before your date thinks you're ignoring him," he grumbles, rolling his eye at me before focusing on the dishes again.

Right, Shino is here... and I still haven't answered the door! I quickly turn the handle, shooting the pack another glance before tugging the door open. "Hello," I pipe out, quickly glancing over his outfit. Same outfit as usual, same glass as always, just like Shino tends to be. Just how I like it. Predictability is comfortable and attractive. Like Shino.

     "Hello," he says back, sinking his head further into the collar of his shirt.

     I glance around, trying to shake off the awkwardness, my eyes falling on the forgotten vase. My hands shoot forward, grabbing the flowers, and holding them out towards Shino. "I... uh... got you - er - your kikaichus flowers. Well I guess I got them for you but when I bought them I was thinking about what your kikaichus would favor and I don't know if sunflowers are it but I guess I just panicked and decided on these and - "

     "You're rambling, Madam," Pakkun mutters, the clicking of his nails against the floorboards filling the space. "Apologies for my Madam," he says, walking through my legs before settling between Shino's and my feet. "She tends to ramble when she's nervous."

     "I'm not nervous and I'm not rambling," I mutter, shifting the vase in my hands.

     "It's alright, your Madam's voice has the power to please my ears upon any subject she speaks," Shino voices, confusing me a bit. What does that mean? Why is he so old-timely spoken? I'm going to have to look into a Shakespeare translator or something if he keeps speaking like this.

     He takes the flowers from me, the sound of ruffled plastic catches my attention, making my eyes fall. Wrapped in a clear plastic sleeve with baby blue tissue paper is a bouquet. The flowers are a mix of soft pinks and powder purples; the greens of the bouquet are pale, going along with the soft colors so perfectly it might make me burst into tears of appreciation. My sunflowers look so cheap compared to the flowers I got him.

     "Alright, weirdo," Pakkun grumbles, twirling around my feet a few times to catch my attention.

     "My apologies. It seems I came off wrong. I have read it is common for a suitor to compliment his suitress. Is that not the common practice?" Shino asks, his head switching between being focused on me and being focused on Pakkun.

     The dog jumps up, his front feet pressed into my leg as he stretches upward. "You know how to pick a... Suitor, Madam," he grumbles, head butting my thigh.

     "Be nice," I order, bending down to pick up the pug. "Don't mind Pakkun. He's old and grumpy," I tell Shino, turning the dog on his back in my arms so I can rub his tummy.

     "I am not grumpy, and I'm most definitely not - right there my Madam," he cuts himself off, kicking his foot as I scratch his belly.

     I giggle at the pug, tilting my head down to nuzzle my nose against his head. "Hatake-Chan?" Shino calls, pulling my attention away from the dog in my arms. "I also read it is common to meet your immediate family before I take you out on our first outing. May I do that?"

     "Sure, Shino," I answer, sending him a smile as my cheeks heat up. "Just a heads up most of my 'immediate' family is made up of dogs," I warn him, setting Pakkun on his paws again.

     "That is alright. I tend to understand and get along with animals better than humans," he tells me, sending me a small smile back.

     "Bull," I call, tapping my hip. The big chunky boy slowly trudges over, his nose tapping my hand waiting for his next command. "This is Bull, he's a gentle giant and the muscle of the pack," I explain, cupping his ears and rubbing the back of them with my thumbs.

     "Hello Bull," Shino greats, bowing his head at the dog before his head shifts around. "I would like to give you your flowers and perhaps set mine down so I can properly great Bull," he adds, holding the bouquet he bought towards me. I take the bouquet, along with the vase, setting them down on the table again. "Hello, Bull-San," he repeats, kneeling to pat Bull's head.

     The bulldog sniffs at him, sneezing when a kikaichu flaps out and lands on his nose, causing the both of us to smile. Once he's bored, Bull trots toward the kitchen, heading to go bother my Dad for scrapes. "Urushi," I call, the hyper dog eagerly leaving his heel and bolting at my date.

     Shino stumbles a bit, a hand falling to the ground to keep him balanced as the other one focuses on rubbing along the dog's fur. "He's Dad's main - "

     "Excuse me?" Pakkun cuts in, his head tilted as he glares at me.

     "Urushi is training to take over as my Dad's main ninken once Pakkun retires."

     Shino straightens himself, both hands rubbing the dog that has situated his paws on my date's chest, eagerly licking his face. "I shall tell Kiba to come talk to your father then. Akamaru isn't retiring any time soon but Kiba's mother has been insisting that he starts planning for his retirement."

     "I think Dad would like that. Now, go lay down Urushi," I order, gently tugging on the dog's collar. "Shiba," I call for the next, the dog instantly answering. He sulks over to me, softly growling as he slides his way between my legs, his head pressed into my stomach as he glares at the new man in the room. "Shiba doesn't take kindly to any man besides Uncle Gai and Dad being around me."

     "That is understandable," he mumbles, flatting his hand as he leans it toward the dog. "I will respect your wishes and keep space between myself and your Madam, alright Shiba?"

     The dog lets out a few grumbles, continuing to growl until Dad calls him into the kitchen. "Bisuke?" The flappy-eared dog races forward, bouncing around at my feet as he paws at me, wanting to be picked up. "He's the baby of the group so he's not the most behaved."

     "He reminds me of Naruto," Shino mumbles, taking a few awkward steps forward, stopping when Shiba starts growling again.

     I giggle, scratching the dog's head. "Ya, he does kind of act like Naruto doesn't he?" Shino nods, toying with his tail until the dog wanders off, setting himself up to pounce on Pakkun. "Akino?" I call, the second biggest dog slowly strutting forward, rubbing himself against Shino. "He is the most laid back of the pack, aside from Pakkun of course."

     Shino hums, running his hands over Akino's tan coat, at least until he struts away to go sunbathing. "Guruko?" Like the others, he races forward, eagerly shoving his nose against my date's clothes, sniffing out the kikaichus wrapped into Shino's being. "They're all scent-based ninkens but Guruko is the best."

     "I can hear you!" Pakkun yells, his voice huffy as he runs away from Bisuke. The chase catches Guruko's attention causing the dog to leave us to join the chase.

     "Uhei?" I call last, my dog walking over, switching between licking my fingers and sniffing at Shino. "Uhei is my dog, but he works best with a companion. I'm not as skilled as Dad so I can't handle more than one ninken, so Uhei is Dad's on the field and mine at home," I mutter the explanation, scratching the back of my head to help with my nerves.

     "There is no shame in knowing your limits and doing what is best for your ninken," Shino mumbles, patting my dog's sides.

     "Now that I have met all your dogs, I would like to meet your father. I also read it is customary to meet a suitress's father and thank him," he says, crawling to his feet as he swipes all the hair off himself, the fur standing out against his black clothing.

     "You've already met my father," I point out, my eyes glancing to the side as the sound of my Dad approaching fills my ears.

     "I have but I wish to formally meet him, especially since he is allowing me to take you on an outing," he says, slightly nodding his head in agreement with himself.

     "What a gentleman," Dad mutters, a hand on my shoulder as the other one stretches out towards Shino for a handshake.

     "Hatake-San," Shino says, his voice a normal leveled tone for once instead of the soft-spoken tone he usually uses. "It is nice to meet you and I would like to say thank you for allowing me to attempt a courtship with your child."

     He shakes my Dad's hand, causing just a hint of a smile to form under his mask. "Of course. I am rather glad you have met the pack," Dad starts, using the handshake to pull Shino closer, my date ending an inch or two away. He leans down, a closed-eye smile on his face as his tone drops an octave. "Now you know the eight talented-nosed and sharp-teethed beasts that will haunt you down if you do anything to my heart and soul."

     "Kakashi."

     "Dad!" Pakkun and I both call, glaring at my Father because of his overprotectiveness. "Let's maybe not threaten my date, please?"

     Dad drops Shino's hand, throwing his arms up in a shrug as he starts heading back to the kitchen. "What's the point of being a good Shinobi if I can't use the fear of my career history to scare your potential partners?"

     "We're leaving now," I groan, rolling my eyes at the old man. "Do you mind taking care of my flowers and making sure the dogs don't eat the sunflowers I got Shino while we're away?"

     "You got it, Kid," he agrees, already pulling a vase out of the cabinet. "Be back by dark or I'll send the hounds after you two."

     "We got it, Dad," I continue to groan, motioning Shino out the door.

     "Thank you again, Hatake-San," he calls before I close the door. Once there's space between us and the overbearing pack I call family, Shino's full focus is on me again. "You look like a marbled heaven-hued primrose, Hatake-Chan," he says, another soft smile on his face, his cheeks peppered in a pink similar to the flowers he got me.

     I let out a laugh, a smile easily tearing onto my face. "You say the weirdest things sometimes," I tell him, shaking my head and looking down at the street, starting to walk away from my home.

     "Did you not like it? I can offer a different compliment if you'd like," he rushes out, obviously trying to fall in line with my steps. He's struggling too, his strides are a lot larger than mine because of his long legs.

     "No, I like how you compliment me," I hum, walking a bit faster so he will hopefully fall into his normal strides. "I was just pointing out that no one has ever complimented me like you do."

     He does, Shino's strides going back to normal, making his body language relax a bit and flow easier. "I have planned a decent day, I believe, but I wish to get your approval first."

     "Whatever you have planned I'm sure I'll have fun doing."

     "While I appreciate your belief in my abilities to provide you with an appealing afternoon, the plans I have made for us are a little... exclusive. I have read that women are advised to be in a public space during a first outing and I have planned a... well, an exclusive outing, alone, in the forest. If you are uncomfortable being alone with me so apart from - "

     "Shino," I say, cutting him off and stopping my steps. He stops too, mouth snapping shut as he looks down at me, waiting for me to finish my statement. "I've known you for years now. Ya, we might not have been friends until recently, but if Sai doesn’t even dislike you, I'm pretty confident I'll be fine. Sai doesn’t like anyone but Ino.”

“Oh… okay,” he mutters, his hands being shoved into his pockets as he falls quiet. “Hatake-Chan?” He calls after a few moments, stopping our walk again.

“Aburame-Chan?” I tease, tilting my head up to look at his mostly covered face.

He sinks into his shirt color again, just a thin strip of his face exposed. “You’re a brisky eye-beaming nymph.”

I smile at him again, even if I don’t know what he means. “Thank you, Shino.”

He pops out of his hiding spot like a cute little turtle, slightly nodding his head. “Let us continue our walk,” he mutters, head facing forward as he picks up our stroll again.

————————————

My eyes dance over the naturally made fairy lights; the sun beams spilling through the gaps in the leaves paired with pokes of the blue sky. Shino wasn’t kidding when he said he planned an exclusive outing. The little romantic set up a blanket in an open section of the forest about twenty minutes off the main trials. He packed a cute little basket too, filled with different treats, candies, and bubbly drinks.

At the moment I’m sucking on one of the hard candies, enjoying the view of the sky. A few minutes ago I laid out on the blanket, my back to the ground and my knees propped up. A stiff Shino is laid next to me, his body as straight as a board and his hands folded on his chest. “Would you like to sit up again?” I ask, turning my head to look at him.

“No,” he answers quickly, his body tightening even more. I continue to watch him, my eyes catching when a kikaichu or two flutters out of Shino’s clothing. “I am just….”

“Just what?” I ask, turning my head back into place before my eyes sink closed.

“You have not said something in a while. Are you not enjoying our outing?”

“Of course, I’m enjoying it. Just because I am silent doesn’t mean I’m not having fun. Would you like to have a conversation?”

Shino stays quiet for a beat or two, the sound of him moving against the blanket breaking that silence. I open my eyes, tilting my head to look at him again. He’s lying on his side, still seeming super tense. I move too, mimicking his position. “In the research I did before our outing I found that you should ask your suitress questions to better know each other. Could we do that?”

“Sure,” I answer, sliding my hand over to gently lay it on top of his.

His head tilts, the rest of him tensing again as he looks down at our hands. Slowly, Shino shifts his hand, turning it so our palms are pressed together. He moves his fingers, flexing them so they rub against mine. “What’s the best trip you have been on?” He asks toward my fingers, squeezing my hand between flexes now.

“When I was younger,” I start, letting my eyes dance over him again, watching the beetles come and go from his body as they wish. “My Dad had a low-risk mission in the Land of Wind so he took me with him. We did a bunch of cool things while we were there. I got to tan for the first time and let me tell you, it was weird seeing my ghostly pale Dad tanned. We got to sand surf too which is a lot more difficult than regular surfing. We went to this certain desert too where all the sands were as white as pearls. I swear it looked like the heavens those religious books talk about.”

Shino keeps up with his soft touches, his focus on my face again. As I speak he nods along, occasionally humming as I ramble. “Sorry,” I mutter, turning over onto my back again, making sure my hand stays in place.

“Why are sorry, Hatake-Chan?” He asks, also turning onto his back. Now he’s mostly squeezing my fingers instead of running his fingertips over them.

“I’m doing all the talking. I want to know things about you too.”

“It is alright. I don’t find joy in talking.”

“No?” I ask, tilting my head so I can look at him. I don’t know why I bother, I can’t see anything besides his nose and about half his cheeks. Though, his cheeks are covered in a rose pink again.

“No. A lot of the time I don’t have anything I want to say,” he answers, tilting his head to look back at me. “I do like it when you speak though. So, please, keep telling me every thought you have, palmy crow-flowered rarity.”

A soft giggle bubbles in my chest, escaping as a smile crosses my face. Shino has the weirdest but most poetic compliments I’ve ever heard. “Alright, but only if you agree to speak when you do have something to say.”

He thinks about it for a moment. “Alright,” he agrees, nodding his head in agreement.

Our eyes lock - I think, it’s hard to tell with his glasses on. We look at each other, Shino slowly squeezing my hand, his thumb running over my knocks as we sit in silence. “You are not speaking. I asked you to tell me every thought you have. Are you having no thoughts?”

“I still feel like I don’t know anything new about you but I don’t want to push you to talk or tell me stuff if you don’t want to.”

He stays quiet for a second. The silence breaks once again when he moves. Shino sits up, his legs crossed as he hesitates for a moment, our hands shifting from his movements. I stay still, watching as he lifts our hands, struggling with where to lay them. It takes a moment but it lays them on his knee.

“Will you please sit up?” I do as he asks, sitting up, and crossing my legs just like him. Shino squeezes my hand one, two, three times before leaving my hand on his knee. “You introduced me to your dogs today.”

“I did,” I agree, nodding my head and gently squeezing his knee.

“In my research, I have found that sharing at least one personal thing on the first few outings is the best way to understand your new partner. You shared your dogs, so you have shared your personal thing. It is my turn.”

“Okay?” I mumble, a bit confused. I think on our next outing we should talk about his research thing.

“My clan members - me included - are used as nests for insects. A few different factors like weather seasons, blood type, and a few other things, determine the bug species we receive. I was compatible with kikaichus, so that is the species of bug I use as a sort of ninken.”

This is all information I know, but I nod along, letting Shino know I’m paying attention in hopes he’ll keep talking.

“My kikaichus are very important to me. They make up most of me, they protect me, and if our outings keep going well, they will one day protect you too. Since they are a part of me, they are as personal as I can offer. Also, since I wish that they will one day protect you, I hope you will let me introduce them to you.”

“Of course, Shino. I’d love to meet your kikaichus.”

He slowly nods his head, his sights skating over my hands. “One moment,” he mutters, shrugging off his coat. “I… um…” he stumbles, flicking the coat behind me, gently laying it on my shoulders so the material wraps around my frame. “Kikaichus are scent-based ninkens, so…” Shino’s cheeks are pink again, quickly sinking into a red. “So, if you… if you smell like me they are more likely to be friendly. Not that they are violent creatures! I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I don’t want you to not get along with my partners. I did not mean to make them seem like violent creatures. They are not. Yes, they eat chakra, but I would never allow enough on you that it would harm you. Besides, their snacking on your chakra is similar to the feeling of a goat eating pellets out of your hand, so it does not hurt.”

“Alright.”

“Alright,” Shino echoes, taking a few deep breaths. His movements are slow, his fingertips rubbing against mine for a moment. “Once they start crawling on you, please stay still so you don’t accidentally harm them. Not that I think you would but until you are more familiar with them I would like you to stay still.”

“I’ll stay still.”

He nods a couple of times, slowly lifting my hands. I keep them held in the air, palms to the sky like Shino placed them. “They will crawl all over you, wherever they want. It’ll feel a bit weird at first but I assure you it won’t hurt. Don’t worry, I’ll keep track of them so they don’t end up anywhere by your arms,” he mutters the last part, his fingers lying under mine. “Okay, they are going to crawl out now. Stay still.”

“I’ll stay still,” I repeat, carefully scanning Shino’s face. He seems tense again, his breath a little shaky as a few kikaichus come marching out of his shirt collar, parading in a neat line down his arm. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” I whisper, my eyes jumping between the beetles and my date.

“Why do you think I don’t wish to do this?”

“You seem tense.”

“I am just nervous,” he mumbles, rotating his shoulders when the first kikaichu trails off Shino’s palm onto my fingertips. “I have never let anyone besides my father hold my kikaichus. I am fond of you and if you are not comfortable with my beetles we will never be compatible. I worry we are not compatible.”

My eyes jump around my arms, trailing over the ten kikaichus crawling over me. Their little legs feel like pins against my skin. Not painful pins, but like you’re just resting the edge of a pin against your skin. It almost tickles having them crawl across me. “Shino?” He lets out a hum, his fingertips slowly sliding back and forth against my fingers, his hands still in place in the air under mine. “If I wasn’t comfortable with your beetles I wouldn’t have agreed to our date.”

His head lifts, looking at me instead of his bugs. His mouth opens before snapping closed, the cycle repeating a couple of times. “Oh…” he whispers, tilting his head back down. “That is useful information.”

“Do they have names? Your kikaichus?”

“No, they are tracked by eight-digit codes made up of letters and numbers. It is easier than naming one and a half million kikaichus. It does not mean I care about them any less.”

“Alright, what are the codes of these eight?”

“CAW79MAW, BIRDS09K, 923JEKOL, JAZZBO77, DIG0DUGS, 1CHAIRS9, YINS8000 and KINGS199.”

“And you keep track of all one and a half million?”

“Yes.”

“Do you purposely try to make words out of their codes?”

“Yes.”

“Smart,” I mutter, watching the kikaichus fall back into their neat lines, crawling back down my arms and beelining toward Shino’s shirt collar again.

“Hatake-Chan?” I hum in response, letting my arms fall back to my sides once Shino moves his arms first. “I also read that it is customary to plan the next outing before or sometime soon after the last. Another thing I found in my research was that a kiss is a good way to signify the end of an outing. I have enjoyed our outing but I believe I need some time to process the recent events. If you do not wish to kiss - ”

I lunge forward, being careful to grip Shino’s clothing so I don’t hurt any of his bugs. I cling to his shirt, crashing my lips against his to cut off his rambling. I enjoy Shino talking to me, but if he keeps going one if not both of us are going to chicken out.

A sound spills from him, his noise slipping into my mouth before his hands stumble onto me, balling up the material of his jacket, and using it to pull me closer. Our lips dance against each other at least until my lungs force me to pull away. Shino is pink and huffy, still gripping his jacket as he looks at me. “Take me to dinner tomorrow. Pick me up at seven, okay?”

He rapidly shakes his head, slowly leaning forward. “Yes, ma’am,” he spills out, the word being dragged until it’s cut off by his lips against mine again.

[leviackermanscleaningbuddy]

Chan takes about getting a full sleeve of tattoos at a fansign and I know our head alpha isn’t the biggest fan of needles, but what does he think about this? Also might I suggest a group tattoo to tie you all more together rather than just mating marks

"It's funny you bring this up." Chan grimaces, reaching up to tug the collar of his shirt away from his throat as he swallows nervously. "Because the topic has come up recently."

"We're currently in a divided stalemate, is what he means." Hyunjin harumphs, crossing his arms over his chest, lips pulled into a pout.

"This whole thing is tearing the pack apart!" Jisung wails dramatically, clinging to Seungmin as the other beta makes an annoyed half effort to shake him off.

"Okay, first off-" You hold out your hands to quiet everyone, biting back a laugh at Jisung's antics. "-it's not that serious. We're all just discussing and debating some things. And second-" You glance to Minho with an arch of a brow. "I definitely think neutral parties can be won to our side."

"Hyung!" Felix gasps with wide eyes, looking at Minho with utter betrayal. "You Benedict Arnold!"

Minho shrugs. "I'm still neutral. I have given no one my word."

"Please, hyung." Hyunjin whines, giving Minho his best begging eyes and pouty lips. "It would be so cool."

"Basically-" Chan sighs, face full of instant regret. "-some of the members of the pack are gung ho about getting pack tattoos and some of us are a little more-hesitant."

"Meaning, he's a wuss who's deathly terrified of the idea of letting a needle so close to his skin." Changbin teases back, sticking his tongue out at the head alpha.

"Hey, I'm not opposed to the general idea, okay?" Chan protests, throwing out his hands. "Hyunjin has come up with some really beautiful, sentimental artwork and sketches, it's just the thought of having to go through with the actual process and all that entails that freaks me out."

He visibly shudders, wincing, at the thought.

"I love the idea." Hyunjin declares passionately. "And I think, given a few more reworks, that I could come up with the perfect set of mate tattoos-all intertwined, but different and personal for each member-making a whole picture, like our relationship as a metaphor."

"And I absolutely don't doubt that." Chan reassures soothingly, reaching out a hand toward the luna.

"Me neither." Felix agrees with a solemn nod. "But I'm with hyung, the thought of the actual process-" He grimaces cutely, giving Hyunjin an apologetic sort of look. "-gives me the heebie jeebies."

You laugh, winking at Felix. "Nothing has been decided, baby. And no one is gonna force anyone into anything they're uncomfortable with."

"But it'd be a hell of a lot cooler if you did." Hyunjin grumbles beneath his breath.

"And think of how hot it would make the hyungs." Jisung points out, eyeing the beefiness of Changbin's unmarked arm beside him.

"That's true." Felix suddenly looks a whole lot more accepting of the idea, his brow creeping upward at the thought, his gaze moving to Minho, and then Chan.

"Either way-" Seungmin shrugs off handedly. "Bodywork is a huge decision-lifelong and permanent-and everyone should think about it seriously before they make their personal decision."

"God, you're such a buzz kill, Minnie." Jisung groans, flopping back beside the other beta with open exasperation.

"Either way-" Chan soothes over the arguement like the head alpha he is, moving on. "-whatever we all decide in the end, we're still gonna show you some concept sketches just for fun. Cause you all deserve to see Hyunjin's beautiful work either way."

"Agreed. Our Jinnie did a great job." Changbin says warmly, already pulling out his phone, shooting Hyunjin an openly affection, proud look. "This shit is perfect."

[girlnextmorgue]

Helen Otis x Reader: You would sleep with me (if you could do it comfortably)

Hiiii everyone it's me I'm back :P I'm finding that I don't really agree with my past characterizations of these characters but I'm gonna leave my old posts up anyway... anyways here's a Helen oneshot I wrote last night. It's sort of a continuation of the first one I wrote (read that here) but can be read as a standalone. It's crossposted on AO3 (here) and I love getting kudos so please gas it up there if you so choose :P Reader is gender neutral (they/them pronouns) and (Y/N) is used.. It isn't smutty or anything (sorry) but it's kind of romantic. Around 1300ish words (a little less). I hope you enjoy!

edit: pspspsps heyy look theres a 3rd part HERE!!! if u enjoy this go read that ok bye...

-

The screen door swung shut with a sharp smack. The sound used to make Helen jump, but he’d grown used to it with all the time he’d spent out on the porch. It was early spring now, and sprigs of green were beginning to poke their way out of the ground in the midst of all the brown. A chilly breeze carried all the fresh smells of spring, along with… cigarette smoke?

“Hey, handsome.”

That made Helen jump. His head snapped to his right, and he was graced with the sight of a familiar face leaning against the railing, lit cigarette in hand. The corners of his lips twitched. He was fighting back a smile.

“You’re back.” He said matter-of-factly, trying to seem uncaring, and not as if he had been awaiting their return with bated breath (god, he couldn’t believe it, he was acting like a damsel.) “Where were you?”

“If I told you,” they paused to take a drag (and, Helen suspected, to add dramatic effect), turning to look at the trees as they exhaled, “I’d have to kill you.”

Although there was a playful grin on their face, Helen knew that they were only half joking. The Operator’s proxies were incredibly hush-hush about their missions, and (Y/N) was no exception. Usually, he didn’t mind too much, but Helen had found that he was much more curious than he wanted to be, at least when it came to (Y/N).

“So.” (Y/N) spun around so that their back was now facing the woods. They motioned to the sketchbook in Helen’s hands. “Draw any pretty pictures lately?” They grinned.

Right. Helen had come out here to draw. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the book, averting his eyes. Since that fateful winter afternoon, he had been inspired to draw things other than the trees… (Y/N) in particular had become his unknowing muse. 

No way in hell was he showing them that. They’d probably think he was a creepy freak and never speak to him again. As much as Helen hated to admit it to himself, he didn’t think he’d be able to handle that happening. 

So instead, he fumbled for words, trying to save himself. “Uh, you know… more of the same, nothing new.” Helen refused to meet (Y/N)’s eyes. He chewed on the inside of his mouth nervously, picking at the edge of his sketchbook. He felt as if he was a child that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

(Y/N) pursed their lips and then sighed, seeming to decide not to press his buttons about it. Over the course of their blossoming friendship, they’d learned that Helen could be quite protective over his artwork. It was best to leave it be.

So, (Y/N) changed the subject, knowing that Helen wouldn’t do it on his own. “Why don’t we sit, hmm? I’m tired of standing. I feel like I’ve been standing for like, like forever, man.”

“Okay.” Helen said, his shoulders sagging in relief. (Y/N) stubbed their cigarette out on the railing before they moved to plop down on the porch steps, their hiking boots clunking against the stairs as they got situated. Helen took his usual place next to them.

The pair settled into a comfortable silence, just staring out at the wilderness. Helen’s sketchbook lay on the stair, untouched. He couldn’t bring himself to open it in front of them just yet.

Instead, he looked over at (Y/N), trying to remain discreet. Early on in their friendship, Helen had decided that he liked their face (purely from an artistic standpoint, he was sure) and so he had taken it upon himself to memorize it (again, purely for artistic reasons). Not much had changed about them since he’d last seen them. There was a bandaid on their cheek, sure, but other than that they were still the same (Y/N). 

Except, they looked so tired. Deep, dark circles rimmed their eyes, and their eyes themselves were completely bloodshot. Helen was all too familiar with this kind of tired, something he experienced after many sleepless nights sitting at his easel. He was shocked that (Y/N) was managing to stay awake in their state.

“Haven’t I told you that it’s rude to stare?” (Y/N) asked suddenly, startling Helen. They turned to him, cocking an eyebrow. Despite how exhausted they seemed, they were still alert as ever. A proxy trait, no doubt. “Do I have something on my face, orrrrr…”

“No, no…” He shook his head, looking forward again. He really wasn’t appreciating what the teasing lilt in their voice was doing to his brain and heart, but his concern for them seemed to outweigh that. God, he hated that he was concerned. What was wrong with him?

“Then what? You like what you see or somethin’?” (Y/N) leaned in expectantly, smirking. What an asshole.

Despite how close (Y/N) had gotten, Helen managed to look them in the eye (though he was practically holding his breath). “You look… tired, (Y/N). Really tired.”

(Y/N)’s smile softened, the mischief in their eyes fading. They moved back slightly, looking back out at the forest. 

“Are you… alright?” Helen asked hesitantly, brows furrowed in concern.

(Y/N) sighed, taking a moment to answer. “...Yeah, I’m fine.” They brought a hand up to their face, rubbing one of their eyes absently. “‘S just… you’re right. I’m way tired.”

“...I know.” Helen mumbled, gaze never leaving their face. His hands twitched in his lap, wanting to do something to comfort his weary friend. Instead, he asked, “Rough mission?”

“So rough, ugh.” (Y/N) laughed quietly, as if they were reminiscing about a happy memory. “I got into a crazy fight with this guy – man, he almost killed me. You should’ve seen him though, I messed him up.” 

Helen frowned. He knew that they shouldn’t be telling him these things, and he was not a fan of the idea of (Y/N) putting themselves in danger. It was a part of their job, sure, but in his heart he wished it didn’t have to be. 

“(Y/N)...” They perked up when he spoke their name and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. “I think you should go and get some rest.”

(Y/N) huffed, their expression going sour. “Yeah, but… I wanna-” they cut themselves off with a yawn before continuing, “I wanna spend time with you, y’know? It’s been a while. I missed you.” 

Helen felt like he was going to die at those words, his heart pounding against his ribcage. “Oh, well, um…” I missed you too, he wanted to say, but he couldn’t bring himself to.

“I have an idea.” (Y/N) said suddenly, scootching toward Helen until their legs were touching and their shoulders were touching and oh god-

And then (Y/N) leaned their head on Helen’s shoulder and all he could smell was lavender shampoo and cigarette smoke and he was going to faint (but he didn’t). Their hair tickled his neck and they were so warm and Helen wished he could wrap his arms around them and pull them closer. Instead, he sat stiff as a board, breath caught in his throat.

(Y/N) either was too tired to notice or didn’t care. “Wake me up if something interesting happens, okay?” Was all they said before knocking out, snoring lightly (oh my god they snore).

They were definitely going to kill him.

[s-creations]

26 Ways to Feel Mortal - J: Joint

26 Chapters based around experiences that newly arrived Geno experiences while trying to find the Star Pieces.

Fandom: Super Mario & Releated Fandoms, Super Mario RPG Rating: Teen and UP Audiences Relationship: Mario/Geno (Nintendo), Mario/Princess Peach (Nintendo) Additional Tags: Rating for Teen needed for later chapters, but shouldn't be to worrisome, I'll have warnings if I'm worried, Poly relations!, Main characters will always be named, Minor characters will arrive as needed, the chapters are not in a specific order, just meets the needs of the given word, please be aware of spoilers.

Warning: Loss of body parts. No blood mentioned, but it's still a violent scene.

Inspired by @nintendonut1 artwork - Link

Joint: (noun) 1 - A point at which parts of an artificial structure are joined. 2 - A structure in the human body in which two parts of the skeleton are fitted together. 

Geno truly thought that, at this point, he was ready for anything. Sure, there were a lot of things he’d not experienced, this world was huge. But he felt far more comfortable now than when he first arrived. No doubt pulling confidence from the people he was traveling with and calling his friends.

Or weird rivals.

Or little brother.

Or crushes. 

Regardless of the titles, Geno felt his safest when he was surrounded by his new connections.

Even fighting didn’t freak him out as much as it used to. It was a strange rhythm he’d become used to. Nothing really surprised him anymore.

.

.

.

The Axem Rangers were a weird bunch (which was saying something with what the party had seen so far) as well as a bit of a challenge. The team of heroes and Bowser had never faced off so many enemies at once. Along with the fact that they pulled out a larger weapon near the end of the battle as one final push to possible victory. Which did result as Rangers expected.

‘The Blade’ was crumbling away as Red frantically climbed out of it. The rest of the Rangers ran further into the flying fortress. No doubt trying to prevent further damage as it all started to fall from the sky.

Mario was trying to shepherd his team towards the side of the large ship. Frantically calling everyone over as the foundation beneath them cracked in half. 

Geno was doing his best to avoid the appearing holes and falling debris. Focusing on getting over to Mario, ignoring what wasn’t important. 

“Hey, Mario!”

Even if the human’s name was called, Geno still turned. Red, who’d just gotten out of the now fully destroyed weapon, had thrown his ax. At least, that’s what Geno saw, as the stance the Ranger was in was familiar. But where had the weapon go-

It felt as if something hit his arm. Geno stumbled as he felt suddenly off balance. Looking down at his right arm discovered that it had been fully cut in half. Right where his arm could bend. The portion no longer connected to him hitting the metal ship with a heavy thud. 

“If you’re going to break my toys, then I’m breaking yours in return!” Red laughed. 

He could see that he’d lost his arm, he’s clearly damaged, but Geno couldn’t feel anything. Stuck in his confused stance as his eyes remained focused on the price of him no longer connected.

Was he breathing?

Was he shaking?

Was the world still falling apart around him?

His eyes followed his fallen arm as Peach quickly picked it up. Looking as panicked as Geno knew he should be feeling like. At some point, Geno wasn’t sure when, Mario had picked him up. Carrying the still stunned puppet off the fortress. Geno was still unresponsive as they landed on the side of the volcano. The falling fortress disappears into the rocky pit below.

“Hey… Hey, Geno? Can you hear me?” Mario asked quietly, trying to sound calm with his shaking voice.

“...I lost my arm.” Geno replied back weakly.

“I know, but you’ll be okay. I promise. Peach will take care of you.”

Geno jerked away when Peach went to place the broken pieces together. 

It was as if he was hit with the full force of the situation. 

Geno started screaming.

He wasn’t really aware of it until Mario held him closer. Cradling the puppet close to try and offer some comfort for the situation. Geno desperately clinging to Mario with his only working hand as his throat turned raw. 

Geno was unaware when Mario gave a quick nod to Peach. Who gently took the damaged arm once more. Concentrating as she slowly mended the two pieces together. 

The three remained this way for a few minutes. Peach only pulled away when she knew the arm was fully attached again. Geno passed out in the hero’s arms, no doubt his body worn down from the panic and pain he’d just gone through. Mario’s grip tight on the limp puppet. 

Mario looked up as Peach placed a hand on his cheek. The princess offered a small smile, placing a kiss on his forehead before pulling both in. Mario happily allowing himself to collapse into Peach’s hold. 

[womanofwords]

Revenge of Robot-Arms Spiderman

Isn’t it ironic that I posed this idea as artwork to @feathergil, only to write it myself as a fic? Also, I would like to say that this takes place in a Spider-Society where everything has been fixed without anybody suffering any negative consequences (e.g., dying, witnessing a death, getting hurt, etc), everything is fine and nobody hates anybody.

Miles was running. He had no choice but to run. Spider-Man was onto him, and before anyone asked which one, it was the one with the four extra robot arms on his back. That guy was fast.

“Miles, where are you?” he sang, as he closed the gap scarily fast. “I want to talk to you!”

“Nope!” Miles said, turning invisible and hiding under a table in the cafeteria.

“What are you doing?” Malala asked.

“Hiding from Robot-Arms Spidey,” Miles panted. “Help, please! He can’t know I’m here! He wants vengeance!”

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Malala sighed. “You hid on his back and made him look like an idiot! That was embarrassing!”

“Are you going to help me, or just lecture?” Miles hissed. Suddenly, the table was lifted up and tossed aside, to the horror of Miles and Malala.

“Found you!” Robot-Arms Spidey sang. Miles scrambled away.

“I don’t know what you want from me!” Miles yelled.

“An apology is what I want!” Robot-Arms Spidey yelled.

Malala looked at her halal burger, which was now on the floor. “Well, there goes lunch. Spidey luck strikes again!”

Miles was freaking out. What was Robot-Arms Spidey going to do? Would he have to fight him? He was out-limbed. “What do you expect me to do? What do you want?” Miles yelled.

“I want you,” Robot-Arms Spidey said, a maniacal grin on his face.

“For what? A fight?” Miles looked at all the limbs, preparing to run. “You have literal robot arms!”

“Robot arms? Weak,” Claw said, flexing his extra arms for emphasis, both physical and phantom. One of them grabbed at his sides, and he squeaked. “On second thought, never mind. These ones should probably be amputated.”

“Poor thing. Outgunned and outsmarted.” Robot hands grabbed Miles’ wrists, and Miles struggled in vain to get free.

“And now for revenge.” Four hands, two robot hands and two human hands, kneaded and teased, poked and prodded. Miles squealed and bit his tongue. He wasn’t going to be treated like a silly little kid. He was an adult . . . almost. “It’s OK. You can hold back your laughter. I mean, it’s your funeral.”

“Thihihihihis is weheheheird! Hey!” Miles quit talking altogether as one of the robot hands reached upwards towards his ribcage.

“You know why I’m going after you, right? You humiliated me. You made me look like an idiot for not catching you, for not noticing you. This is a revenge fitting for a child.” The four hands teased giggles out of Miles like an expert violinist.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Miles screamed. He winced with embarrassment as more and more Spiderpeople were coming over to look at him, intrigued by the sound of hysterical laughter. “I’M SORRY!”

“Not enough,” Robot-Arms Spidey taunted. “I’m still pretty wounded about this thing.” Miles was kicking and screaming with laughter, tears threatening to roll down his reddening face.

“HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY I’M SORRY? I WAS DESPERATE TO GET AWAY!” Miles howled.

“And I have to keep you here until I’m sure that you’ve learned your lesson,” Robot-Arms Spidey said, smirking. “Hold on, let me try a little something . . .” He pulled out a remote and flipped a switch. The hands began to vibrate, and Miles shrieked. “I wonder how long this will last. Or rather, I wonder how long you will last.” One of the human hands traced Miles’ navel through the suit, and he could have sword that he passed out for half a second.

“What are you doing?” Peni Parker asked, as SP//DR Mark 2 pulled a confused face with emoticons.

“Peni! Thank God you’re here!” Miles cooed.

“The arms are underutilised. I’ll hold him while you web him and then you can use all six arms,” Peni advised.

“Thanks, little lady,” Robot-Arms Spidey said, releasing Miles only to be grabbed by Peni and held to the wall for incredibly strong webbing to bind his wrists to the wall.

“Sure, just try not to kill him,” Peni said, sidestepping away.

“No! Peni! You traitor! You can’t leave me with this guy!” Miles wailed. The four robot hands advanced on him, buzzing with vibration. The human hands flexed and stretched as Robot-Arms Spidey grinned and cracked his knuckles.

“This ought to teach you a lesson,” he said.

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Meanwhile, the rest of the Spider-Society was listening and taking bets. “OK, ten dollars says that he will pass out,” Miguel said to Peter B. Parker.

“Nah, Miles has more endurance than that,” Peter said. “Give it half an hour.”

“Are you sure we shouldn’t be trying to rescue him? He’ll probably pass out,” Gwen said.

“In the words of Miles Morales, ‘Nah. I’mma do my own thing’,” Lyla said. “Maybe this is his own thing.”

“Lyla, make a note of this weakness,” Miguel ordered.

“Already done it,” Lyla said. “It looks a lot like your list of weaknesses.”

“Lyla, shut up.”

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@shyticklemonster

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