#preorders open in five days

[skkangstzine]

🥃MERCH REVEAL🍷

Though try as it may, there are some souls for which not even death is enough to force a separation.

This beautiful double-sided bookmark designed by @caelanglang enshrines an eternal partnership— one that perseveres against all odds, beyond the end.

There are five days left until pre-orders open, and more merch reveals are on the way! Keep an eye on our socials to stay up-to-date on our merch line up! 👀

@bsdfanhub RBs appreciated! 🥃🍷

[yeeterthek33per]

Surprise (Katrina Gorry x Reader)

A/n Jeez sorry guys, welcome back to me ay? Anyways, here's the first of many requests, I'm getting back into it, I swear.

Requested.

Warnings/summary: Fluff. Harper Gorry. Itty Bitty Bit suggestive at the end.

You swear, your arms feel like they might pop any second.

It would make sense if you were doing a workout, but it turns out dragging around a 15kg toddler all day is basically the same thing.

With your wife Katrina running around to do assigned media duties before the game tomorrow, you'd been left in charge of little Harper before her family came to get her for the night so you both could get an adequate amount of sleep for once.

There's a little squeal as you swing the small blonde girl up into onto your hip when she tries to make a break for the open doorway that leads onto the pavement outside.

"Mama noooo!"

"Mama yes! No running off like that baby. We stay together while we go out. You know that."

The small pout from her lips reminds you very much of her other mother as you tickle her slightly to elicit a small giggle.

"We goin to get ice cweem?"

You chuckle softly, running your fingers through her blonde locks.

"Yeah, we're getting some ice cream after we have a little walk alright?"

"Chacha coming?"

"Yes Hun, Chacha’s comin', we just gotta wait for her to come down so we can go."

Harper seemingly accepts that, leaning back fully into your hold to sit and play with the small silver necklace you have on, with your wife's and Harper's initials as the pendants.

It takes a very long five minutes as Charlie finally gets off the elevator ready to go, the little blonde in your arms getting much more fidgety as you stand and wait.

"Chacha!"

"Took you long enough, come on!"

She rolls her eyes before turning to the tiny girl you're holding and snatches her up to ride on her shoulders, your biceps screaming in relief finally.

Any other day of the week, you'd be used to it but after the intense gym session the day before, you weren't sure your arms wouldn't have fallen off by the end of today without your younger compatriot to take the younger version of herself off your hands.

The groan of relief you let out as she does so, has her laughing.

"Stop complaining, she's your kid, you should be used to this by now."

"Hush you, gym sessions and wandering toddlers don't mix, now let's go before we run out of time."

"Why are we out here again? It's supposed to be rest day today."

The bright, sunny warmth of the day is nothing compared to the day previous, leaving you feeling a little relieved at not having to deal with 27 odd degree temperatures and an impatient two-year-old.

"We're out here because I need one more thing for tomorrow and I just needed someone to give me an excuse to leave the hotel.

"Why do you need my help? You've known Mini longer. You're literally married to her."

"I know but it's our first game together as a married couple and I want it to be super special for her."

"Alright alright, so what are we picking out again?"

"It's a surprise for the game. I asked the uniformers if I could tweak my jersey a little."

"Okay? What does that have to do with- wait..."

She pauses a little, her hand coming up and making the stop motion.

"You're changing it to Gorry?"

Her eyes water a little as a massive grin stretches across your face with a chuckle and you nod.

Charlie bounces a little in excitement, the squeal she lets out startling the child on her shoulders.

"Is this an official name change?"

You hum in the affirmative, steadying the blonde as she bounces into you, careful not to let Harper fall from her perch.

"It's been a thought for a long while, we talked about it, but we never confirmed whether or not I'd change my name. She definitely wants to keep Gorry, though."

"So why are we going shopping then?"

"Because I'm going out to pick up a preorder I made a couple weeks ago, it was supposed to be a wedding gift when we got married here but they couldn’t get it finished in time so I settled for the specialised necklaces and just made these the World Cup gift instead."

"So, what's the preorder then?"

"You'll see. Wait here"

You playfully wink and duck into the jewellery store to your left, right as she asks the question.

Returning just a few minutes later, bag in hand.

"Alright, let's go."

Charlie looks at you expectantly.

"You're not gonna show me?"

"Later. Harps, what do you say sweety, ice cream time?"

The toddler jumps up and down in her spot upon the older girl’s shoulders.

"Yes pleeeeease!"

Humming in contentment, you drag her down the street to a cold rock ice creamery, much to the protest of the twenty-two-year-old.

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

A loud grumble from the blonde laid across your bed makes you glance up from your spot at the desk with a chuckle.

"At least one little peak, come on Y/n/n. Pleeeeease? You dragged me all the way out to go get it. It's the least you could do."

You'd swear she was in fact Harper's older sister with the way she was giving you the puppy dog eyes.

"You can't wait for tomorrow to see it? Like everyone else?"

"No".

She deadpans and perches herself onto the desk next to where you're signing out papers to send off to the registry that you got married under.

'Alright alright alright. Pass me the bag. I need to hide the box anyways."

There's a small smile as you open up the ring box again, and it reminds you heavily of the ring box Katrina had so smoothly removed from her satchel at the beach the day you'd gotten engaged.

The mid thickness silver band shines under the small white desk lamp, the curved engravings on the underside of it glimmering as you carefully hand it to the blonde who's expression melts at the sight of it.

The little inscription of "our kind of love is the best kind. - (Y)G" and the little football symbol on the bottom matches perfectly with the style of writing.

"It matches our wedding rings. I'll give it to her to her tomorrow after the game."

"She's gonna love it. I love it. God, can you get me one?"

Rolling your eyes at her, you chuckle softly as she slips the ring back into the box and you tuck it away into safe corner of the room until it's needed.

"I'll be sure to let Lachlan know."

She smiles softly at the mention of her boyfriend before a small inquizzacal look appears on her face.

"So, how's this gonna pan out without her noticing again?"

"Well...."

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

Stepping down and off the bus, there's a nervousness in the air, not like the usual national games hold. You'd been to major tournaments before, hell you were in France for the 2019 world cup but there's nothing like the feeling you get now.

Walking into a home stadium, in your home uniform at a home world cup, and awaiting you is the eighty thousand strong crowd, the hopefully perfect condition pitch and your bouncing blonde toddler with her grandmother in the stands.

It's a feeling out of this world.

And it gets better knowing what's waiting for Katrina as well.

Not just a chance at redemption from the last World Cup.

Not just her sweet little harper, cheering and yelling for her mommy and her teammates the moment they step onto the pitch.

A hand on your shoulder jolts you a little, you'd paused in front of your cubby after hearing the ever so faint cheers of the crowd above the entrance to the player area.

"You alright?"

Your wife’s comforting hand gently squeezes your arm as you nod, giving her a reassuring smile.

“Feelin’ great, baby.”

Resting your hand on hers, you caress it with your thumb softly before gently nudging her back to her own cubby to get ready for pitch inspection.

Subtly making eye contact with the trainer across the room, you give him a nod as he slips away to grab the jersey, he’d made ready in time for the game.

Slipping on your training jersey, you duck out onto the pitch before warmups are due to start.

You end up making it quicker than usual in order to slip out to meet the trainer to grab your actual jersey which you leave in your cubby away from sight.

Waving to the already numerous fans in the stadium, you make your rounds of the pitch to get a proper feel of it, and when Sam spots herself on the big screen managing to sneak a selfie, you and your teammates are left chuckling.

Warmups go smoothly, and the atmosphere and tremendous crowd are both buzzing with enormous amounts of energy.

Breathing in the cool night air, your shots feel a little shaky in the leadup, but they quickly relax as you settle in amongst the encouragement and atsmosphere of your teammates.

Despite the devastation at finding out Sam won’t be playing for at least three games, the determination sets in hard and the moment you are all called back to the changerooms, a hardness sets about you and everything in your head calms in the moment, ready to get out there and play like it’s any other game, trying to ignore the already enormous amount of pressure on your shoulders.

Tony gives a quick speech before sending you all off to line up ready for the walkout.

The team are still in their training jackets when you walk out and it’s only when you slip off yours, and place it over the shoulders of the mascot in front of you after the national anthems, that she finally notices.

You’re number 24 while Katrina is number 19 so she isn’t directly next to you to see it, however a close up of your back on the big screen catches her attention when she realises it isn’t her number attached to the last name and she leans forward to catch your eye as you all move to huddle.

Winking at her, you smile and move stand next to her, arm slipping around her shoulders as Sam and Tony do the final send off.

The double take of a few of your teammates makes you laugh, and you press a kiss to your wife’s cheek with a small ‘Surprise.’ Spoken in her ear.

She grabs your face before you can go anywhere.

“Not so fast you.”

There’s a small hum of appreciation when she presses her lips to yours in a brief kiss and her eyes water a little up at you.

“I love you so much, Mrs L/n.”

“It’s Gorry now, baby.”

Her smile widens and right as you go to kiss her once more, a slap to the back startles you.

It’s a grinning Sam who urges you over to the rest of your waiting team who’ve been watching you both with amusement visibly plastered on all of their faces.

"Let’s do this, pretty girl."

With that, you feel more than ready to start this thing.

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

The first thing you feel the moment you're off the bus is Katrina's hand dragging you back inside the hotel and up the stairs, far too impatient to wait for the elevator to come down.

The moment you're both up the six flights of stairs, despite the immense exhaustion you're both exhibiting after the battle against Ireland, there's a giddiness in both of your steps and she quickly drags you into your room with the swipe of your keycard.

The soft giggle that leaves your lips the moment you're pressed back against the door makes her grin and her hands slipping under the hem of your hoodie leave shivers behind as you think back to the look she'd given you from the left of you across the locker room.

Full of love and adoration and a little hint of desire as they move to the name across your back.

Mouthing those three words you know sends warmth to her chest every time she hears them, she mouths them back with a small grin.

[phoenixwrightzine]

‼️ OBJECTION ‼️

Court is now in session—preorders for Ipse Facto are now open!! With 90+ pages featuring our favorite ace attorney in this hardcover zine, we're celebrating all aspects and eras of Phoenix Wright starting with his first day on the job!

‼️ EARLY BIRD ‼️

Every physical order made in the first 48 hours of preorders will also receive a 2.5-inch die-cut sticker! This stamp sticker is the perfect addition to any lawyer's bluff! Every order made in this timeframe will automatically have 25% of profit go to charity!

Preorders have been extended! They are now open until September 15th!

⚖️ Open until September 9th September 15th!

🌻 STORE

More bundles are under the read more!!

TURNABOUT TERROR // FULL BUNDLE $65

This bundle contains: 🌻 8x8 Hardcover Physical Zine (90+ pages!) 🌻 Digital PDF and Digital Merch 🌻 2x Prints 🌻 1 Acrylic Charm 🌻 1 Shaker Charm 🌻 2 Sticker Sheets 🌻 3 Die Cut Stickers 🌻 1 Button

UPSTART // MIXED BUNDLE $55

This bundle contains:  🌻 8x8 Hardcover Physical Zine (90+ pages!)  🌻 Digital PDF and Digital Merch 🌻 1 Acrylic Charm  🌻 2 Sticker Sheets  🌻 3 Die Cut Stickers  🌻 1 Button 

NICK // FLATS BUNDLE $40

This bundle contains:  🌻 8x8 Hardcover Physical Zine (90+ pages!)  🌻 Digital PDF and Digital Merch 🌻 2x Prints (150mm x 100mm)  🌻 2 Sticker Sheets (A5 and A6)  🌻 3 Die Cut Stickers (~3") 

FEENIE // ZINE BUNDLE $30

This bundle contains:  🌻 8x8 Hardcover Physical Zine (90+ pages!)  🌻 Digital PDF and Digital Merch

26381 // DIGITAL BUNDLE $20

This bundle contains:  🌻 Digital PDF (90+ pages!)  🌻 Digital Merch 

‼️ STRETCH GOALS ‼️

Your eyes aren't deceiving you—we've uncovered five psyche-locks! We have five incredible stretch goals to unlock during preorders, all of which will be added to eligible bundles for free when unlocked! 

There's a lot of evidence floating around the courtroom. To help us make sense of it all, we've put together a guide for you!

Certain bundles are only eligible for some stretch goals—if you want them all, you'll have to buy the TURNABOUT TERROR!

Thank you for your support! 🌻 @fandomzines @zineapps @zinefans @zineforalll @zinesunlimited @zinereblog @zinefeed @aafancalendar @zine-shop-channel

[10yearsofdishonoredzine]

PREORDERS NOW OPEN!

Thank you for your patience! We are excited to open pre-sales for our Dishonored zines, Dunwall Days and Karnaca Nights, to celebrate Dishonored's 10th Anniversary! Head over to our shop at https://10yearsofdishonored.bigcartel.com/ and pick from one of our five bundles, including zines, pins, washi tape and stickers 🐳

The first 20 orders of our full bundles will also receive a 3D printed bone charm so don’t delay! EDIT: we are out of bone charms!

All profits will go to our chosen charity, Refugees International! Preorders will close 26th August

[jjbatarotdeck]

Preorders for Starline, A JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Tarot Deck, open in five days!

(Card previews by @ahvene, @arikabooboo & @sboopie!)

[princessbiteme0o0]

You Never Come Back From a Loss Like Him… (IDEK x reader-ish-)

MAJOR. SPOILERS. FOR MW3.

(A/N): It’s been since the preorder release day since I’ve played the campaign fully of MW3 and I’m still heartbroken over what happened with Soap. Ugly cried for 45 minutes, took out the disc and nearly snapped it in half at what shit, so have this sad, gut wrenching, heartbreaking example of how I think Price would’ve told Soap’s significant other if he had one… it’s short, I’m sorry, but god I’m so sad about this shit.

Summary: DO NOT read this if you haven’t played MW3 or don’t know how it ends. That’s all I can really say… But I’m upset, you’re upset. Everyone. Is. Fucking. Upset.

WARNINGS: S P O I L E R S, Major character death, I can’t do this anymore guys, if TikTok gives me another edit of Soap’s death I’m gonna fucking cry again. I didn’t realize I was still so upset about a fictional character dying. It’s just- idk bro. Too. Fucking. Much.

—💔—💔—

She knew something was wrong. She knew something had happened. It had been five days since she heard from him. Her heart rested heavy in her stomach as she constantly paced the living room waiting for his call. All day. All night. But she hadn’t heard a single whisper of a ring from the phone. The only thing she could hear was her heart thumping in her ears.

The first day everything was fine…

“I love you, Sweetie. I’ll call ye when I get back to base.” His Scottish accent rang through the phone making her smile to herself.

“I love you too babe… Please be careful; ya know me and little bean need you home safe.” Her voice softly begged him through the line, holding her round belly in her palm, gently massaging it in reassuring circles for both her mental stability and their baby’s.

“I’ll never let you down, Darlin’.” He chuckled through the line before hanging up.

The second day was also normal, but she was still bustling around the house to find things to do to distract herself. She one it was a dangerous mission and her nerves were amped up being in her finally trimester of pregnancy.

The third day was when she knew something was wrong. She bit on her nails and nearly tugged her hair out as she remembered back to the day they first met.

“What’s yer name, Lass?” Johnny asked, sliding into the bar stool beside hers. Turning to look at him, a small smirk on her lips as her eyes flashed up to his Mohawk. He grinned like a Cheshire Cat when he saw her eyes moving up to his hair. “Ya like my hair, hmm?”

“Mmh no.” She grinned back at him as he feigned hurt and she giggled at his little act. The second he heard her sweet little giggle, he knew he was fucked.

“Well that’s a wee bit hurtful, don’tcha think?” He placed a hand over his heart and she outright laughed, making him chuckle along with her.

“Maybe you’re right. Let me make it up to you and buy you a drink.” She says with a wink.

“Iddn’t that s’posed to be my line?” He asks with a hearty laugh and he doesn’t miss the wink that she gives him.

“Maybe if you’re old fashioned.”

The fourth day is when the tears came. She knew something was wrong; Johnny never went this long without some type of communication. He always wanted to give her peace of mind. Her stomach churned as she paced back and forth in front of the couch, tears of nervousness pricking at the corners of her eyes. She never wanted him to go on this mission; he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone what his missions were, but he always told her. Having said that, she knew this man was dangerous.

It was cresting into the fifth night when the doorbell rang. She nearly launched herself at the door in hopes that Johnny was there to surprise her. Swinging the door open, her eyes were met with John Price.

“No… No, no, no.” She muttered out, her vision becoming blurry and her mind going blank.

“I’m so sorry…” Price whispers out, making her choke out a sob. Falling to her knees, Price carefully grabs her and falls to his knees with her to insure her safety and prevention of any injury. The guilt had been eating him alive. Johnny saved his life; sacrificed himself for Price and that alone made coming to her to tell her the news even harder. She collapsed into his arms, sobbing into his chest.

“But, but he promised.” She choked out in between her cries and whimpers.

“I know, Sweetheart… I know.”

[catkin-morgs-kookaburralover]

ok this is super half baked idea but it just occurred to me as a fun idea perhaps for next year.

concept: advent calendar. i.e. twenty-five days including the 25th of the month. could possibly be combined or connected to something with the twelve days of Christmas as well if it was wanted to go on for longer. could be modified with more traditional advent concepts (not very familiar with it myself but open to suggestions)

suggestion: a short story for each day of advent, from a combination of different authors (ideally one story per author but could be modified). either all standalone or a possible joint Christmas Day story that pulls multiple different threads together. if we got enough authors/artists together (or one or two very dedicated artists) there could be a story with an accompanying piece of artwork.

could be scheduled ebook release each day and/or posting on a website at a scheduled time each day, with possible purchase of the whole ebook or physical book in one go on the 25th / preorder so that physical media is slated to arrive at the right time.

this is kind of cobbled together but what are people's thoughts? re:word count, brief google suggests 70-90k is common as a total for the average novel, which would mean an average of 3.2k per story, or somewhere between 2000 and 4400 words if we were being a bit more loose with length.

also note that if art was involved prints could be made and shipped for a moderate sum ($27AUD at time of writing to send internationally if using a single prepaid satchel*, $3.75AUD to make 25 6"x4" prints, total cost rounds to $31AUD assuming a single satchel could be used). also possible to look at print on demand services that could cut down on shipping. (this also assumes artists would not be paid)

this is very rough in calculation ofc but what do people think about it? (frankly, it sounds like a fun sort of project for myself if nobody else wants to join me lol)

(re:financial aspect - I know in some things like audiobooks done for him my dad has paid all the costs, and any income above cost level he splits 50/50 with the audiobook reader - has a given flat rate/percentage per sale that's cost, and anything additional is royalties. unless I could pitch this to an established author or publishing house (impossible, though if there were others in on the scheme we could possibly look into the option) it would not be worth making the serial itself only available for upfront paying because I simply don't have an audience at all lol. however the possibility of making an ebook or physical book that could be sold later would have the possibility in the future to recoup costs. )

*large letter format is $15AUD but uncertain if that would be sufficient, would require more research

(trying to gauge even vague interest; if there's interest of basically any kind I can expand on my thoughts. also if anyone's interested and has discord please message me for my discord lol)

please reblog and or offer any thoughts you have!

EDIT: note that 'contributing' encompasseses both contributing and reading whereas reading does not encompass contributing

[gntm-zine]

☀️ PREORDERS OPEN IN (less than) 5 DAYS ☀️

Somewhere in the world, there’s about five days remaining before our shop opens for preorders!

It’d be a waste not to use this GIF for the five day mark, just as it would be a waste not to mark your calendars for our opening date 👀

[2e2ezine]

Jobu Tupaki has seen all and knows all. She knows what makes you tick, and she knows that you should save this date.

Preorders for our EEAAO zine open in FIVE DAYS!

Art credit 🎨: @eldritchsmite

[kamapon]

FIVE DAYS TO GO!

P.O. Open until May 10th ❤❤ These TWST Tamagotchi charms are almost ready to go home.

Get them on:

✨My Webstore: https://kamapon.fws.store/

✨ Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KamaponWorkshop

Sharing is caring!

Remember to preorder yours now!

[rriotzine]

✨FIVE DAYS TIL PREORDERS OPEN!✨

Kiri's been rummaging for a while... are we ready to see what kind of surprises he has for us? Stay tuned for some reveals throughout the week! 💪⚙️

[rosemaidenvixen]

A Secret's Worth

Chapter 38: Jim

Ao3

Jim leaned back and stretched against the bike rack just outside the front of the school, basking in the early morning sunlight. He’d gotten here super early, it was a full half hour until classes started, but he was in no rush. Content to enjoy the gold and peach light of the rising sun and the peaceful quiet while he waited for the others.

Twenty minutes later he heard the clicking of a bike approaching, turning to see Toby pedaling up to him.

“It is not fair how you can get up so obscenely early,” Toby huffed, dragging his bike to the rack and locking it in next to Jim’s.

Jim just chuckled “Hey we all have our strengths, but I know what will ease the pain,” he patted the white box sitting on top of the rack next to him.

Toby’s eyes widened “What i–”

“What is that?” Darci sped up to them on her own bike, eyes sparkling.

Jim just gave her an easy smile “You’ll have to wait until Mary and Claire get here,”

“Well that could take–”

“I– I’m here,” Mary pulled her own bike up, panting.

Toby raised an eyebrow “What’s with the wheels, I thought your Mo dropped you off in the mornings?”

Mary scowled “My moms caught me sneaking out to go on a date with Mallory, now I have to bike to school for two weeks,”

“Bummer,”

Behind them Jim saw a familiar car pull up against the curb and pushed himself all the way upright “Looks like Claire’s here to,”

A station wagon with a bright yellow ‘Baby on Board’ decal came to a stop by the edge of the curb, the side door popping open and Claire hopping out and moving towards them.

“Hey guys,” Claire said with a wide smile “Ready for the first day of sophomore year?”

“Technically we had our first five days last week,”

Mary snorted “Orientation and whatever the heck ‘Mole Spirit Week’ is don’t count,”

“Sounds like someone lost their school spirit,” Darci said in a sing-song voice.

Toby nodded sagely “Oh she definitely needs a school spirit transplant,”

That earned the two of them a groan from Mary.

Claire rolled her eyes at their antics, gaze landing on the white box “Hey Jim, what’s with the box?”

He grinned back at her, reaching over and picking up the box “Glad you asked. Since I was able to get an early start today, and mom gave me some cash for snacks, I decided to grab us a treat, celebrate the start of the school year and all,” he held the box out and opened it up, revealing five giant cinnamon rolls, oozing with gooey filling topped with generous dollops of frosting, four sets of eyes simultaneously widened.

Toby’s jaw dropped “Are these from that fancy bakery that opened last week!? How!? They sell out almost instantly and preorders are backed up weeks,”

“I got up at the crack of dawn, took the long way around town to school, and stopped by just as they were opening,” 

“So that’s why I didn’t spot you at the canal,”

“Ok clearly adding you to our friend group was a good choice,” Mary said, eyes locked on the open box, slowly edging closer.

“Glad to hear it,” Jim held the box out further “Go nuts guys I didn’t bring them here to look at,”

They took his advice, whipping their hands into the box and tearing into the cinnamon rolls. Soon the five of them settled back, leaning against the wall and bike rack, each munching on their own roll.

Claire finished hers first, sucking her fingers clean of frosting before speaking up “So…the drama department is doing Romeo and Juliet this year, I was thinking we should all try out, that way we could all work on the play together,”

She pulled out a flier which they immediately started passing around, all of them murmuring curiosity, Jim included. But when it came to him and he spotted the times he could actually feel the fluttering hope in his stomach sputter and die.

“Sorry but I won’t be able to be in the play. It runs too late and I have to get home early because of…you know,”

“But rehearsals end way before– that, so it shouldn’t be an issue,”

Jim forced back a wince as he handed the flier back to Claire “Yeah for now, but as the season goes on, daylight savings and all, it’s going to start happening later,”

Claire blinked at him, eyes going wide “Oh…sorry,”

“Here’s a thought,” Mary cut in “Maybe you wouldn’t be able to act, but if Ms. Janeth is ok with it you can be a stagehand and just duck out before it starts getting dark,”

“That…sounds like it could work,” Jim felt a soft smile slowly spread across his face.

It wouldn’t be the same, not exactly, but they could all still work on the play and have fun together.

“I’ll talk to Mrs. J,” Toby said, siding up to Jim and flashing a grin “I’ll give her the ol’ Domzalski charm,”

Mary fixed him with a look “Toby we talked about this,”

Darci just rolled her eyes “How about we all talk to Ms. Janeth during tryouts on Thursday, strength in numbers and all,”

“That sounds good,” Claire added

Jim found himself nodding along “Works for me,”

“And I can give her the Domzalski charm,”

Jim laughed as Mary, Darci, and Claire simultaneously groaned, the giddy energy staying with him even as they broke apart and drifted towards their lockers. He was halfway through spinning the combination into his locker when it hit him.

It was this exact day last year when it happened.

The thought startled him so much for a moment he just stood there in front of his wide open locker with the door swinging in the air.

Getting hit with so much sadness and despair that he couldn’t handle it. Completely breaking down crying under the weight of the hopelessness to the point where he thought he’d never be happy again. Even though he knew it was a year to the day it felt like it happened just yesterday and a thousand years ago.

Jim still could very clearly remember just how utterly crushed he’d been, he didn’t think he could ever forget that. But after everything he’d been through over the last year all that misery felt so far away.

A year ago he’d thought his life was over, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Things had been hard over the last year, incredibly so, but he’d gained three new friends, learned so much, took back his life and made it his own.

Thinking about what would happen after high school still scared him a little, but now it also thrilled him.

There was a lot of uncertainty ahead. He still didn’t know what it was he turned into, he might never know. What changes he might go through as an adult. Facing the struggles of college and jobs. 

But whatever was ahead of him he wouldn’t have to face it alone. 

A gently warmth blooming in his chest, Jim reached out and grabbed his locker door, halting its swinging

Maybe bad things would still happen, as he got bigger he might have to eat more and more meat to survive, his dad might come back and stir up trouble again, more people might get close to his secret; but no matter what happened he had friends and family to help him through it. He didn’t have to face the unknown all alone. 

And bad things might happen, but maybe good things would happen to.

For the first time in he didn’t even remember how long, Jim could think about the future with a smile on his face.

He was still grinning like an idiot, practically dizzy with giddiness, as he tossed his bag into his locker, which was why he only caught the tail end of Eli’s ramble.

“--monsters with stone for skin!”

Jim jerked violently, heart yanking up and down, locker door slipping from his hand during his panicked flailing. Reaching out with shaky hands to slam it shut with much more force than needed. Leaning against the locker with both hands, trembling against the metal, Jim slowly turned around, desperately hoping he hadn’t just heard what he thought he had.

Eli was standing in the corner speaking rapidly and making large sweeping gestures with his arms as he talked, gathered around him were some wide-eyed freshmen and a few unimpressed looking upperclassmen. Jim shoved down the sudden spike of anxiety, if nothing else he’d gotten good at doing that over the last year, forcing himself to act casual as he walked over towards him.

“What was that you were saying Eli?”

Eli looked up sharply at him, a wild glint in his eyes “On my way to school this morning I saw two monsters with stone for skin fighting under the canal bridge!”

One of the others, Seamus, he now recognized, gave a sharp bark of laughter “Get real E-lame, if you’re going to make stuff up at least be creative about it,”

Jim didn’t allow himself to so much as twitch, but on the inside he was practically melting with relief. He hadn’t left the house before he’d changed, and he hadn’t been anywhere near the canal this morning. No way Eli spotted him while he was blue. Chances are Eli just saw something else from a distance and got confused.

“I’m not lying!” Eli’s voice was shrill, nearly a shout “There are monsters in Arcadia living right under our noses!”

“I don’t think you're lying Eli–”

Eli spun towards him, face practically radiant with gratitude, making the next part hard to say.

“But don’t you think it’s more likely you just saw some guys in motorcycle gear duking it out than actual monsters?”

“I know what I saw, it was monsters!”

Seamus scowled and opened his mouth to no doubt say something else scathing, but before he could get a word out first bell rung, scattering the loose gathering as they all headed for their classes.

Eli was harmless. Whatever he’d spotted this morning wasn’t Jim, and it wasn’t like any of his conspiracy junk had ever held water before. 

Nevertheless Jim was still on edge when he sat down in Mr. Strickler’s class for first period just before second bell run.

“Alright students quiet down,” Mr. Strickler strode to the front of the room, hands folded behind his back as the room settled into silence “I know the Punic wars might not seem like the most exciting conflict in history, but that’s just for those who don’t know better….”

Jim pulled out his notebook and started quickly scribbling down notes, doing his best to force Eli’s talk of monsters out of his head and focus on the lesson Strickler was–

James Lake

His heart shot up into his throat, jerking in his seat and snapping upright, pencil dragging a sharp line across his paper yanking his notebook to the side. 

“Dude you ok?” Toby whispered from the seat next to him.

Jim’s eyes flickered towards the front of the room where Strickler was still talking about the Punic wars while pointing at different parts of his projection while all eyes in the room were on him.  

No interruption in the lecture. No one looking his way.

“Did…you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“It’s– never mind,”

Toby raised an eyebrow but turned back towards the front of the room. Jim shook his head and discreetly pulled in a deep breath. He must have imagined it, no need to freak out five minutes in to his first class.

He regripped his pencil and straightened his notebook just as Mr. Strickler turned around to face the room again.

“Now pay attention because this will be on your first test…”

Heartbeat slowing, Jim lowered his gaze towards his paper and went back to jotting down–

James Lake

He somehow managed to keep himself from jerking again, pencil in an iron grip and a slow shudder creeping up his body. Something slimy curling in his belly, Jim looked up again and discreetly looked around the room.

There was no way that it was Mr. Strickler saying his name, and it didn’t look like anyone else in the room was calling him either. Was his mind just playing tricks on hi–

James Lake

His heart dropped down into the pit of his stomach, pencil tumbling from his grip.

Nope. Not imagining it. There was an actual voice in his head.

“Is there a problem Jim?” Mr. Strickler’s cool voice cut through his mounting panic.

Jim looked up at him–

James Lake

Mr. Strickler and everyone else in the room didn’t so much as flinch.

Yep it was only him. Jim was hearing a voice calling his name that no one else could. That wasn’t good. At all.

“I…uh…have to go to the bathroom,”

One of Mr. Strickler’s eyebrows quirked up “Class just started,”

James Lake

“I really really have to go,”

Snickers and giggles filled the room.

“Alright then, just hurry back,”

Jim managed to give a frantic nod of thanks as he practically raced out of the room, Feeling Toby and the girls’ eyes on him as he went. 

In some part of his mind he knew it was bad he was having another big moment of public weirdness on the first day of school after the one he’d had last year. But the bigger part of him was focused on the literal voice in his head. He managed to make it to the end of the hall before it hit him again, much louder than it had been in the classroom.

JAMES LAKE

Ok, mysterious voice was getting louder. But was the volume increasing or was Jim getting…closer? Only one way to find out and he literally had no other ideas.

Moving through the school, the voice getting steadily louder as he went, Jim found himself standing in an open side door without even realizing it, staring at the open street ahead of him. For a moment he hesitated, imagining all the trouble he’d be in if he was caught ditching–

JAMES LAKE

Jim gritted his teeth and took off sprinting down the sidewalk. Running and running guided only by the voice in his head.

JAMES LAKE

Leaving pavement behind he raced down a dirt trail towards the canal. Slowing but not stopping when he reached the edge. Scrambling down the concrete he slipped and tumbled, landing hard on his hands and knees on the concrete. For a moment he stayed like that, palms stinging and knees throbbing, kneeling on the ground, panting.

JAMES LAKE

He froze.

That time the voice hadn’t been in his head. 

Slowly lifting his head up. Jim spotted a pile of gravel underneath the bridge, in the same direction that the voice had come from. He pushed himself upright, taking small, cautious steps towards the bridge.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

No reply, either from inside and outside his head. The only sound the distant rumble of traffic on the road above. Stopping right in front of the pile, Jim saw that what he thought was gravel was actually some very coarse rubble. Seeing nothing else but bare concrete around him, Jim got down on his knees and started sifting through it, not even sure what he was looking for.

Until he touched something that wasn’t rock.

Jim froze for a second before he closed his fingers around the object, cool and smooth in his hands, and pulled it out.

When he saw it he was so stunned he couldn’t move, kneeling in the bright canal marveling at the bizarre object in his hands.

The closest comparison he could make was to a pocket watch, but this was like no pocket watch he’d ever seen.

It was about the size of his phone, round, made of a shiny silver metal surrounding a sky blue face. There were hands and writing on it, but not in any orientation or language he’d ever seen, fixed together with gears sporting gargoyle-like faces in an incomprehensible jumble.

While Jim was still struggling to figure out what exactly he was looking at, the voice came again, emanating directly from the pocket watch, but softer, and almost…comforting.

James Lake

Then there was a sound almost like a sigh of relief and the pocket watch went silent.

Jim’s breath caught in his throat. For a few moments he could only stare at the object, then he slowly raised it to his ear

“Uh…hello? Anyone home?”

Nothing but silence. The voice was gone, and somehow Jim had a feeling it wouldn’t be back because it had done what it was supposed to.

But that still left him with far more questions than answers.

Adrenaline slowly draining away, Jim stood back up straight and turned the object over in his hands, trying to spot any other markings or clues that could give more insight.

As he examined the not-pocket watch he was hit by a sudden wave of awareness. Jim was standing in the canal in broad daylight talking to an inanimate object. If anyone going by saw him they would report him for truancy, or worse call his mom.

Mysterious voices and pocket watches aside he needed to get back to class.

Jim shook himself off, sliding the pocket watch into the back pocket of his jeans before making his way back up the side of the canal.

Despite the craziness that was his life, mysterious talking watches was a new one. What was this thing? Why did it call his name? What did it all mean?

Jim let out a breath as he planted both feet on the dirt bordering the canal, turning and heading back in the direction of the sidewalk that led to the school. Feeling the constant press of the object’s shape and weight in his pocket.

Well whatever this was, he wouldn’t have to tackle it alone, he’d have his friends to help him figure it out.

[lovepeacezine]

There are now just five days until Love & Peace, a Trigun found family zine, opens for preorders!

(Previews by: @kejiyaa21, @kitamars & @khytal!)

[totorozine]

💚5 DAYS UNTIL PREORDERS OPEN💙

It’s getting closer - five days from now, on May 1st, preorders for this project open!

[phoenixwrightzine]

‼️ OBJECTION ‼️

There's no time for the defense to rest: our shop open in just five days, so it's time to start the investigation!

Preorders open on August 3rd!

Thank you for your support! 🌻 @fandomzines @zineapps @zinefans @zineforall @zinesunlimited @zinereblog @zinefeed @aafancalendar @zine-shop-channel

[rexsokazine]

Mark your calendars!!

FIVE DAYS until preorders open!

🗓️ Make sure to keep an eye out on the 23rd!