#someone's been thinking about that mustache a lot huh

[simpforwebtoonmen]

Long time no see

A/n: don’t worry, I see ya’ll requests and I will be getting to them 😭

Warnings: not proofread, dumb, might be ooc, I wrote this at 1 am so a lot of it might not make sense lmao

˚✧₊⁎ You were a friend among Daniel’s group in Jae won High. But with recent events, you haven’t seen a lot of your friends in a while. And after so long, Daniel comes to visit you to invite you into his gang. But upon meeting you again after so long, he couldn’t recognize you at all… ⁎⁺˳✧༚

You open the door to reveal Daniel, the smaller one. Though he wasn’t all that small anymore and was definitely thinner, and a lot more muscular. Honestly, you wouldn’t have recognized him if Zoe hadn’t shown you photo’s of him.

You smile and wave at him, “Hey, Daniel!” you greeted. He looked taken back and looked at you confused. He then cleared his throat, “hello…is (name) here?” he asked. “huh? im standing right here…” you deadpanned and pointed at yourself.

Finally, it clicked for him, “oh gosh, (name)!? Is that really you!? I almost didn’t recognize you! Your hair is (shorter/longer) and you have a completely new style!” he exclaimed, almost excited. You flip your hair dramatically, “yeah, I look good, right?” you teased. And despite you joking, he nods in agreement, “yeah, you look really good!”

-

After catching up for a bit, he mentions how you used to be fighter and how he would like you in his team (gang). You said it’d been a while since you fought and that you’d wouldn’t really be that much help, but for some reason Daniel thought otherwise. And with his cute face and nearly begging, you agreed.

And now you stood in front of the rest of the crew members. Most you recognized from school, but there was a certain blonde that you hadn’t recognized.

“Who’s this chick?” Zack questioned, nearly scowling down at you. You almost thought he was looking down at you. It was something he had done before but never did it again after the fact. You smiled up at him, despite his rudeness, with a hint of tease. “What? you don’t recognize me?” you asked him.

It only took the sound of your teasing voice for Zack to know who you were. “(name)!? What the hell, long time no see!” he greeted, throwing an arm over your shoulder. “uh huh,” you simply said, still not letting his past rudeness slide. He then lets you go and sheepishly smiles down at you, “you see (name), about before, you know I wouldn’t have spoken to you the way I did if I had known it was you, right?” nervously rubbed his hands together.

you hummed, “right, well, don’t let it happen again,” you warned, but it was more of a tease than anything. Though, Zack couldn’t tell through his fear, “right right, of course!”

After that you turned to the rest of them, nodding your head, “Vasco, Jay,” you greeted. “Wow, (name). I couldn’t recognize you at all!” Vasco said as he approached you, Jay nodding on agreement. If you were being completely honest, you couldn’t recognize Vasco either. He’d grown buffer, has a beard instead of a mustache, and he cut his hair, plus a few new tattoos. He’s also changed his style into a biker gang type style, along with Jace who you’d only seen recently as well. Jay didn’t change much besides his physique and expensive suits.

And now… you turned to the last person, someone you’ve never seen before. “(Name), this is Hudson. Hudson, (name),” Daniel introduced the two of you, gesturing to each person with his hand. “nice to meet ya!” you smiled. “Yeah…” he responded, keeping his face neutral.

Just then, Zack and Vasco started bantering about who knows what. And when things began to grow my violent, Daniel and Jay had to physically separate them.

Suddenly, Hudson stood next to you and leaned down, “You’ve known them for a long time, right? Were they always like this?” he asked. You nodded, “Yeah, actually I think they were way worse than this,” you nodded as you recalled the memories of all the fights they’d get into with one another.

Though despite not seeing each other for a long time, you were happy to see that not a lot has changed since you last saw them, well, despite their physical and mental improvements, they’re basically the same as they were before. You smiled as you thought to yourself, “it’s good to see everyone like this again. Some things just never change.”

[autisticbokutoenthusiast]

ep 8 stray thoughts

- oh my baby is ok oh this has been a terrifying 12 hours

- help nuth and phop sitting down with nont in a “hey buddy, you doing ok?” formation.

- “sorry for tracking you down and holding you at gunpoint, i’ve kinda been going through it” nont my baby…

- i knew mister pup mask wasn’t nuth what i mf say!!!!

- interesting how the camera filming nuth film nant is shaky- almost like it is also a recording

- kudos to the actor cause nant and nont really are two different ppl

- SCREAM is this the same blade nuth used to shave phop?!?!?!?!!??!!?!?!

- this is kinda crazy?!??! like the shaky recording is making me feel like i’m losing my mind

- we’re nant and nont close at all? like i assume not because it seemed like a lot of what nont knew about his brother came from hacking his phone but also this whole revenge quest is a lot for someone you weren’t close to… or maybe it’s the idea of nant? idk

- it’s the red lighting again…

- i know we’re not seeing the recording so i wonder what they can see… maybe just the feet

- the shot going blurry…. oh….. and the choir vocals

- I WHAT???!!? my emotions are all over the place and then they hit me with captain advertising sex ekdkrkekdkjdj. “sex helps you become the chosen one” ok horny darth vader damn

- OH I KNOW THAT IS NOT A VIDEO RECORDER. what the hell… oh captains despicable ass just got worst…

- i love the little sound effects for the baddie bunch, also captain needs to stop annoying ppl that could floor him like dude leave zouey and teena alone

- hold on zouey before being so uncomfortable with being touched to now smiling… oh i need a minute

- oh he did have a connection with nant, oh poor nont… hold what do you mean prom thinks nant is still alive

- nuths place has a lot of flowers doesn’t it

- nuth and phop continue to be my beloveds NUTH MY BABY I LOVE HIS LITTLE LAUGJ (also nuth being in his mid thirties i thought he was in his twenties…

- phop saying “what if it wasn’t me. you could have met a scammer” like babe didn’t you block him once he bought you a new laptop 🤨. water under the bridge i guess

- “its not easy to find a partner for gays who are older” nuth is dramatic as hell you’re in your thirties?!?!?! oh maybe he was talking about its because he doesn’t like parties… in which case yeah yeah it is

- i may be an american but i don’t think this is how you play rugby…

- oh shit nuth is tall HOLD ON I FORGOT THEY WERE IN CONTACT

- first my baby boy… i’m not gonna say a single thing about the mustache actually whatever makes you happy boo

- “yes chef” (pathetic) (horny) (regretful)

- hold on if first is the chef why didn’t he cook it himself…. ya know what whatever makes them happy

- oh first my baby boy

- why did i have a physical reaction the word powerless being on my screen the same time as aob… his character has so many layers i need to peel them all immediately

- keen… i can’t even put this into words but he’s so sweet

- i forgot first is a student like i’ve not seen this boy with a single book. also i don’t like the fact he left his phone like that… HUH welp.

- firsts dad looking at him like “there is something wrong with this boy” wkjdjjejd

- do you want to get chicken noodles ?!??!??!?!?!?!?!?

- nont going from i’m ready to kill to find my brother to idk anymore… he’s going to spiral tremendously isn’t he

- is captain just eating bread sandwaivh… i need answers

- there’s a statically tv behind nont and prom again. also nonts bangs are down but they were parted with the baddie bunch..

- keen and the pup mask?!?!

[theladycarpathia]

Steve Harrington in a suit should be fucking illegal.

“Canape, good sir?” Billy asks, in the most pretentious voice he can manage. Steve turns and Billy can see the exact second his expression changes. Which is damn offensive because Billy thinks he looks pretty good in this penguin suit get-up.

Alright, so they’re not friends. They’ve had a begrudging truce ever since they both beat the shit out of each other last year, something that came out of a good few months of competition and hating each other. And Billy has worked tons of these events at the Hawkins country club but so far, he’s never seen Steve here before. Although, he should have figured. He’s seen Harrington’s house, the pool, the Beemer. 

“Hargrove,” Steve mutters, eyes flicking warily across the floor to two people holding court in the center of the room. It’s almost instinct, like he can’t control it. 

“The elusive folks?” Billy asks, craning his neck to get a better look. Steve has a lot of Harrington Senior in him: the height, the frame, the strong jaw. Everything else is his mom though, from the doe eyes of the shade of her hair. He’s never seen Harrington’s parents before and it’s a bit like finding a unicorn that looks exactly how you’d expect it to look. Rich and pretty.

“Yeah,” Steve says, shifting from one foot to another. He’s clearly not comfortable, despite the expensive fit of his suit, the gleaming black polish to his shoes. Harrington doesn’t fit in anywhere anymore, not on the court, in high school and definitely not on the arm of Wheeler.

Billy should feel a little bit bad about that. He swept in and took whatever was left of King Steve. Not that there had been much anyway. He’d abandoned his friends and was flunking out and his girlfriend was half in love with someone else. 

But this looks more like the old King Steve, the one that Billy never got to see. Born into money and privilege, the kind of life that Billy would kill to have.

“Not exactly thrilled to have them back, huh,” Billy says and he doesn’t miss how the corners of Steve’s mouth twist. 

“So they can turn up, complaining about every facet of my life and vanish again?” Steve mutters bitterly. “Steven, shouldn't you eat something other than pizza? We have expectations for you, Steven. Nancy Wheeler was such a nice girl, why couldn’t you make it work?”

“That wasn’t your fucking fault,” Billy says, astounded. He missed some of the full story but he knows enough that it was definitely Wheeler’s decision. On the other side of the room, a portly gentleman with a thin mustache makes furious gestures at him. 

“Shit, that’s my boss,” Billy mutters, and then shoves the platter under Steve’s nose again. “At least look fucking interested.” Steve wrinkles up his nose and then squints at something made of puff pastry and covered in some green foam.

“What the fuck is it?” Steve asks and Billy chokes back laughter.

“I thought you were used to this shit, Harrington?” he says, because he’s common as muck and doesn’t recognise anything fancier than pizza and onion rings. He’d have expected spoon-in-his-mouth Harrington to be different. 

“I don’t do things that shade of green,” Steve says bluntly. “Or things in foam form. Got any sliders?”

“No,” Billy says, and points to the corner of the tray. “Try a salmon puff.” Steve takes one, looking dubious.

“Are you sure?” he asks, putting it in his mouth. Billy tries to not enjoy the immediate look of distaste that washes over his pretty face.

“I may have not been paying that much attention when they went through the menu,” he says easily, pulling back the tray. One of the waiters had a really nice ass but Steve doesn’t need to know that. “There were a lot of them. Something about goat’s cheese and asparagus and chives.”

“This isn’t salmon,” Steve says, from around his mouthful and there’s something about the horrified expression on his face that makes Billy’s stomach dip.

Oh no. That is not happening. He’s not going to catch feelings for Harrington because he looks hot in a suit and makes stupid faces. 

“Might have been shrimp,” Billy says, bluntly. He shifts his weight uneasily. He’d been fine irritating Pierre by loitering here but Steve’s tongue flicking out to lick a crumb off his bottom lip has made him realize that he needs to get out and fast. “I’d better circulate before I get fired. I’ll loop back around if I find out what the green foam is.”

“Sure,” Steve says, looking a little startled. There’s a confused little crease in his forehead that suggests he’s not all that happy about Billy taking off. Which is weird, after the fight they got into last November and their shared time in a jail cell. 

“See you around,” Billy says and then turns to vanish into the crowds of people. He offers the tray to a cluster of well dressed women. All it takes is a few well placed compliments and a grin for them to turn into putty, and it has the added benefit of them clearing his tray.

“Circulating, Billy?” Pierre inquires, mustache quivering with his own self importance. Billy pastes on a fake smile, because the man is an ass but this gig pays well. Nice rich ladies who like his eyes always tip and they get to eat the leftovers after. 

“Empty tray, dude,” Billy says, twirling it deftly on one finger. “Need a refill.”

“Hmm,” Pierre says, narrowing his dark eyes. He doesn’t seem to trust Billy an inch but also seems to recognise that there’d be riots from the middle aged, pearl wearing set if Billy wasn’t around to pour champagne. “Try and push the pesto wheels. We have an excess of them.”

“Pesto,” Billy mumbles, and has to stop himself from returning to the party to tell Steve. Instead he pushes through the swing doors and tries to get the image of Steve bent over one of the conference room tables out of his head.

“This sucks,” he complains, dumping his tray down on the side. Barb looks up from her bottle of water. 

“Well, yeah,” she says, doing up the bottle cap. She must be on her break and thankfully aside from the guy washing dishes, the kitchen is empty. Must be a smoke break. “What else is new?”

“No, it’s just…never mind,” Billy says, pathetically. “Load me up.” Barb raises an eyebrow.

“Whatever you say, Hargrove,” she sings and scoops up a tray from the side. “Here, take this one. You’ve been told about the pesto wheels, right?”

“Have they not considered that maybe there’s not too many, it’s just that no one wants to eat the weird green stuff?” Billy says, squinting at the offending snack. “It’s fucking foam.”

“It’s not meant to be foam,” Barb corrects him. There’s a fond glitter in her eye, which is a nice change from the ‘oh fuck, why do I get to work with the local asshole?’ expression that she had on their first gig together. They don’t hang out much at school but they gang up together against people like Pierre and hide all the best leftovers for each other. 

Billy hesitates. He’s well aware that Barb is in Steve’s circle, a fringe member of the kooks and weirdos that Steve seems to hang out with now. There’s a chance that anything he says might get repeated.

“You okay?” Barb asks, her eyes full of concern. Billy shrugs, deciding against it. One stupid frisson of lust isn’t enough to qualify a crush or for him to go babbling about it. He’s fine.

“Yeah, all good. I’m gonna head back out,” Billy fibs. “If you get a chance, hide one of those caviar things later, yeah?”

When he ducks back out, he’s swept up into a wave of people who all want to ask questions about the gluten free options and the calorie content of the cream cheese. Jesus. 

Interestingly, one of the women who scrutinizes the artichoke dip is the glamorous brunette woman he’d seen earlier. There’s something about the intensity in her eyes as she examines the toast points that remind him all too well of her son.

“Thank you,” she says, throwing the words back with a disinterested glance. Ugh. She may be Steve’s mom but he’d give all the money in his bank account to tip the fucking dip over her perfectly coiffed head.

“Your mom has shitty manners,” Billy says abruptly, catching Steve by the large French doors. Steve’s staring out into the pitch black of the manicured grounds, sipping a beer. He shrugs when he catches Billy’s eyes.

“I know the bartender. He sneaks me one sometimes when everyone else is too drunk to notice.” He looks down at Billy’s tray. “Please don’t try to feed me some of that shit again.”

“Hey, I think the bruschetta is safe,” Billy says, before taking a hesitant step forward. “Looking for something?” Steve gives a hollow laugh and shakes his head.

“Nah, it’s okay. My sanity? I guess. A time machine to take me to three days’ time when my parents leave again. The usual shit.” Steve takes another swig, cutting himself off as he remembers who he’s talking to. Billy looks over his shoulder and finds that Pierre is busy talking to a waitress. So he dumps the tray on the nearest table and grabs Steve by the elbow.

“Hey, you’ll get arrested again,” Steve says, although he lets Billy manhandle him through the billowing curtains and outside onto the patio.

“I’m not gonna fight you,” Billy mutters, and digs around in his shirt pocket. He finds his packet of cigarettes and pulls the lighter from his trousers. “Don’t tell Pierre I keep these on me. I don’t smoke during work hours unless he’s really fucking me off.”

“I don’t really smoke anymore,” Steve says, but he takes one anyway. Billy flicks the lighter for him, trying to ignore the color of Steve’s dark eyes under the light.

God, what’s happening to him? One look at Harrington in a suit and he turns into one of those girls that used to hang on his arm at parties. 

“Thanks,” Steve says, inhaling. Billy stows everything away again, just in case they get busted.

“Are they that bad?” Billy asks, although his own experiences screw up the curve. He works the pool and the catering gigs and shifts down at the garage to get the hell out of here. He’s nearing the end of his junior year and then he’s nearly out. 

“No, they just…they think they’re doing what’s best for me,” Steve says ruefully, and Billy watches the purse of his lips around the cigarette. “Which happens to be opposite of what I think is best for me. And they’re just a little…self-involved. Which is fine. I used to be too.”

“You mean you stopped?” Billy quips and then flashes Steve a grin to let him know that it’s a joke. But Steve only rolls his eyes.

“Haha,” he says flatly and kicks at the ground in his fancy Italian shoes. “Yeah, I was just…interested in parties and girls and all that shit, you know? Not a whole lot going on underneath. My future was all planned out so why work for it?”

“Sure,” Billy says, as though he gets it, as though he doesn’t have to fight every day to make sure he has a future. 

“Anyway,” Steve says, taking another drag. “Just so you know, if I’d really been King Steve, you’d never have had a chance.”

“Oh, really?” Billy asks, interested, because it would have been so much more fun to take the crown from someone who didn’t want to relinquish it. Interested, because there’s a strong line to Steve’s jaw that wasn't there before. 

“Yeah,” Steve says, blowing smoke into the dark night. Billy watches, fascinated, at the shape Steve’s mouth makes. “No fucking chance, Hargrove.”

“I’m so sure,” Billy rumbles, but honestly? He can believe it. Steve, for all his self deprecation and sarcasm, draws people in, in a way that Billy just can’t. Max never likes anyone, but she hangs onto Steve’s every word. All those little shits do, and Billy has to wonder why Steve prefers it this way.

Maybe it’s not a bad way to be. If Steve ever needed anything, those kids would run to him in a second. Wheeler, for her shitty treatment of Steve last year, still bites the head off of anyone who dares badmouth him. 

“It’s pesto, by the way,” Billy says hurriedly, because he’s apparently that idiot now. “The green stuff? Pesto.”

Steve wrinkles his nose and drops the butt of his cigarette to the ground, grinding it neatly under his heel.

“That doesn’t make it any better,” he complains and then sighs heavily. “Christ, do you think my parents would notice if I snuck out for a taco?”

“I don’t think your parents would notice much,” Billy says and then immediately hates the way that Steve curls in on himself. 

These people aren’t shit compared to Steve. But he doesn’t seem to know that.

It’s fine. Sometimes Billy doesn’t think he’s much better than Neil either.

“You’d better go back in,” Steve says, gesturing to the curtain and all those people no doubt dying for a sludge coloured appetizer. “That fuckwad might notice you’re gone.”

“He fucking hates me,” Billy says cheerfully, and Steve blinks at him.

“Great?” he says, looking unsure because no one has ever hated Steve Harrington fucking ever, probably. “I’m gonna go bother the valet for my keys.”

“Ass,” Billy grumbles, who ate a bag of Cheetos before work today and not a lot since. He doesn’t have the time these days. School, basketball practice, shower, work, go home and do homework. 

“I’ll bring you one,” Steve says, unexpectedly. “If you can find a cupboard to hide in to eat it.” It’s Billy’s turn to stare at him in surprise. He hadn’t expected Steve to bother coming back. The Harringtons look in their element, sipping their glasses of champagne and telling pointless stories from their trips to Chicago, New York, Washington. Even within spitting distance of their son, they seem to forget him.

“Thanks,” Billy mutters and then slips back through the curtain and grabs his tray, just in time to wave at Pierre making his rounds. Pierre. Billy will eat his fucking denim jacket if that’s the name on his birth certificate.

He wanders the crowds, smiling and making small talk, but his mind is anywhere but on the party. It’s on the look in Steve’s eyes, the curve of his ass in that suit, the wrinkle of his nose.

He can’t stay here. Not for anyone. Not for Neil, not for Max, not for Steve. Whatever the reason.

Steve is destined to be a king of a small town. His father will get him a good job, maybe buy him a house and eventually Steve will marry some cute thing that he meets at the club and spit out a few rugrats. It will all fall into place like dominoes and Steve won’t realize it’s happening until he’s got a beer gut and a back problem.

Nah, Steve’s staying here, the quicksand roots of a small town that won’t let him go. He’s not like Billy, just passing through. Because that’s all this is, some stupid two year pit-stop because his dad is fucked in the head. Enough money and a high school diploma and he’s out of here. Hawkins isn’t enough for Billy, no rolling waves, no glittering sunshine, all too confining in its quaint charm. 

No. No reason to stay at all. 

[max--phillips]

Chicken and Ramps

TFW the blurb u just wrote turned into 949 words. Anyway, thought process behind this was “damn. I wanna forage back near Lexington KY where I was in October, but like, now with all the spring stuff… lol what if Whiskey retired from Statesman and lived on a very rural plot of land in KY, and reader spotted some stuff on his land and got caught” so here . Have this

Pairing: vaguely implied future retired!Whiskey x gn!reader

Warnings: nothing glaring, mild cursing, Jack has a shotgun but it’s never pointed at anyone, since he’s retired I decided to give him graying facial hair so y’know

Words: 949

You were driving through some back roads carefully, though not so slowly to cause suspicion, hunting for something. Fairly easy to spot if you knew what you were looking for; it was bright orange most of the time after all. You’d been trying to keep track of what was and wasn’t occupied property so you didn’t accidentally trespass, plus you intended to stay pretty close to the road, and that would at least give you plausible deniability if a resident came out and complained.

Finally, after some time of driving and a handful of stops for other things you spotted, you came upon your target: a fallen log, just a few steps in from the road, adorned with a plethora of bright orange shelf mushrooms. Chicken of the woods.

You cheered, slamming on your brakes and throwing your car in park, turning the hazards on just in case. You grabbed one of your foraging bags and hopped out of your car, looking around you carefully to ensure you were both alone, and no cars were coming. Met with an empty road and empty woods, you crossed, and began harvesting a few mushrooms. You wouldn’t take all of it, of course, a responsible forager only takes what they need, leaving some for other foragers and the wildlife that also needed to eat.

Once you were set, you stood upright and fastened your bag closed. As you did, a touch of bright green caught your eye in the leaf litter several yards from where you were standing.

Ramps?! This late in the season?!

You weighed your options. Get further from your getaway vehicle and risk actual trespassing, or cut your losses and get back in your car. But ramps… You thought for another moment, took a deep breath, and stepped around the fallen log, towards the ramps. You bent down, and started picking some leaves. This was a pretty big patch, and you would only take a leaf or two from each plant, so you were getting plenty.

Then you heard someone clear their throat, and you about jumped out of your skin.

“Fuck!” You scrambled upright, looking over in their direction, taking a couple steps back. A tall, handsome gentleman with a salt-and-pepper mustache and scruff looked back at you with a slightly amused expression. He wore a cowboy hat, a denim jacket, different colored denim jeans, and cowboy boots. He also had a shotgun, thankfully resting on his shoulder and not pointed at you.

“Y’know, you really shouldn’t be taking things from someone else’s property,” he said. His accent was far too smooth to be from around here, but there was an Appalachian twist that made you think he’d lived here for a good while.

“I-I didn’t—I’m so sorry, I thought this lot wasn’t occupied,” you said, holding your hands up, still gripping your foraging bag and ramps. Unfortunately this was not the first, nor would it likely be the last, time you’d been threatened with a gun. “This is all I’ve taken, there’s still more, but I’ll give them back if you want.”

He looked at you for a second, then to your hand with the ramps. “Those ramps?”

“Uh, yeah, I noticed them while I was picking some chicken,” you answered. “It was a lucky find so late in the season, I couldn’t pass ‘em up.” You gestured to the patch next to you.

“Huh,” he said. “Never noticed those back here for some reason. Good to know.” He sauntered over, squatting down and picking a couple himself before standing up again. “What’s your name?”

You gave it to him. “Again, I did not intend to trespass, if you want this back—“

“Nah, keep it,” he said. “More’n enough for both of us. My name’s Jack.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Jack, I’m sorry if I scared you or anything,” you said. “You also have a pretty good chicken of the woods crop by the road.”

“I was actually on my way out here to check that log, taken some from it before,” he said. “That’s how I found you.”

“Oh, well, I’ll, uh, let you do that and get out of your hair,” you said, gesturing that direction.

“Now hang on a minute, you got a phone on you?” he asked.

“Yeah, of course, why?”

“Go on and take it out, lemme make a new contact for ya,” he answered.

So you did. You opened your phone, went to your contacts, and started a new one. He put in his name and number, and an address. One road over, must be his home.

“Now get your car off the side of the road there and park it in my driveway, and I’ll show you some other stuff I got growing around here.” He got a little closer to you, his voice low like he was afraid someone would overhear even though you were alone. “I may or may not know a very good spot for morels.”

You gasp. “Jeez, Jack, isn’t that a little fast? We just met!” you teased.

Jack laughed, and you grinned. “Not often I see anyone foraging out here. Usually just hunters who think they can set up wherever they want without consequences. Plus you look like you can keep a secret.” He then winked at you, and you felt your whole body heat up a degree.

“Trust me, I know better than to divulge an armed man’s morel spot,” you told him, raising your right hand as if to swear, even though you were still holding those ramps.

“Very good. Alright, sugar, move your car, we’ll get this show on the road.” He winked again, then turned and started walking.

[maybelinefox]

2003 Lighthouse AU Chapter 4: Human

Chapter under cut?

"Hey, Ayla?" Donny's voice drifts down from upstairs.

"Mhm?"

"There's a boat coming."

I look up from the papers on the desk.

"This way?"

"No doubt."

I look through my recent contacts to see if I was told of a visit, but I see no emails notifying me of anything. Quickly, I make my way up into the light with Donny to see what he's talking about.

Sure enough, a boat I've never seen before is plowing its way towards the island, but from a different direction than normal. Everyone who travels to and from this island must go through a thorough check before leaving the mainland and after returning, so all boats come from the same direction.

This one's coming from almost a completely different side of the island. Almost like they made a wide berth around any part of the mainland where someone might see them.

"Ok, go let your brothers know. And don't do anything reckless that could get you seen. I think I know who that boat belongs to."

Donny gives me a look before heading towards the stairs.

"It's them, isn't it?" he asks as he opens the front door. "The people who took Father?"

"I think so," I say through a deep sigh. "But that's not for sure yet, so let's not jump to conclusions. Stay home. I'll come to you guys once they're gone, ok? Be safe."

He nods, then slips out the door, climbing down the side of the rock opposite where the boat is to prevent possibly being seen.

I take a deep breath and head out to the beach to meet whoever this is.

"Well, hello there, ma'am," a mustached man says as he steps onto the pier, taking off his hat.

"Well, I would love to greet you back," I start, stepping onto the pier myself. I'd rather keep this conversation here if I can. "But, as you could probably guess, I'm not exactly used to unexpected guests."

"Oh, of course. My apologies."

He reaches out his hand, and I take it.

"Name's Parker, ma'am."

"Ayla. Not that I don't appreciate the company, but could I ask what it is you're doing here?"

His hat pops back onto his head.

"I'm sorry, I was under the impression you were aware of my business."

"Your business?"

"Well, yes. We did a lot of, uh, cleanup work for the last lighthouse keeper. He told us that he'd alerted you we'd be coming by."

Yep. That's what I thought.

"I received no such alert, unfortunately."

"Huh," his hands are shoved into his pockets. "Well then I really do apologize. I was unaware my short-notice visit was that short-notice."

"I think I know who you are," I explain. "And I'm not sure what Phil told you, but I am not currently in need of your services."

"Ma'am."

And there it goes. The sudden condescending tone, no longer speaking to me like an equal and understanding adult but as a child who can't comprehend the words he's about to be spewing.

I fight to hold back an eyeroll.

"The creatures on this island are dangerous and need to be removed," he explains slowly.

"Creatures I have yet to see. Phil made it seem like they were around all the time, but I've been here four months and haven't seen a thing outside of the ordinary island inhabitants."

"Then they've gotten good at hiding."

He turns to step into his boat to get something.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to just take a look around and see what I can find about their recent habits."

"I do mind."

He looks up at me, obviously ready to throw in another "you don't understand" remark.

"Sir, if this is all you want, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. This is private property."

He holds out his hands as he steps back onto the pier, looking around with an "I don't see anyone watching" attitude.

"I've been here many times before. Allowed to be back then."

"Then why did you make sure to keep your boat outside of mainland view on your way here?"

His hands go back in his pockets, a smile spreading across his face.

"If you were allowed here by the previous keeper, it was certainly off the record, as I saw no trace of your visits in official files. Which means you were never allowed to be here, and he was breaking some major rules. Rules that could get him and you arrested due to the nature of this job and the repeated visits I've been alluded to. Rules that I do not intend to break."

His smile has left his face.

"Now, if you do not want me calling the main office and alerting them to these previous visits of yours, as well as your current whereabouts, I'd suggest you leave. If you don't mind, sir."

He stares at me for a moment before the grin is back and he's laughing. He continues laughing and shaking his head as he turns back to the boat.

"Alright, alright," he chuckles out as he steps into the boat. "If you wanna get yourself killed by island monsters because you were too prideful to allow help, then by all means, I won't stop you."

"It's not pride, sir," I state as he switches on the motor. He looks up at me with a sarcastic, expectant smile as he waits for me to finish my thought.

"I simply have already fallen in love with everything on this island, and intend to do my best to protect all of it."

His smile drops again as he searches my eyes, but if he sees anything that confirms my meaning, he says nothing. Silently turning back to the wheel, he pulls his boat away from the pier, speeding off in the direction he came from.

I make my way back to the lighthouse as casually as possible in case Parker decides to look back and see what I'm doing for whatever reason, but the second I make it inside I bolt up to the office and quickly sit myself in front of the computer.

He had a logo on his jacket.

I search for the company name for a few minutes of nothing before finally finding a website link so obscure I almost overlook it. There's absolutely nothing on their website about monster hunting, but they do label themselves as "licensed exotic animal traders".

Of course.

They probably hunt "monsters", capture them alive, and sell them to freak shows or something similar. I'm willing to bet there's private collectors out there.

After searching around on their website for a bit, I'm almost ready to give up trying to track down any locations before I see something hidden in the drop-down menu. I have to click through a few of the other options to see what falls under them, but eventually I notice that there's a few things hidden in the secondary lists that seem to be worded rather...strange.

"Weird and wacky...." I mumble out loud curiously as I click it. A few options fall down under that one that I glance over, not expecting much.

"Not your average...."

That one changes the page to show strange looking rare animals. I scroll through it all the way to the bottom and am about to get back into the menu when I see in fine print at the bottom of the page....

"Rarest trade deals...."

I figure why not and click it, and it takes me to a page where I can choose what I would like to trade.

Thinking maybe I'm getting somewhere, I look through the options, and eventually find one called "oversized". Well, that's probably the one the turtle's father was in, if he was ever on this website, since he’s supposed to be a giant rat. So, I click it.

"Ah, great."

Now it wants me to fill out some information about what company I'm affiliated with that wants the trade.

Well of course it wouldn't be that easy.

Unless...

I type in everything I could find about the company that owns the very website I'm on, then submit.

Bingo.

Except now it's asking for a five-digit code.

I'm about to think there's no way until I remember there was a series of numbers I saw on a badge Parker was wearing, mostly hidden under his jacket. Five, to be exact.

Thinking there's no way that could be it, I input the numbers and submit.

And I'm in.

"There's no way that was that easy...."

There has to be a way they either set me up or are now aware of me looking through their stuff. I should be quick, just in case.

There aren't many creatures here, so it should be easy to find him if he's on here.

And find him I do.

A picture of an old, oversized rat wearing shackles and sitting calmly on his knees stares at me through the computer.

With the word "sold" plastered across it.

Looking around his picture, I see a button that says "Do you want this for yourself? Contact the buyer to see if they'll negotiate."

Convenient.

I write down the phone number it gives me and snap a picture of the screen with my phone before exiting the page.

Ok, that was strange, but maybe now we're getting somewhere.

Looking up the number gives me literally nothing except a relative location. Didn't think it would be that easy, but hey it was worth a try.

I sigh as I pull away from the computer.

I'm gonna need help for this, aren't I?

I contemplate for a moment, but it doesn't take long for me to decide.

I know my own skill set. And tracking things with no paper trail, hell, with barely any trail at all, is not in my skill set.

And I know them. They would probably be shocked at first, but they're good people. Once they know what's happening, they'll help. And they can keep secrets.

I debate whether I should ask the turtles first, but I know damn well I'm gonna do this anyway, so I pull up April's contact in my phone and press the call button.

After a couple rings, she picks up.

"Ayla?" She starts, the disbelief evident in her tone.

"Hey, April."

"Wow! You're calling instead of texting or sending a letter? Must be serious."

"It...yeah, it kinda is. Do you think you and Casey could come over to the lighthouse for a bit? I need your help with something."

"If something broke in the mechanics, isn't that up to your employers to fix?"

"This is more of a personal matter, April."

There's a pause. Then she calls her husband over to her to ask him if they have anything too pressing to come over.

"We can come,” she states after exchanging a few words with Casey.  “Can you tell me the issue, or will we have to wait on that one?"

"You'll have to wait, I'm afraid. I'll let them know you guys are coming tomorrow. As far as they'll know, it's a social visit, nothing more."

"Sure thing, Ayla," I hear Casey's voice. "We'll be there."

"Thanks guys."

I hang up.

Now that I've already done that, I need to tell the boys. Grabbing my bag and some food I’d already packed up to have Donny take to his brothers, I look through the windows to make sure Parker is truly gone. Once I’m positive, I head out to the cave.

"So there's more people heading over here?" Raph huffs, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

When I made it to the cave, the boys had jumped me, making sure I was ok and asking what had happened. It took a few minutes to calm them down so I could actually talk, but eventually I got the whole story out to them.

"She's better at computers and hacking than I am," I explain. "If anyone I trust can find him through that website, it's April."

"So, she builds machines and stuff?" Donny asks, a hopeful gleam in his eye.

"I'm gonna break it to them slowly, just to make sure they're really ok about all this. But once all the major stuff is out of the way, I'm sure she'd love to talk to you about tech, Donny. It's pretty much her entire life."

He taps his fingers together in excitement as a grin spreads across his face.

"When are they going to be here?" Leo asks.

"Tomorrow, around noon. They're coming in with the supply boat."

"And how are we expected to show them all this?" Raph asks, annoyed, moving his hand around his face in a "wax-on" motion to emphasize what "all this" is.

"I'm not gonna talk about you guys just yet," I tell them. "I want you guys to stay secret for the time being. I'm gonna explain to them that your father was unfairly taken from this island and I want to bring him back. Once the situation has died down, or, I guess, if they push me enough for explanation beforehand, then I'll explain more. I feel like Casey will be fine but I'm not sure if April is gonna take it too well at the start."

"You're the only human that took it any kind of well," Mikey points out around his mouth full of chips.

"Well, I'm not the only human like me out there, and I happen to trust these guys will be ok with all this. I've known April since high school, and she wouldn't have married Casey if he wasn't actually a good guy. I know both of them very well and wouldn't be calling them here if I thought they'd be any threat. I promise."

"Yeah?" Raph pipes up with a growl. "Well believe it or not, princess, you ain't exactly the most trustworthy yourself."

Donny's eyes widen in shock.

"Raph!"

"Just wait a moment," Raph walks by Donny towards me, holding his hand up in his brother's face to shush him.

"We've known ya, what? A few months? Barely even that. Sure, ya didn't freak out when ya saw Donny, but that doesn't mean you can be trusted to make decisions like this for us just 'cause you got an idea in your headstrong little noggin."

"That's enough, Raph!" Leo's hand clamps onto Raph's shoulder to get his attention.

Raph's only response is to narrow his eyes at me.

Donny gets up from his place on the ground next to Mikey, where they were sharing the chip bag, and hurries over to me, gently placing his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Ayla. He just gets a bit stuck in his head sometimes and-"

"I know," I interrupt him, staring Raph straight in his still uncovered brown eyes. "We've had this conversation before."

Raph's eyes widen slightly as he remembers, before his angry face falls into one of exhaustion and slight regret.

We have had this conversation. Just last week, he'd made a solo trip to the lighthouse and confessed to me that he has anger issues and sometimes struggles to control himself, apologizing for anything he may have said before that upset me. We had a long conversation involving different methods that could be used to help someone with anger problems.

He does have a point, though.

I let out a deep sigh.

"It's fine, though. He's right."

All eyes look to me, suddenly worried. Except Raph. He just looks slightly confused at my apparently unexpected agreement with him.

"No, Ayla, we trust you-"

"Why?"

Donny backs off a little, confusion taking over his big brown eyes. But he doesn't remove his hand from my shoulder.

"As he said, we've literally known each other four months, Donny. Look I hate to say something that'll make humans look even worse to you than we already do, but you shouldn't trust someone with your life if you've only known them four months just because they're the only person you've met that didn't immediately hurt you. They could still hurt you at some point, whether they mean to or not. And believe me, there's people out there that will mean to that can and will play the waiting game."

I look Raph in the eyes for the next part.

"Raph told me he was waiting for me to do something. Play a trick or lure you into a trap using your trust in me. And he was right to feel that way because people do that."

I shake my head and turn away, beginning the process of packing up the plates and other dishes and utensils I brought. I need to have something to do with my hands when I talk a lot.

"Humans suck, ok? We're selfish, greedy assholes who destroy the world around us for our own gain and take advantage of anyone and anything we can find that's weaker. If something doesn't talk or think like we do, we deem it inferior and use, abuse, and otherwise mistreat it until we've drained it of all its usefulness. And then we throw it out a window because it no longer means anything. This is how humans are. How we've always been and always will be."

Turning back, I look to each of them to emphasize my points.

Donny.

"That's why weapons and other detrimental technology exist among the helpful, useful technology."

Mikey.

"That's why things that poison and brainwash and otherwise cause serious harm exist among things meant to bring fun and entertainment."

Leo.

"That's why people in high positions of power always end up richer and more powerful than they were at the start after doing basically nothing, despite being put in that position because of their promises of good things for the common people that put them there."

Raph 

"That's why people who open themselves up to trust others are often the ones that get hurt the most."

I sigh again, slinging the bag over my back to carry it home.

"But the thing I think is most important about being human is finding the strength and courage to allow such things. If you never allow yourself to trust someone, you'll never be hurt by anyone, but you'll also never find someone you can seek true comfort, acceptance, and peace with. If you don't try things because it could be bad, you may be missing out on the things you'll truly love. It's hard. It sucks. There's a lot of risk involved. But if you don't do it, you'll never truly live. You'll never truly feel free. You'll just be trapping yourself in your own safe, private little bubble and never truly get to experience the world. And some people are fine with that. You can't miss what you've never experienced. But some people just can't accept the sad loneliness that often comes with it.”

As I talk, I begin to realize I’m no longer really talking to the boys. I think I’m talking to myself.

I need to get back on track.

“Look, I don't want you guys to think I'm trying to force you into probably the greatest risk you've ever taken. This isn't just trying some exotic food for the first time and not knowing if you'll like it. Your lives could be on the line. I get that. The point I'm trying to make is that not all humans are like Phil and those hunter guys. Phil isn't a bad guy, but he is the type of guy to shoot first, ask questions later. And he didn't take the time to understand you guys before he started shooting. That's his fault. That's the kind of person he is, and there's a lot of people like that. And unfortunately, you’ve had to suffer for it. The other humans you've encountered were brought here by him, so of course they'd be of a similar mindset to him. You haven't had the good fortune of meeting a human who didn't want you dead or captured. And that's not your fault, but it's warped your idea of what humans are like. Not all humans are like those guys, and I just wanna get that across to you before you make any decisions on whether or not you want April and Casey to see you."

I take a deep breath, not used to long speeches, then check my phone to see what time it is.

"Shit, it's gettin late. I've got a couple more chores to do before nightfall. Look, I don't expect you boys to make a decision right now, and I promise even if you don't by the time they get here, I'll do what I can to keep you out of the conversation. And if you don't want me taking risks like this to get your father back, I get that too. I'll find an excuse to keep them out of the whole thing if you decide that. This is your family, your decision. I'm sorry if I jumped the gun. Wasn't my decision to make. I don't even have an excuse for that. I guess I just...thought I was doing the right thing. But good intentions doesn't always equal good decisions, so I definitely should have-"

I suddenly feel arms squeezing me from the side, and it takes me a moment to realize Donny is hugging me.

"Oh, well..."

Mikey scrambles up off the ground as I feel someone taking my bag off my back only to wrap his arms around me as well right when Mikey arrives to utterly glomp the crap out of the three of us.

Raph shakes his head. Then he slowly steps towards us and pushes his way between Mikey and Leo so he can involve himself in the group hug as well.

I've only got two arms and I’ve probably been in a maximum of one group hug in my life, so I’m not sure what to do about this.

"Guys?"

"Shhh," Mikey pulls an arm away from Donny to put a finger over my lips. "Enjoy the moment, sister."

I chuckle, shaking my head at the utter strangeness of this impromptu group hug, but ultimately shut my mouth to enjoy it.

"Sorry," Raph mumbles under his breath, but I know we can all hear it with the close proximity. "Shouldn't-a raised my voice and gotten mad like that...."

I shake my head.

"Don't be sorry about taking actions you think are necessary to protect your family."

He watches my eyes a moment before nodding and leaning his head against mine to continue the hug.

Gotta say, I’m starting to feel like I'm gonna want to be in many more group hugs after this.

After finally making it back to the lighthouse, I set to work finishing up the chores for today before cleaning the dishes from the trip to the cave. After I finish that and notice the sun has nearly finalized its trek downwards, I decide a little more research may be a good thing if I do it right.

After some discussion following the impromptu group hug, the boys agreed that I should go ahead with the plan I already had for revealing their situation to April and Casey. So now all I gotta do is wait until noon tomorrow.

I sit down in front of the computer again, ready to do some more looking into of this company Parker works for, and quickly notice I've received an email. Emails from the company are immediately flagged by the computer so my attention is grabbed by a popup that won't go away until I view it.

Wondering if there was a policy change or something wrong with tomorrow's supply transport, I click the email.

Reading through it, I can feel my eyes widening and my mouth falling open in shock.

No. Fucking. Way.

Masterpost First | Prev | Next

[risustravelogue]

“hello, good sir. pardon the interruption to your leisurely rest, but have you seen this woman?”

a clink of mora passing between hands, and the vagrants studied the photo of a short dark-blue haired woman closely.

one of them answered with a rough voice, “a foreigner? lots of them been roamin’ around since the sakoku decree being lifted. can’t really remember well…”

another gold coin joined the other. the ronins talked amongst each others in inazuman as meirin tapped her foot almost impatiently.

“i guess she looks pretty distinct… might have seen her around, maybe in the capital.”

“are you absolutely sure?”

“chances are, she’ll be there. you said she was doing some commission work and stuff? if they could afford someone from overseas, they must have some good money. people with good money generally live in the main city.”

all general information, yet again. what do these people think we are, dumb?

the woman sighed and grabbed her husband’s hand before he could hand over yet another mora to the fifth group of vagabonds they’ve encountered that day, “alright. thank you for your cooperation, good sirs. we’ll be going n—”

“now, now,” the ronin who had been observing the scene from behind chuckled, hand inching towards their sheathed blade, “you both seem loaded, so why not throw a few more mora our way, eh?”

meirin frowned and glanced up at her lover before whispering, “is the welfare in inazuma that bad? why do they all say the same thing? what are these guys, npcs?”

“an interesting theory. are you suggesting that we’re in a game of sorts?”

“wouldn’t that be fun? in which case, i command you to bonk these npcs!”

“haha, as my dearest wishes.”

ミ𒆙𒆙𒆙

“— really! we really don’t know anything else!” the nobushi pleaded, visibly trying to struggle against the petrification to no avail.

the teashop owner sighed and pondered over the small teapot, before reaching into her bag with a soft smile, “i think you need more tea to remember, good sir… ah, yes, why not add the amount of jueyun chili in this one? and ground sand grease pupas for an added flavor! that should jog your memory!”

“wait, wait, please! i swear i don’t know anything! never seen that girl in my life!!” the man cried out, glancing back towards his friends who were laying out cold on the ground after a cup of… whatever devil’s drink that woman had forced down their throat.

were they dead? he had no idea.

and why the hell was the woman’s husband making himself home on their camp while having tea?!

clearly this couple wasn’t normal.

“look! i-i may not have information about the girl, b-but i’ve seen a weird-looking guy walking around these parts!”

“… a weird-looking guy?” meirin tilted her head.

the kettle sang on top of the portable stove. the man watched with quivering eyes as she poured the hot water into the teapot containing the 'concoction’. even from the smell, his eyes had started to water.

“y-yeah!! he’s got a mustache and wears this purple cape!! he looks like he’s up to no good if you ask me!!”

“huh… anything else?”

“uh. um……. n-no?”

“….”

“….”

“welp! special tea delivery! open wide~”

[ 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚠𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚡𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 ]

shoes crunched against inazuma’s soil as the pair trekked down the path towards konda village. perhaps once they’ve reached the settlement, they would be able to find some clues, or at least people who had seen kurisu. though their pace was deliberately slowed from all the venturing and questioning almost everyone they came across, it was always better to be meticulous and slow than careless and fast in these situations.

….. and on that note….

“xiànɡ gong, i love you dearly, but let’s try to be just as ultra-careful and not spend our money that willy-nilly, alright?”

“ah… yes, of course. my apologies, tiánxīn.”

@i23kazu - another ebg submission from yours truly!

I'm not sure how you'd count these, but there are 2 doodles on screencaps, 2 drawings, and 1 edit of a drawing (idt that counts as a whole piece?). Feel free to see for yourself!

230 words.

03. trying something

That morning…

“We’re here.”

“You! Boss-man! I challenge you to an Onikabuto fight!” exclaimed the young girl.

Itto cackled. “Bring it on!”

Kurisu smiled. “Haha… Have fun, you two.” 

She walked inside the tent. There, she found something glinting near one of the tent’s wooden pegs.

“What’s this?”

“Huh? A Vision? Whose is this?”

Kurisu walked out of the tent and approached Shinobu, who was walking down towards the tent.

“Kuki. I found a Vision near one of the pegs. Do you have any idea whose it is?”

Kuki’s eyes looked at the Vision, then to Kurisu’s face, then back to the Vision in her hand.

“A Sumeru Vision… hmm. Why don’t you try using it?”

Kurisu frowned.

“Odd idea, but how do I do that?”

Shinobu tapped her cheek. “Hmm. Try connecting with it, then focus on something you can’t do without a Vision. Since it’s a Hydro Vision, maybe try conjuring a ball of water floating above me?”

Kurisu nodded. She closed her eyes and imagined a big ball of water above Shinobu’s head.

“Amazing.”

She opened her eyes to find Shinobu poking the ball of water with her index finger.

And it popped, showering her green hair with glistening droplets.

“Ah! Cold!” she yelped.

“...”

“Wow, it is yours!”

“But…”

“... Kurisu?”

“But... But I—I’ve never—!!”

A horrified shriek echoed through the air.

“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ME?????”

[sir-subpar]

1st (and 2nd) Meeting (Yandere Toppat Charles prequel oneshot)

Yep! I finally wrote more Yandere Toppat Charles. A lot of people have been requesting this. So here it is! Below the cut.

*Prequel oneshot! Let's go!*

Charles observed his computer monitor, watching the museum with the clan's hidden cameras they planted.

"Incredible.." He whispered in awe. The whole museum has fallen into chaos, and it was all thanks to one man. Henry Stickmin.

Yes, he'd been watching Henry for a while, seeing him make a name for himself. Charles wondered sometimes if he really worked alone. He had the skills of a whole task force, but always appeared to have no help. 

Did he plan these things? Or did Henry just make it up as he went along? He couldn't tell.

Oh Henry, so wild, so random. Yet so… impressive.

He had to meet this man. No doubt about it.

…

Henry ran with the diamond, he hid it in one of his hideouts outside the city. He'd have to lay low for a while, but it was worth it.

…

Henry left his hideout to retrieve some necessities, like food. He didn't plan on being out long, but he had a.. Strange encounter, on his way back.

Henry nabbed some fruit that he could stash and was in the process of running back to his hideout, it was night out and he used a lot of confusing alleyways and narrow roads to exit the city. Despite his efforts to avoid detection, someone apparently spotted him. 

"Henry Stickmin, or is it Stickman?" Henry whipped around and pointed his gun (which only had two bullets) at the voice, only to find no one standing there. Suddenly, he felt another body behind him. The stranger wrapped their arms around him, but in a way that felt more… gentle, friendly even. But the fact it was a stranger didn't help the fact that it was still terrifying. A hand quickly found itself grabbing his wrist, making him unable to fire it behind him. 

 

He felt someone's face right next to his own, they started whispering into his 'ear', "Hey, hey, calm down. I'm not here to cause you any harm. It's the opposite, really." The tone of the man's voice was strange. It was soft, but in a weirdly personal way. Like they knew each other or something. Which they did not. Or at the very least, Henry didn't.

"You broke yourself out of prison, stole the Tunisian Diamond, and even managed to avoid being recaptured… yet you struggle to even find a steady source of food… How sad. You deserve better, Henry.." The man somehow got even closer, Henry could feel his lips brush the side of his head, "... Way better." The stranger whispered, his tone changing a bit. 

Was this guy… flirting, with him?

"My name's Charles. I've seen your work from afar and I just gotta say, I'm impressed."

"Are you a cop or something? Because I'm pretty sure everything you're doing right now is illegal."

Charles laughed. "Good thing I'm not a cop then, huh?" Henry wasn't sure if that made it better or worse. 

"I'm a criminal. Just like you. The main difference is that I am a crime leader..."

 What was this guy? A mobster? Gang leader? When would he get to the point and stop all this weirdly intimate physical contact!?

" … and I think you should join me.."

Henry froze. This guy wanted him? A random solo thief, to join whatever crime syndicate he was in?

"I'll give you time to think about it. C'ya round, Henry." 

Just like that, Charles was gone. Henry only caught a glimpse of a red cloak and what was either headphones or ear muffs. He didn't get a long enough look to tell.

What a strange guy.

…

Henry woke up abruptly as he was practically thrown into a wooden crate. "Oh, I see you are awake at last." A man with a rather poised voice caught his attention. He saw a somewhat dapper looking man, with a brown mustache that he was twirling a bit as he talked.

Wait, was that a government uniform?

 "My my, no need to be so alarmed. We brought you here for a reason. We need your help." The man attempted to soothe Henry's anxiety. "My name is Reginald, and this is my right hand man," The man, now known as 'Reginald' gestured to another man who appeared to be driving the helicopter they all sat in. The second guy was taller than Reginald, Henry could tell, even though he was sitting down, and had a red mustache and hair. He appeared to be quite stern. And it was at this moment that Henry fully realized the situation.

He was in a government helicopter, with a couple soldiers holding guns at the ready, talking to someone who appeared to be in charge (maybe a captain). 

"You were a tricky little minx to catch, but I am sure your skills will make this worth the trouble."

Henry was briefed on the mission: go into the Toppat Clan's airship, find incriminating evidence, and gain his freedom. Seems fair enough.

Once he was on the ship, he found an air vent that eventually spat him onto a platform, one that was across from another platform with a "records" sign. 

"Oi, Henry. Might want to take a look at their records. You could probably find something there." Right's voice called through Henry's earpiece. His tone made it sound more like a command than a suggestion. "I've some things that can help you get across. What do you want to use?"

-Box

-Gun

-Right Hand Man

Henry decided on the box. Sure enough, one was dropped down in front of him. When he tried to open it, he realized it was made of metal. Suddenly, it seemed to unfold itself, sprouting arms and legs.

Ah. It was a small robot.

Suddenly, the small robot stomped up to him and lifted him off the ground with a vice grip. Henry had no time to get his bearings… and no time to prepare for the robot throwing him across the gap full-speed. 

Henry's body slammed into the metal floor, knocking the air out of his lungs. He looked across the gap, where he used to be, to see the robot give him a salute and then fold back into a box. Little pest. Useful, but still a pest.

Henry carried on his way to the records room, the shelves and files were practically endless, then he saw someone reading through a file. He ducked behind a shelf and watched the man. He had black sideburns, and a dark green uniform and Top hat to match. "Hmm. I gotta find a better spot for this, too incriminating to have in the open." He had a slight Brooklyn accent, if Henry assumed correctly.

Henry started to panic when the man stood up, seemingly turning to face the direction Henry happened to be in. 'Do something do something do something!' Henry's brain screamed.

Without thinking Henry grabbed a heavy book off the shelf and threw it full force at the guy. The book landed hard on the guy's foot, Henry could hear a *crack* upon impact. 

The Toppat crumbled to the floor, clutching his ankle and yelling obscenities for the whole world to hear. After some cursing, he seemed to refocus. "Who the FUCK-! Bukowski! Is that you!? I swear to god if that was you I'm gonna throw you off this Damn ship!" 

Henry crawled and sneaked his way around him, arms and legs on the metal floor. He maneuvered his way under the table, hastily grabbing the files the angry man dropped. He began to back up, hoping to leave the room without getting caught.

His hopes were dashed though when the guy turned his head to look at him. They both froze for a second when they made eye contact.

It did not take long for the Toppat to realize who was responsible for crushing his foot with a book. "Oi! Who the hell are you!?" Henry fumbled to his feet, and just ran. He was met with a locked door. Keycard only, Damn.

Henry turned to look at the man who was now getting up with the help of the table. That guy probably had a keycard.

Henry stuffed the file into his jacket, and bolted towards the guy. Using his built up momentum, he delivered a brutal kick to the guy's head, causing it to slam into the table top. While he was stunned, Henry snatched the card, and booked it towards the door. The identification on the card read "Rupert Price". 

Welp. Sorry Rupert, but he needed an escape. 

With his newfound access, he ran through the long metal halls of the ship. He had Right giving him directions to the nearest exit through his earpiece. It certainly helped with navigating the long, confusing, symmetrical halls of the airship.

Alarms started blaring. That Rupert guy must've alerted the clan.

Thinking fast, Henry swiftly dove into a vent, out of sight. He continued to listen to Right's directions.

"Take a left, don't make too much noise. There's a room full of crooks under you. A lot of 'em are armed."

Henry resisted the urge to say "no shit", feeling that it's pretty obvious a bunch of criminals would have weapons. He bit back his smartass remarks, it wasn't the time.

Henry eventually left the confines of the ventilation system, arriving in a room similar to a garage. Seeing as he was alone, he opened the huge metal garage door, ready to leave.

"Alright 'Enry. Get ready to-" the audio was cut off by garbled electronic noises. He couldn't make out what Right was saying, no matter how much he strained to listen. 

Suddenly, he heard someone… clapping?

"Finally, I can speak to you without interruptions," a voice said. A familiar one. Where had Henry heard that voice before?

"I gotta say, I haven't been this excited in a long time. Seeing you, Henry Stickmin, on my airship." 

A figure emerged from the darkness, a black hat with a red band and matching red headphones poking through, and a familiar red cloak.

The same guy from the alleyway! What was his name again? Henry's mind drew a blank, only remembering how weird that encounter was.

"I guess this is a good time to 'properly' introduce myself." The man said, a sly grin on his face. 

He approached Henry and gently grasped his hand, leaning down to plant a gentle kiss on his knuckles. 

"Charles Calvin, leader of the Toppat Clan."

Henry's face flushed a new shade of pink. He froze, muscles tense from intimidation, confusion, and slight flusherment. 

"I'm honored that you stopped by. It's a little unfortunate though. You are a talented thief, I didn't even know you were here at first!" Charles' tone took on a genuine excitement in that moment.

 "Though your 'government buddies' aren't quite as sneaky with that helicopter out there." His tone shifted again, laced with a feeling Henry could only describe as animosity when he mentioned the government.

 Henry swallowed thickly. He had been caught. What was Charles going to do? What would the government do with Henry's failure? 

"You're sweating," Charles said, seeming a bit concerned. He cupped Henry's cheek, gently caressing it with his thumb. Henry wasn't sure what to feel about this. For some reason, Charles seemed comforting and terrifying simultaneously. "What do they have on you Henry? I can't imagine that a habitual thief like yourself would willingly team up with the people hunting him down. Did they threaten you?"

Charles' voice had a protective edge to it.

Henry was at a loss for words. What was he supposed to do? 

On one hand, he barely knew this man, and the guy was a powerful clan leader. 

On the other hand, there was no guarantee that Captain Reginald would keep his promise. The government could be lying to him. They could have just wanted to use him to take down the clan, and then arrest him right after. Kill two birds with one stone.

Henry bit back his nerves, deciding to be honest and see how Charles would react. 

"My freedom." Henry stated, doing his best to make his tone unreadable. 

Charles tilted his head. "Your freedom? What, you do what they want and you don't get sent to prison? Is that really the deal?" 

Henry nodded. "They said they'd pardon me for my crimes."

"... And how do you know that they'll actually go through with it?"

Henry said nothing. He didn't know.

"Doesn't sound like you're any closer to freedom, bud." Charles' sympathetic tone made Henry feel… oddly safe. He wasn't sure why.

Charles cupped Henry's cheek, an oddly intimate and comforting action. "Join the clan Henry. No government, or prison, will even touch you, not if I have a say in it. You'll be safe with me, Henry, I promise. Just let me love you, and stay." 

Henry's eyes widened.

Wow… that was really forward of Charles. "Love" was an interesting word choice. Charles wasn't just asking Henry to join his criminal organization, he basically just asked him out. 

Henry's face lit up with a warm pink glow, before he thought about the reality of the situation. He had a choice to make. Both options had risks. He could either join Charles, or finish his government mission. A crime Lord stranger, or a US captain who had already kidnapped him earlier to get him to do the government's bidding. 

Henry averted his eyes, focusing them on the metal floor beneath them.

This place seemed stable. And the government hasn't taken these guys down. They were strong. If he stayed on their good side, he could be untouchable.

If he went with the government, he could be pardoned for his crimes and have a second chance at a normal life. No criminal record.

Henry closes his eyes.

-Stay

-Go

He looked Charles in the eye. The man patiently waited for his response with a smile. He was bouncing on his heels a bit. He seemed eager. 

Henry held out his hand, "Okay, I'll join you." He was expecting Charles to shake his hand, but instead, Charles threw his arms around Henry in a hug. He lifted Henry off the ground and spun around. 

"Oh Henry! I'm so glad! You won't regret this!" 

Henry squirmed awkwardly. This guy was very cuddly. 

Charles seemed to recompose himself. Henry was relieved when he could feel the floor beneath him again. 

Charles cleared his throat. "Ahem. So, how do you want to deal with… them?" Charles vaguely gestured to the helicopter outside. Henry was thankful they couldn't see him and Charles.

Henry tapped his chin in thought. Then an idea came to him.

"Do you have a spare hat?"

The cargo hold's door opened. The wind and air whipped around Henry violently, he had to squint. Henry held up the decoy he put together, making sure Charles's signature hat and headset stayed on its head. 

Charles waited off to the side, his back pressed against the wall by the door, nodding at Henry.

Suddenly, he could hear Right's voice in his earpiece again.

"Henry! What happened there!? I couldn't reach you."

"It's fine! I just had to turn off my earpiece for a bit. I didn't want to give away my location."

Henry stepped forward, making sure he could be seen from the helicopter, he put handcuffs on the decoy, and held it so that it looked like he arrested Charles. 

"I'll meet you on the ground!" Henry yelled, and turned off his earpiece. He backed up towards Charles, who had a decoy of Henry ready with a parachute strapped to it. 

They quickly tied the decoy together, still making sure that it looked like Henry was holding Charles, they gave the fake Henry the earpiece. Finally, they worked together to throw the decoys off the ship. 

 

Charles held a remote in his palm, quietly counting to himself so he could time it right.

Henry watched as the helicopter flew downwards to follow their false counterparts. Charles pressed a button on his remote, and the decoys' parachute opened.

They closed the cargo door, and smiled at each other. That should hold them off for a bit.

Charles started laughing. "Oh, I wish I could see their faces when they realize what we did." He wiped a tear from his eye.

Henry chuckled a bit. "I bet it would be funny."

Charles wrapped an arm around Henry. "Hahah… I hope we have a lot more moments like these, Henry." 

Henry smiled softly. "Yeah, me too."

Suddenly, Henry remembered something. 

"Oh! Uh… since we're working together now, I should probably give this back to you." He reached into his coat and pulled out the file he had stolen earlier. 

He handed it to Charles, who upon seeing it, let out another laugh. 

"Oh, you little minx! I didn't even realize you stole this!" Charles seemed genuinely impressed. "You're good.." He said, his tone ever so slightly flirtatious. 

Henry gave a dismissive (and bashful) hand wave. "It was nothing." 

"You're trouble, aren't you?" Charles smirked.

Henry chuckled. "Yeah, and now you have to deal with it."

"Gladly."

[dreaminonao3]

I'm a day early but I have the time and I don't have the patience, so...

Day 7 -- Use the words: small town, bar, jukebox

Starstruck (AO3)

Puente Antiguo, 2011

Darcy Lewis looked over the list of songs on the jukebox at the one and only bar in town. Almost all of them were older than she was, but she always did like oldies. She settled on “The Last Time I Felt Like This.” Growing up with a Johnny Mathis fan rubbed off on me, she thought as the familiar song started.

“Care for a dance?” a male voice asked from behind her.

Darcy turned to see a man she didn’t recognize smiling at her. With the town being so small, she knew all the locals by face, if not name, but this one was a stranger to her and she immediately had her guard up. “Sorry, I don’t dance with strange men.”

The man chuckled. She had to admit he was good-looking – tall, thick dark brown hair with bangs falling lazily over his forehead and gray streaks at his temples, a mustache and a short beard that came to a point, and cheekbones any supermodel would kill for. His pale blue eyes held a hint of sadness alongside the mirth that went with his killer half-smile. With his pale skin and all-black clothes, he looked like a handsome modern goth.

“Oh, we’re not strangers, though I’m definitely Strange,” he said.

Darcy raised an eyebrow. “We know each other? I find it hard to believe – Puente Antiguo isn’t known for its goth scene.”

“Right,” he said, chuckling again. “Let’s just say we don’t know each other yet, but we will.”

“Uh huh,” she muttered, rolling her eyes at his pick-up line. “In what universe?”

“This one, of course,” he said, obviously enjoying himself. “One dance, Darcy. That’s all I ask.”

“The song’s almost over.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that.” He held out a hand. “Please?”

Oh, what can it hurt? “Fine,” she sighed then she took his hand.

He led her onto the small dance floor and pulled her close enough to place his hands at her waist as she placed hers on his shoulders. They started to slow dance shortly before the song ended only for it to start over again.

Darcy raised an eyebrow. “Did you pay for more plays?”

The man chuckled. “Something like that.”

“Uh huh. What’s your name?”

“Stephen.”

“Just ‘Stephen?’ No last name?”

“Strange.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not strange to ask someone for their last name.”

He sighed heavily. “No, my name is Stephen Strange.”

“Oh. You must’ve been teased mercilessly when you were a kid.”

Stephen smiled a bit and she had to admit she liked his crooked smile. “My nickname in high school was ‘Odd,’ my classmates thought themselves hilarious.”

She had to admit it was funny. “Okay, Stephen, what’s your deal? You’re not from here.”

“Just passing through.”

“Uh huh, so you decided to just chat up the first single girl you see at the bar?” She wasn’t annoyed, not really, just curious.

Stephen chuckled. “I told you, Darcy Lewis, we will know each other well.”

She stared at him. “I never told you my last name. Come to think of it, I didn’t tell you my first name either.” She lowered her voice. “Are you stalking me?”

“If I was, I certainly wouldn’t admit it,” he said, his voice just as low and frankly, a lot sexier. “In all honesty, we’re going to be everything to each other in a few short years.”

“Should I be calling you ‘Nostradamus?’ I doubt you’re any more accurate than he was.”

Stephen grinned at her, a full grin, and her stomach did a little flip. “I don’t need a prophetic vision to know what will happen between us.” The song ended and didn’t start up again, which Stephen seemed to take as a cue. Taking her hand, he led her out of the small bar and into the relative privacy of the parking lot.

As always, Darcy gazed up at a sky full of more stars than she had ever seen in her life before turning back to him. “If you want to kiss me, you’re gonna have to wait until Date Number Two.”

Stephen chuckled, the sound doing something nice to her nervous system. “Actually, this is Date Number 58, but who’s counting?”

“You’re making no damn sense, you know,” she said, her tone almost fond.

He smiled a bit. “I know, but you’ll understand in time. I should go back.” He leaned to kiss her cheek. “Until next time, Darcy Olivia Lewis.”

She stared at him for a heartbeat then sighed. “Oh, fuck it. C’mere.” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss, which he was happy to give.

~

New York, 2022

Dr. Darcy Lewis looked up from her e-reader as her fiancé appeared in the room. The grin he gave her was contagious. “I take it it worked?”

“You tell me,” Stephen said as he sat down beside her on the couch and took her free hand. “Do you remember running into me in New Mexico?”

Her eyes widened with realization. “Yes! We danced to ‘The Last Time I Felt Like This’ then you kissed me.”

He rolled his eyes fondly. “Your memory is faulty if you think that’s what happened – you kissed me.”

“You started it, showing up looking all sexy then asking me to dance and kissing my cheek.” She moved to straddle his lap. “That was risky, you know. You could’ve gotten stuck in the past.”

“It was a risk I was willing to take,” he murmured as he wrapped his arms around her. “I wanted to see you as you were back then, at the start of your love for the stars.”

“And if you couldn’t come back?”

Stephen smiled a bit. “Then we’d be married for at least nine years by now, if not more.”

Darcy smirked. “You think you’re that irresistible, do you?”

“I know I am, at least to you.”

He was right, of course, but she wasn’t about to admit it. Instead, she simply murmured, “Kiss me.”

“With pleasure.”

[sadbeautifulttragic]

saw ur post!!! want to debate random things, and just give my honest humble tumblr opinions!!! ❤️💙💜

1- cake is not as good as other desserts!

2- me is an amazing song and it did what taylor wanted to do. if ppl didn’t bug her it woulda been on the set list

3- boneless wings are glorified chicken nuggets

4- ur such a cool tumblr

5- water is the best liquid 🙏

6- drag queens help children more than conservatives who hate drag ppl

7- music isn’t made like those club songs in the 2000-2010s! lemme see that thong, and those rebooks with da fur

8- ppl could do such fun things with lamps- tapestries, fancy bulbs, and we sleep on it. give me fancy eclectic lamps all day long

9- ppl who don’t do something because it’s ‘too popular’ bug me so much! just like taylor swift. just admit how bob ross makes the best clouds. just put on game of thrones. it won’t kill you

10- flannel should be for all seasons- not just primarily fall!

11- ur so cool! i love following you

12- it’s fine for some ppl to be to scared and use anonymous mode. i’m shy but still want you to see my opinions. don’t get mad, i’ll cry.

13- 3 types of mustaches. the 🌽stache, the pervy 🥸, and the mario stache 🍄

14- kindness is hotter than anything! ^ specifically mustaches lmao

15- it’s easier to be productive at night for me!

16- judging a book by its cover isn’t bad if you have good instincts! i’m kinda judgy but it’s helped me know bad from good

17- i don’t like ppl sharing VERY big opinions on things they aren’t educated in! like, stop talking about how vaccines kill kids when you got a degree in English in 1994 and have just been at home with the kids since then. stop. it’s annoying. do researcher!

18- i’m so awesome. it’s not an opinion or hot take. it’s a fact.

19- we shouldn’t pressure ppl to have perfect manicured lawns. it’s hard to keep up with! it’s fine to be overgrown.

lemme know if you’re in love with me and you agree!

omg anon so sorry I didn't see this!! I'm gonna respond with my thoughts on all of these

no I love cake! what dessert is better to you?

wholeheartedly agree. I think it's perfect and (spelling is) FUN

yes but I like boneless wings so...sue me

safdklkdsl so are you!!! (that's so nice thank you!!)

water truly is superior, I love it!!!

facts!!!! drag queens reading in libraries to kids makes me so happy, like do people not realize it's about self expression and empowerment?? isn't that what we want for kids?

facts my 2000s bops playlist just hits on a whole new level

huh, didn't think much about this until now. you're onto something...

I feel that, ppl get that superiority complex if they don't like something popular and it's like bestie it doesn't matter

I do love flannels, so comfy

askjfdsljskl <3

oh of course! the hateful anons ruin it for the ppl who genuinely just wanna connect!

I'm confused??

true!! can't be with you if you're not kind (especially to others and behind closed doors!)

same, I don't feel fully awake until like 4pm

oh true, I've gotten out of scary situations by trusting my gut and going based on instinct

yes, ppl love to act like they know lots about everything. it's ok to say you believe whatever you want but don't be surprised if someone comes in with factual info against it

hahah love the confidence!

if I ever own a house I want a clover lawn so bad!!!

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 2: Chains

Narrated by Qin Yi.

Narrator: On the makeshift stage in the Gu family’s garden, a dress rehearsal is going on.

Narrator: Clad in the luxurious silky robes of my character, I sing, longingly, slowly, bringing my character to life.

Narrator: Under the stage, watching the rehearsal with squinty, shrewd eyes and a trembling mustache, is Chief Secretary Gu.

Narrator: I exit the stage after my performance to find him waiting backstage.

Chief Secretary Gu: Wonderful, wonderful! Excellent voice. Outstanding face.

Qin Yi: You’re far too kind.

Chief Secretary Gu: Still... as talented as you are, this failure of a troupe won’t get you anywhere.

Chief Secretary Gu: So? Two choices. Become a household name, or never be seen on stage again. Which will you choose, Qin Yi?

Qin Yi: You’re right, Sir. This troupe will get me nowhere.

Qin Yi: I’ll take the profitable route, of course.

Chief Secretary Gu: Very wise, Qin Yi.

Chief Secretary Gu: It’s a deal, then. I’ll leave it to you, Qin Yi.

Narrator: There’s nothing special about the sentence itself, but he sounds vicious. Threatening.

Narrator: I’m just a lowly troupe actor. It’s not like I’ve ever had a choice.

Qin Yi: No worries. Leave it all to me.

Choose “What does he want you to do?”

You: What does he want from you?

Narrator: Murder.

Narrator: Chief Secretary Gu had been profiting a lot from bribing the previous Bureau Director, but a new Director had taken his place.

Narrator: Chief Secretary Gu knows he has to get rid of this man, perhaps even replace him.

Narrator: The new Director, Director Zhang, is known for being an avid theater-goer.

Narrator: On Director Zhang’s birthday, I will be performing at his mansion. This gives me the perfect opportunity to poison him.

Choose either “Poison someone?!” or “Are you really going to commit murder?”

If “poison,” ...

You: Poison him? That’s too dangerous!

Narrator: If I don’t do it, I could be killed myself.

If “murder,” ...

You: Will you actually do it?

Narrator: Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

Narrator: I don’t have a choice.

--

Narrator: The days are getting longer. The colorful evening clouds are still visible as I return to the troupe.

Narrator: The flower that only blooms at night is still shying away from the sun, petals closed.

Narrator: Granny Xue, who’s cooking in the kitchen, notices me.

Granny Xue: Jade!

Qin Yi: That’s not my name anymore.

Granny Xue: Ah, right. I’m getting on in years, young man. My memory ain’t what it used to be.

Granny Xue: Qin Yi... Qin Yi... all right. I’ll remember from now on.

Granny Xue: I see you’ve been skipping meals these days. Very busy, hm? The others have almost finished everything.

Qin Yi: I’m not hungry.

Granny Xue: No way you’re not hungry, kiddo!

Narrator: I don’t like it when people call me “kiddo.”

Granny Xue: I saved some for you. It’s still hot!

Granny Xue: Skipping meals is bad for your stomach. My husband was like that, too. You’ll regret it when you get sick!

Granny Xue: You gotta treat your body better while you’re still young.

Granny Xue: No matter how busy you get, you gotta eat!

Narrator: Granny Xue is like that. She talks on and on, never bothering to listen.

Narrator: Super noisy.

Granny Xue: Jade... I mean, Qin Yi! Come, come, eat!

Narrator: She’d probably ramble on if I don’t follow her into the kitchen.

Granny Xue: That’s more like it! Here’s some rice. And some leftovers to go with it.

Granny Xue: It’s nothing much for a growing boy like you. Eat up, eat up!

Narrator: I’m about to dig in when another actor passes by.

Actor A: Ah, Qin Yi! What are you doing back here?

Actor A: I heard you’re gonna perform for Director Zhang. Good for you! Don’t forget us when you become rich and famous!

Actor A: Hey, I thought we finished all the food? You’ve been saving up for him, huh, Granny? What about poor old me?

Granny Xue: Away with you! What does it matter?

Actor A: Sucking up to him now that he’s gonna get famous, huh? You think I didn’t notice?

Actor: A: Saving food for him every day... Think he’s your son or something? Think he’s gonna come back for you once he’s rich?

Actor A: Fool! Just look at him. All high and mighty. No way he’s coming back for you.

Granny Xue: Jade isn’t like that! I’m not like that either. Jade is a good kid, unlike your bunch!

Narrator: There she goes, calling me Jade again.

Qin Yi: I’m done. Thanks.

Qin Yi: I’ll be off now.

Narrator: Behind me, the two are still arguing.

Narrator: Super noisy.

Narrator: It’s a cloudy, stiflingly humid day when I’m set to perform at the Zhang mansion.

Narrator: I have the vial of poison stashed in the sleeve of my costume.

Choose either “Are you really going to poison someone?” or “How are you going to poison someone?”

If “really,” ...

You: But... are you really going to poison him?

Narrator: It’s my life or his.

If “how,” ...

You: How do you plan to do it?

Narrator: You’ll find out. Just watch.

--

Narrator: I step onto the stage. In his seat, Director Zhang looks positively excited.

Narrator: Next to him, Chief Secretary Gu sends me a meaningful look.

Qin Yi: Achievements so grand, even the Emperor himself wishes him a happy birthday, along with his many descendants.

Qin Yi: A man so impressive, he’s surrounded by hundreds of court ministers, along with flowers blooming bright.

Narrator: As I finish my song, the whole mansion bursts into applause. Director Zhang is overjoyed, cheering and chuckling.

Narrator: There’s a special arrangement at the very end of the performance.

Narrator: Right on cue, still in my exquisite robes, I approach Director Zhang and bow deeply in front of him.

Qin Yi: I am but a fake lord in the script, here to wish the true lord a happy birthday.

Qin Yi: May you celebrate many more birthdays, each as joyful as this one.

Director Zhang: Well said!

Narrator: After I speak my lines, I’m supposed to toast Director Zhang. A servant brings me a teapot.

Qin Yi: What tea is this?

House Servant: It’s our own. The best Cloudcrest Tea.

Qin Yi: I’ve heard lots about the Cloudcrest Tea. It’s my honor to have a sip.

Narrator: I swiftly smear the poison on the mouth of the teapot, concealed behind my gigantic sleeves.

Narrator: When the tea is poured, the poison enters the liquid.

Narrator: I pour out two cups and hand one to the Director.

Narrator: After a bow, I hope my cup close to my lips.

Qin Yi: Wait!

Director Zhang: What is it?

Qin Yi: Something doesn’t seem right with this tea.

Qin Yi: Cloudcrest Tea is fragrant and rich. This tea may smell like it, but it’s different.

Narrator: Director Zhang gives it a sniff and realizes that I’m right.

Director Zhang: What’s up with this? This is not Cloudcrest Tea.

Narrator: The servants immediately take our cups away. Moments later, a servant whispers in the Director’s ear.

Director Zhang: The tea... was poisoned!

Narrator: Chaos ensures. Amidst it all, I watch as Chief Secretary Gu’s face crumples.

Narrator: Dark, ashen, a bit like the cloudy skies.

Choose either “Why are you doing this?” or “Are you trying to save Director Zhang?”

If “why,” ...

You: I don’t get it. Why did you do this?

Narrator: I know too much.

If “save,” ...

You: Were you really trying to save Director Zhang’s life?

Narrator: I just want to live. Plain and simple.

--

Narrator: If Director Zhang dies from the poison, Chief Secretary Gu will kill me to keep his secret safe.

Narrator: If I don’t put the poison in, on the other hand, Chief Secretary Gu will still kill me.

Choose “But Chief Secretary Gu will still retaliate!”

You: But wouldn’t Chief Secretary Gu take revenge on you now that you didn’t poison Director Zhang?

Narrator: I was the one who “noticed the poison.” Whoever tries to kill me would be the biggest suspect. Director Zhang will know.

Narrator: And Director Zhang considers me his hero now.

Narrator: Chief Secretary Gu wouldn’t dare do a thing.

Narrator: And that’s how this performance ends.

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

[thefakerachelray]

Random Miraculous Thoughts: Season 5 Catchup Edition

(Because I finally got caught up and I had to write my thoughts down! Warning: this is gonna be long. And spoilers for S5 up to Elation.)

You can tell that the writers saw people saying the Rooster’s power was OP and decided to put limits on it, which just made it more confusing in the end.

Marinette’s whole kwami scavenger hunt idea in Destruction was so clever! Also seeing Monarch get frustrated is always funny.

Poor Alya got the shock of her life when Monarch showed up though lol

They really just. Had Chat Cataclysm a person??? And it didn’t get reversed????

The Miraculous getting broken down and remade so they all look the same was A Lot to watch

Another new costume? How many have you been through at this point Gabriel?

At least this one’s better than the Shadowmoth look though

So we’re just. Acknowledging that other school years have happened now huh. Really forcing me to process that this whole show has canonically happened in less than a year.

I’ve brought this up before but is Marinette legally old enough to drive that scooter??? Is don’t know French law but. She’s 14????

I’m sorry but Darker Owl sounds stupid. It just does.

I guess you could say he used Daizzi as a Guinea Pig. No? Ok I’ll see myself out.

The dream sequence babies were so ugly sisjwbshsb

Can we talk about the mustache I’ve been dying to talk about the mustache

I miss when the magical charms actually mattered. I hate that it’s all megakumas all the time now (and that’s still a dumb name btw). That’s a rant for another post though.

I’ll admit I forgot some of the plot of Illusion because I was too distracted by everyone’s condiment-based Resistance nicknames. I hope the Resistance keeps being a thing just because those codenames are so funny.

The plan to film someone getting akumatized was solid they just picked the worst possible target without realizing it

I love how the sauce stain on Gabe’s suit was still there at the end but just a little bit faded, so you can tell he went into the bathroom and tried to get it out with water. We’ve all been there. You know how it is with spaghetti.

I have a LOT of thoughts about both Marinette and Adrien refusing to wear the Alliance rings

Lila in the Resistance what will she do

Marinette looks cute with her hair down!

Always good to see Luka and Kagami! I like that they support Marinette and Adrien getting together, although I wish that hadn’t been the only reason they were there.

I think Marinette and I would both prefer if the statue scene never got brought up again

The museum must have some inside sources to make completely accurate statues of every single superhero who’s ever appeared on the show.

Manipula’s outfit reminded me of someone else’s and I can’t think of who. Maybe Backwarder or Queen Banana?

Monarch. My dude. How hard is it to just let akumas out through the window like you used to? Using Voyage every time is lazy, and you’re overworking Kaalki.

That love square flip happened fast. Like, so fast it kinda caught me off guard.

Adrien: “I’m in love 😍” Marinette: “oh no I’m in LOVE”

Marinette, in what world is your superhero partner whose identity you don’t even know a safer person to have a crush on than a normal guy from your school (even if they’re really the same person)?

I am once again asking for more Plagg and Tikki scenes. It’s fun to see them gossip.

They’re right that these two idiots would tell each other their secret identities the second they got together and we all know it.

Nathalie SNAPPED! Good for her!

I’m also very concerned for her. Someone figure out how to help this woman ASAP.

Safari was scary powerful though. How many Miraculous powers did Gabriel give her?

Maybe I’m wrong but. Venom paralyzes people right, it doesn’t knock them out? So shouldn’t Ladybug have been VERY MUCH STILL CONSCIOUS WHEN ADRIEN DETRANSFORMED????

MR BUG AND LADY NOIRE RETURN! I’VE BEEN HOPING FOR THIS!

I love Mr Bug’s straightforward lucky charms

And how being Lady Noire brings out Marinette’s flirty side

I had totally forgotten the kwagatama even existed. It was nice to see it be relevant though.

Oh hey Joan of Arc!

Yay, Alix update! I lowkey want an episode that’s just her time travel adventures.

“My sister is time traveling and I have no idea if she’s safe and this happened suddenly without any warning” is a pretty reasonable thing to get upset over, I’ll give Jalil that.

Tbh original flavor Pharaoh was cooler. This version just traps people in an object, which is the same power as at least 3 other villains.

Horse Boy Adrien CONFIRMED?!

Not specific to this episode but I just thought of it again: why can’t the suit Ladybug gets after using Lucky Charm be her permanent costume? It’s better than the normal one.

Good for you Jalil! I love seeing people fight off akumas.

Awww, Plagg gave Adrien a kwagatama!

Last season I would’ve been cheering over Marinette throwing away the pictures but now when it immediately cut to Adrien walking into the bakery all nervous and blushing afterwards I was like “oh NO”

Alya: it wouldn’t be the end of world [if they got together] Tikki, aware of the events of Chat Blanc: 😬

A kiss! A real, actual kiss that didn’t get erased somehow! I never thought I’d see the day.

The funniest thing to me is I didn’t even know Elation was basically Glaciator 3 going in because everyone was talking about the kiss and no one cared about the villain

We should talk about Glaciator though because Andre knows more about what’s going on than most characters on this show

I don’t really have a favorite side of the love square, but I have to say Marichat was cute in this episode.

All this drama over who has feelings for who when they’re the same people. I can’t wait for the mutual facepalm if they ever figure out each other’s identities.

Chat’s point about confusing idolization of a superhero with real love and not wanting to take advantage of her is…surprisingly mature of him?

He made Marinette sad though and I will be holding that against him

In conclusion I like this season so far! The overarching plot is good to have, the different character dynamics are a nice change of pace, and above all, I’m SO glad it’s being released in order.

[waters-and-the-wilde]

hafkhsdahafskdfaljksjhfalafasd okay so i got. the whole. 'you're one of the good ones' thing from one of my managers at work about the whole. you know. not making the cis people too uncomfortable about my pronouns thing and. like. oof.

there's the 'thanks i hate it' of it all. but also. i thought i was kinda on the 'no more nice good little respectable trans ambassador' program after a previous situation. so it's like huh what that's not actually what i was going for. but also i mean it's not like i'm actually looking to put myself into a situation at work if i can help it? and i feel weird and conflicted because there is a little bit of it that is actually a little vindicating to get this kind of feedback that shows [ex mentor figure] as pretty unreasonable in comparison. like I knew she was being unreasonable but like this is a pretty traditional corporate retail kinda environment and the powers that be are like. doing their best to be supportive about stuff they're unfamiliar with. and then there's the feeling weird about feeling a little vindicated. and then there's just the feeling weird bc oh shit fuck c'mon i didn't ask to be the standard you're gonna hold your future trans employees to. fuck's sake i'm a recovering people-pleaser with an overdeveloped sense of impulse control and six bad jokes in rainbow shoelaces.

and yeah corporations aren't your friend and your boss isn't your friend yadda yadda and also like. generally speaking i get on fine with my managers as human people who mean well and this one was definitely going for 'trying to convey positive feedback' and walked right into it. so i'm trying to be like. 'well everyone has their own deal and some folks have things a lot harder than I do and it's tough to find a balance' and 'yeah no obviously most everyone here has been well-meaning and i'm not looking to give anyone a hard time' and 'i'm glad you guys recognize what i contribute and that i can rely on you if i need to'. aaand i think i tried to convey something to the effect of 'people have really weird perceptions about the whole Being Offended thing' that didn't really seem to register and i was really not prepared to go into the 'no we are definitely still way more scared of you than you are of us.' because. you know. as it turns out we are in fact more scared of our cisgender corporate environments than they are of us. and you're my boss and i'm on the clock and i'm running the math on how well-behaved i am in your presence at all times.

and i'm not gonna say 'hey ouch that's not the compliment you think it is.' and i'm not gonna say 'yeah you don't know how much math i'm doing every time I get misgendered and the cpu background programs it takes to figure out whether and how to address a situation' and 'thanks i've spent a year probably doing way more than this place deserves because what happens if There's a Situation and i don't have the social capital of being Hard Worker and Plays Well With Others and Not A Snowflake' and 'this conversation is taking an entire spoon right now can I go put up this price tag i was printing out'

I think I said something about how it's only going to get funnier every time someone tries to she/her me as my funny little beard grows in. WHICH BY THE WAY the past couple of months i have had to do so much less math. or a very different and much funnier kind of math. nothing makes me feel more like '5 creachers in the proverbial trenchcoat with a top hat and fake mustache who are Getting Away With Something' than getting bro-talked by a dude who read me as a dude. absolutely wild. how do you do fellow dudes.

idk the point i think really is the background numbers. and the fuckinh arbitraryness of it all. like there's never really going to be able to calibrate for who's going to be Chill About Your Deal and who's going to take the slightest reminder of your existence as an inconvenience and who's just going to roll with the kind of default assumptions that you've forgotten how to fathom. and most of the time it's the awkward and well-meaning people who are just gonna be there. and kind of exhausting.

[knowlessman]

…it's always been way longer than I think it has, huh. rereading the last batch… aoyama was a lil creepy, there's a school festival concert thing coming up, and a sean-connery-looking libertarian is looking to get fingerblasted. looking forward to that. (bnha s4e20-25)

(mineta meeting eri) jesus christ on an alternate dimension where he can do anything about untenably problematic anime characters, I think I'd take Leeron, Gurren Lagann Leeron, over this guy and that says a lot

(ep title is "gold tips imperial") "gold tips?" "yeah, how do you always seem to find more gold than we do? what's the secret?" "I'm gonna level with you, I have no idea, they just coded Skyrim to put more gold in chests when I open them"

anyway back to the show aw hell it's Ditto again, get a personality my dude -- "we're doing a play: Romeo and Juliet and a bunch of random references." …wait, is azkaban not copyrighted? well, wookiee probably is and they used that, I guess they just don't give a fuck

beauty pageant. …think I might just not like this arc in general. the mafia stuff we just did, that was cool. it was, like, dark, but it was good. this one, I can feel it, is gonna have too much mineta in it (which does not have to be very much).

(deku's working on the finger gun thingy) "so much more control is required than before… is there a trick to it?" imagine you're putting a microwave on defrost. or, or something. …I miss deku's silly microwave epiphanies

hatsume: "yeah, the thing you asked me about the other day, I've been working on it" IS IT GAUNTLETS. ARE YOU GONNA FUCKIN THOMAS EDISON MELISSA'S FUCKING GAUNTLETS. AT THIS POINT I DON'T CARE AS LONG AS HE GETS THEM BC YALL HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY

"there's something I want to try with this new move… I want to try and put a paper football on the moon"

"my mom sent me this new tea, it's called [title drop]!" is the tea haunted. or drugged. why is it in the title. squints suspiciously

okay, sean connery the clownboy would not have 0 likes and 800 dislikes, he would have WAY more likes and 90% of those likes would be people who thought he was hilarious. if this was ten years ago (maybe only five, idfk), there would be dance mixes of this nonsense.

"I just wonder what sean clownery is up to…" mah boi, this not-having-to-worry-about-what-a-libertarian-is-thinking is what true warriors STRIVE for -- "open the bat-folder, kronk! …it won't open." "I locked it, you have to right-click" peak comedy. 'XD this goofus is gonna get clowned on so hard, he might end up making this whole arc worth it by himself tbph -- "we can have a 90-minute teatime if we get there right when they open" …blinks wait what am I saying, I take at least two hours to eat lunch when I take adderall

'XDDDD "wait did you say TEA???" gentle doofus blowing his entire cover like this is almost jojo levels of stupid, I am LIVING here -- gentle thief, filming self running from deku: ♪ look here come the consequence, consequence, consequence, look here come the consequences of my own ac-tions… ♪

who would win, a villain with ten youtube subscribers whose head is so far up his own ass he's a donut, or a shonen protagonist who is prepared to move heaven and earth to entertain a little girl -- 'XD oh yeah, and the donut's mustache is apparently on the line. hope la brava packed a shaver

(translated from Gentleman) "I just want to sneak in, make an ass of myself, and get tossed out by security. um. so let me go plz?"

wait so ditto only entered kendo in the contest so she'd stop hitting him when he does his inferiority complex bit? so someone with a fucking baseball bat took over her duties? pfft okay

I've never actually seen bobobo bobobobo but iirc they control random body hair in that. I think this lady must've wandered in from there. her quirk must be either prehensile eyelash tentacles (which is fucking terrifying) or super-strong eyelids (which is truly pitiable)(she does also remind me of renge from ouran host club a bit but only bc of the dress and the hoity-toity laugh)

("remember where the air membranes are…") hanzo from before they completely changed his abilities back when overwatch 1 existed: "heh. simple geometry."

show, these are filler villains with incomprehensible motives. I don't think even brava knows what clownery's trying to accomplish. don't try to get me invested in them

oh gawd and now it's the deejay nobody likes

"Today, I take the first step towards my great work! I WILL get my eleventh subscriber!" -- "they wouldn't let me be a hero, for the silly reason that I was completely incompetent! the world OWES me attention!" -- "it's not a selfish wish, either, because there is one entire other person who also thinks the world owes me, and that makes my cause just!"

…deku, the fuck no you aren't the same. clownery was born with a legitimately useful power but would've made a shitty hero for other reasons, you were given your power because you were judged to be good hero material.

please tell me brava isn't actually as good a hacker as she thinks she is and doesn't get in, it'd put a nice toothpick in this whole stupid sandwich.

(more flashbacks for the filler villain) "please don't help me rob people. it'd make you a criminal." "it's too late for that. I've already hacked your bank account and invested your entire savings fund into crypto. you shouldn't have made your password whoisjohngalt."

…eh, what's three more episodes

gentle thief suddenly epiphanizing that he's just a selfish dumbass having a particularly destructive midlife crisis. good for him

'XD they could've had Hound or Ecto give a dramatic pause and then go "no, all is fine here," but I'm glad they had Hound bother to say "some alex jones type jackass tried to mess things up but we caught him" first. don't flatter the guy by pretending he'd be worth canceling the show over

"I was once in the hero course, too" 100% of the population was, it's kind of the only thing anybody aspires to in this setting -- "he was so hard to fight because I could've ended up like him" again, he had the chance you didn't and flubbed it

concert scene gud stuff, no notes

"you heard about your father from gandalf. he lied to you. I AM your father" dammit I wasn't planning on liking this too 'XD harry potter reference aside

holy nier automata flashbacks batman

something something vaporeon

montage scene gud, no notes : ] just watching characters who've been through hell have a good time. (still miss shinso tho, I know it's asking for stuff but I wanna see him get to do hero stuff)

wonder what these last two eps even are, they just wrapped up an arc

(eri is gonna live at the school apparently bc I guess they don't have stuff set up yet to account for kids with uncontrollable destructive quirks) blinks I'd completely forgotten that togata lost his quirk. …gotta admit, show gets points for that

(hero rankings) huh. endeavor's "mask" and "mustache" sort of make the symbol for fire. sort of, anyway. hadn't noticed that

how an appliance direct commercial is in the top ten, I don't get

"quirk: streaker!" …I was tryna think of anything to say about hawks but wtf, what the actual fuck

"endeavor doesn't do handshakes, you've changed, you've ruined it now, waaa" 'XDDDD

"haha I just have no self-control" you've said that, we get it, you're an asshole, we just don't know how bad of one yet

"you can fly?" "I'm just not falling!" pfft

…okay well that was a sendoff, huh. that was a lot all at once.

(postcredits) the ninth what. one for all? ghosts? spookums? tbc, I spose

[halt-kun]

Hunter x Hunter Chapter 215 - Last words

BACK to Hunter x Hunter

it's been a while, it's nice to have time to catch up before a chapter comes out but it also doesn't press me to keep up the pace

I've been quite occupied with Baldur's gate 3

Dr Lee must be a badass if Netero considers her the best in medicine. Is she a regular surgeon or a veterinarian ? Probably specialized in magical beasts too if Netero called her specifically

I'm saying "her" because from what I remember from the anime the main doctor was a lady but I may be wrong

DAMN Netero, cutting your hair like that, don't you know a nice hairdresser. Actually he also cut his beard and mustache I think

The french translation really did a : "Kokoro t-shirt - note : Kokoro means heart"

Everything went according to Keikaku

Netero is asking Colt, he already valued his opinion and considers him an ally

I love Colt

BURN

Poor Morel and Knov, they're in way over their head

even if they're probably as skilled or more skilled (considering their age and experience) than PT for example

He doesn't look like you're laughing Netero

So Netero is off to see some old friends

By that he means someone several decades younger than him

We all know he has older friends around

Cool all the annoying people that would have tried to kill them left

The oddballs are always the best characters

Koala = peak chimera ant

Is that Dr Lee ? Because she looks badass

a nice scar on her face, I want to know more

Does she uses nen ?

Sometimes Togashi bothers me because he introduces very cool background characters that we'll never hear of again

I LOVE HER

bring her back later TOGASHI

poor Colt, he is very distraught

Yep, you can't do anything, that's how things are

some things are beyond our control

Morel noticed too, he's very emotionally intelligent

She picked up the signal on her equipment ? Nice

Poor Queen, so delusional

Colt doesn't want to add to her current organs failing one after the other but it's not really a good idea to lie like that. What if she survives

Knuckle is listening intently too

The queen is really all about birthing like most insect queen who don't have any commanding role actually

but I feel bad for her

she really didn't care about anything else

Colt will have to come to the realization she didn't care (as a mother) about him or even about any other ants lower than the King

Poor Colt, it must be so hard to have someone you deeply care about, acknowledge to your face they don't care about you at all

It's weird she only cares about one of her sons

What is Morel pondering ?

About Colt ?

Meryem and Meruemu, each translations is different

french translations tend to stick to the pronunciation in hiragana when in reality the /u/ at the end of japanese words is barely hearable

In french it tends to be /ə/ in a parisian accent (the schwa, some kind of eu in french or huh in english I'd say). It's not that in belgian french or quebec french. In other french accents from France like mine I couldn't find what the central neutral vowel was (I'm not a linguist)

It's the same vowel in English apparently, you end your words with a schwa

Enough random facts

THE LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES ALL

I wonder if it'll scorch the earth or feed the plants

If his name is actually Maryam (an arabic name) his actual name would be the equivalent of Mary

She died

poor Colt, again

I feel for him

not for the Queen though, I can't see her as just a random animal slave to her instinct

she could have been educated though and maybe choose not to eat a bunch of humans

We finally get a small explanation on why ants can talk

I love how the queens artificial organs make her look like a cyborg

AWWWW a bebe

my baby now

I wonder if the queen was going to birth more soldiers or go directly to making new royal guards

considering the fact it's small it shouldn't have a lot of power

But also, it has an umbilical cord and only the King actually grew up in the Queen's womb, the rest were separated from the Queens quite early on. I bet the eggs were expulsed when they didn't have a full body plan yet

and even less able to cry and breath

So the only explanation is : this is Meruem's twin

it didn't get much from all the humans the Queen ate

I'm tearing up

this panel of Colt is soooo good

They won't Morel

Everyone is crying

Damn you Togashi

the happy family flashbacks get me everytime

The mother is still out there searching for her kids

[kiaranovastar]

Kimiko-ko! planned episodes

~ = Needs more

Introduce delinquent girl sooner? When she's been designed?

Update! Since the writer made this on a whim, she had to update the reference sheets! Now you can do better fanart! But since so many people think the bottom of Kimiko-chan's skirt is pleated while mine is even, these will become our new official designs! ........ Just kidding!

Draws a line. Yes it's finished!!!

Meerkats

M Hey look, a giraffe!

K takes pictures

M Hey look, meerkats!

Kimiko throws Mio into meerkat enclosure

M cries Heeelp!

Hanako1

Mio Special

A man going around being aggressive. Cute!!!

I'm a wolf! Wooooo! Mio: wooo

H2

Achoo! Each time she does one it gets bigger until the whole world blows away

H3

Visits Ireland. Ahh the breeze! Until she gets blown away

A lesson about skirts

Alright! Listen up! I have to tell you something. Lifts skirt up. Gets looks. Shorts underneath. Always wear shorts under your skirts girls. So you don't get oggled by perverts like this! Kicks a man underneath her

Mio ep

H4

Crossovers

Area 9: This is another crossover! Meet Taishi and Bomb. Bomb kicks him out of the frame. No, just Bomb!

Lost Land

Time Wanderer

H5

Fanboys, how much do you love me? Rips t-shirt off and shouts I love you!!

Kimiko tries her hand at being a therapist but fails Graduates from a top university Says something simple Huh? That happens? Manager You're actually a complete idiot!!!!!

I'm gonna be a therapist!

Goes to college

Gets a degree

Patient: And when I spend too much time alone I get sad.

Huh? That happens?

You're actually a complete idiot!!!

Mio ep

Teenagers need a lot of sleep! Zzzz... 3 days later wakes up Ahh what a good night!

H6

I spent my entire life on this piece! It's the only thing I ever painted! All day long every day! A picture of Kimiko with a mustache "Ehhhh????!!!"

Tap tap tap tap Taps phone then different people

?

Every time she taps her phone she transforms into a different person

Most boring story ever: Kimiko goes around accomplishing everything instantly

H7

Mio ep

Bug on another bug

Kimiko says to Mio pointing Look, he's cheating!

Stretching

Ahhh!

Ahhh!

5 hours later still stretching

The sea is mine! Hahahaha! Spinning in rubber ring in pool wearing crown

An ad for Kimiko: She's so cute it's illegal!

It's Halloween! It's my only chance to eat junk food! Hahahhah! Explodes in pink

Someone tries to take Mio's money

If you could be a high-schooler does that mean you could be 18? Yes. Smoking

Introducing new character

The haters say this isn't a real manga. What do you mean this isn't a real manga? It's just a crappy webcomic. Look, it's just fluff with no real substance. And also they hate that you're Japanese schoolgirls. Kimiko or Mio enraged

Kimiko giving herself orders Kimiko, stop bossing yourself around! Tilts head in a cute way Oh wait, that's me!

Kimiko holding a street sign

Kimiko and Mio shooting up to space

Brains

Change- From now on Kimiko-ko! will be drawn in this style. (super realistic with scratchy lines)

Just kidding!

M: K, the haters are oggling me!

K dropkicks one

It's not appropriate to talk to some people about certain topics

kimiko lying on a red sofa wearing sunglasses: Let's talk about drugs

Headphones

I got new heaphones

Starts yelling abuse

Takes them off Huh????

Kimiko doing her beautiful singing while a room of haters is throwing junk at her

Say, why does everyone hate my singing but the birds?

Spinning theme park ride, then goes out of control spinning rapidly and non stop

Mio shy laugh I'm not helping.

Someone says something K: So?

Keeps saying thing k always replies with So?

Close up SO???!!!!!!

Episodes where K and co play roles throughout history

Blood, blood, blood

Yay, I got my new headphones! But they were very expensive. What do they do? Hi Kimiko! Starts talking Cool!

Go over to the kitchen and make me some toast.

Ok!

Alchemy

Talking potato

Potato in suit with orange hair on TV: Uh, potato, potato, potato. Potato potato? Potato! Making gestures

Kimiko: turns around Mio, what the hell is this potato talking about?!

Kimiko vibrating when she's excited

This is for the perverts

なんてやらしい！なんてやらしいー！なんてやらしいーー！Kimiko just standing there normally and fully cloathed looking irked

WHAT?!

K and M alternative universe! Twins

I was born a few minutes earlier than you, and so, I will die a few minutes before you. Noooo Mio! (as grandmas)

Cat staring at the ceiling. It's Kimiko sticking her tongue out!

Plane battle

And sworn enemies get into a fight

You ate my fries!

And you killed my goldfish!

This is war!

Clash

Mio lying in a destroyed city

K comes down from the plane

I will pick you up

Shot from below of Kimiko as if she's a savior

Kiss

I love you Mio

I love you Kimiko

Kimiko saves Mio

Flashback!

Bully: You're always so quiet and stuck up! Do you think you're better than us?!

N-no, I-

Hey, you stop right there!

How do you intend to stop me?

Starts making weird moves

That's it, I'm outta here!

Are you ok?

My savior!

Mio: How come no one knows whether we're middle schoolers or high schoolers?

K: Hmmm something is very strange here!

Kimiko behind a line of ghosts

Shivers

This is weird...

Mio, why do you have no body in that character sheet?

Head floats

I'm a ghost!

Cheerleader

Go, go, Kimiko! Kimi Kimi Kimiko! You're the best!

Turns around vainly

I'm the best.

K Once I met a rapist!

M What did you do?

K Oooh, you wouldn't want to know

K Kicking a censored bloody mess

M Wow Kimiko, you're so cool!

Hanako: I admire you!

Look, it's the pervert!

What pervert?

All I see is a pool of blood on the ground.

Hiccups

K hicks

M pat pat

K hick

M pat pat

K BURRRRP

M gets blown away

Kimiko on a scooter-

2D video game style

Knocks over Mio and Hanako

Plays flute and Mio comes out as a ghost

Kimiko, do you want a boyfriend?

Hmm yeah, but he needs to have

Huge list of qualities that touch the ground

You'll never find all that!

What do you do to gropers?

Karate chop!

Guy flies into distance

Kimiko and Mio turn into cats

Cat day out

Mmm this tea is delicious

Mmm this coffee is delicious

Mmm your tail is delicious

Kimiko and Mio go to a club where Hanako is performing

She's rapping

Budumdum ch! Rrrrrr!

A fight breaks out

Karate girl

Kimiko: I'm a karate girl! Hya hya! Wahhh!

Breaks a rock

Mio is behind it

Kicks her

Wahhh!

Sorry Mio!

Speedy driver

Kimiko swerving doing crazy moves

Mio and Hanako Whoo whoo! We love you Kimik-

Wahhhhh! Gets hit

Ah, the flowers are wilted!

Throws them in the bin

Hmm, I think I'll put them back on the window sill!

Kimiko and Mio visit Doomin Valley

But they're delinquents!

Hey hey! You wanna fight with me hey?

Doomins having tea

They flip the table

Doomin sinks them at sea

Doomin: We had to kick them out.

Hanako time!

Alright alright. Listen up

You look at me?

I beat you up.

You say hi? I beat you up.

K Hanako hi!

H Kimikoooo!!!

君の名は

My name is

Ki-mi-ko-ko Ki-mi-ko-ko

Crowd

Mio turned into a gangster

Mio, what happened?

Dunno. Just gimme your money

H That's it. I've decided. My best friend is Mio, not Kimiko.

Mio episodes

Kimiko cuts Mio's hair into a bob, she cries, Kimiko apologizes. ~

Mio turns into a Gundam robot

Aghhhhh!

Pat pat

Picks her up, brings to face

'It's ok.'

Exclusive Mio episode

Joke about naming her Meo because she liked the names Mei and Mio (Mayonaise with her (Mio's) head on it)

Is Mio rich? No, she's completely average! Mio- A little bit. What about you? Oh, I'm rich! No, you're a little bit below average. Cute laugh

Delinquent girl episodes (Hanako)

Intro episode where they run into her (for the first time)

Delinquents Were beating you up!

Kimiko Ahhh no thanks.

You don't have a choice in this you idiot!

Hanako beats them up

Let me be your best friend!

Sorry, my best friend's Mio!

K with M And as I was saying, he totally fell for it!

Huh?

It's the hater

Hanako throws poop at hater

Cops

Hater edition

Hater video games

1 Good: I'm gonna fill the world with chaos and destruction Bad: I will stop you! Kimiko What kind of games do these guys play!

2 Eating a carrot makes you a slut. Then why are you eating a carrot you slut

3 X? If you see a child you are a pedophile, a sexual predator and a- Sees Kimiko Kimiko beats him up

4 Couple being lovey dovey 'You, no you! No you!' THAT's A SIN YOU SLUTS NO IT"S NOT kicks him

5 Hater tries to take pic of kid, Kimiko takes pic of him then beats him up

6 There's something pervy about teens too!

7 It should be illegal to draw a girl with with such a short skirt looks at skirt with arrow Kicks him LOLICON!

Safari

Safari trip!

We see all the animals

Woahhhh

Hanako pretending to be a tree

Do not cross! Or I'll beat you up with my branches!

Hanako, what's gotten into you?

Episode with a talking tree

Kimiko in Wonderland

Pots and pans guiding her along

Kimiko is a geisha samurai

To the people of the future

To the bullies

Crowd jeering

Yeah I'm awesome!

Miss Kimiko, the rope walker

Woah! She's very skilled

Hohoho. I'm glad you like my performance, my dears

Mio takes pictures

I'm your biggest fan!

Mio chan, do you want to try walking the tight rope?

Puts one foot on the rope

Wahhh! Falls

Senpai notice me!

Theres a new girl in school

Mio

K wahhhh!

Follows her around

Takes her shoes, opens the door for her, makes her bentos

You're like my bodyguard!

Flicks hair

Hanako comes along

Hey, you, hey you! You shouldn't be following her around, I should be following you around!

The three are walking in a line k holding ms things and h holding is things

Kimiko the Star Warrior

It's Kimiko! I travel the stars throwing stars at people and fighting the evil planets!

Evil planet comes along

Hoo!

Let's fight!

Star battle

Mio topples in

Her moonshine aura breaks up the battle!

No, Mio, why did you do that?

Sakura

Kimiko playing a flute with sakura in the background

Geishas, Mt Fuji, Hanako?!

Hospital

Hanako Nurse! Nurse!

My heart broke out of my love for Kimiko.

Superhero

K and M are superheroes

M K, I will always be behind you

Dunununununununu Kimiko man!

M Miaow! Miaow miaow!

K shoves Mio and Mio falls

Tea

And so I was saying

Puts tea down

Puts tea down

Mio

Kimiko is a musician

Goes to recording studio

Hanako and Mio are there

Congratulations on your newest album! We're your biggest fans!

M Um, I was wondering if you could sign...

My hair.

Goes off with signature in her hair

Thank you!

Hanako

Can I have your autograph?

No.

Can I have your autograph?

No.

Can I have your autograph?

Shut up girl!!! Punches

Genderbent episodes

Madame Egg intro

MKimiko, what do you think of men?

K I hate men because all they think about is sex. Im never getting a boyfriend!

Head on a man

M Way to go Kimiko!

Sword fight

And so, the battle begins.

Between two sworn enemies.

K I said I want strawberry

M I said I want chocolate

Clang

Cling

About to clash again

Hanako gets in the way

Kimiko, my plaster fell off...

Slaps it on Kimikos face

You can have it! Its my gift! Grin

Introducing Madame and Mr Egg

K and M go on a trip to the sea

Ah, what a fresh breeze!

Bumps into an egg

Huh? I didn't know eggs were so big!

Madame and Mr Egg turn around

Madame Hello dears.

Mio Bites I love eggs!

Mio Kimiko, how do you deal with hate?

I just laugh it off. I'm tougher than that. And I know I'm the cutest!

Kimikos the lollipop lady!

Yes, come through, come through!

Madame Egg topples and falls on Kimiko

Balloon on Kimiko. She detaches from it

whirrrrr. Whirrrr

mio oooh

They do a weird dance

Hanako comes and pecks at the ground

Madame Egg rolls down and crashes on them

Fry pan. Frying an egg with Mio in the middle

Car add. Skids and runs over Hanako

Techno world

The techno wizard is mixing tracks that spread evil

Kimiko looks cyberpunk

She sets off shocks

Lightning

Technowizard turns into lightachu

Be my mommy!

Men

Hi!

I want sex with you.

Ah, no thanks. Slaps and walks off

Boo!

What's that I hear?

Boo!

Thanks!

I know you all love Kimiko.

Dun dun dun dun

Mio as a shark

Look, Kamaku, it's our baby!

Sup

Sniper

Hanako shoots out and hits Kimiko in the head

ボウズ

Kimiko, Mio and Hanako as a gang

Kimiko in car. Flips, spins

Music starts

You spin me right round baby right round

Mio went to war

ended up in hospital

cute ghost comes out of nose zzz

K pop

Kimiko lives in Japan 2. Like Japan but has magic and all haters look like this. Kimiko is a sword fighter. Hanako is a professional gangster. And Mio is Miss Japan. Enjoy our country!

Leaning tower of Piza

Kimiko goes to Africa to find a gemstone

Call Kiara a whore and?

Hater is being punched into the sky

Isekai

Mahoushoujou

Hanako every day is the same sitting on bench smoking cigarette dog jumps onto face

Pocky

I got pocky!

Sticks into Mio's eyes

Wahhhh!

Zelda parody

Kimiko Princess of the cherry blossoms flute. Wears regal kimono

Samurai Mio Princess Kimiko, there is a dragon ravaging our lands. I come from afar. I offer you the magical incense to defeat the dragon.

K Samurai Mio, I thank you for the incense.

Hanako the wizard appears, uses わたくし and acts very mysterious and mature. Has a starry cone on her head and a blue robe

Turns Mio into a frog

K You tricked me!

H Hahahahaha! That's what you get for being so gullible!

Well how would you like it if I opened up a packet of your favorite snacks!

Noooo don't eat them!

K eats slowly

H That's it! Take her! And give me those snacks!

Turns M back, wolfs down the snacks

K Hands in sleeves Now will you help me defeat the dragon with the magical insense? I'll give you more snacks!

H love hearts in eyes Yes please!

Clouds and rocks

D Fool! You think I should stop ravaging the lands? How stupid can you be?

Fidgets

I'm on my period.

K M H A WOMAN?!

H She has a man's voice...

Now you will pay for bothering me when I'm narky! Take this!

Battle scene ensues

H pant pant pant

Dragon pant pant pant

H Stomach growls

K Hanako, how can you get hungry at a time like this?!

H Like I can control it!

Wahhh!

Dragon hits them with her tail

Now you're finished!

D's stomach Growl

K Here, why don't we have some snacks?

Everyone is having a disco party

Kimiko the late schoolgirl EvanKimiko

I'm late I'm late late!

Toast in mouth

Bumps into Mio

Both Out of my way!

Madame Egg shows up in the car park on a motorbike

Class Woah

ME Takes off sunglasses

Comes in I'm your new teacher.

Woah, she's so cool

Madame Egg Class, today we have a new student

Mio walks in

Both Points It's you!

Mio, sit behind Kimiko please.

Class in session

Mio blows thrpugh a straw and hits K in head

Ow!

K Grrrr....

The tension is rising.

M hits her again

and again

and again and again and again and again-

K Stands up That's it, I'm ruining your life!

Giant Eva's head appears

Eats the school

My Robot Mio

Here, I stole Hanako's crisps, eat some!

Eats

M Malfunction! Malfunction!

Goes on a rampage

Beats Hanako into the ground

Cracks Madame and Mr Egg wide open

K Stop! You'll have to get through me!

M shoots her through the chest

Kimiko is lying down, M just goes over to her

M Oh no, what have I done!

K just sits up, makes a heart sign with her hands Kyun!

M Heart comes out of chest, explodes

Sonic

Wrestling K vs M

TV keeps repeating itself

And now we introduce to you, The Lost Land!

Aota Grins Bye Nima!

Hey!

K doing the Levan Polka

Slaps everyone in the face

Accidentaly slaps herself in the face

K International Woman of Mystery

Dancing dressed as Austin Powers

Mio Hearts in Eyes

K Standing over M with hand on wall

K Yeah baby!

Hanako joins the bousouzoku

Aliens

Detective Kimiko Part 1

Mr Egg was cracked!

K Don't worry, Detective Kimiko can help!

Did they kill him with a sword, a knife or a melon?

Melon!

Smashes lemon

So, in Britain, apparently you can't take a selfie in a polling station.

K Cheese!

Cooking with Mio

Ping pong

K ping ponging with M's head

Further storyline

Hair dye

Mio K, why don't you dye your hair a different color?

K Ok!

GOTH KIMIKO

High quality

Long cowboy episode

Kimiko arrives in South Korea

[joytraveler]

74: Super Water Polo

It's a good thing that apparently Klickitat Street played water polo in high school, because neither Bea nor anyone else seems to know a thing about it. It was a little difficult getting her to even choose the game, but #84, Make Your Promise, has a 'lock' symbol, indicating it can't be played until this one is started.

HNV: I've never been so hopeful to see tapeworms. I KNOW tapeworms.

"Tapeworms? What about the tapew- OHhhhhhh yeah there's gonna be those, huh. John, you'll like this part, I think"

john_brown: you have my undivided attention.

"Ok Klickit let me know what's up here, this is the kind of sport I wasn't sure really existed, like badminton"

aroseahorseboy: this is GOODminton Klickitat_Street: Here's the short version: arrange all your guys in a figure eight in the water. It's like soccer or hockey but it's harder to move, basically.

When the game begins, seven kids on each side take their places in the pool-- and they definitely appear to be kids, and are credited with names like Pee-Wee and Junior. To Bea's surprise, though, the game seems to play without any input from her.

"I'm, I'm sure winning here! Guess I'm just naturally really good at this, yup.. what the hell, seriously. Hey, HEY!! Let me rearrange my team or drop a depth charge!" The only input she can give is the start button, which lets her stop the game, choose one of the players, and exchange them with someone else on the bench.

Baconnaise: Is that Sportacus TaichouSenseiKun: Is that one a Spanunko? Klickitat_Street: ...They went to all the trouble of making an H20 Polo game... and you're the referee??? Glockroach: Is that a tapeworm in your lower intestines or are you just happy to see me HNV: My god, that's the point of the game, isn't it? No Spanunkos allowed in the pool!

"I guess they don't do water polo.." Bea shrugs. "You'll know one when you see them, don't give up hope yet guys!"

john_brown: i am afraid to ask what a Spanunko is or wait. shit. is that that Nimmo monster? are those in this??? normalnancy asked me what one was and i spent like an hour looking it up. she never told me what it was for!

"Yeah! We've seen them a bunch of times now and there's worms that show up in several games.."

pigbarrel: could you date one in the dating sim game or am I only dreaming Syrupentine: He wasn't one in the game but yeah! Woody was one in that street-crossing game! john_brown: syrup I will hold you to your promise to make those recap videos

The object of the game is now a bit clearer: keep the spanunkos out of the water for as long as you can. If a healthy kid sits between two of them on the bench, he becomes one himself, so it's actually more of a puzzle game where you try to keep the infection contained.

DueyDecimal: ...Now that we've figured out what's happening this is suddenly a lot more boring.

"Just as well, there's probably a lotta worms in the pool already so let's just move on" She makes sure to show John some Spanunkos before she moves on!

ButterflyDefect: Ugh, dammit bea john_brown: they are not as alarming as Nancy made them sound HNV: It's okay, what you really came for is coming up What do you know about... BOX BABY

"NO, I wanna play anything else! Wait there's not another one already, is there??" She checks the list again. There are six games left she hasn't played, including Death Master 2, Party On Planet Of Pisces, and the still-locked Make Your Promise.

Syrupentine: I'm hesitant, we've been burned by Planet of Pisces before...

"Never thought I'd miss the guy named Death Master but you know what, I think we need to pay our old pal a visit for comfort in these trying times! I miss his mustache, don't you!"

pigbarrel: oh i wasn't here for that one. I can't wait til we can master some high level death TaichouSenseiKun: Low level death includes stuff like plants, next level up is pets, then you get people