#sometimes you meet a kid who's run away from home three times and her parent isn't getting the fucking hint

[ehlnofay]

I find that my favourite thing about writing each of my characters varies greatly but with torr my favourite thing is ABSOLUTELY how easily and logically their actions fall into line when viewed through the lens of their priorities and worldview. of all my characters they are the most principled. even in my old shit writing they never do a fucking thing - whether intentional or not on my part - that doesn’t follow this scaffolding that underpins his character. I’ve been trying to figure out for a while how to articulate even to myself how and why he is able to choke a man to death in his sleep from the same headspace and with the same internal logic as he, say, scolds his sister for stealing a letter-opener or incurs a debt to acquire someone else’s medicine, and I think in the end it comes down to this:

torr’s most fundamental trait is their loyalty. there is nothing they would not sacrifice for the people he chooses to commit himself to. and what this means is that the world in his eyes is made up of two groups: those they care about - those they must go to every extent to ensure the safety, security and happiness of - and collateral. every action torr takes is for the preservation and betterment of quality of life for the people they’ve chosen (up to and including joining the brotherhood, before he adopted them into that group as well) and this is an Ultimate Good, the north point of their ethical compass. any and all damage to anyone and anything else in the pursuit of this is not only justifiable, it’s irrelevant. sad, of course - sucks that a random stranger had to die so that the people who matter might live - but simply not torr’s problem. they look after their own, and nothing will ever get in the way of that

[number-onekidqueen]

The Seven Times Luke Castellan Said 'I Love You'

Luke Castellan x Apollo!fem!reader

Pure angst.

3.7k words

Warnings: death, injury, insecurities, bad parenting, spoilers for Percy Jackson book series.

One. 

Luke must’ve been four the first time he ever said those three words. 

He’d been at preschool, and it was the second week. He’d missed mommy. He felt different to all the other kids, and there were all these really scary faces that kept popping out of bushes that no one else could see. His mommy had picked him up early when the preschool called, and taken him home to a surprise. She’d baked his favourite: choc chip cookies, and he was even allowed to drink Kool-Aid too! 

“I love you, mommy!!” He’d mumbled, while he stuffed his little mouth with the baked goods, in a sugary daze. 

It made him feel so much better, knowing at least he had mommy to always come home to and rely on. 

If only that had been true. 

Two. 

He was 9 when he said that sentence for the second time. 

Mom wasn’t there for him anymore. 

He was scared to go to school and leave her alone, because every time he got home, she would be insane. It’s like she wasn’t there with him anymore. 

She would scream so loud and her eyes would be bright green, and she’d shake him and cry, wailing about how he was going to die. Usually it would make him so disturbed he’d run into his bedroom and lock the door, hoping she wouldn’t follow. 

She always did. 

It was when she started to pound on his door, begging him to come out, that he’d begin to sob, shaking in fright. 

He’d pray and pray to his dad in desperate tears, asking and asking him to bless his mom, to free her from this curse and to make her better again. It didn’t ever stop. 

She’d still make cookies, sometimes, but she’d forget about them and leave them in for so long they’d always be burnt to cinders. She’d serve Kool-Aid too, but he’d grown out of it. 

Eventually, he couldn’t stand it anymore. His mom wasn’t getting better, but worse. Her fits were getting more frequent, and Luke’s dad wasn’t doing anything to help him. 

Luke couldn’t stay here a second longer. 

“I love you, mum,” he whispered to her curled figure on the couch, a full backpack on his shoulder and all his childhood allowance in his pockets as he softly closed the door. 

He knew they’d be better off without each other. 

Three. 

Luke was fourteen when he said that phrase for the third time. 

He’d finally found his family. 

Sure, it hurt to think of his mother, all alone in his old house, but he had two amazing, brave and funny sisters to make up for that.

Until he didn’t. 

It was all such a blur. 

One second, they’d just been meeting some satyr by the name of Grover, who claimed to be their protector, a safeguard back to a camp for kids like them. 

They’d been on the journey, he, Thalia, Annabeth, wondering what it would be like when they got there, what would happen. 

And then the cyclops had struck. 

It had all gone too quickly from there. They’d been running madly, tripping through the forest scrub, their hearts pumping, their adrenaline pulsing, Grover yelling that the entrance to camp wasn’t far, that they’d be safe there and to keep going. 

The cyclops was still gaining on them,  and Luke was starting to feel an awful sense of dread. 

Then Thalia - brave, amazing, stupid Thalia - had volunteered to fight the monster. She’d told them to run ahead, that she had the sucker and would be right behind them. 

And Luke was scared and thinking of Annabeth and safety, and he agreed, he kept running. 

He left her. 

His sister. 

He swore he blinked once, and then she was dying, crumpled on the dirt, bleeding out and groaning in pain, camp only an ironic few metres away. 

None of them even had time to reach out a hand to help her before she turned golden, vanished into a great big pine tree. 

Gone forever before he could say goodbye. 

“I love you, Thalia,” he whispered that night, not caring that he was breaking curfew rules, getting too close to the dangerous outskirts of camp. 

Not caring he was using present tense. He refused to say ‘loved.’

Because he would love Thalia forever. 

Four

Luke was sixteen the fourth time he uttered those words. 

After all his life he was finally at home. 

He’d grown accustomed and comfortable with camp, accepting it as his home. Even though sometimes it was weird to be at a summer camp all year round, he found happiness in his new place, trying to forget about the bad things. Thalia. His mother. 

He’d found peace in routine, and confidence. Chiron said he was becoming what would be the best swordsman Camp Half-Blood had seen in 300 years. 

There were his friends and siblings. He had Chris and the Stolls, and all the other Hermes kids that made his cabin rowdy and feel homelike. 

Then there was y/n, probably his best friend, an Apollo girl who’d healed him immediately after he got to camp and had been there for him since. 

There were heaps of activities to keep him busy. Training. Capture the flag. Parties, when he was old enough. 

It had been the second of one of the post-curfew parties Luke had been to, and he admitted he had drank too much. Far too much. 

Things had got out of hand when an Ares boy had insulted you, someone who was lovely to everyone. He couldn’t really even remember what the boy had said, only that it enraged him and he’d only seen red after that. 

It all sort of went downhill from there. He’d thrown a punch, received one, and the rest was a sweaty and jagged dance of thrown limbs. 

And now he was here, replaying the events in his mind, sat on the bathroom floor of the Apollo cabin, you kneeling over him with a warm cloth. His fists clenched at the thought of that stupid boy again. 

“Luke,” you whispered, and the thoughts disappeared. “Look at me so I can fix you up.”

He didn’t have to be asked twice. It gave him an excuse to openly stare at you. In this dim light, you were gorgeous. Your skin seemed to glow golden from within, which mirrored the bright warmth of your eyes, and the radiance of your hair that framed your face. It was bittersweet, making him happy yet sick with longing, especially in his drunken state, to think of how you weren’t his. I want you, he wanted to whisper. He nearly did. 

“Thank you. You’re so good.” He said instead. 

“I don’t know about that, but always. That’s what best friends are for,” you reassured, smiling. 

His heart sank. He didn’t want you like a best friend. He wanted you to want him like he wanted you. 

“Yeah,” he said offhandedly. 

There was a long pause. Your touch was soft on the cuts all over him, and although it stung, it was worth it. It was finished all too soon except-

“I’m still hurt,” he tried to explain, but the words wouldn’t form, “like, my chest.”

“He got you there too? Through your shirt?”

“Yeah. Little sucker had a pocketknife and everything.”

“Ok,” you replied. The room stayed silent. Suddenly, he was confused. 

“Um-“

“Yeah, sorry, I just zoned out, um-“

Your hands reached for him almost… shyly. Could it be possible that you were overthinking seeing him like this, flustered, also thinking about him like he was about you? It drew a grin to his face. He decided to play with you. 

“You don’t have to treat me that delicately. I promise it doesn’t hurt that much.” 

You gave a nervous laugh, your hands moving slightly faster as he lifted his arms. 

And then it was time to gauge your reaction. Your eyes were certainly not on him, but his chest, and it almost seemed your cheeks had transitioned from golden to rosy. His grin turned into a smirk. 

“I gather that stare is either in reaction to my amazing abs or really bad cut. Either way, take it all in,” he teased. It occurred to him later he would never have said anything remotely like this if he was sober. 

“Haha, Castellan,” you said sarcastically, rolling your eyes and continuing your job. But you were smiling. 

Your features were even softer closer up. It took his breath away, and he couldn’t help the words that next escaped from the confines of his heart. 

“I love you,” he whispered. 

You froze, midway through finishing dabbing a cut. Your eyes looked up at his, his earnest, vulnerable irises. And then you looked down at his lips. And dropping the cloth, you took his face into your hands and kissed him. It was the most exhilarating, fantastic five seconds of his life. And then you pulled away, stepping back. 

“There you go. That’s probably all you wanted, since you’re drunk. You’re-you’re healed now.” You stuttered out. 

And he wanted to chase you, have another kiss, try to create a proper response to that, to why he loved you, but you’d ran away from him, and he didn’t want to be snooping through someone else’s cabin, even in his state. 

He was left reeling in the moonlight, stumbling back to his cabin before the harpies found him. Once he was between the sheets, his mind muddled, he found it easy to fall asleep, the image and feel of you still in his mind. 

He woke up the next day, baffled that his mind could come up with a dream so lifelike. Even mad that maybe a Hypnos kid has taken note of his crush and decided to create a dream like that as a prank. What assholes. 

Because you would never kiss someone like him, he knew that. 

Like ever. 

Five

Luke was seventeen the fifth time he said that statement. 

He hadn’t known things could get so much worse. 

His father, finally acknowledging him after his claiming, had sent him on a quest. Sure, it was a reused quest from Heracles, but Luke knew just how glorified and contested quests were, and so he accepted happily, choosing two of the older and more experienced campers to assist him in retrieving the golden apples from the dragon. 

You were a bit offended that he hadn’t chose you, and he had no explanation that he could offer you, save for a confession. It made for a parting laced with bitterness. 

The quest started off fine, and they got to their destination smoothly, but it quickly went downhill from there. 

Once they were in the garden, almost immediately the dragon was alerted of their presence. It began to attack, using quick, violent manoeuvres that were hard to keep up with for even the most experienced. 

Too hard for one of his quest mates, who became food for the monster’s jaws. It was a sickening, gruesome sight that Luke could never wipe from his mind. 

The other quest mate became injured soon after that, and then it was Luke on his own. 

At that point, even he knew the quest was lost. He was just defending himself and trying to get out alive. And so he did, with a painful scar from eye to chin as a marking of his forever defeat against the dragon. 

He returned as a failure. 

He was wounded, with a permanent and ugly physical memory, one of his quest mates was dead, the other also mortally wounded, and their fingers hadn’t even grazed the golden flesh of the apples. He couldn’t even finish an already done quest. 

Worse was the pity. 

The moment he stepped past Thalia’s tree and into camp, all he received was pity. Quiet voices, soft glances, stopped conversations, permits, excuses. 

It was as if he were the dragon, and they were afraid that if they did not tread lightly he may begin roaring flames at them. 

He never did. 

Just like y/n never treated him with pity. 

Your eyes were objective, calculating as they surveyed his wounds. Of course your words were soft, but they always were, with your perfect bedside manner. In those moments where you treated him normally, he couldn’t appreciate you more. 

Worst of all probably were the nightmares. He had one awful recurring one: he’d be back in that hellish garden, the dying screams of his dead quest mate and the roaring of the dragon in his ears, the adrenaline and chase all through him, and then every camper he’d ever known would appear, surround him and shake their heads, looking at him in pity and knowing he was a failure. They would chant it, and pelt burning rocks at him, and he would run, run, run, but he could never escape it. 

He couldn’t bear it one hot late July night, and slipped away under the stars. He was always calmer there, where he could put himself and his feelings into perspective. 

And that’s where y/n had found him, sitting on the dew-soaked grass with his knees loosely curled to his chest. 

You didn’t say anything in the beginning, just sat there beside him, breathing, stargazing too. 

“I’ve seen you come out here, every night this week.” You stated, finally looking over at him. “Are the nightmares that bad?”

He nodded, gulping down the fear and tears that submerged at the thought. 

“You should’ve come to me, you know we have dreamless tonic at the infirmary-“

“Yeah I know. But I deserve it, don’t I?” He asked bitterly, turning to you, “I failed and so I get to live with the consequences. The nightmares.”

“No. No, of course not. You don’t have to face consequences-“

“But I do already, don’t I? I feel like I’m not even the same at all, like I’ll never be the same again. I’ve got this stupid, disgusting scar,” he spat, jabbing at his face, “as this reminder and I’ve got to live knowing I wasn’t ever good enough to succeed and my failure led to someone’s death.”

There was silence for a while, where you gazed at him, at his eyes. 

“Stop blaming yourself,” you said softly, “I won’t let you.”

“I can’t help it though,” he whispered, voice cracking, “after training for so long and everyone telling me I’m the best swordsman, I couldn’t save someone, could barely defend myself. And now they’re dead, because of me. And every time I try and forget it- I look in the mirror and see this-this scar and-“

You scooted closer, and one of your hands laid over his. 

“Your scar isn’t a symbol of failure. It should never be. It means you’re brave, that you survived that dragon-“ you reached for his face, and so, so gently began to run your index finger down his scar, “-that you’ve overcome all that horror and emerged stronger.”

You cupped his cheek after you finished tracing. His heart was racing. 

“And you’re still the same to me. You’re still smart, funny, brave, handsome, strong. You’re still you. Don’t let anyone take that away.”

Your hand slowly drew away from his face, but he caught it, keeping you there. 

And he stared. 

Stared at this beautiful, golden girl who was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He could only think of three words. 

“I love you,” he whispered to you, and he slowly leaned in. 

You kissed, his hands in your silky hair and yours on his strong back, and this was the most effective healing Luke had ever had. 

He knew at this moment that the best he would ever be was with you. 

And that would be always, he hoped. 

Six. 

Luke was nineteen the next time he spoke from his heart. 

Things were finally getting better, but they had a long way to go. Luke would be there to see the good change come through. 

Camp was normal. Demigods died, demigods lived. They got claimed, their parents ignored them for months or years. They would train for quests, row, sing at camp fires. He would teach sword classes, rowing, and in his spare time he and y/n would go to their secret spot at the lake and…. Spend some time together in private. 

Flustered and a little ruffled they would return to have dinner, stargaze, play wild games of Capture the Flag. 

Luke was happy enough. But he didn’t know how long this would last, this calm joy. 

He couldn’t live like this, waiting in fear for the other shoe to drop with no help from his dad and the other gods. 

He’d made his decisions, laid his plans, and now he waited. Waited. 

Tangled in your arms, he traced shapes on your hands as you played with his hair. It was a warm environment, like the home he never had. 

The nightmares never really left Luke. Well, unless you were with him. 

It was many a night, after curfew, when snores were in the air that he would sneak into your cabin and join you (There were too many people in Hermes cabin for the alternative to ever happen). 

And there in your bed he would stay. Sometimes you would talk. Sometimes you would make out. And sometimes you would have quiet times like this, all of each other intertwined as you were lost in comforting thoughts. 

Well, you were. 

Luke was lost in guilt and impossible choices. He never wanted to leave you, be apart from you. He didn’t know how he’d live without seeing you, hearing your voice. And he hated to leave you like this.  But he knew you would never join him. Apollo hadn’t been great, but he hadn’t been terrible and he knew his plans would scare you. He wanted the best for half bloods. This was the only way he could think of. When he came back, surely you would understand. 

“You’re so quiet,” you mumbled, from your place under his chin. “What’s wrong?”

“You know what I was thinking about?” And he made up some deep philosophical thought that the two of you quietly discussed and argued about for the next little while, the conversation drifting to other topics before you got drowsy. 

“Good night,” you murmured, lifting your face to kiss his nose, scar and lips softly. You returned your head to its place, your warm lips in a smile against his neck, “see you in the morning.”

His stomach plunged, and he felt sick with guilt. He reached over for you, drawing you in for a long, passionate kiss. You, still half asleep, confusedly frowned, but settled back into him with a grin on your face. It was a goodbye, but you didn’t know that. 

“I love you,” he breathed, while you fell asleep, and he swore he saw your lips turn upwards. You succumbed to sleep quickly, and it made it simple to softly slip away, escape from you. 

As he passed Thalia’s tree, he turned back to look at the cabins, your cabin. 

He’d run away once from a home, and it had hurt him. But it had been worth it in the end, and he didn’t regret it. 

It hurt running away from this home. Was it worth leaving if it tore his heart into two? He supposed only time would tell. Fitting, giving who his new master was. 

——————

And that was the last time Luke ever said I love you. 

Well, there was once more. 

——————————

Seven. 

He didn’t know how old he was when he said that small sentence for the final time. 

All he knew was he obeyed Kronos and that the gods had to be slain. 

The city at least was familiar. A deep, small part of him felt almost… scared and upset that this city was being damaged. 

Oh, and the people. There was a boy he hated, who was powerful and threatening. And a girl with him, who he should hate but he seemed to, well, not. 

It had all unfolded so suddenly, the defeat, and suddenly he remembered bits and pieces. 

He’d betrayed camp half blood, the only home that he had known, but only so the gods would pay attention to them, be better parents. But what he was doing now wasn’t what he had wanted. Not at all. 

He supposed it was an easy decision to make when the boy - ….. Percy - told him to stab himself in the armpit. 

He did and finally, in the deadly silence, he was himself again. He was Luke Castellan. A demigod, a child of Hermes. A lot of other things. 

For a moment all he could see was the blonde girl whose name he couldn’t remember, that stared at him as he began to writhe in pain. The same blonde girl he couldn’t seem to hate, who he seemed to be soft for. 

A lot of other faces stared too, who seemed to be familiar to him but he couldn’t place. 

And then there was screaming. Loud, pained screams and running footsteps and a panic rose inside of him. He knew that scream, although he’d rarely heard it. 

And there was you, y/n. A face and voice he instantly knew, that he would remember half-dead, which ironically reflected the place he was in now. 

You were as beautiful as he remembered, even now, your face contorted, grimy, tears streaming, your hair a sweaty mess. 

“No, I can heal him, I can heal him.” You sobbed, kneeling beside him and trying to staunch the bleeding which he could oddly not feel. 

He hated seeing you like this. So sad, hurt, in pain. Knowing there was nothing he could do to improve it made it even worse. 

He reached for your hand, squeezing it and attempting a weak smile. “I’m sorry,” he croaked, “I’m sorry for everything I ever did to you, because you never deserved it. And-“ he coughed, dust in his lungs. 

“I love you.” He said, loud and clear for the world to hear. He wanted to say more, but his chest was weak. 

It was only them for that moment. You dove in and kissed him, just as passionately as he had that final night. It took his breath away, and he found himself grinning, joyous, at peace. 

It was a goodbye, but he didn’t know that.

[batneko]

okay SO, childhood friends idea inspired by a suggestion from @hyperfixatingonbowuigisohard and the Yoshi's Island games. I still don't have a story exactly but I do have a lot of Thoughts.

Mario and Luigi are around three or four years old, old enough to talk but not to really articulate what's happening or how they're feeling. It's during a time when the parents think grandma is watching them and grandma thinks the parents decided to take them after all, and when they get home everything seems fine so the adults don't bother to compare notes. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Bowser is a couple years older, and small kids develop so fast that most wouldn't want to play with one much younger ("that's a baby!!!") but he's so desperate for a friend even close to his own age that he jumps at the change to spend time with this strange child that stumbled into his castle.

But... little Bowser has been so spoiled by Kamek and the other servants raising him that he has no idea how to play nicely. Luigi is terrified of him at first and starts bawling the moment Bowser "orders" him to play. For the first time in his short life, Bowser has a problem that can't be solved by yelling, crying, OR throwing things. He has to control his temper and learn to - what's it called again? - share.

Despite that the week that little Luigi spends with him is the happiest Bowser has ever been, and even that short amount of time has such an impact on his personality that he almost seems like a different person by the end. He accidentally bumps into Kamek and says "sorry" without being prompted and Kamek is so shocked he has to have a lie-down.

But at the end of that week, little Mario suddenly shows up with a pack of yoshis who seem to know where the boys belong, and Kamek knows it's not right to just keep a lost child. He also knows that there's no way Bowser is going to agree to let his first-ever friend go away and maybe never see him again, so Kamek smuggles Luigi out while Bowser is asleep and tells him his family came to get him. It's technically true.

Bowser is devastated. He screams, cries, throws things, and finally begs, but there's nothing anyone can do, Luigi is already gone. He's miserable for months, but eventually the sadness turns into anger. If his friend wanted to come back, why doesn't he?

Time passes. The memories fade. He's left with equal parts fascination by and resentment of humans, and the subconscious belief that if you give the people you love any chance to leave you, they will.

Meanwhile Mario and Luigi have gone home, and both of them are suddenly talking a lot about dinosaurs. That's not unusual, kids love dinosaurs, the parents figure they saw a cool book or movie with one of their cousins. But while Mario seems to think of dinosaurs as big animals that you run around with, Luigi keeps asking when he can go see "the dinosaur" again. He gets upset when his parents don't know what he means, but he keeps asking, again and again, for months. Every time they think he forgot he asks again, and no movie or museum visit or plush toy seems to be the answer.

He draws a lot of spiky green balls in this time. Eventually the parents decide that "the dinosaur" must be his imaginary friend and try to play along. It doesn't work, Luigi is still upset, but he's young and eventually he really does forget.

Years later family members will still sometimes bring up "Luigi's imaginary friend the dinosaur" as a cute anecdote. It's a little embarrassing, but he doesn't mind it too much.

And then it's twenty-plus years later and Mario and Luigi find themselves in a world that's full of adventure and magic and - yes - dinosaurs. There's a feeling of déjà vu but there are bigger things to worry about at the moment, and neither of them have any real reason to think they've been to this world before.

The first meeting doesn't go well. Bowser kidnaps Peach, the bros come to her rescue, and it ends in a big fight. Bowser does have a moment's pause when he first sees the bros, but Mario takes that opportunity to attack him and it's downhill from there.

There are several more clashes as time goes on. Sometimes it's just Mario, sometimes it's both of them, but after enough meetings people start to notice... Bowser controls his temper better around Luigi.

At first Mario thought it was just because Bowser hates him specifically, but no, other people have noticed it too. For some reason when Luigi is there Bowser is actually capable of showing restraint. Not even Peach brings that out of him. It's weird.

(Mario does wonder if Bowser kind of has a thing for his brother, but he can't bring himself to say it out loud.)

Luigi isn't scared of Bowser either, not the way he probably should be, given the whole giant monster/serial kidnapper thing. It's too awkward to ask Bowser why he's different around Luigi, but Mario asks Luigi why he's not afraid, and Luigi can't put his finger on it. He just Knows that Bowser is more bark than bite. He's not sure why.

So that's where things stand; Bowser and Luigi are both more comfortable with each other than anything about their personalities or situation seems to justify, and nobody knows why.

...Except Kamek who, as the only adult in the situation, figures out who the bros are almost immediately and promptly decides to Keep His Damn Mouth Shut. That reveal is not going to lead to good things for him.

[leechanpremacy]

People You Know

After the death of his wife, he starts a whole new life in a whole new city with his three year old twins only to meet someone from his past. What a way to start something new, right?

pairings: psychiatrist!jeonghan, parent!jeonghan x doctor!reader petowner!reader fem!reader

tags: fluff, crack, slow burn, exes to lovers, romance, angst (if you think into it really deeply)

word count: 0.7k

notes: i’ve been dreading to write jeonghan as a parent of twins, now having the motivation and inspiration to write the plot, IM ON CLOUD NINE!!! lmao i’m also planning on posting this as an au on twitter if time, and motivation persists as my alter ego’s such a lazy ass bitch that takes at least half a month to find motivation to do updates on on-going twitter series’ THIS might also be turned in to a series (fuck, my mingyu series long forgotten 💀)

prologue | masterlist | one

Setting down the last batch of boxes, Jeonghan huffs a sigh of relief before watching his twins run around their new home. After three years, he finally had the guts to leave behind his work and old town that was filled with memories of her. His deceased wife. If it weren't for the twins, he wouldn't know how he'd survive those years. He loved her enough to grieve such a long time.

“Alright, who wants McDonald's?” He enthusiastically asked, erupting a squeal as they run towards their dad to cling on his legs, looking at him with their cheeky smiles.

Letting his children indulge in their food keeping them occupied with his phone playing some cartoons, he took the time to scroll through his tablet to see any emails from his patients and from the hospital that he recently applied with.

Clicking on one recent email, he checked to see if it was regarding of when he can start opening his clinic. “Fourth of October huh?” Smiling disappointedly before moving his eyes to his giggling daughter who had left her food unfinished. “Sweetie, no leftovers,” He softly says, “Dada!” Feeding her a couple of times, cooing her as she kept calling him every time he nears the food to her mouth.

“Dada?” His son then called, causing him hum and raise both his brows, before moving his gaze to his son, “Dada,” Reaching to his dad as he gestured grabbing hands, wanting to be lift by him.

Looks like cartoons aren't helping anymore. Immediately carrying his son to settle on his lap, he continued to feed his daughter who was fortunately two mouthfuls away from finishing.

You were having an afternoon walk with your dog after finishing a 12 hours shift. You were far from sleepy, reason to why you have opted to walk, just to tire yourself up.

“Am I that un-active?” Flabbergasted at how tired you are considering you just walked two blocks away from your home. You hear your dog barking for your attention, “No, I think I've had enough Manju, no more walks.” You tirelessly say to your dog, as if they could understand you. Seeing a nearby bench, you opted to sit and take a rest before going home.

“Should we just take the bus home?” You cooed your dog, letting out a bark as response. Giving your dog a pat on the head, you leaned back on the bench, letting your dog wonder off to the grass beside the bench.

You had your eyes closed when you heard giggles nearing you. Considering that your dog sometimes act out, you were afraid that the giggles you heard were children that may or may not be fond of dogs.

Jolting up from your seat, you watched to toddlers running towards your dog that had its back on them, with worried eyes, “Please don't touch her,” You said, softly enough not to scare the kids.

They seem too young to understand such words, but they halted and turned their heads to you. Wearing cheeky grins, now running to you instead of the dog.

Flustered at how they caged themselves in between your knees, as if using it shield against your dog, you brushed one of the two's head, “Who are you guys with?” Smiling at them warmly catching their attention that was on the dog earlier.

You watch her tilt her head cutely, making break in to a chuckle. Resting your hands on her head, you looked up trying to search for people who were looking frantic.

A bark erupted from you side, making you whip your head to your dog who was wagging her tail as it approached you. “Manju,” You warningly said, but the dog took no mind and continued to near you, causing you to pick both of the children up, settling them on the bench. Switching positions with the two children, you held your dog in your hands, weighing it's temperament.

“Do you want to touch?” You asked as you safely hold your dog's snout.

“Yuna! Yejun!” A frantic yell was heard behind, you were about to turn and apologize, not wanting to stir a misunderstanding but he beat you to it, “Thank God you found them, apologies. I hope they didn't bother you too much.” You could hear his quiet pants, probably from running around. “It's okay—” Finally taking notice of the man in front of you.

Shock filling you both as you locked eyes with him. A man from your grueling past that was bearable a long as you're with him. A man you loved so dearly. A man named Yoon Jeonghan.

[toughvaughn]

He Got Game 🎡🎪 Pt. 1

꧁ pairing: Earth-42!Miles! x Blk!Fem!Reader!

꧁ warnings: Vivid language! Whatever Else Is In Here, Figure It Out!

꧁ a/n: Miles (19)! Reader (18)! Reader pink! Miles purple! Others whatever color you see!

꧁ summary: You and your three friends; Cerhys, Xyles, and Davi decided to go hang out this weekend, going to the carnival. Xlyes and Davi running late, arriving with another boy you and Ceryhs don't know.

꧁ word count: Long asf!

It was finally the weekend; the last day of the week, Friday, you and your three friends Ceryhs, Xlyes, and Davi planned on going to the carnival over in Coney Island. Friday that evening you drove up from D.C., currently where you were attending school, and headed to your parent's house. With a little coldness in the air, and it being October, the amusement park was bound to be more entertaining and active, the best time to go to the park too.

You guys decided to meet up around 4:00-4:30; since the time is set back and it gets darker earlier now, you guys still needed some time to try out at least half of the rides at the park. And they always did that light show once it struck midnight, it’s been a while since you last went to Coney Island, the last time you went was when you were a kid. But you and your family never stayed long to see the light show, being that you and your siblings had a curfew and everything, not even on weekends would you guys be able to see it.

So, you were kind of semi-excited to see it. You were old enough to stay out, as long as you called your Mom every 30 minutes; to see if you were still alive and breathing. As annoying as it may sound; that was the deal between the two of you, you got to stay out as long as wanted as long as you called her every 30 minutes to update her about your whereabouts, making sure everything was alright.

But, this time your Mom said you didn't have to do it this time around; just as long as you behaved yourself. Your Mom and Dad weren't gonna be home, not until tomorrow morning, overseas, out traveling for work.

Your younger and middle siblings at y’alls grandparents' house; giving you and your other brother, Yamrai, who was the same age as you, the house all to yourselves. Yamrai did his own thing with the people he hung out with and you did yours, getting yourself ready to head out, slipping your Supreme x Air Max Plus TN 'Mean Green' on your feet.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ

You left the house around 4:38; not really in a rush. Knowing damn well Cerhys, Xyles, and Davi weren't actually gonna be there at the designated time you guys set. Taking your sweet time heading down.

Traffic going through the city; people coming about from work, ending up behind some slow-ass motorists, missing the green light cause of their lack of speed, and sometimes getting stuck at the light.

Should've left earlier…

After sitting in an annoying amount of traffic; you made it, finally. Driving over to the off-street parking, the sun was nearly setting over the horizon, and the vibrant colors gradient within the firmament. A cool whisper of the wind came rolling in once you shut your car off, the song on the radio going mute, same with the roar of the engine to your car going quiet.

The unreadable muffles of people walking and conversing with one another; from your left-side rearview mirror, the faint reflection of the glare of the sun leaving the sky.

The car is still slightly warm; it fading away as the cold approaches you. You started gathering the stuff you needed while you were out, stuffing it in the pockets of your lively unzipped green Nike ACG 800 Fill Down puffer jacket. The crease and ruffle of your circled-necked white tee fall to your tall and slim framed person, and the bottom of your flat underbelly a masquerade sometimes, before your shirt adjusts back over it. Throwing your car keys, house keys, phone, and AirPods in either pocket.

The swing and twirl of your multiple silver-chained, rhinestone double cross charm necklaces around your long neck. Picking up your hand and untangling your necklace from the top of one another, your long green iridescent and designed and charmed acrylics assisting you. The slightly bigger and smaller rhinestoned encrusted pendants glide smoothly along your clothed collarbone, adjusting it to your liking around your jugular, propped up by your clothed breasts.

You put down your sun visor and look at yourself in the mirror, making sure you ain't look a mess. I mean, not like anyone’s gonna be looking at you, but, at the same time, you never know.

Looking at your nicely pinned up, high bun, no piece of hair sticking out in sight, except for the back, where your kitchen resided, for creative purposes. Your neatly laid down curled edges, lay flat upon the crown of your hairline, twirling and curling the long curls that were also laid down to the sides of your face. A couple of long strand pieces of your hair in the back of your kitchen were left out, and the ends of some strands of your hair were snuggled up to your natural curl, and styled to look soft and classy.

The glimmer of your pierced-out ear; your studded diamond earrings trailing down the 'C' shaped hearing organ. On the top of your ear laid your silver sandy glitter Playboy Bunny Industrial Bar tailored to your ear; your two twin tragus piercings on the small piece of cartilage that covers the ear canal.

After checking yourself; you slapped up your sun visor, grabbed ahold of your door handle, pulled it forward, and pushed it out. Turning your body out of the car; jumping out, closing the door. Pulling down and fixing your baggy black Nike x Stussy SS23 Washed Sweatpants, as they got bunched up when you slipped out of your car. Digging through your jacket's pockets, grabbing ahold of your car key, locking your car, the sound of the car automatically locking.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ

Walking around your car; making your way off the street, over to the dock. The structures of the Ferris Wheel, Music Express, The Super Himalaya, The Delusion, and The Dream Catcher, were in the distance. Bitch; there was a lot to rides, and not gonna lie, you were excited to go on every one. The swift breeze of the wind tickles your nose, getting the aroma of the ocean.

The faint vibrant lights of the carnival, the colors knocking off other buildings within the vicinity of it, and the over-the-top welcome sign at the front entrance of the carnival. Reading: 'Coney Island Celestial Park', the bulbed rainbow lights that aligned perfectly within the giant letters of the sign giving everyone a light show as they go in and out.

As you step foot within the property, the smell of funnel cake, corn dogs, and cotton candy attacks one out of your four senses. Bringing a sense of nostalgia to your mind and soul.

Bundles and groups of people are scattered along the park, amusement conveyances are active with people, food, and game stands serving cooking, and taking people's money. It was a sight to see and something you also missed; dearly.

The creaking of the old wooden flooring of the pier makes its presence known from your body weight and many more. Ceryhs texted you prematurely; her already here, to your amazement, you scoured out for her person. There were litters of people left and right to your peripheral vision, everywhere you looked, seeing a couple of people your age walking around and from your school, who you've seen before, and made a quarter of a second eye contact with a couple of times before.

Ew.

You quickly evaded that; turning your attention elsewhere. Still looking out for Ceryhs, that girl wasn't hard to find, she was brown-skinned, short, slim-thick, and knew how to dress. Sound like every dreadhead dream.

When it came to looking for her, she wasn't hard to spot. Cerhys has been your best friend forever now, you knew to a point where you could at least spot her out from the public, and the stuff she wore was always visibly vibrant and a tad bit flashy.

She had her own style that I could elucidate to be her own; most plausible to stand out from the crowd of people that russel and scatter on the pier. You still couldn't pinpoint Cerhys anywhere, for a girl who dresses in vigorous colors, you’d think she’d be easy to spot.

At this point, you pull out your phone from your jacket’s pockets, unlocked it, and texted Ceryhs of her whereabouts. Cerhys was nonexplanatory with her grey responses, she was telling you where she was but didn't. Everywhere you turned about to glance at the place she claimed to be at, she wouldn't be there, like, girl, stop giving directions.

Out of nowhere; a light tap met your shoulder, causing you to turn around.

“Girl bye, talking bout I don't know how to give directions.”

Cerhys restated what you said to her in your text, giving you a stank face and rolling her eyes.

As you stated; priorly. Ceryhs popped out with her bright colors, in her rich hot pink cropped Ed Hardy Tiger Crown Zip-Up, with her matching Tiger Crown Fleece Sweatpants. Mini Platform Suede Ugg Booties on her feet, adding a couple of inches to her already short height, correspondingly wearin' her tan Palace Faux Fur Jacket.

The jacket is slightly open, with the hood of her cropped zip-up hoodie thrown out behind her, overlapping the furred collar of her jacket.

A solid gold necklace with her name plated, a star at the end of the name of her gold plated name, and a gold rose pendant hitting up against it. Same with her expressive small gold bamboo earrings that swung about from her ears, her gold piercings running up the sides of both her earlobes.

“And don't.” You pushed back.

“You just don’t put your mind down. But, I don't know how to give directions. Okay.

You scoffed and shook your head and smirked; grabbing Cerhys by her arm and pulling her in for a hug. Holding her tight and rocking her side to side, the height difference between the two of you making it all the better, your chin resting on her neatly braided back head, the purposefully left-out curls tickling your chilled skin.

“Girl, get off of me. Wanting to catch an attitude with me. Moovvveeeee.”

Ceryhs trailed off with a whine; trying to have an attitude with you. Both her hands are on both sides of your arms, while her Hello Kitty cased phone still in the threshold of her hand, still trying to get out of your suffocating affection. Her large, brown heart-shaped fur bag hanging over her right shoulder, swaying and hitting the side of her knee, as she struggled with you.

“Bitch, you love me. When did you get here anyway?” You questioned her; pulling her out of your unbreakable hug.

“The time we all agreed on; 4:00-4:30,” Ceryhs mentioned. “How come you got here late? You are always here before anybody.” She continued.

“Traffic coming down here. I left a little late, but I’m here now,” You informed her. “Where’s Davi and Xyles at?” You asked.

"You already know it’s gonna take those niggas a century to get here.” She reminded you; a cool breeze pushing itself by the both of you, making Ceryhs stuff her hands in the pockets of her jacket.

To your recollection; you knew what she was saying was true, those two are never somewhere or anywhere on time. It’s gonna take them a good minute before they come, leaving you and Cerhys to wait for them out in the October cold.

“I’m not waiting for those two bobble-headed ass niggas.” Ceryhs expressed firmly, the sound of her teeth chattering being emanated. “Not in this fucking weather, they got me fucked up.” She resumed; a sneer becoming of her lips, her body language, agitated. Looking left and right of her.

“It ain't that cold out here.” You opinionated; knowing your statement might piss Ceryhs off further.

“Girl bye. You never cold; like, why is your jacket not zipped up?” She questioned you; looking about your person. “Just looking at you is making me cold. Zip that shit up, bruh.” She reprimanded.

“I’m fine; you just whining, for real.” You teased.

Cerhys gave you a noticeable and heavy-ass eye roll; not before walking up to you and grabbing your zipper, zipping it up with one swift motion. The color of your white tee, no more, just the bright green, clouding Cerhys vision, quickly stuffing her hands back in her pockets.

“I know yo ass feel better, cause there’s no way you wasn't cold.” She mocked.

“I wasn't, though.”

“Girl don't lie to me, lie to your mother. I could see your nipples through your shirt.” She giggled

You rolled your eyes and chuckled. Yeah, it was a tad bit cold outside, nothing you’d admit to, though.

After that ya’lls little side show; Ceryh's head shifted to the right of you, as if she was trying to look at something behind you, blocking her view. Her face soon contorted into confusion and a faint squint of her eyes, why was she looking like that?

You soon turn your body in the direction of where Ceryhs was looking; to your view, it was Xyles and Davi at the front entrance of the park, chatting and laughing it up with each other. But, is that why Cerhys was looking all distraught and shit? You’d think she’d be in relief to see those two finally arrive, but the closer the boys came, you saw that she was starstruck about.

A tall man was trailing behind the two; he was huge, even from up close. Don't know how you didn't see him from afar or before, what is he doing behind them though, he looked like a bodyguard if asked me.

“Who’s that?” You finally questioned; still looking at the boy.

“Shit, ion know. You seen him before?” Cerhys uno reversed a question back to you, while still looking at the boy as well.

“No. Should we tell them that nigga stalking behind them?”

“I think they would've felt that niggas presence by now; cause ain't no way you missing him.”

The boys finally approached the both of you. The big boy in the back, the two individual braids on the side of his head, running down to his broad shoulders. Currently looking down at his phone, while still behind Xlyes and Davi; the two finally breaking the conversation with one another, looking at the two of you.

“SHAWTIES!” Xlyes shouted aloud; the skinny, tall, lanky light-skinned boy doing a funny walk the rest of the way over to the two of you.

“How are my two favorite bitches doing?” He asked with no hesitation. Throwing both arms over you and Ceyrh's shoulders, the drawstring to his hoodie hitting the both of you.

“Boy-” You and Cerhys both warned him; looking at him crazy.

“My bad; I meant, how are my two black, ratchet Nubian Queens doing?” He reworded himself; slightly no change in his words, still trying to be funny.

You and Cerhys both start hitting him with the front of y’alls hand; Xlyes quickly retreating back from the two of you, tip-toeing over to Davi, acting as if he’s gonna save him.

Davi playfully and forcefully pushed him back to you and Cerhys, Xlyes's scary ass dipping out every chance he got, all of you laughing and cursing him out. Davi walked over to you and Cerhys giving both of y’all a side hug, Xlyes trying to do the same thing, not before getting quickly smacked upside the head.

“Sorry we're late; we had to take care of something,” Davi explained.

“And that was?” Ceryhs asked.

“We had to pick up our nigga…MILES MORALES!” Xyles announced; walking over to the large boy who had put his phone away a while ago, probably just watching y’all interact this whole time.

Miles Morales? That name did click in your head; like you heard it before or someplace, but nothing came up.

“Say hi, Kilometer.” Xyles continued to joke.

Everyone turned their attention to the towering boy; his appearance was a bit off-putting, not to sound rude or anything, but, he looked mean in the face. You know how that one quiet person in class that just don't fuck with nobody and they got that real rough, mean look on they face. That’s what he looks like. That's why I say that; not to mention his imposing, prolonged height, and lithe, lean frame.

His hands were in the pockets of his black North Face Himalayan Down Parka puffer jacket; you examined him further, the open appearance of his light grey double-layered hood of his hoodie was up and out from the confinement of his puffer jacket, laying about on the puffed collar of his jacket, just waiting to be thrown over his crown.

From the subtleness of his thick clothing, you just knew he was ripped to shit under all those damn clothes. Your first thought when he first arrived; those clothes might be baggy on him, but, you knew for a fact that he probably looked crazy under all of them clothes. Everything about him seemed big, his shoulder, frame, hands, arms, something else that I won't conjure up right now, but, you get it.

Very ill-minded of you to think about…

I mean, you just met him and you wanna be dirty-minded right in front of him.

The jacket was not all the way zipped up; a push and shove with the front of his hoodie, the slight bag and sag of his matching light grey sweatpants, from his left pocket, something long and bulged was stuffed in it. It could be…anything. Right?

His phone, his wallet…his…anything.

But, looking further down; he had Jordan 11’s on 'Cool Greys', you had the same pair of shoes at home, but in a different color. They looked like they hadn't been worn, fresh out of the box, the sight of his ankle socks, the bottom of his sweats covering them. The laces that would tie the shoe together, were retreated back within their assigned holes, making the wear of his shoe cleaner.

Your eyes trailed back up to his face; and to your surprise and embarrassment, he was looking directly at you, his eyes hooded, the slight assault of his hazel/brown eyes on your eyes, his eyes darting up and down your small form.

Fuck.

How long was you staring at this nigga for? You probably look weird as shit. We're you being loud when you was partially undressing him?

It seems Big Boy was giving you the same treatment you were giving him, but he wasn't drooling while he was doing it.

“Nice to finally meet y’all…” Miles spoke; with a slight monotone in his voice. Even a little bit of an accent, if you weren't mistaken, the bob of his Adam’s Apple apparent.

“Ceryhs. Nice to meet you as well.” She introduced herself.

It was your turn, but you were kind of stuck, you kind of just stood there, not saying anything. Everyone looked at you, a bit worried.

“y/n…?” Xlyes, Davi, and Ceryhs called to you in unison.

With an elbow to the side of your stomach; you hissed in pain, a sharp pain now burning at your side, rubbing it to soothe it.

“Shit…what?” You whined.

You looked down at Ceryhs; she looked at you with a serious look, darting her eyes back over to Miles and the others. You quietly and mentally cursed yourself in your head, you turned your head to face Miles.

He kept his eyes on you; so did everyone else, but not the way he was staring at you. The indefatigable hues and shades of picturesque tones of pink, blue, red, purple, and yellow, every color, hit his brown melanated skin. A tiny studded diamond nose piercing that resided on the right side of his nose. Accompanied by the flashing glow show, his board, and his tall frame earned the same treatment.

“y/n…Likewise.” You finally introduced yourself.

Once you introduced yourself; he kept looking at you for a good second, not before nodding his head.

“Not to be rude, but doesn’t explain why he’s here.” Ceryhs pointed out.

“He here 'cause my boy here needs to get out more; so, I suggested he hang out with us. He doesn't get out much.” Xyles explaining his presence.

“He cool; let’s just show him a good time. A’ight?” Davi advised the both of you.

The five of y’all walked to the front; where all of you purchased your tickets. After one person paid for theirs, they went on to the side, out of line, and out of the way. Waiting for the others patiently; you were the last one.

“Okay, let's get on some rides, bruh.” You responded; wasting no time, grabbing Cerhys hand and pulling her beside you, walking further into the park.

The boys waste no time and follow behind y’all; as you and Ceryhs walk up ahead in front of the boys. Cerhys and your arms intertwined with one another, as y’all walked, you felt that Cerhys wanted to say something to you, without even looking at her, you just knew.

“What you wanna ask m-“ You spoke; no before being cut off by her.

“You like him don't you, bitch?” Cerhys teased; nudging you with her elbow.

“Like who?”

Cerhys side-eyed you as if you thought she was stupid or got 'Boo Boo The Fool' in bold letters on her forehead.

“Bitch, don't play with me. And it’s not like it’s a secret, the boy’s fine, you can tell me.” She informed you.

“He’s okay.”

“The way you was eye-fucking him, I don't think "okay" is the word you’d describe him to be. You can think of something betta than that.”

“Yeah, he fine. But, it’s not like he want me. He probably got a girl or something.” You assumed.

“Girl, really just shut the fuck up right now. Y’know that boy was feeling you and looking at you the same way you was looking at him.” Cerhys stated; sucking her teeth.

You didn't want your expectations to be high; not wanting to even be bothered by the idea.

"Bitch, don't make an intense staring contest something bigger than it already is.” You firmly stated.

“As fine as he is…ion think he was feeling me like that. So, drop all this other shit, and let’s go get on some motherfucking rides.”

You dismissed her and the conversation; finding yourself moving away from Ceryhs and walking over to the Music Express. It was currently active; the rapid circular speed train-like car ride moving clockwise, music from the contraption playing aloud. The backdrop, normally covered in artwork and lights, provides a mild head-chopper-like effect as there was an exit next to the entrance where the riders previously entered from to get on the ride, near the rear section.

People were already on the ride; screaming and laughing, going pretty fast as they circled around in an intense altercation. Everyone seemed to look like a blur as they went around and around, your vision a bit impaired as they went about. "Again" by Fetty Wap blared out, not before the ride went counter-clockwise, pushing everyone that was secured in their seats forward themselves.

“O! They playing old Fetty. Fetty Wap was my shit back then; it’s been a minute since I heard him.” You chuckled; watching the ride go on.

Cerhys catching up; eventually, standing beside you, looking at the ride as well.

“Mm-hm. They playing all the old shit.” Ceryhs chimed in, the boys are now behind both of you.

“♫♪Married to the money, I ain't never letting go. Baby, it’s ZooWap from the fucking bando! ♫♪” Xyles sang obnoxiously loud right in both you and Cerhy's ear. The slight crack and high pitch in his supposed-to-be baritone voice. Ugly ass tryna hold a high note.

“Xlyes bruh, let Fetty sing his shit,” Davi beseeched; rolling his eyes.

“Bitch, I can sing. Y’all just mad.” Xlyes sassed.

“Nigga….” You and Cerhys both interjected; the word trailing off the both y’all tongues in unison, not without laughing.

The ride for the Music Express finally came to an end; you quickly made your way over, the new wave of people making their way over to the mellifluous contrivance. Thankfully; your people were right behind you, so you didn't have to sit next to some random, you turned around to see who would be seated with you.

It had to be Ceryhs…

Why? Not because you felt uncomfortable with Davi and Xyles or anything; they were your boy bestfriends. It’s just because you have a bit of a… preference when it comes to people.

Xlyes; you love the boy, he was another brother you didn't ask for, but you got him. He can be funny and goofy at most times, matching your energy. But then that energy starts to be a bit too damn much, making your ass itch to a certain point where you wanna wrap your hands around his throat and choke him.

Davi; a stand-up comedian just like Xlyes, black ass always got a damn punchline. You love him to hell and back, another brother your are grateful for, you two click, but not like, click. Not like that. Like him and Xlyles do, so that's why it really has to be Cerhys, she gets you, she’s YOUR bestie, and your hers.

And it couldn't be Miles…

Plus. You barely knew the nigga, and it would've just been awkward. For you, anyway.

To your better judgment; it was Cherys. Looking behind your group, Miles obviously being last, would be paired up with some random. You felt somewhat bad; but, that's life.

With that, you quickly got over it, really excited to get on this ride. The ride operator now let y’all come and get seated into the two-passenger cart; you and Cerhys together, Xlyes and Davi together, and Miles…

With some lightskin chick, he was chatting it up with, the girl all up in his personal space, licking her lips and laughing real fucking hard at whatever his big black ass was saying. Couldn't have been that fucking funny…

You kind of glared from a distance; not before the two of them were seated two carts behind you and Ceyhs. You soon put your attention back, facing forward, while rolling your eyes and sneering your lip in annoyance and dislike.

Obviously; Cerhys caught it.

“What’s wrong with you?” She questioned; eyeing you up and down.

She turned around to look at what you were looking at; prior. And she saw the light-skin girl rubbing up against Miles, her arm entwined with Miles's muscled one, whispering to him and laughing. Ceryhs cocked her head back with confusion. The fuck did she come from? Was her first question; her second one, who the fuck did she think she was?

“And…who the fuck is that?” Ceryhs asked aloud; not one to keep her words and thoughts to herself. Xlyes and Davi both looked at her, then turned their heads around to see what she was yapping about.

“Shit, ion know where her ass came from. But, it look like she likes herself some Morales.” Xlyes voiced; to you and Cerhys annoyance.

Ceryhs just glared at him; not before facing back up front. Xlyes and Davi were both confused about both of y’alls attitudes, abruptly coming out of nowhere, were y’all both not just in a good mood? The fuck happen? Did they miss something? Did they do something they didn't know they did?

“The fuck wrong with y’all?” Davi questioned; not understanding why both of y’all acting a fool.

He turned himself back around to see what the problem was, not before looking upon what you two saw.

“Ohhhh…that’s what y’all upset about.” Davi expressed; coming to an understanding.

“What? What they pissy about?” Xlyes asked; curious to knew what got y’alls drawers in a bunch.

Davi then nodded his head to behind him; to where the light-skin girl and Miles were, he took a quick glance, not before smacking his teeth and speaking.

“I know you not mad about that?” Xlyes asked; sitting himself up, getting right in the middle between the open space behind you and Ceryhs.

You both stayed quiet; answering Xlye's inquiry.

“Why the fuck you upset about it, Ceryhs? Don'tchu got a nigga already?” He stated.

“Boy, I’m only mad 'cause my friend is. Pipe down.” Ceryhs shared; informing him.

“Then why you pressed?” He then asked you.

“I’m not; ion want to talk about it. Thank you.” You dismissed, ready for this ride to fucking go.

Subsequently, the last group of people was seated, and the operator of the ride went back behind the thing that operated the ride. Letting everyone make sure they're secured in their seats, not before flipping a switch, the ride started back up, and so did the music.

20 Minutes by Lil Uzi Vert, begin to play. Screams and laughter started to pick up from everyone on the ride, you couldn't help but smile and laugh yourself. The intense rock and shake of the contraption itself was a lot, moving you in your secured seat, Cerhys smile and laughing as well, holding tight onto your hand, your hair being blown back by the wind coming forward.

Your vision becomes impaired; the colorful lights that once stood still, are now a striked lines, a blurry and hazed line of color. Even people who walked around the active Carnival become all the more fuzzier, the smell of food running away from your nose, coming back every now and then before leaving once more. The feeling of coming up and going back down was abrupt and expected, your other hand holding tight onto the railing that was holding you into your seat.

Without a warning, the ride operator sent the ride to go backwards. Everyone screaming 10x times louder than they were before; sending you and everyone that once moved forward, jolting onward. Your hair blows forward as well, long pieces of your hair flying around; unaccordingly, everybody’s person rocking side to side; a high-pitched scream coming from behind you and Ceryhs.

The both of you couldn't help but turn around, seeing that it was Xlyes, of course. The both of you giggled, both of y’all bending slightly forward in your seat, your hand hovering over your mouth as you couldn't stop laughing. Cerhys threw her head back, the both of you still holding each other hand, after a couple of minutes, the ride finally came to an end, your legs feeling like jelly, your knees about ready to buckle on you at the worst of moments.

Once your feet finally touched land; it felt a bit weird and abnormal, your footing and everything were off. Having to depend on Ceryhs and Davi to keep you up; both of them at your sides, holding you up, people flowing out of the ride, the heavy sound of metal being walked on.

“Whoa, damn. Haven’t been on those in a minute.” You admitted; with a laugh.

“Yeah, we can see that. Can't stand up on your own for shit.” Ceyrhs joked; still holding you astray.

As all of you were conversing with each other, that light-skinned girl and Miles, still talking to one another. Mostly Little Miss 'I Haven’t Felt A Mans Touch, So I’ma Touch Up On Anybody' ass bitch kept up with her unneeded affection towards Miles, Miles was really just too unbothered to tell her to give him his personal space or was trying to get lucky.

They make their way over to you, Cerhys, Davi, and Xlyes. You and Ceryhs both smack your teeth and roll your eyes, the little scrumpt was parading herself out, only wanting for Miles's gaze to be on her, pulling and tugging on his muscled arm to come closer to her, not letting up. All of a sudden your way of balance comes back altogether, moving away from Ceryhs and Davi’s touch. Turning on your heel, walking away, your hands in the pockets of your puffer jacket, finding something better to do, then look at that.

Everyone looked at you as you walked away without warning; but, only Davi, Ceryhs, and Xlyes knew what was up. Ceryhs soon followed behind you, Davi looked at Ceryhs as she walked off as well, not before he turned his attention back over to where the light-skin and Miles stood, Miles talking to Xlyes.

“Uh, yeah, me and her gonna walk around. I’ll meet back up with y’all later, a’ight?” Miles informed Xlyes; the lightskin clinging onto Miles like her life depended on it.

“Oh, a’ight bruh. Will be around.” Xlyes acknowledged; soon dapping Miles up.

Miles dapped him back; saying a last "A’ight, imma see you", before nodding his head over to Davi. Davi gives him back the same gesture; he and the girl walk off, somewhere else around the carnival.

Davi asked Xlyes what was up with that; all he did was shrug his shoulders, walking away to go find you and Cerhys, Davi walking beside him. The two of you didn't go far, at the long arranged rowed lines of concession stands going down from the Ferris Wheel back over to the carnival games, the both of you standing to the side, talking to one another.

You and Ceryhs both saw Xlyes and Davi coming towards the two of you.

“So…what was that about?” Xlyes asked, his arm coming over and around your shoulders, pulling you into him. Looking at Davi and Ceryhs, before looking back over at you.

“Absolutely nothing.” You dismissed; rolling your eyes.

“It doesn’t look like nothing, it looks like something. So, what’s the matter?” Xlyes asked again.

You didn't want to say, because it was too embarrassing and stupid. You already told Cerhys that you weren't interested; but, you were also not, not interested, the boy was fine. You didn't take his intense and intimidating stares accountable or as his way of feeling you. Considering you were undressing him right to his face, god knows what he was thinking in that moment when you were that.

Disgusted? Confused? Annoyed? Anything; you couldn't read him even if you tried, from the first time you laid eyes on him, his expression was no more than stoic and cold. If he were to walk into a loud room full of people, he’d most likely be the reason they’d go quiet once he stepped foot inside, he just didn't look…approachable.

It sounded real hypocritical and deluded coming from you, but that was your opinion. Not like it was needed, it’s just what you saw, from his face, body, and demeanor, it was a challenge not to say you weren’t a bit overawed by his appearance. And you couldn't say you weren't attracted to him; you’d be lying to yourself.

“It’s honestly nothing.” You stated; more firmly.

“Girl, just take your L and just admit your jealous,” Ceryhs advised; knowing you too well and better than anyone else not to call you out.

“Shut up, Cey. Ain’t nobody jealous.” You becoming a bit defensive on the topic alone.

You got away from Xlyes and his long arm from around your shoulders, walking a couple of feet away from your group, looking about at the carnival.

“Bitch, there’s nothing to be defensive about. If you like the nigga you like him, acting like you committed a crime or sumin.” Ceryhs reassured, walking up beside you.

“The boy just gets a lot of female attention,” Ceryhs informed.

“Clearly.” You flatly gathered.

“My nigga Miles is a lady killer, my boy gets down, he don't play,” Xlyes spoke; clapping his hands together with every word he uttered out.

You and Ceryhs looked at Xlyes; Davi just shook his head, smiling while looking on somewhere else, trying not to laugh. He be just saying shit, especially at the worse of times, making the situation the more hysterical.

“Xlyes. Just stop talking, cause like why you gotta be you, like right now?” Ceryhs interjected; trying to wrap around Xlye's thought process, trying to understand why he thought that time to say that was okay.

“Cause it’s true; my boy got bitches coming after him left and right. I know y’all girlies don't like to hear it, but that’s just life.” Xlyes stated.

“Boy-” Ceryhs didn't finish before going over and hitting Xlyes; Xlyes putting his arms up over his face. Lifting his sweats up swiftly and ready to square up with Ceryhs heavy-handed ass.

“Come on, bitch. What’s up? What’s up?” Xlyes taunted, at this point, the two of them were play fighting with each other. Which they always did.

Xlyes would take a step back and step up everytime Ceryhs would get too close or distance herself from him. The both of them sometimes throw false hits at the other one, walking around in a circle while still cursing at each other.

You and Davi stood aside and watched the two go at it; it was the norm for them to be at each other's necks until the other got tired of the other, which was always Ceryhs. You couldn't blame her; Xlyes was a lot to take in, always going back with you.

“Okay, Dumb and Dumber, let's not get into a squabble. Let's just have a good time.” Davi interfered, looking at the both of them still at each other.

You snickered at Davi’s comment, Cerhys looking over at Davi like his crazy, rolling her eyes and bucking at Xlyes. Walking away from him and back beside you.

“And don't call me dumb, nigga.” Ceryhs informed Davi, with his smart-ass comment.

“Yeah, aight. Tussling around with a dumbass, Dummy.” Davi threw back.

Cerhys shot a hostile look at Davi and seemed about to physically attack him. However, you stepped in and intervened by placing your arm around Cey and hugging her tightly to your side. This prevented her from causing any further harm to the boys, and you placed her on the other side of you. You now stand where she previously stood beside Davi, with your arms locked around each other in a comforting embrace.

“A’ight y’all! Let's just tend to what we came here to do and enjoy our time.” You spoke freely; looking left and right of you, at your group.

The group unanimously agreed to the terms and conditions, breaking their silence with a chorus of teeth smacks and eye rolls.

“Yeah, a’ight,” Davi mumbled.

“Yeah, whatever.” Ceyrhs followed behind.

“Yeah, you better calm your ass down, always tryna start.” Xlyes voiced in tauntingly.

Cerhys was quickly about to lunge at Xlyes before you tightly kept her at your side, not wanting these white people to think y’all around crazy than y’all are.

“Xlyes!” You reprimanded, glaring at him.

“You is not helping. Please, let’s just have a good time.” You begged; trying to ease the uncertainty between everyone.

Everyone huffed and puffed; reluctantly agreeing with your words. Turning on y’all heels and walking back where you guys came from, heading down the alsie of where the many carnival game trailers arranged from the Water Gun Game, the High Striker, the Hangman Challenge, Balloon-A-Rama, Mid Range Basketball, Shoot Out The Star, and a lot more you’d like to name, but you just wanted to fuck around and find out.

It’s been a hot minute since you’ve seen these games, nostalgia overflowing within you, the intoxicating and hallucinogenic flashing of the colorful lights making you feel even more childish. Just want to run off and try out one of the games they had about as an option and there was a lot to go off of, too many to choose really.

But, you had all night, so did it really matter?

Then your eyes laid upon one of the games, the game that people would assume you’d be most experienced in, something you couldn't possibly be out niggaed in.

Hoop Shot.

“Oh shit! Y’all, we gotta do this one.” You wooed; stopping everyone abruptly, pointing and looking at the large game trailer, that took up half of the spot it occupied.

As you gestured towards the source of the commotion, everyone's gaze followed suit. A trailer contraption adorned with bright and dazzling LED lights that radiated a carnival-like aura, especially in the dark. You couldn't help but feel the excitement and thrill that filled the air.

As I looked around the bustling game area, I noticed a constant flow of people coming and going. The Hoop Shoots Game Trailer was particularly popular, with its impressive size that could accommodate four different hoops at once. A small group of individuals had already gathered around the trailer, eagerly waiting for their turn to compete. You could see a couple of people already shooting their shots at the mid-ranged hoops, their focus, and determination palpable in the air. It was clear that the game was not only a source of fun and entertainment but also a way to ignite healthy competition and camaraderie among its players.

If you remember; vividly, this game was a bitch to win, your not very good at basketball. Especially if your competing with other people, particularly, with people you know, you were very competitive, so there was gonna be a slick chance of you trying your hardest, even if you didn't make one damn shot.

You were leaving here with something.

“Ohhhhhhh! So, you wanna getcho ass beat? Oh a’ight, fuck it….we ballin'.” Xlyes taunted; feeling that it had to be announced to the whole damn world.

Niggas 🙄

“Nigga, you wanna fuckin' bet. I’ll lay yo ass out, right fuckin now, say I won't.” Ceryhs interjected; her faint, yet strong Louisiana accent approaching lightly in her voice.

“And fuckin' won’t, baby.” Xlyes mocked her and her accent, cocking his head with sass, a slight sneer on his lips, just as Ceryhs’s lip.

“Boy-” Ceryhs cut herself off, about to got of on the lightskin boy.

Before Ceryhs had a chance to try any of that; you, Ms. Captain Save A Nigga, interjected once more.

“Okay, okay, let’s just settle this. A’ight?” You joined in.

“Settle this? I’mma wipe the floor with all of y’all.” Xlyes continued to taunt.

“Nigga, your not LeBorn. So, calm your dick, boy.” Davi joined in, getting tired of Xlyes as well.

“Y’all wanna fucking bet? I can wipe the floor with y’all without even trying.” Xlyes challenged all of you.

“Bet.” You, Cerhys, and Davi together.

“Alright, if I win…y/n, Ceryhs. Y’all gotta hook me up with one of y’all’s friends.” Xlyes smirked with a smug smile, biting his bottom lip and rubbing his hands together, slowly. While slowly nodding his head.

“Like any of OUR friends wanna fuck withchu,” Ceryhs noted.

“Oh, so, y’all know I’ma gonna win?” Xlyes taunted.

“Nah, bruh. You just ugly little boy. But, we can do that if you win.” You jumped in.

“Girl bye. What do y’all want if y’all win?” Xlyes questioned.

Everyone was thinking about what they wanted if they were to win; obviously, Ceryhs was the one to speak out first about what she wanted.

“Nigga, if I win, you gotta buy me 60-inch Brazilian bundle, with yo money.” Ceryhs slyly told.

“Oh, so your little G.I. Jane cut got you cold? So, you need new horse hair to keep you warm? Yeah, a’ight. Next.” Xlyes mocked as Ceryhs, as he moved on without a care.

“Boy, fuck you. You gonna be eating those fuckin' words once I beat to ass in this game.” Cerhys expressed angrily, her anger pronounced with her vivid hand gestures.

Xlyes scoffed and rolled his eyes, his hand put out in front of her face, blocking her from his line of sight, waiting for Davi to talk.

“Aye, I don’t mind me getting me a girl myself. A nigga lonely, forreal.” Davi confessed.

“Alright, alright, so me and Davi after the same thing. Y/n…?” Xlyes pointed out before moving to you.

“Okay, I got it. If I win, you gotta buy us something all out. My choice. Deal?” You asked, holding your hand out, ready to lock in y’alls bet.

“Of course, it was gonna be food,” Xlyes mentioned.

“Alright, deal. Cause you ain't gonna win, so this is easy to agree to.” Xlyes expressed, taking your hand, and shaking it.

“Alright, everyone has their bets. Let’s go.”

★★★

I thought this would be a full one, but I changed my mind. So, this is part 1, part 2 is being done. After I’m done with part 2, I’ll link it down below.

Thanks for reading my shit, appreciate it 🤭.



[skygemspeaks]

so mother teach works as a housekeeper on the bonnet estate

She has a little boy who's just about stede's age and sometimes she brings him with her. The two little boys get along well, and are thick as thieves for the first years of their lives.

Then stede starts going to school, and his parents expect him to keep better company. (He still finds time to sneak away and go on adventures with his eddie.)

Eventually though, he has to go away to boarding school, and edward starts working down at the docks, and even when stede is back home for the holidays, he doesn't get to see edward very often.

But whenever they do meet, they fall back into an easy camraderie. Stede always finds himself stealing lingering glances at his friend, and tries not to flush when he gets caught.

Then, stede comes home one summer, and he knows something is wrong as soon as he sees ms teach. She's all gaunt and withered away, a horrible emptiness in her eyes that recedes just the tiniest bit when she sees stede.

He asks her what's wrong, and after a few seconds of holding out, she falls apart. She tells him about her little eddie, whose hands run red with the blood of his father, at the tender age of fourteen. She tells him about how she had flinched away from edward in fear when he had told her what he had done, and the immediate regret that had drowned her out when she saw the hurt in her little boy's eyes.

She tells him that edward had disappeared after that, vanished into the night without a goodbye, and she hadn't heard from him again.

Stede is absolutely gutted at the loss of his friend. It feels like the rug has been pulled out from under him.

He makes sure to keep an eye out for ms teach after that. And when he finally takes over as head of the bonnet estate, he makes sure she's taken care of. He buys her a lovely little house in a nice neighbourhood, and makes sure she has enough money to pay for her necessities, plus a little extra to buy herself all the nice things she could never have before. He refuses to let her work for it, insists that this is a thanks for her years of loyal service to his family, and the final thing she can do for him is to enjoy her retirement.

Edward never does come back, but stede makes sure to go visit her every once in a while, this woman he loves more fiercely than he had ever loved his own mother. There's a tenderness in her eyes whenever she looks at him, and sometimes he almost lets himself believe thay she cares about him in the same way, with the love of a parent for a child. She never does heal from the loss of her edward, which is why when stede leaves behind his family in the dead of night, he takes a detour to her house before heading to his ship.

She's already lost one son without explanation or goodbye. He won't let her lose another the same way.

He couldn't do this for mary or the kids, but he can do this for her. He can do this for the one person who had never piled expectations on his shoulders.

She knows why he's here as soon as she opens the door and lays eyes on him.

She doesn't ask him to stay. (She knows he would, all she has to do is say the words. She doesn't say them.)

"Oh my sweet boy," she says instead. "You keep yourself safe out there, you hear?"

Stede smiles, small and gentle, and steps forward to embrace her - the first time he has ever dared to do so. He thinks he'll simply shatter if she pushes him away, he loves her so dearly.

She doesn't pull away. She tucks into his embrace for a few long seconds, before stepping away with a face wet with tears.

They say their farewells, and he leaves without a single glance back.

He leaves, and the months pass without word from him.

Her days go on in a quiet, comfortable sort of sorrow. Both her boys are gone now and she doesn't quiet know what to with herself except to keep living her life.

Next thing she knows, three years have passed, and there's a knock on her door. She's not expecting company today, but she opens the door.

There, standing on her doorstep is a strapping gentleman, his arms thickened with muscle and skin weathered from the ocean air, long blonde hair tied back at the nape of his neck.

He grins impishly at her and holds his arms out for an embrace. "I see you've been well, mother dearest."

She steps into his arms with a laugh. "And what about you, you little scoundrel? What's brought your sorry self to my doorstep?"

"I've brought someone very important to meet you," he tells her. "I'll have you know it was very difficult to convince him, so you ought to appreciate me."

"Here to ask my blessing for my boy's hand, is he?" she asks teasingly.

But then her eyes land on the man who steps up next to stede, and she feels her whole world come to a stop.

Because maybe decades have passed and his silky curls have grown long past his shoulders, his round face sharpening to a strong jawline, his skin darker than she's ever seen it. But she'll always recognize her boy, in this life and the next and the next.

He's looking at her apprehensively, twisting. his hands together in front of him.

"Mother," he says. "I know you must have some mixed feelings about seeing me-"

He cuts off as she grabs him into a tight embrace, sobbing as she holds her son in her arms for the first time in decades. And finally, something broken inside of her is whole once more.

[grapenehifics]

WIP Wednesday

I love you all but you were deeply unhelpful when trying to choose a snippet for...well, WIP Thursday, now, but that's on me.

Anyway, this is from Let's Get Together, a Parent-Trap AU. Luke and Leia are (separately) arriving at Camp Jedi for the summer.

“And this is Padawan,” Marva said as she held the door to the wood-paneled cabin open for Leia and Mon to enter. They both paused on the porch, waiting for their eyes to adjust. “Well, don’t dilly-dally, girls; go on, get settled!”

Leia and Mon rushed through the door of one accord, both spotting one top bunk remaining that hadn’t been claimed yet. Leia was faster, but Mon was taller.

“Dibs!” Mon called, and threw her duffel bag on top of the plastic-lined mattress.

“Okay,” Leia said, giving in easily. Sometimes you had to give up one less-good thing to get a different really-good thing. In this case, Leia could give up having a top bunk (which, to be fair, she probably would have needed help to get into and out of every morning and night anyway) to stay in the good graces of her new friend Mon, who she’d met on the bus ride over from the airport. “I’ll set up down here.”

“Hi,” another girl – also taller than Leia, but what else was new – said, as she stuck out her hand and smiled. “I’m Amilyn. What’s your name?”

“Leia Skywalker,” Leia said, and shook Amilyn’s hand firmly, the way her dad had taught her to. “I like your hair.” Amilyn’s hair was very short and very lavender.

“Thanks!” Amilyn said cheerily, pleased to have been complimented.

“That’s Mon Mothma,” Leia said, pointing to the top bunk. Mon stuck her head over the edge.

“Hi!” she greeted brightly, then went back to unpacking.

“Do you want to go to the lodge?” Amilyn offered. “Marva said there’s snacks, like fruit and stuff.”

Leia bit her lip. “I’m allergic to strawberries.”

Amilyn laughed. “There’s probably fruit that isn’t strawberries. And popsicles!”

This got Mon’s attention. “Popsicles?” she asked, and leapt down from the top bunk. “I like popsicles!”

So the three of them ran, shrieking, to the lodge to get popsicles, and when Leia wrote to her dad that night before lights-out, she was happy to report that she was already having a great time at camp.

---

“And you have your multivitamins?” Qui-Gon looked like he was trying to hold back a smile. “Your father was very clear that he wanted me to make sure you had them.”

Luke nodded solemnly. “Yes, Grandpa.” Three girls ran past where they were standing, screeching with joy and the freedom of spending a summer without their parents.

Luke, though, would really prefer to just go home. He knew he hadn’t actually seen very much of Camp Jedi yet, but the little he had seen of it made it seem like it was full of screaming kids. Luke wasn’t really a ‘run around and scream’ type of kid; he usually preferred to play out in the back garden by himself. And he didn’t really like spending the night away from his dad yet, either, much less six weeks’ worth of nights. But Luke’s papa had landed a really important contract at work, and the construction crew wanted him on site for the first six weeks of the project, and Luke’s grandpa was King Lear’s understudy at the local Shakespeare in the Park production this summer and couldn’t watch Luke either, so summer camp it was.

“And your notepaper, envelopes, and international stamps?” Grandpa Qui-Gon was reading off a scrap of paper covered in Luke’s dad’s small, neat, square handwriting. Luke hadn’t known you could miss someone’s handwriting before.

“They’re in my backpack,” Luke said, turning to show off the item in question. “Papa put them in before we left.” Obi-Wan had seen Luke off at the airport, but then had had to catch a train to his own work meeting, leaving Luke and Qui-Gon to fly together. Now, Qui-Gon was going to fly back home - without Luke.

Qui-Gon folded the piece of paper and put it in his front shirt pocket. “Your father wants you to write twice a week.”

“But…” Luke dug the toe of his sneaker into the dirt. “You guys are gonna write to me, too, right?”

Qui-Gon started to kneel, then thought better of it and put his hands on his knees, instead. “Well, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I already have ‘write to Luke’ saved right in here” – he tapped the side of his own head with his finger – “for after every rehearsal. I’ll tell you all about our very elderly Goneril” – Luke giggled, because their librarian was too old to be playing Qui-Gon’s daughter, even his oldest daughter – “and if I figure out any good ways to very nicely poison Mr. Dooku so I can take his part.”

Luke couldn’t help but smile, even as he also felt tears start to gather at the corners of his eyes. He threw his arms around Qui-Gon’s shoulders and hid his face before he started to cry for real. “I’m gonna miss you, Grandpa.”

“Oh, Luke,” Grandpa Qui-Gon sighed, and he hugged Luke back, tight. “I’m going to miss you, too. But you’re going to have so much fun at camp. I promise.”

Luke wasn’t sure he believed him, but he let go anyway, wiped his nose, and picked up his suitcase.

[toxickehlani]

𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

║ ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ･* – 𝖲𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌

║ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ･* – 𝖠𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖺 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝖺 𝗆𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍’𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗆𝖾𝗋𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗌𝖾.

║ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ･* – 𝟤,𝟤𝟩𝟪

║ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ･* – 𝖺𝖽𝗎𝗅𝗍 𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗀𝗎𝖺𝗀𝖾,

║ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ/ᴘᴀʀᴛ･* – 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖨❣️: 𝖥𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝖬𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌

ɴᴇxᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ

ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ

Angelia’s POV

𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗚 the princess of one the most ruthless gangs in Los Angeles. My great-great-great grandfather, Mauro Ballesteros, moved to Arizona from Mexico with his parents at twelve. After kids bullied him for not being from America, Mauro got with the local Spanish teens at the school and on the street and formed Los Santos Vagos. Over time, the group expanded and multiplied to different city areas. From that moment, his gang was the most feared as it’s passed down from generation to generation.

Now, in the present time, my father, Sergi, has been running the show since my grandfather passed it down to him. Things have changed a bit over the years. We respect other territories and don’t kill on their turf. Sometimes, my father expects a lot from me, like he wants me to always step up to the plate. Honestly, it’s stressful.

I’m getting ready to meet my pops and brothers at the warehouse in twenty minutes. I stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around my body, and walked to my bedroom. After drying myself, I changed into gray solid flare yoga pants, a white crop top with a gray cropped zip-up hoodie, and gray New Balance sneakers. I stood before my full-length mirror and styled my hair in a slicked-back bun. Grabbing my purse from my bed, I picked up my phone and left my room.

My mother, Yvette, watched a telenovela on TV in the living room. I leaned over the back of the couch and kissed her cheek.

“Adiós, mamá, te veré más tarde.” I smiled, walking to the front door. ( “Bye, Mom, I’ll see you later.” )

“Adiós, amor.” She replied as I closed the door behind me. ( “Goodbye, my love.” )

Unlocking my custom pink 2019 Ford Mustang, I climbed in the driver's seat, fastened my seatbelt, and drove away from the house. Before I met up with my dad and siblings, I stopped by McDonald's and bought myself a McGriddle, two hash browns, and a medium Sprite. As I pulled into the warehouse, people stopped and stared at me instead of working. Exiting the car, I grabbed my food, locked the doors, and walked to my dad's office. I knocked on the door and waited for him to answer.

“Come in.” His deep baritone voice speaks from the other side.

Opening the door, I see my three brothers. Moises is 30, who my parents adopted when he was a teenager. They found a scared and hopeless boy and took him in their arms. Antonio is 24 and was the son of someone my father was close to before he died and brought his son into his home. Finally, there’s Mauricio, the baby out of the two of us. He’s 19 and spoiled as fuck.

I sat next to Antonio as my father smiled at me. As he opened his mouth to speak, Mauricio's annoying ass decided to say something to me.

“Why do you always have food in your hands?” My brother asked, looking at me.

“Same reason why you don’t have a girlfriend.” I sarcastically replied, biting into my breakfast sandwich.

Mauricio had nothing to say and kept quiet like he should’ve. My father rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, annoyed.

“Can we carry on, please?” My father asked, eyeing us intensely.

“Sorry.” I apologized, flashing him a genuine smile.

“Okay, 16th Street Lagos has been killing our dealers, taking the drugs and money.” My dad sternly commented, leaning his hands on the table.

“What are those bitches taking?” Antonio questioned, rubbing his hands together.

“Our weed, meth, and heroin.” My father replied, shaking his head in frustration.

“Let’s go kill those foo’s man. Fuck that shit.” Mauricio stated, jumping to his feet.

“Sit down, puto. We can’t just walk into 18th Street’s territory and start shooting people,” I remarked, smacking my little brother’s arm.

“She’s right.” My dad nodded, agreeing with my previous statement.

“Let’s show them why we’re the most dangerous gang out there. Show them what we stand for.” Moises replied, puffing his chest out in confidence.

“I agree with him,” I interjected, nodding in agreement.

As the conversation continued, my phone suddenly started ringing. I pulled it from my purse to see my best friend and ride-or-die Gloria calling me. Smiling, I stood up and walked out the door to answer it. M

Hola, puta.

R.H.B🫶✨ - Puta?! Please don’t make me slap you through this phone.

What’s up, love?

R.H.B🫶✨ - One of the homies is having a get-together at his place tomorrow. Do you want to go?

Yeah, I’m down. Who’s going?

R.H.B🫶✨ - Chachi, you and me.

Okay, I’ll talk to you when I come to your house. Are you home?

R.H.B🫶✨ - Yea, I’m here I’ll see you boo.

Bye.

I walked back into the office and sat down in my original place. The conversation about rival gangs stealing our merchandise continued for about forty-five minutes. Once our meeting was over, I followed my dad out of the office behind Antonio and Mauricio.

“Guess who wants to fight you, Angel,” Mauricio said, clapping his hands in amusement.

“Who?” I questioned, arching an eyebrow in confusion.

“Antonio’s ex Yasmin.” He replied, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Screw that bitch. I fought her so many times it’s draining my energy.” I expressed, shaking my head.

Antonio’s ex-girlfriend Yasmin was the biggest shit-talker known to man. When they were together, she would give my mother and me an evil glare whenever she came over. Once I confronted her, she said I’m not Antoinio’s real sister, and I’m probably fucking him. I became so enraged I punched her in the face, and we started fighting inside the house.

“I told her she needs to watch her mouth. Talking all that shit online.” Antonio remarked,

“Is it on her Instagram or Facebook?” I asked my brothers, walking to my car.

“Facebook,” Moises answered, leaning against the side of my vehicle.

“Okay, I’ll check it out.” I nodded, unlocking my car and getting inside.

“The homegirl said Yasmin wants to fight tomorrow,” Antonio commented,

“I’ll be there to fuck that bitch up,” I replied, getting in the driver’s seat of my car.

Closing the door, I started the engine and drove out of the parking lot. When I pulled up to Gloria’s house, I parked behind her car, stepped out, and walked up to her front door before ringing the doorbell.

“¿Quién es?” I hear Gloria's question from inside the house. ( “Who is it?” )

“It’s me!” I shouted, placing my hands on my hips.

The door opened, revealing my best friend since diapers, Gloria ‘Loca’ Enriquez. I love and respect this girl for always having my back and behind there for me.

“Hey, mami.” Gloria smiled, greeting me as she pulled me into a hug.

“Hey, my favorite girl,” I replied, returning the gesture.

My best friend allowed me inside her house and closed the door behind me. I followed her into the family room and sat beside her on the sofa.

“What have you been up to, my love?” Gloria questioned, smiling at me.

“Nothing much. I left the family meeting before I got here and received some news.” I sighed, answering her question.

“What happened?” She asked, staring at me with curiosity.

“Well, first, someone is killing our dealers and taking the merchandise. My dad thinks it’s 16th Street Lagos.” I explained, leaning my head against the back of the sofa.

“Why would they come across town for drugs when I know they revive their stuff?” My best friend asked me, furrowing her brows in confusion.

“That’s what I was thinking.” I nodded, clapping my hands together.

“What else happened?” Gloria asked, drinking from her water bottle.

“Moises told me that Yasmin, Antonio’s ex, wants to fight me tomorrow,” I confessed, rolling my eyes.

“No fucking way.” She gasped, shaking her head.

“Girl, yes. I told Moises I fought her so many times it drains my energy.” I sighed, pressing my lips together in annoyance.

“I understand.” Gloria nodded, flipping her over her shoulder.

“Hell, last time we fought, she tried to jump me with her sister and best friend,” I commented, laughing at the memory.

“Girl, why do you think Chachi and I were there? We were not about to have that.” Gloria responded, giving me a high five.

“Exactly. Like bitch you are a pussy.” I laughed, throwing my head back. “Yasmin is hard-headed as fuck. I fought her until I broke her nose, yet she still talks shit.”

“We’ll see if she continues running her mouth after tomorrow.” She nodded, shrugging her shoulders.

“I hope not because I don’t have the energy to whoop her ass again.” I laughed, shaking my head.

Gloria and I continued talking when my phone started ringing in my lap. I looked down at it to see my little brother Mauricio calling me. Rolling my eyes, I answered his call.

Hello ugly.

Snitch Ass😒🖤 - First of all, I’m never ugly. Second, when are you coming home?

You are and why?

Snitch Ass😒🖤 - Mami wants to know.

Why didn’t she call me and ask?

Snitch Ass😒🖤 - She’s cooking.

What is she making?

Snitch Ass😒🖤 - Shrimp and steak Alfredo pasta.

I’ll be there in the next twenty minutes.

Snitch Ass😒🖤 - Ok, I’ll let her know.

Thanks, asshole.

Snitch Ass😒🖤 - I bet you won’t say that to my face.

Keep that energy.

Ending the call, I continued talking to Gloria about what was up and coming with the gang and my father’s plans. After some time, I decided to leave and said bye to Gloria, giving her a bear hug.

“Call me before you go to sleep.” My best friend said, pulling away from me.

“Okay, see you later, babe.” I nodded, waving at her as I walked to my car.

Climbing inside my vehicle, I started it up, fastened my seatbelt, and drove home. Once I parked behind my mother’s automobile, I got out and used my keys to enter the house. When I walked inside, I heard my mom yelling at someone in the kitchen.

“¡Fuera de aquí!” She yelled, swatting my younger brother's hand away as he tried to grab a piece of steak out of the pan. ( “Get out of here!” )

Mauricio winced as my mother smacked him with her wooden spoon. “Lo siento.” He held his head in pain as he sat at the table, waiting for her to finish cooking. ( “I’m sorry.” )

When my mother saw me standing in the kitchen, she smiled, chewing on shrimp. “Angelia, how was the meeting?”

“It was good, although we suspect that 16th Street Lagos is killing our dealers and stealing our merchandise,” I answered, sitting next to my brother at the kitchen table.

“So what are you guys going to do about it?” My mom asked, turning the stove off.

“I don’t know. We have to wait and see what Dad wants to do first.” I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

Suddenly, a loud commotion echoed through the house before I heard the voices of Antonio, Moises, and my father. The three of them entered the kitchen, kissing my mother’s cheek.

“Huele bien aquí, mamá.” Antonio nodded, kissing my mother's cheek. ( “Smells good in here, Mom.” )

“I made shrimp and steak Alfredo pasta. A new recipe I found online.” She replied, smiling at him.

“Siempre tienes la cocina oliendo bien.” My father smiled, wrapping his arms around my mother and placing a kiss on her lips. ( “You always have the kitchen smelling good.” )

We could hear their lips smoothing aggressively against each other’s, making me smile at their affection while my brothers gagged.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Mauricio groaned, turning his head away.

“Oh, shut up. Weren’t you the same way with your now ex-girlfriend? What was her name? Lina?” I laughed, pointing at him as he was speechless. “We couldn’t keep you two off of each other.”

“Man, why do you have to bring her up?” My little brother asked, smacking his lips.

“It’s the truth.” I laughed, shrugging my shoulders. “At first, I thought you were going to get her pregnant the way ya’ll be going at it like rabbits.”

“Shut up. I don’t even talk to Lina anymore.” My little brother grumbled, rolling his eyes. He pouted, crossing his arms like a child.

My father pulled away from my mother as she started filling plates with food and smacked my little brother on the back of his head. As Mauricio sat at the table with his plate, I became disgusted at how messily he ate his food.

“You eat like a pig.” I cringed, watching him slurp the pasta noodles.

“You look like one.” My little brother retorted, rolling his eyes.

“¡Pinche pendejo!” I cursed, throwing a water bottle at his head. ( “Fucking asshole!” )

“¡Qué mierda!” He gasped, staring at me in shock. ( “What the fuck!” )

Before I could react to my brother, my father stepped in, making us look at him.

“Hey! Cut it out!” He remarked, pointing at me. “Apologize to your brother.”

“Lo siento, hermanito.” I apologized, crossing my arms. ( I’m sorry, little brother.” )

“Say sorry, Mauricio.” My mother said, putting her hands on her hips.

“Sorry, Angel,” Mauricio replied, glancing at me.

Huffing, I ignored him and continued to eat the food my mom cooked for the house. Once I finished my plate, I sat it in the sink and headed to my room. I got comfortable on my bed and started watching Netflix on my TV until I eventually fell asleep.

[panfluidme]

Raised Separately

Master Post, Chapter Five

CHAPTER SIX: BIG MAMA'S BIG ASK

"Orange, Red!" Splinter's voice called out through the lair. "Come here!"

The two brothers came to the living room, Mikey on Raph's shoulders. Splinter was standing with his hands behind his back. He wore a serious expression, scaring the younger of the two brothers. 

"Dad? What is it?"

"I am going to be leaving for a while. Red is in charge, but if anything big happens, April's parents' number is on the fridge. I don't know how long I'll be gone for."

"Got it, pops. Stay safe."

Splinter nodded. "I'll see you soon, my sons."

"Love you!" Mikey cheered from Raph's shoulders.

"I love you too, Orange."

With that, Splinter left the lair. Big Mama had sent him a letter (how she knew where he lived was beyond him) begging him to come visit. So, as much as he thought it wasn't a smart idea, he decided to go.

He dreaded speaking to her as he entered the hotel that Big Mama owned. He went to the front desk, telling the receptionist that he had a meeting with her. Then he sat down in the waiting room.

Soon, Splinter was called back and taken to her office. She stood in front of the window, hands on her back and her back toward the door. She didn't even look around.

"Ah, huggypoo, so good to see that you came." She turned around with a wicked grin. "I see that you aren't the man you used to be."

"What do you need, Big Mama?"

"My friend has two kids that he has put under my care while he's away, but I simply do not have the time nor the patience to take care of them. Normally, I would send them to my scramdupitous Nexus, but that got shut down for a while. The police apparently have reason to believe that I am exploiting people for it."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"I need you to care for the brats for two days. If you do this, I will pay you."

"You need me to babysit?"

"Yes. Softie, Ears, you may come out."

Two teens came out from under the desk, both having a cloaking crystal on so they looked human. They both looked at Splinter, his heart breaking slightly at the fearful look in the blue one's eyes.

"Boys, this is Lou Jitsu. He'll be taking care of you while your Father is away."

"Big Mama, they're teenagers, couldn't they take care of themselves?" Splinter's tone was gentle.

"And let them run around my hotel and causing problems for my guests again? Oh, ho ho ho, no. Now, take care of them or I will go after your children."

Splinter swallowed thickly and nodded. "Come with me, boys."

The two nodded and followed Splinter out of the office. Neither of them said anything, the purple one hiding behind the blue one.

"Which one are you?" Splinter asked him.

"Ears."

"You and Softie are brothers?"

"Twins."

"Do you have names you'd prefer to go by?"

"What?"

"I wouldn't want to go by Ears or Softie," Splinter explained as they exited the hotel. "Do you have names you'd rather go by or can I call you Blue and Purple?"

Ears looked at Softie, who shrugged, then back at Splinter. "Softie likes to be called Donnie. You can call me Leo."

"Does Donnie speak?"

"Only to me and our three friends. Sometimes he'll talk to Auntie and Father. He's not going to talk to you." 

Splinter sighed softly. "Why is that?"

"Dunno. He's always been like that."

Donnie tugged Leo's shirt, pointing to a pizzeria. Leo glanced between him, the place, and Splinter. He then puffed up his chest.

"Don wants pizza."

"Alright, how does he feel about Hawaiian? That's my two sons' favorite, other than pepperoni."

"What's on it?"

"Ham and pineapple."

Donnie scrunched up his nose and quickly shook his head. "No pineapple," he mumbled just loud enough for Leo to hear.

"No pineapple. Pepperoni's fine."

~•~

Splinter led the twins to his home, finding that his boys had gone to April's, leaving a note that they decided to stay for a week with her and her family. He sighed and set the pizza box down. "I have some spare rooms for you two stay in."

"No!" Leo cleared his throat. "I mean, no. Donnie and I always share a room."

"Alright. Enjoy your food, I'll show you to your room when you're done."

"Thank you."

Splinter left the room, leaving the twins alone in the kitchen. Donnie sat on the counter, crossing his legs.

"This place is weird," Donnie stated flatly.

"I dunno, I kinda like it. We get pizza out of this."

"True. But we mustn't lose our training routine. Father'll kill us."

"What do you think Father is doing?"

"By my calculations, he's getting more turtles to start rebuilding his army."

Leo fell silent for a brief moment. "Do... do you think he'll replace us?"

"That I am uncertain of. Logically, he would keep us to help train his new army or as shields for himself. We were made for one purpose and you know it. We are expendable to his noble quest."

"Is it a noble quest?"

"Why would it not be?"

"I thought it was, but humans are so nice. How could they be a threat if they're so nice?"

Donnie opened his mouth then shut it. "I don't know! Father hasn't told us all of his reasonings yet. I'm sure he will. In due time."

"I hope you're right, Tello. I really do."

[bnbc]

huge thanx to @arcandoria for this template :3

Well, I let Kou talk about her love life a little:

“Look, I’m not going to talk about all these ‘tino guys and gals, but Trish? Trish was something.

I sometimes think: what if I picked the other way that night? What If I didn’t help a stranger in distress? But you know what? It doesn’t matter, because I was there and I did that, and here we are.

I tried to talk everything out first, but there were three of them, a girl, frozen in panic, and… well… me. Of course, they saw my tats and my ring, but guys when more than one, think not with their brains but with testosterone. No offense. I’m not gonna lie that I won that fight. It actually was very stupid of me to engage, but I didn’t think with my brain either.

The girl was smart enough to run away when they switched on me, so I was the only one who got hurt. Honestly, I thought I wouldn't make it, but then cops appeared. In the middle of the night, in Vista. Fucking a miracle, that saved my life. Later I found out that wasn't a miracle at all, but then I just ran to Lola’s place as fast as I could, beaten and half blinded.

So the next day I and Lola spent, trying to figure out how to get enough money to buy me some half-assed optic, and didn’t really pay attention to some fuss starting outside her house. But the noise was only getting louder, so we went out to see a shiny new limo and some suits, and with them, there was her, yesterday's girl. They came to find me, suddenly, with good intent.

They took me to a clinic, a real one, with clean floors and actual doctors, and let me pick my new eyes myself. I thought it’s over. Honestly, it was already much more than I could have hoped for. I didn't even bother to remember the girl's name, but she found me again. This time with no bodyguards, this stupid corpo kid just went back to the place she was attacked a week before to make sure I’m all right. I was so furious when taking her out of the district, but there was something in her smile, in a way she talked to me, and in the sole fact she cared, so instead of kicking her ass back to Wellsprings, I agreed to meet again, in a safer place.

So, it started. Somehow. Don’t look at me like this! It was her who kissed me first by the way. Oh, you should’ve seen her shock when I immediately started undressing! Though I probably looked even worse when she explained to me I don’t have to sleep with anybody who showed me a bit of affection. I think we were fucking groundbreaking for each other.

But nothing good lasts forever, right? Her parents had a short contract, and they didn't want to prolong it, so they went back to Europe, and Trish came with them of course. I wasn’t allowed to her farewell party, but I found a way to sneak in, so we could say goodbye to each other. And we remained friends, calling each other often no matter how big the ocean was between us. Marcy even got jealous sometimes.

Marcy? It happened in Atlanta.

It was so fun that people decided I went there willingly, to seek a better life, while in reality a couple of Padre’s guys just picked me up in the middle of the night and took me to the bus station. There I got a message from my boss, something like “God forgives you for your sin, child, but don’t show your ass on Night City streets ever again.” He sent me some eddies and a ticket to the East and considering the troubles I got him into, it was really generous.

I didn’t know anyone in Atlanta, so it took me some time to find my place in the city, get some rep, and get to know the right people. But eventually, I got my shit together and even got extra time. Found a nice gym and people to spare with, and there I met Marcia.

I can’t believe I never told you this story. After the gym, I took her sneakers by mistake. You know we all were wearing these limited ‘Jags' that year, well, or copies of them. So I realized that they were not my sneakers only at home, and next time in the gym I tried to find the owner. Marcy found me herself and started by calling me a thief. You already know it’s the shortest way to my heart, right?

Anyway, we’ve got a fight that ended up with a good laugh, and I invited her for a couple of drinks in the club, and once we hit the dance floor it was settled. God, how we danced! Everyone was staring at us, and I’m not kidding!

So, yeah, Marcia.

You know, I lost my head over her, completely. I didn't even care who she was and what she was doing. Being with her wasn’t easy but was so rewarding, she made this whole city feel different to me, almost like home. But I… maybe I still wasn’t really ready for… you know, something bigger. So when I realized we were not just sex and parties, I panicked and broke up with her.

Sometimes life gives you a second chance, but not with people like her. I still don’t understand how Marcia did it, but she somehow erased the data about her from my system: all the messages, all the photos, everything. Only later I found out she wasn't just some girl from a dance band, but a netrunner, going by the name “Cut”. What can I say? No optics can help you if you wanna be blind.

I was lost, again, because without her Atlanta was… limited. I didn’t notice how much she grew into my life, so I lost not only a girlfriend but half of my habitual life. Inertia kept me moving for a couple of months, but when Trish called and offered me a ticket to the Moon, I jumped to the nearest bus heading West.

And here I was back, in the city I was born in, just for one last night before the rocket would take me up, to my new life far above. Just one night, that changed everything. Night City took me back from the moment I tasted its air again, and in the morning, watching the sunrise on the pier in Pacifica I showed Jackie the launching rocket that should’ve taken me and said I lost my only chance to see the stars.

But I saw them after all, yes, and they were cold, cruel, and burned me alive. And then, you know…

No, I’m not going to tell you about you, Goro. What new are you hoping to hear? Some big words like you’re the love of my life? It wouldn't be true! Yes! You are not! My love is big, beautiful, gorgeous… and unjust, ruthless, and unforgiving. Yeah, it’s Night City, not you!

But you are much more than this, Goro, you are my home now. So please, put me fucking back to the floor!”

[queenofthedisneyverse]

Wolfwalkers au: Antonio Madrigal

Wolfwalkers au

Antonio was the last born of the madrigal family. Having said that, Antonio thought he was the only child in the Madrigal home. Any trace of the other residents was either taken or thrown out. After the other family "disappeared" his parents and Alma made sure to keep a close eye on him.

Antonio loved them dearly but they smother him a lot and wherever he goes they go. Encanto is supposed to be the safest place on earth right? wrong, children have been reported missing and it must have been "the forest people" who took them.

This made the three elders even more anxious when it came to Antonio. The times when he could get time to himself were completely obliterated. The only time he ever got to himself was when he was in the bathroom. And he sometimes had to confirm he was there.

He is completely closed off and sheltered. He has barely any friends,(if you count a rat), doesn't get time to himself, and can never do anything fun.

When he got his gift at the ceremony Alma, Pepa & Felix were completely horrified. Alma quickly shut the ceremony down and told Antonio to get rid of all the Predatory animals then she changed it to all of them had to leave. The only thing he was allowed to keep was his room. Casita insisted on it and threatened alma that it would lock him in there if she didn't let him keep it.

A few months pass and Antonio was allowed to use some of his gifts. He was allowed to talk to small animals and birds. no snakes of any kind regardless if they were poison or not.

Tonito wasn't happy. He knew his family loved him and wanted to protect him. But from what? he always asked himself. There were times Antonio would sneak out and talk to animals of all kinds. But Alma, Pepa, And/or Felix would catch him so he just stopped trying.

During one of these visits, he heard some kids talking about the "forest people". He was very curious about the conversation. When he heard one of them say "they take you and you never come back" some part of him didn't believe it.

For the rest of the month, he couldn't stop thinking about them. Do they actually hurt people? what do they look like? are they the ones howling at night? are they mean? maybe there's some sort of misunderstanding? These questions echoed through his mind constantly

when he tried to in the jungle to see them one of the elders or villagers always caught him and took him back to Casita.

Pepa was already on the verge of literally strapping him to her or chaining him up to his bed and him running away to the forest was making it more of an option.

But he wouldn't have to worry about it after he finally gets to meet "the forest people"

-

Hello, I hope you enjoyed this! If so please leave a like and/or comment. Or at least reblog it so others can enjoy it. If you have any questions or ideas/prompts for the au leave them in the ask box and I'll get to it sooner or later.

[lunartearrose]

@periwinklepost-its @eondragon OK SO since Peri wanted to see my ocs and Eon wanted to see my spe fankids specifically!!!! I am going to talk about them! My johto kids are most developed so it's mostly about them but yeeeee here we go!

But ABOVE ALL ELSE i have a developing fanfic for the johto kids! If you're interested, please read here!!!!

I might be a while of talk- but posts are no longer miles long so lets just hop in!!!!

Introducing: Hayune!

This is gold's kid! Its actually a speverse goldxlyra kid, too! His friends would describe him as cheery, kind and loving - and he's always helping out at his parent's daycare when he's not on the job being Azure’s escort! His favorite color is green!

Though unknown to most, he's been suffering through a time loop - people keep dying! Things are going down in johto, and instead of gaining cool girl calm after all the trauma he's- well- he's not handling it well! The current loop the story takes place in is the farthest he's ever gotten, and poor celebi is so tired out that they can only go back two weeks in a pinch! He's made it out of the weeks he knows to navigate, in a half-way between known routine and unknown, and he's very afraid of what could happen...

Introducing: Azure

Azure is the Specialjewel fankid *silver x crystal if you need the presice naming!) She's kind of quiet sometimes and tries to keep her cool, but on the inside they're awkward and have some... let's say, self esteem issues that they haven't fully worked out. That being said, not loving oneself doesn't mean she won't throw herself into battle to protect friends and family! Her pokemon are loyal to her in this very same way - a terrible trait to have, self-sacrificing is... and those that work with her father pin her as weak.

She's the new heiress to a temporary team rocket - as her father's forces, once loyal to her grandfather, try to save the region from destructive betrayers that have their own plans for the region. The one behind it all is Sird, who wants to take control of the region and capture the legends for some unsavory experiments. That being said, Azure wants as few casualties as possible and if someone is stuck on the opposing side unwillingly, She's going to try her hardest to make sure they have a way out. However, if her foe is happy to spill blood... well, she's not afraid to do something about it.

And at night, when her parents think they are asleep, and darkness falls across the land...

Azure takes on their alter ego - a Hero by the name of masked mistress. Having never been told the past of her home and being told made-up stories by the darkrai she grew up alongside, they thought they were embodying an old fairytale - like robinhood or something. Anyways, they've taken to the war-torn parts of the region to help get lots of orphaned kids to the safety of the safari zone - run down, but kept alive by tireless work from the help of wild pokemon that understand her cause (and maybe some fear what darkrai will do if they try to harm the kids they saved with their trainer). They refuse to involve any kids in the warring and try to keep them as far away as possible from the fighting.

Introducing: Rust

(Using this picture bc i dont like my ref for him it looks weird lol srry)

Rust is the third of Sird’s triplets - the runt of the three and the most rebellious. He met Azure when he was very young, and this one encounter showed him that there was life and light outside his mother's abuse - a light he wished with all his heart to have and hold. His first act of rebellion was choosing his own name and shaping himself into who he wished to be - acts that lit small flames in his sibling's hearts, but they both were ultimately too afraid to disobey their mother, and pushed him away.

Rust eventually meets Azure once more, and although Hayune freaks him out by existing at first, he warms up to him as gentle, careful kindness over time is the key to Rust’s heart. Together with his friends, he hopes to free his siblings from Sird’s control over them and finally achieve the eternal happiness he seeks.

Introducing: Coal and Scarlet

(I only have this post-storyish sv starter announcement thing as colored ref for the two, just imagine them sad and in white TR clothes)

Scarlet and Coal are Rust's two siblings.

Coal is very analytic, and often likes to survey and assess his surroundings. His mother's experiments, though making his pain tolerance almost too high also caused a lot of nerve damage, causing him the lack of a sense of touch on his left side (red eye side) and blindness in his red, left eye. It's possible to reverse most of the damage, restore a bit of his sense of touch, but that's only if he can get help - and that help's not coming from his mother, who considers him imperfect, and expendable at best. His secret dream is to visit the ranches in johto, and pet a ponyta. His pokemon, always by his side in secret but a giveaway to his true feelings, is a Ralts he hatched from an egg. The pokemon is weak, but no matter how Coal acts and pretends to be evil, Ralts's glowing horns give his fear away immediately.

Scarlet is, effectively, Sird’s "favorite" - extremely obedient, never once mentions her own wishes, and is considered a sucess with the modifications made to her body. She's unnaturally strong and if any side effects are happening to her, she doesn't talk about them. She's used to staying where its "safe", within Sird’s orders and in her line of sight. Only she knows Sird's true ambition - achieving immortality. The legends seem pretty good at that, so that's what they're after. Though, meeting one girl in a twist of fate has changed Scarlet’s whole world. She's finding her own light, slowly but surely. Her mother tries to stomp this out - but the damage is already done, and Scarlet now knows what the woman sees her as... the road She's traveling is getting painful, but she's still determined to walk it, seeking that light the girl had left her.

Introducing: Winter and Jack

Winter is a child that Masked Mistress had saved on her escapades, a feisty little lass that knows a lot of swears from being on the street! Though she has befriended an eevee, Mantine and Seel, most pokemon tend to avoid her - and the other orphans she lives with spread all sorts of silly rumors, like she's from another world, or half pokemon. Though Winter is certainly odd, she's unwaveringly confident and lets them believe what they will - hey, if she's a monster, then you better listen and get to bed before she eats you! Raaah! Of course, once silver and crystal find her snooping around to check in on Azure, they're going to have her sign adoption papers.

Jack is her friend! Pretty much her best friend, and eusine's adopted kid. He's a photographer that wants to catch some nice pictures of legendaries like Suicune, but here's the twist - He's actually from a family of powerful psychics. He gets being the odd one out of a crowd with powers that aren't in check and hard to manage, especially when stressed out, so he sees nothing wrong with Winter - she's just a pretty girl, traveling around johto just like him. If she sprouts weird wings or her eyes glow red, whatever! Humans are all different anyways! Winter may also be giving him Egg feelings, but he's... working on it. They may be baby lesbians shhhh

Introducing: Trickster

Trickster is a fella from ultra space! He fell into johto, brain bonked into memorylessness, but with strange powers and memories that don't quite fit into being his. He's afraid to speak out at first, but he's very enthusiastic to learn all there is to learn about this new, bright world! As you can see, I've got plans for him yet to be enacted, but as his old memories wash away into seas, he makes new memories and stores them in the journal that hayune gave to him. Very pure of heart, he plans to protect his new friends with all he has and hide no secrets!

That's all for the major Johto Kids! Ive got room for all of two more photos so lets have some rapid fire concepts and stories-

Introducing: Ginger and Rhu

Ginger (kanto dexholder polycule hehe) was stolen away from his family by a powerful dragon user - suspected to be Lance of the elite four. His sister is looking for him (she's still in development phase bc she keeps on looking like. Like red but girl and i dont want quite that) but he was never old enough to know where he came from - just that he was stolen for his supernatural talents as a Viridian child. Rhu(???), ten years younger than he is, is a bab more talented in the future-seeing abilities of a viridian child. His loss was much more traumatic, as his parents were killed in front of him. The two stick together like glue, a found family of brothers. Both are terrified of dragons, but Ginger is trying his best to work through that fear and find his family, without being caught by their kidnapper once again. Story is still in development but yeah!!

Introducing: Ame (Short for amethyst yeah yup yea)

Ame is a Franticshipping kid! I am also using a one off art bc i never actually finalized the designs or concepts! Either way, Ame doesn't quite start off as ruby and sapphire's kid - the two never really settle down to have one, which mostly works for them as champ and top coordinator respectively and sapph just doesn't rlly want all that strain on her person, y'know?

Anyhoo Ame makes his way through life supporting his friend (again no concepts but tenthshipping kid) whom is quite interested in challenging the league. Ame tends to paint, but mostly does so secretively as his family had shunned the practice - and that's all he says on the matter. His friend tries to get him to the spotlight - Ame is a talented battler and strategist, after all - but he insists on living quietly though in passing mentions that he admires those they have challenged.

However, he has a dark truth brewing in him. He was severely neglected as a kid, and in truth, deeply yearns to be accepted by the family that would rather see him shoved in a closet with his canvas turned to kindling. In fact, he's almost dragged home at some point, but Ruby, fresh out of a contest and not here for parental abuse, saves Ame some trouble and gets him out of having to go home. The save and encouragement deeply effects Ame...

And for a moment makes him wonder if his plans to be truly, unignorably noticed by his family, may be... dangerous, to say the least.

He doesn't feel he has the room to go back on his plans in the end, but maybe a little reach out may flip the scripts?

Anyways, those are the concepts I have art and room for! Rapidfire round:

Quartz Berlitz: haughty kid, loves harujuku fashion and calls ugly pokemon cute! She's investigating timespace shenanigans!

Titan: child of saturn that experiences the influences of legendaries against his will! Saddest kitten hair kid youve ever fucken seen

Amber: mentioned kanto dexholder kid! Feisty but loves her pikachu! Will bite! Likes women 👍 also violence! The kind of girl that writes about battling and adrenaline in pink glitter ink and throws the book at a shadow in paranoia

Obsidian: a child lacktwo smuggled out of interpol and gave to hugh and whi to take care of! Sometimes gets the name Sid as a nickname but yeah this kid hates cops and hates corruption. Loves trubbish and gigalith and is rivals with a spraypaint artist that calls themselves cloud

Ivory: ivy for short, this is a agencyshipping kid! She is not interested in the film industry and wants to live peacefully, but life does not give her the decency of a break! Her whole story is a comedic build up until she Fucking Snaps

Melody: proteche of X! Also a photographer and more interested in capturing the beauty of kalos

Cosmo Berlitz: i am going to be honest here i am a fan of moon/y and i just like Cosmo as a concept. Berlitz family of strong women a continued tradition also shes interested in trying to do magic herself. Not showman style just actual magic i believe in her. Cosmo

More usum kids? Eventually

Ive got to catch up on my reading

Anyways, that's all! I hope you enjoyed my huuuge rant!!!! Lmk if you want any more info!

[semper-legens]

63. Unwind, by Neal Shusterman

Owned: Yes Page count: 335 My summary: The abortion debate sparked outright war, until a compromise was reached. Babies need to be born - but between the ages of 13 and 18, a child can be retroactively aborted, technically alive as every part of their body is used for transplants. Three teenagers are running away from this fate; Connor, a troubled delinquent, Risa, cut from her government-funded home for being superfluous, and Levi, a tithe gifted by his religious parents. They need to survive until their eighteenth birthdays...but the world wants them unwound, and won’t take no for an answer. My rating: 3.5/5

Long-time readers will be aware of my love for Neal Shusterman. Despite the fact that a lot of his ideas are wacky as hell, he writes with such originality and passion that even when not all of his concepts hit, it still makes for a wildly entertaining YA novel. This, however, is one of his weirder ideas - as it turns out, the solution to the abortion debate in this world is retroactive abortion of teenagers so long as every part of their bodies are used in transplant. Which, sure. I’ll talk about that last under the cut. On the whole, though, this book is still a fine example of Shusterman’s work, with an incredibly detailed world and believable characters.

Speaking of, characters! Connor, Risa, and Levi provide a perfect spread of Unwinds. Connor is a troubled kid whose parents give up on him, Risa is an overachiever who is still undervalued by the state, and Levi is a deeply religious kid whose parents believe sacrificing him is God’s will. One thing I always like about Shusterman’s writing is how he gets teenagers. All of these kids are credible teenagers, reacting in understandable ways to the world around them and the situations they find themselves in. Levi grows bitter and angry about his brainwashing as a kid, Connor steps up to a leadership position and tries to save as many people as possible, Risa finds in herself a capacity for learning and helping people heal. If I have one critique about them specifically, it’s the fact that Risa’s character seems to largely fill the YA role of ‘girl’ - she’s smart, she’s a healer, she acts as a support to Connor, and I feel like her character sometimes takes a backseat to the boys. Still, it’s not so much that I didn’t overall like her.

The worldbuilding of this book is interesting. I admire Shusterman’s level of detail in the world he creates - he clearly puts a lot of thought into the implications of the concepts he is writing about, and what the sociological impact of each would be. As well as Unwinding, this society is a little futuristic and contains things like genetic modification for fashion or race categories being different. There’s a character Levi meets, Cy-Fi, who is a black (called umber) kid dealing with having another kid’s instincts in his head. See, he had a transplant of a frontal lobe from a kid who was Unwound for his kleptomaniac instincts, and this has carried over to Cy. (I...have no idea if this is biologically feasible, but the technobabble around it was convincing enough.) Cy talks about how he is viewed in society, how he’s judged for being black when he steals despite the irony that the Unwound kid was white, and that’s where he’s getting the kleptomania from. It’s interesting, if a little simplistic.

So let’s talk about The Abortion Thing. The solution proposed here is ridiculous. I don’t think this is ever something that people in the real world would agree to do - it’s mentioned later that it was initially proposed as an extreme thought experiment, and they were surprised that both sides of the fight went for it, but this exposition comes too late to paper over the cracks of how batshit this premise is. Still, if you can suspend your disbelief a little some of the points the book raises are interesting, though it’s a little judgemental in the wrong places sometimes, I feel. For example, unwanted babies can legally be ‘storked’, left on a doorstep where they have to be taken in by the homeowner, but the narrative is weirdly judgemental to a woman we see doing this in one chapter, despite the fact that she’s perfectly in her rights to not want this baby. A lot of the arguments presented feel a little too cartoonish and out there to be a cogent examination of the real-life abortion debate...but I can’t help myself, I kind of love it as a YA dystopian premise. Maybe because I read this first as a teen, but I still enjoyed it immensely, despite how objectively odd it is.

Next up, more short stories - I got a new Junji Ito collection!

[chaifootsteps]

Could you show the hc of how sandy and sally met? Its fine if its long, im very interested in reading it, is that ok with you

Sally and Sandman's relationship starts where her relationship with Jack ends. She's the one who walks away...she loves him too much to resent him because he keeps forgetting she exists, or run the risk of him resenting her because she keeps reminding him, and she knows that's exactly what's going to happen if they stay together. The only thing more devastating than losing their "simply meant to be" would be to lose Jack, her beloved friend.

Still she wonders, maybe hopes, that he'll try to stop her. It's three days before he even realizes she's moved out.

It's too painful to stick around town, so she packs a few things and heads for the Hinterlands. She reaches the holiday doors, and then keeps going, and going, out into the corners of the world Jack wove grand visions of them exploring together someday, and she was sure in that moment he meant it. She walks until she comes to a place where the trees grow twisted and strange and too close together, but the wet loam smells so strongly of pine, it clears her head like a strong drink. Through the gaps in the trees, she can see the silhouettes of mountains.

There, sitting high on a branch, she meets...someone. 

He’s covered in blue feathers and has a strange, curved face, like the beak of a bird. Like the crescent moon. He jumps about a foot in the air when he sees her, feathers bristling, yellow eyes wide. She apologizes for scaring him, and suddenly, like his mind is catching up and nudging back his bird reflexes, he smooths, straightens, answers her in a strange, rolling accent unlike any she’s ever heard before.

“No, no. There are a thousand things you don’t expect in the forest. Of all of them, you’re a welcome surprise!”

He points her in the direction of a stream she can drink palatably from -- cleanliness isn’t an issue, but she likes her water as cold and not brown as much as anyone else does  -- and how to get to the nearest village. She tells him she thinks this place is beautiful, and he agrees, but warns her that strange things happen out in the mountains, and to be careful.  

The directions he gave her takes her to a village, and she makes a little temporary home for herself on the outskirts, and sometimes in the catacombs underneath. It’s not long before the kids in town catch wind of the fact that there’s a weird ragdoll lady living in the woods, and takes about as long before they love her. She’s an amazing storyteller and knows what plants can stop a heart. When their parents freak out about this and try to find her, they never can.

As it turns out, the adults are right to be on edge; something’s been sneaking in by night and blinding the children. Not just blinding them, but stealing the eyeballs right out of their heads, the orifices left behind smooth and black and immaculate. All anyone can seem to remember in those last moments when they had sight is a plumage of blue feathers, a flurry of sand, and a face that looks like a crescent moon.

When Sally hears this, her heart drops like a stone. She knows. 

But it doesn’t mark the first time someone who was kind to her showed their true colors, and she doubts it will be the last. She’s more concerned with the fate of the children, especially the most vulnerable ones, the orphans and the ones who sleep in empty houses because their parents aren’t around...but especially, especially this one particular little orphaned girl who reminds her so, so much of herself and Jack. 

The kids have already built up a rough idea of who they’re dealing with, and what they have to do to protect themselves, and by getting together and comparing notes and brainstorming with Sally, they’re able to confirm that for whatever reason, the Sandman can’t or won’t force their eyes open if they don’t do it themselves. That he can come in through locked doors, but prefers rooms with windows. Most importantly of all, that he won’t harm them if they’re under the blankets.

And for a while, it works. More and more children wake up with stories of the Sandman visiting their houses, the horrible chuffing noises he makes as he moves around your bed, even reports of him tapping them on the foot, but they don’t look, and he always leaves by morning. When their parents come to get them, that’s when they know it’s safe, and that they’ve made it to see another sunrise. The plan is solid, and it works.

That is, until it doesn’t.

A little boy, who Sally will always remember because he once asked what kind of leaves she was stuffed with. His mother called for him, and he assumed that it was safe to open his eyes. It couldn’t have taken her 10 seconds to walk from the kitchen to his room, but that’s all the Sandman had needed.

The other children stick to the strategy, but they’re scared and vulnerable. Sally’s favorite girl starts sneaking out to her shack to sleep alongside her, and although it’s risking her own safety, Sally doesn’t have the heart to stop her. She holds her tight, keeps an old gardening scythe in hand, brings her back by morning, and never sleeps.

And then, one night, as she’s lying there clutching this little girl she adores -- the one who’s fascinated by her potions and loves being overdramatic -- she hears the sound of someone coming up the stairs. She knows the door was locked. She knows who it is.

It’s all she can do to wait until he’s standing right over her. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do if the little girl opens her eyes all of a sudden, if he’ll take them even as Sally’s holding her, how she’ll live with herself then. But she waits, listening to the sound of him moving around, trying to entice her into waking up and looking, hating him more than she even hated Oogie, hating him more than she ever thought it was possible to hate anyone. Her hand tightens around the handle of the scythe. 

She feels her little girl start to move, waking up. 

She jumps up and swings.

In all truth be told, she was aiming for his head. He jumps back at the last second and she gets his arm instead, cutting him straight to the bone. He clutches the wound as blood spills from it and feathers float around the air, like a badly hurt chicken set upon by a weasel and destined for the dinner plate. She winds up to swing again, and when he looks up at her, she expects to see the same unbridled hatred she feels for him mirrored back at her.

But all she sees is fear, and utter, utter despair.

It gives her a moment’s pause, just a fraction of a second, but it’s enough. He shoots by her and pulls back the locked window, jumping into the night’s sky, only to wobble crazily on the air before crashing back into the ground. As she locks the window again, she can hear him running, hear the bushes crashing.

She tells the little girl to stay put, keep the doors locked, hide under the blanket, and stay there until she gets back. Grabbing the scythe, she follows the Sandman’s blood trail into the woods.

She finds him beneath a tree, just like the one he was sitting in when they met. The ground’s all torn up beneath his feet, and as she draws closer, she realizes he’s trying and failing to fly. When she approaches him, he pulls himself up off the ground and faces her, a weakened shadow of the monster that’s been preying on the village children all these months.

“I don’t care what you do to me! But only let me go to my children.”

“Your children?” 

“Yes. Let me die by my children.” Sally hesitates, unsure whether to believe him, and his voice cracks, frantic. “Prakeikimas! Did you think it was for me?! All this time, every mouthful, it was all for them.”

Sally’s fingers twist around the scythe handle, unsure, as her mind races for a compromise. “Take me to them.”

“Impossible.” 

“I don’t want either of our children to suffer, but if you want me to--”

“No, no, impossible.” With his good hand, he gestures to the crescent moon, hanging low in the sky. It isn’t long before she understands. When he speaks, there’s no hope of his own survival, no remorse...only a desperation that maybe, at the end of this night, his children will live. “Please...let me go to them one last time. Let them feed on my eyes. My body. It will be enough.”

“...Come here.” He doesn’t. “I’m going to fix your arm.”

He stares at her, stares at the scythe in her hands, which she lowers, but doesn’t throw away. Slowly, inch by inch, he makes his way closer to her; when at last she reaches for him, he’s tense as a board. She realizes she is too, both of them expecting at any moment to be set upon by something long and sharp. 

“Answer me one thing. Does it have to be...eyes? Do they have to be fresh?”

“Yes. Very fresh, and very young.”

“Look here. I think I can help you. I think I might know of a way that your children will never go hungry, never again. But you have to give me your word that you’re willing to give it a try. And if you can promise me that, then I’ll fix your arm.”

 “If I can’t?”

“Then I leave you here to jump for the moon until you make it, or you bleed to death.” She pauses. “And if I hear that you’ve come back to the village, hurting my children...I find you.”

The Sandman stares at her for what seems a long while, but can’t be more than a minute. Slowly, he nods.

“You have my word.”

He takes a seat before her. She sets the scythe on the ground, but near to her hand, and joins him. The tension in the air abates considerably once they’re both seated on the forest floor, and neither of them has taken the opportunity to lash out at the other, and Sally produces her needle and thread from her pocket. It’s a deep wound and the blade was filthy, and upon seeing it up close she’s hesitant to sew it shut with nothing more than a little water to rinse it clean, but the Sandman assures her it will be fine. The whole time she’s stitching the wound, he never flinches. 

“How many children do you have?” she asks after a while, as genuinely curious as she is eager to break the silence.

“Three.”

“That’s nice. What are their names?”

“I call them what my father called us. He called us all Little Ones.”

When the gash is stitched, and he stands and tests it, she figures this is the moment of truth...that if he’s going to attack her, this will be when it appens. But he never does, never even seems to consider it, and his strange face is weary and grateful and worn. 

“A bargain, then. What would you have me do?”

On the back of a piece of sewing fabric pulled from the bottom of her pocket, she sketches out a crude map and a rough set of directions; what to do when he arrives, and who to speak to, because some things are bigger than her history with Finkelstein. She thinks it’ll be enough to get him there, and if by some chance it isn’t, that Halloween Town will find him. It always does. 

He asks her name, then. She tells him. 

“Thank you, Sally. For your mercy.”

He turns to the moon and jumps, arms out to steady himself. For a moment he rocks dangerously and she thinks this might not work, that the wound was just too deep. But then he corrects his flight path, pointed straight on toward the stars, and as the clouds blow back from the curved face of the moon, he’s illuminated by the light, a shining, blazing blue.

And then he’s gone.

                                                      ***

She stays around the village for a while, wanting to make sure the Sandman holds up his end of the deal. The children are astounded that she even tried, her account of the story growing wilder with every version they pass around. Somehow, the ones who’ve been blinded get it into their heads that she’s somehow negotiated for their lost eyes back. It’s the hardest news she’s ever had to break, but she tells them not to lose hope just yet. 

The weeks turn into a month, and then a month and a half, and no children lose their vision to the Sandman. They don’t see him at all, lurking around their bed or otherwise. It’s cold comfort to the ones he’s already come for, but a sense of cautiously optimistic relief begins to settle over the town, young and old alike, that at long last, the nightmare is over.

Then, one night when the crescent moon is high, the Sandman comes back. But not for the village's youngest members.

“My children,” he says to her, a smile about his face, “are the fattest barrels. I think they may never be light enough to fly.” 

She wipes the dirt from her hands, caked on from where she was planting herbs, and laughs. “They didn’t mind the change, then? Switching over to eyes grown in a lab?”

“They would eat them all day if I’d let them. They’d eat until they burst.”

“I’m glad it all worked out. For you, and for them.”

“If only our paths had crossed sooner.” It’s the closest he’s come to showing regret for what he’s done, and she strongly suspects it’s because the village children were objects that she loved, but she’s always been one to pick her battles. She agrees, but tells him she’s got something in mind. Then he tells her he’s got something for her. 

He produces a bunch of flowers the likes of which she’s never seen before, never even dreamed They’re twisted and shining, like metal or crystal, but consisting of neither. They smell like cold, thin air, and wind, and dust. They smell like the moon.

“For potions. Or whatever else you see fit.” 

She smiles into the strange, stiff fronds. She can think of a dozen things at least she’d like to try with it, ground up or melted down or pulled apart for its secrets. But in the end...

“I think, this one, I’ll just keep.”

                                                           ***

She spends the rest of the week planting herbs and saying goodbye to the children, promising that if anyone ever harms them again, they’ll have to answer to hurt. Promising to visit again very soon, and she means it.

Before dawn, she shoulders her bag. Walks out onto the path. Takes a deep breath.

And then she heads for home.

[passerine-writes]

Symbols - Chapter 14

Warnings: Somewhat toxic parenting, mentions of past verbal abuse Word count: 1219

Masterlist

Chapter 13 | Chapter 15

After talking to my dad yesterday, he hasn't made any attempts at talking to me. Today is now Sunday and it's been radio silence. However it hasn't been radio silence from the boys, quite the opposite actually.

The four have been non-stop texting me, checking in, reminding me to take breaks when I can, or sometimes just helping me stay distracted. In total, I've cleaned the spare room, re-organized my room, cleaned the living room and kitchen and got lectured by Kuroo and Bokuto about doing the dishes after what happened last time. Thankfully, they relaxed when they realized I have a dishwasher now.

Currently, I was sitting on a group call in my bed room with the boys, Kenma was playing a video game, Kuroo and Bokuto were together and Akaashi was reading a book. I was mostly just enjoying the chaotic company, sitting in my chair and relaxing with the distraction. That was until there was a knock on my door.

"Sweet pea? Can I come in?" My dad asked through my closed door, I rushed to put a hoodie on before responding. "Are you busy right now?"

"One sec guys." I clicked the mute button and turned back to my dad who stood leaned against the door frame. "What's up?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that happened with your mother. But you can't get mad at me for something I didn't know about. She shouldn't have said any of that, you didn't deserve that and I'm sure she didn't mean it. But please, honey, I really want you to meet them. At least consider it?" His voice was strained, eyes tired with bags underneath them.

"I'm not mad at you for her words, I'm mad at myself for wrongly defending you, I'm mad at you for lying to my face multiple times about this for years even when I would come home in tears. This is why I haven't told you a thing about what happened there, because you're just going to defend her again and again. Because, what? She's my mother? She didn't mean it? I'm pretty sure you don't tell your child you wished that you aborted them unless some part of you means it. Especially when you've run out of alcohol for the day. So sorry for not being able to move on and forget, there's a lot that I wish I could just up and forget but I can't. I'm not ready to meet them, okay? Especially not in our new house, that we just moved to because I know how it goes. It becomes regular dinners, then spending the night, then she moves in, but this time with her kid. Mom's done it before, this isn't my first rodeo. If you want to go to dinner with them, then the three of you can go. But if you bring them here, even when you know I'm uncomfortable with it, then I'll take a bus an hour away again and stay the night again. Because at least I know that those four boys have my back and respect me and are patient beyond belief, soulmates or not they always have. They have never done a thing to hurt me or make me feel uncomfortable and that's more than I have ever asked for from anyone." My chest rose and fell harshly with anger, my blood was boiling and I knew three people could feel it an hour away.

"Honey, I don't want to fight with you. Please, I'm not asking for a lot."

"Did you want to take the job offer because it was offered, or because of her?" My voice shook as I asked the one question I dreaded.

"Sweet pea.."

"Please, answer the question dad."

"It was both." I nodded my headed, my lips forming a straight line, teeth gritting together.

"Good to know." I stood up and walked towards my door. "I'm done talking about this right now. I'm going to the bathroom." My voice was low as I spoke and walked passed him. He didn't try and stop me.

I sat back down in my chair and went to unmute myself, but realized I had missed the button earlier. Dread filled my body at the realization, they had heard everything.

"Sorry you guys had to hear that, I thought I muted myself."

"Are you alright bubbles?" I looked at Kuroo sitting beside Bokuto, the other three confused about what it was about.

"I'm fine, uh to fill you guys in I guess, my dad had an affair before I was born and I have another half brother who is almost my age and he wants me to meet the women and his kid." All of their eyes widened significantly at the news.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." I nodded along to Akaashi's words, he made sense but I still felt bad for not being ready to.

"Yeah I know."

"The little firecracker has returned." I laughed at the old joke Kuroo referenced.

As a kid, and even now, I had always been very responsive and understanding of facts. I never understood why people felt the need to try and make their opinions facts, when there was nothing to back it up or support their theories. I was also a child of many questions, so our teachers had a love hate relationship with me. They adored that I always wanted to ask questions, but hated when I would ask too many and formed theories that would derail the conversation. If adults told me 'curiosity killed the cat' I would finish the proverb and retort with 'but satisfaction brought it back.' I always had energy and a certain light in my eyes, that all of the boys felt the need to point out. They knew with the right people, I felt comfortable having a friendly debate. They also knew that if provoked, I could be temperamental and like a firecracker, explode.

"Don't think we didn't hear what you had to say about us." I rolled my eyes, the apples of my cheeks flushing red out of embarrassment.

"Whatever." I grumbled under my breath causing the four to lightly chuckle. "I'm going to go take a nap, so I'll talk to you all later." We bid our goodbyes and ended the call.

All I could think about was how this is not home. It's not comforting or peaceful, it doesn't make me feel safe or at ease. It's quite the opposite. I feel as though I'm walking on eggshells or walking with my eyes closed. My dad and I have been at each others throats for the most part, and maybe that's because we aren't used to seeing each other this much so we never fully learned how to live together. Everything felt overwhelming, like shaking a soda bottle and asking it not to explode when you opened it. It'll either fizz over once it's open, or it'll explode from the pressure, unless you open it little by little and know when to put the lid back on, it'll backfire. That's where my dad and I are, we don't know how to talk to each other or understand each other, so we explode.

[nephaelia-sims]

Sims mod ideas:

Make Vampires Better Parents mod

Stop Eating the God Damn Plasma Fruit Salad mod

Stop Dying In The Sun Autonomously mod

Put On Your Coat Young Man/Lady mod

Program Your Servos to Know that Shower WooHoo is Bad For Them mod

details/commentary under the cut lol

Make Vampires Better Parents mod- even vampire children need sleep and human food and to keep on a normal schedule so they can go to school! In my experience vampires are not the best at this. They can be amazing, loving, caring parents and still they will forget to cook any human food for their kids and wake them up at 2 am to play chess or some shit. Obviously if you’re controlling the household it’s not always a huge issue, but it is if you have like 4 adult vampires in the house and a couple children, and all the adults want to do is talk to/parent/play with the kids all the time.

Stop Eating the God Damn Plasma Fruit Salad mod- I would understand the first time an unsupervised child (or an adult who doesn’t know about plasma fruit) attempted to eat plasma fruit salad, but unless you’re like a toddler (and it was left out unattended and you somehow got into it, or a dumb adult served it to you) you would LEARN after the first time not to eat it!! Even if it’s the last food in the fridge, you’d get a quick meal instead, ask an adult for food, or cook food yourself!

Stop Dying In The Sun Autonomously mod- Now I don’t mean the whole neighborhood stories dying in accidents thing, that’s fine (there are obviously scenarios where that would be plausible as a real accident). I mean legitimately, purposefully, standing in the sun when your vampire energy is low until you literally die. I have SEEN IT HAPPEN THREE TIMES NOW and that is THREE TIMES TOO MANY. One time a vampire got home from work and instead of running inside, decided to hang out on the sidewalk for NO DAMN REASON. Another time, Vladislaus Straud went to Bufo’s meet and greet at the pool (there was a lot of shade there so I thought it’d be fine!!!!) and stood directly in the sun (and he has at least one weakness to sun iirc). The third time, Lilith came to the Forsythe house without me knowing and started working on the rocket ship in broad daylight!!! (Thankfully Caleb was there with his death flowers he got from gardening....)

Put On Your Coat Young Man/Lady mod- this is something I fix currently with MC Dresser, and can even be fixed with in-game testing cheats iirc? but it’s annoying af to have to notice every time a random sim is about to die because their stupid ass is wearing a bikini in a blizzard. Tbf it can be kind of morbidly funny sometimes, but it happens SO OFTEN that it’s just ridiculous, and it doesn’t seem to matter how “smart” a sim is (be it book smart or outdoors-smart- if they’re a genius, or they have a high logic skill, or if they love the outdoors, or if they are a great skiier...). It should at least depend on that (I know that’s asking a lot but I like to dream big, sue me)

Program Your Servos to Know that Shower WooHoo is Bad For Them mod- this sounds ridiculous, but.... I have autonomous woohoo on, and one of Kaeru’s partners is a servo. They were in her dorm, and suddenly they do the “YEAH let’s DO IT” animation and I’m like “UH WHERE YALL GOING” and I watch in shock and awe as they start going into the fucking shower. SURPRISING TO NO ONE, not a second later they come out and the poor servo is broken, and I have Kaeru start fixing them right away. Kaeru is studying physics (handiness, rocket science, and ROBOTICS) and the servo IS A SERVO who I believe was ALSO STUDYING PHYSICS. OF ALL PEOPLE THEY SHOULD KNOW!!!

So first I’d need to be able to actually mod Sims. Tbf I haven’t done much research, I am v chaotic and usually try to figure shit out first lol, should probably just look it up XD Because from a quick look all the game scripts are in .pyc and thus I can’t just look at them and edit them with VSCode because they’re all just like weird characters and shit so iirc they’re compiled python, so I need some kind of decompiler? and then there’s probably a better way to do it than that anyway lol like it’s not like to add mods to your game you have to actually edit the real game files?

Anyway these are just ideas right now. I don’t think they exist yet. If they do or you’re working on something lmk because I’m super interested obviously! Also I would love some friends to talk about sims related programming/etc stuff with ;u;