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tuliptired · 20 days

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He's Good People Ch.3

Chapter 3: I Didn't Mean to Take Up all your Sweet Time (I'll Give it Right Back to Ya, One of These Days)

Pairing(s): Gn!reader/Ray, Gn!reader/Egon, Gn!reader/Winston

Summary: (Winston centric, briefly Egon centric) To get out the firehouse, you 're invited for a day out on the town with the "common man" of the Ghostbusters, and he won't stop opening doors for you

Warnings: Reader wears masc presenting clothes for like one paragraph

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE :((( hope a longer update makes up for it!

read it on Ao3!

It was fairly late into the night. You felt weird about going to bed while none of the others had returned, like you were overstepping. You were content with being curled up in a chair as Egon annotated a book in the dimly lit lab. He had offered you one of the many works from his personal collection, but the words started to lose their meaning after the first handful of pages. Maybe he ought to read it to you, instead. You set the book aside, much more interested in watching him. He had his sleeves rolled up again, fairly unnecessary because he was only working with paper and pencil.

He discarded his work for the second time that day, looking over at you. The need for sleep was creeping up on him, as his eyelids sat low and his gaze remained soft.

"I´m sorry for boring you."

"I´m not bored. Are you tired? You don't have to stay up with me."

He put the pencil back into a mug full of others. He rose from the workbench, opening the book to a heavily noted page. Crossing over to where you were sitting, Egon joined you, holding it open for you to see. There were large, square photos of terrifying looking sculptures. Upon further inspection, they were really just recreations of exotic animals. A boa constrictor, an alligator, a giant salamander, a…platypus. Behind each of them stood a Victorian era man, beaming with self-worth at the spectacles surrounding him.

“See him?” He pointed to the man. “That’s Benjamin Fairhooke. He had a penchant for imported animals. And too much money. So much so he had the theater near your building constructed to show them off.” He turned the page to a large spread of the theater in the late 1800’s, advertising an oddity show.

“They started showing plays and operas soon enough. But everyone knew how passionate he was. Piranhas-in-the-bar sink, frogs-on-the-staircases-passionate.” There was a photo of Fairhooke next to a woman. Despite her exquisite clothing, elegant features, and extravagant jewelry, she had a fairly sour expression, while he still beamed at the camera, an iguana in his lap.

“That was his wife, Claira. Their marriage was falling apart while ticket sales peaked. They held their son’s wedding reception in the lobby of the theater.” He had a grainy photo bookmarked. There was a newlywed couple, normal. Claira’s in the background, though. Not happy her son was just married, but instead staring down the barrel of the camera like it was a gun.

“She had just found Benjamin in a parlor, tending to a snapping turtle. She got so mad, she took the shovel from the fireplace and managed to decapitate him in 10 minutes.” Holy shit.

He could feel your shock. “I know. She left him there for the rest of the night. They searched for weeks, until they found his body. She told them everything- just not what became of his head. His animals went missing, and his kids wanted nothing to do with the theater. Local legend says that the souls of his then neglected animals are still searching for Claira. Anywhere she could be. But it fell into obscurity. Everyone who believed in it died at the turn of the century.” He shut the book.

“So. The ghosts of a bunch of critters are running around my block, looking for his murderer? And one ended up in my washing machine?”

“Essentially. I’ve wanted to investigate since I heard the story, but it was always word of mouth. I only just found it buried in an anthology of neighborhood ghost stories in Ray’s store.” He sighed, getting up and placing the book back into its place on his shelf. “He was pretty excited about my findings. He always is. But he’s been dragging his feet about it.” Egon looked worried, if not at least a bit frustrated, as he took a seat back next to you, knees touching unintentionally. You could understand, this was his longtime friend, after all. This all seemed very perplexing to him.

“Maybe he’s just scared? Of what he’ll find?” The words really don’t serve much purpose other than to soothe his nerves- they don’t convince you, even as they fall from your lips. Ray was a discerning and generally happy man, but he was still brave. He wouldn’t be a paranormal expert, a Ghostbuster if he was scared of what he loved.

You could tell his fears were still there. You placed a hand on his, silently grateful as you felt that they were still the same hands you held earlier.

“I promise, the moment I can get back into my apartment I’m gonna look for the key.”

There was the predecessor to a smile, before he had a look that read as accepting defeat. “I apologize for you being stuck with us so long. Only a day more.” Before you could protest, tell him that you’re having a wonderful time and you’re sorry for being in their hair, you heard cursing downstairs, followed by heavy steps approaching, making you jump.

Ray and Winston joined you upstairs, covered in thick, oozing slime of some sort. Winston held a smoking machine like the one Ray had after cleansing your house, only this time a bit more scratched up.

“It wasn’t a mannequin at all. God-damned-ghost-komodo-dragon on its hind legs. Sprayed us bad- we hosed ourselves off 6 times on the way home.” Winston tried wiping the slime moving from his glove to his wrist off on his pant leg, only making the viscous substance spread more.

Ray didn’t look angry, but he wasn’t bouncing off the walls. “This is big. Y’know that old theater-”

“I already explained it.”

“You’re kidding.”

‘’No. I explained Fairhooke, Claira, the ghosts. All of it.”

Winston could feel the start of a petty back and forth, so he discreetly asked you to follow him. He laughed and shook his head as he went down the steps to the very bottom of the firehouse. You had seen this room when Ray brought you down for pajamas, and you recognized the door he had peeked into, but not what was on the wall. A large, red electrical looking panel stared back at you.

“Ray taught me how to do this when I was new here.” He went through the motions of showing you how they used it to hold ghosts. You were glad he took the extra step and explained what it really did under the surface, because lord knows you were puzzled.

“He even made a rhyme. ‘When the light is green, the trap is clean’”.

“Does this make me part of your team now?” You complain, purely jokingly.

“You don’t wanna be? I wouldn’t mind.” You had to hand it to him, he had a charming way of disarming you. He didn't give you time to respond, as he made his way to the laundry area. He came back with new pajamas, softer looking ones.

“I hope these are a little more personable.” He handed you a light purple t-shirt, and dark purple sweatpants. There was thought behind these, definitely not something they had laying around in the hamper.

You smile at the consideration. “Thank you.” He returned it, very white teeth and all. He gave you privacy to change, and was peeling his suit off upon your return. It looked incredibly uncomfortable, the mire of today´s job trying to stick to his skin. He finally got the soiled jumpsuit off, and it stuck to the floor like a glue trap. As he stuffed it into the industrial washer, another one tumbled out a laundry chute and onto a pile of dirty, but not slimy, clothes. He sighed, carefully picking up the soiled suit and garments and placing them in, too.

“What is it, anyway?” You watched on as he poured a cocktail of different, unmarked liquids, which you assumed were non FDA approved cleaners for these kinds of unconventional stains.

He pressed the washing machine closed, turning a few knobs and pressing a few buttons. “Ectoplasm. As graceful as it sounds.” You follow him, as he makes his way back up the steps.

“Like sticky skunk spray.” He stops in front of the sleeping quarters, and it gives you a moment to wonder why exactly you were still following him. As you start to mull over it further, he places his pointer finger over his lips.

“We oughta get out of here tomorrow. Ray’s gone to bed without dinner. Bad sign. It’s not pretty when he and the professor get into it.” He explains, voice hushed.

“Are they okay?”

“They will be. Ray stresses for a day, but he always apologizes, ‘cause he’s scared to lose his friend.” Winston smiles familiarly, thinking of the men he’s grown to know well over the past 5 years since his initial hiring. You can’t stop the spread of warmth under your skin as you think, too.

“Kindred spirits. I hate to see them both so worked up.”

“They can’t help it. They’ve got a new distraction running around.”

You don’t have time to process it, again, before he’s halfway back down the steps to the first floor. You lean over the railing, just as he passes Janine’s desk.

“Where are you going?”

He doesn’t stop walking, until he reaches the exit. “I promised my mom I’d stay over. Be up early tomorrow, ok? I’ll take you on a joyride.”

“Goodnight,” you wave, as he gives you a two finger salute, letting the door shut behind him.

You can’t really sleep- you don’t want to, anyway. Egon’s still upstairs, Peter’s with Dana, and Ray’s in bed by himself. As tempting as it is to go up there and console him, you really don’t want to come off as pushy. So, you had an apron tied over your front, sleeves rolled up and gloves on as you worked to scrub the slime out of blanched fabric. What a night.

The stickiness was seldom coming off, but you noticed progress. It would bubble and sud with the soap, but it was nothing a frequent rinse didn’t get rid of. The only problem was that it was thick, and it sat deep in the absorbent material. You lost track of the hours you spent, going down the line; Soaking, scrubbing, rinsing, scrubbing, rinsing, soaking- over and over. The need for sleep left you, as this housekeeping mystery kept you unwilling to give up until it was completed.

There was a click of the heavy door, and your thoughts of finishing the task as you feverishly scraped a suit against a large washboard suddenly ceased. Winston stood at the door, dressed and holding 2 cups of coffee-shop-coffee.

“Good morning,” his face was both impressed and fearful. You figured this was enough, as most of the slime sat mixed with now greenish water in the large sink. You carefully transferred it to the dryer with the others, and peeled your gloves off.

“Goodmorning,” you wiped some soap off your cheek with your wrist.

He handed you a cup. “You think you deserve a shower after all that?” You walked out the laundry with him, the warm liquid having the opposite of its desired effect as it made you the slightest bit sleepy.

Your shower was quick and to the point. In the few days you’ve been there, your towel has had a permanent residence on a hook by the door, a fair distance from the other 4. You figured this would have to be your second day in the blue sweater, but you didn’t mind all that much. You managed to wash it as well the night prior, so it was dried and fluffed as it waited for you.

Winston ran into you on your way out the bathroom, something dark in his hands. He unfolded it, and stepped behind you to put it on your shoulders.

“What’s this?” You whipped your head around to watch his movements.

“Had to pick this up from my mom’s, too.”

It was a dark purple jacket, the sleeves needing to be cuffed by him in order for your hands to appear. You could see a wide, black stripe wrap around the back and little pinstripes around the collar. You knew Winston was a more eccentric dresser than his coworkers, the brightly colored laundry telling you so, but to take something so nice from his mom?

“I can’t take this, She doesn’t even know me.”

“It’s mine. And it’s going to a good cause.” He drops your wrist. Taking a step back, he examines his work with a hand on his chin, an unsatisfied look on his face. He figures out what’s wrong, as he grabs the zipper from the bottom and pulls it up, the blue of the sweater underneath now hidden. There’s a pleased smile on his face as he takes another step back, before starting down the stairs.

“I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” and he disappeared.

While you were excited to get out again, to have some sort of normalcy for a day, but the urge to check the kitchen overtakes your legs. Your heart feared for the worst, you peek across the threshold, and you could’ve died then.

Egon was at the little table, pancakes, eggs, and coffee on two plates in front of him. The thing was, yours was untouched. He sat there, hands in his lap, face unreadable, until he noticed your presence. He didn’t light up, his features didn’t change, but you could’ve sworn there was a slight, upward twitch of the inner corners of his eyebrows. You felt a sort of nausea wash over you, that settled in your chest as you thought of what to say.

Walking towards him felt condescending, as if you were increasing the parameters of whatever obviously negative emotion he was feeling, but it was the proper thing to do. You folded your hands in front of you, unthreatening. Benevolent. He looked at you through his eyelashes, like a wounded animal.

“I’m sorry. That I wasn’t around this morning.” To anyone else, this would seem melodramatic. A meal skipped out on between 2 people who have known each other for 2 days. But the way there was a flash of forgiveness, that you saw so often in the downcast faces of those young men and women around a coffee pot, weeks after their indulgence of passion. One of them did something. And the other so desperately wanted things to be okay again. They’d be engaged. You saw it on the faces of teenage actors, as their parents commented on a poor performance, before bringing them ice cream. It was the small injustices, from the people that you loved.

He opened his mouth to speak, before a honk from the garage cut him off. Winston was calling you, the unfortunate timing making you cringe.

“I’m sorry, again. I won’t be gone long.” He didn’t respond as you retreated to the door.

You reluctantly disappeared out the room, before appearing one more time.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

You take your leave down the stairs, the garage door open as the Ecto-1a runs idly. Winston leaned over, opening the passenger door for you. Settling in with a huff, he turned to you as you pulled your seatbelt on.

“Ready?” When you nod, he pulls the car out the garage, and onto the street. After a few minutes of driving from the firehouse, he reaches for the glove compartment, his hand emerging with a cassette in a purple case.

“Hope you don’t mind Mj,” he grins as he slides it into the car’s slot. The singer’s voice fills the car, and he eventually joins in. He has an amazing singing voice, honestly, and you’re too compelled to take pleasure in his gaiety as he drives.

“The Jackson 5: Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, and Winston,” you tease him. The city’s awake with you, as children took their lessons on the blacktop of the school’s playground, and grandmother’s bought fruit placed in their foldable carts. A handful of dogs howl as your highly decorated car passes by.

“I could never take Michaels place,” Winston crosses his heart, the cassette starting to play a Stevie Wonder song. He nodded his head along to the beginning of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”.

He enjoyed himself for the whole song, even roping you into joining in. Eventually, he turns the volume down a few notches.

“What music do you like?” He questioned, nodding in acknowledgment as you listed off your current favorites. As he waited at a red light, he skipped a few songs, claiming that you’d like this one more after the inventory you gave him.

You take another look around, as the setting gets more and more unfamiliar to you. “Where’re we going, anyway?” You tilt your head.

“Right now, I’m thinking the music store. But I have other ideas, too.” He pulls up to the curb of an aptly named record shop, shutting off the engine and opening your door from the outside before you could protest. The inside was fairly simple, musical equipment sitting on shelves behind a desk, records stretching around the perimeters of the room, and cassette tapes in the square middle.

The layout intrigues you, as your brain pings at recognizable albums. You shy away from Winston, flipping through a few records in your favorite genre. He reappears at your side, a small box of blank tapes in his hands.

“Are you recording something?” You continue to browse. He shakes his head.

“You’re gonna need your own tape to play in the car. We all have one.” He peers over your shoulder casually, taking in music he’s never heard of. You shake your head apologetically, fearing the effort it’ll take. He picks up an album you’d been eyeing.

He turned to look at you, eyes earnest and eyebrows slightly raised. “Make space for yourself.” Simple words. He wasn’t asking a lot from you. But he was speaking to you- I want you to survive. I want you to live.

You have nothing to do but nod your head, no point in protest. He has a pleased smile, and examines the album a little more before putting it down. Something else catches his eye, and he brightens, mouth open in awe. There’s a full stack of reddish yellow squares, and he spins around to show you, eyes twinkling like a little kid.

“Tommy! I thought you didn’t carry Hendrix!” He chides the man excitedly, flipping the album around. You stand behind him to read the song list as well. Tommy merely shrugs.

“Best guitarist since Berry,” he proclaims to you. “Absolutely insane sound.” He had such a look of delight on his face. It was different from Ray’s- it wasn’t analytical, he probably didn’t know everything he could’ve about what he loved, but that only made him love it more. Winston’s joy was simple, but it wasn’t unimportant. As he talked on about the man he looked up to, his soft eyes crinkled, a wide smile meeting them.

“I wasn’t allowed to play him.” He pulled out his wallet, paying for not only his newfound treasure, but the empty cassettes and your own personal favorite. “Not when I was at home, or when I was deployed.” Tommy handed him the items in a plastic bag. “But I paid my neighbor a nickel to let me when our parents weren’t home. I lost a lot of commissary that way, when I got older.” His story had a boyish tone to it, as he held the door open for you. He wouldn’t stop opening doors for you, insisting on it as you got in the car.

“Are you hungry?” His question makes you recall the other companion you’d forgotten at the firehouse, your heart filling with cement. You agree to lunch, knowing he really wouldn’t let you refuse.

Your next destination is a little restaurant, the area busier as midday approaches and working class America is looking for something to eat. When you enter (and he holds the door), there’s a teenaged boy behind the counter, packing orders and taking cash. The interior is smaller than you assumed, as the floor is taken up by the buffet-style kitchen behind the spot to order, and a few tables and chairs. It smells amazing, though, and the menu looks even better. Winston watches you pridefully as you marvel over what to get, before his voice breaks you out of your stupor.

“Know what you want?”

“I can’t decide. It all sounds great,” you confess, the idea of choosing making your head hurt.

Winston chuckles at your response, guiding you to a little table and making you wait there as he chooses for the both of you. After letting some highschoolers get in front of him so they could get back to school before the hour ended, you see that he’s an exceptional conversationalist, becoming instantly acquainted with the people in line with him. He asks them about their day, listens intently, and when asked about his own he gladly replies with “day out with a friend,” pointing to you. You give a bashful wave to him and his newfound comrades.

He speaks familiarly to the kid at the register, counting things off his fingers, and even slipping him a bill that was definitely not a part of his total. He soon has two styrofoam containers in his hands, steam rising out the slight openings. He opens yours for you, the water vapor and aroma hitting you like a punch. There’s greens, mac and cheese, and fried fish staring you down as your eyes widen. While you were stuck in your hypnosis, he reached over, cutting your food for you.

It was like you died and went to heaven, before being sent back to finish your plate. You almost absentmindedly held onto the table to keep you tethered to the Earth.

“You guys have kept me fed all weekend,” you say between rushed bites. It’s true- this is the best you’d eaten in a while. You swallow. “I can’t remember the last time I was able to stop and make actual food.”

“Egon treats you to breakfast, I treat you to lunch.” He raises his hands in a shrug. “Good?”

“Amazing,” you chew. “You seem to know this place well,” you suggested.

“I take lunch here everyday,” he wipes his mouth on a napkin.

“I can see why. Is it a favorite?”

“No, my favorite is the Jamaican lady down the corner.”

You raise an eyebrow, setting your fork down as he blissfully kept eating. “But…you know everyone here, they know you, you come here every day.”

He blinks. His tone is slightly quieted. “I know. But the owner’s trying to put his daughter through college. Any penny I can give to him counts.” He talks as if the act of selflessness was the simplest thing in the world. It amazed you, how easily kindness and servitude came to him. In your short time with him, he was nothing but humble and friendly with everyone he interacted with. The small smile that spread on your face was one of admiration, and genuine mystique at the kindly man across from you.

You chatted for a bit longer, about growing up, your families, before you were both finished. He tossed your trash, and bid the teen at the register goodbye before walking you back to the Ecto. Once inside, you couldn’t help but lean your head against the glass, your lack of sleep the previous night manifesting after eating so good.

“I think that knocked me out,” you tried hard to suppress a yawn in your throat as he turned on the ignition, soft rumbling making it harder.

“There’s a word for that,” he laughed. That was the last thing you could remember, before waking back up. The car was still parked in the same spot, and as you sleepily looked around, Winston sat in the same spot, peacefully reading a small book. Your stomach dropped as you noticed the time- nearly 3 o’clock.

“I am so sorry,” you stumbled through an apology, sleep still sticking to your panicked words. He simply took his reading glasses off, eyebrows raised as you rambled.

‘I don’t mind. I had my book.”

“I didn’t snore, right?” Your skin burnt.

He paused. "It made a good ambience.”

You threw your head into your hands, Winston snickering at your expense as he started the car again. He drove out the area, sidewalk now full of families coming from school and work, in addition to teenagers loitering for a bit before they headed home. The scenery became less cozy and residential, and slowly became more retail, tall buildings advertising clothes and businesses. You recognized it as being your downtown area- albeit the parts you felt too low-income to pursue.

“What’s next?” You wondered if there was dried drool on your chin.

“I doubt anyone is talking to anyone back home.” Winston bit the inside of his cheek. He kept his eyes on the road, thoughts behind his eyes. He had a bittersweet look on his face, before speaking again. “When we didn’t have anything to do- or any spare money to do it with, my mom took my siblings and I to the department store.”

You’ve heard quite a few personal stories in the last few hours. Maybe it was his way of connecting. You decided to probe. “What’d you do?”

His face softened a bit, recounting the positive parts of the memory. “All types of fashion shows. Found future gifts to our dad. Made our mom promise to find us shirts just like the ones on the rack- and she did. We pretended we were the richest kids in the world. Preacher’s kids, we weren’t…terribly poor. But there were reminders. Mom made it better.” He smiled fondly, despite the car being stuck behind a bus.

The car moved forward. “I’m sure she’s the reason you turned out so well.” The car suddenly stalled, and you were honked at from behind. Eventually, you were parked against the busy sidewalk of a wide, tall building. The sheer size was enough to intimidate, as you still sat in the car, gazing at the top of the structure as he had the door handle in his hands.

You were estimating the floor count, before you felt a hand grab yours. His palms were soft, slightly calloused, but warm nonetheless. He looked down at your conjoined hands, before simpering back up at you. “So you don’t get lost.”

As Winston guided you through the bustling floor, your anxiety was substituted for security. The makeup counter was absolutely packed, as were the prom dresses upstairs. That made a fair amount of sense, as the school year would be ending soon. While on the escalator, you can see all the patrons, hurrying in and out with their bags. At the top, something in the toy section catches your eyes. Winston lets himself be led over.

“What a find,” you take a rectangular box off the shelf. It’s a nearly identical Smokey the Bear plushie, just a newer model. There’s a tribute to the old one printed on the back of the packaging. Winston watched as you reveled in the coincidence.

You remember his presence, and the lack of context he has for you suddenly admiring a children’s toy. “Ray sleeps with an old one. Smokey’s seen better days.” Winston smiles as you place it back on the display.

“Why not get it for him?”

You shake your head swiftly. “I’d be dishonoring your mom. I thought the point was to not spend money?”

He picked the bear back up. “She also says that you can’t take money to the grave. Maybe it can be a goodbye present? We can find something for Egon and Peter, too.”

You think on it. At this rate, there wasn’t much for you to repay their kindness with. Well-thought-out gifts paid for with Winston’s money will have to do, for now. You agree, before disembarking to a clothing department. You end up in the men’s section, articulate and hip pieces you couldn’t even dream of affording. Winston gazes up at the flashy, electric purple suit vest on a mannequin, as you sit back on a chair behind him.

“You like that one?” You sit up.

He puffs out a laugh at the outfits' pure hedonism. “It’s a lot. Even for me.”

“And you want it,” you rise, skimming the racks for the matching pieces in his size as he protests. You wordlessly hand them to him, and he surrenders, disappearing behind the entrance to a men’s dressing room. In the meantime, you’d look for Peter’s gift. To be fair, you knew him the least out of the 4 men. But Winston had told you he messed around too much in the lab, and lost his favorite tie to a small fire. He apparently never had time to replace it, and Winston could remember the exact brand, style, and color, so you figured he could single out the one you were looking for out of a short stack of silky, red fabrics.

As you waited in a warmly lit lounge area by the fitting room, he emerged, holding his arms out and up to model it for you. The satin of the cream colored undershirt fit around him nicely, the bright vest even coming in at his waist a bit. He had the full ensemble on, even down to the suede loafers. He looked like a moviestar, even if he was too humble to actually admit it himself, the price tag swinging underneath his arm.

“It’s something,” He looked at himself in the mirror, hands on his square hips.

“It’s great, that’s what it is,” you say honestly.

“You like vampire-soul-train?” He turned.

You put your hands up defensively. “I love vampire-soul-train.” He continued to look indecisive about it, confidence visibly falling. “Are you gonna come back for it?”

“Where would I wear it to?” He peeked at the price tag one more time, dropping it like it burned his fingers.

You shrugged. “You don’t need an occasion. Sometimes it’s just fun to dress up. Ask Janine.”

He laughs. “I guess you’re learning from the best.” He looks down pleasantly surprised at what he’s seeing on the floor. “If anything, I’d come back for the shoes.” He looks at you through the reflection in the mirror. “Did you find anything?”

You look around at the dozens of clothes behind you. “I guess not.” There’s a lot to choose from, and a lot of bright colors fighting for your attention. It’s all a little overwhelming, looking at clothes you’d fall in love with and never buy. You end up standing in the middle of the department, scratching your head swimming with uncertainty, until Winston taps you on the shoulder.

“They have it in your size.” So you matched.

“We look like a magic act,” you tease him, remembering Peter’s tie situation. After he pinpointed the correct match, you admired yourselves a little longer- at least until the staff were tapping you on the shoulder and asking if you needed anything, courteous smiles twitching as they watched you saunter around in their merchandise.

You looked at more things in different departments- jewelry that you tried to convince Winston to re-pierce his ears for, home decor you’d have if your place was bigger. Eventually, he gladly paid for the 2 gifts, the large bag in which they were placed sitting next to you at an ice cream counter. As you ate, you both came to the conclusion that Egon deserved a decadent little chocolate cake from the dessert store you were at, and you hoped it would keep in the fridge overnight.

“You ready to go home tomorrow morning?’ He put his spoon in his mouth. Butter pecan. You groaned lightly. You wanted to give them their space- and their money back, but it was like the ending to a pleasant dream, going from companionship and a warm place to sleep in a hard time to a now-damaged apartment and job fairs.

“As ready as I can be. Thanks, for putting up with me this weekend.” You put your spoon down.

“You won’t get rid of us that easy. We’ll be there to help you clean up.”

“The 4 archangels. I promise, when I get back on my feet I’m finding new ways to repay you all.” He dismissed your offer.

“It’s the minimum. Louis’ office was in the boiler room for a bit, you know.” He lightened your guilty mood. As he smiled, you noticed the now dark bruise against his jaw. Impulsively, you reached out and manipulated his face gently.

“Does it still hurt?”

There’s a crash from the first floor. You both rush to the balcony railing, watching as people run to the exit, as feral growls vibrate around the large store. Winston grabs your hand again, though less tender now, running down the steps of the now disabled escalator against waves of people running up instead. When you reach the bottom, you watch in terror as an angry alligator destroys the store. As you looked on, you could see that the tail of the beast was vaporizing in front of you, as it hissed out a slime like the one you worked to wash out early in the morning. This wasn’t just an escaped animal. It was a ghost. Winston came to this conclusion at the same time that you did, pulling you towards the exit and to the Ecto.

“Should we call Peter and Ray and-”

He opened the door to get his equipment. “They won’t get here in time. And they won’t have any of this.” He grabbed a proton gun, staring down at it before sighing. “I’m gonna ask you to do something very dangerous.”

Your eyes flickered down to the weapon in his hands, before your mouth fell open. “Absolutely not. Dr. Spengler said that it was ‘unregulated units of atomic energy.’” He ignored your protests, putting the proton pack onto you. He pulled the belt tight around your waist.

“It’s easier than you think,” he said hurriedly, adjusting the straps on your shoulders. “Have you ever flown a plane?”

You stare at him, eyes blown and wide, before burying your head behind your hands. He pries them off gently, placing them each on different points of the gun. “Well then it’s just like driving a car. You shoot the ghost with this, okay? Just keep holding onto him, and I’ll open the trap for you. We’re gonna do it, and we’re gonna do it together.”

Before you could revel in him talking you through it, he’s pushing you inside. Herds of frightened customers cling to the walls, out of the way of the ghost, and make room for you and Winston as they quietly whisper to each other that help has come. The alligator is ripping up a display, the woman in the ad subsequently dressed in Victorian style dress. Winston creeps up towards it slowly, before advising you to stay behind one of the makeup counters.

“I’m gonna tell you when. When I do, hit this button. That’s all. Okay?” You purse your lips, nodding, and crouching despite the nerves being felt in your weak legs. He leaves you behind, the ghost with its back turned as it tears up the poster. From your hiding spot, you can hear it notice him, growling loudly as it charges. He signaled you, and you popped up like a toy, shaky fingers igniting the stream.

He did the same, exclaiming loudly as you immobilized the spirit. He advised you to raise it up slowly, as the phantom flailed around.

“What now?” You called over the volume of the particle accelerator whirring like crazy on your back, separated from your skin by a spring jacket and a sweater. He didn’t have an answer.

He hesitated. “You didn’t manage to grab a trap while you were out there, did you?” You could have fainted. You saw his stream falter. “I’ll be right back. Keep holding him- I’ll be two seconds!’

His stream stopped, as he sprinted out the door, nearly slipping on ectoplasm in the process. The ghost thrashed harder, trying to resist the force suspending it in the air. You felt like the weight of holding up an adult alligator suddenly, and your arms couldn’t keep up with its fight. Your stream gave out for a split second, and in that time it was free, and on the floor. It locked eyes with you.

Your cry for Winston echoed throughout the department store- hell, throughout the city as you ran as fast as your legs could take you around the floor once, then up one of the escalators. You skidded to a stop at the end, as the chaos of the escaping crowd managed to knock down a large glass case, sending glass all over the floor. Your momentum didn’t stop you soon enough, and you slid over the shards before falling to the waxed floor. The ghost got closer, sending your heart to your toes as it opened its mouth, expelling a wave of noxious green slime. You saved your pride, ducking out of the way at the last second. You only had a moment to celebrate your triumph, as a quick movement of its ghastly tail reminded you of its ability to interact- and harm, the physical world.

You got back on your feet, before noticing Winston run back inside out of the corner of your eye. You needed to get back downstairs, but all of the possible ways down were blocked. A large decoration swung from the ceiling, reaching fairly low to the ground. The ghost was creeping closer, teeth bared. If you die, please let your soul haunt the firehouse.

Your nerves steeled themselves for you, hesitating on the ledge, before taking your literal leap of faith as the ghost lunged forward. You squeezed your eyes shut, only opening them when you felt your sweaty palms make contact with the course rope. You slide quickly, before remembering you actually had to catch the violent apparition. You reach weakly for the gun swinging behind you, forgotten, and feebly aim your gun at the glass part at the railing where it watched you. The glass shatters in its wake, and as you continue your ride down the rope, the ghost is caught in your stream, the speed at which you’re moving dragging it through the air. You reach a safe enough distance to the ground, letting go of your hold on the rope and dropping on your knees unstably.

Winston’s been watching from the floor, regaining his strategy as the ghost hovers ahead. He sets his stream on it, and kicks a trap directly below. Your ears are ringing, and your heart’s beating at a thousand miles a minute as he calls on you to lower the spirit. With diminished resistance, the ghost is caught in the trap, smoking rising to the ceiling. The entire store is quiet. The smoke reaches the alarms, setting off the sprinklers, and the hostages erupt in celebration.

Winston lays an arm around your shoulder, speaking low into your ear. “I told you, it was easy. You’re amazing.”

But you're still in a daze, and Winston recognizes it as he gently guides you to the car, avoiding reporters and even a few policemen. Before he takes you to the passenger side and aides you down into the seat, he raises your hand for everyone watching the news in the tri-state to see.

“Y/N came, saw, and kicked its ass!”

You don’t say much as he drives back to the firehouse, siren on. You suddenly startle back to consciousness, turning to him in disbelief.

“I caught a ghost.”

“You sure did.”

You laugh weakly, rubbing your eyes. Your laughter picks up, before it turns hysterical. You crank down the window, sticking your upper body out in ecstasy. This was the most alive you’ve felt in your entire adult life, and you let everything in the car’s path know.

“I caught a ghost!” You cry out as the Ecto drives through the city’s streets.

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silveruskiwami · 6 months

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The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008) (SPOILERS BEWARE)

finally managed to finish this series and god damn is it so good.

the spectacular spider-man is what you get when you have a series written by people who know what makes the source material and its characters tick so damn well.

"Point is, you're changing - into the man you're going to be. And just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you should. With great power, there must also come great responsibility."

peter parker and his high school friends are your average teenagers bumbling through their social lives, making mistakes and relationships throughout the way. the show manages to give a lot of the side characters a good amount of spotlight (and setup for plots that unfortunately didn't happen) with flash thompson's development into a more caring person in spite of his egotistical nature and tendency to bully, mark allan's gambling addiction causing him to get roped into shady ultimatums and grief from his sister liz, and harry osborn's spiral into madness after being neglected by his father, causing him to turn to substance abuse in order to finally be respected by his peers and the consequences that ensue.

peter specifically demonstrates the all-important central theme of spider-man: responsibility. the responsibility of balancing what's important in your life, to stand up for what's right and when others need your help, to own up to your mistakes and give up the things we want most to do what's right. whether losing trust in his friends by snapping pics for the daily bugle as they fight for their lives against the lizard, or failing to live up to his promises to be there for liz allan due to having to fight crime as spider-man, every mistake peter makes has consequences and what proves him to be such a good person is how he owns up to each mistake he makes.

"Sorry, no. My fans expect a certain amount of quippage in every battle."

the action in this show is like, INSANELY good. i'm talking raimi spider-man levels of fun fight scenes here.

the simple yet stylized designs of spectacular mean the animators are more able to pull of complex, fluid and fast action scenes, with spider-man effectively using his quick thinking and both he and his enemies learning from every encounter they have with him.

one of my favorites is in the episode "gangland", where spider-man and tombstone face off in the sewers, hidden from public eye during a valentine's day opera, trading blows in complete silence with nothing but the opera singers in the background. it's brutal, well-animated, and it's fuckin' awesome.

"Truth is, I plan on crashing a lot of parties this year. So if you see my bro, Pete, tell him WE will see him real soon."

eddie brock/venom remains my favorite character from this show for the inventive take on him and the direct counter he plays to peter parker.

under the influence of the symbiote, both he and peter were angry. violent. bitter. eager to let their innermost, darkest feelings out, they pushed aside and lashed out at those who cared about them deeply. but where peter rejected the symbiote after he saw the effect it had on his personality, eddie instead reveled in the power and freedom it gave him to beat the everloving shit out of the one person who had wronged him greatly - peter parker.

like the ultimate comics version of eddie brock, he had been a close friend to peter for as far back as they can both remember, and i think that kind of relationship between the two further makes brock such a good tragic character in this show. his tendency to shift the blame of his failures onto other people causes him to destroy his friendship with peter and give in to the symbiote, and show peter a tragic mirror as to what could have happened had he let the hatred of the symbiote fester within him. when peter reaches out to brock and pleads him to abandon the symbiote, it's not just because he knows what it's like and the consequences he's seen firsthand, but because he cares for brock as a friend.

"Think fast! Think fasteeeer~! Tonight, you're in a PARTICULARLY unfriendly neighborhood, Spider-Man!"

how the green goblin was handled was also nothing short of masterful in both his personality and the reveal of him being norman osborn.

rather than adopt a split-personality approach to the green goblin/norman osborn as both the 90s cartoon and the sam raimi trilogy did, spectacular instead opts to portray gobby closer to his 616 counterpart; a separate persona norman willingly plays up, completely aware and in control.

norman is already done incredibly well in this cartoon, playing two-faced with his adoration of peter as if he were his own son, while secretly developing supervillains for tombstone and his crew, and neglecting his son harry osborn. he's a cold, calculating, snarky asshole who commandeers respect and steals the show any time he's in the room, going so far as to live by a rule to never apologize to anyone, never stopping for a second to think of any of his employees as anything but beneath him.. but there's no way he could be the goblin, right?

..right?

"I protected Harry! If I was sent to prison, who'd have made a man out of him?! Just look at what he's done today.. I've never been prouder of the boy!"

"norman osborn is the green goblin" yeah, we know. everyone knows. but that won't stop the spectacular spider-man from making you play the guessing game anyway.

all different kinds of instances and clues help to throw you off the track of thinking norman could actually be the goblin. the goblin is insane! he's a cackling, goofy son of a bitch compared to norman's calm-yet-cold demeanor, not to mention harry was the one drinking the globulin green! the series veers more into making you, and peter, think harry was behind the mask the whole time..

..which is why it becomes shocking once more to learn norman osborn was the goblin all along.

i think not only do i find it impressive of spectacular to throw the viewer off from what should otherwise be an obvious reveal, but the "one personality" approach to goblin i believe makes norman much scarier as a character. he becomes a much more intimidating character once you realize he can switch between the two personas at the drop of a hat, and in full control.

not to mention his twisted care for harry coming front and center, breaking his leg and gaslighting him into believing he was the goblin so as to throw suspicion off his own self, and supposedly be there for harry to "make a man out of him", which of course means raising harry to be the exact same slimy, ruthless man he is.

talk about a character you love to hate!

i'll always lament how the spectacular spider-man was canceled far too early - really when it was just getting started - out of sheer bad luck. future plans intended for the likes of the jackal, the hobgoblin, sin-eater, and cletus kasady/carnage to join the fray, direct-to-dvd movies detailing peter's college life, and lots more!

at the end of the day though, the fact we still got one of the best pieces of spider-man media out of these two seasons, though short-lived, is something to feel real good about. the spectacular spider-man is a damn good cartoon both on its own and as a spider-man story, and never say never - there might be a chance, however slim, we can see it return.

"Tell me there's something better. Go ahead, try."

#the spectacular spider man #spectacular spider man #spider man #marvel #marvel comics #silverus be writing shit

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eliaskahtri · 5 days

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LOCATION: The Pines TIMING: Current PARTIES: Elias & Marcus (@thenavysealkie) SUMMARY: Elias is obsessed with researching the strange and unknown, and drags Marcus along on a hike for an aniukha Warnings: None!

“Oh my God, it’s Bunnicula in the flesh!”

To say that Elias was becoming obsessed with learning all he could was a massive understatement. He had printed headlines from Wicked’s Rest whether it be a copy from the library or printed out online, he had it all out on his coffee table and dining table. It was even spilling onto the kitchen island, leaving no room for him to prepare food. He had completely engulfed himself in a determination to understand the supernatural for what they were. He didn’t want to harm them. No, far from it. He wanted to know what they were, to understand it from the inside out truly. It had become all-encompassing, and Elias couldn’t stop.

In the middle of looking at new headlines that had come out from the local paper, Elias barely registered the knock at the door. He’d heard it, but he was almost done reading. It was a headline about a pack of wild rabbits that someone swore sucked their blood as if they were a bunch of bunniculas. Elias shuddered, remembering the book from grade school. It had terrified him to the point of having a massive fear of rabbits. Of course, he was made fun of for it, but it had improved in recent months. There were worse things to be afraid of than rabbits, like these blood-sucking ones, for instance.

He heard the door unlock and open and whirled around from his laptop to come face to face with Marcus, who had let himself in after being ignored after knocking. Twice. “Oh,” Elias spoke, realizing that it had been days since he’d last spoken to Marcus. “Hi.” His voice was guilty, realizing that he had been neglecting his relationship to research into supernatural leads. “I… meant to text you, I just got… into stuff.” He looked around at all the papers, there were no clean surfaces that didn’t have newspaper headlines. “Sorry?”

It had been literal days since Marcus and Elias last spoke together, and it wasn’t from lack of effort on Marcus’s part. For a little while Marcus would at least get a “read” notification, which still stung a little, but was now only being left on delivered. He knew Elias was still going through a lot, but this was a serious backslide in behavior, and he began to worry something genuinely terrible might have happened to him.

He was grateful Elias trusted him with a key to his apartment, as he was now trudging up the stairs intent on doing a wellness check. “Elias, if you’re alive in there, I swear I’m gonna kill you” Marcus said under his breath as he approached the door. He knocked once, then twice. Silence was all he got in response. Fuck. He knew Elias was a private person who liked his space. He didn’t want to have to use his key, but this certainly constituted an emergency.

After unlocking the door, Marcus stepped into a dimly lit apartment building with papers and news clippings scattered everywhere. Any table space seemed wholly unusable. Somehow, it was worse than anything Marcus had been preparing for. Elias was physically okay, probably, but his change in decor was starting to give off serial killer vibes, and not the hot kind.

Finally, he saw Elias, who turned around to offer a weak greeting to him. “Into stuff?” Marcus responded. “You tied an anchor to your feet and dove headfirst into the deep end. What is all this?” “Mysterious animal” attacks, reports of people forgetting their own names, stories of the dead walking amongst the living, and enough Irish folklore to entertain every pub in Dublin for years to come were strewn haphazardly across the entire building.

“How about some fresh air? Sunlight? Human interaction? C’mon, we gotta get you out of this apartment.”

Elias frowned, realizing how crazed he appeared to anyone who didn’t know what he was doing, who didn’t know the truth behind the madness. “No, they’re separated into patterns!” He explained, walking over to the coffee table. “Vampire attacks,” he explained, reading out headlines. “Woman left with two holes on her neck after walking into Nightfall Grove at night.” He walked over to the dining table. “People who have lost their names. Fae.” He quickly skittered to the kitchen island. “Sightings of animals that shouldn’t be. All the beasts that exist around here aren’t just a normal species.” He held up the article about the aniukhas, a name he didn’t yet know. “Bloodsucking creatures that look like rabbits.” He shuddered again, thinking of Bunnicula.

“I don’t need sunlight, Marcus! I need answers!” His tone was desperate and pleading, throwing the article back down. “If I want to keep myself safe, I need to know. I want to understand. And the only way to do that is to gather evidence.” Elias walked over to Marcus and took his hands, eyes pleading. “Please, I need to do this.” Elias whipped around and grabbed the article outlining the Bunniculas, holding it out. “Let’s go on a hike. See if we can find them!” Elias was practically begging, folding the article up and putting it into his pocket. “Please, I need to do this. It’s… it’s the only thing that could keep me alive.”

If Marcus was trying to get him to calm down, he wasn’t listening. Instead, he was throwing on his hiking boots and grabbing his newly purchased camera. “Come on, let’s go!” Elias was already halfway out the door, turning to see that Marcus wasn’t following him yet. “We can… talk about it after, just please follow me with this.” He clasped his hands together as he walked back over to Marcus, taking his hands again.

Marcus tried to understand Elias’s path of reasoning, but could only stay silent as he listened to him ramble about vampire rabbits, of all things. “Elias, you’re trying to speedrun an encyclopedia’s worth of information in a few days. I know you’re scared but…” But what? Did he tell him the truth? That no matter how hard he worked to protect himself and learn every danger that could be lurking around the corner that there was no way to guarantee anybody’s safety? Was that really what he needed to hear right now? “But sometimes you need to give your brain a rest. Otherwise, nothing’s going to stick, ya know?”

“You want to stay safe from the dangerous vampire rabbits…so you want to go hunting for them?” He understood wanting to study them, but they weren’t animals behind a glass or in a cage, they were wild and were very capable of attacking them if given the chance. Still, Elias needed some sort of comfort, and maybe this could provide that for him. “Alright fine, why not? You seem like you want to go with or without me, so I might as well tag along for some protection.

“Where exactly are we hiking? Is there a particular spot this attack reports are coming from?” Marcus asked, hoping that they’d at least be headed somewhere familiar.

Elias nodded his head with a bright grin that reached his eyes, more than he’d been capable of in some time. Whether or not it was healthy for the level of obsession Elias had reached or not, it made him happy to find something that excited him again. Sure, maybe he needed to dial it back several notches, but he was getting somewhere. “Yes!” He exclaimed before tugging on Marcus’s hand and dragging him out the door, only barely remembering to stop and lock his door before continuing down the hall to the stairs and his car.

The drive was silent as they listened to the radio, Elias tapping his finger on the steering wheel. “It’s out near the pines,” Elias explained as they neared the location. “A hiking trail.” He added, that before turning into a preserve parking lot, there were only two other cars in the lot. “Come on!” Elias practically jumped out of the car with excitement, grabbing his camera and heading toward the trailhead.

Elias bounced excitedly as he pulled out the article, wishing that he had someone like Maggie to draw them. An idea popped into his head after that. What if he got pictures of these creatures, and asked Maggie to draw them in her style? They could collaborate on a Wicked’s Rest encyclopedia of beasts! Elias looked to make sure Marcus was following, then started down the hiking path. “It was somewhere near the middle of the trail,” Elias further explained as they walked along, taking care to look around the bottom of trees and brush. “Keep your eyes out.”

Marcus had a bad feeling in his gut. He and Elias could handle a vampire rabbit if it really came down to it, but there was no guarantee that was all they’d find during their hunt. Nature had a habit of being entirely unpredictable, and wouldn’t just hand deliver exactly what they needed when they needed it.

Still, seeing Elias being excited about something instead of wallowing around as a shell of a person made Marcus overwhelmingly happy, and he certainly didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize this development. At least he had something to be passionate about now, dangerous though it may be.

“You ever see those pictures of bigfoot? The super grainy ones taken from 10 miles away? I’m hoping we can get better pictures of these rabbits than those pictures.” Marcus knew Elias liked Bigfoot, and was hoping to use that to encourage him to take high-quality pictures even when he inevitably gets spooked. “Who knows? Maybe we can even get famous off of them. Of course…there’ll always be those people explaining why they’re fake in some way or another.”

They walked along to the part of the trail Elias said they should be at. Marcus stopped and listened carefully for any signs of movement along the path. His eyes scanned the brushline as he tried to pick out anything out of the ordinary.

Turning the camera around in his hands as Marcus talked about making money off of photos, Elias was quick to shake his head. “I don’t want to make them public. I… don’t think a lot of people would be able to deal with it like I couldn’t once.” He explained, frowning. “But I think that if I could put together some sort of catalog or something, then when something happened, we could reference it with what we knew.” Elias looked toward Marcus, shrugging his shoulders. “But making money off of it and freaking people out? I don’t think that’s the solution.”

There had been enough people who had tried to tell Elias that it was too dangerous to know the truth, but Elias thought that it was the exact opposite. For him, at least. That didn’t mean the same for others. “So for now, we keep whatever we find to ourselves, alright?” Elias nodded his head once he felt satisfied that Marcus was on the same page, then kept walking.

“I’m sorry for ignoring your texts, I just get… so engrossed in things once I get started,” Elias explained, continuing to fiddle with the camera that he had in his hands. “I don’t mean to do it, and you were right to check on me. I got a bit… carried away.” His voice trailed off, realizing that it was far worse than simply getting carried away, it was an all-out obsession. “I love that you’re too stubborn to give up on me, but I still feel guilty.”

Elias walked slowly in line with Marcus, taking a leisurely pace instead of searching incessantly for the creatures like he desperately wanted to. “I’ll do better. I’ll get better at answering my phone. I’ll turn the ringer on and everything.” He put a hand up as if he were swearing an oath.

Marcus simply shrugged his shoulders at Elias’s comment. “Truth’s already out there. Pictures or no pictures, people are going to have to make a choice to believe their own eyes or explain everything away ‘rationally’”. He was convinced there were many people who he could shift in front of and they still would think it was all some elaborate act. Some people were beyond convincing, and Marcus figured that was to his benefit and the benefit of other supernaturals around him. “But yeah! A little Wicked’s Rest bestiary sounds like exactly the kind of thing this town needs! Can’t know what to look out for if you don’t know it exists.”

Marcus was down on his hands and knees looking for any signs of bloodthirsty bunnies. Admittedly, this was probably a stupid idea as he was putting his neck perfectly at fang level for them. He quickly realized this mistake and stood back up again as he heard Elias’s apology. “I don’t ask for much. Just an ‘I’m still alive’ text every day isn’t going to hurt you. But apology accepted. I can understand getting so engrossed in something like this, you’ve sort of had your whole worldview turned upside down recently.

Just then, Marcus picked up on a slight rustling sound from the grass. It was faint, but he heard it, from the direction of a tall tree. He put up a finger to Elias, indicating for him to be quiet before he quickly peered in the direction of the tree to try and spot any hint of what they were looking for. Initially, there was nothing. But then, suddenly, the rustling started again, much faster than the last. And it was moving straight for both of them.

Thinking about the term bestiary, Elias decided to file that idea away for later. He did like the idea of calling it an encyclopedia better, but Marcus may be onto something there. Before he could continue the conversation, Marcus was holding up a finger for Elias to stay quiet. Elias readied the camera and searched the ground, snapping photos when something lept from the brush and attached itself onto Marcus’s face. “Oh god!” Elias cried, snapping photos before dropping the camera and rushing to help Marcus.

As soon as Elias was able to yank the thing off of Marcus’s face, he took a look at the creature, eyes wide. “Oh my God, it’s Bunnicula in the flesh!” Elias exclaimed, throwing the creature to the ground in a hurry, horrified. Elias felt his legs begin to shake as his heart started racing, the fear that it really was a vampire rabbit who was there to drain him of his blood and kill him and Marcus. He really should have thought this through better. He knew this was what he was looking for, but now? Now he was in the thick of it and he didn’t know how to get out of it.

Elias quickly scrambled to pick up his camera and took more photos of the creature, one of them was of it leaping straight for the lens, which Elias would later look at as a masterpiece. But for now, it was terrifying. For now, Elias needed to get Marcus and get out of there. Elias smacked Bunnicula out of the way and leaned down to grab Marcus’s hand and drag him along. “Come on, there’s bound to be more, let’s get out of here before that happens!” He told Marcus. “I got the photos, we’re golden!”

Marcus was in a daze as he felt the fangs finally release from his face. It was a very brief attack, but not one he was expecting. How was he supposed to know such a tiny little rabbit could be so strong? He heard Elias’s voice telling him they needed to go, and it took his brain a few moments to process what was actually happening. Finally, however, he was able to bring himself back up to his feet with Elias’s help and brush himself off quickly before booking it the hell out of dodge.

They ran and ran until it finally seemed as if they were in the clear. They surely must have broken some sort of running record in the process with how fast they sprinted out of there. Catching their breaths quickly, the pair kept moving until finally returning to the car.

“Well…I have to say I’m not a fan of the up close and personal method of getting pictures. But I will admit that the quality is great! There’s really no refuting that sort of thing. And people will have a great idea of what to look out for if they’re ever in the woods.” Would it really help people when the little bloodsuckers like to keep themselves hidden? Not really, but if it made Elias feel more comfortable and safe, Marcus was willing to roll with it.

“I do have one request. If we go hunting for anything bigger, let’s protect ourselves a little better, yeah? I don’t exactly want to become anything’s dinner if I can help it.”

As soon as they were back in the safety of Elias’s car, Elias took deep breaths to catch his breath, eagerly looking through his camera to find the photos he had taken. He’d done it, he’d gotten it on camera. Elias let out a laugh, astonished that he’d been able to capture it so well. He showed Marcus and grinned widely. Finally, Elias had a purpose again. He was going to do this, whether people told him to or not. And Marcus? He was along for the ride. He wasn’t stopping him, only telling him to be better at defense before going after more dangerous things. Elias’s excitable grin melted into one of love and appreciation, then leaned over the console to press a kiss to Marcus’s cheek. “Thank you.” Was all he said before turning on the car and heading back to the apartment. He had a long way to go, but this was a good first step in getting somewhere. And wherever that was, Elias didn’t quite know yet, but he was eager to find out.

#Bunnicula Strikes #threads #thenavysealkie

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momsforroadhead · 9 months

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Liam Wilhelmina appreciation post ACOC ep 7

"You know, like, all my brothers and stuff here suck, so it would just be great to get away and not have to play STAIRS anymore... It's where I'm- it's where they c- they run up a bunch of stairs, but I have to be every stair. It's, I play all the stairs, I'm just- I'm making myself taller by standing up a little bit more as each... foot is on my head and then they all go into the uh- fort. Hahaha! But... you know, I'm the stairs, so I don't... No one's a stair for me."

"I would say I'm grossly neglected!!"

He transitions to being a gloom stalker ranger which... very heavy. He is, as Ally puts it, "not in a good place right now". But also: goth Liam (thank you Siobhan)!

"Can I... puch Thad so hard his pit flies out and say 'We need the carriage NOW'?" And then gets a nat 20. "This is a new Liam. WAKE UP."

"I think that sounds great!" Can I roll a stealth check so I can cry, by myself, hidden, somewhere in this carriage? *Rolls a 3 and loudly sobs*

"I think I might be a war guy now!!!" On a loop, while still sobbing.

"Killing blow!" I just look at my hands...

"Actually, I just remembered, we might not be able to go by sea, because uh... Preston gets seasick! [Remembers Preston is dead] AAAAAAAUGH" Resumes sobbing, cuts his bed roll in half so it's Preston size and just holds it. Truly devastating stuff.

More of a straight up Ally quote but "Can I make an insight check with advantage to see if Primsy will come [on her wedding night]?" is too good.

Tries to roll to hide, but rolls a nat 1 cause he is, as Brennan puts it, "actively weeping and can't hide". So he just kinda floats face down in a crate of milk. This is a crown prince.

In the most serious voice you've ever heard: "Hello Annabelle. Your haircut looks... fresh. And it's really masculine, yes feminine, in a way that's strong, yet tender."

Asking for a complex and huge political favor: "I'll have my dad, Joren Jawbreaker, personally thank you and shake your hand, and sign anything that you want him to sign. He's got a lotta merch. He's got a lot of books about Kama Sutra, and between him and his partners and his partners' partners, there are over 35 sexy singles of any sexuality or gender that you could desire. And you, would get eaten alive upside down by that group because they would find you so attractive. Eaten alive, Annabelle! They would turn you inside out and eat you ALIVE!" Brennan gives Ally advantage for boldness and disadvantage for madness, which cancels out to straight persuation.

And since this is, at it's core, an Ally Beardsly appreciation post, moments from the AP:

"I've been texting with a bunch of teens..." And then immediately putting their hands up and adding: "No, sorry, that sounds insane!"

"Zero animal crossing, zero fun, I'm on social media, honey. I'm on Twitter now! I'm on Tiktok, honey!!"

Ally didn't realize that Chris Colombus was a real person and instead chose the wildly more convoluted explanation, which was to assume that Siobhan thought CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS had written the Goonies and for some reason gave him a cute nickname??? They then ask her: "You're pretty close with Christopher Colombus?"

"That's my note that says 7:30, and I don't know why!"

About Emily's indentical cow rug: "Did you get it in the rug district? There's a rug district, honey, I'll tell you all about it..."

#dimension 20 #a crown of candy #d20 acoc #liam wilhelmina #ally beardsley

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koolcece22 · 15 days

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Enter Vemongirl

Ch. 18

Shade’s Pov

It took us an hour to clean up the mess that Kane did to Miles’earth, getting all the animals back to the zoos. All the villains that broke free were locked up once more. All the police fixed the other problems, while me, Miguel, Miles, and 42 were on the rooftops of Miles’s place.

“So what I got from this Kane guy he seems to be after you Miles. But why?” Miguel said, trying to put it together. I was wondering what was going on too. First, it was a collider. Now, my sixs are trying to kidnap Spider-people but why?

“Miles! Come down here!”

We heard Miles’ mom call from the window. I can feel her worry for her son. Miles groans as he doesn’t want to be a baby, but he is still a teen so that's normal.

“Hey, you guys can come in. You can heal up real quick before you head back.” Miles offered. 42 went down without saying a word. Miguel shook his head.

“I should head back to report an-”

“Come on tio! You’re injured, at least has my mom looked at it.”

Miguel sighed, man head must have made a bad first impression on Miles’s parents. I wonder what he did to get them not to trust him. He seemed more mature than most people I had met, but then again I don’t know a lot of people.

“I think so too. I mean when you get mind-controlled by Kane you do feel woozy and body aches. That's what Timmy told me and teleporting might make it worse so maybe hold off on the teleporting.” I said. I’m not a genius with the whole teleporting but I’m sure if you're not well you shouldn’t teleport.

“Yeah big spider, and you can eat Bandage boss lady’s food!” Kuro said drooling or more like causing me to drool. I’m so grateful my mask is still on. Miguel looked wondering who I was talking about. Miles steps in.

“She met my mom. Come on you two, it’s going to rain and I sink and don’t (?) want to be wet and stinky too.”

We went in and I could feel the tone change, mainly Miles’ parents glaring at Miguel. His dad was mad, guessing he found out I burned his table with my acid.

“ Hey, Bandage boss lady! Do have any more food!?” Kuro said not knowing how to read the room. She is not as good at sensing other people's emotions than mine. Miles’s dad's eyes widened from the shock of a talking black rabbit. Rio folded her arms with a smirk

“If you promise not to burn my table and eat my plate again.”

“ Deal!”

Miles’s dad’s eyes widened even more “That was you?!”

I quickly put my hands up not wanting him to be mad at me. I was about to say something till Miguel intervened.

“I’ll pay for the damage Shade did. Something she neglected to tell me.”

I blushed, “I was going to…there's a bunch of stuff on my mind, remember?” I turn to Mr. Morales and bow. “I’m sorry Mr. Morales-sama, I will make sure I pay you all back since Mrs.Morales-sama has been so nice to me.”

I looked up at him and he was very stunned at what I was doing. I forgot that this earth is different from my earth so I don't know how to show respect on this earth.

“Uh. Miles?” I heard saying to my surprise both Miles and 42 responded

“Yes?”

It didn’t faze Mr.Morales “What is your spider-friend doing?”

“Dad, she is just trying to say sorry,” Miles said, I stopped bowing thinking it started to make him uncomfortable. Rio returned with some food and Kuro was hopping on my shoulder.

“ Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!”

Kuro tried to hop on Rio’s shoulder but I quickly grabbed her as Rio was farther than 10 meters and I didn’t want to go into shock.

“Is it always like that?” Ri0 asked. I know she doesn’t know Kuro is a girl but it still irks me.

“Uh…yeah SHE’S always like that. She gets very excited with food.”

“ More like you are excited.”

I rolled my eyes and commanded Kuro to go back into my body. The last thing I needed is to own the Morales’ more stuff that I couldn’t afford. Everyone but Miguel was surprised the Kuro just fused back into me causing my white hair to become black again. I took a plate of food from Rio and thanked her. At least when I’m in control I don’t make too much of a mess.

“Well, anyway. You still didn’t tell me what was going on Miguel. Why was there a bad guy after Miles?!” Mr.Morales retorted. Miguel unmasked himself, giving them more of a straight face.

“I have no idea Jefferson. We have been having trouble on earth. It seems like they are planning something. First the collider, then there was Carnage, and now they are trying to capture a Spider-Man. I have put out a high alert to all Spider-people that these guys are trying to capture them.”

“And here I thought you are mister know it all.” Jefferson said. They don’t like Miguel. Rio walks over to Miles and 42 to hug them. It is odd why she is hugging 42.

“Look man, I might not know this whole Spider-Man thing but I don’t want some interdimensional beef from some other Earth coming here and trying to take my son away from us!”

“I understand but I’m also in the dark too. We still don’t know what is going on.”

Rio chimes in, also not happy with Miguel's answer,“Doesn't each Earth have a Spider-Man? Why don't you call that earth Spider-Man to fix the mess?!”

“We can’t. That Earth was on the ban list because of the problem that Spider-person has caused.”

“ Genial, qué más hay de nuevo?”

Soon the sound of broken plates fills the room. Everyone turns to me as I realize I just broke another plate. I started to feel woozy from feeling everyone's emotions, I was usually good at ignoring it but the tension between the three wasn’t helping me. I look down, my hands turning into claws and the room has started to spin.

“Shade, are you ok-” Miles was about to touch me to see if I was ok till one tendril shot at him. If it wasn't for his fast reflexes his head might have been gone. I quickly got up. Even with the room spinning I know I shouldn’t stay. Everyone is looking at me with worry. Before anyone could stay anything I ran out of the apartment and up to the rooftop, not caring that I had just broken their door too. Another thing I’m adding to the list on how I mess things up.

Third POV

Everyone was surprised at what was going on with Shade. Miguel had no idea what was going on before he could excuse himself to see if alright. 42 spoke up.

“I’ll go check, hearing you guys arguing just brings back stuff I don’t want to deal with. I was about to head out anyway.” 42 heads toward the door thinking she might be on the rooftop so he heads up there. Both Jefferson and Rio weren’t too happy.

“You know how to pick friend Miles,” Jefferson said quietly hoping no one heard. But Miles and Miguel heard. Miles didn’t appreciate that and so did Miguel.

“Dad, not cool. Shade helps me out. She’s just…A Bit different from me.”

Rio raised her eyebrow “Different how? She's a spider-person like you, no?”

“No, she isn’t.”

Everyone turns to Miguel. “She is a rare case. I will replace everything she destroys since she is my responsibility until we get this collider situation under control. Miles I want you to keep an eye out for anomalies who have watches like ours. Got it?”

Miles nodded

Meanwhile, Shade was sitting on the rooftop trying to calm herself down from the overstimulation of emotion that she felt in the room. Her tendrils were still whipping outside her body, but at least she had control of them again.

“Are you just going to sulk up here all day?”

Shade turns around to see 42 standing there. She didn’t sense him due to her trying to regain control of herself. She just glared, not in the mood to be scolded, especially from some kid.

“Maybe I will sulk all day. It's what I’m good at,” she retorted as she hugged her knees close to her chest, making her feel young and scared again. 42 walked up to her and sat down next to her which surprised Shade. 42 judged from the look of Shade she was surprised by his action.

“What? I might not seem like a caring hero type like Miles, but know when someone has sensory overload I worry. Do you know any breathing techniques?”

Shade nodded, “Just count to 10 and take a deep breath. That usually helps.”

“Well, my mom taught me to watch out for someone having sensory overload or a panic attack. I wish Miles listened to his second Mom”

“Second Mom?” Shade asked, 42 then hit the button on his mask to open it up to reveal his face to Shade. Her eyes widened in surprise to see Miles's face. The only difference was his hairstyle and he looked tired compared to Miles.

“I’m guessing Miguel nor Miles ever explain the whole Spider-verse thing?”

“No.I But I mean, I don’t care about that.”

“Me either but I got dragged into this since Miles has my spider in him.” 42 Miles said. Shade didn’t get what he meant about Miles having his spider in him. 42 rolled his eyes knowing he had to explain Miguel's job.

“Long story short Miles got bitten by a spider that was meant to bite me, but his earth Kingpin brought that spider to his earth and bit him. It causes a shit ton of problems and Miguel tries to keep the canon of Spider-Man going and … try to get Miles’ dad killed.”

“What?! Why?!” Shade asked shocked that Miguel would try to do that. He doesn’t seem like the type to do that. 42 got up and shrugged and put his mask back on.

“You can ask them. I just gave you the Spark Notes version. But at least you should know what was going on with all four of them.” 42 then tossed another watch to Shade. Shade was confused by this; it looked similar to the one Miguel gave her. 42 then made a portal to head back to his earth. 42 was about to jump in till Shade stopped him

“Wait! I’m sorry about attacking you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been through worse, just don’t hold us back if you can't hang.” 42 said coldly, then jumped in leaving Shade alone to think about what he just told her and see now that she has another watch now, she knows what to do.

Miguel’s POV

I’m so glad I got out of there, it was so awkward trying to get the Morales to listen and trying to have them not cut rope me (?). I had to call a clean-up crew to get their door fixed. Also, to get their dishware and table replaced. I headed up to the roof to see how Shade and 42 were doing. Something to get me out of this awkward situation. As I headed up I saw Shade all by herself, guessing 42 just gave her a small talk and headed out. He was not much of a talker.I noticed that Shade saw me and quickly put something in her mouth. I couldn’t tell what it was.

“Are you ok?” I asked. She just nodded as if swallowing the thing. Weird.

“I’m fine, just take me back to whatever at this point.”

I was about to open to my earth till I got a message from Timothy. I took a look at it to see the reason for the info he took from 2424-Alchamax’s lab.

Help! Empress Tempest is in trouble! Please help!

I saw a message that Tempest was in trouble again, Shade must have also seen this as her eyes widened. Since we're the only heroes on that Earth. As much as I do I have gone there and I know Shade is coming since she saw the message. I still want to keep an eye on her.

I opened the portal to her Earth and sure enough, Shade was about to hop in, she looked back at me and guessed she was waiting for me to stop her. I just jumped, not trying to wait any longer. Shade jumped in after.

#across the spiderverse #miguel o'hara #spidersona #symbioate sona #writing #spider man 2099 #miles morales #spider gwen #feral! miguel o'hara #atsv hobie #spiderverse pavitr #42 miles morales

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surrowndedbylights · 3 months

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Now that my country (finally) decided to vote for marriage and adoption equality, I have to share my thoughts because I've been keeping them for too long.

This is going to be a long post so if you want to see more it's under the cut.

This has been such a huge debate for a while now, and I was always so mad about it. If you are lgbtq+ and have been in a similar situation, you probably know how it feels, but if you're not, I'll try to explain. Having literally everyone talking about my life and my rights, when they don't even have the slightest knowledge of what queer people have gone through in order to have equal rights around the world and it seemed so crazy to them that we would want it too. Even the church had an opinion when it has literally NOTHING to do with them. We are talking about political decisions about civil marriage. Your opinion is very much not needed, especially if its aim is to spread hatred towards a community that has suffered so much and the last thing we want is people with zero knowledge going around and preaching that we don't deserve to exist and have our basic human rights. We have the government to decide about laws and stuff, this is not theocracy for fuck's sake. There were also a lot of politicians talking shit about us, as if we are some kind of animals, but since they are part of the parliament, I was prepared for it and sucked it up.

Children adoption has also been on the table in these past months, and of course, everyone would have an opinion about it too. Basically, the only thing they could say to justify their bigotry was "You'll ruin the traditional family." I mean, if their perception of a 'traditional' family is couples who have children just because they can have them, but end up neglecting, abusing or abandoning them, then yes, I would very gladly ruin it. If there are families who abandon their kids in institutions, then there should also be families who are willing to take said kids in, no matter if they are gay or straight. And gay people don't have many choices. They can't reproduce like straight couples do. So, when a couple is relying on adoption to start their own family, then why would they not have that option? "Children need a mother and a father!" Children need someone who can take proper care of them and give them love. There are kids that grew up in such families, and they are no different than kids with straight parents. There are also those who grow up with only one parent, and they still turn out fine. It doesn't have to do with genders. You are just being homophobic. And no, they are not going to become gay because of that. Most of us grew up in straight environments, and yet we are not straight. But even if they do turn out to be queer, then they will know that their parents accept them and they won't have to spend their teenage years pretending to be someone else because they are afraid to be kicked out and whatnot.

I'm tired of everyone having a say in what I do. Queer people are not pawns in some game. To some, it may seem shocking, but we are still humans who have needs and rights. The fact that this was such a huge topic when it should go without saying. There are people who had to move to another country in order to marry their partners. We watched for so long, happy married couples in other countries. We were anxiously waiting for this decision to be made because we want to have equality. But, of course, according to some people, we are just sick and entitled and want to take over the world and destroy it. If you really believe this, then I'm sorry you're sad since yesterday. Learn how to get over it now 😘

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simmeons · 6 months

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decided to do a sorta sloppy intro post for the ocs i haven't done a really proper intro for!! their pictures are in the voice claim vid underneath their intros/descriptions :P warning for some possibility sensitive topics with oc's backstories (warning: im not creative with a mass majority of these characters SORRY😭😭)

Jesse; a 24 year old bounty hunter. he/him gay transman (ftm) who's dating Rye. likes are fishing, writing in his journal, watching the sunset, Colt (adoptive father) and doing favours for those he cares about. dislikes are duels, collecting debts, long rides, skinning animals, and big cats

short backstory: Jesse had a neglectful house while growing up so as soon as he moved out he bettered himself by landing an early job working on a farm. the owner of the farm quickly took a liking for the young woman working there (this was before Jesse's transition) and started to try and start a romance. after many failed attempts he ended up sexual assaulting him. Jesse eventually got away after months by an attempt to strangle the man with fishing wire, which left him with permanent scars on his hands. after escaping Jesse quickly tossed himself into bounty hunting, proving that a woman could do the job just as well as a man. shortly he met Colt and the older man took the scared Jesse under his arm and started to teach him what his parents didn't. Jesse started his transition and Colt was supportive. A few years later he met Rye, and started their friendship

Rye; a 25 year old ex-outlaw. he/him bisexual cis man who's dating Jesse. likes hunting, taking care of horses, kisses from his boyfriend, praying mantises, and swimming. dislikes are barn chores, hot weather, snakes, and stuck-up lawmen

short backstory: Rye grew up without a mother so he was very close to his dad. at a young age he was hunting with his father when a boar snuck up on him, attacking him and giving him the scars on his right cheek. he luckily survived and had a pretty normal childhood after that. when he was 11 his father was shot and murdered in front of him by the law. Rye never knew his father was a hidden away criminal, so he immediately took the traumatic memory as the law was wrong. he joined a gang as soon as he could and started his journey of becoming a feared outlaw. years later he met Jesse while camping, showing him kindness. Jesse was the only thing Rye saw good in the law, so during their relationship he started to better himself and worked to pay off his debts

Colt; a 55 year old ex-sheriff. he/him straight but supportive cis man. likes taking naps, his wife, Jesse (adoptive son), dogs, and kissing wife. dislikes corrupted law, being forgotten, haircuts, and when his wife is mad at him

short backstory: Colt grew up with loving parents and literally everything was perfect for him when he joined the law at 22. throughout his job he took a young Jesse under his arm and taught him all he could. when he was 26 he was stabbed while trying to stop a bar fight, but he luckily survived. after months of healing he was refused his position as a sheriff due to his physical state. it was a hard blow to his pride as he knew he could still work, but thanks to finding his wife he was able to recover and lives his life happily with her, married and with their own house where they enjoy their days together (yes this is why he has Doc's voice because he was heavily based off him i love old men)

Val; an around 500 year old vampire. he/they pansexual poly cis man who's dating King. likes partying, doing illegal substances, doing the hanky panky, playing guitar, and dancing. dislikes the consequences of his actions, sticklers for the rules, cops, nail polish chipping off, and people refusing his advances

short backstory: Val doesn't remember anything of their upbringing, but he immediately spent his first years as a vampire fooling around and getting the hang of his powers. he dated someone named Arlo during his first 100 years, but after they outed the vampire to hunters, Val murdered Arlo in a fit of rage and disappeared. they developed trust issues that started the infamous playboy act. he joined a band run by a demon named King, and they shortly started dating. together they both work through their commitment issues and have a pretty healthy relationship. thanks to all the drinking of blood he does on drunk and drugged partiers, his vampiric powers are quite developed. they specialize in the manipulation of emotions, which he uses to make himself more alluring to people so they can drink blood. he also owns a 1963 Corvette Stingray that's possessed by a vampire ghost. DON'T ASK ABOUT THEM I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY WHAHHH. also he turns into a townsend big eared bat bat!!! :3

Chiffon; an around 300 year old vampire. they/them nonbinary asexual. likes video games, music, cats, jewelry and playing with their hair. dislikes loud music, certain fabrics, bugs, and drinking blood off people

short backstory: okay i really don't have a lot for them oops but they're pretty much just a chill vampire who was accidentally turned but doesn't really mind it too much. they can order blood packs for their cravings and they love living forever so they can play all the video games in the world. their special interest is Pokemon, as they have the tism. they stim by clapping and spinning in circles. no vampire powers are they never drink off people. they turn into a peter's dwarf epauletted fruit bat bat!!!

Kiefer; a 32 year old afro latino. he/him bisexual cis man who's dating Skarn. likes making potions, magic tricks, rodents, Harry Potter and helping others. dislikes shop lifters, winter, feminine wear, swearing, and getting wet

short backstory: He grew up in Spain his entire life and took a liking to everything magical. He specializes in magic tricks and has a passion for being a magician. he runs a shop for all those supernatural and spends his time mastering remedies, potions, creams, anything that may help those in need. he uses his magical spells to help with his work, and some for his roommate/pet Marley, a handicapped werewolf who permanently has to use forearm crutches. he's dating a gargoyle he found in a trip to Paris named Skarn (Skarn is a friend's oc!!!!)

Marley; a 36 year old werewolf streamer. he/him aroace cis man. likes gaming, getting petted, dog treats, majuirnana, and taking naps with Kiefer. dislikes full moons, baths, getting babied for his condition, going to the doctor/vet and people doubting him

short backstory: okay i really don't have a lot for him but basically he never wanted to be a werewolf and actually really hates it, and has to use forearm crutches as his legs are permanently damaged from his first transformation. he uses weed to help with his pains, as well as some other remedies Kiefer makes

Archie; a 18 year old avian humanoid mailman. he/him unlabeled cis man. likes riding his bike, listening to soft rock, reading comics, family, and spring. dislikes being bullied for his condition, people bragging, being grounded, and heights

short backstory: wow another undeveloped oc CRAZYYY. most importantly about him is that his wings aren't in the proper place on his back so he can't fly. for humans to realistically fly the wings need to be on their lower back, but Archie's are up higher on his back, making flying extremely difficult, almost impossible. he uses biking as a way to feel like he's flying, and he tries to not let his condition get to him, but it does

King; a ????? year old demon. it/its pansexual cis man dating Val. likes singing, being a dick to everyone, bragging about itself, flaunting its wealth, Val, and its fans. dislikes being ignored, one up'd, paying bills, and haters

short backstory: guess what. another underdeveloped oc. basically this guy is entitled as fuck and thinks it's better than everyone and everyone should bow down to it. lead singer of a band and happily dating Val, where it loves to be pampered by the vampire. secretly has a soft spot for Val, and adamantly refuses it everytime the vampire teases asks teasingly. also a pretty big whore like Val

Ozzy; a 20 year old shark..person.. listen, their whole bottom half is a tiger shark okay. he/they unlabeled cis man dating Finly. likes rock music, sharpening his teeth, water proof eyeliner, gold, and sunbathing on rocks. dislikes bigger sharks, egotistical people, shark hunters, getting tangled in fishing nets and crabs

short backstory: uh..uhhm......uhhsjn.....yeah...shark boy.......was hurt from a hunter and was aided by Finly where they started seeing each other at the beach and dating shortly after

Finly; a 21 year old gardener. she/her/shark/sharkself transfem (mtf) asexual sharkgender dating Ozzy. likes gardening, aquatic life, listening to soft music, doing her hair, and watching romance movies. dislikes tight clothing, dry weather, sleeping in late, plants dying, and eating anything non-vegetarian

short backstory: just a girl who likes ocean life and plants... saved Ozzy when he was injured from hunters and kept him in the bathtub while nursing him back to health. she always wanted to be a shark so finding a shark person literally made her entire life

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THEM!!!! i know a lot are kind of basic and underdeveloped but yk.. the cowboys, vampires, Kiefer and Marley are my golden children if you can't tell

#my ocs x3

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winns-stuff · 2 years

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(this is likely going to be suupeer lengthy,so my apologies in advance)Hello,What's up?Hope everything's just fine!Ya know since the new chapter seems to be focusing on demeter presumably(I haven't read it nor am I giving half a quick bother since I don't have the heart to watch her be berated and bashed by overstretched , mutant blue felonious gru)I thought I'd come here and discuss a thing in regards to the fandom and her that's been pushing my buttons for quite some time! From the very beginning of demeter's character introduction , fans would compare demeter to mother gothel and would be associating their characters with one another , and let me tell you something!It bothers the hell out of me,to this very day! Like...Don't get me wrong!I'm not going to pretend demeter hasn't made mistakes in regards to parenting persephone, and one thing she did have in common with gothel, was that she lied to her daughter about her identity(the whole fertility goddess jazz),that along with her keeping persephone sheltered, (though not nearly as much as mother gothel). and that IS something that she should be held accountable for!but...MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN GOD !!!DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERSON YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MOTHER GOTHEL???you're talking about the woman that's outwardly been neglectful/ dismissive of her biological daughter cassandra, abandoned her,kidnapped another child for the sole purpose of leeching off said child's ability in order to keep herself young and beautiful again,NEVER genuinely felt love and affection towards her and NEVER let her have ANY connections to the outside world ,to the point that she was thrilled to touch grass!(this sounds kind of funny when you look at it through the modern definition of the phrase lol)Demeter always genuinely adored persephone with all her heart and always wanted to have a companion. Furthermore, given how the gods have constantly exploited young women within the comic's canon,it makes sense that she would be a bit more on the paranoid/protective side (not justifiable,but understandable nonetheless) to avoid her only child to be mistreated by a cruel,unjust system . Also, persephone wasn't COMPLETELY STRIPPED OUT OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD,I'm tired of fans acting like flower nymphs, hermes and hecate weren't there to keep her company and given that scene where a younger kore is at a party with hera,I'd assume they still kept in touch with olympus to some extent.Overall, though similar in a few ways to gothel,demeter is ultimately a much more complex, sympathetic and loving character than she is.Hell,if demeter should be compared to any maternal figures in mainstream modern animated media , it should be alma from encanto and also ming lee from turning red, all of these women had noble, sympathetic intentions and loved their families dearly , all of them unintentionally ailienized their families and put quite a lot of pressure and expectations on them and also, all of these women had to deal with generational trauma!But nooo! Demeter is a selfish, narcissistic bitch that deserves to be mocked and get her s**t kicked in !

Phew, Sorry this was super long!I'd love to hear your thoughts about it, and if you wanted to respond, take your time for answering it as much as you want !

Goodbye🌸🌺👋🏻👋🏻

hi hi! everything’s pretty good, and I don’t mind long responses! they’re fun to read! but I once again agree with all of your points. I’ve seen dozens of comments get mad at Demeter because they think she’s going to use Persephone as an item, honestly if anyones going to use Persephone as an item it’s going to be Hades. he’s only ever wanted a wife because his brothers had one, which is why he wanted to pressure Minthe into marrying him even though she told him multiple times how she didn’t want to. I feel like Persephone is only supposed to be there to prove something, she’s only there as an accessory so that Hades won’t be alone and he can be more like his brothers, that’s what their relationship is giving. I just don’t understand why people would think that anyways, when has Demeter ever used Persephone as an item? she clearly loves Persephone and wants the best for her, which is why she wanted her to go to Olympus to study. not flirt around with Hades to the point that she basically dropped out of school, like honestly everyone was just fine with that? leaving all of your ambitions and your friends behind just for someone you met a few weeks ago? Demeter was just supposed sit around and let it happen? genuinely if any one of those fans had a daughter and they were in that situation they would’ve never wanted her to be with him. also, i’m glad you brought up the communication thing because Demeter did not completely isolate Persephone from everyone, we know that she had dozens of nymphs for company and other gods (like hermes, hecate, and artemis) as company as well so it’s not like she was locked up in some island with no one, she wanted to branch out and do her own thing which is fine but Demeter has seen first hand just how predatory and exploitive the kings can be. that’s literally the main reason why she didn’t want to be in Olympus like honestly think about it. I’ve been commenting in so many comment sections that are just filled with people taking Hades’ side and saying how she deserved it and good on him and it’s just filling me with so much unbridled rage because these people are not understanding that Hades is the one who deserved it, he treats all of his staff like absolute shit and he’s never once apologized for it. why is everything he does “hot”? that’s so stupid if you really idolize a person so terrible that you’re willing to embarrass yourself on his behalf I think it’s time for you to do some real self reflection and figure out why you enjoy him being an asshole so much. I’m so sick of this whole “guy was asshole till he meets girl, girl changes guy but only asshole to everyone else”, it’s the dumbest and most toxic trope ever. take it from me, as someone who’s friends with a girl whose boyfriend literally insulted and discriminated me and my friends to point that we had to confront them both just for her to tell us that he’s changed and he’s not like that, it will indeed chase people away from you. no one wants to be around a person who’s a jerk only because you’re not the person they’re with, like we learned this in kindergarten use the damn golden rule because in the long run you’re only going to isolate your loved one and keep their friends at bay if you continue to just be an absolute dickhead towards everyone. there’s so many people who project when it comes to Demeter, they say things like Demeter abused Persephone and how she’s just such a terrible character all while stanning literally all the actual problematic characters. stop being delusional and a hypocrite those are two very bad combinations, pick one. and the mother gothel comparison, well you’ve said everything I was going to say and I agree that Demeter is a very sympathetic motherly figure, she’s raised hundreds maybe even thousands of nymphs so everyone saying she isn’t a good mother is absolutely invalid because she’s basically the mother of the land, she provides love shelter and care for everyone even guests (as seen with Hades’ bitch ass when he decided to get wasted in the mortal realm) while they’re in her care.

#lo critical #anti lore olympus #anti lo #lo demeter #lo hades

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peronica · 2 years

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It came in flashes... (A Camp Camp Story).

Warnings for: Child abuse, child neglect, alcohol abuse, cigarette using and abandonment. But, if you like Camp Camp, you're probably used to reading this stuff.

Where are my Camp Camp Fans at? (Camp Cretacous readers, I promise I haven't forgotten my Ben story, just hit some writers block). I just got into this fandom like a week ago and had an idea for an animatic, but, since I can't draw, I turned it into a story. Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez is the song if anyone cares.

This is my first Camp Camp story, so please be kind, and I know I misspelled a couple names, sorry about that. Anyways, enjoy!

. . .

It came in flashes; that's the only way Max could think to describe it. It had happened on parents' day too, but he wasn’t paying attention to them at the time…

He was too busy trying not to care about his parents to care about the others…

But now that he knew they were coming, all he could do was focus on the flashes he saw. Were they real? Were they just his imagination? He knew he didn’t have physic powers, if he did, he never would have come to camp in the first place. Or at least messed with Gwen a lot more.

“Hey Max! Come check out my mom’s new tattoo!” Nikki called, her mom, Neil and his dad were examining her leg on Neil’s science booth.

She quickly took her leg off the table, “oh no, sweety, no need to do that.”

And just like that, a flash came:

Pictures of a little Nikky, playing with her parents, hide-n-seek, tag, piggy-back rides. Then slightly older Nikky, playing by herself with stuffed animals, climbing a tree, riding a bike, no parents in sight. . .

Then, barely any older, the few bottles that littered the pictures turned to mountains, and cigarette boxes became dollhouses. One parent or the other began to appear, but never together. Even though Max had never seen Nikki’s dad before, he somehow just knew the different men her mom brought home weren't him…

She didn’t talk about it much, but he also saw her in a flower scout uniform, always having less badges than the other girls, Nikki being covered in dirt while the others watched on in disgust, all sparkly clean by comparison.

The flash ended; No warning, no happy ending like a movie, it just ended. Were any of those… pictures real? She never really talked about home that much, and he had no way of knowing what her dad even looked like…

Man, he was going mental. It must be from eating QM’s, probably poisoned, food all summer. Were any of the others getting these flashes? If he asked, would they look at him like he was crazy?

He shook his head, and looked at the group, now focusing on Neil as he poured some beakers together-

Another flash:

A baby Neil sitting in a highchair, his parents happily laughing as he threw some disgusting baby food through the air. The family having a picnic by some lake, Neil laughing at his dad’s puppet show…

The image then changed, now his dad looked tired, stressed may be a better word, as he played with his wife and kid. Then, it was just Neil and his mom in a few pictures together, a note on the fridge saying ‘Devoirce’ and the house was different.

Playing with his family turned into playing with science kits in his room, and doing extra math for school. For every one time his dad came to the scene his mom was there 6 times, until it evened out one for one; One at a talent show, one at a teachers’ conference, one with a green christmas tree, one with a white one…

It ended again. Max was starting to freak out by now, trying to find any explanation he could. Did he eat a weird berry? Did everyone have this ability and he just unlocked it? Like a puberty thing? Was he under some kind of a spell…

A SPELL! That had to be it! He must’ve made Harrison or Nerris mad, and they did this to him! But what did he do to deserve this tourchure? He can’t remember annoying either of them recently.

Not sure which one did it, he made his way to the stage first, since it was closer and Harrison was more likely to actually succeed in something like this, as the ‘puking props incident’ still haunted Max.

He saw Harrison on stage, his parents cowering with fear as he tried to do a card trick, interesting that he never did the really cool stuff with them around. . . if you counted puking doves as cool, which Max definitely did not.

Of course, yet another flash came:

A very young Harrsion playing with an older boy Max somehow knew was his brother, they played with dinosaurs, then animals, then dragons. At first, they laughed, they played, they roughoused gently, nothing dangerous, just pure joy on their faces, like all brothers should.

Then, the older boy’s face started to turn hard, mean even, and the playing turned dangerous, Harrson started getting hurt. Genuine guilt turned to nothing as time went on. The parents were not in very many pictures, and they were blurry in the ones he did see.

Then an image of Harrison at a magic show, and the magician calling him to the stage, ultimately letting him keep the man’s hat. His age matched different pictures max had already seen, like two sides of one story, but he watched as his tricks turned from failed card tricks to the day his brother disappeared:

For once the whole family were in the pictures as the other boy pushed Harrison to the ground, and the parents did nothing. With a flash of rage, Harrison grabbed a blanket and threw it over the boy, when he took it off, he was gone. The look of confusion, then pride as he realized he actually did it, the fear when he couldn’t get him back.

Now all the pictures were of the parents, clearly terrified of their remaining boy, different magicians and priests coming to the house to try and get him back. All while Harrisoin practiced every chance he had to fix his horrible mistake…

WHAT IN THE WORLD DID MAX JUST WHITTNESS?

He didn’t know any of that, other than he made his brother disappear. Max didn’t even know if it was an older brother or younger. And why was it so much longer than the others? All Max knew, for curtain, was that he wasn’t asking Harrison after that… at least, not right now.

Before he could leave to find Nerris, Preston took the stage, showing his grandma the recently installed trap door. Max turned before he got another flash, but it still came:

Young Preston with his parents, trying on costumes as they laughed. Them being in small performances, and him having small scenes in a few of them. Max couldn’t help but watch as the genuine joy in the parents' faces turned to greed as the plays got longer, the audience grew bigger, and Preston's parts got smaller.

The pure look of happiness on everyone’s faces as the dad held a paper saying ‘world tour’ on it. An excited prestin packing his small bag, preparing for the trip, and the utter heartbreak as his parents left on the tour bus, leaving him with his grandma.

Little school plays were treated like the real thing, with Preston almost always in the lead role: From The three little pigs to Little red riding hood he was always over performing, driving his co-stars mad in the background.

Why were some long and some short? If he couldn’t figure out why he was having these visions, he would like to at least know why some took forever and some lasted a matter of seconds.

‘Maybe there's just not much to think about with some stories?’ Max shook his head. He had to get out of here before he went totally coo-coo. ‘I gotta find Nerris,’ he reminded himself. He took off running, and ran right into Ered.

“Sorry Ered,” he silently gagged, he should be chewing her out for running into him, not apologizing. ‘Stupid David, stupid rubbing off on me.’

“No worries man,” she flipped her hair, “it’s cool.” As she turned to her dads’ and started to lead them to the skate ramp another flash- story, maybe?- began;

Baby Ered, surrounded by other kids, kids of all ages, colors, sizes, but the adults in the room kept changing. As did the kids. Some of the older kids did skateboard tricks in a fenced in yard, and kept giving her high fives. The first time she saw her would be parents, taking away a man in cuffs, one not yet shown to Max.

Ered’s happiness when they came back, one at a time, rarely together, in fun clothes, not the black suits. The day they took her home, the day she got her first bike, first skates. First skateboard. All the family movie and game nights, times when only one was home, and not the other. Several different houses, several different schools, a few different camps came in a blur.

But, so unlike the others, happiness never left the picture. No sudden reveals of alcohol, abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Honestly, Max was a little mad.

Why show him things he could never relate to, and things he’d live’d himself? What had he done to deserve this… this… this curse?

He must’ve stood there longer than he thought, because soon Gwen was tapping his shoulder. “Max, you ok?” She had a genuine look of concern on her face.

Max took a deep breath, and sighed, “yeah, I’m fine.” He lied.

“Ok, if you're sure,” when he said nothing, she added “you know you can talk to me any time, about anything, if you need to, right?” She was more clarifying than asking..

“Geesh Gwen, I’m fine ok!” He snapped as he stormed away, hoping the coming flash wouldn’t make him trip:

Gwen as a little girl, singing alone to her father’s music, though Max couldn’t hear the words or rhythm, but he knew she was off key by her dog’s howling while her parents laughed. Gwen, coming home with a test bearing the A+ mark, one after the other. The family going on tour, Gwen proudly playing the concertina in some, singing in others.

Time went on for a while like that, then she finally went back to real school (not homeschool), and things went downhill; she got that weird thing on her teeth, kids lagged and pointed from the sides. Kids only sat next to her when test days came round, which she kept aceing and somehow got the other kids F’s.

She spent less time with her family, and more studying in her room. College was not a party, working at different places and not getting sleep. In pictures with wild parties in the background Gwen was looking at a study book. Graduation, then rejected job after rejected job interview…

Until she saw an ad for Camp Campell and met a smiling oaf with red hair…

NO! He was not going to get a newfound respect for Gwen now. Not when this would all end in an hour anyways.

He had to find Nerris, or maybe go back to Harrison, man, at this point he might try Neil. But before he could get too far he spotted Nurf with his mother; She was no longer handcuffed, but the parole officer was still there. He didn’t even try to stop it when the next- vision? Happened;

A young Nurf with a family, not his mom, and something told Max not his dad, were playing some game with stuffed animals and about 5 other kids. The image changed to the dad taking him to a prison, where he spoke to his mom through the glass window you see in movies.

The family just kept changing at rabid speed, faster than any other flash he had had; Nurf, a little older, now with three brothers, then two sisters, no siblings, 10! The houses always changed too. The pictures slowed when Nurf started to dance with one sister, in the next he was in a full out ballet outfit, in an actual dance studio. Despite rapidly changing homes, things seemed great, until…

One kid, in a school, chewed his poptart into a star and stuck it on his shirt, like a sheriff’s badge. Another into a cowboy hat, and they started to chase each other. Then, Nurf made a terrible mistake, one he’d never recover from; He chewed his into a gun and joined the fun.

It was great, until a teacher noticed. Did the cowboy and sheriff get in trouble? No, only Nurf; the school went on lockdown, and a real cop took him away, to a school of real mean kids… just like him, apparently.

Images of older kids pushing him down, pulling his hair, stealing his food flashed in Max’s mind, all while teachers watched and did nothing.

Later, like actual years later, Nurf returned to his old school, but things had changed; when the sheriff boy patted his back, Nurf flipped him over his shoulder. It was an accident, a reflex, really. He said he was sorry, but no one believed him.

He was back to that mean school, where he had to fight or run, but he had nowhere to run anymore. The only constant in this whole story was his mom; They always visited, through bars, through glass, they even lived together a few times. Then, after being separated yet again, a letter came in the mail, one with the Camp Campell logo on it…

Max… Max couldn’t even process that! He knew a lot more about Nurf’s background than other campers, from when they held a boot camp for him, but he had no idea what was real and what he made up. He turned around just in time to see Dolf showing his dad one of his paintings…

A slideshow of pictures, a baby Dolf dressed in a camo onesie as his mom cradled him, his dad holding a paper saying ‘Germany Deployment.’ A slightly older Dolf, coloring in a coloring book next to his dad who was doing paperwork. Dolf asking to play football, and his dad being too busy. Then a soccer ball flew into the yard, and some other kids asked if he wanted to play.

His parents were in barely any pictures as he played soccer, chalked on the sidewalk, learned history from German Soldiers who were teaching their own kids. His mom was in it when he got his first sketch book. The excitement when one soldier pinned his drawing on the main message board, and replaced it each week with a new one.

The disappointment from Dolf’s dad every time he saw pictures of flowers and animals insead of his son training or doing football, real football, not soccer.

The excitement of getting the Camp Campbell bouchire, and the sadness when his friends weren’t coming…

Max physically grabbed his head, and tried not to scream; the last thing he needed was more trouble when his parents got there…

“I roll a asking spell-” Max jumped as Nerris approached from behind, “to ask; Are you ok Max?” This was his chance, just ask her before another flash comes-

Of course…

A tiny Nerris, dressed like an elf for halloween, her parents in similar costumes as dad took her trick or treating, and mom stayed to hand out candy. Nerris watched as her dad played D+D with his friends in the basement, as they went larping in the park, as they came up with background stories for their characters…

When she first joined them, dressed as an elf, and came up with her name ‘Nerris the Cute’ drawn in big letters on her bedroom door. Despite the closeness with her dad, mom wasn’t out of the picture at all; she was always there to help Nerris when she fell, or got a paper cut, or was sick or needed someone to info dump on. And, somehow beyond Max’s understanding, she never seemed to be mad, or even irritated.

The whole family seemed over the moon when they found a flier advertising ‘Camp Campell; LARPING Camp’...

“Max… Max!” He shook awake as Nerris’s mom waved her hands in front of him, “are you ok sweetie?”

No he was not ok! Max wanted to cry, to curse out whoever gave him this horrible curse. What had he done to deserve to see all these stories play out at random? Who even thought of that?

“Yeah, sorry, I’m just really tired,” he lied, “stayed up all night with the guys, you know how it is.” Because if he told the truth, he’d be taken to a mental ward for sure… might still be better than going home though…

“Ok honey, just making sure.” The happy family continued their adventure through who knows what land of elves and dragons they created. Together. As a family…

Max ran. He ran to the nearest tree and climbed up, he couldn’t take another flash right now, or ever again. Then, to his dismay, he heard the one and only…

“Neil Armstrong requesting permission to land!” Space Kid yelled from his dad’s shoulders.

“Permission granted!” The man set the fish bowl headed kid down. His uncle had shown up for parents' day, but his dad made it to pick him up…

Images of the moon landing being told by his grandpa, small astronaut toys spread out across the floor. His dad swinging him around like he was flying, his mom giving moonpie snacks, a collection of space rocks…

His first cardboard rocket, designed by Space Kid himself to look like a flying saucer, his dad had cut it out for him. Random scribbles appeared each day, until the accident; A neighbor's puppy came and chewed it to sheds. Space Kid was devastated, but his ‘uncles’ made him a new, better rocket soon after…

Along with a cool space suit and helmet…

He was so excited as he held the camp flier promising to send him to the moon. His family looked skeptical, but helped him pack his bags anyways.

Ok, now Max was definitely gonna cry; EVEN SPACE KID HAD IT BETTER THAN HE DID? Not only a mom and dad, but grandparents and honorary uncles? Why did Max’s life have to suck so much?

From his tree, he could see the parking lot, and his blood grew cold when he saw the green SUV pull up; the hood had a dent, the bumper was scratched and the windows were tinted. He recognized it anywhere…

“MAX! WHERE ARE YOU? YOUR PARENTS ARE HERE?” David yelled out, blissfully unaware of how terrified Max truly was.

He should’ve expected it, but that helped in no way as his final flash began;

A perfect family, all smiles and laughter as they walked down the street, no anger, no fear, everything about the family was perfect; A nice house, not small, cozy was the word they liked to use. A good car, if a little beat up, but who cared? Perfect pictures lined the perfectly clean hallway leading to the perfect kitchen and perfectly clean bathroom.

All for the perfect family.

One set of doors led to the gurage, another the small backyard, but nobody was allowed in the third set of doors, the doors that led to shouting, to fighting, to cigarette boxes and wine bottles…

To the filthy bathroom that practically begged to be cleaned. To the broken glass littered in the living room carpet. To the middle room, where no one could hear you scream from the outside. To the closet of the middle room, where you could go days without being remembered no matter how loud you screamed.

In fact, only one room beyond those doors was ‘perfect,’ if it could be called that; One bedroom with blue walls, a practically empty closet, and a tiny bed with a single blue blanket and pillow. A hidden teddy bear lived in that pillow, because if the monsters who ran the place found it, it would have to leave.

Forever.

Scars never healed in this house, they never had time before the teddy’s owner messed up again, a missed spelling word, an argument about nothing with the neighbor, a fight with a bully… asking for food…

One day the scars stopped coming, but the closet time got longer, the boy didn’t know why until he was sent to some stupid camp with practicly all his belongings in a single bag. If the scars hadn't healed, they might get seen and taken away, to jail or foster care no one knows and no one cares.

And when that boy met a ray of literal sunshine who probably never had a bad day in his entire life…

Well, that was Max’s last straw…

By now the tears were flowing but tell anybody that and he’s sock Ya in the nose while he denied. He didn’t want to go back to that torcher chamber some dared to call a house; He only hated camp because if he got used to it, used to the sun, to friends, to food, to no pain, it would be that much harder to go back to that dark shadow of a lonely, painful closet.

And of course he managed to mess that up; He messed everything up! He actually liked camp; Nikky and Neil were actually fun, pulling pranks with Nurf, running the camp for at times, busting Campbell himself… even Gwen and David were ok.

No, they were better than ok, they may yell, cuss and fight, but they never once locked him in a closet. Never slapped him or gave him a belt. Never took food away or made fun of him for crying… not that he ever cried… today was a freak accident, mind you. They were the parents his parents pretended to be, if that even made sense.

“MAX! There you are,” David called from the base of the tree, “we're taking a group photo, come on!” He called as he leaned against the tree, a big, goofy smile on his face.

Max sighed, “I’m coming,” he called as he started to climb down. He wouldn’t be lying if he said he felt a little guilty for what he put the man through this summer. He thought David was the most naive person alive, but he had his own struggles he just never shared. He hid them with smiles and songs, games and stories. The poor guy didn’t even know his friend had died…

He almost made it down before David plucked him off the tree. “Gotcha!” He laughed.

“DAVID! You put me down right now or else you won’t live to be in the picture!” He snapped. David put him down. “Thank you.”

“Awe, no bad words and a ‘thank you?’ I must be rubbing off on you.” He was practically glowing.

“Never, ever, say that again!” Max demanded.

“But it's true-”

“DAVID!”

“Ok,” he smiled at the camper, and lowered his voice, “I noticed you weren’t with the others earlier.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So, we got a card and put everyone’s numbers and emails, for those who have them, on it for you.” As he handed Max the white card, his voice grew serious. “And, if you ever need to talk, about anything, I don’t care what time it is or how dumb you think it is, you can always call me. And the same goes for Gwen, even though she’ll never admit it. Ok Max? Max?”

Tears were in the young boy's eyes, but even Max didn’t know if it was from happiness or sadness and fear.

“Max, are you ok?” David asked with genuine concern in his eyes and worry on his face.

“Yeah, it’s just,” he wiped his eyes, “I keep getting these weird… flashes? Mabe visions? Of the other campers' home lives, and I don’t know why.”

To his surprise, David didn’t call him crazy, he just asked, with the same concerned tone “ok. Do you know what might have caused this?”

“I've been trying to figure that out all day!” Anger was in Max’s voice, but not at David. “I almost think Harrison or Nerris cursed me, but that's ridiculous! Right?”

“Well, have you tried asking them?”

“Yeah, but when I got close, I saw pictures of their lives, and got too nervous to talk to them. And why would they curse me like this? What could I have possibly done to deserve this kind of tourcher?” He demanded.

“Well, let's go ask them, together.”

“Are you crazy? It's a miracle you believe me, if they don't do it they'll think I’m nuts!” Max explained.

“But if they did do it, then they can cure you,” David countered. “Come on, Max, we have to at least try.”

Max sighed, “fine; lets go.” He would’ve put up a fight, but he was too on edge; What if the flashes never stopped? And why didn’t David get one? Did David do this to him? Maybe Daniel was back for revenge? Or the Wood Scouts? Flower Scouts? Who-

He thought it was over, but another began…

A very young David, playing catch by himself, and a broken window. The picture went dark in a way Max recognized with terrifying realization; David’s parents locked him in closets too? It happened again and again; David yelled at the T.V., then darkness followed, asked for seconds at dinner, closet. Get in a fight with another kid, a flash of belt, darkness and no dinner.

All the pictures were dark, some darker than others, and they continued when he first got to camp. He made friends with Jasper, but just barely. He was always causing trouble; Putting spiders in one kid’s bed, swimming past the dock, running wild. The day he went with Jasper and Campbell on his dumb adventure…

And when they got back, David got his badge, the pictures suddenly turned brighter. Like looking at the sun…

He was the best camper; Gathering firewood, weaving more baskets than the other kids, making friendship bracelets…

When he asked Campbell about Jasper, that side eye he made, and a picture of Jasper getting picked up early, a frown on his face…

All the pictures were bright, too bright, after that; Like when it’s bright outside, but you turn your phone's brightness up just to see what happened. A forced brightness.

Even being locked in closets had a bright tint. He spent more time outside, reading nature books at the library. David even tried to be friends with the neighborhood kids.

His parents weren’t in a lot of pictures, but eventually his dad just disappeared. For some reason, that brightness didn’t seem forced.

The only other non-forced brightness was when at camp..

Every camp year changed; different counselors, different kids, some repeated, but not a lot. The one constant was Cameron Campbell; always smiling, even if it was in that fake way David never noticed.

A skip in images to David training to be a counselor himself, and becoming one. The kids always changed, his co counselors changed, even Campbell stopped showing up…

All ending when he met Gwen, and an obnoxious little jerk a few days later…

“David?” Max said, once it was over.

“Yes Max?”

“I’m sorry for being so hard on you this summer, but if you ever tell anyone that I will end you!” He tried to apologize.

David just laughed, almost to Max’s surprise, “don’t worry about it, kiddo. I know what it’s like to have things change and miss home.”

‘But you don’t, you liar’ Max thought about what he had just seen. “I hope I can come back next year- don’t go sappy on me now, David!” He demanded when tears were in the counselors eyes. “And don’t you dare tell anyone I said that, or I’ll never come back!”

“Ok Max, your secret is safe with me.” David promised, despite both knowing he’d tell Gwen as soon as Max left. “Hey Harrison, Nerris! Can you come here please?” They had made it back to the others, and the two magic kids came right over.

“Is everything ok, David?” Harrison asked.

“No, it’s not!” Max answered, “I’ve been having these weird flashes all day, and I know one of you cursed me with them.” He got out before he could change his mind.

To both David and Max’s surprise, they didn’t argue. “You were the one that ate our cookie!” Nerris accused.

“Yeah, so?”

“We put a spell on it so we could see what the other goes through.” Harrison explained.

“We were only gonna eat half each last night, so we could dream the flash, as you call it, but it was missing.” Nerris added, “when did you eat it?”

“This morning, I saved it to go with my coffee.”

“And you’ve seen everyone’s story?” Max nodded, “well, since you took the full dosage, it should be over in an hour or two, right Nerris?”

“Yes, it would last longer, but I rolled a low number, unfortunately.” She admitted.

“Well that's great!” David concluded, “we settled that and learned a lesson about stealing! This is the best last day of camp ever!”

“Picture time!” Gwen called, “Everyone meet at the Mess Hall, NOW!”

“Wait, I also had them on parents day? Can you explain that?” Max asked as they headed over.

“Must be an effect of ‘Abracadabra.’” Harrison reasoned.

“That long after you cured me?”

“I guess, after all,” Harrison took his cape off and threw it on the nearby table, “magic is confusing!” He yanked the cape off, expecting a dove or bunny to fly out. Instead-

“THOMAS?”

“HARRISON? Is that you?” The boy from the vision was under the table. The two began hugging, and soon the parents were too. The whole family was soon sobbing tears of relief and joy at finally, finally, being reunited.

Before Max could begin to even process that, Nikki flew onto his back. “There you are! We've been looking everywhere for you!”

“You have?”

“Yeah, ever since you ran off from Nikki’s mom’s horrifying tattoo.” Niel shuddered a little.

“Picture time now! You little weasels,” Gwen called out again. She seemed eager to get rid of the kids, but you could tell she was gonna miss them… some more than others.

As Max move to stand with the group, and he saw everyone, one final flash came:

The day Nikki and Neil arrived, their first escape attempts, the time they went camping on David’s day off. When they took over the camp and he was in charge for about 5 glorious minutes. When Nikki, Nerris and Dolf had some adventure he didn’t recognize, Harrison tricking Neil into believing in magic…

Nikki, Neil, Harrison and Nerris on their volcano quest, game, thing. Nurf finally being nice and making friends with the others. The time Dolf was counselor for the day. Daniel losing the song competition to David. Gwen with her fish creature boyfriend, and at her fanfiction reading club…

Showing Nikki and Niel around the big city. When he took Cameron Campbell down as he tried to frame David. The time Gwen’s dog visited, and her with her father. Nikki petting a wolf like it was a puppy, and Niel geeking out over space facts with Space Kid. Ered and Nerris going to that crazy skate ramp in the woods…

Hanging out with Jasper. Neil and Snake talking at the dance after both being heart broken. The time Gwen rescued Mr. Honey Nuts from the Wood Scouts. The early days when Preston still enjoyed his parody of David skit. The epic water gun fight after getting the camp back…

David, giving him half of the sparrow stick. When they went from camp to camp to gain back each camper and start over again. David and Gewn taking him out for pizza when his own parents couldn’t be bothered to show up…

By the time the flash ended, he was standing between Nikki and Neil in front of the camera, the others surrounding them. “Say Cheese,” QM said, he had set a timer so he could be in the picture too.

“CHEESE!” As almost everyone yelled, Max looked at them and thought about how they had made this the best summer of his life.

And when he looked at the camera…

He smiled.

. . .

I know I didn't do one for Quater Master, and that's because I don't dare touch his backstory with a ten-foot poll!

I know we don't know how much of this is cannon, I just took bits and pieces of what each character said and formed this story. I'm actually pretty proud of this one and I hope you all liked it.

And, above all else, have a great day!

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smallmario · 1 year

Text

the 3k word mario movie review

here are my first thoughts on the mario movie. i'm probably gonna end up watching it again but i think ive had enough time to think about it to get my thoughts straight on what i think! even with how long this is, i'm sure i forgot stuff, but i hit on everything major i think.

tl;dr: 7/10. preddy good.

alright so under the cut is gonna be me being wayyyy too much about super mario brothers, so be ready for that. (but if you're following me then that's probably what you want LOL.) half mario review, half personal essay. very little chris pratt talk. i make fun of a lot of stuff but only because i love Mario so much. if you're mad at me for my Hot Mario Takes, just remember that i care about this more than anything and i'm going to die alone probably.

this is REALLY long and i'm sorry. spoilers, obviously.

my background/perspective: i'm closer to 30 than 20, and i've been a fan of mario since i could look at a tv screen. my introduction was the first Mario Kart game. Mario was my first ever online fandom, going on mario fansites like Lemmy's Land and Neglected Mario Characters was how i learned how to use the internet. a lot of my sense of humor and artistic style comes from the mario franchise, especially Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (if you can believe it lol.) i wrote a mario high school au fic when i was 8 years old. i'm cringe and i'm proud.

i also went to school for animation. i fucking love cartoons. so, needless to say, i was hyped for this movie, even not being the biggest fan of Illumination as a studio. i had measured expectations, but i really went in wanting to like the movie. (which i did, but not in so few words.) i was just as prepared to not like it, and i didn't want to get too excited for something that might not live up to my expectations. yeah yeah, it's just The Mario Movie. well, i love movies and i love mario.

i avoided watching a lot of trailers past the first couple, but i was aware of the content of them. mostly through tumblr gifs, lol. so i went in medium-cold.

as expected by now, the movie looked amazing. Illumination has always had great character animation, but imo this is the best looking movie they've ever made. the environments, especially the ones with mushrooms, were gorgeous. The movie started with that Bowser scene from one of the trailers where he destroys the ice castle. it was cool seeing the full version of the scene, and when Bowser said, "...or DIE!" i was like "oooh. he's a little scary 😈"

before i get any deeper into it i just want to say: this was a movie for babies. obviously, it's the Super Mario Brothers movie. i think everyone is going to go in knowing that. the showing i was at was full of kids, a lot of them in costume or carrying Yoshi plushies. They would cheer at stuff and laugh at the silly slapstick humor, and i honestly think that enhanced the experience. a kid yelled "RAINBOW ROAD, BABY!" and it was amazing! that's Mario, fun for the whole family.

second thing: kid's movie ≠ bad movie. everyone should know this by now, in this post-puss-in-boots world. i would not compare the mario movie to puss in boots, by the way, it's just fresh in my mind and also based off existing kid's media. the only thing they truly have in common is the medium. their target audience is different, even if the vast majority wouldn't notice. like, i wouldn't bring a toddler to puss in boots, but i would to the mario movie. Bowser is not actually going to murder anybody. mario is also not gonna kill him at the end. nobody is gonna DIE in the mario movie.

all this to say. i was dazzled by the imagery in the opening scene for the usual reasons i like Illumination - the set pieces were huge and detailed, the lighting is amazing and atmospheric, the synergy between the character animation and the voice acting is solid. i especially liked the part when Kamek enchanted the pieces of rubble to make stairs for Bowser to walk up, it showed what their relationship is like and what a toady (ha-ha) Kamek is. (not the characterization i would go for with Kamek but *big heavy dramatic sigh* WHATEVER)

so, that scene ends. we cut to Mario and Luigi's commercial, which i LOVED. i thought it was so fun, and i love the analog quality to it and how DIY it was. and the best part for me - i love that we're in Brooklyn, NY!! when that first trailer dropped and i realized the movie was gonna be an isekai, i was so so happy. it's my favorite version of mario bros canon, and one of the few things in actual canon that i think gives Mario depth. it's compelling to me, the idea of a regular blue collar dude who's maybe in his 30s (mario is not 24 and i will die on this hill) who gets spirited away to a magical land where he doesn't belong, but he helps save the day because he wants to (and maybe he falls in love along the way??) uh put a pin in that thought i guess.

so, the dialogue starts, and it hits me - okay, this move is gonna be kinda stupid.

maybe that's harsh? let me try to explain what i mean. it was immediately apparent that this was going to be a funny, silly movie that wasn't gonna be too serious. the comedy is broad. when they walk by Foreman Spike and he's like "YOU'RE A LOOSAH, MARIO! YOU'LL ALWAYS BE A LOOSAH" or whatever, i was like, okay. we're not getting a Deep Mario Character Study. not that that's what i expected, of course, i'm just a weirdo who has dedicated his life to Deep Mario Character Studies. That's a me problem. but i still half expected mario to go "oh yeah, Foreman Spike from Wrecking Crew for NES (1985)? You won't be laughing when I become Nintendo + Illumination: The Super Mario Bros. Movie!" so i don't LOVE that vibe

okay, i'm like 2% of the way into the movie and this is already spiraling out of amuck. my point is that i'm not going to knock this movie for the things it isn't. it has that sorta glossy rounded-edges writing that movies from this studio have. in a way, it the writing is like a mario game. illumination + nintendo is kind of a match made in heaven.

for the rest of this manifesto, i'm going to divide my thoughts into three sections: stuff i liked, stuff i didn't like, and stuff i had complicated feelings about.

stuff i liked

Firstly, MARIO'S FAMILY! maybe the highlight of the whole movie for me. i knew we'd get Brooklyn, but seeing the whole Mario fam was a shock. not a lot of fanworks give them a big family like that, so it was nice to see! everyone looked great, and it was so cool to see mario and luigi in that context.

and Mario's bedroom?? was SO cute. im gonna have to pause and zoom and see what's in there because i dont remember the details but like i said, the environments are SO solid, and that doesn't stop for the Real World scenes. Brooklyn is just as gorgeous and detailed as the Mushroom Kingdom. the movie was never boring to look at.

seriously, the look of this movie is INSANE. That initial little Mushroom Grove location knocked my socks off, it reminded me of The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach, which is the highest compliment I can give to this movie. the visuals were absolutely off the hook.

the character design was also really nice, which i was a little worried about going in. there's this tendency with some artists to make Peach an ethereal boobie goddess and Mario a little baby goblin sprite, so i liked that they looked like they could smooch if they wanted to. (they didn't.) i knew it would be a fine line to walk between staying true to the in-game renders of the characters and keeping things visually interesting/fresh and new, and I think they walked that line well. everybody looked like they were drawn from the same hand. the visual style of the film was the most cohesive part of it.

the action scenes were really fun to watch, and i loved that scene in Brooklyn when Mario is parkouring around the city with Luigi stumbling behind him. they did a good job making Brooklyn really lively and exciting in its movements. everything was super bouncy!

the Mario Kart sequence was REALLY fun and I'm mostly putting this here for how much my dad loved it. it had everything you could want from Mario Kart on the big screen, and the little speedrunning maneuver Mario does was great.

Bowser. maybe the best performance in the movie, which is par for the course for Jack Black showing up in movies. i think everyone agrees on this so i won't go on too much, but for the most part i liked his characterization. i love a goofy bowser, and i like that his actions had consequences in the end, too. i always loved the games where Bowser is on your side. in my opinion, he's at his best when he's a petulant manlizardbaby, not the Supreme Lord of Darkness.

bowser in a jar at the end was really funny. Make That Guy Tiny! i also love the implication that without Bowser telling them what to do, the Koopa army just kinda chills out. i like that vibe.

stuff i didn't like

The trailers gave too much away. I feel bad because this isn't a knock on the movie on its own, but like, EVERYTHING luigi did the whole movie was in the trailers. like, for how short the movie was, it's insane how much they showed. speaking of which...

god bless Illumination and their tight 90 minute runtimes. (this was 92, actually! yay!) the movie overall felt very fast, which in the action/platforming scenes was great! but most of the time, it just forces the plot to happen to the characters while they're tossed around like ragdolls. at one point i remember saying to my dad, "why is mario like this? he's just down for whatever." (put a pin in that. meanwhile...)

here's that pin from earlier! this is a big one for me - i thought every piece of dialogue between Mario and Peach was disappointing. their first meeting was weird as hell, and it gets worse. it's a symptom of the larger problem of things being really rushed - there's almost no time for characters to interact with each other. a lot is resting on existing relationship dynamics. Mario and Luigi as brothers, Peach and Bowser as old enemies, Peach and her toads' bond, ect. The most developed relationship between two characters who meet during the events of the movie is Mario and Donkey Kong, which... sorry DK stans, but it just isn't my jam.

with Luigi being the one kidnapped, i thought maybe we'd have some sort of relationship form between Mario and Peach in the meantime, and i guess it did? kinda? like i said a million words ago, nothing ever really gets too deep. they have conversations looking out onto vast beautiful landscapes, and in romantic fire flower fields, but... i don't know, they just seem like work friends. they don't really talk about anything serious, and even when they do, it just feels like the scene ends right when it's gonna get good. and the one moment where mario is "flirting" with her gets ruined by Donkey Kong. so, that's cool.

Luigi didn't do shit! not even a hot gay sex scene with Bowser he just gets captured, almost dies in lava, and then Mario rescues him. as a Mario stan (and comparing this to the live action movie for a sec) i did appreciate the focus on Mario, but it's such a shame that Luigi didn't really get to do much besides sit in a box. :(

To me, the overall structure of the movie was pretty weak. There were so many cool parts, but it just never really coagulated into anything cohesive narratively to me. a huge part of that was that the stakes weren't really there. and it's not that big, dramatic things didn't HAPPEN, the characters just didn't give the weight and gravitas to them one might expect.

the licensed music fucking sucked, but thats par the course for this studio so it didnt surprise me. it made me angry the same way Suicide Squad did, because i'm not against licensed music as a concept. (see: breaking bad/bettercallsaul, shrek, ect.) it's just like, don't go with the FIRST song you think of, y'know? or, like, why BOTHER with something like Mario, which has SO much established score you could do instead.

Mario Not Liking Mushrooms is on the tier of Cruella de Ville's mom being killed by dalmatians or whatever. it made my dad laugh, though.

this is not a knock on finding the movie funny - i was laughing throughout most of it - but it has this self-aware thing about it that a lot of movies have nowadays that i just do not find charming. the whole "oh, these bricks are just FLOATING here? well THAT just happened" or "you mean i have to EAT mushrooms?? but i HATE mushrooms! this is the OPPOSITE of what i want!" it's just so... bland. it doesn't have its own identity. it's studio-funny and really, really safe. (it's Nintendo + illumination: The Super Mario Bros. Movie.)

this last point might be controversial, but i hated the scene with Mario and Luigi as babies. i thought it was dumb and bad. by far, was my least favorite scene. it just felt so... i don't know. it was just a bit much. i'll expand more on why in the 'complicated feelings' section, but i just want to shine a spotlight on that scene as the low point of the movie for me. but my grandma liked it, so i'm probably just a hater.

(VERY close second was the one where Bowser is practicing what to say to Peach, then it cuts to Kamek in a wig. booooo! *throws tomatoes*)

stuff i had complicated feelings about

pratt did fine. it's really easy to forget about the man and just see the character, which is a huge compliment. celebrity voice actors are an industry problem (one that Illumination contributes to a LOT tbf) and i think the fact that pratt kinda 'disappeared into the role' was a plus. it still kinda feels like a silly casting choice overall, though. i remember watching the Nintendo direct live where they announced it, and i was gasping for air from laughing so hard, i had to pause it. but anyway, this is just my own taste, and probably nostalgia from the Super Show, but i prefer a more curmudgeonly, Brooklyn-accented Mario. so for me, pratt did fine.

bowser. i loved jack black's performance and he struck the tone for bowser that i was looking for, but as a big fan of Tenacious D, some parts were less "bowser as a character" and more "Tenacious D song from Bowser's POV." Of everything i've talked about so far this feels the most like nitpicking because Jack Black's performance really was a highlight of the movie, but hey, we've made it this far!! you're locked in this Confessional Box with me and you're getting everything!!

one thing i can point to in regards to this - and i can't believe i'm about to say this because it's so ridiculous sounding - but they gave Bowser a little bit of a "yandere" vibe, right?? *sniper dot appears on my forehead* but they could've leaned further into it, and it was kinda overshadowed by the Jack Black of it all.

here's that second pin! it's for Mario's Daddy Issues! it's not a bad idea per se, like, yeah, you can do that sort of arc with Mario, why not? (he's got a couple daddy issues in my own fanon to be fair!) but the way it was integrated into the plot just felt SO cookie cutter, like literally ANY character could have had Mario's arc in this movie. it didn't feel related thematically to what was actually happening in the movie, and the reason that bothers me is because Mario is just so BLASE about everything happening to him! Like, sure, he's bumbling around all confused like a cheep-cheep out of water, but since there's just no room to breathe, we can't have anything more than narrative shorthand for arcs you've seen before. but the potential for depth is there!! it is!!!

i think what i mean is that there's not really levels to how characters react to things, almost like they're not allowed to have too extreme emotions. it feels like they had constraints, and they couldn't establish too much about the characters. Nintendo is a tightly controlled brand, right?

so, because of that, it's REALLY strange to me that they not only gave Peach a backstory, but to my knowledge, a backstory that doesn't come from any of the games or past adaptations. in a way, her story is the reverse opposite of Daisy from the live action Mario movie. if this movie had been twenty minutes longer, i would've loved to see this resolved in a more satisfying way! it really feels like there was no emotional resolution to her story, which surprises me because there were obvious parallels to Mario's angst about his own family/desire to Save Brooklyn in Peach's struggle to protect the toads. like i said earlier when i was talking about Mario and Peach's conversations, it felt like it stopped right before it was about to get good.

it just doesn't seem like the characters in this movie feel things deeply. most characters end in the same place they started. that isn't a bad thing, by the way, which is why it's in the "complicated feelings" section. lots of movies do that - Back to the Future does that, my favorite movie of all time.

it's all very, very down-the-middle. it's for everyone, it's for no one. it's Nintendo + Illumination: The Super Mario Bros. Movie., and everything that entails.

i think the reason the Baby Mario scene bothers me is because it reminds me too much of the fact that this movie is a product. all movies are, don't get me wrong, but there are so many parts of this movie that felt especially product-y. it was just kinda blatant about it in the stereotypical way that b-tier animated kid's movies are. it was packed with references, which in a way was cool to see. i'm sure that when i watch it again i'll catch all sorts of things i didn't catch before. but this movie kinda just feels like a PILE of stuff all mashed together without much thought put into how the actual world is supposed to work, or what the lives of the people who live there are like, or how they feel that their kingdom is being destroyed.

let me just be totally real for a second. *unzips clown costume a little*

art means a lot to me, obviously. and if i'm being totally real and baring my soul or whatever, nothing has impacted my artistic life and process more than Super Mario Bros. There's nothing I can do about it. the sky is blue, water is wet, and i love mario.

i saw this move sitting in a row with my family, in seats we'd all reserved in advance. i was sitting between my parents, who taught me how to play Mario. i had a smile on my face the whole time, even during the Baby Mario scene. every time something cool or flashy happened, a tiny voice from somewhere in the theater would GASP, or yell "LET'S-A GO" or "IT'S PEACH!!!"

among my group was my youngest cousin, who's eight years old, and i realized that she's the same age i was when i created my account on Lemmy's Land and made a Koopaling OC. (that used to be the Thing to do in mario fandom.) that realization almost gave me a fuckin stroke. the passage of time, am i right?

but anyway, if this movie had come out when i was a kid, it would've blown my mind and changed my life. i felt a weird ennui after the movie ended, and everyone was asking me what i thought. people at work the next day were asking me about it, because i'm the Mario Guy even in real life. and i didn't have an answer. i didn't know what i thought.

what i said to them was, "i'm weird, i'm not a good example of a normal opinion on this movie. 7/10." and then i went home and i wrote the 3000 words you see above you.

this is longer than most of my Mario fics, let's-a wrap this up.

hopefully i've given a little bit of a sense of what i thought of the movie. It's everything, it's nothing. you are in its target demographic whether you like it or not. it's the movie some of you have been waiting for your whole lives. it had expectations that it never had a chance of living up to. it has jack black. it's a pile of mush. (no pun nintended.)

#mario #HOOOO BOY #i need to become a youtube video essayist #sorry #arthoughts #this is way too much #this is the real raw shit #this is blogging

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