#the croquette was fucking delicious

[achromic-red-dreams-doze-angrily]

farmer's market roundup!

dinner

grilled cheese: sourdough from german bakery, cheddar, goat cheese parmesan

soup: potato, tomato, carrot, rosemary, parsley

snacky snacks

potato curry croquette from korean bakery

raspberry linzer tart from german bakery

lavender lemonade

fudge (amaretto-chocolate, vanilla-chocolate)

other

cinnamon-apple rolls

sunflower sourdough brioche

fuji apples

fresh granola from german bakery

tzatziki from hummus guy

[vantedaes]

Not shy! 1/5 (Leon x F!Reader)

Author: @vantedaes Editor: @141s-chewtoy Pairing: Leon S Kennedy x fem reader! Word count: 2.350k Tags/Warnings: MDNI (+18) age gap, Banter, pining, romance, flirting, shy (introverted :p) reader, fluff, miscommunication, eventual smut, maybe slow burn? we'll see.

Summary:  1/5 When senior agent Leon Kennedy joined your unit the last thing you were expecting is for him to pay any attention to you let alone make you his partner, you, the outcast, shy, and officer rookie from the whole unit.

And it wouldn't be a problem if he didn't find pleasure in driving you crazy.

A/N: So here we at with my first fanfic in a long ass time (Also my first one in English be nice it's not my first language!) So i just wanted to make a wholesome banter with Death island Leon in mind! there will be eventual smut but later so buckle up to some old slow burn.

Thanks to my girl, the one, the only, the QUEEN: @141s-chewtoy for editing this nonsense and making it better and greater, ilysm bestie.

✩｡:•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•:｡✩✩｡:•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•:｡✩

When you first met Leon you thought he would never even grant a glance at you. 

As an officer researcher rookie, you were usually picked on and the spot of jokes from your whole department, it didn’t help you were the first woman to achieve that high-ranking position. It should mean you receive respect from others, right? Well apparently not, and you knew that it was partly your fault, you’ve always been introverted and also maybe kind of a pushover. 

So maybe being the target of jokes from the whole station and also having no other friends than the lunch lady —Sandy, god bless her heart, and her delicious croquettes—, was enough to make you invisible, and you were fine with that, mostly, it helped you not attract too much-unwanted attention which you hated but it also made you the odd one out that you also hated, but in the scale of things you’d rather be the quiet girl of the unit. 

Therefore you didn’t even make an effort to leave your office when everyone was running laps because the great senior agent Leon Kennedy was coming down the department.

You figured that he was another know-it-all dickhead, that would only come to you to shove your face in his big achievements and how he single handedly saved the president’s daughter and some many other stuff, cause yes you did peek at his file —What? you have access to it, you were the intel and researcher of the unit, and you had to—  Suuure, he was jaw-dropping gorgeous to say the very least but that was not the reason you sought shelter in your office, no, you just knew he had to be a fucking asshole like all the others you worked with. 

Of course, you couldn't hide forever, as much as you wanted to. Eventually, you had to face the man of the hour and oh boy you were nervous… you were so nervous that Sandy had to give you a pep talk for you to just do your job

“Girl I know he’s hotter than the Sahara desert but you can’t just miss out on your job! the guy’s been asking for the researcher for days now he thinks you’re a slacker.” 

“I’m not hiding because he’s hot! I’m just…scared he’s an egocentric idiot.” 

Sandy gave you the most ‘you think I believe an ounce of that?’ look she had ever given to you. 

“For sure honey and that’s why you have been eating in the kitchen and actively avoiding your work that you never do cause you practically breathe for this job.” 

Ugh, you hated how right she was and how much she knows you.

“Whatever.  It’s not because he’s hot, I’m just…busy with personal stuff.” 

Oh, the way she scoffed was nothing amicable. 

“Riiight, busy thirsting over the guy! I've seen the way you cling to his file, you ain’t fooling anybody and you’re sure as hell not fooling me so woman up and face him once and for all.” 

You sucked in a breath and shook your head. You knew she was mostly right, you just couldn’t avoid your work so you had to face him sooner than later… but it wasn’t because you were attracted, no, you just didn’t want to lose your time with the insufferable prick he surely was.  

It was an especially bad Friday morning when you sensed something off, could it be the fact that your coffee wasn't as warm as you usually prefer it? Or the way everyone was staring at you as you made your way to your office? Sure, you’d been coexisting with these idiots long enough to just ignore their shit but this morning they were drilling your head in with the intensity of their staring and whispering. 

You couldn't bring yourself to ask what the fuck the problem was but you soon regretted not doing so. 

Because at the other side of your private office was no other than agent Leon S. Kennedy sitting on your desk and examining your files in excruciating detail —making a total mess. You were frozen at your own door, your hand still on the handle and a part of you wanted to close the door and run away but, that wouldn't be so professional on your part and also he already had his cold blue eyes on you and, oh fuck you felt yourself trembling and clinging to your almond latte cause the pictures and the videos didn't do the  man justice… He was even hotter —and wider— in person. 

Regardless, you tried to maintain your calm and remain professional. This was your space of work and how dare he just intrude in your office! Sure you were avoiding convening with him and that was part of your job, but still! Wasn’t this a bit too much? And how did he even get into your office? You always closed it with a key, a key you and only you—oh, fucking Sandy! 

You could only snap out of your internal conflict when he called your name with that smokey-ass voice that made you weak on the knees. 

“I hope you don’t mind me barging in like this,”

Was he for real? Of fucking course you fucking minded but of course you couldn’t gather yourself to say or do anything but  just look blankly at him.

“It was the only way I could find time for us to meet since you kept avoiding me.” 

Fuck.  How did he realize that? And why did he look so amused by it? God, you knew he had to be a prick, and worst of all, and breathtaking prick.

Well, you ought to speak up for yourself because the silence was flooding the room and it wouldn’t help your case just to stay quiet and wait for him to leave. 

“Agent Kennedy, what a pleasant surprise,”  You uttered in a breathy tone, still without the strength to actually step inside. Leon raised an eyebrow and cocked a smile that just made you even more annoyed. 

Before he could even speak, you continued: “Sorry for the delay in our meeting, I’ve been busy with personal errands.” 

Ugh, at least you were good at being professional-ish.

Leon's eyes were full of something between total disbelief and something else you couldn’t really place.

Your heart almost crawled out of your chest when he approached you, so incredibly close to where you were standing as still as a damn statue. You could do nothing whatsoever as his huge physique came so fucking close to you and you almost felt like fainting when his arm reached behind you to just close the damn door. However, judging by the smug grin he had on his lips, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Your eyes were fixated on his huge chest and the veins on his neck, your nostrils absorbing the delicious scent of cologne and something citric… Dear god, this man was a danger walking.

You could only breathe again when he finally gave you personal space. 

“Sorry, don’t like the ogling eyes.” 

He said smoothly, returning to your messed-up desk. You were at a loss for words as you tried to regain some confidence to answer him. He had some nerve to keep meddling in your stuff and— wait, was he holding the file you had on him?

“Hey! Keep your nose out of my stuff!” 

Well, that was out of character for you, the way you snatched the folder out of his pretty hands like a toddler wanting their toy back. The coffee —that by this point was cold —in your other hand almost spilled on your carpeted floor.

You just tugged the file with your hand while he looked at you in surprise, clearing your throat and taking a step back. Now you probably needed to explain why you had a really specific file of him on your desk in the first place…

One that looked like it was thoroughly reviewed over and over again, and also had many pictures of him… 

At least the look in his eyes  —which were still full of amusement — prompted some explanation. 

 “What? I’m the researcher, I needed to know who you were before the meeting,”

As if anyone could believe that, he certainly didn’t, but god knows you were going to cling to your lie like it was the truest truth ever. 

“When they told me you were shy I wasn’t expecting this.” 

You scoffed and rolled your eyes, trying to move freely in your space around him. You carefully saved his file on your cabinet and just threw the fucking cold coffee in the trash, it was ruined anyway.

“Not shy, introverted.” You corrected, trying to get behind your desk. He looked at you still with a smug grin on his lips, he was enjoying making you nervous and annoyed. 

Before he could make another clever remark, you stopped him. 

“Listen Agent Kennedy, I would appreciate it if  in the future —”

“Call me Leon.” 

What? 

“I’m sorry?” 

“You have nothing to apologize for, please call me Leon.” 

Oh but wasn’t he just a fucking smooth operator.

“Listen, Leon,” Oh your patience was running thin, and it wasn’t helping that he kept looking at you with that smug grin and those huge arms  —like seriously, huge — crossed, just owning your personal space like it was nothing.

“Right now I don’t have any time for you, so I would appreciate it if in the future you don’t just break into my office.” 

Firm, professional, you felt proud of how you handled it. Cause right now you just really wanted to erase that smug expression from his face with a slap. Of course, he could be a real smoke show but he was just getting on your nerves with all his…all of him, really. 

Nevertheless, he continued to just sit on your desk giving zero fucks about how much you wanted him gone. Clearly he was having a great time making you uncomfortable and maybe a little flustered. It wasn't like you to yell or have a bad attitude towards anyone really, but you were having a hard time remaining cool in front of this smug man who kept meddling in your papers! 

"Do you mind?!" 

You said almost in a yell. Leon giggled, looking at you innocently. 

"I don't mind at all."  

You opened your mouth in disbelief,  he was just toying with you now. 

"Listen kitten— Can I call you kitten?"

"No, you may not!" 

Now you were sure you were red as a tomato.

"So, kitten, I understand your annoyance but I think we’re even, given your very specific investigation about me I could say that we both broke personal boundaries.”  

You were speechless, he was somehow right but clearly, you were not going to give him the satisfaction of agreeing with him. He was the one who broke into your office and he was the one who’s all in your personal space. How dare he compare your innocent file of everything you could find of him with this? Pfft, you did nothing wrong. 

“Now that we are somewhat acquainted, there should not be any problem with us working together.”  He leaned in and you felt your breath catch in your throat, “Closely, together.” 

What now? 

Leon kept staring at you, scanning your every reaction, almost savoring your internal struggles like he could read them completely. 

“Wh—What do you mean?” You asked in a tremulous voice.

Something in Leon’s eyes flickered as he bit his lower lip and almost suppressed a chuckle. 

“You know, because you’re the best researcher and the first line of intel it makes sense that we work alongside one another.” 

Ok, you were having an actual breakdown and it showed. What did he mean about that? Well, you knew what he meant but like what did he really mean? That you were going to have to see him every day? You could barely bear this unexpected intrusion and now he's telling you that you're going to be working partners? You didn’t do partners, you worked alone, you researched and informed the headquarters and that was it. 

Leon kept looking at you with his head slightly tilted to the side, clearly enjoying your reaction. You sucked in a breath, trying to collect yourself. 

“Is it really necessary?” 

And it was the only thing you thought to ask, you knew Leon was there to join your unit and it did make sense what he was saying but a part of you just wanted it to be a lie. You didn’t know how much you could bear having someone like him all over you at all times, the thought of it just made you…quiver. 

And no, it wasn’t because he was incredibly hot and unbelievably gorgeous, no, it wasn’t because his mere presence made your heart race and your insides burn and of course, it wasn’t because the sound of his voice and that stupid grin and the way he just called you kitten made your panties soaked in a fucking second. 

Fuck, you couldn’t be thinking of that when he was still right in front of you like a fucking predator smelling how aroused his little victim was…

Ok, you really needed to stop now.

Leon chuckled, “Don’t worry, I won’t bother you too much, kitten.” 

That fucking nickname again, your panties were as soaked as they could get. 

“Stop calling me that.” 

You tried to sound more serious than strangled but failed completely, Leon cracked another one of his fucking smirks and you felt the heat in your body increase, god, you weren’t sure if he annoyed you as much as he turned you on. 

God no, he just annoyed you, that’s all. 

“Why? It fits you perfectly, a shy kitten.” 

Oh god, you could kill him.

“I’m not shy. I’m introverted!” You exclaimed, feeling your face burning up, “And certainly not a kitten!” 

Sandy better fucking get her hands ready making you all the croquettes you wanted, she owes you one after this. 

[witchofthesouls]

I’m hopping in on Stuck in Airport anons request, the Megatron bit got me projecting the image of Megs making a fucking bento box, it’s both cute, hilarious, and mildly terrifying. Why do I get the feeling he’d make a killer bento box though? I’ve never imagine Megatron one to back down from a challenge, he’d probably even make those cute little animal shaped ones.

Doubly hilarious for me because I have random thoughts of TFP Megatron's cooking-style is a weird mix between Swedish Meal Time, Yukihira Soma from Food Wars, and Josh from Good Mythical Kitchen.

No one knows what will happen, but there will be so much raw chaos and off-screen crashing since the kitchen is his domain. Megatron will not tolerate anyone else inside it, especially to feed his own child.

You won't know what you're getting. It could be something directly from Julia Child's cookbook, a replica of a dish from an anime, or the 7-Eleven beef wellington.

If you want a bento box, you shall receive a bento box, but be ready to see Decepticon logos everywhere since you obviously can't wear it upon your human self, so this is a compromise he's taking and running away with it.

The masks on the rice bears and boiled eggs, the cuts of the fruits, vegetables, and fried steak, and you have no idea how he managed to shape the Decepticon badge inside a croquette, but he done it, including the same shade of purple, and it's absolutely delicious. Even the cute animals have a menacing red stare and set of fangs.

[jujumin-translates]

Event | Bridegroom Battle Royale AGAIN | Chapter 7

The third challenge of the “Bridegroom Battle Royale” begins!

Banri: Hmm, what to make…

Masumi: Potatoes, carrots, and then…

Banri: You’re not even hesitating on usin’ all those spices and ingredients. You’re making curry, right? You’re certainly the same as ever…

Masumi: Obviously.

Haruto: Those ingredients that he has… Hmm, I see.

Banri: Aight, I’ve decided. Time to get to work.

Haruto: …

*Knife cuts on cutting board*

Banri: Hey, you’re pretty good with a knife. You’re def used to this.

Haruto: Of course. I’ve been living alone for quite a while now.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya: Put this stuff in the frying pan, and then…

Misumi: There are lotsa people out there~. Better put on plastic gloves…

Misumi: Well then, with all my heart, triangle, triangle, triangle onigiri~.

Shift: You’re wearing gloves! That’s smart ‘cause people probably wouldn’t be able to eat it if you made it with your bare hands.

Misumi: What are you making, Shift~?

Shift: Croquette udon, of couse!

Misumi: Waah, the soup stock smells so good~! It looks like it’ll be really yummy!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Haruto: …Hm, that’s the perfect flavor.

Banri: And now to serve it on a plate… There.

Masumi: Alright, now to put the spices in the pot…

Banri: Huh? You’re just putting the spices in now, Masumi? There ain’t much time left… You even gonna make it in time?

Masumi: I don’t know, but probably…

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Host: There are some pretty good smells in the air~. Let’s see what our grooms have cooked up!

Host: …And, I hate to say it, but it seems like there were some people who couldn’t complete the challenge in time.

Host: Unfortunately, they will have to be disqualified.

Masumi: …I ran out of time.

Banri: That’s ‘cause you spend all that time obsessing over thickening the curry…

Sakuya: I’m sorry that you got disqualified, but the Director and the rest of us know you tried your hardest!

Tsumugi: It was really amazing how you cooked with such attention to detail.

Masumi: Sigh…

Shift: I still wanna eat your curry, Masumi-san!

Host: Without further ado, let’s let our judges taste the dishes prepared by our grooms!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Host: Thank you all for waiting! Here are the results!

*Monitor makes a sound*

Azami: Ooh, Misumi-san’s onigiri is pretty well ranked.

Azami: His comments say “He’s like a caring devil.” and “All his onigiris were completely flawless triangles!”. (1)

Shift: There’s also “They were really simple, yet still very delicious.” That’s amazing!

Misumi: Ehehe, thank you, everyone!

Director: Sakuya-kun’s spaghetti, Haruto-kun’s mini pizzas, and Shift-kun’s croquette udon were also really well received.

Azami: Your comment says, “Easy, yet delicious and stylish,”

Haruto: Naturally. I put my all into my cooking.

Tsumugi: They said “It was really good!” about Banri-kun’s paella, but…

Tsumugi: There’s also “It’s a little too high class. I’d be worried about the family’s finances…”. So I guess there are pros and cons.

Banri: Seriously… I was too focused on makin’ it taste good that I didn’t even think about how much it’d cost or the family budget.

Sakuya: Ah, Masumi-kun got a comment!

Sakuya: “I really wanted to try this guy’s curry because it looked like he was being really particular about it… Too bad he was disqualified.”

Masumi: Sigh… If only I had a little more time…

Host: And here are the winners!

Banri: Fuck, I was eliminated, huh…

Azami: Masumi-san and Banri-san were dropped, and some other people too…

Azami: The only four people left are Sakuya-san, Misumi-san, Shift, and Haruto-san.

Tsumugi: That’s incredible, you four!

Misumi: Yaaay!

Sakuya: I never thought I’d make it this far…

Director: Even though you were eliminated, I’m sure both of your dishes tasted really good, Masumi-kun and Banri-kun.

Tsumugi: Yeah. I really want you to make them again at the dorms next time.

Banri: Roger that. But I’d better think about the price of the ingredients or Sakyo-san’s gonna smite me down right then and there.

Masumi: You taught me how to make curry, Director, so I’ll make sure to make it as delicious as possible just for you.

Director: Thanks, I’m looking forward to it.

Host: Well then, let’s move on to the next round.

Host: The next challenge is “Make your bride’s heart throb and protect your marriage! Necktie challenge!”

Sakuya: Eh?

Shift: What’s that?

Host: The action of undoing a tie is a favorite of many women.

Host: You will be asked to tie your own tie neatly and then compete to see who can remove their tie in such a way that makes your bride-to-be squeal!

Banri: They threw somethin’ in that’s different from last time.

Tsumugi: We didn’t practice for this one, so I hope everyone will do okay.

Shift: Some people get all giddy seeing you take off a tie? Huh… You learn somethin’ new everyday.

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

• • •

T/N:

(1) The first comment originally is “気遣いの鬼”, literally “caring devil”. I looked it up but I couldn’t find any definition, but I think it might be something like a type of boyfriend, which would make sense in this context. But I don’t have an exact definition of what that kind of boyfriend would be considered in English.

[taran-chan]

on a Wednesday, in a cafe (chapter 23)

Read on AO3

wednesday lunchbox: hamburg steak

“So… How did this happen?” Gilgamesh asks in bewilderment.

Upon hearing his voice, Thena turns on the couch to look at him.

“Fuck if I know,” she grumbles, “Ask him.”

Kingo exclaims excitedly next to her, “Gil, my man! We’ve been waiting for you, come sit!” and they scoot a bit so Gil can sit down beside his girlfriend in her living room. Of all the things he expects to see, and all the people he expects to meet when he steps into her house at over 9 pm after closing his shop, seeing Kingo watching TV with Thena is the one thing he never thought he’d see. It looks like they are watching some travel-cooking reality show, their eyes are glued to the screen and they both seem to have a dreamy look on their faces when the host introduces the most popular food in that area.

Gil puts an arm over Thena’s shoulders, kissing the crown of her head, “Did you have dinner?”

“I did,” Thena and Kingo answer at the same time.

“But look how delicious those croquettes are,” Kingo sighs wistfully, “They have various kinds of fillings and sauces.”

“They showed hamburg steak a while ago,” Thena adds, “If you hadn’t made that for my lunch today, the craving would have killed me.”

“Yeah, that’s true, your hamburg steak is out of this world. I can’t even tell you how grateful I am that it’s on Eternal’s fixed menu,” Kingo says, “I was so fucking busy on the court today so I had to eat instant ramen for lunch. Thena pitied me and shared some of her food with me.”

Thena’s lunch today is Gil’s hamburg steak and pasta salad. A thick beef patty is fried until it’s brown outside. It looks hard and chewy but in fact very soft and juicy to the core, it’s the softest patty she has ever had. A small block of cheese at its center deepens the taste, with a layer of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and a sunny side egg on top. When she cuts it, the yolk mixes with the sauce and gravy, creating an unstoppable combination. It’s Gilgamesh’s proudest version of hamburg steak. Other than that, he also used tomato sauce and melted cheese for it. Not to mention the salad pasta with rosé cream sauce that is trending these days. Long story short, Thena had a great lunch.

“What are you doing here at this hour anyway?” Gil asks Kingo.

“Oh, I just bought a new game. Was gonna bring it over to your place to play with you, but Sprite said you would be at Thena’s so I figured I can come here early. She has a bigger TV anyway, it’s worth watching you two’s disgusting behaviour.”

“I’ve got to stop telling my plans to Sprite,” Gil grunts to himself.

“We played a few rounds earlier,” Thena says.

“Oh? What kind of game is it?”

“Racing cars,” Kingo grins, “We tried out the game but then we got bored so we decided to just watch TV and wait.”

“We got bored?” Thena repeats, “And not because you were bitter because you kept losing?”

“No.”

“Sure, Kingo,” she scoffs and stands up, “Play with him then.”

Gil tugs at her fingers, “Where are you going?”

“Getting some snacks,” she kisses the tip of his nose, “You need anything?”

“Just you, my dear.”

“Give me a break,” Kingo groans.

“I thought you said my big TV screen was worth seeing this,” Thena pecks Gil’s lips once more before heading to the kitchen. She grabs a yogurt for her and two cans of lemonade and returns to the couch. They’re about to start the race.

“Which one is yours, Gil?” She asks, tearing open the yogurt lid.

“The big one.”

“The driver is cute.”

“Let’s go!” Kingo roars.

They play one round, then another. Gil wins the first round and Kingo the second. Thena watches them play while enjoying her yogurt, kissing Gil when he wins and giving him tips after Kingo defeats him.

“That smells nice. Is that a new lotion?” Gil asks when Thena rubs some lotion on her arms. He slams his car against Kingo’s, kicking him out of the track and speeds through the finish line in record time, just so he can turn over and wrap his arms around her to check for himself. That’s how he wins the third round.

“You like it?” She smears the rest of the lotion from her hand on his arms.

“Very,” he replies and holds her closer. Thena smirks, tilting her head to give his shoulder a kiss. Her half an hour spent scrolling through that shopping website to pick the best lotion has paid off wonderfully.

“Alright, alright, stop groping each other,” Kingo blows a raspberry at them, “Gil, last round, come on. At least let me pull it to a tie tonight.”

“Fine, but don’t cry when you lose again,” Gil says, picking up his console when Thena’s legs still draped over his thighs, and she doesn’t have the slightest intention of putting them down. Gil hugs her legs to him as if they’re a long pillow, lowering his head to kiss her knees as she stretches out on the couch, her head on the armrest.

“Are you sleepy?” He asks.

“I’m good, go on.”

Gil hums, dropping another kiss on her knees then hits the “Start” button.

★

Their cars are making the final curve when the screen goes black. Not just the TV but the lights and air conditioner are also out. They hear Kingo’s frustrated scream mixes with the groans of their neighbours and know that the entire street just has a blackout. Kingo throws his console on the coffee table and flops down on the other end of the couch like a sulking kid. He tries to put his feet on Gil’s lap but Thena kicks him away. Gil sweeps their feet down to get up.

“I’ll go check outside,” he says.

“I’ll get the lantern,” Thena stands up as well.

“I’ll get some snacks,” the other lawyer yawns.

“Kingo, what are you still doing here?” His boss crosses her arms, “We have a blackout, clean up and go home.”

“I hate driving without the streetlights,” he follows her into the kitchen, “And besides, we might have the electricity back in no time. I still need to get even.”

Thena doesn’t want to waste her breath on him anymore. She figures he would leave eventually if the blackout went on later into the night, so she ignores him. He casually opens her fridge, scouring for food as if he’s in his own house while she’s rummaging through the tools cabinet to find her camping lantern. She charged it after they were back from the trip so it brings lights to the room immediately. She takes the lantern with her to the door. Kingo is staring into her fridge, torn between her blueberry-flavoured yogurt and fresh grapes.

“There are ice creams in the freezer,” Thena suggests, “I just bought them after work but the blackout might go on for a while so go for it.”

“What? Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Kingo pulls open the freezer, “Holy shit, there’s a whole ice cream shop in here! You want one?”

“Sure.”

“Which one?”

“Give me those two ice cream sandwiches.”

He hands her two packs of ice cream that have a fish-shaped waffle on the wrapper. One has chocolate ice cream filling, the other is matcha ice cream and red bean paste. Kingo chooses a popsicle shaped like a triangle piece of watermelon then tails Thena outside. Gil glances at them when they approach.

“The whole neighbourhood is out. I think it’s because there were so many air conditioners running and the lines were overloaded. The electricity should be back in a few hours, in the morning at most.”

“Your ingredients!” Thena remembers, “And Makkari’s sweets too. Won’t they get ruined?”

“It’s fine,” he shakes his head, “I have an electric generator at home. I’ll be back there in a bit and turn it on.”

“Nice! Let’s move the party over there,” Kingo cheers.

“No, I have to save the energy to maintain the kitchen’s equipment. If we use the lights and TV upstairs, we might not be able to hold it until tomorrow morning.”

“Fine, whatever,” Kingo sighs, settling down on one of the front steps and sucking on his popsicle. It isn’t so bad out here, since there’s some light breeze once in a while.

“You’re not staying tonight then?” Thena asks, hoping he wouldn’t pick out her disappointed expression in the dark. But what he can’t see, he hears it loud and clear in her voice.

“For me?” He points at the matcha fish ice cream in her hand.

“You were very fond of it the last time we ate,” she just replies with that and offers it to him, but he takes her chocolate one instead, tearing the wrap and finally switches with his. He notices that she trimmed her nails recently and is having trouble with tearing wrappers apart in the last few days. Thena bites her lower lips to hide away her shy smile as he kisses her forehead before biting into the sweet, cold fish. The night only gets sweeter and sweeter.

“I’ll leave to turn on the generator, then I'll be back,” Gil says.

“I’ll go with you,” Thena blurts. What happened the last time she let him leave alone is still burning in the back of her mind. The memory is too fresh for her.

“Okay,” Gil extends his arm and she leans against him. He rubs her biceps soothingly, “I can always use some company, especially yours.”

She smiles, “I know.”

★

They leave the door open to get some fresh air inside and sit on the steps with Thena’s lantern. Kingo is two steps under them, checking on their other friends through their groupchat. They’ve lost electricity as well but everyone is fine, despite many, many complaints. Sprite can’t have her last-minute review, Sersi can’t grade her students' homework, today is Phastos’ family movie night, and Makkari was too worried about her pastries that she jumped on her scooter and raced to Eternal to turn on the generator, even though Gil has reassured her. When they have made sure she got home safely, most of them decide to call it a night.

The wind dies down eventually and the air gets muggy again. Still, they don’t move because it’s cooler out there than the inside. They bring out more ice creams from Thena’s fridge, getting a sugar rush and starting to count cars that pass the pitch black street. Thena disappears into the house for a few minutes and returns with the lego flower set that Phastos gave Gil on his birthday. She took it home with her yesterday and they planned on playing with it today before Kingo conveniently squeezed himself into their schedule. They spread the pieces out and put them together under the yellow light, sweats running down their backs. Thena has this strategy where she categorizes the pieces into different groups and Gil, more deliberately than accidentally, puts random pieces together into funny shapes to make Thena laugh. Kingo stops refreshing his social media apps and joins them.

“I wish we had some watermelon here, I want watermelons,” he whines as he finishes a lego rose.

“Stop complaining, it’ll just get hotter,” Gil says.

“But I'd appreciate it if we had one or two mini fans here,” Thena ponders, “Reminds me to buy some online. The summer is only starting so we might get a few more blackouts like this.”

“Would you mind getting one for me?”

“Sure, you can help me choose them,” she grins.

Gil hovers a lego violet in front of her and she catches it with a chuckle, holding the flower close to her chest. He brings a hand to the dip of her waist, his other links with hers on her thighs.

“Tell you what,” Kingo’s voice sounds far away, “Do you want to know a way to cool down?”

“How?” Gil asks with his lips pressed on Thena’s hair.

“Move away from each other!” The man is very close to shrieking, “Get some distance, man! There is plenty of room up there and you two are basically on top of each other like that, no wonder it’s hot as fuck. Even I feel hot on your behalf.”

Gil moves his gaze from Thena to him as if he's talking in gibberish and Thena simply says "No" with that cold stare of hers. Kingo just scoffs in frustration, finally chooses to just pre-order two lunch sets for tomorrow; grilled eel rice for Ikaris and hamburg steak for himself. Then he leaves them to resume whatever they’re doing. That’s easier.

[the-scrappy-stinger]

OH SHIT, RIGHT, KitKat Jesus! Let's see how he's doing.

It starts with a job application call-back. Write-back. This guy's going to cook at the Goryokaku-Tei, THE Goryokaku-Tei, and we... don't really know who he is other than his curry restaurant isn't doing great.

But he does give us a flashback to when he went to Goryokaku-Tei as a little kid... and hated it, because he was like 10 and he wanted his goddamn chicken nuggies. And guess who's there causing a scene?

He looks like a thick-eyebrow'd Apollo Justice.

Well, this dude's about to be disappointed.

So, following a wave of dissatisfied applicants, the guy makes a big batch of grandma's curry and presents it to the head chef of the non-Japanese cooking branch.

So he doesn't pass, obviously. So he leaves to go throw himself off a bridge until he catches the smell of curry on the wind coming from a local food truck. He has a bowl and enjoys the hell out of it, and then as he's settin' up to jump again...

I'm not doing fewer isolated panels on purpose! This volume is a LOT of padding, so the pages where something happens just tend to isolate themselves. Kitakata talks for a while about how they did market research to find that people mostly just want to eat the curry they ate in school when they were kids. While Kitakata and the guy talk a while, we learn that Big Chef Bad Boss is one of those chefs that changes the recipe depending on who's eating, giving his richer customers better food. Kitakata... doesn't hear this part, but he seems to know it's happening anyway because apparently it happens to him a lot. He rolls out with... guy. I am almost certain we do NOT know this guy's name unless it's written in Japanese in the panels somewhere. Either way, they roll out for revenge on the motorcyle.

After pulling "We don't need no stinking badges" on the sous chef, KitKat is given the test. The chef sabotages him by giving him a single hour to cook instead of two, so KitKat manages by giving the curry meat a dry rub and microwaving the vegetables to soften them. It's delicious and he passes. While he (and the nameless dude for some reason) get hired, Big Bad Evil Boss Guy plans to give them grunt work, underpay them, and force them to quit while he makes nice with the rich customers.

First task: PEEL MANY POTATOES. IN ONE HOUR.

You know I read a fairy tail like this once...

SO KitKat is so badass at cooking that he works there for a MONTH, and the Big Evil Bad Boss Guy decides to make him the new sous chef. If he can pull off the menu, evil shitty sous chef is fired. Nameless curry guy is... around. Somewhere.

So the evil sous chef bribes nameless curry guy into sabotaging the food. But KitKat finds out, because of course he does.

So sous chef, whose name is Nimi by the way, and KitKat yell at each other for a few minutes until they decide to settle this the only way they know how.

Nameless curry guy also apologizes and KitKat is mad, but not mad enough to focus on it. It's time for the DEEP FRIED BURGER BATTLE!

Nimi uses all the best ingredients and makes high-class cuisine fried meat. KitKat makes a meat-and-potato croquette. KitKat wins because he used kitchen leftovers and made very plain filling food, whereas Nimi's was so delicious nobody could finish it.

I'm not making that up.

And THIS is why he's KitKat Jesus.

So Nimi decides to quit, but as he's moving out...

He spots conspiracy! The chefs want KitKat Jesus to lead their crusade against the corrupt and capitalist Big Head Bad Chef Dude Guy. KitKat's like "Why are you telling me that?!" and the chefs are like "but he's meeaan!"

Yeah me too, buddy.

Basically KitKat makes them swear loyalty to his cause and they plot how they're gonna fuck over Bad Chef Bad Dude Guy Bad. Meanwhile Nimi tattles. Mea-

... meanwhile.

... I'm gonna RUN OUT OF PICTURES- okay so to sum up fast. Bad Bag Big Bad Boss Guy invites over a bunch of rich dudes and the menu is fancy shit.

And instead, KitKat and the Oath of the Knife staff serve them the plain menu with the boring and less-good stuff normal customers eat. Then Nimi comes in with his own menu like "Behold, I have made the proper menu" but he made it all different and low-fat because all of the rich bigwigs are old and get indigestion.

MAN he's getting a lot of Jesus light this arc.

Big Big Bad Bad Boss Boss is not fired, and KitKat hangs around to check on the newest developments...

And curry guy just kind of melts into the background, I guess.

Arc length: kind of 10 chapters, because it's continuing into the next one. But this one says End, so we'll put a pin in it for now.

[donttrythereisnocureforwhatweare]

Welp, @sadghostgirl001 here it is. Nearly 4K of salt and fluff. I hope you like this.

Warnings: omegaverse, Team Cap being dicks, some feminization but barely noticed

Stephen could say he understood both sides in this rift, as much as he hates to admit it. He still thought it was awful, as it didn’t affect both parties at all.

Let’s recap, to see why our soon-to-be Sorcerer Supreme was getting real tired of his workmates’ bullshit.

It began when Tony Stark proposed Peter Parker, one of his formers students at M.I.T. when he graduated with honors within five years, both undergraduate and graduate programs. He could understand why Tony was attracted to someone as brilliant as him, even though the young man wasn’t older that 23.

And yes, that was the factor that broke tensions between the Avengers. Stephen massaged his temples while waiting for his coffee to be over as his workmates sent the others murderous looks. Why, why did they were fighting for something so banal. Especially when neither Tony, nor Peter Parker where in the Avengers.

That caught you off ward, right?

Well, let me explain something first. After Tony was fatally injured in Siberia, he had to abandon the Avengers’ initiative because of his injuries, as he couldn’t pilot the Iron Man armor any more. He was offered a position as a consultant, but he refused, as last time he was just giving advice to projects he didn’t have control with ended up with three helicarriers crashing on Washington. Also, it was the best time for retiring, and focused his time both in his relief charities and reviewing projects from Stark Industries. It seemed new workers felt safe when he was around, so he was happy to see those fresh spirits making new stuff, and he was glad to mother hen them all. A few years ago, he also accepted a proposition in M.I.T., as part of the engineering department.

Peter was just a college student. He was majoring in Chemistry and Biology, and was assisting to a graduate program Stephen couldn’t actually remember. He wouldn’t have met Tony if the ex-avenger didn’t look forward to meet him, as Peter was currently one of the big gossips between the professors because his brilliance. And after that, as those pink press magazines Wong keeps around said, everything was history. Tony proposed Peter after the graduation ceremony at a restaurants that would probably cost more than the Sanctum maintenance. It was an open mic night, so Tony decided to dust off his musical skills and proposed to the young man while playing the piano, someone recorded it, and it went viral. Maybe that was the intention.

Of course, it became known for the Avengers too, received with different reactions. Rogers and his merrymen got the most visceral reactions: ranging from saying that Tony was a complete pervert for marrying someone nearly thirty years younger than you to saying that Peter was a temptress probably from Hydra who was seducing Tony to steal his new weapons, no mattering that neither Tony nor SI made weapons anymore, the closest to making weapons was checking and repairing War Machine equipment from Rhodes’ personal request, or that Peter PArker was completely clean, as he was a close friend from Gwen Stacy, their friendly neighbour spider sentinel. They met in a ballet academy since they were five and they quickly hit it off, even going to the same major and minoring in ballet studies. Gwen couldn’t understand how Peter could finish college so fast, but the young omega told her she could do the same if she weren’t getting any of her extra “night runs”. She was static after the notice and she was going to defend his friend with tooth and nail.

Alongside Gwen there were others, like Captain Marvel and the Asgardians who didn’t see the age difference as an obstacle, with Carol’s aging being slowed down by space and the Asgardians living for millenia. With them there were others, like Danny and Bruce, who, even though not outwardly supportive, preferred to leave Peter and Tony alone, as they didn’t have any business with the Avengers’ Initiative.

And so those were the sides, with Luke, Jessica and him at the middle, wondering for the one thousand time why did they decided to join.

“Is everyone here?” Asked Rogers on his usual “mission” face. For Stephen, he looked like he just sucked a lemon. As seeing how the rest made a hum of approvement, he began his speech.

“Avengers, we can celebrate that thanks to us the world is at peace. And we can thank all of that to our training and discipline…” Stephen wondered if anyone else had drifted off already. He just sipped his coffee from time to time, drifting some glaces to Rogers to look like he was listening when Gwen got up from her seat, at Stephen’s side, like pushed by a spring.

“LEAVE PETER AND TONY ALONE FOR FUCKS’ SAKE!” she shouted, and if it wasn’t for Jennifer and Stephen she would have thrown a punch to the face of America.

“Sit down, Stacy” Rogers ordered, and for a moment Stephen wished to free Gwen. She didn’t stopped in her accusations though.

“DON’T TRY TO GIVE ME ANOTHER OF YOUR MORALISTIC BULLSHIT! YOU KNOW SHIT ABOUT THEM! I’VE BEEN THERE! I’VE SEEN THEM! THEY LOVE EACH OTHER, AND THAT’S IT!”

“Gwen, I know you’ve seen them, and that Peter’s your friend” Steve tried to placate, something that didn’t work because he used the same tone someone would to a toddler. “But sometimes, we don’t know our friends as good as we think. Sometimes, they might be hiding dark intentions and we just can’t see it because they’re our friends”

“What. Like your friend Bucky, you say?”

The room fell in silence. If Khamala or Miles were there, surely they’ve just blown on screams.

“Ghost Spider. Out” Rogers said, and Gwen stormed out of the room, closing the door with a slam. Stephen leaned into Jennifer and whispered.

“I think I’ve chosen a bad moment to space out, what it’s going on?”

“Steve want us to make an “intervention” on Tony”

“What?”

“He wants to go to Tony’s home and convince him out of marrying his fiancée”

“You can’t be serious”

“He just asked for voluntaries to go to the mission. All his friends offered”

“Of course” Stephen frowned, this wasn’t going to end well. “Someone needs to go with them and keep an eye for problems”

“Yeah, sure, but who? Don’t look at me, I’m not going to bother Tony Stark with those headless chickens”

Stephen sighed. “If you want to do something you need to do it yourself. Hey Rogers! I’m coming”

“W-What?” said Rogers, and his surprise was contagious. Everyone turned their head at him, and Stephen began to regret already his decision.

Peter felt a tickling sensation on both of his sides and nearly threw the pot because of it.

“Tony!” the omega protested, turning to see his fiancee behind him with the biggest grin he could make. “You were supposed to help me with the dinner! Not to distract me!”

“Sorry baby, but you know that the kitchen is my mortal enemy” said Tony, picking a spoon. “By the way what are you cooking now? It smells delicious”

“Oh no, take your hands away from the gravy!” Peter ordered while swatting Tony’s hand with the wooden spoon.

“Ok, ok I’ll stop,” Tony giggled raising his hands in defeat. “What a poor destiny of mine, not being able to taste my fiancée’s delicious cuisine”

“Oh please, Tony. You eat what I cook every day! Nothing’s bad gonna happen if you wait ten minutes”

"Awww, but I'm hungry now!" Tony's hands traveled downwards to his top's end. Peter squirmed, trying to get away from the alpha.

"Please Tony!" he said before going back to the pot, the sauce began to boil, alarming the omega. "Tony, please, can you be a dear and get me one of the casserole plates?"

"Everything for my Prince" he said. He gave him a quick peck while putting the vegetables on the plate, despite Peter's protest. He wanted to help after all.

"Alright, so we have the potato salad, the green bean casserole and the pork chops with gravy, anything else?"

"What? Just that?" Peter closed the oven and looked at the kitchen. "Shit I forgot the croquettes!"

"Croquettes? Peter isn't it too much?"

"And the mashed potatoes! Fuck, fuck this is a mess, sorry Tony!"

"Hey no problem, it's just our Honeybear with Gwen and some friends, there is nothing to worry about"

"...Alright" said Peter with a huff. "Can you get the croquettes out the refrigerator please? I don't have time to make the mashed potatoes myself but there is some of the other somewhere"

In the end, they managed to prepare both the croquettes and the mashed potatoes before the doorbell rang. At the other's side there were Rhodes, Carol, Gwen, Luke and Jessica. Gwen and Peter hugged each other, the spider-woman lifting him and a King a whirl.

"Careful Gwen or you'll make Tony jealous" teased Rhodey, which the billionaire dismissed it.

"Sorry, Tony. I just missed Peter so much!" she said as Peter gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I missed you too, Gwen. Tell me, how has been your summer?"

With that they moved towards the dining room, staring in complete awe at the banquet Peter has prepared. The dinner was amazing, talking and laughing. It was such a nice evening, those at the start of the summer when the soft breeze cooling the place.

After they finished the dessert, three chocolate ice cream cups with caramel syrup, they began to stream a Spanish movie, something about a bunch of priest joining a soccer tournament, when the doorbell rang again. Peter looked at his guests, asking if someone else was supposed to come. When they answered that no, anyone’s going to come, Tony decided to be the one to get to the door.

He certainly didn’t expect Steve and his gang at the other side of the door, dressed in full costume that made Tony harden his grip of the doorknob.

“Rogers! Guys! ... What a surprise” he mentally chastised himself for the poor rhyme. “What… What are you doing here? There is a mission and you came to pick them up?”

“... Yes. There’s a mission” answered Steve, his expression softening. Tony had a bad feeling about it. “But it’s here, we don’t have to pick up anyone?”

“What? Here? Shit! PETER! GO TO THE BASEMENT!” Tony was about to get back to the living room when Steve’s grabbed him by the shoulder. Tony choked on his breath, he was going to have a long therapy session next Monday…

“Tony, the mission is here, in this house” surely Tony’s expression must have alarmed Steve as he quickly proceeded to further explain. “Tony, we need to talk”

“Wait,” Tony shook his head. “Are you telling me that your supposed mission is coming to talk with me? Steve, it has been years since I left the Avengers Initiative. Not because I want, but because I can’t pilot my armor after Siberia” He said. Someone could read between the lines that last phrase was a quip at Rogers, but that Captain was a bit dense when he was on a mission. More like, he didn’t pay attention to anything else but what it could affect it.

“Tony, is not about that…”

“Yeah, sure. Then why are you coming to my house close to midnight and saying you want to talk to me?”

“Well, technically, we’re not in your house…” commented the Ant-guy he didn’t remember the name.

“If you only came here to blurb ridiculous remarks like the last one, then you can go and kindly fuck off”

“Wow, so much for old friends” said Clint, winning a tired scowl from Rogers.

“Tony, I know we had been bothering you about returning to the Avengers in the past, but today’s different.” Natasha came to the front and leaned on the door frame, letting Tony see her feminine figure. Strange, at the back of the group, did his best to not to roll his eyes as the ridiculous scene. Wanda looked at him with her eyes narrowed, but he was sure the mind repelling spell was working.

“Yeah, right, like it will not jump to that after today’s pathetic excuse is over. Listen, if you came for anything else, I’d probably would have let you in! Really! Anything else! But no, for you I’m only Iron Man. Tony Stark is only a minor inconvenience as long you have my suits. But listen to this words very carefully: I. AM. RETIRED”

“Tony, I swear, we didn’t come to ask you to rejoin the Aven…”

“Tony? Is something wrong?” asked Peter from behind. Tony turned to see his friends behind his fiancée, and he circle a hand around him. For Peter to feel safe. For him to feel safe. “Are these your friends?”

“Well, you can say that…” smiled Steve before Tony could have the time to answer. Peter looked at Tony and frowned.

“Are these your friends Tony?” he asked again, at which Tony answered with a concerned look, like he was afraid of their reaction if he said no. Then, Peter turned to the others, whose were entertained by giving mean sideyes to Steve and his guys. Deciding to be the adult here, Peter put the most natural smile he could.

“I’m sorry guys. I wish we could invite you in but after today’s dinner we are nearly out of food!” something not completely false, as he was surprised to see how much their guests could eat. And the few left-overs that remained were packaged and ready for their guests to take, he was glad they liked how he cooked. “Why don’t you come next weekend so we have time to go grocery shopping?”

“Like Stark couldn’t call and get a supermarket right here in less than twenty minutes” scoffed Clint again, and this time it was Natasha who scowled at him.

“But it’s true!” Clint protested, and for Peter, it sounded like the neighbours’ toddler when she asked for a popsicle when she had already cookies for the afternoon snack. “Look at that ring! It probably costs more than my arrows”

At that commentary, Peter hid his left hand behind his back, feeling ashamed of his expensive gift. Yes, Tony loved to spend money on him, and Peter loved to wear his gifts to show how much he loved them, like that day’s outfit which were composed of a white, green patterned shirt, high-waisted cropped jeans and red and black espadrilles, all from the designer brand Fendi. Tony’s grip tightened, and Peter could smell the faint scent of his alpha, that citric, woody floral smell emerging past his cologne and the remains of motor oil. Peter surely must have been releasing pheromones too, as Tony got him closer, letting Peter’s head on his chest so he could secretly smell his fresh and fruity scent hidden beneath the smell of the kitchen and his perfume.

“I like to give presents my people I love, and my fiancée specially deserves those presents, no matter how expensive they are” said Tony with a possessive growl.

“That’s what we want to talk about!” exclaimed Steve, like Tony had finally gave the correct of an incredibly easy test. Tony didn’t like the other’s tone at all.

“What? That you don’t like how I spend my money?”

“No! not that. Well, it’s related but…”

“They want you to leave Peter” Carol interrupted, while Gwen was already on a defensive stance.

“Wait what?”

“It’s not what you think Tony!” Steve quickly began. “But, can’t you see? Tony, Peter’s way younger than you, don’t you think that there’s a reason for him to get closer to you?”

“What?” That was Peter’s turn to be confused. What was that man talking about?

“Steve, if you’re implying what I think you’re implying…”

“Tony, please, listen to me. I know what you’re thinking”

“No you’re not”

“Please Tony, let me talk for once. What we’re trying to say is that is not normal that a young man like him came to your life after you retired from the Avengers. How can you trust him?”

“Oh shit. Here we go again” complained Gwen before putting herself between the couple and Steve. “Listen I don’t fucking care you’re my superior because the President decided to get you back to being the public after your tantrum with the Accords. But hear me out when I say that Peter’s not, neither was nor will be a bad influence for Tony. Peter’s true to the bone so please stop this before you get himself in a even more embarrassing position”

“If Peter’s so good then why is he spending all Tony’s money?” asked Wanda. “He’s wearing designer clothes everyone can see that”

“She’s right Tony,” Steve squared up his shoulders, liberating some of his hormones that for Peter they smelled foul and rotten, burying his head on Tony’s chest.

“See? That’s one of his tricks Tony” accused Natasha this time, passing a hand through her hair so she could free some of her pheromones too. For tony they were sickeningly sweet, receiving Peter’s fresh smell like water on a dessert. “He’s playing the helpless deer in front of you to occupy all your time, so you can’t pay attention to most important things”

“And what are those more important things supposed to be?” Tony asked, nearly growling.

That question got them without words. Tony was almost impressed, seeing how suddenly everyone shut up with that question. Of course, Tony knew the answer, and he was sure the others knew it too.

“Hmmm…” Steve began, trying to win some time. “Hummh… Your work with SI…”

“I’ve been reviewing and checking SI most important projects since I retired, and I even get them done myself if there’s a request. I just took a step behind to let new talents grow”

“You? Getting out of spotlight? The world is ending” Wanda scoffed, getting a furious glare for Sam, the only one who didn’t talk, but he barely ever talked besides being Steve’s “yes man”.

“I do it for the people who deserve it, dearie” said Tony with such a saccharine tone that even the pet name sounded like an insult.

“You…” Wanda took a step closer but Steve rushed to calm her.

“Tony please…”

“Please what? You are the one who came into my house asking me to leave my fiancée who is, in fact, the person most important to me” Peter could see how Steve winced at the last sentence. “And, by the way, you didn’t answer my question. What are those “more important things” I need to take priority over Peter?”

“Well…” There was the uncomfortable silence again. “... You were a professor at M.I.T. wouldn’t dating with a former student be bad for your career?”

“Not if I don’t teach him, which I didn’t” Tony said in a matter-of-fact tone. Peter turned to see Rhodes’ barely concealed giggle. At least someone was amused with that situation.”

“And… what about your personal projects? ...Or private requests? ...You can’t take as much requests as before before you spend more time with your… with him” ooh goddammit, that was the last straw.

“What? If they are my personal projects I’ll take my time with them since I have no deadlines or whatsoever. And private requests? Are you serious? I don’t do private requests anymore. Now, if that absurd intention of getting my fiancée, my Peter, away from me is over, get away from my sight. And don’t come back, even if it’s not Avengers business related”

“Tony, I…”

“Leave, just leave Rogers. Please”

“I can’t leave Tony. We can’t leave. Not with Peter’s still at your side”

“Then I’ll have to kick you out”

“Please, Stark, like you can do something to us” Wanda sneered. Something completely foolish, as the other Avengers squared up.

“We’ll be happy to help Tony. I think it will be nice to throw out the trash after that dinner” Luke said.

“Guys, just get out please. I don’t want my house to turn into a battlefield”

“Too late Stark” said the Witch with a bright smile as the rest mist began to circle her, but before any of them could take a step, Stephen made a swift sweeping motion and the portal where they came from engulfed them one by one.

“I’m sorry of their number” apologised the wizard. “And to interrupt you, it seemed you were having a good time”

“Oh! It’s nothing. To be honest, we should thank you” said Peter. “Do you want to enter? I wasn’t lying with the food, but I can make tea and we have some pastries if you want”

“That would be great, actually” Stephen said and all went inside the house. Ster the tea the drinks went, and it was nearly four in the morning when they stopped talking.

“Stephen” Rhodey called before he entered the portal to his room. “Thank you for keeping an eye on them”

“Oh, it’s nothing”

“Seriously, thank you. You always seemed so neutral with this situation, I was impressed when I saw you sweeping them into the portal”

“I wasn’t going to let them hurt two civilians you know? Besides…”

“Yeah?”

“When Peter appeared, I saw their auras. I’ve been in many dimensions and worlds, Rhodey, and I can assure you, few times I’ve seen two auras as combined as theirs. It’s like they were…”

“Soulmates?”

“... Yes, you can say that”

“Keep that for the wedding speech, I’m sure Peter will love it”

“Do you think they’ll invite me?”

“After you saved Peter from Steve and his merry men? I should be afraid of you stealing the best man’s position” Rhodey joked before stepping to the portal. When Strange closed it, he took a last look to the cabin. The was a room light up, and Stephen could imagine them in the kitchen, Peter drinking an infusion while Tony cleaned the dishes. He sighed, wishing for them the best of lucks before going back to the Sanctum.

[pepperf]

End of Year Meme

Bethany asked: 1, 5 (if you want), 9, 16, 20, 42, 44, and if there’s one you haven’t answered yet but want to, that one :)

 1: First things first, did you have a good year?

Aww! I had… honestly, it was probably about 70/30 a good year. I had a few difficult months, particularly in late Spring, mainly from work being exhausting, and I've had good weeks and bad, and I'm sad that I've not had the brainspace to write at all – but on the whole I'm in a good place, and I have a lot to be thankful for: I'm healthy and financially stable, I've got a nice home, I've been on some nice holidays with friends and family, I've read a ton of new books and done various crafty things (which is what I do when my brain won't cooperate on the writing front), and I'm going to be an auntie in the next month or so. :D

5: Post your favorite selfie.

Oh, I took such a good selfie with my dad in Bruges!

Bruges: it's a fucking fairytale.

9: What was your favorite article of clothing this year? Post a pic if possible?

I've had an excellent year for T-shirts. I think my favourite is this one:

(From the excellent geeky T-shirt shop, Last Exit To Nowhere.)

I've offered to buy people a drink if they can tell me what it's referencing (it's a movie that most people will have seen), and so far I've not bought a single one. :) I'll leave it here in case people want to guess – although I can't really buy drinks over the internet, so you'll just have to have the satisfaction of being right. I'll post the answer in a follow-up. No cheating. ;)

16: What food did you try for the first time?

I tried steamed bao buns for the first time, at Shoryu in Oxford, with @bethanyactually​ and her husband. Cute, fluffy bun, and delicious, crisp, sweet/tangy pumpkin croquette inside… YUM.

20: Did you develop a new obsession?

Not really? I found a load of new things that I enjoyed, but I've not hit anything of the obsession level yet. I'm a serial monogamist when it comes to my obsessions, and I think The 100 still has to run its course – just one more year and I'm free (I don't care about spinoffs).

42: What are you most proud of accomplishing?

I'm most proud of finishing the reading challenge (50 books). I read a lot, I always have, but for the last few years it's been mostly fanfic – which has been good, but for my current OTP, I'm currently at the lowering-my-standards-and-going-back-through-AO3 stage, which is NOT good. And it was good to read stuff where the approach is – it's a whole book, in and of itself, it has to engage you, it has to give you everything it wants you to know about the characters, none of it is pre-installed, and it's exciting to get back into that way of reading. Plus, because I was reading to prompts, I read several books that I might not otherwise have picked up, and I'm really super glad about several of those (and regretful about only a couple of others!). I'm going to do a proper post about the reading challenge, with all my recs, but anyhow – that.

Oh, and also I walked like a billionty miles, I almost forgot! In July I did two walking ultra-marathons, Race To The Tower and Race To The King (52.4 and 53.6 miles respectively), overnight, without stopping for more than about half an hour at a time. I didn't finish the first one (I did 48 miles so I don't exactly feel BAD), but I finished the second, and I got a medal and a photo and a really nice sweatshirt.

44: Did your opinion of anyone change for the better?

Um… honestly, I can't think of a specific incidence, so I'll just say that a lot of people in my organisation come across very badly on email, but are perfectly decent in person.

It's taken me long enough to answer this set of questions, so I'll just post it without adding any more. :)

Questions are here, if anyone wants to ask me any more. 

Previous answers (6, 18, 25, 28, and 43) here.

[verdigrisprowl]

May 13 Dancitron Movie Night - Earth Vs The Spider and The Blob

Prowl was torn on whether he should root for Earth or the spider. But he was rooting against the blob.

Surprisingly, Primus was the most poorly-behaved guest tonight. Not that it’s a surprise he caused mayhem; just a surprise that a Dinobot didn’t cause more. The Dinobots, however, were unusually tiny tonight.

After the movie, Soundwave and Prowl took turns impressing each other with space bridge tricks.

Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:43 PM Who doesn't love a good cheesy monster movie? Well, your mileage may vary, but the twins sure are looking forward to tonight. (Mostly Rumble. Frenzy prefers gory, scary messes to the ones being shown tonight, but watching them with Rumble and yelling at the screen will make them tolerable enough for him to sit through.) Soundwave's also perched on his couch, curious about these old human takes on horror. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 7:45 PM The Autobots really should know better than to leave Teletraan unguarded. It's so close to the Dinocave. That's just inviting disaster.

Ah well! Their loss, Swoop's gain. The even scrawnier than normal ptero-baby bounced around the keyboard, making numerous failed attempts to call anyone and several calls to random bots. Eventually, after a particularly effective full-body roll across the keyboard, Swoop manages to call Soundwave.

Look at this tiny genius go. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:46 PM ...What in Primus' name. [[Swoop?]] Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 7:47 PM Smokescreen's quick to bridge in, with a large tin of quartz coated energon goodies! After putting it next to the other snacks, Smokescreen's flopping onto the nearest couch, waving at Soundwave. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 7:47 PM Sludge is, naturally, horribly impressed by this magic Swoop has achieved. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 7:47 PM Swoop squeaks and dances across the keys to celebrate this call. Can you feel their (petite) joy, Soundwave? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:48 PM [[Evening, Smokescreen. Thank you for contributing to the snack bar.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 7:48 PM Windchill seems to have decided to make an appearance this evening. Either Rebel, also in tow, was grounded for a looooong time or someone wasn't feeling social. Maybe both. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 7:48 PM Prowl Has Arrived. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:50 PM Soundwave can absolutely feel that. What in blazes happened to the Dinobots? He's -- greeting ping for Prowl -- staring at the inside of his visor with his head visibly tilted to one side. [[Ran into a shrink ray?]] Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 7:50 PM "Anytime! I've been working on cooking stuff again- I guess you can't try 'em, though, can you? I gotta learn how to make drinks so I can get you something!" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:51 PM And a wave to Windchill from the twins, even though it almost makes them drop a handful of the goodies they're loading up on. [[...Why do you think he can't try them?]] Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 7:52 PM Swoop's laughter somehow manages to be even higher and squeaker than usual. It's a good thing you have such a wide range of audio equipment, because he is aiming QUITE high right now.

::Play!:: he finally squeals, roll roll rolling across the keys and accidentally sending the resulting message to Soundwave. SpecsToday at 7:52 PM In comes the dragon, with snacks aplenty! "Hello, Soundwave, everyone!" Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 7:52 PM Sludge joins in, stomping buttons. Can't let Swoop have all the fun. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 7:53 PM He waves back, having to be mindful of his extremities and walk very slowly towards the seating due to his orbiting truck spawn who's pretending to be the multiverse's least aerodynamic airplane around his feet. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 7:54 PM "Wait, you can eat 'em? I figured you couldn't intake 'em or just didn't like the stuff, 'cause you've refused 'em once or twice before." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:54 PM They're going to destroy that datapad before they ever make it here. If they make it here. He's not entirely sure their creators will think it a wise idea to let very tiny Dinobots get out of their sight.

[[That is because he has heard you are terrible at fuel preparation. Unlike the dragon. Greetings, dragon.]] Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 7:55 PM Guess who finally decided to show up for once and brought a present~! Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:55 PM ((10 minutes til start. get what y'all need, get settled, all that)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 7:55 PM (( Do I want a cookie? )) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 7:55 PM "W. What? I think I'm pretty good at preparing fuel! Who told you I suck? I gotta have 'em try some of my energon croquettes sometime." SpecsToday at 7:55 PM The dragon churrs proudly as she helps put away the goodies she's made. The way to her heart is through complementing her cooking. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 7:56 PM Joke's on Wheeljack. Swoop and Sludge have already escaped and destroyed Perceptor's lab. It's time for something new!

Swoop taps the enter key repeatedly with his teeny tiny foot, as if this will suddenly get him the result he wants. ::Play?:: Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 7:56 PM Smokescreen's getting up immediately and grabbing one of the goodies made by Specs, as well as one of his own, trying to compare. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 7:57 PM Don't mind Blaster. He's following a certain trouble-maker into the room. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:57 PM ((always eat cookies)) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 7:57 PM A grinning Primus was both good and horrible. One carrying a box, well, it still could go either way. Hi Blaster. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 7:58 PM (( I ate the cookie. I'm back. )) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 7:58 PM Squints at. He recognizes that look from a certain avatar. SpecsToday at 7:58 PM Which one did he take? The energon gummis with silver flakes? The mercury-silver drops? The energon cookies with just a touch of mercury on the inside so that they're delicious and gooey? Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 7:59 PM He's just gonna sit on the floor, it's easier for him to watch his feet (perhaps in a literal sense,) that way. SpecsToday at 7:59 PM Did the dragon learn that mercury and silver seemed to be favored and stuck with what worked? Maybe a little. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:59 PM Soundwave taps for Prowl to come get comfortable and bobs his helm at Primus. [[Good evening. You honor him with your presence.]] SpecsToday at 7:59 PM Smokescreen could also, in theory, have taken some tinsel fish, but if Ravage is present that might be a poor idea. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 7:59 PM Ugh. If he brings Swoop over here for a few hours, will he and Sludge stop pressing Enter? The pinging is rattling his brains a bit. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:00 PM Probably. Most likely, if only because they will no longer have access to the Enter button. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:00 PM Can't press enter if you're on another planet. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:00 PM He does indeed get comfortable. Slight lean. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:00 PM "Evening, Soundwave. I brought a little something for a snack." The diety gave Prowl a short nod on his approach. SpecsToday at 8:01 PM ((puff, I know that I can't talk, but your icon is fucking me up)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:01 PM Thank goodness. In they come, though he's dropping them on Blaster. A little distraction for the night, given the kind of movie they're going to watch. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:01 PM Can Rebel try one of everything? Can anyone stop her? She's aeroplaning to the snack bar and back. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:01 PM Nope. Following. He has a bad feeling about this. What are you up to, Primus? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:01 PM (( OuO )) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:01 PM Swoop squeeeeals all the way through the space bridge and onto Blaster, rolling through the air and landing with a squeak. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:01 PM Rebel can try as many of everything as she wants. Soundwave's too busy leaning up against Prowl and watching Primus' hands to notice, honestly. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:02 PM What? Him? Innocent as the Cheshire Cat. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:02 PM Sludge heard the word snack, and the moment he's dropped on Blaster he wriggles off and starts for the snack table. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:02 PM He only took a couple gummis, but his doorwings do seem to droop. These were better, weren't they? "Well- Soundwave, can you take a bite from one of my quartz cookies and say if they're okay?" SpecsToday at 8:02 PM Rebel can have as many goodies as Windchill and the other guests will permit. The dragon makes these in bulk- a pretty nifty achievement, for a fox-sized organic! She's slowly amassed quite a bit of technology to help. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:02 PM And is promptly stopped by Dinobabies. "WHAT THE HELL! SOUNDWAVE!" Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:02 PM At least he thinks it's the snack table. Kind of hard to tell when he's only two feet tall and can't see the top of the table. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:02 PM ((the baby dinos are BITTY. Like few month old puppy sized.)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:02 PM Prowl starts when the Dinobots tumble in. "Oh, hell." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:03 PM ((they are DOTS compared to a lot of y'all lol)) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:03 PM [Ittle bittles] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:03 PM Going to try and catch Swoop before he can fall to the floor. "Seriously?" SpecsToday at 8:03 PM The dragon blinks. "I guess I no longer am the smallest one here." Hey, at least she's more on their scale. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:03 PM [[He already has two terrors to watch.]] Soundwave points at the twins. [[Consider it a minor favor.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:03 PM Rebel hollers at the sudden dropping of dinobombs into the room, fists already brimming with at least one of every possible snack. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:03 PM Swoop makes zero attempt to catch himself or fly, just laughing as Blaster catches him upside down. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:04 PM Rebel's smaller than the table, so Sludge turns to her in hopes of getting a snack instead. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:04 PM [[Bring him a cookie and he'll see.]] Not gonna lie, though. Teeny tiny mechs? Protect urge is hitting. That's basically the reason he's trying to push them off on someone else. If he takes them under his wing they may never go back to the Ark. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:04 PM Okay, good, one down, two trouble-makers left. Yes, you count, Primus. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:04 PM She stares at him, not at all sure what to make of this thing, this creature, at her feet.

"Whatchu want?" Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:05 PM "Snack." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:05 PM ((I'm just imagining Prowl's forever sigh at both Tara and Soundwave wanting to hold the dinobbies)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:05 PM //lmao Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:05 PM (( : ) )) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:05 PM While Blaster is promptly distracted - shhhhh- Primus handed over the fairly light box. There was s faint clicking of some sort of treat inside. "Sorry I've been somewhat missing." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:05 PM And now glancing at Prowl. [[They're a fraction of their size. It's hardly full hell. A minor headache at best. ... He hopes.]] Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:06 PM Swoop goes completely limp - with the exception of his birdy head which swivels around to watch his audience - giggling as he tries to melt through Blaster's fingers. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:06 PM "Hmm." Rebel narrows her optics, but relents. "Okay. I got one of everything." Would that be enough? Probably not. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:06 PM "You of all people should know that frame size doesn't correlate with quantity of hell contained." Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:06 PM Sludge nods sagely. Well, as sagely as a baby can nod. "Snacks." Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:06 PM And Blaster is attempting to hold onto a dino that is tiny and now apparently liquid. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:06 PM Babies. BABIES. Smokescreen's squinting at the babies. How can they be so tiny? Smokescreen's picking up a couple cookies, walking over to Soundwave's side opposite of Prowl, offering them, "You got it, Soundwave! By the way, did you start working with more deployers or something?" Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:07 PM He holds out a hand demonstratively at the FINGER MELTING ATTEMPT. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:07 PM He has no boooooones, Blaster. He is meeeeeeeeeeeeellllttting! Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:07 PM And there's that tell-tale doomsday giggling. Windchill's ears flick. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:07 PM "Okay, okay, stop, we're going to get snacks." SpecsToday at 8:07 PM Even the dragon kind of wants to cuddle with them, honestly. They're a little big for hatchlings, but they're so tiny and precious. They need protection. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:07 PM A long, long vent. [[Yes, he knows. He knows. But a mech has to be able to dream.]] He shakes his head no at Smokescreen and pops the box open, curious. What's in this thing, then? Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:08 PM Grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:08 PM ((... I think I might have misread that as "setting blaster's fingers on fire to melt through them" rather than "becoming a liquid state dinobird." to be fair, it's ambiguous)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:08 PM //Huh, gettin' off to a good start, this one.// Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:08 PM "These here hands aren't big enough for the two of us," Rebel drawls. She'll have to improvise. "You can have these." She piles the already collected assortment at her feet. It won't hurt her to start over. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:08 PM ((LOL a legitimate risk with Swoop)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:08 PM //tbf i did too until i went back and reread it twice lmao Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:08 PM ((but no, so far, no baby fire)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:09 PM ((OH for the record: the blob does not have captions, i looked everywhere. but the first movie does)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:09 PM ((sorry about that Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:09 PM "Thank." Look, he knows how to be Polite! Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:09 PM Honestly, given Blaster's reaction, a little help from the tiniest of dragons is probably a good idea. SpecsToday at 8:10 PM "Very excellent, little one!" The dragon gives Sludge an extra gummi. "Another snack for good manners."

Yeah, alright, she can assist. Off she goes, to hover near Blaster and help administer snacks. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:10 PM Hm. Hard to tell what these wiggly looking blobs in the box are. Looks like an oddly colored energon gummi. He'll just pick one up and--

[[BANANAS]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:10 PM Prowl nods at the movie. "So that I know which tragedy to brace myself for: who's going to win, Earth or the spider?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:10 PM That box is sailing through the air and being shot. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:10 PM "Welcome." Rebel loads up again, and carefully steps over the dinobot and his offerings. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:10 PM Oh, he likes that. Being polite gets him snacks! "Thank." More snacks if he's polite? Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:10 PM Oh good. Swoop's too tiny to...bananas? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:11 PM Soundwave waits until burned bits of candy banana finish drifting to the floor, unable to harm anyone any longer, to hiss at Primus. [[He is NOT amused.]] Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:11 PM Ever seen a God rolling on the floor laughing? Now you have. As tiny candy banana pieces go everywhere. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:11 PM Dives across the couch. He's half leaning over the armrest as he gives Soundwave a shocked look. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:11 PM Swoop feel suddenly ignored for no real reason. Time to start chirping a chirp best translated as maaam! Mam! Mama! Mommy! Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:11 PM Sludge's head snaps up when someone shoots, and without thinking, unleashes a burst of fire at the already burnt remains of bananas. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:11 PM "They aren't? They're so tiny, though, almost Frenzy-sized." Smokescreen's pointing at Swoop with his cookie-holding hand, holding a cookie out in his general direction. SpecsToday at 8:12 PM Well. She was going to fly over to Blaster. The sudden shots and flying box makes her dive to the floor instead. She is the poofiest thing in the room, right now. A veritable tribble. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:12 PM Manners are largely wasted on Rebel, sorry bub. You can try asking for more, though. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:12 PM ((the baby dinos are smaller than that. They're like .... two feet.)) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:12 PM ((phffff smokescreen's just being rude)) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:12 PM ((ok good XD)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:12 PM Soundwave resets his vocalizer. [[...His apologies. Someone stop Sludge from burning the floor, please. Prowl, it is safe to come back up.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:12 PM (( They're snack sized. )) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:12 PM Well shit, he's shielding Swoop with one servo, and scowling in the general direction of the mess. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:13 PM Still laughing from the floor. "I regret nothing." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:13 PM "... I ought to bridge you BOTH out of here." Referring to Soundwave and the two-foot-long flamethrower. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:13 PM Windchill sighs, and hooks a finger at Rebel, who interprets it as 'do what Soundwave says' and makes an attempt to pick up Sludge for relocation. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:14 PM [I'm not allowed in candy stores. :D ] Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:14 PM Is it rude to bridge robot god out? It's probably rude. ... He's doing it anyway. Primus can come back if he likes, but he's showing his displeasure here.

[[Don't bridge him. It was an automatic reaction. He's-- he doesn't like them. Bananas.]] [[...Oh, and Earth is fine.]] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:14 PM ((too be fair, I didn't help matters)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:14 PM "Live fire in a crowded room." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:14 PM Swoop continues his needy chirping, leaning this way and that as he tries to escape. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:14 PM Sludge blinks at Prowl, even as Rebel tries to move him from his snacks. What'd he do? Soundwave shot things, he was helping. SpecsToday at 8:15 PM The dragon slowly deflates through the power of sad baby chirps. Alright, alright, here she comes, Swoop. She's got an energon gummi to give you. Open wide, here comes the train... Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:15 PM ((Whoops! Forgot to fix my name)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:15 PM Okay, okay, back towards the snacks....that are as big as Swoop. And stops so the dragon doesn't have to try and catch up. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:15 PM [[He's an accurate shot and it was a low-level blast. Besides, he didn't want to give them a chance to prove themselves capable of... doing whatever it is they do.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:15 PM "Get along, little dino, get alooooong," Oh well, if she gets burned for picking him and his remaining snacks up, dad will deal with it. Right? Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:16 PM When the gummy gets close enough to Swoop for him to notice it, he lets out a squeak and full body squirm before opening his beak wide for maximum baby birding. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:16 PM [[But he supposes it's rude of a host not to follow his own rules. Even if there were suspicious items in play.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:16 PM See this face, Soundwave? :| This is Prowl's reaction. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:16 PM Oh, right. Snacks. He goes limp, trying to get back to those before someone else steals them. A distinct possibility with his brother in the room. SpecsToday at 8:17 PM Thank you, Blaster. She can pre-shred the gummi she's currently got, to make it easier on Swoop. She'll just need... to work at it. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:17 PM If pre-shred means mama birding it into his tiny face, Swoop is 1000% down for this. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:17 PM (( I'm screaming. )) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:17 PM "Wait, is her dad a spider?" Smokescreen's finally paying attention to the movie, after watching the bitty bitty dinos. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:18 PM [[No, her father is the driver that was attacked on the road.]] Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:18 PM "... Was that driver a spider?" Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:18 PM ((someone is going to puke up food for swoop before this m!a is over mark my words)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:18 PM (( I'll make sure if nothing else. )) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:18 PM "Spiderbot?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:18 PM Soundwave ducks his head a bit. [[All right. You are disappointed, and for good reason. He will try to suppress the reaction next time.]] [[The driver was not a spider.]] Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:19 PM Once the amusement wears off, Primus gets up like a good diety and comes back inside. Cleans up the remnants with a wave of his servo. It was his fault, so he'd at least take responsibility for the smoldering remains. The burning bits of ash swirled about to come together to reform, changed from the atoms of course, into a nice pillow for someone to sit on or smack him with. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:19 PM //Can't see, huh. Looks pretty bright in there for a cave.// Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:19 PM If his hands weren't full he'd take Primus up on smacking him with it. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:19 PM "Bridging is a far better snap reaction to get into the habit of." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:19 PM Swoop's focus is immediately shattered by his brother's question. He gasps, "spIDER!!!??" SpecsToday at 8:19 PM The dragon is an ORGANIC, Swoop, she's not doing that. She's using her paws like a civilized being. She'd die if she ate energon. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:20 PM "Spiderbot! That's not's someone in this movie, but I know a really cool bot named Spiderbot." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:20 PM Now Primus gets the :| look, since this was his fault. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:20 PM "Him Spiderbot say momther." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:20 PM All of this is distracting Rebel from getting her own snacks! Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:20 PM "... Wait, you know Messy? Is- Is Messy your moms?" Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:20 PM Would Prowl like to smack him with the pillow for causing this? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:21 PM Prowl's above petty violence. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:21 PM "Him Spiderbot momther, not messy." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:21 PM "... I'm almost COMPLETELY positive that tarantulas do not make that sound." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:21 PM Swoop is so excited for Tarantulas to come play that he's not holding still for food. He's all squeaks and chirps and enthusiasm. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:21 PM "Oh, okay! So, is Momther your mom?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:21 PM Would Prowl like Rumble to smack Primus with the pilow for causing this? Rumble is not above petty violence. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:22 PM Be fine with him! Blaster can't. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:22 PM \MAYBE IT'S MIMICKIN' THE VICTIMS.\ Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:22 PM He would neither encourage nor endorse it, but he would not be upset to see it happening. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:22 PM Gently places one servo on Swoop, just enough to hold him still. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:22 PM \LIKE THAT PLANT IN THE JUNGLE BUILDIN'.\ Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:22 PM Rebel gives up, grabs her own snacks, then sidles over to investigate the tiny Swoop. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:22 PM "Him Spiderbot is momther." A Look. How dense are you, Smokey? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:23 PM "I'm pretty sure they don't do that, either. ... And spiders ALSO aren't insect life." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:23 PM In that case, Rumble is more than willing to defend his Boss. He also doesn't have any oath he has to worry about. So he hefts the pillow, tosses it up twice, and then FLINGS it at Primus about as hard as you expect someone with piledriver arms to do. //That's for gettin' the Boss in trouble with the police.// SpecsToday at 8:24 PM The dragon looks up from peeling off coils of gummi to cheer on Rumble. "Great shot!"

Hey, she comes from a species that killed their god. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:24 PM "Ohhh- okay, so Spiderbot is your momther? And your mom? That's good! Any kid of Messy- Spiderbot is probably a really good kid. I'll have to tell Messy happy mother's day later. You wanna try one of these cookies?" Smokescreen's snapping a quartz cookie in half. And in half again. And again. Maybe this will be small enough for them? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:24 PM HUFFS. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:24 PM //Thanks. Heh.// He'll bow all fancy like. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:24 PM Sludge is eying that cookie piece hungrily. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:24 PM Swoop reflexively gives Blaster a nip when that servo presses on him but he's in such a good mood that he is more interested in wiggles and Friendship than getting in an actual wrestling match. He sticks out his bitty tiny foot to point at Rebel and laughs. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:25 PM //how many people can sludge con into feeding him snacks tonight Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:25 PM Smokescreen's tossing one cookie piece towards Sludge! Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:25 PM [[It's an old human movie. Perhaps they hadn't talked to many spiders back then?]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:25 PM Rebel shoves one of those cookies in her mouth, chewing on it lazily.

"What're you laughin' for?" Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:25 PM Snap! Right out of the air and down his gullet it goes. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:25 PM Smokescreen owes him a (probably awful) cookie too, still. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:25 PM Well. It was a pillow, but that was Rumble. A real good thing he was a God or that may have laid him out. "I think you managed to dent my helm. I'm impressed." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:25 PM ((Sludge ends up living up to his name and getting so stuffed he is too round to walk home)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:26 PM //tbh //gets home on a sugar high Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:26 PM No reaction to the nip, thankfully. But thankfully that's all it is. He'd really like not going to get his digits fixed. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:26 PM //Ha. Ya hear that? I impressed a god.// His chest puffs up with pride. He swaggers back to the couch, beaming. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:26 PM Swoop squeals out, "PLAY!" SpecsToday at 8:26 PM Sorry, minor correction: the dragon comes from one of many species that share the same cultural context. Who all also killed and ate their god. The dragon universe is kind of messed up that way.

"Alright, little bit, here's another worm for you." Squealing is a good way to get a Gummi Coil stuffed in one's mouth, Swoop. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:27 PM "Play? Or snacks?" please don't say 'play' right now. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:27 PM \KINDA NEAT 'N ORGANIZED, THEM BONES. PRETTY CLEAN FOR A BUG.\ Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:27 PM //tdgrtv cat pls get off the table so i can see Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:28 PM Rude! His cookies aren't awful. They're not as good as the Dragon's stuff, but they're crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and are still pretty hot! They taste mostly like quartz, but there is the slightest hint of mercury as well. Smokescreen offers one piece to Soundwave, watching for his reaction. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:28 PM With all the Exciting Big People paying attention to him, Swoop didn't see the worm coming and ends up getting startled by the sudden intrusion. Thankfully for the dragon, Swoop holds his beak frozen open instead of snapping down. :V Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:28 PM "I think by the time this movie was made, they probably had sufficient evidence to conclude that Earth spiders aren't exactly conversationalists." Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:28 PM Since Smokey hasn't tossed him more cookies, Sludge is going to return to his snack pile and steadily work through that for the moment. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:29 PM Rebel's optics track between the tiny Swoop, to Blaster, to the dragon, and back again. She huffs.

"Not 'sposed to play with food. That's how you get grounded." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:30 PM He'll take that piece with a feeler. Too comfortable on the couch to get up. [[Hm. Perhaps. For effect, then. Something to bother the easily scared and uninformed.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:30 PM Aww, they're shooting at the poor spider. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:30 PM Crunch crunch. Oh, mercury. That's. That's pretty sweet. A little too much for him, honestly. [[It's not... AWFUL.]] Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:30 PM The word 'grounded' catches Swoop's attention. He gives a more determined flail than before so he can make a daring escape, flying hap hazardously up to try to perch on Rebel. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:31 PM ((ah, the days before anyone knew how horrible DDT was. just spray it everywhere, no masks or nothing, nbd)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:31 PM Well, that's not good. There goes Swoop. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:31 PM She turns her head to see the shoulder-sitter, but can't quite make it.

"Let me guess, you want my snacks too?" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:32 PM Smokescreen's doorwings perk up at the slightest hint of praise, "You think they're alright? What would make 'em better?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:32 PM \IT'S A FRAGGIN' BRACELET. JUS' BUY ANOTHER ONE.\ Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:32 PM After fixing his helm, Primus moved to the side of the couch by Soundwave. Sitting down, arm on the couch, he laid his helm against it. To make up for what he did, would Soundwave like a first person, and the data, of seeing a black hole devour a star? SpecsToday at 8:32 PM She'll take the miraculous survival of her paw and keep mutilating the gummi. "I acknowledge that playing with food is bad, but I also acknowledge that the little bit cannot physically eat this at his size." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:32 PM Swoop shook his head determinedly, still holding the worm in his beak. He leans across her, tiny talons doing what they can to keep him attached to her, and tries to put the gummy in her mouth. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:32 PM [[Less  mercury. It's almost sickly. Almost.]] Head snap. Would he like data? He's sorry, Primus; you seem not to have ever met him. Hi, he's Soundwave. Yes, he would. [[Hmph. It's not ugly. At least its fur is a complete covering and not limited to a head patch.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:33 PM Aw, the poor spider. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:33 PM Nope, her head's craning back to get her mouth out of the way.

"What's that? Cooties?" Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:34 PM "Worm!" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:34 PM Now she's even more suspicious.

"What for?" Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:34 PM ((sorry, the university is going to want it for dissection? you mean you HAVEN'T hollowed out that giant carcass and stuffed/preserve it?)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:34 PM Should he...remove Swoop? Or leave him on Rebel? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:34 PM ((ohhh they're gonna have a rotten mess on their hands)) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:35 PM "EAT!" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:35 PM "Less mercury? I thought I wasn't putting enough in... Frag, I'll try putting less in." Smokescreen's taking another bite out of his own cookie. He thought it was perfectly sweet! The sweeter something is, the better, right? Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:35 PM "Um." Sounds gross. "Okay...I guess." She opens her mouth, just a crack, not the slightest bit enthused about this idea. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:35 PM ((smelly spide)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:36 PM Hi Smokey, here's a baby Dinobot sitting at your feet and looking up expectantly for more cookies. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:36 PM That's fine, Rebel. Swoop has enough enthusiasm for the both of them. He deposits the energon gummy in her mouth and then chirps, pleased with himself. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:37 PM Oh! Sludge wants more cookies? Smokescreen's more than happy to give him another 16th of a cookie, offering it in his servo. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:37 PM Grinning more softly now. Dims his optics as he relaxed. Connect a feeler to the back of his neck. Fair warning, it is quite a lot of data given it is a good week or so worth. When you're ready, he'll let you in so Prowl won't flip out on him if there is an overload. No not that type. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:37 PM He snaps it up and waits for more. More cookies, please. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:37 PM Well, here goes. She lets it sit there for a bit, hesitant, than slurps it up like a noodle.

"Gross!" Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:37 PM (( #GiveSludgeAWholeCookie2019 )) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:37 PM Wait, already? Smokescreen offers Sludge an eighth of a cookie this time. Maybe this will last him? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:38 PM ...Maybe not to the back of the neck. How about a shoulder? Is a shoulder all right? Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:38 PM It does not, in fact, last much longer. He crunches through like a champ. Morrrre. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:38 PM Oh. Right. Yeah. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:39 PM Okay, fine, this time, he's offering half a cookie, but Smokescreen's frowning at Swoop. "Don't eat it in one bite! You'll miss all the flavor." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:39 PM "Anyone who has to ask 'are we friends or aren't we' to demand a favor is not a friend." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:39 PM Swoop lets out wild laughter, just about rolling off Rebel's shoulder with excitement. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:39 PM //Worked in the 'Cons sometimes. ... Probably means yer right though.// Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:40 PM Crunchcrunch. Crunch. CrunchcrunchcrunchcruHIC. A hiccup, and a few embers. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:40 PM "I've never heard 'healthy, supportive friendships' listed among the purported virtues of the Decepticons." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:40 PM Soundwave will snake a feeler over to Primus' shoulder, curious. Ping offer to Prowl to share it as it comes in?

Hopefully not too fast, though. He's interested in this giant spider flick. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:40 PM "Hey!" She reaches out to catch him, luckily she is a small bot and he's not completely dwarfed by her hands...just mostly. "You're making me drop my food!" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:40 PM Smokescreen isn't going to say anything, but does remember a certain acquaintance from the elite guard that said the same kinda thing. Prowl's probably right... Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:41 PM //That's cause ya didn't know us.// He punches Frenzy's arm. Frenzy punches back and laughs. //But yeah. Yeah, kinda ain't.// Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:41 PM Swoop remains happily on his back in her hands, tiny feet up in the air wiggling a little. "Swoop food?" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:42 PM "Don't look like food to me," She scoffs, turning him over to examine the little beast. She's not impressed. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:42 PM Whoa! A tiny bit of fire? Smokescreen can't help but get a bit curious, and takes one step back, and gives Sludge one whole cookie. Will he make a bigger ember this time? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:42 PM "Well. Naturally, I'm sure Ultra Magnus would be an exception to the usual rules about Decepticons." Sharing what, what's he getting? He leans against Soundwave and accepts the offer. Oh! The spider lives! Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:43 PM He's all giddy noises and chirps as she inspects him. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:43 PM The other feeler twitches to the music briefly before settling around Prowl's wrist. Easier with contact. Black holes eating stars is gonna be a lot of observational and scientific data.

[[The healing power of music.]] Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:43 PM He makes it two bites in before he's hiccuping another bit of fire at Smokey's feet. He may have been eating those cookies a bit too fast after all. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:44 PM Smokescreen's immediately jumping up, trying to avoid the bit of fire, "Ow, frag, ouch- you doing okay, kiddo?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:44 PM //Naturally. Though I ain't normally known for bein' a friendly kinda bot, so keep it under yer helm. Can't have mechs expectin' Ultra Magnus to smile.// Rumble tries like hell to arrange his features into something gruff and serious. His mouth keeps flickering in and out of a grin though. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:45 PM "Hmm." She cups him in her hands, stepping over the spilled treats and inexplicably away from the snack table. "You're gonna get me grounded again, I can tell. More trouble than you're worth, that's for sure." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:45 PM Oh. Ooh. Movie, what movie? He's measuring hundreds of pinpoints of astronomical data per second and feeding them back to Soundwave. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:45 PM Sludge shrugs at Smokey. This is new, he has no idea what this whole hiccuping fire thing is about, it's new. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:46 PM (( He needs to be burped. )) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:46 PM \MOVES KINDA SLOW, DON'T IT? PROBABLY THEY COULD JUS' WALK AWAY FROM IT INSTEAD OF RUNNIN'.\ Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:46 PM ((dino burbs sound dangerous XD)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:46 PM (( :) )) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:46 PM //Aw, that ain't no fun. Runnin's dramatic-like. Makes better storytellin'.// Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 8:47 PM And now that he's not looking after Swoop, he's looking to the movie he's missed most of. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:47 PM No, not too fast. Consider it background data so it won't interrupt the movie. Soundwave will still get all the data, so he can access it again later at his convenience. Primus chuckled at the feeling from Prowl. Just reading fields. Nothing to be alarmed over. Was Soundwave all set to be guided?

Not even watching the movie. Just here for the company. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:47 PM Swoop chatters wordlessly, but everything about his tiny frame radiates happiness. They're clearly going on An Adventure. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:48 PM All set and ready to sink into a glorious mess of interpreted astronomical data and raw information. It'll be like getting a back massage after spending a day in the mines. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:48 PM "Huh. Well, uh- maybe that'll be the last cookie for now! You know, that cookie had, uh, red energon in it. I bet you could run really fast all around the room now." The red energon was, thankfully, a lie this time. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:49 PM Prowl's avatar lacks a field to be read. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:49 PM A baleful look, and another hic. He doesn't WANNA run, Smokey. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:49 PM //Aw, c'mon... where's the kid's parents?// Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:49 PM Shhhhh. Don't question Primus, Prowl. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:49 PM An Adventure might just be right, but she's not the one taking the risks. Nope. Rebel has a better idea; let Dad get grounded for whatever happens next. She deposits Swoop on Windchill's elbow, let them play Shadow of the Colossus or whatever. She's got snacks to get back to, then she'll come back to check on them. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:50 PM \HEHEH. MONSTERS'RE DUE ON MAPLE STREET.\ Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:50 PM "... Tarantulas also tend to only eat every few days." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:51 PM Swoop squeaks dejectedly when Rebel abandons him.... but his attention span is as short as ever, so he almost instantly gets into full king kong mode, making his own wild noises as he clamors up this tower named Windchill. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:51 PM //Maybe he's gotta do way more cause he's so big?// //Zori's gotta eat a whole lot when he gets big.// Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:51 PM "... Possibly. But humans are also a lot bigger than normal tarantula prey." How does spider metabolism work. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:52 PM ... Oh. Oh, maybe that didn't work. "Well, uh- I bet I could spin you around if you want?" He's not used to bots younger than him! What is he even supposed to do? Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:52 PM Windchill will...wait patiently and hold still so as not to knock the little cretin off. Swoop's sure to move into visual range at some point, right? Being so big has it's downsides. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:52 PM Spinning sounds fun. He might want to do that. Sludge considers before nodding. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:53 PM Eventually, Swoop makes his way onto Windchill's chest. Having such tiny talons makes holding onto transformation seams easy. He's on his waaaay! Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:53 PM Pit if Soundwave knows. Tarantulas doesn't even eat humans. ...He thinks. He hopes not. Prowl wouldn't like that. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:53 PM He sure wouldn't. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:54 PM Rebel, meanwhile, has returned to pick the dropped treats back off the floor. Someone else can eat 'em, they've been contaminated! She'll keep the ruined ones in one hand, and start over once more on getting an unhealthy selection of new ones. Now, she can wander on back to see how Swoop is doing. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:54 PM "... It's not quite 'Earth versus the spider' at this point, is it? Closer to 'town versus the spider.'" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:55 PM Alright then! Smokescreen leans down to pick up the teeny teeny baby before spinning him around and around! Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:55 PM Windchill still can't see a darned thing; boobs too big, but he can feel tiny claws tickling him in all of the wrong places and hear the monstrous sounds of a demanding dino on approach. Luckily, it's not his chestplates that are ticklish. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:56 PM Well, it cures his hiccups at least. But, ah. No. No, he definitely does not like being spun around like this after all; he's not entirely sure what to do about it though, so he cries. Loudly. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:56 PM ... The poor thing. What did that little spider do to deserve squishing. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 8:56 PM Resting his helm now as if he were asleep, Primus' optics turned off so he could focus on the data flow that Soundwave was recieving. It was fairly simple metrics from a further distance away. Getting closer there was more data to be sent as the gravity pull from the wells began to change drastically. Cue the influx of data and accompanying visuals of a star heading into the emptiness before it was torn apart in a rather beautiful display. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:56 PM Chill's ears flick, and his head turns towards the crying. What the hell is going on? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:57 PM //Maybe there's a whole lotta towns gettin' spidered up. Jus' we get to see this one only.// Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:57 PM OW. Ow, ow, ow. Smokescreen quickly puts Sludge back down, patting his helm, "It's okay, it's okay, we've stopped, we've stopped, see? You're gonna be fine." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:57 PM (( provided gif https://www.sciencealert.com/images/9f2df7fe3845cffaba5185a9ed2313ce.gif )) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 8:58 PM No they're WEREN'T, that was AWFUL! TERRIBLE. He lays down and continues crying. He definitely doesn't ever want to do THAT again. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:58 PM ...Gonna need more than a few hundred points, Prowl. Gonna need a LOT of points. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 8:59 PM Prowl's only capable of eight hundred odd simultaneous points, he's mathing as fast as he can. And definitely not watching the movie. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 8:59 PM Swoop's head snaps over to look at where Sludge is crying. What happened? He pushes himself off Windchill to glide over and land on top of Sludge in a protective baby pile. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 8:59 PM Smokescreen's staring around the room desperately, hoping someone might know enough about babies to help, "It's gonna be fine, I'm sorry for scaring you- do you want another cookie?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 8:59 PM \HEY! WHO MADE SLUDGE CRY?\ Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 8:59 PM Windchill sighs. So close. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:00 PM \I OUGHTA DRILL YOUR FACE IN\ SpecsToday at 9:00 PM The dragon just stares flatly at the offender. "What the frag, Smokescreen." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:00 PM //No! No drilling. Uh, but seriously. He okay, or...?// Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:00 PM No, he doesn't want a cookie. He wants to lay here and be upset for a few minutes under Swoop. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:00 PM Annnnnd there's crying. From over near...oh. "He didn't get hurt, did he?" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:01 PM A sad, sad hand raise, "I didn't mean to, I swear! I asked if he wanted to be spun around, and he nodded, but now he's crying and I don't know what's wrong!" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:01 PM Eight hundred odd points will do. He's about as lost in all of that as it's possible to get without sliding out of his own head. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:01 PM That's it, he's getting to his feet. SpecsToday at 9:02 PM "Smokescreen, you can't spin hatchlings very fast! You'll make them ill- especially if they've already eaten." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:02 PM "I don't think he's hurt, but- I don't know. I thought bitties liked getting spun. I liked getting spun." Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:02 PM Sends out a low, soothing, field from where he sat to see if it'd help comfort Sludge. While still keeping track of the data influx for Soundwave and Prowl. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:02 PM "You probably made him sick." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:02 PM //How'd you like gettin' spun up by Trypticon, huh?// Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:02 PM Don't worry Sludge. Swoop is being an excellent blanket and will bite the crap out of anyone trying to fuss with you. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:02 PM A surprised look at Spectral, and back at Sludge, "Wait, really? "Also, getting spun by Trypticon sounds awesome! Count me in." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:03 PM \LEMME JAB HIM. JUST A LITTLE BIT. C'MON. PLEEEEEEASE.\ //No! Boss'd--// Rumble stares at Smokescreen. //Maybe a little bit.// Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:03 PM He appreciates Swoop being a blanket; don't mind him hiding his face now that he realizes other people noticed he's crying like a BABY. SpecsToday at 9:03 PM "As a general rule, yes." Who left Smokescreen unattended around the bitlets, anyways? Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:03 PM Windchill skulks over to loom over the group, shooing Rebel out of the way and peering at the pile of dinos. Being tall helps a lot, here. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:04 PM Swoop slides his lil self forward so his scrawny body is hiding Sludge's head. (Though there's not much he can do about that noodle neck) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:04 PM "Me Sludge tank go swoosh," he whines up at Swoop. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:05 PM Frenzy eyes Smokescreen and makes a jabbing motion. Stay away from the kid or you're gonna get the real thing. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:06 PM "Oh. Huh... Okay, I'll make sure not to do that again." And he looks down at Sludge again. Though he's mostly looking at Swoop at this point, "I'm sorry, kiddo. I messed up." Aaaand he finally backs up. He doesn't wanna get jabbed! Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:06 PM "Bleghuhh!" he commiserates with his brohter. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:06 PM He thumps his tail in response. That may be forgiveness, or maybe just more stomachache complaints. Who knows. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:07 PM "Eh, he'll be fine." Windchill snorts. "Just leave 'em alone for a bit and they'll get over it." With that, he's turning to head back to his seat. Nothing more to be done, there. His hands are too big, anyway. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:09 PM ... Frag, what helps sick bitties? Smokescreen's looking around. High grade? Probably not. Maybe some low grade? Would he even want any while he's sick? Finally, he's giving Primus a desperate look, moving to whisper to him, "How do you unsick babies?" "Wait, are you sure? What if I made him really sick? What if he needs to go to a medic now? You're a baby expert, Winds, right?" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:11 PM "Sure am. Just let them be, his tanks will settle and they need to process their upset emotions and stuff. Plus, you'll get bit if you try anything." He's crossing his legs, sitting himself down on the floor once more. Rebel's going to sit too, and maybe, finally, snack in relative peace. That's all she really wanted. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:12 PM Something keeps bugging Soundwave. Lots of tension in the room. It's hard to focus on it with all the data streaming through his head, but there's not much choice. Gonna try to tear himself out of the special event enough to prod Rumble for an explanation. SpecsToday at 9:13 PM "Smokescreen, he doesn't seem to want to be touched right now. I'm not a bitlet expert, but I think it's important for hatchlings to be allowed reasonable personal boundaries." Spoken with some slight bitterness. Maybe a little. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:13 PM Swoop is an excellent example of personal boundaries right now as he completely plasters himself on top of and all over his still-technically-bigger brother. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:14 PM Can easily pause the data until Soundwave was done. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:14 PM Have fun in the real world, Prowl's still overloading on math. ... Which sense the word is meant in is currently ambiguous. Aw, what? Who paused the math. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:14 PM Sludge is still hiding his face and pretending he wasn't crying like a baby bot so he'd appreciate pretending he's just a rock Swoop's lying on for now, judging by the way he's avoiding looking. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:14 PM (( At least you're saving room for Primus. )) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:15 PM ((LOL)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:15 PM ((oh my god)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:15 PM //gfdhgb Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:15 PM (( My work here...is done... )) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:15 PM [[Is everything all right?]] Kinda groggy sounding. [[Do we need to send them back, or to a hospital?]] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:15 PM ((Technically speaking, snek Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:15 PM [dying] Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:15 PM ((there is a sacred threesome and a preschool in this same classic horror movie screening and I'm not sure how we got here so casually)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:15 PM //do u need to save room for primus if primus is the one providing Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:16 PM ((i'm not sure either and yet here we are)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:16 PM "You'll likely just upset 'em more if you move them." That's Windchill's advice. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:16 PM ((primus made room for himself)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:16 PM ((apparently not ((and now things hurt from laughing too much Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:17 PM [[Then everyone back up and let them be. We do not need upset Dinobots.]] And he doesn't want to go full protective mode. Then there will be upset everyone else too. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:17 PM "Okay, okay- I can give him some space. Someone else can do stuff- I think I should just. Uh. Stay away from babies forever. I don't know what I'm doing. But they're gonna be fine, right?" Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:17 PM [Blaster is gunna die of laughter next to me. I might too. Worth it XD] Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:18 PM ((five minute intermission, get snacks and refills on drinks)) ((next is The Blob)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:18 PM And he's going back to his seat, but keeping an eye on the dino's as well. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:18 PM "They'll be fine. If you're still worried, contact their creators and let them decide what to do about it." (( in that case, coffee. )) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:19 PM ((And thanks Primus)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:19 PM Blinks blearily around the room. He's still 50% math. Upset Dinobots? Where upset Dinobots. What. Huh. He wants to ask a question but his vocabulary is currently offline, so never mind that. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:19 PM Swoop isn't moving an inch off Sludge..... but this is an awful lot of holding still. He's got to peak his lil head up and at least look around a little. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:19 PM He peeks once Swoop does, before ducking back down again. Nope, still too many optics. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:20 PM ((brb, got to banish an empty salmon container so it doesn't stink up my kitchen)) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:20 PM "Chirp!" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:20 PM Windchill chirps back. They haven't been abandoned, per se. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:21 PM Hums patiently. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:21 PM ((omg this is HILARIOUSLY well done)) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:21 PM [ :3 ] Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:22 PM Swoop chirps back, a little less emphatically. Just a checking in noise. Making sure no one disappeared in the three seconds since his last chirp. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:22 PM ((a little more gruesome than i expected oop)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:23 PM Nope, still there. Chill emits a coo; it's the most comfort he can offer from a safe distance. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:23 PM Hm. They seem to be all right. He'll just let his consciousness slide back into the data stream for however much of it is left to process. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:23 PM [angrily Noot Noot] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:23 PM ((DEATH)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:24 PM ((lemme know when y'all are back)) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:24 PM Swoop settles back in on top of Sludge, content that they've sorted things out with that little exchanged. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:25 PM Give him a few more minutes and he'll be willing to sidle towards the closest warm body for attention. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:25 PM There's still quite a bit left. Primus smiled then continued the data stream. It was paused in the middle of the star's energy being dispersed out into the solar system around the black hole. Right back into the data! Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:26 PM ((I Am Back)) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:26 PM ((I'm getting sleepy. I'm going to try to stick it out since I want to see The Blob but, if I go completely dead silent, it means I fell asleep and Swoop did the same as a result lol)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:26 PM Anyway, Rebel's gotten tired of sticky snacks melting in her hand; the ones dropped on the floor are being shoved and wiggled into Windchill's palm for him to deal with. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:26 PM ((with trash trashed)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:26 PM ((lmao roger dodger. we all back now? i think? yes?)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:26 PM ((and ice cream ice creamed)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:26 PM (( Chill can get him home if nothing else. )) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:26 PM ((I'm still here!)) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:26 PM ((put him in his pocket and just walk off)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:27 PM (( That might qualify as kidnapping. )) Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:27 PM ((details!)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:28 PM //lmao //sludge is likely to also fall asleep once he gets himself settled in a nice lap Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:28 PM Great, now his hand is sticky and he's forced to look and see why that is. Um. Well, better start eating, he supposes. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:28 PM \WHAT KINDA SCARY MONSTER MOVIE STARTS OFF WITH KISSIN'. UGH.\ Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:29 PM "If it's kissing a monster, than a good monster movie." He hasn't been watching to see, so you tell him. Goo, meet mouth. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:29 PM "No kiss!" :V Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:30 PM Windchill sticks out his tongue, both in reaction to floor food and Swoop. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:30 PM "The alternative is scary monster movies that end with kissing. Or have kissing in the middle." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:30 PM "You're supposed to kiss babies." Let that be a warning to you. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:30 PM "Gross." A quiet mumble. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:30 PM "Such as The Shape Of Water or..." ... He forgot the name of the goo alien movie. "..................... Toxin." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:31 PM "No no no no no!" <:V Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:32 PM What is going on in the movie now? Was he upset over something stuck to his hand? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:32 PM //Venom?// \BETTER NOT HAVIN' ANY KISSIN' AT ALL.\ Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:32 PM "You'd better watch out, Swoop." Have some gooey, smooching sounds. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:33 PM "... Is this another movie like To— Venom?" Considering the alien goo covering that man's hand. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:33 PM Swoop GASPS and clings harder to Sludge Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:33 PM //Oh, naw. It ain't a friendly nothin'. Don't even talk.// Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:33 PM Not to worry, he doesn't intend to make good on his threat. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:33 PM Hmmm. Such beauty in the raw data of a literal force of nature. Don't mind him. He's enjoying reliving the event he's sharing with Soundwave and Prowl. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:33 PM "Friendliness and capacity to talk don't necessarily correlate, but point taken." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:34 PM Too busy cleaning up Rebel's mess with his face, anyway. "Who the hell is responsible for this cookie?" Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:34 PM Sludge leans into the clinging. "Gross," he repeats. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:34 PM ... Oh wait is the data back on?? He's got a lot of math to catch up on. Back into the fray. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:34 PM It's been on for a bit. Soundwave has a decent dose to fling at him like an impatient Swoop waiting for Laserbeak to appear. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:36 PM Behold: numbers. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:36 PM Munch munch munch. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:36 PM Slowly.. sloooowly, inching for a couch. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:36 PM Chuckles. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:37 PM Swoop is light enough to just go along for the ride Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:37 PM Swoop's also covering his face, so he's relying on him to navigate. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:38 PM He doesn't know about this job and doesn't do it at all. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:38 PM Frenzy "whispers". //TEN SHANIX ON THEM PLOWIN' INTO THE COUCH.// Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:39 PM That's fine Swoop. He'll just keep going until he bumps them into something. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:39 PM Hopefully it's not TOO much more data, though. Soundwave's curious about that hand blob. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:39 PM Here we have Frenzy, making the smart bets. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:39 PM It's about the only smart thing he's done in his life, if you ask certain other deployers. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:40 PM He does eventually smack them into something, give or take two minutes later, and tilts his head back to get a look at whatever it is. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:40 PM Maybe another five minutes at the most? The star is nearly completely devoured. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:40 PM Windchill chirrups. He's not looking to see what's happening, but there's nothing wrong with checking in to make sure the dinobabies are still alive, right? Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:41 PM Swoop chirps in response to Windchill and continues not helping Sludge. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:41 PM Aha! Couch. That's what he was looking for. Now which way to the front? "You Swoop find couch." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:41 PM Still alive, good enough for him. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:41 PM \HA. KNEW IT.\ //You 'n half of Cybertron. I ain't payin' that.// Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:42 PM ((I can't take them calling that dude a kid when he is like 40)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:42 PM Go, black hole, go. Finish consuming the star. Do what you were made to do. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:42 PM (( I know right. )) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:44 PM He'll continue mathing to the bitter end. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:45 PM He's doing his best to lick his gooey fingers clean. Rebel's free from a grounding...this time. It wasn't her fault. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:45 PM Well. That was disturbing to see. Had his hand been eaten and replaced? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:45 PM You could say that. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:45 PM Ew. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:46 PM Sludge would like it known that he has successfully navigated his way to the front of the couch. Now he has encountered a new obstacle: getting ON the couch. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:46 PM Consume. Does Soundwave know Unicron was a black hole in one universe after his defeat? Not a very well liked universe, but, it happened there. Tore the fabric of reality apart for awhile. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:46 PM Good job, Sludge. He's rooting for you. Silently. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:47 PM He didn't know that. Why? Did Primus just tell him? Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:47 PM He points.

"Dog." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:48 PM "Swoop" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:48 PM "Yes. You Swoop." Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:49 PM Thinking about it. Maybe next time. It might be too much. There was all that good data to crunch with Prowl for tonight. Primus would have to tell the Unicron story another day. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:49 PM "Ewwww!" Rebel yells. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:49 PM "... That blob is kinda cute." Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:50 PM "Oh dear" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:50 PM "They're dead." Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:50 PM "Booger" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:50 PM "You SWOOP a booger." That's Chill's contribution. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:51 PM Success! He has surmounted the mountain that everyone else called a couch and now he is... kind of tired, actually. Flop. Sorry for knocking you around, Swoop. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:51 PM Then he'll wrap up getting that and try to shake himself back to awareness. Slowly. There are hundreds of numbers lingering in his head. [[You are... mostly forgiven. Do not offer him bananas again]] Pause. [[...What is that. On the screen. The... goo. Thing.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:51 PM "It's me on a bad day." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:52 PM [[Hm.]] A serious nod. It's going to take him a second to realize that's a joke answer. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:52 PM Prowl's going back over the data to run more calculations. He'll be dead to the world for a while yet. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:52 PM Windchill just smiles. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:52 PM He's welcome to be; Soundwave will probably reprocess it while he's drifting off later. It helps him fall asleep. [[...A little red to be you.]] All right, he's caught up to that. [[Blaster, perhaps.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:53 PM Later? Later?? Prowl's still sending his calculations to Soundwave. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:53 PM "...A really bad day. Red's not my colour." Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:53 PM "Excuse you. I don't melt things anymore." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:54 PM The biggest tragedy of the night is that Prowl missed the chess-playing cop being supported by his peers. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:54 PM Oh! Is that what that series of notifications is? He'll happily scootch himself into a more comfortable position on the couch and absorb them in the back of his mind.

[[Mmm. Anymore??]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:55 PM Chirp, chirp, chirp. Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:55 PM Chirp.......... chirp.... Yawn. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:56 PM ((for a moment i glanced at a username wrong and misread it as "Primus [the-thot-of-light]")) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:56 PM ((AHAHA)) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:56 PM Can't make any promises, but he'll try not to, Soundwave. Hums his appreciation regardless for the forgiveness. Have a nice trickle of visuals of the warm flickers of the fading star for later as a last bit of data. Primus will probably take a nice little nap here. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:56 PM "You Swoop go home and sleep." Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:56 PM [You killed Blaster XD] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:57 PM ((ouo)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:57 PM //lmao Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:57 PM Primus is welcome to sleep here. Soundwave won't begrudge the creator of their species a little extra rest. He knows how often Primus needs to recharge. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:57 PM ((ow Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:57 PM "No." : < Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:57 PM ((unicron voice: BEGONE, THOT)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:57 PM ((PFFFHFFHFF)) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 9:57 PM [B A N A N A] Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:58 PM ((hssss)) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 9:58 PM //im laughing bc i read puff's post and my first thought was "and on the first day, the thot said, let there be light" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:58 PM It takes him a moment to locate the source of the Swoop-voice, and he gives that voice a shrewd, sideways look. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:58 PM ((lmao)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 9:58 PM ((lol)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:58 PM "You Swoop not tired?" Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 9:58 PM ((-dead- Swoop (medicalmurdersaurus)Today at 9:58 PM "No no!" He yawns. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:59 PM //Liar.// Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 9:59 PM "Oh, my mistake." He doesn't buy that for a second. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:59 PM "Is the dog the giant spider?" Smokescreen may be a bit tired at this point! Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 9:59 PM \WH-- WHY THE FRAG-- THE GIANT SPIDER'S DEAD, YA BOLTBRAIN.\ Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 9:59 PM "But perhaps this is one of the giant spider babies!" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:00 PM \NEVER SEEN A SPIDER BABY LOOKED LIKE THAT.\ Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 10:00 PM Sludge would deny being tired, but crying and then having to climb a couch have tired him out, and he's fallen asleep on his cushion. Tiny, tiny snores. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 10:00 PM Primus shall currently be: :zzz: Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:00 PM "Don't you know? Spiders aren't born with eight legs, they start with four and grow more as they get older." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:01 PM How many passed out people is he carrying out of here, exactly? All of them? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:01 PM \LYIN' IN FRONT OF PRIMUS. YOU OUGHTA BE ASHAMED.\ Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:01 PM "Me? Lying? I'm not lying! Come on." SpecsToday at 10:02 PM "Liar, liar, fur on fire, skinned and burnt in a funeral pyre." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:02 PM "That's grim." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:02 PM \OOOOH.\ //Vicious. I like it.// Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:02 PM "Come on, if I lied, Primus would, like, flick me or something, probably. And I'm not furry! I don't have to worry about that." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:03 PM Soundwave's glad Prowl's busy with numbers. He'd have a spark attack at the idea of someone cleaning up a crime scene the police were trying to inspect. //Don't say that too loud. Someone's gonna give ya fur.// SpecsToday at 10:04 PM "Grimmer when you know that we don't usually burn our dead." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:05 PM "Why not? Stops the spread of disease and all, saves space, it's super effective." Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:05 PM Maaaay have started dozing off. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:05 PM All right. That's—that's maybe enough for now. He can wait until the movie's over to get back to it. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:05 PM "Look, they've given me everything else. They've given me fake matrices, sparkeater babies, trauma, might as well make me all furry too." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:05 PM //Don't say I never warned ya.// Frenzy sneaks over to Blaster to start trying to snack stacks on him now that he apepars to be dozing. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:06 PM "Greyfaces? Bastards." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:07 PM "Maybe it'll be in my internals and it'll be fine and I'll be comfy to sit in! You can hang out inside me if they do." Smokescreen is watching for his reaction to the worst offer he's given in a long time. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:07 PM (( When ur dad is like ten years older than you. )) SpecsToday at 10:07 PM "Eh, cultural reasons- primarily the disease part. Burning corpses implies that they're unclean. And we're big on the cycle of life bit, so we usually place the dead out to return to nature. Or, if they were really naughty, we eat them." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:07 PM "You can say that again. They put you through a lot of slag too?" Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:07 PM Started, Frenzy. He's still mostly awake. Still, he's going to hold still to see how many the mech can stack. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:08 PM "You are what you eat." He yawns. "It's why I'm such an ass." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:08 PM ((28 years old and playing a late teenager. i see dawson's creek casting choices have been a thing for decades)) SpecsToday at 10:09 PM "In theory, it's supposed to be purifying, thank you very much. We don't all become hatchling-eaters when we eat one, you know." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:09 PM ((dangit now i wanna get out the rescue bots blob episode aszxzxcv)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:09 PM ((they had one? :o )) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:09 PM He yawns again before addressing Smokescreen.

"Yeah. Mostly just annoying stuff, but I don't think I'll ever get over bleeding out of unusual orifices. I suppose it's meant to be humiliating...But I'm immune." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:10 PM ((yeah! I'll find the specific episode but I think it was a s1 or s2 epsisode? i remember there's also a small alien and a predator reference in the episode)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:10 PM ((what child would want to name his dog william)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:11 PM ((not that one, he doesn't like william  lmao)) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:11 PM "Wait, what? Were you bleeding out your mouth? Our your sparkchamber? How are you online?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:11 PM ((i don't know why he suggested it if he doesn't like it, but. there it be)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:11 PM (( Throw a "the Conqueror" on there and it's at least...a reference. )) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:11 PM That may be a bad idea, Blaster. Frenzy gets bored really quickly. There may be more than just snacks on you soon. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:12 PM ((the idea that a child would suggest a name and then be upset at the name because he doesn't actually like it is far more believable than the idea that a child would want to name a dog william)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:12 PM "Worse than those." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:12 PM Something belatedly registers in Soundwave's mind. [[One moment. Who eats hatchlings?]] SpecsToday at 10:13 PM "No one that gets to live for much longer." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:14 PM This is a satisfactory answer. He nods and settles back against Prowl's shoulder. [[The humans need a camera. Plenty of proof then.]] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:14 PM He'll just...move if it starts looking like he's gonna get to that point. Rather not find out what else he'd stack. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:15 PM ((OH the blob episode of rescue bots was uh "You've Been Squilshed" and i think i was mixing it up with another episode but yeah basically from what i understand of the blob it's the blob but rescue bots roll to the rescue)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:15 PM No? What've you got against shanix, empty quarter-ration cubes, a blaster (ha) and a live grenade? Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:16 PM Nods vaguely in agreement. Yes. Camera. That is smart. "... Proof of what?" He missed almost the entire set up of the movie. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:16 PM Okay, the first two sound harmless. Third...a bit iffy. The last? Hell no. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:16 PM [[The blob monster. The human eating alien goo. Nobody believes they have seen it.]] Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:16 PM "Worse than those? What other orifices do you even have? Do you secretly somehow have a belly button?" Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:16 PM "Oh! Right. Got— It eats humans?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:17 PM [[Mm. Looks like it.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:17 PM "Huh." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:17 PM Fiiiine. Go ahead and knock over all the glasses and snacks and money, then. Spoilsport. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:17 PM "A little lower." He cranes his head, not at all bothered by the topic of magical menstruation. The dinos appear to be intact. Asleep, maybe, but no longer crying or looking miserable. Good enough for him. See? He knows a thing or several about babies. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:18 PM [[Wonder where the mouth is.]] He didn't SEE any. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:18 PM Live. Grenade. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:18 PM Maybe the whole thing is the mouth. Or stomach. Maybe it doesn't have anything else. Organics are bizarre. Oh, come on. You wouldn't play Hot Potato with it either, would you? He'd bet not. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:19 PM "Oh. OH. Frag, ow, it came from there? How'd you deal with that?" He is still thinking of the wrong orifice, somehow. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:20 PM It's a grenade! He wouldn't play games with it, period! He likes his limbs all attached, thanks. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:20 PM Tch. Autobots. He'll take what's left of his snack stash and re-seat himself. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:20 PM "Maybe it's acidic goo." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:21 PM [[Wouldn't it.... digest itself?]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:21 PM "Not very well. It's times like those when you just have to lie down and feel sorry for yourself." Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:21 PM He's just going to straighten up and huff. Seriously. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:22 PM "Acid doesn't melt acid." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:22 PM "No, yeah, I get that. It's not still happening, is it? Do you, uh, want some of these cookies? They won't cure anything, but at least it'll be a good way to distract you from anything hurting, right?" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:23 PM "No, that was a while ago." Thank Primus, and he hoped it never happened again. What a waste of energon! "You're the one with the cookies?" Chill considers this. "Sure. I liked the other one." Granted, that one had been mingled with the other myriad snacks, but he'd go for another. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:24 PM "Wait, you really liked them?" Smokescreen's doorwings flutter, more than happy to give Windchill a few more cookies. And a few more. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:24 PM [[Hm. Tracks by vibration?]] Doesn't see any eyes, ears, or nose on it either. [[Stand on a desk.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:25 PM "Is the dog barking inside of it? Or has it learned to bark?" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:25 PM "Or hang out on a hammock!" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:25 PM "Yeaaaah?" He's, uh, easy to please. He doesn't know why that would even be a question. A cookie is a cookie, isn't it? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:25 PM [[The dog, he thinks. It stopped.]] Light frown. [[Probably ate it.]] [[The goo ate the dog, he means. Not-- He doesn't think the dog could eat it fast enough.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:26 PM "Did the humans make noise when they were eaten too?" That was during the part he wasn't paying attention to. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:26 PM Then again, said cookie had been on the floor for a few minutes, so it might just be that he has no standards when it comes to fuel. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:27 PM [[No. But it went for their heads.]] [[Suffocation, likely.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:27 PM "I think it had a lot more than the dog's head." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:27 PM [[Poor beast. ... Don't tell Ravage.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:29 PM "Hmm." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:29 PM Oh. Another movie where the police are portrayed as stupid and oblivious. Hm. ((where the hell did a bunch of kids get access to an air raid siren omfg)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:30 PM ((it's the 50s, where WOULDN'T they get access to one)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:30 PM ((is there just, a button on the streets. "push in case of air raid.")) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:31 PM ((LOL)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:32 PM Munch, munch, munch. As many cookies as he's handed, he'll eat. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:33 PM Oh, good, ONE isn't being portrayed as stupid. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:33 PM Smokescreen isn't going to stop until he's out of cookies or until Windchill says something! Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:34 PM "Well, that's guaranteed to make it worse." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:34 PM Fools, did you really think that Rebel would be left out of this cookie action? She'll snatch them right out of Windchill's hands. What if they run out of cookies. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:35 PM Oh! Rebel wants cookies, too? He's happy to feed her, as well. But if they run out, then he'll get to go home with an empty energon cube of cookies! "... Is it bad I kinda wanna eat the blob" Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:36 PM Windchill swallows and clears his throat, not about to be a bad example by talking with his mouth full while Rebel is around. "Probably." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:36 PM ((four cents a pound for watermelon, man)) ((yes yes i know, inflation, but let me dream)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:36 PM ((if only)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:36 PM (( What a time to be alive. )) Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 10:36 PM //i could eat so much watermelon Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:37 PM "......ew." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:37 PM "Even I would hesitate to put that in my mouth." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:38 PM "It looks like it has a really tasty, gooey texture, though! I bet it'd be good with some mercury syrup mixed in." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:38 PM [[Trapped.]] Chin on hand. He'd like to see how they expect to get out now. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:39 PM "It's got humans mixed in already. And a dog." How's that for flavour? Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:39 PM [[Ugh. Vile.]] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:39 PM "Agreeing with Soundwave here." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:39 PM "... Are they going to SHOOT the power line?" Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:40 PM "Oh, yeah, I guess that probably wouldn't taste great." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:40 PM [[Electricity worked on the spider.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:40 PM "Depending on who you ask." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:40 PM "...... That was actually a pretty impressive shot." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:40 PM [[Agreed.]] [[Sensible creature. If you ask him.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:42 PM He just...looks at Soundwave. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:43 PM Huffs. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:43 PM "Hmm." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:43 PM [[...What.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:44 PM A smile is all you get. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:44 PM He's not sure what to make of it, so he just chooses nothing. It's noted for later, though. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:44 PM "Just delicately pick the lock- yeah!" Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:45 PM ((Delicate Lockpicking Method)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:45 PM (( I shed a tear. )) SpecsToday at 10:46 PM ((tapping out early. sorry, 'tis finals week. ilu all, I am just sleeby.)) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:46 PM ((Oh! Have a good night! And hope your finals go well :O!)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:46 PM ((np, you're right at th eend anyway so don't worry about missing much <3)) ((good luck on finals!)) Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:46 PM ((get sleeb)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:46 PM He's going to subspace a single cookie for the dinobrats later. He feels a little sorry that they didn't get to play all that much. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:46 PM ((good luck! Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:47 PM (( Good luck and good night! )) Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:47 PM "Primus, I'm glad they made it. I thought they were going to go offline..." Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:47 PM (("as long as the arctic stays cold." sounds like it's high time for a sequel!)) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:48 PM ((there was one!)) Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:48 PM ((well shit Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:48 PM ((but another would sure suit it now haha)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:48 PM "Interesting." Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:48 PM ((yeah Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:48 PM (( Still pretty damned cold, trust me. )) Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:49 PM Soundwave stretches. [[Intriguing. Humans are afraid of such strange possibilities. Something to keep investigating, he thinks. But for now, he should pick up.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:49 PM (( Set it another 100 years in the future maybe. )) Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 10:49 PM Angrily: Noot Noot. [didhereallydoit?] Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:49 PM Yawns. Okay, that's probably a sign he should be heading home. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:50 PM "Well." Time to get up and collect everyone who needs a ride home. "Thanks for the cookies, Smokescreen." Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:50 PM "By the way, Soundwave- this reminds me, I've got some documentaries I'd be up to watch with you privately sometime." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:50 PM [[Oh? Send him descriptions of them. He'll see if they're worth making time for some night.]] Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:51 PM Smokescreen waves at Rebel and Windchill, starting to get up as well. "You got it! I'll pick the best ones to share with you." Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:51 PM He snaps his fingers, Rebel's cue to lick hers clean and fetch the Dinobots in her more appropriately sized hands. How they're communicating with such simple gestures isn't anyone's business. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:52 PM Comms, he assumes. Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:53 PM Very likely. Blaster (boomtanknotboombox)Today at 10:53 PM Stands up and waves. "G'night. Time for me to go home." Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 10:53 PM Sludge's only response is a sleepy snuffle. He's ready to be take home. Smokescreen (ask-smokescreen)Today at 10:54 PM Before he leaves, he's going to grab a few more sweets, to compare and try to recreate. "Good night, everyone! I've got some business to take care of." Secret business! Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:54 PM [[Goodnight.]] Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:54 PM "I don't wanna carry 'em the whole way." Rebel, naturally, finds something to complain about already, and Windchill offers his palm with a mildly annoyed grunt. If she places the babies there gently, it'll be fine. He had to carry her around for days at a time when she was this small, after all. He can handle it. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:54 PM ((oh hey this song's in gotham)) Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:55 PM "I've got the creatures. Does anyone else need to be hauled out of here or are we good?" Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:55 PM [[That's it, he believes. The others have gone. Or are allowed to stay.]] Small nod in Primus' direction. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 10:57 PM :zzz: Windchill + Rebel (chillintel)Today at 10:57 PM Windchill doesn't appear to get it, and shrugs.

"Can't say that I know where anyone else lives, anyway." Rebel scoots towards the exit, and he follows. "Goodnight, watch out for blobs." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:58 PM [[We will. Blobs and many other things.]] And the door locks behind the last of the leaving guests. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 10:59 PM Speed trial bridge the couches back into position go. And done. Sludge(Slvdge)Today at 10:59 PM //ninii Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 10:59 PM ((night <3)) [[Remind him,]] turning to Prowl, [[that he has a gift for your Magnemite. The closest thing he could imagine as a tr--]]

Please hold. Taking off his visor to make sure he really saw that.

Okay, he really saw that. [[...As a treat. One day, you are going to pass him up in bridging creativity and skill. This is not a complaint.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 11:03 PM "I'm sure it'll appreciate it." He offers Soundwave the thinnest smirk. "And I expect you to keep competing."

Now. As much as he'd LIKE to plow Soundwave into the couch... He leans forward to look around Soundwave and give Primus a dismayed look. Soundwave obviously isn't sending him home. (Whatever qualifies as "home" for an entity that is in fact the planet on which they're currently sitting.) The couch, therefore, is unfortunately off-limits. With apologies to Frenzy and his ten shanix. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 11:07 PM [[He will spend all of tomorrow contemplating how best to show off in front of you; do not worry about that.]] Quiet huff.

As for Primus... [[Let him rest. He has earned a safe space to catch up on it with that data. The twins can stay to watch over him.]] He'll try to ignore that Frenzy's already readying the snacks and shanix again. [[We, however, are under no such restrictions.]] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 11:08 PM "I certainly wouldn't disturb him." Which is the problem. He didn't want to have to relocate first before banging. But alas. Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 11:08 PM You know he's probably seen it all, right? Doesn't care. Enjoy. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 11:09 PM Oh, it's not so terrible. Why, there might even be a small attempt to impress involved in the process of moving. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 11:10 PM Prowl doesn't frag in front of people who didn't clearly agree to be witnesses, whether or not they've seen it all. Consent is one of the three basic tenants of good BDSM. ... And good interfacing in general, in his opinion, but it seems to him that people into vanilla stuff don't pay attention to those sorts of rules the way they ought to. But do impress him, Soundwave. He's ready and waiting. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 11:12 PM [[Then let us be on our way.]] He squints and looks Prowl up and down before the next bit. [[But first, two questions. Are you afraid of heights, and do you trust him?]] Primus [the-lord-of-light]Today at 11:12 PM Would they even ask him? [I'm a lazy mun. Don't mind me.] Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 11:13 PM Not while he's asleep, certainly.

ooOOooo. "Not in this frame, and certainly enough to go somewhere dangerously high with you." Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 11:26 PM [[Good.]]

Because he's about to drop Prowl through a bridge that opens upside down and tosses him up into the open sky high, high above Iacon.

Prowl won't have time to fall for more than a moment after reaching the peak of that tiny flight. Another one opens to let Soundwave dart out and up in alt mode. In a flash, he's unfolding and scooping Prowl into his arms in mid-air, binding him close as a third bridge pops open just beneath them.

He completes the landing on the floor of his apartment, just in front of the OTHER couch, with only a slight wobble in one leg hinting at the stress of it. And plop on the couch Prowl is carefully dropped. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 11:32 PM Prowl had expected that Soundwave might be spontaneously dropping him into the sky. He was NOT expecting to be flung UPSIDE-DOWN into the sky.

He barely manages a strangled gasp before he's safely in Soundwave's arms, and flings his arms around Soundwave's shoulders as they pass through the bridge into the apartment. As they land, he stares at Soundwave's face, jaw dropped.

He doesn't let go as Soundwave plops him down. Instead, for a moment, he clings to his shoulders; and then jerks him down, hooks a leg around his thigh, and tugs him desperately into a kiss.

He was impressed. Soundwave (Slenderwave)Today at 11:38 PM A mech doesn't spend a hell of a lot of time stuck around Starscream without learning how to modify and pull off a few stunts. It just doesn't happen. Granted, Starscream probably would have let Prowl fall a lot longer before catching him, but Soundwave wanted to SURPRISE Prowl, not scare the spark out of him. Prowl wouldn't have dragged him into a kiss afterward if he'd done something like that.

And he's more than willing to let Prowl do that. He's got physical reassurances to offer and a burning need to bite those beautiful lips, and both of those are best dealt with by diving right in.

They just got all the air they needed. He won't be coming up for more any time soon. Prowl (verdigrisprowl)Today at 11:39 PM And down they both go.

[drops-of-moonlights]

CCS Clear Card Manga Chapter 25 Thoughts, Reactions and Emotions

As always, the tag to block is Clear Card spoilers! ALSO BE PREPARING FOR ME WANTING TO PUNCH THINGS.

Right off the bat, FUCK THE ENTIRE SHINOMOTO CLAN EXCEPT AKIHO OH MY GOD. AND I THOUGHT SHAORAN’S MOM WAS KINDA PUSHING IT. KAITO I STILL DON’T FULLY TRUST YOU BUT THANK YOU FOR SAVING HER FROM THAT SHITHOLE.

The deal is everyone in the Shinomoto Clan has magical powers. The best comparison I can make as how their magic works is to the Fairy/Witch system of Winx Club: Each member has unique control over something (examples given are fire, erasing things, teleportation, flight, and animal speak), that they develop around the time they start walking and talking. Akiho is the daughter of the most powerful people in the clan, so a lot of expectations were put into her the second she was born. But Akiho doesn’t have magic. She has no magic at all. And as such, she’s isolated, ignored and honestly this is fucking child abuse and I want to murder everyone. She’s directly compared to Shaoran as well (much like how Meiling was in the anime if I remember right), and bemoan that now, thanks to this magicless child, the Lis are ahead of them.

Akiho suffers a lot thanks to this and as such her only confort was books, taking solace in the stories as she cried alone and FUCK THE SHINOMOTO CLAN OH MY GOD I’M SO ANGRY. This also outright confirms that what Kaito stole WAS Akiho, as I’m sure they wouldn’t want the world knowing they have such an useless kid in their clan and ARGH. This is all a memory of Akiho, that she recalls while dreaming and makes her wake up crying. She thanks comfort that she now has Kaito and Momo, as well as Sakura and the gang and I KNEW I WAS RIGHT TO NOT DOUBT HER SOMEONE GET THIS GIRL A BETTER FAMILY. Momo says, mentally of course, “there are people who want to be with you now” and I’m now convinced that Momo can and WILL murder for Akiho and honestly same.

We get to Sakura at last, and she also wakes up crying, having dreamed that “Alice” was really sad. After a nice chat with Fujitaka (who brings up Lcd Dem- I MEAN lucid dreams, which makes me go HMM) Akiho comes to visit. She makes meat and potato no-fry croquettes with Sakura (god how does it look delicious as a black-and-white image CLAMP WHAT IS THIS SORCERY) and, since Sakura brought up two promises she made Akiho, they’re probably going to show her the library in the basement after eating. Kero is upstairs talking to Yue through facecam, and Kero confirms that Sakura’s currently distracted. Yue FINALLY DOES SOMETHING OTHER THAN DYING AND LOOKING EMO IN THE ENTIRE SERIES (Yue I love you but you really don’t do much) and decied to visit Shaoran for answers, and THNAK GOD. MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE HIM TALK.

Now a tiny theory: Akiho does have magic. Oneiric magic. She can only show or use it while sleeping, and as such she can’t show it while awake. This does kinda explain all the things she has done even when no one can feel magic in her, because it only exists when she’s dreaming.

And, to reiterate, FUCK THE SHINOMOTO CLAN. FUCK. THEM.

[wilsons5stars]

Finestère 1025 Lawrence St Port Townsend, WA 98368 “Cosmopolitan eatery with a relaxed vibe specializing in high-concept American cuisine” —https://www.takeout-guide.com/

First off, this is one of the first 4 star restaurants to exist, the first— I think it’s the first good restaurant, like really good restaurant to exist in PT, WA.

The woman chef/ owner got tired of working under other people, threw away her sous chef title and decided to take a risk and become a boss restauranteur/ James Beard nominee. She’s fucking fire.

Beautiful, two-room, quaint dining room. The walk-in side has a sit down bar with maybe 6 seats, white tile floor— simple. From that room you can look into the kitchen and the adjacent dining room with more tables and chairs.

This is a true land-to-table restaurant, always serving raw and fried oysters, literally sourced from a block away.

They have an insane happy hour: we’re talking fine food— queen’s feast, pauper’s price. Selection of four cocktails and glass of wine, all 5 bucks for happy hour. 4 or 5 appetizers at half price, two-dollar oysters on the half shell, and then a pasta dish at like 9+ or 10+… daily, rotating.

The raw oysters alone with the raw horseradish and mignonette at 2 dollars a pop is enough to make me come here every day at happy hour when I’m in town.

Although this is not a southern town (this is actually one of the farthest reaching points in the Northwest United States) the deviled eggs are perfect, and they’re topped with salmon roe— Russian-style to me: eggs on eggs.

Oh, the pan fried oysters, also, not being in the South, and me being from the South… up there, they were the best I’ve had. Lightly dusted, pan-fried, served atop a nice remoulade and topped with shaved, pickled fennel and fresh dill sprigs.

The other thing I love is the chicken liver mousse with red onion jam. So it’s just straight up, house-made chicken liver mousse topped with house-made red onion jam on a nice sized piece of toasted house made bread.*

*When she bought this restaurant, it used to be a bakery. The whole back of the restaurant is barely used, and it’s a full bakery. They make all of their bread in-house, and they make their own butter. They have an appetizer of just bread and butter, and I’m not fucking kidding, it’s the best bread and butter I’ve had in my whole life.

The other thing I fancy here on the appetizer menu— they make croquettes… because they do. Sometimes they’re ham and cheese— delicious, and one time, I had cream corn croquettes, and that was one of the best versions of a corn nugget I’ve had in my life.

I’m mostly touching on apps here, but the last time I ate here I had a whole fish. I splurged for an entree, and I had a whole fucking trout. And it was perfect.

The next night, I was just having a drink and this guy made me sit with him. It turns out he’d been performing all over the world for the last 20 years, and he does kids’ performances at elementary and middle schools. I ate some of his side dish of mushrooms, and best mushrooms I’ve ever had. Cooked for him— for me.

[ask-thenetherlands]

Song Sunday #12 SPECIAL

Artist: 257ers Title: Holland Dialect: Northern German Background information: There has been a sibling rivalry mutual mocking relationship between The Netherlands and Germany as long as humankind can remember. Both countries mock each other constantly and joke about each other in talk shows and satire, but when it comes down to it they love each other. This song perfectly embodies this relationship. Pfand is the extra money you pay for cans and bottles, which you can get back when you hand them back in at the supermarket. In The Netherlands however, the only Pfand (statiegeld) we have is for beer bottles and large soda bottles unlike Germany where a lot more has Pfand. Chocomel is a Dutch chocolate milk brand. Frikandellen are a type of deep-fried sausage. Vla is a Dutch custard-like dessert.

Lyrics with translation:

In der City, wo man mich mittlerweile kennt In the city, where they know me by now Lecker Bitterballen mit Senf dazu ne Fritte mit Getränk Tasty bitterballen with mustard and fries with a drink Bisschen kiffen, selbstverständlich alle schieben Optik Smoking a little pot, obviously everyone is optimistic Keiner ist auf Aggro, alle schieben Optik Nobody is aggressive, everyone is optimistic Holland ist der Boss, ich finde Windmühlen cool Holland is the boss, I think windmills are cool Jedes mal am Strand muß ich erst Schwimmflügel suchen Every time at the beach I first have to find my arm floats Auf’m Zeltplatz später für nen fünfer geduchst Later at the camping ground I’ve showered for a fiver Zwei bis drei stündchen sind gründlich genug Two to three hours are more than enough Keine Düne ein Problem mit vernünftigen Schuhen No dunes are a problem with good shoes Alles klingt hier lustig, Schlümpfe sind Smurfs Everything sounds funny here, ‘Schlümpfe’ are smurfs Fahrräder = fietsen, Bier nennt man Bier Bikes = fietsen, beer they call bier Jeden Sommer am Strand, Holland vakantie Every summer at the beach, Holland vacation Grillen und Angeln, die Frikandellen Grilling and fishing, those frikandellen Am Supermarkt dannach dann Pilze sammeln Then collect shrooms at the supermarket afterwards Im Fachhandel nebenan denn, die haben die beste Auswahl des Landes In the specialist shop next door, they have the best selection of the country

[Refrain] Lekker Strand und lekker Meisje lekker Vakantie Nice beach and hot girl and nice vacation Lekker Chocomel und Vla denn wir sind hiiigh Delicious chocolate milk and vla cause we’re hiiigh Lekker neuken op de Wallen zonder te betalen Nice fucking at the red light district without paying Holland ist die geilste Stad der Welt Holland is the most awesome city of the World

Ey als wir im Sommer in Holland mal mit nem Roller auffe Bahn Ey when we’re in the summer in Holland with our scooter on the road Voll auf Knolle mit paar Dollars und nem Bollerwagen waren On drugs with a few dollars and a handcart War dat voller da als sonst, weil ich schonma Holland fahr Was it fuller than normally, because I’ve driven through Holland before Sonntags, wenn ich frag mit meiner Oma unterm Arm On Sunday, when I ask with my grandma under my arm Ich muß aber was sagen für’n Königreich ist Holland wirklich keine große Stadt But I’ve gotta say, for a kingdom Holland really isn’t a big city So nah am Wasser, kommt ne Welle, sind die meisten erstmal naß So close to water, when a wave comes most get wet first Solange H zu dem Land, ich kauf mir eine Dose und bezahl kein Pfand! Such a long H for a land, I buy myself a can and don’t pay Pfand! Holland ist voll geil, hier gibt es Fleischkroketten  Holland is so awesome, they have meat croquettes Die von innen so aussehen wie bereits gegessen That look from the inside as if already been eaten Lecker! Du hast dir Cola von Mäckes auf deine Hose gekleckert Well done! You’ve spilled your coke from McDonald’s on your pants Trink lieber Chocomel, scheppert auch den Dope einfach besser Rather drink Chocomel, that also just mixes better with the dope Joppie Soße find ich lecker, allgemein was hier geht I find Joppie sauce tasty, in general what happens here Jederman smiled und ist breit auf’m Bike unterwegs Everyone smiled and is high cycling on the road Hier ist einiges okay, Holland meine Stadt hier will ich eigentlich mal leben Here a lot is okay, Holland my city I actually want to live here

[Refrain x2]

Wieder mal mit der Crew, durch die Niederlande gecruist Once again cruised through The Netherlands with the crew Und dass die Niederlande hier sagen hat nix mit Niederlage zu tun And that The Netherlands say here that have nothing to do with defeat Außer die Spielen Ball mit dem Fuß Except when they play ball with the foot Aber die sind schon in der Kabine high But they are already high in the cabin Also verlieren können die gut So they’re really good at losing Yo, Holland ist die geilste Stadt der Welt! Yo, Holland is the most awesome city in the world! [Refrain x2]

[mintynoodle]

Broccoli Cauliflower Croquettes Sauté onions and bacon. Steam cauliflower and broccoli. Mash the cauliflower and broccoli. Mix with the bacon and onions. Season with salt and pepper (At this point it’s a fucking delicious alternative to mashed potatoes). When it’s cooled down add an egg and some almond flour to bind. Place in mounds on a baking sheet and freeze. Take the frozen croquettes and egg wash them and roll in Parmesan. Bake on silicone mat or parchment paper for 20 to 30 minutes at 400° F. Or deep fry it.

[rockerchick1330]

~ Flower ~ A Chris Cornell fanfiction (Chapter 11)

K my peeps, hope y'all are enjoying so far cause things are about to get interesting ;-) thanks for all the support! Love you all! XOX!!! (PS feedback would be awesome and please excuse any errors ;-))

My mind whirled on what had occurred in the duration of the past four weeks.

The remorseful affliction turmoiled upon my grainy, dry shore, it’s waves polluting my once crisp sand with it’s wet fingers. I ached and toiled on reminiscing what I had been absentmindedly persuaded into by Chris himself.

All the religious nights of shedding my civility and clothes for him. The idealistic gesture of him blistering every single one of his usual emotions on me through sex. His moods varied and occasionally brought those boiling, blissful exemplary hours with him in his bed.

How harshful and severe he would penetrate when scalding with anger, how I would abide with it regardless the bittersweet pain or encouraging pleasure. On rare instances, the gentle way he severed me like delicate, frail porcelain and rigorously make love to me.

But the amusement would not satisfy me, it wouldn’t have brimmed and conceal the burgeoning hollow that dwelled in my mental imagination. The constant intimacy that bound both our physical bodies and figurative souls together, it did not enduringly stay. It was nay, but transitory.

He would coax me into what I assumed was the remedy to my epidemic disease, but the alleviation refused to linger. Taken advantage of because of my vulnerability and eternal, emblematic innocence. That submissive whimper and plead that crowned him with an accomplished sense of dominance, he loved it.

My juvenile body was just another geographic atlas for him to explore and discover the unknown runes. He made me capable of results I couldn’t have even perceived.

My lips brushed and drew icons of love against his scabbing track marks, soon vanishing similarly to the role of one’s victim beneath him. I indoctrinated myself into situations that individually pleased him and flattered me.

Tasting the delicious and climactic outcome on condescending myself for him, whether it be on either of my knees illustratively or literally. Placing him on a cobbled pedestal as a symbolic representation of lust and love precisely combined and sealed.

But I struggled to disregard the emotional abuse he continuously threw his fists at. It all blended in an unshifted, uncertain blur when I tolerated him whilst in intercourse with him, when our mouths were no longer singular and our bodies cleaved and became hybrid.

Susan had concluded their seemingly endless relationship and hadn’t bothered to singe the frayed ends. Content and abated as I was then, Chris wasn’t quenched by the unsettling idea of Silver probably attempting to sabotage Soundgarden, considering that she hadn’t abdicate the position as their manager.

And so, with his abundant ability to influence one with his artificial words, they had reconcile their dysfunctional, stitched affair.

I was sincerely affected then, sincerely aggrieved by Chris’ desperation to preserve his peaking career. Though assuring me that him and I could’ve still secluded and adumbrate our illicit intimacy, I refused to abide by his proposal. I wasn’t offering myself as his ‘Bonnie’ on the side when Susan wasn’t being practical and regularly difficult.

That stubborn decision had him thwarting immensely, often glaring with coy indications of seduction crisp in his emerald flecks.

Though we consumed most of our time exchanging fierce gapes and low snarls, that somewhat abstracted him from his previous heroin induce. I was certainly beholden that our common, consistent controversy and disputes drew his aching temptation away from the glistening, loaded syringe.

It apparently tended to emotional wounds, especially being rumored that even Andy, a professedly chirpy, gay musician, had been utilizing the venom.

Without much discussion or bickering, audiences and close relations knew that Andrew was crumbling and pulverizing himself. Impaling needles and injecting fluid leisure would pollute and poison him internally. Behind his euphoric, contagious grin was the utter adversity and tragedy that was, in a brief summary, his reality.

The atrocious liquid seeped and defiled him, she snared him in her cylindrical, crystal syringe. She whispered enticing and beguiling promises to him at the hour of slumber, stroking his frail ego and crawling beneath his pale skin. She encouraged him to philander against a vulnerable, petrified Xana whom deprived herself of any alluring pleasures for full conservation of Andy.

Not even the bitter, horrified tears of Xana nudged his rooted commitment for her, for heroin.

Andrew’s inclination and assertive addiction was similarly the adumbrate of Chris’ obsession with myself. The way he molested and infested my apperception-

“Hello.”

For his egocentric bliss. To feel me writh and squirm powerless, pleading and stuttering for more of him-

“Star? Are you okay?”

I toiled and hungered ravenously to be his. To be his loyal, allegiant satisfaction, to be his sincere foundation for that achievement he would’ve-

“Hey!”

I sharply shook my head, disposing of my previous epiphany.

The sudden ripples of consistent chatters and circulating gossip enveloped my literal being, reflexively earning a miserable groan and slumped shoulders from myself.

The bar was inadequately swarmed with either vulgar, lewd women whom exhibited their merely clothed figurines or perhaps the drunk, stumbling men that they persuaded into sheets. I stood firmly behind the counter, peering at the ensuing scenario that flickered amusingly before me.

Pubescent croquettes flaunting and flittering their force ripe curves and edges in an almost oblivious manner. Whether it be swaying to the rhythm of their own orchestra or fluently twirling amongst hives and clichés of men of a rather decrepit age. Their bobs of withering, exfoliating hair grizzled and silver, similarly to their still crude tongues.

Their freckled, elongated layers of flesh, singed by the disease of which time brought, wrinkled and coarse. A stubbed, bulky glass of golden whiskey rimming lodged in their rugous fists, their slender fingers skimmed with genuine, plated rings beneath the bulging husk of their split knuckles.

Old men of utter, undeniable class. Clad in rewards of ivory and gold, stitched with the unwinding thread of wealth. Their clothing of proper, crisp cotton, striped and freshly ironed, obviously from the stiff, sophisticated fabric. Their eyes flicker and frolic over the seemingly naive nymphets, according which of the flock they were most delighted to please.

I pondered on those confiding sprites, euphoric and waxed fair with crimson blush and powered innocence. Hadn’t they known what unfortunate, dismal affliction general men burdened any female companion with, they would’ve probably quavered into their secure shelters

I related to their cheerful, epidemic joy, lingering on the solid, burgundy hearts of men whom ventured for a dose of youth once more. I affiliated with their constant tweeting and musing entertainment, considering that I had once cavorted in the garden of grey follicles.

Seeping in their cracks were young men, their long, tangled collusions of hair scorned by the seniors and their attire untasteful to any practical person whom hadn’t advocated belief in Rock 'N’ Roll. Seattle was seasoned with varieties of decades and genres.

What was most notable and distinguishable was the lack, in fact, the nonexistent presence of any guys labelled similar to Chris. Majority of the youths were eager to topple and contagiously butter the 80’s overwhelming fashion into the occurring 90’s.

Their hair, poorly teased but still manageable due to hair product. Silked and clothed in fabrics of which allured anyone visually, ranging from fuchsia leopard spots infesting their sashes to vibrant, ombred tiger stripes strapped onto their leather clad hips.

Their peculiar, yet presumptuous, manner in which they executed their subculture I found positive. The flamboyant cliches of males, comically teased and purposely categorized as women, oddly corresponded with the gayness of Layne and his band mates.

Simply because of their apparel, identical to those whom loitered the pub, and their raging appetite for sexual contact with any wandering swans. Also in addition to that, their productive hours spent on the rationing their scarce supply of alcohol and drugs.

“Get the fuck out of wherever you are Stanley.”

Ashton’s sudden remark swindled me back to the current herd of nonexistent sober customers that hammered their vacant goblets on the chipping, wooden counter.

“S-Sorry,” I coloured, muttering a string of incomprehensible phrases which assisted me in resuming to reality. He nodded, signalling his merciful retort of an apology and quaffing the rest of his kosher Jack down. His slim fingers tapered down his beverage in a domino reaction, emitting what I thought as an extremely, audibly pleasing sound.

“Where were you?” He inquired as I uncapped the crown of a icy, crisp bud and launched it across the teak planks to a fidgeting client. I contemplated explaining what had occurred over that past month and acquire proper advice and counselling from Ash.

But being as ignorant and stubborn as I usually perked, I shurgged both my shoulders whilst spewing the remaining contents of a whiskey vial on transparent rocks.

Completing the request, or a more appropriate term, demands, of the remaining inebriated squawks, Ashton sneered at me and reflexively twitched his erect nose. “You’re really gonna keep this Chris secret shit away from me again?” I snorted, wringing an absorbed cloth to moisten and tidy the counter. “It’s not a secret Ash.”

“If it wasn’t a secret, you would tell me, wouldn’t you?” He teased, snapping the pads of his index and thumb and then indicating his stripped glass with a vivid point. Rolling my eyes with spunk and gritting my teeth in a irritated grind, I clutched the shaft of his preferred liquor, replenishing his thirst for folly.

Restoring the bottle of alcohol back onto its stocked, duplicated shelf, I migrated both my hands to my tilted hips, excusing the blue ribbon that accented my substantial, peppy uniform. “Fuck off,” I snarled, contorting my gaping scowl into a rather artificial grin to attend another customer.

“Fuck off eh? My little Starry’s all grown up,” he chortled, the thick, smooth liquor gliding down the flesh of his chapped lips. “She don’t need Ashton’s help anymore.” I cringed at his mocking tone, my lips twitching into an agitated grimace.

“I didn’t say that,” I refused his accusation, most adamancy of that of a wee child. “I just said to fuck off.” “Well babe, you implied it either way,” he simpered tauntingly, ruffling his already disheveled layers of hair. Disregarding his argument, I managed to serve another unconsciously intoxicated staggerer.

He provoked me silently, I sensed it figuratively though he literally did nothing physical or verbal, excusing his occasional inducing of his tonic. I fisted both my hands, flinching at the sting that was presented with the benefits of having manicured nails carving into my fleshy palm.

“You wanna know what happened Ashton?” I discernibly blurted, prospering my posture and squaring my shoulders. He pursed his lips to conceal his amused grin, shrugging his brows and using the very concrete like tip of his finger to trace the sticky rim of his nearly vacant glass. “I’m suddenly not so sure I wanna know anymore.”

“Well-” I accomplished my ambition to startle his unaware, drifting persona when I clobbered both my fists on the trembling planks of wood before him. “Chris fucked me.” He wasn’t fazed, miserably failing my attempt of earning an astonished gape from both his pulsing, dilated blue eyes. “I was waiting for that confession,” he snorted with his hand rising from the counter to assist him in subsiding the rest of his liquor.

Unsatisfied and rather convulsed by the deficiency of the reaction I originally expected to channel, through a raging state of antagonism, I immediately broke off all intentions of civility. Before the crust could met his flushed lips, my hand defiantly percussed the frail, polished glass from his rather unconstrained grip.

Luckily enough, the unintentional projectile hadn’t collided with any passersby whom disregarded the simmering bickering. I sneered at him, his final, utterly offended expression that plastered pale across his slim, clenched face. With the brief pierce of the glassware shattering on the marble floor, the glistening shards paraded and camouflaged amongst tiles.

“Listen to me-” my hands obeyed as my figure of illusory artistry portrayed the present melee. I coiled my fingers on the frayed seams of his solid, stitched collar, not endeavoring for the undone thread to tear free. Harshly yanking his shirt so much so that the lower hem hiked up, then revealing a small fraction of his bare flesh. With his torso hovering intimately over the counter and his aghast expression levitating mere inches away from mine, I completed.

“I’m a fuckin’ mess Ashton,” I whispered, feeling the sudden quiver strum at my vocal chords, my heart twinged as chaste emotion shadowed my feeble soul. “He’s destroying me.” I was oblivious to my abruptly blurred vision, the familiar warmth of bitter agony rolling down my cheeks and beading down my contracted jawbone.

My hands trembled as the both physical and mental pressure were the result of the bulging, prominent veins on my hands and wrists. My teeth grazed firmly as they chattered in accordance with my quaking lips. He was dumbstruck, it seemed as though his advice was much too amateur for my occurring situation, but the knowledge he possessed was impeccable.

“Sh, sh, sh,” he hushed, managing to slowly unclasp my python, vice like grip from the then ripping fabric of his tattered attire. Replacing its unreliable material with his calloused, yet comforting, hands, he interrogated then with much more conservation. “What did he do to you? Is he hurting you?”

I creased my quavering lips into a thin, firm line, ceasing my liquid depression and sobbing. “N-No, he loves me Ashy.” The guitarist then offered me furrowed brows of mystification, frowning slightly. Without literal words he questioned my justification to which I simply sniffed. “I l-love him, but I can’t live in this sin I’m responsible for anymore Ashton, I can’t do it…”

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

I was rather flustered on the realization of Chris returning home earlier from his daily, uncertified task of scrubbing platers and plates at a seafood outlet.

Swaying down the staggered brick path and dreading the nauseous, yellow light that seeped through our curtains, I cringed. Expecting to greet and share another casual one of our awkward communications, I was slightly skeptical on inspecting an absent Ty. His porch had been recently embellished with extra articles of clothing, meticulously nailed and stapled onto the wooden slabs that build his railings.

I immediately avoided being identified by Stacy, whom fluttered and twirled with an aggravated, irritated Decker on the hollowed stairs of her porch. The druggie’s hair, wrangled into a single hair tie, exposing more of his prompt, sharp facial structure that suited his alveoate features. He coyly glared at her, more specifically her buttocks, through the sheer, fitted stretch material of her tights.

I successfully jogged up the staircase without being detected, considering since I ventured through another back lane which led to the opposing length of Stacy’s apartment. Clammering to the door with the least of anxiousness to confront Chris, I filed my keyring out and selected the proper key, slightly rusted over a duration of time accidentally spilling fluids on it.

As much as I pardoned myself from any curious eavesdropping, it seemed queer to me that Xana and Andy’s rare arguing at that moment was more harsh than the nonexistent sessions before. Their once blurred muffles had then amplified to prominent, obscene phrases in which they bantered words in exchange like defense mechanisms.

Repelling against monitoring what wasn’t of my concern, I nudged the door open to perk firmly in return. I was agitated by the effortless attempts of Chris himself to be sexy and alluring. He laid sprawled amongst the pillows that were stocked on the sofa, several stained with substances unknown, but few with which we were both responsible for.

He was clad in only a cotton briefs, checkered with indigo squares that clung to his hips perilously low. A mere sector of his dark pubic hair was seeping from the worn elastic of his undergarment, making me squirm internally on the rooted spot. His hair in its usual, attractive massacre that I adored combing and braiding when exchanging conversation with him.

He clutched a freshly popped Heineken in his fist, loosely swinging the contents as his eyes flickered at the vibrant, neon rays of the prickly like quality television screen. He was so compelling, difficult not to fall victim to submission beneath his dominance.

A sudden pitchy bark duped me back into the present reality as the culprit clawed at my burnished heels with her stubby, dainty paws. “Squigs,” I giggled, mused by her instant, chirpy enthusiasm which I competently brought to her without intention.

Scooping the barely blossomed Husky up into my arms, exposed due to my ruffled sleeves, I cuddled her gently as she embraced the warm appreciation. “Hey,” Chris interrupted as I then sensed his slightly offended demeanor considering that I hadn’t even greeted him upon arrival.

My smile unconsciously faltered, making Squiggly whine with glistening, pouty eyes, almost as though she was knowledgeable enough too anticipate my sharp change of disposition. Stroking her snowy fluff once more before reluctantly resigning her to common frolicking perimeter and area, I glimpsed at him.

His emerald eyes, which were all the more conspicuous courtesy of the nights he’d been deprived of slumber, explored my body, raking every edge and curve with a generous amount of lust. “How are you home so early?” I plucked up the confidence to inquire, taking advantage of his immediately levitation to me.

With due consideration, I bit my lip eagerly to prevent my compulsion to grin as I straightened my decent posture. Arching down to unstitch the straps of my leather heels, his reply was briefly postponed courtesy of the visually pleasing angle my backside probably was for him.

“U-Uh-” he stuttered for mere seconds until I had returned erect and laced both my arms across my chest. Clearing his throat promptly, he finished with courage. “There wasn’t much customers today, Phil said I could’ve ducked out early.”

I nodded, less fascinated by his previous excuse from the miserable job he had to tend to, but more intrigued on knotting our loose, unaltered ends together. My scheme was simple and effective, simple enough to persuade him in gestures that he couldn’t have the lack of libido to refuse, effective due to the bitter consequences.

Trudging with a slight, sexy sway in my hips, I statued myself before him and his once brimming allowance to properly watch the animated television. With one, brazen yank, I freed my defiant hair from its wangled, tattered bun and ruffled the temporary waves that were indented within my layers.

He gaped at me, laboring to seem unfazed and unimpressed by my cliché performance. Easily prying the green, labelled bottle from his then depleted fist, I didn’t hesitate to cap my lips around the circumference of the spout. Quaffing the beer and exchanging tempering, sizzling glares of eroticism with him, a smirk tempted to twitch at the corners of my lips.

I finally set it, quarter disposed of, on the coffee table, upon it set clusters of cups and magazines supposedly contained content of my interest. “So-” I hiked my skirt up, though it had already skimmed my mid thigh, and straddled his lap similarly to the night before. “How was your day?”

He sneered at me, already his strained, aching desire bulging within his briefs and certainly twinging at my hormones with temptation. “Hmm, not exciting,” he exaggerated as his large hands, cold from previously gripping the crisp bottle and trading it between both palms, slid further up.

Defying the boundaries of the seam of my ebony pencil skirt that was stitched onto a rather fitted bodice, he groped at either of my butt cheeks with emphasis. “What about you babe?” The question received I had took rhetorical for a slight moment.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” I whispered, enjoying the solid feel of his manhood twitching intimately against my crotch. “I’m just so stressed Chris.” He grinned at that since it administered my approval from his fondling to develop more personally.

With his still cold fingertips brushing and fiddling abundantly with my frequently pampered, aroused area, I sighed and moaned before him. “What about?” His lips were planting icy, yet fevered, kisses on my neck whilst I tilted my head back to provide more surface to adorn.

“A lot of things,” I groaned, gasping when he stroked me as, what I had considered, perfectly. He smirked, cockily accomplished by the sudden jolt of my body and slight quiver of my private situation. “I can help with that,” he breathed, rubbing equally harder as his lust lashed fiercely in return.

I tittered and writhed, forced firm when he clamped an arm around my waist. Briefly gazing into my eyes, gazing into the flowing orbs of my slowly degrading soul, he licked his full, moist lips. “Kiss me.” A chill ascended up my spine, alternating in several directions. His usual effect on me when in compromising positions.

Teasingly drawing my lips over his in the alleged heart pattern, my original plan began to bleed through our painted sheets of paper. “Why don’t you ask Susan for that?” I brutally hissed, immediately startling and emitting an expression of utter most bewilderness that mounted upon his face.

“That’s all you want from me, don’t you?” I swapped his invading hand away in addition to shoving his bare, toned chest with angst in assistance to climb off of his lap. “That’s all you want, a kiss.,” I snarled as he was impotent on speaking. He only whisked through his ignorance of how he had then fallen victim to the usual one.

“You make it sound so innocent,” I hinged, snapping around on my heels and trotting towards an undecided destination. Remaining dumbstruck and oblivious for a matter of minutes, he recruited his present sensed and blurted. “What the fuck?”

He towed off the sofa, raising both his venturous hands in surrender and claiming. “I know I didn’t do one shit to you Star.” The tinge of beer still lingered on my tongue as I advanced towards the kitchen, enduring the tenacity to scowl. “Oh really?”

Faltering before the sink, occupied my majority of his cutlery and China, I glowered at the tense atmosphere then. Not receiving an immediate reply from him, I opted to wash the dishes as an excuse not to dispute and throw verbal daggers at him any longer. That was unlike Andy and Xana, whom hadn’t prevented their argument even till then.

Winding the chrome knob of the faucet on, I seized the coarse dish sponge within my fatigue ridden hands, dousing it into the liquid soap concoction nearby and began to scrub the platers.

Halfway through the process, I stiffened on feeling his hot, tender breath on the outer shell of my ear. “You better not be fuckin’ angry with me.” I shivered as he purposefully took his usual shallow breaths into my ear, clenching my pierced earlobe between his teeth.

“Well, what do you think Chris?” I muttered, arching my elbow towards his torso to distance us. Presuming with my chore, he refused to abolish the boiling conversation. “You can’t be angry with my babe,” he purred, his strong, firm arms briefly snaking around my hips. “Who’s gonna touch here for you then?”

He groped me through my articles of clothing, earning a slight whimper from the depths of my gullet when he fondled with my cupped breasts with priority. “Who’s gonna take you in and take care of you?” I convinced myself to continue swirling the sponge in infinite circles around a single plate, refusing to be preyed upon.

“Mhm, who’s gonna tell you 'I love you’? And kiss you?” I gritted my teeth harshly, as my body constricted sharply whilst he peeled my skirt off, permitting it to puddle at my feet. “Who’s gonna fuck you-” I was negatively aroused when he clutched the area between my thighs. “Until you moan and scream and cum all over?”

With that being his final declaration, I released my utensils, spun around with eyes of blazing flames and snarled. “Don’t try to seduce me Chris, I know that’s when you only want me, when I’m naked and vulnerable for you.”

A grin spasmed upon his lips as they found mine in return. Hungrily he clambered into the depths of my mouth with his tongue, passionately entwining and having intercourse with my runes.

“You act like you don’t love it as much as I do.”

I halted the kiss in reaction to his sinisterly honest words, nudging him away violently. “What the-” Through an impulse of utter anger, I clutched the first thing that I had within range, which was a still wet plater, and fired it at him.

Dodging it with ability, it shattered upon the opposing counter, making Squiggly squeal in return. With bold eyes and oblivion, he spat. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

That inquiry earned him another projectile, that time his daily coffee mug which was all the more pleasing to destroy. “Starlett-” he trotted and bound my wrists within his hands. “Stop, now.” I writhed and physically fought to escape his grip as he then hooked a leg around my calves to prevent my kicking.

“Chris! Fuck you!” I wailed, squirming in attempt to free myself. “Shut up! Calm the fuck down!” I couldn’t spare the moment to contemplate the spur of tears that welled up within my eyes then. “Star?” He harshly wrangled my defying hands. “Are you crying? Look at me.”

I was reluctant, my only ambition was to refrain him. “Leave me alone!” I clamored, flinching when he contracted his grip in trial to resume my placid persona. “Shh, Star, calm down, please,” he discreetly mumbled, using a compressed hand to caress my sticky cheek.

“No! I can’t calm down!” I sobbed, then falling horridly submissive to my tears and whimpers. “I hate you!” He continuously hushed me, releasing his bondage and instead embracing me with sincerity. Stroking my hair and whispering words of innocence and sweet cravings to me, my cries eventually turned to tiny sniffs and whines.

“Y-You want me for my body,” I choked on my residue tears as I spoke. “You don’t l-love me.” He seemed utterly profound by my conclusion, denying immediately. “Starlett, he can you even think that?” Whilst using the calloused pad of his thumb to brush my glistening streaks of tears away, he whispered.

“I love you so much, I wish I could show you that in every single way possible.” I gaped at him as he offered me an apologetic pout, combing his long fingers through the knots of my tangled hair. “I love you more than anything in this entire world, Susan doesn’t compare to you, Susan is no one compared to you.”

His words melted me internally, only resulting in more liquid emotion seeping from my eyes.

But the moment didn’t last long due to a piercing cry from Xana that echoed thoroughout the building…

A night I could’ve never forsaken, that sound of Xana herself screaming as though she had been the victim of death. But she felt for him. She loved him.

He no longer stood, he laid. He laid with a undemonstrative expression unlike all the smiles he contagiously shared with others. It had been the first time I had seen him so dim, so depressed, so constrictive.

A needle protruding from his arm, spewing blood from his then purple web of veins, bulging from lack of circulation. His eyes blank and bold, his lips chapped and flushed of colour, his soul no longer exist.

It was March 19th, 1990

It was the day that local legend, Andrew Patrick Wood, was found overdosed by his own companion whom shot him dead…

[changspain]

Going out, but not out out

Barcelona beach is long and picturesque, looking along its boardwalk the hordes of lounging bodies are framed by grand red mountains at one end and a huge glass hotel at the other. We walked towards the enormous hotel and guessed how much a penthouse room would cost for one night and what perks you would get. As we were all financially stricken the conversation soon moved to what self-deprecating act we would perform for one night of luxury – a recurring topic of conversation throughout our trip was how much of our dignity we would lose for what gain and it turns out I would do essentially anything for £50. We passed a volleyball court and were too nervous to ask to play but justified our decision by stating that the players weren’t to our standard. At the hotel, which had a huge W on it like Wayne Towers, we turned and headed back along the boardwalk to find a spot to sit and swim. We passed a nude part of the beach and looked at the naked Spaniards with curiosity and a sort of respect. I do not know whether the section of the beach with the most nude people was the nude part or they just naturally gravitated to each other. Walking by was like watching an episode of Naked Attraction[1], there was a huge range of body shapes particularly between two men – one was stacked and had a massive dick and the other was slightly podgy and had what I can only describe as a child’s penis. I didn’t point this out to the others because saying that somebody has a small penis is the hallmark of somebody who has a small penis themselves. We bought some cheap beers at a corner store and settled on a patch of bare beach next to two American college students and an extremely fit topless woman, in our defence we didn’t notice her until we had sat down. Seamus had bought a 40oz and had probably poured away a quarter “for the dead homies” before we actually sat down but at 30 cents a litre the homies can have it. We drank and listened to the two American college students call over a random girl and start chirpsing her. Slowly their conversation became dominated by the hotter American and the random woman as the podgy ginger American stared solemnly into the blue waves, wondering where all the time went. The main American had an interesting flirting technique – he asked questions in with such rapid speed the woman barely had time to answer like he was on a speed dating evening and another random girl would appear any second. Also, because the questions shot out at such quantity they were often vacuous and nonsensical, he asked “Do you like travelling?” which seemed pretty fucking obvious considering she was on holiday in Barcelona. This was followed by “What is your favourite sangria?” which I didn’t hear the answer to as our own random woman sat down opposite to us stating she was tired. I thought perhaps the whole beach was a mass speed dating session and I perked up ready to ask my own meaningless questions. Unfortunately, it became clear she was only trying to sell a bar crawl to us. Me and JUGB became bored and laid back as Ivy took the brunt of the sales pitch, she caught our attention when she said that it was 4 euros more expensive for boys than for women – it made complete sense but was still entertaining for us to take an ultra-liberal stance against the apparent sexism. She clearly believed she may have had 5 prospective punters as she panicked slightly as her sales pitch was being blown wide open by these irrational tourists. She fell back on some stereotype about her being Russian or something but we had become bored by her again. Me and JUGB got up and went to the sea and dove into the temperate, salty Mediterranean. A rogue volleyball smashed me in the head and out into the sea, I swam out further to get it and I found out I couldn’t swim to save my life, I looked back at the 20m to shore and thought I may need JUGB to rescue me which I’m sure wasn’t far off a few girls’ fantasy but for me would have been highly embarrassing. I made it back but probably looked like a floundering spider struggling to not fall down the plughole of a shower.[2] I dragged my body out the sea then back to where Ivy, Luke and Seamus were sat, saleswoman of the year had left but was soon replaced by another offering a different deal but we sent them away. Behind us some Dutch 30 year olds had started kicking a ball around and I went to join. The game was very lawless and I gradually worked out we had to vaguely keep the ball in the air in the most inefficient way possible, any sort of safe touch was frowned upon but smashing it in the air was applauded. I was instantly named Crouchy due to my lanky pale physique, apparently this is still good chat in Holland. The game was to a relatively high standard and I got chatting to one of players and found out he was an Arsenal fan which didn’t sit well with me I was a Spurs fan, I told him this expecting some more 4/10 banter but he replied saying he also loved Spurs. Luke called me away from the game and I left more bemused about football than I had ever been before. We walked down the boardwalk back to a Metro station with plans to get bottles of sangria and smash the clubs.

We picked up some Don Simon for such an unbelievable price the store owner may as well thrown in his eldest daughter as well. Our particular hostel did not allow drinking inside its walls[3] so we ran into the room to get changed and grab some more money. The male half of the Spanish shaggers was still in bed and I doubted he had moved at all that day – his life of lying in bed and waiting for his girlfriend to come back and have sex seemed pretty cooshti but I didn’t have time to throw him some quizzical looks as we had sangria to attend to. We drank the sangria in double cupped plastic beakers with heaps of ice in the street whilst listening to the weirdest songs I could find on Ivy’s iPhone[4]. We then headed for a cheap tapas bar the receptionist at the hostel had recommended us, I had developed an imaginary narrative where the reception girls were all intensely in love with me simply because they told us not to buy a tourist bus ticket because it was a rip off, in my eyes that translated to true love. Due to this relationship, I was confident she had sent us to the best tapas bar in Barcelona, but it turned out it was maybe 50m down the road and she was simply trying to get rid of me. We had to queue for a table but sat at the bar and had some beers. One thing that I’m sure annoys every English person in Spain is the way they pour beer, essentially with massive head. It would be acceptable if the head remained but it always instantly dissipated leaving a tear evoking gap at the top of the beer like a ghost has swigged a bit and evaporated. This phenomenon is especially frustrating to me and JUGB who both work or have worked in pubs.[5] Me, Luke and Seamus all ordered the vegan hamburgers whereas Ivy and JUGB ordered a highly eclectic mix of tapas. Our hamburgers came and were decent for the price we paid but weren’t anything to write home about, however 3 sangrias deep and 3 more beers on top we couldn’t have cared less. Meanwhile, JUGB and Ivy had received some delicious patatas bravas (that I also promptly ordered after tasting theirs) then a single croquette that looked awfully lonely on an empty plate – they romantically split it. There was then a long, increasingly anxious wait for the rest of their food and 30 minutes into this wait they asked where the rest was, the waitress stared at them blankly and explained the kitchen was shut. Panic ensued and the kitchen whipped up some sort of spicy pork dish but on closer inspection we found it to be entirely fat and inedible, JUGB offered the theory that perhaps that’s how the Spanish liked it – but we all knew they had just thrown whatever was in the bin onto a spicy bowl of tomato. I prodded the gelatinous blob and turned to see Seamus asleep in his chair, clutching his tote bag – a portrait that would very much become a theme of the trip.

We sent Seamus on his way home and headed towards the clubbing area of Barcelona that was perhaps a 30 minute walk. Ivy and Luke were craving some fags and insisted on stopping at every corner shop and asking if they had any, I didn’t understand why they wanted some pre-emptively or why no shops actually stocked them. They darted off part way down an avenue and sourced one, probably out of a bin or man in a drench coat. As we reached the clubbing district we were inundated with offers of ice cold beer for a euro by man clutching packs of Estrella. I thought that if we were here another night we could have played a drinking game which consisted of shotgunning every beer that is offered to you – even if you didn’t drink anything previously you probably wouldn’t make it to a club which in my books is the criteria of a successful night. I ushered every salesman away because I wasn’t really drinking and for a euro the beers were a rip off when you could spit on the face of a supermarket employee in exchange for a bottle of premium beer elsewhere. I had received a tip from a friend that a fun, cheap night out was Jamboree and this was consistent with other suggestions we received from various locals so our first port of call was Jamboree. We arrived and were greeted by large neon red letters and a dark entrance shrouded in velour curtains and burgundy rope barrier, I thought for a moment that this had all been a stitch up and Jamboree was an exceptionally boisterous strip club. This thought was quickly destroyed when I spied the customary conceited ticket girl sat on her throne of bureaucracy. I am yet to find anybody more unreasonable than the attractive girls sat at the entrances of clubs, I rarely remember the ticketing girls exist as they lie in the liminal space between the gutter-thug bouncer and the void of the dancefloor but whenever I attempt to communicate with them I am treated to a glare that very effectively conveys the phrase: “I’m stamping you with this random logo, or you’re fucking off. Either way - I don’t give a shit.”. The other part of my tip was that Jamboree was free but the bouncer quickly explained it wasn’t. I don’t know whether it had been free when my friend went or whether she had got in free because her and her four friends were all fit[6] – I heavily suspect the latter. We stepped out the queue and back into the clubbing plaza.[7] Me and Luke had made an ultimatum on the way down that if the club cost any money we would go home, but something between JUGB’s bubbly attitude and Luke shotgunning a beer in competition with Ivy persuaded us that 5 euros entry was a reasonable offer. I was the most sober and therefore the most unwilling to go in but I am sure there is some sort of mathematical coefficient between amount drunk and accuracy of value assessment, in the daytime offer me a 1kg of chips smothered in cheese for £3 and I’d probably rather blow my brains out but the same deal 27 beers deep and I’ll snap your hand off – clearly to JUGB and Ivy 5 euros was the deal of the century.

We re-joined the queue and I had to face the smug smile as the same bouncer we had previously turned away in disgust to. I then had to depart with a crisp 5 euro note that was snaffled up by the girl on the till, I have seen more personality in a Tesco self-service checkout machine than that girl had but at the same time she had probably seen more original chat from a brick wall than I possessed. We headed downstairs and to the dancefloor, it was maybe half full and I vividly recalled the moment the ticket girl snatched my money out my hand and felt a grave misjustice had occurred. I couldn’t decide whether a snide Trip Advisor review or a letter to the Industrial Tribunal of Fair Transactions was the best course of action but JUGB interrupted this thought saying that he was going to the bar for a drink. On the main dancefloor was a couple erotically grinding on each other, who I had to check were not the couple from the hostel, and three drunk Australian girls. There were also the regular rogue men who had stumbled out of some bar crawl, enticed by the femme fatale from the beach earlier, and had found themselves in a club playing music 10 years too modern for them. I began my standard ironic dancing routine of whipping and performing ridiculously large, yet careful foot and arm movements. This was relatively well received by my fellow clubbers and the Australian girls curiously watched me from afar, this attention vanished when me and Luke started taking pictures with a large fake Hennessy logo located near some seating. The music was mainly popular R&B but not the good kind and the DJ separated the Drake that wasn’t Drake with the J-Dilla horn that constantly tricked me into thinking he was about to play something from Donuts, I thought ‘Last Donut of the Night’ would be a fittingly melancholic song to the motley crew I saw before me. Gradually, the club filled up but our neighbours on the dancefloor remained the same except for the introduction of a camp Asian man who kept crouching very low and cocking his head to one side and cupping his ear whilst pointing at women, I didn’t understand what it meant but his fans fucking loved it. Me and Luke went to the bar to get some water, I accepted they probably wouldn’t give us a free glass because we weren’t absolutely smashed but it was worth a go. I stood next to a 40 year old Spanish man who kept pushing into me then smirking and staring at me when I looked at him, I thought about carefully explaining to him how ridiculous it was for him to be here in excruciating and depressing detail but ended up saying: “Y’alright there mate?”. He didn’t answer. He became less verbose when his girlfriend/wife came over and dragged him out the queue for some sort of telling off – perhaps I was the lame one and he was operating on several levels of irony higher than me. The bar staff predictably refused us our water and we headed upstairs to find Ivy and JUGB. I hadn’t realised there was an upstairs and preferred its atmosphere, mainly there was no couple rubbing alongside my leg – I got enough of that at my hostel. We danced on a raised stage for a bit then went back downstairs then decided it was time to leave, it was about 3am but the club was still filling up but we were all shattered. On the walk home we waved away 138 beer sellers and several taco sellers. The tacos were tempting but after seeing the fourth man selling the exact same tacos I became more interested in the wholesaler who had a monopoly on the drunk taco market than the potential of buying an actual taco.

When we arrived back at the hostel I sat down on a chair in the communal room to check my messages and drink some water. JUGB came out of our shared room instantly and told me a woman was now sleeping in his bed. It later turned out to be an Algerian woman who had introduced herself earlier that day and I firmly stand by the opinion that she wanted JUGB to join her, the other idea was that she had moved beds to escape the noises of the Spanish couple. Me and JUGB went to the reception and explained the situation to the young guy behind the desk. He said: “This is impossible, you need a bed to sleep in.”, he had hit the nail on the head but his attitude very much implied that this was JUGBs fault – I later told JUGB to be less alluring. The receptionist stormed to our room, slammed on the lights, luckily the Spanish couple weren’t having sex for once, and located him another bed. I too found a different bed, one further away from the Spaniards and fell asleep researching the best way to drive to our campsite tomorrow.

[1] I don’t know where this is a popular reference or an obscure one. Basically, it was a show on Channel4 where you stare at naked people – would recommend.

[2] This often occurs in my shower at home because I never notice them hanging around near the taps. I’m forced to watch helplessly as they battle with the inevitable, I tend to step out the shower before I start developing a metaphor between the spider’s battle and my life.

[3] I know, not a fucking hostel is it.

[4] Wu-Tang Clan and Danny Brown didn’t match the mood of a quiet medieval Spanish street, but neither did our unapologetic English street-drinking.

[5] I have seen someone hung for pouring a bad pint.

[6] Shouts out Mady Dean.

[7] Very much NOT its official name.

[gigil-bot]

January 6-9, 2017

Brandon came over on Friday, January 6th, and we had a wonderful day together. He didn’t go on Reddit at all! I was really impressed. Poor baby was still a bit sick though. We got 2 really fucking bombass sandwiches and croquettes from Mr Katsu. Holy shit so delicious, my stomach is grumbling just thinking about it. Love Mr Katsu. Then went to Daiso, and I picked up a bunch of things. I love spending time with my babe. He’s such a weirdo though. Then on Saturday, January 7th, I was starting to get a little sick, so I stayed in and read then went to a party in Cerritos. Food for days, as always! Saw my parents and brother there too. Hung out with my dad, brother, and cousin, and my mom kept introducing me to a bunch of people. Then some of the guys I met at the Chistmas party came over and we hung out for a bit. There was a really vulgar drunk old man that started lecturing us and telling us about his days as a sailor omfg. He told us to guess his age because it’s his favorite number. You can guess LOL I was hella dying because he was primarily speaking to my cousin omg the look on her face. I was hellllaaa cracking up. Then I had a talk with my dad who was also drunk lolll. I had to keep reminding him to drink water. And then at the end we met this cute kid who wasnt a kid, he was actually 19, but super cute with his (=.=)y greeting lol Thennn on Sunday, January 8th, I was supposed to go to Harry Potter World with my cousins, but I was feeling pretty shitty and didn’t want to get fully sick before Vermont this weekend, so I didn’t go. Lol omg wait, so, I tested for the Harry Potter stuff, and I got placed into Gryffindor and i think its called pudgiewudgie or something like that lmaooo and then my wand was beech wood with dragon’s core and my patronus was a fucking ….. hedgehog…. LOL i was hoping for something badass, but nope hedgehog. I read the description, and it makes sense, but still. Bruh. Hedgehog. Lollll Anyways, so on Sunday, I spent a lovely day sleeping in with the house to myself. Did more reading, but was sick af with a sore throat and fucking congestion, so I’m really glad I opted out of HP world. Next time though!! Since I was still here, my parents came over and saw my new place for the first time. My dad walked into my room and saw my big Bernie mask and made fun of me for it loll They liked it though, and they brought me some robitussin.. but im not coughing.. and they brought me some throat losenges. Those helped a bit. My mom also brought this horrible mouth wash. Worst mouth wash I have ever used. Never again. But apparently its expensive shit with one gargle costing $40. I would not pay to gargle that again. I dont even know if I could be paid $40 to gargle it lmao but yeah, then they left back to Sac. Then today, January 9th, I met with my cohort to discuss travel details, and shit got real bruhhh!! They bought us jackets and snowboots from REI and Nordstrom Rack. I have never bought anything from those 2 places in my life because they’re so damn expensive!! So today, I was just gifted 2 of the most luxurious, expensive items of my wardrobe. After the fact, reality fucking hit me, and I cried my eyes out for like 15 minutes in the parking lot of Panera Bread. I was just so in the feels and just so grateful for everything- just for my life in the past year. 2016 was such a wonderful, beautiful year, and I’m just a few days into 2017, and damn, this is happening. So I cried my eyes out while my head was throbbing becausd I’m still a little sick, but omg I was just so happy. I should have drank more water today though. I also didn’t get much sleep last night either.. because I couldnt fall back asleep for 3 hours after waking up, then I had to wake up at 5:30 to move my car and ended up shopping at vons for way too many groceries. Not good for a recovering sick person, but yeah, still super in shock and grateful for everything. I have a packed day tomorrow, and in the coming days as well, so I had better get some shuteye. Good night loves!