#they better get like an hour long pv

[goopybear]

Where were Octavinelle and Scarabia in the latest PV???

Like, this is the amazing content it was missing because they weren’t there 😒

[stardancerluv]

A Time to Love and to Fight

Part 16

Summary: Things…take a turn for Enjolras and his girl.

Notes/Warning: 18 & over please! This is a long chapter!

Reader is roughed up by Royal French soldiers, fingering, PV sex, implied soft!dom Enjolras, implied/squint breeding!kink with Enjolras, old school/dated thoughts about the male body, overall angst.

Thank you, for reading! Be nice! Feedback is welcome! Want to be tagged, please let me know! ❤️ and of course…Enjoy!

French Translations

My sweet angel. - Mon doux ange

Allow me to look upon your beauty. - Permettez-moi de contempler votre beauté.

But angel, but love I may be facing battle tomorrow and make you widower by days end. - Mais mon ange, mais mon amour, je pourrais affronter la bataille demain et te rendre veuf d'ici la fin des jours.

By a lie, a man... annihilates his dignity as a man —- Quote from Immanuel Kant

“Enjolras, my dear comrade look I understand he meant alot to you.” Grantaire pressed his lips together, Enjolras saw a sympathetic look washed over his comrade’s face. “He also helped where he could.”

The man glanced at the others before he looked back up at him. “But in the end, how does his passing effect us?”

Annoyance curled hotly in the pit of Enjolras’s stomach. He pushed himself off where he had been perching and walked over. “Simply, Lamarque was one of the last heroes of old that stood for the common man.”

Some of the men nodded, a few shrugged.

“Look,” Enjolras continued. “the people are just looking for reason to raise up. If we can get the Royal army to do something, perhaps we can provoke them and the people will come to our cause.”

“It’s never that easy.” His friend waved his hand around dismissively. “We’d do that and die.” Grantaire continued and crossed his arms in front of himself.

Enjolras leaned on the table, it creaked under this weight. He lowered his voice. “There’s bound to be a huge demonstration at his funeral. If we plan this right, what we will do now, will make history. France will finally be on its way to being a better place.”

******

With your heart in your throat, you hurried down the stairs and out of the building. How you would have loved to look up and see Enjolras’s face one more time but he had said that would not be a good idea. The quicker you got to the market and back home the better, he had said. You agreed. As you crossed the small courtyard your grip on the sack tightened while your heart squeezed.

You were grateful that the market was a few blocks away. Once there, you finally took a moment to stop, you had grown breathless in your haste. Glancing around, you were surprised at the number of tables that were already set up at that early hour.

Finding one to your liking you went over and found some soft sweet treats. These would be perfect for good cover. The seller wrapped them up and you gently placed them in your sack before turning and finally heading back home. You had never been away from home by yourself for so long. It was exciting.

******

Enjolras was helping to prepare. The guns, he and his comrades had needed to be cleaned. There could be no mistakes, no mishaps. He still had not taken a moment to properly mourn the passing of the man who had been like a second father to him. There was no time for sentiment. He would mourn later.

The bristles of the brush scrapped against the metal, taking away any dust or dirt. The oil cleaned what had grown dull. With a few quick moves, once again the gun was reassembled and ready to defend the life of the man who carried it. Enjolras did this with a rhythm. In the back of his mind he kept track of how many he had taken apart, cleaned and rebuilt. As the number grew, the more relaxed he grew for what would take place at the funeral.

“Enjolras,” He felt a hand on his shoulder, he flinched. “Enjolras.” The man repeated his named. He resisted making a sound of exasperation. Turning to finally see who it was and he smiled at the barman.

“Despiat? Early isn’t it?” Enjolras let out a sound of amusement but which was actually more of a twisted laugh. As he looked the lanky, barman up and down.

The man nodded. “Drinks and merriment are for later.” His mouth form a line. “But I wanted to give you what I could.”

That’s when Enjolras saw the small wooden box in the man’s worn hands.

******

A small smile played on your lips, as you tightened your shawl around your shoulders. You felt good, you secured the sweets and would be home shortly. The cover you and Enjolras had come up with was perfect.

Finally, you were not terribly far from home so as you walked along you let yourself relax. Memories of the night before swirled around in your minds eye.

You felt as your cheeks flushed at the memories. You were a real woman now you supposed, a small smile play on your lips. Images of him over you, blossomed in your mind’s eye. His curls were in disarray, you could practically feel the warmth of his breath. It made you tingle all over. Your fingertips could still feel the scruffiness his facial hair. You had fallen asleep with your fingers entwined, that had been nice.

A warmth had come over as your heart picked up its pace.

A scream was wrenched from you as hands grabbed you and felt yourself being pulled away. You began to struggle and laughter filled your ears. “Let me go!” You managed.

Your wind was knocked out of you as the banged you against as wall. Terrified, you looked around, they had pulled you into an alley.

“So what is a pretty girl like you walking the streets alone?”

You swallowed as you looked up at your assailants. Fear wrapped itself around your heart. Two royal soldiers were looming above you. Words got stuck in your mouth.

“Answer me.”

You looked from one to the other. Pain flashed hot as it burst across your face. The silent one smacked you. Without thinking you dropped the sack and placed a hand to your cheek.

“Don’t make me ask you again.” The one sneered.

“I…I was just grabbing something sweet for my mama, she’s ill.”

“So that’s whats in here.” The silent one finally spoke, holding up the sack.

“Yes. Please don’t.” You grabbed at it.

“Please don’t what?” The solider held up the sack, cackling.

“My mama is ill.” Your voice cracked.

You watched as they leaned together, one opened the sack. The one who spoke first looked at you. “There is more then one in there.”

“Yes.” You would not cry, you would not cry ; you repeated to yourself.

“Do you have more then one mama?”

Confusion filled you. You looked from one to another.

You yelped they pushed you against the wall.

“No, why?”

“You have more then one sweet in there.”

“That was…” You looked down, you knew what would happen now. Your heart sank.

“What girl we didn’t hear you?” You winced as one grabbed your upper arm.

You eyes flew up to look at him.

“Ow!” The solider howled and let go of your arm, you fell back against the wall.

You glanced over, your eyes widened when you saw Gavroche. He was throwing rocks.

“Run, girl!” He exclaimed and he threw a few more rocks. He glanced towards you and then back at the soldiers, he threw a more rocks. They forgot about you. The two of them turned and moved closer towards him. He turned and ran, they followed like dogs on a hunt.

******

Greta’s bony fingers tilted your face up to look it over. “You were so foolish.” She said in a huff, then pulled you close.

You desperately wanted to run away. You wanted to scream.

“Next time, come to me and I will bake something special for the you and your mother.”

“I know. I know.”

“Now go and lay down you must be in an awful state.” The old woman pulled back, her features finally softening. “We will not tell her.”

Your eyes watered. “Yes. Thank you.”

Taking the back stairs two at time, you were upstairs and at the door to your room in no time. Though, on the tips pf your toes, holding your breath you went to the closed door of your mama’s room. Your breathing was still was heavy but significantly better then its been in ages. With that giving you some comfort you went back to your room.

*******

Enjolras, sat with a book in front of him. He was in his usual corner of the tavern. Glancing out the window, he could see the sun day finally began to hang low in the sky. Part of him was eager to run, go and see you. Not caring what it would cause or do. Last night, he had pledged himself to you.

His concern over what may unfold around him, gave him pause. You were the reason for this. Sure, he had meant all he said to his comrades, to the others for them to harness their fears so that tomorrow could bring them a victory.

So with the sun setting and shadows stretching across the cobblestone streets, he read from a book the general had given him shortly after meeting. It had helped shaped him into the man he was today. It was a book, that shared philosophy of Immanuel Kant. The pages had grown worn from how many times he had read and read it. There was never a time this book didn’t give him a lesson or made him face some uncomfortable part of himself.

When he picked up the book today, he was hoping for a final moment of guidance. As his eyes moved across the sentences, he could practically hear the general’s voice. He remembered their past discussions.

His heart stilled as he read, By a lie, a man... annihilates his dignity as a man. As strong as if you were before him, he could see you in his mind’s eye.

“Enjolras, Enjolras.”

Inwardly he sighed, he should have stayed at the boarding house. A few moments alone, was all he truly wanted. Turning, he placed his finger in and closed the book around it.

“Yes, Gavroche.”

“It’s, it’s…” The young boy struggled and took several deep breathes.

“Calm down, I am sure everything is alright.” Enjolras could already feel a knot form in the pit of his stomach.

The boy shook his head. “No Enjolras, it’s the girl.” He scratched the back of his head, swallowing again. “The girl you had me walk home. Royal guards were roughing her up.”

Enjolras jumped to his feet. Distantly, he realized the book fell to the floor. He reached for it and stuffed it into his coat.” “What happened? Did they take her away.”

The boy shook his head. “No, I was walking by. I saw what was happening. I threw rocks at them.” The boy stood a little taller, and beamed up at him.

“What happened then?” His mouth grew dry.

“They gave chase.”

Enjolras looked the boy up and down. He appeared alright.

“I gave them the slip.” He cackled. “I waited and waited before finally creeping out from where I hid. I came straight from there to see you.”

Enjolras glanced behind them and then back at the boy.

“Tell the comrades, I had an urgent matter and will be back soon.”

******

After walking back to your room, you shed your soiled dress. In only your chemise exhaustion washed over you. You barely pulled your boots off when you fell fast asleep.

For the first time in what felt like far too long, Greta tended to you in your room. She felt your mama’s thoughts had best to remain clam. So what happened between and the soldiers would remain between the two of you. She served you lunch and then dinner in your room.

Still grappling all that you had to gone through emotionally, time was foggy with sleep. The soldiers had done put you in quite the emotional state.

With your mind and thoughts finally clear, it was an inky sky outside your window that greeted you. Feeling stifled, you tore your blankets aside. You legs felt wobbly as you began to pace. You didn’t know what to do. Should you go to the tavern looking for Enjolras or should you stay here. Sure, he said he’d visit in the garden but that was before the soldiers and what Gavroche did.

Wincing, you bit your lip. On quiet steps, grabbing a candle you went into the room reserved for bathing. Upon seeing your reflection, you clasped your hand over your mouth.

Your cheek was swollen; a bruise was forming where he had stuck your face. Tears prickled your eyes. The light flickered from the candle as your hand had begun to tremble. You immediately put the candle down. Brushing your sleeves aside, you chewed on your bottom lip as you saw the shadow of a bruises forming on your arms.

If you were honest with yourself there was also a soreness between your legs. Without thinking, you placed a hand there. Gently cupping yourself, you winced but oddly it felt good. Inhaling sharply and closing your eyes, scattered moments of the intimacy you shared with Enjolras, came to you. Your heartbeat grew faster.

Holding yourself brought a strain from your arms. You wondered if it was because of the bruises that circled your upper arms. You safely assumed that since they pushed you harshly against the stone wall, there was probably the smudges of bruises there as well.

The memory of the soldiers replaced the wonderful memories with Enjolras and it made your stomach churn.

Enjolras! You gasped. Would Gavroche tell him, you wondered. Oh, had Gavroche even been able to get away. You made a wish and truly hoped he had. You had to know.

Reaching up you brought down some powder. Mama, had used it when parties and dinner among friends lit up and filled this house with laughter and loud discussions. She loved, to look as pristine as possible. You smiled at the memory.

Father always told her she was his lovely doll, that she didn’t need any of the the powder or the rouge but she clung on hard to these traditions. Now, though to protect the heart of her beloved, you began dusting body your body. Before going back to your room and sprinkling some of the perfumed powder on, you gave your cheeks a kiss from the rouge.

******

He should just go to the front door, he wanted to take you away from here. Away from all of this. At this moment, he could not. Especially, with what would take place tomorrow, he couldn’t.

Once in the garden and after he dusted himself off. Seeing a few pebbles, he grabbed those. He saw what he hoped, was the flickering light of a candle, this he had to risk. He threw a few of them at your window. You didn’t come to the window, but the candle didn’t snuff out. His heart threatened to burst from his chest. He threw a few more.

His heart squeezed as he saw you come to the window. Turning, he went to lean against the will, he exhaled. He had not realized he was holding his breath.

******

Silly pigeon, you mused as sat at your vanity braiding your hair. Birds appeared to love scratching at your window. Grabbing a ribbon you used it to keep the braid in place.

Hearing the scuffle at the window again, turning where you sat you were prepared to shoo a bird away. Confusion, washed over you. Were those pebbles?

Getting up, you went to the window. Enjolras, was there! Warmth and happiness immediately filled you. Turning, and sitting, you pulled then fastened on your boots. Eyeing the two dresses you laid out, you chose your deep blue one. With butterflies in your stomach you crept out to him.

******

Hearing the ruffling in the leaves, he knew you were there. Stepping forward, he remained under the huge willow.

“Enjolras!” You whispered.

He smiled, you pulled a soft sound from him as you practically knocked him over your enthusiasm. He wrapped his arms around you. “Mon doux ange.” He murmured into your hair.

You smiled up at him. “I am so glad you are here.”

Inwardly, all of him stilled seeing how even in the moonlight he could see how the powder laid on you. “Permettez-moi de contempler votre beauté.

You nodded. Pulling back a mask of unease covered your face. “Enjolras, tell me Gavroche is alright?” You turned around slowly before facing him again.

“My sweet girl knows that I know.” You and the dress did a fair job, but it still made him ill to know this happened to you.

You nodded again, looking away.

He closed the distance between the two of you. Easily, he pulled you against him. “Don’t look away from me.” He swallowed; in the moonlight he saw how your eyes flashed as you looked up at him. “I had not meant for my words or sentiment to sound so harsh.” He let his arms around you loosen. Just being around you again and he saw differences.

“Don’t.” He felt as you moved against him, you brought his arms tighter. “In your arms, is the only place I feel safe.”

He gingerly brought his finger tips up, just under the swelling. “But look” The finger you placed on his lips, stole his words.

“We were apart.”

Finally, he was the one who nodded.

You lips were soft when they met his. Hesitation, filled him as he only barely pressed his lips against yours.

******

Anguish filled you. You couldn’t explain all that swirled around inside of you. “Enjolras. I need your kisses.” A desperation that clawed at your heart.

“There is a bruise.” His thumb gently grazed where the swell started.

You would not let what they did make you flinch under your love’s touch. “Make me forget it.”

He kissed you, as his lips met yours once again his arms tightened. You clung onto him.

******

“These kisses will be my undoing love.” Enjolras told you later. How much later, he truly didn’t know. Clouds had passed over head, stars had continued to twinkle and the moon moved distinctly higher in the sky.

“Then we shall become undone together.” You whispered, your fingers fluttering in his curls.

“Yes, but only mere day after making you my heart I do not want to rut in you like an animal on the ground.”

“You won’t, this is our special escape our secret place.”

“Mais mon ange, mais mon amour, je pourrais affronter la bataille demain et te rendre veuf d'ici la fin des jours.”

“Alors, mon amour, ne me fais pas l'amour.”

Silently he eased you from his arms to the soft moss beside the two of you. His jacket was already folded and to the side of the tree. He brought his face close to yours, kissing you softly. “Are you sure angel?”

“Yes.” You nodded.

Kissing you again, he opened his vest. Only the did he allow one of his hands to smooth over the softness of your curves. In doing so, his arousal which blossomed while kissing you was growing stronger, making his heart thud harder in his chest. First, slowly he loosened the bow in front of your dress, so his access to your bosom was to his liking.

With his stomach, tightening he met your eyes above where your heart beat as hard as his own. “Love, remember that unlike the night before, your sweet sounds cannot be terribly loud. I do not wish for us to have to explain things.”

You nodded. “Yes, I will be careful.”

He hands caressed at you, loving how through the soft cotton of your dress he could feel the erect buds of your nipples. Your breathing shallower and a soft sound was pressed from your lips.

“Feel good?” He whispered.

You nodded. “Yes.” You managed to breath out.

Gently pulling the fabric down one of your breasts was freed, not hesitating any longer he placed kisses and licked at your nipple. Your fingers in his hair brought a tremble from him.

He could not be slow and languid tonight, he was sure you felt the same. As he licked and nipped at you, he brought up the skirts of your dress. Seeking a breath, seeing your soft legs in just their stockings and boots, his arousal pressed hotly against his trousers.

He glanced up and met your eyes, “You are magnificent. Please free yourself from under undergarment that causes a delicate barrier between us.” He softly requested.

Shifting, and lifting your hips, he bit down onto his bottom lip as once again your mound, your soft center was there for him. He eased himself upon you, so he could look into your eyes. Gently, he moved his hand from caressing your hip went and cupping you softly. He sighed doing so.

“Thank you, my love.” He whispered.

He felt as you gently rubbed against him.

“How do you feel there my love? I am a brute, I have not even asked if you are alright.”

A soft, shy peel of laughter came from you, that made his heart beat in a manner different then he was accustomed to but very much welcome.

“Mon amour, at the memory of you I have only felt achy flutters and a strong desire to feel you once again.” In the moonlight, even under the powder and false blush, he could see your cheeks darken further. “If I may be so bold?” Your eyes twinkled.

“Yes, love. I do love hearing these sweet words of your desire.” He replied kissing you, while he did he gave you a soft possessive squeeze.

It was muted because of the kiss, but he practically paused in kissing you to smile. He relished what he could pull from you. Eager, he slipped two fingers between your soft folds. They were greeted by soft warmth. You were more then ready with the wetness that had easily flowed from your need of him. He moved his fingers over you.

He delighted in watching as you writhed or hearing the small little moans came from you. Once again, he found the little bud between your soft folds, he could see and feel as you grew more excited under his touch. It was beautiful. It made him harder then before. He could not wait any longer.

Moving back, he placed his hands on his trousers. His hand trembled as he undid the buttons. Easing himself between your legs. Opening his trousers and inhaling he took himself out.

“Enjolras?” You whisper, raising yourself up onto your elbows.

He grew harder seeing you like this.

“Yes, angel.”

“May I feel you?”

His stomach tightened, he nodded. “You may.”

Sitting up, he gently took your hand to him. “Be very gentle.”

“I will.”

His breath shallowed further as your hand explored him. He brought his hand over yours, you smiled. “So very different. But I like it.” He gently drew you down to his balls.

“This love, is where the spark of life begins.” With his hand, he help you cup him.

A soft sound came from you that made his stomach tighten deliciously.

“They feel quite heavy and full.”

Gently, you squeezed. It sent sparks of pleasure through him. His excitement to spill in you grew inside of him.

Your eyes, heavy lidded met his. “I can’t wait any longer. I need you Enjolras.”

You laid back down, and it appeared as if you actually opened yourself further for him.

Leaning on his one hand, he drew closer you as he held himself in the other. Gently he, slipped himself between you petal soft folds. A soft moan came from both of you as anticipation fell over the two of you.

He bit his bottom lip to suppress a moan as he slid into you. You whimpered and writhed under him, it felt amazing but he had to be sure.

“Angel, you ok?” Once again you felt so right.

“Yes, feels so good.”

With one arm he held you close as he began to slide in and out of you, while with the other he braced himself against the soft ground under the two of you. He moaned as he felt you pulled him even closer.

“Yes. Yes.” He murmured. “My angel.” He panted.

Hearing you pant his name as you clung to him added to his excitement. “I’m here.”

Bringing your lips to his, your lips and tongues expressed and echoed your bodies. Breathes were shortened while your bodies followed the dance of their passion.

He could feel as your body tightening around him, making him break the kiss and practically growl with pleasure into your shoulder.

You clung harder to him, whimpering. “ am so close, Enjolras…Enjolras.” You panted and the you met his body and spasmed with your pleasure.

“Yes. Yes.” He panted and soon, he felt himself cumming hard and deep within you. It felt so good. Out of breath he met your eyes and your lips met then as you both kissed each other down from the passion that erupted between the two of you.

*******

The trunk of the willow was firm and gave him good support as he sat with his back against it. You were curled up to his side, you had dozed off for a small amount of time. He let you. It gave him time to think. It would probably be best if you stayed there. In case something did happen. He didn’t want those at the boarding house to hold you responsible.

Feeling you stir, he knew that soon he would have to leave. He glanced down at you, he gave you a soft smile.

“Hello sleepy angel.”

Your lashes fluttered as you met his eyes. “Hi.” You replied softly.

He smiled broader as you played with one of the buttons on his vest.

“You have to go soon, don’t you?”

“I do.”

*****

Your heart lurched painfully. His words were whispered in your head. That he may make you a widow tomorrow. You knew he was always prepared to die, but what could possibly be happening tomorrow.

You played with one of the buttons of his vest, nervousness blossomed in you. He gave you a bigger smile, it almost melted away your worries.

“What is happening tomorrow?” You finally felt brave enough to ask.

“General Lamarque has died.”

“What? He was a hero. My father had always referred to him as a good man.” You recalled moments where your father spoke of how he was a hero of France.

He nodded. “He had taken ill, it finally claimed him.” He swallowed.

“Oh.” You whispered.

“I have to say it again, your father was a smart man. I certainly believe him and I would have gotten along.”

You were certain, your father would have loved to have a man like Enjolras courting you. You chewed on the inside of your cheek. You nodded. “I do believe the two of you would have.”

“Tomorrow is General Lamarque’s funeral.”

Concern, shot through you making you sit up. There would be so many Royal Guards. What could he and his comrades be up to.

“What are you and the others doing?” The words flew out of your mouth before you could stop them. Fear blossomed and formed knots in your stomach. You covered your mouth, you shot Enjolras a look before looking down at your lap, you brought your hands to rest there.

“I’m sorry. That’s not my place…I just..after today the Royal Army really scared me and…and I worry about you.” You glanced at him.

Moving from the tree, he was pulled you close. You felt as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

“I know you’re worried.”

You nodded and looked at him, tears prickled your eyes.

“I will come back to you. Tomorrow night, I will be holding you here.” He whispered.

“You better.”

Shifting, you grabbed at your braided hair. Loosening the ribbon, you undid the bow. You made a tight bow on one of the eyelets of his vest.

“Now, you will have part of me with you.”

He gave you a half smile, his thumb grazed it gently. “Yes, you will be.”

@aftertheglitterfades @sebastianstvns @dealswiththedevilsblog @randomstory56 @pl1nfa1 @phantomxoxo @ladybug0095 @the-iridescent-phoenix @maryan028 @netusha @kindablackenedsuperhero @amethyst-serenade @crazyworldofsiani @moondev1l @eddiethebloodiedhand @lluviamg06 @samunson83 @craftyhufflepuff @julieteagk @gretavankleep37 @little-wormwood

[lumafly]

Finally beat Absolute Radiance and got 'Dream No More' :) Booyah (ramble below, if interested~)

It didn't take as long as I thought it would? NKG took 3-4 hours to nail down when I first fought him on switch a few years ago and I must have retained the experience because I didn't die to either version once?? Pantheon 5 took 5 attempts, which is a far shot lower than my attempts on the switch version (closer to 50 lol). Markoth continues to be an asshole in P5 who ended two of these runs by camping my respawn point and his shields and/or nails catching me the moment death i-frames ran out... I didn't have nails flung from outside the arena like usual but having such limited room to stand and so much to dodge just makes his fight annoying.

On the last attempt it was actually Pure Vessel that got me closest to failing, mostly from my own silliness, and for Abs-Radi I just played suuuuper defensively because I've only ever fought them once (on my best switch run, never on steam) and didn't want to die after being so close with PV this time. Abs-Radi is a really intense fight! I didn't get far on switch so actually having to do the climbing phase with her lasers and then pogo stuff at the top was definietely fueled by panic and first-time instinct than actual skill lol. Absurd. Just absurd.

Definitely dedicate winning to not being on switch version (and maybe a bit to being better at video games since then lol). I used to struggle with Sly so much but with a bigger screen he's much better to work around and in general a controller is far easier to use than joycons/handheld.

[simstationdance]

C, T and U !

C: Favourite Pre-Made ophelia nigmos and lyla grunt my beloveds...!

U: Best Sims Experience in my personal hood "blueblossom valley" (aka bluewater village + riverblossom hills + desiderata valley + pleasantview), lilith ran away at the end of the pleasants' round so i made it so that she ran off to live with dirk.

after moving in with dirk she was quite literally Thriving and became an overachiever. the whole round was just so chill and very fun and i didnt wanna stop playing it..

also my take on darren in this hood..... he was sooooo cute

T: Worst Sims Experience okay so my worst sims experiences are mainly from when i was a tiny child who barely knew how to play the game, so all of my sims died A LOT. as i got older, i got better at the video game, so now i can, if i wanted to, play big families on fast mode without minding Too Much.

However, there was this one experience i had that really sticks out in my memory and it was fairly recent, and it really hearkened back to the childhood era of "ALL OF MY SIMS ARE DYING HELPPPP"

this got super long and rambly so i'm gonna put it under a cut

also, a link to the questions post: [ sims questions ]

so, there's a version of pv for download where, among other changes, the brokes have a dog. because everyone in the hood got a pet. this is important because the brokes are already struggling financially with 3-4 mouths to feed (that's counting brandi, dustin, beau, and sortakinda the unborn baby all together) so i'm sure you can imagine how adding a dog into the mix would complicate things. and that's not even getting into the fact that the dog hadn't been trained to not piss everywhere or chew the everloving shit out of the furniture.

i also had a mod installed at the time that allowed teens to run away with the press of a button, so i was like "haha what if i made dustin run away?" yknow just to see what would happen. and i firmly believed he'd come back after i called the police. so dustin ran away, i called the police, and i waited. no sign of dustin. for HOURS. I Quickly Realized That I Fucked Up. I FUCKED UP SO BAD.

things rapidly went downhill after that, because their only source of income was gone and brandi obviously couldn't get a job because that would mean Leaving The Poor Little Ones Alone and the game HATES that. so i'm basically fighting tooth and nail to keep social services at bay and keep poor brandi from dying asleep in her cereal.

so days go by, and dustin is still missing, and by the end of ONE WEEK the whole house is a mess, covered in dog piss and diapers and the wrecked remains of the furniture because brandi was too tired to scold the dog enough times to stop the little menace from ruining everything.

i was so very confident that dustin would come home soon, if not immediately, and my confidence was slowly destroyed over the course of a single in-game week. of course, the alternative to a runaway teen returning immediately or soon after running away, is the teen returning one day before their birthday, and considering how Badly things were going, I Obviously Could Not Wait That Long. because otherwise dustin was gonna come back to a house full of dead bodies.

it got so bad that i eventually had to pull random neighbors passing by on the street inside the house to do the chores that the sole adult was physically incapable of doing, due to being incapacitated by sleep deprivation and hunger.

one of the passersby was dina caliente and i had brandi come running out of the house practically BEGGING dina to take the dog. once i got rid of the dog, things became slightly easier but it was still a total mess without dustin around. i eventually quit without saving because after a certain point it stopped being darkly funny and became just actually Depressing.

TLDR: don't let dustin run away ever. Ever. also don't give the brokes a dog unless you're willing and able to Handle That Responsibility.

[queen-rainy-love]

The PL Fam + Custard Brothers take a trip to a famous market center. All of them look around and buy things from a market that intrigues them. Everyone is with each other until Knight realizes that PV, Clotted, & Clover are gone. They search for them and found PV at a store with flowers. Then, they found Clover at a store with instruments (he tries to sue the owner). Finally, they found Clotted staring at the bakery window looking at scones. They buy desserts and call it a day.

Aawwww! Wholesome again! Also, this will be set after White Lily and Dark Enchantress separate.

*The scene is set in the Hollyberry Kingdom's market place. The Pure Lily family and the Custard brothers are walking around, ready to explore.*

Knight: Alright everyone! Welcome to the Berry Market. Please feel free to explore but don't separate from your buddy.

Red Velvet: Aren't most of us too old to have a buddy? We don't need someone to protect us.

Knight: It's more like I don't want you guys to crumb anyone. So here are the groups: father and Red Velvet, mother and Custard III, Clover and Madeleine, and Clotted Cream and me. Let's go...and please don't cause a riot.

*The four groups split up and spent hours around the market. Almost by sunset, the family regrouped and showed what they had found. Knight was about to ask what Pure Vanilla found...only to see not Cookie next to Red Velvet. He looks over at Madeleine and doesn't see Clover. Then he looks behind him...Clotted Cream was nowhere to be seen.*

Knight: Uh...guys...where's father, Clover, and Clotted Cream?

Red Velvet: Father's right- *checks next to him* -here...

Madeleine: And Clover- *checks behind him* -is not here.

White Lily: *starts freaking out* You...lost...them?

Madeleine: *trying to calm her down* We'll find them!! They couldn't have gone far! Let's go!!

*The five Cookies start walking around, looking for their three missing family members. As seconds turn into minutes and minutes turn into almost an hour, White Lily struggles to stay calm and slightly tightens her grip on Custard III's hand. She's about to call out to her sons when she noticed a familiar waffle cone hat in front of a flower shop.*

White Lily: Pure Vanilla!! *runs to him with Custard III in tow. The three brothers follow suit.* There you are!

*Pure Vanilla turns around with flowers in his arms, not expecting White Lily and Custard III to fling themselves onto him.*

Pure Vanilla: Woah!! *hugs her* White Lily, what's wrong? Why are you freaking out? I was only looking at the flowers.

Red Velvet: Father...we've been looking for you for an hour. The sun is setting.

Pure Vanilla: Huh?! But I thought you were next to me...Oh, I'm so sorry. I got lost in the flower shop by accident.

Red Velvet: It's okay. At least you're safe. Now, we got to find Clotted Cream and Clover.

Pure Vanilla: You lost them!?

Madeleine: We'll find them!!! Just...please pay for the flowers and we will continue looking for them.

*After paying for the flowers, the group continues their search for the missing two Cookies. It wasn't long until they heard yelling.*

Clover: *From a distance* Get away from my lute!!!

Knight: Who wants to bet that he's close to the music shop?

Red Velvet: Pretty sure he is.

*Everyone, with the help of Knight, heads toward the music shop. There...Clover and the music shopkeeper are arguing with Clover hugging his lute protectively.*

Shopkeeper: Oh come on! That old thing looks like it's about to break! You can trade for it.

Clover: No way!! This is a gift from my uncle!! I will not trade it for anything!

Shopkeeper: More of a reason to trade it! It could break one day!

Clover: I know how to fix it!

Red Velvet: Oh boy... We'll get him. *Him and Madeleine walks toward the duo.*

Shopkeeper: Come on! You can trade a better deal if you just...let...go...* Notices the intimidating duo of Madeleine and Red Velvet.* O-on second thought, keep it. I-i h-have another d-deal to take care of.

*The shopkeeper runs away and Clover turns around to see his two older brothers.*

Clover: Hey guys. Thank you for scaring that shopkeeper away. They were not leaving me alone about my lute.

Madeleine: Of course little brother. But for now...why did you wander off?! We're all been searching for you, father, and Clotted Cream for an hour!!

Clover: Wait...you lost us? Not the other way around.

Red Velvet: Yeah, yeah. We've heard. Now come on. *Grabs the back off Clover's cloak and the trio regroup with everyone else.*

Knight: Okay! So now there leaves Clotted Cream! Where could he be!?

Custard III: Well...*everyone turns to the young Cookie.* Whenever my mother took us to the market, Clotted Cream would always want to go to the bakery. He never said it out loud but mother always took us there. He might be there.

*Everyone heads toward the closest bakery and standing right in front of the bakery's window was Clotted Cream.*

Pure Vanilla: There he is. *everyone walks up to him.* Clotted Cream?

Clotted Cream: *startled* Oh! Sorry. I was just-

Knight: *grabs his shoulders* Thank goodness you're okay!!! We've been looking for you, Clover, and father for an hour!!

Clotted Cream: You lost us?

Knight: Not important!!!

Clotted Cream: Pretty sure that's important.

Red Velvet: Yeah, but the important thing is that we found all three of you. So please stop bringing it up.

Clotted Cream: *looks at the window before looking back at the family. Smiles a bit.* How about we buy some sweets and I never bring this up?

Knight:...Fine.

*After buying some desserts, the family starts heading to the inn.*

Red Velvet: Next time, we're putting leashes on you three.

Pure Vanilla: After today...that's fair.

[sunshinesolars]

India's Best Solar Solution in Goa Will Help You To Save Your Money

Electricity is very important to us, but it greatly harms the Earth. It can sometimes make us sick. So everyone should use solar power to fix everything.

A solar panel is a piece of equipment that uses solar energy cells to turn light from the sun into power. PV cells are made of materials that release electrons when exposed to sunlight.

Solar energy doesn't affect the environment like electricity. Solar panels make a building's energy label better, and for new buildings, they are the most cost-effective way to meet energy-saving goals.

If you live in Goa, you should know about India Best Solar Company in Goa, Sunshine Solar Solution. You get the best solar power for your home from them.

About sunshine solar solution

Since 2015, Sunshine Solar, a full-service firm, has been responsible for installing solar panels in Goa. They are committed to providing homeowners and businesses with the most positive experience possible with solar energy, beginning with the system's design phase and continuing through installation and ongoing maintenance. Their one-of-a-kind value offering is that they provide comprehensive solar solutions from beginning to end, which include consultation, engineering, permitting, installation, and continuing maintenance. They want to make it as simple as possible for people to switch to solar power and reduce the amount they spend on their monthly energy bills. They aim to have the entire state of Goa run on solar energy, from homes to businesses.

Why Choose Solar Power?

The major benefit is that it is a clean source of electricity that can be used repeatedly.

The environment benefits from solar power.

With solar energy, your home can get off the grid.

Solar power can use land that isn't being used.

Less electricity is lost when solar power is used.

Solar power makes the grid safer.

Sunlight is a free way to get energy.

Features of sunshine solar solution 

Innovative new technology for the best solar panels available today.

●        They sell and occasionally repair wind generators and hybrid solar energy systems.

Their services are reliable and reasonably priced.

Install solar panels to the highest standards.

The building's energy efficiency is increased without any negative effects.

Complete system customization ensures optimum ROI.

The solar panels they install last a long time and require little upkeep.

Assurance in the upkeep of your property.

The Sunshine Solar Solution is also useful for charging electric vehicles.

The first session is on the house.

Not only do they provide free domestic current and EV charging, but they also have a staff of pros with a decade of experience in the sector.

24-hour customer service.

When you talk to them about their stuff, they listen to you.

Conclusion

We need to use solar power to save the Earth. Sunshine Solar Solution India Best Solar Company in Goa. They have great features for you. Their services aren't very expensive so you can pay for them. Also, they gave excellent service, and the best part is they treat their customers with very kindness.

Also read:- Solar energy company in india

[g30citiesexe]

rewatch thread of the hatsune miku opera

happy 3/9 miss miku

-pinnochio p tuning always slaps

-someone with better articulation of things should write an essay on this i think. high fashion hatsune miku (tm)

-things u watch to feel…something. -this music is so good

-ofc I couldn’t forget the flashing lights in this. only two minutes in and it’s flashing

-maybe people with sensitivity to flash shouldn’t watch this

-no like. definitely don’t watch this its like 90% flashing

-so five minutes later the actual performance starts

-she straight up floating bro

-you guys ever wanted to go inside of hatsune miku model??

-what did they use to voice the animal thing?

-miku stop looking at me with them big old eyes.

-oh that doppleganger freaaks me outtt

-and about a minute’s worth of it slowly walking for added discomfort.

-next scene

-love this song

-the violin parts are so pretty

-love the little violin thingy that plays when she opens the door

-lots of eyes in this opera

-this is really an indescribable piece of art

-love the shot of her dress changing

-unpopular opinion but i think the costumes r pretty cute

-3rd song in and miku is floating in an ocean with disembodied 3d model parts but the song is honestly kind of relaxing

-this opera rlly throws out some weird imagery set to some moderately calm music (complimentary)

-some parts of this sound similar to later songs i just noticed

-so interesting how they use like three different versions of miku (like tuning wise)

-the skull reminds me of one of the pinnochio p music videos. I think im thinking of the project diva common world domination pv actually?

-asmr moment

-yeah this next scene is interesting. good tuning

-and theres also disembodied mouths in this thing

-long miku. -asmr OVER its chaotic discordant music time

-basically almost 2 hours of a software program realizing that it is finite

-or something. -second instance of going inside miku: this time featuring a heart

-really dont know wtf is happening in this scene

-the creature things back. yeah that was a thing that existed. -and all semblance of safety from flashing lights is killed forever. -i thought the english voice was only for the animal thing but nope it shows up during mikus lines too so ig it might be a technical thing? that or an artistic thing

-oh yeah. and she morphs into a dragon thing for like ten minutes

-and then it gets kind of emotionally poignant around the end

-the fact we never really know who the “you” she talks about is. the audience? her doppleganger? something else? maybe it’s all of those options. -anime girl experiences all stages of existential realization the movie

-this part is fucking beautiful fr

-still don’t know what some of this represents but. its cool it sounds neat and looks neat

-the end

-and we close out on the blood falling from her eye. iconic image.

[cymsolar]

Buying Solar South Australia | cym-solar.com.au

Buying Solar South Australia - Buying a solar power system in South Australia can help you to save money, reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to the environment. Buying solar power systems can also help you to get a better return on your investment. This is because solar panels don't have a fixed lifetime. Instead, solar panels can be purchased and installed for many years. It is important to choose a solar company that has experience in installing solar panels.

Commercial solar system owners can expect between 3.5 and 4.5 hours of "peak sunlight" daily

Purchasing a solar energy system can improve the value of your home, reduce your utility bill, and improve your lifestyle. The cost of installing a solar photovoltaic system varies depending on size, and most homes need between 1 and 5 kilowatts.

One of the cheapest ways to buy solar energy is by signing up for a government sponsored rebate. Another option is to install solar panels on your roof. These panels can be visible from the ground, and require minimal space for a power bank. The main components of a solar system are the panels and the inverter.

Solar panel technology has come a long way in recent years, and costs are dropping rapidly. One of the more cost effective solar energy systems, the 6 kW system, costs around $20,000. For a business, installing solar panels on the roof can be a cost saving measure. Larger commercial solar installations can reduce the need to purchase power from the grid, thereby saving money on the electric bill.

In the United States, the average peak sun hours are 3 to 5 hours. This number increases closer to the equator. It is interesting that a commercial solar system can produce more than enough energy to meet the needs of a single family home.

AEMO's order to cut off as much rooftop solar as possible

AEMO's order to cut off as much rooftop solar as possible has had a negative impact on solar in South Australia. The state has seen days with incredibly low demand. However, the problem can be minimised by increasing the capacity of storage in the grid.

A significant amount of rooftop solar PV is being installed in South Australia. One of the key attributes of the system is that it is able to provide reliability when paired with battery storage. Batteries will become more affordable and become more available for household use. However, the AEMO has called for urgent investment in more transmission lines to support the state's ambitions of reaching 100 per cent renewables.

In late October, rooftop solar in South Australia hit the local demand mark, generating enough power to fill the gap left by the Heywood interconnector, which links the state with Victoria. The solar arrays met the local demand for five straight hours on a sunny Saturday.

There are a number of projects in the works, and five key projects are awaiting regulatory approval. These include the VNI West, the HumeLink, the New England REZ Transmission Link, the Marius Link, and the NERO. They all require regulatory approval and are likely to be threatened by supply chain disruptions.

Elon Musk's plans to build the world's largest virtual power plant in SA

Earlier this month, Tesla and the South Australian Government announced plans to build a world-leading virtual power plant (VPP) in South Australia. The project will be built over the next four years and will be installed on at least 50,000 homes. The project is expected to lower energy bills by up to 30%.

The project will draw on a network of home battery systems, with each home able to store excess electricity, which can be drawn on in an emergency. The plan will be financed through the sale of electricity produced by panels and the sale of excess electricity.

The plan was modeled by Frontier Economics, which said that the program would cut energy bills by up to 30%. The South Australian government also plans to help finance the program by offering a $2 million grant.

Tesla already has a battery system in South Australia, but plans to expand its deployment. The company will install Powerwall batteries on up to 50,000 homes, with the aim of providing backup power in power outages.

In the first phase of the project, best solar company Adelaide will install 5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) solar panels on 1,100 public housing properties. In 2018, 600 homes will receive Powerwall batteries. The full program could be rolled out to 49,000 additional properties later this year.

[solarbeee]

Residential Solar Systems With Battery Storage

Whether you are looking to go solar in your home or business, residential solar systems with battery storage can provide you with the energy you need to power your electrical systems. The batteries you use to store energy are a vital part of the system and can have a big impact on how much energy you can use. There are a variety of battery options to choose from, including Lithium-ion and NMC batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries

Using lithium-ion batteries for residential solar systems offers many advantages. This is because they offer high energy efficiency and longer life. Compared to lead-acid batteries, they are also low maintenance and have higher durability.

Using lithium-ion batteries will also help save you money in the long run. Because lithium batteries are compact, they can be stored inside the house, whereas lead-acid batteries have to be placed in garages. Also, lithium batteries can be used as an emergency backup power source.

The battery size is measured in kWh (kilowatt-hours). A single battery can have up to 90 kWh of energy. You should choose a battery based on how often you use it and how many power outages you are likely to have.

Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive than lead-acid batteries, but they are also more durable. They can withstand extreme temperatures and have a longer life span. Lithium-ion batteries can also be recharged faster than lead-acid batteries.

NMC and LFP batteries

Choosing the best battery type for your solar system is important. There are two major types of batteries: NMC and LFP. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Depending on your application and the size of your system, you may want to opt for one over the other.

NMC batteries are the more common type, and they are also cheaper. They tend to last longer and perform better. NMCs have more power and are better at handling extreme temperature fluctuations.

However, LFP batteries are also impressive and have a number of benefits. They are easier to recycle and offer better safety ratings. They also operate at lower temperature, so they are less likely to catch fire.

LFP batteries are more expensive than NMCs, but they offer better performance. For example, they last longer and can support higher voltage demands. They also have more domestically produced materials.

LFP batteries are also more efficient. They have a longer life cycle and are easier to recycle.

Hybrid PV solar systems

Getting a hybrid solar system is a great way to save money on your electricity bill. It's also a good way to offset your carbon footprint.

A hybrid system is the combination of solar panels and batteries. Batteries are used to store excess energy for use on good days, while the panels generate power to power your home during off-peak hours. The batteries also act as a backup during the night. The solar panels and batteries work as a combined UPS (uninterrupted power supply) to keep your lights on during an outage.

Hybrid solar systems cost more than standard grid-tied systems, but they do offer a lot of advantages. One of the most significant is the fact that the system is scalable, which means that it can meet the needs of a larger home or business. This is particularly useful for future-ready homes, and can also help you lock in low rates for years to come.

Off-grid solar systems

Whether you're looking to install a home solar system on your property or you just want to make sure you have the ability to power your own home, you may want to consider an off-grid residential solar system with battery storage. These systems are becoming more and more popular, and they allow you to use the sun's power to power your home.

Depending on the size of your system, you will need a battery bank. Depending on the type of battery you choose, you may need to replace it after 10 years. If you're looking to save money, you might want to choose AGM lead-acid batteries. These are less expensive than lithium batteries, but they're bulkier and don't last as long.

Battery storage is important in an off-grid system because it allows you to store excess solar energy. You can then use this stored energy when the sun isn't shining.

[indiaenergystoragealliance]

Changing Trends in Telecom Infra in India to Re-define Use of ESS

We are discussing growth again in India and it is also the buzz word in the telecom industry in the country. Per person, data services usage in India grew by over 30 % in 2014, which has led to a renewed interest in investments in the sector.

 The next level of investments will be aimed at the improvement of teledensity in rural India, which has currently reached around 46% against 147 % in urban parts of the nation. Investments will also be aimed at optical fiber network expansion and setting up of new telecom towers for all 2G, 3G, and 4G services.

 Operators have been facing capacity issues in the 3G spectrum with only around 20% penetration of 3G services in the Indian metros. 3G penetration at pan India level is just over 6% and is likely to increase in leaps and bounds by 2020 due to the high demand for internet services over cheaper smartphone handsets.

 However, the high growth in the sector may not translate into high profitability due to increasing operating costs. Telecom tower operators have registered extraordinary energy bills that are in the range of 25 to 40% of their overall operational costs. 

This is due to the unreliable nature of electricity supply at tower sites. To mitigate the risk of unreliable electricity supply, the industry is undergoing a structural transformation where more and more towers are operated by ESCOs, O&Ms or Energy Management Service providers who are owning, maintaining and operating the passive energy infrastructure. These companies are providing energy at a contracted fixed cost basis.Some of the key trends which are driving the need for better alternate energy storage solutions are mentioned below:

The poor State of Electricity in Rural India

Fast saturating urban voice markets and the government’s plan to significantly improve teledensity in villages to over 70% by 2017 has led telecom companies to comprehensively focus in rural lands. The challenge here lies in providing services with power availability less than 10 hours per day. 

 Over 17,000 tower sites are not at all connected to the grid and they run entirely on diesel-Genset (DG) backup. Telecom industry claims that over 450,000 towers have been installed in the country with 70% of the towers running on the DG back-up of over 8 hours.

In many such sites, DG optimization has been achieved by the usage of Li-ion batteries. These batteries have certainly demonstrated fast charging capabilities, superior efficiency and higher depth of discharge. 

Such advanced properties have given them an edge over existing dominating VRLA technologies which under severe operating conditions have reported less than 800 cycles.

RET Mandate and Limitation of Lead Acid Battery

The industry is of opinion that DOT (Department of Telecommunications) mandate to power 50% of rural towers and 20% of urban towers from hybrid sources (renewable energy technology + grid power) by 2015 is unrealistic. 

As reported by telecom industry participants, carbon emission reduction targets can be met with the use of advanced energy storage technologies and implementation of RET is not required at over 20% of urban towers by 2015. 

Till 2014, approximately only 10,000 towers were powered by solar PV based hybrid system and more than 70,000 are operating without the use of diesel. The installation of hybrid energy solutions at the telecom towers site can be a practical issue due to the unsuitability of the site for solar PV installation.

 In this case, tower companies are not willing to spend more on capital expenditure after heavy spending at spectrum bidding. Advanced energy storage technologies are likely to make inroads in either case of PV getting installed or not. Current installations of a lead-acid battery are not good enough for replacing diesel as they require long charging duration and will have a shorter life if regularly discharged to the depth. On top of it, lead-acid batteries are not monitored and the site operators are not aware when they would need a replacement.

Evolution in Telecom Infrastructure and Technologies

Telecom tower owners are switching over to outdoor BTS (Base Transceiver Station) from indoor BTS as they have realized more than 50% power consumption is a reduction.  Indus Towers, the leading telecom tower company in India, has claimed that half of its sites are outdoor BTS.

 For outdoor telecom sites, storage technologies with better performance at extreme temperatures are preferred. In this scenario, Li-ion and Flow Battery have shown better results than even VRLA Gel batteries which are more resistant to temperature fluctuations than any other lead-acid technology currently available in the market. 

And with the reduction of prices of Li-ion to less than $400 per kWh, the Levelized Cost of energy in case of Li-ion + AC/DC generator installation is much lesser than that for Lead Acid + AC/DC generator.

Secondly, in the coming years, 3G and 4G technology penetration will increase and these technologies will have a smaller power requirement than 2G technology. Current 4G BTS installations are known to consume 800W of power. 

The next generations of BTS: Smart cells, picocells, and femtocells will be mostly in-house installations with power requirements less than 500 W. Such connections will be installed in millions across the country and their smaller structural design will demand a back-up solution with high energy density. In this scenario, Li-ion will be an advantage over technologies like flow batteries, as they are much bigger in size.

Conclusion

In recent times, more and more operators and ESCOs are looking to optimize energy costs by limiting usage of diesel gensets and also by increasing DG efficiency by running it at maximum loading. These companies have tried many alternative options like flow battery, Li-ion battery, hybrid energy sources (including solar PV and also wind). 

However, Li-ion has come out as the preferred technology until now because of its fast charging ability, high efficiency, deep discharge, and high energy density. Lone competence of Li-ion which is yet to be demonstrated at a telecom site is their long cycle life. 

However, Li-ion manufacturers are very confident of this property and are even ready to offer longer warranties than that offered with lead-acid batteries. 

There are challenges in switching over from lead-acid to Li-ion as they require better charging and monitoring infrastructure. Each of these Li-ion (from different companies) may require a unique set of BMS (Battery Monitoring System). 

So unlike VRLA, where it is easy to switch between the vendors, in Li-ion batteries, one has to be aware of the compatibility of charging and battery monitoring set up before ordering Li-ion batteries from a particular vendor.  In this case, an advanced lead-acid battery may replace an existing set of VRLA much easily than Li-ion.

Become a member of the leading alliance in India focused on advanced energy storage, green hydrogen, and e-mobility.  Join IESA and become a member today.

[theangrycomet]

This was supposed to be an easy mission- get in the mad scientist’s lair, download files, maybe blow some stuff up, and get out.

They would have gotten away with it too if it hadn’t been for the final line of defense.

Who would have thought a villain of this caliber would have been so old school as to set up a trapdoor connected to his desk top?

“You know, I’m surprised the Bodegamen of all people sent such amateurs to infiltrate my place.” He mused, placing a hand on his chest in mock offense before walking back towards the computer. “I’m a little hurt actually.”

The Glowsticks were now, much to their fury, tied up. Hung up like meat in a butcher shop, they dangled by their feet. Glaring at him, they exchanged short, scheming looks as they fidgeted with the rope.

The villain in question lounged in his chair, ignoring them as he tried to figure out what the heck was going on with his computer. His intern was on the other end of the room on another computer, doing something likely malicious. 

“Where’s Fink when you need her?” The villain mumbled, clicking around the screen as the three realized they were being IGNORED. 

“Uh hello- heroes tied up and seemingly in a stitch?” Jordan drawled, eyebrow raised (or lowered? They were upside down after all). “This is your cue for an evil scheme monologue?”

“Dr. Feakins, help me out with this.”

“One second, sir.” Crossing the room, her heels snapped against the linoleum like a BB gun. Roman shuddered as she passed, a wave of nausea washed over his stomach.

“Okay seriously- who uses rope anymore!” Jordan griped, pulling at the taut twine to no avail. Even with her strength, she couldn’t beat it without leverage which she was tragically lacking.

 All she earned for her efforts were a pair of chafed wrists. Casting a longing glance at her sword, her mouth twisted downwards- or rather, upwards- into a frown as she groaned. “Ugh- why didn’t dad let me have that knife gauntlet Bismuth made!”

“I told you- you should’ve asked your mom first.” Roman muttered half-heartedly. Ugh, the feeling wasn’t going away. 

What was going on? He never got sick.  

He bit his lip, staring suspiciously at the redhead now typing at the computer. Feakins... Where’d he hear that before?

Kaiden, per norm, was too busy analyzing their surroundings for quips, much less questions. He was focused on analyzing all that he saw within the recesses of the lab.He could just see the corners of his eyes narrowed as they flicked about, taking in everything and putting the pieces together. 

Personally, he was wondering how his friend could even concentrate with the blood rush. 

“A Gempiran weapon might have helped you escape this one.” The villain straightened up from his computer, now that Feakins was at the station.

He shrugged, smugly picking up the sword beside him. 

“This is lovely craftsmanship.” Weighing it in his hand, he played with the balance.Taking a few playful swipes, his form wasn’t half bad. Jordan noted the signs of a rusty swordsman who’d let himself get out of practice. 

“Too bad I’ll never see it in action.” He mused, threat thick in the air.

“Oh don’t worry Professor Venomous-” Thick brows furrowing, she smirked- oozing confidence. “I’ll make sure you get a close up when we kick your butt.”

“Uhuh.” Rolling his eyes, Venomous replaced the sword against the wall. “Let me guess, your little EVO friend’s gonna help you.”

Jordan glanced as well as she could at the jacketed hero. Though she couldn’t see a lot, what she could worried her.

A miserable grimace twisted across his significantly paler face. Sweat had broken across his brow and dripped into his hairline. Shaking like a leaf, he looked close to passing out. 

An oddly familiar crooked grin stretch itself across the mans lips at Roman’s discomfort before he nodded to the intern, still working on the computer. 

“Nice work, Feakins.”

“Always here to help, sir.” Came her chipper reply as she undid the damage of their flash drive. 

Meandering over, he went to the third Glowstick, who had yet to break his silence during this little exchange. No complaints, no smart aleck remarks. 

Just a mouth set in a flat line beneath (or really above) a pair of dark shades. 

“Well you’ve been quiet,”  he drawled, leaning on the the railing amused. Poking his chest, he watched the hero swing back and forth lazily. “Got any last words for me, blondie?”

Kaiden glared, glasses slipping up his nose.

And than he smirked, fang peeking of from his upper lip.

“Last words?” Raising an eyebrow, his head band shifted, loosening a bit. It didn’t help that his glasses were slipping with them, catching on the pink material. “Awfully bold for a snake as out of the game as yourself.”

Venomous scoffed, opening his mouth to make some sort of counter argument. And than he stopped. 

Kaiden expected a sort of superior expression- like a cat might make after knocking your coffee mug onto your laptop. Instead, he looked…

Surprised?

Purple eyes blinked at each other, Kaiden’s narrowed in challenge as Venomous’ widened in revelation. Whipping his arm out, he snatched Kaiden’s glasses, knocking the headband loose. It headband fluttered indignantly to the floor.

“Wha- HEY!” Blinking at the abrupt change in lighting in clarity, he was soon squinting angrily at the big purple-grey blur before him. “Give those back!”

“Dude- did you just take his glasses?” Roman exclaimed, immediately regretting opening his mouth as Dr. Feakins approached. His stomach lurched as his body was slammed with a cold flash.

“Okay that’s just low!” Jordan instinctively reached for Kaiden’s spares in her pocket, only to be painfully reminded of the rope digging at her skin. “Ugh, jerk.”

Staring at Kaiden’s features- his proud nose, high cheekbones, set jaw- the more he looked the more everything screamed him. How had he not seen it immediately- it was all right there. Even the eyes were the same- though Kaiden’s were far more guarded than he were at this age. 

The hero in question, was more than a little thrown off at the intensity of his gaze- lessened in the blur that was his less than exceptional vision. 

Kaiden wasn’t going to lie; taking his glasses? Incredibly smart move on Venomous’ part. Now not only did the professor impede his sight, he also allowed himself to see where Kaiden was going to strike.

That is, if Venomous had that combat experience to follow the eye. 

He wasn’t sure if the man did.

A small seed of doubt worried into his mind as a realization struck him. Normally between the his research, POW card knowledge, and the numerous stories told by his family and friends, Kaiden had a good idea of what to expect with any prominent villain.

But Professor Venomous?

He knew nothing about him, outside of no one willing to talk to him about the guy. Only what he had observed in the last 10 minutes. Unless he figured out a plan, they might be screwed.

Venomous broke into laughter, as though reading his mind, and startling the others.

“Oh this is RICH. You three aren’t supposed to be on this mission- does anyone even know you’re here?” He asked, amused.

“Of course they do.” Kaiden lied through his teeth. 

“Liar.” Walking around him, he gestured with the captured shades. “KO would drop dead before sending you to me.”

KO? How did Venomous know to call him KO as opposed to Knock Out? What was his father’s name doing so flippantly in the villain’s mouth? Venomous said his Dad’s name with such casualness- most said it with nerves strung tight in their voice.

With Venomous, it was as though he knew his Dad personally...

“You won’t see the irony here,” Tilting his head, he leaned to the side to get a better view of Kaiden’s face, noting the little necklace dangling at his throat, balance precariously on his jaw. “-but I’m actually supposed to be having my anniversary dinner with my husband in a few hours so you three making an appearance is hilarious.”

“Oh congratulations!” Jordan beamed automatically before scowling. “Wait, no you have us hog tied!- I revoke my congratulations.”

“What irony?” Ignoring her, Kaiden twisted to face him- suspicion pinching his features before settling into a mask of indifference. “The only thing I see is a fuzzy purple raisen about to get his butt whooped.”

“Aw, the little hero making threats? I’m shaking in my boots.” 

“You should be.” Venomous’ eyes lit up with intrigue as a volt of violet electricity sparked jaggedly down the teen’s arm. 

Venomous leaned down in front of Kaiden with a wicked grin.

“Tell you what, sport. I’ll cut you and your little friends some slack. I’ll just skip to straight to the psychological and emotional torment today.”

“What?”

“You’re lieing.” Jordan said flatly.

“And pray tell-” Roman’s teeth chattered, as Freakins handed a remote to Venomous with out a word- still at the computer. “how exactly are you going to do that?”

“Easy. Shipping you back to the Plaza with out so much as a scratch on you and showing that you three aren’t even worth the time and effort of a bored villain well into his retirement to properly defeat.” he shrugged easily. “Not too flattering on a heroes image. 

The two grimaced as Kaiden frowned. 

That didn’t make any sense. Just a few minutes ago Kaiden was certain he’d do something. he’d be threatening them with experiments and dissections and the like. Stooping down to mere embarrassing teenagers before their peers? Sure, it was low and would send most other heroes-in-training’s self-confidence and egos spiraling down the drain.

But it was not exactly threatening. 

There had to be another angle- what was it? What could PV possibly gain by letting them go?

Kaiden frowned as the nauseating presence of the intern finally got to the EVO.

“Roman?!” The two were sidetracked as Roman heaved. Shuddering, he coughed as his throat burned with bile. 

“You okay?”

“I TOLD you snack machine sushi was a bad idea!”

Venomous rolled his eyes as he pressed a button on the remote. 

“Ugh it’s in my sinuses!”

“Aw buddy-”

“AAH!”

A large Box rose from the floor and opened up beneath them. The ropes were cut and they fell screaming into it- lid snapping tight behind them. 

The Box was still for a moment before it writhed back and forth with the Glowsticks outrage. He could just here Kaiden’s shouts above the others.

“Fight me Venomous!”

A smile tugged at his mouth as the portal opened beneath the Box, sucking it away to be delivered at the Plaza.

Watching them disappear, Venomous leaned back on the railing, pondering. 

[thewhitefluffyhat]

Predictions for Sotsu

There’s still a lot of Umineko ground left to cover, which makes me both intrigued and worried for Sotsu.

(Indeed, most of this post will be discussing those Umineko connections, so expect about the same level of minor Umineko spoilers as in my Guide to Witches.)

Answer Arcs?

First, though, the Higurashi component.

Based on the Sotsu PV, it does look like we’ll get some actual answers, if not full Answer Arcs. But what will they look like?

A lot of that will depend on the mechanics of H173.  One thing I was very surprised by in Episode 24 is that Takano gets out the case of H173 on the day Tomitake gets his “vaccine.”  Because according to Minagoroshi, all Takano did initially was swap Tomitake’s dose for a fake - so there was no need to take out the H173 yet!

That makes me wonder - will the mechanics of H173 be changed as well?  Tomitake tears out his throat within a few hours, but “Satoko injects her victim, then everything ends in less than a day” isn’t very narratively satisfying. I could see Ryukishi tweaking things again to allow Rena and Mion/Shion to have more full versions of their days-long breakdowns. If only to have a reason to go over their backstories again. (For... newcomers. Yes, really, I think we might still be doing that.)

Meanwhile, from Satoko’s side, I’m still of the opinion I had back in Episode 17.  That Satoko’s plan was a lot harder for her to pull off in practice than in theory, and she was barely keeping her side of the game together.

Indeed, the only real addition I have to that Episode 17 post is that the Teppei in Tataridamashi was almost certainly real, and that I agree with the common theory that he likely attacked Keiichi for being the one to turn the town against him.

As for whether or not Satoko was faking the abuse during Tataridamashi… oof. Satoko being the evil villain while manipulating a “redeemed” Teppei would not be a good look, and it’s something I’m still hoping the show won’t do. Unfortunately, faking abuse is entirely in-character for her, so I can’t actually rule it out.

There’s also the question of if Satoko maybe lured Keiichi aside in order to protect him rather than inject him.  Possibly because she was having second thoughts about her plan and/or as thanks for working so hard to “save” her.  

And to which I’d say: maybe?  Tataridamashi does seem like a turning point, especially with Rika getting a suspicious upgrade from “Hanyuu” right after it as well. Perhaps Tataridamashi is the arc where Gou went from Satoko/Lambda’s game to Eua taking over the board? “You must keep playing or else I will play in your place” is a very Umineko witch thing to do, after all.  And it would explain Satoko’s Episode 16-17 comments about “Oyashiro-sama” better.

But given how laid back Eua has been so far (and some thematic stuff I’ll discuss in the last section here), I’m having an increasingly hard time seeing her be that overtly malicious…

Eua and Hanyuu

The mystery of what is going on with Eua and Hanyuu is also a significant plot thread that has yet to be explored.  With how far Gou has gone out of its way to explain other meta/magical things like the accumulating memories, it would be strange to leave such a key aspect dangling, so I really do think we’ll get some kind of answers about her in Sotsu.

Of course, some kind of answer isn’t much, given all the questions about her!

Was the “trace” Hanyuu a fake created by Eua all along? Is Eua simply Hanyuu with her horn healed? Are Eua and Hanyuu two halves of Featherine?  Is Hanyuu the result of Eua’s horn getting chipped by the Onigari and getting flung back in time?

Or is Eua unrelated to Hanyuu and/or Featherine and all the similarities are a fake out?

Personally, I have no clue! I don’t even have a full theory myself, just a bunch of scattered thoughts:

Ultimately, I do think Eua, Hanyuu, and Featherine are all the same entity at different points in time.  Having it be otherwise would just be adding a layer of pointless confusion over the already headache-inducing cross-WTC connections.

I think that after Hanyuu ascended at the end of Saikoroshi, her horn healed and she regained her form and memories as Eua. Perhaps her whole Higurashi backstory is that of Eua’s piece, and Hanyuu ascending allowed her to remember who/what she was outside of being a piece? That’s a rather abrupt and disappointing retcon of Hanyuu’s character, though, so it feels like there needs to be more to it.

Satoko touching Hanyuu’s discarded horn then summoned the closest thing to “Hanyuu” back to the board, but she got the full Eua version instead. Given that Eua says she hasn’t been to this world before, that implies this is her first time visiting as her full self, and not Hanyuu.

Eua’s description of the looping and memory accumulation is quite strange - at times it seems she refers to it all as her power, at other times (particularly when comparing to Rika’s imperfect looping) as if Hanyuu is a separate/different being.

Eua’s horn getting broken by the Onigari does seem very fitting, given that Hanyuu’s looping is imperfect because of the chip, and the Onigari specifically is said to affect loopers.

However, while I’ve speculated about it, I don’t think I’m on board with the full “ouroboros” or “thrown back in time” theory. In part, this is again for simplicity’s sake - dear god, the continuity is convoluted enough without meta-looping! But also because - if this is a stable time loop, how do the characters break out of it?  We’ll need to cover that part too.

So if I had to guess, I think that Eua’s horn was chipped by the Onigari, but however that happened, it was prior to the Higurashi game board, and is likely related to… whatever Hanyuu’s backstory is in Gou, if that gets explored.  I mean, the Onigari did have to come from somewhere!

Eua and Rika

Now for the Umineko-based side of my predictions.

Currently, I’d say the biggest aspect of Umineko’s implied Lambda/Bern origins that hasn’t been addressed is Rika/Bern’s relationship with Eua/Featherine.  

Indeed, it’s Bern who Featherine trained as her miko, not Lambda.  And with how closely Gou has otherwise slotted into the outlines Umineko suggested, I find it hard to believe this aspect of Bern’s backstory won’t get touched on.  

Thus, basic prediction: We’ll see more of Eua (Eua-as-fake-Hanyuu?) relationship with Rika.

For me, though, what I’m really interested in is how far Rika will go in becoming Bern.

Gou’s Satoko is evil, but Umineko’s Bern is - still! - far worse. Rika-as-Bern has an appetite for cruelty that is honestly unmatched in the series, so like. Watching people unironically defend her is amusing but also I’m getting impatient for the other shoe to drop.

So I wonder if we might see Rika become increasingly brutal with how she takes on Satoko. Not quite to the level where she becomes a villain (Umineko is the first time Bern has tried on that role in full!), but possibly enough that we’ll get a lively encore performance of the “is Rika or Satoko in the wrong?” agonized fandom writhing.

After all, Umineko fans have been predicting “Gou is a Bernkastel origin story” since Episode 2.  But we already know (or thought we knew) where Bern came from.  So what I think many people meant by that phrase is closer to “Gou is Bern’s Start of Darkness”...

Admittedly, as much as I enjoy Rika being evil for its own sake, the other reason I’m hoping that’s the direction Sotsu is heading is because it really feels like the only way to actually make a LambdaBern ending work.  In order to fit in with where the two are in Umineko, it seems like Rika herself needs to catch up to Satoko’s villainy, and then for them both to fall for those darker versions of each other.

Though if Sotsu does go this route… I’m also worried it could get too dark.  Both sides of the conflict are complete monsters, enjoy your summer!

What about the logic errors?

The second key aspect of Lambda and Bern’s backstories that haven’t been addressed are the logic errors they were trapped in.

From Lambda’s side, I’m starting to suspect we may not get the story of whatever situation she was in.  That hell may even be something related to whatever existence she had pre-Satoko.  

Speaking of which: I’d really, really love an explanation of what the heck is going on with Lambda’s non-Satoko origins and relation to Takano. Will she (as potentially happened to  Hanyuu/Eua) also eventually rejoin with her missing meta-existence memories?

But right now, I’m not optimistic on the chances of that explanation happening - like the vague Higurashi references in Umineko, it may be something left for hardcore fans to puzzle over.

Meanwhile, as for Bern, there’s two possibilities.  

The first is that her logic error was the story of the original Higurashi.  I thought as much in Episode 22, though Eua’s typewriter allusion is actually describing looping in general rather than just Rika’s experience.  But the logic error already having happened would fit well within the timeline Lambda describes - she says Bern wasn’t a self-aware piece when she was trapped, and only later became a full witch.  

In this case, Lambda and Bern’s game may be quite short, perhaps even ending in the same loop where we left off in Nekodamashi. It also opens the door for more Eua and Rika interactions, as the period of time when Rika/Bern was abandoned has already ended.

The other possibility is that Gou itself is the logic error.  I mean, Hanyuu leaving Rika in Episode 14 sure looked like a Game Master ditching her piece! Though aside from that, the details don’t quite fit. With Rika getting upgraded to be one who fully “lives within loops,” she’s arguably become a self-aware player rather than a piece. And with the Onigari in play and killing Satoko and escaping Hinamizawa as an obvious end point, Eua has left her plenty of ways to reach her win condition.

Thus, if Gou/Sotsu is the logic error… I wonder if we may be in for a much longer game.  Especially if it’s meant to be both Bern and Lambda’s logic error!  After all, Lambda spent enough years in hers that she outright lost track, and Satoko doesn’t seem to have reached that point quite yet.

Perhaps the end of Nekodamashi may be only the beginning of Rika and Satoko’s true showdown, where even when one side or the other thinks they have won, the game still won’t be over.

Other Loose Ends

There are still a few other small bits of Umineko that Gou hasn’t addressed.

One is whatever happened where Bern wound up in an “oops that’s not your timeline” situation.  If Sotsu goes into this, then I’m pretty sure it will be related to whichever Fragment Gou’s Rika is actually from - original Matsuribayashi, or chandelier drop.  As I discussed in my Episode 24 Thoughts, either could work. 

Another is the entire question of Bern and Lambda’s relationship.  I’ve said a few times now that I’m surprised by how yandere Satoko is in Gou, because that implies that between now and Umineko, something happened to cause her to chill out and become a lot less codependent on Rika!

But by the end of Satokowashi, I was left with an even larger question - what on earth happened to make Satoko/Lambda trust Rika/Bern again?  If we transplanted Rika and Satoko as they are now into Umineko Episode 8, I wouldn’t expect Satoko/Lambda to believe Rika/Bern for a second after swearing on their friendship.  That’s the exact kind of promise Satoko would trust least!

(Indeed, that small Episode 8 exchange takes on a really fascinating other layer in light of Gou - particularly Bern finding it adorable when Lambda threatens her in a way that calls to mind what Satoko’s currently doing...) 

And while those are the most significant beats I feel Sotsu will need to clear, there are plenty of other smaller details that still don’t match up either.  When did Satoko get on board with the idea of fancy tea parties?  When and how did she become the high society socialite, and when and how did Rika become so embittered and shy?

And of course - are LambdaBern and SatoRika a romantic couple? If so, when and how did that development happen?

Like, I’ve always been highly amused by the implication that Bern looked at the person who repeatedly and horrifically murdered her and went “ah, perfect girlfriend material.” And Gou even went out of its way to confirm that even if Lambda=Satoko rather than =Takano, Watanagashi-style evisceration still isn’t a dealbreaker for Bern! 

But as hilarious as that is as a background detail in Umineko, if Sotsu wants to put Rika/Bern and Satoko/Lambda on center stage, it… kind of has to address it seriously now.  

And while there’s the potential for that to be really amazing - Umineko proved to me that Ryukishi can write a good enemies-to-lovers romance! - there’s also the potential for it to go very very wrong.  (As I went on about at length and with some rather tenuous comparisons in my previous post, ahaha... ^^;)

Sotsu’s Ending

Last but not least, Sotsu’s ending.

In my second Episode 17 post, I suggested we might see Rika/Bern and Satoko/Lambda band together to confront Featherine(/Eua) as a greater scope villain.  But now, seeing as Ryukishi went so far as to include even Teppei in his “no one will be sacrificed as a villain” theme, that possibility seems much less likely. 

(Though the fandom will still probably think of her this way...)

This goes doubly so if Eua=Hanyuu.  Hanyuu once more taking on the role of “demon” to be sacrificed so humans don’t have to blame and fight each other... that’s exactly what she tried in Matsuribayashi, and Rika’s miracle was refusing to accept that outcome. I can’t see Sotsu ending on the note that “actually, we should just have killed Hanyuu again.”  

So what will we get instead?  I agree that Satoko suicide via Onigari is a distinct possibility once the full impact of what she’s done finally hits her.  And perhaps the reason she trusts Rika again is that Rika made the ultimate sacrifice and chose to follow her.

(Umineko parallels: **intensifies**)

Alternatively, Onigari double suicide may be the “take a third option/miracle solution” that allows both girls to end the game while getting what they actually want. (Rika to leave Hinamizawa, Satoko to stay with Rika.)

But regardless of how it happens, while I do see the versions of Rika and Satoko that we’ve been following getting split off into Bern and Lambda, I also consider it quite likely that we’ll end up with non-looper Rika and Satoko continuing to live their normal human lives.  The whole Fragments and Meta World set up do allow for that type of simultaneous cake having and eating.

Though, aside from acknowledging fans of the original ending, I’m not certain what that would represent thematically.  Perhaps the price of being mortal is that Rika and Satoko must learn to compromise on their own desires - their experiences in Gou/Sotsu leading to an epiphany where Satoko leaves Rika and drops out of St Lucia back in the first Satokowashi timeline.

As for the meta world side… “Gou/Sotsu is setting up for an end where Rika and Satoko part ways to go explore the Sea of Fragments” has been my thought ever since Episode 16 portrayed staying in Hinamizawa as Rika’s lowest point. 

And everything leaning more and more into LambdaBern origin story has only cemented that in my mind. We may even end on the  “See you again, when something else cries” phrase!

But like I said in that Episode 16 post, I don’t consider that a downer ending.  At the very least, Rika will get what she wants - the ability to explore new places and experiences far beyond Hinamizawa, far beyond even St Lucia.  

To call it a happy end might be overstating it, though. We already had a miraculous happy ending, so to erase it for a sequel only to return exactly back where we started would be extremely empty repetition.  I like to think Ryukishi is better than that kind of sequel-itis.  

So rather, I think we’re headed towards something more bittersweet, something a nudge more tonally similar to Umineko’s ending. (Which gosh, I love that ending, and yes it absolutely made me cry.)

The Rika and Satoko we know may both get what they want, but they’ve also “graduated” from being the humans they used to be.  Once you’ve become “one who lives in loops,” there is no going back.  Even if they were to watch a timeline where they lived out full and happy mortal lives surrounded by the rest of their friends until their deaths, that would still only be one Fragment, one tiny drop in the vast eternity of their existences.

On a very high level, I could potentially see it as Ryukishi gently asking fans to “graduate” and move on from Hinamizawa as a setting as well. Higurashi has been beloved for decades now, but it’s time to broaden our horizons. There’s an entire shared universe of WTC to explore, after all.

(Admittedly that’s contradicted by him thinking about another sequel with Keiichi’s kids but shush. Why let a few plot bunnies get in the way of a juicy meta-theme?)

[the-navistar-carol]

Intervention

Good God help me I’m back on my Garmari again. AGAIN. Class salt, but not Alya, Alix is neutral (so minor Alix salt?). Chloé redemption, but it’s not mentioned. Also, members of the new team at the end are PV Félix and his Gucci Gang

~~~

Marinette never thought she’d thank Chloé Bourgeois, of all people, for her boyfriend.

Backtrack.

A year and a half ago, their end-of-year class trip was the best one they had had or ever would. Funding, from Chloé’s father, went to a weeklong trip to San Francisco. They toured Alcatraz, the different neighborhoods, the Ghirardelli factory, and walked the Golden Gate Bridge.

None of those events even came close to the Teen Titans’ tower in San Francisco Bay. They didn’t go inside, obviously, but almost every day, in their allotted free time, she found herself at a harborside café, sketching the tower and designs that came to her from it and its team.

It was those quiet times that, incidentally, got her into contact with the team shapeshifter, Beast Boy.

Marinette had been sitting on a dock for a change, doodling idly as her legs swung from a bench — she was still too short for her feet to touch the ground at fifteen. Tikki dozed in her purse, stuffed full of chocolate.

As the sun began to make its way toward the horizon, she got up and placed the sketchbook in her backpack. Then, like the sun, she began to head home.

That journey would quickly be delayed. A man, hood up and all in dark clothes, snatched her purse and took off like a shot.

Tikki!

The Parisian girl sprinted after him, shouting for help. If she had been transformed, perhaps she would have taken him down faster.

But perhaps it was for the better. A green blur shot out of an alley and knocked into the would-be thief with a forceful missile kick, quickly apprehending the man. Marinette skidded to a halt to avoid running him over, and was caught in a pair of dark brown eyes.

Oh, hello there.

He grinned toothily, and held up her clutch purse. “Does this happen to be yours?”

“Oui!” Marinette’s hands flew to her mouth, and she couldn’t help but flush in embarrassment. “Oh! I am sorry, yes, it is.” Despite years of learning English, she couldn’t help but stammer with her accent.

The green boy fished out a pair of cuffs and locked them around the thief’s wrists, and kept a hold on them with his left hand as he held out his right. “I’m Beast Boy. Nice to meet you, though it would’ve been better under different circumstances.”

She shook his hand, and couldn’t help a sheepish smile. “Well, um, if you would like to try again,” Marinette suggested, already flushing, “I will be close to Hyde Street Pier, on the waterfront, close to three o’clock tomorrow.”

His grin only widened. “Can’t wait!” Beast Boy hauled the man to his feet, and glanced back at her. “Oh, hey, by the way — what’s your name?”

“I’m Marinette!”

“See you tomorrow, Marinette!”

That fateful encounter sparked a close friendship, which blossomed into an even closer relationship.

Marinette was grateful that the stars had aligned that day. She wouldn’t be where she was in life without him, if she was being completely honest.

She and Gar were open about their identities to each other, and when he came over on his bimonthly visit via Zeta tubes, they spent their days inside cuddling, watching movies, and playing video games.

The only thing that irked both of them was the fact that their relationship was one-hundred-percent secret from the press, as neither wanted that publicity.

Ergo, they couldn’t be seen in public together.

Therefore, they couldn’t go on dates, no matter how much they wanted to.

At least they had reached a compromise. Until Hawkmoth was defeated, on her own terms, they couldn’t be seen together. Even if her own terms, which would take more time, involved no outside help.

When Lila Rossi entered Françoise Dupont for the first time, Marinette didn’t have to be Ladybug to see through her lies. She claimed extravagant tales of meeting American superheroes on her mother’s travels — of the Teen Titans in New York City, of the Batfamily in Gotham, and of some group she had completely made up — the Gems of Justice, of all names.

Yeah, no. She didn’t have to be a superheroine to spot the bullcrap a mile away.

She tried to keep the whole situation quiet, though, she really did. Marinette didn’t want to burden Gar with class drama. After all, she was well aware that they only had so much time together.

But just like how she had tried to keep being Ladybug from him, that plan fell through in a matter of hours.

He held her when she sniffled over Lila’s threat, and let her slump back into him as she described how her classmates (sans Alya, bless her heart) were riveted by this Italian liar nobody who somehow held their attention.

She held onto the hope that they would all see reason, sometime.

That hope shattered when Alya moved away. Her parents wanted out from the living nightmare of Akumatown, as all four of their daughters had been akumatized at least once apiece.

Marinette sobbed, for the first time alone in the city of love.

It was midnight when she called him on her first night without her bestie, bawling into the phone line.

It was twenty minutes past when he showed up on her balcony, and she almost tackled them both over the railing. She let her emotions pour out onto his shoulder and he held her tight; and when she ran out of tears to cry, he held her until she fell asleep in her bed.

In the morning, he let her sleep in a little bit, and made her pancakes (with green food coloring, of course, because how else would he?). She cried again upon seeing the food, but there were thankful tears mixed among the sad ones.

Marinette left her house with her head held high.

Without her rock Alya at her side, Lila’s digs and jibes became worse. She took the mental hits, took the comments. Snide words turned into sneering faces turned into trips in the hallways, turned into destroyed work.

She resigned from the class presidency, choking down tears.

How could she have let it get this bad?

She should have stood up to it, so it could have stopped before it all began!

Oh, Alya…

Trips in the hallways turned to shoving at the steps, turned into stolen things.

Garfield, in the Titan Tower, had had a slow week. He’d only gone to visit Marinette a few days ago, but when Raven flicked his shoulder and told him he was moping, he headed off to the tubes to pay his girlfriend a surprise visit.

He emerged in Paris and immediately morphed into a bird, flying high above the city. He didn’t want the attention that came with his ability, not today.

As her school wasn’t out yet, Gar soared around Paris, taking in the sights. No matter how many times he came to the city, the views still left him amazed.

And Marinette with him, when they could go to those places, would leave him breathless.

As the hour wound closer, he headed over to Collège François Dupont, and took a perch on one of the flagpoles, content to wait for the time being.

The bell rang to let the classes out, and he shifted on his seat, eager to catch a glimpse of his girlfriend.

There!

She was one of the first out, and he readied his wings to swoop down to her and sweep Marinette off her feet. He was almost in flight when he stopped dead, dread washing over him like a tidal wave.

A tall Asian boy with an undercut and bleached hair hurried after her, his sneakered feet hitting the cement with a self-righteous purpose.

And a pack was following him.

Her classmates — a pale girl with long black hair, a dark-skinned boy with close-cropped hair, a short blonde girl, a tall blonde boy, and more — were in close pursuit.

And behind them strode a brunette, her wedged heels clicking with her own purpose. Green eyes watched all as her lips curled into a deadly, sickly smirk.

All attention was on Marinette, who hurried to go home, shoulders hunched.

He had left her alone like this.

“Hey!” the Asian boy called, and a robot whizzed in front of his girlfriend, bringing her up short.

She froze, and slowly turned to face him. Marinette was dwarfed by his massive frame, and she was terrified of what might happen next.

His hands came to rest on his hips, and he cocked his head in a leer. “Don’t think you’ve gotten away with what you’ve done.”

“Huh?” Her tone was shrill, it was panicked. “Kim, I didn’t do anything!”

An ugly frown twisted his face. “Then maybe you’ll remember!”

Faster than she could react, his hand raised and descended.

But Garfield reacted faster.

In a blink, he took off like a shot and dove down at the Asian boy, then shifted back to human form midair to launch himself at the boy feet-first like a missile. His boots hit the boy in the back of the neck, and man, was he satisfied to see him fall.

“G- Beast Boy?!” Marinette’s panicked whisper told him she was only a hair away from a complete breakdown.

The classmates hurriedly backpedaled, clearing a ring for him in the crowd that was quickly forming.

Gar hauled the boy — Kim — up by his hoodie collar. Despite his scrawny figure, he was lean, and packed a punch.

“I don’t like bullies,” he hissed as his eyes narrowed to slits. Kim quaked in his grasp, catching a good look at his fangs. “And if I catch you even looking at her wrong, you’ll wish you had never met her.”

Someone in the crowd was foolish enough to step forward and speak up. It was the dark-skinned boy with glasses, and his robot had flown back to be at his side. “My calculations prove that there is a ninety-percent chance that Marinette is the one at fault.”

He felt his girlfriend shrink beside him. It was tempting to shift into a tiger and intimidate the lot of them.

But instead his lips twitched into a smile, instead he grinned. The hook in his mouth had never been so cold.

“Then I suggest you check your calculations, buddy boy.” The class flinched back from his tone alone — it flashed knives, razor-sharp and ready to cut.

“All of you better watch your backs, ‘cause I’ll be waiting for an opening.” His voice spilled from his throat in an angry growl. If he had been a tiger, his tail would have lashed.

“I’m giving you one warning. Scram.”

The class took off and scattered, one of them even darting into the street.

Gar didn’t spare them a second glance before turning back to Marinette and hugging her tight. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured, closing his eyes and inhaling the scent of her perfume. “I should be there for you, not an ocean away.”

Her arms snaked around his sides and clutched him tight. Her entire body was shaking like a leaf, so he gently rubbed her back.

“Hey, hey. Marinette, let’s get back to your room, okay?” Any trace of the snarl he had bared at her classmates was gone; his voice was gentle now, it was soothing.

She sniffled, and hiccuped once as she tried to get her breathing under control. “Okay.” Her voice was quiet, subdued. There was no trace of the sassy girl he had met who loved life fiercely with all her heart.

Anger built inside him but he dispelled it, thanking Raven for forcing him to learn meditation.

After he picked up her bag, Gar wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “It’s not that far. You can make it.”

Another subdued “okay” was all the response he got.

He led her across the street, ignoring the looks passers-by threw him and even the phone cameras.

Once she was inside the bakery, a shocked gasp let him know Sabine Cheng had seen them. She rushed out from behind the counter to hug her daughter tight, then led the two of them to their living room upstairs.

After he had set down her bag and the three of them were seated on the couch, Sabine with her arm around Marinette and Garfield holding her hand, his girlfriend finally broke down, sobbing into her mother’s shoulder.

“Do you want me to make tea?” he offered, knowing Sabine didn’t want to leave her daughter’s side.

The older woman nodded. “Please. Peony.”

He gave Marinette’s hand a squeeze and got up, finding the kettle and mugs easily. While he waited for the water to heat up, he sat back down next to her.

Sabine looked to him, gray eyes piercing. “What happened, Garfield?”

He told her everything. How he had watched her come out of the school and saw Kim go straight for Marinette on an offense she hadn’t committed.

“It’s Lila,” his girlfriend muttered, her voice muffled by her mother’s shirt. “She’s influenced them all except Alix.”

That didn’t help matters.

“But Alix didn’t defend you,” Gar told her gently. “They all, one way or another, abandoned you.”

Marinette hiccuped, finally looking up at him. A bolt of pain shot through his heart at the face looking him in the eyes — red-rimmed eyes, tear-stained cheeks, and a running nose.

“They abandoned me,” she repeated, her voice hollow. “I have nobody.”

“You’ve got me,” Garfield reminded her, taking her hands and squeezing them tight. “You’ve got two parents who love you more than anything in the world. And, if I called them now, you have the Teen Titans. All of them would stand for you. Every last one of them.”

The kettle whistled, and he got up to steep the tea. He heard Sabine murmur to her daughter in Cantonese, things he didn’t understand but knew the intent. He returned to the couch with three mugs balanced carefully on a tray, and set it down on the table.

“Mrs. Cheng, I don’t know if you’ve considered it, but have you thought of moving schools?”

She nodded, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I have. And I think that it would be best.”

Marinette didn’t even flinch, just numbly nodded. His heart broke to see her so lifeless, and he pulled her into a tight hug. He almost had to blink back tears of his own, and rested his chin on the top of her head.

“Let me help with this, Mrs. Cheng. Please.”

Sabine nodded. “I will. How long are you going to stay in Paris?”

“As long as I’m needed.”

And he did. He stayed.

Garfield was the one to march into Françoise Dupont to deliver the paperwork to Damocles, his chin up and shoulders back. Even if he was at average height — and shorter than a good half of the school — they cleared a path for him, the school yard silent enough to drop a pin.

He didn’t spare them a parting glance.

Gar was the one to walk her to her new school, where she was mobbed by Kagami, Luka, and Chloé. They thanked him, each thank-you heartfelt, and he grinned, knowing his girlfriend was in good hands.

He was there for her first week, and went back to the Tower knowing she had friends to support her there.

And when Hawkmoth was finally defeated months later, with a new team and a new Chat Noir, he pulled Marinette into a searing kiss as the rain began to wash Paris clean.

[infernwetrust]

To Take Care Of [Duncan Shepherd x Jim Mason] Part 2

PART 1

Summary: Duncan comes to visit Jim in California one last time.

Warnings: PURE SMUT, fluff, angst, swearing, drug use, emotional

WC: 3.0k

A/N: I can’t believe I literally cried writing this at 6AM lmao. If anyone likes to listen to music while they read for a real tear-jerker, I was listening to Show You by Kasbo the entire time that I was writing this. Thank you for reading! -Juno

GIF by langdonsblood

The entirety of dinner, Duncan and Jim never once stopped speaking. What they could eat in an hour turned into 2 because they always had a lot of catching up to do when Duncan was back in town or if Jim went down to D.C. It was a sight to see and the both of them couldn't stop giggling about it; how completely opposite the two dressed in the styles that they taught each other about. And when Duncan got up to stretch before clearing the table, Jim's eyes shot straight down to the print between his legs. Jim was always staring at Duncan when he had the chance. Whether it be because he simply adored the man or because he was beyond horny, he could almost never take his eyes off Duncan Shepherd if it was just the two together.

After dinner, the two made their way into the parking garage of Jim's apartment complex and into his car where they shared a joint or two... or three. It's a good thing that Jim always kept a case of water bottles in his trunk because both of them had a very serious case of cotton mouth.

"Fuck, I can't drink it fast enough." Duncan said as he gulped his water down and his cotton mouth still wasn't going away. High off his ass, Jim bursted into giggles at his boyfriend's failed attempt to get his mouth and throat wet. Mouth full of water because he happened to be drinking, of course he sprayed most of it all over his dress shirt.

"Guess I gotta take it off now." Jim said, still giggling.

"No, no." Duncan replied, licking his lips and watching as the water soaked through the material, exposing Jim's toned chest. "Leave it on."

"Okaaaaay." Jim threw his head back, sighing happily before returning his gaze back to Duncan. "So how long is this trip?"

"It isn't." Duncan answered, his eyes glossy from his high.

"What do you m-,"

"I'm not going back to D.C., Jim. I- I'm leaving everything behind. So that we don't have to keep doing this. I miss you a lot when I'm gone. No amount of texts, calls, and video chats can compare to just being here with you."

"Duncan are you se-,"

"Yes. Remember when I told you a couple months ago that I was working on something huge?"

"Yeah." Jim answered, his voice trying hard not to crack.

"I sold what I could and packed what I could. I'm having a couple things shipped down here. And I knew that if I told you while I was back in Washington you'd try to stop me, so I just did it, slowly. I'm discussing buying a house with a couple property owners out here, just have to go see them in person. I was hoping that you would mo-," Jim cut Duncan off, slamming his lips against his in a fiery kiss as he finally let some of his tears go.

"Duncan..." he said as he pulled away, leaving his forehead against his. "I always could of just moved to D.C. You know I'd drop everything for you."

"I know, but I didn't want to. You have a nice little life here in LA and out of PV. It's simple. You're away from the lime light. Private life. DC was so hectic and I was so stressed all the time. Being here with you and loving you, the sand in my toes, a whole lotta margaritas and vodka cranberries, and some of the best sex I've ever had." Jim blushed at Duncan's words.

"California is an interesting place, I can say that for sure. I love it here."

"That's something someone not from California would say." Jim chuckled, causing Duncan to laugh.

"Besides." Duncan continued. "You're still so young and full of life, Jim. DC will suck that right out of you. It's only good for a visit, I promise you that. I've never felt so fucking old."

"Duncan you're only 33."

"And you're 27."

"You're not old, Dunc. At all."

"Oh, I know that now that I've actually been doing things other than working." He winked at Jim.

"And when you're like 76 and I'm like 70, you'll still be my sexy young man."

"Very funny."

"Duncan, I love you." Jim said, turning his body slightly in his seat so that he could face Duncan a little bit better.

"I love you too."

The two sat in silence for a while, staring at each hazy eyed before their gazes finally drew their lips together again, but this time they kissed hungrily. They were handsy.

"No. Not here." Duncan moaned out as Jim's lips made their way to the side of his face and down to his neck.

"Okay. Okay. Fine. C'mon though." Jim quickly hopped out the car, Duncan following behind him. Locking the doors behind them, the two ran through the parking garage like teenage boys; giggling as Jim looked back at Duncan who was hot on his heels. When they got in the elevator, Duncan pinned Jim up against the wall, putting his lips back on his in a breathy kiss filled with hard pants and their hands roamed freely once again. Duncan gripped Jim's ass tightly, pulling him closer, when the elevator dinged. Jim grinned against Duncan's lips before taking off again down the hall. Another chase that Duncan somehow managed to keep up with. How he managed Jim's level of energy he was unsure of, but he loved it anyway.

Jim couldn't get his keys in the door fast enough, pushing it open immediately as soon he heard the click. He tossed his keys on the counter and Duncan pounced on him again. This time, he picked Jim up, Jim wrapping his legs around his waist in yet another steamy kiss, Duncan carrying him to the bed. Jim left his shades open, the moonlight that shined brightly through his window being the only source of light they had to guide them. Duncan set Jim down by the bed, quickly pulling his hoody over his head before ripping Jim's shirt clean off. Jim, too high off marijuana and Duncan's love, didn't seem to care as he fumbled with his belt before finally unbuttoning his slacks and pulling them down.

Duncan pushed Jim down onto the bed before pulling his sweats down. He climbed on top of him, sinking between his legs, planting soft kisses along the surfer boy's neck as he grinded against him through the material of his boxers. Soft kisses were soon turned into harsh sucks and love bites as Duncan left behind a few hickeys on his neck and chest. Jim whimpered underneath him, thrusting upwards for a little more friction, but Duncan planted him back down, thrusting right back. The both of them loved the feeling of the other growing hard in response to each other's touch.

Jim's breathing got heavier as Duncan trailed his tongue down his chest down to his abdomen and just above the hem of his underwear. He slowly pulled them down, leaving kisses and bites on Jim's thighs. Jim let out a low hum in approval before Duncan put him inside of his mouth.

"Mmmmm, Dunc." Jim moaned as he got to work on him. Duncan moved slowly at first, swiveling his tongue over the head. Jim propped himself up on his elbows to get a better view. He bit down on his bottom lip as his breathing became uneven. He gripped the bedsheets beside him, slowly moving his hips to try and match Duncan's rhythm. But then Duncan sped up, completely throwing Jim off. And he was a mess again, slumping back down into his mattress as he let out a deep moan. He grabbed a nearby pillow, throwing it over his face attempting to keep himself from getting to loud, but he knew was pointless. Duncan pushed Jim all the way to back of his throat, allowing for Jim to thrust even further upwards as he bit down hard on the pillow.

"Fuck." he growled as he sunk his hips back down, allowing for Duncan to start bobbing his head back up and down. He was sloppy now, slobbering all over Jim as he moaned, groaned and whined. Tossing the pillow to the side, his hands found their way in Duncan's hair, tugging gently as he brought him closer and closer to the edge.

"Fuck, baby. I'm so close." Jim moaned out, but Duncan didn't stop. Using one of his hands he massaged Jim's balls. His stomach twitched and he knew he was close and when he was right there about to spill over, Duncan stopped, flipping him over into his stomach. He quickly pulled his boxers off, getting his hand wet enough and stroking himself a few times before pouring himself inside of Jim.

"Shit..." Duncan mumbled as Jim's walls wrapped around him, inviting him in. "Still so nice and so warm." Jim bit down on his pillow for the second time tonight. Duncan slapped his ass before he began sliding in and out of Jim whose leaking erecting rubbed back and forth against the soft and warm sheets.

"Missed you so much.." Jim said, barely above a whisper, but Duncan heard him.

"I missed you too." Duncan replied in his ear, speeding up his pace, his hips rocking back and forth. Pure nostalgia filled Jim as he Duncan fucked him with the same intensity he did the first night they met, the second time they got to see each other, and the night that they made it official. Submerged in a world of pleasure, Jim closed his eyes and replayed that memory again, vividly.

"Wanna go for a walk along the boardwalk?" Jim asked Duncan as he shoved his last piece of fried Oreo in his mouth. "And I don't knooooow, maybe tell me what's on your mind? You've been awfully quiet since we sat down to take a break."

"Yeah, come on." Duncan got up rather quickly. Jim got up too throwing his trash away before the two began their walk. They walked closely together, so close that Duncan managed to slip his hand into Jim's and the two intertwined fingers.

"So you're not mad at me for something?" Jim questioned, looking over at Duncan.

"Mad at you?" Duncan asked confused before finally sighing and stopping all together, standing completely in front of Jim.

"Well yeah, you haven't been-,"

"Jim, I love you."

"I know Dunc, I love you t-,"

"No, Jim. I LOVE you. I am IN LOVE with you. I can't keep visiting you and having you visit me and not letting you know how I feel. And you know I'm not all about labels, but this is a label I want. It's a label I need." Duncan poured out. "Every moment I spend with you, I've never felt so alive. Every call we make, every text we send, every time your name or face pops up on my phone, I'm flooded with nothing, but good memories.

"And I know I can come off as a little passive sometimes or shut down, but it was never because of you Jim. I have my own issues that I'm working on. Every time I have to leave or you have to leave, I start counting down the days until I can see you again. Jim you make me so so so happy." Duncan continued. "Fuck this is a lot, just be with me Jim. Please?"

Jim threw his arms around Duncan, pulling him into the tightest hug he could manifest and when he pulled back he pushed his lips up against his in an effort to not start crying in front of all these people.

"Duncan I-," but Jim couldn't even finish his sentence before he hung his head low, arms still wrapped around Duncan's neck.

"There you guys are!" Jim's sister, Medina shouted as walked over to the two. "We've been looking for you guys for a while." Duncan drew his attention away from an emotional Jim, to smile over at Medina.

"You just told him didn't you?" she questioned, smiling right back. When Duncan had landed in California a few days before he already knew what he wanted to tell Jim, but he was nervous and they had gotten so comfortable without their label, he didn't want to ruin that. So when the opportunity presented itself, he sat down with her and poured his heart out, to her, about her brother. She did nothing, but encourage him to go ahead and tell Jim how he was feeling. She wasn't going to let him know how crazy in love Jim was with him too. She wanted Jim to do that himself.

"You knew about this?" Jim snapped his head up to look around at his sister.

"I did."

"She did. She helped me, actually. This confession probably would have been waaaay worse had I not sat down and talked it out with Medina." And for a moment, Jim let go of Duncan, throwing his arms around his sister and lifting her up off the ground in a bear hug.

"Why are you so good to me?" Jim asked her.

"Remember when all we had was each other?" she asked back. "Everyone deserves a shot at happiness Jim and you helped me find mine, so why not bring you closer to yours, hm?" Jim chuckled as he put her back down, giving her boyfriend, Calvin, a fist bump before returning his attention back to Duncan.

"Duncan, I love you too. I'm in love with you." Jim breathed out quickly before his tears could catch back up to him. "And I have so much more to say, but I'm trying so hard not to cry. For a fucking brick wall at times you sure are a tear-jerker. And be yours? I was already yours, Duncan. In my heart, I was already yours. No one was ever going to take me away from you."

"Picture pleaseeeeeee." Medina squealed as she took her phone out of her backpack. "This is too good of a moment to not capture on camera."

"Think you can hold your tears back one more time for a photo, boyfriend?" Duncan questioned, Jim's heart fluttering at the word.

"Shit, I don't know, but it has to be quick." Jim said, a mixture of laughter and a cry. "Because it's coming."

"Jim?" Duncan called out, pausing his thrusts as he held onto Jim's hips. "Why are you crying? Am I hurting you? Do you need me to stop?"

"God, no, Duncan." Jim said. "Keep going. Please. You make me so so so happy." Those words alone were enough for Duncan to realize that he and Jim were thinking about the same memory. And with our further question and without pulling out, he flipped Jim over, so that he was now on his back.

"Just like old times, huh, ocean eyes?" Duncan asked Jim, biting his lip at him. The familiar nickname gave Jim goosebumps. The moonlight illuminated the both of them to each other perfectly, casting shadows around the rest of the apartment.

"Mhmmmmm." was all Jim could get out before Duncan kissed him, slowly, tenderly, and sloppily as he slowly began to move himself in and out of him. Jim's hands tangled their way into Duncan's hair as the kiss deepened and so did Duncan's movements. He took long, deep, and slow strides in and out of Jim, wanting him to feel each and every one of them. They whispered sweet words to one another between their heavy breaths and moans.

Jim wrapped his legs around Duncan as his own pre-cum pooled and pooled against his stomach and he wanted nothing more than for Duncan to take him there again. Duncan took this as an invitation to speed up, moving a pillow behind Jim's head so that it wasn't slamming into the headboard. It was messy now, erratic, Duncan's movements. The both of them were struggling to keep themselves together, struggling to keep each other together with how good they felt. Jim clawed everywhere, especially at Duncan's hips, in an attempt to pull him right back into him when he would thrust out.

"Right there... right there... right there." Jim moaned every time Duncan slammed into his spot and before he knew it, he was coming undone underneath Duncan, hands free. Duncan noticing, grabbed Jim's cock pointing it upwards so that it painted him instead of Jim, stroking him fast as an aid. Duncan's name left Jim's mouth repeatedly as he let go, gripping at Duncan's thighs as hard as he could to stop himself from shaking uncontrollably.

The sight alone was enough to send Duncan over the edge and threw his head back, moaning out Jim's name in return as he pushed all the way in, holding himself there, releasing all of himself deep inside of Jim. He rode out his orgasm before pulling out. He was going to grab for a towel when Jim yanked him back down on the bed, climbing on top of him. He slowly trailed his tongue across Duncan's chest, getting up every last bit of himself.

"Faster clean up." Jim mumbled against Duncan's lips before laying against him all together. Duncan pulled the covers up over them before wrapping his arms around Jim, when Jim heard him sniffle. "Are you crying now?"

"No." Duncan said, obviously lying.

"Uh huh.." Jim said propping his head up on Duncan's chest to look at him. "I love you."

"I love you too. But, um, above moving in with me once I get one of those houses; would you?"

"Of course. If it means that I don't have to go a couple months without seeing you, then of course." Duncan smiled, kissing Jim on his forehead.

"Never have to worry about that again."

"Good..." Jim mumbled, beginning to doze off. Within a few minutes, Duncan found himself asleep, right along with him. Home.

Taglist: @jimmason @angelicmichael @whatcodysaid @9layerdevilfoodcake  @xavierplympton @guiltyfiend @mikhalxngdon​ @theneverendinghunger​

[solarlightsonline]

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[langdxn]

i have always been a storm | jim mason x reader

SUMMARY: Jim Mason’s idyllic PV life is falling apart. Can anybody save him before it’s too late?

WARNINGS: Drug use, death and all the angst you can expect from a troubled Jim.

WORDS: 2.2k -- sorry!

A/N: I know, right? It’s been a month and the first thing that brings me back is the most depressing Jim content I could muster... I was stuck in a Fleetwood Mac binge and Storms just fit Jim so well, I couldn’t resist.

The PV waves gently lapped at Jim’s toes, but their sensation had long since numbed.

His hard, impenetrable stare into the grey horizon could not notice the flocks of birds fleeing the coast, the waves beneath them gathering momentum as a storm brewed. His clenched jaw fiercely gritting his teeth together, a dull ache roaring in his gums which he simply could not process.

“I don’t want you seeing her anymore,” Sandy wailed at the top of her voice, emphatic arms flailing about her as she stormed around the house, expertly swooping between cardboard boxes and dismantled furniture littering the corridors. “We’re leaving next week, there’s no point keeping a girlfriend here.”

“But mom—“ he defended himself weakly, halting her reckless motion as she turned to face him.

“No buts, Jim Mason,” she spat, reaching to run her fingers through his golden locks and gazing into his eyes, raw with pain, brimming with tears, igniting with fury. “We’ll have to change that name too, have a think and we’ll decide on something else.”

His mother disappeared around the next corner in a blur of fuzzy cotton and brunette locks, leaving Jim to the terrifying kaleidoscope of his own emotions.

The crashing shore fell on deaf ears. So too did the approach of a dull roar of music, carrying on the gathering gusts that swirled across the beach. So too did the swoosh of sifting sand underfoot as someone neared his side.

“Thought I’d find you here,” you called out cheerfully as you arrived at his spot, slumping to the sand and taking a seat beside your boyfriend. “What’s up, babe?”

Your cacophony of syllables and musical notes nuzzled gently into his stupor, but not enough to encourage a response. His steely glance refused to falter.

Every night that goes between

Resting your speaker in your jacket pocket, your music penetrated his bubble and averted his vision down to the sand.

“Jim? What’s happened?”

I feel a little less

He sniffled softly, wiping long since dried tears with the sleeve of his wetsuit.

“I have to leave,” he muttered under his breath, a flimsy conviction behind his words suggesting he wished they weren’t rolling from his tongue in the first place. You slapped your thighs crossed beneath you to prepare to stand.

As you slowly go away from me

“Sure, I’ll walk you home—“

“You don’t understand,” Jim snapped, a curt hand waving in the tense air between you. “Mom’s moving us away.”

This is only another test

“Really?” Your calm tone unnerved Jim almost as much as his own predicament. “Well I’m sure however far you go, I can always come and see you—“

“Montana,” he scoffed through rage-curled lips. “She’s moving us to Montana.”

Every day you do not come

“Oh.”

No shaky delivery, no sinking shoulders as you realised the gravity of the situation, you remained peaceful as you meandered around your thought process.

“How long?”

Your softness fades away

“Next week,” Jim huffed before another wave of tears burst its banks, searing down his weary cheeks.

Your gaze joined his on the horizon ahead of you, the greying ocean reaching out to touch the darkening sky as they mimicked each other, cloaking themselves in the raging storm that beckoned beyond.

Did I ever really care that much?

“Do you want to go?”

Jim’s tumbling curls shook frantically in reply.

Is there anything left to say?

“Then let’s run away together instead,” you suggested without a glance in your boyfriend’s direction, fearing the moment you broke your stare with the sea, your own tears would swell too.

“Wh... where?”

Every hour of fear I spend

“We could go to DC,” you chuckled, shrugging softly at your knowingly absurd suggestion. “We could become politicians.”

My body tries to cry

Jim’s hand idly rinsed through the sand beneath his knees — his grip on every last grain symbolic of his control of his own destiny, his own path, his own future. Slipping through his fingers with every tumbling grain.

Living through each empty night

“I hear Minnesota’s nice this time of year?”

A soft, dismissive snort responded.

A deadly call inside

“Then let’s move up to the desert, live underground in a nuclear bunker and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. How about that?”

Jim blinked hard, as if your proposition registered a familiar sensation in his mind. Hiding out seemed a preferable alternative.

I haven't felt this way I feel

You reached out an arm to link with his, scooting across the sand to lean into Jim as you continued your shared gaze beyond.

Since many a year ago

“I’ll always be happy wherever we go as long as I’m with you, Jim Mason—“

“Don’t call me that,” Jim snapped, a shiver pulsing through his body as his mother’s words resonated with him. “My name’s not Mason, not anymore.”

But in those years and the lifetimes past

“Good start,” you smiled warmly, politely assuming his sparky reaction was a stage of his distancing from his current life and into a new one together. “What should I call you now? Just Jim? Jungle Jim? The artist formerly known as Jim Mason?”

For the first time since you spotted him on the beach, Jim smiled. The curl of his lips cinched his bronzed cheeks so beautifully that even out of the corner of your eye, his smirk lit up the stormy sky.

I did not deal with the road

“I’ll... I’ll think of something,” Jim sighed, finally wrapping his fingers over yours draped over his elbow. His rough fingertips were cold, abandoned by the rush of blood to his face through his trauma.

Dipping your head to plant a soft kiss to his knuckles, you inhaled deeply against his skin. Jim always smelled like the ocean, a swathe of sharp seaweed scent bloomed in your senses as the curt tang of seasalt stung at your lips, the sensation you treasured so highly as a surfer’s girlfriend.

And I did not deal with you I know

“Wanna hit?”

You looked up to find Jim now gazing at you, his blue eyes enrobed with strained red veins. In his free hand, he held a small baggy, white powder collecting in the corners like a barnacle, a fungus, a cancer.

Though the love has always been

“Jim... what the fuck—“

“Don’t, please... please don’t lecture me like my mom,” he quickly interrupted your building objection. “I just really need this.”

The despair in his eyes as he looked to you for support spoke the truth in his words. Jim needed a fix, a release from his anguish, and he knew no better alternative.

So I search to find an answer there

“I’m not... I’m not trying to lecture you,” you retorted sharply, yanking your arm from his clutch. “If you touch that stuff again, you’ll die.”

“That’s what you all think,” he pouted, tearing the baggy open in one fell swoop, gazing longingly at its contents as if they held all the answers to happiness and life itself. “I just need this release right now.”

So I can truly win

Craning back in disbelief, you scowled at your boyfriend; the same fear lacing your pupils as the day you visited him in hospital after his last ‘release.’ You jolted to your feet, stepping away from his side.

Every hour of fear I spend

“Did you fucking hear me? You touch that shit again and you could die right here on this beach, Jim Mason—“

“I told you not to call me that,” Jim spat, fury curling his lips as he stumbled weakly to his feet.

My body tries to cry

“Is that all you can think about right now, your goddamn name? I’m not having my boyfriend wash up on this shore like a plastic bag and end up inside a body bag, you hear me?”

“You don’t know what’s going on in my mind, up here,” Jim tapped demonstrably at his forehead, vicious raised veins coursing across his temples as the white baggy slapped his furrowed brows. “It’s a storm in here. It’s always a fucking storm.”

Living through each empty night

“Then let me help you,” you half-shouted,  stepping forward tentatively with arms outstretched toward him. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”

“I’m always alone,” Jim wailed, cradling his head in both hands and his eyes clenched shut in a vain attempt to hold back tears. “Even Medina’s got that dick now — Adam or whatever the fuck his name is.”

A deadly call inside

“I’ve lost everything that ever mattered to me,” Jim continued. “My family, my home, even my girlfriend hates me.”

“What?!” You almost shrieked, frowning so hard a muscle tinged in your forehead. “When did I say I hate you?”

So I try to say goodbye my friend

“You won’t even let me touch a tiny bit of coke, just to help me get through all this,” Jim barked. His seething tone reminded you of his mother, every word a loaded sentiment to test your reaction.

“I’m trying to help you get through this, Jim. Please.”

I’d like to leave you with something more

Jim’s volume crept louder and louder with every expletive, causing you to glance around you in case someone was watching you. The outline of someone sunbathing in the distance behind you was all you found.

As your gaze returned, Jim had already emptied the contents of the baggy onto the back of his hand, running trembling fingers through the soft powder to create haphazard lines on the tracks between his muscles.

“Jim, no!” You screamed, grabbing his hand and vigorously shaking it in yours, ignoring his wailing protests and flailing arms as he watched the powder float on the breeze. “I can’t let you, I can’t let you do—“

Your thoughts halted mid-sentence as realisation hit you.

But never ever been a blue calm sea

“Someone’s sunbathing?” You questioned aloud, eyes darting up to the charcoal clouds above you, blinking harshly through the light droplets of rain splattering on your face. “There’s no sun…”

Gripping Jim’s shaking hand, you spun on your heels and looked back at the outline you saw across the shore. A person laid out on the beach, too far away to tell which way they were facing.

“What the fuck are you—“

“Jim, we have to go.”

You tugged on his hand and pulled him alongside you as you ran toward the shape, breaths laboured with every panicking stride.

I have always been a storm

The closer you came to the outline, you realised the mound of brown hair signalled the person was facing down into the sand. Breaking into a sprint, you let go of Jim’s hand as he ran beside you.

Always been a storm

“Help, please, somebody help!” Your screams echoed across the bay, calling out to the surfer vans and lifeguard hut on the cliffs.

Oh, always been a storm

Tumbling to your knees at their side, you pressed your palms to the man’s back to shake him.

“Sir—sir, are you okay?” Your trembling tone pierced across the bay as Jim arrived at your side. “He’s not breathing, we need to turn him over.”

I have always been a storm

Kneeling next to you, Jim fixed on the man’s hair. Tousled mousy brown curls just like his own, sun bleached just like his own, battered by relentless salt water just like this own.

We were frail

He fell back in despair, crawling away on his hands as tears poured down his cheeks.

“Jim, please help me—“

She said "every night he will break your heart"

Tugging frantically at his wet shirt, you grunted as you heaved the man onto his back and brushed the hair from his face. Speckled with sand, his jaw drooped and his eyes lay fixed open, pupils blown wide. Spotting his sallow, wrinkled cheeks and a congealed white powder at his nostrils, your breath hitched in your throat.

I should've known from the first

“Is... is he dead?” Jim stammered as he stepped forward to look over your shoulder.

Your eyes dropped to the sand beneath you, straining to your feet to step back as an official-looking woman raced across the beach to attend to the scene.

I’d be the broken-hearted

“He’s dead?!” Jim wailed, rinsing his face in his hands. You turned to cradle him into the crook of your neck, his heartfelt sobs soaking into your shoulder as the woman plucked a radio from her pocket and called out for assistance.

“That could have…. he could have been me.”

“It’s okay, Jim, I’ve got you.”

“I’m sorry, baby, I’m so sorry,” he cried helplessly, hooking trembling arms around your waist. “I’ll never touch it again, I promise, never again.”

But I loved you from the start

“I know,” you soothed, running your hands over the rain-dripped neoprene expanse of his wetsuit. “Let’s get you home.”

“Wh...” he trailed off as he calmed his hysterics, tumbling onto you for support. “Where’s home?”

Not all the prayers in the world could save us

You smoothed his now-drooping curls with a reassuring hand, blinking aside your own streaming tears.

“Home is wherever you are, Jim.”