#two from guests one from newly promoted manager

[seilon]

i got like three different compliments from people today on my customer service and im not gonna lie I greatly enjoy feeling like im winning at Restaurant Host

[sassyjoy]

joyride

genre: smut

word count: 1802 

⋆｡˚ ⋆ ☾

It's the last day of Red Velvet's comeback promotions, and Joy still won't respond to your calls and texts unless it is related to her upcoming schedule. Joy started ignoring you when she found out that you feigned ignorance when you knew all along that her boyfriend was cheating on her. She became furious when you told her that you didn't want to meddle in their relationship and that you were only working for her. You, denying the friendship you had with Joy, made you feel hurt more. 

Both of you first met at a variety show, in which Red Velvet, a newly debuted group at the time, guested when you were still an intern at the broadcasting station. The cast were eating lunch when Wendy, her member, accidentally spilled her drink on Joy's white shirt. She immediately caught your attention when she politely excused herself to the staff and ran towards the nearest comfort room. Minutes passed and she's not back yet, so you have decided to follow where she went. You knocked on the door gently, and you were both surprised upon seeing each other. You quickly turned your back on her and apologized as you saw her wearing her bra. You took off your black hoodie and gave it to her without making eye contact and told her the shoot will resume soon, so she has to hurry up. 

A week after that shoot, you two met again, and she returned your hoodie. Ever since that day, you became close to the point that she recommended you to their company when their group needed a manager. The broadcasting station you were working for cuts off some of their employees' contracts, including yours. But with Joy's help, you were able to have a job promptly. You're the youngest among the managers, having the same age as Joy. Maybe that's one of the reasons why you became friends. You share the same concerns and thoughts about being at the same age.

That's why she was disappointed when you didn't tell her that her boyfriend was cheating on her. You were vocal about not liking him, but Joy thought you were just joking. The first time you met the guy, you knew something was off, and you were sure of it. You told her that over text, and apparently, her idol boyfriend was the one who read that message. He made Joy stay away from you, but she didn't want to until they were fighting about that idea the same thing over and over again. You just shrugged and limited your conversations with Joy. That's your best friend and she's happy with that man. You had no other choice but to avoid contacting her unless it's related to work. You thought Joy wouldn't notice but she did, and both of you had a quarrel concerning that matter. It was an immature act. She couldn't imagine avoiding you, her friend, just because her boyfriend ordered her to. But in the end, she gave up because it seemed like you had already made up your mind.

Joy, having a cold war with you is not a surprise to the Red Velvet members. Every time you two have a fight, the older members would make you sit at the back with Joy, and after a ride from a schedule, both of you would make up. But this time, you thought it was hopeless. 

It's 6 pm, and Red Velvet has just finished their radio guesting, and you’re all on your way to the company. You were sitting at the back of the van with Joy, who was gazing out the window with her airpods on. You were monitoring Red Velvet's viewable radio on your phone when the driver suddenly beeped  the car horn, which caught your attention. 

"We're stuck in traffic. I think this will take another hour before we get there." You heard the manager sitting in the shotgun seat say to the person he's talking to over the phone. 

You sighed as you looked at your wristwatch. It’s already past an hour when you become stuck in the traffic and the van hasn't made any progress ever since. You took a glance at Joy and she was already knocked out. She must be tired from their back-to-back schedules. Your gaze darted from her sleeping face down to her neck. Her head was leaning on the window, you thought that her neck might be strained, so you sat closer to her and slowly placed her head on your shoulder, careful not to wake her up. Minutes after, you felt your eyelids getting heavy, so you started taking a nap too. 

The sound of the rain made you awake, and as your eyes scanned your surroundings, you realized that the car was already moving. It was dark, but you could tell that Joy was still sleeping peacefully, with her head on your shoulder. It was getting a bit chilly, so you pulled up the blanket covering Joy's legs, thinking that she might be cold. You were about to close your eyes again when you heard Joy moaning your name, so you looked at her and thought that you were just mistaken. Then it turns out you're not because she moaned again and this time it was louder than before but weak enough for her members to hear. You were starting to get hard and you were feeling guilty about it. 

You were planning on waking her but she suddenly woke up. She was shocked at the proximity of your faces, so you moved away, back from your original spot. After a while, you noticed her fiddling. Even though you weren't in good terms, you asked her. She was taking deep breaths, so you thought it was something serious. As her manager, you told her if she needed anything she could just wake you up from your sleep and you'd help her. Joy didn't respond, so you closed your eyes again, trying to go back to sleep to shrug off your dirty thoughts. 

You were on the verge of sleeping when you felt a hand on your left knee, which made you jolt. You opened your eyes and it was Joy. She made a 'shush' sign, so you looked around and saw that except for the driver and manager in front, everyone was sleeping. You look out the window and it seems like you guys are still far from your destination. Joy suddenly pulled you by your collar to get your attention. 

"You told me you'd help me if I needed something," she whispered and nibbled your ear which sent shivers to your spine. You stared at her for a second and avoided her eye contact right away, restraining yourself from doing something. 

"I know what you're trying to do, and we both know we can't do that again." You said whispering, but Joy just rolled her eyes at you before leaning to your side again to whisper. This reminds you of the same thing that happened between the two of you before she even started dating. Joy was sending you pictures of her wearing sexy outfits for her solo stages. One day, you guys found yourselves in the dressing room having a makeout session, during which you almost got caught by Irene. The good thing is that the door was locked, Joy pretended to be sleeping and you were talking to someone on your phone.

"Then why are you hard?" She moved away, then pointed at your crotch, which you covered immediately with your hoodie. Joy checked the members sleeping in their seats in front and you did the same. 

"They're all asleep." That caught you off guard, and you knew it was a bad idea. The sound of the rain was loud enough, and Joy was sure that the driver and the other manager couldn't hear your conversation. You were about to speak when Joy cut you off by asking the manager in front to turn on the radio, which can be heard inside the vehicle a few seconds later. And it took you a minute to give in to her. You grabbed Joy by her cheeks and kissed her roughly. It was messy but you know she likes it this way. Joy pulled away and looked at you, meeting her wide, lust-blown eyes. 

"I need you to touch me." Joy orders you, which causes you to cast another look in front. The two men in front are staring at the road, and the rest of the members are still sleeping. Everything around you is dark enough to hide what you're doing at the back of the van. 

"Are you still mad at me?" You asked as Joy grabbed your hand and placed it on her boobs. It seems like she wanted you to grope her breast, but you had other ideas in mind. 

"We'll talk about this later-" You gave her chest a squeeze before roaming your hand down to her sensitive spot under her skirt. 

"You're wet already?" You whispered as you moved the strands of her hair from her face with your free hand. Joy bit her lip when she felt your middle finger run through her underwear. She buried her face in the crook of your neck as you moved the gusset of her panties on the side before sliding a finger inside her wet pussy. Joy spread her legs wider, which gave you more access to her heat. You began moving your digits in and out. Joy covered her mouth with her left hand while she placed the other on your arm for support.

"Is this pace good enough for you?" You whispered in her ear. She didn't answer your question, so you rubbed her clit, which earned you a tight squeeze on your arm. You can tell that she's trying so hard not to make a noise. Joy's pussy sucks your fingers well. Her juices started to drip on the car seat as you pumped your digits into her cunt. 

You know Joy's approaching her climax when she starts meeting your fingers with her hips. You continued to finger her until Joy signaled you to stop. Her wetness covered your fingers, and you heard a sloppy moan slip past her mouth. Joy rested her head on the car seat with her eyes closed. You reached for the wet wipes inside your bag to clean up her mess. Right after you discarded the trash in your bag, you arrived at your destination. The girls sitting in the front row were getting off one by one when your phone buzzed as you received a text message. You checked who it was, and it was from Joy, asking you to eat ramen with her later after work with a smirk emoji.

[fantranslatorbychoice]

Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Volume 6 Chapter 9 - Tenjin-ya's Autumn Festival

T/N: I hope you like this chapter, it's my "Britney's back, bicth" reappearance, my Nihongo got a bit wonked-out but I hope you all still enjoy this. Also it's a double-upload so please do take a seat, it's gonna be a roller-coaster ride y'all.

As always, if you like this translation, you can heart it, SHARE THE LINK, reblog. You can rave about this, rant about this, reply, etc. but if you can, please link back to this page. If you’re unsure how to do that, just copy the web address of this page. If you’re on a blogsite just insert the web address as a hyperlink to create a link back to this page. I just respectfully ask to NOT REPOST OR REUPLOAD THIS ELSEWHERE. Thank you very much.

This is my contribution to the scant English content of this fandom, and I worked really hard to finish this thing, it’s not like I just copy-pasted everything on some AI-translating site. I even had to build the kanji in Jisho one by one if I need to. Try it here and you’ll see what I mean.

Honestly if this light novel was officially-published in English, I wouldn’t even be doing this right now... And if it did, especially if it was sanctioned, I’d take this down to support the publishers and Yuuma-sensei. Creators support creators, is what I believe in.

If I still have enough energy to do it, I’ll prolly do 1-5 once 6-10 has been done, or however long I can manage to translate the raw texts, sometimes my soul gets absorbed by some entity and I have to get it back piece by piece lol.

As previously-mentioned in earlier chapters, if you stumbled upon this one, the two seasons of the anime covered volumes 1-5, so other than the extra details, you didn’t miss much stuff. Believe me, I sped-run them with 50% comprehension then rewatched the anime, and they're more or less the same.

OK here it goes, enjoy~

P267 It's the end of October. In Utsushiyo, there is an event called "Halloween" which is associated with wearing costumes, I wonder if it's festive and lively and huge right now?

But then again, this is Kakuriyo. For countless days now, Tenjin-ya has been celebrating the bountiful harvests in the Autumn Festival. Because this is the biggest autumn event in here, this time around it was gossiped about that Tenjin-ya will be celebrating it differently than before.

As per Ginji-san's suggestion, Tenjin-ya's interior as well as the gardens were decorated with Japanese-style pumpkin lanterns lighted up by ogre-fire.

Maps were given to guests at the front desk, which guide them in finding the flashy lanterns placed at the service station and resting areas where the employees are gathered as they give away sweets and snacks.**

Pumpkin lanterns are considered rare in Kakuriyo, and with an event that seems like treasure-hunting in the underworld, it was a very popular event enjoyed by both adults and children.

Only one other place was also decorated with the pumpkin lanterns as a rest stop, and that is Yugao.

Here, aside from the usual sweets given out to everyone, Kasuga and I also give out the newly-developed product "Hell-juu".

This is because this product is being promoted and advertised as a "revolutionary" and "pioneering" product.

T/N: In Japan, anything labeled as お菓子 (o-kashi) are considered as tiny snacks, not limited to sweets but also small amounts of salty and savory stuff like 煎餅 (senbei - rice crackers)

P268 Since this year's opening for the Autumn Festival hasn't started yet, along with the tea time business operations, I was just sitting outside Yugao where tea is usually prepapred, as I was making a list of fun Autumn sweets that Yugao can offer to customers.

Right now, this is the food and snack lineup for sale in Yugao: -> Sweet potato and purple yam ice cream -> Buttercream-filled bread rolls with raisin and walnut -> Melt-in-your-mouth persimmon pudding (with persimmon leaf tea)

Since in Utsushiyo sweets are a big hit during Halloween, I also took a great liberty to do them too. And surprisingly, the bread rolls filled with buttercream and with raisins and walnuts were especially well-received by so many.

The grapes that we picked from the fruit orchard were hung behind Yugao, in order to make raisins. These raisins, along with the roasted walnuts were mixed with homemade buttercream**, and then turning them into an easily-consumable hand-held cream bread roll.

When I made the buttercream by hand, it felt nostalgic, I missed how the sweetness and how it feels in my mouth was to my liking. The full cream feels very different from the raisins and the walnuts, it wasn't a distasteful mix at all, and it makes them even prominent from the sidelines.

Since it tastes better when fresh from the oven, we had a label up that says "we bake them as you order them".

"Oh my, Kasuga-chan, since when did you switch to working at Yugao?" "I thought you already quit being a Tenjin-ya employee?"

T/N: Please never make homemade buttercream with your bare hands, unless your hands and arms are buff AF. Use a mixer ALWAYS. A message of concern from someone who HAD TO DO IT BY HAND and now has PTSD. The pain wasn't worth it. T_T

P269

Yugao's regular customers who came by during tea time were shocked to see that Kasuga was at work. Nobody knows though, that today was inevitably Kasuga's last day working at Tenjin-ya.

"Ahaha, but it's not bad working as a sales lady in a sweets' shop, you know?"

She doesn't show it in her innocent smile, but Kasuga does everything that she can to keep on serving each and every one of the customers, ceaselessly ushering them in and giving them what they need.

With that going on, I was able to concentrate on making the dishes, and the rounds in the shop went on smoothly.

More than anything else that I was grateful for, was Kasuga's know-how when it comes to serving guests. She even taught Ai-chan how to politely interact with the customers. Even though Ai-chan now regularly appears at the shop, she's still a beginner and likely will make mistakes. To Ai-chan that is more of a support, every now and then we give her some advice.

To be honest, the more that she moves the more she gets the hang of it, and the more she gets the hang of it, the more that she gets motivated to work.

So far it seems that whatever she sees, she does it in a similar manner. That is something that employees at Tenjin-ya learn from their superiors - cultivated by the toiling and grinding for so many years, this is by any means not a very easy thing to do nor learn by anyone's standards.**

Doing so much work, running so much errands... is this day ever gonna end...? Aaaarggh..

Kasuga keeps saying "this is too much" as she keeps running to and from here in the kitchen, urgently taking orders, relaying the information to me, and getting exhausted doing so.

T/N: Double negatives are really a pain in the arse I tell you. Arrrrggh lol

P270 "Aoi-shaaaa~n, please give me pumpkin sheeee~ds"

Before opening up for the evening's business hours, it was crunch time for prepping the ingredients. Kasuga and I arranged the chairs outside, while Chibi, who turned the pumpkin lanterns into a playground, was begging for pumpkin seeds.

"Why are you asking for pumpkin seeds?"

"They're delicioussssh~"

Because we used up so many pumpkins today, we have a lot of pumpkin seeds.

Giving him some pumpkin seeds from the kitchen, Chibi holds one and starts gnawing it with his beak, skillfully picking out the contents to eat.

Somehow, he looks like a hamster eating a sunflower seed...

But, just as Chibi was about to take the last bite, for some reason it seemed, he was starting to behave like he had an intense dilemma, and he stopped eating the seed.

"What? What's the matter? Is that a nasty-tasting seed?"

"This pumpkin sheeeed, If I plant thissss under the willow tree, I'm going to help it grow. Then when it bearssssh fruits, Aoi-shan will make me a dish from it. And the sheeeds... I will eat them."

Wait, wait, what's going on?

After immediately running towards the willow tree, Chibi using his webbed fingers started digging and tearing up the ground, and with some skills he has planted the seed into the ground.  Well, for sure he can grow it like that, but...

"Wh-?"

P271

And in that exact moment, on the other side of the willow tree...

Within the inner garden some mysterious movement was happening, which was a young couple, and when I noticed them I called over saying

"Is something the matter?", to which they immediately came towards me.

"Uhm... have you seen an item that has been dropped around here?"

"A missing item? What is it that you have lost?"

"Uhm, that is... A silver bracelet..."

After asking them about it, it seemed like the young couple was newly wedded, and had their honeymoon here in Tenjin-ya.

They were a very typical young couple. According to the young bride, it was a silver bracelet that her own mother had bequeathed her  before she got married.

It seemed that it got lost somewhere around pumpkin lanterns, and they have been going around and around the pumpkin lanterns in order to find it.

Even though it was supposed to be a very special occasion, the young bride looked so pitiful, with her face full of so much worry and anxiety. Could it possibly be that Yugao may have caught sight of that bracelet...?

"There, there! Tenjin-ya has a Lost and Found, maybe they have it in there? They probably have it there already, they always find all of the guests' lost items, for sure. I'll lead the way over there, ok?"

Hearing our conversation, Kasuga immediately popped over and courteously lead the young couple while saying "this way please".

I saw that the young bride smiled to her husband with a sigh of relief.

P272

As expected of Kasuga, isn't she is a clever, competent employee?

"I have so much concerns, but by leaving everything else to Kasuga, I don't have to worry so much. Then I only have to give it my all with my cooking." I'll need to add more items to Yugao's regular menu, and I am not limiting it to this year's Autumn Festival specials.

-> Crunchy salad made with lightly-pickled pumpkin topped with the Southern Lands' tuna -> Assorted Tempura Platter (Pumpkin, Chicken), garnished with Kimon's famous product, pumpkin -> White fish and autumn vegetables simmered in a thick sauce - A rare set meal, featuring Odanna-sama's homegrown autumn eggplant

But, the most special menu item, which is also served to guests as appetizers, is the Pumpkin and Soy Milk Potage. Foremost, because it has shredded onions and homemade bacon, which was stir-fried with care.

This brings out the umami taste of the shredded onions and homemade bacon, and the bite-sized pumpkin slices' flavor explodes into the whole soup as it boils and simmers down.

"Aoi-san, thank you for your hard work." "Oh, Ginji-san, thanks for the hard work."

Ginji-san was making his rounds in Yugao, he was in the middle of executing his plans and arranging the setups, when the potage was just about ready.

For the sake of drawing up the plans while still doing his management duties, Ginji-san seems so busy even for today.

But, as expected, you can't even see tiredness in the fresh and lively smiles of Ginji-san.

"Ginji-san, it seems that your well-though plan was a huge success. Everyone seems to be enjoying it."

P273

"Oh, it's not like that. It's just that it happened to be dark when we set things up for the guests. It would have been easier to hold the entire event during daylight hours but... The lanterns' lights won't show up. But if it was held during the evening, then it slowly becomes more and more Halloween-y. The pumpkin lanterns' lights are seen even from above Tenjin-ya's skies."

"Ahhh, then that's wonderful. Even I myself think that it already has the best Halloween vibes. But then again, the Ayakashi world already seems Halloween-y, so I don't know if that translates well..."

Originally meant to be held as a talisman against evil spirits during Halloween, it has changed, and the pumpkin lantern is now used as a fun decoration for Halloween by common folk and travelers alike.

Increasingly, due to the avoidance and ignorance of magic among humans, the ayakashi have slowly warmed up to the idea of pumpkin lanterns and see them as something fun.

Even Jack-O-Lanterns can surely make anyone in the underworld cry.

“By the way, Aoi-san, the pumpkin smells good, doesn't it?"

"Yes, and it's also because of the pumpkin potage I made. I'm going to put a lot of soy milk when I make it, so  it easily goes down the throat, and it's healthy too."

"Ohhh, that sounds delicious."

I placed all of the sauteed onions, bacon, and boiled pumpkin in a see-through mixing bowl** and mixed it all in. Once it has turned into a paste, I was helped by Ginji-san as I strained all of the contents.

Once it got a smooth consistency, I placed it back again in a pot to boil while adding a lot of soy milk.

By using soy milk instead of cow's milk, it stands out by tasting as refreshing and as mellow as a stickleback.

T/N: The transliteration was "goldfish bowl mixing bowl" but that sounds so unsanitary so I made it boring lol

P274

The bacon's umami has already dissolved, and I was putting a small amount of salt and pepper for seasoning.

"Ginji-san, have some of these first before you go back to work. After all, you probably won't have much time eating tonight, don't you?"

"Yay, it's a good thing I waited."

I poured some of the pumpkin potage into a bowl, and handed it to Ginji-san.

"Ah, after this please have some of the bread rolls. There's still a bit left of the canned tuna, so I could make you some tuna salad sandwich."

"Wow, really? Then I'm gonna eat a lot! It's because canned tuna is my all-time favorite!"

"Ohhh is that so? Alright, please have some potage while I go fix you one."

There was still a bit left of the prepared shredded onions, so I quickly stir-fried them, divided some into a bowl and added some canned tuna to mix. I added a bit of pepper to the homemade mayo, then some soy sauce to make simple flavoring .

The canned tuna from the Southern Lands, was very much different from the canned tuna sold in Utsushiyo, the flesh feels more sturdy and I could feel it as I mix, mix, mix the ingredients altogether...

"Hm.. I think this is ready and good to go."

After cutting the bread roll in half, I took a bit of the flavored mayo and added that to the bread roll, after which I added the tuna with stir-fried onions. That's it. Simple is best. That.. is the only thing needed to make a really good tuna sandwich.

T/N: Just a reminder that this is not a cookbook but yeah you can try the recipes out. I am not liable for any mishaps lol

P275

Even as he was sitting on the counter where I handed his sandwich, Ginji-san didn't seem  to be holding back. He just sank his teeth into the tuna-filled bread roll. After chewing it noisily, he took a gulp of the potage.

"Hmmm, this is so delicious! The crunch of the stir-fried onions are still there! The saltiness of the tuna goes so well with the spiciness of the onions. This unsophisticated bread roll, along with the sweetness of the potage, they work exceptionally well together, don't they?"

"It seems like it. Nobody can hold back from a simple tuna sandwich, it will be the death of working people."

Unlike other dishes that are a hassle to make, this one is delicious yet really simple. These days I just enjoy eating a lot of sandwiches like that, but because I have been eating that since I was a child, it has been my long time cherished food.

So this is how it is, using a bread roll. Somehow, this gives of the feeling of elementary school food back in the day.

And yet, Ginji-san seems to have enjoyed eating it so much...

"Wahhh, this light snack has filled and warmed up my entire body, it was really delicious. Now I can go back to working at my best!"

Wow, it seemed that Ginji-san was really hungry back there. I'm gonna tell him that he can come again to eat when he has some free time later.

"Oh, right, I just remembered. The pumpkins that you used for the potage, aren't those the ones grown by Odanna-sama himself? It's truly mysterious, he even started growing that pumpkin that he hates so much."

"But.. surely, I think that even Odanna-sama will eventually come to like this potage."

And just like that, even though Ginij-san was still smiling, his gaze quickly dropped down.

P276

It was a quick reaction. I wonder if he's worried about something...

"Kyaaaaaa! Please stop it Kasuga, please stoooop!"

!?

That came as a surprise. Out of nowhere, shrieks can be heard from outside.

"That voice... It's the Ookami-sama!"

What on earth is happening? Ginji-san and I went out to take a look.

It seems that there's some commotion at the main building, and at the west tower a multitude of waiters and waitresses were gathered around the one-eyed Ookami-sama. It was so noisy that the guests have also started to notice it.

"What is going on here, may I ask?" "Oh, Wakadanna-dono, that girl Kasuga, please make her stop!" In a very shrill voice the Ookami-sama begged and clung onto Ginji-san.

What the, Kasuga is on the roof of the western tower. Both Ginji-san and I were shocked.

"Wh-what's the matter Kasuga? What on earth are you doing over there?!"

"K-kasuga-san! It's dangerous up there, please go down in a safer place!"

Hearing our voices down below, Kasuga glanced toward us and took all of her voice out

"Uhm..."

"It was a crow. It was a crow that took our guests' silver bracelet. Please wait, I'll

P277

go down as soon as I can."

"Oh... that crow! That crow that took my kanzashi a while back!"

For sure, at the top of that western building, that one, shameless, impudent crow, whose looks we all despise. On its beak there was something glittery, could that be the guests' silver bracelet?

It seems that when Kasuga found out about it, she climbed all the way up the tower in order to get it back.

But whenever Kasuga was about to move, it seems like she's about to slip her feet and fall down, and it does not bode her well.

"Aaaahhhh! Kasuga please stop it right now! If something happens to you I will not be responsible!!!"

Ookami-sama is now starting to lose her wits.

As if it was normal though, Kasuga just said "Shhh, be quiet" and started focusing her attention to what she was doing. But the crow being a crow, it started darting back and forth towards Kasuga as if she was an idiot. It seems to be relishing the whole commotion.

"AAAAAH!"

"K-kasuga!"

That crow swatted at Kasuga's head and this caused her balance to break, slipping over the roof tiles and sending her down.

P278

Everyone started shrieking out loud. The Ookami-sama somehow lost her spirits, while being supported by the waitresses as they sat in that place and dealt with the whole incidence.

But Kasuga's fingertips were able to stay in place, and while keeping her body in balance, she was able to climb up on the roof again.

Eventually, Ginji-san said "I'm coming to help you" and just when it seemed that he was changing into his giant fox form while saying "Please hang on-"

"Aaaaah!"

From behind, on the other side someone tightly grabbed Ginji-san's third tail from the right, which was hanging down. Because of that, he didn't transform completely, and he ended up with his baby fox form.

When he looked back, he saw that O-ryo's face was looking at him relentlessly.

"Wakadanna-sama, this is none of your business. This is something that Kasuga must follow through on her own."

"But.. But O-ryo!"

"Aoi, just shut up and watch."

O-ryo, what the heck are you even thinking right now?

On the other hand, poor Ginji-san seems to be dejected. Humiliated as he is, he casually hid behind me as he trembled and shook. So it was true that the third tail from the right was really weak...

P279

"Kasuga!"

From yonder, O-ryo's voice reached Kasuga who was still on the roof.

"It's our guests' important missing item you know. Don't let that crow get away with it!"

"O-ryo sama..."

Everyone in there had no idea why O-ryo would say such things.

Kasuga was being made to retrieve the guests' silver bracelet.

Ookami-sama shrieked out "What on earth are you even saying!!", but O-ryo just flat out ignored her screams, and when Kasuga looked at O-ryo, she immediately understood, she looked like she braced herself tightly as she started climbing back onto the roof again.

"Ouch!"

The crow, while still holding the bracelet in its beak, started attacking Kasuga furiously.

As Kasuga kept crying "Ouch! Ouch!" in hushed tones while the crow was relentlessly attacking her outstretched hand, she pulled out something from inside her kimono.

"Look here, This is the "Hell-juu" that Aoi-chan made~ It's delicious~"

"..."

"What in the.. Kasuga was carrying a concealed "Hell-juu"?

Kasuga realized it in an instant, when the crow's eyes started twinkling, and she didn't miss the opportunity to use the "Hell-juu" as bait, and flung the manjuu.

P280

The crow opened its beak wide, and perfectly caught it.

On its beak it replaced the silver bracelet, which dropped and rolled down, down down from the roof.

"No, wait!"

The bracelet has dangerously rolled off the roof, someone needs to chase after and grab hold of it but...

Good thing she was surrounded by the west tower's walls, Kasuga already leapt off the roof and and shot off into the sky.

This was a scary feat, and as Kasuga was clutching the bracelet in her bosom, her true form was revealed, and in an instant, on the chimney, there stood a tiny tanuki.

"Ohhh, Kasuga!"

Nobody dared close their eyes.

Even though she wasn't swayed, O-ryo kept watching over Kasuga.

"Nice job, Kasuga!"

O-ryo swung her sleeves, and rolled up a really powerful snowstorm.

The snowstorm wrapped up and cradled tiny tanuki Kasuga, the air gently softened the impact and she fell onto the ground with a plop.

Kasuga got covered by the snow and was shivering, and she fell on her ribboned backside. We had no idea if she got any major injuries.

"Kasuga.. Are you cold?"

P281

She was asked by O-ryo, who had a daunting stance in front of her.

Kasuga, while still shivering, slowly opened her cute, round eyes.

It was because O-ryo was looking at her without much concern.

"When you had no choice but to bear that cold, before you looked like a tiny tanuki that was being pelted on by the harsh cold winds of the northern lands, if that happens you'll instantly get frozen up. A frozen tanuki..., When you look like that, little by little... You'd look like a pudgy, stumpy, cute little tanuki!"

Upon saying those words, O-ryo looked up in the sky as her face became distorted.

With her hands on her waist, she remarkably looked very elated.

"Even though back home I hated being a snow lady, the snow folk families are very tight-knit and clannish. You'll think that we're cold, lonely, and harsh but... Please don't imagine us like that. Even though you're a shivering tanuki, you won't get looked at without getting any pity."

"O-ryo..."

In the end, no one else was more worried about Kasuga than O-ryo.

Because she knew about so much stuff on the northern lands and the snow folk, she had always been so worried about Kasuga going to live there...

That's why when she said that she was quitting work and getting married off to live there, O-ryo had a very strong stance against it.

"Wahhh, O-ryo sama!!!"

P282

With a pop, Kasuga returned to her human girl form, and hugged O-ryo's waist.

For sure, it helped that O-ryo expressed her thoughts, and once again it was reassuring.

It must have been so awkward for the revered O-ryo, but it seemed that Kasuga was someone she was deeply concerned about.

O-ryo hasn't said anything yet, but only kept patting Kasuga's head.

The crimson twilight has appeared, and it was a memorable sight, the two's silhouettes hugging each other.

That O-ryo has always been selfish and gets her way, but not right now, for she is supporting her kouhai and sending her off, and now she appears as the wonderful sempai attendant.

"Well, now hurry off to return the guests' bracelet. What a pity, they couldn't find it so for sure they're in the lobby all depressed."

"Oh, right!"

"And after you're done here, go to the banquet hall that I'm in charge of, up until the end I will make you word hard."

"Heeeeyy, even though right now, Kasuga is helping at Yugao?!"

"Hee hee hee. Too bad, Aoi. Give us Kasuga. From the very start she has always been my subordinate."

Even though Kasuga was bewildered, I gave up and put up a bitter-sweet smile at her saying "Well, we can't do anything about that", and even as she wore a burdened smile at me, she hurried back to the lobby quickly.

And without missing a beat, that woman O-ryo called out to all the onlooking attendants and said "Alright everybody, back to work!" and directed and

P283

guided everyone on what to do as they went back to the main hall. Even that Ookami-sama went back while she was shaking and trembling...

After seeing what happened, no matter what anyone says, I believe that O-ryo is still skilled at being a Wakaookami.

Every since the beginning, that has always been what Kasuga knows.

And even until now, she still believes it.

"Aoi-san, it seems that even for today, it's busy hasn't it?"

Ginji-san, who was still in his tiny fox form, at my heels, spoke out cheerfully.

I picked up Ginji-san and held him in my arms.

"Heheh, well, it is. But.. Ai-chan learned so many things from Kasuga, Yugao will just continue business as usual."

"Well, if my abilities weren't so limited, I would be going there to help out too. I know that I have no business saying this, but during the time that Kasuga was in Yugao, I felt a bit lonely."

"Aww, really now? But I think that if Ginji-san's workload decreased, you'd be very happy, won't you? But if you're there, you'd still be worried."

While petting his fluffy tails, we looked at each other and stifled a laugh. Well, nightfall is drawing near.

All around Tenjin-ya, the pumpkin lanterns' lights grew even brighter.

P284

And in a few moments, Yugao's evening business hours will be starting.

A few guests will appear here and there and would start lining up in front of Yugao, so we need to get back quickly.

x-x-x

That day's business hours was booming.

There were no unexpected increase in customers, it was an announced event and everything went successfully just as planned, all of the ingredients were properly allotted and there was no shortage. It was very busy, but Ai-chan and Chibi were there, and thankfully Ginji-san occasionally pops right in to help, and up until closing hours the rounds in the shop went well without a hitch.

The huge number of guests were also due to the advertisements in the souvenir shops, and it was something worth celebrating for.

"Whew, finally it has ended. Ai-chan and Chibi you're both tired too, let's go to sleep!"

After business hours, Yugao was empty and we were done cleaning up after the day.

With her head facing up, Ai-chan was out like a light and was fast asleep in the corner of the tatami seating room. I brought a blanket from the kitchen and covered her up with it. Even though she easily falls asleep these days, now she easily doesn't go back into the pendant, and I call that progress.

Beside her was Chibi sleeping soundly again with a swelling snot bubble.

Ginji-san has left Yugao afterwards, surely after the events it will still be busy,

P285

and it always has been the case.

There were still huge celebrations outside. A huge pumpkin lantern with ogre lights is flying on top of Tenjin-ya, it looks like there's still a show going on.

I'm sure that it looks very pretty. It's very much visible but, I can't see it from here so....

"Aoi, thank you for your hard work."

"Oh..."

The sliding door to Yugao opened, and it was Odanna-sama.

I did promise to do something, he probably came in to remind me.

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"Not really... Aren't you busy? I feel bad, I didn't know that you'll be coming here..."

"Oh, well an invitation from Aoi is very generous. At this time of the night it already has been empty and closed. Even my stomach is already empty."

"Aww.. Well, I apologize for that."

However, I was glad that he came.

Because I was on a quest to help Odanna-sama overcome his difficulty with pumpkins, and I did my best in researching pumpkin recipes for him.

P286

"Sit over at the counter. Oh.. Now that we're looking at it, it feels weird that Odanna-sama has come to Yugao to eat."

"You're saying that now that I've finally come here?"

"..."

"While I was going here, I didn't hear anybody saying any complaints about it."

Probably, but...

If Odanna-sama has been going here to Yugao from the very beginning, it would seem that, with his position, in the eyes of the other employees, he is showing some favoritism, I think.

During those times, even if that guy didn't say anything, even if I didn't know about it, we were just following protocol.

"Oh, uhm... I want Odanna-sama to try eating some deep-fried meat patty with pumpkin.

"Deep-fried meat patty with pumpkin? Hm... I haven't heard of that kind of food before."

Some food he never had before, and pumpkin, these made Odanna-sama in some way, very nervous.

While holding his pose he went over to the side counter, and I could only gaze at him from the side.

"It's image is similar to a croquette made out of pumpkin. I didn't sell any in the shop today, this is a dish I made exclusively for Odanna-sama behind the scenes. There's a lot of meat, and the meat patty has some spicy peppers."

P287

"Being an exclusive recipe.. That's so much like a wife, I'm so glad."

"What? Which part?"

"But a meat patty with spicy peppers... Uhm.... I don't know how that would taste like."

Odanna-sama's face says it all... Pumpkins that are supposedly sweet mixed with meat and chilli peppers.. I dunno how that goes.

"You wait right there. I'll make you something. Oh, also have some of the potage I made."

I heated up the potage I made, and placed it in a small bowl. I made Ginji-san some bread rolls to add to his, but for Odanna-sama I made some garlic croutons out of the bread crusts and added it on top.

Holding his spoon, while looking confused, Odanna-sama took a spoonful of the potage in his mouth.

"Mmm.. I didn't imagine that it's easy to drink. I imagined it would be thick, but it's goes down smoothly."

"I strained it many times. After adding a lot of soymilk, I added simple seasonings to it."

"What are these things that seem to be afloat?"

"Those are croutons. Is this your first time eating them? I added some garlic and salt to some cold bread crusts, cut them into tiny pieces, and toasted them on the stove. It adds a nice salty taste, and I think it keeps the soup's sweetness more interesting."

"Oh.. You're right. This is good. I could readily drink all of this!"

The garlic's flavor was effective, and the croutons were crunchy. The aroma and the texture, it seemed that Odanna-sama

P288

enjoyed the potage.

It seems that he has already drank all of the potage up, I should make him the deep-fried patty now.

While I was about to start cooking, Chibi, who was sleeping beside Ai-chan, woke up, and went towards Odanna-sama.

"Saaaay Ogre-shaaaan, how do you grow a huuuuge pumpkin?"

"Hmm?"

Chibi started climbing onto Odanna-sama's sleeve, and started asking him on how to grow pumpkins.

That little one, he got passionate for growing pumpkins.

Odanna-sama being an Odanna-sama, happily started talking about and teaching Chibi about how to plant pumpkins. It seemed that he suddenly bonded with Chibi as an older brother, like a commander of vegetable farmers and holding secrets...

Well, Odanna-sama can take care of Chibi on the side, and I will be making the deep-fried meat patty with pumpkin.

While the pumpkin gets soft and mushy as it's being boiled, I'll make some other dishes, and I already prepared the ingredients.

I finely chopped some onions and stir-fried them, and mixed these with both pork and beef in a bowl, and added the pumpkin and an egg yolk after that, then splashed some soymilk in, and kept mixing everything until it has gotten very sticky.

Then I made some sauces for flavoring, some salt and pepper, seven-spice and chili peppers, and a spoonful each of secret ingredients: mayonnaise and ketchup.

Now it's just like frying your usual fried food. The meat was shaped into a round patty, and dipped these in flour, beaten egg and panko crumbs,

P289

and fried them in oil.

The sauce is also conventional. Homemade ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, with roasted sesame seeds were mixed together.

The deep-fried meat patty is now well-done. I made Chibi's tiny meat patty while I was at it.

I piled a huge amount of shredded cabbage on a plate, and arranged two large pieces of fried patty.

I placed a lot of the sauces in another container, so that anyone can add whatever they like.

In another bowl, I added the pumpkin soup and croutons plentifully.

To make it really into the delicious flavors of autumn, I stir-fried some mustard spinach greens and some eggplant with some soy sauce. I added some eggplants harvested from Odanna-sama's vegetable patch.

Since the soup has already been drank up, I made the meal a lot more deluxe by adding some broth made out of matsutake mushrooms.

"Odanna-sama, now I'm thinking of choosing, between plain white rice or rice and barley, which one would you prefer?"

"Oh, really? It has been a while since I ate rice and barley."

"As expected, rice and barley are a better match with fried food."

I mixed the barley and rice then boiled it. Even though newly-harvested plain rice tastes better, as the barley is being cooked and mixed, its added texture makes it stand out and the rice even more fun to eat.

P290

While the rice and barley are cooking, more pumpkin dishes. I added some lightly-pickled pumpkin for garnishing.

"Thank you for waiting, Odanna-sama, here is our specially-made premium meal, deep-fried minced meat patty with pumpkin. I added a lot of pumpkin in the meat, please have a taste."

"...It looks delicious, what Aoi made..."

"You're saying that while you're sweating profusely..."

Even though a while ago he was drinking some soup.

I thought so, him having to deal with something difficult hasn't been brushed off.

"Aoi-shaaaan~, I wanna, I wanna eat some minced meat too~"

Chibi hopped onto the counter and started demanding by jumping up and down over and over again, I cut a piece of the minced meat small enough for a baby, placed it on a plate and put it in front of him.

"Okay you two, that is fresh off the fryer and very hot, the juices of the meat might ooze out, so be careful when you eat it."

At first, Odanna-sama took a sip of his matsutake soup, took a bit of the turnip garnish on the side, and well, with all his might gently took some of pumpkin minced meat.

"Ohhh!"

I knew it, the juicy meat was heart-pounding. As hot steam piped out, the pumpkin's pretty yellow color was intertwined with the coarsely-ground meat.

And despite that...

P291

"Mmmm... it tastes sweet, but also spicy? Is that.. seven-spice?"

While chewing, Odanna-sama had a surprised look on his face.

The crumbly pumpkin's sweetness, the meat and its juiciness filled with onions, and adding the seven-spice to make it spicy, it was made perfectly.

"The pumpkin tastes sweet, but the addition of the seven-spice gave it heat, it ties up all of the flavors. And because of the meat's juiciness, that alone makes the pumpkin's presence unnoticeable, doesn't it? No matter how you taste it, it just melts in your mouth."

"Oh... The meat's flavor rather than the pumpkin brings everything together. It's good, like after eating edamame. It's a perfect accent. It feels like eating pumpkin that I had difficulties with, I won't have any left-overs."

"Well, rather than forcing  someone who finds it difficult to eat pumpkin, by adding other ingredients and lending their flavors, I think it becomes easier to eat. As for removing your difficulty in eating it, if you keep eating a lot of the food made to taste better and easier to eat, as you keep eating them you'll get used to it, right?"

"Woah, Aoi, you're a scheming person."

Odanna-sama started stifling off his amused laugh.

And once more, asking for another plate of the rice and barley, he filled his mouth with some pumpkin minced meat. Odanna-sama eats his food neatly, but when he takes a huge bite, at the end of the day he still eats like a man.

P292

"Oh, it was like what you were saying, Aoi. By adding light sauce to the minced meat, it's an added improvement to the rice and barley."

"Right? Oh, just looking at it makes me go hungry too."

"Is it alright if you eat beside me? You haven't eaten dinner, right?"

"Yup, but for today I thought I want to devote myself to serving Odanna-sama food and drinks.."

I tried averting my gaze, but then my stomach made a loud noise.

He tried to hold it in, but Odanna-sama couldn't hide the laughter in his face.

Ahhh, whatever! Stop reading how hungry I am!

"It's alright. You don't have to steel yourself in front of me."

"Normally I keep my composure, but what are you implying, Odanna-sama?"

Fiiine. I don't care, I'm gonna eat.

In my desperation, I arranged all my deluxe food in a plate, and sat beside Odanna-sama.

"I'm gonna eat now."

And with gusto, I partook of my food.

Mmm. it truly shows that autumn is the best season of good appetite. Just about everything in this season is really delicious.

Especially when I work a lot, whenever I eat food on an empty stomach, everything just tastes so good.

"Aoi, don't worry about how you're eating."

"Mmm?"

P293

My mouth was full of minced meat, so I replied with my mouth closed.

I saw that Odanna-sama's meal was half-finished in front of him.

"That is no different from everyone else. Food is something absolutely necessary for anybody to stay alive. Even if occasionally you can't eat something high-class and delightful, you need it to stay alive each day, and when you're eating a familial warm home-cooked meal, it just gives you that sensation of being alive."

"What are you talking about, Odanna-sama. You're exaggerating."

"Hmm. The meals that you call food, even if it's that one thing where you feel like you belong. It can be beside anybody, but it makes you feel like you can be vulnerable in that place, doesn't it?"

"Where you belong..."

I have heard that from Odanna-sama so many times...

After eating his meal with a gulp and drinking his fill, Odanna-sama showed the side of his face.

Working out those features, no matter how it looks like he smiles like a young boy.

And yet, despite that, it seems like he has another side to him...

"Hmph. Ginji describes your cooking as something that "makes ayakashi hearts go wild", and it seems like it. It looks like your cooking is no match to those whose hearts are obstinately closed."

"Is there anything that you want to tell me?"

I unabashedly asked.

P294

"Can we talk about something right now, just for a bit? But, this is something that is beyond what I normally would talk about. This is a secret belief among most ayakashi. And I feel very strongly about it."

"..But Odanna-sama, I don't get what this situation is all about..."

"Might you become angry at me?"

"I don't understand why I would be angry at Odanna-sama but, yes I would like to know more about what you're about to say."

When I thought that I was getting to understand this person bit by bit, it has become clear that everything about him seems so hazy that I can't see anymore.

Even though it feels like he wants to intensely keep me in suspense, I was just holding the fried minced meat patty with my chopsticks, empathically chewing it in my cheeks very slowly.

Even though these are the times when it seems like it's the most crucial moment, "It's fine, just keep eating", Odanna-sama says as it seems that he is still relaxed over the matter.

"Aoi..."

"What now? If you want dessert, it's in the fridge..."

"It's not that."

After drinking his after-meal tea**, Odanna-sama, with formalilty, placed an object in front of me.

What is this... a key?

It was a beautiful obsidian glass key.

It looked like a key that came out of a fairy-tale from a foreign land. And in those stories, it's a secret key.

"I want Aoi to keep this safe, for me."

"Me? Why...?"

T/N: As far as I am aware of, this might be an Asian thing, wherein after having meals it is custom to drink something like tea or hot water (Hi Steven’s Dad lolol) to aid in digestion. Some say it helps stave off calories, I say this just helps with the bloat.

P295

"I still have some stuff left to do, and I need to go to Youto as well. It seems that I'm still going to Youto to go out and do things. Well, think that I'm like in a business trip, dealing with so many part-time jobs here and there, as well as managing the matter regarding Kasuga. While I'm gone, if there's anything that you are concerned about, I won't know about it."

My eyes blinked back in surprise. If that's the case, why the key, and why me?

"This... What is this key for?"**

"That I cannot tell you. But, the thing is, if you really want to GET-TO-KNOW-MORE about me, and you have no other choices, then you have to find the place which that key unlocks.

"Uhm...?"

I wanna know. I don't wanna know.

I could see them in his eyes, those extreme mixed feelings, it seemed like these were fighting inside Odanna-sama.

Having those feelings while wearing a bitter-sweet smile, he pushed his hair behind his ears.

In an instant, the color of his eyes changed.

It wasn't warm, but it wasn't a cold gaze either, it seemed so captivating like a clear, empty sky.

"Aoi, you always say that you wanted to get to know more about me. But if you do get to know who I really am, I wonder, will you grow to hate me even more? That.. is what I am worried about. That is because, ultimately, I am still an ogre."

"Odanna-sama?"

T/N: LOL how about the key to your heart lololol do I look like I care lol ofc I do fam. Don't we all lol

P296

A while ago, I asked those words. I was wondering what good things to say, and Odanna-sama went "I have to leave in a bit." as he stood up. Oh no, the dessert... I missed my chance to give some for him to eat.

"I have been pleased with the food, Aoi. Thanks to you, my impression on the pumpkin that I had difficulty eating has been changed. Aoi's home-cooked meals, somehow you have made me eat some. As expected from my housewife."

And from a new wife it suddenly became a housewife. "Ahahaha" While finally laughing, Odanna-sama petted my head while saying "There, there, there". In a moment, he saw my kanzashi, but he didn't say anything in particular, and in a bit he pulled away his hand. "Well then, Aoi" While my head was tousled, I sent off Odanna-sama as he left Yugao. In front of Yugao's shop curtain, the black haori fluttering from that height, dissolving into the darkness and disappearing... That height was really tall. In all of Tenjin-ya, the multitudes of Ayakashi couldn't reach that height.** And yet, why this time, his back seems secluded and a little solitary... W... Wait, Odanna-sama!" "..."

T/N: Supposedly, ogres or Oni were very tall, like super-tall, they're not exactly giants but they're tall-ish Youkai, like the tallest, hence in both the anime and the covers of the light novels, Odanna-sama is illustrated as the tallest dude in the bunch. Unless he's on covert ninja mode. Still tall though.

P297 Weirdly I felt impatient, and I ran out, and grabbed Odanna-sama's kimono. Odanna-sama turned his head. I abruptly raised my face, and I stared at him with assertion. "I... I like, Odanna-sama." ".. .what? Aoi?" "I trust, Odanna-sama"

Odanna-sama slowly opened his eyes and stared. Shocked, his mouth slacked open and was about to say something, but it seemed that he couldn't say anything. What "like" means, it's like "love" but I don't know it yet. My emotions kept getting intense.

"Odanna-sama, a while ago didn't you tell me? When everyone in Tenjin-ya was judging me... confidently, you said that I was a person who can give my all and win. When I made a small mistake, you didn't put me down..." How much can one be happy, hearing those words? How much relief can it give?

"It's also the same with Odanna-sama. Now I can trust Odanna-sama, and continuously, from the sidelines give support. In the most crucial moments I'll come to your side. I'll help you. No matter how many times..." Almost certainly, even my young self would. But, even though it's different, Odanna-sama has already saved me countless times. . P298 My trust in that person, is enough.

"That is why, whatever I'll find out, I will not hate Odanna-sama!"

That was all, I thought I have conveyed what I needed to say. Odanna-sama's red eyes, it only got wrapped in a surprised expression, and little by little it started flickering. With my question, his mouth opened again. But... Not one word came out.

Odanna-sama pulled my waist closer, and that mouth that spun words, blocked mine.

"..."

The passion was so deep and vast, the extent of feeling and not feeling, everywhere felt so light, it was so unexpected, and in an instant my mind went blank.

When our lips pulled away, the feeling of a warm and moist breath, other than understanding what just happened, the corners of my eyes became hot. I couldn't blink because of that.

"Na.... O, Oda... what?" My pulse suddenly became fast. Normally I would've been angry, but I was

P299 more surprised than angry, and my words became incoherent.

In spite of not feeling anything easily, I couldn't say anything. I burned and blushed, I was embarrassed to have my red-as-an-apple face seen. I instantly covered my face with my palms. Me being like that, Odanna-sama hugged me tightly, and whispered in my ear.

"..." "Aoi. Undoubtedly, you'll become my wife."

"..." "From the bottom of my heart, I revere you."

I don't get it. Why those words? In that moment, those came out of Odanna-sama's mouth.

It's easier to say "I like you", but right now, after so long a time, it deeply pierced and cut through me. Although, it did touch my heart a little bit.

Beyond Odanna-sama's wide shoulders, I realized that I could see him amidst the darkness.

And with that, the lightly-floating moon hid itself in the navy blue sky, and somehow it got dimmer.

End of Chapter 9, Volume 6. Previous - Intermission 3 Next - Chapter 10.

References:

Wonderful site for the youkai references

Other stuff I used to do this: Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary (you can buy here, I’m not sponsored btw). I was about to buy the older edition but then the newer one came out 2013 so I bought that instead. Worth buying since I was able to find nearly all of the words I needed just by stroke pattern alone.

Merriam-Webster's Japanese-English Dictionary (the red-covered 1996 version is apparently out of print right now). This is what I have been using for a very long time, I bought it when I was still a fetus (yes I am old so what lol), and after so many years, when compared to newer editions, I still prefer this one since its entirety is Japanese-English, the English to Japanese gloss are just 16 pages tops, so you get more Japanese words for your buck. But that’s just my opinion, maybe other people prefer the Jap-En x En-Jap IDEK.

Basic online dictionary, Jisho. Knowledge of verb conjugations  and other words are necessary since not all have entries.

If you can read Japanese, you can buy the whole set in Amazon Japan, they’re shipping worldwide now, I think.

[krissiefox]

Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog - Super Robotnik (Screenshots and Review)

In today's episode, we get to see what happens when Robotnik gets mutant superpowers, as you might guess from the title!

The episode starts with Coconuts cleaning up in Robotnik's lab, when he knocks over an entire shelf of chemicals into a tub! As Robotnik enters the room, he slips and falls right into the tub of mixed chemicals. Luckily for Robotnik, instead of getting dangerously ill, he ends up getting big muscles, and superpowers! As an added bonus, his clothing transforms into a snazzy little supervillain outfit "Sailor Moon style". To show his appreciation, Robotnik promotes Coconuts, and then demotes Scratch and Grounder, just to be petty. Those poor badniks can't catch a break! Robotnik tasks Coconuts with creating more of the new chemical mixture before heading out to do dastardly things.

Robotnik quickly heads off to attack Sonic, whom is relaxing at a nice little town park with Tails, enjoying some chili dogs that some unnamed fellow has made for them. Robotnik shows off his new strength by knocking the entire town airborne, and then using his new ice breath to freeze Sonic and Tails before flinging them all the way to the Frozen Wastelands of Mobius!

All the world leaders are old white guys? That’s a big “yikes”, as the kids would say... Returning to his fortress, Robotnik stands up on a balcony window while Coconuts fails on his first chemical batch, accidentally making a slime monster that chases him and the other badniks around. Thanks to his newly enhanced hearing, Robotnik is able to hear the Mobius' world leaders gathering together to discuss what to do about him. Apparently Mobius' world leaders consists of….4 old white guys? Who may also be ghosts? I'd kinda expect...or hope.. for some more diversity than that! Whether they're ghosts or not, Robotnik soon arrives at their location and easily captures them all, carting them off to his dungeon.

This art style is just too cute!

As this has all been going on, Sonic and Tails have finally managed to get  out of all the snow and ice they'd gotten buried under, only to run into Robotnik again. The doctor challenges Sonic to a competition of athletic feats, saying if he wins, that's the only way the world leaders will be set free (which is probably a lie, knowing Robotnik). After Robotnik departs, Sonic and Tails go to find Professor Von Schlemmer and get his help with training Sonic. It was around this time I noticed that the art and animation in this episode had a bit of a different feel to it, making me wonder if they'd had a special animator guest this time , and I was more or less right upon looking it up- this was one of the few episodes of the show that was outsourced to a Japanese animation studio called "TMS Entertainment". Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, the story!

The Professor eventually appears after having difficulty "finding himself". Oddly, he seems to have two lazy eyes in this episode where he doesn't in others, and this never gets addressed. He also seems really disorientated and tired, which makes me wonder if he got beat up by Robotnik or something? I hope he'll be okay!

Poor Robotnik ends up sitting on a thumbtack, which is how Tails finds out about his one weakness. He’s very self-conscious about his bottom, referring to it as his “unmentionable” area.

As Sonic begins to train with the Professors exercise machine,he also sends Tails off to spy on Robotnik. Thankfully, after a bit of sneaky peeping, Tails finds out that Robotnik's bottom is his one weak point, because it's the only part of him that didn't get submerged in the chemicals. Amusingly, we also find out that Robotnik is squeamish about his own butt, as he refers to it as his "unmentionable area".

With this information, The Professor cooks up a special powder that is supposed to dissipate Robotnik's powers, and puts it into a seat cushion that Sonic gives to Robotnik while in disguise.

Since Coconuts couldn’t figure out how to recreate the chemical formula, he gives Robotnik a “rump protector”, much to the Doc’s embarrassment. Scratch and Grounder are eager to polish that fine booty.

Seems we have a cameo appearance by Willie Nelson in this episode! And that little guy on the far right looks like a tiny version of Japanese Eggman... Later on, the coliseum event begins. It seems the coliseum is no longer abandoned - there's a great big crowd, and an announcer there! Sonic and The Doc begin competing in various challenges, and.... hey, is that Willie Nelson in the crowd booing Robotnik? Nice! (There's also a little guy on the far right who has kind of a Japanese Robotnik look to him, too!)

In the final challenge, they have to fight on a plank over  a pit of brown, uh "yuk" as the announcer calls it. Is it poop? mud? expired chocolate pudding?! We'll probably never know! But whatever it is, Sonic successfully knocks Robotnik into it, just as his powers wear off. Sonic is able to snatch the dungeon key from Robotnik and free the world leaders. At the very last scene, an angel that Robotnik threw Sonic into earlier zaps him with lightning. Yep, apparently gods exist in the Sonic universe! Hopefully Sonic and Tails won't have to deal with any of Yahweh's temper tantrums…

In the Sonic Says sequence, Sonic tries to teach Coconuts about chemical safety. This is definitely a good lesson as it's something that gets brought up sometimes in my own workplace in regards to safely dealing with chemical spills. I suspect they might have also added this PSA out of concern that someone's dumb shitty kid might watch this episode and actually believe they'll get super powers form dousing themself in a bunch of random chemicals. That's no good!



This episode was really neat! It was fun seeing Robotnik flex his badass superpowers, and the use of a different animation team also gives this episode a unique feel at times. There's plenty of action and humor to enjoy too, especially when seeing Robotnik rather pitifully fretting over his own tushy. Definitely a recommended view!

[webmeridian]

Migrate to Shopware 6 So Fast and Easy

The article was initially published in WebMeridian blog.

Various arguments exist for updating a shop system, including strategic choices to support expansion, enhance usability, and satisfy new customer expectations. Many of our clients have successfully migrated from Magento to Shopware and implemented their plans.

We can assist you whether you want to migrate from Magento or another platform, update your present Shopware shop to Shopware 6, or both! Our eCommerce specialist will expedite and streamline the Shopware migration procedure so that you can start using the new platform immediately.

Popular Platforms From Which Retailers Choose Migration to Shopware 6#1. Migration from Magento to Shopware

Magento and Shopware are both open-source platforms. However, while contrasting Shopware and Magento, you can perceive their differences.

An intuitive admin panel

Due to the Magento admin panel’s complexity for non-tech users, Magento 2 differs significantly from Shopware. Shopware provides a more user-friendly admin panel and thorough documentation so you can manage your website on your own.

Running expenses

The costs of the premium editions of the two platforms are another distinction between Shopware and Magento 2. Shopware’s standard paid edition has a one-time fee of €1,295; Magento Commerce’s yearly licence is $22,000.

#2. Migration from WooCommerce to Shopware

WooCommerce is a free plugin that enables eCommerce capabilities for WordPress websites. Shopware, however, includes more integrated tools for internet marketing. Let’s contrast Woocommerce and Shopware.

Tools for free email marketing

As you may already be aware, email marketing tools are essential for establishing online customer interactions. Shopware users already have customisable HTML and text emails, but WooCommerce users must purchase email marketing extensions.

Support

Consider that Shopware offers consumers email or phone help when comparing Woocommerce to Shopware. Therefore, in the case of a failure, you will receive technical assistance, or the platform will put you in touch with a partner development team.

Improved checkout

Five screens make up the WooCommerce checkout procedure, which doubles the number of abandoned shopping carts. It would help if you bought more add-ons to improve the checkout process. If you use Shopware, you can automatically access integrated one-page and guest checkout.

#3. Migration from Shopify to Shopware

Shopware and Shopify are somewhat equivalent. But when contrasting Shopware to Shopify, we have found advantages for Shopware, including the integrated data security plugin, forgoing the shopping cart replacement tool, and more that are listed below.

Security

It would be best if you bought extra plugins to provide the Shopify website with great security authorisation. Shopware also offers top-notch security right out of the box.

General Benefits of Migrating to Shopware 6

In less than 2 years from its release in the eСommerce industry in 2020, Shopware 6 has completely surpassed Shopware 5, with benefits like:

Logical interface

The new, enhanced admin panel offers even easier navigation, ensuring a quicker search for the required administrative tools. Everything has gotten more streamlined and minimalistic while maintaining its intuitiveness.

Increased productivity

Thanks to a newly built graphical interface, it is much simpler to add high-quality material to the website. Even people with zero computer knowledge may manage the content allocation and structuring.

More prospects for SEO

With the aid of the new Shopping Experience feature, new SEO tools make it simple and quick to change and react to pertinent user search demands. It aids in the dynamic analysis of changing standards and criteria for search engines.

More channels for sales

Several additional promotional aspects considerably increase brand recognition. The website may be integrated with social networks as well as collaborative trade platforms, and you can utilise these as data sources for advertising strategy.

Adaptive laws and regulations

An effective tool for establishing the flexibility to personalise the rules and policies of your online business is the Rule Builder. This gives you the flexibility to adhere to the regulations set out by various target business groups.

What Can You Migrate From Your Magento Store To Shopware?

It’s not required to transfer all of the data from Magento to Shopware throughout the migration phase. You may now move the following data:

Features of your store

Categories

Reviews

Manufacturer

Customers Data

Addresses

Contact numbers of Customers

Orders

Products data, including their numbers and master data

One-dimensional variants

Multi-dimensional variants

Properties

Blog images

Stock

You must perform manual work during the migration to integrate tax rates, order status, and payment methods. Finding the successors to utilise with Shopware will need pre-mapping. Since they are no longer present in the database, the nation, currency, and language cannot be moved.

How to Switch to Shopware 6? Shopware Migration Phases

The entire migration procedure is divided into three key stages. Each stage must be followed precisely. There are three phases:

Preparation Phase

Migration Phase

Final Stage

Our Shopware Migration Process

We are responsible for every step of the Shopware 6 migration process:

Project discovery

At the start of a project, we gather and analyse requirements, choose a practical cooperation model, and iron out any remaining process details.

Planning migration

To ensure the smoothest, highest-quality migration possible, careful preparation, during which we pick the primary migration strategy and detail the elements of the process, is essential.

Theme migration

In order to meet contemporary standards and provide the necessary performance for more data storage and processing, your old data system’s general program theme may need to be updated first.

Installing extensions

To increase the adaptability and performance of the new platform, all the essential and additional plugins, third-party extensions, add-ons, and other supplementary components have been included.

SEO Migration

Our SEO experts will keep all the valuable SEO data intact, analyse your current SEO setup and give recommendations for its improvement.

Developing Custom Functionality

Hardcoding and incorporating several unique features enables the modernised system to be tailored to particular business requirements and authenticate the new data environment.

Data Migration Process

We carefully migrate all data with prior backups and appropriate data security measures to assist in avoiding data loss or damage, which is the step that requires the most incredible experience and works.

QA & Testing

To smooth out the rough edges and provide the best outcome, the modernised system must go through a number of mixed manual and automated testing rounds and in-depth Quality Assurance.

Website Launch

The updated website is then successfully launched, with continued post-launch assistance and maintenance provided to address any unforeseen events that may arise in the field.

More Tips For Smooth Shopware Migration Process

#1. Before Migrating, Clear the Target Store’s Data

Delete the existing information you’ve chosen for your Target Store, including the items, clients, orders, pictures, etc.

#2. Maintain Order IDs on Target Store.

After a Shopware migration, this option permits keeping Order IDs on a Target Store.

#3. Establish 301 Redirects to the Target website

Give you the option to reroute your old product and category URLs from the source store to the target store.

#4. Migrate Customer Password

Permit your clients to quickly log in to your Target Store following the migration without changing their passwords or making new accounts.

#5. Produce Product Variations Based on Various Option Combinations

Based on the possible combinations of settings, this option enables the creation of product variations. Products will be customisable after Shopware migration.

#6. Transfer SEO URLs

You may transfer the URLs for Products and Categories using this option. To retain the current SEO ranking you have accumulated over the years, and old URLs will be kept and maintained in the Target Store.

#7. Keep Customer IDs on the Target website

After the migration, assist in keeping your Customer IDs on your Source Store in the Target Store.

#8. Remove HTML from Product and Category Names

To ensure that category names and product names and descriptions will show correctly in the Target Store, remove any HTML tags from them.

#9. Migrate Images from Products, Categories, and Blog Description

You may use this option to transfer photos from your Source Store to the Target Store for use in blog posts, category descriptions, and product descriptions.

#10. Modify the Number of Products at Target

Using this option, you may reduce the number of items currently out of stock to 100 and make them available immediately.

#11. Move Additional Images

This enables you to send more than simply the thumbnail image for your product.

#12. Keep the URLs for Product Images.

After the transfer, this option permits maintaining the Product Image URLs on a Target Store.

#13. Migrate Short and Full Descriptions

The choice merges the Description field’s Short and Full descriptions together.

#14. Migrate Product SKUs

The option transfers Product SKUs to the target store.

#15. Recent Data Migration

In order to assist you in transferring all the data that has freshly appeared in your Source Store both during and after the migration, this option is offered.

#16. Re-migration

Re-Migration is a feature that enables you to repeat the data transfer process from your Source Store to your Target Store.

#17. Smart Update

Permit updating previously altered data while migrating newly added items to your Source Store during or after the transfer.

Final Words

A merchant is aware of word migration in the eСommerce industry nowadays. The project will need to work harder to succeed since migration signifies a fresh start.

In the core and front-end, we put a lot of emphasis on new technologies; we provide high performance and flexibility for diverse eCommerce scenarios and effectively and quickly integrate the crucial data on your new shop.

Shopware 6 is created to address both current and foreseeable needs. Therefore, switching to Shopware 6 will undoubtedly be a wise move. With several modifications to the shopfront and a new template, we can customise every aspect of your online business.

[myristicisms]

@heavenmcde | Hinatsuru sent;;

five times flirted - ( especially in front of her husband )

i. He'd been newly appointed as the current flame pillar, something he normally would have been beyond excited for had he not been forced into a celebration among the rest of the pillars by the sound hashira himself. There was hardly a moment to decline the demand of celebrating a flamboyant promotion for an equally flamboyant man, as the former shinobi had put it. That in of itself was troublesome yet he couldn't display his lack of amusement with what was being forced upon him. Kyojuro wanted to go home, he'd had Senjuro to care for and given how fast news spread, he was certain Shinjuro was about to go off on another drunken tangent about how useless his sons were. All night had been constant touching, hands patting at his back or swatting at his shoulders, even the occasional tap to his pecs with a less than polite remark about how soft they were; Was this what parties were like among the hashira? He can't exactly say he was inclined to join the next but he'd felt his age at least, even still though he couldn't help but grow flustered at the remarks carelessly tossed towards him. He'd had two of Uzui's wives clinging onto him, the third more calm of the trio sitting in front of him with a peaceful smile upon her face while he managed to speak with her, the occasional squeal of a drunken Suma making his ears ring while Makio yelled at the aforementioned woman to quit stressing their guest. Kyojuro was certainly stressed, something about being told in less than professional words that a man with three wives had taken an interest in him was more than enough reason to leave his nerves twitching in a way that was far from pleasant. “ Lady Hinatsuru, with... With all due respect, I don't believe myself to be worthy of being in the presence of your husband nor you three in such a way; You're all... Well, quite gorgeous to put things simply. I am aware of the request made upon me but perhaps I can have a moment where I can think without a head ramming into my chest? ” Her laughter filled the air, easily pushing him more towards one way on the fence compared to remaining centered in his decision. Would he even be able to compare to the three beautiful women that surrounded him? Clearly so, his drunken mind reasons, though in the morning he's sure that the memories of soft and pale fingers against his tanned forearms would push him into a panic when he awoke sober the next morning.

ii. Finally he'd settled into his new odd arrangement, visiting the sound pillar's estate twice a week for dinner and twice a month for staying the night to grow used to future interactions with his new partners had become a part of his life that left a new form of enjoyment to be experienced. Drunken mishaps had come to a minimum and often times, the flame pillar found himself waking up far more rejuvenated whenever he'd awoken to three bodies surrounding him and the arms of the fourth wrapped around the pile of limbs, it was warm and soothing, something that often left him feeling more cherished than he ever had in his life. Typically he was the first to awaken, the first to struggle to get out of the mess of warmth to do his usual morning routines and yet this morning was different. He'd awoken to being wrapped only in blankets, the ghost of warmth from his lovers having slowly faded the moment his feet hit the floor and pushed into standing properly. The usual hustle and bustle of the Uzui estate was shockingly quiet, nothing save for the sounds of something frying in the next room over and the familiar humming of one of the wives, Hina's humming in specific. “ Good morning, sunshine... Where's everyone else? ” His voice was rough, temporary sleep damage wearing through his tired eyes and from the laughter he got from the woman, he could only imagine how much of a mess his hair had turned into. A smile quirks at the edges of his lips, footsteps slowly quickening as he approaches one of his partners and hums, even in the mornings she was as radiant as the sun, as warm as the flames that often lapped at his lungs. Though in a way, all of his partners were beautiful in their own regards, Suma often reminded him of the moon's beauty, Makio was like the aurora borealis in how radiantly colorful she'd made his life and Tengen was as beautiful and magnificent as the very stars in the night sky. Hinatsuru never did answer his question, instead having decided to focus on ensuring she doesn't mistakenly set the estate on fire while he continues droning on and on about the most mundane of things, it had become a sort of morning routine by now, albeit with less input from the other three in the relationship. Tanned arms had managed to find their way around the older woman's waist, a fluffy mess of flaming hair likely tickling whatever flesh it managed to touch. “ You always manage to leave me in awe, everyone here is so beautiful even in the mornings and here I am looking like I just got back from swimming in the gutters... ” Soft laughter thrums through his body before quickly giving way to a surprised grunt the moment he'd realized the duo weren't, as a matter of fact, alone. Oh well, he thinks to himself, this was nice.

iii. He doesn't know how long he'd been unconscious for, though if the constant wailing sounds of Suma said anything, it had to have been for a worrying amount of time, he catches the brief beginnings of a scolding from Makio that quickly shifted into panicked shouts, likely from the way his fingers twitched against whoever's palm was clinging onto his hand. He felt as he assumed he looked; Like complete shit. He opens his eyes, or at least tries to only to find one eye refused to listen to what he'd wanted, then it clicks. He'd survived that fight, somehow he'd managed to live through what he wholely accepted to be his last battle and, even with the slight numbness in his body that quickly gave way to the red hot burn of his nerves screaming to his brain that something is wrong; ‘ Yeah something is wrong, I shouldn't be alive. ’ He bitterly thinks to himself, the moment his vision clears is one he nearly chokes on, guilt quickly clawing in a more painful means than he'd ever thought possible. All four of his partners were around his bed, all four looked as if they hadn't slept in God knows how long. The first to notice that he'd fully awoken was unsurprisingly Hinatsuru, the moment molten golds met those familiar violet eyes he'd fallen in love with, a smile grows upon his face; Then yellows, blues, and even magentas manage to catch his shifting gaze and suddenly Kyojuro nearly forgets the pain in his body. “ I can't believe how long it took you all to notice I opened my eye... I'd say I'm wounded but that's obvious enough no? ” Soft laughter that quickly turned into a low groan, he'd enjoyed being fussed over at first but he was independent in nature; Hearing his lovers bicker about who was going to feed him was driving him up the metaphorical wall before he simply snaps. “Rotations, Hina will be the first since she's not shaking me then it'll go to Tengen, Suma, and then Makio. Problem solved my wonderful loves now please let me sleep again, my chest aches and I'm not sure if it's from the fist that rammed through it or stress from watching you all argue with each other. ” He feels guilty for scolding the four (really only three actually) before struggling to roll over with a hiss, briefly tossing a wink (blink?) towards the calmer of the spouses before finally falling back into a dreamless slumber.

iv. How long had it been since he'd joined the Uzui estate? Certainly a few months at the very least given he'd been dragged to his new home the moment Kochou had given him the okay for discharge. A temporary retirement had been forced upon him as well, something that left Kyojuro feeling beyond flustered and agitated; His whole purpose was to be a slayer, being forced into an early even if temporary retirement was irksome and left him feeling useless. What definitely didn't help was how his lovers no longer treated him the same, they all held him as though he were some delicate thing that would shatter if squeezed even a little bit and that's what irked him even more; He's the flame hashira! Not some sickly child desperate to be coddled and held by anyone that would give him attention, well maybe he enjoyed the attention but he hated how fragile his partners had begun to see him as. The closest to treat him as he once was were Tengen himself and Hinatsuru and that was only because he'd broken down to the two of them, sobbed about how he hated being reminded that he couldn't fight anymore, that he'd never be the same and how he'd felt hideous the more they stared at the hollow that once held his left eye. He remembers telling Hinatsuru how beautiful she was, telling Tengen how handsome he was and how Kyojuro felt beyond lucky to have lovers so divine as the Uzuis including Suma and Makio but how he wished they'd just treat him the way the did before that damn demon nearly killed him. He already was quickly losing hope for himself, quickly understood Shinjuro's plight and the aggression that had manifested in his helplessness when his mother had lost her life; Then it hit him. His lovers never saw him as weak or pathetic, they were terrified of losing him just as his father had lost his mother so long ago, their delicate touches were caused by a desire to ensure he was still breathing and living without further wounding or agitating his still freshly healing injuries. That night was a night full of compliments, proclamations of his devotion to each of his four flamboyant lovers and exclamations of love.

v. Another night of drinking gone awry, not that it was much of a surprise wherever Tengen had been concerned but the pounding in Kyojuro's skull was enough to deter him from going out celebrating with the self proclaimed God of Festivities. He was a God alright but not just of Festivities, Kyojuro finds himself nearly bitterly thinking before a cringe knocks the small smile off of his face. He'd still been getting used to seeing his husband with similar head dressing to his own, after the entertainment district had left the duo now matching in missing organs to an extent, Kyojuro had quickly found that sense of fear and hopelessness; Tengen was much more likely to survive though, he reminded himself, a missing hand is far luckier than severe spinal damage and internal bleeding though the man nearly had the same category of an injury nonetheless. He can't help but be grateful that the attention and worry had been turned onto their husband instead of himself, something about being able to fuss over his spouses again left a sense of content in his ever ablaze heart that left him in one of his moods where he just had to dote upon his husband and wives. And so he did, as shamelessly as the retired flame hashira often went about things, singing words of praise for each spouse of his loudly with a bright grin upon his face, ending each session with lovingly peppering kisses upon each lover's face, he'd finally found his home and he had no intentions of leaving, not again and not nearly as violently as he almost had months prior.

[djarinbarnes]

Don’t tell Steve

Author: only Dina.

Word Count: 3039

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x female reader

Warnings: oral sex (both female and male receiving), smut, fluff

A/N: heart eyes, mother f**ker

You'd spent most of the day at the beach. You'd soaked up the sun, felt the water against your skin on the private beach belonging to the beautiful beach house you'd rented for the weekend. The beach house you'd rented with the boys was a part of your annual summer getaway, it was luxurious, more luxurious than the year before. You'd shown up earlier than your two best friends, wanting to get comfortable and know all the good spots before they arrived. The grand beach house had everything you all needed and more, you didn't even know why you all had agreed on such a big place to begin with.

The large beach house towered in front of you as you stepped out of you convertible, pushing the sunglasses into your hair, shutting the car door behind you. You gazed upon the beautiful white house, three stories blocking the sun from your view. You smiled as you grabbed your bag from the backseat, not bothering to close the roof, considering it was 100 degrees, in the middle of the summer. You went through the whole place, throwing your bag on the bed in the room with the view over the private beach, and you sighed, picking up your phone.

                                                       d-bags ♡

you (2:16 pm)

when are you guys arriving? 🥺☹️

you (2:17pm)

I know I'm a little early, but rather that than being late!😁

steev (2:20pm)

I'm caught up with something that needs to be taken care of before I can go.🙄 I'm sorry.☹️ I'll see if I can make it by tomorrow. 😩

steev (2:21pm)

☹️🧨💣🚽💩💩

buck (2:22pm)

typical you steve!👅

 you (2:24pm)

i miss you guys. it's been forever. 💗

buck (2:28pm)

getting in the car now. be there in an hour. 🏎💨

you (2:30pm)

it's boring here without you 😞

buck (2:30pm)

see you soon 😉

You sighed as you tossed your phone on the bed. You grabbed you bikini out of your bag, stripping down to your Eve costume. You slipped on the bright red set you'd bought for the occasion, seeing as you'd being wearing the same bikini for the past three years. You tip-toed out of the house, walking across the warm tiles beside the swimming pool until you pushed your toes into the sand with a sigh. You'd been looking forward to this vacation for the last month, seeing your two best friends again after months of being apart. They'd both been caught up with work, and with Bucky's newly acquired promotion, the three of you were more than ready to celebrate in each other's company.

The fresh breeze that entered your nostrils as you walked closer to the waves tumbling softly onto the shore reminded you of when you were younger. The three of you would always go to the beach when you needed each other; a simple text from either of you gathered all three of you as quickly as possible. Your two best friends had helped you over many steep mountains, the path rocky and tricky, but somehow you'd always climbed it and succeeded. Likewise for the boys. You were always there for each other.

Your feet were slowly engulfed by a wave, you bit your lip at the coldness of the ocean as you stepped further out into the blue oblivion. There was no one in sight, and the only sound around you was the soft sound of waves crashing and breaking against each other. After a few, long minutes, you decided on walking back to the beach house, but stopped just before the tiles started, throwing yourself on one of the lounging chairs seated snugly in the sand. You dozed off slightly, awakening sometime later by a car horn honking somewhere on the other side of the beach house. You quickly rose to your feet, smiling at the thought of company.

You hurried into the house, looking around for any sign of the car-horn-honking guest. The clock read 3:41pm, so it had to be Bucky. Suddenly, a pair of warm muscular arms snuck around your waist, and you yelped, a soft laugh emitting from the person behind you.

"Hey Y/N" the soft voice belonging to Bucky flowed into your ears. You squealed and turned around, hugging the man before you tightly. "I guess you really did miss me, huh?" you nodded into his chest, smiling widely. "Hey, look... I wanted to say that I'm sorry about what happened. I wish I could've been there. A break up is never fun." He said before you pulled out of his grasp.

"It's okay. I managed. You were busy with your new promotion and all." You smiled and walked into the kitchen, finding the bar after opening a few cabinets. You pulled out a bottle of vodka, found the orange juice in the fridge, grabbing two glasses from one of the upper cabinets. You mixed the two beverages stronger than intended, and Bucky watched you with wide eyes and a smirk. "To congratulate you on your new promotion" You said as you handed him one of the glasses. "Cheers!" He smiled and you clinked glasses, both of you taking a big gulp, maintaining eye contact. You winced as the liquid ran down your throat, and Bucky laughed at your reaction. "Put on your fucking trunks. We're lounging by the pool!" You said as you turned around, walking out onto the patio, drink in hand. You sat on the edge of the pool, slipping your legs into the lukewarm water, heated by the sun.

He joined you a few minutes later, white trunks low on his hips, his muscular chest more prominently trained than last year. You literally fucked him with your eyes behind the dark glass of your sunglasses, praying he wouldn't notice. He sat down at the other side of the corner, his sunglasses resting comfortably on the bridge of his nose, as he sipped his drink slowly. "Anything you wanna do today? Should we go somewhere?" He asked as he sat his drink down on the edge of the pool.

"Sure, sounds lovely. Theres this really beautiful place just a few yards down to the left here." you pointed to the beach and he smiled. "I checked it out earlier. It's just the beach at the bottom of that cliff over there." You turned your body slightly, pointing at the tall formation of rock growing tall a few miles away. "It's amazing and secluded. I haven't seen anyone here yet." You said as you sipped more of your drink, slowly getting used to a prominent taste of vodka that lingered.

He smiled as he stood up, grabbing your hand and pulling you into his chest. You giggled as you sprinted towards the beach, Bucky hot on your tail as he followed you. The soft sand slowly turned to sand mixed with stone the further you got from the beach house, and you slowed down, not wanting to hurt yourself. Bucky smiled as he caught up to you, capturing you with his arms from behind. "Gotcha" he whispered in your ear, sending goosebumps down your spine. You'd always been comfortable around Bucky, you'd always been close, not bothering to be careful when touching each other. It'd always been friendly between the two of you, but many thought you were dating because you were so comfortable around each other.

You leaned your head back into his shoulder, relaxing into his arms, sighing deeply. His arms traced up your arms, his fingers leaving a trail of goosebumps on your skin. You sucked in a breath as his lips gently ghosted over your shoulder, slowly peppering soft kisses, testing the waters. You granted him more space, leaning your head to the side, inviting him closer. His light peppering turned into sloppy kisses up your throat, along your jawline as he slid his hands up your body to turn your head, looking you in the eyes before kissing your lips gently.

You'd be lying to yourself if you told yourself you hadn't thought of this many times over the years, but the time was just never right. Sure you'd kissed before in a drunken haze to get a creep off your tail at some shady bar downtown years ago, but this was happening when you were both (slightly) sober. You turned to face him, his hands running down your body to rest on your ass carefully, still being thoughtful not to cross any of your boundaries. Your lips found his as your hands slid up his body to grasp at the nape of his neck, urging him to keep on going.

He slowly undid the knot that held the bikini securely around your torso, pulling away from you to lift the garment over your head. You smiled as he watched his hand travel up the side of your body, softly caressing the sensitive skin on the underside of your breast. "You're so beautiful. I've wanted this for so many years... You're just so out of my league" he sighed as his hand grasped your breast firmly, biting his lip as you moaned lightly.

"You're not the only one..." You smiled as you backed him up against a huge rock, pushing him down to sit on it. You decided than now was finally the time to fulfill your dream about sucking his cock, the cock you'd longed for, for as long as you can remember. You'd seen him naked many times, once completely erect when you'd walked in on him getting himself off a few years back. He'd taken it with a smile, and there'd been nothing weird between you afterwards. Your hands found the waistband of his trunks, pulling them toward you slightly to help his stiff member loose from the tight restraints. He lifted his hips off the rock as you pulled the trunks down, biting your lip seductively at him, then grabbing his cock in your hand, giving it a few strokes. He bit his lip as he pushed the trunks off his legs, grabbing your neck, pulling you in for a heated kiss. His tongue slid against yours and you moaned, his cock twitched in your hand and he bit onto your lower lip, dragging it slightly. You pulled your lip from his teeth and left open-mouthed kisses down his body.

You fell to your knees and your lips wrapped around the head of his cock, his hands pushed through your hair and held it back as you sucked the thickness of his girth into your mouth. You watched as his eyes fell closed, a deep groan falling past his lips, encouraging you to bop your head at as faster pace. You grabbed what you couldn't fit in your mouth, letting your spit run in between your fingers and down the side of his cock, making it easier for your hand to slip up and down. "Fuck that feels so good," he groaned as his hands fisted your hair tightly, making you moan around him. The muscles in his legs tensed as you kept his cock engulfed in your mouth, taking him deeper, wanting to make him cum. The head of his cock hit the back of your throat and you fought back the tears welling up in your eyes as he let out a strangled moan, releasing his warm cum down your throat. You swallowed everything he had to give, pulling off him with a slight pop, biting your lip sweetly at him.

"Fucking hell Y/N, if I knew you'd treat me that well, I'd chosen to seduce you earlier." He smirked as he pulled the trunks up his legs, tucking himself back in, helping you put on your bikini top. "Let's head back to the beach house and I'll.. treat you real nice as well." He offered as his hands grasped your ass tightly, pulling you into his body, his lips finding yours in a desperate kiss. He groaned into your mouth as he tasted himself on your tongue, your hands running through his hair. You nodded as you stepped back, grabbing his hand, pulling him back towards the beach house.

When you returned, he threw you on one of the lounge sofas, pushing the trunks off himself yet again before stripping you of your bikini as you giggled underneath the soft kisses of his lips. His mouth traveled down your body, kissing the inside of your thighs, goosebumps sneaking their way across your skin. His mouth finally found your clit and you let out a long moan, your arousal finally getting the attention it was so desperately longing for. Bucky's tongue worked wonders against your bundle of nerves, he was exploring every part of your vulva like no one ever had done before. He ate you out for what felt like an eternity, since he would tease you by bringing you close to the edge and then completely stopping before picking back up when you'd come down slightly, completely ignoring your whimpers and complaints.

"Fuck me, Bucky, please, I need you so badly." You moaned as your hands gripped his hair tightly, trying to pull him up your body. He finally gave in to your begs, kissing his way up your stomach, latching his mouth onto your right nipple. You moaned at the sensation, biting your lip harshly and letting out a gasp as the head of his cock pushed into you. He went slow, letting you adjust to his size. He was long and thick, your heat engulfing him snugly and he let out a moan. His lips found yours as he held himself over you, working his cock into you further and further with each thrust, feeling your arousal wetting his cock to grant him easier access to your pleasure.

Your lips moved against each other hotly, your moans mixing as they left your mouths, his thrusts increasing in force and speed, your hands sliding up his sides to grasp the hairs at the back of his neck tightly. Your tongues slid against one another and Bucky pulled back slightly, looking down to where your bodies met so perfectly. He bit his lip as he watched his cock sliding in and out of your tight core and you moaned at the sigh of him. You lifted your legs higher against your chest, the new found angle making his cock hit deeper inside you, your moans increasing in volume as he thrusted into you harder.

Bucky rolled you both over, seating you on top of him, sliding into you deeper and grinding his hips against yours harshly, his cock buried to the hilt. His hands gripped your hips tightly, his pubic bone grinding against your bundle of nerves harshly and you threw your head back and let out a throaty moan. "Fuck, Bucky, I'm so fucking close." You moaned and he sped up his trusts, biting down on his lip, watching you writhe on top him.

"Touch yourself for me, darling." He commanded seductively, biting down on his lip, dragging another moan from you. You slid your hand down his stomach, separating your fingers, sliding them down on both sides of your entrance, feeling Bucky's think cock sliding in and out of you. You moaned as you started rubbing circles on your clit, biting down on your lip as your orgasm approached quickly. His movements beneath you grew sloppier, you could feel his climax approaching as well, the groans emitting from his throat a clear indication of that. You shrieked as your orgasm washed over you, you walls clamping tightly around his cock as you kept grinding your hips against his. Bucky let out whispers of curses, shutting his eyes tightly as the euphoria washed over him, emptying his load into your welcoming heat.

You bit your lip as your eyes found his, his lips curving into a teethy grin. "That was... really something else." Bucky said, you responded with a giggle and let your hands travel down his arms, grabbing his hands in yours. He kissed the back of your hand and then let it fall, sliding his hand to your neck, his thumb caressing your cheek. You slipped off him, letting gravity take its toll on the liquids in and between your bodies. "So what happens now?" he said as you shrugged your shoulders and rose from his lap, wandering off to grab something to clean you both off. You found a few tissues and grabbed your phone before returning to Bucky's side, giggling as you looked at your lockscreen. You unlocked your phone and you showed Bucky the texts. He let out a laugh.

                                                      d-bags ♡

steev (3:16pm)

I just want this shit over by now

steev (3:18pm)

why did I choose a job like this?!😩

steev (3:19pm)

🥵🔪🔪

steev (3:26pm)

I'm gonna need some serious alcohol this weekend.🍻🍻🍻

steev (3:36pm)

I got a feeling y'all are ignoring me.

steev (3:42pm)

now I'm convinced you're ignoring me.

steev (3:52pm)

come on guys, entertain me!?🙄🙄

steev (4:01pm)

fucking hell 🧨🧨🧨

steev (4:12pm)

okay just ignore me. I'm sorry!!!!!

steev (4:13pm)

can't wait to see you two tomorrow.

steev (4:13pm)

☹️☹️☹️

"You know..." Bucky started. "I don't think we should tell Steve. You know he hates third-wheeling..." You bit your lip as his thumb stroked your hip. You gathered the mess on his stomach with the tissues while biting your lip, deep in thought. "... Hey? Love? Earth to Y/N?" you shook your head as Bucky finally broke through to you, he was waving his hand in front of your face and he laughed when you came out of the trance. "Dicked you down too good?" he smirked and you hit his shoulder softly. He smiled and leaned up to kiss your lips. You pulled him with you to the outdoor shower, turning on the water to clean both of your bodies. "So what about Steve? I don't think we should tell him just yet. I want to explore this, with you. Figure out what we could build together. Before we go around telling Steve, or anyone about us." You smiled and nodded.

"Don't tell Steve. Got it."

[brace73iris]

Can I get you on more radio shows?

"One of my contacts says she got put in Facebook jail for 30 days… The Don gets kicked off Twitter for two years… I got banned from LinkedIn indefinitely… …something about: censorship, drinking too much coffee, and/or reading some real life Harry Potter books… at the same time… etc., etc., …and/or, yes—even some more… etc." Hahaha 🤣 Hahaha 🤣 Hahaha 🤣 Doh! Ha! 😉 Duh! ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy | CharmWishPR.com "Jon Paul has been managing my business affairs for over two years. I highly recommend his support and help in obtaining good pr for all your social marketing and any other activities you may be needing to do successfully with his help at very reasonable prices." — Prof. Margaret Rogers Van Coops, drmargaretspeaks.com "Jon Paul was instrumental in launching me into the world of podcast interviews as a guest speaker on the topic of Consciousness, in my newly published book, "Sight Beyond Sight." His connections in the journalism network opened doors for articles I submitted, creating connections for my work. Dedicated, forward thinking and creative." — Raine Dalrymple, sightbeyondsight.org "Confessions of the Broomstick Clique: Mirror, mirror on the wall... Who's got the biggest broomstick of them all ?.?.?" Amazon, ebook - by ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy (#1 Best Seller on "International Women's Day" in Erotic Art | Erotic Arts and Photography) 5.0 out of 5 stars Anything is possible Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020 "Wow everyone must be able to write a book I was thinking I could never write a book and now I know I can and I can also sell it on kindle so thank you for helping me figure this out." — Jennifer Ratliff, amazon.com review Hear, ye! Hear, ye! Got a book? Got a business? Got PR? DM me. Let's talk ASAP. I can only handle a few clients at a time. Hope it's you. ** AuthorityMagazine and ThriveGlobal tryouts... I can do things like this and spin it to promote your books/products/services. Please respond to these article ideas in about 200 words. And, I'll send it in right away… ** How Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness ** 5 Things You Need To Heal After a Dramatic Loss Or Life Change ** 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became An Author ** Companies That Integrate Mindfulness And Spiritual Practices Into Their Work Culture ** Emotional Intelligence; What It Is, Why It Is So Essential, And How We Can Increase It ** Big Ideas That May Change The World ** 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Run a Live Virtual Event ** Total Health: 5 Things We Can Do To Cultivate Our Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Well-being ** Putting The United Back Into The United States: 5 Things That Each Of Us Can Do To Help Unite Our Polarized Society Also... Want traffic to your business with Social Media INFLUENCERS on TikTok™, Instagram™, YouTube™, Twitter™, Tumblr™, Reddit™ and even Blogs? Want to build awareness for more donors, increase customers visits, save money on advertising, surpass the competition in sales, etc.? Got a website launch, book launch, speaking engagement, tradeshow, conference, Webinar, teleseminar, etc.? What do you get when you combine the news, your business, social media, keywords, buzz marketing and a little chutzpah? You Almost Everywhere. Almost Anywhere You Want to Be. And... Can I get you on more radio shows? I'm looking for a business that can take on more clients and is okay with some exposure on some mainstream media sites I work with. Can you handle more clients? Who is the best contact to discuss this? Essentially I'll be getting your business in the media, and bringing more clients, but I need to check if your business is the right fit for this. I'm on a short timeline and talking with a few other companies right now. It's best to have a quick five minute chat on the phone. Who should I speak to about this? Try to let me know in the next 12hrs if you can. Got my clients on some shows… with a about 200,000 listeners/month… another with 50,000 to 100,000 listeners/month… and, even one with 300+ million listeners/month. So at a ballpark conversion ratio on the average sales letter at 1%. That's, about 200 clients/month/shows like these. Want in on this exciting action to promote your business? Let's talk. Please schedule a time to discuss this here... www.calendly.com/charmwishpr What do you think? #wherecanIbuypublicrelationsconsulting

[momanger44]

Can I get you on more radio shows?

"One of my contacts says she got put in Facebook jail for 30 days… The Don gets kicked off Twitter for two years… I got banned from LinkedIn indefinitely… …something about: censorship, drinking too much coffee, and/or reading some real life Harry Potter books… at the same time… etc., etc., …and/or, yes—even some more… etc." Hahaha 🤣 Hahaha 🤣 Hahaha 🤣 Doh! Ha! 😉 Duh! ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy | CharmWishPR.com "Jon Paul has been managing my business affairs for over two years. I highly recommend his support and help in obtaining good pr for all your social marketing and any other activities you may be needing to do successfully with his help at very reasonable prices." — Prof. Margaret Rogers Van Coops, drmargaretspeaks.com "Jon Paul was instrumental in launching me into the world of podcast interviews as a guest speaker on the topic of Consciousness, in my newly published book, "Sight Beyond Sight." His connections in the journalism network opened doors for articles I submitted, creating connections for my work. Dedicated, forward thinking and creative." — Raine Dalrymple, sightbeyondsight.org "Confessions of the Broomstick Clique: Mirror, mirror on the wall... Who's got the biggest broomstick of them all ?.?.?" Amazon, ebook - by ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy (#1 Best Seller on "International Women's Day" in Erotic Art | Erotic Arts and Photography) 5.0 out of 5 stars Anything is possible Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020 "Wow everyone must be able to write a book I was thinking I could never write a book and now I know I can and I can also sell it on kindle so thank you for helping me figure this out." — Jennifer Ratliff, amazon.com review Hear, ye! Hear, ye! Got a book? Got a business? Got PR? DM me. Let's talk ASAP. I can only handle a few clients at a time. Hope it's you. ** AuthorityMagazine and ThriveGlobal tryouts... I can do things like this and spin it to promote your books/products/services. Please respond to these article ideas in about 200 words. And, I'll send it in right away… ** How Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness ** 5 Things You Need To Heal After a Dramatic Loss Or Life Change ** 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became An Author ** Companies That Integrate Mindfulness And Spiritual Practices Into Their Work Culture ** Emotional Intelligence; What It Is, Why It Is So Essential, And How We Can Increase It ** Big Ideas That May Change The World ** 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Run a Live Virtual Event ** Total Health: 5 Things We Can Do To Cultivate Our Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Well-being ** Putting The United Back Into The United States: 5 Things That Each Of Us Can Do To Help Unite Our Polarized Society Also... Want traffic to your business with Social Media INFLUENCERS on TikTok™, Instagram™, YouTube™, Twitter™, Tumblr™, Reddit™ and even Blogs? Want to build awareness for more donors, increase customers visits, save money on advertising, surpass the competition in sales, etc.? Got a website launch, book launch, speaking engagement, tradeshow, conference, Webinar, teleseminar, etc.? What do you get when you combine the news, your business, social media, keywords, buzz marketing and a little chutzpah? You Almost Everywhere. Almost Anywhere You Want to Be. And... Can I get you on more radio shows? I'm looking for a business that can take on more clients and is okay with some exposure on some mainstream media sites I work with. Can you handle more clients? Who is the best contact to discuss this? Essentially I'll be getting your business in the media, and bringing more clients, but I need to check if your business is the right fit for this. I'm on a short timeline and talking with a few other companies right now. It's best to have a quick five minute chat on the phone. Who should I speak to about this? Try to let me know in the next 12hrs if you can. Got my clients on some shows… with a about 200,000 listeners/month… another with 50,000 to 100,000 listeners/month… and, even one with 300+ million listeners/month. So at a ballpark conversion ratio on the average sales letter at 1%. That's, about 200 clients/month/shows like these. Want in on this exciting action to promote your business? Let's talk. Please schedule a time to discuss this here... www.calendly.com/charmwishpr What do you think? #wherecanIbuypublicrelationsconsulting

[jute4wade]

Can I get you on more radio shows?

"One of my contacts says she got put in Facebook jail for 30 days… The Don gets kicked off Twitter for two years… I got banned from LinkedIn indefinitely… …something about: censorship, drinking too much coffee, and/or reading some real life Harry Potter books… at the same time… etc., etc., …and/or, yes—even some more… etc." Hahaha 🤣 Hahaha 🤣 Hahaha 🤣 Doh! Ha! 😉 Duh! ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy | CharmWishPR.com "Jon Paul has been managing my business affairs for over two years. I highly recommend his support and help in obtaining good pr for all your social marketing and any other activities you may be needing to do successfully with his help at very reasonable prices." — Prof. Margaret Rogers Van Coops, drmargaretspeaks.com "Jon Paul was instrumental in launching me into the world of podcast interviews as a guest speaker on the topic of Consciousness, in my newly published book, "Sight Beyond Sight." His connections in the journalism network opened doors for articles I submitted, creating connections for my work. Dedicated, forward thinking and creative." — Raine Dalrymple, sightbeyondsight.org "Confessions of the Broomstick Clique: Mirror, mirror on the wall... Who's got the biggest broomstick of them all ?.?.?" Amazon, ebook - by ~ Jon Paul | PR Guy (#1 Best Seller on "International Women's Day" in Erotic Art | Erotic Arts and Photography) 5.0 out of 5 stars Anything is possible Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020 "Wow everyone must be able to write a book I was thinking I could never write a book and now I know I can and I can also sell it on kindle so thank you for helping me figure this out." — Jennifer Ratliff, amazon.com review Hear, ye! Hear, ye! Got a book? Got a business? Got PR? DM me. Let's talk ASAP. I can only handle a few clients at a time. Hope it's you. ** AuthorityMagazine and ThriveGlobal tryouts... I can do things like this and spin it to promote your books/products/services. Please respond to these article ideas in about 200 words. And, I'll send it in right away… ** How Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness ** 5 Things You Need To Heal After a Dramatic Loss Or Life Change ** 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became An Author ** Companies That Integrate Mindfulness And Spiritual Practices Into Their Work Culture ** Emotional Intelligence; What It Is, Why It Is So Essential, And How We Can Increase It ** Big Ideas That May Change The World ** 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Run a Live Virtual Event ** Total Health: 5 Things We Can Do To Cultivate Our Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Well-being ** Putting The United Back Into The United States: 5 Things That Each Of Us Can Do To Help Unite Our Polarized Society Also... Want traffic to your business with Social Media INFLUENCERS on TikTok™, Instagram™, YouTube™, Twitter™, Tumblr™, Reddit™ and even Blogs? Want to build awareness for more donors, increase customers visits, save money on advertising, surpass the competition in sales, etc.? Got a website launch, book launch, speaking engagement, tradeshow, conference, Webinar, teleseminar, etc.? What do you get when you combine the news, your business, social media, keywords, buzz marketing and a little chutzpah? You Almost Everywhere. Almost Anywhere You Want to Be. And... Can I get you on more radio shows? I'm looking for a business that can take on more clients and is okay with some exposure on some mainstream media sites I work with. Can you handle more clients? Who is the best contact to discuss this? Essentially I'll be getting your business in the media, and bringing more clients, but I need to check if your business is the right fit for this. I'm on a short timeline and talking with a few other companies right now. It's best to have a quick five minute chat on the phone. Who should I speak to about this? Try to let me know in the next 12hrs if you can. Got my clients on some shows… with a about 200,000 listeners/month… another with 50,000 to 100,000 listeners/month… and, even one with 300+ million listeners/month. So at a ballpark conversion ratio on the average sales letter at 1%. That's, about 200 clients/month/shows like these. Want in on this exciting action to promote your business? Let's talk. Please schedule a time to discuss this here... www.calendly.com/charmwishpr What do you think? #ineedapublicist

[fly-pow-bye]

What’s Airing On Cartoon Network? (January 2021)

They didn’t have to wait long to reveal what they’re airing in the first month of 2021. Not a lot of shows, but there is a special episode of Teen Titans Go with a special guest, and a special half-hour episode of Craig of the Creek. Also, Bakugan, Total Dramarama, and a few more episodes of Teen Titans Go. Details after the break. (Source: Animation Magazine)

Bakugan: Armored Alliance

January 3rd:

Who’s the Fake?!/Trouble Busters! 2 – With the reveal that Haavik is a shapeshifting Alien, the ABs start to get super-paranoid, realizing that ANYONE could be Haavik in disguise. The suspicion quickly turns inward, and the ABs are left wondering if they have an imposter among them! / A kid brawler named Oliver has lost his Bakugan! This seems like a job for the Trouble Busters. The Awesome Brawlers help him chase down and try to catch the elusive Bakugan, who leads them on a wild goose chase through Los Volmos. (6:30 a.m.)

January 10th:

Bakugan Battle Circus/Ebony Manor – Shun and Dan head to the Bakugan circus for a little fun, but the fun is interrupted when the star Bakugan are too exhausted to perform. Shun and Dan know the show must go on, and step in to lend a hand. Things go as planned until the evil Ringleader attempts to bring down the big top performance. / Lightning reunites with an old frenemy – Ebony. This time the kitty queen of the streets has a new home and is living a life of luxury with her new master. (6:30 a.m.)

January 17th:

Everett’s Trap/Kazami vs. Mc Q - Shun and Masato head to Tokyo’s Battle Island to discuss plans for hosting public Bakugan battles. Upon landing, they quickly learn it’s a set up! The two are now stranded and faced with heaps of brawlers, who are all looking to bring them down! / Shun and Masato manage to fend off a horde of brawlers on Battle Island, but they quickly learn that was only a diversion- One of Kazami’s research centers is under siege. The two must find a way off the island and head off to defend the research center. (6:30 a.m.)

January 24th:

The Awesome Burger Brawl/Master and Apprentice – The Burger Joint is hosting a hamburger eating contest to promote their new Bakugan themed burger! The contest gets underway without a hitch, that is until Sophie and the Bakugan Preservation Society crash the event with a bakugan brawl! / A wealthy man, Mr. Gold, has duped Storm and Ajit, and trapped them in his personal prison. But no prison can hold the cunning phantom thief Storm and his former apprentice, Ajit for long. (6:30 a.m.)

January 31st:

Bakugan Uproar/The Fusion Bakugan Sabrus – While the Awesome Brawler’s Bakugan squabble about what to watch on TV at Studio D, Haavik unleashes his newly created five-faction fusion Bakugan: Sabrus on the city of Los Volmos. / The Awesome Brawler’s are in pursuit of Haavik and his new Bakugan, Sabrus but all they can find is the trail of destruction that Sabrus has left behind. They need to figure out where Haavik and his Bakugan will strike next and put an end to his rampage. (6:30 a.m.)

Craig of the Creek

January 18th:

Winter Break - Craig returns to the Creek after the long Winter Break only to find an empty wasteland and danger lurking in the snow. (10 a.m., half hour!)

Teen Titans Go!

Janurary 8th:

Justice League's Next Top Talent Idol Star: Dance Crew Edition - It's time for another Justice League talent competition! This time, the top dance crews from across the DC universe will battle on stage with their super-powered moves. Left without a crew, Robin uses Raven's spellbook to conjure up a dance crew powerful enough to help him take out the competition. Featuring a special appearance from world-famous dance crew, The Jabbawockeez, the stage is set for one of the Titans' most epic showdowns. (6 p.m.)

January 23rd:

Lucky Stars - Raven explains astrology to the Titans and tells their horoscopes, but Cyborg does not believe. (9 a.m.)

Various Modes of Transportation - With the other Titans away, Cyborg is forced to take a road trip with Robin. (9:15 a.m.)

January 30th:

Cool Uncles - The Titans take a trip to Wackadoodles, but Trigon makes Raven babysit her little brothers. (9 a.m.)

Total Dramarama

January 23rd:

Snack to the Future - Owen wants his favorite treat, 'Jiggle Giggle', so bad that he's willing to use a time machine to get to snacktime quicker. But when he ends up stuck in the past, Owen must decide between getting home and getting fed. (9:30 a.m.)

The Gold and the Stickerful - Courtney becomes infatuated with a new gold sticker incentive program that Chef introduces to the class. (9:45 a.m.)

January 30th:

Bad Seed - Chef introduces the kids to agriculture by teaching them how to grow plants from seeds. But when Izzy shows her seed too much love, it turns into a monster that terrorizes the class. (9:30 a.m.)

[gameofdrarry]

Wizards Hearts: Stop the Presses!

Wizards Hearts Game/Fest has now been running for nearly a full three months! Sign-ups are now closed, but our players are still diligently reading and commenting on some of their newly-found favorite fics and working together as a team to show their love!

Players are sorted and assigned at random to four different teams. All team activities and discussions are completely optional but can yield extra points to help win the game! There are weekly team activities and longer, creative team activities where players can imagine new, fun headcanons in the Harry Potter universe and perhaps a few stories of their own!

Team Activity 4: Casino Reputations and Notable News

Something very exciting has happened at each and every casino. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, two of the biggest names in the Wizarding World, chose to visit them! But of course, these sorts of things don’t go unnoticed. Wherever it was they went, the press was certain to report on it. Each casino, of course, had guidelines by which to compile their own reports of each incident. The twist being that the events did not happen at their own establishments, but at those of their competitors.

Teams were asked to write  A) Bad publicity for your rival casino (a raid/or arrest by Auror partners, a public argument between the pair, etc..) - OR -  B) Good publicity for your rival casino (a first date or sighting as a couple, a happy event being hosted at their establishment etc...)

It was expected that each team

Write an article at least 350 words long

Use 3 specific details created by the other team ( it takes place at their seasonal event, it involves their signature food, it involves their description of mundungus's issues, it describes their location etc.)

 Write a brief internal memo about how your casino feels about the article. (Happy that it's bad publicity and how to capitalize on that to direct people to your casino, Frustrated that they got the big scoop and how to boost attendence at your casino.etc)

View the first Team Activity post here

View the second Team Activity post here

View the third Team Activity post here

View the fourth Team Activity post under the cut!

Team 1: Loch Lomond’s Treasure

Team 2: Golden Scales

Article:

AUROR MISSION GONE WRONG: ARC EN CIEL TO BLAME?

Arc en Ciel Crêperie & Wizarding Casino had prepared for their traditional All Hallow’s Eve celebration. They’d whipped up a few batches of their famous crêpes—some of which made you shoot sparks out of your mouth or made you float off the ground; they’d hired their favoured vampire band; and they had their famous ghosts at the ready. The only thing that they’d not been prepared for was a sting operation conducted by the infamous duo: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had been working a case that had taken them all around the seedy underbelly of Paris. They’d been called in from London because the ring leader was one of the top criminals that the DMLE was interested in catching. Their search had led them to a certain vampire, who also happened to be the drummer in the infamous band that Arc en Ciel hired each year for their All Hallow’s Eve celebrations. So, Potter and Malfoy thought they’d dress up as casino guests and finally catch the bastard.

They were playing Farkle, which was Arc en Ciel’s famous game and eating some of their famous Dragon crêpes, when one of the hired ghosts passed through Potter, causing him to slightly choke on his Dragon crepe and what was supposed to be harmless fire shot out of his mouth. The harmless fire turned out not to be so harmless (due to potential crepe ingredients and ghost interaction) and the table started smoking. The other players started to scream, shouting “Fire! Fire!” and the host tried to calm everyone down by grabbing the tablecloth and shaking it vigorously. Unfortunately, this only served to fan the flames, making the fire larger. Potter tried to put out the flames while Malfoy went to chase after the vampire drummer, who had noticed all the commotion and attempted to slip out. Malfoy was not able to catch them, though, because all the guests were stampeding out the single entrance to Arc en Ciel (which has to be a fire hazard).

Now, Potter and Malfoy have to go back to the drawing board, and no one is happy. Readers, you tell us, is Arc en Ciel to blame?! 

Memo:

Golden Scales INTERNAL MEMORANDUM Date: 1 November From: Casino Manager To: All employees

Subject: Arc en Ciel All Hallow’s Eve Incident

This is to alert all in-house employees of the incident that occurred last night (see attached Daily Prophet article). While we are fortunate in that our all Hallow’s Eve event was a success, in the wise words of Auror Alastor Moody, “Constant Vigilance!” We have not yet had any issues with our signature beverage, Queen of the Night, but further directions will be sent out to maintenance and security regarding further fire-proofing and charm-proofing measures and a need to revise our emergency escape plans. There is also discussion of anchoring additional safety measures in the lobby dragon. The promotions department already has plans to embark upon an advertising campaign that will highlight the fire-proof nature of our casino, as well as the fact that all our staff is screened for security and also trained in emergency and safety measures. At our upcoming all-staff meeting, each staff person should arrive prepared to make suggestions that might further optimize our position in the cut-throat casino and hospitality industry. Additionally, there has been some discussion about imposing a screening requirement for all customers. Though this information would be confidential, there is also concern that this might discourage some of our more discerning clientele. Thank you for your continued commitment to this establishment. Ellery Badcock

Team 3: Vanaheim

Team 4: Arc en Ciel

Article:

PLAYING WITH FIRE

Known for housing well over a thousand dragons with whom patrons can get up close and personal, Golden Scales Casino seems to have housed something else quite personal last Saturday night. Spotted in a heated argument by the bar, ex-rivals Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy appear to have slipped into their schoolyard animosity once more. Eyewitnesses described the scene as fiery, and not just because they were flanked by four dragons!

While the specific details of their disagreement are not concrete, sources say that it began when some of the fire from the light show veered a bit too close to their table, causing some jostling and giving way to hurled insults. Patrons could not tell who was yelling to start—it was a masquerade event, after all!—until Mr Potter ripped Mr Malfoy’s mask from his face to point his wand at it. No spells were thrown until both had been escorted closer to the exits, at which point one of them let off an impulsive hex in retaliation to another patron who had consumed the Queen of the Night cocktail, Golden Scale’s signature beverage which allows the drinker to breathe fire for a short while. This in turn caused great disturbance near the entrance, throwing off some of the other casino-goers who were involved in the Halloween Treasure Hunt. While an obvious misunderstanding, it is evident that fire is a sore subject for the pair and both resumed their aggressions towards each other, eventually being asked to quieten down or leave the premises.

It appears that while the pair arrived together they made separate exits, both shortly after one another: Malfoy at an apparition point and Potter via the golden elevator. What this means for the pair is yet to be determined, but speculators now wonder if this was simply a night out amongst friends or something that holds a deeper meaning.

A source from within the casino says that both men are return visitors, frequenting the old dragon’s den atop the Dragon’s Hoard Mountain Range multiple times per year; from the visceral reactions to dragon breath, this reporter doubts there is much truth to these claims. Will we see them there again soon? And more importantly, will they be together? Only time will tell…

Memo:

By now you have all certainly seen the reporting surrounding Harry Potter & Draco Malfoy’s appearance at Golden Scales. While it does not look favourably on the casino, any publicity about this pair is good publicity as surely others will wish to see the scene of their disagreement, boosting their business in the coming weeks.

Should you hear any patrons discussing the article, we would not frown upon you making an aside comment or two that paints Golden Scales in bad light. Mentioning safety concerns about the dragons setting off their argument, poor handling of their argument, even that the source within the casino was clearly spreading blatant lies within the press and breaching patron confidentiality.

Your performance and cooperation with this initiative in the coming weeks is imperative. We will be offering staff incentives for most well executed dissuasion.