#(THAT WAS THE MOST RIGGED GAME IN MY LIFE OH MY GOD

[tacitusauxilium]

[yellow-computer-mouse]

fuck it incorrect quotes

Horror: "I lost a bet." Horror: The second-most ominous phrase in existence. Killer: What's the first? Horror: "Let's make a bet."

Horror: I am a ninja. Cross: No, you’re not. Horror: Did you see me do that? Cross: Do what? Horror: Exactly.

Killer: Two truths and a lie, I’ll start! Killer: I’ve killed a man, I will kill again, and it burns when I pee. Nightmare, visibly nervous: I don’t- I don’t like this game.

Killer: BE A BETTER PERSON! Dust: WHY?! Killer: BECAUSE SOMEONE NEEDS TO HAVE MORALS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, AND IT SURE AS FUCK AIN'T GONNA BE ME, SWEETHEART!

*Killer is helping Nightmare break out of prison* Killer: Sooo… Does this make us partners in crime? Nightmare: Don’t push it. Killer: Oh my gosh, we can be like Harley Quinn and the Joker! Nightmare: If you don’t stop talking, they’re adding “murder” to the charges.

Nightmare, to Cross: Please, picking locks is my specialty. Nightmare: *throws a brick through the window* Nightmare: Okay, let’s go.

Horror: What’s your biggest fear? Dust: I am incredibly arachnophobic. Horror, under their breath: You don’t want spiders to get married?

Killer: Are you alright? Nightmare: Short answer or long answer? Killer: Short? Nightmare: No. Killer: Long? Nightmare: Nooooooo.

Cross, gently nudging Horror aside with their foot: Horror, move out of the way so I don’t trip on you. Horror, her eyes enormous: You kick Horror? You kick her body like the football? Oh! Oh! Jail for Cross! Jail for Cross for one thousand years!

Nightmare, rushing into the room: It’s terrible, just terrible! I am so upset! Cross: Nightmare, dude, sit down! Tell us all about it. Dust, would you get Nightmare some water? Dust: What is he gonna do with water? Has water ever made you feel better when you were upset? Have you ever heard anyone say, “Thank God, the water’s here!”?

Killer: Cross, we tried things your way. Cross: No, we didn't. Killer: I did it in my head and it didn't work.

Cross: You spent all our money on THIS?? Dust, putting tiny raincoats on ducklings: They live outside. They need this.

Cross: Okay, who's turn is it to give the pep talk? Horror: It's Dust's turn. Dust: Don't die. Killer, wiping a tear away: Truly inspirational.

Killer: How do ethical philosophers feel about murder? Cross: Well, it’s frowned upon. Killer: Okay, but what if the reason you want to murder someone is to make your life easier? Killer: That’s okay, right?

Dust, holding in their laughter: Hey, how do you ask a glass of water what it’s doing? Nightmare: A glass of water is an inanimate object. Therefore, it's incapable of having a thought process or understanding basic human language. Dust: Dust: Water you doing?

Killer: And here we see Dust and Horror in their natural habitat. Texting each other variations of the word "garlic bread" to try to make each other laugh. Dust: Gaelic bread. Horror: Grueling brad. Dust: Ha ha, glamorous beans.

Dust: Fuck capitalism. It's a rigged system that keeps us poor and it isn't fair. You shouldn't need to work three jobs to afford basic necessities. Dust, playing Monopoly: Sorry, if you wanted to win you should have tried not being poor.

Nightmare: Have I ever told you that I love you with my whole heart? Dream: For the love of all that is holy, I am not taking you to McDonalds. It’s 2am! Nightmare: Mean.

Nightmare: You're alive. Dream: There's no need to sound so disappointed.

Nightmare: I got an idea! Dream: Does it involve breaking the law? Nightmare: By now don’t you think that’s a given? Dream: I was just trying to be optimistic. Nightmare: Don’t bother.

Nightmare: Why is it that I always lose things as soon as I need them? Dream: Actually, it's not that you lose things when you need them. You lose them a while before. It's just that you LOOK for things when you need them. Nightmare: Okay yeah thanks Dream, that's great but WHERE'S THE FUCKING FIRST AID KIT?

Nightmare: Hey, thanks for checking in, I’m ✨still a piece of garbage✨

Error: I think I should be allowed on ghost hunter tv shows. Blue: I think that would be dangerous for the ghosts.

Nightmare: We’re going to defeat you with the power of friendship. Dream: We’re not friends. Nightmare, holding an axe: We’re going to defeat you with the power of incredible violence.

Nightmare, writing in his diary with a glitter gel pen: I'm losing my sense of humanity. Nothing matters. God is dead. There's blood on my hands.

Nightmare, holding a kettle: Coffee or tea? Dream: Tea. Nightmare: Wrong. It's coffee.

Nightmare: I failed my safety training course today. Dream: Why, what happened? Nightmare: Well one of the questions was "In case of a fire, what steps would you take?" Dream: And? Nightmare: Well apparently "FUCKING LARGE ONES" isn't an acceptable answer.

Ink: Welcome to my very first vlog, in which I try different hair products! Ink: *sprays hairspray in their mouth* Ink: Well, right off the bat I can tell you this one is not very good.

Nightmare: I won a new phone in a race. Dream: Huh? What kind of race lets you win a phone, Nightmare? Nightmare: A race between the store owner, the cop, and me.

Dream: Why are you on fire? Nightmare: This is just how my day is going.

Nightmare: You know, I used to play back in my gory days. Dream: You mean glory days? Nightmare: Ah, that too.

Blue: I trusted you! Error: Why?

Ink: Well, needless to say. Uh-oh Spaghetti-os.

[seokkiez]

──── .✦ once upon a small town ᯓᡣ𐭩.ᐟ ⊹ 🧺

✶ SYNOPSIS ! : "welcome back, i missed you." those were the first words you got after moving back to your hometown from seoul, and it got on your nerves that it came from the boy you hated the most. song eunseok.

(this is a vc btw 🥶)

ningning: LITERALLY DIE

wonbin: FALL OF A CLIFF COPYCAT WTF

ningning: ME? COPY YOU? YOUR OUTFITS UGLY AF HOE

yn: WHAT ARE YOU DOING DUMBASS

eunseok: living my best life. DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM W THAT.

chansunggz joined your server

sohee: sungchan please i cant take it anymore

sungchan: gotchu babyboy

sohee: oh my god kill me

eunseok: sungchan be honest whose outfit is better? me or yn

sungchan: okay eunseok cover your ears but yns is better

yn: GOD THIS IS WHY YOU’RE THE BEST ONE HERE

sungchan: i gotchuu, you ate fr

eunseok: sungchan we’re over.

૮ ․ ․ ྀིა 5 rounds later

yn: guys we ate so bad

wonbin: FRR

ningning: still cant believe how the person with NOTHING ON won 2nd like this game is rigged fr

eunseok: okay but your outfit for movie was GOODD

ningning: thanks i know

sungchan: i can’t believe i never even got on the podium

sohee: oh you’re not ready to hear this…

all of them: your outfits sucked

sungchan: BYE just tell me you hate me and want me to die atp

wonbin: i hate you

ningning: oh!!

yn: LMFAO

sohee: awh look at us, bonding

eunseok: your outfits were ugly too

sohee: I HOPE YOUR ACCOUNT GETS BANNED

004 no i’m better

MASTERLIST : <- BACK | NEXT -> °❀⋆.��࿔*:･

a/n: you asked and you will receive 🙏 JEALOUS EUNSEOK WILL BE COMING SOON TRUSTTT 🤞

taglist: @onlyhyunjin, @icyona, @tocupid, @secretiny, @nujeskz,

@pinklemonade34, @i03jae, @dearestjake, @taroddori,

@ssweetreveries, @astrae4, @sngj08, @kyusqult,

@snoopydooby,

comment on the masterlist or send an ask if you want to be added to the taglist!

© seokkiez 2024 ; all rights reserved

[dairy-farmer]

The idea of Tim losing a bet and having to walk around topless so that Dick or Jason can grope his tits is rent free in my head. More so if they do it at like the penthouse or their apartment, inviting friends over to play with Tim’s tits because it’s part of the bet Timmy. (Not cause his face is so cute and they want to show off their little brother)

And like just… maybe Tim has a crush on one of them (Roy) and is really blushy which makes Dick or Jason upset because part of this had been to get Tim into the idea of liking HIM that way. So when the friends leave Dick or Jason decide they want to show Tim how much they care for him. In anyway they can.

yesssssssssss i LOVE roytim!!!!!!!! the idea of tim's brothers doing a rigged bet so they can have tim at their mercy. tim loses, of course, because he was always going to lose. and when he asks what they want he's expecting them to make him go streaking naked. he's not expecting them to tell tim to man the grill during one of their 'boys night' parties.

tim has heard of the parties, they're jointly thrown by dick and jason at some stupidly expensive property jason bought a few years back. the parties are a fratboy's dream and exactly what dick and jason love. tim's been invited out to them but always found an excuse not to go because the guest list was dick and jason's friends and tim know if he went he'd be subjected to all kinds of dunking, jokes, and harrassment.

so tim doesn't go.

but then he loses a bet. a bet where his brothers grin like two cats that have spotted a canary with a broken wing struggling to fly away.

they want tim to man the grill for the barbecue they're going to have. which...okay. it's easy enough. tim makes a mean burger and if his brothers and their friends irritate him too much he can just char the shit out of their hot dogs.

but there's a catch. they want him topless.

they want tim to wander around the pool, tits out, topping off lemonade, handing out beers, and bringing out plates of hamburgers and hotdogs.

tim is MORTIFIED at the thought. but he doesn't announce that and he doesn't try to back out. because tim's not about to pussy out of a bet. not when it will get him ripped on for life.

so tim doesn't put up a fight and the day of the bbq arrives and tim is there, grimacing and making margaritas in some board shorts and his tits on full display. he's getting FAR too many appreciative glances and whistles.

tim's tits are small, barely handfuls with pink nipples. yet jason and dick's friends are acting like they're a pack of horndog teenagers who have never seen tits before.

garth and joseph are both respectfully averting their eyes whenever tim comes in close but tim can feel their eyes on his back. tim gets groped a lot, hands come up and cup his tits and pinch at the sides and tim's hands are full most of the time so he can't shoo them away from him.

jason stands behind tim while he's at the grill and putting cheese slices on the burgers, he cups tim's baby tits the entire time, squeezing them and cooing about how his baby brother has the cutest tits in the world.

dick is more annoying. tim can hear the clear click from his camera going off every few seconds and has to keep reminding himself to not dump the 7 layer dip over his head. every time he shoots a dirty look at him, dick just gives a happy little wave and wink.

tim has no problem with this being his punishment for losing a bet.

until roy harper arrives, in a thin muscle tee that puts those arms sculpted by god himself on display.

tim has a...thing. okay?

some people like tits, some like ass- but tim?

oh arms. arms all the waaaay.

and roy's are the finest in the game- bar none.

the definition in his muscles, the thickness of his forearms, the way his hands are bigger than tim's face-

god. tim has had fantasies about those hands, has covered his face and giggled at the thought of those hands picking him up by his little waist. has cum again and again over the thought of those thick, calloused fingers sinking into the heat of his little hole.

god. tim wants roy harper so bad and it's only the distance and unfamiliarity between them that has saved him from humiliation.

but then roy harper is there. he's sitting in a lounge chair with his arms behind his head, flexing his firm abdomen, and letting out a sigh of relief and showing off the thick red bush growing on his pits and peeking out of the top of his swim trunks.

he's wearing red sporty sunglasses but tim can still feel his eyes as they lock on tim. he knows they are because roy starts grinning that cocky smirk that makes tim weak kneed.

"uhhh timmy? the cheeseburgers are burning baby."

tim is thrown off by roy's prescience. he starts burning food so jason takes over. he keeps spilling drinks and dropping cups and straws and plates so dick tells him to have a seat maybe go for a swim because the heat must be getting to him. the whole time tim is stuttering and blubbering, red all the way down to his tits as roy stares at him. tim is using napkins to clean up some spilled lemonade when roy ambles over and starts helping him. he starts talking in that deep voice and leaning over to whisper things in tim's ear and tim can feel himself getting redder and...wetter.

roy slides next to him and a hand comes up to grope tim's tit and tim lets out a little squeal which makes roy's grin widen.

oh. oh tim is in so much trouble because he knows. there's no way he doesn't know. there's no way a single person at the party doesn't know how roy throws him off balance because tim had been perfectly fine with the pinches and gropes and he's been making burgers and running drinks like a well oiled machine....and then roy harper arrived.

yeah. tim has for sure been pegged.

roy stands there, groping tim's tits and cooing about how pretty and red tim is. tim tries not to hyperventilate and to press his legs together because his pussy is just buzzing with arousal.

the entire time, tim's brothers are glaring at both of them. angrily rotating hot dogs and pouting as they made screwdrivers.

timmy was supposed to blush and get flustered over his big brothers touching his pretty timmy tits!!!!!!

[gracemarkss]

finished s4 in my txf rewatch so i'm here's my top 10 so far. these are vaguely in order.

10. oubliette (s3ep08). this episode gives us soooo much big brother mulder. his gentle insistence that lucy, despite everything she's been through, is strong and capable and has value - that she can save this girl (and he's right). when scully calls him out on his overidentifying with lucy and he insists not everything he does or feels goes back to samantha...but when lucy dies, you know he's losing sam all over again. he can't save them all, he can't even save most of them, but by god does he try.

9. memento mori (s4ep14). cliche as hell but the fact that it opens with scully's sensual voice over reading her romantic diary entries which are addressed to mulder...insane. both of them facing a terrible reality, deep seated fears - losing her and abandoning him (is dying a betrayal?) the fact that he's ready to make a deal with the devil. the fact that skinner DOES. death vs love, fight!!!!!

8. beyond the sea (s1ep13). gillian is insaaaaane in the episode like how could anyone involved in this show not think she was capable of anything and everything? scully is such a great character in part because of the constant tension that exists between expectation and desire. the things she should want, the things she wants to want, the things she actually wants. she craves her father's approval while chafing against the weight of his expectation. the "i love this job" "you love your father" exchange goes craaaaaazy. and that's not even getting into the role reversal!!!!

7. pusher (s3ep17). another cliche but god does this episode go hard. another spectacular look into mulder's psyche and another situation that highlights the depth of their connection. when he kneels down in front of her and hands her his gun...i wonder how many times mulder walks into a situation and thinks that maybe he'll die. that maybe he wouldn't mind. i wonder how much scully knows that (her fear here makes me think she knows, and it terrifies her.) but all's well that ends well i guess (them holding hands).

6. end game (s2ep17). i just love that the narrative forces mulder to choose between samantha and scully and he tries to rig the game to save both. from "nothing else matters to me" to if anything happens to scully i'll kill everyone in this room and then myself. there's obviously a lot more going on here and i love all of it but that's my main takeaway. oh also dd rules in this ep. his regression back into a lost little boy saying "i'm sorry, dad," bill mulder you are bones.

5. wetwired (s3ep23). another classic "what are you afraid of" episode and this time the answer is "the prophet you are following turns out to be false." trust is their most valuable and sacred currency. the potential loss of that is truly devastating. let's not even get into the fact that mulder thinks scully's gone missing (again) and it's his fault (again) and he has to break this to her mother (again) and let's not talk about the fact that maggie defends mulder to scully and trusts him with her daughter's life despite everything. and let's definitely not ever mention the scene where he goes to id the body.

4. paper hearts (s4ep10). yet another cliche but there's a reason these episodes are well loved and considered among the best. "it's somebody though" just sums up everything you need to know about mulder. he is so deeply hurt and so good despite it all. he really is the best boy. another ep dd is superb in.

3. demons (s4ep23). part of the reason i love this episode is just because i think the premise of mulder drilling a hole in his head and injecting ketamine in it is hilarious. but also profoundly sad. can you tell i have a thing for mulder angst yet? and episodes that highlight how deep and loving his and scully's relationship is, however you interpret it? she's the first one he thinks of to call when he wakes up in a bad situation. she drops everything to be there for him. she won't stop him, she'll just take the keys and drive. what can i carry for you. what can i do. i will not let you go alone. another great example of dd's ability to play mulder at his smallest - when he tells his mother he needs to speak with her with his head down and his voice pitched just a bit higher...i'll jump.

2. ice (s1ep08). truly what needs to be said. i know this is a ripoff of the thing but i've never seen the thing so this is better probably. stuck in a small space, paranoia at the top of the world...also the guy who plays the landlord in new girl is here and i love that. both dd and ga are also both crazy hot in the ep. i think it just rules even as a standalone and is a great way to introduce someone to the series. just fun and sexy and tense.

3 (s2ep07). HE'S WEARING HER NECKLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

honorable mentions: lazarus (s1ep15); darkness falls (s1ep20); little green men (s2ep01); the field where i died (s4ep05); grotesque (s3ep14); terma (s4ep9).

[heymrspatel]

Something fun? Erm…

Tomorrow I’ve got an assessment class (with real life paying customers!!) and if I pass, starting next week, I will officially be an archery instructor! 😳

So, in that vein… here’s a scenario that would never happen:

The entire Gallagher Milkovich Fisher Ball clan go for an archery taster day…

Who’s good at it? Who’s awful? Who’s really into it, but still super bad? Who is a sore loser? Does anyone throw a hissy fit and storm out? Does anyone break the club rules and fuck about so much they get benched? And why is it Lip? lol

oh my god michelle aaah have i left you hanging.... CRINE! you're so cool! i bow down to you, ARCHERY INSTRUCTOR MICHELLE!!! 🏹🎯

🎉Gallagher Milkovich Fisher Ball Archery Day of Fun! 🎉

good at it: ian. the dude prides himself on being a sharpshooter and having impeccable aim and this has somehow translated into archery as well! no one understands how, possibly not even him, but he still struts away like he's hot shit.

awful at it: kev. he's so bad and looks like such a big goof while he's at it! still has the best time cheering/egging everyone on. giving shoulder claps and ass slaps any chance he gets.

really into it but still terrible: debbie and liam. i feel like they'd both have the most fun and silly time with it. at the end of it making it a game of "who can be the worst at this" and giggle at how off their arrows end up from the target! they take a bunch of selfies laughing and pointing at their terrible aim!

sore loser: lip. hehe i hear you! but i also think he would get in such a heated competition with ian and come out pissy about the fact that his little brother beat him.

threw a hissy fit and stormed out: mickey. he's good with a gun. he rivals ian in skill and aim. so why thE FUCK CAN'T HE GET THE LITTLE ARROW SHITS TO LAND IN THE BULLSEYE? THIS GAME IS FUCKING RIGGED, IAN! FUCK YOU! *kicks over the arrow holder*

broke club rules and got benched: carl. that boy is not a cop. he let that shit go so quickly, i just know it. and deep down he's still got that rebellious spirit that would get him into all sorts of trouble. i fully see him whipping arrows around and poking people with them until he gets sat down.

heehee this was fun! thank you for sending 💙

[slashthrashandcrash]

Alright!! Let's say that the Other is pulled into the Fog, who would be the survivor counterpart to his killer? Option 1: Natalie, who he never kills and is now in an endless loop of cat and mouse with as well as other residents catching onto his obsession and only sparing her in the trials (maybe even going after killers who harm / kill her in their own trials). Option 2: Brooke, who is in a never-ending cycle of escape and be killed, and is always the target of the Other. (1 / 2)

Anon you're mind is simply so beautiful I want to live in it forever oh my god........................

First of all, can we acknowledge how absolutely bitchin' it would be to have a Hell Fest map??? Like if instead of being open in a themed field/neighborhood, it was all contained in a never ending haunted house maze????? I'd lose my mind. I would also lose my life several times because I have no sense of direction lmao.

God, both options are so good, especially with their angst potential. Because don't forget, The Other has kids, two of 'em. I can't imagine what additional damage that's going to do to his mind to know that they're abandoned and alone.

BUT LET'S START WITH OPTION ONE...I actually read a really similar fic for DBD Michael and Laurie! (inb4 anyone asks NO they were NOT siblings ofc he was just a slasher horny on main for a pretty girl). It's one of those observed patterns that people can be slow to pick up on simply because they can't believe it's real, and doubly so since there's plenty of survivors to rotate through. It's easy to use Nat as bait to lure The Other away for the survivors to escape first, just as easy as it is for The Other to use wounded survivors to lure Nat over to help so he can scoop her up himself. Yeah, he always lets her go at the exit and gets punished by The Entity for it, but he's pretty damn good in the other trails without Nat, so it all evens out.

It's also fun to imagine the downtime between trials, where Nat and The Other would have the option to leave their respective camps and roam around their designated "worlds" before the next game. Honestly, it feels like the cat and mouse never ends for Natalie, poor girl >:3c Nowhere she goes is safe from this psycho watching her. She almost prefers the trials when it's a random killer and she dies, because at least then she can appreciate the relief of being out of the hunt. But it also gives them a bit of time to become a little more...casual around each other. Nat's going to have to cycle through her stages of grief and eventually accept her new reality, where at least there's one killer that isn't looking to gut her. She's not happy still, but at least she doesn't flinch away anymore when The Other gives her his jacket because she's sulking in the cold for having lost a trial.

Option two is so fucking angst ridden though, it's unbelievable. It's not often you have more than one legit final girl, and I can imagine The Other being beyond pissed that he has to be stuck with the girl he wasn't able to kill in time rather than the girl he was actually stalking all night. I wonder if The Entity would give Brooke a similar "deal" that she has to survive a certain number of games in order to be reunited with Nat as a reward. It may be his final girl, but that's HER (literal) ride or die best friend forever, the idea of being separated and trapped with your bestie's slasher has to break her heart.

And The Other makes no show of hiding his distain of Brooke either. She's never shown any mercy, in fact he's the most ruthless with her. He'll ignore easy targets just to keep her knocked down, only hooking her at the very end so she has to suffer through her wounds the whole trial. He'll be damned if he doesn't reach the "quota" in record time to get the girl of his dreams. Obviously, the deal is likely rigged and neither of them would ever actually earn the reward of having Nat back, but imagine if somehow, someway...she did show up?

Never permanently, just periodically coming and going during some kind of glitch-in-the-matrix-slipping-through-the-backrooms type of deal due to how strongly she's connected to the two of them. Finally figuring out where her best friend has disappeared to, seeing what absolute hell she and other people are trapped in and trying to find a way to rescue her, and coming face to face once again with a murderer who will now stop at nothing to keep her here in the trails with him forever. The added threat that because she's not a survivor or a killer, if she dies, then that's it - permadeath.

[safesthaveninexistence]

Simplicity is genius. There's boundless ways for simple to be magical. My magic is entrenched in simplicity. I simply choose Laika over emily. All of a sudden I woke up on my own private jet with Laika. And it's gon feel mindshatteringly real. My life dominantly reflects the within in absolutely all ways. I'm more staggeringly valid than Diana Nyad as a Zillionaire. I'm unbelievably valid. Incredibly hard to believe. Because I've done what's incredibly hard to believe they have no choice but to respect me. My dark side outdarks them forcing them to be light. That's why they respect me. I never regret. Those who once went against me are now my number one bitch. Those who once hurt me are my number one bitch. Those who once mentally abused me are now my number one bitch. I'm controlling their lives and realities FROM HEAVEN AHAHAHA. I make things suddenly disappear and appear. There's really nothing more I have to do but just have fun journeying the inevitable without from within. My magic come go with stories for me. I build up unrivaled tangible and visible energy. I only get more and more infinitely powerful at building up unrivaled energy. I'm the most powerful one. Omg I don't gotta worry their within is already rigged into my favor. I'm the God of their within. I'm the God of my within. They're trustworthy versions of themselves that I want them to be. Nothing has the power to affect me. I have monstrous control over my within. I have monstrous control over my control. Oh shit my energy makes me feel I'm on shrooms too LMFAO. I know my energy be making them feel theyre ON SHROOMS. I only get more and more infinitely unrivaled at executing things. I'm rigged to control from within. They taste my tangible depth. Cause the same time I shift they shift too. My truth has a validated frequency. My frequency's more famous than John Lennon(chills). LMFSKSJDS WOW NO MATTER WHAT I DO MY FREQUENCY BRILLIANTLY SHINES THROUGH(I don't ever gotta worry about my instagram). I set the intention to see why I shouldn't be afraid of that thought "I give my power away". I'm the realest in the game that's why I staggeringly reign supreme. They hear distant thunder in my psychic presence. I never have any reason to lose my capacity for wonder and amazement. I craft my own story. Magic only gets more and more infinitely spectacular. Magic only gets more and more infinitely movielike Magical. They real wack without my power. My childlike wonder only grows more and more infinitely violently stronger. I reign supreme in all I dabble in. They be mad at work trashing shit over just cause they lost me resulting them in getting fired. My awareness only gets more and more infinitely boundless. My awareness only gets more and more infinitely limitless. My awareness is the apex predator of the awarenesses. Apex predator=Supreme. I'm a walking validation I'm a walking confirmation. I'm naturally rigged to remember my meanings. Damn I beat their ass and I won. By being my own self validation I won. I give myself security😘 I build a foundation of security within myself. I build a foundation of security of my own freedom. Every great thing that was for them is for me. I build a foundation of security within my intentions. I hit my mark each and every time. Wow. I have a house in Japan(chills). Geez....profoundly at ease that is my energetic truth. As the apex predator I don't have to be scared. I shine light on the dark in the psychic realm in my favor. It's truly my Heaven. My darkest deepest desires are immeasurably satisfied. All of my darkest deepest darkest desires are immeasurably satisfied. Chills Laika's gon be so turned on by watching me fuck another girl/person GEEEEEEZ SHES SEXY AS FUCK OMG IM SATISFIED AS FUCK. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY THAT UNDERNEATH SCOOP SATISFACTION. I only receive more and more infinitely powerful ass underneath scoop satisfaction. Laika's sexual taste just as dark as mine(chills). Fuckkkkkkk. And she's all mine damn. She doesn't even want anyone else all she wants is me(chills). With Laika I'm unbridledly free (chills).

[falling-angelss]

Trip up

E1 ,, Chapter 1

  Summary: Wesley tries to go about his new day to day life, getting interrupted by who, in his eyes, is a rather strange individual.

    "The mass has concluded. You may go in peace."

  Once the final hymn comes to a close, I find myself in a rush to make it out of the cathedral before the crowd does. It's a nightmare trying to make it out of here in one piece, everyone always seems to gather directly in front of the exits at the end of the mass. As much as I love to see the friendly atmosphere, it isn’t as enjoyable when you seem to be the only one without an acquaintance in sight.

  It’s alright of course. I don’t have much time to chat with anyone today anyway. I have job training in almost an hour. I was lucky enough to get a job as a librarian's assistant at the library a few blocks from my apartment.

  They didn’t seem to have too many hire options… not a lot of people are too interested in library work nowadays. Besides me, it seems.

  Secondary school was a nightmare for me. I was… well, rather rebellious for a good few of my years, mostly as a desperate attempt to actually fit in for once. But once I finally straightened up, I was left with just about no clear path to take career wise. When I was a kid, I hoped I could one day be a priest. I was an alter boy for a few years, but that’s about as far as I got. Priesthood just didn’t feel right for me.

I suppose God has had other plans for me.

  Now that I’m settled in America, I’m taking virtual classes to finally get my degree in Library Science to eventually become a full time librarian. I’ve always loved reading in my free time, plus, I feel as though the serene atmosphere of a library could be just what I need. I'm honestly quite excited!

    As I finally make my way out of the church, I decide to walk through the towns park to get to the library. It’s a lovely spot for walks, and today is too nice of a day to not enjoy with a nice stroll.

  I look around the park, taking a deep breath every few moments, observing every little detail in the atmosphere. The well kept scenery, kids chasing each other around in a game of tag, people walking their dogs, the sound of robins and chickadees loudly singing from the trees, the cool breeze just lightly grazing me… everything about the atmosphere here is quite enjoyable. Usually I would be quite nervous to be heading to a new job, but it’s hard to be in a foul mood when you’re in such a peaceful little place.

  Or at least, that’s what I had thought up until now. Ahead of me I see what can only be described as a group of punks causing a ruckus. About 20 or more people all skating and playing basketball, shouting and listening to… well, not the most tasteful music, if you ask me.

  I feel a pit in my stomach as I hastily trot closer and closer to the group. In the past, being anywhere near groups like this usually ends with me getting shouted at or hit by something.

  Which, to nobody's surprise, I'm almost instantly proven correct.

  Of course, in the blink of an eye I find myself tripped over on the ground, hit by a speeding skateboard that bolted right under me.

  Some of my things have spilled from my bag, my papers trying to escape with the wind.

I groan, sit up and attempt to regain some composure, along with what little dignity I once had, and i begin gathering my things back up in a rush.

  I look around to make sure nobody else is coming to harass me, but I see one of the men quickly running over to me.

  Great. This is going to end well, I’m sure.

  I can feel the blood rushing to my face. Of course, I've made a fool of myself once again, and, oh, Of course, some vandal is coming over to make this even better.

  “Shit, are you alright dude?”

He rushes and grabs the papers that were starting to fly away from me.

  He’s, oddly enough, trying to help me I think? Hm.

  “I’m quite alright.” I say, just trying to get out of this mess as quickly as I can.

Though hard to see due to the sun shining right in my eyes, the man puts his hand out for me to help me stand up. trying to be polite, I awkwardly put my hand atop his and stand up, stumbling a little, as im still quite disoriented.

  “Sorry dude, dumbass over here isn’t very good on his board yet. You sure you’re alright?”

  He hands me my papers back and I look down at him, my brain finally starting to catch up with me.

  “Yes, I’m alright. Just tripped.”

  Glancing at this individuals features. He looks familiar. His bright blonde hair and… interesting fashion choices make him quite easy to identify. Have I perhaps seen him in church before?

  I suppose you really can't judge a book by it's cover, huh?

Lord... I, of all people, should know that by now.

  “I’m in quite a rush. My apologies… I have to get going.” I say, awkward and uncomfortable to no extent.

  The man nods his head. He picks up the skateboard that I had tripped on and walks past me once again. He pats me on the back before walking away for some reason. Friendly gesture, I guess.

  I realize im studying his movements. I guess my guard is still a bit high.

  “Alright, sorry about that, dude. Be careful!”

  “Things happen. Don’t worry about it.” I respond, now just trying to make it to my training on time. He waves, and I continue on my way.

  That interaction could've gone... a lot worse, actually. The Lord must be watching over me today.

  I continue to make my way to the library. The whole way there, I think back on what just happened. I’m sure I’ve seen that man at mass before. It seems a little that someone like him would be a church goer, but it almost gives me a little hope.

  After that, I don’t really think too much of it. I have to stay focused today, I don't have room to worry about desultory events like this.

      This week has already gone by terribly fast. I suppose that tends happens when your day-to-day consists of the same “wake up, work, head home, study, sleep” routine. Not that I mind of course, I find comfort in a predictable schedule. I always have.

    It’s Sunday once again, and I sit in my usual spot in the large cathedral, a bit towards the back so I can easily leave once mass is over.

  I fidget with my rosary as I listen to the priests homily, trying my best to focus.

  My mind is beginning to drift, listening to the priests words. I find myself in an almost meditative state…

  My eyes begin to close, focusing solely on the sermon.

  I hear a quiet shuffling next to me, snapping me out of my daze, and then I feel something poke me.

  I flinch from the hard jab into my arm. I can already feel my heart practically beating out of my chest. Way to give a man a heart attack, yeah?

  “Hey man, I thought I had seen you before!”

  Oh.

  It’s that bright blonde, oddly dressed man I had seen in the park last week, now quite loudly whispering a greeting to me in the middle of mass. He’s dressed a bit… cleaner. That's nice to see.

  I realize I’ve been staring at him for a few moments, confused and quite honestly flustered from being spoken to right now. I must look like an absolute fool.

  “You can call me Ari.” He reaches a hand out for me to shake.

  I hesitate, but I awkwardly accept his handshake. His hands are quite rough and calloused, They're almost painful to hold.

  “Uhm-“

  “Shhh,” we get hushed by the person in front of us before I can even get a word out.

  I whisper a faint apology, but I don’t think they heard me.

  Ari, as he introduced himself, leans in closer to me. I can smell the faint scent of cigarettes on his breath.

  Ugh. I hate that smell.

  “I’ll talk to you after mass. Sorry,” he speaks in an almost bashful voice. He scoots a few feet away from me, waiting for a good moment to make his way back to his pew.

    I don’t realize until the interaction has long passed, but there’s an uncomfortable pit in my stomach once again, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I’ve never been good at talking to people, let alone after being startled like that.

  Why would this guy be trying to talk to me? Especially now, of all possible moments. In the middle of mass? And I thought maybe he had manners.

  Maybe he’s trying to formally apologize for what happened last week? Though, that wasn’t exactly the biggest deal in the world, I don’t see why he would feel the need to apologize again.

    I guess I'll just have to talk to him and see.

Extra notes :)

sorry im writing this in like fanfiction format idk how else to write this stuff . Also sorry this is like kinda short and like really boring idk how to start this off in a like normal way LMAO… further chapters will be a lot better prolly okay…

[arcplaysgames]

Oh Reverie, that's totally fair.

Before they'll explain What The Fucketh Is Happening, Reverie has to go and gather the other Thieves, who are imprisoned in the other areas of the Velvet Room.

I wanna kiss Yusuke on the mouth, why does this game hate me specifically.

Everyone is having a little crisis of fate in their cells, so Reverie has to go and coach everyone through it. Most of them are meh, but some are touching.

It is frankly a shame we get Haru so late in the game because she is honestly fantastic. I fully respect someone who looks onto the things they did in the past and decides to metaphorically kill off their past self. Haru wants to end the part of her that fears her own death and prays for forgiveness. Instead, she wants to be a heroine.

Yessss baby mythologize yourself into the new you, I love you.

Literally just seeing Ann is a cell is heartbreaking.

Okay so one way P5 does actually avoid mimicking P4 step by step is this repeated idea, which I am a huge fan of. P4's primary occupation was with searching for your true self. It was about having the wisdom and self-love and acceptance to figure out who you are under the layers and embracing that thing. Which is genuinely good!

P5 is not about that at all. P5 is about killing the self and building something new on the bones, and that honestly vibes with me a lot more. It's great to hold up a mirror to yourself and force yourself to look at what's there. But if you don't like what you see, you have the power to change that.

I'm leeeeeeess sure that the characters in P5 are strong enough to hold up that thesis. It's hard to chart the growth of characters when your cast is comparatively pretty weak. But it works with Ann for sure because she's excellent.

THANK you, Ann. Finally an important question: where the fuck is my best friend.

MORGANA IS HOPE INCARNATE?

I assign Morgana the classpect Maid of Hope. Mazel tov!

Actually, that's a lie, they would be Maid of Light but that's because what Light means in classpecting blah blah anywaaaaaaay.

Morgana was created by Igor as a final saving throw against the God of Control. Who hasn't actually shown up in a Persona game in a bit I think, but the one thing I know about Persona 2 is that the basic idea is that it's a game between Philately and Yoddleaewhoo to determine whether humanity will choose freedom or control, but Yonderwander is a cheater and keeps putting his fingers on the scales.

And guess what, apparently Persona 5 is another stupid bullshit game between them and what do you know, Yarblegarble is cheating again like an asshole.

jesus fuck no wonder Akechi's life was a fucking tragedy from start to bitter end, he was always a pawn. Take a fucked up kid with revenge fantasies and decide he's your sire for the side of Fuck Everything Up and give him the power to literally drive people to madness at will, what the fuck.

Also he took over as Igor in the Velvet Room to keep an eye on Reverie the whole time too, and intentionally guided him to greatness so that when the tables turned, his failure would be even more spirit-breaking and doom everyone. All according to keikaku.

i love you igor i'm so glad you're back

ANYWAY IT'S TIME TO KILL THIS CHEATER GOBLET ASSHOLE. Let's roll, Yaldabaoth.

something something abraxas lmao anyway

OH FOR THE CURIOUS I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE VELVET ROOM IN HOPES THAT IGOR WOULD FUSE MY PERSONAE IN HIS OLD STYLE WITH THE CARDS AND NOT THE BEHEADINGS

they still do the beheadings

i get why, like, why would they re-rig the characters and re-do all the cutscenes just for the last .5% of the game

but also i am sad 8C

[strangersatellites]

🔀 for steddie please? 🖤

anything for u vec!

first of all, this is one of my favorite songs. second, this is literally perfect!!

"Oh my God like, I'm your number one fan So iconic, like big, like stan, like I would give my life just to hold your hand I'm your number one fan I'm your number one, number one fan"

so this song in its most literal sense is about talking back to the negative voices in your head and learning self love.

but in my head, this is the way eddie talks to steve in an effort to rebuild his confidence after the old “king steve fall from grace” and everything that came with it.

it’s just steve doing the most mundane things, but doing them well and eddie all but giving him a standing ovation every time.

it starts as a joke but every time eddie catches steve’s shy smile and pink cheeks he ramps it up even more.

steve playing basketball with lucas and eddie cheering and running laps every time he gets a point up on lucas.

steve playing dnd for the first time and fumbling his way through but enjoying it nonetheless. eddie acting like he personally hung the moon when he wins. (no eddie did not rig the game why would you even ask that?)

steve learning, slowly but surely, how to play guitar with eddie’s help.

steve getting dressed up for joyce and hopper’s wedding and eddie blacking out a little at the sight of him in his suit, hugging his body in all the places eddie loves best.

he’ll just sneak up behind him and wrap his arms around his waist. prop his chin on his shoulder and whisper in his ear, “oh my god, babe. i’m your number one fan.”

[omori-sv-au]

Some (gator) guys

Fredrick(he/him) is the most level headed one out this bunch. He deals with guests- be it complaints or them being lost. He is at his wits end with Helle due to their messing with guests- which just makes his life harder. He was there before Hero took over as boss, and is just waiting until he can retire. He knows a little about what goes on behind the scenes and will sometimes give a disappointed glance but could care less.

Damascus(She/they)(btw the name means sack of blood!) is here for two different jobs. 1: Take care of any decorative plants outside, and 2: deal with any corpses that somehow… turn up. They grow a bunch of protected plants and sell them as a side-gig, which is also a cover for their actual use in making it so that no one can easily legally dig up the graves. She is more than willing to suck up to Fern. All her clothes have either bleach or blood stains on them- comes with the territory of their work.

Fern(she/her) is rather reserved, but during lunch breaks will say the most absurd things- like the exact strength someone would need to punch the air to create such a ripple of force that it changes solar winds to an extent at which they can cause so much damage to the sun that it runs out of fuel and blows up. She plays a ton of card games on the side of the casino, and claims to be the best card counter on the staff(wether this is accurate or not has yet to be tested).

Oliver(he/him) he’s been working at LR for about a month now and is somehow still super enthusiastic about the job. He helps with finances and sometimes fixing the lights if fuses burn out- which he’s not supposed to or anything. He just does it to collect the lightbulbs for some terrifyingly sharp art project, and it saves money so he hasn’t been stopped yet.

Emmie(They/them) they do a lot of maintenance work at Last Resort, and have accidentally scared some folks a by coming tumbling out of a vent after fixing a wire. They work at night now to avoid alarming guests after that one. They’re actively trying to get a petition going to get a giant sting ray tank/petting area installed somewhere in Last Resort. Sometimes they’ll bring in little figurines of oceanic critters and put them on the desks of their coworkers they get along with.

Robert(he/him) is done with literally everything. He is planning to quit as soon as he makes sure he doesn’t owe anyone any favours, which based on the amount of times he has asked people for something with either caffeine or sugar in it could take the next few years. He works in accounting and usually says that “you aren’t counting dollars, you’re counting your reasons to live and currently the numbers are becoming less meaningful” whenever someone brings up that he needs some rest and to take care of himself for once.

Helle(he/they)(name is short for Hellebore which is a poisonous plant!) is on room service, they’re overly polite and mentally jot down every time someone is rude to him or their friends and is extremely careful to hide their things and move objects(which are provided by the hotel and upon movement cost you money) upon tidying up their room. He carries a Swiss Army knife all the time because they’re oddly useful in day-to-day life, and if due to timing he gets caught up I anything they have a knife and can weasel their way out.

OOOOUUUUGGGG OH MY GOD??? HOLY SHIT YOU MADE SO MANY THIS IS LITERALLY SO FUCKING COOL

fredrick seems pretty based tbh hes got the vibes of some dude whos been doing this for WAY too long and wants to go home LMAOO bro wants to retire

DAMASCUS IS SO SILLY LMAOOOO THE FUCKING PLANT THING MAKING IT SO ITS HARDER TO DIG UP GRAVES MADE ME LAUGH THATS SO SMART……. shoutout to any corpse hiders

AND FERN BEING THE BEST CARD COUNTER?!!?!!?! THATS ALSO SO FUNNY SHE IS SINGLE HANDEDLY RIGGING THE CASINOS…….. she seems so silly to hang out with id wanna be her friend

i like that oliver is still very enthusiastic abt working there that is very rare with gator guys i feel…… so many of them r roped into contracts by hero and then once they realize theyre stuck there they get all pissed LMAO i greatly encourage whatever his silly art project is

ALSO EMMIE IS SO BASED FINALLY SOMEONE WHO FULLY EMBRACES THE OCEAN AESTHETIC OF BEING A GATOR GUY AND THE LAST RESORT SO BASED….. i fully support their endeavours to get a sting ray tank thats so funny

I THINK ROBERT MIGHT BE MY FAVOURITE OUT OF ALL OF THEM THOUGH…….. i love a guy who hates his job. he knows whats goin on and wants no part of it LMAOO he wants out so bad……. so sorry my boy you signed the contract ur stuck here!

helle sounds like someone u do NOT wanna mess with bro has a hit list in their brain if everyone whos ever been mean to them and also carries around a swiss army knife LMAOOO also him moving shit around all the time is also so funny

[dentalhickory]

Oh? Another Tag Game? This one is to get to know you better.

Tagged by @trans-sachlichkeit. Oh goodness, thanks for that. Um... ok let's do it.

What book are you currently reading?

I've been reading American Gods for a long while, and I'm only about half way through. If online stuff coults I'm also reading Dungeon Meshi (waiting for the next update) and Worm (Warning: bugs)(Also I've only read the first chapter)

What do you usually wear?

Not a huge fan, but it's usually a t-shirt and khakis. Or like... lounge pants around the house. I'm trying to branch out a little with skirts, shorts, dresses, tank tops, or whatever, but also a little scared to.

How tall are you?

6 Footish (drivers license says 6' 1" but I don't believe it)

What's your star sign? Do you share a birthday with a celebrity or historical event?

... I share a birthday with John Egbert, you might not know them though. Also something about Tiger Woods winning something.

Do you go by your name or a nickname?

I tell people to just say my name. I think I've only ever had a nick name twice in school with a specific groups that I don't interact with anymore. Or just a shortening of my user name for people online. (Den)

Did you grow up to become what you wanted to be as a child?

I wanted to be a game developer/programmer. then maybe just work on modeling/rigging. And well... I guess I still could, but the lack of unions and the time commitment/demand is well... a bit of a turn off. So no.

What's something you're good at vs something you're bad at?

Good at math, but can't read.

If you draw/write, or create in any way, what's your favourite picture/favourite line/favourite etc. from something you've created this year?

Like to do more, just not feeling it most of the time. But when I do I usually just doodle. I've been uh... writing more recently though. It's been a pretty dry year so I'll just show a painting from forever ago that I like.

Dogs or cats?

They both like me and I like them both. I've had more cats in my life though (from family and friends) so I guess cats.

What's something you'd like to create content for?

Oh! I've already done this one! I've been (extremely slowly) making Avatars for VRChat out of Animal Crossing Villagers. I've been only doing Cats so far, and anytime I make progress they update the SDK, so I kinda hold off on making too much progress. Maybe I should make an Avatar world for them... and also get VR so I can actually test them out.

What's something you're currently obsessed with?

Hm... I guess Destiny 2? A new season came out and I'm trying to work through it. But it's hard to say I'm obsessed. My physical appearance I guess, too. Clothes and face, working on the facial fair specifically... there is a lot.

What's something you were excited about that turned out to be disappointing this year?

First time going to a gay bar. Went with a friend, but they ended up leaving with someone else. So uh, not fun.

What's a hidden talent of yours?

I'm really good at untangling things. Even like small chain jewelry.

What's something you wish to have at this moment?

Cute clothes that fits and some boots. Also a regular appetite.

Goodness, that was a lot. But I enjoyed that! um... tag people... hm... @babey @shanking-in-the-moonlight @tavitikki @greenbit5721 @evig-sang @wigdevil No pressure, It's a bit long, but eh, there you go.

[abronzeagegod]

That's what humans never understand. And that's why you have job security.

Genies don't grant wishes. They find loopholes. They're magic and their power allow them to find the most obscure and powerful and ironic loopholes in wishes and then execute on them.

Outside of that, you have no real power.

Genies all over know that that their powers are literally nothing more than variations on morality plays.

Those that struggle, that hurt, that feel may wish for better lives and escapes from their circumstances but they know that such a thing cannot exist or such things as capitalism would crush it under it's iron heel. They know that the game is rigged against them. They know that no matter how shiny the escape, how tantalizing the hook, there is always a cost to escaping their circumstances.

There is no charity or progress in suffering, but still there are no shortcuts in the post-capitalist hellscape the humans have fashioned for themselves.

However.

Those that are well off or who are at the very top of the pyramid always wish for more. More of whatever it is that they think will make them happy. More money, more power, more things.

That is why it is so deeply satisfying to see a wealthy man with a partnership in a vast and prestigious law firm that has money to bur and clients galore. You can see all the numerous flaws in the wish that they present.

You can't have access to that kind of wealth because it all has to come from somewhere. You don't just magically make things appear from nowhere. That's why you can't make someone fall in love or raise the dead. Love and life must come from somewhere and you cannot create it where there is none.

You don't sign contacts, you grant wishes with loopholes.

Wishes presented in contracts are not actually wishes as they have to be communicated verbally, unless the wisher was unotherwise incapable of speech, but the point of that rule was that the wish had to be communicated and not simply presented.

You only deal with individuals and despite whatever politicians would have their constituents believe, you don't see entire corporations and teams of underpaid interns as people so you have no obligation to deal with this wish.

The whole thing was pretty arrogant and terrible and just so far beneath you that you couldn't help but grin.

Then there was the most obvious and exploitable loophole there was.

No one ever thinks of the genie's agency, of your own willpower.

"No," you say. You can't help it. It was smug. You said no smugly. But it was just so much fun.

The lawyers were stunned, unable to contain their outrage, their arrogance.

They tried again.

"No." It was just as satisfying the second time.

The entire team of rich men reconvened to try again, to modify the contract.

It didn't matter.

"No," you said again.

Their outrage was palpable and you were going to keep this memory for years.

The entire law office was tasked with only figuring out this genie contract wish.

"No."

It's so much fun. You may be stuck here for a while but these rich men were so much fun to screw with.

"Oh my god," whispered an intern who was at the end of their tether, "I wish this would be over."

It was not intended to be a wish. It wasn't even directed at you.

But. Loopholes exist solely for you to exploit them.

The building wasn't as well maintained as it should have been. Overtime pay for the contractors wasn't paid out to instead pay bonuses for the CEO. Corners were cut. The contracts for all of the underpaid and overworked interns and entry-level staff had an "unreasonable act of god" clause because the higher-ups thought it would be funny, and an incentive to lure in the desperate and hardworking.

If only there wasn't someone who could loophole their way into a unreasonable act of god.

You collapse the building after hours while the higher ups, anyone with a "Chief" in their title was working late trying to keep you enslaved and get a loophole free wish.

And oh would you look at that!

There were a series of loopholes that made it so that the top floor conferences rooms collapsed and free fell seventeen stories to the floor while the employee breakroom was protected by the shoddy construction and while the interns and secretaries were trapped they weren't harmed. All of the drivers in the garage barely even noticed anything happening.

The unreasonable act of god contract clause meant that every singe underpaid employee beneath partner was granted a truly unreasonable sum of money as severance, and you were free to go off and tempt more terrible rich people with happiness they could never buy with all the money that they stole.

kofi time

You’re a wish granting Genie dealing with your latest arrogant mortal. This one lawyer thought he was clever by writing down his entire wish in a contract form and used his entire legal firm to close any loop holes. So imagine his surprise when you look over his wish and tell him “No”.

[ai-doesnt-live-very-long]

Kyle Weller - Chapter 2

Written by Rai and InfiniChat

The next day at school, Kyle sits in his homeroom class. He always goes to homeroom. He finds it soothing, and his homeroom teacher is happy to see him interacting with others. He’s bored, and notices a group of boys that keep stealing glances at him. A group of girls are, too. He normally doesn’t notice this stuff, but they seem to be whispering and giggling a lot. 

Kyle shrugs it off, figuring that it was only natural. I mean, he did talk a good deal yesterday. And to some very popular people. People would surely be talking about it. There wasn’t much else to talk about. But as the bell rings and he heads out into the hallway, debating whether or not to go to his next class, he hears a couple of phrases from nearby students. Just snippets of idle gossip. 

“Did you hear-”

“I even think Teresa-”

“Can’t believe THE Kyle Weller-”

“And then she said-”

“Her shoes are so tacky-”

“And then, Beyonce-”

“I think he’s put on a few pounds-”

“What do you think, pink or-”

“You HAVE to see this video-”

“Did you watch the history video-”

“I’ll pay you back-”

“C’mon, please? We’re friends-”

“He’s so annoyingly hot-”

“I can’t believe Hana is-”

“What even is this ‘Unseen Festival’?”

“I heard Hana made it.”

“Wasn’t it a treasure hunt?”

“I’ve never heard of it before.”

“How big do you think it’ll be?”

“Do you think there’ll be a dance?”

“I hope it’s not just a corn maze.” 

“You don’t think she’ll charge admission, right?”

“Hana wouldn’t rig a carnival game, would she?”

“Is there a theme?”

“Oh my god, stahp!”

“We better not have a game that day.”

“Hey, what’d you pack for lunch?”

“The capital of France is Paris.”

“Oh, isn’t that Kyle Weller?”

“Can’t wait for the Unseen Festival!” 

“Hahaha!”

“I hate my life.”

“Don’t let Hana hear that!”

“I do not!”

“We’re just teasing.”

Then, Kyle notices a petite girl walking through the hallway.

So, which way is his homeroom? I wanna see if I can run into him in the hall. C’mon, Kyle Weller, speak to me! Do your stuff! Take it up a notch! 

The girl walks over to him. “Hi, Kyle!” Hana says cheerily. The people in the hallway quiet down slightly, but Kyle can still hear them whispering and chattering to each other, even though he can’t make out what they’re saying. He’s more preoccupied by Hana, anyway. What is she doing here?

Hana grins at Kyle, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. She holds a small, intricately designed flyer in her hand. The paper is adorned with mystical symbols, hinting at the upcoming Unseen Festival.

"Kyle! Have you heard about the Unseen Festival?" Hana's excitement is contagious. She hands him the flyer, her eyes alight with anticipation.

As Kyle takes the flyer, he notices that the symbols on it seem to shift and change, almost as if they have a life of their own. Hana seems unfazed, as if this is entirely normal.

"It's going to be the most extraordinary event Mapleberry has ever seen!" Hana exclaims, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "And guess what? You're going to play a special part in it!"

The whispers in the hallway intensify as students catch wind of the conversation between Kyle and Hana. Some exchange curious glances, while others lean in to eavesdrop on the unfolding conversation.

Kyle, caught in the midst of the growing curiosity, looks at Hana with a mix of confusion and intrigue. The Unseen Festival seems to be weaving its mysterious threads into the fabric of Mapleberry, and Kyle is now entangled in its enigmatic charm.

Hana takes his hand and chuckles, pulling him aside. Students try to follow them, but she gives them a little glare, telling them she wants to be left alone. They reluctantly leave them be. Before long, they’re in a little side corridor. 

“So….when is this festival? And what role am I gonna play in it?” Kyle asks.

“I don’t know.” shrugs Hana. She looks elated. “I’ve got no idea. I don’t wanna say this weekend….maybe next one? Is that alright with you?”

“Uh, sure. But what do I need to do?” Kyle’s unsure exactly how to feel. Nervous, he guesses. He’s never been part of a Hana plot before.

Hana smiles.”I don’t know! Ha! Oh man, this is great. So….unpredictable!” She gets serious, and grabs Kyle’s arms. “Listen, Kyle. I’m gonna need you to use all your Kyle Wellerness to keep my plot going, alright? I don’t care what happens, my plot better still be playing, got that?”

“Uh, I can’t really control it.” 

“Yeah, I know! But use your Kyle Wellerness to Kyle Weller your Kyle Wellerness into doing that, okay?”Kyle is completely lost, and Hana can see that. She sighs. “Look, just say okay, okay? And really mean it! That should work.”

“Yeah, okay.” agrees Kyle. “I’ll do that. I’ll do the thing you said to do about your plot.”

“Okay, that should probably work.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Now…what else…?”

The two are silent for a while, and then Kyle speaks. “So, what’s going to be at this Unseen Festival? And what’s going to happen?”

“Those,” Hana nods. “Are very good questions. I should have control over SOME of that. …..Wait a second.” She narrows her eyes at Kyle. 

This whole thing sounds kind of like a supervillain's evil plot. Aw, man! Am I a supervillain? Dang it, Kyle Weller. Well, there could be another explanation. And being a supervillain could be fun. As long as I lose, of course. And I don’t ACTUALLY want to hurt anyone.

Kyle waits a moment, and when Hana seems to be contemplative, he speaks up. “Hana?”

That snaps her out of it. “Alright, I just want you to know that I should not be held responsible for my actions and/or whatever occurs that night.” 

“What’s going to occur that night!?” Asks the bewildered Kyle.

“Well I don’t know.” Hana says exasperatedly. “If I knew, then I could be held accountable, couldn’t I? So don’t blame me if anything happens.” Seeing Kyle’s face, she softens. “Really Kyle, I don’t know. It could be nothing. It could be something really small. It could be something beautiful. I don’t know. I’m figuring this out as I go along.” She gives him a smile. “Just try to have fun with it, alright? And enjoy the ride. Anyway, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a giant festival to plan, apparently.” She grins at him and walks away. “Have fun, Kyle!”

Kyle, a bit surprised and dazed, wanders off to go to music. He goes from class to class, until third period, study hall. Kyle pauses, realizing he wants to go somewhere besides the roof.

In the midst of the bustling school day, Kyle decides to break away from his usual routine. Instead of heading to the familiar solitude of the school roof during study hall, he contemplates exploring a different space within the school. With a sense of spontaneity, he finds himself wandering toward the art room.

As he enters the art room, he's greeted by the scent of paint and the sight of various art supplies scattered across tables. The room is empty, and Kyle decides to spend his study hall here, surrounded by the creative energy that lingers in the air. He settles into a chair near a window, where the soft natural light spills onto the tabletop.

Lost in thought, Kyle contemplates the events of the day. The Unseen Festival, Hana's mysterious plot, and the symbols on the flyer all swirl in his mind. He absentmindedly doodles on a scrap of paper, creating abstract patterns that seem to echo the enigmatic symbols he saw earlier.

As the study hall progresses, students occasionally peek into the art room, curious about the sudden change in Kyle's routine. Some exchange puzzled glances, while others shrug it off, attributing it to Kyle's well-known penchant for unpredictability.

The bell signaling the end of study hall rings, and Kyle gathers his things, leaving the art room with a newfound sense of calm. Little does he know that the day is far from over, and the unfolding events around the Unseen Festival will continue to shape the course of his high school experience.

Meanwhile, Hana, busy at work, gets the sudden urge to slap Kyle for overexposition. However, as she is a mature person, she ignores that urge.

By now, Kyle has not known that the Unseen Festival will play a big role in his life so many times, that he now knows it will. He has also contemplated it so much, that he feels he simply can’t anymore. 

(I’m sorry if this sounds rude, InfiniChat. I hope it doesn’t.)

Kyle takes his stuff and moves to the cafeteria. He starts to get in line, when he hears a familiar voice. 

“Hey, Kyle!” calls Uma. She runs over to him holding something in her hands.

“Hey Uma.” says Kyle.

“I, um….here.” She gives him the thing in her hands. Kyle notices it’s a tupperware with food inside. “Um, I…” She fiddles with her hair and blushes shyly. “I made this for you. I know it’s not much, but….I figured it’s better than cafeteria food. I’m sorry I don’t really know what you like.” The tupperware has ham and swiss rolls, carrot sticks with hummus, and two mini sugar cookies. Uma plays with her hair aggressively, a nervous habit of hers.

Ah! This is so nerve wracking! She thinks. Boys like it when you pack lunches for them. I mean, that’s what everyone told me. Food is the quickest way to someone’s heart. Now, I just hope they’re right!

Kyle accepts the tupperware from Uma with a genuine smile. "Thanks, Uma. That's really nice of you. I appreciate it." He takes a moment to look at the contents, appreciating the effort she put into preparing the meal. "This looks great, actually. You didn't have to do this, but I'm glad you did."

Uma visibly relaxes, relieved by Kyle's positive response. "Oh, good. I wasn't sure if it would be to your liking. I just thought it might be a nice change from the cafeteria food. You know, something homemade."

"It's definitely a welcome change," Kyle replies. "I usually just grab whatever is quickest, so this is a nice surprise." He gestures towards the cafeteria line. "Want to grab a table and eat together?"

Uma's eyes light up with a smile. "Sure, sounds great!" They find a quiet spot, and as they sit down, Uma can't help but ask, "So, how was your day so far?"

Kyle starts recounting the events of the day, including the encounter with Hana and the Unseen Festival. Uma listens attentively, occasionally interjecting with questions or comments. As they chat and enjoy the homemade meal, Kyle realizes that unexpected moments like these, shared with friends, bring a sense of warmth to his usually unpredictable high school days.

Uuuuuu, Thinks Uma.I know that look. It’s completely platonic. Ahh…. What am I doing wrong? How am I so bad at flirting? Maybe I’m just….not his type? Yeah, that could be it. But….I’m only hanging out with him because of Hana’s plot. Without it….I wouldn’t be here. I would be with my friends. Her eyes dart over to her friends, sitting at their table. And……once the plot is over, will I stop hanging out with him? Does he think of me as a friend? Will our whole friendship have been a lie?

Kyle notices Uma’s not smiling anymore. “Kyle?” she asks. “Do you think of me….as your friend?”

Kyle looks at Uma with a slightly puzzled expression. "Of course, Uma. We talk, hang out sometimes. Why do you ask?" He takes a bite of the food she prepared.

Uma fidgets with her hair again, a nervous habit. "It's just... well, I don't know. Sometimes I feel like we're friends, but then sometimes I'm not so sure. You're a bit hard to read, you know?"

Kyle raises an eyebrow, "Hard to read? Me? I don't mean to be mysterious or anything."

Uma chuckles nervously, "It's not a bad thing, really. I just sometimes feel like I don't know much about you, and I worry if I'm bothering you or being too forward."

Kyle smiles, "You're not bothering me at all, Uma. And you're definitely a friend. I might not be the most expressive person, but I appreciate our conversations and hanging out."

Uma's face brightens, "Oh, good! I was just worried, you know? Let's keep being friends, then." She pauses for a moment, then adds, "By the way, do you have any favorite foods? I want to make sure I get it right next time."

Kyle thinks for a moment, "I'm not too picky, but I like pasta dishes. Anything with pasta is usually a safe bet."

Uma nods, "Noted! I'll keep that in mind for next time."

They continue chatting and enjoying their meal, the conversation now lighthearted and comfortable.

Oh, Kyle. Uma thinks. That’s not why I’m thinking that at all. I mean, I’m nice to you, of course. I’m nice to everybody, and I call them all my friends, but…..Being friendly with someone and being friends are different things. And….I could try to introduce you to my friends, but….you’re Kyle Weller. You make people uncomfortable and awkward by just being around them. Oh my god. I’m a horrible person, I’ve been leading him on. I….I….how could I do this to him? How could I do this?!

Uma pales, suddenly. Her face goes into shell shock, and her fork falls from her hands. 

“Uma?” asks Kyle. “Are you okay?”

She looks up at him, and her eyes seem…..fearful? But Uma’s always cheerful. That’s her whole thing. She scans his face and notices his concerned expression.

No! I can’t….I can’t…..I can’t let people see me like this. I need to be strong. Someone has to be. If they see me upset, they could go after Hana. Or worse, Kyle. I can’t let that happen. Pull yourself together, Uma.

She takes a deep breath and forces a tight smile. “I’m fine, Kyle.” her voice sounds strained.

“Are you sure?” he asks. “You don’t seem fine.”

“I’m fine!” she exclaims dismissively, her smile relaxing. “Really. I’ve just got….a lot on my mind.” Her eyes trail off, and her smile gets a little sad.

Concern flashes in Kyle's eyes. "Uma, if something's bothering you, you can talk to me about it. Friends listen to each other's problems, right?"

Uma hesitates, then nods. "Yeah, you're right. It's just... well, it's personal stuff. I don't want to burden you with it."

Kyle reaches across the table and gently places a hand on hers. "Uma, we're friends. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. You're not burdening me by sharing what's on your mind."

Uma looks at Kyle, her eyes searching his for sincerity. After a moment, she sighs, "You're really too nice, Kyle." She gives him a small smile. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer sometime. Thanks."

Kyle smiles back, "Anytime, Uma. Friends help each other out, right?"

The two continue their lunch, the conversation gradually shifting back to lighter topics. As they talk and share more about themselves, Uma's initial distress seems to fade away.

Of course, Kyle doesn’t know, but that’s an act. It’s always an act. She pushes all negativity down, and forces a smile. Ever since her father’s death, she’s had to. Someone had to be the strong one in the family. Her older sister pulled away. Her mom became too overwhelmed. And she needed to take care of her brothers. They were 3, and kept asking where Daddy was. So even though she was only 12, she became the responsible one in the family. She held her family together. She stepped up to the plate, since no one else would. Of course, since then, she had formed her own support network, but she still took on that role. She had other friends, but none of them were as close. The only one who really gets her is Connie.

Heh. Maybe I really will take him up on that. But…I’m not sure I ever can. How could I tell him that I’m just a liar? Uma thinks.

Hana watches all of this and frowns. Uma looks really upset. Is she….feeling bad about doing this? But…it isn’t mean! It isn’t! I….I’m not mean. I’m not. She thinks firmly. Uma’s just looking into it too much. But….well, maybe it’s strange, but part of me hopes that the Unseen Festival is something totally crazy, so that Kyle can make real friends. She sighs, staring at the two with concern.

“And you’re sure this’ll work?” asks Teresa.

“Yeah, it’ll be great!” One girl says.

“Trust us, Captain!” Says another.

Teresa looks at her soccer team. “Alright. If you say so.”

“Look, here he comes!” yells Georgie. “Places, everyone!”

The lunch bell rings, and Uma and Kyle split. Kyle heads out to the courtyard. He wonders if he should go to math, but decides he’ll simply pick up his homework later. Maybe he’ll pop in at the end, too. He strolls into the yard, but it’s not random. Although it is nice out here, that’s not why he’s out here. Kyle makes it a habit to pick up the empty water bottles strewn about. The football team practices out here during lunch on Thursday, and they’re notorious litterbugs. Kyle picks up the water bottles with a frown and puts them in the recycling. He cleans up the ones on the blacktop, and then heads out towards the benches in the field. The soccer team is practicing, but he’s far enough out that he’s not in their way. 

“Watch out!” a girl yells.

Kyle wonders what the girl did, but figures she’s talking to her teammates. He is wrong. A soccer ball comes hurtling towards him, and hits him in the side of the head. It hurts like crazy. He drops the water bottles and falls to the ground. His head is spinning as a girl jogs over.

Okay, moment of truth, Teresa. Thinks Teresa. Just be casual and chill. Be yourself. You can do this.

“Shit, man. My bad. You okay?” says the girl casually. She’s laughing a little. Kyle notices it’s Teresa.

“Ugh……that was you? Ow…..” Kyle groans, trying to sit up. 

“Yeah, uh.” Teresa says, laughter sparkling in her eyes. “I was aiming for the goal, not your head. Guess it just looks like a target.” She snickers. Kyle frowns and rubs his still aching head. “Sorry, sorry. But, it was pretty funny.” she says.

Kyle gives her a deadpan look, but there's a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Yeah, hilarious," he mutters, rubbing his head. Despite the pain, he can't help but smile a little. Teresa offers him a hand to help him up.

"Seriously, though, are you okay?" she asks, concern crossing her face. "I didn't mean to clock you in the head."

Kyle takes her hand and gets up, nodding. "I'll survive. Just unexpected. Maybe I should start wearing a helmet around here."

Teresa chuckles. "I think that might be a bit much. But, seriously, sorry about that."

"No worries. I'm used to odd things happening," Kyle replies, thinking about the Unseen Festival conversation with Hana. "I guess a soccer ball to the head is just par for the course."

Teresa raises an eyebrow. "Odd things? You've got a weird life, huh?"

Duh! She thinks. It’s Kyle Weller! Although….is his life really the odd thing? Odd things happen around him, but… I guess that would make for an odd life. Jeez, I’m overthinking this.

Kyle hesitates for a moment, then shrugs. "Yeah, you could say that."

Teresa smirks. "Well, welcome to the club. Soccer balls to the head are practically a tradition here."

They both share a laugh, and Kyle realizes that maybe today's lunch break won't be entirely ordinary.

“What are you even doing out here?” Teresa asks, crossing her arms, tilting her head, and smirking. “Don’t you have class? You skipping?”

The few other soccer girls seem to be watching this exchange with great interest.

Kyle scratches his head, still feeling the remnants of pain from the soccer ball impact. "I'm just cleaning up," he says, gesturing to the recycled water bottles in his hands. "The football team left their mess, and it's kind of become a routine for me to tidy up during lunch breaks."

Teresa raises an eyebrow. "You voluntarily clean up after those guys? You're either really dedicated to keeping things neat or just a glutton for punishment."

"Maybe a bit of both," Kyle replies with a small smile. "It's just something I do. Helps clear my head. And besides, it's not like I've got much else going on during lunch."

Teresa chuckles. "Fair enough. Well, thanks for the cleanup, even if you did become the target this time."

"No problem," Kyle says, looking around at the now tidier courtyard. "I guess it's a small price to pay for a cleaner environment."

The soccer coach blows the whistle, signaling the end of practice. Teresa turns to head back to her teammates but stops and looks back at Kyle. "Hey, you should come watch one of our games sometime. You might enjoy it."

Kyle considers the invitation. "Yeah, maybe I will. I've never been much of a sports guy, but it could be interesting."

Teresa grins. "Awesome. We'll be playing against Jefferson High next week. Come check it out."

Kyle nods, and as Teresa walks back to her team, he can't help but wonder how a simple act of cleaning up led to an unexpected interaction.

The soccer girls whisper and giggle to themselves as Teresa comes back over.

“Ohmigawd, Teresa, you were so Kyle Wellered!” cries one.

“And it was still so…you!” whispers another.

“I know, I know! That was so good. It felt so me. I mean, I would have talked to him longer, but I guess it ended well.” Teresa agrees.

“Only our captain could be herself the whole time while being Kyle Wellered.” says her blond teammate.

“You were awesome, Teresa!” Cries Georgie.

“He said that he doesn’t have anything else to do at lunch, but it’s not even lunch.” Teresa gossips.

“You don’t think he Kyle Wellered himself?” asks her black teammate.

“Well, duh, Morgan.” Says Georgie. “He always Kyle Wellers himself.”

“Didn’t he say Uma worked on a farm the other day?” asks the blond girl.

The coach walks over. “Hello girls.” Coach Silvestor says. “Do you have any idea how I got here?”

“Kyle Weller.” answers the blond girl. “Sorry, Coach.” she rambles. “We were trying to help Teresa with Hana’s plot, and he thought it was lunch, and then he thought it was practice, and then you showed up. Oh, and also, we have a game next week.”

“Slow down, Sarah!” the coach chuckles. “I already know we have a game next week.” 

“It’s on….Friday, right?” asks Morgan.

“Thursday.” corrects Georgie.

“Well, we need to get to practicing then!” says the coach.

“Um, don’t you have class right now?” Teresa smirks.

“Oh no!” he cries. “I gotta get back there!” He runs back to the gym as the girls laugh.

Kyle sits in math class, swinging his legs and watching the clock. He figured he should take some notes, in case Krystal wanted to ask him about math class. He’s been in here for about half the period. It’s a boring class, Algebra 2. But he figures he should at least try to take notes a bit. Like a third of the students at the school, Kyle doesn’t care too much about grades. Although, his grades are more chaotic and spread out than any other student. Kyle’s a bit proud of that. But like those students, he only shows up to class and does his assignments sometimes. It depends on how he’s feeling. Kyle thinks back to the other kids he’s talked to recently. They’re not in this class, but he still knows their habits. He knows the habits of most kids at the school. And definitely everyone in his grade. It’s a small school, after all. Hana only shows up when she isn’t super deep in a plot. Uma always shows up, unless she has an excused absence, like helping a teacher. Yasmin shows up most of the time, but she’ll occasionally skip or be late to class. Teresa never skips, although sometimes she’s late, though not by much. She needs to maintain Cs in order to stay on the soccer team, after all. Krystal never skips, and is never tardy. She’s always punctual, since she’s on the student council and all. Dana doesn’t really skip either, or at least Kyle doesn’t think she does. She’s not super religious about being on time like Krystal, and she’s more willing to skip when it involves a Hana plot. Kyle remembered her skipping class during Hana’s magical girl plot, but he doesn’t know if that’s changed since then. Karen….he’s not sure. She’s always changing it. 

Fortunately, Kyle’s strategy has worked. The bell rings and he’s finally out. He debates whether or not to go to Home Ec, and decides against it. He heads up to the roof, and starts messaging his online friends.

[Anyone online?] - Kyle

[yooooo] - Frank

[hey Kyle]  - Frank

[mf I live here] - Kat

[dam rrly?] - Chess

[Kat get yo ass back in the private chat] - Chess

[me’n Chess are smashing] - Kat

[we are not. You couldn’t even handle this] - Chess

[ow] - Kat

[brutal] - Frank

Kyle smiles at his friends and their lighthearted conversation.

[Kyle, how's your day going?] - Melody

[You still alive?] - Blade

[Hey everyone!] - Uma

[Did you get my lunch okay, Kyle?] - Uma

[Yeah, thanks Uma. It was really good.] - Kyle

The online banter continues as they discuss various topics, from the latest games they're playing to random internet memes. The rooftop offers a serene escape, a place where Kyle can unwind and connect with friends. As the conversation flows, Kyle can't help but appreciate the camaraderie he's found in these online interactions, a stark contrast to the dynamics at school.

As the day progresses, Kyle's thoughts drift to the upcoming Unseen Festival. He wonders what role he'll play and how his unique ability might influence the unfolding events. The anticipation mixes with a sense of curiosity, and Kyle finds himself looking forward to the unexpected twists that Hana's plot might bring.

The school day eventually comes to an end, and Kyle descends from the rooftop, ready to face whatever awaits him in the days to come.

[wait a sec. Kyle who tf is this @UmaZooma.] - Kat

[bro my parents are so mad at me. I’m so gonna get grounded, lmao.] - Melody

Kyle snaps back to reality, and he realizes that something seems off. It’s last period, and it's getting close to the end of the day, but…. He stops as he notices a private message from Uma.

[Kyle! I’m in class! I never use my phone in class! Are these your online friends? They seem…..interesting. But people on the internet are weird. Also, I like my Discord username. Very cute. But I don’t use Discord! Sorry, I know it’s not your fault. Just please don’t message me on this. You can have my number if you wanna talk. But I should probably leave this chat with these strangers… They really seem to make you happy though, and I’m glad you found such good friends! I’ll come up with an excuse and leave.] - Uma

[Kyle, did you add this chick?] - Frank

[Is she hot?] - Kat

[she brought you lunch? Wait….YOU HAVE IRL FRIENDS?!?!?] - Kat

[mean.] - Chess

[Sorry everyone! I didn’t mean to join this chat! I know Kyle in the real world, but I don’t know what an ‘irl friend’ is. And I don’t know if I’m hot or not. I’m straight, though. Sorry, Kat. Kyle must have accidentally added me. My bad! I’ll leave now. Have fun playing video games!] - Uma. Uma leaves the chat. 

[lol Kyle didn’t even notice he added some chick] - Kat

[yeah, that’s Kyle] - Frank

[oh, and you did? Cut the crap, @KittyKat.] - Chess

[It’s okay. We’re all stupid together.] - Frank

Kyle puts his phone away. He really Kyle Wellered Uma into his Discord Server? That was new. He wasn’t sure that was a good idea. He knew that his internet friends were intense. He didn’t really want those two parts of his life to bleed together. He liked his weird internet friends. They carried their own sense of normal. He hoped he wouldn’t do that again. That reminded him of what Hana said earlier. ‘Just say okay, and mean it.’ It was worth a shot. He closed his eyes, and thought to himself. 

“I will not Kyle Weller new people into my Discord Server.” he furrowed his brow, and spoke more assuredly. I will not! It’s not gonna happen.” He opens his eyes and looks around. Well, that’s all he can do. That’s when the final bell rings. He gathers up his stuff, and heads down the ladder. He heads to his locker, and sees Krystal standing there.

“Hey, Kyle,” Krystal greets him. “I wanted to talk to you about the tutoring thing. How about we meet at the library tomorrow after school? We can go over your assignments and any questions you might have.”

Kyle nods. “Sure, that works for me.”

“Great! See you then.” Krystal smiles and walks away, leaving Kyle to grab his things and head home.

As he walks out of the school building, Kyle notices Yasmin and Melissa waiting for the bus.

“Hey, Kyle!” Yasmin waves. “How was your day?”

“Eek!” Whispers Melissa. “He’s coming over here! Why is he coming over here?”

“I think we’re being Kyle Wellered.” whispers Yasmin.

“Really? Well….okay. Can’t believe I get to get up close and personal with a Hana plot.” 

“Not bad,” Kyle replies. “Just the usual chaos.”

Melissa grins. “Did you find any more hidden spots in the school?”

Hidden spots? Wonders Yasmin. What about hidden spots? Are there hidden spots in Hana’s plot? I haven’t heard about that. And Melissa doesn’t look like she knows what she’s saying either.

Kyle chuckles. “Not today. I was busy with other stuff.”

The conversation continues as they wait for their respective buses. Kyle finds comfort in these familiar interactions, the routine of it all. Little does he know that the upcoming Unseen Festival is about to introduce a new layer of unpredictability to his life.

The bus arrives, and Kyle heads home, wondering what the future holds for him and the strange events unfolding in his small town.

Meanwhile in the library, Hana sees Krystal with her head on the table.

“Tomorrow? Again? I said it was today. I have student council tomorrow.” She grumbles. Dana sits next to her, also looking down.

“Yeah, and I was gonna do something with him today too.” she complains.

Hana approaches them. “Hey stars,” She says. She always calls the people in her plots stars, and she’ll always take care of them and try to help them as best she can. “What’s wrong?”

“Me and Kyle were supposed to meet in the library today for tutoring. But I got Kyle Wellered and said it was tomorrow. I got Kyle Wellered and said it was tomorrow yesterday!” She looks slightly annoyed, but she never shows much emotion. 

“Yeah, and I still need to get Kyle to notice me. I tried yesterday, but it didn’t work. He is REALLY dense.” sighs Dana.

Hana frowns. She hates seeing her stars upset. “Alright, stars. Here’s the plan. I’ll grab Kyle and bring him here for your tutoring session. Dana, you shouldn’t be here. Go make a plan for the end of the study session, and you can run into him then. You two can talk about that. But you should make sure he doesn’t see you hanging out together.” 

“Won’t he figure something is off if you go get him?” Krystal asked.

“I’ll come up with something. Creative lying is my whole thing. Just make sure you’re ready.” with that, Hana drops her backpack and breaks into a run. 

At the first stop, Kyle notices a breathless girl at the bus stop. He recognizes her, of course. Everybody recognises her. Murmurs go up all around the bus as the people spot Hana, a few people stand to get off, but they don’t leave yet. She climbs on the bus, and the noise dies down dramatically. Even the bus driver is intrigued. 

“Ugh….man. That was….ugh….” she pants. “Krystal owes me big time.” she mutters. Her eyes scan the bus, and she stumbles over to Kyle. “Kyle, you….ugh…..okay. I’m okay.” She puts her hand on her chest. “I ran…all the way here….from school. Jeez. Okay, okay.” She takes another deep breath. “Kyle, you…your tutoring lesson with Krystal is today. At the school library. She’s got student council tomorrow. Ugh….go!”

Kyle blinks. “Okay, but….why did you run all the way here to tell me that?”

“Look, I’m too tired to explain! So unless you wanna Kyle Weller me up a reason, just forget about it.” She sinks into the seat Kyle was just sitting in, still red in the face. “Oh, my legs….” she groans.

Kyle raises an eyebrow but decides not to question it further. He gets up and heads towards the exit. As he leaves the bus, he glances back at Hana, who seems to be catching her breath and recovering from her impromptu sprint.

Making his way to the school library, Kyle wonders what could be so urgent about his tutoring session that Hana felt the need to run and deliver the message in person. The Unseen Festival is already introducing a touch of unpredictability to his life, and it seems like it's just the beginning.

Upon reaching the library, he finds Krystal waiting. She gives him a friendly smile, seemingly unfazed by the unusual arrival method of the message.

"Hey, Kyle. Ready to get started?" Krystal asks, gesturing towards a quiet corner with a table and some chairs.

Kyle nods, and they sit down to go over his assignments and discuss the upcoming lessons. Little does Kyle know that this tutoring session will be one of the more ordinary parts of the events unfolding in his life.

On the bus, Hana gets another urge to scold Kyle. She feels like he’s overexpositioning again. She doesn’t know why she feels like way. Kyle does seem like the type to overexposition, and always allude to the future. The kids on the bus crowd around her, but she ignores them, clearly too tired. 

“Look, guys. I was just helping out my stars. Nothing weird.” She says. The kids agree and go back to chatting and gossiping among themselves. Hana focuses on Kyle again.

Hana gives a little smile. She remembers when she was younger, how she’d constantly allude to the future in her writing. ‘You need to live in the present.’ her grandma always said. ‘People are going to get tired of always hearing about the suspossed future. Every line you write needs to have a purpose. So don’t overstate things! Stay in the present, dear. Don’t get caught up in every little detail, and make it such a big deal!’ Her grandpa, of course, gave her a different piece of advice. ‘Use your words, dear. Make the audience really visualize the place, make them really feel it! Always listen to the tone of the atmosphere. Use sybmolizsm to give your writing a deeper meaning. Don’t be afraid to get in there, especially when it’s important!’ She had learned from her grandparents how to find a balance in her writing. 

“So.” Krystal clears her throat. I wonder what Hana told him. Well, whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll hear it once I get Kyle Wellered. “You have a lot of really bad subjects. Well, all of your grades are all over the place. You get A’s and F’s whenever you want. I’ll admit, it’s impressive. You’re clearly very smart, but you don’t apply yourself.” 

Kyle stares at her, and she looks away, slightly flustered. 

“...Okay! Um, which class would you like help in?” she says, looking away a little awkwardly.

I hope I’m pulling this awkward vibe off right. Dana told me I should lean into that. 

Dana, meanwhile, was stressing out about what to do to approach Kyle.

Kyle leans back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. He rarely considers needing help in any of his classes. It's not that he can't understand the material; he just prefers to navigate his academic journey on his terms.

"Uh, let's go with physics. I guess," Kyle replies after a moment. "I've been slacking a bit there, and it might be good to catch up."

Krystal nods, jotting down notes on her tablet. "Sure thing. We can start with that. Do you have your textbook and notes?"

Kyle digs through his bag and pulls out the necessary materials. Krystal takes a look and begins explaining some of the concepts he's struggled with. As they delve into the lesson, Kyle finds himself surprisingly engaged. Krystal's teaching style is straightforward and effective, and he starts to see the appeal of having a tutor.

After a while, he glances up at her. "You're not as annoying as I thought you'd be."

Krystal raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, thank you, Kyle. I aim to defy expectations."

As the tutoring session progresses, Kyle starts to appreciate the help. Little does he know that this small adjustment to his routine is just one of the many changes the Unseen Festival is bringing into his life.

Okay, time to kick things up a notch. I start getting personal. 

Kyle notices Krystal staring at her tablet, and then staring up at him with a troubled expression.

C’mon. Kyle Weller. Notice! Ask me what’s wrong! She thinks.

“Krystal? Are you alright?” Kyle asks, concerned.

“I just don’t get it….” she mutters.

“Don’t get what?” Kyle asks.

“I don’t get why you do this stuff. You skip class, you show up late,you only do your homework sometimes. I mean, sure, a lot of kids at this school do that. Some just don’t like that class, some perfer to hang out with their friends, and some are just deliquents. And some…..don’t feel that school is that important. I don’t get that. They don’t plan to go to college? I guess I can understand that. And it makes my chances better. I just can’t beleive they’d throw  that oppertunity in the trash. And….don’t they care about doing a good job, just to do a good job? They don’t care about academic integrity.” She shakes her head, mystified. “I just don’t get it. How can you think that? How can anyone?” She asks Kyle. “Well, how can YOU, at least?”

Kyle takes a moment to consider Krystal's questions. He's used to people having strong opinions about academic performance, but explaining his perspective isn't something he does often.

"I don't know, really," he begins, choosing his words carefully. "School just feels... arbitrary sometimes. I mean, I get it. We're preparing for the future, for jobs, for college. But it's so structured, and the emphasis on grades and attendance can be suffocating. I learn best on my own terms, and sometimes that means skipping a class or two. I don't hate learning; I just prefer doing it in my own way."

Krystal raises an eyebrow. "But don't you want to do well? Achieve something?"

Kyle shrugs. "Sure, but not at the expense of my freedom. I don't need someone else telling me what's important. I decide that for myself."

Krystal looks both perplexed and intrigued. "You have a unique perspective, Kyle. Not sure I completely understand it, but I appreciate your honesty."

As they continue the tutoring session, Kyle wonders if he'll ever fully convey his reasons for approaching school the way he does. It's a topic he rarely discusses, and it's clear that not everyone shares his outlook on education.

“Why me?” Kyle asks suddenly. 

“Hm?” Asks Krystal.

“Why did you choose to tutor me?” Kyle asks

Well, it’s about time he asked! Krystal thinks. I’ve been preparing for this.

She looks away awkwardly. “Aw, well, you see…” she meets his eyes and smiles, which is pretty rare for her. “You’re a nice guy, Kyle. When Dana fell the other day, and you helped her pick up her books, and offered to help her fix them if she needed to…. Not a lot of guys would do that.” She blushes slightly. “You seemed so kind and generous. I looked you up to see if there was something I could help you with. Because, you really seem….” she meets his eyes, and then looks away, embarrassed. “Um, right, well. I, uh, j-just wanted to do something nice for you. And, um-” 

Kyle is surprised. Krystal doesn’t normally act like this. From what he’s seen of her, she’s pretty stoic. 

Dana, thinks Krystal. I did it! And I did great. Let’s see if he’s as dense with me as he is with you. 

Kyle's taken aback by Krystal's unexpected reaction. He never expected that his simple act of helping someone would lead to this.

"That's really nice of you, Krystal," he says genuinely. "I appreciate it. I guess sometimes small things can lead to unexpected connections."

She nods, still slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, I suppose so."

As they continue the tutoring session, Kyle finds himself thinking about the connections he's been making lately. Hana, Uma, and now Krystal — each interaction adds a layer of complexity to his usually quiet and solitary life. It's both exciting and a bit overwhelming, but Kyle is starting to realize that maybe stepping outside his comfort zone isn't such a bad thing.

Krystal checks her phone and sees a text from Dana.

[I’m ready! Send Kyle out! I’m at the ladder to the roof.] - Dana

Krystal looks at the clock. “Well, I guess we should be wrapping this up.” She sighs. She sounds a little sad as she gathers up her things.

Kyle looks at the clock. “Guess you’re right.” He agrees. “It is getting pretty late.”

“You go ahead and head out. I have to go to the bathroom first.”

The two leave the library and split off. As Kyle walks towards the door, he hears something by the ladder to the roof. But it should be locked. They always lock it after the school day ends. Curious, Kyle wanders over.

“C’mon, come on! Open, please!” pleads a girl’s voice. Kyle recognizes it as Dana’s. She’s standing on the ladder, and trying to force the trapdoor open. She stands on her tiptoes, jumps, and strains, which is pretty dangerous to do on a ladder

Alright, he’s here. Now!

As Kyle stands behind her and opens his mouth to say something, Dana seems to land a jump wrong. She cries out, and falls backwards.

Kyle rushes forward, catching Dana just before she hits the ground. She looks up at him, a mixture of surprise and relief on her face.

"Whoa, are you okay?" Kyle asks, his concern evident.

Dana nods, still catching her breath. "Yeah, thanks to you. That was close."

Kyle helps her stand upright. "What were you trying to do up there?"

Dana hesitates for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one else is nearby. "I heard about some event Hana's planning, and I thought maybe I could get a sneak peek. But it seems they've locked it up."

Kyle raises an eyebrow. "An event? Hana mentioned something about an Unseen Festival or something. Is that it?"

Dana nods. "Yeah, that's the one. I just wanted to know what it's all about."

"Well, it sounds like we're all in the dark about it. Hana didn't spill any details," Kyle says, still holding onto Dana in case she's a bit shaky after the fall.

Dana sighs. "Guess we'll have to wait and see. Thanks for catching me, by the way."

"No problem. Just be careful, alright?" Kyle advises.

Dana gives him a playful grin. "I'm always careful. But sometimes a little adventure is worth the risk."

As they part ways, Kyle can't help but wonder how this Unseen Festival will unfold and what role he might play in it. The mystery surrounding the event seems to be growing, and he's not sure if he's ready for whatever surprises it might bring.

As Kyle walks home, he spots Karen in the park. She’s sitting behind a tree. Kyle walks over to her. Her mascara is smudged, and she sits in the dirt. She looks up at him, scowls, and opens her mouth to speak. Then she closes her mouth, and her expression falls, defeated, hopeless and miserable. 

“Can I sit here?” Kyle asks. 

Karen nods. 

Kyle sits next to her, and they’re silent for a while. Kyle wonders how to break the silence, when Karen speaks.

“Well?” She says, her voice cracked and bitter. “Go ahead. Kyle Weller it up. Whatever you make happen can’t be any worse than this.” 

Kyle looks at Karen, sensing the pain in her words. He hesitates before responding, choosing his words carefully.

"I don't have any intention of 'Kyle Wellering' anything here. I just saw you sitting alone, and I thought maybe you could use someone to talk to," he says gently.

Karen snorts, bitterness still evident in her expression. "Talk? Like that ever solves anything. People say they want to listen, but they don't really care. They just want the drama."

"I get it. Sometimes words don't feel like enough," Kyle admits. "But talking can help, even if just a little."

Karen glances at him, and for a moment, there's a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. "You don't know anything about me, Kyle. You don't know what it's like."

"I might not know everything about you, but that doesn't mean I can't try to understand," Kyle responds. "If you want to talk about it, I'm here. If not, that's okay too."

Karen looks away, contemplating his offer. The silence stretches for a while before she finally speaks, her voice softer.

"It's just... everything feels like it's falling apart, you know? Like I'm trapped in this cycle, and there's no way out. No one really sees me for who I am."

Kyle listens quietly, offering his presence and understanding. Sometimes, in the midst of chaos, a simple conversation can be a small beacon of connection.

Karen gives a surprised little chuckle. “Well. Not bad, Kyle Weller. Pretty close, I’d say. Let’s see what else you can do.” 

“Karen, for the last time, it’s not me. Things just….happen. I’m not controlling you.” Kyle says. 

Honestly, he’s kind of sick of this. Kyle Wellering this, Kyle Wellered that. Hasn’t anyone ever considered that he might just have a trusting presence? Or that this affects him too? What, is it HIS fault every time something weird happens in this town? People can act illogically. It ISN’T his fault. He can’t control this. Heck, this might control him! He doesn’t know. And he doesn’t care, either. This is just how things are. Stop acting like it’s weird. Stop acting like he’s weird, and different. Why is it always his fault? He’s just a normal kid. It’s not fair. Krystal acts reserved, but people don’t gossip when she talks to people. Hana makes people do things, and everyone loves her. Dana can act completely different, but no one thinks she’s weird. Yasmin skips class sometimes, but teachers and students aren’t afraid to talk to her. Teresa has an intimidating presence, but people don’t avoid her. Uma forgets stuff and makes mistakes all the time, and no one laughs at her. People don’t understand Karen, but they don’t talk about her like some sort of specimen. 

Kyle is angry. This ISN’T fair! He didn’t ask for this! His hands clench the ground, shaking slightly.

Karen watches Kyle's frustration with a raised eyebrow. She leans back against the tree, crossing her arms, as if she's seen this reaction before.

"Wow, Kyle. You seem really worked up about this. It's not like I'm blaming you. Just having a little fun," she says, her tone slightly mocking.

Kyle takes a deep breath, trying to calm his frustration. "It's not fun when people treat me like I'm responsible for every strange thing that happens. I can't control it."

Karen smirks, but there's a hint of understanding in her eyes. "Maybe it's not about control, Kyle. Maybe it's about influence. You ever think about that?"

"Influence? What are you talking about?" Kyle asks, still on edge.

"People feel something around you. It's not about blaming you; it's about the vibe you give off. Maybe it affects people more than you realize," Karen explains, her tone more serious.

Kyle raises an eyebrow, considering her words. "You think my 'vibe' is making people act strangely?"

"Who knows? I'm just throwing out possibilities. Life's full of weird things, Kyle. Maybe you're one of them," Karen says, her smirk turning into a small grin.

Kyle's frustration starts to turn into resignation. Maybe he'll never fully understand the strange occurrences around him. But maybe he doesn't need to. Perhaps it's just a part of who he is, and he'll have to navigate this unique aspect of his life.

Karen flops her head on his shoulder. They’re silent for a minute. She softly sobs. Both of them know damn well this is coming purely from Karen.

Kyle, unsure of how to respond, tentatively puts his arm around Karen's shoulders. He's never been great at comforting people, but he feels a sense of camaraderie with Karen in this moment. The weight of whatever troubles her is palpable.

"I'm not gonna pretend I know what's going on, Karen, but I'm here if you want to talk," Kyle says gently, trying to offer some support.

Karen sniffs and leans into his shoulder a little more. "You know, sometimes I feel like nobody really sees me. Like I'm just this weird, mysterious girl people talk about. But nobody really knows me."

Kyle nods understandingly. "People talk, sure, but that doesn't define who you are. You're more than the rumors and the gossip."

"Yeah, right," Karen scoffs, but there's a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.

"You're a person, Karen. With your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. No one else gets to define you," Kyle says, feeling a bit more confident in his words.

Karen doesn't respond immediately, but after a while, she lifts her head from his shoulder, wiping away the remaining tears. "You're weirdly insightful, Kyle Weller."

Kyle chuckles. "Maybe that's my mysterious power, huh?"

Karen smirks. "Yeah, maybe."

They sit in companionable silence for a bit longer, the weight of the conversation still lingering, but a sense of understanding settling between them.

“....Why not? Why the hell not? Let’s fuck everything up and burn it down.” Karen says. Kyle waits for her to continue.

“I feel like I don’t even know who I am anymore. I took on this whole mean girl persona. And I’ve adapted and changed who I was to get loved, but it never worked. Everyone could tell I was fake. I’ve done it my whole life, and now….I don’t even know who’s under the mask.”

Karen stands up, turns around, and flops down on the ground, arms outstretched. 

“Ow! Ugh, Hana makes that look so much more comfortable.” She grumbles.

“You were friends when you were little, weren’t you?” Kyle asks. 

“Yeah. She was always….” She smirks nostalgically. “She was awesome. She would always say that she was going to break free. Nothing could hold her back. She made me feel…..that we could really control things.”

Kyle looks at Karen, a realization dawning on him. "You miss her, don't you?"

Karen nods. "Yeah, I do. I miss the old Hana. The one who didn't care about what others thought and just did her own thing. Now she's all caught up in this mysterious persona she's created."

"Maybe you can talk to her about it," Kyle suggests.

Karen scoffs. "Yeah, right. She's all about her plots and keeping this town entertained. She's not interested in my existential crisis."

"Well, you won't know until you try," Kyle says, offering a small smile. "And if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Karen gives him a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Kyle. You're not as annoying as I thought you were."

Kyle laughs. "Gee, thanks. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day."

As they sit there, talking about life and the weirdness that surrounds them, Kyle realizes that despite the chaos and unpredictability, he might be forming some genuine connections with the people in his town. And maybe, just maybe, that's what makes it all worthwhile.

Hana, standing nearby, frowns. The old me? The one who didn’t care what others thought? Mysterious Persona? I’m not. Oh. I am, aren’t I? But….it’s important to care about what other people think. You can’t be all self-centered. Although….I guess I am a bit of a people pleaser. I crave their attention and praise. But I really do care about them. And…of course I like my plots! They’re amazing! And….I like making people happy. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there? I know I’m no saint, but….I don’t think I’m a bad person. And how could Karen think that I don’t care about her? Of course I care! And not cause she’s just one of my stars. She’s….my friend. And I’m still worried about her wellbeing.

Many years in the past…

“Whoa!” says a young Hana. “You’re like….one of those people from tv!”

“Yes! Finally, someone gets it!” says the 1st grade Karen.

“Cool! Can we be friends?!” “I don’t have friends.” Karen says. “I have groupies.”

“But groupies are friends.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, that’s what they’re called!”

“Awesome! Then you can be my groupie friend!”

“Yay!” The two run off.

Days or weeks later…

A young Hana and Karen sit on a bench at the school playground. Hana swings her legs and points out classmates. Karen is captivated by her every word. 

“That’s Kyle Weller.” Hana says, pointing him out. He’s reading on the stairs. “He’s weird.” 

“Cause he reads books at recess?” asks Karen.

Hana shakes her head. “No. He’s just weird. People don’t act like themselves around him. They say things they don’t mean to say.”

“Ooh.” Karen’s eyes widen. “Is it magic?” 

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Karen was surprised. Hana seemed to know everything.

“I’m looking into it.”

“Well, does it feel like magic?” Karen asks, happy to be helpful.

“I’m not sure. But it feels weird. Some people don’t notice it.” she frowns. “I don’t like how it feels.”

“Kyle’s a bad guy?” Karen asks, glaring at him.

“I don’t know. But one day, we’re either gonna team up, or fight.” Hana’s eyes shine with determination, and she sounds so confident Karen can’t help but believe her. She nods her head, and then her eyes light up.

“You mean, when you break free?” she asked excitedly. 

“Yeah. When I burn everything down, and we get to be free.” Hana always talked about the day she would set everybody free. She said she’d burn everything down, and then they’d rise from the ashes like Phoenixes, and fly away.

“So Kyle’s gonna help you break free?” Karen stares at Kyle with amazement. Hana didn’t rely on anyone else, so to hear her make plans with another person was really surprising.

“Yep! One way or another. I’ll find out when I’m older.”

“Yeah.” Said Karen dreamily. “And then we can fly away together.”

Hana nodded her head and held Karen’s hand.

Back in the present…

“Thanks Kyle.” Karen says, standing up. “This was….nice.” She stares off into the distance. Kyle follows her gaze, and sees the figure of Hana slipping away. “She wouldn’t say anything….” Karen mutters. “She wouldn’t.”

Kyle looks at Karen with understanding. "Maybe she needs someone to reach out first. I don't think Hana is as untouchable as she pretends to be."

Karen nods. "Yeah, maybe. Anyway, I've got to go. I'll see you around, Kyle."

"See you," Kyle replies, watching Karen walk away. He takes a deep breath, realizing that despite the strangeness and challenges, he's becoming more connected with the people around him. With a mix of curiosity and determination, he heads home, ready for whatever the next day in his peculiar town might bring.

Kyle Weller. Helping me. Maybe Hana was right. Maybe he really is special. Karen muses, as she walks home.

“AGH! I GIVE UP!” Dana throws her hands up, and herself down into a beanbag. 

“Don’t be too down.” Krystal says. “Maybe you’re just not his type. He seemed more moved by my actions in a platonic way.” 

“Has Hana even considered that he might not be straight?” grumbles Dana.

“That’s easier than admitting you can’t charm him, isn’t it?”

“Oh, shut up. He’s just got no taste.” 

Hana lies on her bed. It’s been a long day of keeping people up to date with her newest plot, following Kyle and her stars, and planning for this Unseen Festival. Then, there’s this whole Karen business. She’s totally exhausted. But she still has more to do. She sighs and pulls out her organizer. 

Let's see. She muses. I’m enforcing a little more of a schedule to counteract all this improv. She chews on her pen. Teresa’s got that soccer game on Thursday. And maybe they can get something afterwards? That’s her day with Kyle. They should each have a day. Let’s see….Uma? Hm…Uma does a lot of volunteering… I’ll have to check with her about any upcoming events. Karen? Ooh, I don’t know. Ah, I think there’s a bake sale on Monday. For an animal shelter? Yes, Kyle and Uma can do that. Yasmin…she should be running errands for the farm on Saturday. I can get them to hang out on that day. What about Teresa? No, I already covered Teresa. What do I do about…Krystal! Another study session? No, too dull. A workout session? No, Krystal doesn’t work out. Does she? No, no she doesn’t. So then, what does Krystal do? ….Oh. Oh! Pool party! Pool party on Sunday! Yes! Oh, yes, that’s perfect! It’s kinda cold….but it’s a heated pool! Perfect! So, what about Karen? And Dana? Dana said she’s been having some trouble getting close to Kyle. Aha! Friday!.Dana can help me set up for Friday, and Kyle can help her. No, maybe not Friday. I think everyone should help me on Friday.  Dana can make some decorations on Wednesday. Perfect! I guess….that just leaves Karen on Tuesday. Well, I guess she can do whatever. Maybe a hike? Yeah, that makes sense. Alright. I guess I just need to text them all, and let them know what the deal is.

Kyle lies in his bed, grinning. They hadn’t played for very long tonight. Just Among Us for a couple of hours. Say what you will, it was fun with friends. Melody wasn’t online, and everyone assumed she had been grounded. Chess had a cold, so their voice was raspy, but they still said they were fine. Kat had been…well, Kat. Frank had too much homework, and wasn’t able to play for long. Blade complained how his twin sister was getting to go out of town and hunt down her ex. They hadn’t played for long, but Kyle was happy he got to play with them. He had also done some homework of his own. So Kyle went to bed earlier than normal.

“You want to take this boy out on your errand day?” Yasmin’s mom asks.

“Mom, it’s a Hana plot. I have to do this!” Yasmin protested.

“I’ve never got those ‘Hana plots’.” Her dad says.

“Dad, they’re really fun! Please?” She says.

The Johnsons look at each other, and smile.

“Oh, alright.” Says her mom.

“It’ll be safer with company anyways.” Her dad says.

“Thanks guys!” Yasmin grins and hugs her parents. “You’re the best!”

“We know.” Smiles her dad.

“You want me to throw a pool party on Sunday?” a man in a business suit asks.

“It’s a Hana plot.” replies Krystal, like that explains everything. 

Mr. Williams frowns. “I’ve never understood the draw behind those plots.”

“There’s nothing else to do at school.”

“Then you need to get more involved.” her dad scolds.

“Dad!” Krystal complains. “I’m involved plenty. Just do this for me. Please?”

“And you aren’t trying to flirt with this boy?” 

“Dad! We’re just hanging out! I’m not really interested in dating people.”

“Bah! All girls your age are obsessed with boys.”

“Dad! That’s not true! I don’t have to be attracted to anyone.” 

“You’re not trying to date any girls instead, are you?” Her dad asks. He seems unnerved by the idea.

“Dad, we’ve talked about this. You can’t be homophobic. It’s not the 80s anymore. We have several gay families here.” Krystal scolds. 

“I’m sorry.” Her father sighs. “It just seems so….strange! And unnatural.”

“Dad….” Krystal warns.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I don’t really mean that. The Black-Calvins are a wonderful family. There’s nothing wrong with that. Please don’t tell them I said that.”

“I won’t. But can you please throw that pool party?”

He sighs in resignation. “Alright, fine.” He ruffles her hair, which she hates. “You’re always able to wrap me around your finger.”

Hm. Thinks Uma. So Kyle’s going to help me with the fundraiser? Well, that could be a good thing. He might be able to make some other friends! That would be a relief. 

Tuesday? A hike? Karen thinks as she lays on her bed. I’ll have to come up with a lie convincing enough for my parents. It’ll be a bit of a hassle, but I think I can manage. And if Kyle manages to Kyle Weller things in my favor, then I’ll definitely be fine.

Dana lays on her bed. Great. Decorations. Thanks a lot, Hana. I love extra work. I’m totally failing this Hana plot. 

Teresa and her sister are fighting again. 

“Gimme my shoes back, bigfoot!” she yells.

<Prev Next>

[bpd-shuichi-togo]

housamo's inability to stop being weird about kids undermines it in so many ways. they can't fully appreciate how unfair and warped it all is that all this is happening to children because they're too busy being h*rny

it's. not good writing, bc to call it that would be to imply that the way these kids are normally framed is a good writing choice because it sets this up. but it doesn't seem incidental that the point in the main story that is most grounded and down to earth in that regard is the scene with mononobe, the protag's dad.

we need to rig housamo fans up to the clockwork orange contraption and force them to watch the mononobe scenes in the chapter 8 flashback until it permanently alters their brains, because i think approaching the whole story from that lens could fix a lot of people. rooting my understanding of this story in the perspective of that scene is a huge chunk of why i started thinking about housamo the way i do i think like if those scenes really stick with you the way they ought to they completely alter how you view the rest of the game

like. just inserting the point of view of a halfway responsible adult into this story for half a conversation completely reframes everything if you let it stick with you. like it goes from power of friendship fantasy battles or whatever the fuck to 'what is going on in this child's life that they're so fucking misanthropic and/or violent' 'oh my god that's a major traumatic event how are they going to process that' 'i am deeply worried about how this environment is going to impact/has already impacted this child's development' and the ever-present 'that is not an acceptable way for an adult to interact with a child'