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fablefrogg · 2 months ago

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Why Does Will Byers Bring His Painting? (To the Airport and On Their Road-Trip)

I think it's so interesting that Will decided to paint the DnD party as a gift for Mike.

Since he brought the painting with him to the airport, we know that Will was definitely NEVER going to confess his feelings to Mike since he has very much resigned himself to the idea that Mike is straight and is in love with El (and El, Jonathan, and Argyle are also there with him so we can safely assume that he had never meant for his painting to be given in a romantic light).

Rather, Will brings the painting to the airport as a surprise for Mike in the hopes of reconciling their friendship.

Will, most likely, had intended the painting to be a friendly gift for Mike and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary, considering that Will has given Mike plenty of his artwork in the past (shown by Mike's binder of Will's drawings in S1 and how some are put up in his basement).

We know that they left on good terms at the end of S3 when the Byers move away, with a heartfelt conversation that Will would always stay with their original party and a good-bye hug. However, we also know that their contacting each other lessened as the months passed, as revealed by their fight in Rink O' Mania.

But I'm getting too far ahead of myself. Let's go back to the airport reunion before Rink O' Mania happened.

With the previous information now at our disposal, we are in the know that Will and Mike's last few interactions before their airport reunion have been few and far in-between. We don't really have a clue on how their phone calls went but it seems that they were still on good terms, considering Will's very happy expression on his face as he waits for Mike to arrive. But again, we know that Will is aware that their contact has been dwindling when he confronts Mike about it later on in the skating rink.

With this awareness, I believe that Will wanted to make sure that their friendship is still intact, even after the little communication they've had since the Byers move to California. That their strong friendship will continue to exist even if they were separated.

His answer to repairing their friendship was going to be his DnD painting. This painting must have taken a while to complete, a small signifier showing how long and often Will has thought about this. It is no coincidence that he chose the DnD party as his subject for his painting since their last in-person interaction is when Mike asks whether Will is going to join a new party and Will replies that that's not possible. By painting their DnD party, Will is basically referring back to that interaction and expressing to Mike that he didn't forget about them and that he never will, even after all this time and distance.

Which is why it's heartbreaking when Mike rejects Will's hug at the airport.

Since Mike is acting cold towards him, Will believes that Mike may not actually be receptive to his painting and his message behind it, so he (understandably) opts to not give the painting to him, referring to it as simply "just a painting". If Mike hadn't apologized to Will after their Rink O' Mania fight, I think that Will would have hidden that painting away where it will gather dust and never see the light of day.

Now, what is very interesting is that Will chooses to bring his painting again, this time on their road trip to get El back. But you may ask: Mike and Will have already reconciled their friendship when they have their heart-to-heart in Will's room so what else would be the reason to bring it?

Because now that he is assured in knowing that Mike has actually been wanting to reconcile with Will, expressing to him that Hawkins isn't the same without Will and that Mike felt like he lost him, Will deems it safe to bring it again. After all, judging by El's letter to Mike that Will has been working on it for weeks, Will wants to make it clear to Mike that even though Mike initiated their reconciliation, Will isn't passive in their friendship. Will is not someone who initiates so he shows in his own way that he does care. This painting proves that he's been thinking about them ALL THIS TIME. This friendship is just as important to him as it is to Mike.

However, as the road trip goes on, Will sees that Mike is worried and stressed about El and whether she really needs him through their heart-to-heart at the junkyard. Will probably thought that it would be insensitive to give him that painting now when it seems clear that Mike is in emotional turmoil about El and that he doesn't have much room to think about anything else. Again, he was NEVER going to confess his feelings with the painting. At this point in the road trip, he has already offered much relationship advice to Mike about El so we know he is supporting Mike and El's relationship.

Will had meant to use his painting to reconcile their friendship. Instead, he uses his painting to repair Mike's relationship with El.

After all, they have already technically reconciled their friendship, so Mike doesn't need the painting as more reassurance for that, right?

'What Mike needs is to know that he will always be needed and that he is so, so important to not just El but to the whole party. He is the heart, he's always been. I can't help much but this, I can do.'

So, Will resolves himself to be the initiator this time, giving Mike his painting on the basis that 'El had commissioned him' so that Mike can understand the inherent self-worth he has and how much he has impacted Will by making him feel better for being different. He not only expresses these feelings but his love for Mike under the guise of El's, knowing that he is helping Mike and El reconcile and that they will be stronger than ever once they do.

He knows that there is nothing to be gained from confessing his feelings. But by actually saying his feelings for Mike out loud to the very same person, Will has given these feelings corporeal form. Now, another person knows (to an extent) about his true feelings, and Will cannot take them back. And by acknowledging his love for Mike, he also has to acknowledge, by association, that Mike will never reciprocate back because Mike is in love with El and even if he wasn't, Will would never be the recipient of Mike's love. Of course, Will has already known this but expressing out loud to the person you are in love with feels final. Finished.

It is at this point that Will isn't only actively supporting Mike and El's relationship. This is Will Byers fully giving up.

But now, his lie about his painting is up in the air.

I'd guess that in the final season, Will is never going to confess his feelings and that he resolves to hide them. But just like how Mike initiates many of their moments together, I believe Mike will confront Will about this and bring Will's feelings to light, sooner or later. And I think that Will Byers is going to be in for a big surprise.

Edit: Forgot to mention, the throw-away line in the van scene where Will talks about going to Las Vegas and playing DnD and Nintendo for the rest of their lives is a call-back to the rain fight where Will said that they could just play games in Mike's basement for the rest of their lives. In both cases, playing games for the rest of their lives is a metaphor for Will's wish to spend the rest of their life together and to grow old together. So the fact that Will lies about his DnD painting for Mike and El's relationship could symbolize him giving up that dream.

#byler #stranger things analysis #will byers #will byers analysis #mike wheeler #stranger things 4 #stranger things

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mariacallous · 3 months ago

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This is a gift article

“In normal times, Americans don’t think much about democracy. Our Constitution, with its guarantees of free press, speech, and assembly, was written more than two centuries ago. Our electoral system has never failed, not during two world wars, not even during the Civil War. Citizenship requires very little of us, only that we show up to vote occasionally. Many of us are so complacent that we don’t bother. We treat democracy like clean water, something that just comes out of the tap, something we exert no effort to procure.

“But these are not normal times.”

I wrote those words in October 2020, at a time when some people feared voting, because they feared contagion. The feeling that “these are not normal times” also came from rumors about what Donald Trump’s campaign might do if he lost that year’s presidential election. Already, stories that Trump would challenge the validity of the results were in circulation. And so it came to pass.

This time, we are living in a much different world. The predictions of what might happen on November 5 and in the days that follow are not based on rumors. On the contrary, we can be absolutely certain that an attempt will be made to steal the 2024 election if Kamala Harris wins. Trump himself has repeatedly refused to acknowledge the results of the 2020 election. He has waffled on and evaded questions about whether he will accept the outcome in 2024. He has hired lawyers to prepare to challenge the results.

Trump also has a lot more help this time around from his own party. Strange things are happening in state legislatures: a West Virginia proposal to “not recognize an illegitimate presidential election” (which could be read as meaning not recognize the results if a Democrat wins); a last-minute push, ultimately unsuccessful, to change the way Nebraska allocates its electoral votes. Equally weird things are happening in state election boards. Georgia’s has passed a rule requiring that all ballots be hand-counted, as well as machine-counted, which, if not overturned, will introduce errors—machines are more accurate—and make the process take much longer. A number of county election boards have in recent elections tried refusing to certify votes, not least because many are now populated with actual election deniers, who believe that frustrating the will of the people is their proper role. Multiple people and groups are also seeking mass purges of the electoral rolls.

Anyone who is closely following these shenanigans—or the proliferation of MAGA lawsuits deliberately designed to make people question the legitimacy of the vote even before it is held—already knows that the challenges will multiply if the presidential vote is as close as polls suggest it could be. The counting process will be drawn out, and we may not know the winner for many days. If the results come down to one or two states, they could experience protests or even riots, threats to election officials, and other attempts to change the results.

This prospect can feel overwhelming: Many people are not just upset about the possibility of a lost or stolen election, but oppressed by a sensation of helplessness. This feeling—I can’t do anything; my actions don’t matter—is precisely the feeling that autocratic movements seek to instill in citizens, as Peter Pomerantsev and I explain in our recent podcast, Autocracy in America. But you can always do something. If you need advice about what that might be, here is an updated citizen’s guide to defending democracy.

Help Out on Voting Day—In Person

First and foremost: Register to vote, and make sure everyone you know has done so too, especially students who have recently changed residence. The website Vote.gov has a list of the rules in all 50 states, in multiple languages, if you or anyone you know has doubts. Deadlines have passed in some states, but not all of them.

After that, vote—in person if you can. Because the MAGA lawyers are preparing to question mail-in and absentee ballots in particular, go to a polling station if at all possible. Vote early if you can, too: Here is a list of early-voting rules for each state.

Secondly, be prepared for intimidation or complications. As my colleague Stephanie McCrummen has written, radicalized evangelical groups are organizing around the election. One group is planning a series of “Kingdom to the Capitol” rallies in swing-state capitals, as well as in Washington, D.C.; participants may well show up near voting booths on Election Day. If you or anyone you know has trouble voting, for any reason, call 866-OUR-VOTE, a hotline set up by Election Protection, a nonpartisan national coalition led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

If you have time to do more, then join the effort. The coalition is looking for lawyers, law students, and paralegals to help out if multiple, simultaneous challenges to the election occur at the county level. Even people without legal training are needed to serve as poll monitors, and of course to staff the hotline. In the group’s words, it needs people to help voters with “confusing voting rules, outdated infrastructure, rampant misinformation, and needless obstacles to the ballot box.”

If you live in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin, you can also volunteer to help All Voting Is Local, an organization that has been on the ground in those states since before 2020 and knows the rules, the officials, the potential threats. It, too, is recruiting legal professionals, as well as poll monitors. If you don’t live in one of those states, you can still make a financial contribution.

Wherever you live, consider working at a polling station. All Voting Is Local can advise you if you live in one of its eight states, but you can also call your local board of elections. More information is available at PowerThePolls.org, which will send you to the right place. The site explains that “our democracy depends on ordinary people who make sure every election runs smoothly and everyone's vote is counted—people like you.”

Wherever you live, it’s also possible to work for one of the many get-out-the-vote campaigns. Consider driving people to the voting booth. Find your local group by calling the offices of local politicians, members of Congress, state legislators, and city councillors. The League of Women Voters and the NAACP are just two of many organizations that will be active in the days before the election, and on the day itself. Call them to ask which local groups they recommend. Or, if you are specifically interested in transporting Democrats, you can volunteer for Rideshare2Vote.

If you know someone who needs a ride, then let them know that the ride-hailing company Lyft is once again working with a number of organizations, including the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the National Council on Aging, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, and the Hispanic Federation. Contact any of them for advice about your location. Also try local religious congregations, many of whom organize rides to the polls.

Smaller gestures are needed too. If you see a long voting line, or if you find yourself standing in one, report it to Pizza to the Polls and the group will send over some free pizza to cheer everyone up.

Join Something Now

Many people have long been preparing for a challenge to the election and a battle in both the courts and the media. You can help them by subscribing to the newsletters of some of the organizations sponsoring this work, donating money, and sharing their information with others. Don’t wait until the day after the vote to find groups you trust: If a crisis happens, you will not want to be scouring the internet for information.

Among the organizations to watch is the nonpartisan Protect Democracy, which has already launched successful lawsuits to secure voting rights in several states. Another is the States United Democracy Center, which collaborates with police as well as election workers to make sure that elections are safe. Three out of four election officials say that threats to them have increased; in some states, the danger will be just as bad the day after the election as it was the day before, or maybe even worse.

The Brennan Center for Justice, based at NYU, researches and promotes concrete policy proposals to improve democracy, and puts on public events to discuss them. Its lawyers and experts are preparing not only for attempts to steal the election, but also, in the case of a Trump victory, for subsequent assaults on the Constitution or the rule of law.

For voters who lean Democratic, Democracy Docket also offers a wealth of advice, suggestions, and information. The group’s lawyers have been defending elections for many years. For Republicans, Republicans for the Rule of Law is a much smaller group, but one that can help keep people informed.

Talk With People

In case of a real disaster—an inconclusive election or an outbreak of violence—you will need to find a way to talk about it, including a way to speak with friends or relatives who are angry and have different views. In 2020, I published some suggestions from More in Common, a research group that specializes in the analysis of political polarization, for how to talk with people who disagree with you about politics, as well as those who are cynical and apathetic. I am repeating here the group’s three dos and three don’ts:

•Do talk about local issues: Americans are bitterly polarized over national issues, but have much higher levels of trust in their state and local officials. •Do talk about what your state and local leaders are doing to ensure a safe election. •Do emphasize our shared values—the large majority of Americans still feel that democracy is preferable to all other forms of government—and our historical ability to deliver safe and fair elections, even in times of warfare and social strife. •Don’t, by contrast, dismiss people’s concerns about election irregularities out of hand. Trump and his allies have repeatedly raised the specter of widespread voter fraud in favor of Democrats. Despite a lack of evidence for this notion, many people may sincerely believe that this kind of electoral cheating is real. •Don’t rely on statistics to make your case, because people aren’t convinced by them; talk, instead, about what actions are being taken to protect the integrity of the vote. •Finally, don’t inadvertently undermine democracy further: Emphasize the strength of the American people, our ability to stand up to those who assault democracy. Offer people a course of action, not despair.

As a Last Resort, Protest

As in 2020, protest remains a final option. A lot of institutions, including some of those listed above, are preparing to step in if the political system fails. But if they all fail as well, remember that it’s better to protest in a group, and in a coordinated, nonviolent manner. Many of the organizations I have listed will be issuing regular statements right after the election; follow their advice to find out what they are doing. Remember that the point of a protest is to gain supporters—to win others over to your cause—and not to make a bad situation worse. Large, peaceful gatherings will move and convince people more than small, angry ones. Violence makes you enemies, not friends.

Finally, don’t give up: There is always another day. Many of your fellow citizens also want to protect not just the electoral system but the Constitution itself. Start looking for them now, volunteer to help them, and make sure that they, and we, remain a democracy where power changes hands peacefully.

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swiftsrqmantic · 1 year ago

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Hi! Outer Banks request here:

Could you please write a JJ Maybank smut where the reader is John B's ex? One day JJ is at a party without the pogues and he's a little bored because there nothing really interesting going on, so he goes to the only familiar face he sees: the reader.

and it's their first time seeing each other after a looong time, and idk maybe the reader has like more confidence than before so they start to drink together (just a bit not enough to get drunk) and they ended up having like giggly sex.

make-outs & mai tai’s — j.m.

summary : you, john b’s ex, happen to run into jj maybank- john b’s best friend. will a couple of mai tai’s cause you to explore your deepest and dirtiest fantasies, or will you remember that “bro-code” does exist? 18+, smut,

pairing : jj maybank x fem!kook!reader

a/n : first of all, i’m horrible at writing summaries 😭 but second and most importantly, thank you so so much for being my first request!!! and my first story!!! i can’t wait to write so much more but for now, i hope you all enjoy this story!!! reblogs are greatly appreciated :) !!

you were a kook. he was a pogue. you lived on different sides of the island, and were never supposed to be seen with one another. that was until he showed up at your job for the third time asking for your phone number.

if you were to ask anyone, they would say you and john booker routledge were absolutely inseparable from that point on. the two of you were seen around the island almost every day; going on dates, hanging out at the beach, and all that fun stuff.

that was until john b meet sarah cameron, the kook princess. they began to hang out every day, which used to be a plot to get information about the royal merchant, until they shared a passionate kiss on the ferry dock.

although you two ended on good terms, you rarely spoke, which means you didn’t speak to any of the other pogues either; at least not until tonight, where you were going to attend the annual bonfire. you sat at your vanity applying your lip gloss when you got a text from your friend.

savannah: be there in ten!

you grabbed your purse and made your way to the white jeep pulling up to your doorstep.

“ready to get shit-faced tonight?”, savannah asked rolling down the passenger side window while you rolled your eyes and opened the door. “no one is getting shit-faced tonight, especially not you”, you replied buckling your seatbelt as she stepped on the gas.

— ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ —

savannah pulled up to the lot as you put your phone in your purse and squinted at the bright fire that burned ahead. “ok so before we get out, some of the girls said that john b was gonna be here”, she said unbuckling her seatbelt and turning towards you.

“okay, whatever i guess”, you said chuckling and pulling your compact out of your bag to check your makeup one final time.

“so you’re not bothered by that? because if you want to leave then we can totally leave, your call.”

“we’re not enemies, savannah. we ended things on good terms, remember?’

“okay then, let’s get our party on!”

you stepped out of the car, scoping the scene, before making your way over to your other friend, emery, by the cooler. she greeted you with a warm hug and a canned mai tai while the three of you got lost in conversation.

meanwhile, on the other side of the fire, the pogues were drinking beer out of plastic cups, looking around at their rather drunk peers.

“ok, i’m gonna be honest and just say that this is seriously lame”, jj maybank announced to the crew and took the last swig of beer out of his cup. “you didn’t have to come you know”, an annoyed kiara replied. “but he is right jb, this is pretty lousy”.

“look, sarah’s here and there’s plenty of beer to last a couple more hours, so why don’t we at least try and have a good time”, john b replied as he threw his arm around kie. jj rolled his eyes and looked towards the cooler, when he saw you holding a can, laughing and talking to some other kooks. he smirked and made his way towards you as he saw your friends running off with topper.

“care for another mai tai, m’lady”, jj asked as you turned around, shocked at the sight in front of you.

“well, well, well”, you smiled, letting a tiny laugh escape from your lips. “if it isn’t jj maybank.”

“in the flesh”, he smiled, extending his arm out to hand you another can. “i noticed you were standing alone; thought i might give you some company”.

“well please accompany me somewhere more quiet”, you said laughing and taking a sip from your new can. jj smirked and said “come on, i have somewhere we can go”.

you took his hand as you guys walked down the lot towards the beach. “so, what brings you to this party”, you asked jj. “because if i’m being totally honest, i did not expect you to be here”.

“why not?”

“i don’t know, i just…i guess i thought that things like these weren’t really your scene.”

“they’re not.”

“then why’d you stick around?” you took another sip.

“i was going to leave” he paused, “but then i saw you.” you glanced over at him and smiled lightly while taking another sip.

“so, how’ve you been? it’s been a while y’know?”

“good, why’d you ask?”

“i don’t know, i’ve just been thinking about you lately.”

“aww, i’ve been on your mind, cupcake?”

you smiled and took another sip of your mai tai. “maybe just a little.”

jj laughed to himself as your feet hit the sand. “just a bit further”. you eventually found a nice spot on the sand and wobbly took a seat.

“woah there, pretty girl, don’t fall now.” you laughed, sipping your mai tai once more and looked him in his eyes. “why do you keep giving me all these nicknames?”, you ask, slurring your words and taking the last sip of your drink.

“do you want me to stop?”

“you could do anything you wanted to me and i would never ask you to stop,” you said with a chuckle as you moved a little closer to him.

“well someone’s feeling a little confident tonight, aren’t you?”

“oh c’mon j, somewhere deep down, i know you know i’ve always had a little thing for you.” and whether it was the mai tais or not, you know what they say: drunk words are sober thoughts. and with that being said, jj swiftly put his hand to your cheek, and pushed your hair behind your ear.

“did you really mean that?,” he caressed your cheek as you leaned in closer to him. “when you said i could do anything i wanted, and you would never ask me to stop?”.

“well we’re here now, aren’t we?”

jj stared at you, and as he opened his mouth to say something, you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. while he was surprised, he moved both of his hands to your hips and kissed you deeper. both of you continued to deepen the kiss as jj took the reigns and laid you down on the sand.

“wait, wait, wait,” you said as jj kept kissing your neck. “what if john b finds out?” jj raised his head and thought for a second, that swift thought followed by: “well that’s not really his problem now, is it?”

“i guess not, pretty boy,” you pulled him down to you buy his collar as you continued kissing each other, more hunger and passion followed by each kiss. you unbuttoned his shirt while he started taking off your shirt. “lift your hips for me, baby,” jj asked, unbuttoning your shorts to follow. if you weren’t already drooling at sight of him, you were positive you were now. you tried to hold back your moans as he swiftly pulled your shorts and panties down your legs, but with how close the two of you were, jj was sure to pick up on every last sound you made.

“oh no, cupcake, don’t hold back now. i want to hear all your pretty sounds,” he kissed a trail down your body as he buried his head in between your thighs. you moaned and tugged his hair as he kissed your heat and licked up and down your sweet spot. your body began to convulse as you felt yourself reaching your release.

“j- fuck, i’m almost there,” you moaned out, not caring about your volume as your back arched in immense pleasure. “let go for me, sweet thing.” your breath hitched as you sucked in a sharp breath, allowing your eyes to roll back in pleasure, finally reaching your climax. you steadied your breathing while jj kissed his way back up to your mouth.

“that was…amazing,” you spoke, regaining your breath. “oh, we’re not done yet, baby girl,” jj replied with a shit-eating grin. “trust me,” you said, reaching down to unbuckle his belt, “i know.” jj let out a small chuckle as he released himself from his boxers, smirking at your reaction to his length. “mmph, i want you so bad,” you moaned out as you kissed him, a string of saliva attached to your lips as you broke free from each other.

“you sure about this, cupcake?,” jj asked, caressing your cheek. you wrapped your arms around his shoulder and kissed him once more. “i’m absolutely positive, j. i need you.” without a second thought, jj slid himself inside you, both of you moaning at the sensational feeling you just shared.

“geez princess, you feel so good,” jj moaned on your neck, his warm breath sending shivers down your spine. you moaned as you gripped on to his shoulders, tapping twice to signal faster pace. as jj sped up, you could feel yourself tighten around him as he twitched inside of you.

“j, i’m close,” you whimpered as you felt him graze your g-spot, eyes rolling back at the glorious feeling.

“i know baby, me too, comin’ up right behind you,” jj replied, slurring his words. he sped up a bit more, making him more and more irresistible to you. your nails scratched down his back as you tried to utter out the words “i’m coming”, but instead were muffled by your pleasurous moans. jj pushed deeper inside you, following close behind. you two shared a breathy kiss while jj started to kiss down your neck, helping you get cleaned up. once the two of you regained composure, you sat up and watched the waves.

“that was… truly something,” you said sighing. jj looked over at you and chuckled, saying “trust me, i know.” you and jj watched the waves for a second before you both looked over to see the bonfire spot emptying.

“looks like everyone’s heading out,” you mentioned, while checking your phone to see two text messages from savannah. “shit, my friends are about to leave, i should probably go”.

“me too, me and the gang have an early surf sesh tomorrow,” jj mentioned while he stood up, extending his hand for you to grab as he pulled you off the sand. you two held hands and walked towards the bonfire, but you stopped him before you got to close to the crowd.

“hey thank you for tonight, i had a lot of fun,” you said swinging your interlocked hands back and forth as jj spotted his friends near the parking lot. you looked down as your feet as you said “it was nice getting to see you again. i probably won’t for a while.” jj laughed as he let go of your hand and grabbed your waist tightly, pulling you towards him. you choked on a breath as you abruptly placed your hands on his shoulders for support, looking deep into his eyes as he caressed your cheek. “you’re a very funny girl, you know that?”, jj questioned as your eyebrows tilted in confusion.

“you think after tonight i’m just gonna let you run off with some other guy?” you tried to tell him off but stuttered as he forced deeper eye contact between you two. “you’re mine now, cupcake. and if i have to see you every single day to remind you, best believe you’ll be seeing a lot of me.” you smirked as jj pulled you in for the last kiss of the night. “you have a good night,” he winked as he walked off towards his friends. you exhaled as you spun on your heels, walking to go find your friends.

little did you know that tonight would be the night you became jj’s girl. forever.

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dumpywrites · 8 months ago

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Random BTS story prompts (Request open!)

a/n: seeing the positive feedbacks from my prev writings, I decided to write more and I want your involvement! <3

Request away with a number and a member name!

Strikethrough/crossed = prompt is taken

One number per request

Done requests will be linked here!

Requests may take a while as I do write according to what catches my creative flow first. I don’t want to force write any story :)

Bold number with link means it's done!

Fluff

“Tell me your name.” “No.” (Taehyung)

“You look familiar, like that one guy from BTS.” (Namjoon)

You kissed someone at the party last night… but who? (Hoseok)

“Do you wanna see my cat?” You’re not actually lying but he thinks it’s a sexual innuendo. (Yoongi)

Costume party comes into disaster when you mistaken your crush as your friend. (Taehyung)

You wake up in a strange alternate universe where everything’s the opposite. (Hoseok)

Sworn enemies by day, restaurant mascot by night. (Jin)

Your friend arranged you on a date with a BTS member. The catch is, you have to pretend like you’re not a fan. (Jungkook)

“How does one incite a first kiss?” (Yoongi)

Watching a concert is fun, until you get knocked out by the idol's mic. (Jungkook)

How to make an annoying guy fall to his knees 101. (Jin)

Beauty privilege exists, that's why you're selling your hot best friend. (Jungkook)

"Aren't we done?" (Jungkook)

The classic let's pretend to be a couple for just a while. Nothing bad will happen, right?

Angst/slight angst

“Treat me like yours again for a week before you let me go.” (Yoongi)

He doesn’t love me back but I’m fine with it. (Yoongi)

Your friends locked you together for an hour so you can make up. (Yoongi)

He only comes to sleep with you and you accept because your heart allows you to. (Yoongi)

You both deleted your memories of each other. (Yoongi)

Love and business don't mix, and so do both of you. (Namjoon)

Your husband who you’re about to divorce, lost his memories. (Hoseok)

“It’s weird but can you please take care of my son while I’m away?” (Taehyung)

“This wouldn’t change our friendship, right?” (Namjoon)

A crippled and a convict, what a mix.

a/n: I will be adding more prompt later if the inspiration strikes! 💜

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misteria247 · 2 months ago

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2012 Gravity Falls lake:

Tate Mcgucket stared out into the water, his thoughts a whirlwind in his head. A few days ago he'd received a phone call, from California. And on the other end were two children no older than 12, and what they'd told him had left him floundering.

'Is this Tate Mcgucket?'

'Who's asking?'

'Um well, you see me and my sister we were going through our grandpa's attic a few weeks ago, and we'd come across a photograph. We.....we think it might be a picture of your dad.'

'What?!? How in tarnation did you get-'

'We actually um-'

'What Dipper's trying to say is we think our families were connected back in the day the photo was taken!'

'.......What y'all say your names were again....?'

'Oh shoot! My name's Mabel, and the boy who spoke was Dipper. Last name Pines!'

It was hearing that name that made Tate quickly make up an excuse to hang up. But not before Mabel insisted he had their number. The girl was persuasive he'd learned real quick. After he'd hung up, he may or may not have thrown something to get rid of the outlet of emotions he'd felt. The fisherman let out an exhausted sigh as he came back to the present, his light brown eyes scanning the lake. Maybe if he was lucky, one of those sirens might come by and drown him. But given his luck, he highly doubted it.

Pines.

Of all the people in the world to contact him, it had to be from that family.

'Why can't they just leave well enough alone? Damn em....'

Tate thought feeling frustrated. It wasn't that he hated the Pines family, it was that they'd left a tidal wave of emotions behind for the older man. After all, it was because of those Pines boys that his father came to this God forsaken place. And yet.....

Tate could recall the memories of an older man that went by the name Pines and an elderly woman who accompanied him. Could recall the search parties that they accompanied his ma, Emma May on. Both stricken with grief just like his ma and him.

It wasn't Stanford and Stanley Pines' fault that Fiddleford Mcgucket disappeared. They, too, were victims to whatever the hell happened in that awful year of 1981.

The Mcgucket family were not the only ones who lost loved ones. Who had family disappear into thin air, as if they never existed in the first place. Taking a deep breath, Tate reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper that contained Mabel and Dipper Pines' phone number. It'd be so easy to toss it, so easy to pretend that he never got the call but......

Tate wasn't the only one who wanted to find loved ones. And by God despite the feelings he felt he'd be damned if he didn't help somewhat. He couldn't leave those kids empty handed. Not like how he was left that way all those years ago.

'Alrighty Mcgucket, get a grip. We've got a call to make and a cold case to break.'

With that thought Tate Mcgucket turned away from the lake of Gravity Falls and headed back to his fishing shack, ready to dial the number of the newest set of Pines twins.

Hopefully, it won't come back and bite him.

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robinette-green · 10 months ago

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Robin's Inside the Pizza Plex DCA Romance Fics

These are fics I've started that take place inside Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizza Plex. The call is coming from inside the plex!

A Door You're Unable to Close:

(tag)

My best friend talked me into coming with her as moral support to her little brother's birthday party. I hadn't wanted to go to that stupid birthday party to begin with and now I'm trapped in a video game, a horror video game that might kill me. I thought at the time that it was ironic that a kid named Greg had gone missing in a Chuck-e-Cheese of all places but this is taking things much too far.

Invisible:

There's nothing like working for a corporation in a capitalist society to remind you that you are nothing but furniture and need not be perceived unless needed. Even the animatronics in this place are treated more human than I am. At least I'm on the same level as the staff bots… that's a plus? Though usually, people prefer to speak with a staff bot over me, so I suppose 'even' is the lie I tell myself. I've worked for Fazbear Entertainment at their pizza plex for about a year. I do a little bit of everything. Cleaning, repair, sales… even security sometimes. Most of the human workers have been replaced with robots to cut down on employee costs. Sometimes I think I'm the last human working here, but then I remember Vanessa still works here too. Sometimes I wonder if they just forgot to fire me or tell me I was fired, but I'm still getting paychecks, so… yeah. The time clock beeped an acknowledgment as I punched in my employee number. "Attention! Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex is closed! Have a pleasant evening!" Sighing, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and took a long swig of my coffee.

The Star Dome (LateNight DayDreams):

An OC named Fey is a new animatronic that has been added to the plex.

Another Daycare Story:

This is another of your reader x Sun/ Moon Pizza Plex daycare stories. We start with a 20-something individual getting a job in the daycare and having to overcome a fear of animatronics. There will be some angst with Moon. Then the romance will begin. Eventually, we'll hit the events of the game and go through all that fun, but until then, this will be mostly random fluff and angst shenanigans in the loose shape of a story as our main characters fall in love.

Little Assistant:

MC is the assistant to the CEO of Fazbear Entertainment. As Vanessa kidnaps and kills children while attempting to bring Springtrap back to life, MC is forced to clean up the mess and cover up the disappearances. MC is also tasked with keeping an eye on the Daycare attendants, keeping them in line as they are forced to help kidnapping children. “Did you do it? How do we know if it worked?” “We’ll have to test out some command code on him. Everything uploaded without issue, but they do have minds of their own. He may put up a fight.” I wasn’t paying attention to the conversation, wanting as little to do with this as I could get away with. They had already forced me to help with so much, cleaning up all that mess, all that red, covering up the disappearance. Shuddering, I looked through the glass into the daycare beyond. Deep in the dark, I could see two red eyes glaring out at us, furious. I couldn’t blame him. The virus they had activated in the night mode daycare attendant was going to be used for something horrific.

Lost Time:

The reader, already in an established relationship with Sun and Moon, dies and wakes 5 years later in the body of an animatronic. The pizza plex was rebuilt after the collapse and fire. Due to some miracle, all of the animatronics had survived the disaster and were now back to work, entertaining the general public as though nothing had happened. After everything fell apart, children stopped disappearing, but the missing children were never found. Business was booming, and everything seemed to be better than ever. With the massive influx of money, Fazbear Entertainment decided to invest in a new animatronic, a drummer for the band, to add to the rock and roll feel of the Glam Rocks. But in the way of all things with Fazbear Entertainment, the acquisition of this animatronic was very confidential. Several none disclosure agreements were signed, and the whole thing was very shady. None of this mattered to me, of course. I was more worried about my new role in life. Well, it was life in a sense. I had finally woken up after 5 years to find myself strapped to a chair in parts and services, having been turned into an animatronic.

Lost in the Dark:

Working third shift for security wasn’t so bad. I spent the first few hours patrolling the halls of the upper floors, that being what I had been assigned. Then I would spend the rest of the night at the security desk in the daycare, cameras pulled up on the computer screens and keeping an eye on the ‘crazy’ animatronics that inhabited that colourful playground. 6 months of working night shift in the daycare, and I am unfortunate enough to have developed feelings for two clueless robots.

Bad Day:

I stopped with my hand on the door. I had come all this way on my day off and now I wasn't brave enough to push the doors open. Today had been a hard one. A nightmare the night before and some rough conversations had made my insides feel all squishy and tender. All I really wanted to do was lay on the floor and cry but something had brought me here, to the daycare.

Taking Time:

Why is it Spicy?:

okay so... this is an AU of my Unpleasant Nightmare fic. I started this as a joke for myself but now we're here. The general idea is the same. Stuck in Security Breach and need to find a way out but Sun and Moon are extra flirty and handsy.

Out of Place:

Fosters and Green is an up and coming robotics company and is the talk of every news station in the world. They haven’t even released their first line of robots yet but people are already clambering to get their hands on a robot made from Foster and Green. They plan on releasing a few household bots that will work as cleaning staff or secretaries but they also plan on releasing a line of child care bots. Why hire a nanny when you can have a live-in one you don’t need to pay. My designated number is D-375, I have been dubbed Kate by the technicians who ran all of my quality assurance checks. My dreams of working with a family of my own were quickly dashed. Foster and Green decided that they wanted to place a bot somewhere in the public eye where people could watch it at work and so had partnered with another company who also made robots, though they specialized more in animatronics that were designed for entertainment. The two companies decided to put one Foster and Green’s N-90 models in the daycare center of Fazbear Entertainment’s PizzaPlex to work alongside the child care units that Fazbear Entertainment had created.

Taking Over:

They needed a robotics expert and I needed a job. I had been between jobs. I had actually just been let go from my last job and was frantically looking for a new one when I had received an email from Faz Bear entertainment. They were looking for a robotics expert to run their parts and services lab. The pay was phenomenal but I would be the only one working in the lab and would be expected to keep the staff bots, animatronics, arcade games and all the automated systems in working order. I didn’t even hesitate a moment before I sent them a reply and agreed to an interview for the following day. Great pay and an entire lab to myself? Yes please. I was hired on the spot. This wasn't surprising seeing as I had worked in robotics for most of my life and had some hands-on experience with these kinds of animatronics. The AI units that Faz Bear uses would be new to me but I was sure I could figure out the new tech quickly enough.

Unpleasant Nightmare:

My best friend talked me into coming with her as moral support to her little brother's birthday party. I hadn't wanted to go to that stupid birthday party to begin with and now I'm trapped in a computer game, a horror computer game that might kill me. I thought at the time that it was ironic that a kid named Greg had gone missing in a Chuck-e-Cheese of all places but this is taking things much too far.

Some of these won't be finished and some are OLD writing of mine. you have been warned. Please don't let that stop you from reading these and enjoying them <3

#glitter rock #fnaf daycare attendant #fnaf moon #fnaf sun #dca fandom #sun and moon x reader #fnaf sun and moon #dca fanfic #fnaf fanfic #fnaf security breach #glitter rock writing #a door you're unable to close

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ctrl-alt-em · 4 months ago

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Communication is Key

AO3

Robin

I am Morven Hellwain. You have carried my spirit in your body for the last two months. As I am sure you have not figured out, when you lose consciousness, I gain control of our shared vessel. I need you to sleep as frequently as possible. Additionally, avoid bodily harm. I do not appreciate having to cast Cure Wounds when I wake.

Dear Morven Hellwain

Are you the reason for all the strange happenings? Did you explode the wolves? Lug says you killed that monster in the bunk house.

I go to sleep every night. I guess it is every other night? I don’t think I can sleep more than that and still help.

Thank you for healing my leg. Happen says he did not aim for me. His sprites played a mean prank.

From Robin Oatcake

Robin

I cannot fathom how you think you, the village idiot, can be of any help. The only way you can help is by ensuring I am in control as much of the time as possible.

As for your initial questions, yes, I am. I cannot imagine anything of note occurring in your proximity without my influence. I am not directly responsible for the wolves’ destruction; the recent unpredictable outcomes of spells is to blame. You need not concern yourself with magic.

Dear Morven Hellwain

I was not the village idiot. That was Young Man Dan. I was the spit-turner before I lost my job seven weeks ago.

I can be a great help! I helped save Lug from those men. I even injured one! And I was the one that got help when that man turned into a monster. Happen said I did a good job. I even helped us meet our friends and join our adventuring party. You are just upset that I can help just as much as you. I understand that. I was jealous of Tilly the spitturn dog too at first.

From Robin Oatcake

Robin

From the other's accounts of the confrontation with the mob, it does not sound like you played a needed role. It is no show of strength or skill to hit a blinded, maimed man with stale bread. As for the combat at Folkmoot, others surely would have heard and come to our aid, supposing I did not defeat the abomination before their arrival. You did nothing a dog would not be capable of. A dog likely would have been of greater help and less of liability.

Robin

You will get us both killed if you disregard my advice. Your 'help' is not needed nor wanted, I assure you.

To Morven Hellwain

I was thinking about back home, all the weird things people kept telling me. Leslie, the head cook, was cross with me. She said I missed work twice and that I insulted her in the market. I had no idea what she was talking about. I assumed she mistook me for someone else and I tried to tell her so. She said I was lying and fired me! It occurred to me that she might not have been lying. Was it you she saw? Are you the reason I lost my job?

From Robin Oatcake

Robin

Of all the things you could waste my time with, you chose this? Your 'job' is hardly worth the ink we are wasting writing about it. I will acknowledge that I was in control of our body several times before our departure. I did lose my patience with several of the dimwitted residents of the village so I very well may have offended the head 'cook'. I would not consider the loss of any great consequence. If anything, it is beneficial. Your 'occupation' would have delayed your departure for Folkmoot. You may thank me for my help in your next note. Hopefully, the writing will tire you.

To Morven

And what about my house? Did you tell the apothecary she could give it to her goat? If you wanted to run me out of my village so bad, you could have written to me earlier.

From Robin

Robin

If I recall correctly, and I do, the old hag asked me, "How I am supposed to keep a roof over my goat's head if you don't pay?" To that, I said, "Give the fucking goat my roof. I don't care." And I continue to not care. Your hovel was little more than a goat's shelter anyway.

I have spoken with Happen and he is aware of a root that induces a harmless sleep state. I have procured some. It is in the outer pouch of our bag.

To Morven

It is not our bag. It is my bag. And I don't need anything to help me sleep. A long day of traveling with my friends does that enough. Seeing as I have no work or home to return to, I will be with them for the foreseeable future regardless of our mission.

If you want to be helpful, Morven, you will tell me how to use magic myself and how I get you out of me.

From Robin

Robin

You cannot use magic. It would require innate talent or years of study, neither of which you have. Unless such fantasies lull you into a slumber, do not concern yourself with such endeavors.

I am looking into potential methods to separate us. However, until magic has been returned to its original state and I gather more information on what caused my spirit to enter your body in the first place, no significant progress can be made. You need not be involved.

To Morven

How can I not get involved when I already am? You’re in my head! You walk around in my body half the time! I should be the only one in my body!

And how do you know I don’t have inate innate talent? Maybe I just haven’t had need to use it.

From Robin

Robin

Knock yourself out as soon as you see this. Lug, Cressida, and Willowfine have been captured by a group of zealots and I need to go save their skins.

To Morven

No need to worry. Me and Happen did it ourselves. You should have seen how far Lug hit this one guy with his hammer once we got him out.

From Robin

Robin

That is not what I told you to do. You will get us both killed.

Willowfine said she saw you use magic. I can only assume you located a scroll and stumbled your way into using it correctly.

To Morven

You were wrong, Morven. I do have a talent for magic, no scroll needed, whatever those are. Mine is not as pretty or orderly as yours but I can cast spells. Cressida thinks that might be why you didn’t have trouble casting in my body.

You may thank me for my help in your next note. I will not ask you to knock yourself out because I have manners.

From Robin

Robin

I have spoken with Cressida and Willowfine regarding your spelling casting. As must I detest to acknowledge it, I suppose it makes sense. Either my spirit brought my magic potential with it or my spirit was attracted to your magic potential. I do believe the first one is the more likely of the two. It still stands that between the two of us, I am the more proficient and thus should handle any and all confrontations.

To Morven

Willowfine says we should try to come to a compromise. She said our attempts to screw with each other and limit the other’s time awake is annoying.

How about a deal? If I find myself in situations that I cannot handle, I will find a way to allow you to take control if you agree to cease trying to stay awake for days on end. If the group stops to sleep, you sleep and let me take control.

From Robin

Robin

After much strong arming from the others, I agree to your terms.

Robin

Why am I not surprised you have Wild Magic? Of all sorcerous origins, you draw power from the most unruly and unpredictable.

With that said, I request that you cast something that will offer you improved defense or evasion when in a confrontation. You cannot rely on Acid Splash only.

- Morven

#oxventure wyrdwood #oxventure #fanfic #robin oatcake #morven hellwain

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cordeliasdarling · 2 years ago

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Birthday (Larissa Weems x Reader)

Notes: This is a random piece about Larissa and reader both being students at nevermore. Reader is popular, Larissa not so. (I know I’m so sorry it’s a bit sad.) I saw a prompt ages ago that inspired this so creds to them idk who.

Let me know if you want a part two! And pls don’t let this flop haha :0

****

To say I was popular.. well yes, you'd be right. I'd worked hard for it, looking perfect, getting high grades. Of course my natural personality was a winner amongst my peers at Nevermore academy. It made me feel good, more than just for my ego. I liked to know that people liked me for me. I wasn't fake, I said things as they were, and luckily it wasn't rejected.

"Hello, earth to (Y/N)!" I jolted out of my personal monologue by my best friend, Cleo. When we'd met for the first time, we clicked instantly. She knew me better than anyone else, and I loved it. And I knew her the same way.

"Sorry, just daydreaming." I chuckled quietly and glanced around at the surroundings. We were sat on the freshly cut green grass in the courtyard. It was a warm day with a refreshing breeze. Perfect for lounging around. Just beyond me and Cleo were the rest of my friend group, who were all talking, laughing. I enjoyed the company.

Then something caught my eye, actually someone.

She had silvery blonde hair, and was much taller than any girl in the school, and not just because we were the oldest in the school (we were all in our last year). The school uniform brought out her deep crystal eyes, in a way that made me smile automatically. Larissa Weems was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Cleo nudged me, a grin on her face.

"I don't know why you don't just ask her out. What's the worst that can happen?"

I rolled my eyes, a sigh escaping my lips. My eyes were still on Larissa, watching as she walked along the open corridor on the side of the grass. Her eyes were on the ground, probably watching where she was going because due to her height, she often bumped into the shorter students, forgetting her stride was bigger than others.

"She most likely will be straight. Then turn me down, laugh in my face, and leave me all alone forever." Groaning, I leaned back, laying down properly on the grass.

"You should invite her to your birthday party." Cleo suggested, taking a sip of her water bottle, which she'd slid in a few ice cubes to keep her cool in the summer heat.

"She doesn't go to parties." Well, that's just what I'd gathered from all the parties I'd been to, she'd never been there, much to my disappointment. Having drinks in our systems may have given me more courage to talk to her.

Before Cleo could reply, one of my friends approached us, causing my eyes to leave Larissa just as she disappeared through a door.

"Hi, Mary." A welcoming smile on my face, as usual. She smiled back, sitting closer, in front of Cleo.

"I was wondering if you could help me with the Math homework? It's totally okay if not." People often asked me for such favours, as it was no secret that I got top grades, and I was always happy to help.

"Yes, of course!"

"Alright everyone, today we're moving to the greenhouse for the lesson." Mrs Faye called out to everyone before they could sit down. A faint groan was heard, because we all knew how hot it would be in there. But we didn't protest, mainly because we all loved Mrs Faye, and she always made our lessons fun.

There were desks already set up in front of tables with a plant pot on all of them. All of the students grouped together in twos, though I hung back, deciding which table I would go to with Cleo. But she nudged me, secretly gesturing to Larissa who hadn't partnered up yet. My eyes widened, knowing what she was suggesting.

"No!" I whispered, but Cleo had walked off with someone else, sending a wink my way. Internally I groaned, knowing I'd have to woman-up. So I approached Larissa, a faint smile on my lips, almost grinning as her eyes met with mine. I was lost for a moment, looking up at the girl I had the biggest crush on. And she had no idea, because I was secretly an awkward lesbian.

"Hey, wanna partner up?" I asked, cursing to myself because my tone didn't sound confident enough. She nodded, her expression softening. I felt a pang of sadness for her, because she was always the last one to be picked. It shouldn't be that way.

We walked to the last available bench and sat down, facing the front.

Mrs Faye talked us through the project, and soon we were left to our own devices, having to dissect a flower to see the roots and whatnot. At the same time, we grabbed the scalpel to start. A blush appeared on my cheeks, whereas Larissa just smiled that beautiful smile.

"Sorry." Mumbling, letting her take it and begin the work. My eyes watched her movements, wondering what her larger hands would feel like linked with mine. I was short, well not short in the grand scheme of things, but just smaller than the average nineteen year old. Did that make me and Larissa Weems less compatible? I hoped not.

The lesson went by in a blur, mostly me letting Larissa do all the work, something that was unlike me, but I was just very busy. By busy, I meant building up the courage to ask Larissa to my birthday party. It couldn't be that hard, just a few simple words. But the feeling of rejection was something I never wanted to feel. I'd always had an easy time when it came to dating. All boys though, much to my distaste, but that was the consequence of not coming out.

"Larissa?" My tone was even, not holding confidence or nervousness. She tilted her head to the side, making eye contact with me. I nearly ran out of oxygen, looking into those deep ocean blue eyes.

"Yes?" Her voice was smooth, velvety even.

"Would you.. would you like to come to my birthday party tomorrow?" Urgh, I hated the way my pathetic voice sounded so hopeful. I hoped she didn't detect it.

She didn't say anything for a full minute, seemingly lost in thought. Eventually she shook her head slowly. "Sorry, I'm busy tomorrow."

My heart sunk, hanging my head in despair. So this is what rejection felt like, a crushing feeling in my gut.

"Oh, that's totally okay." I forced a smile, staring at the now dissected plant as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Damn this. Of course the prettiest girl in school wouldn't want to come to my party. Literally almost everyone in my year would be there, except for her.

Mrs Faye then called out to the class, dismissing us all as the hour was up. Time flew fast, it seemed.

Larissa left the class before me, grabbing her bag and exiting quickly. I tried not to stare, but I didn't really relax until she'd gone completely. Not in a negative way, but because I was so awkward and down.

"So how did it go?" Cleo grinned, her arm slung around my shoulders as we left the greenhouse. I didn't reply, just groaning in a way that I hoped verbalised the rejected feeling.

"Ah. Playing hard to get. Well, there are plenty more fish in the sea." She slapped my back in what seemed to be a comforting way, but it just added to the pain. Yes, I know I was just a nineteen year old student with a silly little crush, but Larissa seemed like so much more.

As we walked along the corridor, I spotted the very girl I was mooning over, talking to a small group of people. They all seemed to shake their head in response to something she said. Larissa seemed to smile, though it looked superficial, like something had upset her but she was trying to cover it up. They all dispersed, leaving me in a state of curiousness. I was tempted to go over to the people who were naturally my friends, to ask what that was all about, but we needed to get to our lesson.

And by the end of the day, it had slipped my mind.

The next day rolled around, and I was walking out of the changing rooms, having just had track. I was alone, which was unusual, because I had decided to do a couple more laps, insisting my friends should go. They all wanted to get ready for my party anyway.

I slipped on my uniform, not bothering to tuck my shirt into my skirt. Bag on my shoulder, I moved towards the door, but I stopped in my tracks when I heard a muffled sound coming from the toilets. Frowning, I inspected further, walking into joining restroom. The sound happened again, and this time I figured out it was stifled crying. The sound tugged on my heartstrings, because the pain was clear in the tone.

"Hello?" I knocked on the cubicle door softly, and the crying abruptly stopped. The was a long silence before the door opened slowly. It revealed none other than Larissa Weems. My heart sunk further, who hurt my precious girl?

"Oh.. it's you." She mumbled, walking to the tissue dispenser, grabbing a few sheets to dab at her smudged mascara. "I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine." I followed her, about to place a hand on her arm, but stopped myself, in case she didn't like physical contact. She stared into the mirror, at herself, until her gaze shifted to my reflection.

"Don't you have friends to run off with?" She muttered, eyes now lowering to look at her hands.

"They're not important right now. Can you tell me what's wrong?" I tried my best to make my words as gentle as possible, and it seemed to work because fresh tears filled her eyes as she turned around to face me.

"We have the same birthday but everyone goes to your party, not mine." Her voice cracked, looking away in some type of shame.

It all clicked, the reason why she was 'busy', the reason those people were shaking their heads, as they weren't going to her celebration, they were going to mine. I didn't even know her birthday was on the same day as mine.

"Oh, Larissa.." I whispered, my arms opening to embrace her. She didn't move away, instead stiffening up. "I'm sorry." Though those two words didn't do much comfort.

"It's fine." She sounded cold, and suddenly pushed me away gently. Tears were in my eyes now, just like hers, except she had fiercely wiped them away.

"Have fun." She then left, her footsteps quick against the lino flooring, leaving me speechless. I wiped away one tear. I had caused her pain, and that I would never forgive myself for.

I had to make this right, I had to make her feel better, in whatever way possible.

So I furrowed my eyebrows to come up with some sort of plan.

****

#larissa weems #princple weems #larissa weems x reader #gwendoline christie #wednesday the show #lgbt #lesbian #gay longing #gwendolineuniverse #wlw

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differentpostrebel · 2 months ago

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Lost and Found: A Pirates Promise

.Chapter 48, part 2: Veil of Betrayal

A/N: We are back with a new chapter! This is the continuation of Chapter 48, since I divided it into 2 parts. Here we see the lines of defiance slowly beginning to crumble, and we get a shocking revelation, from who… Thank you guys so much for liking, commenting, and reblogging! I will be posting a teaser for tomorrow's chapter tomorrow along with the chapter. And without further ado, let the adventure begin!

Word Count: 4.7k

Sanji x Reader, Sanji x Y/N, One Piece X Reader

Time passed, and I found myself in the château’s medical ward. “Shit, what happened?” I groaned, feeling like I had been hit by a battering ram.. again. Every muscle in my body ached, especially my head, where a dull throbbing pain persisted. I attempted to sit up, but the pain intensified, forcing me back down.

Just then, Reiju walked into the room, her expression unreadable. "Are you alright?" she asked, approaching the bed.

"What happened?" I muttered, trying to piece together the events. The last thing I remembered was walking down the stairs, and then... nothing. “Was I attacked?” I thought out loud, the fragmented memories swirling in my mind.

Reiju’s gaze flickered with something I couldn’t place. “We were told you fell down the stairs and were knocked unconscious,” she replied calmly.

“Cut the crap,” I snapped, frustration lacing my voice. “I didn’t just fall. I was attacked.” The pain was becoming unbearable, and I gritted my teeth. “Shit, why?”

I instinctively reached for my blade and thigh halter, but as I searched around me, I realized it wasn’t there. “My blade!” I exclaimed, panic rising. I searched the bed frantically, but it was nowhere to be found. "Great, now I’ve got to find that too," I thought bitterly.

Reiju sighed softly and approached me with a calmer demeanor. "I also came to get you ready for your wedding dress fitting," she said, her tone cautious.

"Hell no!" I yelled, gripping my head as the pain surged again. "I’m not playing dress-up. I have important things I need to do," I gritted out, but the pain made it impossible to move as freely as I wanted. "Son of a bitch," I cursed, frustrated with the entire situation.

Reiju, unfazed by my resistance, handed me some medicine. “Here, take these. They’ll help with the pain and heal you faster,” she said, holding out a glass of water.

Reluctantly, I took the pills, glaring at her as I swallowed them down.

“Are you always this stubborn?” Reiju asked as I handed back the glass of water.

“All day, every day,” I replied, causing her to smile.

“Do I really have to go to this dress fitting?” I groaned, half-heartedly.

“Unfortunately, yes. But don’t worry, it’ll be quick, and you can rest in your room until it’s deemed fit,” she assured me.

Reiju and I may not have known each other well, but she had saved my captain, and now she was helping me with this pain. For that, I was grateful. “Okay, I’ll do it, but after that, I’m finding my crew, and also resting because this pain is just too much,” I added, trying to keep the mood light as we made our way out of the medical ward and into the calicoat. After some time, we finally arrived at the bridal shop.

A bell chimed as we entered, and a cheerful voice greeted us. “Welcome to Dreams in Lace Bridal Boutique, do you have an appointment?”

Reiju stepped forward confidently. “It’s under Vinsmoke.”

“Ahh yes, right this way!” The shopkeeper led us to a private area filled with elegant dresses. “And you must be the lovely bride-to-be,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I managed a small smile in return. “Aww, she’s shy,” she teased.

“Far from it,” I shot back through gritted teeth, trying to mask my nerves.

“Okay, well, these five dresses were selected, along with some for the after-party. Let’s try them on!” she announced cheerfully.

The first dress did nothing for me, and I immediately shook my head, saying, "No."

The second dress was form-fitted in the front but too big at the waist—another no. The third dress was another disappointment, and the fourth dress looked all over the place.

"Reiju, these dresses aren’t it for me," I sighed, beginning to put on the fifth dress.

"Don't worry," she assured me, popping a bottle of champagne, "I just know you’ll love this one."

As I stepped out, my heart raced, and I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. The dress hugged my body perfectly, the off-the-shoulder lace long sleeves making me feel both elegant and daring. The plunging neckline added just the right amount of allure, while the fabric cinched at the waist highlighted my figure.

The bottom of the dress flowed gracefully around me, a small train trailing behind like a whisper of sophistication. Adorned with delicate lace, glimmering pearls, and sparkling stones, it was breathtaking—a true testament to beauty.

Just as I was lost in the mesmerizing vision before me, the woman gently placed a veil over my head, completing the look. As I looked at my reflection again, I barely recognized myself.

“This one’s perfect,” Reiju said, handing me a champagne glass. I could barely focus on the drink as I admired the way the dress hugged me. “Wonderful! Now there won’t be any retouches; she fits perfectly in this dress. But it should be ready for the wedding,” she added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Perfect, the wedding is tomorrow,” Reiju announced, and I nearly choked on my drink.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” I managed to gasp, my heart racing.

“Sanji wanted his wedding with Pudding to happen tomorrow,” she explained, her tone almost casual. “And since you and Ichiji are set to marry as well before Sanji, that pushed everything up.”

“Why would he…?” I thought, feeling a knot form in my stomach. “He told me he wasn’t going to marry Pudding.” Confusion washed over me as I tried to process her words. “What changed?”

Before I could voice my questions, Reiju was already dragging me away to remove the dress. Panic surged through me. I gotta find Luffy then before it’s too late, I thought, urgency propelling me forward.

As we stepped out of the dressing room, I glanced back at my reflection one last time, still feeling the weight of the news. “Now, let’s look at other fits…” Reiju said, a smirk playing on her lips. The hint of mischief in her expression only added to my frustration. Once we finished with the wedding dress and the after-party dress, Reiju had a brilliant idea—to have me shop for other essentials usually reserved for the after-after wedding reception.

She handed me three bags, each filled with outfits that would keep the celebrations going long into the night. As we made our way back to the calicoat and headed toward Big Mom’s château, my mind raced with thoughts of how to escape this chaotic whirlwind.

Upon arriving, I hurried up the stairs to my floor, the weight of the bags in my arms becoming a comforting distraction from the turmoil of emotions. As soon as I opened the door, I dropped the bags with a soft thud.

But just as I was about to look for my stolen blade, I froze. Ichiji was already in my room, lounging casually as if he owned the place.

“How the hell did you manage to get in?” I exclaimed, my surprise mingling with irritation.

Ichiji smirked, leaning back against the wall. “I have my ways,” he replied, a cocky confidence in his voice.

Ichiji smirked as he walked forward, causing me to hit the wall behind me. The sudden impact made my breath hitch, and I felt my heart race. “I believe last night you did say we were going to discuss the matter of punishments,” he said, his voice low and teasing, his gaze locked onto mine.

My pulse quickened at the way he said it, a mix of challenge and something dangerously alluring. His fingers began to glide along my leg, sending a thrill of anticipation coursing through me. “And I have a few ideas in mind that will be more than enough,” he added, pulling me closer to him, his presence overwhelming.

I swallowed hard, feigning confidence as I replied, “And what ideas might those be?” The words came out a little shaky, but I was determined not to show weakness.

Ichiji's smirk widened, and there was a glimmer of desire in his eyes. “Well, let’s just say I have some creative ways to remind you of your place,” he purred, leaning in closer, his breath warm against my skin.

“Creative, huh?” I shot back, trying to sound nonchalant despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach. “Like what? You planning on writing me a love poem?”

He chuckled softly, a dark, rich sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Oh, it’ll be much more than that.” He stepped even closer, his body almost pressed against mine, and I felt the heat radiating off him. “I want to make sure you remember exactly who you belong to, Y/N.”

The way he said my name sent a jolt through me. I couldn’t deny the effect he had on me, and as much as I wanted to resist, a part of me was undeniably drawn to his intensity. “Is that so?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow. “And how do you plan to do that?”

Ichiji leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “Let’s just say I’m a firm believer in hands-on learning.” The heat of his breath sent a thrill coursing through me, and my resolve began to waver. “Perhaps some physical reminders will help you understand just how serious I am.”

In one swift motion, he hoisted me into the air, my legs wrapping around his frame, my back pressed against the wall with no room for escape. “Easy there, tiger,” I managed to say, trying to maintain some composure.

“Tiger?” Ichiji replied with a smirk, his gaze glinting with playful mischief. “I like that nickname you gave me, princess.” His tone was teasing, and it sent a flush of heat through me.

“Yeah? Well, it was just a joke,” I retorted, attempting to push him back gently as I moved toward my bed, trying to create some space between us. “I’m going to rest a bit,” I said, hoping that would signal him to back off. But Ichiji took it as an invitation.

“Perfect! I’ll join you,” he declared, his playful grin widening as he began unbuttoning his dress shirt, revealing his chiseled abs and toned muscles. My breath caught at the sight, and I quickly turned away, attempting to shield myself from the undeniable allure he exuded.

“This wasn’t an invite,” I shot back, grabbing my blanket and wrapping it tightly around me, as if it could provide a barrier against his charm.

Ichiji only chuckled, unfazed by my protest. He settled beside me, propping himself up on one elbow, and effortlessly pulled me closer to his chest. “You know, you can’t just push me away like that,” he teased, amusement evident in his voice. “It makes me want to stay even more.”

“Seriously, Ichiji,” I protested, though the heat radiating from him was nearly impossible to ignore.

“Relax, princess,” he replied, his voice low and inviting as he pressed a soft kiss against my neck. I couldn’t help but involuntarily lift my arm in response, a shiver coursing through me as I felt my heart race at his touch. “I’m not going to bite… much,” he added, the sultriness of his voice making it hard to think straight.

The warmth of his breath sent tingles down my spine, and I stifled a small moan as he continued to explore my skin with his lips. “Ichiji,” I managed to say, but my voice was barely above a whisper, drowned out by the sensations he was creating.

Not satisfied with my lack of response, he snaked his hand under the blanket, his fingers grazing my thigh in a way that was both teasing and electrifying. The touch ignited a rush of heat within me, and I bit my lip to stifle another sound, my mind racing in confusion and desire.

“Now let’s rest,” he said casually, as if he had all the time in the world. He settled next to me with a confidence that was almost disarming, his tattooed arm curling around me and pulling me closer against his warm body. Despite the chaos swirling in my thoughts, I felt the tension in my chest beginning to melt away.

His skin felt warm against mine, and I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, soothing yet exhilarating. “There’s more of that coming soon,” he added, his tone suggestive, as if promising untold pleasures that awaited us.

“Why are you like this?” I asked, even though a part of me didn’t want to push him away. “You know this isn’t right.”

Ichiji chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Right and wrong don’t matter much when you’re drawn to someone. You can fight it, or you can enjoy the ride.” His eyes sparkled with mischief and something deeper, an intensity that made it hard to resist.

“Maybe a few minutes of resting will do me good,” I admitted, feeling the exhaustion of the day catch up to me. The warmth of his body beside me and the steady beat of his heart became a soothing lullaby, and as I slowly fell back into slumber, I felt his presence wrap around me like a comforting blanket, making it all too easy to drift away.

Hours passed, and Ichiji was still beside me. The soft light filtering through the curtains cast a peaceful glow over his features, and for a moment, I allowed myself to study him closely. His usual stern expression was replaced by something much softer in sleep, and I found myself drawn to the intricate design of his tattoo. Slowly, without thinking, I traced the lines with my fingers, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the ink.

“Mmm… Y/N,” he murmured, pulling me closer as I touched him. His voice was low and husky, stirring something within me that I couldn’t quite place. The way he said my name sent a thrill through me, and despite the chaos of my thoughts, I felt an unexpected comfort in his embrace.

Ichiji stirred slightly at my touch, his arm loosening its grip around me as he shifted, but he didn’t wake. Taking advantage of the moment, I slipped out of bed, careful not to make a sound. How long has he been here? I wondered, feeling a mixture of relief and urgency as I stood. My mission rushed back into focus, pulling me from the warmth of the moment and back to the reality of what needed to be done. I had to move quickly and quietly, knowing that every second counted.

I grabbed my things and made my way quietly to the door, closing it gently behind me before stepping out into the hallway. I need to find my blade and thigh halter... and Luffy... and Nami, before it’s too late. My mind was racing, piecing together the next steps. Time was running out, and I needed to act quickly.

As I descended the stairs, laughter echoed through the chateau, familiar voices pulling me toward them. My heart pounded, but I couldn’t resist following the sound. I edged closer, recognizing the laughter that belonged to Sanji. I peered around the corner, my breath catching at the scene unfolding before me.

“To us…” Sanji’s voice rang out, a toast in hand.

“To us…” Pudding responded, clinking her glass against his with a smile that made my stomach turn. I froze, watching the two of them in the soft candlelight, their faces dangerously close.

“What the hell?” I whispered under my breath, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing.

Sanji looked at her with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. “Pudding,” he said softly, his eyes filled with affection, “I have to say, I’ve never loved a woman more than I do with you.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, making me falter where I stood. Never loved a woman more? My mind spiraled as I tried to make sense of it.

The sight of them together, the way Sanji spoke to her—it shattered something inside me. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to step out and demand an explanation. But deep down, I knew that this wasn’t the time. There was too much at stake, too much to do.

I turned away, my heart aching with every step as I silently made my way back down the hall, focusing on the mission ahead. There were bigger things at play, and right now, I couldn’t afford to let this derail me. I need to find Luffy.

Sanji POV…

A Day Before….

"You wanted to tell me something, Pudding?" I asked, glancing around her quarters as we sat together. My mind was racing. I had to tell her that there wasn’t going to be a marriage anymore. Besides, I needed to get back to my princess before she woke up. There was no time for distractions.

Pudding fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her eyes downcast. “I… I was the one who led your crew to this island...” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I blinked, caught off guard. "You led them to this island?" I repeated, the weight of her confession sinking in.

Her hands trembled slightly as she continued, “I’m sorry. I gave Luffy my word so that your crew could reach the southwest coast. I wanted to help you escape before Mama found out… but now, you're all in grave danger because of me.” Her voice was laced with despair, as though she’d carried this guilt alone for too long.

I exhaled slowly, piecing it all together. “I see now. I wondered how they managed to pass through all that security…” I muttered, realization dawning on me. “It was thanks to you.” I looked at her, softer this time, acknowledging her intent. “I know you meant well, but even then... I wouldn’t have gone to the coast.” I let the truth slip, knowing it contradicted what I’d told Y/N in the heat of the moment. I had lied to her... telling her I was coming back. The words burned in my memory, but I couldn’t have come back, not with these damn cuffs rendering me powerless.

Pudding looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. “No, Sanji… If you're worried about the invitation, then let me take the blame. She's my mom... I’ll be fine. She’s used to arranged marriages, and she places these special bracelets on people who she thinks might run away,” she said, her voice trembling as if she were bracing for something worse.

I pulled back my sleeve, revealing the golden cuffs that had been weighing on me like a death sentence. "I know," I said quietly, lifting my arm for her to see. “Your mom has the key to these. And if I want to get rid of them…” My voice dropped, and the dread I’d been trying to suppress washed over me again, “I have to defeat the Big Mom Pirates.”

"I’m willing to accept this marriage, but under one condition..." I said, my voice steady even though my heart felt like it was being torn in two. "I want Big Mom to let my friends go unharmed."

Pudding’s face twisted in guilt, her hands trembling as she covered her eyes. “I’m so sorry... You’re in so much pain, and it’s because of what I did,” she sobbed.

“Pudding, it’s not your fault. I promise.” I took a breath, knowing I needed to get this off my chest, to explain why I was making this decision. “Thirteen years ago… I managed to escape hell, only to walk right back into it again. But through it all, I should be happy. After all, I’m grateful to all the people I’ve met along the way, and... I can’t bear to hurt them.”

Pudding’s tears fell freely as she listened, her eyes filled with sorrow. I forced myself to push through the pain, to say what needed to be said. “That’s why my adventure ends here.”

She looked at me, her face filled with both pity and confusion. “I’m sorry... I can’t help it. But listen, Sanji... I promise, if you decide to marry me, I won’t let it be hell. I’ll make sure of it.” Her words wavered with sincerity, though the sorrow in her voice mirrored my own. “Oh dear, you’re suffering so much, and I’m making it all about me. You don’t want to marry me, so of course, it would be hell.”

She was right. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want her. My heart belonged to someone else entirely—someone who was probably waiting for me, not knowing the full truth. I thought of Y/N, her smile, her strength... everything about her that made me feel alive. But to protect her, I had to make this sacrifice.

“I don’t want to marry you...” I thought, the words silent in my mind as guilt gnawed at me. But I have to protect Y/N.

I pulled Pudding into my embrace, holding her gently as I made my decision clear. She cried softly against my chest, unaware of the storm brewing inside me. My thoughts drifted back to Y/N, to the lie I was once again telling her by accepting this marriage.

“I’m sorry, Y/N, for lying to you again...” I thought, feeling the weight of betrayal settle deep in my heart. But it was the only way. This was the only way to keep her safe, even if it meant sacrificing everything I wanted.

“You’re my salvation, Pudding," I said aloud, my voice tinged with a sadness I couldn’t hide. "If you’ll have me... I want us to get married in two days.”

The words felt like shards of glass leaving my mouth, cutting me with every syllable. This decision was the hardest one I’d ever had to make, but it was done. There was no turning back now.

The Next Day…

I hadn’t bothered to go back to my room last night. Instead, I stayed with Pudding, her soft breath against my chest as we lay together in bed. “Oh, sweet Pudding...” I thought, holding her close, but guilt began to creep into my thoughts. Y/N...

The intimate moment I shared with Y/N yesterday flooded my mind. I had left her alone in bed, only to be here with Pudding, trying to drown out the heaviness in my heart by pretending to enjoy this moment. I slowly rose from the bed, feeling the weight of my decisions as I decided to make Pudding some breakfast. But the idea of marrying her—it began to consume me, unsettling emotions fluttering inside me.

As I stepped outside for a moment, I overheard two soldiers talking nearby.

“You hear about the princess yesterday?” one soldier asked.

“Yeah, she’s in the medical wing right now. From what I heard, she fell down the stairs and was found unconscious,” the other replied, casually, as if they were talking about nothing more than the weather.

My eyes widened in shock. Fell down the stairs? Y/N?

“Serves her right for taking on our soldiers. That electricity tactic she uses really did a number on them,” the soldier continued, laughing slightly before returning to their duties.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Y/N... princess... what happened? I didn’t wait another second.

Rushing up the stairs, I made my way to Y/N’s room, my mind racing with fear and guilt. How could I have left her alone, after everything? Just as I reached her door, my path was blocked by none other than Ichiji, standing there with his arms crossed and an infuriating smirk on his face.

“Move, Ichiji. This doesn’t concern you,” I spat, trying to push past him, my anger boiling over.

Ichiji remained unfazed, his cold gaze locking with mine. “Anything my fiancée does concerns me, Sanji,” he replied, his voice oozing with arrogance, as if daring me to make a scene.

Fiancée. The word hit me like a brick, only adding to the storm of emotions already churning inside me.

“Fiancée?” I repeated bitterly, the weight of the situation crashing down on me.

“Yes,” he said, his smirk widening. “And if you’re here to see her, you’re wasting your time. Y/N is under my care now.”

Fury surged through me, and I clenched my fists, stepping closer to Ichiji. My voice came out low and threatening, barely controlled. "Under your care? What did you do to her?"

Ichiji raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed by the anger radiating off me. His smirk widened as he crossed his arms. “Oh, relax," he drawled, his tone as condescending as ever. "I didn’t do anything to her. She had a little accident. Fell down some stairs, apparently.”

I felt my jaw tighten at his casual tone, disbelief coursing through me. "An accident?" I hissed, my fists tightening. "And you just happened to find out?"

He shrugged with a nonchalant smirk, as if none of this mattered to him. “I found out the news this morning, just like you.

I could barely contain myself. Everything inside me screamed to push past him, to get to Y/N, to make sure she was okay. But Ichiji’s presence, his smug confidence, only made me feel more trapped.

“She’s not your responsibility, Ichiji,” I growled.

He chuckled, stepping closer. “She will be soon. Get used to it.”

Every part of me wanted to fight back, to lash out, but I knew if I made the wrong move now, it would only make things worse. For her.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "This isn't over," I said through gritted teeth, turning away for now.

I swiftly made it back to Pudding's quarters, feeling the rage inside me subside just a bit, but the questions still burned in my mind. Who the hell attacked Y/N, and why? The image of her hurt and alone gnawed at me, but I forced it down for now. I had to focus.

“Sanji…” Pudding’s soft voice broke through my thoughts as she stirred awake. Her sleepy eyes met mine, and I forced a smile, keeping my tone light.

“Good morning, dear,” I said nonchalantly, though the weight of my thoughts tugged at me. “I was making us some breakfast.”

She smiled warmly, pushing the covers off and making her way over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I returned the embrace, trying to keep my mind from drifting back to Y/N, the guilt clawing at me.

“We have a busy day today, don’t we?” I said with a smile, brushing some of her hair behind her ear.

“Yes, we do actually,” Pudding replied, hugging me a little tighter. I could feel her excitement, the joy she was radiating about the day ahead. But as I held her close, all I could think about was Y/N. I have to find out what really happened to her…

#one piece #black leg sanji #onepiece x reader #sanji x reader #vinsmoke sanji #one piece sanji #sanji x y/n #sanji #monkey d luffy #one piece nami #whole cake island #ichiji x reader #vinsmoke ichiji #one piece vinsmokes #one piece fanfiction

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clickoly · 6 months ago

Text

O'Knutzy Week - Day 1

I saw the prompt Racing on the bingo card and I couldn't resist.

Me? Watching twenty cars go vroom vroom in a circle for sixty laps every other weekend? Absolutely not.

Here's the first of five parts of Starboys, a Cubs Formula One AU!

(Leo will arrive in style, fashionably late, tomorrow)

Characters belong to the amazing @lumosinlove. A big thank you to @oknutzy-week-2024 for organizing the fest.

A5: We lost

Link to Ao3 here

Monza, Italy

National Automobile Racetrack

The late August heat radiating from the pit lane was anything but a pleasant welcome. Sliding his sunglasses into messy hair, slightly sweaty from a short walk under the scorching sun, Logan took a quick look around.

The Silver garage was uncharacteristically quiet, with only a few mechanics loading tires onto trailers, probably setting them up for tomorrow's free practice sessions.

The weekend hadn't even started yet, and Logan already wished it were over. He ached to wash away the feeling of too many sleepless nights off his body, to get rid of the latent headache that had been haunting him for days—ever since he'd boarded that flight from Amsterdam alone.

What would happen if he refused to show up? Would they fire him? He actually considered hiding for a second, just as the back door to the offices opened.

"Logan?"

The unmistakable sound of Celeste's voice made him turn around.

"Oui, maman?"

"Don't maman me, Tremblay," she stepped closer. "You're late."

"I know," Logan risked an innocent grin. "Please tell me why I have to do this."

The threatening look he earned was more eloquent than any real answer. "Okay, okay," he held his hands up in a sign of truce. "Who's at the press conference?"

Celeste had a habit of memorizing every single detail of his schedule. "Olli, Thomas, Jackson and Finn," she recited. "Do I have to remind you to behave?"

"You know I hate those fucking-"

"Language," Celeste playfully pressed a finger to his chest, then tilted her head toward the door. "Go charm everyone with that sweet face of yours."

"Yeah," Logan huffed. "If anyone so much as breathes a word about last week, I swear to God–"

"You will kindly remind them it was a misunderstanding."

"Mais non," he tried to reason. Had it been a misunderstanding?

"Logan, they want to throw gasoline on this already raging fire. We won't let them."

"Fine," he gave up. There was no point in arguing with her. "But he better be on the same page."

Celeste Dumais wasn't just any manager. She was a friend, a steady presence at Logan's side. And she also happened to be the scariest human being he'd ever met in his life. At least when she wanted to be.

"Go," she insisted. The bossy yet extremely loving tone came out, capable of commanding an army and taking care of a wild household at once. "Behave, and be ready for dinner at six. Pascal is taking us to his favorite restaurant in town, and Katie wants to show you she's learned to eat spaghetti."

"All by herself?"

"And with a fork. Can you believe that?"

Logan's smile was genuine. "Merci, maman."

Down the hall in the Media Center, Logan could hear the loud chatter of people. He checked his watch and realized that they were probably waiting for him to start the conference.

Media day, real fun.

The same old faces welcomed him as he sat down at the end of a long red couch, right next to Thomas Walker, Racing Bull's first seat.

"Care to join the party?" Thomas whispered, muffling his words from the cameras.

"I'd rather not," Logan crossed his arms and leaned against the backrest. "But apparently I have no choice."

Thomas tried to stifle a laugh as the journalist spoke into his microphone, drawing everyone's attention.

"Welcome everybody to the drivers' press conference ahead of the FIA Formula One Italian Grand Prix," he said to the cameras. Years of interviews and conversations with this man, and still Logan found it tricky to understand his thick Scottish accent. "Here are our five drivers joining us today. Closest to me is the home hero for this weekend, Finn O'Hara."

Finn actually smiled for the audience and politely returned the greeting with a grateful nod.

"Then we have Olli Halla, Jackson Nadeau, Thomas Walker and Logan Tremblay. Welcome to you all."

Every other Thursday afternoon on race weekends, when his teammate James wasn't on call, Logan was forced to sit through the same boring go-to questions—usually asked by the same three people. What can you tell us about last week's results? What are your expectations for this weekend? And each time, he tried his best to hide his discomfort behind safely prepared answers, carefully tailored to avoid any kind of drama—the very thing reporters were always looking for.

"Why don't we start with you, Finn?" The man, Tom, asked. "How does it feel, as an American, to be able to race again in red in front of the Italian crowd?"

"Oh, man," Finn laughed, and the rapid clicking of camera shutters instantly filled the room.

Fucker.

"This is incredible," he went on. "Every year it feels like coming home. The fans are amazing, and their support means everything to me and, of course, to the team."

Not only was Finn an elite driver, but he also had an innate talent for winning people's hearts with the silliest of comments. Finn O'Hara was pure charm, and Logan hated to admit it, but he had always been a little jealous of his natural way with people—reporters, journalists, fans. Finn acted like he was born to be in the spotlight and, most importantly, on the top step of the podium. It came as no surprise to Logan when Finn received a multi-year contract offer from the most prestigious racing team in the world, the one people could name without thinking twice when asked about Formula One.

Ask a child to draw a car, and they will certainly draw it red—the same crimson as the Scuderia's vibrant and historic livery, the flagship of Made in Italy.

"Let's move on to Logan," Tom said eventually, his voice as calm and punctuated as usual. "Shall we go back to last weekend? I believe it was a tough one for you, but you still managed to finish the race."

Logan took his time answering. He grabbed the mic, untangled the long cable twisted at his feet, and slowly pulled it to his mouth, white knuckles clutching the metal casing. "It was," he said coldly. His free hand reached for his hair, feeling exposed by the absence of his snapback. "But there's not much to add, to be honest. As I said in the post-race interview, I got damaged by the contact and the car lost a little performance in terms of aerodynamics," he explained calmly.

"The safety car he..." Logan trailed off. "The safety car helped. The mechanics did a mega job during the pit stop and fixed the problem enough to let me cross the finish line."

But I still don't know why it happened.

"It was absolutely a fantastic team effort," agreed Tom. "What about your predictions for this Sunday?"

Logan's lips twitched on autopilot into a cocky smile. "Oh, I can totally see a win."

"Best of luck to you," the man smiled back. "Now I think we have time to take questions from the print media."

Logan tensed. This was the tough part, when sports journalists went on a merciless gossip hunt, looking for the best headline for their next article. And once again, Logan found himself in their crosshairs.

It didn't take long for Tom to give the floor to the most annoying of them all.

"Peter Jones, ESPN F1," the man said as he switched on the microphone. "Finn, the DNF at Zandvoort cost you important points in the battle for the championship," he paused. His greedy eyes flicked not so casually between Finn and Logan. "What are the consequences in the close fight between you and the current leader?"

A subtle question, because Logan knew exactly where this was going. He couldn't help but turn to look at Finn, who sat up straighter on the couch and inadvertently moved a hand to rub the back of his neck—as he always did when he was nervous.

"Like you said," he cleared his throat, "it's still a tight fight. I made a mistake and I apologized, because..." Logan heard the hesitation in his voice, a faint tremor. "We both lost something last week. The race, good points..." Finn's eyes went blurry for a fleeting moment. "But I have to focus more on the future if I want to close the gap between us. And that's still my goal, so I'd say nothing has really changed".

"So everything's okay between the two of you?"

Logan had watched the footage in his hotel room. He remembered storming out of his box. He had wanted to talk, to understand. And they just ended up yelling at each other in the middle of the paddock. Fifteen minutes later, the pictures were all over the Internet.

Sparks flying on and off the track. Tempers flare as Tremblay and O'Hara clash after today's collision, the official F1 account had captioned the post on Instagram.

"Of course," Finn nodded, a half smile on his lips, uncertain. "Yeah, good rivals and all."

Rivals. That's what they were these days. Faces of the rivalry between two legendary, antagonistic teams. Names in capital letters on magazine titles and website headlines.

One against the other.

As soon as they were dismissed, Logan bolted out of the room. It was four in the afternoon, and he still had to find a way to get out of the circuit unnoticed.

Logan wasn't being hostile. He loved his job and the life that came with it—or almost all of it. Even if it meant exposing himself more than he actually liked.

Just not today, not now, not when the constant pounding in his head kept his focus far away, trapped in a conversation he wished had turned out differently.

He was close to the exit door when he heard footsteps running after him.

"Logan, wait."

"Not in the mood," he said without looking back.

"Lo." a warm hand cupped his shoulder. "Please."

They hadn't talked in almost a week, a first for them. Finn had texted, but Logan had needed time to figure out why he was so upset. In the back of his mind, Logan replayed the scene for the thousandth time.

Lap fifty, one hour and forty minutes into the race. Logan was leading the Dutch Grand Prix, going through Sector 2 with a 0.286-second lead over Finn, who had his DRS open. At the entrance to Turn 11, they were neck-to-neck, fighting for the apex.

The contact between the two cars happened out of the blue. It felt like a punch in the gut.

Logan had watched the tape over and over, looking for a valid justification, an explanation. There had been plenty of room for both cars, and yet Finn had pushed him off the track, damaging Logan's front wing and knocking himself out of the race.

"You lied," Logan said firmly, still with his back to Finn.

"What?"

"You said you apologized. But you didn't."

Finn let out a heavy breath, a hint of disbelief in it. He stepped in front of him, tall and broad as he was, brown eyes unbearably sad.

"You think I did it on purpose?" he asked, his voice shaking with emotion.

Logan held Finn's gaze. He felt all the tension in his body release at the sight of the hurt on his face. "Finn, I could never. Merde, I just... I don't understand why you snapped at me like that."

You know what, Logan? Fuck you too. I don't have to explain anything to anyone. Just leave me alone.

"I didn't mean to," Finn ducked his head, shying away from him. "I was tired of people asking me what happened and..." he shrugged helplessly. "You were so angry and I was furious because I'm an asshole and that was a fucking rookie mistake." Finn finally looked back at him, "I'm so sorry, Lo. I should have told you right away. I'm sorry."

We both lost something last week. Something.

Logan closed his eyes.

Competitiveness was rooted in his DNA. He'd been racing for as long as he could remember, and he knew he would become a professional driver from the moment he sat in a kart for the first time at the tender age of five. The son of Marius Tremblay, a legend of the sport, following in his father's footsteps.

He'd come a long way, with ups and downs, blissful achievements, countless defeats and steady improvement. And yet he'd found his way to this, to be a two-time world champion at the pinnacle of motorsport. To compete for a third title against Finn, the best friend he could've ever asked for. The only thing he hadn't expected to find on this competitive journey, and yet the most precious.

Logan had lost a race. That was it, a mistake. He certainly wasn't going to make the one to let Finn go. He could barely stand the idea of fighting with him.

Still, he kept his face straight. He would never have given in that easily. "Listen," he said seriously, fighting the urge to hold Finn as he grew even paler, the freckles on his nose and cheekbones a stark contrast to his milky skin. "If you're not taking me out for a drink tonight, we're done."

A sparkle lit up those helplessly kind, soothing eyes. "We're not supposed to drink alcohol, Tremblay," Finn smiled shyly.

"D'accord," Logan rolled his eyes and bit back a smile of his own. "Alcohol free it is."

#o'knutzy #finn o'hara #logan tremblay #leo knut #lumosinlove

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onlymurdersintheafterparty · 3 months ago

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OMITB S4:E8 "Lifeboat"

This episode was really interesting. More questions answered and even more created now that we know what went on with the Westies. Given all the theories out there the ending wasn't too surprising but I do wonder how all of this will be explained in the final episode. At this point I don't have many theories left I'm just waiting on the denouement. All in all I enjoyed it. Spoilers ahead!

I can't believe Dudenoff's death was that simple. I'm not even going to lie I just found the whole thing so sad. He was lonely and grieving his wife and then created a found family that he loved so much he wanted to protect them even in death. Poor Helga who was so scared and convinced that someone did something to him. What I don't understand though is why they called her the wrong kind of Westie and scratched her face out in the picture. They acted like she was a villain or something when all she was trying to do was figure out what happened to Dudenoff. There was a theory on the subreddit that Helga was the one giving Sazz information and now it's confirmed so this is a new turn of events. I'm with Mabel on not ratting them out but with Dudenoff confirmed to be dead how are they going to continue this rent scheme? The police know so the jig is up. Or is this reveal just so that the trio would sympathize with them and not rat them out to the police?

Glen being the stuntman that Sazz was referring to still feels like a red herring to me. We know that he is mentally unwell because of the hallucinated rats but I still don't think he's our killer. I'm thinking Glen is part of the group that killed Sazz and the mastermind shot him to keep him from confessing or it's as simple as the common theory that Marshall is the killer and shot him because he recognized him outside of his disguise. With Glen being in a coma we probably won't learn either outcome until the season finale or the very end of the next episode. Sazz said that this stuntman messed up badly and would be the death of her. She's dead and he's in a coma so she was right but the fact that he was shot means that some sort of cover up is in place for whatever it is that he did and whoever else knows it.

The Westies showing up and waving a knife and everyone just going along with it is so wild to me. It was 6 against 5 and I know Rudy is fit but surely they could have still held their own. It makes sense they didn't react though because they needed the confession. Rudy doing the entire monologue and everyone progressively getting emotionally drained was so funny. Zach has had the funniest quotes this season and I hope someone does a video edit including them all.

Charles really needs therapy when the case is solved because the way he's unraveling and doesn't even know how to process his anger is so sad to watch. Eugene better be careful what he wishes for because when Charles fully snaps and lets all his anger out it's not going to be pretty. I wouldn't be surprised if upon learning who killed Sazz he attacks them (not fatally) and has a full breakdown.

Every week I see the same theory that Loretta will die and I'm starting to get scared this may actually happen. I get them being sentimental about The Arconia but it's full of so much death I can't believe that they would plan their wedding there. Oliver has lost so much and Charles just lost his best friend so do you think the writers will really go there? Maybe it will be a bridesmaid or someone else in the bridal or groom party who is killed. I just feel like instead of killing her off they can just write out her character by saying that she and Oliver travel back and forth to see each other and that explains why she's not onscreen. They've been making it work now so no need to take such a dark route.

I'm so excited for the last two episodes and to see how this all plays out. The Westies never confirmed that it was them sending the letters or bugging the apartments so the mastermind is still out there waiting. This also means that there must be another murder that has gone unnoticed. On a recent youtube video, Matt & Jess TV mentioned Charles' quote in the pilot about the bodies buried in the back of a 14 story building as well as Marv mentioning the Sixth Street Slasher so it looks like there's still a cold case to solve.

And to wrap this all up I just have one question: WHERE IS THEO?

#omitb #only murders in the building #only murders hulu #only murders spoilers #omitb spoilers

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aubadeatelier · 7 months ago

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Happy 20th Anniversary D. Gray-man!

On 31 May 2004, an amazing journey began with Allen Walker making his way to the European Branch of the Black Order as a new exorcist.

And now, it is 31 May 2024, 20 years of a still on-going journey. A lot has happened and changed and yet, he keeps walking.

Happy Birthday, D. Gray-man! And thank you for everything you've brought to me and so many others!

This post contains the pieces I did for the D. Gray-man 20th Anniversary Zine. 1 Party Doodle and 2 Redraw Project pages. Please enjoy! To see the whole zine, please access the zine through the link below to the project tumblr!

✦ D. Gray-man 20th Anniversary Zine ✦

Please make sure to take a look at the whole zine! I had the greatest honor to work with more than 100+ amazing artists across the world. It would mean a lot to me and all those who worked on this zine to have our work seen together as one!

(PS. I asked a funny little question in the Party Doodle section of the zine!)

[Beyond this point are my pieces and some fun facts!]

Party Doodle || A Celebration from 35 Years Ago featuring from bottom left, Mana D. Campbell, Nea D. Campbell, ???, Cross Marian, and Timcampy. ✦ I originally made this celebration doodle with the intention of just drawing Nea, ???, and Timcampy. But upon popular demand and the power of friendship (shoutout to Hana Hazel, Kanin, and Sabhamun), I ended up adding Cross Marian and Mana! And honestly, the additions were a great idea and really make the piece feel more lively and fun! (Also we need more Campbell brothers content damn it. I wanna see them happy!) ✦ Also, if any of your are up-to-date at this point, you know Chapter 251 coming out shook so many things including this piece that was already done when it released. But! I think it's fun to keep it as is as a relic of the pre-251 era. (Who knows? Maybe I'll make a fixed version!)

Redraw Project Page 01 || Chapter 04. Page 119. ✦ The first redraw page I received for assignment! I ended up liking the page, because it felt to me an integral establishing page for the series' themes. I may have gotten a little overboard with how I wanted to interpret the page, but I thought originally I would not be doing a second page and thus, wanted to put a lot of effort. In D. Gray-man, Akuma are created when a person makes a deal with the Millennium Earl. More often than not, the person has no idea what this deal entails, only that they can bring their loved one back from the dead if they agree to it. But what happens when the person is aware or knows not to accept the Earl's deal? And we receive a heart-wrenching, but understandable answer. To have the knowledge of the Earl's tricks does not automatically save a person. The Earl preys on the vulnerable. He appears and makes his offer to those in the deepest pits of despair and grief. That is how he got Leo. He was just a kid who lost his mother. He may have known more about the Earl and Akuma, because of his friendship with Jean, but when you are grieving kid-- what do you do when someone promises you they'll bring back your mother who was taken from you so suddenly? It is difficult to say no. ✦ The books that frame the piece are meant to convey this emphasis of knowledge and study-- the days Jean and Leo spent reading through Jean's father's books and notes about the Earl and Akuma with intention to patrol their town and keep people safe. Ultimately, a book page is the last panel, showing a representation of Leo and the Earl at a grave as Leo becomes an example of a person who takes the Earl's deal and whose body is taken by an Akuma. ✦ The blue tones of Jean and the Akuma were on purpose made to contrast the warmer tones of Jean and Leo's days together. ✦ It was crazy getting to draw an Akuma's face. It was a challenge to try and draw kids, but I ended getting through it pretty well. ✦ There are a few silly easter eggs in the open books. I put a small anniversary message in one. And in the other, I tried to sketch Cornelia and the Campbell Estate with the lyrics of the 14th's song. A nod to some content in the later parts of the series.

Redraw Project Page 02 || Chapter 01. Page 38. ✦ Originally, the plan was I only would do 1 redraw page and 1 doodle, but we needed fill-ins and I took a shot at it! ✦ When I found out it was a page from Chapter 1, I was ecstatic! I had originally wanted to do one from the chapter, but they were high in demand which was more than understandable. ✦ Unlike my first redraw page, I decided to be a little more simplistic with the layout. This layout is not too far off from that of the Katsura Hoshino's, but I made a few changes such as certain angles, drawing characters closer to emphasize faces. ✦ I am not the strongest with backgrounds and drawing buildings, but I ended up enjoying the challenge of it all. Thankfully, a lot of other artists in the project tackled the building and referenced the original page, the pages and sketches of the building or interior by other project artists, and the anime to ready myself to tackle it! ✦ The spirals of the Akuma bullet gave me trouble at first, but then I ended up enjoying it as I figured it out. ✦ This page was overall a big joy to play with as it challenged me with backgrounds, certain effects, and word bubbles.

And with that, this concludes the tour of my work on the D. Gray-man 20th Anniversary Zine. I have so much to say about this series and what it means to me, but I will try not to make this post horridly longer.

D. Gray-man is the series that made me fall in love with storytelling and art. It showed me something that filled an emptiness I felt. It gave me joy and company at a time where I felt unsure who I was and felt like an outcast. My resolution after this project is to continuously grow better at my stories and art. I hope to make something as meaningful to myself and others as D. Gray-man is.

Happy 20th Anniversary D. Gray-man! I hope and pray for more wonderful chapters and for there to be a lovely conclusion someday. For now, let us keep walking together!

#dgm20thfanproject #d.gray man #d. gray-man #dgm #d. gray man #d gray man #redraw project #redraw #nea d campbell #cross marian #mana d campbell #nea #mana #allen walker #dgm allen #aubadeatelier art #aubadeatelier oc #aubadeempress oc #aubadeempress art

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