#...this is the first time after uhhh. round 2 of taking things way too far that ive seen myself. alone. naked. in a coldly lit changing

[magnoliamyrrh]

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[moki-dokie]

Saw this and couldn't resist answering for my ocs

— SHIP QUESTIONS

Ed x Cole

PRE-RELATIONSHIP

-How did they first meet? Ed was hanging out with his then-boss in a night club about to get more product to push when Cole rocked up with a bone to pick with her. Ed turned on the crazy and the sadistic flirting and got him to back off. They really shouldn't have ended up getting along...

-What was their first impression of each other? Ed thought he was a total asshole, egotistical prick, and stupid as fuck, but hot. Cole saw opportunities and a way in with his boss to score more of the extremely hard to get drug she sold, and Ed was just the right kind of crazy to be a fun challenge. Plus hot.

-Did any of their friends or family want them to get together? LMAO no. Ed's only friend at the time was very against it. Cole didn't really have friends or family to speak of.

-Who felt romantic feelings first? Ed, definitely.

-Did either of them try to resist their feelings? Both did. Hardcore. For YEARS.

-If you had told one of them that the other would be their soulmate, what would they think? In the beginning, they'd probably laugh until they cried. Now? Both would just shrug and say "and?"

-What would their lives be like if they had never met? Ed would have probably trudged on for a few more decades, but eventually would have run out of lives and gotten himself killed for good. Or he would let his beasty side take over. Never would have found his sister again, or got the support and help he's been needing for most of his life to handle his trauma.

Cole probably would have gotten his mortal body killed and ended up back with the wild hunt, or would have been found out and forced back. Never would have reconnected with his best friend from before he died and never would have returned home.

GENERAL

-Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go? Cole initially planted the seed for it, but Ed outright asked for it. Considering the high emotions and the fact Cole had just almost died, it went well.

-Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like? Lmao no they don't do dating. Though their first, uh, incident that really sparked everything was Cole severely assaulting Ed while he was in the hospital recovering from a fight with a werewolf. There was a lot of dubcon involved.

-What was their first kiss like? Who knows they were too busy fucking to pay much attention to it and it came way, way after the sex anyway

-Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)? No, far from it.

-What’s their height difference? Age difference? Like 3 inches, ed's shorter. and uhhh depends on what age we go by with Cole. His souls age? Then about 100 year difference. His current body's age? Like 150 year difference lmao

-What’s their relationship with each other’s families? Do they share a friend group? Ed is the only one with family, and surprisingly his sister and Cole get on quite well, in a round about, insult each other relentlessly sort of way. His nephew Cole is pretty neutral with. They do share a small friend group.

-Who takes the lead in social situations? Cole with his endless charisma and manipulation skills.

-Who gets jealous easier? Oh, Cole absolutely. He hates not being the center of attention.

-Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear? Both of them. Constantly

LOVE

-Who said “I love you” first? Ed, pretty much immediately after he got out of the hospital from a 3 month coma and narrowly escaping his soul being taken by the wild hunt. 2 1/2 years into their relationship lmao

-What are their primary love languages? Ed is a bit of a mixture. Probably about 50% acts of service, 40% touch, 10% quality time. He also likes to give gifts but he’s often without the means or skills to purchase or make anything

Cole is so emotionally closed off it's hard to say. Touch and quality time equally, probably.

-Who uses cheesy pick-up lines? Neither

-How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA? Cuddling is for the privacy of their home. They'll fuck anywhere and in front of anyone though, as often as possible

-Who initiates kisses? Ed. He likes his kisses.

-Who’s the big and little spoon? Cole big spoon, Ed little spoon

-What are their favorite things to do together? Sex, drugs, more sex, fighting, kinkier sex, more drugs, and cuddling up on the couch and watching old monster movies

-Who’s better at comforting the other? They both do it well in their own ways.

-Who’s more protective? Ed 1000000%

-Do they prefer verbal or physical affection? Physical. The more the better.

-What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise? Iris - googoo dolls Lurk - the neighborhood Super psycho love - Simon curtis Strange love - halsey Bad romance - lady gaga Madness - muse Guiding light - sam kelly & the lost boys Worship - brandyn burnette

-What kind of nicknames do they call each other? Ed calls Cole 'Squish' because 1. Her was almost squished under a building and 2. His mortal body is very squishy in comparison to Ed being a nekomata.

Cole calls Ed 'Tiger' because it's ironic with his cat form being nothing more than a housecat, but he has all the ferocity and tenacity of a tiger.

-Who remembers the little things? Both, but probably Ed just a little more

DOMESTIC LIFE

-If they get married, who proposes? They are going to, and Cole did. It took almost a year after he got the ring to actually work up the courage

-What’s the wedding like? Who attends? It'll be a small and intimate ceremony, just a few friends and ed's nephew. Held at Cole's best friend's pub where they're living currently

-How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like? They'd sooner kill each other than ever have kids

-Do they have any pets? Do their knives count

-Who’s the stricter parent? Neither, cause fuck having kids

-Who worries the most? Ed up until recently, now it's about equal

-Who kills the bugs in the house? Neither

-How do they celebrate holidays? They usually just... Don't. Although Ed did use Christmas as an excuse to get him something once

-Who’s more likely to convince the other to come back to sleep in the morning? Ed, because Cole never needs much convincing to stay in bed

-Who’s the better cook? Ed, marginally

-Who likes to dance? Both!

-----

Jess x Russ

PRE-RELATIONSHIP

-How did they first meet? Jess was doing some shopping out in the garden department of his local hardware shop when Russ quite literally crashed into him cause he’s a ditz and wasn’t looking where he was walking. and then he promptly ran off because Jess is huge and scary lol although Russ ended up following Jess back to his home cause he was kinda curious who the hell this giant wolf was

-What was their first impression of each other? Jess thought he was both extremely stupid and extremely brave of Russ to follow him out to his own turf, alone. Liked the guts he had, and genuinely didn’t mean to scare him at first. Pretty much saw a young wolf in need of some guidance. Also forgot how to fuckin breathe when Russ first flashed a smile at him. Best smile ever.

Russ first thought this was the most handsome man he’d ever seen in his life, but also the hugest motherfucker ever, too. He thought Jess was gonna be another asshole alpha male macho type wolf and wanted to give him a piece of his mind. But as it turned out, Jess was actually really chill, kind, and warm. instantly took a liking to him.

-Did any of their friends or family want them to get together? Russ’s brothers were gunning for it from the start

-Who felt romantic feelings first? Almost at the same time, but Russ probably just a tiny bit sooner

-Did either of them try to resist their feelings? Not so much resist but Jess is afraid to actually say it aloud

-If you had told one of them that the other would be their soulmate, what would they think? Russ would have probably laughed about at first, Jess would definitely believe it

-What would their lives be like if they had never met? Jess would have continued on in the sort of sad lifeless limbo he’d been stuck in until the pain, guilt and depression got to be too much and likely would have found a way to off himself. He’d never find out there was a survivor from his pack or get closure on the massacre.

Russ would have likely had to go back to his abusive step-dad/alpha to protect his brothers from him. Either would have just taken the abuse to keep them safe, or gotten himself and the step in a situation where they both end up dead so his family could finally escape.

GENERAL

-Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go? Jess, surprisingly. It went well, Russ was totally game to date him

-Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like? Yep! Jess got him a new leather jacket (russ kept stealing his) and took him out on his motorcycle, first to dinner, then to a dairy farm that serves fresh ice cream, then to the beach to show him where the surfers like to go and watched the sunset over the ocean. And then it was back to his place where he had a little outdoor movie screening set up with a bunch of blankets and pillows in the back of his work truck. Wine and popcorn, too! It was all very romantic and sweet. Ended the night with making out, handjobs, and a blowjob. First time Jess had let Russ see him fully naked without having a meltdown.

-What was their first kiss like? Very sweet that transitioned into very sexy. It was the morning after the full moon and Jess had been up all night with Russ keeping his wolf under control and holding him down without hurting him, making sure he made it through without having to be chained, trying to get through to him and work on his control. Jess tucked him into bed once he had shifted back and went outside to sleep in the back of his truck, exhausted and a bit beat up. When Russ woke up and saw him out there, he made him some coffee and woke him up with a little cheek kiss. Jess pulled him into his lap, lots of gazing into each others eyes and gentle caresses and then the kiss. Escalated into some soft making out, then heavier making out, then heavy petting.

-Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)? Jess is Russ’s first actual boyfriend, both first time *really* being in love

-What’s their height difference? Age difference? Jess is 6′9″ and Russ is 5′11″, 155 years apart. Yeah, they’re that couple

-What’s their relationship with each other’s families? Do they share a friend group? Jess adores Russ’s brothers, practically sees them as his own kids at this point. Things are a bit rough with Russ’s mom but she’s a good woman beneath the trauma she’s endured and he’s way more patient and kind with her than Russ is. They’re friends with Ed and Cole, and Cole’s best friend Lucky

-Who takes the lead in social situations? Kind of depends the kind of situation. Smaller, more familiar situations Jess will definitely take lead. But larger parties/crowds/gatherings, Russ is way more comfortable taking over.

-Who gets jealous easier? Jess. He doesn’t mean to, and he’s not malicious about it, but he is *very* territorial and doesn’t like others flirting with his boyfriend. (Ed gets a pass, knows he wouldn’t actually take it farther than flirting after being told they’re monogamous)

-Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear? Russ, like SO much, at the worst times lmao

LOVE

-Who said “I love you” first? Russ! Jess is still too scared to say it

-What are their primary love languages? Equal mix of touch and quality time for them both. They’re SUPER touchy and literally never tire of each others company

-Who uses cheesy pick-up lines? Both of them, but Russ probably a little more. He’s a dumb silly boy

-How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA? Rarely. Jess is very particular about being public with his affections. As much as he loves Ireland, there are quite a lot of conservative and highly religious folks. He’s been there for the last 60 years or so and he’s still not used to people being more accepting. He doesn’t like to cause trouble.

-Who initiates kisses? Russ much more, but they both do pretty frequently.

-Who’s the big and little spoon? Ironically, Jess is usually the little spoon

-What are their favorite things to do together? Date nights, working together, or just hanging out and having a lazy day

-Who’s better at comforting the other? Jess tends to need more comforting, so probably Russ.

-Who’s more protective? Jess

-Do they prefer verbal or physical affection? Both. They’re just disgustingly sweet all around

-What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise? you & i - syml love brand new - bob moses handsome man - matt alber freeze - kygo patience - hollow coves

-What kind of nicknames do they call each other? Jess calls russ ‘macushla’, gaelige for ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’. more literally ‘the pulse of my heart’. also ‘baby’ for sexier times.

Russ calls jess ‘handsome’ mostly. also ‘daddy’ for sexy times

-Who remembers the little things? Jess. Russ WAY too adhd for that. although he does actually do a good job remembering the less important things jess likes

DOMESTIC LIFE

-If they get married, who proposes? won’t get married in the traditional sense, but they will become mates which is basically the same. jess will be the one to bring it up

-What’s the wedding like? Who attends? no ceremony or anything

-How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like? eventually, with a surrogate mother, they’ll have at least one kid

-Do they have any pets? They might get an old dog

-Who’s the stricter parent? Jess will be for sure

-Who worries the most? They probably worry for each other and various other things equally, but jess has a few more issues that gives him anxiety

-Who kills the bugs in the house? Russ would if Jess didn’t stop him. Jess will just take them outside

-How do they celebrate holidays? Jess doesn’t usually celebrate anything, but Russ finds an excuse to party at any chance he gets lol every holiday is party time

-Who’s more likely to convince the other to come back to sleep in the morning? Jess, Russ likes to sleep in way more

-Who’s the better cook? Russ is like 10000000000000% times better and genuinely enjoys cooking for jess anyway

-Who likes to dance? Russ definitely. Jess might groove a little in private

[theonlygamergost]

Mcytubers playing Among us! - 1 / 2

So uhhh… This was supposed to be a random prompt to get over a supposed “writing block” but I ended up taking it seriously. Also, I know this group of people never played all together, but I don’t care UwU

This is an interactive story! At the end there will be a poll for you to vote, what are you voting for? Read the story and find out yourself!

(Cw! Jschlatt) Warning: It’s among us mate, mention of dead bodies and swearing, what do you expect

Walking down to storage the game started, Techno was a crewmate.

Filling up the gas tank was the first task, Jschlatt went into admin with Tommy while Dave opened the wires cabinet. As he made sure not to overflow the gasoline, Shelby and Scott were standing at the trash shoot, as they finished, they walked up to him, “Hey Techno want to come to electrical? I saw Shelby do trash so she’s safe” Techno nodded and followed the two friends, he was more comfortable having four people going, but he did see her do trash, so if he did die, oh well.

He started the electrical download just as the lights went off, great.

“I’ll go get it!” Shelby exclaimed, Scott hummed and let her go ahead while sticking near Techno, his teal suit was barely visible in his field of view as a gory slash and the noise of something dropping could be heard from the other side of the wall.

“SHELBY!!!” Techno finished downloading just as Scott ran towards the light and-

A BODY WAS FOUND!

Techno and Scott got teleported next to each other in the cafeteria, both of them looked around just to be relieved by the sight of the woman they thought was dead, in fact, she was the one who called the body.

“I was in the back of electrical with Techno and Scott, I went to turn on the lights but I couldn’t see where the body was or who walked in” The only one missing was Dave.

Techno spoke up, “Last time I saw Dave was in storage doing wires” Wilbur agreed, “Where was everyone?”

Schlatt and Tommy were walking down to electrical together while Phil and Fundy were between Oxygen and Asteroids. All paired up and far away from the crime scene.

“I was in medbay!” Tubbo exclaimed, “There is a vent in medbay that leads to electrical” Fundy pointed out, “ There is no way they vented, Techno was doing download, and that panel is on the vent, plus how could they pass through Techno me and Shelby and then kill Dave without no one seeing them?” Scott made a point, so they had no suspicions. The time was about to end so they all agreed to skip…  but something wasn’t right, it’s just that Techno couldn’t figure out what.

Scott and Shelby went to the asteroids while Phil went down, Techno knew that the two friends were safe, so going with them was the best option, but he had two tasks in admin and Fundy vouched for Phil, so he went in admin with him.

“Here to do card swipe?” The man in the light green suit smiled behind the transparent visor, “And upload” Techno added as he started it, after two attempts, Phil got the card swipe and walked to the other side of admin table, “Two in navigations, one in reactor, one in cams and two in electrical… one is missing” Techno walked to the card reader and failed a few attempts before succeeding, “I feel like someone died… let’s go check out electrical just in case, you coming mate?” He didn’t have anything there, but he followed him.

They entered electrical to find Tubbo and Will, one doing download and one just standing there, they greeted each other and Phil told them his worry while opening the panel on the far right, an oxygen crisis was called right after.“Oh O2, let’s go Techno” Wilbur gestured at Techno to follow him, he followed.

As they ran to admin, a red suit was concentrated on a task, “Tommy why the fuck are you doing wires? Come do O2!” Tommy shrugged, “Nah, you guys got it” closing the wires panel, he went in the direction they just came by.

“That’s sus…” Wilbur whispered, it was barely audible since the alarm was pretty loud.

They entered admin and Wilbur did O2, as they were leaving to do the second one-

A BODY WAS FOUND!

“WHO DARED KILL PHILZA MINECRAFT?!?!?” Tommy slammed his fist on the meeting table, Tubbo, who was next to him, jumped at the sudden motion.

“You did Tommy” Wilbur was looking straight at him, “Going to electrical while 02 is going off is something only an imposter would do” Techno felt bad for leaving Phil alone with Tubbo in- wait.

“I- I- I didn’t do anything! You know me Big dubs I would never kill Philza Minecraft!!!” As Will was about to talk back, Techno touched his arm, “Tommy did go to electrical but didn’t we leave Tubbo and Phil together in there?” The attention moved on the yellow suit, “Well yes! But I left right after you guys did-” he tried to explain, “Actually, where were you Tubbo? I didn’t see you the whole game” Scott asked, Shelby nodded.

“I- uh… I’m in bottom storage! That’s why you guys didn’t see me!” Tommy got closer to Tubbo, “I would have seen you pass if you said that you left right after Will and Techno! VOTE HIM OUT!!!”

Tommy voted instantly, the rest of the crew hesitated,” That doesn’t clear you Tommy, I’m still not convinced… Wait- Fundy’s dead too!” His spot at the table was empty, Scott made an observation “If we vote on seven and we get it wrong they just need a double kill… “ The had fifteen seconds left, “Ok then, everyone skip, let’s just keep an eye on the children, they might both be impostors” Will skipped vote and so did Shelby and Scott, “Why can't it be you, Wilbur? I last saw Fundy with you on right side… “ Schlatt pointed at Wilbur as the room became dark, the last thing before they went back to their tasks was Wilbur flipping the tables, “ Funny enough Jschlatt, I could say the same thing-”

~~~~~~~~~~~

The round had been going on for too long, Techno had finished all of his tasks on the left side, he missed bottom reactor and medbay scan, but for now, he was filling the reactor. Shelby and Scott have been together the whole round, he walked into them twice, the first time in navigation, the second time a few seconds ago when they were heading to cams. He left the empty gas can next to the machine just as lights went down.

Since he was next to electrical, he took the corridor and entered the worst room of the entire map, flicking the lights on, a metallic squeak came from the back of the room. He walked around the lights panel to find Tubbo’s yellow suit kneeled on the ground, he snapped his head to see the pink suit as-

A BODY WAS FOUND!

“I left Shelby in cams, I did the one-two-three thing, and lights went down as soon as I saw Tubbo coming down from top reactor! He killed her and vented! I heard the sound” Shlatt backed him up, saying that Tubbo went left from cafeteria last time he had seen him, “ I trust Scott’s word, but I don’t believe you Shlatt, an impostor would jump on the blame-train to show themselves innocent” They had a small staredown, it was getting tense so Techno spoke up, “I can confirm that it was Tubbo, I did lights and heard the vent open, Tubbo was standing right on top of it” Tommy cheered as he called himself “innocent” and that voting Tubbo would make justice for Phil, Wilbur looked at him weird while everyone voted.

Everyone apart from Shlatt, “So we know that Tubbo is 100% impostor, so the suspects for second impostors are Tommy and Wilbur right?” Wilbur stuttered, “Wah- what makes you say that Big J? If I’m on the sus list, you are too”

Tubbo was ejected

Techno went straight to medbay, Tommy followed him, “HEY BIG T! You have scan big man?” he nodded, he would have preferred no one watching him scan then Tommy watching him scan, but be had a gut feeling that Tommy wasn’t the impostor, so he stepped on the scanner-

EMERGENCY MEETING!

Wilbur had called a meeting, as soon as they teleported at the table, he pointed a finger at Tommy, “Tommy is the most sus one out of all of us! Let’s vote him out just in case both of them were impostors” Scott hovered over the vote button, thought about it, and voted, Schlatt voted too “I’m ok with that, but I still think that you are an impostor Wilbur Soot” they all voted while Tommy yelled whines and excuses, Techno looked over at the boy in the red suit. he wasn’t sure if voting him was a good idea, but if he didn’t vote him the others would get suspicious, so he went with the flow.

“Let’s all stick together ok! We can win by tasks” Scott proposed, Wilbur and Schlatt had one more task, so did Techno, hopefully the ghosts finished the remaining one quickly.

TommyInnit was ejected

Both Shlatt and Scott looked at Wilbur when they were back at the cafeteria, “Wasn’t it your idea Mister Soot to vote Tommy off in case they were both impostors?” Schlatt walked closer to Wilbur, “You can’t blame me for sussing someone who ran away from a crisis and found a body! If anything I should be asking you why you were alone most of the time!”

“Boys please calm down and let’s go do my task” Scott sighed, “You’re the only one I trust here Techno, what tasks do you have left?” Scott started walking towards storage, “I only have medscan” Wilbur and Schlatt were not looking at each other, the impostor was one of them, so it probably wasn’t nice to know that the traitor was walking peacefully next to you while faking his innocent attitude.

Scott did shields and Wilbur entered admin to swipe his card while the rest waited outside, the green bar went up one last time while they were walking into medbay, it looked like only one task was missing, “You have to believe me guys when I tell you that I have the vials, Wilbur was lucky that a ghost did his task and he got to walk it off! It took him way too much to scan the card” Schlatt walked next to the scan and activated the vials, Wilbur barked back, “Yeah yeah sure, you are just salty we are going to win!” Techo stepped on the scan as the green laser went up and down, the others couldn’t see it since visual tasks were off, but the final decision was between Wilbur and Schlatt.

As the room went quiet he realized what was that feeling he had, he knew what felt wrong in the first round! That meant he had to be the impostor...correct?

The lights started to dim down, “Oh no!” Scott exclaimed as he tried to make a mad dash for the scanner, but as soon as the room went dark-

A BODY WAS FOUND!

Techno didn’t see anything, it was a fifty/fifty, or so it seemed. Techno was leaning towards one player, but he was nervous about making a mistake, he could only hear what they had to say before taking the losing or winning step.

~~~~~~~~~~

Who will Techno vote out? YOU DECIDE!!!

This link will take you to a poll! The winner will get voted out and I’ll reveal who was the impostor!!!

Find out who was the impostor on the second part!!!

[cynthiaandsamus]

Custom Toonami Block Week 73 Rundown

Code Geass: Lelouch and co. are still stuck in China and Xingke’s flipping out because the Chinese assholes are gonna kill the Empress and go with someone less problematic for their political marriage to Britannia’s creepily overaged prince. However Lelouch pulls out a Knightmare that’s basically the Twink version of the Gawain and busts everyone up as well as pulling a Father Cornello on them and letting the people know they’re all elitst 1% assholes that don’t care about them, which I suspect all countries probably know about their leaders but it sucks to hear it in a recording so riots show up all over China and CC Geass Flashes Anya to take her out so Britannia has to back out because the Chinese Hierarchy are now the least popular people in the world. So Xingke gets to be with his Empress and joins the Black Knights but Dietard wants the Empress to marry someone on their side so they can basically do the asshole move Britannia just tried to do but for them. All the girls are like ‘hey no’ and Lelouch is like “Oh hey Tamaki buddy, let’s go talk and get me the fuck out of here” so before Lelouch actually has to give Tamaki more lines and elevate him beyond the Black Knight’s Yamacha Shirley calls and Lelouch just straight up asks Shirley about love in a weirdly forced series of circumstance. But Shirley’s like “Yeah don’t fuck with love, don’t you love anyone?” and Lelouch is like “Yeah I do, Nunally!” and I don’t think that’s at all what Shirley meant but it does mean Lelouch sees that fighting for something beyond politics is powerful and agrees to not marry off the twelve year old girl, so that’s good. Lelouch decides to return home while they hunt down the Geass cult which is in China for some reason despite that being one of the like two places on earth Britannia doesn’t control and the Geass Cult largely being a Britannian affair. Meanwhile Sayoko is basically a Lelouch Vtuber at this point with her insanely accurate Lupin III mask of Lelouch and kisses Shirley so Shirley’s a little bit more gay than she was before and is not sure how to feel about that. When she’s about to tell the real Lelouch he kisses like a girl, Anya and Gino show up because we’re retreading the whole ‘sleeping with the enemy at school’ thing from the first season except with way less interesting enemies. Also the preview for the next episode is Lelouch dramatically talking about enemies finding out he’s Zero overtop footage of Shirley and Milly absolutely naked in a batthouse scene so I think we know what kind of episode that’ll be.

Inuyasha: The Panther Demon filler concludes with everyone meeting at the site where the Panther Master is being revived behind a strong barrier, if only someone just got a barrier upgrade to their sword, oh wait. But yeah everyone manages to free the hostages so even though Kagome’s jewel shards revives the Panther Master he’s still a zombie without a sacrifice which is weird since Naraku managed to completely revive the Band of Seven with one jewel shard each from skeletons and the Panther Lord has three shards so idk the rules here but yeah he steals the souls of his own men to revive and is Wind Scar Proof because he just is. It’s pretty cool to see him shooting his claws and lightning and shit but he’s too big and slow for it to be much of an interesting fight. Sesshomaru’s about to go full demon which would be interesting since we haven’t seen his full demon form since he lost his arm but in a neat bit of character development, Tenseiga calms his rage and tells him to use it instead. You get the feeling Sesshomaru only goes full demon when he flies off the handle and forgets about speed and strategy so him opting to not repeat the mistake he made against Inuyasha is pretty cool. Anyway Tenseiga heals the souls of the Panther Demons and drains their energy from the lord so he’s back to Zombie Cat Man which Inuyasha can Wind Scar because that’s what happens to villains on this show, all Wind Scars all the time. The Panthers don’t wanna fight anymore since their boss just killed them and tell Inuyasha to tell Sesshomaru the feud is over and they’re going back to the West. Honestly this is basically the same backstory they gave Kirinmaru in Yashahime so it’s funny for them to say they’re going back to the same place Kirinmaru is from, wonder if it’ll ever come up in Yashahime since most filler seems canon there.

Yu Yu Hakusho: Yusuke and Kuwabara continue the assault on Tarukane’s compound and basically plow through the lower demons easy since they’ve been fighting minor deities up to this point. It’s always pretty cool in Shonen to just have a few rounds to show how much power creep the heroes have had where certain things just don’t bother them anymore. Toguro murders a Chimera which has an oddly similar backstory to Nina from FMA and he seems really bummed about it but he’s like “Hey we’re both monsters made by humans telling us to do shit, so sorry for killing you bro”. And Tarukane basically sees Toguro is the next boss and is like “Yup time to scam some people off of this” and he sets up a betting ring for how far Yusuke and Co will get into his compound. This is kinda neat because it puts Tarukane in the weird position of betting against his own guards and hoping Yusuke will make it all the way to Toguro and then lose after everyone else has seen how awesome Yusuke is and bets on him. And funnily enough Sakyo’s in on the betting and he’s watched anime before so he knows to bet on the plucky teenagers with weird powers. So yeah Yusuke and Kuwabara finish plowing through the demons while Hiei kinda stalks them and remembers getting his eye surgery and wanting to help his sister but it’s kind of against spirit world rules for demons to just go plow through humans even if they’re scumbag humans so now Yusuke and Kuwabara have to go fight the Triad of boss demons Toguro has under him before Hiei busts in and just murders everyone for kidnapping his bird-loving jewel-crying little flower of a sister.

Fate Zero: So Kiritsugu can break Kayneth’s Terminator 2 Gaara defenses with rib bullets that just say ‘no’ to using magic and fucks his arrogant ass up. Saber and Lancer do some combo shenanigans to stab Caster right in the book and disrupt all his hentai tentacle demons but the book heals so idk why he can’t just make more. Kirei fucks up Maiya and Iris but didn’t double tap Maiya and DID double tap iris but she’s got Saber’s bullshit healing scabbard on her which no one knows about so Saber’s like “uhhh why are you healing” and Iris can’t tell her so she’s basically “Uhh internet?” Lancer comes in to save Kayneth’s worthless ass and tells Kiritsugu to stop being a dick to Saber because she’s pretty dope. But as usual for an early Fate encounter, no one dies and nothing of terrible consequence happens despite it being teased a couple times. I’ve noticed a trend with Fate that it really doesn’t like killing characters early so you’re basically guaranteed to have the first 2-3 major battles have a zero net gain/loss. Rider in UBW was probably the subversion to that since it happened crazy fast and anticlimactic but even that wasn’t till like ten episodes in.

Konosuba: So we finally meet Wiz the big booby Lich and Kazuma learns a new skill, both fun things. Also the gang gets a house to stay in after escapades with an army of haunted dolls and the most “I need to pee” in a horror setting since Corpse Party. But yeah, good progress this time honestly, the living in a stable gag was getting kind of old so Kazuma’s a bit stronger now and they have a home base so that’s pretty cool. Also Wiz is a Demon General or some shit but no one cares cause there ain’t no money in murdering busty zombie waifus.

Sailor Moon Crystal: So turns out Minako is Princess Serenity, except everyone who knows anything about Sailor Moon or indeed plot structure knows Sailor Moon is Princess Serenity, that’s like the Luke I Am Your Father of this series. But still turns out Minako has been guiding everyone with the power of video games but also thinks the power of friendship sucks and she’s gotta go do everything alone. This makes things super awkward because Mamoru’s pretty sure he was in love with the Princess but likes Usagi, now instead of running with this interesting thread of a reincarnation falling in love with someone new we’re gonna do the reveal that Usagi’s the princess and the whole ‘till death do us part’ part of marriage was just a metaphor and you’re stuck with one person no matter how many times you reincarnate. But yeah, Minako fights the bad guy on top of the tower but he has Naraku’s Barrier now and Minako doesn’t have the Red Tessaiga upgrade yet so she needs the power of friendship but this barrier is friendship-proof and this fight is basically a bunch of kids on the playground making up increasingly stupid powers that negate the other powers the other guy just made up. Anyway Tuxedo Mask shows up and is like “Holy shit Sailor Moon I love when you kiss me and kick ass, go get em sweetie I’ll hold your flower” and they kiss and Usagi has learned that if she just pretends she got this the power of her confidence will beat the bad guy. Unfortunately she does not got this and Tuxedo Mask has to pull a Piccolo and throw himself in front of the blast.

Durarara!!:  So now that we’ve had our climax for the arc we have a six month timeskip and everyone’s just kinda living life, Mika and Seiji are being clinically insane together, there’s cops harassing Celty to the point of mental breakdown (normal cop stuff) Shinra’s dad’s in town, Namie’s become Izaya’s secretary for blackmail shit, you know, normal stuff. Also there’s a katana-wielding maniac going around slashing people and Anri’s being bullied and sexually harassed to the point of mental collapse, normal stuff.

[koriandrsucker]

Hey it’s miss geek here I’ve finished the story I will need to post it in sections so I will label them part 1 by MG part 2 by MG etc

Thank u so much! It was really sweet. Reading Jason getting some love is always the best. If you want me to erase this, I will, but, I’ll post it whole here.

AU where Kori is the best baby sitter in the entire universe… or is she?

by Miss Geek.

“What the hell is this Harper”

“Well I’m pretty sure it’s called playing Jaybird”

“No you moron I mean why is Kori here” Jason growled in Roy’s ear away from the giggles and laughter.

Roy gives him his signature shit-eating grin and replies “I would have thought Bruce would’ve given that talk Jay, Ah well seems I have to do it you see young grasshopper when two people love each-“

“Shut up Harper, I meant why is Kori in your house” Jason was seething, to say the least.

“Ok jaybird listen Lian wanted Kori to babysit her. Jade and I couldn’t say no to her she gave me the eyes ” Roy said, looking at his girlfriend and daughter chatting animatedly with Kori.

Jason sighed, he knew those eyes pretty well. Lian Harper was one of those very few that could get through the lone wolf that was Jason Peter Todd. The five-year-old knew she had him wrapped around her small pinky finger and Jason, being her godfather, only added to the fact he could not say no to her.

“Ok, whatever she’s here to babysit that means I don’t have to be here. I’ll see you-“

“Uhhh well yeah you see about that-“ Roy said sheepishly.

Jason turned his steely blue-eyed gaze at his best friend (if he’s being honest his only friend) and said, “what did you do Harper."

“Well if we are being accurate I didn’t do anything it was your goddaughter that requested to you both being here,” Roy said while he glanced at his girlfriend getting ready to leave for their date and giving Kori any last minutes things she would need to take care of Lian for the night.

“So, Kori and I are babysitting Lian,” Jason looked at Roy in absolute skepticism.

“No...Kori is in charge and technically babysitting Lian you are just here for Lian's entertainment. She said, and I quote, ‘unca jay is funny’“ Roy said smirking the whole time.

“Why can’t I be in charge I can take care of her just fine on my own. I survived the streets on my own until I was 12 so I can handle babysitting her myself for a few hours” Jason protested.

Roy looked to his best friend/brother/partner in crime and replied “I love you like a brother Jaybird and I know without a doubt you will protect Lian with your life but..you can be a walking hazard at times”.

“What? How?“

“Well there was the time you burnt water while trying to heat her milk in her bottle-“

“That was years ago Harper, give me a break-“

“Ok, what about last week when you put the toaster on fire trying to make Lian cheese toasties”.

“I still can’t figure out how a five-year-old knew how to use a fire extinguisher. In my defense, that incidence speaks volumes about your household Harper”

Jason really didn’t want to be alone with Kori.

It’s not that Kori was horrible to be around, in fact, she was the nicest person Jason has ever met. Korina Marie Anders was a pleasant girl who he had been acquainted with six years ago at his adopted brother's 21st birthday. She introduced herself to him and Jason found himself lost for words for the first time in his life, much to the amusement of his entire adopted family.

Even to this day he still thought about her but he was always wary to talk to her for many reasons, one of them due to her history with his brother, “Prick” Grayson (no he didn’t get his name wrong, in Jason's mind that is the name he had christened his older adopted brother). Kori had a brief dating history, by brief meaning literally under three months. The reason why they broke up was unknown to everyone.

However, Jason was not afraid of his brother. If he didn't approach Kori, it was more the fact that he convinced himself of not being good enough and that she would never see him in that way. After all, if she didn’t want Grayson, who all of Jason’s life had known to be Bruce’s golden child, the best son, the prince of Gotham, and everyone’s favorite guy, why on gods green earth would she want him. HIM. Jason Peter Todd, the street kid Bruce Wayne took in, the troublemaker, the dark prince of Gotham.

The only people who he can handle their presence are Roy, Jade, Lian, Alfred, and maybe Tim, on a good day. It’s safe to say Jason got rid of any hope to catch the eye of Korina Anders, but that did not mean his crush went away.

He got out his trip down memory lane as Roy spoke again.

“I don’t really think your problem is about me trusting you.”

“What do you mean,” Jason narrows his eyes at his friend.

“The real issue is you can’t trust yourself around Kori,” Roy replied.

As his best friend, Jason did confide in Roy his crush on the redhead and since then Roy was on a mission to get the two together. Unfortunately, Jason always dodged every plan Roy had. Well, all except this plan. Unbeknownst to Jason, Roy knew what he was doing putting Lian into this. It would make Jason unable to say no.

His plan was working so far, he only hoped it would work in everyone’s favor. Jason’s silence was enough to convince Roy that he still had feelings for Kori. With that reassurance, he called over to his girlfriend. 

“Hey babe come on, we will have to leave now, our reservation is at 7. Thanks again Kors for the recommendation and for looking after Lian tonight.”

Jade turned to Kori gratefully. “We honestly can’t thank you enough it’s been a while we have been out without Lian.”

“Babe, please, she knew how to swear in Vietnamese at three years old, and I sure as hell can't speak a word of Vietnamese, so where would she get THAT from.” Roy retorted, knowing full well he won that argument and the look on his girlfriend meant she knew it too.

Instead, she rolls her eyes at him and turns to her daughter. “Lian be a good girl for your aunt Kori and uncle Jason, ok? Mommy and daddy will be back soon, and Kori, you have both our numbers don’t hesitate to call if you need us”.

“Ok, mommy, I’ll be good me. Aunt Kori and unca Jay will have buckets of fun, won’t we?" As she turned to her uncle and aunt.

Kori answered with, “yes, we will Lian”

Jason was still wrapping around his head that Lian called Kori her aunt. 

“Aunt Kori?” Jason whispered to Roy.

Roy’s reply was not what Jason expected. “Well, actually, Jade and I were hoping that title will change to godmother if all goes well.”

That left Jason lost for words while Kori and Lian waved goodbye.

Lian turned to her uncle and aunt. "What are we gonna do first? Can we play princesses? Oh, what about pony island instead or how about -?” 

Lian Harper was a talker and Jason didn’t know how to control, as he liked to call them, Lian's sugar rush mode.

Kori turns to Lian and says “Did you finish your homework from school?" 

Lian went sheepishly quiet and told Kori “Umm, no aunt Kori.”

Kori gave Lian a smile.

“Well, if you finish your homework we can do what you want.”

Lian thought carefully for a minute and to Jason’s surprise, she calmly replied. “Ok aunt Kori, do you pinky promise?”

She stuck out her pinky only for Kori to take and wrap it around her own. Satisfied that her aunt Kori won’t break her promise, she moved into the kitchen to start her homework. Kori then turned to Jason who had a blank expression.

Kori was concerned so she asked, “Hey Jason everything alright?”

“How did you do that,” he asked still in a daze.

“Do what?“

"Get her to listen to you. She never does that willingly, she usually needs to be bribed.”

Kori smiles at him and he feels his knees buckling. He sometimes forgets the effect she has on him.

“I’ve had a lot of practice with my brother”.

“Ah, right.” He replies and resists the urge to ask her what’s been on his mind.

Instead, she speaks. “Lian tells me you are favorite uncle,” Kori says with a knowing smile.

Jason gives her his signature smirk and tells her, “I’m her only uncle that she sees regularly, so there’s no competition. Not really”.

In a way, Jason has indeed been there for Lian since the beginning and she sees her other uncles, from Dick to Wally, only time to time as Roy isn’t hostile towards them anymore but still, the friendship will never be how it once was. Jason knows fully well how burnt bridges are beyond repair.

However, Kori shakes her head “No, I’ve seen her interact with others. It’s not the same way she looks at you. You should have seen her face when Jade told her you’ll be coming over. Her face lit up like the Fourth of July.”

Jason gives her a genuine smile, something she has not ever seen on the man before her. Always a smirk or a tight smile. So seeing this new smile she realizes it’s an expression she would like to see more of. Hopefully.

Before Jason has the chance to say anything, Lian comes back from the kitchen, finishing her work.

They all decided to play some games much to the embarrassment of Jason. Lian made both of them play pretty pony island. Kori thought Jason cooperating with Lian's demands was adorable. Jason thought he might die.

Kori then went to start making dinner for them all.

Lian turned to her favorite uncle and said “I like aunt Kori, unca Jay”

“Me too, kid.”

“Can you marry her then?”

Jason didn’t think it was possible to choke on air but he proved himself wrong.

“Wait what??? Who told- hold on a minute” Jason tried to get his bearings right before answering his goddaughter. “What are you talking about.”

“Daddy said you like her, so if you marry her she can come round all the time with you right?” She asked innocently and again she used those eyes.

Jason sadly replied, “I don’t think she likes me like that, kid.”

“Why not? your the best unca ever”

She ran over to him to give him the biggest hug she could give. Jason had a habit early in life not to live up to people's expectations because he felt he always fell short on those expectations. However, with Lian, it seemed he could do no wrong and with that, he hugged her back as much as the five years could handle.

That’s how Kori found them and she didn’t want to split them until they did themselves. They both turned to Kori as she explained dinner was ready.

Dinner surprisingly went smooth Lian didn’t make a fuss. It was then time for bed and Lian wanted a story. Jason knew her favorite story was Robin Hood, so as he read the story animatedly to her, Kori watched on the sidelines, smiling the entire time.

Lian then got put to bed as Kori left the room Lian turned to her uncle.

“Unca Jay, aunt Kori is the best babysitter in the universe but you're the best unca ever. I love you unca Jason,” and she drifted to sleep.

Jason smiled, kissed her forehead, and slowly crept out the room.

To his surprise, Kori was right outside the room.

“I told you, you're her favorite uncle. Not that I blame her,” she said with a smirk.

Is she flirting? Jason can say he wasn’t sure, so he tested his theory.

“Oh really,” he said.

“Around the people you love, you don’t pretend to be something you're not. It’s clear as day how you feel about them. You don’t hide behind a mask” Kori replied.

Immediately, Jason had the answer to his question about her flirting with him.

This must be why Prick Grayson and her broke up. Grayson was known to hide behind a mask, he portrayed one image but had another behind closed doors. As friends, it would not be as much of an issue, however, in a relationship, it’s another playing field and with a relationship with Korina Anders, who wears her heart on her sleeve, Jason was sure it caused them to clash.

“It’s difficult to show emotions when you're being raised by Bruce Wayne,” he isn’t sure why he was sticking up for Grayson or maybe it was for himself.

“Well you seem to be doing alright for yourself,” she said shyly.

“I won’t lie to you it’s not like that every day. Some days are better than others,” he admitted.

This is why he didn’t want to be alone with her. Stupid Harper.

"Why won’t you lie to me, I wouldn’t be offended if you did,” she said looking confused.

Without his brain's permission, he blurted out “You’re too good to be lied to.”

His face sure turned the color of Kori’s hair.

Kori smiled at him and admitted, “I heard what you said to Lian about me not liking you in that way. I wasn’t eavesdropping, I promise."

She suddenly turned, ashamed of Jason thinking the worst of her. However, Jason just wanted to crawl in an imaginary hole. Anywhere, please, Lord Almighty, but here with her.

“Please Kori just forget you heard that” Jason pleaded.

“Why” she whispered.

“Because I’d rather forget than you reject me.”

“Who said I would reject you” Jason looks at Kori stunned.

Kori is looking at her feet because she, like him, spilled her feelings.

“Are you serious? Since when?”

“Remember last summer in Gotham? You came back for a visit. I tried to go up to you but it was hard, I didn’t know if you saw me in that way, you always had that too cool for school vibe since I met you. I’m a nerd with an Astrophysics degree. Like I said I didn’t think u would look my way”.

Jason was floored. He never thought this would ever be a conversation but now it’s out in the open. He can’t help but wonder what if.

So right then and there he decides to throw caution to the wind and take the risk.

If anybody knew Jason Peter Todd, they would know he loves to take risks. He moves closer to Kori until there are barely inches apart and whispers to her.

“Trust me, I’ve been seeing you that way for six years, I’m pretty sure I won’t change my mind”.

Kori now was blushing and she couldn’t fight it down. This man in front of her could bring out emotions she never knew she was capable of but she accepted it.

“Me neither.”

She whispered back, afraid if she talked any louder their moment could break. And so with that, reassuring him, his feelings were reciprocated he went in for a chaste kiss. However, the moment his lips landed on hers, Kori turned it more passionate. Even if he was not expecting that from her, Jason allowed Kori to explore all she wanted, after all, he thought she might as well get used to what will be hers and hers alone.

So Jason could agree with Lian that Korina Marie Anders was indeed the best babysitter in the universe.

Now he owed the smug Roy a huge favor.

Hmm, maybe playful revenge is how he’ll show his appreciation. After all, he can’t lose his touch now, can he?

[bucky-s-girl-n-stuff]

Everything that could happen in a week part.2

summary: you’re invited to the Thrombey’s Halloween party, by your friend Meg. Between old man being too handsy while drunk and the others having heated political arguments borderline racist, you manage to survive for a week thanks to a new acquaintance you make.

pairing: Ransom Drysdale x reader

warning: sexual innuendos, alcohol, swearing, Ransom being Ransom.

-> part.1 

It was my second day at the Manoir. I had slept awfully because of Ransom who had decided to go on a girl hunt last night after I let him on the balcony. He apparently wanted to take revenge because all I could hear till five in the morning was that girl’s scream praising him and how good he was. I slept for one hour before being woken up by the maids cleaning up the house. I decided to go for a jog around the large property to evacuate any bad thoughts I had about last night and to stop considering leaving today to go back home and by doing that, making Meg sad. I put on my workout clothes which consisted of a black sports bra and a black legging. I decided to wear a jacket as it was still cold outside and ran off after putting on my running shoes.

When I got back to the house I was feeling pretty hungry from my workout so I made my way to the kitchen. Harlan was eating his breakfast at the table and of course, Ransom was there too, sipping on his coffee. The minute he saw me, his smirk was back to his face taunting me to say something. “y/n! come sit with us and have breakfast. Here pick whatever you like.” Said Harlan handing me a plate, energetically. Apparently, Ransom sexual intercourse hadn’t bothered anyone else in the house but me. Or maybe they were all too drunk and passed out the second the party ended. I smiled at Harlan and took the plate from his hand with a soft thank you. I sat down next to him and started to fill my plate with two blueberry pancakes and poured myself some coffee. “So, How did you sleep last night y/n ?” asked Ransom, insisting on my name. I squinted my eyes at him and he raised his eyebrows innocently in return. “Just fine. Like a baby actually” I answered giving him and Harlan a smile. Ransom rolled his eyes, displeased by my answer and went upstairs grumbling, coffee in hand. “Well, what have Meg and you planned for today ?” Harlan tried, to ease the awkwardness in the room. I didn’t even know Meg’s program for the week. She wasn’t awake and probably wouldn’t be till late. I shrugged my shoulders as an answer and took a bite of my pancake.

The rest of the day went smoothly. Harlan and I talked about what I was doing now and how his next book was coming together. It wasn’t the first time I had met Harlan. I was still in college, and it was on the occasion of Meg’s birthday party organised by her family. I liked talking to him. He was highly intelligent, and never judged me. He always paid attention to what I was doing. He was pure kindness. He suggested we go on a walk and I agreed. I liked the landscape and wanted to spend as much time as I could outside before going back to New York’s polluted air.

It was maybe five p.m. when Meg finally woke up. After eating her late breakfast as a remedy to her hangover, she decided we should go to a bar tonight assuring me she wouldn’t drink as much as last night. I rolled my eyes and agreed because I wanted to spend some quality time with her even if I knew she would be drunk again. We got ready shortly after she finished eating and caught up on our lives a little as we couldn’t do it last night. I wore a casual outfit: mom jeans and a white tank top with white air force one. To be warm, I put a baby blue sweater on before leaving. We decided to take my car as I was not planning on drinking alcohol. Right as I was crossing the entrance door, I heard Harlan calling my name. I turned around to see him walking down the stairs. Meg got back next to me intrigued by her grandfather’s. “Meg, y/n, would you mind taking Ransom with you tonight? He seemed a little sad today as his friends are not here during this time of the year. I’m sure he doesn’t want to spend a Friday night with an old man like me. Besides, it’s always good to have a young man like him by your side, just in case.” He proceeded to tell us finishing with a wink. Meg expressed her discontent by an exasperated sight. “Granpa I already told you! We don’t need a bodyguard to keep us safe. We are perfectly able to defend ourselves as strong and independent women. right y/n ?” “uhhh…” Meg rolled her eyes at my lack of support and continued on her speech she seemed to have said more than once. “First the pepper spray and now Ransom??” As soon as Meg said his name the devil appeared in the doorway, ready to go. I was starting to think it had something to do with my karma. “Great, it’s just great!” Meg exclaimed herself making her way to my car. As I was walking to the car, I felt Ransom a little bit to close to my back for my liking. I felt him leaning to my ear and I stopped in my tracks. “It’s going to be a fun night, don’t you think, y/n?” he whispered in my ear, emphasizing my name again. I didn’t have time to reply as he took my car keys from my hand and got into the driver seat.

It was surprisingly turning out to be a really good night. Meg and I didn’t stop alternating between dancing and drinking. Ransom decided he would not drink “just in case” he said, repeating the words Harlan had said earlier. He placed himself at the bar to talk with some girls there, but most importantly “to keep an eye on you two”. Sure, Ransom, we all believe you. It felt nice to let go for once and be outside of my comfort zone. The song Meg and I were dancing to, ended and we decided to go for our third round of drinks which was already too much for me. I felt free and didn’t care about being drunk, then hangover the next morning. I didn’t have work tomorrow, I was on vacation for god sakes! As we were about to call the waiter, two drinks were set in front of each of us. Looking up, I saw two men smiling down to us. Meg invited them to join us and they gladly did. They introduced themself and quite frankly I didn’t even bother to remember their names. I wasn’t interested in the guy in front of me who was talking about him, his life and how awesome he was. Meg, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the company and soon left me to dance with her stranger. Of course, I was asked to dance too but declined kindly. After that, he didn’t have anything much to say and tried on insisting by pulling me jokingly by my arm. I didn’t have anything against him, he seemed to be a good guy but I didn’t want to mingle with someone tonight. As I was going to say no again, the poor guy was torn away from me by none other than Ransom. “She said no you dumbfuck. Are you deaf?” he told him aggressively. I got up not wanting things to go south and placed my hand on Ransom’s arm that was holding the man’s collar. Was he going to the gym? I caught myself thinking, feeling his muscles under my very small hand. “It’s okay Ransom, let him go please,” I said as softly as I could trying to calm him down. It looked like it worked because his entire body relaxed and he let go of him. I released a sigh of relief at his change of demeanour. “Don’t look at her, don’t breath near her, don’t even think about her ever again,” Ransom said as his last warning. As the guy was practically running away from us Ransom faced me, pleased by his unnecessary intervention. I rolled my eyes at him and sat down again sipping on my tequila sunrise. “What?” he scoffed. “ Nothing. I don’t need you to protect me, I was handling it.” “sure” he replied sarcastically. “Why don’t you go protect Meg. She is the one dancing with a stranger.” I said defiantly. “Meg’s a slut” he casually responded. I scoffed at the comment and just felt even more repulsed by the man. “Fuck you Ransom!” I said getting up and going away. He grabbed my wrist before I could go too far. “Where are you going?” he frowned. “I’m going to pee. Or do you want to go with me and hold my dick?” I said fuming and exasperated by the fact he just ruined my night and insulted my best friend. He laughed at my answer and looked at me with the sweetest smile. Goddam those good genes… “I like you even more when your drunk” He stated. I blushed hard at his words and his smirk grew even more from my reaction. He knew I wasn’t indifferent to his compliments or whatever this was. Well, shit.

[oreobunny1]

Chapter 2: The Other Side of Hollywood

(AO3: Oreobunny1)

The sun shone brightly on the roof of the Molina household that morning. Julie and Carlos were at school, and Ray was on his way to work. The house was peaceful and empty.

Well, all except for the three teenage ghost himbos messing around in their garage.

“All I’m saying is they shouldn’t have killed off Han Solo and Luke Skywalker! It’s just too much.” Reggie exclaimed from the second floor of the huge garage, bouncing around as he got dressed for the day.

“I know,” Alex answered from beneath him. “And why was Luke on fat bird island anyway, shouldn’t he be doing more, y’know… Jediy things?”

“Pfffft-” Reggie laughed, “Fat bird island. Honestly though! He-”

His rant was interrupted by Luke banging on the garage door from outside.

“You guys are SLOW! Sloooooooowwwwwwww-” Luke whined. Reggie didn’t need to see Alex to know that he was rolling his eyes at their friend. Luke couldn't even talk. He had only teleported out there a second ago himself!

“We’ll be out in a minute!” Reggie yelled out to him. It wasn’t like they could be late. They didn’t even have tickets!

“ImPATIENT!” Alex gasped, mock-offended. Reggie snickered, and they heard muffled laughter from outside too, followed by Luke starting another round of “slooow...”.

Alex sighed and muttered, “If only our Luke was the one on that island, huh?” Reggie was just about dying of laughter at this point, but he tried to be as quiet as he could so their Luke couldn’t hear them.

Today, the local movie theater was showing a marathon of the new Star Wars trilogy. All of them were big Star Wars fans, and ever since seeing the premiere on the website they had been looking forward to this particular Wednesday. Reggie couldn’t sit still. He was so excited! They had been anticipating this for a week now, and he was looking forward to a fun, geeky day with his best friends. And, to top it all off, Julie and the Phantoms had a gig later that night! It was shaping up to be a pretty great day.

They were all a little bummed Julie couldn't come to the movies with them, but being alive and still having to go to school made her unavailable at the time. It’s fine though, they would be done with the movies before she got out of school anyway. They could all hang out then!

“But Finn and Poe though...” Alex started, moving into Reggie's view as he waited for him.

Reggie pulled on his flannel. “YES I love them already, I honestly can’t wait to watch these movies just because of the newer characters.” He had only heard spoilers for these movies, and he didn’t really like what he heard. But he was optimistic, especially about the new characters Julie had told them about.

“Okay. I’m ready!” he said finally after grabbing his bracelet, smiling as he prepared to jump down to Alex. “By the wa- WHAT?!”

Reggie yelped as he was suddenly pulled harshly away from where he sat on the ledge in the middle of his sentence. There was a bright flash before his eyes as he was unwillingly teleported… somewhere else.

His blood froze as another flash dropped him onto hard, cold ground. He didn’t move. He couldn’t see anything! Did I go blind or something?!

Don't panic. Don’t panic. Don’t panic.

The first thing he noticed was the cold. He drew his flannel tighter around him, but the frigid air seemed to go directly though it and he started shivering almost immediately. Reggie hadn't thought that, as a ghost, he would be able to feel pain, discomfort, or cold. But that was before they were all almost electrocuted out of existence. Yup. He could definitely feel cold.

The second thing he noticed was that he was, indeed, panicking.

His breath came in short gasps. He didn’t understand what was happening! Where was he? Why was he there? Neither Alex nor Luke had been close enough to touch him and teleport him, besides, they wouldn’t scare him like that! The only person(or ghost) he knew that could teleport people without touching them was Caleb Covington. The last person he wanted to see.

Reggie finally took a slow breath, counting to ten in his mind. That’s what Alex always did. It was fine. They would get out. We will get out. He looked at his new surroundings, or rather, tried to look. All he could “see” was darkness. It surrounded him.

“Alex? Luke?” He called, reaching out in the dark. Caleb had only ever teleported them altogether. He was positive that any second now, his hand would land on one of them, proving to him he wasn’t alone.

“Luke! Alex!”

“Okay s-stop it guys, this isn’t funny!” If they were trying to prank him or something, they were going to be in so much trouble.

“Guys?” Reggie whispered into the darkness. But silence was his only answer. His breathing picked up again. Where are they? I need them here!

He needed to find the light switch.

“Jeez, why is it so cold in h-here?” He thought out loud with chattering teeth as he found the icy wall with his hands. He traced his fingers along it, ignoring the dull pain. The cold made his fingers feel like they were slowly turning to ice.

“C’mon, where is it… Oh!” His hand found a switch of some kind and he immediately flipped it up. Light flooded through the small room and Reggie blinked furiously as his eyes adjusted.

“Uhhh...”

The first thing he noticed was that Alex and Luke were not there. He was alone in a musty room. The walls were a faded yellowish color. Cracked frames held declining pictures of…old Hollywood stars? Oh no...

There was movement, and Reggie jumped, but it was only his reflection. There was a mirror and a worn wooden desk in one corner of the room. The mirror was old-fashioned, the ones with the large light bulbs around the sides of it. This is a dressing room.

Or was. Cobwebs covered the ceiling and the dusty crystal chandelier. Everything looked breakable, and the makeup on the desk looked like it hadn’t been used since he was alive. Yikes. Besides, the temperature in this “dressing room” had to be below freezing, definitely too cold for any alive human to stay in for a long period of time.

It was confirmed. This room failed the vibe check.

“Okaaay… Sorry c-creepy room! It’s been fun-” Not. He needed to get out of there and find his friends. Reggie picutured their studio in his mind, easily his favorite place and the main place they teleported to, and willed himself to appear there.

Instead, he ran into a wall.

“Ugh..” Reggie groaned. He was still there! He had only teleported to the other side of the dressing room! No. He tried again. Again. This has to work! It has to!

But he was trapped.

Before he had time to have a panic attack, there was a sudden pop from behind him. Reggie spun around. Maybe it’s Luke or Ale-

It wasn't.

“Good morning Reginald!”

“C-Caleb,” Reggie gasped, his worst fears confirmed.

This was the ghost that stalked his nightmares. This was the ghost who had tried to take everything away from him. Reggie immediately clutched his wrists. Caleb had never gone so far as direct physical aggression, it was always a stamp. As long as I keep my wrists completely covered, everything will be fine. He can’t hurt any of us if he can’t get a stamp on us.

Luke promised that he would never see him again. On a particularly bad day, when a stamp that was long gone felt like it was still there and the memories of a performance they would never be able to tell Julie about haunted all three of them, he had sworn that they would never go near that club again. That they would never have to face this villain again.

Yet there he was. There was no way Luke could have known. No way they could have prepared for this.

Caleb smiled his huge fake grin that now sent a shiver down his spine. “Reggie, why aren't you dressed? You have a show in ten minutes!”

He probably looked so dumb, standing there like a deer in headlights, but he didn't care. There was only one thing on his mind.

“W-where are Luke a-and Alex.” Reggie stammered, his teeth chattering as he tried to speak.

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Why, in their own dressing rooms of course. They have to get ready too, you know.”

Reggie gave a small sigh of relief. At least they aren't being forced to perform. “We d-don’t want to join your b-band. Let us go.” He wasn’t in the mood for his usual jokes. Not without his friends.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that Reginald.” Caleb replied simply.

What do you mean “I can’t do that”?! Of course you can! Reggie definitely wasn’t the one that got angry easily. He would much rather just joke around, be the fun one. Be cool in the moment, and deal with the consequences later. But Luke wasn’t there to take charge. Julie and Alex weren’t there, supporting him, bringing him comfort. He didn’t even know where his friends were! All he wanted was for them to be there so they could escape this situation! But he was facing Caleb alone. Everything about this situation was scaring him to death. The fear and anger came spilling out of him, and suddenly he was screaming.

“YES YOU CAN! Caleb, none of us will ever join your band! We already have one! Nothing you say or do will ever change that! Now LET US G-GO!”

Breathing heavily, Reggie glanced at the man with wide eyes, but his mouth was set in determination. He wasn’t sure how Caleb would react to that.

He didn’t look scared, as Reggie had silently hoped, or even surprised. He didn’t look mad either. He was just staring at him. Studying him, with a small smile on his face, as if he was but a clue to be cracked. An interesting equation to be solved. Reggie took another step backward. That was not what he had been expecting.

“Your costume is over there.” Caleb said happily, pointing at something shiny draped on the clothing rack as he turned and walked away from him. “See you on the stage!” He exclaimed.

Is he actually going to ignore everything I just said? Reggie opened his mouth defiantly and followed him, desperate to say whatever he needed to to get him and his friends out of this place. But the man kept talking...

“Oh, and I almost forgot-”

Caleb spun around and slapped him viciously across the face.

Reggie was thrown backward and hit the cold floor, hard. He froze in shock, a hand clutched to his cheek as his attacker towered over him.

He should have anticipated it. He should have at least flinched away when the hand came down on him, but he didn't! It had just been so long, so long since someone had hit him like that. So long since he had been in danger of being struck for speaking out of turn. So long since he didn’t have his friends to go to for protection. He had finally lost the reflex.

Sharp pain radiated from where he had been hit, and black spots clouded his vision. His eyes watered as he looked up at Caleb, his entire body trembling. He was terrified.

“Like my new stamp design? I just finished it!”

No, Reggie thought, his heart dropping inside his chest. No, no NO!

It was true. Keeping both eyes on Caleb he moved a shaking hand over his cheek. Sure enough, he could feel the raised outline of a dreaded stamp there. Caleb stalked towards him, his voice growing dangerous as he leaned closer. Reggie scrambled backward, trying to keep a few feet between himself and this monster.

“You will do exactly as I say, when I say it,” Caleb hissed, his smile growing wider. Distorted. Demented. “If you ever disrespect me like that ever again, I will show your friends the true meaning of pain. Would you like an example?”

Reggie didn’t even have time to answer. Caleb whipped something small and gold out of his suit pocket before clicking it.

Then Reggie knew only pain.

“Ahh!” He cried out, clutching his chest. He thought that nothing would ever be more painful than their final jolts on the night of the Orpheum performance, but boy, was he wrong. Reggie keeled over as every part of his body was electrocuted by a massive jolt from the stamp. The burning, excruciating pain lingered in his chest and cheek and tears sprang to his eyes.

Reggie had always handled physical pain the worst out of all his friends. The tears threatened to fall, just as they had on that fateful night when Julie found them in the garage, but Reggie quickly wiped his eyes.

He would never give Caleb the satisfaction of seeing him cry.

Caleb opened his mouth to say something, but instead his eyes fell to something on the ground in front of him. Reggie hesitantly followed his gaze.

My bracelet!

Reggie’s arm shot out, pain ignored as he snatched the little woven thing into his hands. He must have forgotten to put energy into it while he was reeling in pain.

I won’t let that happen again.

Last week, after watching the new Mandolorian episode with Julie, they were all bored. They followed her upstairs, where she went into her closet and got out this old case. She blew off the dust and inside… was a whole bunch of colored string! She patiently showed them how to weave simple bracelets. It was fairly easy. All they had to do was make sure they focused a little bit of energy into their hands, and they could hold the string! They sat there for a good hour, making bracelets and talking quietly.

As expected, the peace didn’t last long.

All he did was make fun of Alex’s knotted-up “bracelet”. Once! Before Reggie knew it, the various colors of the rainbow came flying at his head. Soon enough it was a free for all. They grabbed the bundles and chucked them at one another. There was string everywhere. They had a complete friendship-bracelet string war, laughing wildly as pillows and string flew through the air. At one point, him and Alex tackled Luke to the ground and held him there so Julie could braid string into his hair. In the end, each of them had string tangled in their hair, Julie’s room was absolutely trashed, and they were all exhausted. They crashed immediately afterward, covered with string and cuddled up on Julie’s bed.

Also, each of them had 4 or 5 woven bracelets that they made themselves. His were obviously the best, but Julie’s were pretty good too. They traded them around, and now they each had one from everyone else. They even had some for Willie and Flynn!

The one he picked to wear today was the one Jules made him, and in order for the ghosts to wear them they continually focused a tiny bit of energy to keep it on their wrists. It was so simple that he hardly ever thought about it.

Until now.

Caleb’s voice yanked him from his thoughts.

“Stings more than the worst of the other ones, doesn't it?” He gloated as Reggie coughed. If he wasn’t already dead, Reggie was sure he’d be coughing blood into his hands. But Caleb didn’t care. “Yes. And they will only get more painful. Unlike those other stamps, this-”

Caleb bent down and reached for Reggie’s face, but he was ready this time. He flinched so hard that he dodged Caleb’s hand altogether. Yes! The horrendous smile faltered and Reggie thought he just might leave him alone. Nope. The rough hand made contact a second time and Reggie’s chin was jerked upward.

“This will give you only a few more days to live!” The excitement in his voice was sickening.

“Reginald, the only escape from nonexistence is to join my band.” Caleb sobered. He had the nerve to look sympathetic. As if he wasn’t the one doing this to them.

“Never.” Reggie spat, the fury and pain fueling his confidence once again, if only for a moment. He shoved the hand away and struggled to his feet. There was a flash of something unusual in Caleb’s dark eyes. Surprise? Fear? It was gone as fast as it came.

If Caleb thought he was just going to give up that quickly, he had another thing coming. As long as his friends were in danger, Reggie Peters would fight.

“Hm. We’ll see.” He messed with the little gold device in his hands as Reggie sat there, still trying to catch his breath after the jolt, before suddenly barking orders. “Now get up! Get ready. And keep quiet. We wouldn't want Luke and Alex feeling like this now would we!”

No! Never! That was the absolute last thing he wanted. Reggie glared at him, some choice words ready to leave his mouth.

Click.

Another purple flash and Reggie doubled over, unable to speak. His clenched teeth were the only thing keeping him from screaming in agony. The bracelet, the bracelet, remember the bracelet!

“Would we?”

“N-no!” He choked out.

“That's better.” The button was slipped back into the pocket, and Caleb turned. He’s gonna teleport away!

“Wait!” Reggie blurted. He couldn't let this happen to his friends too. “D-don’t put a stamp on them. Please. Just don’t put a s-stamp on Luke or Alex.” He would do anything if it meant Alex and Luke didn’t have to go through this. They didn’t deserve that. Not that he thought he did, but he would much rather it be him than them. His bandmates, plus Julie now, meant everything to him. He could do this for them. He just hoped it would be enough for Caleb.

“That’s entirely up to you.” Caleb concluded, not even looking at him.“ I hope you will consider my offer.” With a flash he was gone, leaving Reggie alone in the small, freezing room, the threats and orders echoing in his head. Reggie waited before taking a breath. He’s gone.

Darn. We're so gonna miss those movies.

Reggie was certain of one thing. He was not going to put on that costume. Caleb could poof him into whatever atrocious, uncomfortable clothes he wanted, and he could pry the red flannel from Reggie’s cold, dead hands(literally).

He looked into the icy mirror at his already swelling face, the bold purple stamp standing out against his pale features. His immediate reaction was to claw at it, get it off his skin, but he knew it wouldn't do any good.

He tried to poof out approximately 7 more times before slumping against the desk, shivering and sore. The ground swayed under his feet, and his head pounded. He just sat down on the freezing ground. Reggie didn’t feel like he could do anything in 10 minutes, especially not be forced to perform. But no matter how much he hated it, he knew he didn’t have a choice.

Great. The tears were back. No. No crying. Not here. He shoved all his feelings of dread and fear away. He had to be confident, no matter how fake it was. He could not show weakness to Caleb. In his mind he heard Luke, telling him off for suppressing feelings again. “That will only make it worse Reg. You know that.” He did! But this time it was necessary. His friends could help him deal with the feelings later, once they got out.

He was going to work on an escape plan, he just needed a minute of rest first. He was so tired(yes, ghosts can get tired too). Just...one minute...

Reggie closed his eyes, imagining he was back in the garage, still joking around with his best friends. Pretending he still felt safe. Pretending, just for a second, that he was home.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #332

i’m even more tired than before to try and think up song lyrics, i’m pasting from Word and then fucking off to bed lmao.

What was the last video message you received on your phone? I think it was a clip of Doris (Sara's beardie) eating and just being her perfect self? Was your last birthday cake homemade or store bought? Store-bought. One thing you miss about middle school? Shit, nothing. Middle school was the worst. Do you have any shirts signed by famous people? No. Have you ever entered an art competition? Yes. Would you ever pierce yourself? No. I am very much about having a professional do your body mods/art. Plus, I have tremors in my hands. Do you live in a safe neighbourhood? Supposedly. We haven't lived here nearly long enough to know. What is the last thing you did that shocked someone? /shrug Do you often find yourself questioning your future? Only always. Have you ever been for a ride in the back of a truck? Yeah. Do you like your license photo? I hate my permit picture. Are you into superheroes? Who’s your favorite? Not very, but I like 'em enough. I always say my favorite is Deadpool, but I know he's technically an anti-hero, but whatever. If you don't include him, uhhhh... maybe Spiderman. Have you started watching any new TV shows recently? No. Have you ever been able pet a normally wild animal, like a tiger or dolphin? No. :( At least, not to my recollection. Have you ever eaten snow? Yeah. There's actually a winter treat 'round here that you make with snow and sugar called snow cream. Good stuff. What is the messiest area in your home? Right now, the spare room/my wanna-be "office." What’s your favorite computer game genre? Still horror, like video games. Do you have any exes your parents never liked? No. Have you received financial help from your parents in the past 5 years? I'm completely financially dependent on them still. Are you a fast or a slow eater? I eat like, stupid fast, but without being messy. People *cough*Mom*cough* will absolutely point it out, but I seriously can't help it. Making a conscious effort to eat slow feels way too weird. What was the last thing you purchased from a small local business? I don't know. Is there anyone in your family/household whom you frequently argue with? No. Have you ever used chewing tobacco? Ew, no. Tell me what's on your mind? I've been considering yet again reaching out to some tattoo parlors and asking if they're open to hiring someone to handle the front desk and take care of business besides actually performing piercing and tattooing, given my tremors. My group therapy has kinda been encouraging me to use the possibility for social exposure, and besides, I'm very comfortable in the environment and just general aura of tat parlors. I'm sure I'd have to answer the phone, handle money, and obviously talk to costumers, but I know and accept that. I've been at such a stagnant point with my social anxiety in particular that I have to start pushing back harder, and doing this I feel would be one of the most relaxed, social job positions I can hopefully handle. I don't dare to even try this though until I get vaccinated to protect my immunocompromised mom. Writing this all out has actually been pretty encouraging about this idea... Do you wish you never dated someone you dated? Yeah, Tyler. It was such a "I'm lonely and he was nice in high school, so we'll try it" situation. I got nothing from it. Are you scared of growing old alone? Pretty badly. What are you listening to right now? I'm listening to/semi-watching John Wolfe play the remaster of Resident Evil 2. What breed was the last dog you saw? He was a German shepherd. Would you ever go swimming during a thunderstorm? No. Any time a thunderstorm was brewing and I was in the pool, I'd always get out. What is the next concert you will attend? Mom and I plan to see Ozzy when/if he reschedules his tour after he had to cancel with his Parkinson's diagnosis. What was the name of the last pet of yours that died? Teddy. :/ What's the highest science class you have taken? I don't know, actually. What makes you squeal like a school girl? No shame, seeing Mark and Amy do something cute together actually does this, lmao. What’s your favorite symbol? (i.e. the pentagram, the cross, etc.) Do fictional ones count? Because in that case, the Halo of the Sun from the Silent Hill franchise. I'm getting it tattooed somewhere at some point, I'm thinking the left side of my neck. I'm either gonna fashion it in a way where it looks branded on or carved into me. Have you ever been on anti depressants? For all of my pre-teen, teen, and some of my adult life. Apparently, I've only had one truly educated psychiatrist out of no less than a dozen I'd seen, because he fixed me right up. He taught me that those who suffer from bipolarity should avoid anti-depressants; they ramp up your bipolar symptoms. Instead, mood stabilizers are favorable. And what do you know, after I was prescribed a stabilizer and a catalyst for that medication, my depression decreased dramatically and became handleable. Have you ever starved yourself? Kinda. What’s the stupidest name you’ve ever given a pet? I had a guinea pig named Harry Potter. For no particular reason lmao. I'm not even a Harry Potter fan. Do you have nice legs? God no. Do you like fedoras? Okay so I know I am in the strong minority, but I actually do, haha. What is your favorite food group? Carbs. @_@ Have you ever got told that you should be a model? No, but one of the most flattering indirect compliments I've ever gotten was being mistaken for one. Jason's phone wallpaper was one of my favorite pictures of myself with my first snake, and someone asked him if I was a model. ;v;' What song is in a language you don’t speak, but you love it anyway? "Donaukinder" by Rammstein is one of my faves. Who’s a villain you sympathize with and why? SOBS Darkiplier bc his origins are so damn tragic and unfair. What book do you think should be directed as a film? Was The Giver ever made into one? I don't remember that book well, but I do recall it being absolutely beautiful. Have you ever found a stranger’s note somewhere? If so, what did it say? No. Have you ever edited Wikipedia? No. Have you ever edited any other wiki? Yeah. I have thousands on the Silent Hill wiki, where I'm one of the admins. I'm also a content moderator at the Team Ico (Shadow of the Colossus devs) one. Every now and again I used to go on the meerkats wiki as well, where I mainly fixed the fucking nightmarish grammar. Very briefly, I edited at the Dragons of Atlantis wiki as well. Do you get scared when you know some virus or sickness is being passed? Not very, but of course I still acknowledge the risk and am more conscious of hand washing and stuff. What popular social media platforms AREN’T you on? Snapchat, I don't actually use my Twitter, I don't have a personal Instagram... There may be more, idk. Is TikTok a "social media platform?" Because I don't have that, either. What was the name of the first porcelien doll you got? Never had one, given I was afraid of dolls as a kid. What’s your favorite Paramore song? "Decode." Would you be happy with a life without romance? To be entirely honest, I'd feel like I was missing something. Was your childhood happy? Mostly. What fundamentally matters do you? Love, kindness, peace, all that gooey stuff. Is true world peace ever possible? As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think so. The human population is far too big to come to a unanimous agreement on anything. Do you hold yourself to higher standards than you hold others? Yeah. Would you ever own a pet black widow spider? No. I'm getting more into the idea of owning invertebrates (I jabber enough about wanting tarantulas, and there are others, like mantises, I'm interested in as pets), but black widows, I'm not into the idea of having. Too venomous for me to be comfortable risking. If you have a job, what is the longest shift that you've worked? N/A Do you know all of the words to "Bohemian Rhapsody?" FUCK YES I DO. ^ Do you sing it with all of the different voices? sho nuff Do you own more than one copy of a certain book? No. Do you like interpreting poetry or just reading it for fun? Both. I love symbolism, so I get joy out of digging for subtle meanings in poems. Do you have a favorite Dr. Suess book? Yeah, it was always Green Eggs and Ham. Do you watch The Walking Dead? If so, favorite character? Not the show, but I've watched let's plays of the games, haha. In which case Clementine is inarguably one of the best female characters in a video game universe. Who has/had the most mature romantic relationship you’ve seen with your own eyes? Uhhh. I mean I never saw them much, but probably my late grandmother and her last husband. He was fucking incredible to her, and Grammy adored him as well. They helped each other so much and just obviously had the purest love between them. When was the last time you got something for free (legally)? What was it & have you enjoyed it so far? Lmao do balls in Pokemon GO count? Their occasional free boxes are the reason I can play the game because PokeStops are essentially non-existent here, so yes. What is the one fruit you can’t stand to eat? How about vegetable? The first one that came to me were oranges. I enjoy orange juice, but I just caaaaannot with the white veiny shit that you can't totally get off when peeling it. Without that, I might actually enjoy them, but idk. As for vegetable, asparagus is absolutely abhorrent. When’s the last time you actually recited the pledge? If you aren’t American, do/did you have anything similar in your country that you do during a time at school? Probably not since high school. Last person you shared food with? Ummm I have no idea. It's really just Mom and me here and we eat our own stuff. What was the last song you heard for the first time and enjoyed? I believe it waaas... "Down In The Park" by Marilyn Manson, maybe. If your life was a TV show, what would be the theme song? My inner high school emo just screamed "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" by AD2R. Who are some of your favorite female fictional characters, and why? Gahdamn, there's a lot. I don't feel like going through a mental list in my head and then describing why. A character (in anything) you wish hadn’t been killed off? Vol'jin; I think the entire WoW fanbase will forever be pissed about it. It was THE most "lul we dunno what 2 do w/ him anymore, let's let a totally random, unnamed, unimportant demon kill him" like what the fuck, Blizz. Most of his "oomph" was in the book, and I just really wish they'd done so much more with him in the game. Has anything “cute” happened in the past week? Off the top of me noggin, no. When did you last say “I love you”? Did you mean it? Yesterday to Sara. OF course I did. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times? Hi, PTSD, how are ya. Have you ever slept all day? Essentially. When I was on a larger dose of my anxiety med, I physically couldn't stay up for barely even five minutes, and when I'd lie back down, boom, I was OUT. I stayed on that dosage for I think just that one day, it was so bad. Can you have kids? Well, I have a functioning menstrual cycle, so I would assume so. Doesn't mean I will, though. What colors of mascara have you worn on your lashes? Only black. Do you like eating sour things? Hell yeah, I love sour stuff, candy in particular. Do you like pickles? fuuuuck yeah Did you ever have a really close friend move away? Yeah, in elementary school. I feel bad I can't remember her name at the moment... What's the most creative thing you've ever done? I mean, I guess the things I've written in RP. What's the most creative thing someone has done for you? For me? I don't really know. Do you like to watch ghost-hunting shows? Sure, they're some of my favorites. What’s something you’d like to be better at? Social interaction. Have you ever stayed up to talk to someone who was sad? Yeah. Do you think you would make a good parent? No. I know I wouldn't. The only time I ever wanted kids was with Jason, and honestly, I really hope I don't end up with a man because I never want to deal with that urge again and make a mistake. I'm just in no way emotionally fit to be a mother. How many best friends do you have? Just one. What do you cry over the most? My PTSD, honestly. I never sob about it anymore, just shed some tears. What language did/do you take in high school? Latin for one semester, then all four available for German. Which sports do you follow? None. Who was the last person you talked about marriage or having kids with? About marriage, Sara. Kids, the subject was lightly touched upon with Girt, though "with" was never a part of it, but obviously implied seeing as we were dating with long-term in mind. Have you ever been in a house fire? No, thankfully. Have you ever made out for one straight hour? them is rookie numbers Are you any good at remembering phone numbers? No. I literally don't even know my own, nor my mother's. I need to fix that. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex? Girt. Do you have a bookshelf? If so, just one or how many? No. If I gave you twenty bucks what would you do with it? Save it to go towards Venus' terrarium. Is there a movie from your childhood that you still watch today? Well of course! I'm unashamed to watch any "kids" movie I enjoy, like Disney ones. Most "kids" movies tend to be better than those intended for adults, it seems... Are you afraid of mice? Oh no, I adore mice and I think had a pair as pets before I got rats. What type of souvenir do you usually purchase when on vacation? I can't really answer this; I haven't gone on nearly enough vacations to develop a theme. I can say confidently though it'd probably be something small. If you could see any musical on Broadway right now, what would it be? I don't enjoy musicals. Have you ever watched Doctor Who? One or two with Sara, yes. I know we at least watched the weeping angels episode. If you read, which book or series did you enjoy most as a child? Warriors by S.E. Hinton. Sometimes I wanna get back into them, but I am YEARS behind and more into Wings of Fire anyway, so. I don't read nearly enough for both. How do you get rid of your hiccups? Literally no trick seems to work for me. I just suffer lmao.

[iateyourdoggo-part2]

chapter 6: play date at Kinako's house

so yes, it will be a play date at Kinako's house but not just for Kinako, but for everyone. E v e r y o n e. So enjoy this next chapter while your here! (your basically here for the story anyways why did i say that???)

tw: swearing (1 word), emojis, @buse, yelling, kids/siblings

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Kinako just picked up everyone from school (so im now changing the days of school to australian version bc its easier) since it was the last day. The schools weren't far walks from each other. Everyone arrived at home and everyone asked if they could have their friends over tomorrow. Since it was the holidays, Kinako said yes and Kai was going to have a playdate tomorrow as well. Kinako also thought it would be fun to bring Saika, Aori and Jien, too.

The first day of the holidays came and Kinako woke to the sound of a doorbell. She got out of bed and went to the front door. There were 10 people, not including an adult, that were waiting outside.

"Uhhh... What's going on?" Kinako asked.

"Everyone says their here for a playdate." Saika chuckled.

"I'll just leave Wakaba here for you guys." said a woman. It was the mother of Kai's friend.

"Okay. Bye Miss. Chou!" Kinako waved goodbye at Wakaba's mother and picked him up. "Well uh... come inside? I guess?"

Everyone walked in and all of Kinako's siblings came out to meet their friend. Kinako picked up Kai as well and took them both to Kai's room which was also his play room. It was now only Kinako, Saika, Aori and Jien in the living room. They had no idea what to do so they went to Kinako's room. The only room that had no noise was Reiya's because she was practicing her bass guitar in her room with her friend. The other kids were just playing games or talking about things they shared.

The older teens played some truth or dare. They didn't play any other games like spin the bottle because, duh, they all were taken by someone in the circle.

"Aori my beloved, truth or dare?" Jien asked.

"Dare. Haha good luck finding a good dare."

"I dare you to let me go through your phone pictures."

"Fuck!"

Aori handed his boyfriend his phone and Jien went through every picture in every file until he stopped at the last file. It read 'My Beloved' Jien looked at Aori and smirked. He clicked on the file and saw a bunch of saved photos and taken pictures of Jien. There were pictures of Jien shirtless, doing a cute face, him with Aori or Jien with cute filters. Jien chuckled about it and Aori blushed then snatched his phone back. Jien giggled and saw the 2 girls taking pictures.

After a couple of rounds of truth or dare, they all went to the kitchen to make some food. Aori and Jien served the food and Saika and Kinako went to get the kids. Kinako knocked lightly on the twins' door and opened it to see them both hugging their 'friends' arm.

"I-" Kinako was shocked but also confused. "Okay. 1. Come eat food. 2. Is she really your friend or above that? And 3. Why are both of you hugging her?"

"T-this is just a close friend! That's all... hehe." Ichisaki whispered tugging at their friend's shirt.

"And Tsukikage is a boy. He looks like a girl and..." Kisaki continued, he paused for a bit and did some quick little emoji drawings in a notebook.

😠👩‍🦰👏👊😥👩‍👦❌👩‍👧✔💁‍♀️🗨👗💭🧑➡👧

(angry, mom, hit, grabbed by force, scared, son, no, daughter, yes, mother, says, girl outfit, thinks/wants, boy, turn into, girl)

They all used emoji drawings to communicate when they had a secret or something. Kinako knew that the twins' friend Tsukikage was forced to become a girl by his mother.

"They have known me for a while and both like to hug me and stay close to me, that's all!" Tsukikage chuckled.

"I'm sorry, by the way for assuming you were a girl." Kinako apologized in humiliation.

"Hehe it's fine!"

"Well come eat because we're all waiting for you. And you 2, I will speak to later.", she pointed 2 fingers at her eyes and turned them to the twins' eyes as a warning, but not so much as a warning.

The whole table was crowded. There were 15 people. 2 toddlers, 2 pre-teens, 5 who just turned teens, 2 teens, and 4 young adults. The kids ate at the table and the older teens ate in the lounge room. There was so much dishes to wash.

"Why didn't you tell me about your relationship with Tsukikage? Are you guys dating him or-?" Kinako asked as she warned before.

"Well not exactly dating." , Ichisaki corrected, "We're just... friends."

"Hehe... Not exactly dating? What does that mean?" Tsukikage came out of the boys' room with a smile on his face.

Tsukikage was pretty popular at his school with the boys. He specifically chose to become friends with the twins for a reason. He may be a tall kid that looks 16 who are friends with 2 short twins who look 8 but they all get along so well they all practically know each other fully.

"Nothing!" Both twins spoke fast at the same time and turned their heads blushing.

'Soooooo... they're bisexual? I guess? Best not to think because I accidentally assumed a gender...' Kinako thought. She assumed they were bisexual because they were talking about a girl they met who was pretty a couple weeks ago when school started.

"Just next time tell me that you guys have a crush, doesn't matter what, gender or no gender." Kinako said calmly.

Both of the boys started to yell at her for saying that Tsukikage was their crush. She just walked back to her room and sat with her beloved Saika on her bed.

"What happened?" Saika asked because of the yelling outside.

"Just sorted out a few things with the twins. Kai and Wakaba should be going to bed now. You wanna help?"

Saika nodded and went with Kinako to a room where Kai and Wakaba played and looking a bit tired. The 2 girls put both toddlers to bed reading stories narrated by Kinako and lullabies sung by Saika. Kinako was also caught up in Saika's beautiful singing that even he fell asleep.

Thankfully, Kinako was very light. So Saika carried Kinako to her room and placed her on her bed again. Aori and Jien saw and left the room to watch some T.V on the couch. Saika laid down next to her girlfriend and had a small nap.

(here is what all the kids are doing btw:

Arisu and their friend, Kimu, studied in their room and then talked about some people at school. (not talking anything bad in case ur wondering, the 2 r just saying about some nice things about others)

Reiya and her friend, Hibina were, as mentioned before, practicing their music.

The twins and Tsukikage were playing some Mario Kart.

Kai and Wakaba were sleeping.

Tsubaki and her friend, Reiju, were working on a school project about animals.)

Saika and Kinako woke up to a small ringtone coming from a phone. Saika's mother, Rimi, called to come over for dinner and said to bring her as many friends as she wants, if she wishes. Aori and Jien were invited by her mother so they would be going. Ms. Rimi knew about Aori and Jien's relationship and was a bit disgusted but invited them anyways so she could be seen as a nice person. Saika decided she'd invite Kinako.

"B-but I can't!" Kinako exclaimed, "I need someone to look after my siblings..."

"Don't worry!" Saika touched Kinako's upper arm and rubbed it, "I know a very good friend who is very good with kids because she owns one of the best babysitter companies here."

"Really? Thank you!" Kinako was glad because her girlfriend just saved her life.

The rest of the day finished and everyone went home. Wakaba's mum picked him up from the playdate and left. That was such a long day. Now everyone was cleaning their rooms from their playdate.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This chapter took so long it took up most of my time. its hard while i have my studies.

previous << chapter 6 >> next

@ibukis-music-shop @ultimate-plushielover @godly-gummybear @just-a-potterhead

(what the friends of everyone looks like:)

Reiji (Tsubaki's friend)

Tsukikage (The twins friend)

Hibina (Reiya's friend)

Kimu (Arisu's friend)

Wakaba (Kai's friend)

[jumukus]

A3! Event: Starring Party ‘Stories of ‘24′ 2′ Translation

Let’s watch the video messages from everyone! p.s. the words in italic mean they’re taken from the video.

Citron: Hello, I'm Citron~! I played Tennis Saionji in Spring Troupe's sixth play "Harugaoka Quartet".

Izumi: It's Enis Saionji!

Citron: Oops, I said it wrong.

Banri: We're going hard right from the start, huh.

Citron: So I'm the first one!

Kazunari: I compiled the videos in reverse order.

Citron: I had a lot of fun when my turn to be the lead actor finally came. After all, I was merely an extra in our first play. I thought I was being bullied!

Tsuzuru: That's because you couldn't even say your lines, duh!

Citron: I was really happy to be able to perform my favorite violin-themed play with my beloved troupe members.

It's all thanks to Tsuzuru. I appreciate it.

Tsuzuru: I didn't do anything special…

Citron: I'll have him rewrite "RomiJuli" script and make Friar Laurence the lead at this rate!

Tsuzuru: Hey, hold it right there!

Citron: In my "spring," I'm not alone. I'm with everyone. Let's keep traveling the world through various plays!

Chikage: I'm not sure whether to feel moved or to laugh.

Itaru: That's Citron for you.

Masumi: He's the same as ever.

Sakuya: Let's keep performing together, Citron-san!

Muku: Eh, um, ah, uhhh…!

Yuki: You're too nervous.

Misumi: Hang in there~!

Izumi: Muku-kun, calm down.

Muku: Y-Yes!

Uhh… I'm Muku Sakisaka. I played Florence in Summer Troupe's sixth play "Floral Prince".

This play is really, really precious to me, since I've got to play my dream role, a prince.

I didn't have any confidence at first. But thanks to everyone in the Summer Troupe who supported and encouraged me, my dream came true on the stage.

I could take on the lead role because I've been rehearsing together with them ever since I joined this troupe, not only in this play.

Kyu-chan has known about my dream since we were kids, and standing onstage with him as the semi-lead was reassuring. Thank you.

Kumon: Me too, thank you!

Muku: I'll continue to work hard to become an ideal prince. Please take care of me!

Misumi: I'm sure Muku can become all types of princes~!

Yuki: Anyway, your standard of an ideal prince seems to be high.

Kazunari: I think Mukkun is already princely enough~.

Tenma: Good luck.

Muku: Yup!

Juza: I'm Juza Hyodo, portraying Blood in Autumn Troupe's sixth play "Fallen Blood".

Since this play marked the first time I took on the lead role, it made me think about a lot of things, like my potential as an actor and my goal.

I still don't know how far I can go, and how I'm supposed to be as an actor now. I still can't decide on that.

But one thing for sure, I'll continue to live my life on the stage. I'll break my butt to tell the life of the characters entrusted to me.

In order to do that, I'll move forward to polish my acting. It doesn't matter whether I'm clumsy or slow. I'm going to do it.

The video Omi-san took at the time has become my precious treasure. Thanks.

Omi: Glad the video was helpful.

Juza: I'll re-watch the video over and over again whenever I hit a wallーー.

Except Settsu's part.

Banri: You bastard!

Taichi: Ahaha!

Sakyo: God, don't be sloppy.

Azami: But that's just so like Juza-san.

Hisoka: Hisoka Mikage, playing Liam in Winter Troupe's sixth play "Risky Game".

...What should I say?

Izumi: Anything is fine, like how you felt when you got chosen as the lead role or any memorable moments.

Hisoka: Lead role, huh… I've got so many lines.

Tasuku: Hey. After all that, and that's what you've got to say?

Tsumugi: That's just like Hisoka-kun.

Hisoka: But I've got to remember something precious because of this play. Thanks to everyone… I was able to meet someone important to me once again.

Homare: Good for you, Hisoka-kun.

Hisoka: I'll continue to live as actor Hisoka Mikage, together with them…

Azuma: Yeap. Let's keep working together.

Guy: I look forward to seeing Hisoka Mikage's acting in the future.

Itaru: I'm Itaru Chigasaki. I played Lancelot in Spring Troupe's fifth play "Knight of Round IV THE STAGE".

I think it'll take around an hour for me to talk about Kniroun. Is that okay?

Izumi: Please make it short!

Itaru: Got it.

Back then, I have never ever imagined becoming Lancelot from my favorite Kniroun game.

Even though I had issues with the gap between my ideal Lancelot and the reality during our rehearsals, I had fun.

After all, I've got to play the game with everyone… I had so much fun I wanted to tell my younger self about it.

A new installment is gonna be released soon, so I'll continue to devote myself to conquering the games.

Tsuzuru: Please devote yourself to our plays!

Masumi: He doesn't grow at all.

Citron: Itaru is Itaru!

Sakuya: Let's play together again!

Itaru: Speaking of which, senpai, how many hours is your total playtime?

Chikage: ...It's a secret.

Itaru: Come on, isn't it fine to spill it now?

Chikage: I have too many save files to count.

Itaru: Seriously?

Citron: What an admirable addict!

Kazunari: Heya, Kazunari Miyoshi here! I played Kiichi in Summer Troupe's fifth play "SHI★NO★BI Misadventuring".

Leading a play was not an easy task, but I had a lot of fun~. All six of us drew togetherーwe made so many memories.

I had a blast doing action scenes with Sumi!

Misumi: Me too~!

Kazunari: I've gotta admit there was pressure in becoming the starring actor, so I'm glad I learned how hard it is to be one.

Because of that, I've come to understand further how everyone feels when they're chosen to be the starring actors!

I'll continue to be your perfect support!

By the way, I've come to cherish my passion for both acting and art even more through this play.

I don't wanna give up either. I don't wanna settle on one. I'll succeed in both. With that said, please continue to take care of me!

Muku: Likewise!

Kumon: I'll be in your care too!

Yuki: I won't lose to you.

Tenma: I'll be stricter during our rehearsals.

Kazunari: Go easy on me on that one!

Misumi: Let's do action scenes together again!

Taichi: I'm Taichi Nanao, playing Chan in Autumn Troupe's fifth play "Fire Up, Mantou Fist!"

I felt complicated back when I was chosen to be the lead actor for this play. It sure made me happy, but I wasn't sure whether I was good enoughーー.

No, this isn't good. Lemme do it one more time! Please cut this part out!

Taichi: They didn't cut this out…!

Banri: They keep this one, huh.

Taichi: Umm, I was so happy and pumped up to be the starring actor. I might make mistakes in certain parts, but I had fun!

I'm so lucky I could lead a play as Autumn Troupe's Taichi Nanao.

I'll keep working hard so that I won't embarrass everyone in Autumn Troupe. I'll be an actor that can make everyone proud!

I'm aiming to be the star performer of Autumn Troupe!

Sakyo: What a thing to say.

Banri: Bring it on.

Juza: I won't lose.

Taichi: Ugh… I should've just settled with the fourth best actor, after all.

Azami: It's too early to give up.

Omi: Haha, let's do our best together.

Tasuku: I'm Tasuku Takato, playing Musashi Miyamoto in Winter Troupe's fifth play "Die by the Sword".

This wasn't my first time leading a play, but I've got to admit it felt kind of different when I did it as a member of MANKAI Company's Winter Troupe.

Through this play, I've got the chance to think about the reason why I'm in this troupe, and what kind of an actor I'm supposed to be.

I'll keep going as an actor of Winter Troupe, Takato Tasuku.

After all, performing with my fellow Winter Troupe members has become an important thing to me.

I don't know what will happen in the future, but I'm going to carefully determine what kind of an actor I'll be.

Azuma: Fufu, you're so stiff.

Guy: It was a very Takato-like message.

Homare: I've got to hand it to Tasuku-kun. He's strict with himself when it comes to acting.

Hisoka: Totally different from Arisu.

Homare: I don't want to hear that from you.

Tsumugi: Guess I need to think about how I should be as an actor too.

Chikage: I'm Chikage Utsuki. I portrayed Oz in Spring Troupe's fourth play "The Wonderful Charlatan of Oz".

My recollection of the play, huh… the only thing I remember is that I've caused troubles.

I've also given you so much trouble that time, director-san.

Izumi: No, it's okay.

Chikage: But well, I'm going to make up for it.

Izumi: It's alright. You don't have to.

Citron: Let's go eat Yakiniku! Chikage will treat us.

Tsuzuru: Sounds great.

Masumi: Let’s invite all troupe members.

Chikage: I got attacked right away, huh.

Chikage: Back when I just entered the troupe, I’ve never thought I’d stay this long.

Nor have I thought I’d spend my days with these feelings…

Since this troupe has become a place where I’ve got a precious family, I need to treasure it. I’ll be in your care.

Sakuya: The same goes for me!

Itaru: I look forward to the yakiniku.

Izumi: I’m fine with curry too!

Chikage: Alright, alright.

Kumon: I’m Kumon Hyodo, playing Souta Akiyama in Summer Troupe’s fourth play “First Crush Baseball”!

First Crush Baseball is the first play I ever performed and the first play I ever led. I was so clueless at first.

But because everyone taught and supported me, I was able to go on until our final performance.

The fact that I could stand on the stage without collapsing until the end made me so happy…

Thanks to this play, I've gained confidence from the fact I could accomplish something.

This is all thanks to everyone in Summer Troupe who accepted me. I’m glad I joined Summer Troupe. I love you all!

Misumi: I love Kumon too!

Kazunari: Me too, me too!

Yuki: But well, your current acting is better than that time.

Tenma: That’s right. You’ve greatly improved.

Kumon: Seriously!? Yeeaaay! I’ll work harder!

Muku: Let’s do our best together!

Azami: I’m Azami Izumida, portraying Abel in Autumn Troupe’s fourth play “DEAD/UNDEAD”.

Back when I ran away from home, I never would have thought I’d perform onstage. But well, I had a blast beating up shitty Sakyo on the stage.

Sakyo: ...Hey.

Azami: I got to do makeup to my heart’s content, and now I feel like I really could go on living with makeup for the rest of my life.

I’m glad I joined this theater troupe. There’s a lot of interesting people here, and I never run out of people to use as guinea pigs when I want to test my new makeup.

I’ll study makeup more and improve my acting.

Banri: Yo, good luck with that.

Juza: I expect a lot from you.

Omi: Ever since this play, our stage photos look nicer than before. It’s all thanks to you, Azami.

Taichi: I’ve become cooler thanks to your makeup too, A-chan!

Sakyo: Putting makeup aside, you still have a lot to learn in acting.

Azami: Shaddup.

Guy: My name is Guy. I played Phantom in Winter Troupe’s fourth play “Le Fantôme de l' Opéra”.

Back when I stood on the stage, I thought I was just going with the flow. But now that I think about it again, everything went as Citronia intended.

Citron: Of course it did.

Guy: I’ve got to know the things Citronia deemed precious after coming to this country and joining this theater troupe.

I myself was able to regain my precious memories and take off the armor that has restrained me for so long.

And as I spend my days here, I continue to discover new sides of myself.

Strangely enough, I don’t hate this. Rather, I want to keep enjoying these changes.

Tsumugi: You were an android at first, right.

Guy: Yes. That was what I believed.

Tasuku: Those days felt like an eternity ago.

Hisoka: ...You’ve changed.

Homare: Yes, and in a good way.

Azuma: You’ve become more human now. That’s great.

Citron: He’s still as hopeless as ever, though.

Guy: I’ll do my best.

Tsuzuru: I’m Tsuzuru Minagi, playing Luke in Spring Troupe’s third play “A Clockwork Heart”.

This play, which I led, was the most unforgettable play for me. Everything is etched deep in my heart, including my self-reflection.

Itaru: Dude, you spoke freaking smoothly in this one.

Masumi: Unbelievable.

Chikage: Were you reading notes?

Tsuzuru: Ughーー.

Izumi: They got you.

Tsuzuru: At the time, I looked back at the reason why I wanted to write scripts and do theater in the first place.

I’d like to keep doing my best in both script writing and acting without throwing away my beginner’s spirit.

And even though I got swayed a lot by my co-lead Citron, he saved me in an unexpected time and place. I appreciate it.

I can’t thank you enough. I look forward to continuing working with you all.

Citron: Same here!

Sakuya: You two are the best pair from Spring Troupe!

Misumi: Hello, I’m Misumi Ikaruga. I played Sky in Summer Troupe’s third play “Captain Sky Pirates”.

You see~ I found 54 triangles during this play~!

Tenma: You sure remember that kind of thing well, huh!

Yuki: What a waste of memorizing skill.

Misumi: Among the triangles I found that time, the one I like the most was the big triangle we saw in the night sky.

Ever since I joined this theater troupe, I found lots of precious triangles. I want to let grandpa know about it one day.

Kazunari: You still have more and more triangles to add to your collection.

Muku: Let’s collect so many triangles you can’t even count them!

Kumon: I’ll help you find them!

Misumi: Yup~! Let’s go find lots of triangles~!

Sakyo: I’m Sakyo Furuichi, portraying Ginji Kazama in Autumn Troupe’s third play “Tales of Chivalry: Ginji the Wanderer”.

I couldn’t stop thinking it was too late for me to be the lead actor, but I’ve gotta admit, I learned a lot at the time. Furthermore, I once again realized I’m still lacking experience.

I’m gonna keep on learning very seriously, shamelessly and move forward.

Banri: Oh shit, so scary, what a scary man.

Azami: So childish.

Sakyo: Age and experience don’t matter on the stage. This is a serious fight. Prepare yourself.

Juza: Bring it on.

Taichi: Somehow, that part just now sounded like a criminal declaration!

Omi: His statement sure is powerful.

Azuma: I’m Azuma Yukishiro, playing Reo Kuto in Winter Troupe’s third play “Nocturnality”.

I can't say I got especially attached to the play just because I played the lead role, but I felt the bond between Winter Troupe members got stronger at that time.

I could take a step forward thanks to Tasuku. I'm glad we performed this play.

Tasuku: I didn't do anything special… I just thought it was necessary for the play.

Homare: So it has something to do with the play in the end.

Hisoka: What a theater fool.

Azuma: But that's just how Tasuku really is.

Tsumugi: Yes, even his dishonest side.

Azuma: Compared to that time, with Guy joining us, the Winter Troupe is changing little by little.

I think this is a nice change, though. I feel at ease with you guys. Look forward to continuing working with you.

Tsumugi: Same here.

Guy: I'll be in your care.

Masumi: I'm Masumi Usui, playing Alice in Spring Troupe's second play "Boy Alice in Wonderland".

….

Izumi: Masumi-kun, the camera is over here! Look here!

Masumi: But I want to look at you…

Izumi: ...I'll move, then.

Masumi: Can I express my feelings for you?

Izumi: I rather have you express your feelings towards the play!

Masumi: ...Itaru was annoying.

Itaru: Heeey.

Masumi: We took a long time to finish rehearsing.

Tsuzuru: That was because you kept trying to impress the director and criticized us too much!

Masumi: Itaru was annoying.

Chikage: You must have been really annoying at that time.

Itaru: …

Masumi: But I think the play turned out great.

Izumi: Yes, I feel the same.

Sakuya: I think so too!

Masumi: My acting has gotten better since that time. I'll continue to improve so much you can't even take your eyes off me. Keep looking at me and me only.

Citron: He kept staring at the director the whole time!

Tsuzuru: That's Masumi for ya.

Yuki: I'm Yuki Rurikawa, portraying Shiro in Summer Troupe's second play "The Adventure for Sardines".

The thing I remember the most during this play was that I caused everyone's troubles, since I struggled to juggle between my position as the lead actor and the costume designer.

Kazunari helped me a lot.

Kazunari: It's no biggie~!

Yuki: But compared to that time, I've grown now.

I mean, it's thanks to the events at the time that I'm now able to balance acting and costume making well.

I only started acting because I wanted to get feedback for the costumes I made, but now I genuinely find acting fun.

I find it fun to stand onstage and produce a play together with everyone. It's a different kind of fun from making costumes.

I've learned a lot of things by doing both, so I won't settle on just one and continue doing them all.

Kumon: Let's continue working together~!

Muku: Let's do our best together!

Misumi: I love Yuki's costumes!

Tenma: Well, your acting has certainly gotten better since that time.

Yuki: You're still as arrogant as ever though.

Tenma: What!?

Omi: I'm Omi Fushimi. I played Wolf in Autumn Troupe's second play "Stranger".

It feels rather embarrassing to have someone shoot me when I've always been the one filming.

For me, this play means much more than just being the play that I led.

It's hard to put it into words, but…

This play made me, who's always been looking at the past, face forward and walk towards the future.

Now, I plan to chase the dream that my friend gave me for my own sake.

Taichi: Good for you, Omi-kun!

Omi: Thanks for your help that time.

Taichi: Your welcome!

Sakyo: Fushimi broke out of his shell during this play.

Banri: His acting changed a lot. I still remember it.

Juza: It was stimulating.

Omi: Haha. I hope I can grow further than that time.

Homare: I'm Homare Arisugawa. I played Tooru Sagishima in Winter Troupe's second play "The Master Likes a Mystery".

For me, the most unforgettable thing during this play was definitely my grandmother's watch.

I feel like this watch gave me the opportunity to be able to touch everyone's hearts little by little.

Especially Hisoka-kun. I never thought he'd do something for the sake of other people, and not just marshmallows.

Hisoka: It's because Arisu was hopeless.

Homare: You're right, I won't deny it. You helped me out back then.

Homare: This play turned out great because of Hisoka-kun and everyone.

Unlike poems, a play is something that you create with other people. It's too difficult for me alone, but that's what makes it very interesting.

No matter how many times I experienced it, I've never gotten tired of it. I think it's a wonderful thing.

Oh! I've found some poem inspiration. Ahemーー.

(video shuts down abruptly)

Guy: Oh, the video got cut.

Homare: Why did you cut off that part!?

Izumi: Huh? That's weird. There must be some technical issues…

Tasuku: He was going off topic, anyway. Perfect timing.

Homare: But that was part of my video message!

Tsumugi: Please let me hear it after this.

Azuma: I’d like to hear it too.

Homare: All right! I shall organize a recitation later, then.

< ‘Stories of 24′ 1 | Masterlist | ‘Stories of 24′ 3 >

[lavendersoft]

My Soulmate’s Soulmate.

Part 2

Soulmate Au-

Synopsis: Before you meet your soulmate your world is black and white, without color. When soulmates meet, their world glows with vibrancy. The reality, however, as harsh and uncommon as it is, is that you are not always your soulmate’s soulmate.

Pairings: Jungkook x Reader, Taehyung x Reader, Jungkook x Taehyung (poly!au)

Warnings: uhhh  i don’t think anything but mild angst??

Author’s note: Sorry this update is so short- I promise next chapter shit goes down so..

—

The next week was tough.

Jungkook refused to accept the fact that his time with you was over. He clung to you like you’d leave him if he let go of your hand or didn’t have his arm around your waist. You tried your best to be understanding and help him through this even if it killed you inside.

You didn’t want him to leave, God, you didn’t want him to leave. Who would want their soulmate gone?

But the guilt ate at you, it kept you up at night. You knew how he must have felt. He felt scared. But he wasn’t clinging to you because he was scared that you’d disappear, but that he would.

He was scared that if he left your side for just a minute, that his mind would wander too far. Too far away from you.

It wasn’t as if your own mind hadn’t wandered as well. You were so curious about this new person, the love of your soulmate’s life. You’d asked once, but Jungkook had blown you off entirely, asking you not to bring it up as politely as possible. So you speculated by yourself.

What did they look like? They were probably just as beautiful as Jungkook. Where did they meet? What was their name? Were they artistic? Musical? Jungkook always loved art.

Jungkook’s favorite pass time was to create things with you. Paint, sketch, you’d even taken up a sculpting class. Jungkook refused to sit anywhere but behind you to recreate that famous scene from “Ghost”. As ignorant as it was, you genuinely wanted to know why he enjoyed art so much if he couldn’t see the colors. He answered with a cocky and oh-so-cheesy “I have the heart of an artist, Love.”

God, that felt so long ago.

Right now, though, you’re both in bed. He’d just gotten back from work- he’s been extra clingy when he gets home from a long day, more so than usual. Not to mention he’s been working longer this week in preparation for his upcoming album debut.

His chest is pressed to your back, his arm wrapped securely around you with your legs intertwined. Any other time this would have felt nice, comfortable.

But right now it felt like he was suffocating you. Draining you. You wondered how long he could drag this out. How long would he torment you? Or himself?

“I want you to meet him.”

You hated that he had complete control over your heart, to make it stop whenever he wanted.

“I called him today. I’m sorry. But I want you to meet him.”

Ah, there it is. The first step. But..? Meeting the other person? You didn’t know if you could handle that heartache, even if you were curious.

“I don’t know, Jungkook...”

“Please?”

Damn it.

You could hear the whining in his voice and could just picture those big, round eyes and that stupid little pout he does so perfectly.

“Why?” You asked, hesitantly.

“Because.. I... Well, it’s just- I need-“

It was obvious he couldn’t find the words for what he was feeling, although you think you might already know. He must’ve wanted to badly to see his soulmate. To hold them, kiss them, be with them. He just wasn’t letting himself admit it. He’s always been so stubborn.

The mystery person must be feeling the same way as Jungkook. Maybe they’re the one who instigated this meeting? If that’s true it only makes you feel like a villain, the rock that keeps two inevitable lovers apart.

Jungkook wants to- no, needs to see his soulmate, but he won’t let himself go without you. He’s still desperately trying to hold onto you but as much as it breaks your heart, he needs to let go. This might just be the breaking point. So,

“Okay.”

—

And so you sat there, quietly bursting at the seams with stress. The upscale restaurant Jungkook had chosen wasn’t exactly buzzing with people, for that you were grateful.

“He should be here any minute..”

Why had you agreed to this again? Ah, because it was the best thing for Jungkook. He’ll realize how much he needs this, he’ll come to terms with reality and move on.

Right?

But God, did you dread it. Somewhere deep inside, you prayed that he didn’t show up, that they never talk again, that you and Jungkook could go home and never talk about it and leave it all behind.

Wishful thinking only brings disappointment.

“Ah, there! I see him! I’ll go grab him!”

And there Jungkook went, off to greet his beloved. You watched from across the room as Jungkook practically jumped to embrace the other.

You were well aware of how strong the Soul Bond was, but as you sit alone in silence, watching him bury his face into the mystery man's neck, it was all you could do from bursting into tears in the middle of the upper-class restaurant.

You hated how much they even looked like soulmates. With the wide grins, the bright eyes, and you couldn’t miss the way Jungkook’s hands travel subconsciously.

To stop your bottom lip from quivering you focused on the hem of your dress, pulling and stretching the fabric as you could sense the looming presence of your boyfriend getting closer to you.

You take a deep breath when he calls your name. You look up but only show him the side of your face, afraid that he would be able to see the pain in your eyes.

“Y/n...”

Jungkook offers you his hand. You take it and stand, finally facing destiny.

Destiny looked like sex in a suit.

God, he’s gorgeous.

With his beautiful silver hair, his cute uneven eyelids, his boxy grin, and his towering height.

“Y/n, this is Taehyung. Taehyung, this is Y/n... my girlfriend.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Taehyung.”

You lie as you hold out your hand. Something in his face darkened as you spoke. His brilliant grin had dissolved into something far more... intense, intimidating. It was like night and day from just a few seconds ago.

But there was something else in his eyes, confusion? Disbelief? Something...

His eyes flickered around the room at lightning speed and his grip on your hand tightened almost unbearably. He looked so calm yet so panicked. As quickly as he had grabbed your hand he released it, as if coming to the conclusion of whatever was going on in his head.

“No- I- I have to go... I’m sorry. I really sorry.”

You didn’t even know who he was apologizing to as Taehyung had refused eye contact with either of you.

You couldn’t comprehend what had come over you when you reached out to stop him, but he dodged you as if you were fire wanting to burn his skin.

“Wait! Tae, please!” Jungkook’s despaired voice rung through the mostly empty dining room, but Taehyung was already through the door.

You watched as Jungkook bolted after a fleeting Taehyung, confusion still evident on your own face.

What's going on?

—

As the cold evening air hit Taehyung’s face, he made his way down the busy downtown street. He recalls the situation over and over again.

Thankfully, he’d lost the shouting Jungkook in the crowd outside of the restaurant.

His eyebrows furrow, the tears stung his newly sensitive eyes.

How could this happen? How? How could my soulmate already be in a relationship?

Tag list: @ally22042000

[tigerkirby215]

5e Skree, the Mechanical Shaman build (Awesomenauts)

(Artwork from the Microsoft Store.)

Reject modernity; embrace indie.

Basically screw you my birthday is on the 28th (🥳) so I wanted to do a build for one of my favorite games of all time. And it was basically either Awesomenauts, an Atlas Reactor build (for a game that’s essentially dead btw check out Atlas Rogues it’s great and I love it), or like... an XCOM build? Unless I wanted to make a Killing Floor character build instead. (Also a possibility.)

Oh also: the game is free, so if you want a new MOBA to try out I highly recommend it. It may not be as popular as it was in its hayday and it may be dated, but the characters and gameplay are still top-notch.

As for why Skree? I had a few mains in Awesomenauts and Skree was my... second most played character. My most played was Chucho but believe it or not Chucho is simultaneously too easy and too difficult to make a build for. Like getting a turret and sticky bombs is easy (Artificer lol) but for the life of me I can’t figure out how to get him to ride Ramona. So you get Skree because he’s easier to make. Also because I get to stick every spell with the word “wall” into this build which is fun.

GOALS

I ascend, inta' da 'eaven! - Awesomenauts isn’t your standard top-down MOBA, which means we’ll need to be able to hover for some advanced movement in a platform fighter!

Uhhh... Dat make a big mess - Skree’s a master of continuous damage, with a lightning wand that will bounce to nearby targets... oh and a giant sawblade.

Dey is after me lucky shrines! - Not a day goes by that you shouldn’t pray to your lord. So set down a massive wall to block your foes!

RACE

The great thing about Awesomenauts (as opposed to League) is that since everyone’s an alien I can choose just about any race I want within reason. The downside of this is that it makes choosing races really hard. There’s only one trait that’s well defined about Skree and it is this: he is small.

So how about we powergame like an asshole? Tasha’s has made Mountain Dwarf one of the strongest races in the game for a number of reasons! You can get a +2 in two ability scores of your choice: Charisma and Intelligence will both be key in this build, so increase both of those to start out. You also get Dwarven Combat Training but seeing as we’ll be using magic a lot more than weapons I opted to take Origin Proficiencies instead: this means you’ll get a ton of different tool proficiencies, on top of Mason’s Tools from Dwarven Tool Proficiency. I’m not going to tell you every tool to take (because my god you get 5 total) but I’d recommend Drums and Carpenter’s Tools as those are some of Skree’s upgrades in Awesomenauts.

Of course on top of all of that you have Dwarven Resilience for advantage against poisons and resistance to poison damage, and Stonecunning for expertise on History checks related to shrines! (Or other stonework.) And finally as a Mountain Dwarf you get Dwarven Armor Training, for Light and Medium armor proficiency!

ABILITY SCORES

15; INTELLIGENCE - Even if Skree doesn’t make it known he built all his tools and weapons out of the scrapped Starstorm station. Accidental genius of turning the entire station on is still genius.

14; DEXTERITY - Skree is known for flying around constantly in a game where you constantly have to move to dodge attacks. Also “something something Medium Armor” from our race.

13; CHARISMA - Weazel’s a good voice actor, and even if Skree is a little... stoned out of his mind he’s still got the lovable 80s cartoon personality that Awesomenauts is famous for.

12; WISDOM - You mostly work with machines and a lot of the Awesomenauts are machines, but you still need Wisdom to read that Book of Medicine or to convince a Skroggle to let you harvest their weedlings.

10; CONSTITUTION - Skree is hardly a tank, focusing on backline damage dealing with magic.

8; STRENGTH - See above. Even if you’re fighting with heavy metal it does all the fighting for you.

BACKGROUND

Religion is still religion, even if it’s not accepted universe-wide. The Acolyte background will let you do whatever crazy ritualistic shaman stuff you wish (within reason.) You get proficiency in Insight and Religion as well as two languages of your choice: there’s tons of languages in the universe so pick whichever ones you think will help you communicate with your allies!

Your feature Shelter of the Faithful will let you find others who believe in the god of the machines. (You should probably pick a god from your DM’s setting instead of just worshiping robots.) You and your party can receive service from others in your faith, and you can lead ceremonies in honor of the mechanical gods!

(Artwork by Katonator on DeviantArt.)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - WIZARD 1

Starting off this build as a Wizard because if there’s one thing I am it’s inconsistent, so of course I’m starting the “easy fun build for my birthday” with one of my least favorite classes to build. But the main reason for the Wizard starting level is to get access to the Medicine skill thanks to your Book of Medicine, as well as the Arcana skill because you understand the spirit in the machines.

Regardless Wizards get access to spellcasting at level 1. You learn 3 cantrips and 6 spells from the Wizard list:

CANTRIPS

For a close-ranged zapping wand Shocking Grasp will let you taser your foes to keep them away.

Mage Hand will let you make sure that you aren’t losing any solar pickups.

If you need to hide in a bush Minor Illusion can make a bush to hide in. Consider it a tiny totem!

SPELLS

You fly around on a floating disk but unfortunately Tenser’s Floating Disk won’t let you do that. It will give you an easy way to carry either loot or your tools around, however.

To launch either a sawblade or some scrap at your foes Catapult will give you the option to do so!

For some damage overtime look no further than Tasha’s Caustic Brew to cover your foes in acidic Skroggle spit that will Gnaw away at them!

Knockback is a big thing in Awesomenauts; if you need some space then use Thunderwave!

People don’t really like blinds in ‘nauts but Color Spray is still useful if you’re in a pinch.

Silent Image will let you make a bigger illusion, such as a large totem that your enemies will hesitate to run past. It won’t be solid yet but it’s a good place to start with wall creation.

You also get Arcane Recovery, letting you recover spell slots equal to half your Wizard level. The exact details of how this works are detailed in the ability’s description so read that for more details.

LEVEL 2 - WIZARD 2

Second level Wizards can choose their Arcane Tradition and when in space gravity... is a harness. We’ll be going for the Graviturgy subclass from Wildemount to harness that harness! As a Graviturgy Wizard you can Adjust Density of objects (and creatures!) as long as they’re size Large or smaller. You can make an object either twice as heavy or half as heavy: when a creature is twice as heavy they move 10 feet slower and can’t jump as far but have advantage on Strength checks and saving throws, and the opposite is true if they’re light: 10 feet faster and greater jumps but they’ll have a tough time when it comes to Strength. Using this feature does require Concentration however, and will only last for a minute if you manage to concentrate on it for the full duration.

Yeesh that’s a mouthful to say “you can make things light or heavy.” How about some more spells then? The dunamancy Wizards unlock new spells based on their school, so we should probably grab Magnify Gravity since it’s a subclass-specific spell. You should also probably grab Shield seeing as I didn’t give you any ranged cantrips yet. Oops?

LEVEL 3 - WIZARD 3

Third level Wizards can learn second level spells like Misty Step for Fla... right Flash is a League thing... Well you can also grab Flaming Sphere to finally have a “sawblade” that you can move around! Be careful not to hit your allies though!

LEVEL 4 - WIZARD 4

4th level gives us our first Ability Score Improvement: you may notice that we have two uneven Ability Scores, so increase both your Charisma and your Intelligence by 1 to round those numbers up!

You can also learn another cantrip along with two more spells! For your cantrip Sapping Sting is a dunamancy-specific cantrip that can make you trip! It does very little damage but it knocks people prone, finally giving you a ranged damage option! As for leveled spells Levitate is a good way to start making yourself (or others) hover around, and Immovable Object will allow you to turn a nearby object into an unmovable totem to block your foes!

LEVEL 5 - WARLOCK 1

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(Video by denkles on TikTok. Twitter link.)

What? Did you really not expect it? Warlocks get to choose their subclass at level 1 and to zap with some Magic Sunballs go for none other than The Genie patron. There’s four different Genie Kind you can choose from, which will alter your powers in various ways. Since you’re zapping people go for Djinni, because Thunder damage is the closest we can get to Lightning.

Regardless you get two benefits at level 1 thanks to your Genie’s Vessel. Firstly you carry around a container of some sort that’s meant to contain your patron; I don’t think saying that they’re contained within a little gem atop your staff is too out of the question. Regardless Bottled Respite will let you teleport into your vessel as an action. The inside of the Drop Pod is cozy, if admittedly a little tight. While inside, you can hear the area around your vessel as if you were in its space.

You can remain inside the vessel up to a number of hours equal to twice your proficiency bonus. You exit the vessel early if you use a bonus action to leave, if you die, or if the vessel is destroyed. When you exit the vessel, you appear in the unoccupied space closest to it. Any objects left in the vessel remain there until carried out, and if the vessel is destroyed, every object stored there harmlessly appears in the unoccupied spaces closest to the vessel’s former space. The vessel’s AC equals your spell save DC, and its hit points are equal your warlock level plus your proficiency bonus. Do note that you can only enter the vessel once per Long Rest, even if you only go inside for a few minutes to buy Space Air Max and some Power Pills.

The more important benefit however is Genie’s Wrath. Once on each of your turns when you hit with an attack roll, you can deal extra damage to the target equal to your proficiency bonus. Since you have a Djinni patron the damage type is Thunder.

Speaking of attack rolls: Warlocks get access to Pact Magic! Eldritch Blast is an Eldritch Blast which lets you roll an attack roll for a blast of Eldritch. Since it can hit multiple targets at higher levels you can consider this your lightning bouncing between targets. For a close-range Sawblade Sword Burst will slice up anyone near you, but it isn’t an attack roll so do note that Shocking Grasp will be able to benefit from Genie’s Wrath, even though it’s a Wizard spell.

As for leveled spells Hex is a good way to amp up the damage, and Distort Value from Acquisitions Incorporated can be a good way to get a bit of solar off your next purchase.

LEVEL 6 - WARLOCK 2

Second level Warlocks get Eldritch Invocations like Agonizing Blast to agonize your blasts. You can also get Eldritch Mind because hey we’re multiclassing two spellcasters so advantage on Concentration would be nice; thank you Tasha!

You can also learn another spell like Protection from Evil and Good, because you are still a priest (well, Shaman) who needs to ward off dark spirits.

LEVEL 7 - WARLOCK 3

Third level Warlocks get to choose their Pact Boon and honestly... the only one that makes sense is Pact of the Tome for even more freaking cantrips. To start off Sacred Flame will attack your foes with the light of God, even if they’re hiding behind their turret. Thaumaturgy will let you spook some folk with thunder and lightning as you praise the spirits. And channeling good vibes with Guidance is always helpful.

You can also learn second level spells like Phantasmal Force from the Genie Warlock list, for a totem that only one foe can see. But for that one enemy they’ll believe it to be real!

LEVEL 8 - WARLOCK 4

Level 4 earns you another Ability Score Improvement. Seeing as we’re doing Warlock stuff more Charisma would help.

But even without Charisma you can still cast spells like Mirror Image to keep yourself safe. And you can also cast Prestidigitation for more small magic tricks. "I and I is gonna find ya man!"

LEVEL 9 - WARLOCK 5

5th level Warlocks can learn another invocation. Sitting around in base to chat isn’t a good idea, but you can chat with your allies regardless of where they are thanks to Far Scribe. You can write names in your Book of Shadows, and write messages to those people through Steam Chat to cast Sending on them!

You can also pick up third level spells and we’ll be getting the first of many walls with Wind Wall from the Djinni list to block projectiles!

LEVEL 10 - WARLOCK 6

As a 6th level Genie Warlock you can finally fly! Elemental Gift will let you activate flight for 10 minutes as a Bonus Action. You can fly up to 30 feet and can activate this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. Oh and you get to resist Thunder damage, which is always nice.

You can also learn more spells: to perform more Shamanistic duties Remove Curse will let your friends help themselves.

(Sun Wukong Skree artwork owned by Ronimo Games.)

LEVEL 11 - WARLOCK 7

7th level Warlocks get another Eldritch Invocation but there honestly isn’t much I want from the 7th level. We’re probably going to swap this out later but for now take Undying Servitude to Animate Dead. Who doesn’t love having a couple of zombies?

But are you sick of your teammates never being around to help you? Then make your own! Summon Aberration will let you summon either Nibbs (Slaad), Max Focus (Beholderkin), or Snork Gunk (Star Spawn) to help you! They’ll stick around as long as you keep your concentration, and have a variety of abilities that you can read in the spell’s description. Just remember that money makes the world go around, and mercenaries don’t fight without being paid in Solar first. (What I mean is you need a 400 gold component.)

LEVEL 12 - WARLOCK 8

Level 8 will get you another Ability Score Improvement, so you should max out that Charisma since the majority of your levels are in Warlock! There actually isn’t much I want from the Warlock spell list anymore, so for now you’ll have to wait until...

LEVEL 13 - WARLOCK 9

Hey would it be redundant to get a 20 foot fly speed when we already have a 30 foot fly speed? Well Ascendant Step lets you cast Levitate on yourself at will. While this can be used an unlimited amount of times it does also require your Concentration, so be mindful of that. I’d also suggest replacing Undying Servitude with Otherworldly Leap, because jumping is easy in low gravity! (Unless you’re on AI 404.)

You can also learn 5th level spells like Creation to make an actual real totem! Though it’ll only be 5 feet tall... You can also pickup Seeming from the Djinni list. Skins for everyone! "Shopping Skree!"

LEVEL 14 - WARLOCK 10

10th level Genie Warlocks can send everyone to the shop in their Sanctuary Vessel. When you use Bottled Respite you can now choose up to five willing creatures that you can see within 30 feet of you, and the chosen creatures are drawn into the vessel with you.

Anyone (including yourself) who remains within the vessel for at least 10 minutes gains the benefit of finishing a short rest, and can add your proficiency bonus to the number of hit points they regain if they spend any Hit Dice as part of a short rest there. You can eject any number of creatures from the vessel as a bonus action, and everyone is ejected if you leave or die or if the vessel is destroyed. 

Did you want more spells as well? Too bad; you get the Mind Sliver cantrip. What do you mean we have too many cantrips?

(Skree Announcer artwork owned by Ronimo Games.)

LEVEL 15 - WIZARD 5

Finally hopping back to Wizard to maybe use that Intelligence modifier of yours. 5th level class means third level spell slots, and third level spells in your book! Part of the reason we got rid of Undying Servitude is because you can just get Animate Dead from the Wizard spell list. Other than that I did say I’d grab every spell with “wall” in the title so go take Wall of Sand! People can walk through it, but it blocks vision!

LEVEL 16 - WIZARD 6

6th level Graviturgy Wizards can grab some Pills for the Mind and apply some slows. (Or well, technically knockback.) Gravity Well will cause anyone you affect with a spell to be moved 5 feet wherever you wish! Sure it doesn’t sound that impressive, but this does affect your Warlock spells too!

Speaking of spells: ha ha wall spells go brrrr. Wall of Water is, as the name implies, a wall of water! It slows projectiles, stops fire, and can be frozen solid! If you want to play more with knockback however Pulse Wave is a Dunamancy spell that can either knock enemies away from you or pull them closer!

LEVEL 17 - WIZARD 7

7th level Wizards can get some 4th level spells but I’m going to quickly grab Slow from the third level for a Voodoo Doll... or an Alien Hula Girl. And of course I’m going to take Wall of Fire because... wall.

LEVEL 18 - WIZARD 8

8th level Wizards can get another Ability Score Improvement which means finally you can max out your Intelligence modifier! This means you can prepare more spells like Gravity Sinkhole from the Dunamancy list for a deadly “sawblade” with the pull of a phone booth, and Dimension Door for a quick escape back to base!

LEVEL 19 - WIZARD 9

Hey look at that more spells! 5th level spells too like Wall of Stone and Wall of Force, both of which will be quite a challenge for enemies to get past!

LEVEL 20 - WIZARD 10

Our final level is the 10th level of Graviturgy Wizard for a few things. Firstly your Adjust Density ability from level 2 can now affect Huge objects and creatures, but more importantly you now have Violent Attraction. When another creature you can see in 60 feet hits with a weapon, you can use your reaction to amplify the damage to do an extra 1d10! Alternatively, if someone falls you can actually enable fall damage and make them take 2d10.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier and regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Is this a little weak for a capstone? Maybe, but what we’re really here for are spells! You can learn your final two spells... and one more cantrip! So why not grab Mold Earth, for a tiny totem you can spring from the ground at any time. For leveled spells we’ll be grabbing our last wall: Wall of Light... and the other spell with “wall” in its name: Passwall!

There are other spells at 5th level that are probably stronger but I’m sure you can spend some time consulting the spirits to let you learn more spells... as long as you’ve got the Solar for it.

FINAL BUILD

PROS

Ah, it be time to get Jammin - Do you like having a lot of options? Well with tons of spells you can prepare, plenty of options for movement and utility, and 12 different cantrips you won’t ever be lacking in an option for any situation.

I want to kill you, everyday and every night - You are easily the king of Short Rests. Warlock slots and Arcane Recovery can allow you to get a lot of your magic back whenever you see fit, so you can adjust your magic as needed.

Dat be epic wit da Capital Epic - You’re sturdier than the average spellcaster too. Good saves for all 3 mental saves and good AC thanks to being a Dwarf.

CONS

I don't remember dat being part of the Metal! - You’ve got a rather silly amount of Concentration spells, notably with some at-will abilities like Guidance and Levitate. Options are nice and all but you can only have one wall up at a time.

Dem play a card on me! - Speaking of walls: we took at lot of spells (especially at 5th level) that were more for flavor than actual practicality. Sure you can pick up new Wizard spells as you adventure along but... Look I’m not saying I’d prefer to cast Haste over Wall of Sand; just that Wall of Sand isn’t exactly an impressive spell.

Weakless fools, why ya makin me do everyting alone? - Half your levels being in Wizard plus a 0 Constitution modifier means your health is likely somewhere around 100. One-shots are cheap and Power Word Kill isn’t fun, so maybe buy some Power Pills Turbo before heading out.

But you can bring a great deal of mechanical magic to any adventuring party or band of mercenaries. Consult the spirits and let your foes see the voodoo you do! Put up walls to protect your friends as you cut through your enemies; if battle is what you need, you’d best see da Skree! And happy (soon to be) birthday to me!

(Skreelator promotional artwork from the Microsoft Store. Artwork owned by Ronimo Games.)

[canid-slashclaw]

The Outliers - A Guild Wars Love Story

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9,  Chapters 10 and 11 

Chapter 12

Amalthia My Love,

I can't wait to see you again! As I'm writing this letter, I've been reading up on your peoples' mating habits and learned that grooming is a female's way of signaling she is available. Had I known you were available, I would have been ready and willing to perform my duties in a heartbeat. I did the measurements and we are pretty close to the same size so I don't think "that" will be much of an issue.

Sorry if I come off as sounding lustful. It's just that I can't get that image of you out of my mind. Even my sisters are complaining that I'm spending too much time in the bathroom.

Okay. Okay. I should probably close that "sinful" book for awhile and take a cold shower. Anyway, you are always on my dirty mind...

Your not-so furry "friend",

Kaleb

Amalthia rested her chin against the palm of her hand as she let out a wistful sigh.

You poor boy... one of these days something vital is going to explode if you keep thinking about things like that.

The doorbell whistle sounded as she heard the shuffle of a very familiar set of footsteps.

Kaleb!

She quickly threw on a light overcoat then slipped into her most comfortable pair of silken breeches and finally laced up her favorite pair of open-toed boots. Like any good engineer, she brought along a few gadgets as well including a micro spanner and butane torch.

One never knows when such things will come in handy. Especially when an event is run by a bunch of cheaters and riff raff.

As she came down the stairs she saw Kaleb standing by the door holding a bouquet of freshly cut lilacs. He smiled at her then handed her the flowers along with another folded letter.

"This is just a 'thank you' gift for all that you've done for me," he smiled as he handed her the flowers.

She took the bouquet, looked over it for a moment seemingly puzzled then gave him a quick hug. "Dead flowers that will never grow and wilt within the next three days. How thoughtful of you!"

"Well, I had considered snagging some half-rotten fish that had washed up along the shoreline. But then I thought about it and said, 'nah... she would think me a cheapskate if I didn't spend an excessive amount for a bushel of dead, overpriced flowers," Kaleb chuckled.

"Seriously, they're lovely. Flowers are used as tokens of affection in our culture as well. They are pretty universal, I guess." Amalthia took the bundle, dunked them in a decorative metal cylinder then filled it up with water from the faucet behind the meat counter.

"Where's your father? He's always been by the counter to greet me whenever I come here." Kaleb looked around and neither saw nor heard any trace of him.

Amalthia waved for him to come up the stairs. "He's sleeping at the moment. I'll explain more once we have a little more privacy."

Kaleb pursed his lips and nodded as he followed her up. Once they were both in her room, she closed the door then walked over towards the workbench and handed him the two pistols she had modified.

"I cut the handles down considerably. The center of gravity shifted so I added some extra weights to compensate," she said as she watched Kaleb getting a feel for the newly modified weapons.

"Wow! The balance on these is to a tee. I can't wait to fire them. Hey! Are you still up for the carnival?"

"What a silly question. Just let me grab my coin bag and broadsword then we can both be on our way." She smiled as she strapped the heavy sword to her belt buckle.

"Don't worry about the coinage. That's on me. Father and I made quite a bit this past week from one of our clients, so we are all good in that department."

The two of them headed out from the upstairs loft exit then headed down towards the center of the town square. Amalthia's braided golden mane fluttered in the breeze, her brass ankle circlets jingling in rhythmic steps to the tempo of a minstrel band far off in the distance.

"So what's up with your father? It's odd not seeing him there to greet me when I come in," Kaleb said with concern.

Amalthia shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not really sure. Shortly after you left, he seemed really down about something. When I opened the cooler this morning, a whole cask of mead had been consumed. We just bought the thing the day before yesterday and it's already gone."

"Oh no. Maybe it was all the war memories that were dredged up following what happened yesterday."

"I don't believe it's that, quite honestly. There is something else afoot." Amalthia pondered.

"Yanno. I wish we could at least hold hands. I hate not being able to show any open displays of affection towards you."

She gave him a reassuring look. "Kaleb. Don't go there. Remember what we talked about. Let's enjoy the carnival, as friends."

Yeah. "Friends", he thought as he turned away with a disappointed expression.

The carnival atmosphere was thick with a crescendo of noise and the aroma of cheap foods. As the pair perused the various entertainment booths, Kaleb happened to spot a shooting gallery nestled in between two eateries. He tugged her shirtsleeve then pointed towards the booth while giving a thumb's up gesture.

"Wanna try?"

"Kaleb. Those things are rigged!" She protested.

Pointing towards her pocket, he winked at her. "So rig it in our favor."

She placed her clawed index finger next to her upper lip as she thought about it for a moment. Upon seeing the array of prizes that were available, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"Okay! I just give me a few," she loped briefly on all fours then stopped by the booth, stood up and scanned the targets that were arranged in the shooting gallery.

The carnival attendant stood half slouching looking as if he had smoked one too many bundles of prairie weed. Amalthia began counting her footsteps as she started walking from the back of the pavilion to the front.

"Ten and a half yards. Remember that number, mouse."

"Uhh. What?" The dreary-eyed kid said with a half-attentive look on his face.

"I wasn't talking to you, mouse. Kaleb. You got that?"

"I do," he smiled, deducing what she had in mind.

"Pink quaggen plushie, please."

"Umm. You gotta hit the targets first uhhh... sir? Miss?"

"Don't worry... won't."

"Uhhh. What?"

"Miss."

"Amalthia - shame on you for confusing this poor creature. Can't you see he is bereft of his intoxicant?" Kaleb said mockingly.

"Coin first, kitty cat. Then you can play," the irritated tenant grumbled.

"Gun, please. Thank you," Amalthia said as she tossed three pieces of silver into a bucket then snatched the popgun and percussion caps from off the table.

She loaded the first shot, aimed at the nearest target then fired. The shot missed.

"Point zero five degrees deviation at four point eight yards," Amalthia said as she laid the popgun back onto the table.

"Paper, please," she asked the tenant.

"Why do you need paper?"

"To wipe myself with, what else!"

Kaleb was barely able to contain his laughter.

"Are all charr this rude?" Grumbled the tenant as he filched out a scrap of parchment the tossed it to her.

"Do all humans swindle their customers this badly?" She said as she unrolled the crumpled mass then pulled out a stylus and began working out some calculations.

"Hey sir, missy... whatever you are. I'm an honest man. I've never cheated a customer in my..."

But before he could finish his words, Amalthia raised the popgun then fired an aim-corrected shot. The target fell back with a thud. Then in quick successive rounds, she felled five more targets.

"Quaggan plush, please. The pink one," she said with a wide smirk on her face.

Amalthia shoved the oversized plush toy into Kaleb's arms. "It matches your shirt quite well."

He just smiled trying to get a firm grasp while leaning over so he could see where he was walking. "I almost felt bad for that kid."

"I don't. He was trying to rip us off."

"Key word is 'almost'. Hey! Now there's something I might be good at," Kaleb said as he pointed towards a banner that read, Dolyak Shoeing Contest.

The master of ceremonies announced for men and women of all ages to compete against the so-called world's fastest farrier. Standing next to a blacksmithing smelter, stood a massive norn who looked to be at least eight feet tall. The MC boldly stated that there was no one on the face of Tyria who could shoe a dolyak faster than Halig the Great.

"He's almost as big as Ulfgar. But I bet with the right tools, I can beat 'em," Kaleb said as he pointed towards Amalthia's pocket.

"Your torch. It burns much hotter than that smelter and that will allow me to reshape the shoes much faster."

Smiling with glee upon Kaleb's clever inspiration, Amalthia handed him the torch. "I know you can beat him."

"Who amongst you has the courage, the will and the speed to challenge the mighty Halig?" The MC announced as he pointed at the audience.

Several brawny men, a char and two Asura, raised their hands. As they were ushered towards a large smelting pit, the enormous norn shook his head and laughed as his braided locks of hair flailed about.

At the last moment, Kaleb stepped through the crowd as he shoved his way towards the rest of the contestants. The top hatted MC looked at him for a moment before continuing his monologue.

"All of you grab your hammers and tongs and find the nearest available anvil that is located by each respective dolyak. At the count of five, the contest will commence. The first one to successfully forge four shoes from their respective strips of scrap iron, and can successfully place them upon the hooves of their respective beast shall be declared the winner."

"Are there any questions? If not then good luck ladies and gentlemen!" The master of ceremonies queried as he raised his hand to begin the count. Kaleb activated his torch.

When the countdown ended, every one of the contestants' hammers began pealing away as they frantically raced against each other to be the first to shoe their dolyak. For his part, Kaleb deftly began forging the strips into clean horseshoe-shaped forms as he took advantage of the blowtorch's higher output temperature.

Amalthia cheered wildly along with the rest of the crowd hoping that her man would win the contest. She saw how the sweat that covered his body helped to accentuate the definition of his rippling muscles. A lifetime of heavy lifting and athletic prowess had sculpted his body in ways that made her swoon with desire. She imagined resting her head against his firm chest and hearing the rhythmic beating of his strong heart. Her mind raced with fantasies of what it would be like to have him inside of her.

I want that more than you can imagine, she mused quietly as she gazed upon the human she loved.

By this time the norn had already placed three shoes on his dolyak. Kaleb was running a close second, but was still behind by one shoe. Thinking back to one of the techniques his father had taught him, he realized that it was possible to molten glue the shoe onto the dolyak instead. His dad mentioned that this was a common practice when nails were in short supply. The trick was softening the shoe up enough so the weight of the animal could cause the semi-soft metal to flay out. As it did, the ferrier had to work quickly to crimp the soft edges around the edge of the hooves.

This blowtorch is perfect, he thought as he began to soften the shoe with the orange flame. Remembering the dangers of looking directly into a blue flame, Kaleb pulled out a pair of welding goggles that Amalthia had given him. Once fitted, he switched over to the hotter blue flame as he proceeded to make the metal soft and pliable.

Halig was about to hammer in his final shoe. If Kaleb was to overtake the norn, he had to act fast. Grabbing the red-hot shoe with his tongs, Kaleb raced toward the dolyak, raised its foot using his free hand then quickly placed the molten item upon the base of the hoof. Using a combination of tongs and torch, he managed to crimp on the third shoe.

The massive norn was now only two nails away from finishing the contest. Undeterred and focused, Kaleb raced to heat up the last shoe to repeat the process once more.

Everything was down to the wire and Halig was about to drive the last nail home. But as he brought the hammer down for one final blow, the MC shouted to the top of his lungs.

"Time! We have a new winner."

The norn looked dumbfounded upon seeing the young human who had just beaten him.

"What is your name young man?"

"Grimwald, sir. Kaleb Grimwald."

"Well, ladies and gentlemen. It looks like this handsome young man has upended our current champion. The cash prize of fifty gold goes to the new winner."

"That is bullocks! He cheated! I could have easily won if that boy didn’t use that darn torch," Halig roared as he flung his hammer down in disappointment.

Kaleb spoke up. "Mighty Halig. I respect your sportsmanship in not taking a cheap shortcut in order to win the contest. Your technique was good, but mine was faster."

Several charr, except for Amalthia, bellowed in rage claiming the human had cheated as well. The humans disagreed and soon, a massive shouting match began to erupt amongst the crowd as tempers began to flare.

In an attempt to calm the raging carnival goers, Kaleb gave a very brief history lesson to everyone. "The kursikan molten fold technique has been used throughout Tyria since the Krytan civil war. Not many even use it any more, but my family has always passed it down from father to son. The Grimwalds, my family, are one of the few families in Kryta that still knows this ancient technique. Let's all just have a good time."

Within a short span, the anger began to subside. Many of the attendees who were familiar with the ancient technique came to realize that it was, in fact a bona fide farrier art.

Halig the Great conceded the title without further protest then went over to the young man who had beaten him and gave him a hearty handshake. Kaleb returned the favor by offering to buy his vanquished opponent a tall stein of mead. Never being one to turn down a strong drink, the norn gladly accepted the offer.

As their day at the carnival began to draw to a close, Kaleb and Amalthia had amassed a rather large cache of prizes. By the time they departed, Amalthia had garnered three giant stuffed quaggans and several various small stuffed animals. Kaleb, for his part, gained two quaggans plus the title of being the fastest dolyak farrier in Kryta.

"Blue, green and black - all mine!" Amalthia grinned as she stuck her tongue out at Kaleb.

"I'll trade ya the pink one for the black one." He said as he tried carrying the two monstrous plushies on either side of his hips.

"But the pink one compliments the color of your eyes and outfit so well," She said with a laugh.

"My skin tone begs to differ. Besides, I'll never hear the end of it from Rachel if she sees me bringing home a giant pink quaggan."

"Yer just bein' greedy!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Do you still have my torch?"

"I put it in your pocket, remember?"

Amalthia felt her pockets for a moment then confirmed that the device was still present.

"You forgot to close the valve. Didn't you? Now the butane is all gone."

"I thought it contained ahceedaa... how do you pronounce it again?"

"That's only used for my workstation torch, dummy! And it's pronounced A-ce-tyl-ene."

"Fine, fine. I don't care so long as it wins me titles and gold. You want the red quaggan?"

"No. They are evil." She pleasantly scolded him as they both laughed.

Dusk had approached as the pair arrived back at the butcher shop before sunset. Amalthia looked up at the stairs leading to her loft then decided that it would be better to simply go through the main door instead. "We'll definitely have to do this again. Are you sure you don't want to trade?" Kaleb asked as Amalthia led the way through the front door.

Turning quickly around, she said to Kaleb. "On second thought, I'll take the red one."

"But you said that's the evil one."

"I know," she said as she swung her head forward, "and, oh... hi mother."

Kaleb froze in his tracks.

Mother?

Standing in front of the counter with her arms folded, stood a charr with cold green eyes and a vicious looking upturned scowl the likes of which sent chills through the young man's veins.

"Oh... hi... ms.. Blastforge..." Kaleb said in an uncharacteristically nervous tone. "Nice to meet you, ma'am."

"Fuze - Blast...fuse," came her deadpan reply as she gave the young man a cold, piercing stare.

"Kaleb. I think now might be a good time for you to leave."

He was about to say something in a barely audible whisper when Amalthia interrupted him.

"Have a good evening!" She said as she made a grimacing face hoping that Kaleb would understand that she would talk to him during a better and safer time. She handed him the green giant stuffed quaggan. He nodded in acknowledgment then gave her a reassuring wink before heading out.

Once the door was shut, Amalthia turned around and took in a very deep breath hoping it would calm her for what she was about to endure.

"So this is what the dear little runt does in her spare time... squandering her combat skills collecting cuddle toys and hanging with humans. Did you finally complete your little menagerie fluffy bunnies and koda bears?" Her mother said in her characteristic, derogatory manner.

"Oh yes mother. I saved the red one just for you. It has a face like a hylek. When I saw it, I just had to trade it out as its face reminded me so much of yours," Amalthia retorted with a mocking smile.

"Then give it here, child. I would certainly love to cuddle with it."

Her daughter flung the stuffed animal towards her mother with all her might. As soon as Siri caught the toy she promptly tore its head off then flung the pillowy remains across the floor.

"Well, perhaps an undead hylek will do that to your lovely face one day!" Amalthia snapped as she tried her best to contain her rage.

"I was merely expressing how I felt about you child. Try not to take it so personally. Anyway, if you are through with that forked tongue of yours I have some news you should be happy to hear."

Moments later, Ludrick ambled past the meat counter doors as he tried to steady his balance.

"Your mother does have something very important to say, Amalthia. Please listen," he said in a very somber tone.

"So you finally decided to get off your drunk, sorry tail and listen to the good news I bring forth? Good! Now maybe this little lush-of-a dingbat will take heed and try to amount to something for once," Siri spat in disgust as her pupils dilated.

"I would knock your teeth out right now, woman, if I were able. Just say your peace and get the hell out of my house!" Ludrick said in a hoarse voice while trying to hold his head up.

"Fine, fine. Both of you will think I am the best parent in the world when I say that I've finally found a warband that is willing to accept this loser-of-a-cub of mine as one of their own."

For the first time in a while, Amalthia was left speechless.

"Don't try so hard, cub, to contain your excitement. You have no idea the strings I had to pull in convincing one of the warbands into accepting your sorry tail into their ranks. With all that I've done, I would at least expect a big, wet slobbery kiss, dear cub."

"How about a hug instead?" Amalthia countered.

"Try it and I'll claw your damn eyes out."

"Oh good. Then at least I won't have to look at that hylek face of yours anymore."

"I'm sorry, Amalthia. But we think its what's best for you," Ludrick stated glumly.

"So now you're on her side too, sire?"

"I'm sorry, cub. But there is an inescapable reality that you have been bereft of being with your own kind. As much as I appreciate all that your friend has done, I think you need to broaden your horizons. I can't give that to you if you stay here."

Amalthia looked at her father visibly hurt as she tried her best to maintain her composure. "So this is what it has been about the entire time? Kaleb. It bothers you that we are hanging out together."

"Stop it! Even the mere idea is making me nauseous. Mice are to be eaten and slaughtered, not fondled over and befriended. Cub, I'm offering you one last chance, from the bottom of my generous heart, for you to redeem yourself from your current pathetic existence. There are more important things in this world than going to carnivals, getting sloshed and cavorting with hairless rats."

"That 'rat' was responsible for saving my life!"

"So the human saved you. That's what soldiers are supposed to do. Good little mouse... here's some cheese," Siri said dismissively.

The rage built inside Amalthia until she could contain it no more.

"I've had it with you, mother!" With those words she drew her shortsword then charged headlong towards her mother. As she swung her blade downward, an enormous sword parried her attack. Standing at the other end, stood her father. With the wave of his massive hand he calmly gestured for her to stand down then gently clasped hold of her weapon as she fell to the floor weeping.

Siri stood and laughed. "I honestly didn't think you could still swing one of those old man. Impressive! Hate me even more, cub, because that's what will eventually turn you into a good soldier."

"Stand down, Amalthia. She is just trying to mess with your head," Ludrick said as he withdrew his massive sword back into its scabbard.

"You have no clue ex mate-of-mine. The fun is only starting. Cub - three days from tomorrow, report to Iron Legion headquarters in the Black Citadel. Be there at zero eight hundred sharp or face a firing squad for desertion of duty. I don't care what happens to you so long as your actions do not reflect badly on the legions, or myself."

Ludrick tried his best to muster a bellowing tone. "You've poisoned this house with your tongue long enough. Just leave and never come back!"

Siri just shrugged her shoulders, walked toward the front door then turned around to hurl a few more barbs before leaving. "Suits me fine. This cub may be a sniveling pathetic wretch who is bawling on daddy's floor now, but given a few months of tough love with some real warriors, she will be more of a charr than you ever were. Until then, try not to let yourself suffocate in your own piss and vomit."

When her mother left, Amalthia just laid on the floor curled up in a ball as crystal drops flowed freely from her eyes. Her father sank down next to her, buried his head between his hands and unleashed a stream of salt water from his own eyes as well.

(Chapter 12 is also up on Google Docs.)

[polzkadotz]

Asas reread their fics - ftayc - part 4

And we’re back to rereading this fic!!!! last chapter i reread was the 7k monster of chapter 3, and this one... oh. Oh, this is also 7k?

wowie

if you want a spoiler to interest you, here we go lmao

we begin with this author’s note bc I don’t think I ever really talked about it here on my tumblr???

It was sort of my first time being recommended, really. I had noticed that my hit count had gone up substantially and I couldn’t understand it, but it was nice??? and then i found the post on the library and I was like Oh. I See.

Whoever it was that recommended me, thank you. Seriously.

But enough mushy-wushy, let’s tackle this giant.

We begin with this exchange, which...

I was trying to be funny and this still makes me smile so at least I amuse myself lmao

Neil needs to free himself of the plot device I pulled out of nowhere and he taps into his reserves of power that he has hid away for, basically, forever. One thing that I wish I had made more clear, which was basically the vitriol going through my mind as I wrote this fic, was that Neil had been cutting himself of his powers and how powerful he was for a fucking long time because

1) he bought into his mom’s reasoning that his father was simply Not Someone They Could Face and Win

2) he had made himself fit into a mold that would “make him survive” but, by doing so, he basically chained himself to a fraction of the three-dimensional person he used to be, which made meeting Jean and finding out that he had become a pet god for a human even worse because Neil could see all the ways they were similar but Neil had been doing that shit to himself voluntarily.

Originally, when I thought about making Neil a god in this fic, I did think about modeling him out of an existing god but also, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to make him be someone who was struggling with letting himself be what he was with his full-potential. Someone who had been cutting himself back for so long he had basically lost whatever sense of personhood he used to have. Someone who had started to get tired of cutting parts of himself and forgetting what he used to be so he would survive for--

What? Survive for what? Neil eventually realized he hadn’t been a person for too long and as long as his father was alive, he would never feel safe to be.

Now that I think about it, Neil was very much me working through my own shit about trying to live as myself at the same time that I had different versions of past me struggling with the person I was becoming. The person I wanted to be.

Anyway, back to the story.

There’s a throwaway paragraph where I sort of tease that Andrew’s dragon is becoming "hungry” and it was basically me trying very hard to foreshadow that the priest thing was going to happen lmao

After battling for two paragraphs against the thought of creating a new priest, Neil gets them back on track to go as far away as its possible for both dragons flying.

Nicky tries to get Neil to talk about the god thing, and I like how I made it clear that even being reminded that he had been a god was something conflicting to Neil.

And then we get to the part where Neil suddenly remembers that he has a lot more money than what he had previously said in the first few chapters, but who cares about plot consistency, am I right? Does it show that this fic was edited hastily? Because I can guarantee that it was :3

They stop in Mumbai, I think (the place is not important for past Asas and honestly... can’t say that’s changed lol). Nicky tries to get Neil to talk more about being immortal and stuff. Neil gives a bit of backstory, as a treat, and Kevin reveals what he knows, as a threat I guess lmao

I kind of imply that Neil only had one priest, which... I remember is not what I put in the sequel.............. so I do recommend you reread your fics before writing a new piece, wink-wink

OH MY GOD I MADE NICKY ASK WHY NEIL’S ENGLISH “WASN’T WEIRD” AND THEN I REPLIED WITH A SENTENCE THAT WAS BASICALLY STRUCTURED WITH PORTUGUESE GRAMMAR AND SOUNDS VERY WRONG IN ENGLISH

Asas... my god, Asas.

Anyway, after a lot of questioning, they eventually go to sleep and, when Neil wakes up from a nightmare, he has his daily fairy tale dose from Andrew, who’s also awake. I gotta be honest, I don’t even remember that fairy tale but it explains the Aaron, Andrew and Tilda.

After everybody wakes up from their naps, they go to their last destination: Tokyo.

Wait lemme check:

when did they leave Mumbai in my story?

when did they reach Tokyo?

yeah, that math totally checks out.

Whatever. As they arrive in Tokyo, Neil splurges even more money on a hotel for the whole crew, even though they had been pretty not nice to him as a whole lmao. But! The boy believed he was going to die, so what was he going to do with all that money?

Nothing, so he programmed an email to be sent to Andrew with the info for some of his bank accounts and fucked off to try and find what his mother had stolen.

Neil gets on a ferry that will take six hours to reach the island where is the volcano that his mother had made him hide his father’s immortality. Neil got nekkid because he wanted to have clothes when he got out of the volcano, you know?

(Also, yes, I’m gonna ignore the other time inconsistency from his travel inside Japan, I was very much pressured by the whole “got recommended on the library” okay, you can judge me through those lenses)

Unfortunately, for him, he wasn’t alone when he finally climbed out of the volcano.

Fortunately for him, this Ichirou Moriyama doesn’t want his father, who is very much interested in becoming immortal, to actually become immortal. Neil explains the whole immortality thingy (I found some typos and honestly? I shan’t fix them. It adds character) and Ichirou subtly kicks Neil’s clothes closer to him, which... I get it, my guy. It’s kind of difficult to have an intimidating conversation when someone’s bits are out and about.

As they are trying to hash out their problem -- as in, Neil’s father told them that Neil’s immortality would be viable to cure Kengo --, Andrew appears blowing his ball of flames onto both of them, and Neil uses his powers to create a pocket that repels the fire, so it doesn’t touch him or Ichirou.

(Why didn’t he use those powers on his clothes, as well? Dunno, don’t poke at my plot too much or it will definitely crumble right into your face, you’re gonna inhale too much dust and die from fandom toxicity, AND THAT’S NO WAY TO REACH A GOOD DEATH)

btw:

Neil, my dude. The dragon thought you were in danger? Chill out???

Neil rages for a few seconds but quickly turns that into a situation to ask Moriyama for his protection against his father, since Neil just technically saved his life.

Oh, and if you think “Uhhh, why would Neil even believe that Ichirou would keep his word?”

Don’t worry, I gotchu:

Ichirou agrees with the deal, for plot reasons. Since he got a deal out of it kind of easily, Neil thinks, “Wait a minute. If I give my father’s immortality to this Moriyama, literally passing the hot potato around, then the Moriyamas won’t be after me for an immortality, my father probably won’t be immortal and come after me as the death machine he used to be and I might be able to use it to free a certain god????”

So Neil uses his father’s immortality to bargain for Jean’s freedom, and he doesn’t wait for Moriyama’s response for that one. He simply hops onto dragon!Andrew’s back and they fly away into the... sunset? Sunrise? Don’t ask me, I clearly can’t keep track of the time passage in my fics.

And this is the end of the chapter!

Let me say something that I hope will be quick: this chapter felt much better written to me then the other three. It’s shaky in places, definitely, and it could’ve gone through a more severe round of editing, but I can certainly feel the positive outcomes of the pressure I felt after my work got a shout-out. This fic had been pretty much geared towards myself, so writing about the world-building wasn’t my focus at all in the other three chapters. In this one, I try to at least explain some concepts I came up with which???? Go me??????

I still wish I had taken the time to work on this entire fic to make it as close to what I had in my head, but in a comprehensive form for the attention that it got, you know? I mean, from the ashes you crawl is still my most everything -- most kudos, hits, comments, bookmarks...  It deserved so much better but also... I like that it feels rough? I like that it can clearly help to contrast the growth of my style or whatever?

It was written after a long, long writer’s block, and it only got edited and posted because I decided to participate in an event for a different fandom and it got me excited about writing again.

Anyway, I’ve talked too much. Here’s to hoping I can contain myself in the next posts lmao

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6

[j--meat-hook--j]

UA Adventures: Taiyuu Bonus Round

The fight with Mya was about 2 days ago, for better or worse. After being introduced to some people from UA, Zeke couldn’t remember their names, Zeke went for a walk around the UA campus. A brown-haired student appeared next to him, a patch of grass disappearing under this new student. 

“So you’re one of the Taiyuu students right? I’m Hitomi Ba, what’s your name?” This new student was unusually chipper. 

“Zeke Funkee, nice to meet-.”

“Woaaah, you’ve got a weird accent. My Quirk’s Swap. I can swap positions with anything I can see, like I did with that grass there.” 

And very energetic.

“What’s your Quirk Zeke?”

“Umm, Electrokinesis. I can control electrci-” “Wooooaaaah, you can control electricity? You gotta show me. Here.”

Hitomi grabbed Zeke’s hand and ---Lurch---

The outside field was replaced with the inside dorms. And then across from the dorms, and then outside the gymnasium, and then inside the gymnasium. 

“Please stop, I think I’m gonna be -” Zeke said, doubling over.

“Sick? Yeah, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Happens to everyone on the first time. Whaddya waiting for go! Do it, do the thing, the thing you do, the electric thing you do. Go! 3,2,1! Go!” Hitomi ignored Zeke’s queasiness. 

“Bleuurh, huuuergh, beeeuuuuurhh.” Zeke dry heaved.

“Ah cmon, we don’t have all day, I’ve got places to be, things to do, people to see.”

‘Was this person always this intense?’

“Just give me a minute to recov-” Zeke started.

“Uuggghh, a whole minute? Hold on I’ll be right back.” Hitomi interrupted. Hitomi disappeared and a Witches Hat Cone appeared in his place. Zeke waited for nausea to pass hunched over with his hands on his knees. Taking a deep breath, Zeke stood up straight.

The Witches Hat Cone was replaced by Hitomi holding a bag of popcorn. 

“Well, you ready?” Hitomi asked excitedly.

“Ready for what?” Zeke was confused on why Hitomi was so interested.

“I dunno, do something flashy. Shoot some lightning!”

“I can’t produce or absorb electricity, I gotta have it with-.” 

“What’s your hero costume like? Has it got electricity in it? We’ll use that.”

‘We?’ 

“It’s the one with the car battery attached to it.”

“Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt.”

Poof. A gym mat appeared where Hitomi was. Poof. Hitomi was holding “The Car Battery”.

“This the one?” Hitomi asked.

“Uh Yeah, now I just need something to shoot it at. I don’t wanna break anything-” 

“I know just the person!” Hitomi grabbed Zeke’s hand.

“Wait!”

Zeke’s world warped from inside the gym to outside the gym, onto an open field, into a building, into another building. 

The room was scattered about with different half made inventions, the buzzes of electricity were everywhere. It was almost overwhelming but Zeke didn’t tune a single one out. Not again. 

“We’re here!” Hitomi was very excited.

“Heurrgh, bleeuuuurghh, hnnnnghhh.” Zeke didn’t find it any easier the second time around.

“Hey Hatsune-sensei! Can we get Zeke here something to shoot at?”

“Aaaaahhh! One of the Taiyuu students! You just have to try one of my babies!” A very, very enthusiastic voice called out. 

‘Her what?’

A pink-haired woman seemed to jump out of the back room. Goggles covering her eyes. 

“I’ve got just the one that needs testing!” 

‘What?‘

Hatsune-sensei went digging around a pile of machines, pistons, lasers, screens, sprays, lose bolts and spare parts. 

“This one!” Hatsune-sensei exclaimed and pulled out… a Glove? The glove had a very dense buzz to it. Zeke, Hatsune and Hitomi had a very long conversation about the glove, the helmet Hitomi’s getting and how everything worked. 

Everything. It took 2 hours before either of them could get a word in. Even Hitomi was losing his enthusiasm. 

“We’ll just take this screw and be on our way!” Hitomi managed to find a screw in all this mess. 

“No I need that for a-” Hatsume-sensei called out.

Hitomi grabbed Zeke’s wrist and the surroundings changed from inside the support building to outside the support building to a grassy field, there was a lot of patches missing, to inside the gymnasium. 

“Huurrgh, bleuurgh.” Zeke doubled over clutching his stomach. 

“Feowf, I thought we’d never get away from her. Are you ready to do it now? Do you think you have it in you? Are you up for it? Do you have the guts?” Hitomi started to get his enthusiasm back.

“Are you challenging me?” Zeke asked, still holding his stomach.

“Yep!” 

“Place it down at the end of the gym.” Zeke said as he started to do some stretches. 

“Ohhhh yess!” With nothing to teleport to Hitomi ran to the end of the gym. 

“Do it, do it, do it, do it!” Hitomi was very hyped.

After the two fights from earlier this week, Zeke was feeling drained. The Car Battery wasn’t doing much better. 

“You ready for this?” Zeke was about to put on a show. He placed the battery on the floor and held the two cables by the handles. 

“Ohhhh yesss, lets goooo.” Hitomi said, taking cover behind Zeke.

A stream of lightning surged out of the two jumper cables. It was bright, it was loud. And It. Was. AWESOME. 

The screw was nothing but melted slag after a full two seconds of lightning was thrown at it. 

“YOOOOOOOO!!! That was so cool!” Hitomi said, doing a little jump in the air. 

“You should see the storm duo. They actually make lightning.” Zeke said stifling a yawn.

“I’m hungry, are you hungry, let's go eat. That talk with Hatsume got me peckish.” 

“Uhhh, do you have anywh-”

“I know the perfect spot.” Hitomi interrupted, grabbing Zeke’s wrist. 

“Wait!” Zeke interjected.

The world lurched to outside the gym, onto the grassy field, further into the grassy field, closer to the wall. 

“Blerruuughhh, heuuurrgghhh” Zeke wretched. Teleporting in such quick succession felt terrible.

The two were now face-to-face-to-face with the big wall with no way over.

“How’re weeuuuurggh, How’re we geuuuuuurugh, How’re we gonna get over the wall?” Zeke inquired, still woozy from the teleporting. 

“Well, it’s Quirk proof, completely flat, unclimbable and indestructible. But I’ve got a way around that.” Hitomi shot Zeke a smile and pulled out three golf balls from his pocket. Still holding Zeke’s wrist. 

“I hope you’re ready,” Hitomi said to Zeke before throwing a golf ball straight over the wall. He then threw up another, it reached just over the wall when.

LURCH

LURCH

Zeke and Hitomi were on the ground on the other side of the UA wall. 

“HNnnnnnnngghh” Pulling away from Hitomi, Zeke still felt a little queasy but it could be worse.

“Alright, let’s keep going.” Hitomi reached for Zeke's wrist.

“No! No more!  We’ll be doing this my way! The Leg Using Way!” Zeke said, pulling away. 

“Ok damn, it shouldn't be too far even on foot,” Hitomi said, backing off slightly. 

“What are we getting and which way is it?”

“We’re getting Takoyaki and its that-a-way,” Hitomi said, pointing. 

“Alrighty then, onwards!”

The two started their walk despite an awkward silence. They ended up talking about Heroes, Taiyuu and UA. UA had some more written exams than Taiyuu. How UA had more professional sponsors over Taiyuu and how UA students were expected to become very successful heroes. They were about halfway there when Hitomi’s phone went off. 

“That’s one of my friends, she wants to hang out. You good with that? she doesn’t go to UA.” Hitomi asked. 

“Uh, yeah, s-”

“Cool, I’ll just go pick her up. Meet you at the stall.” Hitomi interrupted.

“Sure, see y-” And Hitomi ported away, leaving a potted plant where he was. 

Continuing to follow the directions Hitomi gave him Zeke passed building after building. Zeke was starting to get near the shopping centre heard some clapping come from a sidestreet. 

“Hello, Zeke, nice to finally see you again.” A strangely familiar voice stated. Zeke followed the sound and saw that the stranger was deep into the sidestreet. Walking closer Zeke responded with a dejected,

“Hello?” Getting closer Zeke saw that the stranger was a man in a full suit with some sort of crown mask. A scared-looking girl around Zeke’s age was standing behind him standing perfectly still.

Adjusting his sunglasses Zeke walked closer towards the masked stranger. Zeke still couldn’t quite pinpoint why he seemed so familiar. 

“What are you doing with her?” Zeke pointed to the girl.

“This child is assisting me, I’m not so familiar around this area.” The stranger said, attempting to wave away any concerns. 

“Where are you headed? I can take you there.” Zeke said in an attempt to get the girl out of harm's way. 

“My destination has come to me, Kleiner Blitz.” The stranger said in an almost pitying tone. 

At the mention of his old nickname, Zeke stepped back in shock. Zeke finally knew where he recognised this person from.

“Schlaut, is that you?” His older brother smiled at the name. When did his smile get so creepy.

“When I’m wearing this mask you can call me The King.” Schalut said. Zeke thought The King was a  ridiculous name. 

“Please, let me go.” The girl said, she started crying. 

“Of course child, your volunteer work has come to an end.” With a wave of Schlaut’s hand, the girl collapsed. 

“Wha-” Zeke took a step forward. Schalit raised a hand to silence Zeke. 

“Photonic, return this child and bring Mephistopheles,” Schlaut said to no one in particular. A sphere of energy formed around Schlaut and the girl. After the energy disappeared someone new was standing in between Schlaut and the girl. This new woman, Photonic, gave a mock salute.

“Righty-o boss.” Photonic said, giving a small wave to Zeke when she was surrounded by the same ball of energy. The energy faded and Photonic and the girl disappeared.

“Well done Zeke, you’ve really made quite the impact on Taiyuu, showing up late and securing victory against that green child, I’m almost impressed. Although I am certainly surprised you didn’t enrol in UA, not that it matters now.” Zeke was confused about how Schlaut knew this. They hadn’t seen each other in nearly two years. Zeke didn’t even know if Schlaut was alive. 

“You’ve really grown, Kleiner Blitz, but I want to observe the peaks of your growth,” Schalut said, another ball of energy appeared with Photonic and a small skinny looking man. 

“Mephistopheles, get ready to test that young man and refrain from killing him,” Schlaut ordered the newcomer. The new man, Mephistopheles, seemed to hype himself up. He was bouncing on his toes and started slapping his face. 

Zeke reached into his pocket and pulled out 2 AA batteries. He formed a fist and held the batteries between his knuckles, creating a makeshift taser. Copying what he saw Senshi do, he readied himself into a flimsy battle stance. Zeke wasn’t used to being caught off guard and attacked in the streets. 

An animalistic scream of rage and the skinny man produced wings made of red energy and launched himself at Zeke. The blade dug into Zeke’s left shoulder and coming out the other side. A flash of blinding pain and a warm feeling encased his arm. Zeke shoved the two batteries against Mephistopheles’ face and forced some electricity out.

Mephistopheles’ face contorted in pain and the energy blade disappeared. Zeke avoided looking at his arm, the free-flowing warmth told him everything.  Another scream of rage and an energy club formed around Mephistopheles other hand, hitting Zeke in the ribs. 

Zeke was heavily winded after that hit. Moving back to put some distance between himself and Mephistopheles Zeke tried a last-ditch attack. He threw the AA batteries at Mephistopheles, grabbed a hold of the buzzes with is Quirk and…

Super Move: Battery Bomb!

He forced all the electricity inside the batteries, outside the batteries all at once, creating 2 small explosions in Mephistopheles’ face. 

‘Surely that must have got him.’ When the dust cleared Zeke saw that his bombs did, absolutely nothing. Mephistopheles had created a helmet made of that red energy, protecting himself from the explosions. 

With a roar, Mephistopheles crash tackled Zeke to the ground. Spinning him around so that Zeke was face down on the ground. The impact made Zeke cough up some blood. 

Mephistopheles formed another energy blade around his hand, pointed it at Zekes back and went to thrust.

“Enough!” Schalut commanded. Mephistopheles froze at the order. The energy blade and wings disappearing. Zeke felt his wounds closing, healing. 

“You’re lucky I can heal him Mephistopheles or I would have you hung.” Schlaut said, almost too calmly.

 ‘He never said anything like that back home, what happened to him?’ Zeke thought.

“What are you doing Schlaut?” Zeke asked in a panic. His brother never would have done anything like this.

“I’m exciting your cells to heal you, similar to what that green child does. You may have a small scar, however.“ 

“How do you know about any of this? We haven’t seen each other in years.”

“I understand that you’re confused about how I have acquired the knowledge of your recent life. Did you really believe I’d leave you alone and unprotected Zeke?  Allow me to introduce to you The Fool, although, it’s already well aware of you. I’m disappointed you didn’t notice it after all this time but I can’t say I’m surprised.” 

Out of the corner of Zeke’s eye, he finally spotted something, spotted IT. The thing in the corner of his eye, the breath on the back of his neck, the feeling of being watched.

The Fool. 

“The Fool’s Quirk is ‘Unnoticeable’. As long as it's active none of your five senses can even acknowledge its there. One could spend their entire life watched without an inkling of knowledge of its existence“ Schlaut explained. 

Schlaut walked over to his restrained brother. His creepy smile only getting larger. Squatting down to get closer to eye level Schlaut’s face dropped. 

“You really can hold your own in a one-on-one. But this is the real world. You’re weak Zeke, you couldn’t even stop someone as low life as those two and you can’t stop Mephistopheles now. But that’s okay, I’ll give you that strength.” Schlaut offered. 

With a slight pause, Schalut placed his hand on top of Zeke’s head, ruffling his hair. 

“Brain’s are difficult, Quirks are even more complicated. But after all this time I know your Neuromap like the back of my hand. I picked up all of my techniques from you as shameful as that is. Shutting down, redirecting, slowing down, creating, and of course, Overcharging.” Schlaut continued. 

Zeke watched his brothers’ eyes glow a deep red as Zeke felt his own eyes glow a rich blue. His electro-sense was being not only activated but pushed, pushed further than ever before. He was starting to sense electrical signals from even further away.

Zeke’s senses were being pushed to the limit, he had no choice but to look deep, deeper than he ever thought possible. Zeke felt it all. He felt the buzzes in Schlauts mask, the felt the very pixels in the TV 40 metres away, he felt the buzzes in the power socket, he felt the buzzes in the wires. He felt the buzzes in himself, he felt the buzzes in Schlaut. 

Zeke was starting to lose feeling in his feet.

“No Being is immune to the peaks and valleys of life as the strong struggle to survive. One succeeds while the other fails, but with my power, one can gaze upon life's pitfalls in all their glory. Sidestepping them becomes but a chore and life becomes a succession of triumphs. A state of personal perfection, and truly how could it not?” Schlaut, no, The King declared. 

Even then the buzzes wouldn’t stop, they only got clearer and clearer, more distinct and harder to ignore. 

Zeke realised, these buzzes, weren’t buzzes but out of focus circles and squares. Circles and Squares Zeke could now see, now understand. Nothing would ever be the same!

He didn’t even realise when the glow of his eyes started to blind him. 

In old books of cosmic horror, the author describes the monster as unknowable, something the human mind cannot comprehend. Zeke felt things the human mind should not understand. Zeke felt it all, the tiniest of circles, every Nucleus, every Proton, every Electron, every Photon. 

He could sense squares, squares so large they dwarfed the tiny circles, they even dwarfed the buzzes. He felt it all, every radio wave, every wave of UV radiation, he could sense the pull of earth's very magnetism. 

It would be bearable if everything wasn’t in such horrific clarity. 

Zeke was unsure when he lost consciousness. 

When Zeke woke up he was lying in a bed with a tube down his throat, alone. Panicking he struggled to pull it out, the tube seemingly went on forever. Coughing, Zeke heard a rhythmic beeping again, seemingly in time with his heartbeat. Cracking open his eyes for the first time in what felt like forever, Zeke couldn’t focus on anything in particular. 

Where am I?

Why am I here? What time is it?

Where is everyone?

‘Why is everything so blurry?’ 

[seungcheolsbodyharness]

heart shaped: IV

wc: 6.3k

warnings: mild violence

summary: you and jihoon make your way to soyoung’s NYE party. everything is going just fine, until a pair of someones make a surprise, unwanted appearance.

genre: fake dating, angst

part 1 || part 2 || part 3 || part 4 || part 5 || finale (in progress)

nine o’clock comes quicker than you anticipated. 

you and jihoon had spent the last few hours huddled together in his studio while jihoon showed you how he did his job - producing, songwriting, a little bit of everything. 

the smile on his face as he explained everything had been electric, drawing you in with every word and gesture. you tried your hardest to follow along, but jihoon spoke quickly when excited. it was obvious how much he loved his work. 

nine o’clock rolls around with a timely text from soyoung, confirming your attendance since no one had heard from you or jihoon since lunchtime. you text her back to soothe her worry and apologize, saying that you and jihoon had been busy and you’d see her soon. 

“guess we should get going.” you stand and stretch, muscles stiff from sitting too long. jihoon does the same, letting out a content little sigh. “do you normally sit for that long? it can’t be good for your back.”

he hums, rolling his shoulders. “i try not to, but…i have a tendency to get sucked into my work. i see a chiropractor pretty regularly, and i uh…stretch and go for a walk for food, usually.” he twists to one side and you hear a small ‘pop’ and does the same in the other direction. he gathers his things and you yours, and then he leads you out of the studio and back down the hallway. 

“besides, seungcheol always comes down from upstairs and makes me get up and walk around with him so he can talk stuff out.” jihoon nods to the guard at the desk - dongsoo has left for the night, and the guard here looks much less friendly. but perhaps he’s just mad about working on new years eve. 

“so you and seungcheol are close?” you ask as you enter the elevator. jihoon’s face pinches up like he’s thinking too hard, and you can’t help but laugh. “i just didn’t get to meet many of your friends at the carnival. and i already knew woomin, obviously.”

“seungcheol isn’t a baseball friend. actually, of my like…friends that i see regularly, none of them play baseball with me. which is probably for the best.” he steps out of the elevator when you come to a halt in the garage and leads the way towards the car. “i’ve known him a long, long time though. since high school. we were in choir together, actually.” without hesitating, jihoon opens your door before walking around the front of the car to the driver’s side. 

you hop in and close the door as he does the same, starting the car. “so he works here with you? what does he do?”

“he’s a personal trainer for the idols and actors in the company.” he pulls the car out onto the street, joining the evening traffic. soyoung lives not too far from the city center, so even with traffic you’ve arrived pretty quick. 

before you can go in, though, jihoon says, “uhhh,” which catches your attention, so you look at him expectantly. “so, i don’t really drink, so if you want to get like, you know, shit-faced, i’ll make sure you get home safe.”

your eyes go wide, thinking for a moment maybe he’s giving it up for your sake. “are you sure? i can contain myself.”

he waves you off, though. “i really, genuinely don’t drink that much so holding off isn’t a huge deal.” he shrugs and looks away, flicking an invisible piece of dust from the steering wheel. “and i think that, yknow, as your ‘boyfriend’, i should make sure that you’re safe.” he laughs nervously. “soyoung will kill me if i let anything bad happen to you.”

your face softens and you pat his arm gently. “yeah, i guess you’re right. sounds good. i’ll try to keep myself under control anyway.”

jihoon nods and gets out of the car, hustling around to your side to open your door. you step out and onto the slick ground, arm instinctively reaching for jihoon’s when your feet slide underneath you. he wraps an arm around your waist to steady you, and you blush softly, thanking him.

“don’t worry about it.” he replies. once you’re steady, he releases you and takes your hand in his own, the two of you walking side by side towards soyoung’s door.

jihoon doesn’t bother to knock, twisting the doorknob and walking straight inside instead. you follow him, announcing loudly to soyoung that you’d arrived. her head peeks out from the wall separating the kitchen from the living room and she smiles at the two of you, face already a little pink.

“hey lovebirds.” she coos as the two of you leave your coats and shoes at the door. “have a nice day together~?“ 

"yeah, nosy, we did.” you glance sidelong at jihoon and smile softly, which he returns. you lead the way to the living room- hands now rejoined having shed your layers - where a number of people have already gathered, drinks in hand. most of them you recognize, some of them you don’t, but jihoon seems to be familiar with the faces you are not, so you assume you’ll get to know them eventually. 

you and jihoon snag a spot on the giant beanbag soyoung has pulled out from the computer room, ending up somewhat snuggled together - jihoon leans back against the wall, one leg pulled up beneath him, one arm wrapped around your back and his hand nestled gently on your waist. the two of you manage to seamlessly join the conversation, and being with jihoon like this feels comfortable. feels easy, even pressed up together like you are. once again, you think about how glad you are the two of you came together like this, how you seemed to find each other right when you really, really needed it. if you had to do something like this with anyone, it feels right that it’s jihoon. 

you’re pulled from your thoughts when jihoon leans in towards you, saying, “hey, do you want something to drink? i’m gonna get a coke." 

you nod, asking him for a cup of whatever concoction soyoung has brewed up, and he nods back as he pulls himself up off the beanbag to make his way into the kitchen. more people pour in through the door while he’s gone, and you follow along with the story soonyoung - a childhood friend of woomin and jihoon’s who you’ve met before - is telling about finding his boyfriend face down in a pile of snow first thing that morning, laughing when soonyoung reveals that he’d gone out there, drunk, crying about frosty the snowman. jihoon comes back to you, balancing your drink, his drink, and a plate of snacks that he sets down on the beanbag between you after handing you your drink. 

sometime later, after nearly everyone has arrived, someone (likely seungcheol, who you’ve been properly introduced to now) suggests playing a drinking game. you’re excited to play, actually, considering your confidence in your ability to follow things along even intoxicated. jihoon also seems excited, and when you question his thrill he tells you it’s always fun to watch people get really shitfaced and make fools of themselves. 

"you won’t let me make a fool of myself, will you baby?” you ask, pouting up at him. he flushes and laughs, running a hand over the back of his neck. 

“no, baby, of course i won’t.” he says softly, sipping at his drink. 

“are you going to play too?” you ask. he raises his eyebrows, shrugs. 

“i mean, i’m not drinking, so…no?” you pout at him, more dramatically, and he turns away from you. “what? don’t give me that face.”

“you can play with your soda.” you whine. “i want you to play, hoonie. please?”

“yeah, hoonie.” comes a chorus of voices. jihoon turns a glare at seungcheol, soonyoung, and hoseok in turn, who are all laughing together at the kitchen counter. “play with us!” seungcheol whines, and jihoon’s jaw tenses. you reach out to him, about to tell him not to worry about it when he sighs. 

“fine.” he looks back at you, pointedly ignoring the cheers coming from his friends. “i’ll play along for you, baby.”

you smile at him, bright, grabbing his arm and squeezing. “good!!! it’s going to be fun, just you wait.”

the game, it turns out, is truth or dare. there is a mixed chorus of groans and cheers, but you all settle into a circle as best as you can in the living room, everyone with either a fresh drink or one at the ready. it is quickly decided that the game will be played with an app from soyoung’s phone - spinning a bottle seems almost too juvenile. 

the first few rounds pass quickly - you and jihoon both manage to escape the randomizer’s grasp while some others aren’t so lucky. sohee - seungcheol’s girlfriend - has somehow managed to be picked three times, two of which she’d chosen to drink instead of answering the “truth”s that she’d been asked. 

it’s on the seventh - maybe eighth? - go-round that soyoung laughs heartily and calls out your name. your eyes go wide, and you nod, and turn slowly to face soonyoung, whose smile is too wide for your liking. 

“truth or dare?” he asks, eyes slowly flitting between you and jihoon.

“truth.” you respond quickly, clutching nervously to the rim of your cup. you can feel jihoon’s hand at your back, thumb rubbing idly back and forth. 

“what is something about jihoon that you like better than your ex?” 

jihoon’s hand freezes on your back and soyoung squawks something about how “that’s not cool, soonie,” but you respond before anyone can kick up too much of a fuss.

“he doesn’t make me second-guess how he feels about me. with my ex i was always…yeah. i know where jihoon and i stand.” you take a sip of your drink to have something to do, but you feel good about your answer. soonyoung seems pleased as well, and the game continues. jihoon’s hand resumes its idle motion at your back. 

he takes a sip from his drink as he watches the game, staying mostly quiet except to quip or laugh at something someone else says. every now and then he leans over to check in on you, whispering “doin’ okay?” and waiting patiently for you to nod. 

the game continues and as people drink more, the dares and the questions grow more ridiculous and scandalous. seungcheol gets dared to stand outside in just his shirt and underwear for a full minute, soyoung confesses that before meeting woomin she had never thought she’d settle down and love one person forever. you laugh when she says that, because you know for a fact that it’s true. before woomin, soyoung had insisted she would never be tied down, no man would ever come between her and her goals. hoseok gets dared to call the person he wants to sleep with the most, and with a chorus of hollering in the background, he steps into the kitchen to make the call. 

he steps back out a few minutes later, cheeks tinged pink from more than just alcohol and a big grin on his face. 

“i’ll see you guys later.” he says, bringing the bottles and cups he’d used into the kitchen. “i have someone special waiting for me.”

jeers follow him to the door, shouts of “use protection!” and “get it!” among other things until the front door closes behind him. 

the group erupts into gossip, people wondering who he could have called, shouting out names of possibilities. 

jihoon stands and goes into the kitchen for a new drink and brings one back for you as well, setting it down next to his feet for whenever you were ready for it. he leans over close to you, turning his face away from the rest of the group to whisper, “they’re all wrong. he met someone at the gym last week that he’s been losing it over ever since. he’s gonna be embarrassed by this story later, that he only got the courage to call on a drunk dare.” he pulls back and laughs under his breath, and you giggle too. “it’s a secret for some reason though, so don’t tell anyone.”

you nod, solemn, and jihoon laughs again. 

everyone settles down and soyoung starts the game back up.

the thing with drinking games is that no one ever drinks only when their turn comes - people sip absentmindedly from the drinks in their hands, getting drunker along with everyone else, and because of that everyone in the room - save for jihoon - was already well on the way to being smashed. 

11:30 

the game breaks a couple more times, and when it comes back together now, soonyoung’s face is pinched and geared towards jihoon, eyes full of suspicion. 

“how come - hic - this whole time, hoon hasn’t - hic - gone yet? m’gon ask somethin’ real good.”

soyoung squints and scrolls through the app on her phone, mouth drawing into a tiny ‘o’. “i forgot!!!!” she cries. “i didn’ put him on the - the list.”

around you, everyone groans and complains and jihoon tenses beside you. slowly, you look up at him and see his brows drawn and his mouth in a tight line. “hoonie?” you whisper. he looks down at you and blinks, smiling reassuringly after wiping the annoyance from his face. 

“i’m fine, baby.” he says. 

“jihoon has to answer three because he hasn’t gone!” seungcheol demands, lifting his beer into the air dramatically. jihoon rolls his eyes as everyone seems to agree. 

“fine. go ahead, drunkards.” he puts his hands out as if to say “do your worst.” you hope for his sake that they don’t, but soonyoung and seungcheol look much too pleased. 

“truth or dare, hoon.” seungcheol takes it upon himself to nab one of the three questions.

“truth.”

“what,” seungcheol starts, is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?”

jihoon sighs and rolls his eyes. “finding out minji cheated on me through social media. from someone else.” his tone is cold and distant and he finishes the though with a sip of his coke. “what’s next?”

seokmin - an actor friend from jihoon and seungcheol’s company - shoots his hand into the air. “truth or dare!” jihoon looks at him with something resembling fondness and responds this time with dare. something bubbles in your stomach, nerves maybe, but jihoon seems unworried. “i dare you to look into your girlfriend’s eyes for a full minute and say something romantic.”

a few boos sound out at this, but there is also laughter, and jihoon huffs out a sigh as he thinks about it. 

“fine.” he decides. “someone get a timer.”

someone announces that they’re on it, and jihoon turns his body to face you straight on. his cheeks are the slightest bit flushed, almost as if he’d been drinking, but you know better. whoever has the timer says “start!” and jihoon’s eyes meet yours. 

you’re not sure what you’re feeling. you’ve had quite a bit to drink, and your head was already feeling fuzzy before you found yourself staring into the eyes of your fake-beloved. but now, seeing the warmth there, you feel your body heat up and your heart pound faster. he says nothing, not yet, but he smiles at you softly and you smile back, muscles moving on automatic. 

whoever’s holding the timer announces, “30 seconds left!”

jihoon’s heart feels like it’s going to hammer out of his chest - he wonders if anyone else can hear it. of course seokmin would think up a dare so sweet, and soft, and jihoon knew better than to take a drink in the face of a challenge so seemingly easy. it wasn’t a secret that jihoon wasn’t the most romantic- not in the loud, typical ways, anyway. the ones society deemed more important. looking directly into your eyes spurs a number of thoughts in his head, but he isn’t sure how safe it is to say them out loud. 

“10 seconds!”

jihoon takes a deep breath and lets it out. he blinks a few times, bites his lip. “i’m so happy that i met you.” he says softly. “i hope this - this thing we have - works out in all the ways we want it to.”

you smile at him, fond. the timer goes off and people start to complain that his words weren’t enough, but you turn to them sharply and say that it meant a lot to you.

“and i’m his girlfriend, so my opinion is the one that matters.”

jihoon reaches out and squeezes your hand before settling himself back against the edge of the beanbag, his arm wrapping around your waist. 

“who’s next?” he asks. his eyes flit over to soonyoung, who seems lost in thought. sober, that’s usually not a good sign. but drunk and in the middle of a game of truth or dare makes jihoon nervous. 

“truth or dare?” soonyoung asks. jihoon takes his time before deciding, considering soonyoung with a heavy look. 

“truth.” he decides, eyes narrowed, hand clenching around the drink he held. 

soonyoung smiles, more of a smirk, and jihoon’s stomach sinks. “tell us, jihoon.” he drums his fingers together, pausing surely for effect. “if you had to pick between one month into your last relationship, or the one you have now, which one would you say has been better so far?”

jaws around the room drop, and jihoon nearly crushes the can in his hand.

soonyoung’s eyes pop, and you’re not looking but you’re sure the look jihoon is giving him isn’t pleasant. 

seungcheol starts to speak up, but soonyoung is already backtracking. “nevermind it was a bad idea, i’ll -”

“now.” 

soonyoung’s mouth hangs open, surprised. a chorus of “huh?” makes its way around the room and back to jihoon, whose jaw is set and cheeks are red. 

“now. i would pick what i have now over anything with minji. it doesn’t matter how good things were before, she ruined that.” jihoon stands abruptly, walking towards the front door. as quickly as you can on unsteady legs, you stand yourself and follow him. he pulls his coat on and says nothing until you do.

“are you leaving?” you ask quietly. despite what you’d said earlier, you suddenly feel very unsure of yourself. 

jihoon looks up at you, almost as if he hadn’t noticed you there. “no - no, i just…need to step outside for a minute. i wouldn’t leave without you.” 

you nod slowly and reach for your own coat, your scarf and shoes. jihoon protests, if only mildly, but you ignore them and lead the way outside. 

11:45

you and jihoon stand outside together in silence, leaning against his car. 

it’s you that breaks it.

“she really hurt you, huh.” it’s less of a question and more of an observation. jihoon hums in response, but you hadn’t expected much more than that. “i’m really sorry, hoonie.”

jihoon hums again, then lets out a short bark of laughter. “the only one who should be sorry is my ex. and yours, i’m assuming.”

you sigh. “haejoon is the last thing i want to think about right now.”

jihoon nods. “right, right - sorry.”

the silence returns, and you play with a loose string on your glove. 

“i wasn’t - i would pick our fake relationship anyway.” jihoon says suddenly. “i know i made it sound like it was only because she cheated on me, but really, what you and i have is way better. even if it’s…fake.” there’s something in the way he says in that has your heart clenching, but you’re not sure what.

the icy weather has done well to sober you up, but you’re still definitely drunk. too drunk try and parse out what jihoon might or might not mean. 

“we should kiss.” you say, eyes trained on that damn loose string. jihoon makes a choking noise beside you. “at midnight, i mean. the other couples definitely will.”

jihoon stares at you for a few moments before he says anything. it seems he, too, is trying to decide if it’s worth it to find any deeper meaning in your words. “are you sure?” is what he goes with, instead.

“yeah, i think we’ll get too much shit if we don’t.” jihoon reaches out and plucks the loose string off clean, laying it in your palm. “thanks.”

“if you really think we should…” jihoon says softly. 

“if you’re worried i’m just….dunno, drunk, i’ve been thinking about this for a while. just…forgot.” you shrug.

jihoon’s chest caves in. you’ve been thinking about kissing him? he clenches and unclenches his fists, urging himself not to look too deep. it makes sense. these things needed consideration for your ruse to really fool anyone. of course you’d thought about it, it was a logical thing to do. nothing more.

“okay.” he says. “sounds like a plan.” 

“cool.” you return. “glad we’re on the same page.” you shiver, lips trembling, and suggest going back inside. “do you feel better now, hoonie?”

he nods. “yeah, yeah i do. thanks for coming out here with me.”

you nod back and reach out, taking his hand in yours. 

11:55

once returning inside, soonyoung plies jihoon with apologies, reaching out with attempts at hugs that jihoon maneuvers himself away from. the beanbag has been taken over by two people you don’t recognize, locked in a heated kiss, so you manage to squeeze onto an empty spot on the couch. there’s only room for one of you, really, so you end up in jihoon’s lap. 

soyoung has turned the tv to the channel homing the ball drop, a counter at the bottom of the screen detailing only three minutes left now until the end of the year. you hold your drink in your hand, other arm wrapped around jihoon’s shoulders for stability. 

11: 59

the final countdown begins. 

the thirty second mark sparks a cheer amongst the crowd in soyoung’s living room. 

you toss back as much of your drink as you can handle. the closer you get to kissing jihoon the tighter your stomach and chest begin to feel. it’s almost worse that the feelings aren’t bad, necessarily. you almost welcome them. 

you take another swig.

ten seconds left.

nine.

eight.

seven.

six.

five.

four. 

three.

two.

one.

around you, the room erupts into cheers as music starts playing, fireworks to be heard from out on the street.

your heart pounds in your ears, and you turn to face jihoon. he looks calm, and it calms the restless beating. you lean down as he tilts his head up, and you press your lips softly to his. 

you’re not sure why you were so worried about this kiss. kissing jihoon, much like every other part of your fake relationship, feels fine. feels good, even. you might almost say it feels natural, but you’re drunk so you don’t dwell on it too much. the kiss is soft, and sweet, and reminds you a lot of first kisses you’ve had in the past. jihoon’s lips move gently against yours, and you respond in kind. the cheers from the rest of the party continue as you pull away from him. you laugh, and he laughs too, bright sounds bubbling up from both of you as jihoon wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you closer. soyoung and woomin are still going at it near the kitchen counter, and numerous other couples can be spotted doing the same as you glance around the room. 

“jihoon.” you say softly, tugging at his arm, “i need to pee, let me up.”

“ah.” he releases you and helps you stand on wobbly legs so you can wade through the crowd towards the little hall where the bathroom is. a few jeers follow you, but you ignore them - the pressure in your bladder is much more important. 

you finish and wash your hands, opening the door to, surprisingly, find jihoon waiting.

“do you have to pee too?” you ask. he has had a lot of soda to drink, to be fair.

“no, no.” he shakes his head. “i um -”

jihoon doesn’t get to finish what he wanted to say.

from the living room you can hear soyoung screaming obscenities, and alarm bells go off in your head immediately, rushing from the hall with jihoon at your heels to see what was wrong.

you immediately wish you’d just stayed in the hallway.

there, standing in the living room, is soyoung, held back by woomin who looks as if he’d much rather let her go. standing opposite your best friend is someone you thought you’d never see again. someone you’d spent so much time trying to move past after he’d made you question everything you’d ever done.

standing opposite soyoung is haejoon. your ex-boyfriend. who’s decided not only to crash soyoung’s party, but to bring his girlfriend with him. 

“how fucking dare you,” soyoung is screaming, “what makes you think i would let you into my home after what you did?”

“that goes for you too, minji.” woomin seethes, eyes narrowed at haejoon’s girlfriend. 

the aura of the room is filled with hate, and anger, but you’re just filled with unbelievable sadness. 

then haejoon sees you, and he smirks. “well, fancy seeing you here.”

“i was invited.” you say meekly. you hate this, hate the way he makes you feel even after all this time. small and weak and unsure of yourself. 

he shrugs. “well, the party we were at before was a bust, and soyoung has always thrown a good party, so i thought we would drop by.” the girl he’s with smiles, something full of spite and malice, her eyes narrowed at you. 

“that’s your ex, babe?” she simpers. “no wonder you broke up with her.” she titters a ridiculous little laugh behind her hand, and haejoon chuckles before telling her to “behave.”

you feel like you’re going to throw up. soyoung looks like she’s ready to claw this girl’s eyes out - her name is already gone from your memory, she isn’t important, she’s not - and several of the men in the room have stood and are moving closer to haejoon. you don’t want things to get violent, not at all, but you do kind of wish someone would punch haejoon’s lights out. 

and then jihoon is stepping out from behind you, making his way through the crowd until he’s standing face to face with haejoon. haejoon’s girlfriend is staring at him, eyes wide and face gone pale like she’s seen a ghost.

“so you’re haejoon.” jihoon’s voice is eerily calm and your heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might burst out of your chest any moment. 

haejoon nods, looking jihoon up and down. “and you are?”

jihoon’s eyes glance towards the girlfriend, who won’t meet his gaze. “i’m surprised she didn’t tell you.” he turns back to haejoon. “i’m minji’s ex-boyfriend. the one she cheated on to be with you. did she ever tell you that? that she had to lie and sneak and hurt people to go out with you?”

you feel like your world is going to explode. you need a drink. you need ten drinks. but jihoon doesn’t seem to be done.

haejoon scoffs.“she told me, yeah. right after she dumped you. by then you guys were over, so what does it matter to me?”

jihoon sees red. “you’re a piece of shit. both of you. you deserve each other.” his fists are clenching at either side and the whole room seems to be holding its breath. 

“what’s your fucking problem, dude?” haejoon raises his eyebrows. “i didn’t do anything to you.”

jihoon considers this. his fists clench tighter. “no, i suppose not intentionally. you did, however, hurt someone very important to me.”

haejoon seems thrown off by that. and then his balance is thrown off when jihoon rears back and punches him straight in the jaw, knocking him back towards the wall.

“jihoon!” minji screeches. he ignores her and stalks towards haejoon.

“you both need to get out of here while i’m still being nice.” jihoon seethes. “you’re a piece of shit boyfriend and a piece of shit altogether, so i guess i’m glad you two found your way to each other. but,” he points back towards you, eyes locked with haejoon. “before you go, you owe my girlfriend a fucking apology for how you treated her.”

you start to tell jihoon that it’s fine, you’re fine, but he turns back towards you with determination in his eyes before turning back to haejoon.

“i’m waiting.”

haejoon is, by all means, much larger than jihoon. regardless of this, he’s always been a coward with only self-preservation to drive him, so he glances over jihoon’s shoulder at you and nods his head.

“i’m sorry.”

“that’s not good enough.” jihoon bites out. 

“i’m sorry i was a shitty boyfriend, okay? i treated you bad and i was talking to other girls while we were dating and i should have broken up with you sooner.”

jihoon punches him again, right in the gut. “that’s not a fucking apology, i ought to-” jihoon stops speaking when you let out a choked sob, and makes the choice to leave haejoon doubled over and instead move back towards you. woomin takes the opportunity to let soyoung go, and she rushes forward to grab haejoon by the ear and drag him towards the door. minji makes to follow, but you call out to her this time.

jihoon, much like everyone else in the room, looks surprised.

“you owe jihoon an apology too, you bitch. i know you never gave him one.”

she narrows her eyes at you and walks away, and now in addition to the unbridled sadness there is unimaginable rage boiling under your skin. you start to walk towards her but jihoon holds you back, wrapping his arms around you and whispering into your ear. 

“it’s fine.” he murmurs. “i’m not worth that kind of trouble.”

you scoff before wrapping your arms up around his shoulders. “what, and i am?” you whisper back, laying your head in his neck. 

“of course.”

you chuckle, but it ends up paving the way for a sob. you’re still reeling from everything that just happened, and seeing haejoon had been enough of a slap in the face before he’d opened his goddamned mouth and -

“sweetheart.” comes soyoung’s voice, soft. “why don’t you let jihoon take you home, okay?" 

you turn your head to look at her, and she looks like she’s ready to cry herself. you hate that the party has turned out this way. you can’t help feeling like it was all your fault. 

"i - i want to stay.” you reply. “i just - i need a few minutes.”

soyoung shakes her head. “i think after all that excitement it’s best we call it a night. go home, drink lots of water, and call me tomorrow, okay?”

behind her, woomin is rounding everyone up and herding them towards the door. no one seems upset, but you still feel awful. your lip wobbles and soyoung reaches out to tuck some hair behind your ear. 

you promise to call her and release your hold on jihoon, sniffling and rubbing at your nose. everyone else is gone now, you notice. jihoon takes you by the hand and brings you to the door, helping you back into your shoes and coat. now that everything is over, you just feel…numb. it’s probably shock, you think. 

you say goodbye and once more promise soyoung you’ll call her, waving goodbye to woomin. jihoon does the same, and then you’re back out into the cold and heading for his car. he helps you up before getting in himself, and there’s only quiet between you other than the sound of the car engine turning over and music playing from the bluetooth. he pulls out of their driveway and onto the street, and it’s not until you’re out on the main road that he says anything. 

“are you hungry?” 

you look over at him, not really sure. you shrug. the two of you had eaten a light dinner, and there’d been food at the party, but you find yourself sort of…craving something, if only so you don’t have to talk. 

“do you mind if we stop somewhere on the way - “

“i don’t want to go home, jihoon.” you say softly. “not - not right now. can we just - drive around for a while?”

jihoon blinks, caught off guard, but nods. “sure. then we should definitely eat something.” 

you end up at a 7-11, which works just fine for you. jihoon peruses snacks and sandwiches while you bee-line for the liquor - desperate to distract yourself from the ache beginning to gnaw fiercely at your insides. you grab three bottles of soju - surprised that there are any left - and march up to the counter, handing over your id and your money, thanking the clerk before wandering back to jihoon. he has a few bags of chips and some instant ramen tucked into his arm, and when he sees your bag his brows draw together. 

“i’m not trying to tell you what to do, but is that - are you sure that’s a good idea right now?” he asks, trying his best to show that he’s concerned, not bossy. 

you sigh. “i wanted to drink more anyway. it’s - i would have drank more at the party.”

jihoon nods slowly. “if you’re going to drink, why don’t we go back to -”

“i don’t want to go home.”

“go back to my place,” he finishes. “i can take you home later.”

you sniffle and shrug your shoulders. “okay, i guess we can do that.”

“okay.” he nods, mostly to himself this time. “let me pay for this and we can go.”

once he’s done so, you get back into the car and open one of the bottles of soju. jihoon makes a face but doesn’t ask you to stop, so you take a deep gulp from it before replacing the cap and sliding the bottle into the cupholder. the drive is silent, this time. neither of you say anything until jihoon pulls into his own driveway, hopping out of the car and waiting for you to do the same before heading inside. 

you settle onto the couch after shedding your layers at the door, and jihoon disappears into the kitchen only to show up a few minutes later holding two steaming bowls of ramen. he hands you one, and you’re surprised by the familiar container. “my favorite.”

he hums, sitting down beside you with his own. “you told me about it when we were at the carnival. do you want to watch a movie?”

you nod slowly, taking a small sip from your soju - now onto the second bottle, you were taking things slower. you let him pick, something from the mcu, but you’re not paying any attention. you can’t help it. you can’t stop thinking about the way haejoon had shown up after all this time and only made things worse, how could he have possibly made anything worse after the way he’d treated you? and to find out he’d cheated, too - you don’t notice the tears streaming down your face or the way your chest is heaving until jihoon has pulled you close to him, wiping your eyes with a tissue. 

“please.” he whispers. “that piece of trash isn’t worth this.”

“it’s my fault, jihoon.” you sob. “something is wrong with me. why else - why else would he be like that towards me when he’s - he’s perfectly fine with her?” your entire body shakes as sobs wrack through your body, barely able to see jihoon through your tears. 

“no.” jihoon insists, firm. “it’s not you, it’s him, he’s not worth a rotting piece of shit, he’s less than that, please just - there’s nothing wrong with you.”

“i made him stop loving me.” you whimper, chewing at your lip.

“someone like him isn’t capable of love.” jihoon pauses. “and he isn’t worthy of yours, either.”

you reach for the bottle of soju before jihoon can stop you, downing the rest of it. “i loved him so fucking much, hoonie.” fresh tears fill your eyes. “i loved him so much and he didn’t give a shit about me, and it hurts so much.”

“i know, baby.” jihoon whispers. “i know exactly how you feel.”

the nickname strikes you in a funny way, knowing there’s no one here for him to pretend for, but you take it. “i hate him so much.”

“good.” jihoon grabs a new tissue to wipe your face with. “he deserves all that and more. i should have - i wish i would have -” he lets out a frustrated noise and clenches his fists. you reach out and unfurl one of them to intertwine your fingers. 

“thank you for what you did, jihoon.” you say softly, unable to look at him. “i’m sorry the party was ruined on my account.”

“stop that.” jihoon squeezes your hand. “it’s not your fault. it’s theirs, for showing up where they know they aren’t wanted. they knew something like that would happen. it’s what they wanted, i’m sure.”

“but -”

“no buts.” he insists. “eat your ramen.” he stands for a moment and walks back towards the kitchen, returning with a glass of water. “and drink this. your head is going to be pounding tomorrow.”

you take the glass from him and sip slowly as he sits back down on the couch, noticeably closer than he was before. he’s pressed up against you almost as if he’s trying to remind you that he’s there, if you need him. 

you wonder if he knows how much it means to you.