#24/7 Inconvenience Store

[yenpondering]

redraws (and some redesigns) of some of my ‘24/7 Inconvenience Store’ characters!

[sanjisprincesswifey]

pros and cons

summary: the good, the bad, the ugly, perfectly curated into a pros and cons list

♡: reupload (but better now), some nsfw content is listed; MDNI, includes all characters with indications of a female reader!

black leg sanji

pros:

constantly wants to color coordinate your outfits together

let’s you pick meals at minimum once a week

very good kisser (he practiced with his pillow a lot before your first date)

he wants you to walk him like a dog

sanji never lets you forget how much you mean to him

always remembers important dates, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. 

remembers the little things and notices your absence (will often go to try and find you)

adapts to whatever love language you respond to 

cons:

the nicotine smell embeds into your sheets and clothes and is a pain in the ass to get out

yells for any minor inconvenience

occasionally too handsy

always finishes before you

major jealousy issues

is constantly horny

says he’s fine but he’s dying inside

doesn’t understand the concept of alone time and takes it personally if you ask to be by yourself

roronoa zoro

pros: 

the best napping partner

protective

is a softie but only with you

very emotionally intelligent 

gym trainer boyfriend

let’s you take the relationship at your own pace because he can’t be bothered 

loves to mark you and give you hickies

always makes sure you finish first 

cons: 

stinky (bro smells like sweat and steel)

does not have a single romantic bone in his body; you’ll literally have to teach him how to be a boyfriend

is extremely blunt 

snores super loud 

might fall asleep while you’re talking

you can no longer be friends with sanji 

doesn’t ask you to date him, just assumes you are together

gets upset when you can’t keep up with his drinking

monkey d luffy

pros: 

the best hugger 

extremely loyal to you

hides midnight snacks for both of you

lets you sit on the ship’s figurehead with him

king of silly sentimental gifts (hand-picked flower, cool rock, pretty seashell, that sort of thing)

always makes sure you’re included in conversations

shares his favorite foods with you

can always make you feel better

cons:

doesn’t know how to be quiet or whisper

never lets you win arguments

throws himself at you with no regard to his strength

no concept of personal space

rubs his boogers on you

accidentally makes fun of the noises you make during sex

will steal blankets from you while you’re asleep  

points out your pimples or zits 

usopp

pros: 

always finds a way to make you laugh

grows flowers for you

comforts you if you’re insecure

handmade gifts!!!!!!

brags about you to everyone

loves to show you off and tell stories about your adventures together

names special attacks after you

always lets you in on the pranks he pulls 

cons: 

is insecure

would sacrifice you to an enemy to protect himself

shows you bugs even if you’re afraid of them

incredibly awkward with all your firsts 

clammy hands

make jokes during arguments (it makes you madder and the cycle continues)

never tops

sometimes pranks you too 

cyborg franky

pros:

is always telling you how hot you are

can literally build/make you anything you desire

romantic (can be corny sometimes though)

so flirty with you

human refrigerator; occasionally lets you store things in there

introduces you like this: “and this is my super smokin’ hot girlfriend, OW” to anyone who will listen

protects you during fights

king of reassurance

cons:

messy

never wears pants

slaps your ass too hard since he’s half metal

dad jokes 24/7

you can’t compliment him without him doing a montage of poses

difficult to cuddle with (again he’s made of parts)

always busy fixing something on the ship

is constantly asking you if he can make you a cyborg too

nami

pros:

lets you take a few of her tangerines

immune to her reprimanding when something bad happens (most times)

extremely thoughtful gift giver

shares her money with you

cares deeply about you (don’t point it out though because then she’ll stop)

is always telling you how pretty you are

very good in bed

is more lenient with your allowance

cons:

pawns gifts you get her

bad communicator

critiques everything about you

can and will distance herself from you

charges you if you piss her off

talks about vivi way too much for having a whole other girlfriend

doesn’t apologize after fights even if she caused them

bullies you (with love)

nico robin

pros:

leaves you notes in books to find later

the voice of reason in your relationship

notices and compliments you on every little change you make (haircuts, style change, etc.)

extremely good listener

literally a human search engine; so smart you can ask her almost any question and she knows the answer

passionate lover; treats you like a god in bed

soft lips

spoils you in every way that she can

cons:

can make you feel dumb with her endless knowledge

will never say ‘i love you’ first

always tops (a possible pro depending on your preferences tbh)

has nightmares almost every night ):

closed off in the beginning of your relationship

franky hits on her (and you) all the time

rather be reading than with you

takes your relationship extremely slow

portgas d ace

pros:

can heat food up for you at any time day or night

loves pda

plans fun dates

probably says ‘i love you’ a million times a day

into body worship (both ways)

kills bugs for you

walk him like a dog, sis !

never says no to you

cons:

sweaty and greasy in the summer

farts and gives you a dutch oven

doesn’t take anything seriously

adhd moments

mommy AND daddy issues

likes to lay on top of you even though he’s huge and basically crushes you

talks with his mouth full

is loud in bed (because he enjoys it so much) and everyone can hear when you two have sex

sabo

pros:

another body worshipper

dragon claw fist. need i say more?

the best secret keeper

praises you

would actually bow down to you

very respectful, asked you to kiss on your first date

awkward but sensual lover

a loyal puppy

cons:

loves being right

sore winner & loser

cocky ass mf

talks about luffy and ace 24/7

never on time

bad temper

might catch on fire if he’s mad

loves to tease you (again, could be a pro depending on your preferences)

shanks

pros:

buys you anything you could ever want

good kisser

always showing you off

treats you like a queen

calls you his wife

very affectionate in public

another worshipper; does that thing where his kisses lead up from your hand to your shoulder

when he gets drunk and you try to kiss him, he pushes you away and says “get off me, i have a wife”

cons:

gets you riled up during the day

teases you all the time

can be unreliable

bad at flirting

drunk all the time

still makes jokes about his arm even though it’s been YEARS

lingering alcohol smell

pervert

trafalgar law

pros:

rarely cooks but always does for you when you’re sick

smells amazing all of the time

lets you do this eyeliner in the morning (based off this fanart)

is a victim of the ‘she fell first, he fell harder’ trope

gives you sound solutions to your problems

literally becomes addicted to you and can’t live without you

flusters easily, very shy

would shave his facial hair if you asked him to (please tell him to shave off that godforsaken beard)

cons:

very blunt

never talks about his feelings

grammar police

a virgin; he doesn’t know what to do but fakes confidence like he does (it makes your first time a bit awkward but just talk him through it, babe)

humbles you without meaning to

over explains if you broach a subject he likes

sassy

just stares at you when you try to flirt with him

eustass kid

pros:

scary boyfriend privilege

an absolute beast in bed

insanely good kisser

raspy morning voice

you get to use his boobies as a pillow

is very smart but kinda dumb

eats pussy like a starved man

will always save you some food (it’s how he shows he cares)

cons:

dramatic

hangs out with killer more than you

will put the milk carton back in the fridge even if it’s empty

you can never be mad at him or make him mad because he’s the biggest asshole ever

ignores you if you’re fighting

zones out while you’re talking

if you send him a long, thoughtful text, he’ll respond back with ‘k’

what’s his is his and what’s yours is his

donquixote rosinante

pros:

walk. him. like. a. dog.

possessive over you, especially around his brother

would protect you with his last dying breath

absolute romantic

probably writes you poems

gentle giant, is so careful and soft with you

amazing cook despite accidentally setting himself on fire

has the patience of a god, once again, because of his brother

cons:

clumsy

you have to keep a fire extinguisher with you at all times

you can’t get the smoke smell out of his clothes

he’s so tall you can’t kiss normally, he has to pick you up

whiny

silent treatment

covers up his farts with his devil fruit and you don’t realize it until it stinks

has really bad resting bitch face (literally goes from :| to :) in .03 seconds)

likes, reblogs, and comments are always appreciated (✿◠‿◠)

[arizonaconservativegal]

“While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant,” the bill writers state. But “allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas,” they add.

Let's be clear here - they're not trying to keep Chick-fil-A open an extra day because they're worried travelers won't be able to get chicken on a Sunday. If the availability of fast food was really the issue here, the bill would require stores to be open 24/7. They're just trying to force Chick-fil-A to 'voluntarily' leave these locations.

[dotdot-png]

welcome to sukuna's inconvenience store (open but not 24/7)

convenience store owner! sukuna always having beef with customers esp w/ kids. damn poor yuuji he doesn't know the man has stashes of hello kitty at the back door (despite being a convenience store)

credit me when reposting

[curioscurio]

Some thoughts on hypersensitivity and comparing it to viewing life as of it were one giant unpredictable youtube poop, from a sensory standpoint:

Under cut!

To me, Hypersensitivity is like a deep fried youtube poop where random noises are extra loud and crunchy while some are slow and weird and the editing is insane. sometimes it's manageable but sometimes you have to just stop the video because its overwhelming right?

now imagine if real life was like a youtube poop. The dog is barking, and maybe 40 minutes ago it wasn't deep fried and max volume, but now it's annoying, overwhelming, maybe even painful.

Certain textures feel like bass boosted mr krabs in your brain in a bad way. Or maybe you love mr krabs crunchy nightcore and you're sensory seeking.

Now imagine you live your life 24/7 in a youtube poop. Many everyday or normal things may unexpectedly be presented to you youtube poop style. having to turn the volume up or down or pause or skip or even replay just to keep yourself from shutting down the tab.

Sometimes you get so tired of youtube poops you need to minimize and pause the tab (life) and recover/decompress/isolate/etc. On the other hand, if you cant close the tab or are somewhere with no way to manage that hypersensitivity, you just freak out and do anything you can to make it stop.

Meanwhile a neurotypical brain would only have youtube poop moments on certain occasions or in situations where it's expected life will be like a youtube poop. The difference is that hypersensitive neurodivergent people may be living life in a youtube poop every moment of their day.

Luckily, we have coping mechanisms and sensory accommodation tools to help!

Just wanted to talk out my view on hypersensitivity, and why some things bother me in different ways. I'm also trying to re teach myself better methods of coping with the world I live in, where before any uncomfortable or painful feeling and emotion was stored away so as to be "convenient" to others.

Well no more! I'm trying hard to let myself be inconvenient to others if it means taking care of myself!

[oc-poll-tournament]

OC Poll Tournament Round 1 Poll 5

Propaganda below the cut:

Meparik (he/him) @gailynovelry: Meparik of the Frostbitten Court (he/him)

Meparik is many things! He is a feyrie, a pickpocket, a sign-language user, a voracious reader, and an accidental religious leader. He understands more of the political goings-on of his realm than most adults do, and profusely hates the gods for it. His bedraggledness is matched only by that of his best friend (unwilling messiah lesbian). Gaze upon the child, your honor. Do you feel it? The desire to feed him warm soups and wrap him up in a cozy blanket? I rest my case, your honor. I rest it well.

Nat Finch (he/him) @albatris: I'd like to submit Nat Finch! he/him, 25 years old, brand new baby vampire. he works the night shift at dodgy petrol and convenience store Stop 'N' Go, where he falls asleep on the clock and encourages shoplifting. he's schizotypal like me and he loves cats, cooking, and his friends! he's the protagonist of my campy gory horror trilogy, though he'd rather not be!

he's short and fat with red eyes and lots of freckles. his hair is long and black, often uneven and choppy in length, because he just cuts tangles out instead of untangling them ❤

he's a sweet boy, earnest boy, awkward boy; he doesn't have many friends at the start of the story due to his paranoia, psychosis, and social anxiety, but by the end of it has a whole bunch of good friends AND a kitty he adores named Grub who purrs like a faulty tractor

in this story vampirism is a sentient entity and all connected via a hivemind known as "the Garble".... it lives in the vampires' blood and can manipulate their thoughts as well as give them heightened strength and speed, claws and fangs, and night vision when they need it. it can be useful, but mostly it's a bully and an inconvenience

at the centre of the Garble hivemind lives the very first vampire, an undead rotting corpse and the god of vampires, and a few of their close friends and confidants. all life force collected by regular vampires flows to them at the centre and grants them immortality and power. it's a sweet deal for the folks at the centre, and a terrible deal for ordinary vampires like Nat who rarely reap any real benefits from their condition, but are threatened and manipulated into participating in this system regardless

Nat's story sees him struggling to solve the mystery of how and why he was turned and trying to balance his kind, caring nature with his new violent condition... and eventually leads him to, "hey, I think I'm going to hunt down and eat the rest of vampire god"

good for him!

some other Nat Facts:

huge drama queen (will play up being sad and pathetic to get what he wants)

vampires are hardwired to seek warmth and coziness so Nat is always down to snuggle 24/7

bouncy cheery overexcited lad who will grin for weeks if you say something nice to him

vegetarian, aside from eating people, which he insists does not count

speaking of eating people, primarily preys on rich pricks and abusive bosses

is too awkward to tell his neighbours he bought them a cute knitted blanket he thought they might like for their corgi because what if that's a weird thing to do. this has been going on for three weeks

is too awkward to tell his neighbours his name is Nat, not Matt. this has been going on for three years

has a giant scary monster mode full of eyes and teeth >:3

please consider voting for my boy!

[dearmailman]

Hi ���

Can you please write about baby Howdy being taken care of by Eddie and Frank please? (There is a criminal lack of baby Howdy in the wh agere community lmao)

If not that’s ok you enjoy your day/night neighbor!

🌸 anon

Thank you for letting me write this, genuinely, these three melt my dang heart! [art piece]

The soft scrape of a broom and a small whistling sweeps through the store as Howdy cleans up for the day. The windows were wiped down, the counter cleaned, and the stock re-stocked. With a few more sweeps and a dump of the dustpan, everything is well. Howdy all but collapses onto the stool behind the counter, smiling and wiping his brow with his sleeve. Tiredly he stares at the ceiling fan's spinning, top set of arms crossed and bottom set propping him on the counter.

He does adore his job - why wouldn't he? - but some days he just feels tired beyond belief.

The door dings and he sits up, grabbing his hat with a start, realizing he'd forgotten to flip the closed sign. And speaking of forgetting, Eddie walks up to the counter with a casual smile.

"Hiya Howdy!" he waves.

"Eddie, hello! I close at 8, did you forget?" Howdy is speaking slower than normal, and Eddie can't help looking at the circles under his eyes and the way his face sags. He smiles worriedly, tilting his head.

"Y' all good, neighbor?"

Howdy pauses, blinking unfocusedly like he just woke up. "Oh, I'm... Yes! Yes, I'm fine, Dear!"

"Y' look all... downtrodden or somethin'." Eddie reaches out a hand and touches his forehead. "Y'r all warm too- Howdy are you sick?!"

"No! No, caterpillars never get sick. I'm sharp as a whip, like always!"

Eddie looks him over, concerned. "Howdy... Y'know, it has been a while since you 'rested' proper." Eddie holds his cheeks gently. "You should let me call Frank over! We have missed babysittin'."

"Eddie, I-" Howdy's cheeks go blue and he looks to the floor. "I'd hate to inconvenience you, Ed!" His voice is putting on his usual tone, barely concealing how exhausted he sounds.

"Hm," Eddie frowns softly. It changes to a smile as he gets an idea. "How much would it cost?"

"Beg pardon?"

"Me gettin' to take care of my lil' bug for the night! How much?"

Howdy blinks and touches his chin, taking in the thought. He chuckles weakly, sighing. His top set of hands set against Eddie's own on his cheeks, and his bottom set rest on Eddie's shoulders.

"I dunno' Eds, what'd ya have on you?"

Eddie digs one hand into his pocket, and comes up with a few glittery stickers and a slightly melted chocolate bar. "Uhhh- I think I'll pay with a joke," he chuckles.

"Lay it on me!"

"Heh. Do you know why babies born on holidays are more likely to be little girls?"

"No, why?"

"Cuz there's no mail delivery!"

Howdy's nose scrunches and he snorts out a laugh that turns into a much louder laugh, covering his mouth with his hand and hugging his own stomach. "Mail delivery! Oh my!" He settles, looking much more relaxed as he lets himself lean on the counter. "Alright, alright. You can call up Frank."

Thirty minutes later, the three are together in the apartment above the bodega, Eddie and Frank fussing over Howdy. Frank picked out pajamas for him - green ones with red stripes on the pants. Eddie washed his pacifier since it was hidden in a drawer, and coaxed him through the embarrassment of using it.

Frank is laying on the bed with Howdy on his chest - which practically engulfs him under him. Eddie is making snacks for the three of them in the little kitchen. Frank lets out a breath, only frowning a little.

"Howdy, it's not good to strain yourself so much. You're only one bug, you can't work nonstop."

"Mm... Make me feel good to work though!" Howdy mumbles around the pacifier.

"I know you like having things to do with your hands all the time, but that's why you have these." He reaches to the bedside table and grabs a little tangle toy and a rubix cube, holding them up to him. "I ordered these so you don't feel like you need to work 24/7."

Howdy closes his eyes and presses his face against Frank's stomach. "Sorry, baba," he mutters.

"You're not in trouble, bug," Frank sighs. "Eddie and I love taking care of you, but you also need to care for yourself." He pets his hand through Howdy's hair, just soft.

"Who wants popcorn and candy!" Eddie calls as he enters with two big bowls held aloft.

"Eddie! Don't hold them that high, you'll fall!"

Eddie chuckles, and successfully makes it to the bed. It's a small one-bug bed, so they all have to squish together. Howdy's antennae point towards the candy, wiggling softly. "Y' hungry, lovebug?"

"A lil'," Howdy says as he pulls out his pacifier. "Only had breakfast."

"Howdy!" they both scold in unison. Howdy giggles, covering his face.

"Sorry pa, sorry baba."

"Well, at least eat now," Frank says, shoving the bowls towards him. Howdy nods and complies with no fight, grabbing food with all four of his hands and eating quickly.

"I feel like we need... Like a chore chart, but for takin' care of yourself."

"That's an excellent idea, Eddie. And I know you are already planning to craft it very pretty for him."

"O'course I am!" Eddie puffs his chest, grinning at Howdy. "I know this baby bug loves everything I craft!"

"I do!" Howdy says, excited by the idea as well.

Eddie digs in his pocket and pulls back out the three stickers. Little glittering hearts. He peels them and sticks them each to Howdy's cheeks with a 'boop!' Howdy smiles, and it's not exactly happiness. It's more of a release. Allowing himself to let go of the stress, and fully slide into regression.

He does get less talkative now, seeing as he regresses to around 2-3 years old. Eddie and Frank don't mind one bit, chatting and snuggling up to him while all of them snack. The sun goes down outside, and Eddie declares it a sleepover. All three pile close together in that little bed, Howdy sandwiched peacefully between his pa and baba.

sfw interaction only

[albatris]

Nat Post!

@original-character-championship

well he is just a little guy <3

Nathaniel Felix Finch!

he's 25 years old and he works at dodgy petrol and convenience store Stop 'N' Go! he's schizotypal like me and he loves cats, cooking, and his friends! he's the protagonist of my campy gory vampire horror trilogy, though he'd rather not be!

in this story vampirism is a sentient entity and all connected via a hivemind known as "the Garble".... it lives in the vampires' blood and can manipulate their thoughts as well as give them heightened strength and speed, claws and fangs, and night vision when they need it. it can be useful, but mostly it's a bully and an inconvenience

at the centre of the Garble hivemind is the very first vampire, a vampire god, if you will, and a small group of their vampire friends and confidants. all life force collected by other regular vampires flows to them at the centre and grants those select few immortality and power. it's a sweet deal for the folks at the centre, and a terrible deal for ordinary vampires who rarely reap any real benefits from their condition. but the Garble makes 'em participate through all kinds of threats and discomfort. it's a bummer

Nat is a brand new freshly-turned baby vampire! he was turned by a group of vampires with ~nefarious intentions~, who forcefed him part of the original vampire's rotting undead corpse. his story sees him struggling to solve the mystery of why this happened to him and trying to balance his kind, caring nature with his new violent condition... and eventually leads him to, "hey, I think I'm going to hunt down and eat the rest of vampire god"

good for him!

he's a sweet boy, gentle boy, awkward boy; he doesn't have many friends at the start of the story due to his paranoia, psychosis, and social anxiety, but by the end of it has a whole bunch of good friends AND a kitty he adores named Grub who purrs like a faulty tractor

rapid-fire Nat Facts!

huge drama queen (will play up being sad and pathetic to get what he wants)

vampires are hardwired to seek warmth and coziness so Nat is always down to snuggle 24/7

bouncy cheery overexcited lad who will grin for weeks if you say something nice to him

collector of trinkets

excellent cook and especially loves cooking for other people, because he likes to feel useful and enjoys being showered in compliments

vegetarian, aside from eating people, which he insists does not count

speaking of eating people, primarily preys on rich pricks and abusive bosses where he can

is too awkward to tell his neighbours he bought them a cute knitted blanket he thought they might like for their corgi because what if that's a weird thing to do. this has been going on for three weeks

is too awkward to tell his neighbours his name is nat not matthew. this has been going on for three years

look at he:

there's also a lil playlist of Nat tunes!

ok bye!

[dilatorywriting]

ADGSH I'm glad my brainworms spark joy, truly /gen.

There's a part of me that always feels a little bad about spreading the brainworms, because I know full well how much chaos they can cause. And I even stopped myself passing on the infection this time! And then the universe had other plans.

But alas I hath returned for a part 2. A significantly shorter part 2. I'm not sure if this will help or hinder the og plot you already had planned but! I bestoweth it onto thee all the same.

So.

Azul is now squatting in your house. Your already-too-small-for-just-you little apartment living space above your shop. He still refuses to tell you what he is, but it's quite obvious that he's not human. You would guess that he's A Thing from the ocean, based on some of his.... Habits. You suppose that it's better he stays with you though, so that you can keep an eye on him until he sorts out whatever it is that he's done to bind you both together.

Except, in that regard, you're both at a bit of an impasse. Because just as you are absolutely certain that the cause of this situation is on Azul's side, Azul is just as convinced that this whole thing is your doing somehow.

He regards you, and your shop, and your daily life in general, as if it's all some big farce. Like if he just waits long enough he'll eventually find a crack to pry his fingers into and rip down the veil, leaving you no choice but to reveal yourself as the big powerful wizard that tricked him into a binding contract. Except that's never going to happen, because you're not a big powerful wizard and never will be. And you can't make any progress on undoing the bind yourself, so you're stuck waiting until Azul manages to look past his ego and see you for what you really are.

In the mean time, the both of you settle for being as passive-agressive as possible.

There seems to be a pact of non-agression, or protection from harm, built into the bond between you. Azul cannot simply kill you to solve the issue, and you, regrettfully, cannot literally slap some sense into him. So instead, you've devolved to petty inconveniences. No there is no spare mattress, Azul, and very very unfortunately you can't afford to buy one so yes, Azul, you will have to sleep on the floor, all night, every night :). And oh? what's this? Azul woke up early because the floor was uncomfortable? And reagarranged your entire kitchen and store inventory? So now nothing is where you remember it being and finding the cultery drawer takes you 20 minutes? Why thank you, Azul :) How Generous Of You :) For Cleaning Up :)

And all of this really shouldn't be making you as upset as it does.

Seriously. You have a thick skin from growing up as the token Untalented, Almost-Magicless Mage. You do Customer Service for a living and deal with all sorts of rude and strange customers. Yet somehow Azul, Mr Pretty Boy who winded himself climbing the stairs, gets under all of this experience. Maybe it's because he's with you nearly 24/7. Maybe it's because whenever you turn to him, 7 times out of 10 what you're met with is his cold, calculating gaze. Waiting for that big reveal that's never going to happen. Or maybe it's because having someone convinced that you're more than you really are hurts so much more than any insult. Whatever the case, you continue to spark off each other.

Eventually this ends in disaster, as only it can. And it involves the little Sunday Market Pest.

You'd discovered that your Sunday Market Rival sometimes picked through your trash, and often swiped your smaller deliveries if you left them out for too long. So you'd set a trap - a box of enchanted flower seeds that you'd wrapped up to look like a delivery, set on your doorstep as if you'd forgotten it. But Azul, in his infinite wisdom, takes it upon himself to twist the enchantment put on them, so that when your rival came to demonstrate the product at the market the following day, it would turn out... not quite as anticipated, to say the least.

Problem was, you'd already sabotaged the seeds yourself. Soaked them in a mild potion, that should've changed the intented effect of the seed to a disappointing huff of smoke.

But when that poor, clueless rival of yours activates one during the bustling Sunday Market, your mild potion mixes with whatever strange enchanment Azul had cast, and the result is...quite quite bad.

You were there of course, to witness how your little trick would turn out, only to see the townspeople fleeing from the scene en masse. At the center of the almost empty market is a bizzarre disaster that swats at the stragglers and the unconscious rival of yours.

You turn to Azul and find his signature, cold stare looking back at you. He asks what you intend to do. And you break.

You scream. You scream that you can't do anything, that you never could, because you barely had any magic at all. Somewhere in your rant you also call Azul stupid. Stupid for letting his pride obscure what was in front of his face - you're just a human with barely enough magic to make some flowers grow. Not this formidable magical mastermind he mistook you for.

Azul just stares at you. Something... raw creeps over his face as he watches you. And then he's gone. And it goes suddenly and eeriely quiet at the disaster zone behind you. You turn, and the disaster is gone, smoking, as if blighted off the face of the earth. Azul is walking back to you with his eyes cast down and his mouth twisting.

The both of you sit on nearby grassy knoll and watch the wreckage smoulder. Eventually Azul speaks, and it really does feel like the earth itself stops moving when he not only admits his mistake, but also apologizes. It's short, and clipped, and huffed through his nose but it's still uttered. Azul continues speaking, and picks over his words slowly.

"If magic power is something you desire, though. I can help with that. While this bond lasts, I can be your... patron. Of sorts. I can advise with my own power and knowledge. For a price."

And when you ask what that price is, he simply says "There'll be several subclauses, but the priority is this: when I find a way to sever the bond between us, you must agree to willingly release me at that time. Otherwise, I'm afraid we'll be stuck like this. So it's also in your best interest."

And so, you make a deal with a Azul Ashengrotto, and employ an ancient eldritch something as your patron.

(aaaaand scene. That's kind of all there is for this one. Seelie post inspo + some softcore enemies to friends to lovers. Will the brainworms leave me in peace? who can say. For all I know, I could be back tomorrow with an "actually i lied the brainworm coughed up a fluff scene at 5am in the morning pls take". If nothing else I hope it sparks joy /gen)

-Reaper

*claps and claps and claps and claps and—*

I am so in love with this it’s a problem. Here I am working on Leona’s next part, trying to finish up two different projects that have nothing to do with Azul at all, and now my brain is just happily swimming through the sea of Octo Boy Chaos. Just *muah* *chef’s kiss* just builds on itself to get better and better. I am such a sucker for Azul AUs with the whole Enemy-To-??? Dynamic that mirrors the situation in the actual game. And this is just lovely

But thank you muchly for blessing my brain with this Masterpiece of a Brain Worm. Hopefully this lil’ wormy can learn to coexist with all the others currently duking it out. Best of luck, little dude

[hissterical-nyaan]

Was hearing some guy shit on my city because it's still normal and all the shops aren't open 24/7 and I'm so fucking tired of consumerism and capitalism

Like we've gotten so used to 15 minutes deliveries that the fact that some shop opens at 10 am because it's just like 3 guys running it, is so annoying to people. Stop complaining about people trying to live normal lives just because it inconveniences you a bit. All essential stuff is still available, you don't need to visit a saree store at 6am shut up SHUT UP

[leaderoffestivals]

Poltergeist Chapter 4

The Sketch in the Rubbish Heap Ch 4

Natsume: Mikejima-senpai. Your first task of the day is heRE. There’s some mop-headed trash on the ground over theRE—Bag it up immediately and get rid of iT.  Madara: Aye, aye, sir~ ♪ Tsumugi: Hey, wait—! You’re joking, right!? 

Scenario Writer: Akira Season: Winter Characters: Mikejima Madara, Sakasaki Natsume, Aoba Tsumugi, Narukami Arashi

<About an hour later…> 

Natsume: ——That’s iT. And with thAT, your orientation of this place should be compleTE.

Madara: Umu. I’ve more or less got the layout of this facility memorised nowww. It reeeally isn't that big of a place at all. In fact, it’s practically the size of a bean if you compare it to Seisoukan!

Natsume: That is a monument to entirely needless extravaganCE. I can only wonder at whose nouveau riche tastes it aims to satisFY, thouGH.  

AnywAY, this facility is equipped with all the essential amenities needed for the children to live comfortabLY. There are enough rooms for each child to have their own roOM, and for every staff member as weLL.

Madara: Hmm. Are the staff who work here expected to live on site, too?

Natsume: YeS, but for uS, we’re in a position where it’s okay for us to commuTE. 

It might be the end-of-year and New Year holiday period nOW, but we're still pretty popular idols after aLL—we still have work to dO.

Madara: I see. That’s why you won’t be able to stay on site 24/7, huh. On the other hand, I’m reeeally free now, so I’m fine with staying over!

Natsume: WeLL, that’s entirely up to yOU. If you wish to stay oN, just fill out the paperwork and go through the proceduRES, and a private room will be assigned to yOU . 

There’re plenty of vacant rooms availabLE, so it shouldn’t pose much of an inconvenience to anyone if you were to stAY.

Madara: You’re right about that. It might be small in comparison to Seisoukan, but it’s still quite a sizable facility. I’d say it could easily accommodate a hundred people at least.

However, there’re only thirty children living here, and if you factor in the staff, the total population here most likely wouldn't exceed fifty. There must be plenty of vacant rooms in this facility. 

This place doesn’t seem to be particularly popular, huh~? The building itself is remarkably well-maintained; everything's so shiny, it almost looks brand new!

Natsume: YeS, this building seems to have been recently construcTED. It is likely only a few years oLD. 

Madara: Hmmm~… … I wonder if there was a fire here, and they had the building rebuilt? 

Come to think of it, there was a considerable amount of burnt debris scattered around near the facility… …  

Natsume: FuFU. WeLL, I will gradually explain all of that to you in due tiME. 

Apart from the roOMS, the facility also boasts a large communal baTH, a dining haLL, and a small convenience store where one can purchase essential itEMS. 

I believe there won't be any significant shortages or inconveniences for the children to lead a regular life heRE.

Madara: I don’t know if I should say it’s unexpected or not, but this is shaping up to be a pretty normal orphanage after aaall. 

In contrast to an elder-care facility, which might have specialised amenities like accessible baths, there doesn’t seem to be any special facilities here. In fact, it looks just like an ordinary pension or hotel.

Natsume: You would be wrong to say there are no special facilities heRE, thouGH. As you can sEE, there are soundproofed rooms situated throughout the faciliTY, much like “lesson rooms”. 

This facility is primarily focused on providing an idol-like education and entertainmENT. 

The children who reside here sing and dance every dAY, in accordance with the curriculum offered by the faciliTY. 

This Dancing Cranes Home is a facility dedicated to the nurturing of idol taleNTS, you sEE. 

Madara: Haha! I think I’ve heard of something like this before. In a word, this place is a scaled-down version of ES or Yumenosaki—is that it?

Natsume: I don’t think it’s as ambitious as all thAT. I’ve only heard about this through rumoURS, but it seems this facility was established by some big shot in the idol industRY. 

Madara: Haaa... ... I don’t have a good impression of anyone with the title of “big shot in the idol industry” at aaall.

Natsume: AhahA. TruE, it does stink of fishy busineSS, doesn’t iT?

Madara: Well, I guess that would mean this facility was chosen for this project, precisely because of its strong connection with idols—but that’s just my speculation, though!  

Natsume: That's riGHT. It could present quite a challenge for uS, outsiders that we aRE, to interact with typical childrEN, but if the children here are aspiring idol taleNTS, there might be areas where we can offer mentorsHIP. 

HahA, it really brings back memorIES. I, toO, attended a small idol training school back in the day when I was a chiLD. 

Tsumugi: Yes, yes! Aa~h, those were the days when Natsume-kun was still going by “Natsume-chan”, right? I really miss those days. ♪

Natsume: Mikejima-senpai. Your first task of the day is heRE. There’s some mop-headed trash on the ground over theRE—Bag it up immediately and get rid of iT. 

Madara: Aye, aye, sir~ ♪

Tsumugi: Hey, wait—! You’re joking, right!? 

I may indeed be a trash-like human, but there's no trash lying around here! And that's because we’ve already cleaned this place up properly!

Arashi: That’s right~. Both of you, do be sure to get along… … okay?

Fuuu... I’ve never been interested in household chores, and am totally unused to any of this. I’m really exhausted now!

Tsumugi: Fufu. Thank you for your hard work, Narukami-kun! 

—————-To be continued——————-

Chapter 3 / Chapter 5

Translator's Notes:

This chapter hasn't been proofed, so. if you have any feedback, please DM me.

[upismediacenter]

OPINION: DiliMall: Not a Mall for All

Photo credit: Lauren Nina Andres

For decades, the UP Shopping Center (SC) was a staple for the UP community. Filled with various stores from computer shops, school supplies stores, photocopying and bookbinding services, to food stalls, and beauty parlors, among others, the SC catered well to the needs of students, faculty, staff, and even residents of the campus. However, in 2018, the well-loved SC burned down, causing vendors to be displaced and its once affordable items and reliable services to no longer be easily accessible.

After the fire, the tenants experienced difficulties with relocating and rebuilding their establishments. According to an article by ABS-CBN, the University’s Business Concession Office drew lots for the affected business owners. Those that were picked were allowed to reopen in other locations on campus, such as Vinzon’s Hall, the Food Hub next to the Fine Arts Building, the Centennial Building, and the Acacia Building, among others. Some tenants were able to rebuild at the old tennis court nearby, provided by the administration as a temporary space, and others opted to reopen in Area 2. A month later, during the 1334th Board of Regents meeting held in April 2018, former UP President Danilo Concepcion announced plans for the rehabilitation of the SC into a more modern structure. And thus, “DiliMall” was born.

The move to rebuild and rebrand the SC as DiliMall was criticized by community stakeholders because the administration’s priorities seem to be misplaced as revealed in the proposed floor plan of the structure posted by the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) last November 24, 2023. Robinsons Easymart and other known restaurants such as Mary Grace, Pancake House, and Army Navy take up the first floor, while the space given to UP vendors is found on the third floor. Not to mention, the vendors in the tennis court are at risk of being displaced once again since the space will be converted into a parking lot.

This begs the question of whether these “development plans” are truly for the benefit of the community or are merely ways for developers and businesses to capitalize on the university.

In light of this, last March 12, the “UP Not For Sale Network” was launched, consisting of various organizations namely, the USC, Shopping Center Association, UP Academic Workers Union, UP Workers Alliance, Movement for Democratic Governance, and Local College Councils. The network calls against the commercialization of DiliMall and pushes for the prioritizing of the UP Community.

DiliMall is not just the issue

DiliMall is not the first time the UP community has faced commercialization on campus. In an article by the Philippine Collegian, USC Councilor and Community Rights and Welfare Head Kristian Mendoza claimed that DiliMall is part of the implementation of the UP Master Development Plan (MDP), a land use policy approved by the Board of Regents in 2014 aiming to “proactively and systematically” develop UP’s land assets.

Before this, the UP Administration had already begun developing idle lands of the university, approving Ayala Land’s bid to convert 37.5 hectares of land into an information and technology hub in 2006—the UP Ayala Technohub.

The UP Integrated School (UPIS) community is familiar with this issue, as the old Grades 7-10 Building was replaced with the UP Town Center in 2013 by the same developer. From our 8-hectare land along Katipunan Avenue, we were moved to a building built and donated by the Ayala Corporation, a 5-structure facility with a main 4-story building, where the Narra Residence Hall once stood. The new 7-10 Building was budgeted at P180-million, from which P40-million was allotted for upgrades to the Grades 3-6 Building.

Only 10 years later, the Grades 7-12 Building is in a state of downfall, proving to be a great inconvenience and safety hazard to the UPIS community. During the Academic Year (A.Y.) 2022-2023, grades 3-12 students had to share the 3-6 Building since the structural integrity of the 7-12 Building was still being assessed. In A.Y. 2023-2024, although the 7-12 Building was cleared for use, parts of the building have been barricaded due to the degraded structure resulting in longer detours when moving from classroom to classroom and restricted movement among students, teachers, and staff.

The new Gyud Food Hub, which opened in December 2022, posed similar concerns as the development of DiliMall with failing to prioritize UP vendors that have long served the community. In this case, vendors displaced from the Main Library received a handwritten note from President Concepcion assuring them slots in the new facility. However, contrary to the administration’s promise, these vendors were not granted a space in the hub.

Moreover, the implementation of these establishments serves to exacerbate class disparity in the university by focusing on businesses catering to higher-income consumers that exclude students and lower-income community members. Again, the firms affected by the 2018 fire incident in the Shopping Center are still grappling with getting proper spaces allocated among them where established businesses have taken precedence over them.

Additionally, vendors and business owners are not the only ones being displaced by UP’s development plans, but as well as its residents. Homes and residences were demolished and claimed in accordance with the UP MDP. Some of the affected communities were Pook Village C, residents located at the UP Arboretum in 2020, and farmers from Pook Aguinaldo in 2021. These communities and families have been residing in the said areas for decades without any issues, only for them to be evicted from their homes; their livelihoods taken away to give space for “sustainable” infrastructure projects, without proper plans for relocation.

This further demonstrates how commercialization discriminates against marginalized individuals within the UP Community and society.

Additionally, the commercialization in UP Diliman may lead to the phase-out of small local businesses and vendors that have long been an integral part of the community. This greatly affects not only their livelihood but also the culture and diversity of the university’s environment.

Concerns and detractors from the UP community continue to rise towards this issue as stakeholders of the community are negatively affected and neglected by the university. Examples of affected sectors are dormitories, classrooms, and faculty buildings, all of which are experiencing problems with their space, functionality, and facilities.

It is important to maintain and improve the academic environments of UP as this will keep the university’s name, provide equal learning opportunities, liaise with the communities, and secure student wellbeing. These areas are fundamental in the institution for they facilitate learning and contribute towards its success as a top-ranked higher learning institution. To uphold the eminence that characterizes UP, we need to give priority to the conservation and upgrading of academic spaces.

Commercialization for who?

The university insists that converging with the private sector is beneficial as income generated from these rented spaces can be directed to academic and community needs. However, based on the 2016 audit report by the Commission of Audit, it is revealed that Ayala Land Inc. has 209.2-million pesos worth of unpaid obligations to UP. The amount comprises underpayments in rent income and late interest payments for the spaces at UP Technohub and UP Town Center. This raises the question as to why the university continues to commercialize its land when the previous corporation failed to keep up with its lease agreements.

Nevertheless, the university is still in dire need of other means of income. Government funding shortages can be pointed as to why the university insists on commercializing its land assets. Despite the fact that UP’s 2024 budget increased by P508-million, amounting to P24.771-billion this year, 80% of the funds were allocated for the university’s infrastructure projects. Sectors such as utility and maintenance incurred a P1.3-billion cut, and the budget for university operations was reduced for the new budgetary focus. According to an article by the Philippine Collegian, even if the funds for infrastructure were excluded, UP still suffered a P873-million cut. Additionally, P943-million will be cut for the provision of higher education services—which may result in fewer resources allocated to quality education for students. Taking all of this into account, it can be understood why commercialization may appeal to UP—as the university is getting increasingly pressured by almost all sides of its community to take action for its funding shortfalls.

Even so, our integrity as a public education and service institution must come first. It must be emphasized that UP serves as the nation’s model for quality education, and when we allow commercialization and privatization to be fostered within our institution, it may invite other educational institutions in the country to also be dependent on for-profit provisions. Reinforcing this notion, the presence of privatized businesses as stakeholders in the university may greatly influence university decisions, academic programs, and student policies.

In the end, UP must decide between prioritizing the community's interests or pursuing commercialization at the expense of its constituents. However, we’ve experienced the effects of this firsthand: the building we’ve sacrificed for profit forced us to settle for our current building–one that is deteriorating, crumbling piece by piece. We must ask ourselves: are we going to let this happen again? If the university chooses to commercialize its spaces for funding, attention, and care for its students and community must still be sustained.

Therefore, we need to oppose the commercialization of spaces and services in our university, assert our right to quality basic academic spaces and student facilities, stand with the vendors, employees, and families affected, and call on the administration to negotiate better terms with business partners—terms that put the benefit and interest of the UP community first. Furthermore, it is important to stress the need for more funding from the government to be able to run UP’s essential activities and programs successfully. We should come together to protect the good name of our institution and meet its responsibility to the UP community and the Filipino people.

// by Kela Alcantara, Grace Gaerlan, Xia Mentes

Sources:

Abello, L. T. (2024, February 6). UP students protest increasing commercialization of campus spaces. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/07/2331536/students-protest-increasing-commercialization-campus-spaces

Abello, L. T. (2024, March 12). UP community on ‘DiliMall’ opening: ‘Do not commercialize the services to the people’. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/12/up-community-on-dili-mall-opening-do-not-commercialize-the-services-to-the-people-1

Chua, C. (2022, July 6). UP’s Proposed 2023 Budget Set to Fund DaniCon’s Infra Splurge in His Last Year in Office. Philippine Collegian. https://phkule.org/article/586/ups-proposed-2023-budget-set-to-fund-danicons-infra-splurge-in-his-last-year-in-office

Daduya, J. (2023, January 28). “Nabudol kami!”: UP’s small-time vendors cry foul over Danicon’s unfulfilled promises.https://csspsinag.wordpress.com/2023/01/28/nabudol-kami-ups- small-time-vendors-cry-foul-over-danicons-unfulfilled-promises/

Gavilan, J. (2018, March 8). From photocopying services to Rodic’s: What’s inside UP Shopping Center. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/197714-things-to-know-up-diliman-shopping-center/

Gonzales, I. (2016, February 25). Ali reviews COA findings on unpaid obligations to UP. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/business/2016/02/02/1549017/ali-reviews-coa-findings-unpaid-obligations-up?fbclid=IwAR2xWm74RVI8zYPn3EHJ9eUw0jaLyj3TMVziHv6i9RFSKZuwoHnDfz-zZsU

Lara, R. (2018). Decisions of the Board of Regents 1334th Meeting, 6 April 2018. The University of the Philippines Gazette, 49(3), 23-24. https://osu.up.edu.ph/2018/04/1334/

Lirio, A. (2023, December 24). An increase with setbacks: A look into the UP System’s 2024 budget. Tinig ng Plaridel.

[fictionkinfessions]

Leave it to my past lifetime's ‹habit› lifestyle to follow me into my current one as of now. As usual, even while the sun does not burn my body any more ⟨or at least not as badly as it used to since I'm still pale anyways⟩, yet I still find myself pulling all-nighters and slumbering my days away.

It's starting to get ridiculous at this point that no matter how many times I try to fix my sleeping patterns to fit into a proper schedule, I continue to struggle with staying awake at night and sleeping all day. I may not technically be a vampire anymore in this day and age, especially not via the body I currently inhabit, but regardless of what I am it's unacceptable for me to continue this behaviour.

I mean, really— a majority of businesses ((including doctor appointments, most job places ‹not counting for the night-shift related jobs› most/some amusement parks, restaurants, grocery stores and other various miscellaneous locations)) all have one thing in common in regards to open business hours all taking place only during the day; not everything is open 24/7 365 or just 24/7 in general without the 365 days altogether.

I've tried various things ranging from coffees, energy drinks, melatonin gummies, sleepy time tea drinks, inconsistent sleep schedules throughout different times of the day and night to "fix" this habit of mine but inevitably it always reverts back to this inconvenient behaviour no matter how I approach it.

I thought it was insomnia at one point, but oddly enough I can barely stay awake for 8 hours before eventually falling asleep for a few more hours again, and even then I don't necessarily stay asleep for long without having to "go back to sleep" multiple times just to get a full day's rest. Yet once it's night time, it's an entirely different story that I just can't ever remain tired at these hours, only temporary fixes.

I hope my message finds other fellow vampirekins of all sources in knowing that I'm not alone on this, or at the very least that they too know they are not alone in struggling with this recurring sleep pattern messing with their daily life ‹provided if they are having the same issue as me, I can't just assume it for each one out there›. Know that you're not alone, I'm sorry if you also have struggled with this as much as I have; I, too, can only hope that we can eventually find a way to defeat this habit ⟨or at least maybe encounter more places that can accomodate for us "night-owls" that can never adjust to living our lives during the day as opposed to night⟩.

x

[dotdot-png]

customer! toji fushiguro

welcome to sukuna's inconvenience store (open but not 24/7)

a concerned customer and his customer's feedback pls come again (or maybe never jk)

reasons for coming back to sukuna's store: affordable and near his house and he likes picking fights with sukuna.

(maybe he should ask him out instead)

owner! sukuna art here

credit when reposting

[poppy-in-the-woods]

Urban gothic concept: the inconvenience store. The inside is poorly lit and/or the fluorescent lights flicker. The clerk has an unsettling aura, despite looking very normal at first sight. They're (theoretically) open 24/7 but they’re always out of whatever you need. They also seem to display the "back in 5 minutes" sign at the worst moments possible, and the clerk always takes more than 5 minutes to come back. You're convinced they're involved in shady business, because they don't seem to sell enough to keep them open. The door to the stock room has a warning sign in an unknown language that looks like several languages but it's not any of them, and the symbols on it are vaguely threatening. The back door has some graffitis that make your eyes hurt and you feel dizzy if you look at them for too long. The door is always surrounded by fog at night, no matter the time of the year or the temperature.

[oc-poll-tournament]

OC Poll Tournament Round 2 Poll 3

Propaganda below the cut:

Nat Finch (he/him) @albatris: I'd like to submit Nat Finch! he/him, 25 years old, brand new baby vampire. he works the night shift at dodgy petrol and convenience store Stop 'N' Go, where he falls asleep on the clock and encourages shoplifting. he's schizotypal like me and he loves cats, cooking, and his friends! he's the protagonist of my campy gory horror trilogy, though he'd rather not be!

he's short and fat with red eyes and lots of freckles. his hair is long and black, often uneven and choppy in length, because he just cuts tangles out instead of untangling them ❤

he's a sweet boy, earnest boy, awkward boy; he doesn't have many friends at the start of the story due to his paranoia, psychosis, and social anxiety, but by the end of it has a whole bunch of good friends AND a kitty he adores named Grub who purrs like a faulty tractor

in this story vampirism is a sentient entity and all connected via a hivemind known as "the Garble".... it lives in the vampires' blood and can manipulate their thoughts as well as give them heightened strength and speed, claws and fangs, and night vision when they need it. it can be useful, but mostly it's a bully and an inconvenience

at the centre of the Garble hivemind lives the very first vampire, an undead rotting corpse and the god of vampires, and a few of their close friends and confidants. all life force collected by regular vampires flows to them at the centre and grants them immortality and power. it's a sweet deal for the folks at the centre, and a terrible deal for ordinary vampires like Nat who rarely reap any real benefits from their condition, but are threatened and manipulated into participating in this system regardless

Nat's story sees him struggling to solve the mystery of how and why he was turned and trying to balance his kind, caring nature with his new violent condition... and eventually leads him to, "hey, I think I'm going to hunt down and eat the rest of vampire god"

good for him!

some other Nat Facts:

huge drama queen (will play up being sad and pathetic to get what he wants)

vampires are hardwired to seek warmth and coziness so Nat is always down to snuggle 24/7

bouncy cheery overexcited lad who will grin for weeks if you say something nice to him

vegetarian, aside from eating people, which he insists does not count

speaking of eating people, primarily preys on rich pricks and abusive bosses

is too awkward to tell his neighbours he bought them a cute knitted blanket he thought they might like for their corgi because what if that's a weird thing to do. this has been going on for three weeks

is too awkward to tell his neighbours his name is Nat, not Matt. this has been going on for three years

has a giant scary monster mode full of eyes and teeth >:3

please consider voting for my boy!

Conor (he/him) @pen-of-roses: Submitting (to absolutely no one’s surprise, i’m sure) Conor! He/him trans former-pirate current nuisance to most known and some unknown shards of Esharial.

His entire past would be too long to get into, but the spark notes is after waking up with no memories, hoped on ship, died, came back, went a little insane and killed a bunch of people, lost the closest thing he had to family, went a little more insane, and is now trying to figure out how he got his abilities and maybe screw over the deities of Esharial along his bloody and wine filled path of debauchery (current sanity: questionable)

He can’t lie, can hear others lies and their emotions, and though you can kill him, really it’s only a waste of time and energy as he’ll come back and likely kill you for it