#AND I LOVE SETH'S SONG SO DAMN MUCH

[jollyinha]

Random Songs I Associate With YV BOYS - Part 1 (?)

(And imma about to COOK with this one)

AURON

"I keep my closet free of skeletons

'Cause I'm much better at digging graves"

SETH

"My mother said I was always afraid of the dark

But I'm not, I don't mind having a ghost in my bed"

CHARLIE

"When I hear you and I, after I've been lost at sea

I surrender, even better than the memories"

ALPHONSE

"Sugar in a bowl, on your coffee table

Animals that sleep on your dinning room floor in your house

You are just waiting for time to pass by one second at a time"

[ideasarestuckinmyhead]

|•♡•♡{Welcome pick your man!}♡•♡•|

|•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡{Number 17}♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•|

Sugar sickness

{♡} requested

- Short story of Boo, wanting to match Alphonse's freak, got sick after eating too much candy. Now Alphonse is helping them recover from it.

Bubble gum couple

{♡} requested

- Story where Boo dyes their hair the same as Alphonse as a surprise

Their a little confused, but they got spirit

{♡} requested

- HC's of Alphonse with a listener that's 'dumb as a brick

Art idea

{♡} personal

- draw this mf as a pastel clown

Incorrect Quotes:

Oh ima bout to make a name for ma self

I'll be your stress outlet, Sugar.

{♡} requested

- Seth get's bend over the desk and fucked w a dildo, NSFW

Outfits

{♡} requested

- Outfits I picked for him

YIPPEE MY PARTNER'S BACK!!

{♡} requested

- Blurb of Casper coming back home form being abroad for their job!!

Look at this cool thing I made.

{♡} requested

- HC's for Charlie with a potter reader!

Teenage dirt bags!

{♡} requested

- Short story where teenage Casper protects Charlie from bullies.

Cheese

{♡} ask

- the cheese tax the cheese tax

YESSIRR

{♡} ask

- Pussy drunk truther fr

Incorrect Quotes:

About to fall off

Finn outfit

{♡} personal

- pretty dresses!!

Song

{♡} personal

- Oh Mary contrary how does your garden grow

Incorrect Quotes:

What the fuck.

Draw me like one of your french girls!

{♡} requested

- HC's/short story of Faust with a artist Star who asks him to pose for drawings.

Discord

{♡} personal

- lol discord couple

Incorrect Quotes

Valley girl stereotype!

Ironic innit?

lock in chat.

I know this pretty rave girl-

{♡} requested

- Blurb of Auron finding out Rook was a scene kid

If you hurt my fucking child, so HELP me.

{♡} requested

- Story of Auron meeting Rook's father. But he knows the 'side job' Auron has, also he was in a gang so uh Auron gets threatened :D

Got caught red handed!

{♡} requested

- Short story of Camp Counselor AU Rook pranking Auron with a hand print on his butt.

A bit of brat taming.

{♡} requested

- NSFW short story where Auron deals with a bratty Rook.

Kitty kitty

{♡} ask

- Cute idea for Rook to turn into a cat

Staring contest

{♡} ask

- Damn him being sexy

Am I a bad person?

{♡} personal

- I wonder if my younger self would like me.

Incorrect Quotes:

What'cha gonna do about champ?

Just Dance!

{♡} ask

- ina minute ima need a sentimental man or woman to pump me up!!

Doordash

{♡} personal

- He'd so loved it

Incorrect Quotes:

....Crack?

Jack with a selective mutism Reader

{♡} requested

- HC's! Ngl loved doing this one bc Jack is so supportive

Wow your so COOL!!

{♡} requested

- HC's for Jack with a sporty Reader!

My first kiss went a lil like this!

{♡} requested

- Short story where Jack and Buddy share their first kiss!

Nails

{♡} personal

- short ocean themed nails for him bc why not

Bittersweet College Au

{♡} requested

- HC's if they were in college (ngl might do pt2)

I got that dog in me! (It's a wolf)

{♡} requested

- Bittersweet boys with a werewolf sugarboo (lowkey so silly)

Were just a call away.

{♡} requested

- Short story of Sugarboo moving and calling the boys the first night after moving away, crying.

A quiet voice chooses not be be heard

{♡} requested

- HC's of Seth and Faust with a listener that has selective mutism. (I think that would count as it?)

A child of divorce (not really)

{♡} requested

- silly blurb of Al and Boo fighting over custody of Seth.

And here we are burning out.

{♡} requested

- HC's of Finn, Auron and Faust's listener dealing with burnout.

Happy birthday, love!

{♡} requested

- HC's with Alphonse, Auron, Faust and Finn celebrating your birthday with you! (Also this is a bday gift to my mootie)

Damn, that's a expensive fur suit

{♡} requested

- HC's of Charlie, Auron, Seth and Alphonse who's listener has/wears a fursuit

A pair of good boys.

{♡} requested

- HC's with bittersweet boys reaction to listener calling them good boys

Crazy shit, new day

{♡} requested

- HC's with Faust, Jack and Finn with a listener who's like Felix Argyle (Re:Zero)

Tis the season, for the sickness

{♡} requested

- Bittersweet trio headcanons with a sick Sugarboo

DIY salon in the bathroom.

{♡} requested

- Short story of Seth and Alphonse helping Sugarboo redye their hair :D

Middle Ground as Camp Counselor's

{♡} requested

- HC's with middle ground for my mootie :D

This was is the greatest show!

{♡} requested

- Wasn't really a request but wanted to write it as such!! Alphonse, Seth, Finn and Jack with a ex trapeze/acrobat reader!

Don't touch me.

{♡} requested

- HC's with Jack and Charlie with a listener who hates being touched.

Baddie's love anime

{♡} requested

- HC's for Faust, Auron, Jack and Finn with a baddie reader who watches anime

He who shouldn't be named

{♡} requested

- Short story of Al and Seth accidentally running into Boo's ex

YV boy's but as Sans

{♡} ask

- From moot who is really good at thinking about things

Gravity Falls Au

{♡} ask

- Honestly need to write more of these.

YV x lgts Au from moot

{♡} ask

- Au my moot was telling me about! (Check their blog out for more cool au's!!)

Monster prom

{♡} ask

- Was askled who I think the boys would romance and play as!!

Southern Stars: A not so great start.

{♡} personal

- The beginning of Southern Stars (might write more idk)

The urge to learn how to animate

{♡} personal

- Plz this trend would work so well for the boys </3

Cute pose

{♡} personal

- Art idea bc this would fit them

Hatsune Miku

{♡} personal

- The boy's Miku sona's :D

Pixie hallow fairy types

{♡} personal

- Silly idea bc of a quote I wanted to do w Faust

Tarot Cards

{♡} personal

- Just idea that came up all of a sudden

What dog's would they have?

{♡} personal

- Tell me what y'all

Charms I made :D

{♡} personal

- Love crafting things

My bracelet box!!

{♡} personal

- Decorating a box I had all my bracelet things in!!

Yuurivoice Twitter PT46 PT47 PT48 PT49 PT50 PT51 PT52 PT53

Incorrect Quotes:

WALK IT OFF

Cheap kazoo

[redinkscrawl]

Redd Reviews: THE MASQUERADE by Seth Dickinson

Genre: SciFi/Fantasy

Major Tropes: Hero corruption arc, slow burn, enemies to lovers, enemies to friends, morally gray characters, women's wrongs, righteous rebellion, bury your gays*, unreliable narrator

Representation Rating: A

(brown lesbian mc, mostly LGBT and nonwhite characters, written by a queer?** author. Some disability rep but could be better/have more imo.)

*On the subject of bury your gays, there's nothing I can say that @canmom hasn't said better. But rest assured, while gays are buried, other gays survive and may even thrive.

**The only reference I can find to Seth Dickinson being queer is in that same blogpost by canmom, which states that Dickinson was questioning his pronouns on Twitter at that point in time. I can't find his Twitter, found no note of queerness on his website, and have only seen him referred to as he/him. That said, this is a wonderfully queer book, and it sure seems like a queer author wrote it.

Young and brilliant Baru Cormorant's home has been slowly invaded, slowly and insidiously taken over by the Empire of the Mask. So she vows her revenge. But what extremes will she have to go to to take down the empire from the inside?

Full of political and economic intrigue, ship battles and sword fights, and twists and turns, these books are the book series I've always wanted to write.

My Thoughts

Overall

"This is the truth. You will know because it hurts."

These books are fucking fascinating. The worldbuilding is strong, beautifully done, and incredibly interesting to boot. The characters are AMAZING and extremely rich. The fictional cultures are complex and gorgeous. The plot becomes increasingly more unhinged, beginning with accounting and political intrigue and ending with cancer cults. And the plot is so smart. So are the rest of the books. (Keep a dictionary handy!) Beauty and brutality in equal measure, these books may make you cry or laugh or both, but they'll definitely keep you turning pages.

My verdict: READ THESE BOOKS.

Book 1: The Traitor Baru Cormorant

This book is one I'll never forget. The highs are high, and the lows are low. If Dickinson has one gift, it's making you care about the accounting and minutiae of this damn rebellion. This book has so much heart it can hardly contain it, and a deep reverence for the common people, despite being about a savant in a powerful position acting against other individuals in powerful positions.

Baru as a character is just... chef's kiss. You root for her when she does good, you root for her when she does evil. It's all but impossible to not want her to succeed.

Fascinatingly, The Traitor Baru Cormorant works as a standalone novel, which makes sense since it originated as a short story. But this is a rare quality amongst firsts in fantasy series, I've found. To me this just demonstrates Dickinson's skill at storytelling.

The names of characters and places are frequently very difficult. I love them. Most characters have distinctly ethnic names, though not necessarily from real ethnicities. Many are difficult for my English-addled brain to pronounce, but they are beautiful and distinct. The world is exceptionally immersive.

If you didn't like the political intrigue and minutiae of A Song of Ice and Fire, you won't like this book. If you did, this is 100% the book for you.

The twists are delicious and the ending is ultra emotional, and expertly executed. I was sobbing. I wanted to throw the book, but I had to keep reading.

Rating: 👛👛👛👛👛/5

Book 2: The Monster Baru Cormorant

This book falters, just slightly, for me. It's still a fascinating, somehow quick read, but it just didn't hit me the way the other two books did. Baru spends a lot of time seemingly achieving nothing, and while every plot point is vital to Baru's character later on... they don't always seem worthwhile at the time. I just can't give The Monster Baru Cormorant a perfect score.

I don't like the switch to first person for Xate Yawa's POV. I found it jarring and out-of-place in a novel that is otherwise third person, and where Yawa is not the main character. This bothered me less and less as the novel went on (and into the next,) but still. The choice doesn't make sense to me, since we already get character's thoughts through the third person limited POV. I'd like to pick the author's brain about this.

I do love how much we learn about the world of The Masquerade in this book. The world expands exponentially, as evidenced by the expanded map. I'm kind of obsessed with the concept of trim; the concept that all things are connected to all things, and one should live accordingly, to put it simply. The Oriati culture is fascinating and just so, so beautiful.

Rating: 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️.5/5

Book 3: The Tyrant Baru Cormorant

This book is INSANE. And gods, Seth Dickinson really keeps you reading! The tension is off the charts and the cliffhangers hit where it hurts. Some might call some of the cliffhangers cheap, but since the characters believe in the tension, I believe in the tension. That makes all the difference for me.

This book shines in the logistics. Clearly Dickinson did his research on, like, everything. Economics of course, but also ship parts and naval strategy and brain injury and every other detail I can't remember but that made the story feel so, so real.

The horrors released in this book shook me, and the hopes birthed in this book are delightfully optimistic in comparison. The end of this book is a relatively triumphant, happy ending...which is kind of crushing when you remember that there's going to at least be a fourth book.

I can't state enough that this book is crazy, but I can't tell you much more without spoilers. A definite page-turner. If you liked the first two books, you'll love this one.

Rating: 🗺️🗺️🗺️🗺️🗺️/5

Book 4: Upcoming

And I can't wait.

Rating: 🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭/5

Check out waffalet's elf girl maker here.

[theresidualhope]

This song speaks so fucking beautifully to a very specific part of me, I love it so much.

“Don’t tell the boys that we done spent the week inside and watched four seasons of The O.C. Until Marissa fucking died.

At times I’m a little more like Ryan and you’re a little more like Seth. You’re so quick witted when we talk about what happens after death.

Heard your brothers in the desert he’s been fighting for our freedom he’s been chasing nameless faces ever since he finished rehab.

We support the individual without supporting the whole damn conflict. It’s either shooting guns or heroin at least one of them pays for college, oh shit!”

[actually-autisticc]

My thoughts on the Super Mario Movie

My autistic ass needs someone to talk to about this film and I have nobody. I know I don’t post as often anymore on here but I need to let this energy out. Here’s what did work and didn’t work

What did work:

the animation: DAMN. It looked amazing. I loved how smooth they looked on screen and the details of the character models, the background, etc. You can tell they put a lot of love into it. It felt so nice to see our favorite video game characters on screen like this. All of the references were such a joy to find and recognize. It’s also crazy that Mario came from being an 8bit model to this glorious, detailed, 3D model. And some scenes “camera” moved in a way that would be in a game. When Mario and Luigi were on their way to their first plumbing job, the “camera” moved sideways as the first Mario games were side-scrolling. When Toad and Mario were heading to the castle and poor Mario was being thrown around, the “camera” moved around like I guess the newer games? I mean it looked like Super Mario Odyssey but there could be other games, I haven’t played every single one (now I want to). Really cool attention to detail. My autistic ass loves attention to detail. The models looked good as well like Bowser’s scales and the brothers’ clothing. Funny how 3D animation wasn’t as detailed before like with Veggietales and Toy Story 1 but now we have HAIR. You get it.

The music: Some parts hit, some didn’t. I loved the orchestral remixes of our beloved songs. When the kart scene came on, I immediately recognized the music and felt PUMPED, especially when they were making the karts and I heard the Mario Kart 8 theme. I wanted to jump out of my seat but couldn’t cause I didn’t wanna be weird. Hearing the theme songs as well felt satisfying. It scratched that itch I didn’t know I needed to be scratched. I found myself listening to the soundtrack right after. I’m glad they chose 80’s songs rather than fucking Doja Cat or whatever but it still threw me off hearing Take On Me, Holding Out for a Hero, and Mr. Blue Sky. (Cmon Shrek did Holding Out better. No topping it) As much as I love those songs, I remembered that this is an Illumination movie so of course they’d have popular songs. If they left the pop songs in the human world and kept the Mario songs in the Mushroom kingdom, etc, it would’ve made a little more sense. No Sleep til Brooklyn was good tho, made sense cause they live in Brooklyn and they were in the human world.

Chris Pratt: Yes, I know everyone was skeptical of Chris Pratt playing Mario. I love Chris in Guardians of the Galaxy as Peter Quill so I didn’t have much doubt but since he is a celebrity and you know how movies these days (mainly Illumination) love to get big names in their films. I wasn’t disappointed. He was good, not bad. As much as I love Martinet’s iconic Mario, I don’t think I’d be able to handle hearing it the whole time. It’s iconic but let’s be real hearing “let’s-a-go!” the whole time is a bit jarring. Mario’s from Brooklyn so that’s what Chris tried. And his Wahoo! was good! You knew he didn’t want to ruin this character because of how much it holds. He TRIED. And Martinet as Giuseppe saying “it’s a perfect!” Felt like he was sharing the torch with Chris. He squished all the critics doubts by saying “he’s Mario too, it’s fine. Deal with it.” Hearing the voice made me smile so wide, it was like hearing an old friend. I think he even said that doing Mario’s voice too much hurt so we don’t want him to feel any pain for our sake! We all owe Chris an apology. You did great bro

Seth Rogan: I love DK. He’s big, loud, goofy, and strong. Seth did that right and honestly idk who else would play him. Hearing Seth’s iconic laugh made me laugh, idk who can hate it. It fit DK as it kind of…sounded ape-like? The whole fight between Mario and DK was straight out of a game. I loved the interaction between DK and Mario. They’re enemies at first but soon, they respect each other as in the games. I wish that wasn’t the whole character development between two characters in the movie, I wish it was Mario & Luigi, Mario and toad, or Mario and Peach. Hell, even Mario and Bowser. But this is only the first movie so we’ll see more

Anna-Taylor Joy: not much to say about her. I think Peach was fun and I’m glad they didn’t go the “damsel in distress” or “girl boss” route. We get it, we’re becoming SOMEWHAT better in terms of shit like that but god we don’t need it every time. Peach was a badass, she cared for her kingdom and subjects, and she was sweet. That’s Peach! It wasn’t the “I don’t need no man” or forced relationship with Mario and that was good. I loved Peach’s racing outfit too and all the power ups. Peach was awesome, I’m glad they didn’t ruin her

Charlie Day: I haven’t seen much of him but wow I loved his Luigi! I always loved Luigi, he was always the b guy and he deserves a lot of love. He’s adorable. I wish Luigi had more of an interaction with Bowser. We could’ve gotten a lot of funny scenes with them together (of course it’d be fuel to the shipping fire) and it was cut too short. I mean, bowser didn’t need MUCH from Luigi, he just needed information so it wouldn’t make sense why he’d keep him around when he could throw him in the dungeon with Luma, the penguins, etc. And the whole thing with Mario and Luigi “sticking together” was nice but…they weren’t together AS much? Yes, Bowser kidnapped him but idk it didn’t really feel so emotional. Their team up at the end was amazing of course, had the biggest smile with the star music on. Luigi must be protected

Keegan-Michael Key: His Toad was good! Kind of wished we saw more of Toad and Mario together but he was the comic relief. Sucked he wasn’t in it as much but maybe next movie.

Jack Black: MY MAN. GOD HE KILLED IT. Was that any surprise? No, everyone knew Jack was gonna bring his a-game and he did. Bowser’s singing was amazing, I was cracking up during that scene. PEACHES PEACHES PEACHES aah it’s good. I loved how Bowser went from his usual scary self to a big sweetheart who just wants to love someone. Yea, he did threaten to kill Peach’s kingdom if she didn’t marry him but hey he said he wouldn’t if she agreed! You can absolutely tell Jack loved his role and that’s so important in movies for it to turn out well. Honestly, I’d say Bowser was my favorite in the whole movie! (Ngl, Bowser kinda..) Bowser was intimidating at parts, especially with Luigi. He was a lot scarier than I remembered and damn he is a power house. Im surprised that I didn’t see him utilize his shell and spin with it but whatever.

The story: yes there wasn’t much of a big plot. Do I care? Not really. It’s Mario! You don’t really need a plot per se because you already know the characters, you know the concept of Super Mario. To me, it was as if I was playing a really well animated game. It was fast, fun, and left me with a warm fuzzy feeling. The plot WAS Bowser coming, Mario and Luigi starting a company and not feeling like they’re on top. You don’t need a different story with Mario. Yes, this movie wasn’t on the level of Into the Spider-Verse or Puss in Boots like we were expecting but it didn’t need to be. I had a great time with a story or not

The sound effects: god, the little kid in me wanted to SCREAM. It felt so satisfying to hear all the sounds we hear in the games from hitting a shell, hitting the mystery box, or landing on the flag pole at the end of a level. They really hit the nail with them. And Luigi’s ringtone was GameCube!!

Oh yeah I loved Kamek’s voice. He sounded exactly how I pictured it. He was great. Loved the scene of him dressing up as Peach and getting ANGRY that he didn’t kiss Bowser

What didn’t work:

The slow motion moments: this was when I remembered “oh yea, illumination made this.” Some of the moments were fine with Mario giving Peach a side eye (with rizz). That was funny. But all the other times, it felt like the screaming goats in Thor Love and Thunder. In other words, it was used too much. To me, the slow-motion parts are just “haha, their voice is deep and slow. They move slowly. Haha funny joke.”

The songs: I did say the songs worked but they didn’t at the same time. I LOVED hearing all the familiar songs and sounds from the games. I liked the 80’s songs as Mario was made in the 80’s but it didn’t fit movie. As I said, it would’ve been better if they kept the 80’s songs in the human world and the Mario-esque songs in the Mushroom Kingdom, etc. But Illumination has gotta…illuminate I guess

The pacing: I felt like it was TOO quick. They go from Mario ending up in the Mushroom Kingdom and he finds Toad with barely an introduction and they rush to the castle. Then Mario finds Peach who just so happens to be going to the same place at the right time. There wasn’t enough time to breathe and there could’ve been so many good character interactions and development if they made it longer. We could have had more of Bowser and Luigi, Mario and Toad and Peach. I mean there are lots of characters and they have yet to introduce Yoshi, the Koopalings, and Daisy so hopefully it will be better in the second.

Illumination: I’m not too crazy with this studio. I love Despicable Me 1&2 but the rest are just meh. There were moments in the movie that were just so like this studio that it somewhat felt weird. The plumbing scene was funny but I think that is a good example. The whole thing with the dog being malicious was an Illumination thing. So were some of the models of the humans. The songs. Idk. If this movie was made by another studio like Dreamworks or Sony, maybe it would’ve been better??

Overall, I’d give this movie a 7.5/10. It had great moments and a lot going for it but there is still room for improvement. And that’s completely okay because we still have another movie. We only saw these characters on screen for ONE movie so there’s still more to be seen. I say fuck the critics, they don’t know what they’re talking about. This movie didn’t need to be woke or whatever. It almost didn’t need a plot. This movie was such a beautiful love letter to all of the Nintendo fans and I was smiling the entire time. They knew not to make it flop because of how iconic and beloved Mario is. I felt like a little kid again as I watched my favorite video game characters on screen and now I feel the need to play my Wii or switch. I look forward to seeing what they do in the next film.

TLDR: go see it. It’s a lot of fun

Also LET ME VOICE YOSHI I CAN DO HIS VOICE. IM GOING TO BE ON A TEACHER’S SALARY IM GONNA BE BROKE

[storywriter12]

Chapter two (crazy tinder guy (date

So Friday night came and rick was ever so nervous it sounded mad to him going on a date he got dressed into a black shirt with tight trousers  you could of course see his butt and then he walked downstairs where daryl, Carol, michonne and Shane was, all of them was in the living room watching some film on TV he walked in and he heard "wow you look nice" from michonne 

(Rick) I nodded thank you feeling a blush. Well I'm going now see ya I said grabbing my keys and getting to the door "DON'T FORGET TO USE PROTECTION MAN!!!!" I hear daryl shout I laugh I walk to the bar which was on "black lake street" when I got into the bar it was slightly busy I walked to the bar and ordered a drink when my drink came (vodka and coke) I took a sip and then I hear "damn I could fuck you right now" my eyes glanced to the side of me seeing what looked like negan and. He was more hotter in real life, I…. I…. Um thank you I strutted he smiled and giggled biting his bottom lip I took deep breaths as I got tingly all over. Should. I buy you a drink? I asked he smiled again "sure blue eyes. I'll have a beer" 

A few hours later 

(Rick) we sat in the corner. The light was much darker so we sat so close. I could feel the warmth of his body we sat and talked about what we did for a living he was a gym teacher and loved the job but hates the paperwork when I was telling him that I was a sheriff his hands was under the table and then he moved his hand and rested it on my inner thigh I blushed which amused him he got more close to me until his mouth was near my ear "why don't we get out of here rick" I wanted to saying something but no words will come out so I just nodded and he smiled getting up leaving a tip and walking out I followed it was dark outside and warm I don't know if it was because we just came out of a bar or because I was with him he walked down the path which was a light yellow from the lamps what shined to his car. which was black he got in the driving seat and I get in the passenger seat

(Negan) sooo where do you wanna go? I asked he thought about it for a moment. "anywhere you decide" I smiled nodding OK I started the car and the radio came on blasting music I turned it down and changed the music to a much softer song to set the mood. 

(Rick) So,negan  how long have you been single? I asked and he looked shocked from the question 

(negan) ahhhh I'm not one for relationships rick I'm more of a lover then leave them I said and hit myself for saying that I huff but my last ever relationship was around four years ago with a guy called seth umm we ended on bad terms 

(Rick) I saw how sad he was by talking about his ex. I'm sorry I said "it's fine rick not your fault" I looked out my window and we was going up a hill and he stopped the car pressing a button and then the cars roof opened he pressed another button and out seats went back and it was just us watching the stars 

(negan) hay rick? He looked. At me I smiled. Have you ever been kissed underneath the stars? He looked at me with his blue eyes and shook his head. I smiled come here. We both leaned in and kissed. the kiss was soft his lips was hot against mine, my hand fell around his side reaching down to give his butt a squeeze he moaned  

(Rick) he swiped his tongue across my bottom lip I opened my mouth and he pushed his tongue in my mouth he moaned deeply I could feel myself twitch he grabbed hold of my wrist dragging my whole body onto his lap my hands fell over his shoulders is fell more down to my ass the kiss got more hot he untucked my shirt his big hands going up my back it  tickled me  I gasp and a little giggle came out my mouth he smiled in the kiss "you driving me crazy rick" he said in a whisperer we pulled away and I felt my cheeks were  on fire he looked at me his eyes was dark full of want and lust, I wanted him to I just didn't want to do it on the first date I pulled away from him climbing back to the seat "we don't have to do it you know not of you don't want to" I looked at him and smiled a little. Thanks he nodded 

(negan) I'll drive you home I said turning on the car and driving him home 

(Rick) when we got to my street he pulled up and I looked at him. Thank you for the date. I had a good time.. I blushed he smiled "me to Rick I'll see you later, night" night I opened the door to get out but he grabbed my arm pulling me to him as he kissed me again but  a lot softer this time he pulled away and I got out not knowing what to do I just said night again like an idiot. he drives off and I open the front door with my key greeted with a smiling michonne 

(michonne) soo how was it? 

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Edge of Seventeen - Chapter Eleven.

Huge thanks to everyone for your continued engagement! I’m so thrilled you’ve enjoyed the story, just one more chapter after this one now until we’ll be at a close. Well, until I begin posting the mini-sequel! ;) 

Previous chapters - One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six  Seven  Eight  Nine  Ten

Tag list - In the comments

Words - 3,389

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, minors DNI!

Eventually, with a little comical coaxing from Ian into the microphone (‘Um, Angel? Can we have our vocalist back, please?’) Bella returned to the stage, playing the final two songs in Heavenly Creature’s set, Angel standing right at the barrier, watching, his heart ablaze. Nothing else mattered but her. Suddenly, he realised just how true his brother’s words had been to him those few months ago.

She’d made a mistake, and he couldn’t resent her forever for it. He loved her too much, and he knew that for sure. Getting back together was the only thing that made sense, now that he was actually free to. But god, how he’d just finished things with Mel like that. He knew she deserved way better than him, but in his defence, seeing Bella again had thrown him into panic as the reality of how hopelessly in love he still was with her crashed into him hard.  

Once their set was over, he helped them load up the back of their van, Ian driving it over to the nearby hotel they were staying at before he’d return in a cab, telling the others he’d meet them by the beer tent in about forty minutes.  

“See that’s my meeting point with the guys as well, and it’s kinda gonna be weird,” Angel began, taking Bella’s hand.  

“Well yeah, since we broke up over a year ago, and then suddenly, poof! Here I am again!” she chuckled, kissing his bare shoulder.  

“Um...” he cringed, shaking his head. “It ain’t that. It’s because I arrived with one girl, and now I’ll be leaving with another. I’m not too sure if she’s still here or not, actually.”

Immediately, she ground to a halt. “Okay, details.”

“Yeah,” he paused, shame coiling in him. “When I saw you up there, it hit me so fucking hard, I knew that I’d been lying to myself for the last nine months, with the girl I was with up until a half hour ago. I finished with her, then came straight back into the tent to watch you play the rest of the song that had just ripped my damned heart out.”

Bella’s jaw dropped. “Baby!” she exclaimed.

“I know.”

“Oh, Angel, that’s so naughty!”

He winced. “I know!”

She then widened her eyes. “Oh god, am I about to get my head kicked in for pinching you from her?” Her eyes continued to get bigger, lifting up his black vest and pulling it over her head, making a noise of trepidation from within.  

“Baby girl, I ain’t got room in there for you too. Come out.”

“I can see!” she muffled. “Blimey, you’ve got even more stacked!”

“Hmm,” he hummed as she emerged. “I had to try and get over you somehow, so adding in an extra hour at the gym was how I started. That part worked, the getting over you not so much.”  

She pulled a silent ‘awww’ face, stroking his face, pulling him down to her level and kissing him. “So, we’re definitely back together, then?”

He snorted, holding her close. “As if you need to ask!”

She beamed, falling into happy kisses with him, her insides all lit up and sparkling. Finally, she had him back. “And I want you to know, because I promise solemnly. I will never, ever lie to you again. Not even a little one. Never, ever, ever.”  

“I know. I know, B. Now, stop panicking and just kiss me some more.” She was only too happy to oblige. Once at the beer tent, the line was ridiculously long, Angel happy to see Richie and Seth (who was actually old enough to purchase alcohol) emerge from the front, the latter passing him a beer, Richie handing Bella a huge ice water, as she always drank immediately after a performance, to soothe her vocal cords down a little again.  

They stood and watched Lamb of God playing over on the main stage from a distance, Angel knowing that pretty much everyone bar the girls and EZ (who he always joked was too uptight for it) would be in the moshpit at that point, guessing correctly when he saw the group heading back over to them about fifteen minutes after the end of their set, Coco with a bloodied eyebrow, not a shirt between any of them, looking pit worn.  

Angel bit his lips together as he saw the confused faces of Gilly and Riz, both pointing at Bella with looks of ‘huh?’, the former then being deafened by his girlfriend literally screaming, running with her arms open, flying at Bella at about a hundred miles an hour, Bella’s scream filling the air along with it as they embraced. One might say Amelia had missed her, not keeping in touch since it would have made things difficult for Angel.  

“Do I dare even ask what the fuck happened?” Gilly questioned, pointing over as where the girls got reacquainted.  

Angel shook his head. “Might be best you don’t know, but I think I have a tonne of shit coming my way when Mel catches up with me again.”

“And do you care?”

“Does it make me an asshole that other than feeling bad about how I dropped it on her out of the blue, I don’t? I mean, I didn’t wanna hurt the chick, but...”  

Gilly nodded. “Yeah, kinda does, bro. But that’s the one for you right there. I always wondered, why you two called it quits.” Jerking his head in Bella’s direction, Angel looked over, raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah, she is.” He didn’t say anything further, because nothing else needed to be said. He was just glad that Bishop had kept to his word about not telling anyone the reason why he and Bella had broken up, because if he hadn’t, Gilly wouldn’t have said what he just had. He stood back and drank his beer, talking with Seth and Richie, including and introducing them to everyone so they didn’t feel left out while Bella and Amelia chatted to one another, the former returning to his side before long, wrapping her arm around his waist as she leaned into him.  

“What’s the great, big smile for?” he asked, hand stroking her back.  

“You,” she confirmed, kissing his chest. “I love you.”  

God, how he’d missed those words, spoken on her sweet voice, those dulcet British tones he’d longed to hear. “I love you too.” He had her back, he had his baby, his heart and soul, his beautiful Bella back in his arms. Elated didn’t quite cut it. The guilt of just finishing with Mel kept on reverberating through his chest, though, the happier he felt himself grow, Bella sensing it as the day grew to evening. Especially when he checked his phone, finding one hell of an angry voicemail message.  

“Shit,” he winced, hanging up, leaning into her as she sat between his legs, not able to see the festival headliners on stage, but not especially being into Avenged Sevenfold, she didn’t mind. She was more concerned at the mess her boyfriend had gotten himself into.  

“Where is she now?” she asked, stroking the arm he had wrapped around her chest.

“Back at the hotel we checked into, absolutely seething at me,” he confirmed, Bella nodding.

“Do you think it might be a good idea that you go and talk to her, then meet me back at mine? We’re at the Highwood Inn.” Instantly, Angel groaned. “That’s where you are too, isn’t it?”

“Oh yeah. What room? Come on, universe, kick me in the balls and have it so I have my last girlfriend and current one in the rooms next to each other!” he yelled, lifting his head to the sky, Bella giggling.  

“Two two seven.”

He breathed a small sigh of relief. “Thank fuck, she’s in three eighty-two, so a completely different floor.”

She was thoughtful for a moment. “Would it help if I talked to her, woman to woman?”

His facial expression said it all, but he followed it with words. Delivered in panic at the very idea of Bella coming face to face with Mel. “Hell no! Oh god, no, no, no, baby girl. She’ll slug you, and I know you’re not the fighting kind, but Mel? She very much is.”

“Yo, she broke some chick’s nose one time because she dared flirt with your guy there. Take a wide berth, England,” Coco interjected with, tapping Bella’s leg affectionately before turning back to wrap both arms around Nala.  

Angel pointed in his direction. “Yeah, what he said.” He made a soft ‘awww’ noise at her spooked face, holding her close. “She’s really serene and sweet, but the fucking temper she has, shit. So no, absolutely no deal about you going to talk to her. You can wait in your room, and order some ice, because I think I probably have a punch coming my way. Nothing less than I deserve. I couldn’t wait, though. I couldn’t fucking go on one second longer being with her when I saw you again. I think I’d known for months, you know, that I’d seek you out again, as soon as you turned eighteen, regardless of what I said at the time. I mean, I know today was by chance...”

She pressed her finger to his lips then, halting his gabbling, as he always did when he was getting worked up about something. “Shhhh, baby,” she soothed, kissing him. “Today wasn’t by chance, either. It was fate, in the stars, cosmic alignment. It had to be, for you to have been outside that tent, at the precise moment I was singing the very song I wrote about you.”

He shrugged a little, kissing her hair. “I dunno how much I believe in all of that, but I think I can make an exception here.”  

She smiled, leaning into him, breathing in his scent, comforted after months and months of longing for him. “So, when do you want to face the music?

Not really being bothered about watching the headliners close, and knowing the crush of people waiting to leave would add time to him being able to go and sort out the mess he’d left with Mel and then swiftly get himself back where he belonged, Angel decided to leave right then, saying goodbye to everyone, walking down to the nearest exit hand in hand with Bella.

Riding to the hotel with Bella on the back of his bike felt right, he’d missed it, taking one hand off to reach back and stroke her leg like he always used to when he rode, Bella resting her chin on his shoulder, so in love, she felt as if she had fireworks going off inside her. That sublime feeling of happiness was tinged, though, the sweetness of Bella’s nature of course dictating she feel a pang of guilt over the fact Angel had broken up with his girlfriend for her. So strong his love was, he hadn’t even known whether that was what she wanted or not. He just knew that he couldn’t go on as he had been.  

But then, he must have known, she thought. He’d have heard it in her voice, singing the song she wrote about him. He’d said when they’d parted that they weren’t meant to be, but quietly, Bella had always known otherwise, and selfishly, it was why she wasn’t completely consumed with bad feelings over taking him from another; truly, he was still hers in the time they’d been separated. It was only her age that had ever pulled them apart in the first place, and the lie that had facilitated it all to begin with.  

“Okay, I’ll see you in a little while,” he told her ten minutes later at her hotel room door, kissing her softly, not really wanting to go and face up to his shit, but knowing he had to. He was thirty-eight; he needed to do better at his age. “Love you so much.”

“Love you even more.” she cooed, nuzzling him, stroking his chest. She slid back into the room, letting go of his hand right at the last moment, smiling at he winked at her, closing the door and waiting, until she allowed herself to be silly. Kicking off her boots, she bounced on the bed, squealing with excitement.  

He still heard it as he walked up the hallway. “My little cutie.” he grinned, noting how thin the walls were. Oh, how the people either side of that room were in for a restless night, because once he returned, he planned to fuck her into the next century, he’d missed her so damned much.  

However, before that...  

“Jesus Christ!” He dodged the shoe flying at his head just in time, the small ankle boot hitting the back of the hotel room door. And then, the floodgate opened...

“You fucking asshole, Angel! You fucking asshole!” Mel raged, pacing around, her other shoe following it before she ran at him, swinging, punching him in the face. He allowed her that one, not that it was particularly hard, but his cheekbone still stung from it. No more followed, though, other than a few clenched fists thumping against his chest, Mel pushing back away from him, continuing her tirade. “Why were you ever with me, if it was her you wanted all along? Because you did, didn’t you? That’s why you never covered that damned tattoo on your chest, or why you kept the picture of you and her behind the shelves in your bedroom.”

He’d forgotten all about that.  

“Yeah, I found it!” she raged, seeing the surprise on his face. “You just strung me along for nine fucking months, all the while knowing you were still in love with her! Why, Angel?”

The ins and outs of it weren't her business, but he knew he owed her somewhat of an explanation, because she was right. He had strung her along, not being as emotionally invested as he should have been with her. “It was complicated with us, and that’s why we broke up in the first place. I tried to get over her, find myself a happy life without her in it, and I thought I had with you. You’re right, though. I did want her, and because of that, you and me never really stood a fair chance.” He paused for breath, knowing he had to deliver the words that would hurt her further. “I was still too in love with her to be able to love you and truly be with you in the way you deserved, and for that, I’m really fucking sorry. I am. I know you likely won’t believe it, but I never meant to hurt you. I take on board that I have, though.”

“Yeah!” she scoffed, pacing. “Yeah, you did. Get the fuck out of here, go back to her. I never want to fucking see you again.”

He nodded, moving into the room and picking up his small bag he’d brought with him. “I understand. I’ll sort out the things you left at my place, give ‘em to Amelia to pass on to you.”  

She didn’t reply, standing there, her shoulders shaking as she began to cry. “I’m so sorry, Mel. I hope you find someone who’s capable of giving you what you’re looking for, but that was never me, and I should have owned up to that a long time ago.”

Her reply was immediate, visceral. “Just leave!”

He pressed his lips together thinly, walking to the door and letting himself out, breathing a sigh of relief. He felt like a complete asshole, but he was free. Free to head back to exactly where he belonged.  

“Baby,” Bella cooed, letting him in, her fingers gingerly stroking the red welt on his cheek.  

“Eh,” he sighed. “I expected it. And I deserved it.” Smiling, he then sank into her embrace, absorbing her, his entire body sighing with relief. Finally... finally...  

They stood like that, in a silent, loving embrace, stroking one another wordlessly for what felt like a long time, touches reacquainting, familiarising themselves with each other again, Angel pulling back to kiss her, softly at first, before the fire of longing began to roar right through him. Still though, it was steady edging, their clothes being shed slowly, revelling in the feel of each other’s skin, both naked by the time they fell to the bed, entangled around one another.  

Shuddered breaths fluttered, hands explored, kisses pressed, gilded in fire and honey, everything slow, sensual, no rush needed, just enjoyment, soaking it all up, drinking it in, being reunited at long last. Her fingers stroked over the familiar patterns of his tattoos, moving her mouth, her fingers clasping his as she laid kisses from his wrist and over his forearm, Angel’s lips closing over the pink peak of her nipple, her soft gasp sending a jolt through him, a sharp edge against all that was soft and rolling, his tongue thrumming over the little bud, grazing it with the briefest hint of teeth.

Her short nails dragged down his arms, his mouth slipping, warmth winding within her as it wet a circle at her navel, goosebumps rising up, the braille of her body detailing the message of how he made it feel, his mouth lowering again, tongue flattening a lick over her slit, hands pushing her thighs wider before it delved over her folds hungrily, Bella crying out softly. Going without sex for thirteen months had definitely given her some pent-up longing, longing only to be sated by the one man she’d craved for.

The tip of his tongue glided to her clit, laying heat over it with the softest of licks, his breath hot at her soaking folds, Bella gasping as her hands swept through the black silk of his hair, tugging gently, her thighs writhing against his face, Angel grinning to himself. “Missed me, baby?”  

“Oh my god, so fucking much!”

Her reaction had him laughing quietly, laying a kiss against her sex. “You don’t have to miss me any longer, mi amor.” Sliding his tongue over the little swell of her clit once more, he sent fire roaring through her, a blade of pleasure slicing to her very bones as she shook, the tip of his tongue skimming dewy pink nerve endings, his thumb pulling back the soft skin covering her bundle, making way for his lips to suck upon it gently.  

Sparks rolled through the very marrow of her, the flush of ecstasy evoked by his mouth ever escalating, her body host to spasmodic judders as he caressed her dewy slit with all the fervour of a man half parched. Lapping at her, like the rolling of a wave cresting the shore, her body the paradise he revelled in, he gave her nothing short of sublimely heavenly pleasure with every precise lick.  

Alternating, he bestowed firmness, Bella becoming giddy, teased with softer strokes, Angel sucking again until she was lost in the tide of his bliss, adrift from herself on the sea of pleasure he had her drowning in ceaselessly.

“Oh my god, it’s too good, fuck!” she gritted, his tongue driving into her burning hole as she writhed against his face, hot breaths fluttering against her silken folds like a summer tempest, balmy, wet, lingering and captivating.  

She mewled continuously, her hands clutching tight in his hair before slipping to his arms, fingers trembling as she gripped the thick rigidity of his tattooed arms and bucked against his mouth, his tongue… the lips that continued to suck her the edges of nirvana. One last, well place lave of his tongue sent her reeling over the edge, tumbling into the release that sent glimmers sizzling up her spine, her cresting wail feral, her body flowing, ebbing and throbbing through it, Angel emerging with a smile, his tongue dragging a long, hot lick up the centre of her body, reaching between them, guiding his cock to her soaking opening and then...

“Ahhh, fuck.”  

“Missed me, baby?” she hummed, not hiding the entertainment from her face, taking his in her hands, kissing him madly.  

“Yeah,” he breathed, rocking his hips into her, filling her entirely. “And I’ll be damned if I ain’t gonna spend all night showing you just how much.”

[digsys]

Fic anon here :) just read your post about making a superman AU! If i may toss in that I love the idea of using Renee and Dean! But if you’re also looking for more ideas I guess Ambreigns, but if you needed the push I like the idea of Dean and Renee :)

Also I have more song recs for you!

you sent this and i instantly started to write it :') i just loved the idea sm too so here is dean and renee in a clarklois au! i didn't completely adopt the superman aspects but i did write dean acting like clark (which is so ooc but kind of funny). this is around 1k words (:

(also also- send those recs in!!)

"Don't tell me you're late again."

Dean winced, biting his lip. "Okay, look, Re—"

"Dean," Renee said, voice testy, "Dean, please tell me you're anything but late again."

To be completely honest, Dean wasn't late. He was actually right on time, right where he needed to be. He just... happened to be in a vigilante costume and hovering above the building that he was supposed to be inside of. Semantics, honestly.

When he took too long to respond, Renee made a frustrated noise. "Okay, it's fine, it's fine— I'll cover for you. But you better get over here soon, Ambrose."

Dean let out an exhale. "Okay, okay, got it, I'll be there."

Renee hung up and Dean slumped against the wall of the roof. He was exhausted. His phone rang while he was still across the city, so he'd run back to their building to catch Renee's call on the last ring. He was still decked out in his Lunatic gear, knuckles sore from where he'd been pummeling into the giant, Rowan, from the villainous Wyatt family. His brothers were busy with their own fights so he hadn't been able to call them in from where they were working, which meant that he totally missed the monthly meeting that he'd promised Renee he would make on time. Their boss had been giving her a lot of shit for it given that she was Dean's editor — not to mention Dean being on thin ice with the guy in general.

“Damn it.” He sighed before changing into his civilian clothes in a flash, and headed back down to ground level to take the elevator up.

Things weren't easy, being one of only three aliens sent to Earth as a baby twenty-some years ago. They were lucky to have been found by a kind Kansas farmer, Mick, who raised them lovingly, but growing up and learning how to be human was obstacle after obstacle for Dean, his big brother Roman, and his younger brother Seth.

But they did it, anyways. Roman's fighting his way through med school, Seth studying to be an architect, and Dean became a journalist.

He was good enough that the renowned paper, the World Wide Exclusive, hired him straight out of his college internship. And though he hadn't quite made a splash like his brothers, that wasn't really Dean's thing anyways. Roman liked helping people, Seth liked creating things. Dean liked to chase. He didn't care for the top as much as he cared for the clawing his way through the mud.

There were just two issues. One, he was stuck in the sports division. And two... He was maybe, kind of, sort of in love with his editor.

He slid his black-framed glasses on just as the elevator dinged, the doors opening.

Renee Paquette was on the other side, arms crossed and foot tapping.

Dean went to jab at the button to go back down but Renee cut him off, “Ambrose.”

It was always strange, switching away from his superpowered persona into the person that his brothers and he had decided would be best for his secret identity. But it was also instinctive now.

He let his shoulders fall a bit and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Hey, Renee.” He stepped out and rubbed the back of his neck. “How'd the meeting go?”

Renee narrowed her eyes at him, then stomped to her office. Dean bit back a groan and followed.

“I'm waiting for an explanation and I hope it's not an excuse,” she said as soon as the door closed. She leaned against her desk, arms still crossed, frustration barely held back.

Was it terrible that Dean's first thought was about how beautiful she looked today?

“It's not,” he assured, sliding into the chair in front of her. “It's—” His mind worked itself over and over, scrambling for a justification. “Well, it's—” What would Renee consider alright? Was there anything? What could he do to—

A realization lit up his brain. There was a perfect excuse. It was the truth, too. The Lunatic was fighting Rowan and it clogged up the roads. It was realistic and explainable and—

And Renee was maybe, kind of, sort of in love with the Lunatic, so she'd likely accept it as it was.

“Well?” she demanded.

Dean slumped even more. “It was the Lunatic.” He tried not to grumble. “He was fighting Erick Rowan again. I was coming back from my brother's place so I was taking the ferry and got stuck in the traffic jam.”

Renee had brightened up as soon as he mentioned that ridiculous name the press had given his alter ego. ”Wait, the Lunatic— Did you get a quote?”

Dean tried not to frown. “Y'know how he is, Renee. Kind of a ticking timebomb, never stops for anything? No one can get a quote from him for anything.” He swallowed. “'Cept for you, of course.”

Renee's cheeks pinkened. “Well— I mean, I don't know— I... That's besides the point. I get how that was out of your control and I'll share it with the boss.” She tapped her fingers against the wood of her desk. “In fact, I'll tell the boss a way for you to make it up to us, too.”

Dean brightened. “Yeah? Anything, Renee, you know I can write it. Basketball season, right?”

Renee shook her head. “Nope. Try this.”

She tossed a file onto his lap. Dean opened it up and skimmed the contents. He blinked.

“This is...” He looked up, lost. “This is for the Rhodes family. I'm covering the obituary?”

Renee was smiling, a satisfied thing. “You're interviewing the family,” she corrected. “You'll be writing the feature article.”

Dean blinked multiple more times. “'Nee, that's front page shit.”

Renee barked out a surprised laugh, then covered her mouth to suppress her giggles. Dean's heart swooped in his chest at the sound.

“Yes, it's front page shit,” she laughed. “And you deserve it. Yeah?”

Dean shook his head, still a little shocked. “I... I mean, if you say so, boss,” he huffed. “I think you should be the one writing this, though.”

Renee tsked. “I've got something more fitting for my tastes,” she hummed, before walking around her desk to grab her coat.

Dean stood as she was sliding her arms into the sleeves, hair falling gently around her shoulders. “Hm? What's that?”

She turned to face him, an excited little smile on her lips. “Lunatic interview,” she burst out. “He agreed the last time he saved me—”

“He did?” asked Dean faintly.

“—yep, right after he pulled me away from the hotel fire which he also said I shouldn't have been anywhere near but when there's a story—”

“Oh, now I remember,” muttered Dean.

“—so I'm headed up now, he said he'd meet me at noon up on the roof.” She opened up her door. “While I'm gone, you get started on that article, Ambrose.” She paused before leaving. “You've got a lot of talent. It's wasted in the sports division. You're great to have around, Dean.”

When Dean weakly replied with, “thanks, boss,” Renee grinned, winked, then left her office.

As Dean was scrambling out her window to beat her to the roof, he felt his cheeks round from a smile.

Renee never told the Lunatic that he was great to have around. One point to Ambrose! Now Dean just had to find out how to make Renee fall in love with him over the Lunatic.

Semantics, really.

[racerchix21]

Maybe Second Chances

(a random drabble that might get turned into a fic)

Tags: @sunnyfleur23

Warnings: None

Word Count: 833

A/N: Super random and probably doesn’t make sense but the muses were singing the song of their people so 🙃

A/N 2: There’s a sequel now! Definite Second Chances

Work Text:

Going out to dinner with my best friend seemed like a good idea until Finn spotted Seth attempting to hide behind a potted plant and the whole damn thing blew up in my face. See Finn and I are brother and sister but ever since I decided to follow him into the pro wrestling world, we’ve kept it a secret so no one could scream that I was only getting the opportunities I was because of who my brother was.

Once I saw him too it was only a matter of time before one of us did something stupid and well stupid is my middle name. We aren’t gonna talk about the fact I can see a mop of dirty blonde hair or that I can see a tribal tattoo that can only belong to one person. I’ve been half in love with Seth Rollins since our Ring of Honor days and the longer I’m around him the more i seem to fall in love with him. Which is all well and good if it wasn’t for the fact that Seth treats me like a little sister and sure we did have one drunken night together right after he signed with FCW but I don’t think he remembers and I have no plans on telling him. I do know that the things I still wanna do to him are definitely not sisterly in the slightest. I’m only 7 months younger than him but the way he acts it might as well be 70 years.

Finn tries to draw my attention back to conversation we were having before the merry band of idiots gave themselves away peeking through the potted plants, “Sis, this is ridiculous will you just tell him how you feel,” my brother asks raising his voice enough that I can see Seth duck down with a sheepish look on his face and hear Roman and Dean giving him shit for getting caught spying.

“Finn, you know for a fact that Seth is never gonna see that way so I’ve given up besides I heard that McIntyre was single again and you know how much I love a tall, dark and terrifying man,” I tell my brother at the same voice level as I hear Roman and Dean laughing about Seth storming towards our table even as they follow him.

He looks angry but then again when doesn’t Rollins look pissed at the world? The answer is never and I really shouldn’t be laughing since I know it’s only liable to piss him off more. But I live to rile Sethie up and he knows it and still falls for it every single time.

Pulling up a chair at the table we’re sitting at Seth leans into my space and demands to know, “What the hell do you think you’re doing out to dinner with him,” gesturing to my brother and the smirk currently adorning his face. “Of all the people you could go out with you pick Bàlor to date?!”

Glancing at Finn I mouth, I’m sorry before looking back at Seth, “first of all dipshit, ewww he’s brother. Second of all it’s not exactly like there’s a line of guys just dying to date me, especially in our business when they see the women I’m friends with. I don’t have Becky’s pretty accent, or Nat’s boobs*, or Alexa’s personality. I’m just a plain flat chested girl that can’t even get her best friend to tell her she’s pretty let alone get a guy to pay attention to her. The one guy I do have a crush on doesn’t return my feelings so…” I trail off as I watch a million different emotions flit across Seth’s face.

“Well you aren’t plain or flat chested. I’m personally glad you don’t have any of those things to be honest. You have the perfect accent that drives me absolutely crazy and don’t get me started on the fact that everything you do in the ring and in the gym makes me crazy. I love your sarcastic smart ass personality even when you’re using it to make fun of me. Yeah Nat’s boobs are nice but they’re not all that great given that I’ve already met someone who’s got the perfect ones. Do I need to go on, baby girl?”

“Baby girl, huh? Well Rollins as charming as that little speech was you can stop trying to suck up now. I already know how you feel abou-.”

“About you? Yeah princess I don’t think you do. You think I don’t remember that night back in 2010 when I somehow managed to kind of tell you how I felt? Because I wasn’t that drunk that night and it was the best night of my life. I just can’t seem to figure out why when I woke up you were gone with no note, no text, nothing and then you show up in WWE a few years later and act like you didn’t break my heart.”

*I love Natalya and I have absolutely nothing against her or her boobs.*

[shnowyfox]

Mario movie spoilers my thoughts on the Mario movie

Damn right it's the super MARIO movie, and not the super MARIO BROS movie because Luigi was like. Barely there. Like. He was there in the beginning and somewhat at the end but during the plot he was literally just in a cage while the rest of the characters complained about how royally fucked they were. Literally he hardly talks during the cage scenes he just makes😰 faces while they explain how much they're going to rot and die in prison.

And. As much as I love Queen.. they did not need that many songs in there. Like. A few of them are good timing and stuff! Great timing even! But I just didn't think there needed to be so many. And I need a hero didn't hit nearly as hard as it did in oddysy.

They also didn't really flesh out the history of peach and bowser, like, obviously he's an evil douche who just thinks he's entitled to her but like.. the way they talk its like.. do you know each other or not? It feels like Hater/Dominator from WOY again ngl..

Also hate how they made Donkey Kong voiced by Seth Rogan. Gawd dude. Like. Ughhh man. Like. Oough. I would've took the rock over him 😔

Speaking of voice cast. Chris Pratt as Mario is worse than we thought. He does an Italian accent for like. The commercial with Luigi and then they never do it again except maybe with some of the slow motion scenes where he said "mama mia". (There were too many slow mo scenes too gawd) and they got the original super Mario in the movie!! As a whole ass different character tho!! Like, my brother said that "Oh you wouldn't expect the original voice of sonic in the sonic movie, you like sonics voice in the sonic movie" Yeah because they didn't get rid of the accent and replace the voice with Chris fucking Pratt. Sonic's voice still fits him! Mario's is so freaking weird!!

And toad.. ohhh toad.. dude I'm glad they didn't give him his original voice but like.. honestly I would've gotten Jack McBrayer? When I heard toad rambling I just thought "man, wander could totally go off like this."

Also thought the toad general's voice was kind of out of place but it's alright I guess he doesn't have many lines.

Also gotta dock points for no Luigi bowser love story in the b-plot it totally could've been like Mario thinks his brother is getting tortured in a cage and meanwhile he's talking to bowser about his feelings like "dude my brother ain't gonna take peach from u he's demiromantic" and bowser is like "what is demiromantic" and Luigi is like "have you ever heard of lgbtq" and then Mario busts in to save him and they're all like "no its okay me and bowser are going to get married. Though we were wondering if we could do it at the mushroom castle? Bowser says it's very lovely this time of year." And then Mario peach and bowser all become qpps and have brunch together.

My brother complained about like a quarter of the movie being Mario Kart. I think it might have been a bit much too but I wasn't as bothered as he was.

It's hard to say I hated it. I don't dislike it. I kind of like it. It's like. Okay so positives are the animation, peach being an absolute girl boss and having a nice backstory (though idk how they gonna write Daisy in if they ever continue the story in a sequel), the references to the games, and Mario saying "it's a Mario time" and totally marioing all over.

Some kid at the theater looking at the poster with us was like "that's not what peaches Crown looks like in game" and I was like "Mario also doesn't have individual strands of hair in the game" and he was quiet after that for about 10 seconds before continuing to infodump about the poster and it's references.

[nagdabbit]

a song that will dig into my bones (5/?)

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four

words: 1.1k

jon moxley/bryan danielson, eddie kingston

eddie would like to have a conversation, mox would like to get back to work

(i have no impulse control and this chapter was done and i’m very fond of it)

also on ao3

.

"I don't wanna tell you how to live your life, Mox, but I'm about to," Eddie announced, rolling his own chair across the room to collide with Jon's. "We gotta talk about this Danielson thing."

He snorted, but didn't look up from his work. The poultice wouldn't dry out anytime soon, but if he let Eddie distract him, he could end up accidentally gluing the pages together. He hadn't done that since his first repair attempt, and he sure as shit wasn't about to break his streak.

"What Danielson thing?"

"The thing where he keeps shoving his way in here like he's got any fuckin' right to." He could hear Eddie's eye roll. "I don't trust 'im, and neither should you."

"Evidence?"

"He's an asshole."

"So are you," Jon pointed out.

"Yeah, and so are you, but I still trust you. I trust the kid. I trust Dee and Bryce and Gage. I trust Chuckles and Jim, even if I know they don't like you much. I don't trust Claudio with anything but you. Hell, I even trust your old Fed buddies—when they remember how to be people." He sighed and kicked Jon's chair, "I don't trust him. He didn't give a shit about tryin' t'find you before now, so why's he keep skulkin' around?"

"He did, though," Jon murmured, carefully trying to keep the rehydrated glue from getting stuck between pages. 

"Did what?"

"Give a shit."

Eddie scoffed, "Oh, sure. So where's he been, huh?"

"He thought we were better friends than I did." That was the conclusion Jon had finally drawn, as he'd spent weeks trying to parse that first little meeting of theirs. That's what Wheeler had said, and it made the whole thing make more sense. "He didn't have a way to reach me, or he would've." 

"Coulda got your number from Seth or Roman," Eddie pointed out. 

"And I wasn't answering their calls at the time, either. By the time I was acting like a person again, you'd already busted down my door." He sighed and set down his tools, and covered the binding back up so it wouldn't dry out. "Don't think I didn't know about you threatening everyone."

"I didn't—"

"Oh, bullshit," he grumbled, and turned to give Eddie a bland look. "Just because they were smart enough to believe you'd really beat their faces in if they gossiped, doesn't mean they didn't fuckin' tattle."

Eddie tried to look innocent for all of ten seconds, before he rolled his eyes and slouched back into his seat. "Fuckin' cowards, every one of 'em."

"Point is, even if he had asked around, by the time I was answering calls again everybody knew better than to say shit." Jon sighed and pushed his glasses up onto his head, "I love you, and I'm glad you're so fuckin' protective, but maybe you went a little too hard."

"And if I hadn't, it'd've gotten out and this place would be crawling assholes in Bullet Club shirts," Eddie grumbled, glowering at the tabletop.

"But I'd probably have an easier time hiring somebody."

"No, no," Eddie snapped, and waggled a finger in Jon's face, "do not put that on me! Even if this place turned into some kinda wrestling mecca—which it would've—it'd still be like pulling teeth to get you t'hire anyone."

Jon rolled his eyes. "No it wouldn't."

"No? Then put a fuckin' hiring sign in the window, coward."

"I don't like strangers."

"Only sociopaths do, but you still gotta hire someone," Eddie grumbled. "One day I'm just gonna put up a sign and hire somebody my own damn self."

"Better you than me," Jon muttered. He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "Can you please just spell it out for me?"

"I don't like him."

"Well, I do."

"And that's the problem," Eddie hissed, and scuffed his foot against the floor. "He's a prick. He's a know-it-all asshole who likes to do things his way, and fuck everybody else. He's got an ego the size a'fuckin' Texas, to boot."

"And you think he's gonna run roughshod over this place." Jon didn't think that was true, not really. Eddie was territorial at the best of times, but he was protective, too. "You think he's gonna come in here and get me to change how I do shit, and ruin what I got?"

"That's exactly what I think."

"Uh huh. And what the fuck makes you think I would let him?" Jon shook his head, "I'm more stubborn than you, and, of the two a'us, I know what I'm doing. Why aren't you giving me enough fuckin' credit, here?"

All the fight left Eddie in an instant, and he slouched back into his creaky chair. "Mox, I'm not—"

"Bullshit. I'm telling you that I like havin' Bryan around, and you're calling me stupid."

"You're not stupid, it's just…" He trailed off with a sigh and tipped himself forward, dropping his forehead into the tabletop. "I don't want you to get hurt just 'cause you got somebody showin' you the time a'day."

"You really think I'm that easily distracted?" he asked, dryly.

Eddie groaned and knocked his forehead against the wood, once. "No."

"And you really think I dunno how to deal with ego?" Jon prompted, feeling out of place having to be the reasonable one. "After Seth? After you?"

Eddie bounced his head off of the table once more, then crossed his arms on the tabletop and hid his face. His, "No," was muffled and petulant.

"You really think I'd let him waltz in here and fuck around in my home?"

"If he batted his eyes at you, maybe."

"Oh, fuck off." Jon rolled his eyes and flicked a fingernail against the top of Eddie's head. "He's fine. I like havin' him around. He fucks up? You can say I told you so all you damn well please, but I don't think that's gonna happen?"

Eddie snorted and lifted his head, "Yeah? And why's that?"

"He flew all the way out to Philly just to buy me a cup of coffee and apologize." Jon waited for Eddie to start arguing again, but he didn't. He just deflated a little, sagging against the table. "You may not like it, but he fits."

Eddie sighed and nodded. "Alright."

"Yeah?"

"I can—I don't like him, but if he's doesn't fuck up, I can deal." He heaved another sigh and stood, moving behind Jon so he could wrap a half hug-half choke around. He pressed his forehead tight to Jon's shoulder. "Love you."

"Yeah, love you, too. Overprotective menace." He raised a hand and scratched his nails over the bristles of Eddie's hair. 

Eddie huffed out half a laugh and pulled away. He gave Jon a light shove, "Go on, get back t'work. You're wasting daylight."

"Yeah, yeah. If m'not out by the time the sun sets, send a search party," Jon joked, just to get Eddie something closer to relaxed than beaten down. Say something kinda warm and familiar, make him smile. Eddie'd done that enough for Jon over the years, the least he could do was return the favor.

[ciaossu-imagines]

I definitely ran overly long on the last prompt and Tumblr's word limit cut me off! Because of this, I'm going to finish up the prompt here!

Cashew – Okay, I’ll openly admit Cashew’s my favourite of the phone flings! And nobody, not even the creators themselves, will ever convince me this good, bookish boy is not studying Library Sciences to become a librarian! Which is why Librarian by My Morning Jacket is the song I really associate with him.

Boss – I can’t place quite why because by all extents and purposes, his phone fling was the silliest out of all of them, but Boss seems like a really, really stressed guy. Like the kind of guy who is a workaholic and has indigestion from chronic stress but can’t let go of any of it really and can’t seem to ask for help even though it’s obvious he needs it. When I was thinking of songs for him, even though it initially doesn’t seem like it should fit, Help! by The Beatles really kept popping back into my head and that’s the one I decided to go with!

Felix – Felix is the quintessential bad boy that your parents would hate but you just can’t stay away from. Is it any wonder I chose Bad to the Bone by George Thorogood for him?

Reece – As with a lot of the others on the list, gotta pay homage to the obvious inspiration while also trying to fit the character. Couldn’t resist and definitely had to go with the upbeat, energetic, and then strangely mysterious, seductive, and almost dangerous Boom Town Suite from the Doctor Who soundtrack!

Ace – My second favourite baseball boy! This man just…yum, yum, he looks good with that bat in his hand and he’s just got this bright, welcoming demeanor! Is there any doubt I think of the good, old classic Take Me Out to the Ball Game?

Ferris – My poor, poor Ferris. This boy needs a cup of coffee, some Advil, and more than a few days off! He’s definitely stressed out, burning the candle at both ends, and so overworked. He can definitely sympathize with and deeply connects to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5!

Poe – So, to reference a chat between Poe and Marshmallow, and because, let’s be honest, this little emo boy absolutely adores Marilyn Manson, I had to use Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson. Also, fun fact about the writer but this is one of the few songs where I love the cover version more than the original!

Logan – He’d hate it. This song actually, in my headcanon, makes him irrationally angry any time someone so much as hums it. He takes firefighting so seriously, after all. But I definitely think of Burning Down the House by Talking Heads every time Logan shows up on my screen!

Finn – Again, playing into obvious associations and inspirations, but it’s always Song of Storms from Zelda for the cutest Link expy! That and this is a solid song and always pretty enjoyable…nothing amazing, honestly, but solid and that’s about my thoughts on Finn. Oh, and if I remember correctly, can’t you actually make him play this song or something really similar?

Leo – The Cyborg Fights from the One Punch Man Soundtrack, of course! Aside from the obvious Genos inspiration, Leo is a cyborg…and he fights. Pretty damn explanatory, haha!

Seth – Stirling is a devil…literally. That’s what he is, he’s canonically from hell but honestly, a pretty stand up guy. Charming, slightly manipulative, not much in the way of morals, but overall still a damn good guy! I think Sympathy for the Devil from The Rolling Stones definitely sums Seth up pretty nicely (saying this without fully getting him levelled up so I might be proven wrong!)

Jaxon – Going with the very natural, obviously Australian vibes here. This is upbeat enough, has got a sense of adventure to it while still hinting at some melancholic touches so I had to go with Dabo’s Tales of Goapan for Handpan and Didgeridoo! Jaxon is an outdoorsman, an Aussie, and with the fact he’s mourning some things, I do feel this is such a great fit for him.

Drake – Okay, but Drake is at a magic school where the uniforms are very Hogwarts-esque (not to mention the school is actually named Snogwarts). He needs to practice magic, and he’s got this thing with a figure called He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Referenced? You’re damn right I can’t help but use a Harry Potter song! In this case, I thought The Dueling Club from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets soundtrack was really the right fit for Drake!

Theo – Theo’s this fun, happy, charismatic gamer boy who’s just super easy to talk to. Gaming is something he’s really into, so I associate him strongly with video game remixes, but particularly the Animal Crossing Title Screen Synthwave Remix!

Basil – Again, playing to theming here. Basil looks a lot like Sherlock Holmes and even has you solve a mystery in his chat with you. He’s a master detective, with sharp analytical skills and keen observational skills. I can’t help but fall into the trap of thinking Sherlock for him, so the song I strongly associate with him is Spark’s Sherlock Holmes!

Fabian – Ariel ain’t got nothing on Fabian! Arrogant and confident that everything under water is so much better than on land, I can’t help but sing the opening notes to Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid soundtrack.

Nico – Nico loves music, especially music you can dance to. A DJ by trade, I definitely think any song that suits him has to be something you could find him playing in the club. I can’t explain exactly why but dubstep is definitely something I associate strongly with the character so that was the direction I went in. Flux Pavilion’s Bass Cannon is the one I settled on – it’s just impossible not to move to!

Mikey – Mikey’s whole shtick is food, and I just couldn’t resist – it’s definitely Weird Al’s Eat It for me!

Alfie Alfalfa – Given the obvious inspiration for the character, the catchy, energetic beat of the song, and how much I think Alfie would love the song, I went with Driving with the Top Down from the Iron Man soundtrack!

Sascha Ton van Twilhaar – Given his princely nature and his clothing and theming, it definitely had to be something with a sort of Persian theming. It had to be slow and sensual and charming so I kind of am heavily leaning towards Babak Afshar’s Ghesseh Dou Mahi for Sascha!

Sven – It’s the Sonic the Hedgehog theme, in particular the Sonic X theme, and we all know why!

Cole – Cole is yandere to the highest degree. He’s more than a little unhinged and so fixated on Marshmallow. It’s confirmed in game he stalks Marshmallow and everyone around them and I definitely have to go with Every Breath You Take by The Police, even if it is super obvious!

[adultswim2021]

Robot Chicken #41: “Werewolf vs. Unicorn” | August 12, 2007 - 11:30PM | S03E01

Well, it’s time for Robot Chicken, the show you love to eat. I am blazed out of my freaking brains right now, so let’s get “ultimate weed party” level high for this stonehead classic.

This episode resolves the cliffhanger from last season where Matt Senreich goes all nuts and blows everyone away during a live Robot Chicken telethon. Matt is renegotiating the contract of the show now that he’s the sole creative person left on the production staff. Seth and the rest come back as Zombies. Freaking epic, dude. They do a Thriller reference, and they steal a John Landis elevator music gag. This sketch is notable for featuring both Keith Crawford and Mike Lazzo, the Mommy and Daddy of Adult Swim respectively, playing themselves. :(

Next is Defenders of the Earth, with various characters owned by King Features Syndicate being an Avengers-style superhero team. They are merely in charge of a Neighborhood Watch program and refuse to fight actual planetary threats like an asteroid, even though it’s in their name. Okay! :( 

There’s the Shouter, which is a “Clapper” style device where you scream and stuff to get it to turn on and off. This is a solid premise and I thought they made fairly funny choices of stuff to yell. :( 

There’s a Transformers sketch where Soundwave is destroyed by two dudes who kill him by being jerks basically. Then they sell him on eBay, damn eBay really does do have everything! :(

Then there’s a part where a nerd has a web show, like that SNL sketch where Jimmy Fallon is a college-aged pot head on webcam. Remember that? It’s like that but a nerd is doing it to talk about nerd stuff, and then a bully shows up and says biphobic stuff at him :( the comedy idea here is that nerds like using the internet to deliver messages. :(

Then there’s a rude one with Adam and Steve, the famous gay guys from the Bible. They name all the animals, but Steve, the girl gay guy, comes in and names stuff ruder names. He calls a Zebra a “Ramburglar” :( 

Lotta frowns so far, but that’s about to change: they do a thing about the board game “The Game of Life”, and this one I actually remember seeing and thinking wasn’t too bad. I still think this is one of their stronger sketches and I think sometimes they arrive at concepts that their animation is much better at conveying than their normal stuff with the toys. The game pieces in this look great. The jokes aren’t that strong, but it’s such a great premise, and I forgive it for being basic.

Then there’s a thing about Arnold Schwarzenegger (who should seriously consider maybe changing the last four letters of his name) giving a speech about illegal immigrants (the final joke makes light of his own immigrant status… my goodness!). We see little vignettes with Speezy Gonzalaes and Dora the Explorer. The part where Slow-poke Rodriguez begs to not be deported because they will execute him in Mexico made me laugh. 

The closing credits have to make up for the fact that they didn’t have an opening credits sequence for this episode, so they list more names than usual, causing the chicken’s “bock bock” song to go way long, and boy, I felt every second of it. I started Imagining a sweetly retarded boy in his bedroom watching this and joining in the bock bocks himself and it made me smile. I should remove that last sentence before I publish this. But, it’s true. I really did use my imagination in an insulting way. I’m sorry! I am as god made me and god don’t make no trash.

Neat story that you’ll like: I was in a record store that sold used DVDs and always try to buy SOMETHING when I go into a store like this. So, I found the Robot Chicken season three DVD for a decent price, and thought “hey, I could get this if I can’t find anything I actually want, I could at least use it for the blog. Maybe I will start watching the commentaries for these”. Well, I couldn’t find anything better so I got it for probably five dollars. The packaging is actually in really nice condition, and it still has the little Williams Street ad sheet inside. ANYWAY: I listened to the commentary for this one and it had Dino Stamatopoulos on it. He makes fun of Matt for smiling too much (I agree) and asks Seth how it was working with Woody Allen. Very fun!

EPHEMERA CORNER:

Tim & Eric’s Awesomecon (July 28, 2007)

I searched high and low for Adult Swim’s panel schedule for San Diego Comic-Con in 2007. Then I remembered something: They didn’t have any panels at comic-con! I think they may have even been banned for a year for various Dino-related incidents (haha). I remembered this because I got tickets to comic-con for the first time ever this year, and had a fucking blast; but was mildly miffed that I would not get to witness and Adult Swim panel in person. In fact, I stayed with some friends who sorta hijacked me for a couple days of it, and I honestly shoulda just gone to the thing by myself; I coulda seen so much more.

I made sure not to miss Tim & Eric’s Awesomecon, which was held in a park by the convention center. It wasn’t officially a Comic-Con event, but it was sort of a sattellite event. Adult Swim seems to have given them a little money for food and banners and stuff. Tim & Eric hosted various competitive field day type games and the winner got to ride a jet ski. Notably I met my future wife at this event. WOW! I like still like her to this day!

Did I mention the Tomicon from the year before? Maybe I didn’t. Oh well. My wife has more cred than I do on the Tim & Eric front, because she attended Tomicon and I did not. It was held at Dick’s Last Resort, which is a chain restaurant where the gimmick is that the waiters insult you in various rehearsed ways, and she tells me that they were so obnoxious back to the waiters that you could tell they won at being mean! Good lord I wish I was there. I would have told my waiter that I loved him and I appreciated him and that he was doing a good job :)

[evdeanwriter]

Canvas | Original Fiction; T

Fictober prompt #1: “I choose you”

-

Trish and Seth were the coolest kids in middle school; so punk rock and not giving a damn. They chose to take Jane under their wing, the new kid, and she memorized the lyrics to all their favorite songs—some of them were like poetry, Jane liked those.

Trish helped her thrift the t-shirts with old British bands so that she could give all her goodie-two-shoes clothes to Goodwill. Seth taught her how to climb out of her window before they all snuck out to her first concert. The venue was stuffy and loud. Jane dripped in sweat and someone else’s beer, but she banged her head just like everyone else. Next time, she brought earplugs, but she never put them in.

The day Jane came back home with a mohawk on her head, mom looked like she was about to get a heart attack. Both about the hair and the stench of smoke. Jane and her best friends had shared a cigarette, while Seth was buzzing the long, mousy strands off the sides of her head. Trish used half a jar of hair gel to turn the chopped up top into thick spikes. Jane shivered when the wind grazed her bare skin.

She got grounded for the rest of the school year and half the summer. By the time August rolled in, Seth and Trish had a bunch of new friends they would be going to high school with.

Michelle was the type of girl who gets crowned the prom queen, not the type of girl who chooses to hang out with someone like Jane. But she needed help with literature classes, and Jane’s essay was loudly praised by the teacher that day. Jane didn’t mind writing two essays instead of one from then on, although making them sound like two different people was kind of tough. Still, she managed to squeeze the task in between shopping with Michelle, getting her hair bleached and nails done with Michelle, and sharing earphones with Michelle when they watched their favorite movies.

They grew inseparable and seen. When they walked down the corridor, the other students parted. Michelle taught Jane how to get perfect pics for Insta and how to flirt with the boys—but never keep them. Even when Jane got grounded for maxing out mom’s credit card, Michelle would sneak into her room through the window and tell her all the gossip from the parties she missed out on.

Until the day the only gossip everyone at school was talking about were all of Jane’s secrets she only revealed to one person, her best friend—her ex-friend—Michelle. At least, there wasn’t much school to suffer through after that, and Michelle moved to LA to become a movie star.

Gregory was like a dream. Law major, handsome, well-spoken, smart as hell. The rich family was a nice bonus, but Jane didn’t care about that. She cared that—somehow—he chose her. On their first date, he took Jane out to a fancy restaurant, the kind with big lobster tanks in the middle. She helped him throw his first charity banquet and the hundredth party on his father’s yacht. For the spring break, he took her to Hawaii, where he surfed and she sunbathed all day, and partied all night. All the girls from her classes were so jealous.

Jane’s mom was, at last, happy with Jane’s choices, because she finally found the right company, a good guy.

And she looked great too, didn’t she? With all the designer clothes and the beauty treatments Greg paid for, with those whitened teeth behind her plump lips. She had to look great; look the part. Not just some eye-candy: she had to act properly and think like a high-class woman would, too. And that’s who she was. In the end, his family grew to love her, too.

By then, Greg loved the free-spirited artist, more, the one he’d been cheating on Jane with for months. She was exciting and spontaneous, she loved poetry, too. She wasn’t proper or high-class. And, most of all, she wasn’t boring—that’s what Greg called Jane when she caught him in flagrante delicto.

Greg made Jane move out of their apartment, into some crappy place she rented with her savings.

It was hard to get used to being all alone, with nothing but Jane as company.

Because Jane is… Who is she, exactly? The heir’s bride (not) to be? The prom queen’s best friend? The punk rocker who doesn’t give a damn? Her mom’s polite, well-mannered daughter?

Looking back, it’s easy to see the string of people coming into her life and overtaking it—all of it—just as she let them. She flocked to others like a bird with no sense of direction; her own North Poles. Once her empty canvas got painted over into exactly what they wanted her to be, they got bored of her and moved on.

Only good for anything when a work in progress—and never hers.

She looks into the mirror. Who is Jane? The mousy roots peeking out from under the golden caramel dye? The puffy eyes from crying, the paling skin, and the lips slowly regaining their old shape and size? She’s shedding the latest layer of herself. Her borrowed self.

Maybe living alone for a while is not such a bad idea? Just with herself, with Jane, whoever she is. Maybe she can discover who she is when she’s not someone else’s chosen girl. She can find out what she likes.

That she likes her hair with no product in it, but a banging winged eyeliner on her face. That she prefers silence to music, and hash browns to caviar. That clothes fit her best when they suit her mood, not her singular identity.

“I choose you,” she says to her reflection in the mirror, feeling only a little awkward. A small smile blooms on her face. “I choose myself.”

[radscorpionsandrifles]

The Backlog update

February 2024- August 2024

(Warning mention of NSFW topics and the brief mention of possible transphobia, a game covers homophobia but it's presented in a, 'this isn't okay,' way. If you aren't chill with that, feel free to leave. :) )

Okay so oh boy, between everything I did get some games done, and I'll sum up my thoughts here on everything I didn't cover between when I fully left and now so.

The big boys:

Okami HD: 100% worth it's retail price and a gorgeous experience and game. LoZ if wolf. I can see now why people scream to the heavens about this game. It's very good. Not my personal favorite but I really enjoyed my time with it. Took me about 3 months to beat.

Fallout 3 achievement hunt (PS3): Oh boy this game. Alright, I've made it known on my blog that while I love Fallout, I am extremely critical of the major issues that plague the franchise. On replay the racism and not okay slavery shit stuck out more then fucking ever. Point Lookout is so bad on the racism end, while The Pitt tries to give you a dilemma but instead comes off as really iffy. God and Mothership Zeta is still ass. This on was rough in some spots, but honestly this was easier to achievement hunt then both New Vegas, and 4. The main story line I still like, despite it's flaws. My main issue is everything else. I could go on a full rant this game is so flawed. But still fun. Also this ran better for me on PS3 then PC fml.

Rock Band: I've been shouting to the heavens for years that Guitar Hero is one of my favorite games franchises. I grew up on it, and it's so fun. But not until this year did I touch Rock Band, and I also bought DLC for it. (Yes I know about Clone Hero, but I like having access to the songs on an official console release.) I think that this has a way weaker set list than Rock Band 2 (which I still have not beaten because of the fucking challenge mode.) But god damn does this game have some good songs, I just really wish that Tom Saywer was the original and not a cover.

Boyfrirnd Dungeon 100% All achievements: Figuring a 100% run is around 13 hours, I said, "fuck it why not." Honestly, very worth doing. I think that while the game isn't perfect, and has it's very clear issues. (especially with the whole mental health aspects being demonstrated in a light that I find to be very misguided.) I can see the effort and love here, and I enjoyed my time with this one. But if you aren't super into one or multiple characters from the cast, I would say you can skip it sense it is very much a smaller experience with some great stuff and some flaws that depending on the person can really ruin the game for you.

The first Baten Kaitos: I got a mutual on here that wants to go into this game blind so. Here's what I will say, I liked this game, I thought it was very good. I think that it's still worth playing, and am still stoked that this rather obscure set of JRPGs finally got some well deserved love. And were made way way more affordable.

Princess Peach Showtime: I wish I could say I loved this game. It was just alright. It felt mind-numbing after a certain point, and I was just playing it to beat it sadly.

Fire Emblem Sacred Stones Ephraim run: God I love this game man. Being able to say I saw both parts of the game feels great, and if you a major FE fan it is so so worth doing. But part of that is just because Sacred Stones has great map design, and overall fun characters. Seth my beloved.

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror: Hot take, this game is overrated as shit. I love Kirby, but this game is a hellfire to play. The map system and world design are such ass. The levels themselves are designed well. But the map in the game tells you jack shit. The doors connect in weird spots. I needed an online map to beat this game, how did kids beat this on their little game childs? Yeah um not worth getting a cart for imo, emulate it and find the maps online. It's okay at best.

Pokemon HeartGold: This game took me almost a year to beat man. The grinding was insane. While it was worth finally beating Red, I still have my gripes with Gen 2. Including the not so great spread of where Pokemon spawn, the awful leveling, and how crazy grinding is in the final section. It was worth it to say I beat it, but I don't think I'll ever want to do this again.

Fire Emblem Shadows of Valentia: Best Fire Emblem game ever imo. Amazing cast, great voice acting, great story despite being a bit predictable. Like man, the maps can be basic, but they are still fun. The graphics look good for the system. Please play this game it's a darling.

Cook Serve Delicious: Man I love these games a lot, so much. This first one is really fun and a perfect, 'not too hard but still challenging in comparison to the other entries. It's 100% worth the money if you like silly food games. (but the game turns 10 soon and is getting remastered so I am looking forward to that.)

Super Mario Galaxy 2: I wish I had a lot to say about this game, I do not. It's good, it's a Mario game so it's fun. I have no idea why they brought the stupid motion control ball stuff back, and I hate the motion control flying bird levels. Other than that, this is a very solid game, but you could tell they were running out of ideas at the end. Happy it was 6 main worlds and not 8. Also this game's OST is better then the first one's.

Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon (DS): Man this makes me so sad that we didn't New Mystery of the Emblem in the west because I really like this game engine. It looks solid for the OG DS. Plus this game was very fun despite them being a bit generous with how many units you get. Overall I found this game to be fairly easy with a small amount of planning, and I think it's a good time.

Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story: This game was alright. I think the gimmicks overstayed their welcome despite being super creative. Writing is great, but it gets old too quick. Overrated game for me. It just didn't do anything for me. Despite owning this as a child I didn't beat it until now. Like not bad, just okay.

Weird games and shit:

Kirby's Blockball: It's cute and nonoffensive, not really much else to say.

Spyro Orange: I kinda... like this game... Sorry. I know it's objectively shit, I do. But god I had so much fun with it for some reason. Maybe I just like simple games like this, idk. I am still waiting to find a copy of Crash Purple, so I can 100% both of them, but we'll see.

Simpsons The Night of The Living Treehouse of Horror: No one remembers this Gameboy color exclusive garbage fire of a licensed game. I like the idea behind it, but yeah not great. Good time killer, and I liked the music for the Maggie fly level. I grew up on Simpsons so I always enjoy stupid novelties like this. Like the series has major flaws, but yeah it's a very Futurama situation for me.

To Trust An Incubus 100%: Yeah you heard me right. I 100%ed a NSFW dating sim, and got all achievements on it. To be fair someone I know gifted me this on Steam around the first year I came out as a transgender gay dude. So I got rid of some of my old farming sims and other shit that I couldn't be gay in. Since yeah. So this was one of the first games I had to kinda bask in my newly accepted identity. Oh boy this game it's just, weird. I mean, it has it's moments of being fun. And I can't deny that I really really like Harsi. I got the PDF of the guide from a dude on Steam thankfully. (normally you have to pay for it, but I'm not spending money on a google doc that I can get access to for free from someone hosting it. Also having one of the two only guides for the game locked behind a pay wall is ridiculous imo.) This thing is not a stain on my account like some people think it would be. This game helped me during a time were self acceptance was a major fucking struggle. Fully beating it was nice, but I wouldn't recommend it to others.

The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic does Family Guy death pose 10/10 Jokes aside, cute and high quality for a little free game and it was very fun! Happy I played it.

YAGS: A Gay Story: This one took me awhile to bite on. The dev for this game has been very transparent about writing one of the characters better in the future. But as a trans person, it never really bothered me and wasn't presented in a light of, "trans people bad." Just, "this character has a genitalia preference and jokes about it." I can understand how for some people in the community, it may set something off. And while the game uses the F slur, the creator is gay and there's an option to censor it. It is used once in context of a character being homophobic and it being shown as not okay. But a lot of it is reclaiming. Which again might be uncomfortable for some people. I liked this one cause it tackled some issues that queer people deal with, and the dev seems chill and open to criticism. I think this a game that covers good topics, but isn't for everyone.

Freshly Frosted: I got this game for free on Epic, and it's one of the only times the Epic Game store had a game I legit wanted. It's a cute little puzzle game where you make donuts. Honestly it was great and fairly short, I would give it a shot if you like puzzle games.

So what's next?:

As of writing this I am 80% done with Sly Cooper 4. (which I have stated on here before that I have a ton of issues with the Sly Cooper series and it's heavy heavy racism.) So far I think the story was too throw together, and that the characters felt out of place, completely changed for the worst, oversexualized, or just no purpose/break of character development that was already pre-established. Game play wise this game is actually solid, and I like the game play more then 2 and 3... which is fucking wild. But it doesn't make up for the rest of the rotten shit.

Other then that yeah Rock Band 2 and Band Hero are on the chopping block next. As I want to finish PS3 stuff soon, as I'm trying to get a Vita some time in the next year.

While I haven't been buying too many games and things to play for various reasons, I do still have a lot to do. It's just been very slow this year.

I'm hoping to cut the list back down to 100 due to the fact I just have way too many games on Switch and PC still. 3DS got semi smaller this year, but I still have a lot of those old games to beat too.

[andybwriting]

Save the Long Black Veil for Another Tragedy

(Today's prompt was to right an injustice in someone else's fiction. I chose the song Long Black Veil, originally recorded by Left Frizzell but made famous when Johnny Cash covered it. Then mashed it up with Reba McIntyre's The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, because why not? Also, ever wonder why Bobby McGee was on the move? And have you noticed that in some versions of Me and Bobby McGee, Bobby's a woman?)

Dill stared at his wife. Had he just heard what he thought he had? Had Mary just sat there cool as a motherfucking cucumber and claimed she had no idea where Johnny had been on the night Seth Amos was shot? Dill knew exactly where he’d been. He’d been in bed with Mary. That’s why Dill had been down at Web’s Bar.

“Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you?” Dill yelled. Both Mary and Detective Frizzell stared at him, Mary with horror and the detective with interest. “Johnny could hang without an alibi, Mary! And you’re going to deny that you were with him? For what? So the hens at the hair salon don’t gossip about you? You can’t be serious. It’s like you don’t even care about him.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. He’d always loved her eyes. But right now, he’d rather claw them out than look at them. “But, Dill-”

“Don’t but Dill me, woman!” With a disgusted snarl, Dill turned to the cop. “Detective, I don’t know who shot the Amos boy. But if I were you, I’d be asking the McGee siblings. He was having an affair with Russel’s wife. And that Bobby girl’s a crazy bitch if there ever was one. Damn good shot, too. She don't miss when she aims. My money’s on her.”

“I see.” The detective flipped through one of those little notebooks cops always carried around on TV. It was surreal to see one in real life. “Seth was sleeping with Viki McGee? Do you have proof of that?”

“Nah. Not beyond hearing him bragging about it like it was some kind of accomplishment.” It wasn’t. The most challenging part of seducing Viki was finding a time she wasn’t already getting busy with someone else. “But you can ask just about anyone in town. Woman’s slept with most of the men and a good chunk of the ladies hereabouts, but lately she’s been pretty hung up on Seth. God knows why. And she and Russ aren’t polyamorous like me and Mary and Johnny all are. She’s just a cheat.”

Frizzell jotted something down. “And forgive me for asking, but you said you were at Web’s when the shooting occurred?”

“Monthly nine ball pool tournament,” he confirmed. “I was in the final round when the game got called by the commotion. Plenty can verify that.”

“But you’re confident Johnny was here with your wife? Was that common?”

“Sure.” Dill shrugged. “They go back almost as far as Mary and me. She’s not the first woman we’ve shared an interest in, either. Or the last. When you have as much in common as we do, it stands to reason there’s going to be some overlap in the people you’re attracted to.”

“But the two of you aren't lovers?”

“Nah. Neither of us are into men.” That was only half true, but it wasn't like Dill's pansexuality made a difference.

The detective looked skeptical, but didn’t argue. “Did you actually see him here that night?”

“Oh, yeah. He was on his way out as I was coming in. Reminded me we had plans to watch the Bulldogs together Saturday and we decided he’d bring the beer and I’d handle the BBQ.” Dill sighed heavily. “Then your dumbass colleagues arrested him just because some drunk idiots claimed they saw someone who looked like him running off, and now I’ve got pounds of ribs taking up space in the freezer. Dawgs lost, too, not that I think that was related. You can see the ribs if you want.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Frizzell gave Mary a long look. She’d drawn into herself, hunching in the corner of the couch like she hoped everyone would forget she was there. “Mrs Wilkins, I’m going to give you a second chance to answer my question. Do you have any information on the whereabouts of Johnny Black on the night of October Seventeenth?”

With a aggrieved sigh, Mary waved at her husband. “It was like Dill said. Dill left shortly after dinner and Johnny arrived a few minutes later. Somewhere around six fifteen, maybe six thirty. And he was here until about midnight.”

“Did he leave during this time?”

“In for a penny, in for a pound…” Mary muttered to the ceiling before meeting Frizzell’s gaze. “No. I had him tied up. That’s something he likes but Dill won’t do with me. He couldn’t have left even if he wanted to.”

The detective took this in stride. “Alright. Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll be in touch if I have any more questions.”

Frizzell left his card and went on his way while Dill informed his wife that he was considering a divorce. “I can’t be with someone who would have watched my best friend die rather than admit she’s nonmonogamous. That’s fucked up, Mary.”

“Good Lord. Stop being so dramatic. I wouldn’t have let them execute your darling Johnny. I’d have told them if I had to.” Mary glared at Dill before she went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. “I just didn’t feel like showing the whole town my dirty panties if it turned out he didn’t need my testimony. I swear, sometimes I don’t know why I’m the one you married when you clearly love him more.”

“Yeah, me neither.” He slammed the door on his way out.

Over the next several hours, he walked the hills over town, contemplating life and what a shit show it could be. Then he walked to Johnny’s house to see if his friend gotten out of jail yet and, if so, if he wanted to watch Monday Night Football. The matchup should be a good one, and Dill had no desire to go home.