#Erika seems so fun I love her

[parkissat]

Aaaaaaa he looks like something out of Power Rangers or Spy Kids I love it XD

But also THE DALTONS' NEW OUTFITS!!!

And also also LOVE Erika's look and vibe from the gifs I saw, love her energy and chemistry with Jere ;u;

[0pawprint0]

All the autographs I got! The only person on my list I didn’t get was Matthew. His lines were long throughout the whole con. But I got a picture with him and he complimented my Shaggy cosplay, so I still consider it a win! He was super kind.

The Hazbin gang were all so sweet and talking to them was so much fun! They all seemed to love my Sir Pentious cosplay! Erika even asked for a pic to show Alex. He didn’t respond while I was there, but he’s a very busy person, so I get it completely ^^

I nearly cried when I got to meet Rob. I have looked up to him for so long and it was so amazing to finally meet him. He was as wonderful as you’d expect. It was super hard to choose which poster for him to sign because he plays so many characters I love. I ended up picking Donnie because TMNT 2012 is my favorite version and I never see anything for it. I was telling him about how even some of his super specific roles like Eric from The Little Mermaid 2 have stuck with me and he gave me a hug! He also addressed me in Donnie’s voice and knew how to spell my name without me even needing to tell him! Most people don’t spell it right. He also complimented my cosplay and asked me how to make it and everything (I was Sir Pentious that day). It was such a good time. I would talk with him all day if I could. I unfortunately didn’t get a picture with him because I didn’t have enough money (things tend to go wrong when I’m trying to save money and I had to pay to fix some things the month before fhfhfhdn). But I’m hoping to see him again one day and next time I will get a picture!

Grey was so fun to talk to! She actually had her hair put up with a pin to look like Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender), another character she plays. She excitedly addressed me as Shaggy (the cosplay I was wearing that day), telling my sister and I to "throw Scooby Snacks at any monsters you see!" and told us not to unmask anyone :’) she’s so silly and fun I love herrr! She gave us a hug, too! Frank was super nice and loved the poster my sister brought for him to sign (she got it from an artist at the con) and he even did Scooby’s voice to us!

My sister is a big fan of Cameron Monaghan, so we went to his panel. She was able to get a pic and autograph with him, too! I don’t have the pictures with her because I don’t think she’d want me to post her face here lol.

I didn’t get an autograph from him because of money, but I also got to meet Johnny Yong Bosch! He’s most known for Ichigo from Bleach, but what I was excited for was talking to him about Danganronpa (he is Hajime and Rantaro)!

This is my haul I got from comic con (excluding the things that came with my ticket). I did, indeed, come home with 4 Miku figures. But one was free! Because at that booth it was buy 2, get 1 free.

I also got a Neighthan Rot doll for fairly cheap (they go as high as $70 online). Tbh a Monster High doll is the last thing I expected to get at a con, but I’m pretty down with it lol. Especially because it’s in great condition and still had his journal!

For the Harry Potter sticker and pin, we got those for free at a free Harry Potter trivia we went to because HP is my sister’s favorite book series. She also won a book she doesn’t have! It was like a Dumbledore side story (note: neither of us support or like Rowling as a person. She did not get any money out of us, as this was free).

The mushroom sticker was given to me by an artist as I passed their table! Their info is there on the sticker if you’re interested in their work!

The stickerssss! They make me so happy. There was so many more this artist had that I wanted, but I didn’t have the money for it, unfortunately. I got Ciel, Sebastian, Grell, and Undertaker (Black Butler), Bill, Stan, Wendy, Dipper, Mabel, and Waddles (Gravity Falls - they didn’t have Soos or Ford rip), Craig and Tweek (South Park), Sir Pentious (Hazbin Hotel), Stolas (Helluva Boss), Rampo (Bungou Stray Dogs), and Amaimon (Blue Exorcist).

This stuff came with my ticket! I LOVE the poster!

I didn’t get these, but I thought they were really funny.

Post 2/2

[barb-l]

The girls (endearing term) have been FIGHTING in the ‘best ship’ polls for HH….. I’d hate to be Erika or any of the VAs for Hazbin because the shipping wars are crazy. 😓

If they're not chronically online, I dont think it's anything to worry about. Erika in particular loves her character and chaggie a whole dang lot, regardless of the antis. They've told in a recent interview that they know about people doubting whether charlie and vaggie are actually dating, and Erika's just excited to show some more chaggie stuff next season. It's pretty endearing if you check her twitter. She's such a charlie fan girl it's so cute

So it's probably fine. They seem to be having a lot of fun

[barblaz-arts]

hi, first of all, I just wanna say that I am a HUGE fan of your work. Your art style and the way you section your drawings feel like I'm reading a slice-of-life manga. (I don't know how to explain it, but yeah) I decided to create a Tumblr account just to follow you. After so many years, you inspired me to pick up the pencil again! ^""^ Uhm seeing your works on Vega makes me want to make a Chaggie fan child too. (I was hungry for Chaggie/your contents, now I have Dani)

and also also I am so excited to see what you have in mind for Victor. Idk but in my mind she will be the kind of older sister that seems harsh and distant because of her position? (As the heir and as the older sister) but is secretly doting on their younger siblings.

Thank you! Slice of life is my favorite genre of manga. It's a really underrated genre, especially the ones targeted more toward adults(seinen is what they were called i believe? Or maybe josei? Man idk) I used to read a lot of em, especially if it's yuri/shoujo ai ehehe so it's probably influenced the way I make comics.

Thank you for putting in the effort to do all that tho! Crazy to think that my art could be worth the trouble. And I'm happy to have helped you love making art again. It's such a fun thing to draw and just create.

You're not wrong tho! Yunno how Charlie is reminiscent of Disney princesses, with the actual show's version of Charlie baring a lot of resemblance to Rapunzel with her hair, personality, and even singing? Istg Erika Henningsen sounds different when she isn't singing/talking as Charlie. It's like they purposely asked her to voice act like Mandy Moore. Or maybe I'm just overthinking because I love Rapunzel and Charlie and Ms. Henningsen is just hella talented...

Ahem.

Anyways. "Victor" is also inspired by a Disney character, namely Elsa. Especially the version of her from their scrapped plotline where Elsa was supposed to live up to a prophecy and Anna was just "a spare". So.... You're actually really close!

[noarawriteszr]

Could we get one with Leah (coral island) being flustered by the farmer internally but hiding it behind her cold exterior she projects?

hey hey! how are you? this was a GREAT request >-< tbh I think I changed a little bit of how the story should go, and I'm sorry I took so long ughh :/ But I really do hope u like it! <3

I care!

When you got into the island most of people were so kind and lovely to you, it really does seem like a dream except when you meet people that weren't exactly that kind.

One of these people was Leah, she was so rude and you definitely couldn't believe when some people told you that she haves a soft spot.

For you, her hobby and soft spot seem like humiliating you or teasing in all the chance she can. You can remember her cold voice whenever she needs to say something to you, and it was definitely not pleasing to hear all the time that someone doesn't care about you.

Although when Erika told you that Leah has a soft spot, you got interest to see what's going on with that pink hair girlie. So your routine changed quickly, and with the help of Erika, you got to know of Leah's schedule. Maybe if you could hang out with her more, she would be more sweet to you...

Oh, how you were wrong.. Leah treated you like a trash and made sure you knew about her "dislike."

Although you weren't dumb.. you saw the way her eyes searched for you in the crowd, the way she always sits next to you in any festival. Plus: You kinda overheard Leah cursing Mark when he made fun of you.

Hmmm.. so that's how it works. You decided to test the theory for real and ask Theo to help you. Basically, if she doesn't care about you, she shouldn't feel jealous when you flirt with Theo, right?

You danced with him all night and felt her angry eyes follow you both the entire time. When you two finally stopped dancing and you went to grab a drink, she went stomping to you and pushed you against the wall(kdrama vibes, hehe sorry)

" What the hell was that?!?!? He's not even your type!"

You laughed in her face, which made her turn even more red with anger. What she didn't expect was you to turn to her and say:

"I don't see why this is a problem, Leah. He's kinda cute and single. You didn't make a move yet, so I thought it was fine for me to do it." You sure know for a fact that she saw red and suddenly she confesses her biggest secret:

"I don't care about him, I care about you, idiot!!" She almost ran away from you, but you manage to grab her arm to pull her against you, whispering into her ears:

"Seems like you care after all."

[theheadlessgroom]

"We certainly do," Colin smiled, endeared by Lon's infectious enthusiasm-in a way, it reminded him a bit of Wilhelm when he was little, always trailing after his big brothers with an endless stream of questions, confident that they held the sum of the world's knowledge. "We're February babies, the 22nd, if you wanna be specific. We got our own gifts...but our folks, they encouraged us to share with each other, even when we really didn't want to...!"

"And we used to blow the candles out together," Callahan finished, remembering the little scuffles that would break out over having to share their gifts with one another, always one of them wanting to keep one toy away from the other, leading to a lot of pushing and crying and scolding. At the end of the day, though, they made up and learned to play nice-at least, until the next day, when the cycle would repeat itself!

"Oh, then we've come at just the right time!" Josephine enthused, and June couldn't help but smile a little-if there was anyone in the house that could rival Dorian Gracey and his enthusiasm for throwing big celebrations, it was her mother, who immediately began to relate old stories of June's birthdays when she was the children's age, stories of making butterscotch pie (an old family recipe) for the party and June's many pretty little dresses.

"You wouldn't happen to still have that pretty purple plaid dress you wore when you were little, do you?" she then asked, turning to her daughter, who immediately made a face (much like her son when the topic of a certain kilt came up), saying with a laugh, "I'm not going to put my granddaughter into that nightmare, Mother!"

"Oh, come now, June, it wasn't a nightmare!" Josephine chuckled, adding, "Your father always thought it was adorable, he kept that portrait of you in it on his desk for years! You looked so darling with all those little bows in your hair!"

"Well, I don't know where the dress is, at any rate, but I'm sure Erika will have something very cute to wear in its stead," June smiled, knowing damn well where it was-in the cedar chest in her and Wilhelm's bedroom, and hopefully it'd stay that way...

@beatingheart-bride

"They sure are!" Wilhelm grinned to Emily, clapping his two brothers on the shoulders as he introduced, "I'd like to introduce you all to my big brothers: Colin and Callahan! Col, Cal, that's my wife, June, our son Randall, and his family! His wife Emily, and their children, Lon and Erika!"

"Pleased to meet you!" Colin and Callahan declared in unison, the two of them putting their hands to Emily to shake, while Lon bounced up and down in his seat, having quickly picked up on the fact that the pair was identical, declaring, "You're twins! Like me and Erika!"

"That we are!" Callahan replied brightly, pulling up a couple of chairs to sit beside their brother and grandnephew, while Randall was staring up in wordless wonder at his mother and her parents-parents he'd only ever seen portraits of, and never imagined, even now, that he would meet in the flesh (or ectoplasm, as the case was).

"...and this is my son, Randall," June introduced, the call of his name snapping him out of his stupor, to say nothing of the way Josephine reached out to cup his skeletal face, cooing, "Oh my goodness, what a darling boy! It's wonderful to meet you, dear heart!"

"Uh...uh-huh," Randall blinked, while August swallowed hard, unable to hide the way his chest ached: His daughter had raised a whole family, and he had no idea until now! It was bittersweet, in a way, and he swallowed hard, trying to disguise his true feeling as he looked from his grandson (still being cooed over by Josephine) to his great-granddaughter, who was looking at him with big, wide, shy eyes, as though she were tempted to hide from this new, unfamiliar person. When he gave her a gentle wave, she buried her face in her mother's arm, unsure of what to say or think about all of this.

[ladye-zelda]

Ooh, how about Legend of Zelda Princess and the Pauper AU, and/or Sunflowers?

-Sky Floor

Hehehe >:3

Princess and the Pauper AU (super excited about this one tbh)

Basically the Barbie movie in Legend of Zelda context. Princess Annaliese is BotW Zelda, Erika is Malon, Julian is BotW Link and King Dominic is OoT Link. Then Preminger is Ghirahim and his two henchmen are two of the bosses in Skyward Sword, but all I have in this doc is the first "chapter" which is basically part of the opening number XD

“Oh, we’re late, late, late!” Chancellor Cole said. “We’ve got twenty maximum— twenty-two minutes, for your royal fitting then it’s move, move, move, to your speech at the historical society! After that we have to rush and I mean rush! To the Horticultural Society Tea, and then there’s your math lessons, your geography lessons, your science lessons. . .” Zelda drowned out the rest of the chancellor’s ramblings as she focused on the bouquet in her hands. It was going to be fine, she told herself. It was all going to be fine. She looked up at the wall-length mirror she stood in front of. Seamstresses gathered around the hem of her dress, finalizing the last of the stitching. The dress was everything that she had imagined in a wedding dress: white with pink and gold accents. She should have been feeling happy, or excited. What else should she be feeling on the days leading up to her marriage? But things weren’t like what she imagined they would be. She lowered the bouquet, handing it to one of the waiting maids. The seamstresses were just about done when Zelda lifted up her skirts and walked over to the balcony. She took in a deep breath of the fresh crispness of the air. The only feeling of freedom that she is close to getting these days. As her wedding was drawing closer and closer, it seems the less and less she got. She chuckled slightly to herself. How selfish she was. She was a princess, destined to fulfill the responsibilities no one wants. It was her duty to be in certain places when asked, to smile and never complain, to know everything and be there for everyone. If not her, then who? Princess Zelda reached the edge of the balcony, looking down into the castle courtyard. Guards patrolled the labyrinth hedges, taking their duties too seriously. She smiled, recognizing one guard dressed in a different uniform. He always patrolled the side of the castle where Princess Zelda lived, if he was not close by attending to his bodyguard duties. Link passed into view, looking as stoic as ever. He noticed from the corner of his eye the princess’s watchful gaze, then suddenly straightened his posture, snapping his hands behind his back. Very exaggerated, he walked without bending his knees, scrunching his face in mock seriousness. Zelda burst out laughing. It seemed like magic, how he always seemed to know how the princess was feeling all of the time. It was one of the characteristics she loved about him. “Having fun, are we?” asked a voice. Zelda snapped her attention behind her. The queen stood there, her expression ladened with age and worry. Her mouth turned up into a tired smile, seeing Zelda’s rosy cheeks fading to normal. “I know how you feel about your bodyguard, but it is vital that you marry King Link. It’s the only way to take care of our people.” “I know, it’s my duty,” Zelda sighed. It felt uncomfortable, how the name of her fiance carried the same name as the man she loves, despite being two completely separate people. It made her feel even more like a traitor, despite her Link knowing the circumstance. “Oh, look!” the queen said, turning back towards Zelda’s room. “Another engagement gift has arrived!”

Sunflowers

It was tradition that after a ceremony was completed, the royal family would be paraded around Castle Town. This time it was just Zelda, atop of her white steed as if she was some prize that all of Hyrule needed to see. (Well, she wasn’t completely alone; she had the company of a dozen or so guards separating her and the crowd of onlookers, plus the champions, but they hardly counted.) Hylians and visiting races looked up at the princess with wide, disbelieving eyes, as if this was the one destined to save all of Hyrule. This pathetic excuse for a princess. If there were any admiration in their eyes, it would be towards him. The knight who carried the sword of destiny upon his back. She tried to ignore him, but ever since they left the castle grounds he had kept his eyes on her. Never leaving. Never faltering. Not even when she had twisted back and glared at him did he ever release his gaze. He never even spared her the humiliation when he didn’t turn away to pretend he wasn’t looking. It was dreadful. The captain of her entourage of guards looked back, then raised a fist to stop. Zelda pulled the reins on Storm, to which he gave an unpleasant nicker. What’s the meaning of this? Zelda thought. She turned back, only to see the champions clustered around something. Someone? From between the slim forms of Mipha and Urbosa, Zelda could see Link. He was balancing on his toes, sitting on his ankles, face-to-face with a young girl. The young girl was squealing, grinning up at each of the five champions. She handed Link a bundle of something, then whispered in his ear. He nodded, before standing up and patting the young girl on the head. She caught the murmured “awe”s among the parents, seeing the girl in such a smile that if it were possible she might possibly explode. The champions resumed their positions, each murmuring about what happened. Revali was no doubt complaining, but Mipha was giggling; a blush fading from her pale face. Urbosa and Daruk were smiling as well, talking to each other. Link was as silent as ever, walking alone in front of the four champions. But in his hands was something odd. Six sunflowers tied together with a blue ribbon. Zelda shouldn’t be surprised. Sunflowers were common among Hyrule Field. So it would be expected that people would pick them. But what struck her as odd was why Link would stop for a child, and then accept such a common gift. Especially now, in the middle of the parade? Upon deeper reflection, she could see why. He’s putting up an act, just like her. Only he was better, gaining favor with the common people. That must be why they love him so much. She flicked Storm’s reins, and the white horse trotted forward, leaving behind the feeling of emptiness starting to develop in her stomach.

[bledtitanium]

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅••❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅• // ° @scarletxmagick con from Here ° •❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅••❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

// °° PUMPKIN QUEEN °° // , she loved the nickname given to her. Of course, all of her family and friends referred to her as ‧₊˚ ⋅ PUMPKIN SPICE. ‧₊˚ ⋅ Cause she drank and consumed so much things during the 🍁 FALL SEASON . 🍁 That she was practically made up of the stuff, and it was enough to turn her into it , 𓆩♡𓆪 YEAR ROUND. 𓆩♡𓆪 It had kind of stuck with her ever since. And she took it with 🍂 PRIDE 🍂 , of course. Giving a bright smile towards Erika, she started walking backwards. Waving her, to follow along, trying to avoid running into other people.

She had wished Thor would have been able to of came with them too, but 𖤍 HE WAS BUSY 𖤍 and hadn't been back to earth in 6 months to see her. Which she understood why, he was a ‧₊˚ ☽ ⋅ GOD. ‧₊˚ ☽ ⋅ Spinning around, in time to see the small white truck that was decorated with 🍂 FALL LEAVES 🍂 , and orange pumpkins. She didn't need any other info, she knew that vehicle quite well, in fact. This year was going to be her favorite one so far. She could feel the magic in the air.

❝ We are going to have a lot of fun, and also, I am glad to hear it. Seems I have that effect on everyone. I have even made a certain GOD OF THUNDER, start drinking cold coffee. ❞

[kalolasfantasyworld]

How about 9 and 21 for the writing excerpt ask game? 😄

Hi Erika! 💕

Thank you so much for your ask!

9. Silvas at the beach

21. Kirch getting hurt at the Royal Knights exam

9. with characters i love 

Silvas at the beach!!! (I love making fun of the fancy, delicate and arrogant Royals that they are)

When everyone was done with the sunscreen, the Silvas rested in their previously picked out sun loungers. Helena was the only one to stand up and excitedly look at the sea. She was going to finally swim in it.

“Let’s go,” she turned to the siblings and clapped her hands.

“Where?” Nebra lifted a pair of sunglasses, she had on and glanced at her puzzled.

“What do you mean where?” Helena raised her eyebrows. “To the water obviously.”

“Yeahhh,” Nebra elongated her words. “No.”

“What?” Helena asked surprised. “We’re at the sea, we need to go swimming.”

“Water would ruin my hairstyle,” the silver haired princess announced.

“Seriously?” Helena asked. She then glanced at the sun lounger on Nebra’s right. “Solid, are you coming?”

“No,” his voice sounded grossed out and he rolled his eyes mockingly.

“Then why did you bring a floaty?” Helena crossed her arms over her chest.

“Because I could,” he said arrogantly and deadpanned.

These two were a lost cause.

“Nozel?” She asked with a hopeful tone.

He was wearing a pair of sunglasses, which looked really funny, because their middle part was covered by his braid. He had once again put on his shirt, but it was opened and revealed his toned stomach and chest.

On his face appeared a smug smirk, but he pretended not to hear her and would not answer.

“The pretty birdies and their hairstyles,” Helena rolled her eyes. “I’m gonna go by myself then,” she looked around. “Why is there no one else here anyway?” She asked.

“We’ve rented this part of the beach, obviously,” Solid commented.

“Why?” Helena whined. She was truly hoping to meet some nobles, who maybe had heard about her mother. Luciana Drazel was supposedly quite a persona in her youth. Helena may had inherited some of her charm and playfulness.

“So no one would dare to bother us,” Nebra explained.

“But there are only nobles and magic knights here,” Helena inquired. “We could mingle, get to know some of them.”

“I’ll pass,” Nebra waved her hand dissuasively.

“Weren’t you supposed to go swimming, Helena?” Solid asked. “You’re blocking the sun.”

“I am not, because the three of you are sitting underneath the parasols anyway,” she furrowed her brows annoyed with his lack of respect.

“We can’t risk getting burned,” Nebra spoke offended.

The whole time Nozel was quietly listening to the conversation. Helena felt that he was enjoying the moment, but something still seemed off.

“Oh so the birdies, also have fair and delicate skin,” Helena joked.

“We do actually!” Solid exclaimed.

Helena just laughed at their irritation. She made a small wave at them and walked over to the sea bank.

21. that i liked, but had to cut

Ughhh so I cut it… and don’t have it anymore

But it was during the Royal Knights Entrance Exam (so future chapter). Kirch gets hurt and I thought he gets sent away to the Infirmary and wrote a whole hilarious Kirch - Helena interaction… then I saw that he stayed at the exam site… 

Kirch why are you taking the humor away from me????

[raptorix]

Okay, been taking my time getting through Veilguard, I just recently redid my entertainment setup in my room so I can play my PS5 in there, and then I also wanted to get caught up in FFXIV's 7.1 patch MSQ.

I basically got everyone recruited now!!

Early spoiler thoughts

Okay so I originally designed my Mercar Rook to be a Sports Butch She/They. Very excited that Erika Ishii is one of the fem Rook voices.

TV photo because IDK how to get screenshots off my PS5 yet.

Romance pick for first run: Lace Harding, because I thought she was sweet in Inquisition, love her voice actress, and I love her whole vibe in general. Also we finally get to romance a Dwarf character.

I see the appeal of Lucanis, but he's like a beautiful cat to me. I just wanna admire & pet him. I'm worried that Davrin is gonna suffer the fandom neglect like Wyll did. He's a great character, and seems like one of those rough types with a heart of gold that's probably worth earning. Also, like Scratch, I will pet Assan every time I pass by him in the Lighthouse. :3 Emmrich is a sweet and darling old man, and my first Rook is a Mage who is chill with Necromancy and thinks Manfred is a delight.

As for the Ladies, I kinda went over Harding. In-lore, Rook has been working with Varric and Harding for a period of time prior to this whole mess, so the previous familiarity makes romancing Harding feel easier. Neve is great.... Great design, I just wanna listen to her and admire her. I would also take up the challenge of romancing her, even though I know hers blooms late-game. But I also hear her canon pairing if not romanced is with Lucanis, and that chemistry is very exciting to watch. Bellara is a delight!!!! I wish she was my IRL friend, she is so sweet and fun!!! I'd love to romance her in a future playthrough!!! And finally, I just met Taash, and I appreciate that she's a big buff lady who has Special Interest.

The ENTIRE CAST is A++ on their designs. Amazing designs, I am mentally playing with their unique little features & trinkets they wear. Like Bellara's triangle-themed jewelry and armor?? I am mentally fidgeting with that.

The Triple Click podcast did an episode with their mid-game thoughts on Veilguard, and Kirk posed an observation and theory that I've taken on myself. Rot13 for this spoiler since I don't want anyone else going slow like me to learn this accidentally:

Gur gurbel vf gung Ineevp qvrq, ohg orpnhfr bs gur zntvp bs gur Ylevhz Qnttre naq gur angher bs gur Snqr, ur'f npghnyyl n tubfg gung bayl Ebbx pna frr naq urne. Guvf vf fhccbegrq ol ubj vs nal bs gur pbzcnavbaf oevat uvz hc, vg frrzf gb or va cnfg grafr. Naq gurl arire qverpgyl vagrenpg jvgu uvz va gur Yvtugubhfr.

I forsee this as one of those 'Replay again and again to see different origins and romances' type games. I've already seen fanart of someone's Rook who's from the Crows, and looks like The Warden & Zevran's child. I've also seen someone's Rook that looks crazy similar to Vax'ildan. XD

[majesticwren]

due to high demand - me. I'm high demand. this entire project is being written entirely for my pleasure, be warned I'm being extremely self-indulgent - I've decided to write a little prequel to the events that take place here. this is set in 2018 and is the beginning of Fletch x OFC. billy will have his own little prequel at some point. enjoy.

Trigger Warning/s: alcohol consumption, mention of addiction, mention of sex, mention of trauma, sexual harassment, swearing, OFC is her own trigger warning she is damaged goods and slightly toxic, kyle is a little baby, mark is being overprotective and extremely toxic sorry not sorry, angst, mainly friends to lovers/impossible relationship dynamics.

nuclear season: part I -> | part II -> | part III -> prequel: part II -> | part III -> | part IV -> Masterlist

January 2018

There was always something melancholically romantic about an empty venue after a show. Seeing a place that had been crowded, hot and loud for hours suddenly empty and silent had a particular bittersweet vibe to it.

Erika sat on one of the foldable chairs at ringside, one leg crossed over her knee, swinging her foot to the beat of the seconds, looking around as she waited. Trying to pass the time, she fiddled with a lock of her hair.

The lights of the venue were now all switched on, making the ring at the centre of the room look extremely surgical. A couple of RevPro workers were dismantling it, pulling the apron and starting to take down the ropes. Erika moved her attention to another person on the other side of the room who was folding up the chairs, ready to load them away.

Erika tapped her foot on the floor. It was sticky under the sole of her show because of the spilt over drinks. She took some time to count the abandoned plastic cups and forgotten items she could see all over the place, making it look like the crowd partied hard. Which wasn’t far from reality. They had a good crowd at the show that night and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves wrestlers and guests alike.

She was proud of many of the pictures she had taken. There was a content smile nested on her lips as she was aware she had probably made rent with that event.

There were many pros to working in wrestling. It was a career she hadn’t considered before, even though she had been around the scene for years since her brother was such a massive fan and had been wrestling already for over ten years. So, she had her fair bit of knowledge and was charmed by that world but had never thought it possible to make a career out of it.

Still, now she wasn’t entirely convinced her dream had come true. Somehow, she thought she didn’t deserve it and considered it a privilege. She had hurt and disappointed so many people before, too used to being a problematic teenager than this new responsible adult that Erika was convinced it was only a matter of time before she fell into her old habits again.

But, at the moment, she was enjoying doing what she was doing and paying her living doing liked most. Photography was her life. She loved taking pictures, framing moments and making them hers forever. Plus, her job was fun and granted her the possibility not only to travel and meet many people, but she got to do it all with her dear big brother.

The most important part of following that dream, though, was that it gave her the chance to leave Australia for good. She had followed Mark to the UK only for a few weeks now and yet she hadn’t missed home once. She was always convinced that remaining in Brisbane would have meant the withering of her. There was too much of her past there and she just knew she would have never escaped it.

But, no matter how far she travelled, there was a fear always hidden inside of her that painfully reminded her how easily she could have slipped and ruined her life again.

So easy. So tempting.

“Hey, there,”

She jumped, startled when she heard that voice so close. Erika gasped, placing a hand on her chest as her gaze distractedly lifted on the tall, slim boy approaching her.

“Sorry, mate, didn’t mean to scare ya,”

Erika focused her attention on Kyle and melted into a smile, shaking her head. “Please, don’t be sorry. I was miles away.”

He approached her with a soft smile crossing his fair features. He looked like an elf, with his sharp edges, high cheekbones and glimmering, light eyes. There was something about the boy she was attracted to like a magnet. She couldn’t explain it but she couldn’t take her attention off him either. Although she didn’t trust herself enough to let herself go in that feeling. She and boys weren’t a good match. Her past was full of bad decisions and she had no intention of making another one.

Especially with a pretty, sweet boy like Kyle seemed to be. Especially since he was so close to Mark not only as his colleague and team partner but being taken in like a little brother as well. She just couldn’t risk it.

“Can I sit?” He pointed at the chair to her side.

“Of course,” Erika nodded, trying to shake the cringe off herself. Her skin rippled in goosebumps only thinking about having him too close. She couldn’t think too clearly when he looked at her, which was just ridiculous.

He dropped his bag with his ring gear on the floor and fell heavily on the little chair distending his long legs. “So, what do you think about the show?”

“I think it was great!” Erika smiled, looking at him and damning herself for the excitement it gave her to share a moment alone with Kyle. She felt the butterflies in her stomach warming up. “That move you did,” she tried to regain focus, looking back on the ring, “off the top buckle? That was so good!”

“You think?” He wondered following her eyes to the ring. “I thought I landed badly and everyone noticed.”

“Well, if you did, I didn’t see it.” Erika didn’t mention how closely she was looking at his moves. She cleared her voice, lifting her professional camera. “I took a cool shot of your front flip mid-air, wanna see?”

“Hell yeah,” Kyle scooted closer, looking over her shoulder as she fiddled with her camera.

Erika tried her best to remain calm and not react to his closeness but it was hard. His scent was inebriating, he smelled of clean linen and lavender. It made her mouth water and her hands shake with the desire to push her face into his neck and inhale.

She shrugged off a shiver, concentrating on the dozens and dozens of pictures she was scrolling through and then smiled when she finally found the one, showing it to him from the small camera screen. “There it is. It will look a thousand times better once I develop it. But even like this, it looks pretty good.”

“Shit me,” Kyle attentively took her camera into his hands, handling it with care as he looked into the screen, examining the picture she took. “Is that how I look when I do it?”

Erika nodded. “Cool uh? You look very good.”

“Could I have a copy of the picture once you develop it?”

“Of course! I mean, I generally do give the guys I work for a hard copy and a file copy that I share with the wrestlers too. So, you’ll be good to go.”

“Can I have a look at the rest of the pictures?”

“Yes,” Erika cleared her voice, “I mean, I haven’t peaked through them so most of them will be off-focus or blurry but sure.”

As he pressed the little arrow button, starting to look at all the pictures she had taken of the evening, Erika slowly started to feel a warm feeling spread through her. She was suddenly fidgety, wondering what went on in his mind as he looked at what she could do. It was somehow intimate, showing to him. Erika’s pictures were used by companies and wrestlers alike on their socials, but no one knew it came from her, there. This felt like Kyle just had access to a very personal window of how she viewed the world.

“Wow, you are good at this,” Kyle smiled distractedly, still scrolling through her work. “These are so good.”

Erika blushed. And immediately froze, feeling panic settling in her nerves. She looked away, imposing herself to find some control over her emotions. She had never blushed before, not for a boy anyway.

“Thank you,” she pushed her hand out, hinting to him to give her back the camera. “It won’t take me long to get the pictures fixed up and printed, so you can see them once they are done.”

“Do you have a studio?” He wondered with interest stretching on the chairs by his side.

Erika shook her head. “I will in a few weeks. I am trying to get a lease on a tiny hole of an office from where I’ll be able to work. I am planning to have a proper dark room and maybe even a desk space to hire an assistant. But for now, I am doing it the old-fashioned way,”

“What’s that?”

“My laptop.” She explained shrugging, “It’s a bit of a hit or miss kind of job, sometimes it pays well, sometimes it doesn’t. But I think I can make it work better If I get access to an office space.”

“Like an investment.”

“Yes,” Erika smiled, appreciating his care to know details about her more than what she was supposed to. “Exactly that.”

“Are you coming out with us tonight?” He then wondered leaning his head to the side.

She felt his eyes on her and wanted to bask under his attention. She had never had a problem with that. Generally, she thrived when she was under the spotlight. She was a very confident young woman aware of her appearance. Maybe too much, sometimes. She had won many things, in the past, because of her pretty face. Especially hearts. She was used to having it her way, but when she decided she wanted someone there wasn’t escaping it. Except with Kyle felt different. She didn’t want to conquer him or win him over. She liked him. Not only his appearance, even though his large smile made her feel things she had never felt before. The real deal was the kindness of heart he had; he was so polite in the way he behaved, and he wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn’t apologetic about it.

Plus, he was spoiling her. Kyle made her feel seen and listened to in ways she wasn’t used to. Which said a lot about the relationships or situationships she had in the past.

And that was precisely why it was so dangerous to play with that fire and she did everything in her power to fight against it. She could see it would lead to ruin for all parties involved.

“Nah, I don’t think so,” She looked away, sadness settling in, aching in her chest.

She wanted to go. She wanted to spend some time socialising. She wanted to be around him. But precisely because he seemed to want her there, she was better off staying away from booze and pretty boys.

“What!? Really? There’s a darts tournament between the guys, sure you want to miss that? I mean not to brag, but I’d beat you at darts.” He winked.

Erika felt flushed. “I’d love that because I think I might be good a darts” she damned herself as soon as she said that, “But I have an early train in the morning. Can’t miss it.”

“Oh, I see. Well. that’s a shame,”

“Next time, maybe?”

“You are on.”

“Oi,” A deep, thunderous voice echoed through the empty venue. Both she and Kyle jumped on their seat, turning over to find Mark waiting. “Ready to go?”

Erika huffed, looking over at her brother studying them. He didn’t seem too happy and she knew why. So, even before he could say anything, she jumped up and grabbed her back and jacket, putting some distance with Kyle.

“What were you doing?” He wondered quietly once she was close.

Erika shrugged. “Nothing, we were waiting for you.”

Before he could say anything more, Kyle approached her side and the two exchanged a fist bump. Mark didn’t continue, but she could see the concern hiding in his gaze. And it hurt her.

Mark hid behind a smile as he welcomed the boy, “Hey, mate,” he was so affectionate to Kyle that it made her heartache. She was happy they met. Kyle was a good friend to her brother. But, again, that was yet another complication and another reason for her to stay as far from the Aussie as she could.

“I’m gonna head home,” she started, hinting at the door as she fixed her bag on her shoulder.

“Yeah?” Mark looked at her, “I thought you were coming to the pub?”

“Nah,” Erika shook her head. She wished she didn’t but her gaze wandered on Kyle briefly. “I am quite tired. I think it’s for the best.”

“Okay,” Mark pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead. “Grab a cab though. I don’t want you around the underground alone at this hour.”

“I’ll call one now. You boys go ahead and have fun. I’ll leave the light on in the hall for you when you come home.”

She watched them approaching the venue door. Mark pulled Kyle under his arm as they walked and they merged with some of the other wrestlers on the show that same night. A few of the boys waved goodbye at her before they left. Just then, she approached the bar counter, releasing a soft sigh.

“Hey,” she hinted at the barman cleaning up, “would you be so kind to call me a cab, mate?” She wasn’t even trying to hide her disappointment. Just thinking about all that she may be missing made her heartache. It felt like the more distance there was between her and Kyle, the more she hurt.

Pathetic. She had to snap out of that little crush and get over it. And fast.

“Sure thing, sweetheart,” he stepped towards her, “can I get you a drink while you wait? On the house,” the boy winked at her. His flirtatious behaviour bounced right off her. His charm too, didn’t bother her.

“Nah, thank you, I am good.”

She could see the barman’s interest following her movements as he leaned on the counter in front of her. He was an attractive man, sure, and she had no doubt his pretty face and that little stunt of chatting up the ladies probably got him places before. She knew it all too well. She was it too. But even though she knew well how it worked and she felt like she should have been fluttered by his attention, maybe even intrigued, it just slid off her without making her feel a thing. If not slight discomfort.

Before he could say or ask something else, Kyle ran back in, approaching her. “Hey, Erika?”

“Yes?” She immediately turned towards him, not even noticing how much her heart and body moved for the Aussie. “What is it? You ok?”

“Yes, yeah,” he nodded, sliding a hand to the back of his neck. He was blushing so sweetly it made her think about strawberries. Though his eyes were bright and sharp as he looked at her. “I was wondering, could I have your number?”

Erika choked. She knew everything wrong with that. It was the same reason why she wasn’t allowing herself to go out. It was why she avoided being around the house alone with Fletch when Mark wasn’t around. It was why she had avoided being around him in general. Except when she didn’t and fell into whatever it was that attracted them like magnets.

It was stronger than her common sense, she was nodding even before she could think straight and kept being selfish as Kyle offered her his phone for her to type her number in.

He was smiling like an idiot. Or maybe it was her.

When he got his phone back, he held it like a trophy. “Thanks,”

“Don’t tell Mark,” She suggested, probably saying the first smart thing in a minute.  

Kyle offered her the largest of smiles and then dashed off.

As he left, she felt all the warmth he brought with him leaving her body and making her feel empty.

“That little prick has balls,” the guy behind the bar chuckled.

Erika smiled, still looking at the door. “That he does.”

“So, how is it that a pretty girl like you is not going out celebrating with all those boys?”

Erika tapped her nails on the wood, starting to feel an itch under her skin. She wanted to be vague, she knew what was the polite, British way of just generally saying stuff without actually saying anything to strangers. But she was too tired for that too. Politeness hardly got her anywhere.

“Well, let me tell you,” She began, “Got a crush on that little prick,” she vaguely pointed at the door, “he is my brother’s best friend and I can’t afford to fuck that up so,” she huffed, “I am staying well clear and doing everything in my power to get over him.”

“But you just gave him your number.”

“Yes, I never said I was smart at it.”

The guy behind the bar smiled. “I’m Matt, by the way,”

“Erika,” she said as they shook hands.

“So, Erika,” he looked up at her, hitting her up with a gaze she was sure had conquered many hearts before, “Want some help forgetting about the little prick?”

The proper way was to politely decline, get a cab, go home and do her best to accept going to bed alone. That would have been the new adult, mature way to deal with the situation. She was well aware of what was expected of her. But still chose otherwise.

The comfort of her old ways, knowing exactly what would have happened and how she would have felt was much better than knowing how much she was going to be eaten up by regrets, alone, in her little room.

“What time do you get off?” She wondered melting into a smile.

She didn’t much care for the guy himself. But he offered a distraction and it seemed like a valid idea not to think about Kyle.

“Half an hour.”

She nodded and took a seat on one of the stools, “In that case, I’ll take that drink, thank you.”

February 2018

A few weeks later, Erika stood in the centre of the small room she could call an office.

The place was a little dishevelled. It was dark, cold and a little dump; the rent was overpriced, but it was hers. The walls could have done with a new touch of paint, and she was convinced the space would have looked much more welcoming and personal with pictures hanging up; the carpet seriously needed a deep cleaning, and the sad curtains by the windows needed to be retired, but she still looked at it with the most pride.

A smile crossed her lips, and her heart was leaping out of her chest as she toyed with the set of keys the agency gave her. She still didn’t feel secure enough to trust her dream coming true, but that was a pretty big step forward compared to where she had come from only six months before.

“Hey-o,” she recognised Kyle’s voice immediately as he chirped from the entrance door, “anybody in there? Erika?”

Her heart jumped out of her chest.

“Come on in!” She welcomed him, skipping back to the door where she found the Aussie. “What are you doing here?”

As soon as he saw her, he whipped out a massive smile and pulled, from behind his back, a big bunch of colourful flowers and a bottle of bubbles. “Well, I thought the situation required celebrating!” He offered her his presents.

Erika’s chest tightened as she took the flowers and brought them up so she could smell them. Then she took the bottle too, looking at it with interest. She melted into a sweet smile, immediately damning herself for what she was feeling.

Whatever tied her to Kyle only got stronger and deeper day by day. She tried to fight it. She tried to deflect and lie to herself, pretending that ignoring it all was enough to make it disappear. And yet, Kyle was constantly there to remind her how wrong she was.

She just needed to look at him to feel a magnetism pulling her towards him, making her hands tremble with the need to touch him. But it was a constant battle she fought, leaving her feeling cold and empty every time she denied herself her wish.

And yet, he kept coming. He kept being there, around her, everywhere, even when they were far from each other, she still felt him. Every day he made it a point to wish her good morning and good night. He’d ask her about her day and listen with interest to everything she had to say. He’d make her laugh. He’d give her compliments. He was just present in her life. How she wished she could say confidently they were only friends.

But friends didn’t desperately wish to kiss each other.

Thinking about that made her realise she was looking at his lips and she had to force herself off the thought.

“Thank you, Fletch, this is so sweet of you,” she looked up at him, leaning her head to the side, “I wasn’t expecting it.”

“Why did you think I asked you the address of this place?” He chuckled, “I wanted to make sure you welcomed this new chapter with the right energy.”

Erika smiled, absolutely smitten by him and his selfless, unashamed caring.

“Thank you,” before she could even think clearly and stop herself, she leaned in for a hug. Her intention was for it to be quick and polite. That was what friends did, wasn’t it? She couldn’t be further from the truth.

Kyle welcomed her with a soft hold and, by the time she wrapped her arms loosely around his waist and pressed her face into his chest, the world stopped spinning.

Erika tightened her hold around him, only for Kyle to do the same, taking the initiative to lean his chin on the top of her head, cradling her softly.

There was no salvation after that for her. Erika was toasted. Her heart was beating so fast inside her chest that she was sure he could feel it too. Her stomach twisted as warmth flooded through her, fuzzing her thoughts and waking up a hunger, a desire in her lower abdomen that would only hurt with every second she wouldn’t give into it.

“I wanted to be here for you, today,” he gave away, brushing a soft, intimate kiss on her temple.

Erika looked up at him and Kyle’s bright gaze fell into hers as he dived into her eyes. He was so close his scent was inebriating her senses. He looked so pretty she couldn’t take it.

“Did you come alone?”

Kyle nodded, “Your brother doesn’t even know I am here.”

Erika felt so dirty for lying to Mark.

They had kept a low profile, pretending nothing was going on and they hadn’t spent the past weeks texting. Sometimes they’d text from across the same room and Mark would take the piss out of Kyle for texting his “little lady”, not knowing she was the one receiving his interest. They made a little joke out of it, but Erika didn’t find it funny.

She hated shutting Mark out. He knew everything about her and could read her like a book. But he didn’t know that part. She was terrified of his reaction if he had known what was going on between her and Kyle, which was nothing. She lied to herself too, constantly. Even though the second she found herself around Kyle it was undeniable she was the most clueless of them all.

Erika gulped, looking down at Kyle’s lips again, unable not to, his mouth was so attractive to her. Especially when he was so close.

Kyle dared to cup her face in his palms. Erika sighed, closing her eyes and letting herself go in his soft hold. His hands were big and warm. And she was dying to feel them all over her.

“I want to kiss you,” he whispered, so close to her face she tasted his breath on her tongue. A hot shiver crossed her. “I like you, Erika. Been liking you a while.”

“Kyle,” she tried to find some common sense, although only the idea of refusing him ripped her chest apart. “We can’t.”

“Why?”

“Mark,” she was still holding the flowers and the bottle of bubbly in her hands, and even though she was trying to fight for her life not to succumb to him, she didn’t even dare to move an inch away. “He’d never approve.”

“Leave him to me. I am sure if there’s someone he’d like to be with his sister, that would be me.”

“No, Kyle, it’s not you the one he wouldn’t approve of. It’s me. I am not good for you,”

“Let me decide that.”

“You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me,”

“Then tell me. I want to know you.”

Erika chuckled dryly, quickly dismissing him. He would have run away, as far as possible from her if he had known half of the things she did.

“I mean it,” he continued, “I want to know everything about you.”

“You make it so hard,” she whispered, moulding herself in his hold as Kyle softly caressed her jawline.

“I am not hearing a good reason to stop.” He leaned in, brushing his lips on her forehead, “Tell me no and I’ll fuck off. But if you want it too,” as he moved, hovering above her, Erika moved her head, raising her chin only so their lips would touch. “Then,” he continued, whispering so close to her mouth it gave her goosebumps.

Before he could continue, Erika took the worst decision of her life and, dropping the flowers on the floor, she grabbed him by his t-shirt and pulled him down in a kiss, desperately clinging onto him and releasing everything she had stopped herself from feeling for so long. Selfishly taking everything she wanted from him.

Kyle blindly closed the door behind him and then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him. His hands ran across her body, feeling her curves, grabbing on her clothes, only to pull her tighter against him.

Unapologetically, Kyle slipped a hand into her hair grabbing a handful and made her bend underneath him, deepening their kiss. As soon as their tongues crossed and his flavour exploded into her mouth, Erika released a soft moan, feeling her body waking up completely.

However, before she could slip into deeper waters of desire and future regrets, Erika gathered the strength to push him off herself.

“Kyle, please stop,” her breath was heavy as she kept her hand on his chest, not to keep him far from her but to feel him.

“Did I do something wrong?” He wondered, checking she was ok.

Erika shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts. Because the only wrong she could identify in that entire situation was the distance between them.

She had a taste. She scratched the itch. That was going to be it. It was going to have to be enough.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. We can’t happen. Please,” her heart shattered into a million pieces seeing the look he gave her. “Please,” she whispered again, almost getting lost in his eyes.

Kyle accepted her choice and let her go, taking two steps back. He leaned picking up the flowers and passed them over to her, shrugging awkwardly. “Here, take them.”

She felt defeated as she accepted the flowers back. She couldn’t bear the idea of seeing him leave and didn’t want to accept them being done. It was supposed to be the way, just severing their little fling or whatever, but she was stupid and selfish.

“Do you want a little tour?” She wondered, hoping Kyle would indulge her.

He didn’t disappoint and melted into a gentle smile, nodding. “I’d love to.”

They held hands as she showed him around, telling him everything about how she envisioned her studio.

March 2018

Erika stood ringside, her trusted camera at hand as she watched the match through its lenses.

The crowd was hot tonight. They clapped and booed, chanted and roared and were generally super involved in the matches, which was something she always loved to see.

Erika moved around the ring, taking every occasion to grab a shot, just like she always did, capturing as much of the energy in the ring as she could.

The two boys going at it right now were new in the company, she never met them before, but that didn’t change a single thing in the way the crowd perceived them. The heel was doing his job, flipping everyone off at any given occasion only to get everyone’s boos up. And the other, being the good guy he was, was there to make him regret it every time.

How she loved wrestling. It was such a theatrical, highly athletic pantomime.

The match ended with the good guy pinning the heel. The crowd went wild. Erika too, smiled, as she kept taking her shots of the guy celebrating.

Then, as the guys cleared out and the announcer moved back to the ring, starting to explain the next match on the mic, Erika moved too towards the wrestlers’ entrance, readying her camera to capture Aussie Open’s entrance.

Of course, she was working for the wrestling company and her work needed to be equally good for all the participants in the events. But she couldn’t help herself from having favourites. The number of pictures she had taken of Kyle and her brother that she had never sold because they were candid shots of two guys and had nothing to do with wrestling was embarrassing. Especially of Kyle’s. She loved taking his pictures. But that was a secret, of course.

Still, she patiently waited there, camera at hand, kneeling to take a good shot of them coming out in their new shiny, matchy gear.

Aussie Open was announced and their music started as they rolled out, basking in the crowd's welcome.

Erika smiled behind the camera, taking her pictures as the two posed and then moved with them to the ring.

Mark and Kyle slipped through the ropes and circled the apron, looking into the room, and pointing at people in the crowd only to get a reaction. They were both talking some shit either to the crowd or to each other, fully committed to their role.

Then, as Kyle confidently strode by the corner she was hanging around, he broke character one moment to look down at her, offering her one of his sweet smiles. “Hey, baby,”

Erika took a picture of him, grabbing that moment for herself. He called her baby now. Not always, but when he did it made her feel warm all over. It was so hard for her not to reach out and touch him.

Mark approached Kyle and landed a heavy hand on his shoulder, bringing him to turn as the announcer presented their competitors. Erika moved around the ring again, towards the entrance, ready to go back to being a hundred per cent professional.

She kneeled by the crowd, exchanging a quick, polite smile with a couple of guys by her side who seemed to be enjoying the show just like everyone else. She leaned ready to take her shots.

And then Erika was stricken. Nothing could have prepared her for the frosty feeling taking over her as the heavy hand of a stranger landed on her ass, giving her an unrequired smack. She felt the stranger’s touch straight into her stomach and it made her twitch as his fingers dared to squeeze on her.

She turned quickly towards him and raised her camera, taking a shot of his face. She acted out of instinct, not thinking about the consequences. It was the only thing she could consciously think of doing. No words were coming out. Not even anger. Just pure, disgusted surprise.

“Hey,” he angrily confronted her, trying to grab her camera, “Cancel that, you bitch. I haven’t permitted you to take a picture of my face.”

She wanted to say she hadn’t permitted him to squeeze her ass either. It was on the tip of her tongue. And yet. Nothing came out.

Erika stepped away, hiding her camera behind her back, feeling something close to fear choke her as the guy stood up, ready to chase her. She truly thought he was going to hurt her.

“Hey, hey, you prick,” Kyle shouted, jumping off the ring, and intervening. By then, everyone’s attention was on what was happening there.

Mark followed Kyle as they both stepped in between Erika and the guy in the crowd, who was proud and drunk enough to face them, even when he was no match for either of the Aussies.

“I’ll break that hand of yours, you cunt,” Mark barked.

Kyle stepped in between them, shielding Erika with his body. “You ok?” He touched her face, looking down at her.

Erika didn’t refuse him. Her hands travelled to his wrists, as she moulded under his touch appreciating his closeness. “Yes,” she huffed, her eyes escaping Kyle’s as she looked back at her brother, making sure he didn’t do anything stupid. “I’m ok,” She then tapped on Mark’s shoulder, “Don’t bother,” she suggested, even though the guys seemed to be ecstatic to receive attention. “Mark? Please, leave it alone.”

“Maybe you should get her to wear something more covering. You can’t blame me.” The guy was drunk. He was mumbling his nonsense only looking for a fight and Erika hated that she didn’t want her brother to give it to him. “When they look like sluts, I say they look for it-”

There was no stopping Mark after that.

Before she could even think about trying and stop him from jumping to the guy’s throat, Kyle scooped her away, trapping her in between his arms, and protecting her. This time, she hid in between his arms, closing her eyes. She didn’t want to see what she had caused.

The crowd shouted so loudly it made her head hurt.

The announcer, from the ring called for security that came through to break the fight and to kick out the people who disturbed the show.

“I’m sorry,” she shook her head, “I am sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

Kyle shook his head, kissing her forehead tenderly. “Don’t you dare to apologise,” he chanted to her ear, “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Later on, that same evening the mood was off.

After the incident, going back to the regular flow of the show had been difficult. While Kyle and Mark were supposed the be heels and treated as such, the crowd started loving them after they displayed chivalry. Everyone kept asking her if she was ok from that point on. And she hated it. Erika just hid behind her camera the rest of the evening, pretending detached politeness, but didn’t ever move from ringside.

Now they were gathered for a drink and some late food at a local pub just around the corner from the venue where the show took place. Erika sat in her booth enjoying a plate of steaming hot chips as she watched Kyle play pool with two of the boys from the show.

When he smiled, she smiled too, wondering what had been said to make him laugh.

Mark heavily dropped himself next to her, placing his beer and a massive portion of nachos, blocking her view.

“Hey,” she welcomed him with a smile.

Mark was deadly serious. “I know something is happening between you and Kyle.”

“OK?” Erika frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t be vague with me, I’ve suspected it for a while. I see the way you two look at each other. And tonight, with the way he protected you-”

“Mark,” she huffed, rolling her eyes. “You did the same thing.”

“Look me in the eye and tell me the way you two were hugging was nothing.”

She didn’t look at him. “It was just a hug.”

“I love you. I will always love you. You know that. And believe me, it hurts me to say this. I know I’m being an ass right now, but I want you to stay away from Kyle.”

Every word that came out of Mark’s mouth slashed through her like a knife. It was a painful reminder of everything she had been, everything she had done. Everything her brother had to fix for her. Not leaving any space for the person she was desperately trying to become.

“Why?” She challenged him, gulping down her pain, and looking straight into his eyes.

“You know why. I can’t stand the idea of watching you hurt him. Because you will. Maybe not willingly. But he doesn’t deserve it all the same.”

Erika's chest ached. She looked away, trying to hide away her pain. She wanted to shout and cry and kick, but couldn’t. Somehow, she trusted her brother more than how she trusted herself. It was easier to accept that he must have been right about her. It must be like he said. She wasn’t good for Kyle and would have never been good.

“I mean it, Erika. I’d break the world for you. But I’d do the same for Kyle.”

“You are breaking me right now,” she shook her head and then looked back at him, anger flooding through her gaze, lighting her up. “You think I haven’t tried to stay away? See? I knew you’d end up telling me this and I did. Stayed as far as I could. Pretty difficult to do when we live together, travel together and work together,” Erika shrugged. “But it is as you said. I obviously can’t offer anything better to someone than failure.”

“That’s not what I meant,”

“Don’t you dare try and justify your cruelty. You said it, loud and clear. I am not good enough for Kyle. Thank you, brother, for reminding me.”

She grabbed her stuff and got up, storming out.

Something stirred inside of her. It was an old, familiar feeling of how she was used to dealing with strong emotions from before. Part of her was trying so hard to be better. But she didn’t know how when even her brother, her only anchor in that world, didn’t believe in her.

Anger and pain were easy to suppress or ignore when she was self-destructing, taking everyone else down with her in the process. 

[asingingpenguin]

Some thoughts now that I have finished it (and knowing there's going to be a patch to fix some bugs I had).

Gameplay: yeah, it's more action and can be repetitive, but anyone who struggled that literally is a skill issue.

The writing as a whole is fine. There are heavy-handed clunky parts, and things I wish could have been dealt with better or in a way that wasn't so jarring but it is what it is. The game is for a wider audience and you need to make your point clear. Please stop making games for people who are new when it's the 4th title of a continuing series. The writing wouldn't be as clunky then!

I also have my own issues with how some of the trans stuff was handled. Again, awkward writing both using modern terms that don't feel like make sense in the setting, but you have to make it clear for people who might not know (or try to deny what it is). There is no easy way around that. And this is just me personally: Rook seems to have had a few extra options when it came to talking about their experiences of being trans, but none felt close to mine, which did suck a bit. I get that always knowing your trans (maybe? More so nonbinary) isn't actually a common experience, but it's also not just a stereotype a lot of fiction used to use. I also am also just tired of coming out stories, more so about younger people. There should always be more, but I'd love more queer stuff about people my age.

Also, I'm sorry you want a full role play experience, but then you can't really have a voiced protag. And I don't mind a silent protag! But you're going to get better voice work if the character has a least somewhat of a defined personality. Erika (American feminine voice) did a great job, and I feel like them being able to be more set in how Rook would act made it better. I also do like I could pitch their voice down even if I wish I could have more control over that pitch like in SaintsRow.

I do miss having three party members, and was a pro and con I felt the need to change up who came with me all the time.

After romancing Josephine in Inquisition, it was nice to be able to have my LI with me for a good chunk of the game and her calling me "love" in my party during the final push. ;;

After DA2 with it's rushed end and BG.3 that felt like they didn't really bother with act three, it was nice that the game was written with the end in mind! It didn't feel like a huge letdown, or like nothing I did mattered. A game that's actually finished SHOULDN'T be surprising, and yet here we are.

Manfred and Assan are perfect, and I have no notes there.

It's honestly for me a solid 7.5 given the rough start, some of the mechanics, and my own nitpicking like some of the animations/lip syncing (but it's not like they've ever been good at that). It's still fun overall and still DA.

Major spoiler under the cut

Still upset someone does HAVE to die, and I figured that going in. I hate that the choice is the one black guy (and Assan ;;) or Harding who you've spent two games with and might be more attached to because of it. Me and a friend romance both, and I'm SO happy I saw Spoilers because I would have been so fucking mad if my LI died and happy to give my friend the heads up too (but just the choice to make, not the consequences). I just wish after doing LITTERALLY everything everyone could live.

[karla-the-elemental-dreamer]

🪢 KH-OC Week 2024 🪢 - Day 4 Package

Prompt: Based on Natasha's and Erika's MBTIs, which Kingdom Hearts / Disney character would they resemble the most? Do this for other teddies too if you wish.

---

NATASHA AVALENKA:

Not so much the older Xehanort, but Natasha gives off very Young Xehanort vibes. In times where she would speak to Cricket [Dinh-Yu], she can be quite cordial and welcoming, or very helpful, but she can quickly become foreboding or ominous especially if she wants to get a point across. The scene I’m reminded of is in Kingdom Hearts 3 when Young Xehanort appears to Sora and says that there is a high price to pay for misusing the power of waking. This is a stunning parallel to how Natasha gets Cricket in the past when he’s had a really nasty mood; how she tries to correct him as it were. Secretive but way more knowledgeable than people first assume, and speaks very much in riddles at times. Also like Young Xehanort, Natasha has this quite but scary confidence about her, and she says she’d rather do a lot of things by herself. Fun fact; she only got a partner later (Erika), because Young Cricket got to a ‘boiling point’ as DG. But until our hand was forced, Natasha took the job by herself for numerous weeks and did quite well. Just like how Young Xehanort kept a particular focus and managed Sora quite well in the sleeping worlds until Xemnas came at a later stage.

Fun fact; I thought Natasha was more like Ansem The Wise at the start. But as I got to weed her out a bit more, she has stark parallels to Young Xehanort.

And now that I think about it, I can envision both Natasha and Erika at the Scala ad Caelum chessboard in place of Young Xehanort and Young Eraqus.

---

ERIKA TAPALADOS:

I was trying to compare Erika to one of the female ESFJs in Kingdom Hearts, but I just couldn’t match her properly with any of them. But then I found that she may resemble Goofy in her mannerisms quite a bit. They’re both ‘people’ that we don’t really know, yet they burst forth in enthusiastic presence wherever they go and seem to make everyone feel comfortable around them almost immediately. As Erika did come a bit late, it’s hard to have a really fleshed out personality for her, in terms of how she acts around her nearest and dearest like Natasha and Young Cricket, or even her older sister Sierra. But, again, she seems to be manifesting into a ‘Goofy’ type. She’s very loyal and has started to actively lighten the mood in Young Cricket’s dwelling, just like how Goofy tries to cheer up the group, even though sometimes mistakenly at the cost of Sora. She would also be the talker of the group when it came to introducing them into social situations, or even sustaining the conversation with others. I also believe that the sisterhood between Sierra and Erika may even replicate the relationship of Sora and Goofy, even if with some slight differences (obvs no one is a carbon copy of anyone else).

---

SIERRA ZHANG (m. TAPALADOS):

I originally wasn’t going to do anyone else besides the two instructed by the prompt, but then one for Sierra was screaming at me ever since I started.

Even though Sora and Ventus are both apparently ENFP, Sierra is more like Sora, and is a female version of him all the way. She’s always laughing and even screaming at times, and she even makes for the ‘group clown’ on some occasions. When situations get extreme, she can be spun into an emotional panic or go off at others, but it’s never due to sheer anger without some kind of love or other heart-centred emotion in the background; and she’s usually always happy until she’s not. When centred, she is very wise and witty and can challenge others on their thoughts and beliefs with some sharp concepts and even curveballs.

---

Fun fact; even though Selvian is the ‘poster-boy’ for the KH trio (and EVERYTHING admin), Sierra outshines him in a social sense and is very well seen as the outgoing extrovert of the trio and the de-facto poster-girl.

Fun Fact 2: Riku is always speaking to Selvian, rarely Sierra. But when he does, he’ll respond with the same light-hearted language as if he were talking to Sora.

Extra note: Riku has become an exceptional father-figure to Selvian and Sierra (besides to me) and advocates for them and integrates them seemingly into the Kingdom Hearts world and its societies/communities. Terra appears to give intimate emotional support and inclusion, playing a more ‘motherly’ role as it were, but Riku’s more like the patriarch and chief protector under the whole umbrella. Summarily; Riku acts in the ‘darkness’, Terra acts in the ‘light’, although this is not absolute.

---

After Day 3, a realisation has set upon me that we barely know who Nasha and Sibella are, as again, they have mostly ONLY functioned in the background for the last 3 years. So a last minute decision has been made to also find a MBTI comparison for those two. And this will really put them under the microscope.

NASHA OBWANA:

When looking at Nasha, she has changed just a bit since Year 10 in 2021. Back then, I’d say she was more like Vanitas, or at least what people seem to have him head-cannoned as; as she didn’t do her homework, was very ‘lazy’, got into trouble in class, etc. She was also very cliquey and perhaps a party animal.

Ever since being put at the Land of Departure with Terra and the others, I’d say she’s cooled down slightly and is now like Demyx. There is actually a reason for this change.

Back in Year 10, Nasha didn’t want to go with Terra and was unfortunately quite nasty about it (this is where my mind was leading me with her) and let’s just passively say… Looked down on him. I don’t remember the exact event, but Nasha saw Terra get emotional and she felt bad. In that spur of the moment, she locked herself into being with him, for better or for worse.

In the KH-OC Week – Day 3 conversation, you can also see more bits of Demyx in Nasha. When she calls out and then argues with Sibella; this reminds me of the scene where Demyx and Vexen/Even are in Radiant Garden before meeting with Ienzo as they have just a slight quarrel before settling on the plan. And then when Selvian comes to interrogate the girls, I see Nasha pacifying the situation and then trying to explain things as Demyx does to Riku with the replica in the Keyblade Graveyard.

---

SIBELLA GEORGAKOPOULOS:

Despite having a Greek surname, it appears that Sibella takes more after her mum as she speaks as if she’s Spanish, Mexican or Latino and also has that appearance (if you can imagine a human version of her); not so much Greek. Like with Donald, Sibella can be quite sociable, but then she can also become quite hot-headed and impatient with others, and may come across as condescending. To me, her and Donald also seem to be quite sassy and entitled. The way Sibella spoke to Terra in that Day 3 tidbit in a way resembles how Donald would tell off Sora or Goofy, as if he knows more than them (even if he doesn’t); and like Mickey, Selvian was made to neutralise the situation even though the two ESTJs may have had good points.

I was originally seeing Sibella as a more passive and helpful ESTJ like Eraqus, and NOT when he crushed Terra. But when I was channeling them in the book, Sibella made the situation become quite nasty very fast unfortunately, and Terra was becoming less and less comfortable with defending himself. As a parallel, think as if Donald was just throwing his weight around in-front of Terra 🥲💔

Summary; can be passionately loyal, but can wreck a situation very fast if not careful.

---

Unrelated admin note: In the time between writing the Day 4 post and its release, further discoveries have been made about Terra and his current teddy partners. It's too late to reveal the decision in Day 4's post, but Terra will have a happy ending.

[anti-katsuki-lounge]

I saw the post about the MHA OC post and I couldn’t help but immediately jump onto that idea, I love your critiques and analysis on MHA!

So her name is Erika and she has a toon based quirk. If you’ve seen rubber hose animation or a looney tune cartoon then you might get a basic idea.

She can activate a hammer space, appear in random places and even escape out of restraints. She also can extend her limbs and do pretty wacky shit. Her drawbacks include sores, tiredness or intense dizziness.

Her personality is very zany and quite unpredictable but she can be fun to be around.

She wanted to become a hero due to growing up in poverty and wanting to be a good role model to others like her. Erika was inspired by Bugs Bunny, Yakko Warner from Animaniacs and other classic cartoons. (Mostly Fleischer studios and Merry melodies cartoons)

She also interned with Miss Joke. (They have a good relationship)

Erika also isn’t afraid to stand up for others and will take a blow from a villain if it means keeping her city and friends safe.

I’m honestly stoked about this new idea, I love learning about others OCS lol

I really like this character 😊. I’ve always had a soft spot for zany cartoon characters that utilize cartoon hose physics and your character seems like they’ll be fun to see/read in action 🙌

[semi-imaginary-place]

umineko more ep6-7

Author really should have made like shannon 19 and george 21. "Think of all the children we'll have" the 23 year old says to the 16 year old.

The two genders: attack and defense.

God damn kyrie. She was going to murder asumu. And the worst part is that rudolph doesn't deserve her devotion. Kyrie deserves a better man. she deserves someone who won't cheat on her. Kyrie deserves someone for whom she's their first pick not their second. She deserves someone who values her intellect, efficiency, and strategic genius. Kyrie deserves someone who recognizes that she's the coolest person ever. She deserves someone who doesn't make her wait 18 years.

Wow past episodes about people fighting the system to avoid killing each other and now jessica, george, and battler are killing the family members. Now that i think about it has battler met the other beatrice with ber hair down the big sister?

Lol battler fell for it again. This is how he ends up in a shotgun marriage huh.

I never really liked the romance in this story to begin with (or romances in general). George shannon jessica kanon all bore and annoy me i'd be happy if i hadn't wasted time reading their scenes. But at least beatrice and battler were interesting tearing into each other and now i dont even have that. New chick beatrice dropped any interest i had in the pair off a cliff. Like what was interesting was beatrice having fun being evil and bullying battler that sort of heated back and forth (also femdom). And now that back and forth dynamic is with erika and beatrice is narratively reduced to an accessory for battler. Not even sure i like the story anymore but im like 2/3 though the game so maybe i'll finish it for the sake of finishing it. The romances really are getting in the way of my enjoyment.

Between the love game and the marriage plot point fe... the author witch is a shitty trope fanfic author. Wow this is bad. I hate it here. Really marriage is a ball and chain to tke the ring. This is really stupid.

Mother???? Beatrice was created to love battler split from another beatrice. I know the author is doing like a fated lovers thing but i'm a hard sell on this trope it easily has unsettling implications. Like that beatrice was raised specifically to appeal to and to be battler's wife. Also what is uo with the flashback i'm guess those are battler's forgotten memories brought up a few episodes ago.

Given how much kanon refers to shanin as his big sister this is just more evidence the author forgot shannon is 16 and the same age as kanon. She's consistently treated by the narrative as older than 16. Also if kanon has been a servant aince he was aix why didnt he meet jessica until they were teenagers

there's so many beatrices in this story.... So uh older and younger "sisters" fused? But if one was made new from the rules to love battler and the other is the embodiment of rokenjima urban legends then neither of them remember the first 3 episodes and the time actually spent bonding with battler.

16 people info drop so besides kinzo someone else is already dead?

Ep7: ug is beatrice dead again this is like the 4th time. Guess she needs to be saved. Again. Lion??? Alright whose fanfiction self insert power fantasy oc is it this time. (Really not even Leon, it's Lion). Uhhhhhh kinzo got even worse??? Like the incest implications are back. that kumadorian beatrice was the daughter of og gold kinzo beatrice. Like the grooming is the minimum. It's been listed several times that beatrice's distinguishing characteristics are her blue eyes and blond hair and lion is right there probably about 19 years old which also fits the secret baby. The incest is layered what is this fire emblem. Lion's an incest baby poor guy. Ewwww. The incest. The grooming. The way beatrice 2 was acting (the one rosa met). I support ep1 beatrice's torture murder mission. Wait that makes Beatrice and battler also incest-y just not the predatory type this time. Of course beatrice seems to be a multi entity being rather than a single individual person. Could still do without the incest flavoring tho. Who hired will again i forgot.

Kinzo telling the epic love story of how he cheated on his wife and kids. Mussolini fascist gold. This whole story is from kinzo's perspective so who knows what their actual relationship was but even if og italian beatrice and kinzo were in love she did essentially end up imprisoned on an isolated island as a married dude's dirty secret in a foreign land. Guuuurl you should have run to argentina just like all the other fascist Italians and germans. Kinzo's 40?? Also he kept fucking his wife even after meeting beatrice.

Ok lion gender icon. So in this fragment Beatrice 2 kinzo incest baby was pushed by natsuhi but nanjo saved it, then raised as Yasu, a servant. Yasu started at 6 as a servant and was said to be the only servant so young and that this never happens. But what about kanon and shanon who were said to have started 10 years ago at 6, are they not real??? And shanon shows up older in yasu's childhood so why's there 2 shanons? If yasu/beatrice3 is both shanon and kanon then that... Fits actually but it's soooo fucked because then every single ushiromiya cousin (minus ange) in romancing a beatrice who is also their cousin/auncle. Umineko once again has my head reeling. That would explain the 16 people is kanin and shanon are the same person and also the secret 19th person. Takes the role of beatrice in the fragment they're accepted by natsuhi, but also natsuhi assumes they're a young man in ep... 5? I'm assuming based on the baby's sex. Also the successor to kinzo in the fragment where they're raised by natsuhi and unlike jessica lion is refered to the successor not their future husband. Also kinzos a misogynist. Also when asked their gender by will, lion is like lol no. Not that i think any of the ushiromiya adults would be trans allies. The best supported interpretation so far is that lion was intended for the role of the woman beatrice but performs gender and lives in a masculine role. They're assigned male at birth but choose androgyny and live beyond rigid manhood. Imagine being such a chad that you're transfem and transmasc at the same time. And the stakes are maids.

And then yasu made themself beatrice! I always did wonder are gaap's clothes glued to her? Yasu made a witchsona! I'm still a bit confused but yasu rewrote reality so shannon is the servant shell left behind, white beatrice is them living her best life, and kanon is miserable wet cat boymode. Yup the incest is layered. All the ushiromiya cousins are romancing... uh aspects(?) of the same hivemind entity. I never really liked the romance in this story but yeah umineko totally lost me. For how central the theme of love is, this romance sucks.

George does not act 7 years older than shannon and 5 more than jessica and battler. Like in the scenes reminiscing about their childhood they all feel much closer is age. Wait so is shanon separate from white beatrice or no. Im confused. Also umineko is showing its long development cycle you can tell the author is moving on to new ideas. The tone has changed as this has become a story of outlandish witches. The author in ep 7 (6 too i think battler reads 100 books a year) writers battler as a mystery novel enthusiast while in ep 1 (and 2?) battler seemed unfamiliar with the mystery genre and it's conventions and tropes. SHANNON AND WHITE BEA ARE ...from(?) the same person! because battler promised that he would come for shannon's answer next year and then he never came and when he did he didn't mention it! And that was the forgotten promised gold beatrice despaired and lost her will to live over. And shannon was wanted to promise the rest of her life to him.(Also the incest is inescapable as someone else says "3/4 kinzo").

[omori-runaway-au]

How It Began.... (Part 3/End)

Eventually, everyone made it to the concert hall, patiently waiting for Mari and Sunny to go on stage.

In the backstage, Mari and Sunny were getting ready, with Erika whispering, "Just give me a sign that you need me to intervene. Okay?" Her siblings nodded quietly, leaning against the very tall teenager as she hugged them.

Once Erika left, Mari looked over at Sunny. She noticed how emotionally detached he was from her. How red his fingers were…and tears began to form in her eyes.

Why couldn't she have noticed on her own…?

All this time, her brother had been struggling….

And she was completely unaware of it….

"Sunny…?" Mari called out, receiving a small glance from her brother. "Can we talk? Please?" The boy looked at his sister, before eventually nodding, sitting with her.

"I'm sorry…for never noticing what you were going through." She said quietly, lowering her head. "I swear to you, I never meant to hurt you. But I did…and I'm so sorry for that…."

She then cupped Sunny's cheek, taking in a shaky breath, "But I promise you. I will try to do better. For Erika. For YOU. For all three of us." "Okay? …I love you so much, sunshine." She added, tears beginning to run down her face.

….

….

Something in Sunny's heart cracked…and he immediately hugged Mari tightly, quietly crying in his sister's shoulder. "I'm sorry…!" He whispered.

Mari nodded, sighing in relief, "I know…."

"I should've told you…!"

"It's okay…."

"I love you…!"

"I love you too, baby brother…."

Unbeknownst to the two siblings, Erika was just outside the room, a warm smile on her face.

Things would get better.

For them.

....

....

Erika could tell that there was some dissatisfaction from her siblings. Not because it was imperfect…but because they didn't have fun with it.

It seemed that their friends also noticed it, judging by their attempts to reassure the siblings.

Once everyone went home, she made sure the siblings were brought to the safety of their shared bedroom, before going down and meeting with her parents in the living room.

"Sunny broke his violin." Her father said, clearly disappointed. The albino teen narrowed her eyes, "Watch what you say next."

Silence fell on the three, before Erika explained. "Your daughter and son were obviously frustrated and stressed out by the recital practice." "Sunny broke the violin as a result of that stress." She added.

"They need a break from your "expectations". An ACTUAL and honest rest from you thinking what's best for them." The albino teen added. "They need a chance to be themselves. Not your "model" children."

Her parents looked at her, as if shocked that she didn't trust them enough to raise their children. Eventually though, her father sighed, "Alright. We'll give them a period of rest."

"We'll give them a chance to be themselves…." He added quickly.

Erika didn't believe a single word, of course, being a victim of her parents' neglect. But right now, it was not worth arguing about this. She's tired….

Without a word, she headed upstairs to her siblings' shared room, promptly sleeping with them in the sleeping bag she prepared earlier.

….

….

It was going to be a long fall and winter….

Erika could already tell.

//This is the end…of the beginning. Next, you will be reading the consequences of this day.