#Freebie alert

[pavilionjeans]

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[cocotome]

A new set of emotes for Reverse : 1999 has been released! It's all worth it for this shy APPLe 😍

Updated for the English emotes!

[balloonboyismyson]

I wonder how many people get through Monty's gator golf with all hole in one's. and i wonder what they'd get anything special for it if anything.

It WOULD be a REALLY difficult thing to do, but I think Management would offer a free photo pass with Monty! Which expires that day <3

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

This is the freebie of all freebies. Write whatever you want whenever you want how often you want. Save this in your inbox or post it, I do not mind either way. I always love to see what you write, doesnt really matter what :)

You look the man in front of you up and down and don't bother to keep your lip from curling, "No."

"Come on baby," he purred, stepping closer, reaching out to straighten your jacket, forcing contact. He screams of lust. Of the need to dominate and control. He sees what a lot of men see when they look at you.

A fragile little doll. A breakable little girl. A lost little lamb. Someone who just needs a daddy. A protector. Easy prey.

"Touch me," you warn, "and you'll forget to sit before you take a shit." You don't bother to specify whether or not it'll be because you'll mindfuck him until he bashes his head against a wall to make it stop or because Batman, Nightwing, or any number of the other heroes in the vicinity right now will curb stomp him until he's a blithering idiot.

His eyes are lifeless. Like a puppet's. And when his hand closes around your wrist his skin is hot and dry. It feels like crepe paper left in the sun and he reeks of burnt sugar. Target. Suspect.

So before you carry out your promise, you ping Cass. Trusting her to alert Bruce. You might not QUITE be able to mindfuck him into oblivion but NO ONE was ever going to prey on you again. And as he pull you close to his chest, it was immensely satisfying to make him piss his pants in the alley, writhing in wordless unhinged terror as you skipped your new black velvet boots neatly out of the puddle.

"Hn."

"Interesting way to make new friends, Changeling," Clark observed, surveying the scene. Trying not to react to the fact that you look a little too pleased with yourself.

"I did tell him not to touch me," you inform them, watching dispassionately as his sobs turned to vomiting.

"Can you let up before he aspirates things into his lungs," Bruce sighed. At least it was focused rage. And at least he'd probably cooperate as long as they didn't leave him alone in a room with you. That was... something.

And while you don't reply, at least not verbally, he can tell that you comply. Mostly because the man stops writhing and starts gibbering. "Shut up," Batman said rolling his eyes, watching Clark grab him by the back of his coat. "Just tell us what we wanna know or we'll let her do it again. Harder."

"Okay, Okay, Jesus," he protested, "I didn't know I thought she was kidding!" He looked at you and your lip curled reflexively making him flinch. "Everyone always said you were just a joke."

"Let's go," Superman said, "This drug is gonna kill-"

"Anything you wanna know! Just don't let her do it, please!" he pleaded, letting himself be lead away.

"What did you say to him?" Bruce asked, watching Clark load him into a transport where Jason and Dick were loading some others that had been rounded up.

"That if he touched me he'd forget to sit when he took a shit. Granted, I didn't say how."

"Vulgar."

"What was I supposed to do? Scream?"

"Just don't make anyone else piss themselves," Bruce sighed.

"Then don't let Stephanie pick the outfits. She dressed us like sexworkers not nuns and people keep taking liberties. It's gross."

"Point." Bruce admitted. "Point taken." He pinched the bridge of his nose and not for the first time, he just wanted all of you to be little again. You were 19 now. Still a kid. But he wondered if he'd ever stop seeing you as a little girl in his head. Because as Cass took you to the next location and he went to help Stephanie, it took an absurd amount of self-control not to call after you to put on a jacket or something.

[innershoesuitcasebiscuit]

When I watched One Piece with the 1000+ episode I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it. The odd thing is that when I watch other anime or k-dramas, tv series from HBO, even though they have lesser episodes I would get bored and just skip it till the ending. But in One Piece even the Opening Song I dare not skip it. This is why the One Piece is GOAT. I didn't even skip any filler arcs 😂😂😂.

However this post is not actually me gushing about how far I have come in One Piece.

Now we head straight for the main topic:

Upon seeing the scene where Sabo met some of the crew in Kyros house. I've got this enlightenment regarding a certain scene in Thriller Bark arc.

Remember this? Robin eavesdrops on the conversation Sanji has with Lola's crew. Curiosity is Robin's nature after all, she's curious as to why Luffy has recovered miraculously while Zoro is in worse condition. Her curiosity I think stems from the worries she has for Zoro, I think on her mind she has this question 'what happened?' , 'why did he become like this?' . I mean at this point Robin cares about her crew mates unlike before when she first joined.

But this scene might connects with the scene in Dressrosa arc.

After seeing this scene you can see that Zoro is alerted by Sabo's presence and ready to take him down but caught off-guard when Sabo threw the booze to him.

He was just caught off-guard, he didn't lower it. The booze is also not a peace offering from Sabo to Zoro. Remember Sabo can take Zoro head to head. Sabo is not weak especially now that he has Ace's DF.

I think that Sabo gifted Zoro the booze as a way to thank him for the sacrifice Zoro has done at the Thriller Bark arc and the loyalty shown by him.

Also after they've done talking Sabo gave Zoro, Luffy's vivre card.

Now the question is why not give it to Franky? Or Robin? Which was closer to him. Why trust a person you've just met when there's someone you have known for two years.

The reason is within those two years time skip. Robin might have been the medium why Sabo held a debt and trust towards Zoro (with him paying that debt with a booze and giving Zoro the vivre card). She might have also told Sabo about the events at Thriller Bark especially what she has heard when eavesdrops on that conversation that Sanji has with Lola's crew.

Well I think this is enough. I would also like to gush out with my shipping but I'm holding it in for now. I'm going to enjoy watching and reading One Piece first before rewatching it again to drown in my ships.

I'm holding my Zorobin heart for now 💜💚.

But just for a freebie: I don't think Zoro would lower is guard even if you gave him a booze. Zoro's first priority is Luffy and at that time Luffy was still in a bad condition. He lowered his guard though when Robin shouted Sabo's name.

Notice the way he stands straight when he asks Robin "You know him?"

[grunklejam]

Introducing Studio Bad Egg's 8" Fearamid puzzle toy, designed in collaboration with Alex Hirsch.

This twirling toy of terror features hidden messages embedded into its shell, and is full of pine tree, shooting star and waddles charms!

The Bill Cipher Demontial Fearamid is maybe the biggest, coolest piece of Gravity Falls merch in history! Designed by Kyri45 and developed in collaboration with Alex Hirsch, this 8" tall pyramind-twister features specially made charms of Pine Trees, Shooting Stars and every's favourite piggy, free-roaming inside each of his giant translucent layers.

This is limited to 2500 pieces and will have earlybird tiers for the first 48 hours! Meaning that loyal supporters will have the opportunity to get the toy for cheaper AS WELL AS a freebie which will be announced later.

Bad Egg only have 750 slot for earlybirds as well as an extra 250 where you can receive your toy signed by Alex Hirsch himself!

The earlybird tier will be $180 for the plain toy.

The signed earlybird tier will be $225.

Regular price toy is $225 following the end of the early bird period.

The Kickstarter is now on prelaunch - sign up to be alerted when the Cipher Cult comes to life!

There's more merch planned too, all themed about Bill Cipher and his terrible powers. Expect jewellery, a NEW colour variation of the Bill Cipher ITA bag and more!

Don't forget to buy what's left of last year's Gravity Falls collection HERE

And follow Studio Bad Egg on Instagram HERE

[genshin-scenarios]

Reembarking Starlight: Masterlist

Reembarking Starlight is a fanbook I'm working on, due to open preorders in mid-November!

The story features an AU where the reader is isekaied into Genshin as the 'Traveler,' and has to complete the entire game in order to return home. Main themes include your fated connection with the characters, and the nostalgia and comfort from when you first played the game!

It'll cover the archon quests from Mondstadt to Inazuma, feature some old events (Dragonspine, Lantern Rite, etc), and new interactions with you and the charas!

So what is this Masterlist for? I'll be posting the first chapters to the fanbook on the blog as a teaser! For the rest of the story, you can purchase the digital or physical book (which will include spot arts, preorder freebies which you can vote on here, and a LOT more content)

If you'd like to be alerted when preorders open, you can sign up on this form!

What characters will be included? Anyone that appears in the Archon Quests! But in terms of Mondstadt, it'll mainly feature Venti > Diluc, Jean, Paimon > Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, Klee

The fanbook will be general-platonic, with a gender-neutral reader! However, requests for this AU will be open on the blog for romantic takes!

Chapter 1: the city of wind and song

Chapter 2: the dark side of dawn

Chapter 3: unfurling flight

Chapter 4: frozen daydreams

Chapter 5: heaven's song

Chapter 6: for free will!

Chapter 7: a gathering of heroes

[officialwindywoods]

We did it! We hit funding for Ikarus and Cosmo!🎉

Thank you to everyone who helped us get this far! We are beyond grateful! 😭❤️

There's still time to join the fun and help us reach for some fun stretch goals!

Annnd....

📣 FREEBIE ALERT 📣

Once we hit 15k, every plush backer gets a set of Lil Fresno Fashion Show stickers sheets 💙

[tinyozlion]

--The Gundam Wing Drinking Game! (*you don’t actually have to drink)--

Happy Eve War Armistice Day, everyone! As we all gather around the warmth of a flickering screen with friends, family, or discord buddies to celebrate the beginning of True Peace between Earth and the Space Colonies-- WHICH WILL SURELY LAST FOREVER-- why not play a little festive anime parlor game? This can be played with beverages, snacks, points, or the penalty/reward system of your choice!

THE CLASSICS— take ONE any time:

1) Someone shouts: "IT’S A GUNDAM!" or "THAT’S A GUNDAM!" 2) Magical Gundam Transformation Sequence 3) The BFG: the buster rifle beam canon does what it does best. 4) Relena Yells At The Clouds 5) "Omae o korosu!": Heero threatens to kill someone and then doesn’t. 6) THAT'S SO FETCH: Duo calls himself the God of Death or says one of his catchphrases. 7) BOOBY TRAPPED: Heavyarms fires its chest missiles. 8) SAFETY FIRST: Quatre wears his goggles. 9) GO-GO-GADGET: Wufei uses the dragon claw extendo-arm.

THE SPECIALS— take TWO whenever the following occurs: 1) A fruit or vegetable is given meaningful screen time. 2) Episode title is the opposite of what occurs in the episode. 3) VA Hall of Shame: a voice actor fumbles a line or really chews the scenery. 4) This Is Big Nose: An impossibly silly military call sign is used. 5) Someone with Special Eyebrows conveys normal information in a straightforward way. 6) FOUND FAMILY: The Maganac Corps shows up to save the day. 7) Bee-bee-bee-bee-bee-bee-bee!

SING ALONG AT HOME— you MUST CHANT whenever:

1) KAIJU SHOT! KAIJU SHOT! a mobile suit looms into view of a window and horrified onlookers. 2) CRAB! CRAB! CRAB! CRAB! any time you see a MS Cancer or its aquatic friend group. 3) CLOWN! CLOWN! CLOWN! CLOWN! any time you see a clown. 4) HEEEEEEROOOOOO: you know what to do. *Stackable with article 1 section 4. 5) PUSH THE BUTTON FRANK: an ominous button is pressed to devastating effect.

POUR ONE OUT— take TWO and go "Oooooo, YIKES!" whenever one of the following occurs:

1) Someone REALLY should have locked their mobile suit hatch. 2) One Day From Retirement: a hapless schmuck gets got immediately after giving the all clear. 3) A gross failure to correctly estimate the impact tolerance of gundanium alloy despite all documented evidence. 4) Heero takes it on the dome or otherwise hits the ground at speed. 5) Duo gets used as a punching bag. 6) The Bright Noah Special: someone gets slapped or hit in the face. 7) Brutality: A mobile suit makes direct lethal contact with a human target. 8) Red Card: a fencing move does damage to a person or their equipment. 9) The Can Opener: Something gets split in half by a beam or heat weapon. 10) Fuck This Thing In Particular: A mobile suit (or other vessel) self detonates-- *stackable with article 3 section 5. 11) Up-Skirt Shot: A mobile suit or its pilot gets an unflattering camera angle.

HALL OF FAME— FIRST ONE TO SPOT one of these gets a freebie:

1) BRAND NAME: shout the Improbable Brand Name™ featured on background signage or product. 2) QUICK CHANGE: A character somehow gets into or out of a space suit off screen with no indication how. 3) GOOD BOY ALERT: There's an animal on screen (end credits don't count). 4) THE FUTURE IS NOW: State of the Art 90's Tech in use. 5) IMPORTANT PERSON SITTING AT A DESK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A ROOM WITH A LARGE WINDOW BEHIND THEM: An important person sits at a desk on the left side of an empty room with a large window behind them.

EXTRA CREDIT: SLAP THE TABLE and call "DID YOU KNOW" to win a chance to make the FRIEND OF YOUR CHOICE take a penalty-- IF:

1) You can correctly identify one of the main voice actors in a bit role. 2) You spot an easter egg or reference to something from Universal Century. 3) Space Physics Don't Work That Way: you can explain why physics don’t work that way in space. 4) Actually Physics DO Work That Way: you can explain the science or theories behind an element of space tech, tactics, or engineering. 5) You can name a real-world location used on a map or background shot.

Happy holidays, enjoy responsibly, and have fun! -Wesley, and to a lesser extent, Tinylion

[vinsmokewife]

misery / chapter one

Sequel to Who Is This Person Nine months after the catfishing incident and Sanji still can't catch a break. After a major arguement with Zoro on the night of his birthday, Zoro breaks it off entirely claiming to have found someone new. Sanji moves on and meets Charlotte Pudding, a popular food infulencer, whom he develops a superficial but pleasant relationship with. However, news gets around that Zoro goes missing and Sanji can't help but dig into what happened. read on ao3

authors note: Well shit. After my much-needed hiatus, I am back with a sequel to Who Is This Person? Sorry for the delay in this story, I tend to have a relationship with One Piece where I binge 200 episodes then don’t watch it for a year. A lot has happened recently. I had a mental breakdown, it was incredibly suicidal and I'm currently in recovery from that. The Counseller I'm seeing while I’m waiting for a diagnosis said I should go back to writing fanfiction (as my last happy period was when I started this account) I was also really into JJK for a while but I’m dwindling back into One Piece. Sorry, this is who I am XD Anyway, all that aside, I’m so excited to be working on this story again. I really enjoyed writing Who Is This Person so I’m here to give you all Misery.

The buzzing of his phone brought Sanji into alertness. He had been pulling an all nighter studying for his exams and only the incessant beeping of his mobile device could bring him out of it. He looked at the clock seeing that it was two in the afternoon. He had slept in quite significantly. 

A lot had happened since the so called ‘Zoey incident’. That was nearly a year ago now. Nine months exactly. In the aftermath, Sanji tried to move on with his life. He had a renewed sense of vigor about his ambitions and wanted to climb higher. Sanji had been nonstop pestering Zeff about being made a sous chef. See, he was fine with just being a regular chef, but he saw himself aiming a bit higher. Zeff...as always said no. The old man never directly said any of this, but he didn’t want Sanji to become tied down the Baratie. Again, Zeff never said this but always seemed to push Sanji to explore more options. He wanted him to aim higher than being here.  

Culinary School seemed like the next step which...had kept him busy. Enrolling had kept him busy. Classes, assignments and then the practical tests seemed to consume his time more than working at the Baratie ever had. He sometimes almost forgot about nine months ago. 

Almost 

It took Sanji a few moments to wake up fully as he sat up in his bedroom. He still lived in the same place. He looked out of the window from where he was sitting. He didn’t intend on leaving his room today. But once he felt ready to see the message, he grabbed his yawn and with a big yawn and a stretch, he was ready to open the message. It was from Luffy. It had been a few days since he had seen Luffy.  He hadn’t been working nights, so he didn’t even get to see Luffy that way. Every now and then, Luffy will send messages begging for Sanji to close so he can come and take the food he used to almost a year ago. 

L: SANJI 

L: ANSWER ME 

L: angryface angryface 

L: WHERE ARE YOU? 

And the rest of the messages were angry gifs and angry faces. Sanji watched them roll in. It seemed that Luffy had been trying to get a hold of him. It wasn’t long before Sanji replied. 

S: Sorry I was asleep. 

S: What do you want? 

L: LMAO were you sleeping during the day? 

S: Some of us are busy and work.  

L: I WORK 

S: Bothering Shanks at his job doesn’t count as work. 

L: > : ( 

S: Okay. What did you message me for? 

L: I need you at the Baratie! Tonight. 7. 

S: I’m not working at 7 just for you to get freebies. 

L: No no as like a not work thing? 

L: YOU DON’T NEED TO WORK. 

L Is what I’m tryingt o say 

L: *trying to say* 

L SANJI IT’S SO IMPORTANT PLEASE COME AT 7. 

Sanji frowned, rubbing his eyes of the sleep that was still there. What did Luffy have to message him about a surprise for. He didn’t respond just yet. He stretched his muscles feeling all the tension in his back from sitting at the desk all night. Then, he replied. 

S: Fine. I’ll be there. 

Sanji tossed his phone to the side and then stood up. He shook off the remnants of sleep. Seeing as his plans of lazing were finished, he decided to have a shower. Just a quick shower before getting stressed and going into the kitchen where he made himself a strong cup of coffee. As the coffee machine hummed and the smell of Arabic coffee roamed in the kitchen, his mind began to drift as it often did when he was alone. 

Zeff was right. He often was about these things. Going to school had broadened his horizons.  It challenged him on the way he thought about food. It had been good for him.  

However, his mind often went back to one person and no matter how much he tried to forget, he still thought about him.  

He made his cup of coffee and sat down at the table. 

Zoro. Even just thinking about him made his stomach turn. Zoro and he had been incredibly rocky recently. From the outside, it looked as if Sanji and Zoro got on a lot more than they used to. They hung out alone. They went out for dinner. They would go home and hook up then Zoro would leave. However, Sanji still held him at arm's length. Any attempt Zoro made at deepening their relationship was batted away. Sanji didn’t want to deepen their relationship. They were friends with benefits and nothing more.  

As much as he tried to, Sanji found it difficult to move past what happened. Nine months later. Sanji gripped his cup as resentment and confusion pinged inside of him. He took a long sip of his coffee as he felt brewed. As much as he tried to shake these thoughts, they always go back to the same thing. It bothered him – the fact that Zoro seemed to take up so much space in his mind.  Not even his exams took up this much space. The boundaries had been made clear; at least that was what Sanji told himself anyway. They were just friends with benefits. A little friendlier than before. A lot more complicated. The lines blurred in a way that Sanji couldn’t control. He hated it. Truely and utterly hated it. 

Nine months. Nine months really should have been enough time to move on. However, whenever he closed his eyes at night. All he saw was Zoro. 

With a frustrated sigh, Sanji put his cup on the table a little too forcefully, the clatter of porcelain and the glass table jarring him out of his thoughts. He needed to clear his head. Thinking about Zoro wasn’t helping. He had to figure out why Luffy was insistent on meeting up tonight but if he knew Luffy, it would be chaos which was very much a welcomed distraction. 

As the day went on, Sanji decided to push the thoughts away and not acknowledge them anymore. He instead focused on trying to play a guessing game about what Luffy is planning. He laid out an outfit, opting into going for something that is casual but put together. After all, this was his home turf, the Baratie, even if he wasn’t working tonight. Old habits die hard. 

As the day went on, the idea of Luffy planning a surprise took up his mind and he wasn’t thinking about Zoro anymore. It could be something endearing to outright disastrous, both ends of the spectrum Sanji had experienced time after another. By the time the evening rolled around, Sanji made his way down the stairs and there he was, standing in front of the restaurant. He pushed the doors open and noticed the quiet atmosphere. The evening rush had obviously not happened yet...which was weird for it being 7. He looked towards the kitchen and seen Zeff there, barking orders at the other chefs with his usual gruff demeanor.  

“Oi. Old man,” Sanji called out as he looked through into the kitchen. Zeff glanced up, a brief look of surprise but then went to his usual gruff nature. 

“Thought you were taking the night off, eggplant?”  

“I was. Luffy said I needed to come by 7,” Sanji said, leaning against the counter. 

“Oh. If it’s Luffy you are looking for, he’s around the corner,”  

Sanji nodded before continuing to go around that way. However, once he got around the corner, he was meant by thunderous yelling.  

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” 

Oh yeah. It was his birthday today.  

He was so busy with school that he must have...forgot. No, he didn’t forget. Who forgot their birthday? No, he just wanted to wait until he was a little less busy to celebrate his birthday. So, up till this point, he didn’t make too much of a big deal about it. He didn’t know how this translated into him getting a surprise birthday. 

Sanji’s eyes scanned his friends. Nami, Usopp, Robin, Franky and of course, Luffy standing there. Luffy was grinning widely and bouncing with his usual excitement. A large cake decorated with bright icing. He recognized the cake; he had seen Zeff making it, but he had insisted it was an order for someone else. So, Zeff was also in on it. Huh. 

“Luffy...” Sanji looked away, trying not so subtly to mask his embarrassment. When he looked elsewhere, he was Zoro. He was drinking a beer, as always. The sight of him made Sanji’s heart do weird shit so he looked back at Luffy, “You know I didn’t want to celebrate until I finished my exams...” 

“Nonsense!” Luffy said, grabbing Sanji by the arm and pulling him towards his friends, “Everyone needs to celebrate their birthday properly,” 

Sanji was pulled over to the table by Luffy who was determined to make sure that Sanji enjoyed his birthday with his friends surrounding him. 

“You didn’t have to go all out,” 

“This isn’t all out.” Luffy waved off his concerns with an infectious laughter. 

Sanji couldn’t help but smile at Luffy’s infectious energy. He glanced at Zoro, still drinking beer pretending he was too cool for his birthday party.  

Luffy’s excitement was appreciated though. He took a seat between Robin and Usopp. The cake was nearby. He couldn’t help but appreciate the effort. 

“Still, you didn’t have to-” 

“It’s not all out,” Luffy insisted with a grin, his eyes sparkling with that usual excitement. “We wanted to do something nice for you. Nami and Zoro helped quite a bit,” 

Once again, his gaze went back to Zoro who was now avoiding his gaze. The mention of Zoro helping plan this seemed to catch Sanji off guard. He had to wonder how much Zoro contributed to the arrangement of this part. It made his chest feel rather tight which...was problematic to say the least. 

He could not. He could not let his emotions ruin the night. 

“I find it hard to believe that Zoro actually helped...” Sanji rolled his eyes, sitting back in his chair trying to give off an impression that he didn’t care, “It actually is thoughtful which makes me doubt it,” 

Zoro shot him a look, still nursing his bear as his scowl deepened, “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” He muttered, although looking closely there could have been something of the smallest hint of a small very small smile, something soft that almost felt like fondness. 

Even if Sanji tried to be indifferent, his mind felt like it was racing. Honestly, he didn’t know why but inside it felt like it pissed him off. These little, small meaningful gestures made it incredibly hard for Sanji to separate himself from Zoro. It made it easier to...forget about what happened. Sometimes, it felt like he could maybe ease up around Zoro. 

Maybe...just maybe. 

“Maybe next time, stick to what you are good at,” Sanji shook his head, “You know, heavy lifting and lack of direction,”  

In front of everyone, their banter felt normal. It felt like things had never changed. It felt as if they had just moved on from their lives. However, Sanji felt a weird edge right now. Tension with unresolved feelings between them as he tries to still be indifferent. 

Luffy, obviously oblivious to everything that was going on, laughed, “You two never change!” He said before grabbing another slice of cake. “But hey! At least the gang is here!” 

Breaking eye contact with Zoro, his attention was back on Luffy. Luffy was right. This was a nice gesture from all three of them. It would be a shame to have it ruined by his own racing mind. He looked at Zoro who avoided his eyes. 

“Yeah, you are right,” Sanji smiled, “I appreciate it...thank you,” 

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, jokes and the comfort of being surrounded by friends. What Sanji didn’t know was that Zeff had closed the whole restaurant so that they could focus on Sanji’s surprise party. Amazing food came out as well as drinks and desserts. Luffy definitely had his fair share of food and Zoro had his fair share of drinks. 

When desserts came out, Sanji excused himself and went outside. He needed to...collect his thoughts. He needed to think about things outside. When he was outside, he sat on the step of the door and lit up a cigarette. He was lost in his thoughts outside when the door opened. 

“Are you okay?”  

Thankfully, it wasn’t Zoro. It was Robin. Sanji exhaled a long plume of smoke. The orange glow of his cigarette lit up his face in the darkness. He didn’t immediately respond. He just let the silence speak for itself. Robin was...for better or worse, incredibly perceptive. She always had been. Sanji had heard that Robin had been...somewhat involved in the club that Zoro frequented...or used to.  

“Yeah,” He said, although he wasn’t sure if he believed that and his voice lacked the conviction for her to believe him too, “Just needed a breather...” 

Robin didn’t say anything immediately, but she did sit next to him. She allowed him another puff of his cigarette before speaking. 

“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, Sanji,” She said, her voice understanding but cautious as she didn’t wish to overstep, “Especially on nights like this. Birthdays can be...a time of reflection,” 

Sanji took another drag as he watched the smoke curled into the night air, “I guess. I’m certainly in a reflective mood tonight,” 

Robin nodded as she watched the smoke dissipate into the night air, “It’s understandable,” She said as her tone was gentle, “A lot has happened recently. It’s only human to be affected by what happened,” 

Sanji shook his head with a very bitter chuckle, “I thought I moved on. I feel terrible... Luffy, Nami and... Zoro put a lot of effort into this and I... well, can’t help but think about things,” 

Robin decided to let him talk rather than inject her own thoughts as her hands rested on her lap, looking out into the air. Her presence felt...so warming that he couldn’t help but talking even more. 

“It’s like...you know, I tell myself that it doesn’t matter. I’m better off just focusing on my career and future but then,” Sanji gestured animatedly in the direction of the restaurant, “Zoro does something...stupidly kind... and I feel like those walls I’m trying to build up around him just...”  

He realizes how it sounds and retracts slightly. Robin didn’t need to know every single detail of what was going on. He retracts and takes another puff of smoke, feeling even more bitter than he had done. 

“It’s clear that Zoro has some sort of effect on you. It’s not easy to let events go...” Robin responded. 

Sanji frowned. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He wanted her to call him a jerk but then again, that wasn’t like Robin. Robin was...perspective.  

“Nine months. I’m still stuck,” 

Robin turned her head slightly, “Moving on isn’t a linear process. Sometimes, it’s two steps forward and one step back,” 

Sanji let out a sigh, running his hand through his hair. “But I don’t want to have these feelings. Zoro did the worst thing he could have done to be me ever and I can’t let it go. I just...want to let it go...” He clenched his fists, the frustration and bitterness simmering inside, “I hate him. I really really hate him but sometimes I don’t,” There was a beat of silence before Robin spoke up. 

“Then, you need to talk to him about it. Make those boundaries clear or forgive him. Either way, holding onto it and hoping that it will go away, will only hurt yourself,” 

His jaw tightened. He wanted to reject her advice and brush her off. He had gone for the past nine months without talking to him about it, but he knew that she was right. Holding onto this anger, this bitterness and it was bothering him. The truth was sinking in. Maybe it was time to decide. The thought made his stomach do funny things, but Robin was right; he couldn’t keep running from it forever. He had to face this head on. 

“Thank you, Robin,” His voice softer, more sincere than it had been before, “I’ll think about what you’ve said,” 

She gave a small nod before standing up. 

“One step at a time,”  

Sanji watched her get up and go back inside. Despite her being gone, her words echoed in his mind. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do now but for the first time in these past nine months, he felt like he had direction...he knew what he had to do. 

He took the final drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out. With a deep breath, he stood up and turned back towards the door. The night was still young. His journey was not yet over, and it was like Robin said... 

One step at a time. 

- 

The night went on for a couple more hours, nearly approaching midnight.  Everyone had a great time. The evening continued with laughter and conversation. Thankfully, Sanji’s mind felt more at ease as he joined the rest. Even if he had to decide what to do, it was enough peace to let him enjoy the rest of the night. As it approached a new day, the group's energy began to wane, and people began to leave. Robin and Franky, who were still a steadfast couple left together, Luffy and Usopp left with intentions of going back to Luffy’s and Nami left with the intention of spending the night with Vivi who she was still very much dating. As Sanji began to watch everyone leave, it left him alone...well...not exactly.  

Sanji was assured by Zeff that he would handle the mess in the morning which had Sanji having his last cigarette of the night outside. He looked towards the stairs leading up to his apartment. He was about to turn and leave when he heard someone else leave the restaurant. 

It was Zoro and they both looked at each other. Sanji continued to smoke, and Zoro watched him as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t so Sanji was the first one to speak. 

“Wanna come up stairs? It’s a long way home,”  

It was the nicest way of asking Zoro if he wanted to stay the night. Now that everyone else was gone, Sanji and Zoro could drop the acting.  

“Sure. I didn’t want to walk home anyway,” 

Sanji shook his head with a humorless laugh. His reply was gruff as usual but there was some warmth behind it. They stood there for a moment, the silence between them was thick with words they couldn’t say then.  It was tension that in the past nine months had become very familiar. It had begun to define their relationship...their very complicated relationship. 

Once he was ready, he stubbed out his cigarette as his mind reeled from the advice he had been given by Robin. It couldn’t be put off any longer. Sanji had to do something about what was on his mind.  

“Come on. Let’s go then,”  

Zoro followed Sanji without a word. The quiet footsteps on the stairs were the only sound as they made their way up to Sanji’s apartment. 

When they were inside, Sanji flickered on the light. There was a soft glow in a familiar space. Zoro looked around. He was unreadable. Maybe he could tell that change needed to happen too.  

Sanji busied himself to begin with. He kicked his shoes off, tidied up a few items and the like as if to avoid talking to him. As normal, Zoro helped himself to a beer from the fridge and sat on the sofa, watching Sanji clean up.  

“Are you okay?” 

Sanji stopped what he was doing and looked at Zoro strangely. Was it that obvious? 

“I’ve been in a reflective mood...” Sanji muttered, thinking about the conversation he had with Robin recently. 

“Yeah?” Zoro said but more to prod more of an answer as if wanting to know Sanji’s thoughts but all it did was bring hesitation to the blond who stopped what he was doing and sat on the chair across from the sofa, away from Zoro. The familiar tension felt strange. 

“Yeah...” Sanji’s voice was low as he leaned back in his chair. 

Zoro’s expression remained stoic but there was a flicker of something on his face, but it was unreadable. Sanji didn’t know whether Zoro was also feeling reflective or if he had no idea what he was talking about. Either way, Sanji leaned forward. 

“I keep telling myself that I hate you. I really do hate you. Yet, when you do things like what you did tonight with Nami and Luffy...” Sanji ran his hand through his hair, “It pisses me off because you do these kind decent little things and then I don’t know how I feel...” 

Zoro didn’t say anything. What could he say? They’ve been over this countless times. No matter how many times they ended up in each other's room or have these little meet ups, they still go around in circles talking about nine months ago. Neither of them was over it nor honestly, no one could be blamed. 

“I hate you for this. I really do...” 

Zoro looked directly at Sanji, “I don’t blame you,” 

Sanji’s breath caught. That was it. Zoro accepted it with bluntness, and it caught him off guard entirely. He had expected an argument, maybe a gruff retort but instead, Zoro accepted it. 

And that just annoyed him even more. It was suffocating and yet, this was the most honest that they had been with each other this whole time. 

“I don’t want to keep going around in these circles,” Sanji’s voice was strained, “But I don’t think I can move forward...the way that things are going,” 

“You think I haven’t tried? That I don’t want to try and move on?” Zoro responded, clutching his beer like an anchor, “Do you think I haven’t suffered from this too? I know nothing I can say will make you accept what’s going on...” 

“Then why do we keep doing this? Why help with the party? Why do you keep coming back to my place? Why?” 

There was a beat of silence. Sanji had clenched his fists so hard that specs of blood appeared on the palm of his hand, but it didn’t hurt. He had bigger fish to fry right now, and it was all about Zoro. 

And Zoro just continued to stare at him. He settled his beer down on the table and leaned forward, as if trying to close the distance between them, “Because...” He began, his voice lower and more measured than normal, “No matter how much we hate each other and no matter how much we hurt each other, I cannot stay away from you. You think I enjoy this? That I love how much of a mess we are?” 

And that felt like an honest admission from Zoro. Something that Sanji could not honor in return as he scowled, “Then why the hell are we doing this? If you can’t stay away and I can’t let it go, then what the hell are we doing here?” 

And there it was again. That silence showed that neither of them knew the answer. Those raw feelings just bubbled below the surface. 

“I don’t know,” Zoro sighed, “I don’t know okay,” His voice low and rough, “I don’t have the answer, but I wish I did but I don’t,” 

Sanji scowled and pinched the bridge of his nose, “I can’t keep doing this with you,” 

“You don’t have to,” Zoro said, standing up as if something finally snapped, “No one is forcing you to do this. Maybe we should stop seeing each other,” Sanji’s heart clenched at those words even though a part of him had been expecting this conclusion. He had thought about this countless times before, about what it meant if they did cut ties and moved on. Yet, hearing Zoro vocalize it, made it real. 

“Is that what you want?” Sanji didn’t stand up. He looked up at Zoro who looked as if he was about to leave, as if he’d had enough. 

Zoro hesitated but the tension in the room pushed him to talk about it, “You’ve made it clear. You can’t do this anymore. So, you don’t have to. I’m giving you an out,” 

Sanji took a deep breath as if trying to steady himself. Everything felt as if it was crumbling around him, and he was grasping to give himself some normality. But maybe it was too late. Maybe this was the new normal. Everything felt already broken.  A wave of emotions crashed around him as a mix of anger and sadness. Zoro’s words were logical and to the point. He was giving Sanji an out and that was logical, but it was a punch in the gut after everything they had been through.  

This was the exact moment he had feared and wanted. 

“You are giving me an out?” Sanji stood up, shaking his head in disbelief and frustration, “Like it’s that simple? Like walking away will finish all of this?” 

Zoro clenched his jaw, “Maybe it is that simple, Sanji. Maybe we are making it more difficult than it had to be,”  

It was the moment he had to decide. Sanji’s heart raced and for a moment, he just couldn’t find the words. What did he want? 

“I think you are right,” Sanji said. Maybe he was right. Maybe they needed to stop. “Maybe walking away will help,” 

Zoro nodded, his face unreadable but he looked towards the door and then back to him, “I agree. I will leave you alone then...” His words hung in the air, heavy and final. The silence that followed it was suffocating and filled with things that they didn’t even get a chance to say. Finally, there was an end to this unrelenting cycle. 

For a moment, time stopped. By the time that Sanji realized that time’s arrow marched forward, Zoro opened the door and was gone. The blonde stood there frozen. So that was it. Zoro had walked out of his life as if it was nothing. He had wanted this – to end this cycle but now that it had happened, Sanji felt hollow. He clenched his fists again, realizing the pain of cuts on his hand but it was nothing compared to the pain in his chesrt. Nine months. He’d put up with this for nine months and for what? What did he have to show for it? 

Instead of relief, he felt loss.  

He sat on the sofa, the exhaustion of the night caught up on him. He rubbed his face, noticing the wetness on his cheeks. 

One step at a time. 

But what was the next step? What did he do next? How did you move on now? 

Sanji leaned back on the sofa, reaching for his lighter and cigarettes. He lit one up and stared at the ceiling. He had made his choice, now he had to live with it. Maybe that’s how it was supposed to end.  

One step at a time. 

[racingliners]

So after @bbglewis told me to stop being silly, I am finally posting pictures from when I volunteered at the Euros after *checks notes* three years.

I was so anxious to talk about it a lot on here bc after Euro 2020 was (rightfully) postponed due to the pandemic I was so terrified to jinx me being there for the tournament because I wanted to be there and take part so much😭

Thankfully it was all fine and even though it was three years ago I can still remember it all so clearly and it really was just one of the Summers of my life so I'm FINALLY going to spend a bunch of posts yelling about it.

(bc well, better three years late than not at all)

To super quickly summarise how I ended up being a volunteer, one of my friends encouraged me to sign up so I did (while Glasgow was also one of the host cities of the tournament, London was actually more viable for me bc I actually had a place to stay with some relatives), the whole process in hindsight wasn't as stressful as I thought, and while the interview day at Wembley is a whole post in itself, it was still really fun going to Wembley for the first time and lo and behold I ended up getting picked.

On the application for we had to select which roles we were interested in, but the Volunteer Team ended up having the final say on what division we were part of (which, there are so many different volunteer roles that help make a football tournament happen, you guys have no idea). I ended up being a Mobility Maker, which was the front of house team based at the stadium on matchdays giving everyone directions, information, and welcoming everyone to the stadium.

Below are some pics from the Interview Day in 2019

(Spoiler alert there will be lots of Wembley pics, it's a very beautiful stadium).

So jump forward to the start of June 2021 and I get off the train to see Euston all spruced up for the occasion which was SO much fun, and as I type this it was 3 years ago tomorrow that I went to Wembley to get my accreditation and uniform (hilariously I had to go back the next day bc my shorts and trousers didn't fit.)

Some Wembley Arena fountain ASMR:

And we did get to keep our uniforms as well as a bunch of other freebies, I still wear various pieces from it to this day. And me being me, I wanted to fully commit to the bit and bring a bunch of different nail polishes with me so I could have a different manicure for each of my six shifts/matches, matching with all the colours from the tournament logo (it ended up being 5 due to the Semi-Finals being back to back, but I did get to fit all the colours in!).

I will of course showcase each match day manicure!

[utmvarchive]

Horrortale: a summary.

As stated before, the UNDERTALE timeloop spans Frisk's tour through Mt. Ebott, with the condition that they or an unidentified third party can still loop back to their last or first SAVE point in the mountain for an indeterminate length of time after their return to the surface.

"Horrortale" is set in a later timeframe, within a timeline in which Frisk left monsterkind behind and Toriel attempted to return to the throne, but was forced back into exile and her position usurped by Undyne after Frisk reinforced monsters' fear and distrust of humans.

What distinguishes this version of the world, and what makes it difficult to identify as an AT or an AU, is what happens next.

The following seven-to-eight years have been dire, raising tensions between everyone, and as if it were a contagion, a frenzy of desperation has seemingly overtaken the kingdom. Monsters have been starving. The CORE suffered a shutdown, both symptomatic and causational of multiple shortages in resources. Sans was alerted of their intentions by an echoflower, but... Alphys... in trying to redeem herself to Queen Undyne and... talk her down from... self-destructing... encouraged her to use Sans' "eye" to repower it. He had an alternate solution to offer, but when Sans was cornered, it went... catastrophically. He sustained a traumatic skull injury, but was kept alive by his "eye" even after it was taken by force, and in retaliation, he stole another eye from a guard he killed, destroyed the CORE and... and dealt back a traumatic head injury back on Alphys, which her cognitive function would not survive.

He then declared in Snowdin that the mandate to collect SOULs would be abandoned in favor of... eating... the next humans to fall... and that any mention of this change of plans around Queen Undyne would be a punishable offense. He continues to scare other monsters now that he keeps a red eye in his broken socket, and Papyrus' teeth have become crooked since cooking with... human... meat.

It seems that since this incident, humans have begun to fall in at greater frequency. Exactly the kind of miracle monsterkind needed after Flowey took the other SOULs and Frisk departed intact, only it was a few years too late. Queen Undyne intended war, monsters had become man-eaters, even dust-eaters, and some, like her majesty Toriel, feared that the Barrier would now be the only thing holding humans back from a finishing counterstrike.

Then came a twelve-year-old child... the fallen human Aliza.

Like in Underfell, the flower chooses to follow her around now that monsters have become the aggressors, though he looks different with an eye now taking up his whole face. Perhaps an aftereffect of the form he took when he absorbed the SOULS? It is certainly a more... innocent change in comparison. In any case, her majesty Toriel has become overbearing and quickly burned him down, yet her vision and her competency at keeping a human healthy have deteriorated significantly by the time she takes in Aliza.

Aliza is able to use a hidden vial of healing water to revive Flowey, and in return he teaches her how to use her fear to access the SAVE. Now that she can Reload, she is able to pass by Toriel's interference in front of the door, Sans' attacks from outside it, and his and Papyrus' challenges. Though, in the interest of fairness, Papyrus offers three "freebies" to Aliza, invoked by hand signs, wherein he would oblige to bail her out.

Between puzzles, she also rebuilds a snowman and is given its carrot nose as a show of thanks.

Aliza does not (adamantly) spend her first freebie until the second lethal puzzle, but interestingly, SAVEs do not completely undo the harm she Reloads from. She retains scars on her neck where a trap in the first puzzle decapitates her, and her hair is damp with blue snow at the next puzzle– which she sinks into the first time and drowns. Sans accuses her of cheating when he notices, and attempts to cut off her ear as penalty, but he is scared off by Flowey's impression of a growl from the trees. The next time they cross paths, Sans offers a hot dog and... fails to discourage her from eating... Papyrus' spaghetti. This at least seems to dissuade his suspicion that she cheats, but he does not spare her from learning what or who was in what she ate.

As she is pointed to the Snowdin restaurant, the mayor divulges what he knows about Sans to Aliza before the patrons gather to drag her to Grillby– whose body as a fire elemental has been cannibalizing itself as it starves for magical sustenance. Her back is burned as he attempts to cook her alive, but she is rescued by Papyrus when she invokes her second aforementioned freebie and he declares that Queen Undyne is coming– which soon turns out to be more than a bluff.

Supposedly, Sans had abstained from eating human meat despite being the one to declare that monsters should, but when Aliza is thrown outside in the panic, the smell of her burns... drives him into a feeding frenzy... and he rips off her arm... but Papyrus strikes him in the face before he can take a bite.

Note: it seems that these frenzies also cause Sans to leak black fluid from his mouth, not too dissimilar from the black tears observed from Chara when overwhelming Frisk with bloodlust.

Aliza, meanwhile, escapes into the woods where she can overhear Queen Undyne threatening the townsfolk for the theft of her candy. Thinking fast, she uses the blue snow and a piece of charcoal Flowey found to make a disguise before rushing in to take the fall, earning Snowdin's camaraderie. When Queen Undyne orders Ailza to identify herself, Papyrus takes a neighbor's suggestion but misspeaks, interjecting to accidentally declares she is Sans' daughter. Queen Undyne quickly takes interest and tries to take her away to gain leverage on Sans and interrogate her for his weaknesses, only this leads to the townsfolk standing up to the queen and her guard. Queen Undyne backs down when Sans reappears, only just learning he now has a "daughter."

Sans and Papyrus then argues over whose should be the fifth puzzle, until Aliza interjects to choose between them herself. She chooses Papyrus' puzzle, which consists of red lines around the house eventually leading into the oven. Aliza argues with Flowey, and he closes it on her as the heat begins to melt off her disguise. The smell attracts Papyrus, which similarly sends him into a frenzy as he wrenches the oven door back open, but Aliza knocks him out with a baking pan as soon as she is free. Her next move is to take a knife she finds to mince the carrot she received before and, along with medicine she'd found in Toriel's home, adds it to the tomato paste one of the monsters gave her as repayment for inspiring them all to stand together against Undyne. The activity stirs Sans' appetite again, but he is taken off-guard after she gives him the mixture in a ketchup bottle as a peace offering.

He cautiously accepts, and the mayor of Snowdin brings Aliza... a meal, affirming her welcome into the town.

...

It has been a philosophical debate for perhaps as long as the concept of philosophical debates themselves. Which is the greater force, love or hate? Anger or fear? Hope or despair? My research, my experiences, would certainly make a compelling argument that it would be Determination. The epitome of willpower. But what force can override that?

The possibility of tampered code may diminish its legitimacy to some degree, maybe even a great degree. But looking at this UA, when it comes to close competitors against Determination, there is something to be said about the way people can be overwhelmed by desperation...

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

A freebie! Write whatever your heart desires :)

Guards opened the doors to the formal receiving room. Light flooded in behind you and you forced yourself to breathe. Trying to feel regal. And not like what you were.

An ugly girl in too much makeup.

Court fashion never suited you. And the heavy jewels around your neck and braided into your hair, adorning your wrists and fingers- trying to dazzle your distinguished guests into not seeing your flaws- felt like chains.

Still. You curtsied. You smiled. And you wondered which of the retinue was your intended. Bruce you recognized from when you were small. You'd visited once with your mother and father. And you saw the look of recognition.

It was the larger man sprawled insolently in a chair by the fire. His feet stretched in front of him. He seemed like a hound at rest. More alert than he looked. Whatever small book he as reading had only part of his attention and he hadn't glanced at you. But for that you were grateful.

You didn't think you could take seeing a grown man recoil. Or run screaming. And you dreaded to think of the wedding night. What he would do when he saw- Under the silk you felt a familiar burning ache across your flesh and you banished the thought.

Letting the conversation flow around you. It was easier to hold your tongue that way. To play your part- the perfect daughter. The proper princess. Who didn't know how to fire arrows or ride a war horse.

Those were things you would keep to yourself. Like the dagger, you hid on your thigh. And if your intended didn't like it, well. If he didn't find out until you were wedded and bedded it would be the high church's problem to sort out.

[waywardtyrantpirate]

Ok, so I have an idea.

So I want to make an app like The Freebie Alerts app but w/ more options an more local stuff. I want to include businesses (giving out food to reduce food waste), reasources (for homelessness, shelters, new mothers), have the option to barter for things, have options to sell services (handyman), for money or barter.

But I need a coder or someone who can build the app. Ik what I want it to look like an the layout an everything I just gotta get it. If not I guess I can lean how to build a app.

Pls dm me if interested

+18 pls tho

[moonlitporches]

EMAILS

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[sarahgoodwin]

📚✨ New Thriller Alert! ✨📚

Just finished The Island by Sarah Goodwin, and wow – talk about a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing! 😱 If you're into twists you never see coming, this one is for you. Think Fyre Festival meets One of the Girls, with all the glitz, mystery, and danger of a luxury music festival gone wrong.

💬 Once you arrive, there's no escape.

The story follows Jody, Ari, and Carla, who win tickets to the hottest summer festival on a private Greek island. But when the glamour fades, they realize it's not the paradise they expected. 🌴🌅 Instead of music and freebies, they're trapped in a tense, psychological game that will have you turning pages well into the night!

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