#Gotta make em suffer a lil bit

[get-rammed]

Angst idea.

Anon misses a day in Handler AU (Idfk they’re sick or something) so, tyler takes care of Monty. When Anon comes back, tyler either…

A.) Made Monty cry and Monty refuses to come out of his room, even for Anon. (Maybe he told Monty that Anon would never love him 🫢)

B.) Aggravated Monty so bad Monty attacked him. Now Monty’s scheduled to get scrapped soon bc he attacked Fazbear entertainments boot licker and Anon has to fight Faz Ent so Monty doesn’t get scrapped.

What if. Both to a degree. Tyler baited Monty's new aggression out, and used it to his advantage. He's firmly in the camp that Monty led the attack on Bonnie. What better way to get him scrapped than to show he's too aggressive to be around the other animatronics, let alone people.

He wouldn't bait an injury on himself. That would be dumb, he could get killed. But he would absolutely use his charge as bait :) he knows Freddy would take a hit for him

Freddy getting damaged would send a clear message to the higher ups making Monty a Glamrock was a mistake.

Of course Freddy immediately understands Montgomery didn't mean to, and he tries to explain for him, but nobody listens to him.

Anon gonna be coming in to a shit storm.

[citrine-elephant]

there is nothing strictly heterosexual about the way leon looks at other men, i swear

[just-jordie-things]

spiderman fan anon here again who yapped abt how i think ur spideygumi fic is the literal greatest spidey au of all time.. sry i hope ur not tired of hearing abt it but i just reread the fic (again) and i cant stop thinking abt what mc and megumis development would be like from here… megumi is definitely not the typical peter-parker-type with his sense of justice (as one of his figures’ packaging hilariously summarizes “i save people unequally”) which has SOO much potential for a Good fucking hero story AND new relationship dynamic. like maybe megumi tries to become kind of a more “moral” hero on his own, but shit happens, maybe the govt or police are too corrupt and he realizes he can only trust himself to bring justice to the city, a more batman-like mentality. would mc have a problem with his morality and pull away? would she agree with it and help him as a journalist? would she disagree and give him the With great power Comes great responsibility spiel, leading to him growing into a more “true” spiderman-like hero? Idfk i do not write at all but i cant turn off my comics-loving brain with all this potential!!! i also dont mean to push u to write any of this but i had to talk abt it before i Exploded

the way i wanna make this fic a 5 movie franchise now becuz OMG THE AVENUES THIS OPENS UPPP

i am a marvel girl (sorry battinson baby even u aren't my fav) so i see spiderman!gumi having a deadpool mentality but without the mouth lolol

ok here's some very small thoughts i have about what a continuation in the story would've looked like:

he tries to find a mix between the public eyes' idea of the right thing and his version of the right thing but... dammit some people just gotta suffer a bit don't they?

he sees someone get a lil too harsh with a dog and he can't just give em a lil scare. next thing he knows they're beaten beyond recognition and webbed up to a wall for the police to deal with. fuck that guy, who hurts dogs??

when the news starts to call him things like menace and people start to wonder if he's not the altruistic hero they thought he was, megumi tries to balance between the different schools of thought of justice. he has you by his side, supporting him and wishing him all the best with being the best he can be...

so when some perp he's apprehending starts spouting off some real nasty shit, megumi tries to tell himself that prison will bring him to justice. over and over in his head he tells himself that he has to let some things go...

but damnit this bigoted asshole won't shut up and megumi just doesn't see how society could possibly function with pieces of shit like this roaming around. and no, when the guy's body goes limp after a swift ninety-degree head-spinning snap to the neck, megumi doesn't feel any regret. only relief that there's one less bastard in his city.

as for you, you've always trusted in spiderman. so you're learning to place your trust in megumi, too. you hate the rare occasion when he visits you bloodied and bruised, but you hate the idea of a city without spiderman's protection even more. you've been a fan of spiderman since the first day you'd heard of the sightings. a ride or die doesn't walk away just because things are getting a little nastier out there.

a career in journalism will prove to be difficult. the truth about megumi's double life is a secret that you both understand must stay contained no matter the price. you probably bounce around a few firms, trying to find just the right place to land where you can write the truth without revealing too much. however most outlets just want to report on the crimes spiderman himself has committed, and you struggle with badmouthing your hero (and your boyfriend)

i like to think megumi laughs at the papers trying to paint him as a villain. it doesn't stress him out, it's nothing to him really. just a source of entertainment for him to read to you over dinner. between the two of you, you handle the ugly headlines far worse. but megumi likes to rile you up by reading all the worst ones to you, just to make you fuss over it all. some nights it's like you're rivals again- megumi taunting you with the latest edition of the spider-menace storytelling, chuckling when you start to crinkle your brows and spout off about how some writers are uneducated phonies or how they're ungrateful for what he's done. you never fail to go on a long winded rant followed by some chugged down water. and as always, megumi will just smirk and shake his head as he throws away said latest edition.

___

i lost wind here but i would love to hear if anyone has other thoughts too!!

[sabotsen]

Hi there! First of all, your perception of Roland is absolutely impeccable. I don't generally read fics as they tend to spoil/contradict my image of a char, but your Roland? Pure canon. In a single paragraph you are able to convey such complex images, wow. I even find myself with same longing described in a text, and it lingers. Also your signature tripple "burn"s. At this point I can recognize your work without captions. Hope you are having a good feedback! I also did not find any request closed/open status or rules so please forgive me if you don't do requests.

With that, may I take the liberty and ask for a Roland fic where we hug him? Because Re-reading Knight's longing for 3rd time and ugggh I just wanna squish him with a hug. I also thought the idea of "if you need anything — ask for it" "but no everything has to be 95 steps long and complex" is fun, but what if he does actually ask for something, and we give it to him, and it works, and he's shoked? Kinda?? Since he usually doesn't speak plain and honest, and things usually dont actually go his way. But hey he did this time and that single shot got through! It's a little bit like teaching a child to say "pass the salt please", except it's a grown man and we try to tell him not everything has to be attained through suffering and hinting, he can just ask. Or, on a different note, maybe he does not actually say it out loud but we still guess, since after so much time we know him well enough? Regardless of whatever he builds of himself, he still has some patterns he follows unknowingly in any of his instances, and those could be learned and read. I just wanted for Roland to be comforted a lil'. ;< maybe not a lil'. Maybe actually very much.

Even if this req is not to your liking, I still wish you the best with your art, thank you for your hard work! Bye have a great time 👋

I’ve had to walk laps around the room several times before I could even fathom a response to this message so forgive me if I’m incoherent in spots.

But firstly — thank you??? ( ; - ;) this is such a kind message I’m honestly really fucking humbled and at a loss for words, especially for speaking so kindly of my interpretation of him. ;;;; thank you truly for taking the time to send this, it means a lot to me. ( & I can’t help the burns repetition with him lol, the irony when your in game element is fire but you’ve long since forgotten the warmth of human kindness and contact so even the gentlest of brushes feels like scorching heat. The man is a clown)

I’ve never actually gotten a request before lol so you’re the first, hun. I’m open to ‘em, especially since they can be a way to talk to people about different hc and interpretations; I find it really fun. And I really like the view of him I see in your message. Roland blue screening is always a highlight to me tbh

it’s actually a bit ironic Knight’s Longing is the one you’re most fond of. The second part is in the works, told from Chrome’s POV about your closeness with Roland, and there is a short scene that plays off Roland’s affection line where you fall asleep against him. It’s mostly a fun experiment bc they’re just such fascinating foils. (There’s also a nutcracker inspired fic with Roland that has been in the works for a shamefully long time….)

But yes! You’re welcome to suggest ideas hun! And yours actually gave me a brain worm so consider that wip added to the fic list. I just… I either churn out 3 fics in a month or 1 fic every three months — there is no inbetween I’m so sorry….

I did draft a few lines tho based off the images I got from your message tho, so I don’t forget the emotion I want to go for (the despair of waiting for the other shoe to drop bc he can’t trust your kindness as something that isn’t attached to strings or the guillotine). I can’t promise it’ll make it to the final draft but here’s a little snip for now if that’s ok?? I gotta chew on how I want to shape the scene but I’ll toss the snip beneath a read more break. please know I’m tucking four leaf clovers in your pocket in hopes you have nothing but wonder days ahead!! ♥︎ thank you again for taking the time to talk to me ♡

[...]

It's the weightlessness – the moment of bated breath when the stage crumbles beneath his feet and the scaffolding overhead groans as it collapses. It's the loaded silence – the millisecond between the trigger pull and the expected result in roulette. It is the corpse of every script, every scene, every line that always, always, always ends with the flourish of the guillotine. 

He feels it, scorching and molten – the seeping, slow spread of warmth like molten glass. There's a sharpness to it, biting in the way it cuts through the cold metal of him until it sinks into his wires. It burns. It burns. It burns.

The weight of your arm around his shoulder, your foolish flesh and bone hand on the small of his back, the faint brush of your breath against his temple – you're close, too close and it burns. He feels the subtle rise of your chest with each slow breath, and it's the casual defenselessness of it all that turns the heat into something boiling. It churns with all the jagged, rusted blades that have burrowed into tender places he thought lost beneath the metal. You're completely open and every single vital point flashes through his mind in an instant. How easy would it be to press a little here or cut deep enough there to bring you to your knees in blooming crimson glory? 

His hands move – too late and too early all at once – and you don't even flinch when the cold metal of his fingers wraps around the back of your neck.

[lovelyladylavie]

(Disclaimer: I am not a professional, Im just a poor person who picked up a few tricks)

That original inforgraphic seems like its trying to make you buy buy buy excessively. I personally like to try and repair what I can, macguyvering things back together bc growing up in poverty makes you either suffer from lack or become resourceful AF. So here's what I'd do for each:

Fix it up!

-sponge: boil it when stinky for five min and then pull it out and let it rest, or microwave it for 30 sec (its gonna be hot watch out), (or if its a ScrubDaddy, you can put it in the bottom rack of the dishwasher since it wont hold water.) Comes out pretty germ-free any of these ways, and that'll get the stink off. Throw it away when it's actually disintegrating or the green scrubby-fluff side is gone (if u got one of those ones)

Shower curtain liner: Throw it in the washer with a bit of bleach or just laundry soap. Hang it back up and drip dry.

Microwave filter: I, too, am astounded this exists. More research is required.

Toilet brush: spray it to keep it disinfected after you use it, but yeah, try and replace that every couple years, especially if its got build up of gunk.

Bath mat: have 2. Swap one out every month while the other one goes for a wash and waits for its turn.

Bed pillows: Take note of a place in your house where a sunbeam hits for a long time during the day. Wash your pillows in the washer, throw them in the dryer and let them sit in the sunbeam for as long as possible, as it'll help slow cook any leftover moisture out of them and it makes them fluffy. Make sure and flip them halfway thru the time limit

Sheets: If they cant reasonably be saved or are too threadbare, when they fall apart you still might be able to use them as cleaning rags, so cut em up and let them finish off their time on earth being as useful as possible. Hem them for extra life.

Bath Towels: when they get funky, use laundry sanitizer. Its 6 bucks a bottle and its a game changer. And when they fall apart: MORE RAGS! AND you can cut bath towels into new washcloths. I even hemmed mine to make them last longer instead of fraying to bits. Just toss the really warn down bits. You don't gotta keep all of it.

Nonstick cookware: Really, this stuff is just kinda bad for us and the environment. But theyre cheap, and thats why we all got them. Use soft plastic or silicone utensils so it don't scrape up that coating. And watch your dang food so it doesnt burn. Another option if you wanna replace it with something more earth/health friendly is a cast iron pan or stainless steel, some of which you might be able to find at your local thrift store. They have TONS. Stacks on stacks! They require a learning curve on care/use but just youtube it. Some might require a lil elbow grease to clean up, but if there's anything gross in them, you can boil water in the stainless steel ones, and the junk will melt away or be easier to lift up.

Throw pillows: see the above about bed pillows and getting them fluffy again. However, if the pillow skin is breaking down, you might just wanna put the pillow insert or the fluff into a new one, which is the simplest sewing project ever. A fun thing to do is take an old tshirt you love/wanna save/grown out of and sew up the sides or cut out the logo on front and a matching square of fabric off the back and put the fluff into that! Now you dont have to throw it away either!

Mattress: REPLACE THE MATTRESS REPLACE THE MATTRESS I AM NOT JOKING. A bent-spring or dipped-in mattress will give you fucking sciatica i am not joking it happened to me. It was painful as fuck and STILL flares up to this day. Keep it as long as you feesably can, and flip it occasionally (6 months, if its one that you can do that with), but if you got back pain, please save up and go get a new one for cheap or a refurbished one. Floor models on showfloors can be cheaper, and there are new, cheap mattresses in plastic sometimes available at GoodWill (they do sell new things too sometimes!!). There are discount mattress stores out there, shop around on price ranges and once you find a place you can afford, please lay on it for 10 minutes and listen to what your body is telling you. Its aches and groans. Does any pain flare up, even a little? Try the next one until you find what you like. Take your time, its for your health.

Couch: This will ALSO give you sciatica if you aren't careful! But yeah, you just gotta make the call of when "broken down" is. If you feel broken wood inside, its probably time.

Smoke detectors: Dont fuck around when it comes to fire safety. Set an event in your calendars to check these every 6 months (on mattress flipping day!). Press the awful button and test them. I know, it's sensory hell. Do it anyway. Replace the batteries if they're dead.

Small appliances: See if there's a repair group in your neighborhood or area. (There was a post floating around a bit ago about right-to-repair groups recently, if anybody's seen that, plz post the link) ((Sometimes it might just be something small and can be easily repaired. Websites of the producers of appliances sometimes sell parts! We've repaired our dishwasher twice and got a new lint trap for the dryer this way.)) And if you join a group, you might learn something new! Also: if u aren't handy, befriend people who are and ask for help. Thats why we have community, baby! Be safe, don't try anything out of your depth, but don't be afraid to ask/learn. Or just go to repair shop like Sew'n'Vac and get an estimate.

Duvet: I have never owned a duvet, idk what they're made of, but if its polyfil, you can use them to make more throw pillows.

Doormat: I always felt like doormats are a luxury, tbh? Idk, check GoodWill. If you find one u like in the wild, get it. Spray it off on occasion so you can still read it and shake the pine needles outta it.

Curtains: The material is usually p nice on these, so try and reuse it for other projects like table runners or once again, fancier throw pillows (i just really like pillows u guys and theyre so expensive for no reason. It's like 30 bucks for a new one! Insane!) Also, consider rotating different color/pattern curtains to different rooms to keep the vibes fresh and interesting. Also, give them a wash on occasion. They're dusty!

Once again, not a professional ANYTHING, just a poor person making do.

Use it up, fix it up, make it last, make it work!

Who the hell can afford to replace these things that often? Being able to buy my FIRST couch is like a daydream I come back to?! (I don't want a used bedbugs one) Also what the fuck do you MEAN microwaves have removable filters somewhere

[spookyvalentine]

10, 12, 25, 32 (off your third shepard ama questions list) if you’re taking asks! 👀♥️

AHH YES I WILL!! and yes I'll do it off the fourth list ;) also im gonna to include truce too since I’m finishing this so so late I hope that’s ok!!

10. Favorite drinking buddy and why:

Mercy never met a homebrew they wouldn’t sample. like, oh shit you made it? yeah I’ll take a sip of that. They don’t drink much (that was their teen years), but they do want to taste something locally made. And mercy loves being someone’s drinking buddy. hell yes, sit next to me, gimme the DL. can always rely on them to be the dd and cover the bill. Didn’t get drunk on the sr1. On the occasions they do get close to shitfaced—well. mercy’s alone shut away somewhere. The ones that have a pass to drop by are Kasumi, Thane, Edi, Jack n Vega. (crime lord: wrex, kasumi. sports coach: vega, nihlus. white collar: samara, edi)

Stellan doesn’t want just a drinking buddy—they want a whole party! as many people as possible. On Mindoir, Stellan was raised in an artists farming commune that had large gatherings to celebrate a harvest and the gifts of the season—sharing fresh cheeses and bread, vegetables on the grill and fruit for smoking later, jars of jam and pickles and butter, honey wine and fruit beer. eating under the big tree. dancing and music around a bonfire, watching the sun (and for some, the moon, too) sink down into the lake. that being said they have a wine night or two doing some board games/group activity. oh you know their citadel party was just. spectacular. joyful

As for Truce? hmmm. Well since I’m still figuring them out their answers are gonna be shorter than mercy n stellans. First instinct? Joker. The two of em have a lot of shared history, even before me1

12. Where do their thoughts linger? The past, present, or future?

Mercy’s solidly in the present. the here and now. what counts is the time between each breath and what they’re gonna do with it. kasumi’s grandmama taught them and mercy’s kept up a regular yoga practice since akuze

Stellan is always looking to the future. thoughts skipping ahead, strategizing, making predictions… what is the next move? How to get there? there’s a reason Stellan was known as a galactic kepesh-yakshi talent first

Truce is hunted by their past in a way mercy n stellan’ve never had to suffer with. A legacy. fuck, a lineage. There’s a ghost already haunting their next footstep

25. Does Shepard dream of the starchild, or does it take a different form?

OKAY so I’m stupid and was a uhhhhh lil high when I wrote this list of questions, so I’m gonna articulate it a bit better n split it into two and maybe go edit the list: Who are they chasing after in their nightmares? Does the starchild/reaper take this form for the final confrontation?

So in Mercy’s nightmares, it starts out as strangers, acquaintances then loved ones revealed to be indoctrinated and consumed by reaper tech until barely recognizable. And inspired by @angstyastro’s big brained Isani idea that gripped me by the throat and hadn’t let up, is the starchild takes mercy’s image, flickering randomly between ages, from younger than they remember to older than they’ll ever be

Stellan’s first dream has the kid, Anderson and the alliance room they were in blasted to bits. They start having nightmares about the mindoir raid (they hadn’t had one in nearly seven years). And the starchild flits between all their siblings, many parents, grandparents and cousins. It hurts, makes them angry at first, but with the slurry of pain, concussion and adrenaline, it’s not too bad seeing their faces again

Ahhh I can’t come up with anything for Truce yet, I gotta rotate them some more

32. What kind of drunk is Shepard? Affectionate, weepy, belligerent…?

Mercy is… honest. They have opinions—in a way that others belatedly realize that until that moment, Shepard’s been holding them at arms length. And for all that mercy knows just every detail and decision that shaped their lives, and like, even after saving the entire galaxy together (twice!!!!), mercy rarely talks about themself. when they’re drugged with a psychedelic (a self-indulgent tropey abduction fic I’ll finish some some day), they are deeply affectionate and weepy

Stellan is a flirt. It’s so unexpected because hoo boy. The commander does not have game. after a pina colada though? Smooth criminal. Fetching blush all across the cheeks, their nose and ears pinking. Big velvet pupils, white teeth biting down on reddened lips. Clever timing, a charming laugh. Leans all up into your space. And with Shiala! Positively handsy. It’s a sight to behold for sure, of spritely little Stellan Shepard leaving tall beefy Shiala with a dropped jaw and a hot stare. Big dancer

Truce, I can’t decide if they go quiet or go out pickin fights

fifty (last) questions for commander shepard

[s1utspeare]

DID SOMEONE SAY BODY LANGUAGE COMPARISON???

I heard the sweet, dulcet tones of acting meta on this post and could not resist her call, so @xcziel, @foxofninetales, this one is for you.

THE LIU CHANG DMBJ CHARACTER META: WANG CAN vs LIU SANG

So first of all lemme just say I love these bitches, and what’s interesting about Liu Chang is that he plays them on opposite ends. There’s not much he can do about the fact that, y’know, he’s the same-ass person, but there are some very distinct differences between Liu Sang and Wang Can, which we will be talking about now.

Liu Sang photo cred: @foxofninetales

Wang Can photo cred: @xcziel

Jiang Wu photo cred: me screenshotting @xia-xueyi’s Moonfall Echo subs (ep. 13)

PART ONE: BODY LINES

I’ve talked about body lines before! But now we get to look at it from the same actor in two different characters! As a recap, straight lines are strong, sturdy, confident, and straightforward; curved lines are weaker, but more interesting and more dynamic.

For example!!

We got our bitch Wang Can here!! This is our first look at this slimy man, and look! He’s like a square!!! All straight lines, all ups and downs. Him body a square!! The costume people also do a great job of boxing him up bc of the tailoring of his jacket, and the two neutral color palette. There’s no embellishments, no decor. This is a straightforward man!! He’s not hiding anything except exactly how much of a bitch he is

(Also notice that his hands are showing and in fists. This will be important in a minute.)

Next, we have our favorite boy Liu Sang, showing up for the first time (ignore the differences in angles):

Oho! He’s a curvy motherfucker!! Aside from the fact that his clothes are now tailored correctly to demonstrate his natural curves, this mans is also curving himself! His arms! Are loose! And bent!! His head and neck aren’t nearly as emphasized! And! AND!!!! His hands are in his fucjing POCKEEETTTSSS. That indicates FURTIVENESS! That indicates MYSTERY! We’re going to find some things OUT about this boy and we’re gonna like it!!!

In comparison, look at Jiang Wu:

LIU CHANG U BEAUTIFUL BITCH. He fucking BENT HIS ARM. He kept one straight and BENT THE OTHER!!! Oh joyous occasion!! We have a DYNAMIC BOY!! but not too dynamic—peep that hidden hand! Also I love this bc it was TWO DIFFERENT LIU CHANG CHARACTERS IN THE SAME SHOW!!! :D see!! Here’s Liu Sang again!

THIS IS A CONFIDENT LIU SANG!!!! He is CHANGED! He is capable of expressing emotions now! Look at just how much body language he has going on, while in comparison, Jiang Wu and Wang Can are like creepy Wood Baby Puppets. His body shape is boxy again, but that’s bc he’s the protagonist of this one. The plot hinges on him, he’s gotta be sturdy.

WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED SO FAR:

Wang Can is straight lines, no hidden agenda (which is funny cause he’s a Bad Guy)

Liu Sang is dynamic lines and movement, and alludes to mysterious ✨secrets✨

Jiang Wu is a mix of the two and also a dumb dork (that’s not from the body language, I just think he’s funny)

PART TWO: HAIR, BABY!

Once again I owe my life to costuming people. Someday I’ll write that Mystic Nine costuming meta but today we’re focusing on Liu Chang and, specifically, his HAIR PEOPLE!!! I love them and would die for them literally

Once again, ladies and gentlemen and all my glorious they/thems, Wang Can:

OOOOOH I hate his slimy RAT FACE lemme AT EM. Ahem. Regardless, let’s take a look at this BITCH, shall we? We have: straight line face angles!! Very standard shape, BUT this is all accented by the fact that his hair is S C R A P E D back to within an inch of its life, like. Ahem. Sir. Please. Also this man’s got CONTOUR on. If u look at literally any pics/videos of Liu Chang out of character he is NOT this angular. His head is just as rectangular as his body, and the pulled back hair emphasizes his face, which is interesting as he doesn’t do a whole lot with it.

Alternatively, Liu Sang:

This is a nice boy!!! This is a nice soft boy!!! Look his face has CURVES that are emphasized by the glasses (which also draw attention to his eyes, which is good bc that’s where he does the most work, which we’ll get to later) and the HAIR!!! His hair is soft!! It’s flowy! It’s curvy! He conditions!!! This boy is approachable and will Not shoot you One Million Times with a Machine Gun. This also works with the Liu Sang Signature Ponytail, as he leaves thick-enough bang pieces out to also give the illusion of curves around his face. Also his nose and cheekbones are NOT as strongly contoured, so the angularity of his face is softened as well

WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED SO FAR

dmbj hair and makeup people were doing the absolute most

Wang Can’s hair gives us the most access to The Face, giving him a slick, straight look, and also something else which we will discuss next

Liu Sang is Soft and Curved bc of the hair and glasses, primarily

Oh speaking of fucking which you know who else is soft??? Huang Junjie. That’s the softest man I have ever seen. His xiaoge is my favorite bc it’s perfectly believable that he’s Butter Inside based solely on his Cheeks (again, it’s the hair people doing the Lord’s work)

PART THREE: IT’S ALL IN THE FACE

The face is the actor’s best friend, and Liu Chang definitely uses his well. We know him as being sort of stoic, more on the Xiao-Ge end of things than the Wu Xie side, but if u compare Liu Sang to Wang Can, LS is going HAM with the facials.

Let’s take a look!

Fuck me UP!!!!!! Look at him!! This is one of the earlier episodes too so we haven’t even gotten to the real good stuff but!!!! Look at his eyebrows!!! Look at how wide his eyes get (once again, the glasses are jumbotroning the peepers)! Look at his unhappy lil mouth!! That’s a whole REALM of facial expression, and so early on in our journey!

Meanwhile, Fuckboy Prime:

(Pardon the garbage screencap, my laptop broke on me this week and I am Suffering)

This is at the very end of Wang Can’s time with us; he’s fighting and he’s going to die and he KNOWS it, but this bitch doesn’t even draw his eyebrows together. Mcwhomst???? Bitch u GOTTA give us more than that I’m BEGGING u

The other interesting thing about their differing facial expressions is that Liu Sang emotes mostly with his eyes, and Wang Can emotes mostly with his mouth. This is very obvious in the clip @xcziel posted, esp when he starts doing the whole gesturing-with-his-chin thing, but it’s prominent throughout.

These two screenshots were taken like fifteen seconds apart. He does a whole face journey, but only with his mouth. His eyes stay fixed; they move, sure, but they don’t get any wider or anything like that.

Liu Sang, however is always doing stuff with his eyes. For example (I couldn’t find an image of it quick enough but I know that @kholran has this gifset), the sacrifice scene where he looks up at Wu Xie with the biggest, most pleading and questioning eyes imaginable?? Kills me. The DEPTH in those bad boys. Fuck me UP.

This also checks out when we remember the glasses. Since they emphasize the eyes, we’re drawn to that part of Liu Sang’s face, so it makes sense that the majority of his expression would happen there. This is also prominent with his hearing abilities; whenever he’s trying to focus them (or get us to focus on him), he not only turns his eyes away, he SHUTS THEM, which means we as the audience know that there’s something going on underneath the surface, and really highlights the fact that this is an unusual and cool power!

With Wang Can, however, the structure of his face and absence of Hair Curves directs the eye to his mouth, so we watch that to tell what’s going on in his head. It’s all about directing the eye, and Liu Chang is very good at knowing where people are going to be looking!

SO: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

Liu Sang, Wang Can, and Jiang Wu are all very distinctly characterized through their body language

The same actor becomes different characters by using their toolkit (the body) to its full potential

Hair and makeup people are Wizards

Wang Can is a Whole-Ass Ho and I do not miss him even a little bit

Liu Sang’s body dynamics change over time and I love that for him!!

I’m a giant nerd the end

[duvayknox]

MEE & MR SMIRNOFF

I THREW UP on mah $200 Shoes.

The kinda shoes NIGGAZ wear when they go to they MAMA FUNERAL or chase BITCHES at da LIKKER STO dat will Rejeck em.

See, I caint hold mah LIKKER altho I try cuz I B dranking to forgit.

The problem is I still rememba da shit hours later or the next day or the next day or hours lata. Whichever cums first.

Mah Daddy useta kall it his medisin–except it killed him. Like most Medisin does. Cuz its neva da DISEASE. Its always da MEDISIN.

Yeah I kalled EARL n RALPH (and a bunch of otha names Ion memba)--and fucked up mah STACY ADAMS--wit da smoove pattern on em. Dat I paid good money for.

I was going thru sumpen at da time.

It all started when I got bak one late morning frum running dem streets--n hit da sauce on an empty stomack as I normally doo but shood not usually doo.

Butt dats da thang bout mee.

I B knowing BETTER butt caint DOO Better.

I had gotten up n did mah shit/shower & shave/feelmee–and shitted again jes 2 B sho. Had mah Bowels clean n immaculate/knowhatimtombout??

Made mah way out da door to da Barbershop/U kno.

I like mah PATE clean–and Ion even kno what PATE means.

And as usual Niggaz were up in there Arguing bout da most pressing shit on they mind:

NIGGA #1: Man, how U gone say ERIC CLAPTON is betta than JIMI HENDRIX wit Yo Lite-Skinted ass?!

NIGGA #2: The Truth Hurts dont it?

NIGGA #1: Da only reason U sayin dat is cuz U got a White Daddy.

NIGGA #2: Yeah, So what? I mite have a White Daddy. Butt memba I got a Black Mama. Imma MULATTO.

NIGGA #1: Nigga, U mean GELATO. Fuck outta heah! U aint special cuz Yo Daddy white. Ol confused muthafucka. Sounding like a DRANK frum STARBUCKS wit yo Mulatto ass.

These Niggaz was always arguing in the BARBERSHOP. And didnt kare HOO was in da muthafucka. Wouldnt have no gentlemanly manners.

If U was in da Barbershop they jes figgered u was in there to hear da shit.

If there was Wommin (chillrens) they would still go hard on bitches n hoes all day long.

Even if COPS was in there they would be tombout they COONS n TRAITORS like a muthafucka.

If a Minister came n there they go even HARDER n jes fuck GOD name alla way up!! Said he aint  have no WIFE “or” MAMA so how da fuck he gone make rules bout what a Nigga cood or cood NOT doo??!!

One time a Catholic Priest came in there and they ran his ass up OUTTA there tombout PEDOPHILES–and tole him to take MICHAEL JACKSON ass wit him!!

Mah next stop was da Old Man Harolds Likker Sto to get mee a FIFTH of SMIRNOFF--wich I started dranking rite away. Even doe it was before NOON n shit.

I hadnt ate yet.

So I knew betta--except I didnt.

Shit Burned going down. In otha werds it was gooder than a muthafucka.

OLD MAN HAROLD: U kno 2moro JULY 4th. U gone celebrate it??

MEE: Yeah--by dranking dis FIFTH.

OLD MAN HAROLD: Sho U Rite. Anythang else??

MEE: Yeah--gimme sum dem BLACK & MILDS.

OLD MAN HAROLD: Memba--smoking causes CANCER.

MEE: And having no FUN causes DEATH. Cum on Harold doo mee rite. U take EBT?? (laffs)

Old Man Harold jes laffed at mah Joke. Good peeple. Dat was last year. He dead n gone now.

Butt I had mah SMIRNOFF. It cost me a lil bit mo than I wanted--and dats cuz of this COVID shit. TRUMP fucked round wit dem RUSSIANS and they got MADD n cut da LIKKER Off and drove da Price up. Butt hell I gotta have MR SMIRNOFF VODKA. Dats da only Russian I speek. Besides BLACK RUSSIAN.

Anyway--I got home Still hadnt ate nuthing n started drankin hard.

And dressed Sharp as a razorblade in tears.

Three hours lata dat DIARRHEA of da MOUT hit mee n I got sick as hell/suffered like a 3-Legged Dawg.

Most of it went on mah $200 Shoes.

And how was Yo Day--Mah Nigga??

--the end--

[silvervivienne08]

Part 7: The Art of Letting Go

By: Whipped as Fuck Cowfi

Step One.

Get help, talk to a friend

Cry about being a wuss, broken and still very much in love with her

Have a shitty decision to dump all the cringey poems you wrote about her somewhere it could be seen and heard, bare your shitty soul to whatever pour soul that manages to come across this.

Hope to hell that the muse of your poems would never see this, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Grab some drink and let it all out

Cry yourself to sleep

Step two.

Wake up, convince yourself to post the second part of your shitty series

Let the whole world see how your gay ass painfully pined after your muse

Dig yourself a hole somewhere to save whatever dignity you have left

While under your hole, ponder about the angst you suffered through and how your gay ass got yourself writing shitty poems from it

Maybe cry again while your at it

Step 3.

There's more work to be done, post the only happy and sappy part of your series the next day

Reminisce about the time you got the girl after quite some quite

Remember the good times, all the fun you've had and all the things that made you fall even harder for her than you already were…

too whipped, but who cares?

maybe try not cry too much this time while thinking about the happiness and joy you've felt with your time with her.

Step 4.

ITS PART 4 ALREADY, MOVE YOUR ASS UP

Take everything you've shoved into the corner of your brain and maybe its time for some realization??

Beat yourself up for fucking up one of the best thing that came into your life?

Pour some hard shit on your cup and do some ugly crying, let everything… I mean everything out this time so there wouldn't be anymore crying next time.

exhaust yourself to sleep, maybe..

Step 5.

Chuck the next part on tumblr, still cringe while posting it

Get yourself together and like seriously do even more thinking… Rationally this time after getting completely all emotional the previous day

Take your time, gather whatever realizations you may have had in this intervention that you had to do to yourself. THis shit aint easy, but you need it.. Desperately lmfao

Rinse your liver with water and if there's still tears, squeeze em the fuck out from your eyeballs… or tear ducts.. whatever

Step 6.

Copy and paste the last poem you've ever wrote

Realize that yes, you're still whipped as fuck and still deadass in love with your muse and maybe that's okay, you can't really change how you feel in a blink of an eye (just rip your fucking heart out? maybe …)

Do yourself a favor though, stop holding on too much. Just stop unecessarily hurting yourself. If it happens then it'll happen but other wise, stop holding on to too much hope

Learn to let go, even for just a lil bit. One step at a time. Take posting all of your shitty and cringe as fuck poems as you finally vocalizing the rollercoaster of emotions you've went through this pass few months, almost a year to be exact. Make this your first teeny tiny step in letting go

Step 7.

FINALLY, a short ass letter dedicated to my muse:

My muse,

I'll try to make this short but there's so much I want to say. If you ever see this, which i hope you do not because it'll be so fucking embarrassing, know that I was really fucking serious when I told you that you can keep me just as you've asked the very first time we met. I'm still whipped as fuck and Idk if I'll ever be able to move on coz you're really one hella of a girl. I could probably cause a blackhole from piercing the earth with my tiny ass falling really, really fucking hard. BUT!!! But don't worry, I'm really trying my ass over here. It may take days, weeks, months, or maybe even years but I'll be okay, hopefully. But you'll always have like this really special place? shrine?? CORNER!! , in my brain and my heart. Thank you for your patience and kindness even though I didn't really deserve it any of it. You were such a sunshine to my dark and broody corner, the light to the murky waters that I was threading in. I'm sorry I haven't been good to you, for hurting you so bad. I've been the worst and I completely understand everything so I'm not really complaining. I appreciate you and everything that we've had, I will always hold you and our memories together close to my heart. It was one hell of a ride, even though its hurts like fucking hell, I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm glad I met you, the only thing I would ever regret in our relationship was hurting you. I hope that everything is going well in your life and that you've been doing good. Don't stress out too much, eat well, have fun with your friends and family, and take good care of yourself. I hope you'll find the one that'll bring you the happiness you deserve because you deserve everything. Thank you for everything. I love you, maybe I'll always do. You'll always be my hedgehog.

Ciao!

THE LEVEL OF CRINGE, ITS OVER 9000

Part 1 out of the 6 Cringy Poems I wrote that y'all gonna have to suffer through with me :)

I lay here, wide awake Thoughts consumed by you, and you alone I know not how it started Nor where it all began Maybe it was just me but There was this thing about you that just drew me in Like how a moth would towards an open flame And as time passed by, The pull has only gotten stronger, So irresistible that the strength of it terrifies me For I have never felt this way before Or maybe I did? For I know exactly what I’m starting to feel for you That feeling, it’s such a familiar feeling yet the magnitude of it differs greatly A part of me knew that I was attracted to you Though I never paid it any thought Dismissing it as a simple and harmless crush Never knowing that throughout the time we spent together, Conversing about everything and all that is between, that tiny, almost inconspicuous crush would become a seed A seed that would spread and dig its roots in to my chest to create what seems to be the makings of a garden with a flower blooming right at its center watered, and kept alive by you

so I lay here, wide awake finally aware of my feelings towards you it hurts, oh how it hurts for I know that it would never happen that the idea of you reciprocating these feelings are naught but thoughts of wishful thinking so I choke back down my anguish as my traitorous mind turns against me clouding my sight with visions of us together, of what we could possibly be if given the chance it would’ve been wonderful to be able to lean against you as we laugh and talk under the sun without a care in the world how it delightful it would’ve been to hear you laugh, knowing that I was the reason for it to feel the softness of your hands intertwined against mine that in times where I am so unsure of myself and this world it’s alright to fall right into the warmth of you embrace safe and secured, cradled in the comfort of your arms and that in turn, you would trust me enough to accept my shoulders as something you could lean on in hard times to know and experience the happiness and joy of what being someone loved by someone like you would feel like how lucky, no blessed, I would’ve been sadly, tis nothing but a fantasy so I lay here, wide awake with tears streaming down my face as these thoughts, these fantasies continued to torment me it burns, oh how it burns like a wildfire spreading through my veins crippling me with unending agony, as it sets my nerves ablaze its smoke, suffocating me as it fills up my lungs leaving me greedily gasping for air as its absence painfully constricts my heart my heart, oh my poor dear heart forgive me, for I am only human I couldn’t help my self I couldn’t stop myself from feeling this way I do not know how to put a barrier against this this rush of feelings that is starting to take over me because if I could, then I would gladly do so oh, what I would’ve given for all of this to dissipate for it to vanish as if it was never there to begin with so that I could stop myself from hurting so I could prevent the pain that I know is coming my way from ever reaching my dear heart a heart whose aching for something it could never have but quietly wish for… so I lay here, wide awake for what could’ve been hours thoughts filled with nothing but you and me, and my ever-growing feelings for you I didn’t mean for this to happen It was never in any of my intentions to fall for you But I’m just a woman, a woman who fell hard and fast Whose heart, you unwittingly stole Held captive, in between the palm of your hands I would ask you to take care of it But that would mean confessing all of this And the mere thought of it is absolutely terrifying I wish that I had the courage that others had That I was brave enough to admit it, speak it out loud But I don’t think my heart would be able to handle it The thought of your rejection is already agonizing enough But to hear it fall from your lips? It would’ve crushed me, leaving me wrought in devastation So, as I close my eyes, I content with myself with the knowledge That I had the pleasure of knowing you, Of being able to build a bond of friendship between us That this is enough, it’s more than enough Because it’s better than not having you at all

[ajdrawshq]

riku for the character ask thing!!!!!!!! :3

i already did Riku a lil bit ago (here!) so ur free to request another character if u want but ill see if i can come up w some headcanons to make up for it anyway!!

- using this opportunity to once again spread my 5'7" Riku agenda >:) there is no goddamn way he is close to 5'10" let alone 6'. he WISHES he were that tall but hes just surrounded by a bunch of ~5'2" people so often he can get away with thinking it until someone like Leon or Axelea stands next to him and ruins his dreams. does he have the potential to be tall? absolutely. hes only 16-17 now, hes got plenty of time. but for now he still has to stand on his toes to see the top of the fridge. Average Riku Rights

- i actually forgot to mention this on the other post and my friend pointed it out (bless u friend ily) but i do like to think hes p good friends with Xion!! they only had so much time to be around each other but i really enjoy the bond and trust they have, and itd be sweet to see them hang out post kh3

- even when hes not in Dream Eater Mode he naturally protects people from having nightmares just by being around them. its almost as if his presence alone is reassuring enough to keep others at ease in their sleep, but theres likely something supernatural abt it too. its pretty handy considering what a lot of his friends have been thru

- it does not apply to himself unfortunately

- he was a band kid. emphasis on "was" bc he avoids that part of his past even more than what happened in kh1 (i imagine him being smth like 1st chair alto sax or tenor sax). no one dares to talk abt it in front of him except for Kairi bc she 1. knows abt it and 2. enjoys making him suffer (affectionate)

- not a hc but NO ONE talks abt how Riku's eyebrow shape changes from like com to days i think it is but this is the weirdly funniest character development hes had. he really started plucking em during his year of absence. literally why. OR he actually stopped plucking them which makes more sense. either way its a lil detail that is completely consistant thru the series but never outwardly mentioned

- i know its a common thought but his home life has gotta be off somehow. the way he acts all the time i just Know it. he radiates the energy of a kid whos been forced to or forces himself to take on every challenge every extracurricular thing just fuckin Everything without complaint or failure. if he isnt strong, reliable, perfect, he'll be alone. someone has to need him. he has to be the best. he Has to. hes at the very least been neglected in his childhood and it shows. he desperately wants to be loved and it shows

- the above is why hes experienced in ballet (and why he was a band kid lmao)

- have i mentioned that hes autistic yet?? bc he is in fact autistic

- hes the kinda guy to prefer animals to people (depends on the ppl but like, usually) but he was never allowed to have any pets back home so having a bunch of animal friends follow him around in dream drop was pretty sweet for him. he feels a bit awkward abt interacting with em tho since he never really Did That before, its already hard to interact w humans how do u do that with a funky lookin bat n some weird catdog?? what do u even do?? eventually he learns, and even ends up having full blown conversations with em (he cant understand what the dream eaters are "saying" but they seem to enjoy talking with him anyway). just dont tell him that they are technically people or he might drop dead from embarrassment

[brynfelan]

ALDJSHSKS OH THANK GOD I WASN'T WORRIED BUT I WAS A LIL WORRIED...alright imma start off with a Kuzuhina(ish) idea, because rarepair hell sucks let's suffer together. Hajine gets kidnapped by a psycho group NOT because of his relationship to Fuyuhiko, but because they "wanna see what makes the Ultimate Ultimate tick." Which is infinitely worse because the human experimentation is back on for our tsundere ahoge boy. He got lobotomized and now he's back in that particular hell. Izuru's also suffering because he's grown to care for Hajime in his own way, because they're two separate minds in one body, and he can't protect Hajime from this. Fuyuhiko is basically going postal because "MY BOYFRIEND WAS KIDNAPPED BY LUNATICS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, AND NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING WHAT THE FUCK." The rest of the Remnants are also pissed and worried, but Fuyuhiko moreso. Your thoughts???

like one day he’s just gone ?? no note? just poof?

holy hell i have this image of fuyuhiko absolutely TEARING UP the 100km area around them just looking. ofc the other remnants are pissed too but nobody has ever seen fuyuhiko just go off like this. eventually he realises he can’t find him by just searching aimlessly so soda builds some walkie talkies STAT (or they get to ask future foundation for help? i haven’t decided which is better), but point is all of the remnants absolutely descend on the surrounding area, with their own sections to search. the communicators have lil GPS things on em so they always know where the other is.

it’s gotta be fuyuhiko that finds him though, right? because like... angst. anyway, fuyuhiko finds this old underground bunker, and can’t open it by himself so he calls everybody over. akane, gundham and nekomaru manage to get it open, n peko has to literally hold fuyuhiko back to stop him just bolting down there as fast as he can.

they get to have a fucking cool fight scene when they’re down there, because I can’t resist letting Peko absolutely go off with her sword, and we saw what kinda mess akane and nekomaru can make fighting in the despair arc. those three people could definitely take down like 30 people between them, trust me on this one.

the worst part is when they get to the room that has hajime in it. the door got locked when whoever got him realised that they’d had a security breach, and it’s a proper lead door that won’t open for anybody and everybody has to repeatedly throw themselves against it in order to get it to open. everybody’s panicking, but there is nobody worse than fuyuhiko. like, to the point where some of them are worried that he’s gonna get his ass despaired again. but nobody says anything because main priority is hajime. 

at some point, nagito started looking through the pockets of the people that got absolutely knocked tf out, and Lucky Him! he finds a key! it’s maybe the first time ever that fuyuhiko ever thanks him for something (and my god does he thank him like, he’s crying and while he’s a lil bit aggressive he’s so grateful) and they get in and find hajime hooked up to a ton of different machines.

you ever heard of project MKUltra? when the US government tested psychedelic drugs (particularly LSD) as a torture device/truth serum? yeah well, this is it! hajime is tripping absolute balls and not in a fun way, occasionally getting some electric shocks! why? well, it’s in the “doctor’s” file on the desk! because wouldn’t hajime also be the ultimate weapon if he’s the ultimate everything else? imagine having him as something that can be controlled, told what to do. you could end the world, overthrow a government, you name it!

mikan has to carefully remove the electrodes from him because he’s fighting her hard, but there isn’t a way to get him to stop tripping and freaking out until it passes, except to just straight up sedate him. they have no idea how long this has been happening to him or what he’ll be like when it’s over. mikan has to scrounge through everything that this place has to find something, and even though it takes a while she does eventually find a high enough dose sedative that will help without just making him OD and die. unfortunately, it has to go in through a needle.

historically, hajime isn’t good with needles. he’s even worse when he’s off his fucking face and having the very definition of a Bad Trip. he barely knows where he is, and there’s a part of him that does recognise the people around him but his brain isn’t working properly and he just can’t stop freaking out. he’s already restrained though, so it isn’t too hard to just quickly sedate him. fuyuhiko’s basically glued to him now, telling him he’s sorry and that he’ll be okay soon, that it’s gonna be alright.

luckily, without getting it directly and constantly, the effects of LSD only take around 12 hours to wear off. by the time they’re back at wherever they’re living, most of the hallucinations have worn off, but he’s quiet and hurt, and the electric buzzing kinda fried his brain a little bit - he’s still there, but izuru is basically the one in charge of the body right now since he’s letting hajime rest for now.

fuyuhiko still thinks izuru is a little weird, but like... he’s part of hajime, so he’ll put up with whatever bullshit izuru can throw at him. izuru isn’t as affectionate, but will hold his hand every so often and give him small smiles when he needs them, and it just feels good to have him back and safe. when hajime comes back again though, it takes a while before he can be left alone again. not that fuyuhiko is leaving his side basically ever now because he’s sure as hell not letting that happen ever again. and it takes him a while to heal, he never truly forgets or gets over what happened to him, but everybody’s there for him. he knows he has a family now, and everybody understands if he needs to go away for a little while and let izuru take care of the body when he can’t.

okay this got super long and i am very sorry but you threw this concept at me and i ran because i love angst so much, but the comforting after the angst is also so good.

[machinegunkissu]

How to Make a Man Melt

|| nishitani homare x petite, shy, younger fem s/o||

Previous

Slowly you awoke, light seeping onto your face and you softly groaned. You grabbed the blanket covering you, pulling it over your head to hide from the sunlight. Stupid sunlight. Did you really leave the curtains open? That wasn't normal...maybe you just were really tired and forgot, you assured yourself. Yeah, that probably was what happened.

But come to think of it. You didn't recall coming home. A lot of the previous night was hazy and you couldn't tell what was a dream and what wasn't. A specific vision of you kissing Nishitani, Homare's cheek came to mind; almost immediately this caused you to flush bright red. That had to just be a dream. That wasn't too unusual. You'd had a few dreams where you and the man were a little bit more than friends. So, you figured that was all a dream.

"______-chan. I know you're awake in there. Come on, up n at 'em."

Ah, hah. Now you're imagining him being there to wake you up. How funny-

"I made coffee."

Uh...

"But I wasn't sure how or if you liked it so-"

You slowly peeked out of the covers that concealed you, fully expecting to just be hearing things. God almighty, though. Nishitani was real and he was right before you, kneeling at your side. Immediately you squeaked, pulling the covers back up.

"H..Hah?"

This was real. Like...for real, for real. What happened?! You racked your brain, trying your best to remember the previous night, scared you may have acted out of character. That's when your mind brought up the memory of you kissing his cheek. You could feel yourself burning at the very thought. That was real. That was not a dream. Oh, god. How were you going to face him? It was just a little kiss, right? No biggie. It's not like you flat out told him your feelings for him. But still, you did...kiss his cheek. You did it half awake but you still did it, acting on your desires.

"You can't sleep forever, you know."

Shit. He does have a point. You mentally groaned and pulled back the covers just so you were able to look around. You averted your gaze from the man immediately though, too embarrassed as you croaked : "I...I'm fine."

"Ah, there's ______-chan! Thought she got lost there in the tatami mat, haha!" You stole glances at him and found yourself heating up even more again. He was just in his black button up and those pants that allowed you to spot him a mile away. His sleeves were rolled up and he gave a soft, joking smile. It was warm...it was comforting. "You sleep okay?"

"Y-Yes."

"Ah, that's good then. I would've taken you home but, uh, never been there so..."

"That's okay. Th-thank you for a-allowing me to sleep here."

"Oh. Haha, no biggie."

Oh his heart. It just became goo when you finally looked at him for longer than a sixteenth of a second. He was so weak for you. He had it bad. If only you truly understood what you did to this man. Your eyes that were still adjusting to the light, scrunching closed, nose following suit was a shot to the heart. Your just awoken blissful appearance was a powerful sight to behold.

You slowly sat up, pushing back the covers. Still, you struggled to look at the man that kneeled besides you. He was so close.

"I-I apologize," you began. "Uhm, I-I'm not a big fan of c-coffee actually. I-It's a bit too better f-for me."

Nishitani's eyes soften at the explanation and held in a laugh. That response..."That's so like you," he chuckled softly.

"Wh-What's that mean?"

"Ah? Well," he began. Nishitani sat back on his bottom, hands resting behind him as he leaned backwards. He looked at the ceiling and grinned, sucking in a breath. "You're the kind of gal that likes sweet things and can't handle spicy or bitter all too well. Your face gets all twisted and you wave about your hands, trying to choke it down. You're too polite to spit out the food, so you suffer through it for that first bite, maybe even the whole thing, just to save someone's feelings."

You looked at the elder man and didn't even realize it but your jaw dropped slightly in surprise. Nishitani was...surprisingly very observant.

"But that's something that's admirable about ya. You always wanna please people. You're afraid to let those around you down. But, that's gunna bite ya in your ass one day."

"Wh-What do you mean?"

Nishitani turned his head and gave a very serious face that you hadn't seen before. It wasn't scary like his serious fighting face. That was different. It was cold and excited; a warning that he was feral and not to be messed with. This expression however gave a protective energy that exerted energy that said ’i want you to be happy.'

"Ya gotta live for yourself, and put yourself and your wants first some times. Put your happiness as your main focus. I know you. You're the kind of gal that loves happy endings. Ya hate unresolved and unhappy endings to books and movies. Ya fantasize about a happy ending type of romance. If that's what ya want; go after it and don't let anyone get in ya way. Ya hear me?"

Nishitani...

You sucked in a breath, almost as if you forgot to breath while he spoke. He was so straightforward and passionate but said it as if it was the plainest thing ever. This guy was a trip, always. But what was his aim? You searched his eyes for a moment, confused and hoping to find some sort of answer.

"Wh-Why're you telling me this?" you finally asked. Your eyebrows knitted upward, confused and a lil worried looking. It was so early. Now was not the time for deep and meaningful talks. Still, you tried your best to follow and comprehend, fresh out of sleep.

"I want to see you happy."

Oh. Oh my.

[dontasktheradiodemon]

Gardens #2 (1/6/2021)

Click here if you’re like “What the heck is this about?”

Two chats today because I forgot to post one yesterday!

Angel @sluttyspiderpolkacock catches up with Madame @usedhearts after his abrupt arrival from Hell. He talks to her about his hopes to get away from Valentino and she offers support.

Madame

The gardens had drawn her away from the beach-- as much as she loved the sea, she missed this. She missed life, growing and sprawling, curated into beauty.

Madame sat at the fountain, her tentacles trailing in the water as she admired the plants. It was different from how she remembered Earth's flora, but it was flora all the same, and she loved it.

She adjusted her top, still in her bikini but with an added sarong around her hips, and leaned to smell a flower. "It's so lovely here," She muttered to herself.

Angel

" Big Mama, ya up here, too? " It was easy to see her, towering over the bushes and gracing the flowering vines from the trees, despite being seated. Angel's own willowy form almost could've passed for a foxtail.

He wove through her tentacles to come see her. " Valera's e'ry bit the butterfly, ain't they? " Arms in a welcoming spread, he flashed her a bright smile. " It's good t' see ya ~ "

Madame

Her head turned when she heard him and her face brightened into a beaming smile.

"Oh, Angel, darlin'! I'm so glad t' see ya, c'mere 'n give Mama a hug." A tentacle caught him around the waist to pull him into her arms, too excited to let him walk the rest of the way to her. She wrapped her arms around him and smooched the side of his face.

"Thought you'd be at that shindig with Big V. How'd you sneak away, sweetheart?" She held his face gently in one hand, gently stroking his cheek with her thumb.

Angel

Angel smiled sweetly, giddy and the smallest bit shy with her affections but welcoming them with a tight hug in all his arms.

" I just got m'self a lil break, no biggie! They'll survive wit'out me just fine! They got Babygirl Paps an' the fluff girls takin' care a e'ryone. It's time the newbies got a chance t' shine, don't'cha think? "

His smile grew wide with an affectionate lean of his cheek. She was hitting JUST the spot and he was becoming PUTTY in her hands.

Madame

"Yeah, suppose yer right about that-- them new girls gotta learn sometime!" She laughed, taking one of Angel's hands and gently guiding him to sit next to her.

"Well, c'mon then, take a seat, get off ya gams, and tell me everythin'. How're ya, shug? How ya been likin' this whole palace we got to explore? Pretty schnazzy if ya ask me." She winked and very, very gently poked him with her elbow-- didn't want to hurt him, after all.

Angel

He almost fell off balance as her hand left his cheek and led him to his seat.

" I ain't seen e'rythin', but it's pretty fuckin' nice, " he said simply with a dip of his fingers into the fountain ( for no particular reason whatsoever ) , " I been workin' my ass into the ground all season. Everyday a huge fuckin' clusterfuck a shoots an' appointments... " Angel gave a roll of all his eyes as he mocked the tone of Valentino's voice.

" _Gotta churn out that fresh content, Angel Cakes ~ Camera ain't gonna eye - fuck itself, Angie Baby ~ If I don't see a chicken supreme in my office in five I'm gonna throw a BITCH FIT... SUMMER._ 'Cause y'know, he don't like me doin' the food runs. "

Madame

Her eyes roll at the Valentino impression. Yeah, that sounded like him. Madame shook her head, her large hand wrapping around Angel, rubbing his back.

"Course he don't want ya doin' the food runs-- fuckin' idiot thinks if he starves his workers, they'll look better when all it really does is make 'em give subpar work. How ya gonna entertain a John if ya really wanna just eat his burger insteada his dick?" She laughed, her head shaking again.

"Angel, darlin', he ever send ya out ta run an errand, come to me 'n I'll get a meal in ya. My babes ain't gonna starve on my watch-- can't rightly let 'em, breaks my poor Southern heart." She looked off into the distance and closed her eyes, wiping away a pretend tear.

Angel

Angel giggled and covered his mouth with a sly aversion of his eyes. " Y'know... sometimes dick be temptin'... " A snort, and his arms wildly fanned.

" I didn' even GAIN THAT MUCH! " he continued, " I ain't e'en said nothin' about livin' up the hotel and downin' everythin' Alastor whips like a fuckin, GARBAGE DISPOSAL, NO! I just go to Cherri's, post ONE picture, ONE TIME, of the CUTEST FUCKIN' DONUT...! "

Oh he was full on venting, now. He held up a finger and dug through his fluff a hot second. " An' he sends me THIS! " There he had it, The Book. " What kin'a palooka e'en uses these anymore?? Ya THINK he'd fuckin', hire a nutritionist or some shit who moonlights as a hitman, or some shit. He HAS the FUCKIN' MONEY! I KNOW! 'CAUSE I'M OUT THERE MAKIN' IT FA 'IM! "

He then collapsed into Madame's chest, still muttering but full tuckered out, arms limp. " _I'ma fuckin' kill 'im..._ " **Did he say that out loud?**

Madame

Madame listened to everything, watched every flail of arms, intently. Poor boy. It was a tough gig, being Valentino's prized pet. She honestly thought she'd taught him better, but he was always on about how he already knew the business, knew how to handle people. Obvsiously not, with how Angel was going on.

Her arms wrap around him when he falls forward-- a chest this big had many uses, pillows being one of the best in her opinion. Madame gathered him close, going so far as to pick him up and cradle him against her chest.

"Aww, honeybunch. I know just how ya feelin'. Valentino....well, he's an asshole. Head so far up his ass he eatin' his own shit fer breakfast." She shook her head, rocking Angel a bit, like one would a child who'd had a nightmare. She hums softly, an old lullaby her mother used to sing, way back when. She kept that up for a few moments before falling silent. The silence hung between them before she spoke, voice low.

"If'in you did kill him, I wouldn't blame ya, honey. There'd be no love lost between me'n him. I'd support ya claim to that throne, if'n you wanted it. In Hell, ya learn ta balance the cruelty with the kindness, and if ya can't find that balance, well, then, ya deserve to reap what ya sow. And Valentino's sewn a whole lotta hate down there. Karma's a bitch, even for the dead, and all I'd say would be 'good riddance'. You deserve so much more'n him, 'n so much more'n he gives ya. Yer the star and you deserve to be treated like one."

A tentacle scooted under his chin, tilting his head up so she could look at his face.

"You remember Mama's in ya corner, alright, Angel? I'm rootin' for ya. And my arms and doors're always open for ya."

Angel

His eyes blew wide and cornerless, staring not at Madame but at a far off, intangible point behind her. It never really occured to him just how impactful erasing Valentino's existence from Hell would _be._ All he found himself stuck on was getting it _done,_ losing himself in the possession of madness and the mindsets of cornered prey whenever he acted.

Angel didn't want to inherit the empire. Having the responsibility of so many souls under his care wasn't something he ever thought suited him. Protecting his peers on the streets was one thing, so was taking demons of all walks of life temporarily under his wing until they could fly on their own. _Management_ was another. Keeping souls in _line_ was another. He always thought himself the soldier, the weapon, the right hand, the poster boy of the wall supporting his image. An _Overlord_ of his own right...? The closest he'd come to it was before he partnered with him, fresh into demonhood, throwing his power and whims wherever he wished...

_But claiming Valentino's head would **do** that to him, wouldn't it?_ He'd inherit his power, his enemies, new enemies out of his allies... Angel's head began to spin. This was the nature of Hell. _Endless tiers of suffering._ All he wanted was his freedom... _How much was too high a price to pay...?_ He'd be fighting Valentino's battles _long_ after he was gone...

" That was, uh... " he said in an uncharacteristically small voice, " ... a fig're a speech... He's good t' me... really... " Angel bit his lip, eyes meeting her now that he'd processed all she had to say to him. Madame and Valentino sure had _history..._ and if Angel learned anything from his partnership with him... _it must've ROTTED to the very CORE._ They had this in common and he could feel it in her voice.

He trusted her. He knew he could. But maybe he didn't have to use it... not QUITE yet...

A warm, genuine smile bloomed over his face and he took her hands. " I will, " he promised with a binding kiss between her aligned pointer fingers, " Ya have my word, I love ya club an' what'cha doin' wit' it... I'll... " _Meet you in the middle._ " I'll... come aroun' some more. Maybe a performance or two would make 'im nervous enough t' give me next holiday off, ah? "

Angel laughed, knowing that chance was slimmer than his waistline after routine removals of his floating ribs. It _would_ be _nice_ not to have to work Valentine's Day...

" Thanks... fa hearin' me out... " he said sweetly, subtly off the edge of a choke, " The grind don't stop, an' it gets pretty fuckin'... MUCH... "

Madame

"That's right, baby, the grind don't stop, but Mama's here for you." Her tentacles moved around, and she used them to cradle Angel instead of her arms, freeing them up to hold one of his set of hands.

"Now, you listen to Mama, alright? I know Big V better'n anyone around. Raised him in Hell myself, and he shames me every day, the way he acts. I know his temper, his vices, I know it all, Angel. And darlin'? He ain't never treated no one right since the moment he landed ass over tea kettle in Hell. Probably long 'fore that too, considerin' he landed in Hell in the first place. I know the sorts a things he tries to pull..."

She took a deep breath, and leaned down, her tentacles lifting Angel higher. She pressed her forehead to his, and took his face in her hands, her voice lowering as her throat tightened.

"Next time he tries anythin'-- _anythin' at all_-- you come to me, Angel. I know yer a big boy, I know you can handle yerself, but it breaks my heart to know you're there with him, every day. It honestly truly does. Bein' Val's favorite is a hard life, or unlife, I suppose, but just know Mama's got ya back. I'd sooner slap that grin off his face and grind that stupid hat a his inta the dust than see ya hurtin' cause a him. I know it can be hard to accept help, but I do want ya ta know that it's there, if'n ya need to accept it, alright?"

She sniffled as she straightened up, using both her hands and tentacles to hold him close. "You're my boy, Angel, I love ya like my own. We ain't blood, but what's blood ever done for anyone? We better'n blood, we're family, got it?"

Angel

_Oh the tears._ They were coming. She already knew what he was keeping safely lodged in his throat. It saved him from having to admit ANYTHING while making it crystal clear to him that she had just what he needed, and was willing to give it to him.

But for NOTHING in return...? Angel closed his eyes and nuzzled into her forehead as the tears beaded off the long length of his lashes. Behind his eyes were the memories branded into his skull, words insisting that there was no such THING as the sentiments he found himself faced with. _With every sanction, there was a CATCH. With every favor, a FEE to be repaid twice over._

He fought them with the help of her every word.

" G... got it, " he choked, " I got it. I won't let'cha down... " A small sniffle. Angel's emotions flowed, but they were soothed and much more contained than they were when he was alone. It was becoming clearer and clearer now that he was in the company of trust.

He found traction in her tentacles and allowed her to support him, the tight pressure of the coils feeling more like safety than constriction. Perhaps, he really could survive post extermination Hell...

" I, uh... " Angel swallowed thickly. " ... Blew the top floor window... b'fore I took off... I dunno if any angels got in, but... he 'ad t' deal wit' 'em... "

Madame

She lifted a hand to wipe away a couple tears before they could fall-- she was wearing waterproof make up, as she always did, thank fuck. Madame pressed a kiss to his forehead, and held him.

Until he said that. She blinked and looked down at him, shock clear on her face for the moment or two it took her to process what he said. And then she burst out laughing. Her entire body shook with it, loud cackles that rose into the air.

"Oh fuck, oh god, Angel! Baby, you're a fuckin' riot! Did ya really? Just broke through the damn window? Damn, shug, ya know how ta make an exit!" She laughed again, Angel pressed against her chest.

"Oh, honey, ya ain't hurt, are ya? No scratches, gashes? I mean, ya looked tip top when ya walked up, but that fur a yours hides a lot. Anything ya need Mama ta look at?"

Angel

He chuckled sheepishly with a comical bump along the waves of her laughter. Despite how afraid he initially was to return, it must've been HILARIOUS from Madame's point of view. It eased him some.

" Nah, nah! I'm fine! I think...? Uh... " Angel did a quick survey of himself. Valera might've brushed out the last of the glass from his fluff already. Enough of the alcohol wore off for him to have felt any stinging by now ( he was PRETTY sure. )

" Yeah! I think I'm good, thanks ~ " he assured, " I take color real easy so if I'm bleedin' , it SHOWS. BRIGHT an' hot pink ~ " He took a little too much pride in that.

Madame

"Oh, fancy Mister Pink Blood over here," She said, still giggling a bit. "Mine's blue, if'n you were wonderin'."

Madame took a deep breath, rocking him in her arms again, just on instinct.

"God, I'd pay a million bucks ta have seen the look on Valentino's face when ya did that. Serves him right. An Angel lead the angels to him!" She started laughing again, devolving into softer giggles after a few moments.

"How's everthin' else, though? Ya feelin' alright? Ya body's fine, but wanna make sure my boy's doin' good."

Angel

" It shows up pretty in pictures, is all ~ " he said casually, " Bloodplay photosets always turn out real good. " He then casually reclined along a tentacle and drew idle circles in the fountain to watch the calming ripples.

" Think... e'rythin's ok... " he mused, " Just really needed not t' work the Extermination pa'ty an' just... chill out some. " He scrutinized his own reflection in the water for clues. Not much else came to his mind from the massive shadow his immediate issues casted over them.

Madame

"Alright, if that's it...." She trailed off, two of her tentacles peeling off to plop into the fountain as she leaned back.

"Y'know I hadn't even seen the ocean since I was a young'n? Hadn't swam in it fer longer'n that, too. I'm....so thankful to Valera fer invitin' me. Not only do I get to not worry about the Extermination-- at least as much, but I get to enjoy somethin' I missed fer so, so long."

She gave Angel a squeeze. "And now my boy's here'n safe 'n sound. Nothin' better to relax an ol' ladies' heart."

Madame smiled down at him. "Everythin' will be fine, Angel. We may be in Hell mosta the time, but this right here?" She gestured to the plants around them. "This all is proof that we ain't always there. Even in our hearts'n minds, when we there physically, we aren't always in Hell. There's a sayin': Hell is other people. But I think Heaven can be, too. If ya got the right people around..."

Angel

Angel wrinkled his nose. " Heaven's a load a bullshit. All of it, " he said cynically, " Ya condemned, ya condemned. Ain't no POINT in tryn'a make nice wit' the fuckin' feathery DOUCHEBAG brigade lookin' t' ERASE US e'ery fuckin' YEAR. " The words came from his gut. He wasn't hiding any hidden hopes or dreams. " Ya really think a place that commits annual fuckin' genocide a sinner's where it's at? A thing to LOOK FOR IN PEOPLE? It's a fuckin' fairytail, the fuckin' shit they tell us t' be believin' about Heaven, _**Mamina...**_ "

The last endearment rolled off his tongue like a plea. _ Don't try t' sell me anythin' I'm never gonna have..._ " Ya know I fuckin' - RAN, from the party. I ran from the fuckin' studio too. Hotel ain't gonna save me wit' their redemption prayers. Just... gonna put a lil' pause on the sufferin' awhile. Like 'ere. It's just a break. After this, it's Hellhole Sweet Hellhole all over again 'til the next time we're at our wit's en'. That's all there is, that's I got. " Angel sat up from his recline so he could look Madame in the face. " ... E'en if I got you. I don't mean it like anythin' ya do don't matter, but... y'know... " He sprawled his hands defeatedly as his words failed him, and his face fell into a bittersweet anguish. It seemed some things were completely beyond even his imagination.

Madame

Her face only softened as he spoke, and her heart ached for him. Oh, this poor thing, tossed about by life and then by Hell, it was no wonder to her that he was so cynical.

"Angel, darlin'," She said, after he finished his rant, her hands moving to ever so gently hold his face between them. Madame let out a long, slow sigh, staring into his eyes with the sweetest, most motherly expression she could.

"Call me an optimist, but I'd like to think that livin' over a century in Hell has taught me one thing: even Hell can have some sweetness. Sure, we all sinners'n demons down here-- or there, but that don't mean there ain't still decent folk who'd treat ya right down there. That Princess for one, she's a good egg, startin' up that Hotel may not get the results she's lookin' for, but it can help. She wants to change things, and I don't blame her.

"Hell is Hell, it's true. Heaven ain't no picnic either, but I think ya missed my point, shug-- When I say that Heaven can be other people, I ain't meanin' the feathery bastards that come down ta kill us every year, or even the fuckin' cunts that live up in them clouds and send 'em down. I'm meanin' the _concept_ what ya learned in Sunday school. What Heaven is _supposed_ to be. It's supposed to be a place where ya surrounded by people that love you and that ya love too. And if we can find those kinds of people, even in Hell? Well, that's a bit of a miracle in my books.

"So no, Hell ain't never gonna be Heaven and thank fuck fer that, cause I think Heaven's prolly borin' as shit compared to the fun we can have in Hell. I'd rather run a cabaret in Hell than lay around bored as sin in Heaven any day. But what I'm tryin' to say is that, if ya got good people around ya, then things'll get better. Hell, honestly, ain't been no different from life up above, fer me. Ya gotta make the most of what ya got, honeybunch."

She pressed a kiss to his face, her lips covering half of it when she did. "That make sense, darlin'?"

Angel

" Yeah. Total sense. " Angel deadpanned into the rosebush behind her. " First rule t' makin' it in Hell's bein' an Overlord or the fuckin' Princess, " he replied caustically. It didn't seem like she was going to understand or stop lecturing until he relented one way or another. But if Madame was Hell bent on teaching him something, he had to let her know he wasn't a CHILD that could be sold far off dreams when he was preoccupied with spending his every waking moment surviving the present.

" I _know_ there's sweetness in Hell. Dealin' sugar's my JOB. Makin' the most outta the scrap I got doesn't give me time ta KID. " He got up and started pacing the pavement, cigarette in his teeth and a light in his claws. " First thin's first, get outta Big V's horseshit. If it don't kill me, THEN I can see what I can do about gettin' a fuckin' life preached to me by a sister who fuckin' rapped my ass every Sunday. " A puff of red hearts whisked into the sky. He couldn't bring himself to buy a thing she said past offering to help him if he needed a place to be. The crystal clear promise of security was the only thing that made sense to him and as he was, he had no place for faith.

Madame

Her expression didn't change, even when Angel got up and started pacing. It was alright-- he wasn't ready, in his heart, to hear what she said, and that was okay.

"It's good to have priorities, shug. Glad ya got that shit figured out. I don't mean to preach, just speakin' my own truth, Angel. If ya don't wanna hear it, well, then, I'll shut my yapper 'n we can just enjoy the respite we get here, yeah?" She took a deep breath and swirled a hand through the water.

"Just want ya t'be happy, sweetheart. Like any Mama would. Just cause we in Hell doesn't change my heart."

Angel

" I appreciate what ya sayin', Big Mama, " he sighed through curls of crimson escaping from the valleys of pointed teeth, " It just ain' it fa me. I 'ad to lie, scrap, and _fuck_ m'way to where I am now. I don't... _got_ the means t' be thinkin' a what it'd be like to not have to. I don't 'ave the POWER - I mean, maybe, I _USED TO,_ but... "

Angel looked around. He couldn't imagine littering the pristine garden with his ash, so he kept the butt on hand. " ... I gave it away. Fa this. Fa... " _He could say this to her, right?_ " ... Fa HIM. Before... it all got to 'is head an' before I knew it, I wasn' it anymore. He was chasin' more an' more power, the kind I gave up. So it's gonna... _TAKE..._ s'more lyin', fuckin', an' scrappin' before I get anywhere else. Until he could look me in the fuckin' eye an' SEE... how BAD. He fucked. Up. "

Madame

She nodded along with him, knowing those words well, knowing that feeling. "I getcha, baby, I getcha. Don't need to explain none to me about shit like that. I understand, babydoll, I do."

Madame reached over, gently taking his hand in hers, drawing him back to sit next to her again. "Ya got a smoke ta spare, Angel? Mama's got a cravin'."

She let out a sigh, and glanced out over the garden. "If'n ya need to talk about it though, I'll listen, Angel. No one'd understand better'n me, yeah? I know Vee better'n anyone cept maybe you 'n possibly the other two Vees. So ya need to vent? Just rant ya head off? I can listen. I know how much that can help sometimes."

Angel

" That - ... That's it, " he said calmly, starting to feel more comfortable in the stimulants soothing his system, " Ye... yeah, I... " Angel procured his case and flipped it open for her to browse, allowing his head to lean against her shoulder. The light off the pink crystal seqins sparkled in the water.

" He's... gonna pay. An' I'm gonna collect. That's all I got an' all that matters. Until I do that, ain't nothin' in the shithole that's gonna be up fa my takin'. " He put out his cigarette on the empty side of the case and fixed himself another. That could do for now. " _C'est la CAZZO vie._ "

Madame

Madame looked over his selection and took one. She waited until he lit his next and leaned in to light hers off it. She took a long drag, blowing the smoke out-- no shapes like Valentino's, just a cloud, the way she preferred it.

"Sure is, Angel, sure is. I'll be there ta have ya back, though." She ruffled his hair affectionately. "Mama's in ya corner, and don't forget it."

Angel

_That_ was the reassurance he needed, something concrete he could trust in. " Never, " he affirmed sternly as if his voice wrote a contract in the smoke, " I got that, ain't much I couldn't do. " Snapping the case closed, he lounged against her and looked up into the sky, redless save for the dissipating shapes they blew. For the moment, he really felt like he'd be ok.

Madame

Her hand moved to the back of his head, giving him some gentle scritches as she held him close.

"Got any ideas fer an act ya'd wanna do at the cabaret? Anythin' ya wanna do that ya hadn't got to before?"

Angel

" Zorita 'ad some shit goin' on, " he said immediately through brightened eyes, " Dunno if I could really pull it OFF, but the SHOWS were real fuckin'... _choice ~_ "

His arms then got animated, slicing and molding the air around his thoughts as he brainstormed.

" I got chances to try a lotta thin's, but only the one time it'd take fa Big V t' decide it wasn't worth gettin' me into when the pole was just as good an easier t' maintain. If I got back to anythin'... I think I'd wanna do the ring... "

Madame

"The ring, eh?" She smirked, giving a nod. "That's a fun one, fer sure. What about the ribbons? He ever let ya do those? The things soma the girls can do...."

Angel

" Ribbons? The ones on the sticks? " He racked his head through the years. " Huh... no... I don't think so... Unless the prop's somethin' I'm wearin' an' can throw, he thought it a waste a time. I tried t' pitch 'im the idea a dancin' wit' 'em in nude if I could keep a trailin' ribbon over my junk the whole time, but he didn' believe me, " he explained, snickering, " I could TOTALLY pull it off if he gave me the time! _His loss ~_ "

Madame

"No, no, the ones hangin' from the ceilin'! It's like the ring but, y'know, big ol' ribbons a cloth. Some circus level shit, but damn, if it ain't pretty." She laughed, shrugging.

"Think ya'd look real pretty danglin' up high from all a them."

Angel

He blew a raspberry, a storm of popping hearts spraying over the fountain. _Can't take that image back NOW -_

" Oh, silks, yeah, I TOTALLY knew what ya were talkin' about, " he said between giggles, " Yeah, I done those once or twice. It came pretty easy, I dunno, an' it was lotta fun, but y'know Big V... "

Angel then put a pair of free hands to his head to mimic feelers. " _They wanna see ya ASS, Angel Cakes,_ " he mocked.

Madame

Madame laughed, shaking her head. "Fuck, ya got that down, don'tcha?" She shrugged.

"Valentino's always been shortsighted about these things. If ya _always_ give em what they want, then there ain't no reason fer them to be tantalized! Can't give 'em all a it up front, ya gotta _tease~_" She gave her chest a little shake and winked at Angel.

"But acourse you know what I'm talkin' 'bout, don'tcha, Angel?"

Angel

" Probably more than HE DOES, " he joked with a mirroring preen of his own chest, " He's all about that fast money, but he ain't got NO. IDEA. How far ya can stretch the bucks. LEMME TELL YA! "

Angel excitedly straddled the edge of the fountain to face her. " The LONGER ya can edge a John, the more he's gonna give ya. Physically, emotionally, all of it. Big V deadass for - fuckin' - GOT that there's more t' hustlin' than _wham, bam, thank you ma'am_ - 'in it out. Time he trade in those goofy fuckin 'eart shades fa dollar signs, ya'd THINK! "

Madame

"Oh, I know, honeybunch, I _know_. It's all about the tease! All about the tantalizin'. Give 'em just enough to keep 'em comin' back fer more 'n more!" She laughed, winking at him.

"Big V's lost sight a that, he's too preoccupied with shittin' out content fer Vox that he fergot the biggest money maker in th' game." Her smile turned sly as she looked at Angel.

"But I never fergot that. That's why I lasted this long, and why I'll keep lastin'."

Angel

" Time's up, ah? He sells fuckin' Voot Floops fa $666 an they taste like FUCKIN' ASS! I WOULD KNOW! " he joked as he toyed with his case, " Ain't nothin' in 'em either, just THE emptiest shit there is t' be eatin'. Fa like a week? Month? Fuck I know, but it was all we 'ad in the studio breakroom an' I swear ta FUCK I always en'ed up HUNGRIER than before I ATE 'EM. "

He then opened up his case and started rolling some more cigarettes. " Wonder when someone's gonna tell 'im his new boyfrien's fuckin' _STUPID..._ " A sly smile. " He ain't got nothin' on ya, yeah? Could _you_ get away with it? " Angel chuckled, " Not too 'arshly, though! I ain't about t' be feelin' bad fa his new squeeze... unless... _he's got a cravin' fa spider..._ "

Madame

She snorted. "I _could_ but don't mean I _would_. I ain't about ta stir that pot like that-- besides, ya _know_ I'm a good ol' Southern Lady, and we have better ways a sayin' shit like that ta the point were people ain't even know we talkin' shit."

She placed a hand on her chest and batted her lashes. Madame deepened her accent as she spoke again. "Well bless yer heart! I ain't ever seen a bug quite as cute! Yer as adorable as a bee's wing!" She started laughing.

Angel

Angel echoed her laughter with intermittent snorts. " Ain't no gay bitches got time fa that. Our petty, impatient asses WANT ya knowin' when we're takin' ya fa a DRAG, " he joked with a wink. _Pun intended._

" That's the master plan, though ~ " he sang with a quick drag of his tongue over the end of a fresh cigarette before slipping it into the case, " Fuck 'im. Fuck 'is boyfriend. THEN fuck over 'is whole ass life. Shit ~ "

Madame

"Sounds like a plan, shug. Sounds like a plan, indeed." She chuckled. "Just know I can't take _direct_ action in ruinin' Big V's shit. I'll support ya, but I can't get involved with my own tentacles-- plus, I mean, Val'd smell that a mile off, so's best I keep to the background, fer all our sakes. It he breaks our deal first, then I'd have free reign to help ya more directly, though."

Angel

" Yeah yeah, ya don't gotta, " he assured, " I ain't plannin' on involvin' or takin' no one down wit' me. Promise. No one better take this from me, either, but... What, kin'a deal ya got goin' wit' 'im? "

Madame

"Ain't nothin' fancy, basic sorta non-interference thing. I don't mess with his business directly, he don't mess with mine. Mostly keeps us outta each other's hair-- but poachin' talent is fair game, which is why I can offer ya protection 'n such." She smirked and winked again.

Angel

" _Nice_ loopholin' ~ " he sang, " No wonder ya been sittin' pretty all this time, Big Mama. Save a spot fa me an' I'll be the prettiest throne candy anyone's e'er seen ~ "

Madame

"Deal Makers gotta get those loops on lock, baby boy, and I wouldn'ta lasted this long if I weren't a damn good Deal Maker." She giggled again.

"Ever since ya started up with Big V, I had a spot primed 'n ready for ya. Knew ya were a star, baby."

Angel

" HA! " Angel gave a short, small burst of slightly embarassed laughter. " Spotlight's where I belong, Mama ~ Chargin' me rent in m'own house oughta be a _crime ~_ "

Madame

"Ain't that true, babe, ain't it true!" She laughed again. "Ya belong in it."

[therealniclion]

How I Found happiness this year?

Good Evning/Day/Morning Lion Familyyy, I hope everyone is safe and doing great..So Today I was thinking of sharing with you something so precious and special that I was looking for a long time, but never found until 2020! Even tho this year have been a lil bit of a rock to me, but trust me when I say “This year I had less downs than all the past years”.

My whole life I was looking for happiness in so many places and people, like for example... friendships and relationships. I tried to work so hard to fit in the wrong box with the wrong people, I never had the chance to reality check or reflect on myself I was so worried and stressed about my dreams, goals, and plans I used to overthink a lot about what my life would look like five years from now.

But the question is... how do we really find happiness? Friendships? Relationships? Money? Luxury? The society? Hmmm... That’s a very tricky question to ask for most individuals, specially for the old me who used to be so lost and insecure lol. I don’t have a boyfriend, I don’t own luxury but let me tell about all this happiness, now that’s some HAP lol!

It all started from March when I decided to X out anything and anyone that does not serves me both mentally and friendly! And tbh I don’t even know how the spiritual world approached me, but I believe that things happens for a reason. The Covid-19 pandemic have been both a blessing and a curse for us in general. Let’s start with the bad thing first then the best and positive can come after.

Why a curse?

So June was the month where I decided to make my comeback to the music industry with my first single in two years Vendetta, but one week before that I got a phone call from my mother telling me she got tested positive for corona, that was the hardest and the only worst downs I had in my life I thought it was over and that everything I was working on was pointless because I do it all for my mama, and the next generations to come!! I didn’t even wanted to release Vendetta because everything was dark for me and I was so hurt and heartbroken. I couldn’t stop the song release because it was already sent to the streaming platforms that time, so I told myself it’s already done so I’m just gonna release the song and keep on praying for my mom 3 weeks later... she called me, and told me that she got her health back and everything went okay that’s when I knew being positive and strong for her was the right thing for me to do, and I started to be happy again.

Why a blessing?

Ever since I started meditating i started to seek more knowledge, and wisdom thru documentaries and books. I don’t know how I became so wise and intelligent within a short period of time like... gurl how? I found out that meditation by itself will lead you to so many places and things in life for example. Why is there’s so much hate, war, and poverty in this world? How are we really connected to the nature, universe, other humans, and even animals? (As above so below, as within so without, as the soul so the universe), how can we find our happiness? The biggest thing I have learned was from my favorite spiritual documentary ever Inner Worlds, Outter Worlds. There’s some quotes that says “Everything that happens in this world is not social, political, or economical. It’s lack of consciousness, awareness, enlightenment, and self education” and “We create more problems by overthinking” sheet them quotes hit me hard like a motherfucker, like brooo why you gotta do home gurl like that? I also got inspired by one of the greatest people that have existed in this world... he is the one and only Lord Siddharata Gautama aka “The Buddha”. He was that prince that had it all from Diamonds, Golds, women, money absolutely everything the outer world could imagine having, but he left it all behind to experience Samsara “Suffering, Struggling, or being dead before dying” he starved himself, and did a lot of sad stuff to himself, he tried to educate himself from other gurus but nothing worked until... he meditated under a tree while eating a grain of rice for seven days that was when he finally experienced Nirvana “Enlightenment or heaven” it’s just so inspirational how he left everything and became something beyond his father’s status HE BECAME A GOD! That story by itself shows you that if you leave something so great you will achieve something greater.

After meditating and watching spiritual documentaries I realized that I’m not even a human being, none of us are humans if we only knew our true selves this world would’ve been a much better place. We are literally divinity taking a spiritual form everything we seek is already within us, so I stopped worrying about my future, past, what people think of me, and started to appreciate the little things I have in my life, from house, food in my table, knowing my family in Africa is eating and living good, to me still being alive. I started living in the moment and rather accepting what I can’t change but work on it instead of complain all the time and do nothing about it.

I made sure that every negative part of me is being cleared out, I focused on being optimistic and positive about my dreams and goals (Baby we talkin’ about the Law Of Attraction In here ya feel meee?) life is like a echo what you put out there comes right to you, think positive and positive will happen to you. So when I started letting go of my worries and achieving my goals fast, everything I wanted started chasing me instead of me chasing it let’s take my music for example I used to force the rap flow in me but now it comes to me naturally why? Because I let go of overthinking and forcing it nothing comes by force I had to learn that I gotta enjoy every moment about my music journey and that’s how it hits different.

When it comes to the haters... well this year was just filled with love and great feedbacks, but I programmed my mind very well if I see a hater I’ll just Ignore em because the same five minutes I debate to prove that I’m great on, are the same five minutes I could’ve been doing something productive on. I don’t prove anybody anything now I just let my music and influence speak by itself. Shock em like I’m Jefferson Pierce baby.

In the end happiness for me does not come from friendships, MEN, or fake flexing my happiness comes from me appreciating the smallest things in life I’m still alive, my loved ones “Including you Lion Family” are still alive too, we eating food, we drinking water, we sleeping good, we laughing about everything and nothing, I don’t stress or overthink our goals and dreams will be spoken into reality one day, but first we must suffer and struggle so when we’re having, doing, and being it all one day we already know how to be humble and be relatable to others and keep on that good, and positive energy with everything and everyone because everything and everyone is nothing but us we are connected. Happiness starts with you and not thru other things or people! Change, happiness, love, just everything start with nothing and nobody but you!

-Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakes!

-Until next time Family.

~With all love

~Your soul sister, Nic Lion

[nataliedanovelist]

GF - Beauty Within the Fallen ch.VII

Summary: Two misfit twins come across an enchanted castle, home of a mysterious beast, and slowly begin to form a strong bond that just might survive through anything. Even evil demons.

AU and artwork belong to the beautiful and very talented @artsycrapfromsai​. Go give her some love, guys!!!

ch.VI - ch.VIII (finale)

~~~~~~~~~~

Dipper, Mabel, and Waddles hastily traveled through the forest. They may have a map leading them to Fiddleford and then to the village, but the wolves might still come. Dipper led the way with a lantern he had borrowed from the castle and the map Ford had given to them. Mabel looked ahead and screamed before running with Waddles at her heels. Dipper looked up from the map and nearly dropped it in shock.

He hurried to the tree Mabel was kneeling at and examined Fiddleford. He looked more dead than alive, his skin pale, almost blue, and heavy bags under his eyes. He must have been searching for them this whole time. Without a single word, much like how they helped Stan when he was hurt, the twins stood on either side of Fiddleford and helped carry him out of the woods. It was the middle of the night when they arrived home. It would have been comforting if the circumstances weren’t so dire. Fiddleford might be dying. The children quickly worked together, fixing medicine, building a fire, dressing their guardian warmly and putting him to bed, until they finally admitted defeat to sleep and curled up with Fiddleford in his bed. ~~~~~~~~~~ The first thing Fiddleford noticed was how warm he felt. And better, much better. Oh. No. No, no, no! Did he die?! Is he in heaven?! He can’t die yet! The children! He wanted to quickly jump up and act, but his body was weak and he ached. Oh. Okay, good. He was still alive. He forced his eyes open and though his vision was blurry, he smiled weakly to find the kids at his sides. Mabel and Dipper both beamed at him, perfectly safe and okay. Mabel was dressed in her blue peasant dress and cloth headband, Dipper in his navy-blue nest and hat with an orange shirt. He gave Fiddleford his glasses and he croaked, “Welcome back.” “Kids,” Fiddleford sat up and slipped on his glasses, then wrapped each child up in a tight hug, which they happily returned. “Oh, thank God. Thank God. I thought I’d never see y’all ‘gain.” “We missed you, too, Fidds.” Mabel cooed. “You’re finally awake…” “What on God’s green Earth happened t’y’all?” Fiddleford asked as he loosened his hold. “You wouldn’t believe it, Fidds!” Mabel cheered as she sat on her knees next to him. “There was this beast in a castle and a talking hammer and an axe and a teapot and all sorts of magic inside and a poor journal who couldn’t talk or eat or sleep and…” “But the beast and the journal - Stan and Ford - are our friends. They took care of us.” Dipper cut Mabel off. “Well, everyone in the castle did, but the guys are awesome! They’re twins, like us, and under a curse.” “And we have to help them!” Fiddleford blinked, completely and utterly confused, but then he smiled. “I believe ya.” The twins are a bit surprised, but then again, they were talking to one of the most open-minded people they knew. “You do?” They asked at the same time. “O’course.” Fiddleford said. “I always said this world’s gotta lotta thangs we don’t quite get. Some thangs are just different, like us. N’ I trust y’all enough to know ya wouldn’t lie ‘bout this. Now, y’all said they’re under a curse?” “Yeah, and to break it, Stan the beast has to fall in love with someone and they have to love him, too.” Mabel answered. “We were gonna try to help by finding a match for him, courtesy of the best matchmaker in the world!” “Hm, well, if…” Fiddleford stopped when he thought he heard yelling coming from outside. “Did y’all hear that?” “Yeah, what’s going on?” Dipper asked and they went outside to investigate. ~~~~~~~~~~ Stan sat on Abuelita the armchair, watching the sun set behind the woods. His mind was elsewhere. Ford, his journal closed, noticed this and wished to help or comfort him, but the beast, back in his normal attire of red cloak over a white shirt and dark pants, was too distracted to open a journal and read at the moment. The sun was now gone, all light but from candles lost, and Stan sighed. He needed to say something. He cautiously opened the journal and said, “I’m sorry, Stanford. I’m sorry I couldn’t set you free.” Stanley, was the only word for a while, but then Ford managed to write more. You were willing to let me go. Thank you. “No,” Stan shook his head. “It’s my fault you’re trapped.” Don’t blame yourself. I’m the one that summoned Bill in the first place. I fell for his easy flattery, but you saw him for the scam artist he is. “I didn’t exactly make this curse easier for you.” No, perhaps not. Ford admitted, but then quickly added, But your heart was in the right place. You’ll never admit this but you were afraid. I understand; when the curse was first brought upon us neither of us knew how to respond. Accidents happen, Stanley. “Yeah, and I’m chop full of ‘em.” Even still, I won’t lie to you. All those years you never opened me, kept me in that glass container, I nearly went insane. There were so many times I didn’t know if I existed anymore. That wasn’t even the worst of it. All I could do was listen and watch you suffer alone. “I know, I know!” Stan growled. “That was probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve done some really stupid stuff, and I’m sorry.” It’s alright. I forgive you. I should have been a better brother to you. I should have seen your pain and done something about it years ago. “And now you’re gonna die like this.” Stan said darkly. As will you. “Who cares?” I do! And those children care, too! The tiniest of smiles flickered on the beast’s face. His memory brought back those kids for a moment, a beautiful, glorious moment. Dancing with them, reading stories, teaching Dipper how to fight and hugging Mabel close to his furry chest. You miss them, don’t you? Stan sighed, a tired old man. “Yeah. I love them.” I know you do. And because you love them, they will be with you, in your heart, for evermore. Stan, once again, cracked a small smile at that. He had no idea if they found Fiddlebucket or not, or if they ever made it home, but he hoped that they were safe and happy. Do you wish to see them? Ford asked. Look at my hand. You can see them whenever you want. Stan, excited, closed the journal and looked at the six-fingered hand. He grinned at the sight of the children, standing at a front door with an old man with a long beard and big nose. His smile dropped when the children looked scared and uncertain. He watched as echoes of voices grazed his large ears. “What’s going on?!” Dipper asked. “What are you all doing?!” “Dipper!” Lazy Susan gasped. “Mabel! You’re okay!” “But… how…” Blubs stuttered. “Gideon says you were kidnapped by some beast in a castle!” “What?!” Mabel gasped and shook her head wildly. “No, no! He saved us! He saved our lives! He’s our friend!” Stan beamed with pride. Lil’ Gideon paled. “I… I don’t understand. Y-You were t-t-trapped by a monster!” “He’s not a monster!” Dipper snapped. “Mabel’s telling the truth! The beast wouldn’t hurt anyone. He gave us a place to stay and took care of us.” “Yeah!” Mabel said as she and Dipper left the porch of their home to talk to the angry crowd. “He’s sweet and kind and gentle. You don’t have to be afraid of him. He’s a very good person. He even liked Waddles!” “No, I don’t!” Stan growled with a smile, unheard by everyone except for Abuelita and Ford. The old armchair rolled her eyes, knowing her boss was lying. Gideon’s face reddened, his chubby face curling inward in fury. “Of course! The beast has them under his spell! I’ve heard of dark magic like this, but never before seen it with my own eyes!” “What, no!” Mabel cried out. “Officers, you don’t believe him, do you? You won’t let this happen, will you?” “Sorry, kids, but we trust Gideon over a couple of odd-balls like you.” Blubs said coldly, arms crossed over his chest. “And nothing short of a miracle could ever change that.” “NO!” The kids shrieked and turned to Fiddleford. “Fiddleford, tell them!” Dipper called. “Tell them it’s not true!” The angry mob laughed. “You’d put your word on a loony old man?! The same guy that destroyed the town three times just this month?!” Durland cackled. “I done rebuilt it every time!” Fiddleford defended. Gideon stood on his dazzling white horse and called out to the townsfolk, “You see?! The spell spreads! Look at what the monster has done to our poor friends!” “He’s not a monster, Gideon,” Mabel snarled and pointed at the white-haired boy. “YOU ARE!” “ENOUGH!” Gideon hopped down and grabbed her wrist so tight she winced in pain. Stan growled dangerously. Dipper yelled and was about to act, but Ghost Eyes grabbed a hold of him. “Don’t worry, Mabel, once I kill the beast and the spell is broken, you shall finally be my queen! Keep them safe! Lock them away! We can’t have them gettin’ in our way!” “NO!” Mabel cried out as a big beefy man grabbed her and shoved her, Dipper, and Fiddleford into a cart and it was locked up. “HELP! HELP US!” Dipper rammed his body against the iron doors to try to escape, but it was useless. “The beast will come after us all! He’ll come after us in the night!” Gideon called out to the crowd, who cheered and yelled. “I say we kill it!” “YEAH!” “NO!” Mabel cried as tears ran down her face. “DON’T HURT HIM, PLEASE!” “We're not safe until he's dead!” Northwest concluded. “He'll come stalking us at night!” Mr. Valentino gasped. “Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite!” Manly Dan cried out, hugging his three sons so tight their faces turned blue. “He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free!” Lazy Susan feared. “So it's time to take some action, fellas!” Gideon called out. “It's time to follow me!” And the crowd began to gather guns, torches, pitchforks, and chanted “kill the beast” courageously into the night. Stan stood up quickly and left the armchair, throwing the door open. “Soos! Wendy! Get over here!” Soos and Wendy hopped over as quick as they could. “We’ve got a code Piertotum Locomotor! Man the boundaries! Protect the castle! Get ready for battle! Go, go, go!” And the beast left to organize the attack, all the while he couldn’t shake away the blossoming feeling that those kids were willing to risk their lives for him. Maybe he was worth it, after all. ~~~~~~~~~~ Even after the mob marched away, Dipper continued to throw himself against the doors, making loud bangs but no progress. “DIPPER, STOP!” Fiddleford grabbed him and rubbed his shoulders. “You’ll hurt yourself, calm down.” “We have to do something!” Dipper cried out. “This is all our fault! They’ll kill him! We have to help!” “Hush, boy, hush.” Fiddleford hugged him and rubbed circles into his back. “We’ll think o'somethang. We are three geniuses, after all.” Mabel looked out the window, though the bars, and tried to find something that could help. Her eyes dazzled at the sight of her pig as he ran up to the cart and oinked. “WADDLES! Waddles, we need your help! Go get us a pry bar! You can do it, Waddles, go find one! Good pig!” “Mabel,” Dipper scolded. “He’s just a pig! There’s no way he even knows what a pry bar is!” “C’mon, Dipper, have faith!” “No, no! YOU need to be realistic! I love Waddles, too, Mabel, not there’s no way he’s gonna…” The pig squealed with joy and the three humans peered down to find a ring of keys in his mouth. Mabel gave her brother a sassy look. “Well, it’s not a pry bar.” Dipper quipped. Waddles tossed the keys in the air and Fiddleford put his arm through the window and caught them. He pushed himself against the door and started to fiddle with the lock and the keys. “One of these gotta be it…” ~~~~~~~~~~ Manly Dan led the team to chop down a huge pine tree and cut it so they could use it as a battering ram. The mob hoisted it on it’s shoulders, following Gideon on his noble steed and Ghost Eyes marching beside him. “Take whatever booty you want, but the beast is mine!” He called out, using the map Gideon had woken up with in his fist to find their way. Gideon grinned to find the castle before them and they ran up to the giant doors. Miraculously, it only took one hit and the doors flew open, giving the invaders a false idea that this would be easy. They found the castle filled with items in the lobby, like a rich yard-sale. Gideon left his horse outside and led the crowd into the dark and quiet castle. Books, chairs, chests, dishes, nearly every type of item surrounded the unafraid villagers. Ghost Eyes leaned down to whisper to Lil’ Gideon. “Aren’t you worried this place might be haunted?” “Don’t lose your head, Ghost Eyes.” The bodyguard picked up an axe from a table and held it, ready to attack anything that may come his way. “NOW!” The axe cried out, and the castle lit up with life as the battle began. Drawers smacked people in the face. A coat-rack boxed with one of Manly Dan’s sons and won quickly. Pots fell on people's heads and clashed with metal spoons and pans, making their ears ring. A chest consumed people and dumped them back outside like dumping out trash. Grenda stood from the second floor and cried out, “GRENDA’S JOINING THE PARTY!” and she fell on top of Ghost Eyes. Gideon dodged out of the fight and went up the stairs. Three men were coming towards her to attack, but Grenda had cloth and material swarm around them and soon they were dressed in drag. Two of the boys screamed in horror and ran, but Tad Strange only stared ahead and said calmly, “This is fine.” Robbie was kicking tea cups and trying to squish them, but Candy hung from the above chandelier and spilt boiling hot tea on the crowd. Wendy was running away from Manly Dan’s own axe, but Soos came out of nowhere and hammered him in the face, knocking him out cold. Melody burst through the doors of the ballroom and shot her keys like bullets. Meanwhile, using Ford’s given map, Dipper, Mabel, Fiddleford, and Waddles were running up to the castle and gasped to find the battle before them. “Hurry!” Mabel cried out and they hurried up to the front door. Fiddleford used his banjo to swing at people’s heads. Waddles bit people’s ankles. Killbone was about to go after Fiddleford for helping the enemy, but Lazy Susan hit him over the head with her rolling in, knocking him out cold. “Susan?! But I thought…?” “I’m sorry, old friend, I just didn’t wanna be locked up.” Lazy Susan explained as she and Fiddleford fought back-to-back. “Claustrophobic. Plus I could’ve very well fight the bad guys locked away, could I?” “Ah, gotcha. Well then!” Fiddleford swung his banjo and hollered, “Fight like a hillbilly, woman!” Mabel and Dipper punched people and shoved them out of the way as they hurried up to the West Wing to make sure their friends were okay. ~~~~~~~~~~ Minutes prior, Gideon cautiously opened the door, a bow and arrow in his chubby hands. His eyes immediately landed on the handsome journal on the table. He noticed the six fingers on the golden hand and he hypothesized that this journal must have the answer to undoing the spell Mabel was under. No wonder it was so well cared for while everything else in the room was ruined beyond repair. Gideon walked into the room to take the journal, but the door slammed behind him and he spun around, arrow ready to shoot. His eyes widened at the huge gray beast before him, peering down at him with cold brown eyes and on all fours like an animal. “Last chance, kid.” The beast growled warningly. “Get out before things get ugly.” “You mean uglier than you, never!” Gideon declared and shot his arrow. Stan dodged it, but soon saw that it was a distraction so the little troll could run to Ford. The beast tried to get their first, but just a few feet shy and Gideon had the journal in his chubby hands. “I got it! I got it!” “Give it back.” Stan snarled. “Why?” Gideon asked coldly with a wicked smile. “Why’s it so important, monster?” “Just give it to me.” Stan was careful to sound firm, but he looked in no hurry to hurt a kid or his brother. Gideon opened the journal to find it blank. He flicked through the pages roughly, losing his temper, and when he concluded that the answers he was looking for were not here, he ripped a page out and yelled in fury. Stan grunted and sunk, like he was in pain. Gideon noticed this and grinned as an idea came to his twisted mind. This journal must be the source of his powers! Destroying it would free Mabel! Gideon ripped out another page, then another, and another. Stan growled on all fours and curled in on himself in overwhelming pain. He tried to shake his head and clear away the distraction, but he could practically hear Ford’s screaming in his ears, even if it was only his imagination, and it was maddening. “Stop it… stop it… STOP IT!” Stan gnarled at Gideon. “Or what, huh?” The child mocked. “What are you gonna do, huh? Huh?! Face it, foul creature, without this book you’re nothing!” He laughed and tore out another page. Gideon suddenly cried out in pain and dropped the journal. Stan huffed and puffed to try to compose himself. He looked up to see Dipper and Mabel standing in front of him, facing Gideon, both of them wearing scary looks and Dipper had his fists curled and ready to strike again. Gideon rubbed his pale chubby cheek. “Ow! What the… how did you…?” “Doesn’t matter.” Dipper snapped. “You’re leaving. Now.” “Oh, am I, boy?” And Gideon ran to him to punch him. While the boys punched each other and fought, Mabel hurried to Stan and petted his shoulder, trying to soothe him and help him feel better. “Stan? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Hazy still, Stan weakly looked up at the girl and smiled. “Mabel… you came back.” “Of course we did.” She looked back at the fight and saw that Gideon was having a slight advantage. He shoved into Dipper and they both fell through and broke a window, toppling down the roof. Mabel and Stan yelled with worry and ran after them. The boys tumbled and rolled, punching and slapping each other. Dipper fell on a balcony and groaned with ache while Gideon squealed and kept on going. He fell on a slanted roof and staggeringly got up. Like a scrawny cat, he climbed up to Dipper and kicked him in the jaw. Dipper quickly rolled up on his feet and used the lessons Stan had taught him to fight. Mabel quickly slid down the slanted tile roof and jumped into the fight. She punched Gideon in the jaw and found that his stuck-up traditions made him not hit a girl. She and Dipper took advantage of this weakness and worked together to beat up their enemy until he fell and didn’t get up. He rubbed a swollen black eye and looked up at the angry pre-teens before him. The beast, he noticed, was over on the next roof and letting the twins handle their own battle with a huge smile. “Listen, Gideon,” Mabel said coldly. “It’s over. I will never ever be with you.” “Yeah!” Dipper backed up and Mabel kicked him in the head, just hard enough to knock him out cold. Stan hopped down behind the twins and had his hands on his hips. “Nice technique, pumpkin.” “Stan!” They both cried out with relief and ran up to him. Stan got on one knee and engulfed them in a hug. Mabel nuzzled her face into his fur and Dipper held him tightly. “We’re so sorry, we tried to stop them but they wouldn’t listen to us!” The boy said. “It’s okay, kid, it’s okay.” Stan soothed and rubbed his back as he purred. “I know.” “You know?” Mabel gasped with a huge grin. “Ford! He showed you, didn’t he?! You asked to see us, didn’t you?!” Stan shrugged and put the kids down to ruffle their hair. “What can I say, I missed you knuckleheads.” Mabel squeezed his paw. “We missed you, too, Stan.” Meanwhile, Gideon’s one unswollen eye opened yellow and slit, like a cat’s. He rose and flexed his fingers and arms, getting used to his body. Standing with his back to the happy reunion, he began to cackle evilly. A chill ran down Stan’s spine. His grip on the twins tightened. “I know that laugh.” Dipper’s jaw dropped. “No… it couldn’t be… it’s impossible...” Gideon turned around and they saw his eye. Stan growled protectively and hunched over the kids. “Bill Cipher.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Note: I have nothing to say. Except the code Stan used as a reference to the spell McGonagall used during the Battle of Hogwarts. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope y’all enjoy an upcoming chapter full of angst!

[snarkwriteswrasslin]

FFT: heart and soul; sami zayn

Notes:

This one came via @rampagewriting​ on my main asks and look.. as said before.. if i see a chance to write fluff and Sami Zayn, I take the chance to write fluff and Sami Zayn.

Summary:

Another mutual friendship turned crush, turned something so much better / cuuuter. Fluffy af. Also a lil angsty because AJ and Tess are together but AJ is treating her all wrong and she finally realizes maybe she really loves Sami.. I suck at summaries. It’s better than this, trust.

Warnings:

Fluff. Slight angst.

Pairing:

Sami Zayn x OFC, Tess

… what the hell is the attraction there?…. The words didn’t come out of Sami Zayn’s mouth, but then again just going by the scrunched up face of disgust that Sami was giving  AJ Styles and the way he was only halfway bothering to pay attention to her was enough to show anyone around just how annoyed it made him.

He could see the hurt look in her eyes and it made him angry. It made him want to walk over and punch AJ Styles right in his fucking mouth if he had to be honest about it. The jealousy he felt right now, all the things he’d do a thousand times differently if she was with him and not AJ… It had his body tensing and his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

From beside him, Kevin spoke up.

“Starin over there at them isn’t gonna make anything happen. If you want something to happen, Sami, you’ve gotta actually do somethin to make it happen. What happened to your heart, huh? You used to be the guy who loved a good risk.”

“She’s my best friend… This is more than just a risk, Kevin. If I told her and she… Forget it, you wouldn’t understand.” Sami’s jaw was locked tight, so his words came out in forceful anger. Kevin shook his head and nudged him.

“Good thing you got me, huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, just that I talked to that fuckin prick Shane and got you a match with Styles tonight. You gotta do something to get rid of all the anger you feel towards the guy and the situation.”

Sami’s eyes were fixed on her again and Kevin followed his best friend’s intent stare. She tore past them, her head down, making the quickest exit possible to the door. Kevin gave Sami another nudge.

“Go on, man.. You’ve got ten minutes until your match with AJ. Make ‘em count. Get your foot in the  door.”

Sami eyed Kevin and the door she’d just practically bolted out of. He bit his lip and Kevin swore quietly. “Go on, do it.”

“But..”

“If you don’t start off like this, AJ wins. Even if he loses the match tonight, he still wins. Because she won’t know she has a much better option.”

Sami took a deep breath, rubbing his chin as he thought it over. He couldn’t hold off anymore. He had to do.. Something.

Even if it messed their friendship up.

Sitting back and sitting on his feelings had gone on long enough. Too long, actually.

“Okay, alright. I’m goin.”

He started out the door of the arena and into the parking lot, where she’d gone. It wasn’t hard to find her, she was sitting with her back against the wall of the arena, her knees drawn to her chin and her head resting on top of them.

She didn’t have a jacket either and she was shivering. He sat down next to her.

“I went to try and find you.. I know you have a match tonight and thought you’d be nervous.” Sami spoke up.

She looked up at him, wiping at her eyes, giving him her best ‘I’m fine, really,’ smile. It was a smile he’d suffered through seeing a lot lately. And seeing her eyes bloodshot from crying and glistening with tears still waiting to fall…

X

Tess looked up at the sound of his voice and she quickly set about to composing herself. It was stupid, she reminded herself, to get upset because AJ wasn’t as excited as she was about her potential big break tonight. He had to focus on his own match.

Seeing Sami sitting there had her blinking. They hadn’t talked much lately and she’d missed it.

“Sami, I.. yeah.. I got nervous so I… Came out here.. To breathe.” she lowered her knees, leaned her head back against the wall and exhaled loudly.

But her breath was shaky. She tensed, cringing.

The last thing she wanted was to fall apart, but that was in danger of happening. What did I expect though, she thought to herself, Sami is the one person I can’t ever hide anything from. She sighed and shook her head.

If she couldn’t hide it, what was the use in bothering to try. Wiping at her eyes, she glanced over at Sami. She could tell something had him beyond pissed off.

“ I just.. I thought AJ might actually be a little more happy and supportive of me having a chance at an onscreen match. All he could say was not now. I’m busy.” she took on a mocking tone towards the end, mimicking exactly how AJ had said it to her. She laughed quietly at herself.

Getting upset and crying was stupid.

It wasn’t doing her any good.

She found herself gazing at Sami, who was still looking down at his hands, almost as if he were in deep thought.

If she knew there was even the smallest chance that he… She shoved the thought out of her head, not daring to finish.

What happened next surprised her.

Sami looked up and stared at her intently. He did this for at least five and a half seconds. The air getting thicker and more tension filled with each one that passed. And then, he exploded. He stood and started to pace back and forth, ranting about AJ and how angry the way AJ treated her made him, saying that when he got his hands on him tonight he’d have whatever Sami dished out coming and he’d have had it coming for a really, really, really long time.

It took a few seconds for her to process.

But when he picked up a garbage can and raised it, prepared to throw it, Tess jumped up, grabbing it and lowering it, a brow raised and a puzzled expression on her face. “Hey! Whoa! Sami.. calm down.”

“I can’t, okay? For months now I’ve kept my mouth shut. I’ve stood back and I’ve watched him hurt you over and over and I just.. I fucking can’t anymore, okay? I’m so fucking tired of it. And then you just take it, you act like that’s what you deserve. But it’s not, okay? It’s not what you fucking deserve.”

Tess managed to get him to drop the garbage can and she put her hands on his arms. “Hey, Sami.. Whoa. Are you okay?” as she stepped a little closer. She hadn’t ever really seen him  get quite this wound up outside of the ring.

… and he’s wound up because of me, is it wrong that I feel both… worried and a little turned on by this?… i mean, when was the last time AJ honestly got this worked up over anything involving me? It… feels nice to.. Have someone want you and care about you this much… and then it clicked for her.

Sami was trying to say something. Something that otherwise, he might not have been able say. Something that he was having trouble saying now.

And then it clicked further.

His avoiding her.. It bothered her more than she realized. It was the entire reason she’d been out of sorts for a while now. Things hadn’t been the same, not having him to talk to. She missed him.. A lot more than she’d let herself realize.

She stepped even closer, tilting her head to look up at him as she toyed with the strings of his hoodie.  “Sami..”

Before she could get another word out, she found herself being pulled into a kiss that was deep and rough and full of want. His fingers tangled in her hair, his teeth grazed her lower lip, she nipped at his back, whimpering quietly as her fingers dug into the front of his hoodie and his shoulders. His hands moved down her back, stopping on her ass as he squeezed and pulled her completely against him, nipping at her lips again, enough force in the kiss to leave her lips starting to tingle and swell. She deepened the kiss this time before he could break it, because he tried to.

He finally did manage to break the kiss and he looked down at her, breathing heavily, her face all flushed, her hair disheveled and her lips swollen and starting to turn a deep pink and he bit his lip, staying silent for a little bit. “You deserve better, Tess.”

“Maybe you’re right… Did you have any suggestions?” she moved closer to him, arms around his neck.

That kiss.. His whole em passioned speech just before it happened.. It had really opened  her eyes.

Sami pulled her closer and leaned down a little, his forehead against hers as he muttered quietly, “I think the answer to that should be obvious.”