#Honestly getting to 900 is absolutely insane

[grape-souffle]

Heyyy, what do u guy want to see for my 1000th follower celebration?

[hainge]

Brain Rot Chronicles: The Kaiser Files

kaiser x gn!reader warnings: none, just get z humor ig word count: 900+

Introducing Michael Kaiser into your life was already a gamble, but giving him access to TikTok and Instagram reels? That might go down as one of the most catastrophically idiotic choices you’ve ever made. You and Kaiser have always had a really close friendship, so naturally, when he became your roommate, you thought it’d be a breeze. How wrong you were.

It’s been what, seven days? Seven painfully short, irreversible days since he downloaded that app, and you’ve already lost the ability to have a normal conversation with him. You try to talk about your day, maybe something that bothered you or something funny that happened, but before you can even get a sentence out, he cuts you off with "bla bla bla ble ble ble blu blu blu”

And you’re just left there, blinking in disbelief, wondering how you let it get this bad.

You’ve started keeping mental notes of the sounds he makes and what he says. Like when you were brushing your teeth and he pranced in front of the mirror, unironically saying yelling "ballerina cappuccina mimimimiiiii" and then twirling out of the bathroom like that was a perfectly rational way to start the day. No context. No explanation. Just pure, unfiltered chaos.

Or when he barged into your room at 3 a.m. Three in the goddamn morning, shouting "SALAMALEKUM MALEKUM SALAAAAAAM" like some kind of cracked-out bedtime ritual. You nearly launched a pillow at his head, and honestly, you should’ve.

And then came the Spanish. You asked him if he wanted tomatoes in his salad and he just stared at you dead in the eyes and said "los tomates dicen que noooo"What do you even do with that? Are you supposed to answer? Are you supposed to be scared of the tomatoes now?

Then there was this gem while he was reorganizing your laundry "tralalelo tralala" "tripi tropi tropa tripa" "lirili larira". The man has no beat, no shame, and apparently no desire to ever speak normally again.

But nothing, nothing, compares to when he discovered that one TikTok audio. You know the one that goes like “For the night we pop out at one in the morning you really wanna know, this kinda life never boring...”

You walked into the living room, unsuspecting, only to find him mid-dance, absolutely committed to every body roll and chest pop like he was performing at Madison Square Garden. You didn’t know whether to scream, cry, or join in. Honestly, the only reason you didn’t record it was because he was already recording himself.

And then there’s the Druski emotes. Oh god, the Druski dance. There is no warning. No music (sometimes). No build-up. He’ll just stop mid-convo, lock eyes with you, and hits you with his emotes. In the kitchen. In your doorway. At the supermarket. Once in front of your boss on FaceTime. He just starts dancing. Like it’s his body’s natural response to silence. Then he walks away like it didn’t happen. You’re left spiritually damaged and he’s fine.

And lately? He’s been doing this other thing. You’ll be mid-skincare, gently patting serum into your cheeks, or watching a film, fully relaxed, when he suddenly walks up, sticks his tongue out, shakes his head like he’s short-circuiting, holds it for a few seconds, then walks away. No words. No reason. You don’t even react anymore. You just sit there, eyes dead, letting the madness wash over you like ocean waves of insanity.

And god forbid you ask him to do something normal. Like get groceries. You texted him once after training saying “hey can you grab eggs and oat milk on the way home?”

And instead of getting a simple "ok” or even a cheeky “anything for you bubblegum,” he sends you things like:

“ts pmo sm ngl🥀” “icl br u pmo sm ngl sybau” “yk w br idc anm lol” “sybau js h8 bein diff idek anm mn💔”

You had to sit and then just gave up and cried into a couch pillow.

And then, yesterday. He came into your room, wide-eyed, sweaty, breathing like he just ran a marathon in full armour. You looked up from your laptop, heart skipping, actually concerned for once.

“Mihya? Are you okay?? What happened??”

He just stared at you, dead serious…and then launched into a 7-minute explanation about the John Pork case.

You didn’t say a word. You sat through it. You tried, you really tried. Until you finally snapped.

“GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM.”

You didn’t even wait. Whatever your hand grabbed first, that’s what you threw. And unfortunately for him, it was your hardback book. Kaiser flinched, dodged it with Olympic-level reflexes, and then laughed, sticking his tongue out (just like Flight). Like a maniac. The kind of laugh that echoes through hell. The kind of laugh that makes you question if he’s been real this whole time or just a fever dream in designer sneakers.

Later, he was found laying on the floor, face smeared with strawberry jam cake, barely conscious, eyes blank and distant. Looking exactly like Gojo in chapter 236. Exactly like him.

Introducing Kaiser into your space? Fine. Surviving him in this new TikTok-core phase and Instagram reels? Borderline impossible.

And yet, despite the madness, you still let him sit next to you on the couch, knees touching, phone shoved in your face as he says, “Tell me that’s not peak,” while showing you a video of Speed in China. Because at the end of the day, he’s your chaotic, glitter-brained, noise-pollution of a roommate… and unfortunately, you kind of love the idiot.

[starizzm]

Finished link click s1 today so obviously I've gotta yap about it on my blog ‼️

TW: spoilers for s1 (obvi) and mentions of suicide and human trafficking (very little)⚠️

I jumped into this donghua bc of a friend and I had no clue about the plot until I watched it. HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE BEST FIRST EPISODES!! It's a very strong first episode as we get introduced to both the MCs and their powers and get foundation for the plotline. It just started with CXS going into the photo of their first client (emma) with LG's help and honestly I had no clue what to expect but I was BLOWN away. Basically, when CXS travels into a photo, he takes the role of the person who took the photo. The part that makes it different from many time travelling series/movies is that when he takes the role of the person, he inherits their feelings and hardships, HE BECOMES THE PERSON. This heavily impacts his mental state since he's feeling what his client is going to through in the past which provoked him to act on impulse which I'll get to later. One of the scenes in the first episode where he's in emma's body and he has to face her boss in his cabin made me SUPER uncomfy. He's stuck in a situation where he's (almost) harassed by the boss... (DIABOLICAL)

Back to the plot, CXS tends to act on his impulses when in the clients photos and honestly, I would too. Imagine being in a situation where you are witnessing the past but you have absolutely no control and can't change it even if you really wanted too (because it goes against their 3 rules) and here is very LG becomes really important, hes the observer so he tells CXS what to do and PREVENTS him from acting on his impulse without logically thinking because it can alter the future. Therefore, they're both interdependent on each other.

The last few episodes is where the plot really takes form. It's quite confusing but it's where things get good. Plotting something like this requires so much attention to detail and like idk 900 iq because every little thing COUNTS. Last part where they manage to create an alternative timeline is absolutely astonishing! I DID NOT EXPECT THE PLOT TWIST AT ALL... NOT EVEN ONCE?? my bbg lu guang got stabbed I hope he survives pls I love him so much 😭🙏 jokes aside, the plot twist was enough to get me hooked on this series like I did not expect someone with the same abilities as CXS who manage to alter the future and make changes in the past. Last scene shattered me ☹️

One thing I really think is smart is the cliff hangers on each episode. It's really hard to predict what happens in the next episode and leaving each ep on a cliffhanger gets the audience hooked even more!!

One little thing I like about Link Click is how they're not afraid to actually SHOW the consequences of the past. Whenever CXS does something to the past, it always alters the future which creates something even more bigger. Also, about the node that death is unchangeable and WILL HAPPEN is amazing and how they managed to pull such a thing off so smoothly is crazy!! when in ep 3 CXS wins the basketball match which he wasn't supposed to win and makes a few changes until the big earthquake reveals alot. Because until the final event, LG did not interfere because he knew the outcome would result to doom even if the past is completely altered until the death. What I like even more how sucide is represented. It's very real and not glamourised for media. It's what people go through.

What I did not understand was the human trafficking ep, HOW DID CXS MANAGE TO UPPERCUT THE OLD AHH LADY?? He really changed the past by telling her ancestors were speaking to her through him and stuff... but it didn't change the future? Got really confused here.

Overall, 10/10 watch, it's so so well written and the plot is insane. Without any fight scenes, it manages to keep the viewer engaged! ( Hard these days bc some mfs will not watch an anime even it has a peak story line bc there's not a sword or blood on screen ever 5 secs which is kinda gay if you ask me ) IM HOPING LU GUANG COMES BACK IN S2 IM DEVASTATED 😭

Also kinda off topic bc tell me why on yt when I was going through some reviews it's all about yaoi 😭 it's totally fine to ship both the MCs but can we like NOT ignore the plot and focus on who's the bottom or top?? LIKE I DO NOT CARE?? each video just talks Abt how they're gay and fruity which I get but pls stfu bc boys love isn't the main theme and I'm trynna find the ACTUAL plot line.

please lmk if I missed something important and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME WITH YOUR THOUGHTS!! I really need to see other perspectives on this cuz the lore here is INSANEEEE‼️

[firethekitty]

What are your favorite/least favorite music genres?

rubs my autistic hands together

something about indie folk is like fucking crack to me i just adore it. i also LOVEEEE new wave, dream pop, synth pop, doo wop, and city pop! those are my absolute faves and i also really enjoy classic rock, country (NOT bro-country!!!), jazz, rhythm and blues, and pretty much any pop from the 80s.

and disclaimer before i answer the second part, i think it’s stupid to say you hate an entire genre of music; there will always be a few songs or artists in that genre you’ll enjoy. they don’t ALL sound the same. i know a lot of people tout that they “love every single genre” but don’t actually. but genuinely i’ll never judge a song based on its genre—if it sounds good, then it sounds good. in one of the spotify wrappeds it said i listened to 900 new genres or something insane like that? so i'm really not afraid to branch out.

that being said, i have never enjoyed anything i’ve heard that i’d describe as death metal, screamo, mumble rap, or like modern bro-country (tits, beer, pickup trucks, america. you know the kind). i don’t really like grunge either which is an opinion that will probably get me killed.

anything that hurts my ears, even if i can recognize as good, well-made music, i can’t listen to. so like hyperpop, breakcore, noise music, grindcore (and quite a few metal subgenres). even some jazz and blues, those horns feel like they split my head open sometimes and it honestly sucks bc i really love jazz!!

[lifesarchive]

HIDDEN PICTURES by JASON REKULAK (REVIEW)

quickly: a recovering addict gets a new job babysitting a haunted five-year-old. (a young woman trying to live a sober life / a child with a questionable existence / homes that come with guest houses and hidden gardens / disturbed suburbian parents / physical and spiritual battles with sobriety / weird and quirky superstitious neighbors / wickedly beautiful artwork from the spiritual realm / gardeners who make you want to break rules)

not too shabby. not too complex either, honestly. the tone sits firmly in the mystery genre, for me. the ghosts in this story don’t scare or thrill me, but they don’t bore me either. stephen king is quoted on the back cover as saying “the language is straightforward”, and that is absolutely correct. not much poetry or soul to the writing, but it was a full story! it was compelling enough to pull me to the end, but not my favorite ending. it has the kind of ending that you find in most “B” level thrillers (which is no shade, i love b-movies). the ending is a resolution, but it doesn’t take my breath away.

★ ★ ★

more thoughts: SPOILERS!

Some personal context… after a reading sprint that began sometime in March, I spent the past few weeks with THE BOOKS OF JACOB. It is a tome of a book, 900+ pages, and the most time I’ve spent with a book in years. It was an interesting and detailed world to be in, but I couldn’t wait to get back to the thriller/mystery/horror genre, and HIDDEN PICTURES is my return. I read it in less than 24 hours. 

The artwork really pulled me in, and wasn’t as gimmicky as it could have been.

The story opens up with Mallory reflecting on a paid health study she participated in which involved her being blindfolded in front of a group of men. She was instructed to raise her hand if she felt eyes on her, testing her ability to sense the male gaze. She was insanely accurate, telling the instructor that she felt a buzz in her mind whenever she sensed looks. The instructor offers to do more research with her, but Mallory trades her phone for Oxy and the lady is unable to reach her.

After this, we are immediately thrown into the present where Mallory is now sober and has been for 18 months. She is preparing to interview for a babysitting job with The Maxwells, youngish parents living in an affluent suburban enclave. After an awkward and stressful interview that involves her pulling out a piss test to prove her commitment to sobriety, she is hired. Caroline, the Mom, says they believe in giving people second chances, but you learn fast that you can’t believe anything they say.

Soon enough, five-year-old Teddy has formed a close bond with Mallory. The creepy pictures he draws always seem to show an entity hanging around him that no one else can see (but Mallory can sense). Teddy’s mom brushes the pictures off and tells Mallory not to encourage him. After the quirky next-door neighbor tells Mallory about the ghost stories surrounding the guest house where she lives, she eventually convinces herself that her guest house is haunted and the ghost is speaking through Teddy. Half right.

Of course, her pursuit of this tightens the underwear of The Maxwells, and so she begins to investigate under the radar. She enlists the help of The Maxwells’ gardener whom she’s told that she was a local student (and not a recovering person being given a second chance to get her life on track). Fast forwarding past the awkwardness of living with a married couple whose marriage is a thin facade of happiness, the “hauntings”, the creepy photos with the Samura-like girl in them, Mallory trying to confront the super rationalist parents about the supernatural realm, and Mallory trying to make contact to the ghost by ouija board… eventually the ghost jumps into Mallory’s body while she is napping and causes her to draw all over the walls of The Maxwell’s pristine white walls.

The rest is a loud and gory climax with a small scoop of falling action on the side. The parents fire Mallory because of the “artwork”, attributing it to some sort of mental break caused by recovery, and they give her 48 hours to get out. Alex, the gardener, is told about her true background as a recovering addict (but still wants to help her). She miraculously solves the mystery at the last minute and proceeds to do the dumbest thing that characters can do in a mystery/thriller… confront the bad guys with no backup, collateral, witness, or weaponry. The Maxwells reveal their devilry… they are kidnappers who stole a little girl and made her disguise herself as a boy. The child’s real mother, whom Caroline Maxwell killed, is who has been haunting little Teddy.

Caroline Maxwell plans to kill Mallory by drug overdose, but she’s saved by Ted Maxwell who secretly hates his kidnapping murderess wife (but has done nothing but enable her). A delusional Ted is killed by Caroline, in the midst of some pipe dream of him running away to some foreign land with Mallory. A chase ensues, with Mallory running into the woods with Teddy and hiding in a tree. Just as Caroline has hunted them down, the spirit of Teddy’s dead mother possesses her, getting Teddy to kill Caroline with an arrowhead conveniently found earlier in the story. 

That’s how most elements of this story felt. Convenient. The end, while loud and gory, seemed staged. Like I could see the beginning from the end. All the little easter eggs stood out like they had billboards above them pointing out “CLUE HERE”, or “FORESHADOWING”. Yet, I still enjoyed it. Like I would an R.L. Fear Street book. Three stars, but a high three. 

ADDENDUM: seeing from other reviewers how this author's work includes, deceptively, various ideologies used to other and vilify trans children and their parents (which makes me think back to that errant Harry Potter reference). Unfortunate and gross. Knowing makes the work even cheaper than it already was. Keeping my same rating, which was written and determined before I found out. I will definitely be more critical in the future.

[todayisafridaynight]

CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S TAKEN ME SO LONG TO REPLY YOU'VE ALREADY FINISHED THE SECOND MOVIE LOL BUT

I LOVE showing The Mole Song to people because it's like, love it or hate it, you can't possibly have a lukewarm reaction to it. I'm thrilled you liked it so much!!! Hong Kong Capriccio definitely has its moments and I'm glad you enjoyed it too; on that note, I haven't seen Final yet, and it doesn't seem to be hardsubbed online, but I was able to find a raw and subs separately. They seem okay from the scene I skipped to twenty minutes in but not positive lol

It really does set the tone early! I love the cutaway gags too The manga has a lot of absurd non-sequiturs and it was a fun way to adapt that to a new medium. As an adaptation as a whole, Undercover Agent Reiji in particular definitely has the tone down and I appreciate that it kept a lot of the Moments I liked.

Hiura had me from the blood oath… one of the guys of all time… despite how I sound from what I just said, I actually didn't even know there was a manga or a sequel when I first watched it, so I was SO relieved he survived the explosion. I was honestly 100% convinced he'd crash the plane at the end though lol, but I guess that ended up happening in Hong Kong Capriccio anyway?

BUT YEAH LIKE THE GUY JUST HAS A HYPERFIXATION AND I HAVE TO RESPECT THAT. Which, you know, in-universe, to have the whole butterfly motif and then dress your man up in florals… I repeat, Reiji was slaying in that dress… I love everyone's costuming in these movies. SPEAKING OF THE AUCTION, the PSP segment onward was insanely RGGcore wasn't it… good god……

It's kind of funny how little Reiji changes--I guess that's how you keep a manga going for like 900 or whatever chapters so far--because he'll pretty much Always have things he needs to figure out. Still very much fun to watch, though!

ALSO the drugs reminded me (I was expecting them to be In The Dogs too lol), shoutout to manga Tsukihara for having the exact same character arc as Mine and ending up an invaluable ally. Also getting to beat up Ryuji Leo (sorry my boy but Mine is overall the stronger combatant to me and I am tired of the Reddit-y discussions on the wiki saying otherwise </3). Living vicariously while Mine's status is still uncertain lol

P.S. I Too Treat Your Blog Like The Morning Paper and it means a lot to me to have the opportunity to write in and talk! I would also love to join a stream if you ever go for it!

P.P.S. NOOOOOOO PLEASE THE SLOW DANCING…….. UNWELL. I've imagined the same thing but at home… in the light of the refrigator… Jo is still tense as hell both because of the situation and it's such a waste of electricity and they really should close the door as soon as possible… but Arakawa insists if it's only for the duration of the song, it's fine……

YEAH THE MOLE SONG MOVIES WERE REALLY FUN thanks again for recommending it to me (I found out it had a manga series the moment I went to look it up, but I haven't read a lick of it. I'd say I'm surprised it's still running but I mean... manga like One Piece have over a thousand chapters at this point, so I shouldn't be too surprised. Maybe I'll give it a read sometime just to check out how the movies and manga compare-and-contrast with each other)!

1.) BIGGEST HONOR I'm glad my blog can entertain a lot of people (and a big part of that is due in part to people writing in and giving me a chance to chat a bit, so of course I always have to thank you and everyone else for sending me asks as frequently as you all do. They're absolutely the highlight of my day whenever I get the time to answer them ^^)!! I've always liked the idea of streaming (I've attempted to years back but I never tried again afterwards), though I always end up getting too anxious about it (plus I tend to get performance anxiety and I end up taking a lot longer to draw whenever people are watching me). I hope to get over that anxiety one day though- I bet it'd be fun to respond to people in real time or take quick doodle requests mid-stream :)

2.) AW THEM DANCING IN THE KITCHEN THOUGH I CAN SEE IT..... Jo being worried about the electric bill though that's so accurate..... I'll definitely think on the concept of Slow Dancing AraSawa with all the apparent enthusiasm around it.. I promise..

YAYA my friend (who made the post) told me a moment after I told her (also PLEASE I was so heinous reading the name- first thing I said to her aside from 'new movie night plan' was 'how many times does this man play a dude named 'Jo' ☠️☠️)! I wasn't able to find any recordings of the actual play (I know a trailer was posted last year so I don't know if they've actually performed live since then) but here's to hoping one day there's a recording of it posted somewhere...

[itsmaddienotmaddy]

It’s been a HOT minute since the USWNT graced our screens and I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give an unneeded 11 paragraph personal assessment.

Starting with CAPTAIN Becky. Put that title under things you love to see. I honestly forgot she was out the majority of the NWSL games with injury because she hasn’t missed a beat- calm, cool, collected, organized. A national treasure.

Alyssa didn’t have to do much, but stepped up when called upon. The one insane dive to ensure the ball went wide, incredible.

Abby also had a v solid game. Sometimes I feel like she doesn’t really stand out, I never feel like I’m yelling about her, good or bad. But she’s consistently a solid presence and a great complement with Becky

Crystal freaking Dunn. No fall series, no problem. She is so energetic, and so SMART. Her ability to attack out of back is unmatched. She is a god damn joy.

Kelley playing as long as she did was surprising. Her megs were sick, no doubt. But the fatigue at the end was v apparent. Her and Lynn are just never on the same page either.

Also super surprised Julie played a full ninety. Her physical presence was bonkers... not gonna lie though, she is LUCKY she got away with no card. Some of those challenges were rough

Rose! ROSEMARY. KATHLEEN. LAVELLE. Knock to the hamstring or not - Man City is underutilizing her. So happy Vlatko isn’t a dumb dumb and had her at her natural position. Her runs were smart, her defensive play was solid, and her goal was an absolute fucking banger.

Sam was killing it. She is on such a run of incredible play with Man City and that obviously followed with this game. She won allllll the defensive corners in the air, and her ability to take it down the field with pace and confidence and distribute?? Chefs kiss.

Tobin is another one in just RARE form. Crosses? Incredible. Defensive pressure? Unmatched. Moves? Sick. Back heel flicks? Beautiful. Her and Christen are linking up so well (because duh) and her and Alex are getting some combos back too. I am in love.

Christen WAS NOT OFFSIDES and I stand by that. She’s still not quite at the peak she was before COVID but her assist to Rose was such a good little flick and her movement and creation of opportunity was amazing

Lynn had SO MANY CHANCES (that went to the damn moon). Her assist to Kristie was perfect. But other than that, very frustrating. She was so CLOSE. SO MANY TIMES.

Seeing Alex come on after 900 years was amazing. She was def offsides but HAD she been one step back, that goal would have been beautiful. She’s getting back into form, can’t wait to see what she’s going to be like in the coming months.

KRISTIE. GODDAMN. MEWIS. 2020 has been kind to her and only her. What a comeback. What a goal. What a GAL. She deserves the world.

Miss Midge came in with a spark and had a lot of chances for the minutes she was on. Her runs forward and just strength of running through the ball (and the Dutch players) was spot on

Sonnett coming in on the left and not missing a beat was cool to see. Her versatility on the backline is really valuable. Her play was less chaotic than usual, very put together. Sweden did her well. And the menace that was her and Sophia on the left was unexpected but SO much fun.

And Sophia! Little baby bulldozer, Horan protégée. I know she’s usually not such a wrecking ball but she was called to do defensive work and she delivered! Super pumped to see her continue to get minutes. Good first cap!!

And Jaelin. She obviously didn’t have time to do much but so happy she got in and excited to see more from her!

Is that everyone? Think that’s everyone. Idk what happened to the Dutch team. They. Struggled.

Either way, SO FREAKING HAPPY TO SEE THE GALS ON THE FIELD WINNING AGAIN

[caffeinatedbraincell]

A TOG fic inspired by that one post by @oldguardsaidthat

Read on AO3

“I wasn’t that drunk last night,” Joe insisted. The look on Booker’s and Nile’s faces told him that this was a lost battle, but he had to try.

“You were flirting with Nicky,” Andy retorted from the kitchen, noisily slurping a coffee. Joe quickly swallowed a bite of his scrambled eggs before turning over his shoulder.

“So? He’s my husband!”

“You asked him if he was single. Then cried when he said he wasn’t.”

As if on cue, Nicky walked out of their bedroom. His hair was still damp from the shower, poking out from beneath the hood of a large, comfy pullover.

“That’s my hoodie,” Joe and Nile said at the same time. Joe turned to glare at her.

“It’s a men’s hoodie, Nile. Booker got it for me.”

“No, it’s a unisex one from Costco and it was in the bag of shopping with my name on it. Right, Book?”

Booker looked back and forth between them, trying to decide who he wanted to get into a fight with less. He sighed. “It’s clearly Nicky’s.”

Nicky grinned, pausing next to the table to scoop more breakfast potatoes onto Booker’s plate. “You tell them, Booker.” He went into the kitchen to join Andy by the coffee bar. “What were you saying, boss? Who was crying?”

“Your husband. Last night.”

Nicky laughed out loud. Joe tried really, really hard to be mad.

“He remembered nothing this morning, if you’ll believe it. I didn’t even know we could get hangovers that bad.”

“Yeah, well. You know how he gets. He missed you.”

Andy’s voice had softened, and Joe could almost see the look of fondness that was no doubt settling itself across Nicky’s face. He decided to lighten the moment by stomping into the kitchen and angrily washing his plate.

“I’m right here, you know! I can hear you.”

Andy smirked a little evilly. “Don’t you want to know what happened last night, Joe?”

“No.”

Booker walked in with his and Nile’s plates, sliding them into the soapy water and shrinking back when Joe gently waved off his offer to help. Nile hopped up onto a stool on the other side of the counter. She leaned forward excitedly.

“Are you sure? Because it’s a good story. We’d love to tell it.”

“Of course you would,” Joe muttered with ire that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’d all jump to speak of my humiliation, wouldn’t you?”

“Of your all-encompassing love, hayati.” Nicky set his cup down and stepped next to him, pressing against his hip and shoulder as he reached for a dish cloth to start drying. “Of your sweetness. Your utter sincerity. Which of these sounds even remotely like humiliation?”

“Bold words for someone who refuses to delete the video of me slipping in the rain and landing butt-first in a puddle of mud.”

“It was funny, Joe!”

“You showed Nile,” he grumbled, but he felt his lips quirk up in a smile despite himself.

“She is part of our family now, is she not?”

“Of course. Which is why I’m taking her to the art history museum in Malta next time we all visit. The human anatomy exhibit, specifically.”

Nicky turned a lovely shade of pink and made a point of shaking the next wet dish directly over Joe’s head.

“What’s in the human anatomy exhibit?” Nile perked up. Joe opened his mouth to speak, but Nicky quickly cut in.

“Andy! Why don’t you tell Joe how he managed to get wasted before Booker and I even showed up last night?”

___

Andy slapped $200 onto the table. Nile raised a judgmental eyebrow as she chewed on a piece of fried chicken.

“Andy. I’m 27. I don’t have $200 lying around to throw in on a bet.”

“That’s fine. Put in how much ever you want. Winner takes all. Joe, you want in?”

Joe looked up from where his head had been resting against his hands on the table. “I refuse,” he began indignantly, “to go around flirting with people just to get their numbers. It’s unethical. What if you break someone’s heart?”

Andy rolled her eyes. “No one’s gonna lose their heart to someone they met a few minutes ago at a club. Most of the numbers are fake, anyway. It’s just for fun.”

“Nicky’s not here.”

“Booker texted me. They’re delayed because Copley told them to stop by the bank and withdraw some cash. He’s going on vacation and wants us to stay under the radar for a few days.”

Joe shook his head. “You two play. I think I’m going to sit at the bar and drink for a bit.”

“Suit yourself. Nile, come on.”

___

“Wait, wait, wait,” Nile interjected. “Let me tell this next part, ‘cuz you’ll tell it wrong.”

“Look, the fact that you had three more numbers when Nicky and Booker arrived is immaterial. If we’d continued the game like we were supposed to, I’d have won.”

“You’re a sore loser, Andy.”

“Hey, I paid you, didn’t I?”

The group made their way back to the dining table. Nicky sat back and ran a hand through his hair exasperatedly.

“Madre de dio, you guys. I’ll tell it.”

___

Nicky and Booker walked into the club, quickly locating Andy as she chatted with another woman animatedly.

“Andy!”

Andy looked up and smiled, extracting herself effortlessly from the conversation.

“Finally. The bank give you any trouble?”

“Tried to,” Nicky answered, “but nothing a quick call to Copley didn’t fix.”

“Where’s Nile and Joe?” Booker asked. “We should go home.”

“Oh? No drinks tonight, Book?”

“We have better alcohol in the kitchen cabinet.”

“That’s true. Nile should be around here somewhere, shoot her a text. Nicky and I’ll go find Joe.”

“Bet.”

They walked toward the bar and spotted Joe scooting what was obviously the latest of several $10 bills at a bartender. She spared him a concerned glance over her shoulder as she poured him another drink. Joe gulped it down in a matter of seconds.

Nicky shook his head despairingly. “This insane man.”

“He was missing you.”

“That’s no reason to drink the bar dry!”

“The alcohol can’t hurt him, Nicky.”

“I know, I know. Give me a couple minutes, I’ll get him.”

Nicky walked up and slid onto the stool next to Joe, leaning forward to ask the bartender for a glass of water. He turned to his husband. Before he could say anything, Joe glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and whispered,

“Beautiful company tonight.”

Nicky froze. Was his husband hitting on him?

Joe winked.

Nicky’s jaw dropped. He was going to slap this man. He didn’t even want to know how much alcohol it took for an immortal to get this much out of their own mind.

“Are you single?” Joe’s words cut through his thoughts. Nicky looked at his wide, sparkling brown eyes, alive and surprisingly alert compared to a few moments ago. Joe kept his hands to himself, but leaned forward almost unconsciously, as if taking comfort in breathing the air around Nicky. His voice and body were a study in longing.

“No,” Nicky replied honestly. He held up his left hand. “I’m married.”

For a minute, neither of them spoke. Then Joe turned back to the bar and rested his chin on his hands, looking away.

“Oh,” he said in a tiny voice.

Nicolo rested a hand on the back of his neck and brought the glass of water to his lips. “Here, drink this. You’ll feel better.”

As he returned the glass, Nicky heard Joe give a small sniffle. Then another. He whipped around just in time to see a large, unhappy tear trickle down his beloved’s face.

Nicky’s heart abruptly broke.

“Hayati,” he breathed, surging forward to take Joe’s face in his hands. “Joe, look at me, my love. Please.”

“I’m not, though. Your love.” Joe hiccupped sadly. “You’re already married.”

“To you, you absolute fool. Here, I’ll show you. See?” Nicky held up his husband’s hand, clinking their matching rings together. “You’re my husband, Yusuf. The love of my every life.”

Joe looked at their joined hands disbelievingly. “I’m… yours?”

“Yes. Of course. And I’m yours. For as long as you want.”

“Promise?”

If Nicky had to endure one more second of doubt in those wide, teary eyes, he would explode. So he leaned forward and captured Joe’s lips with his, trying to pour 900 years of tenderness and devotion into the kiss.

“Nicky!” Nicky pulled back just far enough to shout a quick, “Yes, boss?” over his shoulder. Not that Joe found even that small distance acceptable, with the way he clung to Nicky’s neck.

“Get your ass in the car. Joe’s, too. You two can continue there. The rest of us want to go home.”

“I call shotgun!” Booker yelled.

“Oh, that’s not fair at all,” Nile grumbled. “Andy, can I drive?”

“No.”

___

Joe buried his face in his palms and groaned, a blush creeping up his neck as the others laughed. “Please tell me I at least behaved on the drive back.”

“If you call whispering ‘ti amo’ repeatedly until you fell asleep in Nicky’s lap behaving, then sure.”

The others burst out laughing at Nile’s retort, and Joe flushed even deeper.

“Hey, it could have been worse,” Andy smirked.

“Anyway,” Joe interjected. “I guess I owe you all an apology.”

Every single one of them opened their mouths to assure him that no such thing was necessary, but Andy got there first.

“For what? Being an absolutely precious human being? Never.”

[jaybug-jabbers]

How Big Are Red/Blue Glitch Pokemon?

A Typical Glitch Pokemon’s Height/Weight

If you’ve ever bothered to look at the Pokedex entries for glitch pokemon in Red/Blue, you might start noticing a pattern. Almost every single glitch pokemon reports the same set of numbers: 23 feet tall and 880.6 pounds. In fact, besides the Missingno, only around twelve glitch pokemon are also an exception to this rule. The rest are all the same:

I’m sure there’s some reason for this. I imagine it’s related to how the game is reading data that it shouldn’t be and interpreting it as height and weight information. But I’m not here to explain exactly what it’s doing, because frankly, I don’t know. 

What I am here to do is give you a feel for how big most glitch pokemon are! 23 feet tall can be hard to imagine, after all. At least, *I* have a hard time visualizing it. So I googled “23 feet  tall.” And this amazing thing is what I found:

(Here’s a link to a little information on the source of this photo)

So, most glitch pokemon are about as tall as this straw Godzilla here. 

This is actually not an outrageous size for creatures in the pokemon universe. For example, Onix is listed as ~28 feet tall. So Onix would tower over this, even. Still, that said, glitch pokemon aren’t exactly housecat-sized friends. They are Big Boys.

Oddly, though, the weight of glitch pokemon seems surprisingly low for their size. Animals that weigh around 800-900 pounds in real life include American bison/buffalo, Grizzly and Polar bears, moose, yaks, and large tigers. Some very chonky animals, absolutely-- but admittedly none of these animals are the size of this Godzilla here. We’d normally expect a real, living Godzilla of this size to be, well, heavier then a single buffalo. 

The Pokedex may not be the best at listing realistic estimates, though. For example, Onix is listed as being around 460 pounds. A 28-foot tall creature made of solid rock is only 460 pounds? Honestly, that seems pretty low.

In any case, the final answer is that most glitch pokemon weigh about a Single Buffalo. For reference, one of these:

Now that we know your garden-variety, average glitchmon is around these scales, what about the exceptions?

Glitch Pokemon Height Ranges

To help give a proper idea of sizes, I’ve created a height chart of glitch pokemon in red/blue:

As you can see, most glitches are in that 23-foot range, which is the height of a Rayquaza. But there are some who are significantly larger!

-F3 (the Riachu hybrid) is 40 ft tall, which comes rather close to Wailord (47 ft). 

-DE (a Magnemite hybrid) is ~60 ft tall which nearly reaches the massive Eternatus from Sword/Shield (65 ft). 

-But three glitch pokemon, C3, CB and DC (a Gengar hybrid and the two Pidgeotto hybrids) can reach an entire 80 feet (DC can vary in height/weight), towering over even Eternatus. This is taller than the tallest dinosaurs. 

-However, there’s an even a bigger behemoth. The glitch pokemon EE (a Bug/Glitch type) can also come in a range of sizes, ranging from the average 23 feet all the way to around 87 feet tall. This is not quite reaching kaiju sizes (or Gigantimax sizes), but I can assure you an 87-foot tall bug would be pretty intimidating. 

-On the other hand, a few of the size exceptions are more reasonable. D4 and EC are about the same size as the 23-foot average. 

-Meanwhile, C2 (A Pokemaniac type) and CA (one of the powerful Normal/Ground types) are around 16 feet tall, which is around Primal Groudon or original Zygarde size. Still hefty pokemon, to be sure, but  a bit easier to handle.

-Missingno’s regular form is 10 feet tall, the height of a standard basketball hoop. Arceus and Serperior are this size. Still large, since they still can’t quite fit into an average house without ducking for the ceiling, but we’re getting there.

-The only small glitch pokemon are F7 (the Pidgeot hybrid) and DF (one of the Normal/Normal types), at 2 feet tall. This is the size of Charmander, which should come up to just above your knees. Quite a cute size!

Glitch Pokemon Weight Ranges

Now, if you look at the list, you’ll find that most glitch pokemon seem rather beefy:

-For the heaviest glitch pokemon, C3 (a Gengar hybrid) and the two Pidgeotto hybrids (CB, DC) can weigh 6099 lbs, a little over 3 tons. This is in the range of what heavy Elephants weigh. 

-Not far off from those, the Raichu hybird (F3) and DE (a Magnemite hybrid) weigh 5751.9 and 5400.7 lbs, respectively. 

-Regular Missingno are 3507.2 lbs, around the weight of Rhinos.

-DF (a Normal/Normal type) and F7 (the Pidgeot hybrid) are 2622 lbs.

-For reference, the heaviest natural pokemon, such as Primal Groudon, are 2204 lbs

-C2 (a Pokemaniac type) and CA (a Normal/Ground type) weigh 2150.1 lbs., in the range of what Hippos weigh.

-EE (a Bug/Glitch type)’s weight ranges widely from 2056 to 106 lbs.

-The weight for most glitch pokemon is 880 lbs., in the range of a Buffulo

So, yeah, most of these seem to be an impressive weight! On the other hand, most of these seem surprisingly light for their size. Take C3, for example. This pokemon is 80 feet tall, taller than the biggest dinosaurs, and yet it only weighs around the weight of one large elephant. EE can have an even more extreme contrast. It can be ~84 feet tall but only weigh around 100 pounds. 

However, the most extreme example is probably the pair of pokemon with the lightest weights for glitch pokemon:

-D4 (a Gengar hybrid) and EC are only 0.6 pounds, which is about the weight of a can of beans. Yet these pokemon are 22 feet tall (the height of Giratina). That is incredible! I can’t imagine what they are made of.

If we look at regular Missingno, we find a height/weight contrast that’s not quite so nuts. Missingno is 10 feet tall and weighs ~3500 lbs. That’s actually pretty heavy for its height! (A Buffalo is ~800-900 lbs and ~5 feet tall, so you’d expect a freakish monster 10-foot-tall Buffalo to weigh ~1800 lbs). However, while Missingno is surprisingly dense, it’s not insanely unrealistic?

That said, the reward for the most reasonable height/weight ratio must go to C2 & CA. C2 & CA are ~16 feet tall and weigh ~2150 pounds. This is actually very close to Primal Groudon, which is ~16 feet tall and weighs 2204 pounds. And in our Buffalo example, we’d exepect a freakish Buffalo that’s 15 feet tall to weigh around 2700 lbs. So, yeah, not too far off the mark!

Summary

Most glitch pokemon are a bit shorter than an Onix and weigh about the same as Steelix (or one real-life buffalo). However, some glitch pokemon can reach up to ~87 feet tall, much taller than any natural pokemon. Additionally, some glitch pokemon can weigh up to 6099 pounds, well beyond the weight of any natural pokemon. Glitch pokemon probably don’t beat out Gigantimax pokemon in height and weight, but they do for natural pokemon.

Also, most glitch pokemon are surprisingly light for their size. This can be very extreme. However, Missingno is actually pretty dense for its size, and a few glitch pokemon have a very reasonable hight/weight ratio.

[pixelated-pogues]

Hey lovey!!! Congrats on 900!!! I’m so proud of you!!! Can I get an obx ship? My name is Kaity, I’m straight, I use she/her pronouns. Im a film major. I love to listen to Pop Punk music and draw. You’ll often rarely find me in short sleeves as I have a sun sensitivity but I still enjoy hanging at the beach and hiking. Sunsets are the most beautiful thing in the world to me right now. I’m a hopeless romantic. I have half brown half blonde hair and dark brown eyes but they turn amber in the sunlight. I have a semi-colon tattoo on my right arm. I thoroughly enjoy Chinese/Japanese food (especially anything with noodles). I’m as active as I can be but I do have panic attacks and night terrors along w/ an autoimmune disorder. My favorite animal is the sea turtle and my favorite color is burgundy. That’s pretty much me in a nutshell!

Xx -K🖤

hey bb! i’m so sorry for the delay! i’m moving tomorrow so things have been hectic and i kept forgetting about doing this!

okay so, i genuinely ship you with our boy jj ☺️

JJ would notice you at the beach carrying around a camera, filming your friends as they horse around in the sand while you guys wait for the sun to set. He didn’t talk to you then, but he was insanely intrigued by the girl with two colors in her hair carrying a camera around and mindlessly laughing about whatever was going on. John B immediately took notice and kicked sand at him, laughing, “Earth to JJ, are we going surfing or are you going to sit there daydreaming all day?” Of course JJ kicked sand right back before running towards the water with his board, John B following in suit.

After that, you always seemed to be at the same places as him at the same time. Each time he saw you, he grew more interested by the small things he noticed. The way you always seem to be wearing long sleeves and how you carry a battered sketchbook around with you seemingly everywhere you go peaked his interest too.

You were by yourself at the Wreck, eyes focused on whatever you were drawing in your sketchbook, when he finally made up his mind to talk to you. He came up beside you, stealing a glance at your drawing before he said anything.

“That’s really good,” he complemented, startling you out of your thoughts. Your face turned a light shade of pink as you jumped, nearly knocking your cup over in the process. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You’re fine,” you laughed in embarrassment, pushing your hair behind your ear. “Thanks, the idea has been stuck in my head for days, but I can’t seem to do it justice when the pencil actually hits the paper.”

“Are you kidding? This is unreal, do you mind?” He questioned, gesturing towards the book for approval before you push it towards him. “These are really good.” He flipped through the pages in your sketchbook, appreciating each drawing before one caught his eye, halting his movements. “You drew me and my friends,” he stated, in awe of the detailed drawing of the pogues on the beach.

“Oh, oh god that’s so embarrassing. You must think I’m a creep,” you gushed, moving to grab the book from his hands.

“No, not a creep. I’m intrigued. Why us?”

“I’m filming a little documentary of what life’s like in Outer Banks. It’s really just a personal project really. You guys seem to be a great subject for the project, and I like doodling people that I find interesting. A weird connection between the two I guess,” JJ found himself shocked at your words. The whole concept was so cool to him and he immediately asked if you wanted to meet the pogues.

That’s how you ended up meet everyone. You quickly meshed with the group and it wasn’t long before you and JJ officially got together.

——

-This boy would LOVE letting you film him.

•Whether he was doing some ridiculous trick, hanging with the pogues, or he was just being his goofy self, he loves being in front of the camera.

-He’d let you talk him through all things related to filming and why it interests you so much. He’s all for listening to you talk about the things your passionate about.

-You’d spend days chasing sunsets, hiking through hidden places on the island, and nights at the chateau with the pogues.

-John B and Pope would give him hell for being whipped, but they’re secretly just happy that JJ found someone that makes him happy.

-I can totally foresee the two of you JAMMING to pop punk music. JJ would be jumping around head banging, screaming the lyrics to songs while you focused on whatever you were drawing at that given time.

-He’s also be so gentle with you. He learned how to help you through your panic attacks and always made sure to hold you for as long as you needed after.

-Honestly, I think the boy would be WHIPPED. He’d be so protective of you and would absolutely spoil you in any way that he could.

——

I didn’t intend on giving a lil imagine AND a bit of a headcanon buuut I loved the idea of this so much that I couldn’t NOT do it.

[purplerose244]

Belonging

Here again for the @toa-secret-santa of this year! So happy to participate again, I love these events! 😍😍 Hello @spellcasterdouxie, I’m your secret santa! Merry Christmas and festivities, hope you like my present! ❤

Summary: In which being stuck in New York to protect a magical being and save the world in the process is no excuse for not celebrating Christmas with your friends.

Also on AO3

So… Nari was a terrible liar.

Extremely powerful being, the purest pretty soul, but horrible at lying.

Douxie didn’t have the slightest idea of what she was plotting, granted that she used to be part of an evil congregation of wizards that wanted to take over using an ancient artifact – meh, like that was the weirdest coming from his friends –, but he was fairly sure that her claim regarding the leaking sink of the bathroom was some sort of decoy.

Did that convince him to ignore those big adorable puppy eyes?

“It looks good to me, but I’m gonna give it a double check just in case!”

“Thank you Douxie, much appreciated! Please make sure everything is working, do not overlook a single thing!” Absolutely not. He was a master wizard, not a beast.

Their little apartment was neither pretty nor particularly clean. Which considering the little money he accumulated over the years with all of his jobs back in Arcadia and given the fact that they were in New York City, was kind of a given. But it had a perfectly functional bathroom, basically a gift from above, or some kind of karma retribution from putting up with three different apocalypses in the same summer – and he had all suspicions that another one was coming, but possibly another season. That being said, he wasn’t sure why with her plant like appearance, Nari with all people was so interested into their sink. Besides maybe for spraying a bit of water over her head – one very curious and endearing scene really, like a pot plant watering itself.

Then again, he wasn’t completely sure why he was going along with it instead of asking directly what was this all about. Maybe he liked to study whatever thought somehow as peculiar as her could come up with. Maybe there was nothing else of particular interest to do while waiting for his mac and cheese to be ready… maybe that little nightmare of his from last night got him a little too down, and doing anything but think about it was a better solution than most. And it was a pretty annoying maybe, because dreams about his master were as common as breathing lately.

He thought he was over it. It was probably too soon… hopefully he was at least getting closer to the not too soon part of it.

One long silence followed, from which he was fairly sure he had heard a few whispers a little lower than Nari’s light tone. Great, what now? Was she actually plotting something?

“Is everything okay over there? Arch? Nari?”

“Fine, everything is fine! Keep checking please!”

“Are you serious?” Okay now it was ridiculous. “Nope, I’m getting over there, and you two better not be up to no good!” They were a surprisingly compatible pair, especially since his familiar had made it his mission to teach her the marvel of pranks – she wasn’t even malicious about it, that made it all even more devious somehow. Douxie left the wrench on the ground, getting out of the bathroom and towards the living room. “You all keep forgetting that I’m the master wizards here, so technically I’m in charge, so if you’re scheming something- Whoa, Mordrax’s miracles!”

The last thing he had expected, after leaving their lonely living room that was made of four faded walls with a random kitchen connected to it, was to get back to it completely transformed into a messy, happy Christmas themed little chamber.

Filled with very familiar faces.

“Merry Christmas, Teach!” Claire almost knocked him off his feet with that hug. She looked radiant, all wrapped up in one big purple sweater with ‘Feeling Wicked Sassy’ written on it – appropriate. Behind her Steve, Toby and Archie were all smiling.

“Sorry, you would not leave the house,” Nari looked all cozy and a little guilty in that big mint green sweater – with ‘Every Day is Green Day’ written on it, where did she get that? –, waving at him. “And it felt like claiming we were being attacked by Skrael and Bellroc was a bit excessive.” Thank goodness his roommate and protegee had some common sense – considering his latest adventure, more than him for sure.

Claire giggled, shrugging innocently.

“We honestly hoped you were that bad of a plumber and would give us more time…”

Douxie snickered, because this was ridiculously endearing and he loved it all already.

“Too bad I’m not completely hopeless.”

“Could’ve fooled me!” Steve, it was Steve, not even worth turning around to recognize him. But a random fist bump, that much he could concede – especially with that massive blue sweater ‘Silent Knight, Holey Knight’ he had on, like really what was even that. “Ready to have the best time of your life?”

The master wizard arched an eyebrow.

“Said from you? Should we call the firefighter in advance? Or the police?” The blonde pouted very dramatically, Claire snickered. He had really missed these two. “Wow, this place looks amazing! The landlord can’t see this or she will force me to pay more for the rent.” His wallet was already gasping enough for breath and money. “All this stuff, all the decorations… is this beef?” Ah, that was why it all felt like such a sudden change, this paradisiac scent had definitely not been here before. “It smells delicious!”

“Thank you!” Second shock of the day, but Douxie could hardly blame himself considering the most time he had spent around Jim had been during his huge troll moments – he kinda looked like a twig now in comparison. “I’m pretty well known for my festive feasts.”

“Also known as festeasts!” Toby showed one enthusiastic victory sign, pulling off his orange ‘Rockin’ This Christmas’ with plenty of little gems and stones all around – the forever geologist.

Jim rolled his eyes with a grin.

“Tobes we’re not calling them that.” The Warhammer holder frowned, only to beam when he got handed a spoon for a taste. “I made most of this from home so it’s all ready and warm, but I wanted to make something on the place while I was at it. Freshly made food tastes way better on Christmas.” Toby hummed around the spoon, smacking his lips, then he rubbed his fingers together towards the chef, who caught it as to add more salt.

Douxie couldn’t help but scoot closer, peaking inside. That looked like food. That looked like real, delicious, extremely well-made food.

“What in the world, how did you make that?” Jim snorted.

“You moved on without much of a comment from me turning into a half-troll, a full troll and then back to a human, and this surprises you?”

“My friend, there were Thai leftovers, one instant ramen, an onion and an egg left in the fridge so yes, this surprises me!” All speculations died when he was offered a taste too. “… so it turns out I know nothing of magic. I must bow to the real master wizard here.” If happiness had a flavor it had to be this one. The former trollhunter snickered, giving him a little elbow before going back over his creations. And if the most classic ‘kiss the chef’ apron on him wasn’t already extremely fitting, the cyan sweater underneath reciting ‘I’m In The…’ on the back barely left to the imagination what list was written on the front.

A very well-deserved sign, really.

“Buttsnack’s managed to make these too, take a look!” Steve waved at the little counter that was the only thing remotely looking like a table in this place. And smelling just as heavenly as everything else, there they were, mince pies, just like the ones from Camelot. “But I don’t know if they’re as good because someone slaps my hand every time I- OUCH!! I didn’t even try this time!”

Archie’s tail could be surprisingly useful as a whip, in fact.

“You were thinking about it! So don’t, these are for later.” And wow, if his most loyal companion wasn’t absolutely adorable wearing that little red sweater – ‘Santa Paws’, he was going to complain about it all day long. Douxie wished he hadn’t left his phone in the bathroom. “We’re still waiting for the tree, the last decorations and the music. But we’re almost ready.” So apparently his familiar had been behind all of this. That actually made perfect sense.

Of course this little wizard associate had known this was going to do him good. It was the kind of bond that came with being around each other for over 900 years.

Archie smiled at him, and Douxie couldn’t not grin in return.

“Can’t wait for them! Even thought I did have some when we had that travel… well technically ages ago, we were actually in Camelot, but it wasn’t- Ah forget it, time loops are too confusing.” There was a consensual groan including all of them but Toby and Nari, who just looked at each other and shrugged. “Well, this is awesome, how did you even get everything here so fast?” On second thought, that was more than just bizarre. His eyes crossed Claire’s right away. “You get so tired with transportations through the Shadow Realm usually, and you got to bring along all of these people and decorations?” The thing was, this wasn’t supposed to be possible. Another thing was, Lady Claire of house Nunez was so insanely talented it would had not surprised him.

The girl waved her hand in denial.

“I wish I was at that level, but no. Still, we did travel back and forth pretty quickly.”

“Without magic? How?”

“I should take offense from that highly questioning tone.” Third shock, his poor heart – he came back from the grave once, and he really didn’t recommend it. He was fairly sure the apartment he had rented didn’t include interdimensional portals opening in the middle of the living room. “And from the fact that you humans keep forgetting I invented a perfectly functioning wormhole generator. But please, continue with your predicaments, ignore the scientific feat I’ve accomplished!” For an alien that barely understood human sarcasm, Krel Tarron was made a whole half of it.

As he walked in from the portal, holding one edge of a box filled with Christmas balls, on the other side Zoe stepped in carrying along the rest. And between a black ‘I’m Back, Witches’ sweater and a gray ‘DJ Kleb’ one with four sleeves, it was one curious and fantastic view.

“Yeah yeah, you bent the rules of physics, congratulations!” Zoe’s tense tone implied that she must had heard that complain already. “Stop talking and get working, I’m going the extra mile here!”

“This doesn’t sound like a good time to have a walk.”

“For the love of…!” The pink haired girl let out a muffled scream, let go of her edge of the box – lucky for Krel to have four arms to catch it – and jumped over the master wizard to grab his shoulders. “I hate you so much, you left me alone dealing with all of these new knuckleheads! Like the local dummies weren’t enough!” The collective offended ‘Hey!’ coming from both the Akiridion and the village’s idiot – a marvel that Steve actually responded, fully aware of his status as knucklehead – was somehow even more endearing than funny.

Meanwhile Zoe was still wrinkling his favorite jacket, frowning aggressively at him like the fact that he was out there saving the world was unforgivable – you could say anything about this pink head, but not that she didn’t have priorities.

Douxie snickered, easing the hold onto him.

“Sorry for trying to give my friends a place to live in this crazy wild world, then!”

“… apologies accepted.” Zoe narrowed her eyes. “But only if we finally hunt for niffins and get those forsaken burgers after you did the deed. I’m calling dibs on you.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Besides, you owe me. I didn’t snitch and told that Hex Tech got annihilated and we’re in need of new personnel because someone needed to hide from the big bad villains.” Those blue gems were screaming not to mess this offer up, because it was certainly not going to come back.

Even with a pressure like that, in some way inside of him, Douxie felt freed of a little weight. Despite the distance and everything that had happened, some things stayed the same. So he quite happily held up his fist, smirking at the girl.

“Alright, as soon as this is over with. Deal.” Zoe glared at him a few more seconds. Then she nodded, and finally bumped their knuckles together.

With a thud Krel finally put the box down, sighing soundly.

“Thanks Seklos this is done. I believe we are only missing the dead tree that will be then covered in artificial garnishments as a form of apparent belittlement of nature.” He stayed still for a few seconds, mindlessly throwing a little sphere on the ground that divided in four pieces, generating a portal. “… I feel like I’m getting so accustomed with humans’ savageness that I’m even quite looking forwards to it. Especially for that useless invention called ‘tree’.” He snickered, getting inside the wormhole that disappeared as soon as he was in.

Luckily the impossible dimensional gateway appeared of not leaving any trace behind. And luckily the creature – or elf, demigod, Nari was still a bit of a mystery – most connected to the nature that had just been denigrated was way more interested in whatever chef wiz Jim Lake Jr. was preparing.

“You knubhead, I just told you not to!” Archie’s spiteful voice came along, as apparently Steve had managed to take advantage of the situation – a scientific miracle happening in front of them, fair enough – to finally get himself a mince piece. Only to get slapped to the ground.  “That’s it, until these cool down you’re getting nowhere near! Douxie, out with me, we need to guard the treasure!” That was some attachment for one tray of soft and delicious little pastries.

Douxie shrugged and complied, picking up the meal under the jock’s renovated pout and heading to the balcony. The chilling air got to his nose right away, but he endured, appreciating just the tiniest breath. There was barely space for once person there.

Well, one person and his familiar. He placed the tray on the railing, making sure it didn’t fall.

“How did Jim even get the recipe?” Archie grinned.

“Well, apparently his troll friends did remember a certain meal very appreciated by humans from back then, but they have their own idea on how to make it. I don’t know the details, but I certainly know it involves socks. Plenty of socks.”

“… you want to see Steve’s reaction to them later.”

“I want to see Steve’s reaction to them later with all the others. Christmas is supposed to be a family festivity, right?” His grin disappeared right after. “So… it didn’t sound like you were sleeping too well last night.” Yep. He knew. Of course he knew. He would had even if he didn’t have to habit of sneaking into his bed to get warm. “Something you’d like to talk about?”

Douxie breathed out, gently buffing his fluffy ear.

“I’m fine Arch, not need to get all sensible on me. It was one of the usuals.” He tried a weak smile, not really feeling like keeping everything in. Not with so many people inside, on this particular day. “… you know, thinking it now, somehow it was easier celebrating Christmas on the streets back in Camelot. Getting something good to eat, have fun, that was enough. Considering how tense was everyone in the Pendragon castle it’s not much of a surprise, but still… I wonder if Merlin ever had a proper Christmas in there.” He sighed. “He certainly didn’t while I was around.” The noisy streets of Camelot overlapped NYC’s busy ones. He swallowed a lump into his throat.

That legendary town was such a faraway place right now, coming back from a single memory was a slap from reality. Douxie shivered, taking in a freezing breath, gasping when Archie jumped over his shoulder and curled all around his neck. His fur was nice and warm.

“We have no way of knowing. But one thing’s for sure, that old man got a surprising, unexpected present in any case.” Archie smiled, eyeing him softly. “One very sneaky, very foolish, very brave apprentice.” They had been there, the both of them. And in any possible way, in the good, the bad, and the best, he had found a life to call that way. The one Merlin had asked him about.

The master wizard smiled, snuggling his cheek against his loyal friend.

It didn’t take long, the winter air acted like a freezer over the little pies. But as they went back in, the place had already changed – and that was besides AAARRRGGHH!!, with one gigantic hat on his head, holding up the tree while Blinky, wearing a scarf, was reading a manual on how to decorate it, where did he even get that? –: there was a table, appeared again out of nowhere, with all the most delicious looking dishes placed all over between branches of holly and little bells. Jim and Nari were putting down the last dishes, Steve was clumsily getting the statue of a reindeer to balance over the tv, Toby was checking the lights to make sure they were functioning.

And Claire was suddenly in front of him, beaming, clearly hiding something from behind her back. It immediately grabbed everybody’s attention, like it was some sort of event.

Was it?

“We’ve organized the present exchange for after lunch, but this one you need to put it on now. So, her it is!” She uncovered the secret and- Oh. It was a sweater. It was a sweater. For him. “There you go, you’re officially part of the wool club, a Christmas-limited association only.”

“Founder of the association Nancy Domzalski, mostly because it was Nana who made them all!” Toby caressed the front of his sweater, smiling softly. “She’s that kind of grandma that thinks that everything that’s made with love can bring warmth, and I’m kind of a believer too.” He shrugged, crossing his fingers behind the back of his head. “I know this isn’t your cool punk rock wizardy style, but Nana had her midlife crisis in her own time and I’m not exactly looking forward to one before my very own eyes!” That was probably not a sight a grandchild wanted of their grandma, that was understandable.

It was. It was, right? It was getting a little hard to focus on something, anything that wasn’t a soft bundle of black and navy blue stripes, welcoming and warm, with ‘Fuzzbuckets’ written on it. It was getting weird. A little unsettling even, because he just got out in the cold but his bones weren’t freezing anymore and he felt all fuzzy inside and now his eyes were warm and-

“… oh, curse me, not the waterfalls…!” Centuries spent transitioning from hopeless bard to punk rock guitarist, only to tear up at a random surprise Christmas party.

From there, he didn’t understand much. Only Claire’s probable ‘Aww Douxie!’, Toby’s sudden ‘There’s no Christmas without the sad moment’, Steve’s surprising ‘I know what to do, come on everybody, let’s all hug it out!’. And all of the sudden he was enveloped with so many arms, so many different people he had gotten to know and had managed to befriend and appreciate. That were part of his world, his life, and what was coming for the future.

So when he managed to open his eyes, there was so much to uncover, between a pink head, a scarred eyebrow, a lock of leaves and a paw still so close to his cheek. And it hit him that perhaps there was a reason why Camelot had always felt so far away lately.

That age was over. But this, it felt like it had only begun. Douxie smiled, closing his eyes again.

Embracing how good it felt to belong again.

[ughgclden]

🎞—CONGRATS ON 900!! i love love love both of your blogs so freaking much you inspire me all the time. can i get a character within the fear street universe? some things about me is that i have short, curly brown hair and blue-green eyes, i’m not sure if appearance has anything to do with it but i thought i’d add it in! i’m pretty sarcastic around my closest friends and generally good at making new ones, even though i get a bit anxious at big gatherings like dances and parties. i stick to a close group of friends, like 99% of the time. i’m also an avid theatre kid lmao—i’ve been singing and acting for over a decade. i write a lot. like, i have twenty seven half-finished book drafts and a million poems in my notes app. i make super super extensive playlists in which every single song has a specific reason for being on the playlist. i also work at a coffee shop and have an addiction to caffeine! i’m a maladaptive daydreamer, so i’ll literally spend hours daydreaming about being in my favorite movie/book/tv worlds and romanticizing relationships with my favorite characters (i’m bi, so there’s a big playing field in this lol). i have legit zero volume control at times and i’m an empath (like, too much empathy at times that it makes me physically incapable of doing anything). i read a lot and i like to annotate/highlight my books. i write on my hands a lot (i have a million markers and pens it’s insane) but i’m t e r r i b l e at drawing. i do lots of peace signs and finger guns when i don’t know what to say or just at random times so i don’t have to continue conversations lol. my favorite part is probably part two, i’m in love with both nick and ziggy lol. AH that was a lot of information that you probably didn’t need, but i really appreciate you doing this!! CONGRATS AGAIN!! i love being mutuals <3333

THANKS SO MUCH ANGEL!! you’re honestly the sweetest ever omg- currently crying over "you inspire me all the time". i can’t even tell u how much i adore both you and your blogs, you're so lovely and talented <33 also as a fellow maladaptive daydreamer, i felt that omg. if nobody got me i know the relationships w fictional characters i made in my head got me </3 anyways, onto the ship! you'll be happy to know that..

i’d ship you with ziggy berman!

okay, you with ziggy is just perfect to me - and the fact you're in love with her makes it even better. this may get long, so i apologise in advance.

first of all, ziggy thinks you're absolutely gorgeous from the moment she lays eyes on you in camp, and nothing changes when you both get together. she loves twirling your curls around her fingers and is constantly complimenting your eyes, especially the way they look when the sun hits them. sarcasm is practically your guys' love language i swear - you're constantly exchanging sarcastic remarks laced with lovesick smiles and laughter. please sing to her - oh my god, please. it never fails to make her happy, and she'll join in sometimes (i hc she has a great voice, fight me) so you two are just performing duets together. she's always blown away by your poems - she can't understand how your brain can put words together so eloquently and how you can be so so talented. you'd both make so many playlists together, half of them so overly specific, and would definitely make playlists for each other. this girl loves loves loves her coffee, so please don't be surprised when she begs you to make her a drink in exchange for some kisses. ziggy swears you make the BEST coffee, and no one makes it like you. she loves that you're an empath, adoring the amount of compassion you have, but will also try her hardest to make sure it isn't detrimental to you. she wants you to be happy <3 ziggy would also annotate books after you show her how, taking to her favourite stephen king novel's with a pen and highlighter and just going to town with it. you guys will exchange annotated books to see each other's thoughts and feelings!!! if she ever sees you writing on your hands, she'll place hers in front of you without a word, just waiting for you to doodle and write whatever you please on it. she tries to go as long as possible without completely washing it off, wearing your artwork with pride. peace signs and finger guns? ziggy loves it so much she adopts it herself. if you throw a peace sign up at her, there's a 99% chance she'll return it before changing the topic of conversation, knowing you're running out of things to say. this girl is just in love with you okay- she is super protective over you and can and will fight anyone who tries anything with you.

i hope u liked this lovely- it was super fun to write!!! thank u for being just an overall amazing mutual,, i'm so grateful and flattered to have someone as lovely as you following me - it means so much :') <333

[writingonjorvik]

Hey, so I just wanted to put out this post real quick as a kinda vent thing that’s been bugging me for a bit. It’s not like any one person in particular kinda thing, it’s just something I deal with a lot around the community because of how I work.

Can we not keep calling me shit like crazy or insane about how quickly I work?

Like don’t get me wrong, I get it. When I bust out 15k projects in a week or two, having that kind of motivation can be frustrating to see and I get people wishing they have that since getting the motivation to work on creative projects is hard. But like. My work pace is borderline manic episodes. I don’t want to say that it is manic episodes because I don’t want to diagnoses that, but like when I’m doing projects at speeds like that it’s because I literally cannot sleep unless I wear myself out completely working in a day or I will stay up all night thinking about what I need to get done the next day. This post is actually one of those kinds of things as I woke myself up at like 3 am and couldn’t get back to sleep until 7 ish just repeating how I was going to write this.

And like, I’ve lost friends and mutuals over this, people thinking that my 0 or 900 personalities are performative, that I’m willfully being abrasive or forgetful when I’m really so hyperfocused into projects that I cannot process anything outside of working on those projects. I hate being called a liar. It’s like a end a relationship thing depending on the severity of the thing because I cannot process lies, telling them myself or people telling them to me. And so it hurts even more when those people call me liars about something I’ve only started coming to terms with. And then to have mutuals turn around and say things like “Oh, you work so fast, you’re crazy. I wish I had that” is just. A lot and it’s frustrating considering that I’m over here living through the absolute hellscape that is dealing with this kind of non-stop cycle into deep and crippling depression of not being able to motivate myself to do anything when I hit that 0 again and having no win scenario where I don’t also feel insane, which is in no way healthy. 

I know I should talk to someone about this, but you know. United States healthcare is a joke. Covid is a nightmare. I haven’t been able to work since March after just recovering from being suicidal and jobless not three months before restrictions hit, so the antidepressants are just gonna have to do for now and this vent on my blog.

So, that’s what this is. Just, if you can, at least when talking to me, take that language out of the conversation because it’s been really hurtful to my health. Working on JD/JC and ROJ have been really amazing projects because I get way more benchmark check-ins on taking breaks and taking care of myself and the support is just. Amazing. Although, with JC getting so big, I’ve honestly debated taking a step back from it because a lot of people seemed to assume I was expecting the deck to blow up like it did and are mad I didn’t plan better and I was just spending that summer hyperfixating on getting the guidebook done and watching all of the amazing artists and just. I don’t want to ruin that project for me because people assume I’m a liar or performative or that I’m not sympathetic to people who can’t go at the speeds I do. I’m just asking for the inverse in return because I can’t sit still once I’m in my 900 mode and that can be just as exhausting as not having any energy.

[vantekay]

I'm holy shit wow thank you so much for 900 followers! this is insane I know I've talked about it a lot before but when I first started this blog I had no idea I would even have 5 followers, but now here I am nearly a year later with 900 followers and a good list of mutuals and friends (and a girlfriend holy shit) and my mind is absolutely blown like I cannot wrap my head around this and just seriously thank you all, I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you and I wouldn't be who I am today without all of the love and support you guys show me at any given moment. I am honestly really thankful for all the good things this blog has brought me like the love of my life? my uwu anon who has stolen my heart and changed me to be a better person who is learning to love themselves and accept themselves every moment of every day? and my soulmate avery (@lilac-park-jimin ), god don't even get me started that girl is my rock and without her I honestly don't know what kind of mindset i would be in and of course my babies emmie (@goochiegoochieguk ) and may (@gukwluv ) who are beyond adorable and always support and show love and make me smile with their asks or messages :) and mo (@minkive ) was there for me in really tough times and I was there for her, I know we haven't talked much lately but I hope you know you are always on my mind and I am always praying for the best for you because that's what you deserve and mina (@melonkooky ) you're so funny and cute i love seeing you in my asks as well and you're so caring 🥺 and I'm sorry we don't talk that often aH but yeah I love you guys so much thank you

[crystalelemental]

After clearing six Chapter 3 stories today, I decided that, instead of going for the seventh because both options are really under-leveled, I’d try getting one of the secret classes.  Ophelia is level 55, and ready to throw down, while Primrose and Olberic are level 45.  Round up and that’s basically level 50, too.  They’ll be fine.

Shrine of the Archmagus!  I figured since Ophelia was clearly going down the magic route, I’d do this one first.  If we win, we get some good stuff.  I like the Starseer title best, but you know.  Gotta focus.

The cave itself was really underwhelming for a threat level of 50.  I was honestly kinda surprised it was so...well, tame.  It really didn’t seem that impressive.  So of course, I go into the boss fight feeling a bit overconfident.

The boss, it turns out, is For Real.  Absolutely insane amounts of HP, rotating weaknesses, once of which was really bad for our team (Bow, Light, Dark; only Tressa could deal with it), all casts hit three times, and some of his tricks are downright insane.  His opener is a debuff that lasts 5 turns, sharply cutting offenses, but also preventing any kind of buff.  Which seems like a little bit of a dick move, can’t lie to you.  I didn’t even realize what it did until I’d already tried using Aelfric’s Auspices on Ophelia.  So you can imagine my displeasure at using 3BP for a failed boost.

That said.  GG EZ.

His triple cast was scary, but each hit was only around 400-500 damage, easily survivable in one cast.  Any time he had double actions, it was always some kind of technical move first, like re-applying the team-wide debuff, or changing his weaknesses after a break.  Honestly, had he left his weaknesses and just attacked twice, most of us wouldn’t have made it.  But he kept giving us free actions, and the sustained MP regeneration of Ophelia and Primrose, combined with Tressa having fantastic coverage for this guy’s weaknesses, and Olberic’s super big sword attack on break, actually got us through the fight.  Yeah, we won.  I’m just as surprised as you.  The only time it was legitimately scary was one time he majorly buffed his elemental attack, then hit for 900 per cast.  Only Primrose dropped, somehow.  But she has the Auto-Raise effect on, so she just got right back up and kept going.  We managed to beat it, without too much trouble.  Even got 40k off him from Tressa.

Now, I do think there’s supposed to be another way to beat this guy.  In that...I didn’t really get a feel for whether it lines up with his weaknesses, but I was looking at the big special skills, and Dancer’s makes any skill that targets one person target all.  And I’m pretty confident that what you’re supposed to do, is get that up on Cleric who can give the entire party Reflect, and bounce back a full wave of those spells.  I would assume, anyway.  If it works that way, that’s a pretty good solution to this guy who seems to almost entirely cast magic.

So now I can become the Sorcerer!  And I gotta say.  Nice.  Moves of every element, all of which hit 3 times.  A staff attack that severely debuffs foe’s elemental defense.  Special move that allows magic to crit.  Passives that boost damage when hitting a foe’s weakness, gives 50% bonus damage for 2x SP cost, and a flat 1.2x magic damage modifier, which I’m pretty confident is better than the +50 from Scholar.  It’s REALLY good.  Like, this is a pure upgrade in every way.  Better shield-breaking, better damage, better passives, better special, an extra physical weapon type, and a powerful debuff.  I love it.  Ophelia has switched over to this immediately.  I haven’t tested out everything yet, but we’re going to get Starseer, and I’m pretty confident we’ll win.  We beat this guy pretty easily, and now Ophelia is stronger than ever before.  So we’ll see what happens.

[lovewhatyoudodolan]

Perfect Score || Ethan Dolan

Prompt: You are an up and coming snowboarder and are participating in the winter X-Games for the first time. While there you run into the half-pipe star you idolize.

Word Count: 2,761

A/N: I’m so sad the Winter Olympics is over. I literally screamed when Shaun White took home the gold again. 🤗 

MASTERLIST

REQUEST

While I was growing up, my family thought I was insane for being so interested in such a dangerous sport. ‘Why don’t you just dance or play a normal sport like your classmates?’ is what I commonly heard when we had family gatherings, but I never paid them any mind. 

None of them had ever experienced the exhilarating feeling I get when I perfect a new trick or reach the end of a half-pipe. You feel invincible, like nothing in the world can harm you. Snowboarding may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for me.

I grew up on the sunny beaches of southern Florida, so my interest in snowboarding was very unexpected. My parents were extremely against the idea of their only daughter being interested in such a dangerous sport, but after spending most of my elementary school years begging them to take me to the slopes they began warming up to the idea.

My first time on a board was insane. The most vivid memory being that my father had to chase after me when I decided to sneak off and try one of the harder mountain courses at the resort. This was where everyone began saying I had ‘natural talent’ when it came to boarding. From that day on, everything progressed so rapidly that even I could barely keep up.

When I came to the realization that I wanted to start competing in small competitions, my parents were completely for it. Throughout 2008, I was blowing everyone out of the water. Most people my age were preforming simple tricks like Ollie’s while I was doing backside 360’s off ramps.

However, things came to a halt after December 31, 2009. My long time idol and the person I was rooting for to win the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Kevin Pearce, had a career ending fatal crash and it begin putting things into perspective for me.

Was I positive I wanted to risk my life for this? I loved the sport with all my life and spent the last three years of my life training in order to compete in my first X-Games by 2014, and never did I think about the possible injuries that could occur.

For a year I put my board away. My coach was furious, not wanting me to give up on my dreams because of one freak incident. From there I focused more on my school work, trying to ignore the itching feeling my body had to get back out there.

What ended up changing my mind was a boy my age that I saw competing in the 2011 Winter X-Games. An eleven year old boy was competing with big names, and I didn’t know how to process the face. He was phenomenal, crushing the half-pipe like he owned it. When my father caught me watching the games, he knew it was game over.

The following day, I called up my coach and we were training every day after school until I couldn’t feel my legs anymore. Accidents occurred, bones broke, but nothing overly terrible happened. My confidence was back, and I was once again at the top of my game.

I still remember the feeling I got the first time I ever landed a Frontside Double Cork 1080 on the half-pipe at sixteen, and it returns every time I land a trick. Every run I went into whether it was for practice or competition I gave my all, and I wouldn’t be standing where I am right now if I hadn’t.

One earbud was hanging out of my ear as I clutched my board due to nervousness. Today would mark a new goal of mine that was officially met, and I didn’t know how to process what was happening. “Hello X-Games…”

The words tumbled effortlessly off my lips as I stared up at the superpipe that I’d be competing on in less than a day. It was a dream come true, but at the same time it was the scariest thing I had ever seen. Was I actually ready for this level?

A hand fell on my shoulder and when I turned around my best friend and coach was smiling down at me, “Don’t think too much. You’re going to be great.”

“I sure as hell hope so,” I sigh and glance back at the icy pipe, “I’ve been training far too long to just embarrass myself in front of the world.”

“Just don’t think like that,” She replied with a large smile on her face, “You’ve been working your ass off and could do your routine with your eyes shut at this point.”

I turned around to reply, but my breath hitched in my throat when a familiar face appeared in my vision. Ethan Dolan, snowboarding prodigy and the reason I got back to what I love. Of all things, I wasn’t expecting to see him at the X-Games this year.

“I’ll leave you to it,” My coach shot me a wink before walking towards the lodge where the competitors would be staying throughout our time here. Ethan was talking with some interviewer looking rather distraught as I made my way towards him.

What could I say to him? I scratched the back of my neck nervously waiting for the interview to be over. “So what are your plans for this year’s X-Games?”

“Just to grow I guess,” Ethan replied while shifting his weight from side to side, “I had a nasty accident a few months ago so I wasn’t able to train for the Olympic qualifier, and I thought this would be the best place to start competing again.”

The interviewer nods, “I remember seeing the footage.” He was about to continue when he caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye, “Who might you be?”

My breath caught in my throat when Ethan’s eyes locked with mine, giving me a once over. “Oh I’m Y/n Y/l/n. I’m also competing, but I saw Ethan and was just waiting for the interview to be over.” It was obvious I was nervous by the tone of my voice, “I can always find you later though…”

“You’re y/n y/l/n?” The interviewer’s eyes widened as he completely turned towards me, “I’ve been waiting for you to show up!”

I bite my lip and take a step away from the man, “I think the lady would rather get settled in before she gets any interviews today.” He takes a step towards me, holding his hand out for me to grab. “She’ll be around.” The man seemed annoyed with the boy as he led me towards the lodge, “You don’t want to get mixed up in all that until you absolutely have to. Who are you anyways?”

“I’m just a competitor,” I shrug as he drops my hand, “Honestly I only came over to say thank you.”

His eyebrows scrunch together at my words, “Thank me for what exactly? I don’t think we’ve ever met before have we?”

“No we haven’t,” I chuckle and glance around him at the snow covered ground, “But you’re the reason I took up snowboarding again. I saw you competing in the X-Games in 2011.”

Ethan’s big brown eyes stared into mine, and I swore I could see specks of green surrounding his pupils. “You seem more like the Shaun White type of fan.” I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be offended by his words or not, “But then again your board says differently.” He nods towards my ‘I ride for Kevin’ sticker. “You’re a fan?”

“He was my idol while growing up,” I nod as a frown forms on my face at the memory, “When he had his accident I quit boarding altogether out of fear. My family didn’t want me doing it in the first place, and his accident brought everything into perspective.”

Ethan nods and pulls the wooden door to the lodge open, “And my first X-Games appearance made you want to start again?”

“Yeah,” I smile as he holds the door open for me to walk in, “You’re the same age as me and it hit home when I saw someone my age competing in the games. This had been my dream for so long.”

“Ethan!” A guy who looked similar to the brunette in front of me pulled our attention away from one another, “We have to go bro!”

He nods before turning his attention back to me, “I’ll be sure to watch your run then. Good luck tomorrow.”

“Ditto,” A sincere smile forms on my face as the shaggy haired brunette ran off, leaving me alone in the middle of the lounge looking like an idiot.

---

I sucked in a deep breath, pulling my goggles down and my bandana over my face. This was my test run of the pipe and my nerves were all over the place. “Hey you’ve got this! Everyone’s down there rooting for you, so just get out there and do your thing.” My coach said into my ear before I bent down to tighten my bindings.

“Let’s do this,” I jump up a few times before beginning my decent towards the pipe. All I could hear throughout my run was the crowd screaming and I was at a loss for words as I completed my switch backside 900. The routine was over, and I hadn’t cracked under pressure.

My arms shot into the air out of excitement and the crowd screamed along as I came to a stop. “Nice run rookie,” Ethan’s voice caught my attention as I slid my goggles off my eyes to look at him, “Maybe you do have what it takes.”

The boy winked at me before beginning his long hike to the top of the superpipe. The Men’s event was taking place first which gave me time to relax before my run, but also to watch Ethan’s run. The first time through, Ethan came in third due to a hiccup towards the end of his run where he lost his composure and couldn’t grab his board during his Cab 720.

As the competitors continued through, the crowd grew anxious over Ethan’s next run. It was obvious many were here to watch the professionals’ comeback, and as of right now he wasn’t preforming at his best.

The announcer began talking about Ethan and when he came into vision, I got to my feet. “Let’s go Ethan!” Even if his eyes were covered, I knew he heard when his head snapped around towards the crowd. After my words, everyone began chanting and I knew it was the boost of confidence he needed.

He quickly fall into the pipe, gaining more air than the previous ride as he did a method. My jaw was dropped as he performed back to back 1080’s, going into a Frontside 360 in order to end with a double cork 1080. It was obvious he won as his arms shot into the air and he quickly undid his bindings, throwing his board.

The crowd quickly rushed towards where Ethan was patiently waiting for his score, but rather than following I head towards the top of the mountain in order to prepare for my first scored run.

---

So much was running through my mind as I tightened the bindings on my board. Something felt off, and I knew this wasn’t going to be a good run. Without a second of hesitation though, I began my decent towards the pipe. The moment flew by as I did a simple Alley-oop to lead into a McTwist, but as I came down my heart dropped in realization that I was too far from the lip of the pipe.

I shifted around in panic before throwing my arms around my head and face in hopes of preventing damage, and when I hit the hard ramp the wind was knocked out of me. The crowd was silent as I laid there trying to catch my breath, “Y/n!” Ethan’s voice ran through my head as I slowly began to push my body up to look at him, “Holy shit are you okay?”

His eyes were wide as I slid my goggles off and brushed the snow off my body, “Yeah.”

“Miss do you need medical attention?” I thought about it for a second before shaking my head no. There were no signs of a concussion and blood was not present, so I was good to go.

“You should get your head checked,” Ethan encouraged. A look of worry crossed his face as he slowly helped me to my feet, “Just to make sure.”

“I’m fine Ethan,” I sigh and shake my body a bit to try to rid myself of the shaking, “I need to finish my runs.”

As I try to slide down the flat bottom in order to make way for the next competitor, but Ethan grabbed my arm to keep my in place. “Please get checked. If not for you then for me?”

“You worried about me Dolan?” I raise an eyebrow at the brown eyed boy. It was obvious he was at a loss for words as his jaw clenched, “I’ll go after I win.” With that I pull my arm away and slide away from the boy.

Confusion washed over me as I sat at the top waiting for my next run to begin. Everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting for something bad to happen after my fall but I did my best to ignore their looks. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize Ethan was once again standing in front of me with a determined look on his face.

“What are you-” I couldn’t even react when the boys lips smashed against mine. Where the hell did this come from? We just met yesterday, and now he’s kissing me. His lips were soft and applying just the right pressure as his hand softly cupped my cheek to keep me in place.

When he pulled away I was at a loss for words, “Go kick some ass. We’ll talk after.” My name was called once again, but I couldn’t take my eyes away from the brunette boy in front of me, “Go y/n.” He chuckled, shaking his head before walking back towards the stands to watch.

I took a deep breath as I wait for the judges to signal that they were ready. Everyone’s eyes were on me to see how I would recover from that fall, and I had just the ride idea up my sleeve. My goggles were pulled down and bandana was covering my face as I began my decent towards the halfpipe.

As I caught air I quickly shifted into a Method before reaching the lip to drop into the pipe once again. From there I proceeded to perform a 1080, followed by a Cab 1080 and when I landed clean, I knew this run was mine. I finished with a Frontside 900 and a McTwist before heading for the end with a giddy smile on my face.

Screams were the only thing audible as I undid my bindings, and in that moment I knew I won gold.

---

The lounge was empty as I sat sipping my warm hot chocolate. I hadn’t seen Ethan around since the kiss, and I was wondering if it was just a heat of the moment thing. Maybe he was embarrassed about it now. A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back, but I was startled when someone took a seat next to me.

“You did great out there!” A goofy smile was on the boy’s face as he stared me down. What was I supposed to say to him now? “I know you probably feel weird, but it kind of just happened. If you don’t want me to be around you now that’s completely fine, but I’d like to get to know you more.”

Your eyes scanned over him as you sat in silence thinking about his words. Ethan was wearing a pair of gray sweat pants along with a random black t-shit causing his hair to seem darker than usual. He was damn attractive, and it would be a pity to let this moment disappear. “How about we get a late night snack and talk?”

“That would be great actually,” He slowly pushed his tall frame to a standing position before reaching down to help me up as well. I may have just met the boy, but with how similar our interests are, something great could come out of this.

For some reason I got really into the Love Interests backstory, but I hope you enjoyed it! Thinking about writing a part two.

@coconutethan