#I CHANGED NOTHING ABOUT THE VIDEO EXCEPT FOR SLOWED IT DOWN

[thedanceronthestreets]

You are cordially invited to a big gay wedding x

[starkidmunson]

glitter & crimson (it has a title y'all!)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Nervous excitement has Steve out of his bed 25 minutes before his alarm goes off to wake him. It’s not unusual on game days. He gathers ingredients in the kitchen until he hears Robin’s alarm, and then he starts making both their breakfast smoothies.

She fumbles down the hallway a few moments later with her eyes still closed, takes the cup from him, and sits in the middle of their living room floor.

“Pilates today? Or did you get a workout in at the show last night?” She asks after a few sips, and Steve joins her near their mats.

“It’s a tradition, can’t go changing shit now.” He teases, laughing as she throws her head back with a tired groan. Then she’s hauling herself to her bedroom to grab a hoodie.

They exercise on the balcony, like always, but keep it light. Steve tries to get plenty of stretching in on game days, making sure he’s loose and limber before he hits the ice. After about 30 minutes, Robin’s teeth are chattering in the cool morning air, so he calls it, and they head back inside. He gathers his gear while Robin showers, and then they make their way to United.

Steve heads to the locker room to gear up, manages to finish a whole bottle of water before he hits the rink. He takes a few slow laps around the rink as the rest of the team starts to roll in, runs through a few drills on his own before team practice starts.

They keep things minimal on game days; sprints and passes, shots on goal. Steve does a final lap backwards around the rink, before clearing off to the locker room to finish putting on his uniform while the other team takes the ice for their own practice. 

As he refills his water bottle, he gets whacked in the shin with the body of a hockey stick. He watches it happen, feels an echo of the impact on his shin guard, before turning to raise an eyebrow at Max.

“Hello to you, too.” He says through a little smile. She rolls her eyes, but smiles back at him.

“They’re here.” She says, in an ominous tone, despite her smile. “You guys seemed to hit it off last night, I’m glad you didn’t scare him away with your weirdness.” 

“I’m not weird, you guys are weird.” He mumbles back, kicking the stick from her hand but catching it before it hits the ground. “Last night was fun. I just hope he doesn’t hate the game as much as I think he’s going to.”

“Awfully concerned about him having a good time.” She leans in closer to him to tease, and while he feels his ears get hot, he shoves the hockey stick back into her arms and walks back toward his locker. “Dustin is working in the AV booth tonight, so be prepared for a lot of Eddie on the big screen.”

“You overestimate how much attention I pay to the overhead.” He replies, rolling his eyes and taking a big gulp of water. 

He hadn’t exactly considered the consequences of Eddie actually coming to the game. He was bound to draw a lot of attention, but what would that turn into? Steve had, smartly, elected to stay off the internet after he’d gotten home last night, and he hadn’t bothered to check social media before coming in. He was sure there were pictures and videos of him at the show floating around, insinuating things beyond what they actually meant. He was just as sure that there was at least one person who had taken to their feeds to report that Eddie and Steve had hung out after the show; never mind the fact that everyone else was there. Never mind the fact that they weren’t alone. 

Except they had spent most of the night alone. Other than a few interruptions, their time at Fatpour had mostly consisted of Eddie and Steve sitting at a high-top table close to the bar, munching on snacks and talking about everything and nothing and whatever crossed their minds. Eddie insisted he was going to make a playlist for Steve, and Steve offered to teach Eddie how to ice skate. And it felt… nice. It had been a while since Steve had that with anyone.

Max just moves on, reminding Steve of which stretches he needs to do now that he’s in his gear, and the coach and captain both give speeches in the locker room, before everyone moves out to the rink. They take the ice as the announcer reads off their name, and Steve taps his stick with the right wing who stakes up next to him.

He glances around, chewing on his mouth guard absently. A part of him knows that Robin and Eddie and whoever else from CC made the trip to the game are in one of the boxes around the upper level of the area, but he hadn’t asked which one when he had briefly texted with Eddie this morning, and now it was too late. But, he figures it’s probably for the best. Not knowing where to look keeps him from running the risk of sparking more speculation about nothing.

______

Even having heeded Steve’s warning to wear layers to the game, Eddie is freezing. He’s wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt under a hoodie under a leather jacket, but he’s still cold. And Robin is bouncing around the box suite in a t-shirt and ripped jeans, looking perfectly comfortable and Eddie doesn’t get it. He zips his leather jacket all the way up and sinks into his seat, bobbing his head along to the music echoing through the arena.

“You’re going to be cold when we’re leaving if you don’t take something off.” Robin chastises, and Eddie just rolls his eyes. Jeff, Freak and Lucas are chatting, sitting in the seats just outside of the box. Inside the box, Gareth looks just as cold as Eddie, chatting with Nancy and Will on a sofa.

Paige returns a few minutes later with a bag of merchandise, courtesy of a voucher from the team, and drops it on Gareth’s lap. “Hoodie for you,” She declares, pulling out a black hoodie with the Blackhawks logo and throwing it into Gareth’s face. “Hoodie for you,” She adds, tossing a red one in Eddie’s direction. She pulls two more thinner zip ups out of the bag and drops them on Jeff and Freak’s heads. When she comes back in, she locks eyes with Eddie, who pauses as he unzips his leather jacket.

“What?” He asks, cautiously, and she grins.

“Got something else for you,” She says, and he’s instantly concerned.

“You’re freaking me out.” Eddie points out as he slips the hoodie he’d worn over his head and replaces it with the fleece-lined red hoodie with “Blackhawks” written across the back shoulders. Robin claps and jumps up and down beside him, concerning him further.

“They put one aside!?” She asks, and Paige nods, before tossing the rest of the bag to Eddie.

When he pulls out the contents, he can’t help but let out a little laugh. “You guys asked them to give me a Harrington jersey?” He raises an eyebrow at Robin, before pulling it over his head. It fits a little loose over the hoodie, but looks similar to how he’d seen other people wear theirs.

“Steve doesn’t know, but I asked. Figured you might like it.” She says, grinning as he turns a light shade of pink he fully intends to blame on the cold.

When the team introductions start, Robin drags Eddie out into the seats just outside the box, so they have a better view. While it’s colder out there, Eddie’s warmer in the new tops, and finds he doesn’t mind it as much. 

Robin and the members of the Party in the box break into cheers when Steve skates out onto the ice, and Eddie can’t help the little smile that crosses his face as he watches Steve interact with his team.

The puck drops and Steve manages to slip it away from the Kraken’s center, gliding down the ice effortlessly before passing it off. It’s a tiny thing, trying to pay attention to the puck, so Eddie finds himself just tracking Steve as he zips and twists around. After a few minutes, Steve skates back to the Blackhawks box and jumps in as another player hits the ice.

“What happened? Is he hurt?” Eddie’s confused as he looks at Robin, who gives him a soft smile.

“He’s fine. They only play for so long, before they switch out to keep them from getting tired.”

He tries to pay attention to what’s happening then, with Steve off the ice, but finds himself watching the other sit along the bench. He bangs his stick against the wall a few times, shouting things Eddie can’t hear. When he gets up to go back into the game, he pats the player he’s replacing on the back before hitting the ice. 

The next chance he gets the puck, he takes a shot toward the goalie, who stops the puck between his legs. Steve keeps skating, zipping around and getting back into the action. He gets the puck back, but is quickly checked by two Krakens who send him into the boards hard. Eddie grimaces, and a penalty is called on both Krakens for charging.

Steve scores a goal in the second period, and Eddie joins the Party in cheering along. He spots himself on the big screen and grabs Robin, pulling her into frame as she jumps up and down. 

The celebrations die down a little, and Robin scooches closer to him. “I can have them knock it off, if you don’t want to be up there. Dustin’s in the booth right now.” She offers, and he shrugs.

“I don’t mind. I kind of expected it, after the TikTok blew up.” He shrugs, tracking Steve back around the ice.

Blackhawks end up winning the game, 5-2, and while Steve doesn’t score again, he assists in each of the following goals. Each time, he has a different celebration with whoever he set up for the goal, and it’s sweet to watch Steve goof off, to hear his friends' excitement as he succeeds.  Walking back out of the booth, Eddie feels like his voice is more raw from screaming at the hockey game than it was from last night’s concert. 

_____________

“You shouldn’t skip the ice bath, Steve, you took a hard hit into that wall.” Max is lecturing as they move through the arena to where she says everyone is waiting. 

“I’m fine, I’ve taken worse hits and I stretched plenty. My shoulder just dug into the pad wrong. I’ll have a bruise, but it’s fine.” He insists, holding the door open for her then following her into the box where chaos immediately erupts.

Mike and Lucas are bouncing around, gushing about how great he played. Steve laughs, squeezing Lucas’ shoulder and ruffling Mike’s hair, before his eyes land on the band. They’re all wearing fresh Blackhawks gear, and Steve can’t help but grin.

“Oh man, I’m so glad you guys were able to come! Did you have a good time?” He asks, moving closer to them.

“Dude, I fucking love hockey. I haven’t been to a game in forever, this was sick. And you were killing it out there. I think I like hockey even more knowing someone who is playing.” Freak says, and Gareth nods along.

“Hockey is the only sport I’d ever really been interested in, so this was fun! Great game.”

“I have never had an interest in hockey before, but it was still cool to learn about.” Jeff admits, and then Steve turns to Eddie. His hands are tucked up inside the sleeves of the jersey, nestled in the front pocket of the hoodie beneath, but he grins.

“I concede, it was a lot more fun than I anticipated. I think it helps that you were awesome out there.”

Steve turns a soft shade of pink, shaking his head before nodding back toward the door out of the box. “Want to grab dinner with us? I’m starving.”

______________

They’re in some bar Steve texted the directions to but Eddie can’t remember the name, when he catches Steve staring at him from his spot between Dustin and Lucas. Eddie raises an eyebrow and waves a little, which seems to snap Steve out of it. He blushes and waves back, before covering his face with his hands. Eddie snorts, before getting up and moving so he’s sitting across from Steve.

“You weren’t mad that I put you up on the big screen, right? I think the team actually put it up on socials at some point, so I hope you didn’t mind.” Dustin rambles at Eddie as soon as he sits, but he’s quick to ease the kid’s concerns.

“It was fun. Don’t worry about it, kid. Really.” He says, watches Dustin visibly relax, but then Robin carts him and Lucas away, giving Steve and Eddie space and tossing a wink in Eddie’s direction. Eddie finds himself growing to appreciate her more and more. “I really did have a good time tonight. Cross my heart.” Eddie says, before drawing an “x” over his heart with his fingers.

Steve laughs, and opens his mouth to say something before he seems to reconsider. He thinks for a moment, before leaning over the table. “Are you wearing my jersey?”

Eddie pauses for a moment, looks down and laughs. He’d forgotten he hadn’t taken it off, and Robin had said that Steve didn’t know about it. “I mean, it’s technically not yours. Just has your name and number on it.”

Steve squints his eyes before he leans back and takes a sip of his beer. Eddie seizes the opportunity to be chaotic, then, decides to take the leap. “I mean, I totally could be wearing your jersey, if you wanted me to. But you’re going to have to take me out of this one first.” 

It’s worth it, if for no other reason than Steve starts choking on his drink, coughing loudly and drawing everyone’s attention. He composes himself quickly, but his face is still bright red, and Eddie grins.

“You’re a menace.” Steve accuses, voice hoarse and thick, and Eddie shrugs.

“What are you going to do about it?” He challenges.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm going to try reblogging with a tag list this week because it's LONG and I have no idea how else to try to make it work without hitting a character limit. Thank you to everyone who is still reading! I've got so many ideas for this bouncing around in my head, I can't wait to flesh them out and I hope you continue to enjoy!

[themattress]

Untitled Kairi Post

Y'know what? In a way, Kairi was tragically doomed as a character from the very beginning.

"Oh, because she was a love interest and damsel in distress!"

No. Myths, fairy tales and, well, Disney movies have used those tropes for ages, and if you're doing a story where a huge point is the influence of those things, it's kind of a given that the leading lady be a love interest and damsel in distress. And the writing is smart enough to put a twist on the trope given that Kairi's distress is much less than it appeared to be because she's Sora's love interest and he's her's, and after Sora saves her she saves him right back.

"Oh, because she wasn't a playable character or party member!"

No. It would have been nice to have the playable puzzle solving-based Kairi sequence they initially planned at Hollow Bastion, but I can understand why it was removed given how it would slow down the pace following what is perhaps the signature sequence of the game. And in any case it doesn't have any bearing on how things went for the rest of the series, given that Riku also was not a playable character or party member (he just had a crappy AI when pretending to help you fight Parasite Cage all so that he could kidnap Pinocchio).

"Oh, because she was stuck in a coma the whole game!"

NO! God damn it, how much must the game beat the point into your stupid head!?

And who could forget?

Stop laughing right now.

Kairi. Not just "her heart". KAIRI. Since the heart = the person.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, it exposes some serious sexism if one goes with the "Kairi was in a coma" line for KH1 and yet says "Ventus was inside of Sora" post BBS, since it's literally the exact same situation except that Kairi was always awake within Sora's heart as opposed to Ventus only waking up at the end of 3D. It's why Sora felt things regarding Hollow Bastion, why he experienced the memory of Kairi and her grandfather, and why he saw and heard Kairi multiple times. He wasn't hallucinating; that was always really her.

So, enough beating around the bush. What did I actually mean, then?

Well....let's start at the beginning.

Kairi's arc in the original Kingdom Hearts is not just told through the writing. Utilizing a video game as a visual/audible medium, it is also told through animation, voicework and music. During her introductory cutscene, we see Kairi asked by Sora if she remembers the world she was born in before being sent to Destiny Islands. "I told you before. I don't remember." She answers this sincerely. "Nothing at all?" Sora responds. That's when we see this detail.

"Nothing." Kairi is lying. She doesn't remember everything given the trauma caused by being forced out of her old home, but she does remember just enough to understand why it was traumatic. She had a comfortable life there, and a family. She was happy. And then it was all gone in an instant. Now, on Destiny Islands, she is similarly content ("Well, I'm happy here.") and fears risking that same loss. And yet a small part of her still yearns for the past. She loved what she can recall of her past, as she loves her present. She fears only the future.

Riku's fixation on his existential woes and the mysteries of the universe, while also putting her up on some sort of pedestal like she's something special, is not helping at all. Something about it feels wrong to Kairi...wrong and uncomfortably familiar. It's making her very anxious.

But Kairi has someone to lean on and help her keep up an optimistic, cheerful front, perhaps enough to talk herself into believing it: Sora. And during this scene, we hear the track "Kairi I":

This track reflects Kairi's character in this moment. While there is a subtle undercurrent of worry, her heart is strong enough to not let it get to her and look on the bright side as she looks out to the sun setting over the ocean. With Sora's reassurance, she is able to feel as though her home and friends won't change or go away no matter what happens on her, Sora and Riku's planned voyage, which allows her to feel anticipation for it. All finally feels right.

Of course, things were not right, and Kairi ended up in heart form as her body and soul were lost to darkness along with Destiny Islands. From Kairi's POV, she is now in the Station of Awakening (aka Dive to the Heart) and can do little but watch Sora's adventures as she can see them through his eyes, not fully putting it together why she can and where she truly is.

In the scene at Merlin's House, we get to hear "Kairi II".

While it's similar to "Kairi I", there is now a more somber and mysterious feel to it given the present circumstances. While she doesn't know if Sora can hear her, Kairi wistfully waxes nostalgic over how Merlin's House reminds her of the Secret Place on Destiny Islands. And while Kairi feels sad over missing that place, she's also happy that there are places like it elsewhere in the universe. She's clearly learning as much from Sora's journey as Sora is.

Finally, we hear "Kairi III" in the flashback with little Kairi and her grandmother.

And while it starts out reflecting Kairi's childhood innocence, it ends up turning...almost sad. The reason why being one of the most overlooked details of the scene: at the end of the grandmother's story, she disappears, and little Kairi is shown moving her head all around looking for her. This isn't actually part of the memory, but a reflection of Kairi's heart. She knows that she had a grandmother and that her grandmother isn't here anymore, but she can't remember how her grandmother "left". But she at least still exists...within her heart.

Speaking of which, once Kairi's heart returns to her body and Sora loses his heart in the process, Kairi puts her foot down. She may have learned how to better deal with and accept change and loss, but a line still has to be drawn somewhere and Sora is that line for her.

Thus is she able to save him. Later, we see her worry about the future and things changing again when she questions whether anything can be the same between her, Sora and Riku again after the corruption Riku had underwent. Once again, Sora boosts her optimism.

More importantly, he helps her learn, as he does, that even when separated you can take strength in keeping your loved ones (metaphorically) in your heart, and that even if things change and Kairi is cut off from the people and things she loves, they will always exist within her heart, just as with her grandmother and the story she told her about light and darkness.

This is why, in the end, Kairi is able to let Sora go and yet still feel content.

From "Hikari" (JP):

I'll stop doing pointless things like thinking about the future. Today I'll eat delicious things. The future is always before us, Even if I don't know it.

From "Simple and Clean" (EN):

 Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all.  Nothing's like before.

This is a really good, really well done character arc.

It's also a very human character arc.

Yes, there are a lot of fantastical things going on, but when you put all of that aside, what are you left with? A young girl moves away from her old home and everything that she ever knew and loved, which gives her anxiety about the same thing happening with the new home and everything that she's come to know and love from it, which now includes a certain boy. She fears the future; she fears change. In the end, she ends up staying in her new home - but the boy moves away! However, through her time spent with him she's learned to accept this because he'll always be a part of her heart, which is something that won't ever change.

When put that way, it sounds positively mundane, and by and large the KH fandom - and Tetsuya Nomura himself for that matter - don't want or like mundane stuff like that. They want the crazy, the overdramatic, the angsty, the flashy, the anime tropeyness they're familiar with. This is why they were unreceptive to Kairi's arc to the fullest degree, as in many of them are literally unaware it even happened because they were too busy fixating on the archetypal Japanese media-style dick measuring contest between Sora and Riku (which is also far deeper than they tend to give it credit for, btw, but I digress). And if that's the case, then the question gets raised: why bother focusing on or expanding Kairi at all? She doesn't "sell".

THIS is why Kairi was doomed from the start. It's not her fault. But it's sadly the truth.

[bangaveragewhitewine]

Valentine's with Bouncer!Eddie

I did not have time to write a full fic for our favourite Bouncer x Bartender lovers, so please accept these general thoughts and vibes instead ❤️ 

Let’s kick this off with the fact that Bouncer!Eddie is an absolute simp lover boy. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, this man is spoiling you and being a sweetheart. He worships the ground you walk on.

He is waking you up on Valentine’s with his guitar on and nothing else - think the ‘I love you, bitch. I ain't ever gon’stop loving you, bitch’ video except he refuses to ever call you a bitch even affectionately but you get ✨the vibe✨

He just wants to make you laugh and he succeeds

Sings something silly like L-O-V-E, but with the lyrics changed to suit you / be way too sexual

Rose between his teeth? Check. Nicks his lip on an untrimmed thorn? You bet. (He’s fine, you kiss it better)

He has you for breakfast, making home between your legs until you have to push his head away and beg him to rail you 

Ever obliging, your wish is granted. Twice. 

You cuddle and talk about everything and nothing until you can both walk on your jelly legs to the shower

It’s a while before you make it out of the apartment for breakfast at the diner he brought you to before you actually realised you were down bad for each other 

He bought you a little locket in the shape of a heart and got your initials together engraved inside

Gets a love boner when he puts it on you

You’re both working Valentines (sigh) but the bar is decked out in pink and red streamers and your specials board of cocktails has a few Eddie-approved holiday specials 

He insists you mark him up before work - rosy pink and fiery red and deep purple lipstick marks all over his face and neck and down his chest (around his dick too, but that was your idea) so he fits the theme of the bar 

When you tell him you’re wearing a surprise for him under your work clothes, he’s sporting a semi all night and Michelle has to keep shooing him away from the bar when he comes to beg for a kiss

Literally cannot stop looking at you from the door, he is such a simp for you and you look like a sexy angel behind the bar he wants to elope right now 

You make out in the back alley like two horny high schoolers on your break, for old time's sake 

He’s taking you away for the weekend btw - pack your bag, babe, he’s sorted cover for your shifts at work and everything! 

When you get home you’re both tired but can’t get enough of each other and have really slow sweet sex until the sky gets light again

He’s the happiest man alive when you fall asleep listening to his heartbeat and whispers that he loves you even though you’re fast asleep and maybe you haven’t said it yet but he means it and he will be brave enough to say it for real soon

[chemicallywrit]

Happy #AudioDramaSunday! A day late lol, I was slow this week. But Kingmaker Histories is back! Super Suits is back! Starfall is back! So much good work this week! Let’s goooooo

🪐 I have been listening to Leylines since it started because I love Good Story Guild, and Leylines is so cool. It’s a prestige family drama wrapped in a neat scifi concept and this week’s episode in particular really drive home the family dynamic that makes this show special. Listen to Leylines and cry about brothers with me.

🐺 Stories from Ylelmore continues to absolutely kill me. I think Rion’s problems with his werewolfism resonates with a lot of different real life challenges to being alive—racism, transphobia—but in this ep it felt like a potent nod to ableism as well. At what point does someone get to do something risky for their own mental wellbeing? At what point do one’s friends get to deny your choices to protect you? I don’t want to see what this is going to do to the kids’ friendship, except that I have to know.

🌊 Tales from the Fringes of Reality always presents us with these small perfect images of family care or unexpected friendship, but Paul Warren’s sentient moss is maybe the best thing I’ve ever heard. The focus this episode on slowing down, appreciating the moment, and resting really struck a chord. It was perfect.

😈 Forgive Me! is SO GOOD. This episode bright in Jeffrey Cranor, always a treat, to tackle fears both real and intangible that religion brings into our lives. I was raised religious and…woof. Like this character is right, the candy-coated Sunday School version of the Bible is incomplete, and does nothing to prepare a kid for the real and actual danger in the world. Especially in light of the recent hurricanes which are likely exacerbated by climate change, how are we supposed to react? It has a pretty satisfying ending for a question without many good answers.

🌝 Dead Space: Deep Cover ended this week as well, and oh jeez louise. This makes me want to play the video game, and i don’t really do video games. Highly recommend, it is a scifi horror treat.

Hey! My sweet baby kitty Mothman had a vet bill come up this week that I was less than prepared for, so if you like the stuff I make (like Inn Between, The Dead, and Re: Dracula) and this post, could you consider buying me a ko-fi?

Obligatory cat pic! Hark, a podcat!

[miodiodavinci]

anyway as for the long and short of how i'm doing currently (mostly the long)

so two weeks ago i sprained my wrist at work lifting boxes, and it's been a slow recovery even with the help of a brace, stretches, rice buddies, and ice packs. i've had to basically put a lot of my hobbies on hold because i've been saving what little i can do with my wrist for all the job prep i need to do on the weekends (i.e. making flyers, updating spreadsheets, creating presentations, moving more boxes, etc...)

hobbies are even further on hold at this point because this last week i injured my shoulder as well, and i can feel that my ankle is getting ready to go with it. i'm doing what i can to minimize the damage (i.e. got a work cart, have had coworkers come with me to storage, actually sitting down and resting when i'm on break, etc...) but there's not a lot that can be done considering these are Core Aspects of my job and my contract goes until spring (and also like. whole complex situation where i can't leave without screwing over myself and a lot of people i care about)

it's a shit situation all around, but at the very least i'm getting paid a reasonable amount and it's covering my expenses jfgjksdhkfg

(though for all the work i do, god oh god i wish it was doing more than just covering my expenses)

having to take a break from my hobbies has put me in a weird headspace, though. or like it's less of a weird headspace and more that there's finally this pause that has me reevaluating what i want to do in my spare time

i've been consumed by work for the past like four years of my life, this last year was kind of the culmination of that. between completing my internship, finishing my degree, surviving The Horror (read: had a really, truly horrifying cancer scare last year), doing the yamaha collab, and taking care of the flurry of job-hunting stuff that needed to be done post-graduation, i don't know if i actually got a chance to so much as breathe until august

. . . . except in august i immediately collapsed and rotted the entire month away skjdfhgkhsdf

i'm burnt out, i think. like. genuinely, really severely burnt out. the more i think about it, the more i feel like i just need a year of doing nothing.

just. absolutely nothing.

which i've told myself in the past. several times. always in a big showy way. so much so that i feel silly saying it now because i've been saying it for years in the descriptions of my videos and in posts on my blog.

"i'm tired of being beholden to past me!! this year, i'm letting go of my expectations for myself and just doing what i want!!" (<< this user has said this at least 7 separate times and has failed to make good on it every single time)

but i think why i've never been able to follow through is because in spite of all the dropping projects that no longer interested me and not feeling obligated to see everything through, i still held on to the expectation that at the end of it, i'd still post something. but like.

i think posting doesn't really matter to me as much anymore??? if at all???

which isn't to say "i'm putting my foot down and never creating any new vocaloid work ever again," but it's also like. i can't let myself sit with the expectation of "yeah i'll just make things for fun!! and when they're done, i'll post them!!' because that changes the focus from making something for me into making something for others to see, which is. a different beast to care for skdjfgklhsdlfg

i keep seeing a lot of things where i have the opportunity to keep building on what rice and i were able to make as part of the yamaha collab: alternate box arts, matching galaco design, cool new english covers featuring bespoke cover art of the new designs but when i think of starting those, i feel utterly drained, and when i think of how i'll feel once they're finished, i imagine it'll be akin to "alright, i've checked that off the list. what's the next thing i should do not disappear and be a failure?"

. . . . . which is really, really separate from doing things as a hobby because they make me happy OTL

this past year i've really reconnected with my close friends (in part because i stopped having time to scroll online and didn't want anyone to know when i was online because i legitimately did not have the energy to respond) and i've noticed i really truly enjoy just batting around our ocs with each other so more than i've enjoyed any of the vocaloid work that i've put out in the past five years skjfghldkfg

i've been doing vocaloid things for over ten years now, and the collaboration with yamaha was quite literally something i couldn't have even dreamed of, much less imagined it would have just fallen into my lap the way it did. coming off the end of it and my internship though, there's this feeling that's been building for years now where it feels like the effort i put in is just not proportional to the satisfaction i get out of it. it feels more like something i'm supposed to do otherwise i'd just be squandering all the work i've put in and all the attention i've gotten.

. . . . . . i just want to live man 😂 i'm caught in a mental tangle that feels difficult to unravel. spring mio was at the end of his fucking rope, but fall mio is finally has the time to sit down with the slack and is wondering if it's worth it to keep pulling for all i'm worth when i can always just go over to my friend's house and have a funny little sleep over (metaphorical or literal both apply)

i'm not decided by any means but i'm definitely thinking about it.

it's the fact that it's been 2 years since i've released salvador, and i went into it thinking i'd be cool and professional about it, with lots of covers and frequent updates because i used to make lots of UTAU covers in high school, but then i got paralyzed by all the "shoulds" wrapped up in the process and i just. stopped working.

when i say i want to make X cover of Y song, am i really saying that i want to go out of my way to do all these things?? or am i just imagining what momentary satisfaction i'll feel to see another thumbnail on my channel??

...

(face in hands) this ended up being. a lot fucking longer than i meant for it to be jksdfhlkghsdkfg

hopefully most people have clicked away by this point w

it's the tear between the things i genuinely want (making things with friends that stay between us friends) the things i kind of want out of necessity (opening up commissions so i can supplement my income), the things i said i'd do and can't back out now on, and the things i told myself i would do but can't really must up plenty of positive emotions about (but can feel plenty of frightful, guilty emotions when i think of not doing them)

i'll figure it out eventually. even in the worst case scenario, i plan to keep my accounts up as archives, so it's not like my work will go anywhere w i'd still want it to be there once i decide i'm ready to come back to it w

[multi-fandom-of-madness]

Like You Love Me

Pairings: Aether X Rain - implied Poly!Ghouls

Type: Smut

Summary: Rain is still fairly new, but he knows what he likes. He gets it from everyone except for Aether, and he’s determined to change that.

Warnings: Rain is a brat, dom!Aether, sub!Rain, rough oral, degradation, objectification,

Word Count: 1,719

Notes: Read here on ao3. This isn't edited, so I'm sorry if there are typos.

~

Rain loved Aether dearly. He loved everything about the quintessence ghoul, but especially how sweet he was to him. If he wanted it rough, he had his options. He had Dewdrop who he could throw around and ruin, Swiss or Cirrus if he wanted to challenge who was in charge, or Mountain if he wanted to be fucked so hard that he melts into the matress.

But Aether was so gentle and caring. He never wanted to hurt Rain in any way. There was the occasional teasing, maybe a bite mark here and there, but it always was slow and sensual.

Aether didn’t feel like he knew the in’s and out’s of Rain well enough to bring him into something kinkier. He’d only been topside for a few months, and for the first month or so, Rain was too shy to make any advances. Although he’s seen the way Rain acts with the others, he doesn’t want to push it and break the bond that they’ve grown.

Don’t get the water ghoul wrong, he loves the special treatment, but hearing about how he collared Swiss and pulled him around as he pleased, watching Dewdrop shift in his seat to try and get comfortable with the bruises on his ass, or how Mountain always comes back with a goofy grin and a limp in his step…he gets a bit jealous.

They’re curled up in Aether’s bed, Aether reading a book and Rain scrolling through his phone, head on Aether’s chest and pressed stubbornly to his hip. The minute Aether slipped off his shirt and slipped on his reading glasses, Rain’s cock began to chub up. No one could resist Aether when he looked like that.

“Why don’t you treat me like the others?” He asks, not looking up from the video on his phone.

Aether blinks. “What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’?”

“You just asked the vaguest question, and aren’t going to explain?”

Rain sighed and rolled over dramatically. “Why don’t you rail me into next week?”

“What the hell are you on?”

“Nothing yet,” Rain huffed. “Can’t you just…throw me around? Rough me up a bit?”

“I thought you liked me being gentle with you.”

“I do. But I would also like to be fucked into next week.”

“Where is this coming from?” Aether asked, pulling his glasses off. His cock was twitching with the implications of what Rain was implying.

“Just…I dunno…jealous?”

“Of what?”

“Oh don’t act like you don’t grin every time you see Dewdrop struggling to sit right for a week after one of your little escapades.” “So you want me to…punish you?” He inquired, a joking tone to his voice.

“Well I mean…have I done anything wrong?”

“You interrupted my reading for no good reason other than the fact that you’re thinking with your dick.”

“I feel like that shouldn’t count.”

“I feel like you’re acting like Dew,” Aether countered.

Oh. Rain grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Am I?”

“You’re starting to,” Aether sighed, putting his glasses back on and turning his attention back to his book. So he was going to ignore Rain? Well, that simply won’t do.

Rain laid back down, kicking up a purr to lure Aether into a false sense that Rain wasn’t going to try anything. After a few minutes of comfortable silence he lifted his head to be level with Aether’s plush stomach and…

“Did you just fucking bite me?” Aether asked, amused.

Rain pulled off and frowned, sitting up. “That doesn’t get a reaction out of you?”

“You didn’t even draw blood,” Aether pointed out.

“Come onnnnnn…I want you to make me get all slutty. Don’t you like it when I’m slutty?” Rain begged with a joking tone.

“Are you sure you aren’t in heat? Do I need to get Mountain in here?”

“You are no fun.” Rain crosses his arms and pouts, his tail thumping against the bed for extra dramatic effect.

“I just don’t want to hurt you,” Aether said sympathetically, tilting his head.

“But I want you to hurt me.”

“You really do love to run your mouth,” Aether scowled. Rain grinned when he realized that he was finally getting somewhere.

“Maybe I do. I like the sound of my own voice,” he paused, giving himself enough time to straddle the quintessence ghoul, rolling his hips against him.

“Are you just going to be a brat to get what you want?” Aether asked, putting his hands on Rain’s hips, using his own strength to move the water ghoul.

“Is it gonna work?”

“In some ways.”

“Then yes.”

Rain grinned, leaning down to kiss Aether. Aether ran a hand up his back, grabbing at the back of his neck, causing Rain to moan. The moment Rain’s mouth opens, Aether slips his tongue inside.

Rain squirms on top of him, trying to get some sort of friction on his cock. There’s a slight fight for dominance that Rain quickly loses. Just because he wants to be roughed up doesn’t mean he can’t pretend to pose a challenge.

“Aeth, ple-”

“Nuh uh, baby boy. I don’t want to hear my name come out of your mouth right now,” Aether cuts, his tone of voice dropping to something more demanding.

Rain swallows thickly, realizing he was finally getting his wish. He rolls his hips with a groan. “Sir,” he tries again. Aether doesn’t stop him, so he continues. “Please, sir…please fuck me,” he breaths, lowering his head to Aether’s neck. He nips at it, and Aether scruffs him, forcing him to go boneless.

Aether rolls the water ghoul off of him, then stands up, looking at Rain expectantly. “Well?”

Rain looks back confused. “What do you want me to do?”

Aether walks back towards the bed, taking Rain’s chin in his hand gently before firming his grip almost hard enough to bruise. Rain looks at him like he hung the stars. “Get on the floor. On your knees. If you want me to fuck you, then we’re going to do it my way,” he growls.

Rain is already loving this new side of Aether, but he’s determined to see more, so he doesn’t move.

“On your knees,” Aether growls again, baring his fangs slightly and shaking Rain’s head. When Rain doesn’t move again, Aether moves his hand into his hair, then pulls.

Rain groans and rolls his hips forward as his cock kicks from the sensation. “Please…” he groans, closing his eyes.

Aether uses his grip on his hair to throw Rain on the floor. He lets go of him long enough to pull his cock out from his sweatpants. “Open your mouth,” he commands.

Rain’s head is swimming in ecstasy. He doesn’t even hear Aether speak until there’s a hand on his jaw, prying it apart, and a cock pressed to his lips.

“Since you can’t keep that pretty mouth shut, I’m going to make sure you can’t use it. If you need to, tap my thigh twice for me to stop.”

Rain moans in acknowledgement, snaking his tongue out to lap at the pre beading at the tip of Aether’s dick. Aether groans as Rain pushes his lips down Aether’s cock, closing his eyes and humming from the taste.

Aether gives Rain a moment to work his magic, then grabs hold of Rain’s horns and thrusts into him. Rain chokes at the unexpected motion and looks up at Aether with teary eyes. He pulls Rain down until his nose is pressed against Aether’s pubes.

Aether holds him there for a second as Rain gags and sputters around Aether’s cock. Rain brings a hand to Aether’s thigh and taps twice.

“Are you alright?” Aether asks.

“Y-yeah,” Rain croaks out, trying to find his voice. He’s panting and tears are streaking down his cheeks. “Just need to breathe,” he laughs.

Aether hums in acknowledgement. “Take your time. Let me know when you’re ready.”

Rain nods and catches his breath. He takes a few minutes, then looks up at Aether. “I’m ready,” he says, opening his mouth.

Aether pets through Rain’s hair then grabs hold of one of Rain’s horns again. He starts off gently this time, small shallow thrusts that hardly graze the back of Rain’s throat. Rain moans and shuts his eyes, the vibrations sending a wave of pleasure through Aether’s body.

The sensation causes Aether to push his hips into Rain’s mouth, making Rain gag around him. “Shit,” Aether groans, “I should’ve fucked your mouth ages ago. So fucking good.”

Rain does his best to relax his throat and breathe through his nose. He feels nothing but Aether. The sight of him, taste of him, smell of him. Everything is Aether. He’s absolutely intoxicating, and it makes his cock throb in his sweatpants. He brings a hand down to the front of his sweats where they’ve darkened with the amount of precum and slick leaking out of Rain.

Aether finds leverage before using his foot to kick his hand away, pulling out so that only the tip of his cock rests on Rain’s tongue. “I never told you to touch yourself,” he growls. Rain gives an apologetic look and hums. Aether scoffs and harshly thrusts into Rain’s mouth, his balls slapping against Rain’s chin. “Hands behind your back.”

Rain can’t do anything but sit there and let his mouth be used as he crosses his arms behind his back. He blinks away the tears in his eyes and stares at Aether’s blissed out face. He can feel the spit leak out of his mouth, feels his shirt getting wet from the way it drips down.

“Lucifer, you look so pretty like this,” he says. “Is this what you wanted? Wanted me to rough you up? Throw you around like a little doll?”

Rain tried to nod, but found it impossible with Aether’s grip on his horns and cock down his throat. He hummed in response as Aether pulled him back down his cock again, cumming without warning. 

He kept Rain pressed tight against him until he was sure Rain swallowed everything. Rain tapped his thigh twice, and Aether let him pull off, a string of saliva attached from the tip of Aether’s cock to his lips.

“Please-” he gasps, “wanna be your doll.”

“Good,” Aether smirks. “On the bed. I’m not done with you yet.”

[braveclementine]

Chapter 34

Warnings: 18+readersonly, teasing, threats of brat taming

Copyright: I do not own any Marvel characters or locations. However, I do own a few OCs like Elizabeth, Katherine, Stacy, and Jessie. I do not condone any copying of this.

Elizabeth, Jessie, Katherine, Pietro, Vision, and Hogun all got married three weeks later. It was a beautiful ceremony where Jessie wore silver, Katherine wore light pink, and Elizabeth wore white. Pietro wore silver as well, Vision was in human form wearing red, and Hogun was wearing a deep blue lined with black and silver.

The bonding ceremony was beautiful, though shorter than your own. In the end, Elizabeth, Pietro, Vision, and Hogun got a wave symbol for their soulmate bond. Jessie and Pietro were a simple flower while Katherine and Pietro got sun symbols.

Eventually they all dispersed after the ceremony- Wanda included.

Time seemed to pass afterwards. They still stayed with you, even after the wedding, as they were preparing to buy their own house- without Tony's help. They had decided that they would be moving to Florida, and by the time our children were born, they would be leaving.

It was only a month after the wedding that both Elizabeth and Jessie got pregnant. Jessie was obviously carrying Pietro's kid, but Thor let the others know that Elizabeth was carrying Hogun's child.

Elizabeth was ecstatic. I mean, they all were. Everyone was happy and everything was great.

Nothing had changed in your family dynamic- which was fantastic. You were still rotating through everyone, though you did spend just a bit more time with Fury, T'Challa, and Bucky.

Bucky had some fears about being a child, especially with his soldier serum coursing through his veins. And though he had been cured of being the winter soldier a long time ago, there was still a part of him that feared it might come back. That he might relapse. That his metal arm was a danger to any child that we had.

A few sweet, honest words and he was settled back down though. Shuri's surgery had worked and there was possible way for Bucky to become the winter soldier again except by choice. Not to mention, it had been a few years since Thanos, so the only bad thing was his nightmares.

As Rhodey and Bucky had predicted, Alpine did have kittens. Tony made sure that F.R.I.D.A.Y. captured Fury's reaction- which had been priceless.

"Guess what?" Bucky had asked, walking into the kitchen, holding Mini Loki.

"What?" Fury grunted over his cup of coffee, eyeing Mini Loki with dislike while Maria rubbed his shoulder soothingly next to him.

"Alpine had kittens! Isn't that wonderful!"

Fury spit his coffee out. "Maria, we need to get out of this house! There's um- a shopping center that just opened up and I want you to um, take a look at it!"

He grabbed her hand, slamming the cup of coffee down and basically ran the two of them out of the house.

Tony laughed once Fury exited. "F.R.I.D.A.Y., please send that to my email and make sure to save that in my favorite videos. I'd like to post it to YouTube later."

"He will kill you." Coulson and Steve said together, not bothering to look up from the breakfast table.

The months were slow but steady. Around the fifth month, you were quite large. Stephen became your main caregiver, just as he had a lot more experience in the medical field with this sort of thing. Not that he had ever been a birth doctor, but he had gone through medical school and knew more than the others.

Of course, none of this stopped the others from having sex with you. In fact, you even seemed hornier just by being pregnant. And they were all more than willing to satisfy your needs.

Stacy had her baby. A little boy that her and Jackson named Alexander Drake Portolio. He was a sweet little thing with Stacy's green eyes and Jackson's red hair. It was a strange mix on the little boy with freckles already dotted across his face, but he was cute.

You rolled over, coming face to face with Rhodey as you woke up one morning. "Hey hot mama." He mumbled sleepily, running his hand through your hair.

"Hi Sugar." You smiled, closing your eyes again to rest your head on his chest. It was hard to lay on your side anymore- especially now that you were nearing the nine-month mark.

"How are you feeling about the baby shower today?" James asked, running a hand along you're protruding stomach.

"Nervous. I can't wait to know what the genders of the babies are though." You said. "I wonder what Elizabeth will do with the cake, since its' triplets."

"Something Harry Potter themed probably." James joked and you laughed. "How about a bath this morning?"

"That sounds good." You said, sitting up while James slipped from the bed, running a hand over his hair as he made his way to the bathroom, flipping on lights. You could hear the water running in the bath while you stretched your arms above your head.

You picked up the glass of slightly stagnant water from last night, drinking the rest as your throat was still a bit sore.

"It's ready Hot mama." Rhodey said, coming over to help you to your feet. He grinned down at you, brushing your lips together, which you met with eagerly. He chuckled, pulling away when you let out a needy moan against his tongue. "C'mon, bath. You need to relax."

You didn't want to relax, you wanted to ride him, but you reluctantly let him lead you to the bathroom. He helped you over the bath edge and then helped you into a sitting position before climbing in with you.

"Hair or body first?" He asked, motioning to the shampoos and soaps on the tub edge.

"Hair." You said, scooting forwards some so that he had plenty of room behind you.

You always loved when one of your boys did your hair, especially if it was Fury, Sam, or Stephen. They seemed to have rather magical hands when they did it. Bucky was the only one who didn't want to wash your hair- afraid he'd use to much strength with his metal arm, or that the armor plates would retract and your hair would get stuck between the joints.

He was a bit better with the vibranium arm of course, no joints there, but he was still rather careful.

Rhodey's fingers seemed to almost massage your scalp. You smiled a little, finally relaxing like he wanted you to.

Rhodey grabbed the nozzle, rinsing the soap out of your hair. You conditioned the ends of your hairs, rinsing that away, while Rhodey grabbed a blue bar of Dove soap, rubbing soothing circles all over your body.

"James." You mumbled as he finished washing his own body.

"Damn Y/N." Rhodey muttered, a small smile on his face. "Last night wasn't enough?"

"It's never enough with anyone." You grumbled, being a slight brat. "I don't know why I'm so horny all the time."

Rhodey just chuckled, helping you to your feet again and handing you a towel to dry off. "We have to get ready for the baby shower. Later all your needs will be satisfied."

You grumbled a little, but didn't argue because- god damnit- he was right.

You dressed in a F/C maternity dress with flat, sturdy white sneakers for support. Wanda helped you pull back your hair, tying it up in an elegant knot with white ribbon.

"Thanks Wanda." You said with a smile.

"No problem Y/N." Wanda said, fixing up her own hair now while you started on the makeup.

"Has Elizabeth finished the cake yet? Cause none of us are allowed downstairs till she has." You said.

"She's putting the finishing touches to it right now." Wanda said. "She said she'd text when she sticks it in the fridge."

"How are you feeling about the upcoming move to Florida?" You asked. They'd decided they wait. Give birth here, and then that was when they would move.

"I'm kind've excited." Wanda said sincerely. "It will be far away from you guys, but its' not as far, especially with magical portals, no?"

You smiled, "Very true."

Wanda's phone lit up with a text from Elizabeth giving us the all clear. Rhodey knocked on the door to let us know that he was heading downstairs.

"Is everyone else here?" You asked.

"Nat and Bruce are the only ones left to show up." Wanda said. "Even the Guardians got here quicker than them. But," She smirked, "they probably had a late night."

You giggled, "Very true."

Oh right! The Supreme Court had made some changes to the law. Those medically unable-like Nat and the widows, or Vision- were not required to have children. The rules had lightened up a bit- including the penalty for not having enough children- and things were a bit more relaxed now.

You got up, leaving the bedroom with Wanda. Wanda went down the hall and down a set of stairs that led to the guest wing, while you took the main staircase to the kitchen.

Elizabeth looked tired, like she had been up for hours. Her own baby bump was rather large, though nowhere near as big as yours.

"Morning Y/N!" She said cheerfully enough, setting out a plate of eggs, sausage, and a bowl of fruit in it. A small piece of avocado was on your plate as well, making you wrinkle your nose.

"Oi!" Elizabeth scolded, pointing the spoon at you. "I hate avocado too but you are carrying three babies! Eat healthy!"

You let out an exaggerated sigh, eating the nasty green vegetable- fruit whatever- first, rinsing the nasty taste out with a mixture of milk and delicious sausage.

"What time is it?" You questioned Clint next to you.

"Ten in the afternoon. The official baby shower starts at twelve though."

"Where is everyone?"

"Peter and Gamora are showing their daughter around town. Nebula and Kraglin might be with them, although I don't know where the tree and raccoon are." Clint said with a shrug before eating more of his oatmeal. "Thor is probably with them. Bucky is probably wherever the racoon is not."

"He keeps trying to buy my arm." Bucky grunted, coming into the kitchen. He was wearing a leather jacket and a glove was covering his metal hand.

You hid your smile as Bucky grabbed a bowl of apple jacks to eat, leaning against the kitchen counter with his back to the wall so that Rocket couldn't sneak up on him. His eyes continuously roved the kitchen.

"Hey T!" You called over to T'Challa, "Does Shuri still have Bucky's old metal arm?"

"It is possible, why?" T'Challa questioned, confusion written all over his face.

"To give to Rocket." You said with a shrug and a grin. "Might get him away from Bucky's arm he's using now."

"Yes, give that to him." Bucky groaned. "Please!"

"I will let Shuri know." T'Challa said with a bit of a smile.

"You locked up all of the guns, right?" Clint asked everyone in the room, "Cause Rocket will take whatever guns he can get."

"Shit!" Tony jumped up from the table, "My lab!"

He raced down the hallway towards his lab.

"Yeah, Rocket would definitely pillage that." Clint smirked.

"Yes, Steve, Sam, and I locked everyone's guns up safely." Bucky grunted.

"I don't think that would stop him." Loki deadpanned at the table.

The breakfast table banter continued while Elizabeth slaved away at the stove, dishing out plates and plates of food, though you didn't actually ever see her eat anything herself.

"Tony should start paying you." You smirked as Elizabeth set another bowl of eggs in front of us, the boys immediately digging in, though you could've sworn that they'd already had three plates of food.

She just shrugged, a small smile on her face. You knew she really didn't mind. This was exactly what Elizabeth wanted in life. A peaceful life where she cared for her husbands and children. This was just a practice for her- and she was damn good at it. She would be a fantastic mother you were sure.

Twelve o'clock came sooner than expected and things were moved outside, under a large canopy. The Guardians were back. Bucky sat tensely by your side while Rocket sat on the other side of the table, his eyes never leaving Bucky.

"Can I stun him?" Bucky muttered under his breath.

"No." You muttered back, smirking. You knew that he and rocket had actually made a really good duo back during the war. Unfortunately, Rocket had grown an obsession over his arm and it was all he could think about now.

Bucky sunk down in his chair while Steve took a seat next to him, hiding the smile on his face.

"It's not funny punk." Bucky gritted out of his teeth.

"I didn't say it was." Steve said mildly.

"How are you, my Nkosazana?" T'Challa asked, coming up behind you to hug you from behind. He rested his hands on your stomach, feeling the babies kicking inside. "They are extremely active today."

"They've been active all week." You said with a little laugh. "They want out."

"Well Stark did just finish off their rooms." Fury said, sitting on the other side of you. Maria and Coulson sat down on the other side of him, both of them in deep conversation about something.

"Really?" You asked, surprised. "Everything? Without even knowing their genders?"

"Well, he did say that the probability of them being all girls or all boys were very slim so he made two rooms up that could fit two of both genders in them, technically more, but he's prepared." Fury smirked.

Elizabeth brought out the cake, setting in front of you, winking. "It is a bit. . . unconventional, I admit."

You couldn't see anything wrong with the cake. There was a plain, white frosting on the outside of it, not unlike the frosting that had been layered on Steve's cake. The decorations on top were very simple, just a black eyepatch, a small black cat, and a red star.

Elizabeth cut the cake directly down the middle, sliding the two pieces aside. They looked liked two halves of a different cake. On one side, there was a double layer of chocolate cake, and blue frosting in between each chocolate layer. On the other side, it was only layered once, white cake and pink frosting.

Everyone looked at Elizabeth, who was blushing slightly. She pointed the knife at the chocolate and blue. "Fury and T'Challa are having boys." She turned the knife towards the vanilla, "Bucky is having a girl."

You started to laugh, realizing the colours of the chocolate were the skin tones of your boys and the frosting was the gender of the children.

"So, remember, when you do her cake, you have to make the cake yellow." Sam whispered in my ear, making me laugh even harder.

It was all light humor and then the cake was passed around. Presents were given to the four of you- well really your babies.

Once the baby shower was finally over- about six hours later- and the party was cleaned up, you couldn't wait to get someone to take you upstairs. You had been badgering the others for a long time.

"You know what Stevie is?" Bucky asked darkly in your ear, arms wrapped tightly just above the baby bump. "He's Captain America, he's the golden boy. He's an agent, a killer, a lover, a husband, and he'll be a father. But I swear above everything else doll, Stevie is a brat tamer."

Steve and Sam were the only ones who overheard this, cracking smiles. Steve winked at you and you whimpered, feeling the need to be filled intensity with Bucky's last words and Steve's just utter hotness.

"Please." You whimpered, not even caring how many people were surrounding you.

"Y/N!" Tony shouted, running over to you, eyes bright. You nearly started crying on the spot. "C'mon, I have something I want to show you beautiful."

You let him lead you upstairs and down the unused hallway where he opened up the doors to reveal one of the bedrooms.

"Whoa." You said, horny thoughts banished to the back of your mind. "Tony this is-"

"I want our little girl to have the best." He said, smiling over his shoulder at you. "I can already just imagine her in here. Sleeping under there with her stuffed animals. I can picture you sitting next to her, reading her bedtime stories. I can imagine her during the day, running up those stairs and squealing as she slides down the slide. Of course, she's in the crib for now-" He pointed to a lovely, same shaded pink and white crib that was pushed up against the wall.

Everything was a rather overwhelming pink colour, admittedly. But it was also adorable and very princess like.

"I do need to fix the flooring a bit." Tony admitted, "More carpets. I don't want her running on this hard floor until she's a bit older."

You loved how Tony was calling her his daughter, even though she was biologically Bucky's. You were glad that he was seeing them with any difference of his kids.

"I love you Bubba." You mumbled, kissing Tony's cheek.

He chuckled, "You haven't even seen the boys room yet."

You laughed, taking his hand and let him guide you to the boys room. Upon opening the door, you gaped.

It was definitely larger than the girls room. But at the same time, it felt much smaller as there wasn't as much open space as the girls' room.

It looked as though there was a tree growing in the room, with a house on it. There was a ladder that would take them up and down the inside of the tree. The house opened up to show there was one small bed in there, perfect for a kid up until perhaps the age of 12 or 13, depending on how tall he was.

There were rope bridges on either side, that led out into the bedroom. Tunnels connected beds to other beds, while the bridges led to these beds. There were also two hammocks that were hanging near the tree in case they wanted to sit down and read.

There was a large bookcase as well, already stocked with little kids picture books on one side of the room. Behind the beds was what seemed to be a more open area, with large chairs and couches. A TV was there- although you couldn't see a remote. There were more toys over here with boxes full of huge lego blocks and wooden blocks. Small toy cars and those foam mats that you had to put together like puzzle pieces.

There were also toys for a girl, and you realized now that there was a set of double doors that connected the girls room to the boys. And another door that led to the bathroom.

The biggest feature was another tree house, that was more like a club house. It was attached to the ceiling, the only access was a rock wall, as well as another ladder. A blue slide came down the other side.

There was a window seat with pictures that you hadn't looked at yet, as well as a small rocking horse. Your kids would never want anything, that was for sure.

"What do you think?" Tony asked, gesturing around.

You just gaped, taking in everything. "I'm thinking, 'where was this when I was a kid'."

Tony chuckled.

You looked at the pictures by the window seat and started to laugh, "I love these!"

They were different superheroes with positive phrases on them. Although, it was a bit disconcerting to see a DC character among your Marvel husbands- and the kid of course. Not to mention an X-man.

"Although," You finally said, taking a look around the room, "There's no crib."

"Oh right." Tony said, leading you out of that room.

"There's another room?" You asked with surprise.

"Yep!" Tony said, "Don't worry though, this is the simple nursery."

He opened a door opposite the other two rooms and led you inside. True to his word, it was much simpler, and definitely more calming than the other rooms.

It was mostly white, though there was some black and light blues tossed in there. There was a love seat for you to sit on, lots of pillows, carpets, blankets, and rugs. There were quite a few stuffed animals everywhere as well, along with a few picture books.

It was a much smaller room, probably only a quarter of the boys room. It was divided into two half- rooms. One was obviously where you would play with the kids, and the other was where they would lay down to take a nap. There was also a light, wood changing table in the back corner, right near the black crib. There was a white fringe crib mobile above it. A rocking horse to the side.

"Oh Tony. . ." You mumbled, leaning into his side. "I love it. I love all of it. Thank you."

Tony kissed the side of your head, "I can't wait for the kids to come. I can't wait to have even more kids, although I am sorry that you're in pain so often."

You smiled as the two of you left the bedrooms. Stephen was walking down the hall, his hands in his jean pockets. "There you two are."

"Have you seen the bedrooms?" You asked in excitement.

Stephen smiled a little, "I have. Was he to overboard?"

"No, she wants one too." Tony said, winking at you.

You laughed, "I wouldn't have minded having either bedroom when I was growing up. They both seem so fun. Although I will want to keep an eye out on the kids when they move into the jungle room."

Tony nodded, "Don't worry, we can always alter it to make it safer till they're older."

Suddenly, you felt the slightest tickle of wetness sliding down your leg. You blinked.

'Did my water just break?'

You didn't voice it aloud, afraid that you might be wrong. It certainly wasn't how they described in the books with your water splashing to the floor, spraying everyone. It was just a trickle.

"I'll be right back." You said with a smile. "I need to go to the bathroom."

"Alright, do you want to come back to our room when you're done?" Stephen asked, wrapping his arms around Tony.

You smiled, "Naturally."

Tony smirked, nudging Stephen in the ribs before you waddled upstairs to your own room.

Though you rarely slept in here, there was a calm ambience to your room. It was a very simple room, not a lot of stuff as most of your things were scattered in the several other rooms you spent your time in.

You pulled your pants and knickers down in the bathroom, trying to see if there was any clear sign that your water had broken.

Unable to tell, you pulled out your phone, searching how you could figure it out.

Seeing a suggestion, you pulled on a pair of clean knickers and laid down on your bed, setting a timer for thirty minutes. However, you could literally feel the wetness pooling in your knickers and you didn't even need to wait thirty minutes before you knew- your water had broken.

A strange nervousness, yet excitement, seemed to build up in your core. You also felt strangely calm at the same time.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y." You said. "Can you please alert Nick, T'Challa, and Bucky that my water has broken?"

"Yes Miss Marvel." F.R.I.D.A.Y. replied.

You stayed laying there, in wait.

And then you heard a yell from downstairs that sounded like it was from Bucky.

[influenzalake]

 monster high why do ghouls fall in love headcanons, to answer the questions from clawdeena9's video 

inspired by this clawdeena9 video: (12:46 - 13:36 Love Makes No Sense and Walk Of Shame)

proper credit and recognition to Clawdeena9, thank you

- - -

Why doesn't Draculaura reach out to Valentine?

- I believe Draculaura has never reached out to Valentine... because phones and other modern tools of communication had not been invented yet! When Draculaura's carriage left that town so did any attempt to ever speaking to him again. (Unless she wanted to use Count Fabulous as a carrier bat lol!) I assume they knew that both were still alive because Vampire Lifespan Logic but when they parted ways it was probably a "well I have no idea where they are anymore". In the movie Draculaura explains she had to flee due to a misunderstanding with the locals, most likely she was told not to disclose the next location (if she even knew it) they were going to for the sake of their safety and starting a new life. 

- Toralei manages to track down Valentine in a matter of seconds

Social. Media. (or even word of mouth!) A playboy that prides himself on broken hearts would be easy to find on any social media platform, Valentine would be no exception. I strongly believe he would be openly advertising himself on his chosen platforms and would be very active and responsive. Finding more victims for himself and of course, making himself an easy target for Toralei. He is probably infamous on each said platform with thousands of followers and regularly posts. Though, with MH Vampire Reflection Logic there are probably no photos of him to confirm his identity which makes it even more convincing that Draculaura wouldn't have been able to find him again. How would she know it was really him and why would she put in that much effort to confirm? Toralei's petty self definitely would and I think she did during the events of WDGFIL.

- How did Valentine change schools so quickly ?

Honestly this is just a plot hole that no Monster High movie has bothered to explain. It happens in multiple movies so good catch but I cant think of a plausible canon reason lmao. My only idea is that Valentine's overbearing mum would go to any lengths to keep her son happy (and continue his heartbreaking reign of terror,,, if she's in on it!) But to answer the real questions about the formalities of transferring a school and paperwork necessary yeah I got nothing 

- did Toralei and Valentine take that long to leave the school? 

this one is for jokes so my answer is yes. Maybe they got lost in the catacombs? or yes they did indeed walk that slow 

[ididntseeurbag]

b-side

pairing: lee felix x idol!fem!reader

genre: fluff

warnings: mention of stressed out reader, mentions of coffee

in which y/n, the leader and producer of her group at jyp, makes a b-side and shows it to a very special person.

a/n: i made this a while ago, so my writing style might have changed a bit, but felix is one of my ults so i needed to post this!

y/n had just finished producing and writing her last, but most important, b-side track of her solo mini album and was just sitting in her studio, trying to calm herself after being in constant stress. while she turned around in her chair, she was thinking of ways and ideas to promote the album and make it as original and authentic as possible.

she had thought of everything from the music video for the title track to the album cover, except just one thing: what was she going to do with her most precious b-side? after much pondering and with nothing planned, she decided to let it go for the time being and go get an iced latte. it may or may not have been almost one am, but her sleep schedule was already messed up, so one more coffe wouldn't hurt, right?

she was walking down the halls of the company building with the objective of going to the jyp cafe when she heard music coming from the pratice room where stray kids usually were. she was curious about who of the eight of them was still there dancing, so she opened the door and took a peek, only to be surprised about the fact that it was felix, since minho was the one that stayed most days.

she quietly watched him dance to the slow and soft melody coming from the speakers, remembering the tune from the day that changbin had showed the track to both him and y/n a few weeks before. the more y/n watched him dance, the more she fell for him, and each time she was more aware of it, the smile on her face giving it away to even the most oblivious people.

felix finished dancing and dropped down on the floor, completely exhausted. y/n quickly snapped out of her trance and walked inside towards him, grabbing the water bottle that was next to the entrance on the way. she softly tapped him on the shoulder to let him know she was there and handed him the water bottle, softly smiling at him when he looked up at her with his beautiful brown eyes.

“thanks,” he muttered with the little strength he had left, but still managing to smile fondly at her.

“woah, be careful there bubs,” y/n started once felix started chugging the water, slowly lowering the bottle so he didn’t drink too much at once. “we don’t want to have a silly accident here,” felix giggled at her comment, and y/n swore she could’ve melted right then and there had she not been leaning her body on the wall.

after a few seconds, the australian boy got up to play the song and start dancing once again to perfect the choreography that one of the group’s choreographers had tasked him with learning. y/n knew he was too tired to continue, so she got to the speaker first and stopped him before he could press replay. felix looked at her with a pout, and even though y/n found it hard to resist it, she stood her ground. “no,” she told him. “you’re gonna rest even if you like it or not.”

“oh, come on,” he wined, but she didn’t budge. “please?” he tried to persuade her again, but to no avail, so he sighed and walked away to get the hoodie he had discarded on the sofa hours ago. “what do you suggest we do, then?” he asked while turning off the lights and closing the door of the practice room, y/n trailing right behind him. as he was turning around, an idea popped into y/n's head, one worth trying to make it work.

“i’m glad you ask that, lixie, because just now i finished a track and it want to show it to you,” she tried to make it look like she was just searching for validation, when she had a bigger plan in mind. felix, of course, bought her half thruth and flashed her one of his warm smiles.

“sure,” he paused to yawn. “but can we get coffee first?” y/n immediately agreed to that and they both went to the cafe.

lattes in hand, the pair went to the girl’s studio, felix sitting on the sofa and y/n on her chair so she could have it easier to search and play the song. as it boomed from the speakers, she anxiously looked at her crush and close friend, since she was actually kind of seeking for approval, especially from him. it was one of the songs that she was proudest of, mostly because it was different than the ones she made for her group and even from the other ones in the album, but she thought it was the best b-side she had ever made and she feared that someone wouldn’t like it. thankfully, felix wasn’t one of the people who hated it, and the way his eyes shined during and after the song made it clear.

silence came back again, and he slowly looked at y/n with nothing but adoration on his face. he knew y/n was really good at making songs, but that one outshined all the others she had made. “wow,” he managed to utter. “it’s so good y/n, oh my god,” he chuckled. “this could perfectly be your title track, you know that right?”

y/n giggled, then nodded. “i was debating on wether it should be this or the current one, but the other one has more range for the music video, choreo and such,” at her words, felix hummed, understanding her point of view. “still, i want to ask you something regarding this song,” y/n told him, and he looked at her, waiting for her to make whatever question. “i was wondering if you wanted to make a choreography for this song, so they could then film you in a set and turn it into some kind of music video?”

felix’s eyes met hers. “you trust me that much that you want me to be in one of your music videos?”

y/n shook her head in affirmation. “well, you would technically be the only one in the video,” she hesitated, but then continued with a whisper. “and it would only make sense if it were you.”

the australian was confused. “what do you mean by that? why only me?”

y/n looked at him and wondered if she should tell him, but ended up deciding that he had the right to know. “well...the song is kind of about you, as a thank you for everything you’ve done for me and helped me with after all this time.”

to say felix was shocked was an understatement, but he was trying to wrap his head around the fact that y/n, the girl he had fallen head over heels for, had made a song about him, and that it was probably her best composition yet. his eyes glistened, tears threatening to fall from happiness, but he didn’t let them fall and instead took y/n's hand and pulled her to him so he could properly hug her. “thank you,” he whispered, smiling from ear to ear. “i will put my everything into this choreography.”

y/n smiled and nuzzled her face into the crook of felix’s neck. “i know you will, lixie, i know you will.”

masterlist

[dharmafox]

Some late-night, post-three cups of sake thoughts on how I'm processing the new Mononoke background:

In a way, I'm actually more comfortable with the new Medicine Seller now. Because he always felt just a teeny bit "off" to me from the first trailer. I decided to attribute it to his possibly being a younger version, so knowing that he's actually a different version isn't that much of a shift. It is a shift, but easier to accept than if I had expected the new Medicine Seller to be exactly the same guy.

I don't like knowing stuff about their background. I'm not sure why exactly. It just kind of overlays some rigidity on stuff that we were free to interpret as we chose before. It's not because I can't theorize anymore, because I obviously can, and obviously so can anyone else who wants to. It's not even because it contradicts my pet theories, because I still see them as compatible with the new information. It's just the rigidity of knowing, and the difficulty of making the adjustment from not knowing.

In the auto-subs in the video, Nakamura-san said that he thought viewers would find it "boring" not to know. Bro, who told you that? The fandom hasn't been bored in 17 years. If we had, you wouldn't have been able to make a movie. You gave people over a decade to develop their own relationships with your work and then came in and interfered with those relationships. Like. Dude.

But I keep thinking... maybe we're obsessing about this a bit too much. The information we were given is all based on spiritual metaphor. It doesn't really tell us anything about the Medicine Seller other than the specific Taoist basis of the power he uses, and why it means there can be others like him. Nothing about the character or stories we've seen has changed except that we're aware of the influence of this particular metaphor.

Which is annoying. Because we never asked to know. But once I started looking into the concept it was actually fascinating. And if I had dug up all this information myself and arrived at this idea as a theory, I would think it was incredibly cool. So it really is just the rigidity of knowing that's irritating.

In the end, after the theorizing engine has slowed down, I'm going to watch Mononoke again, not to reinterpret it but to remember the real reason why I love it, which has nothing to do with backstory or lore.

[jadewritesficshere]

18+only Thinking about best friend!Eddie who is absolutely in love with you. Who is too afraid to say anything because he'd rather be friends and be near you then risk losing you. Eddie would much rather sit and hold your hand as friends then sit alone holding nothing. His stomach turns at the thought of losing you. So he bats his eyes and flirts with others, just so you don't find out he loves you and leaves, because everyone he's loved has left (Wayne being the exception, and he's pretty sure he's just a burden to Wayne even if Wayne does love him).

And one night you're sitting on the couch watching a movie together. A movie that was really bad. You both had been cracking jokes about the terrible acting and the poorly written script. Suddenly, the woman in the movie was on her knees in front of the man. Eddie practically can feel the energy in the room change. The woman on screen is uh very enthusiastic and the man seems very uh pleased, but Eddie can only hear them as suddenly the ceiling is very uh interesting? You smack his arm and laugh at the over dramatics, but he can't help but thinking about what it would sound like if it was you. The groan that slipped past his lips was entirely accidental. You heard it all the same, turning to look at him. "Oh? This excite ya big boy?" You chuckle at him and he flips you off.

Yes, he was "excited". Excited at the thought of you looking up at him giving him the biggest doe eyes and pleading look. Looking so eager for him. Eddie feels like a bad friend, but at the same time he can't help but imagine how your hands would feel wrapped around him. "Eddie?" Your voice cuts through his thoughts, and he notices you have paused the movie. He groans at the picture and covers his eyes, because of course you paused it on the image where the woman has her mouth wrapped around the guy.

"You okay?" You motion to his very evident bulge," You uh gonna take care of that?" Eddie can't tell if you're making fun of him or just feeling awkward, but it makes him frustrated all the same. "Oh yeah, course I will. Not like you would, though it is your fault," Eddie inhales at what he just said and hears you scoff," My fault?" Of course, Eddie can't say "oh my BFF I was just thinking about you sucking me off". He goes for what he can say," well you are the one who chose this...this porno!" You laugh indignantly, " This isn't porn!" "Oh, so you watch porn now huh?" "Yeah, I've rented a video before." Eddie's mind is melting. You've rented a video before? You probably got off to it and-

His dick twitches and he slaps his hands on his knees,"Well I'm just gonna go take care of this and-" he starts to get up but you push him back onto the couch,"Oh no you don't." Eddie blinks a few times looking at you as you slide off the couch and kneel in front of him,"What uh whatcha doin'?" "Well, if it's my fault then I'm gonna fix it."

Eddie is pretty sure he's in a coma and dreaming this fantasy. Maybe he died and he gets to see all the things he wished would happen play out in vivid detail. Either way, Eddie is counting his lucky stars his imagination has always been good, because you're unzipping his pants. He lifts his hips to help aid you in pulling his pants and boxers down. You make a hum that he really hopes is approval as you touch his dick. Eddie bites his lip and tries to hold back his moans as you spit in your hand and then slide your hand antagonizingly slow up and down his length. "I want to hear you," you smirk up at him and he wants to say something but your mouth is on him and the moan falls out of his mouth before he can hold back. Your mouth feels amazing, and all other thoughts leave his head. All he can think about is you. He murmurs your name every so often, along with "oh please" and "don't stop".

It all ends too soon for him, Eddie doesn't even have time to warn you before he's cumming down your throat. You pull back when he whines from the oversensitivity. Eddie would say something but he doesn't want to ruin this moment. You're still kneeling in front of him, grinning up at him, and kissing his inner thigh. He has half a mind to just haul you up and kiss you and kiss you and kiss you. But he'll wait....wait until you say that's what you want. Once you give him the okay though, he is never letting you go.

[peskellence]

Pairing: RK900/Gavin Reed

Tags: Post Pacifist Ending, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Eventual Smut, Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Masterlist

Read on AO3 here:

Summary: A lot has changed since the revolution. Crimes against androids are now punished in the same way as crimes against humans. A reluctant Gavin Reed and his new partner RK900 have been assigned to investigate a string of disturbing murders. Despite the shift in Detroit's social climate, Gavin still holds reservations about whether or not androids are truly alive. Will his developing feelings for 'Nines' be the thing to change this?

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Depression/Self Destructive Behaviour, Eventual Smut

Word Count: 3.1K

Arriving early in the morning, the front lobby of Cedars Motel was empty. It was likely a down period, with most patrons still asleep or yet to arrive. However, judging from the Reception's outdated decor and the noticeably mildewed walls, Gavin suspected it saw little traffic even at the best of times.

There was nothing to fill the space except some sparsely placed furniture. A set of worn, moth-eaten armchairs framed a single rickety coffee table. There was an electric display board in the corner of the room, cycling ads for casinos and low-rent strip clubs. Beneath the board was a metal rack filled to the brim with dirty magazines.

Gavin found his attention captured by a particularly shameless image. Two androids – one male, one female – dressed in matching lingerie and knelt on the floor, tongues extended. Their glazed eyes stared wantonly up at the reader. Curiously, he picked up the magazine and swept his finger across the display, to which an article title appeared:

"Your girlfriend's jaw might get tired – but ours won't!"

Why Android Sex Is Still The Best

Gavin let out a snort. He wasn't a prude by any means, but something about nudie mags in public had always struck him as uncomfortable. While innocuous in the places you would expect, like adult stores, he couldn't understand perusing a supermarket for something you could see online for free. In the year 2039, it seemed more than a little redundant. 

"Our perp certainly has some refined taste. Classy digs, don't you think?"

The longer Gavin scrolled, however, the more he was beginning to feel...intrigued. He'd never really indulged in android porn, having had little desire to do so, but now that he was seeing it firsthand, he could certainly appreciate the aesthetics.

Machines meticulously detailed to appear human - but far too perfect to actually be real. Like pornstars airbrushed to oblivion, coupled with the stamina and dexterity of Olympic gymnasts. There were positions he had never seen before. Didn't even think were possible –

"I would advise that you close your mouth, Detective," Nines said suddenly.

Gavin stalled in his movements. He looked up from the screen, shooting his partner an accusatory glare. "Are you seriously telling me to shut up? I barely said anything."

"I wasn't suggesting that you 'shut up,' although it would certainly be a bonus if you chose to do so. I just fear you will have to pay for that item if you continue to soak it with your drool."

Having been thoroughly called out and feeling more than a little embarrassed, Gavin placed the magazine back on the shelf. "Great, you've got jokes now, just what I need." He did his best to ignore the rising heat burning his face but was helped little by Nines' smug expression. "Let's just find the owner of this dump so we can get the hell out of here."

"I would agree it is best to limit your exposure to our current surroundings." Nines ran its fingers along the crumbling drywall before sealing them with its lips. The digits were held for only a moment before being quickly retracted. "There is a dangerous level of mold in this room. The spores could be hazardous to your health."

Gavin was tempted to make a comment on his twenty-a-day smoking habit (or the myriad of other unhealthy life choices) but decided against it. Nines seemed to be in a good mood. Or, at the very least, was behaving less like an asshole than usual. He didn't feel like disturbing the peace with another tired lecture.

Nines strode with purpose towards the Reception desk and quickly scoped the call bell amongst a sea of trash and paperwork. It pressed down on the sensor, to which a shrill chime echoed throughout the room. The two of them waited pensively, watching the door behind the desk, before realizing that no one was coming to greet them.

With a frustrated twitch of its brow, Nines pressed the button again. Firmer and more prolonged.

"Detroit Police Department," It spoke in a firm, authoritative tone but was barely audible over the noise.

"Whoever's hiding back there, they're deaf," Gavin remarked, holding his hands over his ears. "That thing is loud as fuck."

Just then, there was a soft shuffling of footsteps from behind the door. It swung open, and a wiry-looking man peered slowly around the corner. His appearance perfectly complemented the stuffy surroundings, with yellowed skin and frail bones jutting through a dirty sweater.

"Apologies for the wait, sirs. I must have dozed off," Bleary eyes trailed clumsily from behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, darting between Gavin and Nines. "Are you looking for a room? I have a King Size left. Great rates."

"Detroit Police Department," Nines repeated, clearly intent on not wasting time, "Officer RK900, Serial Number 313 248 317 – 87, and Detective Gavin Reed."

"Oh, right, of course," The man pursed his lips before lightly clearing his throat. "Are you looking for a room...officers?"

The silence that followed was legendary. Nines stared back at the man blankly - while Gavin openly gaped. Evidently, the place saw little business from anything other than booty calls. Still, Gavin couldn't help but wonder how someone could be so hopelessly oblivious.

"Mr. Walter Andrews," Nines was leaning forward now, face inches from the perspex divider. Reaching into its side pocket, it pulled out its badge and flashed it plainly. "Your assessment of this situation is deeply misguided. We have no interest in a room; we are here on professional matters."

The man, who Gavin now knew to be Walter, retreated from the encroaching android. His face turned pale with mortification "...I-I am very sorry to have caused offense. I thought perhaps you were doing a role-play and wanted me to go along with it. It happens more often than you'd think. I didn't actually think you were –."

"TMI, buddy," Gavin cut him off, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We want to know if anyone suspicious checked in on the night of January 13th. Think you can help us with that?"

"Well...most of the folks who check in here are a little suspicious," Walter let out a shaky chuckle before quickly tensing up. "Nothing illegal about it, mind you. Drunk businessmen and ladies of the night. That kind of thing."

"Prostitution is not permissible in Michigan, so the arrangements you have just described are indeed illegal," Nines corrected, straightening its back. "Not that it is of immediate concern. The individual we are looking for would have been alone. Do you have any check-in records that we may review?"

"Well, yes, of course, I do...but I wouldn't usually share them. Customer confidentiality and all," Walter adjusted his glasses nervously, pursing his lips. "Mind telling me what this is about, officers?"

"It concerns a homicide. This information may be critical in assisting us in our investigation, and your cooperation is appreciated."

"Homicide? As in a murder?" Walter spluttered out, holding his chest. "I haven't heard anything about that. Is it public knowledge?"

"The story has been broadcasted on several networks."

"Was it a man? A woman? God, my niece Julie would've been out that day. She's only eighteen and such a dainty thing. It just kills me to think that something might have happened –"

"Mr. Andrews," Nines interrupted, sounding a little annoyed. Its words fell on deaf ears, however, as the man persisted on.

"I'm looking at a screen most days and nights. Except when I'm checking guests in. Or when I'm driving Julie back home. She helps out with the cleaning on Fridays, you see. I would think that I would have heard if something like that had -"

"It was an android," Nines said firmly, ending the man's inane ramblings. "The records, please."

"Oh. Oh yes," Walter mumbled, voice growing unusually muted. He had a far-off look about him as if he were too uncomfortable to say much else. "Well, that's a shame, isn't it? I mean... it's very sad." He then looked to Gavin desperately - as if seeking some form of reassurance or guidance.

When he received nothing in return, the man meekly turned his attention to the underside of his desk. After some searching, he retrieved a tattered leather sign-in book. He dusted it off and slid it over to Nines for examination.

The android wasted no time flicking through the pages, scanning for the relevant dates. When located, it began trailing its gaze down the list of names, LED flickering in time with its blinks.

Gavin left his partner to it, reclining against the side of the desk. To his dismay, Walter appeared to take this as an invitation to engage in conversation, eagerly tilting forward. "So, are the two of you partners?"

"Unfortunately."

"Have you been working together long?"

"About a week," Gavin deadpanned. He was suddenly desperate for a smoke break. Or a drink. "So long enough."

Before Walter could bombard him with any more unwanted questions, Nines' head snapped upwards - as if caught on a pulley.

"He was here."

"You're shitting me," Gavin ran over to his partner, pulling the book towards him and studying it closely. "The guy was seriously dense enough to use 'Thod Graws' in two places?"

"While he didn't use the same name, he may as well have done," Nines snatched the book back, holding it up to the divider and directing Walter with its finger. "Do you remember this man?"

Walter peered forward, eyes squinted in concentration. "Who, Hans? He was a strange one. I couldn't get two words out of the guy. Paid with cash and went straight to his room."

"Do you remember what he looked like?" Nines pressed on. "This may be of crucial importance. I implore you to think carefully."

"It was raining that night. He came in wearing a hood and refused to pull it down. I asked if he had ID, but he said he'd left it at home. I never got a good look at his face."

Gavin folded his arms. "Let me guess. He was wearing a black raincoat?"

"Why yes, I think so, but how did you -"

"Psychic," The detective retrieved a notepad from his jacket and began scribbling notes, "Who was on the desk the following morning? Anyone who might have seen him check out?"

"Well, I was here all day, but..." Walter pointed a crooked finger to a mail chute just by the window. "I have a drop box for early morning checkouts. Got to sleep sometime, you know?"

Son of a bitch. "Does anybody else work here, or is it just you?"

"I mean, there's Julie. I did tell you about Julie, right?"

Goddamn it.

"She's a lovely girl, always helping me out. Going to college in September. Sharp as a tack that one, I could ask if maybe she saw –"

"You know what, never mind," Gavin shook his head dismissively, putting his notebook away. He felt as though he might collapse from the undue stress that Walter was causing him.

"Would you have any CCTV records from the night in question?" Nines said, eager to steer the conversation back on course.

"I've got the one camera up there," Walter pointed to the wall above the main entrance. "I'm warning you, though, it's grainy as sin. You can't make out anything but blurs and squiggles. I'm not sure what good it'll be."

"Regardless of its quality, a copy of the footage would be appreciated. We can take it for analysis and see for ourselves if there is anything of interest."

"Well, I wouldn't know how to make a copy of that, but I can give it a go. Never got to grips with this newfangled technology. Let alone everything being automated. If you ask me, it just makes it more confusing."

Nines held up its hand, synthetic skin slowly retracting. "If you could show me the hub, I would be able to download the data for myself."

"Why yes, I forgot that you, uh, that androids, could do that," Walter nodded quietly before opening up a panel on the side of his desk, beckoning Nines forward. "This way, please."

Once they had left the motel, Gavin let out a shameless groan, his breath swirling in front of him. He had failed to realize how warm the Reception had been - as the freezing temperature outside hit him full tilt.

There was a reason he couldn't stand early mornings, especially in the winter. He placed his hands under his armpits, hugging them tight. "So much for a quick in and out. If I had to hear another word about 'lovely Julie,' I was going to blow fucking my brains out."

"Perhaps you were too dismissive. This Julie could have been a valuable witness."

"That seems pretty unlikely," Gavin shot back.

"I don't know, Detective. I hear she's rather sharp."

Gavin glanced at his partner, waiting for some sort of smartass elaboration. When he realized it was, in fact, kidding, he let out a soft chuckle. "Seriously, did you download a sense of humor? Because you are full of them today."

Nines shrugged, feigning obliviousness, "Nothing I have said has been in jest. I am simply being transparent."

"Surprised that you didn't rip that guy a new one the second he started spewing useless bullshit. I thought you were designed to intimidate."

"I was designed to intimidate criminals, not harass civilians. Well, that, and also to - " Nines stopped itself. Its relaxed demeanor abruptly vanished, LED cycling to red. It looked intensely uncomfortable. As if it had been close to revealing something deeply personal.

"...Nines?" Gavin waved a hand in front of the android, who continued to stare fixedly ahead. It had gone into autopilot, body moving in staggered motions and its expression drained of vibrance. "You're not glitching on me, are you?"

This triggered some sort of response. The androids' LED showed glimpses of yellow - before slowly returning to blue, "I am not. My diagnostics indicate that I am functioning normally."

"Right," Gavin said back, entirely unconvinced. "Are you sure? You seem a little twitchy."

"If I was experiencing a fault that may inhibit this investigation, I would certainly be aware of it," Its voice was strained, almost defensive. "Perhaps it is best we focus on that rather than the intricacies of my program, which I can assure are beyond your comprehension.

"Jesus, okay, touchy much?" Gavin whistled, scowling deeply. Just when Nines was starting to behave like less of a machine, it seemed to default back to its shitty factory settings. "If you wanna talk business, what did you mean when you said our perp 'may as well' have used the same name? Because I checked those sign-ins and I didn't see anything close to a 'Thod Graws'."

"Our culprit is fond of codes. He uses them rather liberally," Nines closed its eyes, accessing its data banks. Seemingly unaware, or unconcerned, with Gavin's sarcasm. "His preferred method for alias generation appears to be anagrams. When reordered, Thod Graws translates to 'Gods Wrath'. This new name, Hans Stiver, has similar connotations."

Gavin pondered on this. He took his notebook back out to draw up its musings. Tongue curled with concentration, he struck out a few combinations, but to no avail. When Gavin eventually did decipher the code, his heart sank.

"Holy shit, you're right", He muttered, staring at the paper intently. Making sure he wasn't mistaken, "...Your computer brain got anything for that gibberish from the other day? The weird binary shit?"

"It wasn't binary. Had it been, I would have deciphered it instantaneously" Nines appeared somewhat vexed, its lips taut in a thin line. "Truthfully, I am uncertain of the system used. While I possess advanced deductive capabilities, code decryption is not one of my primary functions. An oversight on CyberLife's part, perhaps." 

"Yeah, I'll say", Gavin lamented, throwing up his hands. "What kind of detective bot doesn't have a built-in code breaker?"

"At any rate, it may take me a little longer, but I am confident I will crack it soon."

"I guess we can add 'religious nutjob' to the suspect profile, anyway. Hell of a lot else we've got to go on."

"I wouldn't suggest that we have nothing."

Gavin frowned at his partner bitterly. "What are you, fucking high?"

"I am incapable of getting high", Nines began to explain. Seemingly unaware, or unconcerned, with Gavin's sarcasm "They have let to effectively replicate the effects of human narcotics on androids, although I do hear Thirium-based alcohol is beginning to -"

"You knew what I meant, jackass. Just face it - we've got no DNA, no reliable witnesses, and no more leads to follow" Gavin kicked a pebble across the sidewalk. "Unless that footage is of our suspect waving to the camera and holding up a signed confession, this feels like another dead end."

"Perhaps not" Nines, who had been quietly scoping the surrounding area, pointed to a small store across the road. Following its direction, Gavin caught a glimpse of a peeling wooden sign, which read 'Mikey's Phones and Electronics' in bold red font:

"We can assume that our culprit used a burner phone when they arranged the HR400's services. He would have needed to purchase the SIM somewhere, as well as the phone itself. How convenient that a store nearby could provide him exactly what he was looking for."

Gavin let out a tut, unconvinced by the android's reasoning. "Detroit is a big fucking city. They could have bought that SIM from anywhere - and even if we had a hunch, we'd have no way of tracing it. Thing is probably long gone." 

"Maybe so, but the log we were able to collect of the suspect's call provided us with more than just a location. The phone used for the call was a 2013 Samsung S3. If it so happens that a phone of that model was purchased in that store, with a prepaid SIM included, in the days before the murder..."

"...It would seem like one hell of a tidy coincidence", Gavin conceded with a grumble. "Alright, tin-can, I'll bite. Guess it wouldn't hurt checking out: but if you're wrong about this, I'll fucking dismantle you."

"Duly noted," Nines remarked, nodding gently. "I would suggest we act quickly, however. We have failed to check in with Captain Fowler for quite some time. No doubt he'll be eager to receive an update." 

[spiders-hth-is-an-outlier]

I'm gonna keep slogging through the new Contrapoints video on Twilight on the hope that it improves, because I really am a big fan generally, but I'm an hour and change in and it feels really weirdly misguided to me.

Most of it has been about what psychological needs sexual fantasies, especially "darker" sexual fantasies, fulfill for readers and how it smacks of moral panic to say that silly women can't distinguish between fake fictional danger that exists for narrative (and sexual) tension and real danger, which -- okay, is true and I agree, and it might even be reasonable to say that Twilight, a chaste story about the pure fulfillment of marrying a righteous Mormon man, served the same psychosexual needs as, like, fuck-or-die smut for its original audience of Youths, idk. But it's inconceivable to me that a grown-ass person would be as hellbent as Natalie apparently is on making the case that the Twilight series is a compelling depiction of taut, passionate, erotic yearning. Like -- it's just actually -- not. It's not any of that. It's slow and repetitive and flat-footed, and if what you like to read is taut, passionate, erotic yearning, I genuinely cannot believe that these are your go-to romantic fantasy novels. Like, she's right in theory about the drivers of sexual fantasies, but how does a grown adult say with a straight face that she loves these particular books because they are so uniquely good at fulfilling these extremely common sexual fantasies? Is your video is about erotic longing or is it about Twilight, because nothing you're saying about one subject seems to me to be relevant to the other.

And I'd put this down to a matter of taste, I guess, except that it strikes me as a little disingenuous to suggest that people who find Twilight off-putting do so exclusively because they don't like or don't get the idea of women being into erotic fantasies at all, or because they only like the most sanitized versions of romance. It grinds my gears a little bit to see decades of hard work by the sex-positive feminists, kinksters, and pervert intellectuals who came up with all this theory about desire being used to defend these aggressively sublimated, anodyne books that in no way added to the Conversation, and on many levels would not be caught dead attending the Conversation. As a weird pervert of long standing, Twilight would have to be a hell of a lot juicier for me to ride to its defense on pervert grounds.

I don't know, there's a lot of video left, but so much of it so far has seemed to be discussing some entirely alternate, theoretical erotic novel about vampires that I feel like Natalie and I just fundamentally are not going to get each other on this one. Also, she's apparently a Gaylor now? Which maybe was a joke, but it kind of didn't sound like it, and only contributes to my sneaking suspicion that Natalie's brain is finally starting to unravel under pressure.

[arcsnonexistantfandomblog]

Ideas for a wish rewrite.

Disclaimer, I have NOT watched the movie, but based on what I have seen and have been told...I will be coming up with ideas instead. I found a video of the Kids book version of the movie and used that as reference for the basic plot of the movie so I can understand the movie a bit more. With that being said..

Let's start the rewrite ideas!

#1. Let's talk about new ideas for the spell book and the ideas on how it could possess.

ALRIGHT, so from what I have seen from trailers, there is an evil spell book... and I would like to come up with two alternatives to the idea of this book and its usage, one inspired by Minecraft dungeons and how the orb of dominance is used in its book.

The Book has a similar property as the orb of dominance, where it posses and then the person goes back to normal once destroyed

Let me present the idea I prefer more for this possibly out of two versions I drafted for this section.

The book possesses the king because it knows he is paranoid and offers him the power to make sure that nothing goes wrong. Let the movie slowly show this book possessing this man, even in subtle things like the ways he smiles or how he speaks.

Maybe that smirk there is the evil looking over to Asha, knowing what it is doing to him...has changed him.

I think it would also be a good way to show why Amaya does not want him to use the book, that it was locked up so nothing happens. Maybe in his backstory or Amayas, the book was used and they lost one of their loved ones and it explains why the book stays in the castle where it is.

Amaya does not want to lose her dear husband to a book that has once made them lose something that they could never get back. She loves him too much at that point to ever want to lose him.

But despite this, Magnifico knows he is desperate to make this paranoia go away. The idea of being able to have more power than he already has...makes parts of his personality shine. Let him have the book, show how this dark magic can corrupt someone.

I also love the imagery of the mirrors in the movie, it makes it feel so... Interesting that the mirror is used as a Magnifico thing. Maybe highlight that more as he turns more evil, he has a mirror to make sure his hair looks good, and he looks in the mirrors in his room as he realizes what he has done with letting this book take him over. Let the MIRRORS on the wall show his slow descent and the book's magic just reveling in it.

*The book sees he likes mirrors, maybe it is his motif, so it uses the mirrors as a way to show that it is in control, and that Magnifico now is it's vessel.

*also an idea for the picture below, the book becomes his reflections and talks to him, while he wonders if it is right to be doing this, hesitation. Except without the finger guns. I think it is cute but goddamn won't it be so interesting.

There could be two endings to this

After the book is destroyed...

Version one: He becomes good again, apologizing for everything, of course, it will take him down a notch In power, but he is willing to do it for everyone for his wrongs. Or he is just good again and it takes a while for him to be able to get back onto society. Maybe he becomes sick due to the books magic and needs to rest.

Version Two: He stays evil because he feels like he can't take back what he has done, so he stays evil. Maybe the book's magic lingers and he turns into a monster as a final fight due to the acceptance of the books view.

The book is thrown away once Magnifico gets what he wants, showing how Magnifico is ready to take this path and is willing to destroy things and use them.

Magnifico could become evil slowly through the movie sure...but maybe the wishing star is the reason he starts up his actual arc, once he sees a threat to whatever he is doing that he knows is wrong, he starts. Maybe hint at his evil more in the beginning of the movie, instead of Asha being told about things and secrets when she just met Magnifico [may be wrong? Not sure, feel free to correct me!], she finds out in some other way, and watches him do something to her grandfather's wish.

I get Asha's goal is to give her grandfather his wish, but it would be interesting to hear Magnifico speak to himself while he removes the wish entirely, perhaps even if the wish is removed, it could make the person still forget. I mean he does destroy the wish as punishment...why not make that earlier in the movie where there is no apparent reason to destroy it.

I also saw this post that said that maybe some people had their wishes regranted, I love that idea. It could show he has favorites and where he is doing wrong with the wishes. Maybe a moral/ethical wrong. As the movie goes on, let what he does get worse and worse. Villains start with actions, which could be an action that shows their willingness to not do right.

Once he gets the book and its powers despite his wife's wishes of him not to use them: he throws the book away as if it is trash. Maybe this could foreshadow a fight between him and his wife ahead where he pushes his wife down, trying to get her out of the way of his plan and in shock and grief, she realizes that the husband she once knew was gone, and abandoned her for something that could hurt the whole kingdom.

"I've seen too many bad things that I can't keep count, he loves one thing more than himself: his crown. The good in him I've watched it melt, I was fooled by the love I found. So profound..."

These words I think can be used to show how she feels, sure it could be rephrased to fit the idea that she just had the realization, but it would help to see her hurt from this. Realistically realizing how bad the person you love is something that is meant to hurt. I know how that feeling is, and if Amaya feels that way...then she is going to hesitate to do things toward her husband to save her kingdom. Maybe Asha has some grounding in her personality and gets her some confidence that she needs to confront her husband.

"Snap out of it Amaya! This is your only chance to try and do something. We all believe in you, talk to him, we are by your side through all of this."

"Your right...I have to try, and if that doesn't work, I have to step my foot down as the queen of this kingdom!"

Maybe Magnifico is so far gone that he is willing to hurt his wife and not regret it, one of the ideas I had before I even knew the plot was that Magnifico could maybe harm/kill his wife to show how far from redemption he is. I feel like kids should be allowed to be shown the bad things in relationships sometimes, instead of Disney playing it safe...again.

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#2 Let's talk about A Villain couple!

I love this idea the most, Amaya and Magnifico being the main villains would make sense as to why Amaya is supportive of her husband no matter what. Maybe instead of the scene where the book is put back because of the wife, the context of different. Perhaps the wife explains that the time is not right, to not rush evil.

Give them a villain song that is similar to The Greatest Living Show in how it songs. Have that mysterious way it feels with the beauty and them both dancing in their love. Their beautiful and evil love. They pull at the strings to hide that they don't grant wishes that make people happy and only the ones that benefit them both materially as well. They may intentionally rip the people off the memory of the wish so that it is more sinister in their intentions.

I like the idea that the Wife is the brains while Magnifico is the brawn. I even saw the idea of them being like Morticia and Gomez AND I LOVE THAT DYMANIC.

I feel like it would complement the idea of it being oringal, let them both be evil Disney!!! We were robbed!

Addition idea: Asha being the daughter of them both instead, and wanting the old man who was like a grandparent to her wish be granted.

Let's look back to other movies for this inspo that could reference other Disney movie villains.

Mother Gothel: Her relationship with the protagonist is very toxic and manipulative. She even attacks Rapunzel to put her in her place, but the warm light is replace with a gloomy green light

Frollo: His relationship with the protagonist is toxic and full of red flags, including how he treats other people show he sees himself as superior.

Take the idea of the relationship with the protagonist being toxic: and let that be the main idea for this plot idea. Asha has Amaya and Magnifico as adoptive parents due to her father's death: not knowing this love would be fake.

This daughter-father relationship could also explain why Magnifico tells her secrets, I love the idea that he tells her because of the idea of her not knowing right from wrong, or in general because she won't say anything because she knows they are just looking out for everyone.

Amaya could be a loving mother, similar to gothel in a way that is also has a bad side.

"Asha Dearest, your father is only looking out for the kingdom, surely you understand"

"I do...but why destroy wishes or not give them back so people can achieve things on their own?"

"Because: when you grant a wish, you can't get it back until it is granted" That could be a lie that is later proven wrong.

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#3 Asha and her personality

I am fine with a teenager who is awkward and in general kind...but being adorable is not realistic, let me propose this idea instead:

Asha is an extroverted Teenager who does not exactly have the full life experience and wishes for more wishes to be granted and wishes to be given back so people can learn that it is ok to not be given things right away: that you can work hard and achieve things. Perhaps she feels this way because she is a high achiever and is good at what she does: so she is smart and always willing to do new things.

But being a teenager has...well been a bit odd for her, she is now taller and has become clumsy, which gets her into even more awkward situations, causing her to be a bit insecure and her confidence low.

As the movie goes on, she learns to be confident and how to ground herself to not be scared to stand up for everyone. She brings a light to a room that makes people smile...and seeing her gain a sort of independence in being able to help everyone makes them want to help her.

I feel like Asha would be a good chance to have a teenager who is actually awkward and not so cutesy, and then learn how to get the confidence she needs to stand up against the villain.

To be honest as someone who has had someone who made me feel insecure in myself, it was very hard for me to stand up for myself the confidence I needed. Especially when it is someone you trust, I feel like using the dynamic that trust can be abused is a good lesson.

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#4 The themes

I feel like there is a few themes that can and should be learned from this movie

1. With teamwork, you can do a lot of things

2. Sometimes the people everyone trusts can be bad

3. good intentions can exist even for the wrong options

4. Learning to be independent and make your own wishes come true is important.

5. Friendship and support can get people thought even hard times.

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I feel like it is ok to have friendship and positive relationships be a reason to have a villain stopped can be a good idea, as long as you use it right. Friendships come in many forms and it is ok to have a hero who is not perfect or the safest protagonist ever. You have to step into places where you have not breached to make good characters. It takes experimentation to make things like this happen, and no story is perfect, we also have to learn that staying on the safe side is not the best.

The hunchback of Norte Dame was a good movie because its villain crossed lines that other movies would not do: showing how abuse looks, and how even the most "good" people can be bad. How people can be lied to, and how people like Frollo will use words and actions to hurt people who do not deserve hurt.

The Little Mermaid shows that a villain's words will not be true, Ursula convinces Ariel to go to the surface without words with things that aren't true nowadays...

Yet the villain in this movie feels... too safe? I get people dislike the villains for what they say, but isn't that the point?

You are supposed to dislike the villain for what they tell the hero, for what they believe in, and how they use, hurt, and abuse people. In the real world, the villains always have conflicting views with most people. Or Villains do things to do evil. Hell, some villains are evil because they have backstories that show their descent into that place.

In the real world that is true too, when you have people around you who affect you and mold you into becoming them, then abuse can never stop.

This is why I wish They did more, this movie based on what I heard was that it did not feel like the 100th-anniversary movie. And if little ideas can make that movie better, then it is pathetic, as simple as that. I love the idea of wish, I just wish that it was expanded into more places they have not done before.

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[Update one: Fixed Grammar and misspelling!]

[novankenn]

Reluctant Hero?

= Thirty-Two = (Chapter List)

Three hours later, the trio exited an Outfitters store. They had lucked out on it as they cruised about Vale. It made a probably multi-store trip into a one-stop shop. Jaune walked out carrying a single bag. Nothing much different in his outfit aside from a new pair of black combat boots. His bag containing multiple boxes of 12guage shells.

Cardin was the next out. Like Jaune not much was different with his outfit, well aside from the leather ankle length duster he had fallen in love with at first sight. He carried a couple of bags, as he also decided he wanted Huntsmen quality underwear, and ammo for the pump action shotgun he had slung over his shoulder. The final addition was the machete hanging off his left hip.

Nora was the last to exit, her outfit totally changed, though pink was still that main colour, well pink camo. Cargo pants, combat boots, a thin turtleneck, topped off by a bomber style leather coat. Sheathed in the small of her back was a kukri, and on her right hip sat an empty ammo pouch. Again, everything was pink camo, except for the boots which were only available in black.

Jaune: Okay, so we've gotten geared up. Guess it's back to Beacon, and get ourselves organized.

Cardin: So we're going out tomorrow?

Nora: It is getting a little late, and I am kind of hungry.

Jaune: Yeah, I figure we could use a good, non-goo-covered rest and start out early tomorrow. Make a day of it. Pack a picnic lunch. You know, the whole nine yards.

Cardin: You want to have a picnic lunch in a Grimm and Deadite infested forest?

Nora: Yeah, that doesn't strike me as something very safe.

Jaune: You may have a point, but we're going to be out there for hours, so we should pack a lunch.

Nora: But a picnic?

Jaune: Why not? I mean, we have to eat, so we might as well enjoy it when we do.

Cardin: Again. Grimm and Deadite infested forest?

Jaune: Listen, and this is probably the most important thing I can tell you, aside from, always try and keep your mouth closed. Actually, that is the most important thing to keep in mind.

Nora: Okay, I get that. These things are rather... gooey.

Cardin: And seem to love to explode, when you put them down. It's almost like fighting Demonic Creepers in Minecraft.

Jaune: You play Minecraft?

Cardin: What of it? It's relaxing, and I've been working on this insane build of a scale sized replica of Atlas for the last few years.

Nora: Years?

Cardin: Well, there is only so much time in a day, and I did have school and training. It's not like I could spend all day on my private server. Do you guys play? As long as you promise not to grief, I'll send you invites, give you good gear, and...

Nora: Thanks, but I'm more into Terraria.

Cardin: Cool. How about you, Jaune?

Jaune: Um... ah... Never played.

Cardin: WHAT? How could you have NEVER played Minecraft!

Jaune: I just never have, okay.

Nora: Do you play any video games? Have you played any video games?

Jaune: Of course.

Nora: What?

Jaune: SimCity.

Cardin: That's a pretty good game.

Nora: I agree, but we will definitely need to get him on to our servers. Show him what he's missing out on.

Cardin: Our servers?

Nora: Same rules apply, as for your server. No griefing, but I wouldn't mind having some people to play with. Could even start up a new map. Start from scratch.

Cardin: I'm game. I tried it back when it first came out, but I'll give it another chance.

Nora: You'll love it. They've added so much stuff.

Cardin: But you have to join my server as well.

Nora: I will. Minecraft is a good, slow paced game. Very relaxing.

Cardin: Okay. How about you, Jaune? Are you going to join in? I mean, we can use it to relax after we kick ass.

Jaune: I gue...

Nora: Nope. You're joining, no guessing.

Jaune: Okay, whatever. Let's get back to Beacon and put our stuff away.