#I do think he eventually got used to being handled by other people though. mostly out of necessity

[multishipper-baby]

I saw some videos of baby birds and it made me think of lil Rayray again 👉👈

[hughiecampbelle]

The Boys Preference: Reacting To Your Symbiote

Requested: HEYY ive been eating UPP your head-canons for rhe boys, i would like to request one on how they would react w/ a reader that has a symbiote (venom basically) except it’s not like butcher’s case, but spouted from comp v when they were injected at a young age :D - anon

A/N: This idea is cool my love!!!! I hope you like it!! I did base it off clips from Venom/the Wikipedia just bc it's been ages since I saw the movie lol so apologies if anything is wrong!!! Feedback is always appreciated 💜

Requests are open! 🔮

Butcher thinks your symbiote is both gross and a great thing to have on the team. You didn't tell anyone about them, fearing you'd hear the same responses you'd always heard growing up. He interrogates you about your powers. You promise you would never hurt anyone, that it's pretty bad in terms of looks, but that you have everything under control. That's not good enough for him. He wants you to show him. After more yelling and assumptions, you snap. It's only your arms that you allow to be taken over, but it's enough to leave him feeling sick. Afterwards you're pretty quiet, avoiding him as well as you can. The look on his face was exactly what you were trying to avoid. Eventually he grows a little more used to them and even apologized, though it's a poor one at best. When he really sees you in action he's left speechless. The team needs you, both of you. You're strong, and powerful, and scary in the best way possible.

Hughie was pretty freaked out the first time you showed him. You begged him to run, to save himself, but mostly you wanted him gone so he wouldn't have to see. When he didn't, you had no other choice. Your symbiote took over, giving you just enough control to apologize before, quite literally, annihilating your attackers. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He knew you were a Supe, you were pretty upfront about that, but you'd never gone into detail about what you could actually do. He understood why. Your symbiote was the thing of nightmares. It was malleable, and throbbing, and it could be as large as it wanted. It swallowed you whole, making itself a set of knife-sharp teeth. It smiled at him, telling him he was safe, which would have been endearing had it not been you standing in its place moments before. He has a lot of questions, all of them you're more than willing to answer. He deserves to know, especially coming face to face with them. You're an open book, the both of you are.

Annie was pissed. You never told her you were a Supe in the first place. You couldn't tell her. She was everything good about Supes and you feared you were everything bad. You were afraid of her judgement. You had enough of that from M.M. You made sure no one told her, not until you thought she was ready. And then she watched you save Hughie. She felt like an idiot, watching them take over your body, in awe and horror. She felt lied to. Technically, you think but dare not say, it wasn't lying because she never asked you, she just assumed you were human. You apologize anyways, knowing it wasn't right. You show her your symbiote bit by bit, introducing them slowly, telling her as much as you think she can handle at a time. You've been told, if you wanted, you'd be a perfect villain, you'd fit right in with Homelander. You didn't want her to come to the same conclusion. Annie could come to rash decisions at times. You figured you and your symbiote were no exceptions.

M.M isn't the biggest fan. It's nothing personal. Being a Supe is enough not to make him like you. On top of that you've got this thing inside of you that has a mind of its own. It could be capable of anything and you'd have very little control over it. You know this. You've been dealing with it since you were a kid. You and your symbiote grew up together. You've reached a level of mutual understanding and maturity that they aren't just going to start running around and rob banks or hurt people. That's not who either of you are. Still, he can't shake the feeling, the worry, that they could turn on your team at any moment. Your symbiote knows M.M. doesn't like them and, much like a dog, wants to give him extra attention because of it. You've had long talks about what not to do around him, keeping them in check so that you can gain just an inch more of trust. Anything helps to show him that you're not a monster.

Frenchie is probably the most comfortable around your symbiote out of all The Boys. He has a lot of questions for the both of you, especially about your childhood. For many years you thought you were a monster. Your family was expecting powers that could save people, that would get you into The Seven. Instead there was this thing that took over your body, this creature that could control their child. They thought it was gross, unsightly, and forbid you from letting them out. Of course you didn't listen. When you fell off your bike and skinned your knee, they fixed it. When you couldn't reach something, they helped you. They weren't all bad, they just weren't willing to learn that. Still, there was a lot of shame and even now, you struggle to open up about them. There's absolutely no judgement from Frenchie. He's fascinated. Awestruck. He tells you constantly how cool and powerful he thinks you both are. He doesn't want you to think of yourself as some kind of monster or abomination. Ever.

Kimiko watched your symbiote take over the first time you were really hurt. Homelander pushed you off the roof and you fell, breaking your bones, gasping for air, but magically alive. If she could have, she would have screamed. Your symbiote, as gently as it could, wrapped itself around your body, resetting your bones, putting your insides back together. It was excruciating. It only takes a few minutes before you're completely healed. She watches in awe, eyes wide, unsure of what the hell just happened, but eternally grateful you were okay. She stands you up, unsure of what to say. That night, you tell her everything. She's the first to really appreciate them. They're not the most attractive and have a wicked attitude, but they care about you. They saved you. Anyone who loves you that much is good in her books. She gives them names, asking how Kevin is or if Susan might be able to help her with something. It always makes you smile, knowing she isn't afraid of them or thinks of you any differently.

Bonus! Homelander thinks your symbiote is disgusting and weird. He refused to have you be a part of The Seven, but without any other candidates, he eventually gave in. You do a lot of weird things that truly make him uncomfortable. Arguing with your symbiote is a big one. Only you can hear them when they're inside, so it just looks like you're talking to yourself all the time. He hates when you're "saving" someone and they come out, but only partially, like a hand or leg. Something about that, you and them together, makes him queasy. When it's one or the other, that's a little better. When he gets uncomfortable he gets angry, which is bad news for you. Like The Deep, you've become a scapegoat for Homelander. If anything goes wrong, it's your fault. Your symbiote doesn't like him and, as hard as you try to keep them in check, they make it known.

[daisynik7]

“Into you” by Fabolous for Connie Springer- smut + fluff

(S4 connie ofc)

Into You

I think you’re truly something special, just what my dreams are really made of

Pairing: Connie Springer x f!reader

Rating: Explicit – MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Word Count: ~2.4k

cw: super fluffy, kinda cheesy, college au, modern day au, lots of basketball terms (applies specifically to NCAA and NBA), explicit language, smut – PIV sex (cowgirl position), implied creampie

Summary: You and Connie Springer have been close since childhood, growing up as next-door neighbors and best friends. The bond the two of you share is undeniable, but you’ve never been able to admit how deep your feelings are, either to yourself or to him. You continue to support him as his friend while he pursues his career as a basketball player, trying to get drafted into the NBA. Though the journey has its ups and downs, one thing is for certain: The two of you will always have each other, forever and ever. 

Author’s Notes: Hi anon! Thanks so much for requesting this song for the y2k karaoke party because it’s one of my FAVORITES! It really gives me Love & Basketball vibes, another favorite of mine that also happens to be a classic in the y2k era. This little fic is very loosely based off of that, so I hope you enjoy! Also, all the basketball/NBA tidbits are mostly from being with my boyfriend, who is a huge NBA fan, so yeah, sorry if any details are inaccurate lol. Likes, reblogs, and/or comments are always appreciated, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! MDNI banner credit to @/cafekitsune. Header image from Pinterest (Slam Dunk manga).

“You have to pinky promise, okay?” Connie sticks his tiny finger out, wiggling it in front of your face, sucking on his cherry-flavored lollipop, lips and tongue-stained red. You’re both five years old, sitting cross-legged in the front of his yard, taking a break from playing hide-and-seek.

“What am I pinky promising?” you ask, voice squeaky and curious.

“That we’ll be best friends forever and ever! No matter what!” he exclaims, beaming at you with his eyes wide, twinkling earnestly. 

You only need to think for a few seconds before you’re hooking your pinky with his, committing to this promise for the rest of your lives. 

~~~

Ten years later, Connie makes it on the varsity basketball team in your high school. It’s rare for a freshman to make it to varsity at Ragako; the coaches must have seen that spark in him that you and his family have witnessed since he started playing at ten-years-old. You used to shoot around with him out in his driveway, where his father set up a little hoop. Eventually, the little one got upgraded to a real one, where the height was adjusted appropriately as Connie grew. You became his practice partner, no longer able to compete with him. Instead, you passed him the ball, watching in awe as he made shot after shot, sometimes deep from the street. He’d pick you up and spin you around, the two of you cheering together, impressed by his skills.

Year after year, he only improved. The way he handled the ball, expertly dribbling it between his legs, behind his back, one-handed, without looking. Or the way his feet gracefully shuffled along the court, the distinct squeak from his shoes echoing off the walls as you watch him on the bleachers, playing three-on-three against some of his buddies at the gym. One time, his friend Jean teases you. “You know, you should stop hanging around here or else people might think you’re his groupie.”

Before you can think of a smart comeback, Connie interjects, shoving Jean hard in the arm. “Hey! Leave her alone. I want her here. I only play like this when she’s around. And she’s not a groupie. She’s my best friend.” He wraps his arm around your shoulders, leading you towards the exit while Jean sputters apologies that go ignored. “Sorry about that,” he whispers to you. “Jean is an asshole. I want you around, got it? Forever and ever.”

You smile, leaning into him. “Forever and ever.”

~~~

It’s at the championship game during senior year that you realize that you’re in love with Connie.

Scouts have already contacted him about full-ride scholarships to university, recruiting him for their team. He’s the most celebrated point-guard in your school’s history, his average points and assists per game breaking records. Ever since he joined, your school has made it in the final round each year, last year resulting in a win, this year leading to a second. 

With seconds left on the shot clock, tie game, Ragako with possession, Connie makes his move. He inbounds the ball to his teammate, quickly taking position at the right wing, his sweet spot. As quickly as it leaves his hands, the ball is passed back to him. He shoots it, and as it flies out from his fingers into the air, the buzzer rings, and he makes it. The crowd goes wild; one side of the bleachers erupting into a frenzy, jumping up and down with excitement. Connie’s parents hug each other first, then surround you in their arms, elated. You don’t expect him to celebrate the win with you, not with his entire team huddling around him, splashing water on his head, cheering his name. Not with all the cheerleaders and fans gravitating toward him, eager to be in the presence of a sure-to-be star in the making. So, it surprises you when you see him maneuver his way through the crowd, heading straight towards you. He pounces on you, giving you the biggest, sweatiest hug with tears streaming down his face. It’s a split second where the surrounding noise goes blank and it’s just the two of you there, basking in each other’s warmth. Soon, his parents join you, also crying happily, and it’s in this moment that you realize this is where you want to be: with him. Forever and ever.

~~~

It's no surprise that the two of you attend the same college together. Most people will see it as you following him, but in actuality, Connie agrees to go wherever you go. Lucky for you both, your top choice is a D1 university where he’s offered a scholarship to play for their basketball team. It works out perfectly, as if it were meant to be. 

He’s busy from the get-go, practicing every day until the season starts in November. You become preoccupied with classes, and naturally, the two of you travel your different paths, meeting in the middle whenever you can. When the season official starts, you attend all his home games, cheering for him from the sidelines surrounded by the other students also chanting his name. Weeknights, he’s often too tired to hang out, retreating to his dorm room to fall asleep, only to repeat his busy schedule again the next day. He grows close with his teammates, spending most of his time with them instead of you, which is to be expected. After all, you and Connie are just friends. Sure, you’re completely and madly in love with him, but he’ll never know that. So, you watch from afar as he pursues his career without you in the way. It’s the way it has to be. 

By the time spring semester rolls around, you and Connie barely see each other. You’ll still text, sometimes video chat or talk on the phone. He mostly vents to you about teammates or coaches that have gotten on his nerves that day. He’ll catch you up on the other schools they’ve defeated or the ones that they’ve lost to. Your school’s record is quite good thanks to Connie, who’s only gotten better since high school. If they continue at this rate, they will win the conference tournament, meaning a trip to March Madness, the most prestigious competition in college basketball. Most importantly, it’s one step closer to the NBA.

As expected, the team does win the conference tournament. That night, the entire campus is lively with students buzzing in school spirit, ready to party the rest of the weekend. All you think about is calling Connie to congratulate him, hear his voice and tell him that you’re so proud of him. You debate with yourself for nearly fifteen minutes, staring at his name on your screen, fingers so close to dialing his number. You decide not to go through with it, certain that he’s too busy with his team, too busy with his fans. He’s not thinking about you, not when his whole world is about to change. And you can’t blame him; you’re just friends, and this is the way it has to be.

The following night, your school organizes an impromptu homecoming for the basketball team, welcoming them as they arrive on the bus, fresh from their championship win. They have a  couple days of rest before they leave for the NCAA tournament, but you’re sure they’ll be busy with press and practice until then. You’re not there to greet them when they step off the bus; instead, you’re sulking in your room, buried under the covers, feeling sorry for yourself for ever falling in love with Connie Springer. It’s a sad, pathetic sight, but at least you’re alone for the weekend to do it while your roommate is out visiting her boyfriend out of town. 

You’re surprised to see Connie’s name flash on your phone a few hours later. You let it ring twice before answering. “Hello?”

“Where are you?” he asks. There’s shuffling in the background, as if he’s walking outside. 

“I’m in my room.”

“I’m coming over now.” He hangs up, not giving you any time to respond. You sigh, mentally preparing yourself for what’s to come.

When you open the door to let him in, he wraps his arms around you in a snug embrace. “I missed you.” He pulls off to hold you by the arms, glaring. “Why didn’t you greet me off the bus?”

“I…” you start, unsure how to respond. 

“I was looking for you and you weren’t there. Where were you?”

“I was studying in the library.” This might be the first time you’ve ever lied to him. You feel guilty and gross. 

“Oh,” he says sadly, still staring at you. 

“Congratulations, by the way. It was an amazing win.” You give him a weak smile, blinking away the tears welling in your eyes. You don’t even know why you’re crying; Connie did nothing wrong. You’re letting your emotions get the best of you, and you can’t help but crumble in front of the only person who knows you better than you know yourself. 

“I don’t care about that right now. I care about you. What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, Connie, I promise.”

“Don’t promise me shit like that. I know you’re upset. Tell me. Please.” His eyes search yours, desperate for an answer. 

You look at his feet, fixating on his shoes, scuffed on the sides from playing. Tears start to drop from your face and on the carpet. “I just…I missed you too. I miss you, Connie. I…I love you.” The confession slips from your mouth in a sniffle, and you’re so upset with yourself for letting it slide in this crucial moment. Neither of you needs the drama of your unrequited love right now. Not you, knowing he’ll be leaving again soon, and especially not him, who has bigger and better things to focus on. 

He gapes at you, stuttering, “You love me?”

You nod, biting your lip.

“Like, love love? Or love like a friend?”

You’re tempted to lie, just to make it easier. But you owe it to Connie to be honest with him. “Love love.”

His mouth is open, eyes bugging out, completely shocked by your admission. Before he can respond, you add, “I’m sorry, Connie. I shouldn’t have told you this right before the tournament, but…I don’t know. It just came out. I’m sorry.”

He stammers, “You’re sorry? This is the best fucking thing I’ve heard in my entire life.” He breaks into a smile, laughing hysterically, an even more bizarre reaction. 

You cross your arms, getting impatient with his ridiculous behavior, eventually grabbing his shoulders to shake him out of his fit. “Connie, what the hell?!”

He wipes his eyes, crying from giggling, beaming at you. “I’ve been in love with since we were kids. Been dreaming of hearing you say that since we were five-years-old.” He hugs you tightly, nuzzling his nose to the top of your head. “I love you and I want to be with you. Forever and ever, right?”

You nestle into his chest, inhaling the familiar scent you missed since he’s been gone. “Forever and ever.” 

~~~

The two of you spend the night together, making love for the first time. His lips are soft against yours, and you smile into his kiss, remembering the day you pinky promised that you’ll be best friends forever and ever, no matter what. His lips were stained red with cherry-flavored candy, looking sickly sweet as he smiled at you. And as you kiss him now, he tastes just as sweet as you imagined he’d be after all these years. 

You kiss him sloppy as you ride his lap, his cock buried deep in your pussy, filling you up to the brim. He moans your name into your mouth as he laps at the saliva collecting on your tongue, slurping your spit, swallowing it thickly. “Fuck,” he groans, hands gripped to your hips, rocking you back and forth on his thighs. “I’ve dreamed about this for so long, baby. So long.”

“Me too,” you whisper, starting to bounce on him, close to your climax. 

“What would you think about? Tell me,” he demands, thumb pressed to your clit, rubbing it raw.

You whine from his touch, increasing your pace, resting your head on his shoulder. “You and me, just like this,” you huff, short of breath. 

“Yeah? You thought about me deep inside you, huh? Fucking this sweet pussy until you come all over my cock, huh?” He thrusts up into you, grip tightening, fingers digging into your flesh. He’s close too, you can feel it.

You moan into his skin, sweat beading on your forehead, throwing your ass back against him in tandem with each pump of his cock. A few more strokes and the two of you come together, the mess spilling onto the sheets as soon as he pulls out. 

He wipes you down with tissues and baby wipes you have handy on your bedside drawer. As soon as you’re both clean, he cradles you in his arms, spooning you from behind. 

“I know this is going to sound super cheesy, but I truly feel like a winner now,” he says, kissing the nape of your neck. 

You chuckle, squeezing his hand in yours. “Wait until you win March Madness. Then you’ll really be a champ.”

“Even if I lose, I’ll still have you. And that’s been my dream all this time.” 

You shift your body to face him, gazing into his eyes. “I thought your dream was to make it into the NBA?”

He smiles, booping you on the nose. “It’s part of the dream, sure. But I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now if it wasn’t for you. You kept me going all these years. Knowing you were always on my side gave me the strength I needed to get here. As long as I have you, I’ll be living the dream.” He kisses you on the forehead. “I’m going to love you for the rest of our lives.”

“Forever and ever?”

“Forever and ever.”

~~~

In an upset, your school loses in the Final Four. It’s the furthest they’ve gotten in university history, and a large part of that is due to Connie and his extraordinary performance as their point guard. His efforts do not go unnoticed; his coaches and many prospective agents have contacted him, encouraging him to apply for the NBA draft. 

June of the same year, Connie Springer is drafted tenth in the first round and you’re sitting right beside him with his parents, cheering for him. Just as you have throughout all these years, and just as you will for the rest of your lives. Forever and ever. 

[c0la-queen]

You | Tord x Reader

Here we go! I'm sorry if this isn't my normal quality, I wrote it while fighting off a headache... but also, I wanted to be a little silly! Because these are silly guys! I hope you enjoy the slight cliffhanger I left it on, hehe! Mwah, mwah!

Warnings: Tord is a bit of a weirdo, stalking behavior, obsession, Tord is 100% making assumptions about you and your personality, love this little freak <3

Words: 1.5k

---

Being a quiet person is not always an easy thing.

Some people would think it was. You never have to worry about saying the wrong thing. There were less chances of you offending anyone from your words.

Or, some people think the opposite. "I could never handle being so quiet" they say. It must be a headache to be around so much noise.

And… they were right, in Tord's opinion. It was nice to not have to get stuck in awkward conversations. He had the added bonus of being intimidating, so people eventually got the hint and stopped trying to talk to him. However, he also had to keep enough Advil on hand to tranquilize a small horse, considering he decided to live with the three loudest motherfuckers on the planet. Pros and cons, and such.

There were times when it proved to be nice, though.

Like right now.

The odd occasions where he had the day to himself. Tom and Matt were at work, Edd was visiting his parents, so that left Tord to his lonesome. What a great day.

As much as he would have liked to spend the whole day in the house, he couldn't. He needed to go grocery shopping - the fridge looked abysmal. At least it was warm and sunny outside. Still, he dragged his feet. He really didn't want to go to the store.

Ugh.

He was the son of the Red Leader. He had seen much worse shit. He had killed men in cold blood without batting an eye. He was not going to be bested by the looming possibility of social interaction.

…maybe he needed therapy?

…

Nah.

--

If Tord ever managed to invent a time machine, the first thing he was going to do was find the person who developed wireless earbuds and give them a kiss.

Being an intimidating looking person was a great way to ward off unwanted conversations. But there were always people who had no sense of self preservation and chose to try and talk to him anyway. Wearing earbuds while he was out helped with that. Nobody was stupid enough to try and deliberately get him to take his earbuds off. (Except Edd and Matt, but they know that they'll get away with it.)

The basket handle on his arm was starting to dig into his arm as he stood in front of the pasta aisle, watching his pet idiots (roommates) argue on the group chat over what type of noodles to get. Edd wanted Ziti, Tom wanted Angel Hair, and Matt wanted Bowtie… for some reason.

Tord was busy calculating the risk vs. reward of banging his head against the shelf until he bled out of his ears when it happened.

You happened.

Through his music, he heard the sound of laughing and giggling. He glanced to the side, expecting a gaggle of obnoxious, immature 20-something year olds with the sole purpose of ruining everyone else's relaxing shopping experience. And that's mostly what it was. But, standing in the middle of them was you.

Hello, you.

You were laughing, just like the others. But not the fake laughter of conformity - no, it was real, genuine laughter. Tord didn't think he had heard anything so beautiful. He even paused his music just so he could hear it in its pure form.

The more he looked, the more he saw of you. You were like the sun, so golden and bright compared to these others you were standing with. He could tell you weren't like them, he could tell you weren't using some made up personality to try and fit in.

What the hell were you doing with people like that?

Then, you were moving. Your little group had apparently decided the joke wasn't funny anymore, so you were moving on. Disappearing into the next aisle. Disappearing from his life.

Tord threw a couple boxes of noodles into the basket without even looking at it, shoving his phone back in his hoodie pocket and moving on to the next aisle. He pretended to deliberate over what brand of laundry detergent to get as he subtly watched your group at the other end of the aisle. He was able to get a better look at you.

You were wearing a brightly colored cardigan, wool by the looks of it, that perfectly matched the colors of your earrings and purse. You liked to coordinate your outfits. You had on a little skirt that teased just enough of your thighs to draw attention without being slutty, but you also had black tights on. You liked to look attractive while still feeling like you were being modest. Your earrings and the clip in your hair looked like they had been bought from the girls' department store in the mall right across from Matt's store, that was always playing mind numbing pop songs and had unicorns everywhere. You liked cutesy, almost juvenile things.

Tord wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything about you.

--

A peaceful day all to his lonesome where he would force himself to get groceries before wasting the day away on the couch quickly shifted - now, he was spending the rest of the afternoon with you.

Well, almost.

You and your friends were walking around town, enjoying the warmth and dipping into any stores that caught your attention. Tord was also walking around town, a good distance behind your group, enjoying your warmth and drinking in every detail he could get.

And he had learned plenty.

He had no idea why you were friends with these people. From what he could tell, you were stifled in this group. They would talk over you, ignore things that you pointed out, refuse to go to stores that you wanted to go to, tease and taunt you, and walk ahead of you. Despite it all, you always kept a smile. You kept shining, kept illuminating the area around you.

They don't deserve your light.

Oh, but you knew that, didn't you? You knew, but you were so sweet and gracious that you gave it to them anyway. Maybe if you shone bright enough, warmed their skin enough, they would finally give you attention.

Tord would give you that attention. He already was, and you weren't even giving him your sunlight.

And he never would ask you to.

No, your sunlight was going to be a gift that he had to earn. It would be a blessing that he was going to work hard to have bestowed upon him.

He would never exploit you.

Like they did.

--

Tord slipped into the coffee shop, running a hand through his hair. The warm weather was causing a light amount of sweat to gather on his skin.

He pretended to look across the overfilled menu, taking in the names of all the absurd drinks available. He already knew what he was going to get.

"Hi, welcome in! What can I get started for you today, sir?"

The barista was smiling at him too much. Her eyes drifted down his chest, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. Her pupils her dilated. She was checking him out.

Not that he cared. On an objective standard, she was pretty. But she didn't shine. She wasn't sunlight. She didn't brighten up the entire room just with her smile. She didn't make the birds sing by just looking in his direction.

She wasn't you.

"Iced Americano."

"Will that be all for you? We have a whole menu of signature flavors. I'd recommend-"

"Just an Americano."

The barista blinked in surprise when he cut her off. Typical. A pretty person with a shallow mind that couldn't comprehend the idea of a person not being interested in them. She huffed softly before ringing him up and telling him his total.

He paid, then turned to go sit and wait for his order to be made. He didn't get very far, though, before he almost ran into someone.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I totally wasn't looking where I was going!"

It was you.

You were talking to him.

You were looking at him.

You were so warm.

"It's fine."

As Tord fled like a fucking coward, you gave him a sweet smile. You smiled at him. And he just walked away. Asgardians above, his father would have been so disappointed in him.

His phone buzzed in his pocket as he sat at a window table, watching your friends snicker at the coffee shop mascot.

"Mate, you've been out shopping for like 4 hours. Where are you?"

Edd's voice drifted out from his phone speaker as Tord pressed the screen to his cheek.

"Something came up."

"Did you get the bowtie noodles? Did you? Tord?"

There was a muffled 'Matt, get off me' and some shuffling fabric before Edd's voice returned.

"The fuck do you mean something came up?"

Tord glared at the boy you were talking to, watching you give him an adorable pout. Oh, the things Tord would do to you.

"I found the perfect girl for us."

[turbulentscrawl]

can we get norton with modern reader? :3

You sure can! I find these pretty easy to do

-He’s another one who doesn’t give much of a damn, initially. Aside from possibly being a bit bitter over how nice your clothes are in comparison to his (and potentially assuming you’re someone well-off, regardless of whether you are or not), Norton’s opinion of you isn’t informed much by your origins. He’s much more concerned about whether you can make yourself useful in matches.

-There’s a decent chance he doesn’t like that phone of yours, though. The light gives away your position, and unless you brought earbuds along he thinks it’s loud as fuck for such a small thing. And why is so much of future music you play so obnoxious? Guess people of your time left their good taste in the past.

-Being from our modern world, you’re likely better informed about various mental disorders than some of the others in the manor. Even some peripheral knowledge would make you better equipped to handle Norton’s personality flips, and maybe even become something of an advocate for him. One of the biggest hurdles Norton faces in the manor is simply other people not stepping off when he tells them to. They don’t grasp that he’s afraid of hurting them, that he’s looking out for them when he isolates. So, if you’ve got some knowledge or experience and can help convince people to give him his space when he needs it, his opinion of you improves rapidly.

-Norton also doesn’t like to owe people. If the above happens in any capacity? Well, you looked out for him, so now he has to look out for you. Mostly in matches, but if someone gets out of hand mouthing off to you in the manor, he’ll step in then too. You should be prepared for him to keep score, though, and for him to make it known if it turns into you owing him.

-Don’t worry, he’s not some creep. Mostly he’ll start asking to swipe bits of food off your plate at mealtimes. Your future-food is very rich…but good. This much seasoning was hard to come by for him. (I feel like this poor guy would get sick off a baconator, but it wouldn’t stop him from wanting another.) After long enough, he’ll also start asking you to teach him about any labor-based skills you have. Or just general academics, even. Norton’s always looking for ways to self-improve.

-Eventually, your technology will grow on him a bit. Don’t get him wrong, he’s a little angry, a little jealous when you tell him about technological advancements in your time. If he’d been born then, maybe life wouldn’t have been so hard. Maybe he wouldn’t be hacking up his lungs at all hours of the day…. But he swallows that negativity down and starts devising little plans for that phone of yours to help during matches.

-Another way Norton tries to look out for you is by introducing you to his level of technology. Which is…not much at all. You know, maybe you have a thing for vintage and antique, maybe the manor seemed charming to you at first…but Norton knows it will wear off eventually, and then you’ll just feel homesick and vulnerable. The best way he can help you combat that is to make sure you have independence. Home is where you feel safe, and the first step of that is being able to take care of yourself.

-Have you got an inhaler? Please give this man a puff or two, the only reason Black Lung hasn’t killed him is because the manor won’t let it.

[kayesfanfics]

Being Partners in Crime With Striker

A/N: Just watched all of Helluva Boss after some convincing, and I am coming out as a HB fan but mostly a Striker Simp. Also, takes place during the Harvest Moon episode

Warnings: Cursing obviously, some sexual innuendos and content but not straight up smut

You were born in Wrath as well, growing up poor was hard and your family turned to crime to make a living. You were a bounty hunter and mercenary, working hard to bring in money for your family and put food on the table for them. Your parents were getting old and tired, you and your siblings ran the family farm and did illegal work for extra cash as well

You met Striker when you were both hired by different people to go for the same target, not even realizing the other was there until your bullets collided when you both went to shoot your target

“Are ya crazy?! I was just about to kill em!” You’d both shout angrily, quickly realizing the situation. You would roll your eyes as Striker tried to tell you he could handle catching the target, and you didn’t have to worry your pretty little head about it. You both took off running after the target, trying to grab them or kill them before the other could. You got the upper hand, tackling the target and killing them quickly with a neck break. Striker skidded to a halt, a sly smile on his face as he grinned, “Well, a wins a win, ain’t it? Nice catch, dollface. How about I treat ya to a drink?”

After getting drinks together and chatting for awhile, he became less and less of an asshole, turning his charm on and making you swoon (on the inside at least, you didn’t want to give him the satisfaction). After drinks, you went your separate ways, but started seeing each other more often because of your lines of work

You’d start dating eventually after finally giving in and going to his motel room with him to bang his brains out. He’s def a top though, so you’d leave the morning after with some scratches on your back and HUGE hickeys on your neck that were impossible to hide without stealing his bandana and tying it around your neck. He’d def like to mark you up to claim you, warning other imps not to even think about even breathing near you wrong

Lots of horse rides on Bombproof, you’d sit behind Striker and he’d make his horse ride a little rougher just to make you hold on tighter to him to stay on. You’d feed Bombproof while Striker got a fire going to take a rest for the night in the middle of the desert. He’d cook up some random Hell Birds he shot out of the sky for the two of you, plucking the feathers and handing you a bird on a stick. Not exactly the most romantic dinner, but you were also used to this kind of food so it brought some homely comfort

Speaking of homely comfort, you’d take him home to your family farm to meet everyone after a few months of dating and riding around the Rings of Hell with him. Your younger siblings were impressed with his gun slinging skills and he’d flex his muscles and let them hang off his arms to show off his strength. He’d be kind to your folks, kissing your moms hand and shaking your dads, complimenting their pile of bricks and talking up their daughter to them, which of course charmed them both. He even went as far to cook dinner for the whole family with you, giving a great first impression and gaining their approval to date you

When it came to doing bounties and assassinations together, the two of your worked incredibly well together, with your brains and his brawn. Plus doing it together made life far less lonely, being able to sleep together after long days of undercover work or chasing targets through Hell. Neither of you worried too much about the others safety, seeing how the both of you could handle yourselves with ease

When the two of you took an undercover job on Rough n’ Tumbleweed Ranch to get closer to a target and investigate the case. You did hard farm work all day between snooping around the house, acting as a charming couple looking for honest work. The work was nice to do though, reminded you of being a kid on your farm before you went into the bounty business, and Striker looked good doing his work so there was no complaining from you-

When your targets associates finally arrived, you slapped a convincing smile on your face and charmed them as best you could with your boyfriend. You quickly tried to make friends with Millie, easily gaining her trust by agreeing with her about things and saying shit she would like. Like when her paw suggested the boys enter the Pain Games, you talked up Striker which made her talk up Moxxie, and talking up your S/O always helped brighten the mood. You’d playfully say Striker was better, and the two of you made a friendly bet of who would win. You’d later laugh about it with Striker, giggling that there was absolutely no competition and he’d compliment your bullshitting skills with a grin

You and Millie cheered your boys on at the games, and you’d flash her a smile when Striker easily beat Moxxie with not much effort at all. You’d also take the opportunity to genuinely cheer for your boyfriend, enjoying watching him wrangle other contestants and wrestle with Blitzø in the mud like the stupid boys they were. Millie started disliking you when you cheered for Striker as he sang on stage about how he beat her husband and how much better he was than him, and you slipped up and said “What? He is.” instead of bullshitting some sympathy to Moxxie

After the Pain Games were over, you started getting back on track for your mission: killing Prince Stolas for his wife. You stayed outside with the family to distract them while Striker followed Moxxie inside, but when Millie heard something break inside, she went back inside and you now followed her up to you and Strikers room, just in time to see that bitch stab your boyfriend in the back multiple times. You quickly grabbed her and tossed her against the wall, nearly knocking her out but keeping her down

“Thanks, pumpkin’.” Striker grinned, kissing you before grabbing both imps. You let him go off, before turning to make sure the blessed rifle the Princess gave you was okay. You grabbed it and polished that little imps smudgy fingerprints off of it, smiling when Striker came back and wrapped his arms around you from behind. “Ya know that gun’ll work the same with or without smudges, right darlin?”

“Yes, but it looks better without them.” You smiled, handing the gun to him to make the hit as you heard the Prince’s voice on the mic. But your plan was eventually foiled by Blitzø and Moxxie, and the both of you ran off to safety, grabbing what belongings you could before heading out to find a shitty motel to crash for the night

[yzafre]

who wore it better – 2003 v 2012 episode comparisons

I said I wanted to do this in my 2003 thoughts post, and I’m gonna. I've been picking away at this for a couple weeks now.

I’m focusing on places where they actually recycled a storyline rather than adapted general concepts.  Fugitoid and the space arc is an example of the second method – Robot Scientist with a connection to a Dangerous Machine is a shared concept, but the stories are different.

“Ohhh how did we end up here we’ve GOT to figure out how to get home, our Dad might still be in danger” versus “we HAVE to collect the McGuffins before the enemy or earth is going to EXPLODE. AGAIN.” You know?

Comparing those types of adaptations could be done, but it’s not what I’m interested in here.  I specifically want to look at the places that made me think “oh, 2012 just copied this” while I was watching 2003.

Now, obviously this is extremely subjective.  So take this as me defending my nominations for winner in these categories, rather than some sort of objective truth.  I am presenting my dinky power-point on why you should vote for my favorites.  Ect.  Your preferences may be different!

My ramblings on the episodes got long (should I have split this into parts? maybe! didn't though), so uhhhh...

tl;dr: Scoring got weird at 3.5 to 2003, 3 to 2012, and two draws.

Key takeaways: 2003 better matches my personal tastes, and what makes 2012 good is the stuff specific to its iteration, rather than copying 2003

With all that taken care of, here’s my opinions, in very messy order.

Meet Casey Jones vs The Good, The Bad and the Casey Jones

So, this was the very first episode that made me sit back and go: wait.  This is just.  The same thing? 

Raph loses a fight, loses his temper violently over it.  He then goes out to get some air and runs into Casey, getting into a fight.  Raph goes back and apologizes to his brother, and then they have to deal with the Casey situation.  Eventually they’re friends.

That being said, they do handle things a bit differently inside of those plot points, in a way that makes me very split on which one is better.

So, this episode is doing two things: introducing Casey (at least to the turtles, in 2012’s case), and spotlighting Raph’s anger issues, and the shows handle both of them differently.  So let's look at them:

Raph and his anger

I want to start with the positioning of the episode within the wider series.

This is the 4th episode of 2003.  At this point, they’re still setting up the characters and your understanding of them – so this is really here to say hey, our Raph has a temper, that’s going to be a thing going forward. (I'm watching '87 right now, and while I've heard Raph gets more of his anger late in the series, at the beginning he is... not that. So signaling this for people who might have watched the previous show is valid.)

After this, I don’t remember there being other episodes that are Explicitly About Raph’s anger issues?  That’s not to say there aren’t any – there very well could’ve been some that were just so boring I don’t remember them, which would be a whole other issue – but what I remember of him being, to quote the show, a “hot-head” is integrated into other stories.

For 2012, this is nearly halfway through season 2, and is one of 3 episodes I can think of off the top of my head that at least start out framed as a lesson on Raph’s anger issues.  (The one with the guy that turns into a spider mutant, this one, and…. Okay so I don’t remember the details but I’m Pretty Sure I remember there being another one post-space arc).

Now, in theory this is good – having a sort of long-term journey recurring throughout the series.  In practice… eh. 

This is very subjective, but from the way the topic was constantly put on the shelf until they wanted to use it for an episode, to the way it was all extremely surface level and used mostly for jokes, it didn’t do much for me.

That aside, let’s look at the content of the episode itself:

Raph's anger issues have two different tones here.

2003 Raph’s snapping at Mikey is framed a lot more seriously – and a lot more dangerously – than 2012 Raph going at Leo.  And, accordingly, ‘03 Raph is a lot more horrified at his actions, whereas ‘12 Raph is more petulant, unwilling to fully own up to his mistake.

That carries over to when they’re “getting some air” - ‘03 Raph is blatantly angry with himself, where ‘12 is complaining about his brother’s not getting it.  I do think some of that frustration with himself is buried underneath, but it's interesting to note the difference between how aware of it they are. (Of course, ‘12 also didn’t try to brain his brother over the head with a metal pipe.  So.)

The two different versions also shifted what they chose to have “spelled out” versus implied.  What I mean is.... okay, so ‘03 had Raph explicitly say “What is wrong with me” – that frustration with himself I mentioned earlier – where it’s kind of buried underneath for ‘12.

On the other hand, ‘12 Raph flat out says he wasn’t angry, just “determined to win,” when explaining himself to Splinter, whereas with ‘03 the reasoning comes from Raph’s “You think you’re better than me?” line during the fight (and a bit of Mikey’s taunting, the menace), allowing you to (very easily, let's be real, I don't know that you can really count this as subtext) connect the dots on how it escalated.

So, that leads to their fight with Casey – where they both get carried away, before coming to their senses and questioning what they’re doing (and subsequently getting surprise-attacked).  The difference here is that ‘03, upon calming down, went back to trying to talk some sense into Casey (using the lessons he’s obviously trying to absorb himself), while to me ‘12 Raph just kinda seemed disoriented by it all?

Which. Fair.

Next step: the apology.  VERY different receptions.  The ‘03 brothers greet Raph with worry and care, and take his apology quietly and warmly, whereas for ‘12 they act like this is another Tuesday, a bit dismissive, and tease and taunt him through his apology.  I’m not trying to disparage the ‘12 turtles here – not exactly – more so observing the difference in tone once more.

When people say the ‘03 turtles feel older, I think this is a huge part of it – the ‘12 turtles’ behavior feels very “stupid teenager”.  And I mean that in a genuine, fairly affectionate way.  I remember being that age, I was dumb.  You don’t know how to handle all these strong feelings, you have no impulse control. Also around 2012 I remember being genuine being deeply uncool, so. But ‘03 are demonstrating a higher level of emotional maturity, compared to that, and it does make them feel older.

Anyways, after that you get the reunion with Casey, having very different tones.  ‘03 purposefully tries to reach out and rehabilitate help Casey get himself under control, whereas ‘12 diverges into a surprise attack by the Foot where Raph and Casey bicker their way into teamwork.

Overall, ‘03 takes a more... introspective? Approach to Raph’s anger, where ‘12 flickers between being slightly emotional and using the situation for humor or cool action scenes – it feels like setup for an arc that I never felt we got satisfying payoff for.

For my tastes, I think I prefer ‘03 for the Raph part of the episode, if only because it remains thematically cohesive till the end.  From start to finish, Raph is trying to impart the lesson he wants to learn to Casey.  With 12, it feels like the “Raph’s anger issues” thread got a bit lost/abandoned in building up the Raph-Casey dynamic.

Speaking of...

Casey Jones

I think ‘12 is the better Casey intro episode.  There, I said it.

I know, I know!  It’s not technically where we meet Casey, we already saw him interacting with April (also scenes I like), but... although having finished 2003 I think ‘03 has the better overall Casey (mostly because they give him like. Actual personal connections to the world), ‘12 has the better initial burst of character, in my opinion.

His little intro monologue is so stupid, and I love it.  The skates and the little taser-gloves he obviously put together himself (and the fact that we only got one episode of Donnie and Casey bonding over this kind of engineering is criminal???).

The initiative to follow Raph down, his reactions to Splinter, the entire subway tunnel chase scene, where his and Raph’s rapport is building up... it’s good stuff!  I like it!  Maybe there’s a bit less depth in some places – we don’t get the personal connection with the Purple Dragons, how it ties back to his family – but his character voice, his initiative and impulsivity, and his creativity all come through.

It’s such a shame they didn’t do more to add to his character throughout the series in ‘12, because he had a fantastic early showing.  But then, that series didn’t seem interested in doing that for any of their characters, to me.  Sigh.

But... just looking at the episode itself, I'd give the Casey have to 2012.

So... draw?  Great way to start off, I know.

Shredder Strikes Back vs The Invasion (or: Leo gets thrown through a window)

So, this is a tough competition, we’re gonna have to take this point by point, I mean -

2012.  It’s 2012.  Are you kidding me.

Okay, look.  2012 already has an advantage just on moving this from halfway through season 1 to the season 2 finale, but, I mean... come on.

With 2003, there was barely any build up with the Shredder.  We’d seen him sort of being in charge of the various villains since early on – but the turtles didn’t see that!  For them, he showed up, tricked Leo, Splinter gave some back story, they fought and then Splinter seemingly killed him.  It just... wasn’t that dramatic? To me??

So when you have Leo thrown through the window, whispering “he’s back”, I was just like... I see no reason for this level of dread.  It doesn’t feel that personal, or important, or.... anything, really.  I know 2003 came first, but having watched 2012 beforehand this was kind of a letdown.  Didn’t feel earned.

Now, 2012 on the other hand....

Shredder has been a constant, ever-increasing threat since the moment he showed up in Season 1.  It was already personal with Splinter, yes, but then he also became a subject of looming dread for the turtles themselves.  And it doesn’t come out of nowhere. 

Like, yes, we, the viewers, were aware 2003 Shredder survived, but otherwise he was just hanging out off-screen, doing who knows what.  He wasn’t on the mind.  2012, on the other hand, showed the way Shredder was slowly amassing power, planning for something.

And then you add the Kraang on top of it.

Like, seriously, making this a two-prong threat is. Mwah!  The boys are falling apart, stressed by the time-limit of the upcoming Kraang invasion, disagreeing on how to handle it.  And then the argument gets cut short by their home being discovered – they don’t even get a chance to choose their path together, because they have to run, and everything’s chaos, and they’re still focused on the Kraang.

And that’s when the Shredder comes in.

This is insult on top of injury with everything going wrong that possibly could.  This is an immaculate payoff to the set-up they’ve been doing all season. This is fantastic.

And when Leo is thrown through the window, you feel it – the dread, the horror, the regret.  It really feels like the breaking point of “we can’t take any more” that leads to them retreating.  It has a weight to it that 2003’s version was sorely missing.

When it comes to Leo getting thrown through a window, 2012 takes the win, hands down.  The stakes, the drama, and my investment are all so much higher than they were in ‘03, no contest, it’s my favorite part of ‘12.

What comes after, on the other hand....

Tales of Leo + The Monster Hunter vs Season 3a (or, the Farmhouse Arc)

Maybe it’s unfair to compare 2 episodes to 8 episodes.  And maybe this is diverging from my “only episodes that are directly connected” rule I stated in the beginning, but I need to get this off my chest.  Because I just.  I’m not impressed by 2012’s farmhouse arc. 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Warning: rant ahead, this is VERY subjective and heavily based in my personal tastes.  Reminder that I do genuinely enjoy 2012, I just think the farmhouse arc is the lowest point in the whole series and is representative of what I find to be the weakest aspect of the series’ writing across the board.  That being said.

I see what 2012 was trying to do, by drawing out Leo’s recovery over all those episodes, giving the characters some space to breathe.  But they didn’t do it well in my opinion, and honestly the whole thing.  Flounders. 

2012’s best feature is its plot writing, how one episode tumbles into the next, Rube Goldberg machine-style, across an entire season.  But at the farmhouse, they’re removed from the greater plot, and that’s not doing the writing any favors.

And it’s not that the episode ideas are bad – I generally think they’re pretty interesting!  It’s just that without the inter-connected plot, they need something else to push them from “okay” to “exceptional”.  Usually, this would be where deeper characterization and relationship building would kick in instead, but uh.  I don’t personally think 2012 is great at that.

They under-cut the message of the episode with Big Foot, the Casey and Donnie friendship doesn’t really go anywhere after this, every other episode where inter-personal issues are only dealt with on a very surface level become even more obvious and a bit annoying without the greater plot to distract from it. Yes I know this is a kids show, but A:tlA had already finished airing at this point, also on Nickelodeon.

I think there’s a consistent issue with character writing in 2012 where they do what looks like set-up with no intent to ever give a meaningful pay-off or significantly change the status-quo, and that’s very much on display here.

And it’s not that there was nothing good in the season – I liked what they were doing with Raph, and how he was trying to help/encourage Leo, while somewhat bungling it in very realistic ways.  It was a fascinating look at what this Raph acting at his best as the Lancer trope could be, and I genuinely wish they leaned into it more later down the line.

Also, I’m always thrilled to see the Leo-April friendship get some focus, so Eyes of the Chimera was a favorite.  But across the board... the season didn’t wow me, and the longer it went on, the more I could see the cracks.

It all tops off with Vision Quest, which was my biggest disappointment in the entire series, the point at which I had to really stop and reset my expectations on what kind of story the writers were interested in telling.  The summary describes them having to go on a spiritual journey to really face themselves and their weaknesses, and I was so excited!  But then it was just.  Really surface level.  And occasionally confusing.

Raph needs to work on his temper, sure – but how is this any different than any of the other episodes about it?  Do we look at all at where his anger comes from?  A deeper way to handle it?  No, of course not.

Mikey needs to focus, stop getting distracted – I mean, yeah sure I guess.  Not a particularly interesting way of handling it, though.  Also, even if he manages it here, I know it's not going to pan out to the rest of the show, they’re not giving up their easy source of humor for the younger demographic.

And Donnie needs to... stand his ground? What?  I was so caught off guard.  It’s not that it’s completely out of touch, we see him coming up with complex paths to his goals, trying to think his way around of problems, ect, but... it was never really highlighted or presented as a real problem other than maybe the episode on instinct over thinking too hard?  It just felt really disconnected from anything else they were doing with him.  A genuinely interesting pay-off scene, with no solid set-up.

And Leo.  Oh jeez.  My friends.  WHAT is up with how they handled Leo’s knee injury?  The pain is just in my mind? It's not real??  Really???  No, thank you.

Like... I think this was supposed to be a riff on what Splinter says about ‘03 Leo’s coma, and him being trapped in his head due to fear – but because in ‘12 they tied it to an actual, specific physical injury, the execution falls apart. 

(Especially when they use the same flash-effect they used on Leo having issues with his knee of Splinter having issues later in the series but I probably shouldn't take that into account here.)

I mean, his quest is the closest to being satisfying, because they had lain interesting groundwork with his struggle with recovery and his insecurities in previous episodes, but then they just completely bungle it at the end! Argh!

I was so excited for Vision Quest, but this didn't tell me anything new about the characters or progress the characters in any meaningful way! It had no effect on how the characters are written going forward. So – other than some admittedly very cool fight choreography – what was the point?  Was there one??  It felt like putting on the trappings of an emotionally deep story without any of the actual, you know.  Depth.

I am clawing at the walls. Look at all the potential you wasted.

And yes, I’m aware this is all very subjective, and again part of a show for kids, but that’s how it hit me.

The 2003 farmhouse arc, on the other hand, was very short, and I think it benefited from that.  It had two episodes, and it knew what it was doing with both of them.  They felt purposeful, in the larger arc of the story.

First episode: they make their way to the farmhouse, Leo’s in a coma (according to Splinter, one driven by his fear), and his family tells stories of when he was brave/strong as a little kid to try and bring him out.

Wonderful, amazing, I love this episode.  So much character work – both in the past and present!  By going back to when they were kids, it helps us contextualize the turtles’ relationships by making them simpler.

In showing early memories that probably started cementing their views of each other, we see the core around which they developed.  By seeing which memory each brother chooses to present, we get some insight into how they each see Leo.  It gives us a point A to our current point B, which allows us to extrapolate the line between the two, how they developed.

And then you also get the little moments of how the brothers are handling this catastrophic event, how they react to the stress, to seeing their brother so hurt – Raph especially!  It’s pure character work and I love it.

After that, we get one episode of shenanigans, which is both representative of that “space to breathe” after Leo woke up, and also gives space for the B-plot (which is the truly arc-important plot) of Leo, now awake, dealing with his own handling of this stressful situation.

Is the A-plot of this episode quite as good as some of the ideas for the 2012 episodes?  Honestly, no, but just the fact that it’s carrying the Leo recovery story pushes it ahead.  We see Leo struggling with his failure, Raph stepping up to herd him back on the right track – the idea of physically remaking his swords to remake himself!  And, though we don’t know it yet, how hard Leo takes this is great foreshadowing to how he reacts going into his season 4 breakdown.

And then, having done the character work they wanted to accomplish, the writers go back to the main story.  The characterization here matters (and also is good) in a way that whatever is going on in the 2012 farmhouse arc just.  Isn’t. 

In my opinion.

Okay, rant over, winner is obvious, moving on.

Triceratons

Again, we’re not comparing most of the space arcs, as that’s apples to oranges, but there are two episodes that caught my attention:

Rogue in the House vs Dinosaur Seen in Sewers!

Here we've got two episodes where the turtles find a Very Confused Triceraton and trick him into helping them.

I like the 2003 one better.

Honestly, it comes down to the context of the episode.  Rogue in the House comes after the turtles have been in space and when they know more about who the Triceratons are.  2012 on the other hand is a sudden introduction to a new arc.

2003 also... questions the ethics of their decision more, by the end.  It’s a bit more empathetic?  And I appreciate that.

I will give 2012 credit that translating “we’ve been dropped into the middle of a war where both sides are bad” over to be attached to the Kraang, which they’ve built up already as a powerful alien threat, was clever.  It doesn’t have the same edge of commentary that “and one of these sides looks just like us humans” has, but it is clever use of their existing world-building, and I like it.

The Arena vs The Arena of Carnage

The most obvious connection in the 2012 space arc – the turtles get thrown into a gladiator arena.

Now, 2003 does have an unfair advantage in this comparison, as The Arena is heavily bolstered by the set-up work done in The Big House, giving you a sense of place, stakes, connection to the other characters...

That last bit is where my bias and personal taste shows: I really love the turtles making any kind of meaningful connection with other characters, and I find this more convincing in the 2003 version than the 2012 one.

But 2012 also weakens itself in its own right by doing some setup here with no long-term pay off.  You’ve got your fellow prisoner, who turns out to be a Triceraton who objected to the leadership's decisions... and after this episode, that means nothing!  Cool, okay.

Like I get that was a part of the episode they’re pulling from, but if they’re not planning on reusing that long-term story, then they really could have cut that aspect all together.  I know they have enough creativity in them to adapt the concept of “stuck in a gladiator arena” to do something more interesting, they’ve proved they have it in them.  They just... didn’t, and the plot point didn’t translate well.  Ah, well.

2003 also wins this one.

City at War vs... City at War?(???)

Look, I am only comparing these because they use the exact same name.  Otherwise, it’s nowhere near a fair comparison.  For 2012, this is actually part of a couple episodes where they talk about there being a power vacuum after the Shredder is out of the picture, but...

Can we be so real?  They don’t even get close to the scale of 2003.  Like with the farmhouse, it’s not that they don’t have any good ideas – I like the Don Visioso episode quite a bit – but it never gets to the depth or scale I want it to. 

Like, 2003 made it visually obvious that the city is falling apart, that things are really out of control, in a way you can feel. Though, honestly, I’m not even sure 2012 could reach the levels of 2003, because they never put as much effort into making their NYC feel... real?  I guess?

Also, the 2003 City at War arc is just.  It’s really good, guys.  It did such great work on Leo and Raph’s characterization, the danger in the city is palpable, the tension is thick, and then you add Karai on top of it all?

You’d think 2012 could push this, given the added dimensions to Karai and her connection to Shredder, but it ends up falling short.  Point again goes to 2003.

What a Croc! Vs It Came From the Depths (Leatherhead)

So. I am painfully biased, because It Came From the Depths is my favorite 2012 Mikey episode, and I thought What a Croc! was... just okay.

I frequently bemoan that 2012 didn’t lean more into long-form character arcs for their story, and this is one of the central episodes that defined my desire for Mikey’s arc.

The instant compassion and understanding he has for Leatherhead – the way he recognizes and is willing to work with his trauma responses, but also is childishly impatient with the process when it gets messy later on, showing he still has some maturing to do – it's great, and I love it.  I didn’t find the same kind of depth in the 2003 episode.

On the other hand, long-term I like Leatherhead better in 2003, just because he’s more present as ally, friend, or even family.  2012 Mikey’s always excited to see Leatherhead, but you don’t exactly see them hanging out.

But this is about the episode, and for that, I’ll give it to 2012.

Renet (Time Travails + Return of the Savanti Vs Turtles in Time + Tale of the Yokai)

I’ll be real with you, 2003 gains points with me just because this is another example of 2012 poorly shoving in romance. I would like to make it clear – I don’t have an objective issue with the turtles being in romantic relationships.  It’s just... don’t put it in there if the writing's going to be so... bad. And boring. And unnecessary.

Additionally, this particular example put me off a bit more because... hm. Okay, the episode starts with Mikey going “I'm never gonna get caught up in all that!" Only for the show to do the writing equivalent of saying "of course you will, as soon as the right person comes along. And here she is!"

And uhm.  Okay, so, I’m asexual with a big ? when it comes to romance.  So that framing is..... nghghghgh I don't like it. Like I get the joke, but it still gave me the ick.

Also it was another infatuation-at-first-sight situation like Donnie which. Is a romantic trope that is So Stupid, you CANNOT tell me that's how it actually works, I don't believe you, and also it makes for stupid, boring writing. So there.

Ahem.

Once you get past that, there’s points to be made for both episodes.  The way the 2003 turtles find Renet just kind of tiring but can’t help going along with her anyways is very funny to me, but 2012 lets them do Tales of the Yokai, and I enjoy the concept of them getting to see what Actually Happened Back Then, rather than just hearing subjective stories of it.  Adds some texture.

I dunno on this one – if it’s Time Travails vs Turtles in Time, 2003 wins, but once you move on to Tale of the Yokai I give it to 2012.  Call it a draw?

Loosely inspired by

Okay. So. These are things where I can’t say “Oh, they were just doing this story again”, but where I think there might have been some heavy inspiration.  Your mileage may very on these, and you could think I’m completely wrong, but I thought they’d be interested to talk about.

Even if they are from Back to the Sewers.

The Engagement Ring to The Power Within Her

April gets magic jewelry that possesses her, goes on a rampage?  Admittedly, the set-up is very different, as is the tone, but... well, you have to wonder.

I thought The Engagement Ring was one of the better episodes of Back to the Sewers, but as entertaining as it was, I’m still going to give this to 2012, I think.  I like things that have more build-up to them, and they did pretty good at setting up this episode ahead of time, building up that dread.  And it just did more with the concept, you know?

Also, it fit well into my interpretation/re-write of April’s character, so.

Identity Crisis to Brain Worms

I mean.  Turtles get brain-washed by the Foot, have to be broken out of it by being reminded of memories/who they were.  Methodology of the brainwashing is very different, admittedly, which is why I put this down here rather than in the main section!  But it’s similar enough for me to connect them.

This is another situation where I think 2012 took a concept and further developed it.  The brain worms are fantastically gruesome, and really treated like the existential horror it should be.  The amount of fics I’ve seen expanding on the brain-worms concept is proof of how it hooks in people’s brains.

Another point to 2012.

Conclusion

So let’s run a tally.

I'm not sure the two Back to the Sewer episodes count, but I also maybe have broken my rule on the farmhouse arc... I guess we could count those as half points?

Casey Intro: Draw

Window: point 2012

Farmhouse: half-point 2003

Lost triceraton: point 2003

Gladiator arena: Point 2003

City at War: point 2003

Leatherhead intro: point 2012

Renet: Draw

Losely inspired: cumulative point 2012

So that's... 3.5 for 2003, 3 for 2012, and two draws? Pretty close.

Realistically, I think these should be the two takeaways from my opinions:

First, 2003 better matches my personal tastes. I'm a character arc girly, and 2003 gave a lot more attention to that aspect of their writing than 2012 did, and that affects my opinions. See: the Vision Quest rant.

Second, what makes 2012 good is the stuff that’s specific to its iteration.

The way they adapted the Hamato Yoshi backstory from 2003 to be about Splinter and Shredder, making Karai Splinter’s stolen daughter, and how that whole plot line plays out.  The way they make the Kraang a whole organization, and their alliance with Shredder.  The full season, Rube-Goldberg machine buildup of plot.  These are all the thing that make it excel.

So... yeah. That's my thoughts. Your opinions might be different, and - if you're nice about it, please - I would love to hear your thoughts on what I've said, which episodes you like better, and why you like them! Shows hit different people, well, differently!

[dazaispinkietoe]

Levi Analysis !!

OKAY LEVIS BIRTHDAY ANALYZING HIM WITH DR PEPPER IN MY DR PEPPER SHIRT LETS GO YIPEE

Brief description of his character, Leviathan is the 3rd eldest/most powerful brother of the seven. He’s the sin of envy, for some reason a Navy general, but mostly known for his introverted personality and social anxiety. 

In Celestia, Leviathan carried out a similar role. But unlike the other brothers, he wasn’t much happier than he was in Devildom. In Nightbringer, Leviathan says that he felt like he didn’t belong anywhere. He felt like he had no purpose, which is likely why he took on these big roles, feeling like without them he’s just a waste of space. Touching on this, that’s one of the reasons for his sin. I’ve talked about this before, but because of the displacement Leviathan felt, his reaction was one of envy, looking down on himself for what others had that he didn’t, and once he did have it, moved on to something else. He can’t be satisfied because of this, which is why he constantly plays games that he can consistently level up in or at least use to distract himself. That could also be one of the reasons he has so many outbursts. If you’re constantly distracting yourself, when you’re not able to, you don’t handle it as well. Instead of being like Belphegor, though, all of the external and internal self hatred causes Leviathan to lash out in a different way. Instead of having an annoyed reaction, he has more of a “How dare you?” reaction. I can assume this is because he feels like everyone has so much more than him, which leads to him thinking that because everyone must have so much more than him, they must be trying to brag. 

This is also why he is so protective and obsessive about his interests. When he finds something, he wants to make sure he stays at the top of it, so he can at least be good at something. When that’s challenged, he starts feeling worse than normal, and that form of escapism isn’t really escapism but more like a chore or something he has to do to just stay at the top of. I could imagine that he also feels like a failure and blames himself for Lilith’s death. His job in Celestia had to do with keeping people safe after all, and he couldn’t even do that for the person closest to him. Not only that, but after everything he was still thrown out. Now he had to start over again, with people actually judging him. After he fell from Celesita, Leviathan felt isolated. He didn’t have a title here, or anything to do but sit back and play his games. Until he met Henry, he felt totally alone, his brothers didn’t really want to interact very much, and if they did there were pretty much always arguments or fights. Once he met Henry, he felt like he could understand someone for once, even if that someone was just a snake. Snakes are known for being feared, or seen as vermin that need to be removed. He could probably empathize with the snake, especially after Henry had pretty much wandered into their house, where he wasn’t really welcome. Leviathan had similar features as Henry, too, with his tail being similar to serpents or sea snakes.  

But eventually, he had to let that snake go. Not because it was unhappy, it was really the opposite. Him and the snake got along too well, but Leviathan was too insecure to see that. He thought he was holding the snake back, so he opened the tank to let him go, and Henry left because he thought Leviathan needed more friends. This reminds me of Leviathan’s relationship with MC in a way. In a lot of the chats Leviathan is in, he’s insulting himself, talking about how MC is the only person to understand him, or apologizing in the form of self deprecation. He probably feels like MC deserves better than him and is trying to give MC excuses for why they should leave him. 

Leviathan is also extremely empathetic. I feel like a lot of people ignore this side of him, but he has a tendency to give inanimate objects personalities or feelings, like how he was afraid to go into a store alone because he felt like the clothes were judging him. One of the articles I read on this said this could be because of over inclusivity, which would make sense because if you feel left out you’re more likely to try harder to not let anything else feel the same. 

I HAVE MORE TO SAY BUT IM RLLY ON A TIME CRUNCH RN AND HAVENT HAD MUCH MOTIVATION IM SORRY </3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVIATHAN I LOVE YOU SO SO MUCH

[be-not-defeated-by-the-rain]

Kenji headcanons

Okay so first he has dissociative amnesia so his memory just blanks and gaps lot of the events since his friend died and just in general

Audhd(self explanatory)

transmasc (his village didn't really have a strong concept of gender anyways tho)

Dyscalculia- so he's not great at anything to do with numbers or amounts or distance or direction or anything adjacent to that

So he actually would get lost probably as much as Ranpo except he's constantly asking people on the street for directions (it helps him make friends)

Has absolutely been scammed many times before because even in bartering he does not know easily how to tell a fair deal

Does not know how to tell time at all if you ask him what time it is he'll say something like 'still light out'

Technically doesn't live in the agency dorm (his main job is farming afterall) but he does grow plants and flowers outside the dorm because he want his friends to have some nature with them in the city

He also tends a smaller garden on top of the ADA building roof (like in WAN but I think he does more that that eventually)

he really likes bugs and spiders.

High pain tolerance (that boy has been shot and stabbed and works hard in fields he knows how to withstand physical strain and injury(not that he gets injured often(if he's hungry or angry most blunt force things cant injure him unless they're from an ability and also neither can animal bites)(if his ability is strong enough at the time he can also have some resistance to non-ability based stabbing slicing/slashing affects him like anyone else)

He's a bit of a "I know a guy" person for everything. Even like majorly concerning things that this child should not know a guy for

Sends weird city things back to the village (like stop signs and lunchables and a scooter and a manhole cover and a security camera and a flashlight)

His body doesn't know how to metabolize foods or drinks with too much sugar or artificial stuff in them or overly processed foods so eating or drinking them with make him really sick

Also cannot handle spicy food. He can handle spice, just not spicy

On the subject of food: he has really unhealthy eating habits (will only really eat at night before going to sleep(if his poor internal regulation skills don't make him forget he's hungry) or if it's with other people after he's done everything he needs to do)

Will take anything his friends say as gospel if he doesn't already know otherwise.

Drinks milk straight from the carton like a madman

Strong tight hugs(boy is restraining himself to not hurt peopl, unless it's Dazai. Dazai he can squeeze)

Does not like overly loud or cluttered noises(unless he's causing them)

Accidently gets the ADA in trouble for so much collateral damage.

His parents are fully still alive (he was mostly raised communally though, a lot of things in his village were group efforts)

Fully does not to hesitate to ask for help when he needs it but because he's oddly capable on his own he often doesn't actually think he needs it unless it's specific things that he already knows he's not good at

Very overconfident in his ability to physically withstand things

Not very curious if it's not city related actually. He's content with his own knowledge. (Widlife documentaries are like cocomelon to him though, he will not look away)

tends to be either really late or really early to things. No in between

He has so many freckles

After his friend died he developed claustrophobia and a fear of drowning(though the latter isn't as strong as the claustrophobia)

Bites his nails and pencils and erasers and stuff

Gets sick pretty often. His immune system isn't used to being around so many people and the new environment

He can cook really well from scratch though (like literally bro can make flour from wheat)

Can't really use most technology well.

Not a headcanon but just a timeline reminder: Kenji joined the agency two months before Atsushi

Back to headcanons:

Kenji only got his ability after his friend died(I'm still tryna timeline this. Kunikida says the flood was "a long time ago" but Fukuzawa investigated it and found Kenji and Kenji looked the same and I doubt he found him then left and then awhile later was like "hey let's go back and get him actually" so I'm tryna decide when exactly it was. I like to think maybe 4 months before the start of canon and 2 months before he joined max? Idk id love feedback)

He doesn't remember the days surrounding his friend's death either

His memories resurfaces about a week later after the wreckage of the house was already clear and the villagers wouldn't tell him the details of how it had happened except for how he had saved them from the flood

Would break stuff on accident a whole lot way more often before joining the agency and passing his entrance exam like it was a very very common occurrence

accidentally hurt a number of farm animals this way, some chickens got worse than that cuz tiny

Spent a lot of time sleeping for the first bit because normal eating schedule would knock him out three times a day and also because he was scared of hurting people

without his ability he's still pretty fit because his strength ability is a recent thing but since getting it his actual body has slowly been getting weaker and weaker(and as he loses muscle mass, has also been losing weight at an unhealthy rate, not that his eating habits help with that)

Gets really bad motion sickness in vehicles

Uhhh other stuff I'm forgetting

[void-botanist]

Character Cuddle Scale: AOM

I got tagged four separate times for this game so this is part one, for @vacantgodling's tag. I also decided not to stop myself and pretty much included everybody lmao.

Rules: Rate your OCs based on how they handle cuddling/being cuddled.

Based on a scale of 0 (cuddly as a cactus) to 10 (could be paid to cuddle professionally):

Sid: 5/10. He doesn't seek out cuddles from most people (the main exception is Devon but that's complicated) but he will generally accept cuddles when they're offered. However if it's his mom offering them (his dad never does), 1/10, please make it stop.

Avis: 4/10. She cuddles Sorian (or used to) and Antony and that's it. She would cuddle Sid if it felt necessary (read: he is having an extra bad time), and she will touch him casually, but in general she's a "you stay over there and I'll stay over here" kind of person. She used to be more touchy with Phil, but now things are weird with her (Phil disagrees), and she eventually gets to that level of trust with Leon and Edith but they can keep their pervert cuddles to themselves.

Sorian: 7/10. He's a good, if clingy, cuddler, but until he knows where things stand, he won't be forward about it. He'll wait until the other person cuddles him and then take that as a general invitation. He misses cuddling Avis a lot. In AOM he would rather die than say this to her face. Post-divorce he becomes very attached to cuddling Leon and Edith. However he has never been able to deal with Horatio cuddling him. He instantly goes into stiff awkward mode because what is he supposed to do??? This is why Horatio stopped cuddling him almost immediately.

Horatio: 10/10. Cuddling is his favorite thing, aside from all his other favorite things. He has no qualms about asking to cuddle anyone he considers a friend (though he thinks Graham might be too cool for that. maybe). For him it's an important part of friendship, and while he will absolutely respect it if someone declines his cuddles he does die a little inside. He can often be found with someone else cozy in his lap. You could probably convince him to cuddle professionally, but, like, he has a job already, and that job is plants.

Emma: 3/10. She does not accept cuddles from anyone except Donovan and Sid, and Sid has not wanted to cuddle her since he was a small child. She's not terrible at cuddling itself but she will talk the entire time regardless of whether you respond, and will only talk about what she wants to talk about.

Donovan: For literally everyone except Emma he is a 0/10. For her, he's like a 6/10. He will commit to the bit and he's pleasantly warm but from Emma's perspective he loses points for having the conversational skills of a brick wall.

Leon: 6/10. He's a casually touchy person, but not a cuddly one in general. However if he does not get cuddled regularly he will shrivel up and die. He loses points for not being very flexible about accepting cuddles (all his swinging partners are great but to be honest he'd rather be cuddling his wife. or Sorian) and also for being bony.

Edith: 8/10. She has none of Leon's pickiness and she will cuddle whoever wants to. The warmer they are, the better. But she does struggle with not accidentally stabbing people with her horns.

Celia: 5/10. She's very warm and soft because she's fat, but a little bit inconvenient to cuddle with because of her various face spikes. She also is unlikely to cuddle you unless she's fucking you, either recently or just in general (exceptions are made for Horatio and her ferasca cousins). If someone is outside of those two categories of "fucking" or "family member" she honestly just thinks they're probably weird about ferasca.

Allison: 4/10. He's also soft due to being fat, and he's tall enough that he can wrap around most people, and he's mostly a sweetheart, but he is also kind of prickly and anxious when it comes to touching. If you're Celia, you get 10/10 cuddles. If you're anyone else…eh.

Marcus: 4/10. It's complicated, though, because he is both aloof (doesn't want to get close to people emotionally) and kinda touch-starved. He really wants to go home…among his spouses he's more a 7/10, kind of stiff and anxious internally but trying hard to be comforting and cozy. Because Horatio is Horatio he gets the 7/10 treatment, though it's really more him that's doing the comforting than Marcus.

Colin: 4/10. He's kinda weird about touching people in general. Most of his cuddling happens with whoever he's dating (eventually he will cuddle them whenever) or whoever he's hooking up with (he will cuddle them after the fact like his life depends on it).

Palmyra: 8/10. She doesn't cuddle that much, but when she does, she puts her all into it. You WILL feel cozy and loved and accepted. There's no way out of this.

Antony: 9/10. He'll let anyone cuddle with his fat cozy self, because it's fun and because he loves that feeling of being trusted. Really his only downside is that he gets bored of it and restless after a while.

I'll tag @sarahlizziewrites, @kahvilahuhut, and @kk7-rbs plus anyone else who wants to join in!

[mediocreanomaly]

Legato falling for you HCs

Authors Note: I’m so sorry I’m a Legato apologist so of course my first post has to be about him lmao I am for sure not proof reading this so apologies for any mistakes

• First off, he’s got alot going on. So it’s most definitely going to be a bit of a slow burn for him to really like you, much less love you. Don’t be deterred though! Patients is key... •When he first meets you he’s pretty indifferent to you. I’d imagine you’d have to meet him through the Gung-Ho-Guns so he mostly just wants you to stay out of his way. •Main way to get him to warm up to you? Food. They say food is the quickest way to a mans heart and that's especially true for Legato. Don’t make a big deal of it but if you just happen to have extra snacks laying around for him? Who is he to say no? •Eventually, he might even start to unconsciously seek you out knowing where you are there's a snack to follow. •Slowly, the two of you even begin talking, small words exchanged between meetings, you sit and nod while he quickly complains about what ever is currently not going right with the other Gung-Ho-Guns •Now eventually these quick talks turn into full conversations. Legato isn’t exactly nice but he’s also not completely rude either as you talk. He silently listens and might add a snarky comment along the way but he secretly has begun enjoying listening to you, not to mention he can’t stop watching your mannerisms and notices you need a hair cut soon and- uh oh. •If you’ve managed to stick it out this far congrats! You’ve actually begun to get somewhere with the man. Now once Legato begins realizing he has feelings for you it’s a lot to unpack. He’s been through a lot and trusting someone is hard for him so give him some time and space as he mulls over how to handle the situation  • Once the two of you start dating not much changes admittedly. For one he does not want you to initiate any touch. He has a ton of trauma regarding it and one wrong move will have him pushing you back with his powers before you can say “Bluesummers”.  • The second thing you have to understand is Knives Millions comes first. Every. Time. It might take some getting used to but the man is devoted. If you can stick with him through those two things it’ll actually bring you a lot closer to him. Not many people would be understanding of that. •Legato does try to show he cares in his own ways though. Bringing you things back from towns he visits (destroys), giving you books he likes, ect. It’s small but it’s the best he can do to thank you for still being by his side. **Very slight spoilers for manga**  •Now. I do actually believe you could get this man away from Knives but it is a very long, very tedious process. Don’t ever shit talk Knives around him, don’t beg for him to leave knives for you, and don’t tell him knives is bad for him. He’ll leave just like that, instead go for a softer approach  •Legato doesn’t know how to live without someone commanding him. He’s never known kindness or love until he met you, so it’s up to you to slowly show him he can live without a collar around his neck. •It’ll be hard I won’t lie, but do domestic things with him in the rare time he has away from Knives. Show him how to cook, take walks with him, fold laundry with him, show him that life doesn’t always have to be a fight. Sometimes you can just...be. • If he opens up about his past? You’ve got him. He doesn’t share that information with anyone, and you are suddenly very aware of why he acts the way he does. Don’t pity him, but show compassion. Listen to everything he has to say and assure him he’s come along way since then. • At this point despite how devoted he is to Knives...I think you’d be able to finally drag him away. I think the main reason he’s so loyal to Knives is that he doesn’t know how else to live. Knives is honestly just another form of his abusers, another iron fist, another collar, another cage. But you? You’re like a small ray of hope, the first good thing to ever bless his existence. He won’t say it out loud, but he isn’t sure he deserves you, but he’s thankful he has you anyways. •For the sake of fluff we are going to assume you managed to get him out of the Gung-Ho-Guns, maybe you got him to reluctantly join Vash’s cause (unlikely) or maybe the two of you are now in hiding in a small town (more likely) either way it’ll be a bit easier to get Legato out of his shell, although don’t expect a huge transformation he’s still working himself out (but he’s trying!!!)  •Eventually he get’s used to a life without someone looming over him, it’s weird for him at first, but not completely bad. He also starts to get more use to touch, your hand in his, his hand pressed against the small of your back, your fingers tracing his face. There will always be a limit to how much he can take before he needs a break, his trauma isn’t going to disappear over night but he’s trying everyday to be someone worthy of you love. Besides, when he gets to wake up suns still just peeking over the horizon your sleeping face catching a bit of the golden rays that sneak in through the blinds...he can’t help but think that all his suffering was worth it, as long as he get’s to keep waking up next to you.

[yantalia545]

Platonic! Yandere Allied nations with a younger sister who went missing

England: 

Since that day you disappeared Britain had been kicking himself over the matter of being such a horrible big brother. He was too distracted at the time with America leaving him, but he still should have kept a better eye on you. You were still only a child. Losing America was already a bruise to his ego, but your disappearance was certainly a blow to it.

For a long time, Britain was certain that America or one of the other nations took you as a means to to get under his skin. He was hostile towards them for a long time because of it and often got into a lot of fights. When he did finally calm down, that’s when the water works showed. 

He was broken without you and America by his side anymore. There were many nights where Britain would wake up with a panic sweat and tears streaming down his face. Some nations that felt pity towards the man, mostly Canada and France,  and would help look for any clues of your whereabouts. As the years rolled by with no sign of you, everyone began to give up. England himself nearly gave up when he finally found you.

He was just milling about his day by the local market when he saw you. You were much older than when you first disappeared and England had to do a second take to make sure and that he wasn’t losing his mind. But when he weakly called out your name and you responded, England dropped everything and b-lined straight to you. He normally would mind what people thought of him but right now that didn’t matter. He couldn’t care less about all the weird stares he was receiving right now. All that mattered was that you were right here in the flesh and not some imaginary trick.

You were obsoletely terrified. You were just trying to remanence in your past by visiting one of the places you used to go with your brothers as a child when you were spotted by the one man you’d never hope to see again.

You see, you may have only been a child, but you still saw all of the horrible things that Britain was doing to you all and wanted to get away from it. Unlike America though, you were too small to fight Britain head-on and chose to slip away while Britain was distracted. 

Remember, you’re not like normal children. You’re a nation who’s lived for many years even as a child. You can understand and process things differently.

You’d awkwardly tired to act like everything was okay while slowing slipping away from him again. You thought you would have gotten away with it too before England grasped you wrist just a little bit too tight.

“Where are you trying to go, Biscuit? Aren’t you happy to see me again? I’ve looked everywhere for you.”

Russia: (not a child in this one but still younger than Russia)

“You’re going to tell your big brother everything you know and I will handle it.”

Russia isn’t a fool. And he most certainly doesn’t like when people think they can mess with him and his family and not lose a finger or two. The two of you were very close before your disappearance so he knows for a fact that you did not run away. Someone stole you. Stole you from him of all people. They were going to pay.

To say Russia is pissed is an understatement.

Russia wastes no time and knows many people. He will find you eventually, and when he does, he’s going to make sure that the one responsible for your abduction knows who they’re dealing with. Apparently, it is easier to hide when the person who took you is someone who works for Russia. They had intel on what Russia knew but eventually they slipped up trying to cover up some evidence of your whereabouts.

It was quite a scene when Russia found out. He beat the guy pretty harshly and even broke quite a few bones before dragging him by a broken ancle to your whereabouts. Once Russia knew you were safe he made an example out of the vile creature that dared to put their filthy hands on you. Apparently, the disgusting oaf abducted you when they claimed to have feelings for you and you turned them down flat. For that, Russia was going to give him an extra special treatment.

Your abductor will be publicly executed by Russia ripping the man’s heart out with his own bear hands. Not before ripping each distrusting finger that touched you, of course. ^J^ The entire gruesome scene will be globally broadcasted to make it clear that no one is to every mess with you or anyone in Russia’s family ever again.

Russia will also make sure that this can never happen again by never taking his eyes off you. No matter how much you try to fight it you’ll always be within his reach, even at meetings. He never cared about what the others thought of him so seeing the weird looks everyone gives the two of you as he practically hovers over you all the time doesn’t faze him one bit. This is just the things you do when you love your family. If anyone says other wise, then Russia will only assume that they’re planning something and will only hover over you more. Maybe even get his other sisters involved in looking after you too. After all, they want to do what they can to look after their sister too...that and try to calm Russia down from killing everyone...

China: 

Did you really go missing or is that just what China is telling everyone? 

Japan’s rebellion against him really opened his eyes about younger nations. Rather they’re young or old, they still shouldn’t be underestimated. Steps should be taken to make sure everyone is well aware of their place. And your place is with him.

China is a man with the biggest inflated ego known to man. He tends to think he’s above everyone else since he’s much more experienced and wiser than most; His younger siblings especially. Japan attacking him so viciously really tore China apart. Mostly because he didn’t even know what had happened before it was too late. In such a short amount of time, China went from having everything and everything he could ever had wanted under his thumb on minute, then the next, he had nearly gone broke and lost one of his precious territories.

The man is not stupid. He is well aware of the fact that you held a special kind of bond with Japan before he left to the point where he’s become painfully jealous. With Japan leaving, China couldn’t take any chances that you’d seek to run after Japan and leave him, or god forbid, Japan coming back and trying to take you from him.

These few things in mind would cause China to bring up a lot of insecurities that he had been ignoring for quite some time now. He had always desired to be greater being to someone who’d look up to him, and in return, receive his never-ending love and dedication. However, it seems to one way or another no one can ever live up to his expectations. 

But maybe he can force you to.

If being open and honest won’t give him the affections he’s always dreamed about, then maybe if he were more stricter and harsher will do the trick.

Being as sneaky and collaborative as he is, It wouldn’t be too hard to make it look like you had somehow mysteriously disappeared. Even if his resources were severely damaged from the war with Japan. He’d even put on a show in fount of the others and show how much sorrow he feels after loosing you just to throw everyone off. Japan may be able to see a bit more clearly through the lines than everyone else, but there wouldn’t be much he could do since his resources would also be scarce from war.

Once that it established, China will begin on recuperating you to be how he had always wanted you to be without the annoying interruption of others. You are to be respectful of him. He is your dear older bother who loves and provides you from the harsh world. Without him you are lost and vulnerable with means of survival. If you ever think otherwise, China will gladly take one of his gifts away from you and see just how much you need him; Taking away food, water, and time outside being his main sources of punishments. He prides respect above most things in life. With respect comes power. Without it, and you have none

America:

It was a pretty traumatic experience for the both of you. America just couldn’t comprehend what happened exactly. One minute the both of you were having a little quality sibling time together, then the next you were gone.

He had only wanted to be the best big brother ever by surprising his little sister with giant ice cream cones when you got out of the bathrooms. America swore he only took his eyes off the bathroom entrance when he went to pay for your ice creams but when he waited for more than ten minutes for you to come out, it was already too late.

America wasted no time in beginning his search for you. You’ll be placed on a nation wide search as thousands chip in to look for you. Being as big as he is, America will have access to tons of extra resources that most can’t even imagine; Cameras, secret agencies, even news coverage. There is no limitation to what America will do to find you. He was your big brother. Someone who swore to protect you from all the evil of the world. He just has to find you! 

America is going to be the most heartbroken over you disappearance. Over the years, America had gained a lot of power that many of his peers resented him and even try to undermine him often. He felt as if you were the only one who  gave him the true sense of what family is. 

He will have many sleepless nights. Most nights, he can be found out looking for you under and over any place he can reach. America feels as if he can’t rest until he finds you. 

Many had doubted that he could properly take care of you when he first discovered you. They said he was too arrogant and childish to raise a nation such as yourself. He wanted to prove them wrong; Show them that he was more than a screw-up. Now however, he can’t help but feel as if they were all right all along. If he just stayed by your side and watched over you better then you wouldn’t be missing right now. God only knows what horrible things could be happening to you. Are you cold? Hungry or scared? This fear is eating away at America more and more with each passing day.

The day he hears that you’ve been found, America drops whatever he’s doing and races to your location. He doesn’t care if he was right in the middle of a world meeting. America will race to the nearest airport and fly over to you.

It doesn’t matter what happened. The person who caused this horrible nightmare was going to pay. Of course, America does care to keep a positive image for his people, unlike Russia, but will still get the message across that no one is to mess with either of you.

Your story will displayed for all of the world to see. It’ll be all anyone can talk about for at least a month! Everyone will know of your abductor and of your daring brother who searched day and night to look for you. Your kidnapper will be sentence to life in prison to the public, but once the camera to their cell “malfunctions”, America will let loose on the bastard for all the pain and frustration they caused him.

On the more positive side of things, your story will bring attention to a serious issue of children going missing world wide. No nation will rest until America instills his new missing children’s project into their very way of life. Not they the others would have much to abject by. Who wouldn’t want to better their nation by creating a safe search system for missing children? And if this is what it takes to finally calm America down, then so be it. Although, don’t hold it against him for making a specific program just for you that not a lot know about. (o゜▽゜)o☆

France:

Another mess, but partially at fault here. 

You see, France never wanted to you to be scared of the world. He knew that he wasn’t raising an ordinary human and you would need to be adjusted to meeting new things constantly without being afraid. Without realizing it though before it was too late, France’s sugarcoating made you a bit too naïve of the world; Even for a young child such as yourself.

You blindly followed an elder lady home one day after school without ever feeling a sense of danger. You didn’t even think much about when the old woman called France your father, not brother. (no matter how much he pushed for you to call him father, but besides the point T^T). She told you she was filling in for him for the time being and that was that. 

Meanwhile France was losing his flipping marbles looking for you. The man couldn’t function again until you were by his side again. You were his darling little princess, and he, your darling knight who would show you all that the world had to offer. There’s no way he can go on in life without you in this life! You were his life!

Please note: While the others may have turned yandere from all the trauma and paranoia your disappearance caused, France was already starting to show signs of obsessiveness before this whole mess happened. He would spend any free time he had spoiling you and on the rare occasions he couldn’t be with you, France would bring you up in any conversation he could; Much to everyone’s annoyance. 

Despite France wanting to raise you to not be afraid of the world, France still kept the others from seeing you. Even from England and Canada. He was just so fearful of someone else seeing how amazing you are and luring you away from him. France saw it happen to so many other nations nations when they were younger, there’s no way he’s letting that happen to you!

On the day that France does finally find you, all hell breaks loose. When France catches wind of old lady keeping a strange little girl from apparently nowhere, he quickly springs into action. France demands that the person spreading the rumor tells him everything they know before speeding off to wherever this alleged old lady is. 

Turns out that the old woman who took you had a granddaughter that looked just like you who passed away recently. The lady is a bit old, and therefore a little mentally unwell, and mistook you as her missing granddaughter by mistake. Thankfully, you were never hurt or mistreated. France found tucked away in a well decorated room while she was away for the time being. 

France couldn’t care about the senile old woman. All that mattered was that you were unharmed and safe in his arms once again. He was crying tears of joy and forgot all about that woman as he left her torn up home. You were back with him again and France was sure he would do whatever it took to make sure no one can take you away from him ever again.

Canada:

He knows for a fact that you didn’t die like everyone claims you did. You were at war with Russia and now he’s being coy by occupying your country and pronouncing you dead. 

Things are complicated to say the least. Canada didn’t know if he hates America or Russia more at the moment. America was the one who pressured you to fight Russia in the first place. All because of some petty disagreements that they have to somehow drag everyone else into. It’s all America’s fault and it seems like he doesn’t even care. Wouldn’t he at least feel some remorse for dragging his own sister into his own mess? As your brother, America should have known that you’re not as powerful as you used to be. 

You’ve always been the big sister that constantly went out of your way to protect your brothers. You’d lie to England and France so that you could take the blame for something either him or America did, supported each of them through their own independent movements, heck, you even supported them now! You’d give them the clothes on your back if it meant protecting the two of them. It most certainly led you the situation you’re in now, but that was always something Canada looked up to.

He wants to be like you and burst through the doors to save you but he knows he doesn’t have the man power or resources to do so. Even America was having a hard time keeping up against the man for that matter. But that doesn’t mean Canada is just going to sit around and do nothing. 

Canada is expectantly good at spying. (Mostly because no one ever notices him). He’ll suck up his hatred for America for the time being and chip away at Russia’s morale in any way he can. This has nothing to do with his brother. Canada only cares about bringing you back home again. He doesn’t care who he has to step over along the way. Not even America.

Once Russia does finally fall and you come back home, Canada is going to keep a tight hold on you. He’ll help your economy heal while keeping you far away from anyone that can influence you ever again. If you try to leave, then Canada will play the pity card and weep about how much the war effected him and how he’s scared of loosing you again. 

If that still doesn’t work and you still want to leave then Canada will be forced to pull his own strings. He didn’t want to do this to you, but push is coming to shove. He’s not someone to underestimate. Canada is not just a shy little boy that everyone thinks he is. Just like America, he can be a forced to be reckoned with and will pull any means to keep you with him.

You’re not as strong as you used to be. The war against Russia really shows. He needs to take the step up as your brother and protect you. you’ve spent so many years doing the same for him. Canada only wants to repay the favor. So just let him, okay? Or he can always make another example out of you.

[autumnslance]

NPC ask: Vrtra!

OK so, remember: I wrote up Aeryn's surprise backstory thanks to FFXIV Write prompts, with a one off in one year, and then the next having the original version of the whole Avengret saga, like 2 months before Endwalker came out. Eventually it all came together in Bearing Sins of the Past, where I added the coda "with any luck, Aeryn wouldn’t have to think about dragons again for a while" because when EW DID hit and I got to Thavnair I helpless laughed, because this woman just cannot get away from dragons for anything.

My own fault for starting playing this game in HW, and then putting a bit of Coerthan in my WoL, I suppose.

Actual answer below cuz I rambled a bit on this one, and added in brief answers for the FC's FF16 AU and my other OCs.

To say Aeryn was shocked to learn of Vrtra and his role in her nation's history is mild; she spent a good few nights thinking back to her mother's stories and the teachings of Thavnair's history and how they see dragons, versus that of Coerthas and what she'd learned of and experienced in the Dragonsong War. It was a decent distraction for a while.

Bit of nervousness too, I mean, how do you look your secret ruler in the eye and say "yes, I'm the one who killed your brother"? Even if his dad and another brother helped. Awkward. Which is also true when around Tiamat and Azdaja, but hey.

But Vrtra is also so different from his siblings; he spends more time with mortals than with other dragons, and so understands them in ways his siblings do not. He has more in common, perhaps, with the late Ratatoskr than the others; Aeryn thinks she'd be pleased by and proud of what her youngest brother has accomplished with Thavnair.

And so Vrtra isn't just another Great Wyrm of the First Brood, and not only the Satrap of Radz-at-Han (publicly, finally), but also...a friend. He's warm, and personable, and understands and uses mortal humor. Not always perfectly; there's still an alienness to him that can seem reserved or even standoffish, and some things he still doesn't understand. But he takes it all in stride and with good intention, and assuming the same from others. He's kind, and caring, and she cannot think of a better defender and leader for her homeland.

And it certainly makes sense as to how such consistency and coordination exists in Thavnair's growth and policies, leading to a fairly happy and prosperous land and people.

Still, Aeryn mostly actually behaves when adventuring with Vrtra, in whatever form. A mostly proper young Thavnairian lady, that her grandmothers would find no fault with while in the presence of the Satrap. Vrtra thought the Scion stories of her being a reckless gremlin in combat were exaggerations...until the Isle of Haam and getting to the aetherfont with Thancred in the party. She really couldn't help herself, it's part of how their relationship works. But she did maybe pouty face puppy dog eye Varshahn to please not mention her behavior to her family at all ever. And again, given he understands mortals, well...even Vrtra doesn't dare cross a pair of Thavnairain grannies!

In the FF16-inspired AU, where Aeryn and Zaine are Dominants of Asura and Daivaidipa, Vrtra was the one who had to wrangle them when they first primed as children on returning to Thavnair. He took the little family in, the Striker siblings (and their mother) becoming wards of the Satrap. Vrtra used his child simulacrums, then adolescent, as they grew, acting as a brother as much as a mentor and guardian. In that AU the bond is much more familial, with the closeness of years and shared secrets and power between them.

Back on Main, Dark Autumn and C'oretta like Vrtra well enough, though Dark is far more comfortable with his Varshahn persona. C'oretta has pestered the alchemists about how the simulacra are made and work cuz it's fascinating. Iyna....just isn't sure at all how to handle actual dragons, especially First Brood, so remains quiet and aloof to cover her awkward, when she has to interact. She also much prefers interacting with Varshahn, but can't quite ever forget what he really is. Still, like the others, she remains polite and to the job, mostly for Aeryn's sake.

[hypnotisedfireflies]

Ok so your latest fic with Bill and Frank has me thinking. First off thank you I am so happy I chose this story Bill and Frank are my OG's in TLOU fandom. You did such a good job writing them.

But you got me thinking when you talked about Frank's past. His job, his partner, his Cats! Now I'm wondering if you have any kind of headcannon on Bill's past. I'd love to hear them if you do.

You do like to make my brain work, lovely! Haha, ilu for it. And I'm glad you enjoyed Love Language. It was a different pace for me.

I have a few headcanons for Bill but I haven't had the opportunity to do much with them yet. But they are:

Bill had a practical job before the outbreak. I feel like he was an electrician but understood at least one other trade, too.

He was really good at his job but he didn't promote his business well, so his customer pool was kind of thinning out and getting snapped up by competitors. He had a loyal base though, and mostly survived on word of mouth.

He was also like, a cable guy for a short period there but got the sack for being surly.

Bill didn't get along with his father, who favoured his older brother. Bill and his brother got along very well though, and his brother kind of protected him from his father's ire.

His father died when Bill was still in high school after short illness and his brother in a freak accident in the late 80s.

Bill was very close to his mother. She was sick for a long time and Bill cared for her for many years. He got into IT and started learning how to fix people's computers up so he could work from the basement to support her.

So the caregiving role Bill later inhabited was not completely foreign to him.

She taught him how to cook. It was something they used to do together and every utensil and piece of crockery in the kitchen has a story associated with it.

The room downstairs he and Frank eventually move into was his mother's in her later years.

She died in January 2003 and Bill burned a lot of his remaining bridges at that time.

She was semi-supportive of him being a prepper. She didn't really understand it but she didn't stop him either; once she died, he really threw himself into it.

Bill was very active in online prepper forums. His was semi-famous under the handle, 'rambletamble' for his practical advice and modded a couple of forums.

He never acknowledged that he was gay but his mother knew and was quietly supportive. She would tell people who asked 'when's Billy going to get married?' to look to their own business.

He really fucking hates cats. Dogs too, but mainly cats. SQ Bill tolerates them for Frank's sake.

Whew.

Thanks for asking. <3

[arandomaquarius]

Color!Sans Headcanons (not in order) TW! MENTIONS OF DISSOCIATION, DEREALIZATION, BLOOD, MURDER, GENOCIDE AND MAYBE OTHER TRIGGERS THAT I CANNOT IDENTIFY

Some of these are similar/the same as @howlsofbloodhounds bc they made a few hc posts that I agree with on some points. If they want me to edit out the parts that are similar to theirs, then I will.

Over the time that he was in the Void, Color’s hatred for the human eventually grew into hatred towards all humans. CORE!Frisk helped Color to not hate humanity after he left the void. Even after meeting CORE!Frisk properly, he didn’t trust them. It took him about three years of almost constant companionship to even relax around CORE!Frisk; it took a little bit longer for him to do that around other humans.

Epic and CORE!Frisk are the first people Color met when he left the void.

When he was in the void, Color was a lot like Geno: anti-social, short-tempered, cold, and pessimistic. Epic and CORE!Frisk helped Color when he first left the void so that he wasn’t as cold, angry, anti-social, and negative as he was.

I saw someone say that they think Color loves poppies, and I think he would also love forget-me-nots and he gives these to people he wants to remember him.

Epic kept bugging Color to get a house so he did to shut him up. It is in the Omega Timeline. The house is small, but Color doesn’t mind because he says it’s only a place to go to when he needs to. That means that there are mostly non-perishables in the kitchen so that nothing rots while Color’s away.

He’s a minimalist.

He likes giving gifts but doesn’t really like receiving them. He always keeps gifts though and uses them as much as possible.

Color likes strays, but he never keeps them; he lets them wander like him.

Epic gave Color a Polaroid when he found out Color has a fear of being forgotten. Color treasures it and takes photos so often that he’s become semi-professional. He puts these photos around his house and in the Chroma Realm.

He takes photos of just about everything, but he especially likes taking photos of nature. He also loves candid photos/unflattering photos. He likes how real they are.

He gives pictures of his friends and himself to his friends to ease the fear of being forgotten.

Due to losing everything once, Color is very overprotective of his friends, family, and home (he considers the Multiverse to be his actual home). Color would do anything to protect what he cares about.

He doesn’t fight a lot. (might be canon, but I’m not sure)

Color dislikes political things.

Over the time that he was in the Void, Color’s hatred for the human eventually grew into hatred towards all humans. CORE!Frisk helped Color to not hate humanity after he left the void.

He has a fear of being trapped. After spending years in an inescapable and empty void, he can’t stay in one spot long, or else he gets anxious.

Another phobia of his is confined spaces.

LOVES THE STARS AND THE SKY AND SUN AND JUST BEING OUTSIDE IF HE IS OUTSIDE HE IS SO HAPPY

Doesn’t like too much attention on him.

Color never tested his new abilities before he left the void; he didn’t want to mess with the Timeline.

When he first got to the Omega Timeline, everyone crowded him and he freaked out and teleported away. When he was freaking out from all the people, he accidentally opened a portal to an AU and fell through.

Thus began his travels✨

He still can’t really handle the Omega Timeline; people crowding him totally sets him off.

Reaper unsettles him.

Sometimes his chest and head hurt bad, kind of like phantom pains. His eyesight in his left eye sometimes also becomes either blurry or it just disappears completely.

Color can sometimes see the spirits of the six human souls he absorbed. They mostly appear when a specific trait is most prominent (i.e. PATIENCE, BRAVERY, JUSTICE, INTEGRITY, etc.) They can only talk to him, and he doesn’t believe that they’re real.

He has dissociation and derealization disorders.

The events of the Genocide Route still haunt him to this day…

He’s not sorry nor guilty for killing the human, but he is shaken by the memories of the fight (i.e., bones crunching, blood splattering).

He’s able to go back to where he was in the void with Gaster; he doesn’t visit too often though, because it might be risky.

Color lends Geno books and helps him not feel self-conscious about his melting skull. They also play chess, checkers, and other various games together. 

Color encourages Killer to be nicer to others, but he never expects him to do it.

Sneaking up on Color can be difficult— not that you want to— because he’s so used to having to be hyper-aware of his surroundings. If you do manage to sneak up on him and scare him, his first reaction is to punch/attack you— Epic and Killer keep learning this the hard way.

Color’s soul is highly sought after, due to its strange nature and being a good balance of six human souls and one monster soul.

Nobody knows how many different attacks Color has; everyone always gets surprised when he uses something they haven’t seen before.

Due to being half blind, Color sometimes has a hard time using the right side of his body. He can misjudge the distance between an object and his hand, and miss it.

His friends walk on his blind side so that he doesn’t get caught by surprise when a stranger is suddenly beside him.

He is considered the leading expert in SOUL research, due to his wanting to help Killer.

He carries a journal on him with all the information about SOULS that he has collected over the years and across the Multiverse. The journal is worn down and written in Arabic so that others can’t snoop through it. Color treasures that journal a lot; it’s one of the first things he always checks for damage. He’d panic if he lost/didn’t know where it was.

Color’s handwriting is chicken scratch that sometimes he can’t even read.

He frequents certain AUs he’s particularly fond of.

Color and Killer both speak Arabic and it confuses everyone else but they love it so much.

Color avoids going to UnderTale; he doesn’t think he’s quite ready to face a Papyrus that’s almost identical to his brother.

[cacio-e-peppino]

Pizza Tower Headcanons: The Noise

I think it’s about time to share more headcanons, this time looking at everyone’s favorite off brand mascot, The Noise ^^. I've been thinking about this creacher:tm: a lot recently, so I have a lot to say. Headcanons under the read more

So, this first one does have some Sugary Spire influence, but I think The Noise is genderfluid. It takes him a really long time to figure it out though. I think after seeing Peppino's top surgery scars enough or Peppino passing up on an opportunity to go toe to toe with Theo finally causes The Noise to work up the courage to ask Peppino how he knew he was trans. Since, seeing those things in the first place is what got The Noise to revaluate his identity in the first place.

Before meeting Peppino, The Noise tried really hard to suppress the feminine part of her identity. I also think this is where part of their anger towards Noisette comes from; he's jealous that Noisette gets to be unabashedly feminine while he feels like he can only be masculine because "that's how men are" (and Noise struggles with the nature of their fluidity identity and feels like a freak for wanting to be referred to in more feminine terms sometimes). Though, I think through encouragement from Noisette and Peppino, Noise starts experimenting more with her identity and starts to become more comfortable to it. Noise becoming more secure in their gender identity really patches things up in his relationship with Noisette : )

Eventually, Noise gets to the point where they'll use a colored patch to single how they want to be addressed that day- blue for he/him, pink for she/her, and orange for they/them. Despite how much Peppino wants to wring his neck, he'll always insult them respectfully and follow the patch code (once he learns it).

Noise truly does love and care for Noisette. On camera the whole "wife bad" angle is mostly played up "for laughs" and Noise doesn't really like doing those bits. Though, they both understand it's just part of the job. This isn't to say they never fight or argue, they absolutely do. Though, Noise gets a bit prickly when people start implying he doesn't care for Noisette at all

The Noise is the only one allowed to bully Peppino. He will drag Peppino through the mud and rake him over the coals. But the moment someone else bullies Peppino and The Noise isn't involved? There's gonna be problems

That being said, Noise is a born troublemaker. She loves causing chaos and mischief and problems for others on purpose and will only really apologize if someone seems legitimately offended by it. For example, he knows pretending to be dead and most explosive based pranks are off the table with Peppino since it will cause him to spiral and disassociate for the rest of the day.

I don't ship Noise and Peppino, but I do think they have a very interesting relationship in the sense that they are always at each other's throats but if someone else is threatening them, they'd go up to bat for the other. They want each other dead, but only by their hands. And, when once is legitimately having a problem, the other is there to support them through it.

While The Noise is canonically Mexican, I do think the idea of him being unable to handle spicy foods is funny. He vastly prefers sweets to savory foods, and also enjoys British food like fish n chips and tea (with extra milk and sugar). He got real sick of pizza after getting a gig marketing it, but it pays too good for him to stop. Tequila is just water to him, but he can't stand any form of dry wine and doesn't understand how Peppino or even Noisette does it.

Noise does not have a very broad palette when it comes to food and is a picky eater. This contrasts with Noisette, who has a very broad palette and will eat nearly anything once

Noise is very short, like 5'3" and that's part of what makes him such a good acrobat- low center of gravity. Peppino likes hanging out with her because it makes him (5'6") seem tall in comparison

I could easily picture The Noise having a similar personality to Scout from TF2

Like all the other Pizza Tower bosses, I think Noise was some how manipulated into working for Pizzahead. Probably promises of riches or fame or something, honestly I don't think Noise would be that difficult to manipulate. I could see him working with Pizzahead prior to the construction of the Tower though. Perhaps it was Pizzahead who gave Noise the mascot gig in the first place.

I think Noise is human, but I do love all the depictions of Rat Noise, they are fantastic