#I just beat pokémon black and OH MY GOD IT’S SO GOOD I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT

[mochibutterflyy]

[tennessoui]

Hi miss Kit! So um, I'm not the anon who had the idea about the Pokemon obikin AU but I saw that you're still looking for a prompt so I did some brainstorming?

Obviously Anakin is aiming to be a Pokemon Master which is why he'll have to fight the elite four eventually. Which is not an easy task despite what the games might imply! So what if, despite breezing through the gyms before, beating Team Rocket and having a team that is powerful and adores him, he still fails his first attempt at the league.

I remember Prof Oak telling your rival after you beat him in gen 1 that he lost to you because he doesn't love his Pokemon enough which is bullsh*t!! But must surely be a cutting remark.

So ofc he goes to caretaker!Obi-Wan afterwards because he is a former Pokemon trainer so how has he dealt with loss before? Does Anakin really not love his team enough? Bonus points if Obi has challenged the league before (and won??)

I just realized that this is way too angsty for the Pokemon universe >.< everything is nice and soft here

alright!!!!!! finally!!! here is that pokémon au, a bastardization of this prompt and @sinhalbutnoangst 's prompt "24: Right before a passionate/first kiss & 16: “There’s nothing to be scared of, okay? I’m right here.” For a Pokémon AU !!!"

I hope y'all both enjoy or at least find parts to be happy about!!!

(fair warning i don't know a lot about pokémon so who knows how accurate this is at ALL)

(3.3k)

(i've linked each pokémon name with their pokedex picture just so everyone knows what they look like. no need to read the descriptions or anything)(god knows i didn't half the time)

Obi-Wan is in the water, tending to a shy gyarados a trainer had left behind as a Magikarp a few months ago, when on the shore his flareon raises its muzzle and barks loudly. That’s her signal that someone’s arrived at the Daycare center proper. Obi-Wan furrows his eyebrows, as he strokes his hand down the gyarados' side.

“I always tell them to call ahead,” he mutters as the pokemon nudges closer for more attention. “Why do they never call ahead?”

Gyarados knocks him hard in the arm. It’s clear she wants more pats, but business calls.

“Would you mind terribly taking me back to shore, dear?” Obi-Wan asks politely. It’d be faster than swimming all the way there, and it would strengthen the Pokémon's connection with humans.

On the shore, Flareon bounds around in a circle, tail flickering back and forth. It must be someone she recognizes the scent of. A regular then. That means Obi-Wan can take his time getting back to the counter to greet them, but he probably shouldn’t show up dripping wet in only a pair of swim trunks.

Luckily, Gyarados gives him a lift, bellowing mournfully to be left alone again when Obi-Wan alights onto the sand. When her trainer comes back to pick it up, Obi-Wan has half a mind to offer to buy her from them. No one who actually cares about their pokemon would leave a magikarp to become a gyarados under the care and instruction of someone else.

But becoming known as the Daycare Runner who gets attached to Pokémon and tries to keep them is perhaps a serious threat to his business as a whole. And he’s already done that too many times.

No, the best thing to do is to wait for the trainer to come back and sit them down to give them a serious talk about their Pokémon’s emotional needs. They’re probably young. Most trainers are these days. On some level you have to be in order to have the energy to travel as much as you do, to sleep on the ground more nights than not.

Yes, they’re probably young, and more focused on gym battles than their Pokémons’ growth and happiness. It happens sometimes with tunnel vision like that. Too many advertisements for the Pokémon League, the Elite Four, the Gym badges. Obi-Wan had been the same way when he was a kid.

He gathers his clothes from the shoreline and slips on his shoes. Flareon tries to help dry him out by wrapping herself repeatedly around his ankles and cooing out gusts of warm air, but all it does is create a new and unusual tripping hazard.

Especially when she suddenly perks up, about halfway to the building and jumps forward into a run. Obi-Wan stares after her, confused, clothes held in a slackened grip until he sees a very familiar growlithe running fult tilt from around the building. It hops the fence with practiced ease that makes Obi-Wan inwardly despair at the lesson it’s unwittingly teaching all of the other Pokémon.

But he can’t deny the way his heart thuds when he realizes what its presence means. His flareon, embarrassingly enough, seems to be thinking along the same lines, as she bounds up to the growlithe and starts winding between his legs instead, rubbing her head over every part of black and orange fur she can reach.

Obi-Wan sighs and shucks on his buttoned shirt, shaking out the water from his hair. He doesn’t even really bother with pants, seeing as his wet swim trunks go almost to his knees.

It’s Anakin. Anakin’s here. Anakin hasn’t been here for four months when he left in the midst of a shouting match. Obi-Wan has been trying--unsuccessfully--to put Anakin out of his mind. And now Anakin’s growlithe is prancing towards him like it’s a special present to see him at all.

“Yes, hello there,” Obi-Wan murmurs, pausing in buttoning up his shirt so he can pet at the growlithe’s--what does Anakin call him again?--muzzle. For a second, the Pokémon nuzzles back, scenting his face and neck as territorial Pokémon are wont to do, before it moves quickly forward and grabs Obi-Wan by the shirt, swinging him up onto its back.

Out of shock and a latent survival instinct, Obi-Wan drops the rest of his clothes and clings to the Pokémon’s back. “Shit!” is on the tip of his tongue the entire two minutes it takes to bound back to the fence, over it and through the welcome doors of his own Daycare.

Anakin is standing, back to the entrance, furiously tapping the bell on the desk, looking somehow both desperate and bored.

Growlithe barks once, twice, and shakes himself hard enough that Obi-Wan knows to let go before he gets rolled over upon.

It’s not the most graceful entrance he would have chosen after going months without seeing Anakin, to land on his back, partially dressed and smelling like the sea at the Pokémon trainer’s feet.

Anakin at least has the wherewithal to be both surprised and immediately worried. “Obi-Wan!” he yelps, turning around immediately upon his growlithe’s bark of victory.

“Yes, hello there,” Obi-Wan says dryly sitting up from his sprawl and combing a nervous hand through his hair.

“Where are your clothes?” Anakin asks shrilly, turning a very interesting shade of magenta and looking quickly away from Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan couldn’t be more different, what with the way he looks at Anakin as if he’s starved for the sight of him. It’s been several long months since they last saw each other. The fight had been...awful, to say the least. Anakin had accused him of not really wanting him to succeed. Obi-Wan had accused him of the same tunnel vision he diagnoses most young adults to have.

Neither had been true. Obi-Wan hadn’t even meant it, but he’d been mad. He’d been mad that Anakin hadn’t even thought to listen to him more than a Gym Leader he’d just defeated.

Palpatine had urged him to go straight to the League. Obi-Wan had thought it prudent to return home to his mother, give his Pokémon a break, work his way to the island of the Pokémon League naturally as a means of bonding with and further testing his Pokémon. He has no idea who Anakin ended up listening to. It’s been something that has haunted him for weeks.

“Out in the back,” Obi-Wan grunts, standing and trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his dignity under the Pokémon trainer’s wide-eyed stare. Anakin’s grown older in the past few months, his face sharper. What is he now, newly twenty-three? Halfway to twenty-four? “Your Growlithe was quite enthusiastic to bring me here as soon as possible.”

Anakin flushes and looks down at his feet. He looks tired, Obi-Wan decides. Like he’s walked the entire continent just to show up at his door.

“Sorry,” Anakin says sheepishly. “I had--”

“Him out and walking with you, I know,” Obi-Wan finishes with a fond shake of his head. He buttons the last necessary button on his shirt and sweeps past Anakin to stand behind his desk. “You always liked having one of them out with you. How’s your Jolteon?”

“Twilight?” Anakin asks, sounding surprised Obi-Wan even remembered he had a jolteon. He tries not to feel offended. It’s an unfortunate truth that Obi-Wan remembers almost everything about Anakin, the trainer that used to hang around his daycare as though he couldn’t bear to step more than fifty paces from his front door. “He’s fine. A bit angry with me, I think.”

“Oh?” Obi-Wan asks, furrowing his brow as he looks up at his guest. “I’m not sure I understand.”

Anakin is quiet for a few seconds, and his hands clench down on the edge of the counter-top. When he speaks, his voice wavers. “Obi-Wan...do you think my Pokémon love me? Like, do you think I am a good trainer?”

Obi-Wan stares at him. This isn’t a conversation he should have without pants on, he decides. He slowly puts his pen down. “What happened, Anakin?” he asks gently, reaching out and laying a hand on the arm Anakin still has resting against the counter.

“I lost,” his favorite trainer whispers, looking down. Growlithe--Resolute, that’s what Anakin had named him--noses into the nape of his neck. Obi-Wan is not jealous. “I challenged the Elite Four, and I lost in the second round.”

Obi-Wan’s hand tightens completely involuntarily. He hates hearing that after their years-long friendship, the last few years where he’d thought perhaps they were on the verge of being something more, despite his reservations, Anakin had listened to Palpatine over him. Palpatine.

“Come around back here,” he instructs after a second’s thought. Somehow, still, after all these months, he thinks he knows what Anakin needs. “And release all of your Pokémon from their Pokéballs.”

“All of them?” Anakin asks, sounding so unsure Obi-Wan’s heart aches with the doubt of it all before he reigns that in. This isn’t about him.

This isn’t about him, but he can’t stop himself from asking, just once, “Yes. Do you trust me?”

Anakin’s fingers hesitate on the seal of his first Pokéball, and Obi-Wan’s heart jumps into his throat. “Yeah,” Anakin finally says gruffly, pressing the release. “Yeah, I do.”

His altaria pops out of her Pokéball with a trill and a flap of her cloud-shaped wings. He just catches a hint of the jolteon materialize into existence before he turns his back. “I’m going to put on proper clothes,” he tells Anakin over his shoulder. “Please, make yourself comfortable. I’m sure your Pokémon will remember half the ones here.”

And all of the ones Obi-Wan calls his own, he doesn’t add. Anakin should know. Anakin’s known them since he was fifteen years old and surly over the fact that his mother wouldn’t let him go out and hunt legendary Pokémon until he finished schooling.

He finds his abandoned clothes quickly, and shuffles into them. Flareon noses around him curiously, with more than a bit of excitement. She probably smells Anakin on him. The thought doesn’t warm his cheeks, but if it does, he’ll blame it on the sudden amount of heat she’s giving off.

He leaves his shirt as is and doesn’t even bother with the vest or tie. He’s not here to be Professor Kenobi. He’s here to be Obi-Wan, Anakin’s friend. That’s what Anakin needs from him right now. A friend.

He fixes his hair anyway in a mad bout of nerves, but no one, not even his mienshao or flareon, obsessed with appearances as they are, are paying enough attention to him in order to soothe his sudden insecurities.

More than anything, he wants to be back in the sea, surrounded by the gyarados’ coils. He doesn’t understand humans as much as he would like to, and he certainly doesn’t understand Anakin. Not anymore. Perhaps he never did.

His flareon bumps at his wrist with the crown of her head and he looks down with a sigh. “Someone’s excited, I see,” he murmurs wryly, smoothing down the stuck-up fur of her hair and chest mane. She purrs. “Not the most excited though,” he adds with a huff as he sees a blur of white and blue from the corner of his eyes as the female Meowstic who spends most of her time strolling the parameter of the Daycare abandons her position to dart towards the backdoors where a newly emerged navy male Meowstic stands waiting.

They collide and curl into each other, two halves of one whole brought back together.

Well, that’s as good as any sign to approach Anakin, who has decided to collapse on the soft grass of the enclosure. Other than the Meowstic, his freed Pokémon have curled around him. The jolteon, Artoo, rests by his head, while his charizard, Mustafar, brackets the length of his body with his own. The growlithe sits watchful at his feet, while a new, unfamiliar pancham curls up on his chest. Finally, his gallade sits cross-legged to his side.

“Yes,” Obi-Wan drawls before he can help himself, “It’s very obvious that your Pokémon don’t love you.”

Anakin bolts upright at the sound of his voice. The pancham growls at him, a baby noise that Obi-Wan didn’t necessarily think the species capable of.

The Pokémon trainer hushes it quickly with a stern, “Vader, no.”

Obi-Wan comes to sit cross-legged in front of the man. “You didn’t have a pancham last time,” he says easily. What he really wants to ask is much more complicated. He wants to know everything. He wants to know how Anakin changed. When. Why. He wants to know what’s still the same.

It’s always complicated when it comes to Anakin. It’s never been easy.

“He was injured when I found him,” Anakin admits, stroking the top of Vader’s head. “But a fighter. I think I was injured when I found him too.”

The man seems so lost in his own recollections that Obi-Wan hates to interrupt. Carefully, Anakin’s jolteon, Twilight, noses his hand. When he’s not pushed away, he jumps into Obi-Wan’s lap with a trill. Flareon lets out a hiss, but acquiesces when the jolteon licks at her snout, accepting her ownership of Obi-Wan.

“I had just lost,” Anakin says slowly. “I wanted to come back here, rent a Lapras and just ride until I saw the shoreline I knew was yours. But I didn’t know what you’d say to me. How mad you’d still be.”

Obi-Wan bites his lip. He wouldn’t have been mad. He’d been worried, from the second Anakin left his property. But how to tell the man that? Would the other even want to hear it? Would he think Obi-Wan was trying to infantilize him, to protect him?

“I didn’t want you to be right.” Anakin whispers, arms tightening around the Pokémon. “I didn’t want you to be right and say that I wasn’t ready. And then I was in the forest, walking home, and I found this guy. He’d been attacked by a bug pokémon who was probably a higher level. But he was so angry still. I...I wanted him on my team. I needed that fire back.”

Obi-Wan suddenly thinks that there’s much more distance between them than there should be. He wants to be hugging Anakin, to be kissing his temple. These were allowances they had given each other before the fight, things that Obi-Wan had squirreled away, close to his heart.

He wants them back.

“But I keep thinking about how the professor who gave me my first Pokémon told this guy I beat in my first battle that he lost because he didn’t love his Pokémon right, and I...I’m just worried that’s why I lost.” Anakin stares down at his pancham, who puts his paws on his cheeks and pats a few times.

“Oh, Anakin,” Obi-Wan sighs. He thinks it sounds too fond, too revealing, but Anakin looks up at him with wide, frightened eyes. “I’ve never known a trainer to love his Pokémon more, dear one.”

“Then why?” Anakin asks plaintively, scooting forward until their knees brush. “Why did I lose? The gym leader of Cinnabar Island told me I would win!”

Obi-Wan, quite maturely in his opinion, doesn’t mention the fact that the recently defeated Palpatine probably had ulterior motives for Anakin to challenge the league too quickly and then fail. “You weren’t ready, Anakin,” he says instead, placing his hand on the other’s knee and holding it even when the trainer jerks out of his grp. “Please, listen. It's about sheer time, training experience. It’s not about you or your relationship to your Pokémon. You have such an amazing, strong relationship with them! They love you. Anyone could tell. And you’re not lacking in skill either. I know your mind is sharp and ready for battle.”

Anakin looks at him teary-eyed. “I’ve been so worried that maybe they didn’t know I loved them,” he admits in a wavering voice.

Obi-Wan can’t resist moving impossibly closer to his trainer. “Oh, Anakin, of course they do. Pokémon don’t always express or interpret love the same way humans do, but they do have their own ways of showing it.”

“Like what?” Anakin sniffles, wiping at his wet eyes. If Obi-Wan had really been listening, he would have noticed the change in his tone. As it is, he continues immediately, too focused on trying to stop his trainer from crying to think of anything else.

“A fire-type Pokémon wil try to warm you if they think you’re cold, even if it means staying up all night to keep you in in its flame. And fighting-type Pokémon are capable of throwing a blanket over you if they think you need to rest. Psychic-types have been known to read their trainer’s emotions and either hug them or give them distance whenever they want. Ground- and bug-type have been known to bring berries to their trainers to get them something to eat, and electric--why are you looking at me like that?” Anakin’s nascent smirk grows bigger at this interruption and he cocks his head to the side as he studies Obi-Wan’s face. “And what does it say about a man who spends all of his time around Pokémon, that he would do those exact same things for me?”

Obi-Wan at least understands enough to scurry backwards a few paces, much to the jolteon in his lap’s distress, who jumps away with a huff.

“I’m not sure I understand,” he says quickly.

Anakin inches forward, setting the pancham, Vader, aside. He really has grown in the past few months. The loss of the League, the months apparently spent on the road, have aged him so that he’s both recognizable and something new and wild. “What if I knew of a man,” Anakin murmurs, falling to his palms as he closes the gap between them. “One who warmed me when I was cold, covered me when I was tired, hugged me when I was needy, and fed me when I was hungry? What would that mean, in terms of Pokémon?”

Obi-Wan swallows nervously. His entire body is bracketed by Anakin. Anakin, who seems to have discovered his most-guarded secret in their months apart. Anakin, who is hovering over him now with a dark look in his eyes. Finally something in Obi-Wan gives way. This is it. He will give Anakin everything he asks for. Everything he needs. He’s always tried to do this exact thing.

“I suppose that would mean he loved you,” he whispers, closing his eyes so he does not have to see Anakin’s recoil, Anakin’s disgust.

Anakin hums instead. “Obi-Wan,” he whispers, exhale hitting his lips. “Obi-Wan, open your eyes. There’s nothing to be scared of, beloved. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

At these words, Obi-Wan’s eyes jump open of their own accord. Anakin’s lips press down onto his in a movement just as sudden. He whimpers involuntarily and reaches up to clutch at the trainer’s hair, hold him to his mouth. Just as involuntarily, his lips part and Anakin’s tongue licks around the gap before darting inside. He moans. It’s shameful, the way he goes from scared to sucking on Anakin’s tongue as if he’ll die without the warm intrusion of it.

It hardly feels like the first time they’ve kissed. It feels like they’ve been kissing for years, like Anakin knows his mouth completely and utterly.

There are so many secrets left between them. Obi-Wan’s one unopened Pokéball, sitting on his belt. Anakin’s relationship with that last Gym leader. What he’s been doing these past few months. What Obi-Wan Kenobi made his fortune off of.

But none of it matters now. Not here at this moment. All that matters is showing Anakin that he’s been just as missed, just as wanted.

With that in mind, Obi-Wan rolls on top of his trainer and shoves his hands up inside Anakin’s shirt to trace along the muscles of his chest and back. This was his. His, his, his. He had come back to him. Everything else could wait.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #360

“we are the ones that wanna play  /  always wanna go, but you never wanna stay”

"Crawling" or "In The End?" I want to say "Crawling," but I really can't be sure. Both are bomb. Is your window open? No. Monsters Inc. or Shrek? Shrek, my man. What did you last hear that made your jaw drop? Jason's mom died. What is the longest shower or bath you have ever taken? I remember as kids, Nicole and I would sometimes play 'til Mom made us finish because the water was cold by then. As an adult, idk about my longest shower. Do you have a preference of chocolate? Yeah, milk chocolate. Is there anyone you’d like to hug right now? Yeah. Could you ever picture someone writing a biography about you? Definitely not. Do you have a clock in your room? No. Do you shut off the computer when you’re done using it? No, I just close it. Do you usually catch a cold during the winter? No. I just about never get sick. Are you a good multi-tasker? NOOOOOOOOOOO. Do you know any deaf people? If so, is it easy or difficult to have conversations with them? No. Is there a door knocker on your front door? No. Were you ever into Pokémon? Bitch I still am. Do you drink a lot of water? Sigh, no. I'm definitely better than I used to be, though; once upon a time, I literally never drank it unless I was extremely hot and dehydrated. Nowadays, it's usually after I finish my soda for the day that I then only drink water, normally around one full tall cup of it. Do you like fireworks? They're beautiful, but I'm personally against them out of respect for veterans suffering from PTSD as well as animals, because I'm not exactly interested in traumatizing them, either. Is respect given or earned with you? It's given, the way I think it should be. Are you “in the closet” about anything? No. Are you missing any teeth? No. Do you like scrapbooking? I've never gotten into it and am not really interested in doing so. What was or will be your first tattoo? It's a semicolon butterfly on my right wrist. Sometimes I've thought about getting it covered with a cooler design but the same concept; it was literally from Google, and I'm very much not into "sharing" tattoo designs with probably thousands of other people. But, I still think it really is cute, and it's just very special to me as my first, so idk. Do you have any tattoos dedicated to someone special? I have one written in Sara's handwriting inside a heart, and my "ohana" tattoo that I am 100% getting covered was dedicated to my former best friend Colleen. I've talked before about why "ohana" has never really resonated with me, and I just don't like it anymore at all. Thank God it's small. Do you like ghost stories? Oh HELL yeah, lay 'em on me. What was your favorite movie as a kid? The Lion King. Some things never change, ha. Do you own a lot of cookbooks? Mom has looooots, but never uses any. I think her mom gave them to her, so she just keeps 'em. What’s your father’s handwriting like? It looks like every other man's handwriting I've ever seen lol. All the letters are capitalized. Did you wash your hair last time you showered? I wash my hair every time I shower. I have to with it naturally being so oily. What does your shampoo smell like? Coconut. Do you listen to Guns N' Roses? Not a lot, but yeah. They've got some bangers. I actually want "Sweet Child O' Mine" to be the father/daughter dance at my wedding. Have you ever been a bridesmaid? Yeah, at my sister's wedding. What was the last video game that you beat? I replayed Silent Hill 2 a long time ago. Have you ever hyperventilated? Yep. Do you talk in your sleep? I scream in my sleep. Nightmares/terrors are a blast. Whose house did you last sleep over? Sara's. Have you ever been cut by scissors? No. Do you like peaches? It's odd, I like canned sliced peaches, but the actual, full fruit, I don't. I love peach flavored juice, though. Do you enjoy being surrounded by neighbors, or would you be more comfortable someplace secluded? Take me back to the middle of nowhere, please. I'm really not digging being in an actual neighborhood. Is there any sibling rivalry between you and your siblings, if you have any? Not at all. Do you usually root for the good guys or the bad guys? Ha, the baddies... Are you allowed to have pets at your house? We're allowed to have what we currently own and then maybe one dog if Mom finally finds one. Have you ever lived in a trailer park? No. Is there anyone that you know through the internet that you would feel comfortable meeting in person? There's quite a few, actually! Have you ever had a dream involving characters from a game/movie/television show? Yeah. What’s the last thing you wrote down? My signature, I think? Do you remember any phone numbers from years ago that now belong to someone you don’t know? No. Have you ever found something strange in your mailbox? No. Who was the last relative that came to visit you? My half-sister and her husband. Does your bedding all match? Not currently. Are you more comfortable with having short hair or long hair? SHORT. Are you interested in fantasy movies/shows? That's my preference. Have you ever gone whale-watching? No, but that'd be dope. What is something that you have a large amount of? Meerkat plushies. Who is it that you’re in love with? Nobody. Have you ever gotten love and infatuation confused? No. Do you have a steady income? No. Do you take your medications in the morning or at night? Both. Have you ever bought a YouTuber’s merch? No, I wish. :( Do you think oatmeal tastes better when made with water or milk? MILK. I don't eat it with water. When was the last time you ran into someone that you didn’t want to see? Idk. Have you ever tried vlogging, and if yes, did you stick with it? Noooo, I'm completely disinterested in doing that myself. If you go to church, what is your favorite thing about it? I don't go. Even as a kid when Mom made me, I hated it. ^and what is your least favorite thing about it? N/A What do you do for exercise? I don't. .-. I want a pool SO badly to swim and strengthen my legs without having to worry about sweating or collapsing, though. Mom says we don't have space, but we definitely do. Not a lot, but enough. Do you have a birthmark? If yes, what color is it? Yeah, it's just a bit darker than the rest of my skin. Do you need to lose weight? Yes. My sister, Mom, and I very recently started a Weight Watchers subscription and we're all working our asses off to stick to it. Ash has already lost like, 12 pounds (she started before Mom and me), so I'm kinda hopeful. Have you ever had a cat? Growing up, after we took in a stray female, we ended up with a fucking empire of cats, literally around three dozen, I'd say. They were all outdoors, too, and not fixed because we couldn't afford it, so tomcats would come around and, y'know, make matters worse. Eventually, animal control took them all and I was DEVASTATED, but looking back, I understand it was necessary. Anyway, I have one cat now. Indoors and fixed and the prince of my world, haha. Have you ever had a dog? We've had a few. I was born with my dad having a collie named Trigger, but I don't remember her at all; she died of old age I believe when I was very young. Then we briefly had a pup named Angel, but she died due to that disease some puppies just have. We didn't get another dog until Teddy, who was my Christmas present, and he was put to sleep only last year, rest my baby's soul. We also had Dale, Cali, Delilah, and Bentley. Have you ever any other kind of animal? A LOT. I'm probably going to forget some, but we've had hamsters, rats, snakes, fish, a turtle, two lizards, gerbils, guinea pigs... just a lot. Animals have always been very important in my life. Have you ever had a pet rock? HA, yeah. I didn't take it seriously at all, but I had one. When was the last time you painted something? Not since my Painting course in my final college attempt. Do you have any disabilities? Not in the traditional sense, no. My social anxiety though is at such a severity that it majorly infringes upon my ability to do a LOT of things, though. What are five of your favorite stores at the mall? I couldn't name five. Just Hot Topic and Spencer's, really. What season do you want to get married in? AUTUMN. The actual dream situation would be to get married in the snow in a black dress, like can you IMAGINE the pictures, but realistically, it'd be in the fall to avoid the biting cold. Has anyone ever spread lies about you? Yeah. Anything special planned for today? Nope. Blue or green? Blue. How much older/younger than you was the person you lost your virginity to? He's two years older than me. Do you still care for that person? Very much. Can you completely annihilate the first Mario game in less than an hour? I haven't even played the first game. I've never really been into the games to begin with. Did you make it all the way through the Oregon Trail game? Yes! I was OOOOOBSESSEEEEEED as a kid. I would usually play it after school when my mom was an assistant teacher and was finishing up her work for the day. Have you ever contemplated climbing a water tower? Uh, no. Those kind of people got some wanderlust levels that I ain't got, haha. If you have a Facebook, when was the last time you changed your profile picture? It's been a few months. Would you ever marry someone who was lower class? Um, yes? You can deny it all you want, but answering "no" is pretty much the same as saying you'd marry for money. Is there a guy you wish you hadn’t let slip away? ugh Which do you prefer: English or math? English, by light years. Who is a singer that has given you chills? David Draiman's voice in the Disturbed cover of "Sound of Silence" is fucking haunting. Greatest cover of all time. Do you watch America’s Got Talent? I did when Sharon was a judge. Do you think you could win America’s Got Talent? Hell no. What act would you perform in a talent show? uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Have you ever practiced yoga? Yes. I used to be BANGIN at it. What is your favorite thing to buy at the Farmer’s Market? Fruit! Do you get carsickness? No. What color is the rim of your full-length mirror? Black. What is your state’s bird (if you live in the US)? Cardinal. Which style of wedding dress is your favorite? I'm a sucker for ballgown dresses. Do you enjoy editing videos? I used to love it, for many many years. Now, I just don't have the dedication or motivation to. Do you enjoy editing photos? Yes. If you gave birth, do you think you would want it filmed? Um, absolutely not. I would have NO desire to look back on me shrieking my lungs out and essentially dying. I handle abdominal pain very poorly, so I've got a goooood feeling that if I actually wanted to have kids, I'd be that woman screeching like a banshee.

[readyplayerhobi]

So You Wanna Be The Best

; Pokemon Trainer!Jungkook x Pokemon Trainer!Reader

; Genre: Fluff, crack

; Word Count: 8.1k

; Synopsis: Every Pokemon trainer has a rival, and it’s just your luck that you got stuck with your hometown nemesis Jeon Jungkook. As any good rival, he’s determined to beat you to the title of Pokemon Master and he might have a chance at both that and you...if he wasn’t so dang inept.

; A/N: So I finally hit 10k followers and I’ve had this floating around almost finished for months...so I finally finished it to say thanks! It’s nothing serious...and it’s probably not even good but...I hope you get some enjoyment out of it anyway! :) slight spoilers for Stranger Things season 2 and season 7 of Game of Thrones lol

-

Groaning quietly, you pull out the water bottle from your bag and take a deep pull. It’s a little warm from being stuck in your bag for so long and you’re beginning to run low, making you vow to drop by the PokéMart when you next get chance.

The next Mart isn’t for another half a day’s walk, though you could definitely shorten that distance if you used the fold away bicycle you’d finally invested in the other week. Blinking up at the blazing hot sun, you chew your lip lazily for a few minutes as you place your bottle firmly back onto the side of your bag.

It’s too hot to bicycle, you decide to yourself and begin to trek forward once more. Your shoes are getting a little worn out, the rubber thinning and you resolve to hit up Goldenrod City when you next get chance. The magnet train would take you there, but you’d have to reach Saffron City first.

And you’re nowhere near there.

It only takes another half an hour of walking before you’re tugging at your blue vest top, grimacing at the sight of it slowly turning transparent around your sweaty areas. Looking down at the ridiculous amount of boob sweat you’re generating under your bra, you decide to finally do something about it to try and cool down a little.

There’s no-one on the path, so you grasp the third Pokeball on your belt and press the button to expand it. “Come out Starmie!” You call and watch as a purple, multi-pointed star Pokémon appears. Letting out a little noise, it jumps around and leans backward to look up at you, red jewel glinting in the hot light.

“Hey girl, it’s really hot. Can you help me out and give me a little spray? Little! Not water gun please.” You warn, reaching a finger out to warn her. She had a mischievous temperament and was as likely to knock you flying with a water gun as she was to give you some spray.

Thankfully, she must be in a pretty happy mood as her second set of arms spins frantically while she makes a high pitched noise. Moving away from you, she leans forward slightly and a gentle spout of water erupts from her in an arc, tiny droplets falling and creating a rainbow curtain.

Grinning, you dash between the arc and giggle wildly, tugging your black and white cap off and letting your hair go damp with the cool water. Dancing around under the spray, you laugh and sigh happily as the water cools your hot skin to a pleasant temperature.

“You know, if this was Jurassic Park then you’d be the first one to get eaten by the T-Rex doing that.” A deep voice suddenly calls out, making you shriek in surprise and jump away from whoever it was. Almost immediately, Starmie reacts and shoots a high powered jet of water in the direction of whatever had made you scared.

A loud yelp sounds out around the quiet area as the young guy gets thrown backwards from the force, his white shirt immediately going see through and sticking to his defined abdomen while his navy jeans darken even further.

“Starmie, stop!” You call out, running over and running a soothing hand along her top arm. She lets out a frustrated sound before stopping, her second arms spinning to show her agitation. You pat her gently and give a smile. “Thank you girl, I really appreciated it. I’ll make sure to give you a Poke Candy when I get one, okay?”

She makes a happy sound at that and jumps, going back into the Pokeball without complaint as you turn to face your rude interloper. Striding over to where he lays on the ground, you stand next to him with hands resting on your hips while looking down at him with a brow raised.

He gasps on the floor, wiping at the water on his face before brushing the wet strands of his dark hair away from his forehead. “That Starmie is a menace.” Is all he says for a moment as he lays there, before groaning and sitting up on his hands.

Your eyes graze his figure, noting the defined abdominal muscles on show along with delightfully thick thighs in the tight jeans. He really must be a sucker for pain because those jeans must be chafing anyway in this heat, nevermind now that they’re wet.

“My Starmie just doesn’t like you because you’re always mean to her. And it was the Lost World, not Jurassic Park. Loser.” You mumble, rolling your eyes as he glares up at you with those pretty eyes that has everyone else thinking he’s sweeter than sweet. And okay, maybe he is sometimes,

Since you were little, Jeon Jungkook has always been the boy that has needled you in the worst way. When you’d gone to Professor Oak’s lab to choose your starter Pokémon, he’d proudly stood to the side and waited until you’d picked yours. Your Chikorita had seen him pick Cyndaquil, cackling at how fire beats grass. Probably the only time he’d ever got a type right.

Ever since, he’d been your official Pokémon rival trainer. You might respect him more as a trainer if he wasn’t a giant buffoon who was about as good at training Pokémon as you were at ballet dancing. And consider you fall over if you turn too fast, you’re really not good at dancing. But he wasn’t a terrible friend in fairness, just overly competitive.

“You’re a loser.” Is his quick witted reply and you sigh deeply, rolling your eyes. How did you get stuck with him again?

“Why are you here anyway? I thought you were supposed to be heading over to Kanto?” As much as you make a lot of noise about him, you actually kinda miss Jungkook when he’s gone for long periods. He may say some of the dumbest stuff you’ve ever heard, but he wasn’t the worst travel companion you’d ever had.

And travelling across the world could get a little lonely sometimes.

He sits and stares at you for a moment before standing, grimacing and sticking his tongue out in an ‘ick’ face as he peels his wet shirt off his chest. “This is gross. Actually disgusting. You need to train your Starmie better.”

Spluttering at his outrageous words, you viciously rub what hair of his you can reach until it’s going in a million directions while he whines at you and tries to dodge. “You take that back you little shit! Do you even have a water Pokémon? I know that when it comes to types, you become as useful as a chocolate fucking tea kettle.”

He slides out of reach and raises his hands in a karate gesture, causing you to fling your head to the side. Honestly, for a 21 year old man he’s incredibly immature. And he turns you just as immature.

“Anyway, I was gonna go to Kanto but then I found this sick Pokémon and I just had to show it off to you. He looks freaking awesome, I bet you have nothing like it.” He goads childishly, crossing his arms over his chest, almost transparent under the wet fabric, and smirking. You’ll admit, you’re distracted by the way the muscles in his arms bulge at the movement and you curse the fact that Pokémon gyms aren’t the only kind of gyms he goes to.

“You’re such a fucking kid. You’re like that kid in Stranger Things that finds that baby demogorgon and thinks it’s cool when everyone else is screaming that it’s dumb. I swear, you’d destroy the world if it involved something you thought looked cool.” You scoff and he glares at you.

“SPOILERS. Oh my fucking god, you know I haven’t seen season 2 you bitch! Keep it up, and I’ll fucking spoil that Viserion dies in Game of Thrones.” He hisses, pointing at you in anger and you scream while running at him, hands clawed to his throat.

“YOU JUST DID YOU ASSHOLE!” For a moment you’re both fighting with each other, neither of you realising how ridiculously dumb you look. It’s only when you hear a soft cough that you both freeze, glancing over at a youngster stood there with wide eyes. Jungkook is bent in half, his head firmly underneath your arm as you push at his head.

Immediately, you’re both jumping away from each other and looking away innocently. Coughing yourself, you tap at the ground awkwardly before grinning at the young girl. “Hey, don’t do drugs. You’ll end up like this guy.” You point at Jungkook.

The words have him jumping at you, teeth bared before they turned into a clenched smile at the girl. “Ignore her, she’s just angry that I got a cool Pokémon and she didn’t.” You stare at him in disbelief, ignorant of the way the girl nods slowly before quickly skating away.

“You’re a fucking idiot.” You curse, hands flailing in the air. He stands by and rolls his eyes, sticking his tongue out immaturely.

“Whatever. Wanna fight? I wanna show you my Murkrow.” Jungkook grins, his face practically radiating excitement at his new Pokémon. Sighing, you shrug before dropping your bag to the floor.

“Sure...why not. It’s not like it’s a boiling hot day or anything. Of course, let’s fight with our Pokémon, because that makes sense.” You grumble to yourself, grabbing the Pokeball that you want to use as you watch him send his new acquisition out.

Immediately, a Murkrow appears out of the ball. You watch as the dark Pokémon flies around for a few moments before landing on the ground, giving you an evil glare from underneath his hat shaped feathers.

He does look pretty cool, but Jungkook has more knowledge about video games than he does Pokémon. So you send out your Pokémon with a tiny smirk, knowing he’ll immediately ridicule it. Which he does.

A tiny pink flower floats in the air while a white Pokémon with a green lower half clutches tightly onto the flower. It gives a little chirp at the sight of you before zooming to face the rumbling Pokémon in front of it.

At the sight, Jungkook cracks up and his cackling laugh is probably all that can be heard for a mile around. He laughs for about a minute, arms wrapped around the still damp top of his middle half as he bends over before wiping away the tears.

“A fucking flower? You sent out a flower? What even is that? Murkrow is dark and flying Y/N, oh my god. And you tell me I’m useless with types.” He snorts, rolling his eyes. Smirking at him, you watch as he orders his Murkrow to use pursuit, the dark type move causing it to fly with purpose towards your Pokémon.

“Flabébe, avoid it!” You call out and immediately she darts out of the way, floating gently away from the Murkrow which squawks with outrage. Grinning, it’s with a glance to your Pokémon that you call out. “Okay Flabébe, use moonblast!”

Flabébe squeaks cutely and spins in a circle, looking up into the sky. Today, the moon is just barely visible in the sky as the sun outshines everything else, but it seems to glow a little as your tiny Pokémon draws on its power. As she gets brighter, she suddenly spins in a circle before a glowing, pure white light erupts from her in a direct beam.

It hits Jungkook’s Murkrow head on and you both have to cover your eyes at the blinding light. Once it finishes, Flabébe is left floating happily while Murkrow is collapsed on the floor, having fainted from the instant KO. Smirking, you watch as Jungkook’s jaw drops.

“What the fuck!” He curses, running over to his Murkrow and drawing him back into the Pokeball while he looks up at your Pokémon with wide eyes. “It’s a fucking flower, what the fuck was that?!” Jungkook sounds outraged and you giggle, walking over and letting Flabébe rest on your hand gently.

“You’re still useless with types. Murkrow is dark, Flabébe is fairy. Fairy has a type advantage.” You grin brightly as his disgruntled look, the gentle pout on his lips as he scowls at losing adorable.

“I’ll beat you one day.” He grumbles to himself, cheeks tinging pink with embarrassment at losing. You laugh and pat at his chest lightly as you give Flabébe a tiny stroke of thanks, sending her back into her ball and picking up your bag.

“Sure thing Jungkook, and I look forward to it. I also look forward to the day Michael Bay makes a film without one of those stupid slow mo scenes with an explosion in the background but I doubt that’ll happen soon so...keep hoping! Everyone has to have a dream right!” You call out, waving to him as you begin to make your way down the path.

“Michael Bay’s movies are great! Transformers is fantastic!” He shouts out and you smile despite yourself, shaking your head.

“That right there, is why I never take you seriously. That and you consider Batman & Robin to be the best Batman film!” He curses you out as you walk away from him, causing you to chuckle to yourself. Jungkook might annoy the hell out of you, but you sure do enjoy beating him time after time. Everyone needs some experience right? And he makes it so easy for you.

Especially when he looks that good.

-

You reach Violet City by the end of the day, just as the sun begins to creep past the horizon and the sky erupts in swashes of pinks, purples and oranges. It’s with more than a little happiness that you situate yourself on a grass verge outside of your hostel and munch down on a kimbap and some lemonade that you’d bought from the local store.

You’d swung by the PokeMart as well to buy some potions to heal your wounded while also stocking up on rare candies to treat them all. For half an hour, you simply enjoy the time to yourself. No other trainers are staying at the hostel apparently, so the street is quiet and peaceful with the scent of the nearby flower garden dancing through the air lazily.

Swallowing the last of the kimbap, you dust off your hands before pulling out the packaway bowls and pouring a small amount of Pokémon kibble inside each one. There’s six bowls to go with your six Pokémon, and each one is well aware of which is their bowl. It makes feeding them easy as they all require different amounts as well.

Pouring out water for them as well, you take out your Pokeballs and call them all out, balls popping open as each one of your beloved team emerges. Starmie lets out an excited scream and begins to eat eagerly, which makes you feel bad as you’d asked her to help you so much earlier.

Flabébe chirps softly before floating down to rest at the edge of her bowl, tiny hands grasping a piece of kibble and little mouth taking the softest bites. You have to stop yourself from cooing at the sight before turning your attention to your others.

An annoyed snort lets you know that your Rapidash is irritated and his diamond hard hooves cause sparks to erupt every time he paws at the ground. Walking over to him, you pat the soft, white fur on his neck before running your hand through the blazing hot flames. His trust in you means that it just feels a little warmer than normal and you grin as he noses your pockets, nostrils flaring.

“Okay big guy, okay. Let me heal you first okay?” You murmur, tugging the potion bottle off your belt and heading to his back hooves. A cut from the fight you’d used him in today is prominent and you sigh, running fingers over the top as you crouch down to get a better look. “I’m sorry Rapi, you did good though!”

He’d won the battle for you though, charging forward in a blur of speed to become what looked like a flaming meteor. But he’d suffered before, the Pidgeotto hurting him before it eventually fainted. Spraying the potion on the cut, you watch as it bubbles slightly before healing right up, causing you to smile.

“Good boy, anywhere else hurting?” You ask, running your hand along his back before coming back to his head. Big, bright and kind eyes stare back at you, filled with love and affection. For a moment, you’re left breathless as they remind you of a certain rival trainer. Rapidash shakes his head and you smile, rubbing his silky soft nose before pointing at his bowl.

“Okay, good. Go eat.” Soft clomping is heard as he heads over to his bowl and you cross your arms, watching them all eat. Your Meganium, the final evolved form of the Chikorita that had started your whole journey years ago, has finished eating and is happily playing with your Raichu.

Sitting down next to them all, you sigh deep and let your head fall, the content noises of your Pokémon all you can hear. A soft nose bumping your hand causes you to look down, spying the black body with yellow rings of your Umbreon. Grinning at him, you cross your legs and watch as he purrs happily before jumping into your lap, his big body taking up way too much space.

Running your fingers through his soft fur, you simply watch as his breathing begins to deepen and he slips into a quick nap already. Sometimes, you remember back to when he was a tiny, fluffy Eevee and nostalgia grips your heart. But you love your little dark Pokémon so much, so you know it was the best decision to evolve him.

“Hey butthead, thanks for just leaving me.” Your peaceful moment is interrupted by the voice of your rival, causing you to groan out loud as your head rolls back. There’s silence, before your looking at the upside down figure of Jungkook’s face only inches away from your own.

Letting out a cry, you shift forward and mumble an apology to Umbreon as he grumbles at being jostled around. “Christ Jungkook, what do you think this is? The Spiderman movies?” You grunt at him, fingers getting a little tighter on Umbreon’s fur until he growls at you softly.

The guy sits down with a flop, letting out a deep and long groan as he extends out his long legs and relaxes. Starmie begins to make irritated noises and you make a negative gesture to her, shaking your head. You really don’t want to hear Jungkook’s whines if he ends up wet again. Especially as he’s obviously staying the night at the hostel too.

He surprisingly stays quiet for a moment before he interrupts it as usual. You swear the boy has never spent more than five minutes being quiet or not moving except when he’s sleeping. Even now, his feet are slowly rocking from side to side in a rather childlike movement.

“Your Pokémon are such girly Pokémon, you know that?” He says before getting into a crouch. His own bag, army camouflage and ridiculously big, opens up and he begins to pull out his own Pokémon bowls and food. You sometimes forget that he is actually a trainer too, despite how bad he is at it.

Raising an eyebrow at his words, you watch as he releases his own Pokémon and instructs them to eat. Your own watch warily before you smile at them and gesture. “It’s okay, you can play.” Almost immediately, his Pikachu runs over to your Raichu and they both begin conversing intently.

“Since when did Pokémon have gender norms you butthead? Besides, you’re one to talk. Overcompensating much?” You state wryly, pointing to his ominously large Gyarados that has taken over the fountain in front of the hostel before gesturing to his Arbok that is coiled up.

Jungkook gives you a droll stare. “Yeah, your shitty attitude.” He’s obviously visited the Pokémon Centre as his Murkrow is back, squawking happily as it chows down on kibble. His Typhlosion, the evolved form of Cyndaquil, is sunning himself lazily on a flat rock nearby.

The Scyther he’d caught in the Safari Park in Kanto is currently glaring at everyone from afar. You don’t know why he keeps it around, as it has to have the grumpiest disposition you’ve ever seen in a Pokémon.

“Weird, didn’t know I meant that much to your life to make you revolve your whole team around me. Besides, if you didn’t like this shitty attitude, why do you keep following me around?” Taking a sip of the now warm lemonade from your side, he simply watches for a moment.

His clothes have dried again but there’s still something rather appealing about the way he sits next to you, one arm resting on a knee while his other leg rests on the floor. Scoffing at you, he tugs out a granola bar and chews down on it, making soft noises of annoyance at the bland flavour.

Rolling your eyes at his behaviour, you reach into your bag and throw him the remaining kimbap, trying to ignore the way his face lights up in an adorable bunny-esque smile. “Because of that. You’re too kind-hearted to turn me away yeah?”

Watching him through narrowed eyes, you scoff lightly and push at his broad shoulder. “More like your mom would ream my ass out worse than Mrs Weasley if I let you die.” He glares at you at that, giving you the finger before taking a huge bite of the kimbap.

“Fuck you too.” He gets out, voice muffled as his cheeks are stuffed full of seaweed, rice and spicy tuna. “Anyway, you’d be so lucky to see my dick and see if it stacks up.” At that, he nods to his Gyarados that is now napping in the water, giant body breathing softly despite the permanently angry look on its face.

“Are you...are you seriously comparing your dick size to your Pokémon? Wow Jungkook, I don’t know about being a Pokémon master but if you’re being serious then maybe you should consider a role in PokePorn. They’re always looking for...well endowed folk.” You glance meaningfully down at his crotch then and miss the slight flushing of his cheeks.

“You are the worst person. How do you even know that exists? It’s...it’s a bad place okay? The internet is a wonderful place but that...that is a dark place. You must never go there young Padawan.” His face is blank as he stares out, raises his hand as if he’s showing you some grand painting or something.

It’s with a heavy sigh that you simply roll your eyes at him. “You mixed up two films dumbass. It’s from the Lion King, not Star Wars.” You finish your lemonade and simply go back to stroking Umbreon’s long ears, smiling softly as his back leg begins to shake as you itch at a troublesome spot for him.

You don’t see the fond way that Jungkook watches you quietly, nor the way he jerks his head away when you bring your eyes back up to the human sized pain in your butt. “I didn’t mix two films up. Mufasa is voiced by the same guy who does Darth Vadar...ergo Star Wars!” He exclaims, raising his hands wide while his eyes go big endearingly.

Laughing softly, you shake your head and point at him. “That’s like saying that because Liam Neeson plays both Qui-Gon Jinn and Aslan the lion, then Aslan is a Jedi master badass.” A smile plays on your lips as you watch Jungkook nod enthusiastically, shuffling around to face you as he sits cross legged with a childlike look of happiness.

“Exactly! Have you ever listened to Aslan? He could easily be a Jedi. Everything is connected, I tell you.” He nods sagely at that, pretty pink lips pouting adorably and you get the bizarre urge to reach out and poke that soft, rounded cheek of his.

Humming lightly, you tap your lips to your fingers. “So by your logic, then Xenomorphs are real in this world right?” He pales slightly at that and you giggle, remembering how freaked out he got when you both watched the Alien films at the hostel in Celadon City when it had been raining too hard for either of you to leave. Jungkook had whined at you for weeks after that, too afraid to sleep.

“Well...no.” He mumbles, fingers playing with the grass.

“Yes! Natalie Portman was in Star Wars and also in Thor: The Dark World. Chris Hemsworth was in Thor: The Dark World and also The Cabin In The Woods….and Sigourney Weaver was in that. Which leads me to...Alien.” Sitting back on your hands, you smirk at him with a raised brow as his mouth simply opens and closes a few times.

“You ruin the fun sometimes.” Is all Jungkook mutters, carding his fingers through his hair and leaving it styled rather attractively. It’s hard not to focus on just how attractive Jungkook is sometimes, especially when he unleashes his forehead like now. It makes you want to reach other and ruffle his hair back.

Stupid Jeon Jungkook and his stupid good looks. Who did he think he was?

Silence falls between the both of you and it kind of surprises you. Umbreon shifts in your lap and lets out a little content sigh, causing you to look down and give a tiny smile as you run your fingers through his soft black and yellow fur.

Looking back up, you note the sun is even lower to the ground now and it’s almost blinding at eye level. The sky is now a stunning painting of stark colours, as if the sky Pokémon have decided to become artists in their free time and smear an abundance of colours together in a work of art that could grace any museum.

Turning your eyes over to Jungkook, your breath stutters as you capture the sheer beauty of him. He’s turned his head to watch the sunset as well, pouting lips parted ever so slightly. The softly dying rays cause his golden skin to almost glow while the gentle breeze blows soft strands of dark hair across his forehead.

The bridge of his nose extends out before rounding off softly while the sculpted line of his jaw is even more prominent than before, making you swallow quietly as it really, completely strikes you that Jungkook really is no longer that obnoxious young boy you knew who dreamt of being a Pokémon Master. He’s still obnoxious of course, but he’s grown into himself so much.

Strong biceps peek out from under his shirt while broad shoulders fill it out in a way they hadn’t only 3 years ago. The tightness of the shirt simply magnifies his tiny waist, a waist you already knew was hiding a spectacular pair of abs from the many times he liked to waltz into your hostel room shirtless.

The blue jeans are currently clinging for dear life to his spectacular thighs, truly they’re a work of art that would look wonderful next to the sky painting, and you can almost imagine the seams of his jeans screaming from the strain. Where he gets the time to end up buffer than a Machamp is beyond you. It hits you square in the face then though - the realisation that Jeon Jungkook is quite possibly the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen.

When he turns his attention back to you, your eyes track over his stunning face. Buck teeth that are endearing peek through his open mouth while his eyes, so achingly wide with innocence right now, watch you in turn.

“Don’t you think the sun looks like the yolk of an egg from the side?” He muses to himself, brow creasing in concentration while his lips pucker out. Almost immediately, the moment is lost and you internally sigh. Right there is why you can never take him seriously, no matter how beautiful he is.

Groaning, you let yourself fall backwards onto the soft grass and ignore the protest from Umbreon as you do so. “I swear, you’re like...the biggest moron ever.” You whine, pushing his hand away as he moves to poke your side.

“What? It does! A big ball of yummy yolk. Mmm, I want ramyeon now. Do you wanna go get ramyeon?” He asks idly, humming to himself as he taps his chin lightly. Your face creases in a combination of awe, disgust and confusion - impressive the emotions he can pull from you at once.

“You literally just ate a roll of kimbap...and you want to eat a whole bowl of ramyeon? God...do you have a bottomless pit there or something? If I stare into it, will it stare back at me?” He ignores your sarcastic remarks as he begins to call his Pokémon back, securing them safely away in their Pokeball homes.

“Come on! I walked so far today! And you beat me so like...you owe me.” At that, you stand up abruptly and press his chest your finger to his chest firmly, causing him to whine as he moves back.

“Are you fucking kidding? Since when does the winner buy the loser the meal?” You swear, it’s like he lives to annoy you. But then, you remember when he got asked if you were his girlfriend when you were 13 and he’s staunchly answered that you weren’t his girlfriend, you were his opponent.

Both of your parents were forever convinced that you were going to get married one day. You know, the usual ‘childhood-friends-to-lovers’ thing and honestly? You agreed. There was only two routes for Jungkook and you realistically. You either killed each other after an epic Battle Royale, which you would win because he’d be the one stuck with a frying pan from his backpack, or you fuck and eventually get married.

And given that you really enjoyed being alive and weren’t particularly interested in seeing him dead, you knew it would be the second option. Plus, the idea of someone else getting to fall in love with Jungkook annoyed you. He may be as annoying as Ashley in Resident Evil 4, and lord was she annoying, but he was your annoying.

No one could accuse you of not being a realist. Besides, you occasionally acknowledged that he was attractive and there had been more than one occasion where you had dreamt about doing something other than pushing at his abs casually.

“You’re bitching at me...but I’ve noticed you haven’t said no.” Jungkook sings sweetly, his voice pure as he spins in a circle slowly. You glare at him before pushing at his back, the solid muscles giving in easily as he lets you push him forward.

If you didn’t buy him a meal, he’d just whine at you until you eventually did. So you may as well just get this over with.

“Fine...let’s go. Everyone,” You call out, voice slightly louder as you look over your team with fondness. They all stop what they’re doing and turn to look at you in varying stages of alertness and you feel a twinge of sadness that they have to go back into their Pokéball’s. Your Pokémon are tired and haven’t had a lot of time to have fun lately so you sigh and point at them. “Stay here okay? Don’t run away, we’ll be back soon.”

They’d be fine within the area of the hostel, a common sight for trainers who were making their way through the world and they were all well behaved. All of them make an affirmative noise to you as you walk over to your Rapidash, smiling and patting his soft, milk coloured fur with affection. “Hey boy, will you take us into town please? I’ll make sure to get you the spiciest treat!”

His large eyes narrow slightly as he takes in Jungkook, who stands behind you paling slightly at the sight of the fiery mane and tail that dance lazily in the cooling breeze. A slight dip of his head lets you know he’s willing and you smile brightly, petting him harder before kissing his solid cheek and turning back to the young guy behind you.

“Come on, he’ll let us ride him there.” Jungkook looks over Rapidash warily and you laugh lightly, moving over to him before smirking. “What? Are you scared of him?”

“Errr...yeah. He’s got fire for a mane, he could give me fire crotch. Like...real life fire crotch. And he’s huge! And really fast!” The excuses fall from his lips easily but you can also see the curiosity in his eyes, causing you to smirk and poke his chest lightly.

“Yes, he does have fire for a mane and tail. Very hot fire. But he’s said he won’t hurt us, so he won’t. He loves me, so he’s definitely not hurting me.” At that, Rapidash slams a diamond hard hoof down onto the floor, the flames on his fetlocks flaring slightly. “Come on, you’ll enjoy it. He won’t go too fast, right boy?”

Rubbing at the base of his horn, Rapidash nickers quietly as he shakes his head before nodding exaggeratedly and you chuckle in amusement. You do love the personality your Pokémon have sometimes and you’re beyond thankful that they’re just like you.

Jungkook moves up quietly, for once no longer cracking any wise jokes and you smirk as you lift a leg to him. He looks confused until you gesture towards your Pokémon and his mouths opens in a small ‘o’. Rapidash is almost as tall as Jungkook, and there’s no way you’re getting on top of him without leading him over to something.

He gives you a lift up and you sit on Rapidash’s slim back with happiness, letting your fingers run through the odd sensation of his flame mane. It just felt slightly warm, which really did feel strange at your crotch.

Hopping up behind you, Jungkook lets out a small noise of fear as Rapidash begins to move towards the town centre and his arms wrap tightly around your waist. Your recent realisation that you might actually genuinely like the guy behind you makes his pseudo-hug feel like he’s lighting you up from the inside and you wonder if maybe you should have just walked instead.

But he feels nice pressed against you, so you don’t say anything. In fact, you just enjoy it.

How you’ve managed to end up falling over the years for the dumbass who thought he’d picked up a bottle of ketchup once only to discover it was actually chili sauce was beyond you. But opposites attract and all that you guessed.

“So err...why don’t you ride him more often? I mean...he’s fast right? You could’ve gone everywhere by now...left me behind.” Jungkook’s voice is so close to your ear that you jump, looking back at him with wide eyes before your cheeks heat slightly at how his plush lips are so close to your own.

“He’s my Pokémon, not my ride. You gotta treat them like friends, they’re your partner not your workhorse. Like the girlfriend or boyfriend who’ll never let you down.” You give him a raised brow at that and he whines quietly.

“Hey...it’s not my fault that everyone I’ve dated has been about as solid as half the MCU at the end of Infinity War.” Snorting, you shake your head and look back towards the slowly approaching town centre.

“Wow, too soon man. And you ever notice there’s something that links all these particularly flaky people together? Namely...you know...you?” He doesn’t respond to that for a moment before sighing, his hands almost subconsciously stroking your stomach and your abdominal muscles tense at the sensation.

“I know I act an idiot...and that I failed most classes, I’m aware you don’t need to point that out, but I’m not actually one. I just...don’t like educational environments. I like being out here, in the real world. Learning out here with people and Pokémon. And maybe I just didn’t want proper relationships with any of them. I’m only 21, there was no need to go full on Notebook with someone yet.” He sounds serious for once and you give him the respect of taking him seriously too, humming lightly.

“I know you’re not stupid Jungkook, even if you act very odd sometimes. You’re...not a terrible Trainer. Definitely need to actually do some studying on your types, which I’ve been telling you for years but whatever. And no, you don’t need to be in a proper relationship yet. There’s a lot of life out there.”

It’s Jungkook’s turn to hum this time, only he sounds slightly reluctant. Reaching the centre, you both dismount from Rapidash and pet him while he goes to graze on the public grassland in the centre, underneath the overhanging branches of the blossoming tree while the pond ripples when a Goldeen swims to the surface.

You sit on a bench facing the pretty scene, smiling at two Pichu as they chase each other around in the longer grass surrounding the pond while a Girafarig bends awkwardly to drink.

The sudden tapping of your shoulder brings you back and you turn to see Jungkook offering you a cup of ramyeon, steam rising off the spicy noodles and you smile a thanks as you take it and dig in with the chopsticks he gives you too. How he’d managed to bring them over you have no idea as he’s got two cups for himself, his lips already swelling and going red from the spice of them.

“How do you eat that much? Seriously, don’t you like...want to vomit?” You query, watching him with wide eyes before scooping a helping of noodles into your own mouth. The spice makes your nose run already a little and you scowl at him, wondering why the hell he got the extra spicy version.

Jungkook just gives you a gross smile, noodles dangling from those spice-inflamed lips before he slurps it down happily. “I get the shits, what do you expect? And I get a bit bloated too but...it’s filling and I like the taste.”

Coughing slightly, you wave your chopsticks at him and note the red tint of the ends of them with amusement. “You like your ass feeling like Mordor and your tongue disintegrating?”

Snorting, he shakes his head and stuffs another mouthful in before letting out a content noise that’s borderline disgusting. “Mount Doom you mean. Mordor’s just the place, Mount Doom is the volcano. And no, I don’t like my ass feeling like that but here we go. Did you know that your ass feels like that when you’ve eaten spice because it has the same nerve endings as your mouth?”

Pausing with your noodles halfway to your mouth, your brow turns in before you shake your head. “You’re impossible you know that. How do your Pokémon stay with you?”

“Because I may not be the best Trainer, and I may never be the best when you’re around, but I love them. Even if they’re not the Pokémon everyone thinks is cute.” God dammit, why did he have to go and say something adorably sweet like that? You’d almost got over that weird little crush you’d realised earlier only for it to come flooding back at his words.

You should’ve realised long ago that it was all futile...that you’d long been fighting a losing battle and that your parents were right. It was a good measure of a person with how they treated their mom and how they treated their Pokémon.

Jungkook adored his mom, he called her every night for at least half an hour to update her on all the cool things he’d done that day, and despite his lack of common sense when it came to battles, he really did love his Pokémon. He’d even adopted some who’d been abandoned because they were considered ugly or scary, like the Houndoom he’d sent to go live with his parents when no one wanted it because it scared people.

You’re not entirely sure what takes over you, but you place your cup of ramyeon to the side and shuffle up to him. He’s so unused to you being this nice to him that he gives you the side eye before looking you over suspiciously.

It’s almost hilarious how he almost hugs his last cup of ramyeon to him closer, as if you want that.

“Hey...Jungkook. Has there ever been like...a reason why you never take dating seriously?” You want to laugh at how he tenses up so suddenly, his shoulders almost to his ears as he instead focuses determinedly on the Totodile that waddles up to him. Giving it a sweet smile, he reaches down and strokes the Pokémon’s head before it walks off with happy eyes.

“No...no reason.” His Pikachu suddenly arrives out of nowhere, slightly out of breath before jumping up into arms with a sweet ‘Pika’ before he begins berating Jungkook with quick sounds that have you laughing. Jungkook seems to be happy that he’s got a distraction and he makes soft soothing noises before his Pokémon lets out a sleepy yawn, blinking at you blearily before crawling out of his arms and into yours.

Watching as the yellow and black electric mouse Pokémon falls asleep, Jungkook’s lip kicks up in a smile before he’s shaking his head. “Even my own Pokémon like you more than me.”

You cringe slightly and shrug as best you can, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

He lifts a hand up to stop you before giving a soft smile, looking way too sappy at you as his eyes practically shine while he watches you with his favourite Pokémon. In fact, he’s rather watching you in the same way that he watches his favourite Star Wars movie and your stomach twists slightly, your hand stroking Pikachu’s head before you finally ask.

“Do you like me? Is that why you never dated properly?” You’re pretty Jungkook wishes that he could burrow into the ground like a Ditto and just...never emerge or something. Become a legendary Pokémon that’s only spoken of in hushed whispers.

“So you’re just gonna ask it like that, huh? Really confident of yourself there?” He says, eyes wide and you just smile at him so softly that he practically deflates.

“On a scale of one to the ending of Red Dead Redemption 2, how obvious was it?” Biting your lip, you try hard to stop your smile but fail as you watch him squirm about awkwardly with what is possibly the sappiest look you’ve ever seen him give you. Honestly, how he ever thought he was subtle was beyond you.

“Jungkook...you’re a terrible liar. I’m pretty sure anyone with eyes has probably noticed.” His cheeks are bright red now before he covers them with his hands, his normally confident self collapsing in embarrassment and you place a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

“You can let me down easy, I mean...please. Don’t be mean, not now.” Jungkook mumbles into his hands, refusing to look at you and you roll your eyes at his dramatics.

“Why do you think I’m going to turn you down?” The question is legitimate, and you watch as he rolls his eyes in turn at you before holding out a hand and counting down the reasons.

“You think I’m an idiot, you always bitch at my types because I never remember, you always beat me so I’m weak and I don’t think I have any redeeming qualities for you. You’re gonna be a Pokémon Master one day and I’ll...I dunno...be working in a PokéMart or something.” His words are practically silent by the end but you let out a soft tut before pushing at his shoulder, wiggling your body across the bench to keep Pikachu asleep until you can comfortably rest your head on him.

You’ve done this before, and it always felt nice. It feels nice now, but slipping your hand into his feels even nicer.

“You’re smart where it counts and you’ve stopped me making stupid decisions out here, like that time when I was going to buy a Love Ball until you pointed out how dumb it is and that it’s just a waste of money. And you’re totally right on that. You don’t care about types and it’s stupid for fights...but it’s because you just pick Pokémon that you like and stick with them, even if they’re not the best. You’re loyal, because you’ve stayed with me all these years. And PokéMart’s are important to the economy so don’t knock them or the people that work there. They’d be privileged to have you.” Jungkook is suspiciously quiet and you try to get a glimpse of his face, curious to see if he’s crying.

“Are you crying?” He’s shaking his head furiously and you chuckle, pushing your face into his arm. “Is this like that time you totally weren’t crying at Endgame and it was just popcorn dust in your eye?”

“This is exactly like that. I’ve just got...ramyeon dust in my eye.” He mutters, using his free hand to wipe at said ‘not-crying’ eyes.

“I don’t think it works like that, but okay.” You shrug and quieten down, focusing on the little tuft of hair his Pikachu has on top of its head, almost like a super tiny mohawk.

“Do you mean that?” A nod is his silent response. “Would you...consider it a privilege to have me?”

Your heart practically clenches at his soft words and you grin, shifting until you’re both looking at each other. He’s nervous, his eyes glancing everywhere until you finally pull his attention back to you. It’s weird to see him like this, but you find it endearing either way. For once, he’s being serious about something, and it’s you of all things.

“I would. And I do, hence why I’ve never quite properly gotten rid of you.”

Before you can do anything else, your face is suddenly smashed against his awkwardly and you both let out a surprised noise, your mouth against his cheek and nose against his eye. It’s not even slightly comfortable, or romantic, and you both push away to spy your Rapidash standing behind the bench, an almost mischievous look in his eye.

“Did your...Rapidash just smash your face against mine?!” Jungkook asks, eyes wide as he watches the Pokémon in suspicion. Smirking, you turn back around to look at him with a raised brow and shrug.

“Well...I do pick smart Pokémon right? He’s just trying to tell us to get a move on already.” He goes to ask with what, you know him that well, but instead you take both hands and cup his cheeks gently.

Almost immediately he shuts up, eyes going wide as you slowly lean into him. You give him plenty of time to back away, but he just lets his eyelids flutter shut before his lips purse into a sweet pout, waiting for the kiss you’re about to give him.

And you really are, until a sudden blast of icy cold water causes you both to go flying off the bench with a loud shriek. Sitting on the floor, your shirt soaked to your skin, you spot the culprit and let out a groan of frustration.

“Starmie! He wasn’t hurting me! Why are you even here?!”

“I told you! That Starmie is a menace! I can’t believe she just...ruined the best moment of my life!”

“She isn’t a menace, she’s just protective! You just don’t lik-”

“Can you just shut up and kiss me please? I’ve waited years for this.”

“Oh...okay. Yeah...Starmie, don’t you dare!”

[allthephils]

Smart Casual

Word count: 2362 Rated E (smut)

This was written for @phandomficfests bingo for my chastity device square. I might have taken some liberties with the prompt. This is very much porn without plot.

Summary: Phil’s zipper is stuck.

Read on AO3

Shopping is best done in one’s pajamas. That’s always been Phil’s way. Lounging on the sofa is fine but he prefers to be tucked into bed with a hot cup of cocoa or maybe a glass of wine, and with Dan sitting next to him. A shirtless Dan, rambling on about whatever Subreddit or wiki page he’s landed on, is motivating. He wants to look good for himself but he also wants to elicit a very specific response from Dan. He’s always got heart eyes, even ten years later, the fans really are spot on about that. But there’s another look, a look that he does occasionally let slip on camera but is usually reserved for just the two of them. It’s a certain glimmer to his eyes, a parting of the lips, a subtle drop in the tone of his voice.

To be honest, he can see it anytime he wants. All he has to do is run his fingers through Dan’s hair, kiss his neck, whisper in his ear, guess what I’m thinking, Danny. Catching Dan off guard though, seeing that look in public or in the middle of the day, knowing Dan has to hold back, that is the ultimate victory. So, along with rainbow hoodies, and Pokémon t-shirts, he’ll shop for jumpers that hug his broad shoulders though he’d usually prefer them oversized. He’ll search specifically for black knit that’s soft but not too chunky so they don’t hide the subtle contours of Phil’s chest. He’ll angle the screen toward Dan for approval and wait for a grunt or a shrug or a hum. The hum comes when Dan’s paying attention, when he sees something he’d like to see on Phil.  

This time it’s not a jumper. Phil’s trying to break out of his black jeans rut and Topman has nice skinny grey plaid trousers. It’s like old Phil meets new Phil and he thinks he could maybe pull these off. They are way more fashion forward than he’d usually choose so he runs them by Dan and it happens. The hum.

“Yes. Those are a yes. Those are cool.”

“Really?” Phil says, clicking through the images, trying to ignore the model’s ass in favor of looking at the actual trousers. “You think they’ll suit me?”

“Absolutely.” He raises his chin to emphasize the next phrase he speaks, “Dat ass is going to look so fine in those.”

“I don’t know, they’re kinda smart for everyday.”

“Let that thicc booty shine Phil. It deserves to be showcased.” He’s back to reading about volcanos or nihilism or whatever.

“Okay, I’m gonna get ‘em.” And so he clicks and they’re on their way.

When the package arrives, it could be anything. It’s from Topman but that doesn’t exactly narrow it down. This is a big part of why Phil shops online. He loves getting packages, it’s like having lots of tiny little Christmases. Dan’s gaming but he watches from the corner of his eye as Phil works to free the box from it’s tape. After several minutes, Dan silently pauses his game, stands and heads to the kitchen. He returns with a pair of scissors, takes the box, cuts the tape, hands the box back to Phil, and sits back down to resume his gameplay.

“Ooh, it’s the plaid ones!” Phil laughs a little, “oh my god, what was I thinking?”

The game pauses again. “Let me see.” Dan turns to look at Phil as he stands and holds the trousers up.

“I’m gonna return them, they’re ridiculous.”

“What are you talking about?” Dan reaches over to feel the fabric.

“I’m gonna look like George McFly.”

“George McFly was low key hot. Try them on. Please? For me.”

***

“Hello gorgeous!” Dan sounds awestruck, dramatically stretching every syllable for emphasis. “You styled yourself. Well done, Phil.”

“I do have some sense of style, Dan.”

He wears a black jumper only because it's the one top he has that is solid black. He chose white low top trainers and no show socks channeling Dan’s ankle exhibitionism. He won’t admit that this style is really just him copying what looks good on Dan. This really isn’t him. He’d never wear this out and he still plans on returning the trousers. He did buy them to get a reaction though so he might as well parade around a little, give Dan a little taste of what it might be like to have a boyfriend who stays up to date with fashion.

“Yes Phil, show me those sexy ass ankles!”

Phil laughs, “Ass ankles? Okay Dan.”

“No really, this is the perfect amount of skin for fall, you’re ankles are hot.”

“Your so Victorian Dan, one glimpse of ankle and your all flustered.”

“Oh,” Dan gets up off the sofa and stands, hands on his hips. He looks Phil slowly up and down. “It’s not just the ankles.”

And Phil knows that’s true. He looked in the mirror before he came out to the lounge. The trousers are tighter than any he’d ever wear of his own volition. He feels a little trapped, squeezed into them. In any other setting, he’d be yanking the hem of his jumper down, trying to cover his pornographic bulge. It’s so embarrassing, walking around, looking like you stuffed a sock down your crotch. There’s really no hiding in these, he’s pretty sure you could make out the exact outline of his dick if you looked closely, and Dan is looking. Intently.

“Oi,” Phil says, “my eyes are up here.”

Dan clears his throat, feigning embarrassment, and rattles his head as if to snap out of a trance. Phil giggles. This is fun, totally worth the £65 and the short time spent totally constricted.  

“Give us a twirl then.”

Phil does his best fashion model twirl but Dan just swivels his finger in the air as if to say keep spinning. By the third spin, Phil is dizzy and giggling, “Dan! I’m gonna fall over!”

“Aaaaaaaaand stop!” Dan shouts and Phil freezes in place, facing away from Dan. “That’s the pose I was looking for. Yum.”

Leaning forward a bit, Phil wiggles his arse. Just as he’s about to laugh and turn around, putting an end to the joke, he feels Dan’s hands, both of them. They settle on his hips as Dan steps forward, pulling Phil close until there is no space between them.

Warm breath moves over the little hairs on the back of Phil’s neck and they stand on end. Dan’s left hand slides past his hip, finding his tightly wrapped bulge. There’s a long, slow exhale in Phil’s ear. “I really like these trousers, Phil.”

He’s squeezing him through the thin fabric and it feels way better than it should. It’s just those big hands and Dan’s soft, seductive voice. It’s the way he’d looked at him, the way he’d played. Phil knows he’s still playing. In a minute, he’ll step away, laughing and making fun of Phil for going quiet, for getting just the tiniest bit hard. You’re so easy Phil.

“No making me hard in these trousers, little Phil is suffocating.”

Dan doesn’t laugh. “Just returning the favor.” The unmistakable line of Dan’s hardening cock presses against Phil’s ass and he pushes back into that delicious feeling.

“Oh, you do like them.” He’s trying to sound nonchalant but Dan is squeezing and stroking and grinding and Phil is definitely hard now. He’s slipping into caveman mode. Clinging to the last of his resolve, he clears his throat. “Hold that thought. Let me get out of these.”

“No way, that’s my job.” Dan fumbles for the zipper pull and tugs but nothing happens.

“Unzip them, Dan, it actually hurts a little.”

“I’m trying. It’s stuck.”

“What?!”

“The zipper’s stuck. It won’t pull down.”

Phil swats his hand away and tries but it will not budge. He turns to face Dan. “When did you take your shirt off? And your joggers?”

“I was getting sweaty.” Dan says, stepping back to steal  another look at Phil.. “And I love being naked with you fully clothed, it’s hot.”

It is hot. All sorts of filthy things run through Phil’s mind, right alongside the thought that he’s about to lose a vital organ to asphyxiation.

“Dan, you look fucking edible but if I don’t get these off soon, I’m gonna cry.”

“Okay, okay. I got it.” Dan drops to his knees. This does not help the situation. He tugs and tugs to no avail, then leans forward and grabs the pull with his teeth.

“Are you kidding me, Dan?”

“It’s worth a try!” Dan’s voice is pitched up but then his cheek brushes the straining zipper and they both let out a groan. He does it again, properly nuzzling Phil’s poor captive cock and letting his hand resume it’s exploration.

Phil’s looking down at Dan’s brown eyes through those stupid sexy lashes when he starts kissing down the length of him.

“Dan, stop.” Phil says, deep and breathy.

He slides his mouth back up and the fabric is wet with spit. He pauses. “You want me to stop?”

There’s barely a beat before Phil says, “No. No don’t stop.”

Phil is gripping Dan’s hair and Dan is gripping Phil’s ass, pulling him impossibly close so he can wrap his lips around the head as much as he’s able. He sucks, determined to feel the shape of Phil despite two layers of fabric.

There’s a gasp and Phil’s northern growl comes on strong, “Fuck. Get up here, Dan.”

No sooner are they face to face then their lips crash into one other. It’s wet and eager, all tongue and teeth and frantic breaths. Phil’s fingers dig into the flesh of Dan’s ass, holding him against Phil’s grinding pelvis. His cock pushes at the zipper like a caged animal, like it could actually break free of its cloth prison, hulk style.

“Ow, ow, ow,” Phil says, moving his mouth over Dan neck. It hurts and not in a good way but the need for release is intense and that somehow translates as pleasure. Plus, he’s got Dan, naked and writhing like it’s all brand new, and that is unspeakably hot. He can feel that pretty cock of his trapped between them, working against his own and the thought of Dan’s nipples rubbing the soft, nubby knit of his jumper, it’s too much. He bites down on Dan’s neck, hard.

“Ah. Ahah. Fuck.” Dan sounds wrecked. He turns to face away from Phil and pushes his ass into him, moving against his cock with quick little bounces. Phil is dizzy from the visual and he scratches down Dan’s back in a show of appreciation. Dan hisses just before he practically cries out, “pull my hair!”

Phil can’t help but grin at the request made in Dan’s high pitched, totally gone sex voice. He pushes both hands into Dan’s hair and grabs handfuls. He gasps, his head pulled sharply back. Over his shoulder, Phil can see Dan’s flushed cock bouncing. It’s the cutest fucking cock and it looks so good waving around like that. He needs to touch it, he needs just a little more.

Phil walks them both forward and pushes Dan till he’s bent over, hands on the back of the sofa, knees pushing into the edge of the cushions. He lifts his hand to Dan’s mouth and he licks without hesitation. Phil can reach around now and take Dan in hand, stroking loosely once or twice before setting in to jack him off properly. He’s humping frantically, sliding the hard ridge of his dick between Dan’s ass cheeks, moving like some dog in heat. The thick sound of heavy breathing and wet jacking is soon interrupted by Phil’s uncharacteristic string of expletives.

“Fuck, ow, ow, fuck, fuck, ow, ah, aaaah, fuck.” With one last high pitched moan, he cums, hot and wet, right into his brand new plaid trousers. Dan’s still fucking into Phil’s hand so he reaches his free hand up to yank on his curls and that’s all it takes. He goes still and quiet as he spills over Phil’s fingers.

Slowly, Phil stands, holding his hand carefully so as not to make a mess of the furniture. He reaches down and wipes his hand on Dan’s discarded joggers and then flops down onto the sofa next to him.

“Aw man,” Phil says, looking down, “now I can’t return these.”

“You cheap bastard.” Dan’s eyes are closed, his head resting back, legs spread wide, enjoying the afterglow. “I haven’t even caught my breath.”

“Sorry, they just don’t suit me and they’re faulty.”

“Oh my god, fuck off, I will give you the 50 quid Jesus.” Dan sounds way too blissed out to actually be annoyed.

“50 quid?” Phil says, shocked, “Daniel, what do you take me for?”

They are quiet for a moment.

“They were 65.”

Blindly Dan reaches over, groping for Phil’s zipper. “Ew,” He says, feeling the sog of cooling cum that has soaked through.

Phil hisses, so sensitive after all that torture. Dan futzes with zipper a bit and with more room and less pressure, it opens. Phil sighs a deep, genuine sigh of relief. “Babe. Thank you.”

“Ow,” Dan says, sitting up, “I think you chafed my cheeks.”

“You brought that on yourself. Anyway, no way it compares.” Phil stands up, trousers open. He’s still in shoes so he toes them off and pulls off his jumper. “I’m so gross, come shower with me.”

The hot water is divine. Dan’s ass is a little red and raw so Phil gently washes it with his favorite vanilla body wash.

“I may be stuck with those trousers but I am never wearing them again.”

Dan leans forward onto the shower wall and arches his back, ass on display. He gazes over one shoulder seductively, batting his lashes. “You sure about that, Lester?”

Phil plants a playful smack on Dan’s cute booty, prompting him to turn around. They hold each other, feeling the warm water stream over and between their bodies.

“Okay, I’ll wear them for you but I’m not zipping them up.”

Dan’s voice is sleepy and relaxed as he murmurs in Phil’s ear, “Sounds good to me.”

[jarmes]

Blind Shield Nuzlocke Notes 10 (Finale)

-Starting off the tenth and possibly final session

-Current Team: Freight the Coalossal, High Voltage the Toxtricity, Nosferatu the Dreadnaw, Riot the Falinks, Snowball the Frosmoth, Warrior the Grapploct

-I updated Warrior’s moves in preparation for Raihan, he now knows Drain Punch Waterfall Superpower and Ice Punch

-Even though Raihan is a dragon specialist, I’m not using Snowball. Last time he led with a Gigalith so I’m leading with Nosferatu and Warrior

Raihan

-Oh god he reworked his team for one on one battles there goes my plan

-Why the FUCK does he have a torkal

-Like, from a story perspective, why would he try to take out Charizard boi with a drought Pokémon?

-Whatever I’ll just use rock side

-OH FUCK IT MISSED AND NOW NOS HAS NO HEALTH SWITCHING TO FREIGHT

-Okay, it tanked a solar beam and it tanked a rock slide

-Second rock slide killed

-Raihan switched to Flygon, I switched to Snowball. Flygon Used sandstorm

-I’d use quicker dance, but I can’t risk a stone edge so I’m using Aurora beam

-Well, it used dragon claw so I messed up

-Turtonator? Time to switch back to freight and take no damage from that fire blast

-Rock slide, sunny day, miss, dragon pulse, rock slide, dead

-He sent out Goodra, dynamaxing and using Max rockfall

-Raihan Used rain dance? This team has a lot less synergy than the last one. Whatever, canceled it out with max rockfall

-Raihan made it rain, AGAIN, and died to a third max rockfall. Which made it sandstorm

-Unfortunely, dynamax wire off and he switched to GM Duraldon. Switching to Tiot cause freight is low

-Tanked a Max rockfall and Max knuckle, took half with a Brick Break

-OH GID MAX DEPLETION PUT ME AT 8 HP AND THERES A SANDSTORM

-Thank god, Close Combat killed and the battle ended

-Now for champion Leon and/or Tesla CEO Rose

Leon

-Dont know what he’ll use except Charizard and possibly Sobble. Putting Snowball up front because I know Charizard will be last and I may be able to sweep with quiver dance

-The cheering of the crowd fills you with determination

-“Wait, hold on!” Goddamn it rose

-“It’s time I brought about the darkest day, for Galars future of course” it’s called the darkest day you can’t be an antivillain and still call your plan the darkest day

-I knew dragonville tower was evil plan place

-“But you’re terrible at directions, what if you get lost along the way?”

-Hop acknowledges the fact that he sucks good

-Hell yeah! Going back to the slumbering weald to catch god!

-Oh sweet a life orb giving it to Warrior

-I’m glad they brought back the evil team interrupts the elite four thing from black and white

-Shield dog is in front because it is important

-Sonia can’t see god dogs because Sonia isn’t a stand user

-Getting Zelda vibes

-Honestly, the Shield is more fitting for a Nuzlocke than the sword. You aren’t trying to destroy, you’re trying to survive, to protect the team members you care about

-The dogs are dead, aren’t they

-I’m actually surprised I’m not just fighting Shield dog, this is different

-The leaders evacuated Hammerlocke, making themselves useful

-How did hop get past Oleana?

-Hey! It’s good mook! I forgot to mention her earlier but she’s cool

-Rampaging dynamax pokemon in the power plant hell yeah

-Eternatus! The least kept secret in the game! I’ve seen this thing and it’s cool and I’m glad I get to fight it instead of waiting for ultra Shield

-Leon’s fighting on the roof like a badass

-Is that an egg

-Ooh summoning Satan to use as green energy what could go wrong

-THAT CHOIR

Rose

-I still have Snowball out front

-And he’s using escavalier. Time for freight to continue carrying this team

-Uh oh swords dance

-Nevermind, outsped it ant took it out with heat crash

-“You’re go tough that’s not fair” life isn’t fair bitch

-Ferrothorn, really?

-It survived a heat crash. Operative word being A, because the second one killed it

-Rose, I know why Leon beat you as a kid. It’s because you exclusively use steel types and he has a goddamn Charizard

-Klingklang got off two wild charges but it’s dead now

-Freight’s at half health and can take out purrserker, but I don’t want to switch into Rose’s GM anchor so I’m going to Riot

-Took a lot of damage in the switch, but took it out with a Max knuckle

-“I’ll show you a move that hits so hard you’ll be speechless” I doubt it

-OH GOD FAIRY MOVE

-Whatever it’s dead now

-That chuckle and clap, gg mate

-“Leon is just like a knight in shining armor coming to rescue the princess from a dragon!” Glad pokemon is finally giving lgbt representation

-Leon caught eternatus doggie doggie what now

-Side note, I just realized I haven’t used any of my dynamax candy yet. Used them all of Nosferatu for obvious reasons

-And Leon hasn’t defeated eternatus yet great

-A fucking pokeball, Leon? Really?

-Okay were fighting this thing now I guess

Eternatus

-Snowball dodged a flamethrower out of love and took away half of eternatus’s health with aurora beam!

-Switching to Freight, tanked a dragon pulse. Almost died to a crit dragon pulse, but got it into red with a rock slide

-Switched to Nos, took slightly less than half damage from a dragon pulse

-Killed it with ice fang

-OH GOD IT DYNAMAXED

-Time for round 2?

-ITS A RAID BATTLE WIRH HOP!

-Oh god Snowball can’t attack and Eternatus is storing power

-Time for sword and shield

-The gods dogs jesused and teleported to us! They saved Snowball!

-And now we’re in box art form!

-Now it’s a real max raid battle! We got four fighters, three of which exist solely to take hits for Snowball

-It’s potswick! Wait, no, it’s everywhere!

-God dogs have abilities that buff each other that’s cool

-Shield dog uses light screen and sword dog used howl!

-Good job Snowball, tank that G-Move

-Eat Ice, dragon fuckboy

-Quiver dance time!

-Behemoth blade and bash!

-Snowball, put this mother fucker on ice

-Okay it would have been cooler if that killed but sure that’s fine

-And sword dog steals the kill!

-Oh, I have to catch it? I’d prefer to kill it but this is fine I guess

-I used an Ultra ball, Leon. Take notes

-Welcome to the box, Eternatus. Or should I say, “XD lol haha”

-Yeah I gave it a lame name because it’s evil

-Bye bye doggies

-Time to take on Leon, for real this time. I could swap someone for XD lol haha, but that isn’t my style. I’m winning this with the team that got me here. And also Warrior

-No major changes for the final battle. Swapped Freight’s Rocky Helmet and Nos’s Assault Vest, replaced Tar Shot with Giga Impact, and evened the team out to level 61 with rare candies

-I’ve loved this game and it’s climax, but the end is here. Let’s look over who we have with us. Also the only girl which is weird

-Freight, the longest lasting member of the team who’s carried me through countless battles

-HV, who I raised from a baby and is our greatest offensive powerhouse

-Nosferatu, who was brought on after the deaths of his brother Dracula and JORSTIN. He quickly proved himself a vital member of the team

-Riot, who fought his way on by killing Mondo and proved to useful to hate

-Snowball, a late member who I spent hours bonding with the evolve

-And Warrior, who I have literally never used in battle

-It’s time to take on Leon

Champion Leon

-He’s starting with an Aegislash, so I’m swapping Snowball for Freight

-Side note, the champion wielding aegislash is so fitting

-I love this theme

-Ha! It used King’s Shield!

-Sacred sword hurt, but Heat Crash took it out

-Swapped to Haxorus, I’m swapping to Snowball

-Good thing I did, cause he used earthquake

-Risking a quiver dance

-And he killed Snowball with iron tail fuck

-Time for Warrior to justify his existence!

-Almost died to outrage and only did half hp with ice punch good job buddy

-Now, this may seem mean, but I’m not going to switch. Letting Warrior die gives me a free switch to HV, who can take out Haxorus and sweep most of Leon’s team

-With Choice Scarf HV boombursted Haxorus to death

-Inteleon! Yes! He kept it!

-Critical hit! It’s dead now

-Mr Rhine tanked a boomburst and killed HV with psychic

-FUCK I THOUGHT IT WAS ICE NOW

-Going to Nos and Dming. Max rockfall crushed it

-Okay, Dragapukt is definetly a dragon flying. It paralyzed Nos with thunderbolt, but he’s still in the green

-Enter The Charizard

-You know, I mentioned my feelings about GM Charizard earlier and I’d like to reiterate it. I hate Charizard spam, but it is a cool design and I like the idea of the champion having a Charizard as a starter and having won at ten

-OH GOD MAX OVERGROWTH NOS IS DEAD

-Switching to Freight, it used Max Rockfall but I survived and got off a rock slide. I won’t survive another one so I’m switching to Riot

-Okay, Riot is in the green and Charizard isn’t giga anymore. Now what?

-And it killed Riot with Fire Blast

-Leon Used a full restore because he’s a cunt

-Okay, this is it. I’m ending this with a rock slide. For Apollo and Dracula and Bob Murray and Idol and JORSTIN and Ophelia and Mondo and Chaos and Pluck and Echo and Snowball and Warrior and High Voltage and Nosferatu and Riot and every Pokémon in the box and Freight and for me, I’m taking you down!

-It survives with a sliver of health

-And it died to the sandstorm I created

-It’s over. It’s finally over

-I mean, I know there will be a post credits battle because every game in the past six years has had one, but it’s over

-Ten days, ten posts, fifteen fallen friends, and it is finally over

-And what a final battle it was

-“Thank you for the greatest battle I’ve ever had” same brah

-To think that I, Blinkin, a young blind British boy with a dream could defeat every powerful trainer in the country in less than a fortnight

-Okay, while the credits roll I’d like to talk about this game. This isn’t a formal review, just some thoughts. This has been the most contentious pokemon game in a while and I’d like to say that I...absolutely loved it. The new Pokémon were creative and fun, the wild area was a great idea I’d love to see expanded in future games, dynamaxing was surprisingly tactical, the characters were surprisingly engrossing. This game was amazing. It wasn’t perfect (linearity, exp share always on, lack of turning animations), but most problems I can think of are nitpicks. But, of course, there is the Cufant in the room: Dexit. Dexit was horrible for collectors and some competitive battlers, I’m not denying that, and there are deeper conversations about game freak as a company that I’d like to have on a later date, but honestly? Dexit didn’t affect my enjoyment of the game at all. I almost exclusively do challenge runs, so I rarely care about the national dex or post game. And, as a game for challenge runs, this game is amazing. X and Y are actually some of my favorite Pokémon games to play just because there are so many different Pokémon and team combinations to try. I think those games had ~450 Pokémon in their regional dex and this game had about the same, and that really goes a long way. Take Black and White, for instance. How many Pokémon were in that game. You might say 500ish, but I don’t see it that way. There are 150 Pokémon you can catch. Less than that, counting version exclusives. So yeah, there were more Pokémon programmed into that game, but you don’t see most of them without importing them from another game. Even with Dexit, this game felt like it had more Pokémon than any I’ve ever played. And again, I feel for the collectors, but I’m not going to not enjoy a great game because of an aspect that doesn’t effect me at all. Let’s get off Dexit. There are two aspects of this game that stand out as especially good. The first is the Galar region. This region was filled with so much charm and care that I could barely put it down. I love Galar, this beautiful country filled with so much goddamn British culture that I can barely breathe. The second reason I love this game is the League. This game breathed new life into the series and featured hands down the best league in any game. I felt, more than in any game, like pursuing the title of Champion was my goal. The stadiums of cheering crowds, the tournament at the end, that brutal champion battle, I loved this league.

-Anyway, lets make fun of the credits

-Oh right, the art director was the Englishman

-Legit, the other guys at Gamfreak call him the Englishman in interviews. Anyway, that explains a lot about this game

-Rock band!

-Okay, these Pokémon are all based on the idea of hardcore British rock and the credits theme is very much not that

-Hey, gym banners.

-They have the fighting banner even though she is sword exclusive

-Side note, when the mentioned minor league leaders I hoped that they would be fightable. Maybe in the post game

-Oh right, in sword the ice towns leader uses rock types. Maybe a Coalossal for the steam theme?

-Oh hey Leon banner

-Yeah I don’t have a lot to say about credits

-WOLLOO

-Huh, no post credits battle

-Okay, Full disclosure, I was spoiled that you fight Hop in the forest and assumed that that would be the post credits scene. When I booted the game up again it showed the forest so I’m going to go check it out

-Thank you for the master ball old lady foster

-Okay Hop, lets go. You vs my remaining team

Hop

-Dubwool did jack shit and went down to two Heat Crashes

-Snorlax killed Freight with a High Horsepower

-You know what? Good job, kid. You earned this

-Now to send out XD lol haha end exterminate Hops fucking bloodline

-Oh, you used a full restore, Hoppy boy? Well, I don’t see why I shouldn’t use the thirty full restore in my bag to destroy everything you love

-Eat shit Hop

-“Congrats on Beating Leon” “It was nothing”

-Oh Sonia’s the Professor now okay

-Thank you for the book, it is going on eBay

-These men have sword and shield hair what the fuck

-You gave Sonia’s book one star? I’ll fucking kill you

-Who the fuck named their sons Sordbord and Shielbert

-I hate these men and want them dead

-Oh, you’re princes? A shame I don’t have any Pokémon who know guillotine

-Okay, Nofumi but somehow even more insufferable, I’ll take you out with my god

-So were doing the aftergame now extra long post I guess

-Of course he has a sirfetched

-What is a king to a god fuckboi?

-The god is me, by the way. Not Eternatus

-Goddamn it Hop

-Okay, fuck it. I can’t beat this losers with only Eternatus. Time to sacrifice XD lol haha to Ghiratina to bring my whole team back yes this is in the Nuzlocke rules

-Are they not going to give Sonia’s girlfriend a name?

-Dynamax In trufield better be something new and cool

-Ugh, it’s just leggy onion. Whatever, lets raid it

-That sounded better in my head

-RARE CARDS I WANT THEM

-God I hate these guys

-I can exaggerate? Hell yeah!

-Piers is an ex leader? So Marnie’s a leader now cool

-So am I just going to visit all of the leaders again? Well that part can be skipped in the notes unless something cool happens

-Okay, it was only the first trio

-Good time my team are immortal zombies because Sword jackass oneshoted freight with his golispod and shield bro one shotted Echo with his Falinks

-Nameless assistant! How dare you betray us!

-Okay, I’m out of battery. Delaying this post til tomorrow so I can finish the aftergame

-What’s up It tomorrow I killed a frosslass and Haxorus and dusknoir. Saved Bede for last because he’s a prick.

-Okay, Bede beat the dynamax pokemon on his own and wants a fight cool

-Side note, Rapidash and Hatterene are both psychic fairy and it’s a miracle I didn’t loose Echo to Bede in session 9

-Burn up is such a cool move

-It was fun beating you again Bede eat shit and die

-Yamper is a good boy

-Oh, douchebags are evil because we revealed historically accuracy that makes them look bad

-Stop being mad to god dogs

-Kill him sword dog! Do it!

-Side note, it’s interesting that this game features both legendaries pretty equally

-Okay sword dog is dead now where’s the real dog god

-Shield Dog! I’m glad you’re hear, but you don’t have to waste your time saving Hop. A little stabbing could help the boy

-Also both god dogs have messed up ears that’s interesting

-Eat the bad man, Shield Dog!

-Okay, I can catch Zamazenta now

-You know what’s bullshit? If I hadn’t messed up the the naming convention Zamazenta would have a Z name. I mean, I could skip to Z, but then there’d be no Y

-The shields fixed his ear cool

-Okay, I know I caught XD lol haha here, but I’ve already dropped Nuzlocke rules so I’m catching this good boy with the master ball

-Welcome to the team, Yorrick

-Okay, lets go kick Hops ass for a final time

-Legit I would not be able to beat Hops final team if I was still Nuzlocking

-You want to be a professor, Hop? Isn’t that sweet, you think you can get a doctorate

-YES! I AM THE KING NOW. AS FIRST DECREE I ABOLISH THE MONARCHY PLEASE DONT GUILLOTINE ME

-I know that the Battle Tower and League Rematches are in this game but I’m going to end this here. Thank you so much for reading and following me on this journey

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

baratrongirl replied to your post “Really do not understand why GameFreak took out the Hall of Fame...”

I'd be interested to hear what you don't like about Sword/Shield. For me, it's quite the opposite. I played the hell out of the 3rd and 4th Gens, then struggled to finish White and didn't buy White 2. Didn't finish SoulSilver, or whichever of X or Y I got, and became completely bored about 10 hours into Alpha Sapphire despite being all motivated to play the game with my original Sapphire team only now I know what I'm doing. Didn't even BUY Sun/Moon.

Then I hung out with my Pokemon friends over Sword/Shield launch weekend, watched them playing on the TV, and had to immediately borrow a spare Switch so I could play too. By the end of the weekend I'd bought the Switch and paid to download my own copy of Shield. I have a few issues with it, mostly relating to the lack of clothing options for male characters, but otherwise I'm finding it the blast of fresh air that I needed to get back into the Pokemon games.

I’ve heard a lot of people say something similar, that SwSh was a nice upgrade from the past couple gens. I started slipping around XY - didn’t wanna buy a 3DS and didn’t until Omega Ruby came out, since Ruby was the first one I’d played - and after I finished the Team Flare plot of X I just gave up for three years and only last year finished the 8th gym and the league. I honestly don’t remember much of playing OR. I think it was a weird kind of frantic nostalgia-fueled haze but I genuinely cannot comment on what I liked about that game. It’s a blank in my memory. Really enjoyed Sun and Moon, like Sword but get bummed the longer I think about it. But I did buy it because I did see a ton of people saying it was a change they were enjoying, quality-of-life upgrades, fun new features, etc. Different strokes and all.

My biggest gripe on Sword is that the world feels pretty empty. Besides the Wild Area, and its few secluded corners, though it’s really a straightforward place, there’s nothing to explore. The plot grabs you by the hand and pulls you to every location. There’s nothing off-the-way that you don’t go to for the main plot. There’s nothing like Kanto’s Power Plant, or Alola’s Power Plant - which I didn’t even realize was there on my first pass through, and then I was like “hey what’s this little place, OH MY GOD WHAT THERE’S MORE STUFF HERE.” The region is a linear loop. There’s no weird little caves that aren’t plot relevant that you get scrambled up in. There’s nowhere that’s locked until you beat the League, like the other half of Poni Island or those last upper bits in Unova or the Battle Frontier in Sinnoh. I had canvassed the Wild Area for everything by the time I went to the final tournament. There’s nowhere else to go. Sure I went back through the Wild Area to catch more stuff to fill out my Pokedex, but new places? Nothing. There’s nowhere to go back to once you can cross water except the little lake by the professor’s house. Not like in Sun/Moon where there’s bits on prior islands to go back to with Lapras. That cave underneath the starting island to go check out I’m thinking of. Galar is a pretty bare-bones region and the Wild Area doesn’t fully compensate.

Which ties to my other biggest gripe, which is, there are three legendary Pokemon in the game and one of them is the opposite version’s exclusive that you can’t get. Two legendary Pokemon! Two legendary Pokemon you can catch! And you catch them both in the course of the plot! There’s nothing like the Regi trio hidden by batshit puzzles, or Cobalion/Terrakion/Virizion tucked in out-of-the-way corners. No wandering Lati@s or beast trio. No Tapus or anything. You can catch two legendary Pokemon.

I think we really peaked back in Gen 3 with its visual Braille puzzles and Gen 4 with whatever the everloving fuck the Turnback Cave was on about. The weird locations that hurt your brain. I miss those. I miss the tricky caves you get lost in and spend time figuring it out. Galar didn’t have caves. The mines were basically a straight shot, yknow? When I’d like to go deeper and have more to explore instead of feeling like I’m taking a walking tour of the whole region.

And the DLC looks like it’ll deal at least with that point with more legendaries, which really grinds my gears. In all the discourse about whether or not the DLC is good or bad or neutral, whether the price of video games has needed to go up or the DLC is cheaper than a third version but some people wait for the third version, which I didn’t seek out said discourse but saw pass me by on Twitter, I saw no one mention that we’re paying to get more than two legendary Pokémon and I felt like I was losing my mind for a little while there. I feel like I’m paying extra for something that’s been in every game since the beginning of time, that being more than two legendary Pokémon that I can catch.

And my lesser little gripes: level balance of the game felt a little wonky with the wild Pokemon toward the end higher leveled than all the trainers except Leon, and the always-on exp share made it worse because when I dragged out the plot by catching everything in the Wild Area, my team got way overleveled for the back half of the game and I could curbstomp everyone that passed me. Team Yell were an egregious roadblock and while Pokemon has always had those, the prominence of Team Yell was exasperating. I prefer environmental roadblocks, like water and back when we used to have other HMs, those feel a little better than two dudes standing in the middle of a wide road.

And why, oh WHY, did GameFreak downgrade after XY and only have fitting rooms in boutiques instead of also in Pokemon Centers? I don’t want to fly to another town to change my clothes! Not every town has a clothes shop but everywhere has a Pokemon Center! I was crusading on this point through Sun/Moon and I will not be stopped until GameFreak puts changing rooms back in Pokemon Centers! (They will probably never do that but I refuse to stop. Forget Dexit; this is the real issue of our time.)

I didn’t mind the limited Pokémon at release because I never transfer my teams thru the games anyway - I’m a sentimental anxious idiot afraid of decisions and commitment and I can’t commit to the one-way transfers to move my teams up to new games. And that plus the Wild Area having trade-evolution Pokemon walking around made me feel like completing my pokedex was actually attainable. So I did!

I don’t hate the game, but I am disappointed by it. I’ve never been a Battle Tower or shiny-hunting person, but I’ve ended up doing those because I don’t know what else to do.

So that’s my opinion on why SwSh has bummed me out more as time goes on, since you were curious.

(Joker from Mass Effect 2 when you ask him for gossip about your teammates voice: “But that’s just my opinion, no need to go spreading it around.” ;) I’ll gladly chat with friends but the poke-discourse got too intense on twitter and I am not inviting that kind of bad energy into our lives. None of us deserve that.)

I’ve still got a lot of endgame stuff for Sun and Moon, UB hunting and I haven’t made it to the Battle Tree yet because my Moon team is getting its ass kicked by everything because I turned the exp share off and overcompensated in the wrong direction and am chronically underleveled. There’s a certain charm for me in being underleveled because I used to have endless patience to overlevel my team to extremes because my childhood anxiety was something like “if I die in the game I die in real life???” and I was terrified of losing and now I’m like “blacks out twice in a row in Moon as I go toward the postgame stuff yolo”. So when I feel like playing Pokemon I’ll probably spend more time in Alola, when I’m not trying to hatch that damn shiny Rookidee because I accidentally committed to that.

[nobodiesheartlessshitblog45]

A Fancy Party WIth Chairman Rose And Kanto Champ, And Lèon meets his childhood hero.

Juno was standing in front of the mirror looking at the dark blue strapless dress she wearing. Her long light brown hair in long braid, and wearing black heels. The 27 Old retired Kanto champion, lets out a sigh and looks at her partner Pikachu, Riply who was glaring up her, a black little bow around his neck.

Juno: I know, bud, you’re not happy. But we gotta look nice for tonight’s party. Just wear the bow tie for one night, okay?

Riply: Pika! Pikachu! (crosse his arms)

Juno: (kneels down) Riply, c’mon. It’s one night. It’s not going to kill ya. C’mon. For me~. (gives a sad face)

Riply looks at her, for a few and sighs, nodding in agreement. Juno smiles, and picks him and hugs.

Juno: Thank you. Now, let’s rub elbows with the fancy people and eat until we go into a coma.

Riply eyes light up at the mention of food, and hops onto Juno should and the two walk out the hotel room.

Meanwhile in the ball room, people and Pokémon were all dressed up and mingling and laughing, Juno and Riply walk into the ballroom and their eyes light up, classical music was playing softly in the background, and everyone was laughing and talking.

As this was going Chairman Rose a wearing a black tuxedo and red tie and as standing with Oleana who was wearing a short dress with Black high heels.

She didn’t say much, but looks over Rose who stood there looking at himself in the mirror fixing his tie and was looking at his hair.

Rose: Do-Do I look good? ... Is my tux wrinkled?

Oleana: (looks at him) ... Do you think I would let you walk in public with a wrinkled tux?

Rose: (chuckles and smiles) No. I would not. (looks around)

Oleana: May I ask why you are so  anxious for Champion Juno to show up?

Rose: Well, you know. She’s a ... very famous Pokémon master, and she’s a lovely woman. I-I was rather in enchanted by speaking with her, and well... I... ...  I did not say that.

Oleana: I will not repeat that.

Rose: Thank god.

The two walked over to the table where some the food was just Juno and Riply came walking into the ball room, the two walked as looks around in wonderment.

Juno: (thinking) Okay,Juno, just... relax. You’ve been to parties before, and this one is no different... Riply has my back.

As Juno was walking around, Riply looks around and spots the table with was laid out with food. Ripely eyes light and jumps off of Juno’s shoulder and heads to the table, running through people and Pokémon’s feet.

Arin: N-No...! Riply. Damn it...

Juno began to rushed pass the The crowd of people in Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Olena was about to grab some a piece of cake, she flet something run under her leg, and jumps back, rather spooked. Rose looks her.

Rose: Are... Are you alright, Oleana?

Before she could ask, Rose saw a Riply jump onto the table began eye all the cakes and sweets began helping himself to all the sweet goodness with wide eyes

As the two began to wonder where this random Pokémon came from was Juno was pushing through the crowd saying sorry and excusing me annoying both people and Pokémon. Rose and Olestra watched as Juno nearly knocking over a waiter.

Juno: Oh... Um, sorry. I... I was not watching where I was going. Hehe... S-Sorry.

She smiles sheepishly at him, who gives her annoyed look, and looks and sees Oleana staning in front her glaring.

Juno: ... Um... Hi there. Y-You... look you very nice... and kinda pissed...

Rose tries to his laugh as Oleana was towering over Juno, who stood there trying understand why she was mad.

Oleana lets out sigh.

Oleana: ... Is that your Pikachu? (ponits to the table)

Juno truns her to the side and Riply eating a huge thing of cake, pink and white frosting his face covering face and fur.

She just looks at Riply and back at Oleana, and Rose who watching with amusement.

Juno: ... Y-Yeah, he’s mine. (clear her throat) Riply.

Riley looks her, his cheeks puff with the cake her hand his mouth.

The three people eyeing, and Riply gulps and looks at Juno, who fave him annoyed look.

Riply: ... Pika... (picks up a cupcake and holds it up to her) Pika, pika!

Juno: Oh, my god... (facepalms) No... Riply... come here. (walks over and picks him up)

She picks up a thing of napkins and began to cleaning him, and looks at Orleana and Rose.

Juno: I am so sorry. He’s not  usually a this, and I’m a little bit more in control of my Pokémon. I’m not a complete slob. No! I mean... well, ya know what I mean...

Oleana didn’t say a word, while Rose tries to hold back laughter.

Oleana: Right, but for someone your age and reputation I thought you have a better control over your Pokémon. (looks at Riply) Your Pikachu as rather gasly manners.

Juno: ...Hehe. I’m sorry. I’ll keep a better eye on him. I-I’ll just deal with him. Haha. Mr. Rose. (nods and smiles)

Oleana rolls eyes and as Juno truns her back and was now glaring at Riply.

Juno: ... Why didn’t you wait a few more minutes!? Now they think majors slobs and crazy. That do have to say for yourself?

Riply looks at her and takes one bite of the cupcake, and Juno groans, and picks few napkins to clean him up.

After a few Rose got away from Oleana, and stood a few feet away from her, watching a bit.

Rose could help but look at her, again. She looks so different with they t-gray shirt and Black and red flannel jacket, and jeans and boots, but wearing a lovely dress. She looked, well, beautiful. Stunning to be honest, the man felt his heart beat a bit faster, when he shacks his head walks over.

Rose: Champion Juno.

She and Riply looks as the good chairman smiling at them.

Rose: Welcome. I do hope you and your Pikachu are enjoying yourselves. (reaches out and gently pats Riply)

Riply: Chhhaa~. (smiles, has the Rose was gently scratching his right ear)

Juno: Oh, yeah... Um, sorry about... (looks at Riply)

Rose: It’s fine. He’s a lively little Pikachu. (smiles at Riply)

Riply: Pika, pika!

Jumps out Juno’s arms on to Rose shoulder, the chairman was taken aback by this, but smiles more Riply began nuzzling his face.

Rose: Hahah. Hello, there, Riply, was it?

Riply: Pikachu~!. (nods)

Rose: Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Riply.

Juno: (smiles) He’s really taken a real shine to you, Mr. Chairman.

Rose: I can see that. (pets Riply) Do have the rest of team with you?

Juno: Yeah, but my Absol, Anthey, is resting right now. That battle with with Raihan was a tough one.

Rose: It was an stunning battle, and I have say you are very skilled with mega stone, truly. I haven’t seen anyone use a mega Evolution in years.

Juno: It’s a very power, but I think Dynamax is way more powerful. Never see anything like that.

Rose: Well, it is, but so is the Z ring and crystals. But they all have in common is how a trainer and and their Pokémon use them.

Juno: That’s true. (looks around) I’m really surprise you asked me to come in the first place, Mr. Chairman.

Rose: Why wouldn’t I invite you? It’s my honor to have you here. You are Kanto’s hero after all and champion.

Juno: Heh. I was a the Champion, but I’m retired.

Rose: Still you’re a hero. You and your Pokémon stopped horrid Team Rocket all those years ago.

Juno: I... I wouldn’t call myself that. I was doing ... what was right...

Rose: Well, weather I think you a hero. ...A lovely wonderful lady.

Leon smiles a bit at him, and Rose felt his heart beat a little faster. He turns pink, and looks behind and sees Lèon standing by, the young man was shaking a bit, and nervous look his face.

Rose: Ah, Leon, my boy. (waves)

Leon looks over, and spots him. Lèon felt his heart his leap into his chest.

Lèon: (thinking) Oh... My god. It’s her. She’s here! ... Leon is really here. Get a grip on yourself, mate. You get to finally talk to your childhood hero. ... My childhood hero...

Juno: You’re Lèon, right?

Lèon: (squeak) I am. (Thinking) Shite! I’m missing this up! (clears throat) Yes, I am. (thinking) Brilliant!

Juno puts Riply down and walks over to Leon, who now sweating bullets, and shaking.

Leon: (thinking) OHMYGOD! Oh, act normal. You and her a champions. Need to act like one. Not fanboying...

Juno: It’s an honor to meet you finally. (holds out her hand) I’ve seen your last with Steven Stone, absolutely phenomenal battling.

Leon: (squeals) REALLY?? (thinking) This... Is this a dream...?!

Juno: Yeah! I was honestly having a heart attack watching your battle.  One of the most intent matches I’ve even seen.

Leon stood there smiling widely, could not believe that he was shacking hands with his childhood hero.

Leon: I- I cannot believe you watched my battle... I-I can’t... You have no idea how much that means to me! You are... my hero. (eyes lighti g up more) You always inspired me to keep fighting. I’ve watched all your Pokémon battles, the ones that you won and lost, Champion Arin. You’re a ...  absolutely brilliant. (thinking) THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! YOU MESSING THIS UP, YA WANKER!

Juno: That’s... Wow. I can’t believe you’re my fan. I’m like your biggest fan.

Juno: ... REALLY?! (smiles)

Arin: Yeah, like, I’ve been following watching battles for a long time now... And... Well... C-Can Riply and I get an Picture and autograph?

Leon: ... HELL YEAH! (everyone stops and looks at him) I don’t care if people think I’m mad. Yes!

Juno pulls out her phone, Riply runs over, and hops on Leon’s  shoulder.

Leon felt Pride and excite has his childhood hero, snapped a picture of the three of them, and sighed her Photograph autograph.

Leon: C-Can you and Riply sigh  Charizard’s Poke’Ball? Please.

Juno: Yes, of course.

Riply: Pika~.

The sighed the Poke’Ball, and Leon began talking to Juno about Pokémon battling and Leon felt a lot  comfortable speaking with her.

They went to an large balcony that looked out a beautiful lake and  mountains. Leon let out his Pokéball Charizard.

The fire Pokémon roared and Juno walks to him.

Juno: Look at you. Nice to finally meet you, Charizard. (pets him) You really remind of my Chara.

Leon: Wow. It... kind of hard to believe that speaking to you, Champion Juno, the Kanto region, well, um, champs. Heh.

Juno: Call me Juno and I’m no longer the champion.

Leon: I know, but still, you were, but still a hero.

Juno: Heh. I’m not a hero, I’m ever another Pokémon trainer like you and everyone else. I’m not that special.

The two watched as Riply began talking to Charizard, and they seemed to be getting along well.

Juno: You have a beautiful Charizard, he’s well taken care of.

Leon: Thanks. He’s my best partner after.

Juno: Hehe. So...  Mr. unbeatable champ of the Galar region. How ya are you enjoying party? (stands next to him)

Leon: ... Can I be honest with you.

Juno: Sure.

Leon: I hate these kinda parties.

Juno: Tell. Me. About. It. (takes a sip of her wine) 

Lèon: Ya gotta dress up, put on a fake smile, talk to people who don’t know and will never meet again, while you’re bored to death.

Juno: I lived through it, and I  survive. I can’t tell ya how many times random people wanted to challenge me, had one asshole randomly challenged me in a grossry store, and I said no and stalked me though the whole store, demanding a Pokémon Battle.

Lèon: You’re kidding.

Juno: Nope, but he got kicked out for annoying the other customers. So, yeah.

Leon: That’s hasn’t happened to me yet.

Juno: It might, if have to stop to a thing of moo moo milk and the next thing ya know some jackass  challenges you in the frozen  section.

Leon burst into a fit of laughter, and Juno joined him, the kept talking telling stories about the crazy adventures they had when older fairy type trainer Opal came walking over.

Leon looks, and elbows gently elbows Juno’s up arm.

Leon: (whispers) Oy, mate, look alive.

Juno: Huh?

Leon: One our gym leader’s coming, it’s considered rude to ignore them.

Juno: Gotcha.

The two stood up, Leon fixing his tie, and Juno brushing her dress as the as the elderly Pokémon trainer walks over, Leon smiling sweetly at and bows.

Leon: Evening, ma’ma.

Opal: Hello, young Leon. Lovely to see you, love.

Leon: You as well. You looks lovely this evening.

Opal: Oh, such a gentleman. Thank you, dear.

Riply walks up to Opal and greats with a friendly ‘Pika’.

Opal: Oh, hello there. (smiles at him) Who’s the little Chap began too?

Arin: He’s my partner, Ma’am.

Opal: (looks at her) And you are, my dear?

Juno: (curtsies) I’m Juno  Andrews from Kanto.

Opal: Ah! The Kanto savior. (smiles brightly) What a lovely treat this. Isn’t it, Leon.

Leon: Indeed, Opal. (winks at Juno)

Juno blushes a bit, and Opel smiles happily.

Opel: My dear, I have heard so much heroic stories about stories about you. Fighting those dreadful Team Rocket. Giovanni was ann absolute scoundrel of a man, never did like him, always knew he was rotten trainer and man.

Juno, Leon, Riply and Charizard stood there awkwardly, the older trainer ranted on, just Rose came walking.

Rose: Um, My dear Miss. Opal, why... don’t you head inside.

Opal: (huff) Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Come, Lady Juno, do tell me about your adventures.

Juno: Um, y-yes. C’mon, Riply.

Riply: Pikachu. (he jumps onto Arin’s shoulder)

The two ladies walk back into the party, Juno holding me her arm to Opal as the two began talking.

Leon: ... Okay, did... that just happened?? (looks at Charizard) Charizard, Mate! We just met our hero! WE MET CHARMIN ARIN! JUNO IS HUGE FAN OF US!!!

Charizard let out an Excited rawr, while Rose looks over and sees Juno happily talking to Opal about her past adventures.

Juno was smiling a sweetly at the elder trainer. She had beautiful smile.

Leon: She’s brilliant! Absolutely brilliant, right, Mr. Chairman!?

Rose: Huh?! Oh, yes. Champion Juno is, um, lovely. Truly. (gose a little pink)

He watches as Juno holds up an ultra ball, and Wanda the Sylveon come. The Fairy Pokémon smiles happily at her trainer.

Juno: And this Wanda.

Opal: Aww, what darling Sylveon, and also very pink. (kneels down to Wanda)

Wanda walks Opal letting the sweet old lady petting her head.

Juno: She’s very sweet, and one of my strongest Pokémon, right?

Wanda lets out a proud yelp and nods.

Opal: I can see that. (stands up, and looks at Juno, Riply and Wanda) What a lovely team you have, Lady Juno. I do hope you and I can have a lovely Pokémon Battle soon.

Rose: (smiles politely) I look forward it, ma’am.

Opal gives Juno and her sweet smile and walks away to join the rest of the party.

Juno smiles, and let Riply and Wanda to go over and play with the other Pokémon as Rose walks over.

Rose: (thinking) Okay, steady on, old boy, just talk to her... You can do that... (walks to Arin) Heh, so, lovely party?

Juno: Huh? (looks at him) Oh, yes, it’s great.

Rose: So... How long are you planning on staying in the Galar  region?

Juno: Hm? I’m not sure, probably for a long time. I have a Pokémon Battle with Opal.

Rose: Heh. Is that right? (smiles) You better watch yourself, Champion Arin, she’s a tough one.

Juno: I heard, and I’m looking forward to it.

Rose: Heh. You...? Are you planning on staying Galar Region for long

Juno: Yeah, I differently. Wanna explore more of Galar. See what the sights and Pokémon. Already got a evolved my Corisquire into Corikight, so want learn more about this place as much as I can.

Rose: Sounds like a brilliant plan. And after that?

Juno: Well, I haven’t thought that far ahead, but... I not sure if I’m going back Kalos at all.

Rose: Oh. I didn’t know you were living in Kalos.

Juno: Yeah, I was traveling ... um, met someone and stayed about a few years.

Rose: Oh... So you are ... you are spoken for then.

Juno didn’t say anything at first as she was watching Wanda and Riply, lets out sigh.

Arin: Well, no... It’s a long story. I don’t want to get into it.

Rose nods, and takes a sip of his wind, trying to find the words but he opens his mouth.

Rose:: Well, then since you’re planning on staying for a while, maybe I... Well... (clears throat) I was wondering, Juno we you care to accompany me for lunch at, um, some point.

Juno blinks and looks him, he was smiling politely but was sweating bullets.

Juno: Are... you asking me on a date?

Rose: I... Um... (blushes more) Well... Yes... (thinking) Bloody hell, I missed up.

Juno: Yeah, I would really like that , Mr. Chairman.

Rose: (eyes lights up) R-Really?!

Arin nods and smiles, the Chairman’s face lights up, more smiles back.

Rose: Oh, well, fantastic. Hullbury city, there’s a lovely seafood restaurant. Dose. Thursday night at 6 o’clock?

Juno: Yeah, works for. But... (looks over at Oleana)

She was standing near by, watching the two off them closely.

Arin: Um, is she coming with us, right?

Juno: Don’t worry, I’m scheduling her to take the day off.

Juno: Oh, thank god. (sighs, and smiles) See you this Thursday.

Rose nods and watches as she walks away to Riply and Wanda.

Rose lets out sigh, walks away and mentally cheers to himself.

Rose: (thinking) SHE SAID YES!! WELL DONE ROSE! OKAY... Okay... just be professional, you’re at a party, plus Olestra will be on me about that.

He walked back into where few people greeted him

[definitely-gone]

The Gang’s favorite Pokemon generations(and other stuff)

I’m bored and I can’t sleep let’s go. Btw don’t expect more stuff like this, I’ve just had this on my mind.

Bruno:

Probably Gen 2. He loves the legendaries and finds them really cool and mysterious.

Bruno’s goal is usually to catch em all and he feels more fulfilled once he does that than he would if he beat the champion.

He also watched the anime. He still watches the movies. The nostalgia 😤😤😤😤

He knows type advantages like the back of his hand. If you’re like, “Hey Bruno, what’s weak against ice-“

“Fire, Water, Steel, And itself”

Abbacchio:

I’m feeling like he’s a Gen 5 guy. The story, and music is fuckin 👌👌👌😩😩😩 to him. He is quick to get on your ass if you insult gen 5.

For some reason Abbacchio has quite a bit of shiny Pokémon. He always says he forgot how he got them, which is kinda sus, but he literally cannot shiny hunt to save his life because it’s so boring to him. Maybe he’s just lucky???

Abbacchio b like

“I😤😤relate👌👌to N🙏🙏 so much👄👄. N is dePrEsS like me😔😔”

Giorno:

He👏🏽Loves👏🏽Gen👏🏽4👏🏽 don’t try to argue with me.

He talks to the characters that stand around in the game to get that extra spicy lore. He also is one of the few people that enjoys the contest feature(although he prefers Black and whites contests)

Don’t challenge him to a battle you’re gonna lose you’re absolutely gonna lose. He plays casually, yet he is so strategical???

GIORNO PLAYS POKÉMON BATTLE REVOLUTION CHANGE MY MIND, OH WAIT, YOU CANT!

Fugo:

Gen 3. If this boi ain’t a Hoenn boi, idk what tf he is. He DID watch the movies, he DID play the game, and he watched the anime. He likes all the characters(including Wally. Wally haters gtfo)

Fugo likes to read Pokédex entries and compare them to others from different games. Sometimes when he finds a good one, he’ll be like “Oi, Narancia, look at this Pokédex entry” or something like that.

He was so happy when ORAS came out. He loved the new after story and ESPECIALLY the Latios/Latias riding feature. He also really loves the music, and how it’s now orchestrated. He could listen to it forever.

Mista:

This one is hard, h m m m, I’ll say Gen 1. Mista is that one guy that’s always like “haha remember back when we had to use wires to trade Pokémon?” Mista’s probably likes Gen 1 more for the anime.

Mista has actually used a frying pan as a drying pan at one point. I don’t know when, but it happened(if you don’t get this I hate you sorry)

He knows the Poké Rap, but don’t bring it up. He will do the whole thing if you even talk about it so please don’t.

Mista b r e e d s Pokémon alot, and he’s competitive. He knows about EVs and IVs and all that bullshit that I don’t know about hhejjeej

Narancia:

If you don’t agree that he loves Gen 6, well ding dong, your opinion is wrong! Narancia roams around lumiose city on his skates and Cyllage City on his bike! He loves character customization in this game too!

Narancia is one of those players that only has attack moves. He also tends to use the same move over and over. His starter Pokémon is o o f sOOOOO op and the rest of his team are at a lower level.

If he sees a legendary bird he’s gonna be like “GUYS LOOK OH MY GOD ITS MOLTRES” and then someone else is gonna be like “oh my god this is the 7th time you’ve seen moltres today just freaking catch it”

He will not delete his save file

He will not delete his save file

His Pokémon are his friends, and he will not eVER fucking delete them. He’s tried explaining it before but they don’t really get it, and mISTa makes fun of him a lil for it

Narancia runs away during 90% wild battles I’m sorry

Trish:

She loves 7. Sun and Moon is literally her aesthetic. She appreciates the vibe and the colors, and she likes a refreshing change from the normal gym format.

Trish can connect with the main characters of sun and moon more than any of the other games, and she finds the story much more interesting.

Trish has a bunch of shiny Pokémon, but that’s because she actually breeds and shiny hunts. She doesn’t do it for battling purposes, but just because she likes having le sparkly Pokémon UwU

Trish loves feeding her Pokémon and petting them AaAAAAA

[plantbased-elise]

Bat On My Heart

This is my fic for the phandom reverse bang ( @phandomreversebang). look at the amazing @dancuddly who was the artist who gave me the art that inspired me. and @carditawrites my lovely beta writes amazing things of her own. I loved working on this idea of a Baseball!phan AU, and i think it turned out quite like i wanted it to. 

WC: 6337

Art link (will be added in later) Wattpad AO3

--------

The smell of the grass; the sound of metal hitting the rubber covered cork ball; the cheer of people in the stands: that is what made him feel alive. He breathed in the adrenaline of the field and the smell of sweat in the changing rooms.

Dan Howell loved baseball more than he loved his dog - Colin was possibly the sweetest creature alive so you get the idea. When he was 6, he’d seen a game on TV with his dad, and, intrigued by the game, he’d demanded to be signed up at the nearest baseball club. In Year 7 he signed up for the school’s baseball club. When he started out he was seen as the underdog, the twink, but he lost that reputation fairly quickly when his teammates saw him play.

Soon he was the star player of the school with a reputation that spread throughout the UK. ‘Best batter in high school Baseball’ didn’t go without Howell. But now, in his last year, reputation hardly mattered. It was about living up to that reputation.

Scouts came from all the top Baseball clubs in the UK came to the big games to seek out potential talent. They worked together with some of the best universities in the UK, and if they chose you, you’d get a full funding programme for university.

Dan didn’t just want to impress the scouts, he needed it. And he’d be damned before he gave up. He would do anything.

So the time he normally spent on the internet or watching anime was now spent on training. For once, he cared about what he ate. He didn’t go overboard, but if getting a great Personal Statement meant that he had to eat fewer crisps, he was fine with it.

“Dan, Dan! The coach knows the team you’re going to be playing against! He asked me to come find you.” Dan was broken out of his thoughts by his friend’s arrival.

He was in line for lunch, and Jack was weaving through the line, throwing ‘excuse me’s’ and ‘passing through’ left, right and centre. The closer he got, the more excited he looked. Dan was half curious, half afraid.

He was interrupted by the lunch lady coughing pointedly. She nodded her head at the food in front of her. “Oh, sorry, umm I’ll have the chicken sandwich, please.”

“Dan! Are you even listening to me? I said the coach needs to speak to you. You can take your lunch with you. Hurry up!”

When Dan entered the coach’s office the coach was looking at his computer screen, but he vaguely waved to the seat in front of his desk. He sat down and ate his sandwich, slightly disgusted at the pale, almost white, tomatoes that were in the sandwich.

“Howell. I know you are counting on this game for your Personal statement, but the opposing team has just won their semi-final. Chorlton High School in Manchester. They have one of the top Pitchers of the country, Phil Lester. We’ve never played against them, but they’re good... very good. They have been national champion five times, and have had an entire team’s worth of people who will go on to play at professional level. There is one thing, however: the scouts want to see the players outside of the field. So in two weeks’ time, there’s going to be a 4-day boot camp for the teams in the final. The scouts organised it and will observe you during training and other activities. I’ve already talked to your form tutor and the head teacher and they gave permission. I just need your parents’ permission. Could you have them sign this and return it to me tomorrow?”

He handed Dan a letter, probably explaining the same he’d just been told. Dan was thinking about what he’d just heard. Phil Lester was going to be on the same field as him. He was going to be playing against Phil Lester. Even more so, he was going on a boot camp with Phil Lester. He didn’t know why he felt so excited for this.

He’d seen pictures of the guy, in online articles about recent national high school matches. Besides being a fantastic Baseball player, he was also attractive. Dan wasn’t going to deny that.

But he was the enemy. And Dan couldn’t get distracted by beautiful boys. He was training to become a professional baseball player, and they don’t get distracted by beautiful people, as far as he knew.

***

You know how parents have the ability to completely embarrass you in front of others? Dan’s mother went straight past that and to ‘I crave death and destruction’. They were waiting for the bus that would take them to the boot camp, and she was fussing over him, checking if he had everything, and making sure ‘her baby was going to be okay’ as she said. If that meant that she tugged at his collar, and kept going over a list of things he had to take with him on this trip, Dan would rather just leave.

“Owls, please make your way to the bus and put your luggage in the storage compartment before going in.”

“Bye, mum.” Dan joined PJ and Jack at the bus door. He heard his mum scream ‘I love you honey’ and felt the extreme urge to facepalm. PJ snickered and Dan elbowed him in the kidney, hard. They entered the bus and sat down.

***

“Dan, Dan! Wake up, Tim drew a moustache on your face while you were asleep. Anyway, we’re here.”

Groggily Dan sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. He took out his phone to check for fake moustaches, seeing it was just a few dots.

“Guys, gather around! We, the coaches, have made a randomly set up cabin division. You will be paired with a member of the Manchester team. Remember, the scouts are looking for someone who can work with what they’ve got. They want someone who takes sportsmanship before winning. So, don’t think of your roommate for the week as your enemy, but as someone who is striving for the exact same thing as you, and wants it just as bad. I’m not saying marry them, but maybe try to be friends with them. Yes, when we face them during the final, you can see them as opponents, but now, you have to show your abilities as a baseball player. The sheet with your cabin numbers is here.”

The team streamed out of the bus, and Dan glimpsed at the sheet coach was holding. He only saw his cabin number, his roommate was covered by coach’s thumb. 1910, mustn’t be hard to find.

It was hard to find, to put it simply. There was absolutely no system in the cabin numbers. Even more so, the cabins were spread over 4 fields. Eventually, Dan saw 1910, tucked away between the outskirts of the forest.

From the open window, music blasted loudly. Just as Dan stepped onto the porch, a single note blasted through the window. Immediately after, the sound of something dropping to the ground rolled out the window. He couldn’t help but giggle at the little yelp.

When he knocked on the door, the music stopped abruptly and seconds later the door opened, revealing a boy clad in a maroon shirt and matching shorts.

“Oh, you must be my cabin mate. I mean why would you be here otherwise. I’m Ph-”

“Phil Lester, star baseball player of Manchester, possibly the best pitcher in high school baseball. I know who you are. Hard to miss you. You’re kind of famous. I’m-”

“Dan Howell. You’re famous too, you spork. Although I rarely see someone who’s taller than me.”

Somehow, it got them to dissolve in uncontrollable laughter as if they’d known each other all their lives, and this wasn’t awkward at all.

“God, that sounded even cheesier in my head.” Dan looked at him confusedly. “I sometimes narrate what’s happening around me, but this better not be the cliché ‘opposite team stars meet, become best friends, they live happily ever after’ because then I’ll start singing ‘the Start of Something New’ like Troy Bolton.”

Dan burst out laughing once more and managed to say, “First, I’ll join in but cringe the whole time. Second, let’s go inside, the mosquitoes are eating me alive right now.”

When they got inside, the brunet saw that on the lower bunk, a bag lay half unpacked. A Pokémon shirt was half hanging off the bed, a pair of running bottoms and running shoes on the pillow and, neatly folded on a chair at the foot of the bed, was a Baseball uniform. The greens and blues were vibrant and seemed to light up under the sunlight streaming in through the window. Dan knew that the Manchester team was known for its brightly coloured uniforms and impeccable aesthetic, but couldn’t help but be surprised at the beauty of the uniform. He always thought his team’s uniforms were aesthetically pleasing, with the soft pastel pink and black, but they are easily beat by the vibrant colours of the Manchester team.

“I see your eyes are being attacked by the uniform of Chorlton High School. Sometimes I think we blind people with our bright uniforms, and that’s how we win.” Phil chuckled and Dan hurried to shake his head. “No, no, definitely not. You are amazing players. I watched some shitty quality videos of one of your games last season, and from what I could see, the only thing they got distracted by was the hot players-” he stopped midsentence and blushed brightly. He coughed and turned his attention to his bag.

“Thank you. I have some very good looking teammates if I can say that.”

The two guys went about their own business for a few minutes until there was a knock at the door. Phil went to get it because Dan had his hands full of clothing he was trying to put away in some orderly way.

“Hey, Phil! Want to go check out the area? It’s still like half an hour till the introduction and dinner, and I want to check out the field.” A northern voice came from the doorway.

“Sure, can Dan come? Then we can check out the area with him.” Phil hasn’t even turned around when Dan answered the unasked question. He stood up from the chair he’d sunk down in moments previous. “Sure, I’ll come, just let me put on some shoes.”

Five minutes later he was walking along with the 3 guys, Phil included. Surprisingly, PJ was there as well and greeted Dan.

“Well, Ello. I’m Chris Kendall, Catcher supreme. Also PJ cabin-mate. And also possibly planning your murder in the forest later this week.”

For just one terrifying moment Dan thought he was serious, whilst he made eye contact with PJ. Then he caught sight of Chris’ shit eating grin and burst out laughing. Phil was giggling, hiding his mouth behind his hand.

Dan sobered up at the sight. ‘Shit’.

***

“Hello, gentlemen. Welcome to Baseball camp. This week we, as ‘scouts’, want to observe you as you train and interact with each other. We set this up-”

Phil tuned out the voice of the man standing at the centre of the dining hall. He preferred to stare at the boy sitting opposite him, currently whispering to PJ, also ignoring the man still talking.

Of course, he’d seen pictures of Dan Howell, as he was one of the more famous high school players. Yet somehow the pictures just didn’t do him justice. Was he going to be having these cheesy thoughts all throughout the week? Probably.

“… halfway through the week, we will play a game, not competitive, just to see you play in a competition.”

This was going to be an interesting week.

***

The next morning, Phil was woken up by an insistent knocking on the door. Groggily, he opened it, to reveal one of his teammates, Dean.

“What do you want? It’s too early to prank Jack.”

“The warm-up starts in half an hour. Get up and ready. Meet me back in the dining hall. Wear your track clothes.”

He turned around and left. “Good morning to you too, Mister Dobbs.” Phil muttered as he shut the door and trudged back to his bed, climbing up the ladder of the bunk to wake up Dan, only to find the brunet facing towards the gap for the ladder. Their faces were close, and Dan’s breath fanned over Phil’s nose.

“Dan, Dan wake up. We have to start training.” He softly shook the boy awake. Dan grumbled and opened his eyes, blinking the sleep out of eyes.

“Go get ready, we have a track training in half an hour. And you still need to eat breakfast.” Phil went down the ladder and assembled his track clothes before disappearing into the bathroom

Dan grumbled again and pushed aside his covers, rubbing his eyes whilst going down the ladder. He walked to his bag and picked up his clothes. He discarded his sleeping shirt and put on his black track shirt and black track shorts.

About ten minutes later they were all standing on a large grass field. At the front, Dan’s coach was talking about a slow warmup, followed by sprint training and some evaluation by the ‘scouts’.

“This is going to be fun,” Dan muttered.

PJ snickered beside him. “Why do you hate running so much when you’re one of the best sprinters in the team? You scored home runs that seemed impossible and yet you complain every time we have to run. I just don’t get it.”

Dan was about to go on his rant about running again when Chris interrupted them. “I think PJ explained this to me last night. You hate exercising and eating healthily, except when it’s Baseball? I do not want to see the insides of your brain.”

“I think you just want a whole lot of naked topless guys.” PJ looked horrified a second after the words had left his lips. It had just slipped. Their entire team was okay with Dan’s sexuality and usually teased him about it with good manners. But, once they made a joke whilst they were at a game, and the opposite team had reacted repulsively and were disgusted. They demanded that the match would be cancelled, as they ‘wouldn’t play against a homosexual team’. The Umpire had to step in and even asked Dan if he wanted it in an official report.

Dan slowly stepped towards PJ, just in case things got ugly.

“Well, let me in then. As long as Haru Chan is in there too: he deserves some good shirtless action.” Phil’s voice shook Dan out of his alert and ready to move mindset.

“Do I have to go all crazy on you guys or not? Because I’m prepared to kick some ass for this crazy hobbit.” PJ stepped closer to Phil and Chris, at least trying to look intimidating.

“I don’t think so unless you want to protect him from my irresistible body.” Chris sniggered and did a half-assed body role.

Phil immediately hit him in the chest and hissed ‘Chris’ but he was smiling. “Don’t worry. Chris is the most flaming homosexual in this team, and I don’t care what sexuality you are, I care about who you are as a person.”

Dan breathed out in relief. PJ let his shoulders relax.

“Everyone, start with three laps around the field!”

Dan grunted and started jogging. His curly-haired friend huffed out a laugh and followed him. The two others followed suit.

Five minutes in, Dan felt the sweat on his forehead. His hair was beginning to curl and he felt the need to lie down and take a short nap.

“Okay, split up in groups and start sprinting the short sides of the field. We’ll do something else later.”

Dan, Phil, PJ and Chris stood together. “So, Howell. You claim that you’re a good sprinter? Let’s see. Fastest to the other side wins.”

“Deal.”

“3… 2… 1… Go!”

They took off towards the other side of the field, Dan quickly taking the lead on Chris. His feet kept going faster, lightly tapping the grass. When he came to a halt at the other end of the field he managed to slip on the grass that was still wet with dew. He came to a slippery halt just in front of the trees lining the field.

“I win! Suck on that Kendall.” Dan cheered victoriously. Chris was standing a few metres from him and PJ and Phil were sprinting towards them, PJ barely keeping a straight face until he stopped in front of Dan.

“How do you always manage to trip over something or bump into something? It’s like you forget the rest of the world exists.”

Dan opened his mouth to reply sassily but before he could, the coach called them together.

Before they started walking, Phil grabbed Dan by the wrist lightly. “Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“I’m fine, but thanks for asking.”

***

Throughout the week they did group activities and sometimes personal assignments one on one with the ‘scouts’. They only stopped training for food, and if the scouts wanted to talk to them. When they got closer to the mid-week competition, people began to sneakily sabotage the opposite team. Dan and Phil made a pact to not let any of their teammates into their cabin without the permission of both of them and they were both awake and in the cabin as well. This was to prevent any pranks from happening.

Then there was a second thing happening. Dan figured out pretty quickly that living in a small space with someone who was not only hot, but also really funny and kind, wasn’t a very good idea. The more he talked to Phil, the more butterflies he felt fluttering in his stomach. When Phil laughed, alarm bells went off in his head. When they touched, Dan thought he could feel sparks travel through his skin. It was so cliché, but he just couldn’t help it.

Phil on the other hand, had been told off by his coach mutable times for being distracted during the training. He was told to get his head in the game or get out. (Dan had laughed loudly, much to the coach’s confusion, and started singing ‘get your head in the game’). The problem was that, more often than not, the thing that was distracting him was in the field with Dan. Dan was laughing, messing around or even just doing what he was told beside him, and Phil would go off into a fantasy about kissing those dimples oh so softly, just barely brushing his lips against the slightly tanned skin. Once, he’d let the fantasy get the best of him, and had leaned in towards Dan’s cheek until he suddenly realised he couldn’t just do that.

Chris and PJ had noticed their behaviour by now. They continuously teased the two boys about, but only when the other wasn’t there. Dan would be staring at his dinner, and PJ would pipe up with ‘thinking about Phil, aren’t you?’ and Dan would blush bright red and splutter indignantly.

This was not working for either of them. Phil tried to ignore the butterflies fluttering in his stomach when those brown doe eyes shone. Dan tried to not get lost in those ocean blue eyes whenever he could. They had to concentrate. This was still a competition.

***

“Howell! Don’t disappoint me today. Concentrate. Lester is one of the top pitchers, and one of a kind. This is your chance to observe him and learn his tactics. This goes for all of you! It’s been decided we play field first. PJ, pitch. Tim, left fielder. Finn, first baseman. Jack, third baseman. Jason, catcher. Dereck, centre fielder. Dave, right fielder. Dan, shortstop and Sam, second baseman. Rest benches. Okay, let’s go Owls!”

Quickly they took their positions. The other team was ready to start hitting, the Umpire blew on his whistle, and Dan was off into his mindset. Nothing mattered more than winning the game. The first hit was played. The ball flew through the sky, the whistling like music to Dan’s ears.

The ball started to descend near centre fielder, who made a dash for the ball. A hush fell over the field. There was no laughing, no talking, just utter concentration on the game.

As the game continued scores kept close. Dan was kept away from the hitting plate. His coach often did that when it was a tough game, keeping his stronger players out until later, in case they needed to make a comeback.

However, the Chorlton coach had the same idea. Until 15 minutes before the game ended both of them were benched. The scores were tied. Dan’s team was hitting.

“Howell, your go!” Dan jumped up and walked towards the hitting plate. Across the field, he heard Phil’s coach shout ‘Lester you’re up!’

Dan felt a thrill of excitement go down his spine. He was up against the player that was almost entirely out of his league.

He lifted his bat and got ready. Phil pulled back his hand and looked Dan in the eye. “Don’t get distracted, Dan! Don’t get distracted Dan!” it ran through his head. The voice sounded strangely like PJ, and somehow Dan thought PJ was signalling it telepathically.

The ball surged forward. It was a fast one and if he didn’t hit it, it would be a strike. Dan tried to keep his eye on the ball. He pulled back his bat even further and pushed it forward.

The wood hit the ball. The whistling went away, but Dan wasn’t paying attention. He threw the bat backwards. His feet were moving towards first base. The ball was still going. Second base was approaching. Dan took the risk to look at the ball, seeing that it was still high in the air and going towards the long end. He continued running. He passed third base. Home base was getting closer.

Phil stood there, in the middle of the field. He was watching Dan run around the field, like a black streak with pink highlights. When he’d seen Dan in his uniform this morning he’d actually let his mouth fall open. The uniform was very fitted, and the black complimented his entire body.

“Homerun!” The Owls started cheering loudly. Dan sank on the ground and just smiled at Phil, who was still staring at him. His eyes were soft, his hair going extra curly from the sweat.

The rest of the game seemed to go by in a blur, at least for Phil. That smile was stuck on his mind, and it made his heart stutter slightly.

At the end, he walked to Dan and stopped in front of him.

“Congratulations on winning the championship.” He was grinning like a fool, he was 100% sure he was.

“Um… Phil, this was a test game. We haven’t even played the real game.” Dan looked amused and slightly confused.

“Yeah, but at the rate, you’re going we won’t stand a chance. You’ve already won in my book.”

“Phil that’s very sweet of you, but you are downplaying your team undeservedly. We barely won. There were some lucky moments. We stand just as much of a chance as you. Why do you think we both made it to the final? Because we managed to beat everyone else.”

They were approaching their cabin, but Phil stopped the brunet by softly grasping his hand. “Hey, um... Dan... I... I just... I just really want us to stay in touch, you know after this week, and after the finale.” Not exactly want he was going to say, but close enough.

Dan smiled his full-on dimpled smile. “You spork, of course we’re going to be friends after this. I can honestly say that you’ve become one of my best friends in the last few days.” He smiled again and pulled the older one into a hug.

“Oi, Howell! No distracting our team with your body!”

“Fuck off Kendall!”

****

As the week continued, Dan tried to tell Phil how he felt on multiple occasion. Every time he would back out a the last moment, finding it too great a risk to ruin this new found friendship over something so silly as a tiny crush.

Only it wasn’t a tiny crush. It was more like falling in love, hard and fast. It seemed like the world had opened up a gigantic hole of Phil’s little habits and antics. However, as soon as Dan opened his mouth to just fucking say something, all odds seemed to go against him.

Once his coach walked up to them when he’d just gotten the first words out. His coach had then proceeded to pull him away, and go through a new idea he’d had, for an hour. By the time the man was done talking, Phil was training with his team.

Dan was determined to change that. He made a promise to himself, and PJ, that he would tell the ebony haired man before midnight on the night of the finale. He also promised PJ that if that didn’t happen, he’d allow him and Chris to interfere.

Dan wasn’t quite sure if that was the brightest idea he’d ever had, but it was too late now.

It was also too late to tell Phil in person because the bus was leaving in two minutes and Dan hadn’t seen Phil since breakfast. He reluctantly put his bag in the storage compartment and turned towards the doors. PJ patted him on the shoulder comfortingly. They were the last to get on the bus, and the bus driver was impatiently waiting for them to just get on, so they could start the two hour drive back to school.

Just as the doors closed Dan saw a figure run onto the road where the scouts had just said their temporary goodbyes. He was sprinting towards the bus. The bus driver was about to turn on the motor when Dan screamed: “Wait! Stop! I forgot something. I’ll just be a second.”

He heard everyone on the bus sigh, but his coach nodded. “Hurry Howell.”

Then he was sprinting down the road, approaching the figure still running towards him.

“Phil I need to say something. And just, just wait until I’m finished. I don’t have long. I like you, as more than a friend I guess. No I don’t guess, I know. And I don’t know if I just ruined a great friendship, but it was worth it. I know you might not feel the same way, and that’s okay. I just hope that we can at least maintain some form of friendship.”

And with that he sprinted back to the bus, and plopped down next to PJ, who was staring at him with open mouth. “You did not just tell him and then run off?! I can’t believe you!”

Dan, however, wasn’t interested in the happenings in the bus. Instead he stared out the window, at the figure that was swiftly getting smaller.

Phil stared at the retreating bus, still trying to comprehend the words that had just reached his ears. Somehow, Dan Howell was interested in him. He took out his phone, fumbling to get it as fast as possible.

It was only when he was frantically trying to get the damned thing to turn on that he remembered that his phone charger was at home, and throughout the week he’d borrowed people’s chargers to keep it alive. Only today, with everyone packing, he’d forgotten to charge it.

“Phil, we’re about to leave. You coming?” Chris came around the corner. Phil shook his head to shake himself out of his daze and turned towards his friend. “Yeah...” it came out to rough for his liking. He cleared his throat, “yes, let’s go.”

***

Dan felt miserable over the weekend. He’d expected at least one text from Phil, but when he received nothing for the majority of those two days, he gathered all the guts he had and text it him. It had been disappointing when the text had remained unanswered.

Despite this Dan showed up to school on Monday in a good mood. He felt good about the game in two weeks. His schoolyear so far had gone great. He wasn’t about to let feelings get in the way of that.

By the time lunch came around he’d mostly forgotten about the text incident. Almost. When he sat down with his friends he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket several times. He pulled it out of pocket, not looking at the caller ID.

“Hey, this is Dan.”

“Dan, it’s Phil from Chris’ phone. My brother took my charger when he visited last week and I haven’t been able to charge my phone since I got home. I was going to text you when you got on the bus but then my phone died and I couldn’t and….”

“Phil it’s okay.”

“No it’s not and I’m going to make it up to you. You’ll see. You’ll be charmed Mr. Howell.”

The line went dead and Dan pulled the phone away from his ear. He let a dimpled smile slide onto his face. Louise immediately started to interrogate him.

“Who is it, and what made you smile so much? PJ, I demand a story fact check.”

When the two were done explaining, Louise was giggling loudly and around them some of Dan’s other friends were very amused.

“So Dan, you confessed your undying love for the man, then ran onto a bus. You spent the weekend being miserable, and when you sent a text and didn’t get a reply, you didn’t think to look if it had actually been received. And it turns out your little lover boy just lost his phone charger and loves you. And he promised to charm you off your feet. This could only happen to you Daniel Howell.”

“Preach.”

***

Chorlton high school’s baseball team was spending the entire afternoon before the game at Dan’s school. Dan still had his lessons to follow, but frankly, he wasn’t really aware of what actually happened during these lessons. All he could think was that Phil was so close, so fucking close.

During the two weeks leading up to the game, the two had texted almost nonstop. Among the long conversations about almost anything, they flirted, and every time Phil responded to his flirting with more flirting Dan felt his heart do a little jump. So knowing that the blue eyed boy was in the same building as him, made him feel giddy.

His friends teased him endlessly. Louise seemed to hum Disney songs whenever Dan was around. Often it was the same one and after three days of that same song being stuck in his head, Dan had caved and googled the song.

Why Louise was singing ‘Did I mention’ was still a mystery to Dan. he asked her on several occasions, and eventually she made him watch Descendants and Descendants 2 because Louise doesn’t do half work. But Dan was just as clueless, if not crushing a little bit on Jay’s muscles.

They were supposed to arrive during the period before lunch. Honestly, by the time the lunch bell rang, Dan was shaking with giddy excitement. His mind was a near constant chant of ‘Phil! Phil!’ and his smile hadn’t left his lips for the last hour. As he entered the cafeteria, he eagerly looked around for the bright green and blue uniforms. He found them shattered around the cafeteria, sitting with his teammates who sat with their own groups of friends. At last he saw PJ and Chris sitting at their usual table. Still no sign of Phil.

“Hey Howell, sad to see you’re still on your feet.” Chris patted him on the shoulder, his signature smirk firmly planted on his face.

“He’s not going to react. He hasn’t had his daily dose of Phil yet, and he’s a bit addicted.” Dan desperately wanted to hit his friends, who were all snickering at PJ’s comment.

“Oh, didn’t Phil tell you. He is with the coach, working on some last minute tactics. Will probably take the rest of the day. He said to tell you hello, and that he’ll see you at the game.” Chris smiled sympathetically and pat Dan on the back again.

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” Dan took his spot at the table. He wouldn’t let the dejection get him down on the day of the big game.

***

“Listen up Owls! As much as this game is about winning, it is more important that you show the scouts that you are someone they want on their team. They don’t care who wins or loses tonight, they care about you and your talents. We are going to play like the test game, only better. This time we start as batting team. Howell, I want you on the bench for now.” Their coach was standing at the door of their changing room giving his usual pre-game talk. The team was calm, as they always were just before the adrenaline kicked in. Dan felt them all take a collective breath before the coach opened the door.

The stands were full, people were cheering and the music was blasting loudly. The crowd seemed to unleash energy from within Dan, and he was ready to win a game.

“Players please take your positions.” Across from their bench, Phil was sat, also on the bench. They briefly met eyes, and exchanged smiles. Dan felt his insides flutter.

They were on the fifth inning when the coach called Dan to the plate. He walked to the plate, bat in hand. Across from him Phil stood at the pitching plate. He took a deep breath and laid the bat on his shoulder. He went back to the basics of baseball that he was taught in the very beginning. It always helped him calm down.

Elbows up, let your armpits air. Body sideways, non-dominant side forwards. Deep breath, eyes on the pitcher.

Phil pulled his hand back, and threw. The ball whistled towards him and Dan forgot the crowds. The only things left on the field were him and the ball. The sound became muted, as if he had cushions over his ears.

If he wouldn’t hit the ball, it would be a strike. The ball was a fast one. He swung his bat forward. Wood connected with the ball. He forced the ball away from himself. As soon as he felt the connection break he dropped the bat and started running.

He passed first base, and continued running. He was approaching second base when he saw, from his peripheral vision, a field player throwing the ball towards the person standing at second base. He pushed himself to go faster. His left foot hit the base.

Pan shot up his knee. His leg gave out underneath him. A collective gasp ran through the crowd. Dan blinked at his knee, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The ball lay a few centimetres away. Then the Umpire was beside him. “Are you okay boy?” Dan nodded, and pushed his upper body off the ground.

When he tried to stand he felt pain shoot through his knee yet again. He almost fell over, but the umpire caught him before he could, and helped him towards the benches. The coach was already waiting with a first aid kit.

“You got a long ball to the knee boy. Got busted pretty bad, I think. I can’t let you play. Let’s get this knee cooled.”

So Dan sat out the game watching the scoreboard go up, somehow staying even for most of the game. All throughout that, he felt eyes on him, and when he looked up once, he found himself staring at Phil, who seemed to look at him in earnest concern.

During the last inning Phil was once again at the pitching plate. He threw the ball at Dave, who swung. Strike. Phil threw the ball again. Dave didn’t swing. Ball. He threw again, Dave hit the ball. It flew through the air, and landed in Chris’ glove.

“End Game.” Dan looked at the scoreboard. Chorlton high was ahead just a few points. They won. Cheering went through the crowd. Dan clapped along. Someone walked onto the field to announce the official winners of the high school baseball competition in the UK.

As Dan watched, he saw Phil take the microphone, and call for attention.

“Excuse me, can I have your attention please. I need to tell someone something very important. Two weeks ago we went on a training camp, and I met one of the UK’s top amateur players. Dan Howell. At the end of that training camp, he told me he was in love with me. But, in Dan Howell fashion, he didn’t give me the chance to response. So here’s my response Dan Howell. I am as much in love with you as you are with me, and maybe more. O would you, please, go on a date with me. Don’t stand up! I’ll come over to you.”

Dan was blushing and grinning as the ebony haired boy approached. As soon as they were close enough, he stood on unsteady feet, and threw himself into Phil’s arms.

“I’d love to go on a date with you.”

***

In the end, it didn’t matter that Dan hadn’t been able to play for more than just a minute. He got a letter from the scouts, saying they loved his performance throughout the week during training, and they wanted him. Phil ended up getting the same letter and they were accepted together. It felt amazing to go into his dorm and see his boyfriend there.

“How is that for cheesy, Phil?”

[bi-antagonist]

6 - “Explain it to me again - why do we need to pretend to be married?”

@cherrytisane sorry for taking so long, wasn’t expecting this past week to be so draining holy hell

Anyway, this fic went on a completely different direction from what I had originally planned. Hope you like it ^^

Spy AU where pokémon don’t exist, but the regions do.

“Explain it to me again – why do we need to pretend to be married?” he signed, the words jumbling together as if the word married would bite him.

“Jesus fucking Christ, again? For the tenth time, Red, we’re faking our marriage for this lame ass plan Lance came up with. Ya know, to take down this hell of a team that’s been plaguing our town for years. The team you said you’d do anything to stop. The team-“

Red rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, turning his face away. Green stopped his rant immediately, a groan escaping his lips as he fixed his shirt for perhaps the millionth time that night.

“Oh c’mon, you big baby, don’t be like that. You just gotta pretend you love me for, like, an hour. What? Can’t act it out for the sake of the League? That’s not very heroic of you, ya know?” Despite his words and relaxed posture, Red could tell Green was nervous as him. It wasn’t too hard to notice; the man’s tone was harsher and each word came out like a jab, something he hadn’t done in quite a while. He was also avoiding eye contact, opting to look at the mansion’s entrance instead.

However, there was a bigger problem than having Green being a douche to him, and that problem was basically having to fake date him for a night. He could endure the harsh temperatures of Mount Silver, he could tame any beast on both land and sea, he could win in any battle anyone challenged him to, he could hack into the president’s private computer and steal all of his precious documents, but for the sake of god, he couldn’t pretend to be married to Green Oak.

To start off with, he didn’t even need to pretend to be in love with him. There was no point in denying he had a massive crush on his best friend slash rival. Loving Green was like second nature to him, something that had been planted on his heart and flourished long before he even knew what love meant.

And that was exactly the problem.

That tiny little detail prevented him from two things: one, know how to even act around Green, since he never tried to hide his feelings but never really confessed them either - how the hell would he act like he loved Green when he did so every goddamn day of his life? And two, he didn’t want to get too into it only to have his heart broken afterwards.

The worst part was that Lance knew exactly how he felt, and yet still paired him up with Green for the mission. He could have paired him with a girl, making the task more discrete; he could have paired him with Ethan, who he had no feelings for; he could have sent him with Professor Oak. But nooo. It had to be Green.

“Look, we just gotta get inside, find that old lady, keep an eye on her long enough so that Ethan can come in her office and steal her hardware, and boom. We’re outta here. And yes, we gotta pretend to be married. Why would two single guys come here in the first place? So just quit acting like a jerk and go with it.”

There was something weird with the way Green said ‘go with it’, the man’s voice growing in pitch as he took a step forward, fists clenched. Red looked away. It was pretty obvious that someone like Green would never in his life consider the thought of dating – and much less marry – someone like Red. Not even for a mission.

“The plan is stupid.” Red signed, slower this time “How do we even know there’s no one guarding her office when Ethan comes in?”

Green gasped mockingly, a hand flying to his chest.

“You’re doubting Leaf’s hard work in tracking this respectable place and finding its routine? Careful. She might hear you and bite.”

Red rolled his eyes, pushing Green aside and making his way towards the main door.

This was a doomed mission.

-

Red specifically hated how tight his vest was. His lungs felt like they were about to explode out of his mouth, and he could barely move his shoulders without feeling like his circulation might cut off. Green told him he just wasn’t used to wearing formal attire. If this was what fancy clothing was supposed to feel like, then Red was pretty happy to never wear it again.

Of course that when he went into the main room of this shady mansion, all worries about such trivial matters were put aside in favour of how huge the place was. Huge and seeming to have frozen in time, with a side of being imported directly from Kalos. Despite the minimalist décor and modernist vases, the whole thing was dyed in a mix of rich gold and faded silver, with a freaking chandelier of all things hanging from the ceiling as some melody played in the background. No wonder people called this house a mansion. All furniture – except for a few tables - was vanished, replaced with a large carpeted floor filled to the brim with well-dressed people Red never wanted to meet on his life.

Looking around, he could tell not everyone on the room were civilians. He couldn’t explain it, but he just knew the group drinking by the end of the room were Rockets, along with the couple silently strolling around the middle of the room, where people were dancing and chatting. Perhaps it was their black and white clothing, or the way they held their chins high but smiled as if all hell was about to break loose.

Green seemed to share the opposite opinion, because soon his mouth curled into a cheeky smirk as he turned to Red in glee, all previous frustration forgotten.

“Oh, this’ll be fun.”

Red raised an eyebrow at him, one hand coming to tilt his cap. Or, where his cap was supposed to be, because soon he found his fingers touching bare hair instead. He frowned, making Green chuckle.

“Hmm, we should have code names! I mean, probably no one knows who we are by name, but it would be so funny. You could be Rouge and I’d be Vert-“

Red shook his head, finding the idea abhorrent. Green rolled his eyes, taking his arm in response and woah. They were really close now, their sides brushing together and Red’s chest feeling tighter. He could feel his face warming up so he looked at the floor, pretending the dusty carpet was the most interesting thing in the world.

“Whatever you say, darling. Wouldn’t want to make my husband uncomfortable.”

Red choke on his own spit, shooting Green an incredulous look and feeling himself go pink from his ears to his neck. Green’s smirk grew larger as he tugged him forward, towards some random and ugly painting of a woman and a bridge. Red wanted to dig a hole and disappear. Instead, he pursed his lips.

He just had to fake it, right? Even better: he just had to act like he always did with a side of doing what he had wanted to do for years, all the while never suffering a direct rejection because, after all, this was just some dumb mission.

So he took a deep breath, letting his shoulders relax as he freed his arm from Green’s grasp. Instead, he took his hand, watching as their fingers intertwined and Green’s palm fitted perfectly against his. It felt nice, far too nice.

Green looked surprised for a second, blinking at their joined hands before smiling and beginning to walk again. If Red didn’t know any better, he would have thought he was happy. Instead, humming lowly below the fluttering butterflies on his stomach, he could hear a dreadful voice whispering that this was just part of their scheme.

And oh, Green was such a good actor.

He led them through the room, grabbing some sort of disgusting champagne on the way and offering Red some, smiling and cracking jokes all the way through it. He walked around and commented on each painting adorning the room, mocking the quite simplistic artworks and throwing the occasional pick up line in between. He called him dear and babe every time they were close enough to someone else, making Red have to hide a smile and not-so-falsely pretend he liked it. It was almost as if Green took pride in showing the world he had the best husband, that everyone else’s partner sucked.

It was manageable and, in a way, expected.

“This wait’s killin’ me, let’s do something.”

Red blinked out of his thoughts, catching Green staring at him behind a quickly emptying glass of champagne. Before he knew it he was being pulled towards the middle of the room, his feet being dragged far too close to where all the other couples were dancing. Red froze, staring at Green as if he had just pledged allegiance to Team Rocket. Green smirked.

“C’mon, Red. You come here and expect not to dance? What? You afraid or something?”

No one told him there would be dancing. Fuck, he would just make a fool of himself in front of everyone – in front of him. Besides, was it really necessary to-

As if reading his thoughts, Green’s bratty attitude toned down, his smirk dropping into an almost soft smile as his grip on Red’s hand lessened. He placed one hand on Red’s shoulder and stopped in front of him, tilting his head. His cheeky tone didn’t subside though.

“Don’t just stare, you know the basic positions of this old shit.”

It took all of Red’s will not to glare at him. Instead, he placed one shaky hand on his waist, the fabric of Green’s shirt smooth against his palm. They were close, chests touching, breaths almost mingling. He couldn’t hear what song was being played over the beat of his own heart, nor feel anything besides the burn on his cheeks and the way his hands clamped.

Slowly, Green stepped back, lips moving as he (probably) counted each step. Red couldn’t exactly pin point the words, just their sound. He didn’t even know Green could be so patient and kind when it came down to it, and the reality was far too much appealing right now. It didn’t help that Green seemed to notice this, making it a point to step even closer than before and moving slower.

Or perhaps Red’s dancing was just so awful he had to tone their pace down, who knew? Certainly not Red.

He didn’t know how long they stood like that, Green guiding him till Red could lead on his own. Slowly, the hand holding Green’s own slid down to his waist, feet moving slowly as they seemed frozen in time. Green’s body felt warm against his, a safe anchor compared to the icy cold world spinning around them.

“Hey, I’m complimenting ya, so at least react.”

Red looked up, the hands on his shoulders tightening their hold almost painfully. In front of him, Green rolled his eyes, an exaggerated sigh leaving his lips.

“I said you weren’t awful at this.”

The low lights casted amber shades on his face and embraced his hair like a warm halo, eyes almost sparkling. Red wanted to reach down, cup his face, kiss him, do anything, but he was afraid that would be taking it too far.

Instead, he nodded, stepping forward and resting his head on Green’s shoulder. Green tensed for a brief second, regaining his posture immediately and giving in, a low chuckle leaving his throat.

“Well that’s nice. You’re better at this than I thought.” He whispered against his ear. Red could have imagined Green’s voice was breathier than usual, but he chose to ignore it. He also knew perfectly well that he wasn’t referring to the dancing anymore.

They stayed liked that for a while, rocking side to side as if nothing else mattered in the world. Green didn’t feel as bony and angular as he looked, his body fitting comfortably (and rather nicely) between Red’s arms. He smelled of cologne, a scent Red had hated all his life but now found particularly enticing. His hair felt a little rough against his face, perhaps from all the gelling it went through, but he couldn’t say it didn’t feel equally as nice.

And just as Red was starting to relax, the melody being played finally reaching his ears-

“There she is.”

That dumb lady they had to track appeared.

He stepped away, arms never leaving their spot on Green’s waist. His eyes locked with their target and he turned his nose.

She was a quite eccentric old lady, with a dress that looked antiquate even by Red’s standards and a washed blond haircut that looked straight from the 1700s. No wonder this place belonged to her. The only thing relatively new to her appearance was the pink purse she was carrying. There was a couple talking to her, the same one Red had spotted when he first arrived, but they quickly parted ways when the lady’s gaze fell on him.

Red looked away as Green gave her a quick polite smile, his eyes falling on Red’s not shortly after.

“Okay, she’s here, the office must me empty then. Text the kid.”

Red raised a brow, freeing one hand and reaching for his pocket.

“Don’t give me that look – I mean, look around. Two security girls just popped outta nowhere and are standing right in front of that door over there. Lady Jasmine here must have left that room moments ago, so this is our chance. Or what? Ya wanna keep our… little affair going on?”

Yes, that’s exactly what Red wanted to do.

He shook his head, texting three dots to Ethan. He fitted his phone back in his pocket and spared the woman another glance. She was loudly speaking to some guests now, her green jewellery sparkling each time she as much as moved her head or waved her hands.

“No, we’re not speakin’ to her, dummy. The less she notices us, the best. I mean, unless we really need to interfere, of course.”

Red tilted his head, frowning. Green raised a brow.

“Jeez, first time going on an infiltrated mission? We stalk her, of course. Maybe get some info on her, put a tracker on her purse if we’re lucky enough. As soon as Ethan’s done we get the hell outta here. If she goes back to her office, we just- get on her way or something.“ he stopped, blinking twice before letting  go of Red’s hand, a huge grin took over his face “We’ve been over this, haven’t we? What? You nervous or somethin’?”

“I’m fake dating you on a house filled with pretentious rich people, of course I’m nervous.” He signed.

Green slapped his hands, wide eyed as he made shushing motions at him.

“Red, you idiot! You can’t just say that! What if someone-“

“No one here knows how to sign, relax.”

“Well, yeah but you never know-“ he looked around, noticing that most people could care less about what Red was saying, much less understand “Okay, you right, no one knows, but still.”

Red just rolled his eyes and grabbed Green’s arm, pulling him out of the dance floor and grabbing a glass of wine on his way out. He handed it to Green, who took no time in taking three large gulps of it. The alcohol must have gotten to his brain, because now that he was in clear lightening, his cheeks were pretty rosy as some of his hair glued to his face in sweat.

Red mindlessly reached out, fingers brushing against Green’s cheek as he pulled the bangs back in their place. Green didn’t even stutter, he just placed his hand on top of Red’s own and lowered it, eyes falling somewhere in the room.

“Thanks. Let’s not lose her from view, yeah?”

Red just nodded, looking ahead.

-

It turned out that the only interesting thing about the mission was pretending to be Green’s husband. The woman stayed at least ten full minutes flaunting around the room, giving loud speeches and ugly chuckles. Before she had even reached the end of the hall, Ethan was texting Red with a “done ;)”, making Green groan over his second glass of red wine.

It was disappointing, in a way.

Green was just talking about how easy nowadays’ jobs were when an old, yet low pitched voice filled their ears.

“Oh my, leaving so early?”

Red froze as Green abruptly shut up, all color draining from his face. They switched a glance, the idea of being busted crossing their minds. Slowly, they turned around, the lady’s smiling face coming in view. The two security women spared them a quick glance before focusing back on the room, like guarding dogs who only paid attention to the prettiest of threats.

“I’m afraid so. It’s a shame, this is a nice party you have going on. Love the paintings.”

“Oh, family possessions! They’re pretty… flashy, aren’t they?”

Stolen, Red thought.

Green coughed.

“Yes, they are inde-“

“But why leaving so early? We haven’t had diner yet.”

Red found himself pondering if this woman knew about their mission or was just being really, really nosy.

“You see, my sister’s husband just texted me. We’re about to be uncles!”

He grabbed Red’s arm, flashing the fakest of smiles. Red hated Green’s fake smiles, they were worse than his cheeky ones.

The woman seemed to buy it, though. Green was a great actor after all, if this night wasn’t enough proof.

“Uncles? Well that’s sweet! I suppose you’re together, then?”

“Newlywed, actually! Fresh out of our honeymoon, isn’t that right, Red?”

Green leaned further against him, tilting his head with a sly smile as his fingers squeezed Red’s arm. Red nodded.

“Oh! Pardon my curiosity, but I must know. Where was your honeymoon?”

Green stared at her for what felt like hours. Red couldn’t breathe, thinking this would be their end. They hadn’t planned anything, which was rather stupid but hey, so were they. If Green didn’t answer soon, all of this would have been for nothing. He clenched his jaw.

He watched in slow motion as millions of places flashed before Green’s eyes, his mind finally picking one as his lips parted.

“Alola. It was in Alola.”

Seconds seemed to turn into hours. And then-

“That’s a beautiful region! My nephews live there, actually. Wonderful choice of yours! Now please, do go, I don’t want to prevent you from seeing your future nephew. Or niece.”

Both Red and Green nodded to her before turning around, shoes heavy against the floor as each step became faster than the other. Soon enough they were basically sprinting down the corridor, reaching the main hall and nearly jumping down several fleets of stairs before they barged through the main door.

Green fell on his knees as Red panted, the cool night wind hitting their heated skin like a truck. Red chuckled, one hand coming to cover his eyes.

“What’s so funny? I thought we would die!” Green said, voice just as giddy. Red peeked at him through his fingers, biting his lip to prevent himself from collapsing in a fit of laugher “What?”

“Alola?”

Green’s cheeks flared as he jumped on his feet, hands on his hips.

“What?! It’s a perfectly good region! Has both beaches and frozen mountains. It’s a perfect honeymoon spot for us!”

Red just shook his head, taking Green’s hand again and beginning to walk up the street. Green rolled his eyes but followed, using his free hand to unbutton the first two buttons of his shirt. Red thought he wouldn’t say anything till someone came to pick them up, but he was proved wrong when a low voice filled the silent streets.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Red didn’t answer, looking up at the black sky looming over him. The night breeze was soft against his skin, ruffling his hair and blowing forward in swirls as dry leaves danced around the pavement. Only two lamps illuminated the street, casting two cold spotlights as shadows danced around each corner. Somehow, he felt safer out here than he did inside.

“You… were pretty good, ya know? I expected ya to freak out but you kept your act straight. Or- as straight as being married to me could be.”

Red snorted at that, turning to Green again. To his surprise, Green’s face was void of all the smugness that had followed him throughout the night. His lips were pressed into a thin line, amber eyes burrowing into his with no real ferocity behind them. They both stopped under one of the streetlamps, turning to each other. Against his will, Red slid his fingers from Green’s grasp, his hand falling back into the cold hair of the night. It felt empty.

“You were the real actor of the night, so stop praising me. It’s weird.”

Green chuckled at that.

“Me? I was just being myself. You on the other hand? Didn’t know y’had the guts to fucking- hold hands and hug me in front of a thousand people.” His voice sped up towards the end, his hands moving as he spoke.

“You called me darling. And dear. And honey-“

“We were fake married! Of course I did!” Green shrieked, grabbing his hands and stopping him from keeping the pet names list going. Red pulled them away.

“We danced. And you weren’t yelling at me for getting the steps wrong.”

“Well thank you Red! I can be a decent fucking human being once in a while-“

“Green.”

Green sighed, shoulders dropping.

“Look, let’s forget this conversation happened. I just wanna go home and sleep. Ya think Lance will let me borrow one of his fancy face masks? Let’s hope he does.”

The sound of a car approaching filed the streets. Red frowned, looking at Green’s hands.

This was exactly what he didn’t want to happen. Get used to it in a matter of – what? Two hours?

“Let’s go, yeah?” Green said, brushing past him when the car pulled over, Leaf staring at them from the driver seat as Ethan and Lyra bickered in the back.

Red nodded, not helping it but notice the way Green cupped both of his own hands together, as if too missing the touch.

Red shook his head. He was probably just seeing things where there weren’t any.

[mtlmrk]

My fanwalker stuff that I don’t nearly write enough about. - The brothers and the land of five gods. Part 1.

To the point where I don’t know if I have any names for them that I am set on. Also I think this post is going to be fairly stream of consciousness and mostly for me to look at my thoughts but if you read this and get anything from it, cool bonus.

The brothers- There are two brothers from a plane that has giant animal gods, not like anthropomorphic but big ol animals and they are shard aligned but the central Color is actual the left part of the shard. So Bant is centred around green, Naya around white etc. Anyway they are from the most peaceful part of that land that is ruled by a gigantic stag that looks more like Xerneas from Pokémon than the spirit from Mononoke. And everybody gets along. (Sidenote: There is some secret wedge action going on and at least 5 other animal gods but I am not there yet )

The other four gods are an owl that is esper white, a tortoise that is Grixis blue and both of those guys are in fairly remote places, thinking of a set up similar to Esthar in FF8 for the Owlands and a very weird set up for the tortoise, one non negotiable feature of his place though is that there are vicious aven based on Canada Geese. And closer by to the stag lands are rough lands rule by a giant tiger and more settlable valleys ruled by a Wolf god. The Tiger people and wolf guys are pretty much in a constant war with one another. Also the mostly the side of the tiger God is the tiger God itself, maybe elementals bent to its will and some of the local orc tribes , whom he tolerates and uses in a way that most people THOUGHT Bolas was going to use Domri. As for the Wolf side, I am thinking probably generic human faction with that pack mentality a tuallyba capable army that if it ever defeated the tiger might get bored and start looking elsewhere, so the incredible hate on that these two powerful forces have for one other sort of keeps the rest of the land in balance.

Which brings us back to our brothers, who also have a mother and a father and sister. They are a middle class type family . I think the dad those some sort of weights and measures thing for their town and Mom is involved in home making and local neighbourhood politics and stag god related business. All three kids are bright. The sister is a straight arrow. The older brother not so much. And the younger brother is a bookworm.

Anyway because of this aforementioned Jets vs. Sharks thing is part of the reason the Staglands are so peaceful is that they go out of their way to make sure the tiger wolf war stays out of stag territory so there is above board and below board efforts to keep it that way. Older brother volunteers to go join the army and help the wolf. Now older brother likes the martial arts. Not like Ryu from Street Fighter but he is a physical guy and he knows how to swing a sword, he was the sibling who dissuaded other shit kids from being shitty to his brother and sister because he would beat you up. Think of like a fighter character from role playing games. He is my black walker. He wants to be the best fighter, he will get back up if you knock him down, he loves his family but maybe because they are His family but he will fight dirty. This black alignment’s selfishness and incompatibility with overly strict adherence to things of course causes him to wash out of the formal military structure but he is good with a sword which catches the eyes of the mercenary outfits that profit from this.

So he gets good at sneaking around and fighting dirty but he still benefits from being a naive kid from a bubble place so he doesn’t realize that the enemy is full of people just trying to get by themselves. He sparks when he takes part in a tragedy that slaughters many in a neutral village full of humans and orcs because people, not necessarily the Gods on the wolf and tiger sides view the others as traitors while the stag officials don’t like the idea of people there getting along suddenly because that might begin to end that war and maybe both tiger and old will get a taste for venison. The older brother sparks off to what is essentially a home base of an Abzan coloured walker who was once a king who betrayed his people to save them from an unwinable war but in doing so granting them a death none the less, something that basically eats at him constantly but something he escapes from in being a ruler of a place full of people who surrendered to this greater evil quite some time ago but have all but forgotten that and it is a peaceful medieval kingdom for the most part full of farmers and fiefdoms. Meanwhile this king only occasionally walks away from his call and mostly trains people in fighting. He takes our older brother on as a pupil for both of his talents. The fighting and the walking. One of the takeaways the older brother gets is that maybe he didn’t break the rules enough, or maybe he needed his own rules to measure up other rules. He eventually becomes an interplanar mercenary. On a walker card he probably has terror abilities -X/-X abilities and summons black orc and human tokens with combos of first strike, death touch and menace maybe some howl from beyond type stuff too.

Our blue brother is studious and gifted in magic, not the law magics like his sister -who is going places in local government and may also have a spark but we’re not there yet in my head cannon- but something else of interest to the Stag government but also to he church and the church shelters him from the state because he has been called to study at the hoof of the Stag itself. While the older brother fights the wars of the Tiger and wolf, the younger brother learns more about the greater world through the Stag’s private book stash which extends far beyond the local stuff... there are first hand accounts of the tiger and wolf war from non stag citizens as well as books and tomes and grimoires from lands of the owl and the tortoise.

The intrinsic nature of Godhood is weird, at least on this plane. Limitless power but only because your followers believe that you do. So the stag in their wisdom has this kid read books for him and give them book reports in doing so, it grants them an independent agency of sorts. Which probably does not jive wth some ambitious local villain type but there isn’t much they can do about it for now. Anyway on the day of the older brother’s sparking the stag god is like ‘oh. Your brother’s gone.’ And it is one of those moments where it isn’t ‘dead’ but ‘gone’. The rest of the family treats it like dead, both the older brother and the father had issues with one another because of course they did since dad was an authority figure. So after some mourning the Stag is like ‘I’m a god. I know when my people die. He isn’t dead. He’s gone, I don’t know what that means. Read more books. But less war books , read owl books and turtle books they seem to deal with more mysterious things. So in reading our younger brother begins to discover more about the larger world itself and it results in some traveling because he discovered that while accounts of people in their own words are good, there may be something to be gained from accounts of yourself from others.

Since the Wolflandand Tigerland are busy staring each other down that leaves the Owl and Tortoise. They are more likely to have their own books about the world at large anyway. Owl seems like the best bet because not much seems to make it back from the Tortoise land and the ‘winged chaos perched on all corners’ is children’s nightmare fairytale that even gives the Stag God pause. So the Stag sends our younger brother and a trade delegation to the windswept tundras of the Owl where lo and behold there is a secretely booming city very much interested in its own thing but also spying on everybody else. For educational purposes. And Gods being Gods the Owl recognizes the imprint of the Stag on the younger brother but also its God sibling’s curiosity. Which speaks to his own blue alignment. There are mainly vedalken here. And some humans because humans are like weeds. So the Owl let’s our guy read their stuff in exchange for some of the stag’s works. The owl literature of course is more critical of everything of course and it points out the fragile nature of the mainland with wolf being too focused on how much it hates the tiger to notice how much the staglands benefit from this. And while the Stag might not realize this maybe some of its followers do. Which begins to speak to the ‘do the needlful’ tendencies of the Stag but also piques the interest of the Tortoise god on its isolated island to the East of the Owl lands. The Owl lets the younger brother use a ship which has a magical engine to sail to the neutral port of the Tortoise isle, the carefully travel through the Aven settlements and the ruins of what looked to be a grand clash of great beasts long long ago. The tortoise God knows too many great and ineffable secrets, it knows what many others have forgotten and it longs for more mundane things, like the tinkering of Owl artificers , the crop rotations of Stag and Wolf and tiger farmers, even the delightfully pedantic skirmishes of the tiger and wolf war... which it knows some of.

[aurimeanswind]

Sleepcasting—Sunday Chats (7-30-17)

I’ve had quite the week. From my rant on Superman, to a late podcast, to people throwing things at my car and damaging it while I was driving, to my car then breaking down in the middle of an intersection (unrelated at a separate time) to running late on Friday to not sleeping on Saturday, it’s been a week y’all.

So let’s start the new week with some positivity. 

Planned Idea

I couldn’t think of anything to do my write up about this week, but I had an idea that I’ll write here for my frequent chatters. It’s one I’ve been bouncing around for a couple of weeks now, but I think next week will be a good time to execute on it. 

I want to make Sunday Chats more interactive for the reader, so my plan is to essentially turn my question-soliciting tweet into a question itself, and have folks answer it in place of their questions for next week’s Sunday Chats. This way, maybe we’ll be able to have a bit of back and forth about some topic or another. It’ll probably be a question that’s both difficult to boil down to 140 characters but also difficult to answer in 140 characters, but I like the idea of keeping the generally pretty short.

I think for my frequent chatters or chat-readers, it’s good to give the warning and give you an idea of what I’m looking for. I’d love for everyone to come out and participate for the first showing, so if you’re interested, let me know! I’ll try and think of a good question to ask, and that way we can get some other folks’ opinions heard on Sunday Chats too!

My Twitter is @ALFighter27, so give me a follow there if you don’t already, and look for my tweet with the question and the hashtag $SundayChats in it next Sunday afternoon!

What I’ve Been Working On

I dont’ have much of an update here, and the only reason I stopped doing the day-by-day updates on my writings is because a lot of them have bled into scripts that I don’t quite want to talk about yet.

I wrote up a Destiny 2 piece this week that generally sums up why I’m excited about the sequel, but I need to polish it a lot so I’m not sure if it’ll be at all relevant in time for me to post it. I also have been working on some teen-related ideas, about teen video games and movies, but I don’t know if that’s a cohesive thought quite yet.

Oh and I’m writing about Overwatch again.

What’s on Tap

Sundered

The new game from Thunder Lotus that just came out this week!

I’ve played it a good deal at events so I knew I’d probably dig it, but it’s rad to see it in motion in person.

It is a procedurally generated Metroidvania, and the way they pull that off is by having some areas be static, and the pathways there be generated.

It’s hidden well, and since it’s using tile sets, it’s pretty easy to navigate still, but fun to mix things up with every life.

I have a lot to say about the game only being 2 hours in, so I’m excited to hopefully eventually review it.

Nier

I don’t have much to add here only that I am still enjoying Nier!

Owl Boy

So I finally got the chance to boot into Owl Boy, one of the many indie darlings from last year.

It’s very interesting. The idea of it being kind of twin-stick shootery when your character, Otus, is carrying a companion, is a really novel idea. I like how it’s executed.

Essentially Otus is a fuck up, and everyone makes him feel bad about it, and it’s not super great at anything really. And it’s sad, and I’m curious to see what they do with it and where they go with it.

It’s gorgeous too! Great sprites and artwork!

Furi

I picked this one back up on a whim, and Furi is still a great, unique, and fascinating video game.

I beat the boss I was stuck on, proceeded to beat the two bosses following it, and then got stuck on truly the final, final boss.

It’s still not perfect, or as tight as it could be, but every time I come back to Furi I remember how great and special it is.

Overwatch

DOOMFIST.

I played a ton of Overwatch this week, and I’m not sure if I’m just getting worse at it or if everyone else in the world is getting better.

Personally I’d put money on the latter, but WHO KNOWS FOR SURE.

Doomfist is very cool. It really is an “aggression rewards with opportunity” kind of character, which I also find to be super true to his personality, something this is far from true with many of the Overwatch characters I think.

He almost feels like a Bloodborne style character, in his execution, because attacks with his fist basically generate him more health.

All of his abilities can combo into one another, and he can just get in and out of any fight so quickly. I’m fascinated to see how he mixes up the meta of competitive play when he launches in competitive next week.

I can see a lot of general strategies failing in the face of his quaking fist, and that’s very exciting.

I PLAYED A LOT OF VIDEO GAMES THIS WEEK!

I also 103%’d Crash Warped but no one cares about that.

Questions!

As always you can find my tweet on Sunday afternoons with #SundayChats in it and reply with your question. I’ll answer. I promise!

Hell yes I am! I wish I was watching this week’s episode right now instead of writing this stupid fu—

I mean...

Well yeah, it’s pretty great. I’ve only watched the show, and it’s just super exciting to see long-running characters on screen together meeting and planning and interacting. I have a feeling some meetings may be happening in this week’s episode too...

But yeah, it’s weird too, because it’s almost swung around to being a bit too upbeat? But what characters do you have left to kill really? Unless you really want to tear things down, which I think they’ll do, but you have to save that for the dramatic pivots toward the end I think.

**update: I went and watched the episode mid write up, and it was very good.

Uhg. So I have given this a great deal of thought, or at least I did when me and my friends all got together and watched The Human Centipede on the night of our high school graduation (yeah, real celebratory, I know). 

Here’s the deal. The A is the best spot, obviously. The B is actually the worst, because you have the least control, and then C is second worst, since you do still have some control.

Everyone wants to be an A. We all do, right? We all wanna be As. It’s what we fucking live for.

But I know my place. I know I’d be a B. And no, I’m not fucking happy about it, but I’m a B.

Look at me.

I’m a B.

I know what I am.

I accept who I am for whom I may B.

Aww, thank you Xyger. <3 Love and miss you too man.

Good god Roger.

I mean like, could typing normal get worked into your schtick at some point at least? Like maybe this Sunday Chats character you’re playing get’s hit on the head and learns to type correctly?

I also live in Maryland, and while MA and MD are next to each other on the state listing, I’m just disappointed in you for making this awful joke.

I’d love to come snuggle though, fr fr, come hmu.

Context:

on the BrOC Season 2 Episode 2, I told a story about how we had to get bathroom attendants at my high school because people were having masturbation contests in the bathroom.

How a masturbation contest works... well, I don’t know. But hear the full story on the upcoming episode of the podcast!

Pokémon is a great thing to think about, for sure. 

I mean Charizard. Duh. But I have a few favorites. Charizard is just my favorite form the OG, so he has held up as my favorite to today. He’s a dragon. That’s pretty sweet.

I also love Lucario. He has a great Pokémon movie, and I think he is a real rad Pokémon to have in your team, especially given his unique abilities.

For a bonus freebie, my favorite Pokémon GAME is Pokémon Black. It’s the only game outside the original that recaptures the magic of the original without feeling old and outdated. Essentially in your initial run of the game, you only see and fight the new 150 Pokémon from the Black and White generation, meaning it’s all new Pokémon, and only new Pokémon, just like Red and Blue. It’s such a cool idea, and I wish every new Pokémon game was like that. 

My first desire was to be a photographer. I still love taking pictures. 

Then I was pretty set on being a doctor. I really wanted to help people. I’ll say now that I’ve discovered that school isn’t for me, that probably will never be my other choice in my head, which is a bummer. School is just terrible IMO. At least, it can be.

The one I keep coming back to or would be into is voice acting. I know that’s still video games adjacent, so if it’s okay if we include non-games-coverage, that’s what I mean. In games, anime, audiobooks, etc.

I’d like to hope I have an okay voice, though I’m not so sure after my recent Hamilton singing situation, but I think that’d be really fun. I love doing fun and varied voices!

Ahh good because this is a good question!

So my go to Patronus answer is a wolf, since i think it encompasses both the loner mentality in me but also the leader mentality in me *cough cough EGO cough*. But in the context of what would my Animagus be? Like, they can’t BOTH be wolf, that’s dumb, so let me think....

Hrm...

For non-Happy Potter nuts, one, get your shit together, and two, a Patronus is your literal spirit animal or guardian, and an Animagus is the animal you can shift your body into at will.

Weirdly I think my Animagus would be an owl. They’re wise, nocturnal, and have a piercing stare. I think it fits up. I could totally see the physical character similarities in the eyes too.

What do you think Brandon? Ooh, and tell me yours on Twitter too!

Two characters:

Ellie, because of her mix of optimism, pessimism, altruism, and just genuine honesty.

And Rise Kujikawa, because of her struggle to find and understand herself, what she wants out of life, and what brings her happiness. That confusion of all the different parts of yourself is something I struggled, and still struggle a lot with.

Plus I’m totally just an anime pop star cutie girl on the inside and we all know it.

For reference, here is the video, which I just watched, and you should too:

This is a tricky thing. The idea, to summarize, is creating video content and not getting any views, or any listens, or clicks, etc. It’s tricky because it’s a thing that happens to me and I still struggle with, and I have a lot of feelings on too.

I’ll say this, I used to get way more frustrated about making video content that got no views, or podcasts that would get no downloads, or reviews that no one would read. It sucks. You pour your heart into something for creation, for content, for it to be out there, and then nothing comes of it, at least for you. I’ve changed my perspective a lot over the last few years, and it’s odd, because only more recently, specifically the last two years or so, has any of the stuff I’ve made really garnered any significant attention. 

By significant attention, we’re still talking like tens of people also, so I don’t mean break out roles.

I make stuff for me. I make stuff for me to have made, to have had fun making, to have most importantly learned while making, and to apply into the next thing I make which will, ideally, be better. And I’m hoping that the best thing I make will do better, and then the best thing I make after that will do even better, but that’s no longer the goal. The goal, is for me to be better, not for the thing to be popular.

It’s not always that easy, and I try not to think about it. It makes it daunting to start new projects, because it’s like a thing I have to make from scratch, and it’s a whole new thing, and I’ll put in all this work, and what if it doesn’t pick up enough attachment to be worth it? It’s a thing you struggle with, but I do something everyday in the hopes of getting better. That’s just always been my thing.

I know people will read my reviews, or listen to my podcasts, because they’re a part of my portfolio, and I’m going to use them to try and get a job some day, and those people I send them to will read/listen/watch them, and at the end of the day, if I spent that time doing it, and doing it right, and making it good, then when I do get that one view, it’ll matter a whole lot more.

So there is my glass half full perspective on the whole thing.

I did actually know about the whole eight pound head thing. I learned it in an anatomy class.

I can’t show you the money one, because I don’t care physical cash because why would you? And two, I didn’t “k ow” I had you at hello, but it’s a good thing to know.

I don’t dream often, and when I do it’s typically nightmarish, or nightmare adjacent.

I had this one really awful dream when I was super young where I was in this cabin in the woods, and these borg-like aliens came and attacked me and my family and were like, “turned”. Now that I think about it, it was really just like, straight up the borg I think.

Anyway, everyone but my mom had been corrupted, and I ran through the woods, and I was so terrified, and then I saw my mother in like a glowing searchlight, and when I got close, I saw that she had finally been corrupted too. And when I saw that, I just remember the feeling of hope draining from me, and I gave up. I let them take me and turn me too, essentially killing me, and I woke up in a cold sweat.

I had this dream when I was maybe five or six years old, and I still remember it vividly. It was the first nightmare I remember having, and it was awful.

Haha, so that’s maybe a bummer-ish answer, but that’s the one that sticks out to me.

I’m doing alright. I am surprisingly tired, which I’m usually not on Sundays, but I’ve had a pretty exhausting week. I’m fine though. 

Assuming you know about this secret project launching soon, you may know more than even I do. I’m very excited about it. See below for more info!

There are definitely a few. It’s worth noting that I have never once considered myself a video games journalist. I am not a journalist. I am not a reporter nor an investigator. That doesn’t mean I don’t have the potential to be one some day, and I’d love to do some investigative reporting at some point, but I have yet to.

For me, Patrick Klepek. Times 1000000. Back in the day when he broke the Infinity Ward story, that was the first time I realized what a video games journalist really was and looked like. And consistently Patrick has reported on some of the most interesting and thought provoking stories to date. That Xbox One policy reversal was such a massive scoop, and it’s one of this console generations highlights by far, on the journalistic end of things, done by Patrick Klepek at GiantBomb.com.

In extension of that, Austin Walker is a huge influence for me. The dude not only is my spirit animal when it comes to sending very nice emails about how I can improve my freelance writing, but is also a great journalist as well. I believe he was the first to break the PS4 Pro story for GiantBomb, but I know him and Klepek broke the story around the same time.

Jason Schreier is obviously another huge one, but I’ve read the least of his work. I just don’t have the most exposure there, but he is breaking delays left and right.

There is definitely more room for actual, genuine journalism in video games, and I hope it evolves to that.

If we wanna talk about just games writers, I’d be remiss not to mention Cara Ellison, who is my favorite writer in the gaming space, who now writes games instead of writes about them, but she is supremely talented, and is probably just my favorite writer in general. Full stop. She is incredible, and you should go dig up some of her old pieces. Might I suggest this one:

http://www.pcgamer.com/old-friends-an-ode-to-defence-of-the-ancients/

**UPDATE:

I missed this! I’m sorry Trevor, I pulled the tweets differently this time because I was really tired, but no question left behind! I’m sorry!!

**

This is a great question! It’s hard to pin down, but easily one of them was picking Roger Pokorny up from the airport with Barrett and Alyssa, and then the car ride back was super fun, cracking wise, bonding, getting to see Roger and Barrett hang out for the first time. That whole week in the apartment with them boys was a blast, and I miss them all very much.

One of my favorite moments was this time I got to see Trevor Starkey and hug him and do fun cool press stuff at PAX East with him. I miss that boy.

<3

I’d make Spelunky 2.

No but seriously, Derek Yu. Please fucking make Spelunky 2. I need it.

I’d probably make a game like Breath of the Wild, open “air” adventure game, where exploration is key and critical to gameplay. There’d be a social link system in the game with really great characters that can interact with each other. And I’d want there to be some kind of Metroidvania progression system if I could work it in. The problem is what works for Breath of the Wild is the fact that anything can be done at any time, and a Metroidvania progression system would directly contradict that. Hrm.

Also, how crazy is it that I’m saying with an infinite budget I’d make an open world game? Because before Breath of the Wild I’d have never said that in a million years. But that game changed a whole lot for me.

You’ve made a great choice.

Jurge Cruz and I actually had a great conversation about Tales of Berseria on ep. 337 of Irrational Passions Podcast. You should listen to that segment if you get the chance! I think you’ll like this one, though you’ll definitely hit some cringe-y anime parts. 

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

This is just ridiculous. Though I do appreciate the positivity. My hair has been a mess all week though. Especially today. And I haven’t been shaving as much and it’s becoming a real problem.

See, me right now, while writing this:

The Checklist

I didn’t really consume a lot of cool stuff this week, but here are some things to keep an eye out for.

I’m going to be on Quinten Hoffman’s podcast, Break in Reality, this coming Tuesday night with my good bud Andrew Taylor. We’ll be talking about what we think will be Game of the Year, so I’m excited to tell those two fuckers they’re wrong about whatever they think it’ll be.

There is also a super exciting new show coming to IrrationalPassions.com THIS WEEK! Ahh, I just got word that it’ll be up tomorrow at 9am eastern daylight time! I’M SO EXCITED.

I’d tell you what it is, but it isn’t my announcement to make, so be excited!

The next two episode of my OC Rewatch Podcast, The BrOC, are fucking bangers. I don’t want to spoil them, but goddamn. They’re very good.

Movies with Mikey - Guardians of the Galaxy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjwzCrtK5G0&t=632s

Movies with Mikey is probably the best film-related show I’ve ever seen, and I’m super thankful to Barrett Courtney for turning me onto it. This episode is quite good, and made for a good view on my lunch today. 

Kingdom Heartache Episode 1: https://www.giantbomb.com/videos/kingdom-heartache-episode-01/2300-12407/

Though I have yet to watch this, I’m endlessly excited about this Giantbomb play through of Kingdom Hearts. I love the series, and I’m sure they’ll shit on it a ton while they play it, but I also know it’ll be very funny, partly earned, and there is just the slightest chance that they come out the other end with an appreciation for what’s there.

Fingers crossed.

That’s it. I need to relax, go watch Game of Thrones, and probably go to sleep at a reasonable time maybe.

Thanks for keeping it positive this week y’all, and do another thing for me will ya?

[thecrazydragonlady]

“Made for Each Other”- Chapter 2

AN: Can I state how much I love the queue feature on Tumblr? Makes my life so much easier! Anyway, prompts here. Adrinette Month is in full effect and I’m still super stoked for it. Counting down for my birthday too! Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 2: Rainy Day

Marinette still hadn’t figured out what she was going to do. She hadn’t seen Chat since last week on their joint patrol; they took individual patrols on the other days of the week to help with their busy schedules and to save their energy in case of an attack. Tonight’s patrol was cancelled too which didn’t help. They agreed that bad weather made for slick roof tops and electricity strikes and who would save Paris from Hawkmoth if both its superheroes were barbecue? On top of that, she hadn’t even gotten the chance to speak to Adrien and test out Alya’s suggestion. There just never seemed to be a good chance. Chloé would show up and steal him away or Nino would come up with a new idea for a song. The teachers even got a bit annoying. Just as she was about to ask him something or start a conversation, they would seem to think that now was a good time to start class. She groaned in frustration. This wasn’t going to work. Her destiny was to be torn in two by two different guys.

She walked out of the front of the school with a heavy sigh and just as she started to absent mindedly walk out, a loud crack of thunder surprised her, and she looked up, finally noting that it was pouring down rain. She groaned. Alya had already left for babysitting duty. Most of her classmates too were already gone. Leaning back against the dry part of the school, she looked up, wondering if it was going to stop anytime soon. When the answer was no, she sighed again, slumping her shoulders and accepting her soggy fate.

“Marinette? I thought you left already.”

Turning, she let out a small squeak as Adrien stepped out of the door of the school building, messing with the umbrella in his hands. She chuckled nervously.

“I-I-I was but then….” She pointed skyward. Steeling herself, she took a deep breath. He’s not on a pedestal. Take him down. Follow Alya’s advice. For Chat’s sake. “Then it started to rain and I forgot to grab my umbrella… again….” He chuckled.

“You tend to be good at forgetting things,” he smirked. Popping his umbrella open, he eyed it, then her, then his ride. “Hey, wait here for a second.” He stepped out into the down pour and up to the window. He spent a second talking with the driver before he came practically skipping up to her with the goofiest grin on his face. Well, this was new and surprising. Pleasant smiles yes. Goofy, dog-like expressions? Nope. Never. “Let’s go.”

“Uh,” she blinked. He held the umbrella just a bit higher.

“He’s given me the all clear to walk you home. He’ll drive around to pick me up.”

“Why didn’t we just… ride in the car?” He blinked this time. A peal of laughter burst from his mouth and he held the umbrella out over her.

“Because I didn’t think about it. I like walking on rainy days anyway. There’s something… relaxing about it.”

It was her turn to giggle. “Geez Adrien. I didn’t realize you were a hopeless romantic.” Her tongue felt swollen in her mouth as she noticed a soft red blush cross his cheeks and nose.

“I-I’m not…,” he stopped, adjusted his back, averted his eyes, but finally admitted, “Okay so I’m a hopeless romantic.”

“Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually own up to it.” She giggled again as he glared. They walked across the sidewalk of the school, turning to head towards the Dupain-Cheng bakery. She realized that he was right; it was relaxing to be walking in the rain and for her to be near him. Talking to him wasn’t as hard as she had thought it would be. Her heart tightened. There was no rush in their walk. “So, Adrien Agreste, what else is there about you that the class should know about?” He flinched and she wondered what nerve she’d hit. He chuckled clearly nervous.

“Why are you asking?” She shrugged.

“Call it a moment of clarity. Even though we’ve been in the same class for the last two years, we haven’t really… talked. I figured we should take the chance before it’s too late.” She eyed him. “Unless there’s something you’re trying to hide.” He blushed again.

“N-No….”

“So there is!”

“Is not!”

“Don’t lie! I know there is.” She poked his shoulder playfully. “Come on, share.”

“What do I get in return?”

“Uh?”

“What do I get in return? Equivalent exchange: I share, you give something up.”

“Oh my god. You’re a weeb!” She laughed at his confused expression. They stopped at the crosswalk as it was red. The sidewalk was deserted and it made them feel like they were the only ones in the world.

“You know anime?”

“Uh duh. I was raised by my father after all. You know? The same guy that taught me to play Mecha Strike three? There’s no way he was going to raise his daughter without making sure she knew at least the basics!”

“So you’ve seen Fullmetal Alchemist?”

“And Brotherhood,” she announced proudly. “Plus all your standards: Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, Beyblade, Naruto, Bleach, Death Note, Attack on Titan….” He laughed.

“Come on. Those are nothing. You need to jump on the less popular stuff.”

“Oh?”

“Well, less popular might not be the right words. Not as big stuff? They’re all fantastic either way.”

“Then you should probably help educate me.” This time, she blushed and quickly looked away. “I-I mean you… It’s not necessary…”

“I wouldn’t mind,” he softly replied. She jerked, surprised. Looking up, she saw true happiness in his eyes, like a little beacon of light in a dark sea. She swallowed. “I’d really like to actually.” The light turned green and they started across the road. “I’m… I’m really happy you asked me to Marinette.” They were in front of the bakery by now but they didn’t move to go in. Instead, they were standing face-to-face under the umbrella. “I thought you… to be honest, I thought you hated me these last two years.” She gaped.

“What? No! I’ve never hated you Adrien.”

“When you are around other people, you’re really bright and happy or in Chloé’s case, really strong and sure of yourself. It just seemed that every time I came around, you became someone completely different. I thought it was because of the gum incident but the longer it happened, I realized I didn’t know. I just wondered if… if maybe you never liked me in general.”

“Adrien Agreste,” she cut in. He looked at her surprised, finding only gentleness and kindness in the blue-sky eyes of the petite girl in front of him. “Adrien, I’ve never hated you. I’m sorry it’s been a misunderstanding for the last two years; I never intended for it to be. But… if you’re willing… we could… try again? Start over?” He smirked.

“I’d like that.” She smiled brightly at him before taking a breath and holding out a hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Adrien Agreste, my name’s Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

He took it gently and brought her knuckles up to his lips. Her whole face flamed. “It’s nice to meet you Ms. Dupain-Cheng. I’m Adrien Agreste.” He smirked up at her, chuckling at her expression, and she glared in response.

“That was completely unfair. You took me by surprise!”

“You’re just going to have to get used to it uh,” he winked. There came the sound of a car horn behind them and they looked to find the Gorilla waiting impatiently for his ward. Adrien sighed. “Well, looks like my ride’s here. I’ll see you tomorrow huh?”

She waved him off from the cover of the bakery. “Tomorrow,” she agreed. He stepped back out in the weather and Marinette watched until he was in the car, waving good bye once more to her, and disappearing off around the corner. She sighed. Tikki popped her head out of the purse.

“I’m impressed. You actually managed a full on conversation with Adrien!” Marinette smirked and looked down at her kwami sadly.

“Tikki, this isn’t good.”

“How’s that?” The young girl swallowed hard, gripping the handle of her bag tightly in her hands until the knuckles were white.

“I still like him,” she whispered. “It still feels so right to be around him and my heart keeps beating like crazy. I’m going to have to make the choice.” Tikki looked up sadly at the dejected expression of her chosen; Chat and Ladybug needed to know each other’s identities for their own sakes but had she’d known that telling Marinette this would have caused her this much pain, she wouldn’t have said anything. So, the little kwami decided to do the only thing she could. She reached out a hand to gently place it on her chosen’s hip. She couldn’t retract the magic, especially now that it had been activated in the school building, but she could at least try to comfort her mind.

“That’s alright Marinette,” she chirped. “I know you’re having a tough time with this. Why don’t you focus on something else for a bit and see if that helps clear your mind?” She smirked and nodded, finally pushing the door open to say good afternoon to her mother, before disappearing to her room to find some kind of distraction for her overly activated mind.

****

There was a problem.

Two girls, sisters by all accounts, sat at a coffee table. One was crying uncontrollably but her sobs were silent which is why many of the patrons ignored her for the most part. The younger looking of the two, a girl with short black hair and soft, milky white skin, looked on in concerned. When Sophia was able to control her words, she choked out, “He said it wasn’t even worth it. My story would be nothing. He said publishers wouldn’t take it seriously. I’ll just be laughed out of the writing industry before I even get a chance!”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” her sister soothed. Sophia sobbed again.

“You didn’t hear what he said Maggie, how he said it.” Anger rose in the young girl’s stomach but she swallowed it down. She knew of Sophia’s lifelong dream to be a writer; how she’d stayed up countless nights developing worlds and characters Maggie couldn’t even fathom, and tell the stories of those worlds in eloquent fashion. Only for it to be crushed in a moment by an arrogant editor. She wanted to scream. If she could, Maggie would change the whole universe to make her sister’s dream a reality.

“We’ll work on your story together when we get home,” she assured her. “We’ll make it better.” And then when it’s published, I’ll deck him in the face for you. “Come on. We better get going. It’s still raining pretty hard.” The taller girl nodded, wiping her eyes with a napkin, before following her sister out into the rain. She clutched the manuscript to her chest as Maggie raised the umbrella over both of their heads.

They stepped out into the darkness of the evening.

****

Hawkmoth hummed lightly to himself. He had never attempted this before. It was a risk. He didn’t know how long Nooroo’s power would last if he did it but he also didn’t know what would happen if he did. This was a new situation for him; the dark possibilities bringing an evil grin to his face.

“What a glorious day,” he mused, catching a little butterfly in his hands, “to author and create the fall of Ladybug and Chat Noir.” Darkness swarmed around it until the creature transformed into a pure black one before it flew up and hovered just over his head.

A second butterfly landed in his hands and underwent the same transformation.

Together, they flew up and out his window with his jeer following behind them, “Fly away my little akumas. Transform these troubled souls and bring to me a story for the ages!”

****

The sisters didn’t know what happened.

They were walking in Paris, under the rain, when both of them stopped, their eyes glassing over, limbs going weak.

At the same time, a purple butterfly mask appeared on their faces. Immediately a voice spoke to them with arrogant confidence, “Storybook and Switcher, I am Hawkmoth. You two have been greatly wronged and seek to make the world in your image. I can give you that power. In return, you must bring me the miraculouses of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Do we have a deal?”

The two girls grinned.

“Of course Hawkmoth,” they chirped.

The umbrella fell to the wet sidewalk and was abandoned.

[superfamigos]

los juegos de 2016 de oli

My inaugural post on el Super Famigos punto com! Cool beans! :D

So here's my 2016 games list. These are the games I liked most in 2016. In lieu of ranking, I'll list them in alphabetical order. I'll also add some honorable mentions, since I did enjoy them and don't want them to be left out. ;)

The List

Breath of Fire III

(heartthrob credit: BoF wikia)

Fitting that the first on my list would be a SuperFamigos classic!

I picked up Bofee ("Breath of Fire III" -> "BoF III" -> "BoF3" -> "Bofee") after some prodding from my friend Chris. I’ve wanted it for a while, and even played it once, but… I don't have as much patience for JRPGs as I used to, even ones as good as Bofee or Chrono Cross. This time, though, ♪ I had a little help from my friends ♫.

Since SuperFamigos was just starting up, I downloaded OBS and gave streaming Bofee a whirl. And sure enough, broadcasting and interacting with friends via chat is way better than grinding alone. Chris shared all his expert secrets, and I flew through the slogs that stopped me before. And we spawned a whole slew of inside jokes too (oh man Teepo's flowing locks *o*). I haven't played/streamed much recently, due to a combination of old hardware and busy schedules, but with luck I can fire it back up in 2017.

As for the game itself: it's great! Top notch pixel art, animations, and music. Story's a bit slow, though Chris assures me it gets better. Definitely more fun with friends. ...smells burnt

rating: "9/molotov"

Chrono Cross

(stunning opassa credit: Chrono wikia)

Frickin' Chrono Cross! What a sweet game. Beautiful scenery, amazing music, and a genuinely enthralling and mysterious story. I'm still not fully sure what's going on! The battle system can be intense too: trying to fend off the Fire Dragon with only two Revives? Are you kidding me??

I must confess, I got Chrono Cross three Christmases ago. The game has a couple of the same JRPG issues that Bofee has. So my tactic is to whittle away at it, every once in a while. And it's a bit like turning down the lights and sitting back and listening to Kind of Blue on vinyl; you come away feeling well fed.

So why is Chrono Cross on my games of 2016 list? Partly because the OSSC got me hyped to play it on my new HDTV (it was disgusting before) (and it handles the 240p <-> 480i switch quite well), partly because Chris again got me through some tough parts (he’s a boss, seriously), and partly because it's an awesome game and it won't come off my "games of <year>" list until it's beaten. So there.

rating: "poshul4mayor"

Downwell

I finally beat Downwell (normal mode) and unlocked all the palettes in 2016. Even then, I haven't stopped playing.

Downwell is the one mobile game I actually enjoy. For all the critically acclaimed mobile games I own, none have kept my attention like console and handheld games do. Except Downwell.

The mobile qualifier is important. Often I was chilling in a café, or waiting in line for a sandwich, or unable to sleep on a redeye flight, or trapped on a god-forsaken Snowpiercer Amtrak to Portland that was 6 hours behind schedule because snow somehow broke the signals and freight trains rule the rails and "we can't tell you if it'll be 30 minutes or 3 hours"

…Anyway. Downwell kept me sane in 2016. I don't even mind the touch controls.*

By the way, here's my fav strat: Floaty. Attract gems + popping gems + gem recharge. Laser if possible, or machine gun / burst / puncher. Combo as much as possible, but only to 25 each.

rating: "10/10/10"

Open Source Scan Converter

(razor sharp credit: Rex Warden)

I know, I know, it's not a game. But it counts as one, because it gave my PS1 a new lease on life.

And what a lease it is! I kid you not, I had serious goosebumps whenever I first fired up wipE'out" XL with this puppy. It was ｂｅａｕｔｉｆｕｌ. I noticed background textures I had never noticed before. Colors popped, not bled. I could read the menu text in wip3out! And no noticeable lag! Game after game, I was amazed at the difference. A major reason these old PS1 games are on my list is the OSSC.

Granted, YMMV; the results aren't nearly as drastic on other TVs I tried. But on mine… There's no going back.

rating: "I could cut my veggies with that PS logo"

Pokémon Sun

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (I really like this game.) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (A lot.) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (There's too much to say.) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (Do yourself a favor and give Pokémon Sun/Moon a try.) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

rating: "AAAAAAAAAA/AAAAAAAAAA"

Pokkén Tournament

(sassy credit: chipsprites)

Taking a step back for a sec.

Moving to Seattle was hard. It’s still hard. I live by myself, it's my first time working out of college, and sometimes even cooking food is a chore. My life has certainly gotten better now, but those first few months were…hard.

Pokkén was what I played when I wasn't at work. It's a great game, with bumpin' music and satisfying mechanics that I could really get into. But more than that, it was a game that helped me get through a rough time. For that reason alone, I would definitely recommend.

rating: "Weavile's playmate? HECK YES"

Splatoon

(manual or automatic credit: Syfy Games)

"But Oli, Splatoon came out in—"

Whoa there. Listen up. If you haven't already guessed, this is MY list o' 2016. It doesn't matter when such-and-such game came out. If I played it in 2016, it counts.

…but you do have a point. I didn't get Splatoon until Christmas 2015, which led to me missing a good amount of the summer unveils and hype and such. And online games stress me out, so I had the most fun when I stuck to my niche: off in the corner with my paintbrush, flinging paint errywhere, firin' off torpedoes to the other side, occasionally ninja-ing peeps.

In any case, still played it enough and had fun enough to include it! Very refreshing to see some color and friendly competition in a shooter. Good music and 1P campaign too. I even picked up my first pair of Vans Slip-ons because of this game. Fashion help 10/10.

Splatoon is also one of the Famigos' go-to online games! Several times we'd host a private match and not even battle, but just hang out on the stage, swim around, go explore, etc. Kinda like what we do in real life…except as squid kids.

rating: "18/12 overture"

wip3out

(let’s be friends credit: infoxicated via wipeoutzone)

Until I got the OSSC, this game was literally unplayable on my new HDTV.

Okay, not literally. Seriously though, wip3out** has some of the most succulent graphic design in the industry, and that stinkin' yellow composite cable rendes it muddy, meh, and unreadable. Yuck. wip3out was the second game I tested with the OSSC, and it's easily the best demonstration of the power of upscaling.

But enough about that. wipE'out" (the series) is the beez kneez. What's not to like? Cream-of-the-crop electronic soundtrack, mouthwatering tDR design, spicy-smooth tracks, and rich chocolatey weaponry. That feeling when you tear down the track, barely grazing the wall as you unleash a Quake Disruptor…

wip3out makes my list this year, not just because of the OSSC, not just because it's a filet mignon of a game, but because I freakin' beat Venom Tournament mode for the first time. Even with unfair AI in Sampa Run! ( *｀∇ ´ ) And I plan to keep playing for a long time.

Interestingly, although XL/2097 and 3 have very different physics and handling, I can maneuver them both just fine…as long as I don't play them both in the same night. I get so used to one game, that I can't immediately swap discs and play the other without crashing into everything.

rating: "Excuse me, I think I need to return this steak, it's too delicious"

Honorable Mentions

Digimon World 3 I inherited this from a neighbor. Popped it in to admire the pixel art with the OSSC. The battle system is confusing, the FMVs are loltastic, but it has some surprisingly good music.

Hyper Light Drifter I really want to like this game more.

I love the music. And the art and atmosphere seriously gave me chills. Absolutely beautiful. But I just couldn't get into the combat: too visceral. I felt...almost dirty playing it. I understand that's kind of the point, but…

Maybe with time I'll get into it.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime Had a ball playing this at a work game night. Don't have many others to play with though.

Nuclear Throne Lol both Sam and I got the Humble Indie Bundle this year, so we both played lots of Nuclear Throne. Fun (3D glasses Eyes is my man), but a bit too stressful/addictive for me. Had to stop playing for my health.

Pokémon Black 2 I grabbed Black 2 as a birthday gift for myself (I did the same for White in 2015), and to tide me over until Pokémon Sun. To try and mix it up this time around, I played with only three Pokémon for the entirety of my run: an Ice Punch Weavile (bred in White), a Dewott, and a Growlithe. I only caught maybe another five. In the end, though, I didn't level enough and I ground to a halt at the seventh gym.

I think one of the many, many reasons I loved Pokémon Sun was that I dived in headfirst, catching Pokémon, playing minigames, getting invested. Guess I didn't do that as much with Black 2. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

That being said, Black 2 definitely has its moments. There's schweet music, and I still, still prefer the animated sprites to 3D models. (Some of the new Pokémon's models are great, but some are horrible.) Super satisfying to wreck newbs with a Ice Punch to the face. Just sadly overshadowed by Sun.***

Pokémon Emerald Lots of Pokémon on this list, huh? ;)

Got this along with a Game Boy Micro from my friend Cole. Similar with Black 2, I only used a party of four. Again, the music is top notch, and some great battle animations. Unfortunately petered out at Ever Grande City when I stopped taking the bus to/from work (my main time to play).

River City Ransom Lolololololol

Seriously, so silly and fun. Didn't play it much though (maybe an hour when Sam was in town).

* That much. ** Yes, I'm going to do this for the whole article. I don't care. tDR 4 LYFE *** See what I did there?!? ;)

[cloudbatcave]

I fly home and my mom asks me if I’m being kind to my Pokémon because she’s N 2.0 I guess.

...ah, shit, I need to pick someone to teach surf to.

But before that I visit juniper and she gives me false swipe, which might be handy.

She also gives me protect, which is less handy.

Ferroseed goes in, Tympole comes out, because one way or another I barely have any water types.

I need more since I don’t like Tympole’s weird human face at all.

I catch a Basculin, which took me 5 net balls, 4 great balls, and 3 ultra balls to snag this asshole. Why. Why was this stupid level 9 level fish so powerful?!

I hate this game sometimes.

I hate it more when I lose Mito to a Cinccino’s tail slap because it hit five times and one was a critical. I sigh. I sigh a lot.

There are Scraggy on this island, so I’m just going to catch one of them and evolve it because this is annoying.

There are Herdier too but one of my unofficial rules is that I can’t use repeats of Pokémon I’ve actively used in my party before. I can catch repeats of Pokémon I already have, but after they’ve fallen in battle I can’t use another of the same species.

After grabbing Lad, my new Scraggy, I head back.

“There is nothing of interest beyond here and the electric bulletin board has gone pitch black. Kind of refreshing, isn’t it?”

Okay, night vale resident who escaped into a Pokémon game, glad it floats your boat.

Found a guy with an egg but my party is full. Might be worth making the trip to a PC and back for that, I think that’s a Larvesta.

And Lad dies because I wasn’t paying attention. To an Emolga with acrobatics.

Cool.

Know what? Doesn’t count. Because If I’d been paying attention I would’ve switched him out.

I find waterfall, which I can’t use in the field now but will certainly come in handy later.

And then Fiend dies to a fucking Darmanitan using Flare Blitz.

[pinches nose]

Fine. Fine. Cool. It’s good. I’m not screaming inside at all.

Marty dies too! All I have now is Murderbot who is weak to fire, and Lad, who has 20 HP left.

Murderbot dies too and all I have is Lad against a simisage.

Yeah fuck it the Nuzlocke lite ends here because this is total bullshit, REVIVES IN BATTLE FOR EVERYONE.

I won’t use anyone I already deemed killed in previous fights but from now on no more fainting is death because THIS IS THE WORST.

I actually have to send out mar the murdered tranquill but only so I can revive more Pokémon to kill this simisage because it killed a revived fiend with one crit grass knot.

Thank god I didn’t follow the release rule!

And that I kept a few revives!

All my hate forever.

We take a break from play by play blogging as I beat the Icirrus gym, beat up Plasma grunts, use my Tranquill (now an Unfezant) even though it died because I just don’t care anymore, and go to the desert to beat up more Plasma grunts before going back to Icirrus.

I respect anyone who can get through a Nuzlocke. This did not go well for me. I gave it the ol’ college try but we��re just playing normally now. 

Though it is also my first time ever doing one, and I did learn from the experience, so maybe if I tried it in an easier gen like 6 it would work.

Anyway, months pass, the world goes topsy-turvy, and here I am again. 

I jump back into White and spend like five minutes just figuring out how to get out of Icirrus city because I am that tired.

As if by magic, right when I’m finally about to go onto the bridge to get to Opelucid, Bianca appears.

“As I’ve been traveling lately, I’ve been thinking about things.”

I’m gonna be nice. I’m gonna let you have that. 

“Things like what I can do with my life, and what I want to do, but...”

Is looking at my watch too subtle? I am looking at my watch. It’s the finest fake Rolex a boy can buy.

“I’m thinking how cool it would be to be a model like Elesa.”

That’s...that sounds great. You do that.

“And then, how cool it would be to do research on Pokémon like Professor Juniper...”

We are standing in the rain so you can tell me this. This all could’ve been sent in a text I tastefully responded to with “k.”

“If that’s what I want to do, I’m gonna have to know a lot about pokemon.”

Bianca why. No sarcasm this time, just an honest question, why are you monologuing at me. I know Cheren is basically the worst, but if we’re being real here, I’m not a lot better. You need nicer friends.

“Sooooo...would you please battle me?”

You could’ve started with that and my clothes would be less wet! If I catch a cold it is your fault!

She full restores her stoutland but then I paralyze it and kill it anyway. That’s a perfect little microcosm for all our interactions so far, really.

“Chirae, you’re amazing!”

Honestly by this point I just feel bad about beating you so many times. Maybe N is getting to me with his mopey bullshit.

Oh she wants to give me something.

Better not be her fanfics.

Oh it’s her drug of choice, full restore.

Actually serious question: I wonder what effect it would have if a human ingested pokemon hp recovery items.

“In Castelia City, my precious pokemon was stolen by team plasma.”

What, really? What incredibly handsome devil got it back for you? I’ve never heard about this before.

“So I really, really understand!”

That makes one of us! 

“If team plasma forces everyone to liberate their pokemon, there will be nothing but sad people!”

Probably? I don’t know.

Blah blah stop team plasma, don’t allow Pokémon who are loved to be stolen, buy eggs and milk.

“I think that’s the truth - or ideal - that you’ve been pursuing, Chirae...”

All I ever wanted was to go on an adventure but no one has ever once asked me if I want to be left in peace to do that.

“Oh dear, here I’ve come all this way and I’m afraid I’m bothering you when you’re going through so much.”

THAT REALIZATION WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE HELPFUL LIKE TWENTY MINUTES AGO BUT THANKS.

“All I wanted was to help you relax, Chirae.”

Bianca. Bianca look at my face. Is the face of a relaxed man? Is this the face of someone who has NOT been rained on while you monologue about your future life choices? IS IT, BIANCA???

Okay. Okay. We’re good here. I had my moment.

“Knowing you, you’ll be fine! Definitely! You’ll totally be fine! I guarantee it!”

You’re trying so hard, and I want to appreciate it. I really do.

Bianca says a more awkward than usual goodbye and flounces.

Now I have to go back and heal and waltz out here again. Spiffy.

The tubeline bridge is cool but I see Worst Dad waiting for me at the end of it and his dumb ninjas make sure I can’t just walk around him.

Ghetsis congratulates me on getting the dark stone while I contemplate kicking him in the face.

Then his monologuing just turns generic villain and I tune it out.

He tells me there’s no way the legendary Pokémon will accept me as the hero and words cannot describe how little his opinion matters to me.

He tells me to search for some courage and then just walks away like the weird asshole he is.

I miss Giovanni. He just wanted money and power and didn’t bullshit about being better than everyone else. A simpler time.