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silenzahra · 2 months ago

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Luigi serenades Daisy 🎶✨

This post was originally shared on 14th July 2024 on my old blog, which was deactivated the next day. Due to this, I decided to redo it since there were too many links that led to my old content and therefore didn't work anymore.

I came up with this idea thanks to @kelbreyworshipper who sent me an ask (to my old blog I mean), and I decided to play with my own musicians headcanons to create a romantic ambience for Luigi and Daisy as well as a few headcanons for their relationship in my lore. You may also find a couple of hints to my Luigi the Bookworm post.

Many people read this one before and I really appreciate your support, and I'll be linking your reblogs to the original post below as a way of saying thank you 💖

Still, for those of you who read it before, I'll be adding some paragraphs and sentences here and there that I believe will enrich the reading experience, and I'll highlight them in different colors just in case you'd like to check them 🥰

@bberetd @kimasousparky @artycomicfangirl @keakruiser

@aqua-peri @jellyfishinc @doodleydoo101 Hope it's okay that I tag you since I believe you didn't get to see the original post and I thought perhaps you might be interested. Of course, if you want your tag to be removed, just let me know! 💖

As I mentioned here, I decided to redo this post mainly because of the songs I linked and translated on my side blog, as the original ones were lost when my old blog was deactivated. I want readers to have the chance to listen to each song and understand their meaning if they're interested, so that they can enjoy the entire experience. Still, some of the lyrics would change a bit in Luigi's version to fit with Daisy's appearance (like the "white cheeks" for example, as I headcanon Daisy has tanned skin) and their love story. Apart from that, they are songs that make me think a lot about this couple and their romance, so I hope you'll like them if you give them a listen! 🥰

Without further ado: let's-a go! ✨

Spontaneous serenade

The first time Luigi sang for Daisy was almost accidental. After their first date many more followed, and Luigi gradually became more and more comfortable in the company of Daisy, who showed him by her actions and affection that she liked every part of him and, therefore, he could be himself when he was with her.

Since they had danced together in the park on their first date, Daisy suggested one night that they go to a club to dance for a while. Luigi wasn’t too sure, as he’s not very fond of crowds, but Daisy had taken this into account and took him to a very quiet place located near the beach, in the Muda Kingdom in Sarasaland. Some of its inhabitants were there, but not too many, and the music was at a volume that allowed conversation. This certainly reassured Luigi and allowed him to enjoy the evening after all.

Daisy, knowing his shyness, didn't ask him to dance in the center of the dance floor: they kept to one corner, chatting while standing, and they had a few drinks as they enjoyed the music. Sometimes they’d sway gently when some lively song played, encouraging them to let themselves be carried away by the rhythm. But then one of Luigi's favorite songs came on, and enthusiasm shone on his face as he discovered that Daisy loved it too. He immediately forgot that they weren’t alone: in a sudden display of boldness, Luigi grabbed Daisy by the waist and improvised a dance with her as he began to sing with all his energy and passion.

Daisy was taken aback but did not complain at all. Since she loves dancing, she immediately adapted to Luigi's movements, and with a rapt smile, kept her eyes fixed on him while Luigi sang the romantic lyrics of the song, totally devoted and enjoying every note. He even took her by the hand and spun her around before drawing her back to him, and as he continued to sing, he did so while looking into her eyes with intensity, as if declaiming poetry, his voice laden with a sweetness that rivaled that of honey.

And Daisy felt herself melting. That was the moment when she knew with absolute certainty that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with that sweet man whose bright blue eyes watched her with such warmth and devotion. That sweet and charming man who used to be so shy but who didn't hesitate to show his confident and daring side when he was with her. She loved that contrast in his personality, and it filled her with joy to know that she was one of the few people with whom he felt comfortable enough to bring out his bold side.

It made her feel so lucky and privileged.

Art by @lizannamae on Tumblr.

Songs for Daisy

That night, as he sang with his eyes lost in Daisy's, Luigi realized that she had loved listening to him… and found that he had enjoyed it too. After all, it was a way of expressing how much he loved her and how deep his feelings for her were. And he found himself wanting to serenade her and use music as a way of declaring his love for Daisy.

So he set to work. First he tried taking the ukulele with him on some of the dates they had in the park and on the beach, and he improvised some romantic melodies and lyrics for her while Daisy listened mesmerized. Sometimes she began clapping in rhythm, and other times she got up and began to rock softly to the pace of the tune Luigi plucked from his instrument.

And he treasured every second, but he felt he could do more for her. That she deserved more.

She deserved the world.

Art by LinkerArts on Deviant Art.

The ukulele offered a good way to improvise quick, happy tunes, but Luigi felt a fervent desire to create music pulsing in his veins. He wanted to compose songs for Daisy, songs whose lyrics she could learn in order to sing them along with him if she wanted to, songs that would entice her to sway her body with that hypnotic charm that captivated Luigi and left him speechless. The melodies flowed in his mind, as did different lines born from his deep and pure love for the flower princess.

He then began to write them down. Phrases that alluded to her beauty, her joy, her energetic personality. Sentences that expressed how she drove him mad in the best way possible, how he was simply unable to stop thinking of her, how he couldn't wait to spend every second of his life with her, his desire to always see and make her happy. Luigi poured all his feelings onto paper as he hummed the tunes in his head and decided to replace the ukulele with the guitar to try to give them shape.

Not long after, Luigi surprised Daisy with a moonlit picnic in a quiet corner in the woods near the beach where he had so often jammed music for her on the ukulele. The sound of the waves lulled them as they dined on the delicious dishes Luigi had prepared for Daisy, her favorites, and the candles he’d brought were hardly necessary given the brightness of the huge full moon.

Due to nerves, Luigi was almost unable to eat, but he enjoyed watching Daisy savoring the dinner he had cooked for her. The princess, however, realized that something was wrong with him, always concerned about his well-being and comfort. Not wanting to worry her, Luigi decided to grab his guitar and leave the food for later.

And, looking Daisy in the eyes, he started playing.

(Song: Tragicomedia, Estopa)

"Yo, que vivo en la luna, quiero darte mi granito de arena..."

Daisy was speechless. Luigi's hands flowed with delicacy and mastery as they plucked chords from the guitar, and his voice emerged from his throat firm, confident and somewhat husky, and he was singing in Spanish! For her! The princess was convinced that, had she not been sitting on the grass in front of him, her legs would have turned to jelly, and she would have needed to sit down urgently.

The sight of Luigi playing and singing for her, the guitar resting on his crossed legs, his hands moving deftly up and down the neck of the instrument, his eyes watching her intently with a special, intense glow shining in them, the soft, confident smile dancing on his lips as he intoned the most romantic lyrics Daisy had ever heard...

"Y si tengo que morirme, que me muera en primavera, pa' poder echar raíces y vivir siempre a tu vera."

A sigh escaped from deep within her core and she needed to bring a hand to her chest to calm her racing heartbeat. Her cheeks were burning.

Luigi's smile widened, and his voice gained assurance as he realized that she was enjoying the experience. Daisy listened to him attentively for a few seconds longer, her heart melting at each line with which Luigi expressed his love for her, an endearing smile painted on her lips. She didn't notice she had begun to silently cry until Luigi himself, concerned, stopped playing and reached out his hands to cup her face lovingly. Daisy was surprised to feel the wetness on her cheeks, but smiled and reassured her boyfriend that they were tears of emotion. Luigi's gesture had touched her heart.

Despite the tears, she couldn't restrain herself: she leaned her head forward and kissed him.

Art by @arktm on Tumblr.

Luigi the Musician

The first song Luigi wrote for Daisy was followed by many more. At first, Luigi was afraid that the princess would get emotional again, so he thought that maybe he should keep his new songs to himself. They emerged from deep within his soul, and he couldn't, and wouldn't, hold them back, so quitting creating them was out of the question.

But, to his surprise, he found that, on their next date, Daisy sheepishly asked him if he had written any more songs, as she’d love to hear them. Luigi hadn’t brought his guitar with him that time, but he didn’t hesitate to start singing with the sole accompaniment of his hands clapping, something that Daisy began to replicate almost instantly (Song: Cuando amanece, Estopa). That time, even though she was also moved by the beauty of his verses, she didn't cry, which encouraged Luigi to keep bringing his guitar to their next dates to continue serenading her.

Daisy came to enjoy the experience of hearing him play for her so much that she ended up improvising her own dances to sway to the music he created, fulfilling Luigi's wish that they could share their passion for music and enjoy it together. He went on to create many, many songs during the early years of their relationship, including a very special one he composed after the first time they slept together (Song: Tan dulce, Estopa).

Daisy learned them all by heart. More than once, when he came to Sarasaland for a surprise visit, Luigi found her singing, with no musical accompaniment, the lyrics he had written for her.

And on those occasions it was he who was moved.

But Luigi doesn't just play the guitar and ukulele. Another musical instrument that he's passionate about playing is the violin, because it is, in his opinion, one of the instruments capable of creating the most beautiful and harmonious melodies that reach deep into the heart and soul of those who listen to them and can make them dream and be transported to faraway lands where everything is possible. He learned to play it when he was in high school, and he came to be a great violinist, but, unfortunately, a bad experience with his classmates made him move away from his passion for the violin for a long time.

However, it was precisely thanks to Daisy that he remembered how much he enjoyed plucking beautiful notes from this instrument after so many years devoted almost exclusively to the guitar. On one of the occasions when they were alone at his home, Daisy noticed the forgotten violin lying inside Luigi's closet when he opened it in search of a blanket to cuddle up with so they could read together on the sofa. She was fascinated when he explained that he used to play it, and she immediately started to clap as she expressed her eagerness to hear him play.

Luigi couldn't stop the bad memories from flooding back into his head, but Daisy's lovely and shiny gaze, filled with excitement, accompanied by the good feelings she kindled in him, managed to eliminate those remembrances in the blink of an eye. When he was with her, Luigi felt safe, comfortable, secure. Nothing bad would happen if he played the violin for his beloved princess.

He felt rusty after so many years, so it took him a few minutes to get used to it again. However, once he did, he decided to surprise Daisy by playing the same song that played on their first date and made them dance together for the first time. Their first song.

And Daisy recognized it and, again, was moved, but the smile on her lips made her face glow with pure joy.

Luigi didn't know how to compose a song on the violin, so he was content to leave the creation to his guitar and decided to treat Daisy to the most beautiful melodies he knew and that, he hoped, she’d like. Merry go round of life was only the first, for it was followed by many others such as Mi manchi, A postcard to Henry Purce and Valse sentimentale, as well as several other famous waltzes that sounded wonderful on Luigi's hands.

Daisy loved them all, but above all, she adored the passion with which Luigi played, always closing his eyes to let himself be completely caught up with the melodies that emerged from his violin and reached the princess' heart. She took the habit of almost always wearing a dress to their dates, or at least a skirt, so that she could dance not only to the songs Luigi wrote for her with his guitar, but also to the ones he played on his violin. Even though she always preferred to dance with him, and he with her, she knew that he loved to watch her dance to his music. He was hypnotized by her movemens while she was entranced by the tunes he played. So she let herself be carried away by the beautiful chords of the violin and performed the waltzes by herself under his attentive and ardent gaze.

And then, when they were alone in the princess' chambers, Daisy would "steal" Luigi's cell phone and select all those songs, one by one, so they could dance to them in the privacy of their room and, at last, together, giving them the chance to let the passion that burned in their hearts take the lead.

A very special night

Music and dancing, like reading and gardening, became two of the many passions Luigi and Daisy shared. They were very important to them, practically essential to their relationship. Whenever they saw each other, some harmonious melody would accompany them, either played by Luigi or playing in his phone to make their evening more pleasant and entice them to dance. It was something vital in their lives and it also defined their relationship, as music had witnessed the birth and growth of their romantic bond and how it only became stronger over time.

Therefore, for Luigi, it was only logical and natural that music also attested the moment when he would ask Daisy to be his forever.

More than that: it was going to be what helped him propose.

On this occasion, he preferred to arrange an intimate dinner in a place where they could be completely alone. He wanted the evening to be special, to make Daisy feel special, just as she is in his eyes. But he also didn't want it to be all public so that she’d be forced to say yes if she didn't want to take the next step. Luigi knows all too well how horrible social pressure can be, so there was no way he was going to subject his girlfriend to anything remotely like that.

So he decided to surprise her at the Sarasaland library, where they've spent many good times since they first celebrated Book Day together. Daisy had a busy day ahead of her with her royal duties as monarch of the empire, so Luigi suggested that, when she finished, she put on her best clothes and join him in the library to have dinner together and relax after her tiring day. He doesn't know yet how he was able to conceal the nerves that gripped every corner of his body.

While Daisy was away, Luigi, with the help of Mario, Peach and Toad, organized everything in the library. The day before, Princess Peach had helped him choose the most suitable dishes for such a special night, so they prepared them together in the morning and brought them to Daisy's home from the Mushroom Kingdom. Together with Mario and counting on his invaluable help and talent, Luigi had composed what was his most romantic song to date, with certain parts in Spanish to surprise Daisy so that she’d truly understand what a huge place she had earned in his heart.

He simply couldn’t see his life without her in it anymore.

Art by mong_milo on X

During the afternoon, Peach and Toad advised Luigi about his outfit, as he was unable to make up his mind and his anxiety was skyrocketing as the time approached. Finally, the princess encouraged him to opt for a dark blue suit jacket, very elegant and appropriate for a proposal, and Toad chose for him a green bow tie and a light blue shirt that enhanced his eyes.

They left for Sarasaland all together when dinner was still a couple of hours away. Luigi was a bundle of nerves, his heart fluttering in his chest like a hummingbird, and he clung to the guitar as if it were a life preserver. Mario made sure to be by his side, comforting him with soothing words and cracking a joke or two to get a few laughs out of him and help him relax.

When they arrived, Daisy had not yet finished, which gave them some leeway. They made their way to the library and Luigi chose the corner by the window to set up the table. Peach and Mario helped him serve the dishes, and Toad took care of placing Luigi's guitar near the table. Luigi was surprised to discover that Mario, secretly, had decided to bring Luigi's violin and ukulele as well, just in case he felt like he needed to de-stress a bit by playing something quieter first before asking Daisy the big question.

Peach disappeared shortly thereafter to meet Daisy and help her choose her outfit, and Mario and Toad encouraged Luigi to practice the song as they’d rehearsed it to try and keep him as calm as possible. Luigi thanked them heartily.

Art by Fioreandresr on Deviant Art

His brother and his friend left him alone shortly before the appointed time. Mario said goodbye with a tight hug that gave him warmth and reassurance, and Toad did with an energetic handshake that elicited a genuine giggle from Luigi. As they left, they continued to wink and cheer him on to wish him the best of lucks.

Then Daisy appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a beautiful purple dress that matched her auburn hair perfectly, with star patterns on the flowy skirt and a tight, sequin-covered bodice. Her gloves were lilac and a bit longer than the white ones she usually wore, her beautiful hair fell down her shoulders like a cascade made of autumn leaves, and she had put on a light pink lipstick that made it extremely difficult for Luigi to look away from her full and tempting mouth.

He gasped first and swallowed later. She looked more than stunning. She looked radiant. She looked dazzling. She looked breathtaking.

He certainly seemed to have forgotten how to breath.

He was going to propose to the most beautiful woman in all universes and his heart galloped wildly in his chest at the mere thought.

During the date, despite his nerves, Luigi was able to give Daisy the attention she deserved while she told him about the boring day she had had as she was forced to attend to her royal duties. For her, this dinner meant being able to relax and be herself at last, plus, of course, having a nice time in the best company. She didn’t fail to praise the food that, again, he had prepared, though Luigi made sure to point out that Peach had helped him this time, especially with the dessert, a delicious marble cake that they’d chosen especially for her, as it’s Daisy's favorite.

The princess, as smart as ever, noticed that Luigi had brought his three instruments with him, and asked if he could play one of her favorite pieces on the violin after dinner. Luigi, relieved to have a little more time to work up the courage to ask her to marry him, didn’t hesitate to oblige. Daisy closed her eyes and rocked to the melody, enjoying every note Luigi played for her, and he found himself feeling more and more relaxed as the piece progressed.

Next, since he hadn’t jammed any verses for Daisy in a very long time, Luigi opted to pick up his ukulele and let himself be carried away by what came from his now tranquil heart. He serenaded Daisy about her beautiful hair the color of autumn leaves, about the constellation of freckles that dotted her lovely cheeks, about the deep, beautiful sea into which he plunged every time he looked into her eyes, about how the dress she wore tonight made her look like a shimmering star fallen from the firmament. Daisy felt her heart swell more and more in her chest and a lump form in her throat at the profound and sincere love that this sweet man felt for her, which she, of course, reciprocated. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She knew she was the luckiest woman in the world.

Then, after a few cuddles and kisses, it was time. Luigi stood up, switched the ukulele for the guitar and turned to Daisy with the instrument ready in his hands, the princess gazing at him with her blue eyes shining with anticipation and affection, a soft smile in her beautiful and full lips.

And just before he started singing his new song, Luigi realized that he felt no trace of nerves.

(Song: Cuando cae la luna, Estopa)

He began to play the first notes with confidence and poise, his eyes fixed on Daisy's, piercing her with his intensity. His voice came out steady and serene, flowing effortlessly, as easily as the air flowing in and out of his lungs. It felt like this was what he was meant to do, the reason he was born. After all, he was expressing his feelings to the woman he was deeply in love with and for whom he’d give his entire life without a second thought. For him, it was simple, natural, spontaneous. For him, loving Daisy was like breathing.

The princess had stood up to listen to him with her full attention and, also, to dance, but, given the passion that radiated from Luigi's eyes as he sang for her and only for her, she remained staring at him spellbound, mesmerized by his deep voice, his beautiful words and his gaze full of sheer adoration and devotion. She just rocked softly, with a sweet, soulful smile on her lips, whose color matched perfectly with her dazzling dress and her tanned skin. She couldn't take her eyes off Luigi's.

He had been approaching her as he sang, smiling assuredly, also swaying to the rhythm of the melody he was creating. He felt entirely in his element, not just confident but also delighted, enjoying the moment to the fullest, and Daisy’s entranced expression only encouraged him to go on. She made him feel brave, strong, capable of anything, and he decided to allow himself to be carried away by the boldness she roused in him and started to kneel slowly to her attentive and surprised gaze. His grin widened when Daisy, realizing that Luigi was now singing in Spanish, put a hand to her chest with an amazed gasp.

“Y yo te digo: ¡morena, vente conmigo! ¿No ves que me desespero? Escucha bien lo que digo: prometo llevarte al cielo si te casas tú conmigo.”

Daisy gasped even louder and covered her mouth with her hands. She remained like that for a few moments until she managed to breathe again, but her breath sounded choked with emotion and her body began to tremble before the first tears sprang to her eyes. Noticing that Luigi, concerned, stopped playing and sat up, one arm outstretched toward her, Daisy was quick to nod, shaking her head up and down frantically as a strangled sob broke from her throat and ended up turning into a high-pitched shriek. She pounced on Luigi as she laughed and cried at the same time, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing him with all her might, and he barely had time to let go of his guitar to return her embrace with the same intensity.

Delighted at her reaction and relieved to have been able to carry out the proposal as he wished, Luigi chuckled as well and began to spin around with her in his arms, at which Daisy raised her head and stretched her arms out to her sides, laughing with joy as tears of pure emotion spilled down her cheeks. Her auburn hair and flowing skirt danced with the movement, creating a myriad of colors that made it impossible for Luigi to look away. She was more beautiful than ever.

As he twirled, Luigi couldn't stop gazing at her. After a few giggles, Daisy returned his glance fervently and rested her arms around his neck again. Luigi stopped swirling little by little, his eyes trapped in those of the princess, his girlfriend, his future wife, the queen of his heart. She slowly leaned towards him with a knowing smile. Luigi also drew one quickly before their lips met and started devouring each other with passion.

That night they danced a dance in which neither music nor words were necessary.

Just the two of them.

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Thank you so much for reading! Here are the reblogs the original post got so you can read other people's opinions if you'd like. Of course, thank you so much to each and every single one of you for your lovely feedback! 💖

-@dragon-fly34's reblog.

-@vulpixfairy1985's reblog.

-@teegeeteegee's reblog.

-@peaches2217's reblog.

-@itsavee4117's reblog.

-@knighted-princess's reblog.

-@dragon-fly34's answer (sorry I didn't get to reply btw! 🙏).

Of course, thank you to @wahooitsamee, @megamagimugi, @kelbreyworshipper and @ask-rosalina-and-her-family for your lovely comments on the original post! I deeply appreciate it 🥰

Also, I hope it's okay if I ask those of you who already reblogged the original post to perhaps consider reblogging this one too, so it reaches a wider audience now that it's fixed. I'd sincerely appreciate that 🥰

Comments and likes are obviously more than welcome too, and please remember that my asks and PMs remain open for whoever would like to reach out, share an idea, ask me anything...

Thank you so much for your help in building up this new blog, and I hope you're ready for more Luaisy and musicians content coming in the future 🥰

EDIT: I would just like to add that it's totally fine if you'd like to create something inspired by this post, as long as you properly credit me, of course! That's all I ask for 💖

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cheesybadgers · 9 months ago

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Narcos Fic: Old Habits Die Hard (Chap. 24)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Pairing: Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo

Words: 3,440

Summary: It's been 15 years since Horacio and Javier brought down Gacha in Tolú, and now they're back where their story began.

Warnings: 18+ ONLY. Brief allusions to period-typical prejudices/politics/legislation, very brief sexual references, smoking, swearing, all the fluff.

Notes: Well....I feel like I should post this with a fanfare or something (just imagine there's one playing), but oh boy, oh man, oh god. I did it. I flipping did it 😭 It's only taken 36 months, copious amounts of blood, sweat and tears, a deranged amount of research, the last shred of my sanity, and probably a fair amount of back/neck pain from sitting at my laptop for too long to get here. But hey, if I don't write a self-indulgent novel-length fix-it fic for a criminally underrated rarepair from a defunct TV show, WHO WILL, I ASK THEE? 😂

I can't fully explain the journey this fic has taken me and my writing on, or the deep love I have in my heart for this ship and the OHDH universe that has lived constantly in my head these last few years. Even when I'm not actively writing, so many things remind me of these two everywhere I go. They got me through the darkest days of the pandemic and somehow became my comfort ship, despite er, certain canon events we don't talk about in this house.

Anyway, I think you've all heard quite enough from me for the time being. So, I will just say thank you so, so, so much to anyone who has read, commented, kudosed, reblogged, liked, sent me messages, made me things, suggested music recs, generally been incredibly supportive and kind ❤️

And thank you to anyone who may stumble across this fic in future. Please never be afraid to leave a comment, even if you're reading several years down the line, I will always love to hear from people about this story.

There will also be some moodboards and playlists posted on my Tumblr at some point (and *maybe* some new - much shorter lol - fics eventually) once I've caught my breath back a bit.

For the final time (unless I randomly think of anything I've forgotten, which is more than likely lol), I’ve also added to my OHDH trivia post to cover this chapter if anyone is interested.

Chapter 24: Suerte (Epilogue)

Early evening rays painted the pastel horizon, their last act of the day transforming the shimmering ocean into an inky palate of fuchsia, violet and saffron, the golden sands at the shore still warm to the touch hours past dusk.

Come the weekend, Colombians would travel far and wide to descend on the many beaches, bars and restaurants that dotted the waterfront. Or if they were feeling adventurous, they would birdwatch, dive off the Islas de San Bernardo, or canoe amongst the mangroves.

But it was mid-week and mid-December – when most locals were at work and school or preparing for Christmas. So, for now, Horacio and Javier had the place to themselves.

There was the added bonus of the coastline turning into a dense forest of palm trees just along from their beach house, civilisation a mile or so away on either side of them, so even at peak times, they remained secluded. It had become a daily ritual to luxuriate in the peace and quiet; a pre-dinner swim with no trunks required followed by entwined limbs and sand in their hair as the sun went down.

Today was no exception, the gentle lapping of the waves around them and their shallow breaths the only sounds to be heard, the taste of salt and scent of sun lotion heavy in the air and on their skin as Horacio rocked into Javier, slow and deep, their chests and foreheads drawn together.

It was almost dark when Javier switched on the shower taps, cascading soothing jets over his head, neck and shoulders. As he soaked his hair, the lights from inside the beach house sprung to life, illuminating the outdoor bathroom with an ambient glow. It was a feature of the premium accommodation they had splashed out on, a rare treat away for a special occasion.

The outside space was a mix of wood, tiles and natural stone for the walls and floors, encased by tall plants and trees for extra privacy. A double shower stood on a platform at the end of a walkway, with a large hot tub branching off in the other direction. On their first night here, they had opted for the tub, surrounding it with candles as a belated ode to Día de las Velitas, lost in each other beneath the bubbles and the stars.

A sturdy embrace enveloped Javier from behind, a position they had found themselves in every morning by the shore before breakfast, looking out to a tranquil sea and a kaleidoscopic sky. The day jobs kept them both on their feet and in good shape, although there was more softness around their stomachs, and Javier was stockier than in his younger years. But his upper body was even broader with muscle now.

He was no gym fiend, but he had accompanied Horacio in some of his strengthening training, wanting to keep his stamina up as much as possible. Not just for the obvious but because he was sometimes required to carry the heavier supplies at work and didn’t want to be shown up in front of his largely youthful team.

It was a welcome development to Horacio, whatever the reason. Not that he ever had any complaints before, but watching Javier blossom as he aged was a wonder to behold. Not to mention, there was more of him to enjoy now.

As for Horacio, aside from the sloping curve of his midriff, he was sheer jaguar strength. Not only in the noticeable places, but his core muscles were in peak condition, the daily horse riding improving his posture and taking him back to the drill commands of his cadet years. His skin was more weathered, and his days of being meticulously cleanly shaven at all times were long gone. But Javier assured him – a lot – the ruggedness was part of the appeal.

Javier wasn’t one to talk either, stubble being a more regular feature alongside his moustache nowadays. But that was mainly due to lack of time in his busy schedule rather than preference, so it wasn’t unheard of for Horacio to do the honours for him. For some reason, Horacio delicately scraping a razor blade across his jaw from the comfort of his lap was far more appealing to Javier than doing it himself in front of the bathroom mirror.

Their hair contained more grey patches, especially around the temples, which was easier to hide when they grew it longer. That wasn’t practical during the sweltering heat of a Texan summer, so they kept it shorter in the hotter months. But in the winter, they could run their fingers through choppy waves and coils of curls to their hearts’ content. And luckily for them, their anniversary fell in December.

“Can you believe it’s been 15 years to the day?” Horacio asked, scattering kisses across Javier’s back.

“This doesn’t even feel like the same fucking place, to be honest.”

“Tell me about it.”

Horacio let out a huff as flashbacks of leading his men on a fleet of raiding crafts towards Gacha’s hideout collided with memories from merely days ago of him and Javier island hopping in a hire boat along the same waters. They had taken a platter of fresh seafood and fruit, exploring the remotest beaches and lagoons, where their only company was the local wildlife.

He could still remember the sensation of the blood at his temple as he lay disorientated on the sand in the aftermath of the explosion, a stark contrast to dozing together under the shade of a palm tree or reading aloud to each other the words of Lorca, Gaitán Durán, Arbeláez, Neruda, Paz, Castellanos and Mistral.

“Although, I did notice signs for the barracks towards Coveñas when we were driving here,” Horacio added with a nostalgic smirk.

“Oh yeah? You didn’t want another night there for old times’ sake?” Javier tilted his head until he found Horacio’s lips with his teeth.

Horacio hummed and put up no resistance, his wet hands sailing with ease down Javier’s body, finding purchase at his hip bones. “It was tempting. But I figured you’d want to make the most of this before Christmas.”

“Damn right.”

They took turns massaging shampoo into each other’s scalps, lathering the suds through thick spirals, tenderly pulling at strands until they purred, thoroughly indulging in the sensation whilst they had the chance. And then they did it all again, rinsing off the soap, floating away on the meditative pressure of the faucet and their fingers.

“We could always see if Alejandra has more spa freebies if it gets too much, though,” Javier suggested through the haze of steam now cocooning them.

“I like your thinking.”

It had been a while since they last used such tickets, their previous visits not dissimilar to how their current vacation was playing out. But despite the chaos that would no doubt ensue, they were looking forward to catching up with Horacio’s side of the family. Between expanding businesses in Texas and Manizales and the oldest half of the brood living and working elsewhere now with the twins staying at home studying, they didn’t get to meet up as much as they would have liked.

However, Elena visited Laredo several times, swapping life stories and recipes with Chucho and joining Horacio and Javier in San Antonio one spring for the Fiesta. Her last holiday outside of Colombia had been before Alejandra and Horacio were born, so she was determined to take advantage of having family abroad before age finally caught up with her. There had even been discussions of a trip to Madrid if Horacio and Javier could arrange cover at work the following year.

“Pops is flying out on the 20th, right?”

“Yes. Marco and Raúl are covering the ranch and animals until your father’s back on the 28th. And Jorge is covering the farm until we’re home from Miami in the New Year.”

No one was keen to leave Luna, Sol and Leo, who had long since retired from ranch duties, but between work and Christmas commitments, Connie taking a full-time job in a different hospital, now Olivia was a teenager going on 30, and the earlier-than-expected arrival of Felipe’s and Juana’s second child – Óscar, a little brother to Claudia – New Year was the only time everyone’s schedules matched up.

These days, Luna, whose main residence was the cottage now, Sol and Leo spent most of their time nestled on furniture or looking for treats in the kitchen whenever food was prepared. However, Luna would sometimes still ride in the back of Horacio’s truck and keep him company in the lower fields.

Kira and Fuego had become old pros, showing their younger siblings, Cielo and Tierra, the ropes, not as replacements to the trio but as a new team with their own quirks and personalities. Thankfully, the dogs and Coco had taken well to the pair of barn cats, Churro and Tamale, who patrolled the outbuildings and dealt with any rodent intruders.

Meanwhile, Chucho showed few signs of slowing down, except one summer when he twisted an ankle, and even that was hard work to get him to rest. But he had been happy to step back from some of his more physically demanding responsibilities in recent years, trusting that the ranch and farm were in capable hands. With their expansion plans a resounding success – plus some new ones up their sleeves – he had become more involved in the business side of the operation alongside Miguel.

And, of course, he was always happy to offer Horacio advice whenever needed. But for the most part, he left him to it since Félix’s retirement, preferring to arrange for the guesthouses to be refurbished or to deliver fresh batches of cooking to aid workers and exhausted arrivals alike on the frontline of the border.

“Bet Jorge was as thrilled about that arrangement as my team.”

“Well, we can always delegate to our deputies whenever necessary. One of the perks of being promoted.”

It had taken Horacio five years under Félix’s watchful eye – and decades of experience – to be granted the title of farm manager. Then, Félix had retired the previous year, satisfied he had picked the right man as his successor and Jorge as deputy.

Horacio still had plenty to learn and likely always would with the constant conveyor belt of change to farming methods and technology that landed on his desk each month. However, there was a sense of familiarity with certain parts of the job, like the meetings, the paperwork, and the budget constraints. Except, this time, it all came without the funerals, the upper echelons of the CNP breathing down his neck, and the crushing weight of a country’s future on his shoulders.

“And a holiday on the Caribbean coast was necessary, was it?” Now that Javier’s hair was free from sand and shampoo, he turned to face Horacio, their lips almost touching.

Horacio nodded sagely and closed the gap. “A critical business need.”

------------------------------------------------------

Once dried off, they lay in a hammock in matching white towel robes under the thatched porch of their beach house with a perfect view of the sea, moon and stars.

“So, you like it here?” Horacio asked after a comfortable silence.

“It’s beautiful. I’m glad we came back – to see it how it’s meant to be.”

“Me too. Although, I fear violence will always be a parasite latched onto Colombia. Just when you think it’s gone from one place, it rears its head again in another. Or even the same place twice if you’re unlucky.”

Horacio remembered the stories he had heard from Trujillo in the last couple of years – particularly about Operation Orion. Officially, the incursion on Comuna 13 had been a success by the Colombian military against the likes of FARC. Unofficially, however, there were rumours of a leaked CIA report, disappeared individuals, and collusion between an Army General and none other than Don Berna’s subordinate. It was hard to keep faith that Medellín would ever be free from its past when history had such a predictable habit of repeating itself.

“I know. It feels like one step forward and two steps back in the States, too. Terrorism might be the new bogeyman, but re-branding to ICE and throwing a shitload of money at the DHS hasn’t stopped the drugs and the people finding their way over the border.”

Javier had heard directly from Steve about the shift in his job role since 9/11. Overnight, Steve’s whole department was removed from their current caseloads and signed up for every counter-terrorism and narco-terrorism course under the sun. It was now customary for DEA agents to be redeployed to the FBI as intelligence analysts if resources required. And if their eyes and ears were pulled away from the drug traffickers, it didn’t take a genius to figure out the consequences.

Meanwhile, in Texas, if anything, people only took graver risks in the wake of a beefed-up Border Patrol. Javier had spent a lot of the past year helping to set up new aid teams in Arizona and New Mexico, the inhospitable conditions of the desert not enough of a deterrent to stop families trying their luck or handing over their life savings to coyotes who didn’t care whether they made it across alive.

“But small things can add up to change. Bit by bit,” Javier added. “And at least they can’t arrest us for fucking in our own home anymore.”

“True. Not that the law stopped us before...” Horacio nuzzled against Javier’s neck before making a move to get up.

They may have joked in the here and now, but it wasn’t a change they took for granted. In fact, Luz and Carla had even persuaded Javier to attend a protest or two and pay bond and legal fees for those who had been arrested. After all, he’d had plenty of experience exchanging money for people’s freedom.

When news of the Supreme Court decision spread, it was another weight off their backs and one less reason to look over their shoulders, a chance to permanently put to bed memories of being spied on during such unguarded sacred moments. It was the final line to be drawn under those dark years, not to erase them because that was impossible. But it was, at least, closure.

Their cigarette was almost done, and Horacio had left the opened pack on the kitchen counter. Once retrieved, he took out another and leaned into Javier across the hammock, pressing the tip of his unlit cigarette against the lit one until it sparked.

“But you’re right,” Horacio continued, holding Javier’s gaze between exhaling a plume of smoke. He balanced on the edge of the hammock, just enough to stop it tipping sideways. “Things can change. But only if we want them to.” He perched their new cigarette between his lips as he reached into the pocket of his robe.

Their first cigarette was little more than a stub, so Javier stooped down to the ashtray on the floor to extinguish it. Once he sat up again, a small cubed box was presented into his spare hand.

Javier stared at the black box and blew out remnants of smoke, eyeing Horacio with an unreadable expression, an unspoken question and answer lingering between them and the mist of tobacco.

He prised open the box to reveal a ring of plain silver. Or, so he thought at first glance. But as he raised it towards the moon, the iridescent light caught on the inner band to reveal an inscription.

Suerte que encontré a mi media naranja.

(Lucky that I found my soulmate.)

“Fuck, Horacio…” Javier’s voice was strained, and his words came out as little more than a whisper. He held the ring between his thumb and forefinger, letting the ethereal reflection from above capture each word.

Horacio watched every shift in Javier’s face with bated breath and a dry throat, his limbs lead and weightless all at once.

“The world’s changing around us,” Horacio said at last; swallowing his nerves and summoning his courage. “But no matter what the law or courts say in any state or country, this can mean whatever we want it to mean.”

Javier’s jaw worked back and forth, his teeth clamping down on the inside of his cheeks. But it was no use, and he let out a trembling scoff, an attempt to distract from the shining pupils he finally confronted Horacio with.

And then a broad smile crept across Javier’s features, his palm connecting with Horacio’s cheek before he plucked the cigarette from his fingers and took a drag. “Pass me my jeans.”

It took Horacio a moment to process Javier’s request. Of all the responses he had prepared for – the good and the bad – that hadn’t been on his list, funnily enough. With narrowed eyes and pursed lips, he complied and fetched the jeans that had been flung over a sun lounger when they stripped off to swim earlier. Apparently, regardless of how humid the climate in Tolú became, denim remained a reliable staple of Javier’s wardrobe.

“Check my left pocket.”

Whatever Javier was up to, Horacio was torn between intrigue and irritation at Javier’s temerity to issue orders despite leaving him hanging. But he did as he was told, and in an instant, everything made sense.

“I can always take it back if you’d prefer…”

But Horacio was already opening the near-identical box, and any teasing faded to white noise as he came face-to-face with the gold equivalent of his own proposal.

“Hold it up to the light.”

The night sky was brighter now, making it easier for the inscription to be revealed.

Mi amor, mi vida, mi hogar, mi vaquero. Siempre tuyo.

(My love, my life, my home, my cowboy. Yours always.)

It was Javier’s turn to observe, and it didn’t take long for Horacio to raise a brow in his direction, shooting him a look of feigned exasperation that only came with the territory of a relationship as enduring as theirs.

“What?” Javier said with disingenuous innocence and a vulpine smile.

It was a contagious kind of smile, one that reminded Horacio they were equals in this and that he shouldn’t have been surprised Javier had the same idea.

“I take it my mother showed you her ring?”

“On my first visit to Manizales. It was beautiful. And so’s this.”

“As is this.”

“I like to think I put my own spin on it.”

“You did.”

They sat side-by-side on the hammock, legs facing towards each other with the rings held in their outstretched hands.

Javier’s thumb slid across Horacio’s left palm, tracing patterns over new callouses born from hard labour rather than war. He circled his wrist, waiting for the familiar rhythm but finding a beat that was, unsurprisingly, drumming quicker than usual.

After subduing with his touch, Javier retrieved the gold band, gliding it carefully onto Horacio’s ring finger, easing it over the knuckle until it rested snugly at the base.

They sat transfixed, marvelling at the light dancing across it as Horacio’s thumb ran back and forth over the curved surface in fascination.

Horacio repeated the ritual of mapping Javier’s left hand, lacing their fingers together as a tangible reminder of their bond. Their devotion. Their vow. Their choice. Whether the law honoured it one day or not.

He picked up the silver to his gold, shimmying it along Javier’s ring finger and passing beyond the slight resistance at his knuckle. Not too much force, but firm enough for it to sink perfectly into place.

With palms connected and fingers interlocked, their foreheads met, chests rising and falling in tandem.

“Te amo tanto, Javier.”

“Yo también te amo. Tanto, Horacio. Tanto.” Javier whispered, over and over in Horacio’s ear like a prayer – their prayer – before brushing his lips above Horacio’s brow, the bridge of his nose, both cheeks and down to his mouth, creating their own sign of the cross with each kiss. A new beginning and a welcome home.

They untied their robes and collapsed onto the hammock in a tangle of limbs, silver and gold melding at their chests and hands; their past, present and future as inseparable as their hearts, bodies and souls.

With one smooth motion, Horacio pinned Javier’s arms down into the netting of the hammock, a dark, hungry gaze passing between them as cool metal fused with hot skin.

15 years and several lifetimes may have gone by. But when Horacio had the man he loved, the man who loved him, his media naranja, underneath him, only one word ran through his head. Mine.

Old habits die hard, he supposed.

#Narcos fic #Narcos #Javier Peña #Horacio Carrillo #Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo #Pedro Pascal #Maurice Compte #Narcos fanfic #Narcos fanfiction #Narcos fan fic #My Fan Fic #My Narcos Fic

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futurebird · 1 year ago

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Where are the image descriptions on this site?!

How is it that Mastodon (aka the fediverse) has tumblr beat for having image descriptions? I almost NEVER see images without a description there. But here? It's an epidemic. Listen, they don't need to be long or fancy, just say what the image is! Think of it this way, if the image is a part of a joke did you say enough so people could get it? Would your post make any sense without the image included? What text would you add so that it could still make sense? (It's true that descriptions can sometimes occur in context, or using text that isn't in that particular box. But, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the sheer volume of posts that are mostly images and not a one has a word to describe them. Those posts are just useless spam to many people. ) I always thought refusing to reblog undescribed images was a little extreme. But I totally get it now. From here out? If I don't have the time to add an image description myself? I'm not going to reblog it. I'm not the only person like this. I know many people who simply won't reblog anything with undescribed images. I'm fed up! ( It will take some time for my queue to catch up. I'm slowly adding descriptions in there too. In fact, it was going through my queue and seeing how many descriptions I'd need to add that set me off. Why do I have to fix everything? Were it just one or two missing, that's fine, but it's most of them. If everyone just described their images in the first place when they posted it would be taken care of ... When you get in the habit of doing it you don't really notice the 30 seconds it takes. I didn't always know to do this, and maybe you didn't either but you can start today!)

But I post mostly art, why do I need descriptions?

Image descriptions aren't just helpful to people who are totally blind. ( And as @the-smol-machine pointed out in the comments totally blind people enjoy art. ) Descriptions help everyone who uses screen readers including many people with sight. There are different degrees (and kinds) of blindness and since many blind people enjoy art, if you describe your art this helps. Don't you want more people to enjoy your art? For example, my niece loves art, but to look at it she needs to make it much bigger and spend some time taking it in bit by bit. She only bothers if she knows what it might be and a description helps her put the image together in her mind. Descriptions also help with other disabilities that don't have anything to do with sight, but rather how people process information. Heck, I generally enjoy reading them myself just to know that I got everything the poster wanted from the image. (I'm not an expert on this topic at all. Suggestions badly wanted, but I am frustrated and annoyed that "describe the images" isn't more of a normal tumblr thing. )

#images #image descriptions #describe the images #visually impaired #screen reader #visual impairment #actually blind #blind #alt text #write alt text

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dear-friends-12 · 2 years ago

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When you get jealous. (Ninjago boys x reader) HC

Kai

You didn’t care for this Skylar girl. For some reason Kai acted a bit differently with her. You didn’t know why. Until you found out that they dated for months. They broke up for some unknown reason. All of this happened before Kai met you. You were jealous yes. But,Kai looked so happy when he was with her. All you wanted was for him to be happy. You sighed. He thought that you needed a day out. Only he brought Skylar. You didn’t get upset. Because Kai didn’t know what you were dealing with. He thought that you were stressed. After all you had to translate an ancient book for the team. This was a very hard task. Because it was in an ancient language that nobody understood. Zane tried. But,he didn’t understand it either.

The three of you went to the boardwalk fair. “Look (Y/n) it’s your favorite restaurant! Let’s get a bite to eat.”Kai said. “The desserts look good too.” Skylar added. “Huh? Yeah that sounds good.” You replied. Maybe if you ate something it would cheer you up. This is your favorite place to eat. Only you kept on looking out the window and not paying attention. Even when after you were done eating. You almost hit your head on light post. Kai grabbed your hand and lead you away. “Watch out.” He said. You had a huge blush on your face. “Sorry.” You apologized. “You don’t have to apologize. Are you feeling okay? It wasn’t the food was it?” Kai asked concerned. You shook your head. “No. I-I just have a lot on my mind.” You admitted. “Maybe we should go back.” Skylar suggested. “No. I don’t want to ruin your night. I’ll wait here you can go on a ride.” You said.

Later, You texted Kai saying that you went back to the bounty. He hadn’t seen Skylar for a long while and you didn’t want to ruin. You tried working on translating the book. But,you couldn’t. You had too many what if’s in your mind. You laid in bed. Kai knocked on your door and you told him to come in. “What was that about? We should’ve headed back together.” “It’s okay. I made it back safely.” You replied. “I know. But,if anything happened to you…” He said frowning. “Nothing did.” You held his hand. “Honey what’s wrong with you? You’re not yourself.” He said hugging you. You told him. “You don’t have to feel that way. Because I realized that you’re the one for me. I love you so much. You brighten up my day when I’m blue.” He smiled at you. You cried. “Shhh. It’s going to be okay.” He said. That night he made sure that you got all the hugs and kisses you needed.

Jay

Jay has been hanging out with Nya way too much lately. At first it didn’t bother you. Jay likes fixing things and Nya likes fixing things. It made sense. Until he was late for your date. He had you waiting for two hours. After waiting for two hours. You went back to the bounty and to your room. “What should I do? Maybe Jay just forgot…or got lost track of time. Yeah that has to be it.” You said brushing your jealousy away. You knew that he couldn’t be with you all the time. Besides Nya is his friend. You know how much he treasures his friends. You sent Jay a simple text. “I love you. <3” You went to bed early that night. Only you did have trouble sleeping.

You got up in the middle of the night and admired the stars. “I probably just needed fresh air.” You said hugging yourself. You could feel like someone was near you. “Jay I know that you’re busy. But,I really want to spend time with you.” You said sighing. You turned around to see Cole. “Oh sorry. I thought you were Jay.” You apologized. “You don’t have to apologize. Why are you crying? Did something happen?” He asked. “I’m not..” You began. Then you realized that you were crying a bit. “I just had a bad dream. That’s all.” “Do you want to talk about it?” He asked. “No. Thank you. Actually…how close are Jay and Nya?” “Well,they dated for a while. That was way before you joined the team.” “Oh? Do you think that they love each other still?” You asked. You wanted Jay to be happy. After all you love him to pieces. Even if it meant letting him go. “I think you need to tell him.” Cole said. “But,I don’t want to seem clingy though. I’ll think about it.” You replied.

Jay felt awful about missing the date. So,he was going to apologize. He wanted to give you breakfast in bed. “Good morning.” He said. “J-Jay what time is it?” You asked. “It’s almost ten in the morning Buttons.” “Oh? I didn’t sleep well last night.” You said rubbing your eyes. “I-I heard.” He said frowning. Jay saw you last night talking to Cole. The only thing he heard was that you couldn’t sleep. Jay remembered that Cole kinda liked you too. “(Y/n) I’m really sorry. Nya and I are..” Jay stopped. He didn’t want to tell you about your birthday gift. “I know.” “You do?! Oh no!” He yelled. No one knows about the gift. How did you find out? “Listen it’s okay if you still love Nya.” “What?! No! I don’t still like Nya. What makes you think that?” He pulled you into a tight hug. “But,you’ve been nonstop talking about her…” “You’re jealous? Buttons you don’t have to be. I love you sooo much! Besides I can be myself around you. When I was with Nya..I always pretended to be someone I wasn’t. You love me for me.” He said. “Jay I’m sorry for getting jealous.” You said. “It happens to everyone..” He said. It has happened to him before. You hugged him. “I love you so much.” You smiled. He made it up to you for missing the date. By bringing you to your favorite cafe.

Cole

Lately you’ve been acting weird. You had a terrible feeling in your chest. It happened when Cole was with Nya alone. You didn’t know why. You didn’t pay attention as Lloyd went on about some cool thing he did. You turned your head to see Cole and Nya talking. Even Jay was looking at them. “Are you listening?” Lloyd asked. “Huh? Oh yeah. You did the laundry and the dishes.” You said. “Uh no. I was talking about the last battle we had. Why are you acting so weird?” He asked. You didn’t answer. “Ha! The two of you are jealous!” Lloyd said. “Are not! Now be quiet before they hear us!” You and Jay said in unison. “Okay okay. But,you two are definitely jealous.” Lloyd said. “Lloyd stop!” You said frowning. Lloyd left the room. “What are you doing?” Cole asked. “Ah! Jay did you hear about that new movie?” You asked. “It looks so good. Ha ha.” Jay responded. “What are you two up to?” Nya asked. “Nothing.” Jay said frowning. “I-I think Pixel was calling me.” You said walking away. “Huh? Pixel isn’t even here.” Cole said frowning.

You and Jay were talking about how stupid it was. The two of you didn’t need to get jealous. “You’re with Nya.” You said. “You and Cole are a couple. So,I don’t understand why we’re jealous.” Jay said. “Yeah,I don’t get it.” You said smiling. The two of you thought that was a good idea to go talk to them. “Kai, have you seen Cole or Nya?” You asked. “Yeah. They went to the shopping district.” He replied. “What?!” You and Jay said in unison. “That’s creepy.” Kai said. “I know.” Lloyd said. You and Jay went to the shopping district. “I can’t see anything.Jay your big head is in the way.” You said. “They’re looking for a gift.” He said. You frowned upon getting caught. “What are you doing here?” Nya asked. “Uh…we wanted to look at the pens. Right Jay?” “Yeah I love pens.” He replied. “This is flower shop.” Cole said. “Oh right.” You said blushing.

Later that night you were pouting. Cole wanted to talk in private. “Babe why are acting weird?” He asked. You didn’t want to tell him. “I get it you’re jealous. Because I’ve been hanging around Nya a lot. You’re cute when you’re jealous.” He said. You pouted. “I am not.” You said blushing. “You are. But,I’m not mad at you for getting jealous. Next time though can you tell me. I don’t want you to feel like I don’t love you.” “Fine.” You said blushing. “That’s my love.” He said kissing your forehead.

Zane

Pixel seemed perfect for Zane. They had so much in common. That it caused you to have a really weird feeling. You didn’t understand what it was. But,you hated it. Kai asked if you’re okay. You didn’t answer. Pixel was very interested in Zane. She had questions about his functions and it got annoying. You were alone with Pixel. “Please leave Zane alone. I don’t think he likes it when you ask so many questions.” You said frowning. “But,Zane is unique. He has functions that I don’t understand. He’s is really special.”Pixel responded. You sighed. Yes Zane is special. He’s very kind to you. Even though you can be very rude sometimes. Zane has the patience to be with you. You never had anyone care for you like Zane does. Mostly because you had a hard time showing others kindness and love. Pixel is more polite than you are and doesn’t require patience. You wanted to be polite. Also you wanted to show Zane how much you love him. “I know. Zane is really..um something.” You said frowning. You really wanted to say amazing or incredible. But,you couldn’t.

You didn’t like the feeling of jealousy. It was eating you up inside. You were quiet too quiet. You didn’t even make a remark if Jay said something dumb. You just didn’t seem to care. Maybe it was the ninjdroids they’re causing trouble. They captured Lloyd. Maybe you were secretly worried about him. Zane took you aside. He wanted to be there for you. If you’re worried then he wanted to comfort you. “Darling? What is troubling you?” Zane asked politely. This was the first time he called you a cute name. “N-Nothing.” You said walking away. You could hear Pixel asking as to why you acted like that. The ninja didn’t know. But,Zane knew that you cared for him. You just didn’t show it that much.

You turned in for the night. Only to Zane’s dismay you didn’t have dinner. You also haven’t done your bedtime routine. Normally you would have something hot to drink like tea and Zane would make sure that you were relaxed. “May I come in?” He asked. “Sure.” You said trying not to seem upset. “I brought you something to eat.” “Um…thanks.” You said quietly. “What’s the matter? You haven’t been yourself.” Zane asked frowning. “Really? You don’t have to worry about me.” You said turning away from him. Maybe if you acted cold enough Zane wouldn’t worry about you. He sat next to you on the bed. “Is it about Lloyd? Because we’re close to finding him.” He asked. You are a little worried about him. You shook your head. “You don’t have to tell me. Just know that I’m here.” Zane said holding your hand. You turned your head and blushed. “It’s Pixel. I can’t stand her. She’s getting too close to you and she’s everything that I’m not. I’m not polite or caring.” You said frowning. “You are a lot of other things though. You just don’t see it. But,I do. You’re a diamond in the rough.” Zane said smiling. You did something that you don’t usually do. You hugged him.

Lloyd.

There was something odd about this Harumi girl. You couldn’t put a finger on it. You had a really weird feeling around her. Especially when she was talking with Lloyd. Kai and Nya tried to reassure you that you’re probably just shy. You’re really close with Kai and Nya. They took you in when they found you wounded and alone. Turns out you didn’t remember who you were before that day and you still don’t. Also you didn’t like talking about it. So,Kai and Nya didn’t tell anyone. You wanted to believe them. That you’re just shy. Only when you saw Lloyd and Harumi together in the city alone. You felt really sad and a bit angry. Lloyd looked really happy. You wanted to pull her away from him. But,you didn’t. Lloyd deserves to be happy. He had a rough life. However you wanted to be the one to be there for him. You stood there for a while before leaving.

Lloyd was the first notice that you weren’t quite yourself. Normally you would look at him from across the room. Just cute small glances. Also you would put notes of encouragement in his lunch box. But,he hasn’t gotten one in a while. What bothered him was that you wouldn’t even talk to him. This wasn’t you just being shy. This was something different. You were in a funk and he was going to try to get you out of it. You were in your room. Trying to rest. When you heard a knock on the door. You let him in. “Hey. I..uh brought you something to eat. Don’t worry I didn’t cook it.” He said. You shook your head. “Maybe later then.” He put the tray down on your nightstand. You didn’t look at him. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” You said still not looking at him. “It’s not nothing.” “But,I’m fine.” You said. Lloyd crossed his arms. “Is about Morro?” He asked a little worried. Morro wanted to take you away. He had a weird obsession over you and Lloyd had a weird feeling when Morro talked about you. Especially when he tried to give you flowers or stuffed animals. Lloyd got a little jealous and he didn’t know why. But,luckily him and his friends saved you. Before he could take you away. N-No.” You blushed.

“You don’t have to worry. I don’t think he’ll come back anytime soon.” Lloyd reassured you. He put a hand on your shoulder. You gently took his hand off your shoulder and he held your hand. Lloyd never got to ask you. Did you like it when Morro took care of you? Did you like him? He did get very close to you. But,it looked like you didn’t want to talk about it. To Lloyd’s dismay you let go of his hand and looked away. “Are you-” He began. Were you mad at him? “Just go back to Harumi. I think I heard her calling for you. Your relationship with her should come first.” You didn’t want to look at him. This made him worry. This wasn’t your shyness taking over. “What?! I’m not with Harumi! I don’t even like her.” Lloyd said frowning. “But,I saw you with her. You looked like you were blushing.” You said. “Ah! Well,she was teasing me.” Lloyd blushed. She asked him why he was talking about you so much. He even showed her your favorite sweet shop. “Oh? I’m sorry for misunderstanding.” “You don’t have to apologize.” He said. Lloyd was just glad to clear things up.

#cute #lloyd x reader #ninjago #fluff #zane x reader #cole x reader #jay x reader #kai x reader #head canon #HC

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bellybiologist · 11 months ago

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Tallying up the Year

I hope you guys' december (which is almost over already, wtf) is going/has gone well! 2024 is upon us.

This christmas weekend, I mostly found myself thinking about how this year went, and honestly? despite all the things I haven't gotten to do, I still managed to accomplish quite a lot.

Me typing this rambly post out is less anything anyone needs to read, but more to remind myself of Things That Got Done™ than anything else because sometimes... I forget I do be getting shit done! And it's important we remind ourselves of the work we do.

The Things That got Done™

I advocated for my own Health. I scheduled (and went to!) so many doctor and dental appointments this year, holy shit. But, if the last few years have taught me anything, I simply have to put in the effort. I got my colon mostly sorted out, started a new regimen for my skin and hair (after chopping it off) so I'm feeling better, schedule an appointment with the optometrist in January, and even got lots of issues with my teeth fixed. Granted, our broken medical system made it incredibly stressful, and i spent thousands of dollars on the latter that I will be paying off til next july BUT!!!! This section is about the good things.

Started Streaming Again! I've been missing streaming since I stopped way back in I believe 2020. It was a fun way to interact with followers and supporters, so I'm glad I'm back to it on a regular schedule, with many of the old regulars still joining me while I work. Speaking of which:

I finished 43 total stream doodles. While I'm only filling a handful a month, it's definitely adding up! 40+ boys in the span of 5 months is nothing to scoff at, and that's not even considering that I'm doing this alongside normal patreon work.

I finished 39 total commissions this year. I'm definitely still going quite slowly, and I thank everyone who has been extraordinarily patient thus far, but I'm happy to say that my pace has been decent... at least relative to previous years. I got more done in the last 5 months than i did in the roughly year and a half period before 2023!

Replaced SEVERAL appliances that broke down. My computer moniter, my microwave, my refrigerator... all failed on my this year, and it took some work, but I finally managed to get them all replaced! So far, everything is working fine, but next on my agenda is to save up for a new desktop. This one I use for work has been at it since 2017, and it's about time to look into upgrading.

My Google Drive is Looking Nice. It's still not perfect, but I'm still immensely proud of how it's shaping up. There's still some curating of older pieces to do, but I've found a stride where I'm regularly updating it for people to peruse.

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Now despite these W's, I still got a long way to go. The things below could be considered resolutions for 2024, but that feels cursed to call them that. They are simply:

Things I Want to GET Done

Adding more YCH Figures. I was definitely expecting to have more to choose from by this point. And I really need to update some of the older ones too, because I think they've aged poorly. I got some neat suggestions and hopefully will find some time this week to showcase them in my discord to collect some feedback before releasing them.

Do more involved pieces/projects. I want to do more things like Comics, or simply pieces that I work on over the course of several sittings, ones where I can experiment and fiddle and practice!!! I rarely ever get to do that these days (I've only finished a few Big Personal Pieces this year), and I need to find time and energy to do them more because those are the things that truly make me feel like I grow as an artist. (and maybe I can find a shading style I actually fucking tolerate.). I also want to get more OC development and stuff done too, cuz I really didn't draw my children a whole lot this year!

Make more fucking Money!!!!! Let's not kid ourselves. I want to get to a point where I'm not just barely meeting the monthly quota. How to get there? I don't know, honestly. Things are so very stacked against artists right now, so it really does feel like the only thing that can be done is Not Give Up. Which I won't do. If/when I go down, I'm making it everyone else's problem. Trust. 😏

Save up to Visit the Boyfriend. I haven't seen him since January 2022! Big goal is to be comfortable enough to where I can fly my ass up there and smooch him. 👏🏽

======

I won't lie, i'm going into 2024 quite anxious and still scraping by by the skin of my teeth (that I'm still paying for). It's going to be a BIG year cuz oh boy, it's election year, there's plenty of family developments i gotta keep an eye on and work to be a part of... not to mention all the horrible stuff going on still (free palestine!).

Here's hoping shit goes our way this coming year! And let's get ,more strikes going so everyone is getting their fucking money!!! :V

#verzi rambles #god 2024 is a BIG year for lots of reasons

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shadowstarkanada · 2 years ago

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My thoughts on Verner Vogel

...and why he is M! Heh. I know I didn't do it justice because I couldn't come up with a way to do it. And that means it is rattling around in my brain still. Sherlock couldn't figure it out, and I don't think Mycroft had the pieces. All my evidence is circumstantial, but... I'll just have to lay it out as I see it! This is a nice, long, rambling post. Also includes spoilers for CO if you haven't finished it, so go play it! Love it! It's an awesome game, and maybe I am meta'ing to fix the bits I don't like!

Every conclusion Sherlock makes in CO is "right" but it's the old "if everyone's super, no one is." No conclusion Sherlock Holmes makes in this game should be taken as correct. Which means we shouldn't take his solutions or lack thereof as evidence. Verner's just a creep, thinks Sherlock, but we needn't.

Sherlock's.... pretty shit at deductions in CO? Like, he's really trying and all, but there are suspects he doesn't bother investigating. Verner's identity as Richter's brother is pretty clear as soon as you learn Otto has one, but Sherlock doesn't suspect it. At all. Not one little bit, not until the end of the game. Was that supposed to be a surprise, CO? Am I too genre savvy for my own good? Well... maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but they added no red herrings and it was obvious. Sometimes, though, when something is really obvious, it's because it's hiding something that's less obvious.

Also, there are a few cases where Sherlock simply ignores evidence that doesn't suit him. We have no chance to investigate the woman in the first section, though we can at least put that to the narrative structure required it, but we also have no chance to investigate Imogen in the Gilded Cage. The name of the case suggests Imogen. The structure of the case suggests Imogen. Jon's weird sidequest suggests Imogen. And yet, we cannot investigate anything related to her. Sherlock has discarded her as a suspect before we get a chance. She's innocent. We don't rule her in or out. Just like that strangely attractive painter that Jon keeps saying we should be nice to. Verner even lampshades it, with saying Sherlock's choices on who and what to investigate impact the outcomes. Damn, Verner.

Frogwares has pulled from many incarnations of Sherlock Holmes. In various games, he has different affinities to different versions: sometimes he's been Granada, sometimes he's been Sherlock, and I think he was once reminiscent of RDJ Holmes. As far as I can tell, they have a deep understanding of Sherlock... hmm... extended canon? Now then, modern Moriarty's diverge from the mathematician and typically lean on genius manipulator, which they seem to have done here. In light of that... Elementary's Moriarty is a painter. In particular, the first thing she says to Sherlock is "Oh! You're beautiful." And the last thing that Verner says, in his weird, creepy way, that references absolutely nothing in the actual game, is "You're so beautiful." What. Is. Up. With. That? I mean, the line. Referenced. Nothing. In the game. And the mental illness picture he gave Sherry? Stunning, yes, thought provoking, perhaps, but beautiful...? Not so much. Verner's also as creepy as Sherlock's Moriarty, if I do say so myself. And he looks like Moriarty the Patriot now that I think about it. I mean, okay, fair, also not evidence, but...

Moriarty is staying at the Palazzo when Sherry and Jon get there. He's even left a note on a table. He's upstairs somewhere while Sherlock is eating caviar and looking for the owners of canes or whatever. There is exactly one person who comes down the stairs: Verner Vogel. Sure, that's not a smoking gun, but it is an interesting coincidence.

M is established in the game as someone who does not contact people directly. He works through intermediaries. Now, Verner, he does talk to Sherlock, but then, when he doesn't get Sherlock's attention... Verner sends some dude to Sherlock's place and gives him a puzzle to get him to come visit. *side. eye.*

M tells Sherlock that he is watching him, and that he wonders what would happen if he pushes Sherlock's. What is it that Verner's doing through this whole game?

Verner happens to have blackmail material in his creepy dungeon that "oh, the original artist wouldn't sell." And only, y'know, select people get to go to the basement, because that's definitely what an art gallery is like.

Supposedly the blackmail was painted by Mercurio, except Sherry never gets to talk to him. He's delayed because Verner doesn't know where the artist is, and by the time Sherry gets there... he's dead.

By the way, that picture of the rapist was painted by someone at a creepy sex party where Cordona's elite were hanging out. The rapist claims he was drugged. Right, right, Mercurio.

Wait. Verner's a painter at a creepy sex party offering Sherry drugs, talking like he owns the entire island. Who owned that blackmail again...? Oh, Mercurio, the dead guy we never talked to! Right!

Creepy sex party is creepy, but who tries to get their new friend (frenemy? what even is Sherlock to Verner, I'm not sure, plaything seems most appropriate tbh) to do some sex and drugs if they've really brought them here to investigate a murder on the DL?

Sherlock: You must be disappointed the orgy didn't happen. Verner: No, no, I enjoy a spot of murder, Sherlock. Me: Dude. Dude. Verner: Oh, by the way, the evening was supposed to end with me simulating murder in much the same way this dead guy was murdered. Me: Okay then.

None of this is proof, of course. It's a game, and I can only investigate within the context of the game. Just as I must go around Imogen's guilt or innocence and try to infer whether she was involved or not, I cannot investigate Verner and must run it all around in circles. But...

Here is a man who is always in the right place at the right time, is manipulating Sherlock, is somehow on the sidelines of a blackmail plot, finds murder to be entertaining... in a place where M is, where M is watching, taking the same actions that M is threatening. In a game where Sherlock does not investigate what he's not interested in, where every truth is a lie... how can I not see the patterns in the static?

I admit that I am Sherlock Holmes with a cactus needle and no access to Barnes.

#verner vogel #crack theory #like my-head-is-cracked theory #sherlock holmes: chapter one

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berenwrites · 1 year ago

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Beyond the Battle - Chapter 27 - Stranger Things - Steddie

Beyond the Battle: Action & Consequence

Click here for All Posted Chapters

Summary: Steve hits things with a bat or gets hit depending on who you ask. He definitely does not have anything to do with the psychic stuff. That is El’s domain. However, as Vecna is defeated, the rules change.

Pairing: steddie (Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson)

Other Relationships: Steve & Robin, Steve & Dustin, Eddie & Dustin

Rating: Teen

A/N: Multi-chapter story, updated regularly. Honestly not sure how many chapters it will have yet because it's still a bit hand wavy in the middle, but definitely more than 12. Thank you to my beta for find my mistakes and to all those who read/like/reblog.💖 Follow #st:beyond-the-battle for updates.

Also on AO3

Chapter 27. What Now?

Everyone was kind enough not to bombard Steve with questions as Eddie helped him up and into his parent’s ensuite bathroom to clean up.

“So, how are you really feeling?” Eddie asked, hovering close by as he washed the blood off his hands and face.

“Kind of wild,” he admitted, leaning on the sink, and letting everything turn over in his mind.

Yes, he had helped Eddie, Hopper, and Max, but this had been a whole other experience. The others had all been slower for a start, and this had felt so much more urgent, so immediate.

“It was kind of wild to watch,” Eddie told him, stepping up behind him and placing a hand on his back. “Nancy was so pale, like she was already dead, and she came back to life under your hands. Birdie is right, it is amazing.”

“I still don’t know what I’m doing,” he said, watching the last of the bloody water circle the drain.

“Yeah, you do,” Eddie said, leaning closer to whisper in his ear. “You might not fully understand it, but I don’t fully understand how my van works, but I can still fix it.”

“Debateable,” Steve replied automatically, and Eddie scoffed at him.

He wasn’t sure he quite believed that, but they were in yet another crisis, so he pushed his doubts down.

“Did you explain everything to my mom, Wayne and your guys?” he asked, pulling off his shirt and picking up the soap to clean where the blood had soaked through.

“Hmmm,” was all that came back.

“Eds?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Sorry,” Eddie said, blinking and giving him a coy little smile, “got distracted. Give a guy some warning if you’re gonna rip your top off. Yes, they’ve all had Upside Down 101 and I explained about me and how I’m not dead too. Your mom is one formidable lady, I think Owens is in so much trouble when she gets her hands on him. When Robin gave her the rundown on Starcourt and the Russians, your mom looked like she was ready to kill. And I think Wayne is just glad to have an explanation for all the weird shit that’s been going on. Gareth, Jeff, and Frank look about how I felt when I learned about all this shit too.”

“And are you okay?” Steve asked as he splashed water to rinse off. “Can’t have been easy explaining where you really were.”

“There might have been a bit of manly crying,” Eddie said, trying to play it off with humour, but Steve could see how hard it had been. “And manly hugging too.”

“Well, as long as it was manly,” he replied in kind, but leaned over and pecked Eddie on the cheek at the same time. “I’d give you a manly hug too,” he added, “but I’m all wet.”

“No fair, Harrington,” Eddie complained, “you can’t promise me things like that and not deliver. And how did you manage to make this about me? I’m sure we were talking about you.”

“Yeah, well, we can do the heart to heart later, we’ve got a crisis to deal with right now,” he replied, refusing to dwell on things. “Can you find me a shirt, please?”

“No problem,” Eddie said and disappeared before Steve could suggest where to look.

Steve went back to cleaning up. He was towelling off when Eddie returned, flushed and breathing hard, clearly having been running. He laughed when he saw the shirt Eddie handed him.

“Y’know, my dad has clothes in the room just outside this door,” he said, but pulled on the band Tee Eddie had grabbed.

“Didn’t think of that,” Eddie said unrepentantly, “and your room is off limits, so you’ll just have to bow to the metal.”

“You just like me in your clothes,” Steve complained, even as he grabbed Eddie by the front of his shirt and gently pulled him closer. “Only for you.”

Eddie looped his arms around Steve’s shoulders as Steve leaned in for a proper kiss this time.

“You had me dressed in your clothes for days,” Eddie said into the kiss. “Turnaround is fair play.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that,” he agreed at which point his stomach gave an almighty growl and killed the moment.

“Come on,” Eddie said, “you need to refuel.”

When they walked out of the downstairs bedroom, the first thing Steve saw was Nancy sitting up, wearing a shirt that was way too big for her and clutching a mug.

“Nancy,” he said, giving her a pleased smile, “how are you feeling?”

What he really didn’t expect was for her to abandon the mug on the coffee table and launch at him, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Hey, you’re okay,” he said, wrapping her in his arms as she cried into his shoulder.

He had become so used to Nancy being the put-together one in a crisis that he wasn’t quite sure what to do. That and the fact he was feeling somewhat lightheaded did not help him process. He might also have swayed a bit.

“Okay, right, let’s move the hugging to the couch before you both fall down,” Joyce said from somewhere close.

Not being the complete idiot some of his friends thought he was, Steve went with it when a couple of pairs of hands steered them into empty seats.

“Sorry,” Nancy said, pulling back. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” he replied because he had no idea what else to say. “Sorry about the blouse.”

Nancy let out a short, loud laugh even though she was still crying.

“I think it was ruined anyway,” she said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Group hug,” Dustin yelled, and Steve just braced for impact.

It was silly and crazy, but the tangle of limbs seemed to be just what everyone needed. For a while Steve just let himself enjoy it. They had a mystery to solve and yet more danger to deal with, but celebrating the small victory was good for them.

“Okay, okay, enough,” Eddie’s voice finally cut through the chaos. “Steve and Nancy need to eat, like right now.”

The kids backed off, except Mike who stayed glued to his sister’s side perched on the arm of the couch. Steve couldn’t help feeling a little exposed. Now there was nothing between him and where his mom was standing to the side. When a plateful of mac-n-cheese was thrust into his hands he held it almost like a shield. His mom, usually so perfectly put together, even when she was being casual, looked like she might have been crying. Eddie hadn’t mentioned that.

“Okay, Mom?” he asked as that slowly sank in.

She gave him a tight smile and nodded, although her eyes looked kind of shiny. He patted the third seat on the couch in invitation. When she sat down, she reached out and pulled him in for a quick one arm hug.

“You should eat, Darling,” she told him.

He nodded, but couldn’t quite manage it straight away. For a few moments he searched her face, trying to read how she was reacting.

“You doing okay?” he asked, ignoring everything going on around them for a while.

“Steve, that should be my line,” his mom said seriously.

“Yeah, but you only just found out about all this,” he replied. “It’s a lot.”

“And if everything I have been told is true,” his mom countered, “you found out about this a week and a half ago.”

Steve did a mental calculation in his head and realised it was true. It felt so weird to realise that. He was still getting used to the idea, still adjusting, but it had been such a huge change it seemed like longer ago.

“I guess,” he replied.

“And you’ve been dealing with all this without being able to tell me or your father since you were sixteen,” his mom added and there was the fire Eddie had mentioned.

“Way older than most of the kids,” he pointed out.

“Steven,” his mother said in a tone that begged no argument, “that does not make it any better. The government made children sign NDAs, which is more than simply illegal. And they did it by blackmailing you all.”

He could tell his mother was incensed.

“Mom,” he said, placing a hand over hers, “are you okay?”

He knew a deflection when he saw it because he’d used more than a few of them himself. No doubt his mother was not about to let the matter drop, but it was not the time.

“Yes,” she replied, taking a deep breath, “I am just very, very angry.”

That would do for the time being.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied, “just very, very hungry.”

That managed to get a smile out of her. They were going to have to talk, probably for a long while, but with the crisis going on, it was not the time.

“Then eat,” his mom said, giving him a very small smile.

He smiled back and did as he was told. When Robin presented him with one of his shakes, he’d written the recipe down for cases of emergency, he could have kissed her. Instead, he ate his mac and cheese and sipped at the shake like it was ambrosia.

He was still eating when Hopper called for everyone’s attention.

“We need to figure this out,” the older man said.

Everyone who’d been through the Upside Down was sitting around nodding in a resigned way, his mom, Wayne and the Corroded Coffin guys appeared to be doing their best not to simply freak out.

“Nancy, you said you thought you were being followed,” Hopper said. “For how long?”

“I noticed something yesterday,” Nancy replied, placing her fork back in her bowl, “but it wasn’t until today I decided it wasn’t me being paranoid. Today it was two men in dark clothes in a car. I ditched them and came to you.”

Steve was impressed with how calmly she managed to recount the information. That she had successfully ditched a surveillance team was also pretty metal, as Eddie would no doubt describe it.

“Has anyone else seen anything suspicious?” Hopper asked next.

“There was a weird guy in the store when I went to pick up groceries yesterday,” Steve said as he thought about it. “He could just have been security though. I didn’t notice anyone following me back to town, and I always check because of Eddie.”

It had become a habit since Eddie began living with him. His house was far enough back from the road that no one could see into it without coming up the drive, but he liked to be sure.

Everyone else just made vague, inconclusive noises.

“I’ve heard everyone talk about Doctor Owens,” Eddie spoke up. “Could this be him?”

“Not likely,” Joyce said.

“He would not do this,” El agreed. “If he had wished to kill me, it would have been far easier when I was trapped in the Void. It is more likely the men who killed Papa.”

“The ones who tried to arrest us after the final battle,” Dustin piped up.

“They did what?” Steve’s mom asked.

“After El finished off Vecna, all these men in black uniforms appeared and wanted to take El away,” Lucas revealed.

“Only Dr Owens showing up with his own people with guns stopped them,” Will added.

Steve could see his mom adding more to her mental list.

“But why now?” Mike asked. “Why not when they first let us all go home?”

“Because the bureaucratic fighting is over,” Hopper said, staring at the ceiling and closing his eyes for a moment as if he thought he’d been an idiot.

“What do you mean?” Steve’s mom asked.

“Sam, uh, Doctor Owens offered me the job at the lab the day before yesterday,” Hopper revealed, “and he said it was because he’d finally made sure everything was settled and he was back in charge for good. If this black-ops colonel is as fanatical as I think he is, this might be his last-ditch solution.”

“But El saved the world,” Lucas pointed out as if it made no sense to him.

“I don’t think he sees El as a person,” Robin said, “just a weapon.”

“Which in his mind would make her even more dangerous now there’s no enemy to defeat,” Dustin concluded. “So, what do we do?” Wayne asked the obvious question.

End of Chapter 27

Chapter 28

#stranger things fanfiction #steddie #steve harrington/eddie munson #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #eddie lives #stranger things #st:beyond-the-battle #fanfic #post season 4 #vampire eddie #hurt/comfort #vampire eddie munson #steve harrington has powers #steddie fanfic #steddie fic

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trash-slvt · 1 year ago

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Wow, this blew up. This was a silly post i made before i'd had my coffee or meds but its a sentiment i've been thinking about a lot recently. ive been reading through the notes and theres way too many to reply to. but they mostly fall into these categories: apollo dodgeball / if you knock on enough doors asking for the devil: I think thats actually a big part of why i made this. Youtube (or any corporation) will do everything it can to make more money. they would implement this in a second if it were both technologically feasible and socially acceptable (or at least, acceptable enough to not cause too much of a backlash). a decade ago, this concept met neither criteria. now its dangerously close to meeting both.

The web was built on a model where the website sends you content and a suggestion of how to render it - to give users the freedom to interact with it however they choose. Since then, there's been a battle between corporations and this principle as they use every trick they can come up with to force you to render the content the way they want you to.

The most effective way that corporations have achieved this is with apps. Paraphrasing Cory Doctorow[1], an app is just a website that its illegal to mess with. So many of the notes are people saying "i wish i could block youtube ads on my phone/smart tv/game console". this is a problem, and a bad sign of what to come.

another thing that makes this concept technologically feasible and socially acceptable in my opinion is face id. Having a camera scan your face automatically before letting you progress has become normal. Its common to put tape over your webcam, but nobody puts tape over their phone camera. Somehow, we've been trained to view it differently. more broadly, I dont think the web is meant to be profitable. The old internet was full of small forums run at a loss fueled by the passion of their creators. When corporations moved in down the road with enough money to drive the forums away and take over, those corporations still didnt turn a profit. and they havent for a decade. Now they're getting desperate and they're going to extract as much as they can from their users to try and recoup those costs. Your outrage over the concept of this is important. Visible backlash to hostile practices works. its important that we all say Fuck That loudly and often. Youtube is adding a five second delay for firefox users: I read about this immediately after making the original post. this is such a brazen move by google. I hope they get in some serious shit for leveraging one monopoly to bolster another but im not familiar enough with international law to know if thats likely.

Regardless, google has been showing their hand lately with so many hostile decisions. Their only leverage is their user base. Don't help them. Switch to firefox. if you need to, you can make firefox pretend to be chrome for specific websites Ads are getting worse / loud ads in asmr videos / pragerU and other evil ads: Ad blocking still works! please use an ad block! install ublock origin! Youtube is working hard break ad blockers but the ublock devs are working harder to keep them working. you just need to update the filter lists every now and then. here's a guide I still want to support creators: Find a way to support them directly! youtube is a notoriously unreliable income source. Check how the creator you want to support would prefer you support them. Chucking them a few bucks once will go a lot further than watching ads.

Piss kink references: Thank you tumblr for being tumblr. A lot of the replies have been pretty heavy so these silly responses have been surprisingly refreshing.

----

I highly recommend Cory doctorow's defcon talk about the state of the web and how we can fix it. it put words to things i'd been feeling for a long time and introduced me to new ways of thinking about some of this stuff. Its linked at the bottom.

Its been wild having this post break containment like this. Tumblr is my place for shouting into the void and im used to most of my original posts not getting much traction (which is fine, or maybe even the point). the concept of over thirty thousand people reading something i wrote is hard to even conceptualize. I wasn't at all prepared for this but its touching that so many people resonated with my anger and frustration.

Okay, i'm going to go outside and remind myself that there is still so much good in the world. Fighting corporations is important but don't forget to also marvel at a cool bug or something to balance it out [1] - DEF CON 31 - An Audacious Plan to Halt the Internet's Enshittification - Cory Doctorow [Invidious link] [yt]

#long post #rant #enshittification #youtube #ad blocking

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iluxurycruisedthatship · 3 months ago

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none of the Chinese characters (feng and wulong and lee) in the TK7 gala have anything on their suits referencing their Chinese roots u know that right? I mean at best wulong has that alcohol filled gourd of his but idk if it’s Chinese and Feng has that food he’s munching on but again idk if it’s Chinese either

also xiaoyu’s dress fits her just fine IF u know her character. (which u don’t by the way) it’s a cute and simple orange dress that’s probably the same size as her TK4 sundress. it fits her personality and overall character perfectly. it’s light it’s cute it’s orange. that’s xiao right there

also most of the other female characters are older women who show much more cleavage (some of them aren’t even that old too) AND who don’t show any references to their roots. Kazumi’s dress doesn’t look like a “traditional” Japanese dress but she stills wears it so idk why ur complaining tbh

and Jin looks fine in that suit too so don’t fix something that isn’t broken

What?? I told you its for Gala! Did you really read what I write? It seems you just see what you wanted to see. I even said she has her style, she knows how to wear cutely. Her core was "youth and innocence". That's what I write.

Besides, everyone who were familiar with Xiao ofc realised it's a reference to her T4 sundress 🤦 Everyone knows that dress, it's even making comeback at T8 DLC. But it's Gala dudee we all hoping for something different. You go all out at Gala 😭 And she undoubtedly can look cute with other type of dress, why should she stuck with one type of dress 🤦🤦. And please don't compare Xiao's dress with old men suit.. Men and women has different section altogether if we're talking about fashion 😭

I mean just look at the other, they tried their best, looking stunning in new dress with different silhouette just like Kazumi you mentioned (that's why Kazumi didn't need to add any cultural ref on her dress, the dress is already stood out without it). Well, if you want to make an exception, you can mentioned miss Anna. Her usual attire is amazing from the get go, so don't fix something that isn't broken, just like what you're said. But IMHO that isn't the case for Xiao. I simply think her dress it too plain for a Gala dinner. I just want to see something different with Xiao, like everyone else in the party.

Also, I mentioned other things other than cultural reference, tho? Did you miss it? I even said it's fine with A-line dress silhouette, but please don't just leave it plain it looks so bland 😭😭 even her T4 sundress has flower patterns on it 😭😭 adding some cultural reference is just one of many ways to make the dress stand out.

So PLEASE please please read carefully without being too emotional. I want the best for her. maybe to you it's fine for her to wear plain dress but to me using a simpler ver of her old dress for an event like Gala dinner is simply a pity. She can look even prettier in a cuter dress. I want her to go all out and impress everyone, moreover Jin. BTW for Jin I merely suggesting if you have any ideas for good suit you can throw it at me, I'm not saying it's wrong or bad. Jeez why are you interpreting things so negative?

ALSO don't make baseless assumption about me not knowing Xiao. If you don't even give any effort to read my post, then don't easily say something about me. And don't hide behind the anonymous ask. Let's have a talk from heart to heart cuz we know we want the best for Xiao.

#jeez #So much for hoping for awesome suggestions on my inbox 🙄🙄🙄#I was ready to draw anything and this is what I get #My karma for being too honest

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professionalvalkyrietrainer · 1 year ago

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Asteroids Postmortem

In between this post and my previous post, I read up on chapter 9 of Tracey Fullerton's Game Design Workshop, which talks about how to perform a proper play testing. One very intriguing point I come to conclude when reading through the chapter would be the fact that the designers of a game is always the worse person to play test the game they are designing. Other than that, I also realized that play testing is not a one and done process as multiple play testing should be conducted in different stages of development to make sure that users are able to understand the game without much outside guidance.

I also concluded that for my future playtesting sessions, I should try to include the following to make sure that I can get effective feedback from play testers:

A playtest script

2. Try different play testing method instead of 1-on-1 play testing

3. Let play tester plot my game on a Play Matrix

4. Write down questions for play testers to answer in my play test notes

A Quick Recap From Last Week

Now that's out of the way, lets begin the post mortem for my asteroid game called Astro-stuck. To recap from last week, I added an asteroid splitting feature, power-up, dashing and also change up the texture of my game. This is what it looks like now:

Play Tester Feedback

Unfortunately, I was unable to get a lot of feedback from my fellow classmates for my asteroid game this week, I still managed to get some feedback from one of my classmate. Although the feedback I gotten is lesser than I anticipated, the feedback given is still very insightful and should be talk about extensively.

Increase Difficulty

I believe this feedback to be the most crucial one out of all of them as there are many ways to look at this. On one hand, it might mean that my game is unbalanced and is too easy for my game's audience. On the other hand, we have to account for the fact that this is only feedback from one person who probably has a better gaming expertise than the average gamer, which means that the feedback might not represent the entirety of the gamer population. I believe if the play testing is performed with more people with different gaming expertise, I will be able to get a more accurate response regarding the difficulty of my game.

Nevertheless, if I were to increase the difficulty of Astro-stuck, I believe it can be done by increasing the spawn rate of asteroids, reduce player health or by adding additional threats like hostile spacecraft that will attack the player.

Alter the Speed of Spaceship and Asteroid

The play tester actually suggested me to increase the moving speed of both the spaceship and the asteroids as correlating to the previous feedback, he thinks this can make the game more challenging. In which I somewhat agree with him as its a way to create a more fast-paced game which in turn more difficult. However, similar to the last feedback, I am uncertain whether this is an opinion that applies to the majority of gamers as both of us are definitely better in games when compared to the average gamer. Hence, I would keep this feedback in mind however I will only implement it if most people still have this opinion after I have performed more playtesting with a more varied group of play testers.

Fix Ship Positioning/ Tracking

This feedback actually is referring to fix a glitch/bug that might happen to the spaceship when it reaches where the cursor is currently located. When the spaceship reaches wherever the cursor is, the ship will begun to flicker between facing left and right, I believe this occurred as the ship is controlled by heading towards where the cursor is pointed, however when it catches up with the cursor, instead of stopping, it still constantly heads towards the cursor which is unreachable as the point is inside the spaceship itself, so it basically became a dog chasing its own tail.

More Power-Ups

The play tester also given me the idea to add different variety of power-ups into the game. He suggested that a scattershot power-up can be added which causes the spaceship to fire a cone of bullets from where the spaceship is facing rapidly. Other than what the play tester suggested, I also came up with a couple ideas that could be potential power-ups that can be added into the game. One of them being a nuke power-up that wipes out all the asteroids on the field and the other being full repair power-up which will restore a set amount of health points to the player.

Override Collision When Dashing

This particular feedback was added after I explained to the play tester that there's a dashing feature within my game. In which he then tried to dash through asteroids thinking that he can phase through it. However, he was unable to perform that as it was not coded in, so he proposed that I can add a damage mitigation mechanic into my dashing mechanic, which I agree is a great idea as it can make the system more dynamic as highly skilled players can use this feature to survive longer on the asteroid field.

Personal Notes

After going back to play test my game, I also found a couple of major flaws that I believe need to be fixed if I am going to use this as the base for my upcoming assignment. Here is the list of things that I would add/fix in my game:

Tweak the fire rate of bullets as I think they are shooting too fast

2. Add more power-ups

3. Balance the game by tweaking asteroid spawn rate, asteroid speed, space ship speed and many more.

4. Add music and sound effects

5. Add a start menu for my game

With that, I have officially completed all three blogs for my asteroid game as starting from next week I will begin my work on creating a racing game in GDevelop so stay tuned!

References

Fullerton, T. (2018). Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. ProQuest Ebook. Retrieved from: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/qut/reader.action?docID=5477698

#post mortem

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