#I'VE SEEN THE CHAOS UNFOLD SO FAR

[cloudster-clown]

PeepoRiot let Phil stay neutral

[alchemistc]

Shout-out to Ao3 for not only being transparent in the work they're doing to try to get the site running, but for IMMEDIATELY calling out any islamophobia. They're doing fucking WORK rn, all on a volunteer basis, and while most of the comments I've seen are far and away supportive I just know whoever is in charge of their socials is watching the comments section unfold with a migraine.

Anyway this is all to say I love Ao3 and the people working on it rn are dealing with absolute chaos, so the next time someone throws out a line about "why do they need a fundraiser every year" please remember today.

[captainsophiestark]

A Very Dagger Christmas

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: Top Gun

Summary: Jake's down bad for his SO in a way his friends have never seen before, and they want to make sure his SO knows it.

Word Count: 2,015

Category: Fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"You cheated! I saw you bump the ball, don't try to deny it!"

"I did not cheat! You just suck at pool!"

"Pilots! I will ban pool for the rest of the night if I have to. Don't test me."

"Sorry, Penny..."

I watched the unfolding drama around the pool table of the Hard Deck with a smile as I sipped the last of my hot chocolate. Penny had closed the whole place for a little early Christmas celebration between her, Amelia, Mav, and the Daggers, and as the partner of Jake Seresin, I'd been invited along this year. The atmosphere, food and drink, and free entertainment all combined to make this my favorite Christmas party attended so far.

"Hey."

I looked up to see my boyfriend, Jake, crossing the room towards me with a big smile and two mugs in his hands. I shifted over a little on the cushy loveseat Penny had moved in for the evening's party, giving Jake room to settle in next to me.

"I brought you another cup of hot chocolate," he said, leaning in to kiss my forehead as I took the mug from him. "Not spiked, although I still don't know how you're putting up with all these idiots sober."

I laughed. "I love your friends, Jake. And I want to remember all the embarassing shit they pull clear as day, so I can use it against them later."

"And that's why you're the best. Amazing." Jake leaned in to punctuate his statement with a kiss, this time on the lips. I smiled into the kiss, then snuggled into Jake's chest once we broke apart. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, holding me closely, and the moment was one of absolutely perfect peace and comfort despite the chaos continuing around us.

"Thanks for inviting me along to this, by the way," I said, my voice low as I curled into Jake, more relaxed than I'd been all week in the leadup to this party. Jake hummed, and I could feel the vibrations all through his chest.

"Thanks for agreeing to come. I've been to a few of these now, and this one's already a lot better with you here. A lot." I leaned even further into Jake, squeezing his thigh gently with my free hand. After a moment, Jake continued. "Although, honestly, you might want to wait to thank me until after we play Dirty Santa."

I let out a long, heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Babe. I hate it when you call it that. You live in California now, it's White Elephant! Dirty Santa sounds like something much different and much worse than a fun gift exchange."

"Worse?" asked Jake, a familiar grin and note of mischief in his tone as he leaned down to whisper in my ear, his arm wandering from my shoulders to my waist. When he spoke again, it was nothing more than a low growl in my ear. "Or better?"

I considered for a moment, then shook my head and leaned back as much as I could in the small loveseat.

"No. The delivery and everything normally would've worked, but not for the phrase 'Dirty Santa', and not at the non-blood-relative family Christmas party. Nice try, through."

Jake just smiled and shook his head. He leaned in again, pulling me towards him like he was about to double down, but before he got the chance, we were interrupted by a few of his friends shouting from the pool table.

"Hangman! Get over here, we need some fresh blood at this pool table!"

Jake just rolled his eyes and waved the guys off, but they refused to take no for an answer. After a moment, I leaned up and kissed Jake on the cheek and gave him a little smile, then moved his arm from around my shoulders myself.

"Go," I said. "You've got honor to defend in pool, and you should probably get a game or two in now before Penny inevitably has to ban it."

Jake grinned, but he didn't move from the seat next to me.

"...Are you sure? I don't want to abandon you."

I just waved him off. "I'm fine, I like all your friends, and I already know most of them pretty well. No risk of abandonment here, I promise."

"Great." Jake leaned in to give me a quick kiss, then pulled back with a grin that spelled trouble. "Then I have some people who need to get their asses kicked in pool."

With that, he hopped up and took off to join the group at the pool table. I watched him with a fond smile, a warm glow sitting in my chest. He was absolutley ridiculous, but he was also absolutely wonderful.

While I was busy watching Jake, Natasha wandered over and took a seat in the chair next to me. I gave her a little smile, then turned back to watching Jake. After a moment, I heard her huff a little laugh, and I turned my attention back to her with a raised eyebrow.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just... I've never seen him like this."

I frowned, trying to figure out what she was talking about.

"Nat-?"

"Hangman. It's been... nice, but really weird to see him like this."

"Nat, like what?"

She shook her head, her attention drifting to where my boyfriend was in the middle of trash talking at the pool table. She huffed another laugh, then turned back to me.

"He's wearing an ugly Christmas sweater. That matches with yours. Do you know what happened the last time someone tried to get Hangman to do that?"

"...No..."

"He dumped the one Coyote tried to force him into in a pool of oil from the planes."

I snorted, my hand flying to my mouth to cover a disbelieving laugh. I kept waiting for Natasha to smile or something to let me know she was joking, but her expression stayed dead serious.

"...Really?"

"Yes, really! And you're the first partner he's ever brought to more than one of our events, the first one he hasn't given a bunch of shit to for not drinking with him, the first one in years any of us have bothered to learn the name of. He's in a good mood, he's clearly just as happy to sit with you over here as he is to be in the middle of the pool game over there. Even right after he and Rooster get into it, he smiles at you two seconds later and it's like nothing even happened. Do you know how long those stupid moods of his usually last?"

I huffed a laugh and shook my head. Everything Natasha was saying had my heart racing, but I didn't want to let my imagination run away from me. Surely I didn't have that big of an impact on Jake, no matter what Natasha seemed to think.

"Hey guys," said Mickey, coming over to join the two of us with a smile. "I needed to get the hell out of that pool game while I still could. It's about to be a knock down dragout between Mav, Rooster, and Hangman. We're taking bets on how long it'll be before Penny bans pool and who's going to be the final straw to cause it if you guys want in."

"...What are the current odds?" asked Natasha, leaning forward. Mickey quickly walked her through the bet layout as it stood, then continued with a grin before she could stake anything.

"There's one other rule you should be aware of: no one's allowed to send our newest extended family member into the fray to influence the odds."

He nodded towards me when he said it, and I raised an eyebrow, but Nat almost shot out of her chair in indignation.

"What? Come on, where's the fun in that?"

"The fun is that we can actually take bets without a win card in everybody's pocket that can keep the game going all night."

Nat threw her hands up and flopped back in her chair, which was my cue to lean forward.

"Mickey... what are you talking about?"

"Hangman's one of the three live wires over there that's going to get way too competitive and ruin the game. If you go over there, you're gonna calm him down and totally ruin the fairness of our bet."

I laughed and shook my head, copying Nat and flopping back in my chair.

"I think you guys are seriously overestimating my influence on Jake's fundamental personality. We've been together long enough now that I think I would've noticed if he was a completely different person around me."

"Okay, first of all, no you wouldn't have," started Mickey. "If he were a different person around you, you'd only ever see the person he is around you, because you're necessarily around him when you're seeing him. And second, we're not saying he's a totally different person."

Nat hummed like she might disagree, and Mickey gave her a little nod.

"Okay, at least I'm not. What we're really trying to say is... he's obviously pretty committed, and very happily tied down. It's made him more grounded in a way that I honestly never thought I'd see. But it's nice, and it's definitely because of you."

I just hummed, processing Mickey's words. Jake and I had been dating for a few months, and although we hadn't really sat down to talk about it, we were clearly getting pretty serious. At least, I was. And it was nice to know that Jake's friends seemed to notice the same thing coming from Jake.

I stayed in my seat chatting with Natasha and Mickey for a while longer, until pool was eventually called off with Amelia having won the bet, to no one's surprise. Everyone wandered over to join Nat, Mickey, and I to begin White Elephant, and Jake settled into the loveseat next to me again.

"How was pool?" I asked as he handed me another mug of hot chocolate, further defending his position as my dream man.

"Fine, until Rooster started cheating. And then he has the nerve to call me on it when I started doing it to, to level the playing field!"

I just laughed and curled further into Jake's chest as he shot Rooster an aggressive stink eye. Luckily for all of us, Rooster didn't catch it.

The rest of the night passed much more peacefully sans pool table, even though White Elephant was as explosive as Jake had been expecting. Still, once it was over and we'd all settled in to relax together by the fire, any of the negatively chaotic moments of the night were long forgotten.

I laid my head on Jake's chest, listening to the soothing rythm of his heartbeat as Jake ran his hand gently up and down my arm. I was honestly on the edge of drifting off to sleep when Jake's voice drew me back. He was speaking quietly, right next to my ear, so softly that I wasn't sure he even meant for me to hear him.

"I love you. So fucking much."

I shifted just enough to meet Jake's eyes. He seemed surprised to find me awake, but a determination I usually only saw when I got to visit him on base was shining in his eyes.

"I love you," he repeated, louder this time. "And it's okay if you aren't ready to say it back or don't want to or whatever. But... I need you to know. I love you more than I've ever loved somebody before."

I smiled, my heart melting as I leaned up to kiss Jake. I ran my hands through the hair on the back of his neck, then pulled back just enough to meet his eyes again and whispered against his lips.

"I love you too, Jake. More than anyone or anything. So, so much."

His face lit up like the sun. His arm wrapped tight around my waist, and he pulled me closer to him than was probably appropriate for our current setting. He kissed me, hard, and I kissed him right back. I'd been in love with Jake Seresin for a while now, but it was nice to finally say it out loud. And even nicer to hear it back.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen @misshale21

Top Gun Taglist: @elenavampire21

[writhyv]

⋆｡°✩ jake pulls you into a kissing booth

would you kiss me? | sim jaehyun x male!reader

pairing: jake x male!reader genre: fluff words: 1.8k notes: my first jake fic! honestly wanted to write about him for a long time because he's one of the first guys i saw from enha ... he just has that hot popular kid vibe ... i HAD to make this ... AAAAA ALSO SHOUOUT TO @kaiyunsim! THIS ONE'S FOR YA BRUH

Your days at school began like any other student's. Each day was a repetitive cycle of subjects you had to endure until the semester ended. You had memorized these lessons long ago, yet still found yourself sitting in class, trying to absorb the material. It was exhausting, but deep down, you loved the thrill of academics. School was a place of peace for you, a welcome escape from home, which felt far away. It was a place you cherished, filled with the laughter of friends and the buzz of youthful dreams.

However, if you could choose to be anywhere else, it certainly wouldn't be your school, especially not during the school's founding celebration fair. To make matters worse, your friend had signed you up to help out at your class's assigned booth — the kissing booth.

You rested your head against your hand, manning the busy booth with an aloof gaze. It wasn't that you disliked helping; it was just that you hadn’t volunteered for this. You watched the chaos unfold around you, the energy of the fair buzzing like a live wire. Everywhere you looked, students were laughing, playing games, and enjoying the festivities. But here you were, stationed at the kissing booth, a reluctant participant in this social spectacle.

"Thanks again for helping out!" a classmate chimed in, trying to lift your spirits. His bright smile was infectious, but you only managed a half-hearted nod.

"Ugh... it’s not like I had a choice. Joey signed me up before I could protest," you replied, rolling your eyes.

"Joey did? She's a riot!" your classmate laughed nervously, glancing at you. Your glare silenced him. "Oh! I mean... she's just so... um, enthusiastic, right?"

"It’s for fun!" Joey interjected, crashing into the conversation, her energy palpable. The other student bolted away as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Aren't you allowed to have fun, Mr. President?" Joey turned her gaze to you as she held her hands onto your shoulders.

You sighed, leaning back in your chair. Making friends in high school was challenging enough, but when people clung to you like they were your lifeline, things got complicated. Joey had always stuck to you like glue. As you grew to tolerate her presence, she introduced you to 'normal high school things'—experiences you had only read about in books or seen in movies. You felt like you could only refuse her so many times before she'd throw a tantrum.

"Again, it's ACTING president. I've only been called that since the new semester started, okay?" you corrected her, a hint of frustration creeping into your voice.

"Yeah, right. You'll definitely win again if you ever run. It’s your calling!" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"That’s why I can't be here," you said, standing up, feeling the weight of tiredness settling on your shoulders.

Joey grabbed your arm, pulling you back down. You knew this would happen, but it never hurt to try and escape, right?

"Hey! Not again!" she sighed, exasperated. "You've only been here for two hours! I promised you food, right? Just help out at the booth."

You shot her a glare but couldn't keep the corners of your mouth from twitching upward. "Fine, but I can’t promise I won’t try to escape again. It’s exhausting watching people come in and out of this booth."

Joey looked where you pointed, a smirk growing on her face. "Why? Curious about what happens there?"

You shot her an incredulous look, but she only saw the red flush creeping across your cheeks.

"What?" she defended, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ding ding ding?"

"No one’s interested!" you exclaimed, covering your face in embarrassment. Joey just laughed, the sound ringing like music in the chaos around you.

"Sure! It isn’t a big deal. Not at all~" she sang, and you couldn’t help but feel a bit of warmth at her playful attitude.

As you chatted with Joey, a commotion erupted nearby, followed by a wave of cheers.

"Aahh! It's the soccer team!"

"The boys! The boys!"

The crowd erupted as the campus soccer team made their entrance, radiating an undeniable charm. With their impressive recent state champion title win for the nth time, and their unrealistic and striking looks, they were the stars of the event. You could see the excitement in the air, students gushing over their favorite players, the thrill of being close to someone so admired.

One of them, clearly the leader, locked eyes with you and bit his lip. "Hey~" he called out, confidence radiating like a warm sun on a cold day, having brushed his hair back, a gesture that seemed to send the crowd into a frenzy.

You blinked, looking to your side. "Uh... who are you talking to?" You felt your heart race, unsure if he was really addressing you. "Me?"

The guy grinned, stepping closer, and you could feel the heat radiating from him. "Oh definitely. You're really adorable up close, huh?"

You rolled your eyes, convinced this must be one of those pranks online. But he didn’t back down; instead, he moved closer to your ticket table, his presence both thrilling and intimidating.

"Ahem ... To purchase a ticket for the booth, please ensure you have your partner with you. All pairs come first," you stated, reading the fine print from the paper in your hands, trying to maintain your composure.

"Good then." He flashed you his ID. "Jake Sim."

"Jake Sim," you repeated, scribbling his name down. "Who would you be taking to the kissing booth?"

You looked behind him as his members stood still. "One of them?" You snickered.

"Kissing booth?" Jake's eyes widened in surprise, who seemingly haven't heard you talk for that second. "This isn't just a regular dating booth?"

You sighed, feeling an exasperated laugh bubble up. Of course, it isn't. The dating booth idea was scrapped due to budget constraints, leaving this more intimate alternative. There wasn't anything you can do at that point, even though you were the council's ACTING president.

"Yes."

"Shoot..." Jake checked his breath, a sudden look of concern washing over his face. You couldn’t help but chuckle at his sudden panic.

You laughed lightly. "Mint?"

He shot you a look, as if to say don’t look at me right now.

"Huh? I'm good!" he declared, spraying some fresh mist into his mouth. "See? Nothing happened." he smirked, spreading his arms wide, clearly trying to charm you.

"I still can't give you a ticket," you replied firmly, crossing your arms.

"Why?" he pressed, a playful challenge in his eyes.

"You have no partner—"

"I can take you with me, can't I?" he cut in, blunt and straightforward, his eagerness palpable.

It felt as if time had frozen. He looked at you with eager anticipation, and you could only respond with confusion, your heart fluttering unexpectedly.

"Me?" you stammered, flustered. "You can't possibly think of me as—"

Suddenly, you heard a whirlwind of chaos behind you, like a storm brewing in your booth.

"Two dollars, and he's yours!" Joey shouted, tossing you toward Jake with a mischievous grin.

"That's more like it!" Jake said, handing over the bills to Joey and waving goodbye as he led you toward the booth.

"Thank you for the donation!" Joey called after you, her voice fading as you felt your heart racing faster than ever.

"Two dollars?!" you exclaimed, shooting a death glare at Joey, who simply smiled and waved goodbye, leaving you feeling wronged yet slightly amused.

"Trust me! You’re worth more than that!" she whispered dramatically, retreating into the crowd.

You felt your blood boil at the suddenness of it all, yet something else stopped you in your tracks. It was as if time had paused again, leaving only the two of you in this moment filled with tension and unspoken words.

"This is ridiculous," you mumbled, avoiding Jake's gaze. Beads of sweat trickled down your forehead, and you wiped them away with your hands, feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up.

Jake laughed, drawing closer, his presence overwhelming and oddly comforting.

"What?" You looked at him.

"I'm just trying to understand why you don’t want me kissing you," he said with that playful grin that made your heart skip a beat. "I mean, everybody wants a piece of me."

So bold?! You rolled your eyes at his audacity. "What an airhead you are..."

Airhead? I thought people liked confident guys. Jake pondered, trying to maintain his charming facade.

"Heh. Am I an airhead?" he scoffed, a playful smirk on his face. "Isn’t it just because I know what I like?"

"Ugh." You mimicked your friend's signature sassy move. "Do NOT tell me that."

Am I already screwing this up? Jake’s mind raced, unable to keep up with his facade crumbling under the pressure.

"Can’t we just enjoy this moment between us, babe?" Jake said, leaning in and pressing his hands beside your head. Your eyes widened in shock, and you felt your heart hammering in your chest.

That's it, look flustered… please? Jake thought desperately, a hint of vulnerability breaking through his bravado.

You stared at him, disbelief washing over you. He was already making a move with something as cringeworthy as this? And calling you by such a boring pet name? You couldn't even imagine the other ridiculous things he might do. Maybe he would—

KISS YOU?! In a blink, his lips met yours, soft as a cloud brushing against your skin.

In that instant, something snapped within you. You tried to push him away, but he only deepened the kiss, and you felt something strange sliding between your mouths.

"Hey!" you exclaimed, trying to pull away.

"What—"

"A tongue?!" you gasped, staring at him, bewildered. Jake chuckled, clearly enjoying your reaction, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"What? I’m not doing anything," he smirked, knowing full well what he was doing.

"You snuck that devilish tip of your tongue into my mouth!" you accused, covering your face as heat rushed to your cheeks, embarrassment flooding your senses.

"Oh come on, you liked it," Jake teased, his confidence unwavering.

Did you? He wondered, feeling a mix of hope and doubt.

"That’s it! You had your time!" you declared, storming away, embarrassed and flustered. "Enjoy, then get lost!"

As you walked away, you shot one last glance over your shoulder, throwing out something Jake never thought he’d hear directed at him.

"Weirdo..." you muttered, shaking your head in disbelief, a mixture of confusion and exhilaration swirling inside you.

Jake stood there, feeling like a lost puppy searching for its owner. The thrill of the kiss lingered on his lips, but the sting of embarrassment washed over him.

Somewhere on campus, you could almost hear his loud screams of agony.

His friends rushed over, concern etched on their faces. "Hey, Jake!" a couple of teammates called, finding their captain lying on the ground, kicking his feet in shame.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Jake screamed again, all his efforts feeling wasted, his face buried in his hands as if he could hide from the world.

"Oh my god, he’s breaking down..." Joey remarked, stepping into the booth. She quickly closed the curtains, glancing at the curious onlookers, knowing too well the rumors that would fly around.

"Shh! People will get the wrong idea about our booth! This is NOT a screamo booth; the main stage is down by the garden pavilion."

Jake grabbed one of his larger teammates, his eyes wide with despair. "He looked at me like I was DIRTY!!!" he cried, trying to wipe away his tears, but failing miserably.

"Are you ... crying?!" Joey exclaimed, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Yes, I’m crying!" Jake declared, wiping his face in a panic, his emotions spilling over.

"Captain, your image—"

"Who cares!" Jake slumped back down, defeated. "He probably thinks I’m a loser at this point... What gives?"

A heavy silence blanketed the booth, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

"It’s not like it’s the last chance you’ll ever get, you know cap?" one teammate said, trying to console him, though the words felt hollow in the air.

"But..." Jake murmured, his confidence wavering.

Another teammate stood up, raising his fist in determination. "You’re Jake Sim, our all-powerful soccer team captain! You can do anything!"

Jake slowly lifted his gaze, intrigued by their words, the fire within him beginning to reignite.

"And you can make up for it!" his teammates urged. "Then you’ll get that chance!"

He considered his situation. If he could somehow make up for what he did with you, it would earn him some serious brownie points, right? Maybe then he'd finally get the chance to ask you out.

"Okay!" Jake declared, standing tall and raising his fist triumphantly. "I’ll try better this time!"

"That’s the spirit, Captain Jake!" his teammates cheered, ending with a loud burst of laughter, their camaraderie lifting his spirits.

"Ugh... you guys are hopeless." Joey facepalmed, shaking her head in disbelief as she tried to suppress a smile. "Whatever... that’s not my business..."

As the fair continued around them, Jake felt a newfound determination swell within him. He couldn't let this moment define him; he had to make things right. With a deep breath, he plotted his next move, ready to win you over, one awkward attempt at a time.

I really wanted to make Jake someone who tries too hard to get someone's attention, only making himself a pitiful sack of potatoes by the end of the ordeal. DONT WORRY he should be able to get the guy right ...right?!

hope you guys enjoyed it! please like, comment, or reblog~

my masterlist!

made by writhyv.

[licityvibes]

Take Me Away

★ Author: orshii ★ Pairing: Choi San x female reader ★ Warnings: cursing, alcohol use, suggestive ★ Word count: 3,5 k

★ Summary: Needing to escape the pressures of school, you decide to hit a club with your friends for a night of fun and freedom. There, you meet a stranger who looks like a God, and as the night unfolds, the club's vibrant atmosphere and intense connection with this captivating figure lead to an unforgettable night.

★ A/N: Well...I don't know what is this tbh *cries and hides in a bush*, it's just randomly popped out of my mind and I needed to write it...and had to include San with a BIKE, pls...that is the hottest thing. So enjoy ig and stream Work!! Byee! (divider)

Sometimes, when studying gets tough and you want to run away from the pressure that the most educated university expects of you, the perfect idea is to go straight to a party where you can escape the chaos in your head and the pressure the world puts on you.

There are a few rules that night. The first is that university doesn't exist, that there are no exams coming up. And last but not least, we have to get drunk and have fun as if it were our last day on earth.

As soon as we arrived at the party with the girls, we decided that we wanted to escape reality today and went to this club and we called it a "girls' night out', where EDM music was playing, making our hearts beat to the same rhythm as the music. The club was already full of strange people, with some faces I already knew from university. The club was a colourful mess, with red being the main colour. Smoke clouded the dancing bodies, making it look like they were one body. The coloured lights illuminated the smoke when we finally found our reserved table.

I had to get a little drunk before I threw myself into the mix of sweaty and strange bodies. While we grabbed a few drinks at the bar, which was lit up with red lights under the counter, the bartender was a cute smiling guy with a lip piercing. As the bartender handed me my drink and I waited for my friends, my eyes lingered on a guy whose eyes were already on mine. As soon as I locked eyes with him, he smiled at me and drank from his glass. I couldn't see his face clearly because he was far away from the bar, but very close to our table.

When we returned to our table, I immediately noticed the stranger's eyes again. Their table was next to ours, and it seemed they were also having their own 'guys' night out'. As I sat down in my chair and sipped my drink, our eyes never left the other. When I looked at him, a little closer now, I was kind of speechless. It was still dark, a few red lights illuminated his face now and then, but God, he looked like a sculpture, like a real god, and I couldn't even see him clearly. I wonder what he looks like up close. What I saw was that he had very sharp eyes and high cheekbones, his hair was black and blended in with the background, and maybe I'm hallucinating it because of the lights, but I saw some red highlights in his hair, I'm not sure. Also, he was wearing some kind of leather vest, but I couldn't see exactly how it looked on him.

And throughout the night we kept staring at each other, once he even smiled at me while one of his friends whispered something in his ear. We clearly wanted something from each other, I'm not going to lie, he looked hot, I don't think I've ever seen anyone like him, he was a very unique person.

Once I finally felt dizzy from the shots and cocktails we were drinking, I was ready to dance. But when I looked into the crowd, there was something going on. People were standing in a circle, and there was clearly something going on in the middle of the circle.

"Is there a fight going on?" One of my friends asked, her eyes sparkling as she heard the drama.

We quickly stood up to see the drama, but as soon as we walked into the crowd and tiptoed into the circle, we saw two dancing bodies going along to every little beat of the EDM music. Now it was my eyes that were glistening with excitement. I've always been passionate when it comes to dancing.

"Uh, they're dancing yes, boring." My best friend said to me and they quickly went back to sit at our table and continue drinking.

I looked at them in disbelief because they had left me there alone, but I wanted to watch this dance duel. Unfortunately, I couldn't see everything because I was a little girl and the crowd was too big to see everything, but as I tiptoed around I could see some bodies dancing.

I pouted to myself as I gave up trying to see anything. I was about to turn around and go back to the table, but then I felt two big hands on my waist from behind and I froze. I slowly turned around to see who those big hands belonged to. And I almost gasped when I saw the strange guy looking down at me, towering over me with his huge shoulders that looked like a mountain that was hard to climb. He was wearing a black vest, but nothing was visible underneath, his waist was visible because a pair of black jeans hugged his legs, with a black belt that made his waist even narrower. And his face? I'd never seen a face like that before, the gods above must have blessed or cursed him, because his appearance was more than normal. And I was right about his hair, because I saw some red streaks between his jet-black hair, highlighted even more by the red lights around us.

"Let me help you." He said in a low voice and leaned down to my ear so I could understand what he was saying.

I just looked at him with round eyes, not understanding what was happening until he pushed me forward into the crowd by my waist, mumbling 'sorry". And suddenly I found myself in front of the crowd, where I could clearly see the people dancing in a circle. My heart wanted to jump out of my chest just because of that little gesture. I had the feeling that he was still standing behind my back, as if he was my personal bodyguard, hiding me from the crowd.

Slowly, I turned to face him and looked into his sharp eyes that were glaring at me.

"Thanks!" I said with a sincere smile. He smiled back and nodded, and that's when I saw his dimples, which suited him so perfectly. He looked like a god and I wanted to be his slave.

Time passed as we watched people dance, moving as if they were one with the music that moved them. I've always admired people who could become one with the music as if it were their other half.

I've always wondered where my other half is. I never really had the opportunity to find my soulmate because school was always the main purpose of my life and I didn't want to be led astray by anyone. I had a few flings over the years, but it was never more than a one-night stand. That's why after some hard knocks in life that knocked me down, I got up and never wanted to involve feelings in anything again, I was better for it.

As we watched people dance, there were times when they made cool looking moves and I turned excitedly to the stranger behind my back who was still standing stock-still, his hands still on my waist. For some reason it wasn't uncomfortable, instead he made me feel safe, his arms were around my waist like chains, but it didn't hurt, it tied me to the ground to keep me sane.

"Wow, did you see that? So cool." I turned to the stranger in awe as I saw a guy in the centre of the circle doing a back flip, my eyes lit up with passion as I looked up at the stranger.

He looked down at me, his eyes barely visible as if they were the shape of a crescent moon as he smiled and nodded, agreeing with me.

We had formed some kind of invisible bond and didn't even know it.

After it was over, we parted and went back to our table to talk to our friends and have a drink, our eyes still somehow finding each other. It was strange, it was like our eyes were attracting each other without us knowing it.

I wanted to dance when I had finally drunk enough to feel well. As I stood up, my eyes met with the stranger again, and I somehow tried to let him know that I was going to dance, and that he could join me.

 So we went deep into the crowd with the girls and just enjoyed the beats of the EDM music, dancing around each other and feeling the music creep into our blood so it could steer us through the night.

Suddenly the world slowed down, the dancing bodies around me jumped up and down in slow motion, the lights slowly changed — red, blue, green— - then red again. The beats of the music slowed with the bodies and the colored lights illuminated his face in the crowd, he stood out from the crowd and all I could see were his god-like features as he slowly walked towards me.

As he got close to me and finally fought his way through the crowd, which was still moving in slow motion, he held out his hand to me. But I refused to take it and just danced around him, to the beat of the music, with a smile on my face as he tried to catch me, but I wouldn't let him.

"Gotcha!" He whispered in my ear as he finally managed to grab me by the waist as my back bumped against his pumped up chest. I almost disappeared between his hands, he made me feel so small in this big world, but I wasn't scared because I felt safe in his arms.

The dancing bodies around us finally returned to normal, time was no longer in slow motion, life simply went on. And so we danced on, his face in my neck as he embraced me from behind, and I grabbed his hair with my hands, ran my fingers through his black and red hair and just closed my eyes to feel the music, our bodies melting into one as we swayed to the rhythm.

I couldn't tell how many minutes or hours had passed, but when the music slowed down a little, I slowly turned in his arms, tying myself to him, and wrapped my arms around his neck to look at him up close like never before. Our lips were so close that we inhaled each other's breath.

"I want a name before I kiss you, pretty." He leaned down to my ears, just to whisper it in a low tone that sent shivers down my body.

"Y/N," I leaned in close to his ear, my lips brushing over his ears. "And yours?" I asked in a teasing voice, biting his earlobe.

"Mhmm…" He groaned in response. "San." He whispered, barely audible.

I broke away from him a little and looked into his eyes, which were so dark and full of desire. "Nice to meet you, San!" I said to him with a smile, my lips close to his.

"It's my pleasure, Y/N!" And those were the last words he spoke before he pressed his lips to mine with desire. My body was instantly on fire, the music not finding its way into my ears as all I could hear was his moans as I parted my mouth to give him access so he could suck on my tongue, his hands on my waist pulling me impossibly close to his large chest, my fingers running through the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him even closer to me as I let out a soft moan. When he pressed his lips to mine, I felt like this was the kiss of my life. I had never been kissed so passionately in my entire life, and he was a stranger I had only just met, but it seemed like we had been together for at least a decade with the same fiery passion. I felt like I couldn't breathe as he sucked all the oxygen out of me, I was already feeling dizzy when he broke away from my lips and leaned against my forehead.

"We should…" He said as he took my lips between his teeth and sucked on them while I let out a soft moan. My body burned with desire and when our eyes met, I knew immediately what he wanted. And I wanted the same thing.

"We should," I whispered against his lips and kissed them again, it felt like he was the water and I was thirsty as hell, I couldn't get enough of him.

With that, San led me through the dancing bodies, carefully pushing the corpses out of the way like a bulldozer. I just followed him as if I had no other choice. He led us to the checkroom where our jackets were. I didn't know where he was taking me, I might not be that trusting of a stranger, but I guess you only live once.

As we stepped out of the club, my ears began to whistle from the sudden silence in the dark, cool night. San put on his leather jacket, which looked so hot on him that I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. As I put my jacket on as well, he took my hand and led me to a huge, black motorcycle with sharp features and as dark as the night. Another thing about him that made me gasp. There's no way he's riding a motorcycle too, I'm going crazy. He smiled at me when he saw the look on my face.

"You like it, pretty?" He tilted his head and looked down at me, still holding my hand.

"That would be an understatement," I said to him, admiring the bike and running my fingers over its sharp features.

San followed my fingers with his eyes as they scanned the bike, and he groaned. "Okay, here we go. Do you know how to ride?" He moved closer to me and wedged me between the bike and him.

"Mhmm." I nodded as his lips slid over mine. Slowly, he ran his hands down my tights to lift me onto the leather seat of the motorcycle and step between my legs. Then he grabbed my face and his lips were on mine in seconds. His moans were louder now because it was quiet, the city was asleep, and only the people partying kept the city alive at night.

 His lips moved on mine, his hands gently caressed my cheeks, I pulled him closer to me by his waist where my fingers moved under his leather vest and I felt his skin burn under my touch. Our kiss lasted just long enough for me to almost fall off the bike, which wasn't exactly the most stable surface.

We giggled about it as we parted, and San sat me properly on the bike and helped me put on the red helmet he'd given me, giving me a light kiss first. Then he put on a black helmet too, -as if he knew he was going to ride with someone on the back— of it- but no matter, he was good for a one-night stand. Even though my heart tightened at the thought that I might not see him again, which was strange because I'd never felt that way with anyone before.

He sat on the bike and started the engine, kicking the kickstand and balancing us on his legs. Then he reached behind him, searched for my hands, pulled me closer to his back and clasped my hands in front of his stomach.

"Hold on tight!" He muttered under his helmet. "Ready?" He asked, looking to the side as I put my head on his shoulder and moved as close to him as I could.

"Ready!" I said with excitement in my voice.

And with that, San drove off into the passion-lit city. We drove through it like a ghost you can barely see, everything around us a blur as we drove past the huge buildings on the highway, past the rare cars that appeared in the middle of the night, who knows where they were going. I hugged him from behind with all my strength as he leaned forward a little to show how fast he was.

I was really enjoying it, the sudden adrenaline creeping into me made me brave and I straightened up from San to hold onto his shoulder with my left hand and I raised my right hand into the cool air to shout a "woo-hoo". At that moment, I couldn't help but smile.

There are moments in life when you're at a concert or with friends and a sudden feeling comes over you. It's like a sudden wave of happiness that doesn't last long, but at that moment you can say, 'I feel happy', and then when it's over you're still smiling about it, but the feeling is long gone. That's how I felt at that moment as San drove us through the city.

When we stopped, I got off the bike and smiled as I took off my helmet. San looked at me as he also took off his helmet, his hair was messy as he ran his fingers through his red and black hair, and his cheekbones were a little flushed because of the cool night.

He chuckled when he saw my reaction. "Did you like it?" He took the helmet on the seat of the bike.

"Very well. Thank you." I gave him a friendly smile as I put my helmet on the seat too.

"Mhmm." He grumbled as he came closer to me and grabbed my waist. "Maybe we can do it again?" His voice sounded soft as his lips slid over mine.

I hummed. "Maybe," I said, smiling teasingly at him.

And that look in his eyes was something I could not describe. He did not even know me as a person, but he looked at me like he was in love with me. I saw love in his eyes, or maybe it was just me, and desire was already taking over my brain so I could not tell the difference between the two. Because it's easy to feel confused as to whether it's love or desire that you see in the other person's eyes.

Then he kissed me again, and I realized I could never get enough of his kisses. I felt addicted, I wanted to kiss him every second of the time we had available.

Then suddenly we were in his apartment, I didn't even have time to look around, because as soon as I entered, he pressed me against the door and pressed his lips to mine, but it was hasty and rough, as if he wanted to devour me alive. Then his lips travelled over my jaw, leaving kisses all the way down to my neck, biting and sucking on my skin, which burned even more passionately after the kisses and the red marks he had left on my neck.

"You look so cute when you smile." He murmured into my neck as I tilted my head to give him more access. "I want to fuck that out of you." His lips travelled over my ears as he whispered it in a low voice, and he bit down hard on my earlobe as I let out a loud moan. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would stop. My body felt like a volcano and his body pressed against mine, pushing me all the way against the door.

"Do it then, handsome," I whispered as he finished with a groan, he was still attacking my neck, I could feel a long red line on my neck, that wasn't going to look good tomorrow, but I couldn't care.

"Fuck." He said as he straightened up to look me in the eye, his voice sounded like honey, sweet and rough, and then his lips were on mine again as my hands slowly reached under his leather vest, just for me to run my hands along his narrow waist that faded into a broad shoulder. I felt shivers run through his body and he moaned into our kiss. Then I seized the opportunity and slipped my tongue into his mouth, our tongues moving together as if they belonged to each other, sucking on each other's lips. While my hands ran up and down his back, leaving thin red lines. San bit his lower lip roughly and moaned as his hands explored my body, going under my shirt and running his big hands along my back, which disappeared under his big hands.

The next thing I knew, I was laying in his bed, him on top of me, looking down at me with the same gaze as before. His hands were running through every part of my body, as if he wanted to mark every inch of me with his lips, to leave little red marks and make me his. He whispered sweet promises in my ear that he would make me feel good. And as the night wore on, all I could see was him above me, looking down on me, taking care of me with all the kinds of pleasures that took me to heaven and back.

[deliciousangelfestival]

Silent Heir, Hidden Dangers - 2

Character: Lawyer!Bucky x Female Character

Summary: She suddenly inherits a fortune from an unknown father, navigating dark secrets with lawyer Bucky Barnes in a suspenseful journey of deception.

Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5 , -

Main Masterlist

Y/N couldn't shake the unease settling in her stomach as she looked at Bucky, her eyes reflecting the uncertainty bubbling within her. "Where are we headed?" she finally ventured to ask.

Bucky's gaze remained fixed on the road ahead as he replied, "To a safe house."

The word "safe" didn't offer the comfort Y/N desperately craved. Her mind raced with unanswered questions, and the shadows outside the car seemed to morph into menacing shapes. Bucky, sensing her fear, turned to her, a faint glimmer of sympathy in his eyes.

"I guess you haven't read the whole will?" Bucky remarked, his tone measured.

Perplexed, Y/N took another glance at the document. As she skimmed through the legal jargon, Bucky began to recite, "After you received the letter, the day has counted. The notary will give you all the access from your father next Thursday."

"5 more days?" Y/N echoed, a mix of anxiety and anticipation clouding her voice.

Bucky nodded solemnly. "I'll try my best to help you stay alive for 5 days.”

The car sped through the night, each passing moment thick with suspense. Y/N's mind raced with the implications of the countdown, and the realization that her life hung in the balance heightened the tension in the confined space.

As they arrived at the designated location, Y/N expected a typical safe house, but the reality surpassed her expectations. The so-called "safe house" revealed itself as a luxurious penthouse, perched high above the city lights.

Y/N couldn't hide her surprise. "This is a safe house?" she asked incredulously.

Bucky, with a faint smirk, began to shed his suit, revealing a concealed gun holster underneath. The transformation was both subtle and startling, hinting at a side of Bucky that transcended the image of a simple lawyer.

Y/N's eyes widened with realization. "You're not just a lawyer, are you?"

Bucky, now more casually attired, met her gaze with a mysterious glint in his eyes. "Let's just say I wear different hats depending on the situation.”

As Bucky sensed Y/N's unease, he assured her, "You can rest." Observing her discomfort, he then casually mentioned, "I'll be on the second floor."

Y/N's shoulders visibly relaxed at the prospect of having the space to herself. Grateful, she entered the empty room, its pristine condition suggesting it hadn't seen much use.

She threw herself onto the inviting bed, finding it far more comfortable than what she was accustomed to. The softness embraced her, and she closed her eyes, yearning for a few hours of respite from the tumultuous events of the night.

As Y/N grappled with the chaos unfolding in the penthouse, a distant memory surfaced—a recollection of her mother's hardened expression. 

She vividly remembered her mother's face, the lines etched with regret as she squeezed Y/N's shoulder and uttered, "Your father is a bad man. I regret every second that I've spent with him."

Y/N, burdened by the weight of her mother's words, had refrained from probing further into the mystery of her father. Yet, in the quiet moments, she harbored a silent wish that this elusive man would someday step in to ease her mother's hardships.

Her mother, a single parent juggling three jobs, had toiled relentlessly to put food on the table. Life was a constant struggle, and Y/N witnessed her mother's unwavering determination to provide despite the challenges.

Now, faced with a sudden windfall of wealth from the father she never knew, Y/N grappled with a dilemma. 

Did she deserve this money after a lifetime of neglect?

The unanswered questions about her father lingered, and the allure of the fortune conflicted with the years of hardship she and her mother had endured.

Should she accept the inheritance, a seemingly deserved respite, or reject it as a tainted gift from a man who had been absent throughout her entire life, even in death?

Whispering to the quiet room, Y/N admitted, "It's exhausting." 

****

On the second floor, Bucky found solace in the embrace of a cigarette, the city sprawled out before him like a glittering canvas. With each exhale, tendrils of smoke dissipated into the night, carrying away the echoes of the day's adrenaline-fueled events.

As a mafia lawyer, Bucky was no stranger to danger. Guarding Y/N is risky, but Bucky isn't doing it for nothing. There's something in it for him too.

Y/N's father is Max Wolfe, a hidden powerhouse in the mafia realm—an esteemed figure and a silent executioner. Bucky's association with him traces back to a grim alley where Max rescued him from the desperation of begging for food. Max, a father figure to Bucky, became the anchor in the tumult of his life.

As Max's health deteriorated, he lay on his deathbed, revealing a deeper connection between them. "My daughter, my first-born, Y/N, protect her," Max pleaded with a tremble in his voice. 

Bucky, holding Max's fragile hands, vowed, "I promise."

In his final moments, Max made a chilling revelation. "If you could save my daughter, you could have some of my fortune." He added with a knowing smirk, "I knew you love money.”

Bucky smirked; Max was spot-on. Money was Bucky's love, his anchor in a world without it. Life felt worthless. He knew that feeling well—being unseen, dehumanized—before Max took him in.

As Bucky contemplated the promise he made on Max's deathbed, the amount of money he'd receive remained a mystery. 

Now, as he faced the unknown bounty tied to protecting Y/N, Bucky couldn't help but reflect on the stark contrast his life had taken.

The prospect of wealth was a double-edged sword, promising a way out of the shadows but also veiled in the uncertainty of how much he would gain. 

******

The quiet night shattered as the sound of a helicopter sliced through the air, jolting Bucky from his thoughts. "That's weird," he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from downstairs, shattering the uneasy calm. "Aarghh!"

Bucky's instincts kicked in. He grabbed his gun and raced downstairs, his mind racing to comprehend the unfolding chaos.

As Bucky stormed into Y/N's room, a gust of chilling wind greeted him. The shattered glass window revealed the audacious point of entry for the uninvited guests who now held Y/N captive.

Two figures in black suits held her captive, each connected by a belt that dangled from a rope. 

Bucky couldn't help but be impressed by the audacity of these kidnappers, daring to descend from the towering building with a helicopter as their escape route. 

"Impressive," he mused under his breath.

Y/N's eyes widened with both fear and accusation as she screamed at Bucky, "You said this place is safe!"

Bucky, unfazed, retorted, "I did."

The tension escalated when one of the kidnappers pointed a gun at Y/N's head, issuing a grim warning. "Know your place. Don't accept the money.”

Defiance burned in Y/N's eyes as she shot back, "I didn't even know I had a father until today!!!"

"SHUT UP!!!"

Bucky, assessing the situation, tsked. "Is that how you talk to your eldest sister, Mark?"

The man who had threatened Y/N fell silent, a tension hanging in the air.

Y/N, bewildered, exclaimed, "Huh?"

Bucky, with a wry smile, revealed the chilling truth. "Y/N, let me introduce you to Mark Wolfe. Your 3rd brother."

Y/N's incredulous response cut through the chaos, "This is the wrong time and the wrong place for family introductions!”

She can't fathom that her savior is a madman!

Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , -

Author Note :

Hey friends,

If you've been enjoying the content, I've set up a Ko-fi account. Your support through tips would mean the world and help me keep creating. Only if you feel like it!

Here's the link: Ko-fi

Thanks a bunch for being fabulous followers!

I'm now offering faster release and bonus chapters for Ko-fi members. If you enjoy my content and want early access, consider supporting me on Ko-fi!

Join the taglist:

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Author Note: Hey everyone! 🌟 Your input means the world to me.

If you've got any cool ideas or prompts, whether for this series or any other series, feel free to share them with me!

Just drop them in my ASK/SEND REQUEST box.

Can't wait to hear your awesome suggestions! 🚀💬

[communist-hatsunemiku]

Top 5 or top 10 favourite Miku designs!!!

OK im finally going to answer this ask using 100% of my brain power.

I don't actually have favorites generally, but there are some modules I would LOVE to see more fanart of, these modules maybe have like one or two pieces of art out there.

SO

Jersey

just perfectly fits when playing PO PI PO, and Miku with her hair in a bun is always good.

2. Hello, Good Night

I mean just look at Her, She's the Queen of dreams and snork-mimimi. Basically the sandman if he was fucking epic. (this song is so fucking hard tho)

3. FOnewear Style

Extreme video game vibes, and ELF EARS. AND THE BOOTS WHIP ASS!!! I love all the little ball accessories

4. Hello World

I've literally never seen fan art of this module. It's super "sci-fi princess of the galaxy" vibes, it's Miku from the year 2253. It's the Miku that appears as an AI controlling some kind of 'Arc' class spaceship, the humans on board have all died for some reason so when you meet her she's been alone for awhile... I just made myself sad wtf.

5. Dancing All Night

Extremely cool, extremely techo, this Miku knows how to put on a rave, and the little screens on her chest are animated! Plus the black boots, the black skirt, and the black gloves are sexy af

6. Interviewer

This is what Miku wears on a day She has off, the low ponytails, the bike shorts, no shoes, baggy hoodie like whats not to love. But then they go and give Her red eyes? why tf not

7. Racing Miku 2012 ver.

The racing QUEEN, She is presiding over one of those violent 'death race' type of motorsports events and She's sitting in a skybox watching the chaos unfold and laughing. She may or may not be meddling with the outcome of the race with a devious control panel that's linked to all kinds of hazards built into the track. She may or may not have some kinda freakish underling that's just begging to activate his most fucked up traps and obstacles, and She may or may not allow him to set some of them off, if she's in the mood.

8. Siren

I find this module really charming because you'd think the color combinations and the kind of antiquated dress design wouldn't work but they come together in this campy way and it's so good. And the song it's tied to has this great 'twist' where the beginning of the song is this slow ballad being sung in some kinda garden, and then it's revealed that She's ACTUALLY performing in this crazy far off alien-world arena where I imagine all kinds of shady characters and rough types are patrons. And they come from all over to hear Miku sing.

I'm going to stop at 8 modules, ty so much for this ask though! These kind of questions really give me a chance to write about Miku and dive into imagining Her in all kinds of settings and scenarios!

[crvptydgaming]

Okay, I know I haven't exactly been a screenshot-taking MACHINE this year... But hey, a girl can dream!

✨Top 24 Screenshots of 2024✨ challenge! I was tagged by @esotericas-sims <3

Tagging:

@berryconfetti (her rainbowcy is pure gold)

@waveport (seriously, one day i'll ask you to teach me how you do what you do)

@myheartsims (haven't seen much from you this year, what do you have for me?)

@s4rainbows (what have been YOUR favourite moments?)

(I'm mostly tagging you all because I'm curious to see what amazing things you captured.)

(Find my questionable screenshots hidden below if you dare. 😅)

February

Well, that was a short-lived attempt at a restarting my rainbowcy. My laptop had other plans, apparently. But hey, at least I got a good chapter out of it! I'll definitely be back for round two...or five at this point.

March

Embarking on my Disney Princess Legacy again, and I'm already smitten with Rosa all over again. 💕 She's been my Snow White from the very beginning, and it feels so right to have her lead this new adventure.

April

So, my Sleeping Beauty heir is supposed to be graceful and elegant, right? 😂 Turns out Marina is a frog-loving whirlwind of chaos. Guess I need to adjust my expectations for this Disney Princess Legacy.

May

Marina's finally a teen, and her generation of the DPL has officially begun! ��� I've been chronicling her adventures through her tweets, and let me tell you, it's been wild. You guys haven't seen this side of the Legacy yet – I'm waiting until her reign is over to unleash the chaos on Tumblr! 😈

I embarked on a Herculean feat: building an entire Fallout vault in The Sims 4. 🤯 The sheer ambition… it was glorious. Sadly, the post-construction depression set in, and my Vault Dwellers are still waiting for their orders. Maybe a restart is in order? 🤔

Remember that time I tried to speedrun an NSB legacy? 😅 Generation 1 was a chaotic blur, but I captured most of it in a day. Now, Gen 2 is waiting patiently… maybe I'll finally get around to it soon. 😉

June

Apparently, I have a problem. The rest of Gen 1 for my NSB speedrun also happened in a single day. 🤪 Send help (and maybe a therapist?).

Behold! A groundbreaking endeavour: a Berry Pastel Rainbowcy infused with the spirit of historical exploration. Prepare to be captivated by the vibrant Sims, their lives unfolding against the backdrop of time, all narrated with the eloquence of the legendary Sir David Attenborough. This is going to be epic.

July

The 'Daughters of the Stars' legacy, a tale of courage in the face of fear, was born in July. While the initial draft needs a bit of polishing, the core concept remains intriguing. This story is far from over. It will rise again, stronger than before!

In a moment of sheer madness, I decided to tackle the Super Sim Challenge in July. 🤪 No pressure, just maxing out every skill and aspiration. My founder was a force to be reckoned with as a teen, but then… well, let's just say real life got in the way. 🙈

August

August? August was a blur of recolors and Super Simming. 🤪 Basically, I achieved peak laziness. But hey, sometimes you just need to vibe, right?

September

September: A month of… well, not much. I tried to branch out, attempted to start a story called 'Del Sol Dreaming' (don't ask), and mostly just wandered aimlessly.

November

November: Darkness descends. I've begun the chilling reimagining of 'Til Death,' a story I once told as part of a greater whole. The Sims are crafted, the stage is set, and the hub beckons. Prepare for a tale of suspense, betrayal, and… the inevitable.

December

A sudden shift in the winds of fate! December saw me abandon the chilling narrative of 'Til Death' for the more relaxed world of Kinbound.

But fear not, for I also found time to capture the vibrant lives of Marina and Roth, my DPL heirs, as they embraced the vibrant hues of Del Sol Valley! 🎨

[hellsite-proteins]

to answer that other anon: I think you got noticed when hellsitegenetics reblogged you! thats when i followed you anyway. unless you're the same person behind the scenes idk

yeah that makes sense. and no, i'm not secretly hellsitegenetics. i've seen enough terrible structures running one gimmick blog, and i can't imagine trying to manage more of these

letter sequence in this ask matching protein-coding amino acids:

tanswerthattherannIthinkygtnticedwhenhellsitegeneticsrelggedythatswhenifllwedyanywaynlessyrethesamepersnehindthescenesidk

protein guy analysis:

this is another ugly one to prove that starting this blog was a mistake /j. it has some weirdly long alpha helices, attached to a weirdly long unstructured tail. the few hydrophobic residues that we did get are too far apart to stick to each other, and so no tertiary structure managed to form anywhere. this thing is probably just a constantly folding and unfolding nuisance spreading chaos and damage.

predicted protein structure:

cartoon representation

cartoon with side chains

[talekinesis]

Chaos from the Stars

I'm trying something new so bear with me. I've never written an "x reader" fic before, but I want to try it.

I'm focusing on some of my favorite characters that get like 0 media and screen time

Reader is gender neutral

Summary: Two Ravager ships get damaged in battle so they make an emergency landing on the nearest planet; Earth. Unfortunately for them, they land in the middle of a field near someone's home, and now a human is involved.

Beginning | Next

Freezing, late November air rolled across the fields outside and carried snow toward a single house in the middle of the country.

It was 4 am on a Friday morning, and you were asleep. At least until you heard a loud whooshing sound, followed by heavy, booming thuds that practically shook the land. On top of that, the area was now completely lit up, including your bedroom.

You shot up, grabbed your coat, shoes, and ran outside, thinking there had been a plane crash or something. The icy air enveloped you and bit at your skin as soon as you stepped onto the porch. Frosted grass crunched under your shoes as you ran toward the field. You weren't sure what you were going to find, but still thinking it to be a plane crash, you hoped maybe you could be of help.

Instead what you found was far more confusing, and didn't make sense. There were two large air crafts that didn't look like anything you'd seen before. They weren't planes, that was for sure. One was smoking, and red lights flashed from inside, and you could faintly hear an alarm. The other was tilted on its side, and all the lights were shut off.

The door on the flashing ship opened and people started to evacuate. Only when you stepped closer, you noticed they looked a bit.. not human. Sure, many of them looked human, but others had green or blue skin, some had crested skulls, red eyes, or sharp teeth.. They weren't human.

A blue man jogged down out of the ship, coughing as smoke rushed out after him. He had some sort of red fin on his head, and spoke with a rough voice, commanding the men to get to the other ship and help them open their door.

You watched as at least twenty men rushed over and began prying at the door until it finally opened, and a different crew exited.

A human looking man exited, followed by another who looked like he was made of glass or crystal.. Then a large, red alien with a tail instead of legs, and fins for ears, a woman, and a very large man in a yellow suit.

The human looking man immediately made his way over to the blue man and they seemed to launch into an argument on sight.

You couldn't make out everyone, as the area was only lit up by the lights from the ship that was smoking, and many of the men were standing in the darkness, trying to get away from all the smoke.

You almost forgot you were even standing there, just watching the scene unfold, until you heard a voice call out over the loud arguing.

"Cap'in, I don't mean to interrupt, but there's a Terran.." said another human-looking man, this one a little scrawny with pointed ears. You didn't think he was human, but he did look like it.

Suddenly the attention was on you. At least thirty something men out here, and all of them had turned toward you.

"I-" your own voice came out as a squeak, both from the sudden shyness and the lack of use, as it was four in the morning and you had just woken up, "I heard a crash, I thought maybe someone had gotten.. hurt.." you explained, your eyes flicking from alien to alien. You took a step back, intimidated.

The human-looking man that had just been arguing with the blue alien turned and approached you. He took your hand and shook it without giving you the chance to even raise it first. "Stakar Ogord. I apologize for landing our ships and damaging the field here, we needed to make an emergency landing."

"The fields not mine-" you started, but he continued like he didn't even hear you.

"We may have to stay here until we can get our ships repaired and in the air again. Until then, I guess we'll be your neighbors. No one should bother you, I just recommend you stay in your yard." He gave a rough pat to your shoulder and turned around, walking back toward the group, leaving you standing there.

Your mind was racing, and the exhaustion wasn't helping. In fact, you were half convinced this was a dream. You looked over at the blue man with the red crest, and he just waved you off, like he was shooing you back to your house. His message was clear.

We don't need your help.

With nothing left to say, and apparently nothing to do, you did the only thing you could think of and went back inside. You shut and locked the door, took your coat off, and stepped out of your shoes.

You wanted to go back to bed, but there was no way you could do that with maybe thirty to fourty aliens just outside. Instead, you started the coffee maker and figured you'd just start the day early, at 4:30 in the morning. That was fine. Five hours of sleep wasn't terrible. After you'd poured your cup, you remembered something and stepped back outside onto the back porch.

Once you found what you were looking for, you stepped back inside, shut the door, and started to pour a second cup of coffee, this time into a thermos.

You put your coat and shoes back on, and grabbed an extra coat from the closet before you headed back out, jogging back toward the group, right for the red snake-like alien.

He turned to face you and you froze. No mouth.

Suddenly the gesture felt silly and pointless.

He continued to stare, as did some of the others.

"Uh.. Well, I saw you.. earlier, when the ship- .. Well anyway, you look reptilian, and I thought maybe you were cold blooded, and it's twenty degrees out here.. Which isn't very safe for cold blooded creatures in general, so I brought you a coffee and an extra coat.. But uh.. Well I guess you can still use the coat." You said, handing it over, relived that he actually took it and put it on, bowing his head in silent thanks.

You heard a chuckle from that man earlier, Stakar. "He can still have the drink, his mouth is in his chest. But thank you, on behalf of Krugarr here, for thinking of him."

You could tell he was trying to be polite in order to stay civil, though he was trying to focus on the ships and the fact that they were all stranded now.

The red alien -Krugarr, you learned his name was- bowed his head again and accepted the drink. You realized he also was just trying to be polite, knowing you had good intentions.

You turned your attention back to Stakar. "Is there anything I can do to help? There's like forty of you, all stranded out here.. Do you need food or water maybe? Or a place to stay? My house isn't very big, but I've got a barn on my property that isn't being used."

The blue man with the red crest stepped up. "Can't you see we're handling it? Look, the gesture is appreciated, but we're fine. We don't need your help. We'll stay on our ship-"

"The ship that looks like it's on fire?" You retorted. "You'll die of smoke inhalation. My barn is open, I can get extra blankets and heaters out there. It's the least I can do, just let me help."

He stopped and grumbled a little, clearly irritated. He turned and looked at his crew. Some were visibly shivering, while others had their hands in their pockets, arms tightly tucked into their bodies, pretending not to be cold, but their captain knew his crew and sighed.

"Fine," he turned and faced you, "You can put the boys up in your barn until we get things figured out. But if they give you trouble, and they might, you come an' get me." He turned toward the man who had spoken up earlier, the scrawnier looking human-like man. "Go with them, make sure they don't destroy the place."

The man nodded and turned toward the crew. "Cap'in says we're stayin' in the Terran's barn until our ship is fixed up." He called out. And with a jerk of his head, they followed him, and he followed you.

As you walked across the field, you looked up at him. "Forgive me if this is rude, but.. Are you human?" you asked.

He shook his head. "Xandarian. We share a common ancestor with you Terrans, so we look mighty similar, but we're different."

Another awkward minute of silent walking before you introduced yourself. If you were hosting them, they might as well know your name.

He nodded. "I'm Kraglin, Cap'in's first mate. Behind me is Brahl, Horuz, Tullk, Retch, Gef.." He trailed off, realizing there were too many crewmembers. "Uh.. Well they'll introduce themselves when ya meet 'em." He was quiet for a moment before he spoke up again. "Cap'in won't say it, but thank you.. For lettin' us stay in your barn."

You nodded. "I couldn't let you guys stay outside, it's below freezing. A human wouldn't make it out here.. By the way, what's the name of your captain? That scary blue guy."

"Yondu Udonta. He's the captain of our faction, and Stakar is the captain of his own faction."

Finally you got to the barn, and yanked at the doors, pulling them open, watching as aliens rushed to get inside and out of the snow.

You turned back toward Kraglin, crossing your arms over your chest to try and warm up a little. "What caused you guys to crash here anyway?"

He exhaled and leaned against the door. "We was fightin' with the Kree. The Cap'in doesn't have good history with them, so when he sees their ships, he gets a little impulsive- you ain't heard that from me by the way." You nodded, and he continued.

"They cut us off, and he started chasin', and shootin'. It got so bad that Stakar came an' told him to stop, that he was gon' start somethin'. Then the Kree shot back and nearly took out our ship, and that's when Stakar got involved, cuz he don't like anyone messin' with Yondu. We eventually shot their ship down, but ours didn't turn out much better."

That's when you remembered them fighting. Everyone evacuated, and Yondu made sure Stakar and his crew got out safely, and then they started fighting. It reminded you of you and your family a little bit.

"Come on, I've got some blankets and heaters in my house, can you help me carry them?" You asked, walking toward the house. You heard him jog to catch up and follow you, taking that as a yes.

You came back out with two space heaters and ten blankets, some pulled from your own bed. It wasn't nearly enough, but some people were able to begrudgingly share, and others crowded around the heaters and just sat together. Some were nice enough to thank you, but most either nodded or just grunted.

"Don't take it personally," Kraglin had said, "Ravagers ain't exactly the nicest of people. We're pirates."

Great, you thought, I'm hosting space alien pirates in my barn.

You nodded to him as he headed over toward a stall meant for a horse but hadn't been used and was left empty. Turning to leave, you nearly ran into Yondu, who caught you by shoulders before you did.

"Oh, I'm sorry-" You started but he just let go and walked around you, joining his crew. It felt a little rude, but it was understandable, he was stressed about his ship.

As you walked back toward the house, you saw Stakar, Krugarr, and a very angry looking woman. You may not have known what Krugarr was, but you were sure he was cold blooded. He had to be, right?

"Hey, uh, there's some extra room in the house. I have the heat on, and there's a guest room, if you three would prefer to sleep inside instead of out in the barn." you offered.

The woman started to decline, but Stakar spoke faster, "That would be wonderful, thank you." He ignored the smack she delivered to his chest, and walked inside with her. As scary and as harsh as she was with Stakar, she did thank you on her way in, so you assumed maybe she just hadn't wanted to intrude.

She and Stakar got the guest room together, making you think they were together, and you set up Krugarr in the livingroom couch with a blanket. He may not have had a mouth, but you could see it in his eyes that he seemed to smile a little and was grateful.

You headed back to your room, finally and sat down on the bed, ready to get back to sleep.. When it hit you that you just impulsively let maybe forty dangerous, possibly armed, alien pirate strangers stay with you, and three of them were inside your house.

You hadn't even thought about it, you just let them in, trying to help. You didn't know them, where they were from, their intentions, anything. Sure they seemed nice, but didn't most murders when people talked about them on the news?

You got up and clicked the lock on the door shut before sitting back down. You were sure that wasn't enough to stop them, but if their intention was to rob you, maybe it would be safer to stay put in your room while they did their thing..

You checked the clock propped up on your dresser.. 5:35 am.

Maybe just an hour of sleep wouldn't hurt. They all seemed equally as exhausted anyway, maybe they wouldn't bother you.

So you laid back down, pulled the comforter up, and fell back asleep, trying not to think about the people in your house or in the barn.

[bscully]

What is happening in Hades 2?

Spoilers ahead!

Also note that I am not familiar with the Chronos myth so I'm writing based on what I've seen of the game so far.

So let's start off with Chaos.

If you look at how Chaos looks in this game, it looks like Nyx and Chaos merged somehow ever since Zagreus reunited them in the first game.

The design looks like someone who resembles Nyx holding the head of the original Chaos character as seen in Hades 1 in her hand. There is no sign of Nyx or any signs that she somehow has retained her old form. From what little I remember about the original myth is that they in fact merged so that's probably a permanent state for now.

Apart from that this character design is so fucking rad.

Now that Chaos and Nyx have merged, is that the reason the Underworld as whole fell into disarray? Mother night's protection and influence returned to that of the primordial creator and decreased from of the rest of the Underworld (?) The ensuing chaos (hah) probably gave Chronos an opportunity to invade the House of Hades with ease. After the 10th or so run you are being given the information that the surface is also swarming with shades now. Is Zagreus reuniting Nyx and Chaos the "mistake" Chronos mentioned when you meet him the 2nd or 3rd time...?

What is also interesting is the fact how Shades look like. Look at Chaos here.

And then the shades themselves. Particularly the eye section.

It's like we are dealing with a whole new generation of shades. Something BIG happened here

So where are Hades, Persephone, Zagreus?

I think they are still alive. Just based on the first few encounters with Chronos and how he teleports you into a different dimension of the sort, I'm thinking they might be caught in a timeloop hex. Only a sorceress like Melinoe would be able to escape one... Which is probably how you'd rescue them. Need to play more to say for sure. The story is unfolding beautifully, loving the pace and world building so far.

[0-n-1-x]

Spirited Bonds

Synopsis: Spenting time with you libero boyfriend after practice <3

The gymnasium of Karasuno High School echoed with the rhythmic thuds of volleyballs meeting palms, a familiar cadence that signaled another intense practice session. Nishinoya Yuu, the dynamic libero known for his fiery spirit, darted across the court with the precision of a seasoned warrior. His jumps and dives were a spectacle, leaving spectators in awe and opponents scrambling to keep up.

Amidst the controlled chaos of the practice, you, his trusted teammate and partner, held your ground at the net. The unspoken synchronization between you and Nishinoya had become a thing of legend, a silent language that spoke volumes about the bond forged through countless hours of shared victories and defeats.

As the final rally concluded, Nishinoya approached you with a grin that could light up even the dimmest corners of the gym. "You were on fire today, [Name]! I've never seen blocks and spikes like that," he exclaimed, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.

You chuckled at his infectious enthusiasm. "Coming from the libero with moves like yours, that's high praise, Noya."

Nishinoya's chest swelled with pride, and he playfully nudged your shoulder. "Well, we make a pretty unbeatable team, don't we?"

Together, you retreated to the sidelines, the buzz of the gymnasium fading into the background. The shared exhaustion of a well-fought practice was accompanied by a quiet sense of satisfaction, the unspoken acknowledgment that, together, you and Nishinoya could take on anything.

"So, what's the game plan now?" you asked, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

Nishinoya leaned in, a conspiratorial grin on his face. "I heard there's a new ramen place that just opened up nearby. What do you say we check it out?"

Your stomach growled in agreement, and you nodded. "Ramen sounds perfect. Lead the way, Noya."

The two of you exited the gymnasium, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. As you walked side by side, conversation flowed effortlessly between you. From volleyball strategies to favorite foods to plans for the upcoming weekend, the dialogue wove a tapestry of shared experiences, building on the foundation of your spirited camaraderie.

The ramen shop, a cozy establishment with the tantalizing aroma of broth and spices, welcomed you with open arms. You and Nishinoya settled into a corner booth, menus in hand, ready to embark on the next adventure: a culinary exploration.

As you indulged in the savory delight of ramen and shared laughter, the atmosphere became a sanctuary of joy and contentment. The restaurant's patrons faded into the background, leaving only the two of you immersed in the moment, appreciating the simple pleasure of good food and even better company.

With the meal concluding, the evening stretched before you like an open book. Nishinoya's eyes sparkled with mischief as he suggested, "How about we swing by the arcade? I heard they've got a new game that's all the rage."

You agreed with a smile, realizing that the day was far from over. The two of you strolled through the city, the vibrant lights of the arcade beckoning in the distance. The evening unfolded in a series of laughter, friendly competition, and shared victories in the pixelated world of video games.

As the night progressed, you found yourselves on a rooftop, overlooking the city skyline. The moon cast a gentle glow on the scene, and the city below seemed to pulse with life. Nishinoya, sitting beside you, spoke up.

"[Name], today was awesome. I love how we can dominate on the court and then just chill out like this."

You leaned against him, feeling the warmth of his presence. "Yeah, Noya. It's these moments that make everything worthwhile."

And as you gazed at the stars above, you realized that your connection with Nishinoya extended beyond the volleyball court and the cityscape. It was a spirited bond, woven through shared victories, ramen dinners, and arcade adventures, a bond that stood the test of time and trials.

With a contented sigh, you rested your head on Nishinoya's shoulder, savoring the quiet tranquility of the night.

[generic-sonic-fan]

Hullo there ! I love your " a father’s embrace " fanfic it got me into metal sonic more so i was wondering if u knew any other fanfics i could read that includes him , I would be very gratful for it ☆

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to also give a look to (shameful self-plug here, apologies) I Can't Take All This and a prompt fill I did for him a while back! Also keep an eager eye out for my Metal Sonic longfic that I'll post. . . eventually.

Without further ado, here's my rec list! I'll sort my recs into four categories: non-ship, Metamy, Metadow and Metonic.

Non-Ship:

The first thing I'll put in this category is actually not a fic, but an official piece of Sonic media. You are now legally obligated to watch the Sonic OVA!! This movie fundamentally changed the way I characterize Metal Sonic forever, and is the basis for at least one fic I'm recommending on this list. 2D animated Sonic is genuinely one of my favorite things on the great green earth, and the OVA has it in spades. If you love the Sonic CD intro, you're gonna love this one. The only drawback is that you have to deal with 90s sexism in some parts, but that's pretty minor.

Now, with that out of the way, let me get on to my actual fic recommendations:

and so I transformed myself with my own hands - by @couch-house. This is THE transfemme Metal Sonic bible right here. But not only that, it features a terrifyingly well-written Eggdad and a great take on Sage. Every scene where Eggman and Metal verbally spar in this one had me on the edge of my seat. The tension and pacing of this one is absolutely fan-fucking-tastic. So don't just read it for trans girl Metal- read it for everything else as well.

Situation: Optimal - by ModOrbot. Metal Sonic battles Sonic and pushes himself to the breaking point- and Eggman gets concerned. Featuring good dad Eggdad and some interesting angst from Metal.

Honorary mention to METACOGNITION - by Chaos Theory (Lizardmind). This one's still ongoing, but I really like this author's narration for Metal so far, and the alternate universe premise they're building is fascinating to watch as it unfolds.

Metamy:

Carbon Cafe - by @metallix-mixin. A post-redemption Metal waxes poetic about the bakery he now runs, and the lovely guest who visits him there. A short and sweet story with a charmingly verbose and romantic narration style for Metal that I haven't found anywhere else. I think about this fic whenever I pass a bakery.

Bird Calls - by Fumiku. Metal stumbles across Amy while she's bird-watching. This one's simply the best Metamy I've ever read. Period. GOD I love this one. Most of the time, I simply tolerate Metamy to get more content with Metal Sonic in it, but this fic makes me believe in love. The emotions that both Metal and Amy go through in this one are just so in-character, and are so, so good.

Beauty is in the Beholder - by Fumiku. This is the only fic I've ever found that's about Metamy after the introduction to their relationship. In this one, they've been dating for a while now, but Metal's been having some issues with mental health and body image. Good thing Amy's there to help :)

Metadow:

Mutually Beneficial, Whatever It Takes, and A Form Chosen By Himself, But Not For Himself - by @south-sea here on tumblr. In fact, you really should just check out everything Sea has ever written for their Second Chance AU that they have starring Shadow and Metal. They write Shadow and Metal in a queer-platonic relationship and their writing is honestly what sold me on the relationship in the first place. Everything they touch with these two characters is solid gold. The narration style they use for Metal is brutally effective. I can't recommend those fics highly enough.

Metonic:

Halves of the Same Coin - by @sunnimint. OVA Universe. This fic is MANDATORY READING once you've seen the OVA. This fic dragged me from the highest fluffy happiness to the most gut-wrenching of angst. This fic destroyed me. This fic remade me. And this fic just got its concluding chapter. It's the perfect time to read it.

Iron Oxide - by TheEnigmaMachine. This is the other mandatory reading for Metonic, this time set roughly in gameverse. This fic is fascinating because it's actually a high-concept science fiction novel neatly disguised as a ship fic. This one's a pleasure to read because Metal actually narrates in and utilizes actual computer and science terms (the tags for "quantum mechanics" and "physics" aren't kidding!) It genuinely blew my mind when I first read it. Don't let the weird premise scare you- roll with the angst, bunker down for the enemies-to-lovers slow burn, and give it a shot.

Beginnings of an End - by @sunnimint. If any of you were crying because you don't want to watch the OVA but still wanted to read Sunnimint's absolutely phenomenal prose, look no further- she's got one in gameverse too. This one, opposite of her other one, features a Metal raised by a good dad Eggman, and all of the baggage that comes with it going into a Metonic relationship. It's a fascinating read. The only problem is that it's unfinished, but what's there is solid gold.

[darksaiyangoku]

RWBY/Swords of Fate: Arc Kingdom

Chapter 1: The Beowolf Hunt

Fairy tales. Myths. Legends. Stories with ever evolving characters and events. Many share a common source and many diverge from their original tellings. No two versions of one story are ever exactly the same. This is one such a story. A young man desired to cherish and protect. He never imagined that he would be the one to pull the legendary sword from the stone. In this tale, you will witness the trials and tribulations that shaped him from a simple huntsmen to the King of Vale. So begins the path to a new era of Remnant; the Arc Kingdom.

5th January, 734 AC

Jaune: *swinging his sword* Ha! Yah! Fwooo!!!

Rogue: Gh! *chops firewood* Gah!

Saphron: Verte! Have you seen where Noir and Blanc have gone?

Verte: They're in the kitchen. They're gonna be the ones cooking dinner tonight.

Rouge: *eyes gleaming* Is it lamb stew again?

Verte: *smiles* Yep!

Saphron: Alright! Come inside, Jaune!

Jaune: You three go on ahead. Let me finish practicing out here.

Saphron: Oh come on! All you ever do is practice. A little break isn't going to kill you.

Rouge: If he wants to freeze to death, let him. More stew for us.

Verte: And I get his room!

Jaune: Wha- hey! Get back here! *runs inside*

An hour had passed and Noir and Blanc carried the pot over to the table. A large puff of steam escaped as soon as the two of them took off the lid. Everyone's eyes sparkled with hunger. The mouthwatering meat, crunchy carrots, hearty leaks and fluffy potatoes were swimming in a sea of delicious stew. They wasted no time in digging into the meal.

Jaune: Mmmmm!!! Guys, this is incredible!

Noir/Blanc: Thanks! *beams*

Rouge: So Jaune, tomorrow you'll be returning to Beacon. Have you packed everything you needed to.

Jaune: Mmhmm. My weapons, spare clothes, Dust and all of my books. I'm all set.

Rouge: Good to hear. *smiles and headpats him*

Jaune: Rouge, come on! I'm not a kid anymore.

Noir: Awwww, big brother's blushing!

Blanc: He likes it!

Jaune: Ack! I do not! *blushes* Hmph.

Two hours had passed and Rogue, Saphron and Verte were getting ready for bed. Jaune, meanwhile, popped outside. Near the house was a small gravestone. He knelt to it and clasped his hands together.

Jaune: I'll be heading to Beacon again soon, master. *chuckles* I can't believe that it's already been 4 months. You should've seen me in the Initiation, I was terrible. *laughs* But somehow, I managed to impress the headmaster and now I have a team of my own. We're called JNPR, like the berries. *touches the ground* I've written to Shirou as well, and I've made sure he's okay. He's taken up a part time appretinceship as a blacksmith in the Kingdom of Mistral, says he's working on forging two exceptional swords. Anyway, goodnight.

Jaune rose up from the snow and shivered. The cold really hurt his knees. As he was about to open the door, he heard a loud scream.

Jaune: What the-?

The scream became louder, followed by snarls and howls.

Jaune: Grimm...

Jaune burst open the door and rushed to his bedroom. Taking his father's sword and shield, he hurried outside and ran into the direction of the chaos.

[Vin Village]

Shadowy black wolves growled and snarled at the villagers. Atop their faces were bone-like masks and their eyes were a burning red. Men and women tried their hardest to fight back against the pack, but they were too strong. The beasts fought back and slashed at the people as if they were defenceless lambs. Many tried to run, but they weren't fast enough.

From within a small shrubbery, Jaune could see the attacks unfold. Grabbing his sword, he drew it and ran. With a mighty yell, he slashed at one of the beasts and chopped its arm clean off. It screeched in pain. Taking his sheath, he pushed a small button and it changed into a shield, with the emblem of the Arc Family at the front. The rest of the grimm set their sights on Jaune and surrounded him.

Jaune: Try and get as far away from here as you can. I'll hold them off.

Villager: Are you crazy? There's 7 beowolves there!

Jaune: I've handled these creatures before. I've got enough Dust with me. Just do what I say and get everyone to safety as quick as you can!

Villager: Alright. Good luck. *runs*

Jaune: *deep breath* Okay Jaune, just remember your training.

Two beowolves lunged at him, baring their sharp claws and fangs. Immidiately, Jaune blocked them with his shield. His feet dragged against the snow as he was pushed back slightly. Raising his sword, he struck at one of them.

Jaune: Hah!!

He managed to land a scratch on its chest. The other beowolf tried to attack Jaune, but he dodged just in time.

Jaune: *grins* Yaah!

He thrusted his sword into its chest and yelled out in pain. Suddenly, Jaune noticed 3 of the beowolves running away from the village.

Jaune: Oh no you don't! *pushes beowolf with shield*

Before he could catch up to them, someone dropped down in front of the beowolves, armed with a scythe. They wore a bright red cloak and their face was obscured with a hood. In a single stroke, they slew the 3 beowolves. Jaune was impressed.

???: Behind you!

Jaune: *turns around* Woah!

He narrowly avoided being scratched by a stray beowolf, losing his footing and falling to the floor. Instantly, the cloaked warrior dashed towards the grimm at top speed and blocked an incoming attack. Pushing the grimm back, they decapitated it with their scythe. Jaune shook his head and stood up. Gripping his sword as tight as possible, he and the cloaked warrior stood back to back was they were surrounded by the remaining 3 beowolves.

???: When I say 'now', we strike. Got it?

Jaune: Yeah.

The beowolves slowly moved closer, growling. Jaune could feel his spine tingling.

???: Now! Sah!!! *slices beowolf*

Jaune: Hah! *stabs beowolf*

Jaune/???: YAAAAH!!! *chops beowolf in half*

The threat was over and the grimm crumbled into ash. Jaune turned to the cloaked warrior.

Jaune: *smiles* Thanks for the help, Ruby.

Ruby: *takes off hood* No problem, Jaune.

Jaune: How come you didn't tell me that you were in Charlemagne?

Ruby: *nervous laughter* Sorry about that, it kind slipped my mind. I was at a tavern with mom and dad when I heard about the attack.

Jaune: Huh. I heard about the attack before I was gonna go to bed.

Ruby: I gotta say, you did look a little rusty. Have you been slacking off.

Jaune: Wha? No! I just... *shifts eyes* haven't fought any grimm in a while.

Ruby: Yep, that's a given. *chuckles* I'm looking forward to going back to Beacon tomrrow.

Jaune: Me too! It'll be great to see our friends again. *sighs* Though I'm not looking forward to seeing CRDL.

Ruby: You still upset about the sparring match?

Jaune: I can handle losing a sparring match. But breaking my sword was crossing the line! Anyway, um, I never thanked you for helping me back then.

Ruby: There's no need to worry about it. After all, what are best friends for? *smiles*

Jaune: Yeah, that's true. *chuckles* Still, you're amazing.

Ruby: Thanks Jaune.

Jaune: Anyway, we should check on the villagers. See if they're okay.

Ruby: Yeah *nods*

The two of them walked near the gate, where the villagers were gathered. Many of them thanked Jaune and Ruby and tried to give them gifts, much to their embarrassment. From afar, the wizard Ozpin was watching them.

Ozpin: And so it begins. *smokes pipe*

[Castle Vale]

In the throne room, King Vortigern sneered at the black crystal ball next to him.

Vortigern: You musn't worry so much.

Crystal ball: You made a dangerous mistake, Your Majesty. Making a deal with Ozpin? Are you trying to incur my wrath?

Vortigern: He won't win.

Crystal ball: How can you be certain?

Vortigern: Because I saw to it personally. Uther doesn't have any living heirs. Without him, the bloodline has ended. That sword will remain in the stone for eternity.

Crystal ball: What of Ozpin, then?

Vortigern: I'll see to his demise myself. After all, *eyes turn draconic* you blessed me with this power. He doesn't stand a chance.

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 21st June

It's the return of a few familiar faces - faces we haven't seen for quite a while. But will they continue to impress, or will they be dethroned by a newcomer on the scene? (Spoiler, they absolutely will be!)

Have a Drink on Me - Lonnie Donegan (peaked at Number 8)

Okay, well, this certainly feels like Lonnie going back to basics. He's been on a Cockney comedy streak, recently, but this is just a good old striaghtforward skiffle number, lots of guitar and nonsense, repeated lyrics, with a vaguely American Old West vibe - or perhaps more of a Gold Rush vibe, this time, as the song's notionally about a guy from 1880 who gets rich mining, then arrives at a saloon at noon, covered in dirt, with a chorus of have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me / Everybody have a drink on me / Hey, hey, everybody drink on me.

Lonnie sounds like he's having good fun, on this one - most notably, you see it in the way he keeps almost giggling as he adds details about a potato-farming uncle who struck oil, and has left his well to the narrator. Plus, it's just a fun, bouncy vibe. It's not got the fire or the chaos of some of Lonnie's earlier stuff, but he's still getting to show off his guitar playing more than he has done for a while, especially when we hit the final solo, right before the last verse - it's nothing groundbreaking, but it's pretty smooth.

I also did appreciate the final verse, where there's a totally unnecessary flyby mention of Adam Faith, with the line exhorting the listener to sell your shovel and your old long johns / You can make a fortune writing Adam Faith songs. I guess there's a positive interpretation of it, too - the idea that Adam Faith's so successful that writing a song for him's like striking oil. But seeing as how striking oil's shown in the song as something you stumble into by accident, with barely any skill, I can't help but see a slightly coded dig at Adam. I'm not the hugest fan of Adam, so this doesn't bother me one bit, plus it's just kind of amusing to me, seeing these little references unfold.

Jeez, this song is repetitive, though. That does seem to be Lonnie's modus operandi, but still. Thank goodness for the solo, is all I can say.

Halfway to Paradise - Billy Fury (3)

You get blasted straight out the gate, with this one, with a stompy mix of horns and strings and drums. It's echoey, like the instruments are playing in a larger room - and that might literally be the case, because this track is apparently notable for having used a full orchestra. Not bad for scrappy old Billy Fury from Liverpool - gone are the rough, rock and roll edges, replaced instead by a more epic, balladeering sensibility that's backed up by soupy strings and blaring brass. And throughout, that steady, booming timpani.

The song itself's got a slightly country vibe, though it's definitely a pop song, penned by none other than Gerry Goffin and Carole King - it was originally written for (and a hit for) Tony Orlando, an artist we'll definitely see more of in future. For now, though, Billy's version does seem to have been the bigger hit.

It's suitably dramatic and sentimental, for what's a song that's basically about being friendzoned, as Billy laments how I want to be your lover / But your friend is all I stay. This leaves him halfway to paradise / So near, yet so far away. If I were feeling grumpier, I'd maybe roll my eyes a bit at the melodrama and the vague whininess of this. But that would be mean-spirited for a song that's honestly quite a good depiction of the frustration of unrequired love, and the particular torment of almost having what you want - which is almost worse than a love who'll have none of you!

I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott (7)

Linda Scott's our only completely new entry, this week, and immediately, I feel like she's got a very 60s voice. I couldn't explain exactly what makes it a 60s voice, but it is - she was a teen star, and she sounds it, fresh and clear-voiced. There are hints of Helen Shapiro, and definite hints of Connie Francis - Linda's got some of the same sassy spring to her sound, the same youthful charm. She even manages to make the dum-da-dum-da-dada-dada-dada-dada refrain sound light and catchy. Impressive stuff for a girl who was literally 15 - much better than anything I could have pulled off, for sure!

I think it helps that it's lyrically a good fit for a 15 year old, being as it is a song about being tongue-tied and anxious about whether your crush likes you back. Linda's not shy about telling people, we learn - I've told every little star / Just how sweet I think you are. She's told the ripples in the brook, she's told all her friends, she's not hiding it. And yet, the one person she wants to tell, she can't, leaving her wondering why haven't I told you? And, more pressingly, why haven't you told me? These feel like very teenaged concerns to me, with all its guessing and double-guessing and awkwardness. You can kind of imagine two people bumping along, each too shy to tell the other, though they're happy to gossip away about their crushes with all their friends - I certainly had friends like that, back at school. So yes, it feels pretty authentic, to me - consider me charmed.

I'll admit, I was then quite surprised to find out that the song's not a Linda Scott original, but a cover of a 1932 Oscar Hammerstein song that debuted in Music in the Air, a musical set in 1930s Bavaria that honestly doesn't sound like it's particularly well-known today - the Linda Scott version of the song is generally recognised as the best-known version of it, and rightly so, because she's absolutely made it her own, updating it into a proper 1960s girl-pop number that sounds like it was written just for her.

I'm loving this fresh crop of female singers and girl groups we're starting to see - there's just something very fresh about them. In comparison, Lonnie's folksy mugging and Billy's sweeping friendzone balladry sound... well, fine, I guess, but not the most dynamic or interesting thing out there. More Linda Scotts, please!

Favourite song of the bunch: I've Told Every Little Star.

[ayyiel]

The Nightmare Has Come.

Disclaimer: this was made for BlOPLAGUE’s event purposes. This plot has no correlation with Aries’ background.

Aries wipes away the sweat trickling down his forehead. Ballet practice for around two hours non-stop is incredibly draining, prompting the young man to take a short break before refining his movements.

Aries strides toward the corner of the studio, approaching his backpack lying there. He sits down, leaning against the wall, his hands searching for the bread he brought from home. Once he finds it, Aries quickly unwraps the bread and enjoys its filling.

“This is pure bliss.” He murmurs, savoring the moment with closed eyes.

For a moment, a quiet atmosphere surrounds him – typical in the soundproof ballet studio. However, Aries senses an unusual heaviness, as if something burdens his heart.

Grabbing the juice box from home, he takes a sip before standing up. The plan is to leave the studio and check the adjacent room, but he chokes on guava juice shortly after.

Why, you may ask? Because a commotion is unfolding outside!

Indeed, the room Aries occupies boasts a large one-way mirror, allowing those inside to observe outside without being seen. Aries is shocked witnessing chaos – people attacking and devouring each other!

“Damn it! I always liked The Walking Dead, but it doesn't mean I want to live alongside zombies!" Exclaims Aries in dismay.

The young man quickly grabs his phone from his bag, and indeed, the screen shows a government notification to stay at home.

“Hell nah, from the zombie movies I've watched, staying home is a lousy option. Screw the government!” Says Aries, frustrated.

Aries then swiftly gathers his belongings. He also takes off his pointe shoes and quickly puts back on the sneakers he was wearing before. Once everything is in order, Aries scans the room, searching for something he can use as a weapon.

After painstakingly inspecting each cabinet, fortunately, Aries finds a baseball bat. It belongs to someone, but Aries is confident the owner wouldn't mind lending it to him to stay alive, right?

So, the young man grips his baseball bat tightly, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to calm his heart racing with adrenaline.

“In the name of Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, if I have to die today, don't let my death be in vain, amen.” He whispers softly.

After firming his resolve, Aries slowly pushes open the ballet studio door, stretching his head to peek into the hallway. Luckily, it seems deserted, indicating that the ballet studio is still safe from undead attacks.

He cautiously steps out into the hallway, remembering that a few blocks from the studio, there's a police station. Perhaps, he can go there and seek help.

Being fast and agile is one of the requirements to be a ballet dancer, so he can easily run and avoid some undead trying to reach him.

“Sorry, but you're beyond salvation, buddy!” Shouts Aries to one person screaming for help as his leg is bitten by one of the creatures.

“Shit!” Says Aries when two undead block his way. The young man immediately swings his baseball bat hard at the head of one undead blocking his path. When the undead falls, Aries quickly stomps on its face, "Dude, fuck you, really! Did you even know that these are the latest Nikes?!" He exclaims in frustration.

Again, Aries swings his baseball bat at the other one, which is now trying to tear him apart alive. When the undead staggers, Aries hits its head with all his might.

After both are successfully disabled, the young man runs towards the police station not far from where he is.

Upon seeing Aries running towards the police station, several people gathered inside open the door.

“Thanks.” Says Aries, panting.

One of them hands Aries a bottle of mineral water, which he gladly accepts.

The young man then surveys the room, seeing many people gathered in the police station. “What's actually happening?” Aries asks one of the officers.

“We don't know, kid. People suddenly went crazy!” The officer replies.

Hearing the answer, Aries rubs his face in frustration. Hopefully, whatever this is, the government can quickly handle it. Because for God's sake, Aries' dream of becoming a successful ballet dancer must not be ruined by this damn zombie apocalypse!