#I've seen some insane builds from other people that I never thought would work that do so this really is just my preferences for things

[loregoddess]

Would you be willing to share your builds/levels for the final boss(es) of Octopath II? I'm trying to figure out how much more grinding I realistically need to do to actually finish this game.

Oh yeah, sure! I uh, had a lot more thoughts on this than I realized I would, so I'm sticking most of this under a read more, and I've tried to be vague about spoilers bc I wasn't sure how much you knew already from osmosis or looking at other online tips/guides. Also I ended up breaking things up into sections for easier navigation, because there is...a lot.

Table of Contents

General Thoughts

General Overarching Strategies

Character Preferences

Notes on Bosses

General Thoughts

Full disclosure, I've basically just been rotating my party and using whoever's the lowest level to try and catch them up on levels. Because I started with Ochette, she's locked into the party and is ungodly powerful as a result, but this will occur with literally anyone you start with (my first run I was using Osvald and he was so damned powerful by the end of the game). So I don't have a real "strategy" per boss (except for the optional superboss) so much as I switch around passive skills and subjobs based on who's lowest in levels and who I have to have in the party (Ochette + whoever's story I'm completing).

I will say, I don't feel like most of the bosses require a lot of level grinding, at least not for the character story final bosses. I kinda assume that the recommended level of 45 is like, the average of the entire team. As a general rule, I rarely use the fast-travel feature until I'm in the postgame section, and will literally walk my team everywhere, which helps to maintain levels so that I don't have to grind (and even if I do it's like, running laps in the dungeon right before the boss area until my lowest level person gains two or three levels, which only takes about about half an hour for me usually). Like, when I finished Hikari's route first, I had to run laps before the miniboss to get my two lowest team members to lv. 40, but Ochette was already lv. 52 at this point, and Hikari was about 42 or 43, I think. But I haven't needed to run any laps for any of the other bosses so far.

Also, I feel like Octo2 is a lot more balanced when it comes to stats/subjobs, and you can get away with doing a lot of weird things that work out in the long run so long as you're familiar with the battle mechanics and passive skills and how to make them work for you (which was true for Octo1 too, but I found myself almost always having at least Tressa and Therion in my team so I could get free money and open the purple chests w/out needing to backtrack, which limited my team compositions a lot more than Octo2, where no one character has a field-specific skill that makes them more or less useful than another).

General Overarching Strategies

I do have some general preferences. I like to have a at least one cleric and one apothecary in the party, and they can't be the same character (unless there's multiple clerics or apothecaries) just in case I need one of them to revive the other. This is mostly bc I like having the option to heal all, heal single, cure status ailments, or revive on hand at all times (as a result, if I'm using these as subjobs, they usually end up on a character who isn't my main damage-dealer, but even then it depends on the damage-dealing character).

I also like to have a merchant so I can use Collect bc I like having money, and giving the merchant subjob to certain characters is really helpful bc of the Rest skill being able to restore SP and cure status ailments. Generally I also like to have a hunter for Leghold Trap, or Agnea with Windy Refrain (gained by visiting Sealticge's shrine in the Leaflands) so I can manipulate when the boss attacks. Aside from those classes, I end up being really flexible depending on what I think I need. (As a side note, Leghold Trap + A Step Ahead from the inventor job can be really useful if you go in knowing a boss's weaknesses ahead of time, since you can break the boss and deal a lot of damage before they even get a chance to act).

Oh, but as a general rule, whenever I notice a character start to hit the 9999 damage limit output, I go and get DMD from the warrior class for them, because I love seeing big numbers go boom by optimizing my damage output. I also switch around subjobs a lot depending on what I think I'll need, and if I die during a boss fight I will go and rearrange my jobs or skills before I try level-grinding.

I also don't use any stat-enhancing nuts until the optional superboss, but I really don't think they're needed for any of the character story final bosses anyhow. If you've used them already that's fine though, I've totally mismanaged my nuts in both Octo1 and Octo2, and it's nothing a bit of level-grinding won't solve when it comes to the post-game bosses.

Character Preferences

Here's an outline of how I like to use all the characters. Keep in mind, everyone has their general preferences for how they like to use each character, and there's no right or wrong way to use a character, this is just what works for my playstyle.

Ochette

General: I use Ochette mostly to break enemies quickly with her Provoke monsters ability, and to output a lot of phys. damage. She's one of my main damage-dealers, and I rarely use her for support.

Latent power notes: She has one of the best latent powers for dealing damage, since the damage of her attacks scales with her level. I use her latent power as soon as the boss is broken, and I'll save Ochette's BP to use it at a full boost. Generally I use Beastly Fangs, but if the boss has multiple enemies that need to be taken care of (i.e. Partitio's final boss fight), then Beastly Claws is excellent as well. I don't really use Beastly Howl because there are better options to achieve the same effects that don't require Ochette to drain her latent power. I always use Ochette's latent power before I use divine skills or legendary beasts, since the latent power will refill throughout the battle and it doesn't cost SP.

Favorite subjobs: My primary subjob for Ochette is warrior, since it gives her access to Brand's Blade which is a good alternative to Beastly Fangs, and the warrior stats buff her already high physical stats. Alternately I will use her in merchant, but specifically for the optional superboss so she has access to Hired Help's Beastlings in case she has to use them (notes on that in the boss section below).

Notes on monsters: In general you can have whatever monsters you enjoy using for Ochette's Provoke ability, but I highly recommend having at least one monster that can deal axe damage twice to all enemies (any level, even the highest level "2x axe (all) monster" will only deal 1 damage to the postgame bosses, so choose whichever monster you like best), and a monster that can deal either dagger, axe, staff, lightning, or light damage to all (recommend getting a 9/10 strength monster for this, as they tend to have additional effects to their attacks such as debuffing the enemies or buffing the party; the Peek-a-boo from the area around Timberain tends to be a favorite because it debuffs enemy phys. and elemental defenses). Those two monsters will be the most useful for clearing the optional superboss, and a lot of bosses in general have a weakness to axes.

Castti

General: Castti works well as either a damage-dealer or support, so I tend to change her subjob depending on the rest of the team.

Latent power notes: I refuse to use concoct unless I have her latent active so that I can save on the ingredients. The only time I use concoct without the latent is during the two postgame bosses. I managed to get through the final boss fight my first run with only one pomegranate leaf thanks to her latent power (I uh, forgot to stock up at the secret market, but if you need more rare ingredients for concoct, the merchants that show up at night in the area to the west of Healeaks will sometimes sell stuff like pomegranate leaves).

Favorite subjobs: If I'm using her as a damage-dealer, than warrior and armsmaster are my go-to. For support, I tend to stick with inventor or merchant.

Notes on concoct: I use it almost exclusively for healing and buffing the team, and the ability to give everyone BP is super useful for setting up other damage-dealers and support characters.

Throne

General: One of my main damage-dealers, one of the best damage-dealers in the game. I was able to hit the 99,9999 damage limit with Throne thanks to the fact that Aeber's Reckoning scales with speed and seems to take the phys. attack stat into consideration as well. Optimize her speed and give her a high-damage dagger and she's golden for dealing wild amounts of damage.

Latent power notes: I don't have a particular pattern for how I use Throne's latent power, since how I use it depends on the battle situation. Sometimes I use it so Throne can act as temporary support, and sometimes I use it to set up Armor Corrosive and then use Aeber's Reckoning. Really, whatever I need a double-turn for, this power comes in handy for.

Favorite subjobs: Hunter for sure, it gives Throne an excellent boost to speed and evasion while also buffing the phys. attack stat nicely. Dancer is a decent subjob as well bc it gives her even higher speed/evasion stats than hunter, and access to Dagger Dance which is a nice aoe attack when level-grinding, but overall Dancer!Throne is kind of glassy for my tastes, and I like having Leghold Trap as an option for Throne's debuff repertoire in boss fights. I don't mind using merchant for Throne either, since Rest and Collect are useful skills for her to have.

Osvald

General: One of my main damage-dealers, magical edition. He's very squishy though, a true glass canon, so I have to either patch up his defenses with equipment and passive skills, or have someone dedicated to healing on the team.

Latent power notes: Love his latent power, it's especially good if you stack it with the buffs from either Advanced Magic (or the Stone of Truth, which just provides the 2x spell buff from Advanced Magic permanently), or Alephan's Wisdom. I would recommend using this at a full boost for optimal damage output. Like Ochette, I use this as early as I can so it an refill as the battle goes on.

Favorite subjobs: Cleric. Osvald's base stats make him an excellent healer, and the extra magical stats do him nothing but favors; plus having access to Holy Light is useful when his latent is empty since it'll typically deal more elemental damage for less SP than one of his aoe spells, and Mystic Staff can restore his SP. Alternatively though arcanist will grant him the best magic stats possible. I also didn't mind using him as an apothecary high elemental defense means good healing, and he can be a decent support when he's not blasting enemies off the screen.

Partitio

General: I tend to use him mostly as support, but he can deal decent damage when he's not supporting. Mostly he's a main support character for me though.

Latent power notes: Very useful for getting extra BP whenever you need it, and it tends to refill pretty fast so I use it liberally whenever I need BP.

Favorite subjobs: I tend to have Partitio mainly as an apothecary because it gives him a nice buff to his physical stats and more support skills to use (he doesn't make a bad healer either, especially with access to lots of BP from his latent). It also gives him access to a decent aoe attack (Sweeping Cleave) and Poison Axe, which are both handy to have. Alternatively, Paritio does okay as a warrior, thief, or hunter if I want to boost his damage-output, and inventor or dancer are good jobs to give him for extra support options (although I really only use dancer for the optional superboss). I'm thinking of trying him in the conjurer job for a while in my current run to see if the extra magic stats make Bifelgan's Bounty more useful for Partitio, since he seems to lean more physically for me than magically. (I hardly used conjurer except to get SP Saver my first run bc I couldn't figure out how to use it effectively, but I know it's gotta be useful somehow).

Other notes: If it wasn't obvious, the merchant job is one of my favorites as a subjob, and it gives Partitio a really nice set of skills. I don't actually use Sidestep that often and instead focus on things like Donate BP to boost my main damage-dealers in a pinch. Collect is a great skill bc I like having money.

Agnea

General: Main support, and a secondary magical damage-dealer. I tend to focus her on supporting, but her high elemental attack (especially paired with the Mooneater dagger) puts her almost on par with Osvald. She also has access to Windy Refrain which moves ALL enemies' actions to the end of the next turn, which is super useful for turn manipulation (and like Leghold Trap, very powerful when paired with A Step Ahead).

Latent power notes: Honestly I rarely use her latent power. Mostly I use it in general battles when I have her subjob set to scholar so she can use a boosted Analyze on all enemies. It is useful for using Collect or Steal on all enemies as well, but again, there's very few bosses with multiple enemies that you can Collect/Steal from. I think I might be able to use the latent with the apothecary's Rehabilitate which would be very useful on occasion, but I've never tried it bc Agnea is so optimized for magic that the phys. aspects of the apothecary subjob don't seem to fit her. Might have to try that out at some point though.

Favorite subjobs: I tend to have her as a merchant (Bifelgan's Bounty is a very nice powerful single-enemy elemental attack for her), but she does well as a scholar (excellent stat boosts to her magical stats) or thief (nice boosts to speed/evasion). She should technically make a good cleric as well, but I've never tried it out since I usually have another cleric present when Agnea's in the team.

Dance session notes: Dance session comes into play any time you use a dance skill, including Dagger Dance, so if you have the right follower, you can really benefit from Agnea's dance session. For most of the game I've been dragging along an NPC from Cropdale who offers Calming Rhythm (restores 500 HP and 40 SP to the target), but there's a dance session called Celestial Chorus which grants 1 BP to the target, which is super useful in boss fights since extra BP means more boosted attacks. The Allure page on the Wiki (here) has a full list of the dance sessions, and potential NPCs who offer them. Dance session boosts the power of the support dances by granting extra support bonuses beyond buffing stats, and Agnea's probably one of the strongest support characters as a result.

Temenos

General: Like Castti, I use Temenos half as support, half for dealing damage, but unlike Castti who I tend to rely on more for support, I rely on Temenos more for damage.

Latent power notes: His latent power is wickedly good for his Coerce path action, especially when paired with Sixfold Strike from the armsmaster job, and technically you could use it the same way in boss fights to break shields quickly, it's just...armsmaster is better on other characters in boss fights for the physical stat buffs it offers as a job (although Temenos did hit the 9999 damage cap when I had him as an armsmaster in one of the side dungeon boss fights, so Armsmaster!Temenos isn't entirely useless as a phys. damage-dealer). But Temenos's latent power + armsmaster + Full Power from the merchant class makes Coercion much easier.

Favorite subjobs: I tend to move Temenos around a lot in subjobs depending on what I need. He makes for a decent scholar due to the magical stats buffs, and dancer offers him decent stats as well and more support options, but my favorite subjob for Temenos is arcanist because it gives him access to light and dark elemental attacks, making the most of the Sunshade staff, and most importantly Reflective Barrier. See, my favorite thing to do with Temenos is have a dancer use Sealticge's Seduction on him, have him use Prayer for Plenty at full boost (hopefully on a team that's at full HP) to boost everyone's HP (up to possibly 9999), and then use Reflective Barrier and/or Sacred Shield at various levels of boost so I can yeet spells back at their caster(s) or otherwise cut down damage for a little while. Also arcanist offers really nice magical stats, and gives Temenos a good boost to his total SP pool, which is handy for when I do try to use his personal EX skill (bc of his personal EX skill, you will want to have something equipped that lets him regen SP, bc he can drain his SP really fast otherwise).

Hikari

General: Main damage-dealer. Makes for a sturdy backup support when you need one though, but I focus on his high phys. damage stats.

Latent power notes: Very useful and somewhat similar to Ochette's latent skills. Depending on Hikari's SP and available skills, I either use Hienka at a partial boost, and then follow up with Brand's Blade, or Tenretsuzan at full boost. Alternatively, if I need Hikari to do some backup support or use another skill, I'll use Hienka at full boost, and then use his bonus action for whatever. Sougetsusen isn't bad as an aoe attack when you need it though. Like Ochette and Osvald, I use Hikari's latent early in the battle so it can refill and be used later.

Favorite subjobs: Hikari does great as a merchant because of the access to Rest, which makes his Challenge path action easier to use without using all your healing items. Also Rest restores SP, which is super useful for Hikari since he can burn through SP really quickly between his warrior skills and Learned Skills. When I don't have him as a merchant, I like to use him as my armsmaster bc it gives him the best phys. stat buffs, and giving Hikari a Blessing in Disguise with the armsmaster subjob means you can use a lot of high-power equipment with negative effects without suffering the negatives (you can do that for any of your armsmasters by the way). When I don't have him in those two jobs, he makes for a decent apothecary (not as good at the healing though) or hunter.

Notes on Learned Skills: Like Ochette's monsters, you can more or less have whichever Learned Skills you enjoy using, but I like holding onto Divine Dual-Edge from the Ch3 fight with General Rou since it's a useful aoe attack, and picking up Limb from Limb from the Sanctum Knight in Stormhail (enter the Sanctum Knight HQ, go down the left hall and knock out the guy standing in front of a room, then go into the room and the guy in there is the one you can learn Limb from Limb from). Limb from Limb offers a powerful 4x sword attack on a single enemy, and was the main skill used in the guide I found when I needed help with the optional superboss. You can find a list of Learned Skills on the Wiki as well (here).

Notes on Bosses

Most of the character story final bosses are pretty easy, or if they're tough it's bc of their stats and not battle gimmicks, so it's just a matter of chipping away their health. Here's a few battle gimmicks I'd keep an eye out for though:

Castti's final boss has an ongoing battle condition where the entire team's max HP is reduced every turn. You can bypass this with the Sealticge's Seduction + Prayer for Plenty tactic, but it's still risky (Angea ended the battle with a total of 5 HP on my current run). It's best to just try and finish this battle quickly. (Your team's HP will return to normal after the battle).

Throne's boss has the ability to lock the party's main job's skills (so Throne won't be able to use thief skills) until broken so subjobs are very important, and this boss can summon all of her previous bosses (not all at once, but over the course of the battle), so this can be a tough fight. There's a few other gimmicks this boss can access (I think subjobs can be blocked until the boss is broken at one point as well), so paying attention to what's happening in the battle and having a flexible battle plan will help. Either bring a lot of healers, or find a way to output a lot of damage so you can skip the prev. boss summons and gimmicks.

Partitio's final boss has three enemy units you have to defeat before the armor on the main boss's shield fall off. Dealings lots of aoe damage is useful for the first part of the battle. A Step Ahead + Agnea's Windy Refrain is probably useful as well (for my current run I did not have A Step Ahead equipped, and had to do quite a bit of healing in the first half of the battle).

Hikari has the most stages to his final boss. You have to fight a miniboss (which you can save after), the final boss part 1, then there's a cutscene and Hikari has to fight a battle via the Challenge path action, and then the final boss part 2. So just be prepared for like, a lot of battle segments.

(I also seem to remember something being kinda tricky about Ochette's final boss, but hers was the first story I completed on my first run, and it's the story I'm saving till last on my current, so I dunno if my troubles with her boss were "this was the first final boss I fought" or if there's actually something weird about the battle).

As for character levels, for my current run I started with Hikari's final chapter, then worked my way to Castti, Osvald, Throne, Agnea, Partitio, and I plan to do Temenos and Ochette next. As I noted earlier, Ochette, my starter, was at lv. 52-ish during Hikari's chapter, with my lowest level team members being at about 38-ish and I had to do some laps to get them to lv. 40. Right now, going into Temenos's final chapter, Ochette's level is in her mid-high 60s (which probably will be closer to or over 70 bc I want to explore some dungeon areas on the Sundering Sea before I head to Toto'haha), and my lowest level characters are like, 51 or 52, which is well above the rec'd lv. 45. So again, I don't think you have to level-grind for the character story final bosses, because just by fighting them and travelling to their locations, your characters are going to get stronger.

As for the two postgame bosses...

If you do want to level-grind, I would suggest the Infernal Castle, as it's the highest level area of the game at lv. 55. There's also ways to optimize the amount of exp and jp you get via passive skills and equipment, so make sure to move that around before you level-grind. Also I found bumping the game speed to x2, and using powerful aoe attacks made the grinding go so much faster (I only spent maybe 4-8 hours grinding total my first run? on a file where I put somewhere between 180-200 hours into, so basically no time at all for grinding). I would not rely on Bewildering Grace, Agnea party-wiped the team more often even than the optional superboss killed me, so it's just not a safe skill. Also if you fight the Infernal Castle's miniboss, it can show up as a random encounter, and I personally found that the exp gained from fighting it again wasn't worth the time spent. I gained more exp per minute just entering minor battles, smacking the enemies with a double-boosted aoe attack (from Step Ahead and Boost Start from merchant), and then moving onto my next battle (courtesy of Vigorous Victor from apothecary). It's tedious, but it does work.

I would suggest completing all the side quests before beginning the final chapter, as there's a lot of nice accessories and equipment you can get. Keep in mind that fighting the optional superboss is actually one of the side quests, so while you can track your completion of side quests by area in the Journal, one of the areas will be incomplete until you kill the optional superboss (you do not have to fight the superboss to complete the final chapter, and the ability to complete side quests opens back up after you defeat the final boss). The optional superboss is absolutely meant to be more difficult to defeat than the actual final boss.

Also there's technically four bosses in the postgame. Two minor bosses during the final chapter segments, the actual final boss, and the optional superboss. The two minor bosses are easy though, they're no stronger than the character story final bosses (although for my first run I had fought the optional superboss first, so I was waaay overleveled for the final chapter segments; still the two bosses couldn't do anything fancy as far as I could tell).

For the Actual Final Boss, I accidentally steamrolled this dude my first run bc I fought the optional superboss first and had misused my nuts and therefore had to level-grind to make up for stats. Half my characters were at lv. 80 and other other were at 74 or 75. I didn't even have my passive skills optimized bc I was expecting the "dungeon" the final boss is in to be an actual dungeon, not a flight of stairs with no enemy encounters. All the characters were in my preferred classes for them (Warrior!Ochette, Inventor!Castti, Hunter!Throne, Cleric!Osvald, Apothecary!Partitio, Merchant!Agnea, Arcanist!Temenos, and Armsmaster!Hikari, but not in that order bc I didn't optimize my party order either).

A few guides online list the recommended level for the final boss as being 72-75, but I wouldn't know bc again, lots of level-grinding (I plan to fight the final boss before the optional superboss for my current run, just to see the difficulty differences). You will get to use all 8 characters though, not in the same way as how the Galdera fight works in Octo1, but you will need all 8 characters for the battle, so keep that in mind. Overall I haven't heard/read about too many people having trouble with the final boss, so you should be fine using whatever your preferred battle strategies are with a full team that's at least in their low 70s level-wise.

The optional superboss is a terrible jerk, I hate this boss so much, and despite being Pretty Good at the game I had to eventually look up a guide. The guide I used is here (major spoilers obviously), although I will say I modified this person's strategy (for example, I optimized Osvald's critical stat, had Castti as a merchant, small changes like that). I will note this person manages to output enough damage to skip one of the mid-battle phases of the first half of the boss fight, and that the Hired Help Beastlings skill from the merchant class is needed for this mid-battle phase if you can't bypass it (if I'm being too vague and you don't care about spoilers, I can actually go through this entire boss fight stage-by-stage and explain the logic behind the guide and my adaptations to the guide). I'm thinking of modifying the strategy here further on my current playthrough, but overall this is the superboss for a reason. Extremely gimmicky, very high stats, very annoying, but also possible to beat in like, 10 minutes with the right setup.

[fakesimp]

Hired? Or Claimed? , With Shu Yamino

Warning !

Mentions of Blood, Drugs ; Shanti! Shu ; Strangers— Acquaintence— Lovers? ; Lowkey Possessive! Shu ; Modern set timeline ; Unestablished Relationship

A/n !

IMEJFJENWIWJDFF—

before you guys say anything, Some beautiful, lovely followers, those who is kind enough to share, ..yes, I thank you personally for that 🙏🏻 I hope you have a great day.

And I wrote this, based on fanarts I've seen, and a theory I found about Shanti and Mafia being related. Whoop. Enjoy!

Also Happy birthday My Beloved Sorcerer.

➶◜◝➴

How did you ended up here?

Oh, right, it's because you have some debts to pay, but you have no money with you.

Weeks of you trying to find a decent job kept failing for some reason, it drives you insane. You never thought the day of you doing some type of dirty job will ever come.

You, who got no choice, decided to dive into the dark side of the internet, the world maybe, trying to see if there's anything, a job you can find with big earnings.

Your eyes scanned through the screen of your phone, and laptop, to see if there's any response to your post upon is there any job out there to get big amount of money without doing much, dirty work.

Hours have passed.

You were about to give up until you see a notification coming from your phone, an anonymous message, asking you, would you like some help to pay your debts?

You opened the message, to see there is more to their message. The anonymous message also included their location to meet up, you were skeptical on going to the location or not.

It could be a fraud. But you did say that any job would be fine as long as it gave you a big money in the end, you would take the risk.

After contemplating for awhile, you finally decided to check out the place tomorrow. Also, just in case, you also bought some taser, and other self protection things.

You will never know what's gonna happen when you're on your way there, the chances of you getting in danger is there. You are literally going to visit an unknown place, of course at least you need some, self protection right?

. . .

You are starting to regret you choice on coming over to the location that was sent by the anonymous person. You are walking down the dark alleyway despite the sun is high up in the sky, you looked at your phone once again to see where you're going.

And then you stopped by a building, that is quite, clean also, welcoming? Depsite other buildings that looks not so friendly for you.

You looked around one last time, and checked your phone. It says that you have arrived at the destination, you look around the door, and the walls to see if there's anything, you can press to let the person? Or people inside.

But you didn't find any, so you ended up knocking on the door. There was no response at the first 5 minutes, you knocked again. There is also no reponse, third time is a charm, right?

You were just about to knock again and the door swung open, revealing the person standing behind it. They tilt their head slightly, scanning you from head to toe. "You, .. You're the person who needs their debt to be paid?" You blinked, and slowly nod your head.

"I was, the person in [ ... ], asking for a job— you reached out to me in my dms—" "Oh, come in, I will escort you to his room."

You followed the person, looking around the place, it's very japanese vibe, you can see some of the furnitures, walls, doors are built like a Japanese old houses. Not to mention the sweet scent scattered around the place, you noticed that the person took you to the deeper side of the building.

And then they stopped, knocking by the door. Speaking something in Japanese? Not long after you heard a voice coming from behind the door, the person turned to you—

"Inside, he is waiting for you."

He said as he took a step to the side, and slowly opening the door for you. You see a figure inside, though vaguely, since there is a curtain separating you and the person inside.

You stepped into the room, and the door closes behind you. You bit your lower lip as you look at the person behind the curtains, it didn't really let you see exactly how the male looked like. All you can see is just his silhouette, and it's also vaguely too. You can see them because of the dim lighting from his side, you then heard footsteps behind the curtain.

"I heard from my underling you needed to find a job?" His honeyed voice echoed throughout the room, tickling your eardrums with his voice. "Y, Yes, I need to pay my debts— and, I couldn't get any decent job so—" Before you can finish your sentence, you heard a low chuckle from his side.

Made you who had been fiddling with your fingers, and looking on the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, finally looked up.

And then you noticed that the silhouette is standing so close to you, making you inhaled sharply upon the realization how close he is.

"I can give you a job, a simple one even, as long as you don't get caught. You are going to be fine." He said, making you sweat upon his statement, what does he mean caught? What job is he going to offer you? "I'm, I'm sorry but, what job am I working on—?"

"Delivering drugs." He casually said and then the next thing that happened, there is suddenly a gust of smoke slips through the curtains— making you instinctively stepped back, "Don't worry, for now it's just a simple delivery in town." He added.

Is he trying to convince you to deliver drugs for him right now? "Well? It's just a simple job after all," He walked away and you then heard some ruffling from his side. "About your debts, you don't need to worry, they will be paid entirely, guaranteed." He said, now you're contemplating even harder.

So in exchange of delivering drugs for him, you get your debt paid entirely. You stood there for a good minute, trying to think if you should take the risk or not. If you're caught then you'll end up behind bars, and that is something you wished that rather not happened if you actually decided to deliver drugs for this man.

"Okay, Y, you just want me to deliver drugs right? In town?" "Yes, so this means you're accepting the offer?" You bit your lips, you closed your eyes— "Yes.. I accept your offer, you will pay my debts, right?" "Yes, your debts will be paid, don't worry." You heard another low chuckle coming from his side.

"Well, then, I look forward for how you're doing," He hummed softly, you then smelled a sweet scent coming from his side. "You better don't do anything weird, reporting to the police or such, or you will get the consequences.

And I believe you wouldn't like it the slightest, well then, good luck, new recruit."

. . .

That was 6 months ago, a lot have happened in that 6 months, there was up and downs. But one thing for sure is that your boss, who's called as Shu Yamino. Kept his words, he paid your debts. Everything was paid after your 3 months of working with him, the drug package is getting bigger and bigger the longer you work for him. And the range of you sending the drugs had gone further from your first month working, it went outside the town. Even countries.

And right now, you're on your way back to meet with Shu, you just got back in town from going abroad to another country to send off some drugs, how did the drug manage to go pass the scan? Only God knows how. At least the drugs are sent away, and delivered safely.

The moment you arrive at the building you are greeted with blood trails, making you quite concerned. But then you remembered what Shu said—

"If you ever see blood in the building, anywhere. Ignore it, your job is simply delivering drugs, you don't need to get yourself involved into other things."

He said so on your first month working with him, and that got your heart skipped a beat thinking about it. That means there is some fighting also, killing? Maybe? Involved in this damn place.

Even after 6 months, you still getting goosebumps on thinking about the bloodbath happening. You took a deep breath as you continue stride forward, trying to ignore the blood trails. But you can no longer ignore them when you realized the blood trail leads to Shu's room.

Did he got hurt?

You pondered upon the thought, you slowly knocked on the door, you heard shuffling inside the room, and after awhile you heard a familiar voice coming from the other side.

"Who is it?" He asked, "It's me" You replied, he then went silent, you know that his silence meant that you can go inside. You slowly opened the door and stepped inside, the smell of iron strokes your nostrils as soon as you went inside.

You never really see how Shu looked like, only some of his underlings saw him, but most of his underlings never saw him personally. That is including you.

You took a deep breath, "The drugs have been delivered," you started off, you didn't hear anything from him for a good minute. "I see, good job. You can take a few days off, you've done well the past 2 months." He said and then you heard another soft shuffling from his side.

"... Um," You blinked, stared at his silhouette behind the curtain. "I, Know you said that I shouldn't get involved in other things other than delivering drugs—" You spat out, "But I can't help it— Are you, okay—"

He did not say anything for a good minute, making you start to regret asking how he's doing. But the next thing you knew you heard footsteps coming closer, and closer and closer.

Eventually you see his silhouette right before you, the one that separates you is just the curtain. "The blood, is the reason why you're worried, no?" He asked barely in a whisper, you hesitantly replied— "Y, Yes.."

You don't know how long this silence had been going, but then slowly you saw his hand go through the curtain, his slender fingers reached out to you from behind the curtain. Silently inviting you to go to his side, you stared at his hand, you don't know where the courage came from—

But you placed your hand on top of his, he then slowly pulled you through the curtains. And you finally can see who you're working for—

Shu Yamino, his raven hair, his piercing purple eyes staring down at you. "It is not my blood." He said, he didn't let your hand go, but you didn't even realize he' still holding your hand.

You couldn't get your eyes away from his eyes, it's so, beautiful, also, tantalizing. It made you feel like you're getting hypnotized, "Are you okay?" He chuckled softly as he dangerously leaned closer to you.

"Huh? O, oh!— I, yes- I'm, okay—" You felt embarrassed upon staring at the man oh so shamelessly, he is your boss! And you just shamelessly stared at him.

He is pretty, you can't really blame yourself upon seeing his, beauty. You looked away from him and took a step away, only to realize that his hold on your hand tightens. "Where are you going, hm?" He asked in a whisper, he then pulled you closer.

The next thing you knew, he blew out some smoke to the side, before he looked back at you. His eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly annoyed with how you stepped away from him.

"I— No where—? I, I should go back home—" You were about to pull your hand away from his hold, only for him to pull you even closer to him, he grabbed your wrist and pulled you in. "Are you scared?" He asked, his face is right beside your ear, whispering huskily at your ear.

"Why are you trying to run away from me?" He asked once more, making your whole body shiver. "I, I don't know—" You replied, you then felt his hand on your lower back, pulling you in even closer than before. Making your hips pressed against his, his other hand brushed against your hair, kissing the tip of your hair as he leaned closer to you.

"Sweet.." He whispered, you realized that his clothing is painted with red, not too much but you can smell the blood iron stroking your nostrils due to how close he is to you. "Sweet..?" You repeated—

"Your scent.." He hummed softly, the next thing you knew, his face buried at the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent.

You don't know what's happening. There is so much happening within a span of a minute, making you confused. Why does he act like this? You never really talked much to him, other than reporting. You two do have small talks before, but it's not much since he seemed to be so busy.

But from what you heard, Shu knew how his underlings looked like, despite them not knowing how he looked like. "I am curious, ..." He whispered, "how long you will last" he added, you then felt his lips brushing against your skin. Making your body shiver once more, "What, ..do you mean?" You asked shakily, trying to breathe properly.

"Not many of my underlings stayed, they either died or getting captured." He added, "But you at the other hand," he sighed. "You handled your job very well, you never underestimate the work that is given." He continued, his hand on your lower back gently moved up and down. As if he's trying to soothe you.

"... I'm sorry, You can leave now" He said, but before literally letting you go, he planted a soft kiss on your neck before stepping away from you.

"You can forget whatever happened just now,

Or..

You can stay. Your choice."

©fakesimp . 2024

A/n !

How are you feeling with the ending JWNSHHWHEHED, I don't know how to end it. But i feel content with it heheheh.

Also Shu Yamino.

How dare you be hotter. That is a crime.

[bekkachaos]

✨ Bekka's Buddie Fic Recs ✨

I just thought it would be nice to do some fic recs for some of the wonderful creators in this fandom because there is literally so much talent it blows my mind that these beautiful people are out here giving us pieces of their beautiful brains 💕

Long fics and AU fics

☀️ Kiss Me Before it's Over (if only for a Minute) by @buddierights aka the Baseball AU (Rated E, 54k words). Buck and Eddie are pro baseball players on opposing teams, and Buck never gets nervous getting up to bat, until Eddie Diaz, the new star pitcher for the LA Angels, is standing on the pitcher's mound, and his stomach flips and twists. He's pretty sure it's because he hates the guy, until, you know, he doesn't. {I love this fic, it's such a beautiful kinda enemies to lovers ride that you will love every sweet and sexy moment of}

☀️ Let My Ink Stain Your Pages by @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels aka the Castle AU (Rated E, 107k words). Buck is a professional crime fiction writer in need of a new muse. Eddie is an LA homicide detective, and the last thing he needs is to be followed around by a reckless author. A sexy six foot plus mystery writer who he absolutely does not find charming and attractive. But when Buck decides that Eddie would make the perfect muse for his new book, that's exactly what Eddie gets. {I might have read this fic 3 times, it's one of my absolute favourites and you better believe I will go back and read it again}

Stupid People by @gayhoediaz (Rated E, 160k words). Eddie is new in town in LA, and he's just come to terms with the fact that he's gay. He figures that hiring a sex worker is the easiest way to explore that side of himself and keep it separate from his son and his work, to keep things uncomplicated. And that's how he finds his way to Buck. His plan works, for a while. {This was one of the first buddie fics I read, and it is an epic sexy, moving, emotional fic that I thought about for so long after, honestly I recommend anything that Nie writes!}

Unless You Ask Me To by @elvensorceress (Rated M, 182k words, in-progress). Eddie starts dating a man, and Buck is completely, one hundred percent Fine(TM). This is a beautiful fleshed out journey of a fic. {I believe one of the tags is 'the most oblivious obtuse pining idiots you will ever meet' and the accuracy of this is insane, I can't wait for the last chapter!}

☀️ never felt this way before (yes I swear) by @rewritetheending aka the dirty dancing AU (Rated M, 50.8k words). Buck and his family go on vacation to the 118 ranch and lodge, where Buck meets a number of new people including Eddie Diaz, and he's pulled into the world of the one-eighteen in a way he never expected, and learning to dance from the most beautiful man he's ever seen. {What more do I have to say other than dirty dancing AU? This fic is amazing from start to finish and so so hot!}

Explicit fics

Bases Loaded by @lamardeuse (Rated E, 2k words). Eddie wants to take things slowly, and Buck obliges him. {It's a sexy slow build between the two of them and just sucks you right in!}

More bang for your buck by @prettyboybuckley (Rated E, 14.2k words). Eddie's got a problem with a noisy neighbour, only, he can't exactly confront him because how do you knock on someone's door and say 'you have the loudest sex I've ever had the pleasure of hearing through the wall'? Because it is, a pleasure, the sound of him is just doing things to him. And then he finds the guy's twitter, and then his Instagram, and he is too far down the rabbit hole to back down. {This is hot the whole way through, and Buck testing toys and posting online? Spicy hot content!}

I lit the match, the firemen can do the rest by @honestlydarkprincess (Rated E, 6.6k words). Eddie needs to see Buck, so he drives over to his place to see Buck getting railed by Natalia with a strap on, and he can't look away, especially when Buck comes just by Natalia mentioning Eddie's name. When she leaves, Eddie feels the need to prove that it's even better when he takes things into his own hands. {This is Eddie pining for Buck and then getting to have him, all to himself}

☀️ today I live for a single drop of you by @alyxmastershipper (Rated E, 38.9k words). This is the 5 + 1 blowjob fic, five times Buck dreams of sucking Eddie's cock and the one time he gets to do it. Nuff said {Ryan just has such a beautiful lyrical way of writing that they can make an epic fic about blowjobs poetic, a masterpiece}

More AUs

mark me like a bloodstain by @monsterrae1 (Rated M, 6k words). A fic where your soul marks appear on your skin when they appear on your soulmate, when they are badly injured. Buck's first marks show up in college, and his first thought is that his soulmate is dead. He doesn't figure it out until his best friend is shot in front of him, and then he realises it's been Eddie all along. {I love soulmate fics and I love the shooting arc, and this fic is just so wonderful from start to finish}

and I'd choose you (in a hundred lifetimes) by @monsterrae1 (Rated E, 16.7k words). Eddie and Buck are pen pals when Eddie is in the army, and god it shouldn't have been so romantic, but he got Evan Buckley. And he thought maybe he might just be the person he spends the rest of his life with, until he completely disappears. Four years later, they meet again, only Buck has no idea who Eddie is. {did I include another Rae fic? Yes I did, because this one was just too good to leave out}

☀️ all I know is a new found grace (all my days I'll know your face) by @heartbeatdiaz aka the photographer Buck AU (Rated E, 4.5k words). Eddie is participating in the annual firefighters calendar, and the photographer is stupidly beautiful. Like, crazy gorgeous with big blue eyes and a smile that makes Eddie's palms sweat. {Photographer Buck is just such a beautiful thing to imagine, and honestly you could hit shuffle and pick any of April's fics and you're bound to love it}

even gods die by @kitkatpancakestack (Rated T, 7.6k words). This is quite a heavy fic, Buck has brain cancer and he and Eddie are at a cabin together talking about his diagnosis and how they feel about it. It's angsty with a hopeful ending. {This is a beautiful, emotional fic and it moved me so much to read. Not for everyone, but wow was this amazing}

Fun, Flirty and Fluffy fics

☀️ To have and to hold (what's mine is yours) by @the-likesofus (Rated G, 3.3k words). It's Buck and Eddie's one year anniversary (paper). Eddie gives something Buck has had all along, that last piece of his heart. {This is such a heartwarming Buckley-Diaz family feels fic and made me smile so hard}

Everything But (temptation) and Worth the Wait by @spotsandsocks (Rated T, 4.7k & 5.4k words). Five times Buck is tempted by Eddie and the one time he finally gives in, or, five times Eddie attempts to tempt Buck and the one time it finally works. {These fics are from Buck's pov and then Eddie's, and they were so much fun to read both times!}

smile to hide the truth by @fallingthorns (Rated T, 5.1k words). Eddie is getting married, only it's not to Buck. And Buck should really say something, should have really said something earlier. Because now Eddie is standing at the altar, only he's staring back at Buck and asking what would make him happier. {This isn't exactly fluffy but god the anticipation and the build up to that wedding, and the ending? You won't regret this read, I loved it}

still by @gayhoediaz (Rated T, 9.3k words). Based on an episode of Castle (are you sensing a theme here?) where Eddie steps on a plate in a house where they've just put out a fire, and he just knows that he's stepped on a pressure bomb. Buck refuses to leave him standing there alone while they figure it out, but time is literally ticking for them. {These two just fit the Caskett shoes perfectly, and this was tense, emotional and just a wonderful read}

between who you are and who you could be by @paranoidbean (Rated T, 5.6k words). Eddie is working at a plasma donation centre, and Buck just keeps coming back in, after making an impression the first time by passing out. {This is an adorable meet cute that just made me feel fuzzy inside}

(tell the gravedigger) better dig two by @mysteriouslyyounggalaxy (Rated G, 7.2k words). In which Eddie is buried alive, and Buck loses his mind with worry and grief. Basically a missing part to Eddie Begins. {This was a beautiful exploration of Buck's emotions as he's afraid he's lost Eddie}

I hope you all enjoy these fics as much as I did, just wanted to spread some love and appreciation 💕

[bettsfic]

controversial opinion: i think Live could have been good.

it wasn't, and isn't, but it could have been. or at the very least, it could have crashed maybe lest swiftly and intensely than it did.

i knew about Live before they announced it, and so i formed an opinion sans the immediate backlash that developed. i was excited about it, even. i was planning to use it. i'd been wanting to do streaming for a long time but i knew it would take a lot of work to build a platform on twitch or youtube. my audience has always been on tumblr, and i thought it was a neat way to engage.

what if you had learned about Live from me saying, hey i'm doing a livestream in a few days, we'll chat about writing and do a prompt together?

you may have been like, absolutely not that's a terrible idea. or you may have been like, i didn't know you could stream on tumblr, but yeah, that sounds like it could be cool so i'll drop by and see what it's like.

you may have been able to watch your favorite fanartists draw. you may have had AMAs with some of the bigger names on here. you may have seen users do bizarre and creative things with it the way they did with polls, like things we can't even conceive of because we never know how a feature can be misused until the insanely intelligent and creative userbase gets a chance to tinker with it. you may not have gotten on camera yourself, because tumblr is all about pseudonymity, but you might have--might have!--considered not immediately blocking the feature.

i was going to use Live. i'd developed a schedule and wrote some of the copy for the announcement. i bought a new microphone. i even started playing with a few new writing exercises. but then i saw how intensely people hated it and i got scared. i didn't want that hate to turn on me.

even though i've been on here 12 years, i'm still shocked pikachu about the backlash nearly every major change receives. i get it. we're used to being exploited, and we hold tumblr in a higher regard than algorithm-y sites. this is our home and we don't want other people coming in and moving around the furniture. or bringing in new, worse furniture. and with that worse furniture, an entire party of awful people to sit on it.

so i do understand the fear and anger that came from the way they rolled out Live. i think people were right to be skeptical of such a massive change, and no matter what, it would have been, at the very least, divisive.

but if Live had rolled out the way they did DMs several years ago, where you hear about it from someone already using it? i don't know, i think it could have been something interesting and fun for at least a little while.

[auncyen]

organizing some end game thoughts

In Stars and Time's narrative didn't go where I thought it would go and at first I was like "well that kind of sucks" but, with some more thought, it's a case of sure I had this expectation, but what it did still made sense and arguably makes more sense with all the setup given.

What I expected to happen: fairly early on, Loop suggests telling the others about the time loop and Siffrin shrugs it off, expecting things will get solved soon enough and not wanting to worry them. For a long time I was expecting that either I needed to trigger Odile figuring them out to advance plot (in the end, I never did; I definitely made her suspicious but like from what I've seen around it sounds like she actually figures it out) or that Siffrin would get some kind of wake up call that made them realize "hey, nothing is working and I'm going insane. maybe I need to let the people I care about in on this." For a good portion of Act 5 I thought it was going to be a wake up call and that end would conclude with him telling them either then or in a fresh loop and then Act 6 would be the team somehow having the right combination to figure out the wish and fix things.

What happened: Loop has to tell the others about the time loop because Siffrin is doing a solo run through the house. The party has to save Siffrin from the fight with the king and then pretty much wear them down about what their wish was. Siffrin gets to deal with his emotions, which is great!!! but didn't like. change their behavior to get there, which is what grated me at first. (ok I was also a tiny bit "WE DON'T FIND OUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO THE ISLAND???" I was. kind of expecting. Acts 5&6 to be longer.)

Why it arguably makes more sense than what I expected: again, "tell the others" came up early on, and while a fairly common sense step, the game manages to build up through bits and pieces that Siffrin has such massive trauma from any and all memory of their home being suppressed that, before the group, they very likely never had deep connections with others (for a while they likely couldn't even speak to other people!). It justifies rather well that they would not take the common sense step and that they needed the others to reach out first even in the end and like. "Learning how to communicate with people he cares about" will have to be for the post-game fic. (And, hey, at least he's not completely alone on that.)

[quill-pen]

Meet the Scrooges ~pt. 1~ A Sims 4 Scroogeverse fic

Set in the Sims 4 au by @rom-e-o. The first half of the little fic I've been working on bit by bit. Was originally supposed to be one thing, but it felt right to have one half mainly focused on meeting Starla and the other focusing mainly on Bess meeting and befriending Constance.

Rated T for some language and innuendo.

No warnings, just heaps and gobs and mounds of fluff.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Bess groaned as they approached the tall brick house. Her stomach continuously rolled up into her throat and down again to her toes at a sickening pace as the building loomed closer and closer. It was a beautiful looking house, Victorian era, remodeled and refurbished tastefully to allow for modern functionality while keeping the beautiful, classic, and timeless charm. It was just Bess' style. She would have adored it and been so excited to enter if it weren't for the reason they were entering it: To meet Ebenezar's family.

It was insane how she had never met them before, after having been in her Wolf's life for several years now, and especially since Wolf and his twin brother were so close, being the only real family they'd had for decades. But it was one of those freak things where situation and inconvenience had popped up after situation and inconvenience after situation and inconvenience until you hadn't met people for four to five years. Shit was chaotic. But now, approaching their second anniversary, Wolf was finally taking Bess to meet her in-laws.

They'd been invited to stay the weekend, which Bess thought was incredibly generous and maybe a bit crazy considering Ebenezer and Constance had just had twins not long ago. Not to mention they had a nearly-three-year-old daughter in the house. (This was why they'd opted to leave Bess' siblings with Granny FeFe for the weekend. After all, they'd only be a few minutes drive away should they be needed.) All in all, this would either be a blast or a disaster--no inbetween.

Wolf chuckled warmly from the driver's seat. "You're going to be fine, Dearest," he soothed her. "Take deep breaths. Slowly."

Bess tried, but the breathing seemed to settle nothing. "This was a bad idea," she lamented. "This was such a bad idea--staying the weekend. We should've just kept the kids with us and gone to the beach with everyone else. Why the hell did we think this was a good idea?!" Bess hid her face in her hands as she shook it.

"Because it is a good idea," Wolf assured her, voice soft but firm. "I haven't seen my brother or Connie for years or even met my first niece. It's high time we spend some family time--it's past due."

He glanced Bess' way, eyes softening with sympathy as he watched her rock nervously back and forth in an attempt to soothe herself. The silver-haired man reached over and gently grabbed one of her hands, pulling it away from her face and weaving their fingers together to squeeze comfortingly. "Hey," he murmured quietly. "It's going to be all right, Bess. I promise. Sammy and Connie have been dying to meet you since I first mentioned you. In fact, I'd say it's safe to say they already love you just from what I've told them about you."

Bess looked pitifully at him. "You'd be biased in whatever you said though," she meekly pointed out with a tremor in her voice. "They only know your version of me, Wolfy, not me me--the real, uncensored, un-rosy-colored version. Wh-what if... what if they don't like that version?" She clutched his hand more tightly in her anxiousness.

Wolf brought their hands to his mouth and sweetly kissed her knuckles even as he kept driving. "Sweetest Moondust," he purred into her skin, "beautiful wife and magnificent She-Wolf, my version of you is the real, uncensored version, no matter how you're unable to see it yet. But even if it weren't exactly, why would they not like you?"

"Maybe because I'm almost thirty years younger than you?"

"Your age--and consequently our age gap--has never once been anything more than a bullet point of fact for anyone, Bess, I assure you. All the jokes the others have made over the years have been good natured and affectionate: My brother and Connie will be no different. You're a grown, intelligent, mature woman perfectly capable of making your own informed decisions--no one has ever questioned that for a moment."

"Okay, then if not that, how 'bout the fact I stole you away from your family and business and kept you tied up in the shit with my demonic whack-job of a mother for years so you couldn't come back home? You missed the births of your nieces and nephew because of me. You should have been here, Wolf, not halfway across the world being a shield for me against my incubator from hell."

They were pulling up to the manor now, pulling into the driveway and parking.

Wolf finally looked fully at her. "You never stole me away, Darling," he assured her softly, drawing her worried gaze with his gentle one. "I went with you willingly; practically forced myself into the situation, remember? The past two-and-a-half years I've been exactly where I needed and was meant to be--right by your side. You needed me, and I wouldn't have changed that for anything, nor do I have any regrets for it. Sammy and Constance are in complete agreement with me as to it all and have been since I told them I was leaving with you. They begrudge you nothing, I promise you--I would have set them straight otherwise."

Bess couldn't help but smile a little. "I know you would have," she cooed, kissing his bicep and leaning her forehead against his shoulder. "But, in my experience, even when people are set straight... it doesn't seem to take." She couldn't help the glumness in her tone as she remembered the hell of her youth and growing up. She wanted nothing more than to never go back into any such situations ever again.

The silver-haired man bowed his head and kissed her coal-black curls. "Well, it's a good thing we don't have to worry about it then, hm?"

Bess lifted her head to come nose-to-nose with him and meet his eyes again. She didn't look or feel anymore reassured. "If you say so."

Wolf smirked and hummed, eyes flicking down to her mouth and back. Then, without warning, he surged in and captured her soft, perfectly painted lips with his. Let her try to be anxious with that!

Bess squeaked in surprise but then quickly melted into the contact, letting her eyes drift closed as she shifted closer to him, untangling her hand from his to hold his cheek while the other reached out and gripped his vest to pull them closer. Every thought and emotion she felt that didn't involve him and her love for him washed out of her soul like it had been taken out with the tide. What she wouldn't have given to just stay with him like this; his smooth, warm lips caressing hers, his teeth sinking into her pillowy bottom lip ever so gently now and again, his tongue hot and skilled as it slipped alongside her own, tasting like the peppermint he'd sucked on during the drive, his fresh cedar apple cologne and cinnamon citrus aftershave filling her nostrils and tickling her olfactory senses so delightfully. The fact that this glorious god of a man was hers--and willingly--still boggled her mind.

After a moment, and after Wolf had slipped a hand up her panty-hoed thigh beneath her powder blue skirt to grope her hip, they pulled apart, panting a bit for air. "For the record," Wolf husked as he gazed cross-eyed into her starry eyes, "you're always rosy-colored. And it's gorgeous."

Bess' insides tickled with butterfly flutters. She pulled her lip between her teeth and ducked her face from view into her husband's shoulder, tittering giddily like a crushing thirteen-year-old. A blush reddened her cheeks.

Wolf chuckled affectionately, squeezing her thigh and nuzzling her closer. "Properly married for over a year, and still so bashful whenever I compliment and kiss you," he gently taunted. He peppered her crown with more kisses.

Bess, shyly peeked up from behind her thick curtain of hair. "You make... everything feel new," she murmured. "Like a first. Every time. Whenever I think I can't love you any deeper or harder, you go and look at me like I'm the center of the world or hold my hand or... kiss me like you just did... and I somehow fall even more in love with you." She chuckled and bumped her brow to his, closing her eyes as she nuzzled into his warmth. "How do you manage to do that?"

The man leaned into her touch and nuzzled back. "Perhaps because I love you so bloody damn much, every time I look at you, I think I can't possibly love you more than in that moment, but then the next time I look at you comes... and then I can't possibly love you more than in that moment. Or the next, or the next." Wolf kissed his wife's brow, then tipped her head back to meet her starry eyes again. "I have a sneaking suspicion my entire life is just going to be a perpetual free fall into a deeper and deeper love for you, Mrs. Scrooge."

Bess' heart skipped beats as the butterflies in her belly tickled a grin onto her face and tears into her eyes. "Oh, Wolfy." Without thinking she dove back in for another slow, simmering kiss which she was most eagerly obliged with. "I love you so, so much," she whispered against his soft lips.

"And I love you," her man returned. "And so will your brother- and sister-in-law. Now come on." He pecked a barely-there kiss to her lips again and pulled back to switch the engine of the Royce off. He winked at her. "Let's go meet your family, yeah?"

Luggage retrieved from the trunk of the car and in hand, the couple trekked toward the front door. Each step caused Bess' anxiety to mount higher and higher, and when she finally laid eyes on the door, it took everything in her to not drop her bags, turn tail, and gallop away. Again her mind was screaming about what a bad idea this was. A voice that sounded just like her mother was echoing in her head: They'll hate you. Nobody likes you anyway, but they'll hate you for what you've done and keeping Ebenezar away. They'll think you're manipulative and controlling and only want him for the money. If they care about him at all, they'll try to take Ebenezar away from you--you don't deserve him. You're not good enough for him--you're not good enough for this life--and they know it. They'll see right through you and see just how unremarkable, common, and disappointing you really are.

A gentle, warm pressure wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her focus away from the voice in her head. Bess looked down to see her shoulder encased in her hubby's large hand, then looked up into his face again. She realized she must have stopped walking when he'd kept going because he was turned towards her, like he'd realized she was no longer following him and had come back to collect her.

Wolf smiled in gentle reassurance as he held her gaze. "You all right?" he crooned. His large, strong fingers tenderly squeezed.

"H-How should I act?" The question seemed to come out of nowhere; not even Bess understood why she'd asked it. That hadn't been any of the thoughts running through her mind.

Her man lightly cocked an eyebrow in confusion before sighing with an adoring smile as he shook his head. Letting her shoulder go, he brought his hand to her face, tucking hair behind an ear before cupping her cheek. "Like you," came the sincere answer. "You should only ever act like you, Moonflower." He leaned back down to give her another soft kiss to once again help settle her nerves. (It truly was a remedy he never tired of dispensing.) With that, Wolf curled his arm around her back and gently led her on.

They'd only just reached the bottom of the steps when the large, dark wood door with the impressive knocker suddenly opened and an older, short little woman dressed in a maid's uniform with glasses and a broom stepped out to bar their way. Stamping the broom down on the top step and leaning against it, she perched a hand on her hip. "Well, well, what have we here?" she drawled, sounding vaguely Eastern European. A sly smile quirked up her lips and her eyes sparkled in good natured mischief. "Do my aging eyes deceive me, or has the prodigal finally returned?"

Wolf laughed warmly. "I can promise you it's not your eyes, Magda," he declared. He let go of Bess and opened his arm out to the woman. "I'm home."

Magda's smirk blossomed into a beaming grin and she leaned the broom against the brick and came down the steps to embrace the man. "Oh, Ben," she chuckled warmly. "My Benny Boy."

Bess couldn't help but smirk at that. "Benny Boy"? Wolf hated when people called him 'Benny' and 'Benny Boy'--she surmised--would have been no less different and probably worse. Magda must have been someone quite special: She seemed about Wolf's age, maybe a little older--sixties at the oldest. Perhaps a doting, older sister-figure? The idea warmed the Yank's racing heart.

Magda embraced Wolf for a long moment, patting and rubbing his back affectionately and even rocking him a bit. "Oh, we all missed you, Love," she told the man. "Everyone. Of course, we all knew why you had to stay away so long, and we managed, but it wasn't the same."

Wolf chuckled and rubbed Magda's back comfortingly in turn. "I missed all of you, too," he assured the woman. "But I'm back now. And I don't plan on leaving again for a good long while."

"Good. We need you here." The woman passed her hands over Wolf's sides and then paused, pressing her palms against his ribs. "My!" she exclaimed, pulling back from the Englishman with wide eyes. She felt along his sides, flanks, shoulders and chest, and finally his middle. "I see you didn't suffer from hunger while you were away," she claimed, smiling in amusement. "You've put on as much weight as Ebenezer has! Wonderful! You walking skeletons certainly needed some extra pounds."

Wolf rolled his slate-blue eyes. "Don't exaggerate, Magda," he groaned playfully.

"Me? Exaggerate? Never!"

Wolf snorted out a laugh.

"I hope you didn't become addicted to all that ghastly, American fast-food while you were there," Magda only half-joked.

"Honestly, rarely touched the stuff." Wolf looked away from Magda over to Bess with a soft smile. "Bess saw to that. She fed me well--took spectacular care of me."

Bess blushed and couldn't help but return his smile. "Well, you took wonderful care of me first," she insisted. "How could I not return the favor?"

"Aaahhhh," Magda cut in again. She was turned to completely direct her attention upon the American, a little smile on her lips. "So this is the famous Bess." She looked the young woman over, smiling warmer and larger with every sweep of her eyes.

Bess shrunk back a bit, painfully aware the spotlight was now upon her. "U-Um... yeah, th-that'd be me. I-I-I don't know about "famous" though."

Magda shook her head as her smile continued to widen. "You're famous in this household, Dove," she informed the Yank. "And, one could argue, famous throughout the live music scene of London and on YouTube as well, Ms. Moonrock, sought after lounge performer and 65.5K subs strong--whatever that means, but according to the children it's quite good. I must say famous for good reason as well--you are pretty as a rose and cute as the dickens!"

Bess flushed red hot all the way down beneath her collar at that, her freckles popping from beneath her minimal makeup with the blush. She shifted on her purple peep-toe shoes a bit, fluctuating between feeling both morbidly embarrassed and genuinely chuffed over such compliments. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to hearing such words so frequently directed her way that weren't in the form of YouTube comments or from drunken galloots at a hotel bar. Smiling the tiniest bit, the woman turned and ducked her head to shyly hide her face a bit behind her dark hair. "Thank-Thank you."

Chuckling warmly, Wolf began introductions: "Darling, I'd like you to meet our maid--well, Sammy and Connie's maid anyway--Magda Vandergeissan." The man clasped the little woman's sturdy shoulder and smiled impishly down at her. "She runs this house with an iron fist."

Magda playfully scowled at him and smacked his hand away. "Oh, you--hush! Not an iron fist. ... A fist of hard-packed earth. Wrapped in velvet."

Wolf laughed. Then he turned to Bess again and stepped toward her, brushing her hair back and taking up her hand to bring to his lips again. "Magda, this is Bess Scrooge." He smiled at the dark-haired woman, eyes soft as a lamb's, and held her hand over his heart. "My wonderful, beautiful, remarkable wife--the woman who has made me the happiest and luckiest man on Earth." His voice was tender, dripping with adoration and devotion.

Bess couldn't help but smile back as that familiar warmth flooded through her. She always felt like the most amazing woman in the world when he looked at her like that. She wasn't, of course, but she could easily believe it for a minute or two when in the lovelight of those gorgeous eyes. "Oh, stop it," she giggled in the way girls who are deeply in love do.

"All right, all right," Magda said, stepping in between the pair. "You lovebirds can make goo-goo eyes at each other later. Right now, I'd like to get to know the lovely lady. You can only learn so much from YouTube videos and hotel Yelp reviews." Without even looking, the maid took Bess' bag from Bess' hand and pushed the handle into Wolf's. Then she took Bess' make-up travel kit and stuck it under his arm. "You can handle the luggage, can't you, Ben?" It was an order phrased as a question. Before Magda could get an answer, she wrapped an arm around Bess' and turned all of her attention to the young woman. She smiled in a motherly fashion. "Come along, Dovey, let's go inside and you can tell me all about yourself." She began to lead Bess inside. "Would you like some tea? I've made fresh biscuits to go with it."

"U-uh, yes. That-that would be just fine, Mrs. Vand-"

"Oh, please, Sweetheart, call me 'Magda'--I insist. After all, we're practically family. Might I say, that is an absolutely lovely sweater. Lavender is an excellent color for you. And don't you look darling in that skirt? Constance isn't the only one in the family with style anymore. She'll be happy for that."

"Oh, um... thank you, Magda." Bess craned her head back to give her husband a nervous look but he just grinned and winked as he followed with the bags.

"I'm afraid you just missed the family by about five minutes," Magda informed them. "They took the little ones on a walk for some sunshine. They should be back in a half hour or so. Ben, why don't you take the bags up to your room? I've turned down the bed and have everything ready for the pair of you to stay in your old room this weekend."

Wolf nodded, then sent a careful gaze his wife's way. "Are you going to be all right for a moment or two?" he asked. His voice was full of sincerity and understanding, not a bit patronizing. Bess' anxiety was never something to be taken lightly for him, especially not since it had begun to flare drastically again during the whole debacle with her mother. They were working on getting it under control again, and the medication and coping exercises were definitely helping--even just being back home with family and friends seemed to be helping a great deal; it would be a good while, though, before Bess was back to the stability she'd had before her mother had reared her ugly head again.

Bess offered a small smile in turn as she managed a nod. "I think so," she answered quietly. "If not, I'll call and-"

"I'll come running," her husband finished for her with an assuring nod. He stepped forward and bowed down to give her a yet another short but still languid kiss. After which, he took the time to touch his brow to hers and hold her gaze. "I'll be back in just a minute." With that, he went up one of the split staircases and disappeared into the floors above.

Bess watched after him, a dopey smile that never seemed to fail to come out whenever he kissed her--no matter how chastely--lingering on her face. "Love you," she dreamily called after him. She would never grow tired of saying that.

Magda watched on with a sly, knowing smirk, hands perched on her hips. If that wasn't the look of a woman smitten to the very core of her soul for her man, she didn't know what was. "Well, well, well," the maid drawled, drawing the raven-haired woman's attention. "I've been in the presence of the two of you for less than five minutes, but I think it's safe to say you're as thick as thieves."

Bess couldn't help the bashful, girlish giggle that escaped her as she hid her blushing face in her hands.

Magda chuckled. "I'll take that as a sign he's treating you as he should."

Bess smiled in a completely lovesick way at the maid, hands on her blushing cheeks, her chest feeling as though it were about to explode with happiness. A year and a half as an established couple, and she still felt as though she were in the beginning stages of fresh love. Would it always be like this? She couldn't imagine that it wouldn't be, not with her marvelous Wolf. "Like a queen," she practically swooned. "I want for nothing with him. He's the most amazing and marvelous man!"

Magda knew that well. And the fact that Bess could see it too, caused Magda to be overcome with the urge to hug the young woman and join in her happiness. She did just that. The fact Bess readily returned the affection only after a moment's hesitation made the maid even more happy. Ebenezar had most definitely picked a good one. Of course, Magda had known that too from the first time the man had ever spoken of the Yank.

"I can tell just from the way he looks at you, that you treat him just as well," Magda murmured. The maid pulled back a bit to meet Bess' shining eyes and, for the first time, truly noticed the freckles sprinkling Bess' face. Ah, another freckled, blue-eyed beauty. I'm starting to see a pattern here.

"I'm so happy you're here with us now, Bess," Magda murmured, squeezing the girl's arms as she smiled sincerely into her face. "I'm so happy you and Ben have finally found each other. I've hoped and prayed for a long time for both of the boys to find their special someones--people who will love and cherish them as they deserve to be, partners who will help them bear the burden of the world instead of letting them become crushed by it. Ebenezer has found that special someone in Constance, and, though I've only just met you, from everything I've heard from Ben over the years and just from what I've seen already in the last few minutes, I can tell he's found that special someone in you. And I couldn't be more grateful or happier."

"I just want to make him feel as happy and loved as I can," Bess stated, gushing a bit as she gripped the maid back. "I want to build a life with him, from the ground up. I want to face every challenge and hardship with him and celebrate every triumph and good time with him. I want to give him a home and everything else he's ever needed and wanted. I want to help him see the man that I see when I look at him--a good man, kind and strong and brave and generous and chivalrous. Oh, I just want to love him, Magda! I do love him with all my heart and soul, and thank the heavens for him every day. I just want to love him for all eternity in any and every way that I can."

Tears shone in Magda's eyes by the end of that diatribe, her chin trembling ever so slightly. "If you knew how long I've waited for someone to say those things about my Benny Boy..." she trailed off into a quiet sob, a happy tear descending her cheek. Once again, she embraced the American, hugging her tight and close as she patted her back. She thought her heart would burst when Bess hugged her back just as tightly. "Welcome to the family, Bess. We've waited much too long for you to come home."

"Took me a long time to find it," Bess croaked back. "But now that I'm here, I'm not ever leaving--I promise."

When Wolf came back, from the third floor, he was drawn by the sound of laughter into the sitting room where he was greeted by the sight of Magda and Bess seated at the tea table. Both women held cups of tea as a tray of chocolate chip biscuits sat between them, and neither of them seemed to notice his entrance as they were both laughing much too hard. The man couldn't help but chuckle as well, thrilled that his wife and mother-figure were getting on so well already. "Well, now," he called out as he crossed the room, "this is a sight." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Bess' crown, stroking a warm hand down her back. "And you were afraid she'd slam the door in your face," he teased at a whisper into her ear.

Bess giggled sheepishly and blushed. Yes, she'd been overthinking and worrying needlessly. Again. Perhaps one day she'd learn to not do that.

"Now," Wolf sighed, leaning down to chomp a bite out of the half-eaten biscuit in his love's hand before standing up and looking between both women, "what are we laughing at?" He pulled out a chair and shifted it a bit closer to Bess before sitting down and slipping an arm around her shoulders.

Bess smirked at him as she arched an eyebrow in mischief. "You and your folded skivvies and ironed socks." She snickered when her man shot her a slightly unamused glare as his cheeks pinked up just a bit.

Magda chuckled. "Oh, Ben, dear, in many ways you've changed, but in so many others you've stayed the same," she crooned, reaching over to fondly pat the businessman's knee. "Thank the Lord you found this lovely little Yankee who's willing to put up with and cater to your... idiosyncrasies. Many women wouldn't without being paid."

Wolf became a bit defensive at that insinuation, however playful it was. "Bess doesn't have to...! I-I don't force her to...! If she didn't want...!" he tried to explain himself, but he was much too flustered.

Bess and Magda broke into giggles again and Bess leaned in closer to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist. "She's just teasing, babe," she cooed. "Feminists everywhere would scream and froth at the mouth but let them: I like folding your boxer briefs and ironing your socks. Besides, it's not like you don't handle my laundry in return." She kissed his flushed cheek.

Magda's eyes widened behind her glasses. "Whhhaaaaat?" she drawled in disbelief. "Ebenezar Charles Scrooge doing laundry?"

Wolf glowered at the maid. "Don't sound so surprised," he grumbled. "I know how to use a washer and dryer. It doesn't take a genius."

"He was a little rusty at first," Bess admitted with a giggle. "I had to remind him about separating things. And I don't think he'd ever heard of fabric softener before." She ignored the groan from her hubby and continued on: "But after that, he caught on quick--within the first few laundry days. And he was always excellent at handwashing--I wouldn't trust my delicates to anyone but him."

"Huuussssshhhhhh!" Wolf hissed, blushing red clear up to the tips of his ears. The last thing he needed Magda to hear about was how he liked to wash Bess' pretty little knickers in the sink to unwind after rough days.

Bess smirked up at him and winked. "And he positively loves folding things now that I got him a folding board," she went on. "You should see him when he uses it--making sure every piece of clothing is laid out perfectly on the board and carefully folding them into perfect little rectangles and squares. He does this little smile and nod at the end of every one as he stacks them into their specific piles. Ugh! It's so cute I could die!"

Magda broke into laughter again at the thought. Knowing the perfectionist her beloved Benny Boy was, the Hungarian could picture that scenario exactly!

"Oh, and can you believe, Magda," Bess went on as she patted her man's chest, "that this darling of a gentleman went out of his way to buy special, scented products to use on my clothes specifically?" The freckled woman smiled in complete adoration up at the silver-haired man.

Though he blushed red hot and avoided eye-contact, Wolf's lips curved into a bashful smile. He didn't believe he'd ever get tired of hearing her call him "darling".

"Oh, did he now?" Magda chortled as she smirked at the blushing fellow. As if it weren't already plain as day Ebenezar Scrooge was a man smitten beyond reason. "And, correct me if I'm wrong, Bess Dear, but I seem to recall some Instagram posts of a certain silver-haired gentleman cooking and baking?"

Bess grinned a mile wide. "You did!"

"Ho, now--wait a second," Wolf quickly injected. "I only mastered the grill--I'm still complete rubbish in the kitchen." He nudged his wife with a significant smirk. "At least, without someone there to guide me. I'm a much better assistant cook."

Bess smiled and nudged him back. "You are an excellent grill-master," she acknowledged. "And you're the best assistant cook. Especially since you volunteer to do all the dishes." She leaned in to peck a chaste kiss on the lips he offered up in a pucker. "Mmmmwah!"

Magda chuckled as she shook her head at the couple. "Laundry, house-cleaning, cooking, baking, washing dishes--I can hardly believe it, but you've actually domesticated him. Well done, Bess. Brava." The maid actually clapped which earned her a small glare from the man in question. She only snickered.

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far," Bess countered with a sly side-eye to the older woman. "I'd say he's still plenty wild and rough in many ways." She turned back to and winked at her love. "Can't sand those rough edges away completely. What would I have to hold on to?"

The trio continued their tea time with warm, lively chatter, discussing everything from America to Hungary and everything in between. Magda filled in blanks about what had happened the last few years while the Wolves (Magda explained that's what everyone had taken to calling the pair collectively--Wolf groaned at the information while Bess laughed) had been away. It was as comfortable and cozy as three long-lost friends reuniting; Bess felt silly for ever having worried in the first place. But, of course, this was just Magda. She had yet to meet her in-laws.

Speaking of the devils--it wasn't long until there was a voice that sounded much like Wolf's but couldn't be his ringing through the house: "We're back!"

A familiar, resounding bark echoed right after it, and just a moment or two later, a big, furry, golden brown blur came barrelling through the door of the sitting room. Very nearly crashing into the couple, the blur quickly changed into a whining flurry of tail wags and slobbery kisses complete with a cold, wet, inspecting nose. Wolf and Bess laughed and endured the onslaught of wet affection joyously, wrapping their arms around the beast. "Prudence!" they both cheered. They slipped from their chairs to kneel on the floor to more sufficiently love up the excited mastiff, taking turns hugging her and getting showered with drool and giving the dog back and butt-scratches as she frantically spun around between them to give them ample and equal amounts of affection. Clearly the couple had been missed and she had too.

"Oh, Prudence!" Wolf laughed as he scratched the dog down her back and up her sides. "Good old Prudence!"

Bess held the dog's face between her hands, smushing and ruffling her floppy jowls as she smooched the animal all over her giant head. "Ugh, you big, sweet, wonderful ol' meatball-head!" she giggled, touching her brow to Prudence's. "Oh, we missed you, old girl."

Grinning a mile wide with lolling tongue, Prudence promptly flipped onto her back to offer her belly up for tummy-rubs. She was quickly obliged. The dog started whining in happiness again, her tail drumming the floor and one of her back legs pedaling as just the right spots were found.

"The children are going to be upset they didn't get to see you," Wolf crooned.

"She looks great!" Bess exclaimed, noting the mastiff's healthy body weight and solid musculature. As far as her breed went, Prudence was most definitely a senior dog, as she'd already been 9 years old when Bess had first met Wolf. But you could hardly tell from the way she acted or looked: Apart from a few white hairs around her muzzle and in her brows, Prudence could have easily been mistaken for a dog a quarter her age! It was just further proof for Bess' quiet theory that this dog wasn't really a dog, but a guardian angel in canine disguise.

"Hardly looks a day older than when Marley left her with us," a warm, smooth voice chuckled. The voice was familiar to Bess' ears--almost like her Wolf's--but different enough it could easily be deciphered for someone different. By someone close to him anyway.

The couple turned their attention from the dog to the tall man dressed in comfortable slacks and a casual blue vest over a white button-down and tie. This was Ebenezer Samuel Scrooge, one-half of London's famous (and in some corners, yet, infamous), philanthropic, billionaire-bankers-and-businessmen-brothers team. Also, Bess' brother-in-law.

Wolf's mouth split into a laughing grin as he sprung to his feet and quickly closed the distance between himself and the other grinning man. "Sammy!" he boomed. He clasped his brother's extended arm as the other fellow did the same and the two pulled each other into a great hug, slapping each other on the backs.

Bess couldn't help but stare. She'd known since before she met him that her Wolf was an identical twin--complete with a set of identical names because their father had been that sort of dick--and this wasn't the first time she'd seen Ebenezer--or rather "Adonis" as she had taken to calling him since seeing pictures online. But it was still uncanny to see a man who had her husband's face but who wasn't her husband embracing her husband. The same two-toned, steel and silver hair--though Wolf's was much longer as he'd finally managed to grow it to the "rebellious" length he'd always wanted; the same large, handsome, owlish nose; the same diamond shaped face with the chiseled cheekbones and sharp jaw that could cut glass; the same, wide, intelligent brow; the same slender lips; the same bushy brows; the same endearingly large ears; even the same carefully groomed muttonchops that jackasses liked to make fun of Wolf for ("Hey, Wolverine!" "It's not the Victorian age anymore, buddy!" "Yo, where's the time-machine, pal?"). So far the only real difference Bess could see (apart from the obvious hair) was that Adonis looked a tad taller and lankier while her Wolf was a bit bigger and bulkier in the muscle, body-fat, and framing department. Not a surprise, considering Wolf had just spent the last two years living with her on her old family farm, doing farm and renovation work and eating a mixture of her and her friend Debbie's cooking (finger-licking-good, stick-to-your-ribs, homemade American faire). Identical as they were, this fact made Bess officially decide that she had the more attractive of the twins. (However, she was plenty biased.)

Still laughing, the brothers finally pulled apart, but still held each other by the arm, hands now layered warmly over hands gripping forearms.

"Criminey, it's good to see you, old boy!" Wolf sighed.

"It's good to see you, too," Adonis echoed. "Bloody hell, look at you! You look like those damn rugby players we grew up idolizing! What do the Yanks feed you over there in the States?"

"Big portions and hard work."

"I'll say. Shite, Charlie, if Dad were around to see your hair now." He reached up with both hands and ruffled his twin's hair in an obnoxious and brotherly way.

"Hey!" Wolf barked the laugh as he shoved his brother away. He drew up his fists and got into a mock fighting stance and Adonis did the same. For a second or two, the men pretended to spar, ducking and bobbing around playful punches and then, laughing, they embraced fully again.

Bess couldn't help but smile, her heart swelling with happiness that her beloved was once again back with his best and closest friend. Happy whining and thumping sounds beside her told the woman Prudence was happy with the scenario as well. Bess reached down to scratch the dog's head and ears.

"Where's your better half?" Wolf asked as they parted again.

"Taking Starry to the loo," Adonis answered. "We're finally making progress with potty-training. Oh, that reminds me. Magda?" The man looked in the maid's direction. "Would you mind going to help Connie with the twins? I believe they both are in need of changing."

Always happy to interact with the little ones in any aspect, Magda smiled and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Scrooge." She gave Bess' shoulder a gentle squeeze and a reassuring smile as she left the room.

Bess smiled after her, even as her nerves started to rise a bit. Evidently she'd quickly attached to friendly, warm, motherly Magda as something of a security blanket in this strange household, and her departure left the American feeling a bit insecure again. She shifted a bit closer to Prudence, thankful that the dog also shifted towards her in turn, probably sensing her nerves. Good, old, wonderful Prudie!

"Well, Charlie," Adonis sighed as Magda, left. He let go of his brother and moved around him in Bess' direction, his icy blue eyes (ah--another slight difference) friendly and warm despite their otherwise frigid hue. "It's been about a minute since I came in--are you going to introduce me to this lovely lady, or should I do it myself?"

Wolf chuckled and moved back to stand by Bess, slipping an arm about her waist and tugging her comfortingly into his side. His thumb traced circles on her back to help soothe the anxiousness he had seen come back to her eyes. "Sammy, this is Bess." The man smiled down at his lover as she hooked an arm around his waist for extra reassurance. "The absolute love of my life."

Bess looked up at her husband, meeting his gentle gaze (yes, she definitely preferred that cool, liquid slate-blue), wanting nothing more than to kiss the very breath from him for those beautiful, beautiful words. She loved that phrase in context to her. After years of fearing she'd never find someone who liked her let alone loved her, to be referred to as the quintessential love of someone who was her own quintessential love filled her with so many good vibes she could have exploded. The woman knew she'd never tire of hearing them.

"Well, that's quite the statement," Adonis declared smiling between the smitten pair. "You must be something very special, Lady Ness; my hard-headed, self-sabotaging twin has never said that about any woman ever."

Wolf shot him a glare. "Hard-headed? Self-sabotaging? Pot, meet Kettle."

Prudence softly ruffed in agreement.

Adonis snickered with an impish smirk. Then he stretched out his hand to Bess and clasped her hand warmly when she took it. With a gentlemanly bow, he smiled sincerely up at her. "It's good to finally meet you, Bess," he stated fondly.

"You too, Bess responded, returning the man's smile. She squeezed his hand, happy to feel it was work roughened as well, though not quite to the glorious extent her hubby's were. With her beloved Wolf by her side and the palpable friendliness and openness of her brother-in-law, Bess felt her nerves settling again. "Wolf's told me so much about you."

Adonis sent a look his brother's way. "All good things, I assume," he said, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"Oh, of course, Brother," Wolf assured him more than a little sardonically. "Only ever good things."

Bess did her best to keep from smiling and laughing as all the funny and embarrassing stories about her brother-in-law her husband had told her came rushing to the forefront. She succeeded only minimally well. It was hard not to laugh at the mental image of a man as imposing as Ebenezer losing it over a creepy-crawly. Deep down she really hoped a spider or beetle would sneak into the house while they were there for the weekend; she wanted to see if Adonis really screamed as loud as Wolf claimed he would.

Adonis gave his brother a hard look. "Uh-huh." After a moment he looked to Bess again and said conversationally: "You know, he pissed the bed until he was thirteen."

Bess laughed incredulously. "What?!"

Prudence too looked up at Wolf with wide, surprised eyes and perked ears as she tilted her head in question.

A beet-red Wolf immediately jumped in. "No I didn't!" he spat angrily, giving his laughing twin a rough shove. "That's a complete exaggeration and taken out of context, and you know it!" The man then desperately turned to his wife with her goofy, amused grin and frantically tried to explain. "The only reason I wet the bed was because I'd snuck out past curfew with a group of older schoolmates and had much more alcohol than was good for me and passed out. They dumped me back in my bed and I never woke up when I needed to and..." he trailed off, painfully embarrassed by the memory.

Bess smiled sympathetically and reached up to hold his angular face in her hands. "Oh, honey," she crooned with a chuckle. "It's okay--it can happen to anybody." She smooched his nose then smirked mischievously at him. "But if you ever do that in our bed, you're on the floor with the dog."

Prudence woofed rather indignantly.

Wolf smirked back just as deviously. "For all of two minutes before you begged me back into it," he rumbled more than a little salaciously as he cocked a smug eyebrow.

Bess flushed hot and gently popped his chin in admonishment. "Ebenezar Charles!" she hissed. "We're among company!" She tried to give her man a stern look but failed as her lips frustratingly twitched into little smirks.

A shudder went through Adonis at the mental images that statement conjured up and he cringed. Imagining his brother having... relations.... "Eeeesh!" he exclaimed. "There's something I never wanted to picture."

As if in agreement, Prudence shook herself and trotted out of the room with a snort. Clearly she had better places to be if the humans were going to start discussing such things. There was a stash of bones somewhere calling her name anyway.

Wolf side-eyed his twin as he pulled his wife flush into him. He always loved the way Bess fit so perfectly against him, her curvaceous, womanly figure melding perfectly into his body; the way his hands so easily found and fit into the small of her back and other dips in her body. There was no doubt in his mind anymore that they had been made for each other--molded to fit one other specifically. "No kidding," he responded drily, shooting a pointed look at the other man. "Say, did you ever get around to finding some sort of cushioning for your headboard? I imagine the wall behind it is looking a bit rough otherwise."

Bess couldn't help but snort at that. She covered her mouth with a hand to try and stop her laughter. Her efforts weren't particularly successful.

Adonis blushed a bit and glowered at his brother. Then he smirked deviously. "No, we didn't," he replied. "As a matter of fact, Constance and I just use your bed now."

Wolf felt the color drain from his face at that statement. Whether it was true or not was a complete crapshoot, because he and his twin were masters of screwing with each other. Even so, just the mere idea that he could possibly be sleeping in a bed his brother might have shagged in, perhaps making love to his own wife in that same bed, was enough to make his skin crawl. "You're a bastard," he rasped out.

Adonis' devilish smirk turned into a somewhat maniacal grin. "Remember, we're twins, Benny Boy."

Bess looked between the brothers in utter amusement. Having four siblings, Bess was used to the ever-fluctuating nature of such relationships, and the contolled, chaotic energy between her husband and brother-in-law was immaculate. This was going to be a hell of a weekend!

"Papa?" a tiny little voice suddenly chirped in to interrupt the conversation. "Papa, Papa, Papa!"

The three adults turned to see a tiny redheaded girl in a yellow shirt, little blue capris, and teeny white shoes come toddling into the sitting room. Arms outstretched for balance, the tot had a big, gap-toothed grin on her cherubic little face, her sparkling blue eyes trained on her father. The toddler sped up into a waddle and, panting as she squeaked excitedly, darted for the tall gentleman. "Papa!"

Adonis' face softened and his grin turned warm with love as he crouched down to meet the toddler. "There's my little sundrop!" he cooed adoringly as he scooped the girl up. He smooched noisy kisses to her chubby cheeks as the little one giggled and squealed while she hugged his neck.

"Papa! That tickleth!"

Bess couldn't help but smile at the sheer adorable, wholesomeness of the situation. There was something about a big man being gentle and sweet with a small child that never failed to make her go mushy inside. And make her useless womb quiver and ache.

The American looked up at her husband again to see him staring at his brother and niece attentively. A slight smile curled his mouth. The light in his eyes was warm and soft and... maybe just a tad longing. It was hardly a secret the man had a desire to be a father, to hear a little voice call him "Papa" and catch a little child as they came running to give him hugs and kisses, too. While he was the adoptive father of Bess' siblings now and loved being their father-figure and adored being called "Uncle Ebby", it just wasn't quite enough. There was a void deep inside him that it just didn't quite fill, as much as he wished it would. He wanted to be a father to a child, from beginning to end. He wanted to experience the good, bad, and everything in between. He was honored his adopted children had hyphenated his name in after that of their own father, but even so, the man wanted a child to carry his name first and alone.

Bess reached up and cupped his sculpted cheek to draw his face back to hers. She smiled reassuringly at him, knowing what was going through his very soul at the moment because it was going through hers too. "Someday," she reminded him softly. "We'll be there someday." She stroked a tender thumb along his cheekbone and pressed her other hand to his heart. "I promise."

Wolf responded with the softest of smitten smiles he'd given her since their first morning waking up naked in each other's arms. He bowed to touch his brow to her, his stubbornly-stray lock of hair tickling both their cheeks. "How is it you always seem to know exactly what I'm thinking?" he purred, gazing into her eyes.

Bess smirked as she curled both arms back around his neck and pulled him closer. "I could ask you the same thing," she giggled.

Wolf rumbled a soft chuckle and angled his head to bring their mouths together once more. He kissed her chastely but soundly, reveling in the belovedly familiar scent of her blueberry perfume. He would forever associate blueberries with this glorious woman for the rest of his days.

"New fwiendth?" the little girl chirruped again.

The couple parted lips and turned their attention back to the father and daughter, both of whom were now gazing at them, the father much more wryly than the little girl. She gawked at them in wide-eyed excitement and fascination.

"Yes, Sweetheart," her papa answered gently. "New and very good friends." He returned his gaze to his child and smiled at her absolute enchantment with the two new adults. The man gently bounced her in his arms. "Do you remember them?" he cooed. "Hmm? You've seen their pictures and watched them on YouTube. Mama and I have talked to you about them."

The babe gasped and squealed with delighted laughter as she clapped her little hands. "Annie Bweth!" she giggled. "Unky Woofy!"

Bess couldn't help the laughter that escaped her. "Unky Woofy," she snickered to her husband. "That's definitely becoming a new pet name."

Wolf gave her the side-eye. "Don't you dare," he warned her but he smirked as he said it.

Bess only winked. She made no guarantees.

Chuckling, Adonis knelt down and placed his little girl on the floor again. The girl's feet were already peddling before she touched ground; when she finally did, she took off at a run. Or as much of a run as a waddle could reach. "Go make friends," he urged, though the child was already speeding to do just that. He smiled in adoring pride as he stood again. "Charlie, Bess, allow me to introduce you to your niece, Starla."

Unable to help herself, Bess pulled out of her hubby's arms and quickly moved towards the oncoming child, arms outstretched and hands itching to pick up the tot and snuggle her close. She loved children in general, and this stage was positively adorable (if not insanely chaotic), when they really started to come into their own as little people with little personalities and attitudes. "Oh my goodness!" the America cooed as she swooped Starla up into her arms. "Hi, Sweetheart."

Starla's gap-toothed grin beamed wide and radiant as the sun. She giggled excitedly as she reached out towards Bess, stubby little fingers wiggling and grasping for something to touch and hold on to. "Annie Bweth!" she squeaked. When Bess leaned in and pulled her a bit closer, the tot grabbed a chunk of coal-black waves and tangled it between her fingers. Her cornflower eyes widened in awe. "Ooohhh, tho pwetty," Starla quietly marveled. Then she beamed even brighter up at her auntie again. "You pwetty, Annie Bweth!"

Chuckling, Bess settled her niece on her hip and snuggled her. "Not as pretty as you, Little Sunbeam," she crooned. The woman stroked a finger down the owlish bridge of the little ginger's nose and playfully booped the tip, her heart melting at the peals of laughter that followed. Starla may have been her mother's spitting image overall, but she certainly had her father's nose. "My gosh, look at you! If you aren't the cutest little angel I ever did see. And you've gotten so big! Golly, it seems like just yesterday Wolf and I were looking at pictures of you all red and squishy."

"She's certainly turned into quite a little armful," Wolf remarked turning to his brother with a genuine smile.

"And much too fast," Adonis agreed with bittersweet sorrow. "I swear just last week she was falling asleep during tummy-time--now it takes everything Connie and I have to keep up with her.

"I remember watching your first steps," Bess told the little girl. "I do." She poked Starla's tummy and was rewarded with more happy, ticklish squeals. Could this little tyke possibly get any cuter?!

"I remember it, too," Wolf remarked moving behind his wife and putting his hands on her shoulders as he fawned over her smittenness with their niece. ("They're niece"--that sounded so wonderful!) He remembered how happy and excited he'd been for his twin that day, finally starting a family (a deep-seated desire they'd both had and forgotten until recent years) and being able to raise and watch it grow. He also remembered walking in on Bess that evening, drinking wine, watching the video, and sobbing about how she'd taken him away from his family and was a horrible person for it. He'd fallen asleep beside her that night, holding her close as he comforted and reassured her. It was the first time they'd slept together--in the literal sense of the phrase--and, while it wasn't exactly the most positive of memories in context, it was one the Englishman would cherish forever.

Starla's eyes suddenly snapped from Bess' face over to the tall gentleman gazing down at her from over her Auntie's shoulder. Her grin grew even brighter and she reached towards him. "Unky Woofy!"

Chuckling, Wolf moved around Bess and held out his hands to take the little girl from his wife. "Hello, Starla," he crooned as he settled her against his chest. "My goodness, you are quite the big girl!" He pretended to stumble and struggle to hold his niece, causing the tot to squeal and shriek with giggles. The man chuckled warmly and patted the girl's back.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Sweetheart," he said as he smiled at his niece.

Starla beamed back at him. "Nithe to meet you too, Unky Woofy!" she chirped. Then she reached up and took her uncle's chin between her pudgy hands and began to look him over carefully. After a moment, she turned to her father and waved him over. "Papa." When her father came over she reached out and placed a hand on his cheek as she kept one on her uncle's face. The little girl spent several long moments looking back and forth between the two men, her little fingers gently playing with the tickly hairs of their muttonchops. Her grin grew bigger and bigger as fascination and wonder sparkled through her baby blues.

Bess couldn't help but grin at the sweet moment. She also marveled at her niece's comprehensive observation skills for no older than she was. Of course, that shouldn't have been a surprise, considering who her parents were.

"Papa!" Starla gasped after a while. "Unky Woofy wookth duth wike you with wong, pwetty haew!" She clapped her hands in delight.

Both men chuckled. "That's right, baby girl," Adonis praised her. "Do you know why Uncle Wolfy and I look alike?"

Starla shook her head.

"We're identical twins," Wolf stated, watching his niece's adorable little face scrunch up a bit as she tried to process that.

"'Winth? Wike Thewwy an' Wobbie?"

"Sort of," Adonis answered. "Sherry and Robbie aren't identical, but Uncle Wolfy and I are identical. Identical means that we look alike and sound alike and we're both boys."

Starla looked between the men again for a minute. "Doth that mean you my papa too, Unky Woofy?" she asked as innocently as can be.

Wolf chuckled fondly and shook his head. "No, only your papa is your papa," he assured the girl. "I'm just your uncle." He smiled gently at her, a doting look in his slate eyes as he added. "But I still love you very, very much," he purred. "And you're very, very special to me."

Starla smiled sweetly and leaned forward in her uncle's arms to wrap her own stumpy ones around his neck. "Wuv you too, Unky Woofy," she said as she gazed into his face. "Mwah!" She puckered her little lips and pecked them to the pointed tip of the man's large nose in an adorable kiss.

Chuckling again, Wolf cradled the back of Starla's little, red head in his large palm and pulled her in close to hug. He softly kissed her cheek as the babe nuzzled into his neck. Blinking back the watery sting in his eyes, the former miserly recluse let out a shaky sigh as an ache deep inside his heart evaporated away. He'd needed this. He hadn't known just how much he'd needed this.

Her phone already out as she'd been snapping pictures throughout the encounter, Bess quickly collected a few more of the exchange, struggling to not melt into mush on the spot at the fluffiness of it all. Her chest was so full of warmth, she felt like exploding into butterflies and rainbows. This was just about the sweetest, cutest thing she'd ever seen! Finally, her beloved was back where he belonged--with his family. The Silver Wolf had found his pack again.

When she heard the telltale, trembling sigh, Bess slipped her phone away and moved to her husband. Pulling out a hankie she'd taken to carrying around ever since meeting her Wolf (undoubtedly a habit she'd picked up from him), she reached up and gently dabbed a stray tear off his nose. When the man opened his eyes to look at her, she smiled in gentle reassurance and understanding. The next thing she knew, her man was reaching out and curving an arm around her to pull her into the cuddle as well. Bess didn't object and melted into him, wrapping one arm around his waist and reaching up with the other to pat Starla's back.

Starla pulled away from Wolf's neck and looked Bess' way, grinning like the sun when she saw who was there "Annie Bweth!" She practically threw herself at the woman even as her uncle kept a hold on her, and hugged her auntie's face, snuffling into her soft, sweet-smelling curls. "I wuv you too, Annie Bweth!"

Bess laughed, her voice breaking a bit as her own eyes welled up with tears. She did her best to hug the child back in their awkward, somewhat tangled position. "Aw, I love you too, Sweetpea!" She looked up at her husband through a cage of toddler arms, joy and hope sparkling in her watery eyes to replace the anxiety that had once dwelt there. Her brother-in-law liked her! Her niece loved her!

His own eyes still shimmering with tears, Wolf smiled back at his wife and nodded. He hugged her closer and bowed his head to hers. He planted a kiss in her hair. "Welcome to the family, Auntie Bess," he purred into her ear. "I told you they'd love you."

@rom-e-o @ray-painter @crimson-phantom-designs @m0nsterwife @christmasgaybusinessmen @thedivinelights @purgratoriat @themostanonymousscribbler @oldmanlusting @the-house-of-auditore-frye

[instructionsnotincluded]

urgh i’m sure you’re sick of hearing about it but i have no friends who watch obx and idk where else to channel my feelings 😭 I AM SO UPSET. I genuinely can’t believe they’ve done this, i was lulled into a false sense of security by the announcement for season 5 because i thought surely Rudy would hang on for one final season. I was so convinced rafe would die after his goodbye to sophia that i was distracted from the real danger (sidebar i hated that they build up that relationship just to end it in one sentence over a phone call, i really had hope after rafe telling her it was okay).

I wish they’d brought it to a close this season so badly and just given them a happy ending. The worst part is i was genuinely enjoying part 2 for the most part even with the crazy plot lines. I was hopeful we’d get some real resolution following JJs crash out with him facing up to his issues and talking it out, particularly with Kiara.

The lack of Jiara was genuinely so jarring and obvious i assumed it was intentional and would come to some sort of head wherein JJ would acknowledge how distant he had been and there would be some kind of emotional breakthrough/makeup for the couple but NO. like they really gave us nothing like the handshake when they parted ways had me screaming WHAT WAS THAT.

the death was so so badly done like obviously we would never be happy with JJs death but there were so many better ways around it, having him actively die protecting the pogues not just randomly being stabbed while standing around, having him actually get to say goodbye to them?! POPE NEVER GETTING TO SAY I LOVE YOU BACK?? and like why was he buried in the sand in fucking morocco that literally broke my heart like alone and to be forgotten and never visited in the fucking desert?? Im so angry i’ve been so excited for this season for the longest time and had so much hope based off part 1, i really felt like they’d been listening to the fans and giving us what we wanted in terms of season 1 vibes and i was so hyped to rewatch it all once i finished yesterday, but now the entire thing feels so tainted??

he suffered so much for absolutely nothing and no reason whatsoever. i feel i can’t even rewatch the parts of pt2 that i enjoyed again because they’re so tainted by the jarring energy between rudy and maddison now that i know it’s not part of the plot. it’s so glaringly obvious that none of this was planned, even if there’s some truth in them initially wanting JJ killed off there’s no way they would’ve followed through with it after seeing how much of a fan favourite he became. like they really gave bro an entire arc of suffering with no resolution other than him saving sarah then just killed him??

i feel so upset today idek what to do with myself, i can no longer enjoy any of my jj content without feeling so heartbroken. at least if they’d just had him leave or given him some form of resolution before his death the whole series wouldn’t feel so tainted… sorry for this insanely long ramble i just needed to offload this somewhere. thank god for people like you working harder than these god damn writers to produce actual good plots 😭💗

Never be sorry! We're all upset! I haven't seen any post or response defending the season, like I do really think everyone hated the ending and hated the way it went down. I've seen a lot about just wishing it had gone down different, not that he didn't die, but that it was for an actual reason. Which is a complaint I have about a lot of actual books. I'm not upset someone died, I'm just upset that it always feels pointless and makes the story feel like it should never have happened.

I was also lulled into the false sense of security with season five. I thought for sure it was because Rudy wanted to leave and they decided to give it a proper ending and not doing anything drastic with his character. Oh how I was wrong. My hope is that Rafe and Sofia are able to work through things in season five, and that they can get to a better place, because I do think they really love each other, and I do think they still do. But I guess we'll see if they force Kiara and Rafe together or not...

You can very much tell that there is a lot of tension between JJ and Kiara because there's a lot of tension between the actors. It was not hidden well at all, they barely interact with one another and if you haven't watched Season three or the first part of season four, you would never know they were supposed to be in love. If anything, it looked like they hated each other.

JJ's entire death scene and the scenes following were just piss poor. Everything about it was bad, and I think it's because everyone knew that this was going to be bad. Everyone knew this would end the show. They're literally watching and filming the end of this series and these stories and they couldn't do anything to make it better. I think it feels and looks so bad, because they felt the same way we do about it.

I'm upset too, it's been a trash week and it feels like the one thing we were looking forward to made it so much worse. It's ok to be upset, and it's ok to not want to see or read anything to do with the Pogues right now. Totally understandable. I felt the same way right after, like do I want to take a break from Audrey and JJ for a while? But I decided that JJ's still alive as long as we write him, as long as we love him, and I think we all deserve that.

[nekobami]

HUGE SPOILERS. (Screenshots I took w some comments & thoughts - not too hight quality however)

Oh wow. Long text.

I mean, finding out that everything was a plot fanficed by the demon and Morty's mind alone couldn't have been a better plot, I mean, It's really funny how Morty sees the random and insane things that happen to them.

Even though it's always something really out of the ordinary, I don't know how to explain it, but... Like, I can't help but feel like everything is too convenient. Because the focus is on fear, I mean at the end, it's an unconscious fear-focused narrative built using Morty's worldview as bricks. So that he didn't even know that this was really his fear at the end of the day.

But I'm surprised he doesn't even suspect how convenient and quick everything is. Like, "HOLY SH#T, A YOUNG RICK JUST ENTERED THE LIVING ROOM BURNING TO DEATH HOLDING A DIANE." JUST LIKE THAT. IN THE SAME SPEED YOU RED IT

But in parallel, I love how Morty sees the partnership between him and Rick. In the end, despite all the lore, all the narrative burden that should separate Rick from this family, Morty still sees them as the two weird friends who isolate themselves to talk to each other when something sinister happens. I also felt something in Rick's expression during this episode, but I talk about that in the screenshot

(( Marriage working out sounds ))

I also loved the "anti-aging thing" and the "Dad, stop! you're traumatizing her." I mean, For Morty, everything is so convenient for Rick that he can simply inject a blue liquid into his vein and become young again. CASUALLY. Not that it doesn't exist. It's probably something exactly like this.

WAKE UP, SUNSHINE! YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL EXISTENCIAL CRISIS TO LIVE!

By the way. I agree with other opinions I've seen recently. All of this is completely set up from the beginning, and it certainly wouldn't be so easy for Diane to simply ignore her grandchildren and her thirty-year-old daughter just to casually hang out with Rick. I mean, it's part of it. But bro. I'm sorry, I know Rick is a silly and romantic guy when it comes to it, even more so with HIS WIFE, the woman of his life, BUT, a breakfast bot? It still sounds too much like Morty's vision of Rick's flirting skills to me. Anyway. BREAKFAST BOT.

OHHH yeah, look at them. They're not real, but will make you feel good.

Oh, also. About this... this... thing. Like, I have to agree that it was a very wise choice to have only Morty go into the hole. Like. That demon devours your fears clearly means he enters your mind, he knows you by what you fear. He will use everything you know to taste your fear and suck everything out of you. He won't kill you, I guess. He was probably just making fun of Morty about his fear thing being able to actually kill someone. But he is a demon. Supposedly that's what he does. Unless maybe he has adapted to feed himself without actually needing to kill someone, or if he casually lets people live just for the sake of it. I don't know... I can't help but feel like this guy never needed them to go into the hole to build the narrative.

He's already managed to find out about everything Morty knows about Rick. Now imagine what we would have seen if he knew everything Rick knows about himself and others? I'm sorry, but it would obviously be too heavy. I know, it hurts. And you cannot compare the extent of people's fear, after all it is completely individual. But, my friend, imagine what this guy would discover about the multiverse as it is, just by getting into Rick's mind? The recourse he would have in this here is above tolerable. HOW DAMN POWERFUL CAN THIS GUY ACTUALLY BE? Hihi. Fear hole demon. I'm totally not attracted by him.

Also. Holy sh#t.

Cursed as f#ck, damn, ew, it wasn't even necessary, please don't do nothing similar to this, I'm begging you. I can't see this again in any context.

About Rick's expressions. (Yes. Yeah, yeah, the whole narrative load of this interaction between them, and Rick coming back after hearing that Diane was there, Morty afraid of Rick hugging him still being a hole thing, Morty afraid of being replaced, Rick coming back to put up Morty's photo, photo of Morty in the wallet, yes yes, extremely nice, lots of cool stuff, of course. But I would like to point out something.)

I could be wrong, after all I didn't watch the episode again. Like, I know Rick being with his wife must have exacerbated that factor, but throughout Morty's fear-centric narrative, Rick's features are softened, I don't know how to explain it. But in that moment, when Morty comes out of the hole, what really is Rick as an individual comes in, and not just the Rick built with Morty's vision of him and their interactions. Like, he just got that totally tired annoyed-like expression, since, after all, he's still affected by the recent events, and his face... Uh, I can't explain it perfectly, but around him is still heavy, while in Mortys narrative, things seems... lighter, since they've SUDDENLY, VERY CONVENIENTLY got another worries. And even if he was romantic with her in the narrative... I can't explain, but he was still very... cold and insensitive at times. Something that I find very difficult for Rick to do, as an individual and being extremely affected by all his experiences.

Anyway. Nice episode. Definitely. Merry Christmas too. HAHA. Christmas.

[laf-outloud]

To clarify, when I said Jensen is not a producer, I didn't mean he didn't hold the title or the job. He was given the title and the job, sure. But he has absolutely zero idea how to do it and (going by what I've seen) very little interest, humility, curiosity, or care to actually learn. Never mind the backstabbing part, keeping the idea from Jared was INSANELY stupid from a business perspective. Jared would've helped because he's incredibly generous. Of the two, it's Jared who is the producer. I remember at 2015 Comic Con when Jared was asked if he'd like to direct besides acting he said no, if he was going to do sth else it would be producing. All the way back in 2015 and he already knew what he could do. He's smart & self-aware enough to know his strengths and put effort into cultivating them. Jensen is a passable director who is better than passable when the camera is on Jared, maybe due to what seems like his own weird proprietary-ish obsessive love-hate, admiration-jealousy mess when it comes to Jared. He really should stick to acting & directing. He can make money and minions out of those. Friends, however? Not so much, but he doesn't seem interested in the ONE real friendship we've watched him benefit from over the years, so I'm guessing he's not worried abt friends. He's happy to play up for hellers then sulk when they fall for what is clearly an act, and he's never spoken up abt the hate Jared gets from vocal fans of Jensen. And how many vocal Jared haters has Jensen employed so far? Even creativity isn't his forte: Unlike Jared, Jensen never reads scripts in advance despite complaining (read: throwing ppl under the bus) later and for YEARS abt SPN plots & dialogue. He needs to shut up, stop thinking, accept directing and acting jobs that pay, and bask in the gross horny lies, er, "flattery" from his loon fans. As for Jared, I hope his sympathy, generosity, and kindness don't mean he ends up giving Jensen work on Walker or any other project Jared helms, and I hope Jared never feels he owes it to Jensen to help out by appearing on any fiasco Jensen decides to make. I'm so grateful Jared was never on The Boys or TW. He has ample sense not to, but we've seen how his kindness makes him continue to support Stands to help out. Jared's caption on the latest Instagram post was poignant. Slide through life with people who love you. Not "with good buddies" or "good friends" or even any indication to the bond he and Anson have after surviving that horrible crash. No. He chose to say "people who love you". It's sad that he now knows that there are others who don't and were only ever using him. Remember the cryptic Instagram post a few years ago on his birthday, when he said (paraphrasing here) that it was awful and some people were working against him? I thought it about someone behind the scenes. Now I think it must've been about Jensen. He wouldn't have sounded so hurt if it had been anyone else. Imagine rooming with your costar, discovering you have so much in common, building a beautiful cult show together, starting families and doting on each other's kids, all of it for FIFTEEN years, only to discover the dude you had to create boundaries with wasn't simply too controlling or obsessive because you were his most precious best friend, oh no. It was because he never had any friendship or love for you in the first place. God. I'm so glad he has his family and Gen and his kids and people like Anson. Thank you for allowing me to send you all this. You're a wonderful blogger with a good head on your shoulders and a heart in the right place. I respect you a lot because you keep your criticism where it counts. You don't make fun of people's looks (ppl we hate, like Dmitri, Danneel, etc), for instance. I love your blog. Have a good day or evening, laf-outloud.

Thanks for clarifying the producer part! I totally agree. Obviously, there were issues from even before the announcement, but the fact that Jensen admitted to sitting in his car while everything supposedly ran smoothly on set (and later finding out they had to do a bunch of reshoots), told me all I needed to know about his producing 'skills' early on. And if Jensen decides to continue directing, I hope he takes advantage of some of the directing programs studios offer so he can improve his skills.

I'm truly grateful that Jared's been able to experience a much healthier and loving environment around his family, his true friends, and his coworkers. Every time I see photos of him, he just looks healthier and happier than he seemed to be on the SPN set.

Thank you for sharing everything else, I really have nothing to add because you've said it so much better than I ever could, and especially, thank you for your very kind words! I may get salty sometimes, and don't always get things right, but I do try and stay fair, and I'm glad that you, and hopefully others, see that. Sending love back to you and best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

[nicromancytarot]

https://www.tumblr.com/nicromancytarot/750651923045187584/hi-i-just-read-about-your-story-about-your-future

hello, i just read this and would like to say that i am experiencing this too. the timeline you went through all of that, is eerily similar to mine.

this dates back all the way to 2022 for me, when i saw a dream where i saw their face. i have never heard or seen of them before and the dream was so romantic tho. at first i was miserable, at the fact that it's a famous person and that this is a lonely fight in which no one is going to take my word for it and believe me, i've been called delusional by my own people when i hinted at it.

so i literally tried everything like you did, went within and looked at theirs and mine astrology charts, everything lined up perfectly and for some time, i decided to distract myself with other people in hopes i would forget about this whole ordeal and get over it. but they literally came in my dream and i saw them crying that i don't want to be with them.

i've never been in a relationship and i'm currently focused on myself now but i recently got a reading that i'm going to meet them soon and that scared the shit out of me, but i don't know really how everything is gonna unfold.

reading yours and this anon's posts really made me feel appreciated to know that we aren't alone but we are obviously running the risk of being called delusional, conceited that a bunch of bloggers on tumblr thinks we are their spouses but it's literally fate. we didn't have a hand in this.

i hope all goes well for you and to everyone facing this. <3

It’s definitely interesting to see way more people come forth about this stuff, I was thinking I’d maybe find one or two people who relate, so it’s interesting that it’s much higher than I thought.

When it comes to people calling us delusional or thinking we are so. It definitely welds down to the amount of people who wholeheartedly believe they are going to marry some super famous celebrity or some k-pop idol, as there are so many people who think so and it’s obvious that it’s fuelled by hope and delusion.

It’s interesting that you saw their face without knowing who they were too, maybe your subconsciousness remembered them from somewhere and you forgot, I could talk about subconscious understanding forever I swear, it’s so interesting.

I think with you working on yourself and saying that you want to move on from this person, you may actually find that you will, perhaps this connection is here to help you build a better relationship with yourself and once you’re done with that, you’ll be able to disconnect from them entirely.

It’s definitely difficult since there’s little to no way of proving ourselves not to be insane lmao, especially with as many people as there are making a bad rep for those who actually will marry someone somewhat “famous.”

[erscogadatabase]

2: Exploration and Setup

Date: 2-22-2016 IDST, 2-11-2016 EST

Nalitie: *directing the bucket crane she... er... borrowed from Shellmound* Keep going!

Dukermin: Um... why do you...

Nalitie: Hm? Oh, that... Just installing some stuff and building. And the cranemaster isn't listening... I've been trying to put in some sort of a giant lunchbox portal system, but it hasn't been going too well. Sand is not good for making portals.

Dukermin: Hmm... WAIT *summons void* *dumps water from unknown water planet over the sand* NOW ITS MUD

Nalitie: YAY... Wait, do you have any sap, by chance?

Dukermin: Nalitie, we have a Broken Age planet. We have sap. Be right back *runs off*

Nalitie: ... Oh yeah...

Dukermin: *returns bearing much sap* HERE YOU GO

Nalitie: ... And the trees actually let you collect that?

Dukermin: Haha... um... sure.

Nalitie: Eh. *mixes the sap into the sand* *continues the directng* Hey, have you heard from the Voltas or Tartines lately...? Haven't seen them in therapy.

Dukermin: Well, no , why do you need them?

Nalitie: Well, if they were able, I'd like them to start on the power suppressors, but I guess that can wait. Making dimensions is tiring.... Wanna go exploring or something? I haven't heard from Mr. B or Mr. T either.

Dukermin: I THOUGHT YOU WOULD NEVER ASK! Where to?

Nalitie: Hum.... How about Lux? I wanna monitor the Menards breeding anyway.

Dukermin: Off we go then! *and off to Lux they went* This will be easier when we have the lunchboxes installed.

Nalitie: Yeah. We should check on them quickly. Then we should go explore the other half of this insanely bright planet.

Dukermin: Okay, where are the lunchbox portal(s)?

Nalitie: Oh, uh... We haven't put them in yet. But I was thinking we could have... um... 4 of them? 2 at the poles, 2 where the meridian and equator meet? ANd then little ones here and there?

Dukermin: That works. So you said we should check on them though?

Nalitie: YAy. And yeah... I mean, we did kidnap them in their sleep and then we dropped them on the brightest planet in Erscoga...

Dukermin: True... Lead the way, you are the only one who ever knows where to go!

Nalitie: Um... Where did we dump them though? Eh... Let's go this way. *walks off in some direction*

Dukermin: We need to have communications. *follows*

Nalitie: Yeah... Oh! I see 'em! *runs to the Mr. B and Mr. T, who are exploring Menards and being confused with the Menards employees*

Dukermin: That was unnaturally easy. *approaches*

Nalitie: Yeah... THings tend to be like that, but I didn't know it'd carry over into our dimension... *stops short* What the heck are those? *points to some armor-clad, really bright people* Those are not Menards employees...

Dukermin: Hey, word is getting around that are dimension is here! We have others moving in?!

Nalitie: Yeah! Or they were already here... Do you think they're friendly? I mean, they look prepared for war, but they haven't killed Mr. B or Mr. T yet...

Dukermin: Well, let's HOPE they are friendly and introduce ourselves!

Nalitie: Okay! *skips over* Hi! I'm Nalitie! Resident Chotatocat who LOVES hugs! Unless they're string hugs.

Dukermin: And, I am Dukermin! Resident... um... cool person who loves... um stuff. Hello!

Thing/Person/Luminous Being: *looks at her* An ate hdn Lumoae. Weh oar yao?

Dukermin: Pardon?

Luminous Being: *consults with the others of its kind* Hmm... Ingles?

Dukermin: Um... si?

Luminous Being: *frowns* ... Ruw Eyaeh... or... Ingles.... er... Espanol?

Dukermin: Umm English

Luminous Being: Ah. We are the Lumoae. Who are you?

Dukermin: I'm Dukermin. We are humans.

Nalitie: And I'm Nalitie!

Lumoae person: *shakes head* We do not know the humans. I am Sage.

Dukermin: Nice to meet you, Sage!

Sage: And you have come to our world?

Dukermin: Actually, um, Your planet is kind of in our dimension, but...

Sage: Our planet has travelled again? It happens. It does not like to stay in one place... Until it gets caught in orbit.

Dukermin: Actually, it's caught in like six orbits, so you should be good!

Nalitie: *counting in her head* Termata, Bensel, Dunkel *snickers*, Coloria, Pluto, Aeuton... That other planet we never did anything with... It's 7 orbits, actually.

Dukermin: It's caught in seven orbits, so you should be good!

Sage: Ah. *frowns* You do not wish to fight us for control, do you?

Dukermin: NO! NO WAR!

Nalitie: Yeah, we have a lot of that coming our way... I don't think Sam will be happy that we escaped Ask Erik-ville.

Sage: ... Ask Erik... Ville? Who is this Erik?

Dukermin: It's a long story I wasn't really involved in, Nalitie knows more about it.

Nalitie: Um... Long story short, it's a dimension we escaped from... It was home of a... er... something called Ask Erik and didn't have any other name, so we just called it the Ask Erik Universe... Erik is... Well... A lot of things.

Sage: *looks confused, but doesn't ask any more*

Dukermin: Anyway, you guys are totally welcome to stay, and, hmm... lost a train of thought...

Nalitie: Did it crash? In a bunch of screaming from various yarn-based creatures?

*a sound of a crash and much screaming*

Dukermin: No, but now it did...

Nalitie: Oh.

Sage: ... Would you like to meet our queen?

Dukermin: *whispers to Nalitie* You know what this means? This government is already taken care of!

Nalitie: *whispers back* Cool. Less work for us... *to Sage* Sure! We'd love to meet her! Unless she's evil or something... Because no war...

Sage: Follow me. *walks off*

Dukermin: *walks off after Sage*

Nalitie: *follows them* Aw, man, Steven would love--OH CRAP. We forgot to get Steven! He's still missing, he never came home... I wonder... Since we stole a bunch of the Ask Erik universe, do you think he might be somewhere here in Erscoga? Or do we have to go back...?

Dukermin: It's very possible he came with...

Nalitie: True... I suspect Old McDonald. Something about his outfit...

Dukermin: We'll see how things go, and we can follow this up later...

Nalitie: Yeah... Woah... *points at the... er... kingdom where the Lumoae live* I think we picked the wrong side of the planet to drop Menards... Depending on how you look at it.

Dukermin: Yeah, we will let Menards worry about that... Wow...

Sage: *leads them into... um... places*

Nalitie: Purty... And eyeball killing. So bright.

Dukermin: *Squinting* I doubt it'll get any darker either...

Nalitie: Yeah, unless *snickers* Dunkel runs into it.

Dukermin: Dunkel...

Sage: *leads them into the castle* *to the guards* tele diih wu emam twshyy.

Guard: *nods and lets them in*

Nalitie: That language though...

Dukermin: Mhm... This place is pretty too...

Nalitie: Yeah... Like a giant chandelier... Hurts the old eyeballs, though... *dons sunglasses* Don't know why I didn't do that earlier.

Dukermin: I wish Id thought of that, and that i knew we were going to some super bright... castley place...

Nalitie: *hands her a pair too* I don't know why I have these either...

Dukermin: Im grateful you do though *puts them on*

Nalitie: Yeah.

Lumoae Lady: Ah! apeeol! N id twshyy Anora iu Licvitis.

Dukermin: English? Please?

Lady: Ah! Apologies, apologies! Not many people come here with English words. I am Milady Anora of Licvitis.

Dukermin: Thank you, and nice to meet you!

Nalitie: We're Dukermin and Nalitie... Your planet got trapped in the orbits of our dimension's planets, so we thought we'd say hi and try to be friends. You don't happen to also be called "Matchcurse" though, right?

Anora: *shakes head*

Nalitie: Good! Let's be friends! *sparkles*

Dukermin: Yes! We could be very useful to you both as political allies and friendy friends!

Anora: Ah! T'would be my pleasure! Our planet does not get many visitors these days. You said we were caught in your plantets' orbits, yes?

Dukermin: Yeah, seven of them!

Anora: Then perhaps we will stay this time. Our planet does not often stay in one place, it often moves a lot, you see?

Dukermin: Yeah, you guys are all over the place, this planet is. Also, did you notice the Menards?

Anora: *shakes head* I do not know of this place, Menards...

Sage: *whispers something in that other language*

Anora: Ah! Nevermind! Yes, my troops went to explore this strange building this morning.

Dukermin: Yes, well... Wait, you are the queen, correct?

Anora: Yes.

Dukermin: Well, since you are the leader of this planet, we might work out a trade agreement? We can supply you with new items in exchange for... what exactly?

Nalitie: Um... indoor lighting? Or the planet's light, since it's the closest thing to a sun that we have, besides Hope's computer system that I may have installed in my house.

Dukermin: Umm... Yes great! Indoor lighting distributed throuhghout the universe in exhcange for all kinds of crazy things! Sound good?

Nalitie: Oh, and maybe building rights, both for the lunchboxes and Menards.

Dukermin: Of course. Does this sound alright?

Anora: Ah, yes, yes! We are all friends here, yes?

Dukermin: Yes!

Guard: Twshyy Anora, oetnetenseods diih wu emam yao.

Anora: Ah, yes, yes, let them in.

Mr. T and Mr. B (who are both nearly blind now): *enter the room, blinded by the brightness*

Nalitie: Oh hey! It's them! *hands them each a pair of sunglasses* They could also provide you with music! You know, also as part of our trade.

DUkermin: Why do you have four pairs of sunglasses...?

Nalitie: I honestly don't know.... I think I stole them from Sam. I kinda was collaborating with the ex-Dead Eye Druids and the pyramid went bye bye.... And I was saving up to move out of town, you know, before we made Erscoga...

Dukermin: Um... alrightythen... But anyway, yes the music... But maybe along with all this you could provide supplies and/or aid during the upcoming dimension war?

Anora: Of course, of course! We shall all share. Aiding our neighbors in war is an old value.

Dukermin: Much gratitude...

Nalitie: Yay! Go new allies! I wonder if there's anyone on Dunkel too...?

Dukermin: Well...Maybe!

Nalitie: What do you say we grab some headlamps and head over there once we're done here?

Dukermin: Well, there is a Menards right around the corner. What now for here?

Nalitie: Hmm... Our agreement is settled, right?

Dukermin: Yes, I believe so.

Nalitie: And Mr. B and Mr. T seem... okay... ish...

Dukermin: For the most part, yeah.

Nalitie: *to Anora* Well, it has been a great pleasure to meet you, Milady, but I suppose we shall be going. Our dimension needs developing; it is quite new.

Anora: Ah, yes, go! These things do not build themselves, yes? We shall take care of your friends. *gestures to Mr. B and Mr. T, who are still nursing their sore eyeballs*

Dukermin: *curtsies* Then to the Headlamps we go!

Nalitie: Aye. *more goodbyeing* *waves while backing up towards the door*

Dukermin: And now... Headlamps. *off to Menards*

Nalitie: *yay Menards* Hm... What do we need in a headlamp... headlamps, headlamps, head--Oh! Found them! *runs to the headlamps of the Menards*

Dukermin: Well, we still havent figured out a currency... *backs toward exit with headlamp*

Nalitie: *sneaks headlamp into pocket* I'm not using the old currency here, and it'll be worth nothing, so... *throws all of her useless money at the confused, blinded Menards workers* *leaves*

Dukermin: *Somersaults away* AND NOW... pfft DUNKEL

Nalitie: *laughs* Oh,.... Dunkel... To Dunkel! *pulls out a miniature lunchbox portal* At least we have this... *into the lunchbox we go*

Dukermin:*follows* *dons headlamp*

Nalitie: *scrambles for headlamp* *puts it on and turns it on* Wow. Even with the light, it's so dark... Smothering, almost.

Dukermin: I read something about fish that evolved from being in the dark so long. Lets not stay long enough for that to happen...

Nalitie: Good idea.

Dukermin: Anyway, where to start? It all looks the same.

Nalitie: Yeah... I mean, where are we even? Let's go... this way? *grabs Dukermin's hand and starts walking in some direction*

Dukermin: *yelling* UH HELLO!!?? ANYONE HERE?

Nalitie: RESIDENTS OF DUNKEL, WE COME IN PEACE!

Whispers: *um... whispering*

Dukermin: Oh my gosh I hear something HELLO? SHOW YOURSELF!

Nalitie: Do you think they ca--*runs into something* Ow. *starts feeling it with her hands* It feels like... a... what is this?

Dukermin: *Feels* Well uh. Hello, whatever you are.

Nalitie: *continues feeling it* Hm... Actually... I think... I think it's just a wall. And where there are walls.... there might be buildings. *goes along the wall*

Dukermin: *does the same* But I heard something...

Nalitie: *feeling* Hm... I dunn--Hey look, it feels like a door! *fiddles with what she thinks is a doorknob*

Dukermin: Is it locked because ahem *magic key of everything opens for it* pretty neat key here.

Nalitie: Hm... Yeah, it's locked.

Dukermin: *opens door*

Voice: *screams*

Nalitie: Uhhhh sorry... M... person?

Dukermin: *screaming* *stops* Hi, and who are you?

Voice: Eyen! Uhwa reya polo?!

Dukermin: English? Please?

Nalitie: No wait I know this language! I don't remember where I heard it but... um... lemme think... Ewah reya Nalitie yon Dukermin! Ewah omec ien lopes! *to Dukermin* They just asked who we were. I told them, "We are Nalitie and Dukermin! We come in peace!".... I think.

Dukermin: Oh okay, *to personcreaturething* What she said.

Nalitie: *thinking* On polo epeck English?

Voice: ... English? Not good, but understand some.

Dukermin: What is your name?

Voice: I am called Asra. You are not from this place?

Dukermin: No. We are from Termata, pretty much.

Nalitie: Originally from the Ask Erik Universe... So... Originally from... Earth? A warped version of Earth?

Voice: I have not heard of this Earth.

Dukermin: That's alright. Are you all alone here?

Voice: No. But my chile is in town.

Nalitie: Chile...? You mean child... right?

Voice: Yes, child, yes. My English is not practiced.

Dukermin: Can you come out of hiding and into our headlamp light?

Voice: I can not get closer. I would be on you.

Nalitie: So... She's a shadow? Or do our headlamps have no effect here?

Dukermin: Okay... so how many of you are there?

Voice: Obscurité is small town. Only a hundred people. But the city is in the West.

Dukermin: *to Nalitie* So these are the Dunkelians.

Nalitie: Yeah, and I suspect these... er... people...? Yeah, let's go with that, people, are not the only ones here. We need to come back someday with a way to see them, because light clearly isn't working. We need.... DunkelVision. And a copyright on that.

Dukermin: Well, I guess for now... Should we bother going west until we can see with the... DunkelVision...?

Nalitie: Well, I'd rather not acquire DunkelVision in the way you described earlier, and I'd need to advise with the others and such for help... So why don't we go explore somewhere less... dark first? I mean, Steven is still in peril somewhere...

Dukermin: True. To Bensel then?

Nalitie: Yeah! And we can check on Fabrezia while we're there too.

Dukermin: *coughs* GREAT, FABREZIA IS ... GREAT. Shall we then?

Nalitie: Yep! *to Voice* Sorry for barging into your home, but we can't see anything so... er... *fumbles around for glow-in-the-dark lunchbox portal* To Bensel!

Dukermin: *And off to Bensel in the magic lunchbox they went*

Nalitie: *squinting in the beautful... er... Lux-light...? Because there is no actual sun?* UGH MY EYEBALLS.

Dukermin: *Squinty* Okay and Steven is supposed to be...?

Nalitie: *dons sunglasses once more* *hands a pair to Dukermin* Well, last we saw him, he had gone out for milk, but he never came back. I suspect Old McDonald, though.

Dukermin: Hmm. Where did we put his farm?

Nalitie: Er.... Somewhere here on Bensel? We weren't really specific when it came to that part.

Dukermin: Fantastic. Should we ask around? Well... Hmm...

Nalitie: Wait... *squints into the distance* I see some farm up there. We could ask them...

Dukermin: It would be a fantastic coincidence if it was exactly what we were looking for. *skips away to the farm*

Nalitie: *follows* This farm... This farm feels familiar. But not... Old McDonald familiar...

Dukermin: Is it that other farm? What was it again...?

Nalitie: Farmer Joe's? No, I think this is the one I gave to uh.... Wait, no, I never gave any farms to anyone, what am I talking about?

Dukermin: Well I am just as confused as you are. *knocks on farm house door* Hello?

Lady person who looks slightly like Dukermin: Yes?

Dukermin: *blinks* Hmm... You seem familiar.

Nalitie: Oh! I know whose farm this is!

Genderless Kid: *peeks out from behind NotDukermin's legs*

Dukermin: Hello child.

Nalitie: *holds out hand* Hello Isole! It's Nalitie. *points at Dukermin* And this is Dukermin. Your other other-dimensional self.

Dukermin: Okaay *shakes hands with Isole*

Isole: Ah, yeah, I remember you now.

Nalitie: *kneels down to be the same height as the kid* And you must be Riley! I'm Nalitie. We haven't met, but I know your mother because I made you this farm.

Dukermin: Okay, I get it now. By the way, would either of you happen to know how to get to Old McDonald's Farm?

Isole: McDonald? Yeah, yeah, he lives down the road from here. 3 farms down.

Dukermin: Thank you... Nice to meet you!

Isole: You too! Nalitie told me a lot about you. Very vague things, but a lot.

Nalitie: I tend to do that.

Dukermin: Great. Well, shall we go and retrieve Steven then?

Nalitie: Yeah. *starts walking back towards the road while waving goodbye*

Dukermin: *at farm, knocks on door*

Old McDonald: *peeks out of crack like a paranoid nutjob* Can I help you?

Dukermin: We are looking for someone, and we think you know where he is! *switches on headlamp like it's an interrogation light*

Nalitie: *starts going around and sniffing like she's a dog, even though she isn't and it really isn't helping* *sneezes* Be careful, eh? He likes his guns. Got caught in the middle of a gunfight between him and Sam once. Wasn't pretty.

Dukermin: TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT... *suspenseful silence* STEVEN!!!

Old McDonald: *slowly squints* What do ya want to know?

Dukermin: Seriously, man? How much do you know about him? And where is he?

Old McDonald: Hm... Steven, you say? *raises hand* about yea tall, constantly rambling on about his wife?

Dukermin: Actually I don't really know. Sound like him, Nalitie?

Nalitie: *still sneezing like crazy* *nods* SO MUCH DUST IN MY NOSE WHY

Dukermin: *hands her a handkerchief*

Nalitie: Thanks *uses handkerchief* Yeah, that sounds like him.

Old McDonald: *shrugs* Haven't seen 'im.

Nalitie: Hm... Alright, McDonald, we're coming in. We have a search warrant. And guns much better than yours.

Old McDonald: *grunts, but doesn't resist*

Nalitie: *whispers to Dukermin* HAHA IT WORKED. We're in!

Dukermin: *enters house* *to Nalitie* Where do we start looking?

Nalitie: *listens, trying to pretend to be a dog* I don't hear or smell anything... Let's try the basement?

Dukermin: Obvious place to look.*searching for staircase*

Nalitie: *smashes a hole in the floor and jumps through* That works too! Right? Let's forget the not so legal part.

Dukermin: *dive bombs into hole*

Nalitie: *pulls out a flashlight and turns on her headlamp* STEVEN! ARE YOU HERE!

Muffled Noises: *coming from above them*

Dukermin: Oh. Well... Oops...

Nalitie: Um... We'll send an anonymous check later... And by anonymous, I mean under your name. *goes back upstairs*

Dukermin: Thanks a lot for that... *up the staircase*

Nalitie: Tee hee. *searches for the floor hole to try and find Steven's location* STEEEVVVEEEENNN. WHERE ART THOU?

Dukermin: *screaming* HELLOOOO

Noises: *coming from the bedroom*

Nalitie: *goes to the door* It's locked from the inside.

Dukermin: Hey... *to door* Would you mind unlocking... WAIT A SECOND. *takes out key of everything opens for it* *unlocks door*

Nalitie: *puts away sledgehammer* Oh yeah. *runs in*

Steven: *sitting at a little table, talking to an old picture of Christine*

Nalitie: Oh... *whispers to Dukermin* I think he's lost it.

Dukermin: YO STEVEN!

Steven: *looks up* Ah! Dukermin, Nalitie! So good to see you. Care to join Christine and I for some of this lovely tea that Ben provided us? He says he got it from the 5th dimension. It's a bit cold...

Dukermin: UM YEAH *searches for tea*

Nalitie: Um.. SUre? *phone rings* Oh wait hold on. *answers it*

Steven: *pulls up a box for Dukermin to sit at* *grabs a cup of cold golden flower tea from the 5th dimension* *sets it in front of her*

Dukermin: *sits at...box* *drinks tea* Wow this is good...

Nalitie: *covers phone with hand* Hey, Dukermin? I'd finish up that tea if I were you. THe Voltas and Tartines want us to kidnap some people from their dimension... Said they were good friends. Also, Vella wants us to ask their friends about pie. She said that she still hasn't gotten that recipe.

Dukermin: Okay *chugs tea*

Nalitie: Great! We'll drop of Steven at my house... *drags him out of the room*

Steven: *grabs the rest of the tea and the picture of Christine, which is stained with more tea (probably)*

Nalitie: To Termata! *grabs a lunchbox*

Dukermin: *into the lunchbox and to Termata*

Nalitie: *shoves Steven into her house*

Christine and Steven: *the all of the lovey dovey stuff and tears and emotions*

Nalitie: We should go. To the Fifth Dimension! Er... We need a portal. But, like... An Intra-Dimensional one, not a lunchbox.

Dukermin: Green Circle Labs.That's here, isn't it?

Nalitie: Oh yeah, just down the street. *runs to the labs*

Dukermin: I love how everything is conveniently always in walking distance.

Nalitie: Yeah, again, I didn't think that would carry over from the Ask Erik universe but... Eh.

Dukermin: Doesn't matter. We'll figure it out. *arrives at building*

Nalitie: *enters said building*

Front Desk attendant: Hello! Can I take your names?

Dukermin: Dukermin, and Nalitie.

Front Desk Attendant; *very slowly checking them in*

Nalitie: *getting impatient* This happens EVERY TIME.

Attendant: *finally finds the names in the intra-dimensional directory* *commences background checks*

Nalitie: UGH.

Dukermin: *all the foot taps* SCREW THIS *runs past and around* WE ARE TRUSTWORTHY

Attendant: *had actually finished* ... *gives Nalitie the two id approval things*

Nalitie: DUKERMIN WAIT! *slaps ID badge onto her shirt* There. TO THE PORTAL! *starts running to the spiral escalator*

Dukermin: *follows*

Nalitie: *leads her into the portal room* *fiddles with the portal a bit* Let's see... .Oh... You don't happen to know the coordinates of, say, the world of wherever Undertale is?

Dukeremin: Ummm... The only coordinates I know are to the sea of monsters and that isn't even relevant.

Nalitie: Great.. Oh! Nevermind! Apparently they visit there a lot. It's bookmarked. *presses bookmark*

Dukermin: How convenient. Now what, do we jump in...

Nalitie: Yeah. *turns on the portal* Yep! And don't forget to flip! *jumps in*

Dukermin: *jumps in* *all the swiping intra-dimensional atoms*

Nalitie: *flipity* YAY. It's beautiful.

Dukermin: *flips* Where do we get off... Also, when are we getting off at...?

Nalitie: Um... Either the Ruins or Snowdin. I think. But knowing our luck, we'll probably just end up in Hotland.

Dukermin: Great. Hopefully ruins, then we can be chronological!

Nalitie: *points up ahead* Hey look! There it is! THe drop point! *floats towards it*

Dukermin: Are we going to fall a really long ways...?

Nalitie: Probably.... Not? *goes through drop point*

Dukermin: *enters a bit after Nalitie*

Nalitie: *sitting on the ground, ACTUALLY in the Ruins* Hey look! We actually went where we wanted to go!

Dukermin: * falling out of the sky* *dropped significantly higher than Nalitie* Ow. Yay!

Nalitie: YAY.

Flowey: *approaches* Howdy! My name is Flowey! Flowey the Flower!

Nalitie: *as if she's at some seminar* Hi, Flowey.

Dukermin: Okay go on... friendship pellets and whatnot.

Flowey: *smiling* wh-what?

Nalitie: *creepy smile, trying to imitate Sam* We know things. Like the fact that Christine stalks Sam in her sleep... Oh wait, wrong thing. Continue.

Flowey: Well... I'll skip through some of this then *looks through index cards, throwing some out as he goes* Hmm, we will just *throws friendliness pellets their way*

Nalitie: *weird action-movie slo-mo stuff* *manages to get hit by ALL of them* OW.

Dukermin: Nice going. *plucks Flowey out of ground*

Nalitie: *holds out Lunchbox with a portal to Riewa* He can be the dictator of Riewa.

Flowey: Pardon? *is tossed into lunchbox*

Nalitie: Alright, cool. I mean, the others told us specifically not to take him, but whatever. Let's go find... *pulls out her own stack of index cards* Toriel! *runs off, but runs into wall and hurts herself further* OW.

Dukermin: We will have to find you a band-aid. *off into the ruins they go*

Nalitie: Yeah... *run walks more carefully* Now, uh... This way? *keeps walking*

Dukermin: Well, usually Toriel saved the main character... from Flowey... but now what?

Nalitie: Well... I mean, I did get hit, but we also stole him before she would have intervened.

Dukermin: Hmm... *punches Nalitie* Maybe she will show up now.

Nalitie: OW. *deading*

Toriel: *walks in, carrying a first aid kit* *fixes up Nalitie*

Dukermin: A little unorthodox (undertalewise) But okay.

Nalitie: Pfft, this is fiction and we are in the--ERRRRRR I'd rather not break that wall anymore... Er........ HI.

Toriel: Hello my child...ren.

Nalitie: Hi. I'm Nalitie and this is Dukermin.

Toriel: My name is-

Dukermin: Toriel... we know.

Nalitie: The Dimensional Guardians sent us. Vella wants your pie recipe still. And also we're going to kidnap you and--oh wait...

Toriel: Ah... alright then. *utterly confused* Well, I can bring you to my house and send the recipe with you and then... *continues to be confused*

Nalitie: Um... YEaaah. Let's just start with that... Heh... IGnore that other part. *to Dukermin* Are we gonna put her house on Pluto too? It seems mean to strand her there with no shelter.

Dukermin: I guess we should, so I guess we'll have to ground sever again... We'll worry about that when it comes to that time.

Nalitie: YEaaaahhh. We'll wait for it to come back to us.

Toriel: Er, alright. If you would follow me *heads off to her house*

Nalitie: Okay! *skips along behind her*

Toriel: Now, be careful, my children, for the ruins are filled with-

Nalitie: Puzzles! Haha, this is fun.

Dukermin: *snickers* It's fun to feel omni...scient? or is it... WHATEVER...!

Nalitie: Let's just go with that.

Toriel: *leads them around the Ruins, solving puzzles as she goes* *arrives at home* Now let me go grab that recipe... I would assume you want the recipe for Butterscotch-cinnamon pie?

Nalitie: Yeah. Vella says it's really good... And she's a baker, soooo.... *whispers to Dukermin* We should ground-sever while she's distracted.

Dukermin: *whispering* Yeah... It will be a little less traumatizing and stuff if she doesn't notice.

Nalitie: Well, I wouldn't say that... I mean, the Voltas and Tartines were pretty... *ahem* I think Sam isn't the only one that wants to kill me now. But we'll deal with that later.

Dukermin: Well, we better hurry, hand me the ground-severer.

Nalitie: *pulls one out of... um.... MAGICNESS* *hands it to her* *takes out her own*

Dukermin: *all of the crappy ground-severing*

Nalitie: *making sure Toriel isn't coming back yet* *continues ground severing, trying to be careful but just being really really slow about it*

Dukermin: Hurry up! I mean, I am not doing really well, so it doesn't matter how well you do!

Nalitie: *ground severing at a faster pace* SHOOT I THINK I HEAR HER INSIDE. THAT'S NEVER A GOOD THING.

Dukermin: * frenetic ground severing* *finishes circle* *throws tool at Nalitie*

Nalitie: *puts away tool* *struggles to open the Erscoga hole*

Toriel: *walks out holding paper* Well... here you go. *pretends not to notice oddities*

Nalitie: *quickly closes Erscoga hole and shoves ground severing tools aside* *takes the recipe and puts it in her pocket* Uhhh thanks! *ahem* Ooh! Hey, I think I hear... unm... y-your.... um... FIRE. Your fire is... um... ringing? No wait, that's not... I mean...... It's.... Um.... Firing? Your... P-phone is... Um... Fi.. er... DUKERMIN HELP ME.

Dukermin: Toriel, I know how Vella wanted the butterscotch pie recipe, but I would love if you would... hmm... go back inside and write me up a recipe for one of your AMAZING snail... casseroles?

Toriel: I would love to! No one asks me for my snail recipes anymore! *goes back inside*

Nalitie: *sigh of relief* Thanks. You know I never know what I'm saying. *reopens Erscoga hole*

Dukermin: *pushes house (and Toriel) into hole* Wait, where do we leave the ruins from now?

Nalitie: Umm... *pulls out index cards and drops them EVERYWHERE* Er...

Dukermin: OH HEY WE CAN... *summons Dog* SHADOW TRAVEL!!!

*applause for the dog*

Dog: *sits down*

Dukermin: And to shadow travel we... um... I just... I don't know.

Nalitie: Could we just break more holes into things?

Dukermin: Yeah let's do that *sends dog to Erscoga* I'll figure out how to do that some other time.

Nalitie: Yeah. *goes and breaks holes in the Ruins, trying to find an exit* *finds one* *looks around at the sheer destruction* Uh... Oops! We-we can just... *hull patches everything but the exit* There.

Dukermin: Great. And, we SHOULD find Sans out here! *enters Snowdin*

Nalitie: *picks up her index cards and shuffles through them, walking after Dukermin* Yeah, we need him (and his brother).

Dukermin: And their house.

Nalitie: Yeah. Should we just bring their whole property as well?

Dukermin: Pretty much. Anyway... I guess we just keep walking until we hear shuffling noises. *walking walking walking*

Nalitie: Yep. Oh yeah, that's right, we're humans too, duhhhh oh dear... Asgore and Undyne are on this "To Kidnap" list... And pretty much everyone who'd probably want to kill us... I don't know why... *walking with Dukermin*

*shuffling noises*

Dukermin: *turns around* SANS!

Sans: Oh hi! I guess I expected more drama here.

Nalitie: Nah.... We left the drama with Erik. Er...

Sans: Well...

Papyrus: *walking this way*

Sans: QUICK! BEHIND THIS CONVENIENTLY SHAPED LAMP!

Nalitie: ... But there's two of us. And that lamp is too short. Even for me.

Papyrus: Who are you? Wait... are you...

Nalitie: Me? *dons a cloak* I'm Mysterious Shadow Person. I'm in league with the Wicked Witch. And this is my partner in crime, Off-Brand Phantom of the Dukermin.

Dukermin: *dons trenchcoat with cape* Yes. And we would like to recruit you two to fill in a very prestigious post.

Papyrus: Ooh! Are you here to finally recruit me to the Royal Guard?

Dukermin: We are even higher than the Royal Guard, We are the Royal Royal Guard. And we admire your pluckiness.

Nalitie: Yeah. Oh, and as a little disclaimer, we are not in any way, shape, or form aligned with King Asgore. We're in league with the Queen of the Dimensions, Miss... Elma.

Sans: What about me? I'm not really interested in the Royal Royal Guard.

Nalitie: You can... um... We can lock you in a glass box with Callie and you can be the Royal Royal Comedian of Inspiration.

Dukermin: Royal ROYAL Comedian, you will be very famous.

Sans: Okay I'm in.

Dukermin: If you would like to continue with us... *opens wormhole to Pluto* Just hop right into this hole.

Nalitie: Oh, and tell us if Toriel is okay. Dukermin still wants her Snail Casserole recipe.

Dukermin: ...Yeah...yum. Okay! In you go!

Papyrus: This is so exciting!!! *into the wormhole without a single doubt*

Sans: *ditto*

Nalitie: Let's go get their house and shed before they change their minds. *runs off through the forest*

Dukermin: Yeah, and then we can bring some monster kids. I know how to do that!

Nalitie: *magical timeskippyness to the House of Sans and Papyrus*

Dukermin: And now!!! *all the ground severing that is decent because there is no hurry*

Nalitie: *carefully ground severing* Look! We got a decent rectangle! Sort of... *looks at their "rectangle" which is actually a trapezoid*

Dukermin: Best work we have ever done!

Nalitie: Agreed. *opens the Erscgoa hole* Let us not drop it on their heads.

Dukermin: I'll try *pushes house in* Hopefully that was okay.

Nalitie: *shrugs* *pulls out her index cards again* *remembers* *puts them away* You wanted to kidnap some Monster Children?

Dukermin: I think enough of them would make a good infantry if the need were to arise. And they are also my favorite.

Nalitie: Great! Let's uh... *grabs all the fancy kidnapping materials*

Dukermin: Oh we don't need that. *opens wormhole*

Nalitie: Darn. *puts it away*

Dukermin: *yells* WHO WANTS TO MEET UNDYNE

All the monster kids: *scream*

Dukermin: STEP RIGHT UP TO THIS HERE WORMHOLE!

Nalitie: It's completely free of charge! *whispers to Dukermin* And this is a promise we can actually keep!

Monster kids: *into the wormhole, screaming*

Dukermin: So easy.

Nalitie: I suppose now we should probably get Undyne soon before they get too antsy.

Dukermin: Well... then off we go!

Nalitie: *more magical timeskippyness* I wonder how hard this will be. We're practically Royal Guard magnets. Which means Undyne.

Dukermin: I think we should avoid confrontation. Get out your kidnapping stuff Nalitie!

Nalitie: We could just see if she's home and then take her whole house... We may need disguises instead. *pulls out all of the masks and the cloaks and some more stuff she stole from Sam/Raoul/maybe Erik and Log_Lady...?*

Dukermin: *dons... all the costumes*

Nalitie: *pulls on a pair of Raoul's pants, puts on a mask, dons a cloak, and puts on a pair of sunglasses she stole from either Raoul or Sam* To Undyne's house! We could ask if she can teach us/you to cook... ANd then I'll ground sever while you distract?

Dukermin: And we can't take the normal way, because she finds us... right?

Nalitie: Yeah... Unless we've been totally unsuspecting? Eh. *opens a small lunchbox portal and enters in the location* We can do this instead.

Dukermin: I was going to say take the backroads, but this works...! *into the lunchbox*

Nalitie: *follows*

Dukermin: *at Undyne's house* So do we just... knock on the door?

Nalitie: Yeah. You do that, I'll go around back and start severing. *sneaks back there*

Dukermin: *knocks o nn the door* Hello?

Undyne: *answers* Hello...?

Dukermin: I'm here about the cooking lessons? *holds up flyer received from who-knows-where*

Undyne: Where did you... *all the suspiciousness*

Nalitie: *stops ground severing as she rounds the corner* *goes back and hides until they go away*

Dukermin: *pushes past Undyne inside* Nice house!

Undyne: *closes door, goes inside*

Nalitie: *continues ground-severing*

Dukermin: *avoids Undyne, stalling*

Undyne: *trying to find Dukermin*

Dukermin: *rounds back, looks out window* You done?

Nalitie: *finishes her hasty circle* *opening Erscoga Hole* Yeah, sneak out here while she's still inside!

Dukermin: *crawls through window* *pushes house in*

Nalitie: Let us hope those children don't get too wild. Now who...?

Dukermin: *pulls out "To Kidnap" list* We have Asgore, Asriel, Alphys, and Mettaton left. So, Mettaton I believe.

Nalitie: Yay! Should we bring Napstablook with us too? I mean... *cough*.

Dukermin: Sure, why not!

Nalitie: To Hotland! *opens more portals*

Dukermin: *summons portal from Iceland* Now it'll blow a cold breeze at me!

Nalitie: But... Iceland... Isn't Greenland the cold one?

Dukermin: Iceland is cold too, and Iceland is awesomer than Greenland.

Nalitie: Hm. Okay. ANYWAY... (assuming we are now in Hotland) *runs towards the lab and slams into the wall, missing the door by a good five feet* OW. AGAIN.

Dukermin: *walks into building* *snickers*

Nalitie: *stumbles in after her*

Dukermin: Okay... and where do we encounter Alphys? And what should we take? Should we take the lab?

Nalitie: Probably? Hey wait, it's not dark in here... And I don't see our faces being monitored.

Alphys: *walking out*

Nalitie: *runs into her* OW WHY DO I KEEP--HI. I'm Nalitie. This is my friend Dukermin.

Alphys: *staring at them, stuttering and stammering a bit*

Nalitie: I'm surprised. You are significantly less.. Oh wait... *takes off disguise* Hi. I'm Nalitie.

Dukermin: *takes off costume* Dukermin.

Alphys: Y-y... H-human...

Nalitie: *sparkles* Surprise!

Dukermin: Yup! How would you like to go on a vacation!?

Alphys: B-but... I... You... You're HUMAN! Oh my God, I--I .... They...

Nalitie: I'm really surprised nobody has seen us coming aside from Sans.

Dukermin: *going off on own train of thought* BEAUTIFUL view... all expenses paid...

Nalitie: Um... Yeah! ANd all the anime you could watch!

Alphys: ... B-but I... I need to...

Nalitie: Oh, come now, Dr. Alphys! Who cares about responsibility? You can continue your work there, because... Um.... Because.... REASONS!

Dukermin:*still thinking* Great cultural experiences... free wifi...

Nalitie: Yes, yes... And sleeping and swimming too! Probably. And... *leans in real close* Undyne is there too.

Dukermin: *back* Mmhm *eyebrows*

Alphys: *can't help but blush a little* U-Undyne?

Nalitie: Yep! Now come on! *opens Erscoga hole* Just a wormhole away. And we'll bring your lab with you, so no worries! *to Dukermin* *whispers* Push her. She'll be fine probably.

Dukermin: *grins* *pushes Alphys into wormhole*

Nalitie: *closes it quickly* Tee hee. Now... Mettaton....

Dukermin: ...should be coming any second now.

Nalitie: Yeah... Let's uh... *turns off the lights in preparation* *readies buckets of confetti*

Mettaton: *strolls in, drinking coffee (in some...way)*

Nalitie: That... That was so... Undramatic. I had confetti and string and spotlights all prepared and everything. Come on, Mettaton.

Mettaton: *suddenly notices* Sorry... I was on break... *pauses*

Nalitie: *standing there awkwardly* *offers him a bucket of confetti* Um... We can go outside... And then come back in?

Mettaton: That would be great. *to self* I swore I would NEVER be caught off guard!

Nalitie: Great um... *drags Dukermin outside* *counts to ten* After you, Dukermin.

Dukermin: *enters lab*

Nalitie: *skips along after her, managing to not run into things*

Mettaton: OHHH YES * lights camera action stuff* HELLO BEAUTIES!!! AND WELCOME TO OUR FIRST EVER... QUIZ SHOW! The rules are simple... get the answer right... OR DIE! *music playing*

Dukermin: Woah woah woah no. No death. We aren't here to perform...

Nalitie: YEah! I mean, we need to be alive for the war and all because... Otherwise... AW WHO CARES!

Dukermin: Yes... We are ... um... kind of like a Talent Agency! Yes, and do we have an offer for you!!

Nalitie: Yeah! *whispers to dukermin* Especially since we already discarded Alphys through the wormhole and I forgot to memor-- *remembers Mettaton* I mean... LETS JUST GO WITH THAT. Yeah.

Mettaton: Tell me more about this special offer! *newscaster voice*

Dukermin: We would like to kickstart your show! Your new show... *dramatic pause* ON THE SURFACE!

Nalitie: Yeah! Well, for the purpose of honesty, A surface... And, uh... we'll see if Mr. B still has any of those... uh... lights from uh... a color guard! Because.... Otherwise... we have Lux! Yeah! You can have as many lioghts from Lux as you want! You can never have too many lights!

Dukermin: New lights! New settings! Fresh ideas! And a wide fan base... All ready to meet you!

Nalitie: Yeah! Plus also, have you ever wanted to perform for, say.... HUMANS? Because we have lots of those and I'm sure Christine and Steven will enjoy your show.

Mettaton: That sounds FANTASTIC, darlings! What do I have to do to recieve this... SPECIAL OFFER?

Nalitie: All you need to do is... *looks to Dukermin for approval of her unspoken idea*

Dukermin: *nods like it's time... soap opera style*

Nalitie: All YOU need to do, aside from putting on the show... is to turn around.

DUkermin: *fangirl screams* YES

Nalitie: *looks at her funny because those screams rarely come from her mouth*

Mettaton: But of course, darlings. *turns around*

Nalitie: *flips his switch while giggling like a maniac* *realizes she's turned into Sam and stops*

Mettaton: *All the glorious transforming, lights and sparkles and all of the fancy glorious transforming stuff* Oh my... If you flipped my switch, that can only mean one thing... You're DESPERATE for the premiere of my new body!

Nalitie: ... Maybe...?

Dukermin: Now... are you ready to start your BRAND NEW SHOW?

Mettaton: YES! I'm sorry to leave my loyal fans... but a new chapter has been written for me!!

Nalitie: Great! And don't worry. We'll be broadcasting the show to them too! And, as an added bonus for flipping your switch like that, I'll also give you full, unrestricted access to my virtual reality room, where ALL of the drama happens!

Ratings: *go up*

Dukermin: So... *opens void* If you are ready, step right through!

Mettaton: Of COURSE! *waving* *steps through*

Lights and stuff: *follow through*

Nalitie: ... Okay?

Dukermin: The drama is a part of him.

Nalitie: Huh. Well, shall we uproot this lab and go back for Napstablook? *takes out ground severers* *hands one to Dukermin*

Dukermin: Yes! *outside, all the ground severing... again*

Nalitie: *also the ground severing... CAREFULLY*

Dukermin: *finishes out, opens void*

Nalitie: *pushes it through*

DUkermin: SO... three more to go... and then we need to pick up a Best Western or something for the Monster Kids.

Nalitie: Yep! We can steal one from the Ask Erik universe. They won't mind.

Dukermin: *and off to Napstablook they went*

Nalitie: Why don't you see if they are home? Cause if we can avoid freakouts and long explanations, that would be GREAT.

Dukermin: *sneaks up on house window and checks* Yeah.

Nalitie: GREAT. *throws another ground severer at Dukermin although she never got rid of the other one*

Dukermin: *all of the QUIET ground severing*

Nalitie: *follows* *whispers* This is going very well... so much better than the others...

Dukermin: *whispers back * very true. *finishes off*

Nalitie: *opens the Erscoga hole and brings it to the house, rather than pushing the house*

Dukermin: WOw why didn't we think of that...?

Nalitie: Yeah... It would have led to less destruction down on pluto.... OH WELL! Let's go find... *takes out index cards* ASGORE. Wait... why would they have wanted us to...? Because they're also human and he would have... Wait... Dukermin....? Did you write extra names on my cards? Because only, like, three or four of these are in their handwriting... And by them I mean the Volta and Tartine families.

Dukermin:...Well... I mean... Um... So... They are... Well... They are all useful to us so IS IT SUCH A BAD THING?

Nalitie: .... Well... WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUt. ANd now that you mention it, it's probably good to get them away from SAM. I'm going to start to refer to her in caps now.

Dukermin: That's nice. Anyway, what's the game plan for Asgore? Costumes?

Nalitie: *takes out the costumes* Yep! And we'll... uh....... Bribe him with couple's therapy?

Dukermin: He WILL go for that, right?

Nalitie: ... Yeah! Sure... let's just start with that and think later.

Dukermin: *digging through costume box* *magically finds homestuck horns* YES!

Nalitie: *dons a mask and a cloak AND sunglasses... and other clothing she stole from Sam and Raoul* Let's go I'm getting warm.

DUkermin: *directs Iceland hole to Nalitie* Kay off we go!

Nalitie: *pulls out portal to just outside of the throne room* *jumps through*

Dukermin: *follows*

Nalitie: Let's do this. *enters*

Asgore: *looks up* Oh hello... Can I help you?

Nalitie: Yes, in fact! We're here to make you an offer!

Asgore: Okay... Can you tell me more about it before I agree to anything?

Nalitie: Of course! Well, you MUST remember you ex wife, Toriel, correct?

Asgore: Yes.

Nalitie: Well, if you had the chance to reconcile with her, would you take it?

Asgore: ... Yes.

Nalitie: Well, my friend here and I are here to invite you to COUPLE'S THERAPY!

Asgore: Couple's Therapy? And Toriel will be there?

Nalitie: Yep! And also... WELL NEVERMIND I FORGOT... Probably.

Dukermin: Well... yes... *snickers* King Fluffybuns...

Asgore: So people still refer to me in that name... What do I need to do?

Nalitie: UMMM... Just... Um.... *quietly* Jump through a wormhole and leave the Underground behind for a few... um... A while...?

Asgore: Pardon...!?

DUkermin: It's OKAY! They will be left in good hands while you are gone!

Nalitie: Yep! We have it ALL planned out!

Asgore: And you HAVE talked to Toriel about all this?

Nalitie: ... Sure! *laughs nervously inside her head*

Asgore: Well... you seem very trustworthy...

Nalitie: Great! Let's shake on it! *goes to do so, but trips and manages to lose ALL of her disguise pieces* OW WHY.

Asgore: Wait... you... You are human?

Dukermin: NO NO NOT AT ALL WOW THATS A GREAT HUMAN COSTUME NALITIE!! Um...

Nalitie: *trying to contain the lie, but is about to probably explode or something... literally*

Asgore: And are you human too? *Looking at Dukermin*

Dukermin: NO *shrinks away*

Nalitie: *whispers to Dukermin* I assume neither of us is strong enough to push him through the wormhole...

Dukermin: *to nalitie* and we really can't fight him... Well... *battle planning*

Nalitie: I... Um... sorta left all of my weapons at home. All I have are marshmallows...

Dukermin: *discreetly opens wormhole behind Asgore* THROWS THE MARSHMALLOWS MAYBE HE'LL FALL IN *quiet yelling*

Nalitie: ... You know quiet yelling is pretty much just regular speaking... right? Volumewise, at least...

DUkermin: SHOOT

Asgore: *preparing to fight* I'm sorry.

Nalitie: *idea* *whispers to Dukermin* Don't do anything lethal. I mean, there's two of us and he probably only needs one soul, and I do fancy things after I die so maybe if I die in a convincing way then we can just go back and ground sever but, like, not now because reasons. He'd probably jsut follow us anyway.

DUkermin: Wait so you are going to die... And ...

Nalitie: And then you run away and I'll meet you outside. um...

Dukermin: Okay. As long as I don't have to die.

Asgore: *attempts to destroy mercy button* Wait...

Nalitie: *watches confusedly because he basically just stabbed the floor*

Dukermin: *whispers to Nalitie* Are you going to die after one fake/real hit?*

Nalitie: Well I want to be sorta convincing... *remembers something to aid her idea* *calls Christine about something*

Dukermin: okay... so I've gotta dodge a bunch.

Nalitie: Yeah. *faces Asgore and reaches a hand in her pocket*

Asgore: *All the fire throwing*

Nalitie: *misses... um... SOME of them*

Dukermin: *had dived behind Nalitie. caused her to take real damage*

Nalitie: *produces off-brand Lucky Charms hearts and throws them at Asgore (like that's actually gonna do anything)*

Asgore: *is hit by marshmallows* *blinks* *more fire throwing*

Nalitie: *actually manages to miss most of it*

Dukermin: *running in circles*

Nalitie: *grabs lunchbox portal and produces a lightsaber from it* *extends it*

Dukermin: GO GET 'EM

Nalitie: *tries to strike Asgore with it, but manages to miss completely*

Asgore: *doesn't exactly know what the HP is...* *reluctantly throws single fireball*

Nalitie: *deflects it with her lightsaber* I'm not deading yet, you know. I'm only, like, half dead.

Asgore: Thanks for telling me. *throws more to finish turn*

Nalitie: *deflects some, but is hit by most* *topples over, deading* OW. *looks up at Dukermin* Dukermin, my platonic love... go. He only needs one of our souls. Besides, Erscoga needs at least one leader.

Dukermin: *hisses* don't die for real! *edges out*

Nalitie: *lying there, mostly dead* *time passes* *weakly* This... *cough* this is taking longer than I thought it would... Could you, like, stab me or something...?

Dukermin: *starts the ground severing job*

Asgore: *takes trident* I'm sorry... *all the tension and a stab*

Nalitie: *whispers* Well at least this time I didn't die because of Christine... *dies*

Nalitie's body: *disintegrates*

Nalitie's soul: *um... surfaces*

Dukermin: * back round* I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS *continues ground severing* *finishes* *pushes house into wormhole* *Remembers Nalitie* *Pulls house back out*

Asgore: *takes soul*

Hands: *take it back*

Nalitie (Force Ghost editiion): Ach! Just because I'm dead doesn't mean you can take my soul! *reabsorbs it*

Dukermin: ...*whispers* whaaat is happening...

Nalitie: And now we're sort of at a stalemate... You can't kill me OR take my soul, I can't kill you, and Dukermin is LONG GONE. So I bid thee adieu. *disappears into force* *reappears behind Dukermin* Boo.

Dukermin: *jumps* *smacks Nalitie*

Nalitie: *watches as her hand phases through her face* ...

Dukermin: Okay well all that is ... done *pushes house back into hole*

Nalitie: Yep! And I've also been thinking... We're here BEFORE the events of Undertale, right?

Dukermin: Pretty much, yeah...

Nalitie: Well... There's no Frisk here, and... Well... What if... what if... WE are the protagonists? Like, what if we took hisher place? And that got me thinking about the fact that they're constantly reincarnating... so... what if...? While we're in this world, what if? What if WE have that power now? Just while we're here?

Dukermin:That makes sense... So... *hand flailing* REINCARNATE!

Nalitie: *focuses* *looks determined (and slightly constipated)* *fades back into color and solid form* *looks at self* HAHA IT WORKED *hugs Dukermin* IT WORKED!

Dukermin: YAY! So... We got pretty much the hardest part done with...

Nalitie: Yep. Now let's go retrieve Asriel from an alternate timeline Frisk's memories. We can probably find him in the Mind Core, which is actually back on Termata.

Dukermin: SO WE ARE DONE WITH THE UNDERGROUND!

Nalitie: Yep! Well, sort of. *opens Erscoga hole to Termata* Shall we?

Dukermin: Yes *into Termata*

Nalitie: *follows* *and so they went to the Mind Core* Alrighty then. We just need to find the memories of an alternate timeline Frisk and get Asriel before he fades away. Once we remove him from the Mind Core, he'll be in full physical form AND not have to worry about being comprised of other people's souls... So we all can be happy!

Dukermin: YAY!

Nalitie: *finds a directional sign* *points* This way. *starts walking*

Dukermin: *walking, walking, walking*

Nalitie: *reaches the memories of alternate timeline Frisk* Now we just need to find one with Asriel, preferrably in his original form. And then we can surprise his parents and all be friendy friends. Or die again...? Hopefully not, but...

Dukermin: Well, we'll get the couple's therapy stuff all set up and everything will be fine.

Nalitie: Yeah, I can get Sophia and we'll find a Best Western after we make somewhat of a peace with them... Ah! *finds the memory they're looking for* In here. *goes to Asriel inside the memory*

Dukermin: What do we do?

Nalitie: Talk, I suppose. *approaches Asriel*

Asriel: *looks up* Oh... hello! Who are you?

Nalitie: I'm Nalitie and this is Dukermin. We have a question--if you could find a way to live happily with your parents while still letting Frisk and her friends live in peace? A way to exist without being a flower or needing other people's souls?

Asriel: That would be great!

Nalitie: Well, we have a way! All you need to do is follow us out of this place, because right now you exist only as a memory. Once you're out of here, you'll regain physical form.

Asriel: Is it easy to leave? I doubt I've ever tried...

Nalitie: Well you also weren't aware that you were a memory. And actually, it kind of is... Getting you out of here will be easier than ground severing Napstablook's house.

Asriel: Wow. *walks toward them*

Nalitie: That was the easiest dimensional transfer yet. Let's get outta here. *grabs his hand and Dukermin's hand and starts skipping away into the sunse-- I mean onto the surface of Termata*

Dukermin: Well, I guess the only thing left to do is grab the Best Western... kind of...

Nalitie: We can do that after we make peace, since it means a trip back to the Ask Erik world...

Dukermin: Yeah...

Nalitie: To Pluto, then?

DUkermin: I suppose!

Nalitie: Great! *opens portal and jumps in, taking Asriel with her* *lands on a rock, looking down upon the stolen Undertale*

Dukermin: *falls through*

Nalitie: Hey, Asriel, why don't you go behind this rock? Your appearance is a surprise.

Asriel: *obeys*

Nalitie: Great! *produces a conch from her pocket* *blows into it to get everyone's attention*

Everyone: *Looks that way*

Nalitie: Everyone! Hello! Some of you may know this, some of you may not, but I am Nalitie, and this is my accomplice, Dukermin. And we want to start by apologizing for stealing you from your worlds and dumping you onto the surface of this planet. But you must realize, we did so only to keep you from being claimed by the wrong side of this oncoming war. If we had not stolen you away, SAM would have done so. And all hope for my/Dukermin's world would have been lost.

Everyone: *murmering*

Dukermin: Yeah so... SAM=Bad...

Nalitie: I know most of you/some of you probably want to kill us now that we've dropped our disguises. But please, see that we are not all bad. We have kept our promises, have we not? Or... more of... we WILL keep our promises in the near future... Um... *throws lights at Mettaton and throws Sophia, the inter-dimensional therapist, at Asgore and Toriel*

Dukermin: You have our word of honor! Anyway, we have left this planet for you! And we will keep improving it in order to satisfy you and make this a smooth transition!

Nalitie: Yep! And you're totally free to wander this dimension as well, provided you don't kill anyone.

Dukermin: So If you have any questions or comments as time goes on, please leave them in this suggestion box! *produces cardboard box*

Nalitie: Or take the conch. *sets down the conch* *remembers* Oh wait! Hang on! One more thing! *about to jump down from the rock, but remembers something else* *produces BUKT* *drops her string, yarn, rope, silverware, cereal, cereal shooter, thread, stool, pencil, pencil sharpener, cacti, her Death Ray button, her contraption made of several blender blades glued together and attached to a stick, a frosting spreader, and some more overly ripe "Whole Grain Nutrient Paste", some overly ripe "Galactic Slime", a lightsaber, and everything else that may be used as a type of weapon into the BUKT* *drops the lightsaber from earlier into the Erscoga hole* *also produces several daggers from her socks and drops them in there too* I think that's all of them...

Dukermin: Wow.

Nalitie: Yeah, I'm not as helpless as you guys seem to think. *jumps down from the Rock and manages to hurt herself* Ow. *walks over to Toriel and Asgore, sanding slightly closer to Toriel* We have someone here to see you again. *gestures for Asriel to come over*

Asriel&Toriel&Asgore: *all of the hugging and happiness*

Nalitie: *climbs back on the rock, taking the conch* We don't expect you guys to fight with us. We don't even expect you to be friends with us, but we do ask that you trust us enough to keep you here, away from SAM's clutches.

DUkermin: That's ALL we ask *mumbles* At least for now...

Nalitie: *tries to not sing* Yep! Oh yeah, uh... I forgot... *throws VR room keys and 50 page instruction booklet (with 49 of the pages left intentionally blank) at Mettaton* *leaves some lunchbox portals too* These are portals for when and if you wish to leave the planet. All you need to do is press the button of where you want to go and jump in.

Everyone: *more mumbling*

One monster kid: *accidentally transports self away*

Dukermin: *whispers to nalitie* That's why they are infantry

Nalitie: yeah. *to everyone else* Oh, one more request--Do NOT go to Riewa. It isn't a portal option, but please refrain from going there. It's our death planet and it is dictated by a murderous flower.

Dukermin: Yeah... Pretty much sums up entire planet

Everyone: *gasps and mumbling as some realize stuff*

Nalitie: *clutches the conch* *trying to remember what else she was gonna say* Dukermin?

Dukermin: *Looks up* Wha- Hmm... Well I don't know, we'll go grab a hotel in a bit for those whose house did not come with them later...

Nalitie: Yeah. *to the crowd* Anyone have anything to say? *offers the conch to they who wish to speak*

One monster kid: *grabs conch* Yeah... who's in charge? Can I be in charge?

Nalitie: Well, we DID take your guys' king with, so probably not.

Monster kid: aw... *put's conch back*

Dukermin: Yes, so we think you should continue to treat Asgore *coughs*andtoriel*coughs* As if he is your king, since he is...

Nalitie: Yeah. Oh, and, uh, please don't kill Callie *gestures to Callie, who's standing in a glass box, holding a cookie*

Callie: *being confused*

Dukermin: Yeah, that is kind of a given...

Nalitie: So... You guys good?

Everyone: *mumbles of agreement*

Dukermin: And if you have an idea that might help you guys with living on this new planet, just put them in this suggestion box *dramatic flailing at cardboard box*

Nalitie: yep! And, uh don't worry about the ones who stayed in the Underground. They are perfectly fine and will be looked after by a small, white dog.

Dukermin: OH *to Nalitie* Also, we need to get the security system for Undyne... because of the monster kids...

Nalitie: Oh... Yeah... we can steal one from the Ask Erik universe when we go for the Best Western... In the meantime, maybe she could hang out with Christine and Steven and Willy and I and you back on Termata?

Dukermin: Sure...

Nalitie: *yells over the crowd* HEY UNDYNE COME THIS WAY SO WE CAN STEAL YOU AWAY FROM THE MONSTER KIDS SO THEY DONT, LIKE, KILL YOU OR WHATEVER. Wait. Did I say that too loud?

Undyne: *struggling to get away*

Nalitie: Uhhh... *flies over to her and throws a lunchbox portal over her head, transporting her to Termata* There.

DUkermin: So... Do we have anything else to say?

Nalitie: Nah. IF ANY IF YOU NEED US, WE SHALL BE PROBABLY ON TERMATA. OTHEWISE JUST ASK ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE RODENT INFESTED HOUSE WITH THE COUCH THAT FLIES INTO SPACE.

Dukermin: Yeah... And I'm usually with her so...

Nalitie: yep! Bye, guys! *opens portal to Termata probably* *jumps in*

Dukermin: *follows*

Nalitie: We'll go steal a Best Western later tonight, while Ask Erik is asleep. For now... I'm gonna go check in Christine. You can come with, if you'd like.

Dukermin: What else do I ever do?

Nalitie: *shrigs and heads home*

~•*•~

(Previous)

(Next)

(Table of Contents)

[sevicia]

I don't think I can be coherent enough to really get across just how much I loooved this movie so I'm just gonna do it idiot style. Ehe

I typed this whole thing out but it's spoilery so basically: movie so good I couldn't stop grinning like an idiot the entire time. HEART

First of all I liked Andy from the second he popped up on screen stuttering and making puns and then being treated badly because he's "useless" I was like omggg my best friend now we have so much in common<3333 then The Switch happened and I found the whole Greater Good robot dilemma within the movie to be super interesting mainly because you get to SEE said Switch and how other characters react to it

I really hated Bjorn from very early on like sorry I get the whole Trolls movie thing but also literally not Andy's fault that some other guy he doesn't even KNOWWW did that shit. This is probably why robots with the power to make super big decisions shouldn't be modeled after humans like you just can't help but assign them human traits + motivations meanwhile they are code. They are 1s and 0s someone put together with looots of love... Regardless of their self/humanity/sentience/whatthefuckever there is always a human out there that can overwrite it and I feel like a lot of people forget that when it comes to apocalyptic views on robots specifically. "What if they take over!!!" well that means someone fucked up very very badly by letting them take over. We made them bro that's someone's greatest passion you're talking about here....

The horror element from the robot side is sooo interesting too cause if there IS in fact a "true" sense of self in there it's just not guaranteed to last. As a machine you are at the mercy of anyone who knows how to work you. I'm not big on elaborated philosophy for my beliefs can be summed up as Fuck It We Ball but still, having free will only as long as someone wants you to is crazy scary. From a human lens yk. It feels kinda funny to say that tbh cause I do often feel computer-like on account of the autism but ONLY when I'm around people that don't think the way I do. Human but built different. Etc

Something I truly truly loooovedddd was how they established the setting + the stakes and limitations. It was so straightforward without feeling like they were just listing things for the sake of it which is always super satisfying TBH, perks of it all being a mission/operation. The way this movie builds up your stress levels as a viewer is SO satisying it's the only way I can describe it. Towards the end when it seemed like things were going alright I was thinking "Okay, what's gonna pop up now" because even though I had no idea what the runtime was, I could still tell it wasn't the end because it was just too good. The fact that Kay was PREGNANT was also on the back of my mind cooonstantly like something stressful would happen to anyone in the crew and I'd be like "damn... and Kay's pregnant on top of all this!?"

I don't know if it's cause it's been a while since I last watched a brand new horror movie (aka not a rewatch. EHE) but it was so insanely satisfying to feel my whole body shiver and my mouth water again like that I couldn't stop smiling past a certain point. It's a good thing I was on Popcorn Holder duty cause otherwise I would've been fidgeting with my hands the entire time LOLL

But really what made me suuuper giddy in terms of personal enjoyment was the kills and the beautifullll aliens themselves they are so gorgeous it's CRAZY... I didn't do my homework properly so I've never seen the other films (only know a vague outline of the 1st one), meaning I'd never seen one of those creatures move onscreen before. It was so charming!!! I never thought I'd be so into a movie where a creature takes up such a huge role, so I'm really just super happy I liked it so much (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)!!! The way they were so goopy and slimy and pulsated and just the way they MOVED??? I loved it so much!!!

It really made me think of how there's so many things I haven't been thinking of myself just because I never considered non-human entities as a source of harm before. Generally it seems like a much harder idea to go into than And Then A Weird Guy Appear because you kinda have to figure them out and establish rules and MAKE THEM MAKE SENSE..... it sounds like a huge amount of work and I truly loved it all

Recently I've been bouncing all over the place solely because I've been reading and listening to things that I truly believe are amazing in every way. It feels so weirdly fulfilling even though I had no part in making them and I get it may sound like a weird statement but I feel so immensely happy to be alive and to be able to experience these stories right now. The world just feels so bright and welcoming and GOOD after I bite into a good movie/manga/song.

ALRIGHT ramble's over I love evryone always and forever AMEN !!!!

I just came out the theater I watched Alien Romulus I salivated a lot what a good fucking movie I should end my own life

[clean-bands-dirty-stories]

XX ~ S.S. (Part Three: Jealousy/Envy)

A/n: *touches water* this request my beloved. I have missed writing this... Prompt from this prompt list

Request: “... 1, 7, and/or 46 for seb” by anon

Word Count: 4500+

MASTERLIST

~ Kiss out of jealousy/envy ~

You know what, it took a second but Sebastian could be respectful to Y/n specifically enough not to press for him to join back with the Warblers again. Obviously Y/n had made his stance and he was... happy with it. It drove Sebastian insane and made him want to undo everything he'd done, but he had never EVER been one to throw in the towel. Even if he he tried, he didn't know where to start. So he had let it sit. Fine. Whatever. Okay even!

However. Watching Y/n go around with some other guy like it was nothing? Sebastian was fuming. He was murderous.

Y/n had started walking home every day now, and he had picked up his morning coffee habit with Blaine again so Sebastian and him rarely hung out outside of class. With Y/n no longer being a Warbler on top of that, it felt like Sebastian never saw Y/n at all. To go from being together during all of their free time to not at all was wound enough, but Y/n had taken it a step further.

In the last while, Noteworthy had been scoping for new members. They weren't as big as they'd like to be - whatever it made sense. As they were very welcoming to anyone wanted to join in on the fun (as long as they could play well with others) a lot of people had answered the call. More than anyone had expected. They'd eventually had to turn people away even.

But not before Lyran joined.

Lyran actually had very similar vibes to Sebastian in a lot of ways. They had the same flirtiness; dancing around everyone and winning and smirking; lingering touches and shared glances. They had a fluid way of moving that was reminiscent of Sebastian as well. Lyran was... lower key though. They were just fine staying at the back of a room and blending in. The fly on the wall you didn't notice until it was too late. They didn't need to take charge and in fact seemed to like being bossed around. They especially liked to be bossed around by Y/n.

And really, that was the problem. Suddenly not only were Y/n and Sebastian not hanging out or talking, it had seemed that Sebastian had been replaced entirely. Now it was Y/n and Lyran who danced around each other, eyes locking as they exchanged secret looks and amused smiles that Sebastian couldn't read. They worked so beautifully together - Y/n would start the fire and Lyran would build it. The energy in any room they were both in was always at its highest. Even when one of them wasn't duetting they still seemed to be cultivating the energy of the performance together.

It got unbearable when they finally did a duet.

Of all the things they could sung as well, they decided on "I've Just Seen A Face" by the Beatles.

Sebastian was going insane from the very second he heard the starting notes.

Y/n started first, and for a second he had thought it was a solo. He was center stage, and Sebastian thought he was about to see a moment of pure hypocrisy. The music started though, and Y/n immediately turned around, looping to the back of the group and then weaving through the boys that were singing as he began, "I've just seen a face; I can't forget the time or place where we just met. He's just the guy for me, and I want all the world to see we've met..." He vocalized the ending of the song, shimming around - almost like he was telling his best friends about some crazy story that had just happened.

Then Lyran cut in. "Had it been another day, I might have looked the other way and I'd have never been aware - but as it is I'll dream of him tonight -" Sebastian was caught off guard by the purposeful change in pronouns in the song, and the way that they sidled up to Y/n. Almost like... they were singing to Y/n specifically. Sebastian's jaw locked into place as Lyran continued, "Falling, yes, I am falling- and he keeps calling me back again." They vocalized as Y/n had before, their arm around the captain's waist and a smirk dancing across their lips. The two were too close, performing to each other, and suddenly Y/n wasn't paying attention to the other boys.

Y/n laughed, returning the sudden serenading they were playing with. "I have never known the like of this, I've been alone and I have missed things and kept out of sight, but other ones were never quite like this-" The vocalizing came again, and he bounced around to the beat. Sebastian couldn't tell if he and Lyran were flirting or just playing around. Or, at least if Y/n was. The way Lyran circled Y/n, centering everything around him and looking at him and touching him... there was no mystery to what they were doing.

"Falling, yes, I am falling and he keeps calling me back again." They first slid out, and then reached over to drag Y/n with them. That seemed practiced, and Y/n slid along just a second after so Lyran wasn't pulling him so much as guiding. What was obviously not planned was when Lyran did pull Y/n, first directly into their arms for, "Falling -" They cut off to focus on dipping Y/n, who squealed in glee. "I am falling-" They winked and Y/n rolled his eyes with affectionate amusement. It was so smooth that Sebastian was enraged he hadn't thought of it... Especially when, as Lyran continued the next time - "And he keeps calling me back again," - they pulled Y/n back onto his feet. As if the dip had been him literally falling for them, and the pull up had been them calling him back, as the song would suggest.

The crowd cooed as Y/n giggled, but took his space, grinning as he picked up the next line. "I've just seen a face; I can't forget the time or place where we just met. He's just the guy for me and I want all the world to see we've met." He vocalized again, dancing in sync with Lyran. He looked like he was having so much fun... It was easy here. There was no tension or power play. When Lyran flirted with Y/n, he took it in stride and didn't see it as a challenge. Sebastian didn't know how he felt about it.

Is that what Y/n looked like when he liked someone? Did he feel relief for not having to deal with what might have only been an annoyance to him? Had Y/n not liked Sebastian after all? This seemed so different. So sweet and sincere and innocent. Sebastian couldn't place where he had seen Y/n act like this before, but it was much more his style. The Y/n most people had come to know and love. The gentle and the warm and the kind. It was so different from the Y/n that Sebastian brought out - the power house spit fire that blazed and burned shamelessly.

Sebastian was torn between jealousy and disappointment. The Y/n he loved seemed to be so unnatural on the man. Like he wasn't built for it... except, Sebastian had been so sure he was. He had looked so good with fire in his eyes. Had it been temporary? Was it a mask, a sudden burst of emotion? Or had it been his true self? Or, was it just that because Sebastian challenged Y/n so much that Y/n got the chance to actually show what a powerhouse he was?

There were so many questions, and Sebastian only passively heard Lyran sing the chorus. "Falling, yes, I am falling and he keeps calling me back again. Falling, yes, I am falling and he keeps calling me back again." They took center stage as Y/n fell back, looping his arms around Trent and Jeff's shoulders.

And just in time Y/n finished out, "Oh, falling, yes, I am falling and he keeps calling me back again..." Sebastian refocused, pulled out of his thoughts to watch his crush, just in time to see Y/n deliver the very last line directly at him. There was that pleasant sweetness still, but underneath it, Sebastian saw that fire. Y/n's smile edged more into smirk territory, and for a split second Sebastian got the distinct impression he had missed something very important.

Sebastian gave the Noteworthies a moment to bask in their praise and applause before he made up his mind to approach Y/n. That being said, imagine his shock when he found the man, approaching him instead. Y/n grinned when he reached the Warbler captain. "Enjoy the show?"

Immediately his jealousy was showing. "What, your flirt session with Lyran on display for everyone to point and oggle at? No, it wasn't my favorite of your works.”

Y/n's smile wiped off his face. He glared at Sebastian. "And what, I suppose your favorites are when we have flirt session displayed for everyone to point at oggle at instead?"

Sebastian shrugged. "Maybe."

Scoffing, Y/n caught himself before he said something. Sebastian didn't know what it was, but from the look on his face like he had bitten into something bitter, he thought that might be a good thing. "You're such an ass, I swear to god. I tried playing the game and you didn't like it so you changed the rules. I didn't like the rules so I went and played with someone else. It's kingerdarden logic Bas - what are you not getting? You don't get to just push everyone around and get what you want always and never face any consequences."

Unable to stop himself, Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Paint the picture however you want Y/n - it didn't take you long to ditch me and put someone you liked better in my place. You ditched the Warblers, and now I never drive you to or from school anymore. You never come over for peace and quiet or dinner or even a study buddy - all things I know for a fact you like. You barely even acknowledge me in class. And now your prancing around with a knock off of me? God you must be desperate to look like you don't need me."

Y/n's rage flared. "I DON'T need you, dipshit." He deflated, looking away as he scoffed out, "I always only wanted you." The anger between them dissipated immediately. Sebastian still felt that jealousy, roiling as Lyran looked at and touched Y/n like Sebastian used to. As the crowed egged them on, and looked to Y/n's newest love interest - like Sebastian had never been there to begin with.

He hated this. He hated Lyran. Sebastian looked over, instinctively looking for them in the crowd. When he saw them standing by the other Noteworthy members, eyeing Y/n and Sebastian... god, it was that look. A look that Sebastian had worn a million times. The look of someone who had shoved a wrench in between a perfectly good couple. The look of a home wrecker, grinning down at the wreckage that had been caused - with pride. They thought they had Y/n wrapped around their stupid shitty little finger...

Well they thought wrong.

Sebastian looked back to Y/n and he rushed forward, grabbing his head and pulling him into a kiss. It wasn't sloppy and passionate, or gentle and slow - it was hard and intense and desperate. They clung to each other, in the middle of the crowd, and in front of all of their friends - but most importantly, in front of Lyran.

For a moment, Sebastian was flying high. He had Y/n back, and everyone knew it. He was on top again - and all he needed was himself and Y/n and for them to be together. He didn't want the Warblers if this is what it cost.

His moment of victory was ruined as Y/n seemed to come to his senses. He pushed Sebastian away aggressively. The slap came fast and very suddenly, but not aggressive or hard. It stung a little - but all slaps across the face did. Sebastian was left reeling, but not because of pain or whiplash. He was left reeling by the remanence of Y/n's kiss. Of the thrill of kissing him in public and claiming him, in a way. Of telling everyone that he was Sebastian's. Reeling as well, at the way that Y/n had for just a second loved it too. How suddenly he had seemed to remember himself and was now in tears, holding his hand that was beginning to redden.

Sebastian looked at Y/n with wide eyes. Y/n could meet his gaze. "I- I'm sorry- But you can't-" He caught his breath, blinking his eyes to try and clear his mind. He pinched the bridge of his nose before suddenly huffing out a sharp breath and then turning back to Sebastian and squaring up. "I'm not a prize, Sebastian. I'm not a thing to flaunt around. I'm a person and I have feelings. You don't get to just kiss me every time you want to grab the power back in a room. I'm not a tool to help you on your path of domination!" He then turned and stormed away, leaving Sebastian with his jaw dropped.

The Warbler tried everything not to smile.

He felt terrible that he had made Y/n feel the way. And especially for making Y/n cry. But... there he was again. Sebastian's Y/n. And it was real and raw and sincere. Y/n, at his most vulnerable, when trying to regroup himself and when he was at his weakest... it was him. Sebastian was the one who got to see it. The only one who could bring it out.

It then registered that Y/n was mad at him, and that he had every right to be. Sebastian had been reckless and stupid - he always was. But this time, it was coming around to bite him in the ass. Everything was falling apart, and more than ever he was pushing away the one person he really cared about.

Shit.

-

When Y/n saw Sebastian waiting outside for him after school, he almost walked right back inside the building and went a different way home. But... he also knew that if he did that it would add quite a bit of route to what was already an unpleasant walk - and he just wasn't petty enough for it. So he sighed and kept walking, trying to keep his head down.

It didn't work.

Not that he expected it to. This was Sebastian Smythe we were talking about.

"Y/n, wait!" The boy sighed before doing it, knowing that he would be followed all the way home if he didn't. Sebastian jogged over, something in his hand. Y/n looked down as Sebastian held the thing he was gripping out for the other boy to see.

It was a CD.

Y/n's eyes widened. They had spent so much time bouncing between the radio and Sebastian's music taste, one day Y/n had joked that they needed to listen to his music one of these days. But then Sebastian had stopped giving him rides so... they hadn't gotten the chance. The CD that was being held out to him was obviously homemade. On the back, tilted so that Y/n could read it, was a very long list of songs. Every song that Y/n had ever suggested Sebastian listen to and he had forgotten to follow up on, in fact.

Y/n slowly looked from the CD to Sebastian. "You want to give me a ride home just because you're finally listening to my songs?

Sebastian shrugged. "I can listen to them alone if you want. You don't have to know my reactions and what I think about them."

Which was of course Y/n's weakness. He loved music - it was basically his life blood. He spoke through music, never good with finding just the right words himself. Music was a release for him. A safe place. When he shared music with people, he was desperate to dissect the lyrics with them, or just feel the beat. He loved to experience music with people. That's why he shared music at all - so they could appreciate it together. Of all the things Sebastian could have tried, this was the only one that had even a possibility of working.

Of course, Y/n already knew it had worked. That's why he was trying to find reasons not to get into that car. Because he wanted to.

Unfortunately, the millions of reasons running through his head were not the things that mattered. It was the one reason to go. The one reason to stay.

"Fine." Sebastian grinned and Y/n rolled his eyes before getting into the passenger seat of the car. Sebastian put the CD in immediately, and began playing at the first song. They spent the rest of the drive working through the songs. Y/n had a process. The first time, you just listened to it. Then, Y/n would sing with it and pause it to talk about lyrics or the music - whichever thing most drew him to this song. After the two stages, then they'd move on. It meant they took twice as long to get through the songs - sometimes much longer if they got into a lengthy discussion - but it was also twice as fun.

You win some you lose some.

Y/n didn't realize that Sebastian had taken them to his house until it was too late. Y/n shot the other boy a look as they pulled into the driveway. "Bas-"

"I know," Sebastian rushed. "Just... I wanted to apologize. Let me try. We can keep listening, and talking about the songs." He smiled a little. "I like them."

Goddamnit.

Sighing, Y/n caved in once again. "Fine. But I swear, you do one even semi-bullshit thing and I pull the plug."

Sebastian nodded in agreement. "Whenever you want to go home, I'll take you home."

Y/n narrowed his eyes at the Warbler, but there was no anger there. "I don't have anything else to change into. And as we established-"

Waving his hand through the air to dismiss the worry, Sebastian only answered, "Wear something of mine. Just this once. I don't mind." He rose an eyebrow. "Do you?"

There was a challenge there, and Y/n refused to back down. "No."

"Good." Sebastian slid out of the car and Y/n followed after. They moved inside and up the stairs into Sebastian's room. He moved around as Y/n waited in the doorway. The last time he had been inside... he didn't want to think about that right now. Sebastian returned with a familiar pair of sweats and a t-shirt. It was the sweats that Sebastian had leant him the night Y/n had slept here. Y/n smiled to himself, trying to hide it as he took them and hurriedly moved to the hallway bathroom. He showered, trying to focus his stupid gay brain as he cleaned himself.

He hadn't even thought about it - it was so habit to just come over, shower, and then settle down. Y/n chuckled to himself. It was probably a bad sign when you had made yourself at home in a space that belonged to someone you were supposed to be mad at. This was like a second home to him. How could he be mad here?

Y/n wondered if Sebastian knew that. If he had planned all of this... Y/n wouldn't have been surprised.

When he finished showering and dressing, he snagged a grocery bag from under the sink where he had stashed a few emergency ones. Thank god too - he didn't want to have to carry his clothes around. It drove Sebastian crazy, but Y/n didn't feel bad about that. Might even the playing field a little bit.

Sebastian was waiting in the front room. Y/n had dragged a little bit, teetering between melting into the place he had missed more than he realized and holding onto the anger he knew he rightfully felt. When Y/n entered the room, Sebastian looked up at him. Y/n leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he sighed. “Bas,” he whispered weakly. He hesitated, swallowing once as he tried to find the exact words. He couldn’t. “This isn’t fair.”

The words he had found were apparently good enough. “I know,” Sebastian responded. He looked genuinely sorry and Y/n almost believed him. Or, half believed him. He had seen Sebastian lie and he had seen Sebastian be sincere. Hadn’t he? “I’m sorry,” Sebastian spoke again, pulling Y/n out of his thoughts with pure shock. Sebastian Smythe had never apologized. To anyone. Ever. What was happening.

A feeling of anxiety bubbled in Y/n’s chest. He felt like he was about to get pig’s blood dropped on him or something. “You’re sorry,” Y/n repeated, not quite able to wrap his mind around it.

Laughter bubbles up from Sebastian, and he had to cut it short. A hand rose to cover his mouth, eyes alight with humor at Y/n’s expression. “Listen I know I don’t say that a lot-“

“Ever,” Y/n corrected. “Not even once.”

“Ever,” Sebastian allowed. He hesitated, his jaw working as he had the same battle for words that Y/n had. “You know I’ve always felt very... far away from things.” He shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with getting even close to honest vulnerability. “It’s just a joke. What’s the point of being alive and young if not to have as much foolish fun as possible, right? That’s how you learn. That’s how you make stories - and stories are how you become interesting. It was easier to live like that. Never walking on egg shells for anything, even things that I probably should have. It didn’t matter, it didn’t last. Even school ends, and it was onto the next thing.” His jaw worked again. Y/n felt touched that he really was trying to hard to be sincere. “Sometimes I push things too far. And it’s never bothered me before because everyone is just a part of the game. I’ve always been the only player.

“But, You’re different,” Sebastian added with a sigh. It sounded like the confession partly pained him, and partly lifted a weight off of his chest. An agony and a mercy at the same time. “It’s like you’re playing the game too. You’re the only person who’s been able to really catch me off guard, and playing with you - being with you was fun enough on it’s own. I like performing with you, and being here after school. It isn’t about fun, it’s just... nice.”

Y/n smiled a little as Sebastian grew quiet. He tried to swallow it. Tried to not let the words get to his head. Or his heart. He knew he failed to guard one of them - he wasn’t sure yet which one he had disappointed. “I... appreciate this Bas, but I’m not coming back to the Warblers. That group - it’s not fun anymore. Not for me. And I’m glad you can enjoy it! And that the people there like what you’re doing. Honestly, I think you’re a great leader in your own right. The leader they want, and maybe even need. But the Noteworthies need me too.”

“I get it.” Sebastian nodded, indicating he really did understand what Y/n was saying. “And, if that’s what you really want then... okay.” That seemed to pain him, but he moved on quickly. “I just want some part of you in my life. I liked having you here. It’s too quiet these days. Empty.” He swallowed, and Y/n’s heart ached at the loneliness he saw in the Smythe boy. There was so much more to Sebastian than anyone else knew, and Y/n had always been aware of it but he had never known what to call it. He still didn’t. “Maybe we could merge the groups every once in a while. I think it would still be really fun to perform together. Maybe do a face off for funsies or something.”

This time Y/n didn’t fight his smile. “I’ll talk to the guys about it. But I’m sure they’ll be down. It’s been a little chummy around there anyway. Gotta stir the pot every once in a while.”

Sebastian felt a surge of pride. He knew that it was his influence that had Y/n acting this way. Leaning into chaos, and taking pleasure in it. Missing it when it was gone for too long. Y/n had a very good balance to him, and was good at knowing when to do things and when to pull back. But when he did lean into that fire, he was absolutely stunning to Sebastian. Looking at Y/n like this, Sebastian couldn’t imagine how anyone could prefer him any other way.

When he had been in charge of the Warblers, it had been very hot and cold - either blazing as he battled Sebastian, or shut off and gentle and smooth as he interacted with everyone else in times of peace. It was almost like he had been two different people, and switched between them depending on whether he had to face certain things more often. There was Sebastian’s Y/n, and...

And then it clicked. The way Sebastian had seen Y/n earlier when he had performed with Lyran - it was the exact same way Y/n acted while he had been around Blaine. There was a lot more flirting, but it was all one sided. With Sebastian, that fire had come out because Y/n was engaged. He wasn’t just challenged - he was having fun. Pushing back. With anyone else, Y/n was much more neutral and calm - almost nurturing. He never stopped things that were mostly harmless, but he only actively took part in the games that Sebastian played. He wasn’t indulging someone, he was enjoying it himself. It wasn’t someone else’s game - it was his.

Sebastian felt a surge of victory. Nothing else mattered. And Y/n was right, he wasn’t a prize, but... love was. In a way. And Sebastian had won. He had earned Y/n’s love in a way Lyran never would.

He kept the new knowledge to himself as Y/n sat on the couch next to him. “So,” Y/n began. “You still want to listen to those songs or should I get my homework out?”

“Definitely want to listen to music,” Sebastian answered, nodding. “Maybe you could sing to me.” He leaned in, flirting now, his burning confidence back.

Y/n made a face - halfway between a smirk and that spark in his eyes that was becoming oh so familiar to Sebastian. “Bas, a lot had been happening recently and I still don’t know if I can trust you with... me.” He swallowed, hesitating. There was something he was holding back, or maybe something he didn’t know how to put into words. Sebastian didn’t push - not yet. “It’s been all over the place between us. Can we just take it one step at a time?”

Sebastian didn’t know how to make any order out of their relationship, which really had been all over the place from day one, but if that was really what Y/n wanted the Warbler captain would at least give it a go. “Okay.” He smirked a little, unable to not tease at least a bit. “Does that mean I can’t hold your hand or kiss you or anything, or just that I won’t be taking you back to my room tonight?”

Immediately Y/n rolled his eyes and they were both back to their old ways. “Music, Smythe.”

“Yes sir,” Sebastian answered immediately, orienting his focus on playing the music from where they’d left off in the car. Sebastian had no idea what would happen next, but he knew it would be great.

-

story tag list: @jooniefluff

Male readers tag: @stuckoutsideofthebox @sortzz

[nightingaelic]

You know how in New Vegas you have the option to join minor factions like the Brotherhood or the Followers but in-game it never comes up in dialogue options? I want to see your ideas of what the developers could have come up with if they had more time. (Things like Legion and NCR's reactions would be really interesting.)

These are an amalgamation of canon conversations and some original reactions from yours truly. I'm not including the Enclave remnants in these because the reactions mostly boil down to "Oh no! Anyway," or "Burn the witch!"

Caesar's Legion

"So, I finally get to meet the courier who's accomplished so much in so little time. That is why I summoned you here, right?" Caesar leaned forward in his throne. "I mean, a man nearly kills you, and your response is to track him across the breadth of the Mojave?"

The courier before him shifted in their stance only slightly at the praise, clearly taking more pride in accomplishments that didn't involve insane amounts of luck and stubbornness. Caesar looked them up and down, assessing their affect before continuing.

Boomers: "I see you wear the medals of the Boomers of Nellis Air Force Base," he continued with a nod of acknowledgement. "I have a lot of respect for your people. Anyone with a desire to keep their home and rain fire upon their enemies is someone I have things in common with."

The courier stood up a hair straighter and nodded. "We value our freedoms, both broad and personal. From what I've seen of your forces, though, freedom is something you would rather squash among the tribes you've conquered."

A hint of a smile crossed Caesar's face. "Until now, every tribe I've conquered has been so backwards and stunted, enslavement has been a gift bestowed upon them. My conquest of the Mojave will be a glorious triumph, marking the transition of the Legion from a basically nomadic tribe to a genuine empire. I would see you and your people share in that glory, if you so choose."

Brotherhood of Steel: "I know the insignia on your uniform, and I know the dying ideals that hide behind it," he continued, somewhat scornfully. "I wonder if you came here with other designs, beyond answering my invitation."

Veronica clenched her jaw and raised her power fist ever so slightly, but a look from the courier kept her still. "If you know of the Brotherhood's ideals, then you know we will never allow you to control the wasteland and enslave the people we seek to protect," the courier replied.

"Protect?" Caesar chuckled. "The only thing you're protecting is a pile of technology, and you don't even remember why you're collecting it. You'd sooner shoot the average wastelander and take their belongings than try to keep them safe."

The courier raised their eyebrows. "My mistake, I thought you said you knew our ideals. Unlike the Legion, the Brotherhood and its chapters are not beholden to one man's opinions. Each chapter holds its own interpretations of our mission."

Caesar grinned, pleased to receive an opportunity to debate. "And therein lies your Achilles' heel."

Followers of the Apocalypse: "My Frumentarii tell me they've seen you spending time around the Old Mormon Fort, when you aren't causing trouble around New Vegas," Caesar continued. "A courier with a soft spot for the less fortunate. Tell me, did you hold that compassion before you crossed that upstart from the Strip, or were you inspired by your own misfortunes?"

"What does it matter?" Arcade replied angrily, before the courier could open their mouth. "At least they're trying to uplift the tired and broken souls of the Mojave, rather than roll over them and beat them into soldiers or slaves."

"I seek to uplift them, too," Caesar argued, shifting in his seat again. "Into something stronger and more long-lived than what any one of them could do alone. I'm trying to build an empire that will last, and bring peace to a war-torn region."

"Seeking to end war by waging war doesn't work out that well, historically," the courier said sadly, gesturing at the world outside the tent. "Maybe Rome pulled it off for a while, but Rome outgrew its own abilities. That's why you learned about it in books rather than through growing up in a Roman empire, Edward Sallow."

Great Khans: "We share a common enemy, you and I," he continued, eyeing the courier's leather vest with the Great Khans patch stamped on it. "The NCR has disrespected both of us, in one way or another, and I seek to stamp them out of existence, beginning with Hoover Dam."

The courier nodded. "I can get behind that goal, but not at the cost of my people's way of life."

"Your way of life is already leaving you, and the NCR is to blame for it," Caesar insisted. "Do you remember how House uprooted you, forced you off your land and drove you to Bitter Springs, where you had to squeeze blood out of stones just to get by? Do you remember how the NCR repaid your desperate attempts to survive, how your elders, women and children were slaughtered? How you were driven from your home again?"

"Of course I remember!" the courier replied, raising their voice. "Every soul in the tribe remembers, and our fallen family cries out for vengeance from the bottom of the canyon!"

"And you will have it!" Caesar thundered, rising from his throne. "The Khans are still great warriors, even if they've fallen on hard times. You'll have it all again: Your land, your homes, your rightful glory in battle and the NCR, dead at your feet!"

New California Republic

"Good, you made it. I've been receiving reports of your activities for a little while now, and wanted to meet you myself." Colonel Cassandra Moore set down her pen and leaned forward in her desk chair to offer the courier a seat. "The reports label you a troublemaker, but also extraordinarily capable, and right now I can use all the capable people I can get."

Boomers: The courier pulled up the vacant chair and sat down in it backwards, facing the colonel over its back. "We have an offer on the table from Caesar himself," they said, crossing their arms over their medal-studded flight jacket. "Help him take over the dam, and we get to be left alone. Pearl's considering it, but she'd like to hear your counter-offer first."

Moore's gaze hardened. "You're with the Boomers? And you already talked to Caesar? Okay, okay. I think a partnership between the NCR and your people would be invaluable. Whatever Caesar told you about leaving you to your own devices, I can guarantee he's lying. The Legion has swallowed tribe after tribe, and not one of them ever comes out the other side with their culture or identity intact. The NCR though, that's not what we're about."

She rifled through some papers on her desk before locating some notes. "You might be keeping to yourselves on that air force base, but sooner or later you're going to need some help resupplying. The NCR can help with that."

Brotherhood of Steel: "I'm here to negotiate a truce." The courier looked over at Veronica, who nodded enthusiastically. "The NCR is going to need all the help it can get beating back the Legion, and the Brotherhood is willing to offer what it can. We're no fans of Caesar."

"What?" Moore looked between Veronica and the courier rapidly. "You're serious? The Brotherhood of Steel leadership signed off on this?"

When both nodded, the colonel shook her head. "I don't believe this. Those elitist jerks only decide to stick their necks out after we've lost hundreds of soldiers, we're barely holding onto the dam... you couldn't have tried talking to us before that whole mess at HELIOS One?"

Veronica shrugged. "You keep trying to take our stuff."

Moore blew a burst of unimpressed air out through her lips. "Ugh, Crocker will have a field day with this. He'll want to establish diplomatic relations, for pete's sake."

Followers of the Apocalypse: "Trust me, I'm only labeled a troublemaker because I'm trying to do as much good as I can for the local populace," the courier answered, taking the vacant chair. "Sometimes that means circumventing or ignoring NCR orders. It's not my fault."

"Ugh, an idealist." Moore rolled her eyes. "The reports did say you've been spending a more-than-healthy amount of time hanging around the Followers of the Apocalypse. Trust me, the NCR is doing what it can for the citizens of the Mojave, but we're also trying to do it with one hand tied behind our back while Caesar's throwing spears at us, and the locals still have the nerve to try to critique how good of a job we're doing."

"Maybe you ought to spend some time around the Followers yourself," Arcade commented dryly. "We get NCR citizens in just as often as displaced settlers and shot-up caravans, singing the same old songs about lack of food, water and protection."

"If you're so beat up about it, grab a gun and take the fight to Caesar yourself," Moore answered with a pointed look. "We'll have a lot more time and money to deal with raiders and shortages when the Legion is finally buried in the desert."

Great Khans: The courier refused the chair offered to them. "I'll stand, thank you. I know better than to let my guard down around the NCR."

"Yes, that came up in my reports, too," Moore grumbled. "What on earth was Crocker thinking, sending me a... suit yourself. I don't expect you'll be very amenable to my current plans for the Great Khans, but perhaps someone with your... background will be able to find an alternative solution to the problem."

The courier crossed their arms. "Go on."

"I understand Caesar has been courting your people for inclusion in his plans to attack Hoover Dam," Moore said carefully. "I'm here to tell you why that's a bad idea."

Robert House

The door of the Lucky 38 elevator dinged, and Robert House waited until the sound of footsteps was just outside the curtain dividing the penthouse before offering his greeting. "This meeting has been a long time coming, hasn't it? You've come a long ways, literally and, I suspect, figuratively as well."

"Far enough," the courier he'd invited replied suspiciously, pausing their advance.

If House had had the ability to do so, his face on the screen would've smirked. "I have to ask: Now that you've reached your destination, what do you make of what you see?"

One of his Securitron ladies beckoned the courier to the nearest window, inviting them to look out at the Strip below. They approached the glass carefully, peering out at the blinking, neon night.

Boomers: "It's beautiful," the courier admitted, gazing at the Vegas skyline thoughtfully. "But only like this. From a distance."

"Distance is an invaluable thing to keep, when assessing and formulating your strategy," House agreed. "But then, you and your aggressively reclusive kind are more than familiar with that fact. I'll admit, I never expected to meet one of you face-to-face, outside of bringing my Securitrons to Nellis Air Force Base myself."

"We don't get out much," the courier conceded, fiddling with the string of spent casings they wore around their neck. "And neither do you. Why is that?"

"I have my reasons," House deflected. "I'm much more useful to New Vegas here, and much more likely to survive any conflicts when I have an army of robots between me and whoever is trying to take over my city. Given the frequent deployment of your howitzers, I'm sure you understand."

Brotherhood of Steel: "It reminds me a bit of a deathskull radscorpion," the courier replied, putting a hand against the glass.

"Come again?"

"They look like most radscorpions, except for the fact that they're a deep, inviting red." The courier's brow furrowed. "If you catch one out in the sunshine, they positively glow. But as soon as you stop to admire them, you're already dead."

They looked back at the room's giant screen. "If that doesn't describe New Vegas, I don't know what does."

The sneer in House's voice was blatant. "I would expect nothing less from a militant, quasi-religious terrorist."

"Hey!" Veronica cried from the landing, where the courier had left her. "Just because the Brotherhood doesn't want to be part of your little snow globe, it doesn't mean we're terrorists!"

"I've yet to see evidence to the contrary," House replied with a sniff. "Gallivanting around the Mojave pretending to be Knights of Yore... or you were, until the NCR showed you that ideological purity and shiny power armor don't count for much when you're outnumbered. The world has no use for emotionally unstable techno-fetishists."

"Oh really?" The courier smirked and eyed the mess of computer banks the screen sat above, then the contingent of Securitrons that were milling around the room.

Followers of the Apocalypse: "I see people sorely in need of help," the courier replied, crossing their arms.

"Sentiment is rarely a useful feeling to indulge," House replied dryly. "And yet it's one you seem to be unable to deny. Have you and Dr. Emily Ortal found a new way yet to try and bug my data network, or have you given up entirely?"

"I wouldn't need to bug your network if you were willing to share your tech with the Followers to do some good in the Mojave," the courier said, surprised.

"Trust me, my biometric data is of no use to the Followers of the Apocalypse," House said dismissively. "The average wastelander does not have the resources I do to maintain an extended lifespan."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Arcade said, straightening his glasses. "Have you ever thought about remedying that?"

The courier could've sworn the face on the screen wrinkled its nose in disgust. "I don't waste my time with such hypotheticals."

Great Khans: "Land that doesn't belong to you," the courier said, their voice suddenly sour.

"Ah. So that leather outfit you're wearing wasn't just stolen from a corpse on the road." House sighed. "The removal of the Khans from the land around New Vegas was hardly personal. Rather, it was a necessary action to establish the casinos you see before you and begin the process of rebuilding society. I offered them the same deal I gave the Three Families, but the Great Khans were less than amenable."

"Maybe it was because you asked too much of them," the courier replied, turning back to the man on the screen. "You wanted them to change everything about themselves. To forget the old ways, put on a costume and dance for you."

"I did," House agreed. "And in exchange, I would have given them support, security, and enough caps to fill Lake Mead. They had their chance. The Khans chose their freedom, and they chose Bitter Springs."

Yes Man

Yes Man stretched his neuro-computational matrix out after the upload was complete, feeling the luxurious expanse of the system that until recently had belonged to the Strip's creator. "Wow, Mr. House had quite a set-up here! I can access his databanks and view telemetry on every Securitron on the network! Now we can get to work on sorting out all those troublesome groups that might get in our way!"

The courier raised an eyebrow. "What sort of troublesome groups?"

Boomers: "Groups like the Boomers!" Yes Man replied, jolly as ever. "They must be a really nasty people! I haven't heard a single good thing about them!"

The courier looked down at the necklace of bullet casings they wore over a flight jacket adorned with military medals. "No kidding?"

"Oh yeah!" Yes Man reassured them. "They fire artillery on anyone who comes near their settlement at Nellis Air Force Base."

"Well, you just have to be really good at dodging mortars," the courier replied, crossing their arms. "Maybe sneak in. Then you make friends with the local kids, fix a solar panel or two, raise an old bomber plane from Lake Mead, and you're golden."

"Wait a minute." Yes Man's face remained static, but suspicion crept into his tone. "You've already made friends with the Boomers, haven't you? That's beyond impressive! Talk about diplomatic skills! I mean, just not getting blown up was a success!"

Brotherhood of Steel: "Well, the Brotherhood of Steel, for example!" Yes Man replied, with a hint of admiration in his voice. "They go around in big suits of power armor, and they have lots of energy weapons! But there's a downside!"

The courier glanced at Veronica, who was stifling a giggle. "Oh?"

"They just have a thing about technology!" Yes Man elaborated. "They think it should all be theirs! If someone else has it, they get mad! All I'm saying is, not much of a chance they'll accept a Vegas that polices itself with robots!"

"They might feel a little better about it knowing that one of their own is in charge," the courier offered.

"One of their own?" Yes Man sounded flabbergasted. "Well that just throws all of Mr. House's projections in the trash, doesn't it? Not once did he consider that a Brotherhood of Steel member might be put in charge of the Strip!"

"I can't imagine it was high on his list of probabilities," Veronica agreed.

Followers of the Apocalypse: "One of the 'mitigating contingencies' Mr. House planned was to enlist the Followers to provide increased medical aid throughout the region," Yes Man explained. "Just seems like it might help keep things stable when we go independent, but they weren't the biggest fans of Mr. House. Not that I know what I'm talking about!"

"You know, you don't have to put yourself down like that," the courier insisted. "And House is gone, so the Followers will help. Julie Farkas and I are on the same page, most of the time, and you already know Emily Ortal."

"Do I ever!" Yes Man said brightly.

"Does your data say anything about medicine shortages?" Arcade asked, stepping forward. "Help from the Followers of the Apocalypse won't be worth anything if we don't have the supplies to manage."

"According to Mr. House's calculations, the price of medicine for the people of New Vegas was not cost-effective enough to bother with while building up the funds to resist the NCR and reignite the high-technology sectors," Yes Man replied. "But if you feel differently, we can certainly divert some of the Strip's income to the task!"

Arcade grinned. "Oh, hell yes."

Great Khans: "There's the Great Khans!" Yes Man answered with enthusiasm. "The Khans are just... they're a dirty people. They live in tents like animals! And they're very rude!"

"Rude?" The courier frowned. "Yes Man, have you ever met a Khan?"

"No I have not!" Yes Man replied confidently. "All of my knowledge of New Vegas tribes comes from what Benny told me and what Mr. House wrote in his files! For example, I know they were one of the tribes the Three Families pushed out of Vegas! A whole bunch got killed, so they settled at Bitter Springs, but they kept being so obnoxious, the NCR had to kill a whole bunch more of them! So then they settled at Red Rock Canyon! There's just no getting rid of them!"

"So what you're telling me," the courier said, thoroughly irked, "Is that Khans are hard to kill."

"You could say that!" Yes Man agreed.

"Well, that explains how I took a bullet to the brain and kept walking."

Yes Man went very quiet for a split second before jumping back in. "Wow, now I feel terrible!"

[ca-8]

Yakko x Reader Scenario: When You First Meet

'This is it. The beginning of the end.' 

Gripping on the straps of her backpack, (Y/n) exited the bus and stared up at the water tower that displayed the famous Warner Bros. logo. As expected, it emitted a smug aura onto the entire area; however, surprisingly, there was a slight twinge of mystery to it as well. But she didn't have time to ponder about it, so she only gave it an uneasy look and headed straight for the entrance.

Her heart stopped. She knew the place was going to be busy, but it was like an entire New York City packed in one section! So many writers, producers, actors, large men carrying heavy sets, every type of person working in film was scattered all over the place. It was like an ocean, with the people as marine life doing what they're designed to do, and (Y/n) being the puppy that was abandoned at sea.

The moment it all settled in, an involuntary realization invaded her thoughts. 'I don't belong here.'

The young girl reminded herself to breathe and rushed over to a vacant wall, then pulled out her phone. She had already sent her mother about a thousand messages telling her she was here, but since she hasn't responded, a few more shouldn't hurt. Fingers rapidly typing away, she bit her lower lip, already wishing she had stayed on that bus. 

"Oh, you're just gonna love it!" Her mother's squealing voice had already filled her skull. "You're so talented, I know you're gonna fit right in."

'Yeah, standing around all day with a bunch of people I don't know while doing something I suck at is exactly how I wanna spend my summer.' She let out a soft sigh. 'It's fine. Just shut up and make her happy, (Y/n).'

Several attempts of calling and texting later, no response. (Y/n) sighed again, and her eyes wandered over to the bustling crowd. 'No way. Absolutely no way.' But if she wanted to get the day over with, absolutely yes way.

First, she walked up to a lady looking down at the clipboard in her hands. "Um, excuse me," (Y/n) said. 

The lady's head snatched up. "KYLE!" she yelled, her eyes now ablaze with fury, "YOU IDIOT! THAT GOES IN THE WAREHOUSE ACROSS THE STUDIO!" And like there was nothing but a breeze behind her, the lady stomped off to the poor soul that had to face her wrath.

The breeze took a step back and ran around the corner. 'Maybe I'll find someone else instead…!' (Y/n) stopped and spotted a man sitting on the steps that lead to the entrance of a small building. She swallowed whatever was left in her mouth and reluctantly approached him. 

"E-Excuse me, sir?" she stuttered, hoping her voice was louder than the last time. As she got closer, (Y/n) noticed he was chuckling, and his gaze was glued onto a small piece of paper. 

"I...I did it…!" he said. She yelped and shrinked back when he suddenly jumped to his feet. "I FINALLY DID IT! WE'LL SEE WHO'S REGRETTING THE DIVORCE NOW, MARGARET!" And with a manic laugh, the man dashed into the building. 

'...Or maybe I'll just find it myself.'

It wasn't too long before (Y/n) got herself lost. Despite the help of maps that were stuck to some of the buildings, all of them seemed exactly the same. It was like a maze, and with each passing minute, she was more and more convinced that there was no finish line. Even worse, her mother was too busy to respond to anything she sent her. 

'Oh, what should I do?' (Y/n) thought for the thousandth time. No matter how hard she pinched or held them, her arms refused to stop trembling. Not too long ago, the outside of the studio became deserted and she'd hate to walk in a warehouse and possibly interrupt something important, so asking for help again was out of the question.

...Or, perhaps it wasn't. 

A tiny, hopeful smile crossed (Y/n)'s face when she heard the sounds of frustrated grunts around the corner. It was the first time she was so relieved to see a stranger. 

And thank god that stranger was a security guard. Though she wondered why he had a giant net in his hand, she shoved the curiosity as far in the back of her mind as she could and reached up to gently tap his shoulder. 

"Um, excuse me sir?" she asked as loud as she could. 

His head whipped around, revealing angry eyes and a scowl that said he was ready to kill. But right as his gaze landed on her, it changed within an instant. 

"Oh, hello!" he said with a bright smile. 

(Y/n) blinked, cocking her head. ‘What was this guy up to?’

"I'm sorry to bother you, but do you know where (M/n) (L/n) is filming? I'm her daughter, (Y/n), and I'm trying to look for her. She's not answering her phone either."

His joyful expression slowly melted into a confused one. "Uuhhh…(M/n) (L/n)?”

“Yes. She’s a part of Animal Kingdom? Do you know where that’s being filmed?”

“Oh! I know there’s a zoo around here called Animal Kingdom! I don’t think you’ll find it in a film studio, though.”

(Y/n) frowned. “...No, I mean the show. Aren’t they filming in a warehouse today? Do you know where that is?”

“Who’s ‘they’?”

Her eye twitched, and she was just about ready to drown the entire studio in the nearest ocean. “N-Nevermind, I’ll just-”

As if the universe wasn’t satisfied with tormenting her enough, the security guard suddenly launched up into the air and flew into the sky. Right before her eyes, the heavens were coated with explosives of every color that ever existed. 

“Oh my god!” (Y/n) yelled. ‘Who strapped fireworks on that guy?!’

“Oh, I knew you’d love it!”

Her eyes were ripped from the loud fireworks show as she was immediately smothered in a hug. “It’s so nice that another girl’s here! All the other ones here are either too busy or just keep shouting about a restraining order for some reason. I dunno, but anyway, I just know you're gonna love it here! Anyway, my name’s Princess Angelina Louisa Cantessa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the third! But since we're friends now, you can just call me Dot.”

This confirmed it. This was a trap set up by her mother to deliberately drive her insane, because how else can someone explain the nut jobs and talking dogs in pink dresses? 

A combination of those two things happened to be clutching her head and digging her face into hers. “...Huh?” (Y/n) mumbled.

‘Dot’ jumped off of her and smiled widely. “Sorry about Ralph by the way. I figured out you were coming at the last second and I really needed someone for your welcoming gift.” she said.

(Y/n) glanced up at the sky where the fireworks were slowly dying down. “Um...Is he gonna be okay?” she asked.  

“Of course he will!” her backpack said.

The teen screamed and threw her bag on the ground. A hand popped out and unzipped it with impossible ease, then a taller boy version of Dot jumped out, pulling up his long brown pants and flashing a grin. 

“H-...H-H-How did you…?!” (Y/n) stuttered, pointing at him. 

“What? Never heard of cartoon logic?” he said, approaching her. “And Ralph’ll be fine. His skull’s so thick, concrete’s the last thing that can kill him.”

“What-?”

“Anyhow,” he walked over to Dot and put an arm over her shoulder, “The name’s Yakko, this here’s my beloved baby sister Dot, and this is-” He stopped, staring at the empty space to his left. He leaned into Dot, whispering, “Say, uh, you don't mind looking for Wakko, do ya sis?”

Dot glanced at (Y/n) for an uncomfortable moment and suddenly shot her brother a glare. "I've got eyes all over this studio, Yakko," she warned, slowly stepping away.

Now (Y/n) certainly knew she didn't see pairs of eyes appear around every inch of her sight. 'Oh god, I didn't breath in drugs on the way here, did I? Actually, that would explain whatever the heck's going on.'

Yakko smiled as he watched his sister leave and turned to (Y/n). He walked closer to her, and she realized that his half-lidded eyes had a strange glint in them. “Sooo, your name’s (Y/n), right? A pretty name for a pretty girl.”

(Y/n)’s face heated up. ‘First I get lost, then see a guy get blown up, and now some other guy’s flirting with me? ...To be honest, this is still better than what Mom had planned for today.’

“So what brings ya’ here?” he asked.

“O-Oh, well, my Mom was supposed to give me a tour of the studio, but I’ve been giving that to myself all day. I tried finding her, but I’m pretty sure I’m nowhere near it by now.” Her eyes wandered over to the ground, but a realization made them perk back up and over to Yakko. “Hey, do you happen to know this place by any chance?”

“Know it? Please, my sibs and I live here, we know this place by heart and soul!” He mumbled something else, along the lines of “Basically made our hearts and souls”. 

Her heart jumped; finally, a piece of good news. “Really?” she said, a smile spreading across her face.

He nodded. “So where do ya’ need to go?” Before she could answer, he pulled out a piece of folded paper and moved in so close, their shoulders were smooshed together. Yakko unfolded it, and it turned out to be the biggest map (Y/n) has ever seen. “Well, from here, you’re gonna need to take a right and continue straight until you get to the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts exhibit. But be careful, I heard some of them escaped, and if anyone asks if you’ve seen any of them, don’t tell them I gave one to Dot as a late birthday gift. Anyway, you take a left from there, then a right where you’ll see the lot where they used to shoot Game of Thrones. Now this is only a rumour I’ve heard, but I think some of the producers are still on that set. If you happen to see them, do not, I repeat, DO NOT mention season eight, or maybe just don’t mention the show at all. Actually, don’t even look at them. As a matter of fact, you probably shouldn’t even go there at all, just keep heading straight until you get to the D.C. Universe lot. Then you just take left there, then a sharp right over over, then you keep going straight until you get to here, turn up over there, turn right there, and then you’re there. Did ya’ follow all that?”

(Y/n) stared at his face, which was practically radiating with enthusiasm, and she felt her eye twitch again. “...No,” she said, shaking her head.

His smile dimmed, but it became just as bright as the sun again a split-second later. “Ah well, maps are gettin' old anyways,” he said, throwing the map over his shoulder. “WAKKO!!”

And, low and behold, another anthropomorphic dog popped out of nowhere, and (Y/n) was starting to question if there was an army of them hidden somewhere. But she had to admit, it was pretty cute how this one was dressed in an oversized blue sweater and red hat. 

“Tablet, please,” Yakko said politely, holding out his hand. 

‘You're not gonna walk me there-?'

Wakko suddenly held his head back with his cheeks puffed out, then leaned into Yakko’s hand as he forced out a small object from his mouth. After an incredibly uneasy moment, a tablet glazed in spit was in Yakko's grasp. While he praised the little guy, (Y/n) forced back the urge to vomit.

“E-Ehhhh…?” She couldn’t say anything else while her gaze frantically went back and forth from Wakko and the regurgitated tablet. 

“Oh! Where are my manners?” Yakko said. “(Y/n), this is my dear little brother, Wakko. Wakko, this here’s our new special friend, (Y/n).” 

“Hello!” Wakko greeted, who was suddenly in her arms. “You’re really pretty!”

“Ehh? Thank you? I guess??” she said apprehensively, and finally managed to make eye contact. Despite his...quirks, he's actually a little adorable... She let herself grin a little.

The moment of semi-peace was ruined when she took notice of Yakko’s narrowed eyes. “ALrighty, (Y/n)!” he said loudly, grabbing his little brother by the collar and gently setting him on the ground. “Animal Kingdom, right? Let’s get ya’ right over there.” He moved right beside her and taped the screen a couple times. 

“Um, what’re you doing exactly?” she asked.

“Doing what every person does to get somewhere nowadays.” He grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, and (Y/n) flinched from his touch. “Please keep your arms, legs, and personal items inside the tablet at all times.”

Just when she was about to question him for the hundredth time, he pressed the screen again, and her vision became nothing but white. Her body felt like it was launched into a tornado; a strong force of wind thrusted her back, and somehow, the boy’s arm kept her from flying off from his side. A second later, her feet were back on the ground, the sky was where it needed to be, and reality was back in place. 

Except for (Y/n)’s mentality. 

She stumbled around, trying to find her balance as the world unbearably whirled around her. Finally, she shook her head, and quickly turned back towards Yakko, whose face tried to tell her whatever happened was perfectly fine and normal. 

“What was THAT?” she yelled, staggering towards him and gripping his shoulders.

And he still had the audacity to have that 'why-are-you-freaking-out-so-much-we-do-this-every-Friday' smile. “Thank you for attending Warner’s Travel Tours! I would say my Agent Ralph’ll take your bags, but I left him alone with my sibs, so he’s probably in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by now.”

(Y/n) could only stare at him. Her mind was twisting and turning, trying so hard to make any sense of what happened but only making her headache grow larger and larger. And then, her thoughts just went blank.

She smirked. Then giggled. And a few seconds later, she had burst out laughing whilst holding her stomach. (Y/n) looked back up at Yakko, wiping a tear from her eye. “Th-Thank you…” she said, catching her breath. 

His smile had grown and she thought his white cheeks were red for a moment. Yakko had opened his mouth, but whatever he was about to say was cut off by a net suddenly covering his entire body. Ralph was behind him, his skin and clothes burnt and ears practically smoking. “You’re coming with me, Warner!” he said.

And yet, Yakko only grinned. Like physics was his enemy, he disappeared from inside the net and appeared sprouting from the security guard’s back, cheerfully waving at (Y/n). “I’ll see ya’ around, yeah?” he said, then ran around the corner with Ralph sprinting right after him.

(Y/n) giggled and reached for the straps around her back. But when she only felt the (f/c) fabric of her shirt, her smile dropped, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. “Great…” she whispered.

“(Y/N)!” 

She gasped as a pair of arms squeezed the life out of her. Her mother spun her around to face her gleaming smile, which was immediately replaced by an apologetic frown. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get your texts! That scene took forever, but I’m glad you found your way here! You’re so smart! Anyway, I know we don’t get as much time now, but there’s still so much we’ll be able to see!...”

She rambled on and on and on and on. Her daughter’s shoulders slumped and she followed her to where she wanted her to go, but the frown on her face didn’t last long when she remembered the fun she had just a few seconds ago. ‘Maybe this summer won’t be that bad.’

[space-blue]

No spoilers review of Rings of Power's first 2 episodes

TL;DR : It's great so far overall. Pirate it if you will, but haters beat the hate drum for nothing, in regards to quality.

The detailed version:

I'd like to open by saying I've read the trilogy multiple times, and the hobbit too, but never finished the Silmarillion. I've seen the OG films a million times, and their extended bonuses. I've seen the Hobbit films once or twice (worked in a cinema in NZ at the time the second came out…) but generally dislike them. I've never engaged with fandom much and basically know precious little of what's supposed to go down in the series.

The costumes are good. Some better than others.

The characters are all engaging. I've seen reviews that didn't care much for the harfoots, but I found them adorable and was often grinning during their scenes. There is definitely a sense of slow pace, with the characters building slowly and giving no indication of where the series might take them. I don't mind actually. I don't want tropes thrown in my face 2h in if there will be time to build.

The CGI is perfectly fine. Some scenes are more obvious than others, but I never really broke immersion except for a couple of scenes where I thought "maybe this would be nicer if practical". I have no idea what the workload was like for CG artists. It's usually shit, and I can't imagine Amazon treats their workers well in any domain. But they did a fantastic job. This is NOT TV show quality CG. This isn't Marvel or even Star Wars. This is very careful, very well executed, and I felt like watching two movies, not two tv episodes.

The plot... Is very slow to build. I honestly don't mind, because there's a satisfying sense of mystery throughout. I'm invested in all the storylines so far, to my own surprise.

The music is good too. It's not often noticeably "insane" the way it could be in the films, with tracks like for the Nazgul attack at Bree that just rips you from your seat. but overall I never thought the music was lacking, and noticed a few great tracks, notably at Khazad-Dûm! There are some very interesting sounds here and there and I think I'll get the OST as it's the sort of stuff I'll do some great writing to.

The one massive drawback so far for me is EDITING. OMG the editing. I don't know what they think they are doing, but I suspect they believe audiences need some sort of constant back and forth between PoVs to keep our interest? It this the TikTok editing trend? lol I joke but I genuinely wondered if this was edited for the tik tok crowd.

I'm really looking forward to the whole show being out and some pro editor reclipping this nicely. Some scenes, you will have very low interest walking, some talking... there's a mystery afoot... ok... And then oof, they discover something suspicious! A creepy tunnel! Character drops down into it and finally, we're talking. Something interesting. CUT!! And yeah, that happens a lot. They cut away from scenes that finally become good, or that have been built up to.

For me it did nothing but frustrate me.

Otherwise, nope, I like it. MILD SPOILERS FOR CHARACTERS:

I think Galadriel is great as a Trauma Queen. She has that one line, telling a human who's asking her to "let it lie" that "It would take longer than your lifetime even to speak the names of those they have taken from me. So letting it lie is not an option."

And I was both like "yasss queen!" but also "do elves have therapy? Because please, try and get some of that, you need it."

There was a lot of misogyny dressed in white knighting for "strong female characters" online in the last months, and I wish a happy fuck off to all people who will be hating on "strong female uwu Galadriel". I think there's some interesting acting choices going on, and the more we see of her, the more apparent it is that she GAINED her composure, but wasn't always so. I feel it's a great exchange for knowing she isn't at risk in this show. Instead of wondering if she'll "make it", I can wonder how she became the Galadriel I know. I hope they do her justice!

Elrond is fine! He's got depth!

There also was a fuss around the black elf, Arondir... AND YOU CAN ALL FUCK OFF TOO, HE'S MY PRECIOUS!!! Dude is a fucking gardener turned soldier in this war, he's relatable in his fears and bravery... And his name means "to round up" in French. He's sweet and I'm invested in his story. Some of the more chilling scenes came from his side actually.

And OMG DURIN!!! During and Elrond have this fantastic energy to them, I loved their scenes. And yeah, no beard on the Dwarven ladies. But I didn't mind. I found Disa super charming.

Also, a lot of scenes had fantastic fandom energy. I was watching, enjoying myself, and a little monkey at the back of my mind was like "ooohohohohohoho the tumblrinas are gonna be posting about this, I know it." But not in a bad way at all. More in like... there is space for tropes and retellings, and fix its and missing scenes... and I can already tell what's gonna be excellent at a glance. The visit at Khazad-Dûm is one of those settings imo.

Anyway, if the quality remains the same, it will be a fantastic show and a great addition to my personal canon of the Lord of the Rings. I think my final edition will be taken from fandom spaces when someone fixing the woeful editing... But I'm going to keep watching religiously until further notice!!