#LOOK I MADE IT THROUGH THE DREADED BOSS BATTLES

[daz4i]

if this doesn't sum up, like, the entire plot of this game, idk what does

[lefteagleblizzard]

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔨𝔦𝔰𝔰 𝔤𝔬𝔬𝔡𝔟𝔶𝔢

Josh Futturman x gender neutral reader

Note: This was requested from a really nice person on wattpad: "I would definitely like to see some smut and fluff, either one is perfect. Since his character is like a janitor by day and a gamer by night, I think I would like to see this whole thing be, where Josh is getting ready for work but the reader is bothered by it because he never says goodbye and just lets the reader sleep in. It'll turn into a small argument but then turn into smut. Like slight fluff but mostly smut." Added in a personal idea at the start to create the ground for the request.

Warnings: You and Josh playing video games together! Long discussions about video games. Josh being a scaredy cat. Very minor gore moment. Argument between a couple. Smut. Make-up sex. Blowjob (r giving). Submissive Josh. Riding.

Words count: around 4000

Can also be found in wattpad and ao3

You and Josh have been inseparable for years, ever since you first crossed paths in the virtual realm of "Biotic Wars." Your relationship, which began with playful banter and late-night gaming sessions, has grown into something deeply meaningful. Josh's quirky humor and your mutual love for video games have always been the glue holding you two together.

Today was supposed to be a special gaming day. Both of you had been practicing tirelessly to finally conquer Biotic Wars, a challenge that had eluded you for months. Josh, with his expertise and quick reflexes, often led the charg, while you provided backup with your strategic mind and occasional bursts of brilliance. The game was notorious for its unforgiving difficulty, requiring not just skill but also perfect coordination between players.

As the game loaded, you felt a familiar thrill course through your veins. The virtual world came alive with its intense graphics and pulsating soundtrack. Josh, sitting in his well-worn gaming chair, wore a reassuring grin. "Ready to finally take down these biotic beasts?" he asked you through the headphones, his voice brimming with excitement.

"Absolutely. Let's show them what we're made of" you replied, tightening your grip on the controller.

The battle began with an explosion of colors and sounds as you maneuvered your characters through the treacherous terrain. Josh, as always, took the lead, deftly dispatching enemies with pinpoint accuracy. You followed closely, providing cover and eliminating threats as they appeared. For a while, everything was going smoothly, and you could feel victory within reach.

Then came the final boss.

You were both in sync, executing strategies and dodging attacks with near-perfect precision. But just as victory seemed assured, a split-second lapse in concentration caused your character to fall into a trap.

"No!" you exclaimed, watching helplessly as your health bar plummeted. Josh fought valiantly to cover for your mistake, but the boss proved too powerful, and soon both your screens flashed the dreaded "Game Over" message.

You sighed heavily, disappointment washing over you. "i'm sorry, Josh," you said, genuinely frustrated. "I messed up. I should have seen that coming."

Josh, ever the optimist, chuckled softly. "Hey, it's all part of the game. It's hard to follow a master, I get it." he added, his voice dripping with playful cockiness.

You couldn't help but laugh at his teasing tone. Despite his jesting, there was no malice behind his words, just an attempt to lighten the mood. "Oh, you think you're so great, huh?" you challenged, grinning at him.

"Well, I did just carry us through most of that level," he replied.

"All right, Mr. Video Game Prodigy," you retorted, your competitive spirit ignited. "How about I challenge you to a game I'm actually good at?"

His interest piqued, Josh agreed immediately, his confidence unshaken. "Bring it on," he said, leaning back on his chair with a smug look. "I'm ready for whatever you've got."

An hour later, he arrived at your place, his energy and excitement palpable. The moment you opened the door, he enveloped you in a warm hug, peppering your face with kisses until you were both laughing uncontrollably.

"Okay, what's this mystery game of yours?" he asked as you led him to your gaming setup.

You handed him the CD case, watching as his confidence wavered slightly upon reading the title.

Friday the 13th: The Game.

The look on his face was priceless.

"You've got to be kidding," he muttered, examining the cover with a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"You can back out if you're scared," you teased, knowing full well that Josh would never back down from a challenge.

His expression shifted to a mask of determination, resignation in his eyes. "Scared? Me? Never. Let's do this."

Settling into your chairs, you loaded the game. Friday the 13th was a stark departure from Biotic Wars.

The horror game was designed to be tense and thrilling, with players taking on the roles of camp counselors trying to survive the night while being hunted by the infamous Jason Voorhees.

As the game loaded, the iconic and haunting music filled the room, setting the stage for the tense and terrifying experience that lay ahead. Josh's character, one of the playable camp counselor, appeared on screen, standing alone in the dimly lit forest of Camp Crystal Lake.

The objective was simple yet daunting: survive the night while being hunted by Jason Voorhees, the relentless killer.

Josh's initial confidence waned slightly as he adjusted to the slower pace and eerie setting of the game. The dim light flickered on the screen, casting shadows that seemed to move of their own accord.

The game's mechanics, designed to induce fear and suspense, were a stark contrast to the fast-paced action he was used to.

Every sound, every rustle of leaves, seemed to put him on edge.

"You got this," you encouraged, trying to stifle your laughter as you watched him nervously guide his character through the woods.

"Easy for you to say," he muttered, his eyes glued to the screen, fingers tense on the controller.

Josh carefully navigated his character through the cabins and open areas, occasionally stopping to collect useful items like health sprays, maps, and weapons.

Despite his best efforts to remain calm, it was clear he was fully immersed in the experience, jumping at every unexpected noise and shadow.

"Okay, this isn't too bad," he said, trying to maintain his bravado as he directed his character to a nearby cabin, securing the doors and windows.

"Just wait until you hear the music," you teased, knowing full well what was about to happen.

Then it happened.

The screen flickered, and the ominous glitching effect announced Jason's proximity, triggered by his shift ability.

The sudden distortion, a signature move that allowed Jason to cover ground quickly and catch players off-guard. Josh flinched, his entire body tensing up as Jason seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

"Whoa!" he yelped, his voice a mixture of surprise and nervous laughter as he instinctively mashed buttons to make his character sprint away from the unseen threat.

As the character's fear level spiked, eerie music blasted through the room, and the screen darkened, mirroring the rising dread of its player.

You burst out laughing, unable to contain your amusement at his reaction. "Run, Josh, run!" you hit rapidly on his arm, tears of laughter in your eyes.

"Why didn't you warn me about that?" he protested, his voice rising an octave as he attempted to escape Jason's clutches.

"Because this is way more fun," you replied between giggles, thoroughly enjoying his startled expressions and frantic button-mashing.

"He's behind you, Josh!" you shouted, adding to the tension with a mischievous grin.

"I know, I know!" he replied, his voice laced with mock panic as he desperately tried to maneuver his character to safety.

Despite his attempts to evade Jason, the chilling music intensified, signaling the killer's approach.

"No! No!" Josh exclaimed, trying to break free the second he was grabbed by the killer, but it was too late.

The screen erupted in a blaze of light as his character's head was violently severed, sending it spiraling through the air. His jaw dropped in shock, mirroring the dramatic fall of the counselor's head.

You were laughing so hard that tears streamed down your cheeks, your sides aching from the hilarity of the situation. Josh joined in, his initial fear giving way to the absurdity of it all.

"Okay, that was terrifying," he admitted, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I wasn't expecting it to be that intense."

"Welcome to the world of horror games," you teased, still catching your breath from the laughter. "Do you want to go again, or should I show you how it's done?"

Josh handed you the controller with a dramatic flourish. "Please, show me the ropes. I clearly need some pointers."

Taking the controller, you settled into the familiar routine of the game, your confidence evident in your posture and movements. As your character spawned in the same erie campgrounds, you immediately began to strategize, quickly gathering supplies and coordinating your escape plan.

Josh, sitting beside you, was eager to learn the ropes, hoping to match your skill level and make the experience even more fun and collaborative.

His curiosity about the game was endearing, but you knew it would be a challenge to focus on playing while fielding his barrage of questions.

As the game began, you immediately focused on your objectives, guiding your character through the dark, foreboding campgrounds.

Your mind instinctively strategizes the best way to survive the night.

Next to you, Josh leaned in, eyes glued to the screen, a mixture of awe and determination on his face.

"So, what's the first thing you should do when the game starts?" he asked, his voice eager and slightly urgent.

"You want to search cabins for supplies, like maps and weapons," you replied, deftly moving your character toward a nearby cabin.

He nodded, absorbing the information before firing off another question. "What's the best weapon to use against Jason?"

You smiled, appreciating his enthusiasm. "The shotgun is the best one, but it only has a bullet loaded. Anything you can find to slow him down will help, like a baseball bat or a wrench."

You hear the ominous music indicating Jason is nearby. Your heart races as you move to the opposite direction, seeing from afar how he hasn't noticed your presence yet.

Josh, oblivious to the tension, continues his questioning.

"What's the best way to escape?"

"There are a few ways: fix the car, call the police, or survive until time runs out," you say, finding a map and showing it to Josh. "There is also the boat but it's way too risky since Jason moves very fast in the water."

Josh nods, scribbling notes mentally.

You entered a cabin and began searching for items, listening intently for any sign of Jason.

Josh's curiosity seemed endless "How do you know which counselor to choose? Which one is better?"

"Counselor stats matter" you replied, still concentrating on your character's actions.

"Each counselor has different stats like speed, stamina, repair skills and stealth. It affects how well they perform certain tasks," you explain, dodging a trap set by Jason to start repairing the phone box.

"What's stamina do?" Josh asks, genuinely curious.

"It's that yellow circle around the mini-map. Stamina affects how long you can run or perform some actions before needing to rest," you reply, keeping an eye on your stamina bar as you sprint inside the cabin to call the police.

"How do you regain stamina?"

"By standing still. It's crucial to manage it well, especially when Jason is chasing you," you say, watching intently as your character called the police.

"All the stats can work for you, but right now if you have someone with high speed you'll definitely will have a much better chance of survival" you explained to him, noticing a red dot on the mini-map.

He was near.

"Speed, huh?" Josh pondered, watching every movement of your finger in the controller. "What exactly does speed do?"

You paused, momentarily distracted by the abourdity of the question. Turning to him, you couldn't help but laugh. "Are you serious?" you asked, your voice filled with amusement

Josh realized his mistake and burst out laughing, the sound filling the room. "Okay okay, dumb question" he admitted, shaking his head at himself.

The shared laughter was a welcome break from the tension of the game. It was moments like these that reminded you of why you enjoyed spending time with Josh. His ability to find humor in even the most stressful situations and his genuine interest in learning something new, even if it meant asking silly questions.

"You know," you began, the excitement in your voice unmistakable, "one of the things I love most about this game is how well the maps are designed. They're so detailed and true to the movies. It's like you're actually there, experiencing the terror firsthand."

Josh nodded, his interest piqued by your enthusiasm. "Yeah? I didn't realize they were so accurate. That's really cool."

"It is!" you continued, a sparkle in your eyes. "Each map is a nod to the different movies. The developers included all these little details that only true fans would recognize. It makes the game so immersive, like you're living out your own horror movie experience."

He watched you intently, captivated by your passion. You rarely had the chance to dive into these nerdy discussions with others, but with Josh, it felt natural and safe.

"And the counselors," you said, leaning forward in your seat, "they're all inspired by characters from the films. Each one has their own unique stats and strengths, which makes it interesting to figure out who matches your playstyle and I just love how it all comes together."

Josh listened, a soft smile playing on his lips. You could feel his attention solely focused on you, and it made you feel appreciated, like every word you said mattered.

"And the chase," you added, your voice tinged with excitement. "The burst of adrenaline when Jason is right behind you, the music intensifying, your heart pounding—it's such a rush. It's terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I love that feeling of being on the edge, trying to outsmart him and survive."

Josh chuckled, seeing how animated you had become. "I can tell you really love this game. It's amazing to see you light up like this."

You paused, feeling a bit self-conscious now that you had rambled on for so long, but his expression reassured you. There was no judgment, only admiration and affection in his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go on and on," you said, a bit embarrassed.

"Don't be sorry," he replied softly, reaching out to take your hand. "I love hearing you talk about things you're passionate about. You know, the way you dive so deeply into something you care about, it's one of the things I adore most about you"

His words warmed your heart, and you squeezed his hand in return, grateful to have someone who appreciated you for who you were. Josh had always supported your interests, and his genuine curiosity about your hobbies made you feel seen and understood.

"Thanks, Josh," you said, meeting his gaze with a smile. "I'm glad I can share this with you."

He grinned, his eyes twinkling with affection. "I'm just happy to be here with you, learning about all the things you love. It gives me more reason to play the game and try to keep up with you. You make it look so easy," Josh commented, his tone filled with genuine admiration.

"It just takes practice," you replied.

At one point, Jason burst through a door just as you slipped out a window, narrowly escaping his grasp. You then led him on a merry chase through the forest, conserving your stamina to buy time and regroup with other players.

"Wow, you're way too good at this," Josh said, his eyes fixed on the screen as he watched you lead your character to safety.

"It's all about keeping calm and thinking ahead," you explained, enjoying the chance to showcase your skills in a game you loved.

As the game progressed, you managed to evade Jason long enough for the police to arrive, signaling the end of the round.

With one final sprint, you guided your character to the safety of the police line, successfully surviving the night.

Josh was beaming, clearly impressed by your performance. "THAT WAS AMAZING."

Raising your hands in the air in victory while your boyfriend hugs you tightly. Both of you were shouting with joy from the success. "I know, I know. It's nice to finally have the upper hand for once."

The rest of the evening was filled with more rounds, tension and horror while Josh's continued flinching and surprised yelps kept the mood light and entertaining. Each round, he improved, guided by your expertise and encouragement.

By the end of the night, as you both settled back into the couch, Josh turned to you, his expression one of genuine affection. "Thanks for introducing me to this. It was nice taking a break from Biotic War, even if I was terrified half the time."

You smiled, feeling the warmth of his gaze. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. And hey, you're getting better. We could play this sometime together if you want"

Josh laughed, pulling you close for a hug. "Only if you promise not to laugh at my screams."

"Deal," you agreed, snuggling into his embrace, grateful for the shared experience and the deepened bond it had brought.

You turned your face towards Josh, a victorious smile on your face. "As a reward for winning, I have a couple of requests," you announced playfully.

Josh raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might those be?" he asked with a smirk.

"First, a kiss," you said, leaning closer.

He obliged happily, pulling you in for a gentle, lingering kiss that melted away the exhaustion of the night. "And second?" he asked, a teasing note in his voice.

"Carry me to bed?" you requested, giving him your best puppy-dog eyes.

Josh groaned playfully, rolling his eyes. "Really? You beat me in one game and now I'm your personal chauffeur?" he teased. "Alright, fine, but don't think this is going to be a regular thing."

With exaggerated reluctance, he scooped you up into his arms, grumbling under his breath about your apparent weight. He took comically slow, deliberate steps, exaggerating every movement as if he were carrying a ton of bricks. "Why are you so heavy? Did you sneak rocks into your pockets or something?" he joked, pretending to struggle as he navigated the hallway.

Every few steps, he'd stop dramatically to catch his breath, pretending to wipe sweat from his forehead. "I might need to call in reinforcements," he quipped, pausing to pretend to call for backup. You couldn't stop laughing, the combination of his theatrics and your helpless position making the journey to the bedroom an epic adventure in itself.

"Almost there," he declared, as if conquering a mountain, taking unnecessarily wide turns and pretending to stumble. You kept giggling, holding on tight as he continued his overly elaborate trek.

Finally, he reached the bedroom, gently setting you down on the bed with a mock sigh of relief. "There you go, your majesty," he quipped, wiping his brow in mock exhaustion. "Next time, I'm getting a forklift."

You pulled him closer, your hands looping around his neck as you whispered, "Now, don't think you're getting away. Stay with me."

Josh didn't hesitate, climbing into bed beside you. He wrapped his arms around you, the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lulling you into a peaceful calm. Together, you drifted off, surrounded by the comfort of each other's presence.

The sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bedroom as you slowly stirred awake. You turned, expecting to find Josh next to you, but instead, the bed was empty and slightly cool where he had been lying. Blinking sleep from your eyes, you sat up, only to find Josh fully dressed for work.

Josh noticed you were awake and turned with a smile, walking over to the bed. "Morning, sleepyhead," he said warmly, leaning down to give you a quick kiss.

You leaned into the kiss, but something gnawed at you, a small feeling of frustration. This had become a familiar scene: Josh up and ready to leave without waking you, never saying goodbye properly. It seemed minor, but it had been building up over time, and today it felt like more than you could brush aside.

"Morning," you replied, trying to keep your voice light but unable to completely mask the tinge of irritation. Josh pulled back, noticing your tone.

"Everything okay?" he asked, a touch of concern in his voice, his brow furrowed as he looked at you.

You hesitated, not wanting to start an argument but feeling the need to voice your thoughts. "Josh, you always leave without saying goodbye. I know you want me to sleep, but it feels like...I don't know, like you're sneaking out," you admitted, looking down at the sheets, feeling a bit shy about bringing it up. Your heart fluttered with nervousness, unsure of how he would respond.

Josh's expression softened as he sat down on the edge of the bed, facing you. He reached out, his hand gentle as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "I didn't realize it bothered you that much. I just thought it was better to let you sleep," he explained, his voice sincere and filled with understanding. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel like I was avoiding a goodbye."

His words were like a balm, soothing the frustration that had been building inside you. "I know you didn't mean it that way," you said, meeting his gaze. His eyes were full of earnestness, and you could see that he genuinely wanted to make things right. "But I want to feel like I'm part of your morning, too, even if it's just a quick kiss before you go."

He nodded, his eyes earnest and apologetic. "I get it. From now on, I'll make sure to wake you. I didn't know you felt left out."

A small smile tugged at your lips, the tension in the room dissipating "Thank you. I just want to be part of your routine, that's all."

Josh grinned, leaning in for another kiss, this one lingering and soft. "Consider it done," he promised, his voice a low rumble that sent a pleasant shiver down your spine, the warmth of his lips on yours was reassuring.

As Josh moved to stand, ready to leave for work, an idea popped into your head. Without fully thinking it through, you reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him back toward the bed.

"Hey!" Josh laughed, caught off guard as he tumbled back onto the mattress beside you.

"What's this?"

Feeling a mix of shyness and boldness, you looked at him, your cheeks warming. "I was thinking...maybe a little extra time together before you go wouldn't hurt," you suggested, your voice soft but inviting.

Josh raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but delighted. "Oh, really? I thought you'd want to go back to sleep," he teased, his voice playful as he shifted closer, his hand finding yours.

"I think I'm already awake enough," you replied, feeling more confident as you met his gaze, the familiar warmth and love reflecting back at you.

He chuckled, pulling you into his arms as you settled against him. "How can I say no to that?"

You found yourself on top of him, your bodies moving in a rhythm as old as time guided by instinct and desire. His touch was gentle, occasionally squeezing your hips and buttocks with a playful possessiveness that made you laugh softly against his lips.

The sound of your laughter mingled with the quiet gasps and sighs, creating a melody of love that filled the room.

Josh's voice broke the comfortable silence. "I really didn't mean to upset you, you know," he said softly, his eyes sincere.

"I know," you replied, your voice equally soft. "I just miss being part of your morning routine. Even a small goodbye would mean a lot to me."

light filtering through the curtains wrapped around you both like a warm embrace, casting a gentle glow that seemed to mirror the feelings swelling in your heart.

As you leaned in, the first touch of his lips against yours was electric, igniting a spark that raced through your veins.

His kiss was gentle at first, a tender exploration, as if rediscovering the familiar contours and taste that he cherished so much.

His tongue slipped into your mouth, tasting and teasing, drawing out a response that was both immediate and fervent. There was something intoxicating about the way he kissed you, a blend of passion and tenderness that made you feel cherished and desired. It was as if he were savoring the very essence of you, each kiss a promise and a testament to the love you shared.

Your lips met again. The kiss was tender at first, a gentle exploration, but soon deepened, a dance of tongues that communicated what words could not.

Josh's hands traveled over your body, fingers grazing your skin with a featherlight touch that sent shivers up your spine. Occasionally, his hands would rest on the curve of your hips, squeezing gently as if to reassure himself that you were real, that this moment was happening.

His touch was both tender and assured, as though he were an artist and you were his masterpiece. He explored with an intimacy that spoke of familiarity and affection, mapping every curve and line with the skill of someone who knew and adored every inch of you.

Your hands found their way to his hair, fingers threading through the dark strands as you pulled him closer, deepening the connection.

You let out a soft moan, a sound of pure delight that only encouraged him further.

Your hands moved over his chest, tracing his happy trail and the lines of his muscles.

Lips departed from yours, embarking on a tantalizing journey along your jawline, leaving a trail of electrifying kisses in their wake. The heat of his breath against your skin sent ripples of pleasure coursing through you, drawing you closer to him, as if pulled by some invisible force.

"I want..." Josh started, breathing unevenly, "I really want your tongue..."

You smiled softly with a nod, happy with Josh's request.

"Shift up, then," you suggested, sitting up to allow Josh to move, and he obliged, moving up on the bed to give you more space to home yourself between his thighs. Josh moaned softly as he watched you crawl up between his legs until your face was in line with his cock.

You leaned down to press a kiss against the throbbing, leaking tip,

Josh bit his lip and held his breath as your tongue peeked out between your lips to greet the sensitive head, lapping up the precum that was already collecting at the tip following your incessant teasing.

"You're teasing me," Josh stammered, screwing his eyes shut as you gazed up at him, tongue still running up and along the firm ridges of his length.

He pouted at your cruelty before you winked and wrapped your lips around the head, sinking your hot wet mouth down until your nose was flush with the base of Josh's cock.

He was beyond devastated. He grunted as you swallowed around his length, stuffing your face with his size. The scorching vision that had only ever existed in his imagination was now a breathtaking reality.

You slid your lips off after a pause, gasping for air as a string of saliva kept your lips connected to Josh's meat.

"I like this," you giggled, ducking down to leave open-mouthed kisses along Josh's length from the base, up the side of it, then to the head again, sucking the tip into his mouth once more. You loved the way his thighs shake after doing such things.

Josh shut his eyes again, avoiding your eye contact as you bobbed his head up and down, afraid to come way too soon and disappoint you.

Relentless as ever, your assault left him no respite. His fists clenched the blankets with a vice-like grip, knuckles white with tension.

"Pull off," he shouted, hips twitching when you moved your mouth away from him and looked at his face perplexed.

He sat up on the bed to restore your old position on top of him.

Josh's hands roamed over your body, tracing the curves of your sides before settling on your hips.

His fingers lingered there, a gentle pressure that pulled you closer until your bodies were perfectly aligned.

Your hips moved together, a slow, deliberate motion that mirrored the rising and falling of your breaths. You felt the heat of his skin against yours, each movement sending a ripple of pleasure coursing through you.

His hands slid up your back, fingers tracing the line of your spine before settling on your shoulders, drawing you down to him.

His lips found your neck, planting a series of soft kisses that made you shiver with delight. You felt his breath against your skin as your bodies moved together

His hands moved down to your thighs, squeezing gently as you rocked together. As the tempo of your movements increased, so did the intensity of the sensations, each one building upon the last until you were both lost in the shared rhythm of your bodies.

His lips found yours again, capturing them in a kiss that was both passionate and tender, a reflection of the bond you shared.

You lost track of time, caught up in the whirlwind of sensation and emotion that surrounded you.

Pressing your forehead to his, you feel the sticky sweat that binds you. Josh's heaving breath mixing with yours as you both come down from the intensity of your releases.

He followed almost immediately when your hole clenched around him, making you even tighter. He whined loudly and after a few more hard thrusts, he came.

Josh's brown eyes shine bright with pleasure- a contented sigh spilling from you both before you slowly disengage.

It's filled with lasting touches, long looks and warm smiles.

"Do you want to play a bit of your game before I go?"

The sound of your intertwined laughter, punctuated by soft gasps and sighs, filled the room.

"Won't you be late for work?" you asked while still panting, sweat starting to drip down your forehead, but you remained tight against his side.

"They never notice my presence anyway," he replied, panting and still trying to regulate his breathing.

You couldn't help but smile at his laid-back attitude, already in the process of reaching for the controller.

Note: Sorry if the start was boring and I probably went off-topic from the request. I just saw the chance to talk about something I enjoy as a personal video gamer and couldn't resist. :)

If you liked this story, please leave a comment. I love reading them! <3

[sincerely-sofie]

What are some ideas you've wanted to draw/write but haven't?

Oh man. I've got so many. A handful of ideas include:

A semi-animated series titled "My Pal the Paladin" about a kidnapped princess and the final boss who join forces to track down the legendary hero who's failed to slay even a single mook months after the plot kicking off and yell at him for taking so long. It's based on my oldest original characters and has a lot of sentimental worth to me as a result. Idris, Pal, and Katherine are my babies. I've considered making it similar in production to Dingo Doodle's Fool's Gold series, but I haven't actually made it because I'm really nervous about it turning out poorly ^^; I'd love to post a pitch bible for it someday!

A gothic picture book tentatively titled "Cover the Mirrors" about a woman killing a monster that has haunted her since girlhood, and inheriting the curse that turned the monster from a normal man into his current twisted looks. It would end with the monster's appearance going from being seen as a Boogeyman figure that stalks kids who play outside after sundown while the original monster was around, to a vengeful beast that hunts people who prey on children once the woman inherits the curse. It would play with the idea of trauma giving you unique abilities to help those who have gone through similar terrors, while also warping you into something you can't recognize and find inherently repulsive. I haven't made it because I don't know how to render the painterly style I envision for it.

A mixed media visual novel titled "Cradlehead" about a woman who finds herself serving as the unwilling vessel for an eldritch entity that will destroy her mind when it finishes germinating within and exits her body. She has to escape the pocket dimension it trapped her in to develop within the optimal conditions in order to save herself. The visuals would incorporate clay, digital art, traditional art, 3D models, pixel art, and photography. The game would center around the woman's desperation as she tries to escape while her ability to perceive the new world around her decays more and more over time. I haven't made it because I doubt my artistic abilities to make something like I have in my head come to life.

An untitled magical girl webcomic about an unwilling magical girl with a giant bee familiar named Queenie and issues controlling her powers because of her insecurities. She feels bad about being a not very girly individual while surrounded by hyper-feminine young women who have a handle on their powers she could never dream of. It revolves around her character arc where she eventually stops worrying about meeting the arbitrary standards she imposes on herself to be "girly enough" and decides to just be herself, whoever that is, unlocking her true powers and entering her ultimate form during a climactic battle— taking on a design less like a queen holding a scepter like she'd been dreading, and more like a princely knight holding a stinger-like spear. Her rejection of others' expectations as well as her own helps the world-ending threat, a shapeshifting eldritch being that absorbs people into itself so it can become someone other than itself but is never satisfied with the new faces it obtains, to accept itself and stop trying to steal people's souls in order to find one that would make it love itself. I haven't made it because I worry if it would come across weirdly to the average viewer, as it deals with gender dysphoria as a subject in a very atypical manner.

[animentality]

Can I just bitch about Baldur's Gate 3 for a second-

JK, I'm not fucking asking.

So Ketheric Thorm...got an entire fucking act basically DEDICATED TO HIM.

The Shadow Cursed Lands suck because of him. Everything in that zone is fucked because of his nonsense. Every enemy you fight is either related to the shadows or the Absolute plot, which, as far as you know at that point, is tied directly back to him, and him alone.

And every fucking person you meet, rounds him out in some way.

Thisobald, Gerringothe, Malus, these are all unique looking and fun bosses. And they all round out Ketheric Thorm, showing us his fucked up family, and how terrible their impact has been.

Balthazar, Z'rell, even Aylin and Isobel- all thematically and narratively tied to our Shar/Myrkul worshipping bitch.

Even Halsin and Thaniel, Minthara and Shadowheart...all of them have ties to Ketheric.

And that's great and all. That's probably why I, unlike many others, actually enjoy Act 2 a fair bit.

But then. We get to the dreaded Act 3.

Which is a bloated, disorganized, incoherent mess.

But worse than that is... Gortash and Orin are our next big bads, yeah? And they have a kind of fun intro, that makes you think ooh, the next big bads...

And then.

And then what happens?

You can kill Gortash immediately, pretty much at the beginning of Act 3. No build up. You can just do that. Sure, you can do the Steel Watch or the Ironhand Throne quests...but tell me.

Could you just go up to Ketheric Thorm and kill him at Moonrise? The answer is no. Even if you skip a lot of content, you still have to go through a million other tasks before you can face him, AND the big boss battle at the end is entirely him and Myrkul. It's EARNED.

But Gortash? Well, fuck, he's fucking dead before you can even face the final big boss.

And Orin? Sure, you have to collect a bag of hands to get into the Temple...but so what? That's maybe two or three quests, but you can circumvent them. Besides, as soon as you kill her, she vanishes from the narrative and doesn't matter. She's a somewhat easy boss battle, but the actual build up isn't intricately tied into the narrative of Act 3...because there is no inherent narrative to Ac 3.

Act 2 was about an insane man's descent into villainy after losing the people he loved most.

It was tragic, but at least thematically consistent.

The fuck is happening in Act 3?

Gortash is committing war crimes because he's tyrannical, and Orin is murdering indiscriminately and just for funsies.

at least Ketheric's entire thing is about defying the gods, using them for his own gains, and similarly, being used by them.

But Orin? She has one sympathetic scene, and then she dies immediately after.

Gortash you can just kill and then he doesn't matter, or you can side with him, and then he just dies, and doesn't matter.

It's utterly baffling and mildly infuriating.

I know Act 3 was hit with the cut content rush and all, but I feel like you could've spent your time actually bothering to build them up the way you built up Ketheric. You could've given us political quests or world building quests with Gortash, especially given how manipulative he is, or given us more madness and shadows and underground labyrinths and spooky monsters with fucking Orin.

Instead of garbage quests like the Wavemother, Mystic Carrion, Stop the Presses, and Lady Jannath's Torture House, you could've given Karlach a quest related to fixing her heart, which would've tied into Gortash's plots, or given Gale more to do than simply go to Sorcerous Sundries, or tied Cazador to some kind of patriars plot, or had Wyll's father do more than be kidnapped and then later saved.

You could've given Halsin literally any fucking quest, instead of bringing in Jaheira or Minsc. But most importantly.

I just don't get it. Gortash runs Baldur's Gate. You could've easily tied him to a lot more quests, and made him far more threatening or hard to take down. You could've also made Orin feel like an actual threat, and not just a mild nuisance.

It's just kind of...it irks me.

Not just as a Gortash stan, but as a writer, because it's so odd, to have 3 perfectly decent villains...and only flesh out one.

The other two might as well be optional mini bosses.

[katyspersonal]

Okay the last post about SoTE progress for today!! (3/3)

1) So, after I defeated Romina, I of course....

came back and finally got to that bridge area that I wanted to get to!!!

Yes, I just wanted to get to that side of the map where I saw a Horned Knight that I just really wanted to murder for some reason XD However, to my surprise, I saw another Dancing Lion boss ;-; That one was a hard battle and I could not have imagined to need to do that AGAIN ;-; But my way layed through that spot, and also I am a perfectionist..

1.1) But surprisingly, at the Stage 2, it summoned several Basylisks and started to use Deathblight! That was significant for me! So yesterday I concluded that Scarlet Rot, Deathblight and Formless Blood (? is this even a correct term) all spawn flies and plants? And whereas Romina of course raised Scarlet Rot here since the buds in Rauh church she brought here were not always rotten, some Hornsent here use same flies swarms as Mohg's people! Seeing how a Dancing Lion here uses Deathblight, but no Deathroot was anywhere on its arena, I felt even more convinced that these three powers are basically Pokemon Eevelutions of the same initial concept, 'stagnation', whereas fly sickness that fell upon Hornsent is its initial unaltered form! + I guess all Hornsent in Rauh are runaways from Belurat particularly, then?

2) I finally killed that poor particular Horned Knight whom I had eyes on as soon as I saw them!!!!! They've dropped the greatsword if I remember correctly? Happy end! XDDD

3) So... Yeah, at last, finally, FINALLY I proceeded and burnt the sealing tree. I got to explore Enir-Ilim! It was already beautiful, with all the pale yellow trees. Took me some time to adjust, though, the place was tangled from the start!

4) Yeah yeah Inquisitors are female feminism wins whatever

Vfggghgjhgv unironically though, I love subversion of the trope xD

5) Something creepy/funny happened along the way though, I was laughing so hard wtfffff gfbfgcbfg

OKAY SO at some point my joy from the new location went down because my focus shifted towards the memory of the final boss, and I just remembered how much I dreaded them.. so, I broke my vow to not fuel the negativity which is already abundant and wrote a rant(ish) post about how much that decision soured otherwise amazing DLC and ranted about Radahn (disliking about his involvement, not the character jfhyggfg). And what do you think? That frankly sour post got eaten by Tumblr!

And yes, I know, Tumblr is a broken website and all that, but listen.. It never made the posts disappear for me. Ever. It could glitch out a post with bad internet and randomly publish it later as I log in, it could glitch an ask response and not have the draft saved thus losing it. It has invisible ask glitch and glitch where same post gets reblogged from 3 to 5 times. It never just made post disappear instead of being posted even with delay or giving me error message. Never. Ever. Ever. Except for now. The one time I spoke unkindly about that choice, not just "mannn weird how it wasn't foreshadowed :("

So since I am infamous amongst my friends for my super bizarre coincidences regarding fictional characters ( @heraldofcrow and @val-of-the-north witnessed so many they can swear I am cursed) me and my friend are joking that Miquella is real and he nuked the post for talking shit about his blorbo LMAOOOOOOO FFGDHTGG WTFFFFF 🤣

6) OK sorry hghgggggf Anyways, to my DELIGHT, I discovered variant of Hornsent Knights that wore smaller variant of Dancing Lions masks and use their powers like lighting and blizzard.... fun... :/

7) *points like in the meme* HEY I KNOW THIS ITEM, IT WAS SWORD OF ABUNDANCE AND DECAY REPRESENTING MALENIA AND MIQUELLA IN BETA VARIANT! XDDD

Kind of ironic how it is called 'Euphoria', because I could not be less happy about that lore being cut, all for...... *looks around in case if Miquella is somewhere in the walls*

8) There were so many nooks.. I found a secret passageway on accident, by trying to run from an old lady spamming so many spells under my feet that I was BARELY able to move! 🤦‍♂️

That eventually led me to a part of Belurat that I didn't get to explore before! Yes, the bridge above that area was where I picked Euphoria in! But below was poisonous swamp (truly a Miyazaki lol) where I got to fight a GREEN variant of Tree Spirit! It just dropped a Horn Charm that boosted poison and Rot resistance!

^ This find, though, was interesting for me, because it is a variant of a glove that was dropped by an NPC Maddening Hand earlier! That one had eyes and dealt Frenzy and specified to be weapon of Hornsent hunted by their own as heretics, but it was also forged in yearning for revenge! So, it is not even that exceptional; for Hornsent, it is a cultural thing to stitch a weapon of revenge from the skin of the victims! Kind of like giving victims a chance to strike back, albeit in death. Very poetic.

9) There was a lot of running, and a lot of getting lost. Found Spirit Ashes of Horned Knight, too (nothing new about them in description), had to use Rainbow Stones to finally stop running in circles, found Ancient Somber Smithing Stone secret via elevator (good because I ran out of them).. and THIIIIIIS:

I wondered where was the head piece of this set! Pieces of it are scattered and I found all previous three! And, again, isn't it interesting how white birds (death) are here, whereas bird variant of Horned Knights were favored 'gold' birds? Second half of Twin Bird is gold life bird guuuuuyyys-

10) Okay, eventually I've met Leda telling me to step away! I was given the choice to summon Thiollier and Ansbach, presumably because I finished their questlines, so I did! It just felt like it would be more fun.. and it WAS! Holy shit gfgggcbch I did NOT expect the ultimate NPC showdown XD And, again, Freyja and Ansbach had an actual CONVERSATION! Look, this is a breakthrough for Soulsborne games, trust me they just DON'T have characters interact "on screen"!

10.1) HOLY SHIT THOUGH DANE ACTUALLY SAID SOMETHING o_o GDGTHCJBB

10.2) No, seriously, I just wanted to jump on Tumblr and post just this! The best fucking moment

11) Instant interest:

Which Outer God? Is it one we know of, or some random guy? I decided to not think about it too hard, yesterday it ended in an over 3 hours long brainstorming and my brain still short-circuits! But maybe later! ...I am sure at some point I'll find a similar pattern in the game itself and it will all click..

^ They were both picked by a respective final boss personally.. Simon+Brador to Ludwig+Laurence moment and so on

^ *points like in a meme AGAIN* Hey I read about it in a post, she killed all other Needle Knights! And by the way, I never found the seal (?) that revealed that lore! @val-of-the-north help bvbgggvh

12) Ansbach also had a dialogue after that battle to praise Thiollier's poisoning skills! That was lovely!

13) I kind of wondered though: why could not we summon Vengeance-Seeking Hornsent in this battle too, if we did his questline correctly? That would make fair 4 Miquella Simps vs 4 of "us" battle! Like, why just cast away the character to have him die as invader somewhere in Scarlet Rot place? I later realized that it would crash the "balance" of the final boss later, and I guess he was the "safest" to leave behind since he already had his goal (to see Messmer die)! Whereas other two target Miquella in particular!

13.1) This distribution is still a meme material for shitposts about characters doing competitive sport, fighting in an online game etc hfgfggbhcbx 4 vs 4

14) I actually checked and just like I thought, the last painting secret was only accessible after burning the seal!

Yeah no shit man we could tell

15) So.... yeah, finally, I've met the final boss. I never wanted to fight Radahn again; he somehow gave me problems even on Torrent with all the friends summons, and now I have to somehow dodge him in a small arena т.т Or maybe I am dumb and this is just my skill issue idk gfggjhhy

16) I actually got to the second stage first try somehow! It often happens how I play better when I still don't even know what I am doing XD And...

Okay, is this a good time to say that so far I only was spoilered some footage and lore, but not the voicelines? So.. I shared that story already some time, but a few months before the DLC, I was simply one of the people here 101% convinced about Miquella being kind and the good guy and all! I wasn't like aggressive or anything about it unlike some more avid fans (got stabbed by Bewitching Branch, did you? :p), but still also said "they should read something besides Berserk" or "people are reading into 'fearsome empyrean' line too deep". However, as DLC was approaching, at some point I had an extremely vivid dream where Miquella appeared to me, and his vibe was exactly like in the DLC in retrospective! Okay, maybe more sinister; not cold or evil, just... "forceful" in a similar way, "for my sake".

So, back then, not only that dream permanently altered my brain chemistry to accept and become open to "evil/manipulative Miquella" interpretations, but also helped me to Expect Anything which softened the blow regarding the DLC xd I had a shock moment, but far not as bad as other fans from 'this' camp! ...... so now, I found out that his voice is EXACTLY like it was in my dream 2 months ago. 🌛I really am cursed LMAOOOO WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME XDDDD

_____________

Like I said I am a dumb looser with skill issue so I've been trying to beat the boss for next 2+ hours and still didn't.. I will probably get them next time, for now I have to travel for a week and then work again т.т Watching what insane ways YouTube come up maybe will help..

I also one time got a grab attack where Radahn snatches Tarnished and says "I promise you a thousand years voyage of compassion" which got me flustered a little and already made it harder to play, but NOW that I think of it, Ranni also said "a thousand years voyage (under wisdom of stars") 🤔 So that's at least two Demigods hinting at how whatever order (or lack of) they establish won't/can't last forever, but only for 'thousand of years'! Good to know that any system, good or bad, will eventually crumble x) Gwyn: TRIGGERED

All in all, it is a very hard battle and I can't see shit in second phase, everything is too bright. But also oddly enough, I no longer dread new lore/final this much..? Meeting the final boss in person helped to finally accept actual Miquella and get over my prior mental image for good, and I am no longer hung up on Radahn involvement beyond 'some more foreshadowing needs to go in base game via patch now'. I start to wonder whether I simply got caught in the shared disappointment mood and effect of not having the full picture rather than actually dreaded thing from the start? It reminds me of that time when I was clowning agreeing that Malenia was unfair boss but only when I fought her like 70 times myself I realized I exagerrated hfhyggh Not saying Twin Dunces is a good battle, but just saying I don't dread it as much as I thought from spoiler and getting there MYSELF helped

[slashingdisneypasta]

Ok I'm supposed to be sleeping... But I had to write what I'm certain is going to be my favorite of all the 'what now' scenarios with the ships. Smarty-Pop.

~

This was (is?) a rather... Strange hostage situation. For everyone involved.

Poppy had always managed to bring out Smartass' softer side. Sure, he may yell at times, though it was because his buttons got pushed too many times that day, not because he was angry at her. And Poppy was the one who could calm him down while everything was going insane. So seeing him grab her so roughly and sneer in her face that night had been a shock and a half for everyone. And it was even more jarring when he announced that she wasn't allowed to leave the house anymore.

It wasn't like he had her tied up though. He had threatened to do it, but he hadn't. She wasn't even locked up in the basement or anything; Poppy still had free reign around the house, and Smartass made it clear that she was still to be respected as his girl- though nobody was to to follow any orders she tried to give, not that Poppy used that power anyways did she even realize she was given that authority? And aside from the first few days he had been gruff with her, still feeling hurt and angry that she threatened to leave, she wasn't in any real danger... Honestly, if it weren't for reason behind her house arrest, and the fact that she wasn't allowed to be alone anymore, things would have seemed normal.

But it wasn't. Everyone knew that their relationship was never going to be the same again. It was especially obvious whenever Poppy's begging could be heard behind their closed door; pleading her questionable lover to stop this horrible plan of the judge's. Begging him to see that all this was insane... Just wanting him to not be the evil weasel that he was drawn to be.

It wasn't just her that was affected by her imprisonment, too. Stupid had no idea who to listen to now; his boss and brother, or his sad little friend. Psycho, Poppy's best friend, thought it was nice that they didn't have to worry about how they'd get her out of town now. But he didn't like the way Smartass had been making her cry lately. Wheezy knew that this was wrong, but he also knew when the boss' mind was made up, so all he could do at this point was try to offer a comforting ear to Poppy. And Greasy... She wasn't sure how he felt about this, but he and Smartass' had been having a lot more conversations in Spanish lately, and they seem to be talking about her.

As the week went by, it was also clear how much of a toll this was taking on the rabbit. She just looked so war torn, like she was in a terrible battle- which she technically was. But she didn't stop trying to reach through to Smartass. Even on the day they were all packing everything up to move into their new home, Poppy still tried to stop it, claiming that, "Toontown is our home. Everything we love is here. "

Of course, it didn't work. It only made the boss more frustrated that they were, "Fallin' behind schedule. Now get in the car, 'Pops."

There wasn't a big celebration the night they came home. Everything had gone according to plan, and there was nothing but opportunity left for the weasels now... But there was still one problem that Smartass had been dreading preparing to face while the others were distracted with their own activities.

For the first time in what was far too long, Smartass was actually careful with Poppy. Quietly opening the door to the room she had been kept in and sitting down beside her before untying her- the only time he had actually used the rope against her, and it was only to make sure she didn't run while they were all gone. Brushing the stray curls away from her face, trying so hard to be gentle again just like how they were before, "It's done. It's just us now, sweetheart..."

For a few seconds, she doesn't respond. Those few seconds grated on his already uneased nerves, but when she tilted her head to look up towards him, it felt like a punch to the gut. No warmth in her eyes, yet no denial either. She was frowning at him, but not glaring either. There was no anger or disgust for what he had done... Just miserable defeat.

The sight twisted the hardened criminals heart. He didn't delude himself into thinking she'd be happy, but this? Shaking his head, Smartass decided to try to pull her in for a hug. It had been a while since he could hold her like this, and he... They needed it, "Things are gonna be different now, but it'll be good out here. I promise."

She didn't wrap her arms around him, but she didn't try to pull away. She almost felt like a limp doll in all honesty. They were so close now, he could hear her loud and clear despite her whispering voice, "It's heartbreaking, that you thought I was the only thing in town worth saving."

...

He didn't say anything, but not because he was ignoring her. The way his arms pulled her closer to him, holding her in a way that almost would have been protective, was proof that he was listening. She was still here with him. She was still within his reach, and yet she wasn't.

Things were never going to be the same.

... okay.

... Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

I am not alright.

I am so very much not all right!! 😰😱😭😰😱😭😰 SO AT FIRST, I was obsessing over the whole Dragon!Smartass/HostagePrincess!Poppy (Or Erik!Smartass x Christine!Poppy- I'm not sure which comparison I like more) thing at the start and how the other weasels were dealing with this, because all of that was delicious-

BUT THEN THAT LINE.

YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHICH LINE PAL. THE ONE YOU WROTE TO BREAK EVERYONES FRAGILE HEARTS. THIS ONE-

"It's heartbreaking, that you thought I was the only thing in town worth saving."

Oh god I remember reading this one for the first time, months ago, vividly XD How I clutched my chest Oh my goodness.

NO WONDER THIS ONE WAS YOUR FAVOURITE!! AHH! ITS AMAZING!

(i also love how g e n t l e he got with her in the second half)

[the-real-maglev]

Tower of Despair done, third try baby

And with that, I have no more reason to play this game since 100% is extremely annoying and replaying would require deleting my entire collection of Miis, which I'd rather not do. Kind of a shame, isn't it? Regardless, I must present the team that accomplished this rather mighty feat.

A defunct OC of mine, an emoji, a friend's OC and a random character I made based on a face I saw on an enemy once (who ended up becoming a liver-eating vampire creature). Personalities are Kind (which was strictly detrimental for the tower honestly), Cautious, Cool (the dodge is extremely useful for the earlier fights thanks to a lot of the enemies using incredibly painful physical attacks) and Energetic (Cheer was a major boon). This team comp was very strong and allowed me to get through with most of my party at level 44 (the exception is Cameron, the Cleric and my player character, who was level 50). With that out of the way, I'll have to share my opinions on the tower as a whole.

My favorite thing about the tower is the visuals. The backgrounds are a massive step up from the Tower of Dread with the hexagonal designs, the coloration and clouded background of the top floor being utterly spectacular. The enemy designs are also super cool, the tiled look being a very creative take on such high tier enemies. My only complaint is that they used the Imp's model and animations for the Red Fiend despite the fact it uses the stats and effects of a Fiend, which leads to the attack animation looking awful. The Colossal Serpent is definitely my favorite one visually, that gradient is super pleasing and the cracked orb is cool too.

As for gameplay, the amount of safe spot management leads the Tower of Despair to being the most engaging challenge the game has to offer. Unlike the Tower of Dread, where the first half is negligible if you were able to beat the Dark Sun in the first place, every floor here can be cause for concern if you don't strategize properly, which is naturally far more engaging. There is one big problem with this though, being Floor 6. Floor 6 is easily the hardest battle in the game, requiring incredibly careful decision making and a little bit of luck to make it through in one piece. If it were an independent superboss, I'd adore the fight. However, it's instead placed in a gauntlet with seven other bosses, pretty much forcing you to use a Cleric (I don't know how people handle the Red Fiend without Giga Resurrection) just for that one battle, not to mention the amount of resources it eats up that would be much appreciated for the two fights after (do not underestimate the Light Sage). While it may not be the hardest fight in the Tower (in fact, I beat it on my first time reaching it), the Boss Snurp is still a great fight, really testing your ability to manage priorities. All in all, a good experience but not a flawless one. Still my favorite part of the game in terms of gameplay.

As for the three attempts, the first one saw the Heavy Golem sweep my team with ease due to me being unprepared, the second had the Blue Goddesses catch me off guard with magic attacks arguably even scarier than the Fiend they accompany and the third was the one I won with.

[teamgalacticfangirl]

Why I Love and Hate Pokey Minch

When I play a game for the first time, I don't really look deeply into the storyline or over-analyze characters. However, having finished Earthbound recently, there is a character who really stood out to me and made me feel emotions I don't usually feel while playing a game. The character's name is Pokey Minch (or Porky Minch, if you're playing Mother 3. I'm just gonna call him Pokey because I haven't played Mother 3 yet).

So, why Pokey? Isn't he the character who betrayed the player? Yes, he is. In this essay, I will explain why Pokey really caught my attention and why I both love and despise him.

I did my first playthrough of Earthbound blind, meaning the story was not spoiled for me at all. As most Earthbound fans know, Pokey shows up in the first few minutes of the game, showing he's important. At first, I interpreted his personality as 'somewhat egotistical and cowardly, but kind at heart.' However, my view of him slowly shifted as the game progressed. In the Happy Happy Village, my interpretation changed to 'dishonest, rude, and a bit sadistic.' And, as time went on, I got an even more negative view of him, the end being 'a master of trickery, a liar, a sadist, a coward, and an extremely rude person.' How the heck did my perspective of him change so drastically across that single game? It's because HE changes drastically through the game, duh. But, seriously, I hated him at the end because of his betrayal and constant teasing and calling the player a 'loser.'

But I found it really disturbing that a 14-year-old boy like Pokey can turn change for the worse so quickly. I considered... WHY did he change? Let's see the words of Shigesato Itoi, the creator of Earthbound:

"Porky didn't have any friends, you know. So perhaps he'd always just been playing with Ness that whole time. Porky probably just became the way he did because his parents were so bad."

His parents were the reason he became evil. He didn't have any friends (except Ness, arguably). Even his own brother bullied him. In Mother 3, Pokey says the he wants to live to see everyone who doesn't like him dead. Oh, by the way, let's look at what he's become in Mother 3. I haven't played M3 yet, but I watched the battle with him on YouTube, and... dear God, look what he turned into. The 14-year-old boy who was the player's best friend in Earthbound is now insane and locked away in a capsule for all eternity.

Despite everything bad Pokey did, I can't help but feel really bad for him. He was abused and bullied (the Earthbound novel goes into more detail about the bullying) when he was still a relatively nice boy. He was hurt to the point where be basically became a sadistic nihilist who wanted everything gone. I think, in today's society, with all the bullying and abuse, there are children who are becoming like Pokey. That's awful.

And... there's one more reason why he turned evil. The worst reason, the one I dread talking about. The reason is the player. Yes. YOU, the player. In the encounter in Happy Happy Village in the English version, Pokey pretends to show remorse, but ends up tricking the player. However, in the Japanese version, he begs for them to be friends again and gets upset about Ness not speaking.

And this especially hits hard when you name Ness after yourself, as I did.

And, at this realization, I cried. I was part of the reason my best friend in this game had such a drastic change of heart for the worse. It's basically the game guilt tripping you.

But, wanna know what also hits hard when you name Ness after yourself? Pokey's betrayal.

He was your friend at the first of the game, then, at the end, he is the one who releases Giygas for you to fight. He even makes fun of the player at various times during the final boss battle.

And, again, this hits hard when you name Ness after yourself, because it makes it feel PERSONAL.

And that's how my complicated feelings towards Pokey came into existence. I love him for his complex character and the fact I can feel sympathy for him, but I hate him because of the betrayal and how personal it felt. I swear, a video game has never felt so... directed to me as Earthbound. Shigesato Itoi did a brilliant job making a character that I love and hate, that I can feel sympathy and disgust towards.

[tigirl-and-co]

20. A boss you think is really cool

Hmmm... that's an interesting one! I'm gonna answer with a few different bosses, bc 'cool' could mean a lot of different things

Cool design + concept: Blizzeta from Twilight Princess (her 2nd form also has what's probably my 2nd fave boss theme of all time)! I also like the in-story context for her boss battle so much! (spoilers for Twilight Princess) We know already that the mirror shards are a corrupting force, and earlier we see that the Goron Chief was corrupted by the Fused Shadows. But here we see, via freaky ass cutscene, a character we liked get corrupted in front of us- it's no longer a generic 'beat the bad guy' boss fight, it's a 'saving the innocent' battle with personal stakes! and the cutscene that initiates her battle? Iconic. Everyone in the fandom knew NOT. TAKE. MIRROR. I also have an attachment to her for very personal reasons haha. But yeah her design fucks hard, I wish the combat was as interesting as the rest of her schtick.

Cool (I admire them): Cynthia from pokemon gen 4 are u kidding me I wanted to be her SO BAD as a kid. She wiped the floor with me so many times. I made a sprite edit using her as a base when I was like 12 and used it for an avatar. If I can remember the name of my old forums I'll post it.

Cool as in 'has stuck with me': Honestly a lot of the OG Luigi's Mansion ghosts are cool bc they're like... just people, and it's real wild that the first boss of this nintendo game is somebody's dead mom. But Bogmire stands out for being kind of surprise creepy. I think about it a lot. What's its deal. Yeah it's the personification of the house's misery or whatever, but what does that MEAN. I was like 5 or 6, playing this game, and I go to a hidden graveyard and knock on a big cool gravestone and initiate this battle. For little me, it was the right mix of creepy but engaging. I was nervous but not terrified. I would buy a Bogmire plushie.

Cool as in 'I look forward to it when I play the game': The darknut minibosses from both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Yeah the Wind Waker one isn't that tough now that I have a big grown up brain, but it's still neat, and WW Darknuts are my literal all time favourite enemies to fight in any game ever. I never pass up the chance.

The Twilight Princess one, though? Holy shit. I replayed the game like 2 years ago, and that bitch STILL kinda freaked me out! YEAH you can cheese him with the bomb arrows if ur a little bitch, but if you do a genuine bona fide sword fight? That shit's fun as hell. There's this unnameable dread when you first enter that room. You can feel in your BONES that that suit of armor is going to come to life and whoop your ass.

Cool as in most badass/dramatic: oh yeah it's gotta be the Wind Waker final battle. Everything about it RULES. (SPOILERS) You're having a desperate sword fight for your life, a 10 year old kid who left home a month ago vs an ancient warlock who was so powerful the gods themselves had to seal him away.

He won, btw. Like Ganondorf literally wins in WW. It takes KoRL stepping in to DROWN BOTH HIMSELF AND GANONDORF to prevent Ganondorf from getting his wish. So you're trapped in a room, water pouring in on all sides, against a man who... doesn't even hate you. He's just doing what must be done. He could have killed Zelda, but he doesn't. He puts his sword away and backhands her instead of running her through. He's 100% just playing out his destiny. You aren't the one who defeated him the first time, you're just some kid who was dragged into this by a ghost.

And when you kill him BY STABBING YOUR GODDAMN SWORD INTO HIS HEAD, he laughs quietly before delivering one of the most iconic lines in Zelda history. Like that whole battle, from opening cutscene to the final, is so intense. So fucking intense. I'm convinced they couldn't have gotten away with half the shit they do if the game wasn't so cutesy. Easy Teen rating.

Cool as in Best: WW Molgera is 10/10. The fight itself is fun and satisfying! Molgera has a KICK ASS design! It's a fantastic and mood-setting opening cutscene! The sound design on the boss is freaky in all the right ways! It's a UNIQUE boss battle! She's got the greatest boss battle theme in the whole goddamn series and I'll DIE on this hill! She was so scary I cried while watching my dad play when I was little, and once I got to her battle on my own I not only remembered her, it took me two days to work up the courage to face her, and I felt like an absolute fucking badass once I did! In that moment, I fell well and truly in love with video games. I was Link, a child facing down an ancient wyrm, terrified but pressing on.

Also, in the original GCN version of the game, the hitbox on her tongue doesn't go away when she starts flying, so you can hookshot it and force her back into the sand.

Thank you for the ask, doubly so if you actually read all of this haha <333

[radiochick]

Ultramega OK - Soundgarden

Soundgarden’s debut album was Ultramega OK released on October 31, 1988. People have described it as Stooges/MC5 meets Zeppelin/Sabbath sound. The album has a sound of lustfulness with striking guitar riffs and a hint of dread with the vocals. Using Soundgarden’s website and the information uploaded we know this was the only album they released while under SST Records. 

Their first song Flower is quickly overtaken by someone’s vainness for themselves. I see it’s about a woman’s confidence that is soon to fade from just as life fades as you grow older. Supported by lyrics like, “Treated like a Queen, she was on borrowed self esteem,” this means she had the power, looks, and attention that anyone would dream for, but all this was to do with others’ work and not feeling confident about yourself through your own means. We could even relate this back to an actual flower: how its beauty depends on the care it receives and that it’ll slowly fade away only to wilt and die.

I’ll be sharing my two different anecdotes on how I perceive three songs and in their order. Unsure whether their songs 665 and 667 are made to be paired together; however, I picture it as your descent and rise from hell. 665 and 667 are the two numbers between the infamous 666 which can correlate to the devil or hell. The song 665 acts as a descent into madness with words that seem to be played backwards and sound that is puzzling to the mind. I imagine myself in a land of fog and dead trees with thorn bushes all around. I get transfixed on trying to find my bearings in this wasteland where I encounter the struggle to live at its highest volume. In this case we can even choose their song Beyond the Wheel to act as your trip in hell. It’s a fighting song where the warrior is singing about his prep for battle. There’s a line that goes, “There is a churning storm of hailing burning bones.” It’s easy to picture what imagery is being used, but I can interpret it as the walk up to the big castle in which you fight the final boss. 

Also in Beyond the Wheel it recites Cornell talking to his mother about how his father is trying to make a proper home by uprooting other people’s lives. How he will protect his boys by teaching them the skills they need but this is only an act to save himself. Next, listening to 667 this might be the father’s mindset for how things are in order to survive. 

For the rest of the album Soundgarden really shows their ability to switch between rhythm bearing or chord striking pieces. Talking about their song Smokestack Lightning and how it’s heys and oohs really transfix this hip moving electric zing to it. While other songs like He Didn’t are seen as a man rejoicing to the crowd of another man’s struggle with everyday mundane life of doing absolutely nothing. He literally didn’t. Nazi Driver has a hard and prophet-like sound. The song is a plan on the story that will unfold as he rises to the “prophecy” that has been foretold. 

Looking past Soundgarden’s two earlier EPs, this album is a great introduction on how their earlier punk work would transfix into a classic rock and roll sound. Many say it was only a matter of time before the crossover. As for my final opinion, I had a hard time at first getting into the music, but once I removed my preordained thoughts on how music should sound I greatly appreciated their work and what Soundgarden has offered for their debut album.

[alastryona]

he's seeing through meteor cloud again? this damn ghost bed is cursed maybe.

SHELL DIE IF SHE WAKES UP??????????? Marlene honey don't be the creepy child please. white baby you can't be talking like that.

Marlene has played the original game. a fucking parently.

Jessie is still performing loveless 🥺🥺🥺🥺 I'm torn between OUUUUGHHHHH MY GIRL EVEN IN DEATH and hey man did they pay you for your likeness to be used for this recorded show.

OH THE WHOLE PARTY GETS TO BE IN IT

DGXNFNFSJSRJ he's loving this. born to be a theater kid forced to save the world.

this has made me realize how badly we need a ff protag with the good ole sword and shield. that was sick as hell. please, as a treat.

the play foreshadowing the end of disc 1 is haunting me I'm still dreading the Scene.

I avoided listening to this song to stay completely blind of everything in the game. anyway it's a verse in and I'm about to cry.

NO YOU CANT JUST SHOW OUR AVALANCH LIKE THAT THATS NOT FAIR

aerith babe you've got a long career ahead of you so don't. don't you fuckin. please.

DMBXMGXTK BARRETS REACTION WHEN YOU PICK VARVADOS

hhhhooiuuuuughhhhhh the skywheel was so cute. I got aerith and I will be looking iluobthr rest in a bit.

OH RIGHT TSENG IS GONNA DIE SOON NO

Rufus? you weren't here before.

the whiplash I got when corneos guys started rapping. I feel disrespected poor dio's goin through it rn. also obligatory you cant be talking like that white baby at the mowhack duo.

actually wait no the battle version fucks actually. it sounds very twewy I like it I think I was just reeling from unexpected narrative rap

what monster defaced this poor cactuar with that awful toupe

WHO TATTOOD THE TONBERRY

as much as I love threatening this freak ass man and his balls. Just fucking kill him. yall coulda gutted him right there but alas.

Oh that's so much more fun than the Turks just having gotten to it first. hot potato the precious artifact.

MY BALS

CAIT NO but yay they're calling him nanaki! BUT CAIT SITH NO

imagine being here as a viewer though. you're on vacation at Disneyland when the famous crime boss offers a challenge to the most jacked theme park man in the world for ownership of Disneyland. his champion fighter is a horse jockey and his team who obliterate a small army and rounds of monsters. tbe fbi show up and fight them too. then the president shows up to fight them too. there's a talking dog lion and cat there. you have to go home and go back to work next week.

NO WHAT DO YOU MEAN CAIT SITHS EQUIPMENT WAS RETURNED TO YOU

YOU CANT TAKE AWAY MY LITTLE GUY AND JUST GIVE ME MORE SIDE QUESTS LIKE IT'S NOTHING

[polaroidpascal]

may || javi gutierrez

AO3 || MASTERLIST

pairing : boss!javi x f!reader

summary : fresh out of your last final for the semester, you learn that your application was accepted for a summer job at a fancy Majorca resort. you're excited to get to tour the place and start working. more importantly, you can finally meet your mysterious boss who you find doesn't easily leave your mind.

tags : no smut, just some set up :), no use of y/n, no description of reader besides an outfit description (all baggy-fitted clothes!), javi is your boss and gabriela works with him, copious text exchanges with friends (because for some reason, i can't stop doing that), not proofread or beta read so plz be nice 🥲

WC : ~3.4k

a/n : long time, no see 😅 life has admittedly been a little chaotic but this idea came to me and i wrote this very quickly honestly just because i got excited. this part is just a set up but there will definitely be more to come!! 🫶

“Have a nice summer,” you whisper to your professor as you hand in your final exam, the last one for the semester. He kindly smiles back offering an equally quiet “You too,” before you turn to leave the classroom.

Relief floods your body as you walk down the hallway. You hadn’t had time to fully appreciate where you were until now; studying abroad in Barcelona during the beauty of spring right at the turn of summer. 

You had only just transferred to this school this semester, finally abandoning the tedious life you knew in your hometown. The comfort of familiarity where you grew up but had ultimately trapped yourself in while searching for schools, too nervous at the time to apply anywhere else.

You finally hit your breaking point with the numbing monotony and applied to this place. The day you got the acceptance letter was one of the happiest you’ve ever had. Now, you’re far from home but the company of the friends you’ve made during the past few months makes the homesickness easier. A slight ache of dread grows in your stomach when you remember that while it's the very end of May and the academics are over, your next battle is to find a summer job. 

You open your phone to check your emails, hoping one of the places you’ve applied has gotten back to you. A few haven’t, and those that have all say some variation of, “Thank you for your application, but we are looking for something different than the skills you have to offer.” Your shoulders slump a little, disappointed that you’ll have to go applying to places again, but right before you click your phone off, a new email comes through.

It’s labeled from a hotel resort in Majorca, just about an hour’s flight away, that you had applied to after seeing their ad pop up on your phone one day. 

You skim over the preview, “Thank you for applying to Bond Resort & Spa, we appreciate your…” The suspense of the cutoff is enough for you to stop and tap on the email. “…thorough application. We are pleased to tell you that you have been accepted for employment for the duration of the summer. We excitedly await your presence on the Bond team!”

You can’t help but smile down at your phone. Out of all the places you had applied, this one was admittedly the one you wanted most. Not only were you going to be able to see yet another new place, but hotel staff duties were not something you considered especially taxing, and the pay was pretty enticing too. You excitedly opened your messages to quickly tell your friends back home the news before clicking your phone off and making your way to your car.

The next morning, you wake up to all of your friends’ congratulation texts.

WHAT?! THAT’S AMAZING

so happy for you!!

we should have a group call to celebrate. call around lunch time for us tomorrow?

we’ll see what she says when she wakes up LOL

You chuckle and write back, lol that works for me :)

They call you later that day as you’re sitting down to have your dinner, excitedly popping open your laptop and sitting at your kitchen table. You talk for a while listening to their lives, the gossip you’ve missed out on, their grades, their flings, their lives—

“But you! All the way in Spain and you have that great new job for the summer!” your friend Ella says, breaking you from your thoughts 

You chuckle a bit and blush. “Yeah, yeah…”

“No, seriously. We’re so happy for you!”

Your other friend, Sophie, jumps in, “You got out and you’re seeing the world!”

You smile back at them. “Thanks, guys.”

“So… tell us everything!”

And you do. You tell them about the friends you’ve made in your classes and all the places you’ve gotten to see. They ask countless questions about every little thing as if you haven’t sent them pictures and updates while you’ve been gone.

“And what about the job? What’s it all about?” Sophie asks.

“Uhhh, well it’s at a hotel resort in Majorca. Which is only, like, an hour flight away.”

“So you get to visit another new place?!” Ella exclaims.

“Yes,” you laugh, “Another new place. And they have places at the resort where employees can stay, so I don’t even have to find an apartment or roommates or anything. The room, water, electricity -- that’s all included as an employee benefits thing, but that’s all.”

“‘That’s all,’” Sophie mocks in air quotes and the three of you laugh. “How about the boss, did you meet them?”

“No, not yet. I just submitted my application and they told me I was hired. The owner’s got a little contact section on the website, that’s how I got my application in. Actually, I’m supposed to have a little meeting thing with him tomorrow.”

“Wait, so they covered the flights too?” Ella interjects.

“Yeah, I guess I forgot to say that, didn’t I?”

“Uh, yeah! This place must be nice if they’re covering all these things for you.”

“Okay, okay, I do admit that it’s one of the nicest resorts I’ve seen. I really can’t believe they accepted me to be honest.”

“Well, I bet they can just sense that you’ll be a great employee. I’m sure he’ll be a great boss, too. And if he’s not, we’ll fly out there and show him what’s up,” Ella says.

“Yeah, exactly,” Sophie adds, both of them nodding to you.

“Well, thanks guys, that’s really nice of you,” you laugh, and they begin to chuckle too.

Your official interview-slash-orientation meeting is scheduled for noon the next day, and as you drift off to bed that night, you wonder about how your new boss and coworkers will be.

You’re woken by your sharp alarm at 8:00, stretching and rubbing the sleep out of your eyes. You grab your phone to turn off the alarm and see more texts from your friends.

have fun today!!

and don’t forget to tell us all about your boss later too 🤭

thanks 🥹 i’ll make sure to update later <3

Your morning goes as usual, slipping into the clothes you picked out last night to save yourself from the half-awake decision making this morning. You chose a loose-fitted blouse and flowy pants complete with your comfiest sandals, topped off with a little bandana to keep your hair back and a tote bag. You decide to sit and eat at the cafe near your apartment instead of making something and grab your sunglasses on your way out the door.

The weather is not as hot as you had expected, the light wind breezing through your clothes a little bit and keeping you cool. It’s a little past 9:00 on a Sunday morning, and the streets are relatively quiet. When you reach the cafe, it's fairly empty and your food is out right away. There’s a free table near the water that you sit at, enjoying the serenity of this little place.

As you eat, you think about going home later to finish packing before you officially settle in for your stay at this resort. You pull out your phone and go to the website, scrolling through the pictures of the pools, the beach access, suite layouts… at the bottom of the website is your bosses contact information.

You click on the tab again, the same one you searched a few weeks ago when you first put in your application, showing the resort address, email, phone number, and the name of your new boss: Javi Gutierrez. Still no photo, just like the last time you checked.

Curiosity grabs hold of you, and you look up his name to see what else you can find out about the man. Nothing really shows up besides the hotel website, a LinkedIn, and a private Facebook page. All you can see is the profile picture, but it’s not a person, it’s a beautiful sunset picture of the beach.

You find some more luck under the photos tab, though. Pictures from a few articles over the years pop up but they’re unfortunately all grainy. If you squint, you can see curly brown hair, maybe even a few sun bleached streaks here and there. The skin on his arms looks tanned, the color one would get from sitting in the sun regularly. In this picture, he’s wearing a nice blue blazer, khaki pants, and brown loafers. You can at least tell he’s a pretty good looking guy.

After your little investigation, you finish up your breakfast and walk to the bus stop to make your way to the airport.

The flight is short and sweet, and everything goes well. As you walk through the airport, you see the driver with your name on a card (they did say all travel concerns would be taken care of). The driver helps you into the back of the car and drives you to the resort.

You pull up into the main circle of the place and you’re immediately overwhelmed. The building is gorgeous. It towers at least 20 stories and the detailing on the sides is fucking incredible. Each window is adorned with the most intricate and beautiful designs etched into the concrete with metal faux balconies to top it off. Leasing into the main lobby, marble pillars of angelic-looking women dressed in silk stand at attention on either side. You’ve never seen a place look so beautiful before.

The driver helps you out of the car just as he did before and you’re immediately greeted by a beautiful woman holding a clipboard.

“Hello!” she exclaims, extending her arms out for a hug. “It is so nice to meet you! My name is Gabriela, I’m the general manager of the resort.”

“Nice to meet you too, Gabriela! This place is amazing.”

“Yes, we take a lot of pride in our decor. Everything was hand-picked by the owner of the hotel. He wanted everything to be absolutely perfect.”

You get lost in a quick thought, thinking about the couple of pictures you found of him earlier and still having no idea what to expect from this man. But, this is a start. He hand-picked these stunning statues…

“Oh, don’t worry, you will get to meet him today!”

You blush, knowing you must have looked so spaced out for a second. “That’s great,” you nervously laugh off.

“Why don’t we just get started, huh? Plenty of places to show you around!”

You follow Gabriela into the lobby and marvel at the even prettier decor inside. Tall ceilings, glossy floors, beautiful floral carpets, and your favorite part of the whole room: a gigantic, sparkly, detailed and delicate chandelier dangling from the ceiling in a complicated web of crystals and lights. Your eyes must twinkle in its reflection as you stare up into it.

Gabriela smiles at you. “Beautiful, no? It’s one of my favorite parts of the whole resort.”

“It’s absolutely amazing,” you say, an almost childlike wonder lacing your words.

Gabriela chuckles and grabs a couple more papers from the front desk before leading you around the resort. She shows you the rest of the lobby as well as some of the shops on the main floor. She leads you to the hub of elevators, briefly taking you into one just to peek inside. She takes you to the pool, the little arcade, the beach walk that leads to the beach… You can’t help but silently awe at how picturesque everything looks. Like if you were to pick a postcard off a random shelf and plop yourself right into the middle of it.

You walk back to the lobby and elevators and this time she presses a button, then taps a card to the card reader. “Javi’s office is way at the top, best view from there.”

“Oh, okay,” you say. Suddenly, your palms start to sweat and you gently wipe them on your pants and your heart starts to beat a little faster. You don’t know why you’re so nervous, everything seems to be going very well and they pretty much said you already have the job.

Maybe it’s something about the mystery of this man. All you have to go off of so far are grainy article pictures and his choice of architectural decor. What if he’s actually a little blunt or rude? What if he doesn’t like you? What if you don’t like him and you’re stuck with this job and a boss you hate and—

The elevator doors open up right into his office. His desk is facing away from the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that let the light in, a beautiful blue sky adorned with giant clouds behind the glass. His chair is turned around and he stands by the window staring out to the beach and ocean below. He turns around when he hears the elevator doors open with a ding.

“Ah, you must be the new girl!” he exclaims with his arms out wide. “Come, please sit.”

He assumes his chair as you and Gabriela sit and holds out his hand to shake yours, “I’m Javi.” You take his hand and introduce yourself, trying not to let your voice catch in your throat with how dry your mouth feels. “I see you’ve already made good acquaintance with Gabriela.”

“Yes, she’s been wonderful,” you say, crossing your legs and resting your hands in your lap.

Now that you’re sitting right across from him with the nerves dying down just a little, you can fully take in the man sitting across from you. Those grainy pictures did him no justice; he may just be the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen. His hair is definitely a little sun bleached just as you suspected, faintly blonde streaks adorning a few of his curls. His hair perfectly frames his face as it falls down his head. His mustache and patchy beard look kept but natural. And his skin… where his sleeves are pushed up a bit, his beautifully tanned complexion littered with freckles stares back at you.

Whatever he has been saying to you is completely lost on you as you blankly nod back pretending to listen. You’re already entranced.

This is going to be a long summer.

“So, what did you think about the resort?” he asks, leaning on his desk with a gentle intrigue.

“I thought it was absolutely beautiful,” you say, trying not to stutter over your words after being so quiet for a minute. “Gabriela was telling me how you chose the decor?”

“Oh, yes, I did,” he shyly admits. “I got to oversee the design choices when we were building. I wanted it to be perfect.”

“Well, mission accomplished,” you chuckle and they both laugh.

“I haven’t shown her where the staff stays yet, that was our last place to stop today,” Gabriela tells Javi.

“Perfect! Would you mind if I tagged along?” he asks you.

Gabriela looks to you, both awaiting your answer. “Oh, no, I wouldn’t mind that at all!”

“Excellent. Shall we?” Javi moves to stand, pushing his chair out from under him. You and Gabriela stand as well, the three of you moving towards the elevator. You only go down two or three floors before the doors open again.

The elevator opens into a room with a few couches and tables, another wall of windows greeting you. There are some people around, some in uniforms waiting to enter the elevator and some in normal clothes lounging around. This must be some sort of common area, you think, and politely smile at the people looking at the group of you before stepping out of the elevator.

“These are the other workers here, this is one of the floors where we have employees stay,” Javi explains. “This is a common area to hang out, in case you get bored of the same four hotel walls.”

“These floors can only be accessed with your ID, it’s programmed into the card so you need to tap it in the elevator to get past a certain floor. Completely safe, no other room keys have the access,” Gabriela adds.

“We’ll get you one of those tomorrow so you can move into your room,” Javi says to you with a gentle smile.

“Thank you,” you smile back and try to ignore how it makes your heart skip a little bit.

He holds your eye contact for half a second too long before seemingly coming back to earth with a slight shake to his head. “Well, um, it was very nice to meet you,” he says and shakes your hand again, cupping it with his other hand this time too. His hands are big but soft. And warm. You feel a blush threaten to creep onto your cheeks.

“Very nice to meet you, Mr. Javi.” If you had been more calm at that moment, you might have seen the twitch of his chest with the small but sharp inhale he took when you said that, but your tunnel vision was focused on getting back into the elevator with Gabriela before you said or did something stupid.

She walks you back through the lobby to the front of the hotel again, giving you a friendly hug before helping you into the car.

Back home, you finish your half-done packing (just clothes, you were coming back when school started again in the fall) and take a quick shower.

You let the water wash the day away and your mind wanders while you gently massage the shampoo into your scalp. You can’t stop thinking about this new job. And Gabriela.

And Javi…

But you stop yourself. You’ve literally just met him. And not only is he your boss, but he is probably an extremely busy guy, owning an entire resort and all. That may just as well be the most time you’ll ever spend with the man.

You finish your shower without entertaining any more thoughts of Javi, dry off and slip into some comfy clothes, decent looking enough that you planned to wear them tomorrow as well. You settle onto the couch and order some takeout for dinner.

As if on cue, your phone starts buzzing with texts.

how did everything go today? how’s this mysterious boss?

yeah, how was it?

was he mean or hot

ella 💀

what? I WANNA KNOW

guys plz, i only met him briefly. another girl showed me around mostly

okay, was SHE hot?

ELLA 😭

lol yes ella she was very pretty

omg

what did she show you?

the lobby, the pool, the beach, and then they both showed me the living floors. the views were insane, i’ll have to send pictures as soon as i can

that’s so amazing, we’re so happy for you 🥹

we really are, it sounds amazing 🥹 but back to my earlier question… WAS. HE. HOT.

yes ella, he was hot

omfg.

Settling into your room the next day takes no time at all. You move your clothes from your suitcase into your drawers and make yourself at home with a few blankets here and there. On the dresser where your tv also sits is a neatly folded uniform, a towel folded like a little bear, and an ID with your name on it. Next to the stack is a little folded notecard. You open it up and read the inside:

We hope you feel cozy in your new room! If you ever need anything, mine and Gabriela’s desk phone numbers are written below. Welcome to the family!

— Mr. Javi

You feel a faint, dull flutter in your chest holding the note but you quickly shake it off. He’s the boss, he’s most likely written one of these for every single person who works here. Just a friendly and personal way to leave contact information in case of emergencies.

Nothing to dwell over. Nothing at all.

You grab one of the magnets on the mini fridge and hang the note there in case you ever need it. 

But your mind wanders like it always does and this time you can’t reign it in quick enough.

Mr. Javi….

Yeah, this is definitely gonna be a long summer.

a/n : please lmk what you think! more parts will be coming, i promise! and thank u for reading 🫶

[teenageheartthrob]

Pill

Category: Angst with a happy ending (kind of).

Ship: Platonic! Best friend! Tony Stark x Reader

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of death and suicide, pills.

Summary: Tony has come up with a way to save you from Thanos, but the cost is high. Will it mean losing your best friend?

Word Count: 2 k

A/N: Takes place during the events of Infinity War. Spoiler alert: some events don't occur as they do in the original plot. E.g- characters aren't in their original locations during the snap, Tony isn't involved with Pepper and Peter Parker isn't present during the snap.

#twogiftony

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

You knew this was the fight you’d never discussed. The one every member of your unconventional, superhero family dreaded, but would never shy away from. The one you would likely never come back from. 

You knew it, they knew it. 

Tony Stark, as macabre as ever, knew it too. As such, he had begun to fashion a failsafe after the Avengers became aware of Thanos’ plot to wipe out half of all life on Earth. 

The plan, he announced, was poison. A small cyanide pill handed to everyone before the mission, which could be voluntarily taken in the event of the team’s loss. 

The method of demise had Tony’s dramatic flare written all over it. 

“Don’t worry if your heart stops beating or your skin turns yellow or something,” the billionaire chuckled tensely. “That is kind of the point after all...”

Peter sat beside you looking sick, as though he’d already taken the pill. 

‘Barely 16 and he’s already seen so much pain,’ you thought to yourself. To make matters worse, he was now being asked to face the high likelihood of his own death, through one form or another. 

Barely a word was spoken for the rest of the meeting, save for Nick Fury and Steve Rogers who were unyielding in their spew of battle strategies. Silence echoed through the glass walls of the conference room as the meeting came to a close.

Everyone considered the finality of what was to come, only a few accepted it full heartedly. 

This club was almost exclusively made of up those either frozen in ice or whom had become government experiments 70 years ago. However, Dr. Banner’s willingness to lay down his life for the good of humanity was the exception to this. 

One by one, the team filed out of the room. Clint took Natasha’s hand in his own and questioned whether by the end of the mission, his children would be living with their Russian super-spy godmother. 

You resisted the urge to grit your teeth as you heard the Falcon shuffle his way out of the room, a habit you two had bickered about many-a time.  With a gentle massage of your temples, you decided you had bigger things to worry about than Sam Wilson lifting his feet to walk. 

As your eyes were closed, you missed Tony rising from his chair opposite you, and instead only heard the faint sound of popping knees. His cologne filled your nose and you allowed yourself to let down your guard a little. Tony was family after all. 

Not in the traditional sense. You hadn’t assigned him a role and pretended that he’d held it all your life, and it wasn’t like he was the only family you had. Your home life was actually pretty normal, but you knew protecting those you loved meant removing yourself from their lives a little more. There wasn’t a day that went by where you didn’t feel guilt over that decision. However the guilt you would feel for not joining the team, would have vastly overweighed that any day.

Tony Stark simply held an honorary position in your family, not an offical one. Despite having a few years on you, he was your best friend and felt more like a brother than a boss. You trusted him with your life and he trusted you with his.

A warm hand on your knee prompted you to open your eyes, and as they met those of the man in front of you, it conveyed everything that needed to be said. 

“Just promise me that if I tell you to do something, you will. I can’t…I can’t let you go like that, at his hand.”

Taking his hand in yours, you confirmed his request. 

“I’m so sorry you’re in this mess,” he whispered to you.

“Tony, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

“You’re too good for this team, Y/N. Too good for me.”

…

The battle raged around you and keeping track of everyone proved nearly impossible. Anyone you could had joined this fight. The Avengers were fighting on a scale unlike any you’d seen before- in both numbers and heart. 

No one was about to let this be the final battle. 

You had quickly worked out that you were better off as a defence, letting a few people lead the charge against Thanos and instead fighting from the middle of the pack. 

A head wound you’d sustained earlier refused to stop dripping blood down your face, you tasted it's metallic flavour on your tongue. 

The comms were effectively useless as each member of the team barked orders or information over each other, creating a jumble of indistinguishable voices.

You had no idea where anyone was or whether you were winning.

God, you hoped you were. 

You were following through on a kick to the enemy when your eyes spotted the God of Thunder charging towards Thanos in the distance. Bracing your knees, you prepared to sprint towards your ally, doing whatever you could to help. 

A hand on your shoulder caused you to turn around quickly, weapon drawn and ready to strike. 

Your eyes met Tony’s as you spun, his hand blocking the attack. 

In that moment, it seemed like time had stopped, despite the noise. Staring into his eyes, not a word was spoken. 

Tony’s suit was falling off in pieces, leaving him exposed, burnt and bleeding, but you knew you didn’t look much better yourself. 

Concern and desperation was carved deep in his face. He knew he was going to lose you, one way or another. 

Abruptly snapping back to reality, you remembered you had a job to do. 

“TONY! THEY'RE GETTING AWAY!”

“Let them!” He shouted back at you. 

“WHAT?! ARE YOU INSANE?! TONY WE-“

“Y/N, let them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Y/N, listen to me. It’s over, we’ve lost. I don’t know how much time we have left but I need to make sure you get out of this thing safely.”

Your heart sunk as you looked around you, noticing that despite the extent of the attack, Thanos still had greater numbers. 

He was right. It was hopeless. 

“Tony, I-”

“Do you have the pill?”

“Tony, please…”

“FUCK, Y/N, WE DON'T HAVE TIME! DO YOU HAVE THE PILL?!”

“YES!” You yelled back to him, showing him for proof. 

Tears were now freely flowing down his face and it was only in that moment that the gravity of what was about to happen really hit you. 

You were going to die. 

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. Please, just let me help you with this so I know you’ll be far away from this mess…”

You nodded, there was nothing else either of you could do. 

Tony wiped the now dried blood from your face and looked at you, as though he was trying to commit your face to memory. 

An uproar of desperate screams engulfed you ears and you knew Thanos had the stones, your quick glance only confirmed it. 

It was too late. 

“Hold my hand...please?” Your best friend, the man you viewed as a brother, asked you tearily. Of course, you took his right hand in your left and smiled as much as you could, trying to ease his nerves. There was no point, you were both terrified. 

Your sweat was slowly dissolving the pill in your hand but you didn’t care, or notice.

“I’m so sorry,” you uttered, more tears sliding down your red, wet cheeks.

“Don’t worry about me,” Tony glanced to the purple villain, who was ready to make his move. “At least I’ll see dear old mum and dad again.”

“I love you Tony.”

You took one last look at the man, tears blurring your vision. You suddenly became very conscious of your heart beating in your ears. 

-Boom-

 As you closed your eyes, you felt Tony take a shaky breath beside you.

-Boom-

He squeezed your hand, his final goodbye.

-Boom-

Snap.

Nothing. 

You heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing. Strange had told you to expect another universe, an alternate dimension, but instead there was nothing.

Cautiously, you opened your eyes.

Thanos was gone, a portal closing where he had stood. 

He had wiped out half of all Earth-dwelling life and left, just like that. 

Anger, sadness and hatred swelled in your gut. As a reflex, you clenched your fists tighter. 

In your right, the remaining pill crumbled, powder soaked with sweat. 

In your left, nothing. 

Tony.

Tony was gone. 

Frantically your eyes darted around you, searching. 

Piles of dust floated through the air where your friends had been standing. You knew what that meant but you couldn’t sift through all those missing in a single moment. You had to find Tony. 

‘He can’t have…gone,’ you realised - there was no dust. 

He was there, he had to be. Logically, you knew the dust simply could have vanished sooner than some of the others, but your emotions were driving you. You had to find him. 

You ran, faster than you ever had before, eyes not stopping for a minute until they found him. 

Tony. 

His name was on a loop in your head and your matching cries broke even your own heart when you heard them. 

Others around you cried or stared. No one had ever been in a fight like this, where everyone had lost so much. 

Steve stood alone, where previously Bucky stood by his side. 

Rocket was screaming at Nebula, they lost everyone. 

Thor stood stoically, a look of sympathy on his face, which was quickly replaced by a burning rage - something you were all feeling. 

Tony. You had to find Tony. 

Unexpectedly, you fell forwards, tripping on a discarded weapon. You were blind to your surroundings and all but the thing you sought. 

One last strangled cry of his name left your mouth before you collapsed into guttural sobs. You had never cried like this before, and doubted you ever would again. 

You should have taken the damn pill when Tony told you to.

“Y/N!” 

You were hallucinating, you had to be. You knew grief could do that to a person. 

“Y/N!” 

Covering your ears, you continued to scream. Anything to block out his voice. He was gone, it wasn’t real.

“Y/N! Oh my god…” Tony fell beside you, pulling you into his chest. He pulled your hands from your face and forced your eyes into him, searching.

“Tony…”

“You didn’t take it did you?!”

Stared at him, that’s all you could do. Shock had taken over your body. 

“Y/N, fucking answer me! Did you take the pill?!”

You shook your head. 

Tony collapsed with you still in his arms, exhaustion and panic too much for his body to handle. You were safe, he could rest.

…

It would take the world 5 years to come back from the destruction Thanos brought upon Earth.

Each day you mourned your lost family and friends, all those who didn’t deserve to die. 

Each day Tony was in hospital, you were with him. For the first year, he didn’t let you leave his side. He had constant tabs on everyone and you were his top priority. 

His PTSD was some of the worst you’d seen as a result of the snap. But you were there for him, just as you were before, and continued to be after he saved the world. 

You’d saved each other, and that was a victory you could live with. 

-----------

[katyspersonal]

sorry if the "use later" meant you weren't taking them now, but if you are : 6, 10, 25, 44, and maybe 50 ? (i don't remember you talking about a hunter of your own, so if not, general hcs about the protag ?)

Ahhh don't worry about this! I AM taking the asks, I am just stacking them for later because my ask answering habits are chaotic x)

(Asks from this ( x ) meme)

6) League or Vilebloods?

This question gave me flashback on having made a reasonable point about why if Valtr and Bloody Crow have met, they'd experience the strongest wish to kill the other in their lives fhsdhfs I have a lot to say about the philosophy and goal of both covenants! To condense it as much as possible, I say Vilebloods, because they at least have the reasonable goal! They are a split from Pthumerians that felt entitled to crown a female monarch and carry the Child of Blood (who is a Great One on "their" terms)! Yes, they seek, consume and maybe even cultivate Human Dregs, but they have the vision of the new era... even if drenched in blood and sin.

League guys are battling the thing that can't be ultimately defeated - the evil within men, so their end goal would be destruction of life itself! I do feel bad for what the poor idiots took upon themselves, this is a twisted trap of existence, and they are sadly smarter. Burdened with something you are not SUPPOSED to get a glimpse of! But, Vilebloods have THE plan, I respect this more. (I also respect the ask meme's creator for pitting these covenants against each other, this is a very deep observation!)

10) Sexiest boss?

I am not so sure ;-; When it comes to sexual attraction, most of my preferences fall on NPCs and not bosses! I think Amygdala is the closest one to the definition! Maria, Micolash and Ebrietas are definitely up here, but in this case "sexyness" comes from the sense of "knowing" the character! With Amygdala I think it is more genuine in terms of appreciating the boss through this lence. It is not 'omg I am fighting THIS person 😳' but it is 'omg all these arms and tendrills 😳'!

25) Upper Cathedral Ward Y/N

I never, ever, ever, EVER want to see that STUPID fucking bitchass fucker Brainsucker in the long narrow hallway that keeps STUNLOCKING ME WITH its STUPID fucking spell EVER, EVER, EVER AGAIN.

YEAH YEAH WHATEVER fshfhdsfs I always do this area anyways and I love its atmosphere and the sound, but it HURTS. I am also probably the only person alive who is struggling with Celestial fucking Emissary!!!! It is a love-hate relationship with this area, but I say yes because I physically can't bring myself to skip it!

^ Love the way it looks through sequence breaking, too!

44) Have you read any of the comics?

No, and I don't think I ever will be able to :') My country has some.... """issues""" with overseas merch to say the least fsdhfghfsd Granted, from what I've seen the comics IS awesome! It is exactly the way I want licensed products to be: instead of giving you lore on unexplored canon characters they add original characters, instead of shoving the lore answers onto you they respect the vagueness of the original and continue it... I always dreaded stuff for my previous fandoms such as official comics, infodrops through official Twitters, spin-offs etc that gave too much information because I don't like to cOnSuMe MoRe CoNtEnT uwu, I like enough space for speculation and imagination left! With Bloodborne comics, I could tell this is the case!

( x ) ^ This alone I respect very much! I love it when the writer has their own idea but doesn't hammer it down and leaves it up to the audience to figure it OR not. This IS how Miyazaki writes his own stories - he knows what the story IS, but won't straight up tell us XD This is what I loved about original Matrix trilogy - creators have had a certain idea in mind but the story was crafted in such a way that it was up to the audience to find it out, or even find their own interpretations! And this is why I refused to watch Owl House - I heard that the creator got super controlling and defensive about how audience """should""" read and feel towards the villain. I've sidetracked but I can tell from a mile that if I ever lay my hands on these comics it must be worth my time all things considered!

50) Tell me about your hunters!

Oh boy... I am a total 'Paleblood Hunter is not loreless' truther x) There IS a "canon" Paleblood Hunter character, unlike in the case of other Soulsborne games, and it doesn't let me get creative XD There is a guy with white hair and grey eyes that is probably a reincarnation of Laurence ( x ) , having ties with Cainhurst but also coming from the 'foreign country' that was a home of Brador ( x ) and like 80% of the Healing Church's staff!

This is tormenting me. This is eating me. I have such deeply-rooted insecurity about "bringing in something from myself" that @val-of-the-north has had to FIGHT me to keep my """irrelevant""" OCs for the fandom. xD And stuff like this perfectly nurtures that side of me, as I jealously watch every normal fan have fun with THEIR version of protag like:

Nonetheless, I actually DO have a Hunter that I love to use and recreate at any lost safe or restarted game! This is Rin!

Or Rena, or Rina.... something along these lines fhfhds I've first shared about her here ( x ), and since then not much about her changed! I still like the worst fucking backstory where her overly cautiousness at first made her kill one of like three sane people in the setting, the developing sense of justice and killing a person full of shit on the spot, the worst bloodtinge and absence of guns use etc!

The thing that changed is weaponry style! Now I got fixation on having every variant of Ludwig's Holy Blade (normal/arcane, bolt, fire, poisoned). So picture her having collection of the same sword but with different "element" XD I'll take more screenshots of her! Currently she has clouded eyes effect (fell victim of my experiments with Save Editing), I probably should fix it fdfdsfds But, yeah... I like playing as her! I tried to create 'default Paleblood Hunter' for male playable character and it didn't feel as satisfying as I thought it would!

[earnestly-endlessly]

*flies in like magneto* can i get some exes to lovers™?

Do I have some exes to lovers fics for you? Yes I certainly do. It seems that the cherik fandom loves some exes to lovers cherik and I don't blame anyone because this ship really calls for all the angst. I hope you enjoy this list.

Exes to Lovers AU

Bound – FuryRed

Summary: Is there anything worse than someone else’s wedding? Well, perhaps your sister’s wedding- where the groom just has to invite his boss and that man just happens to be your ex-boyfriend; a person you had an extremely passionate and tumultuous relationship with that ended badly.

Charles hadn’t seen Erik for a year by the time Raven had told him about the wedding. He wasn’t looking forward to the occasion, particularly when Raven explained that they would be celebrating the event with a two-week extravaganza at a luxury hotel, meaning that Charles would be forced to spend a whole fortnight with the man who he’d given everything to; the man who had ultimately broken his heart…

Preheat to 350 (just for you remix) – ikeracity

Summary: Charles realizes he's in love with Erik. But there's one tiny little problem: he just broke up with Erik.

Thread Through a Needle – Black_Betty

Summary: Erik and Charles are broken up. Neither of them want to be.

Carry Me Anew (Frost & Darkholme Remix) – kianspo

Summary: While working as a model for Raven and Emma's clothing line, Erik experiences a strong attraction to his shoot partner. These things happen, except Erik has a boyfriend, who does not take this at all well.

Linger like a tattoo kiss – ikeracity

Summary: Six months apart gives Erik a lot of time to think about what he really wants.

(Erik's POV from Carry Me Anew (Frost & Darkholme Remix) by kianspo)

Symphysis – ikeracity

Summary: After Charles and Erik broke up four months ago, Charles convinced himself he'd never see Erik again. But life has a funny way of bringing people back together.

Call/Response – phalangine

Summary: Charles and Erik have a real conversation for the first time since breaking up. Charles is looking to avoid confrontation. Erik is not.

Regression Therapy – Fantine_Black

Summary: O, God, he’d made a terrible mistake. Whatever he’d expected to find here, Erik was still Erik, a man he’d moved continents to avoid. In retrospect, that felt like a rather good idea…

Four years after Charles walked away from Professor Lehnsherr, the two meet again for a drink.

Because things are better the second time round, aren't they?

Forever is Only a Drunk Dial Away – bettysofia

Summary: Charles is sad and drunk and stalking Erik's Instagram.

Shop Space – Caradee

Summary: Charles and Erik break up but still meet at their favorite coffee shop and manage a completely friendly relationship. The kids who work the coffee shop don't understand it, Charles' overprotective twin brother doesn't understand it, and even Charles doesn't understand it. Then, Erik shows up with a new date, someone who seems to be everything that Charles is not.

How will the Professor handle the surprising heartbreak that comes seeing Erik with someone else?

Mutant House at Dead Kings College – mabyn

Summary: When it comes to romance, Charles has terrible timing.

Can You Feel My Heart – FuryRed

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr hates Charles Xavier.

It’s as true as the words written on the wall in the bathroom at the university that Erik attends. Erik sees them one day- accompanied by a crude drawing of Erik and Charles glaring at each other- and recognises the truth of the sentence, and smiles.

He hates Charles.

Probably…

Believe (One More Time) – luninosity

Summary: For the prompt, Charles and Erik dated during college and had a bitter break-up right before graduation. It's five years later and they both meet again at their class's reunion for a weekend. Someone was even stupid enough to have them room with each other for the weekend...

Old Flame Burning – TurtleTotem

Summary: It's ridiculous for Charles to dread meeting the best man at his sister's wedding, just because he shares a name with Charles's ex. It's not as though it could possibly be the same Erik.

Don’t speak to the bartender – Wild_Imagination

Summary: Logan is a bartender, it's a gloomy evening, and in his bar there's someone with a broken heart. But this is not a movie.

Right?

Somewhere I’m Going & Have Never Been Before – Yahtzee

Summary: In late December 1984, Charles falls victim to the terrible pandemic sweeping across the globe. He's sick, probably dying, and utterly alone in an isolated cabin...until he's not.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland – TurtleTotem

Summary: Charles hasn't seen Erik since their devastating breakup ten years ago. He's certainly the last person he expects to run into at a Christmas lights display.

Lean On Me – SpiritsFlame

Summary: Ten years ago, Charles and Erik split up, dividing their six kids between them. None of them expect them to meet at summer camp. And no one could have predicted the results.

It was a yellow umbrella spring – ikeracity

Summary: Three years after Charles left for Oxford, Erik discovers that Charles is coming back to New York.

Second chances are wonderful things.

My heart above my head – annejumps

Summary: Emma thinks her coworker Erik and her friend and fellow telepath Charles should get together. No one expects things to get so intense so quickly.

The Edge of What Doesn’t End – populuxe

Summary: When a mysterious object appears on the moon, Moira MacTaggert calls in two experts with very specific mutations to investigate.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, after years of breaking up and getting back together again, those two experts have finally broken up for good—and they’re the last people in the world who should be stuck together on a spaceship.

Exit Wounds – LemonadeGarden

Summary: It's been eight months since Charles and Erik had a fight that broke apart their marriage. When a mutant rights protest goes awry and Charles begins to get sick, past memories and present obstacles begin to blur the lines of their ideological differences.

Alternatively: Charles and Erik learn how to fall in love again in troubled times.

Note: Unfinished

11 Days, 8 Hours and 12 Minutes (or Bruises, Stupidity and Anger Management) – ximeria

Summary: For six months, Erik and Charles have been the disgustingly happy couple of the school. Considering their pigheadedness and general communication skills (or lack thereof), things are bound to go boom at some point.

Moon Song – ikeracity

Summary: Werewolf AU. When Charles is captured by hunters, Erik and his pack go after him. It turns out there might be some room for redemption left for both of them after all.

I will Never Stop Loving You – swoopswoop

Summary: Erik and Charles split up three years ago but Erik never really got over it and then one day when the man who walked out of his life three years ago is walking down the street towards him, Erik sees an opportunity to mend fences.

Please leave your message after the tone – ikeracity

Summary: Spending his evening getting shitfaced and pining over Erik seems like a totally productive use of Charles's time. Luckily, it turns out to be a better idea than it sounds.

When the Spell Breaks – kianspo

Summary: Erik, a high-profile lawyer with a successful career, meets a 21-year-old grad student in a bar, and within a few short months marries him. He and Charles are blissfully happy, until Erik's boss runs a background check on Charles and discovers he's been cheating on Erik. Charles denies everything, as there was no affair, but Erik doesn't believe him and throws him out. As Charles tries to figure out how to survive and stay at school that he can no longer afford and makes a lot of bad if not plain dangerous choices, Erik has to fight his own battle of discovering the truth and winning Charles back.

We have not touched the stars, nor are we forgiven (the things you love don’t last remix) – hllfire

Summary: Charles hands Erik the signed divorce papers, but Erik has changed his mind. Too late, it seems. All he can do is go forward with the divorce.

A year later, Charles comes back, and Erik can't help but wanting to see him. The only problem is things don't go like Erik had planned.

Suddenly There’ll Be a Blizzard (Let it Snow Remix) – kianspo

Summary: Charles was never at his best while jetlagged, but locking himself out in a snowstorm while barely dressed might be a new low. The last thing he expected was to be rescued by his high school nemesis, the man he hadn't seen in over ten years, who might have broken his heart for good once upon a time.

Write this number down (you can call it anytime) – pocky_slash

Summary: When Erik upsets his children, they have a habit of running away from home--and straight to Charles' school for cookies and consolation. Charles doesn't mind the visitors, but as they appear more and more frequently, he realizes that sooner or later, he and Erik are going to have to talk about what happened on the beach and what it means for their future and the future of Erik's children.

All we do is break up (and make up) – Stuckyl0v3r

Summary: "So instead of making the most out of this next months, because you don't know where either of you is going to end up, you decided to stay away from each other to get used to the feeling?" Hank summed up, stopping in front of the class. Charles nodded his head confidently and beamed at him, but somehow his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Yes, something like that."

Well, that was the most idiotic plan Hank's ever heard.

Three wheels of cheese and a Great White – ximeria

Summary: Charles and Erik were friends with benefits in college.

They went their separate ways and 18 years later, they run into each other in New York.

The sex was never a problem back in college - and sex was all it had been. But now Erik is a divorced father and Charles has admitted to himself he needs more than just sex in a relationship. So in their usual round-about way they try to navigate becoming friends after so many years. The whole quest is aided by Raven, Edie, Wanda and Pietro (and a large number of shark jokes).

[leggerefiore]

Ingo had his reunion with a runaway lover who took his kid now I've come with a scenario for Emmet who's washed up and angry however he copes it can't be good either but Ingo taking his single battle line as he knows Emmet is taking his double battle line demolishing trainers in a manner of coping and letting him but Ingo going into a fit of shock when the next trainer who walks in is Emmet's runaway partner holding each of his nieces and they admit pulling Ingo out of his stupor that life wasn't they thought when they ran away with everyone at their throat with their stories of abuse given no one would believe a subway boss could be so cruel and some even lashing out at them for leaving such a loving partner as Emmet sounded, raising two girls was near impossible alone when having to work on top of it to provide also, and the dreadful sense of feeling physically, mentally and emotionally alone Emmet's ways and punishments have left them since running away it just wasn't worth trying anymore so they've come crawling back further admitting they couldn't make it an inch through Emmet's double battle line with how ramped up its gotten with just stronger and stronger trainers so they had to come to Ingo's so he could bring them to Emmet they sneer they wish they didn't have to come back and Ingo tells them to keep that thought to their self and they're lucky the girls don't seem old enough to understand or know the damage they've caused separating them so young and then letting them grow without their father but thanks them coldly almost hollow for returning and he'll gladly bring them to Emmet

Emmet had been stewing in his thoughts on his line. Trainers were slower since he had raised the difficulty level. Working, breeding, and training were all that consumed his mind when he managed to depart from his thoughts of his lost partner and twin girls. They had been so good, so obedient. Receptive of his love, and understanding of why they couldn't leave. It was all a farce. The minute the opportunity arose, they dashed with his precious children in tow. It was bad enough to lose them, but the girls made from his showings of love? Maddening. The train came to stop and he sighed.

The doors on the side of the car opened, however, catching his attention. His brother shoved someone in while turning around to help some children. Emmet stared at the person for a moment before realising. "Darling!" his feet carried him over to you as he threw his arms around you neck. Tears welled in his eyes as both hot rage and frigid sadness ate at his heart. You were in so much trouble. His eyes travelled to his brother to see him loading two small girls onto the train. Their matching silver hair and eyes that were just perfect imitations of his partner made him gasp. His girls! "Sweethearts! It's daddy! I'm your daddy!" he knelt down to their heights and extended his arms. The girls looked confused for a moment before the younger dashed into his arms yelling his title. The older was soon to mimic her younger sister and ran over to him, too. His arms engulfed both of them as he dreamily sighed. His family.

Ingo monitored the scene closely. "Emmet, I would be glad to watch over the girls tonight if you need some alone time with them," he offered, knowing what his brother would do to you. You swallowed as Emmet gazed at his brother. Nodding, he beamed, "Thank you! You partner is such a good parent, and I'm sure they'd love to meet their cousin." Ingo gave a small smile at that. Yes, he was certain that his son would love to meet his cousins, too. His partner was sure to help the confused girls become more adjusted to their new addition. The toddlers did not want to let go of their father, but alas they must separate. He does give them each a kiss to the cheek before he pulls away.

His eyes are cold as he reexamines you. "They returned willingly. Two girls aren't easy to raise alone," Ingo calls out, grabbing a hand from each child. Emmet grins maliciously as the train slows to a stop again. The girls and Ingo depart, leaving you alone with the man. He's slipping his tie off as he approaches you. "My darling has been naughty, naughty," he sings, "Running away is one thing, but disappearing for three years with our child is another." Instinctually, you offer your wrists for him to bind. The soft fabric of the tie comes around in careful loops. He coos, "You remember so well! Everything will be back to normal soon!"

He wasn't wrong. The status quo was once again to return. Your children were at least blissfully unaware of what monster called itself their father.