#NEW CHAP UP

[verdantdaises]

I watch it all from afar (heaven help me)

Chapter 5: Cause I don't wanna be alone with me

"But the more he started to feel his heart thump out of his chest whenever he touched him, Bradley knew it was getting much more… personal than he had expected. He had even given him a copy of his apartment key in case of an emergency, and if that wasn’t personal, what was? Bradley was no expert in close friendships but he had to say they felt like every day they got closer and closer to toeing an invisible line towards a cliff. And Bradley didn’t know what was laying at the bottom."

[fudgecake-charlie]

"rebelle painter has an in depth brush engine to simulate traditional painting techniques" is all well and good until you only use your digital painting method. at least the impasto is really pretty

[choccy-milky]

Random but when you post something I always get excited thinking it's a new chapter 😭 I'm literally waiting by my phone for it

BAHAH IM SORRY ANONS ITS COMING SOON I SWEAR!! but im glad ur looking forward to it!! my damn outline ALONE is 21k words (tho im really happy with it and im excited for yall to read it) and although i still have to finish it + the drawing, HERES PART OF THE WIP IN THE MEANTIME🥹💖(also anon, who cares if u think youre terrible at art... DRAW ANYWAY!!!😤& ILY TOO💖 )

im definitely gonna write them as adults, and have ideas for some side stories i wanna do!!! the one i mentioned in the wattpad comment would be in writing, because i wanna write about seb and clora finally deciding to have their first kid (along with the process😏😏😏😏) and how sebs breeding kink ass will react to doing the devils tango with clora when its ACTUALLY gonna make a baby LMAO. plus how his overprotective ass will act when he finds out clora is LEGIT pregnant while theyre travelling/on the JOB, rather than just a pregnancy scare like last time BAHA. so yes, overly excited seb will defs be a thing in the future LOL. (though there are things i am just gonna keep in comic form, like their kids and stuff, bc i dont rly have ideas for any sort of epilogue with that. so if ppl wanna know about seb and cloras kids, they can just look at my art once i finally draw and post them ^^)

IVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TOO and the hairclip would defs be different!! i just havent decided what it would be.... (bro's about go buy her something bedazzled from ardene or claire's or some shit 💀💀LMAO) as for the mascots, the snake for seb would defs still apply bc ive decided its their mascot for the school football team. but for clora no, i dont think bird/raven imagery would be a thing......tho maybe the school mascots can be the snakes AND ravens LMFAO. and then i can have seb look directly into the camera and say "well, clora, looks like we really are The Raven and the Snake."

@4ever2000lover BAHAHA YOULL SEE YOUR NIECE AND NEPHEW SOON I SWEAR!!! i have the sketches but i plan to finish them + post them once im done the last chap of my fic. but they ARE coming, i promise👀👀(and im rly excited for everyone to see their daughter and her name, bc im so proud of it LMAO. i used up my entire big brain quota for the year on it +the reasoning behind it🧠)

also @blue-space-dragon TYSM IM GLAD U LIKE MY ART AND HOW I DRAW MY BLORBOS🥹💖AND ALSO THAT U FIND IT APPETIZING LMAO😋💖

[naarinn]

I think It's pretty obvious who raised Becky lol

[jtl-fics]

Fluent Freshman - 38

PREV

If it weren’t for the fact that he and Riko had stumbled across a truly traumatizing video of his birth that they had watched secretly in Tetsuji’s office when he was away on a business trip one weekend Kevin would believe that he was born with an Exy racquet in his hand. But the image that is seared into his retinas to this day has proven that he came into this world empty handed.

That doesn’t change the fact that Kevin has spent the majority of his life utterly and completely submersed in Exy. He was trained as a Raven, he was court, he was a champion as both a Raven as a Fox and if he had his way he’d leave college with more Championships under the orange and white than the black and red.

Exy was everything in the world to him.

He could overlook many personality defects if someone brought something to the Court.

Apathetic five foot nothing who was more likely to stab him than shake his hand? Well, he’s the best goalie that Kevin had ever seen in his entire life (and that was saying something).

Tight ass who has anger management issues and will not shut the fuck up about his girlfriend now that he’s not even allowed to have? Well, he is a very solid backliner who has excellent ball handling skills (even if Aaron keeps telling him to stop saying it like that or why he keeps yelling that he’s straight).

Overly touchy, too emotional, will not shut the fuck up about his fiancé in Germany? Well, he is a very solid backliner who is great at rebounds (Kevin doesn’t get why Nicky gets mad when he says that or why he brings up Erik).

Guy who actively dislikes him and is dying for any chance to punch him and also being overly attached to his friends? He’s a great enforcer on the court and had the stamina to play far longer than the other two backliners (Why Dan always said “yeah he does” whenever Kevin commented on Matt’s stamina he will never understand, and he also doesn’t want to.)

Suspicious kid from Millport with a mouth that could strip paint and a past so shrouded in mystery that it even had Andrew perking up in interest? Well, he’s the fastest Striker in the game and the only person that has ever kept up with Kevin’s obsession with the sport. (There was the minor downside that he was the son of the Butcher and almost died before the championships, but Neil pulled through.)

He tolerated all of them and now they’re his best friends.

There are some who he does find personally objectionable but so long as Jack and Sheena manage to continue to be good on the court he doesn’t care about the many many faults in their personalities. They’re his teammates, they aren’t his friends.

He accepted that he might not like any of the others that came onto the team. For the most part he had never given a shit about before the Foxes, content with his brotherhood with Riko even if it wasn’t…perfect. Then he became friends with FF and FF had done him a truly large favor and Kevin wanted to pay that back the best way he knew how. Through his truly infallible health advice and through perfectly crafted smoothies.

Then Daniel appeared with the truth that FF truly met all requirements to be a Fox and Kevin tasted his own smoothie for the first time.

He considered both revelations to be equally upsetting.

Still…

FF was one of the best dealers Kevin had ever had the pleasure to be on Court with. The man knew his position well and interrupted offensives with an enviable ease that made Kevin wish to possibly strap some sort of device onto him and figure out how he did certain things.

It wasn’t that far off to believe that a man raised in the same environment as FF could possibly have similar talents and since Lisa fucked off back to some small town cult they really did need a good sub. Sheena was a good offensive dealer but they had games coming up where defense would be imperative and FF did not have the stamina for a full game and likely would not for quite some time considering he’d be recovering from being stabbed.

So, he’d defended Daniel’s right to try out.

At first, he had felt vindicated. Daniel kept up quite well during the initial warm-ups. Kept pace with Jack, Sheena, Aaron, Andrew, and Nicky. Kevin had been bringing up the rear mostly to make sure that Andrew didn’t stab the guy during warm-ups.

Then it was time for the first precision drill.

The other thing about how Kevin was raised is that he was raised surrounded only by the best of the best. The Ravens were at the top of the Collegiate hierarchy. The National Court used their stadium for practice.

The worst Exy that Kevin had ever seen in his entire life up until the moment that Daniel took hold of an Exy racquet was still only the worst team in Collegiate Division 1 Exy.

Then Kevin watched the ball go so wide that the entire court went silent.

All of the drills that followed were as bad, if not worse.

Kevin felt himself start to vibrate with anger the longer it went on. He started to shout corrections at Daniel but the younger man merely rolled his eyes, “I think I know what I’m doing.” He would say before pointedly proving that he did not.

Kevin only realized nearly an hour in that he had wasted his entire practice shouting himself hoarse at the actual waste of human life that was Daniel Stanton.

Kevin could accept being bad at Exy and having an inoffensive personality. Kevin could accept being good at Exy and having a bad personality.

Kevin could not accept being bad at Exy and having a bad personality.

Coach Wymack called the practice to an end and Kevin thought that he’d manage to keep his anger mostly inside (he is ignoring the near hour of practice he spent screaming directions) when Daniel decided to deliver the Coup de Grace.

Sweat soaking his bangs, panting, and without a single thing done correctly (even the way he was currently holding his borrowed Exy racquet set Kevin’s teeth on edge) the man had the gall, the gumption, and the absolute AUDACITY to come up to the coach.

“So, where do I sign?” he asks.

Kevin sees red and unleashes hell.

***

This was the most fun Andrew has had at a practice since he started having to come to them.

The look of embarrassment on Daniel’s face as Kevin accurately tore into everything he did wrong on the Court and every personal failing that Kevin could home in on. His attention shifted away to FF sitting in the stands near the University official who was shaking her head at the obvious poor showing. The University may have wanted Daniel around to spruce up the Fox’s marketability but even they couldn’t let someone so obviously awful onto one of their few Division 1 teams.

FF was sat sipping one of Kevin’s god awful smoothies looking completely unshocked by Daniel’s showing.

Kevin turned his attention to FF, “You said he was good!” Kevin points at the freshman as he continues to sip the drink.

Andrew interrupts, “He never said he was good.” He remembers the conversation so exactly and there are few things he loves more than having the opportunity to rub it in Kevin’s face when the man is wrong, “He said ‘Daniel has always been athletic’ never anything about him being good.” Andrew reminds.

Kevin whips back around to Daniel, “Have you ever even played Exy?” Kevin demands.

“I didn’t think it’d be hard to pick up.” Daniel argues crossing his arms defensively.

It sets Kevin off on another furious rant.

Andrew had thought that FF didn’t have a mean bone in his body and he’s quite pleased to have been proven wrong. The thought that FF had let Daniel get all the way into embarrassing himself in such a way?

Andrew had to give him props.

“How does it feel getting to watch this idiot crash and burn?” he asks coming to the glass.

“Really thought he could manage it if I could.” FF says with a shrug that has Aaron bark out a laugh.

“You really figured?” Aaron asks coming to stand next to Andrew.

FF just shrugs again, “I mean I also started not knowing how to play and now I’m on a pretty good team.” He says as if FF starting as a child not knowing how to play is the same as someone walking in demanding a spot on a college team.

Nicky lets out a laugh.

“Oh, Smithy I could kiss you.” Nicky laughs and makes his way towards the Court entrance to likely do exactly that moving past a Daniel who was so red in the face with embarrassment and anger that he looked as if he was about to turn purple.

Andrew tuned in.

“…small pond. The only reason you ever felt like you were worth anything is that Smiths was too nice to put you in your place before now!” Kevin was probably talking about medium-sized fish in a small pond but Andrew didn’t really care to know.

“Are you going to let him talk to me like this?!” Daniel finally turned to Wymack.

“Kevin, you shouldn’t talk to the public like that.” Wymack says without a hint of chastisement in his voice.

Kevin still straightened at the reminder, “You’re right. Sorry coach.” Kevin sneered at Daniel, “Get off the court before you taint it.” He hisses.

“You’re really not going to sign me?!” Daniel demands.

“Why would I?” Wymack asks with a raised brow.

“You took a chance on John!” Daniel points towards FF.

Andrew watches as Wymack’s face does something he’d rarely seen it do, it goes utterly and completely cold. “I don’t take chances with my kids.” He spat, “I give my kids a second chance. Get the hell off of my court.” He hisses.

Daniel’s face purples further before he stomped off of the Court.

“Don’t you dare walk off with that racquet! It’s worth more than you!” Kevin shouts after him and Andrew in that moment realizes that Daniel is going to do something stupid.

And FF is on the other side of the Plexiglass with only Nicky at his side.

It’s like watching a train crash.

Daniel might say something, but Andrew doesn’t know. He sees Neil rushing as well, his sense of danger always well-honed but Neil had been in Captain mode in the moments before walking some of the sophomore and freshmen through what they had done wrong.

Neither of them will make it in time.

Daniel throws his racquet, and he throws it right at FF barely 5 feet away in the stands.

The Racquet blows past FF’s head and Andrew lets out a breath.

Then before it could crash into the seats behind him and break FF’s hand wrapped around the shaft of the stick and stopped it’s trajectory.

“Your aim really isn’t getting any better by not listening to Kevin’s advice.” Smith says as he twirls the racquet in his hand so that the net was on the ground. “Also, don’t break the equipment, like Kevin said it’s pretty expensive.” He says.

Daniel let out a primal scream but where Andrew had stalled out to watch the miraculous catch Matt Boyd had not. Daniel was tackled to the ground by the backliner, “Absolutely not.” Matt said with a scowl.

“Smithy are you okay?” Andrew hears Nicky ask.

“Yeah, why?” FF asks as if he hadn’t just been attacked but considering everything that Andrew had seen it wouldn’t shock him if Daniel’s attacks were just par for the course back home for FF. “The racquet looks okay too.” He adds.

“Coach Wymack,” The University representative made their way down looking flustered at the outburst of violence.

Obviously not someone who regularly watched Exy or paid attention to their team.

“This is why I wanted absolute control over who does and who doesn’t get a shot here.” Wymack hisses pointing at Daniel as he struggled under Matt.

“You have our sincere apologies for this.” She says looking at Daniel, “He didn’t… we thought he’d be good for the team’s culture but it seems like we may have misjudged-“

“That guy just tried to take Smithy out!” Nicky interrupts.

“I told you he was dangerous.” Neil adds.

“Can someone call campus security?” Matt asks from the ground, “This jackass keeps aiming for kidney punches and I would like to not be pissing blood during winter break.” Matt requests.

“O-of course!” the University representative says fumbling for her cell phone.

Andrew looked at Matt and figured that the backliner had a handle on that particular mess at the moment.

He made his way over to FF and Nicky who was checking over the freshman.

“Nice catch.” He says.

FF shrugs, “It’s my racquet he was borrowing.” He says, “I didn’t want to get a new one.” He adds.

***

FF watches as campus security took custody of Daniel as he continued to spit and scream. There are talks about pressing charges, but FF just wants Daniel off of the campus and away from him. It’s Jack of all people who says that getting a restraining order is a great way to make sure Daniel stays the hell away from him and FF nods consideringly.

Honestly, he’s still mostly in shock he managed to catch his racquet the way he had. His reflexes weren’t quite up to snuff since he’d been trying to catch the netting, but his hand only closed around the shaft.

Embarrassing.

He really hopes no one teases him about his slower reflexes.

“He needs to be charged for assault at least.” Kevin hisses as they watch the security officers take Daniel away.

“It’d be attempted assault.” Aaron corrects.

“He assaulted my eyes with his Exy.” Kevin insists.

“If that counted as assault, don’t you think I would have pressed charges for all the times I have had to see you dance at Eden’s?” Neil asks. “Also, you’re the one that insisted he try-out.” He reminds.

“Smiths told me he was good!” Kevin screeches.

“No, we’ve been over this Day. Smithy said he was athletic.” Nicky reminds. “Are you going to do what Jack suggested?” he asks turning to FF.

“I’d like to see significantly less of Daniel.” FF admits.

“You know he did actually commit assault, if I pee blood I’m making Kevin go buy me pads.” Matt says.

“Whatever.” Kevin says as they continued to make their way back to the dorm to get ready for the day.

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

NEXT

[mutantninjamidlifecrisis]

i’m rereading the whole fic when the new chapter comes out bc it is SO GOOD

Awesome! that's... a lotta words

[bridgeportbritt]

Anchorpoint Seafood Restaurant | Parkshore, SimDonia

Olivia: I'm so excited for you to try this place! We used to eat here all the time when I was a kid. You're going to love it!

Grayson: Hi. Table for two, please.

Hostess annoyed: Do you have a reservation?

Grayson: Uh... no. We didn't know we needed one.

Olivia: It's pretty empty... Can't we have one of the free tables?

Hostess: Fine. What name can I put it under?

Grayson: Grayson Wu-Ravikumar.

Hostess: Wu-Ravikumar? Oh, of course! You're the Grand Duchess' son!

Grayson annoyed: Yes, I am.

Hostess: Oh, now I see your reservation right here.

Olivia: But, we didn't make one-

Hostess: Welcome to our fine establishment! Please, follow me right this way!

Grayson: Finally getting the respect I deserve around here.

Olivia chuckles: Mhmm. Let's go, Mr. Wu-Ravikumar.

Grayson: This place is not busy enough to need reservations.

Olivia: Yeah, that was weird. I remember this place always being packed when I was a kid. The food's really good.

Grayson: So, what should I order then?

Olivia excited: Don't even worry about it, honey. I know exactly what you should get.

Grayson: Really? You're going to order for me?

Olivia: I am. What? You don't trust me?

Grayson: No, no. I know you know best. You're the celebrity chef after all at the hottest restaurant in SimDonia. Whatever you recommend. I'm excited to see what made little Livvie love this place.

Olivia: You won't be disappointed!

Waitress: Welcome in, you two! Not often do we get celebrities in here! What brings you good ol' Anchorpoint?

Olivia: Oh, I used to come here a lot when I was younger, so wanted to show my husband his new favorite spot!

Waitress: Well, I hope that's the case!

Olivia: How is business here lately? I remember this place being super popular.

Waitress: Well, it's been better surely. The owners have some properties overseas, so they don't spend much energy on this old joint. I even hear they are thinking of selling it.

Olivia: Wow! Really? I hope the next owner keeps it alive. I don't think I could live without my herb crusted salmon. You guys make it the best.

Waitress: Yes, I'm hoping the same. I'm guessing that's what you'll have?

Olivia: Yes, please. And, he'll have the walleye surprise.

Waitress: Great! I'll get these items in for you. And let me grab this obnoxious plant so you have room.

Olivia: I can't believe this place may be closing! I'm glad we got to come here at least once before that happened.

Grayson: Yeah, that's a bummer. But you never know. Maybe someone will keep it open like you said. Seems like this place is beloved by loyal fans like you.

Olivia: Yeah, you have a point...

Waitress: Here you go, enjoy!

Grayson and Olivia: Thank you!

Olivia: I'm so excited to see what you think!

Olivia: Well?

Grayson eating: Um, finishing the bite.

Olivia laughs: Sorry.

Grayson: Well, it's not better than my wife's cooking, of course. But it's pretty good! You are very right about this place.

Olivia: Yay! I'm so glad. Gosh, this place brings back so many memories. It's probably one of the first places that got me excited about food and cooking.

Grayson chuckles: You're cute when you're excited. How's your food?

Olivia: As great as I remember! Let's make this our new favorite spot.

Grayson: I agree, babe. It's been declared!

[purity-town]

First || Previous || Next || Latest

Been a while since we saw that mural!

[surunoita]

not feeling a hundred percent about drawing again but i had so much fun with the new rywd chapter that i had to try n draw my token mc austin (they/them) as the merc :3c

[coffeeshib]

i’m spilling all my words (but you keep 'em to yourself) chapter 7 update

“What is it?” Kara asks falteringly, touching her belt.

“Just a little jealous,” Lena admits, and stands up with her glass, walking towards the sink or maybe Kara. “All night. They’re allowed to touch you and I can’t.”

read on ao3

[anosrepasi]

what can i say, I'm on a roll this weekend so far.

[kyngsnake]

thinking about a slightly younger Raul chatting up my Chosen One. For uh, science or whatever.

[argyleheir]

All the Things Jonathan Can No Longer Have Now He’s Undead (Continued)

26. A pint. 27. Pizza. 28. Sunday roast. 29. Cornflakes. 30. Perfect eggs over-easy served beside all the usuals, beans and mushrooms and bacon and tomato and buttered brown bread, and a mug of Darjeeling cooled only a little by the splash of milk. (Related: the feeling of warmth as the tea goes down.) 31. Biscuits, every variety. Expensive ones from the bakery down the street. Oversweet ones from the tin at Christmas. Stale ones from the office cabinet; likewise his landlady's flat; not to mention the ones of his childhood, Garibaldis and pink wafers or whatever else Gran used to put out for tea. Saucer sized, plastic wrapped ones from the newsagent's. The ones Mina used to make. 32. A post-pub curry. 33. Proper chips, straight from the fryer. 34. A birthday cake lit with far too many candles, the wax already melting into the vanilla crème frosting in technicolor dribbles, his friends' faces lit gold, singing. 35. Single malt whisky, poured by Peter Hawkins from his own private reserves, upon the successful closure of the Dracula account.

Find out what else Jonathan can't (and can 😈) do in To the End of the Light, my ongoing 1990s Dracula AU!

[whatwooshkai]

more thoughts on the monk au. it would take place on cybertron because that's more interesting. buster would be some kind of cybertronian type dog, a peripheral like saint or maybe a cassette, but she's attached to thundercracker. her voicebox is broken so she "barks", and thundercracker is barely getting by with this job so they can't afford to have it fixed. ultra magnus is a former enforcer who after some major traumatic event that is an overarching mystery that spans the series that I haven't decided on yet had a major nervous breakdown and was removed from the force. prowl is stottlemeyer. bluestreak is disher. thundercracker took this job because he was in medic training and needed the money to finish school, now he's too attached to quit. his real passion is film and likes to write screenplays based off their adventures, kind of like a watson to ultra magnus' sherlock holmes

[greentrickster]

Okay, so, someone on AO3 asked for the name of Ning Binghe's Wan Jian admirer/love interest in the Great God Airplane AU, so here we are once again, with me doing my best to come up with a Chinese name that doesn't sound too goofy (and doesn't have any rude/unkind/offensive associations/slang meanings in Chinese). And because this guy isn't a Heavenly Official, I went and once again tried my hand at research to create a proper three-part name with a good meaning.

So now we have He Baozhong (何宝忠), head disciple of Wan Jian, shixiong to Bingge by about two years, and whose name, if I have done it right, means 'What Precious Loyalty/Devotion'. (As always, if I have erred in any way, please gently know what I've done wrong and also how to do it right.) Because he's Ning Binghe's love interest, and also I picture him as the Chinese Xianxia version of an honest, forthright farm boy sort of fellow. Like I said in the post where he's first mentioned, 'a slightly rough fellow possessed of homespun good looks, but when he loves, it is freely and fully.' The sort of guy with slightly crooked teeth and a slightly crooked smile, heavily calloused hands, an easy no-nonsense attitude, and a big heart.

Also Luo Bingge arrived in this world by the ninth road, and a short while later Baozhong's Main Love Interest halo activated.

This boy is going to take Bingge on honest-to-Airplane dates that don't involve any papapa (or even anything papapa adjacent!), and spoil him, and just overall fluster the hell out of our favorite blackened-lotus-turned-doctor-in-training. He's used to being the initiator and/or insta-love, maybe the odd attempt at being seduced here or there, and pretty much exclusively with women. It's big and passionate and erotic and short. Not slow and friendly and- and warm.

What the frick, what warm, why is this warm, the guy's not even that hot, Bingge is so far out of this guy's league, but somehow He Baozhong just- hasn't noticed and now Bingge feels all gooshy inside whenever he thinks about the guy's stupid, not particularly poetry-worthy face, disgusting.

...

...on an unrelated note, Ning Binghe is going to write this guy poems. Also make and feed him so many dumplings.

[askamnesiamoonjumper]

me after editing the aau prologue for the bajillionth time