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amphtaminedreams · 5 years ago

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S/S 2020 Fashion Month: A Basic, Uneducated Fashion Heaux’s A-Z of Everything Noteworthy (Part 2/3)

Hi to anyone reading,

Back at it again with the giving my unsolicited opinion on 2020′s spring/summer offering, I’m gonna hop straight into part 2 of my fashion month review!

Sorry to start with an underwhelming few but my compulsive tendencies are making it really hard to break out of this alphabetical structure (cry laughs whilst thinking about how long it took me to face up at my retail job last night because it would give me vaguely homicidal urges and make my fingers tingle every time a customer moved something slightly out of line), so I’m gonna whizz through a handful of collections. First up, Halpern:

Not much to say but I’m envious of the heavy liner (my hooded eyes could never) and I like the colour scheme. As for the 80s style metallic pink dress?

Helmut Lang:

And Hermes:

Of these 3 collections, Hermes is definitely the most interesting. I like the colour scheme and the utilitarian shapes and the tan coloured jackets are an absolute shoot. This is how you make safari look fresh, D&G take note.

Isabel Marant was okay. It’s cute, sure, reminds me of something Mary-Kate and Ashley would’ve come out with/worn in the 2000s, and there’s definitely some things I would wear, but I wouldn’t say it looks all that luxury. Pricey, sure, but like, Free People pricey, not designer pricey. As a collection, it’s not all that conceptual, unless the concept is L.A girl does a Starbucks run after her bikram yoga class. What I will say though is that some of the S/S 2020 commercial trends are becoming clear: white cheesecloth pieces, peasant blouses, cowboy boots, scrappy sandals, neutral tones, and bandana print.

Now onto the darling of high fashion Twitter: Jacquemus.

As far as presentation goes, this has to be one of my favourite set-ups of the season; a hot pink runway running through a lavender meadow is as canny and serene as those who sing the praises of Simon Porte Jacquemus would have you expect, and the clothes were easy, breezy and beautiful, even if there is an element of getting dressed in the dark going on with the styling which put me off including a few otherwise gorgeous pieces. It might not be 100% my style but you can tell this is a brand of the future which is only going to go from strength to strength.

And everything was beautifully and purposefully crafted on the runway with J.W Anderson this year. The pieces are graceful and timeless whilst still easy to envision as something a modern woman would throw on to (very fashionably) run some errands in the city. This was also one of the handful of shows (IIRC! This might be a case of extreme deja-vu!) where we saw the sandal straps tied over the trousers, I’m guessing to accentuate the ankles, and...I’m surprisingly here for it? Though in a sense it kinda resembles when I accidentally get my work trousers tucked into my slipper socks, it’s an interesting touch and adds a bit of a shape to otherwise billowing bottom halves.

Following Jacquemus’ lead (or vice versa, I’m way too deep into this fashion month haze to work out who went first at this point), Lacoste also put on a co-ed show. Otherwise crisp and preppy as per, the neckerchiefs (even if seeing them all next to one another does give off a bit of a Disneyland Main Street barbershop quartet vibe) and vinyl/wet-look/PVC/I’m still not sure what differentiates the 3 coats were an out of the box touch for them and I really liked it. It’s athleisure, but more like something Hayley Bieber would’ve worn as part of her Princess Diana inspired shoot than anything I’d wear to the gym.

LMAO, as if I go the gym. But you get my point. Next, Loewe:

Delicate, feminine and all around delightful, the S/S 2020 Loewe collection is up there with Chloe and Brock when it comes to most spring appropriate. More chiffon, lace and doily-like detailing, please, the old woman in me lives for this kinda thing made fashionable. Like with J.W Anderson, you can tell the design team wanted to do something different without just throwing shit onto their pieces for the sake of being wacky, and so we end up with these dramatic, slightly geometric waistlines and almost angelic Victorian nightgown inspired dresses that kinda make me wished that 1). ghosts existed and that 2). I lived back in that era so I could die some tragic death wearing any one of the dresses on the left in the top 3 rows and then haunt the shit out of everyone. That would really be an iconic fashion moment. Also wonderful, imo, was Louis Vuitton:

The mix between 60s and Edwardian I never knew I needed, as opposed to Gucci’s forward thinking take on the former decade, Louis Vuitton takes it back even further and throws in late 19th/early 20th century structures and references. I adore the what seems to be a mix between brocade and paisley print and the exaggerated collars are a very cute touch. The jacket on the top left is a highlight, a more neutral version of the similar catsuit seen at the Longchamp show (I couldn’t personally pick enough highlights from that to include it), and I now more than ever really want to try and pull off a sweater vest. The shoes might not be the most exciting thing ever but they’re also a personal favourite, from the knee high boots to the loafers with the LV moniker.

Maison Margiela was very cool and again, I’m in love with the shoes and just the accessories in general, ESPECIALLY those hats. I don’t know if I’m way off base here but this show is almost a modernised, fashionable version of a 1940s period drama about WW2 pilots and evacuees. Yes, maybe I am just getting that solely from the trench coats and the naval influences and the exaggerated collars but I think with that list I made quite a case for that perspective, right? Right.

And completing this holy trinity (appropriating the term I usually reserve for Emma Watson, Emma Stone and Emma Roberts is not without careful consideration) is Marc Jacobs. One of my ultimate favourites of this season, this collection is absolutely EVERYTHING: kitschy, dream-like, whimsical, over-the-top, and totally appropriate for your slightly eccentric aunt who always drinks too much wine and talks a lot of shit every time she comes over for dinner. I really feel like I walked into wonderland looking at this collection, and in the best way possible, it gives me a female Russell Brand in the 2000s’ wardrobe on crack. On the one hand we have these insanely beautiful and ethereal chiffon floral dresses but then we also have fricken top hats. Basically, it’s everything I love about fashion and I don’t know if anything can top it. Periodt (and I type that with a totally straight face).

Next, onto another personal fave, Marchesa:

Which is as always, beautiful. I was going to write that if Disney princesses came to life and lived in the modern world (so, in other words, Elle Fanning), they would be wearing Marchesa and then I remembered that the film Enchanted exists and had a lightbulb moment and thought OH MY GOD IF THEY REMADE THAT IN 2019, THE DRESS ON THE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE ROW WOULD BE A PERFECT LEVELLING UP OF THE CURTAIN DRESS.

Anyways, favourites of the favourites are the bottom row; I would die for that feather trim.

BUT where Marchesa is everything opulent, overly ornate and err-ing on “fussy”, Margaret Howell’s S/S 2020 collection is completely stripped back and just as effective, if not as to my taste. Very cool, very current, and altogether effortless (in a good way!), with this show Margaret Howell made mid-20th century utilitarianism relevant. I never thought I’d be praising the combination of bermuda shorts, crew socks and a beanie and yet here I am. Character development.

Next is Marine Serre:

Which I really like! The bottom row isn’t really to my personal taste but I can acknowledge that if I saw somebody wearing any one of those outfits I’d think they looked sick, and as for the first two rows, those mesh tops and the slightly chintzy florals are right up my alley.

Marques Almeida put out a really strong collection, imo. The blending of luxurious silhouettes and fabrics with street wear inspired prints and styling is a really interesting and unique contrast and if Billie Eilish ever decided to stop wearing those tweenie clothes and wanted to actually seduce somebody’s dad (I LOVE BILLIE EILISH AND I KNOW WHY SHE DRESSES THE WAY SHE DOES, IT’S A JOKE, PLS DON’T HATE ME), I’d love to see her wearing something like this. It’s a blend of punk, urban, and 2019 e-girl and has the kind of edge that Topshop has lost over the past couple of years that used to make it so aspirational to my 13 year old self. Of all the shows, it also probably has the most personally wearable accessories, and a shit tonne of cool make up looks I’d love to try if it weren’t for my lack of visible eyelid, lol.

Make up looks were a highlight of the Max Mara show too, for me anyway.

I otherwise wasn’t hugely keen on the collection, it being a little too matronly/Miss.Trunchbull-esque for my liking (wild card fashion inspiration of 2019, apparently?). The light paisley print dresses are very dreamy, though, and I can never resist a good suit.

As for Michael Kors, dare I say it, but the basic bitch in me loved it. I know as a designer he’s not held in very high regard by the fashion community and I'm not saying it’s at all original but it did what it set out to do well; I mean, it’s quite fitting that he cameo-d in an episode of Gossip Girl because every outfit would be perfect for the Constance attending incarnation of Blair Waldorf, which is probably why I like the collection. Like yeah, it’s a bit of a Polo Ralph Lauren/Lacoste rip off but it’s daintier and more feminine and so I’m not gonna lie, I’m on board with it.

Next, Miu Miu.

One of the collections I was most excited for, I was a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the collection, but I have never once disliked anything Miu Miu and I usually love it. There are things I love about this line too: the cream, floral lace-up boots, the off-the-shoulder cardigans, the houndstooth oversized coats and of course the fur-lined gilets. My mum used to buy me similar ones when I was a little girl and so they give me childhood nostalgia in the best way possible. I mean, the collection is as girly and eccentric as ever. I think it’s just a little too on the primary school librarian side for me, this time round. Sorry Miu Miu xoxo

Now I’m just gonna speed through a couple, starting with MM6 Maison Margiela, the younger sister to the more expensive regular Maison Margiela line:

And Monique Lhuillier:

So that I can get to one of my other ultimate favourite collections for S/S 2020: Moschino.

Oh my god, where to even start. Firstly, I might be reaching, but if this show is even remotely to thank for art nouveau mesh tops showing up in the Urban Outfitters new in section, then a very sarcastic thank you to Jeremy Scott. You just made ethical shopping a lot harder. HOW am I supposed to not buy an Alphonse Mucha top? HOW!? I mean, I’m sure I’ll manage (I’m on month 3 without a shopping spree I can’t actually afford now and yes, I am very much patting myself on the back), but HOW!?

But on a serious level, if renaissance was the print of 2019, which I’m still very much into BTW, bring on modern art as its 2020 replacement. The Pablo Picasso inspired show not only livened up a generally pretty predictable fashion month but it’s also got me searching up other times art has met fashion on the runway and thrown me down a particularly aesthetically pleasing wormhole I’m not sure I ever want to escape from (https://frontrowmagazine.ca/art-inspired-looks-were-all-over-the-runways-of-fashion-week-a74e8bc7ff0d and https://www.vogue.com/article/spring-2017-ready-to-wear-fine-arts-trends are good starting points!).

Mugler was also up there with the best of them, imo:

See, if the Moschino collection was all about dabbling in art class, Mugler’s S/S 2020 collection is its more mathematically inclined sister, all about sharp lines and deconstructed silhouettes and symmetry all whilst looking hot as fuck. So very Mugler, basically.

Now, this reference might be slightly off because I haven’t actually SEEN Ex-Machina yet but I imagine if Kim Kardashian were to channel that movie for a costume party she’d end up wearing something from this collection. That sounds like a roast because Kim has worn some questionable outfits but I blame Kanye for most of that and I’m referring to her on a good fashion day, alright!?

As for Off-White, it’s obviously a lot more commercial than most of the lines I’ve reviewed so far. Like, I can see a lot of these outfits on a mannequin in Urban Outfitters (no, I am not being paid to namedrop them, about 3 people in total read this Tumblr so any kind of sponsorship money would be severely wasted on me). That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and I love all of these looks; it just seems unfair to compare them to the the Mugler or Moschino collections, for example.

The stand outs for me are all on the bottom row: I would buy the utility vest, leather blazer and the all mesh turtleneck under washed-out tie-dye on the spot if I saw them in a high street store. Unfortunately, I feel like that’s kinda where they belong. You just expect collections to be a bit more conceptual, and this one is a little watered down, as much as it’s my style.

Oscar de la Renta was beautiful, of course. Not like I’m shook by how beautiful it is but kinda just what you’d expect from a brand with a name as poetic and fun to say as Oscar de la Renta. The silhouettes are dreamy and the details are as fit for a fairy princess (lmao) as ever. Plus can I just say how happy I am to see butterflies on dresses for adult women again!? And dresses worn by Blanca Padilla nonetheless!? Very here for it.

Next up is another on one of my fashion month highlights: Paco Rabanne.

LOOK AT THIS SHIT!

I mean, don’t get me wrong, something about this collection (I’m pretty sure it’s the knee high coloured socks) is giving me primary school teacher vibes, but I'm not mad about it. It’d be the kind of teacher who’s actually really good at their job and has loads of cool hobbies and a really hot boyfriend or girlfriend or wife or husband who you secretly want to be then you grow up/and or have a huge crush on.

Like with Marc Jacobs, there’s obvious flower child elements here, and whilst on the whole the former took my breath away slightly more, this is a lot more wearable. My favourites are the paisley print dress and cape on the left in the very bottom row and all the chainmail pieces (which remind me of the dress Naomi Smalls wore in that whole club ninety-sixxxxx skit on drag race), plus that floral cut out dress with the trailing flute sleeves, which is absolute PERFECTION.

The 70s influence was clear in Peter Pilotto’s S/S 2020 collection too from the abundance of tie-dye to the knit v-neck dress, zany colour and print being the very on-brand focus. That being said, this is definitely more of a street-style inspired collection than usual and whilst the floral suits and dresses on the 3rd row down are very typical Peter Pilotto, the tie-dye corset and combat trousers on the far right, second row from the bottom, are very Jaded London. As for the reoccurrence of the bucket hat, I’ve remained steadfastly against them for several years now (even when our Lord and Saviour Miss Robyn Rihanna Fenty started wearing them) but the way they’re done in this collection even I could definitely get behind; all in all, the show surpassed my expectations.

The same goes for Ports 1961, which was a lot more eccentric than I gathered is the norm from a few google searches. Honestly, I hadn’t really heard of the brand which, upon reading up on it, I feel very dumb for considering it has been around since (in the shock twist of the century) 1961.

Yes, I know how that sounds! But forgive me, I’m still learning:)

Anyway, the fishnet detailing alone pretty much sold the looks I picked out. Seriously, I got a pair of those bloody tights, like, 2 years ago when they became a thing again and now any outfit where I have my legs out feels incomplete without them.

Next is Prabal Gurung, which, as far as presentation goes, was fucking STUNNING:

I mean, you could say that I’m easily impressed and that the presence of the bouquets won me over (and you’d definitely have a point there), but it’s also this year’s Givenchy haute couture-esque feathers, the trailing pearl necklaces, the exaggerated shoulders, the dreamy colouring, the everything looking like it could’ve grown off a very fashionably-inclined tree. Like, there’s a lot to love here, from the naturalistic elements, to the context behind the show, an ode to American fashion history and those cast out of it (and the notion of “being American” in general) for so long.

Going from a high to a (personal) low, however, next we have Prada:

I don’t know, I get that it’s supposed to be simple and stripped back and dignified and whatever and I like the looks I picked but it’s just a bit blah for me. The bonnets that kept cropping up just didn’t do it for me and almost ruined what is an otherwise nice skirt suit (top right). Nonetheless, I like the silhouette of the sheer black dress and the the brocade print suit is really luxurious looking, even if the pattern is a *little* Wetherspoons carpet.

Anyways, here’s a quick overview of Rag and Bone:

So that I can stop moaning and get onto a collection I REALLY liked:

I am of course talking about Ralph and Russo. See, this is kinda what I expected from, like, Chanel and yet it’s Ralph and Russo that delivered. Also, it gives me Alessandra Rich vibes which is very much a compliment considering how much I love her designs. I mean, if Valley of the Dolls were to get another film remake in 2019, this is exactly what I’d like to see the female leads wearing, from the pastel suits to the satin kaftan style dresses. The yellow feather trimmed dress is practically a copy of something Marchesa has already done but it’s cute all the same. In my top 10 collections of the season, for sure.

Rick Owens was another strong collection; it goes without saying that it’s not the most wearable but that’s not really what Rick Owens is known for, so I wouldn’t expect anything else. If you want fashion on an alien planet, or something Lady Gaga would’ve worn in 2010, he's your man.

Next, Rodarte:

Obviously the dresses are beautiful and the set is magnificent, BUT...I’m really not a fan of the whole celebrities filling in for high fashion models thing. I like Lili Reinhart and I adore Kirsten Dunst, she’s been in a load of my favourite films, but in a similar vein to Dolce and Gabbana’s influencer show, it’s just distracting from the actual garments, if even worse because I don’t WANT to be distracted here (the same can’t be said for the D&G show, lol). If anybody has read this far, let me know your thoughts!

Roland Mouret was nice, and I always like a coed show, especially when a designer isn’t afraid to blur the lines of masculine and feminine. It’s fresh, lightweight and luxurious looking, Cannes film festival street style eat your heart out, and I love the colour palette.

Similarly, colour was my favourite thing about Sally LaPointe’s S/S 2020 collection.

I would never think that teal and burnt orange would work together, let alone in some kind of faux leather, and yet here we are. Orange is in itself always an interesting colour choice, perfect for the summer with a tan, and I really love monochrome outfits, even though they’re something that ends up being quite pricey to put together; slight differences in tone are okay but if you just randomly throw together a few things and they’re too off, it really doesn’t work and you’d have been better off wearing contrasting colours. For that reason, I’m just gonna admire that all-pink outfit from a distance.

As for Schiaparelli, it’s one I always look forwards to for the sheer weirdness. RTW isn’t quite as kooky as haute couture but still, the interesting choices are still there; what at first glance appears to be flame print is actually coils of hair, and paired with a water print suit is a sequinned jacket emblazoned with a paradisiacal mirage. Ornament-like facial decorations as seen in the over-exaggerated glasses worn with the pony hair suit are also one of my favourite new things to happen in the high fashion scene in the past couple of months and I can’t wait to see how they get watered down to become more approachable for us...regular, non-structurally blessed folks who can’t pull off anything and everything.

Simone Rocha was STUNNING. Romantic and ethereal, it’s druid goddess crossed with upper class Victorian woman of leisure, equal parts delicate and grungy, like a modern, fashion version of Lady Gaga’s Scathach in the Roanoke season of American Horror Story. You know, in the flashbacks, not in present day when she was all gross and like...scalping people and shit. Each dress is so ornate and has such an interesting structure, and the fabric choices give off an organic kinda vibe that create a handmade feel; the collection is, imo, really worthy of being shown under a haute couture heading. When it comes to my favourite element of the show, I’m torn between the petticoats and the hair accessories. I’m just gonna give a cop-out answer and say both.

Stella McCartney on the other hand, is very much a clear ready-to-wear collection.

It’s pretty, for sure. The pastel blazers paired with delicate white mesh tops underneath are a gorgeous combination for spring and I like the reoccurrence of the chain glasses (Gucci, right?). But I mean, when you go from Simone Rocha to this, it’s a bit anticlimactic. Plus, if I’m honest, kaftans are always going to remind me of Honey Mahogany from season 5 of Drag Race. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure she’s a lovely person but her runway looks aren’t really ones I look back fondly on, and you’re lying if you say you enjoyed them for anything other than meme purposes.

Temperley is equally meh, though the return of the Erdem-style boating hats is getting me excited that high street retailers might actually pick up on the trend and bring out some cheap ones for me to embarrass myself by wearing.

I also love a good 70s suit, the neckerchiefs are cute and there are some really delightful prints here that are a more unique approach to florals for spring.

Coming towards the end now, next is Thom Browne:

I LOVE this. Like, don’t get me wrong Rick Owens was cool but I adore how on the nose the concept is here; time to bring back all the Marie Antoinette puns I didn’t get to use in my Versailles Instagram post. I don’t know if it’s the history buff in me or the Sofia Coppola Stan but I will always be willing to sign any kind of treaty for anything related to the excesses of the 18th century French monarchy, and this is that turned up to 1000 infused with a dash of the Teletubbies, which sounds like a nightmarish concept, I know, but as high fashion it WORKS.

Tory Burch was very commercial, seemingly half inspired by Monterey yoga moms and the other half by Hamptons socialites.

And then there was Valentino, which was fucking exquisite, imo. LIKE, CALLING DOCLE & GABBANA: THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE TROPICAL PRINT INTERESTING. YOU MAKE THE VELVET MONKEY’S ARM THE FRICKEN WAISTBAND.

Seriously, though, I am enamoured with this colour palette; all the whites and golds are angelic and fr, I didn’t know until now that you could make neons this elegant. I’m also getting an almost clerical feel from a lot of these looks, with the plaited waistband on the black dress that’s 7th row down in the middle, the stunning red cape and the multitude of exaggerated neck ruffs. I think I’ve mentioned before but I always love religious references in clothing-I don’t think I’ll ever get over the 2018 Met Gala-and so whether I’m reading too much into it or not, this collection really did it for me.

Whilst it’s probably as far removed a collection from Valentino’s S/S 2020 contribution you can get, I also loved Vera Wang this season. It might purely (I PROMISE THIS IS MY LAST GOSSIP GIRL REFERENCE) be because it gives me Jenny Humphrey vibes and *controversial* she did have my favourite style of any of the main characters, but sue me, this is just the right amount of late 90s/early 2000s grunge. Deconstructed trashy goth it girl is an interesting concept to see on the runway and I completely support it.

Versace on the other hand was very hit or miss. The looks I picked out I really loved but ultimately, for one of the household name brands, a lot of the actual garments were a bit pedestrian. I will say though that for me, it’s a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The slicked back mermaid hair and the pops of colour in the makeup and the interesting necklines meant that when it was good, it was GOOD. However, overall, still a bit too 80s Miami businesswoman, and please GOD, can we leave that hideous J-Lo dress in the past, it should really not be the climax of the show in 20-fucking-19!

As for Victoria Beckham, I liked it, but it’s a bit of a Gucci copy, no? And no way near as interesting?

And on that note, I’m gonna have to cut this off. Super annoying but with only 5 collections left that I want to talk about, Tumblr is being a little bitch and will not let me add anything more to this post. So, see you in 5 for the final post!

Lauren x

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chaoticneutralwriter · 6 years ago

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Unorthodox

You can’t tell whether you’re fortunate or not to have a guardian demon who thinks it’s funny to go around looking like your idol crush BTS’ Park Jimin.

Writing Prompt; Everyone has a guardian angel except you. You have a guardian demon. He deals with things in a much more violent fashion, but much more effective.

guardiandemon!Jimin x reader

genre: fluff, a little light, a little anxiety inducing though given what will happen, minor mentions of death and blood but nothing too graphic

word count: 3.7k

Related works: Genuine | 3AM Demon | The Grinch Who Stole New Year | Distance and The Heart

A/N: I thought this prompt was so good for Halloween but....late to the party again.... LOLL Also this is a bit of a mental gymnastic but don’t think too hard on it. Also, BST!Jimin is forever the look™ and I’m still not over it.

“Oh my God Jess that’s so bad!” You laugh as your friend finishes her story. The rest of your group laughs along with you, sharing their own off handed comments on the whole situation she was put in. Eventually, you had to quiet down and reel them back as you had caught stares and looks from the other patrons in the cafe you were all in.

It’s a Saturday afternoon and granted the place was busier than usual, you still managed to be the loudest bunch, getting a little too carried away with the volume of your voices. You shoot any lingering miffed gazes an apologetic smile as does some of your friends who noticed, but you can’t help yourself. It’s been so long since you’ve all got together to just hang out, everyone so caught up in their lives that time had become a luxury and any free schedules overlapping becoming as rare as a blue moon.

So it’s times like these that you cherish, seeing everyone after so long of just the occasional instant messaging that your worries seem to fade. Eventually, your group has decided that perhaps your rambunctious energy needed to be taken elsewhere lest you wanted to disturb the people again. Seeing as how the weather outside is lovely, you all head out to do some city strolling.

You all chatter amicably with each other, bouncing from one conversation to another. Your group makes it to a park, unanimously settling down under a tree.

“Did you see BTS’ new song MV?” gasps one of your friends and you return her enthusiasm, eyes alight.

“Yes! The song was so good! And how they look?!” You pause to inhale, heart palpitating at the memory of the video you watched earlier before meeting up. It was such a good way to start off your day that, as you left your house, you felt nothing could possibly ruin it.

Or so you thought.

Amongst the excited conversation, your gaze wanders, taking in your surroundings. It’s no surprise that you see many people walking about and relaxing or having fun in their own way and for a moment, nothing seems out of place until your eyes land on an all too familiar face. You pale, feeling your blood run cold despite the heat of the afternoon sun at the figure lounging just too casually for your taste on the bench with a vantage point straight at you.

Even from the distance, you see his lips quirk up into a smirk, eyes crinkling in the slightest and you just know that he’s been watching you way before you had even spotted him. You hate this feeling, this sensation of breaking out into a cold sweat when such a face, under any other circumstance, would have brought you a whole slew of other emotions except absolute dread. And you hate him all the more for it.

“Y/N? Hey, you don’t look so good. You okay?” You hear your friend call but to you, it sounded so far away from the blood rushing through your ears.

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine. I just— I-I think I’m gonna go use the washroom real quick.” You manage to stutter, shooting a shaky smile their way before shooting up to your feet and walking off, not giving them a chance to squeeze in another word.

You walk the distance heading towards to the washroom but after making sure you’re far enough from your friends’ line of sight, you divert. You circle around to make your way back to the bench you saw him in, only to see that it’s devoid of the occupant you’re looking for. Your mouth gapes in confusion as you scan your immediate area but failing to find the dark cladded figure.

“Looking for me?” His husky tone breathes so close to your ear that it has you jumping. You whip around to find unmistakable dark eyes gleaming back at you with amusement and mischief.

“God!” You gasp, nerves still rattled by his sudden appearance. He grimaces a little at the name you called out but you could hardly care, the initial dread transforming into annoyance. “What do you think you’re doing here?!”

“I don’t think you know how this works, darling.” He replies back coolly, hands stuffed into the pockets of his well-pressed trousers as he leans his weight on one hip.

“I don’t think you know how this works.” You hiss back, brazenly pointing an accusatory finger at the taller male, your eyes darting about quickly to make sure as few people witness this exchange as possible. He goes to open his mouth but you grab a hold of his wrist to pull him behind a large oak tree. He peers at you in disdain, finding your actions over the top and no doubt unnecessary but he lets it slide; he never understood humans and you’re the weirdest one he’s encountered.

“You can’t just go around so casually looking like…. that! “ You continue, wildly gesturing to his person.

“I’m sorry if my taste in clothes are far superior for your small human mind to comprehend.”

“Not what I mean.” You say through gritted teeth, refraining from outright knocking him over the head (he’d probably end up burning you to a crisp, contract be damned). “I meant looking like a Korean idol that the whole world knows! You’ll be spotted!”

“And here I thought you’d be rather pleased that I look like this.” He replies in mock exasperation, running a hand through lush silvery locks as if to further emphasize his point. You find yourself holding your breath, cursing at the butterflies unintentionally fluttering in your stomach. You forcefully remind yourself that no, this is not the person who you think it is despite looking exactly like him.

In fact, he wasn’t even a person to begin with.

“If this isn’t what you wanted, would you rather I go for something…. more natural?” The ruby lustre taking over his eyes as well as his sudden drop in tone startles you into action. You nearly tackle him to prevent any sorts of supernatural events from happening in such an open, public space.

“No! No, no stop! Not what I meant either!” Your hands grip at his arms, heart thrumming a little in panic at his small threat. He smirks triumphantly at you, causing you to narrow your eyes in a glare before releasing your hold on him in a huff. You never realized dealing with a demon could be such a headache. Rubbing at your temples, you exhale through your nose.

“Just— Can you not follow me around? Or like, not be so out in the open about it? Again, you literally look like a Korean idol…. that actually exists.”

“So?”

So?! You think incredulously. You reel yourself in before you explode again. “So…” You reiterate with much effort, “You’re technically famous— a celebrity. Which means people will lose their minds if they see you and on top of that, if photos of you gets out on the internet, your cover is going to be blown because how can anyone explain why Park fricken Jimin of BTS is here, in North America, when he’s also half way across the world in South Korea?!”

You’re practically whisper screeching from working yourself up, all the while the carbon copy of one Park Jimin (only that he’s not) watches you with mild interest, looking as impeccable as a marble statue. You stop your tirade to pin him with another seething glare and all he does is quirk his lips. To your astonishment, he throws his head back to let out a bark of laughter. If it was actually Park Jimin, you would’ve swooned and keened at the sight but it makes you glance around nervously to see if it has drawn any attention, thankfully no one seems to notice and was stilling milling about, minding their own business.

He comes down from his spiel, having the gall to wipe at his eyes too.

“Oh my sweet cherub,” He breathes and you frown at the pet name, “You actually thought I would waltz around to parade this beautiful face for all to see?”

You give him a pointed look, one that clearly says, ‘Yes you would, knowing you’. He kisses his teeth; hands on either side of his hips and you’re ready for an incoming sassing.

“What I’m saying is that you’re more stupid than you look and it offends me that you would think I would be stupid enough to do that. Of course I’m aware.” He huffs indignantly. “Which is why, for your information, demons have cloaking spells; which means you might be able to see me but anyone else won’t.” He then peers down at you like he was explaining something to a child. “Happy?”

“Could’ve told me sooner.” You snap back in defense, like how were you supposed to know any of that beforehand? Not like he gave you a Demon 101 booklet when you first met.

“Yeah, but I thought it would be funnier to make you look crazy for talking to thin air.” He sniggers back. At that, you whip your gaze around again, immediately landing on a couple and a family watching you warily from a distant. You feel your face heat up in embarrassment, thoughts running a mile a minute, wondering just how long he actually had this cloaking spell on and was just messing with you.

Your gaze flits back around, ready to give him a piece of your own hell, only to find empty space. You swear you could physically feel your blood pressure rising and perhaps, to your twisted delight, you would die before having to experience the full extent of what it means to have a demon as your metaphorical guardian angel.

—

The day goes on with not seeing so much as a hair from the demon with an angel’s face. You breathed a sigh of relief knowing that. You’d spent the rest of the day hanging out with your friends, eventually grabbing dinner together and by the time you’d all said your goodbyes, the sun has long gone down.

You swiftly make your way down the streets to the nearest subway station, figuring it be much cheaper and faster considering Ubers were much harder to grab on the weekends and in a busy downtown area. Also, the ride wouldn’t be that long anyways.

Besides, you’re only worry at hand is actually getting to a station; they were practically at least two blocks apart and the chill the night air brings does nothing to settle your growing nerves. Downtown was lovely during the day but at night it’s like all of the shadier things make themselves known. You’re on edge, eyes darting around every so often to be aware of your surroundings as you pick up your pace.

Vaguely you hear a man’s gruff voice call out to you but you determinedly ignore it, catching sight of the station’s sign just ahead of you. You make your way down the stairs, heart starting to beat a little erratically as you press your metro pass to the gate and slide through. Once you’ve descended the second flight of stairs leading to the tracks, your nerves starts to settle down.

The train hadn’t arrived yet, a quick glance up at the monitor informed you that it would be in five minutes, leaving you with no choice but to wait. You heave a breath to yourself, taking out your phone to plug your headphones in. Taking a quick glance around, you find that you’re probably one of three people in the tunnel; a man sitting hunched over on one of the benches looking a little worse for wear and an older lady way down the other end from where you were.

You think nothing much after, and before you know it the train is pulling up on the tracks. You shuffle in, easily finding a seat given the lack of passengers in your car. Another sigh; you’re halfway to getting home and so far, there’s no hiccups. You relax at the notion, settling into your seat as the train takes off and you wait again until your stop arrives.

It was about two stops away that things start going south. It starts when the compartment door to your cart slides open, startling you to look up and see the man at the station before you boarded. You duck your head down, not wanting to draw any attention and hoping that he’s just passing through. Luck wasn’t on your side however, as he stumbles and then takes a seat right across from you, the scent wafting from him nearly makes you choke.

You’re determined to fixate your gaze on your phone, pretending to be scrolling through the same apps you have open, but even then you could feel his heavy gaze on you.

Please, please hurry up!

You steal a quick glance anxiously at the map above you, a small LED light indicating which stop you’ve just left and how far away yours is. It’s then that you hear a gruff voice call out through your headphones. Still, you pretend you didn’t hear and it worked until his voice grew to a volume that it startles you. Nervously, your eyes flit to meet the man and warily take out an earbud.

“Fuckin’ kids goin’ deaf.” You hear him say under his breath before he roughly grunts, “Got any change on you?”

You shake your head, quietly replying, “No, I don’t. Sorry.” And you silently prayed that would be the end of that but before you can put your earbud back in, the man speaks again.

“Where’re you goin’ so late huh?”

“Just— home. Excuse me.” You keep your answer clipped, shooting up from your seat with the decision to get off this cart at the upcoming station and try to get back on in one where there were other people on. The station the train pulls up is one short from your actual stop but you don’t think you can handle being in the same cart alone with this man, even if it’s just for one more station. You get off, trying to keep yourself from trembling to be as subtle as possible. You’re best bet was that you a) get on a cart that has people or b) he won’t follow you at all and you can possibly catch the next train.

Unfortunately, neither one happens because out of your peripheral you see his looming figure exit the cart, walking down your way. You pick up your pace, heading more to towards the front of the train but the chimes signaling the doors are about to close catches your attention and you gasp. You bolt into the closest cart and hope that you were much quicker than the man.

Heart racing, you glance around, finding an empty cart. You’re not sure whether that’s a good sign or not but you’ll take it.

Just one more stop.

You chant it like a mantra, too antsy to take a seat now as your mind had taken precautions that if you see any signs of the man again, you would head through the compartment leading to other carts.

Your station name rings over the PA and you almost jump in joy. As soon as the doors slides open, you’re out of there. You make quick work of the steps, leading up from the tracks and then exiting the station. The orange tinge of the streetlights offer little comfort to you as the prospect of having to clear one more block before getting to your house looms at the forefront of your thoughts.

You steel yourself and walk at a faster pace than usual, head down and clutching your bag in a vice grip. You round the corner of the convenient store, a checkpoint. You’re nearly there.

“Hey, girlie.”

You spoke too soon, so hyper focused on just getting home that you miss out on a group of guys hanging around off the side of the store (doing God knows what). Your strides, though fast, were not long enough to outpace the figure coming up beside you.

“Where you going so late?”

You shrink away from him, trembling as you try to maintain as much distance as you can without having to put yourself out on the road. You think, quite frustratingly, why do they not have anything better to do as you stubbornly ignore his advances, and very close to straight up running.

“Shouldn’t be out here on your own like this.” You catch the sentence too close for comfort and that was the final straw to push you into a run. You don’t get far however, as a large hand roughly grasps you by the elbow, jerking you off balance.

“Hey! I’m talking to you. It’s rude to ignore someone who’s—“

“Don’t touch me!” You shout, voice bordering hysteria. You rip yourself from the man’s hold with as much force as you can and it causes you to stumble a little. For the first time, you catch sight of three figures, the one speaking being closer to you compared to what you assume are his friends, trailing not too far behind but you don’t care to put a face to your harasser.

“What the fuck! Why you gotta be such a bitch for?!” The hand makes a grab for you and snags your bag. The force this time gives you a whiplash, shoulder pulled painfully and you whimper, feeling tremors go through your body uncontrollably now with tears threatening to overtake your sight.

Your mind flies into a panicked state, seconds away from abandoning your bag altogether and just making a run for it when the street lamps overhead flickers. All at once, they go out along with any light source within the area because suddenly everything is so dark.

It all happened so fast.

The weight is lifted off of you, a chill settling over and then you hear an ear-piercing shriek. You can’t tell if it’s your own or something else as a cacophony of noises fill your ears.

Indecipherable shouting.

Scraping.

Crunching.

Gurgling.

Disembody voices.

And then silence.

It felt like you had been trapped in a whirlwind, shaking violently from the aftermath of it and so disoriented you hadn’t realized you’ve curled in on yourself with eyes shut tight until a soft voice coaxes at you.

“Y/N….”

It’s familiar, you’ve heard the lilt many times before and it so easily calms your hyperventilating. Despite the comfort it brings however, the strangeness of hearing such a voice so close to you creeps back in. A warm hand brushes against your own held to your ears and though the touch is gentle, you still flinch. The hand retracts momentarily before the voice speaks to you again.

“Y/N…deep breaths and look at me, Y/N.” It’s a soft command and you do as you’re told, breathing in deeply and exhaling a couple of times before finally peeling your eyes open.

Your vision is slightly blurred from unshed tears, but you make out his handsome, young face and silvery locks in the orange dim of streetlights. His deep ruby eyes bore into yours steadily, expression stoic if only for his gaze to betray the concern reflecting in them. He blinks and they’re back to being a deep brown.

“That’s my girl.” He praises with a small smirk, voice no louder than a murmur as his hand engulfs yours in a warm hold. An overwhelming urge to be close to him takes over, as if your body and mind is crying with relief at the sight of a safe haven and before you can think straight, you rush forward, collapsing into him with hands feebly finding purchase on his black button down shirt.

“Jimin….” You croak out, care and logic thrown out the window because you so desperately need something to anchor you down right now and his was a face that your mind knew could do you no harm, like it was second nature. He doesn’t seem to mind; gathering you in his arms all the same and gently cradles you.

“Easy now…shhh easy.” You hear him coo as you bury your face into his neck until your senses flood with his scent; a surprising combination of lavender, vanilla and spices. His hands rub soothing circles around your back until the shaky breaths you exhale return to normal.

He helps you to stand slowly, minding the small tremors that erupt every so often from you and the way he’s treating you like he’s handling delicate glass is so unlike how he normally is that it makes you want to double-take.

“Are you hurt?” He pulls away from you slightly if only for that moment to ask, though he takes the liberty to look you over himself anyways without waiting for your reply. You shake your head no, voice still feeling as if it’s stuck in your throat. As he’s wiping away a stray tear, you bring your gaze to take a good look at him, eyes drawing up to take in his full height. His silvery coiffed hair is still immaculate as ever and his face is picture perfect, flawless except….

You reach up in spite of your shaky hands to decipher what it is that marred his otherwise porcelain complexion when he stops you. He gently guides your hand away before reaching up with his own to swipe at his cheek. Your Jimin doppelganger tsked at the sight, indifferently wiping his soiled fingers onto his shirt.

“Nothing for you to worry about, darling.” He says, smiling at you so angelically. You blink, perplexed until slowly, your mind starts to catch up with the events that transpired.

“W-Where—?” You make to turn your head around, looking for your assailant but again, he stops you by taking a hold of your chin and directing it back to him.

“Ah, ah, eyes on me sweetheart. Like I said, there’s nothing to worry about anymore. You’re safe.”

“But—“

“Shh... Sleep.” His hand gently cups your cheek and with his whispered words, your mind is overcome with a sudden haze and your eyelids droop shut.

He catches you mid-fall, scooping you up in his arms as if you weighed nothing more than a feather. He kisses his teeth again, annoyance rolling off of him in waves as his eyes narrow down on his also soiled shoes.

Whatever.

At least you didn’t notice that.

Nor the streaks of blood leading to the dumpster.

1K notes · View notes

sian22redux · 6 years ago

Text

Pretty Woman

For @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan ‘s Body Positivity Challenge.

Pairing: Plus size reader x Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes

Setting: Post Infinity War, the world has magically gone back to normal…

Rating: T

For the gorgeous @winters-beauty because she really likes this type of challenge.

With a prompt like “your body is not ruined” I know most folks are thinking of post-pregnancy or something but I’ve gone a different way, based on my own recent experiences. This is post major illness where reader has to adjust to change. Hence some of her reactions here are based on loss of health of course, and control, and having to adjust to a new reality.

Fortunately her two guys have some experience with that.

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

“Help!!”

The panicked cry that suddenly tumbles from your mouth brings your boyfriends running from the living room.

“Y/N?! Jarvis!?” Steve is the first to skid to a halt at the bedroom door, blond brows creasing in anxiety and hands glued to the frame, ready to propel himself against whatever threat lurks inside. His frown and tanned bulk take up all the open space, block the escape route as he quickly scans the room, reconning automatically for any one of several unpleasant situations.

Intruder?

Explosion?

Lethal virus?

Nope.

Nothing quite so deserving of an American hero’s skills.

Just your dumb rotten luck.

“All is secure, Captain Rogers,” intones Jarvis mildly from above the massive closet door and you almost, almost laugh, because-- secure. Great choice of verb. Thanks. Thanks so very much. Now the AI is making jokes..

Bucky arrives a heartbeat behind and elbows Steve aside, squeezing through to stand worriedly at the cream carpet’s edge. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

What’s wrong?!!!

James Buchanan Barnes allegedly has super-vision. How can he not fricken’ see?!

“I’m stuck!!!”

You stand poised in the middle of your bright and airy Tower bedroom wondering how life came to this. There’s a tankini top caught about your chest and upper arms that’s mashing tender skin. The matching boxer briefs are wedged halfway up your ample thighs, their blue elastic pinching so hard it just might bruise.

Secure.

Yup.

Impossibly. Hopelessly. Secure.

The frustration of this new reality makes you want to howl but it is the humiliation of standing there, inextricably pinned by two small scraps of cloth, that sends the tears silently coursing down your cheeks. It was hopeless from the start. There is no way you will get your one and only (and favourite) bathing suit on.

Now, or possibly forever.

The realization is truly sinking in.

“My body is ruined!”

Your plaintive wail jerks Bucky into action. He leaps forward, slips both arms around your shoulders, braces you upright, murmuring “No doll, your body is not ruined,” softly against your hair, stroking your shuddering back as the dam bursts wide and months of pent up hurt flow out in a hiccupping, sobbing mess. Steve, as always hyper focused on the mission, has figured out that rescue and extraction are the first priority and so he bends down and stretches the suit’s leg holes wide with his two strong hands, taking care not to tear the fabric. Gingerly he shimmies the blue-aqua ikat print farther down-- the tugging is uncomfortable but eventually he helps you lift one foot and then the other, sets the bottoms on the bed and turns his attention to the top.

Push, pull, wiggle—swear--- somehow he manages to remove it without tearing skin.

You’re finally, finally free and he’s holding you, a wet and snotty, naked bundle of anxiety against his massive chest, crooning softly, “Shhh, baby, it’s ok. It’s ok.”

It’s really not.

“Here, sweetheart.” A damp facecloth is pressed into your hand. “Better?” Bucky’s eyes are blue green wells of hopefulness as he passes extra Kleenex for you to blow your nose and oh so delicately dabs aloe from a bottle onto the pad of his metal index finger.

Oh god, he’s already retreated to the bathroom for supplies. Each ensuing whisper light, achingly considerate touch of cool against the red welts upon your skin makes you want to tear up again. Inside the chill, implacable shell of the Winter Soldier there had been trapped the world’s sweetest, gentlest man. One who has a need to help, cannot stand to see anyone even slightly hurt, and the thought that he’s so tenderly helping you just slays you.

Sniffing loudly, you dab your eyes and try to smile a little brokenly because you are beyond grateful but also, this is all so wrong. “Thank you.”

Bucky nods. Dark and gold, your boys rotate around and now Steve is at your back. He sits on the one free bit of bed and pulls you down onto his lap with Bucky crouching down beside.

Both are tense—and worried. You’ve all been so looking forward to this break—to the Memorial day getaway that Tony is throwing at his Hampton house. Laid back, weathered wood and chicly elegant white and grey, it is a sprawling haven. Rattan loungers surround an endless pool. Acres of green lawn will host hilariously drunk croquet. The beachside fire will glow below a vault of coruscating stars.

Perfect and all perfectly organized by your boss, Miss Potts.

Wheels up is at six.

The sun is climbing quickly to its zenith, baking New York’s already heated streets and anyone who can is trying to find relief. Bucky’s got on a linen shirt and dark boardshorts. Steve is as dressy as he ever is in grey t-shirt and zip-off cargos. You would have donned your sundress by now but around the three of you lie scattered a flurry of discarded summer clothes—like so much sediment rained out of a clear blue sea

Not a single item fits.

You’ve been sick for months. Actually a year. Have lost the permanent lines of pain and the wan pale skin of too much time indoors but still you are not yourself. Eight months of steroid treatment have left you drained. Bloated. Living in your housecoat and nightclothes on a bad day and in sweats when it’s good.

The fact that this is the first big event since you’ve been somewhat well stares you in the face. Online you’d bought needed winter things but no warm weather items yet. You’d been holding off in the faint hope you’d lose a little more. But summer is arrived—early and abruptly--quite rudely without consideration of your schedule. A drizzly week ago the mercury had barely climbed to sixty. Now it’s a sweltering 82

“I can’t go.”

You hate yourself for saying it out loud but a little tendril of relief coils up. You literally can’t get your suit on. What will you do? Hide in the house in jeans and rolled up sleeves? Flounder in one of Steve’s fabled smedium T-shirts? Wear one of Bucky’s as a dress??

Cocooning the whole time in the air conditioning feels as if it is giving in to debility once again.

“Steve, will you tell Tony that I’m sick?”

You twist round to catch his gaze but immediately you hear Bucky’s snarking response beside. “Oh yeah, ask him to fib. The one with experience lying on his forms.”

“Punk.”

“Jerk.”

“Hey! I’m not the one who has the world bamboozled into thinking that I’m squeaky clean.”

“Fuck off, Buck.”

“Bingo!”

They’re quite the team---put on the squabbling couple act to try to cheer you up and you can’t help it, you shake your head in fond exasperation. The thoughtfulness is sweet, but still, there’s a little hollow in your stomach. They’ve done this so very much in the past few months the routine is pitch perfect every time.

“You are meatballs, the both of you.”

Bucky shrugs and gives a wry half smirk but Steve sighs heavily, running a soothing hand across your neck where the nerve pain has been worst. “Your meatballs, Y/N. But Baby, why? You’re not hurting badly are you?”

Oh god. Of course Steve’s going to worry about your symptoms. Checking in, adjusting to their ups and downs, has become automatic. You remember for a moment that first night of terror: the sudden jolt as if you’d been hit by a cattle prod, the fuzzy return to consciousness, speech slurred, left arm dead, a raging headache piercing through your skull and radiating down your neck. Steve yelling at Jarvis to get the EMTs, all but certain it was a stroke. The week in hospital and months horizontal after that. One night of terror turns into every night. The seizures hit like clockwork. Make you afraid to fall asleep because you’re going to get that same electrical shock to brain and the spreading flush of pain. Every damn night. Your arm, thankfully, comes back but that doesn’t stop it’s throbbing for a moment. You feel guilty all the time because they are doing everything. Making meals. Cleaning. Laundry. Shopping. Shuttling you to doctors. One of them insists on staying back from missions because you need so much help. Neither will let anyone else but them take care of you most days, and so the Avengers do their best. Run errands and make meals. Read to you when the headache makes words slide across the page. Distract Steve and Bucky with needed sparring bouts when all you can do is be still and quiet in a darkened room.

While the medical team tries cocktails of different things, you all wait and hope. Hoo boy is that fun. There’s the one that makes you stoned. The one that doesn’t work at all but gives you vertigo. The one that works too well and makes you sleep twenty hours out of twenty-four. The big gun intravenous med has Shield Medical quickly flushing you with ice water as you break out in hives and wheezing. It’s supposed to slow the reaction down and so the intern stands frowning at the ensuing full body shaking, wondering if it’s progressed to an anaphylactic phase.

Buck speaks up right away when you can’t answer through chattering teeth. “It’s hypothermia. You’ve cooled her down too fast.”

“Hypothermia?!”

“Trust me. I’ve seen it.”

You’d all laughed grimly about that one afterward. Finally, finally there came the med that worked. The one that you’ll take forever. It’s literally saved your life but this miraculous godsend is not without its downside.

It’s number one side effect is weight gain.

Your gaze falls on the forlorn heap of lycra. Pretty. Flattering to your curvy figure that both guys love. It shows off your assets perfectly.

But is now probably four sizes smaller than you need.

Would it be too much for life to not pile this on you too??? You take a deep breath and try to regain some equilibrium. You don’t want either Steve or Buck to worry—to think that you aren’t well—but this particular problem isn’t one they’ll have not thought much on before. “No,” you answer slowly. “It’s not that, I feel ok.” Two sets of shoulders droop, relieved. “But I can’t go in winter clothes. And I have nothing that will fit.”

This not the cry of a spoiled pampered thing who just wants something new. Literally nothing fits. Not shorts or skirts. Your favourite capris won’t go past your hips. The dresses don’t do up. Even the light evening sweater that doesn’t need to meet in front has arms so tight you’d had to peal it off inside out.

Utterly humiliating.

And absolutely a real and present problem. The East coast has its first summer heat wave early. When you asked Jarvis that morning what the temperature was outside he’d responded, “Sir says it’s not fit for man or dog.”

“I have to cancel going.”

Steve rises and sets you lightly on your feet. His jaw is set, face intense and determined, and you know he’s thinking ‘no’. That you shouldn’t give in to this disease. Let it get in the way of life unless it’s really necessary.

“I can’t.” You’re pleading. Still smarting from the too-tight straps and feeling totally demoralized. Bucky reaches out to grasp your hand while Steve pads silently over to the giant walk-in closet, rummages for the lightest weight sweats you own, holding them out hopefully. You know Tony will be so bummed. He’ll mope. And pout. But you can’t face it. Hiding inside or broiling outside alongside everyone in bathing suits will only make you feel more pathetic than you already do

You shake your head at the fuzzy mass of grey. “You go. They’re used to me missing things. What’s one more weekend?”

Steve sees the certainty in your eyes and does not try to argue on that point but neither does he back down.

“We’ve just got you back. Are so, so grateful you are ok. We just want to see you enjoying yourself again.”

His eyes are dark like a midnight sea. Bucky is nodding, setting the sweats aside and handing you your undies and loose shirt and generous jeans from where they were flung across a chair. When you take them and slowly begin to dress he crosses his arms, a shaft of sun winking off the metal.

“Not without you, doll.”

Not fair. Those are words he knows will work, go straight to the heart of the little triad you have built, and then Steve of course piles it on. “That’s right. You don’t go, we don’t go. We are a team.”

Amazing, remarkable, wondrous stubborn idiots. They are awfully hard to cross when they gang up.

Nervously, you smooth down your dark ponytail and take a steadying breath. “I know. It’s just…”

What? Too hard?

You look at the two gorgeous and true men you are all but married to. Never in your wildest dreams had you imagined you’d wind up here. Assisting (and being a good friend to) Pepper Potts while she assists the world. Living in Avengers Tower. Smoothing out the rough between two lovers who have dared time and space to be together. They need you so very much that they’ve taken a risk on something quite unorthodox, and though sometimes it makes you want to pinch yourself, lately you’ve just wanted wake up out of the nightmare. Focusing on yourself. And forgetting how much they sacrifice.

Every day. For everyone.

You swallow hard, trying to gather the shreds of your confidence and explain the lump that sits brooding on your chest. “I didn’t anticipate this would happen. Didn’t think ahead.”

Steve smiles sadly, and you let him take you in his arms, kiss the top of your head and pull back to look sombrely down again. “Y/N, you’ve been so strong. So incredible. And Buck and I have watched you wrestle with this thing, amazed. Proud of your will to find a way. It should have made you crazy long ago and I get it. I do. This feels like too much. This one extra thing.”

Your nodding, realizing that if anyone does understand it’s him. Steve lived with chronic illness. Several of them in fact. Asthma. Heart arrhythmia. Scoliosis. Anaemia. Ulcers. All of them had plagued him for most of the twenty-five years before the serum.

You’ve been in the fight for not even two.

“But what am I going do?” you whisper a little mournfully. If you have to you’ll wear your sweatpants. Maybe you can cut them off? Maybe you can cut the arms off your tops? They’ll look hideous but you won’t broil like a lobster in a pot. “Can we butcher something that already fits?”

“No, Y/N, not necessary.” Steve checks his watch and glances to the lightweight packs stacked neatly by the door. “T minus six hours. There’s lots of time. I’m packed and so is Buck. Betcha we can get you stuff and be back by two.”

“Stuff?” Does he realize what he’s saying? Four days worth of clothes? When you need every little thing?

Bucky, curls in behind, chuckling at the incredulity in your tone. “We all can do it baby. In record time. And the one of us with taste will even help you pick outfits.”

“Hey!” Steve, mock-affronted, swats him on the rear.

From your safe spot in the middle of the sandwich you heave a sigh. Perhaps just a suit and top and shorts would be enough. The weekend’s casual. You can get away without a dress. Survive being seen in the same clothes for days. The guys do it on missions all the time and heck, Clint lives in black and purple. And Thor in red and silver.

Bucking up your courage, you scrub the wet from your cheeks and are about to acquiesce when something Steve said pings.

It’s Bucky who is the clothes horse. Knows his style. Enjoys taking risks. Steve is simpler. He gravitates to clean lines, simple shirts and slacks. Nothing flashy but he appreciates well made.

He’ll accept finer things that you bring him home but if it’s left to him—it’s online all the way.

He loathes shopping.

With the fiery passion of a hundred suns.

“All?” you ask, incredulous.

“Yup. We are team. All three of us will help.” Steve cocks his head and stares up to the ceiling. “Jarvis can you patch me through to Tony?”

“Right away Captain.”

From above, you catch Pepper’s clear, ringing tones behind Tony’s rapid-fire, just slightly high and excited baritone “Stark’s house of mojitos and margaritas. What’s up Rogers? We’re pre-drinking here. I’m collecting the eye-watering Hawaiian shirts and Pepper’s making me put the new toys back.”

“Anthony!” Pepper is mortified. You’re blushing and Bucky barks out a laugh. Steve’s shaking his head and grinning ear to ear, but truthfully the thought of Tony Stark tinkering with items from Frisky Friday?

Should make all of you a little scared.

“Tony do you still have that limo?”

“Of course I do, Captain Obvious. Bentley’s Mulsanne for eight. Tan leather. Naim audio and bluetooth headphones. Retrofitted with Stark screens of course. Whhhyyyyyy?”

The insatiably curious head of your group absolutely has to know.

Steve grins and pops a quick kiss on your nose. “We need it. We’re going on an emergency shopping trip.

The reaction from two floors up is immediate.

“Holy shit!”

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

Of course Tony calls ahead.

You stand in the bright but not too intimidating plus size boutique attended by the solicitous and friendly owner. She is very nice. You force yourself not to apologize, to not make excuses for your size. It’s ridiculous. Being not thin is not a crime. Or a tragedy. Or even actually a choice but it is so hard to go against the conditioning of thirty years.

Why are you letting all that crap get inside your head? Ridiculous. Time to be positive and so you force yourself to relax and let yourself be waited on.

The owner brings armloads of practical and pretty and flattering styles that mix and match—can be a basis to add to later. For two hours Steve and Bucky sit in the ‘boyfriend chairs’ and help.. Steve has a black-one sugar coffee, Bucky has a latte and his phone is in his hand. He’s helpfully checking for the latest styles..offering opinions as you come out and model each new thing. They’re both laughing and joking, trash talking each other’s sense of style and seemingly enjoying the experience as you try on an entire wardrobe. Two bathing suits, two shorts, navy capris, four tops, one light coverup and two sundresses. In basic colours that all go together and will get you at least through a week with washing once.

“That’s enough,” you insist, feeling a bit tired and hot from all the changing, wondering what the damage to your credit card will be. You haven’t worked since all this landed down. And though Stark Industries has great disability insurance, you feel like you shouldn’t go too nuts.

“But you should have one tank, I think” the owner adds, frowning thoughtfully at all the cap-sleeved tees. “In case there is a day that is very hot.”

Hmm. She has a point. The weekend is slated to go from broiling to thermonuclear, but you’d steered away from thinner straps, a little worried at how they’d look.

“Go for it, Y/N!” Bucky enthuses and Steve nods encouragingly and so you warily take a few wider banded versions into the dressing room. Tug them down over your head, prepared for a pair of hastily stifled frowns.

The reaction you get is not what you expect.

Steve’s frowning, concentrating seriously like you’ve never seen, asessing the three different combinations like the fate of the world is riding on this choice. Finally he speaks up. “I really like that one.”

You turn to give yourself a better view in the three way mirror. The actually super comfortable white shorts have a broad waistband that flexes gently and doesn’t bind. They’re topped by a just slightly flared, surprisingly flattering tank in black with grey overstitching. Modern and sleek, it moves with you–and as you move Steve’s nodding.

You glance back at Buck. His head is tilted, long hair falling across his face as he peruses the combo with as much consideration as he gives a gun. Which means serious consideration. “The shape is great, Y/N, but the colour isn’t right.” He rises up and heads unerringly for the rack it came from, picking out the same top in pale shell pink and walking back, holding it up against your shoulder. “I think this is better against your colouring.“

You’re amazed. Now that is getting into the spirit of the thing but still you bite your lip, thinking black is more neutral, but what do you have to lose? Why not try?

When you return and show it off, Steve smiles and the owner looks admiringly at Bucky and nods her head. “You are exactly right Mr. Barnes and pink is this summer’s colour.”

He is right, it’s a warmer tone and makes your skin look less sallow. You feel better in it. Surprisingly. The top goes into the keep pile and Bucky grins, sitting down and stretching out, lacing his hands behind his head and making a face at Steve as if to say ‘I’m not the one to steer you wrong.’

The gesture gets Steve’s dander up. The game is on, and no one, no one, gets more competitive then Steve Rogers when he is the mood.

“Try this…”

Oh my god he’s actually picked up a sheerly pretty, ice blue strappy top from a rack, the dainty hanger looking hilariously tiny in his massive hands. Can you wear something that—delicate? Your brain had been kind of thinking of a heavier cover up….

“Try it baby.” He looks so sure of himself and Bucky’s nodding encouragingly and the owner is saying how the only rule is ‘do you like it?” and so you put it on. The slightly ruffled asymmetric edges look sexy and cool against jean shorts and all of you agree---- it and the shorts are perfect.

Both are to be kept but then Bucky will not be outdone. He stalks around the shop, metal fingers quickly riffling through the wares, obviously searching for something exactly right.

The owner hovers politely just behind. “Mr. Barnes? Can I help.”

“Bucky,” he answers automatically. “Nope. I will know it when I see it.

Finally he pulls out a complicated looking fall of pale leaf green and holds it up. It’s gorgeous. And absolutely sexy. A halter top that falls softly to a just slightly fuller base. With an oval opening in the back and cut-out, slightly gathered sleeves that will leave your shoulders and upper arms quite spectacularly bare.

You shake your head. “I can’t.”

“It will be perfect with your eyes.” He’s right on that—it will bring the green highlights in your hazel eyes to life, but it’s seems waaay too revealing. Your upper arms aren’t toned. Your collarbones don’t show. Your…

“Y/N?” Steve rises and slides over to give your shoulders a quick reassuring squeeze. His ocean eyes are pleading like a puppy dog’s. “Please? I’d love to see you in it.”

How can you resist both of them?

Cautiously you come back out and give a little twirl. It’s flirty and sexy and both guys’ eyes light up right away.

“Wow.”

Their comment is in unison. It is really, really nice, flirty and soft and it makes you even feel a little sexy. Steve says he also loves the blocky heeled, buff sandals the owner has paired it with. Bucky is raving about the stretch skinny jeans. You frown at the size of the ‘keep’ pile.

It’s growing. The owner has suggested a really workable set of combinations and there is even a silky printed scarf to give one dress a little bling for evening.

The thought of the bill is a little daunting but you do need longer pants if one evening turns out cool…

Bucky leans back in the chair and confidently crosses his arms across his chest. “Buy it all, Y/N.” Steve nods and gives you one of his precious sunrise smiles. “We’re a team. We’ll divide the bill up equally. Don’t stint yourself.”

That is so considerate and so very generous. “You don’t need to…” you begin, but Steve cuts you off. “We do. We want you to feel comfortable and relaxed in what you wear, too feel confident. We can afford it,” he adds and Bucky laughs.

“Easily. All he ever buys is paint and vinyl records.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “And all he ever buys is knives and books.”

True. But not necessarily a reason for them to spoil you.

Bucky turns and takes your hand in his metal one, raises it to his lips and plants a kiss, cementing the argument with one last, cajoling grin. “After all you’ve been through don’t you think you deserve a treat?”

Your heart melts a little bit. Well. Then.

The loot is packaged up and rung through while you change into a sundress and leave the baggy sweats behind.

Outside the limousine driver nods appreciatively when you climb into the butter soft back seats with what feels like a mountain of tissue-covered packages. It’s Barry. The soft spoken, grey bearded gentleman who had taken you to the rare doctor visits neither Steve or Buck could attend.

“Miss Y/N, you look lovely. So nice to see you looking well.”

Wow.

“Did you pay him?” you hiss to Bucky as you follow a laden Steve up into to the steel cocoon of the private elevator.

“Nope, doll, I sure didn’t.”

-------

Once you are ensconced back in your room again, the guys go off to see if Pepper needs any help while you take another run at packing. There’s no time to triage. All the small things that don’t fit are unceremoniously bundled by the armload and stuffed into bags to store. You set the small suitcase on the bed and start to transfer the new items in. Dresses and pants on the bottom. Tops and shorts and smalls rolled up to make up space. Your toiletries go next. And then your meds. Six pills a day on top of the injection. It comes with its own travel pack—freezer bag to keep it cool, mini disposal for the cartridges. You tuck in your flip flops and eye the new sandals that Steve liked so much. Should you bring them? Will there be a chance to wear them? Can you walk in heels for long after a year of bunny slippers

Will anyone notice with Nat’s and Maria’s killer bodies in swimsuits?

With Pepper in her perfect three inch heels?

Who are you kidding? They are all so gorgeous and thin and fit and you are white like a beluga whale. Of course all of them will be so nice, will go out of their way to make positive, encouraging remarks. Of course Thor, oblivious, will make booming allusions to some obscure ancient goddess of fertility. Of course Tony, overcompensating, will ridiculously call you Marilyn, and Raquel and.. and…

Your courage throws a wobbly.

You are wearing the new sundress with the yellow print. It’s presentable and even pretty but turning now in front of the long length mirror that you’ve avoided looking in for months, you see it.

The rolls that dip and dive along your back. The bow outward of the bodice where your stomach sags. Even with this being size XL.

Dissolving onto the nearby bench, you place your hands across your face and struggle not to cry. You love the Stark Beach House. It was actually the place you first realized the months long flirtation with the Avengers’ supersoldiers was more than a bit of harmless fun. Under hazy stars and moon, the softest of night breezes, you’d raised your cocktail to your lips and caught their eyes meet in glance. Accept the truth. Find the courage to admit.

They’d fallen. For you, just as you had for them, and no matter how complicated, how messy it is to be three they wanted this. The whole world knew Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes are an item. Indivisible and forged like steel by the vicissitudes of life. It just didn’t know they felt incomplete without a third. Someone softer. Who could fill in the chips and hollows, let them focus on something other than themselves.

One different man came out of Greenland’s ice.

One different man came out of Siberia’s wastes.

Both of them understand in their DNA how hard it is to start again. That you are mourning. For a life that is irrevocably changed. No one’s breathed a word of you returning to work as yet but you know it will be hard. Some mornings you’ve staggered into the common room, dopey from the night time meds and poured coffee into your orange juice. Some weeks doctor visits and movies dates are equally lost in fog.

Steve says not to worry, take baby steps, understand that pain builds fatigue and fatigue leads to forgetfulness but then you think of the insanely together, curvy woman with the photographic memory and talent for keeping track of every tiny detail.

Gone.

You will never be that woman again..

You hang your head and cry.

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

“Y/N?!”

It’s Bucky. He’s walking in, probably coming to see how soon you will be done and it doesn’t help. “I’m sorry. Sorry..I just…”

He’s leaning over your half-zipped bag, biting his lip, one tendril of sable hair sweeping across his cheek. Perfect dimple and chiselled jaw darkened by just a day or so of stubble.

The sight catches at your breath.

How? How could so gorgeous, sexy a man want me?? How could Steve? Painted golden as a perfect sunrise. Inside and out.

The tears leak out again.

Confused, surprised, you think, at the waterworks. Bucky straightens up. “Baby what’s wrong?”

You wave your hands at your body. “You can’t find me attractive like this! You both are so perfect and I look so…“

Fat.

The word is clinically quite simple but in practise it is so complicated. All too often meant to demean. Trolls on the internet toss it negligently when they want to put someone down. ‘Fat slob.’ “Cow.’ ‘Porky’ may be gentler but the message is the same. Appearance is all. As if weight happens because you’re slovenly. Or stupid. Or worth less than someone else.

It is so wrong but thinking judgementally is very so hard to banish when you’ve been bombarded by it for almost thirty years

“Different..?” Bucky’s eyebrows crash together into a familiar line of hurt. “Y/N is that what you think our love is about?”

“No. No!!’ you exclaim, mortified. “I know you love me. I just..” A little voice inside your head says ‘be honest. It’s the only way this will work.’

“I don’t want you to want me any less.”

There. You’ve said it. In a whisper because it feels so unworthy. Insignificant, when they’ve fought so hard to be together.

But this worry has been clawing like a rat at your brain since the day you stopped being in so much pain.

Before nothing mattered but relief. Now you feel better. Mostly. You should want your guys, and the days you don’t feel so crap you sort of do.

But there has been no sign of anything other than care and concern from them.

Bucky’s face is a kaleidoscope of emotions. Unsure of what he’ll do, you hold your breath, watch him sigh and cross over to the door. “Stevie, pal, can you come here?”

He walks back to you with the saddest smile. Warm and cool fingers hold your cheeks as he leans down to place a kiss upon your brow. Hands glide down to rest upon your shoulders--the metal one, thanks to Shuri’s tech, barely heavier than the right.

“Nothing. Nothing could ever make me love you or want you any less. Nothing.” Bucky punctuates each word with a little shake. “Wasn’t I the one who first noticed that exuberant, sexy smile? Convinced Steve to take a chance?”

You nod hesitantly. He had been, and flirted too. Hilariously. Brazenly. You’d been so shocked. It wasn’t until Steve ‘my tongue ties when I have to talk to women’ Rogers was enthralled, quizzing you about your peripatetic upbringing as unofficial assistant to globe-trotting famous scientist parents that you accepted it might be real. He had touched your arm so casually and easily, fingers brushing lingeringly as he passed over a new drink, smile quirking just a touch seductively.

Magic. And utterly irresistible.

It felt a lifetime between then and now, but in truth it was just three years.

Steve arrives, exchanges an almost telepathic glance with Buck and quickly picks up the gist, reads the situation like a book as only he can do. He leans in to hold his hand against your cheek, while the other cradles loosely at Bucky’s waist. “You look beautiful. And edible…” The feather touch wills a little of his certainty to seep in. “Y/N, what makes you think that only one size is sexy?” The genuinely bewildered tone usually reserved for odd parts of disco culture comes out. This is one of the things that gets Steve’s dander up. Disappoints him that it hasn’t progressed after seventy years of nap. “That is flat out wrong. Bigger or smaller, anything outside the ‘norm’ is bad. It’s crap.”

“Girls don’t get criticized for being skinny,” you blurt, not quick enough to block it in. You flush, but in your defense.. it is true. “There is no such thing as too thin for the magazines.”

“Screw the magazines,” Mr. ‘fight me’ growls. “No one should be criticized for their body shape.”

Bucky’s nodding. “It is so demeaning. In our time girls were made to feel inadequate for not being built like Rita Hayworth. Flat chested was considered a disaster. Guys were ragged on if they weren’t built like George Atlas.” His gaze turns serious and he pulls you little circle closer, prosthetic hand tight on Steve’s shoulder, hair swaying back and forth as he vigorously shakes his head. “That just isn’t how attraction works. I have loved and wanted Steve since he was tiny as a matchstick. So emaciated his hip bones fucking hurt when we were fucking.”

You gasp at the explicitness of the imagery. Oh lord. Yes that paints a picture. Bucky grins and looks adoringly up at his boyfriend. “I wanted him anyway.”

Steve drops a searingly hot kiss onto Buck’s lips before tearing his own away. “You did. Every day and twice on Sundays.”

This is not an earth-shattering revelation. Bucky is the one with the raging libido. ‘Hair trigger’ describes pretty much every part of him and honestly, you’d been too. Before. It was Steve who sometimes had too much in his head to play. Could not let the day’s anxieties quite go. Wound himself in strategy until it took two to pull him down—a lion and lioness on their prey.

The pair of them sexy snarking once again feels so good. It’s been on hard mute of late.

Steve runs a thumb thoughtfully across your lower lip. “He loved and wanted me. As I was.. Just like I love him for him. And love you for you.” The thumb trails down and deliberately runs along your collarbone, leaving precious, welcome little shivers in its wake. “Y/N you are so sexy. In every way. Every bit of you. There is nothing to be unsure about. You— curvy as you are, you are perfect. If we’ve held back from showing you, it’s because we didn’t want to pressure you into something if you weren’t ready.”

Of course he has it exactly right. Before, the constant pain and migraines had demolished your libido. Constant worrying about you had killed theirs. Bucky takes a deeper breath, leans in to leave a trail of butterfly kisses on your shoulder. “I’m sorry we didn’t speak up sooner. There is no way that you could look that would stop us wanting you.”

He is reading your mind again—seeing that you worry your condition will change with time. Relapse. It’s hard to entirely banish that fear. “I’m not gonna go back the way I was,” you say forlornly.

Steve hums and buzzes a sympathetic kiss upon your neck. “Mhmmm. The drug’s changed your metabolism… My serum won’t change either. Or Buck’s.”

“Don’t be so sure with Hydra tech,” Bucky mutters below his breath and Steve rolls his eyes expressively. “The point is our change is permanent too.”

“But that’s not the same!” You’re trying to not let your mouth hang wide open. “You are both perfect since your change. You’re gorgeous!”

“So are you.” Steve punctuates each word with a kiss. “I get it, sweetheart, I really do. I don’t always love this body either. Sometimes it just feels like a freak show, but I’ve learned to accept it’s me.”

Steve? A freak? This is not an adjective you associate him with. He’s gorgeous. Stunning. A perfect specimen of masculinity and that he wouldn’t be utterly thrilled to step into a machine and come out magically a new man has never occurred to you. You know it hurt. That he suffered for it. But the change was absolutely for the better.

“But you’re strong? And healthy now?!” you exclaim.

“Yes, and god knows it’s better than being sick all of the damn time but it isn’t me. In my head I’m still the matchstick. There are days when I get caught off guard. Feel big and clumsy. And it’s not always such a thrill.” He pulls a pouty face. “Can’t turn off the heat that makes you two cuddle on the other side of the bed without me.”

Bucky bumps him in the hip. “Awww. Rogers, you are such a sap.”

“Unh hunh, well I’m your sap, pal. Forever.” Steve reaches across your shoulder to kiss Buck’s cheek but then his eyes darken seriously. “I am hungry all the goddamn time. And it’s a crazy waste of money to buy custom everything. Even T-shirts for crissake.”

That makes you smile. It’s hard to take the frugal Irish boy of the Depression out of the modern man. “I kinda like it when you don’t and wear them a little tight.”

Bucky grins and nods. “And your pants.” It is Steve’s turn to bump playfully at his boyfriend’s hip. “What?” Bucky’s eyes are wide and innocent. He turns to you and becomes more serious, letting go Steve’s waist, turning his metal hand and flexing the matt black plates. “I get it, too. It is not easy to become used to looking different. Took me ages to accept my arm.” You nod a little hesitantly. You were not there when he first came back, broke his conditioning to seek out the man he loved, beyond time and all the cycles of the world. “I wanted to hack this thing right off. Felt as if it wasn’t me. I still catch myself in the mirror, seeing that, despite Shuri’s good work, I’m half a cyborg with a mass of scars.” His tone turns low and serious. “Do you find my naked body unattractive?”

You gasp, appalled, reaching to catch his hand. “No! Oh god, Buck no! It’s sexy as hell. And your scars, they’re badges of bravery!”

His eyebrow quirks. “Yeah, love you babe for saying so but let’s be real. I am a mass of metal and red keloid scar tissue. Lots of it. It’s not exactly conventional beauty pitched in the papers or TV.” His flesh fingers dig into the junction of the prosthesis with his pec. “The internal struts at one time went in here. The Wakandan version is far lighter and easier but I feel it still.“

“Buck.” Steve’s reaches to squeeze his left bicep as Bucky sighs and then his eyes drop to catch your gaze. “It’s taken a lot of time for me to feel it’s a part of me. Accept that I am sexy with it. Give yourself time. You will feel it too. There is no one size or shape for sexy.”

Steve is nodding. “There sure isn’t. You both look beautiful. And I love you beyond reasoning.” He holds your hand but leans toward Bucky, wanting to support him too. There’s just a hint of mischevious glitter in blue eyes and his voice is rough with sudden desire. ’I remember the feel of your left arm. But I love the one that is here right now. ”

You watch them kiss. Soft lips meet at first gently and then hungrily, deepening the kiss until it is a barely reigned flame of need. So enticing. And arousing. As always the sight leaves you breathless. The black and gold of the prosthesis is cool below your fingertips and little arcs of light sparkle in the pale gold of Steve’s soft hair.

They were first. The foundation. But you are here now, a solid point of the triangle, and you know it, yet sometimes, as now, you feel the need to let them be. They’ve been holding off because of you, and you’re uncertain you feel ready for attention yet.

As you start to slip below the circle of their arms, a hand snakes out.

“No, no, no. Don’t you go anywhere, Y/N.” Bucky has broken off their kiss, moved lightening quick to cut you off. He turns your shoulders to face Steve, runs a hand encouragingly along your arm, lacing your fingers in his own. Steve is smiling, slow and sultry, right at you, a wall of blast-furnace warm and sexy muscle, wedged almost touching right in front.

Your body sings. It remembers this, being caught between dark fire and golden glow. Celebrated. Revered. Taken to dizzying heights and a now melting grows in your core that you haven’t felt for months.

Perhaps it is that they are right. You can, in time, adjust.

And they will show you every hour of every day how much they love all of the woman that you are.

You let yourself fall back upon the bed when a hand with freckled pushes gently on your chest. So many hands. Pale. Black-gold. Irish fair and English tawny warm. Somehow Bucky has caught you as you fall. Your head is in his lap. His blue-green eyes are sparkling just above and one hand is palming, lightly, gently, at the nipple peaked below your dress. It feels right. And good. Home, after too long away, and then Steve crawls up the bed, lays himself warm and pliant between your legs. Grinning broadly, excitement glowing in his gaze. His hands lift the cotton of the hem, ruch the pale yellow flowers up to see a view of your new lemon thong.

A blond eyebrow raises. “T-2 hours before we go. Time enough to change into another pretty dress?”

Oh god.

“Yes.”

So yes.

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

tags: @winters-beauty @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan @theycallmebecca @mewsiex@emilyevanston @mycapt-ohcapt @pegasusdragontiger @badassbaker @heather-lynn @saffreelove @loricameback @nomadicpixel@missfirstavenger @prplprincez @marvel-lucy

#star’s full figured fantasy #body positivity #stucky #reader #sian22redux #writes

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merlinthoughts · 6 years ago

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Season 1 Episode 5 - Lancelot<3

- YES BBG’s IT'S MY BOY LANCE

- he’s one of my fav characters u guys don't even KNOW

- like yah okay, i've only seen hiM FOR ONE EPISODE

- but he’s the light of my life

- and he may not even come back but he looks like a character that would come back especially if the fucking ep is named after him

- oh damn, i sure hope he does

- and goes into arthurs posse of knights or whatever, replacing val

- or what valerie was gonna be

- idek, lets get to it bc i could go on for days just picturing lance as a main character while continuously expressing my love for him

- BUT NOTHING ELSE OBVIOUSLY BC THIS IS NOW A CATHOLIC WEBSITE

- tumblrs trynna urge me to go with them nasty thoughts

- you wish tumblr

- you WISH you can ban me

- u can't live without sucking dick >:(

- wow slow down shev... wow okay sorry. christianism. i forgot

- it got the best of me

- back to the episode!

- omg it's buckbeak why he making a cameo in merlin??

- my inner potterhead(uwu) is coming out i hate this

- bet you can't guess which house i'm in ;)

- it's fucking slytherin, it's literally so obvious

- hissshiss motherfuckers

- ew guys

- this is so hard to type considering my fucking ‘-’ button (called a dash for u furries who only see a face) is broken and i have to literally smash it to make it work, so i'm just insanely typing up the next dash by screaming at my keyboard that i can't fucking fix

- and i have so many dasHES TO DO!

- that made no sense bc yall aren't living in my socks at the moment

- BUT I'M DYING IT'S SO HARD TO JUST GET IT TO PRESS

- fuck it copy paste, my best friend, you always come when the time is needed

- LANCELOT LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL

- lowkey looked like that guy from the 100 though

- but better

- nothing against baloney of course

- lancelot literally just introduced himself, the camera panned in onto his chest, then he proceeded to faint or some shit with the camera still zoomed on his chest, and merlin reached up to grab his shirt, probably to yank it the fuck off and the opening credits rolled up. wtf was that scene.

- WAIT I REWINDED IT

- it's not supposed to be a zoom in of his chest lmao, my hoe ass thought we had a little fanservice for a second, but there's a big mushroom-looking blood stain on his shirt which i guess is supposed to mean he's fucking dead so it's not all that confusing anymore

- when was he stabbed tho?

- whatever. shit always goes down in BBC that's often unexplainable.

- “it had claws, wings…” arthur stops his sentence melodramatically while uther looks terrified. “and.. what?” WHAT UTHER?? WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?? YOU THINK ARTHURS GONNA BE LIKE “FANGS, STEVE BUSCEMI'S EYEBALLS, DANNY DEVITO’S HAIRLINE, TALKS LIKE JOHN MULANEY?? I JUST TOLD YOU WHAT I SAW, NOT WHAT I IMAGINED. FATHER”

- but no… livestock apparently

- that’s what uthers shocked by

- not that theres a fucking griffin living in his world

- wait theres magic, means theres magic creatures doy

- but still, even if we all had magic here, i think it would be a little shocking seeing a griffin come for buckingham palace randomly

- or i guess if youre reading this and are in america, in the white house

- oh and it took only people apparently

- i guess that’s a little more severe but i stand uncorrected

- they be having a wild time in the hippogriff’s house ;)

- honestly sounds like a fucked up hogawart house

- here we have slytherin, hufflepuff, ravenclaw and... *looks at smudged writing on hand* hippogriff

- okay, who tf has a dream of coming to camelot when it's the most feared place, with banned magic and an asshole king with his hot bitchy son and a sorcerer who just brings chaos to the land

- well i mean, me

- bc of the hot bitchy son but whatever

- camelot? more like cameNOT

- arthur calls himself the ultimate killing machine like the edge lord he is

- ARTHUR FUCKING KO’D THE BITCH

- knee to the nose and all wtf man

- this is probably foreshadowing smth with the “only noble blood can swoosh like a knight” thing, like somethings gonna happen and poor people are gonna revolt and uthers gonna be like “GEEZ fine, okay, no nobles can become a knight”

- merlins such a shit stirer, telling lance he can be a knight and telling him arthur would love him when we really know whats gonna happen bc of that rule

- and here’s gaius like uhh u liar wtf, crushing lance’s dreams while merlins just like wtf gaius, live in the moment, we can do anything, this is OUR show

- literally their such good friends and have known each other for a solid 10 minutes only

- i'm not that big into beards but id love to rub my face on lance’s

- HOMEWORK IS MERLIN’S EXCUSE, MERLIN UR LIKE 20 IN A WORLD PROB WITHOUT HOMEWORK

- haha little fault there, or like a minor inconvenience which isn’t important but i like to pretend to be smart: middle ages or well the show’s era was more in “AD” (476-ish is the start of middle ages, while the arthurian legend is supposed to happen in the 5/6th century so yeah, technically 400/500 AD), and homework supposedly only started up in 1095 so BOOM BBC GOTCHA

- no, merlin’s not gonna perform magic right in front of the librarian

- does he not know the wrath of librarians???

- our librarian at school literally kicked everyone out of the library once for the whole semester because there was an apple core on the bookshelf. this was during exam week. do u know how much i wanted to kill the person who didn't admit to their mistakes and let everyone suffer. WE COULDN'T ENTER TO EVEN STUDY

- OH GOD, HE'S DOING IT MERLIN IS A FUCKING MESS

- gwen and lancelot are my favourite thing, i literally want them to be together by the next episode

- or the next one with lance

- WAIT LANCELOT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MAIN CHARACTER ISN'T HE BC I KNOW VAGUELY THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND AND LANCELOT WAS A KNIGHT WASN'T HE???? HE WAS A FUCKING KNIGHT AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NEXT TO LIKE IDK BEDEVERE OR SMTH THIS IS AMAZING NEWS GUYS I LITERALLY COULD BE A DETECTIVE

- !!!! the only heto ship on this show i actually adore !!!!!!

- i mean i only love two things: merthur and glance

- idek what gwen and lance’s ship name is so its now glance

- merlin would be the best wingman for them by being gwens bestie

- “you can start by cleaning out the stables” *lance looks to merlin while merlin gives him the biggest smile and thumbs up* this fuckING DORK

- harry potter au where everything is the same but that grim reaper looking human creature in the prisoner of azkaban executing buckbeak is actually lancelot in the future

- for symbolism purpose, not saying lance is like an animal killer but yknow

- same thing with the griffin yknow

- the two prettiest dudes in my world fighting against one another while sweat is glistening down their forheads is my new favourite aesthetic

- BUCKBEAK HAS COME

- oh wait no, people having been attacked by buckbeak have come

- netflix fucked up by subbing arthur as “orther” and i never laughed so hard

- don’t make me fucking laugh when there’s an ambush, netflix, this is not christian

- annd arthur’s pride is gone, and he goes up to chop lance’s fucking head off

- OH SHIT THAT TRANSITION THOUGH

- i'm so proud of my bb like genuinely so proud, lance deserves so much and here is is!! a knight!!

- MORGANA APPEARS THE LOML

- the three lomls in one room?? seriously bbc?? you really doing that to me?? for once im actually impressed and happy

- he's gonna get caught, i mean i KNOW that, but like it's still stressing out

- ewewewewewewewewewew

- arthur called morgana “isn't she so beautiful??” with a lovey dovey face pls don't lead this to that stepsibling porn bullshit i'm going to fucking puke

- i hated that shadowhunter bullshit like they seriously going to hit me with the indirect incest?? i was so done. i hated jace and clary, idc if theyre like the most popular couple, like wheres my raphael lovers at bc that's a boy i can enjoy

- “so if you could choose one... lance or arthur?” merlin subtly asks gwen like he doesn't have an answer himself

- it would have been so perfect geez, gwen and lance, merlin and arthur, myself and morgana

- i really wanna know what lance, merlin and arthur look like drunk bc that's a hell of a hangover they got the next morning and they probably cut out most of the soiree so like what did they do?? was there any drunk dancing and flirting??? bc i literally want to see that happen

- ik it's a bad thing but those drunk tropes where someone confesses their love to the person they like while under the influence is my favourite thing bc it's both hilarious, genuine and the other person often helps them to their feet and gets them to a safer place to rest and that's fricken adorable guys!

- not the drinking obviously, thats like a thing you can enjoy if you want but ya girl does not like drinking. or, well, she likes drinking with a limit. you can tell who likes to be the designated driver lmao. people here be drinking flat out whiskey and i tried it once and it burned by fucking throat

- merlin fucked up

- and this is technically his fault

- THEY GOT CAUGHT LMAO IT IS HIS FAULT

- hungover and caught this won't bode well

- “not worthy of a knighthood”

- hey so how do you retract a knighthood?

- do you like reverse the shoulder tapping

- like if you're christian, bc you know, we, as a christian group on this tumblr site, should already know about it... but when we do that cross thing on our shoulders, it means like a direct call with god or some shit. and if we do it the opposite direction it's considered the antichrist so is it the same for knighthood?

- OMG I JUST HAD AN EPIPHANy

- okay with christianity it's tapping the head the stomach, shoulder then shoulder, right? but the reverse is the anti cross like shoulder to shoulder, stomach and head. but… what if it were tapping the stomach, crotch, hip to hip? it would make sense right??? since the cross is upside down… it would lead to the dick and not the head. THAT'S WHY IT'S AN UPSIDE DOWN CROSS. BC YOU AINT SUPPOSED TO GRAB THEM BALLS UNTIL MARRIAGE!!! I SEE OMG I SEE YOU JESUS, TRYNNA HIDE UR FLOURISHING SEXUALITY

- omg guys, don't grab ur fucking balls in this blog post, it's considered the antichrist

- “you never will be” lmao he's gonna come back, he's lancelot, that's a main in the og legend

- how pissed will lance be with merlin

- i hope big time bc like... angry lance *dries off sweat with hands*

- aw damn lance isn't mad he's like “this is my punishment. mine to bare, mine to bare alone. stop blaming urself. i put this on me” this fucking goof is making me swoon once fucking more

- NOW BUCKBEAKS BACK

- he's a real goat x3

- buckbeak can literally fuck shit up in the air, camelot has nothing on him

- ARTHURS FUCKING DEAD LMAO

- oh wait he aint, just a few of his knights

- imagine being an extra and playing as one of those knights. having to fight next to bradley james, and have him look at you when someones doing something stupid like you can mentally agree with him and then pretend to die on camera. that would be my dream. make-a-wish better do me some good when i get diseased that will prob be named after me

- hoephagus

- stupidolis

- nah thats stupid

- ;)

- i now understand mulans will to pretend to be a guy and join the army bc i would literally do that if i could stay with arthur fucking pendragon

- aw it's called a griffin not a hippogriff

- i'm saddened

- harry potter has taught me WRONG

- this looks to be the climax where merlins like “fine guys, geez, i'll kill the griffin bc i'm magic!! wow!!! but arthur obviously knew, and i thought gwen was gonna know but she shocked me even more when she didn’t like fucking hell everyones oblivious. but since you can only kill buckbeak with magic, sigh, i'm exposing myself ig” even if it's like halfway through season 1 with 5 seasons altogether, this looks to be the right time

- this really sounds to be what we are waiting for, what kilgarah said about the destiny merlin will have

- WAIT WE HAVEN'T SEE THAT BITCH IN A WHILE

- wheres the dickwad gone lmao like was the actor busy the last few episodes or what?

- OMG ARHTURS BREAKING LANCE OUT OF PRISON SO HE CAN BE A KNIGHT

- how is the “arthurs pretty gay” theory not popped up more times on here

- like we all know merthurs pretty great and all

- but CANON wise arthur seems super gay to me

- like he just told lance to get up his ass because “i need… uhh... camelot needs” like he was just about to say he needs lance in his life

- have you not seen the glances??

- fucking hell

- arthur slowly comes closer to lance pretending to talk about what he knows about the creature

- lance also coming closer to ask if he truly believes that, with a raised eyebrow

- thought this shit was only in books and fanfics

- but no guys, we got a gay eyebrow raise

- bc we all know only the gays are capable of eyebrow raises

- fucking hell this is gay i cant even explain it

- like its subtly gay, but out of context youd think this is something out of a fansite

- and merlins not even in this scene

- “take the horse and never return to this place” OKAY NO FIRST OF ALL SECOND OF ALL FUCK OFF LMAO THIS ISNT GAY ANYMORE

- i mean he’s doing it out of the goodness of his heart, saving him from prison and all but lance wants to like… be a good man and you aint letting him do that

- OMG LANCE IS SAYING GOODBYE TO GWEN

- LANCE BETTER FUCKING KISS HER

- I LOVE GWEN AND LANCE TOGETHER #STAN

- fucking kiss you fucking bafoon

- THEY DIDN'T FUCKING KISS WTFUCKINGFUCK

- merlin looks so dumb holding his dagger as if he doesn’t know what to do with it but i love that for me

- WAIT I THOUGHT LANCELOT WAS LITERALLY GONNA GO YEET OUT OF CAMELOT NOT TO FUCKING SACRIFICE HIMSELF AND FIGHT THE GRIFFIN

- bafoons, all of them

- big bouncing bucking bafoons

- arthur looks so scared i've never been so in love and want to PROTECT

- omg for all merlin and lance know, that scream was arthur fucking dying- OMG IT WAS ARTHUR

- HE'S FUCKAN DEAD

- nvm he's alive but like yall not think to check for some arterial wounds bc he could be alive now, but in 5 mins he could legit not make it

- slow music means death

- lancelot you were the best husband i've ever had, rip

- i would be crying more if i didn’t know what happened, but since i already spoiled myself on the first season by watching this about a year ago, i'm not that sad but its still getting to me slightly

- hahahaha so happy everyones okayyy

- ARTHUR AND LANCE TiME!

- arthur looks so happy for lance literally crack ship right there

- why does nobody talk about this wyd

- and here’s arthur defending lance’s honour

- but uthers being a bitch

- omg that transition from lance being told to wait outside, the camera following him out of the room and the doors slamming behind him just in time to hear uther yell at arthur from next door is what gives me chills

- uther better fucking accept lance

- “the law is the law” yeah but the law also says to stop being a stuck-up bitch, uther

- literally lance is the only fucking person to not see through merlins blatant magic tricks

- like he saw that shit, called it out and was not like “oh what its a trick of the wind, surely”

- and he's not fazed at all, u see merlin it aint that bad to tell some people

- the only thing he is worrying about is the credit he says he doesn’t deserve bc merlin killed the griffin and not him

- see how fucking great my husband is, guys

- he better not be like “sucks to suck, i lied again! it aint me, chief” to uther and arthur

- NAH OKAY HE’S JUST BIDDING HIS FAREWELL IM GONNA FUCKING CRY IN THE CLUB

- he better fucking come back soon >:(

- seasonal guest star at least

- main characters, big bonus

- we barely saw morgana this episode and i'm not okay with that, but at the same time it was more lance-centric so i'm aight actually. we got all the time in the world for my baby girl, but lance :’( good luck man

- literally everyone is so gay for lance

- gwens into him for sure, and i love that the most (guess thats not gay but whatever, beggars can't be choosers)

- arthur has a little crush ngl

- and merlins full out in love with him

- not to mention MY FUCKING SELF

- i mean, i won't deny that he’s literally perfect in every way and i've only known him for one episode, but i agree whole heatedly with these crushes

- “till next time, sir lancelot” merlin whispers with a smile

- yeah that's me right there

- BC I'LL BE SEEING HIM IN THE FINAL EPISODE OF THIS SEASON!

- greeting us all with the news on being cast full-time for the show, being the best guard around and a lover boy to all

- guys i feel like i'm on aphrodisiacs but instead of desire for sex, it's love for lancelot

- send help

#this is a long one yall #maybe bc i found a new crush but yknow #merlin #merlin bbc #merthur #s1 #s1ep5

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justkpopjokes · 7 years ago

Text

Studying Your Eyes

Ft. Wonwoo

A/N: For @sunnysidewrites! Based on this^ moodboard I did a while ago. Lmao my “short” scenarios are the same length as the first ones I ever posted

College is stressful

I mean that's obvious but anyways

Taking tests definitely isn't your favourite thing

But studying for them became your favourite thing after you met Jeon Wonwoo

He's been your friend ever since he randomly invited you to the library one afternoon to study for a test you two had soon

Honestly it was kinda just like

“Oh hi Y/N”

“Hi Wonwoo”

“Wanna study at the library?”

“Sure?”

And so you followed him after class to the library

Simple as that

But I mean he's a good study buddy

Like if you get frustrated and too distracted to read, he'll read sentences for you and you'll pay attention

It's 100% bc of his husky-ish sexy low af tired voice (did I actually say that wtf)

You'd think the huge crush on him would make you distracted

But it just motivates you to study?

Because you want to impress him by doing well on your test

And if you ace your test he'll think he helped and want to spend time with you to help you more

BUT ANYWAYS

Ever since then, you've been going to the library or the cafe nearby after class with Wonwoo almost every day

It's like your safe space, yknow? Except it's not safe bc this fricken dude will attack you all the time istg

Of course, since you go most days of the week, there is a little routine

On even days, you get coffee for both of you, and on odd days he buys it

Be there by an hour after class ends (so all that info from class is still in your brain)

Study for at least an hour or two

Any time after is time to read or study some more

However Wonwoo’s favourite part of the little routine is getting to the library and your free time

Why?

He likes taking pictures of you when you aren’t looking

This boi may not be a photography major, but he loves taking pictures

Especially of you

He thinks you’re the most beautiful person on the planet

He especially loves your eyes

The way they shine under the library light

And the color in your eyes stand out to him (even if they’re brown or black)

He can see them better when you’re focused on reading a book

Sometimes when he catches himself staring, he has to remind himself you don’t like him in the same way

Or do you?

But either way, he loves messing with you by taking photos when you aren’t looking

But you also do the same!!!

So it’s like a little competition

See how many pictures you can take, and at the end of each month you count how many

Sometimes though, you let him take pictures bc he insists “the light looks really good on you”

I hope you’ve realized how soft I am for this

Ok but one night, you guys decided to stay really late bc it was the weekend and you just finished a big test

It’s late but also you’re in a part of the library with kind of dim, yellow lights and dark wood bookcases, so the whole room feels warm

This just makes you flooded with feelings

Scratch that, more like one feeling, love

This one guy spends so much time with you, helps you study, never fails to give you coffee, traded your coffee for tea once when you weren’t feeling well…

I think it’s time to tell him how you feel, right?

So when you finished the book you were reading, you put it back and went behind a nearby bookshelf

And you called him over

You usually call Wonwoo over to help get books that are too high up bc he’s the taller one out of you both, so he just shakes his head and whispers "shortie"

But when he walks over, you’re standing next to the bookcase, hugging yourself

Wonu’s internally screaming o shit did I do something wrong whAT’S WRONG ARE YOU OK

You just silently murmur

“Wonwoo...I like you...a lot...”

He just stares at you with his jaw slightly dropped

You’re just thinking o god I fcKED UP DON’T HATE ME

But Wonu’s not staring becuase he’s upset

He’s staring at your eyes

Studying how they’re looking up at him with so much emotion

This what love feels like.

He just lifts one hand to your face and gives you a kiss

!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!????

“Hah...I thought you didn’t like me that way…”

“Well I do.”

“That’s not how I thought you’d say ‘I love you’ but ok shortie”

“I love you, dork”

Once you start dating though, nothing changes

Except for the million kisses and bear hugs every time you meet

However the picture taking stays (even though you hate that he always has a camera ready to document your every move)

“No, I’m not going to stop taking pictures, you look cute”

#seventeen imagines #seventeen scenarios #jeon wonwoo #wonwoo imagines #wonwoo scenarios #seventeen moodboard #moodboard #wonwoo moodboard #seventeen fluff #jkj fics #.txt

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letsprayitwritesitself · 7 years ago

Text

groundhog dave part 13

Davey woke with a start, face down on the bed, fully clothed. He looked up. Jack was up at the top of the bed, asleep, one hand resting on his stomach, head tipped to the side. Davey stared. What was today. What was meant to happen. Fuck. What the fuck.

He grabbed for his phone, suddenly overwhelmed by the realisation that waking up with Jack could mean - what if it was? Finally?

5:53pm. His phone screen blasted his sleepy eyes with blue light and bad news. It wasn't over.

It wasn’t over.

He sat up and let himself remember everything that had happened since that morning, that particular Groundhog Day that felt like years ago. Interviewing people. The man in Jack's bed. The walk through the park. The man in Jack's bed. The invite to the dance. The man in Jack's bed. And now this, waking up after napping with Jack. Not quite the same as his fantasy had been, being that it was almost six and they were several feet apart. But something!

He needed to try and get a shower before the thing. It was never any question whether or not he would go, because for once it felt like something completely and utterly different. It felt final. Like the end of Love Actually.

If he was Jack, he pondered, watching the soft rise and fall of his chest (and the way his lips were slightly parted, hair a little messy) he'd want to be woken up right now. So he would. Just after one or two more seconds of drinking the sight in.

'Jack,' he whispered, standing up, stretching, walking round. 'Hey.' A soft tap to his arm.

Jack inhaled sharply and his eyebrows shot up. 'What. What's going...' He opened his eyes. Looked at Davey. Looked around the room. Back at Davey. 'Did I fall asleep?'

'Yeah. We both did. It's six.'

'Six when? What day is it?'

'Six pm. Still Groundhog Day.'

'Mmmph. Shit. I'm up.' He heaved himself into a sitting position. 'Time to party.'

'Yeah, you look about ready.'

'Shut up. Dance you into the ground.' He stretched his arms up over his head and Davey definitely didn't sneak a look at his shirt tightening over his chest, and riding up over his stomach (didn't blush at that little bit of skin he'd never seen before, either.) 'I'll tell the Crutchmeister where we're goin'. Like he hasn't been invited eight separate times.' He yawned again. 'And I'll see you downstairs at seven?'

'It's a - a plan.' Muggy with sleep himself, Davey almost let a different word slip out. He gratefully let his attention be drawn by his phone lighting up on the bed between them. An email. He grabbed it. 'It's from Andy. God. Shit. I didn't think I'd be so nervous.'

'Want me to read it?'

'We both can.' He sat down on the bed and Jack sat next to him, both eyeing the screen as he unlocked it.

Dave. I like it. Send me a final version by Friday morning.

I am impressed.

He read it five times, distantly aware of Jack slinging an arm round his neck and exclaiming 'Dave!!!'

'Oh god. Oh man, jeez that's such a relief, oh my god!'

'He's impressed! You impressed him!'

'We impressed him!'

'We fucking crushed it! Well done, Davey.'

'I couldn'ta done it without you. And Crutchie. Thanks so much for doing that extra work!'

'Nah, come on. Didn't feel like work. None of this has.' They fell into a long moment of silence. Davey read the email over and over. So did Jack. And after a couple of seconds they seemed to realise simultaneously that they were sitting almost flush side by side, Jack's hand warm and firm on Davey's shoulder. Davey certainly didn't shrug the hand away, stilling, trying to memorise the feeling of being so close to Jack. And Jack left it a little while too. Just a moment. Because he was a touchy guy, and this was normal, but then also because he was sharing this moment with his producer who was actually pretty cool and nice and -

'Well.' Jack sprang up, heading over to the door. 'We're celebrating! See you at seven.' He saluted Davey as he headed out.

Davey stared at the door, back to trying to manage his expectations. Just because Jack had said in the past (present, fucking whenever it was) that he was interested didn't necessarily mean anything. And the fact that they had again spent the day together, had this success together, and were going to a fucking dance together... Davey didn't want to take away Jack’s agency in how this day ended up, couldn't just rely on the fact Jack may like him - and after all, he had decided, or tried to decide, that this wasn't just about Jack anymore. If at all. But when Jack wrapped an arm around his neck? Seemed almost ecstatic for him? He could do that again. It was one thing to know that this might not be (probably wasn't) about Jack (but.... still maybe maybe might be) but another to actually try and act like he knew it.

He shook his head as he stood up and started to get undressed, tried to focus on the victory.

Andy had said yes! To something Davey had thought of! And sure, he had said yes before - but maybe the thing he had said yes to was actually not what Davey should have been going for. He couldn't remember the words exactly, hadn't he just kind of asked for more? Without putting something in place, without making a suggestion - just asking to not be sent to Punx. And that was clearly wrong.

This felt different, and it had to be.

But.

What would he do if he woke up tomorrow morning to the same thing? He had to consider it. He'd been sure before. But now he was... sure.

He hated to think it but he definitely suspected that he would shut down again. For days. If the unthinkable he was thinking about happened. Total implosion.

'Oh - shit. Ignore me.' Jack was in his room. Hadn't he left? 'I left my - phone. I shoulda knocked -'

He watched Jack dart over to the nightstand and grab his phone, and he sort of tried to cover himself but that was a little hard considering how he was standing in the middle of the room in just a towel. He settled for staying still, arms folded across his stomach, while Jack left in a haste. 'See you-’ He glanced up and caught Davey's eye, then his gaze flickered down, down again, and up, and he cleared his throat. 'Seven. At seven.'

'Yeah.' He flushed painfully hot. When the door closed he covered his face with his hands and let out a low groan, adding that to the list of events that made him scared that today wasn't the perfect day. Victories were adding up, slowly, but jolts like that chipped at what little confidence he'd started to have. He preferred his initial unveiling of his pasty torso to happen in the dark, especially considering what he was fairly sure Jack looked like under his shirt (not that he’d spent a lot of time thinking about it, certainly not – but definitely tan, and toned, and – fuck.)

For all the moments he had felt almost like an expert in whatever the fuck was happening, he still had no fucking clue how it worked. The only way is to see, he told himself over and over as he showered. Act like the days were going to go back to normal, go to sleep, and just see.

He shut off the water and stared at the tiles, not praying, but something close. Telling someone, some being or whoever was listening, that he was sorry, and hopeful, and could maybe have something worth breaking out of this thing for.

But again. Who said that would change anything?

The action of descending the stairs in the hotel had a jarring but not entirely unwelcome echo of prom night about it, as Jack waited at the bottom, and watched him come down with a tight smile.

'I keep wondering what kind of night it's gonna be, you know?' He said as he held the front door open for Davey. 'Like... half of me thinks that they've used the word "party" symbolically and it's actually going to be y'know... bingo and knitting. And then the other half thinks we're going to walk into a fricken... crack den. The dark underbelly of Punx.'

'Do you think Punx has a dark underbelly?'

'It'd be fun to try and find it, right?'

'Maybe they have what they think is one and it's just like... a motel room full of people streaming tv illegally. Taking one more painkiller than the recommended dosage.'

'Watching Fifty Shades of Grey with the blinds down?'

'Oh my god, maybe I don't wanna find it.'

'Might be a feature in that?'

'It would be... I guess, interesting, you never know, people in Philly might respond better to something smearing Punx a little.'

'Not smearing if it's true, right? Like how not everyone is going to watch the one we made and love Punx immediately, but. It'll show 'em what they never thought about.'

'You're right. That's exactly... Jack, are you gonna want to do more of these? I mean... You helped me out a lot with this one, and I really admire your skills as a presenter. But I know it's extra work, and you're already full time at the station.'

'Are you kidding?'

'No...'

'I was hoping you'd ask.' He smiled at Davey. 'Cuz that would be dope.'

'Great. Deal.' More time spent with Jack. Score. 'We'll talk in Philly.' He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared ahead, trying to fight the feeling that this was all suddenly going, like, really well, and whether or not that was a good thing or a bad thing. It was just a thing, damn it.

That was why he also wasn't focusing on the way their arms kept brushing as they walked down the street (through several layers of clothes, obviously, but noticeable as fuck) or how they were going together (because they'd been invited together and were both going from the hotel so would obviously walk there together but still... going together.) He pushed away thoughts of how the night could go - like, would there be dancing? Pictures? Jack's face illuminated by a whirlwind of rainbow lights as he smiled at Davey from across the room?

Stop it. Shut up.

'Where's Crutchie?'

'He's already there. That or he's still pregaming at some old lady's house. Little scamp.'

'I'm so grateful for him today. His input. You know? You can't fake that kinda love for a place.' Could you?

Wait, could you?

'Yeah, he's one of my favourite people.'

Was that what Davey had done? He quietened, biting his lip. Had he not done basically that? Was he pretending to be this person? He tried to search inside but came up short. How could he tell? He didn't, like, hate Punx anymore, but he wouldn't... LIVE there. And he'd enjoyed talking to people but like... wasn't all of that just done in the interest of getting out of this cycle? Did that just make him shallow, make believe, even exploitative? What if when he got back to Philly everything snapped back? Did he want that?

And Jack. Was he tricking him into liking him? No - he had told him that he'd thought he was hot. He hadn't imagined that. But that didn't mean he liked him as a person - and he probably hadn't. What made Davey think that after weeks of knowing Jack, being snippy, impatient, frustrated, he could just reverse it in what was still essentially one day? And it still might not be who he really was. What kind of entitled bullshit -

'We're here!'

They were in front of the community centre, a plain but vast rectangular building. Music could be heard distantly, some anonymous jazz. Davey blinked several times, shaking his head to try and clear the fog. Did he want to go inside, like really sincerely? Or was it a ruse to try and fix this thing? Because if he was doing it for selfish reasons didn't that mean that it wasn't the right thing to do?

He glanced at Jack. He thought about going in there and dancing with him. Grinning as they showed off cringy moves, disco lights reflecting in Jack's eyes. And he decided that he was fairly sure he actually wanted to go in. Whether or not it was right. He manufactured a smile and turned to Jack.

'Let's do it.'

'Dave?'

'Hmm?'

'You're in the. The closet.'

'I'm not, I came out when I was seventeen.'

'No but. Come on.'

'I - yeah.'

'Mind if I join?'

'Be my guest.'

Crutchie took a seat on a giant box of paper towels. The door swung shut behind him.

It had been going well! It had been going fine. It had been going... okay. Like, it would be unrealistic for Davey to suddenly love discos, know how to dance, but when they were invited he was expecting to ride in on a cautious wave of positivity. He thought he'd be in high spirits, not fresh out of an existential crisis. But as soon as he'd stumbled upon that inkling that he might be bluffing, he couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't, what was good and what wasn't. Plus, as the night went on, as he got closer and closer to the end of the day, more nerves gripped him - if this wasn't the way out, what was? Was there even a way out? Would it be years and years, or just eternity of this? How long would this revived fight last, if today wasn't the last day? He was scared. And he tried to tell himself that the worst thing he could do would be to fret about what had to be done, because then he wasn't really there, and if he wasn't really there then it was right that he was bluffing - but what if he missed a chance to fix this because he was staring at Jack?

He had come close to fun a couple of times. Dad-dancing with Jack after reuniting with Crutchie, a few beers, seeing the people they'd interviewed again in a different environment, being introduced to more people as a result of that - he could almost kid himself that it was all genuine, none of it contrived. But then if something was contrived to be for the best, that had to make it better than when he'd just been himself on that first day. Or been who he used to be, or...

Contrivance tended to have negative connotations, but then - he had made this. Not made it in the sense of y'know, actually making it, planning the party, sending himself on this broadcast, but... this was essentially the opposite of what he thought his trip here would be. He'd orchestrated a day that had seen him at a party he was happy to be at, with someone he was fairly sure he could fall in love with, looking forward to a new creative project back in Philly - when on his first day here, he'd just floated through.

He still couldn't tug his attention away from this assessment of whether or not it was working, or if he could tell, how he might be able to tell, and the longer the night went on the harder it became to concentrate.

Plus the Jack thing.

The fucking Jack thing.

Jack glowed. He was so good at this whole thing, in a way that made Davey wish (even more) that they were actually there as dates so he could just hold Jack's hand the whole time and let him do the talking, and also have that excuse to watch him all night. His ease was enchanting but it threw Davey's own self-consciousness and anxiety way into focus. That, combined with his internal struggle over whether or not to incite something with him, add a dash of fear of Groundhog Day happening again - end result: closet. An hour or so of distracted stammering led him out of the hall, down the corridor, and into the first door that caught his attention.

It wasn't too long until Crutchie found him. Davey was sitting on the ground, leaning against a shelf crammed full of detergent. Crutchie had texted him, a quick wya dave, a message he'd stared at for several minutes before admitting to himself that seeing Crutchie would help, and writing back second door on left outside hall.

'Everything okay?'

'Oh, yeah. That's why I'm in the closet.'

'Right. Dumb question.'

'No, I'm sorry, Crutchie. I'm being an asshole.'

'What's wrong?'

'I, uh. I'm losing my mind.'

'And what makes you say that?'

'I've been trying so hard to make something meaningful out of this trip... But I've been so selfish. Like, oh my god. I'm using Punx to get a promotion, and I'm pretending to be nice because... I want... Jack.'

Crutchie took a deep breath in. 'Ah. That's some stuff.'

'I feel like I'm so close to maybe getting what I want and I don't deserve it.'

'Dave -'

'And also maybe I'm not close? Who am I to say?'

'Dave! You did important stuff today! Like, was I surprised when you suddenly wanted to document Punx? Course! But, like, you ended up putting love into that documentary whether you wanted to or not. Can't fake love.'

'Yeah you can.'

'Can you? Okay, but like. Think about the man who fakes his symptoms. He's still sick.'

'What?'

'I mean, like - like the fact that you did the stuff, that you made the film, that you've been so great to work with - like, because you did it, that's you. You know?'

'I don't... Know...'

'It took me and Jack a little bit by surprise too. Dave, you've always been nice. Under the surface. You've always been too stressed to actually show everyone, but you can tell it's there. And somehow, being in Punx - don't hate me - maybe brought out the best in you.'

'So when we get back to Philly I'm just gonna go back to how I was?'

'Don't have to. Figure out what's been different in the past day and keep it with you.'

Davey nodded, leaning back against the wall. Of course it wasn't as simple as that. He couldn't take the motivation to break the cycle back to Philly, because being in Philly meant that the cycle would already be broken. But surely he had found something in that motivation?

What had Crutchie said? In the thing -

'Do you really believe it?'

'What?'

'What you said in the interview. About every person being able to make the best of where they are?'

'Well, yeah. Wouldn'ta said it if I didn't.'

'I'm nervous that this is all gonna disappear.'

'That's up to you, Davey. Always been up to you!'

He stared up at Crutchie. 'I like Jack so much. So much.'

'If you told me that yesterday I wouldn't have believed you. Probably same for him, but I shouldn't speak for him.'

'Telling you today?'

'I believe you.'

'And what if I told him?'

'I don't know. That's up to him, right?'

'Right...' If he put one foot wrong, he was sure the whole thing would blow up. And sure, he could try again, and again, and again - but he was so scared that his fight would eventually ebb out of him, especially after a come down from a day as hopeful as this. 'I might ruin everything.'

'Might not.' Crutchie gave him a big smile. 'Last thing, because there's fumes in here, and we're missing the dance, but - he's a good buddy, we've talked a bunch since we've been here. He is noticing you. Okay? He can see how cool you are. He will have noticed that you ducked out. And he's already asked me if you're okay tonight. Cuz he thought you looked anxious. I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying those things.' He gave Davey an exaggerated meaningful stare, eliciting a quiet chuckle, and he offered his hand to help Davey up as he stood. 'Better?'

'Yeah. Better.'

'Hey.' He sat down next to Jack, who had just finished dazzling some locals with some story about weather or Philly or something.

'Hey! Invisible man!' Jack pushed a beer towards him. 'Where'd you go?'

'Y'know. Just out. Fresh air.' Stuffy, smelly, janitor's closet air. 'What did I miss?'

'Oh, a bunch. There was like a... like a dance off slash rumble slash mosh pit I think? And like. The mayor gave a little speech. We got a mention.'

'Did we really?'

'Yeah! He was giving it all the... you know, sarcastic "next year's Oscar winner" spiel, but you could tell he really, really liked it. It was nice.'

'That's really sweet!' They shared a smile. Jack shifted his chair an inch closer.

'Hey, are you okay?'

Davey froze for a second, then let out a quiet, nervous laugh. 'Yeah. Yeah, why?'

'Nothing. Seem a little... I don't know, on edge, maybe? I might be talking out of my ass. You can tell me to stop.'

'No, it's fine. I - I think the day is just catching up with me, maybe.' He tapped his fingertips on the neck of his beer bottle. 'Big event. Low energy. You know?'

'Totally. Been there. Don't have to stay, though, right? Today holds up.'

'No, I know. I know. Just. I don't wanna go home yet.'

'I know what you mean.' They both cast an eye over the room.

In that moment of silence Davey thought, as he had so many times that day, that he could just do it, just lean forward that few inches and... but it was like he had been a different person on that day, at the very least a different version, and what made him so sure that Jack would say yes to this one?

'So, um,' Jack mercifully started talking again. 'Tomorrow. Slammed back down to earth. I texted Mendel at the station and he thinks we'll be good to drive back.'

'That's good!' He nodded, both praying that Jack was right and resisting the urge to laugh at how Jack knew so easily that tomorrow would come.

'Do we still have to go in, you think? If we get back at like, lunch?'

'I don't actually know, um. I was always gonna go back there today, if we made it back to Philly y'know?'

'Yeah, totes. Feel like we must be able to wrangle a day off though, right? Driving home from Punx, being stuck here, it's tiring. I bet they'd actually advise us to leave.'

'You think?'

'Yeah! I mean, like. I'm beat. Obviously you are.'

'Obviously?'

'Not in a bad way! I mean - you've been working all day, you fell asleep at four.'

'So did you!'

'I'm exhausted too!'

'So we can write each other's sick notes?'

'Exactly! But like, I think. I've thought for a little while, that you just - like, you need a god damn day off, you know?'

Davey opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, leaning back in his chair and replying instead with a long sigh. 'I don't like taking days off.' That sentence sounded like a relic. A fossil unearthed from who he was before he woke up that morning. An automatic answer - but was it still true? 'You miss stuff, you know.'

'No, I don't. You gotta take some time out, right?'

'One time I took a half day after a couple of all nighters, and when I came in at noon Bob had been put on a project in London. Cuz he raised his hand first. So like. I don't know. When I say it out loud it doesn't sound like a justification, it's just - that's what it is.' He bit his lip. 'That's why I didn't really wanna come in the first place.'

'Can't be in the station every second of every day. Stuff's always gonna happen.'

'I know I'm being irrational.'

'Hey, it makes sense, in a way. But you could make a case for that half day being equally as important as some dumb London thing.'

'You... are right. You're right.'

'I usually am. Some of the best stuff happens when you're outside of the office, I mean, didn't we just prove that today? Like, Dave - excuse me while I get emotional cuz I've had three beers and not enough sleep - but today has been bomb. I thought that the Groundhog Day thing was gonna be a novelty, fun, nice to get away, whatever, but we really crushed the shit out of this thing!' Davey laughed as Jack's voice rose with excitement. 'This video thing is gonna be incredible, we're gonna prove to people at the station that we're a fuckin... dream team.' And if that didn't make Davey's heart swell up. Jack grabbed his shoulder and gestured vaguely with his drink. 'I am so excited about this, Dave.'

Davey glanced down at Jack's hand on his shoulder, and back up at Jack, stomach seizing up with the sheer desperate need for this version to stick. A surge of memories rushed over him, disparate moments from however many Groundhog Days had happened - breaking his arm, sleeping with Spot, shovelling ice cream into his face - like a hurricane of moments that had blown him to this seat, inches from Jack, in the Punxsutawney Community Centre. He'd done things two ways - one, safe in the knowledge that tomorrow wasn't coming, and two, hopeful that it would catalyse an actual new day. The hidden third that he had touched upon tonight, was stuff that he just wanted to do.

'Do you wanna get some air? I wanna get some air.' He stood up, draining his beer.

'Yeah!'

It was a short walk out to the back of the building, not nearly long enough for Davey to decide why exactly he'd invited Jack out there. The orange streetlights around the parking lot reflected off the residual snow, casting a warm, uncanny glow. He leaned back against the wall, taking in a deep breath of fresh air, suddenly aware of how warm it had been inside. Jack paced in front of him, and spoke first.

'Sorry if I spoke out of turn.'

'What? You didn't.'

'When I - it's another bad habit. Word vomit. Giving people unsolicited advice.'

'You don't have to apologise for that. What you said made a lot of sense.'

'You didn't ask for it, though.'

'It's actually... One of the things I like about you.' He felt his cheeks burn. 'You always know what to say. I clam up. You're just. Easy to open up to.' He was ninety percent sure that that was something you could say without it meaning anything. Sure, the phrasing, and the atmosphere heaped meaning on the words (plus the fact that this was Jack) but if he had to, he felt like he could back out of any implications.

'Not always. Only with the right people.' He stopped pacing, turned to face Davey, and looked up at the sky. 'Dave. Last night.' God, that felt like weeks ago. 'Dan. The guy. He - That stuff happens when I have one too many, and just kinda, like... reach for the nearest bit of human contact. It's a totally separate thing from, like, real life. You know?'

'You don't have to justify it, it's fine.'

'No, but - the reason I'm bringing it up again, is like... I wanna ask you to dance. And maybe grab a drink back in Philly. And I want you to know that that's not what I'm trying to do with you.' Davey stared at him, trying to gather his thoughts. 'Unless, um - yeah that was probably a really dumb thing to say. Because we work together and I'm like... assuming shit and I'm fucking, I don't know, high on this whole day. But super unprofessional. As usual!' He remembered one of the first repetitions, when he'd inadvertently told Jack that his shtick seemed fake, and how the way Jack had reacted had maybe hinted at just a little insecurity.

'Jack.'

'And I just, like - don't have any fucking boundaries or whatever, so if I'm putting you in a weird position just say and I'll -'

'Jack.'

'-Throw myself off the roof of this place or something, super inappropriate, I just -'

Davey took a step forward, swallowed the lump in his throat, and took hold of Jack's coat, a lapel in each hand, silencing him.

'I wanna dance with you.' He felt Jack's hands come up and rest on his, pulling him in almost imperceptibly.

'Yeah?'

'Yeah.' But they didn't move.

Jack's eyes scanned over Davey's face, and Davey watched them. His gaze lingered just a sec on Davey's mouth and he seemed to count to three before leaning in and placing a kiss there. Just a quick one, moving away before Davey - who had wondered briefly, desperately, if that was what was he was going for, but was way too nervous to check - could do very much about it. Jack leaned back, face stretched into an apologetic grin.

'I'm sorry.' His hands still rested on Davey's. 'I'm sorry, I'm -'

Davey cut him off by pulling on his coat, tugging it so their chests collided, and picking the kiss back up. Jack let out a muffed, relieved moan as Davey's lips landed on his with irresistible purpose and conviction, and stroked a hand up Davey's neck, resting it on his jaw. Davey felt his knees grow weak as Jack kissed him back, not quite convinced that this could actually be happening, but keen to try and prove it to himself. He had learned not to rely on what felt right, because there had been so many false starts, moments when he had woken up and let himself imagine that it was February 3rd before being greeted with the harsh reality of another fucking Groundhog Day, but - and this was in common with the first time it had happened - kissing Jack was like returning to a home he didn't know he had. And the first time wasn't a fluke - this had to prove it. He and Jack were meant to happen.

They broke apart slowly, sporting hazy smiles, each reassured by the other.

'Sorry.' Davey caught his breath, resting their foreheads together. 'Were you saying something?' Jack let out a quiet laugh, grin spreading over his face.

'Shut up.' Jack stroked a thumb over Davey's bottom lip. 'That was awesome. That was awesome! That was a good call. God, Davey.' He leaned back in, catching Davey's mouth in another kiss as he laughed, running his fingertips over Davey's cheek as he blushed.

'I know.'

'I can't believe I'm kissing you. I can't believe how much I've wanted to kiss you all night.'

'You shoulda done it soon as we got here. Saved us some time.'

'Better late than never, right?' Jack picked up Davey's hands from where they rested on his chest. 'Shit! You're so cold - do you still wanna dance?'

'Yes!'

He pulled Davey inside, and after dropping their coats back at their table and stopping to say hello and goodbye to several rosy cheeked Punxsutawnians, made it to the dancefloor. The music the band was playing was soft jazz, a little upbeat, but low and warm enough to have most people chest to chest. Davey raised their already linked hands to shoulder level and slowly, deliberately, took Jack's waist, holding his breath until Jack stepped forward, sliding a hand up Davey's back, resting his palm where Davey's shoulder met his neck. They swayed. Did a quiet little two-step. They were barely touching, apart from their hands, and the almost imperceptible skimming of Davey's cheek against Jack's hair. He stared over Jack's shoulder, kind of aware of the other people, the band onstage, the music, but mostly aware of Jack's chest next to his, his warm hands, the fact that he was starting to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. He wondered what Jack was thinking.

'This where you expected to be when we rolled into Punx last night?' Jack asked, leaning back a little so he could talk to Davey.

'Not quite, somehow. Thought: Groundhog. Breakfast. Done.'

'Little different, huh?'

'Just a tad.' He smiled as Jack's words sank in, and he thought about what he'd say if someone told him as they arrived in Punx on February 1st, that he'd end up holding Jack like this and praying he'd never have to let go. 'On the whole I'd say an improvement.'

'Yeah? Careful, you flatter me, Dave.'

'Oh, it's not you I'm talking about. We wouldn't have met that puppy if we'd gone straight back.'

'Enough to make that four hour drive worth it,' Jack laughed, and Davey watched him, stunned. He spoke softly.

'I might not have been so reluctant. If I knew.'

'I know what you mean.' He took a deep breath in, tightening his hold on Davey's hand just a little. 'It's so wild how... Like, all the stuff that's happened today has put us here, y'know? It could so easily have not... Like, you making the movie.'

'Us making it.'

'Us making it.' He grinned. 'And then. Exploring Punx. Fixing that car. Getting invited. Everything is so... It's all chance, isn't it?'

'Yeah. It is.' Them both taking jobs at the same station. Being born near each other. Being alive at the same time. Davey could only contrive so much. 'Enough to make you feel helpless.'

'But also really lucky.'

Davey nodded. Jack's proximity was making the words harder and harder.

The house lights flashed on and off a few times and someone onstage said something about a last song.

'Wanna get out of here?' He didn't know what time it was. Didn't care. Jack nodded.

They walked over to get their coats and found Crutchie doing the same. He greeted them with a wide grin.

'Good night, guys?'

'Great night, Crutch,' Jack answered for them both. 'You?'

'The best. These people are so cool! Mrs. Blake is giving me a ride cuz it's slippy out, you guys okay getting back?'

'Yeah. Not far, is it?'

'Exactly. Also the walk through the park? Super romantic!'

They glanced at each other as Crutchie gave them a thumbs up, and Jack reached out and brushed Davey's hand with his own.

'Thanks.'

The walk through the park, true to Crutchie's word, was beautiful - white streetlights illuminating the snow, absolute silence apart from their words and footsteps, and the distinct notion that they were probably the only people in the world. It was over far too soon, however, so before fifteen minutes were up they found themselves standing in front of the door to Davey's hotel room, after two or three attempts at saying goodnight - making out.

In the back of his mind Davey was struggling with how late it was, how sleepy they both were, but also the fact that if he was going to lose tonight to another February 2nd, he was obligated to make the most of having crossed this line with Jack again. In the front of his mind he was thinking about how soft Jack's lips were.

'It's late,' Jack whispered into the kiss. 'I should let you sleep.'

'No you shouldn't.'

'You're right.' He resumed. Davey fumbled behind himself for the door handle and let them into the room, trying not to break the kiss as they walked in.

'J-Jack,' he stammered as Jack took a brief detour to his jaw and neck. 'I don't want to rush anything, but. I want you to stay.'

Jack looked at him, smiled, and nodded. 'Yeah. I'll stay.'

Davey's alarm clock went off at six, less than four hours after they had finally settled, too high on the newly discovered territory of touching and kissing to sleep any sooner. Davey had succumbed first, his eyes stinging with tiredness, utterly dead to the world yet still resistant to the night claiming him. Jack followed after not too long, taking a few moments in the dark silence to stare at the fuzzy outline of his colleague, marvel at what had changed in just twenty four hours, and look ahead to everything that this trip had granted him.

In the morning he woke first, leaning over Davey's unconscious form to switch off the alarm as fast as he could. Davey barely stirred, he clearly needed the sleep. Jack lifted up his head, glanced around the room, and let the memories of the night before come back to him - the dance, the feature, Davey, Davey, Davey - before laying his head on Davey's shoulder, syncing up their breathing, and falling back asleep.

#newsies #newsies fic #jack kelly #davey jacobs #javid #omigod omigod you guys #i dont intentionally leave it so long i just #when i started this all that time ago a) i had no idea what i was getting myself in for and #b) i didn't know i'd be working full time by the time i was done. like everything is so different from when i started this!!!!#but thank you sincerely for sticking with me on all of these groundhog days and stay tuned for zee last chapter #which will ACTUALLY be quite soon

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boomboomboomwayhoo · 7 years ago

Text

hospital ~ jack avery

warning: probs a bit of cussin :/

request: anon mah dudes

***

“oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” i mumbled to myself whilst pacing back and forth across my bedroom, biting my thumb nail. “pick up the goddamn phone!” i yelled when jonah hadn’t answered my fourth call.

jonah texted me about thirty minutes ago, informing me that jack, my boyfriend of almost two years, was in the hospital and in critical condition. just my luck, i was in the shower when this happened so i didn’t see it until it had been about twenty minutes since the text came through to my phone. instinctively, i called jonah multiple times, just to be not answered. i was having a panic attack, but wouldn’t you? normally, i would drive to the hospital right away but they are a state above me right now and i don’t want to drive up there until i get some answers.

i continued to pace back and forth until i realized... why don’t i just call one of the other boys? zach was the first of the boys besides jonah and jack in my recent facetimes so i just decided on facetiming zach. i don’t know why i didn’t just call him, but i was stressin, alright?

“y/n... oh no, you heard?” zach asked when my face popped up on his screen and he saw the tears streaming down my face. i didn’t even know i was crying myself until zach pointed it out. i hadn’t looked at myself and i was just numb at the moment i guess so i didn’t even realize it.

“please tell me he’s okay,” i sighed, another tear escaping my eye and rolling down my cheek. i was so incredibly freaked out at the moment because on a normal day when jack gets hurt, even if it’s pretty bad, he’ll just have me kiss it and then he will act like it’s nothing even if it hurts really badly. this is why i can’t imagine him going to the hospital for something just because he tends to brush things off.

“i...uh...” zach stuttered, looking up from the phone and at something, sadness clearly evident on his face.

“if i’m being honest, he’s not okay,” zach mumbled, looking back at me. i took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling in an attempt to push the tears back into my eyes rather than letting them out but that didn’t work.

“can i please drive up there?” i asked in a voice that was hardly understandable.

“if you think that’s what you have to do, go for it. i’m sure he would love to see you when he, uh... never mind. but the drive up here is like 6 hours and it’s almost midnight.”

“i’m coming. tell him i will be up there as soon as i can,” i spoke before walking over to my closet and taking out my duffle bag, throwing things in so that i could leave right now.

“i, uh, okay,” he sighed before hanging up quickly. obviously his strange behavior just concerned me more, so i threw some clothes in along with a few other things and zipped up my bag before going downstairs and running towards the door in just my pajamas, a messy bun, and no makeup.

i had my hand on the doorknob before i realized that i had to tell my mom i was leaving. i ran up to her room and opened the door slightly to see the light of her phone shining on her face.

“hey sweetie, what’s up? why do you have a bag?” she asked, tossing her phone to the side.

“j-jack is in the ho-hospital,” i stuttered.

“oh no! is he okay?” she asked, sitting up and walking towards me, pulling me into a hug. she loved jack as well and considered him as a son to her so the fact that he is injured and i still don’t know why clearly had her shook.

“i don’t know but i’m driving up there,” i informed her. she pulled away from the hug and held me at arms length.

“do you want me to drive you?” she asked. “you might be too shaken up to drive yourself.”

“no, it’s fine. he doesn’t even know i’m coming i don’t think and i don’t want to overwhelm him,” i said honestly.

“alright, well let me know what happens,” she called out to me after kissing me on the cheek as i ran down the stairs towards the front door.

“i will,” i replied before walking out the front door.

zach was right. the drive was six hours. it was now almost six in the morning and i am running off of absolute no sleep. when i say running, i mean literally running since i am dead sprinting into the hospital from where i parked my car. i ran up to the desk and asked the man what room jack was in and he told me that it was on the first floor in room 32. i thanked him hurriedly before sprinting in that general direction.

when i found the room, all of the boys were standing outside of it, each of them looking like they were in distress.

“move please,” i spoke under my breath as i tried to push past them and walk into the room.

“hun i’m so sorry but they aren’t letting anybody in right now,” corbyn sighed, grabbing my shoulder lightly to make sure i didn’t walk into the room.

i looked back and forth between all of them, my eyes red and puffy from crying so much, and theirs too honestly.

“you need a hug,” jonah commented before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a huge hug. i clung onto him and cried into his chest until i heard the creaking sound of jack’s hospital door being opened.

a/n: hey anon i hope you liked it! all of ya’ll, let me know if you want a part two, or if you fricken hated it idc but yeah, hope it sufficed for your daily dose of feels!

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jenniferladybug · 7 years ago

Text

My Thoughts watching TLJ

So many....here it is. And it’s mostly all Reylo lol

1. Poe is a fricken badass in this movie.

2. Luke Skywalker THROWING the lightsaber over his shoulder was EVERYTHING. (I laughed for 5 minutes)

3. Not gonna lie, Finn was a tad annoying in this movie....I can’t place it....I don’t know why.

4. ALL OF THE FORCE BOND SCENES WITH REY AND KYLO I’M LIVING.

5. Especially the SHIRTLESS SCENE.

6. Especially the hut scene!!!!!!! Luke was like a fricken Dad walking in on his ‘daughter’ fooling around with a boy in her bed. Like WHAT THE SHIT. That was so romantic!!!!! I squeed so hard at the shot of them actually holding hands.

7. Canto Bight could have been left out tbh. It had no meaning, and DJ was a pointless character. (there were too many story lines going on if I’m honest.)

8. Oh, and when Rey attacked Luke, holy shit.

9. Ummm....where did the knights of ren go? What happened to all of that stuff they shot in Ireland? I’m so confused...?

10. Omg the backstory of Luke turning on Kylo!?!!?!!?!? HIS SCARED LITTLE BOY EYES?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!? OMGGGGGGGG

11. OMG Kylo and Rey on the Supremacy???

12. Omg they are LOOKING INTO EACH OTHERS EYES IN A BOX.

13. Omg they are LOOKING INTO EACH OTHERS EYES IN AN ELEVATOR.

14. Omg.....wait.....why isn’t Kylo helping her when she’s being tortured!?!?!? KYLO HELP HER!!!

15. Oh shit....somethings going to go down.....no way is Kylo going to kill REY

16. Wait...the force bond was made by SNOKE? What? What? What?!?!? OH HELL NO. THIS HAS TO BE MADE BY THE FORCE NOT FUCKING SNOKE. What the shit Rian!?!!?!?

16. HE JUST SLICED SNOKE IN FRICKEN HALF DARTH MAUL STYLE!!!! OMGGGGGGGGGGGGG...and the way Rey looks at him and they just know and turn to fight back to back omggggggggggggggggg

17. Rey and Kylo fight scene WAS EVERYTHING MY BODY WANTED. SO MUCH SQUEEEEEEEEEE

18. Kylo being a fucking BADASSSSSSS and Rey tossing him her lightsaber?!!?!?!?!?!? OMGGGGGGGGG

19. Poor Rey thinking that Kylo had actually turned. I was like Oh honey no. He is still dark girl....all that hope in her face.

20. REY CALLING KYLO BEN EVERY TIME OMGGGGGGGGGGG LIVING.

21. Kylo reaching his hand out to her....she’s from nothing. Her parents SOLD HER?!?! OMGGG WHAT?! POOR BABY OMG.

22. SHE MEANS SOMETHING TO KYLO?!!?!? KYLO YOU SOFTY!

23. Oh no, lovers quarrel....damn, how are we going to come back from this.

24. Oh no, Kylo is not handling rejection well....oh no he’s throwing a hissy fit. Oh dear....

25. Hux is quite hilarious. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That comedic timing though.

26. OH SHIT LUKE AND LEIA REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD.

27. Wait, did Luke dye his hair? And his beard? Huh? When did he have time to go to a salon?

28. Oh no, Luke is going outside....annnnnnnd cue the Kylo melt down.

29. “I think we got him....”

30. SURPRISE MUTHAFUCKA!!!!!!

31. God damn it Kylo, why did you have to go all dark Supreme Leader on us? Damn it, you were so close. WHY GOD WHY? WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU?!!?

32. Oh shit....Kylo.....you let your personal feelings get in the way of destroying the Resistance...uh oh....

33. That side glance from Hux....oh I bet my bottom that he is planning a Coup....He sees Kylo’s weakness....shit son.

34. REY IS THE LAST JEDI MUTHA FUCKAASSSSSSSS

35. Finn’s obsession with Rey is a little bizarre? Idk....it seemed forced in this movie tbh...now it seems like they have no chemistry. WEIRD?!?! Maybe cause after we saw the chemistry between Rey and Kylo it doesn’t even hold a candle to it. DAMN.

36. That mirror scene with Rey in the cave is crazy, so cool. Very artsy and amazing.

37. Porgs everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Yikes. When Chewy is trying to eat that prog by the campfire and those sad Porgs came along, omg SO CUTE. But by the end I was like ugh i hate porgs.

38. I felt like I didn’t get enough Kylo development tbh...the way people were talking about it...I imagined his character different. Idk....seemed lacking somehow?

39. Like...does this mean....he’s going to just get darker? I don't like that one bit. I thought the whole point was redemption!!! And Leia lost all hope, but she was the one who said there was light in him. I don't get it. And then Luke said no, there is still something in everyone....but.....Kylo? Ben? Are you still there? Is there redeeming after this? TBH I think he’s going to die in 9. I don’t want him to. I want them to be happy and have lost of babies....but maybe this is where the Skywalker line ends for good. Damn.

40. When Leia shot Poe, THAT WAS EVERYTHING OMG hahahahahahah

41. Rey shutting the door on Kylo? Omg....my babies. :( Do you think they are never going to force bond again? What...I want more force bonding!

This is all I have so far. I’m going to see it again tomorrow night with my mom. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE HUT SCENE AGAIN. AND THE REY KYLO FIGHT SCENE OMG.

#REYLO #tlj spoilers #tlj #star wars #the last jedi #reylo fam #fuck me up

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moonshroooms · 7 years ago

Text

I feel like rambling about Animal Crossing (so let’s do that!)

So my town is a humble little place called Appalon, which I love that name so, so much because I came up with it myself, AND it sounds like an actual town name!

Oh, and if anyone would like to see my town my dream address is:

4D00-00AB-2785 as of November 20, 2017

I remember when I was younger my very first Animal Crossing town (in Animal Crossing: Wild World), was called Hawaii. I was a creative 11 year old.

But Appalon is perfect! Not only does it sound like a town name, but it also alludes to my favorite town fruit, which are apples. So I’m simultaneously creative and obvious at the same time – beautiful. I like the circle grass and tree trunks, and apple fruit best.

I’ve been getting ideas from perusing Dream Towns and also stalking tumblr for pathway patterns. I finally found one (technically 4), I absolutely love! They’re stones, but they come in four colors, which I intend to switch out with the change of seasons so the pathway always matches the trees and grass!

(The pattern is found here by the way)

Right now my villagers are…

Margie: A super-cute white china-looking (china like the glassy material, not the country), elephant

Julian: The only unicorn in the entire game. I love him he’s so nice and he’s blue. He’s also really weeby in my game XD

Lopez: He’s a gazelle and he’s cute. He’s a big fat nerd

Matilda: A black kangaroo who I h a t e. Everyone’s got that one villager they hate, y’know? Not that I hate her super personally. She hasn’t been very nice to me, and her house is parked right where I want to put paths and a bridge and things and she must leave.

Zucker: He’s an octopus!! There are only 3 in all of animal crossing!! HE LOOKS LIKE A DANGO OR A GLAZED DONUTHOLE OR SOMETHING AND I LOVE HIM! And he’s a foodie (which is my favorite personality, though I try to not think of villagers as their present personalities, just because it makes the game more fun if you don’t).

Del: He’s a black and red crocodile and meh. He a’ight. The only reason I’m not itching for him to leave is because I’m itching for Matilda to leave first.

Katt: She’s a tabby cat and she’s pretty meh too. She’s my first uchi villager though, and I love the personality type so far! We’re okay friends, I don’t talk to her much.

Wolf Link (W. Link): IT’S FRICKEN WOLF LINK!!! When I saw the option “you should move here” after scanning my wolf Link amiibo I was like, “that’s cruel, they’re just gonna say some extra dialogue like ‘I’ve got too much world saving to do’” but NO. DEAR GOD THEY WERE SERIOUS AND NOW I HAVE WOLF LINK IN MY TOWN. He’s beautiful and his house looks like a Zelda dungeon. If I didn’t already have my heart set on an old dreamy he’d be it.

Look at him

Lucky: He’s a mummy dog and he’s my best friend! I love him so much. In my town I tend to refer to things as though I were in a matriarchal country (with me as the beloved and also eternal ruler >:P). When I was trying to send a bear named Bluebear into the V O I D of time travel, I used Lucky as my scout to alert me to people trying to move. Lucky is therefore my top scout and best villager, I love him. I have an entire background for him that I’m going to tell you about RITE NOW. Warning though, it gets dark for a cool minute for literally no reason other than putting dark things in animal crossing is hilarious.

So during Halloween you find out Lucky’s scare weakness is the mummy mast. He’s a dog wrapped in mummy bandages named Lucky, and his house default is an Egyptian tomb looking room. He has also told me how much he loves adventure. My headcanon is that Lucky was the dog of a brave adventurer, but together they ran into some bad luck (ironically), in some cursed Egyptian tombs. There they were both mummified and buried alive. Lucky escaped the sarcophagus, but could find no way to free his friend. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his owner to die alone so Lucky, still wrapped in the bandages, sat with his owner until he died from lack of oxygen. Once he was gone, Lucky knew his owner would want him to go on and live a happy life, so he dug his way out of the tomb, where he was confronted with Anubis: god of embalming and the dead (I believe). Anubis praised Lucky for refusing to abandon his friend, despite the doom they both faced, and rewarded him. Lucky was now eternal, free to explore the world on as many adventures as he wished, and his good friend would also gain in eternal soul in a different fashion: reincarnation. One day his owner would reincarnate, though without their memories, many times throughout his life. They could go on adventures forever through time.

And just who is Lucky’s reincarnated frien-

Me, it’s me. I had Lucky in my very first Animal Crossing town (and still do! I went to look at it just yesterday for nostalgia’s sake!), as well as my next town in City Folk, it’s destined that we’re gonna be best friends throughout all my reincarnations. He was there even before I had his backstory! It’s fate!

(And somehow, Lucky is still not my Ultimate Dreamy. *A* dreamy for sure, but not The One™) But look at him tho he’s adorbs.

Anyways, my ‘theme’ is just that I want it to be forest themed. But not like, dirt paths and stuff (not since I found those 4 amazing paths anyways). I’m very excited to start actually designing my paths and town and stuff. I just got Yuka to move out (she’s cute and nice and all, but she was parked in the middle of where I want to put stuff), and soon I’ll get Matilda to move too and then I’ll have a clear path to chopping down every single tree in my village and destroying every random public works project so I can map everything out like a crazy person. But first I’m gonna wait to make sure I keep my perfect town rating to get the golden watering can. And a few Jacob’s Ladders, cuz they’re just so cute to look at!

I also found some stone that’s perfect for plot resetting, so that way new villagers only move in the spaces I’ve allotted for them! It’s a moon (and yeah, my town isn’t really “moon-themed,” but my name is Moon, and my town flag is a really pretty cloudy moon I found, so it’s perfect! They’re like, ancient stones put down or something).

(The moon stones can be found here!)

Ooo, one thing I really want is a tree stump with a Triforce on it. I’ve been visiting the island every day lately and I haven’t seen tail nor whisker of the silver axe. I will one day! I MUST! I need a Triforce stump and so help me I will chop down every tree I have to get it!

One thing I really hate about AC is all the exclusive items. Either I have to pay real money for an amiibo that happens to have an item I want, or I have to have had the game when they were being given out for free. It’s real sad, cuz I’m not rich (in real life or in-game, lol) and I didn’t get AC:NL until like, a year before the Welcome Amiibo Update. It makes me sad cuz I didn’t have the money at the time it came out, so I missed out on a lot of really cool items. Especially food items cuz, GOD, I can’t ever get enough food items. They’re hands down my favorite decorative item in AC.

Also, region-locked items. I hate that. Cuz a butt-ton of them are food. I want those so much but noooooo. I don’t live in Europe, or Japan, or wherever, so I can only get my region foods. I wish it was that you get items from your region first, but then the next year you get the ones from other regions. Just cuz I’m American doesn’t mean I won’t like Kagamimochi or a Twelve-Grape Plate!

Oh, guess what my town tune is? I made it up my self! It’s Farore’s Silent Realm from Skyward Sword! Of course, it sounds much less haunting coming from my villagers, but I still love that song. Skyward Sword much too hated in my opinion, I really loved it. Yeah, it has it’s problems, but what game doesn’t? The good things were enough to erase the bad things for me at least :3

Oooh, let’s talk about my houses! I’ll post some pictures too, though it’s a picture of my screen so the quality is awful.

So for my mayor’s/my house, the first room looks like an enchanted forest at night. I managed to get my hands on the leaf bed from that Bug-Off guy’s RV in the campground, as well as the moss path flooring from Saharah! I use the Mush Lamps from the mushroom furniture series, since it’s got a blue color (and gives off blue light!) I changed the stained-glass lamp to the blue or fish one whatever it’s called, and a lotus lamp to a blue color. Then I turned off my main light so the room has a dark blue color everywhere. I have lots of flower and wood furniture to pull together the wood look (and the mush dresser or whatever, the one with blue mushrooms at the bottom!) I also put the moss garden rock and birdbath and Aquarius urn, and some mush chairs too. Oo, I also have plants everywhere, including some Jacob’s Ladders (which is great cuz their flowerpot is blue!) I’m trying to breed some blue roses so I can switch them out with the blue pansies I have. It’s very slow going. Oo! There’s also my pet cricket in there, to give off that nighttime feel. All I need to tie everything together is the music player from the weeding set. Right now the record player is the best I got. One day! The music in the room is Stale Cupcakes, to give it kind of a relaxing feel :)

My left room right now is a big work-in-progress. I’m thinking of doing like a pink, spring forest or a pink greenhouse kind of look. Right now it’s just got a lot of pink and stray hybrid flowers all over.

My upstairs room is kind of fall forest themed. It’s a mix of a lot of classic, alpine, and modern wood furniture. I got a leaf pile just sort of, stuck in the middle of it all, with an elegant mushroom and maple leaf umbrella for decoration! I changed a lot of the alpine furniture designs with the fall-leaf shirt, so it’d feel all autumn-y and whatnot. And I got Majora’s Mask and downloaded a Skull Kid outfit so it’d feel more like the Lost Woods (though Skll Kid’s clothes have disappeared from me replacing the pattern with a pathway payttern. He’ll be clothed again soon enough)! If only I could have Saria’s Song, too.

Right now the back and right rooms are just kinda there. I don’t really have any plans for them right now, except maybe having the right room just be a seasonal room, where I change furniture depending on the nearing holiday. (Spooky Day, Toy Day, Festival, etc). Maybe I might do a winter-type forest in the back, since I’ve got an enchanted forest, autumn room, and possibly a spring-greenhouse, lol.

In my second player house, it’s based off of my character Cara who happens to be a siren. The main room is sort of a red/black Asian-looking theme, with custom exotic furniture and Gracie’s Elegant set! The main room isn’t Asian cuz my character’s Asian, though. It’s based off of my friend’s character, whom my character is very jealous of, and tries to discreetly mimic her in ways. My friend’s character is Asian, as well as being a kitsune. Anyways, the room looks bomb. I highly recommend red/black exotic custom furniture with the Elegant series. Perfect fit.

The back room is supposed to be her own personal bedroom. It’s gold-nugget custom Cabana furniture (with a couple of the gold series items, I haven’t seen them all yet), with a lot of green and blue fabrics. I used some watery floor, though I can’t remember if it’s from Saharah or Pascal or an Island Escape reward or what. But let me tell you, gold and cerulean blue go very nicely.

The upstairs room is a work-in-progress (mostly cuz it’s still small), and is supposed to just be a basic beach theme. I’m very excited for it to all go together!

The basement is going to be using the mermaid theme, though that’s not because my character’s a siren. (Sirens are originally bird women, and somewhere down the line we got them twisted in with mermaids and depicted them like that instead. My character is in fact the aquatic-version of a siren, but I’ve got lore for why that is. Point is she hates mermaids with a passion). But! The reason my siren who hates mermaids is using the mermaid theme in her house is for her love interest, who is a boy who is incredibly adorable and likes a lot of girly things. The mermaid set is right up his ally, which is why she has it deep in her basement where only she knows it is lol.

I don’t have left and right rooms set up (and I might not, who knows). I know I want one more room for Cara using the fish tourney set with an underwater theme. Can’t have an aquatic siren without an underwater cave!

My third player house, and one that I super barely have planned, is my werewolf character Kit (who perpetually wears the werewolf mask because duh). The only thing I know I want is a sweets theme, not because it relates to his character, but because I just like the furniture in it. :D It’s suuuper not done though, so like, don’t judge me.

I was thinking of using sloppy furniture for Kit’s room, but I decided he’s not really that messy (and the sloppy series is so. So ugly. I mean, I get that that’s the point, but still). I think Kit’s room is going to be using the blue series someway, since I know in my writing I said his bedsheets were blue or something.

Hmmm. I’m not sure what else to talk about here. So I think I’ll end off on who my Ultimate Favorite villager is. Who could it be? I have Zucker, the adorable dessert-designed octopus, Lucky, my trustworthy scout, Wolf Link, the protagonist to one of my favorite game series, and even Julian, the most magical unicorn in all the land. Who could it be? What special fantastic creature could possible beat all of these A+ villagers?

He.

Him.

This Rock Lee lookin’ motherfudger.

I love him.

Anchovy was my very first favorite villager in Wild World, I think he was one of the villagers I started with even. I was heartbroken when he moved one day. I swear he was in love with me (though he did move on the account that we didn’t have a 24-hour buffet according to his final letter). Actually, looking back on a lot of his letters, he’s either trying to be funny, or kind of a dick. I’m choosing to believe he’s trying to be funny XD

Anyways, clearly the only reason he left is because he was so in love with me it scared him and he ran away. One day we’ll be reunited and rule my country with an iron fist.

Unfortunately I don’t have an amazing backstory for Anchovy, other than were totes meant for each other and that’s about it. But one day I’ll have him in my town again, and then I can discover new things to make an adventure about! I’m excited for that!

Anyways, I think that’s all I really wanted to ramble about. I’m so excited to do things with my town, but as Zero Punctuation points out (funny game review series on youtube. Check it out! I love the animal crossing one), everything in animal crossing happens t o m o r r o w. I can get my perfect town status back tomorrow, I can befriend Sable and use my extra characters to put down paths tomorrow, I can banish Matilda to the void where she belongs tomorrow. Ach. So frustrating. But I will wait, I swear I will.

I really want to make my town all nice and pretty like so many people have theirs. It will be done!

#personal #video games #animal crossing new leaf #ACNL #Anchovy

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verdigrisprowl · 7 years ago

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Oct 23 Dancitron Movie Night - Wonder Woman

Basically everybody was enthralled by the trenches battle scene. Except Prowl.

After the movie, Prowl and Soundwave had a very long, serious discussion about whether or not it’s a good idea to, like, let Cybertron be completely destroyed. You know, the typical sort of thing couples disagree on.

ItsyBitsySpyers 7:56 pm *Soundwave finishes setting the last of the snacks down from the stack he had coiled in a feeler and heads for his usual spot. Rumble and Frenzy are already in their spots, with Laserbeak floating between them.* Purgatori 7:57 pm [Theres a slightly hesitant medic in the entrance, but the music draws him in. Ah, one of the ones Jazz had played while on Earth. Interesting.] FakeProwl 8:00 pm *honestly, what DIDN'T Jazz play while on Earth* *appears, checks his usual spot is clear, and sits* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:00 pm *Nods to Ratchet and pings Prowl* FakeProwl 8:00 pm *greeting/permission ping* Purgatori 8:01 pm *goes to sit in his normal chair, aka in the corner* Bevel 8:03 pm *trundles in like she do* Whirl 8:03 pm *trots over to The Whirl Table and hunkers up like a horrid gargoyle. As per usual* Swoop 8:04 pm *bounces into the room before letting out a biiiiig (currently flame free) yawn and stretching* *anyone in wing smacking distnace will be smacked by a wing* Tarantulas 8:05 pm *GUESS WHO'S EARLY TODAY. earlier than he normally is. it must be all that energy he's gained back since he got better. tarantulas narrowly avoids getting smacked by that dumb wing but even swoop's not gonna get him down today* Bevel 8:05 pm *still near enough to the entrance to be smacked* *grabs the wing and playfully shoves Swoop further into the room* Swoop 8:06 pm *SQUAWKS* Bevel 8:06 pm *grins* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm ((EIGHT MINUTE WARNING)) Swoop 8:07 pm *bats ineffectively at bevel* noooooo no WINGS ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm *Soundwave and the crew nod to everyone, though Frenzy and Rumble wave wildly at Whirl and Bevel too.*

*Sweet, sweet telepathy permission. He'll reach out juuuust enough to make contact.* Bevel 8:08 pm Watch where you swing them then! *batted at so ineffectively* Swoop 8:08 pm nnooOOooOoOooo??? FakeProwl 8:09 pm *touches back* Whirl 8:09 pm *lifts his head to bob it in greeting to the twins* Bevel 8:09 pm Yeeeeeeeeessssss Tarantulas 8:10 pm *tarantulas comes over to the couch and probably spoils sw and prowl's moment by covering each of their faces with a paw, as if they couldn't already guess who he was. esp sw. the fricken telepath with a visor face and deployers scattered around* Swoop 8:10 pm *hops on the back of the nearest sofa* no no no kehehheh NO FakeProwl 8:10 pm ... Tarantulas, why are you blocking my vision. Magnum Ace 8:11 pm -and he's trotting through the door, rotating his shoulder a bit. Looks up and stalls again- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm *Soundwave jerks and ducks out from behind the limb. He's not a fan of people who don't have visor removal permission putting their hands on it. Or paws. But he'll nod to Tarantulas once he's free.* FakeProwl 8:12 pm *Admittedly, it took Prowl a moment to realize his optics were being covered, and not that the lights had suddenly gone out. Avatar with low touch sensitivity, don't ya know.* Tarantulas 8:12 pm *tarantulas snickers and lets go* How did you know it was ME, goodness Bevel 8:12 pm *sticks her tongue out at Swoop and goes to sit at Whirl's table* Yes yes yes mwuahaha YES. Bull Armor 8:12 pm -was following beyond Magnum Ace and just barely manages not to crash into the pitcher- Magnum whats... -Bull Armor stops as he stares ahead at what he sees- Whirl 8:13 pm *have a head-bob, too, Bevel* Purgatori 8:13 pm *pulls out a datapad* Swoop 8:13 pm *cackles and bounces on his perch* NNNOOOOO Magnum Ace 8:13 pm ....I may have forgotten this happens sometimes. Don't panic. FakeProwl 8:14 pm *... Hears a voice at the door. Please don't let it be... Looks.* Oh. Damn. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:14 pm ((OKAY so warnings... warnings... I haven't watched WW since it was in theaters so I don't remember everything. Blood, violence, historical setting and viewpoints that go with that, probably some swearing, uhhh some cheeky content but nothing like R-rated. That's probably about it.)) Bull Armor 8:14 pm -though not screaming, the slow sinking of Bull Armor's horns was a good indicator that he really was close to freaking- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:15 pm ((...IS TOOTHLESS THE SCRAPLET IN THE ROOM)) FakeProwl 8:15 pm ... Hello. We come in peace. Bevel 8:15 pm *tosses a treat at Swoop from her seat* YES. Whirl 8:15 pm ((O BOY)) Magnum Ace 8:16 pm Bull. It's safe. I promise. Purgatori 8:16 pm *is starting to wonder why he even comes to this* Bull Armor 8:16 pm Magnum... where are we? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm *"We come in peace"? Who is Prowl talking t-- ohhhh dear. Another alien.* Magnum Ace 8:16 pm And I think we're the ones in the wrong place, Prowl FakeProwl 8:16 pm ... We WELCOME you in peace. I'm not good at the— I'm not usually in charge of "first contact" duties. Magnum Ace 8:16 pm We're...not on Earth Swoop 8:17 pm *flops backwards on the sofa, staring upside down at the room* Magnum Ace 8:17 pm And there's someone in charge of that? Swoop 8:17 pm Soundwave Soundwave Where Bird? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm *He points over to the couch where the twins are.* FakeProwl 8:18 pm When we plan on greeting a new species that isn't yet part of the larger galactic community, yes. Who's in charge depends on who's stationed on that planet. Usually someone charismatic, though. Bull Armor 8:18 pm I think I can tell 'that'. -Bull couldn't help his voice rising an octave or two- Purgatori 8:18 pm *crosses arms over his chassis* Atleast its not my turn. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm *Rumble points at Whirl. He used to be morale officer, yeah? Why not him?* FakeProwl 8:18 pm —Anyway. You don't—that's not—that isn't the priority right now. Bevel 8:18 pm *waves to Whirl, she did notice the nod earlier when she sat down* Magnum Ace 8:18 pm Ah. Right. That makes sen-Bull, please, it's okay. I've been here at least twice Tarantulas 8:18 pm *tarantulas pops up and clatters over to the earthlings, checking around them for traces of the multiversal doorway. he's not bothering to introduce himself, he's Busy With Science* Magnum Ace 8:19 pm And I'm fine FakeProwl 8:19 pm *dry look at Ratchet* I seem to recall last time you INITIATED first contact. Whirl 8:19 pm *raises his head again* What am I being volunteered for, exactly? Swoop 8:19 pm *pushes off his spot and ends up on the floor, scampering over to Bird in a half out of control mess of limbs. ** Purgatori 8:19 pm Someone had to do something, damnit! Toothless 8:19 pm *peeks out from Squeaker-friend's armor* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm //Welcomin' the new guy.// Bull Armor 8:19 pm -Bull Armor did his best to hide behind Magnum; though that was impossible with his much bulkier armor- Magnum Ace 8:20 pm Please don't...Bull Armor, it's okay Whirl 8:20 pm *looks over to Bull Armor* Welcome to Dancitron. I neither live nor work here. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:20 pm *Rumble snorts* FakeProwl 8:20 pm ... You're the catcher, correct? Bull Armor 8:21 pm Umm, yes... Purgatori 8:21 pm The what? Magnum Ace 8:21 pm -turns to pat Bull Armor's shoulder- FakeProwl 8:21 pm I've seen part of one of your games. I'm a—er. A fan, I suppose. *He's hoping that bringing up something familiar will be comforting.* Whirl 8:22 pm *perks up* This looks like a cool place to live. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm //The catcher. Behind the guy with a stick, catches stuff they ain't hittin'.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm \\FRAG YEAH IT DOES.\\ Magnum Ace 8:23 pm Yes, he's the reason I can pitch in games Squeaker 8:23 pm *tiny giggles at the cute child* Bull Armor 8:23 pm -While having no idea where he was or how, so far everything seemed safe; at least from the way Magnum was acting- FakeProwl 8:24 pm ((oh my god her name is Antiope. I spent the whole movie thinking her name was Aunt Iope.)) Purgatori 8:24 pm *his attention is being drawn to the movie* Swoop 8:24 pm ((literally swoop at bed time)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm \\BULLSCRAP.\\ Whirl 8:24 pm I only really know two scorpions. Neither of them seem to want to sting. Bevel 8:24 pm Shields can totally have sharp edges. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm #it hurts people #:( Purgatori 8:25 pm Grimlock and Kup, anyone? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:25 pm *Zori uncurls and leaves Soundwave's neck to head for Whirl.* Swoop 8:25 pm Me SWOOP like story time : > Purgatori 8:25 pm *oh, human mythos, he likes this* Magnum Ace 8:25 pm -Magnum is calm because he's trying to keep Bull Armor calm- Whirl 8:25 pm *will stoop down and offer his claw to taxi Zori up to the table, or whichever perch he would like* Magnum Ace 8:25 pm Anyway...I think we should get off the floor. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm *Zori will take that claw, and sit on the table for now. He might clamber onto Whirl later if it gets frightening though.* Whirl 8:26 pm *he is, as always, welcome* Squeaker 8:26 pm *holds a blanket out to Bull Armor* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm //Heh, she's teachin' the kid anyway.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm //Kinda familiar, huh, Bevel?// Bevel 8:26 pm *grins* Yep! FakeProwl 8:27 pm Would you like up on a table? Or a chair, or...? *directs the question to the catcher, who's undoubtedly more rattled by all this and thus gets first choice of seat.* Tarantulas 8:27 pm *seems satisfied having taken all the data he can from around the earthlings, thankfully without stepping on them* Bevel 8:27 pm *leans forward to watch the movie* Purgatori 8:27 pm *Ratchet appreicates the not stepping on them part, friend* Bull Armor 8:28 pm -Bull Armor looks at the blanket held out to him- T-thanks, but I think I'll be ok. -He then turned his attention to Prowl- Which ever is safer? Magnum Ace 8:28 pm -Much appreciated, the not being stepped on bit- Swoop 8:28 pm *rolls onto his back for maximum upside down movie watching* Bull Armor 8:28 pm -While Bull Armor hated heights, he really didn't want to be stepped on by the much taller beings- FakeProwl 8:28 pm ... Table, probably. Bevel 8:28 pm Sword! Tarantulas 8:28 pm Safest is on the ceiling, but you probably wouldn't like what I'd have to suggest, hyeheh Purgatori 8:29 pm *rubs at his faceplates* Swoop 8:29 pm Her grab sword : > For fight ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm [[Please do not put webs on his ceiling.]] Pause. [[Or mechs in webs on his ceiling.]] Tarantulas 8:29 pm *whines* Magnum Ace 8:29 pm . . . Bevel 8:29 pm *laughs* Swoop 8:30 pm ?? Why Her not fighting? Magnum Ace 8:30 pm -seriously Tara? Web them to the ceiling?- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm {{Them scaredy-fleshies, think her die maybe if fight.}} Tarantulas 8:30 pm *he was offering to be nice!* Swoop 8:30 pm Die more if NO fighting Bull Armor 8:30 pm -Bull Armor would not approve of being stuck to the ceiling- Whirl 8:31 pm If you lot need a seat, my table's open. *Whirl's spot usually becomes Small Mech Central* FakeProwl 8:31 pm *Walks over to the Earthlings, stops what he hopes is a non-threatening distance away, kneels, and holds out his hands on the floor.* I can lift you. Purgatori 8:31 pm *a single optic ridge rises at the others offer* Swoop 8:31 pm KAHA! Her hit with sheild Purgatori 8:31 pm *look at Prowl, being the gentlemech* Swoop 8:32 pm :V Magnum Ace 8:32 pm -Magnum will step up first, so Bull knows it's safe- Thank you FakeProwl 8:32 pm *Protect and serve.* Swoop 8:32 pm KAHA! Her PUSH! FakeProwl 8:32 pm *He still likes to do that when he isn't busy, yknow, being the lesser of two evils.* Purgatori 8:32 pm *Theres the mech he remebers from Earth* Swoop 8:33 pm 😮 Bull Armor 8:33 pm -After a moment Bull Armor follows Magnum lead; though much more cautiously- Purgatori 8:33 pm I didnt think humans had powers ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm *The twins lean forward in their seats, oohing.* Bevel 8:33 pm Awesome. Whirl 8:33 pm These're Amazons. Not human. FakeProwl 8:33 pm You're fine sitting with them? *tilts his head toward the table Whirl offered.* Purgatori 8:34 pm I have space at my table, if needed Magnum Ace 8:34 pm -he's leaving this up to Bull Armor- FakeProwl 8:34 pm *usually a table with Whirl and his crew wouldn't be his first choice, but it worked out fine last time and Whirl DID offer.* Bevel 8:34 pm *waves to Magnum Ace and the newbie* Swoop 8:34 pm Crash! Magnum Ace 8:34 pm -waves back to Bevel - ItsyBitsySpyers 8:35 pm {{Heh, him dead. Byeeeee.}} Bull Armor 8:35 pm Which ever is closer. -Bull Armor really hated heights and wanted to be on a sturdy place as soon as possible- Swoop 8:35 pm Water crash fun. Kind of! More than ROCK crash keheh Bevel 8:35 pm Oh no. Tarantulas 8:36 pm *oho, tarantulas has a genius idea. he promptly steals prowl's seat* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm *Soundwave glances over at Tarantulas. What does he think he's doing...?* Tarantulas 8:36 pm *snickering, currently* FakeProwl 8:36 pm ... Right. *To Whirl's table it is, then, no dawdling.* Whirl 8:37 pm ((me2 steve)) Tarantulas 8:37 pm (( same ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm #hiiii Whirl 8:37 pm *bobs his helm at the little guys again* Sup. FakeProwl 8:38 pm *Puts his hands on the table so they can step off.* Purgatori 8:38 pm Oh. Oh no Bevel 8:38 pm *too distracted by the fight to greet the bitties* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm //Ohhhh they're so fraggin' outclassed.// Swoop 8:38 pm Dead Whirl 8:39 pm Outgunned, yeah. Outclassed? Not so sure. Bull Armor 8:39 pm T-thank you. -Bull Armor says to Prowl after he scrambled off to the safety of the solid table- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *Rumble scratches his chin* //...Yeah, okay. I'll give ya that one.// Bevel 8:39 pm *cheers* Magnum Ace 8:39 pm -hops off after his teammate is on the table- Thanks. You okay there Bull? Purgatori 8:40 pm *So much death.* Swoop 8:40 pm *bounces* Them really good at fighting : > Bull Armor 8:40 pm Y-yeah, I think so. Toothless 8:40 pm *coos* Whirl 8:40 pm Nice. Bevel 8:40 pm *bounces are they gonna do the--she did the thing!* 😄 Aw no. Magnum Ace 8:40 pm ... Whirl 8:41 pm Nice. They won, even though they were working with a disadvantage. Purgatori 8:41 pm [plating pulling tight against his frame* FakeProwl 8:41 pm The Amazons clearly have superior training, teamwork, and combat techniques. They're better with their weapons than the humans in the boats are with theirs. Whirl 8:41 pm Yep. Bevel 8:41 pm Really good warriors can totally beat guns and blasters with swords. Squeaker 8:41 pm *pets Toothless* Whirl 8:42 pm Fancy guns are great--I mean, who DOESN'T love a good gun? Especially a Brainstorm gun? But in the end it comes down to how good of a weapon YOU are. FakeProwl 8:42 pm Plus they had the advantage of higher ground and of knowing their environment. Swoop 8:42 pm What glowy rope KEHEHHh Purgatori 8:43 pm *snorts* Swoop 8:43 pm Him yelling ItsyBitsySpyers 8:43 pm *...Does not like the idea of this lasso* Purgatori 8:43 pm * he could have used this lasso many, many years ago* FakeProwl 8:43 pm *Okay, the Earthlings are situated.* Toothless 8:44 pm *shrinks back into Squeaker's armor* Purgatori 8:44 pm *plating is tight against his frame again* Swoop 8:44 pm Him melting? Magnum Ace 8:44 pm . . . FakeProwl 8:44 pm Right. If you need anything else, just—just shout. I'll be over there. *vague gesture.* My name's Prowl. Tarantulas 8:44 pm *tsk. they always call the smart ones the bad names. clearly she's misunderstood. tarantulas sympathizes* Squeaker 8:44 pm *looks away and pets Toothless more* Magnum Ace 8:44 pm -bad time to tune into the movie- Swoop 8:44 pm Him bad at stealing, Bird. Bull Armor 8:45 pm Thank you, Prowl FakeProwl 8:45 pm ... We usually send wayward guests home once the movie's over. So. You'll get home, I assure you. Swoop 8:45 pm Him bad at flying too! Keheheh. CRASH! Whirl 8:45 pm I mean, the poor guy's got to work with a PLANE. It's a damn shame. Squeaker 8:45 pm Information like that should just be destroyed Purgatori 8:45 pm War. War never changes Swoop 8:45 pm KAH! Maybe okay at bombing. Purgatori 8:46 pm [rubs at his faceplates] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:47 pm [[Information like that is valuable.]] Magnum Ace 8:47 pm Information like that is dangerous Squeaker 8:47 pm Not valuable enough. NO information gained by other's pain is worth anything at all Purgatori 8:48 pm You have clearly not been in war Bevel 8:48 pm Boo Magnum Ace 8:48 pm -gently places a hand on Bull Armor's shoulder- You okay? Swoop 8:48 pm Why queen say no fighting? : < Tarantulas 8:48 pm If vital research is destroyed, then only one person would ever know it - no one could study it more. To - counter it. *of course* Bull Armor 8:49 pm Yeah, this is just strange -Bull Armor offered Magnum a reassuring nod. Swoop 8:49 pm ((don't tell me how you kept that watch safe)) Bird Bird Magnum Ace 8:50 pm Usually the movies end in time for a decent amount of sleep Swoop 8:50 pm Them live in cave : > ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm {{What?}} FakeProwl 8:50 pm *Right. the Earthlings are situated. Heads back over to his usual couch.* Whirl 8:50 pm *streetches out his neck and fixes his big, single optic on the Iron leaguers* So, what's you guys' deal? Swoop 8:50 pm Them in cave too Bull Armor 8:50 pm Is this where you've disappeared a couple time? -he asked Magnum- FakeProwl 8:50 pm *Stares at his usual spot.* Swoop 8:50 pm Lots of people in cave Magnum Ace 8:50 pm ...yes and no? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm {{That bath, not live.}} Purgatori 8:50 pm It has come to my attention that I am needed elsewhere. Tarantulas 8:50 pm *cheeky visor squint* Purgatori 8:50 pm Enjoy the movie Swoop 8:51 pm Bat cave ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm [[Unfortunate. Goodnight, Ratchet.]] Swoop 8:51 pm *Bath Kehhehhhehh Bevel 8:51 pm Bye, Ratchet. Purgatori 8:51 pm Goodnight, Soundwave. Bevel Whirl 8:51 pm Seeya, Doc. Squeaker 8:51 pm ((Goodnight and be safe)) FakeProwl 8:51 pm *... Checks to see if there's room to sit next to Tarantulas or Soundwave.* Toothless 8:51 pm *waves a pincer* Tarantulas 8:52 pm *deliberately left no space. no luck there* *spider limbs everywhere* Swoop 8:52 pm JUMP! Keheh FakeProwl 8:52 pm ... Please give me my space back. Swoop 8:52 pm KA! Her fall Bull Armor 8:53 pm -Bull Armor looks up to Whirl at hearing the larger bot's question- Our deal? -he wasn't quite sure what Whirl was asking about- Swoop 8:53 pm OH her good at climb MAKE climb kehehheh That how Snarl climb It funny WHAM WHAM Bevel 8:53 pm That is how you climb a building. Whirl 8:53 pm Yeah. Whaddya do, where ya from? Tarantulas 8:53 pm Wwwwhy ought I? There's room here. *reaches out to pull prowl in* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm [[Because he requested it.]] FakeProwl 8:54 pm *Takes a step back, out of leg range.* Bull Armor 8:54 pm We're from Earth and play sports; mostly soccer and baseball. -Bull Armor answered simply- Whirl 8:54 pm Huh. Athletes, then. Tarantulas 8:55 pm *nooooo...* I assure you I'm a comfortable seat. You /know/ that already. What is it? Magnum Ace 8:55 pm That's correct. Swoop 8:55 pm Her mom mad Them fight? FakeProwl 8:56 pm ... I don't want to. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm //What kinda creator says she ain't allowed to come back?// Bevel 8:56 pm The mean kind? Whirl 8:56 pm Yeah. Unless she means like, they physically will be unable to find the island, that's dumb. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm //Yer my greatest love, so I'mma never see ya again. Bye.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm //Like. Tch.// Magnum Ace 8:57 pm It's probably more of the 'can not find ever again' Swoop 8:57 pm Them fight Tarantulas 8:57 pm *slumps backward onto the couch. then sllllloooowly slides down off the couch onto the floor to sit there instead. there you go prowl* Swoop 8:57 pm then her win and Her queen and get everyone fight! Magnum Ace 8:57 pm You saw the fog and distortion around the island ...right? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm //They got maps.// Whirl 8:58 pm That's what I'm betting on--that's it something out of her control. Magic. Otherwise, thats's just dumb. Magnum Ace 8:58 pm The pilot was having trouble with his compass and map Whirl 8:58 pm *suddenly laughs; he saw the look Diana gave the sword. He knows that look. He knows that feeling* Magnum Ace 8:58 pm He was hitting it when she came in ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm //So go flyin' until stuff frags up. Then you're there.// Bevel 8:59 pm *wants to make that sword* FakeProwl 8:59 pm *... Stands still.* Magnum Ace 8:59 pm And hope you don't drown or die in the crash? FakeProwl 8:59 pm *Now he feels bad. Thanks, Tarantulas.* Tarantulas 9:00 pm *you're welcome* Whirl 9:00 pm Like, I'm not saying it's HARD to find. But impossible. Magic just prevents it. Swoop 9:00 pm *has no idea what this conversation is, paws at Bird instead* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:00 pm *Soundwave tilts his helm at Prowl and motions to the couch. Will he not sit?* FakeProwl 9:00 pm *... Sits.* Whirl 9:01 pm ((bless this movie, for giving me both Gal Gadot and Chris Pine to admire as a little side bonus)) FakeProwl 9:01 pm ((i love this entire adlibbed scene)) Whirl 9:01 pm ((IKR)) Bevel 9:01 pm (( i love this scene Tarantulas 9:01 pm (( it was adlibbed? omg ItsyBitsySpyers 9:01 pm ((it was)) Squeaker 9:02 pm ((wow)) Magnum Ace 9:02 pm ((burned to a toast there bud FakeProwl 9:02 pm ((she went for his life)) Whirl 9:03 pm ((fatality)) Swoop 9:03 pm ((10/10)) Toothless 9:03 pm O,o Swoop 9:03 pm Her face got thing on it ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm {{Her play music in opera place?}} Swoop 9:03 pm Opera place? Whirl 9:04 pm She's probably missing most of it. Tarantulas 9:05 pm *terrible? terrible is basically the same as naughty, right* FakeProwl 9:05 pm *An officer desperately trying to win the war, and his mad inventor. Hmm.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm [[She has clothes on.]] Bevel 9:07 pm Everyone else has more. Whirl 9:07 pm ((her face when she sees the baby. I die)) FakeProwl 9:07 pm ((i like that she hears crying and she's INSTANTLY like "BABY." she's never heard a baby before in her life but she Knows)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm //Primus.// Whirl 9:08 pm *snickers* Bevel 9:08 pm Good priorities. Swoop 9:09 pm ((everyone is precious)) Tarantulas 9:09 pm (( specs = even cuter tbqh Swoop 9:09 pm ((omfg)) Bevel 9:10 pm ((the glasses made her even hotter Whirl 9:10 pm (9AGREED)) Magnum Ace 9:10 pm ((dying here ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm ((me trying to get into those damn doors)) Swoop 9:10 pm *kicks his birby feets* Tarantulas 9:11 pm *is moping until further notice. maybe he can sift through data while he mopes* Swoop 9:12 pm Kah! Headbutt! Her AWESOME Whirl 9:13 pm Yeah. I like her. Bevel 9:13 pm She is awesome. Magnum Ace 9:13 pm He...killed himself? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:13 pm [[To preserve secrets.]] Magnum Ace 9:13 pm Oh. Tarantulas 9:13 pm (( oh look it's remus lupin Whirl 9:15 pm ((i always think of him as the dude from the Island of Dr Moreau)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm //Uh.// Magnum Ace 9:16 pm ...that's bad. Isn't it? Squeaker 9:16 pm mhm Swoop 9:16 pm ((i was afk what did I miss)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm ((where did you leave off)) Swoop 9:17 pm ((diana EMBARRASSED some dudes in an alley)) FakeProwl 9:17 pm ((diana embarrassed every single dude she's come across)) Magnum Ace 9:17 pm ... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm ((They went to a command council type place, people refused to listen to a guy suggesting a peace talk - that guy--__ ((and now they're here)) Swoop 9:18 pm ((*fingerguns*)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm [[What fools.]] Magnum Ace 9:18 pm -squirms a bit. The solider bit hit too close to home here- Swoop 9:18 pm Kekhehheh Bull Armor 9:18 pm -sees Magnum shift uncomfortably- You ok, Magnum? Swoop 9:19 pm *pokes bird* Squeaker 9:19 pm *offers a blanket* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm {{What?}} Swoop 9:19 pm Spy lie, huh? kehehhhhehhh ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm {{Oh no, not Bird. Bird good, perfect, never lie. Only truth, always.}} Swoop 9:19 pm *poke poke giggle poke* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm {{Him Boss lie. Heh heh.}} Magnum Ace 9:19 pm Huh? Oh, yes, I'm fine. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm [[And well.]] Swoop 9:19 pm Bird ONLY good bird EVER kehehhh Magnum Ace 9:19 pm -he's lyyyyying- Whirl 9:19 pm *hunkers down again. CLUNK. Bots on the table, you are now accompanied by Whirl's head, which is lying flat on the table* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm *Zori extends a cautious claw to Whirl's head. Did he fall asleep?* Bull Armor 9:20 pm -Bull Armor jumped slightly as Whirl's head hit the table- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm [[...He would have liked more of that.]] Whirl 9:20 pm *flicks his antenna; nope, he's still watching* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *...Can he climb up on Whirl's head?* Magnum Ace 9:21 pm -jerks back at Whirl head- Whirl 9:21 pm *Whirl will not stop him* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *Up he goes! And maybe to do a little humming and dancing.* Whirl 9:21 pm *snorts* Having fun up there? FakeProwl 9:21 pm *... Quietly nudges Tarantulas with his foot.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:22 pm #maybe #more if you are okay Swoop 9:23 pm Her waaaaaaaaaaay better fighter than dumb bar guys kehhehhhehhh Magnum Ace 9:23 pm -nudges at Whirl- Are you...okay? Tarantulas 9:23 pm *tiny jump - looks up from a tiny console he's pulled out* Hhhm? FakeProwl 9:23 pm Nothing. Tarantulas 9:24 pm *....squints* FakeProwl 9:24 pm *Nudge nudge.* Swoop 9:25 pm ((she is so genuine <3 )) FakeProwl 9:25 pm ((she is, i love it)) Bevel 9:25 pm ((I love her so much Whirl 9:25 pm *speaking to Zori at first* Yeah I'm f--*jerks his head away sharply when Magnum comes to nudge him* Whoa, little guy. Pump the brakes. Tarantulas 9:25 pm *leans onto the nudging leg* Whirl 9:25 pm *and then he settles back down again* Perfectly fine. Just tired. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm #do you want to sleep? #here? #I will guard you Swoop 9:26 pm Bird Bird Magnum Ace 9:26 pm Ah. Sorry. Swoop 9:26 pm You Bird better at sneak things ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm {{What what?}} Whirl 9:26 pm I don't intend to go to sleep, but if I do, then feel free, professor. Swoop 9:26 pm and Swoop better at bomb things : > ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm #noooo #after Swoop 9:27 pm But Her Lady good fighter tooooo ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm \\HEH.\\ {{Bird good fighting. You not worry.}} Swoop 9:28 pm Bird good at everything Whirl 9:28 pm *glances to Magnum* You get a pass 'cause you're an alien. You're good. You can touch my neck, if you need to. Just not my head. Hell of a toast. I'd toast to that. *to Zori* Hmm... maybe, yeah, if you lot don't mind. It's either here or the wasteland. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm #the wasteland has monsters #bad places #here is good #and safe Magnum Ace 9:30 pm Thank you? -confused pitcher here- Whirl 9:31 pm Our wasteland's pretty barren. But, yeah, I'll wager this place is safest. Magnum Ace 9:31 pm -blank stare at the screen- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm *Soundwave folds his hands and leans forward a little.* Toothless 9:33 pm *wiggles excitedly* Bevel 9:33 pm *leans forward in anticipation* Whirl 9:33 pm ((now, of all times, I lose bandwidth, thanks internet B( )) Magnum Ace 9:33 pm She's-! Swoop 9:33 pm *perks up* Whirl 9:33 pm *also raises his head, a little* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm //Hot damn.// Whirl 9:35 pm You said it, mech. Magnum Ace 9:35 pm Oh...wow... Swoop 9:35 pm :V AWESOME Bevel 9:35 pm *new favorite human* *well amazon* FakeProwl 9:36 pm *just looks vaguely irritated.* *... granted, "vaguely irritated" is pretty close to his default expression, but.* Swoop 9:36 pm *SHRIEKING laughter* Bevel 9:38 pm Yeah! Magnum Ace 9:38 pm ((I'm sorry, but if I saw that, I'd nope outta there Windchill 9:38 pm *Appears.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:38 pm [[...He is reminded of the way Wreckers conduct themselves.]] Windchill 9:39 pm I did not hit her I DID NOT... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:39 pm [[Or try to.]] Windchill 9:39 pm Oh hi Whirl. Whirl 9:39 pm Not too far off, but with way more collateral damage. Swoop 9:39 pm !!!! FakeProwl 9:39 pm *a derisive snort.* Swoop 9:39 pm *FIST PUMP* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:39 pm [[As he said. "Try to." Unless they are Wheeljack.]] Whirl 9:39 pm And there's no way they'd send us to a place that was still calm enough to have any living noncombatants in it. Bevel 9:39 pm That sniper is really dead. Whirl 9:40 pm *looks over; there is a tiny scorpion on his head and little mecha all over his table* Hey, 'Chill. Toothless 9:40 pm *purrs* Magnum Ace 9:40 pm She's...right. She's not human Windchill 9:40 pm Is there still room for my GIANT BUTT? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm [[Charging into stalemated battle zones and the like.]] *Hand flick.* [[What were you snorting at?]] *Zori waves hi from Whirl's head.* Whirl 9:40 pm Yep. *only Bevel is sitting with him tonight, so he's got one free side* FakeProwl 9:41 pm *mutters* A damn waste. Swoop 9:41 pm What is gala? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:41 pm [[The actor's skills?]] {{Party. Biiiiiig party.}} Windchill 9:42 pm *Takes that spot. If he's sitting a little oddly it's because of the hidden dent in his butt.* Swoop 9:42 pm Ohhh party Windchill 9:42 pm What is this? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:42 pm //Wonder Woman. She's kinda livin' up to it.// Whirl 9:42 pm She really is. Bevel 9:42 pm Yeah Whirl 9:42 pm *snickers* FakeProwl 9:42 pm No. This entire... display of heroic nonsense. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:43 pm *Leans back.* [[Do elaborate.]] Swoop 9:43 pm ((no girl YOU did)) Magnum Ace 9:43 pm I find it...entertaining -says the mech who does heroic nonsense himself- Windchill 9:45 pm So. Whirl 9:45 pm That was Piaf, earlier. Windchill 9:45 pm Like Wonder Bread. But not. FakeProwl 9:45 pm @Soundwave «When one person with far more experience in conducting himself in wartime explains to another person why it is nearly impossible AND strategically inadvisable to deviate from the slower plan for a sudden burst of heroism, and then the second person deviates from the plan anyway, one of two things happens.» Whirl 9:45 pm *squints* Sous les pont de paris, I think. Definitely not breadlike, yep. Windchill 9:46 pm But does she still go well with peanut butter? Swoop 9:46 pm Bird Windchill 9:46 pm *Chinhands. Of course he walked into the mushy stuff.* Whirl 9:46 pm Couldn't tell you that. Can't taste peanut butter. But damn, I sure as hell can SMELL it. FakeProwl 9:46 pm @Soundwave «One: he gets himself—and probably everyone around him—killed.» Windchill 9:47 pm Hmm. The REAL question is... do you smell like peanut butter? Whirl 9:47 pm Not to my knowledge, nope. Windchill 9:47 pm *Leans over. Prepare thyself for the nostrils.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:47 pm *Zori sniffs Whirl's head* #...what does peanut butter smell like Windchill 9:47 pm *Dramatic sniffing.* I smell...I smell!! Ducky. Whirl 9:48 pm I'll bring you some. I don't really... know how to describe a smell. Magnum Ace 9:48 pm ((really, movie? really? FakeProwl 9:48 pm ((yeeeeeeeah, and they were doing so well)) Whirl 9:48 pm ((I'm just saying. If I was either of them and I thought I might die tomorrow, I'd go for it)) ((well, if I cared for that sort of thing)) FakeProwl 9:48 pm ((but he's unnecessary for pleasure)) ((she said so herself)) Whirl 9:49 pm ((Might as well try something new 😎 )) Magnum Ace 9:49 pm ((I know, right? FakeProwl 9:49 pm (("well, fine, i guess i'll try dick ONE time.")) Magnum Ace 9:49 pm ((and yes Windchill 9:49 pm I like the horses. That's what I care about. ...She's not very good at stealth? *Snorts.* Whirl 9:50 pm She's more of a "charge in and decimate the enemy" kind of fighter. Swoop 9:50 pm BEST kind 😄 Windchill 9:51 pm ...Why can't she be both? Whirl 9:51 pm Not saying she can't. Just saying she isn't. Windchill 9:51 pm She seemed sneaky enough there, I guess. Dung of a bug... *He'll have to ask about that.* Magnum Ace 9:52 pm ((she isn't Windchill 9:53 pm What the heckie. FakeProwl 9:54 pm @Soundwave «Two: he succeeds. In succeeding, he makes himself look like a big damn hero and the person arguing for the cautious plan look like a fool and like he didn't care about the people he insisted they leave behind; and he also gains an inch of progress while sacrificing the objective that could have gained them a foot of progress. He makes himself look good while destroying their opportunity to make a real difference.» Windchill 9:54 pm Why aren't they speaking German? Magnum Ace 9:55 pm ((she DID Whirl 9:55 pm Nice. Windchill 9:56 pm What... Magnum Ace 9:56 pm Stealth...is lost on her, I think Whirl 9:56 pm Yeah? Magnum Ace 9:56 pm That sword is pretty obvious Windchill 9:56 pm *Raises a brow.* Swoop 9:57 pm ((fuck em up)) FakeProwl 9:57 pm @Soundwave «And I am quite tired of such destructiveness being glorified.» Bevel 9:57 pm She is a princess. Princesses always draw attention. Swoop 9:57 pm ((i LOVE how obvious her sword is)) Windchill 9:58 pm *Appreciates the horses.* *They work so hard.* Magnum Ace 9:58 pm It was the sword. Right along her spine. Toothless 9:59 pm *sad chirr* Windchill 9:59 pm *Came in too late to really know or care what's going on.* FakeProwl 9:59 pm ... Huhh. *glances at Soundwave.* As I said. Gain an inch, lose a foot. Bevel 10:00 pm Those poor villagers. Magnum Ace 10:00 pm ...... Tarantulas 10:00 pm *is hunched over a bit more working with his tiny console, he's forgotten the movie* Magnum Ace 10:00 pm -he's liking this movie less and less with every battlefield and mass murder like that- FakeProwl 10:01 pm *Is satisfied, in a dark way, now that her charge was for naught.* Whirl 10:01 pm Well, technically, Prowl, it was the reasonable person's reticence that did that. Movie didn't change its tune. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:01 pm @Prowl: [[He is fascinated by her powers. But you are correct. And while he himself employs mechs who specialize in such activities--]] Subtle motion toward Rumble and Frenzy. [[--He prefers to avoid using them in that manner, when possible.]] FakeProwl 10:02 pm @Soundwave «It's not the violence and the heroic charges and and of themselves. They have their places.» Windchill 10:02 pm *Fakes a yawn.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm @Prowl: [[...That said, as a former gladiator, he does appreciate her skills. She would be a formidable force, given proper guidance.]] FakeProwl 10:03 pm @Soundwave «It's blatantly ignoring the cautious advice of those who know better.» Magnum Ace 10:03 pm ...is it over? Bevel 10:04 pm ...I do not think so. Windchill 10:04 pm Too much unresolved conflict to be over. Magnum Ace 10:04 pm Oh no. Bull Armor 10:04 pm oh boy FakeProwl 10:04 pm @Soundwave «Charging into battle without a strategy is objectionable, but not unforgivable. THROWING AWAY the strategy—and being REWARDED by the narrative for it...» Swoop 10:05 pm ((I love how she is totally down for murder. None of this man pain bullshit. Fuck 'em up.)) Bevel 10:05 pm *sighs sadly* Windchill 10:05 pm Wow. Magnum Ace 10:06 pm ...this just went from bad to worse ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm @Prowl: [[To those two, he -is- the one who knows better.]] Amusement tag. As he said. Windchill 10:06 pm *Sneers a little.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm *They specialize in it, and sometimes they do throw away strategy, but he'd prefer they didn't.* FakeProwl 10:07 pm @Soundwave «... She's learning better.» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm @Prowl: [[She is.]] Whirl 10:07 pm He's not entirely wrong. Maybe a little too optimistic about the power of belief. Magnum Ace 10:07 pm . . . ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm //...Hold up, how's that guy there?// Bevel 10:07 pm How did he get there? Whirl 10:07 pm But I mean, yeah, the world's rotten. ...? Magnum Ace 10:08 pm How'd he...oh no. Whirl 10:08 pm Ha. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm //How's he him? He was arguin' for peace 'n all.// Whirl 10:08 pm While knowing that the Germans would still attack with their chemical weapon. Bevel 10:08 pm He said no one listened to him earlier. Whirl 10:09 pm Easier to manipulate things from the top. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:09 pm \\SOME GODKILLER.\\ Swoop 10:09 pm :V Whirl 10:09 pm Heh. Windchill 10:10 pm Is this our plot twist villain? Whirl 10:10 pm Yep. I like it. FakeProwl 10:11 pm *... is finding himself sympathizing with the war god who wants to destroy everyone.* Windchill 10:11 pm Eh. *He's not gonna comment. Nope.* Whirl 10:11 pm Everyone likes to think it's the mad scientists and the uppity soldiers who make these things happen. Nice to see the movie pinning it on someone in high command. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm //PRIMUS BELOW// ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm //How's she s'posed to fight THAT?// Swoop 10:13 pm BOOM! Kehehhhehhh Windchill 10:13 pm He's floating? Whirl 10:13 pm Just means it's going to be an interesting fight. Windchill 10:13 pm *Snorts.* Magnum Ace 10:13 pm !!! Windchill 10:14 pm How do they know it's on a timer? I missed it. Bevel 10:15 pm They were spying. Swoop 10:15 pm Flammable 😄 Dinobots good for flammable Windchill 10:15 pm Everything's flammable if you're serious about it. Swoop 10:15 pm YAH Windchill 10:15 pm *Nods.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm [[...Oh.]] Whirl 10:16 pm Oh, he's about to die. Windchill 10:16 pm He's fuckin' dead. So's that guy. Whirl 10:16 pm *the very best parting gift imaginable, though* Windchill 10:16 pm *Blinks.* Bevel 10:16 pm Whoa armor Windchill 10:17 pm Swords, lame. FakeProwl 10:17 pm ((i can't frickin take ares seriously. he still has his fuckin Mild Mannered Bookstore Owner mustache.)) Windchill 10:17 pm *And yes, he is just saying that to be antagonistic.* (( ME NEITHER. )) Whirl 10:17 pm ((yeah honestly the face...... kinda ruins the effect)) Magnum Ace 10:17 pm ((just by a lot Bevel 10:18 pm ((i just can't take him seriously because it's remus lupin FakeProwl 10:18 pm ((i mean i realize that's part of the point. the face of war itself is just an Average Joe.)) ((but STILL.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm ((.....i never got that)) Windchill 10:18 pm (( I think this fight is kinda underwhelming anyway but that's a major factor. Nothing against the actor but they probably should have changed that to almost anything else.)) Swoop 10:19 pm ((there were so many boss moments that it'd be hard to do a one on one at the same level as her going one vs machine guns)) Magnum Ace 10:19 pm Oh. No. FakeProwl 10:19 pm ((yeah, basically from the point Real Ares shows up onward im a lot less enthralled with the movie.)) ((you can't top the machine gun scene)) Bevel 10:19 pm ((no man's land best scene Whirl 10:20 pm 9(agreed)) ((no man's land was best)) Tarantulas 10:20 pm *suddenly huffs and violently tosses his console into a subspace. crosses his arms over his knees* Windchill 10:21 pm (( P much. I personally find a lot of end fights underwhelming when we're supposed to up against gods and demons and the most we get is brute, physical force. )) (( So that might just be me. )) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:21 pm *Soundwave lets a feeler slither down to Tarantulas and brush against a spider leg. Enough to listen if wanted, easy to brush away if not.* Windchill 10:21 pm Well. If she had listened to him she might have been able to prevent his death. That sucks. Whirl 10:22 pm Yep. Mistakes and all that. Windchill 10:22 pm *He can't really endorse being told what to do, so don't do it.* Tarantulas 10:22 pm *all sw will read is frustration and a bunch of icky numbers before tarantulas swats him away and goes to get up* Windchill 10:23 pm *Ear flicks.* FakeProwl 10:23 pm *...sigh.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm *He pulls the feeler back in, not offended but mildly concerned. What are those numbers? Why did they inspire that?* FakeProwl 10:24 pm *So all humans are worth saving because one of them loved her.* Windchill 10:24 pm *Actually bursts out laughing.* Swoop 10:24 pm Bird Look Bird Her ZAP ItsyBitsySpyers 10:24 pm {{Best.}} FakeProwl 10:24 pm ... The fact that she believes in love does nothing to change their destructiveness. Magnum Ace 10:24 pm -what's funny about that?- Windchill 10:25 pm *Wipes an optic.* Whirl 10:25 pm I think it's more about the question of whether or not humans CAN be anything other than destructive. Bevel 10:25 pm ((SUPERHERO LANDING FakeProwl 10:25 pm The fact that humans are capable of love does not undo their destructiveness, either. Magnum Ace 10:25 pm They can Windchill 10:25 pm That was dramatic. Whirl 10:26 pm Nope. I don't think the movie's trying to say they're not, though. Windchill 10:26 pm It's saying that they're worth it anyway. Your mileage may vary. FakeProwl 10:26 pm Hmph. Whirl 10:26 pm I mean, don't get me wrong--I'm not buying the schmaltzy bullshit--*waves aclaw* Bevel 10:26 pm We are just as destructive. Tarantulas 10:26 pm *glances at prowl for a second but is too much of a drama butt to actually send anything but a ping before he leaves out the doors* Whirl 10:26 pm Like I said. The world--well, worlds. Multiverse, is rotten to the core. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm *..."Hmph"? Odd, coming from a protector.* FakeProwl 10:27 pm Their argument is inadequate. *Glances at Tarantulas. Pings back.* Windchill 10:27 pm The point was it's about what you believe. So if you believe that they're worth it, then they are. At least to you. Or, her. It's pretty, eh, subjective. Whirl 10:28 pm It's about how, y'know, people and reality and life in genberal is more complicated that 'good' or 'bad.' You gotta take the bad with the good. At least, that's what I'm getting from the movie. FakeProwl 10:28 pm *Prowl's got to remind himself not to voice his opinions out loud.* Windchill 10:28 pm They pretty much spell it out...more than once. It's not very subtle. ... *distracted.* Is she, like, old? Whirl 10:29 pm She's a demigod. Doesn't age, presumably. Windchill 10:29 pm Huh. FakeProwl 10:29 pm *It invites people to explain what the movie's saying when his problem is that he disagrees with what it's saying.* Windchill 10:29 pm That sucks too. Toothless 10:29 pm *headbobs to theme* Whirl 10:29 pm *hey now, Whirl also conceded that he disagreed with it* *he's just clarifying the movie's argument* Bevel 10:30 pm *not really sure what she wants to say about the movie's message so just settles for* Diana was a really cool fighter. Windchill 10:30 pm *He said it was subjective.* Bevel 10:30 pm *so deep* Windchill 10:30 pm *No actual counter-argument was presented.* Whirl 10:30 pm She was. Swoop 10:30 pm *kicky feet* That good movie : > Windchill 10:30 pm I think... Swoop 10:30 pm You Soundwave do FIGHT movie Like this moive Magnum Ace 10:30 pm Interesting movie Swoop 10:30 pm every time Forever : > Bevel 10:30 pm I am gonna make her sword. Windchill 10:30 pm I probably wasn't supposed to find it as funny as I did. Whirl 10:30 pm Decent. Worth watching once. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm [[He prefers to keep things well mixed, Swoop. There are many guests with varying tastes.]] Magnum Ace 10:31 pm Bull? Swoop 10:31 pm This BETTER Bull Armor 10:31 pm It was different -not the type of movie Bull usually watched- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm //Whirl. Whirl.// ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm //You 'n this fleshie in a fight. Who wins.// Whirl 10:31 pm Mm-hmm? *looks to him* Well, she's a demigod. I dunno. I don't know if conventional weapons can even hurt her. But, luckily, I know a guy who makes UNconventional weapons. So it's a toss-up. Magnum Ace 10:32 pm ... Toothless 10:33 pm *peeks over at smol warm-metals* Windchill 10:33 pm Probably depends on who's faster to find and take advantage of each other's weaknesses. Which is how all fights go, really. Magnum Ace 10:34 pm -stares back- Swoop 10:34 pm *yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwnnnns* *streeeeeeeeeeeetches* Windchill 10:34 pm *Not that...he would know anything about fighting.* Swoop 10:34 pm *decides to sleep exactly where he is* Toothless 10:35 pm ((plz not to 44 Sonic the not-much-bigger-than-a-baseball ;D)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:35 pm *Laserbeak drifts down to sit on Swoop and guard him* Windchill 10:35 pm *What is this whiny music.* Magnum Ace 10:35 pm ((don't worry, he's not pitching indoors ((soundy wouldn't be happy with the damage ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm ((soundy would start pitching. a fit.)) Windchill 10:36 pm (( Justice would be served. )) Toothless 10:36 pm *loud purrs for Not-Smol-That-Bites* ^__^ Magnum Ace 10:36 pm ((granted now he has one called the 'asteroid cannon' ((and it's named that for a reason Windchill 10:37 pm *Stretches.* Magnum Ace 10:37 pm -blinks and continues to stare. What is it?- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *...He hears a purr. What is--* Toothless 10:37 pm ((translation: Thank you for the stream!)) Windchill 10:37 pm *Leans over to torment Whirl.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *SCRAPLno wait that was the toothless one. Okay. False alarm.* ((you're welcome! come by any time 😄 )) Toothless 10:38 pm *bounces a little and waves a pincer* Whirl 10:38 pm *eyes Windchill sidelong without raising his head* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm *Soundwave lifts a feeler and wiggles one of its claws at Toothless.* Windchill 10:38 pm *It's time for your weekly dose of stage whispering.* You know...if we were really NAUGHTY, we could get banished for another sleepover. *If you know what his waggling eyebrows mean.* Whirl 10:39 pm I've already made arrangements to stay here tonight. FakeProwl 10:39 pm *glances to see what Soundwave is wiggling at.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm [[No fragging in public.]] Whirl 10:39 pm Rain check? Windchill 10:39 pm You suck. Whirl 10:39 pm *SNORTS* Windchill 10:39 pm *Sits up straight.* Bevel 10:39 pm *moves chair a little away from Windchill and Whirl if they're gonna be gross* FakeProwl 10:39 pm *juMPS TO HIS FEET AND IN FRONT OF SOUNDWAVE THAT IS A SCRAPLET* Squeaker 10:40 pm Do not hurt the scraplet *angry mom face* Magnum Ace 10:40 pm -what's with the reactions? He could lob that thing through a wall- Whirl 10:40 pm There is a zero percent chance I will ever frag ANYONE in public. Windchill 10:40 pm Sure. *Tosses his head.* I forgive you. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:40 pm *Soundwave huffs softly and rests a hand on Prowl's back.*

[[It is an oddity. A harmless one. But thank you.]] FakeProwl 10:40 pm *Considering that Prowl doesn't know who that person is, he will summarily ignore them.* Windchill 10:40 pm *That makes one of you, Whirl.* FakeProwl 10:40 pm *... Soundwave, he's less inclined to ignore.* You're sure? Not a scout? Toothless 10:41 pm *shakes helm, no no no no no scout, no swarm* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:41 pm [[One moment.]] Leans around Prowl and motions to Toothless. [[Open your mouth, would you?]] Windchill 10:41 pm *Always set on the backburner, TAKEN FOR GRANTED.* Whirl 10:41 pm *glances to Windchill* Y'know, I was just wondering why it is everyone seems to think we're shacking up, but then I remembered how often you tell me how much you like my ass. And then, question answered. Toothless 10:42 pm *carefully slides headplates to show tooth stubs* Windchill 10:42 pm *Face kind of just warps hideously to exude smugness.* It's a fantastic ass. Whirl 10:42 pm You're objectively wrong, but thanks. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:42 pm *Nods.* [[Yes. He recognizes this one.]] Bevel 10:42 pm Oh! I like this song! Windchill 10:42 pm I am not. FakeProwl 10:43 pm *The fact that it can't eat doesn't mean it can't scout. But if Soundwave is certain.* Whirl 10:43 pm Never heard it. Windchill 10:43 pm *He just doesn't have any taste, which might be the same thing but he's gonna argue anyway.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:43 pm [[Besides. It has been living in that mech this whole evening. We would have been dead long before now.]] Whirl 10:43 pm *will just wave a claw at Windchill dismissively; you DO have horrid taste, Whirl was specifically designed to be unattractive* Bevel 10:43 pm It lives inside someone? FakeProwl 10:43 pm *... Reclaims his seat.* Is it... tame? Whirl 10:43 pm *the Functionists clearly couldn't fathom a mind as twisted as yours* Windchill 10:44 pm *Not even a little.* Squeaker 10:44 pm It... hides in my pauldrens sometimes Magnum Ace 10:44 pm What...is it? Windchill 10:44 pm *Is it a coincidence that most of his friends/fuckbuddies are one eyed and mean as hell? Yes, but what a hell of a coinkydink.* Toothless 10:45 pm *looks up at Squeaker, guilty for having snuck out & causing a fuss* Windchill 10:45 pm *Leans back in his seat, and crosses his legs while fighting to hide a wince. Damn you, ass-dent.* Squeaker 10:45 pm *helm bomps her smol friend* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:45 pm [[As far as he knows.]] FakeProwl 10:45 pm ... Hmm. How does it eat? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:46 pm [[Now that is an interesting question.]] Looks expectantly at Squeaker. Squeaker 10:46 pm Small things, nuts and bolts, nothing alive though. Whirl 10:46 pm ((PFFT)) *looks over to this new conversation* Huh. Kinda like Killer. FakeProwl 10:46 pm I meant, without teeth. Whirl 10:46 pm Which is my pet barnacle. Windchill 10:46 pm *Ears flick up. This is more his style.* The best pet barnacle. Squeaker 10:46 pm It has the back ones Windchill 10:46 pm Best pet, even. FakeProwl 10:47 pm ((ah, wise music choice.)) ((metal, to keep the scraplet fed.)) Bevel 10:47 pm ((lol ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm *Rumble motions Magnum Ace over.*

(PFFF)) Magnum Ace 10:47 pm ...you mean it's species eats live meals? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm //Yeah. 'N usually it's us.// Windchill 10:47 pm *Would retract his head like a turtle, 'cept his collar gets in the way. He eats...things.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm *Well, no reason to have him come this way now. He was gonna just whisper that.* Toothless 10:47 pm *hangs helm* Whirl 10:47 pm Ours, too, except ours are just about microscopic. Squeaker 10:47 pm Most of the time yes. But Toothless is nice Magnum Ace 10:47 pm -and now he gets what hte fuss was about- FakeProwl 10:48 pm Yes. If you ever see one of those—run. Ideally, somewhere cold. Whirl 10:48 pm *pauses over some fond... memories? memories-that-don't-belong-to-him-but-are-there* They're neat. Magnum Ace 10:48 pm Cold tends to shut us down. FakeProwl 10:48 pm One alone isn't much of a threat; but one alone is usually a scout for a swarm. Windchill 10:48 pm *But he's not gonna out himself like that tonight.* FakeProwl 10:48 pm Cold tends to shut them down, too. And since they're smaller, they shut down faster. Bull Armor 10:48 pm -Bull unconsciously shivered remembered that one time in the artic- Magnum Ace 10:48 pm I'd hope so. Toothless 10:48 pm *Looks at RedSnol and nods* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:48 pm [[He will stick to this one, if it is all the same to you, Whirl.]] Microscopic metal eaters. Brr. Magnum Ace 10:49 pm -pats Bull, sorry for bringing that up- Whirl 10:49 pm Yeah, at least you can see those. One scraplet in the wrong place is enough to kill a mech, in our dimension. You could probably handle one of yours no problem. Magnum Ace 10:49 pm Ice hockey leaguers need a special formula to play on the ice correctly -not to mention knowing how to play on ice in general- Bull Armor 10:50 pm Even we need special fuel if we're in the extreme cold for too long. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm *Extreme cold. Also a brr.* Magnum Ace 10:51 pm Or we lock up and freeze until brought somewhere warmer Toothless 10:51 pm *shudders and ducks back into Squeaker's pauldron to drag out its knitted "scraplet cozy" * Windchill 10:51 pm *Sighs.* I like the cold. Bevel 10:51 pm What is ice hockey? Magnum Ace 10:52 pm Another sport Bevel 10:52 pm Do you throw balls made out of ice? Windchill 10:52 pm *He's large enough and generates enough heat that it's not quite as much of a problem.* Whirl 10:52 pm You're built for it, aren't you? High-altitude specialty, right? Magnum Ace 10:52 pm No, it's played with pucks and hockey sticks ItsyBitsySpyers 10:52 pm *Soundwave spots the cozy and huffs. Yes, a good idea. Too bad his tarps are upstairs.* Bevel 10:53 pm Pucks? Windchill 10:53 pm When in good repair I'm built to handle temperatures of both extremes. To a degree. *That's a pun, okay.* Whirl 10:53 pm *snorts* Squeaker 10:53 pm *straightens and fluffs said scraplet cozy* Magnum Ace 10:53 pm Thick disks meant to slide around on the ice Whirl 10:53 pm *and slowly un-hunkers, streeetching* Okay. Time to crash. Where should I go, Professor? Magnum Ace 10:53 pm Usually at high speeds Squeaker 10:53 pm That sounds a bit dangerous Bevel 10:54 pm Cool. *grins* Whirl 10:54 pm Take care of yourself, loser. *to Windchill* Magnum Ace 10:54 pm Not really Bevel 10:54 pm *hitting disks with sticks sounds fun* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm #ummm #the lounge? #that is a big space #upstairs Magnum Ace 10:54 pm Most of the danger comes from the opposing team FakeProwl 10:54 pm *vaguely remembers having to offer Soundwave a tarp at one point, when a show was talking about cold things. the details are fuzzy though. he was drunk at the time.* Windchill 10:54 pm GoodNIGHT, loser. *Rejected again.* FakeProwl 10:54 pm *doesn't have a tarp. has a sham-wow.* Windchill 10:55 pm *Totally sparkbroken.* Magnum Ace 10:55 pm ...and yourself if you don't know how to play on ice. FakeProwl 10:55 pm *... takes out and offers the sham-wow anyway.* Pretend it's warm. Whirl 10:55 pm *hey now, you were simply second to offer* Windchill 10:56 pm *Don't rain on his drama parade.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *Soundwave looks at Prowl, the shamwow, Prowl again, and. Reaches. For the shamwow? Then looks at Prowl.*

*...He's so confused* Whirl 10:56 pm *He stands and holds a claw up so Zori can be relocated from his head* Just show me the way. Squeaker 10:56 pm If you need something warm I have plenty of blankets in subspace ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *But he drapes it over the spark light on his chest. Very well.* FakeProwl 10:56 pm I don't have a heating tarp. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm #come on! #this way! the stairs are over there

*Claw point. Onward, mighty airsteed!* //Hey, hold up. Us too.// \\YEAH!\\ Whirl 10:57 pm *your steed is aw--well, okay, he pauses for the twins. He's taken aback for a moment, then realizes well, he probably SHOULDN'T be--he's not used to this* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm To Squeaker: [[He will be fine, thank you.]]

{{You not getting them back if him take, heh.}} Whirl 10:58 pm *so he just pauses to wait for them, and then Zori's airsteed shall leave the room* Windchill 10:58 pm *Waves.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm *And they'll follow.*

*In the meantime, Soundwave looks to Prowl once again.*

[[That is all right. He accepts this offering in its place.]] Whirl 10:58 pm *tosses a final wave off to Windchill* Bevel 10:58 pm *sends goodnight messages to Whirl, Zori, and the twins* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:59 pm *Pings back to Bevel.* Whirl 10:59 pm *and a last ping for Shovel, too* Windchill 10:59 pm *...All of the fun people have ABANDONED HIM.* Whirl 10:59 pm *now's your chance to get to know Bevel, who is cool* Windchill 10:59 pm *Drapes himself in the chair forlornly, dramatically.* Magnum Ace 11:00 pm -is he okay?- Bevel 11:00 pm *pulls out a datapad to start planning Diana's sword* Windchill 11:02 pm *No-one understands his unrequited spark-boner.* Magnum Ace 11:02 pm -starts tossing a baseball up and catching it, wondering if he and Bull Armor had been forgotten- ItsyBitsySpyers 11:03 pm *Ravage abruptly explodes from behind the seat and snatches the baseball out of the air. Nope. They hadn't.* Squeaker 11:03 pm What is that thing anywhow? Toothless 11:03 pm *chittergiggles at the ball theft* FakeProwl 11:03 pm *who could forget the two Real Live Baseball Players* Squeaker 11:03 pm ((forgive her she knows next to nothing of sports)) Magnum Ace 11:03 pm -jerks back in surprise- HEY! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:04 pm [[A cat.]] FakeProwl 11:04 pm *Speaking off, he hears a Distressed Real Live Baseball Player. What's going on over there?* Magnum Ace 11:04 pm Give that back! Squeaker 11:04 pm I know what a cat looks like Bull Armor 11:04 pm -Bull Armor stares at the more animal looking mech that stole Magnum's ball- Squeaker 11:04 pm what did it take from him? Magnum Ace 11:05 pm A baseball Bevel 11:05 pm *oh hi Ravage, have a ping* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm *Ravage drops the ball on the floor and gives it a solid whack. Nyoom goes the ball. Nyoom goes Ravage. Ravage also goes ping.* Magnum Ace 11:05 pm I was practicing my pitching, before the movie Toothless 11:05 pm ((Ravage shows up and my cat starts fussing... coincidence?I think not.)) Squeaker 11:05 pm *Researches the term baseball* oh Neat! Windchill 11:05 pm *Okay, this isn't working out well for his butt-dent. He is forced to sit normally.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm ((LOL)) Bevel 11:05 pm *goes back to her datapad* Magnum Ace 11:06 pm Give that back, I still need it. Bull Armor 11:07 pm It wouldn't be the first ball lost. Magnum Ace 11:07 pm True. But I don't like losing equipment. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:07 pm =I hunted it. It is mine.= Magnum Ace 11:08 pm You...what? It's not for hunting ItsyBitsySpyers 11:08 pm [[Ravage, return the ball.]] Toothless 11:08 pm *hits its booster jets and tries to nyoom in and filch the ball back* Bevel 11:08 pm *covers her mouth with the datapad to hide the fact that she's trying not to laugh* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm *HISS at scraplet.* Squeaker 11:09 pm Toothless Sweetspark, you and the baseball are just about the same size* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm *...But there was an order. So he sulkily lets Toothless return the ball.* Toothless 11:10 pm *looks up offended; scraplet is at LEAST softball sized!* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm *He didn't want it anyway. Sulk sulk slink behind the bar curl up mutter hmph.* Toothless 11:10 pm *hauls roundthing back to RedSmol* Magnum Ace 11:10 pm -not when it's made for mechs where a golfball is the size of a grapefruit- FakeProwl 11:11 pm *... Movie's over. Glances at Soundwave.* Perhaps it's time to escort our unintended guests home? Windchill 11:11 pm *Raises hand.* Magnum Ace 11:11 pm Thank you ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm [[It may be for the best. He won't have his guests things stolen.]] Not in front of an ex-cop, at any rate. Things that get left behind are another story. Bull Armor 11:11 pm At least he didn't try 'hunting' it while you were pitching it. Toothless 11:11 pm *if roundthing's too big to carry, then it will push!* Magnum Ace 11:11 pm -and this time the ball is staying in his hand- I don't think he would be able to catch it Bevel 11:12 pm *pulls a couple bits of scrap metal from her subspace and bends them together into a small lobbing ball that she rolls along the floor toward the bar.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:13 pm *Soundwave points at Windchill while speaking to the baseball players.*

[[You might be surprised. But now is not the time to test that. Do the two of you go to the same place?]] *....Ravage curls a paw around the ball and pulls it close. Good.* Windchill 11:13 pm *He's just gonna put his hand down then.* Bevel 11:13 pm *victory* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Well, if Windchill doesn't WANT to respond to being called on. They're getting ready to close up shop for the night anyway.* Toothless 11:14 pm *skitters back to Squeaker, points to its "sweater" and then to a single strand, with a question-chirp. Any extra yarn for AngryCat?* Bull Armor 11:14 pm Yes; we should actually get back to recharge. We still got practice tomorrow. Windchill 11:14 pm *Pointing is ambiguous. He's not a mind reader.* Squeaker 11:14 pm *takes out a ball of yarn with a smile* Magnum Ace 11:15 pm Yes, we're both members of Silver Castle ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm [[Then we will not keep you from it. He is certain Prowl would not like to see your games suffer.]] Windchill 11:15 pm It's TIME... For me to go. You're all welcome. Magnum Ace 11:15 pm -their mechanic is going to murder them both- Toothless 11:15 pm *pincer-wave* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm [[Very well. Do you require a bridge too?]] Squeaker 11:16 pm Be safe FakeProwl 11:16 pm *HUFF. Why you gotta call him out like that. ... ur rite tho.* Windchill 11:16 pm No thanks. *He hates those things.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm [[As you wish. Travel safely. He'd prefer not to be the one to tell Whirl you died.]] Windchill 11:17 pm Whatever. Toothless 11:17 pm *hides yarn somewhere AngryCat can hunt it and zips back to Squeaker to head home* FakeProwl 11:17 pm Magnum Ace, you can pass the catcher my comm frequency, in case of emergency. And explain to him the whole... secrecy situation, if you would, please. *never actually learned the catcher's name lmao whoops* Windchill 11:17 pm I remembered Rumble's payment this time, where should I leave it? Squeaker 11:18 pm *pets her smol friend* Toothless 11:18 pm *much loud purring* Magnum Ace 11:18 pm -nods- I will talk to him, later, about all of this. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:18 pm *Ravage will get that yarn later, when he is done sulking. And perhaps save some nuts and bolts for future visits.*

[[Ah. On the bar will do. He will probably come down later to get something and see it then.]] Toothless 11:20 pm *waves goodbye before hiding in the pauldron again* Windchill 11:20 pm *Shrugs. Good enough. He'll do that and pay his siblings-in-law back for it later.* Squeaker 11:21 pm *yawns* Thank you for streaming Soundwave. goodnight and be safe you all Windchill 11:21 pm *He's gone.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:21 pm [[Goodnight.]] Magnum Ace 11:22 pm But, yes, I think it's time we did go home Before we're caught ItsyBitsySpyers 11:23 pm *Then he'll open a bridge and gesture to it.*

[[We will see you next time, hopefully.]] FakeProwl 11:24 pm Hopefully NOT. We still don't know why they keep showing up here. Magnum Ace 11:24 pm Thank you, and hopefully if we do show up it's because we wanted to. FakeProwl 11:24 pm Tarantulas was supposed to be looking into that but—apparently had nothing to report. Or else left without reporting it. Bull Armor 11:25 pm Hopefully no one else gets pulled in. Really don't think GZ or Windy would be too happy about it. -let alone any of the humans- Magnum Ace 11:25 pm No, no I don't think they would... ItsyBitsySpyers 11:26 pm [[He hopes because he would like to solve it.]] Bevel 11:26 pm At least you got pulled here instead of somewhere else. Magnum Ace 11:27 pm -nods and gestures for Bull Armor to go first. Time to go home- FakeProwl 11:28 pm This makes two weeks in a row that you've shown up, specifically, here. At the same time. And once you showed up at a similar movie night hosted by Cybertronians. Bull Armor 11:28 pm Bye then. -Bull waves before stepping through- ItsyBitsySpyers 11:29 pm *Wonders if it is because of all the multiversal traffic his club gets on weekends. Or that his planet gets in general, since those visitors tend to roam elsewhere for a bit. Who knows what that does to reality around here?* Magnum Ace 11:29 pm Well, yes, it is odd... Bevel 11:29 pm *welp if everyone's leaving, Bevel's gonna leave before she accidentally gets caught in a private conversation. she leans over the bar to check on Ravage first tho* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm *Ravage looks up at her and grumbles some nothings. What.* Magnum Ace 11:31 pm Before this, I had only thought the multiverse was science fiction Bevel 11:32 pm Do you want to come with me to see something? I want to see if the big stairs in old Praxus are still there. *they might find a cool monster since the stairs go sort of under the surface if Ravage is into that kind of walk* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:33 pm *He grumbles a little more, gives the lobbing ball a smack, and gets up. Yeah, okay. Let's go.* Bevel 11:34 pm *grins and straightens back up* Ravage and I are gonna go check something out. *seems polite to tell SW* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:35 pm [[Very well. Enjoy yourselves.]] [[Now you know that it isn't, Magnum Ace. And its existence is the least of the wonders related to it.]]

[[But that is data for another time, if there is another time.]] Prowl might not want them coming in, but he'd like more information on that Earth someday. For reasons. [[Your bridge awaits.]] FakeProwl 11:36 pm *Oh, Prowl DEFINITELY wants more information on that Earth. He's got a quiet revolution to plan.* Bevel 11:37 pm *with a wave to Prowl and Soundwave, Bevel and Ravage will head out* FakeProwl 11:37 pm *He just doesn't want them popping in here against their will. Eventually it'll be a human.* Magnum Ace 11:37 pm -And that's the end of tonight. Nods and waves, before heading through- FakeProwl 11:37 pm *Farewell nod.* Magnum Ace 11:38 pm ((meanwhile mun is laughing right now FakeProwl 11:39 pm *... Is the coast clear? Yes? Leans on Soundwave.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:40 pm ((how come laughing?))

*Soundwave accepts the lean and coils a feeler around Prowl's waist.*

*But something's been lurking in the back of his mind since the end of the movie.*

[[...You agreed with the war god.]] FakeProwl 11:40 pm In THIS context, yes. I don't think that humans are inherently all-destroying. FakeProwl 11:42 pm However, in a film in which it's presented as a fact to be accepted that humans are all-destroying, the correct action is to remove them so they cannot destroy everything else. The fact that they can love and can be loved does not negate this destructiveness, and is not a reason to spare them. It's merely a reason to mourn the latent potential for good in them that was overrun by the realized potential for evil. Magnum Ace 11:43 pm ((soundwave and prowl wanting more info on magnum's earth ItsyBitsySpyers 11:43 pm ((he just wants to make sure it ain't unicron man)) [[You do not believe it can be overrun in the reverse direction?]] FakeProwl 11:44 pm The film did not present such an option. The choice the film presented was not "can or can not human destructiveness be prevented" but "humans ARE and will be destructive: should or should not they be spared anyway." Magnum Ace 11:45 pm ((true, still funny though ItsyBitsySpyers 11:50 pm ((fair!))

[[And you think they should not.]] He picks up the edge of the shamwow and looks at the light beneath it. [[That is an unexpectedly high bar, for someone who opted to protect a mech like him tonight. Many civilizations he has encountered since the exodus would fail to clear it.]] FakeProwl 11:51 pm It's a fictional situation that presented only a binary option. The film did not present the possibility of improvement, or redemption. It did not ask whether they're worth saving if they can change. It did not suggest they can change. "This is how they are; there is no indication they will ever be anything else. Should they be spared anyway." That's all it asked. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:54 pm [[Then if a third option HAD been presented - that suggestion of change - you would not have sided with the war god?]] FakeProwl 11:54 pm ... It depends on how high the probability that they would actually be able to follow through with it. But there is at least a possibility I would not have. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:55 pm *He lets the shamwow fall back onto his chest.*

[[That is of some comfort.]] FakeProwl 11:56 pm ... What do you care? I thought you had no love of humans. Anyway. It's fiction. Magnum Ace 11:56 pm ((and thanks for the stream, but I need sleep, g'night! FakeProwl 11:56 pm ((gnight~)) Yesterday ItsyBitsySpyers 11:56 pm ((night!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 12:00 am [[He doesn't. Not beyond a select few. And as you say, it is fiction. He does not know the human war god to be real.]]

[[But he knows that ours is, and that he and his fit into the humans' category. As do most others. What comforts him is the thought that you would not condemn us all.]] FakeProwl 12:01 am *moment of silence.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:02 am *...Slow glance. He hadn't thought that so surprising, given his past.* FakeProwl 12:02 am ... If a war god came for Cybertron, I think I'd want to listen to his argument first. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:03 am [[...You what.]]

*Soundwave's feeler loosens. He leans back some, not entirely convinced he heard that right.* FakeProwl 12:03 am *Very pointedly looking away from Soundwave.* FakeProwl 12:05 am What, are you surprised to hear that? After I've just said that I'd side against saving a species whose virtues do not outweigh its destructiveness? ItsyBitsySpyers 12:09 am [[The -human- species. He didn't think you would--]] If his visor were off, his optics would be wide and his mouth open. That is, they are now too, but Prowl can't see it. [[You - are an Autobot. And a mech with a deep urge to protect others. You spent the war doing a job you loathed in the hopes of minimizing death.]] [[Why this, now? From you?]] *The feeler is slowly retracting.* FakeProwl 12:11 am BECAUSE I want to minimize death. FakeProwl 12:13 am It never got as bad in your universe, did it? In ours, we've committed genocide on so many planets that most mechs have lost count of them. And each one of those planets—each individual one—was full of more sentient lives than most people can fathom. Countless worlds with countless people. But I kept count of them. FakeProwl 12:14 am I spent most of the war seeing all those lives as... lesser, than Cybertronian. But they aren't. They never were. You would destroy Unicron without a second thought, wouldn't you? Because he's a world-eater. Because it's one of him versus all of the countless lives he'd swallow. We've eaten worlds, too. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:19 am [[Eating worlds is his purpose. It is what he was made to do. We are not - we are not of HIS metal. We may choose NOT to destroy. And there are timelines where this is so. You yourself said that we did not go to the extremes of your Cybertronians.]] FakeProwl 12:20 am And if the hypothetical war god were talking to me about YOUR Cybertron, I'd find his argument less compelling. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:21 am [[...But your world holds peace. It rebuilds. He hears it.]] FakeProwl 12:22 am The Golden Age held peace too. Which was why Nova Prime felt comfortable enough to sail off from Cybertron and try to conquer the rest of the universe. The Decepticons most quickly and efficiently exterminated lives when the Autobots were at their weakest, the war was at low ebb, and they had moments of relative peace they could use to progress with their genocide. If anything, a strong, healthy Cybertron at peace is more dangerous than a Cybertron at war with itself. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:34 am [[Then we -watch- it. We help to -guide- it, to rein it in if need be. We do not -terminate- it. Dead things do not grow or learn. Transformation is impossible.]]

[[We do not serve Unicron. To destroy your Cybertron and its inhabitants - Prowl, you cannot wish for that. You must not. It gives the Devourer what he seeks. It frees him to eat without fear of reprisal. More will be doomed than have ever been before.]] FakeProwl 12:39 am Cybertron has proven to be rather resistant to transformation and growth as well. And I care far less about one planet's personal growth than I do about the entire galaxy's overall safety. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:39 am [[He speaks of the galaxy's overall safety!]] FakeProwl 12:39 am ... But I'm not seeking Cybertron's destruction. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:40 am [[Perhaps, but you do not sound as though you would stop it.]] FakeProwl 12:43 am *grim smile.* As I said. I'd want to listen to the argument first. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:48 am [[...Then he hopes it will be a poor one, if that ever comes to pass. Or that he can counter it.]]

The alternative would break his spark.

[[Give him the numbers.]] FakeProwl 12:49 am ... You'll have to specify what of. *Prowl has a whole lot of numbers that are relevant to this conversation.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:49 am [[You said you kept count. Of worlds and of the dead. Give him your counts.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 12:50 am [[It must be added to his map. He - needs to see it. To understand why.]] FakeProwl 12:57 am One hundred and twenty-one billion, seven hundred million lives. That's the closest we can estimate. The destruction is so vast we're only able to accurately round to the nearest hundred million. And those are just the worlds we know were populated by sentient species and were able to get an estimate of the number of sentient beings were on the world before their destruction. FakeProwl 12:59 am That doesn't count all the worlds the Decepticons annihilated before we ever reached them. FakeProwl 1:01 am We can't count the number of dead from planets where forts have already been built over the ashes. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:02 am *Soundwave's lights dim. Hard. He knew both sides had done worse than in his own timeline - FAR worse - but that...*

*How can he argue against numbers like those? How is he supposed to uphold his oath to protect their kind and the matching Cybertrons if Prowl's math includes something that big?* FakeProwl 1:05 am ... By my estimates, that number only accurately accounts for approximately fifteen percent of the Decepticons' kills. Potentially less than that. FakeProwl 1:09 am And that's only direct, intentional genocide—not species inadvertently caught in the crossfire. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:12 am [[No. There is no 'potentially'. He has heard of the phase sixers, of bombed planets, of entire species being led to pink alchemy plants.]]

[[We destroyed Junkion. We hurried the end of Velocitron. Both were quick and simple, and we did not have as many... tricks, as your factions. He refuses to believe it is as much as fifteen percent.]] FakeProwl 1:13 am Ah. Junkion. Us too. Shockwave did it, but half the time I get the credit. It was considered a minor battle. ... Two planets, huh? Three if you count Cybertron itself? ItsyBitsySpyers 1:14 am [[There were others. They took longer.]] [[But not as many.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 1:19 am [[...Still. He will not accept termination as a solution.]] *Shakes his helm again.* [[It is cheap. No facing what was done. No acting on errors that may still be corrected. And it is not what he has promised.]] FakeProwl 1:21 am I care less about Cybertron "facing what was done" than about ensuring it won't happen again. And I have no faith that they'll act to correct any errors. Cheap solutions work. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:25 am [[He seeks both.]]

Prowl's faith is not something Soundwave can change on the spot. He sees that much, and so, leaves that alone for now.

[[And working is not the same thing as being a good idea. He would know. You should, too.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 1:26 am [[At the moment, we are at an impasse. And he has much to think about. He... would put this subject aside, for now. Revisit it when there is something more to be said.]] FakeProwl 1:26 am *Huff.* I know. FakeProwl 1:36 am ... I'm sorry this isn't the type of thing you hoped to hear out of me. FakeProwl 1:41 am *When they had hashed out the rules on which they would base their relationship—had it been nearly a year ago, already?—Prowl had said that he did not anticipate any vast moral conflicts to arise between them—"but if any do, you know where I stand: by my convictions." So he'd said. And he thought now that, on some level, he must have known that this was the conviction he'd been preparing to stand by.* ItsyBitsySpyers 1:42 am [[...It isn't, no. It is... a line of thinking he abandoned a few years ago. One that may take you from him, if that hypothetical situation ever comes to pass. And something too bitter to have been meant for a spark like yours.]]

[[But he would not have wanted a lie.]] FakeProwl 1:46 am I know it might. ... But I'd far rather not have to stand on the opposite side of a battlefield from you. *... Still without looking at Soundwave, he reaches for... for his hand. His thigh. Anything.* ItsyBitsySpyers 2:00 am *Soundwave looks down at his hands. Please, let him think of something. Some way to stop him having to test his adherence to his latest vow. An argument or example or plea capable of helping Prowl see that there are other paths and safeguarding Cybertron and its inhabitants a little longer. They've all lost enough as it is.*

[[He will stand with you on as many battlefields as he can... but he answers to Primus above all others. Do not forget that.]]

*He hesitates at first, wondering if giving Prowl access to some part of himself would be a betrayal of his beliefs. But Prowl has done nothing except admit to a thought Soundwave himself used to share, and there's still time to try and make sure it never progresses into something more real. And if he does eventually fail at that, then... at least he can have moments like these to look back on afterward.*

*So he turns his hand over and slides his fingers between Prowl's, curling them tight. Too tight, probably, and yet, not tight enough* FakeProwl 2:11 am I won't forget it. *Because if there ever does come a day when he finds he must take action, it's going to be the first thing he thinks of. He'd said that he would not compromise his convictions for the sake of a relationship; and he'd said he expected Soundwave to do no different.*

*Prowl squeezes back just as tightly.* ... Thank you for—for agreeing to disagree. On something like this. At least as long as it's hypothetical. ... I wasn't sure you would.

*He hadn't been sure he'd leave this conversation with his amicaship intact. He'd even had doubts he'd leave the conversation with his life intact. If there were to be anything that would make Soundwave turn on him...*

*He squeezes tighter. Not yet. Not tonight. He hadn't chosen wrong to confess. His trust hadn't been misplaced.* ItsyBitsySpyers 2:26 am *Correct. Soundwave was no different. Had Prowl given Soundwave reason to turn, he would almost certainly have been killed by now. Prowl wasn't the kind of person wise mechs let live long enough to form and enact disagreeable plans.*

[[Do not thank him for that.]] *He didn't want that kind of gratitude from Prowl. It would sting all the more if he had to change his mind someday.* [[Just... stay, while you can.]]

*Let that replace the comfort he didn't end up finding in their discussion after all. They would both need it tonight.* FakeProwl 2:29 am *Prowl turned, pressed his chevron against Soundwave's upper arm, wrapped his other arm around Soundwave's forearm.* As long as I can. ItsyBitsySpyers 2:31 am [[Good.]]

*He settled his other hand on the arm wrapped around his and, after another moment's thought, let his feeler curl a loop around Prowl's waist again.*

*Recharge won't come for a while, but he'll not have moved by the time it does.* FakeProwl 2:36 am *He twitches as the feeler wraps around him again, then holds Soundwave tighter still. He won't sleep; but he doesn't plan on budging until the very second he has to go.*

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