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matramancer · 2 months ago

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If I Were Stronger. [Narumi Gen x Mitsuri! Reader]🌸

🌸Synopsis: What if Mitsuri! reader was there during the fight with Isao Shinomiya?

Part of the Mitsuri! reader series

tags: angst with comfort, MANGA SPOILERS (ch 51), character death, narumi x reader, fem!reader, Mitsuri!reader, reader and Narumi are kikoru’s mentors, kikoru and reader are close, hopeful ending.

It’s quiet in the First Division base.

On a solemn morning, the flags of the base are lowered. Everyone stands in formation, giving a final salute to the loss of a legend.

Standing up front, Narumi Gen holds himself strong in front of his troops, his back so far away. Despite the respect he earned, the high praises, the honor of dying in the battlefield, no one can deny that the death of General Shinomiya was a tragedy.

A few steps behind him were the other platoon leaders, and for a moment, time had stopped. No rowdy battle cries, no arguments. Not even the bounce from their resident bright ball of sunshine.

it’s quiet. It’s unlike you.

As your eyes drift to Gen’s backside, the black fabric feels like an abyss peering into your memories. The scar from that day that you shared with him. Fresh wounds that you tried not to show.

You were there when it happened, after all.

“GENERAL SHINOMIYA IS ENGAGING WITH KAIJU NO. 9! ALL UNITS, STAY ON HIGH ALERT!”

As you stopped to turn to your right, you could hear the clash of weapons, as well as the sound of falling debris and rubble. Was that them?

“Platoon leader (L/N) speaking. I’m near the main site and approaching!”

It was a race against time, one where you prayed that you could make it. Narumi and Kaiju No. 8 were speeding ahead too, surely, with the four of you against #9, you could stop him.

You didn’t even register the long run it took from your area to where General Shinomiya was. Not even the pain from the multiple wounds you sported. All you remembered was rubble flying everywhere, and racing to Kurusu’s front as soon as you spotted him.

“Kurusu-san!” Kurusu coughs from breathing out the dust from the rubble you sliced into pieces.

“Platoon leader (L/N!)” He exclaims in disbelief, still holding onto his laptop whilst you provide cover. As you tried to study the situation, more and more rubble threatened to hit Kurusu. The general was standing strong, his number’s weapon holding against #9. “Please don’t worry about me–provide cover to the chief!” Kurusu stated, before getting interrupted by Isao himself.

“(L/N)!!” Stunned at General Shinomiya’s booming voice, you and Kurusu turn towards him. “Evacuate Kurusu!”

“BUT SIR–”

“AT ONCE!” at General Shinomiya’s orders, you immediately change your stance, picking Kurusu up.

“YES SIR!” Without a moment’s hesitation, you hastily jump away with Kurusu, not knowing what the general had in plan. You hoped he had a plan at all. You could still move, you were strong. You had to do something.

Kurusu’s words brought your attention back to him. “High energy levels–is he planning to use No. 2’s blast?!” Gasping as you let him down at a clearing, the two of you immediately fell to your knees at the sheer amount of pressure suddenly forming from the spot where Isao stood. So that was why…

You nearly flinch at the gunshot from the ceremony, the sound bringing you back to the present. Narumi’s back was still in front of you, only showing a part of his side profile.

It must’ve been so heavy on him. You knew, even from how stoic he was with everyone, that Narumi meant a lot to him. That General Shinomiya also meant so much to Narumi. That their bond, though unspoken, was strong.

And now he’s gone. He was taken from him right in front of his eyes.

But it wasn’t just Narumi that had a mentor taken away from him.

The ceremony ends, and you excuse yourself as soon as you find the chance.

A girl lost her father.

“GENERAL SHINOMIYA!”

Your mind drifts back to the battlefield, towards the seconds where you returned to General Shinomiya.

It’s eerily silent. You hated it.

“General Shinomiya! Do you copy?!” You breathed through your mask, twirling your sword through the air to get rid of the dust obstructing your vision.

The news from Kurusu shocked you to the bone. Two shots. Kaiju No. 2’s main burst twice in a row. General Shinomiya…

Your heart rate quickens. You had to support him fast. There’s no way his body could last. Please, please don’t let this happen again. The Defense Force can’t lose another leader. Especially not its director.

Memories of your late platoon leader flash through your mind, but you blink them away. Now’s not the time.

In the distance, you could see Narumi and #8, finally arriving on the scene. With your combined manpower, you could at least make sure that the general had time to recover.

Your feet ached as you caught your breath once more, now back in the building. You don’t know why or how your body took you here, but there you stood, hands on the lavish wooden doors, hearing the silent sobs of Kikoru Shinomiya.

Heart clenching, your knuckles turned white as you tried to calm your breathing, feeling your throat clamp up. You felt anger, felt grief. But that’s not what matters right now. You had to be there for her.

“Kikoru-chan,” at the sound of your voice and the creak of the door opening, her sniffles paused. You set aside any formalities, nevertheless how the both of you were technically trespassing. You were probably going to get an earful from your superiors too, with a member of your platoon skipping such an important event, indulging AND partaking in breaching what counted as private quarters. But that didn’t matter. Kikoru wasn’t your star student right now, she was just a girl.

You made your way closer to her, letting your stern demeanor falter as you stood in front of her.

“It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone. It’s okay to cry, Kikoru-chan.” You hushed her, slowly bringing your hands towards her.

When she started to sob again, you took her in your arms, sinking onto the floor as her body shook.

You hated the quiet. You hated this.

You hated how #9 disgraced Shinomiya Isao’s image in front of his own daughter.

The door creaks open again. This time, a heavier set of footsteps made their way to the late general’s desk. You didn’t have to look up to know who it was.

Perhaps Narumi and you were on much more similar wavelengths than you thought, because he at least disregarded how lax your behavior was as a platoon leader.

“You sure you didn’t want to see him off?”

The three of you shared a strange yet not unwelcome sense of acknowledgement and understanding in that room.

A shared wound that could only be understood by those who were truly there.

The horror you felt when #8 screamed the news to Narumi rang through your body like a bomb.

As you approached rapidly to the sight of what you thought was the general, you saw him turn around.

“GENERAL SHINOMIYA!” You cried out, mustering all of the power in your legs to reach him.

It wasn’t enough.

“THAT ISN’T THE CHIEF!”

You failed your role. Failed to be that barrier between what you sought to protect.

Kurusu and the others watch in horror through the feeds as the desecrated face of what used to be Isao turned, as if to mock him.

It was horrifying.

Letting out a gasp, you barely registered the giant blast he sent towards the three of you.

As the rubble cleared, you stood aside Captain Narumi and Kaiju no. 8, still in disbelief.

Hearing him speak about how he killed the general made your blood boil, your knuckles turning white.

But it broke your heart to see Kikoru just behind him after.

Clenching your fist, you and Narumi sprang forward in full offense.

“How dare you.” You swore, in a silent whisper that had never left your body before. As you twisted your body and launched yourself upward, you put your full force into slicing several of #9’s limbs, giving Narumi an opening.

But just as Narumi swore with his entire being that he would destroy #9 in Shinomiya’s place, #9 stopped the fight, throwing a casual remark about how he was going to “call it a day.”

Narumi has never lost his composure, and he doesn’t plan to. But he would not stand for such blasphemy–nor would he ever let #9 get away from him alive.

As he launched his attack, you followed suite with #8 into the fray, bearing your sword like a whip.

“LETS RAIN HELL ON HIM! #8! (L/N)!”

“SQUADRON STYLE BAYONET TECHNIQUE NUMBER ONE!”

“SECOND FORM: LOVE PANGS!”

Yet no matter how many hits you got in, no matter how many times Narumi charges at him, no matter how strong #8’s hits was, the three of you were still being pushed back.

You prayed again, prayed that through some high power, no matter what it takes, that you’d be able to end this right now.

“!!!” Your eyes widened as a shot from #9 misses you and hurdles itself towards Kikoru instead.

Without thinking, you immediately move to defend her, taking the brunt force of the hit with your machine gun. “NO!” You yelled. You can’t afford to lose her either.

Kikoru stares at you with wide eyes, as you steady your balance and change stances to use your other weapon.

Breathing heavily, you let out a cry as you shot at #9 relentlessly, acting as suppressing fire for Narumi and #8.

It was always in your nature to protect. And you couldn’t afford to fail with Kikoru as you did her father.

Her suit had probably overheated, she was out of commission. The least you could do was–

You let out a string of coughs, a metallic taste in your lips.

Suit overheat. Suit overheat. Cooldown required.

“(L/N)-SAN!” Kikoru screamed, distressed at the data reading of your suit. She cursed over how she was frozen to her spot.

“I still have some fight left in me!” You put your arm in front of her. Kikoru was a bright girl, with a bright future ahead of her. The more you could spare her now, the better.

You were about to put away your gun to slow down your overheating, but just as you did, the sight of one of #9’s attacks slipping between Narumi and #8’s defenses entered both you and Kikoru’s field of vision.

Your eyes widened, feeling the burn of your body as you forced yourself to move.

“KAFKA!” You yelled, taking the hit for him.

You knew Kaiju no. 8–No, Kafka was special, not just to the Defense Force, but to those that cared for him. He was loved. By Kikoru, by the 3rd Division. You had the utmost pleasure of bonding with him from the start of his stay in the 1st Division. You were one of the first to accept him.

And you couldn’t bear to see Kikoru hurt even more.

Narumi’s eyes widened as red splotched your suit, your machine gun wrecked by #9’s burst.

He knew that with your caring personality, you’d always take the choice to wedge yourself to be that layer of protection. He hated that about you sometimes, but especially this time.

But there was no time to worry, you wouldn’t allow it. “RESUME ATTACK, CAPTAIN AND NO. 8!” You choked out, barely nailing your landing. The attack burned through your machine gun and messed you up good.

As you scramble to get on your feet, your legs caved in, making you unceremoniously thud to the ground. Now you’ve really done it. “I messed up…”

Narumi swears he saw red. He’d never say it out loud, but the grip he had on his bayonet was so hard, he swung, uncaring if his nerves could snap in half.

You could hear the sound of fighting continue just a dozen meters ahead of you, but your vision was going black. You felt something warm running down your forehead and covering your eye. Your ears were ringing.

As strong as The Love Pillar is known to be, she was still a human.

You could barely even hear from your comms now. Was that still Kurusu talking? “REROUTING (L/N)’S SUIT TO FULL HEALING! PREPARE PARAMEDICS!”

No, you can still fight. For your place in the Defense Force. For your oath to protect, for the 1st division that welcomed you so warmly. For Captain Narumi. For Mr. Shinomiya.

And humans always had an exploitable weakness.

Suddenly, the air stiffens just as your hearing returns to hear Kaiju no. 9. “Ah, I should have done this from the beginning.”

“What…” You and Kikoru’s eyes widened at the sudden incoming blasts moving towards the both of you.

You stiffen up as your instincts tell you to fight back. To draw your machine gun or to jump out of the way. To protect Kikoru.

…But you couldn’t feel your legs.

“BASTARD!” in a haze, you only hear Narumi’s yell from a distance, still trying frozen in place.

The last thing you saw was his back in a protective stance, shielding you from the blast.

And the body of Isao Shinomiya flying to the sky, waging war to all of humanity.

It hurts to think, it hurts to remember. It hurts to see the people you care about skewered by guilt and sadness.

It hurt you the most when Narumi sat on the stretcher next to you, hunched over whilst gripping his head in his hands when he thought no one was looking.

You were unknowingly clenching onto the fabric of Kikoru’s uniform too, you realize, as you hear her talk to Narumi. How she wouldn’t even let herself grief.

At the sound of that, Narumi declares something.

“I’ll make you the strongest after me.” You and Kikoru look up in surprise. “I’ll drill what mr. Isao drilled into me to you.”

As Kikoru’s tears ran, so did her newfound determination. The fight isn’t over. It’s just begun. She swears to it, as you and Narumi bear witness.

“(L/N).” He turns to you, causing your body to stiffen. “I’m entrusting this duty to you. Direct orders,” you straighten, getting back on your feet.

You’ve never seen Narumi like this before.

“Sir.” you fix your appearance, trying your best to look stern. You were never really good at it.

“Get stronger.” You bit the inside of your cheek at his words. It wasn’t just an order, it was a statement. “Train Shinomiya. Be at each other’s side,”

“Show me results.”

***

It’s very awkward to have to take an elevator ride with Captain Narumi after that whole ordeal.

You didn’t even know where to look. For once, no conversations flowed through your mind.

“This is bad!!! This is very bad!!!” You internally panicked. Never mind the constant headaches and large amount of medical treatment you still needed to undergo, you were fretting over what he would say to you as a platoon leader trespassing and enabling a rule breaking cadet! “I can’t look him in the eye!”

“Um…” You broke the silence, yet Narumi made no effort to look in your direction. “Captain.”

You bit your lip. What were you to even say? Yes, you and Narumi were close, but this atmosphere… the weight of the world was on him. Could you even be there for him?

But you remember how hard this was for him. How much of a front he’s handling right now. So, you merely soften your voice, to sound as respectful as possible. Then, you bow. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss, sir.”

Narumi still doesn’t move. Not like there’s anywhere to go.

You wonder if you’ve overstepped any boundaries. He was still your captain, even if you sort of had a strange bond with him. Maybe not as strange as what he has with Vice Captain Hoshina, but still. He was a friend.

“Thank you, (L/n).” Your shoulders immediately relaxed, letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

“I’ll follow your orders to the end. I’ll get stronger, Narumi-kun–” you hold your tongue. “Ahem, Captain Narumi.”

Finally, he turns to look at you. Maybe if your head wasn’t still pounding and you weren’t so fussy over how the bandages felt wrapped around your head, you’d notice how his gaze softened. “You’re still recovering from your injuries. You’re forbidden to go to the training hall.”

“Eh?” You blinked. “Ah, ok. Yes sir.” You twiddled with your fingers, now embarrassed. Right, you weren’t even supposed to be out and about yet.

As your gaze landed on the floor, you failed to notice Narumi’s sight falling onto your figure, furrowing his expression at your slightly limped stature. You had sustained much more severe wounds than him, even if you were still standing.

But that was just it, you were still standing, and he was god damn thankful for that.

It was a much better sight than seeing your unconscious, limp body in his hands before you were passed to a stretcher and flooded by paramedics, his sight refusing to leave you even as another pair of medics tried to assess his own condition.

The heat he felt searing through you as he cradled your unconscious body burned through his own skin as a reminder that you were alive–but you were in bad, bad shape. You had paid the price of increasing your abilities past what your suit could handle, reaching a fever of nearly 40 degrees and immediately requiring an IV drip. he had to bark at Kikoru to keep her distance, under the guise that the paramedics weren’t done with you, that she needed medical attention herself, but he himself knew that wasn’t the full cause of his reasoning. He didn’t want her to see you like this.

You were so unlike yourself, motionless on that stretcher, lacking the life and luster that enveloped you.

It was terrifying.

When the paramedics left and he finally got a moment to himself, all he could do was hunch forward, hands grasping roughly at his scalp. The incident flowed through his mind like a waterfall, from the desecrated face of Isao Shinomiya, the war Kaiju no, 9 had waged against him and humanity, the pained face of his disciple, and lingering feel of your lifeless body cradled against him.

He would never let this happen again.

The elevator shakes a bit as Narumi straightens his gaze.

“And…” Your head perks up again, bright eyes meeting his fuchsia gaze. “Loosen up. I’ve had enough of formalities today.”

He breathes out your name, in a fervor unheard of from the image of Japan’s strongest. A more boyish, young tone. “Show me results like you did when we first met, (Y/N).”

Your mouth gaped a bit, before the familiar smile you always sported, albeit softer, makes its way back to your face. “At least grieve properly, Gen. I know how much he means to you.”

Maybe it was how you operated, your clockwork, but Gen feels a realization with how a part of him had been laid out to you without him knowing, and with that part alone, you had studied and lived with so graciously, that the way you had softly soothed him with your presence had taken him off guard by how welcoming his subconscious was to it.

You were unlike anyone else he had ever met. No one had ever read him like this.

Even when he was silently processing your words, you simply watched him in understanding, your gaze never making him uncomfortable. He was just so accustomed to your presence.

Had you always been so close, he wonders, when he finally realizes that his fingers had grazed yours.

Looking at each other in mutual shock, you were the one to recover first, to boldly squeeze his hand with an unspoken vow, to pull him into your presence. To let his grief flow.

It flashes through his mind then, his youth with Isao, all his efforts to earn his gaze, how he fought so hard for results. How he’d never see that damn old man reel back in tears over how much he’s achieved now.

It squeezes his heart.

But at last the memories flow.

And he lets the feel of your warmth meld with his skin, the calloused bumps and slight burn from your bandages rubbing against his own as he finally squeezes back, not even out of his own accord. His fingers moved on their own.

When the moment ends and your touch becomes that of a ghost, Narumi is taken aback by how his hands nearly chased after yours.

He wonders how you feel, but at the ding of the elevator floors, you had awkwardly flitted the topic of the conversation away again, leaving unanswered questions.

“I’ll still oversee Shinomiya’s training. It’s what she needs most.” You stare at the cold doors of the elevator, not really knowing why you’re still letting your mouth run. “I know we both believe in her. She has a bright future ahead.”

You feel Narumi’s gaze land fully on you now. “Exactly why I said what I said. Better not see you slack off and let her catch up to you as fast, (Y/N).”

His tone is lighter now, you note. Your heart fluttered a bit at the more casual honorific too. That relieved you, bringing your smile back. “I have no intention of losing, Gen.”

The entire incident still felt heavy in both of your hearts, knowing what happened. But as long as you can be there for Narumi, you’ll support him in whatever way he needs.

The elevator dings as you both reach the ground floor. “One more thing.”

You turn to him, blinking.

“Once you’re healed, report to my office.” He walks out first. “Mr. Isao probably wanted to see this for himself, but–”

“You’re eligible for a numbers suit.”

A/N: Whew that was a wild ride.... i might do numbers suit reader or meeting hoshina soon!

The thought of mitsuri! reader fighting on field and hanging on through sheer willpower alone is so admirable... wow, u have a really cool gf gen......... though u dont even have the guts to ask her out yet, wow

#kaiju no 8 #kaiju no. 8 #kjn8 #kaiju no 8 x reader #kaiju no. 8 x reader #reader insert #narumi gen #narumi gen x reader #gen narumi #gen narumi x reader #headcanons #kaiju number 8 #kikoru shinomiya #shinomiya kikoru

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winchesterwild78 · 4 months ago

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Behind the Scenes pt 8

Master List

Minors DNI 18+

Warnings: fluff, quick moment of Smut (I mean come on, it is a wedding.), then more sweetness

A/N: The wedding is here! Please enjoy this last chapter. This is a work of fiction. No disrespect to Jensen or Jared or their families. *kinda a long chapter, with a slight time jump*

I edited this fast- please forgive any mistakes

This is my original work, do not take it.

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*Time Jump 9 months*

“Jens, can you get Tristan ready? I need to take a quick shower before we head out.” You called from the bedroom. Jensen walked into Tristan’s nursery and looked at his 9 month old son. Tristan sat up in his crib and held his arms up “daadaa”. Tristan looked at Jensen and smiled. “Hey little man. How was your nap?” Tristan babbled as Jensen picked him up.

Jensen walked him over to the changing table and started to change him. “We’ve gotta get you looking handsome. Mommy and Daddy are getting married tomorrow so tonight we get to see Nana, Poppop, Grammy and Pawpaw and the rest of the family. Uncle Jared and Aunt Gen will be there too.” Jensen continued talking as he got Tristan ready.

You finished getting ready and walked past the nursery and stopped to watch Jensen. These past 9 months have been incredible, Jensen and you were in awe of how fast Tristan was growing, the two of you planned your wedding and you had both gone back to work on the show.

You were thankful you were able to take Tristan with you and he was even featured in a few episodes as Lilah’s and Sam’s son. The studio was incredible and so accommodating. Your wedding came in the middle of the shooting schedule, but there was a planned week break starting two days before the wedding. Misha had taken an online class to become ordained so he could perform your ceremony. Everything was falling into place.

Jensen, Tristan and you arrived at the ceremony location to do the rehearsal. Misha pulled you aside to talk to you about a surprise you two had been working on for Jensen. “Hey, Y/N, just wanted to let you know everything is good to go.” You smiled and thanked him.

Jensen’s brother and Jared were going to be standing with him for the ceremony. You had asked your best friend, Y/F/N, and Gen to stand up with you.

Jared and Gen’s oldest, Tom, was asked to help Tristan down the aisle in his wagon. He loved the idea. The other two, Shep and Odette were in the wedding too.

You stood at the end of the aisle waiting for your cue. You walked towards Jensen and the rehearsal continued. Misha talked about some of the things he was going to say tomorrow and what to expect.

Once the rehearsal was done everyone gathered for some food and fun. Tristan was getting fussy so you took him outside for some air. Jensen followed you out. “Hey, Y/N, is everything okay with him?” “Yeah, I think he’s just partied out. Too much excitement for one day.” You smiled and kissed Tristan’s head. Jensen wrapped his arms around you and kissed your forehead. “I’ll let Mom know, I know she’s probably getting tired too.” You smiled and nodded.

Jensen’s parents were taking Tristan for the next two nights, so you can rest before tomorrow and you and Jensen can have time alone on your wedding night. You were incredibly thankful for them.

A few minutes later Jensen’s parents came out with him to get Tristan. You kissed him goodnight and hugged your in-laws. When they were gone you stayed outside for a few more minutes with Jensen. He was standing behind you and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close to his chest.

“Whatcha thinking about sweetheart?” “Just this past year. It’s been a crazy, wonderful ride. I got an awesome job, met an incredible man, had his baby, and now we are getting married. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from a dream.” You looked over your shoulder and smiled at him. “I’m glad it isn’t a dream. I love you and Tristan so much. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He kissed your neck and led you back inside. “Are you all set to stay at Jared’s tonight?” Jensen nodded, and you pouted. “Hey, it’s only for one night.” He smiled and lifted your chin. Jensen leaned down, capturing your lips in a slow, passionate kiss. You moaned a little and he deepened the kiss. “Okay guys, break it up. Save it for the honeymoon.” Jared yelled from across the room.

You blushed and Jensen laughed. “I love you, Y/N.” “I love you too, Jensen.” “Let me walk you to your car, sweetheart.” Jensen placed his hand on the small of your back and guided you outside.

The air was thick with excitement and anticipation. You leaned into his chest, taking in his scent. He always smelled amazing, even after time at the gym. You breathed deeply and his large arms pulled you into a tight embrace. He kissed the top of your head. The two of you stood there for what seemed like hours, just holding each other. You nor he wanted to let go.

“Baby, I don’t want to leave, but we both need our rest. I’d hate to take pictures tomorrow and look like we haven’t slept in a year.” You slowly pulled yourself from his arms. Jensen held your hand as he walked you around to the driver’s side of your car. He opened the door and you climbed in. Jensen leaned down and into the car, placing a gentle kiss on your lips. “I love you so much, sweetheart. Text me when you get home.” “I love you too, Jens, and I will.”

He closed your door and you left, heading back to your empty home. When you walked inside you took out your phone and sent Jensen a text.

You: I’m home, babe. Door is locked and I’m heading to bed soon.

Jensen: I’m glad you made it home, we just got back to Jared’s house. I’m heading to bed soon too. I can’t wait to marry you tomorrow, my love.

You: I can’t wait either. I love you, Jensen Ross Ackles!!

Jensen: I love you too, Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N, soon to be Mrs. Ackles! ❣️

You: You’re adorable. Good night baby

Jensen: I know I am. 😀 Good night to you too.

You got ready for bed and climbed into your bed. You were exhausted but had a hard time falling asleep. You finally laid on Jensen’s pillow and were able to drift off to sleep.The sound of your phone ringing woke you up early the next morning. It was Gen.

“Hello” you said sleepily. “Hey! Are you up?” Gen gleefully asked. “I am now.” You yawned. “Girl, I'll be there in 5 minutes to help you start getting ready. I’m so excited.” You smiled and got up. You took a look in the mirror and smiled.

“Today is the day you finally become Mrs. Jensen Ackles.” You took a deep breath and went downstairs. Gen knocked on the door and you let her in. “Go take a shower, and I’ll make you some breakfast.” She smiled. You hugged her and went upstairs to take a shower. Before you got in the shower a text message came through.

Jensen: Good morning my beautiful bride. I’m counting the hours until we say “I do”

You: Good morning my handsome husband. I am too. I’ll be the one at the end of the aisle in the dress with the flowers.

Jensen: I can’t wait to see your dress, and then take it off of you. I missed you sleeping in my arms last night.

You: You’re bad. 😊 I missed you too. I’m jumping in the shower. I’ll see you in a few hours. I love you.

Jensen: I am too. I love you too.

You jumped in the shower letting the warm water envelop you. Once you got out you threw on some comfy clothes and went downstairs. Gen had just finished making breakfast and coffee. You sat down and smiled, thanking her for cooking. The two of you ate and talked. “Once we finish eating we should head to the venue to start getting you ready and get your pictures taken before the ceremony.” You nodded and finished your coffee and food.

About an hour later you and Gen were on your way to the venue. You walked in the bridal suite and saw your dress hanging and waiting for you. The people you hired to do your hair and makeup had arrived shortly after you. They were actually the hair and makeup team for Supernatural. You told them you didn’t trust anyone else to do your hair and makeup for your wedding than them.

A few hours later you were ready and your dress was on. Standing in the bridal suite you were fidgeting nervously when there was a knock at the door. Gen walked over to answer it and it was Jared. Jared stepped in “You look beautiful, Y/N.” He pulled you in for a hug. “Jensen asked me to give you this.” He handed you a small box wrapped with a bow. You thanked him and smiled. You opened the box and it was a gold heart shaped locket. You opened it and on one side was a picture of Jensen and the other was a picture of Tristan. On the back was engraved “All Our Own”.

You put it on and touched it. You handed Jared a small bag and told him it was for Jensen. He hugged you and left the room. Jared walked in the room where Jensen was and smiled. “She’s absolutely beautiful, man. She loved the locket and asked me to give you this.” Jared handed Jensen the bag. Jensen opened it and found a beautiful pocket watch. He opened it up and saw a picture of you holding Tristan. On the back you had engraved “All Our Own”. Jensen chuckled and showed Jared.

Jared laughed “Great minds, huh.” “Well, it’s time to start the ceremony. Are you ready Jens?” “Yes, more than ready.”

Jensen, Jared and Jensen’s brother walked out and down the aisle. As they walked they greeted everyone and Jensen thanked them for coming. The next surprise that you had planned was about to show up. You had Gen recording, because you wanted to see Jensen’s reaction.

Misha walked out to stand at the front and laughter erupted in the venue. Jensen turned and started laughing his deep laugh. Misha was dressed in his Castiel costume. You and Misha had decided “The Angel of the Lord” should perform the ceremony.

Gen walked back to you and told you Jensen and everyone loved it. You smiled and grabbed your flowers. After everyone walked down the aisle it was your turn. You took a deep breath and stepped out. Looking forward and directly at Jensen. His green eyes sparkled with tears and his face beamed as you walked closer.

When you got to the end of the aisle you handed your bouquet to Gen, and took Jensen’s hands. He leaned over and said “You are absolutely breathtaking. I am the luckiest man alive.” He gently kissed your cheek.

Misha performed the ceremony in Cass’ voice, and added some jokes in. At the end of the ceremony Misha said “By the power vested in me by the internet and Chuck, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jensen, you may now kiss your bride…again.” Jensen leaned you back and kissed you. As the two of you turned Misha announced “It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Jensen Ackles.”

The two of you walked back up the aisle to cheers and applause. Jensen led you back to the bridal suite and shut the door. As soon as the door was shut Jensen leaned you up against it and placed a deep passionate kiss on your lips. His hands slid up the bodice of your dress and cupped your breast. You were moaning into his mouth. “God I missed you sweetheart, I can’t wait. I need you now!” Jensen growled. He reached over and locked the door. “Jensen, if you mess up my hair before our pictures our families will kill you.” You laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t”, he smirked. You clenched your thighs together at that look in his eye.

Jensen pulled you away from the door and laid you on the couch. He lifted your dress up and slid down your panties. “I need you right now, please.” Jensen looked at you with lust filled eyes. You bit your lip and nodded. His hand disappeared under your dress, finding your sweet spot. You moaned and bucked your hips. His fingers inserted into your wetness and he made you cum so fast you didn’t have time to process what happened.

You leaned up and kissed him and started to unbuckle his pants. He had already discarded his suit jacket. He removed his hardened length and you leaned over the couch. Jensen lifted your dress up and slid in you from behind. He bottomed out fast and you both let out a moan. His hips moved fast. His thighs slamming into the back of yours as his hands gripped your hips.

There was a knock on the door, it was Jared. “Hey guys, we need you for pictures.” “We’re kinda busy right now, we’ll be out in a minute.” Jensen yelled back. You giggled and Jared yelled “Damn, brother, couldn’t wait?” You were too focused on Jensen to worry if Jared was still at the door.

Jensen’s thrusts got faster and you felt him pulse as he filled you with his seed with a grunt. He pulled out and quickly grabbed a towel for you. He didn’t want anything to ruin your dress. After you were clean, he cleaned himself up. You giggled as you fixed your dress and he pulled on his pants. “God that was great, Y/N. I missed you so much!” Jensen kissed your lips and you smiled. “Come on baby, let’s go before Jared breaks down the door.” The two of you walked out of the room hand in hand. A few people looked at you and smirked, but most of them ignored you. Once pictures were done, it was time for the reception.

During the reception, food and drink were endless and the dancing was fantastic. It was time for your and Jensen’s dance. He took you by the hand and led you to the dance floor. The song “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes played as the two of you swayed together. Jensen twirled you near the end of the song and as you came back into his arms, he dipped you kissing your lips and whispered “I’ll always love you, Mrs. Ackles, now and forever.” You placed your head on his chest and replied “And I’ll always love you, Mr. Ackles, now and forever.”

The End

Tags: @nescaveckdaily @kr804573 @k-slla @jackles010378 @jawritter

@xx-spooky-little-vampire-xx @roseblue373 @cheynovak @jassackles @chriszgirl92

@suckitands33 @arcannaa @n-o-p-e-never @ladysparkles78 @smoothdogsgirl

@hobby27 @manicjk @stoneyggirl2 @1-read-the-hobbit-in-1937

#hes gorgeous #so damn sexy #jensen ackles #jensen ackles x plus size reader #jackles #jensen ackles smut #jensen ackles x reader

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monasdiabolica · 3 months ago

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UGHHHH. OKTAVIA. WHEN I GET YOU MIKI-SAN. episode 9 thoughts. right. - Oktavia's screaming & crying in the first encounter sounding more like her human self, it's still distorted but like. That's Sayaka thrashing and pleading. Then later on during Kyouko's fight against her she lets out a more guttural roaring cry. As if she wasn't already at the point of no return. Sounds like she's screaming underwater. - Refusing to directly attack Kyouko until Homura appears to retrieve Kyouko and her corpse. Using her magic to pelt her with the train wheels for the majority of it at all really. She uses her swords more as a wand (or conductor's baton) than an actual physical weapon. - Kyouko having to avert Madoka's gaze in shame and a shared grief as she carries Sayaka's body btw. All while Homura's explaining the metamorphosis of magical girls to witches. - During the fruitless attempts to sway her grief seed back into a soul gem, Kyouko's link barriers broken twice, Oktavia reaches out and grabs Madoka, forcibly yes but not actually crushing her. Her true best friend since ever. The one she joked about marrying. If not Kyousuke, who else would the little mermaid immediately choose as her suitor? If she wanted to kill Madoka then and there she would have crushed her. Apprehensive. - The result of this action is getting her arm severed (not an uncommon occurance for Sayaka all things considered), busting open the dam to an endless ocean of blood. She really could give it all. - The sheer depth of the concert hall's main room. When Kyouko rips the floor open and all three of them fall, the underside of the labyrinth seems to be a bottomless pit of reversed seats. Drowning. Endless love and endless hatred. - After it all the only named characters besides her friends acknowleding Sayaka's death are Kazuko and Junko who can't even bring themselves to talk about it to anyone else. Distinct lack of Sayaka's family in this and in the whole series tbh.

god Damn you gen urobuchi. inu curry can stay though. please continue to design beautiful witches. thanks for reading my personal obituary btw.

#slop thoughts #pmmm #sayaka miki / oktavia von seckendorff #why do they keep letting middle school girls do this #they have clubs to attend and nails to paint #tavia is my autism object atp she no longer constitutes as just my favorite character

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avatar-year-of-the-dragon · 11 months ago

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Announcing Avatar: Year of the Dragon Weekend!!!

What is Avatar: Year of the Dragon?

Avatar: Year of the Dragon is a fun, casual, very unserious three-day 18+ NSFW shipping event for any Fire Nation or firebending character from the Avatar universe in honor of the Year of the Dragon and the "dragons" in their pants.

When is the event?

February 9-11 to coincide with Lunar New Year on February 10th.

How does it work?

Mods will release some sexy prompts in advance of the date to get your creative juices flowing. Use these to make something steamy with any eligible Avatar character/ship to post on the date. Tag this blog and #avataryearofthedragon and we'll reblog it. That's it!

What counts as a creation?

Anything! Fics, art, playlists, moodboards, screencap edits, headcanons. As long as it's your own work (no AI please) and fits the theme, we'd love to see it.

Who counts as a Fire Nation character?

We're erring on the side of inclusive for this event so that everyone gets to play. As long as your ship involves somebody with some justifiable connection to the Fire Nation or firebending, you're good. Yes, Avatars count as firebenders. Yes, United Republic citizens with Fire Nation heritage count as Fire Nation. Yes, characters you headcanon as being in whole or in part from the Fire Nation count as Fire Nation. Yes, your fanon and OC characters with Fire Nation roots or firebending can be used. And yes, if you have two waterbenders make passionate love on the Fire Nation throne we'll probably sigh, roll our eyes and look the other way as we reblog that, too. Just embrace the spirit of the event and have fun.

Does my content have to be smutty?

This is an 18+ NSFW event run by silly horny people who want to see more silly horny things in fandom. If you want to bring your gen fic in here I guess you can, but why would you?

Do you allow Legend of Korra and characters from the comics?

Sure do. I guarantee you General Iroh II gets laid in this event.

What about WLW ships or characters who don't have a "dragon"?

That's fine! Bring your lovely ladies and let them get it on. All genders welcome. No actual pants dragons need be involved.

What about single characters having some alone time with their "dragon"?

Yes.

What about single characters having some alone time with an actual dragon, like Ran and Shaw or Druk?

OMG just write smut you guys it's not that hard. Dragons can play matchmaker but not be part of the ship unless they're human. No bestiality please.

So do you guys actually have any rules then?

We do!

Don't be a dick. This means ship and let ship, don't like don't read, no kink-shaming, no forcing your headcanons on others, etc. We want this to be fun and positive experience for all.

Like the event says, 18+. This means you and your characters both. Aging up is fine as long as it's stated/tagged. If you have a problem with that, this isn't the event for you.

No incest or non-con. We all love consenting adults here. Background mentions are fine as long as it's not between the main ship. Actual dragons cannot consent, sorry.

Tag accurately and spoiler/label all NSFW content using tumblr's community labels.

Schedule and prompts TBD - stay tuned! Follow this blog for more details soon. Didn't answer your question? Our ask box is open!

#avatar the last airbender #atla #atla shipping #atla shipping event #spicy #firebending #firebenders #fire nation #fanfic #fanfic writing #atla fanfiction #tlok #legend of korra #zuko #azula

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simslegacy5083 · 2 months ago

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Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (10/1/2024) Episode: Can't Catch A Break

The households' troubles didn’t end with Luigi’s visit to the hospital.

The feeling in his hand took it’s time returning, just like his slow recovery from Bloaty Head. As much as he hated it, he followed his doctors' orders to stay away from the keyboard. To stay relevant, he made more public streams with Yoshi and again took on the role of mentor and strategist at work.

Noemi encouraged him to setup an appointment with the surgeon, but he told her he wanted to “give it a little more time”. In truth he was terrified of a botched operation that would ruin his hand for good, but he kept that to himself, hopeful the problem would eventually fix itself like before.

Luigi’s partially numb appendage made everything harder, but didn’t keep him from resuming primary care for Skye the same way his illness had.

Noemi had hoped to buckle down and put in some serious work on Project Daisy now that her husband was back in business. Instead, she ended up with Bloaty Head herself, leaving her in no condition to do the sort of advanced programming work Luigi’s life simulation game required.

Rainy Day had arranged for a big promotional event for the game at Geekcon on Winterfest Eve. Luigi had planned to unveil more details and a release date, but their health issues had put the project behind. Talking it over with Noemi they agreed that they could demo beta gameplay for convention goers but were no longer confident they could actually release the game to consumers before the New Year.

With a heavy heart Luigi scheduled a meeting with Patricia to let her know they needed to push back the launch date. She wasn’t happy, but she'd been expecting this. “I know about your medical issues and appreciate the heads up. Please prep a final release schedule to announce at the Con.”

Luigi promised that they’d keep her informed and would manage the Geekcon event carefully, thanking her for her understanding as he left.

Luigi’s great meeting had him feeling on top of the world, until he got home and found Noemi clearly distraught, surrounded by partially open mail.

He came over to see what the issue was, and she handed him a paper. “This is insane, but it seems they’re serious.”

He scanned the document and the number at the bottom jumped out at him: “$43 THOUSAND Simoleans in back taxes…!? That’s gotta be a mistake.”

It was not a mistake. When he finally got through to someone at the treasurer's office, he learned that the property had a sizeable assessment on it from some tax shenanigans the previous owners had pulled. As current owners of the property, it now fell to Luigi and Noemi to bring it up to date.

He tried to argue that this hadn’t been clear on the paperwork they signed at closing, but the clerk said that this was not something that could be changed without a court order. He stomped around his bedroom for a bit before calming down and coming to find Noemi.

She’d stayed online researching while he’d been changing his mood (and outfit). It looked like the issue was expensive to challenge, and their best outcome would require surrendering the property. They both agreed that they would rather figure out how to pay the bill instead.

While Skye danced nearby, blissfully unaware of the trouble, Noemi and Luigi brainstormed ways to come up with the necessary simoleons.

It demolished their healthy bank balance and forced them to sell Noemi’s new computer, Luigi’s virtual gaming mat, and a few other household items, but they managed to scrape together enough to pay the bill with a bit leftover.

That night Luigi had a terrifying nightmare about losing everything, waking up early drenched in sweat and unable to get back to sleep.

Noemi woke up alone and found her husband fretting on the living room couch. As she sat down next to him, he said “I know I just told Patricia we were going to push back the launch date of the game, but we really need those royalties. I think we have to stick to the original release date.”

“Neither of us are in any condition to do that kind of programming work right now!” Noemi protested, but she could tell he had made up his mind.

“Bloaty Head usually doesn’t last long, and my hand is improving every day” he countered. “I’m sure we’ll be in good shape after the holiday.”

Noemi frowned “If you tell the public we’re launching before the New Year and it doesn’t happen…”

“If I tell the public we’re launching before the New Year” he promised her “then we’ll launch before the New Year.” No matter what it takes… he finished silently, kissing her softly and snuggling her close as he resolved to turn his earnest intentions into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I think this happened because I didn't realize the Free Real Estate cheat was affecting build mode all the time, automatically. I thought my renovations to the house were suspiciously cheap! Not sure why it showed up in the 2nd round of bills vs the 1st however.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

#sims 4 #sims 4 challenge #sims 4 legacy #sims4 #sims 4 nsb #sims 4 not so berry #sims4nsbstraud #sims 4 let's play #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 lets play

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rainmustfallts4 · 3 months ago

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♢ DovahSims Legacy Challenge ♢ (Gens 1-50)

♢ Introduction

Hello and welcome to my Skyrim Legacy Challenge! I’ve really wanted to make a legacy challenge lately and Skyrim was on that list because it’s one of my all time favorite games. It’s actually one of the top five games I’ve logged the most hours into – thousands of hours. But fear not, you do not have to be a fan of the game or have even played it to tackle this legacy challenge. All are welcome! c:

I did my best to keep this challenge in line with Skyrim while also exploring nearly everything there is to do in the Sims 4. With that said, I’ve used pretty much every pack, excluding most kits. If you don’t own that pack, you can simply skip that generation or change it to fit the packs you DO have. I spent 5 days working on this challenge and managed to reach 100 generations. The reason it’s so long is because I wanted to make this for the Legendary Legacy Achievement.

I’m currently testing out this challenge myself so, if you get farther than me and run into any problems or find something extremely difficult/impossible to complete, feel free to skip it. Please let me know, though, so I can edit this challenge as needed. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, feel free to leave a comment on WordPress, message me on Tumblr, or DM me on Discord (AnnoyingTiger888.) I’m most likely to respond on Discord, though.

Most importantly, have fun! There’s no point to doing a challenge if you’re not having fun, ya know? 🙂

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I have a google document if you’d prefer to use that instead! I hope you’re ready because, once you hit that read more button, you’re in for a LONG read and a LOT of scrolling haha

NOTE: I had to break this into two parts because it was too long for Tumblr lol You can find gens 51-100 here.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Changelog

10/9/24 - changed gen 1 - 15k requirement is now 5k

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 1: the escaped criminal

Your luck has finally run out and you’ve finally been caught after years of successfully evading the guards. You’re sure your life is about to come to an end but it seems you had one last bit of luck tucked away in your pocket. Managing to escape with both your head and your freedom, you decide to finally give up on your criminal ways. Life is hard, however, and you have nothing to your name but the rags on your back.

Traits: Maker, freegan, perfectionist

Aspiration: Master Maker

Skills: Handiness, fabrication

Career: Freelance crafter

Goals:

Make at least 5,000 simoleons via woodworking & fabrication.

Live in Oasis Springs your whole life.

Build a house with at least one bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room.

Have only one child.

Never marry and never have another sim move in with you.

Max handiness.

Max fabrication.

Complete aspiration.

Build your own furniture or dumpster dive for them.

Learn all woodworking schematics and unlock them.

Visit Forgotten Grotto.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 2: the traveling merchant

You grew up watching your parent struggle to survive in this harsh land. Despite the hardships they faced, your parent worked hard to make money and provide a good life for you. As thanks, you want to help them out by selling their goods across the land!

Traits: Family-oriented, outgoing, glutton

Aspiration: Any

Skills: Charisma, comedy

Career: None

Goals:

Never stay in one world for more than a week.

Buy and use a tent every time you travel to a new world.

Make at least 500 simoleons using a sales table in each world.

Max charisma.

Reach at least level 4 comedy.

Settle down in the last world you visit before getting married.

Have a child before settling down.

Have a child after settling down.

Unlock the frequent traveler lifestyle.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 3: the treasure seeker

Traveling the world with your parent, watching them break their neck trying to make money taught you two things – you didn’t like not having a set home and you certainly didn’t like being broke. Instead of trying to earn an honest living like them, you plan to get rich quick by exploring dangerous locations to take treasure from the dead!

Traits: Self-assured, active, slob

Aspiration: Jungle Explorer, Archaeology Scholar

Skills: Archaeology, Selvadoradian culture

Career: None

Goals:

Max archaeology.

Max Selvadoradian culture.

Complete the omiscan artifacts and treasures collection.

Become a skeleton at least once.

Have at least one child with a fellow adventurer (someone you meet in Selvadorada.)

Complete jungle explorer.

Complete archaeology scholar.

Gain ability to summon skeleton and befriend him.

Kill a skeleton with jokes.

Collect all stone lotus and dolls from Selvadorada.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 4: the farmer

Your parent made a decent fortune diving into dangerous tombs and temples, selling every item they found. That life just isn’t for you, though. Just the thought of being stuck inside a dark cave, surrounded by creepy crawlies makes you want to throw up. You yearn for a simple life, surrounded by plants that can’t harm you.

Traits: Neat, squeamish, vegetarian

Aspiration: Freelance Botanist

Skills: Gardening

Career: Gardener, Botanist

Goals:

Max gardening skill.

Make at least 8,000 simoleons selling crops on a sales table.

Grow at least 20 unique plants.

Eat only food made with stuff you’ve grown.

Your lot should have the simple living trait.

Complete aspiration OR career.

Max friendship with at least two chickens.

Own at least 2 goats.

Max relationship with bees.

Graft a cowplant.

Become a plant sim.

Grow a forbidden fruit tree.

Awaken patchy and wear his outfit until you’ve maxed your relationship.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 5: the bounty hunter

Tending plants all day is awfully boring and it’s just not the life you want to lead. You learned young that defending people against criminals is the way you want to live. After fighting off thieves who tried to steal from your parents, you decided to start training to become a bounty hunter.

Traits: Good, active, unflirty

Aspiration: Discerning Dweller

Skills: Logic

Career: Detective

Goals:

Have at least three kids & have triplets.

Finish aspiration.

Max detective career.

Max logic skill.

Successfully arrest at least 5 different criminals (must be convicted via interrogation.)

Marry a coworker.

Complete void critters collection.

Do not befriend anyone with the evil or kleptomaniac trait.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 6: the companion seeking a cure

You’ve always loved helping others and, having been born quite strong, this tended to be an easy task for you. You became a secret agent to use your skills for good but, when you were sent to Moonwood Mill on a mission, you were turned into a werewolf and everything was taken from you.

Traits: Noncommittal, loner, active

Aspiration: Cure Seeker

Skills: Fitness

Career: Secret Agent

Goals:

Reach level 4 in your career before going after Greg in Moonwood Mill.

Become a werewolf.

Get fired from your job, get kicked out by your step-parent (whom you hate.)

Move to Moonwood Mill with 0 simoleons.

Learn all moonpetal recipes.

Catch and grill a lunarfish.

Have a child with a werewolf before curing yourself.

Have a child after curing yourself.

Have a pet dog that you are best friends with.

Have the dog have puppies.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 7: the companion seeking power

In your opinion, your parent is dumb. They had so much power yet they gave it all away without a second thought and now they want to take it away from you, too! Furious, you decide to right their wrong, becoming a werewolf that terrorizes everyone you meet.

Traits: Slob, mean, active

Aspiration: Wildfang Renegade

Skills: Fitness, 2 others

Career: None

Goals:

Have a negative relationship with parent.

Turn at least 10 sims into werewolves.

Break up a marriage by turning one sim into a werewolf and keeping the other as a prisoner in your basement (your heir will have a child with the hostage, keep this in mind.)

Complete aspiration.

Reach at least level 5 in fitness.

Have at least 5 children with 5 different werewolves.

Find and read Greg’s diary.

Spar with your pack and win 5 times.

Fight non-pack members and win 5 times.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 8: the companion seeking peace

Your parent has given werewolves a bad reputation, making sims flee in terror at the mere thought of them. You want to right their wrongs and bring peace to both races, making life just a bit more peaceful for everyone.

Traits: Outgoing, family-oriented, good

Aspiration: Emissary of the Collective/Zen Guru

Skills: Wellness

Career: Any

Goals:

Fight with your parent and win.

Free the hostage and have a child with them.

Move out so you can live closer to the collective (or move in with them but control only your sim.)

Max the wellness skill.

Complete Emissary of the Collective.

Complete Zen Guru.

Marry and give your partner a fertility massage before having kids.

Open a wellness center and give at least one of each massage.

Become best friends with one of the puppies from your grandparent’s dog.

Unlock the scavenge perk and find the moonwood wand (each generation should keep this until you reach gen 12.)

Befriend the leader of both factions.

Find and read every werewolf book.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 9: the thief

You never had the same sense of peace that your parent has. While they saw the good in the world and wanted to create peace, you saw only the bad. Why should others get to live these great lives when you’re stuck in a dump like Moonwood, just barely scraping by on whatever your parents can get from their wellness business. You know what you want and you’ll take it without fear or regret.

Traits: Kleptomaniac, party animal, self-absorbed

Aspiration: Any

Skills: Dance, mischief

Career: None

Goals:

As a teen, run away from home and move in with your grandparents.

Steal at least 8,000 simoleons worth of stuff.

Break into 50 different houses and steal something from each one.

Attend 5 different parties or events.

Reach at least level 8 dance.

Reach at least level 8 mischief.

Move to San Myshuno as a young adult.

Have a child and when they become a teen, get “arrested” and disappear.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 10: the guard

You grew up watching your parent steal from others without an ounce of shame. You witnessed the sadness and frustration of their victims. It never sat right with you and you wanted to do better, to be better, so you decided to join the military in order to stop people like your parent.

Traits: Proper, loyal, active

Aspiration: Neighborhood Confidante

Skills: Bowling, knitting, fitness

Career: Military, Law

Goals:

Max military career.

Spar with 5 other sims.

Join the law career and become a judge.

Complete aspiration.

Max bowling skill.

Reach at least level 8 in knitting then knit a toddler onesie for your child.

Reach at least level 5 in fitness.

Knit a sweater for each member of your family.

Knit a cozie for your mailbox.

Experience the sweater curse and break up with your partner.

Create and wear the forbidden sweater.

Display all military metals.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 11: the mage of practical magic

You’ve always had a love for magic, whether because of the neighbor who often practiced late at night or because of the magic books you found at school. Either way, you knew you wanted to learn how to harness the magical arts to make life easier. The problem is that you had no idea how to start! When you finally make it to college, your roommate just so happens to be a spellcaster.

Traits: Practice makes perfect, neat, cheerful

Aspiration: Perfectly Pristine

Skills: Cross-Stitch

Career: Any

Goals:

Learn all practical magic spells and befriend that sage.

Use only practical magic.

Learn the ultimate practical spell.

Use the moonwood wand.

Befriend a spellcaster while at college (they don’t have to be a student, just be on campus.)

Later marry this spellcaster, have a child, then get divorced but stay friends.

Have a mop for a broom.

Have a Snub-Nosed Leaf Bat familiar.

Find a new partner and have another child.

Complete aspiration.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 12: the mage of untamed magic

Though you can also use magic, you’re jealous of your sibling’s power. While you can only use one school of magic, your younger sibling can use all three. They seem so perfect, as if they can do no wrong, and it’s clear that they are the favorite child. You’re determined to make your family regret underestimating you!

Traits: Perfectionist, self-absorbed, jealous

Aspiration: Spellcraft & Sorcery

Skills: Flower Arranging

Career: Any

Goals:

Learn all untamed magic spells and befriend that sage.

Use only untamed magic.

Learn the ultimate untamed spell.

Kill at least 3 sims with inferniate.

Use a classic wooden broom.

Have a hex doll as a familiar.

Do not use a wand (they won’t accept you.)

Reach milestone 3 of your aspiration.

When your parents become elders, kill them with flowers.

Adopt your sibling and become enemies.

Never marry.

Have one child with a sage.

Die from overload while heatedly dueling your sibling (because they found out what you did.)

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 13: the mage of mischief magic

Raised by your aunt/uncle, you always felt as if they were keeping something from you. They didn’t want you to be a spellcaster and tried to raise you as a normal sim, but magic was in your blood and you refused to let them keep you down, so you practiced in secret.

Traits: Creative, slob, lazy

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Skills: Mischief, mixology

Career: Any

Goals:

Learn all mischief spells and befriend that sage.

Use only mischief magic.

Learn the ultimate mischief spell.

Have a raven as your familiar.

Duel for and use a crystal broom.

Duel for and use the wand of the elemental.

Max mischief.

Reach at least level 5 in mixology.

Complete aspiration.

Have one child with a partner who dies before the birth.

When your child is a teen, find a new partner who has a bad relationship with your child.

Be cursed by the night wraith and add him to your family.

Break his curse and bring him back to life then fall in love with him.

Have a child with and break up with your partner to be with him.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 14: the survivalist hunter

Ever since you were young, you’ve preferred nature over the big city you grew up in. You weren’t fond of other sims, preferring the company of animals instead. And so, when you become of age, you move to the woods where you learn to live off the land, befriending as many animals as possible on the way.

Traits: Loves outdoors, lactose intolerant, animal enthusiast

Aspiration: Angling Ace, Outdoor Enthusiast

Skills: Fishing

Career: Fisherman

Goals:

Max fishing.

Catch 25 unique fish.

Befriend 10 different animals.

Eat only food you catch or harvest.

Adopt at least two stray animals.

Live off the grid in a tent.

Complete insect collection.

Marry someone you meet in Granite Falls.

Unlock the outdoorsy lifestyle.

Unlock the technophobe lifestyle.

Befriend the hermit and add them to your household.

Handwash all your clothes.

Complete one or both of the chosen aspirations.

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♢ Generation 15: the lady of restoration

You don’t like seeing people in pain and you realized at a young age that you just want to help heal others. Though your parents were sad to see you go, they supported you as you studied hard to attend college.

Traits: Generous, neat, romantically reserved

Aspiration: Self-Care Specialist

Skills: Wellness, herbalism

Career: Doctor

Goals:

Earn a biology degree.

Move to world of your choice.

Complete aspiration.

Max the doctor career.

Learn and make the soothing skin balm.

Marry a co-worker.

Adopt one child and one teen.

Have a child soon after adopting.

Have a good relationship with all of your children.

Donate at least 5,000 to charity.

The adopted teen should die.

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♢ Generation 16: the necromancer

While your parent was obsessed with preserving life, you became obsessed with the cold embrace of death. What happens when a sim dies? What waits beyond the veil for us all? These questions grew in your mind after witnessing your older sibling die. Now, you’re not only determined but you’re obsessed with finding out the truth.

Traits: Erratic, gloomy, paranoid

Aspiration: Villainous Valentine

Skills: Medium, mischief

Career: Paranormal Investigator

Goals:

Move into a haunted house.

Max the medium skill and purchase the brave trait.

Have a graveyard out back with at least 10 sims you’ve killed.

Befriend 10 different ghosts (including Guidry.)

Give your soul to a spirit in your home.

Complete 3 beginner, 3 adept and 3 expert paranormal gigs.

Woohoo a ghost.

Give 5 different ghosts a gift.

Max out relationship with the grim reaper.

Have a child with Bonehilda.

When the child is born, send them to live with their grandparents.

Become a ghost when you’re child is a teen and move in with them.

Collect the 3 spector jars.

Using a voodoo doll, toy with death 5 times.

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♢ Generation 17: the jarl

Like your grandparents, you want to help others. Though, you decide to take a different path to doing so. Instead of healing others, you want to lead and guide them. You’re confident that you were born for the job!

Traits: Outgoing, insider, ambitious

Aspiration: Leader of the Pack

Skills: Charisma, research & debate

Career: Politician

Goals:

Complete aspiration.

Complete career.

Max research & debate.

Have at least three children.

Buy or build your own mansion for your family and your sibling’s family.

Unlock all club perks and items.

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♢ Generation 18: the seeker of knowledge

All of your life, you’ve adored learning new things. You didn’t always stick with those things, but you still enjoyed the experience of getting there. To you, knowledge is the most powerful thing in the world and you want to share everything you learn with the world.

Traits: Ambitious, overachiever, bookworm

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim

Skills: Any

Career: Education, Professor

Goals:

As a child/teen, join the scout career.

Earn all scout badges.

Get a Psychology degree.

Complete aspiration.

Tutor sims at least 5 times.

Complete career.

Max at least three different skills.

Marry someone who attends the college.

Have at least four children.

Read at least 5 non-skill books.

Befriend both school mascots.

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♢ Generation 19: the bard

To you, music is the essence of life. You can’t stand being forced to read musty old books, something your parent does not approve of. They want you to be more than a bum on the street playing the guitar, but that life sounds like a dream to you. All you want to do is make music and share it with the world, even if that means leaving your home and living on the street.

Traits: Creative, music lover, romantic

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Skills: Singing, guitar/piano/violin

Career: Simfluencer

Goals:

Play at least once at every bar/club in every world.

Earn at least 2,000 in tips.

Max the singing skill.

Max at least one instrument skill.

Complete aspiration.

Reach fame level 2.

Marry a fan.

Unlock a living statue costume and busk for simoleons on Sundays.

Write and Record at least 10 different songs then publish them.

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♢ Generation 20: the adventurer

Music is cool and all, but you can’t imagine yourself surrounded by people in a stuffy bar as you strum on a guitar. You want to get out and experience the world, searching for thrills and adventure. You just want to have fun!

Traits: Adventurous, loves outdoors, bro

Aspiration: Extreme Sports Enthusiast, Mt. Komorebi Sightseer

Skills: Rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding

Career: Any

Goals:

Move to Mt. Komorebi.

Max at least two of the given skills.

Unlock the adrenaline seeker lifestyle.

Complete both aspirations.

Get crushed by a vending machine and survive.

Complete simmies collection.

Date and have kids with a local.

Marry at the festival of lights.

When you have kids, hire a butler to care for them.

Have a distant relationship with your kids.

Collect all spirit dolls.

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♢ Generation 21: the shopkeeper

A simple life is the life for you. Your dream has always been to open your own shop, providing wares for the people in your town. Perhaps this dream helped to fill the lonely hole inside of you, left by parents who were never around. Either way, you’re determined to leave Mt. Komorebi and make your dream a reality! You won’t let your dream get in the way of showering your kids with love, though.

Traits: Family oriented, dog/cat lover, lovebug

Aspiration: Super Parent

Skills: Parenting, nectar making

Career: Salaryperson

Goals:

Collect all voidcritter cards.

Always visit the festival of youth as a kid.

Participate in the voidcritter hunt and find all ten.

Have a dog and go on at least one hike with them.

Complete career.

Max out parenting skill.

Max out relationship with your kids.

Own a 5 star store.

Max nectar making.

Earn at least 1,000 selling nectar at your store.

Fall in love with and marry a customer.

Have at least three kids.

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♢ Generation 22: the alchemist

It all started when a spellcaster showed up at your parent’s store. You were working on your homework when he offered you a potion of nimble mind. It was amazing, making it easier to understand the work before you. You befriended this spellcaster and began to study under them, wanting to become the best alchemist in the land!

Traits: Clumsy, goofball, cringe

Aspiration: Purveyor of Potions

Skills: Mixology

Career: Culinary, Mixologist

Goals:

Learn alchemy only (no spells unless absolutely necessary.)

Max friendship with 1 sage and 2 spellcasters.

Learn all potions and make each one at least once.

Use each potion at least once.

Be cursed at least once through potion making.

Complete aspiration.

Take over your parent’s store and sell potions.

Earn at least 5,000 selling potions.

Max mixology skill.

Buy the mixology guide when the prompt appears.

Learn and create the Snaggle Fluster.

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♢ Generation 23: the dawnstar museum

With so many amazing items in the world, how could you possibly part with any of them? As a child, you often helped your parent gather materials for their potions, but it broke your heart to part with them. You want to collect everything you find, hoarding them in your basement like a dragon hoarding treasure. Who cares that you’re working 2 dead-end jobs? You refuse to sell even a single one.

Traits: Childish, geek, nosy

Aspiration: The Curator

Skills: Any

Career: Any part-time

Goals:

Never sell anything you collect, not even duplicates.

Have a room displaying everything you collect.

Own a rental property with two or three apartments.

Rent a room to a vampire and befriend them.

Complete MySims Trophies collection.

Complete Axolotls collection.

Complete Fossil collection.

Complete Frog collection.

Have 2 part-time jobs.

Have a child with a renter.

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♢ Generation 24: the dawnguard

One night, you were awoken by a loud noise. Upon checking, you found your parent being attacked by the vampire staying down the hall! Suddenly, your parent no longer remembers who you are and kicks you out of the house. A few days later, you parent dies suddenly and the vampire takes over the property. Filled with rage and determined to get revenge, you plan to wipe out every single leech you meet.

Traits: Family-oriented, paranoid, hot-headed

Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Skills: Fitness, piano

Career: Any

Goals:

Move to forgotten hollow and decorate your house with a garlic wreath, braid and garland.

Max vampire lore.

Must become enemies with every vampire you meet.

Win at least 8 fights against vampires.

Win 2 fights against vampires using garlic.

Beat Vlad in a fight (if he’s still alive.)

Kill 2 vampires.

Cure 2 vampires with the vampire cure drink.

Fall in love with a vampire immune to the sun or garlic (you think they are a sim.)

After dating for an entire season, you realize vampires aren’t all bad.

Become a vampire and have children.

Reach at least level 5 fitness.

Reach at least level 5 piano.

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♢ Generation 25: the good vampire

You adored hearing the story of how your parents fell in love and how your sim parent learned that not all vampires are evil. Your vampire parent has always been loving to you and you want to show the world that not all vampires are bad guys. You want to prove them wrong and increase the relationship between sims and vampires!

Traits: Outgoing, good, dance machine

Aspiration: Good Vampire

Skills: Photography, vampire lore, piano

Career: Lifeguard

Goals:

Always ask before drinking from someone or use plasma packs.

Read at least two vampire tomes.

Create some Sunlight Reversal potions and enter the lifeguard career, night time schedule.

Reach the top of the lifeguard career.

Earn the people person lifestyle.

Max the photography skill.

Complete aspiration.

Be best friends with 2 sims and 2 vampires.

Become best friends with the Vatore siblings (if alive.)

Marry a vampire.

Bake a cake for Vlad (if he’s still alive) as an apology for your parent’s actions.

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♢ Generation 26: the evil vampire

You do not agree with your parents at all. Vampires are clearly superior in every single way to all other lifeforms yet your parents have tried to teach you that all people are equal. It infuriates you so you decide to show the world how powerful vampires can truly be!

Traits: Evil, hot-headed, unflirty

Aspiration: Vampire Family

Skills: Pipe organ, vampire lore, cooking

Career: None

Goals:

Have a negative relationship with all family members.

Become best friends with Vlad (if he’s alive.)

Turn at least 10 sims into vampires.

Have at least 10 enemies.

Have no friends (except for Vlad.)

Max vampire lore.

Max pipe organ.

Kill at least 4 sims with pufferfish nigiri.

Keep at least two sims in the basement to feed from.

Have at least two children with Vlad (if alive. if not, choose someone else.)

Complete aspiration.

When your heir becomes a teen, die from sunlight.

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♢ Generation 27: the lover

For as long as you can remember, you’ve just wanted to feel loved. Loved by your parents, loved by your friends, loved by your siblings and, most of all, loved by someone who you would spend the rest of your life with. Your only goal in life is to find that person and you’ll do so no matter what it costs!

Traits: Jealous, romantic, lovebug

Aspiration: Romantic Explorer, Soulmate

Skills: Romance, baking

Career: Social Media

Goals:

Move to Tartosa or Ciudad Enamorada.

Unlock the hungry for love lifestyle.

Complete the romantic explorer aspiration.

Complete the soulmate aspiration.

Max romance skill.

Bake something for each date you go on and gift it to them.

Have 4 kids.

WooHoo in every single location.

Find the Ring Bear and complete his quest.

Add the Ring Bear to your household, marry and have a child.

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♢ Generation 28: the gourmet

While your parent was hungry for love, you were hungry for good food! More specifically, making good food. Cooking was your art and you wanted to share that with the world by becoming a world-famous chef.

Traits: Foodie, perfectionist, creative

Aspiration: Appliance Whiz, Master Chef

Skills: Cooking, gourmet cooking

Career: Culinary

Goals:

Master the appliance whiz aspiration.

Master the master chef aspiration.

Reach the chef branch of the culinary career.

Unlock the coffee fanatic lifestyle.

Max gourmet cooking.

Feed an excellent quality meal to a celebrity.

Never marry.

Become a 5 star celebrity (by cooking.)

When your child becomes a teen, be “murdered” by pufferfish nigiri.

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♢ Generation 29: the not-so-nord

After the death of your parent, you’re sent to live with your aunt/uncle in Mt. Komorebi. They’re extremely protective of you, not allowing you to go out without them. This mixed with the annoying snow that you’re forced to trudge through everyday forces you to run far away from them.

Traits: Lazy, bro, socially awkward

Aspiration: Beach Life

Skills: Fishing

Career: Salaryperson, Diver

Goals:

Live with your aunt/uncle in the Kiyomatsu district of Mt. Komorebi.

Sneak out at least 2 times as a teenager.

Reach level 5 of the Salaryperson career then quit.

Run away to Sulani and live off the grid.

Get a job as a diver.

Unlock the heatproof trait.

Unlock the sedentary lifestyle.

Complete aspiration.

Marry a merfolk, have a child.

Become a merfolk, have another child.

Complete underwater photos collection.

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♢ Generation 30: the storm call

Mother nature has been more of a parent to you than your actual parents so you decide to dedicate yourself to her by cleaning up her islands.

Traits: Loves outdoors, child of the islands, child of the ocean

Aspiration: Eco Innovator

Skills: Any

Career: Conservationist

Goals:

Max mermaid and unlock all perks.

Unlock the storm chaser perk.

Unlock the heat proof perk.

Unlock the cold proof perk.

Complete the sea shell collection.

Complete the buried treasure collection.

Complete career.

Clean up Sulani and unlock the turtle hatching event.

Befriend a regular dolphin and an albino dolphin.

Attend and participate in every single Sulani event at least once.

Max friendship with an island elemental.

Have a child with an island elemental.

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♢ Generation 31: the shout of slow time

Your parent taught you the beauty of the world around you. They taught you to slow down and appreciate what mother nature has to offer instead of being a mindless zombie rushing through life. You want to share this love with others through your art.

Traits: Creative, loves outdoors, art lover

Aspiration: Painter Extraordinaire

Skills: Painting

Career: Painter

Goals:

Paint every emotional painting.

Max painting skill.

Max painter career.

Paint something from every single category.

Earn fame level 2 from selling paintings.

Use the sketchpad and paint from reference for the scenery around Sulani.

Marry someone you met at the museum/art gallery.

Have at least four kids.

Buy a unicorn after the heir is born (you can buy a regular horse and edit them in CAS if needed.)

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♢ Generation 32: the steed

Without horses, where would the world be? They help with so much within this world, from companionship to transporting the very paintings your parent makes. You dream of being the best horse breeder in the land but, first, you have to make a name for yourself.

Traits: Horse lover, rancher, ambitious

Aspiration: Championship Rider

Skills: Riding

Career: Any

Goals:

Move to Chestnut Ridge with the family horse.

Never sell the family horse and max out relationship.

Max riding skill.

Complete aspiration.

Own at least four horses with good relationships.

Breed and sell at least 5 horses.

Earn gold on a Ranch Animal Day event.

Max the temperament horse skill.

Max the agility horse skill.

Max the jumping horse skill.

Max the endurance horse skill.

Have the family horse give birth and have your heir befriend one of the foals.

Earn all horse competition and ultimate horse champion trophies.

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♢ Generation 33: the innkeeper

After spending years helping your parent raise and deliver horses, you’re ready to head out and chase your own dreams. With your horse at your side, you find yourself in a new town with a dream of owning your own inn!

Traits: Outgoing, foodie, materialistic

Aspiration: Five-Star Property Owner

Skills: Charisma, cooking, handiness, juice fizzing

Career: Handyperson

Goals:

Move to a new town.

Max friendship with your horse.

Own a rental property with at least four rooms for rent.

Complete aspiration.

Max juice fizzing.

Repair everything that breaks instead of replacing it.

Complete every maintenance event.

Keep a buffet table stocked inside for guests.

Your lot should have the maintenance troubles lot challenge.

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♢ Generation 34: the librarian

Growing up in an inn, you’ve heard loads of stories from adventurers and travelers. You would always gather around the fire, listening with bated breath as they told tales of different locations, climbing mountains or fighting off vampires. For a time, you could lose yourself in their tales and forget about the boring life you lead. You know you don’t have what it takes to be an adventurer like them, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep getting lost in those tales!

Traits: Bookworm, kleptomaniac, lazy

Aspiration: Any

Skills: Any

Career: Any

Goals:

You may only steal books.

Steal at least 10 different books.

Collect every book in the game.

Read every book in the game (until it says reread.)

Your entire house should be filled with bookshelves.

Befriend and ask a werewolf to move in so he can find the Moonwood books for you.

Read every child book to your child.

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♢ Generation 35: the author

You grew up surrounded by books, your parent reading to you almost every night. Though you adored the stories you heard, you yearned for more. The stories were great, but they always lacked something that made them the perfect story. You searched for years until you discovered the writing skill at school. After that, you realized you could write your own stories, filled with everything you love!

Traits: Creative

Aspiration: Bestselling Author

Skills: Writing

Career: Writer

Goals:

Write a book from every genre.

Write 4 books dedicated to 4 different ancestors in your tree.

Earn 50,000 from published books.

Write the book of life and bind it to your child.

Complete aspiration.

Complete career.

Max writing skill.

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♢ Generation 36: the explorer

Growing up reading the tales written by your parent, you learned of a distant land far from your home. To you, the place sounded like a fairytale that you wanted to experience. As a child, you had dreams of what this land might be like and, when you finally grew up, you immediately left home to find and explore this new world.

Traits: Outgoing, child of the village, clumsy

Aspiration: Fount of Tomarani Knowledge

Skills: Singing, photography

Career: Any

Goals:

As a child, complete the marbles collection.

Move to Tomarang.

Complete aspiration.

Max photography.

Reach at least level 5 singing.

Unlock all Tomarang Lore.

Marry a local.

Have at least two kids.

Camp at the tomarang cove every weekend.

Complete the tassels collection.

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♢ Generation 37: the serpent

The tight-knit community you grew up in was suffocating and made you feel ill. You hated how friendly everyone was and you hated how everyone knew everything about you and your family. Is a little privacy really so much to ask for? Because of this, you spent most of your teen years locked away in your room or hiding in the woods, looking for precious gemstones.

Traits: Geek, socially awkward, loner

Aspiration: Crystal Crafter

Skills: Gemology, video gaming

Career: Any

Goals:

Reach at least level 5 gemology.

Be a goth/wear a lot of black your entire life.

Have no friends.

Unlock the junk food fiend lifestyle.

Reach at least level 5 video gaming.

Make at least 5,000 selling your jewelry.

Plant and grow 2 gem trees.

While out collecting gems, meet your future spouse (optional: with the outgoing trait.)

Move in with them and have a child. Your relationship should be neutral with them and steadily declining.

When the child ages up to infant, get into a huge fight over your unwillingness to socialize. Break up and be forced to move back in with your parents.

Create and keep charged Jade and charged hematite jewelry.

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♢ Generation 38: the dragon aspect

Like your parent, you gained a love for video games but, unlike your parent, you don’t want to live life as a shut-in. You want to share your passion with the world and be a famous content creator!

Traits: Genius, geek

Aspiration: Computer Whiz, World-Famous Celebrity

Skills: Programing, video gaming, media production

Career: Video Game Streamer

Goals:

Complete computer whiz.

Complete world-famous celebrity.

Max programming.

Max video gaming.

Max media production.

Create, edit and upload gaming videos.

Create your own game called “Dragon Aspect.”

Own a small pet (rat, hedgehog, bubalus, or hamster.)

Max career.

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♢ Generation 39: the khajiit

You can’t explain it, but there’s just something about cats that makes you genuinely happy. Who needs a well-paying job or dreams for the future when you have cute little furballs in front of you just begging for attention?

Traits: Cat lover, green fiend, cringe

Aspiration: Friend of the Animals, Lord/Lady of the Knits

Skills: Knitting

Career: None

Goals:

Befriend only cats.

Fill your house with cat-themed items.

Have a room dedicated to the cats filled with toys, cat trees, etc.

Adopt at least 5 cats.

Make at least 5,000 by selling knitted goods on plopsy.

Have the cat hangout lot trait.

Knit a sweater for each of your cats.

Max knitting.

Knit a grim reaper toy and gift it to him to reset your age.

Complete both aspirations.

Marry a fellow cat lover.

Complete feather collection.

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♢ Generation 40: the shout of animal allegiance

Like your parent, you grew up with a deep love for animals. Unlike your parent, though, your love extended far beyond just cats. You adore all of mother nature’s creatures and you want to befriend them and help them thrive.

Traits: Loves outdoors, animal enthusiast, perfectionist

Aspiration: Country Caretaker

Skills: Veterinarian

Career: None or Part Time

Goals:

Move to Henford-On-Bagley.

Open your own veterinarian clinic.

Max veterinarian skill.

Own one of every animal, including the small animals from Pet Stuff.

Max friendship with all of your animals.

Complete aspiration.

Have the wild foxes, cat hangout and dog hangout lot traits.

Max friendship with the birds.

Max friendship with the rabbits.

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♢ Generation 41: the emperor

Being surrounded by animals, forced to labor away taking care of them was a miserable life for you. You wanted to be famous. You wanted your name to be known far and wide and, more importantly, you wanted to put on a performance that would shock everyone who saw it. Who needs world peace when you have a stage presence this strong? Now if only you could stop falling over…

Traits: Self-absorbed, clumsy, recycle disciple

Aspiration: Master Actor/Actress

Skills: Acting, charisma

Career: Actor

Goals:

As a child/teen, join the drama club and reach the top.

Move to Del Sol Valley.

Complete aspiration.

Complete career.

Max acting skill.

Max charisma skill.

Befriend a 1 star celebrity.

Befriend a 5 star celebrity.

Have a fling with a fan that doesn’t work out but produces a child.

Marry a fellow actor/actress and have two more children.

Visit Strangerville with your partner and return home infected.

Have one pet that’s friends with your heir.

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♢ Generation 42: the unrelenting force

When your parents return home from their honeymoon, you immediately realize something is off about them. They’re acting strangely, something that seriously worries you and your siblings. Concerned that they may never recover, you decide to head to Strangerville yourself and find out what happened to your parents. Nothing will stop you from curing them! But first, you might as well take a nap. Can’t solve mysteries on an empty tank.

Traits: Genius, freegan, lazy

Aspiration: Strangerville Mystery

Skills: Logic

Career: Scientist

Goals:

Move to Strangerville with the family pet.

Max relationship with family pet.

Complete scientist career.

Complete microscope prints collection.

Complete aspiration.

Max logic.

Defeat the mother plant to cure your parents.

Marry a local and have a child.

Freezeray at least one Man in Black.

Have twins.

Create the wormhole generator and attend the alien party.

Cheat on your partner and have a child with an alien met at the party.

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♢ Generation 43: the infected

Your parent told you stories of the mother plant and how vicious she was. You heard about the strange things happening in Strangerville and how your parent slayed the mother plant in order to save the town. You’ve always been told that curiosity killed the cat, but you believe cats have 9 lives for a reason. Unable to stop your curiosity, you sneak out. With a bizarre fruit, you’re determined to revive her.

Traits: Ambitious, genius, socially awkward

Aspiration: Any

Skills: Juice Fizzing. gardening

Career: Any

Goals:

Max juice fizzing.

Make bizarre juice and gift it to at least 10 different sims.

Host a party and serve only bizarre juice.

Infect 10 different sims with the bizarre juice.

Max relationship with the mother plant and ask for a life extension.

Have a basement garden of bizarre fruit, keep the door locked.

Have a child with someone who is infected.

Infect at least one vampire.

One day your parent discovers this garden and the two of you fight.

Your parent destroys the garden before facing the plant alone.

When your parent is killed by the mother plant, you regret your actions and become a shut-in, never leaving your home.

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♢ Generation 44: the killer

You’ve heard the stories handed down through the generations. You’ve heard of all the dumb choices your ancestors have made. You’re sick and tired of this mundane world so you’ve decided it’s time to bring it to its knees. It’s time for you to sharpen your daggers and teach this world a hard lesson!

Traits: Evil, mean, erratic

Aspiration: Public Enemy

Skills: Mischief

Career: Criminal

Goals:

Kill your parents and take their money/sell their stuff.

Obtain a villainy degree.

Deface one of the statues on campus.

Complete aspiration.

Complete career.

Every sim you meet, you must be mean to.

Have at least 5 enemies.

Kill at least 10 different sims.

Reunite with a college roommate and woohoo (try for baby several times) before killing the roommate.

Convince sims to join your household and kill them off with each death type.

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♢ Generation 45: the clear skies

Your parent has killed off most of the population, leaving the world a dark and lonely place. You want to escape their iron thumb and try to atone for the horrors they’ve inflicted upon the world. In order to do so, you do the only thing you can think of – you’re going to leave this planet behind and find a new world to call home. It’s not something you can do alone, though, so you decide to join the resistance.

Traits: Good, genius, practice makes perfect

Aspiration: Paragon of Hope

Skills: Rocket Science

Career: Astronaut

Goals:

Max rocket science.

Complete career.

Build a rocket ship and fully upgrade it.

Complete space rock collection.

First, visit sixam and meet an alien whom you woohoo with (try for baby several times.)

The alien baby will be your heir.

Complete the space alien collection.

When you return home and discover you’re pregnant, your parent is pissed. Become enemies.

After you give birth, have a fight with your parent.

Leave again, this time landing on Batuu.

Complete aspiration.

Meet a local and marry before having two kids.

Fight your parent once more and be killed by them.

Befriend both Vi and Rey.

Have a white or purple lightsaber.

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♢ Generation 46: the shadow

Though your parent was more than happy to help out the resistance in exchange for their help against your grandparent, you were less inclined to care. Their battle was of no concern to you, you just wanted to survive and look out for yourself and your siblings. Despite being the middle child, they often looked to you for guidance since the passing of your parents. This was hardly the place to make an honest buck, so you’re more than happy to make a dishonest one.

Traits: Self-assured, kleptomaniac, loner

Aspiration: Galactic Privateer

Skills: Mischief, guitar

Career: None

Goals:

Complete aspiration.

Max guitar skill.

Reach at least level 5 mischief.

Steal at least 10,000 in items.

Complete lightsaber parts collection.

Have a one-night stand with a local as a young adult.

Complete all scoundrel missions and max your rank with them.

Have a black lightsaber.

Use your alien powers to bring all of the dead space aliens back to life.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 47: whirlwind sprint

Though you were raised by a single parent who had you too young, you never felt unloved. With your two aunts/uncles there, as well, you felt fulfilled and happy. However, Batuu is not where any of you belonged and, though your parent wouldn’t admit it, you knew they hated it there. So, in order to finally defeat your grandparent, you decide to become an engineer. After all, no one stands a chance against an army of robots!

Traits: Genius, self-absorbed, high maintenance

Aspiration: City Native

Skills: Robotics, flower arranging

Career: Engineer

Goals:

Move to San Myshuno.

Max robotics skill and build as many servos as possible.

Max friendship with servos.

Complete career.

Max flower arranging and kill your great-grandparent with the death bouquet.

Complete aspiration.

Participate in every single festival.

Unlock all learnable recipes in San Myshuno.

Complete snow globes collection.

Complete city posters collection.

Have a servo be struck by lightning.

Build the computer glasses.

Build the exomech suit and helmet.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 48: the atronach

Growing up surrounded by servos was creepy and unsettling. You didn’t trust them, especially after watching so many movies where AI takes over the world. You know your parent only made them to stop their grandparent, but it feels like they just traded one evil for another. You often run away to the forest to escape and, one night, you get attacked by a werewolf.

Traits: Gloomy, active, loner

Aspiration: Lone Wolf

Skills: Violin

Career: None

Goals:

Complete aspiration.

Max violin skill.

Unlock the technophobe lifestyle.

Stay indoors during the full moon.

Hide your affliction from your parent until you have enough money to move out.

Move to a wooded area or to Newcrest.

Complete the space print collection.

Meet your partner (sim) at night while playing violin.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 49: the aura whisper

You understand why your parent felt the need to hide what they are and you don’t blame them. However, it’s a very lonely life living so far away from others. Being the social butterfly you are, you want to meet as many people as you can! You also have a passion for fashion and decorating, something you can’t do if you remain with your parents.

Traits: Outgoing, good, insider

Aspiration: Friend of the World

Skills: Charisma, bowling

Career: Tech Guru, Start-up Entrepreneur

Goals:

Complete aspiration.

Make candles and gift them to each of your friends.

Become friends with 3 locals in every world and take a picture with them.

Fill a wall with these photos.

Unlock the people person lifestyle.

Complete postcard collection.

Complete career.

Go bowling with your friends every weekend.

Accept every invite from your friends.

────────── 〔🌧〕──────────

♢ Generation 50: the lord

Since your parent was always surrounded by others, it was easy to make friends. This got you invited to loads of events and parties, each one more fun than the last. You always feel sad when they come to an end and you can’t wait for the next event to pop up.

Traits: Party animal, dance machine, noncommittal

Aspiration: Party Animal

Skills: DJ Mixing, dancing

Career: Any

Goals:

Get kicked out of high school.

Fight with your parents before moving to Windenburg.

Accept every invite you get no matter what.

Max DJ mixing.

Bronze at least 15 events.

Silver at least 10 events.

Gold at least 5 events.

Max dancing skill.

Have at least three different kids with three different sims at three different events.

Have a first kiss at 5 different events.

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the-ninja-legacy-whip · 3 months ago

Note

Youre next gen kids are all sooo adorable! They do takebafter theyre parents in theyre rainbow design!!

And I have a lot of questions If you dont mind, just for fun!

Having Lucina in DR how would Lloyd go with being a teacher for Sora and Arin? Does the kids learn the rising dragon technique? How do the next generation kids relationship be with Arin and Sora? How is the Smith children's relationship after Blaire burned Briar? In the events of DR where would the kids be? Trying to help or having to stay at the monastery? At the beginning of DR are Arin and Sora the oldest ones? Would the two of them be the responsible eldest? If Quinn and Finn were separated after the merge did they know of each other? How was the reunion? How was amnesic Jay's parenting style? Since Cam and Jesse are so close would she ever have a sudden independent/Rebellious phase? Would you say they're relationship is similar to the mother and daughter in the movie 'turning red'? Does Blaire bond with Arin over being powerless? Would Blaire want to learn Spinjitsu? Since Kai was gone would the kids be wit Skylor? Since most children are separated from one parental figure over the years how do they react or bond when they finally meet them?

Sorry that's a lot!><

I don't call 'em the Mini-Skittle Squad for nothing! x3

And, all right, just for fun:

Having Lucina in DR how would Lloyd go with being a teacher for Sora and Arin? Does the kids learn the rising dragon technique? <- Things would still be the same, though with Lucina, he realizes it's as much of a struggle as him being trained was–she's nothing but raw power, impatience, and the innate desire to just destroy and get things over with quickly, but Lloyd in his wisened age is like "okay listen sweetheart, been there, done that, doesn't work, stop before someone dies, please–"

As things are now though, none of the kids know Rising Dragon

How do the next generation kids relationship be with Arin and Sora? <- Hiyah

How is the Smith children's relationship after Blaire burned Briar? <- Blythe and Briar were already somewhat close with one another since they're infinitely more chill that Blaire ever was, so after that happens, Blaire feels even more estranged :9

In the events of DR where would the kids be? Trying to help or having to stay at the monastery? <-

Trying to Help: Quinn, Lucina, Cam, Blaire Trying to Stay Put: Blythe, Seven, Finn, Briar

At the beginning of DR are Arin and Sora the oldest ones? <- Yessssss, but like, just barely older than Seven, Lucina (on technicality), and Blythe.

Would the two of them be the responsible eldest? <- They try to be, but Seven and Blythe tend to out-responsible them most of the time jgfdsfgd

If Quinn and Finn were separated after the merge did they know of each other? How was amnesic Jay's parenting style? <- They knew of each other, but just barely, as they would've been around 3 when The Merge happened. Amnesiac!Jay would've been a little distant, knowing this is his child but not even know who he had the child with (let alone that there's another one), but he's still got the inner instinct to not abandon a child in his care and does his best to make the most for Quinn—but for Quinn it's still like living with a stranger in a familiar man's body hgfddsa

Since Cam and Jesse are so close would she ever have a sudden independent/Rebellious phase? <- Yeah, but it's more of a direct cause of her unresolved feelings about Cole less-so than Jesse :V

Would you say they're relationship is similar to the mother and daughter in the movie 'turning red'? <- Jesse wouldn't be THAT drastic/embarrassing, but he is extremely protective over Cam while she's young (as he did almost lose her when The Merge occurred). Once she learns Spinjitzu and starts coming into more of her own, he begins to loosen up a little bit (as the last thing he wants is to be as controlling as his own dad was, brrr)

Does Briar bond with Arin over being powerless? <- Yes!

Would Blaire want to learn Spinjitsu? <- Yes (and Briar also does once she sees Arin able to pull it off)

Since Kai was gone would the kids be wit Skylor? <- The kids would be with Skylor, and my current timeline is that Blythe was born before the Merge (with Skylor giving up her powers to him so Kai wouldn't lose his), and Skylor was pregnant with Blaire when the Merge went down. Briar doesn't come around until Kai and Skylor are able to reunite, hence why she's so much younger than everyone else.

Since most children are separated from one parental figure over the years how do they react or bond when they finally meet them? <- Blythe is a little hesitant reuniting with Kai, since they always did struggle to be close when he was younger, but as Kai's definitely mellowed out a LOT since The Merge, they're able to reconnect on much more even ground. Blaire, of course, is ecstatic to meet their dad with no strings attached, and Briar is probably the only one that never had to worry about one missing parent :d

If we go with that ask from the other day, then Quinn/Jay would reunite with Nya/Finn at the tournament, and that reunion would be full of heartbreak, betrayal, and angst hgfghfd. But Quinn would ultimately go with her mother and brother and that probably wouldn't go well with Jay as he is now...

I keep flip-flopping on when Cam meets Cole—it's either before Cole goes on his lil weird Wu spirit quest (which would also be when Sora gives him that mech-disc thingy), which would mean the reunion has more time to be heartfelt and not as...tragic...OR its when he and the Finders arrive at the monastery, and then there's awkward explanations and lots of outrage on Jesse's end so its not nearly as soft and sweet ;w; Either way, Cam's excited to have Cole around again except he KEEPS LEAVING but once she's older she realizes "Wait that was kinda messed up wasn't it?", hence the aforementioned rebellious phase aaaaaaa- (but the irony is, she's just taking after Cole......!)

Since we have no idea where Pixal is, I'm wondering if I should have her holded up with Zane in his pod, but we don't know that deal about that EITHER, so I've also been contemplating her being the only one being entirely separated form her family after the Merge, but if anyone could last out in the Mergedrealms on their own, it's Seven, and they'd make their way to the Monastery shortly after Lucina does.

Also-

Lucina: Well, well, well. Hello, Mother e-e

Harumi: ...I have never given birth in my life–?!

Lloyd: Yeeeeep, this is as awkward as I knew it was gonna be

#info tag #next-gen jamboree #oc: camellia marvell #oc: blythe smith #oc: blaire smith #oc: briar smith #oc: finn smith-walker #oc: quinn smith-walker #oc: seven borg #oc: lucina lloyd #dr spoilers #dragons rising spoilers

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that-demigirl · 5 months ago

Text

Born To Die - Chapter 9

Chapter Summary: Allison and Erin wait for news on Maverick and Rooster

A/N: AHHHH! We're so close to the end...

As much as Erin fought it, they were taken to medical the minute they landed on the carrier. All four of the pilots/WSOs were checked over to make sure they didn’t sustain any major damage. Nothing was found besides minor bruising and cuts. Erin immediately found herself a radio as soon as she could. She sat by it waiting for any sign of Bradley or Pete.

“Erin, this isn’t good for you, you need to rest,” Allison tried to urge her.

“No, I won’t rest until there’s confirmation that they’re dead or alive,” Erin argued, staying put. Allison gave up the fight and sat next to her. Robert and Natasha joined them, saying nothing but offering quiet comfort.

After a few minutes they heard reports of an F-14 being airborne and Bradley’s ESAT sending a signal. Erin almost cried out of relief. They were alive, they were headed home. The relief didn’t last long as they heard reports of fifth-gen fighters engaging them.

“Don’t let me lose them again,” Erin prayed softly. Allison held one of her hands tightly, giving her all the comfort she could.

“If I know anything about Maverick, he’ll get them home,” Allison told her.

“Yeah, if anyone can pull off the impossible, it’s Maverick,” Robert chimed in, agreeing with Allison.

“They’ll make it home,” Natasha said confidently. Her confidence gave Erin the comfort she needed. Then they allowed Jake to launch and provide air cover for them. Erin didn’t ever think she’d find a time where she was grateful to Hangman of all people.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,” Jake’s voice came through the radio they were all huddled around, “This is your savior speaking. Please fasten your seat belts, return your tray tables to their locked and upright positions and prepare for landing.”

Erin let out a laugh of relief as she made eye contact with Allison, who was smiling as well. The four huddled around the radio group hugged out of joy before making their way to the deck to wait out the landing of the three in the sky.

As soon as Bradley and Pete were out of their planes, Erin went running over to them, pulling them in for a group hug. If she was crying, well neither man was going to tell her that. After pulling away she pushed Bradley harshly.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again, you understand?” Erin looked him straight in the eyes, “I can’t lose you, Bradley.”

“I don’t plan on it,” Bradley responded to her, making eye contact back. Erin smirked, pulling him in by the straps of his flight suit and kissing him. After a moment of surprise, he kissed her back.

“All right, kids, I’m glad you figured your stuff out, but maybe not on the deck?” Pete interrupted them, causing all of them to laugh. Everyone else in the detachment got their hugs and congratulations. Even Allison hugged Bradley, letting him know she was happy he made it home.

“Chalked yourself another kill,” Bradley said to Jake as he shook his hand. Both Allison and Erin were standing with them, matching smirks plastered on their faces.

“That makes two,” Jake responded.

“Mav has five, makes him an ace,” Allison piped in, her and Jake meeting eyes. After both Jake and Bradley shrugged in agreement, Allison pulled Jake in for a hug. He hugged her back tight, like he almost didn’t believe she had made it out.

Soon enough medical had come to grab Bradley, Pete, and Jake for their own check ups. The girls followed after, Erin refusing to leave Bradley or Pete and Allison being worried about Jake, even if she didn’t admit it.

“Aw, you worried about little ol’ me?” Jake teased Allison as they waited on the doctors to be done with Pete and Bradley.

“In your dreams, Seresin,” Allison shook her head, “Someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself in trouble.”

“You’re all the trouble I need,” Jake flirted, meeting her eyes and almost daring her to back down.

“Sure, sure,” Allison blushed slightly, glancing away, “I’ll believe you once the adrenaline has worn off.”

“Allie, I’m sorry about…” Jake’s tone grew less playful and more serious, “About everything really. About how I’ve treated you, in the past and now.”

“Hey, we don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to,” Allison stopped him, “You’ve already earned my forgiveness.”

“I don’t know why, I don’t deserve all the chances you’ve given me,” Jake responded, hand reaching out to hold hers gently, “But if you’d let me I’d like to spend every day trying to make it up to you.”

“Jake…” Allison said softly, threading her free hand through his blond hair, “Well, if you want it that badly, you can start by taking me on a proper date and… you can start by not leaving me this time?”

“Yes ma’am,” Jake agreed easily, “I don’t think I ever want to leave you again.”

“I’m holding you to that,” Allison told him, “We can talk more late, for now let’s celebrate with our friends.”

“Your friends,” Jake countered.

“They could be yours too if you were less of an ass,” Allison quipped just as Erin walked in.

“Well, they’re keeping Bradley and Pete for observation over night,” Erin informed them, “I’m gonna stay with them, so don’t worry about me, Allie.”

“As long as you rest, Erin, you need it,” Allison told her sternly.

“I will, I will,” Erin promised, “Now go, both of you lovebirds, go.”

“Hey!” Allison began to protest but Erin was already shooing her and Jake out. Jake just chuckled at the two girls, letting Erin push him out of medical with Allison. It was time to celebrate and he planned to stay right by Allison’s side for as long as she’d let him.

Taglist: @djs8891

#my oc #ocappreciation #top gun maverick oc #fd: top gun maverick #top gun oc #fd: top gun #top gun fanfiction #top gun maverick fic #bradley bradshaw fic #jake seresin fic #oc: erin bell #oc: allison delaney #li: bradley rooster bradshaw #li: jake hangman seresin #bradley bradshaw x oc #jake seresin x oc #rooster x oc #hangman x oc

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sunskate · 4 months ago

Text

Canada has 13 junior teams at Next Gen this year, up from 9 last season. there were 7 and a half disco RDs out of 13 including 2 Saturday Night Fevers and 2 Jacksons. the others were 2 Grease programs and 60s songs. junior ice dance is so ❤️ to watch - i'm starting to feel flavors of the different schools in Canada, but it's hard to put my finger on exactly how yet. sometimes it's just vibes lol Mariposa with Mitch Islam - their programs feel young and earnest and sometimes even sweet somehow. the IAM development school programs often have a polished musicality to their choreo. Carol Lane's have that quirkiness. Wing Lowe, who have the only non-Quebec or Ontario team here, have something old school about them

i still don't get how Nguyen/Giang are able to use Let's Boogie by Earth Wind and Fire, which is from 1981 and was used last year by teams in the 80s RD. they're in the lead right now by 7 points. Layla and Alex are in 2nd

i'm a big fan of IAMO's work obviously, and i like very much the last 2/3 of this RD. but they did the Wing Lowe thing of slowing down a song to the point of it losing vitality. it pains me lol the Beatles's Twist and Shout is 124-128 BPM, and the paso this season has to be within 2 BPM of 112, so you can hear in 4 notes that they're skating to a draggy slowed down version. they still got a deduction for a tempo violation

idk if it's because the Beatles song itself swims between 124-128 - most music isn't rock steady unless it was produced with a click track. either that, or the violation was for Stay, which they use for PD2. it's originally around 114 but swims slower at moments too. there's an Isley Brothers version of Twist and Shout which is 116 and would sound much less jarring slowed down to 112

but Layla and Alex looking good - they've always had good skating skills and since last season it's been noticeable that they've been able to throw themselves more into performing. there are bits in the choreo that can be bigger still - like Alex has this please please moment during Stay that's clear but needs to project more. they have beautiful unison in their skating, and the unison in the dance moves is progressing. looking forward to the FD today

#i wish there wasn't a dead spot between twist and shout and stay #they could start stay a beat sooner #lol sorry i know nobody else cares

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sergeantsporks · 2 years ago

Text

Gilded Family

Rating: Teen and Up, Gen

Ch 20/?: For the Future

Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6 , Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 10, Ch 11, Ch 12, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 15, Ch 16, Ch 17, Ch 18, Ch 19

In which none of the previous golden guards or wittebro died, actually, they're all fine and living happily together as one big dysfunctional family

Ao3

*Chapter does contain spoilers from “For the Future,” as will all future chapters.

“Ay, Madre de Dios,” Camila murmured, “He really did a number on you.” Her hands brushed his face. “Those bruises around your eyes… I don’t like this. I really wish you’d gone to a hospital.”

Jason stared intently at his knee, the only thing in the world that wasn’t blurry or spinning. “Mmmmmmmmm, psh, this is nothing compared to the time he stabbed me. Ow.”

“Sorry, but this is going to hurt a bit. It’s a wide cut, I need to stitch it shut.”

Jason hissed in. “Okay. Okay, do it quick, please.”

Willow took his hand. “Stay strong, lord of crows.”

Jason squeezed. “Thanks,” he squeaked at another pinprick. He shut his eyes, biting his lip to hold back any more sounds. Camila was quick and steady, and before he knew it, a gentle hand touched his shoulder.

“Jason? Sweetheart?”

Jason opened his eyes, then squeezed them shut when Camila’s face blurred and spun. “Mhm?”

“Can you open your eyes?”

“Please don’t make me,” he whispered.

“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”

“Mmmmmmmmm…” Jason forced his eyelids open, blinking hard. “I’ve got it, it’s fine. Just… a little…”

“Jason?”

“Hm?”

“What was it you were saying?”

“Oh. Dizzy. It’s a little bright out here.”

“Mhm. Willow, do you know if are there any doctors nearby?”

Willow shook her head. “Maybe in Bonesborough we could find a healer, but not out here.”

Amity paced back and forth in front of the portal. “Luz has been in there a really long time, right? That’s not just me?”

“Maybe it seems like that to us, but there’s a time-warping effect inside?” Gus suggested, “We don’t know how long we were in there.”

“Well, Camila came through at the same time, so shouldn’t Luz be here? I’m pulling her out.” Amity reached through the portal. “Eugh, it feels weird,” she murmured, then pulled backwards.

Luz tumbled out, knocking both of them over. “Uh?”

“Luz!” Amity helped Luz sit up. “You were in there so long we—we thought you got stuck behind!” She cupped Luz’s face in her hands. “Are you… hurt anywhere?”

Luz glanced back to the fading doorway. “I’m… I’m fine.” She lowered Amity’s hand. “I saw something. Or… someone? But it was probably just in my head.” She climbed to her feet. “Any sign of… him?”

I’ll come back.

Jason shuddered, his face itching where Belos had touched him.

If he knew I followed him in…

“Jason!”

Jason blinked awake. “Ngh?

Hunter slung one of Jason’s arms over his shoulder, helping him to his feet. “We need to get moving. Belos has a head start, and…”

“Jason needs a doctor,” Camila agreed, “Argh, when I get my hands on Belos…” she twirled her bat. “Bam. This mama’s hungry for vengeance!”

Gus grinned. “Now that is a fight I’d watch.”

Jason took a couple of faltering steps with Hunter’s help. “Let’s get mo—” his right leg buckled, and Willow dashed forward to take his other arm.

“Easy. Here—”

The ground split beneath them, and vines twisted out of the dirt, pushing Jason up and moving him in a wave forward. The vines roiled and swayed beneath him, but Willow’s grip held him steady.

“Oh—thanks.” Jason closed his eyes again, shutting out the world that flashed by in a whirl of red trees and grass.

Keep it together.

Hold it steady.

The vines came to a halt, and Jason opened his eyes again.

A world of blue slammed right up against the usual red of the boiling isles. A sparkling star leapt across treetops, leaving behind a trail of light and sparkles that settled in pristine waterfalls.

“Uhhhhhhh…” Jason blinked, rubbing his eyes, but the blue and stars were still there. “It might just be the concussion. But…”

“No,” Hunter replied grimly, “I see it, too.”

“Ah. Fantastic.”

“Ahh!”

Camila dashed forward, throwing her arms out in front of them. “Kids, stand back! Who knows if that monster is alive or not!”

Amity winced. “Actually, the titan skull is normal. Everything else is…”

“Wrong,” Luz finished.

Willow shuddered. “Guys? What’s on top of the skull?”

Jason dragged his eyes up from the fields of blue to the skull, his heart throbbing in his throat. The skull was demolished, half of the bone gone. A floating ring graced the titan’s remaining horn like a crown, eerie and white against the blue backdrop of the sky. Of course he’d known that the skull was falling apart when he’d left, of course. But he hadn’t expected…

“Phoenix,” he whispered, “Phoenix was up there. Is he—”

He has to be okay.

He has to.

Camila promised he’d be there when I got back.

“I don’t know,” Luz murmured, “But maybe we can get some answers in Bonesborough.”

Jason half-slid, half-trotted down the slope of the hill. The sparkles were nauseating, glittering and pulsing and making his head spin and ache worse than it already did.

“Willow? Is there a way you can make… specific plants grow?”

“Yeah, is there something you need?”

“Aaaaany chance you could grow some sleeping nettles and dreamsbane?”

Her face scrunched up in a squint. “That’s an… interesting… request.” She drew a circle, and the plants popped up at his feet. “What do you-?”

Jason pulled three dreamsbane leaves and one sleeping nettle leaf and shoved them in his mouth, chewing and swallowing with a grimace. “Eugh, that’s bitter.”

“Ack! Jason!” Willow grabbed his shoulders. “I’m right here, don’t worry, I’m pretty sure I’m strong enough to carry you when you pass out.”

Hunter and Gus slid down the hill towards them. “What’s going on?”

“Jason ate sleeping nettles.”

“What?! Why?!” Hunter turned from Willow to Jason. “Jason, why?!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Jason rubbed his eyes. The world was still too bright and sparkly, but the headache was starting to reside, as was the sharp sting from the gash on his head. “If you eat sleeping nettles and dreamsbane in the right proportions, it makes a potent painkiller.”

Gus sighed. “Do we want to know why you know that?”

Jason chuckled darkly. “If Mole and Auric ask you to help them test out herb combinations, say no.”

Amity waved at them from ahead. “We’re almost there!”

“Almost… where?”

“Home,” Luz whispered from behind him. She pushed her way through bushes into a clearing where a massive stone house sat. Jason tilted his head back, staring up at a broken stained glass window. Graffiti covered the walls, and a single, round hole marred the door.

Camila frowned. “What is this place?”

Luz stepped forward slowly, as if in a trance. Her hand rested on the doorknob for a moment without turning it. Her shoulders rose and shrank in a sigh, and she pushed on the door.

Creaaaaak

“Welcome… to the owl house.”

Willow, Gus, Amity, and the Nocedas filed in, but Hunter stayed outside, pacing back and forth. Jason half-sat on the windowsill, watching him.

“How’s Flapjack?”

Hunter quit pacing and leaned against the wall next to the window. He opened up the makeshift sling he’d tied out of the top half of his costume, revealing the little palisman. Flapjack had gone completely dormant, green staining his makeshift bandages. Hunter gingerly stroked the palisman’s head.

“He hasn’t woken up. He’s stopped bleeding, but… Jason, how do I know if he’s just sleeping or if… if…”

“Hey—hey, he’s okay, Hunter. He just needs some time to heal. He’s still… mostly? In one piece. I mean, like, he hasn’t fallen to bits. He’ll be fine. I think.” Jason heaved a sigh. “I wish there was some kind of palisman doctor or something we could take him to.”

“What about Caleb? He carved Flapjack first, do you think he’d be able to help?”

Jason’s heart clenched in his chest.

“I…” He twisted the bottom of his shirt in his hands. “Do you think he’s…”

“Oh—I’m sure he’s okay, I mean, getting stabbed didn’t kill him, I doubt much could, right?!”

“Right, right, I just… do you think he waited?”

“What?”

“Do you think he waited for Phoenix and I to get out? I mean, I hope not, I hope he took everyone and left when the head started to fall apart, but… did they look for us? What if home got compromised? What if he left, and I can’t find him again?! What if… what if…”

Hunter pushed himself off of the wall, waving his hands. “Hey, no, Jason, I’m sure… he wouldn’t…” The color drained from his face, and he ran a hand through his hair. “Oh. Ohhhhhhhh. Jason, Belos is a liar, you know that, you can’t possibly think—”

“That’s the thing! I don’t know if he was lying!” Jason buried his head in his hands. “I’ve heard that story a dozen times, about how Dad met Mom and left witch hunting behind forever, about how Uncle Belos couldn’t accept his new life and chased him down and ended up trying to kill him, I’ve heard them tell it so often, but I never thought to ask…” Jason dragged his hand down his face with a groan. “I always assumed that Dad told him, and he just didn’t agree. But what if he didn’t? What if Dad just… left? Without letting him know why? What if he did just abandon him?”

“That doesn’t excuse what Belos did to him, to us.”

“I know. I know that. But…” Jason sighed. “I don’t know, I guess I always thought Dad was the good guy.”

“He still is. He’s just… complicated.”

Jason leaned his head against the cool windowpane. “There’s so much I want to ask him.”

“You’ll get the chance. You’ll find him. And the rest of your family.”

“Mmm.” Jason lightly socked his arm. “At least I’ve got you, huh?”

“Sap.” Hunter twisted his hands. “Speaking of… him… would you really have done it?”

“Done what?”

“Traded yourself? For me?”

Jason sighed. “It… wasn’t that simple. If I’d offered him an outright trade, he would have known I wasn’t really on his side, and he would have found a way to double cross me and get both of us. I had to make him think that I wanted to go with him regardless, and then convince him that it was just a bad idea to have you along so that he’d let you go. So… I couldn’t really ‘trade’ myself for you.”

“Oh. That’s… pretty smart. I guess that’s why it came so close to working.”

“I just… I couldn’t let him get that titan’s blood, even if it meant giving up the ruse.” Jason rubbed his arm. “But… yes.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes, if I had been offering a trade, I would have done it in a heartbeat. I promised Phoenix that I’d keep you safe. And I want to keep you safe.” Jason sighed again. “I’m sorry I failed in the first place.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

A spark of blue streaked across the sky, and Hunter’s spine went rigid. “Was that-? HEY! IT’S EDA AND KING!” he yelled.

The door slammed open, and the others sprinted out to meet them. Hunter pointed to the blue thing. “They were on that shooting star!”

Jason squinted. “How did you see them?!”

“I don’t have a concussion and I didn’t just down sleeping nettles.”

“Fair enough.”

“More importantly, how are we supposed to follow them?!” Camila demanded.

Jason and Hunter both huddled up close to Willow, while Luz stood with Gus.

“Don’t worry,” Amity assured Camila, summoning her staff, “I’m a safe flyer.”

“Flyer?!” Camila yelped.

Willow summoned her own staff. “I think all three of us should fit. You can do it, right, Clover?”

The palisman buzzed in affirmation, and Hunter pushed Jason on behind Willow. “I’ll stay on the end to keep you from falling off.”

“I can—”

“Head injury!” Willow reminded him.

Jason sighed, and let Hunter get on behind him. “I’m fine.”

Hunter clicked his tongue as they took off. “Head wounds result in dizziness, confusion, and often lapsed judgement. Since you’re having trouble walking, I don’t think you have great control over your limbs right now. Even if you took painkillers, that doesn’t heal you.”

“If you were on my flyer derby team, you’d be benched,” Willow agreed, “It’s okay, you can rely on us!”

“I don’t like this team-up very much,” Jason grumbled.

Willow swooped through the sky, coming to a stop in a town square. The streets were empty—not a single witch or demon in any of the stands or houses.

Or, at least, that was what Jason thought until Camila screamed. He whirled around to see her backing away from a lamppost, then quickly hiding her bat behind her back. “I—I mean… hello, good sir? Heh?”

Luz pressed on, trudging through the streets. The others were quick behind her, but no matter where they looked, it was empty streets, empty stalls. Just endless boarded up windows and graffiti. And if the blue star from earlier had landed here, it was gone now.

“Where are Eda and King?” Willow asked.

Gus shuddered. “Where is… anyone?

Jason brushed his hand over graffitied lines. Hide your children.

“What happened here?”

Hunter stuck his head in an alleyway. “Something’s coming!”

Gus gasped. “Witches?”

“Demons?” Willow guessed.

“No, it’s… sparkles?

Hunter yanked his head out of the alleyway and started to run. He was followed by a wave of blue, gold sparkles glimmering and rushing through it like fish in an ocean. Jason whirled around, motioning everyone towards another alleyway.

“Go, go, go!”

Hunter grabbed Jason’s arm as he passed, yanking him into the alleyway. Jason squeezed his eyes shut, turning his face away from the dizzying display. The afterimage of the wave danced across the back of his eyelids, burned in.

“Jason?” Hunter whispered.

Jason opened his eyes again. The town had been completely transformed, full of bright pastels and rainbows. And… people. Or, at least, Jason was pretty sure they were people. They didn’t move, instead just stood, as if posed and held by wires.

“What’s wrong with them?”

Willow gasped. “Dad?!”

The people shuddered to life, and immediately started screaming, running around the square as if there was an invisible box keeping them from going into any of the houses, or down any other streets.

Willow dashed forward, trying to push through the streets towards one of the puppets. “Stop! It’s me!”

Hunter ran out after her. Jason started to follow, but one of the panicking people immediately slammed into him, sending both of them tumbling to the ground. Jason’s head hit the ground, and he wheezed, the pastels blurring and tilting out of place. Their glowing eyes stared lifelessly into his, their jaw still open and screaming.

Jason shoved at them, trying to push the witch away, but they kept moving as if they were still up and moving around. And their body didn’t feel like flesh, it felt… hard. Like wood, or maybe porcelain.

Luz and Amity hauled the witch off, dodging flailing limbs. Jason scrambled backwards, not trusting himself to balance on his feet. The moment Luz and Amity let go of the witch, they scuttled onwards as if the fall had never had happened.

“What—” Gus yelped, “—was that?!”

Hunter pulled Willow back to the alleyway just as a nearby wall exploded outwards, releasing some… creature. It was huge, and feathery, and… held together with stitches? Jason blinked, but the little white lines didn’t go away.

“Eda?” Luz whispered.

That’s Eda?

The creature shrieked, chasing the citizens around.

Do we help?

Will we just make things worse?

Can they stop running, even if they want to?

The beast cornered one of the witches, but before it could hurt him, a beam of light slammed into the ground. Jason buried his head in his arms, blinking spots out of his vison.

“Fear not, citizens of Bonesborough!” a high, young voice called.

Jason looked up, and his heart sank in his chest.

The Collector.

And King.

But Phoenix wasn’t with them.

The Collector hopped off of a star—the one they’d seen shooting over them at the owl house. “I’m here to stop this beast’s mad rampage!”

On the star behind him, King gave the Collector a thumbs-up. “I believe in you, Collector!”

The Collector beamed, shooting a return thumbs-up and winking. “Thanks, best friend! Light glyph, go!”

The Collector opened their palm, and bursts of light sparked out of their hands. Jason’s head throbbed, the starbursts throbbing in shifting color even after the light faded. The owl beast shrieked and fell to the puppets’ applause, and an elderly woman crawled out of the skin.

“Oh, hooray,” she said flatly, “I’m normal again.”

Jason’s jaw dropped. “That’s your Eda?” he whispered to Luz.

“No. That is not Eda.”

“That’s Terra,” Amity clarified, “The ex head witch of the plant coven.”

Terra straightened up with a groan. “Who’s got a pint of apple blood? Hoot hoot.”

The Collector groaned. “Time out, everyone, time out.”

All of the citizens went back to their stationary positions, and the Collector stormed towards Terra. “Terra, for the last time, Eda doesn’t sound like that! She’s got more of a—like a-a cool aunt vibe who pretends to be all cold-hearted but actually cares a lot!”

Terra crossed her arms. “Ugh, you’re a real thorn in my side, you know that?” She jabbed a finger at the Collector. “I’ve had it with you and your stupid little dog! Ugh, whatever. All I have to do is play Eda the Owl Lady and I don’t get turned into one of those things, right? Then let’s just continue.” She widened her eyes, putting her chin in her hands. “Ooooo, I like musicians!” she singsonged.

The Collector held up one hand, a crescent moon hovering above his palm. “You’re not being very nice.”

Terra’s eyes widened. “Wai—”

The moon shot out, slamming into her forehead. She shuddered, then went still, her body stiffening and going blank like the other witches around her.

Jason’s heart thumped so hard in his chest he couldn’t hear anything else.

Phoenix.

Mom.

Dad.

Cherry.

Silver.

Meleager.

Cyrus.

Horus.

Hamlet.

Sam.

Joseph.

Had this happened to them? They’d been right there, at the head, would they have had enough time to get out?

Did Phoenix even make it long enough to become a puppet?

Did the Collector even notice him, or did he fall?!

“Jason! Jason, breathe, sweetheart, breathe!”

Jason sucked in a deep breath, gasping for air. Strong, warm hands gripped his shoulders, and Camila’s eyes flicked across his face, wide and worried. “That’s it. Breathe. You’re okay.”

Breathe.

Just breathe.

“Where are they?” Jason choked. The square was empty again, the pastels turned back to muted colors.

“They’re gone. They flew off.”

Hunter paced the square. “We should follow them. Belos is probably trying to get back to the Collector!”

Gus shook his head. “I-it looked like they were… playing a game.”

“Yeah, with some kind of… messed up version of my life!” Luz sputtered, “King must have told them about our adventures!”

“Do you think everyone who was turned into a puppet gets locked in the Archives?”

Luz clambered up onto a crushed stone platform. “If they do, then that’s where we have to go.”

Jason staggered to his feet, leaning on Camila. “Let’s go. Let’s go now.”

I have to find them.

“You’ll never make it,” a voice echoed from the rooftops. Two teenage witches and a demon stared down at them, and the one in the middle, face marked by stubble, smirked. “Because you guys are LOSERS!”

Jason squinted at him. “…I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Mattholomule?!” Gus yelped, as the teen sputtered.

“Willow!” one of the other teens squealed, jumping down and slamming into her. “You’re here!”

“I’m here,” Willow agreed, hugging her back, “It’s good to see you, Skara!”

Hunter gestured at the town. “What happened? Where did you come from? How are you not…?”

The trio glanced at each other. “We should get moving,” Skara piped up, “We’ll tell you on the way.”

“On the way… where?”

“Hexside,” Skara called over her shoulder, “Come on.”

Jason let go of Camila, wobbling closer to Willow. “Are you okay?”

She caught his arm, steadying him. “I’m not the one who just had a panic attack. Or the one who can’t walk straight.”

“I know, I know, I’m not one to talk. But…” Jason fumbled over his next words. “Your dad… and you don’t know where the other one is?”

Willow’s grip tightened, just a little uncomfortable. “Yes. That… is… the situation I am in.”

“I just… I get it. Not… not knowing where your family is, if they’re okay, and knowing that some of them… aren’t okay. I understand. And… I know it’s hard. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m. Fine.” Willow’s fingers were digging into his arm now, and plants started to sprout at their feet. “I’m not the only one who doesn’t know where family is, I’m not the only one with problems, I—I—I’m fine.”

“Willow, it’s okay if—”

“Yep. I know. It’s okay if I’m not fine, but I am fine, so it doesn’t matter. I’m fine! I’m fine.”

Sure sounds like it.

Jason nodded along. “Mhm. Okey. But if you weren’t fine. Hypothetically speaking. Obviously you are. But if you weren’t. You could rely on us. You know? Lord of bats and house of crows, remember?”

“Right… Glad we got that cleared up.” Willow cleared her throat, turning her face away from him. “So, Skara, what exactly happened here?”

Jason sighed. So that had gone spectacularly. And if the plants still sprouting in their wake were any indication, she was only going to get worse.

Not that you can judge about pushing down your emotions, Jason.

Skara shrugged. “Since the golden guard—I-I mean Hunter—told us about the Emperor’s plan for the Day of Unity, Principal Bump allowed students and teachers to camp out at Hexside.”

“We thought we could handle whatever the emperor threw at us,” Matt piped up, “But when the draining spell hit… we realized things wouldn’t be quite so simple. After the adults recovered…”

Skara shook her head. “That’s when the Collector’s spies showed up. The grudgeby team snuck out and tried to hold them back, but…” She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

Matt nudged her shoulder. “It didn’t work. Bump and the adults were turned into toys and taken away! We’ve been hiding here ever since. And somewhere along the way, I went from being Mattholomule to Mantholomule!” He stroked his chin, smearing his ‘beard’ across his face. Jason heard a snicker from Camila, and Willow made a face next to him.

“Shhhh,” Skara scolded, throwing out her hands and stopping them dead in their tracks. A blue star whirred overhead, its eye roving over the land. Mattholomule beckoned them forward, pushing a piece of wood away from the door of Hexside. Jason tilted his head back. Sure, he’d never been to school in his life, but this dilapidated building covered in graffiti and boarded up windows didn’t exactly seem like one.

“It didn’t use to look like this,” Willow whispered to him.

“Ah.”

Skara waved a hand back and forth. “We did a little redecorating these last few months. So let me welcome you… to New Hexside!”

She and Matt pushed open the doors, revealing the most bizarre bazaar Jason had ever seen. Students ran each other over and yanked resources right out of each other’s hands. Stands sold T-shirts and candy and what looked like they might be illicit potion ingredients.

“Mmm,” Gus gagged, “This does not smell great.”

The three from outside led them past squabbling students and ferocious anklebiters, halting in front of a statue depicting a witch doing a trick on a skateboard. The bottom read “In memory of the coolest principal ever, Principal Bump, AKA, Princey B.” Matt sniffed.

“This is a statue of Principal Bump, who risked his life for ours.”

Camila smiled. “It’s so nice to see teachers getting the respect they deserve. I think?”

Jason let go of Willow, sliding down the side of the statue with a sigh. His hand landed in something squishy, and he carefully stared up and away from the ground.

Don’t want to know, don’t want to know, don’t want to know.

“Willow!”

A girl in blue hugged Willow from behind. A scrunchie made of thorny vines graced her hair, and a fishhook stuck out of one ear. “I’m so glad you’re back!” She turned Willow to face her. “Your orchids have become sentient and started a war with a roving band of kindergarteners. Please help.”

Willow made a face. “I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, Viney, is the healing homeroom still operational?”

“More or less. We’ve tried to keep it a neutral first aid zone.”

“Great. Do you think you could help our friend Jason here? He’s got a pretty good concussion.

Jason gave Viney a thumbs-up from the ground.

“Yeah, I can take a look. Uhhh…” Viney glanced from Jason to Hunter and back again. “Soooooo, is he… oh, is he like that Phoenix guy?”

Jason surged to his feet. “Phoenix? You’ve seen him? Is he oka—agh—” Jason blinked back black spots, swaying.

Stood up too fast.

Viney whistled sharply. “Whoa—I’m sorry, Jason, I haven’t seen him since before the day of unity.”

Right.

Phoenix went to Hexside.

Stupid.

A griffin crashed down next to Viney, clucking and nuzzling her. “Ah, thanks Puddles. Good girl!” She tossed the griffin a treat. “Alright, up you go. It’s easier to get through the crowds this way, and I’m… not sure you should be walking.”

She hoisted Jason up onto the griffin, clambering on behind him. “Healing homeroom, Puddles.”

Jason buried his face in the griffin’s neck feathers. “Thanks, Puddles,” he murmured, “I know someone who’d be ecstatic to meet you.”

Puddles squeezed herself into a classroom, tilting to the side and dumping Jason unceremoniously on a cot.

“Puddles,” Viney scolded, “Sorry, we’re still working on being gentle with patients. Alright, let me just…” She drew a circle in the air, and her eyes glowed blue. “Mhm. Mhm. Oh, ow. Alright.” Her eyes faded back to normal, and she grabbed a potion and syringe. “Okay, Jason, along with a few broken ribs, and the gash I’m sure you’re very aware of, you’ve got a pretty bad fracture right at the base of your skull. Concussion, obviously, but the fracture is the real big issue. Luckily, I’m going to take care of it, you’ll be feeling better in no time. This is just gonna be a liiiiiittle priiiiiick—” Viney jumped forward, sticking him with the needle and pushing the plunger.

“Ow!”

“Sorry, the kindergarteners tend to get flighty when they need a shot, forgot I was dealing with a grown person.”

Jason blinked at her, his limbs going heavy. “Uh… what… was… in…”

Viney guided him to a lying position on the cot. “Just a liiiiiittlle sedative while I fix your skull. Nothing to worry about, I’ve got you. You’re going to be fine.”

“Just relax”

…

“Are you a traitor too, ear hook?!”

“Boscha, he’s not a threat, whatever the others have done. He’s badly hurt! Just let me heal him!”

…

… “-mora—”

“Go, go, we have to help them now!”

Jason blinked at the ceiling, his limbs still numb and heavy. “Hngh.”

“Heeeeeey, buddy.” Viney leaned over him. “How are you feeling?”

“Mmmmrrgh. Less dizzy?”

“I’ll take it as a win. I did most of the heavy lifting on that fracture and concussion, but you should probably get it looked at by another healer every so often until it’s completely healed. Bones take a while.”

“Mhm. Where… is everyone? Are they all okay? What happened with Boscha?”

“Oh. You heard that, huh?”

“Yeah—or some of it, anyway. What ha—”Jason’s finger twitched. “Oh—hey, look. I can move.”

“Yeah, sedative should be wearing off. Um, so, Jason. You… sort of missed a lot while you were out. Like, a lot. Luz and the others… left. They went to the archives.”

“What?!” Jason tried to sit up, but only ended up straining his head upwards. “Wha—No—Viney, you have to help me go after them, I have to—”

“Hold up. Gus left a message for you.”

Viney opened her hand, and an illusion of Luz, Hunter, Willow, and Camila appeared over it. Luz waved. “Hey! Sorry, Jason, we have to go, and you were still passed out when Viney left you. It was all pretty intense. My palisman hatched, Kikimora tried to kill us all, Willow nearly destroyed the tunnel system… it’s been crazy, and we have to go like now.”

Hunter nodded. “I know you wanted to come with us, but I think you should go find your Dad. You need answers, and you won’t find them up at the archive. It… might actually be better this way. You never would have left us if you were awake, but… I think you need to. If we see any other Grimwalkers at the archives, we’ll find a way to let you know, okay? Oh, and… Flapjack woke up just when I needed him. He’s still not fully recovered or conscious, but I’ve been able to use my flashstep magic, so I think he’s going to be okay.”

“You were right,” Willow piped up, “I wasn’t fine. I was… missing my family. And I know you’re missing yours. Go find them.” She squinted menacingly at him. “And don’t even think about following us because you think you need to protect us. I’ve got it, house of crows, you can trust the lord of bats!”

A smile worked its way onto Jason’s face, and this time, he managed to sit up and swing his legs over the edge of the cot.

“We’ll all watch out for each other,” Camila promised, “We’ll keep each other safe. Promise me you’ll look out for yourself?”

“He can’t answer you,” Willow whispered, “It’s not a call.”

“Oh. Still. If you can find any way to contact us and tell us you found your family, please let us know you’re alright.”

Tears started to bubble up in Jason’s eyes, and he reached towards the illusion, fingers stopping just shy of actually touching it. “Alright,” he whispered, “Alright, I promise.”

“We have to go,” Luz piped up, “Jason—we’ll miss you. Thanks for all of your help. When all this is over… we’ll meet up again, okay?”

“Yeah,” Camila agreed, “I’m looking forward to meeting your family. We’ll see you soon.”

The illusion disappeared in a puff of blue smoke, and Jason wiped at his eyes. “See you soon,” he repeated.

Viney lowered her arm. “You need a moment?”

Jason shook his head. “It’s a long walk. I need to get started.”

“Walk? You’re not walking.”

“Uh?”

Viney laughed. “Pflbt, you think I’d really let a friend of my friends walk all that way alone? Through Collector territory? When you’ve barely been here a day? Come on. You’re flying with me and Puddles.” She peered out the window. “Ah, alright, we can go now. The skies will be clear until morning.”

“What? How come?”

“It’s Collector’s bedtime.”

Jason blinked at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. Let’s go. Unless there’s still sedative coursing through your veins.”

Jason wiggled his fingers. “Mmmm, seems fine.”

“Great!” Viney yanked him up onto Puddles. “Sky high, Pudd—no, no, no, through the door, Puddles, through the—”

Puddles crashed through the window in a hail of broken glass shards, cawing and unfurling her full wingspan. Viney whooped as the griffin soared through the air.

“Awwww, good girl.”

“You’ve had to keep her inside?” Jason guessed, “Made her stir crazy, huh.”

“Yeah, griffins have to stretch their wings, but if she goes out in the day, she’ll definitely get caught. Where are we headed?”

“Nestled under the third rib. There’s a small town, and we live a bit out from there.”

“Third rib, huh? What a coincidence, that’s where Puddles came from!” Viney patted the griffin’s neck. “You ready to go home, girl?”

Home.

Jason mouthed the word to himself.

I hope they’re still there.

I hope they’re okay.

Viney directed Puddles down, steering her deftly between trees and finally coming to a landing with a jarring thud that rattled Jason’s teeth. Viney slid off, offering Jason a hand. “Shhhh, listen.”

The forest was much more quiet than it had ever been before. But even so, Jason heard a shout, and the sound of splintering wood, as if something was attacking the trees. He and Viney flitted through the trees like ghosts, ducking around and peering out to see if the area was safe before moving to the next tree. Another crack sounded, this one followed by the thud of a tree falling. Jason saw a blue star embedded in a tree, its eyes blinking repeatedly.

“What the…”

“Who-oa,” Viney gasped, “I want whatever can do that on our side! Come on!”

She darted forward, peering around a tree. “Oh! Jason, Jason, I found Phoenix! Hey, Phoenix!” she called, waving, “Do you remember me? Probably not, but I’ve got someone here who you will recognize!”

Jason sprinted towards her, stumbling to a stop at the top of a steep hill. Phoenix was at the bottom, two or three more stars lying prone in the grass around him. They were splattered with green, and as Jason watched, the green slowly removed itself, wriggling and moving towards Phoenix. Jason’s stomach dropped, and his heart thumped erratically in his chest.

“No,” he whispered, “No, no, no.”

Viney came up behind him. “Hey, what’s the matter?”

Jason threw his arm out to keep her from getting any closer. “We’re too late. We’re—that’s not Phoenix.”

Phoenix turned around to face them as the last of the cursed mud reattached itself to his arms, forming horrible claws and shifting across bone in a nauseating wave. Jason’s head throbbed, and the scar on his back burned like fire, itching and crawling.

I’ll come back.

“Belos beat us to them.”

#toh #the owl house #toh fanfiction #my writing #toh hunter #camila noceda #luz nodeda #willow park #toh spoilers #gilded family au #the golden guard #toh viney #golden guard oc

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deadcactuswalking · 6 months ago

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REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 01/06/2024 (Central Cee & Lil Baby, Bring Me the Horizon's POST HUMAN: NEX GEN, Zach Bryan)

Sabrina Carpenter’s still dominant on the UK Singles Chart as “Espresso” spends a fifth week at the top - welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

content warning: language, discussions of death, trauma, drug addiction

Rundown

As always, we start with our notable dropouts, songs exiting the UK Top 75 - which is what I cover - after five weeks in the region or a peak in the top 40. This week, we bid adios to Eurovision tracks like “Europapa” by Joost and “The Code” by Nemo, as well as “Family Matters” by Drake (telling that these three couldn’t make five weeks), “Outside of Love” by Becky Hill, “Jump” by Tyla, Gunna and Skilibeng, “Home” by Good Neighbours (Good riddance) and finally, “Back to Black” by the late Amy Winehouse.

We see one big return with Katy Perry’s catalogue streams rising thanks to some American Idol news or something - I don’t care, I imagine the catalogue sales for her biggest records are high enough anyway. This does mean “Teenage Dream” - the title track - is back at #72. It peaked and debuted at #2 for two weeks in 2010, being blocked by Olly Murs’ “Please Don’t Let Me Go” and Alexandra Burke’s “Start Without You” respectively, though I think we can agree which one of these three have actually managed to pass the test of time. To be thorough, the Glee cover peaked at #36 the next year. As for our gains, we have a small but notable batch of boosts for “Never Lose Me” by Flo Milli at #61, “Right Here” by Becky Hill at #60, “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat at #55, “Miles on It” by Kane Brown and Marshmello at #47, “The Man Who Can’t be Moved” by The Script at #38, “The Door” by Teddy Swims at #35 and finally, all the way up in the top 10 for the first time, Myles Smith with “Stargazing” at #9.

The UK Singles Chart’s top five this week consists of Billie Eilish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” spiking off of the debut up to #5, whilst Central Cee and Lil Baby debut right at #4 with their new track “BAND4BAND”. Following them up is the top three staying the same as last week’s: Shaboozey at #3 with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, Eilish again with “LUNCH” at #2 and of course, “Espresso” at #1. Now for what ended up debuting in the lower realms of the chart this week.

New Entries

#73 - “Fall Back” - Lithe

Produced by Lithe

Do I pronounce this “life” or “live”? It doesn’t matter, this is a blog. However you pronounce it, Lithe is from Melbourne and this is his viral breakout hit for an otherwise underground artist who seems to have produced and released this all by himself. This may explain why it’s garbage. Lithe strikes me as the kind of person who would make for a great additional vocalist on a maximalist project by, say, a Travis Scott type, because his vocals, which are very Travis as well, lure you into a mumbling Auto-Tuned atmosphere very effortlessly due to the layering of murmured ad-libs. The problem here is the utter shit production, consisting of rote trap presets in such a static and typical pattern that it almost stands out how frozen and dull trap beats can be because of one weird snare choice that sounds way too loud and mechanical. I know this is very nit-picky but there’s so little to this song, which relies entirely on Lithe for its melodic element considering the blank grey synths that practically could be completely absent under the looming trap dirge. Don’t ask about the lyrics, it’s bottom-of-the-barrel flexing, but at least this song is very uniquely terrible. It uses basic trap tropes, for sure, but Lithe is taking his own approach to things and creates a bad song that is bad in ways more established artists probably couldn’t pull off. That’s a compliment, genuinely.

#66 - “The Craving” - Twenty One Pilots

Produced by Tyler Joseph and Paul Meany

I think it’s somewhat telling that Bring Me the Horizon nabbed three debuts this week, but the usually more accessible Twenty One Pilots, with a higher-peaking album at #2, could only snatch one at #66. I usually care at least a little to check out these guys’ records but the lore aspect has always somewhat bothered me in that I know without fully emerging into it, I’ll never get the full intended effect and relationship with the music that they intend. This week’s effort, Clancy, was one I just straight-up didn’t bother listening to, especially on the grounds of not liking those singles at all. I was thinking that hopefully this could give me some reason to check it out, and, well, there is something to this one.

“The Craving” is available in two versions, with the version on the album being subtitled “(Jenna’s Version)”, referring to his wife Jenna and… yeah, the stripped-back, ukulele rendition on the record is pretty devastating. Starting with a static that obscures Jenna’s voice lamenting the fact their relationship may be deteroriating or stalling out as she grows older, the song is a ballad expressing Tyler’s inability to communicate and express the simple gestures that he loves her. It’s a pretty simple song compositionally but that makes complete sense as it feels like a song he can only sing improvisationally in her presence, but not with her listening. This may be a stretch, but I’m imagining “(Jenna’s version)” refers here not to dedicating the song and playing it to her but her being the muse for this version, which sounds like it could have been written very quickly in a night where he can’t fall asleep thinking about the subject matter whilst she’s fast asleep. The song explains that he can’t communicate this to her, and the visual it gives is Tyler playing the song quietly to himself as to not wake her up but knowing fully that he won’t be able to sleep for the rest of the night without it being expressed. The final chorus ends with an utmost declaration of his dedication to the marriage, complete with a voice crack, but that outro simply writes it off: once she’s awake, the promises mean nothing, and he can’t bring himself to all he promised: the simple act of reminding her that she’s loved. I will be 100% honest: this song kind of fucking broke me, and the imagery surrounding those choruses being one of waiting until demise, wherein the “she” who looks for Tyler as he lays down and tries to sleep could be both Jenna and God, made this a very affecting listen for me, or rather, several listens. I never know exactly what to expect from TOP, but I didn’t expect to be crying.

The single remix, co-produced with Spencer Stewart, is much lighter and breezier with its folk-pop production that’s reverbed to Hell and back and covers some of Tyler’s vocal faults with harmonies and whistling that makes it a bit too saccharine for my taste. I still think it’s a brilliant song but as a performance and production, not so much, and this puts me in a weird position because as far as OCC is concerned, these are both the charting song, I just happen to prefer the very slightly less streamed acoustic version a lot more. Personally, I think adding drums to “The Craving” may be an inspired touch because it takes that fear of death and adds a frolicking carpe diem feel to it but it also touches my soul a bit less by detaching Tyler further from reality: the problem isn’t that he’s separated from his wife, it’s nearly the opposite, with her continued presence acting as both why the song exists and why the emotion is so palpable. Regardless, if more of the album is this personal and honest, less lore-focused as the lead single really scared me off with, maybe I’ll find more to like on it because this acoustic version is genuinely shattering, might be their best song ever.

#57 - “LiMOusIne” - Bring Me the Horizon featuring AURORA

Produced by Zakk Cervini, Oli Sykes and Dan Lancaster

Another week, another album debuting three songs that I haven’t heard. I’ll be fair and say I probably should have listened to Billie’s record before the chart week, and I have since heard and greatly enjoyed her album, but for this one, can you blame me? Firstly, look at the way the tracks are stylised, secondly: whilst I did like the first edition of this POST HUMAN series from 2020, the incessant delay and consistent flow of really mediocre singles that leads to an album that seems a bit bloated compared to the last one’s conciseness because I guess all of them needed to be included. Thirdly, they lost their keyboardist Jordan Fish, also a major songwriting contributor to the band, who now has just a few more lyrical credits on this record than BloodPop, I’m genuinely quite weary that this’ll be another disappointing mess from Bring Me the Horizon. Regardless, I’ll give them this: they always experiment, and these three next songs are going to be interesting and weird, at least in comparison to what usually charts, so it’s good we have them all lined up consecutively. BMTH’s latest, POST HUMAN: NEX GEN, debuted at #5 on the albums chart and naturally, we have three debuts as that’s all OCC’ll allow.

The first to chart, “Limousine” (I’m not doing this, guys) features Norwegian singer AURORA, who had some viral success with “Runaway” a few years back, a song I never really liked and I honestly haven’t heard much else, so maybe I’m missing something by not checking her out - I’m definitely going to be missing something with these songs given the added context of understanding the album’s theme and narrative is pretty important for what seems like a loose concept album, though BMTH records can be so eclectic that it flies out of the window. See amo for a clear demonstration. This particular track takes us into the easy and quick blast frontman Oli Sykes gets from doing hard drugs and the power, authority he feels when he’s off them, hence the “Limousine” - it’s a luxury car you’re in the back of, drugged and being driven around, but you still feel in control. It does this through grinding metal riffs and some of the most strained vocals I’ve heard from Sykes, not in the sense that he hits any insane notes or belts but more so because he stretches out these melodies beyond their need, especially in the pre-chorus, with pitch correction not doing that great of a job to cover it. That sounds like an insult, but it’s really not: when he’s refuting the need for closure and the chorus starts with a stuttered glitching of the song’s last section out of existence, his slow luxury chauffer ride to death feels particularly potent and fittingly gruelling. There’s a seductive and sinister nature to some of the lyrics, AURORA kind of blends into the background which is perfect for this as Sykes’ streams drowning out the clearer, beautiful voice of reason is thematically perfect, that bridge with the keyboards is genuinely moving before everything crashes into shit in the screeching breakdown. That breakdown, however, demonstrates the one time this song succeeds in the mixing department for me, as there’s a muddiness to everything here and an unnecessary vocal focus that seems to push the heavier and cathartic elements back, which does not serve a track like this very well, when the progression into chaos should come from something that is genuinely unnerving and inescapable. A more immersive mix could have done wonders to what is structurally a very sound track that has great performances.

#50 - “YOUtopia” - Bring Me the Horizon

Produced by Zakk Cervini, Oli Sykes, Dan Lancaster and Lee Malia

We can actually split this episode quite nicely into the two songs below the Horizon, the two songs above them, and the Horizon itself. It works out quite nicely too because according to Sykes, “Youtopia” acts as a counterpart to “Limousine”, and I can definitely tell that from the lyrics, wherein Sykes begs for the ability to give his partner the best version of himself, a “youtopia” so to speak. He desperately wants to connect himself and his partner to that utopian setting, but can’t bring himself to do the self-improvement that would enable that kind of perfect relationship, one that you can kind of tell from the imagery either doesn’t exist or has been buried so far deep into obscurity by the constant perpetuance of negativity in everyday life. To be completely honest, I was worried that Bring Me the Horizon’s lyrics would turn as basic as some of the structural songwriting had been on the singles so I’m glad I can still both get a lot out of analysis and resonate pretty heavily with their notions, it’s the most frustrating feeling wanting to be something that no-one but your own insecurity expects you to live up to, so it just seems fruitless to achieve.

As for how it sounds, well, that basic songwriting is there for sure, but oh, my God, this is an insanely nostalgic sound for me. That late-2000s early-2010s Kerrang! TV post-hardcore sound combining fuzzy electronics with the lackadaisical guitars of 2000s emo-pop and often Auto-Tuned vocals - both the clean and unclean vocals, sometimes - as well as just killer hooks and chasm-esque mixing that makes the drums go so hard once they pound into full relentless chorus mode. Of course, BMTH take it into further electronicore territory with the sampled-sounding female vocals, tiny little vocalised riff in the first verse that’s an adorable touch, the birdsong passages of ambiance that mesh so well with the cleaner guitar build, and the hip hop drums in the second verse that actually go for a 2000s R&B groove instead of the typical trap skitter, which I commend them for doing - trap metal feels way too easy and wouldn’t have fit a longing song like this. The harmonies from Sykes and the filtered Dan Lancaster in the bridge are excellent, and whilst the guitar solo is in what I like to call Weezer-meter (very obviously and shamelessly just repeating the chorus lead melody), it’s oddly brief and inessential to the song, as the final post-chorus kind of takes its place with the string swell and incredible drumming from Matt Nicholls that winds down in an industrial squirt for the outro. Apart from once again some mixing that acts as a disservice - when there’s this much going on, I understand the difficulty in making it sound that dynamic, and thematically, sometimes it just wouldn’t make sense to - this is pretty much something I’d inject to my veins any day. I know I say this every time BMTH show up because they’re the country’s biggest left-field rock act currently, but something like this charting in the top 50 in 2024 never fails to put at least a smile on my face.

#41 - “Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd” - Bring Me the Horizon

Produced by Zakk Cervini, Oli Sykes and Dan Lancaster

This final song is titled like a WatchMojo video, and is a very clear single - the lyrics and songwriting are pretty basic woes, wound up in generic metaphors that Sykes and the lads have sung before. It’s got a pessimistic chorus and a vaguely motivational bridge, and so many lyrics that vaguely allude to prior singles that I can’t tell if these are purposeful references or they’re just that far into their careers that their attempt at being an “average” BMTH track is an amalgamation of all of their other obvious singles. Those lyrical allusions definitely make it a bit more obvious and distracting that this is the case, but musically, it’s in similar territory. They have a brief, cutesy electronic intro, this time slightly hyperpop-esque, before crashing into a catchy alt-metal riff and, yeah, it’s just obvious that this is pulling the tricks of their own trade in a very typical way. Sykes performs incredibly well as he pretty much always does, you can’t take away his passion, but the screaming and sound effects may be a bit much in that second verse. They even have a stop-and-start rhythm built into the chorus melody which feels very Bring Me the Horizon to do: stopping and starting is basically their motif and songwriting approach if we boil it down to borderline offensive essentials. They have an aggressive breakdown with rapid drumming and video game samples, a trap drum pattern in the final pre-chorus, a stuttered vocal, it’s all very by-the-numbers and that’s fine. We can’t all be zingers, sometimes we need to write something accessible and given the album is assumingly a mess (all BMTH albums kind of are, it’s by nature), something like this could be particularly refreshing within its context, and they did care enough to place an atmospheric ambient outro that may contextualise it even further. This is a perfectly cromulent Bring Me the Horizon song, but a bit underwhelming to end on here.

#31 - “Pink Skies” - Zach Bryan

Produced by Zach Bryan

Country star Zach Bryan is back, presumably, he’s got a 30-song album on the way and this is his lead single. As always with Mr. Bryan, it feels wise to discuss the lyrics here in some detail, as this paints a vivid picture of the life that a mother has left for her children at the time of her funeral. The kids who came from that small town are back there to celebrate their late mother’s life, and reflecting on those lessons they learned from the mundane outskirts: appreciating the “pink skies” as a sign of youthful vitality and peace and cleaning the old house as if it were never populated (which feels stereotypical but is very much true for how parents can behave), though with the caveat that those memories remain physically as what appear to be faults in the house but are unavoidable reminders of the life lived within it. The second verse and especially the chorus sing a pretty funny ode: she’d be proud of where her kids are but would still lightheartedly mock them as “yuppies”, and he even has the snark to comment that God probably heard her coming, which I assume she means that she never shut up. For a parent, that’s a great thing to have the ability to do, and it’s reassuring to think that in the afterlife, she still cares too much about her kids’ well-being. This hits particularly close to home for me, and the fact that this song makes great use of my favourite instrument, the harmonica, does not exactly help this from not being a bit of a personal tearjerker for me. Bryan’s smoky drawl comes with his typical homegrown organic instrumentation - though with a higher focus both lyrically and instrumentally on choppier rhythm which I find interesting - and the light female vocals panned into the left channel. Sonically, you could argue it’s a bit safe or easy for Bryan to come out with something that sounds like this, but think of the content: why shouldn’t he be back at home, and invite you into that warm, comforting place as openly as his mother would have? This guy already put out some of my favourite songs of last year, some of the art that emotionally resonated with me the most from that year, and it doesn’t seem like he’s stopping this year either. I adore this.

#4 - “BAND4BAND” - Central Cee and Lil Baby

Produced by Ghana Beats, Geenero and Aasis Beats

This is just such a neat week. We begin near the very bottom with pop-trap from the Anglosphere outside of the US and book-end it near the very top with a UK rapper, whilst sandwiched in the middle are rock and alternative acts, two of which are personal ballads by slightly more mainstream and lighter in sound, closer to more accessible genres they emerged from before developing their sound, and both on either side of three Bring Me the Horizon tracks from the same album. Thiss week just makes sense systematically, damn it, and I love to see it. Also, Central Cee and Lil Baby, I guess, the song’s fine. It’s a bit undercooked because - I repeat, Central Cee and Lil Baby - but the basic rising synth loop, even if very obviously just a basic and lazy implementation of a loop, has enough tension to make way for the heavy-hitting drill rhythm, which is a lot cleaner than some other drill tracks, but also uses much louder, mechanical hats - again, something it has in common with Lithe, and the grey cover arts are just furthering it all - that give an industrial and intense feel to this beat. As for our rappers, this is much more typical: Cench’s complaining about people not being real Muslims, talking about his Lambos, using rhyme schemes that prominently implement acronyms, being distracted by big booties and most importantly, going “Alllright”. It’s almost like “Top 10 Statues that Cried Blood” because Cench feels like an amalgamation of himself on here, though this isn’t a bad thing, he still has more energy than many other rappers and it was cute for him to exchange bars with Lil Baby. Lil Baby then continues to take the song over entirely, as the beat switches up slightly with that crawling trap skitter and Baby goes for his typical frog-throat, running-off-on-the-beat flow that goes insanely hard, bizarrely, without drums, as it builds into a very well-done beat drop. He’s similarly being an amalgamation of himself and his running themes, but there’s some cold wordplay with the birthday lyric and there’s always been something compelling about his relentless approach to just going on and on regardless of what the beat actually asks of him. Overall, I know I’ve sounded nit-picky but this is good, probably great even when taking it outside of the larger context and just treating it as a banger reaching across the Atlantic. There’s a real intensity and hunger to this that there hasn’t been for either in these guys in a while, and it’s refreshing to know that those efforts paid off for a very high and very deserved top five debut.

Conclusion

Considering this is a week mostly consisting of rock acts, it makes complete sense that it’s one of the best weeks for me. Hey, I listen to everything, but some genres will hit closer to home than others. As for the Best of the Week, it is genuinely an incredibly difficult decision, but unsurprisingly, Zach Bryan takes it for “Pink Skies” and the only reason that happened is because of the second single edit of “The Craving” by Twenty One Pilots that I do not care for, because Jenna’s version would run away with Best of the Week, it’s heartbreaking from the first vocal sample of Jenna herself to that final line. Unfortunately, due to the double billing, it’ll have to take Honourable Mention, and on any other week, I would easily be giving all of this praise to a song like “YOUtopia”, which I still love, or Hell, even “BAND4BAND”. Lithe takes Worst of the Week for “Fall Back”, obviously, and I hope the next batch of songs is either just as good as this one or gives me a lot less to talk about because sheesh, this is one of our shorter weeks and I’m still maxxing this word count out. For now, thank you for reading, rest in peace to Charlie Colin, and I’ll see you next week!

#uk singles chart #pop music #song review #bring me the horizon #post human: nex gen #twenty one pilots #zach bryan #lil baby #central cee #band4band #lithe #aurora

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