#STOP TESTING NE GAME

[buckyalpine]

Request 👉🏼👈🏼 ? Black widow!reader and winter soldier!Bucky! He was her teacher in the red room, where they eventually fell in love and started a secret relationship, until Hydra and Dreykov found out and separated them. Fast forward several years, Bucky’s out of recovery, reunited with Steve, and living a better life when Tony brings in a new team member. And everyone’s excited but Bucky’s on edge and kinda wary until he learns who it is.

It’s his lil widow, the love of his life, his soulmate. the one Hydra and the red room stole from him, the girl he kept dreaming about no matter how many times his handlers tried to wipe his memories. Just complete fluffy, smutty, love sick shit with him being a massive simp for his deadly girl. maybe building a family, getting married, drabbles of him drooling over her skills or her in the widow suit, like oh yea, I taught her that. I can imagine him being so overly protective, constantly holding her close to his chest because she was stolen away from him once, he won’t survive if that happens again.

YESSSSS God this is so cute and smutty and angsty and FLUFFY it makes my chest itch in the best way. Pls ignore what google translate may have botched. Bucky is the cutest, horny, most deadly simp here, so proud of his girl, absolutely yes.

"ne proyavlyay miloserdiya, soldat" [Show no mercy, soldier], Dreykov hissed, letting the soldier enter the red room with a single widow standing before him, not an ounce of fear in her eyes. The soldier grunted, hitting the button that locked the door that kept her from escaping before lunging forward, testing her agility after personally training her himself.

She leapt over him with ease, bracing her hands on his wide shoulders and landing swiftly behind him and swiping her leg under him to knock him to the floor, straddling him immediately after. He grasped her hands in his, rolling over till she was pinned under his large mass with her wrists held together above her head in his metal hand.

"You've learned well kotenok" His voice was husky behind the mask, blue eyes sparkling while she huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Nespravedlivo, kogda ty takoy bol'shoy, soldat" [Not fair when you're so large, soldier]. She gasped feeling him harden on top of her, his rough uniform doing nothing to hide what he was feeling for her, slotted between her thighs.

"Nespravedlivo, kogda ty takoy krasivyy, kotonok" [Not fair when you're so pretty, kitten]. He climbed off her, allowing her to get into position before attacking again, relentlessly throwing punches and blocking them till she nearly collapsed. They retreated to stand at attention at the sound of the doors hissing open, indicating training was over. The soldier grunted a nod as Dreykov walked in, assessing the widow, a sinister smile plastered on his face seeing both of his assets worn but still at their strongest.

He sent them off to their cells, confident that the fear he'd instilled in his captives would be enough to ensure they stayed in line, not realizing his punishments would only go so far.

It wasn't enough to stop the charming young man from Brooklyn who still lived in his most feared asset.

"Did I hurt you baby" The soldier whispered, kissing her bruised knuckles softly after sneaking into her cell, pulling her into his arms.

"You could never" She smiled, melting into his embrace. She never intended on falling in love with the soldier but here she was, feeling his gentle hands wander, leaning up to kiss his soft, pink lips. They were playing a dangerous game but it was to stop now.

He loved her.

She loved him.

-

"Wipe him" The hydra agent ordered while the soldier gripped onto the chair, gritting his teeth while sharp burning spread through his body, frying his brain. The widow dug her nails into her palms, resolve slowly crumbling seeing the love of her life tortured, unable to hold back anymore.

"Stop!" She finally broke, unable to watch any longer, gasping at the sinister smile Dreykov gave her, ordering his men to grab her before increasing the voltage.

"My, my, does it hurt you when we hurt him" Dreykov sneered, turning up the dial, Bucky's screams tearing her apart on the inside.

"Don't-AH-JAMES" A hydra soldier gripped her hair, yanking her back before she could go to him, shackles binding her hands together, dragging her away.

"kotenok" [kitten] The soldier sadly whispered, unheard by her, her kicking and screaming form blurry from his unshed tears. He screamed in pain as another shock ripped through his veins before the world went black.

He never saw her again.

-

Bucky gasped, sucking in a deep breath of air, his chest heaving from the dream he'd just had, sweat covering his chest, dripping from his forehead.

It was the same thing almost every night.

His mind replaying the same thing over and over again; training with her in the red room, the way she felt under him, the way he'd cuddle and make love to her afterwards without a soul knowing. He didn't plan on falling for the woman he had to train to be a killer but he didn't stand a chance the day she'd knocked him down with a knife pressed to his neck seconds later. He could have married her then and there.

He slumped back against his pillow, running a hand over his face, groaning in frustration.

In the several years, he'd slowly managed to get his life back together. He was apart of the team and living at the compound with Steve and the others. He was no longer controlled by trigger words, he had been forgiven by the government, he was starting to recover from all the trauma he'd endured. His nightmares were less frequent, slowly learning to forgive himself for the things he'd been forced to do under Hydras control.

The only thing he never got over was her.

She still lived in his dreams. Still owned his heart. That was his girl and she was torn away by the very people that had taken everything else from him too. No amount of wiping or torture took her away. His handler tried his hardest, shocking him till his nose bled and his veins nearly burnt to bits but her name would fall from his lips as he lay nearly unconscious.

His sweet widow.

Bucky glanced at the faint light starting to stream through the curtains, swinging his legs over the edge of his bed to get up instead of attempting to sleep for 5 more minutes. He threw on a hoodie and some joggers, making his way to the gym to punch his feelings away as usual. He didn't stop till his knuckles split, ignoring the sting, instead thinking about how he'd kiss her soft hands after he'd train her, bandaging them up when no one was looking.

The hot water from the shower did little to ease the tension in his muscles as he made his way to the kitchen next, plopping onto a stool with a cup of coffee. He was just about to try and relax with his coffee until Steve popped his head in with a grin.

"There you are! Tony was looking for you, we're all heading up now!" Bucky frowned in confusion while Steve grabbed his own mug, filling his cup.

"Why are we having a meeting" Bucky questioned, not willing to get up from his seat, his mind still preoccupied.

"He told you he scouted someone to join the team"

"I remember Tony going on about some new member" Bucky mumbled, not in the mood to meet new people, his anxiety only growing further. "That's today?"

Steve nodded, finishing up the last of his coffee while the brunette stayed glued to the stool.

"Buck, you coming?" Steve turned back to see a frowning Bucky, reluctantly trudging behind the captain while the others excitedly also made their way upstairs to the conference area.

"I heard Tony saying the new agent is scary as shit. Apparently he got his ass handed to him when he tried to test her and he was wearing his suit" Sam snorted while Nat smiled with excitement.

"Finally someone worth sparring with" The redhead nudged him while he shook his head.

"I'm serious! She's deadly deadly. I looked over her file, she's killed more people than you and Clint combined and half of those were hand to hand combat"

"What was the other half"

"Sniper. Like Barnes" Sam nodded to Bucky who was still disconnected from the others, his knee bouncing impatiently.

"We're lucky she's on our side" Steve mused, taking a glance of the file that sat on the table. There was no name or picture to go with it but it had a skillset record nearly put his to shame. "Jesus"

"You good?" Sam whispered to Bucky, noticing he was more closed off than usual, getting a tightlipped grimace like smile in return. Steve sat near the front, straightening himself up while the rest quietened down, hearing the sound of Tony speaking to someone as they approached the room. The billionaire opened the door, letting in the new team member first before entering himself with a large smile on his face.

"Everyone, this is-

"Y/n?" Bucky gasped, shoot up from his seat before Tony could finish, the other sharing confused glances between each other, watching the new team member and Bucky freeze.

"Wait, Barnes, you know-

"Malyshka, eto pravda ty?" [Babygirl, is it really you?] Bucky gasped, his heart hammering against his chest, tears already threatening to spill out. "kotenok, skazhi mne, pozhaluysta, chto eto ty" [kitten, please tell me its you]

"Hold up, he can still speak Russian?" Sam hissed to Steve who hadn't moved, mouth gaping, eyes wide.

"James!" You darted across the room to meet Bucky half way, his strong arms catching and lifting you up with ease as your legs wrapped tightly around his waist. "moy soldat. YA zdes', moy malysh" [my soldier. I'm here my babyboy]

"It's really you" He whispered against your hair, breathing in your soft scent, eyes squeezed shut with tears streaming down his face, "My baby" He cradled you tightly, refusing to set you down while you buried your face into the crook of his neck, drowning out the rest of the world. After you were torn apart from him, you had been locked up in an isolated cell, only let out for select missions Dreykov send you on. You wanted to find your soldier, your James, but you never did with Hydra keeping him under their control.

Now you finally had him again.

"Ahem, as I was saying- This is y/n" Tony addressed the rest of the team, just as surprised as the rest of them with all eyes on Bucky especially. "She'll be joining us once Barnes puts her down"

"Never" Bucky finally pulled away, still holding onto you, his nose nudging against yours, "M'never putting her down, never, you hear me babygirl?" He pressed his lips onto yours, shamelessly kissing you hard, ignoring the whistles that filled the room, only pulling away for air. You let out a shy giggle as he set you back on your feet, his hand wrapped around your waist.

"I'd continue to introduce her but I think tinman knows her better" Tony snorted, throwing his hands up before taking a seat, all eyes now watching two of you while Bucky blushed, unable to wipe the smile of his face, cupping your face to press another kiss to your lips.

"This is y/n" Bucky finally let you go, taking you to the front of the conference room, now proudly showing you off to the other, "She was a widow with Hyrda, handpicked by Dreykov" Bucky sucked in a breath before continuing, giving your hand a squeeze "I trained her in the red room myself when I was still the winter soldier. That's when I fell in love with her" The last part was a whisper, not missed by the team with how lovesick Bucky looked.

"I'm sorry, you trained her? Jesus, no wonder she's deadly" Sam shook his head, now understanding why your file was so impressive. You were already gifted when you were picked, coupled with the fact that you were trained and conditioned by the soldier himself.

"She's fuckin' deadly, alright" Bucky's voice was nearly breathless, his baby blues intently gazing into your eyes. "You should see her with a knife"

That's when I fell in love with you.

"So what happened with you two" Nat prodded, looking at you two with heart eyes which was a rare sight but her heart melted at how soft Bucky was, struggling to keep his hands to himself. He constantly nuzzled into your neck, his large form practically swallowing you whole as he clung onto you like a child.

"They found out we were together so they took me from him" You gave her a sad smile, feeling Bucky hug you tighter; you could have sworn you heard him whimper. "I tried to find him for years but I couldn't"

"Hydra tried to wipe my memories but it never worked. Couldn't forget her" Bucky kissed the top of your head, not realizing his bestfriend was trying to subtly wipe his eyes.

"I was going to have everyone introduce themselves but I think these two have some catching up to do so let's move this meeting over" Tony clapped his hands while everyone else nodded in agreement, leaving you and Bucky alone for some privacy.

"I missed you so much, you have no idea, I-I tried to find you but I just- I could barely function, I'm sorry doll-" Your lips cut off Bucky's rambling, cupping his scruffy face firmly in your hands.

"You have nothing to be sorry about baby, it's not your fault"

"I-I know you just got here and-sweets I don't want to rush anything but-" Bucky's hand gripped your waist while he tried to compose himself, he didn't want to pressure you into anything. "I need you closer baby"

"Take me, soldat" You whispered, not giving him any room to second guess as he hauled you up in his arms, taking you straight to his room. Clothes were off in an instant between frantic and desperate kisses. Bucky didn't rush a thing as soon as he had you naked in his bed, pulling the sheets over you both, rolling over to cuddle instead.

"This is all I wanted" He whispered against your shoulder, kissing your skin, "To have my girl with me again"

"I love you Jamie" You kissed his bare chest, hitching your leg over his waist, his hard length pressing against your soaked cunt. He could feel his tip weeping feeling your soft body pressed against his, still looking just as beautiful, if not more now, from when he'd first met you.

"Prettiest widow" He growled, his wandering hands becoming less wholesome as they moved to your hips, pulling you to press against his erection harder. You moaned feeling him starting to hump your pussy while innocently kisses down your neck, smirking at how he was both sweet and sinful at the same time, just as before. "kotenok, ty mne nuzhen" [Kitten, I need you]

You remembered all the times he'd snuck into your cell for a few cuddles, which always ended up with his hand slammed over your mouth while he railed you with his cock.

"You feel how hard I am for you baby? Mmph, this is all for you, doll" He bit his lip, eyes locked with yours, rolling on top of you, slotting his wide body between your legs, still rutting his hips. "Can I make love to you baby, please" He sounded desperate, dropping his forehead to press against yours, hands coming to pin you against the bed.

"M'yours Jamie" You nodded, spreading your legs wider, not bothering with having prep you, needing him inside you more than anything else. You gasped feeling his thick cockhead rub through your folds before he breeched your hole, stretching you.

"Soldat!" You moaned, your back arching off the bed, the name rolling of your tongue as it had so many times before, your nails digging into his shoulders as he buried himself to the hilt.

"Take your soldat's cock, kotenok" Bucky growled, only giving you a second to adjust before he started to move with slow, deep strokes. "Lemme make love to my babygirl, ya tak sil'no tebya lyublyu" [I love you so much]

After Bucky had been rescued, he had no reason to speak Russian, letting the others think it'd been wiped away just like the words that controlled him. Around you, it rolled off his tongue with ease, your pussy dripping each time he whispered in your ear. Your eyes rolled back feeling him hit that spongy spot deep in your pussy, crying out with the powerful, deliberate snaps of his hips.

"M'I making you feel good baby?" He asked, kissing you sweetly, alternating between the sweetheart and heartbreaker he was, looking at you with soft puppy eyes while his cock grew harder watching your face twist with pleasure. His jaw was slack, thrusting with purpose, moving his hips to roll and let you feel every inch of him filling you up, "You look gorgeous with my cock in you angel, wish you could see how pretty you are, so beautiful like this"

"Oh god James! P-please-m'so close-dont-don-t stop" Your moans grew more salacious, unable to say much else, eyes shutting out of pleasure feeling his hand coming down to rub your swollen clit.

"I know baby, I know, you need me to rub this pretty button, Remember the first time I touched you there pretty girl? How badly you wanted to scream, how much you squirted all over me? Remember when we first made love? First time I tasted you? Remember how shy you were when I spread your legs open and nursed off that little button. How you turned into a slutty kitten, riding and humping my face after? Know your needy little clit loves it, m'gonna rub you till you're screaming"

"Buckyyy" You whined, your face feeling hot at the memory, remembering his growls from under you, turning around to find him jerking his cock faster while he licked and sucked your pussy, cum already painting his abs from cumming once, working to a second orgasm. He'd sealed his lips around your clit, stuffing his mask in your mouth to keep you from alerting the guards.

"Baby, c'mon open your eyes, look at me" Bucky nipped your jaw, his cold hand coming to grasp your cheeks, blue eyes staring into your soul as you opened your eyes, "Don't you dare close them baby, keep em' open when I'm fuckin' you, shit, m'gonna cum for you doll"

"B-Bucky!" You cried, struggling to hold off any longer, your juices soaked him as you started to clench and squeeze his cock, tears nearly streaming down your face.

"Scream all you want baby, don't have to hide those pretty moans ever again" He fucked you through your orgasm, his own balls getting tighter with each thrust, precum mixing with your arousal, dripping onto the sheets, "Thats-that-s it baby, m'gonna cum so hard for you, fill you up, you're mine doll, you're fuckin' MINE"

Bucky's hand flew to the headboard, pounding you into the mattress, moaning loudly, letting the wood splinter under his grip as he came, pumping you full of his seed.

"FUCK y/n" He gasped, collapsing on you, panting, burying his face into your breasts as he always did, turning into a needy baby as if he didn't rail your soul. You giggled, tracing your hand down his spine making his shiver, whining when you clenched around his sensitive, soft cock.

"My soldat" You whispered, carding your fingers through his hair, letting him latch onto your nipple, needily sucking for comfort. No matter how big, bad and scary he was, he always melted into a puddle for you, closing his eyes at the feeling of your sweet peaked nipple against his tongue.

"Never letting you go again" He whispered before falling asleep on your chest, arms wrapped tightly around you. "ty moya rodstvennaya dusha, malyshka" [you're my soul mate, babygirl]

"YA by proshel cherez vse eto snova tol'ko radi tebya, malysh" [I'd go through it all again just for you baby boy] you whispered, closing your eyes in the safety of his hold, meaning each of your words. You'd go through everything a thousand times over if it meant you'd have your Bucky back in your arms. Bucky sniffled, curling up with you, spending the rest of the day alternating between speaking sweet words and making you moan and cry over his cock until you couldn't move any longer. For the first time, he slept peacefully, not stirring once.

-

Ever since you'd come back, Bucky had turned into the biggest simp, alternating between acting like a menace and a complete lovesick puppy with no in between. It was worse when you were on the field, almost leading to Tony refusing to let you both go on missions at the same time.

"Oh god" Bucky groaned, seeing you step out in your sleek suit, the dark material clinging to your body, weapons strapped along your hips. You threw him a wink before running off to kick ass, his focus solely on you.

"Jesus Christ" He nearly moaned seeing you land a kick to an attacker before throwing you knife across the room, the blade landing perfectly between your targets eyebrows. "Baby, you're sexy"

"For fucks Sake Barnes, did you forget we can all hear you" Tony's exasperated voice crackled through, this not being the first time the soldier was distracted watching you fight. Sam and Steve snickered through the coms while Bucky shameless shrugged, still biting his lip, watching you move with ease.

"Have you seen my girl, Stark" Bucky sassed back, walking over bodies to grab you by your ass, squeezing it and smashing his lips against yours.

"Are you two fucking kissing?!" Tony sighed, hearing the sound of soft moans and smacking, "I'm putting you on a fucking leash, I'm getting you fixed Barnes"

"My naughty soldat" You giggled, pulling away, nipping your boyfriends pouty lip while he shook his head.

"Gonna be the death of me, pretty girl"

"You're both gonna be the death of all of us" Tony deadpanned, unable to understand how there was a man out there that was more horny and flirty than him. "I'm having Barnes neutered, for fucks sake I can see you drooling from over here"

-

Bucky was even worse watching you display your skills, his workout long forgotten while you sparred with Steve.

"Where the fuck did you learn that" Steve groaned while you giggled, holding your hand out to help him up while Bucky watched from the side with a cocky smirk.

"I taught her that" He threw you a wink, not so subtly adjusting his sweats.

"Of course you did" Steve huffed, surprised to find bruises on his body from where you'd hit him. "Jesus punk" He blushed heavily seeing his bestfriends raging hard on, scrambling away from the gym, knowing exactly what would come next.

The loud moans he heard moments later made him shake his head, happy he got out of there unlike the last time he saw the warning signs of a feral Bucky.

Aside from being more in love with you than ever, Bucky was also equally protective over you. He'd hug you with such care, always holding your head to his chest, his large arms covering you from the rest of the world, constantly fearing that even if he had you now, someone would come and take you away.

When he finally asked you to marry him, he paused several times, blinking through tears while down on one knee, your hand wiping his cheek, saying yes before he could even finish. The compound was transformed with flowers, candles with a small intimate wedding in the garden.

Steve and Sam stood by Bucky's side while Nat walked with you, your sweet soon to be husband biting back tears seeing his dream girl in her dress, the life he'd always imagine finally becoming a reality. When Tony pronounced you husband and wife, Bucky didn't stop kissing you till he nearly passed out, not a single dry eye surrounding you as he whisked you up in his arms.

-

Bucky felt a strong wave of emotion watching you flit around the kitchen, making his way over and wrapping his arms from behind, tucking his face into your neck. You blinked, feeling tears wet your skin, pulling away to find your husband sniffling.

"Baby, what's gotten into you" You cooed with concern, wiping away the tears that collected along his lashes, kissing his reddened nose. "Is everything okay?"

"Just-m'scared to lose you again" Bucky whispered, his hand coming to protectively wrap around your growing belly; you weren't showing much yet but he could still feel the little baby bump. "I can't loose you again angel, I can't go through that again"

"It won't happen Jamie" You wrapped your arms around his shoulders while he picked you up, setting you onto the counter before hiding against your neck again, hugging you tightly. "What's wrong baby, what's gotten you so scared"

"Can't believe I got you back. I got to marry my dream girl. We're starting a family, you're giving me a baby, I-it feels unreal. M'scared I'm gonna wake up and you'll-" He bit his lip, shuddering at the very thought, "You'll be gone"

"Baby boy look at me" You held his face again, making him look at you, "Would you ever let anyone take me from you again?"

Bucky looked horrifying, francially shaking his head, he'd burn the world to ashes before he let that happen.

"Never. Never angel, no one is taking you or our baby from me" He stated firmly while you hummed.

"See? I'll be just fine. I have my soldat" You whispered, melting against his chest. "No one can hurt me when I have my soldat"

Bucky finally relaxed, carrying you off to bed, his metal arm protecting your belly as he pulled the covers over you both. No one would ever take his little widow away again.

[anime-fan-05]

HII, good afternoon!! I hope your having a wonderful day! I been meaning to ask a request, you don't have to answer it if you don't want to! Can you do YYH of the main cast (+ Jin, Koenma and Botan!) Of this one comic I found. Like how they react, how they feel, and would they let it happen again? It's this one!

Yu Yu Hakusho ~Receiving kisses from their girlfriend with different lipsticks~

Manga/anime: Yu Yu Hakusho

Warnings: nothing

(Y/N): your name

I divided the headcanon into two parts: second part is here.

U. Yusuke

At first, after you ask him, he'll act like a boaster, saying something like: "Oh? You want to kiss me so much you make up games like that, dear? All you had to do was ask..."

Nevertheless, after receiving the first kisses, which he'll have reciprocated with passion, squeezing your hip with one hand and cupping your cheek with the other and hugging you tightly at the end of each one, he'll start to be a little overwhelmed, and in the end he'll arrive almost in the same state as the man in the picture

In fact, with a racing heartbeat and a red face, he'll collapse on the sofa or a chair, with his lips and cheeks all covered in lipstick or lip gloss smears, almost completely inert

It'll take him some time to recover from your "assault", and even the following days he'll continue to think about you and your kisses

He would definitely do it again, but he'll have to admit to be a little uncomfortable asking you, so he'll try a more... indirect approach: for example, he'll bring up the topic in the most casual moments ("Ne, (Y/N), how about you give me some kisses afterwards? Don't worry if you still have your lip gloss on!" "Yusuke, you're in the middle of a fight, do you think it's appropriate to bring up a topic like that?!")

K. Kazuma

He'll immediately accept your offer to kiss him with a different lip gloss or lipstick each time: after all, they'll be free kisses, so why would he refuse?

Every time you two kiss, he feels his knees buckle and his heart beats twice as fast as normal, so imagine his reaction to a flurry of twenty kisses in the space of a quarter of an hour!

He'll be literally identical to the man in the picture: he'll reciprocate the first kisses with passion, but then he'll start to blush and cover his red face with his hands out of embarrassment, and he'll also have to sit on the sofa or on a chair because his legs will no longer support him standing

He'll definitely want to repeat the experience, and he'll even buy you a hundred new lipsticks to convince you to do it again (seriously, stop this guy before he squanders all his savings to buy them for you)

"(Y/N)-chan, could we do the lipstick test again? We've a few new ones to try, and last time we didn't even find the perfect kiss-proof one, we absolutely can't leave this problem open!"

Kurama

He'll look at you curiously when he sees you bring a huge amount of lipsticks and lip glosses to the table in front of the sofa and look at him with hopeful eyes

Then he'll chuckle, shaking his head, after you make your request; he'll sit on the couch and look at you expectantly

Every time you kiss him, he'll smile sweetly on your lips and hold your waist; if you expect him to show some embarrassed reaction, you're very wrong because, if there's anyone who will be embarrassed, they'll be you

At a certain point Youko might take over him; he would aggressively squeeze your waist and growl possessively at your kisses, which would become much less chaste than Kurama's ones

If you want to try it again, he'll let you, but he won't be the first to ask to do it again; the most he'll do is buy you more lip gloss or imply he wants to ("Awww, thanks, love! How did you know I was missing this color?" "I remembered it from when we did that kissing experiment. By the way, don't you think the color looks good on the skin? Would you like to try it?")

Hiei

As soon as you propose him the experiment, he'll answer with a firm no: "Absolutely not. What's this other human oddity? Do you really have nothing better to do than invent stupid things?"

However, after your endless pleas, he'll give in to your request, also because it'll have actually intrigued him a little, only he won't have wanted to appear too enthusiastic so as not to undermine his reputation: who would ever have feared him anymore if it had been known he was hanging from your lips for your kisses?

In fact, he's crazy about them and, every time you kiss him, he'll deepen the kiss, holding you possessively

He'll really like the taste of your lipsticks and lip glosses and with every kiss he'll lick and suck your lips, ruining the experiment ("No, Hiei! This way the experiment doesn't make sense!" "You're already forcing me to do it, at least let me do it my way...")

Did he like it? Yes. Would he do it again? Absolutely. Would he ask you? Absolutely not, he has a reputation to uphold

If you didn't know, the saying "to hang from someone's lips" (pendere dalle labbra di qualcuno) is an Italian saying which means, among other things, showing deference and submitting passively to someone.

💮 Rules 💮 Masterlist 💮

[ducksido]

French!Yuu

(locking in chat, had to research the french all i know is baguette crossiant, effiel tower, lourve, and remmy 😞)

(Do y'all actually read these comments? also im orange now)

Grim:

“What does voilà mean? You say it all the time!”

“Does baguette mean the same thing as bread? ‘Cause I’m all for it!”

Loves when Yuu calls him a “petit monstre.”

The NRC Student Body:

“Why does Yuu sound so cool saying everything? Is it the accent?”

Constantly asking Yuu to teach them basic French phrases.

“No, you’re not saying ‘croissant’ right. Try again.”

Crowley:

Pretends to understand French but really doesn’t.

“Ah, Prefect, très bien!”

Yuu: “Sir, please don’t use French if you don’t know it.”

Individual Reactions

Riddle:

“Mon dieu, you’re absolutely disorganized!”

Gets slightly offended when Yuu drops French slang like “c’est la vie” and “zut alors” casually.

Is impressed when Yuu makes French pastries. "How is it so perfect?"

Leona:

“So you guys just casually drink vin (wine) with your meals?”

Adopts a French attitude for a day just to mess with Yuu.

Will only complain in French when he’s feeling extra dramatic.

Azul:

Totally impressed by Yuu’s command of French cuisine.

“Tell me, Prefect, do you know how to prepare tarte tatin?”

Gets very jealous when Yuu makes it look effortless.

Jade:

“Ah, mon ami, you have such an elegant flair for life.”

Absolutely fascinated by French fashion. Watches Yuu like a hawk whenever they’re shopping.

Tests Yuu with questions about obscure French history and folklore just to see if they know it.

Floyd:

Loves when Yuu uses French to get a reaction from people.

“Mon chéri, say something else!”

Constantly asks Yuu if they know how to say things like “ma petite fleur” in a cute way.

Kalim:

“Wow, your accent is so elegant! Say more things!”

Super excited when Yuu talks about Paris. “You’ve been to the Eiffel Tower?!”

Tries to impress them with his limited French skills. It’s adorable.

Jamil:

Secretly intimidated by Yuu’s grace when they speak French.

Loves hearing stories about French cuisine, especially ratatouille.

“So how do you really make a perfect croissant?”

Vil:

Impressed by Yuu’s dedication to French beauty standards.

“I must admit, your je ne sais quoi is quite charming.”

Immediately adopts Yuu’s French beauty tips. “You must teach me your skincare routine.”

Epel:

Tries to learn some French slang but mostly gets it wrong.

Loves French pastries but gets shy asking Yuu to make them.

“Do you really just casually eat crêpes in the morning?”

Rook:

“Ah, mon ami, the beauty of the French language—so delicate, so refined.”

Instantly befriends Yuu over their shared French heritage.

Watches Yuu intently when they talk, making exaggerated dramatic gestures. “You have such a flair for storytelling!”

Idia:

Absolutely fascinated by French pop culture.

“Wait, you know about French video games, right?”

“Oh la la... You know all about French romance tropes?” Idia.exe stops working

Ortho:

Wants to know more about French robots or tech.

Asks about French video games and technology.

Accidentally refers to French robots as “robots de luxe” and gets corrected by Yuu.

Malleus:

Delighted by Yuu’s knowledge of French culture.

“Your country is as mysterious as it is beautiful.”

LOVES when Yuu speaks in French, especially when they quote French poets.

Lilia:

Immediately switches to French when speaking to Yuu, having lived in France for a while.

“Ah, Prefect, you know the joie de vivre of life!”

Constantly praises Yuu’s cooking skills—especially when they make quiche Lorraine.

Sebek:

Grabs Yuu’s arm and shakes it. “Why do you speak this complicated language!?”

“Why don’t you just shout your message instead of whispering it in French?!”

Gets very confused when Yuu speaks French in a calm tone, but respects the elegance.

Staff Reactions

Crewel:

Impressed by Yuu’s high standards.

“So, you actually do have good taste, Prefect. Fine, I’ll allow it.”

A little jealous of Yuu’s effortless chicness.

Trein:

Remembers his days in France and gets nostalgic.

“I do enjoy the fine wines and cheeses of your country, Prefect.”

Definitely gets into debates about which French wine is the best.

Sam:

Immediately begins stocking French snacks and eclairs in his shop.

“Buy your croissants here, mon ami!”

Event Character Reactions

Neige:

“Oh, mon dieu! I must visit France soon!”

Loves hearing about Yuu’s favorite French cities.

Is super excited to learn the art of French pastry making.

Chenya:

Loves how effortlessly charming Yuu is.

Constantly imitates French phrases like “la belle vie” just to annoy them.

Knows way too much about French movies and shares it with Yuu.

Rollo:

“Mon dieu, why do you speak this way?”

Gets annoyed by Yuu’s nonchalant attitude, especially when they casually use French insults.

Fakes being sophisticated to compete with Yuu.

Meleanor & Lilia (when younger):

Meleanor loves the sophistication of French culture.

Young Lilia adopts a heavy French accent whenever he’s trying to be charming.

More Random French Yuu Moments

Grim insists on learning how to say "croissant" correctly but always ends up sounding like a cat meowing.

Yuu introduces everyone to French music, including Édith Piaf and Daft Punk.

Yuu teaches everyone how to eat properly with baguettes and fromage (cheese).

Rook��s dramatic readings of French poetry become a daily occurrence.

Yuu constantly corrects people’s French pronunciation (and feels super smug about it).

[bibiddibobiddi-boo]

Rumors

Hello dearies~ I am back for pt. 4 of my Ace x Yuu angst~! Oh how I love this doomed pair~

Summary: There have been rumors around NRC about Yuu and a certain Octavinelle student

Pairing: minor Ace x Yuu, Jade x Yuu?

Cw: angst, gossiping, thoughts about love and cowardice

I recommend listening to Fever by Dua Lipa and Angèle while reading

Peut-être qu'avec du temps,

"Have you heard..."

"They say the prefect...."

".....Octavinelle.... Sophomore..."

"....Jade Leech...."

......

Ça partira.

"Dating!?" Ace exclaims as Epel told him the rumors, which earns him a shush from Deuce. They are still in the library.

"Wait. Come back to that," Ace whispers, looking at Epel as Epel looks bored already, "They are saying that Yuu and that guy from Octavinelle are dating!? What!?"

Et pourtant, et pourtant, et pourtant, je ne m'y vois pas.

"Yeah mate, ya hear' me," Epel says and shakes his head, opening his textbooks again. "People saw them being all cutesy and kissing."

They go back to silence, everybody studying for an upcoming test. Ace, however, is too caught up on the rumors.

So rumour has that Yuu and Jade Leech are dating? They had been seen kissing? Doing couple stuff?

Comme un médicament, moi, je suis rien sans toi.

Ace needs a moment. He stands up and leaves the library without a warning and runs to the nearest toilets. He locks himself in one of the stalls and sits on the floor to reflect.

He had managed to let his dream slip through his fingers. He had been coward. That part of him had showed up just when things were going right.

Sevens, please let this be a nightmare.

But it isn't.

Et je sais que, je sais que jе perds du temps dans tes bras.

He sees them when he leaves the toilets.

Jade and Yuu are walking down the corridor. They are close, Yuu is laughing and smiling, and Jade has a face of possible adoration.

Ace looks away and walks. Where? Good question. Anywhere really.

So the rumors are true.

Wandering around leads Ace to stop in front of the statues of the Sevens. The Queen of Hearts.

Car dans mes yeux, ça se voit.

How ironic. His steps took him back to where Ace and Yuu first met. It was quite the meeting honestly. The fight between Grim, the detention for all of them. Yuu and Grim chasing after him when he tried escaping detention, then meeting Deuce... Great memories.

His smile is bitter as he sits next to the statue.

What is stopping Ace of being with Yuu? What stopped him of saying "Yes, I love you" when they asked the other night, 3 months ago?

La fièvre dans les yeux, oui, ça se voit.

His cowardice.

What would he do when they were gone? How would he deal with a broken heart? 

Mon cœur se serre, j'ai du feu dans la voix.

He couldn't. And his stupid heart decided to prepare for it in advance by refusing to open up to them. Even if he had held Yuu close to it, he couldn't.

Le plus souvent,

As Ace sits there, students pass by. Life goes on. Nobody stops to ask him if he's okay, if he-

"Ace, did something happen?"

C'est quand je pense à toi

Ace raises his gaze. He feels he seen an angel. A beautiful, scary but dazing creature. Divine and out of reach. He smirks and shakes his head, putting up again his pretend game.

"Just happened to look at your gremlin face, Yuu."

Amour en fièvre...

They are doomed forever with me~

[ky-yk]

stand-in love (jwy x f!reader)

genre: fluff, angst || word count: 1k

author’s note: had this wony x reader fic sitting in my drafts completely empty bc i lost the original idea but thanks to this amazing (AND GAY) episode of love bites suddenly i can write again

you were known for a lot of things.

approachable, charming, and kind, you were everyone’s friend.

you were also quite clever: near perfect test scores, a continuous slew exemplary outputs used by teachers as “examples” for others (not without the scowls of some), and the eloquence that even the brightest minds envied.

you were a rational person. every move you made was calculated.

but you could not, for the life of you, remember what the hell was going through your head when you asked your best friend to be your girlfriend.

for practice.

in your messed-up head, it made perfect sense! you'd never been with a girl before, so why not practice for the real thing? you'd hate to be anything less than the best -- even more so as a girlfriend.

that would just be embarrassing.

so one day, while you and wonyoung were hanging out after class, you decided to pop the question.

"do you wanna go out with me?"

"huh?"

"f--for practice!"

nice save, y/n.

you stumbled over your words and waved your hands around as you tried to explain. "i mean, i've never been with a girl in that way before, you know? i don't wanna mess it up!"

she continued to eye you inquisitively, putting her fork down and leaning back against her seat. "and you think that going on a practice date is gonna help you?"

"it sounds stupid, i know," you sighed, putting your own fork down and leaning back into your seat.

"no no, continue. i wanna know where you were going with this," she urged you with an amused smile.

"you think that me dying alone is funny, wony?! man, what friend you are," you rolled your eyes at the girl while crossing your arms.

she looked at you, eyes wide and jaw dropped in disbelief. "i--didn't even say that?! wah, the gall of this one." it was her turn to roll her eyes.

you shook your head in amusement. "well, i was just thinking that it wouldn't be a good idea to go into it blind, you know? it's like a test; you've gotta be prepared!" you reasoned out.

"you're never beating the overthinker allegations, are you?"

"hey, it's a valid concern!" you semi-yelled defensively.

"i didn't say it was! it's just..."

"just?"

"a little overkill, don't you think? you can't just become the best girlfriend ever by studying or something -- it's not a test," she says.

you frown. "if you don't want to, you could've just said--"

"when did i say that, though?" she cuts you off.

"wait, so you would?"

"i mean, i don't see why not," she shrugs. "besides, you're paying, aren't you?" she asks cheekily.

"in your dreams, jang," you shot back.

"what date you are," she mumbled. you felt a small smile take over your features hearing the pout in her voice.

"anyways, just tell me when and where."

that was six months ago.

and now here you both were, cuddled up on the corner of your friend's couch while everyone else was seated around the coffee table playing some board game.

you looked over at your fake girlfriend, admiring her as she laughed at your friends' shenanigans before you poked her cheek. that seemed to catch her attention as she hums and looks at you like a puppy.

"i'm going to grab something from the kitchen, you want anything?"

"just a water, love," she replied.

"ne," you said taking the blanket that was covering you both off your lap and laying it on her.

once you were out of earshot, the group turned to wonyoung, faces ranging from confusion to surprise.

"love?" rei questioned.

"are you guys actually together, now?" leeseo asked excitedly, prompting gaeul to scoff.

"what do you mean, 'together'? i don't even like girls like that," wonyoung replied.

"sounded a lil too defensive, don't you think?" liz questioned.

"guys, let's stop ganging up on wony," yujin sighed. "that's for her to figure out."

"figure what out?" you asked as you walked into the living room, a glass of water in hand. "here you go, by the way."

"how this game works, y/n," liz chimed in, pulling a new board game out from under the coffee table.

"you wanted to play, wony?" you asked as you took a seat on the arm of the couch, looking down at her.

"nope, was just curious," she answered before she pulled you back into her lap by the waist. "besides, who's gonna keep you warm?" she continued, craning her neck to look up at you, prompting gaeul to fake vomit in the background.

you watched the girls play, unaware of your best friend's stare.

no way did they think we were actually together, did they? are we really that convincing of a couple? i mean, y/n is lovely, that's for sure. she takes care of me well, she's funny, and she's just so cuddly!

best friends think of each other this way, don't they?

slowly but surely, the girls started resigning and heading to their bedrooms for the night, leaving you and wonyoung in the living room.

"well, wanna head in for the night, wony?"

"no, i just wanna stay here for a while," she whispered. you leaned closer to hear her.

"why are you whispering, we're the only ones here," you whispered back. you note the proximity: breaths mingling with each other, noses barely touching, and her long eyelashes that you could individually count.

you also notice how her breathing seemingly quickened.

"no reason," she says, before leaning up and connecting your lips -- only for a second, though.

her eyes were hooded as she looked up at your wide eyes. that must've snapped her back to reality because her own eyes went wide as she moved to push you off her lap.

"wait wait, wony," you urged her but not before she pushed you away.

"i'm sorry, y/n," she whispered before going into her room and leaving you standing wondering what the hell just happened.

[sugutoad]

part 2 matchup for @eurydiceauxenfers

GAME OF THRONES MATCHUP

Feelings

Jaime felt something the first time he saw you— not desire, not amusement, but peace, and that scared him more than anything. Here you were, all bloodied up, but instead of laughing at you when you passed away, a sense of relief came over him as he held you close. He had made peace with being hated as the Kingslayer, even admired, but never understood. You asked him why he’d really killed the king, not with fear, not with awe, but with genuine curiosity.

But he kept you at arm’s length—teased you, tested you, challenged you—and you never flinched. You argued back, a small smile on your lips as you looked up at him. He pretended not to care, but the way you lit up when talking about your work, the rare times you laughed so hard you snorted, the way you offered your cloak to a coughing child without hesitation… It burned in his mind.

It wasn’t until you got hurt again—not grievously, but enough to bleed—that somethung came to him. He held your body as you insisted, breathless and stubborn, that “It’s fine, Jaime, I can still walk.” And he believed you could. He helped you anyway. His hands were gentle but his voice was tight. “Don’t do that again,” he’d murmured. “You don’t get to throw your life away. Not when I—”

He didn’t finish.

He realized it later, alone, holding a bloodied scrap of your bandage like a relic. He was in love with you. He wanted you safe, and free, and happy. Even if it meant watching you walk away. But gods help him, if you gave him the slightest reason to stay…

(something about Jaime and his feelings for you when he sees you hurt…)

—

You fell for Jaime slowly, then all at once. It started when he stopped laughing at you.

Most men did—laugh when you spoke too passionately, when you fumbled through court or forgot to curtsy. But Jaime didn’t. He watched, observing but not unkind. He listened when you explained why wildfire terrified you. Sometimes, he unconsciously stood too close when lords mocked your work—close enough that they remembered he was still Jaime Lannister.

You fell in love when he showed you his scars.

He didn’t speak, just guided your fingers across his ruined hand, his sword arm, the old burn on his side. You didn’t recoil. His breath hitched. Jaime Lannister, who hid every emotion behind his bravado and smirks stood vulnerably infront of you, almost as if he was a new man and you swore your heart skipped faster.

A Daughter?

You and Jaime did not want a child— not when ne was a part of the Kingsguard and you were someone who did not appreciate Westeros’s system, hoping to wait until it was better to raise a child. So with this, take it as after everything, a new au where the war does not exist or an accident that somehow happened

Her name is Elenya. Jaime chose it, oddly shy about it—“It’s from a song my mother use to sing to me about, something about stars.” You loved it immediately.

She is your daughter in the shape of a sunbeam.

Elenya has your eyes. Not in color—they're bright green, with gold flecks that gleam when she laughs—but in soul. Her hair is darker than Jaime’s, a dark golden, but her nose — her perfect nose that Jaime almost cried at when he saw — was undoubtedly yours. She had your smile and all your brain.

She’s sharp and stubborn and deeply sensitive. She throws tantrums when her blanket has a wrinkle, sobs when a song ends, and demands bedtime stories with three different endings, because she can’t choose just one.

And Jaime indulges every single wish of hers.

He brushes her hair into little braids every morning which makes the servants giggle—"Ser Jaime, you’re going to war, not court"—and he only growls, “This is more important.” She falls asleep on his chest most nights, wrapped in his white cloak. He reads her old tales—some true, most exaggerated—and always skips the endings where the hero dies.

But she’s your daughter too. She copies the way you organize your satchel, insists on watching you stitch wounds (“so I can fix people too, Mama”), and sings nonsense lullabies to sick animals. She’s already memorized every herb in your garden and insists chamomile tea can fix everything.

She adores stories. She writes her own plays, full of dragons and maidens who are heroes who use their brains instead of swords. She’ll talk your ear off about Targaryen lore or The Age of Heroes or how the stars might actually talk to each other.

But her logic is sharp, too. She asks questions like: “Why can’t women fight?” “Why is it brave when Father risks his life, but reckless when you do?” “Why did the gods make people if they knew they’d suffer?”

You blink, overwhelmed, and she just tilts her head. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I just want to know.”

She gives love like you do: acts of service, physical touch, and gift-giving. She’s constantly bringing people things—flowers, polished rocks, little scrolls with her thoughts or stories. She’s always holding someone's hand, linking arms, cuddling up. She has no idea how to say what she feels out loud (Jaime’s daughter, after all), but she shows it in everything.

Best Friend

Your best friend, although younger than you by 5 years (listen, you and Jaime always had an age gap in my mind) is Margaery Tyrell. She sees everything about you and loves you more for it.

Margaery is clever, ambitious, warm, and always composed—but she adores people who are a little messy, a little chaotic, a little unpredictable beneath the surface. She’d find your intensity refreshing, your dry wit hilarious, your obsessions charming, and your moral compass deeply comforting. She’d also be the one to tug you back when you’re spiraling into perfectionism—reminding you that you don’t always need to fight so hard to be enough, especially when she becomes Joffery’s Queen. She’d adore how hardworking you are and find your passions fascinating.

“Tell me again what a hydrocarbon is—slowly this time.”

Relationships

Cersei sees you as a threat to her control over Jaime at best. At worst? As a younger woman who dares to have both a brain and his heart. She hates how deeply Jaime listens to you, how easily you laugh together, how your mere presence chips away at the possessive hold she’s tried to keep on him her whole life. But here’s the thing—Cersei respects you. Resents you, yes, but she recognizes your intelligence, your fire, and your refusal to grovel. She once tried to intimidate you at court; you quoted Tacitus back at her and smiled. She’s still not over it..

Tyrion loves you. You’re one of the few people who challenge him without cruelty, who match his wit without trying to humiliate him. He thinks your perfectionism is adorable and your rants are his favorite thing—he’ll absolutely get drunk and ask you to teach him phrases just to flirt badly in a dead language. He’s fascinated by your relationship with Jaime—it’s the first time he’s ever seen his brother be soft without losing his edge. Tyrion flirts with you just enough to amuse you but never crosses a line. There’s a sibling-esque relatioship between you two: trading notes on ancient philosophy one moment, plotting petty revenge on Cersei the next.

Tywin underestimated you. Until he didn’t. When he first heard of you, he dismissed you—too small, too eccentric, too opinionated. A curious pet for his son to fawn over. But then you spoke. In council. Or court. Or some backroom confrontation where you calmly dismantled a legal loophole or medical argument with frightening precision. And Tywin… blinked. He doesn’t like you. But gods, he respects your mind. You're not afraid of him, at least you don’t seem afraid, and he hates that. Especially because Jaime, his golden boy, now quotes you. Defers to you. And Tywin knows better than anyone how rare that is.

Brienne doesn’t know what to make of you in the beginning onky that you’re kind to her. You never make her feel like a spectacle. You always thank her.And when you and Jaime start falling in love, Brienne sees it first. She watches the way he looks at you when you’re explaining something he doesn't understand, how he listens like it’s a sermon. She trusts you with him, and over time, she lets you in. You don’t mock her for her oaths. You admire them and in return, she feels safe with someone without feeling insecure about anything. Brienne becomes a fiercely loyal friend, the type to spar with you gently or help you sneak into places you’re absolutely not supposed to be for “research.”

Ship Song

sunlight by hozier

Moonboard

[mikeperrucci]

Chuck’s Devils: What Have We Learned?

Well, it’s over. After 504 pages of Chuck’s Devils and its Mini-Devils spin-off, there will be no more. Including prep time, I dedicated the past seven years to the comic. That’s about 15% of my life spent creating characters, writing dialogue, and devising storylines.

And I have nothing to show for it. No job, no money, no discernible fan base. I can’t say I’m surprised. There have been several other endeavors that I’ve spent years working toward only to have them completely fall apart.

Graphic Design

I graduated with only an associate's degree from a community college in 1999, yet I managed to get a job building websites from a local Internet service company. They went bankrupt two years later, but I got lucky when Bravenet Web Services found my online portfolio. They hired me to make art for their web tools, a position that lasted five and a half years.

I thought I would find another job in the graphic design field, but I went without full-time employment for over four years. Had I known the drought would last that long, I might have gone back to college. Instead, I swallowed my pride and went to work stocking groceries for Walmart. Today, tuition is way more expensive, and it’s much easier for people to create websites or AI-generated images. I’ve come to terms with the fact that a career in graphic design is no longer possible for me.

Smilies

In 2001, tiny emoticons called smilies were popular on forums. I decided to try making a few of my own, and they ended up becoming pretty popular. I was receiving requests from fans, so I kept making more. I signed a few licensing agreements and received some donations, but nothing substantial.

Over time, I had amassed over two thousand smilies. After twenty years, I ran out of ideas for new icons. At the same time, emoji emerged as a more popular, easier to use version of emoticons. I haven’t made any new smilies since 2021, and rarely dabble in pixel art anymore.

Domino Toppling

My brother and I used to set up domino courses with various stunts in the 90s. I put some of our old VHS videos on my website which were discovered by the producers of Penn & Teller: BS. They flew us to Las Vegas to spell out the name of their show in dominoes. When we got back, we decided to make our own dominoes in case we got any more paid gigs. They came in handy when the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center in Vermont invited us to put on exhibitions for five years.

Eventually, my brother had obligations that prevented him from taking time away from work, and I took the aforementioned Walmart job. Despite one of our YouTube videos somehow getting over 28 million views, traffic died off quickly and monetization was disabled. I tried to revitalize the channel by making smaller domino courses, but viewership was minimal. Besides, my knees, back, and butt are too broken down to set them up nowadays.

And the Rest

There are even more activities I’ve attempted and abandoned. I took piano lessons for two years until I got bored and stopped practicing. I played three games of Little League before I accepted the fact that I don’t have an athletic bone in my body. And I quit on my quest to score half a million points on NES Tetris.

I turned 47 not too long ago. As I approach half a century in this world, I realize I’ve spent most of it making things intended to entertain others. My website has many more examples of hats I’ve worn that have earned me zilch: Artist, illustrator, animator, game maker, writer, and now comic creator. It’s like a big monument to futility.

I have no one to blame but myself. If I had focused on getting really good at one discipline instead of being mediocre at a bunch of different stuff, my life would be much more bearable today. I suspect I’ve got some kind of disorder that explains my inability to focus, but I can’t afford to get tested, much less treatment. So I just do the best I can; unfortunately, “my best” totally sucks.

Trying to Stay Positive

So, is there anything I can be happy about? I suppose the fact that I actually finished Chuck’s Devils is something to be proud of. As you’ve seen, I’ve given up on many endeavors for many reasons. There were a couple of times when I went months without touching the comic, but I eventually returned and completed the story. The Mini-Devils reuniting with their taller twins confirms that everyone is living happily ever after and wraps everything up in a nice little bow.

Also, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank anyone who has ever read the comic. I’m not sure how you found it, since I’ve done such a horrible job promoting it. If you’re one of the handful of people who knows Chuck’s Devils even exists, I hope you got some kind of enjoyment out of it.

What’s Next?

I’ve always liked playing room escape games, and would like to design my own. I pretty much already have for Episode 40 of Chuck’s Devils, and I even escaped from a real one for my 40th birthday. Solving puzzles gives me a sense of accomplishment I don’t get in my day job. I don’t work at Walmart anymore, although I still stock groceries, and have been for the past thirteen years.

Of course, the popularity of the room escape genre seems to have vanished at the same time Flash did, so who knows what I’ll do. Now that the comic no longer takes up any of my time, I’ll be working more hours at the store, so whatever my next project is will take a while. There’s only one thing I know for sure: No matter what I try, it will end in failure.

Goodbye, Candace, Yu-Ri, and Lily. For the past seven years, you were the closest I’ve come to having friends. Helping you resolve your troubles and reach a brighter future was my sole mission in life. If only I could do the same for me.

[consolefixer]

July 28, 2024:

Recently, I picked up a Japanese Nintendo Famicom top loader from eBay. This Famicom console had the HDMI mod and I decided to add to my collection. I have already tested both NES (w/ adapter) and Famicom games, and works without issues. If you want to check out some game clip captures, I will post on my YouTube channel tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by! #nintendo #famicom #retrogamer #nes

https://youtube.com/@console_gamer416?si=0hecRBR92noBl4lL

[spinningbuster98]

Castlevania (NES) Part 2: Old school sclerosis

Is Classic Castlevania gameplay outdated?

I think that many newcomers might immediately say yes. How can it not be outdated? It controls super stiff and it’s bullshit hard!

Not to play the part of an old school elitist telling others to git gud, but those stiff controls? They’re not the product of their time, they’re intentionally made that way, they are largely the point of this gameplay

First off: this game was made in 1986, the first Super Mario Bros came out a year earlier and allowed you to control your jumps in mid air. Mega Man would come out just a year after and it also has mid air jump controls, so this can’t be a case of “old NES era limitations”. Even if it were then how would you explain the games keeping these controls well after Super Castlevania 4?

The reason the Belmonts can’t change the direction of their jumps mid air and can’t whip in more than a single direction is the same reason why Mega Man can’t aim in multiple directions or why Sonic can’t stop on a dime in the Genesis games: these are intentional limitations that work in-tandem with the level design and enemy placement in order to provide the player with a specific challenge. You can’t aim in multiple directions in Mega Man so you have to aim very carefully and make use of your other weapons. You can’t stop on a dime in Sonic because the focus is learning how to make the physics-based gameplay work to your advantage.

The reason why the jump is so stiff in these games is because the games want the players to be really precise and meticulous with their jumps, while also being very precise in regards to how you deal with enemies: you’ll notice that your whip attacks aren’t instantaneous, there’s a brief wind up before it hits which not only makes each hit have more punch imo but it also serves to test the player’s timing in a subtle way: if you just spam the attack button you’ll get inconsistent hit rates, you have to time your button presses precisely in order to execute attacks at a fast rate, following a sort of rythm. Keep in mind: this idea of purposefully delaying the player’s attack in order to force them to find a rythm of sorts is still used in games today, like Dark Souls

The Classic Castlevania gameplay is not outdated, it’s about tough as nails platforming and combat that requires precision, quick reflexes and for the player to find ways to circumvent the limited movement. Make no mistake: everything can be avoided and defeated with this control scheme. That’s not to say that if you don’t like it you’re a disgrace to the series’ name or “not a real gamer” or anything like that, I’m just saying that not every design decision of old retro games was due to an “outdated mentality”

... that said however the original Castlevania is indeed pretty janky at times by virtue of still being a mid 80s game

Sometimes the enemy placement is just straight up unfair, especially whenever stairs are involved: these are another intentional design element, with the fact that you can’t jump or off of them thus having to carefully maneouver on them while dealing with enemies...but when you’re dealing with enemies that have pretty much random patterns like those bone throwing skeletons and with the fact that sub weapons will often refuse to activate while you’re climbing some stairs since the command to activate your sub weapon requires you to hold up on the D Pad and that’s also what you do to climb them

Then there’s the bosses

I must give credit where it’s due: these guys have lots of personality for the time. NES bosses back then were usually not very special: Mario just had you throw Bowser in lava about 8 times. Zelda just had you fight random monsters before you finally reach Ganon. Castlevania actually features completely unique and memorable bosses for each stage a whole year before Mega Man and the fact that they’re all iconic horror monsters definitely helps out

But the actual quality of the fights leaves a lot to be desired: the giant Bat is a joke but ok it’s the first boss. Medusa won’t even know what hit her since she’s the only boss vulnerable to the Stop Watch

The Mummies of Stage 3 are where shit starts hitting the fan: these guys have no real pattern that I know of, they just lumber back and forth randomly and throw bandages at you making the process of dodging them almost impossible. Frankenstein’s monster is even worse: the Creature itself will just go back and forth like a moron but its little helper will start hopping all over the place at complete random and its invincible! This is where the tried and true Classicvania strategy starts shining through: when in doubt douse it with Holy Water

Holy Water, in these games especially, can be disgustingly OP, thus making it the best weapon against the bosses. However using it against them will often require you to do a no-death run of the stage since you usually only find it at the start of the stage (and for the love of God don’t accidentaly pick up another weapon in the process, ESPECIALLY the knife), which can...certainly be an experience though to be fair here: the stages of Castlevania 1 are pretty short and there’s only 6 of them in total

Also Wicked Child is my favorite track in the game, more than even Vampire Killer, come at me!

[clevereverest]

Lovely List of My Written Works (Part 1)

For stories published between June 21, 2023 to December 25, 2024 • Part 2 of List is ongoing

Search “#clevereverest fic promos” for summaries and tags!

— First person listed in the relationships tags is the story’s POV unless otherwise specified

Completed Multichapter Post - “Now or Never”

My AO3 Dashboard

Sleepless - Race/Spot • 3,240 words • 2/2 CH

Racetrack struggles to fall asleep and accidently wakes up Spot in the process.

A Knowing Winner - Spot/Race • 2,327 words

Race asks Spot to play the ever-unpredictable game of truth or dare with him, and Spot can't bring himself to say no to such a convincing argument (that being Race asking him twice to play instead of once).

Something to Share with You - Race/Spot • 2,488 words

Racetrack plays sudoku every day with running feedback from Spot, who understands nothing, and Race decides that he wants to teach his boyfriend how to play.

Requests - Finch/Albert • 3,717 words

Albert has a late-night request to be sung to, and Finch reflects on a request of his own that holds a special place in his heart.

Taste Tests - Spot/Race • 3,813 words

On a whim, Spot and Race try out fruits they've never had.

To Ease The Mind - Race & Newsies • 7,635 words

Two times when Race reads to others, and one time when he's read to.

Do You Read Me? - Albert/Finch • 7,104 words

Best friend sensors don't tell you everything, unfortunately. Albert and Finch learn that fact the hard way.

Fall(ing) - Spot/Race • 3,831 words

It's the first day of fall, and Spot and Race decide to spend it in Central Park.

[ Part 1/2 in “All Things Fall” Series ]

Margin Notes - Race & Albert • 2,148 words

Race and Albert decide to bake on Friday the 13th. It doesn't exactly go to plan...

[ Newsiestober 2023 - Day 13: Baking ]

(Frightful) Fall Fest - Race/Spot, Race & Everyone • 9,549 words

Four weeks into fall, Race and Spot attend a festival with their closest friends.

[ Halloween! (Newsies' Version) 2023 // Part 2/2 in “All Things Fall” Series ]

Was the Moon Especially Bright? - Finch/Albert, Race/Spot • 6,108 words

Finch nor his friends could explain why or how Halloween changed, but they couldn't deny it happened even if they tried to.

[ Newsiestober 2023 - 7 Days: Multi-Prompt, In Tags // Halloween! (Newsies’ Version) 2023 ]

Lovesome - Albert/Finch • 3,000 words

Mr. and Mr. DaSilva-Cortez have an equally fun, relaxed, and more-than-mildly surprising evening together.

Joy to Us - Spot/Race (both POVs) • 6,923 words • 2/2 CH

Spot and Race celebrate a special Christmas together.

[ Part 1/2 in “Making Spirits Bright” Series ]

A Merry Pair - Albert/Finch (both POVs) • 8,328 words • 2/2 CH

With Christmas comes new memories for Albert and Finch.

[ Part 2/2 in “Making Spirits Bright” Series ]

Exactly Two Weeks - Spot/Race, Spot & Everyone • 999 words

It's Spot's 21st birthday! (Which is exactly two weeks after Christmas, by the way.)

Nothing Can Break Us - Race/Spot • 9,726 words

Promoted from a second in command, Race must withstand the taxing trials of leadership. It was only a matter of time before his friends noticed something was wrong.

[ Newsies Fic Exchange 2023-24 ]

Confess - Albert/Finch • 1,275 words

Albert confesses to Finch.

Worth It - Albert & Race • 663 words

Albert and Race get matching tattoos.

One-Upping - Sarah & Spot • 713 words

While bouldering, Sarah and Spot aim to outdo each other.

Now or Never - Spot/Race • 72,124 words • 13/13 CH

Spot recently realized he was in love with none other than Racetrack Higgins. Instead of simply confessing, Spot crafted the perfect plan to see if Race would like him back — with a pretty damn embarrassing inspiration behind it involving laser tag.

[ Part 1 of “Hopelessly Hoping” Series ]

Hindered - Katherine/Sarah • 1,471 words

Late in the night, Katherine eventually stops staring blankly at her article, and she finds Sarah still awake, too.

[ Sapphic Blues (Newsbians) Event Week ]

Delays - Sniper/Hotshot/Smalls • 1,594 words

Sniper and Hotshot wait for Smalls to get home, and they’re all delayed before getting to sleep for the night.

[ Two’s A Pair, Three’s A Party (Poly Ship) Event Week ]

Midnight - Albert/Finch • 5,443 words

Albert joins Finch on a nighttime trip to go stargazing.

[ Part 1/4 in “Seeing You in a New Light” Series ]

Sunrise - Finch/Albert • 5,481 words

Finch joins Albert on an early morning trip to watch the sunrise.

[ Part 2/4 in “Seeing You in a New Light” Series ]

Midday - Albert/Finch • 8,700 words

Albert, Race, and JoJo go with Finch to support him during an archery competition.

[ Part 3/4 in “Seeing You in a New Light” Series ]

Pay Up - Spot/Race • 739 words

Spot gets 'stuck' in the bedroom with a tax to settle.

[ Six Thousand and Sixteen Feet (Sprace) Event Week ]

Sunset - Finch/Albert • 5,828 words

Finch and Albert go out on a special dinner date together.

[ Part 4/4 in “Seeing You in a New Light” Series ]

Denial Has Limits - Skittery/Bumlets/Swifty • 24,937 words • 5/5 CH

Over the years, Skittery built up a strong wall of explanations for unidentifiable things and dubious possibilities. Unfortunately, his denial isn't infallible, and he's forced to confront the truth in due time.

[ Newsies Fic Exchange 2024 // Part 1/2 in “Finite” Series ]

You and… - Finch/Albert (both POVs) • 10,112 words • 2/2 CH

Finch and Albert deal with a recently strained friendship and unexplored feelings.

[ Part 2 of “Hopelessly Hoping” Series ]

Careful - Finch/Albert • 1,955 words

Finch and Albert make out, but a level of vulnerability is accidentally breached.

Hide and Seek - Race/Spot • 202 words

Race plays hide and seek with his daughter.

Flora - Sarah/Katherine • 2,578 words

Sarah goes on a picnic date with Katherine.

New Experiences - Smalls/Sniper/Hotshot • 7,210 words

During the early weeks of September, Smalls meets a pretty girl and learns how it can turn out well for all parties involved.

[ Part 1/2 in “To Fall In Love” Series ]

Today’s the Day! - Albert/Finch • 1,518 words

The time finally feels right for Finch to access his Potential, and Albert can't wait to see it.

[ Hey, Red Event Week // Newsiestober 2024 - 6 Days: Multi-Prompt, In Tags ]

All-Encompassing - Albert/Finch, Race/Spot • 6,022 words

Spot and Finch get possessed by ghosts with plans for torment. They aren't the only ones affected by this.

[ Newsiestober 2024 - Day 15: Possessed ]

Did the Moon Hear You? - Race/Spot, Albert/Finch (all POVs) • 10,563 words

It starts when Finch shares something he'd never told his friends before. Spot doesn't know what to think of it, and things spiral into the realm of impossibility for Race and Albert.

[ Newsiestober 2024 - Day 18: Bad Moon Rising ]

There'll Never Be Another - Specs/Romeo • 808 words

Romeo talks in his sleep, and while Specs has heard a lot of it before, tonight's dream is unexpected.

[ AO3 15th Anniversary Prompt Challenge - Day 4: Dreams ]

Thieves Steal What? - Race/Spot, Race & Albert • 1,906 words

Race and Albert, professional criminals, attend the royal family's masquerade ball.

[ AO3 15th Anniversary Prompt Challenge - Day 12: Masquerade ]

Wait and Learn - Albert & JoJo, Albert/Finch • 2,067 words

At the college's food court, Albert sees a really handsome guy. Unable to introduce himself, JoJo gives him the push he needs.

[ Part 2/2 in “To Fall In Love” Series ]

Home for the Holidays - Spot/Race • 2,036 words

Spot and Race spend Christmas with each other, perfectly side-by-side more often than not.

[ Part 3 in “Hopelessly Hoping” Series ]

[inmaki]

HI ZU!!! HOW ARE YOU?!?

Thank you for believing in me I got a good mark on my most recent test :> I am sure the energy passed to the mark >:]]]] And you’re right abt meeting new ppl but my school is… VERY sports oriented and I am not, so most of the people in my classes I often can’t connect with. There are exceptions though, two specifically!! I go to their games because they are my pookies I love them :]

Also… l was abt to also judge/lh you for the Gojo fn skin but… I remembered I spent $90 on the MLP mobile game when I was 11 so… I can’t rlly say anything huh !!! Speaking of games though, that SV take is valid, it is so boring early on 😭 And in the later game it can get a little repetitive… I got so bored to the point of marrying and then divorcing all the guy bachelors just to see their divorcé dialogue 💀 I couldn’t do it to the girls because 1) I love women !! All ways!! 2) My friends threatened to stop talking to me if I did 💀 I feel like if Gojo played SV or any game with romanceable characters he would do the same… Idk if that says something abt him or me but it’s saying something…

Anyways, hope you’re doing well <3333

-🕊️

HI DOVE NONIE <3333 AY COMGRATS ON UR TEST!! ok i get u abt the sport oriented ppl omg i would be terrified too 💀 IM GLAD U GOUND SOME FRIENDS THO GOOD JOB LDMSJD

and stop stop u js gave ne such nostalgia THAT GAME WAS THE FUCKING SHIT. OMG do u rememver the BALL CATCHING MINI game AND THE APPLE CATCHING one ogmrodh i loved that game sm 😭

whats sv.. its late my brains gone uhh i hate acrobyms help

[dzthenerd490]

File: Nes Godzilla

SCP#: ADG

Code Name: The Kaiju within a video game/ The Unheard Destroyer of Earth: Red/ [data expunged]: King of Nightmares

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: The sole copy of SCP-ADG is kept in the anomalous media storage unit of Site-AA. It is placed within a safe that is locked with an-8 digit passcode that will set off a hidden but powerful explosive should the wrong code be input. The safe is 5x5 meters, large enough for two AFA-1's armed with Foundation laser guns to fit inside and guard SCP-ADG within. Should an intruder manage to input the right passcode, they will be shot on sight, even if they are Foundation Staff. Testing has been restricted due to the potential hazard of an XK Class End-of-the-World Scenario. 

Description: SCP-ADG is a video game copy of the 1988 game Godzilla: Monster of monsters. As everyone knows Godzilla is known by the Foundation as SCP-ABQ so you might be wondering how it's possible for the public to have made a video game about something that should be classified? That's because SCP-ABQ has been spotted quite a few times off the coasts of several major cities all the way back to its discovery in 1954. Mobile Task Force Gamma-5 "Red Herrings" tried their best to erase its existence and when it was later formed along with the internet, Mobile Task Force Dionysus-1 "Fake News helped. However, no matter what they did SCP-ABQ still managed to get caught and circulated within the ever-growing internet. To prevent this from getting out of control Toho Co., Ltd. was asked to create a movie franchise out of the SCP-ABQ, using photo sightings and recordings as promotional material. This was the birth of a long movie franchise, that somehow made millions despite only being made for the purpose of hiding an anomaly in plain view. 

As with any franchise there also came toys, cartoons, comics, and finally videogames. SCP-ADG is a copy of one such game though for whatever reason has become the prison of an extremely dangerous anomaly. Upon first glance, SCP-ADG is a seemingly normal copy of the game with a few minor glitches here and there. However, as the player progresses through the game, they will begin to experience strange occurrences. Such oddities include red glitching with uncomfortable noises, characters changing into obscure and grotesque versions of themselves, the appearances of even more disturbing looking kaiju characters, and the game itself asking the player strange questions.  

Should the player continue the game they will eventually encounter a grotesque and evil entity known as SCP-ADG-RED. SCP-ADG-RED is a horrific kaiju character within the game having 4 insect legs, a crimson fleshy body, a short tail, two shriveled up and folded arms, and a head that resembles a human face if it was skinned. SCP-ADG-RED has the anomalous ability to always be aware of the player and what they say, even being able to send messages to them through the screen. 

SCP-ADG-RED has the desire to taunt and torment the player by making the landscape the player traverses through, slowly transform into an absolute nightmare. Throughout most of the playthrough SCP-ADG-RED is indestructible forcing the player to run in order to keep their character alive. Though the player is eventually allowed to fight SCP-ADG-RED the entity always makes it so that it has an overwhelming advantage to the point that it's impossible to kill it regardless. Furthermore at this point its impossible to stop the game as the player will become trapped by SCP-ADG-RED in the real world only able to pause or resume playing but can't do anything else. Though it is possible to receive help form other characters within the game.

A horrific trait of SCP-ADG-RED is that when it finally defeats the player in the game it is able to steal their soul. Not only does this make SCP-ADG-RED stronger but it likes to torture the souls within the game making them feel pain for all eternity. However, it is possible for them to fully defy their captivity and free the player forms certain restrictions in the game that SCP-ADG-RED enforces. According to the notes left by [data expunged] SCP-ADG-RED trapped the soul of his late girlfriend but because of their bond she broke free and helped him fight SCP-ADG-RED to both free her soul and himself. Though it seems they got a majority of the help form the unlocked character known as SCP-ADG-GOLD.

SCP-ADG-GOLD is a secret character within the game called Acalus who is a golden humanoid kaiju with three spikes on his back and a head that resembles a knight's helmet. He, like many other characters within SCP-ADG, is not featured anywhere in the Toho Godzilla franchise or even among the cataloged members of Species of Interest: The Titans. Regardless previous testing shows that SCP-ADG-GOLD is the only character powerful enough to defeat SCP-ADG-RED and free the player forms its grasp. Doing this also allows all previous unfortunate players who have their souls trapped be free form SCP-ADG, but only if this is done. Currently not only is this the only method to free any trapped souls but it's extremely difficult to obtain SCP-ADG-GOLD. It has become more difficult as SCP-ADG-RED is aware this has become a strategy of the Foundation players; it is for this reason testing has been restricted.

Why SCP-ADG-GOLD and RED exist the way they do and why RED targets and torments players of the game is unknown. Though given the nature of SCP-ADG, the working theory is that in this alternate world SCP-ADG-RED managed to kill SCP-ABQ and all of its allies and after taking over the earth he decided to go to another reality, our reality. However, he ended up trapped in our game either due to an accident, or possibly because of SCP-ADG-GOLD trying to stop him. Its also been theorized that both SCP-ADG-RED and GOLD being spawns of the Scarlet King with RED being born from A’NUHT and GOLD being born form A’HABBAT. These theories have been criticized as outlandish but given what we here at the Foundation have encountered in the past, they have not been ruled out as impossible.

SCP-ADG was discovered in 2011 when [data expunged] sold the copy on Ebay with a written warning to stop playing if they encounter SCP-ADG-RED. What drew Foundation attention to the copy was a bidding war that occurred between Groups of Interest: TotleighSoft and Arcadia. Ultimately Arcadia won but the package was intercepted by Mobile Task Force Alpha-4 "Pony Express". Testing with D Class began immediately, and as it continued SCP-ADG-RED won more and more, eating the souls of D Class, seemingly growing smarter and stronger as a result. ultimately when SCP-ADG-RED managed to steal at least five souls it caused an [data expunged], in response all further testing was restricted to prevent SCP-ADG from growing in power. It is unknown how many souls SCP-ADG-RED needs in order to break out of the game, but should it ever do so there is a very likely chance the end result will be an XK Class End-of-the-World Scenario.

Side note: The one who sold SCP-ADG on ebay was found to be trying to tell his story online. All evidence of his personal encounter were deleted, and he was given Class G Amnestics. 

.

SCP: Horror Movie Files Hub

[game-boy-pocket]

For the record, my experience with Final Fantasy is that I have:

Beat Final Fantasy 1 several times, including the vanilla NES version, romhacked NES version, and the GBA remake.

Beat Final Fantasy 2 once on the GBA, where it was said to be much easier, and am trying to slog through the original.

Played the DS version of FF3 and made it to the final boss but never beat it

Played a great deal of FF4 but never beat it

Played like 5 minutes of FF5 when testing a bunch of roms

Played a chunk of FF6, had fun with it, but didn't finish it, will need to restart it.

Played FF7 but never made it out of Midgar

Played FF9 but stopped a for reasons I don't remember, not that far into the story, I think I was at Freya's home town?

Beat FF Mystic Quest

Beat FF Legends

Played a good chunk of Crystal Chronicles with a friend, would be interested in revisiting that

That's about it. I don't think i'm interested in any FF games released on consoles newer than the PS2/GCN. But I've definitely tried very hard to get into this series. It feels like such a staple that i'm missing out on.

[redshellretro]

Decided to stop in to the pawn shop that never has any older game stuff and I finally found a NES locally that is in decent condition (just dirty but I can fix that lol)

NES had all the hook ups and the lady tested it for me first to make sure it would work, then she ended up giving me the games for free

[realest8saint]

Discover Spielbound: Omaha's Ultimate Winter Family Fun Spot

Winter is just around the corner, and if you're a parent like me, you're probably wondering how to keep your kids entertained during those cold, snowy days. Well, worry no more! In this weekly blog series, I'll be sharing unique and affordable winter experiences right here in Omaha that are perfect for families. Whether you're new to the city or a long-time resident, I hope to help you discover some fantastic places to create lasting memories with your loved ones. Today, let's dive into a place that my family absolutely LOVES... my first featured spot: Spielbound! Their mission statement, purpose and goals are directly from their website.

Spielbound: Where Fun and Games Meet

Mission statement:

We believe games inspire, motivate, and help us grow. In this positive space, we seek to provide all people the challenge, art, and fun unique to the world of board games.

Purpose:

Spielbound educates, engages, and creates community through board games.

Goals:

collect and maintain a comprehensive collection of board games from around the world;

provide a comfortable space for the community to come together and play board games;

encourage creativity through designing board games;

promote and reward positive gamesmanship;

spread joy and critical thinking through increased game playing by all.

Location: 3229 Harney Street, Omaha, NE

Overview: Spielbound is not your average hangout spot; it's the largest board game café in the entire United States! With games for sale, and a whopping collection of approximately 3000 playable games, this place offers endless hours of fun and entertainment for kids and adults alike. Plus, it's a family-friendly environment where everyone can enjoy quality time together.

More Than Just a Game Café

Spielbound goes beyond just being a board game café. It's also a nonprofit corporation with a heart for spreading the joy of gaming. They accept donated games in good condition, and you can even sign up to volunteer monthly to help catalog and repair these games. It's a wonderful way to give back to the community while sharing your love for board games.

Opening Hours and Contact Info

Spielbound is open to the public during these hours:

Sunday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Friday and Saturday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM

Website: www.spielbound.com Phone: (402) 763-8444

Food and Drinks

While you and your family enjoy your gaming sessions, you can also indulge in some delicious treats. Spielbound offers a variety of options, including coffee drinks, craft beer, wine, and an excellent menu featuring really good pizza and other snacks. It's the perfect place to refuel and recharge during your gaming adventures.

The Spielbound Challenge

Don't forget to ask about the Spielbound challenge! It's a fun way to test your gaming skills and possibly win some exciting prizes. Challenge accepted, right?

In Conclusion:

If you're looking for a winter destination that promises fun, quality time with your family, and a wide selection of board games, Spielbound should be your next stop. Whether you're a board game enthusiast or just looking for a unique way to beat the winter blues, Spielbound has something for everyone. So, bundle up and head over to 3229 Harney Street to create unforgettable winter memories with your loved ones. My family and I hope to see you there!

[likeablechelsey]

Why I Love Bubbles So Much

Today was 30°C in the GTA. The hot where the sun feels like it’s sitting in your lap, and you stop pretending you don’t want a Drumstick ice cream cone for lunch. I had my sunglasses and summer music on, and then it hit me: the bubble craving.

You know the one—that deep, inexplicable urge to fill the sky with shimmering, floating spheres of joy. I went to the closet, pulled out my trusty bubble machine from last year, and… nothing. Dead. Not even a sputter. I fiddled with the batteries, turned it upside down, and blew into it like it was a vintage NES cartridge, but nope. It was gone.

Enter the hero of the day: my new Gazillion Bubbles Bubble Rush machine.

Let me say that Gazillion Bubbles is the real deal. I’ve tested other brands—some too watery, some smell weird, others barely make a few bubbles—but Gazillion? Always thick, floaty, beautiful bubbles that catch the light like tiny crystal balls. Their formula is just better. I don’t care what science says. You can try to convince me there’s no difference, but I will always know in my soul that there is. Here’s their website if you’re curious or need to see for yourself.

I ordered the new machine on Instacart like a person possessed. The delivery driver thought I had kids at home. Nope, it’s just me and Lily. My dog. The actual bubble addict in this house.

Lily is an 11-year-old rescue who still moves like a puppy when the bubbles come out. She hears that first hum of the machine turning on, and boom—ears perk up, the tail starts wagging, and she’s instantly in the zone. She’ll sprint, leap, twist in mid-air, tongue flapping, chasing every single one like it holds the secrets of the universe. She once head-butted a garden barrel chasing a big bubble that floated off course. The gnome didn’t survive, but Lily was very proud.

The new Gazillion machine is an upgrade in all the right ways. First off, it’s rechargeable. No more replacing AA batteries like I’m stocking a remote control museum. Just plug it in, charge it up, and you’re ready to go. A full charge lasted me well over an hour today, and that’s with the machine running non-stop. Honestly, that one feature alone is a game-changer.

It’s also still super portable, just like my old one. I can toss it in a tote and bring it anywhere—picnic at the park, a friend’s backyard BBQ, even up north for weekends at the cottage. I’ve learned over the years that people don’t realize how much they need bubbles in their lives until they suddenly surround them. It makes everyone stop. Look up. Smile. It’s as if it unlocks a childhood instinct that most people have forgotten they had.

There’s something about bubbles that hits a particular emotional note for me. Maybe it’s the way they shimmer—iridescent and temporary. Perhaps it’s the gentle chaos of them—hundreds of perfect orbs swirling unpredictably on a breeze. Or maybe it’s just that they’re fun. There is no hidden agenda, no goal to achieve—just joy for the sake of pleasure.

And yes, I fully recognize that I’m a grown adult who gets excited about bubble solution delivery. But I’ve also spent enough years doing serious things—deadlines, bills, meetings, emails with “circling back” in them—to know that you need a little magic in your day. Bubbles give me that. They turn my backyard into a playground. They make my dog wild with happiness. They make me laugh out loud, alone, with no screen or punchline required.

Plus, watching bubbles float through a heatwave afternoon is the definition of summer. Today, I sat in the shade with cold water in my Stanley, Lily sprinting through the lawn like a tiny linebacker, and the air filled with bubbles. Some drifted up high and popped against the sky. Others landed on the lawn and shimmered until they burst. One stuck to Lily’s nose for a solid five seconds before she cross-eyed it into oblivion.

And the best part? No clean-up. No mess. Just turn off the machine, recharge it for next time, and you’re done. If you’ve never used a bubble machine before—especially a Gazillion one—you have to try it. The output is insane. Do you think you’ve seen many bubbles before? Wait until this thing kicks into gear. It’s not just a handful—it’s a full-on storm. You don’t even need wind. It creates its breeze from the sheer volume.

People walking by my house will often stop and stare when the bubbles are going. I don’t even care. Let them think I’m throwing a kid’s birthday party. If they ask, I say, “Nope, this is just a Tuesday.”

Bubbles are cheap joy. And I don’t mean “cheap” in a bad way—I mean accessible. Uncomplicated. They cost a few bucks, but the happiness they create is worth way more. No app recreates that feeling. There is no filter, no soundtrack, no algorithm—just good old-fashioned wonder.

And that’s why I love bubbles so much.

They remind me that happiness can be simple. Sometimes, the best part of a scorching hot day in the summer isn’t the AC or iced coffee—it’s the unexpected arrival of a new bubble machine on your doorstep. It’s your dog leaping into the air like she’s in an action movie. It’s the smell of summer, the sound of whirring gears, and a sky full of floating joy.

I’ll end on this: if you’re having a rough day or need a reset, get yourself a bottle of Gazillion Bubbles and go nuts. Blow them from a balcony. Please bring them to the beach. Or turn on your machine and let the magic handle itself. You might feel silly for a minute, but I promise—by the third or fourth bubble, you’ll remember exactly why this matters.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll have a Lily of your own to share it with.