#Shop Cockroach Control

[syoddeye]

consequence / ink

price x f!reader | 1.6k words series directory tags: alcohol, miscommunication (resolved) a/n: john is a down bad, as the youths would say. thank you to my beloved @/pfhwrittes for britpicking. ☕

her cast is gone. a sleeve hides the arm, but it’s clearly off.

john holds the door for a customer, unsure if he ought to take another step or retreat while he can. he tried to compose a text on the flight, on the drive, in the shower. a heads-up, a ‘hello, i’ve returned, i’m sorry, don't worry about my face when you see it’—but he couldn’t. somehow, he thought simply turning up would be better.

when she spots him, the look on her face says a text would’ve been the right call.

ah, well.

she glares over the other man’s shoulder as he pays. he’s truly awful because it only makes him happier to see her. if she didn’t care, her face would be a blank slate.

the man takes a short eternity to move to the end of the bar. john checks to ensure he isn’t holding up a queue he knows isn’t there, if only to buy another second—

“yurbeck.” she blurts out.

“sorry?”

slower, she repeats herself, “you’re back.”

“i am. you’re healed up.” 

“you’re not.”

the black eye he sports is ugly but faded. yellowish, with ugly splotches of blood still pooled beneath the skin. he’d like to say, you should see the other guy, but the bastard’s probably jaguar shit by now. instead, he shrugs. “looks worse than it feels. can we grab a drink when you’re off?”

she glances and frowns at her coworker, who’s clearly listening in over the noise of the espresso machine and sighs. her uncertainty is as plain as day.

“no.”

alright. damage control. he can fix this, he thinks, heart crashing into his gut. he didn’t leave her on bad terms. “listen, i know—”

she interrupts a second time. “we’ll go to mine.”

his mouth shuts, teeth clacking. he won’t argue with that.

~~

before you leave the café, you check your last exchange.

>> thanks for dinner the other night. i had a wonderful time. unfortunately, i won’t be by for a bit.

> ominous > prison?

>> not quite. work. i won’t be able to text.

> well don’t be gone too long > i might forget your order

it’s ridiculous, in hindsight, all your worrying over a man you assumed ghosted you. a regular you took a stupid leap of faith for. the shopping trip was a way to test the waters, and despite an awkward intensity he seemed desperate to hide and his bad jokes, john charmed you. even when you extended the exam to your place, he passed. no snide comments about cece or the decor. he helped with cooking without being asked. washed the dishes. it was a wonderful time. he said it. you believed it.

but two months isn’t ‘a bit’. it’s a disappearing act.

you say as much, as annoyed with yourself as you are with him. he quietly concedes he could have explained better. you tell him friends don’t go MIA for weeks. he laughs.

~~

“funny you should say that.”

“what?”

john stares hard at her profile as they walk. this part is always hard. pivotal. he puts it simply: “i’m in the military—special forces. that’s why i was ‘MIA’, as you put it.”

her brows raise, but she doesn’t falter. “oh.”

his lip curls. he’s been cussed out, fawned over, and ditched entirely for sharing his profession. no one usually reacts so little. it’s a divisive topic. everyone’s got an opinion. 

“that’s it? oh?” john echoes, trying to tease something out. he once listened to her harsh critique of the illegibility of packaging at the café—he cannot imagine her indifference as genuine. “you can ask questions, y’know.”

“okay. where were you? what were you doing?”

crawling on my belly through mud and fending off giant cockroaches. shooting. getting shot at.

“seeing the sights, meeting people.”

that withering glare returns, but it’s shorter-lived this time. she huffs. “see, i assumed ‘special forces’ means it’s the type of military business you don’t get answers about.”

“yes and no. i can’t compromise my clearance.”

“what can you tell me?”

he smiles when she sneaks a look, irritation giving way to curiosity. “i sunburn very easily.”

she snorts. “no way, not with that complexion.”

“and, i have thirty, forty mosquito bites where the sun doesn’t shine.”

john’s bruised cheek hurts from grinning as she laughs. this is the first time he’s heard it uninhibited, neither bitten back nor politely smothered by a hand. he needs to brush up on his humor. he needs to hear that sound more often.

“sorry. i’m a mess.”

john aligns their shoes and removes his jacket. it’s hardly messy. her flat appears mostly unchanged, except for the small mountain of citrus on her dining table. a single banana. she starts to sweep it into a plastic bin, but he catches a stray orange, and his thumb drags over an odd indentation. he turns it in hand, eyebrows pitching at the sight of a rose etched into the skin.

“is this…?” 

he watches her press a machine into a foam insert, then hurriedly zip a case shut. the look on her face clearly says he wasn’t supposed to see that. 

she takes the orange and shrugs. “something i’m having fun with. a new hobby.”

“solid work for a hobby.”

“don’t tease.”

“you’d know if i was.” 

she excuses herself to change after setting the bin aside, stepping over a wary cece. the cat stands guard at the mouth of the hall. unimpressed. he can practically hear the and where have you been?

john gives the cat a fond but tight smile. he’ll need to get in good with her again, too, it seems. he checks the water bowl before settling onto the couch. cece follows to investigate, her tiny black nose tapping his knuckles when he offers a hand. 

her aloofness swiftly melts after he coaxes her into his lap, though he suspects that the subsequent stabbing of her kneading paws is her brand of punishment. little thing seems to relish it.

“you can move her if she’s too much.”

his face lifts, and he wonders if the cat feels the palpitations in his chest.

given what he’s only just learned, he shouldn't be surprised, but the patchwork tattoos decorating her arms steal his breath anyway. the impulse to touch is instant. to trace every fine line and jealously ask where she had them done and by whom. 

he grips the arm of the couch hard, and cece pauses her biscuit-making, eyes half-lidded and judgmental. dismissing the cat, he nonchalantly places a throw pillow over his lap and scrubs a hand over his face.

the plot thickens.

“nice ink. didn’t realize you had any. makes sense.”

“yep. twenty-one. mm. no. twenty-two.”

far more than what the shirt shows. “any damage?” 

her head tilts as she cracks the refrigerator, pulling two bottles by their necks. “nope. don’t got anything there.”

john takes a beer as she plops down. she tucks her legs beneath, and he studies the artfully drawn black shapes on the one arm: a network of barbed thorns and flowers, a woman contorted into a skull, a mouse sleeping in a sardine tin, a stamp, and several stars.

“do you have any?” she asks, taking a swig.

nothing as lovely as hers. the first and last instance john had time to sit for a piece, he was clean-shaven and further from the thick of it. but she’s shown him hers; returning the favor is only polite. “one.” he sets the bottle aside to ruck up his left sleeve. she shifts, and the tips of his ears redden. fuck he wishes it wasn’t so—

“traditional. ha, had you pinned for the type. cute.”

cute. the ink has faded into muted tones, the lines softened. the mermaid’s once coy smile blurs into a vague shape, and now that he looks at it, the anchor’s shank is slightly crooked. the subtle, natural distortions of time make the mermaid perched in the curved arm of the anchor appear as aged as his face.

“can i?” 

she extends a hand. has she touched him before? intentionally?

“yes.”

her fingers follow the lines without an ounce of hesitation or hovering. the corner of her mouth quirks when john instinctively squeezes his bicep, the mermaid’s blue tail flexing under her thumb. he can’t tell what she’s thinking despite watching her pretty eyes. he simply laments he doesn’t have more to show her if only to keep her this close.

john’s focus narrows to the heat of her hand as it moves. he imagines five perfect ovals burning into his arm hair where she grabs and adjusts her view. that his skin might melt, and her palm would graft to his limb for all time, barring surgical intervention.

the first words out of her mouth in a minute are a bucket of cold water.

“six inches, right?”

“what?”

her gaze flicks up. “from the tip to the base?” a prolonged beat passes before she adds, “or, i guess, to the fins of her tail?”

she’s gonna be the death of me. 

“i think so.”

“it’s aged well.”

“ah. you’re taking the piss.”

“you’d know if i was.” she echoes. “i’m serious. i’m guessing it’s fifteen or twenty years old? it could look worse.” her nails scritch in a tight circle for a half-second, long enough that he might combust, but she pulls away and swirls her beer. “why’d you stop at one?”

“busy schedule. and i don’t want to be too identifiable.”

“yes. the chops are the subtler choice.” she smiles behind the bottle. “now i’m taking the piss.”

john thinks of precisely three responses to her cheek, none of which make it to his tongue. he sips slowly, catching on a slip of skin when she stretches, the hem of her shirt lifting just so. a tempting black line practically hooks his eye before it disappears.

“oh, you’re funny. got me curious, though. which one was your first?”

her legs straighten, and she pushes to her feet. “it’ll be easier if i show you.”

[dielgonacoffee]

i must finished s1... i have So Many Thoughts

- why in the ever living FUCK did they decide that danny getting together with rachel AGAIN was a good idea huh...? despite that relationship with stan crumbling apart she was still MARRIED mind you!! why did we decide that danny engaging in infidelity was a good idea 😭 (i have a bad feeling about her. HORRIBLE!)

- wo fat... hes like a persistent cockroach that just wont die despite how well you exterminate the place

- kamekona has got to be my favorite recurring character. shaved ice vendor by day, informant, gambler, weapons hoarder, babysitter, etc. at night. also all around A Very Good Bro. hope he sticks around for the rest of the series.

- is it weird that i like sang min's character? LOL hes like a pesky little shit and i love him for it. also helped 5-0 catch the hpd mole! brownie points for u sir!

- steve is such a menace to society honestly. how is he not charged with multiple counts of property damage and endangering of civilians. that grenade in the pawn shop? really? i will personally start a gofundme for your therapy bill mr. super seal

- you would think that danny would be able to control steve's worst impulses but hes just as erratic and impulsive lmao its quiet broody chaotic good meets loud mouthed argumentative chaotic good. they are cut from the same cloth.

- CHIN HO KELLY YOU SELF SACRIFICIAL BASTARD i swear if i wasnt so in love with your voice i wouldve throttled you across the room. handing over the deed of your house to a bookie? really?! 💀

- anyway i also love how he always has a shotgun instead of the standard handgun that they all have. (but when he shot that guy aiming for his cousin?! sir u were directly behind him im pretty sure u just blew a fist sized hole through that mans body 😭)

- kono kalakaua my beloved my surfer girl the most competent rookie in the history of rookies she went from being fresh out of the academy to being part of hawaii's elite task force. DESERVED. but i do wanna see more stuff about her that isnt surfing. the amount of time she spent in this season in a bikini is ABSURD.

- the dressing down steve gave ms cia agent whats her name?? HOT. that was unfair, i never stood a chance.

anyway i probably have more thoughts but theyre lost somewhere in the gray matter highway and i cant cough up more for this word vomit. might add to this post or make a new one when they arrive to me 🤷‍♀️

[trans-queen-administrator]

One of my friends asked what some of my favorite moment in Worm are and I've narrowed it down to just a few but how am I supposed to choose between "they seem like good people" I lied, or the second lung fight with the caterpillar in the eye to win, or Taylor breaking out of the burning building Coil trapped her in, or her terrorizing people while drinking tea, or when Taylor tries to 1v1 Leviathan to save people and gets her back shattered, or when Rachel saves her afterwards, or when we learn Rachel carved the names of her dogs into the monument, or when Taylor almost kills Triumph with bees, or the Mannequin fight, or running through the streets to warn people about Shatterbird's scream, or the fridge, or cutting Noelle in half, or just how hopeless the Noelle fight seemed before that with Eidolon caught, or Eidolon and Glaistig Uaine's fight with Scion, or Phir Sé's time bomb engulfing Behemoth and just obliterating him only for Behemoth to keep going, or Chevalier's interlude where he goes out to fight Behemoth alone despite being injured, or String Theory, or the wards therapy interlude where Lily can't get over how Taylor's words are stuck in her head, or Labyrinth and Burnscar reuniting, or Legend looking at the lie detector after the meeting, or Taylor hovering over the ocean knowing she doesn't have the battery in her flight pack to get back, or Aster getting shot, or the oil rig fight when Taylor crawls back up as a monster after being cut in half, or the horror of Alec's interlude, or Bonesaw having a crisis because Contessa said like 4 words to her and oh hey that parallels with you needed worthy opponents I never noticed that, or Taylor telling Eidolon and Scion to fuck off and leave, or Scion's entire interlude, or Number Man's interlude when he thinks about what it means of powers if Jack Slash's loves how he does stuff, or Kevin Norton, or Taylor ruining the chili, or the cafeteria scene where she's outed but talks her way out, or maggots in his eyes monday, or her turning herself in, or her talk with Dinah when she realizes that there's a solid chance she becomes Coil and keeps Dinah around because it's useful, or her killing Coil, or her killing Alexandria and Tagg, or the Cauldron raid where she swings a death knife through a crowd to hit one guy, or her requesting Lung cauterize her arm, or when Piggot is kidnapped and she fucks up the Undersiders just by talking, or Taylor's attempt to become besties with the Simurgh, or the Simurgh singing a lullaby to Lisa and Taylor, or the tea party with Nilbog, Taylor, Jack, and Riley, or the moment she reunites with her team post-timeskip, or when Glenn shows her a video of her being horrifying and she only thinks about her passenger moving her in it, or when her passenger makes her choke on a cockroach to save her, or going shopping with Lisa for fun, or when she helps Rachel at the shelter, or when she goes home with Brian and meets Aisha, or when we see Dinah for the first time and it's fucked, or when Taylor has Amy fuck with her brain knowing she won't come back from it, or when Lisa finally opens up and tells Taylor about her trigger, or when Taylor goes blind, or when Clockblocker keeps asking her questions in the car ride to Echdina, or when Scapegoat takes her injuries and freaks out, or when Sundancer tears off her costume and walks through the portal after killing Noelle but the pavement is cooling around her because she'll never escape her power or what she just did, or Fortuna's interlude, or Rachel stepping into Khepri's range because she trusts her, or Lisa tearing into Taylor with words after she sees what happened, or the realization she can't read anymore, or the fight with Dragon where she thinks she killed her, or all of the fight with Scion where she's controlling thousands of people while her brain deteriorates, or "finally, everyone was working together," or the talk with Contessa at the very end? How am I supposed to choose?

[themurphyzone]

Son of Darkwing AU: Just Like You Epilogue

As promised, here’s the epilogue. 

Warning for mentions of alcoholism, implied substance abuse, small amount of profanity. Rating of this fic has been bumped to a T. 

AO3 Link

Trash littered the floor of his old apartment, flies buzzing around moldy pizza crusts and slimy, rotten apple cores. The stench of rot reeked through the air. 

The pungent smell had long driven out all the other renters in the complex, except for that stubborn, ancient geezer of a mutt on the second floor who always watched that irritating Pelican’s Island farce of a show with the sound turned all the way up. He claimed to be hard of hearing. 

But that old fart just enjoyed tormenting him through the paper-thin walls.  

Perhaps he oughta visit tomorrow. Have a little friendly chat about being a good neighbor and pour him a cold one, just like old times. 

He’ll even slip a razor blade into the can. Why not? He was in a giving mood. The mutt deserved a special treat. 

A cockroach scuttled by his foot, and he crushed it with his heel. Its guts spilled out of its disgusting little body, its legs and antennae detaching as he wiped his heel along the stained carpet. 

His landlord would’ve put that infamous tightwad Scrooge McSuck to shame with his cheapness. Never bothered paying for pest control service. 

Now, how should he repay the landlord for renting such wonderful accommodations to the poor, down-on-their-luck beggars and hobos of society? 

He wasn’t going to repeat his plan for the mutt. That sort of revenge was boring. Devoid of any creativity whatsoever. 

No, the punishment should fit the crime. Hit ‘em right where it hurts most. 

The landlord couldn’t bear to part with his money, now could he? Kept it all locked away in a safe beside his desk and refused to entrust it to a bank. Even had the combination password written on a sticky note for convenience and never bothered to memorize it. 

Would be a crying shame if someone were to steal all that precious loot. 

Hell, he’d let the landlord watch too. Let him be the audience to his first crime after his grand comeback. 

And to convey his eternal gratitude, he’d give him the honor of being the first victim of his chainsaw. 

The hum of rusty metal slicing into every obstacle in its path was music to his ears. 

He obliterated the old, battered couch. Stuffing and fabric scattered everywhere as he thrust the deadly, whirring blade deep into the frame. The enormous cut was jagged and messy, just the way he liked it. 

Then he turned to the coffee table. He picked up the remote and hurled it into the TV. The glass splintered with a loud crack, a gorgeous spiderweb forming on the screen. 

He cleaved the coffee table in half, hacking away at the furniture until it was nothing more than useless scraps of firewood. 

His chainsaw wreaked destruction upon everything it touched. It didn’t matter what he tore through. Wood, paper, glass, the foundation of the apartment itself. 

Nothing mattered except for beautiful, destructive chaos.

To hell with the world. It didn’t give a damn about him, didn’t give him the adoration and accolades and admiration he deserved while he was in his prime. The shelf he’d reserved for his trophies was barren and filled with nothing but dust and cobwebs. 

Though the memories were hazy, he remembered owning several golden, shining trophies at some point in his life. 

They were gone now, most likely stolen by some thief looking to make a quick buck. 

He sold the trophies himself. Cashed them in at a sketchy pawn shop in one of the roughest neighborhoods of St. Canard. Probably got less than their actual worth, but alcohol was alcohol. 

He swung his chainsaw at the empty shelf, taking out the plaster and drywall behind it as well. Half of the shelf flew into a wilted, dying potted plant, knocking it down and spilling topsoil and leaves everywhere. 

Despite this, a single leaf remained green, clinging stubbornly to life.

A useless effort. 

The chainsaw sliced the leaf to an insignificant green pulp. 

He laughed at its demise. Why bother trying to live if the rest of the plant was rotting away? 

Why should he give a crap about anything when all the world had ever done was turn their back on him? He’d wasted so much of his life trying to entertain a fickle audience who would never give him what he wanted. 

He’d pushed his body to its limits by performing all his stunts, broke his bones and bruised himself a million times over to make it look authentic, and for what? 

To be forgotten as soon as the executives found a new cash cow show to mass produce toys for?  

To never land any other major role in a TV show or movie, not even as a typecast, because they thought he’d ruin the show before it ever took off? 

Then there was the greatest offense of all, to never be invited to reprise his role in what would’ve been the greatest comeback in the entire entertainment industry, snubbed by his fans who claimed to worship the ground he tread upon and that prissy wannabe director who had no respect for the franchise. 

And there was the worst of the lot…an ungrateful, selfish duck he’d raised from an egg and once called son. 

He’d grown into a mockery of Darkwing Duck’s legacy, a pale imitator of the original. A cunning thief who’d stolen his identity, his life, and his fans. 

He bellowed in rage, ripping the phone and answering machine from its wires and hurling them out the broken window. The phone broke through the fragile glass and tumbled three stories to the ground. But the answering machine laid in shambles, a shrill beep and distorted, mechanized voice emitting from its speakers. 

“You have ninety-one missed messages. If you’d like to hear these messages-”

He slammed his fist against the machine. But instead of shutting off, a voice, one so insultingly timid and meek, filtered through. 

“Hi, Dad. I know you probably don’t want to talk to me right now, and again, I’m really sorry I couldn’t convince Boorswan to at least give you a cameo appearance…but I was kinda hoping we could catch up? It’s been a while since we did something togeth-” 

His chainsaw cut through the machine, silencing it forever. The whirring blade lodged into the floor beneath the destroyed nuts and bolts. He yanked on the handle, but the chainsaw wouldn’t budge. 

Cursing, he shut the chainsaw off and kicked it in frustration. 

All that buzzing had given him a headache. 

He needed a damn drink. The brand didn’t matter. It just needed to be strong, bitter, and kill the migraine that pounded away at his skull. 

A sharp pain traveled up his spine as he stumbled to the kitchen. He was forced to rely on the wall to keep his balance, and he loathed it with every fiber of his being. 

Dirty dishes filled the sink and spilled onto the counter. He’d never gotten around to tying up the trash bags and taking them to the dumpster either. While the odor might’ve been off-putting to anyone else, it failed to compare to the Duckburg sewer he’d escaped through. 

He rummaged through the refrigerator until he found a can of beer that had gotten wedged in the back. His sleeve was covered in old food stains as he pulled his arm out, but he didn’t care. 

There was a voice somewhere in the back of his mind, some quack doctor straight out of med school warning him not to drink while on his painkiller prescription, listing out all the horrible side effects, and how that could affect him in the long run. 

That doc could kick rocks for all he cared. 

He popped a handful of painkillers into his mouth and guzzled down the beer. He’d survived things that would’ve killed other ducks a million times over. He wasn’t about to drop dead from this. 

If he wanted to go out, he’d do it in a blaze of glory. He refused to die as some nameless nobody. 

He crushed the empty can and tossed it aside. 

It was the last one he had. Nothing else except the painkillers had any value attached to them. He shoved the bottle into his pocket, figuring it was best to keep it for his personal use. 

The only other items he found that would be remotely useful were several kitchen knives, scattered haphazardly through several drawers. Small enough to conceal within his clothing, and lethal enough when he was ready to slash and stab and hack away at anybody who dared cross him. 

He slipped the smaller knives into the inside pockets of his jacket. Then he tested out the largest blade in his hands. 

It had a long, serrated edge, and its jagged shape would increase the risk of his enemies hurting themselves if they tried to knock it out of his hand. 

If he wanted to be flashy and draw everyone’s attention to himself, then his chainsaw was the perfect tool to induce terror and create mass chaos. 

But the daggers were more personal, a method to convey his hatred and deliver vengeance to everyone who wronged him. Yet a simple stab wound wouldn’t even make them feel a fraction of the pain they’d put him through. 

He’d have to build up a weapon collection, but for now, this would do. 

He dragged the knife along the table, the counter, the wall, and across any solid object in reach as he left the kitchen, leaving behind a horrid, shrill screech and thin white scars along every obstacle in his path. 

There was only one place left to visit before he burned down this dump for good. 

He had some cash stuffed somewhere in his bedroom. It wasn’t McSuck’s Money Bin, nor did he plan to pay for his fix at the next mom and pop convenience store he passed, but having a little greenery was better than nothing. 

He plunged his dagger into the underside of his mattress, lifting it into the air. There was a small collection of torn, crumpled bills and dull pennies. In this economy, the paltry amount wouldn’t cover the cost of a single stick of gum. 

But it would be a useful lure. Money was a powerful motivator for any poor, desperate sap. 

He snatched up the cash and shoved it into his pocket, letting the mattress slam against the frame. But the dagger remained wedged inside, forcing him to brace his foot against the side of the bed as he yanked the stubborn blade out. 

Finally, the knife yielded to his demands and came out of the mattress. He cursed and lost his balance, tumbling onto his back. His elbow smacked against the leg of his bedside table.  

The booze and painkillers hadn’t kicked in yet, so it still felt like some asshole set his arm ablaze. 

A picture frame that was perched precariously on the edge wobbled before falling onto his kneecap, as if he hadn’t dealt with enough insults to his injuries. He snatched up the frame with the intent of hurling it out the window, but a splash of color caught his eye before he could follow through. 

Within the cracked glass, there was an old drawing of-

The frame slipped out of his hands and fell to the ground. A wave of dizziness overtook him, one that he couldn’t quite chalk up to the alcohol in his system. 

He was hunched over the drawing, his hands and knees on the floor like a pathetic beggar, the heroic gaze of a duck clad in purple boring through him. 

A forgotten memory resurfaced from a decade long past. He’d been at the peak of his career then, the brightest star in the night sky, one that was impossible to miss. 

He saw a small, timid duckling with an awkward bill that was too large for his face. Who looked up to him with adoring, shining eyes, like he’d created the entire world from scratch. 

A voice, tiny yet filled with powerful determination, proclaiming his life’s dream.   

“When I’m bigger, I’m gonna be a hero just like you!”

The duckling became an adult. Young, bright-eyed, and hopelessly naive to the true nature of his chosen career path.  

“We’ve had our arguments. I…I know I said things I regret. But I just want you to know, you were my inspiration growing up, Dad. That’s why I’m playing Darkwing now. I’m gonna show this new generation who Darkwing Duck really is, a beacon of hope in the darkness! If a kid falls on hard times, they can look to Darkwing Duck to help them stand up and keep fighting! So come work on the movie with me! Let’s inspire everyone, together!”    

His son was nothing more than a filthy traitor, an awful impostor, a cunning thief who stole his entire life, identity, and legacy.  

If that backstabber wanted to become a superhero so badly, so be it. But he would have to lose those ridiculous ideals and morals about inspiring people and helping them stand on their own. 

Rage boiled in the pit of his stomach, his fingers tightening around the knife’s hilt. 

If his son wanted to be a bleeding heart and help people so badly, then why couldn’t he have started with his own father? 

His knife ripped through Darkwing Duck, destroying his image forever.

End AN: This AU is still a tragedy for the relationship between Jim Starling and Drake Mallard. But while Drake eventually becomes a hero and adds LP and Gosalyn to his family, Jim can’t see past the end of his own beak and still becomes Negaduck in the end. 

Drake had a fallout with Jim in his late high school/college years because Jim wasn’t taking care of himself and couldn’t let go of his glory years as Darkwing Duck. Jim started drinking to cope and shut out any attempts to help from Drake and his old coworkers. Jim also developed health issues later on, partially because of his unhealthy lifestyle and because of the injuries he accumulated during the original run of DWD. That said, Drake still loves his dad and wants to reconcile with him, but Jim keeps ignoring him. 

As much as I love The Duck Knight Returns, one nitpick I have with the episode is that the main characters don’t find out about the movie until the day the episode takes place, and Boorswan states that the production is almost finished. I can believe that Darkwing First Darkness most likely ran on extremely tight budget constraints and didn’t have a lot in the way of promotional materials and advertising due to Scrooge McDuck being the head executive. But with Launchpad being the DWD superfan, I believe that if there were any news at all of Darkwing getting its own reboot movie, he’d be following all updates on the movie religiously and talking everyone’s ears off about it. 

I can excuse Jim Starling for not finding out about the movie straight away. In this AU, Drake tried to tell him about being scouted and his plans to audition for DWD, but Starling wouldn’t listen and later accused Drake of hiding all this info from him. Throughout the movie’s production, Drake tried to contact Starling and update him about happenings on the set, advice on his stunts, and sometimes just wanting to know how he’s doing, but Starling never picked up the phone and didn’t speak to Drake until LP brought him to the studio to watch the filming of the climax. 

[practically-an-x-man]

I won't lie. I got distracted watching a video of a guy who's tent was being torn apart by leaf cutter ants and began researching the logistics of that.

BUT I'M BACK with an ask ONCE AGAIN. And it's bugged themed. For definitely unrelated reasons.

Your characters gain the ability to control one species of bug (specific species, not all of ants or all of wasps), and they have as much time as they need to research what bug they'd like. What qualifies as a bug in this case is subjective. Anything in class insecta is fair game but arachnida is cool too.

First of all, that documentary sounds fascinating and I can totally appreciate going down a research rabbithole like that :D

Second, I love this ask, let's dive right in!!

Rae: Copidosoma floridanum - a type of cosmopolitan wasp. The main reason she'd choose it is for it being cosmopolitan, she can utilize this power regardless of her travels.

Robin: Reticulitermes flavipes - the eastern subterranean termite. She'd pretty much exclusively use this power to keep them away from the operahouse and its wooden sets (same with her parents' house, since it's pretty old)

Madison: Pachydiplax longipennis - the blue dasher dragonfly. Technically any dragonfly would suffice, but blue dashers are common where she lives so she wouldn't have trouble finding them. Either way - semiaquatic, predatory, and edible in a pinch.

Ophelia: Camponotus pennsylvanicus - the black carpenter ant. Am I stealing this from Ant-Man? Maybe. But she'd find a way to use them in her lab, for sure.

Gia: Apis mellifera - the Western honey bee. Having an infinite supply of pollinators is a surefire way to keep her shop, and her clover, as healthy as possible.

Jasper: Melolontha vulgaris - the May beetle. Oil from their larvae is sometimes used as a topical treatment for scratches, abrasions, and rheumatism in traditional medicine - it's not quite Neosporin, but it'll work in a pinch

Kestrel: Eristalis tenax - the common drone fly. Another cosmopolitan species, good for use on their travels, but small and unassuming enough that could be good for some quiet espionage.

Katherine: Anthrenus scrophulariae - the common carpet beetle. They're one of the four common species of beetles that cause damage to textiles and other artifacts in museums, so that's a 25% lower chance that they'll get damaged on her watch

Quinn: Pepsis grossa - a North American tarantula hawk moth. Its sting is said to be incredibly painful and is among the highest ranked on the Schmidt pain index - she'd go with the bullet ant, but she's a lot less likely to find those in the California desert.

Eris: Paraponera clavata - there's the bullet ant. Eris just wants to cause as much pain as possible, when they need to. What kind of bug could double as a weapon to be used in battle? Bullet ant.

Nikoletta: Periplaneta americana - the American cockroach. It's gross, and she honestly hates roaches (and half of this power would just be used keeping them away from her home), but they're so common in big cities like New Orleans that she's always got a few around to control. It's a similar strategy to Cleo and her rats, really.

Jimmy: Drosophilia melanogaster - fruit flies. Look, here's his logic: they were first used in genetics back in 1910, and they were a big deal, and he works with scientists now too... maybe they'd have use for this power of his? (also credit to the one scientific name I did not have to look up beforehand because I had it memorized lol)

Vivienne: Aedes aegypti - the yellow fever mosquito. Disease is... kind of a big deal in her time, there aren't a lot of cures for these horrific ailments, and while Vivienne itself is largely immune by being a siren, she doesn't want Wojchek or his crew stricken ill by some tiny little bug.

Spider: Sigh... I'd been so careful about strictly insects this whole time, but it would be wrong to give him anything but a spider. Hogna carolinensis - the wolf spider, and the largest wolf spider species to be found in America. He just thinks it would be cool to freak people out by having this massive wolf spider crawl out of his mouth or something. He's... an odd one, that for sure.

[animationadventures]

Thanks to Them hit hard.

It started out sweet with the reunion between Luz and Camila that everyone was waiting for. Then, they jumped straight into the montage.

It really sucks that the season was shortened so severely. They obviously had so many ideas for human realm episodes.

Setting up shop in the old shack

Luz coming out to Camila

Vee figuring out who she is outside of covering for Luz’s absence

Hunter getting his haircut to separate himself from the Wittebane brothers

Attempts at making a working portal

The witches figuring out a new wardrobe to fit in better

Camila figuring out how to support six kids

They had to cram all these ideas they wanted to explore in a 2-minute montage!

Flapjack helped them find a clue how to get back, but they had to visit the historical society to decode it. Vee had to pretend she didn’t know one of her camp friends with her new identity, and we got a cameo from Jacob later still trying to prove witches exist. He got tackled by police officers.

We got confirmation on the name of Luz’s dad. His name was Manny, and it sounded like he got sick and passed away slowly instead of quickly in a crash or accident. He gave Luz her first Azura book, which she obviously latched onto, and taught her the meat guts trick for plays. The thing with the Azura book likely parallels Dana’s own story of her father giving her the first Pokémon game before dying when she was young.

We also got confirmation for Caleb’s Clawthorne wife. Everyone who guessed her name was close to Eda’s, you got it right. Her name was Evelyn.

Just as some predicted, Philip found a way to possess Hunter and saving Hunter from his control was the climax. And because of the Titan’s Blood in the area, Luz was finally able to use her glyphs again. Her palisman hasn’t hatched yet. I thought it would happen here, but it didn’t. Maybe next part?

Philip somehow hasn’t died yet. Guy is worse than a cockroach at this rate.

The secrets about Hunter being a grimwalker and Luz helping Philip meet the Collector came out. Everyone understands how used both were by him.

The toughest part of this whole special?

Flapjack didn’t make it.

He had gave his life to make sure Hunter didn’t die from Philip’s possession. I never thought I would get emotional over a little cardinal that is entirely fictional, but here I am mourning him.

Should have guessed with Philip’s whole absorb palisman life force plot thread, one of the palismen would die.

The group did find a way back to the demon realm. Luz intended to stay behind as she promised her mom, but Camila instead chose to go to the isles with the kids. For the sake of her mental health, Vee chose to stay behind and cover Camila’s absence at work.

Only two more episodes, guys.

This can’t be real.

[wastewaifs]

some of the local freekz include:

their neighbour lenny, who controls/communicates via insects. his favourites are cockroaches. he asks to borrow milk or sugar via cockroach.

Electric Shock Lady (funke learned the hard way)

word on the street is that the guy who works the desk at the pawn shop has magnets in his fingers

runway model in building next door can flush toilets with her mind

old lady at the diner who reads fortunes in bowls of soup

Tinnitus Man, whose power is giving other people tinnitus. but he also has tinnitus all the time, as a side-effect

there's a kid who comes into ruth's work sometimes who can juggle really well. like he's too good. he's on the cusp

[ass-sassafras]

Tw: talk of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.

I'm in a weird place right now. I bit the bullet and told him I don't want a relationship with him or anyone. He was sad and said I'm his best friend. It was amicable but both of us were sad. Then he went against his word and just "wanted a couple of beers." Well, Tumblr we all know what happened then. He finished off his six pack very fast then started on the wine he bought for me that I didn't ask for. We then proceeded to have a night of him screaming at me, calling me names and being as nasty and immature as possible.

The next day I said if he brings any alcohol into the house, I won't be giving him a few weeks to get his shit together and move out, he'll be moving out immediately with no money and a non-working car.

I had a cup of coffee and then went to look for yard sales so I can buy myself a bike. While I was out he sent me a text saying he feels like such a fool, and he's sorry for everything, everything. He said I deserve so much better.

In the end, he seems to understand that although I don't hate him, I'll never trust anyone again. He was my last attempt after my divorce to see if I could have a healthy relationship. I can't. It's not just the aromantic asexual part of me. There are deep psychological issues that are part of who I am. I need as much control over my life as possible, I need peace and I need to know what to expect.

I'm really going to miss him, but I'll only be missing the person he is 10% of the time, maybe 20% on a good day. But even if he checked all the boxes (responsible, stable, good for my kids, funny, nice to me and willing to compromise, no temper) I would still want to be alone. He started to cry at one point and asked if I can hug him. I did and we just sat on the couch and cried together.

We've been really honest with each other now that we know it's over. I admitted that I have been researching the least painful, most effective ways to kill yourself and this led to an odd but very honest conversation about suicide and how much the world sucks. He's had 2 serious suicide attempts that put him in the hospital before we met. I've never tried but the thought has been my shadow for most of my adult life.

He's the only person with whom I can have a frank discussion and be 100% honest. He doesn't want me to kill myself, but he knows what it's like to look toward the future with such deep feelings of hopelessness. I hate guns and I've never touched one, but I told him about how I went in to the local gun shop (Indiana USA so they're like cockroaches) and asked about prices and background checks. He was surprised and told me he didn't know it was getting that bad. I told him I know that when I talk about it, it just makes me feel worse and worries the other person.

I'm afraid that if I talk to my family about it, they'll either use God as motivation because they think I still believe, or they'll freak out and try to get me into a psych ward which I'm sure won't help and I'll be charged thousands of dollars that I don't have. But at least they'll feel like they did their job because suicidal thoughts make people uncomfortable. They just want them to go away as soon as possible.

This was supposed to be an update post in case anyone on here has read the shit I've posted about my so. Devolved into other stuff.

So in summary I will soon get to know what it's like to be single as an ace. We'll see how this goes.

[animehouse-moe]

Chainsaw Man 125: Apple Thief

⚠️Warning: Spoilers Ahead⚠️

So, is there anything important or exposition related in this chapter? No. Do we get to see a Primal Devil go grocery shopping? Yes! And that is a win in my book.

Could you count it as exposition? Sorta, but I think it's more implicit to the nature of Primal Devils. The only other Devil we've known to follow social conventions was someone like the Control Devil. So why might it be interesting or exposition in the first place for the Falling Devil to be more human-like? Well, in the first place, the Falling Devil has a human-like appearance. Not human, but very close. Is this because they came from Hell directly unlike the Control Devils did? I'm not sure, we don't have an answer to that.

Regardless, they're very sophisticated and capable. Does this mean all high level Devils have this level of intelligence/awareness? No, there's a rule of thumb outside of overall power. Take, for example, the Gun Devil. Nobody associates intelligence, or even really humanity for that matter, with guns. They're a tool, so they don't have any sort of know-how. On the flip side we've got stuff like the Zombie Devil which was able to trick people into becoming zombies, but it wasn't something incredibly powerful. And lastly, we've got weird ones like the Eternity Devil. Neither incredibly powerful nor very human.

So what do you think constitutes intelligence and a human-like appearance? Well, personally, I think it's more whimsical than anything. You have the Bat and Leech Devil talk, and even the Cockroach Devil, but then the reincarnation of the Bat Devil doesn't talk. So, maybe there is something deeper. What if, things that were alive or are abstract concepts are able to speak, but as they cycle through reincarnation they become dumber and dumber. This would explain why low level devils aren't shown to talk, as they've probably been killed numerous times, and why the Bat Devil was unable to speak during its second incarnation. So maybe, just maybe, there's a pattern going on and this could be the answer.

Where was I again? Oh yeah, a Devil going grocery shopping, weird tangent huh? Anyways, aside from just the random theories and thoughts the chapter provokes, it was largely fun that sets up for a crazy fight in the next one, so we'll see where that goes. I'm very curious considering that the Falling Devil has full confidence in its constitution, until Denji shows up. Even then though, it's not showing any signs of concern or fear, so I'm really wondering if we'll see a AsaDen team up here as Yoru's goal shifts thanks to what's in front of them.

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: More Gothic Fiction

Mrs. March by Virginia Feito

George March’s latest novel is a smash. No one could be prouder than his dutiful wife, Mrs. March, who revels in his accolades. A careful creature of routine and decorum, she lives a precariously controlled existence on the Upper East Side until one morning, when the shopkeeper of her favorite patisserie suggests that her husband’s latest protagonist - a detestable character named Johanna - is based on Mrs. March herself. Clutching her ostrich leather pocketbook and mint-colored gloves, she flees the shop. What could have merited this humiliation?

That one casual remark robs Mrs. March of the belief that she knew everything about her husband - and herself - thus sending her on an increasingly paranoid journey that begins within the pages of a book. While snooping in George’s office, Mrs. March finds a newspaper clipping about a missing woman. Did George have anything to do with her disappearance? He’s been going on a lot of “hunting trips” up north with his editor lately, leaving Mrs. March all alone at night with her tormented thoughts, and the cockroaches that have suddenly started to appear, and strange breathing noises... 

As she begins to decode her husband’s secrets, her deafening anxiety and fierce determination threaten everyone in her wake - including her stoic housekeeper, Martha, and her unobtrusive son, Jonathan, whom she loves so profoundly, when she remembers to love him at all.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined. In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives.

Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May

On Crow Island, people whisper, real magic lurks just below the surface. Neither real magic nor faux magic interests Annie Mason. Not after it stole her future. She’s only on the island to settle her late father’s estate and, hopefully, reconnect with her long-absent best friend, Beatrice, who fled their dreary lives for a more glamorous one. Yet Crow Island is brimming with temptation, and the biggest one may be her enigmatic new neighbor. Mysterious and alluring, Emmeline Delacroix is a figure shadowed by rumors of witchcraft. And when Annie witnesses a confrontation between Bea and Emmeline at one of the island's extravagant parties, she is drawn into a glittering, haunted world. A world where the boundaries of wickedness are tested, and the cost of illicit magic might be death.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides 

Edward Fosca is a murderer. Of this Mariana is certain. But Fosca is untouchable. A handsome and charismatic Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge University, Fosca is adored by staff and students alike - particularly by the members of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana Andros is a brilliant but troubled group therapist who becomes fixated on The Maidens when one member, a friend of Mariana’s niece Zoe, is found murdered in Cambridge. Mariana, who was once herself a student at the university, quickly suspects that behind the idyllic beauty of the spires and turrets, and beneath the ancient traditions, lies something sinister. And she becomes convinced that, despite his alibi, Edward Fosca is guilty of the murder. But why would the professor target one of his students? And why does he keep returning to the rites of Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld? When another body is found, Mariana’s obsession with proving Fosca’s guilt spirals out of control, threatening to destroy her credibility as well as her closest relationships. But Mariana is determined to stop this killer, even if it costs her everything - including her own life.

[wh3nturtlesfly]

Set Him Free (Chapter 5)

First | Previous | Next

Relationships: Slow burn prinxiety and logicality

Word Count: 1861

Summary: Virgil returns to the cottage, hesitant to explain to Janus how his past outing failed, though it seems than Janus is more focused on other things…

Virgil was greeted with the sound of screeching as he entered the cottage. He followed the sound, quickly reaching its source.

In the middle of the kitchen stood a turtle dove and a chicken, both squawking out of control while Remus simply scolded them both.

It was hard to make out over the unbearable shrieking, though Virgil could understand a few of the sentences Remus shouted.

“Eileen, you gotta give him a chance! Chickens are one of the most beautiful bird species to exist! Have you seen that beak?”

“What do you mean he has no personality? You have no idea what you are talking about Eileen!”

“Pierre, I swear! If you shed your feathers so much as one more time, I will personally cook you!”

Virgil stepped forward, catching Remus’ attention. The other’s head shot up and a grin appeared on his face, “Virgil! You’re home!

“Yeah...I am. I’m not interrupting anything- am I?”

Remus waved a dismissive hand, “Not at all!”

He swept his arm across the kitchen counter, pushing both the chicken and turtle dove off with a final squawk, “I was merely playing matchmaker for the lovely Eileen over here! Unfortunately, I don't think that she or Pierre are going to find that special someone anytime soon.”

“That’s...too bad.”

“Indeed it is,” Remus’ gaze trailed to the floor, where Pierre and Eileen were currently running around the kitchen table, “So, how was your morning out?”

“Bittersweet,” Virgil mumbled, cutting a small slice of bread from the loaf on the counter. All the running he had done within the span of the morning had left him starving.

“Did you get the stuff Jannie asked for?”

“No.”

“Ooh! Janus is going to be furious, better yet, disappointed!” Remus cackled, and Virgil scowled.

“It wasn’t my fault! I got stopped by-” Virgil paused. He wasn’t so sure that he wanted to inform Remus that he had almost been arrested.

Not that the older wouldn’t find it absolutely hilarious, but he could guarantee Janus would be told no matter how much he asked to keep a secret.

Though Remus may have been good for many things, keeping quiet was not one of them, and Virgil did not feel like being scolded for getting caught. He quickly formed an excuse, knowing that as long as Remus believed him, he could semi-convince Janus, “the owner, I was stopped by the owner.”

“The owner?”

“Yeah- I was in the shop, and I heard the silversmith waking up. I hadn’t found the items yet, and figured it wasn’t worth being found.”

Remus began to laugh, “Seriously, you were scared of a silversmith?! I would’ve kept going anyway, I might as well have someone experience my expertise! Who cares if I would end up in a dungeon, they’ve got cockroaches in there!”

“You have no sense of self-preservation, do you?”

“Nope. I like to live life on the edge- of a giant cliff, that is.”

Virgil rolled his eyes, licking the last bread crumbs from his fingers. The spiced dough was a creation of Janus’, and despite Remus and Virgil’s constant begging, the inventor refused to share the recipe.

To further enforce this, he would only bake the bread when the other two were away, surprising them every so often. These days were especially remarkable as they were a rare occurrence.

Virgil reached for another slice, stopping himself just before his fingers touched the plate. It wouldn’t be wise to consume the whole loaf within a day, no matter how much he craved the spiced bread.

He tried to distract his mind from hunger, noticing their friend’s absence for the first time, “Where is Janus anyway?”

“I think he said something about going into town to barter for vegetables, though it was kinda hard to tell since I was in the middle of a screaming match with Pierre,” Remus grinned, “I ended up winning that by the way.”

“Of course you did,” Virgil pinched the bridge of his nose, “Does that mean we’ve already run out of food again?”

“I guess so. I remember Jan mentioning something about missing those green leafy things, and that red stuff. About half the cabinets are empty at this point.”

The three weren’t the most well off in the kingdom, causing food to be scarce. Any meals were preserved as long as possible, allowing Janus to scrape up enough money to travel to the market each week.

He used the profits from his inventions to purchase the bare necessities, though his creations often needed parts too costly for them to obtain, leading to Virgil’s job.

Virgil took a seat by the kitchen counter, dropping his head on the hard wood with a thud. It was too early in the morning to be dealing with existence.

He rested his head in his arms, shutting his eyes even though he knew he wouldn’t be able to actually fall asleep. Just another fun perk that accompanied overthinking.

Somehow, he had managed to enter a kind of peaceful in between, but that was quickly destroyed as the front door swung open.

A finger poked him continually, and it took all of his internal strength not to slap Remus right then and there. Instead, he lifted his head and scowled at the older with all the annoyance he could muster.

Remus simply laughed, ruffling Virgil’s hair and bouncing on his heels, “Wake up, Virge! We’ve got company!”

“Oh joy,” Virgil grumbled, frowning as he fixed his hair and pulled his bangs back in front of his face.

“Now Virgil, that’s no way to treat your companions, is it?” A sly voice flowed from around the corner.

“I thought you were only the provider of our necessities,” Virgil smirked, “Nice to see that we’ve upgraded to companions.”

Janus emerged in the doorway, a wicker basket held within his arms. Strolling over to the others, he dropped the basket onto the table, placing a small sheet of parchment beside it.

“I believe you both will be glad to know, I had enough money to gain extra food this week. As a special treat, I’ve decided that I’ll make pumpkin soup soon to celebrate the oncoming season,” the inventor pulled out a small pumpkin from within the basket, its twirling vines cascading off the table. A few fruits and vegetables emerged from the container in addition, lastly followed by six eggs.

“Wait, if we’re having pumpkin soup, does that mean-”

“Yes Remus, I will allow you to carve it.”

“Yes!!” The man clad in green and black cheered, immediately snatching up paper and pencil to excitedly sketch, “Incisions will be placed here, and here, and here!”

While their friend obsessed over future dinner plans, Janus turned to Virgil. A more serious expression emerged on his face, and he quietly beckoned for Virgil to join him in the next room.

The younger obliged and followed him until they were surrounded by Janus’ various inventions. Janus sat in front of his workbench, beginning to tinker before addressing the one before him. “So, were you successful in retrieving the items I asked for?”

“No-“

Janus glanced up from his work, “I beg your pardon?”

“The silversmith, he was awake at the same moment I entered the shop. I would’ve been caught if I had stayed any longer.” Virgil braced himself for the older’s response. Janus would see right through his lie for sure, and he was not in the mood for another lecture.

“I see,” Janus allowed the words to roll off his tongue, enveloping the room in an uncertain silence. Finally, he spoke, “That is quite alright.”

“What?”

“WHAT?!” A second voice echoed from behind Virgil as Remus stumbled from behind the doorway.

“Remus, what did I tell you about eavesdropping?!”

“You can’t blame me! You’re supposed to take away his brooding privileges or something, but of course you have to be all boring!”

Janus rubbed his temples, “Remind me again why I decided to take care of you two nightmares.”

“Y’know, I’m honestly not quite sure. Maybe because of our wonderful personalities!”

“Remus-”

“Fine, fine, I’m going,” Remus huffed, “but first, can you at least give him dishes duty? I know it’s my week but-”

“Out!”

“Already gone!”

Janus released an irritated sigh as the door finally clicked shut. Picking his latest project up, he again began tweaking the small creation.

Virgil glimpsed at him quizzically, though the older did nothing to clarify the means to the situation. After a few moments occupied by nothing other than the clinking of metals, Janus stood from his workbench.

He approached Virgil, the thief nervously fiddling with the bandages on his leg. Impassive yellow-green eyes stared into his own, reflected by an equally reserved expression. Virgil felt like shattering then and there. However, Janus’ face swiftly shifted into a smile, one appearing oddly genuine.

“Now,” he said, “back to what I was informing you of before we were so pleasantly interrupted. There is no need for you to fret over not retrieving today’s items. In fact, disregard it altogether.”

“Come again?”

“You heard me, Virgil. At this time, there are greater things to consider. Things that you will have an essential part in completing.”

“Such as?” Virgil raised an eyebrow.

“Patience my young friend. Tomorrow morning, you will retrieve an assortment of new parts I require from this location,” he handed Virgil a layout of a local blacksmithing forge, “From that point, you will meet Remus and I farther down the streets, within the fifth alleyway. Clear?”

Virgil glanced once over the parchment he had been handed, “Janus, I hate to ask questions, but what is this all for? Do you seriously not trust me just because I messed up one job?”

“Of course not! I believe quite the opposite of you Virgil, which is exactly why I need you to do this for me,” Janus plucked the paper from Virgil’s hand, carefully folding it and closing it within the latter’s fingers, “I need you to trust me, alright? You have been at my side for years, yet somehow you still doubt me. I may not be able to explain everything just yet, but I need you to believe me when I say that there is a purpose.”

Little did Virgil know that the same morning, an insignificant paper had brushed past the castle gates. An insignificant paper detailing a possible illegal act heard to occur the very next day. An insignificant paper that maybe wasn’t so insignificant.

“Okay,” Virgil spoke softly, looking down to the parchment folded within his fingers, before bringing his eyes to meet Janus’, “I trust you, and I always will. You and me-”

“Against the world,” Janus recited.

Virgil smiled, tucking the paper into his belt. He gave a small nod, then quietly wandered out of the room to leave Janus to his work. The inventor watched Virgil leave, taking note of how his cloak brushed past his feet as he walked. The same cloak that had been absent only a day before.

“How peculiar,” he hummed to himself, retrieving several small wrenches and wandering to his workbench, “How peculiar indeed.”

[dilaradcmir]

Task One: Statistics

BASICS

Full Name: Dilara Demir Nickname: Dila, Lara Gender: Cis female Pronouns: she/her Sexual Orientation: Bisexual Birthdate: August 11th, 1943 Birthplace: Los Angeles, California Neighborhood: Willowdale Occupation: Waitress at Ruby's, Cleaner at Birch Lodge (ex actress/model) Ethnic Background: Turkish Religious Views: Grew up following Islam, but is more so atheist now Language(s) Spoken: English, Turkish

PHYSICALITY

Face Claim: Ayca Aysin Turan Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Ocean blue Height: 5'2 Build: Petite Tattoos: One behind her ear - Stars for her mother. Piercings: Ears Style/Aesthetic: Very much still adopting the 60s style with knee length boots and mini skirts. Loves a crop and flowers in her hair. Usual Expression: She usually has a bright and sunny expression, but she can tend to pull faces and is very reactive. Distinguishing Features: Her eyes

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Learning Difficulty: Dyslexic Allergies: Peanuts Sleeping Habits: Very much a deep sleeper. Will literally sleep through anything. Exercise Habits: Loves swimming, walking, yoga. Emotional Stability: She can be very reactive in situations. Dilara can generally control her emotions in difficult situations but sometimes struggles. She can't hide how she feels, either. Sociability: Very sociable, but at the same time, secretly hates small talk and people — an interesting dichotomy. Body Temperature: Always hot Addictions: Spending money, impulsive buying. Drug Usage: Has partaken in party dr*gs Alcohol Usage: Loves an Old Fashioned or Tom Collins.

PERSONALITY

Positive Traits: Energetic, Astute, Resourceful, Caring Negative Traits: Self-centered, Decadent, Loquacious, Vain Goals/Desires: To be rich again and be able to purchase designer items (deep down: to well and truly figure out her place in the world and what she's good at). Fears: Being irrelevant, people chewing loudly, cockroaches & snakes. Hobbies: Painting and drawing, shopping, dining out & dancing Habits: eye rolling, twirling her hair, fidgeting with nearby objects.

FAVORITES

Season: Summer Color: Yellow Music: ABBA, Earth Wind & Fire, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, songs from the 30s-60s. Movies: Her two favourite movies are The Godfather, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Food: Burger Beverage: Milkshake Animal: Cats

FAMILY

Father: Alp Demir Mother: Deniz Demir Sibling(s): (Older Sister - name pending) Children: None Pet(s): A stray cat named Kevin - Dilara's Family Financial Status: Her family is very wealthy. Dilara has been cut off. Relationship: Currently she does not have a good relationship with her father. Hasn't spoken to her mother since she was twelve, and only keeps in touch with her sister. She is at war with her step mother.

EXTRAS:

Astrological Placements: Leo Sun, Capricorn Rising, Libra Moon, Virgo Venus MBTI: ENFP Enneagram: Type 7, The Enthusiast Moral Alignment: Neutral Good/Chaotic Neutral (couldnt decide) Primary Vice: Gluttony Primary Virtue: Compassion Element: Fire

[ladyjaja]

i made a box thats a rng script tht reads from a notecard .. the contents of the notecard is a transcription of a large chunk of me and lady cpu’s buzzword codex.. i use this rng tool to generate hacks and spells for upcoming vn “precious theatre!”

heres a bunch of hacks i generated tonight:

WARP ORANGE INTENTION TRANSFER

CLOVER SMARTBOARD PEDESTAL

PICTURE TEMPLE CUT FILM

COSMIC PRINCESS PLUSH DIRK

EMBLEM FUNCTION TUCAN YURI

MAGNETIC OVERCLOCK CROSS AVATAR

PELICAN GENDER RING

CYPRUS CIRCUIT BOARD

small queen nerd vampire

petal mountain webisode hole

girl sewer message district

sweet bodydata ribbon modify

cross symbol award twin

secretary cookie owl

temporary satellite palace

psychic moral tunnel

primitive backend quill bible

denpa princess princess spirit imitation

ROCK STAR TAPE VISION WEDDING TUTOR

naughty cheatcode bridge reaper

strong pudding

rock mod nemesis

student council sharpie jpg

pelican hpunch faceup

super movement needle actor

vibrator zapdos power-faith

hentai mega sewing diciple

dekbass knowledge crybaby

invisibility bomb slipper

shit religion ideal fruit post

rescue helper chocolate hack space

familiar/special storm

spirit momo x

frilly seagull church

nu crayon textbox

dark loveletter

painkiller rom mystic

harddrive power brother

amy rose punishment operating system

investigation: snowflake recovery guide

media practice moral chant!

complex tuna ritual-potion

summon bff

%slowburn

secretary camera ego

d-pad emerald ego

dekbass angel estrogen

murder million daughter loop

crime beta sewing mecha

!! scripted agent investigation email !!

!! frequency flunk project !!

sutro topaz dimension

!! meow emblem !!

student council desktop

3rd party recovery effect

yaoi society cloud

feral fanclub callcenter

time travel defense blueprint

cosmic elevator clown

chocolate vibrator intention

login mystic snowboard

!! rollcall repost !!

condition mp3

text tournament

gem maiden

vn tunnel

paw tea

slowburn idol

pacify mmd marble

glove? broken leek

probation reboot pencil case

fact check avatar

sexy elephant

cockroach dungeon

dungeon vaccine

processing twin cannabis

familiar dictionary record token

dual sculpture justice

sister class: strange

dissonance leek

garden lamb chibi

peer to peer mouse cell phone

hairclip design botfarm

psyduck million ancestor

tutu dark dissonance

construction paranoia snake

luxury cola

mage primitive

weird doujin eggman dashboard ceremony

!! targeted individual dizzy hypno idol !!

location controller

lament phenomena

permanent copy actress

sign up prize

sister user motion data

synthetic grape vehicle

tucan password trial

familiar lesbian

technique password

custard dungeon

mount murder

equal exception hentai

hope: lesbian space program gala

dual weird lament wink

permanent paintbrush

secretary wish picture

vn boost

fur alpha

friendship picture projection errand

diamond os

leak email

nvl palmtree diagnosis

mother frog hack

alpha mask roll call

perfect frozen reciever doll

sonic committee lunch

emerald rng blender

pray scarlette serpent

shop mammoth apophenia

president dragon teto

dashboard 5g poet

violin codex frill

silver non-network

codex technique theory

quit invisibility org

virtual bomb novel

!! studio alphabet doki !!

lucky app

satellite d-pad technique

repost water divide

interplanetary pretty pigeon

paranoia bodyguard

mango fasshion

fishing tunnel administrator

dragon gallery tiger

mega mantra crow

cylinder hud

bully doily melon cousin

cave yaoi special

royal project library

cpu charm palace

permanent rockstar hammer

disturbing breakfast

profile satan haha brother

dressup book advantage

organic message board alien

mayday stream manifest synthetic court justice

big crow theory snake font recovery

vacccine alien demonic intention chapter

hpunch hpunch turn virtual passion bgm trap

yaye strawberry / order pdf chain invisibility

[hikerwitch]

Wrote this flash fiction for an NYC Midnight and wanted to share. I was assigned the thriller genre, so here we go. [CW: violence, SA]

Ruby’s Pest Control

The night before it happened, I dreamt of cockroaches.

Silent threats inside the home. Unseen until they startle you from across the room. Skittering off in the light.

It had been a month since I had seen the man nailing the flashy flier to the coffee shop bulletin board. An ad printed and distributed for the “Safest Apartments in Town!”

They promised private security guards, available at the complex 24/7.

Watching over you.

Skittering about.

It was exactly what I had been looking for.

It was peaceful, at first. But I made the mistake that people often do with pests. I left too much out in the open. It had been a lovely night up until. A night out with friends, a late arrival home.

I was asleep when it began. Pests emerge in darkness.

It was not clear when I awoke what was happening. Not at first. A weight pressing against me, a cold sharpness on my throat. A tugging at my underwear.

“Ruby,” he moaned. “Ruby.”

I grabbed at the knife. I kicked. I struggled.

Blood pouring.

Slippery.

A hot shower of red life spilling across my face, my neck. My hands, gripping nothing but the warmth that they would miss when it was gone. All gone.

His hands, gripping my hair.

Dragging.

Pulling. To the floor.

Slick tile, cool against my bare legs.

“You stay in here and you do not move.”

A washcloth against my neck. Feet against the wall, back against the bathroom door.

Vermin, skittering around my apartment.

Pants zipping.

The lights are off. Skittering, skittering.

Silence.

My palms cannot grip the handle. They cannot grip. A laugh, bubbling up from somewhere beyond me. Is this how I die?

The door opens.

My phone is there, on the bedside table. Quick retreat. Dial tone rings once.

“I’m bleeding. I’m bleeding to death.”

“Stay on the line, ma’am.”

A knock at the bathroom door.

“Security, Ruby! We heard there was a disturbance. Let me in.”

“Do not let him in.”

“It’s security-”

“We haven’t notified security. Do not let him in.”

“You need to let me in! I can help you.”

“The police are three minutes away. Do not let him in.”

A kick at the door. “I am not a threat! You need to let me in!”

Breathe held.

Sirens.

The knocking stops.

Police search my home.

Mens underwear. A hat that is not mine. A keyring, heavy with opportunity.

They search the apartment’s security guard - scratch marks on his scavenging mandible.

A conclusion made.

I have lived contaminated ever since. It has been twenty years.

They’ve let him out of his containment. Skittering, skittering. Out into the community, out where I can see him.

In my dream, the roaches had been running. I had been killing them.

The sterile coolness of a pistol purchased is a welcome control.

It is time to turn on the light.

He will see.

I cannot tolerate a pest.

[bugsstop]

Best Cockroach Control Products in Singapore That Really Work

Cockroaches are one of the most common pests in Singapore, and they can be quite an irritation. Not only are they unsightly, but they can also carry diseases and trigger allergies. If you are struggling with a cockroach problem in home, kitchen and commercial places, finding an effective cockroach control products is crucial. Here are some of the best cockroach control products available in Singapore that can help you manage and eliminate these pests.

Advion Cockroach Gel

Advion Cockroach Gel is a top choice for controlling cockroach infestations into kitchen, bathroom, and warehouse food storage area. This highly effective gel attracts cockroaches with its appealing bait and then eliminates them. This Advion Cockroach Gel has many benefits including, High consumption bait matrix, Non-repellent, Performs well on all major cockroach species, 24 hours efficacy, Safe for use in food-handling establishment and more. Coming with the Syringe 30g, this cockroach gel is suitable for use in Indoor like kitchen, bathroom, warehouse, food storage area etc.

Controz Cockroach Gel

Controz Cockroach Gel is another excellent cockroach products for managing cockroach problems into household and commercial places. This attractive and highly palatable Controz Cockroach Gel shows overnight effect in cockroach control, eliminating the whole colony. Having a wide range of benefits, this cockroach gel is highly attractive and appealing to cockroach, odorless and non-staining, suitable for use in food-handling establishment, designed for easy and précised application, proven result on the common household cockroach like German and American cockroach.

Green Drain – Waterless Trap Seal for Floor Drains

The Green Drain Waterless Trap Seal is a unique product that helps prevent cockroaches from entering your home through floor drains. This innovative solution creates a barrier in the drain, stopping cockroaches and other pests from coming up through the pipes. It's particularly useful in areas where drains are a common entry point for cockroaches. This Green Drain Waterless Trap Seal is easy to install and provides an added layer of protection against pests.

Ice Insect Trap

The ICE Insect Trap is a versatile tool for managing cockroach populations. Each pack contains 12 traps that use a sticky surface to capture cockroaches. These traps are effective for monitoring and reducing cockroach numbers by trapping them as they come into contact with the sticky surface. ICE Insect Traps are easy to place in areas where cockroaches are known to travel, helping to keep your environment pest-free.

Where to Buy Cockroach Control Products in Singapore Online?

Looking for effective cockroach control products in Singapore? BugsStop offers a wide range of DIY solutions to help you tackle those pesky pests. Shop online for top-rated and highly effective cockroach killer products in Singapore for your home and commercial places that comes with advanced features and best possible price. With easy online ordering and fast delivery, BugsStop ensures that your home stays pest-free. Shop reliable and proven cockroach control products in Singapore and keep your living places cockroach free.

In conclusion, choosing the right cockroach control products is crucial for effectively managing infestations in Singapore. Whether you opt for Advion Cockroach Gel, Controz Cockroach Gel, Green Drain Waterless Trap Seal, or ICE Insect Traps, these pest control products offer various solutions to tackle cockroach problems in home and commercial places. For high-quality pest control products online, turn to BugsStop. We provide effective solutions to help you maintain a pest-free environment and ensure that your home or business remains comfortable and safe.

[brisbanecleaningandpestcontrol]

THE TOP CONTENDER IN PEST CONTROL IN BRISBANE… BCCPC

Pest Control Brisbane | 24/7 Expert Pest Removal

With years of experience, BCCPC stands out as the top contender in PEST CONTROL! 🏆 Our team of experienced Bug Busters is equipped with the best equipment and human-friendly materials to wipe out all unwanted pests from your home, office, warehouse, farmhouse, factory, shop, and more. 🏠🏢🏭 Our team is highly skilled in pest elimination and not only efficiently wipes out pests but also ensures their entry points are sealed and blocked. 🚫🐜 Experience the best in Pest Control Brisbane…

We provide the best pest inspection services to homes in the Brisbane area. We offer cost-effective general pest control services for commercial & residential.

24/7 Pest Control in Brisbane for Homes and Businesses

We are the most popular and the leading pest control Brisbane service providers, extending end-to-end solutions to residential and commercial properties. We apply eco-friendly and general pest control Brisbane methods such as heat treatment and fumigation. These methods are highly effective for commercial properties such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, supermarkets and more. We also have effective termite and pest control Brisbane solutions for houses, apartments etc.  In addition, we specialise in end-of-lease flea treatment, end-of-lease pest spray, and end-of-lease pet fumigation services. Tailored to meet the needs of tenants and property managers, our services ensure your rental meets health standards before move-out, safeguarding your bond return. Trust us to leave your space pest-free and ready for its next occupants, with our expert team ready to deliver swift and efficient service.

Highly Trained and Experienced Pest Control Team

Pests such as rats, squirrels, cockroaches, ants, spiders, bed bugs, fleas, wasps, birds etc. trouble us, and we want to get rid of them at any cost. Hence, Brisbane pest control services are highly relevant. We have a highly trained and experienced pest control team efficient in dealing with all types of pests instantly. Our expert and the best pest control Brisbane service ensures complete peace of mind.

24 Hour Pest Control for Brisbane

Our pest control Brisbane service is available 24 hours a day. Our team is active on all seven days of the week. Call us, and we attend your problems virtually without any delay. We are the End of lease pest control Brisbane using eco-friendly pesticides and insecticides. We have the latest pest control equipment and follow the most modern techniques to exterminate pests from your properties, offices and residential areas.

Avail our pest control Brisbane service for domestic and commercial properties. We are the most trusted, fast, effective and reliable pest control Brisbane service. Our pest control service is very effective and is fully equipped to meet your expectations. Contact us today, and let our professional service control the pests that cause nagging problems in your premises.

Our Other Services

We also provide a range of service to our Customers such as:

Carpet Cleaning

Uphostery Cleaning

Car Cleaning

Tile & Grout Cleaning

Strata Cleaning

Carpet Dry Cleaning

Our reputation as the best cleaning service is dedicated to our professional and experienced team. Give us a miss call today, and we will get back to you with adequate solutions to fulfill your cleaning requirements.

If you are looking for Pest Control Services in Brisbane, Bracken Ridge, Aspley, Chermside, Nundah, Albany Creek, Everton Park, North Lakes, Hamilton, Murrumba Downs and the surrounding areas. Get in touch with us by calling at 0433-369-592  or You can also send an email to brisbaneccandpc@outlook.com.au