#ah I’ll just swindle him

[artsymeeshee]

Just a silly idea

[theladyofmanyfandomsfanfiction]

Imagine Geralt realising how pissed you are after running into you again…

It was another busy day where knights, men and women of all corners came in to rest their battle-weary feet and drink mead. There would be the occasional brawl but they were nothing when you compared it to battling a cursed wyvern with a blindfold.

You exited the back room having just refilled the pitcher of cool mead when a familiar grunt caught your attention. Just behind a rowdy table of farmers, in the corner, sat the Witcher - Geralt of Rivia - and a bard who was far too chipper while sober.

Inching a little closer, you busied yourself with empty flagons while remaining within earshot of the pair.

“Come on - it’s not a bad lyric. Ah, what do you know? You can wield a sword but not understand the complex meaning behind a beautiful string of words.” The bard said.

Geralt scoffed. “It wasn’t complex.”

An old man slid a few coins across the table for the service which you pocketed and then moved on to the next.

“We can’t stay long.” Geralt told his companion. You glanced back briefly and saw the brightly dressed man staring into his coin satchel, concerned.

“I could swear there was more silver in here. Geralt, I think I’ve been indecently swindled.”

You wanted to confirm that the man could easily have fallen prey to the notorious pick-pockets that haunt the tavern but you stayed silent, now distracted by a customer who ordered some pies.

“Don’t forget the carrots this time.” He reminded.

You wanted to tell him where to shove his carrots but heard your name being shouted from across the floor.

“Y/n, I need a word!” It was the tavern owner who enjoyed paying you less than what you were owed. With a sigh, you trudged over to him away from most prying ears. “You’ve been waiting on those tables long enough. Deliver those pies and refill goblets on the double or I’ll show you out the door.”

You had half a mind to bite back but chose to hold the words at bay. In ten minutes, the pie was ready to be collected from the kitchens. As you walked it to the table, you made the decision to confront Geralt but upon approaching his table, found that the Witcher and his bard had vanished, leaving behind some coins for the hospitality.

Geralt would have heard your name being bellowed. He would have seen you answer the call. And yet, he still left?

Typical!

The farmer who had ordered the food found his plate empty as you swerved around his chair and rushed out the wooden door. Turning left, you followed the small path down to where riders often tied their horses, your own being one of them - spotting the familiar silver hair and lute of the bard.

Words appeared to have failed and rational thoughts had abandoned your mind the second you fled.

Your hand flipped the pie out of its casing and with one, well-aimed throw, found its mark. The bard screamed and the Witcher stopped in his tracks instantly stilling for a few seconds.

Then he turned, his jaw clenched. “Did you throw a meat pie at my head?”

You tossed the empty pan over your shoulder. “You bet I did and I’ll do it again.”

The bard at Geralt’s side grabbed his guitar and hid behind the broad-shouldered man fearing that he would be next. “Oh, they’re pissed. What did you do?”

Geralt exhaled as he pulled stray bits of pastry out of his locks. “I’m not sure…”

“Not sure? You fucking ignored me in the tavern! Friends for years and it doesn’t warrant a simple ‘hello’?” You yelled.

Jaskier peered out from behind, “Oh, he’s always like that. We’ve been friends for several weeks and he pretends to hardly know me - such a jest.” He chuckled to himself quite fondly.

Ignoring the brightly coloured song man, Geralt addressed you, now free from the discarded food. He had indeed acknowledged the your presence the minute he set foot in the tavern but found himself reliving old memories instead - some good, others painful.

“I didn’t think you’d want to see me after that business with the striga.”

“The striga?” You repeated, remembering the event he was referring to where he had taken claim over the beasts defeat instead of giving you proper recognition. “That was over a year ago, I was bitter for perhaps a few weeks but no more. But you wouldn’t know that because you ran off with Roach.”

“I didn’t run off - I just - you were injured and I had no reason to hang around while you healed.” The Witcher explained. “In hindsight, I probably should have checked in.”

You nodded vehemently. “And since you didn’t, you’re very deserving of that meat pie.”

“The pie was mean.” Geralt frowned.

“Oh a tale of a strained but beautiful friendship filled with battles and miscommunication - you must regale me with the details.” Jaskier grinned.

You would gladly do so if your old friend would have your company once more. Raising a brow at Geralt, you posed the silent question.

“Don’t you have a job?” Geralt asked.

You squinted in return. “I abandoned my post and stole a pie. I’m surely fired.”

“Fine - but only until the next village.” The Witcher negotiated, knowing full well that his friend would likely be staying for a longer time. He grabbed the reins and pulled himself up on his horse with a small grunt.

You shared a similar grin to the bard and sent a high whistle into the air to call forth your own steed for the journey ahead.

When the horse approached, you took hold of the reins and walked alongside Jaskier.

“While we’re on the topic, I’ll tell you about the time when Geralt fought an ifrit almost fully naked.” You winked and caught the eye roll on your friends face.

Jaskier pulled his guitar to the front and strummed a few strings to start a catchy tune. “Oh, I’m ready for this.”

~ More imagines here ~

[maddogofshimano]

The Tiger’s Repayment of a Favor: Saejima Boss Rush

Spoilers for Y4

Hell yes a new Saejima event! I’m always so excited for these, even if things are almost always going VERY poorly for Saejima in one way or another. He’s just a trouble magnet

Given the glut of resources I’ve accumulated over the years I blew nearly all of them on this event so that I could finally have a top 500 placement and get a fancy title plate 😎😎😎

Anyways, on to the event!

Summary: Shortly after the events of Y4, Saejima gets lost and is helped out by a kind stranger. When he finds that same stranger in trouble, he will go to any lengths to return the favor.

[On a certain day in 2010] [Almost immediately after Saejima Taiga, on the recommendation of Kiryu Kazuma and Majima Goro, launched the Tojo Clan Direct Line Saejima Family...] [Saejima was visiting the grave of his sister, Saejima Yasuko, and arrived in a town outside of Kamurocho.]

Saejima: ...Shit. I ended up gettin' lost. I ain't got a clue about places like this...

Saejima: I figured I'd stop by that restaurant Majima was talkin' up... Saejima: ...Oh. Now that I think about it, I got that smartphone Majima gave me. Is there a way to see a map on it?

<phone beeps> Saejima: Now where... is the map... supposed to be on this thing? This it? <phone beeps> Saejima: Nope, it ain't here. Is this it? No... maybe this? <phone beeps multiple times> Saejima: Oh, looks like this is it. Then, to search for a store... ya do this? Nah... is it this one? <phone beeps even more times, followed by thuds(?)> Saejima: Woah! The screen ain't workin' all the sudden!? I-Is it broken!!??

Glasses Wearing Man: Ladidadida~  ...Hm? Is something the matter?

Saejima: Ah, nah, I just went 'n' busted this smart phone... Man: Busted? ...Ah, it's actually just frozen. I could fix it for you if you'd like? Saejima: ...Is that alright? Man: Sure. I'm in a good mood because my work is going well, you know? Well, I suppose I don't actually do that much. Man: Hmm, just force-close the app... Huzzah, you're all good to go! Saejima: Oh! Ya really did it! Ya made it work! Saejima: I'm in your debt! What's your name?

Man: Oh no, I didn't do anything worth remembering my name for! See ya! Ladida~ 🎵 (tl note: I have no idea if this is less of a bizarre thing to say in Japan) <he leaves> Saejima: ...Heh, I had no clue how that was gonna go. Well then, let's check out that restaurant Majima mentioned... <Saejima finally gets his meal in Definitely Not Kamurocho> Saejima: Whew~! That was good food! Wouldn't expect anythin' less from a place my kyoudai recommended.

Saejima: Now then... I oughta get headin' home. ...Hm? Chinpira: Raaah!!!!

<the punk punches the man> Man: Guh... <he drops to the floor> Beefy Yakuza: ......

Chinpira: Oi! Don't fall over already Kosakai! We're not done here... (tl note: the name is 小酒井 with other readings being Osakai and Kozakai. Kosakai seems the most common) Saejima: Stop.

Chinpira: Ah, who the fuck are you? Saejima: I got no clue what this is about, but if ya wanna take it any further you'll be facin' me. Kosakai: U-.... Ughh... Y-You're... Saejima: It's alright. Stay back. Chinpira: ...So you're protecting that thief? Saejima: ...Thief? Chinpira: Don't ya know? This here Kosakai's made a killing off of petty thefts and swindling. Chinpira: He got carried away though and swiped our aniki's wallet, so we gotta teach him a lesson. Saejima: The hell? Is that true? Kosakai: ............ Saejima: Sure looks like he's tellin' the truth. Saejima: Don't tell me that when ya said work was goin' good... ya meant ya pulled a scummy job like that? (tl note: extremely funny for Saejima to get offended about stealing wallets. you are a crime boss) Kosakai: ...Yes. Chinpira: Now you get that he's not worth sticking your neck out for, right? So hurry up and move. Saejima: ...Nope, ain't movin'. Kosakai: !? Chinpira: What was that? Saejima: I'll take the punishment in his place. Leave him be. Kosakai: Umm... What are you... Chinpira: This isn't a fucking joke!!!! <Saejima gets punched> Chinpira: ...How's that? Still feeling the same?

Saejima: ...I ain't gonna hit back, so you're free to hit me as much as ya like. Teach me a lesson to your heart's content. (tl note: holding my head and trying to cobble together a wording that is accurate but doesn't just read as totally obscene in a masochistic kind of way but Saejima is making this so difficult) Chinpira: Tch... Fine, have it your way!!!! <a whole lot of beating sounds> Chinpira: Haa... Haa...

Saejima: ...Haa ...Haa... Are ya... satisfied now...? Chinpira: There's still more! <another punch> Saejima: ....Gh! Chinpira: Haa... Haa.... Saejima: If you're determined to do this, ya gotta do more. This ain't gonna take me down.  Kosakai: Wh-Why are you letting yourself get this badly hurt... Kosakai: All because of one little chat on the street? Doing this for my sake... when you're a total stranger to me... why on earth... Saejima: Well, why did ya help me out earlier? Kosakai: Eh? With your smart phone, you mean...? That was... I mean, I was in a good mood and just sort of felt like it. Saejima: Y'see... I also "just sort of felt like it". Kosakai: M-Mister... Chinpira: Haa... Haa... You just sort of felt like it? Stop fucking around... I'm gonna kill you... Beefy Yakuza: ...Wait. Chinpira: Eh... a-aniki... Beefy Yakuza: ...You're a stand-up guy, aren't you? I like you.

Saejima: ...You the boss? Kasagi: Yeah, Kasagi's the name. The owner of the wallet Kosakai tried to make off with. (tl note: name is 笠木 which can also be Kasaki but I went with Kasagi so it was a little more different from Kosakai) Kasagi: But after witnessing your manly spirit, I'm willing to forgive him. Saejima: Really? Kasagi: Yep. But, I'd lose face if I just let ya go back home like this. Kasagi: You know a lot about fighting, don't you? I'm actually one of those kinds of guys... Seeing someone strong gets me aching. (tl note: jesus fucking christ this really is just a BDSM scene) Kasagi: What do you say, will you fight me? Saejima: A fight, huh? Kasagi: A one-on-one fight, and if you win I'll let him walk free. If I win, then you'll hand that guy over like a good boy.  Kasagi: ...So how about it? Saejima: ...I'll do it. Since it'll make ya feel better. (tl note: the verb here is 気がすむ which is "to be satisfied" or "to feel good" which. look I'm trying really hard here to not make this all sound like dialogue from a porno but they're not helping me out!!) Kasagi: Good. And sorry about the damage, I'm not very good at holding back. You'll have to forgive me. Saejima: Ya better not go easy. Now hurry up 'n' come at me...! Kasagi: Heh, I thought you'd say that. Let's go all out then!

<the event happened, and I got way too many points>

Kasagi: S-... Strong...

<he hits the floor> Chinpira: A-Aniki!?

Saejima: ...Whew... Well then, I'll be takin' this guy.

<they start to leave, Kasagi pulls himself off the ground> Kasagi: Guh... W... Wait a minute.... Saejima: What d'ya want now? Kasagi: ...Who are you? Don't tell me... you're yakuza too? Saejima: ...I'm simply someone who got in a fight with ya. Who I am's got nothin' to do with that. Kasagi: I'm not trying to start shit again. I just... want to know who you are. Saejima: ...Saejima Taiga. Of the Tojo Clan. Kasagi: Saejima Taiga... You mean from the Saejima Family...? Saejima: ...We're leavin'. Kosakai: Y-Yes sir. <they leave> Kasagi: ...No wonder I wasn't a match for him.

Kosakai: ...U-Um... Thank you very much. If there's anything I can do to repay you...

Saejima: I was just returnin' the favor. No need to repay me. Kosakai: No way! But that's... but you... you didn't just help me out there. Kosakai: Thanks to you, Saejima-san... I've decided to stop with the petty theft and swindling... Saejima: Huh? What d'ya mean? Kosakai: Having seen you trying to return a tiny favor with no thought as to the risk you were putting yourself in... I realized how pathetic I was, preying on the good intentions of others. Kosakai: So... I'm going to live a respectable life, so that I can become the kind of man you are, Saejima-san. Saejima: ...That's just swell. If that's what ya want, then go for it. Kosakai: Yes sir! So, I want to repay the favor of you teaching me that! Saejima: I see... But don't worry about payin' me back. I've got an awful lotta favors I never managed to return. Kosakai: Eh... but... Saejima: If you're really determined to repay it, then pass the kindness on to someone else. Saejima: ...Just like ya did for me, back then.

Kosakai: ........Gotcha. I understand. Saejima: Well then, see ya. <Saejima leaves> Kosakai: Thank you so much! Saejima: Favors, huh... I've got a debt to Boss Sasai... I really wonder if I can pay it back.

<EVENT END>

Bonus stuff!

we do get the fun bits of lore that Kiryu recommended Saejima for a patriarch position, Majima is the one who gave Saejima a phone between games, and Saejima considers Majima a trustworthy foodie. along with one more thing...

I think we might have to consider if having dudes wail on him is some sort of fetish for Saejima and he’s just not quite aware of it. how many times has he just let someone beat on him when he really did not need to. really shines a new light on that whole thing with Kugihara

so just a few weeks ago they added a new rarity to the game beyond KSR, we now have UR. please take a look at the stat disparity going on here. it’s hurting me

the banner for the event had UR Majima and UR Saejima, so obviously I blew all my diamonds on it. I ended up with............ 4 Majimas!!!! the odds were 50/50!!!!!!!

in other news this blog is getting real close to 1,000 followers(!!!!) so I will have to update my event list in preparation for another translation give away. look forward to it!

[verdantcrimson]

Heaven and Earth / Discernment of Heaven and Earth - 4

(Unproofread)

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[The next day. In the Seisoukan Theatre Room.]

Keito: ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ and a famous mangaka are going to be collaborating!

Souma: ……

Keito: Also, thanks to Hideyoshi-sensei’s connections, we’re slated to not only have a manga, but also various media adaptations, such as a stage play and an anime!

Kuro: Hold up, danna, I got no idea what you’re yappin’ about.

Souma: Indeed. Hasumi-dono, whenever you begin to speak on the subject of manga or glasses, your speech turns so brisk that one can hardly keep up what you are trying to convey.

Keito: Ah, my bad. I couldn’t help myself. I was just excited because the mangaka we’re working with is one I’ve been a big fan of for a long time.

Keito: Aah, Hideyoshi-sensei is seriously wonderful… It feels like a waste for him to stay as a mere scholar.

 Souma: ......

Keito: He’s a top-notch businessman, I’ll give him that. I ought to learn a thing or two from him.

Souma: (Mgh…… Could it be that Nobunaga-sensei’s prediction was indeed correct? Hasumi-dono seems to have become utterly enamored with, and swayed by Hideyoshi-sensei—)

Souma: (Nay, what else would one do if not have faith in Hasumi-dono! Hasumi-dono is by no means a person of weak-will who would be swindled and strung along by con-artists.)

Souma: Hasumi-dono!

Keito: What is it, Kanzaki?  ♪

Souma: Uwah, what a pleasant smile!? Hasumi-dono, I wish to hear a lengthy explanation of this matter!

Keito: Yes. Naturally, I’ll explain. I do like long tales. 

Keito: Firstly, let's re-establish the premise. Right now, we’re all attempting to create variations of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’.

Kuro: Yeah, that’s right.

Kuro: There’s the version without any of the ‘Three Sages’, a version based on Hideyoshi-sensei’s plan, a version based on Nobunaga-sensei’s plan, and a version based on Ieyasu-sensei’s plan—

Kuro: —Basically, we’re makin’ four different trial versions of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’.

Keito: It’s like food sampling. We’ll conduct a taste test and use whichever recipe is best.

Souma: Indeed. Since filming everything at the same time would be rather difficult, we opted to begin with the simplest part first, right?

Keito: Yes. We started off making the version without any of the ‘Three Sages’. Though the results of this were not ideal, to say the least. 

Souma: Umu…… ‘Tis an educational show that is in absolute need of expertise, however as a version composed solely of amateurs, I cannot fault it for turning out as such.

Kuro: I uh, don’t really remember much. What was it about, even?

Keito: You, why do you seem to have such terrible retention issues from time to time? Is it memory loss?

Kuro: I’ve been crammin’ my head fulla history knowledge lately to keep up with Ieyasu-sensei. ‘Insufficient memory’ y’know?

Keito: Hmph. Since you don’t remember, I’ll just show you again right now. 

Keito: Behold, ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth [Sans Sages Version]’ that we made on our own.

Keito: Heaven and Earth!

Souma: Rumbling…!

Keito: Everyone, do you know about the Sengoku Era?

Keito: Today, we will take a closer look at the figures known as the ‘Three Great Unifiers’ of Japan.

Keito: The ‘Three Great Unifiers’ are Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu—

Souma: ...... If I may be frank, the more one watches this, the more boresome it becomes.

Keito: Yes. It’s almost painful, like a fan trying to replicate their favorite show.

Souma: Because that is the truth of the matter.

Souma: …… Kiryu-dono?

Kuro: Zzzz… zzzz……♪

Keito: Don’t sleep. You fell asleep during the last screening too.

Keito: That’s why you can’t remember anything. Utter nonsense.

Kuro: O- Ough… My bad, when I’m listenin’ to complicated talk in places that ain’t too bright, I get sleepy, can’t help it.

Souma: Fufu. One cannot blame Kiryu-dono, as he seems to be thoroughly engrossed in his studies as of late. He must not be getting enough rest.

Keito: Don’t be soft on him, Kanzaki. This fellow slept through the entire shoot.

Keito: More accurately, he was reading a history book for filming, conked out, and wouldn’t wake up even if he was shaken or struck.

Souma: Ah, that is right. It is for that reason that only Hasumi-dono and I are appearing in this iteration of the show.

Keito: Listen to the footage carefully enough, and you’ll hear Kiryu snoring away in the background.

Souma: In that matter as well, it is a disappointment…… No better than a school play put on by children.

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[bengiyo]

Dangerous Romance Ep 4 Stray Thoughts

Last week, we mostly skipped dealing with the internal fallout of Sailom experiencing extreme violence from his creditors, or seeing how he and his brother are coping, to jump to the Kanghan tutoring arc. We’ve confirmed that Kanghan has massive issues because his dad has undermined his confidence constantly by never expecting anything from him. The boys practiced their English at a tourist spot, and got chased down (for gross sex reasons) by some foreigners who were after Sailom. Kanghan thought it would be brilliant if the hid in an alley and kissed. Also, Kanghan’s friends don’t seem to know him or his interests that well. However, Sailom is going to Courage Wolf this man into believing in himself.

Look at this man lying about studying. Get his ass, grandma.

My poor boy, Chimon. Y’all know he sweats profusely. Why would y’all do him like that with that close up pan?

The grandma is at least setting reasonable expectations of Kanghan.

Interesting. That was apparently NOT the first time Sailom has been beaten up over debts. That is NOT how that scene felt at all.

I’m not sure I’m keen on a tutoring/friendship montage, but it helps that Perth and Chimon are good.

How are the candles helping them study if they’re spread across the room? Did they ask Sam’s staff to set this up?

Why are they being so heavy-handed with this windmill analogy? This feels so early!

Kanghan is such a dork. Why is his hair not inside of his helmet?

Fellas, is it gay to think about the bonding moment you had with your rival/tutor/crush in the pool when you can’t sleep the night before exams?

Chimon is good. His face dropped briefly in disappointment when he heard that Kanghan failed, and then he masked it immediately to encourage him because only failing one subject is an improvement.

Alright, but did we clear things up with the parents group chat so Sailom can go back to tutoring other people at least? I didn’t forget that Kanghan called him a sex offender.

Oh lord, not him having a secret crush on Kanghan because of the umbrella stuff.

Papang is back! We didn’t talk about much.

Here he goes again eating this dry ass steak alone. He paid $30 for this?

I don’t get all this mooning at each other. They could just talk? Do they need to act like they hate each other after all this cutesy time together?

I’m gonna need GMMTV to stop using Perth shows to swindle people into investing in crypto.

“I’m okay,” then almost busts his ass on the bathroom floor. You can’t fall in love if you ain’t clumsy amirite??

Ah, the poverty-to-sex-work pipeline begins.

Pepper is pretty, but I really hate the color of this jacket.

Now, why is Saifah spending this kind of money on dinner when they have bills piling up?

This is the first time I think a Thai show has used their penchant for potty jokes well by having Sailom eat with a man experiencing incontinence.

Well, at least this man only wanted to have dinner with him this time.

I appreciate Pimfah being tactful about trying to offer help to Sailom.

I don’t mind them wanting to use their wealth to assist Sailom, nor do I mind the grandmother putting conditions on that help. Still, I’m not feeling kind of off about the whole experience here because it feels like we dropped the antagonistic part of this rather quickly.

They’re really committed to the windmill analogy. There’s even one on the umbrella. It’s part of the design, so I’ll let it ride.

Yes, dry his hair. A BL boy will die if his hair stays wet too long.

Fellas, is it gay to make your rival/tutor/crush hold your drinks, feed you, and massage your shoulders as a break from studying?

Besties, I gotta be honest, I’m a little frustrated with this show. I’m having a hard time staying locked in on much of the drama because it seems to get resolved or forgotten at will. Perth and Chimon are good, but this is a bit difficult for me to connect to, and I find that the irritation is leading to a bit of boredom with it on Fridays.

[countrymusiclover]

47 - Proper Family Meeting

( gif belongs to respective owners, I don't own it )

Part 48

Gemini Runaway

Three updates in a day again and almost to 50 chapters I can't believe it 😁

Tag list ask to be added @dragonixfrye @secretdreamlandmentality

It had been a few days since we had met the mysterious sister named Freya that claimed to be their long lost sibling. Rolling out of the bed early this morning I shrugged on one of Nik’s shirts and some ripped jeans. Walking down the stairs I saw Nik in the room with the girls. “Morning Rae, how did you sleep this time?”

“Still not good, unfortunately. I don’t know how but I can’t get her nightmares out of my mind.” Slumping my shoulders in a heavy huff I throw my head back still terrified to think that this mysterious woman would come after Hope.

Missy was playing with a chess piece sucking on it in her mouth when he rose to his feet taking it before she choked on the object. “I could attempt to sort of compel the nightmares away from you.”

“It wouldn’t work though. I am still part witch, remember. Regardless of you being an original hybrid.” I reminded him by raising a brow at him.

He set the chess piece down on the table taking my hands in his rubbing his thumbs over my palms. “Yes, that's true. But I am also your sire, Raelyn. You have to do whatever I say if I use the power. That is one more advantage of being a vampire.”

“But you won’t do it. I know you, Niklaus.” I pointed out tilting my head to the side.

“Grah!” We heard someone make a noise before we turned our heads and saw Alina with her hand raised up using her other hand to siphon Hope who was standing. The cheese piece that he had moved was floating into the air and dropped back into Missy’s lap seeing that she was about to cry.

Knitting my brows at them I glanced out the corner of my eyes to Nik. “Well that’s going to be a problem when they get older….sweetie no siphoning your sister - ugh!”

“Alina!” Nik raised his voice at his middle daughter when he watched me try to take the toy from Missy who whined. She grabbed my elbow, siphoning me where I drew my hand back.

Rubbing my elbow I looked back at him rising to my feet. “It’s okay, Nik. I’m fine. Now I know how it feels. We can let her keep it so long as she doesn’t choke on it.”

“She still shouldn’t hurt you or her sister’s for that matter.” He wraps his arms around my waist tugging me into his chest kissing me before whispering down to me. “I’ll snatch it from her when our three princesses are fast asleep, don't worry.”

Leaning up on my toes I kissed him slowly moving my arms around his neck. He leaned down bending his knees until I jumped up wrapping my legs around his waist. “We should get away from young minds if we keep this up. Don’t want to traumatize them.”

“Then we mustn’t waste another moment, Raelyn.” He vamped me back into our shared room with me landing on my back throwing my hair around before he kissed me again.

Running my hands up his chest I was seconds from ripping his shirt deepening the kiss until I heard Elijah calling our names from the other room. “Raelyn, Niklaus!”

“Ignore him. He’s just here to swindle tales of the fake sister I should trust.” He grumbled tilting my chin back to his when I glanced toward the door that was opened.

Shaking my head at him I agreed with him. I didn’t want to trust someone who could be toying with my mind throughout the night. “I’ve been thinking if we need to remind her that we don’t trust her. I could always do the flare for the dramatic like you do when you say I’m the Hybrid…cause it’s rather hot sometimes.”

“Ah, that's my girl. You’re finally seeing that you are a Queen fit for a King. And this city shall be ours forever.” He leans down, crashing his lips down onto mine feeling me smirk into the kiss.

Someone vamped into the doorway when he was about to tear my shirt and it was Elijah. “Brother, Raelyn. May we please talk before you make love throughout the entire compound.”

“Elijah, can’t you see we are busy!” I grumbled when Nik growled, flashing me the werewolf eyes where I kissed him tugging on the curls starting to make them a mess.

The original vampire spoke again. “I can see that, Raelyn. But I assumed you would wish to know that Rebekah is here and she needs help. The new body that she took over is now fighting back against her. So I have requested Freya’s help.”

“Brother, get out of here or I’ll dagger you!” Nik threatened him looking over his shoulder at his older brother.

The tux wearing vampire didn’t budge and said something that finally got our attention. “Freya is meeting her nieces.”

“What now!” Klaus and I both jumped up vamping past him and into the living room.

Raising my hand up I created a fireball in my hand with my fangs dropping down in my mouth stomping into the room halting in my tracks after what I saw before my eyes. “I’ll burn you if you don’t get your ass out of this house this instant…oh my gosh.”

Freya was down on her knees in front of our three girls. Missy was attempting to get to her feet beside her sister Hope. And Alina was playing with Freya’s long hair but untemanrly they were perfectly fine being with her like that. “I’m sorry but I couldn’t resist meeting them while Elijah went to go get you two. I could only sense one of your daughters' magic. So I am stunned that there are actually three of them.”

"Well don't get too attached. Now why exactly is she here Rebekah?' I crossed my arms over my chest putting out the flame in my hand.

She explains simply to me. "The witch is still fighting to regain their body. So that's why Elijah called her."

Klaus interrupts our conversation standing beside me throwing his hands up. "Have you lost your mind? Tell me we're not considering opening our sister's head to someone we barely know."

Rebekah shouted in frustration. "Nik, for God's sake, she is our sister. I've know it since she saved me from the fauline cottage."

"An act no doubt meant to secure your trust, perhaps for this very moment, to strike when we are vulnerable." Rebekah scowls at Klaus, but he shakes his head. "No. We've no way to prove that anything she said today is true."

Elijah sighs. "Niklaus, I understand your concern. Both of us are powerless to help our sister. Now either we leave Rebekah to suffer, or we place our faith in the hands of someone I believe to be our blood. Right now, I'm inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to family."

"You needn't worry. Elijah explained the problem, and I can help.' Freya got to her feet.

Nik mutters loudly 'Rather confident, aren't we?"

Freya turns to look at him, partly amused and partly confused. "The spirit of the host body is powerful, but I can cast a spell, .. put you in a deep sleep, and then suppress this other essence. You'll be just fine."

Rebekah was nervous and I could hear her heartbeat inside her chest. "Lovely. When do we start?"

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. She spouts off some magical diagnosis, and we are all supposed to applaud." Nik sat down at the bar pouring me and himself a glass of blood throwing his head back with a grumbling breath.

Rebekah was annoyed at him. "Nik, she's trying to help."

"Yes, but for the sake of keeping our options open, why not write down your spells and incantations? That way, we can have them double-checked by an impartial third party, say Davina. She'd love to prove me wrong." Nik slammed his glass down on the counter top raising his voice towards her. "I'd rather trust Raelyn than any other bloody witch on this entire earth because I have seen her magic!"

Freya eyes me clearly offended. "I doubt she would understand my magic, let alone have the power to execute it."

"Debatable I think not!" Nik raised his tone towards her. "She's the strongest witch I have ever seen."

Gripping the glass in my hand I was tempted to shatter it completely. "I can handle more power then you have ever seen, Freya. I dropped all the Originals on their knees. I consumed your mother Esther’s dark magic and didn't die. I put a hex curse on a werewolf's mother. My uncle wanted me to become the leader of our Coven and I didn't die when I consumed his power. Finally I am searching for a way to stop my Coven curse where twins compete in a battle of magical strength. Regardless, the thing you need to know is ... .I'm the Heretic and you can't KILL ME!"

"Bloody hell, siphon queen." Nik mumbled under his breath struggling to not throw her over his shoulder and ravish her right then. He had never been so turned on in his immortal life.

Freya walked over to me where I downed the blood in my glass striding up until we were pressed up against one another. "Regardless of how powerful you haven’t faced Dahlia, Raelyn. I have been raised by her and I am the only one here who can help Rebekah this instant. We can't afford for you or Niklaus to need to tend to one of your children during a spell."

Nik shook his head mockingly sitting back down at the bar. "Oh. So you're our only hope then? Seems rather convenient, doesn't it?"

"I knew it would be difficult to win your trust, Niklaus. Your reputation precedes you…" Nik smiles mockingly at her as she stands and walks toward him. "But if we are to face Dahlia together, you will have to trust me. Given the peril that Rebekah now faces, are you truly incapable of giving me even a chance to prove myself?"

Striding back over to Nik he poured me more blood tugging me up into his lap nuzzling his nose into my neck leaving kisses making me lean and moan into his scent. "Shall we leave the easily swayed alone so I have my way heretic fiancée."

"You are rather tempting but if we left them alone she might snatch our daughters and take them to this Dahlia woman." I draped my arms around his neck kissing him passionately then breaking the kiss showing my fangs to the stranger in our house.

"I know I appear as an outsider, but I have dreamt of you all for a thousand years." Rebekah and Elijah look at each other before turning back to Freya. "Elijah, when you were in Esther's womb, she would ask me to sing to you. I would feel her belly as I did. Heh. How you would kick. She would say, "it was as if Thor himself had raised his hammer"..."

Elijah finishes her sentence. " .. "And summoned thunder and lightning." Mother rarely mentioned you. When she did, she would say how enchanted you were by the prospect of my birth."

Freya grinned at the pair. "How I wanted more brothers and a sister more than anything, but between Esther and Dahlia, that wish was taken from me. I was ruined by those who raised me. If nothing else, at least we have that in common. There is nothing that can replace what was taken from us, but I hope we can make something better in its place. All you have to do is trust me."

Nik vamp-speeds over to her and breaks her neck. Rebekah tries to intervene, but she wasn't fast enough. "Nik!"

He smirks vamping back to me draping an arm over my shoulder, whispering the last part in my ear. "Well, that's enough of that, don't you think? Right. Now we can have a proper family meeting….no one is anything like you. You are the most badass and hottest witch ever, Raelyn." I leaned into his embrace eyeing Freya's unconscious body while we waited for her to supposedly come back to life.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[couldntbedamned]

Goodbye Grey Sky, Hello Blue - 18

Summary: In an alternate universe where trains and zeppelins are still common forms of travel and the internet and cell phones exist, nineteen year old Peter Parker has few options left after he’s swindled out of his inheritance. Unable to pay for college, let alone keep the house left to him by his deceased aunt, he’s running out of time before he’s out on the streets. Desperate, Peter signs his life over to the Bureau of Civic Spousal Selections to take his chances as the selected husband of a complete stranger. After all, he only has to make it through a year and then he can choose to annul.

Dr. Stephen Strange has little interest in marriage, preferring to focus on his career. When his career is threatened by what a nosy board of directors considers a “lack of personal fulfillment and settling down,” he opts to select a spouse through the BCSS and chooses Peter Parker. The young man’s profile he’d briefly skimmed suggests intelligence and compatibility. It’s not ideal, but if after a year it’s not working out, he can always annul the marriage and send Peter on his way.

It’s a marriage neither truly wants, with sharp learning curves for both. It’s either going to be forever or it’s going to go down in flames.

Warnings/AO3 Tags: 18+ MINORS DNI, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - 1950s/Modern Fusion, Doctor Stephen Strange, Jewish Peter Parker, Peter Parker is of Legal Age, Marriage of Convenience, Marriage Contracts, Government Sanctioned Marriages, Domestic Discipline, Dubiously Consensual Spanking, Spanking, Aftercare, Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Morals, Dubious Ethics, Asshole Stephen Strange, Smartass Peter Parker

Notes: Please remember to read the tags/warnings listed and read/avoid as best for you. YOU are responsible for the content you chose to consume on the internet.

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Chapter 18

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The following week Peter and Stephen were invited to a dinner party and to Peter’s surprise, Stephen made their very polite but firm excuse to leave just before dinner when their hostess announced the dinner of buttered steak, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach.

“I’m sorry,” Peter said as they drove to a nearby diner. “I don’t want to get you in trouble with anyone.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Stephen assured him. “I’m not going to force you to eat food you wouldn’t otherwise eat, nor am I going to expect you to go without while everyone else does.” He paused. “Also, Mordo’s wife is incapable of cooking steak anything other than well-done so really, you’ve done me a favor.”

Peter snorted out a laugh. “At least I’m good for something.”

“You have your uses,” Stephen teased, leading him into the diner.

They enjoyed a simple dinner of steak (cooked appropriately), eggs, and hash browns, after Stephen made it clear to the waiter that milk or butter wasn’t to be used on anything for Peter’s food. Their conversation was lighthearted and by the time Stephen paid and they were on their way home, something inside Peter ached.

His announcement to Billy that he’d be taking the rest of the week off surprised the man, he knew.

“Everything okay?” Billy asked.

“Yes, Peter and I have company coming, and our kitchen is being worked on,” he said. “I prefer to oversee everything.”

He didn’t elaborate further, hanging up his white coat and locking his office door behind him.

“Ah, heading out?”

Stephen turned to see Dr. Richards.

“I am,” he confirmed. “I have guests to pick up at the air hanger in Upper York.”

“That’s wonderful!” Richards enthused. “Have a good rest of your week and enjoy your visitors!”

Managing a “thank you,” Stephen left. He wasn't in the mood to indulge a member of the board, especially Richards.

He called Peter before he pulled out of the parking garage. “Hi!” came Peter’s cheerful greeting. “Are you heading up to Upper York?”

“I will once I swing by and pick you up,” Stephen confirmed. “The four of us will have dinner while we’re there and then I’ll drive us all back.” He checked his watch. “Be ready in ten minutes.”

“I’ll be the one standing outside in the wool jacket,” Peter promised.

Peter couldn’t stop the nerves that had him tapping his toes while he and Stephen waited at the arrival dock.

He couldn’t believe he was actually going to meet Tony Stark! He, Peter Par… Peter Strange was going to meet one of the most brilliant engineers in the world! How was this his life now?

“He’s just another man, Peter,” Stephen murmured to him.

Peter looked up at him. “I know that, logically, but he’s literally in our textbooks! He’s credited with launching the American States into its golden era, along with Hank Pym!” He stilled. “Do you know Hank Pym, too?”

Stephen sighed. “No, I only know the one messiah.”

Peter snorted. “I wouldn’t go so far as to deify him.”

“Good to know you have a line you won’t cross in the name of science.”

When passengers of the newly docked zeppelin began disembarking, Peter looked eagerly to see if Mr. Stark and his wife were in the first group. They weren’t. Soon enough the second wave of passengers departed, and Peter saw them. 

Tony Stark wasn’t as tall as he’d expected, but he was still taller than Peter. So was the very pretty blonde woman with him, who he assumed was his wife, Sharon. Their appearance wasn’t flashy, there were no fans waiting to swarm the man who had just that January been declared Person of the Year by TIMES for the third time. He and his wife looked like any other ordinary couple.

“I see you forgot the red carpet,” Mr. Stark said, once he and Sharon had made their way to them.

“We can’t have your overinflated head competing with the zeppelins, now can we? The passengers would get confused,” Stephen drawled.

Peter was horrified at the rudeness, but Sharon actually laughed!

“Finally, I’m around someone else who can share the Sisyphean task of popping Tony’s ego,” she exclaimed.

“It’s a heavy burden to bear,” Stephen said. But he was smiling. “It’s good to see you both. I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Peter Strange.”

Peter’s face, he was sure, was burning red. “H-hi,” he stumbled. “It’s nice to meet me. You, I mean it’s nice for you to meet me. I mean, um, oh shit I’m sor-”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Sharon said kindly. “Stephen hasn’t told us nearly enough about you.”

He rubbed at the back of neck, feeling like an absolute idiot for embarrassing himself so badly in front of Tony Stark. “There’s not really anything interesting about me, so that checks out.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Stephen said. “There’s plenty interesting about you.”

“Your paper in the Van Dyne Science Journal on the potential medical uses for spider silk was impressive,” Mr. Stark finally said, holding out his hand. "I’d love to pick your brain on it, if we have time during our visit.”

“Oh!” Peter eagerly shook the man’s hand. “Yeah, that’d be great, Mr. Stark!”

“Please, call me Tony, I insist.” He looked at the group. “I guess all that’s left to do is pick up our luggage and then go eat,” he said.

They made their way to the luggage claim and Peter insisted on carrying the luggage Tony and Sharon had checked. He was, he told them, a lot stronger than he looked and they had to be tired after their long flight. The cases rolled along easily, and the two bags weren’t terribly heavy.

“The cabinet will be delivered tomorrow,” Tony told Stephen. “It’s coming from our manufacturing site in Pennsylvania.”

Stephen nodded. “It’s four now and our reservation isn’t until six-thirty. We have time to kill so is there anything you two need to pick up?”

They didn’t, so after storing the luggage in the trunk of Stephen’s Buick, they decided to just wander around downtown Upper York and visit shops as they took their fancy.

Peter hadn’t seen Stephen so relaxed around other people before, save for the few times they’d met up with Clea and Ava from next door. But Stephen was joking and laughing with both Tony and Sharon, and it was clear that the three of them were good friends. He was happy to just listen and be around them, enjoying this new side to Stephen.

“So, the doc here is treating you right?” Tony asked while Sharon was browsing a chic boutique that was having a sale on cashmere sweaters and handbags.

Stephen stiffened at the question, but Tony rolled his eyes at the irritation. “Go on,” he encouraged Peter with a grin. “Spill.”

“Oh, um, yeah, he’s been great, mostly,” Peter said shyly. “A few hiccups, but I guess that would be true for any marriage.”

He did not look at Stephen to gauge his reaction.

“Good,” Tony said. “Stephen here needs someone that can keep him from being such a stick in the mud. He's far too serious.”

If Peter had had a drink, he’d have spat it out.

“This really isn’t appropriate,” Stephen said.

“Is that so? I seem to recall that you had no problem asking Sharon the same types of questions when I married her,” Tony said.

“That was different,” Stephen insisted lamely.

“It wasn’t, but I’ll let it drop for now,” Tony said airily. “Oh, looks like the missus wants to make a purchase. Excuse me.”

“Thank you for indulging him,” Stephen said quietly while Tony went to the register to pay for the items Sharon had selected. “If he asks anything that makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

“Oh, okay,” Peter said. “I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”

Stephen’s lips twitched. “No. I’m thrilled to hear that I’m mostly great.”

“I just figured that honestly may not be the best policy,” Peter teased.

“Brat.”

“So, where are we eating?” Peter asked. He didn’t know how fancy a meal Tony and Sharon would be expecting or if he’d be stuck with just a salad.

Stephen named a restaurant that had him gaping. “You want to take Tony Stark to a burger place?” he asked, horrified.

Stephen shrugged. “I didn’t pick the place, he did. He and Sharon both are something of burger fiends. I checked the place out when I made the reservation, and they can accommodate your diet easily.” 

“Okay then,” Peter said. “And to think I dressed up for this.”

“It can’t always be champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” Stephen said dryly.

Tony and Sharon joined them again, Sharon now carrying several bags.

“And we’re walking, we’re walking,” Tony started and the outing continued.

Every so often a zeppelin would pass over them and each time, Peter looked up to watch, fascinated. 

“You like airships?” Tony asked when he noticed where Peter’s attention would drift.

“They’re amazing,” Peter said. “Especially since they drove the creation of a synthetic element. That’s never been done before and its uses have gone way beyond air travel. The medical uses for synthetic helium are incredible.”

Tony was positively beaming. “Stephen here said you were a man of science. I’m glad he wasn’t leading me on a three-step.”

“I like the hard sciences, at least,” Peter clarified.

“Smart man,” Tony agreed. Seeing the amused looks both Stephen and Sharon were giving him he shrugged defensively. “What?”

They returned to the Buick to put away their purchases and then drove twenty minutes to the burger place Tony had apparently chosen for dinner.

They were shown to a booth in the back, away from the slew of other patrons. He sat across from Sharon and next to Stephen.

“This is cozy,” Tony said. “Boy, girl, boy, boy.”

Stephen actually rolled his eyes and Peter wanted to laugh. He was really enjoying watching Tony get under his husband’s skin.

Peter hadn’t had a cheeseburger since he was fifteen and in his “rebellious” phase. The few he’d had had been delicious, but not something he exactly missed. He was disappointed that if he ordered a regular burger, he couldn’t order one of the milkshakes that were being advertised. They looked amazing.

The waiter brought them menus and Peter immediately flipped to the vegan offerings. There were plant-based burgers along with vegan cheeses that had apparently earned the restaurant rave reviews. He noticed the seals next to certain items certifying them as kosher and he considered his options. He studied the page of milkshakes.

“Don’t tell me we’re doing this again,” Tony was saying, drawing his attention away from the menu.

“All I’m saying is that anything under a quarter of a pound isn’t worth the time,” Sharon argued. “It would be a light snack at most.”

“I could go for a quarter pound burger cooked well done,” Stephen said.

Sharon shot him a deadly look. “You’re a monster,” she said. “Medium rare is the perfect temperature for a burger. No excuses.”

Peter cleared his throat. She looked at him.

“That doesn’t really apply to plant-based burgers,” he said sheepishly. “They’re best cooked medium for the best texture.”

“Okay,” she amended with a wink. “There’s one excuse.”

Peter smirked at Stephen and Tony’s annoyed expressions.

They put in their orders when the waiter returned and since he’d gotten a vegan burger with fries, Pete went ahead and treated himself to an old-fashioned strawberry milkshake.

After their dinner Stephen drove the four of them back to Sanctum Heights. Peter mentally reviewed all of the cleaning he’d done in preparation to have overnight guests and hoped there wasn’t anything he’d missed. He’d bought more groceries than usual when he’d gone out the day before, knowing he’d be cooking for four people instead of just himself and Stephen. He’d changed the bedding in the guest room and ensured that Stephen’s bedroom was tidy since it had the main bathroom.

Satisfied he’d done his best, he let himself relax in the backseat with Sharon, while Tony rode up front with Stephen.

“Not a bad ride,” Sharon commented when they’d finally pulled into Stephen’s driveway. “You’d make a good chauffeur, Stephen.”

Peter made a noise of disagreement. “Mr. Hogan with the car service is better,” he said. “Happy always greets me with a smile.”

“Good for Happy,” Stephen drawled.

Peter carried the luggage inside and upstairs to the guest room. Doing a quick look around reassured him that he was providing a clean, welcoming home to his visitors, just like the housekeeping magazines talked about. Catching sight of the picture frames of his parents, aunt, and uncle, he gathered them up and stuck them in a drawer. Best to not invite questions, he decided.

He joined the group downstairs, where Tony was settled in one of the armchairs with Sharon sitting on his lap. He did nothing to hide where his hand was rubbing her upper thigh and her cheeks were very pink. Stephen sat in the other chair and Peter flat out said “I’m not sitting in your lap,” and instead sat at Stephen’s feet.

If it were just the two of them, he wouldn’t have minded, but in front of company? No, he couldn’t imagine being so bold. He didn’t mind that Tony and Sharon were okay with it, but he wasn’t sure his flush would ever fade if he parked himself on Stephen’s lap where others could see.

Stephen had the radio on, and soft jazz music was playing.

“So, what do you crazy kids do for fun around here?” Tony asked.

“I like to run,” Peter said. “And I visit with my neighbor Ava like twice a week.”

“We have something of a standing date night on Fridays,” Stephen added. “We listen to a radio show and play board games.”

“What radio show?” Sharon asked.

“Rex Gladstone,” Peter said.

“Can you believe that his sister was an Italian spy?” she asked eagerly.

“I know!” Peter exclaimed. “I knew something had to be up, but not that drastic!”

“And that poor beagle, oh my goodness I was so relieved it’s okay!”

Tony and Stephen exchanged an amused look. 

“I called it,” Stephen admitted. “It was the secretary that surprised me.”

Tony snorted. “It’s definitely an entertaining show.”

Sharon rolled her eyes. “Scoff all you want; I’ve seen the way you clench your hands when he’s in a tight spot.”

“Because I’m hoping the show will break for an ad and I might hear one of mine,” Tony insisted, fooling no one.

When Stephen began threading his fingers between his hair, Peter leaned against Stephen’s leg. He loved when Stephen played with his hair; it usually only happened in bed. It always relaxed him and made him feel as though he were cherished. It wasn’t a flashy display like their guests, but it felt perfectly suited to what he had with Stephen.

“Any other excitement?” Tony asked.

“We go to museums,” Peter said. “And I haven’t gotten to experience them here yet, but I’m looking forward to the local fairs that will be held in the spring and summer. Midtown was too urban to have much of that, so I think it will be fun.”

“I never pictured you as domesticated,” Tony said to Stephen. “It suits you.”

Stephen shrugged. “Since I fell out with some of my colleagues, socialization hasn’t held much appeal. I’ve found that I like being home.”

Something in Peter warmed.

“Good company?” Sharon teased.

“The best company,” Stephen said.

“Right,” Tony said. “I promised Share-bear here I wouldn’t spend our whole trip working, so what kind of board games do you have?”

“You’re a miracle worker,” Stephen told Sharon.

“The things we do for love, right?” Tony asked. Peter hoped he meant it rhetorically. He wouldn't be able to answer that question and he wasn't sure he'd want Stephen to answer it, either.

They ended up playing a board game called Aggravation, which Peter and Stephen hadn’t played because it needed four players to be truly enjoyable.

And it was enjoyable, especially because it was so cut-throat. Sharon in particular seemed to take great pleasure in sending Tony and Stephen’s marbles back to their home bases. Peter felt like he was taking his life in his own hands when he sent back one of Sharon’s marbles.

Tony ended up winning, with Peter in second place.

It was nearly ten when they all headed upstairs to sleep, with Stephen the last to reach the second floor because he was securing the house for the night.

Peter made sure that Tony and Sharon had everything they needed and waited patiently as they used the restroom. He carried in an extra blanket, just in case, and set it on the gliding chair in the corner of the room. He told them he’d be cooking breakfast in the morning and bid them goodnight.

He was surprised to see Stephen getting into bed naked. Surely he wasn’t expecting… not with guests in the house!

“We can’t have sex!” he hissed, undressing, and pulling on a nightshirt.

Stephen snorted. “Oh?”

“We have guests, Stephen!”

“I’m aware,” Stephen said, amused.

“They might hear us! And they’ll know what we’re doing!”

“They’re adults and married. I’m pretty sure they know that we have sex.”

Peter was about to argue when he heard a low moan. A giggle. And then, the unmistakable squeak of a bed frame shifting around. His cheeks burned.

“It’s far from the first time they’ve fornicated in that bed,” Stephen said idly. “And my staying at their mansion in Malibu doesn’t deter them copulating there in the slightest.”

“I can’t,” he started.

“You will,” Stephen insisted. “Come to bed. Without the nightshirt; you won’t be needing it.”

Despite his worry, Peter could feel his cock pressing insistently against the cage at Stephen’s stern tone and he pulled off his nightshirt as well as his briefs. “They’ll hear us!” he warned Stephen.

“Then you’ll just have to take extra care to be quiet, won’t you?”

Peter knew enough to understand that it wasn’t a suggestion so much as a rule to follow and he ached with want as he climbed into bed, under the covers with Stephen.

He was in a rare playful mood. Being around trusted friends always seemed to draw that side of him out. He found Peter’s scandalized embarrassment at the banter between him and Tony and Sharon delightful. His young spouse could be so serious and prim at the oddest times about the oddest things.

More than that, the way Peter kept up intellectually with Tony, one of the smartest men Stephen knew was extremely attractive. He’d known that Peter was clever, but Tony and Peter’s casual discussion about a recent biomedical engineering paper over dinner had him planning just how he’d take his husband apart in bed.

(He’d internally nixed a couple of ideas because Peter just wasn’t ready for them, but he definitely wanted to make him ejaculate while caged again. The first time had been so satisfying.)

Telling Peter to spread his legs, Stephen grabbed the lubricant and slicked his fingers. The bottle was close to empty.

“You’re going to need to buy more,” he said as he started teasing Peter’s rim.

He watched with pleasure as the flush on Peter’s face increased. Peter had the prettiest blush of anyone Stephen had ever met. The reminders to buy lubricant always made Peter blush, particularly when delivered over breakfast.

When he worked a finger in, then two, finding Peter’s prostate was second nature. He teased his fingers back and forth over the sensitive gland, coaxing weak little whimpers from Peter. He thumbed over Peter’s perineum and had to quickly use his other arm to hold Peter down on the bed when his body surged up at the sensation with a small cry.

“Ah-ah. You’re to be quiet,” he said lowly. “You don’t want our guests to hear, do you?”

The sounds of a bed squeaking and not-so-soft moans could be heard from the guest room.

Peter flung an arm over his face and bit his lip. Stephen continued to massage the gland. He watched Peter’s expressions intently, pleased at the way his husband shivered and shuddered at the sensations.

Several long moments passed as Stephen drove Peter closer and closer to an edge he wouldn’t be able to fall over. Peter whimpered and squirmed, but Stephen stilled him as he kept up his rubbing of prostate and perineum. He twisted his fingers and scissored them every so often and watched eagerly as Peter let out a small gasp and began dribbling in his cage.

“Absolutely beautiful,” Stephen breathed out, gently thumbing away a tear that was making its way down Peter’s cheek.

He drew back and removed his fingers after one last firm rub and unlocked the cage. Peter’s cock, slim and pretty, hung flaccid against his thigh. Reaching for the bottle of lubricant, Stephen turned his attention to his own cock, heavy with arousal. He slicked himself up and urged Peter onto his belly, caging him against the bed in the way he loved to do.

“Remember,” he urged as he placed his cock at Peter’s hole. “Quiet.”

He pressed, eyes closing in pleasure as his cockhead met with a brief moment of resistance before it was swallowed in. He gave a long roll of his hips and slid deeper and deeper into Peter until he felt his testicles gently slap against Peter’s ass. He’d never grow tired of this.

Stephen took a moment to savor the feeling of being deep inside his young husband, pulled back and then began to thrust.

Beneath him Peter whimpered, and the sounds went straight to his cock. He shushed him quiet, cupping his mouth with one hand when the delightful little sounds didn’t seem as though they’d stop. He continued snapping his hips, working in and out of Peter with fervor that hadn’t faded since their first night. Their own bed was squeaking with the force of his thrusting and Stephen didn’t care who heard.

When Peter rutted helplessly against the mattress he sat back on his heels, still driving in and out of him. He reached down to stroke Peter’s cock, and at the first touch Peter gave a muffled shriek against his hand.

“Careful,” he warned. “You don’t want them to hear, do you?”

He worked Peter’s cock in time with his own thrusts, listening to the muffled whimpers, speaking of the bed frame, and the slapping sound of his testicles against Peter’s perfect little ass.

When Peter started clenching frantically around him, he upped his movements and just as Peter came, he removed the hand on his mouth so that Peter’s cry rang out loud and clear. Then he drove in once, twice, and stilled with a loud groan and spilled himself.

When he had enough wits to gather himself, he helped Peter up and walked them to the bathroom. He wiped himself down while Peter relieved himself. Then he cleaned Peter before attending to his own needs.

“I have no idea how I’m supposed to look either of them in the face tomorrow,” Peter said quietly once they were back in bed and under the heavy blankets.

“The same way you’ve looked at everyone since we’ve married,” Stephen said. “I’m not ashamed of having sex with my husband, and you shouldn’t be shamed by it either.”

“I’m not,” Peter insisted. “I just… sex wasn’t really talked about while I was growing up. I know my aunt and uncle did it, but I never heard them, and they never spoke about it. The most that they did was put a bottle of lotion in my bedroom one day before I got home from school when I was thirteen.”

“Well, Tony and Sharon decided to scar you with their impropriety so it’s only fair we returned the favor.”

Peter snorted. “Yes, you’ve re-established dominance in your home. I’m sure they’ll be properly chastened.”

"If you’re still able to be a brat I obviously didn’t use you hard enough."

“I'll do my best to hold my tongue then; I don’t want you to throw a muscle.”

“If I have to put you over my knee, it’s a risk I’ll take.”

“Sleep now, discipline me later,” Peter said through a long, loud yawn.

Stephen went to reply, but the soft snore told him it was a futile effort. Pleased with how the day had gone, he went to sleep himself.

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And a fun little graphic I made for Sharon and Tony in this AU. ❤️💙

[weirdlookingsnakewithlegs]

Earthspark Analysis

S1 Ep1 - Secret Legacy Pt1 & Pt2

- Immediately my eyes lay onto the prettiest little spider bot.

- Not even thirty seconds in and the writers already threw in a pun!

- Oh Swindle my beloved.

- The use of parts, like wheels, being used in a fight is making me so giddy. Also I adore how Elita is just throwing them around.

- SWINDLE’S HEAD WENT FOR A SPIN HAHA

- Hardtop pushing Swindle out of the way from the falling container.

- THE LITTLE SPIDERS, also I love Swindle’s little scream of terror.

- Okay so Decepticons are getting kidnapped, that’s an interesting focus point.

- Okay human children, I like that they’ve gone ahead and introduced them as little inventors.

- Dad joke.

- Okay moving struggle, that’s a bit cliché but I can let it slide because of the producers.

- Sneaking off to Philly.

- Ah yes, children in crossfire.

- Okay so how are these kids not terribly hurt.

- The screaming match after a fight, I love that, great way to work big feelings actually.

- Why are we checking out a mysterious cave also John Henry mention! Good use of comparison with folk heroes.

- “*smacks hand* That’s how scary movies start.” I love Mo.

- Okay as this goes on I LOVE Mo, she’s giving me younger Miko vibes and I am living for it.

- Well, the rock thingy falling was very anticlimactic.

- “oooo you broke it” I FRAGGING LOVE THIS KID

- THE ROCK SPEAKS????

- There’s no way it just spawned some bots.

- Damn, me too lil bots, me too. I’d also hide after coming into existence.

- Wait this actually adorable, I love Twitch and Thrash.

- “My sister and I won’t hurt you” GLITCH THE SPIDER MIGHT.

- Mo calling their happiness ‘warm fuzzies’ makes my heart melt, I swear if anything happens to these angels I’ll kill a man.

- Also just realized these kids already know what Transformers are, sus.

- Hardtop is back! And uh being disassembled… don’t you do it

- “We can’t adopt, we’re children.” Boi you JUST tried to run away to Philly, don’t be worried about what you can and can’t do now.

- Cold forged, the development aspect of Thrash and Twitch is going to be interesting.

- SOUNDWAVE.

- I wonder if the cardinal is being used as symbolism.

- Oh how I love Thrash and Twitch.

- “These transformers guys are bananas.” “Strange, they were vehicles in the issues I read.” STOP BEING FUNNY

- Nice beats.

- These two are so goofy.

- “Style points for pain” this is feeding my awful sense of humor.

- “I feel so minivan!” I’M CACKLING

- Twitch beefing with the minivan about secrets.

- Food is the way to my heart too.

- THE ORIGINAL DESIGNS! LASERBEAK!

- Ofc Bumblebee is the favorite.

- Okay so Bee is like dead, like I’m going to believe that after Rise of Beast.

- The mom has come across the carnage.

- CONES

- Optimus’ heavy aft knocking over the cones >^>

- “You messed up my cones.” YOU TELL HIM QUEEN THE CONES DESERVE JUSTICE!

- Optimus failing miserably with the cones redemption arc.

- Wow okay, so Dot has a right to be angry. Juicy.

- MEGATRON! Why is he so fine?

- “Megs”

- Okay wait why is he a sweetheart? Also why is Dot lowkey flirting, honey you’re married. But same tho me too.

- The little drone designs are cute!

- Okay interesting that the lasers are something instinctual, this likely implies a form a base coding rather than just knowing things right off the bat. I wonder if this works the same for transformations? Or is it because they haven’t done a vehicle scan?

- Thrash rock to the face.

- Okay interesting take on the connection between DoubleT and the kids, I like that they can feel the deeper emotions. This hopefully plays a bigger role in the future or maybe helps with subtle actions.

- TWITCH ALT MODE ACTIVATED! IT WAS A SCAN! Though I do wonder if the transformation was instinctual or intentional, I’m going with instinctual.

- Thrash squirrel alt would be hilarious.

- WHEELJACK MENTION! And of course his tech explodes.

- Megatron’s little nod and expression when Dot mentioned Optimus always sees the bright side.

- Megatron defending Optimus earnestly, interesting.

- Poor Hardtop, this feels like a traumatic experience, I mean would you want to see someone wearing your arm?

- So the spiders are called Arachnamechs.

- Again I love Mo.

- Thrash getting his aft beat.

- TWITCH LOOKS AWESOME IN THOSE NEW COLORS!

- Victory dance!

- OPTIMUS USING HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS!!!! This makes me so happy.

- Robby stepping up and wanting Twitch and Thrash to stay with the family.

- OH MY PIT NO THEY DIDN’T JUST HAND OFF TWITCH AND THRASH TO THE BAD GUY???

- Okay so Robby does have a good point, a lot of parents do things without their childrens’ permission. (We’ll hop into this later in footnotes)

- Mo calling Thrash and Twitch their brother and sister oh my heart! ALSO YOU BEST FRAGGING FIND THEM OPTIMUS, I’M ATTACHED!

- That arm is way to big for him.

- I love the little arachnamechs so much, I don’t care that they’re evil.

- Cybertonus Cybertronii, base cybertronian species. They have classifications, that’s very intriguing.

- Cybertronus Terrans! Very interesting!

- Mandroid is a kinda sick name.

- Someone tell Optimus to stop using emojis also Megatron needs to not use the @ sign, that’s foul and they both need to have their internet access taken.

- “Mr. Mandroid.” Look at Optimus being polite <3

- Megatron’s inner Decepticon coming out a little I see.

- I love the bot designs, they’re so cool looking.

- Battle of Burbank, y’all think you’re sneaky.

- Yay!

- “Your hearts not in this, is it? Brain either.” Elita be nice to my boy T^T

- SKULLCRUNCHER!!!!!!

- THRASH ALT MODE LETS GET IT!! Oh he’s so lanky!

- BEE!

- You tell them Dot, keep them kids!

Characters:

Swindle: Swindle appears to be a very strong willed bot and he does seem a bit more focused on himself as a Decepticon rather than his peers(considering his lack of concern for Hardtop). Hoping to see him again.

Hardtop: Hardtop didn’t get much screen time but he seems like a very loyal con. His comment to Megatron and his jump in for Swindle certainly gives that impression. Would LOVE to see him again.

Optimus: This man is a sweetheart, not much to it yet though he does show obvious care towards each individual character. I’ve been trying to focus on his micro expressions more than just his words and so far he hasn’t had enough screen time for me to take in anything drastic.

Elita: She is certainly a ball of fire, clever and a good show of energy. Not just that but she certainly voices herself, especially when it comes to Wheeljack it seems.

Robby: The initial struggle with the move certainly set me off, I knew he was going to be a bit of a rebellious character the moment that discussion at the dinner table began. He seems to be struggling with the want to please and the want to be his own person, average teenage dilemma, me too.

Mo: This poor kid has so much on her shoulders, she’s exceptionally heavy hearted. Thrash even said it himself that she can make people happy by being happy. She is a worrier, she cares and I can tell she’s going to have the problem of putting others before herself even in poor situations.

Twitch: Head in the clouds at times but I’ll excuse it since Twitch is like two days old. She appears as though she’s going to be similar to Elita, a sort of pumped up figure. As time goes on I’m sure I’ll get more of her personality. Definitely protective.

Thrash: He’s very thoughtful and it seems he wants to make careful decisions. His open heart discussion with Mo definitely tells me he’s going to be a more solid figure. He’s clumsy though and very curious, I’m excited to see the development.

Dot: Her character is interesting, a mother driven to protect her family and others. She seems confident and sassy but I feel she may have some underlying struggles with how her situation is progressing.

Megatron: It is obvious that he has welcomed the Autobot life but a few comments do tell me he does fairly well with Decepticons still. His mention of not knowing whether Optimus is referring to him when he says “Autobots roll out” really set that in stone for me. I wonder if he’ll be sympathetic towards his former faction.

Bumblebee: I was hoping to see him come in with more style but I am glad nonetheless! He does appear to be a bit begrudged when it comes to living with the humans and his “new experience” comment somewhat implies to me that he may not be all happy on Earth?

Footnotes:

First of all! Robby had a point. Many parents don’t consider their children’s thoughts before moving, nor do they even give them any information half the time. Robby and Mo should have been shown pictures or given information about the area they were moving, not to mention some form of familiarity. While it is the parent’s decision, children should be given something to work with. Moving is stressful for everyone.

I noticed that Robby and Mo have a very emotional connection, they’re rather willing to work things out through explosive means. Ie, the yelling match. All in all I think is was a great way to show how it’s okay to just let those pent up and harsh emotions out as long as others aren’t being hurt.

There are many references! The most notable being John Henry, I love the use of folk heroes in comparisons, especially ones others may not be so well versed on. Considering the target audience I do enjoy it. The Battle of Burbank though was just silly.

Earthspark Analysis

How this will work:

- Starting from this post there will be a series of reblogs.

- Each will begin with the episode number/title.

- Important characters will be given an analysis based on their behavior/decisions/choice of words.

- I may also focus on background characters at times should I see anything interesting.

- I will also focus on other things, for example, if there are fights scenes I will likely make comments.

What you should expect:

I am by no means an expert and this is solely for fun! If you don’t like/agree with what I think that’s okay! In the end we’re all just having fun and this is just for the silly!

Things to watch out for:

I can be oblivious at times! Tell me if I missed something you think is important and I’ll try to round back and take a gander!

🩵 Now let’s get this show on the road! 🩵

[3vwritesthings]

THE LONG AWAITED PART 2 OF THE “BEANS” FANFIC.

Chapters: One || Two || Three (WIP) ||

Summary: Enemies to lovers with Itto. Y/N is beginning to get used to the giant oni.

A/N: kinda rushed, school started sooo🤷‍♀️

BEANS (Pt. 2):

You lay on your bed motionless staring up at the ceiling. This continues for another what seems to be 10 minutes before turning your head to look at the clock sitting on the nightstand beside you.

2:37am. Great. You needed to get up early in the morning to re-pick those lavender melons for Ayato since they’d been dropped so carelessly earlier on the island. It wasn’t your fault either. It was because Itto had flung you over his shoulder like a sack of beans, causing you to have let go.

Itto. Right. He’s the reason you didn’t get what needed to be done, done. All because of him. That stupid, irrational, uncontrolled himbo. Your mind floats off to the same oni. The one who you spent the evening with yesterday. The one who had asked you to go to his party, and the person who just so happens to be your rival.

“Hmph”, you frown. Who does he think he is?!

You shove all other thoughts but the negative ones back down in your brain, but they can’t help but resurface the more you think about the man.

You pick up the pillow to your right and scream into it before your vision blurs and darkness consumes you.

“Hey, amigo!”

You sit upright immediately, eyes shot open, heart beating out of your chest, quickly scanning the room for whatever or whoever would have said that. Right, left, down-

“Ah!”

“Oops, sorry to scare ya compadre!” Itto says above you. The alarm clock next to your bed reads 7:30. I wanted to apologize for making you drop those lavender melons the other day, so I picked some and thought I’d drop them over.

“Oh, right! If you’re wondering how I found you, I asked one of your friends, who just happens to be the Deputy Leader of the Arataki Gang!”

You rub your eyes, startled and scared with many questions, but ultimately decide that you’re too tired to do anything about it. It’s not like he’s here to hurt you, right?

“Deputy Leader?”

“You may know her as Kuki Shinobu.”

“Kuki?! She gave you my location?-“

You’ve known Shinobu for many years and had heard rumors on the street that she’d joined the Arataki Gang, but to hear it yourself was jolting. Someone like her calm, organized, and collected self joining a gang that was the complete opposite?! Impossible!

“Yeah, she said she knew you from a while back when I asked her.

“Anyway, here’s your lavender melons.” Itto hands you a basket. “I’ll uh…get out of your house now…sorry for startling you by the way!”

After he leaves, you shuffle out of bed to get ready and then attempt to deliver the melons off to Ayato again.

All in all, you’re actually very thankful for Itto’s services…once you had checked the melons for poison.

Ayato thanks you for the delivery, and after, you decide to go out and play with the little kids outside. Some would fly kites, some would play tag, others would play hopscotch, use a frayed old rope to jump with, or play foursquare with a temari.

You’re teaching a group of kids how to weave baskets when you suddenly hear crying behind some food stalls. Telling the kids to continue their craft, you get up to investigate.

Turning the corner, you see Itto shouting with joy as the kid across from him bawls his eyes out.

“AHA! This new onikabuto is now mine! But, uh- hey, kid, you win some you lose some. Maybe you’ll get it back someday…But maybe not, I mean, this onikabuto is pret-ty cool.”

“I-it’s ok Mr. Itto, you won fair and square…” The kid dashes off after finishing his sentence, tears still dripping down his face.

Out of impulse you grab the oni by his ear, tugging his head down.

“I knew I couldn’t trust you! Are you scamming kids or something?! Swindling them of their possessions through an unfair game you have the upper hand on?!”

“I know that’s what it seems like, but uh- hear me out! I won that onikabuto fair-and-square! Plus, that kid agreed to play! It’s not my fault! He was lookin’ for a new beetle, and I NEVER back down from a challenge. So, being the ultimately awesome dude that I am, I told the kid I’d give him mine if he won! But it’s only fair if the stakes are equal.”

You let go of his ear in frustration.

“Hand the onikabuto over,” you say.

“WHAT?! Nah. Nuh uh. You can only get onikabuto in a fair battle!” he retorts.

After long hours of arguing, you spend another few trying to find an identical onikabuto for the kid. You finally find one that seems efficient and battle it against another to test its ability.

The kid is overjoyed to see the beetle. He thanks you kindly, hugging you, jumping up and down in excitement.

The next morning you hear a familiar voice in your ear. Slowly opening your eyes, Itto sits on the edge of your bed staring at you.

“GAH!?”

“Aha- Sorry compadre, little Atsu told me this morning that you found him a new onikabuto! I wanted to thank you. I felt really bad after that battle. I almost let him keep the beetle.”

“It was his to begin with. You’re practically teaching kids to gamble!”

“Ohhhh….” Itto gives a long sigh. “Yeah…I should’ve realized thattt…”

You smack your forehead. “Yeah. maybe.”

“I’ll make it up though! Say, you know a lot of things, can you teach me some skills? Shinobu refuses to teach me for some odd reason.”

Maybe this is an opportunity you think. Maybe you can help Itto find a set of skills he can use to help people more often.

“Alright,” you say. “First lesson tomorrow at 7am. I need to prepare.”

IF YOU WANT A PART 3 SAY “ONIKABUTO” IN THE COMMENTS!

————————————————

Tags: @xiaosloser

(Comment if you want to be added to the list)

[weekend-whip]

E for Kai and Nya if you wouldnt mind (platonic obvs)!!

E. Sharing a Drink (Takes place between NS4 and 5 just for simplicity’s sake) 

(Send me a letter and a character and I’ll write a small fic!)

AO3 Version

. . .

“Hiya! Thanks for coming down to Chen’s Noodle House—holy crap is that the ninja?!”

One underpaid drive-thru worker’s day is immediately made when she gazes upon the X-1 Ninja Charger pulling up to the window, sticking out like giant sore thumb against the other mundane vehicles waiting their turn in line. In the back is Cole, Zane, and Jay all crammed together, while riding shotgun is the girl that’s usually seen accompanying them from time to time—Samurai X, if she recalls correctly. 

And she desperately tries not to swoon when the Red Ninja lowers the sunglasses he’s sporting and throws her a very flirty wink.

Nya rolls her eyes and struggles incredibly hard to not reach over and strangle Kai.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Kai begins, the words flowing out of him all velvety and smooth. “...but could you remind me what our price was?”

The worker scrambles to make her brain work, forcing the words out from her gaping mouth. “It’s...ah...45.15?”

Nya wilts at the number while Kai just chuckles, putting on his best smoldering grin. 

“And is that before or after the Constantly-Saving-Ninjago Discount~?”

This time, Nya really does swat Kai upside the head. 

“Stop trying to swindle free food by flirting with people! This is the third time this week! And it’s rude!”

“Ow! That’s so not what I was doing!”

Kai leans back out the window, sending another dazzling grin the worker’s way. 

“Unless it worked~?”

“I-I, um, well, I think my boss might kill me if I did that,” the worker stammers, poking her fingers together. “Even if you guys are the ninja...”

“Yes, Kai, we are ninja,” Zane pipes up from the back. “We have more honor than that.”

“Fiiiiiiiiine,” Kai groans, motioning for the money. Cole reaches into his wallet to hand Kai the cash, passing it onto the worker. “Sue me for trying to save a few bucks. It’s not like we’re paid for almost getting killed on a weekly basis.” 

Cole grumbles, scratching his neck. “...well, ya got us there.”

“...can I still have an autograph, though?” The worker asks meekly, holding out a pen and a napkin. Kai softens, accepting the offer. 

“Well, can’t say no to a fan, now can I?” Kai agrees, making Nya slap her forehead.

“And why did we agree to let Kai drive, again?” Jay groans, head leaning against his seat. “My head’s still spinning from earlier...”

Kai makes a face as he hands the autograph back to the worker.

“Because it’s MY car! No one questions why we let you pilot your jet when you’re doing figure eights in the sky! How is that any different than doing a couple simple harmless donuts in the parking lot?!”

“Other people were not trying to park in the sky, Kai,” Zane deadpans. 

“Just hurry and get our food already so I can get my Housey Meal!” Jay kicks at Kai’s seat. “I wanna see what surprise toy I get!”

Nya pushes Kai out of the way, flashing her best placating smile at the mentally overloaded worker.

“Please ignore all of them. We’ll be taking our food now, if it’s all right.”

“O-Oh, oh! Okay, no problem, um, let’s see...” The worker turns to the side, grabbing all their bags of food. “...gotta make sure I’ve got everything...”

She passes off the Housey Meal to Jay, who tears into it and is immediately disappointed to find he already has the toy inside. She hands Zane his order of Snow Pea Cuttlefish, Kai’s order of Sizzling Rice, three bags dedicated to Cole alone consisting of Puffy Potstickers, assorted sushi, egg rolls, and a piece of cake to polish it all off—

“By the Master, didja wanna sample the whole menu Cole?!”

“Shut up, Jay, I couldn’t choose!”

—and Nya’s Moo Shu Pork. It’s only when the worker starts handing Kai their drinks does disaster strike, as the intercom of the X-1 Charger goes off. 

“GUYS, WHERE ARE YOU?!” Lloyd’s voice comes in from the intercom. “You were supposed to be back like twenty minutes ago!” 

“Is-Is that THE Green Ninja?!” squeals the worker. This is quickly becoming the best day of her life. 

“We’re currently holding up the drive-thru line at Chen’s, why?” Nya replies. There’s only crackling silence for a solid few seconds, and then, in the whiniest voice they’ve ever heard from Lloyd since he was a child:

“...you got food without me?!”

“You weren’t home!” Jay protests.

“You could’ve asked if I wanted anything?!”

“...I mean, you can have my Housey Meal toy as compensation—”

“You don’t like anything from Chen’s anyway,” Cole reminds Lloyd. “You’re always going on about how it’s too salty for you.” 

“How dare you; everyone at least likes the Puffy Potstickers!”

“We were hungry and too impatient to cook for ourselves as well,” Zane adds. 

“Zane you don’t even GET hungry—!” 

“And there’s only five seats in the Charger!” Kai exclaims like that explains everything. Lloyd’s glower can be felt through the call. 

“I’m sure Cole would be willing to share some potstickers with you,” adds Nya. “...that is, if he doesn’t eat it all before we get home.”

“Hey!”

More crackling silence, and then—

“...I hope you guys enjoy sleeping with one eye open because I’ve got a stash of whipped cream, permanent markers, fake tattoos, an a whoopie cushion I’ve been dying for an excuse to use—”

A loud honk from behind the Charger drowns out the rest of the Lloyd’s sentence. Kai sticks his head outside and finds that the line of Chen’s Drive-Thru is stretching all the way out towards the main road, and people have begun to riot. Oops. 

“...We’ll make it up to you later, Lloyd!” Kai promises, throwing the car into drive. “But surely you didn’t call us just to complain.”

“What? Oh, yeah–I guess some guy calling himself The Mechanic is terrorizing local hardware stores? Police are struggling to catch him, go figure. Wu wants us to look into it. A lot of people could get caught in the crosshairs.”

“Consider us on our way, then!” 

Kai slams his foot on the gas, grinning deviously as the rest of the team makes sure their seatbelts are on. Tight. 

“W-Wait!” the worker shrieks over the cacophony of honking and the whirl of the engine, waving around one more cup. But the X-1 Charger has already peeled out of Chen’s, leaving only a trail of smoke, dust, and fire in its wake. “You forgot your last drink...! ...oh, oh no. I really hope I don’t get fired for this...”

. . . 

Five minutes later, Pixal has uploaded the coordinates of the meeting point with Lloyd to the Charger. Kai puts the car into auto pilot and digs into his rice, while Jay demolishes his Housey Meal in record time and Zane opts to savor his bites. 

“Hey, Nya, can you pass me my drink?” Cole asks through five bites of sushi. Nya rolls her eyes and moves to grab it for him...until she realizes that something isn’t quite right. 

“...um, wait a second,” Nya says, staring at the drink carrier. “...she only gave us four drinks.”

“Did we not order five?” Zane asks, eyeing the drink carrier like it’ll have all the answers. Nya inspects the receipt.

“...no, there’s definitely five on here.” Nya aims her gaze up at Kai, her stare turning sharp. “...you DID make sure we had all our stuff before taking off, didn’t you?!”

“Wha?! Sure I did! She was handing us the fifth drink when Lloyd called, and–....hmmm. Wait. Wait—”

“So you did pull away before she could give us everything!” Nya wails. 

“Awww, way to go Kai!” “Yeah Kai, nice one!”

“Calm down, all we gotta do is turn around and go back and get the drink, sheesh,” Kai declares.

“We don’t have time to wait another twenty minutes!” Jay exclaims. “Especially after we already held up the line once today...!”

“There are people who need us more than we need a drink anyway,” Zane adds. 

Kai looks faint. “But we PAID for that drink!!!”

“Wait, who’s drink is missing anyway?” Cole asks. He leans up, pawing through the options. “Well, here’s my cola...”

“There’s my orange soda!” cheers Jay. 

“My water,” Zane declares, claiming it for himself. Kai glances down and grins upon seeing his coffee. 

“Aaaaand there’s my trenta strawberry caramel macchiato, double caramel extra strawberry, half whole half almond milk, one pump vanilla, dual shot of espresso, double blended, extra hot, clockwise drizzle on the side with a curl, stirred counter-clockwise, shaken gently three times, dab of foam, fluffed whipped cream scooped not sprayed on top, touch of cinnamon, hint of chocolate sprinkles, with a round lid, paper cup, and a twisty straw.”

The car goes silent, everyone gaping at Kai.

“...Master beyond us, is that a drink or a death sentence?!” yelps Cole. 

“Maybe it’s actually an ancient enchanted curse in disguise,” says Jay. 

Kai turns to glare at them. “You literally heard me order it; why are you so surprised?!”

“Seeing it in person makes it all the more horrifying.” Jay beholds the coffee with a gulp.

“Visually, it does not seem all that intimidating to me,” Zane states. “I must admit, I am curious as to how it tastes—”

“But the REAL issue here is that MY drink is missing!” Nya exclaims, turning red in the face. “And I was really thirsty too!”

Kai exasperates, throwing up his hands. “Share with Jay then!” 

Another silence fills the car, this one more awkward than stunned. 

“...aw crud, wait, no—”

“...I-I mean, I wouldn’t mind–” Jay stammers, but Nya shuts that down quick.

“No.”

Jay wilts like a flower. Grimacing, Nya backpedals, gnawing her lip. 

“...I just don’t like orange soda.”

“Too soon, buddy,” Cole mutters under his breath. 

Kai scowls and folds his arms. What’s he supposed to do, then?! He can’t go back to wait in that atrocious line again, nor can they afford the detour, but...his brotherly instincts are refusing to allow Nya to just go thirsty. 

Zane’s water is halfway gone, and Cole’s cola is already gone, so that means—

...Kai glances down at his coffee. His perfect drink–hot enough to handle his tastebuds, refreshing enough to wash down his meal, sweet enough to be delicious, caffeinated enough to give him extra energy when he needs it most, and with the slightest spicy kick to satisfy his cravings. 

Kai sighs, takes a quick sip, savors the flavor, then passes it off to his sister.

“Jeez, just take mine, then.”

Nya stares at his coffee with a raised eyebrow. “So your idea of making amends for your mistakes is to poison me?”

“I’M—it’s not poisoned! I swear it’s good, and if it isn’t, I’ll straight up throw it out. I’ll join you in thristi-tude solidarity.”

“...what the–?” Cole begins to question, but seeing how serious Kai is about his threat, Nya takes him up on his offer. 

She picks up the cup, takes a sip of her own through the twisty straw, and lets her eyes fall closed. Jay, Cole, and Zane watch with rapt attention from the back, ready to revive Nya in the event she keels over. Kai takes the Charger off auto-pilot, giving him something to distract from how aggravating the whole dumb situation is.

“..it...is kinda good,” Nya declares after an eternity of silence. Jay makes some kind of squawking noise while Cole gapes in shock; Kai whoops in triumph, raising a fist into the air.

“That’s what I’m saying! My amazing specifications have yielded the ultimate drink experience! You think I don’t have good taste?!”

“I find it difficult to trust the taste of someone who wears sunglasses on a partly cloudy day,” Zane retorts. 

“...Can it, Zane.”

Nya chuckles, helping herself to another sip. She catches Kai watching her out of the corner of his eye, partially pleased, and...somewhat forlorn as well. Nya frowns, staring at the coffee. Kai must’ve really been looking forward to drinking this...

“...hey,” Nya says, putting the cup between them. Kai raises an eyebrow. “I think we can share. I mean, there’s no way I could finish all that by myself anyway.”

She smiles at Kai; Kai, catching on, grins back.

“Well, I’m just glad someone finally understands just how top-tier my drink preference is. At last, you have seen the light–”

“Okay, stop, I said nothing close to that. All I did was confirm that it doesn’t taste like garbage. Don’t pat yourself too hard on the back now.” 

“...does anyone else not find it strange that a noodle shop would be selling such complicated coffee beverages?” Zane asks. Kai just waves his hand dismissively. 

“Eh, guess they just expanded their menu! The place does have some new ownership, you know.” 

Kai smirks to himself, taking as his cue to put his sunglasses back onto his face.

“Anyway guys, with all that behind us, you’d better buckle up! We’re gonna shave our ETA of ten minutes down to three!”

“Oh, jeez.” 

Cole and Jay scramble to re-tighten their seatbelts. Zane makes sure all their leftovers are secure. Nya just shakes her head fondly, only to burst out into laughter when Kai yells “FIYAAAAAAH” to the heavens and turns the X-1 Charger into a blazing streak down the street. 

Nya makes a mental note to remember Kai’s coffee order, so that she’ll be able to pay him back in the future.

...But, judging by the maddening way he’s currently driving, maybe she’ll make that one a decaf instead. 

[bagadew]

The Great Ace Attorney Playthrough: The Adventure of the Runaway Room (Part 2a)

Last Time: We stuck it to the Jury and snatched victory back from the jaws of defeat… only for things to start going wrong after an overcharging Beppo set our passenger theory up in flames! However, all was not lost! By simply calling Mr McGilded to the stand we were able to find out that we were right! …And that’s when the smoke bomb went off and I disappeared for a year…

Wow guys, it’s been a long time huh! Just over a year in-fact according to my notes. We’ve probably all learnt some things about ourselves during this time, for instance I’ve learnt that my kidney’s cant absorbed magnesium properly... which explains a lot. It turns out that your body and mind actually need vital salts to do a lot of things. Things like having the energy and brain capacity to play a lawyer simulator (to pick an example at random).

I’m now full of magnesium supplements, but while I’m getting back onto form and working out how much to take a day, I think I’ll be posting these once a week rather than my old schedule of: as soon as I can rattle them out. This way I won’t burn myself out!

Anyway, enough rambling on, let's play some Ace Attorney!

God it’s good to be back! I would say that I hope I’ve not lost my gameplaying skills, but looking at how many people I’ve falsely accused, I don’t think I had any.

Now, where were we… oh that’s right, evacuated from the courtroom because our client’s probably a murderer!

(I mean as I said, I’ve shot wrong before, so hopefully I’ve shot wrong again.)

What I really need to do though is talk to Mr McGilded. I’ve jumped the gun enough times this game I’d be happy to chalk my suspicions up to that...

So, we didn’t get that much time out of the courtroom, which begs the question: why drop the smoke grenade at all? There’s not enough time to ‘find’ more evidence, and from what I could see he didn’t try and make a run for it. So what’s it done other than raise a big red flag over his head?

I’ve got a hunch...

Ah. I think I know why the smoke grenade was let off now. And I’ll be honest it really doesn’t help in convincing me that Mr McGilded’s innocent.

We’d needed to produce the mysterious third party if we were going to get Mr McGilded off the hook. If Mr McGilded arranged for them to cause a scene and try and flee, they’d not only be found, but they’d have as good as confessed to the murder.

Yep, it’s the mysterious third party.

Yeah, there are a lot of things I want to ask him about too.

Oh, apparently he’s been summoned to the prosecutor's office.

Fucking typical, even out of the courtroom Barok still manages to be a massive inconvenience.

Also, what’s he doing there without me, his lawyer, anyway?

Wait, the third party’s in there too!

Again I feel like I, his defense attorney, should really be a part of this.

I have a terrible feeling she was bribed to be here...

I mean let’s face it, if anyone’s going to be susceptible to bribes it’s going to be the starving child who’s dependent on money to get her next meal.

Is it the fact that our client clearly singled for what happened?

Because I’ll be honest Susato, that's what’s troubling me!

Ah no, it’s the fact the money for the passengers is all accounted for now we know about Beppo’s swindling ways.

I’m guessing she was a stowaway then, hiding in that space under the seat.

Either way, we’re not going to know what the hell is going on until the prosecution decides to throw us a bone.

Ah well, let’s go see what the hell is going on in there...

She could definitely fit in the space under the seat. She looks about Mr McGilded’s height too, and she’s wearing a hat.

So she might have military connections then.

She’s not saying anything...

Her face is hidden, so I can’t work out if she’s just keeping her mouth shut, or if she’s too scared to speak.

Yes, speak Mr McGilded, and please make what you have to say good enough to convince me I’ve gone on another wild goose chase.

Please do.

So apparently, it connects to the events of the murder.

(Yes Ryunosuke, call them out on their bullshit.)

Anyways, Mr McGilded fell asleep at the back of the omnibus, before being woken up by a thud and a scream. Opening his eyes, he found Mr Mason collapsed on the floor, so he popped him back on his seat and saw that the scream had come from a child, curled up and hidden away.

...

Well there’s a lot to unpack here.

Like why was Mr McGilded’s reaction to WAKING UP TO A BODY to calmly pop it back in its seat.

And was the kid curled up in on the seat, or was she under it?

Also why is there no blood on the floor?

You know what, let’s start with this baffling reaction to a corpse.

Yeah that’s the right reaction.

Not when there’s been a murder! When there’s been a murder, it’s just tampering with the scene of the crime!

I can’t believe I’m with Barok on this one… I feel like I’ve reached a new low…

Remember when I addressed my dear client, whose case I (Ryunosuke) needed to win in order to be allowed to practice law? I said: Please prove me wrong, because I think you might have committed murder…

Well he’s currently doing the opposite of that…

Ok, this might be interesting. He’s talking about finding out the ‘whys and wherefores’ before trying call someone. I wonder if he thought there was something more going on than: someone with little regard for human life wants Mr McGilded out of the way.

My mistake! He’s just talking about the terrified 15 year old who was probably under the seat!

(Yep, definitely under the seat.)

Don’t worry Susato, I’ve already done it!

I’m sorry, YOU SAT HER NEXT TO A CORPSE!?!

That’s the right reaction!

I fail to see what this has to do with you sitting a kid next to a still bleeding dead body! She was already hiding underneath a gore free seat! Why not use that one?!?

Anyway, putting aside my outrage and focusing on the case at hand: Mr McGilded then heard Mr Furst scream, because he’d looked down to see the scene we spent the last cross examination picking at. Like we guessed, it seems that he saw our teenage stowaway sitting next to the victim, rather than Mr Mason, while Mr McGilded was sat in the seat at the back, out of sight.

Well that clears everything up! …except for the fact that stowaway girl still hasn’t said anything.

We’re only minutes into the second part of this case, and I’ve still got a nasty feeling about Mr McGilded I just can’t shake.

(Editor's note: Oh my god I can send things from my switch to my iPad, this is going to save me SO MUCH WORK! Anyway, these are all screenshots of my own gameplay now.)

I don’t think any of us did Ryunosuke. I thought I’d be getting a cheery romp of a third case to lift my spirits before things got serious… but that doesn’t look like it’ll going to happen does it.

(Also we might have to convict another terrified child!)

Ok, that was quite funny!

Hmm, Susato’s talking about investigating the omnibus again. I think I’ve pressed everything we should need clarifying on so maybe I actually need to. Besides, I haven’t seen the insides in forever, and while I’ve re-read my other live-blogging posts as a refresher, it’s probably a good idea to reacquaint myself with the evidence.

Ok, hold up… was that there before? I’m pretty sure the floor was spotless… but did I just not notice?

Like, I’m not a particularly observant person so perhaps… but something really doesn’t seem right here…

Yep, it’s new.

Oh shit. This was the reasons for the smoke bomb wasn’t it?

It wouldn’t have been enough to just have the kid bolt and be caught suspiciously. Mr McGilded needed the courtroom to be evacuated so the kid he’s controlling (or maybe even he himself) could tamper with the evidence.

Because it’s bad Ryunosuke…

Oh crap, he’s cleaned out the compartment too.

Why though? There already seemed to be space in there for the child to fold themselves. Unless there’s something incriminating in there? Maybe that button from the victim’s jacket was in there after all?

Well, there’s bugger all we can do now, so let’s just fall back on the Ace Attorney trick of pressing everything we can...

Ok, we don’t seem to have got much out of the pressing, except to get Mr McGilded to clearly state that the omnibus was empty when he got on. I feel like we already knew that, but nevertheless, I’m sure his certainty will come back to help us later.

Yes, let's move on and get to the good stuff!

Hern name is Gina Lestrade! A Sherlock Holmes name! If I remember rightly Lestrade’s was detective. I wonder if that’s the path Gina here will be on? Or maybe she’s connected to Herlock in some way?

Didn’t Sherlock Holmes have an urchin gang that helped him out sometimes? Maybe she does something similar for our Herlock?

Nope! She’s a pickpocket! Still, I suppose that doesn’t rule the second option out.

This does explain why she’s quite so good at holding her tongue though, especially in the face of the law.

(Also, it is very funny to watch her blank the Judge)

SHE’S GOT A GUN!!!

SHE SHOT THE JUDGE WITH A BATHBOMB!!!

Editor’s Note: Look my screenshots aren’t all going to be winners, OK? 

AND SHE’S DISAPPEARED!!!

THIS IS AMAZING!!!

Oh no, she’s not done a runner, she’s just showing off!

Style Ryunosuke!

F them up Gina!

I love her!

Look, Kazuma’s dead, Hosonaga’s gone back to Japan, and I have no idea where Herlock is… Gina do you want this friendship bracelet I’ve made?

It doesn’t hurt people much Ryunosuke!

Oh my god she stole it from Herlock!

These hijinks have gone on for too long, the Judge seems to say. Go back to facing hard truths and probably defending the wicked, he seems to say.

Well fine! But I’m not going to enjoy it… except I will definitely do that…

(See, Gina gets me!)

So, it looks like the omnibuses were something of a regular haunt for Gina. Though apparently this time she got nothing from her efforts. I wonder if that’s because Mr McGilded was on top of her seat the whole time so she couldn’t get out?

Also, it was pitched black inside, and the sound of the body hitting the deck was loud enough and sudden enough to make her involuntarily scream.

To be honest, as much as I love Gina, I’m not sure I believe that the noise of someone falling out of their seat would be enough to startle her. Perhaps she saw the crime being committed? But then either she’s lying about not being able to see anything, or she must have been able to lift the seat when he hit the floor (ergo, Mr McGilded wasn’t sat on it).

Either way my suspicion of Mr McGilded is definitely growing, and his smug, confident face up there isn’t exactly filling me with confidence.

Come on Mangus, this is it! Endear me to you and show me literally anything that makes me feel better about defending you!

He’s not throwing her under the omnibus like I expected… and he’s actually using facts and reason to show her innocence.

Maybe there’s hope for my (Ryunosuke’s) future after all!

Aaaand we’re looking at the compartment he almost certainly cleared out…

I still come back to asking why though.

Like I feel like Gina could curl herself into that space, and we couldn’t find any evidence among the stuff that was there.

God I want to believe this. The problem is that I just don’t anymore. I really hope that this is just me crying wolf again, and that I’m going to have another beloved character I have to apologies to… but I really don’t think I am…

Also, if he is guilty where does that leave Ryunosuke?

He’s either going to have to let a guilty man who buys his way through life go free, probably convicting another innocent person in the process (I’d love to avoid another Adrian Andrews situation if I can)… or he’s going to have to find another bargain that will let him continue practicing law.

And he’s a Japanese immigrant, they aren’t just going to hand him one on a silver platter. Even if he is the main character, he’d probably end up stuck under someone’s thumb (Strongheart perhaps), or having to look for some back-door way in.

Either way it’s not going to be great for him.

Anyway, we’ve convinced Juror Number 1 to change his verdict!

I mean given that a slight breeze changes this man’s standing, it’s nothing really to write home about…

But still. One step closer to victory!

Wait, she’s changing as well! But doesn’t that mean…

Six for Six!

SIX FOR SIX!

SIX FOR SIX!!

VIIIIICCCCCTTTOOOOOOOORRRYYYYYYYYY!!!

(Well apart from the fact that there are still about a mile of questions, the killers still at large, and we feel nowhere near done…)

Leg SLAM!

Ok Barok let’s hear it.

Look Barok, if you’re going to say he’s a cad, we already know that…

Also, to be frank you’re the last person who should be calling people out on that.

Ok, so he’s also noticed the mysterious case of the missing luggage.

I would be mad, but frankly I knew this was coming when I opened the omnibus and saw it had been tampered with.

So right now, frankly, I just want to find out what the hell this is all about!

I mean we’ve come to the same conclusion; I’ll give him that much.

And to think, only last session he was barely able to follow our chat about the bloody gloves!

Now how do I answer this?

On one hand, I’ve played enough Ace Attorney to know that, ultimately, attempting to: conceal, mask, alter or hide from the truth, doesn’t end well. Especially when you’re a lawyer. It’s a bad time.

On the other hand, I (Ryunosuke) am a defence attorney. It’s my duty to defend my client in the best I can… but is the best way to lie though?

So, directly contradicting Barok is out, and anyway, if it comes down to my word against his… and let’s be honest here, I (Ryunosuke), the Japanese immigrant, am not going to win that one. I’ll just paint myself in a bad way and make everyone even more against me than they already are.

Maybe I could say I didn’t look though?

It’s less of a lie than flat out denying it (can they prove I did), and I wouldn’t be going directly against Judges favorite Barok, or my client…

I did look though…

Also, it’ll make me look incompetent.

… plus, I don’t think it’s a good idea and I don’t think we should do it…

Would Ryunosuke feel the same though?

I mean I am playing as him, so I’d like to act as he would.

Actually I just remembered the last case, and I think that he would. I also think that, unlike me he wouldn’t have hesitated as much.

Let’s do it!

Oh dear, Mr McGilded isn’t happy. Perhaps we can style this out enough for him to convince Strongheart he should give us a job anyway?

(She said hopefully)

And Barok’s, amazingly, not happy either.

Ok Ryunosuke, here’s your time to talk about truth!

Uhh… let’s try and inspire a bit more confidence Ryunosuke…

Yeah alright, that’ll do it!

Barok finds it interesting. I think that means we passed.

Mr McGilded however…

Yeah...

You know I thought the same thing myself.

(God I hope I haven’t screwed this up…)

He’s putting the squeeze on us!

Ryunosuke, you beautiful individual, there is SO MUCH THAT IS NOT RIGHT!

Oh Juror Number 5’s going to clear this up. I can’t believe he’s actually pulling his weight for once!

I mean, he was swindling his customers, and you’re clearly drinking in court… all I’m saying is I wouldn’t put much faith in the responsibility of your coach company.

Oh, and he’s changed his verdict to guilty!

Wonderful!

(I don’t even know if I’m being sarcastic now or not)

And there goes Juror Number 3 as well, closely followed by Number 4!

Oh, how quickly these people turn!

And Ryunosuke is as fed up with them as I am!

Yeah, yeah Barok. We know. We dug ourselves away from victory and snatched defeat from it’s jaws. Let’s just get on with it shall we!

The right thing? …Maybe?

I mean I think we helped. Quite a lot actually.

Anyway, back to cross examination.

So, Gina says that after she heard the thud, the seat above her lightened up because Mr McGilded had got up sit Mr Mason on the seat opposite. Apparently she knows that’s what happened because she immediately lifted the seat up a little so she could have a peak. (Or a ‘butcher’s’ if you're speaking in Cockney Rhyming Slang!)

Unfortunately for her, her ‘butcher’s’ meant that Mr McGilded could spot her and dragged her out into the open.

She’s also saying that she cleared out the coach gear and crammed it in there before the omnibus set off. Which is clearly a lie because we saw it there earlier. But evidence is everything and we have no proof.

Also poor Ryunosuke is really struggling to keep up with the Cockney Rhyming Slang. Something deliberately designed to make it difficult for anyone not in the know to follow what you were saying.

Like he is literally doing everything in a second language, and now the person opposite him is literally peppering her sentences with criminal code. I’m struggling to remember what some of these words mean and I am Cockney, I live in London, I studied this at school!

What I’m trying to say is: Hang in their buddy! I believe in you!

(I am finding it quite funny though that reading Gina’s Cockney Accent is starting to make the Cockney notes of my accent bob back up to the surface. I mostly grew out of it when I was a kid, so it’s really weird reading a fictional person’s dialogue can spike it up!)

Anyway, Gina seems to be claustrophobic, which raises the question of why she was in there at all, especially if she was squeezed in there amongst the rope and brushes and all that. She says that it’s out of necessity, so maybe that’s all there is to it. Still, it might be something it’s worth remembering.

Yeah… it definitely seems like I should remember it…

Anyway so let’s get back to how our dear client, Mr McGilded, dragged this child out of her hiding place, sat her next to a corpse, and then-THE CARRIAGE LURCHED THE CORPSE ON TOP OF HER!?!

OH GOD!

That’s it! Gina I’m taking you into care! Please come and sit next to me and my other child Sebastian. He’s a good kid, please don’t pick on him.

Anyway, we’ve now accounted for the bloodied hands Mr Furst and Mr Fairplay saw from the roof. They must have looked down while she was being interrogated by Mr McGilded.

Well that was nice of him wasn’t it!

And I’m sure you came along today, armed with a smoke bomb you dropped on his signal, because you wanted to pay him back for his kindness!

(If you can’t tell, I’m not buying it.)

I think it’s this whole damn affair Ryunosuke.

Anyway, I’m pretty sure Gina talking about small, cramped spaces made Mr McGilded over there swallow a lung, so let’s hop on top of that.

Sure you do.

Look, you clearly don’t relate to her enough to not use her. Which you are definitely doing. Like literally right now.

Yeah, this is exactly what he was trying on with us earlier.

(And Gina isn’t at all acting like she’s being steered.)

I’m going to be honest with you Ryunosuke, whatever she says will be 100% in Mr McGilded’s favour and probably contrived.

Look at him standing smugly next to her… prick.

I’ll be honest with you, I (me) have no idea what about her probably contrived statement is useful to us. But my god I’ve played enough Ace Attorneys to know the answer here!

GET THEIR ASS RYUNOSUKE!

(Catch me, trying to look like I haven’t been doing that since we got here.)

Well let’s press the new statement while I try and work out what it’s about.

I’VE GOT IT!

GINA SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE DOOR OPENING WHEN MR MASON BORDED!

But if she didn’t, and we can get her to confirm this, then the only option is that he got onboard with Mr McGilded!

Which both suggests that Mr McGilded purposely met with the victim, and means that, what with Gina also saying he got on alone, there’s a massive contradiction in her testimony.

Basically she’s definitely lied about something.

Get off my tailcoats van Zieks!

Anyway, now to simply present a picture of Mr Mason and I’m sure I can trust Ryunosuke to explain the rest.

GET THERE ASSESS RYUNOSUKE! (I knew I could count on you.)

Thank you for that obvious lie Mr McGilded, it has now been stated before the court and will come back to bite you in the ass promptly.

Well then, he should have said something before now shouldn’t he? Rather than expecting the defense to do the prosecutions job for him.

Wow that’s a silent rain of guilty there!

Editor’s note: and basically unscreenshotable, however I do it!

… I feel like Juror Number 6 has seen and done some shit in her time…

CAN IT JUROR NUMBER 1!

THANK YOU SUSATO I CAN SEE THAT!

SHUT UP BAROK!

Ok Ryunosuke, only Juror Number 2 is left. Frankly it’s a miracle she hasn’t changed her verdict already. Given that she is almost certainly going this way, I suggest we get ready to demand another summation examination so we can sway these thickle fucks back!

(Pluss it means we get to push the Prosecution Shut Up button.)

Ok, I’m pretty sure Mr McGilded just said something racist, so he’s still finding ways to limbo under that low bar I keep readjusting for him.

Also Juror Number 3 is back licking his knife again, while saying concerning things about loving carnage. So that’s also happening now…

Well Juror Number 2 looks like she’s about to unsurprisingly change her stance to guilty, and frankly this time I don’t blame them. Mr McGilded’s own defence just fired cannonballs through this credibility.

Oh, ok! Ryunosuke seems to think we can win this back before we get to summation time.

Fair enough I suppose, we were barley granted the first one.

Shut up Mr McGilded, can’t you see that I (Ryunosuke) am trying to wiggle you away from death now! Like fair enough it was me who put you there in the first place, but even so you need me to keep talking.

(Side not though, I find it curious that Mr McGilded doesn’t want me to pursue this line of enquiry even though the horse has well and truly bolted. Does he have some trick that will only work if they don’t know he got on with Mr Mason? Or does Gina’s lie actually revile more that I though?)

We stop her! Nice one Ryunosuke!

Ok!

Wait, none of these options are ‘he came in with Mr McGilded’?

Well I guess Mr Mason and Gina could have entered the cabin together? He didn’t look very well off and he was in debt, so perhaps the two of them were in cahoots? Like Mr Mason pays the money and then Gina immediately lifts it back again?

Ok I’ll go for the first one!

MOCKED AND PENALISED!!!

Fine then! Let’s try another one!

Let’s see, I’ve crawled all over every inch of that cabin and I don’t think there was a secret way in. So maybe the point I’m supposed to be getting at is that he was already dead?

Perhaps it was him, not Gina who was under the seat? That might actually explain why Mr McGilded had the contents removed, perhaps he was worried it had traces of body on them, and perhaps he was right and that’s where we’ll find the missing button!

Ok number 3 it is!

THEY’RE LAUGHING ME OUT OF TOWN!

(And also penalising me again, so now I only have three lives left!)

Ok, we’ll say there was another way in then.

I’ll be honest Ryunosuke you’re on your own with this one. I have no idea what your plan is.

ARE ALL THESE ANSWERS SOMEHOW WRONG?!?

Oh no, something new’s happening!

OH COME ON! WHY MEEEEE!

Ok, let’s just relax and think this through.

We know it can’t be the door because the door never opened. We also know that it was the only door in the cabin’s four walls. Perhaps my under seat theory could come into that, but that’s not really a way into the cabin. In fact the only distinctive thing on this drawing that looks vaguely entrance like is the skylight.

I might be wrong, but for some reason I was under the impression that it couldn’t open?

Ah well, it’s literally the only idea I’ve got right now so I might as well go for it!

SUCCESS!

Ooh, actually that’s a good point. I did think the sound of someone falling to the floor wouldn’t be enough to make someone like Gina scream, but the sound of a body falling through the roof is another matter entirely.

Oh yeah, they would have…

Well, I guess we should call them up as witnesses again. Maybe we’ll find something in their statements that’ll open up a new possibility?

(Though I can’t imagine what that could be)

I don’t like this…

Ok, is this whole thing just a way for Mr McGilded to get rid of two clients who weren’t able to pay up, while being able to make himself out to look like the victim?

They came back to the stand!

AND MR FURST IS READY TO THROW DOWN!

GET HIS ASS MR FURST!

LOOK AT RYUNOSUKE’S FACE! THIS IS AMAZING!

Mr McGilded is loving this, and to be fair he isn’t the only one!

LET THEM SPEAK!

I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Jack the Ripper here. Dark times everybody.

SHUT UP JUROR NUMBER 1!

Ok, so this is something all the jury want. Well good, they’re finally taking their roll seriously.

Oh, neat voice acting!

Tes-ti-fy! Tes-ti-fy! Tes-ti-fy!

(Quick Ryunosuke, try and look like we weren’t also chanting)

Anyways, let's get cross examining!

Ok, so their statement (as I understand it), is that they were the only two people up on the roof deck, and definitely would have noticed if someone else had been there. They had absolutely no reason to kill Mr Mason, the skylight was shut the entire time they were there and they couldn’t have opened it. Also, they want proof.

Ignoring the request for proof for the moment, I could see them possibly missing Mr Mason if he was laying down on the seat in front. It was dark when they got on, and they would have been preoccupied with how cold it was up there… also the longer they spend up there the more I begin to feel that there’s some sort of romantic spark between the two of them. I’m definitely not going to bring that before the jury because they have already proven themselves to be true products of Victorian London, but I can’t be the only one who think that… right?

As for the proof they requested, I’ve got nothing and I’m probably going to have to guess wildly before the day is out.

Juror Number 4 still pulling her weight I see.

Also, I’m pretty sure she’s not said anything hateful while she’s been up there, so my offer for a breakaway court still stands. We can gossip about the nature of the witness's relationship there if you’d like, but none of the others are allowed to come.

Anyway, my own feelings aside, Barok has apparently looked into them and they definitely didn’t know each other before today.

Much like Phoenix had to be beaten up, accused of murder and nearly killed to learn to not go with Murderers into a private room and tell them you have evidence against you; it’s taking a man like Mr McGilded to teach Ryunosuke what it is to be manipulated and played like a fiddle. It’s harsh, but really, it’s something Mr I’LL BE MY OWN DEFENCE ATTORNEY needs to learn.

(Nothing to add here, I just enjoy this image)

Ooh, Ryunosuke’s on the same theory that I am! Truly our hearts beat as one.

I mean, I’m not sure that rules out the factor of darkness, but I suppose sleep is a good point to rule out.

That’s London Baby!

GET HIS ASS MR FURST!!!

It is interesting that they knocked on the door though. I wonder if they saw Mr Mason inside?

They did!

YEAH GET HIM!!! I’M RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!

(Damn I wanted to see Mr Furst fully snap)

Not the one I know.

Well, Mr McGilded coughed up another lung at this statement, and while I’m hesitant to give him any more speaking room I probably should so he can inevitably trip himself up over his own words.

Ok, not the best start…

Don’t rise to it you idiot!

Well, there you go Mr Fairplay. Wel done, you just gave yourself a motive.

Yeah, what do you want to do with our single helpful witness?

Don’t come for him and his bad hats!

Yeah, he’s only an apprentice! I’m sure he’ll get better with time!

>:(

Yeah, the customers like it probably! It’s modern probably!

Wait what

Oh god, he has one of his hats!

I just thought he wasn’t doing to well so he’d patched it up himself!

(… Maybe Mr Furst should consider a new like of work after all…)

Oh Mr Furst, your shining transparency and shining beacon of truth has come back to hit you in the face!

Up until two minutes ago I couldn’t picture Mr Furst being physically capable of quarrelling, but now that I’ve seen his dukes I’m a little more willing to believe it. (I don’t though, obviously.)

Well at least he’s stopped talking now…

Yeah, worrying isn’t it.

Wait, is the latch on the outside?!

I’m pretty sure, now I’m looking for it, I can see it right there!

(Is the out of context ace attorney blog still around? Because if so this is gold dust for it.)

… Mr Furst… why are you telling us this?

It sure is.

… again Mr Furst... I don’t think we need to know this...

I’m not really sure to be honest.

Oh thank god there is a point!

Well I think the problem here is that he was on the inside of the cabin, whereas (and I just went in to check), the latch looking thing is only on the outside. I.e. it can’t be opened from within.

Ok, I think I’ve pressed everything now, and from what Susato just said and Mr Fairplay’s demand for proof, I’m guessing I should be presenting evidence.

The only things I can think of though are the Ledger, which connects Mr Fairplay to the crime, and the Omnibus itself. I still can’t open the skylight, so I’ll go with the Ledger first.

Aaand be penalized for it!

Now I have literally one life left, so it’s probably an idea to make sure I’ve saved now before I try the omnibus… aaand it’s a good thing I did because I was just penalised again!

Well let’s return to the last save and not do that then. Side note though, it’s a nice touch how all the Jurors have their own spoken Guilty!

Right, I have literally no idea what to do now, so I’m going to scrabble around with the evidence for a bit, and probably get guilty a bunch until something happens. Because that’s not very interesting to write or read, I think I’ll end this write up here for now and pick the next one up once I’ve figured it out. Till next time everybody!

[apathetic-until-distracted]

“Ah.” Dead End doesn’t know about good taste, but he thinks he’s learning, maybe from Swindle. The more he watches, the more he understands, about the business side of things, and it is.. cutthroat. Dead End isn’t cut out for it, and not even because he doesn’t think he is.

He knows he isn’t- but he also can’t keep up.

There’s so many numbers, and politics to it, rubbing elbows that he doesn’t understand. 

“I like them,” he murmurs, stretching his fingers wide to admire the gleam of them in the light. He’ll have to either constantly wear them, or otherwise hide them, before someone like Drag Strip nabs them out of jealousy, or they just get destroyed altogether. 

He admires them for a moment longer, and then, almost reluctantly, lowers his servo, optics cycling. “Do you make a lot of things? Any of these?” He brushes over the chains on his audials, again, absently. He’s been fiddling with them since he got them, almost helpless but to touch them.

“You said something, about changing these out? Did you have anything in mind?” It would be nice to have, multiple pairs of rings that he could switch as he felt. 

That it would be Swindle’s is.. well.

That would be telling, and Swindle doesn’t like him like that, anyway.

Wishful thinking.

But his optics catch on the necklace, and he considers it for a moment, before, almost shyly going, “I- ..I have the funds, you know, if you.. I mean. If I could commission a piece? Maybe.. you could design something you think would look good as piercings, and I’ll wear them? Free advertisement.”

( @apathetic-until-distracted ) Dead End wanders in, new piercings making a soft tingling noise against his plating. "Swindle? I. know you're busy, but you got a minute?"

Shit-!

Swindle immediately slides his work under some other tablets. His drawings disappear before End can see them. Instead he's got a gun spread in parts over hus desk.

Dross smog circling his helm.

" Hm? Cmon in. I've always got time for my favorite customer." Optics jittering. Servos flexing but he transfers the movement to cleaning a gun part.

" ...New Jewelry End?"

[chibi-tsukiko]

Prompts by @tkc-info

Day 15: Knowledge

I’ve posted this snippet before, but maybe some of you missed it. Plus, who doesn’t love some jealous Takashi 😏

By sundown, Takashi returns to the cabin. He pushes the door open with foot, unable to use his hands. “I uh, I brought firewood,” he says.

“Oh Master Takashi, you’re back” Hein smiles, looking up from where he was leaning over.

Takashi stands frozen in the doorway. His eyes fixated on where Ishida’s hand rests on Hein’s shoulder and how Hein is pressing up against Ishida’s chest. The shadow of laughter on their faces.

“You can put the wood over by the fireplace,” Ishida instructs, nodding his head in the direction. He doesn’t move his arm.

Takashi grips the logs in his arms. “What are you two up to?” He asks, setting the logs down on the stone floor.

“Hein was helping with dinner. I did not know your Essence was such a culinary artist,” Ishida praises, giving Hein’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I’ve been testing his knowledge of spices and he knows his stuff.”

Takashi watches as Hein beams under Ishida’s praise. Takashi’s insides crackles like the burning wood behind him.

“Ishida was telling me a story about how he swindled a merchant out of his entire catch of fish!”

“I did not swindle him!” Ishida protests flicking some spices at Hein.

“He traded it to you for a rock.”

“Which he thought was a rare crystal,” Ishida corrects.

“But it wasn’t,” Hein giggles, “it was a rock.”

Ishida shrugs. “He should have inspected it more.”

“Swindled,” Hein confirms.

“Hush!” Ishida says, flicking more spice powder at him.

Hein laughs, free and unmasked. And something in Takashi snaps like the breaking of a branch. He stomps up to the counter, looking over the spices.

“So how does this testing game of yours work? I have some knowledge regarding such things.” He spots a shot glass full of a brownish-red liquid and reaches for it. “You just throw it back and try, yes?”

“Oh, Master Takashi I wouldn’t-“

“Your highness that’s-“

Ishida and Hein’s warning overlap, but Takashi swallows the mysterious liquid whole before they can finish.

The second the brownish-red sauce hits Takashi’s tongue, he realizes he’s made a mistake. The liquid burns as he swallows, setting fire to his esophagus. He tries to stifle a cough as he sets the glass back down on the counter.

“Mmm yes, that’s. It’s…” He chokes, a red color filling his cheeks.

“Capsaicin-based extract” Ishida finishes staring at Takashi like a parent who’s watched their child do something stupid. “One drop is hot as the desert sands.”

“Ah,” Takashi breathes, stifling another cough. His eyes are wet with tears, but he’s desperate to keep composure. “Well, us Dimians can handle the hottest of spices. You should add it. To the stew.” He smiles, not willing to look at Hein. “I’ll go wash up for dinner.” He turns on a heel and nearly runs out of the cabin towards the river.

Ishida sighs. “You should go make sure your Prince doesn’t explode.”

“Will drinking all of that extract do that?!” Hein asks, genuinely concerned.

“No… but the embarrassment might.”

Hein rushes after Takashi, leaving Ishida alone in the kitchen, looking sadly at the empty glass. “This was expensive…” he pouts.

Tag list : @littleturtle95 @phoenix-and-dragon @khaleesiofalicante @my-archerboy @clumsyowl-in-a-fandom @radisv @raziyekroos @magnus-the-maqnificent @spotsandclawsthings @sassybookworm2020 @la-lune-chaotique @elettralightwood @high-warlock-of-brooklyn @axhicleos

[sweetchup]

Bi•valve

Noun

an aquatic mollusk that has a compressed body enclosed within a hinged shell, such as oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops.

AKA

The Most Common Seashell in the Ocean

————————

Vol. 2: Into the Deep // Ch. 6

Type: Poseidon x reader

Word Count: 3,000+

Masterlist

————————

Cold. That’s the only way you could describe the man in front of you.

Cold as in his eyes were like stone. As if they were dead as they stared down at you. Cold as in that you couldn’t read him, at all. Even as he was covered head to toe in blood, you had no clue what he would do next. Cold as in he was intimidating. Way too intimidating. Like a primal feeling in you was screaming danger at you. It made you want to bolt from the spot.

“Tch…” You instantly freeze as Poseidon finally lets out a sound. He glares down at you in disgust as if you were some dirt on his shoe, “My brother must be losing his mind.”

Scared, you let out a small gulp. Your throat all of sudden feels extremely dry. Brother? Was he perhaps referring to Zeus? So, that must mean this was Poseidon. Right…?

“S-So…” You pause for a moment as you decide if you should dare continue, “…Are you Poseidon?”

You shouldn’t have done that. With a loud bang, you slowly turn your head to look at the Trident he cleaved down in the sand next to you. Its harsh throw sending the sand beneath and surrounding you in the air in a huge rumble.

“Ack!” You spit out as Poseidon suddenly grabs your jaw while you are distracted. His harsh grip on you as he turned your face to look at him felt as if he was trying to crush the bone of your jaw underneath. Even though you knew it was useless, you squirm lightly underneath his grip in hopes to lessen his tight grip.

“Pathetic.” He spits out in a grumble as he watches you squirming. Letting out a small huff, he watches you for a couple of more seconds before finally releasing your jaw. A sore feeling begins to replace the pain you had previously felt. “Humans do not address a god by their name. Especially pathetic mortals such as yourself.”

You feel the need to flinch under his harsh words but thankfully stop yourself. Instead choosing to tighten your grip on Triton who still laid unconscious in your arms. You understood that what Poseidon said was partially true. A mortal such as yourself had no chance against a god, nevertheless one of his stature and power. But he still didn’t have to be so blunt about it. Even Zeus held some sort of common courtesy when interacting with you.

“Ugh…” Startled by the sound, you spin your head downwards to look at Triton who was letting out a loud groan. His face scrunched up in pain as he wiggled around in your hold to get up.

Instantly, you put your hand on Triton's chest to stop him. Worried with the amounts of cuts and blood he was covered in that he could possibly have a fatal injury, “Shh. Don’t move, Triton. It’s okay. I got you.”

Triton seems to thankfully listen to your words and stop moving, relaxing back into your arms. Instead using the energy he had left to open his eyes to look up at you. Though, as you stared down at him with concern, you could tell he couldn’t properly see you. His eyes shrinking and dilating in an attempt to see what was in front of him.

“Triton, can you see meeeE—“

Gasping, you instantly pull Triton closer to your body as you are carelessly lifted off the ground by Poseidon. The blonde male with one arm underneath your knees and the other holding your waist behind the small of your back stands up as if you two weighed nothing. Even slightly throwing you up in the air to adjust his grip. You stared confused at Poseidon whose gaze looked away from you for the first time since he arrived. Instead staring out at the waves of the sea.

As the male began to walk towards the water, you wanted to question what he was doing. Wanted to question why in the world he had picked you up and was currently holding you. Why he hadn’t killed you on the spot. Why he was walking towards the water. But chose against saying the thoughts that were present in your mind. Remembering fearfully the sharp gaze he gave when you not only called his name but also spoke out of turn.

However, you soon regret not speaking your thoughts out loud. Or, at the very least, putting up a fight.

“H-Hey! What are you?!” You screech out as Poseidon travels further into the sea. The cold crashing waves now hitting your feet and soon traveling up to the rest of your body as Poseidon continues further in. “Hey! Stop! We’-I’ll Drow—“

“Shut up.” Poseidon barks out. Even though he doesn’t bother to give you a glance, you still hear the venom in his voice and freeze up. You looked worriedly around you as the water got higher and higher, all the way up til your chest and neck.

“A-Ah.” You can’t help but let out as you see Triton’s head starts to sink underneath the water. Quickly, you fix your grip on the boy and lift his head above the water. Even if he was an aquatic god, you still weren’t sure if he could breathe underwater. However, the only problem with lifting Triton above the water is that it pushed you further under. The waves now crashing against your chin instead of your neck.

“W-Wait—“

As you gasped out your last word, your head went under. You struggled slightly as Poseidon continued to trech forward but couldn’t do much as you didn’t want Triton’s head to drop underneath the water. Even if you knew it was fruitless and Triton would eventually go under, You hoped he would wake up and make an escape.

Stupid human.

As Poseidon's head finally goes under the water and he begins to float down, deeper into the sea, he finally turns his head back to stare at you. You really were pathetic and stupid as the other humans. Lifting his son’s, Prince of the sea, head above the water as if he could actually drown. What a joke.

What in the world did his brother see in you? Making a huge show in the courtroom about how you would be the perfect substitute for Amphitrite. How everyone should at least give you the chance to be Triton’s nanny and take care of him. How you would help the child grow and shit. How you would actually pay attention to him.

Poseidon feels himself freeze for a moment before tightening his grip more on you. Your body had already began to grow limp in his arms. If he so pleased, he bet he could just tighten his grip more on your frame and you would shatter in a million pieces.

Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic. Pathetic. Fragile.

Poseidon grunts out in disapproval at the disgusting passing thought in his mind. You were just a pathetic being. One that would pathetically die right here.

Poseidon once again grunts as the feeling of annoyance passes by in his mind. It must have been all those stories Zeus shared at the trial while he secretly observed you two. As a perfect being he shouldn’t be so easily swindled by such thoughts. His son once again was making him weak.

This is why I stayed away in the first place, Poseidon thought as he rolled his eyes.

Slowly, Poseidon trails his hand up from the small of your back to your cheek. He tilts your head that was flopped to the side with his thumb so that you looked at him.

‘The perfect substitute for Amphitrite’. His brother sure was cruel. You were nothing but a small mouse compared to the apex predator that was his, likely, soon to be ex-wife. The minute Amphitrite lays her eyes on you she would surely kill you.

Poseidon gives your cheek a slight stroke around the bruise that was settling there. You really were pathetic, getting a bruise from such a weak grip.

Little by little, Poseidon leaned down closer to your face. His nose grazing yours slightly causes him to pause as he once again observes you. He wondered if what he would do next would end up getting you killed.

You truly were Pathetic after all. Even amongst all the humans he has met over the many millenniums. Though, he couldn’t deny, much better than the venomous Amphitrite.

I’ll just throw you away later when I’m done, Poseidon decides as he finally closes the gap. His lips swallowing yours in a harsh kiss as he brings his palm away from your cheek to wrap around the back of your neck. For once in his life being careful not to snap someone’s spine in half.

Fragile.

That thought once again passes by in Poseidon’s mind as he continues to hold you close to him. Fragile like fine china. Yet also soft…, warm… A contrast to his cold and strong marble like body. The body of a god.

Disgusting.

Finally, Poseidon pulls away, scrunching up his nose in distaste. It seems he’ll have to ‘talk’ to his brother about interfering in his personal life again. Though, it’s not like his brother ever listened to begin with.

What a pain.

—.—.—.—.—

Were you dead?

No, you were definitely still alive. For your body felt like a ton of bricks. So much so that even lifting a finger exceeded all of your energy available.

But how were you still alive?

Did Poseidon possibly save you in the end? Knowing that asshole it wasn’t likely. Perhaps Zeus swooped in at the end or Triton saved you. A possibility…but also still highly unlikely. You guessed you would have to find out for yourself.

“Ugh…” You groan out as you attempt to open your eyes only to shut them again. The light in the room felt all too blinding. That wouldn't work, you couldn’t see anything in front of you but it wasn’t like you had any other options, you would have to try again. “Shit…”

You once again attempt to open your eyes. Your vision was still hindered by the light this time but it was at the very least bearable.

Ah, that’s painful. You can’t help but hiss out as you attempt to lift your arm to cover the light coming into your eyes.

It seems you would have to wait patiently for your vision to… return…

You feel yourself freeze as something blurry comes into your view. It was blue and shiny, seeming to levitate or float towards your face.

“W-what…?” You can’t help but spit out as you stare at the thing approaching you. Blinking and unblinking as you attempt to make your eyes address what was in front of you, “A-A fish…?”

It was in fact a fish. A giant one at that, if you had to guess it was about the length of your forearm. But, how was it floating there in front of you…? Fish can only exist in wa—

“Hello My Lady!”

The…

The Fish…. Just talked.

You stared in horror at the thing in front of you. You had to be out of it, there was no way that a fish had just talked to you. Nevertheless be actually able to breathe air…

“No way…” You gasped out as you finally drifted your gaze away from the fish. Now that your eyes had finally fully adjusted, you could finally see where you were.

You were…

Underwater.

Specifically you were underwater in a fantasy noble-like bedroom: Ginormous in size, able to fit a huge bed, couch, dressers and, of course, still plenty of space to be able to walk around. The only difference from the fantasy-like bedroom that one would see in novels was that it was clearly flooded with water.

“My lady?” The fish calls once again, “Are you okay?”

“How—how? What— You…” You gasp out in confusion, only to suddenly stop and grab at your throat. How were you breathing underwater to begin with?

“M-My Lady please calm down!” The fish shouts out worriedly as it watches you panic. “I promise I’ll explain everything once you calm down.”

You pause at the fish’s words, he was correct. You had to calm down if you wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with you. You attempt to take a deep breath to calm yourself but quickly scrap the idea as it felt way too odd to you. Instead choosing to just nod your head to get on with the fish’s explanation, “O-okay…”

“Thank you, My lady.” The fish tells you as it somehow bows, at the least what looks like a bow, “My name is Marine and I’m a Servant at Lord Poseidon’s Palace…”

So, Poseidon must have saved you. But,… why… it didn’t make sense with all he stated on the shore. Zeus or Triton must have made some sort of interference to save you.

“…Please do not worry as you are still alive and well. The reason you are breathing underwater and communicating with me is due to the blessing you gain from Lord Poseidon.”

“B-Blessing..?” You ask a gasp as you look down at yourself. Patting yourself in certain places to make sure you were all well only to let out a small groan. It seemed you were still sore and in pain.

“Please be careful, My Lady.” Marine tells you worriedly as pats you with his fin. Seeming to attempt to push you backwards so you can lay back down. Thankfully, once you comply with Marine’s request, it answers your question, “Gods can usually bestow 3 things on humans: Curses, Blessings and Ambrosia. Though this can differ from god to god based on what they can accomplish. Curses are pretty self explanatory but Blessings and Ambrosia are complicated. Blessings are gifts or abilities that are bestowed upon humans by gods. In Lord Poseidon’s case he bestowed upon you the ability to breathe underwater and communicate with sea life like other aquatic folk.”

“I see…”

“Finally, Ambrosia is what happens when a human consumes the blood of a god. If said human somehow survives the consumption, they are bestowed the gift of being a Demi-god. So far only one human has survived consuming Ambrosia and that is Lord Hercules.”

Dangerous. Not just in the way of how powerful Ambrosia is but in how many times you could have accidentally consumed it from Triton alone. Even though a God’s skin is stronger than a human’s it wasn’t by much as they could still bleed just as easily. The amount of times you had to bandage Triton’s scrapes when he tripped or bumped into something proved that.

“My Lady?”

At Marine’s call, you are startled out of your thoughts, “Ah sorry. I—“

“P-please don't apologize! You are my lady, you have nothing to apologize for.” Marine shouts out as he visibly pales, “I am your servant, it is actually my fault for disturbing you while you were clearly thinking.”

“A-ah I wouldn’t say that…” You murmured out, clearly disagreeing with what Marine was telling you. Though… You find yourself pause as a thought suddenly hits you, “Marine, Why are you calling me ‘My Lady’?”

“Why that’s because you are the new lady of the Manor.”

“T-the manor? What Manor?”

“Southern Manor, Of cours—“ Marine seems to pause at his words as he realizes something. “I sincerely apologize, My Lady. I totally forgot that since you are from the human realm that you have no idea what has happened here.”

Marine looks around the room before finally spotting what he was looking for and swimming over to it. A map…? You sit up slightly as you look over at the giant map that mount the wall above a dresser.

“At the Palace, there are 5 Manors that make up its body. Pacific Manor, The main Manor that holds the king and queen of the sea. Arctic Manor, which holds and trains the knights that protect Atlantis. Atlantic Manor, Lord Triton’s as well as any future heirs Manor. Indian Manor, which holds Lord Triton’s classes, storage and other needed rooms. And Finally, Southern Manor…., for Lord Poseidon’s Mistresses.”

“M-mistresses?!” You spit out as you shoot up from your spot. You couldn’t believe what you had just heard. In no ways would you bed Poseidon. This wasn’t what you wanted when you accepted to be Triton’s mother. You didn’t want to actually be with his father.

“P-please calm down, My Lady. You aren’t one of Lord Poseidon’s Mistresses. My Lord has never taken a Mistress ever.” At Marine’s explanation, you let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. “The reason I call you My lady is simply because you are now Lord Triton’s official guardian along with Lord Poseidon after Lady Amphitrite was ruled irresponsible for such duties. Due to Lady Amphitrite still not officially divorced from Lord Poseidon, she still lives in Pacific Manor. So you can not live there as of now and the second best place is here in Southern Manor.”

“O-oh…” You choke out. Though you were happy that you were officially Triton’s guardian and can still stay by the boy’s side, you weren’t sure how long you would last. Especially since you were sure that woman was now going to be out for your throat. “…but couldn’t she just come over to this Manor if she so pleased?”

“Not at all, My lady. Do not worry.” Marine informs you as it points its fin to the cluster of three manors at the top. “The Atlantic Manor, Southern Manor and Indian Manor were all originally designed to hold an intricate sea garden in the middle. This idea was later scrapped by Lady Amphitrite but, by the time she denied it, a tall metal fence had already been put up that surrounded the three buildings to keep unauthorized visitors out from the garden. Under Lord Poseidon’s watch, early this morning a sea witch put up a spell that forbade Lady Amphitrite from entering anywhere in the gated area. So she will not be able to get anywhere near you or Lord Triton.”

“Oh. Thank goodness” You mutter out as you let out a sigh of relief. Finally, you and Triton could live in somewhat peace after—

Triton…!

How could you possibly forget about what happened with Marissa? Was Triton treated for his wounds once he got back?

“My Lady, you can’t get up—“

“Marine. Please take me to see Triton. I need to see him at once!”

Author Note: Ooooop— We got a little insight on how Poseidon feels about the reader and still what in the world happened to Triton? I’m just glad Vol. 2 is up and I can’t wait for the next chapter. Yet, Triton… I miss you 😢. Come back soon in my writing, bud. We need you to lighten up the atmosphere.

Taglist: @angeli-fucking-cat @marixxhq @sproutcorner @orophaea @anime-lover-forever-1127

[shiroi---kumo]

Hurt me not Them || Accepting 

[ @kazeofthemagun​] heaved out a growl: 

His hand trembled. White Devil. Gun Demon. Gold-armed Destroyer. White Devil. White Devil White De -

How long? How long would they be persecuted in this land? He could not care less for himself, he would take a pitchfork to the back gladly if it only meant White Cloud didn't have to. He would face the mob with torches and face his sins. He was the monster here, had always been one since birth. Not his other. Not White Cloud, who had sacrificed countless of his lives to save them. Day after day at Gaudium he martyred himself for them and this was the thanks he got?!

These... worthless fools. White Cloud was... too good for them. Even now, he had saved them from that diseased beast and they turned around and stabbed him in the back. He should have seen it coming. He should have..!

Angry, malignant thoughts raced through his head like a spreading cancer. A hand clutching white fabric clenched and jittered. Eyes like cold blue fire stared into weak jade with a desperate madness that could only be described as love. Even if he, time and time again, failed to admit it. How could a Weapon love a Ghost? How could a dead man love an angel?

"Just give the word and I'll kill every one of them."

There was something feral in the Destroyer's eyes. A burning sun staring at his beloved son, the moon he had so easily forgotten. You'll be alright, Seejvariil. I got you. I got you.

There was something wild stirring in that deep blue ocean. Ah, you've always made me behave... so strangely. But I could not help it. And I cannot help the rage even now.

I don't understand... these feelings.

This town had not been the most welcoming and he could see it in the faces. They were in need of help but their hearts beat with fear. Unfortunately most places within the space of this patchwork world was filled with citizens who’s hearts beat to that familiar rhythm. He knew it well. He too once operated on the tune himself. Some days he still does and in turn - they needed - no Black Wind wouldn’t allow it. They needed to keep moving through and even if he could hear the delicate whisper in the back of the crowd.... 

These people - they needed someone to defend them from the beasts that crawled in a night. They could do it for them in exchange for a place to stay for the night. They could do it for them in exchange for a warm meal that neither of them had to prepare. A bed to sleep in and a warm meal. Oh they could help them for that. He would gladly raise the Maken in defense of this small village if they would grant them that.  He would do it anyway but if they would grant them those small tokens of thanks then he would guard them with everything he was.  

Somehow a deal was forged. The beasts tend to show at sunset they were told. Just as the Sun bleeds into the sky would these fearsome monsters appear from the forest and they merely needed to dispose of the beasts and they would be granted their bounty. A place at the local inn, a warm meal and Black Wind had even managed to haggle enough for a payment of sorts. 

‘Never take a job for free!’  He’d been quickly scolded before he could agree to exactly that.  A grumbling mess about being swindled again while jade eyes rolled at the prospect. Money was never in the forefront of his mind - but could you really blame him when he had been raised with more of it than he knew what to do with? Bartering still wasn’t his strong suit. 

Fighting however was and the streets were barren when the sun began to sink below the horizon. Even if he disliked such a thing, he was still an expert at the craft and dispatching some unruly animals would be a simple task. The prince’s mind is caught solely on the idea of having a pillow under his head this night - even if that pillow turned out to be his other because surely they would only get stuck with one. He doesn’t care. A blanket and a mattress. He can think of nothing else.  

So as the sun sinks the villagers all disappear to their homes. The monsters should be in the area roughly soon.  

Wait. 

Wait.  

How would they have an exact time for - 

He can hear footsteps in the area and there’s a small group that hasn’t retreated to their homes for the night to avoid the fighting. Maybe they could ask his question ...  His hand lowers the Maken, as a man approaches him and the prince turns to face him. 

“Excuse me.” He sounds with confusion lacing his tone. “Excuse me could you maybe answer a question or two for me?”  

There’s a second man and third ... a fourth now and they are around him at all sides.  The man he addresses smiles lifting his hands and clasping them together as he approaches.  

“Certainly!” Is his bright and cheery answer to which the Misterican allows his back to straighten as he stands at full height - which still in the scheme of things is much shorter than the man around him.  “What can we help you with?” 

“I was just wondering a few things about the details of this job. So I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the beasts that have been bothering your village...” 

Jade eyes move to look around the buildings as his hand raises to motion towards them.  His mask slides back as he speaks, white mist slipping off his lips as he does so. 

“...There’s no damage to your buildings so you must have held them back thus far. How many are there? What are they like?” 

The man continues to smile, hands still folded together as he looks to the swordsman with a grin. 

“Oh? Well there’s just one. A fearsome devil that always comes out at night. It hasn’t struck our village yet but some of the neighboring ones it did some time ago. Wiped out everything...  perhaps you remember?” 

“Re-member?” 

A snow colored brow is raising in confusion as he looks the man with a curious look and his skin starts to tingle with an urge to run. Something isn’t right -  

He’s gasping in a strangled cry, blood splattering forward as jade moons go wide and turn new all in the same moment. He staggers, the Maken falling from his grip and clattering to the ground as his knees buckle and he’s coming down on them to the dirt below in seconds. 

“It’s a White Devil and when the mist rolls in, it takes everyone in who gets caught in it with it. We’re not about to let you do the same thing to our village that you’ve done to so many others, Lord Makenshi.” 

‘They know who I am.’

He can feel the dagger in the other man’s grip being pushed into his back hard and slow, and all that can leave him is a low scream as his left arm jerks backwards to shove his attacker away from him. He can reach the dagger, and his hand fumbles to find it’s hilt before the prince is gripping it to jerk it up and out.  He screams again and yet more blood splatters from his lips to the ground before him. 

“Black - Wind - “  

He doesn’t know why he even bothers to call for the man, when his other is at his side and catching him from falling face first into the ground in what feels like a blink of his now tired eyes. He’s coughing as he’s being leaned backwards to rest against his other’s left side. A claw like hand coming up to grip his shoulder tightly. 

Weakly his hand is raising as he can hear the man growling. He can hear that Windarian hiss and he’s almost positive that his Sun has bared his fangs even if it’s difficult to turn his head to look at him. 

|||   "Just give the word and I'll kill every one of them."

It’s both threatening and restrained. These fools have no idea just how deep they’ve dug their graves and yet are being spared in the same right because their lives are being held by a thread that only the White Prince could command at the moment. 

He’s coughing. He’s coughing and crimson life speckles and runs over ivory skin. Weakly does his left hand raise to press against the right side of his other’s face so he can turn his head down to look at the Moonlight Unlimited.  

“Forget them.”  He commands weakly. “Get the Maken.”   

It’s his only command as his hand falls away and he allows himself to curl towards the body of warmth that holds him. Black Wind would do it. He would kill them all and burn this village down for daring to lay a hand against his Moon.  He knows, and the night has just begun. The night bleeds tonight as the Sun continues to sink into the darkness but as the Sun faded the Moon can only rise in a crescent - a sliver of its usual self. 

“They know who I am. We need to go. Black Wind please.  Please get the Maken. I’ll be okay.. but we can’t stay here. You need to - “ 

There’s a pause in the middle of his words only to cough and spit more crimson red from pale lips. 

“ - I’m sorry.” 

[botheringlevi]

okay, okay. good point. *laughs, taking a seat next to him* hey, there’s some things i have to tell you about.

while you were gone, i’ve been training a lot more with mike in hopes of getting some more experience. during one of our little brawls, i don’t recall how it got so intense, but i might’ve… sprained my ankle during it. *nervously* miche didn’t mean it though, it was just an accident. and the doctor said it wasn’t too bad! but i should take rest and compress it often and all that. i’ll be good to get back on my feet like normal in a week or two… kind of stupid of me, but i’m trying to walk normally so it’s not noticeable but it does kind of hurt still. honestly it’s been too boring to just sit and stare into space. it came to the point i even asked erwin if i could help with any paperwork but it’s too confidential for me to see. *smiles, nudges at his elbow* i’m glad you’re back though, captain. i was hoping your company would… help pass the time.

hmm… *sighs* petra and oruo are still bickering with each other. and they’ve even got eld involved in one of their arguments. ah… what was it about…. oh! the winter festival that’s coming up. i know you’re not a fan of big crowds and all but. would you like to… go with me? it’s totally okay if you decide to pass, but they were talking about going as a group with you included. oruo disagreed, saying we should be training and working on ourselves instead of “wasting time” on “boring activities.” but if you do decide to go, it could just be us two if you like. it’s the food and hot cocoa i’m looking forward for, really.

anyway… *blushing* i’m rambling a bit, aren’t i? i’d like to know how it was in mitras for you. no one bothered humanities strongest too much, i hope? [i love him so much omg]

[Previous ask]

*Leans back* I'm listening.

*Eye twitches* If you got an injury while training with that bloodhound, then what're you doing here? You should be in bed, with your ankle wrapped and raised on a pillow or some shit. *Scowls* It is stupid of you—so get in bed. Mine is the closest.

Hopefully you can sit still for five more minutes while I bring my report to Erwin. Besides, there's plenty of paperwork I can swindle from him...

Mike's a gentle giant. He certainly wouldn't mean to hurt you of all people, with me in mind.

*Stares at nudge, coy* 'Pass the time' is one word for me tying you to the bed if you disobey your superior's orders.

*Relaxes* But, it's good to hear it's all the same between those two. They work together better than they appear to. Eld has plenty of experience breaking up their spats.

Winter festival... *Thinks* Oluo is just trying to compensate for something. Yeah. *Cheeks warm* Why not go? I'd rather not be around the others by the time they decide to get drunk. You and me can eat sugary garbage instead and admire the sights.

Did those pigs in Mitras "bother" me? *Scoffs; leans against Suki* When don't they? I'm nothing but a sideshow act to them, but I get it. I tolerate getting paraded around as long as it does some good for our regiment. I don't like Mitras... but kissing pig-ass is a part of my duties, so I do it.

The good news is another trip isn't on the agenda anytime soon.