#all my tags disappeared ToT

[quietlywatchingwritingreading]

As a bit of a psa I thought i'd share some things i've seen going around relating tot he current horrible disaster.

-Everyone is using the Titanic tag for this tragedy, but the tragedy has nothing to do with the titanic itself.

The company is called Oceangate, and the submarine is called the Titan.

I just figured i'd spread that around in case more people wanted to tag those things. Right now tumblr is thinking the titanic film is trending, without really indicating that this is because of a tragedy in the making and not something like a film reboot.

-I've seen a lot of posts celebrating the submarine's disappearance and the fate of those aboard. . This is a bad thing. These are real people who are suffering though some of the worst horrors imaginable, and I wouldn't wish that fate on my worst enemy. We should at least have some respect for them as people.

Like, there's a 19 year old on that submarine. Could you imagine their friends? Imagine learning there's a good chance you'll never see your friend again, and then seeing a bunch of posts celebrating the submarine's disappearance?

That is disgusting.

(Yes, billionaires are bad. There's certainly a discussion to be made about the ethics of Adventure Tourism, and the lives that are risked in that industry. However much like the titanic, not all the victims here are the Elite and Wealthy. )

-Theres a lot of jokes about the way the ship is built/constructed. and that is a interesting horror show in and of itself. Like the entire thing feels like something i'd read about in a horror parody about the dangers of greed.

That said, I wanted to note that controlling a ship via a video game controller isn't actually that unusual/strange. It's the fact that they used a third party controller known for having unreliable bluetooth and frequently breaking, that's the problem. It kinda implies the company was potentially cutting corners, or at least gives that sort of bad look.

[reagi-df]

For @tmntaucompetition I was very productive today... not for my comic though XD

Looking up he eyes everyone around him. He’s giddy to know that there is more than one universes out there, he wants to talk to other Donatello’s and pick their brains for knowledge.

Excitement runs through him when he eyes the Donatello’s scattered about, they all look so different from one another it's breathtaking. 

His eye catches something and he turns to look. Over in the far side is what looks like a Donatello, dressed in a leotard and tutu laced with feathers. He look elegant and graceful,  -I knew I could rock wearing tights,- he nobs in approval, he seemingly glide across the floor, the feathers of his outfit look soft to the touch while small feathered wings hover at his exposed back; he twists and turn looking for something as a frown is etched into their face, hand tight around a wooden bo staff. Donnie's feet carry him over and the closer he gets the more different but slightly similar this turtle looks. 

This Donnie has markings that he doesn't but are roughly the same height, maybe taller due to him standing on his tip toes and from the looks of it around the same age. But before he could get any closer, there was a commotion behind him and he casts a glance over his shoulder, only to see more people having joined in the fight.

“Sigh, they're so unsophisticated” he groans. And when he turns back the Donnie-swan had disappeared. Huffing a breath Donnie looks around only to look in the other direction as he walks, pointedly looking away from a Leo making his way into the staff room.

He saw nothing. Not his Leo, not his problem. 

“Oh sweet Galileo '' he gets stars in his eyes when sees a flat screen tv that sits on a pole with wheels. They’re  surrounded by a group of other counterparts that are way taller than Donnie, and he stops another version of himself.  When the screen turns around his own face is splashed across it. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen” he drools, so caught up in his amaration that he just nearly misses the small figure moving towards them.

Realisation dawns on his face a second later. “Oh no” with that Donnie rushes off, cursing Leon for losing tot CLeo. 

Screams filled the room when CLeo latches onto the top of the screen. And Donnie can’t help but be impressed by the jump CLeo made.

Swanatello @tangledinink Omega @kathaynesart I feel bad for tagging I hope I didnt make omega ooc I really enjoyed doing theses, haven't drawn on paper for a while and its was nice to go back to it again

Cleo has a lot of a few issues with Donnie's at the moment, no one is safe from this terror

Cleo becoming a tot came before this

[kitsuga]

Coffee Jitters. {Marius Von Hagen x Reader/MC} 

Description: 

A fic in which Marius can’t tell if he’s shaking from coffee, nerves, or the anticipa--....................................tion. 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Tags: fluff, coffee shop but sadly not au, mc/reader is NOT rosa!, not beta'd, not edited, gender neutral reader, marius von hagen x reader/mc, tears of themis/tot, marius von hagen

Word Count: 1,771

A/N: Written on: August 20, 2021 

Marius is such a little shit and I hate him but I love him but I hate him but I love him but I hate him but I love-- 

i got into the game for artem and ended up with a fucking marius in my pocket

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The bitter aroma wafts around the bustling room, the sounds of muffled conversations and machines grinding coffee beans woke Marius up.  

Meeting after meeting was his schedule today, he almost had to fight the universe around him just to get the short reprieve of grabbing his own coffee before heading towards the next one. He checked his phone once again—as he had every 10 minutes today—only to find no messages from the name he wanted to see on the screen the most. He swiped away each and every notification bar until it was empty. 

His chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh, then another after a short pause. Even if Marius wanted to, he couldn’t recall most of what had been said to him today; it was important, sure—he retained what was necessary—but his mind wandered towards the soft light in his studio, the smell of paint awaited him, and a certain muse wandered into his mind’s eye as well. He checked his phone again—nothing. He moved forward in line.  

Marius let himself think. His mind wandered near and far, leaping to and from ideals, shying away from any realities that dare made their way into his daydream. His eyes were just as far away, his body moving on autopilot as he continued his way through the wavering line to the counter. His senses were overwhelmed with the smell of sweet sugar and bitter coffee, his body numb from the lack of attention he paid it, his mouth dry and ready for the scorching relief of the burn on his tongue; the sounds around him were muffled, though one clear as day melody tugged at his subconscious.  

Only two people away from the counter, Marius now looked around himself, searching for what had burst his daydream-bubble. Sitting a few tables away, though their back had been turned towards him, the artist could pick out his prey anywhere. The corners of his lips turned upwards, a smirk tugging on them so tightly it was hard to contain it—he smirked out of instinct the entire time he gave the barista his order; he leaned on his elbows against the counter as he waited and kept his eyes on MC the entire time, as though they were going to disappear if he were to look away. The sound of his phone buzzing in his pocket went unnoticed.  

They sat with a friend—what they had been talking about, he had no clue, but he could see MC get a bit flustered by the friend’s smiles and prodding—Marius wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass him by. A chance for true relief after all these meetings, teasing MC was just the right dose of medicine he needed to go about the rest of his day. To-go cup in hand, he slyly sat in the chair behind them to eavesdrop a bit. 

“Come on, you have to admit MC—being friends with someone like the CEO of Pax is so cool--” 

“Cool? Is that what that’s called?” 

Marius’ smug smirk quickly turned to a slight pout due to the speed at which MC had crushed the compliment thrown his way. He bit back the urge to turn around right then and there and continued listening. 

“Aw, don’t be like that! If you don’t think it’s cool, then what do you think?” 

“What do I think?” 

“Yeah; how do you feel about it?” 

“About being friends with Marius Von Hagen?” MC sneered. 

“Well, you don’t have to say it that way...” Marius nodded along to MC’s friend who heroically stood up for him. 

“I feel...” 

Silence sat between the two of them while MC pondered for a while, though that silence didn’t carry over to Marius’ table; Marius sat, quietly sipping his coffee while the room suddenly grew far too loud for him, though no one had spoken any louder than before. His heart rate picked up, slowly becoming a heavy rhythm in his chest; how did they feel? The anticipation started to make him nervous, his fingertips digging into the paper cup as he tried to steady the slight jitter—it had to have been the caffeine kicking in, or so he told himself. He hadn’t realized he held his breath until MC started to speak again. 

“Lucky.” 

“Lucky?” 

MC nodded, and Marius tilted his head. As if their friend could read his mind, they asked for clarification. 

“Well...” MC started, “it’s hard to explain. He may tease and be an entire thorn in my side--” unbeknownst to MC, Marius pouted behind them, “I’m lucky to have him in my life. He’s a lot of fun, and nice when he wants to be. He’s passionate and... well...” 

“Well?”  

“I don’t know. Sometimes it’s... a lot--” they quickly spoke again, the slight breeze hitting the back of Marius’ shoulders told him they were waving their hands, “not in a bad way! Just... uhg. He... makes me nervous.” 

Their friend poked fun at them, suggesting that maybe, just maybe, they had romantic feelings for him—MC adamantly denied them—but their friend kept joking that the heat in their face said otherwise. Marius knew of their conversation—he could pick bits and pieces out of it—but he had a hard time hearing anything from beyond the static in his ears and the tug of a mischievous smirk on his face. He turned around in his chair, leaning his crossed arms on the back of it and his face over their shoulder, close to their ear. He smirked and put a finger to his lips, effectively reeling MC’s friend into his scheme as they had a hard time concealing their laughter and continued to try and prompt their friend into admitting their feelings for the dark-haired man. Once he realized they’d get nowhere—and because the buzzing in his pocket became more and more frequent—his smirk grew more and more mischievous. Leaning in closer to their ear, he saw that they side-eyed him, their eyes growing wide after it took a moment for them to process the fact that someone was there, let alone that it was Marius himself. 

“Aw, so I heard that I make you nervous?” He spoke quietly, seductively, ensuring that his warm breath tickled their ear. He simply smiled innocently whenever they pulled away from him and hid their ear with their hand. 

“Marius! You!” 

“Hm? I what?” 

“You’re a real pain in the ass, that’s what!” 

“Aww,” he pleaded with a jutted lip and puppy-dog eyes, “don’t say that MC! I’m gonna start thinking you don’t like me.” 

MC scoffed and turned their face away from him, their eyebrows furrowed and a mixture of an angry and embarrassed pout on their own lips. They crossed their arms across their chest, ignoring any and all half-hearted, false pleas Marius had to throw their way. Giving up, Marius stood up and genuinely laughed, the soft lighting of the room causing his features to glow in a way MC couldn’t take their eyes off of.  

“I’d love to stay and keep playing with you, MC—because I know you just can’t resist playing with such a handsome man such as myself--” Marius quirked an eyebrow at them, reveling in the way their eyes struggled to stay pointed rather than turn embarrassed, “but duty calls. A lot. Several times, actually. I don’t know how there isn’t a hole in my pocket by now.” 

He ruffled their hair on his way out, laughing over his shoulder at how they cried out at him in anger, swearing up and down that Marius Von Hagen was a menace to society. Once the glass door closed behind him, the smile on his lips remained while his body moved on autopilot, walking back towards his office when he finally answered the phone that rang off the hook in his pocket. Nothing that was said for the rest of the day would stick with him, however, since all he could think of was the smell of bitter coffee and the burn of his cheek from how the heat radiated off of their own. His feet couldn’t keep up with how quickly his heart dragged him to his studio as the hues of the sky grew darker and darker as the minutes ticked by. 

Marius sat by the window this time, looking at the vast darkness that held a beauty that was hard to replicate—if he could just reach out and grab it, maybe it’d have a fraction of a chance to compare to the muse he saw within each and every star that hung in the universe.  

Soft light fills the studio, dim though it was just enough; the ambiance was perfect for the rustle of butterflies that made their way from Marius’ stomach. He watched them flutter about the room, small dancing lights turning to stardust in his imagination whenever he gently reaches out to one.  

The phone in his hand broke him out of his trance but brought forth a new sense of warmth within his chest. A text popped up on screen, then another and another, one after the other. His smile remained soft as he read text after text, MC denying the scene that happened earlier in the day, stating over and over again that they didn’t get nervous because of him—then they took their word back—then they tried to explain they were only nervous because they had to be on their toes to deal with his teasing; Marius smiled at each word, choosing not to say a single word in response.  

Instead, Marius put down his paint-filled brush, his eyes softening at the piece in front of him; his muse sat peacefully, a genuinely pure smile on their lips. The golden light from the falling sun illuminated each and every one of his favourite features of theirs—their eyes were closed, gentle, and their eyelashes caught the light just right. The corners of their mouth captured small shadows as subtle dimples felt much deeper as his heart fell into them—the shine of their lips alone made his head spin. The golden light mixed with the neutral tones of the background made his muse pop off of the canvas, and he could swear he could still smell faint coffee. His smile was still gentle, his eyes soft and longing as he looked upon the MC he immortalized within the careful strokes of oil paints. 

“Yeah,” Marius spoke quietly into the still air, answering MC’s texts out loud rather than in actuality, “you make me nervous too.” 

[jennsterjay]

Clawcode Headcanons (because I could literally talk about them all day)

If Miles G is unsure about someone he'll put up a mask/front with them, but the minute Ganke M walks beside him and says the funniest unfunny joke known to man he snorts and the tough guy act completely crumbles against his will

Ganke M is the 'bro let's have fun' to his 'my life is the grind, all I know is the grind'. Even when Ganke M helps Miles G with complicated missions, afterwards he'll patch him up, then get him some Wcdonalds or King Burger and then play some Mario's Cart with him the rest of the night. Cue them falling asleep together on the couch

I'm still not over the idea of them getting each other Dragon Ball Z matching dog tags (rip to the goat of course 🙏🏾). Like there's so much sauce there it's perfect. Spider-Miles from 1610B would think its the coolest thing ever even when he teases Miles G about it, and the first week Ganke M wears it he makes sure every one can see it proudly around his neck

Ganke is Pan and Miles is Bi and Ganke doesn't think about gender too hard

Miles G: Rap, Trap, Rnb, J-Pop/Anime Music, Rock, and more

Ganke M: K-Rap, K-Rock, Nightcore, Daycore, Rap, Techno, Video Game Osts,  J-Pop/Anime Music and more

And they influence each other's music taste

They know each other's birthdays, favorite foods, shoe sizes, game catalogues, jokes, childhood stories, favorite songs, allergies,  icks, moral boundaries, biggest secrets, and worst fears...and they've only known each other for a year and a few months

Ganke M is simultaneously the class clown and one of the smartest students in his grade. Miles G is the other top student. Despite Miles G wanting to keep a low profile, when he's around Ganke he can't help but joke around and start roasting people and clowning in class too, and the two become pretty popular among the other students. Between their high grades, class disruptions, pranks, one or both of them disappearing to 'use the bathroom for a sec', prize winning robotics projects, funny jokes, and passing test scores...their teachers don't know if they should flip a coin to give them awards for their grades or to send them back to detention again

Rio and Jefferson were suspicious of Ganke M at first, thinking he was a bad influence, but eventually they warmed up to him and welcomed him after seeing how much he made his son smile. Even after Jeff was no longer there, Rio would still smile and welcome Ganke to their house just like they always had. Ganke sometimes even stops by to cook some Korean dishes and helps clean up whenever he visits Miles.

When Aaron Davis finds out Ganke M knows Miles G's big secret, he meets with Ganke alone for the first time (even though he would meet him once or twice in passing when Jeff was alive, they've never really talked to each other until this moment). At first Aaron is intimidating and tries to tell Ganke to stay out of Miles' business, but Ganke has never been a pushover and refuses. After a while, Aaron can see his determination and realizes Ganke's loyalty to Miles isn't shakeable. He sees something in Ganke that reminds him of himself. So Aaron says if he really wants to help Miles, then he needs to become stronger. It's after this that Aaron teaches him to box and fight, and teaches him more about tech, engineering, surveilance, tracking, stealth, and hydraulics.

Even though Miles G can hear his mom in his ear saying not to waste any food, Miles doesn't like eating the crust on sandwiches or pizza. But that's ok because Ganke will eat his own food and then eat the crust for him. Ganke will eat the tomatoes off of Miles' burgers too

Months after Miles G and Ganke M meet their universe's Gwen V. Stacy aka Gwenom, and she becomes an ally, she admits to them that she thought they were a couple at first. They weren't dating yet so she's not completely right, but with the way the two look at each other after she says that, she knows she's not completely wrong either. She totally teases them about it.

In this universe Dr. Ophelia Octavious is an African American scientist, ruler, and engineer who is part of the Sinister Six and runs a big part of the city. Miles G and Dr. Octavious have a Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr.Eggman type dynamic. Miles G keeps getting in the way of her plans and she knows he somehow has a connection to the original Prowler. Still, she secretly admires the kid for his heart and genius at least, not that she would admit this. One time at her base she successfully captures Ganke M saying "I have your little boyfriend" to try to get leverage over Miles G, but Ganke M is smarter than he looks and doesn't give her any information right before he escapes on his own with a dohickey he has in his pocket. When Miles G comes in to save the day and go toe to toe with Octavious, Ganke M looks from side to side and backs up towards a computer terminal and inserts a flash drive that hacks into and shuts down her whole system. Ganke and Miles slip away when the lights shut off, and all Octavious can see in the darkness is a computer terminal that has an anime girl dancing with flashing text that says 'Get Miku-ed'. Dr. Octavious is in disbelief and has several emotions at once before laughing and saying "I hate heroic teenage couples"

Their universe's Felicia L. Hardy will either work with you, be your ally, con you, or sell you out and Miles and Ganke don't know what to make of her. She guesses they're a couple almost immediately with the way they fight her (when Ganke already has his own suit) and even when they're on different sides, she teases them like she's an aunt or a big sister. Eventually they meet her girlfriend and even she teases them affectionately too.

Ganke's mom cooks Miles so much food when he visits (even when they don't have a lot) and Miles struggles to finish it because he's already so full from the first five plates but it's ingrained in him not to waste food. He taps out and brings the rest back home in Tupperware for him and his mom.

Ganke M and Miles G go to the rooftop a lot to listen to music and look at the stars together. Now that they know their universe is so big and that there are other universes out there, it really puts it into perspective that in the grand scheme of things they're grateful for what they do have in this world...

And that is each other

[rags-writes]

Fandom: Call of Duty

Pairing: Ghost & Reader (Platonic)

Tags/Warning: Hurt/Comfort

Requested by @bombshe77

A/N: I really hope you enjoy it and thank you for requesting it. here it is on Ao3.

Summary: You're the youngest on the 141 squad, yet you've been with them for two years and they still treat you like a rookie. Hell, they still call you the rookie callsign but you don't let that bring you down. Then you go home and when you come back, you're different. That spark you had disappeared and Ghost is determent to get it back even if it means he actually has to talk.

Lean On Me

 Ghost always prides himself on seeing what others miss, in anything. Which is why he’s disappointed that he didn’t see your potential. Well, you were just a rookie and the youngest in the squad at that. No one expects much from you, but you did last longer than the other, but your call sign hasn’t changed from rookie or rook. Honestly, he saw you as a joker, like soap. Sure you did whatever was ordered of you, but you always made a joke or some smart-ass comment. You never seem to shut up, always talking up a storm after a mission.

 Luckily he never had to deal with you directly, mostly just overhearing convention, like now.

 “I can handle the package without a babysit.” You call over the headset, and your voice is light, yet there is an irritation to it.

 “Listen, rook.” Soap says, causing a groan to leave you. “We just want to make sure you don’t drop?”

 “We are sitting down and it’s in my pocket.” You sigh out, “Stop with the rookie call name?”

 “You got to do something impressive to get a different call sign, kid.” Price answers with a chuckle.

 “You mean dealing with Soap for two years isn’t impressive enough?” You shoot back, causing a wave of laughter over the plane and Soap shouts, ‘hey!’

 Even Ghost huffed a small laugh at the joke, no one heard, of course. And highly unlikely he would ever admit to it either. It was Gaz who spoke up next.

 “We can call you kid if you want.”

 You send a glare his way, growling out. “I’m only two years younger than you, ass.”

 Soap, of course, hop on the thought with, “maybe you like, tot or rug-rat.”

 Ghost sees your hand wave and rightfully assumes you're flipping off Soap. Someone calls out, “What about clumsy?”

 “O, come on,” you shout. He could hear your eyes rolling as you continue. “I drop one grenade, which was a dud, because it was a field test.”

 The plane erupts into another fit of laughter at the memory of you pulling the pin and winding up to third the grenade when it slips from your hand. You looked like a deer caught in headlights as it when off behind you. No one has let you have a moment of peace about it, one way or another it gets brought up again. Soon he begins to tune out the conversation as it goes on about different call signs for you.

 After getting to the base Ghost watch you head to Laswell’s office to drop off the thumping drive with Soap tailing behind you saying he was just there to give you support. that just made you try and swat him and walk fast, practically running to Laswell’s office to get away from him.

 Ghost’s eyes move off you as Price comes up to him and asks. “What’s the plan now, cap.”

 “We sit tight and wait for the intellect department to decrypt the thumb drive and we can figure the best point of taking down the network.”

 Ghost just nod and walk to his room and change her gear before grabbing thing from the mess hall. It was only a day’s wait before they got word on the thumb drive and unfortunately the best time to strike the network was in nine weeks when most if not all the drug lords would be meeting. They decide to let everyone have a month to go see their family before the mission. Ghost, and a handful of others, choose to stay for any other mission not related to the thump drive. So the next couple of days were hectic, most people were trying to get off as soon as possible but he notices a strange thing. You.

 Normal you are one of the first ones on the plane heading out but he has seen you at the practice range. after looking at the roster he finds that you volunteer for the last flight out. he asks around, well more like interrogate soap, finding your excuse was that you need the extra training time but he didn’t completely believe it. Seeing the crestfallen look on your face with ever no was around but your spark was there whenever someone was near so he wasn’t too worried. soon you went with your smile, so he wasn’t to worry about you.

 But when you came not even three weeks later. you came and he knew instantly that something was wrong, the spark was no longer in your eyes. he didn’t what to do, you no longer laugh and smile as you use to. sure you follow any orders but without your usual quip or smartass comment.

 It affected everyone, even soap wasn’t himself, he tried the most to get you to creak a smile but you never did. Weeks passed and the mission to take down the network came. everyone was grim, if they fail this who knows the damage that could happen.

 But they didn’t, thanks to you, the network wouldn’t be able to recover from it fully. everyone was celebrating, all smiles and laughter filled the mess hall, and even Ghost creak a smile under his mask. the only person he didn’t see at the party was you, you disappear as soon as Price told every that drinks were waiting for them.

 Ghost decided he was going to find and snap you out of whatever the hell was going on. he began his search in the quarter but your room was empty as was the shared space. next was the small dining room/kitchen but it was empty as were the next three places. stepping outside for a cigarette, and he rounds the corner to the spot where no one bugs him and he can get a moment of peace, and sure enough, you were there.

 He goes to shout your name but stops as he notices tears streaming down your face, there’s a picture in your hand.  Walking to you, carefully until he steps on a twit and your head snaps to him, a hand quickly wiping the evince of tears from your face. You shout a weak. “L.T. what are you doing here?”

 Ghost doesn’t let the twig pause his steps, goes leans against the wall, and answers. “Well taking a break from looking for you.”

 Your head drops as you say. “Sorry L.T.”

 “It’s fine, saved me from soap, who set up the Karaoke machine.” Ghost across his arm and sight as the joke didn’t even get a chuckle from you. A hand reaches out and takes hold of your shoulder and he says. “You don’t have to do it all yourself, you know.”

 You bulk at the work, trying to shrug off his hand and turn away from him but he doesn’t let you. Grabbing your other shoulder and forcing you to face him as he tells you. “I don’t know what’s going on with you but you can talk with me.”

 Lips tremble at his works as the tear you have been holding back bursts out. Hand covers your face as you sob, as you choke out. “Sorry, ghost, I’m a mess.”

 “What’s happened?” Ghost asks, removing one hand and leaving the other for comfort. Sniffing a bit before wiping your face with the sleeve of your shirt before you hold up the picture. Looking, Ghost sees it’s of an old man, who in a bed with all sorts of wires attached to him but he’s still has a smile full of life on his face.

 “This is my grandfather.” You explain, “he passed away.”

 “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Ghost, not knowing if those were the right words but he had nothing else to offer. You give him a genuine smile, tinting with sadness as you whisper.

 “Thank you but he pass the last time I was home, three days after the photo was taken.”

 You couldn’t see but Ghost’s brow furrows in confusion and he questions you as gently as he could. “Then what’s going on with you?”

 You huff a strangled laugh and reply with a heartbroken tone. “My grandfather was my only supporter in anything I did. The rest of my family never accepted me and my life choices and when I join the military well I was part-way disowned.  They never fully said it because they didn’t want grandfather to cut them from the will.”

 Your foot drags back and forth on the ground, making a little trench in the ground back, and hesitantly continues talking.  “I thought that maybe after things settled down that they would come around but...”

 You trail off and Ghost finishes the sentence for you. “They never did.”

 “I came home to my stuff thrown out of my grandfather’s house.” You sob out, hand coming to cover your mouth.

 “They’re fucking idiots.”

 The statement makes your head snaps up with shock and stare at your Lieutenant with mouth agape. He just rolls his eyes and adds. “You one of the best if not the best soldier.”

 Hand scratches the back of your head as you try to argue he cuts you off again. “You prove that today, because of you we completed the mission with zero casualties. Sure people got hurt but they didn’t die.”

 He grabs your shoulder, looks you directly in the eyes, and tells you. “Here at the 141, you are family. Never forget that you are not alone, you can lean on us, anytime.”

 You close your eyes, throw your head back, and laugh, for the first time in weeks you truly laugh. And when you open your eyes again, Ghost sees the spark back in them. Smile under his mask and tell you with mischievous, “You know soap grease up the grenade that day.”

 “The one he has been making fun of me for months now.”

 Ghost nods in confirmation, leading you to nod your head back as you say in a playful tone. “Well, I’m going to go kill him now.”

 This makes Ghost laugh as you walk away, but before you disappear around the corner, you call out. “Hey, Ghost!”

 “Yeah.“ He answers while pulling out his box of cigarettes.

 “Thank you.”

 He pulls up his mask and before placing a cigarette between his lip, calls out. “Anytime, Sparks, Anytime.”

Thank you, everyone, for reading, and let me know your thoughts. If you have a request, go here.

[themaladaptivewriter12]

Title: Diamonds Are Forever

Part 8.1 of my “Cray-Cray for Cater” series! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 , and Part 7 can be found here!

Parings: Cater Diamond x Twisted Wonderland Male OC (Mirai Yuhara)

Summary:

With an extended break, Cater decides to take Mirai on a trip to remember. This trip should have strengthened their bonds, but somehow they break a little too.

a/n: This will have sub parts due to the nature of this part. It was too long for Tumblr and THERE WILL BE A SMUT SUB PART! DNI IF THIS MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE! Please and thank you. I want you all to be able to skip the part if you want without losing the flow of the work, or having to skip the work entirely.

cw: implied/referenced past abuse. Nothing graphic or detailed. death mentioned, again, nothing graphic.

a/n: It's funny how around this time last year, I wrote this, and now, it's finally being unearthed lolol. I love this work so much! I can't wait to see it all come together! The airline I referenced is Qatar Airways btw!

a/n: Mi-Mi's Birthday is coming next week! I'm excited for my little Mi-Mi-tot!

a/n: Soooooo…….I've never flown before, and it probably shows lolol, but I tried my best! ( 〃▽〃) Also, I'm pretty sure this isn't how mirror travel works either. I wrote this before I played book 4, where Ace and Deuce talk about all the hoops they had to jump through to get back to the Isle of Sages, without the mirror, and I didn't have the heart to change it, so yeah. My incorrect way of travel and how airlines work stays! ヽ(￣ω￣(。。 )ゝ

Reblogs are appreciated, just use my custom tag, #TheMaladaptiveWriter12, if you do!  (─‿‿─)♡

Cross posted from my Ao3: TheMaladaptiveWriter12

Things were getting busy with midterms coming up and everyone was on edge, tension seemed to seep from the school in waves. Professors were getting stricter, and students were burning out by the dozen. But there was a saving grace in all of this. Due to the multiple pleas from students and staff alike, Headmage Crowley granted everyone a four day weekend after midterms, using two of their unused snow days. Mirai was grateful for the break. They had Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off. It really was a much needed break. And if Mirai had to go over the magic of the Briar Valley one more time, he was gonna throw himself into one of Crewel's cauldrons. 

It was Friday, and Mirai and Grim had just got done eating lunch, and of course when he mentioned cleaning up their mess, Grim scampered off to somewhere in the dorm. Mirai was pretty sure Grim had a secret hideout in the walls or something. He always seemed to disappear at certain times of the day, or when he had responsibilities to fulfill, and no matter how hard he looked, Mirai could never find him. 

After he got done downstairs, Mirai went up to his room where he started cleaning there as well. He tended to have a messy room, dirty clothes strewn all over the floor, clean clothes on his bed, bottles and cans of soda cluttering his night stand, and empty chip and candy wrappers filling his garbage can. It was messy, but at least there was no dust, rot, and spider webs like when he first moved in. 

Mirai was sorting his clothes when he heard a clatter from outside his window, immediately knowing what the noise was. It could be several different people, but he had a strong feeling he knew who it was. 

“Sup, Boo,” Mirai called, stuffing a dirty shirt into his hamper.

“Howdya know it was me?” Cater asked, pulling himself through the window.

“You and one other are the only ones who’d come see me this early in the day, but then again, he’s louder than you are.”

“Who’s the other?”

“Leona.”

Cater laughed, “Figured.”

Mirai had an “open window policy” of sorts. Only those who knew, and it was only a few, were allowed to visit Mirai anytime as long as the window was open. Cater and Leona would visit during the day, the two of them using it to shirk on their duties, while Kalim visited when he needed a change of space, or when he needed someone other than Jamil to talk to, but normally it was Mirai hanging out at Kalim’s dorm. It was much more fun there. 

Then there were a few times where Jamil stopped by as well, as he needed someone to vent to about Kalim and his place in the boy’s life. Azul would stop by at times too, but normally he did when was in a funk and needed to vent to someone who wouldn’t hold it against him. Lilia and Malleus would visit at separate times, and Mirai found both their company to be enjoyable ones. Mirai stopped counting the rest of the Freshmen’s visits long ago with how much they spent the night at Ramshackle. 

“Whacha doing?” Cater asked, sitting in the arm chair.

“Sorting laundry. It’s not much, I just don’t put stuff away.”

“So what are your plans for the weekend?”

Mirai knew Cater was onto something. They normally didn’t plan when they hung out, they just kinda lived in the moment. Also, there was the fidgeting. Cater tended to have trouble hiding his excitement, and it often showed through his expression and or through inability to sit still. But Mirai was gonna play dumb and play along.

“No, not that I know of. I’m prolly not gonna do this laundry until next weekend. This isn’t enough for a full load. Why?”

“Okay, okay,” Cater all but squealed excitedly, sitting down in front of Mirai on the floor, taking the Ramshackle Prefect’s hands to hold into his own. “First of all, you can decline any or all of these suggestions. No one’s forcing you to say yes, no one’s gonna hold it against you. Two, one of these things, even if you agree to the rest, can be declined and no one’s gonna hold it against you.”

“U-Uh, o-okay,” Mirai said, nodding trying to decipher everything Cater just said.

“How would you like to go meet Daddy Diamond?” Cater asked excitedly.

Mirai was speechless. A million possibilities were going through his head, but none of them were this, none of them prepared him for this. “Y-You, you mean, a-as in your father?” Mirai asked, voice sounding small and distant.

“Mn,” Cater nodded excitedly. “As I said, you can say no. My other offer is just to take the trip to the Shaftlands without the meeting, and again, you can say no.”

“I-I, uh, this is really important. I-I don’t know what to say.”

Cater let go of Mirai’s hands in favor of holding his face instead, “I’m not pressuring you to do any of these things. They all are just merely suggestions. We don’t have to go.”

“B-But I don’t wanna keep you from seeing your father,” Mirai said hurriedly.

“Hon, I can see him anytime.”

“But-”

Cater pressed a chaste kiss to Mirai’s lips, successfully cutting him off. “He just happened to have time just when we were granted a four day weekend, and is staying in a hotel. I thought maybe we could make use of it. Again, if you’d like we could skip the meeting for now and wait another time where we would have more time to prepare and plan.”

“When would we leave?” Mirai asked softly.

“Unfortunately this afternoon. The flight leaves at five, so two hours from now. Short notice, I know. We should land by seven, and then move to a taxi for an hour drive to the city, getting us to the hotel for the night by eight. Nine at the latest.” 

“Okay.”

“Okay? O-Okay as in yes? Or okay as in okay?”

“Yes to all of it,” Mirai chuckled. “I’ll go with you to the Shaftlands to meet your father.”

“Okay, wow, okay, we're actually doing this,” Cater rambled excitedly. “OMG! Like we're about to go on our first trip together! I’m so excited! #Couplegoals!”

Mirai found Cater adorable. He looked so cute, all excited and happy, practically vibrating out of his skin. Mirai walked up to Cater and pulled him down for a kiss. “Calm down, Cutie,” Mirai laughed.

“But I’m so excited,” Cater gushed, kissing him back, “There’s so much we can do! So much I can show you! It’s your first time really off of campus.”

It was, wasn't it? Besides going to the dwarf mines and surprisingly, the Coral Sea. Mirai hadn’t ever left the campus. This made everything different. Now? Mirai had no reservations about going. He wanted to see this twisted wonderland he was sucked into against his will, well, not that he minded. 

“So Ima go pack real quick, then I’ll come back and get you, okay?” Cater asked.

“Oka-Wait! What about Grim? I can’t just leave him.” Mirai cried.

This put a damper on everything for Mirai. He hated leaving Grim out of things like he wasn’t important to him, and he definitely didn’t want the little monster to feel like a third wheel.

“I don’t see why he can’t go. Ask him.”

“No, no,” Mirai sighed, “I’ll have him stay. This time is more important. I’ll make it up to him when I get back.”

“You sure?” Cater asked.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll be back.”

Cater walked out the door before turning around and peeking his head in not even a second later. “You don’t have a suitcase, do you?”

“No,” Mirai laughed.

“Okay I’ll bring that too, just get your stuff ready,” Cater laughed. 

Mirai nodded. 

“Bye, Boo,” Cater winked, running off. 

Mirai shook his head and went to go find Grim.

Mirai called out for the call, looking all over for him, but he didn’t show. After about fifteen minutes, he was beginning to worry.

“Grim! Grimmy! Grim the Fire Breathing Monster,” Mirai called. “Grimmaroo! Grimilicious definition make them boys go-”

“What do you want, human?!” 

Mirai perked up at the pair of flaming ears at the end of the hall.

Grim huffed agitatedly, trotting over to the Prefect. “You just think you can call The Great Grim whenever you please? You work for me, not the other way around.”

Mirai ignored him and cut to the chase, “I’m leaving for the weekend and won’t be back until Monday. And before you ask, no, sadly you cannot go. I’m doing something that’s really important to Cater and I’m sure you don’t want to witness what you like to call “disgusting human mating rituals.” I’ll make it up to you when I get back, but right now, I’m short on time.”

Grim grumbled. “Buy me five hundred deluxe premium cans of tuna.”

“I’ll buy you three when I get back. And you don’t have to clean the house for a week.” 

“Make it two weeks and I get to eat in my room.”

“Fine. But if the rats come back, you're getting rid of them.”

Grim stuck out his tongue and before he could scurry off, Mirai snatched him up and placed a fat kiss to the top of his head.

“Fynya!”

“Stay out of trouble, yeah?” Mirai asked, hugging Grim tightly.

“Yeah, yeah,” Grim pouted, accepting the hug.

Mirai let Grim down, and Grim just stood there. Mirai thought he wanted to say something, but he guessed Grim decided against it, for he just scurried off down the hall. 

Mirai went back to his room and began packing. Mirai grabbed six shirts, four pairs of pants and a pair of pajamas. He also grabbed some underclothes, and some extras. In the bathroom, Mirai grabbed his toothbrush, some toothpaste, and his medication. Mirai didn’t know what else to bring, so he decided to finish cleaning his room.

It wasn’t long before Cater came back with two suitcases. “Cay-Cay’s back and ready to pack,” Cater cheered, plopping his extra suitcase onto the bed. 

Mirai laughed at Cater’s enthusiasm. The one Cater had given Mirai was a plain blue and his own was a bright orange covered in little charms, and iron-on patches. It was very cute and very Cater-esque.

“So like, unless you don’t like the idea of me helping you pack,” Cater said, opening the blue suitcase, “I’m the king of packing. I can get this stuff packed in a jiffy.”

“It’s all yours,” Mirai laughed. 

“Alright! Watch and learn.”

Mirai was seriously impressed. Just like he said, Cater was really good at packing and he was quick at it. He had everything tucked away comfortably and efficiently. Nothing looked out of place or squished, and in all honesty, Mirai thought it looked like something right out of a commercial travel blog. 

“And done! #PicturePerfect,” Cater said with a wink. 

“Thanks,” Mirai said with a smile.

Cater moved the suitcase and put it next to his own. “C’mere, Babydoll,” Cater cooed, sitting on the bed, reaching his arms out to Mirai.

Mirai happily climbed up onto Cater, straddling his lap. 

“You got everything? Wanna list everything just in case?” Cater asked, kissing Mirai’s chin.

Mirai giggled, “I think so. I got clothes, extra socks, extra shirts, and my toothbrush.”

“Deodorant?”

“You saying I could use some?”

“Wha-no, no,” Cater stammered, eyes wide.

Mirai laughed at Cater’s brief panic, “I’m joking. Yeah I got it, and my soap.”

“The one I like?” 

“Yeah.”

“Perfume? Cologne? Fragrance Spray?”

“Ima use yours.”

Cater laughed.

“What?” Mirai laughed, “I like the way it smells. It’s just so crisp, clean, and spicy, and the scent actually stays in your skin hours after.”

Cater chuckled. “Chargers? Phone? Laptop? Camera?”

“Packed away in my electronics bag, which you packed away.”

“Your medication?”

“Definitely. I also triple checked to make sure.”

“Um,” Cater said thoughtfully, “I think that’s it. Whatever we missed can probably be bought once we get there.”

Mirai nodded.

“Are you excited?” Cater asked, pressing kisses to Mirai’s neck.

“Yeah,” Mirai breathed, “I finally get to see this world. I finally get to leave campus.”

“And I can’t wait to show it to you.”

Mirai and Cater left the campus, and not after Mirai negotiated with Ace and Deuce to check in and maybe spend time with Grim for a small price. They made their way to the Mirror Chamber and Cater was happily waving to students in passing. Mirai could tell Cater was overjoyed, with the skip in his step and the big pearly smile on his face, he looked as if he would just float away.

Cater walked up the stairs to the Mirror and spoke, “Dark Mirror, take us to Shaft Airport.”

“Your wish is my command, Cater Diamond” the Dark Mirror bellowed back.

The Dark Mirror began to glow, the glass shimmering and sparkling. Suddenly the glass began to ripple, dark smoke billowing from the glass, spilling to the floor. 

“Ready?” Cater asked, sticking out his hand.

“Mn,” Mirai nodded, taking his hand. 

They stepped through the mirror and after a couple of seconds, sickening seconds to Mirai, they were standing outside an Airport. It was larger than what Mirai was used to.  

“This is enormous,” Mirai said in awe.

“It’s one of the biggest Airports in the Shaftlands,” Cater explained, “The biggest is basically a shopping mall. There’s even a hotel with a resort connected to it.”

“I don’t even think that counts as an Airport at that point.”

Cater laughed, “Yeah, probably not. Well, we got a bit of a walk, so let's get moving.”

Mirai nodded.

“After a quick photo op that is,” Cater winked. “Say cheese!”

Cater pulled Mirai in for a couple of selfies. They took one in front of the Airport sign, one inside, and of course, Cater couldn’t forget one including a kiss.

Cater held Mirai close as he led them to their gate. It was quite crowded and he really didn’t want to lose his lover in the rush. There were people bustling to and fro with suitcases and heavy bags, important looking people with briefcases, and busy parents with fussy babies and tired children. There were food stalls selling anything from cinnamon rolls to fast food, gift shops with tacky shirts with weird slogans to keychains with your name that you could never find on it. There were small shops that sold anything from toys to fixing smartphones, and restrooms on almost every corner. There was even a bookstore, a restaurant, and an indoor playground. Mirai couldn’t keep track of where they were going, so he just focused on keeping up with Cater’s long strides. 

“So, do you need anything?” Cater asked, as they made it to their gate. “We don’t board for another twenty minutes.”

“Uh, restroom,” Mirai said.

“Okay, I’ll watch our things and go check in our tickets. I’ll be over there at gate five, kay?”

Mirai nodded and headed off to the bathroom.

It wasn’t a long trip, and by the time Mirai was done, Cater was over in the seating area near the gate. Before making his way over, Mirai took a detour to one of the shops and bought a couple of bags of candy and some gum. As Mirai walked over, Cater perked up and smiled.

“Should’ve bought this at Sam’s. It would’ve been cheaper,” Mirai grumbled, shoving a handful of gummies in his mouth.

“Probably,” Cater laughed. 

“Oh, and I got you cinnamon flavored gum.”

“Thanks, Honey Bunny,” Cater sang, kissing Mirai on the head. 

“Pics first,” Cater sang.

Cater took a couple of selfies, then pocketed his phone. 

“For you,” Cater said, passing Mirai his ticket. 

“Thanks,” Mirai smiled.

Getting through security was an adventure all in itself. Mirai found it so much different than back at home. Instead of the metal detectors, x-rays and invasive pat downs, there were magic laser scanners of sorts, and all kinds of things he would only see in movies. Cater went first, and then asked some of the security and he was allowed to walk Mirai through it, since it was technically his first time traveling in this world. They allowed Cater to, and Mirai was so thankful for that. 

The two made some small talk, well, Cater did most of the talking as he shared some things about his childhood in the Shaftlands. Not long after, a chime sounded, signaling the pair it was almost time to board. Cater led the way until they got to a pair of open double doors that opened up to a super lavish waiting room. 

It took a second, but then it clicked. Mirai gasped,“Cater! You did not just buy us both first class tickets!”

“Uh,” Cater said, “#SorryNotSorry?”

“Cater! How, how, how much did all of it cost?!”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I just want you to have fun.”

“But this has to be so expensive. I can’t just not worry about it. I have to pay you back somehow.”

“Are you, are you really upset about it?” Cater stammered

“I’m thankful really, but I feel horrible for making you spend so much on me,” Mirai sighed.

“You’re worth that much to me.” 

Mirai’s fight dissolved at those words. 

Mirai grumbled. “Why you gotta go and say all that cute stuff and expect me to stay mad?”

Cater laughed, “But I meant all of it.”

“You really are too good for me, ya know that?”

“I would say the same thing about you, Boo,” Cater smiled.

“Can I at least pay back half of the cost?”

“You can pay it back in kisses later, but now we gotta board,” Cater teased, taking Mirai's hands, and headed down to the jet bridge. 

Mirai had never ridden in First Class, and he thought he’d never get the chance to, but now? Mirai couldn’t believe it. It was so plush and lavish, and it all looked like it cost his life twelve times over. A flight attendant met them at the door and escorted them to their seats, seat 11E. It was right against the middle wall so they didn't have to worry about sharing with anyone else. 

Their seats were close to each other, divided by a small barrier, and both had doors that closed toward the aisle. There were two TVs against the wall, and two pull out trays along with a small built-in table. It was really nice, the burgundy accents the airline used really gave the whole thing a warm and cozy feel.

Another attendant came by to take their luggage and stored it above them as Mirai got in on one side and Cater the other. It was spacious. It had enough room for Mirai to stretch his legs out comfortably and to store his carry-on on the floor in front of him. 

“You like it?” Cater asked, leaning over the middle to kiss Mirai on the cheek.

“Yeah,” Mirai sighed dreamily, “It’s really nice.” 

“It totally is. I normally don’t fly often, and when I do, I deff don’t fly First Class.”

“You really didn’t have to do all this. We really could’ve just flown regularly.”

“But I wanted to make this special for you.”

“You spoil me too much,” Mirai pouted.

“Oh, Honey, if you think I’m spoiling you now? Just wait until we land,” Cater teased, kissing Mirai on the cheek once more.

“Cater,” Mirai whined, “If you keep this up, then I really won’t be able to pay you back.”

“And I don’t intend for you to.”

“Meanie.”

“Love you too,” Cater sang.

Mirai and Cater took multiple pictures before they took off. Mirai never liked the take off and landing, it always was the worst. It was bumpy and shaky, it made his ears pop, and it always caused some older woman to make a fuss, yelling and screaming that she was gonna die. But this time, it was much smoother. His ears still did pop, but that’s why he had bought some gum before they boarded, and this time, there was no screaming middle aged woman. 

Cater and Mirai choose something to watch while they pass the time, they ended up picking an old comedy about a maid that actually was a man in disguise. After some time, some flight attendants came by and poured them a complementary glass of sparking. Mirai panicked at that, but the flight attendant reassured him it was just grape juice. Following her was another flight attendant who came by with a snack tray and a menu. 

“Would you like to order now, or when it’s closer to meal time?” The flight attendant, Amy as her name tag read, asked in a soft voice.

Mirai realized Amy was the same woman who escorted them to their seats. Her uniform looked just like any other flight attendant’s uniform, except hers was in the Airline’s colors, burgundy and white. She was small and petite with red short hair styled in a bob cut that was curled toward her face at the bottom. She wore big pearl earrings and a pearl necklace, and on her small lips was a light shade of pink lipstick.

Mirai was flustered with it all, and he was pretty sure he looked like a fish out of water. He didn’t know planes even offered food besides stale crackers and water. But lucky for him, Cater had that covered as well. 

“We’ll order now and get it out of the way. Thanks,” Cater said with a smile.

“Great! I'll be back in a bit,” Amy said, passing over their menus and walking off. 

“Sorry,” Mirai muttered, taking a deep breath.

“Don’t sweat it, Buttercup,” Cater said dismissively. “You’re not used to this, it's okay.”

Mirai looked over the menu and there was so much he never knew could be served on a plane. Mushroom Risotto? Pan Seared Scallops in brown butter? Filet Mignon? Lobster Cakes? Clam Spaghetti with Braised greens? It was too much to even comprehend. 

“Did you choose anything yet?” Cater asked giddily, “Although I wanna try the Clams, I’m prolly gonna go with the Filet Mignon.”

“Why not? You afraid you might not like it?” Mirai asked.

“Worse.”

“Stomach ache? Food poisoning?”

“No silly. I won’t be able to kiss you.”

Mirai’s mouth fell open at his reasoning, and Cater laughed at his turmoil. Mirai flushed at that, pouting. 

“Well it’s true. What kind of lover would I be to eat some Clams if my positively adorable boyfriend is allergic to seafood?”

“Cater,” Mirai whined, now flushing at the compliment.

“And that’s true too.”

“Bastard.”

“Love you too, now what did you choose?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m just gonna have the chicken orzo soup and a salad. Don’t think I can stomach anything heavier.”

“Feeling sick, Baby?” Cater asked, concerned.

“Nah,” Mirai said, shaking his head, “It’s just in case I get sick later. That way I have nothing too heavy in my stomach.”

“Oh, okay, that’s good.”

Later, the flight attendant came back and took their orders and took their menus, and Cater grabbed a bag of chips as she walked by. Mirai wondered how Grim was doing, he hoped he wasn’t lonely or sad. He’d have to call him when they landed. He just hoped Ace and Deuce kept their end of the bargain and actually stayed with him.

“So what’s the Shaftlands like?” Mirai asked, shoving a couple of gummy worms in his mouth.

“I don’t know how to describe it. It’s so vast, like nowhere you go is the same,” Cater said thoughtfully.

“I think I get it,” Mirai said, “Back home, that’s what America is like. It’s one country with fifty different states in it, all of them are different, nothing is the same.”

“Sounds kinda confusing.”

“Not really. It’s like having fifty different houses with their own rules and families in one neighborhood.”

“I guess that’s easier when you look at it that way.”

“What’s it like where we’re going?” Mirai asked.

“I don’t wanna give too much away, but it’s a big city. Skyscrapers, busy streets, subways, and a lot to do,” Cater said excitedly.

“Cool. I grew up in a big city, so I think I can get the feel.” 

Cater’s phone chimed and he instantly perked up. “It’s my dad! He wants to know how things are going,” Cater laughed.

Cater eagerly messaged his father back and Mirai smiled at Cater’s reaction. Mirai knew of Cater’s rocky relationship with his mother, so he was glad his and his father’s were different, and far better. Mirai wondered what the man was like. Was he nice? Overly nice? Or was he really strict and reserved? He wondered what he looked like? Did he look like Cater or was it his mother that Cater looked like? And Mirai definitely hoped Cater’s father was nothing like his own father. 

But Mirai’s biggest question was, would he accept Mirai? Honestly, Mirai was kicking himself for not thinking of that before. What if Cater’s father didn’t like him? What if he didn’t like the fact that his son was dating a man. I mean, his father had to have known who he was since he was the one who suggested all of this, but what if Cater’s father just wanted to bring Mirai down in person? What if he just wanted to scorn their relationship face to face with the both of them there? It was still a little unnerving even after all of this, that there was the possibility that Cater’s father may just not like Mirai as a person. 

“What’s the matter, Babydoll?” Cater asked, reaching over to squish Mirai’s cheek into his own, “Sad I’m not paying attention to you?”

“No,” Mirai huffed, “just thinking.”

“Mark for your thoughts?”

“Nervous, I guess. Wh-What if he doesn’t like me?”

“Aw, Mi-Mi! I’m touched that you’re giving this so much thought,” Cater gushed.

“Cater, I’m serious. What if he just doesn’t like me?”

“So am I. But he will. Ever since I told him about you, he hasn’t shut about you. All he asks when he gets to meet my new boyfriend? And I may have talked you up last time we spoke.”

“But what if he likes me on paper, but when we finally meet, he finds that he just doesn’t like me? Like, what if he doesn't like my hair? Or my tattoos and piercings? What if he finds my voice or laugh annoying? What if he finds me creepy?” Mirai rambled.

“Then he just won’t,” Cater said as if this wasn’t currently eating away at Mirai.

“Cater?!” Mirai called, incredulously.

“What? If he doesn’t like you, which I doubt, then that’s his problem. But that doesn’t mean I won’t love you any less.”

“I-I-I just, I just,” Mirai stammered before sighing in defeat, “I just don’t want to mess up. I don’t wanna be the thing that tears apart your relationship with your family. Like my Mother’s.”

“Your Mother?” Cater asked, straightening up at the new tidbit of information. 

“My mother’s family didn’t like my father, saying my mother was blinded by love, and she was, it caused my family to distance themselves from me and my mother. My father showed his true colors after their marriage, and especially after my birth, the bastard,” Mirai bit out bitterly, “and when she turned to them for help, they left us. After her death, and his imprisonment, I was alone.” Mirai took a shaky breath, swallowing his nerves to continue. “I don’t want you to ruin your relationship with your father, so I’m afraid,” Mirai whispered. 

Cater pulled Mirai toward him, cupping his cheeks to kiss him, “I’m sorry. I was trying to calm you down a bit, I didn’t mean to belittle you. But it’s going to be okay, I promise. I wouldn’t have suggested this if I felt things would go horribly. He’ll love you, I promise.”

Mirai nodded.

“We’ll be fine,” Cater said, littering Mirai’s face and lips with kisses. 

Cater pulled Mirai closer to kiss him firmly on the lips, and Mirai sighed, relaxing into the kiss. Tilting his head to press harder into him, Mirai kissed Cater harder. Cater grunted softly, licking softly at the seam of Mirai’s lips, and just when Mirai went to let him in, there was a soft knocking sound, accompanied by a soft voice clearing their throat. The couple flew apart, both looking guilty and thoroughly embarrassed as they spotted Amy standing by Mirai’s door with a food cart.

“Dinner,” Amy said with a knowing smile.

Mirai didn’t know what to say or do, face burning with mortification. Mirai seriously hoped somehow he would be sucked out of the plane and never seen again. 

“I’m so sorry,” Cater apologized, face flushed a deep rosy red. 

“It’s okay,” Amy said with a smile. “Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been there with my partner, but then again, maybe we shouldn't have been playing kissy face on the job, even if we were on break.”

Cater made a strangled noise before falling into a fit of laughter. Mirai chuckled as well, but he was still feeling the burning shame. 

“Mind if I ask if they're here now?” Cater asked after his laughter subsided. 

“She’s the one next to the phone,” Amy said, pointing discreetly at the other end of the plan, as she placed Mirai food down on the table in front of him.

Mirai and Cater looked to where she was pointing. Over near the phone was a really tall woman with long black hair and ruby red lipstick. Her uniform was the same as Amy’s, but somehow she looked really mature in hers, while Amy looked cute.

“Aw, she’s pretty. You two make a great couple,” Cater gushed.

“T-Thanks,” Amy stuttered, flushing. “You two make a great couple as well.”

“TYSM,” Cater winked.

Amy made her way over to Cater and placed the tray on his table, removing the lid. 

“Careful, it’s really hot,” Amy said.

“Thank you,” Cater said.

“You're welcome and enjoy.”

The food was great, it was hot and flavorful, and Amy’s partner, Willow, came by and refilled their glasses with sparking. Mirai enjoyed his soup. It was light but still full of flavor and filling. Cater loved his Filet Mignon and tried to feed Mirai a piece, which he shook his head, vehemently declining. Now fully fed and comfortable, all they had to do was wait to land.

[novelmonger]

Metal Gear Solid - Classic stealth/action/whatever this is. I remember being particularly interested in how much it feels like an American action movie, even though it's made by a Japanese company. It has just enough weirdness to it that it's obviously not American, but...let's just say this game was made back when Kojima was slightly less weird. *cough*DeathStranding*cough*

Abe's Exoddus - Ahhh, I loved this game! I get that it ended up being little more than an expansion on Abe's Oddysee and wasn't really what Lorne Lanning wanted the sequel to be (and I've got Soulstorm and can't wait to try out what he did want it to be!), but I still had tons of fun with it. It's just that little extra bit more challenging than Oddysee, and the setting has always fascinated me, especially because a lot of it is conveyed subtly, without direct exposition. I still remember this one point in the game where you step outside and slowly realize (if you're paying attention) that the background is filled with a cramped tent city where the Mudokons live. The slow, growing horror of that realization wasn't diminished at all by the cartoony look and feel of the game.

Midnight Rescue! - Please tell me I'm not the only one who's played this old DOS Learning Company game! It's a game that teaches reading, where you go by night to investigate Shady Glen School, where Morty Maxwell, the Master of Mischief, is intending to paint the whole building with invisible paint so that the school will disappear by midnight. But he's hiding inside a robot, and you have to do research and deduction to figure out which one is him and confront him. I love that they used classical pieces like "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" for the soundtrack; to this day, I think of this game first when I hear those pieces. But I have to admit that even though this game has a lot of nostalgia for me, back when I was the right age for this, I was terrified of it and sometimes couldn't even watch my brother play it. I was so scared of not being able to unmask Morty Maxwell before midnight, so intimidated by the robots and the music and the overall atmosphere.... But at the same time, this was one of the very first computer games I can remember playing, and it was always enthralling.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location - Not really a favorite FNaF game for me, but it was quite interesting to see a different sort of format from the usual. And even though you can move around more than previous FNaF games and are doing very different things, it's still utterly terrifying - especially the room with Freddy and the part with the spider things *shudder* I'd never have gotten through the experience without my sister tag-teaming it with me ToT

Myst V - Lol, nobody voted for this one, and rightly so. A really disappointing way to end one of my favorite franchises. It barely felt like a Myst game at all. Though I am glad for the guidebook that came with my copy, which has a lot of extra information on the D'ni language and numbering system. But, like...that's not even the game itself, and that's my favorite part of it :/ Uh...it looks pretty, I guess?

NightSky - It makes me sad that very few people know about Nifflas. He's one of my all-time favorite indie game developers. I just love his unconventional ideas for gameplay, and his excellent music (though...I think somebody else did the music for this game, which is a shame, because it's rather forgettable). This particular game is a platformer where you guide a ball through various worlds, making it roll around, playing around with various kinds of physics like reversing gravity or making the ball lighter or heavier. Simple, but elegant and lots of fun.

Mushroom 11 - A weird, quirky platformer where you play as a glob of green goo in a postapocalyptic wasteland after all human beings have died out. You move by "erasing" cells that then grow back on the other side of the mass, and you can grow bigger by absorbing other living things. It really makes you think outside the box, and it's one of those games that makes you occasionally sit back and go, "What the heck am I even playing right now?" Especially when you get to a boss and you realize you're a clump of fungus fighting a giant robotic spider or something.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - I probably shouldn't be surprised this one won ^^' What a silly but fun and surprisingly challenging game. The most frustrating thing about all the games in this series is that sometimes you've got a pretty good idea of what the solution to the mystery is, but it takes forever to figure out how to get the characters to come to that conclusion (because adventure games). Also, I find myself swinging wildly between hilarity and frustration in response to things all the characters say regarding the law. Because...I know even less about Japanese law than I do U.S. law, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't really work the way it does in these games.

Arbitrarily-Chosen Video Game Tournament, Round 1.10

Welcome to the Arbitrarily-Chosen Video Game Tournament, where we will find out which of the games I've played is the best game of all time!

Why? Don't ask. Just vote and reblog!

[neighborhood-goblin]

Dylan: C'mon, Marty can't be good at everything. Who knows, maybe he's a bad kisser or something

Louie: No, he's good at that too

Dylan: What

Louie: What

[starchild--27]

listening to Baekhyun's album and reading the lyrics like 👀 (my 2 cents -more like 20 lol- are in the tags this time)

[oflgtfol]

god damn... i just had a dream where i died from hemophilia in school due to teacher negligance!

[generallynerdy]

Your Dumbass, Your Boys (George Weasley/Reader)

Summary: The Great Hall is quiet. Too quiet. You go looking for your boys—Fred and George—to see what sort of trouble you’re getting yourself into today. As always, trouble finds you first, as does your dumbass boyfriend and his twin.

Requested by @pearlll09: So uh I'm a bit of a simp for the weasley twins... your prompt list gave me an idea! If you want, pick a twin you'd be comfortable writing (i usually go for george cause he doesn't die ToT) and do a reader insert with happy 7 - I'm sure that whoever ends up with the line, it will be great :) Prompt: “Hey! I may be a dumbass, but I’m your dumbass.”

Key: (H/h) - Hogwarts house, (Y/N) - your name Warnings: mild cursing, threats, gender neutral reader!! Word Count: 1,169 (nice)

Author’s Note: u always give me the best characters pearl ty!!! I’m a simp for George Weasley too so this was a lot of fun to write ajsldfkj. I couldn’t find a good excuse to use a poem for the title, so this one has a normal title smh my head.

Read on AO3

*

The Great Hall is mostly quiet, which is highly unusual. Although, the absence of the Weasley twins might explain that absurdity.

You don’t see the matching heads of ginger hair when you enter for breakfast that morning. There are three other gingers at the Gryffindor table, but no two of them are closely paired, so they must be the other Weasleys. You make a beeline for the short-haired one that isn’t speaking loudly and obnoxiously—that’d be Percy—who isn’t sitting far from the long-haired one—Ginny.

“Good morning, you three!” you declare, sitting down right next to Harry, who sits across from Hermione and Ron.

(You shouldn’t really be sitting with them, a fifth year (H/h) that you are, but you’re a common enough staple of the Weasley family that it’s not entirely unexpected either.)

“Good morning, (Y/N),” the trio echoes in sync, which makes you grin.

“Gotten up to any trouble yet?” you ask, which is a frighteningly common question, especially concerning the Weasleys.

Hermione sighs. “The day is still young.”

“Oh, poor Hermione,” you say dramatically, reaching over to pat her shoulder in false comfort. “Just admit you like it as much as they do and your life will be much easier, promise.”

“(Y/N)’s speaking from experience,” Ron adds through a mouthful of food.

You nod proudly. “Speaking of my experience—have you seen my boys this morning?”

“No sign of them yet, thank Merlin,” their younger brother says immediately. “Why? Something planned?”

Your shrug is mischievous. “Maybe.”

“They always have something planned,” Hermione counters.

Harry smiles. “I saw them in the common room this morning; heard something about Filch, too, but that’s it. They’ll be in time for Quidditch practise, won’t they?”

“On time? Maybe. But they’ll definitely be there,” you agree with a snicker. “I should go find them.”

Before you can leave, Ron huffs. “At least eat something, (Y/N).”

Harry raises his eyebrows at the very clear Mom tone to his voice, the same tone that has you rolling your eyes. You reach across the table anyway, snatching up a jam-covered piece of toast and standing.

“Better, Mum?” you ask once you’ve swallowed.

He scoffs, flushing. “Shut up.”

“You’d miss the voice of reason,” you retort. “Cheers, kids. See you in a bit!”

“Kids?” you hear Hermione snort after you leave. “We’re only two years below!”

“(Y/N) calls everyone younger a kid, ‘Mione,” Ron reminds her fondly. “Don’t take it personally.”

You dart out of the Great Hall, taking a loose path to Filch’s office. If Fred and George aren’t there, at least Filch might have an idea of where they have been this morning. He and Mrs Norris always have their eyes on you three, but they’ve never caught you long enough to make a dent in your rebellious streak. Merlin, if Molly Weasley can’t stop you, nobody can. And despite her best efforts, she is slowly losing that fight.

Whistling a merry tune, you turn a corner, only to stop and grin at the sound of a familiar gleeful laugh. It’s more of a devilish cackle, actually.

Down the hall, two distinct redheads are sprinting in your direction.

(Fred is the one that cackles. George prefers a good snicker.)

“What in Merlin’s name have you two—?”

“No time to talk, Filch on our tail, run!” George summarizes as they come upon you, grabbing your arm and dragging you along.

Back down the hall, a very pissed off caretaker screams: “YOU FILTHY BRATS! GET BACK HERE! I’LL HANG YOU BY YOUR TOES!”

You laugh, a loud and clear sound that bounces off the walls. It has George grinning wider than before as the two of you split off from Fred, the other twin disappearing as quickly as they’d appeared. Your boyfriend’s hand slips from your sleeve, but you immediately grasp his hand instead.

Dragged around another corner, you realise immediately that your boys must have planned this daring escape, because George quickly ducks into a tiny alcove with an empty wardrobe.

He closes the door behind you, the both of you crammed into the small space.

You press your fingers against his lips to quiet his heavy breathing, which earns you a huff of indignation. Not about to laugh aloud at the pout on his face, you simply smile.

Footsteps storm outside, right past the alcove. They pass, but neither of you move, too cautious to let Filch lure you into a false sense of security. He’s quiet for a long moment, but then he starts walking away, the taps of his boots growing ever further.

The moment he’s out of earshot, George lets out a breath of relief.

You start laughing quietly into his shoulder, letting him wrap an arm around your shoulder.

“It’s not even 9, George,” you wheeze, wiping at unshed tears.

“Perfect timing, right? Now he’ll be mad all day,” he says with a pleased smile. “I thought it was brilliant.”

You lean forward, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “You’re a dumbass!”

“Hey! I may be a dumbass, but I’m your dumbass.” He buries a hand in your hair, pouting again.

“My dumbass,” you clarify, rolling your eyes. “Harry was worried you’d miss Quidditch.”

“Never,” he declares. “Ridiculous, that. Oliver would have our heads.”

You snicker. “If you’re late again, he’s going to hunt you down. You know that, right? Worse than when you dyed his hair.”

“Let’s remember who saved me last time he got mad,” he teases, booping your nose.

“Because I love you and I always get you out of trouble.”

A sappy smile crosses his features. “Yeah. You’re good at that.”

He leans forward—a task that’s not difficult in the small space—kissing you gently, which has you smiling into it.

The wardrobe doors fly open and you split apart, faces flushed and smiling ridiculously.

“Oi!” says Fred, faking disgust. “No time for making out, lovebirds! We have Quidditch practise to get to!”

“Shut up, Fred,” you and George say in sync, bursting into laughter.

He scoffs, grabbing his brother’s shirt and dragging him out of the wardrobe. Instead of that same rough movement with you, he offers you a hand, which you take. Gracefully stepping out of the wardrobe, you snicker when the twins shove each other.

“Knock it off, you two,” you chide, taking George’s arm in yours. You pull Fred over to you and do the same on your other side, grinning.

“Good morning, (Y/N),” Fred finally greets properly.

You snort. “It was until someone decided to drag me away from breakfast.”

“I can make it up to you,” George says instantly, maneuvering your arms so that you’re holding hands instead. “Trip to the kitchens before Quidditch?”

“Sounds lovely,” you decide. “And then we should talk about our product line-up, because I have some ideas.”

He grins. “Of course you do. You’re brilliant.”

Fred fakes a gag. George lets go of your hand just long enough to smack the back of his head, making you snicker.

“Boys.”

*

River’s Tags: @hahaboop & @mystoragehatesme

Masterlist

[irondadfics]

I’m looking for fanfics where Peter is Tony’s biological child and he goes missing/gets kidnapped as a young child. He is raised by someone else and doesn’t know he’s Tony’s son. I’ve already read Lost Boy and Things I Almost Remember on archive of our own and I wanted to find stories with a similar plot.

WHEW! It’s kind of a long list, but we did our best finding several fics that feature both BioDad!Tony and Peter being kidnapped at a very young age. ENJOY!!

PETER IS TONY’S SON BUT THEY WERE SEPARATED WHEN PETER WAS A CHILD REC LIST

Lost Boy by winterda

Isaac Stark disappeared from a crowded park a few months shy of his third birthday. There were never any signs of him, and no arrest were ever made in connection to the case. It was as if the toddler had simply vanished off the face of the earth. Twelve years later, Peter Parker has a really bad day, which only get worse when his prints are put through the system.

Things I Almost Remember by IcedAquarius @icedaquarius31​

Peter's past is not as it appears. It all starts one day with a genetics project and slowly spirals into something Peter never could have imagined.

hydra's not a home by tempestaurora @tempestaurora​

At 6 years old, the son of Tony and Pepper Stark, Peter, is kidnapped, never to be seen again. Or, so they thought. Ten years later, while raiding a HYDRA base, the Avengers come across a new, enhanced individual, working for the enemy: in black spandex, with a tendency to stick to walls and shoot webs from his wrists, the Black Spider is a pain in the ass in more ways than one.

If They Knew All About You by MsHermia

Tony Stark had lost his son when he was only 2 years old, stolen away in broad daylight with nobody the wiser of what exactly happened. Years later, Tony has just made it through the disaster with Ultron. He is trying to keep himself and the team together but relationships are strained and tempers are running high. Then a random turn of events leads to his path crossing with that of a particular vigilante. They are strangers to each other, or so they think.

Peter Parker is on top of the world. After a few shitty years, losing his parents and then losing his Uncle, things are finally looking up. Sure he lives in a crappy little apartment with his Aunt but he might have just found his mission in life.

------

This is an AU story obvious by some of the tags. I'm starting out a few weeks after Age of Ultron took place. Civil War will be a thing. Other than that I'm not too concerned about sticking to every canon detail and storyline.

Finding Their Way Home by ElliahRose

Peter Benjamin-Edward Stark went missing on a Tuesday. For months the entirety of the New York police department, as well as anyone else the Starks could convince to join, searched for the tot. He was only three when he was taken and for four months, two weeks, and four days, Tony Stark and Pepper Stark (nee Potts) worried and fretted over their beloved child.

Peter Benjamin-Edward Stark was murdered on a Friday. A ransom call gone wrong spelt the end of the child’s life. The world grieved as the kidnappers gleefully told the devastated parents they’d find his body in the morning.

They never did.

Twelve years passed and the family was still grieving, and Tony Stark worked tirelessly to find his only child’s killer and gain justice for his son.

Meanwhile Peter Parker was having literally the worst day ever. He just wanted to help make the world a better place, but instead he got stabbed. That's just his luck, isn't it?

missing, presumed dead by hailingstars @hailing-stars

They hadn’t had a funeral for Peter.

There hadn’t been a casket or a service inside a church.

There had been, before Tony decided in his heart that Peter was gone, candlelight vigils and pleas on the media for whoever had taken him to bring him home. Neither of those did any good. Neither of those brought Peter home.

OR

Tony Stark's son gets kidnapped when he's two. Twelve years later he comes back.

I told you to be better (and you became the best) by HaruK

Tony was blessed with a healthy baby boy, and for once in his life, was actually happy. Until everything derailed and he had to send his son away to keep him safe, because those related to the Stark family, one of the worlds biggest and most targeted families in the black market, always end up hurt. With a new name and identity that Tony himself doesn't know, the young baby was wiped off the map, his existence erased, never to be heard of again. . Years later, Anti-hero Iron Man meets a local superhero vigilante and Tony becomes surprisingly close with young Peter Parker.

The Curly-Haired Boy In The Paper by Svn_f1ower @svn-f1ower​

When Tony sees the blurry, grey scale photograph of someone he thought he had lost years ago, he follows the trail to a newspaper company, to a hospital, to an adoption agency, to the police station and finally to May Parker's house.

hold him tight & don’t let go by jessicagoddamnjones @farremoved

Peter Stark went missing when he was four years old.

Eleven years later, he’s found.

Only now he’s Peter Parker by day, Spider-Man by night, and he doesn’t like the idea that his entire life is a lie.

Rise from the Ashes; Just to See You Again by Mintstream @iwritedumbshit​

Tony Stark didn't expect Mary Fitzpatrick, or the news she delivered. He didn't expect that he would become a father, or that he would actually enjoy it. He didn't expect Penny to love him just as fiercely as he did her.

He didn't expect to lose her so soon.

In the wake of the loss of his daughter he tried--tried to do right by her. He became Iron Man, he was an Avenger, he protected his world because he couldn't protect his daughter, but through it all, he hoped to be reunited with his daughter.

He didn't expect to be alive when he was.

AKA the biological daughter kidnapping AU no one asked for. Hope you read, and hope you enjoy.

Updates on Saturdays.

Coming Home by inkinmyheartandonthepage

AU – Peter Stark was kidnapped when he was just three years old. Tony and Pepper never stopped looking for their boy. Years later, Peter finds his way back home.

A Change In What We Knew by Imissyoutoo @imissyoutoo

Tony scoured the floor behind Steve as though his one-year-old son had somehow crawled to him, before finally, he looked up. The realisation dawned on him like an eclipse; the decaying darkness hiding the sun. Hiding his son. Because his boy wasn't there.

”Where is he? Steve? Where's my son Rogers?!” At only a year old, Tony Stark’s son is taken, leaving him shattered. Little does he know, his journey to find what is lost only begins twelve years later. In the most unlikely of places, and all because of two words.

”Hey kid.”

I Found You by honestchick

Tony had a son; he raised him for two years until someone kidnapped him. Tony was devastated and heartbroken. And who would have thought in Starks Expo, he’d be able to see his son once again?

move back home forever by chasingflower @evahmohns

The results say he’s not actually Peter Parker.

They say he’s Peter Stark. You know, the one who’s been missing for 10 years.

Yeah. He knows.

Soon You'll Get Better by lostinmorewaysthan1

Peter Stark was kidnapped. That was all anyone knew. He vanished into thin air, no traces left behind, when he was eight years old.

Six years later, on one of the final raids on the HYDRA bases, they find an enhanced assassin, with super strength and the ability to climb walls. No one imagined that it would be Peter. Least of all Tony.

With no memory and brainwashed by HYDRA, Peter Stark goes home and tries to recover.

Let This Road Be Mine by CommunicationFlail

Ten years ago, five year old Peter Stark disappeared. When the trail went cold, the case was closed. Now new evidence has been brought to light and Tony will stop at nothing to get his son back. No matter how many fakes he has to meet. His son is out there, and he will find him.

Return to me, the one I love so endlessly by SuperHeroTiger @superherotiger

James Edwin Stark was born on the 10th of August 2001, and for the first time in his life, Tony Stark cried tears of joy.

All the fears, all the dread that had once consumed his soul washed away with a single look at the baby’s gentle features, so familiar and yet so distinctly unique at the same time. Tony made many promises that day. Promises to love his son, to protect him, to always be there for him.

On the 10th of August 2002, James Edwin Stark was stolen in the middle of the night, and his father’s world came crashing down. Shattered and alone, Tony whispered the same promise he’d made to his son the day that he was born.

‘…My love for you is endless…’

Fourteen years later, hidden away from the world in a forest of pine, Peter Beck would dream of a day he might get to see the towering city of New York. And when a wounded stranger stumbles onto their property a week out from his birthday claiming to be a famous billionaire from New York, his dream might just come true.

Once Lost Now Found by FreckledAvenger11

Peter Parker was just trying to get used to life without his uncle. He wasn't expecting to find a familiar face in an article about Tony Stark's missing son. Follow Peter on his journey to discover just who he is. Is he Peter Parker? Is he Spider-Man? Or is he someone else entirely? Just who is he and what secrets died along with his parents in that plane crash?

So He Walks The World Alone by Miola014

This is a story 'bout a broken boy With his headphones in just to block out the noise Of everyone around him telling him the way to go So he walks the world alone Wondering if it gets better Or if he's always gonna feel empty forever So he gets lost tryna find another way back home As he walks the world alone

Or

The Kidnapped Peter Stark AU that I promised y'all!

[sweetcici-123]

Not My Name

Jinx and a childhood friend from when Vander was alive. She wasn’t like the rest of the group, she would visit but would never stay, she would disappear without any explanations, and she absolutely hated it when anyone called her by her nickname.

“Tator Tot.”

But she’s all Jinx has left now, everyone else in her family is dead because of her, but Tot isn’t. She thought she was, but she isn’t. She’s a chance to rebuild what she lost, maybe not the same, but she’s familiar. Seeing her gives Jinx hope, maybe she can have something, someone from her past without screwing it up.

“That’s not my name.”

Probably not.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39906414 

Chapters: 4/?

Fandom: Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Jinx (League of Legends)/Original Female Character(s), Jinx (League of Legends) & Original Female Character(s), Jinx & Vi (League of Legends), Claggor (Arcane) & Jinx (League of Legends) & Mylo (Arcane) & Vander & Vi (League of Legends), Caitlyn & Vi (League of Legends), Vi (League of Legends) & Original Female Character(s), Ekko (League of Legends) & Firelights Members (Arcane: League of Legends), Ekko (League of Legends) & Original Female Character(s)

Characters: Jinx (League of Legends), Original Female Character(s), Silco (Arcane: League of Legends), Sevika (Arcane: League of Legends), Vi (League of Legends), Caitlyn (League of Legends), Mylo (Arcane: League of Legends), Claggor (Arcane: League of Legends), Vander (League of Legends), Ekko (League of Legends)

Additional Tags: While this may be my third Jinx story, It's actually the first one I started to write before the other two, Anyways, Childhood Friends, Bad Friends, Names, Name Calling, Rude Pranks, Flashbacks, Jinx doesn't want to be alone, Neither does Cora, Hurt, Angst, Drama, Rebuilding Friendships, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Abandonment, Loneliness, Abandonment Issues, Adjusting, Zaun (League of Legends), Sometimes people you care about, Just don't understand, Secrets, Silco is wary of her, Vander was a father figure, Kinda, Silco will get over it, Will Cora?, hidding, sneaky, Nicknames, I think they’re cute

[botanicials]

wish this was the full part, but here is a sneak peak of falling in love at a coffee shop. the first few rough paragraphs. coming soon! littles will be posted until then ❣️

falling in love at a coffee shop

i. (sneak peak!)

October 13

The cold NYC wind is forgiving for once, all things considered. You had just spent your evening watching over seven sugar high eight-year-olds that had decided finger painting was the ideal after school activity. It was laborious at times and their parents probably weren’t too pleased, but the kids were happy.

Your phone is warm against your cheek as you walk, owing to the Disney Favorites playlist you were asked to play- and Eloise skipping nearly every song that wasn’t sung by Elsa or Moana. Your mother’s words are insistent in your ear: plane tickets, dinners, graduation details.

“It isn’t for another… what? Four months? We’ll figure it out.”

You hear your mother sigh. “I’d rather plan everything out now, the end of the year brings me enough stress as is.”

“It-“

“And what is it with your graduation ceremony being in January? Such an odd time. I mean, right after the holidays? Don’t they realize we might want a bit of a break?”

You laugh lightly at that, eyes spotting the familiar rusting sign hanging up ahead. “Um, has to do with my hours and the kids’ semester ending. I don’t know. Tickets should be cheaper, they usually are after Christmas.”

“Suppose that’s a positive.”

“Definitely a positive- I’ll call you later, I’m grabbing some food so I can hurry up and get home. There's an apron covered with paint in my bag and I’m convinced it’ll stain everything I have inside.”

You begin to unwrap your scarf from your neck as you near closer to the mahogany red door, turning to push it open with your side. “You put an apron covered in paint in your bag?” She sounds incredulous.

“It’s rolled, mom. I’ll call you later.” You repeat.

“Soon.” She says, and you hum before finally ending the call.

A gust of warm air hits the chilled skin of your face when you enter, along with the strong aroma of brewing coffee and a hint of vanilla. You move quickly to close the door behind you, not wanting to disturb anyone with the reality of what they’d have to endure once they leave.

“Welcome in.”

Your eyes follow over to the voice that called out, to catch him take a quick glance at you before turning to meet your eyes again.

He’s not much taller than the familiar college students that work here, but judging from his shoulders, his build is clearly much larger. Atop his wool baby blue sweater is a- definitely used -burgundy apron you’ve seen time and time again. Who you haven’t seen, however, is him.

Once his eyes flicker to the new customer in front of him and back to you, you realize that you’d completely ignored his greeting. And hadn’t moved from the door?

You find yourself sending a clumsy smile before moving across the hardwood floors to stand in line behind the short balding man repeating his order.

Your phone is in your hand a moment later, needing a distraction as to not ogle at the pretty green-eyed barista any longer. Your thumb instinctively lands on Instagram, as much as you wish it hadn’t.

A selfie of an old friend from high school.

A photo of someone’s newborn. The third you’d seen this month.

The conventional food flat lay.

You hear the man in front of you make a second order of two dozen bagels for a big meeting tomorrow morning. “Hoping for a promotion,” he says, a clear smile in his voice. You silently wish him the best. With bagels from Coldwell’s, he was bound to make a good impression.

You’ve been coming here since the beginning of your junior year, finding the cozy café to be a home away from home. You’d discovered it after moving out of your dorm, it was an unmistakable upgrade from the campus coffee shop you were forced to visit every morning.

Thick floor to ceiling windows on one wall, exposed brick and a menu on another; coupled with the bulbous string lights, numerous plants hanging from the ceiling and perched on shelves with the occasional vintage record. 

There were unspoken sections inside; couches and low tables for group study sessions, a line of comfy booths along the back for brunches and dates, a few tables with mismatched wooden chairs for those who’d rather spend some time alone. It was always clean and well kept, and during Christmas, it smelled of nutmeg.

Depending on which barista had their phone connected to the speakers, the shop was either playing Spotify’s Chill Lofi Study Beats or smooth jazz, both welcomed by the regulars that filtered in day-to-day.

You hear the last drop of the bagel slicer when your phone buzzes faintly. Milo: We should go for breakfast one morning. When are you free? :)  That message alone was enough for you to stuff your phone into your bag. Jesus Christ.

You watch the man’s scuffled loafers as he makes his way out, the arm free from two large boxes lifting to wish his barista a good night. Speaking of, he’s got a welcoming grin on his face when you step to the counter. There was no doubt he was recalling your odd entrance.

“Hello.”

His eyes are bright, they remind you of a dewy morning in a garden - and you wish you were in the right state of mind to watch him the way he was watching you. “Hi, um”, your eyes fly up to the menu as if you weren’t sure of exactly what you were getting. “Are you still selling those bottled fruit drinks? I usually get them in the morning.”

“The Pressed ones? Got a few in the back but I’ll grab one for you. What flavor?” You take a second to inwardly scold yourself for focusing too hard on the way he’d flavor, there was no second-guessing on whether he had an accent or not from moments ago.

“Blackberry,” you say, sending a small smile.

He taps at the screen of the POS, his lips tucked into his mouth as you reach into your bag for your wallet.

Not there. No. Not that pocket either.

You frown.

“So, a blackberry Pressed, anything else?”

Your head is nearly inside of your purse as you move your belongings around, cautious of smearing Crayola paint anywhere. “Please, a blueberry um...”, you flip the apron to stick out a bit and allow you more room to see, careful not to squeeze it too hard, “bagel?”

A beat of silence.

“You sure?”

Your head snaps back up to find the barista- Harry, his name tag reads, it suits him -smiling at you, teasing.

You laugh at yourself a bit before buttoning your bag closed. Your wallet was nowhere to be found; which would frighten you if you hadn’t already left it in the classroom twice this week. “Yes-. Yeah, sorry my brain is like, fried from studying.”

“No, yeah totally get it,” he says. Tot-ally.

You find yourself contemplating on whether you should tell him to completely scrap your order or give in and finally figure out how ApplePay works. He scratches at his chin. “Erm.. cream cheese?”

You have some at home. “No, thank you.”

He nods and you take a glance at the tiny hoop earring that catches in the overhead light as he does. You’re just about to resume digging in your bag to check one more time, when he surprises you by saying something that isn’t your total. “What are you majoring in?”

You readjust. “Education. I want to teach 3rd grade.”

“Do you?” His smile is wide and you notice the dimples that sink into his cheeks. Because of course, the guy has dimples.

His genuine happiness takes you by surprise and you laugh. “Yeah, I graduate this year. Well- hopefully. Still have to pass my finals.”

He’s still tapping at the POS- definitely taking much longer than normal, but you don’t mind. Thankfully you had nowhere to be for once.

“M’sure you’ll do great.” You smile, despite the fact that his eyes were still on the screen in front of him. “I um, I graduated just last year,” he looks up to see your eyebrows rise in question. “Film.”

“Film?” you repeat. “I.. Honestly, I can see that.” The earring, the eyes, his style. It made sense.

Tap. Tap. You catch the price going down.

“That because I’m working at a coffee shop?”

“That- What? No, no. I-“

He lets out a boyish giggle and shakes his head. “Only joking. That was a bit of a dig to us film majors, hm?”

“A little. It just makes sense,” you continue. “You look like a film major.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s a compliment,” you say, and his lips twist to fight a smile.

“I’ll take it,” he says, slipping a glove onto his left hand. Your eyes immediately take notice of the cross etched next to his thumb. “Total comes out to $3.21. I’ll go grab your-“

“You didn’t have to do that.” You’ve ordered this countless times, and though Anne let you have your things for free when no one else was around, it’s always come out to $6.78.

Harry only frowns, shaking his head. Don’t worry about it. “I’ll go grab your drink.”

“Sure. Thank you.”

The second he disappeared into the kitchen  you’ve seen so little of, you quickly lift your wrist to try and figure out how this stupid watch worked.

You told yourself to test this out at some point, but you just haven’t had the time. The pad of your figure taps and swipes against the tiny screen, nothing screaming pay with me!

Not that app.

Not that one either.

Had you even set it up?

You hear the door smack lightly against the wall. “Alright here’s- oh,” Harry stumbles upon return, eyebrows drawn together. “Did the card not work? There’s a chip at the bottom-“

“No, I was- I left my wallet at work and I’m trying to..” You point at the card reader. “Does this have Apple Pay?”

His eyes flicker between your watch and the reader before nodding. “Yeah, you’ve just got to..” he leans over the counter a bit and his hand hovers over yours. “May I?”

With confirmation, his nimble fingers press lightly into the inside of your wrist, tilting it toward the reader. His touch is soft- he’s excessively gentle despite only adjusting your hand. He moves his thumb to double click a button on the side of your device, the palm of his hand brushing the side of yours.

The both of you look up at one another, eyes meeting in much closer proximity than any time tonight.

You can’t possibly pick up a guy at a coffee shop. Right?

Ding!

You look down at your wrist that’s still in his hold, your tiny screen now displaying a successful checkmark.

He swiftly pulls his hand away, the gloved one quickly grabbing your bagel as the other grabbed a waxed baggie. “Sorry-“

“No, thank you.” You can’t help but let out a clumsy laugh at the moment the two of you just shared. Silly, you think to yourself.

“To go, yeah?”

“Please.”

He smiles, eyes focused on the screen before the printer hums to life and begins to spit out your receipt.

You watch as he works the bagel slicer and toaster without conscious thought, large hand pulling off his glove before taping the flimsy paper to the front of the bag. He’s sliding your items over to you to grab when you speak once more.

“And thank you again, for the discount.”

He only shakes his head, lips turning down into a funny looking frown. “Don’t worry about it, really. Good luck on finals.”

You smile gratefully, managing to hold your juice and bagel in one hand as you make your way back over to the door. “Thank you! Have a good night.”

“Bye, love you—“ He practically chokes on his own spit, turning quickly to cough steadily into the crook of his elbow.

You were halfway out of the door when you heard him, and now you stare, amused as the cold wind nips at the left side of your face. “Love me?”

“I-“ His nose crinkles, and he coughs one last time. “Sorry, I-“ You watch as he visibly relaxes once his focus is back on you and not on trying to breathe correctly. 

Your head is tilted to the side, an obvious glint in your eye.

He lets out a breathy laugh before trying to continue. “I don’t-” Your eyebrows rise as he stumbles. “- love you. I just- I say it to friends a lot and I guess it… slipped? I don’t know-“

“I’m teasing.” You call out over the wind that blows through as you push the door open wider. You can’t help but laugh to yourself as you move to leave. “Don’t worry. Bye, Harry.”

[perhapsihavesucceeded]

Get To Know Me

Thanks for tagging me @atimefeeler. Your descriptions were great, as were the compliments associated with tagging people! I literally blushed :)

Rules: Tag 9 people you want tot get to know better or catch up with, or just tag anyone. I'm gonna tag some of the most recent people who reblogged things from me.

Favorite Color: I'm a big fan of grey. I know its not really a color, but I like the ambiance and how stuff just kinda disappears in it.

Last Song: Billie Eilish while in a car, just to see if I like her stuff. Conclusion was not particularly, but largely because the listening was bad- the voice is too muddled, and the occasional deep, loud, pedal note is extremely uncomfy. To give slightly more useful info, I have very strong feelings about Bieber's "Justice album" contrasting that I love it and also think its trash and its themes are icky.

Currently Reading: Just finished "the Vanished Birds" by Simon Jimenez, which was awesome! First chapter is a beautiful short story, and you finish it and you're like 'aight so does this have anything to do with the rest of the book' and the answer is both yes, and the rest of the book is also great. Last section was weakest, but still good. Next on the list is probably white trash warlock, might be Parable of the Sower

Last Movie: Corrina, Corrina, based on the Tumblr post recommending it. It was good, and I cautiously recommend it- but the Tumblr post definitely made it to be 'more pure hearted' and 'romantic' than it actually was.

Sweet, Savory, or Spicy: Well, last week I 'poisoned' myself by eating food that was too spicy, and I usually find sweet things to be delicious but also cloying after about 3 seconds, so I have to go with savory. Breakfast today was oatmeal with black pepper, so

Currently Working On: I'm slowly working my way through the Starrats.org prologue puzzles. They're hard, but I have a puzzle partner and its fun to do it in groups! I expect to be done in about a month with it.

Tags:

As ask games go, this one was nice and mild, and very much not personal! I tagged the people who're in my 'lightning bolt'- I am curious, but also like it took 20 minutes so only do it if you think its fun! And if you are inspired by this post, tag me in the reply!

@thelonelyfermata thank you for the conversation on CPI, I learned a lot and am more outraged than I was before about wages!

@thebuni, I see you writing in the tags all the time and they're always great :)

@quinnntillion I sense your vibes…. they're immaculate <3

@dirtypuzzle Your posts are awesome, and as a regular Tumblr user I really do hope that you are doing well

@millacm I have a bonus question for you- how's the memorizing going? I started on "A Night in a World", by Heather Hugh-

I wouldn't have known if I didn't stay home

where the Big Dipper rises from, time

and again: one mountain ash.

And I wouldn't have thought without traveling out

how huge the dipper was,

how small the tree

Sounds like it was written about the pandemic- it was written in 1948!

[elisaphoenix13]

Road Trip (Ch.1)

Stephen had put his foot down again. He wanted the family to do something together without the use of magic and superpowers, and before Tony knew it, he was in their SUV with Stephen, the kids, and Athena, and starting their road trip to anywhere. There was no set destination, just that they would visit any landmarks or events happening on their way to the west coast and the round trip back. Thankfully it was summer vacation so they had plenty of time to see all they wanted to see.

Even Cassie was with them. She got Scott's permission to join them, and it would give Scott and Quill a couple of weeks to do whatever they wanted without the worry of traumatizing their daughter. Cassie liked spending time with them anyway, and Stephen and Tony figured she and Peter would want to do their own thing every once in a while.

"Tony...I think it's time to pull over for the night." Stephen mumbles.

Tony blinks and glances over at Stephen, and when he finds his spouse glancing at the back of the car, he looks up in the rearview mirror. Every single one of their kids were fast asleep in their seats and most of them had their heads at an angle that made Tony wince. Lucy was unperturbed in her car seat from what he could see in the reflective mirror, but she had more cushion than the rest of the kids. Besides Valerie, they all had just a window or another shoulder to lay their head and it was hurting Tony's neck just to look at them.

There was just one problem.

"Duchess, there isn't anywhere to sleep for miles."

"There's a motel off the next exit."

"I'm not taking my family into a flea-infested--" Tony starts until Stephen interrupts him.

"You're not driving down the highway in the middle of nowhere for the next four hours to find a better one." Stephen says flatly. "Do you want cranky kids with sore necks, full bladders, and empty stomachs? Because that's the only other option if we pull over and sleep in the car."

Tony grumbles and pulls off the next exit. "Alright fine."

The motel at least looked decent from the outside and that was already a positive vote for him. If it had looked any hint of barely managed or infested, Tony would have turned right back around and drove as long as he could before having to pull over. Stephen was right when he wouldn't be able to make it for another four hours, but he could try. But then again, they were out in the middle of nowhere. If they broke down two hours from the nearest--

Wait.

He had super kids. They were all supers save for the two youngest. And Tony took too much care of his cars for there to even be a chance of breaking down. But in the impossible chance they did, William and Harley could go get whatever they needed in five minutes. William's natural ability to teleport at will was a blessing.

"Get us some rooms and I'll wake the kids?" Stephen suggests once Tony parks.

"Actually, just give me a couple of minutes." Tony replies softly before getting out of the car.

Without waiting for an answer, Tony heads inside and to his surprise finds someone sitting at the front desk. The man was kicked back with his feet on the desk and watching tv, but Tony didn't blame him. He imagined the graveyard shift was mind-numbingly boring.

"Could I get a couple of rooms?" Tony asks, getting the man's attention. When said man turned, he could see the name 'Carl' on his name tag. Tony didn't even know name tags were a thing in this kind of establishment.

"Sorry, sir. We've only got one available."

"You're kidding. The parking lot is practically empty!" Tony balks.

"Most people park around back and a couple of our rooms are in need of repairs." Carl says. At least he looked apologetic.

Tony sighs and rubs his eyes. "At least tell me the room has more than one bed."

"It has two queen sized."

"We'll manage." Tony mumbles and takes out his card to pay for the room.

The process was short and Tony soon found himself with the room key and his card and he walks back outside to find the teenagers dozing against the outside of the car with some bags, and Stephen leaning in the back door. The sorcerer was in the middle of unbuckling Diana when Tony joined him, and the engineer motioned Harley over.

"Tater Tot, come help with your sister."

Harley didn't answer. He simply moved away from his slump against the car and Tony and Stephen moved away so he could pick her up and hold her. In the meantime, Tony handed the room key to Peter and had him lead everyone up to the room while he and Stephen retrieved their two youngest. Stephen woke Valerie just enough so that she could get out of her booster and walk over to him so he could pick her up, and then it was Tony's turn. He had to actually climb into the car so he could unlatch the car seat, and then carefully back out of the car with Lucy and her diaper bag in hand without falling on his ass.

Athena loyally waited until the youngest girls were out of the car before hopping out of the car and standing next to Stephen.

"Did I see you give Peter a key?" Stephen asks as Tony locks up the car.

"Our only key." Tony grunts and leads Stephen up to the room. "Apparently they're busier than they look."

"It's still better than the car."

"Maybe." Tony chuckles when Stephen rolls his eyes and they walk into the room that one of the kids kept propped open for them.

Like the outside of the motel, the room at least looked clean. Better yet, Tony didn't get those psychological bug bites after looking around like he would in a room that was clearly poorly cleaned.

Most of the kids were on autopilot as they went through their nightly rituals before bed, but Cassie and Peter were the ones that looked a little less glassy eyed than the others. Probably because Cassie was helping Diana get ready for bed and Peter had the mind to make a couple of web hammocks. They would have to make sure they didn't leave a trace of those in the morning but Tony was sure Stephen would let it slide since ten people would be very hard to fit in two queen sized beds. Harley was sitting in front of the air conditioner and fiddling with it with a growing frown, and the twins were waiting to see where they would be crashing.

"Dad, the A/C isn't working."

"Unbelievable." Tony mutters and sits with Harley to see if they can get the thing to work.

Stephen got Valerie and Lucy changed and in the bed the couple would be using in the meantime, Cassie and the twins bunked in the other bed, and Harley and Peter were going to take the two web hammocks. It took a few minutes for Tony to get the air conditioning to run, but while it blew out cold air, there wasn't a lot of strength behind it. Cassie and the twins were already kicking the blankets off and so was Stephen when Tony finally got up to get ready for bed.

"No portal to Mt. Everest?" Tony asks as Diana crawls into their bed and lays down.

"Not unless the heat becomes a health hazard." Stephen replies as he hands Valerie her stuffed cow.

"Fair enough."

Once Tony was on the bed and settled, Athena finally jumped up and took her usual spot at the end of their bed. She inched her way up briefly to lick Lucy's feet, but Stephen quickly stopped her and made the wolf grumble in annoyance. Tony didn't understand Athena's fascination with licking the younger kids. She even licked their ears.

Maybe Athena really was turning into a nanny wolf.

The cold air helped keep the air less stifling and breathable, and they all managed to get some sleep despite the remaining heat...and the subpar mattresses. Tony had no idea how he managed to sleep on it. He was prepared to have back pains in the morning but he would never admit that out loud. His kids would never let him live it down if he did.

When he woke up in the morning (with the expected kinks in his back), he found the three girls between him and Stephen sprawled out as much as their little limbs could stretch out. Even Lucy was spread out while simultaneously staying as close to Tony as possible. With...his finger in her mouth? When did that happen? She had clearly sucked on it since it was covered in drool.

"She fussed for half a second and you reacted on instinct." Stephen mumbles as if reading Tony's mind. "In your sleep I might add. What exactly do you two do down in your lab where I'm not watching?"

"Come up with diabolical plans to take over the world. What else?" Tony chuckles and sits up, wincing at how sweaty he feels. "Gross. We're all taking a shower before we hit the road again. I do not want to smell sweaty teenagers in a crowded car."

A pillow smacks him in the head and Tony looks over at the opposite bed to find Cassie glaring at him. Yikes. The poor girl had to share the bed with the twins and probably had to smell just that all night.

"Miss Sass gets the shower first." Tony says as Cassie rolls out of bed.

"That's right." She huffs and disappears into the bathroom after grabbing a change of clothes.

"And you want to marry that." Harley grumbles from one of the web hammocks.

"Shut up." Peter throws his shoe at him.

Everyone got up after that, getting their change of clothes ready while they waited for their turn in the shower. There wasn't much of a rush either since nobody minded taking a cold shower, but Tony sent Diana into the bathroom so she could get a washcloth wet. He was going to use it to wipe Lucy down before changing her since she didn't need a bath. Everyone else got showered and dressed within two hours, double and then triple checked to make sure they got everything from the room (and removed all traces of the web hammocks), and loaded into the car while Tony returned the room key.

When he got back to the SUV, it was turned on, blasting cold air, and only Stephen and Athena remained outside of it. The wolf was lapping up the cold water Stephen had poured in a bowl for her and he was making sure everyone had gone to the bathroom so they wouldn't have to stop again in twenty minutes. In the middle of nowhere. Bushes were scarce.

"Can we get donuts for breakfast?" Thomas asks.

"You see a donut shop anywhere?" Tony points out.

"There should be a diner nearby." Stephen says as he picks up the empty bowl while Athena wanders over to some nearby bushes. "I looked for a decent place that was nearby on my phone."

"Diner it is." Tony says and gets in the driver's seat.

"I'm getting extra bacon." Harley announces.

"I want pancakes!" Diana says.

"Fruit!" Valerie pipes up.

"You can have whatever you want as long as I get some form of crappy tea and your father gets his cheap coffee." Stephen tells them and then closes the sliding door once Athena hops in.

Tony makes a face and backs up after Stephen gets in the passenger seat. "Ugh. Cheap coffee. I wonder if it's worth drinking."

"Please drink your crappy coffee." William sighs. "I don't want you to drive half asleep for the next four hours."

"If Tinker Bell is saying something, then I should probably grin and bear it." Tony sighs. "Dum-E has probably made worse."

"You better not be drinking his smoothies again." Stephen narrows his eyes.

"Of course not Duchess. I put those in Lucy's bottles and feed it to her."

Lucy coincidentally lets out a tiny belch and Stephen sighs.

"I wouldn't be surprised at this point."