#also this section is getting away from me
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paullovescomics · 3 days ago
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The majority of the US is definitely not walkable. Cities in the northeast are probably most likely to have more walkable sections, because they were fairly developed before cars took over, but the rest of the country is purposefully built around the car. A lot of smaller towns that used to have walkable downtowns tore down most of it to make room for more "modern" uses back in the 1970s.
I grew up in a small city that had a population somewhere around 40,000 when I was in high school. It was one of the top 5, maybe top 3 biggest cities in the state. Most neighborhoods had no sidewalks. The street in front of our house doubled as a section of a major state highway, so there were lots of speeding cars on it. Even with that, as a kid I used to walk a few blocks down to the convenience store to buy comics, but there was no grocery store within walking distance. This was in the 1980s, before all the fear of predators, and my dad also worked in the neighborhood, so my parents weren't too freaked out about me doing this. I severely doubt that any parents living there now are letting their kids walk a mile to the Snak Pak.
Now I live in a city of about 300,000 people. Probably in the top six cities in the state for population. We have buses that run seven days a week, but because the city is so spread out and simply not planned for mass transit or walking, all of the bus routes have to start and end at a central hub. If you live in the Northeast of the city and want to take a bus to the Northwest, you get on the nearest bus (that can involve quite a walk), ride it to the depot downtown, then get on the bus that goes closest to your destination. A trip that is 15 minutes by car is 45 minutes to an hour by bus (and that's just the time on the bus, not walking to and from stops). Earlier this year, my car was in the shop for a while, and the nearest bus stop was two miles away, even though I am in a fairly densely populated area. I'm just a bit on the edge of the city, and there are wealthy neighborhoods around here that have no use for the bus, so the limited transit resources are more needed elsewhere. In many parts of the city, there are no sidewalks, or sidewalks only on one side of the street. The downtown is walkable, but that's only a few blocks, and it's restaurants and coffee shops, not daily needs kind of stuff. And my city is considered progressive!
A few years ago, I lived in a smaller city that borders this one. There was a Dollar Store that was within walking distance, but there were no sidewalks. There were, however, drainage ditches on both sides of the road, and people drove like maniacs, so you did not walk unless you had absolutely no other choice. This is not a uncommon situation.
And all the malls, then the big box stores, killed all the smaller shops that used to be a bit closer long ago. Even the convenience stores are less common, because they've been combined into bigger gas stations with fewer convenience items and more gas pumps, designed for people driving to work, not for people who live in the neighborhood.
A lot of homeowners do not want their neighborhoods to be walkable. Heaven forbid an "undesirable" person might walk down Willowbrook Lane and possibly threaten the resale value of somebody's house. Or a family walking down the street with arms full of groceries might suggest that they can't afford a car, and what would people think?! Public transit is for those overcrowded cities with their teeming poor and rampant crime, not for nice neighborhoods like ours with big lawns that prove we are living right.
Okay, that last paragraph got preachy, but hopefully the point still came across. Americans are rarely able to choose walking as a viable option.
“America IS walkable, you’re all just lazy” my childhood home was an hour from the nearest hospital (by car)
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ourlittleuluru · 8 hours ago
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IT'S FINALLY HERE 😭😭😭😭 (trailer spoiler ahead if anyone's yet to watch it?)
Firstly, the guess that he'll be in his Anecdote 3 school uniform, check and done. But definitely wondering why he ended up in that outfit 🤔
Next, there wasn't any mention of Ever and the collar stuff yet, but the focus this time is mostly on Philos itself. Which also made much parallels to his Anecdote 3 in some ways I feel.
And the way the writers are also exploring more on the side of Xavier that was labelled the traitor of Philos
The poem from his secret times appearing here!
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And also this little parallel with a 4 star Lightseeker memory...!!
LIKE THE POSE AND THE WAY XAVIER LEANS INTO MC
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They were in the forest for some trial back in their Academy days too, if I recall the corresponding Tender Moments correctly
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Are these screens, him forcing the Traceback II to take off back to the future????
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Man being more than willing to sacrifice himself for MC like...
(if this ever happened AFTER Celestial Message, imma slap him ಠ⁠ಗ⁠ಠ YOU PROMISED WE'D CELEBRATE UR BIRTHDAY IN THE YEARS AFTER!!!)
And the way he's so genuinely surprised MC remained with him and pulled him closer at this point is just 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
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But yea... This section has me kinda thinking of Anecdote 3. Where A3!MC was about to die and Xavier tried to help her but ultimately A3!MC said it's okay and passed on while Xavier let her.
This time, it's Xavier who's about to disappear and MC tried to help. Xavier didn't mind it (something along that line. More like he also tried to push MC away) and this time, MC refuses to give up and let him go alone. 😭
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And then they pulled this ending line?!?!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭 no more one chasing after the other. They are together. Side by side. That's the idea I get from this
Okay I need to be back home and rewatch this trailer another hundred times until his branch comes out 🥲
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turtletaubwrites · 2 days ago
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Numbers Game ~ Chapter 35
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Lady Luck by My Side
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Pairings: Cross Guild Polycule x Shanks x Fem!Reader x ???
Numbers Game Masterlist
Word Count: 10.2k+
Ao3 Link
Ongoing Series Playlist: Youtube Music Link | Youtube Link
Chapter Tunes: Luck Be a Lady (Dezio Rezio) ~ The Atomic Beat Ranchers | Feel So Numb ~ Rob Zombie
Summary: Buggy deals with your heavy words, while Crocodile and Mihawk fight for you in their own, desperate ways. You are making the best of your situation, and if you could avoid your uncle's wicked words, you might even end up enjoying yourself. If you're lucky, of course.
Ch. 34 Recap: I've decided to put the recap directly below the cut in case anyone sees this post before getting to the last chapter. It's a bit more detailed than usual, and I vehemently detest spoilers. I refuse to watch trailers for movies I plan to watch 😂 I don't even like writing summaries, so I keep them vague. Hope you don't mind!
Author's Note: I have missed y'all so very much, I can't begin to describe 😭💜 I won't get into my disappearing act here, but I'll share some details below the chapter if you're interested, and I'll probably make a life update post about it later. Now that I finally have the time, energy, and health, to write again, I just want to write Numbers Game!
Dark Content Warning: Dark Content is bracketed with ~~~⚫️⚫️⚫️~~~ and summaries are bracketed with ~⚫️~SUMMARY~⚫️~ directly below the scenes, so that you won’t miss the story if you need to not be in the BIG FEELS of the scenes. Please take care of yourself, you are not alone! 💜
~ 1st ⚫ ~ PLEASE DO NOT READ this section if severe mental illness, episodes, treatment, or neglect could be triggering for you.
~ 2nd ⚫ ~ PLEASE DO NOT READ this section if mental illness treatment, doctors, or panic attacks, might be triggering for you.
Also, I hope everyone remembers the tag/warning: Cross Guild Boys are VILLAINS. It’s been there since day one, so 🤷‍♀️
Alternate POV Symbols:
🌲 ~ Reader | 🐊 ~ Crocodile | 🗡 ~ Mihawk | 🤡 ~ Buggy | 🔴 ~ Shanks | ⏰ ~ Flashbacks for listed POV | ⚫ ~ Scenes depicting Dark Content as listed in Author's Notes
!!! SPOILER WARNING !!! Fic currently contains spoilers for up to chapter 1064 or episode 1093. As we get further into Egghead Arc where our lovely boys are showing up more, there will be more spoilers as time goes on. Sorry y'all, I'm trying to keep most spoilers small details, but Cross Guild is endgame, lol.
Rating/Warnings: Author May Choose to Exclude some Warnings to Avoid Spoilers for Certain Chapters, Explicit Sexual Content, 18+ ONLY, MDNI, AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, Reader-Insert, Use of Y/N, Dark Content, Blood & Violence, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Dissociation, Mental Illness, Grief, Hospitals, Doctors, Mental Health Treatment, Toxic Family, Childhood Trauma, Swearing, Alcohol, Cigars, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Guilt, Drama, Jealousy, Manipulation, Pet Names, Power Imbalance, Cross Guild boys are VILLAINS, Possessive Behavior, Teasing, Threats, Relationship Drama, Inappropriate Use of Akuma no Mi | Devil Fruit Powers, Shameless Shameless Smut, Uncle Cedrick Has Become His Own Warning, Death of an Unnamed Character, Other Additional Tags to Be Added
| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |
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Chapter 34 Recap: You struggled with your varied feelings for the hunters that fought for the chance to be your owner, surprised that you didn't hate them all. You discovered that Fukaboshi was a truly good man who knew that you'd be sending him away soon, and that Katakuri was far sweeter than he looked.
Mihawk discovered that his little rabbit's plight was being broadcast beyond the Oak Roots Estate, and his rage made him dirty his blade.
Former member's of Baroque Works, Zala and Marianne, reported back from Dr. Vorsan's asylum. Buggy fought against it at first, but Crocodile begged to watch the encrypted recordings they had found so that he could help his sweet girl. He saw her at fifteen years old, being restrained and drugged in that asylum after her father passed, and he demanded to see the next recording.
You lied to your sister about your feelings toward the Cross Guild, telling her that they were monsters, and you never wanted to see them again. You wanted to make her happy, so you'd keep up your smile, just like you had for your dad when you were little. You would pretend for her.
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Chapter 35 ~ Lady Luck by My Side
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~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~
Had it been hours? Years since he’d started watching? 
There was nothing but the tears in her eyes, nothing but the futile sobs he could do nothing to stop. 
‘Let me see my sister!’
‘Sweetie, you’re not ready yet. You need to get well first.’
~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~
‘I’m not sick, mom,’ his sweet girl begged, strapped to a table while her mother stood too far back to comfort her. ‘Just let me see Kitty, please. I need to see her. ‘
‘You need to focus on getting better,’ Delaine’s voice shifted, expertly condescending with a loving tone. 
Crocodile did not fucking like this woman. 
‘Sweetie, do you remember what happened? Do you remember what you did,’ Delaine prodded. Y/N’s face crumpled, sobbing while her worthless mother stood in silence.
‘It was an accident,” the fifteen-year-old girl pleaded while she struggled against her restraints.
‘I found you with that snail, Y/N, and I’m certain you would have killed the poor thing if I hadn’t found you when I did,’ Delaine scolded. Crocodile was going to gut this bitch for making her daughter cry like this. ‘I’m just grateful that it was me, I can’t imagine how your... It’s not your fault, of course. Arbo was always selfish, and now he’s made you sick. I’m sorry, honey, but it’s just not safe for Kathryn to be around you until you get well.’
‘Please, mom. Please listen to me,’ she whimpered, her body going weak, trembling. 
‘Just listen to the doctor, alright? I know you don’t want to hurt anyone, but you’re sick, honey. You need to— ‘
‘I need you to fucking LISTEN!’
Delaine froze for a moment before turning away, heading toward the door. She walked closer to the cam-snail on her way out, and her eyes looked way too fucking dry. 
Crocodile’s rage-filled thoughts were swept away by that young girl’s screams. 
‘Mom, please, don’t leave me! Don’t let them— ‘
~~~⚫️⚫️⚫️~~~
~~~
~⚫️~SUMMARY~⚫️~
The scene above is from Crocodile’s POV while he watched a recording of the reader in the asylum when she was fifteen. 
Her mother, Delaine, was present, and the reader stated that she wasn’t sick, and begged to see her little sister. 
Delaine replied that it wasn’t safe for Kathryn to see her until she was well again and asked if the reader recalled what she did to the snail. The reader said that it was an accident, and asked Delaine to listen. 
Delaine stated that she thought the reader would have killed the snail if Delaine hadn’t found her in time, and blamed Arbo’s selfishness for making the reader sick. She denied the reader's request again. 
The reader yelled for her mother to listen, however, Delaine walked out, and Crocodile felt rage for how dry her eyes were. The reader screamed for her mother not to leave her, not to let them– (the last line cut off).
~⚫️~SUMMARY~⚫️~
~~~
Y/N’s cries were cut short, the image of her teary face going blurry before the transmission cut out completely. 
Crocodile had already destroyed all the furniture, so he crawled through the debris toward the smaller snail, answering the call before he had time to make it. 
“Sir— “
“Finish the recording,” he threatened. “It wasn’t done, send it again.”
“The white snail passed out, sir,” Zala reported, her voice shaking almost as much as his fist. “I think that was too much for it all at once. It needs time to recover before we can send any more encrypted data.”
Crocodile could hear his teeth grinding together, but he kept still enough to speak a few words.
“Make sure it’s ready tomorrow.”
~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🤡🤡🤡~~~
Buggy felt somehow empty, and too full at the same time. His mind was too full of those vicious words his star had hissed, too full of fear and guilt over what to do about them. 
“Secrets keep fucking shit up,” the clown murmured, pacing again. 
It was just a lie. Star was lying to her sister.
It had been some damn good acting though, and Buggy hated the doubts it stirred in him. He couldn’t stuff them down. 
I know she loves me, but could she really hate them? I could have sworn she… 
Why ya gotta be such a good actor, baby? 
Or maybe I’m just the selfish piece of shit that didn’t listen. I was too fucking distracted by that shithead. I wasn’t paying attention to you, Star, I just—
He gave a light yelp when the snail interrupted the constant beat of her heart, grateful to be distracted now while he floated toward Crocodile’s desk. 
“Howdy,” Buggy coughed, perking up at the low chuckle that greeted him. 
“Hello, little clown.”
“What’s up, crybaby?”
Mihawk’s voice sent chills across his skin, but all the clown could think about were those hateful words.
Murderers.
Monsters.
“Is that Crocodile,” the swordsman asked after a particularly loud crash echoed down the hall. “I have some news to report.”
“He’s watching…”
“Is he watching the feed?”
Now Mihawk’s voice chilled his blood.
“What feed?”
“I’m handling it,” his new lover tried and failed to soothe him. “Why don’t you two call me in the morning? I need to find a new room for the night anyway.”
“Why do you need— “
“How is she?”
Mihawk’s voice cracked just a bit, his desperation pushing through the relaxed front he’d clearly been holding up. 
“Same. Finally sleeping,” Buggy rasped, clenching his eyes shut at the spike of a headache. “I’m gonna read my notes again, I think she said something…  Crocodile might have something too, so we’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Mihawk?”
“You’ll tell me if she’s being hurt?”
“Yeah, I said I would.”
“And you’ll call me if she says she doesn’t want to be there? I don’t care if she whispers it in her sleep, Buggy, I’ll get her out. If she gives even the slightest opening, you’ll call me?”
“Bug— “
“Of course I will,” Buggy promised. It wasn’t a lie. 
“Thank you. Get some rest, little clown.”
“You too, crybaby.”
Buggy stared blankly at the snail after the call until the near constant crashing and yelling down the corridor got louder. And closer. 
His feet followed as fast as they could, but the rest of him charged into the banquet hall in time to see the terrifying sight of Sir Crocodile’s rage. The door to the conference room had been ripped off its hinges, and Buggy was caught in the other doorway, the urge to run held back only by the horror of what that frightening man might have seen.
Star… 
Crocodile was alternating between smashing through tables and chairs with his hook, and draining them with his hand, leaving waves of splinters and sand to spill across the gleaming floor.
Until he made it to the head table. 
“Hey boss, you really gonna wreck the best table in this shithole?” 
Buggy had floated his upper body slightly above the other man’s head. He wasn’t stupid enough to put himself in between Crocodile and his fury, no matter how many memories that table held.
The clown almost fell from the air when those frantic, silver eyes met his. 
“Is she still crying?”
“N-no… She’s sleeping.”
Crocodile fell to his knees, the tears on his scarred face slow and unsteady, as though they’d never traveled there before. Buggy brought himself together and did what he knew had to be a stupid thing. 
He hugged the raging man, embracing this villain that had destroyed so much.
“I can’t… can’t leave her there, Buggy,” Crocodile panted into the crook of his neck. He nearly brought the clown to the floor with the amount of weight he rested on him.  
“Don’t worry,” Buggy strained through his hold, “we’ve got her.”
The larger man crushed him against his chest, sucking down his tears before he started to offer comfort instead of taking it. Buggy made a show of accepting that comfort, knowing that he’d never be a better actor than his shining star. 
Can’t tell ‘em. Can’t risk it. 
The image of Crocodile and Mihawk collapsing in defeat at the party after Y/N had thrown her cruel words burned through his mind.  
I know you’re lying, baby. You’re just a good actor. 
Don’t wanna distract these idiots. They don’t know you like I do. 
He tried to let go of his guilt, but those words played on a loop. 
‘I don’t ever want to see those murderers— those monsters again.’
It wasn’t true. 
It was a lie. 
Buggy knew it was a lie.
It was a lie. Right, baby? 
~~~🤡🤡🤡~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~
The other men pushed and shoved each other when the scavenger hunt began, but Shanks had to hold himself back from the race. This one wouldn’t win him another date, and close contact with the other suitors had been pushing his self-control to its limit.
He’d always been able to let insults slide when it came to himself, when it was only words, but Shanks couldn’t recall this suffocating feeling.
This entire hunt was an insult, a torture made just for Y/N, and everyone here was having a lovely time using her. 
Shanks could feel himself about to snap, and only his surety that it wouldn’t help her stayed his hand. 
She couldn’t show her own rage, and it would be stupid and selfish to show his.
So, the red haired pirate sat this hunt out, staring at the old man that had weaseled his way beside her.
~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
What was the theme today? Creating love? Finding my heart? Uncle really should have hired a showrunner for this shit. 
By gods, you were bored. And having “Gibby” at your side was only making your condition worse. 
“These young bucks sure do like to show off,” he teased, leaning his bony shoulder against yours, the scent of whiskey nearly knocking you out. “But I know what a sharp girl like you craves.”
“And what’s that, Gibby,” you flirted. 
It would be so easy to kill him, wouldn’t it? Just a good punch to the throat would probably end this old man. But that would be it. So many eyes… He’s not worth it. 
“A challenge of course,” he announced as though revealing a delightful trick. “You want to use your talents. All these little boys want is a little wife.”
“Oh,” you arched a brow, “and what do you want?”
The creep pinched your cheek. Even with your renewed determination, pretending was fucking rough. 
“I want Lady Luck by my side, of course.”
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~
How many… Do lives or liters of blood count for more? Those lives are nothing but—
“Mihawk?”
“I’m here.”
Crocodile’s voice was off. If not for his trained sense of hearing, Mihawk would have believed that voice belonged to someone else. 
But it was him. His daddy. His brutal business partner that was too sweet on their former victims. 
“You go first, crybaby,” Buggy threatened, bringing a tiny smile to the swordsman’s lips. 
“Sylvad’s little game has an illegal broadcast,” Mihawk shared lightly, pretending it was fine. “Underground gambling rings are holding showings every night for an impressive fee. The show appears to be isolated to the surrounding island kingdoms, but that’s probably wishful thinking.”
The silence was torturous for them all, holding nothing but impotent rage. 
Mihawk stretched his neck, removing his hat to keep it from scraping against the dusty walls. He’d found a lovely, little shed to lie in wait in until his prey were all lined up. 
“I’ll be attending a showing tonight, so I should be able to watch the hunt. I’ll study the layout, and hopefully I’ll see something that you aren’t able to hear.”
“So, we’re all spying on her now,” Buggy sighed. The sound was so animated; Mihawk could see those shoulders slumping in his mind. 
He didn’t know when he’d gotten so used to these men in his life. 
“Wait,” he interrupted his own thoughts. “Crocodile, if you weren’t watching the feed last night, what were you watching?”
“He can’t tell us,” Buggy said, his voice gentle, but pained. “Recordings of Y/N at the asylum. Croc’s poky, lady agent, and the scary, little girl nicked them for us. “
Mihawk’s blood froze in his veins as the memory of her flashed in his mind. His rabbit had looked so beautiful that last day. Beautiful, but wrong. 
“Crocodile?”
“Can you tell us anything yet, boss? Daddy?”
“Just a kill list,” Crocodile rasped, and Mihawk realized what that tone in his voice was. 
Despair. 
“I haven’t finished watching yet. Just waiting on the snail. She wouldn't want me to hurt the snail…”
“Okie dokie,” Buggy loudly redirected, the sound of awkward pats coming through. “Star said something to her sister when she was crying last night. I think Asshole Charmer was right, she’s trying to protect Kat from something.”
“What did— “
“She said, ‘I left you,” Buggy rushed before either man finished asking, the strain in his voice ramping up. “Then she lied again. Told Kat she wanted to be there.”
“They wouldn’t let her see her sister,” Crocodile breathed, a distance in his words that had nothing to do with the ocean between them. 
“So, we have to find out what Kathryn Sylvad needs protection from,” the swordsman hummed. “When our little rabbit showed us her fangs, she mentioned the Celestial— “
“Kat said Uncle LimpDick can’t sell her anymore though. She’s too old for those creeps.” 
“But Y/N didn’t know that until she got to the estate. If that’s why she left, then we can—” 
Hope had crept into Crocodile’s voice, and it was almost more painful to hear, especially when it was killed so quickly.
“She could have gotten out with the merman yesterday,” Buggy reminded him, his usual frustration seeming muted. Anger was still present, but it was wrapped up in softer, sadder things while he caught Mihawk up on the prince’s offer. “Star’s acting like a fucking martyr.”
“It’s gotta be the doctor. Sylvad said something about the fucking doctor before she left us,” Crocodile trailed off, leaving them all to sink into the memory of that night. “That’s who she fears.”
“Then that’s who dies first.” 
That dusty, little shed became a cage, the monster within him nearly tearing through it at the thought of blood. 
“Wait,” his clown commanded. 
He obeyed. 
“You can’t just run in there and kill everyone on your own now. You have to protect both of them. We need a plan.”
This silence was full of caution, but it held the taste of possibilities. 
The swordsman wanted to sever his own tongue for dashing that new hope so soon. 
“We can’t force them. If her sister wants to keep that stifled life, then Y/N won’t forgive us for ripping her from it.” 
Mihawk sighed, remembering the rage on his darling’s face so clearly. It might be the only face of hers that he’d be worthy of seeing again. 
“So, I’m still our last resort. I’ll take her hate for you, Buggy.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Buggy groaned. “We know more than we did before, so we just need to keep looking. We’re gonna get her back. You got that, shitheads?”
How strange to recognize the sound of a hug. Buggy’s little hum of surprise, followed by a soft sigh that had to be from Crocodile’s lips, hit Mihawk with a wave of heat. The sensation built up in his throat until he shook it off.
Y/N wouldn't be the only thing he’d lose if he stole her away. The World’s Greatest Swordsman would lose this strange, little home he’d found with this strange, little guild.
“You got it, boss,” Mihawk teased. 
“Shut up.”
“Whatever you say, Mr. President,” Crocodile joined in.
The swordsman smiled in that dusty shed, pretending for a moment that this strange, little home he’d found would still be his. 
~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
Giberson never shut the fuck up, so you hadn’t caught most of the scavenger hunt, but soon enough, Uncle Cedrick was announcing the winner.
“There are no rules against hunters helping each other win,” he teased while the Vinsmoke brothers walked toward you. Ichiji was carrying a large wooden heart, a few missing pieces of the puzzle held in the losers’ hands, but he held the most. 
Apparently, the younger brothers had given their pieces to the oldest prince, flanking him as they all knelt before you. 
“I’m looking forward to showering you with many more gifts,” he smirked, smoothing his fingers over yours when he placed that wooden heart in your lap. “Gifts worthy of a princess.”
Cheesy. Cocky. His brothers’ lecherous stares weren’t helping.
But I might as well enjoy it, you thought, gifting him with a coy smile.
 
~~~
This opulent room had always been too ridiculously large to be the family game room, especially since you’d only play with your dad, or your sister, never both. Dad always had some work to take care of when Kat asked to play, and Mom never liked board games.
At least someone’s still playing games in here. 
“Come here, sugar,” Giberson pulled you along, looking healthier than you’d seen him so far. “You ever played Blackjack?”
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
~~~~~~
~~~⏰🐊🐊🐊⏰~~~
“Hit me.”
“Is that an order, sir?”
Crocodile chuckled, feeling loose for a rare moment while he smirked at the woman across the table. Rain Dinners was as vibrant as ever, a stolen oasis that he planned to grow. The casino pulsed with greed, but a quiet air seemed to fall over the two of them.
“No orders at the table, sweetheart. You know that.”
Fuck. 
This woman’s silence always held an itching weight, that little smile making him narrow his eyes. He was the one that had slipped up. No time for that. 
Not until his work was done. 
“Hm, it looks like a bust for both of us, sir. I hope your orders don’t land us in a similar position,” she taunted in that airy voice of hers, as though her thoughts were merely floating through space, drifting by with no fault of her own. Yet her eyes sparkled.
Crocodile ignored how much he liked it when they did that. 
“Have a little faith, Miss All Sunday,” he grinned, the noise of the casino drowned out by her soft chuckle, her haunted eyes filling with a hard edge, a challenge. “Don’t you trust me? We’re gonna build a better world together.”
Her soft chuckle turned to outright laughter, the pretty sound bringing more eyes to their elevated table. That beautiful face tilted back, and the brim of her white hat shifted enough to let the glittering lights touch her skin. 
He paused to watch her, knowing that he was distracted. Knowing that she was an agent, that he couldn’t risk losing his balance until he’d met his goal. 
This girl is nothing but an asset. That’s all anyone is until I’m done. 
“Come, Crocodile, you and I both know that trust can be a fatal mistake. I know you didn’t bring me here for false promises, and I would leave if I thought you’d become such a sentimental fool.”
Soft hands sprouted from the table before him, lighting his cigar, and holding it to his lips while he gave a few gentle puffs. Those taunting eyes never strayed from his.
“You know me too well,” he laughed, taking a larger sip of scotch than he’d meant to. This asset of his had many uses, and interesting company was becoming too much of a favorite. “What kind of world do you wanna build when we get there?”
The way she stared at him… It was as though she was right there, seeing deep into the core of him, yet somehow distant. No matter how much time she spent by his side, they were always light years apart. 
“Are you feeling sentimental, boss?”
“Not at all,” Crocodile snorted before downing the rest of his drink. He motioned for another round but couldn’t shake off the sticky feeling of her knowing gaze. 
She’s right. What the fuck am I doing? Can’t think like this. Not yet. 
Nico Robin smirked while her many hands gathered the cards, dealing a fresh game. Crocodile found himself feeling proud of her practiced distance, but had to fight harder than he should have to keep from tugging at it. 
Trust is worthless in a world like this. 
“Well, boss?”
“Hit me.”
So, I’ll make a better world. 
~~~⏰🐊🐊🐊⏰~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
Everything was shining. Unlike most casinos, the shine in your family’s estate wasn’t just for show. 
It was another world. The glamor, the music, and the liquor seemed to hypnotize the crowd. Time was a commodity here, seconds falling away like the chips on the table. 
You might have been drawn in if you hadn’t been squeezed into this slinky, sequined dress. Viridian green sparkled under the lights, and it wasn’t as uncomfortable as you’d thought it would be. Still fucking distracting though. 
I wonder what his casino was like. Would he have liked this dress? He did prefer scales over—
Stop.
You almost asked why Giberson had foregone his private date for this public display but decided not to risk giving him the opening to take you somewhere else. He dragged a velvet covered stool close beside him before wrapping his frail arm around your shoulders, pulling you as close to his side as possible. 
Your smile stayed pretty under the golden lights, even as the sounds of the small casino bombarded you. All the hunters, and more guests than you’d seen here before, watched your every move when they weren’t losing berry. 
“What’d ya say, darlin,” he winked, nodding toward the cards on the table. “Should I risk it?”
At least there’s something for me to focus on. 
“Hit me,” he declared when you nodded, whistling and jostling you when he hit twenty one. “I knew I had a good feeling about you.”
“Is this why you’re here, Gibby? I’m sure you realize that my husband won’t need to gamble to be swimming in berry.”
Those words should not have left your lips. You didn’t need the nearest cam-snail’s drooping eyes to tell you that, but you couldn’t take it back. Playing up the flirtation was all you could think of to salvage it. 
The old man raised a brow at you, chuckling at your fluttering lashes.
“You are a sweet, devilish thing, aren’t you, dear?”
Your denial died on your tongue when your eyes got caught across the room, your red-haired prey staring hard at the hand Giberson had brought to your chin. 
This old man deserved your gratitude for tilting your face away from those soft, brown eyes. 
“I am many things, Gibby,” you purred. “And I am sure that you should stand.”
“I’ve gotta listen to my Lady Luck,” he laughed, wiggling your shoulders to show you off to the leeches at the table. 
“Isn’t that cheating,” one of them mumbled, earning a sickly, sweet smile from your lips. 
“All is fair in love and war,” you teased, tapping the felt-covered table with one of Giberson’s many chips. “Besides, card counters have to watch a game for longer than I’ve been at the table. It was just a lucky guess.”
Oh, how you ached to smash that entitled asshole’s face onto the shining table.
“You’re one to talk, Linus,” Giberson leaned around you to smirk at the man. The scent of liquor on his breath hit you like a train. “I believe you’re on mistress number three, aren’t you? Or what should we call this newest one, a boy toy? I suppose if Annie knows, then it’s not cheating, but either way, I’m sure she knows now.”
Linus’ face went from annoyance to horror impressively fast when he glanced at the very not-droopy snail on the table, and you bit your lip to keep from laughing. 
The man snarled, barely shifting toward you before Uncle’s security guards snatched him away. 
“Poor Linus,” you sighed while you shook your head. The satisfaction that warmed your skin only proved your self-hating thoughts, but it was more entertaining than being empty. 
Everyone here is a leech. Gorging on my blood and humiliation, eating me alive so they can feel more alive for a while. Fuck them all.
“Don’t worry about him,” your date pulled you back toward the game, “Annie’s been sleeping with his mother since their wedding night, so I’m sure she won’t be too broken up over it.”
You laughed enough that when he bought a bottle and poured you both a shot, you drank the burning whiskey. 
After he drank his first, of course. 
Then you won him lots of berry and giggled while he whispered secrets about all those shining guests in your ear. 
Maybe this old man isn’t so boring after all.
Laughing, and winning, and numbing it all down felt so good. If only you could rid yourself of those stupid, brown eyes that stuck to you more than the old man’s weak hand on your sequined thigh. 
“Do you know anything about— “
“Sorry, sweetheart,” Giberson hummed, filling your glass again. He nodded toward the red-haired pirate in the corner before shaking his head. “Afraid I can’t talk about the competition. I’d like to survive long enough to see the end of this delightful game.”
~~~
The corridors were endless. You’d traveled them so many times as a kid, but never quite like this.
Never drunk, in stupid, pointy heels that got caught in the plush carpet, while annoying servants tried to grab your elbows every time you swayed. 
It was fine. 
It was stupid.
But you weren’t even mad at yourself for being so reckless. Apathy could save or ruin you in a place like this. 
All you wanted was to feel nothing. There were many kinds of numb to find, but this particular buzz was wearing off too fast.
You had kept up your smile, and the bells had rung before you lost your mind to liquor. Yet now that the wall of eyes wasn’t on you, that liquor felt thick in your veins, and you needed to scream. 
“Don’t fucking touch me!”
“I’m sorry, Miss Sylvad, but— “
“I’ll take it from here. We wouldn’t want any more accidents now, would we, niece?”
You blinked, and the staff had already scurried away, leaving you alone with him.
“My little smarty,” Uncle Cedrick teased, digging his fingers into your arm while he guided you toward your suite. “Finally contributing to the family, after all these years. You almost had me believing that you’d like to marry that old bastard.”
“It’s too early to tell.”
Damn it…
A different kind of numb pulled you down while your gaze trailed down his face. 
His jaw is moving a lot. It’s okay. No, not the lips. Jaw. Eyes are too much. Can’t look up. Just down. Can’t look away. 
Fuck, I’m dizzy.
“He was never in the running anyway. The nuisance learned about the hunt and asked to join, and I couldn’t risk insulting the man.”
All the words were hitting your wobbly brain, a headache building behind your brow until you gasped at his sudden touch. Your uncle gripped your chin, forcing you to meet his gaze in the darkened hallway. 
“You’re going to send the old man away tomorrow, and the fishman the day after that. You may be a selfish brat, but you’re still a Sylvad. It wouldn’t do to let you get stuffed full of expired seed, or guppies, now, would it?”
His eyes flared with satisfaction when you couldn’t hide the horror and disgust that twisted your features. You were trapped, gulping down your bile while he leaned over you, gripping tighter. 
“Keep up the good work, niece,” Uncle hummed while he tilted you toward your door. “Now go wash up. Whiskey isn’t a flattering scent on a blushing bride.”
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~
There was no point in fixing the conference room. Any replacement furniture would have been shattered the second he saw those tear-filled eyes on the screen. 
A makeshift door had been propped up for privacy, although there was no one but Buggy within range of Crocodile’s rage. 
That pathetic, useless rage that left the scarred man sitting on the floor in a pile of splinters and sand again, fighting not to drink. Not yet, at least. 
“Good evening, sir.”
“Is it ready,” Crocodile rasped, not ready for the answer.
“I believe so, sir,” Zala reported, her lovely voice too somber to be soothing. “The next cam-snail’s date is a bit smudged, so I’m not certain the timing is right. We’re trying to send them in order— “
“Just send it.”
“Agent?”
“Of course, sir,” the deadly woman breathed, strangely soft through the line. “Do you have orders for us when we arrive? We still have over a week, but it could be two days less if we— “
“Await your orders,” Crocodile growled, more at his own powerlessness than her questioning.
“Of course,” Zala conceded, sharing her next words in a rush before ending the call. “We’ll get her back, sir. I won’t fail again.”
~~~
For a cruel moment, Crocodile’s breath caught in hope. His sweet girl looked better. 
He should have known better. 
‘How are you feeling today, Y/N?’
~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~
‘I’m feeling well, thank you, doctor,’ she hummed softly, keeping her eyes low, although the doctor was still offscreen. A nurse guided her to sit, no restraints holding her to the table this time. 
‘Are you ready to begin?’
‘Yes, doctor.’
His girl was empty. Poised and polite with nothing inside. 
They made a doll out of her.
‘Just breathe, Y/N,’ Dr. Vorsan instructed, his slippery voice making Crocodile’s fingers twitch. ‘The snail won’t hurt you, and you aren’t going to hurt it.’
‘Of course, I won’t–’
‘Soft hands, Y/N,’ he warned while she unclenched her jaw and fists. 
A transponder snail was placed on the table before her, and her eyes went slow and droopy while she stared at it. 
‘We discussed this, Y/N.’ The doctor clicked his tongue while the nurse reached for the snail. Y/N shook herself but stopped before her hand got too close to the creature.
Her eyes were wide now, her panicked breaths loud enough for him to hear all these years later. 
‘I’m sorry, please,’ Y/N strained, going empty again while she pleaded. ‘I’m okay. I want to call my sister.’
‘Are you sure you’re ready,’ Vorsan needled. That voice was so perfectly kind, yet violent. It was a syringe that promised healing, but forced too much, poisoning with what seemed like a cure. ‘Take your time, Y/N. If you push yourself too far, you might have another episode, and I know you don’t want to put your family through that. You don’t want to hurt–’
‘I want to be well, doctor.’
Wrong. So, fucking wrong. 
‘Please, let me try again,’ Y/N begged, her sweet voice placating the monster out of view. ‘I’ll breathe and go slow. I want to get better.’
The nurse brought the snail back, and Crocodile couldn’t tell how much time passed while she stared at it. Her eyes were present, yet he could see the strain, her almost-smile shaking a bit. 
“What the fuck?”
The fucking snail had started ringing, and Y/N’s scream made him choke. She struggled to swallow it down, rocking in her seat until the nurse reached out to take it. She took in a breath when she reached out instead to answer, that sickening smile on her face. 
‘Hey, smarty.’
Crocodile’s hook dug deep lines along the floor. 
‘I heard you were practicing with the snail today, so I thought I’d help out. We all want you back home, safe and sound. Although, I suppose it’s not your safety we should be worrying about.’
If not for the slow shine of unspilled tears that grew in her eyes, Crocodile would have thought the recording had paused. She was frozen, until she flinched at his next words. 
‘I should probably check on little Kathryn. I told them not to sail this close to Aqua Laguna, but you know how stubborn–’
‘You’re lying,’ she screamed, spittle flying toward the snail before nurses appeared to restrain her. ‘Let me talk to my sister!’
‘Oh dear, you don’t sound very well, niece. I hope–’
‘Fuck you! Where’s Kat? Let me see my– Get your fucking hands off of me! I’m gonna kill…’
Cedrick Sylvad’s laughter creeped through the air, the transponder snail carrying that vile sound through space and time. 
Y/N had gone still, letting the nurses entangle their arms with hers, trapping her between them while they called nonsensical orders to each other in bland voices. 
She didn’t cry. 
Didn’t apologize. 
Didn’t fight. 
She looked like she’d been defeated, and Sylvad’s gloating laughter proved the point. 
‘I hope you get well soon, niece,” her uncle taunted. ‘I’ll tell your sister you’re not ready yet, once she gets back. Hopefully she makes it before the storm hits.’
Crocodile’s sweet girl slumped, her body going limp while so many others held her up. Cedrick Sylvad’s laughter ripped through the air until she was carted away, and the wall went dark. 
~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~
~~~
~⚫~SUMMARY~⚫~
The scene above was from Crocodile’s POV as he watched another recording of Y/N at the asylum. During this recording, Crocodile noticed that the reader appeared to be “better.” However, the prodding voice of Dr. Vorsan, and the reveal of a transponder snail showed that the reader was struggling to maintain her “doll-like” emptiness. The reader expressed a desire to speak with her sister, and was cooperating with the doctor, although he scolded her and reminded her of the potential violence she may cause. The reader remained calm and requested to try speaking with the snail again. The snail rang unexpectedly, and her uncle began to speak through it, causing the reader to become afraid, then react violently when Cedrick stated that her sister was currently sailing close to the time of the Aqua Laguna storm. The reader began to yell and threaten violence, until she looked defeated while her uncle laughed. The reader went limp while nurses restrained her and carried her away before the recording ended. 
~⚫~SUMMARY~⚫~
~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
“Leave her alone, Uncle,” Kat seethed, charging into the hall to pull you from his grasp. 
“I’m just making sure she gets home safe,” he teased, clicking his tongue before releasing you. “Looks like big sis needs your help tonight. Aren’t you relieved that you won’t have to be her babysitter for much longer?”
“Fuck you— “
“It’s alright, Kitty,” you smiled, fighting your shaking muscles, and the nausea that flooded your body. “You got any snacks in your suite?”
“Ta-ta,” Uncle Cedrick smirked, thankfully walking away. 
Leaving you with her.
Fuck. I’m making her take care of me again. Selfish. Piece of shit. Stop.
“What kind of snacks do you want,” Kat frowned. Her eyes were sharp against your swaying form, but you held up your smile for her. 
“Salty. Crunchy.”
“Alright, drunky,” she rolled her eyes, “will you drink some fucking water first?”
~~~
Gods, it’s bright. Smile. Don’t forget to smile.
“Are you feeling well, niece?”
Uncle Cedrick beamed down at you, guiding you to the fallen tree in the courtyard, where the applause that greeted you made you want to chop your fucking ears off. The ungodly amount of coffee you’d inhaled during the breakfast with Giberson had been for naught, and you couldn’t recall any of the long winded stories he’d trampled you with. 
There’d be no more of his stories for you after this.
“Good afternoon, fine friends and hunters,” he addressed the crowd, and the suitors lined up along the carved bench. His practiced movements spread large across the side of the manor for all to see. You caught him glancing at his image on the projector screen enough times that you almost laughed. 
It probably would have hurt to laugh right now. 
“Before today’s hunt begins, I’m afraid that one of our contestants has missed the mark.”
Uncle pulled an arrow from the quiver at his back. He pressed the point of it to your chest, making the leeches gasp with mock fear or delight before he broke it in half.
“Go on, dear niece,” he ordered, pressing the splintered wood into your hand. “Who failed to pierce your heart?”
Don’t let it in. Nothing matters. Just her.
Fading into yourself, you put on a show, avoiding the sight of your simpering smile on the wall. Tittering noises filled the air while the wooden platform moved you from suitor to suitor, and you could hear the vultures calling out their last-minute bets.
You put on a good show, but eyes were too much. An inch below their left eye. That’s where you’d look while you paused. 
No favorites. No least favorites.
The moving platform wasn’t helping your nausea, or it might have been the scent of the Emperor whose crooked smile was almost as abhorrent to look at as his soft eyes. 
The painfully slow display finally came to a halt, the stench of whiskey still too fresh in your mind. 
The old man hadn’t been that bad though. 
“I’m sorry, Gibby. Your arrow didn’t pierce my heart.”
He took the broken arrow, before kissing your forehead, his mustache scratching along your skin. 
“Not to worry, my dear,” Giberson soothed, humming at the noises of the winners and losers in the crowd. From the sound of it, he’d been an underdog in the race anyway. “I feel lucky just to be here at all. Thank you for the lovely company.”
You needed to sit down. 
You had to keep smiling.
“Of course, Gibby,” your uncle shmoozed, gripping Giberson by the shoulder. He appeared to be speaking to the failed hunter, but his voice was too clear, his words too pointed.
Another part of the show.
“You may not be in the running to be our family, but you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t a friend of the Sylvad’s,” Uncle Cedrick glowed as the leeches practically moaned at the implication. Everyone wanted to be in his world. “You are more than welcome to stay for the festivities as a guest, so long as you don’t act like a sore loser and ruin the fun, of course.”
The joviality in the air was too full of greed. Your future was never going to be yours, but you hadn't expected him to let so many others join in his game. 
This game that never fucking stopped.
“Our lovely doe has requested a show of love for today’s hunt,” he took your hand and spun you for the crowd, grabbing you by the waist to keep you from tripping over yourself. “Run along, hunters. In the woods you’ll find materials of all sorts, but you’re welcome to use your own. Create something to show how you’ll care for your dear wife once you catch her. Care to give them any tips, Y/N?”
Fuck you.
“The man I love will make me smile.”
Uncle Cedrick caught his frown before it fully formed, but your tiny rebellion went cold when his eyes flicked to the locket you were fidgeting with. 
“You heard the doe, hunters,” he ordered, studying your shaky hands that you dropped to your sides too fast. “Make your prey smile before you pierce her heart.”
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
~~~~~~
~~~⏰🐊🐊🐊⏰~~~
He shouldn’t have been dropping his guard like this, but something about this room, this ridiculous, green couch, and that sweet girl’s flustered face, had Sir Crocodile fighting off a smile.
“But… I’ve still got work to do, and they— “
“Is my sweet girl worried about other men right now,” he threatened, patting the cushion beside him while he tried to keep his balance. 
The clown was off preparing for that gods awful show they’d have to sit through at the party, while the swordsman ran through security. Since Crocodile had already sent agents out to hunt for party favors, he had a free moment, and he chose to spend it taunting their numbers girl. 
She looked so pretty with that flash of fear in her eyes.
Especially when she gave in so quickly. 
“N-no, I…”
“You’ve been working so hard. I can help you relax. Wanna take a break, sweetheart?”
Y/N bit her lip softly, and Crocodile nearly launched himself at her. Patience wasn’t one of his virtues, but luckily his numbers girl got to her feet. 
“Not so fast, darlin,” he teased while she yelped in his grasp, moving through sand to carry her before she could take a step with her bare feet.
“Fuck!”
She looked so cute when he tossed her onto his desk. Y/N was shaking so much that he almost stopped, his fingers clenching against the wooden desk while he took a final puff of his cigar. The feel of smoke on his tongue only made him crave her more.
“Well, sweetheart, you’re not scared to be alone with me, are— “
“I want you, daddy,” Y/N vowed, her voice like some heavenly song, guiding him toward things he didn’t deserve. She sat up, reaching, clinging to him until he chuckled and pushed her soft fingers away. She’d tugged at his silk scarf, and he let her keep the purple fabric when he shoved her back onto the desk. 
“Are you gonna be a good girl, and relax for me,” he taunted. Crocodile stamped out his cigar before kneeling beside his desk, fighting his smile again at every desperate noise she made while he set her legs up on his shoulders. She nodded fast while he tore through her cheap panties with his hook, and her scent finally did him in. 
This ex-warlord, this wicked pirate, this bad man… was smiling. Smiling from pleasure and peace instead of cruelty and greed.
Sir Crocodile caught his smile as he pressed it against that sweet, swollen flesh, loving the way she tore at his hair. Her fingers went rough, then weak, again and again, as though she couldn’t help her need, but feared his reaction. 
“Let go, sweetheart. Let Daddy have it all,” he purred before shoving his tongue so deep. He moaned while he drank at her pleasure, proud of how she took what she needed, pulling his hair at the roots while she fell apart. 
“You’re doing so well,” Crocodile praised, fighting everything in him not to claim this sweet girl for himself, his own little dream. 
“Please, daddy.”
“My little girl’s so hungry,” he laughed while his fingers teased along all the wetness she spread before him. “You can have everything you want.”
Y/N had pushed onto her elbows to meet his eyes, but fell back, her body arching when he shoved two fingers into her pretty cunt. Her moans were so fucking precious that the ex-warlord’s mind went blank. Nothing but her.
“It’s still work hours, sugar. Try to keep it down.”
Fuck, she was gorgeous when her eyes rolled back, eagerly letting him shove that purple silk into her mouth. She was already crying when he undid his slacks, freeing himself to tease along that needy flesh.
Crocodile missed, pouring lube down the side of the desk before covering his leaking cock. She was too good of a girl for him to rush this, but the feel of his own lubed hand was nearly enough while he watched her begging beneath him.
“That’s it, sweetheart,” he guided her while he held himself back. “You can take it, can’t you?”
He tried to be gentle, but Y/N still cried and screamed, so he fucked himself into her until his scarf fell from her lips.
“It’s too— feels too good— fuck!!”
She spoke the truth until he shoved the silk back into her mouth. It felt too fucking good to fill her up, to feel her body stretching and fighting to hold him. So soft, so wet, so fucking tight around his cock with every thrust.
But she could take him. She could take all of him, and she looked beautifully wrecked while she did, that silk scarf dark with spit now when he tugged it from her lips again. 
“Where does my sweet girl— “
“Inside me, daddy,” Y/N cried out before her body milked his again, eyes going white while she came. “Come inside me, please!”
“Fuck, you take me so well, baby girl. Mm— so fucking perfect…”
Crocodile held her down, pressing his palm against her chest. He hadn’t realized that his hook had been tracing along her side until he started filling her, but she looked like she was enjoying it, so he didn’t bother to stop. 
She looked like she was enjoying getting fucked by a monster.
She looked so sweet when he met her eyes, pulling out slowly to keep from causing more harm. 
“Daddy…”
“Hey, sweet girl,” he hummed while he kissed her neck. Her squirms were enough, and he felt his scarred face smiling against her skin once more. “How— “
“You could have just said you wanted her to yourself for a while,” the swordsman taunted from the doorway that had opened too quietly. 
Or maybe Crocodile had let himself get too distracted. 
“I thought you didn’t like liars,” Mihawk smirked, moving close enough to snag the spit-soaked scarf from the desk. 
“We got some work done,” Crocodile told the truth, although it felt like a lie when he looked down at her. “My sweet girl just needed a break.”
~~~⏰🐊🐊🐊⏰~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~
Their faces were easy to match up with the voices he’d planned to end while he listened in that dusty shed. This drab, little hole had been shined up so brightly, almost passing for a real casino, but Mihawk knew it could still use a fresh coat of red paint. 
“I suppose that only imbeciles would fail to recognize me when I walk through the door. I had assumed that was what all of you were, given your foolish choice in hobbies.”
“Hawkeye— Mr. Mihawk, sir, please,” the owner of the stale, little hall beckoned him toward the sticky, corner booth, “you’re an honored guest! Please, relax, and let us show you how we party in Majiastuka.”
The slim possibility of those words swaying the ex-warlord burned away when faraway voices filled the air.
‘You’re our little princess now.’
Their deaths would come later. For now, Mihawk kept his gaze away from the projector screen, and the flustered face of his little rabbit. 
“What a delightful invitation,” the world’s greatest swordsman sneered, drawing his black blade to hover over the filthy floorboards. “Unfortunately, I have already had my fill of your wretched squeals. Unless you can tell me how to reach Miss Sylvad, your worthless time on this planet is over.”
“Fuck thi— “
A coward off to the side stumbled while he cursed, fleeing toward the door. Mihawk didn’t even need to shift his eyes in that direction; Yoru simply flicked across the floor, the blade smacking into a chair that cracked the man’s neck when it hit.
Every movement, every breath was precise. 
A predator, and its prey.
“Hey man, I’m sorry, okay,” the pathetic kingpin begged while the ex-warlord stalked closer. “How can I help? Anything, please!”
“Such a well-mannered beast,” Mihawk growled while he dug his nails into the man’s jaw. “I’m taking your special snail, and I shall take your life if you don’t tell me where the fuck you got it from.”
~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
This might be the worst idea you’d ever had. 
“It’s a…”
“Graham cracker house. They’re usually gingerbread, but no one likes to eat that shit.”
Cracker beamed down at you, so proud of the sloppy, edible house that he’d dropped onto your lap. 
“That’s you,” he pointed toward the misshapen figure by the front door. “I know that you’re a good girl that wants to help your family. I’ll help you be happy and safe, and you’ll help our family grow.”
Oh. 
The misshapen clump finally took shape in your mind; that fucked up cracker was meant to be you. 
Barefoot and pregnant.
This is super fucking fun.
“Thank you, Cracker. It’s lovely.”
“It’s trash,” Cracker corrected with that menacing grin, and you almost yelped when he touched your face. You had to meet his eyes, and that basic, human intimacy, coupled with the scent of that sugary house, nearly had you spilling your disgust onto the floor. 
Nausea had you in a chokehold, but that didn’t stop your smile. 
This ridiculous man leaned down, and the sparks at the ends of his hair were too fucking close to your face when he purred in your ear.
“You’re the only lovely thing I see.”
~~~
How strange that the sight of such a light and precious thing could drag you down so far. 
In the place of a pearl, the shell opened to show a long-lasting bubble. The treasure had become a reminder of your selfishness and privilege, yet your heart still ached at the sight. 
Precious trees had helped create this little magic. Sabaody should have been treasured, protected.
Instead, it was hell: a humiliating torture for people that didn’t look like you. 
“It’s beautiful, Prince Fukaboshi,” you sighed. “Thank you.”
“It is nowhere near as beautiful as your selfless heart.”
Smiling was harder when you had to swallow the burning bile on the back of your tongue.
~~~
“This is very nice,” you lied.
“It’s a poor rendition,” your prey laughed at his ugly drawing of what looked like a pile of fingers until you deciphered the shapes. “Starfish cling to their world, holding tight to their home… I could have stolen it for you, but it’s not right to take a star from where it belongs.”
“So, you left my star all alone,” you managed to pout; you were a selfish, spoiled, rich girl. 
Starfish were apparently too much for you to handle. 
~~~
“What do ya think, numbers girl?”
That deep voice made you shiver, shaking you out of your fog, but into the chaos of old desire. 
You knew you should hate him. You should be disgusted by his mere presence here, by all the details that would make your eyebrows raise if you heard them about a similar relationship. 
But you were too far gone to give a fuck. 
Mr. Iceburg was smiling at you. He was reaching out to rest his hand on yours before offering a gift he’d made with those same, lovely hands. The rough skin scraping against yours seemed to send you back in time, a teenage craving, still unfulfilled.  
“There wasn’t enough time, but I hope you like it,” Iceburg hummed when he placed a small, carved ship in your palm. The rough wood smelled incredible, and it was beautiful, rough as it was. 
All the details were vague, but your thumb traced across the redwood he’d carved onto the main sail. 
It wasn’t just his looks that had stolen your heart when you were younger. Mr. Iceburg had an air of kindness and wonderment about him that reminded you what those feelings could be like. 
Were you too far gone to feel that light? 
Was he too much of a leech for it to be real?
Who fucking cares? It’s Mr. Iceburg.
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~
“So, you left my star all alone?”
Y/N’s pouting lips were too much; Shanks was horrified by her ability to lie with every part of her. 
“Well, I…”
That fallen star smiled while the bells called him away, and she chose another man, yet again.
~~~
The Great Red-Haired Shanks was fucking useless. 
He had fucked up so completely that his every step to fix things put miles and miles between them.
And he couldn’t fucking talk about it. 
The estate was literally crawling with snails, so Shanks couldn’t risk speaking openly to his first mate. He couldn’t relax for a second with how hyper aware he’d become of the low hum of their presence. 
How the fuck does she live like this?
Throughout the pain and hardships of his own life, this Emperor of the Sea had carried something with him that he was lacking here, and the discomfort of its loss felt like another phantom pain, an unreachable itch. 
Shanks was raised as a pirate.
He was raised to be free. 
No one was free on this wretched island, except for the tyrant that toyed with them all. 
Cedrick Sylvad hadn’t joined the group that flocked to his little casino for a second night. He didn’t need the cash. 
The red-haired pirate followed the leeches and did his best to shove his frustrations aside while he fought for her. 
“Still here, huh?”
“Why would I leave,” Giberson breathed noxious fumes into his face while he leaned over his cards. “This game’s only just begun.”
~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~
~~~~~
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
Kat’s face pulled you into the moment, her quivering lips failing to hold back her disparaging smile.
You couldn’t blame her. 
“That’s a really nice cape,” she snorted, falling into laughter.
“I thought you wanted me to marry a Vinsmoke.” Your words were strained, although annoyance or laughter could have been the cause.
“Totally,” she managed to deadpan. “Definitely the number one choice.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
It was so good to see her cackle, even if you had to wear this poofy, frilly, fire-engine red gown to make it happen. 
The cape wasn’t nearly as bad as the embroidered “ones” along the hems. 
“I want you to marry one of them if…”
“Spit it out,” you ordered, holding in your own laughs while Kat fell apart. 
“If they’re your number one choice,” she squeaked again while she steadied herself with a hand on her thigh. 
You couldn’t blame her. Not with the state your hair was in. 
~~~
“Tonight, we have lifted one of our rules for the sake of fairness to our esteemed hunters,” Uncle charmed the crowd, his fingers resting on the back of your neck. 
He looked down at you with that practiced mask of a doting uncle while he gripped your skin like you were an unruly animal that he had to control.
“My dear niece must remain within the borders of the island, but the sky’s the limit now.”
He stepped away with a smirk, and you were too drained from smiling to care what he meant. It was always a game at your expense. You were just glad that he wasn’t touching you anymore. 
Resisting the urge to scratch his eyes out like the unruly animal you were took a lot of energy, and you were going to need it tonight. 
The vultures were practically squealing while Prince Ichiji walked up the path, flanked on either side by his brothers. The ruffles on their shirts looked natural on them, and their capes just reminded you that they were royalty, even if they descended from vicious conquerors who claimed that status. From all you’d gathered, these current Vinsmokes seem to carry that violent legacy.
Except for when they looked at you. 
Ichiji held out the longest, but soon the three of them were staring at you like hungry puppies. Niji and Yonji knelt at your sides to kiss your hands, thoroughly. Ichiji leaned down, the swoops in his red hair casting distracting shadows across his face beneath the lanterns. 
“Everyone’s fighting to take home the lovely prize,” he breathed against your ear before he pulled back to meet your eyes. “But they can’t have you.”
“Oh,” you tried to tease, but the kisses still peppering your hands and fingers were too distracting. “Why is that?”
The three of them laughed, and you would have fallen if they hadn’t gripped your hands in time. The three princes had all touched their belts, and the colorful raid suits they were so famous for spread over them instantly, to roaring applause. You hadn’t had time to catch your breath before Ichiji lifted you into his arms.
“You’re our little princess now.”
Don’t scream. Don’t scream. Don’t scream.
“Don’t be scared, pretty,” he comforted, though his pleased voice didn’t stop the world from disappearing beneath you. 
“Yeah, I’ll catch you if he drops you,” Yonji flew close to your cheek. 
“I won’t drop her.”
How does their hair stay like that in the wind, you thought, giggling to yourself while you watched the trees beneath you. 
“Can I touch the top of a tree?”
“You can touch anything you– ”
“Back off, Niji,” Ichiji growled at his blue haired brother that had flown too close this time before returning to that simpering voice. “Of course, princess. We can find every tree on the island, if you like.”
“Just one is lovely, thank you.”
Touching the top of a redwood tree had never crossed your mind, but the feel of it against your fingers gave you a moment of sweetness at the thought of telling your dad about it. He would be so excited, and he’d want to know every detail, until you both were scribbling on notepads to calculate how long it would take to touch every tree on the island. 
It was stupid. How could you stay numb when you kept reminding yourself of pain, or of something far crueler than that? 
Happiness and love would tear you apart. 
~~~
If you weren’t out of breath, you might have giggled again at how well the scene fit with your last thought. 
Another clearing on another stolen hill had come into view, during one of the brief glances you’d sent toward the ground. That ground was coming too close, too fast, but the scent hit you before your feet touched the ground.
Someone had planted a circular wall of roses that was taller than you’d thought possible for the flower. You had learned that the realm of possibility was vaster than you could imagine. What were some huge rose bushes compared to everything else in your world?
Ichiji set you down beside a gorgeous table of dark wood, with large, cushioned chairs in that matching rose-red.
He poured champagne, toasting to your beauty while you waited for him to sip first.
“Are you nervous,” the red head asked, the hint of laughter in his tone. “Don’t worry, princess, you can relax here. I made sure we’d have plenty of privacy.”
“Yeah,” Yonji called while he flew down into the tower of roses. “No one’s getting in here without catching some thorns.”
“We finished the rounds,” Niji reported. He stayed floating toward the top, lazily bouncing something in his hand. “This is the only snail left in a mile radius. Now you two can have some alone time.
“DON’T HURT IT! Please… don’t…”
Niji paused with his arm pulled back, stopping before throwing the transponder snail, cocking his head as he looked down at you.
“Don’t be so cruel, brother,” Ichiji purred beside you.
Breathe. Just breathe.
“Please, don’t hurt it,” you tried to keep your voice from shaking. It was already hoarse from that scream. “I… like snails.”
“So sweet,” Yonji swooned. He flew close, with Niji and the poor snail following behind him. “You should see our— “
“It’s my turn, brothers,” the eldest prince reminded them.
Yonji kissed your cheek before he flew away, but Niji grabbed your wrist. He placed the snail in the center of your palm before tracing his fingers down the side of your face.
“Such a pretty princess,” he hummed, “I’ll make sure this thing is safe for you. We can even let some watch our date if you— “
“This is my date, Niji.”
“Right. Have fun, you two.”
Thankfully, the blue-haired brother grabbed the snail before he flew away, but another set of eyes stayed glued to your skin.
“Sorry about that, beautiful. Let’s eat, I wanna know about all the other sweet things you like.”
Still cheesy. Still cocky.
Yet somehow his guiding hand on you lower back, and his hungry eyes reminded you of another sort of numb.
Nothing matters, so I might as well enjoy this.
~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~
~~~~~~
~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~
“Feel good, star,” Crocodile’s little clown mumbled in his sleep, the stench of liquor on Buggy’s breath rivaling his own.
“Hey,” he started, wanting to carry Buggy to bed instead of leaving him alone on that green couch. “Come on— “
“Just feel good, baby,” his clown whined softly, the sadness in his voice tearing at the scarred man even more tonight.
“Shh, Buggy. It’s gonna be okay.”
He hoped he wasn’t lying.
“I won’t tell, star. I know it was a— What the fuck?”
“It’s just me, little clown. Let’s go to bed,” he offered his hand. Buggy shook himself but followed him down the empty corridor to that empty bed. “Bad dreams again?”
“No— I mean, just the same bullshit,” Buggy coughed while his fingers tapped along his thigh. “Ha, I really thought the booze would help… What about you?”
Crocodile pulled the man close, and kissed that tangled, blue hair as he closed his eyes against this shitty world.
“We’re gonna get her back,” he vowed ignoring the scent of lies in the air. There had never been room for trust in this world, but Crocodile realized he didn’t care if his little lovers were lying to him. He just needed them back.
He needed to make a better world for them.
~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~
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Likes, comments, and reblogs bring me much ✨dopamine✨ thank you!!
Author's Note: "I've still been disappearing from the world," is how I started my last author's note from Chapter 34. So much has changed in my life.
Personal Vent below! Mostly vague, but trigger warning for toxic, demanding work environments, and their affect on physical and mental health. Mention of bipolar and adhd.
PLEASE DON'T READ THIS unless you really want to, and have the space for it! I would rather you scroll past than to take on any of my stress.
I am okay, and I want Numbers Game to be a place for us to rest and enjoy some fictional chaos instead. This will be the last time I'll discuss this on a Numbers Game post, but I felt I had to share how much I've wanted to be here with y'all. Any future updates will be posted separately on my lynna's health updates tag.
I am free from the situation that was wrecking my physical, mental, and financial health for the past five years. That chaos sent me into an episode that landed me on medical leave last year. But that fucked up time is when I started writing, and joined this wonderful community. I wouldn't have made it though the past year without y'all. I was in full on crisis mode, and it had all come to a head over these past few months. Then I got out. I was so fucking excited to tell y'all about the new changes in my life, but I was overwhelmed with everything that I had to do to get out and prepare. Plus, my fucking thumb stopped working because I was typing the first draft of this chapter on my phone since I had no time to sit down and write, and I had to rest it for the new job that seemed perfect for me. I hope that it'll get better soon, but I seem to have jumped out of the frying pan, and into the fire. I am okay. I am safe. I am just tired as fuck, and needing to set boundaries with a new company that is even more demanding than the last. At least they are actually paying me on time, and it's less physically demanding, (unless you count a lifelong insomniac adjusting to waking up at 6am and getting home at 6pm, five days a week 🥴). The main reason I was excited for this job, besides relieving the crisis shit I was going though, was that it would have a regular schedule; I'd be able to focus on what I really want to do. Sorry it took me so long to catch my breath, but I'm fucking back, y'all. I'm not letting another company drain my soul away. I'm not working off the clock any more.
I've got smut to write 🥰📝🔥
With so much love,
~ Lynna 💜✨
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Tag List: @shewrites02 | @caniseethefourthsword | @hey-august | @chaoticqueen33 | @destinationmars | @novakitten0901 | @h0n3y-l3m0n05 | @dorky-birdie | @szired | @pinejayy | @laws-wife-things | @jadeddangel | @gingernut1314 | @urlocaltwink | @blue-rae18 | @bontensbabygirl | @bbnbhm | @0-sparkling-lace-0 | @ihearthazuki | @mikisspeak | @djloveyou3000 | @mercymccann | @horse-and-writer97 | @napagent
Part 36
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Operation Olive Branch has compiled a working spreadsheet of ways to help families fleeing from the genocide in Palestine. If you enjoyed this fic, and are able, please click the link to find a list of GoFundMe's, as well as other ways to help.
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| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |
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vikenticomeshome · 2 days ago
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Great God Grove: Patience's New Relationship:
Minor spoilers for the speed dating section of Hobbyhoo below the read-more. Proceed at your own risk.
Godpoke, the mostly blank slate of a player character, is tasked with being the Matchmaker at the Soul Cricket bar's speed dating night. They match the three candidates, and then they are given one final task by the owner of the bar, Patience.
She loves to tell stories about all sorts of mundane things, which can last multiple hours. She has worn out the patience of humans and gods alike. She believes that she is the ultimate challenge in match-making.
The solution to this puzzle is to take some words from Styella:
"It jewst makes me smile to spend time with yew"
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Sometimes words played back by the Godpoke are seen as coming from the original speaker. Good examples are speech from the Gods. In other cases, like this one, words played back by the Godpoke are seen as coming directly from the Godpoke. It is left ambiguous as to if they can speak with their own voice, or if they are mute.
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Patience takes these words to heart and immediately falls for Godpoke. But, did Godpoke really mean what they said? Or did they just say what they needed to say in order to get the romantic light bulb and proceed with the story?
Of course, Godpoke is the player character. For the most part, their personality is determined by the player. With characters like this, we have one major way to determine a canon personality. We look at the options that they don't have. These are the things that the canon Godpoke would not do.
For example, Godpoke doesn't beat up the gate guard to leave Hobeyhoo early. The gate guard is refusing to do his job and open the gate to BuzzHuzz because "Oh partner mine" has been boring lately. Dude, the apocalypse is imminent, and I need to get to the Spire. Get over it. Also, while they bonk Da Bizzyboys on the head in self-defense, they don't go further than necessary. They don't pull out a Big Iron or anything like that. They also don't suck up the animal barricades, like Kondle's pigs or Cara's birds, to clear the way, even though Megapon is capable of doing it. They also don't just stral the romantic bulb. They talk things out instead.
None of that confirms whether they were being genuine with Patience though. Godpoke can just hurl insults, bad advice, or lies with Megapon after all. There's probably no way to confirm it either way. So, I'm just going to assume that they meant it.
So, what does a relationship between Godpoke and Patience look like? Well, Godpoke still has their work traveling all over the Grove for mail delivery and resolving people's commujication problems. Patience still runs her Soul Cricket bar.
And when they spend quality time together, Patience has her long stories about all sorts of mundane things. The key word here is "mundane". If Patience has a problem, she gets to the point. She didn't tell a four hour story when she needed Godpoke's help as a matchmaker, after all. But, if Patience wants to tell Godpoke about all of the dogs who went past the bar that day, then she can drone on for hours.
I think these stories would be quite soothing. The Godpoke isnt facing an apocalypse, transporting large loads of mail, or struggling to find just the right words from one person to resolve another person's problem. All they have to do is get out of their work clothes, get into something more comfortable, snuggle up to Patience's chest, and listen to her talk. Megapon doesn't even need to come into it, since they wouldnt need to grab strategic lines. I also think that Godpoke would find her voice very soothing as the stories start to blend together, especially with their head in that position
After a long day, it is likely that Godpoke would fall asleep during Patience's stories. Now, would Patience be upset over this? I don't think so. Her problem was that people would get sick of her long stories and push her away. But then, Godpoke stuck around to listen and cuddle. I think she would really love the idea that Godpoke found her voice so soothing and relaxing that they fell asleep in her arms.
And then, she adds in some physical affection, while never missing a beat in her stories. She gives them forehead kisses, scratches their back right between their shoulder blades, kneads their hands and feet, gives them light tickles, etc. It's all about finding what kinds of affection Godpoke enjoys receiving. She manages to find several of their weaknesses. And then, her evening stories become a game. How quickly can the combination of her soothing voice and her probing those weak points melt Godpoke's brain and send them to sleep? Meanwhile, Godpoke tries to stay awake as long as possible. They also try to give some physical affection in return to help Patience relax, which she absolutely loves.
However, it gets to the point where Patience's voice is near-hypnotic ASMR for Godpoke. They tend to lose the game, and it isn't even close. They both get a lot out of it. Patience gets to cuddle and tell her companion stories. She gets to watch Godpoke slowly turn to mush under her hands and voice. And Godpoke gets plenty of soothing affection, followed by the deepest, most restful, sleep.
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wjbs-bonkle-au · 12 hours ago
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Hey you. You're new here, right? Well, I've been here all my life, and I know all about this backwater rock, as well as all the awful stuff that's happened here. For instance, let me tell you about... the Karzahni Embargo.
Few hundred years ago, some factory owner - can't remember her name - decided that sendin' her employees to Karzahni to be repaired was slowin' production too much, so she brought in the finest engineers from across the universe to figure out a way of keepin' her employees workin' in the event one of 'em got injured.
Now one of these inventors, a Ko-Matoran from the Northern Continent, he walks into the boardroom to present his idea, and the factory owner clearly likes what she sees, as she immediately greenlights it. It wasn't until a few weeks later that it became known to the public what this idea was; whenever a Matoran was injured, rather than being sent to Karzahni, they were taken away and... "fixed". I am usin' that term very loosely. Limbs gettin' replaced with tools, spines bein' patched up with control device... even organs bein' ripped out and replaced with mechanical equivalents.
Now, you'd probably expect the Xian council to immediately shut the factory down and immediately send the... "fixed" workers away for repairs. But remember, this is Xia. Instead, every member of the council immediately adopted this practise for their businesses. And then the lower-rankin' companies did the same. And so on, and so on, until it reached the companies that couldn't afford the implants.
That's when Glaivonn comes in. If you somehow haven't heard of him yet, I'm surprised. His company owns this entire district. He's one of those Titans from the Southern Continent, y'know them, they're the ones who name themselves after their favourite weapons. And as you can tell, Glaivonn really likes glaives. So much so that his company almost exclusively makes them. Or at least, used to. See, a factory fulla blades doesn't sound very safe, and naturally there's a lot of workplace injuries.
One day, after comin' back from a trip to the... "scenic" Tren Krom Peninsula, one of Glaivonn's assistants updates him on what's been goin' on while he was away, and when ol' Glaivy hears about the worker "repairs" and how less well-off companies can afford them, he gets a very messed-up idea; he starts makin' cheap, lower-quality implants, and sells them to the factories that can't afford the good stuff. This goes very well. For Glaivonn I mean; not the workers. I once met a Matoran from a low-grade mask forge who had her entire left arm and part of her lung damaged in a Protodermis spill, and the replacements were on the brink of fallin' apart.
But not only does Glaivonn make the parts cheap; he makes them for other species, too. Now, for non-Matoran, Karzahni isn't really a concern; if a Bruiser or Vortixx gets injured, then they have to retire, or buy a new limb if they can afford it. But now a Bruiser getting their arm torn off in a crusher ain't a guarantee of retirement. Just drag 'em round the back, bolt a grabber-claw onto the stump, reinforce the spine, and now you've got a super-worker who can't quit their job.
You're probably wonderin' why this is called the Karzahni Embargo. Luckily for you, you're about to find out! So it turns out that Glaivonn had connections to the Xian council, and he managed to pull some strings to get them to ban all transfers to Karzahni. You may think this sounds good, and in theory it was since the Matoran wouldn't disappear forever, but this also meant that now, any company that couldn't afford even the cheaper implants would eventually be forced to shut down. Xia hasn't sent a Matoran to Karzahni for centuries, and they probably won't continue doing so any time soon.
Now then, is there anythin' else you want to know about? Next story won't be free. Let's say... 8 Widgets.
[post-story notes section]
The thing about Axonn's species naming themselves after weapons is a reference to this post.
Also this story takes place about a week before Teridax took over the Matoran Universe.
Honestly I like to imagine that Xia is actually more cyberpunk that Metru Nui. Like there are giant Blade Runner-style holograms advertising the latest ridiculous weapons the Vortixx have come up with, and basically-hovercars flying between buildings, and a "luxury district"* where all the company-owners and stuff live, with like Matoran and Steltian Bruiser servants and stuff.
*which will come up in a future post
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heatherfield · 1 year ago
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Good news: I've been on a roll with gif-making.
Bad news: Not so much with writing. :(
Good news: I wrote over 1000 words today so hopefully I can do that every day this week (and beyond), and hopefully I can post the next chapter tomorrow. *crossing all my fingies*
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rockethorse · 2 months ago
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The basegame wedding dress has a pregnancy morph??
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#I can never be positive if something in my game is like. a third-party launcher addition#but this is so funny and I had such a strong hunch#because rushing to have your Sim get married before they give birth is such a thing so many players would do!!#and it would be so funny to pay attention to that detail by having the wedding dress show the bump!!!!#all your sim's wedding photos very obviously giving away the reason for the rushed date HAHA#the dress with the pendant at the back that everyone default replaces off (the one with the knife texture) also has a preg morph#which I know because it's the one your Sims get forced into if they attend a wedding#but it's kind of unusual because pregnant Sims don't have the opportunity to change into formal wear?#like pregnant Sims get new undies pyjamas and swimwear in addition to their maternity outfit#and if you direct a pregnant Sim to change into one of them then it changes them into the appropriate maternity fit instead of their usual#but you can't direct them to change into formal and if you use a hacked option like the shop any-wear rack it uses their usual non morph fi#so it has to be something external like a wedding that triggers them to change into formal. and I have no idea why#does this mean there's a BG suit with a preg morph for men??#or did maxis not think that pregnant male Sims would be quite so desperate to get married#anyway I'm probably the last person to know about this LMAO and I'm sure no one cares bc everyone uses wear-anything mods#but I'm a scrub who still prefers to use the default maternity meshes so this is yuge to me#also if you've never seen this dress b4: in the early game all Sims getting married under an arch used to be forced into the same outfits#actually I can't remember if the men got forced into the same suit or if they just used their regular formal#because most BG formal outfits for men were mostly wedding-appropriate#but at any rate. all women wore the same wedding dress. and it was this .... beauty#and I don't remember with which EP it changed but probably pretty early on they just let Sims use their regular formal wear for weddings#so you could pick their wedding dress yourself#but this dress remained hidden by default (I think?) so ironically it meant you COULDN'T use the wedding dress even if you wanted to#also this is completely off topic but you would also go away for your honeymoon#which meant the Sims getting married would literally get driven away in a limousine and stay off-world for a while#it was kind of cute because it really was like they took a vacation from the player too. got up to their own mischief away from your contro#then with bon voyage they introduced ACTUAL vacations and they turned honeymoons into an actual game mechanic#but again these offworld honeymoons are no longer a possibility#kind of like teens 'going out' with permission got replaced by going out on actual outings/dates even though it was a cute event#wow this note section is long and irrelevant. anyway enjoy picking up your wedding dress from a store called 'It's Not Too Late'
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spywhitney · 7 months ago
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How I sleep knowing I'll never trust anyone that hates Sydney but worships Richie:
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#the bear#the bear fx#sydney adamu#carmen berzatto#richie jerimovich#jk kind of#well on days I don't see or think about Sydney haters#under every damn comment section in this fandom is someone saying Sydney didn't take accountability#like I know we all have our biases but yall are really shameless about it#Sydney scored A LOT of Ws for The Beef AND The Bear#but one time she makes a mistake and justifiably walks away from a toxic work environment she's the devil#Richie worked at The Beef for years and Sydney did more for it in what less than four months than he did#on top of being a prick to Sydney in particular because she was changing things he wanted to keep the same#to the detriment of the restaurant but also everyone#and overall being unpleasant to Carmy#Nat and anyone that didn't find him funny or interesting or like his bs#pre-Forks Richie reminds me of those types of people that only listen to people that like them#and I love that because it's realistic to some ppl#I do like Richie#it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth knowing there are people that hate Sydney#ignore her accomplishments only to raise up Richie#in the same breath when the actual show is showing you what's up#like you'd think there were different versions of the show with how these two are perceived#I get this weird need to defend Sydney when people shit on her because I wonder how often said people treat the Sydneys of the world#but that aside#In Fishes Richie mentions something about wasting potential at the beef#In Ceres it's implied he called the popo on the dealers after Sydney deescalated a situation Richie previously dealt with#in an unorthodox manner#he recognised he needed to change but still was an arsehole to the one person who was facilitating that change effectively Sydney#this show is great but people denying what they're seeing on their own screens is crazy
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claitea · 2 months ago
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would they ever let lear or any of the rest of the pokemas originals appear in other games. the chances are so low but they're too fun to just leave in the mobile gacha game :(
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boasamishipper · 1 year ago
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i can tolerate a lot of things from writers and showrunners but outright condescension and disdain for their fans is not one of them
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dragons-and-yellow-roses · 2 months ago
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Applying to an apartment with little income and terrible credit score, in hopes that they'll be desperate enough to take me
#im not even getting my hopes up for this one folks#but this same company rook me when i had no rental history so maybe?#unlikely for the aforementioned piss poor income and credit score#im just praying they remember me feom when i used to rent from them and liked me enough then to take me again#the bathroom is not in the apartment btw#that's the wildest thing. like its a basic studio with a kitchen closet and main area#but you have to go across the hall. to the private bathroom#im hoping they realize that thats wild and give me the apartment#i neeeeed to leave my parents house. and i really miss that city the apartment is in#i wish there was a little essay section where i could tell the landlord how much i like the city#and that ill get a better job once i live there and my parents are going to pay my first month and security deposit#that would be nice#i applied knowing that i won't get it but also knowing that i cant get it if i dont try#mostly i just miss that city#there was a really nice coffee shop within walking distance of my apartment#(the apartment i applied to is next door to the building i used to live in so same area which is great)#but i didnt have wifi so i would go there a lot to do work. it was so cozy in the winter especially#and i went on a lot of walks. so i wiuld swing by there and grab a drink to sip on my walk#and it was literally within sight of a great lake. a literal great lakw of Michigan lol#i loved walking along the lake on a nice day. or a windy day and just watch the waves crash#and my favorite band is feom that city so i got to see so many of their performances. and theyre a small band so the most i ever paid#was $50 and that was for the vip package. i saw them for $10 once. and free once. and $50 for the vip#its a big art and music city and i love it so much. i miss it so fucking much and i regret leaving#but at least it made me realize that no other city is for me. that city is my home#oh and it was literally right next to a bug beautiful library that i loved to wander. i still have my library card from there#mostly used it to print stuff and you have to pay at the box next to the printer. and one time i forgot to pay. i still feel bad about that#but i dont want to reminisce too much cuz i know i wont get it#im trying to pay off my credit cards to bring up my credit score but its slow going#its much nearer my gf and all my friends so i would love to live near them. rn im hours away from about everyone i love#i ran out of tags. maybe pray for me if you pray? or just hope for me. i dont want to let myself want this but its there
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tariah23 · 2 months ago
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It’s always crazy to see black celebs spew this same rhetoric because it’s such a privileged take… like, they’ve been famous for so long and have gotten their money up, moved out of the projects or whatever tf, that they’ve forgotten what it’s like to be genuinely feel. It’s impossible for them to connect anymore. As far as the qrt, oh wow ☠️.
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#it’s always the same shit with these negros bro#like even recently with lil Wayne and all of these idiots crying about the Super Bowl and how he didn’t get chosen to perform#and you got idiots like Nicki and others going on about ‘taking opportunities away from a young black man-‘ (the nigga is in his 40’s bro)#despite Kendrick being younger…. and as a black person why not just be happy for another instead of trying to use race and guilt trip peopl#into caring about you over another black person when it’s convenient for you#because i remember when this dude used to say that he doesn’t care about blm or politics and he’s getting money#and that it doesn’t affect him so why should he care? now you’re crying about opportunities being taken away from you as a black man#I’m getting off topic but it’s the same sentiments similar to what Pharrell’s coon ass is saying#he’s always been one actually#rambling#whenever someone goes on about being apolitical they’re already not worth listening to#especially since politics shapes our entire lives like do you not care about what will happen to you#and what’s happening to people across the seas and in other countries like what is the real reason why sm ppl chose to play apolitical#I don’t want anyone around me if I can’t talk about politics with them or know where they stand as far as politics go#at the end of the day who cares about what a celeb has to say on politics since#I always go back to that one section in Dave Chappell standup (I know this was before he became what he is today… he was so normal back#then holy shit🗿) where he was taking about how ppl are super private about their politics and also#him going on about how ‘who tf cares about what ja rule thinks’#😭…. that’s literally it!!!#but to an extent it’s relalr dangerous to see ppl with such gigantic platforms and notoriety spew shit like this as if it’s normal#it only helps tp further push anti intellectualism and so on#like how are you an adult and you don’t care about politics#that’s embarrassing
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poptartmochi · 2 months ago
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very lalalala day... I must savor it before I go to the trenches tomorrow
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#got to sub for my old theater teacher and the kids were like YO!!!! AGAIN!!! HE CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS 😭😭😭🌋🌋🌋🌋#bc ive subbed for them in choir the past four days 😆#it's fun to build that rapport w the kids! :] and then yesterday the choir teacher had asked if I could have them#figure out their riser formation for one of the more difficult songs they're doing and well.#peace and love on the planet earth those kids were STRUGGLING 😭 but i gave them no structure or help so. what could they do#(although that is a bit out of my wheelhouse as a sub 😳)#anyways it bothered me that the choir teacher was going to come back from being sick + have a whole lotta nothing SO. i spent my whole day#thinking about the dynamics of that group and which parts of the song challenged which voice parts + how confidently each section sang#etc etc. and i made a little diagram for her so she could at least have one thing to throw at the wall today 🥲#so! i went to check on her in between classes bc she's fighting bronchitis and i was worried about her. well! come to find out my#diagram was really helpful and the girls liked how it felt in those spots + are going to stick with it for concert! huzzah 😁����#i also got to interrogate the choir teacher on what uni's she recommends and ‼️‼️ holy shit mama has the scoop!!! we spent 20 minutes#talking about it at least 😇 anyways. fighting the urge to go to the private uni she and the other choir teachers in my lineage went to....#have i performed at that school many times and love the environment of their program? yes. but you have to fight a WAR for their scholarship#and they basically never give full-rides for music 🥲 then there's another private uni w an excellent musical theater program that would#give me a lot of experience in that vein BUT money is so hard already so 🥴🥴🥴#there's another school where you can get a bme and fast-track into their graduate conducting program which ‼️‼️#but ALSO. there's another school with an opera program 👀👀 which i would kill to study#i need to make an excel sheet respectfully. so much to consider 🙈🙈🙈#mostly i just want to be. as well-rounded as possible before i get in the classroom so i can have this same conversation w my own students#school stuff aside!! i just got out of our pre-season for the con i work at and RAHH ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️#our team is so. 🌅🌅🌅❣️💖 i love everyone so much we are a little machine and i missed everyone a lot :] very excited for the changes we're#making this year!!#sriracha.txt
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simptasia · 9 months ago
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in 2 months i've gone from my average being around 71 kilos (record 73) to my new record: 83 kilos. whoa
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elena-fishr · 3 months ago
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#Y’all don’t bring Nadine up unless you wanna fight 😭#I mentioned somewhere that I wish her scenes (those ‘boss fights’??) were cutscenes because the gameplay and player choice is an illusion#But that’s not an acceptable opinion to have I guess#Btw it has nothing to do with story or characters but THE GAME and the PLAYER#I’m ranting#But it’s because I was called an insecure man#I’m sorry?#People don’t even listen to you they just hear oh you don’t like Nadine then you can’t handle seeing a strong woman#But that wasn’t at all what I was saying#She can have those scenes where she kicks butt cuz that’s the point of her character in 4#But I’m not gonna pretend those sections are fun for me#I wish they were cutscenes#That is all#am I crazy? Am I hateful?#Gimme the L in a cutscene#I’ve also thought about this in DMC5#There’s an early boss fight that you’re meant to lose and I’m not so mad about that#After thinking about it it’s because player choice wasn’t taken away#You have all your move set and abilities and the ability to win is there you get a special ending#Nate can’t jump or roll or do his best because you’re given the illusion of playing but it’s only going down one way#And personally I don’t like it#Nothing to do with character or story it’s the illusion of gameplay that’s annoying to go thru#It’s taking things away from the player#Also in dmc5 there’s a forced walk section with V#It’s like less than a minute but it feels AWFUL especially in a game where everywhere else you have full character control#Giving control to the player is important#That’s why I think Mgs5 is so nice#You can infiltrate the same guard post an infinite amount of different ways#It’s up to you#im big boss and you are too
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technicolorxsn · 8 months ago
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love how there are pretentious video essays that just repeat the book and meander and ramble about house of leaves. it's what zampanó would have wanted. it is not, however, what I want
#anyway i finished the main portion of the book#all i have left is the poems and a few other small things i think? ive read pelafinas letters#im thinking of getting the full book of her letters#but also they severely messed with my head so we'll see#i will say. i do get why ppl say the book is pretentious and frustrating#there was a lot of stuff where i couldnt tell if it was supposed to be satire or if it was genuinely just that dense and pretentious#and a lot of the codes were rly obtuse imo?#like... idk. some of them were super obvious like the sos stuff or pelafina outright saying what to do#but others like. man how am i supposed to know johnny waxing poetic about pussy was coded#i mean that one is also pointed out though much later but i know i missed a lot just like it that werent pointed out#and ive heard theres a lot of shit where the message you get is just danielewski????? which gonna be real. kinda dumb.#but i did also really enjoy the book#there was a lot of stuff in it that was just so compelling or poignant or whatever other word#the minotaur stuff is good (ofc id say that though i love me some minotaur themes)#also a lot of the scenes with johnny just...... christ#idk how ppl say to skip them hes so fascinating#yeah i could do with him talking about his possibly hallucinated sex life a bit less but also his story is just plain interesting#i still think about the part where the girl he was talking to runs over a dog they had picked up........ it was fucking chilling#and his hallucinations of dying are so descriptive in just the right way to get under my skin#the uncertainty with him and his family..... did pelafina try to kill him? did his father just send her away for being a bit too overbearing#over an accident? was there something else? what was the deal with his foster family? with lude? gdansk man and kyrie?#how did it get published? who are the editors? why did the band know of the book before it should have been published?#why does his journal section end with a story from a man he admits to making up completely? the doctor from seattle doesnt exist#the chronological end is more hopeful with him saying things will be okay but then he puts a previous entry after that?#i think the burning of the book parallels the story nicely#johnny said his piece; he nurtured the book as much as he could; but it was hurting him and he had to give up on it#idk!#this book does make me feel a lil dumb ngl
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