#and all three of them get a drink at some point and they're chill. and he's like

[creativitysloyalservant]

i have decided to break my lack of original posting on this blog to bring you my Thoughts on Rot in Paradise. because i played it as soon as i got up this morning and i have scoured for some opinions after finishing it, and now i have my own!!

(and also i posted this on twitter but twitter has such a Shit wordcount that i'm also posting my things here with More Detail)

so! spoilers under the cut, please go and play the game if you haven't. it takes literally an hour (it only took nearly 2 hours for me because i like voice acting by myself and exploring every nook and cranny) and it's also free. so maybe come back into the tag once you're done.

okay, so i noticed quite a number of people being confused and disappointed on the lack of an explanation for the monster. it's brought up in the story as the central thing driving the plot, but it's never explained on what "she" is, why she's compelling people to eat a ton of fish-related food or hell, metal, and why this doesn't impact June at all.

but you know what I think?

i think that that's the point. the focus of rot in paradise isn't supposed to be on the monster.

yeah, it's the thing that pushes the plot along besides June and the gang going on vacation in this island. it's what's causing that uneasiness from the moment that guy grabs June's arm at the drinks, to the sheer unnerving feeling of witnessing people going to the ocean to get Raptured basically. i know i personally felt a chill when i saw that one dude literally eating chains and the other hauling an anchor, as if they're trying to make themselves heavier so they get taken by whatever She is.

but that's not the main point! the main conflict is about June and her friends.

as people have pointed out, this game is about toxic friendships and relationships! it's foreshadowed in the conversation that June has with the gang about her cousin (which i will also get into), and it carries it through the way her friends are horribly warped by this ocean Creature. June goes on a silly little vacation trip with her friends only for them to become so so different from themselves that they lash out at her and even hit her in McCoy's case.

but she still sticks it out with them. through the whole game, even despite their verbal abuse, despite being slapped, despite them being people that she can hardly recognise. she stays with them for the whole game, up until the point where you are given the two options at the very end. and she could still stay with them.

because they're still her friends. she cares about them even if they still hurt her. from the way June still tells Carmen to tell June if she needs anything after Carmen literally tells her to shut up and leave, the way June worries about Vonnie eating seafood even though she continues to stuff herself despite being implied to either hate or make an active choice to not eat seafood, to the way June still trudges out to sea screaming for McCoy to come back to the shore as he wades further in even after he slapped her until her nose bled.

it mirrors the conversation about her cousin, the reason for why June was looking forward to the vacation. that while she did comfort her cousin through all of it, June clearly says that "they were dickheads, and she should have ditched them a long time ago".

but it's funny, isn't it? that June, an outsider to her cousin's friend group, easily sees the pain that her cousin's friends are causing her, and immediately calls it as it is. that her cousin should have left the second they hurt her.

and yet now, when her friends hurt her, even though this was a quick and sudden change that happened in a span of three days, June still sticks around. her friends are dickheads right now, and we can see that in the way they interact with June, but she still stays.

because they're her friends. and how could she just leave them like this if it's something that's causing them to be this way?

so no, i don't think the monster is supposed to be the main picture. we don't need to know what it looks like, or why it needs to do this to the islanders, or how it's even doing it in the first place. it adds to the scariness of the game, as per the Spooktober Game Jam, sure, but that's not the point. might be a bit disappointing to some, but that's not the point.

the point is about June, and the choice that she needs to make at the end of the game.

it's a choice on whether she chooses to be pulled deeper into the tides and be with the friends who hurt her and will continue to hurt her in this way,

or to leave them to their fates, whether deserved or not, and resurface to a world where she's alone without her friends.

and even though the first choice hurts much more in the long run, doesn't the second hurt even more in the moment? knowing that you're alone at the end of all of this?

even if it is the right choice, i'm sure the pain must be unbearable in the moment.

[sordidmusings]

WIP TUESDAY - Sugar Daddy Headcanons with Shanks and Garp

Saw Schoute's wonderful art WIP and writing and wanted to join the fun! Have some ridiculous Blorbos as Sugar Daddies headcanons that have been on my backburner LOL I've got Shanks and Garp ready for y'all 🫡 They're pretty much done, I moreso have to fill out everyone else on the list 🤡 No warnings really! Just some allusions to spice but nothing explicit. Lots of silliness. I believe they're gender neutral but I'm going to tag as afab just in case because I fear it may be in the subtext since that's the perspective I wrote it from and the one people generally expect for sugar babies. Might be fun to subvert sometime by writing them with explicitly amab sugar babies. I will Ponder lol I'd also love to see what everyone is working on so please take this as a sign to post something of your own!!

The song I blame for everything (I love u Thot Squad):

“This fine old man, he played three

He can knickknack this coochie

With an Amex black card, get a girl a Benz

Reset and do it again”

Word Count: Shanks ~750, Garp ~400 (sorry about the favoritism Vice Admiral 😬)

Shanks

shanks absolutely pursued this type of relationship with you

Your pretty face and open smile snagged his attention but the way you easily met and fed his energy had him at you like a dog with a bone

He’s no stranger to helping people laugh their way into his bed, but the journey with you felt different. He took extra time simply because each moment with you was too good to keep from savoring

You didn’t hide your attraction at any point but he did appreciate that you would try and prod back at him in good humor to test his will and want

You found he had both in excessive abundance

It felt nice to have someone so attractive, established, feared, and adored seek your company and watch him become more interested with each minute he got of you. It also felt nice to see that while he certainly had an abundance of confidence he held no arrogance with you - he played no games in making you question his interest or to assert his importance to you. He treated you as a person (one he mainly wanted to turn to his bedroom tenant but still-) and it made him feel more like a man than a myth for you both too

And holy hell did you like that man - he made you laugh even if at his own expense, he impressed you when he’d let some of his cunning slip through the jovial pirate shtick, he kept your interest with how he could entertain any topic you brought forward, he made you feel beautiful with the way his eyes and hands soaked you in, and he made you feel wanted with the way he treated everything about you with genuine interest. 

The only thing that made it better is how he made sure you wanted for nothing. The first night it was making sure you didn’t pay a cent for anything, you always had food and drink right before you realized you wanted it, his coat found your shoulders the moment you felt a chill, you found yourself in fresh air right when the heat and the noise of the bar became too much. 

After that it was an endless stream of trinkets, from priceless to silly but sentimental, all coming with letters that had you laughing, blushing, and swooning.

Every time he’d visit you (and it was at first as often as he thought he could manage but that managed to get even sooner and sooner because of his need for you) you’d indulge in each other like it was the first and last time

He stopped wanting anyone else - there were enough people across the seas he had to apologize to after explaining why he’d gasped the wrong name and they were never right to scratch the new insatiable itch he had anyway

When it dawned on him how much you had him wrapped around your finger, not just physically and financially but also mentally, emotionally, and he’s pretty sure even spiritually, he may have had a crisis (the crew was very torn between amusement and true wory watching it unfold, especially when the usual rum and patented Beckman Shoulder Pat with Nod didn't ease his turmoil)

It wasn't because he didn’t want to love you, but he truly never thought he’d ever find someone he wanted and needed the way he does you. It was such a foreign concept to him that he felt like the world had tilted and left everything slightly unfamiliar. Especially coming from a relationship he stapled together with riches. Sure, there was also joy, camaraderie, and intimacy holding it together, but he found it harder to trust that someone such as you wouldn't find someone younger and more present to belong to than to trust that you could need him to sustain a lifestyle of ease and abundance.

If he couldn't be sure you'd want him, he'd try and find solace in you needing him, even if it was only for what he could afford you

When he finally told Beckman of his plight, he was slightly offended by the “it took you this long to figure it out?”

He’s currently trying to figure out how to convince you to live on his ship with him. He needed to let you know you’d be safe regardless of your experience level with the seas or battle. 

He’d bring the world to its knees if anything touched a hair on your head

Luckily for him, you knew. Anyone with eyes would from the way he smiles at you.

Garp

Garp was decidedly not in your plans. Yes, you wanted someone older, someone with wealth, someone with influence, someone who would take care of you, but you thought Gilfs were an urban legend told to see what face it would get out of freshies

You’re not complaining tho

He has certainly convinced you that the rarity of his kind just pointed to what a prized role it was to shack up with one

He was rough around the edges to be sure - brash and loud and stubborn - but he used all those traits to get you both exactly what you wanted

All your needs were met without you having to even think of them anymore (you were surprised that needs in the bedroom were included in that, but you supposed you shouldn’t have underestimated a man who could still punch apart battle ships, nor one with such a lust for eating)

Neither of you had any illusions of sweeping romance

You were more than happy with the care and respect that built between the two of you in your roles, growing with each act of service to each other, each piece of comfort, each unintended moment of vulnerability

Don’t get me wrong, the vulnerability ain’t common; most of your time is this man having fun watching you light up when he took you out and tossed his money around for you before taking you home to have multiple courses of dessert

You’ll never get over his gruff voice and curling accent - they helped your brain turn to mush while he coaxed and praised you through happily giving him everything he wants as a thank you for all his care

That voice along with all that burliness and age, which you thought would’ve been a turn off not on, ended up making you feel small yet so protected

Garp didn’t think he’d enter a relationship like this that went on so long and so easily but any reservation or second guessing was lost the moment he saw you and everything just felt natural

Tho he’d still make jokes that always make you groan about how you keep him young better than his troublesome recruits (that he is stuck between wanting to parade you around to see their jaws drop and wanting to keep you hidden away from any young bucks who may try to get your attention before he’s ready to let you go)

Thank you for reading 😘🤍🤍

Masterlist

[tonberry-yoda]

Big Strong Man - Shanks

notes - here's my shanks fic from the poll I did!! I was so happy to write for my husband until I realized I still don't know enough about him. If this doesn't fit with the story, I'm sorry lol, I'm only on episode 345 rn, so bear with me. Nonetheless, I think it's super cute! I hope you enjoy and have a super awesome day! Sending lots of hugs and kisses to everyone!!! <3

word count - 788

warnings - mentions of alcohol (Shanks drinking a beer, nothing crazy, but I thought I'd mention it), blood

"Can I see Shanks now?" Luffy pouted, stomping on the ground.

Shanks had asked you to take care of Luffy for a while, and you were hoping that he would be chill and just play with some blocks or something, but the kid hadn't shut up for three hours at this point and you were amazed. For a seven year old, he sure had too much energy.

"Shanks is busy," you told him as you did the dishes, and Luffy quickly attached onto your leg. "He'll be back tonight though, I promise."

"But I wanna see him nowwwwww!" he whined, making you struggle to hold back an eye roll. "He's probably doing cool pirate stuff without me, huh?"

You wiped your hands dry and pulled Luffy off of your leg, leaning down to his level.

"Luffy," you said, your tone soft. "I know you wanna see Shanks do his pirate stuff real bad, but you're going to have to leave him alone for a little. He is super busy today because of that other crew that showed up."

"But I wanna fight them too!"

"I know you do, but you're gonna have to train and get a crew of your own to fight a pirate crew like that, Luffy, do you understand?"

"Well, when can I do that?" He poked out his bottom lip and crossed his arms.

"When you're grown up and ready to go. Once you're strong enough to take down this whole island, you can become a big bad pirate yourself."

"You think so, y/n?!"

You nodded, a smile plastered on your lips. "I know so."

Luffy jumped up and down in victory exclaiming, "I'm gonna be a pirate!" over and over again in a singsongy voice.

And right on cue, Shanks opened the door, bloodied and covered in bruises.

"Shanks!!" Luffy yelled, running over to the redhead at the door and jumping on him like he didn't have a single injury.

"Woah there, kiddo," Shanks laughed, setting Luffy down. "I don't know if I can take one of your big bad Luffy hugs right now."

"Are you okay?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. He was shocked to see Shanks in a condition like that, especially since he was used to Shanks being a more peaceful guy who seemed to avoid fights if possible. And if he did get into fights, he never looked like this.

"I'm fine! This is nothin'! Though, y/n, do you mind grabbing me a beer from the fridge?"

You crossed your arms and looked at Shanks with an unamused expression. "Luffy, go play in the backyard for a little."

Luffy saluted at you and quickly made his way outside.

"What's that look for?!" Shanks asked, throwing his hands in the air.

"First of all, I'm not going to grab you a beer when you look like this. And second, why the hell do you look like that in the first place?!"

"Those were some pretty pesky pirates." he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Gave us some trouble before we kicked their asses."

"They're gone though, right?"

"Of course! What do I look like?" Ignoring your comment from earlier, Shanks walked to the fridge and cracked open a beer. You just rolled your eyes and grabbed a wet rag to clean him up a bit.

"Well, thanks for getting rid of them, Shanks, and tell the rest of the crew too."

"Can do!" Shanks said with a smile as you began taking off his shirt to find little scratches that were surrounded by blood and dirt. You cleaned him up with the wet rag, making sure to avoid the deeper cuts that you would clean more thoroughly later as to not infect them.

You didn't even notice Shanks staring at you with hearts in his eyes until you were finished.

"What?" you said, trying to hide the blush forming on your cheeks.

"Thanks for cleaning me up, cutie." He winked at you and set his beer down before pulling you into his arms, pressing kisses all over your forehead.

You pushed him away, giggling and readjusted yourself so you could better be in a position to kiss him back.

"You know I suck at babysitting, Shanks. I can't believe you left me with Luffy today. The poor kid was bored out of his mind watching me make maps."

"I can make it up to you." he told you, giving you puppy dog eyes and puckering out his lips.

You just giggled and pressed your lips to his several times before pulling him into your arms.

He sighed lovingly and breathed in your scent before hugging you back.

"Alright, big guy, let's get these deep cuts fixed up."

~~~~~

one piece masterlist | pinned post

2023 @tonberry-yoda – do not repost or claim ANY of my work as your own! likes, reblogs, and comments are not only welcome, but appreciated

~~~~~

[moonspirit]

OML YALL AND YOUR ANGSTY SELVES NEED TO CHILL TF OUT!! Moon, to maybe level out this angst, can we get some headcannons for the shenanigans that our ambassador crew gets up to while traveling? Just some funny HCs please

Ahaha Hello anons xD A bit late responding to these, sorry!

I think our Ambassadors absolutely get themselves into a LOT of trouble during travel. Especially Jean, Connie and Armin, because let's face it... they're island bumpkins. Pieck is not one but she'll gleefully join in on whatever mess these three create - you know, because some Pieck-spice makes everything nice!!

Car drives are a nightmare at first because the 3 Paradis boys are simply too fascinated with the workings of the vehicle to even get on. Whenever the car honks, they burst out laughing and Annie is so embarrassed to even be seen with them #_# It's game over when Jean finally gets a license to drive tho. Turns out he's generally very talented at most things, but drives like a fucking idiot. He thinks he looks very cool and debonair but everybody's hanging on to dear life. RIP, one Ambassador might actually just kill all the others.

Reiner, Jean, Connie & Pieck absolutely go overboard drinking in whatever new country they're in - Armin suffers as a result because he's a lightweight but they make him drink for the spirit and fun of it and every. single. time. he gets absolutely smashed with just a few sips. Lucky for Annie though, as annoyed as she looks, Armin's like a super affectionate puppy in this state.

Hotel rooms are also a nightmare. They book three rooms and end up using just one. Pieck steals tissues and tiny packets of shampoo and soap wherever they go; she's a serial thief of all things little and free. The desserts that accompany them during meals always go missing, and after a point, the others stop wondering where they go. Aruani manage to sneak off to some isolated place at any cost - even it just ten minutes.

The six usually get dangerously close to some public gaffe or the other because they're silly idiots. But somehow, by mutual panic and strategic planning, they manage to fix it before the curtains go up and the world sees only impeccably dressed men and women in very nice suits and definitely not the broken arm of a statue stuffed up the back of Connie's jacket.

:3

[sage-is-in-fact-very-tired]

coworkers polycule headcanons. brought to you by yours truly as well as all 3 of their respective cast members 100000 percent feeding into this (/lh)

- Ven absolutely makes sure everyone has at least eaten something within the day. Ari he typically doesn't have to hound on too much, but Icarus he *absolutely* does. (Ari usually helps.)

- Ari is constantly dragging a very asleep Ven away from his desk and or the main table to his bed because he fell asleep or is on the verge of it. More often than not she ends up sitting on the floor beside his bed and either reading, or she herself is asleep

- Ari and Icarus' part of the relationship is a bit more stained - mostly due to Ari's previous antagony of them. They're working through it, the best they can, but Icarus is. Having a bit of a hard time doing so considering everything.

- Despite that, the first-person Icarus breaks down in front of since the cathedral is Ari. They're constantly jumping around stuff, and at some point they just . snap. make a snarky comment they shouldn't, throw something, *something*, and it all comes crashing down - it all blows up. (But at least someone is there to pick up the pieces.)

- Cuddle piles in Icarus' nest are very common - both due to the fact Icarus' has the most comfortable bed (They're all very unsure how that one happened; but Ic is absolutely positive it's a quixis thing) and also just because. nest. (Icarus likes it to feel like the people they love.)

- While the three of them being in the nest is fairly uncommon - usually it's just Ven and Ari - due to the fact Icarus' isn't around nearly as often, when it does happen its always very fun. Ven and Ari just get smothered in fluffy wing blanket.

- Ari and Ven spend a lot of time chilling in the library and reading together - it's always fun and has more than once turned into "throwing books back and forth" kinda thing

- One of them (Ven) figured out Icarus can kinda sorta purr? it's a really low drawn-out bird trill that only happens when Icarus is *very* comfortable, but each of the other two coworkers have and will use this to their advantage

- Case and point; sometimes Ari has a really hard time relaxing after a conversation with Fable, so sometimes she will just straight up call Icarus over and drag them to their nest because bird purr trill thing is very calming.

- Icarus has started to learn how to braid by braiding Ari's hair. Both because they want to make up from lost time, and also because sometimes their hands are too shaky to make potions but they're not too shaky to braid hair - so they still have some kind of distraction for their hands.

- Ari likes to make them both little flower crowns and or bouquets!

- Ven leaves them both little notes whenever he fines the sleeping in the office - small reminders to drink water or eat something, or just a little note teling them he cares

- On more than one occasion they've all found each other passed out on the floor - while it's not very common with Ven and Ari, it's rather common yo find Ic curled up on the floor *in front of* their nest/bed but not *in it*

- Ari and Icarus help take care of each other's wings. While Ari's don't technically need maintenance due to their nature, Ic still likes to look them over just a precaution. Ari in turn looks over their wings - Ari hasn't been prompted to being allowed to preen them quite yet (Icarus is very protective of who gets to do that, which is fair) but she is allowed to touch them and pick out large pieces of dirt or silt or stuff, which counts as a win in her book.

- Icarus gave them each one of his feathers. They both carry them around - though they don't openly wear them on their person. (Both because that means Fable will know, and because then *everyone else* will know, and as of right now, it's just a thing they want kept between them.)

- Speaking of Fable, they've all learned pretty well just how to comfort each other after Fable leaves after a meeting. (Icarus can *say* they're fine all they want, but the way they shrink in on themself and look ready to cry and are very shaky say. very much otherwise.)

- Ari and Ven find Icarus perched and asleep in *very weird* places in the office much more than they probably should

- Ari and Icarus run a lot colder than Ven, so more often that not Ven pulling either or both of them into a hug just leads to them melting

- They're all respectively pretty touch starved, so they've learned small little touches add up and equal and lot over time

- On that note - Icarus really likes head scratches over. Anything else. Ven is more of a hug person, and Ari doesn't really have a preference but she is rather partial to either of them falling asleep on her shoulders.

- They have a lot of conversations about being worried about hurting each other - they always lead somewhere productive but some of them start of in a rather panicky place on someone's part

- They have a lot of hidden blankets around the office due to their habits of falling asleep in random spots.

- While no one will admit they have a specific blanket they put over people, they absolutely do. Ari will usually puts this mostly white with a snowflake kinda pattern over them. (There's absolutely a couple eye blood stains on there, but no one *really* cares that much.) The one Ven most often uses is a green kind of plaid. And the one Icarus most often puts over them is a lighter baby blue one with little orchids embroidered on it.

- If one of them is really tired while someone else is awake, and especially if they're yawning a lot, their ass is *immediately* getting dragged to bed.

- All of them like to put little braids in each other's hair. Sometimes they'll just start doing it while they're laying down and fall alseep halfway through, and other times they'll only stop because their hands start cramping.

- Icarus will often be the first to get to the office, and the first to leave. Sometimes they'll fall alseep with them in the nest, and awake without them. Sometimes they'll awake with them still there.

- Ari and Ven play tic tac toe way more often than they should considering, but. they do it anyway. (Icarus does. not understand the concept of tik tac toe.)

- On top of the Icarus can kinda sorta purr thing, they've also found out Ari can make very similar sounds to the Allay's clicks and chimes. Ven and Icarus absolutely use this to their advantage.

- Case and point - Icarus cannot fall asleep literal in silence (the thoughts in their brain and their own purrs *don't count*), so most of the time they end up curled and asleep against Ari while she is a) telling a story, b) talking to herself, or c) doing little allay chimes cause she's happy and comfortable

....okay thats probably enough it's been like half an hour of typing this and my hands hurt :((

hope yall like the silly guys; they deserve to be soft. (ignore the angst I slipped in there. it doesn’t exist. totally.)

[ontheoddoccasioniwritestuff]

Bells and Whistles (John Price x Captain!Reader)

Summary: This was far from what you imagined your first date with John would be.

AN: This is part of the "Star-crossed in the Crosshairs" universe, but you don't have to read that fanfic first. You can enjoy this as a standalone!

Thank you and special shout-out to @feedthemadness_sweetie on AO3 for commenting on near EVERY chapter of that series and motivating me to do some actually short slices of life for this series.

Bit of context: Reader is a Captain, they and John trained together before John was MIA for three years (and didn't contact them for the rest of the decade when he did get rescued). Reader has finally decided to give him a chance now that he's atoning for his mistake, and they're falling back in love.

"Star-crossed in the Crosshairs" Chapter 1 // Masterlist // AO3 Version

-----------------------------------------

“I’m sorry, but I fucking hate this.”

“Oh thank God, me too.”

So above your level was this restaurant that you’d been sent derisive looks when you’d requested to be seated near the fish tank wall. That wall turned out to be the highlight of this place. The menu? Incomprehensible, both in the style of writing and the combinations of flavours. The napkins? Folded into a shape you couldn’t have created outside of a dream. The chandeliers? More expensive than your flat, casting a thousand rainbows to be fragmented further by the glass displays dotted around this restaurant. Your outfit felt cheap, even though you’d technically splashed out on your first actual date with John. Speaking of, John was wearing a pressed suit with a bow tie you could tell he’d tied himself.

“Can we go please?” You asked quietly. John nodded and immediately signalled to the waiter. You’d barely had an entrée and a glass of wine so the bill didn’t take too long to arrive. Ripples of dull aqua wobbled over your hand, the bulb in the fish tank offering you no reassurance. An angelfish glided past your head whilst John slipped his card into the leather tab, and you pulled on your denim jacket, the one the egregious maître d’ had stared at for the longest second in your life.

A chill caught you off guard as you stepped outside. Glass shook in the door’s frame as John let it swing shut, catching up to you in two long strides.

“Sorry, love,” He said, his voice steel, but you could feel the dejection.

“It’s ok,” You took his hand and used it as an anchor to pull yourself closer to him and slow the return to his car right down. Again, you were really glad to be leaving that place behind, behind with the conversation that was mainly catching up on the last few years and awkward silences.

Thankfully, John reduced his speed and his hand pulsed twice around yours, “I just wanted you to have a good time.”

“We’ve changed a lot, but I still don’t need all the bells and whistles.”

“You deserve the bells and whistles.”

“True, but not that many bells and whistles.”

True enough, on the glum walk through streets you hadn’t really paid attention to on the journey up, you eyed up a pub across the road that screamed “local legend”. When you pointed it out to John, he noted the giant bell hanging over the doorway in lieu of a hanging board. It took two minutes to get you both situated with your drinks and a laminated dogeared menu attached to a clipboard with all the classics in Georgia font. Much more your style.

“You’re not going to believe this,” John said, crinkles by his eyes clueing you in on a jest.

“What?” You followed where he’d indicated, sipping through your straw until you choked on it. A karaoke machine dazzled in the corner by a square of parquet flooring, acting as a flat stage.

“I’m not drunk enough to get up there,” You indicated to your J20 (orange and passion-fruit - classic), “And I’m not drinking anymore. You?”

He shook his head, “Young man’s game.”

“John. You just turned forty.” Your pause and emphasis were there to say “shut up, you’re hardly about to cash in your pension”.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Well, if we’re taking stock, I’ve got the knees of a grandfather in my ‘old age’.”

“Yeah, ‘cus you keep jumping off second-storey buildings and taking sledgehammers to them.”

A second elapsed then you and John both turned into piglets, snorting at his jab whilst your food arrived with a carousel of condiments. You grabbed the sauce bottle, shaking it to test if there was enough, whilst John shook a packet of salt to douse his chips in. 

Neither of you bothered with the paper napkins in your laps, protecting your debonair wear. The food was good enough that you didn’t have to talk through it, except to pretend to complain when John took a pickle poking out from your burger and you stole the extra crispy bit of batter from his cod. Worth it though, every time, to see that fake frustration fade into that dumb fucking smile that made him look like a cartoon and endeared you more and more. All that work put into atoning for you and forgiving him was made worth it.

[bnhxx]

Coming out of my shell to say that I'm petitioning to be Leon's annoying little sister

Some platonic sibling hcs under the cut!!

Warnings: Platonic! Au, a little bit of sibling violence and A LOT of sibling banter, mentions of ptsd, drinking and alcoholism and events in RE2 and RE4

It's always I want him to rail me! I want his babies! And I can respect that I can I can but...have you ever considered being his annoying little baby sibling that adopts him as your new family member 😇

Like yeah nah bro I wanna annoy him and tease him for having no rizz AT ALL and just all around annoy tf outta him 😤

Like he's an orphan but not AnYmOrE, scooping this traumatised boy up and making him WISH he never met you but also is weirdly protective you who "adopted" him as their "sibling", and now won't stop saying "point and laugh!" out loud everytime he does smth stupid in the middle of the office when hes back from a mission.

Like, please he just needs an annoying little sibling in his life, I know I can't fix him but by God can I be the annoying little sister he so desperately needs in his life

Like....I KNOW his heels have never known the wrath of MY FEET clipping his shoes up when he's walking too slow but he NEEDS to 😭😭😭 I need to post this and find my PEOPLE

Also I feel like being a sibling vibe you'd have tagged along as a civilian in RE2, also not knowing what the fuck was going on but hey, you're in this fucked up shit together now ig. 🤷‍♀️ And you have some family/friends out of state so after the event you take him to chill at a beach or smth w your family/friends bc you're both well deserving of a fucking break while this ptsd hits the both of you

n everyone talks about how fucking awkward he was w Sherry in game but ayo hes REALLY feeling it now...

Like you're joking when you're like "it's like you've never been to one of these Leon 🤨"

N he just looks at you like "Yeah I haven't 😐"

AND YOU KAHSJEVDHEKEHEJE

"You're like 😶....bro....you have now been absorbed.....as my older brother"

And he's like 🧐🧐🧐 at first bc what??? How do I interact w these ppl??? Why me???? but ofc they love him, he's RE2 Leon and although he's super fucking traumatised and still awkward asf he just wants to make a good impression on his friends' close ones

Also he's like sitting there like damn,,,,,I wish I had that 😔

So you're like wELP noW yoU dO 🤪

And of course they're super grateful to him bc he saved you so they treat him nicely but he kinda gets that a lot so he's just like 🧍

So after you tell them hes now your older brother you've deemed it so 🤗 they just start to treat him like that and he just, doesn't know what to do??? Do I salute them, (y/n)???

Do it make him salute them for at least three weeks until you tell him absolutely no one does that and he was stupid for ever believing you 😈

Tbh I feel like this would work for the first couple of times until he mentions it at work in passing n everyone's like 🤨,,,,so then the next time he sees you he just has that pissed off older sibling face and he's coming for you so you better have ran like you did in Raccoon City kahsjehs 🏃‍♀️💨

But yeah after a while you guys stay in touch, he's training and drowning his pain with alcohol and you're trying to get him into more healthier ways of dealing w his pain as well as laughing at him kshsjdhsjs

your just sort of there to support him even when he's pushing you away bc no idiot I will not leave you alone when you're training I will watch and I will LAUGH when you fall. But I will also cheer you on when you win and give you my favourite hello kitty bandaid if you ever get hurt 🥰

And he's super grateful?? Bc your like this stable sort of annoying person who's there for him no matter what.

Like he knows he can come to yours to crash if he's had one too many drinks to holds his hair when he's puking his guts out hungover.

Yes you are there in the morning to laugh and yell at him for being stupid but he also saw the glass of water you left on the couch next to the ibuprofen and chuck bucket for him. And the little blankets and they you always seem to have waiting on him when he arrives

Yes you will be there to do it all over again if he comes walking to your place after he's drunk again.

And Yes, you will also be there to show him all the dumb photos you took of him drunk on your Kodak once they get developed and cackle in his face 😈

He like actually learns to take a load off with you and relax a little bc you have a bond and you weren't just saying that when you took his ass on holiday, you really meant you'd be there for him and it means a lot to him bc he's never really had that stability in his life before 😔

Also bc the trauma bonding you just get him ✨️ like you can both relate to the horrors you saw and what you unknowingly found out about Umbrella.

Like maybe you work w him in the field or just as an archivist or smth but you're helping him w this cause too, dealing w the same or similar shit he's been dragged into so ofc you guys form a bond w each other.

And so by the time RE4 rolls around imagine you're like talking him through his mission on the radio n he's soo serious around Ashley and Luis so you can't help it you burst out laughing bc he's so stiff, and he's like THIS is a LIFE and DEATH siTuAtiOn now do your fUcKiNg jOb SeNd me tHe coOrDiNatEs

And you're like okay okay grumpy pants 😈 I'll give you the coordinates but you have to say pwetty pwease w a cherry on top for me 🥰

If it were anyone else he'd turn the radio off and find it himself but bc he does care for you, and you're like the only stable platonic thing he's had in ages he's like cursing and swearing until he FINALLY caves in and does it

So you give him the coordinates and just as he's about to go back to almost dying your like "I got that recorded fyi" and he's just 😤😤😤 at Luis for no real reason other than his 'little shit of an adopted sibling' kwhsjshdhd

But also imagine randomly calling him constantly bc you're really worried for him bc this time your not there with him and it scares you

And he's like, I'm not dying here bc who else is gonna put up w your shithead behaviour??? n you're just like, 'aww Leon!! 🥺🥺'

So hes like 'yeah so stfu and let me do my mission 😤' but you swear you can hear the smile in his voice through the radio

OR if you're there, with him it's even MORE chaos kshdjdhdjdn

Like imagine Luis flirting w you n him being all protective older brother on you, n you're just like 🙄 siblings amirite, btw Leon that's a prime example of how to properly rizz someone up you loser 😇 n your not running from ganados this time your running from him (again) 🏃‍♀️💨

If you engage in sibling violence he's like, you haven't hit me once this whole mission n you're like, I'm giving you a vacation since we're running for our godamned lives out here n hes thinking like 🥺 my shins have never know rest like this before since I met you 🥺

but he just gives you a little smirk 'heh' or some one liner and that's it he did it to himself his shins indeed do NOT know rest 💀

Being teased by him more and more as he matures but dw, you're always there to annoy him back 😇 and run tf away when he gives that older sibling look like he's about to wreck your shit for ever thinking of crossing him lajsjsjsbs

[666writingcafe]

An Interview With Thirteen

Part Four of A New Series

Question One: What is your greatest fear?

I know you all expect me to be like, "I have no fear", but the truth is, my greatest fear is going through my entire existence without finding that special someone. You could say that I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic in that sense.

Question Two: Who has given you the best advice?

Funnily enough, Solomon.

Question Three: Do you like comedies or thrillers?

How about a comedy thriller? Especially if the comedy is on the darker side.

Question Four: What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

Admitting that I like MC, and not just as a friend.

Question Five: What will you do if there’s a zombie apocalypse?

Chill in my cave until the dust settles down, and then begin collecting souls.

Question Six: What are three things you want to do before you die?

They all involve MC. That's all I'm telling you, because I want it to be a surprise.

Question Seven: What toppings do you like on pizza?

I'm not really a pizza person, but if it's offered, I will eat a slice or two of the classics. You know, plain and pepperoni. Nothing too special.

Question Eight: What is something you cannot tolerate?

Solomon acting a fool and associating with shady people. Like, he's not a bad guy by any means, but he does get up to some stupid shit, and it annoys me because I know he's smart enough to know better.

Question Nine: What is fashion for you?

Fashion are trends that come and go. Style, on the other hand, is something that is not only personal, but it sticks to you forever. Like, I'd describe someone like Asmodeus to be fashionable, while MC is more stylish. Does that make sense?

Question Ten: Do you have any silly fears? If yes, what is it?

I don't think any of my fears are silly. They're usually backed up by evidence.

Question Eleven: What is something that no one knows about you?

I'm a girly girl at heart. Like, I'm more than willing to kick back, relax, and watch a string of cheesy chick flicks as I'm doing my nails or something.

The next set of questions require you to choose between two things. (Oh, like "Would You Rather?") Exactly. (I'm in!)

Question Twelve: Would you rather drink a bottle of tomato ketchup or eat a box of salty, spicy cookies?

Ketchup all day every day. The cookies sound like one of Solomon's creations, and I'm not about to let him send my ass to the emergency room because he's too caught up in his experiments to prepare something edible.

Question Thirteen: Would you rather be trapped in a jungle or a haunted house?

Haunted house. I can bargain with spirits to ensure my survival. Not exactly possible in the jungle.

Question Fourteen: Would you travel in a bus with a snake or a plane with frogs?

The bus. You can essentially get off at any point at one of the bus stops, so that limits the amount of time you have to spend with the snake. The plane, on the other hand, doesn't stop until it's reached its destination, and then everyone's trying to get off at the same time, and the frogs would probably make the whole thing that much worse, if not delay or cancel the flight altogether.

Question Fifteen: Would you rather be talked about for being bad or hated for being good?

I want people to believe that I'm bad because it makes my job easier. It also helps protect me from being taken advantage of.

Question Sixteen: Would you rather replace your feet with wheels or hands with swords?

Hands with swords! That sounds awesome! (But what about losing the ability to touch things without cutting them open?) I'll just hire someone to do that for me.

Question Seventeen: Would you rather have your head stuck in a bucket or hand stuck inside a jar?

How do you even get your head stuck in a bucket? (The bucket ends up being too small.) But why would you even put yourself in that situation in the first place? At least with the hand, there's some amount of reason for it to accidentally become stuck in a jar. The bucket is just someone being stupid, I feel.

Question Eighteen: Would you rather be born with a monkey’s tail or a giraffe’s neck?

The tail. You know how much kinky shit I can do with that thing?

Question Nineteen: Would you rather scold or give candy to a child who is crying?

Depends on why the kid's crying. If they're being a brat, then of course I'm not going to reward that behavior, but if they didn't do anything wrong, then I'd try my best to comfort them, even if that means giving them candy.

Question Twenty: Would you rather play a game to have fun and lose or to win but have no fun?

Now, why would you play a game if you don't plan on having fun at some point during it?

Question Twenty-One: Would you rather control fire or water?

Water. It's everywhere, including inside each and every one of us.

Question Twenty-Two: Would you rather live in a world without technology or nature?

Technology. Nature is beautiful in all its forms, dead and alive.

Question Twenty-Three: Would you rather solve a problem between two strangers or enjoy watching them fight?

Depends on how annoying they're being.

Question Twenty-Four: Would you rather argue and resolve a conflict or end the argument and leave it unresolved?

It's always better to resolve an argument right then and there. Do you know the amount of people that allow that shit to pile up until it collapses on top of them in a fit of rage? That's how a good portion of people wind up dead, because the weight of all of those unresolved arguments made them snap. (What if you're in a situation where it's inappropriate to argue?) Then we wait until whatever it is passes, and then we address it, but it's important to not let too much time pass beforehand.

Question Twenty-Five: Would you rather know the time of your death or the cause of your death?

People who would rather know the cause of their death are idiots. They think that if they simply avoid coming into contact with it, then they can live a long life, but that's not how death works. At least with knowing the time, you can ensure that you make the most out of your life instead of living in fear.

Taglist: @lost-in-time-wanderer, @fuzztacular, @dianedancer18, @sweetbrier2908, @flare-love, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf, @thunderlightning351, @l3v1chan, @anxious-chick, @5mary5, @expressionless-fr, @tenkobitch

[heard-nsfw-is-back]

Pervy little Edgin x Xenk.

Every time Edgin moves or sighs or anything it's like a shout to Xenk. Everything is so loud all the time and he works over time to not be overwhelmed. Forests are nice. The wildlife not overly noisy. The cities are the worst. Especially bars and restaurants. The clanking and sloshing and laughter and yelling. It's so much all the time.

After they rescue the city and things calm down a little, Edgin and Holga invite him to eat a meal. Partly because they're curious about his nature, mostly because that's what "friends do." Xenk can't help but smile. Friends. He's never had those. "Alright my friends, we shall dine together." They look at each other and shrug. Was that not right? Did he miss a cue somewhere? Was there a double meaning to their request? A 'musical and chill' kind of meaning?

Trying(and failing) not to over think, he follows them through Edgin's hometown to a small tavern and before they sit, ale and food are left at their table. Holga dives in to the potato and turkey leg, Edgin munches on to his turkey leg but drank more than anything. Xenk sat awkwardly, he had no real need to eat and the sound of everyone else chewing was enough to sway any appetite.

"What's wrong, food not good enough?" Edgin pointed at Xenk's plate. Holga stopped eating and looked over. "Maybe he doesn't know how?" She argued. Xenk smiled and shook his head. "I know how it's just." "Too noisy." The other two finished. "I knew it was a bad idea." Edgin stood and Holga picked up their plates. "Come on let's go home. It's quiet." She urged and Xenk gratefully stood and followed them out.

Kira opened the door for them. "Hi dad! Hi Holga!" She looked at the paladin. "Xenk right? Welcome. I only have three chairs." Xenk walked in. "I'll stand." "No you won't!" She retorted at the same time Edgin and Holga did. "You're a guest you have to be comfortable." She finished, trying to soothe the wildly confused expression on his face. "Come on man just. Sit down. I'll use the window." Edgin pointed at the table.

Kira and Holga grabbed the two end chairs and Xenk lowered himself on to the chair facing the window. A perfect view of Edgin leaning back and balancing his drink and the last bites of his food. Holga passed some sandwiches that she grabbed from a table next to them when they were leaving to Kira and soon they were all eating in blissful near silence.

Or it was until Xenk made the mistake of looking up at Edgin licking up some sauce that had trailed down his hand. Then his senses narrowed down to the bard. Every movement of cloth, the sound of his tongue tracing skin. The smell of drink and food and Edgin's perfumed clothes. The waning light reflecting in his hair and neck. Very near perfection, if he just kept his mouth shut.

Edgin sucked on his thumbnail, trying to get some grease that had gotten stuck and Xenk changed his mind. Keep that mouth open. He begged anyone that would listen. Edgin had cleaned his hands and walked over to a basin to wash properly. Xenk's attention nearly helplessly followed. He would have to buy him better trousers. Something better than the dusty brown he wore. Something that would curve his body right. Everyone would see what a glorious painting he made.

No. Wait. Not everyone. Just Xenk. A curl of possession snaked it's way through his chest. 'Enough.' He thought viciously. He was so prone to dark thoughts and he stood up. He had to leave, hide in the woods and meditate. War with his mind to get it back under control. Desiring his new friend was not Right.

The family looked up at him and he just bowed. "I thank you friends for your hospitality. I need to go. Immediately." Holga snorted and waved him off. "Sure ok." Kira stood to walk him to the door. Edgin just looked confused and lost. Maybe a little hurt if Xenk was prone to thoughts of fancy. "Everything ok?" He asked drying his hands on some cloth. Xenk lowered his head. "Yes. Goodnight." He snapped his head back up and walked out. Kira closed the door behind him.

Hours of walking and waring with his mind did little to help. The Desire was still there, but the need to claim what was his was dutifully being ripped out. Edgin is a father, possessing every moment of his life was impractical. Edgin was a name now. He was no doubt going to be asked to save the world again. If he didn't volunteer himself, Xenk chuckled. Edgin and Holga were good friends so he would have to share. And when he really thought about what it would mean to have a healthy relationship the last bits of dark thoughts drifted away.

He had found peace again until he heard footsteps running in his direction. 60...no 70 feet away. Xenk turned to what was chasing him and relaxed when he just heard Edgin cursing his name. "How damn far did he get?" Edgin complained and Xenk felt a lightness in his chest. He stood and waited until the bard saw him. "There you are gods how fast can you walk?!" Xenk leaned against a tree until Edgin got closer.

"What was that? Running off like that? We're friends, you have to learn how to talk about your feelings." Edgin grumbled and placed his hands on his hips. "Oh yes we're in the position to lecture each other about effective communication." Xenk agreed, if a little teasing. Edgin had the gall to look affronted before pursuing his lips and begrudgingly agreed. "So what happened? Heard a damsel in distress, the fifth town over calling for a sheep stuck in a tree?" "My hearing is not that good." Xenk explained. "No I know I... you know what no, not doing this."

The paladin waited. The bard waited. "So I.." "I feel I must.." They started at the same time. Xenk gestured. "My apologies please go on." "Are we rushing you? Did we pressure you in any way? Made you feel awkward?" Edgin looked around. "We've only known each other a few weeks but we. I mean, me. I move too fast maybe." Xenk waited until he could speak. "You showed me exemplary hospitality. You knew I was over taken by my senses and brought me to your home. For my comfort. You didn't need to."

"Well I mean yeah? That's what friends do." Edgin shrugged and looked back at Xenk. "Friends." Xenk repeated, the word that meant so much a day ago, now bitter and small in his mouth. Edgin inched a little closer. "Isn't that what we are?" He asked. Xenk got distracted by the sudden rush in Edgin's heartbeat. "Your heart is racing." He whispered, leaning a little down to hear it as clear as he could. "Well I'm a little out of touch with this." Edgin swayed side to side, nervous.

"Oh? With what?" "Flirting man come on don't make me say it when I know you can hear it." Xenk looked up and stared in to his eyes. He stood tall and slowly backed the bard in to the nearest tree. "Is that what you're doing? Flirting?" "What? I mean yes. Isn't that how you do it?" Xenk lifted his arms and caged Edgin in. "No if I was flirting you would be breathless and aching at this point." Edgin rolled his eyes. "You really have to go above and beyond huh?"

Xenk smiled and leaned in until he was an inch away from Edgin's mouth. "But it's true. And right now you're breathless, your heart's racing and." He paused before standing flush against the bard. "You're aching."

[illarian-rambling]

Thanks for the tag @willtheweaver!

OC Halloween Tag 🎃

What are your OCs doing on Halloween?

I'll do this by group, assuming each cast will celebrate together. I also have their costumes here!

You bet your ass the Outcasts quartet is taking Twenari out trick or treating. She's never been, since her mom didn't allow her much of a childhood, and she's kind of nervous, but thankfully she's got three of the scariest people on Illaros as her stand-in big siblings. Izjik and Sepo have also never been, and while Izjik is quite excited, Sepo is acting grumpy about it as usual. Djek is the Halloween king, so he's guiding their efforts by knowing which houses have the best candy and also convincing Twenari to chase other trick or treaters through the dark streets. All for giggles, of course. I think the four of them get a good candy haul and spend the rest of the night watching horror movies until they pass out.

For the Mortal God crew, all of them would relentlessly bully Avymere into letting them throw a party in their palace. Avymere would agree, though they don't really see the point of parties that aren't for political maneuvering. Astra is in charge of decoration, and she goes all out with a truly concerning amount of homemade fake blood. Mashal is on snack duty, as he's somehow the best cook out of all of them. He makes sure everyone eats before they get wasted. Ivander shows up an hour late, but he brings the best drinks, so he's forgiven. He spends the rest of the night telling ghost stories and lounging about. Elsind brings games and actually organizes events, like rating bad horror movies and pumpkin carving. Avymere tries to help them, but they insist on taking care of it all. The rest of the night is spent playing games, dancing to spooky music, and telling scary stories around a fireplace.

The Starbreaker crew is ready to fucking party. Full bar crawl. They're ghosts, this is their shit. Faalgun tries to be a responsible friend, but the moment he gets any amount of alcohol in him, the feral brain takes over. He's out here starting fights, climbing buildings, and generally being a menace. Nyda isn't too far behind him, except she's asking everyone in a hot costume if they want to kiss a ghost. Kaulakri certainly isn't jealous. She's acting as the sober friend and keeps an eye on the rest of the group, who keeps bringing her candy as recompense. Pash gets emotional when he's drunk, so he's mostly laughing himself sick and crying about how much he appreciates his friends in equal measure. Anarac chills out a little when he's tipsy, so he's happily following his friends around like some sort of silent, smiling specter. I give them a fifty percent chance of ending the night in a jail cell.

I'll tag @gioiaalbanoart @leahnardo-da-veggie @mr-orion @aestatismors @dyrewrites and anyone else who wants to play!

[nethhiri]

Siren Charms: Chapter 14

Zoro x Siren!Reader

Warnings: none

They Make An Ass Out Of U and Me

Franky lowered his shades and one of his eyebrows arched. Robin just smiled. Zoro stared at you with furrowed eyebrows, trying to figure out the other possibilities. 

"Then what the hell are you?!" He put down his beer and rested his hand on his sword hilt. "And why did you lie?"

"Zoro, relax. She didn't lie." Robin said. "We assumed the most likely explanation." 

"You like a vampire for real or somethin?" Franky asked.

"Nah they only drink blood." You paused. "I eat...I do more." You added. "I mean I can do more, but I... try really hard not to." You avoided looking anyone in the eye. You knew that was pretty frowned upon with humans. You took Robin's book and opened to the page you were looking at. "I'm this. I think so anyway. I can't read these letters." You looked pointedly at Zoro, who looked just a touch guilty. Then you looked at Robin so she could read it to you. 

"Siren." Robin grinned. 

Franky and Zoro both leaned to look at the page.

"But don't read the rest because it's probably full of lies," you scoffed. Humans loved to conflate you with mermaids.

"So where's your tail?" Franky pointed at the picture in the book.

"Damn. You can't just ask that." You made a disgusted face. "That's so rude."

"Oh shit. Sorry, little mama. My bad."

"No. I'm just kidding." You teased. "I switched forms a lot today though so I'd prefer not to do it again. It takes a lot of my stamina and that's also why I have to eat a lot." You finished the rest of the beer in your mug. 

"Wow you can almost keep up with Zoro," Robin nodded to your empty mug, and took it for a refill.

The three of you chilled on the deck for some time while the others were chowing down on octopus fritters. You got agitated when you heard the fish riders in the distance, though it turned out they only wanted to thank the blond one for some bizarre reason. You had ditched your wings with the intent of diving after them, but Luffy assured you there was no need. Soon after that, everyone came back on the deck of the Sunny, discussing the next steps in getting to Fish-Man Island. You really didn't care about that so you wandered around the ship, exploring parts that you hadn't gotten to before. You watched the fish swim in the aquarium for some time. It was fairly large. Maybe part of it could be converted into a room for you. Though you would hate to be stuck in your 'mermaid' form for an extended period of time. 

You found yourself in the crow's nest, probably attracted there by the strong scent of Zoro. He wasn't there now. You picked up the weights he normally used and were dumbfounded by how heavy they were. For a human, that was damn strong. Since you were up here already, and bored. You decided that maybe you should work out. You couldn't be flying or swimming all the time like you were used to and needed to keep those muscles strong. You grabbed the bar with weights on either end and sat on the floor. Rolling your body on your back and tucking your legs under the bar, you balanced it on your feet. It was like you were squatting the bar but on your back instead of on your feet, basically a vertical leg press. Your hands were behind your head and you yawned. You could do with a little more weight. 

"That's an interesting way to do that." 

You sat up quickly, catching the bar in your hands and setting it on the ground. "Sorry. I should have asked." You were annoyed with yourself that you hadn't heard him come in. 

"Nah it's for everyone." Zoro had a bottle in his hand. "I didn't come up here to workout anyway. Too noisy down there." 

"Are they still fawning over that silly mermaid?" 

"You sound jealous."

You scoffed. "I'm not! It's annoying that people are so enthralled by the world's most sub-par sea creature!" A growl rumbled in your throat. "They aren't strong. They aren't particularly smart. They're fast; I'll give them that. But not faster than sirens. And they can't even walk on two feet until they're older." 

"You can't really be mad about it since people think sirens are myths." 

He had a point. That didn't mean you had to accept it. You frowned and glanced at his bottle. "Gimme some that." He handed it over and you took a swig before handing it back. 

"Oi if you're gonna drink that much, get your own." 

"You're not very nice. I'm a lady. You should get it for me." You stretched out seductively.

"Tch. You're better off trying that on Sanji." Zoro rolled his eyes and tilted his head back with another drink. 

You disappeared down the hatch for longer than anticipated. When you returned, you had as many bottles as your arms could carry. You sat on the opposite side of the room and placed them next to you.

"How did you get that many!?"

"I tried it on Sanji." You smirked, grabbing one and popping the top off.

Zoro grumbled, "Of course."

"What's your problem with the blonde one? You don't seem to like each other much."

He sneered. "He thinks he's better than me and he's not. I'm way stronger than him and I'm the one that's going to make Luffy King of the Pirates."

"So Sanji is your mermaid." 

"Never put it like that again."

It wasn't much longer before Zoro ran dry. He was eyeing your stash. You leaned against the wall and took long, languid drinks from one of the bottles, waiting to see how long it would take him to ask you for some. You watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

He cleared his throat. "Do you think I could... have one of those?"

"So the guy that wanted to cut my head off earlier and wouldn't share his booze wants a something from me now?" 

"I shared!" 

"One sip."

"You eat people! How am I supposed to know you won't turn on us at any second?! It's my job to protect the crew!"

"Because I promised Luffy I wouldn't."

"And that's supposed to be good enough? Only your word?"

"It's good enough for Luffy." You knew he was making a sound argument. But you were still irritated by his questioning and distrustful nature. Everyone else accepted you immediately. You angrily rolled a bottle over to him. "Drink up, asshole. Maybe you won't feel anything when I eat your ass." You excused yourself from his presence, snatching a few of the bottles to take with you.

Zoro couldn't stop himself from yelling after you as you climbed down, "You're not eating anyone's ass and especially not mine!"

Of course that phrase was lost on you and Luffy, but everyone else that happened to be on deck burst out laughing. 

Nami could barely peak she was laughing so hard, "Wow what you guys doing up there?"

"Speak for yourself!" Sanji yelled back to him.

Usopp and Chopper covered each other's ears.

Zoro slammed the hatch shut and laid flat on the floor, red faced. That damn woman. He wasn't about to live that down any time soon. At least you left him a few bottles. Why did he feel guilty about making you mad? He was right. He was just doing his job. He could sense the predatory nature in you. It wasn't unfamiliar to him. He had a similar energy about him when he fought. He had noticed that you tried to suppress that part of yourself when you were around everyone, he assumed for their sake, but maybe you were really trying to fit in better. 

He had been watching you carefully since you first showed up. On laundry day, he watched as you tried to wear clothes Nami let you borrow. He had warned you that she would have your head if you ruined them. He watched you stand perfectly still until your own clothes were clean again, not realizing that she wasn't actually going to rip your head off. You didn't know better. Nami seemed very scary when she yelled. He watched during meal times, when you and Luffy stole off each other's plates when the other wasn't looking. He watched you fall out of the tree you had been sleeping in, and then look around to see if anyone saw. He watched you scramble out of the interior and take a defensive position when Usopp was vacuuming. Then he watched Usopp chase you with it, happy to have found something to defend himself if you ever decided to 'have an Usopp sandwich'. He watched you practice with your sword after everyone else was asleep. He had to stop watching that, however. The urge to correct everything you did was too strong.

He had even watched you when he had come to the crow's nest earlier, fascinated by your strength. You could easily lift as much as he could. Your thighs were deceptively muscular. They were big, but not big enough to warrant that much strength. He had avoided talking to you any more than he had to. When he did finally have a conversation, he enjoyed the banter before he ruined it by insulting you. And of course he could see that you were pretty. Anyone with eyes could see that. It didn't matter at all to him since he had no time for trivial things like hooking up, though he hadn't put much thought into it before. Nami and Robin were also very pretty, but Nami was basically a sister and Robin was more of a weird aunt. 

Zoro sighed to himself. He didn't want to, but an apology was probably warranted. If he didn't do it of his own accord, Nami would yell at him, and like you, he thought she was scary when she yelled. He would do it tomorrow though. He was too tired now. To punctuate that, he yawned. 

Next

Tag list: @bbnbhm

[eonars]

Summer school update btw

I banded together with a bunch of the other women here (we're mostly women!!!) and we all agreed this one guy is giving us really bad vibes and had said really off color stuff to all of us at one point and we were all like oh thank god I didn't wanna be the first one to bring it up and act like I'm causing problems for no reason, and now also we're advising each other on relationship things and life stuff and I've got the two ladies from my university 100% behind me and ready to help however they can so I can report a really creepy professor who harassed me during my masters and has picked up where he left off now that I'm back for a PhD (unsure if I will chicken out but they're on my case, I am however a lil scared of rocking the boat and making enemies so early on in my career?) There's also THREE other iranians here 2 girls and a guy and the guy is going to be at my university in my same office when we get back, we've all been speaking farsi together nonstop which has been amazing practice for me but I swear to god any iranian I meet in any corner of the world will first of all not think I'm also iranian, will think I just have a super persian name for no reason, will then realize I AM iranian but will think I'm half white, will think I don't speak any of the language at all, will realize I do in fact speak it pretty decently and will ALWAYS end up with omg your farsi is so good wow! but at the same time akheyyyy che bamazeh farsi che bamazeh harf mizani and like mf this has happened to me like five times I need an answer bc it's either super good or it's akheyyy che bamazeh you can't have both!!! Either way a bunch of them went out for dinner and drinks tonight but I stayed back cause I have a massive headache (have not been able to get re hydrated since I got here) and I kind of just wanted some time to myself to have a nice shower and chill time in silence and tbh I'm loving it. 10pm now might chug this water bottle and bedge it 🛌

[that-darn-clown]

so. thought about something.

i know i've already got a Rewrite for Fnaf (that i adore), but...i thought of another way Fnaf could be rewritten that, in my opinion, would make it scarier and/or more dread inducing.

well...technically it's two things put together:

what if, instead of playing as a nightguard, you played as a child caught in the building after closing?

what if instead of the pizzerias all looking like they're still pretty decent (specifically looking at Fnaf 1 with this comment, considering that we know Somewhat Canonically it probably wasn't doing too great financially...like it's the smallest pizzeria and yet it still looks like a pretty popular place to take your kids. even though it doesn't seem like it would've been at that point), Fnaf 2 has the only pizzeria that still seems to be in its prime? the rest just look like liminal space looking places. think the way that the building looks in Fnaf 1 is similar to how it looks in that one fangame: the Graveyard Shift. like those vibes are what i'm going for.

like. let me set the scene for Fnaf 1, because i have the clearest image of the vibes for that game:

you are a child, likely no older than nine. for whatever unknown reason, you are left behind in an empty animatronic pizzeria place. it's clear that the animatronics are the most expensive thing here. the tables clearly reused from somewhere else, with their wear and tear being covered by confetti-patterned tablecloths. the chairs plastic, but colorful, with the fact that any adults can fit in them being a miracle. balloons decorate the place, but it's clear that they'll have to be replaced soon, given that some are sinking to the floor. confetti and streamers, as well as cups, puddles of soda and other various drinks, and even dropped pizza and cupcakes, litter the ground. the pizza is relatively decent. but it's the only place for kids to have fun that is affordable to your family.

there is an arcade, and it's the only place that feels relatively safe to you right now as you continue waiting, hoping that someone will come pick you up. the problem is that to get there, you'll have to pass by the Owner's Office....and you don't want to get in trouble for being here after closing; it's one of the rules, after all. but the place is still decently lit, and you've heard that people work here afterhours...you just need to wait for the nightguard, and then you can get out of here and head back home. you know the way, after all.

but as you explore around at night, you notice the animatronics moving. they don't hurt you...but once you get close enough to one of them, it makes an odd noise, almost seeming concerned that you're still here. then you hear something chilling, and something that seems to agitate the animatronic in front of you.

footsteps. shoes clicking against the tiled floor.

the animatronic stands defensively before you, and it gives you a clear indication that you need to hide. NOW.

and then you realize that this is what you've gotta do each night as you're here. hide. make sure you stay as undetectable as possible. the second you make a loud enough noise, you're in trouble, and will be the rest of the night. you hear someone approaching, and you've gotta constantly keep moving. as the nights go on, the "trigger sounds" become lesser and lesser. on the first two nights, the "trigger sound" has to be big, noticeable. slamming doors shut and knocking things over will get you noticed on night two. by night three, the sound of using doors, not even slamming them, will get you noticed. by night four, running will get you noticed. by night five, you better have learned how to sneak, and sneak well. regardless of the night, getting noticed by an animatronic is also counted as a "trigger sound," and the fact that the animatronics get more active, and thus are now easier to run into, does not help.

once a "trigger sound" has been made, you need to keep moving, and hide once you've gotten a good distance away from Him. hiding under tables, in dark rooms, in the bathrooms, even in the kitchen. but be warned, the more often you hide in a particular place, the more likely it is that He will check there first when you start hiding. don't screw yourself over.

darkness becomes more of a comfort to you than the light, though you do have the option of having a flashlight and turning on the lights in dark rooms. because even though it is easier to see things like hiding places and secrets in the dark, the presence of light makes it easier for you to be seen as well. so do you risk it? turning on a flashlight to see what lies in the shadowy corners of the building? turning on the lights in a dark room? knowing that you are also shining a beacon for your location?

the game includes a fear mechanic. the more fearful you are, the more your character shakes and trembles. it can cause you to trip, to drop whatever you're currently holding (which, depending on what you were holding, could make a loud noise), and to, seemingly, "hallucinate" things in the shadows. it is the only reason for light to be of use to you, to comfort your character.

you never see Him, the man pursuing you. you know it's the Owner, the only other person who would be in here before the Nightguard would be. but He is always in the shadows. whenever he is chasing the player, it's almost like they refuse to turn back to see him. if caught, all the player sees is the blur of where they have been grabbed and pulled back, and then a shrill, terrified scream. the "Game Over" screen just shows a missing poster, presumably of the protagonist. whether the child got killed or simply kidnapped is not clear. (but, considering it's Fnaf...i think the player could guess)

but, along with all of this, you discover secrets, mostly hidden in the shadows and rooms with cracks in the doors. missing posters with pictures of children, dated in the 80s. drawn pictures of crying children. newspaper clippings of events in the past of horrific circumstances surround Freddy's. the words "IT'S ME" scrawled on the walls as the desperate cries of the lost souls roaming the halls of Freddy's. in the shadows, animatronics appear to have blood covering their faces in the shadows, only for the blood to mysteriously disappear when light is shined on them.

the player has to survive all of this from 9:00 PM to midnight, waiting for the Nightguard to get there.

but those hours are gonna feel long to a young child. especially when they're scared for their life.

(tl;dr- Avoid Getting Caught By William Afton For Three Hours SImulator)

(like...think about it; part of the horror of Fnaf is the knowledge that there have been children murdered and shoved into suits, now haunting the halls of the pizzeria, looking for vengeance and freedom. wouldn't it technically be more terrifying to play as a young child, an outsider looking in, just trying to avoid Afton?? and if Freddy's looked more like an actual Chuck E. Cheese rip-off place? down to having cheap decorations and furniture?? Do You See My Vision???)

Holy shit why can I fucking hear this game in my head this is wild as shit

No kidding: this reminds me of this old place we used to go when I was little that I can barely find any mentions of online. It had two attractions: knock-offs of chuck e cheese skytubes and a rock climbing wall. I was too young for rock climbing, so I did the sky skytubes thing. I ADORED that place. It got shut down pretty quickly because, in retrospect, it was very unsafe.

But I was a very anxious child, and everywhere I would go, I would come up with a plan for if I got left behind after the place closed. So this concept feels like home to me <3

Note: upon further research of the place there is one in ohio?? Which I am not from???? And no mentions of a place where I'm from/near. Huh.

[mistressoftheelderitchwhorehouse]

Until I Spill My Guts Part 1

Summary: By day you worked at an English school in Yokohama, and by night you worked as a waitress at a hole in the wall strip club. It wasn’t ideal, and you always worried a student would see you, but it paid the bills. Everything was fine until two young men tripped into the club one day asking you to betray your boss, and turn your world upside down...

Now it's sink or swim as you're dragged deeper into Yokohama's underbelly while falling in love with two of Yokohama's most dangerous men.

Trigger Warnings: Sexual Harrassment, guns

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Pairing: Dazai x Black! Fem! Reader x Chuuya

A/N: Screwed with the timeline ages a bit. I view them as older than 22 in current Canon, so we're going with that.

-------------‐-‐-----------------------

The club's lights drowned the room in cold blues and firey reds. Music thumped from the speakers in the ceiling and walls, while beautiful women danced on poles and in cages decorated with neon lights.

Callussed and sweaty hands reached for your hips and ass, but you easily side stepped them as you made your way between the crowded tables, a tray full of empty glasses in hand.

You went over to the bar manned by a lanky woman who grinned when she saw you approach. She flipped a towel on her shoulder and leaned against the bar.

"There's the shining star. How's the crowd doing?"

Well," You set the tray down. "You can tell the Nine Gang just got payed, there's a bachelor party with an unfaithful groom, and some how the new boss for the Street Rats is still conscious despite doing eight back to back shots of mystery shots."

"Color me impressed."

You frowned and glanced back at the crowd. It wasn’t even eleven PM, but it was a packed house. It made your skin itch and stomach churn. "I'm gonna take my smoke break."

"I'll let Sato know."

You made your way to the back of the club, and out the door that was labeled "staff only" in faded paint. A chill wind swept through the alley, bringing with it the stench of used condoms and car exhaust.

You looked both ways, before shutting the door behind you and leaning against the brick wall. You snaked a hand in your tiny shorts, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and then the lighter out of your bra.

You could still feel the club thumping against your skin, even making out a few of the song lyrics pouring from the speaker. If you tried, you could even hear the announcer telling who the next star dancer was.

Your club, The Sugar Scorpion, was by no means the loudest on the block, nor was it the prettiest, or had the best talent. Honestly, you could argue the club down the block had all of those in spades. Hell, you were even next door to a public sex dungeon.

No, what made this place "attractive" was...

"Oi, what about this place?"You looked up from the dingy concrete, and made out the muscular silhouette of man dressed in salaryman attire, looking at someone behind him. "They even have a foreigner! We'll get a cheap lay too."

"Nah man. That place uses a password. We'd never get in anyway, you were afraid to talk to that one Port Mafia guy asking directions."

"Fuck. Never mind let's go to the usual place."

You cringed at that and dropped your cigarette and killed it with the heel of your boot. When you went back inside you made a beeline for the bar where Yui was mixing a drink.

"If I don't show up tomorrow I was deported."

"Why?"

"Someone saw me here."

"Someone from the school?"

"No idea, but they're not a regular."

Yui shook her head. "I dunno how you live like you do. I'd be an anxious mess."

"Already there."

Yui poured the drink, and passed it off to the wobbling customer, who slurred something to them in a language neither of them understood before leaving.

"Well I have more anxiety to add to your plate." She pointed to a tray loaded with three colorful shots. "Send this over to Boss Man's table."

You felt your stomach drop, but grabbed the tray without complaint. You made your way through the crowd, and down a short set of stairs to the VIP section. Here everything was a little cleaner, the girls all naked, and almost everyone you saw carried a gun.

Sitting in a corner that was filled with men was your boss. He was a tall, muscular man that almost anyone would find handsome if it wasn't for the look in his eyes. The utter poison in the brown depths was enough to make anyone vomit.

He flashed you a toothy smile and gestured to you with a ring encrusted hand. "I even got a foreigner working for me. Hey, come here my little star."

You did as instructed, keeping your smile up as you went to the table, and leaned down to set the drinks in front of yojr boss. You bit your inner cheek when you felt meaty fingers pinch your ass.

"And she’s obviously one, ya know? Like those girls in the hip hop videos. Though, maybe you're too young to remember them."

You stood up properly, letting the comment roll off your back, and took a peek at his guests. Both were young at 18 or 19, maybe 20 if you were being generous, and wore nice clothing. One sported enough bandages you wondered if he should be in the hospital, while the other was just downright pretty with his reddish brown hair.

Strangely, neither had obvious guns on their person.

The bandaged man leaned forward. "And you speak Japanese too?"

"A bit." You pinched your thumb and ring finger close together. "If you speak too fast I get lost."

"Oh, that's great! I suck at English and Chuuya here just never bothered to learn."

"What the hell does that matter Dazai?" The red head-Chuuya, demanded.

You felt your face warm as "Dazai" cupped your cheek. "Yet you only serv drinks. A travesty. I would spend all of the world's treasures to have you spread beneath me."

You'd been propositioned a thousand ways, but never in such a poetic way in the club.

"Alas, it's not my celebration though." He snaked his arm around Chuuya, and shook him a bit, much to the red head's chagrin.

"You were right, Mr. Sakamoto. She'd make an excellent treat for our boss. However, I think Chuuya should try her first-"

"What the hell-!"

"He is turning 19. The poor lad hasn't even managed to hold a girl's hand-"

"Dazai I swear to god-!"

"W-wait, Sir." You cut both bickering men off to address your boss. "I thought we had an agreement. I would just serve drinks, not engage in any... I wouldn't be a whore."

You didn't even know a more polite term for it in Japanese.

"Well that's the thing. That paper you signed said you wouldn't do any whoring, and let's just say you won't be. These young men want your time, and they're not exchanging any goods, money, or services for it."

"But-!"

You flinched as Dazai pressed a long finger over your lips. "There's no point in arguing. It's been decided." He dropped his hand as he stood up. "Down the hall, right?"

Sakamoto grinned and saluted with his drink. "Have fun."

You tried to push Dazai away, but he easily over powered you, and kept an iron grasp on your waist. You opened your mouth, but stopped when you saw Sakamoto putting a hand on his gun. You swallowed all complaints as the red head finally stood up, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he followed you both down a narrow hall.

------------------------------------‐--

You'd never even gone in the "private" rooms. Only a few select girls were able to, and it was an unspoken rule to never ask about the rooms or clients there in.

You now realized that all the money that should have went to cleaning the gum from under the tables, getting another bar tender on staff, and replacing the front window went to these rooms.

The cieling was made of mirrors, and there was a large, plush couch of black leather. A white carpet covered the floors, and there was a fireplace opposite the couch that burned with a gentle faux fire. You weren't sure where the soft lighting was coming from, but as Dazai circled you like a tiger, you wished you could turn them off.

"So he wasn't lying, right? You do know Japanese?"

"I know enough to get by living here for the past year."

He hummed and finally stopped so you were both now face to face. Now that he was closer, you could see that there were a few scabs on this boy's cheeks and forehead. "What can you tell me about your boss?"

What?

Is this a joke?

"Are you with the police?"

Dazai glanced back at Chuuya, who was standing in a corner as far from you as possible. "Hey, Chuuya. Do we look like military lackeys?"

"You look suspicious as hell."

Dazai hummed and shrugged before turning back to you. "Actually, we're part of a different organization that doesn't like the way your boss is running things. Frankly, we're hoping to get rid of him entirely."

"And why do you need me? Actually, why are you telling me?"

"He's had quite a few meetings with some rather unsavory types. We don't need those sort of weeds popping up in this red light district, and that's where you come in." He gestured to you. "With your English skills, pretty face, and nice ass I'm sure you can listen out for us."

"You want me to risk my job and neck to play spy for two kids I don't know?"

"We're not kids." Chuuya said. "And I wouldn't think a foreigner just pawned off to sleep with me would get all skittish 'bout this."

"I-.."

If you could you would sell out Sakamoto in a heart beat. Whether to the police, the soap land across the street, or even the shadowy Armed Detective Agency. You would do anything you needed to if it meant getting back at Kenta Sakamoto for what he'd done...

But...

"I can't. " Your words were low. "If that's why you're not using my body now then I'm sorry to dissapoint."

Shaking fingers reached up to the bow keeping your top up, but a large hand grabbed them and kept them in a tight grip.

You looked up from the blue cloth, and found the red head standing in front of you now, his hand over your own. Dazai was sprawled out on the couch, you're not sure how he got there.

"Ya don't gotta do that," He mumbled. "Not right making you put out when he gets something."

You stared down at this Chuuya and the now recovering Dazai. They were young, and a bit childish, but as Chuuya backed up and stuffed his hands in his pockets and Dazai stood up once more, you could see something in their eyes. It was dark and calculated, a cold knife that could tear apart anyone who so much as pretended to be a threat.

You twisted your hands. "Thank you... For the decency."

"Don't worry about it."

Dazai tilted his head. "So what do you say sweet Belladonna? Willing to risk your life and Visa for some petty revenge?"

You nibbled at your bottom lip as Dazai extended a hand. "And what's in it for me?"

"Let's just say you'll have earned yourself a favor."

"From two boys off the street?"

"No." Dazai's smile became cold. "From the Port Mafia."

[crusherthedoctor]

📞 a character others dislike but you don’t?

♠️ favorite protagonist?

🕷️a character you feel is underrated?

📞 - a character others dislike but you don't?

Elise has gained more appreciation over time, but you still get people who think she's to blame for everything wrong with '06. She was a decent if underdeveloped character who simply wasn't used in the story that well, and anyone who thinks turning her into a Not-Sally is the only way to fix her isn't trying.

There's also Zor and Marine, both of whom I will always defend. Isn't it wild how I can barely remember anything from The End's three minute tough guy Reddit copypasta, yet everything Zor says is solid gold... shout out to IDW for missing the point and making him an unironic tryhard like every other villain in the comic. As for Marine, people act as though her character development never happened, which isn't helped by Flynn being one of those very people, and I don't understand why they give her flak for her stereotypical accent, yet make no such complaints about Bunnie.

For a couple of non-Sonic examples: King Sombra kind of went through the same arc as Elise in retrospect. As in, nowadays he has more open fans, but back when he made his debut, he received a disproportionate amount of flak for being a mostly silent villain, and the way he was used. I personally appreciated what they were going for with him, mainly cause of how they conveyed his Crazy Prepared defenses and the like, and honestly, by the time FiM concluded, I think he ended up better off than certain other villains lmao.

And of course, Moneybags. Not counting the first game (cause he didn't exist yet), I don't consider it a true Spyro experience if Winnie the Shit doesn't pop up in increasingly improbable locations to make deals in exchange for, *ahem*, a small fee. He also has some of the best lines. ("What are you going to do, sue me?")

♠️ - favourite protagonist?

Gex is unironically a better written character than everyone in Frontiers and IDW put together. This realisation makes me want to drink tap water at Jerry Garcia's.

Tails has always been my main bro out of the Sonic good guys, cause of how smart he is and how much he wants to help. :D It's also why I'm vocal about how much I despise it when fans double down on reducing the franchise to Just Furry DBZ due to super forms and whatnot, since it means Tails and other characters not named Sonic/Shadow/Silver are guaranteed to be treated even more like they're not good for anything meaningful. >:|

Then there's Spyro of course, which I know will be considered ironic to some given my complex feelings on Sonic, but truth be told, Spyro isn't really that similar to Sonic beyond some snark. He does admittedly act like a dude with tude in the first game, but it's clear that he's younger in that one. From the second game onward, where he's slightly older, he's considerably more chill... at least compared to Bubsy and many others from the 90's. And speaking of, despite his dialogue consisting entirely of WOAH, I respect Crash as well, since it was the bandicoot that got little me into the world of video games.

And many things change, but my fondness for Fluttershy will never die. Just as I have a preference for funny robot-loving villains who nonetheless remain a legit serious threat instead of being a joke, I have another preference for kindhearted quiet characters... which is why I also enjoy Trip... and Tikal... look, we all have our types, I'm sure you can sympathise. ;P

🕷️ - a character you feel is underrated?

The Hard-Boiled Heavies have mostly been pushed aside since Mania came out (aside from that one IDW story, but that's not a blessing), and it makes me madder than YouTubers who pretend they're mad because there are villains with dialogue who have less personality than these guys. They're so much fun, and despite all of them having the same Egg Robo template, their designs remain distinct from each other, even in silhouette form.

I also took to Ariem early on. Like the Heavies, "underrated" refers to general lack of fandom buzz compared to other characters, since although she appears to be quite liked, the acknowledgement given to her is somewhat limited due to her being stuck in an Android-only game for the time being. Some people also have an obsession with comparing her unfavourably to either Sage or Lanolin, for reasons I can probably guess in both cases. Me? I love her design, and her interactions with Cream and Knuckles are cute. :> I know it's not likely, but I hope she appears elsewhere so that she can be brought to more fans' attention... provided she doesn't get IDW'd.

Finally, a more complicated example: Metal Sonic. Now yes, he's very popular and beloved, and remains so to this day, but during the last couple of years, I feel I've been seeing two growing sides in the community when it pertains to him: the side who loves Neo Metal Sonic, and believe he's only a threat in that form like Flynn apparently believes (given how he often turns regular Metal into a jobber), and the side who consider him lame or essentially worthless because of his minimal characterization compared to others. He might not say much, and he might be a hedgehog-shaped tool of Eggman's ambition rather than a complete person of his own, but I believe there's a lot you can do with Metal that wouldn't require turning him into Usurper the Elf Shoes. OVA Metal ain't S-tier for nothing.

[bolinity]

zuko casually watching a pro bending match bolin happens to be in

The roars of the crowd that had regularly gathered from all walks of life within the Jewel of Yue bay, the Pro-bending Arena, echoed and intensified under its glass roof as the excitement of the upcoming match buzzed through the air.

A small bit of crackle brought the PA system of the venue to life before the familiar voice of the city's most well known radio personality Shiro Shinobi took to the mic in the commentator's booth.

"Goooooooood evening, pro-bending fans! We're comin' at you live from Republic City's beautiful Pro-bending Arena right on the edge of Yue Bay! The crowd's going wild from anticipation and, boy, do we got a line up for you folks tonight!" Shiro continued to build the excitement as he listed off the names of the teams they had lined up for tonight's games, giving each of them fun alliteration-filled introductions before continuing. "How are we feeling about tonight's match-ups, folks?" He pulled back from the mic to capture the sound of the audience cheering and whooping for their favorites.

"Again, first up will be the fearless Fire Ferrets, who have been blazing through their opponents despite it being their debut season, going up against the long-time lean, mean Laogai Lion Vultures — while it's not their first rodeo, they're always ready to rally and romp round by round. Another classic case of old-timers versus new-timers as these two teams go head-to-head as our opening match of the night!"

Shiro paused as he scanned the crowd and his face lit up as he spotted a familiar face. "And what a night we've got here, folks! For instance, if my old eyes aren't deceiving me, we've got the Fire Nation's very own Looooooord Zukoooooo here in one of our viewing boxes! Hope our matches will be hot enough for you! If anything, they'll definitely be as hot as our sponser's Flame-o Instant Noodles —" Shiro continued on as he read copy for the conveniently transitioned-into ad before resuming other announcements before the games started.

In the locker room, Bolin was already suited up, sans his helmet, as he was rolling his head to stretch his neck muscles before the game before moving onto some lunges to hit those hamstrings and hip flexors (and it made his butt look good for his fans).

The sound of Shiro's voice was easy to drown out as one got used to hearing it after three years of living in the Pro-bending area. However, he paused in mid-squat as Lord Zuko's name bounced off the walls of the locker room and Bolin gasped loudly. "MAKO," he shouted in the direction of his brother while charging toward him then shook him by the shoulders, which Mako had to stop mid-drink as he held his waterbottle away from the two of them. "Didja hear that? THE Lord Zuko is watching us! Tonight! Here! AH!"

"He's here to watch pro-bending, Bo, not just us," Mako pointed out. He was used to his little brother's high energy and was well aware of how big of fan he was of Avatar Aang and his close friends. It wasn't often they got to brush against living history like that, especially two boys who lived on the streets for most of their lives — even if celebrities came to see pro-bending matches all the time.

Bolin let go of him before holding his own face. "YesIknowbut, HE'S HERE. HE'S GONNA SEE US PRO-BENDING. We gotta kick butt. We gotta do this. Should we pull one of our specials out? Should Pabu do an extra three flips? Is my hair okay?" Bo continued to ramble.

Mako finally took a drink of water since he was freed. "Your hair's fine and and will be half-hidden by your helmet anyway. And just do what we normally do; no need to get super fancy."

"You're right. I gotta chill. I gotta focus." He breathed in deeply then noisily exhaled as his shoulders dropped. "He's just another audience member in the crowd. We've got this."

Before their introductions were finally made by Shiro to signal the start of the game, Bolin managed to calm down. Once the bell rang, he quickly got into the groove and rhythm of the match and was so deep into the game itself that he forgot who was watching as he was used to tuning out the crowd.

The game resulted in their victory as the earthbender roared in celebration as he removed his helmet in the middle of the ring, hyping the crowd up again as he welcomed their energy with open arms. It was intoxicating each time and was basically enough fuel for him to train more for their next game.

"I'm starving; let's go to Narook's to celebrate," a familiar thing he said after most matches as the Fire Ferrets retreated back to the locker room. Mako was half-expecting Bolin to bring up tonight's special guest again, but his brother already had most of his street clothes back on, almost half-way out the door.