#and also the parents don't know the chances of him biting a kid are very low?

[johannesviii]

Nearly every time I've rewatched Infinity Train Book 3 since I first saw it in February, I saw more parallels and narrative echos, and infodumping my friends about them isn't enough anymore

I figured I should do a post about this one because I don't think I've seen a post about that specific thing yet, and I love this show's writing, and. idk. I just need to praise it I guess

So, the most obvious part first:

Grace became everything she hated about her parents

When Grace mentions her mother in the Debutante Ball Car, it's made pretty clear she's trying to distance herself from her mother as much as possible, and at this point, we realise retrospectively that Grace's room in the Mall Car in episode one was full of sports clothes - it seems she tries to avoid things reminding her of her life before the train. And of her mother. And yet-

She tries to control everyone and everything around her, and makes people do what she doesn't want to do

And she decides what's cool and what isn't

She makes people kneel in her presence, like her mother towers over her in her mind's eye

Obviously she constantly lies to get what she wants, and her dad does that in her tape

When her younger self looks up, she looks right through adult Grace, and it's actually her parents she's looking at! Her younger self is metaphorically seeing her parents where her adult self is standing!! I still can't get over this shot

Also I feel the need to mention her mother has the same voice actor as her in her tape and even if it might be to cut corners in the budget, that feels significant (and to be fair, sometimes you can cut corners while making meaningful choices at the same time)

Now you might think I'd have nothing to say about Simon on that matter, since we don't see any flashback of his life before the Train, and we know next to nothing about his parents. But I think it's very telling that the only actual backstory we get for him is his backstory with The Cat.

Because-

Simon became everything he hated about The Cat

Ok I never see anyone mentioning this, but hear me out

First, we have no idea if Simon knew The Cat was routinely invading people's privacy through their memory tapes, but he sure has no issue doing the exact same thing

But that doesn't stop there. He also collects things obsessively

And makes kids collect things for him as well, by the way

He thinks he's above others, but he immediately switches to victim mode when it comes back to bite him

HE. ABANDONS. A CHILD. WHO WAS UNDER HIS CARE!!

And. Uh. They both dig their heels instead of trying to change, too

Don't get me wrong, on some level I would have liked to know what Simon's parents were like too. I would have liked that a lot. But there's a good chance it wouldn't change anything, because everything we need to know about his background to understand why he's Like That™ is already in the show

But yeah, Grace and Simon both pretend they found freedom on the Train, and both distance themselves from parental figures who are at the source of their trauma, claiming they're different and better than them - and yet they are both subconsciously repeating patterns that caused at least part of their problems and/or trauma in the first place

And since they decided that making numbers go up was good, as long as they stick to that idea, they are bound to never escape from that self-perpetuating loop of harm and trauma

And I love it

And I hate it

[twistedwonderlandshenanigans]

"Stupid" Things the TWST Cast Believed As Kids

I was going to post this without a preamble but it just looked wrong LMAO -----------------------------------------------------

Heartslaybul

Riddle - He just mispronounced a lot of words out loud. This is actually common in a lot of kids that read a lot, they don't know how to say a word any differently than the way they've pronounced it in their head, so some examples: (Ladle -> would rhyme with Saddle, Rhythm had over-emphasis on the first 'h', etc.)

Trey - thought butter was made from the fat collected off of cow butts ('butt' was also the only 'naughty' word he knew for a long time). The thing is he had probably seen his parents make butter. either by accident or on purpose and it still didn't click for him.

Cater - only ate black beans, (when they were served). when he was a kid because he thought they were the same as coffee beans. He saw his dad eating chocolate covered coffee beans and got mad when he denied him the Delight Of Caffeine at Three Years Old so thought eating black beans was like. A super sneaky way of being like his dad.

Deuce - Chocolate covered strawberries came from a special plant, he didn't think his mom just set them up for him sometimes. He ended up asking more than a few times when his strawberries were plain when they could 'go back to the store and get the good kind' and would call the strawberries without chocolate 'rotten'.

Ace - For whatever reason, he didn't think bears were a real animal. Just. Teddy bears existed. And of course when his big brother showed him pictures of real bears he thought he was messing with him. Ace will not admit how long it took him to realize that bears are real.

Savannaclaw

Leona - Falena told him once that vanilla extract comes from 'beaver butt juice' and it was in all the vanilla flavoured desserts he's ever had. Yes Falena was messing with him to get his portion of desserts because Leona was too grossed out to eat them. It managed to last about 6 months before Leona was fed up and researched the information on his own.

Ruggie - His grandma protected him best she could from food scarcity, so he genuinely believed she knew how to make something from nothing. Same with his clothes.

Jack - Refused to eat hotdogs because he thought they were made from real dogs and cried whenever he saw someone else eating hot dogs. Even when they bough turkey hot dogs he thought they added 'turkey flavouring' to the Dogs.

Octavinelle

Azul - Thought cuttlefish were 'cuddlefish' and would get so SO upset when they didn't want to snuggle with him

Jade - When he first heard the word 'hermaphrodite' he thought it meant someone who just really really liked hermit crabs.

Floyd - Was SO disappointed to find out ice cream didn't scream while you eat it (I-scream)

Scarabia

Kalim - Used to try and eat really fast, so Jamil told him if he ate his food too hot his tongue would melt to the top of his mouth. (Yeah Jamil got in trouble for that one but it worked, Kalim savoured his food and he still makes sure his food is cooled down a little before he eats).

Jamil - Didn't eat yogurt for a long time because he didn't want to 'feed the bacteria in his belly'. That was his only reasoning.

Pomefiore

Vil - thought candy cigarettes were real cigarettes, this resulted in him biting one of his dad's or fellow actor's cigarettes and Regretting it. (Even the fake ones are filled with like an herbal blend, you don't want to eat it still)

Rook - kinda sad, but genuinely thought termites were considered dessert. They were fairly rampant in his home so he would eat them any chance he got (raw termites supposedly taste like pineapple).

Epel - yeah he thought he was a werewolf, there isn't much else to add.

Ignihyde

Idia - Thought that microwaving a spider/other bugs for a very short amount of time would mutate their DNA and he could keep it as a pet, despite many failed attempts, he continued trying.

Ortho - (insert ugly crying here thinking about baby boys early years) he really believed that one day Idia would find a way to bring the characters from tv/video games into 'real life' so they could have play dates with them. (Idia promised him he would try his best)

Diasomnia

Malleus - He thought computers were a type of pet people could have.

Lilia - Used to think that the stars were really big glow bugs

Silver - Fully believed the storks deliver babies thing. Not because of Lilia, but because of a story book and it made things easy so he just rolled with it anyways, until Silver was old enough.

Sebek - That the fountain of youth was real - he wanted to drink from it once he reached his prime so that he could serve Malleus always.

Others

Che'nya - Refused to believe that gum ever came from trees because he 'tried sap before and it didn't even taste like syrup so how could something sweet as gum come from trees'.

Najma - Thought she was able to talk to ghosts, it was just Jamil fucking with her lskjfhsldkjfsdf

Neige - Didn't know what owls were, called them tree penguins.

Rollo - Called ambulances 'Body Rescue Busses' because even as a kid he knew only God could save your soul. (you can take that seriously or as satire idc) -------------------------------------------------------- @fluffle-writes thank you for the compliments, and the motivation to write!! ljfkjdshflkjsdf

If you want to be on a taglist in the future lmk

[hazbinhazmeinachokehold]

The gang & Lucifer + chaotic child reader

a/n: This goes without saying but this is platonic. I have not made one romantic thing and I don't know why

not proofread!

Charlie: Very nervous. You don't have any self-preservation skills or any real way to protect yourself. At least Niffty is an adult so she can trust her with knives and all that. Kinda. Watches you like a hawk. It can get kinda annoying but it's because she cares. The hotel is completely baby-proof. You're not a baby though so it doesn't... work. Tries to help you get your emotions out in a less destructive way. One time you tried drawing the page was a mess of colors. Another time was baking the kitchen was a mess. But it's not hurting anyone so its a win. Okay, the kitchen might of hurt Niffty emotionally.

Vaggie: Tired. You guys are the defention of this imange :

(but that's also her with everyone at the hotel except Husk so whatever) She is less mean when scolding you than she is with others. Both because you are a child and there's a 99% chance you would bite her.

Alastor: He would either despise you or see you as his kid. For the sake of fic, we're going with the second one. You have a similar dynamic that he has with Niffty. Though cause you're a kid he might try to teach you his morals (or his lack of morals.) His ass is going to teach you the most insane things. Do NOT let this man teach kids unless you want future serial killers. And you're already very chaotic so this isn't a huge leap. Charlie, please steal you from him.

Angel Dust: I feel like he'd be okay with kids? Like not great as a parent but just visiting or babysitting he'd actually be pretty competent. Very chill about keeping you out of danger. Just picks you up and moves you away from the danger. Or if you have something dangerous just snatches it and puts it away. If it's not going to kill you also engages in the chaos with you. Irresponsible older brother who still cares about your safety.

Husk: Slightly protective of you. Won't let you go outside without someone else. Because you'd probably die in the weirdest way possible. He acts like he doesn't care but he defiantly does. There have been multiple times he's had to yank beer bottles out of your time. You weren't going to drink it but you'd smash it and use a weapon.

Lucifer: Charlie was a chaos magnet as a kid too! But more the hyper type and not the "I'm going to stab you" type. Does not acknowledge the fact that you're even slightly. Just the "Get your fucking dog bitch" "it don't bite" "YES IT DO" Can keep up with you and often plays with you. Will get you anything you want. Besides weapons those are off-limits.

Niffty: Two peas in a pod. I've based most people's reactions off their relationship with her. You two are a force to be reckoned with. So much rage and desire for destruction such little bodies to contain it. She is a horrible influence on you <3.

[glitter-stained]

Sense the current state of jason as character is stagnant do you think dc will ever purplish a good story of him, maybe he even kills of his red hood persona and goes on to be something else that would be something I would like to see but I don’t think it will happen. Dc will forever shoehorn him in to the batfamily. At least in his anti-villian era he was actually fun now his character is in a pitiful state

do u think theirs a chance of reinvent him as character anytime soon ?

Well first of all through spite everything is possible, so jot that down.

Like seriously, remember when it was so so incredibly over like Spiderman's Uncle Ben levels of over and then Under the Hood happened? Hell yeah I think dc will publish a good Jason story

Second I may not be the best person for this ask because I like my blorbos pitiful and miserable. Like yeah defiance is awesome but exhaustion -in characters who have been angry and alone for so long, beaten dog who got electrocuted too often to bite back- has a special place in my heart. But I also agree this has to be a transitional part of a story, the arc can't be "well he was hurt and then he was angry and then he was tired and he was miserable the whole time". Unless of course he ends up perma-dying in a really meaningful arc centered around his character but I'm not sure that'd be what I want for him, and we all know how lame dc is with permadeath nowadays. I'm also very mitigated with his villain side because yeah sometimes it's very fun and cathartic to see the angry/bad victim trope, but also the classismXpsychophobia of villain Red Hood sometimes are just too much; and also I'm a jaybin fan and sometimes I feel betrayed on jaybin's behalf by elements of his villainous characterization. (One day I'll write that damned UTH rewrite, I will).

With that being said!!! I love Jason because of his potential, he has so so much of it, that's what's exhausting about his many bad comics is that yeah. Yeah, dc can absolutely publish something more than good. They don't understand the goldmine they're sitting on in terms of potential.

What I'd love to see explored in hypothetical upcoming good comics (i'll talk more about it later with malfiora but for now)/how dc could go about reinventing his character :

1) addressing Jason's suicidality and getting him a functional support system (seriously, something's gotta give)

2) Get that boy a dog. Ik he had one at some point in N52 idc give him more dogs. Big ass rescue dog that's loyal and similar to him.

2) we need to figure out a way to let Jason keep being a Crime Alley/Park Row vigilant without being dependent on Batman. Like yeah he should explore the world away from him and heal but also i'm very uncomfortable with the idea that healing, for Jason, has to mean leaving the city and neighbourhood he grew up in and protected, has to mean be shoved out of his home by a guy who doesn't live there and, at least when Jason was a kid, only visited the place one time a year because of the anniversary of his parents' death- it's not fair and I won't accept it.

3) I so so agree about the "killing the red hood persona" or at the very least changing his vigilant name. Like I get the point, I understand the use he had for him, but his story can't be centered around the Joker forever (I keep thinking about the Joker's attitude to him in The Man who stopped Laughing and god, I can see a driving force to find himself as something else than what Batman and the Joker made him). At some point his name has to become something that is his and turned towards the future.

4) art + story that acknowledges how young he is (someone please let Jason take college class please please he deserves it)

5) perhaps most importantly: batman writers often sound like hardcore deontology or hardcore utilitarianism (and the occasional egoism) are the only acceptable moral philosophies. And for characters, it works! Like I can see Batman as a Kantian, sure. But for others, it doesn't fit as well.*

The cool thing about Jason's character right now is that he's a utilitarian, but a utilitarian that often isn't guided by his values. He can and will compromise on his philosophy in the name of love and being loved ( @bestangelofall called that a morality leash) and that already sets him as an interesting character in his own right. But in terms of redefining himself as a person after decades of defining himself through his pain (which, at 20-23 years old, he should get to do) I'd love to see an evolution of his morals based on love. Specifically, I'd love from his morals to shift from mathematical utilitarianism to agape, an ancient greek concept of platonic love for everything human, a movement towards the other that can be thought of as close to some conceptualisations of empathy. Mind you, that doesn't mean that he would stop killing! I can believe in a Jason who kills because or against of agape, the pain or relief that could be so good to explore in relation to that, how he would go on to define himself as a person... I feel like Jason has a certain tendency to kinda dehumanize the worst criminals as he kills them (a lesson from Judy, love her sm) which I love, but would also love to see him grow out of - learn to see and love everyone as human and what it means, a re-exploration of his empathy.

Imagine: a scene where he kills a guy because a kid victim begged him to. The focus on the image is on the kid's big wide tearstruck eyes, and then Jason's uncertain face, the kid begging him to kill the bad guy. And then Jason kills him and they're standing so close to eachother, and he's look him in the eyes and seeing the image of the kid's eyes, and then turning back to the kid while wiping the blood on his face and seeing the kid's wide eyes looking in disbelieving awe. And then kneeling and hugging the kid as he cries his heart out. And Jason's inner monologue during all that being something like "I could say that I killed him because I'm a bad guy; I probably am. Or argue the world is better off without scum like him; I could pretend I did it so he wouldn't hurt [x] again, or that I was thinking about all the other children he wouldn't be able to hurt anymore. But the truth is, I didn't. I killed him because [x] asked me to; because I could tell that he needed it. I can live with that."

Idk, that's the direction I would love to see it going, but simply "becoming even more open, louder and unapologetic about prioritising his love over his values, and being angry when it causes him dilemma" is something I'd love with as way. Very "Odysseus knows what he's going to choose the moment the gods tell him to throw the baby off the wall to see Penelope and Telemachus, but fuck if he's angry at the gods for making him make that choice" kind of vibe if you like Epic the musical.

*i'm not saying there aren't any characters in dc that fall out of this deontological/utilitarian false dilemma, it's just a vibe I get from batman writers at times, and as a consequence of specializing in one character I don't feel legitimate in exploring the intricacies of other characters because I feel like I'm lacking information and would be making uneducated guesses (that being said, I would fuck heavily with an exploration of Cass' morals VS Levinas' concept of ethics). If anybody has recommendations of dc characters that are neither utilitarian nor deontological (or are at least an interesting twist to it) I would love them so much please don't hesitate!!!

So yeah, idk if that answers your question, I don't pretend to know the intricate working of dc editorial. But imo there are wonderful possibilities for dc to reinvent Jason and write him into good comics -call me a blue lantern cause baby I got hope.

[justporo]

My new bestie, I honestly would love to see you write Father!Astarion 🤤🤤

How would he react to the news? Would he want a little girl or boy? How would he react when they are born, and they look just like him, but pre vamp eyes?

(Vampires can sire babies, with the highest chance after they are fully well fed)

Hello my tadpole bestie and thanks for the request! Astarion as a father really seems to be on people's minds, hm?

I get it, I like it too, but let me put this out there (yeah yeah, I know it's all fictional, but let's be real for a second): I would much rather imagine this when Astarion has done some much needed healing. This man hasn't had autonomy in two centuries and really needs to find himself again and work through trauma - with Tav on his side of course. And children are a huge responsibility - mentally, physically, emotionally, financially - I imagine (I wouldn't know, I'm not a parent...). I'd really wish for him to be ready for something like that.

But the thought is incredibly sweet, so let's go:

Headcanons about Astarion being a father

When Tav tells him she's expecting, he's truly speechless for perhaps the first time in his life; and then he can't sit still: swinging from delusionally happy to overthinking and being worried; but Tav takes his hand and reassures him that they'll be in it together

Has he thought about having kids? Yeah sure, but he'd never thought of it being possible until it happened, although when Cazador forced him and the other spawn to behave like a family he'd sometimes thought about what could've been

He's absolutely overprotective when Tav's pregnant: "Oh no, no, darling, you are not carrying that around, think of the baby!" "Astarion, it's A MUG OF WATER!"

Also he adores her body that is creating such a miracle: "You're glowing, my heart. You are truly a goddess!"

If he was handsy before there are now no moments where his hands aren't on Tav's body and on her belly

When he feels the first movements, he cries, and then Tav cries and then there's just a fountain of happy tears and lots of "I love you"s

He's taking such good care of Tav; especially when she doesn't feel well or when she's exhausted - she'll get all the herbal teas and massages

Birth though is scary - for both of them; but I'm sure he'll have some friends by his side (because think about the adventure troupe waiting with him while he's pacing the room like a panther: Karlach's biting her nails off, Gale's just blabbering to distract himself, Shadowheart is praying for everything to go well, Wyll tries to calm Astarion down (unsuccessfully), Lae'zel is unusually silent with crossed arms hoping everything will be okay, Halsin's keeping the group fed and all because "Nature will make it all right")

Boy or girl? Doesn't matter at all, all that's important is that Tav and the baby are healthy and ready to receive all his love

First time holding his child - he can't even cry because it's such a miracle; "This... this is the best thing I've ever had and created!"

The tears come later when you're alone - just the three of you

He's absolutely a very loving father, caring so much about his kid - and also equally taking on responsibilities and care with Tav

When the kid's eyes become their real colour and it sparks a memory Astarion had long forgotten, he's too stunned to acknowledge what he's seeing: the kid has his eyes - the way they were before he was turned

Later, when the child's already a little bigger he loves to show them stuff, teach them, read to them; also inciting them to go and annoy Mom - which makes Tav want to push him off a cliff but also hug him to death - because who'd have thought it would ever be possible?

Alright alright - I've gotten almost off the rails with this one. Because honestly, there's a lot to imagine there. Also maybe I wasn't prepared for the things that would make me feel (and I don't mean baby fever).

Alright, hope you enjoyed this headcanons, time for me to go to bed!

[quitealotofsodapop]

Was doing research for my Hero is Back fic, and from watching videos of great ape parents and historical baby foods; Dasheng likely had to feed Silly Girl by pre-chewing her food for her.

Primates of all sizes help wean their babies by chewing pieces of food and passing it to them, either by hand or by mouth (some scientists believe kissing originated from this gesture). Apes in particular, like gorillas and orangutans, do so because their main foods (tree fruits, nuts, and vegetation) are simply too big and tough for the babies to try and chew on. Cultures where baby food isn't readily available also practice this method.

And ofc in Hero is Back, Dasheng is stuck with two smaller ape babies (Liuer and Silly Girl) and needs a way to feed them. We even see signs of this when he chews up a piece of meat and offers the same piece to Liuer when he thinks he's asking for food.

Dashing, thinking: "Wait... are human infants this size weaned or not? Crap, do I bird-feed this one too?"

Silly Girl is ofc very ambitious for a teething baby; she can't even break the skin of the fish.

So now I'm imagining later down the road when Dasheng has just accepted that he's got two kids and a pig now, Silly Girl starts fussing.

Silly Girl: "Waaaaa-!" Bajie: "What's the matter with her?" Liuer: "I don't know! She's been grumbling for a while now." Dasheng: (*effortlessly picks Silly Girl out of her carrier. Bites a peach and passes her some of the chewed fruit*) Silly Girl: (*happily accepts the pre-chewed peach!*) Bajie & Liuer, mix of fascination and disgust: "Ew." "Whoa!" Liuer: "What was that, Dasheng?" Dasheng, continues feeding Silly Girl: "She's hungry. Don't have milk. Infants who've first fangs have broken can be fed this way... don't you remember being weaned?" Liuer: "No... Sifu adopted me when I was a baby. I remember eating rice porridge but not much else. Sifu couldn't have fed me like that any way cus he didn't have teeth back then either!" (*wide smile*) Dasheng: (*tiny warm smile breaks through*) Bajie, interrupts sweet moment: "The farmer just left me in and my brothers in a trough with some kitchen run-off and we figured it out from there." Dasheng, annoyed glare: "Explains your manners." (*resumes walking, holding Silly Girl like a parent monkey do*) Bajie, running after him, offended: "And what does that mean?!" Liuer, running to catch up: "You did eat all of that fish..." Bajie: "Without salt!"

It's about here that Dasheng realises that Liuer is literally an orphan, and not just a kid learning at a monastery. And if the boy's claims of trolls stealing infants is true, then there's a good chance a few of them are orphans too...

[mochilovesbuffmen]

Hiiii mochiiii LMAOOO (totally didn't talk to you just now ANYWAYS)

Tokyo revengers Mizo Middle Five, Mochizuki, shion madarame, and obv kazutora, (if you want add more) with a clingy, childhood best friend reader to lovers, or they can already be lovers.

There literally isn't enough mizo middle five content out there 😭

Hope you have fun with this hehehe!

this is such a cute idea omg😭💞

𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱

I apologize that i couldn't include all of the Mizo Middle Five bc damn they're tough to write-

Anyways

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭!! 𝘍𝘓𝘜𝘍𝘍 𝘈𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘋!!

𝙈𝙤𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙯𝙪𝙠𝙞 𝙆𝙖𝙣𝙟𝙞

• this ones my favorite omg

• your Families are friends that's how you met!

• Playdates w Mochi were always the best but he would tease you for not being able to catch up w him

• you're one of the few people not afraid of this big guy even if he's angry

• and he appreciates it so so much

• he's the best friend you need and actually listens very well (sucks at giving advice though)

• y'alls favorite type of dates is going to eat

• his dream partner would be someone who eats as much as him but he's gonna like someone who eats less too (he can finish your food dw)

• that being said y'all got together pretty early

• depending if you confessed first because he's gonna take ages making sure you're actually interested in him that way

• he's prolly very self concious but he never shows it

• pls reassure him

• you love to hug him and he loves to hug you back (he gives the best hugs fight me on that)

• loves when you hang on his arm!! He's proud of his strength and flexes every chance he gets so you can compliment him<3

• also loves to give piggy back rides or just letting you sit on his shoulders + plus doesn't hesitate to swoop you up and carry you when you're tired - no matter your weight

• style his hair!! Your fingers in his hair while he's sitting on the floor is the best way for him to relax😭

𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚

• you two stuck like glue ever since y'all met at the playground when you were smaller

• even then Shion was all bark but no bite and you helped him when he got beat by older kids lmao

• so now years later you two still chill together in your room (i hc that he prolly has some beef w his family so he prefers to not be home at all)

• man knows where the keys to your home is if he's not simply coming in through the front door (your parents don't mind anymore)

• they probably didn't even believe he's a deliquent help

• naps on your bed >>

• you're the only one (and Izana) who can tell him to stfu without getting beat

• obv you patch him up after a fight and he didn't manage to keep you out of his gang business but ig you don't mimd if you still stick around

• he slowly started to fall for you with the way you cared for him and didn't mind if he disappeared for days when he needed the break

• that's why every time you touched or hugged him his heart would beat faster (pls don't ask why he's gotten red he's gonna deny it)

• i doubt he'll confess first though brother is in denial

• it was you who indirectly asked him and he went ?????

• he's gonna be so happy and you can see that on his giddy smile <3 Will only genuinely laugh and smile like that privately w you tho

• he needs a little push after you confessed but let's say he's clingy too after you two got together (more than you)

BONUS! Once a dude tried to threaten you and had the misfortune of Shion witnessing it. That guy got pulled away and you could imagine what happened to him (Shion sent you a cute little Selfie w the beaten guy after)

𝙆𝙖𝙯𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙖 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙮𝙖

• okay so this ones a lil different

• you two were friends right before Toman was founded

• he wouldn't tell you about his family problems but you knew something was wrong

• he's gonna be more hesitant with being touched by you. Not that he doesn't want to, he's simply not used it

• you two had a routine with feeding and petting stray cats and he started to feel very comfortable around you

• that was until the thing w Shinichiro happened

• you heard about it from your parents but couldn't see him before he got to juvie

• you also didn't see him until he got out again much later

• you were walking home when saw him standing there leaning against a wall. He has been waiting for you.

• you two caught up and got closer again this day

• but he was way more distant than he used to and you were the only one who could see it despite his attitude

• fast forward to the Bloody Halloween you witnessed everything that happened (decide if you're in Toman or Valhalla)

• you managed to confess to him before he got you to leave before the Police came

• this time you didn't leave his side and visited him as often as you could in juvie

• that's when he confessed to you too<3

• after he got out there the second time you were there and you could finally go on dates.

• still hesitant and shy when you touch or hug him but he gradually got used to it

• going on rides w him as a date!!

𝙔𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞 𝙆𝙖𝙯𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞

• ahhhh this cutie!!

• being childhoof friends w him means being childhood friends w the whole group

• but you seemed to always spend more time w Yamagishi

• ofc you're gonna be his number one to rant about gangs to

• and you didn't mind one bit

• you didn't join Toman w the rest of them as you preferred to stay out of the danger

• which meant you're the one Yamagishi goes to to get patched up

• you're his crush obv and he's the one to confess after the whole crew teased him about it for too long

• was ecstatic when you said yes

• going to arcades is going to be y'alls favorite type of dates!! Also amusement parks even tho he probably hates the higher rides

• can't help but grin widely when you steal his glasses and wear them for fun

• loves when you hug him or hold his hand!! He has the most adorable blush on his face when you do

• he's gonna tease the shit outta you at times too

• plus he may be shy around you but he initiates physical touch himself too

• i feel like he's the type to randomly start tickling you (may or may have not got accidently hit by you and his glasses broke AGAIN)

[danieyells]

hi! any chance you'd be able to post some of kaito's voicelines? I would love to see them <33

Our wanna-be knight and pathetic little best friend! He's just such a good boy lol. . .once again, another one who just wants to go back to a normal life, poor thing. Kaito's very much your vanilla, sweet boyfriend character with no frills attached, aside from his cowardice and his gambling habit of course. And his terrible aim. . . .

Copying all of them over isn't hard now that I've done it twice. Let's do it again for Kaito!

Hello: (the first time the game is opened after that character is set as home screen NPC. Only happens once per day, unless the character is switched out and back.)

"{PC}! Over here! Hiya!"

You've Got Mail: (whenever there's something in the inbox, usually Arena rewards)

"Hey, new message. Better check it out, yeah? Or are you the type who's got like a ton of of unread inbox messages?"

. . .shut up /absolutely that type (and a sincere apology to literally everyone i know for that my adhd doesn't let me read and respond to their messages--)

Default: (requires no affinity, has no time constraints)

"God, please don't make me go on any more missions... It's not like me being there is any help to anyone anyway..."

"Oh yeah, have you been on WickHive yet? Someone leaked next month's cafeteria menu! Oh wait... I-I already told you that, didn't I?!"

"Damn it... I could've taken {PC} to lunch with that money! God, why am I such a moron?!"

"Ask me anything you want to know! I'm pretty savvy when it comes to Darkwick!"

honestly the fact that he's a second year who doesn't wanna be here and doesn't wanna be doing all of this but he still knows like everything about the school is also kinda sus to me. . .surely he'd divest himself from as much of darkwick as possible if he didn't care

"Urgh... Limited time only, you are not my friend... Huh? Oh, I'm on TikTok. I really want this, but I'm pretty broke this month..."

Affinity 1: (between 5am and 11am)

"Ahem... Testing, testing... Morning! Heh, nailed it... Ack! How long've you been there, {PC}?!"

Affinity 2: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Phew, should be safe here... EEEEEEEEEEK! Oh thank god, it's just a cat... I thought he found me..."

romeo oh romeo didn't you get into enough shit for this romeo? just make sure it's not Romeo cat. Because I'm sure it'll tell him somehow--

Affinity 3: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Shit, it's Luca… Judging by the outfit he must be going to train. I better bail before he tries to rope me in too…"

Affinity 4: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Eeeek?! Oh, it's just you... Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack!"

i know romeo is constantly on his ass, and I relate to the feeling of being scared the people you owe money will appear out of nowhere and get you, but. . .he's so jumpy lol

Affinity 5: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Ugh, Romeo's texting me... Not gonna open that..."

Affinity 6: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"So your father runs a company, huh? Who the hell leads with that?! This is why I hate talking to Frostheimers..."

so the wording here is wonky because he's quoting a Frostheimer, but there's no visual indication that he's quoting them. But lore drop! Kaito's father runs a company! But I thought he wasn't well off. . .? Maybe his parents are separated or his father doesn't spend any of their money on him. . .or the company isn't doing well. . .or gambling addiction runs in his family lol. . . .

Affinity 7: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Argh, I want junk food! And I want to try all the new snack flavors!!"

my boy is so relateable--

Affinity 8: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"All right, time to man up and bite the bullet... Nope, absolutely not, can't do it!"

Affinity 9: (between 8pm and 5am)

"How is Jin's skin so perfect? Fucking rich kids and their stupidly expensive fancy-ass toner!!!"

kaito really looking at jin like OH NO HE'S HOT

Affinity 10: (between 10pm and midnight)

"(yawn) Guess I'll go brush my teeth..."

Affinity 11: (between 5am and 11am)

"Hey {PC}, you seem different somehow today. Did you change something? Or am I just imagining things?!"

Affinity 12: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Noooo why does Tohma want to see me...? No way it's about something good! Could you come with me, {PC}?!"

Affinity 13: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Crap, I fell asleep in class so I don't know what our homework is... Help me, {PC}!"

Affinity 14: (between 5am and 11am)

"(yawn) Man, my bed's like a freaking marshmallow. I can never get any good sleep on that thing..."

lol the Frostheim beds are too comfortable lolol I NEED A FIRMER BED TOO KAITO I GET IT.

Affinity 15: (between 5am and 11am)

"Huh? Oh, my pendant! You're always wearing it? Does that mean you've actually been paying attention to me?!"

once again the wording here is wonk because it makes it sound like the pc is always wearing Kaito's pendant. I'm pretty sure he's quoting the pc, who's commented that "you're always wearing it". It would read better as something like "You noticed I'm always wearing it?"

Affinity 16: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Hey {PC}, how 'bout we grab a bite?! I've got tons to splurge in winn... er, earnings, so it's all on me! Get whatever you want!"

your gambling addiction is really and truly going to get you in trouble. disregard that i play a gacha game.

Affinity 17: (between 10pm and midnight)

"...Huh?! Man, nearly fell sleep without putting my phone on the charger... 5%, that would've sucked tomorrow..."

Affinity 18: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Ha ha ha! Have you seen this yet?! It's all over TikTok. Ah man, it's killing me..."

Affinity 19: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Whoa, when did it get so late?! Sorry {PC}, I didn't mean to keep you up... What? You're still good?"

Affinity 20: (between 5am and 11am)

"Morning! Hey, guess what? Luca's busy after class, so how about we hit up the diner? It's been ages!"

do you. . .do you really wanna go there. . .i mean the drinks seem to be fine but according to sho they can't make good food at all. . . .

Affinity 21: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Sorry, I gotta stay after class today... (sniffle) This sucks, I really wanted to walk home with you..."

aw buddy. . .they could wait for you or come pick you up after your remedial lesson. . .!

Affinity 22: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Hey I'm really sorry but do you mind if we stop by the campus store after class? I'm almost out of granulated sugar."

Affinity 23: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Hey, do you like stars? Oh, um, I was just wondering 'cause there's this place where you can see them really well, so I thought maybe you'd want to go some time..."

he's overcoming his fears and being honest with himself and how he speaks and just. . .asking honestly, no bravado, no act. do it scared, kaito. do it scared, do it awkward, do it sure you're going to fail. as long as you do it. proud of you!

Affinity 24: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Sure is dark. Reminds me of the closet where we first met. Remember?"

Affinity 25(max): (no time constraints)

"I know I'm weak, and a coward. But I really do want to become your knight in shining armor, {PC}."

I love how comfortable and honest he starts to get as his affinity goes up. Still shy here and there, still scared, but he's not as jumpy and he starts treating you like a real friend. laughs with you about stuff, talks a little about hobbies and struggles. doesn't try and look cool for you. and then the honesty--i'm a weak coward, but i wanna be better for you. i wanna spend time with you. just!!! he grows!!! he realizes you like him for who he is and how he is, even if that's a weak coward--and that that's exactly what he wants! and it's okay for him to be that way because you won't be put off by it, even if it's something he'd like to grow from so he can be better for you--but he wants to be better for you as himself and--idk. i have feelings about characterization lol.

Spring: (March-May) (between 5am and 11am)

"(yawn) Man, I wanna sleep, but I can't fail, so I gotta show up for class... Oh! I have Professor Nicolas next! Naptime."

does that mean you're good in anomalous medicine class or. . . .

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Grr! All those girls in the hall were looking at Luca! I'm so pissed off now I'm not even sleepy anymore!"

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"It's finally warm out again, so I really want to go do something fun... Wish I could get an R&R permit..."

well maybe if you stopped sleeping in class and did good in class or went on a mission or something. . . . . .

(between 8pm and 5am)

"Mheheh... {PC}... You've got a petal in your hair... Zzz..."

Summer: (June-August) (between 5am and 11am)

"Ugh, it's too hot to go outside... But I can sense a coming-of-age event on the horizon... All right, here I come!"

obligatory beach event? 👀

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Can't believe Professor Hyde still wears that blindfold in summer. Pfft, I bet it's really sweaty under— Eeeek! S-Sir?!"

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Hey {PC}, are you free after this? I was thinking of inviting Luca to let off some fireworks! I want to show him how we do summer here in Japan."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"I can't believe I get to spend the whole summer hanging out with you {PC}... (sniffle) Homework? Uh y-yeah, I finished it already..."

Autumn: (September-November) (between 5am and 11am)

"Is it just me, or is it really cold today?! Guess I better get my coat out soon..."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Have you had the chestnut rice from the cafeteria yet? They made it way too fancy. It's supposed to be comfort food..."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Tohma's always reading something. Maybe I should too... All right, let's go with this! 10 Ways To Become Popular Overnight!"

well. . .it's something to read. . .never a bad idea to read.

(between 8pm and 5am)

"Apparently the moon is the most beautiful in fall since the air gets clearer. Want to go take a look?"

Winter: (December-February) (between 5am and 11am)

"It's freezing out there! It's freezing in here! Frostheim sucks!!"

this makes me wonder what the warmest dorm is on average. . .probably jabberwock as long as towa's in a good mood? (or maybe warm jabberwock winters mean towa's in a bad mood. . .?)

(between 11am and 4pm)

"The cold can go to hell, but I guess there's outfits you can only wear this time of year..."

you can wear whatever you want whenever you want if you're brave enough. but this is kaito and he's not very brave. and it's also not very smart to wear winterwear in the summer.

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"I really want to go to Starbucks for the new winter drink! But I really really don't want to go on any missions!! Guess I'll never get to try it."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"Gram... No... No more mandarins... ...Huh?! Oh, it was just a dream... I haven't had a mandarin for ages..."

'gram' in this case is 'grandma' in case you couldn't figure it out haha and the mandarin(mikan)'s used to represent health and longevity and a long prosperous bloodline or something like that for new years. So i assume his grandmother would feed him a lot of mandarins every winter lolol

His birthday: (December 11th)

"Why did Jin, Tohma, and Luca give me all this high-end stuff?! It's freaking me out!! Thank you!?!?"

EVEN JIN AND TOHMA GAVE HIM GIFTS. . .FROSTHEIM FAM IS REAL. . . .

Your birthday:

"Happy birthday, {PC}! We'll make this the best one— Hey, give those back! Those are the cue cards I made yesterday!!"

ksjfkhesbfjh he made himself cue cards to give you a birthday speech with as little stuttering as possible. . . .

New Years: (January 1st)

"Happy New Year! Let's make it a good one! S-So hey, if, er, if you'd like, c-could we, um... could we make our first shrine visit together?"

Valentine's Day: (February 14th)

"C'mon Kaito, deep breaths. Girls aren't into guys with no chill. So stay cool... Stay— Are those chocolates for me?! I'll take them to my grave!"

everyone loves an enthusiastic boy lol

White Day: (March 14th)

"Do you like the cookies I made? Come on, no way they're that good, heh heh... Heh heh heh... Here, take them all!!"

god i bet he makes really good sweets too. like i bet he puts so much love and good spirit into them lolol

April Fool's Day: (April 1st)

"I'd never lie to a girl. Ah! That's not a lie, I swear! {PC}? Are you listening?!"

BAD THING TO SAY ON APRIL FOOL'S ABORT MISSION

Halloween: (October 31st)

"Trick or treat! See those carved pumpkins? I was actually the one who made them. What do you think?"

given his DIY skills i bet he's actually really good at carving too. i bet they look really good!

Christmas: (December 25th)

"Hey, uh, {PC}, do you, uh... Do you have any plans for Christmas? I'm actually totally free!"

Idle: (about 20 seconds without interacting with the game) (below 13 affinity)

"Huh? {PC}? Am I being annoying?! I'm sorry! You're probably busy, right?!"

(13 affinity and above)

"{PC} seems kind of busy... I know! I'll find a video that'll help take her mind off things!"

this one replace the first one after you hit a certain affinity, so it's cute to see that he eventually decides 'i'm not being annoying, they're just busy. i wanna help them' after he gets closer to you. . . .

Absent: (logging in for the first time in 2 or more days?)

"Ah...! Oh my god, you're back!! I'm so happy to see you!!!!  (sob) Please don't leave me again..."

he's so clingy. . .poor guy really missed you, considering you're one of the kindest and most normal people in Darkwick that he associates with. . . . also man 'please don't leave me again' with the whole loop theory stuff. . . .

I THINK I'VE SAID MOST OF MY THOUGHTS THROUGHOUT THIS BUT. He really is a sweetie. He really could have ended up a very plain and 'safe' character, but he's managed to be very charming and entertaining with his struggles and exaggerated behavior, while still being a simple and safe type. Really looking forward to seeing how he plays into the rest of the story, since it seems like his pendant may be kind of important. . . .

[allthingsfangirl101]

The Munson Twins – Steve Harrington

Steve's POV

The Munsons were always a strange pair of twins. For one thing, they were polar opposites of each other. Eddie was into weird role-playing games. Y/N was into volleyball. Eddie is in danger of repeating his senior year. Y/N graduated early. Eddie is into rock and roll. Y/N plays the classical violin and the piano. Eddie loves black leather jackets. Y/N likes flowery sun dresses. Eddie is kind of a loner. Y/N is more popular than me.

Since Y/N graduated early, we spent our senior year in some of the same classes. That being said, we barely spoke to each other. The most we ever talked was congratulating each other after one of us won a game. All through high school, Y/N and I ran in the same social circles because of our sports so we often went to the same parties. Just because we went to the same parties doesn't mean we were friends.

Not to say I didn't wish we were friends. I've gone to most of Y/N's games and she's gone to most of mine. Whenever I looked in the stands and saw her, I became more self-conscious of my playing. I even went to her orchestra concerts. I usually sat in the back and left before anyone noticed I was there.

Throughout high school, I couldn't get Y/N Munson out of my head. It seemed like everywhere I looked, she was there. Even when I was dating Nancy, my mind often wondered to Y/N when I was alone.

When Vecna started killing teens and Eddie was blamed, my thoughts focused even more on Y/N. I wanted to talk to her about all of this, to make sure she knew her brother wasn't what the town thought, but I also didn't want her involved in any of this shit.

I had to force Y/N to the back of my mind as we tried to help Eddie. When we got stuck in the UpsideDown, I allowed my mind to go back to her, hoping she was safe back in Hawkins. We were walking to Nancy's house and I kept glancing at Eddie. If he knew that my thoughts were constantly on his twin sister, he'd kill me.

"Eddie," I said, clearing my throat as I caught up to him. "Hey, man. Um, listen I just umm. . . I just want to say thanks. For saving my ass back there."

"Shit," he laughed. "You saved your own ass, man. I mean that was a real Ozzy move back there."

"Ozzy?"

"When you took a bite out of that bat," he tried to clarify. "Ozzy Osbourne. Black Sabbath. He bit a bat's head off on stage. You really don't know who that is?"

"No," I chuckled. "Sorry."

"Well, anyway, it was very metal, what you did, is all I'm saying."

"Thanks," I sighed.

"Henderson told me you were a badass," he continued. "Insisted on the matter, in fact."

"Wait, Henderson said that?"

"Oh yeah. Shit. That kid worships you, dude. Like, you have no idea. It's kind of annoying, to be honest. I don't even know why I care what that little shrimp thinks, but I guess I got a little jealous." Eddie sighed before continuing, "I guess I couldn't handle the fact that Steve Harrington was actually a good dude. Rich parents. Popular. Chicks love him. And not a douche? No way. It goes against all the laws of the universe and my own personal Munson Doctrine. Then again, that's worth shit because even my sister talks highly of you."

"Y/N talks highly of me?" I tried, and failed, not to stutter.

I looked over to see Eddie smirking at me. He leaned in a little too close and whispered, "Very highly of you."

"Okay," I said awkwardly as I used my elbow to push him away from me. I cleared my throat and rolled my shoulders back.

"All jokes aside," Eddie said, "my sister does think highly of you, dude. Whenever people would start to talk shit about you, she'd instantly stand up for you. I never understood it, but she's always talked about how people should give you a chance. She believes that there is more to you than meets the eye."

"She really thinks that?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Hell yeah," he laughed.

"I guess I always thought. . . I mean, everyone else saw me as a dick. I figured she did too."

"Nope," he teased. "She always sees the good in people. It's extremely annoying."

Eddie walked away, but my mind was going a hundred miles an hour. I thought over the few, very few, interactions I've ever had with Y/N. We walked a few more miles, the others talking amongst each other while I walked behind the group.

"Alright," Eddie sighed as he joined me. "Enough of this. You've been in your head since I mentioned Y/N. What's the. . ."

He didn't finish his thought. Instead, he turned toward me with a smirk on his face.

"Ohhhhh," he elongated. "I get it now."

He playfully pushed me before continuing to walk through the woods.

"Wait," I called out as I chased after him. "You get what?"

"Come on, Harrington," Eddie sighed. "Please tell me I don't have to be the one to point this out to you."

"Point what out?"

"You have a thing for my sister."

"What?" I scoffed. "I don't. . . Why would you. . . That's so. . . No."

"No?" Eddie teased. "You sure about that?"

"I mean. . . That would be. . . Crazy."

"No, it wouldn't," he said simply. He saw the look on my face and sighed. "Look, Harrington, as much as I may not understand it, Y/N's right. You're a good guy. You'd be an even better guy if you'd grow a pair and tell my sister how you felt about her."

"What if she doesn't feel the same?" I asked before I could realize how weird it was to have this conversation with Y/N's twin brother.

"She does."

My heart jumped into my throat at those two words. Eddie didn't say anything else. He didn't need to. He sent me a wink before jogging and catching up with the others.

"She does," I repeated under my breath. "Holy shit. She feels the same."

* * * * *

Three months later, Hawkins was barely rebuilding. After Eddie's death, there were two people I was worried about; Dustin and Y/N. Dustin was doing what he normally does - pretending to be okay so no one would worry about him. I checked in on him almost every day. He was getting better, especially since Max was improving.

Y/N, on the other hand, barely leaves her uncle's trailer. Every single one of us has tried to visit her, but her uncle keeps telling us she doesn't want any visitors. Y/N won't even talk to the kids.

"Hi, Steve," Eddie and Y/N's uncle sighed when he opened the door.

"Hi, Mr. Munson," I greeted. "Is Y/N here?"

He sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Look," he sighed, "I really appreciate all you kids have been trying to do for Y/N, but I think it might be best if you give her some space."

"But. . ."

"I'm sorry, Steve," he continued. "I'll let her know you stopped by."

My heart sank as he closed the door. I couldn't get myself to move as I heard Y/N's uncle saying something to her. I couldn't quite hear what he was saying but I forced myself to leave. I turned around and slowly started walking back to my car. As I drove home, I racked my brain trying to figure out what I could do for Y/N.

Just when I had lost all hope, I noticed someone pulled over to the side of the road. As I got closer, I recognized the driver as Y/N. She was looking at her engine.

I didn't hesitate to pull over. I got out of my car and started walking toward her.

"Need a hand?" I called out. I instantly cringed when she jumped. "It's just me, Y/N."

"Sorry," she stuttered.

"It's okay," I tried to say lightly. "So, you need any help?"

"This stupid thing won't start," she grumbled. "And I have no idea why. Eddie usually. . ."

My heart sank when she stopped talking. One look at her and I could see the tears building.

"He usually handled the car," she forced herself to continue as she cleared her throat.

"I could take a look," I shrugged. She looked up at me, her eyes softening.

"Really?"

"Of course."

I walked over to the front of her car and examined the engine. The longer I stared at it, the more Y/N giggled. She was laughing at me, but I didn't care. At least she was laughing.

"You don't know anything about cars, do you, Steve?" 

"That obvious?" I chuckled as I turned toward her.

"Little bit," she said, showing me how much with her fingers. She cleared her throat and wrapped her arms around herself.

"I could still help," I said quickly.

"How?" Y/N asked, her voice softening.

"I could give you a ride," I offered.

"Steve. . ."

"I don't mind," I said quickly. "I can take you home or wherever you were on your way to."

"You don't have to," she said quickly. 

"I don't mind," I tried again.

"I can call my uncle."

"Come on, Y/N. Let me help you."

She looked up at me and held my gaze. "Are you sure?" She asked, her voice soft.

"Of course," I shrugged. I held my hand out, not entirely expecting her to take it. When she did, my heart jumped into my throat. Ignoring the circus in my stomach, I led her over to my car. She smiled as I opened the door and held it for her.

"Thanks," she said as she got in. I took a shaky breath as I walked around and got in the driver's seat. I started driving to the trailer park, my nerves jumping all over the place.

"So," I cleared my throat, "how have you been doing?"

"Fine," she shrugged, looking out the window.

"Are you. . ."

"Please don't, Steve," she cut me off. She looked over at me and I could see the tears building.

I nodded before turning my attention back to the road. We went through the rest of the drive in silence. I wanted to talk to her but I wasn't sure how to start a conversation with her. Before I would've liked, we pulled in front of her uncle's trailer.

"Thanks for driving me, Steve," she said softly.

"Y/N, wait," I said as I grabbed her hand before she could get out of my car. When she looked at me, I forgot what I was going to say.

"Steve," she said softly when I didn't continue.

"I just wanted to say," I said slowly, "if you ever need anything, the group and I are here for you."

"Thanks," she said, clearing her throat. She started to get out but realized that I was still holding her hand.

"There's something else," I forced myself to say. I looked into her eyes and gathered all the courage I could before saying, "I'm sorry about Eddie."

She turned away from me but right before she did, I could see the tears building. With the hand I wasn't holding, she covered her mouth. My heart sank when I realized she was hiding her tears.

"Y/N," I whispered. I pulled on her hand and she let me bring her into my chest. As I wrapped my arms around her, she sobbed into my chest.

"I wish we could've done something," I whispered. I pulled out of our embrace and held her shoulders as I looked deeply into her eyes. "I wasn't able to keep your brother safe, but that doesn't mean I can't keep you safe."

"Steve," she said under her breath.

"I promise, Y/N, I will always be here for you," I said. "If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, all you have to do is call me. Day or night."

"Day or night?" She teased. "That's a little creepy, Steve."

"I didn't mean it like that," I stuttered. "I just meant that if you needed me, I'd. . ."

Y/N cut me off by leaning over and pressing her lips to mine. I didn't hesitate to deepen the kiss. I gently grabbed her face as our lips moved against each other. When we were both out of breath, we broke the kiss and leaned our foreheads against each other.

"You know," she whispered, "there is something you could do for me."

"Anything," I said instantly.

"I'm starving," she started. I smiled when she didn't continue.

"Y/N," I said softly. "Can I take you to dinner?"

I smirked as I leaned in and kissed her again. I felt her smile as our lips moved in sync. I broke the kiss and pressed my nose to hers.

"If it's not too much trouble," she whispered.

"Not at all."

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for agreeing to be a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding even though I think she's making a huge mistake?

(Emojis so I recognize it 👰‍♀️💍🤵)

So my (24F) cousin Anna (21F) got engaged at the start of December. This was really surprising to me because the last time I saw her at Thanksgiving she was just starting to get back into dating via tinder after a couple bad breakups, and she wasn't actively seeing anyone yet. When I got home for Christmas break, my mother told me that Anna had gotten engaged to and moved in with her new boyfriend, Evan (~22/23M), an army guy she'd met three weeks before and that no one but her immediate family had even met yet.

Our family has always been pretty close, and this was concerning for a lot of reasons. 1) she literally just had a nasty breakup with her rebound boyfriend after a nasty breakup with her last long-term relationship, making this guy her 4th serious boyfriend this year, 2) she historically has very bad taste in men, every boyfriend she has ever had had treated her horribly and she ties her entire self-worth up into how her boyfriend sees her so she's literally never been single for more than a couple weeks since high school, 3) her older sister (28F) literally just left a 13 year abusive relationship with the guy who started grooming her when she was 15 and he was 28, 4) the groom is about to ship out for a 9 month deployment a month after their March wedding and military men are notorious for cheating or divorcing on long deployments, 5) she wants her dream wedding in March (giving us only 2 months to plan and fundraise), despite her parents already being in tight financial straits bc they started building a house right before unexpectedly needing to take in and help provide for their eldest daughter and her two kids and both my grandparents (who live with them) having sudden drops in their health to the point where my grandfather probably will pass in the next couple months and my grandmother could pass at any time (though tbf, were pretty sure no one has told Anna this since my grandparents don't want to scare her and her mom's in denial).

I also just really don't like the groom bc the one time I met him he made a ton of racist and homophobic jokes despite there being multiple black and queer family members present, but if that were the only thing I could probably bite my tongue since I don't think that's something that bothers her or anyone else in the family. I'm just really worried about her, since it seems like she's been going through something for a while and I know how hard this is on my whole family, especially my grandparents, since we all are really scared about what's going to happen to her if things go wrong and considering the circumstances, that's a good chance this will go wrong.

I want to make it clear, I do really want this to work out for her. She's head over heels in love and he seems to care about her too. I just don't expect it to go well and I've said as much to anyone who asked how I feel about it.

Here's where I could be the asshole: Anna's really having a hard time with the entire family telling her this is a bad and impulsive idea, feeling like everyone who has a problem with it isn't supporting her. She called and asked me to be a bridesmaid, specifically because "you've always looked out for and supported me even when no one else did, so I really want you to be my bridesmaid." I told her I would love to be there and support her however she wanted me to, and I fully intend to be the best bridesmaid I can be because I want this to be a happy memory for her and to take as much stress off her and her parents as possible. But now she thinks I support this marriage when I definitely don't and have been open about that with both our moms as well as her sister (the maid of honor), my SIL (also a bridesmaid), and my brother (a groomsman), all of whom are in the same boat.

So, am I the asshole for agreeing to be my cousin's bridesmaid while thinking she's making a big mistake?

What are these acronyms?

[onceuponaoneshotfanfic]

Once Bitten

Part of my 900 Followers Celebration!

Request: Happy 900 lovely!! What a boss! 👑Can I please request: "I don't bite, unless you're into that sort of thing?" Just thinking of Roy Kent leaving his mark on you.... ooof! 🥵 That'll do! You're such an inspiration, I adore your work! 😘

Roy Kent x Reader

0.8k words

Warnings: Language

You let out a deep sigh as you walked into the parking lot at Nelson Road. You were definitely not a sports reporter, but when your colleague Penelope begged you to cover the Greyhounds press conference so she could go meet with her daughter’s teacher, you agreed. You’d hoped you’d followed along well enough to take decent notes for her; the Greyhounds press room had been nothing short of overwhelming. Besides knowing nothing about football, you weren’t used to being one of the only women in the room, and you definitely weren’t used to Roy Kent’s expletive-filled way of speaking.

“Alright there?”

Speak of the handsome, bearded devil. As you lingered by your car, contemplating the best way to apologize to Penelope, Roy Kent had walked out of the building. His eyes rested on you with some concern, probably seeing the horror on your face.

“I’m fine,” you lied, giving a small wave.

He glanced around the parking lot and walked over to you. “Don’t look fine.”

Despite your inner anguish, a hollow laugh escaped your lips. “Wow. That’s what a girl likes to hear.”

“Oh. Fuck, not like that,” he chuckled, eyebrows raised. “You look good, trust me. Just… It also looks like you’re thinking very fucking hard about something.”

Trying not to blush at the compliment he technically just paid you, you cleared your throat. “You don’t want to hear about it.”

To your surprise, the handsome manager shrugged. “Sure I do. Otherwise, Jamie Tartt’ll invite me out for a drink, and ‘I don’t fucking want to’ is never a good enough answer for him.” He stuck out his hand. “Roy, by the way.”

“Oh, I know.” You shook his hand. “I, um, was at the press conference right now.” You told him your name and what paper you were from.

“What happened to Penelope?” The genuine interest and concern in his voice surprised you.

“Parent-teacher meeting. She asked me to cover.”

His smile only added to his handsomeness. “And I take it you weren’t very excited to join us today?”

You really didn’t want to offend the attractive man standing in front of you but- “I hate sports,” you admitted reluctantly. “Barely knew what the fuck you were talking about in there. And now I just have to hope my notes are good enough for Pen’s article.”

“Brutal honesty, I like it.” Roy thought for a moment. “Why don’t we grab a drink while I look over those notes with you? Can help you translate sports-speak. Plus, I could give you some quotes no one else’ll have.”

“Why?” you blurted out, unable to believe someone like him would be so nice to someone like you.

He shrugged. “I like Pen. She doesn’t ask me stupid fucking questions like the other pricks do. Besides…” He bobbled his head, hesitating about whether he should continue. “I’d never say no to the chance to buy drinks for a pretty reporter.”

How were you supposed to say no to that?

Twenty minutes later, you found yourself sitting in a pub, sharing a corner booth with Roy Kent. Beers sat in front of you, along with the notes you’d taken during the press conference. Roy was bent over them, mumbling under his breath as he read. He glanced over at you.

“You weren’t fucking kidding. You don’t know shit about football.”

Beer almost came out of your nose as you held back a laugh. “Alright, well help me then!”

His eyes studied your face thoughtfully. “Well, scoot closer so you can actually see the nonsense you wrote.”

You froze. When you sat down, you’d very carefully placed yourself a respectable distance from Roy Kent and his overwhelming handsomeness. If you scooted closer, your thighs would be pressed together and your bare arms would touch and oh fuck, he’d be able to feel the warmth radiating off your body that was completely covered in an embarrassing blush.

He could see the hesitation on your face, although hopefully not the reasons running through your mind. “Come on, get over here. I don’t bite.” A wicked smirk crossed his gorgeous face. “Unless you’re into that sort of thing.”

A choking sound flew out of your mouth, but you managed to return his grin and move closer to him, allowing your legs to lightly press against each other. You didn’t need to worry about your arms touching though; Roy instead chose to wrap his arm around your shoulder.

“There,” he muttered, raising an eyebrow at you. “Isn’t that better?”

Looking into his eyes felt so surreal, as if you were living in a cheesy movie and not just your daily life as a low-ranking journalist with an overbearing mother and a messy roommate. “Yeah,” you agreed in a breathy voice you barely recognized. “Much better.”

As Roy leaned closer and softly pressed his lips to yours, your last coherent thought was a mental note to thank Penelope for having a parent-teacher conference.

[hai7ani]

to be loved is to be seen / Nutella

Whenever you're on your period you tend to crave for some bread. Preferably, they are thoroughly spread with generous amounts of Nutella without the skin.

That's just how it is 一 for or all the years you've lived as a woman, bread with Nutella during that time of the month has always been your guilty pleasure.

Today at work your colleague stops by your desk with a cup of coffee in hand.

"What are you having for lunch today?" She juts her chin towards the Hello Kitty lunchbox you always bring to work.

"Hmm, I don't know. Let's check," you grin, excitedly opening up the metal box.

2 slices of bread, each one folded in half with thick layers of Nutella spread on them. On the side there is a small container of grapes and a packet of biscuits of your favourite brand.

A light, sweet lunch, as you prefer on days like these, and you smile.

The usual.

But your colleague giggles beside of you. "Are you sure this doesn't belong to your daughter?" You look up at her at that. "Or did your husband mix up the boxes?" That triggered a series of laughter between you both.

Another colleague pokes her head into your cubicle. "Oh, Nutella again! My kids love it. I've tried it once and I never did again. It's too sweet for me, but you seem to like it a lot." She laughs.

You only bite your lip and look at them sheepishly. "I like it sweet. It's kind of a guilty pleasure."

They leave you alone afterwards, not before teasing you for having such a sweet tooth (and also whispering to you that they are just joking), but you don't take any of it to heart. You know they don't mean anything by it despite the constant tease about your little lunchbox that you match with your daughter and the kiddish contents in it.

They know your husband packs your lunch everyday 一 a habit he's picked up on ever since your daughter has started school and he's decided to takeover your little routine 一 and that you always either have sweet stuff or sandwiches for lunch on most days of the week.

But what they don't know is that despite the many years of craving for and having Nutella with bread as a guilty pleasure on the end of every month, you've spent more time watching other kids have it for breakfast in school.

Money wasn't very flexible in your home. Everything went to something and very rarely it ever went to you 一 growing up it was either hard-boiled eggs dipped into packets of soy sauce from the cheap, cold sushi only your parents get to eat or bread with butter from the buffet they attend on special occasions.

Never Nutella like the others kids eat everyday.

The first time you've ever tasted it was on the second date with your now-husband, outside the library of the engineering building many years ago.

(You met him at a seminar on improving public speaking skills. Fates intertwined together by a laggy spin-the-wheel website and he'd immediately pointed out the character printed on the shitty graphic t-shirt you were wearing that actually belonged to your roommate. You told him you don't actually know the character, but you do know the one on the fading sticker stuck to his laptop cover.

He'd asked you out right after the seminar ended (an unplanned topic of conversation that sounded a little different than what he meant, but since it sounded like that anyway, he took the chance as quickly as it came), hands stuffed into the pockets of his Levi's and an extremely red face for such a confident boy like him.)

He was biting on a piece of bread with some brown spread on the surface, sweat rolling off his forehead as he hastily jogged towards you on the sidewalk. "Sorry I'm late, my presentation ended a little later than I'd expected."

He was only 7 minutes and 10 seconds later than the time you both agreed on, yet the boy still rushed to see you straight after class in his wrinkly college t-shirt that he always forgets to iron after laundry.

"Have you eaten yet? It's kind of a long walk to the restaurant. Hold on," he then reaches a hand behind to grab a flat Tupperware from his black backpack, and showed the opened container to you.

"It's Nutella bread." He said, and you'd looked at him dumbfounded. "Do you... like it?" He faltered a little at your expression and out of your eagerness to not disappoint or embarrass the poor boy, you grabbed the last piece of bread and held it still in your hands, unsure of what to do with it.

"I..." You trailed off. "I think so."

"Huh?"

"I've never had Nutella before."

Three best friends slid past you both and they whispered. You thought they must've heard you and they must think it is ridiculous for a person to not have eaten Nutella before in their entire life.

You reddened and looked away from him out of embarrassment. Now he must think you are a joke. He doesn't wanna go out with you anymore 一 what a loser.

...He didn't think of you that way, though 一 not at all. Instead, he let out a laugh that made you jerk your head back towards his face and you remember feeling your heartbeat quicken behind your bones, threatening to fall out of your chest simply at the innocent sound of his boyish laughter.

"Yeah?" He was already reaching into his backpack again by the time you've regained your composure and was finally holding the slice of bread properly.

"That's great then," and he'd fished out a tub of Nutella with a wiggly plastic knife in his hand, "have some more." He scooped a generous amount of the cocoa spread and slaps it on your bread.

?

This boy...

"I always carry this with me in case I get hungry in class so I can DIY a snack." He said excitedly, "you'll like this, I swear. It's my favourite."

He then folded your bread and gently pushed your hand to your mouth. "There," and he keeps all his stuff back in his bag before huffing a breath. "Let's go." He ushers you with him.

The first time you've ever had Nutella, you had it with 6pm orange painting your skins and the boy you married talking your ear off about the menu from the restaurant he found online.

You ended up not finishing your meal and handed it over to him who happens have a really huge appetite because you were too busy eating his tub of Nutella. Just like he said 一 you liked it. A lot.

You still like it now that you're married to him and have given him a daughter who is just as confident as him when he was his younger, boisterous self.

A silly engineering nerd who now likes packing your lunch the same way he does for your daughter who prefers strawberry jam on her bread instead into your matching lunchboxes.

The things you never got to have when you were a child.

He knows.

They don't.

It's alright, though 一 you think it makes your silly Nutella bread a little more sweeter.

[dangerpronebuddie]

(Hold onto your hoola hoops, folks, I wrote this at 2am after a paper that fought me tooth and nail, so if it makes no sense I'm sorry 😁)

Okay. I can't stop thinking we're in for some Eddie whump. (The whumper in me says we're overdue pero ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ that's beside the point). Anyway. The foreshadowing has been in the making since 4x14, and with them discussing that arc so much, I can't help feeling like they'll bring up something about it. (Under the cut, cause this gets a bit long)

This show doesn't often leave storylines open, so addressing the will again is inevitable. But what would prompt it? Eddie thinks Buck understands it (he doesn't), so why would they need to bring it up again?

They promoted Chris/ Gavin along with the main cast. No other kids were. So why?

You could argue the 7x01 storyline was the reason behind it, but I don't think that line is completely done. The premieres usually foreshadow some events through the season. Bringing up Shannon not only gives new viewers a glimpse into the Diaz boys and their trauma, it sets up something they'll revisit. She's been mentioned a few times throughout the season, and having her be a part of the guilt storyline makes perfect sense and is absolutely beautiful.

Eddie still holds this guilt about their relationship. All these if onlys. He's come a long way in his healing and growth, but it isn't linear, and that loss will never completely heal. He's still looking for that magic, that deep love he had (and still has) for her. He can't move past the guilt he feels about it all.

A coma dream of his own, or some kind of hallucinations, would be the perfect way to get him to forgive himself. How we get there? I'm not 100% sure. But I have some ideas!

1. Trapped dads (thank Anna)

@lover-of-mine can explain it so much better, but we've been rooting for this for ages. We thought they were going to drown Buck this season, but it doesn't look like they're going that way. So, we thought about flipping the scenario. Eddie is the one gravely injured, not Buck. Aborted confession? Possibly! Buck being the sole parent while Eddie is in the hospital? Absolutely. It would bring about so many possibilities. Eddie wouldn't confess to Buck as he was dying, he wouldn't make Buck carry that. But Buck might confess to Eddie as Eddie is dying so he knows he'll die loved. When he saves Eddie (desperate CPR when???) they have to live with what was said in the moment. Even better if Eddie is in a coma afterwards. Bonus points if they're still in their relationships through it all. Mutual pining anyone? Buck will be taking care of Chris in the midst of it all, possibly revealing to T and M that the will exists. The season ends with Eddie awake and healing, knowing how Buck feels. He of course won't say anything because they're still dating other people. Allows for a LOT of pining through s8.

2. Hallucinations (thanks Saturn)

I hadn't really considered this possibility, but @steadfastsaturnsrings brought up a great idea. I tried to find out the specific episode that takes place in the desert, but as far as I've found, they haven't specified. I'm assuming 7x07. Since 7x07 is Ghost of a Second Chance, Shannon could be appearing in that one. And if 7x07 is the one in the desert, then there's a lot of possibilities there too. Heatstroke or snake bite... either could cause hallucinations. Since the writer for 7x07 is likely Taylor Wong (wrote 6x15) then some Eddie and Shannon angst is definitely possible. Any way we look at this, the will could factor in. Eddie can't care for Chris, so Buck steps in. I think something happening in the desert could add some visions focused around his service and we get some very Eddie Begins type scenes that maybe show more positive calls between Eddie and Shannon. We could also possibly get a callback to 6x15 and Eddie's fear of dying alone (and having Buck there with him would prove him wrong. Wishful thinking).

3. God only knows

He gets trapped in a collapsed building? T involved? Sinkhole? Some kind of blood loss? We don't know! But I do know that Juan Carlos Coto usually writes huge episodes for Bobby, Eddie, and Buck (3x09, 4x05, 5x13, 5x16, 6x10 just to name a few). And since he's writing 7x08, which is titled Step Nine, the guilt and Shannon could happen there too. I mentioned in another post (which I can't find, naturally) that Step Nine in AA means making amends, no matter what. So, while Bobby is likely making amends with Amir, Eddie is making amends with himself, Shannon, and his guilt surrounding it. (There's a possible firepilot storyline there, depending on how 7x06 goes but I won't get into that rn).

Any way it goes, Shannon appearing, especially appearing older, will show Eddie all those if onlys he's been dwelling on. It will show him how different his life could've been (parallel to 6x11) and it will show him he hasn't failed. He has nothing to feel guilty about. He's not going to find what he had with Shannon. But he can find something just as deep and meaningful. And it's something Shannon (his subconscious) has to show him. Something he has to figure out on his own, like he usually does. No outside force is going to push him past it, no matter how hard he tries.

Perhaps in that dream/ hallucination, he'll realize he's not a commitment phobe, he's not a failure, he's not a sinner doomed to hell. He's human, and he's found love he's not allowing himself to feel.

Feelings realization (or more acceptance of those feelings) and some delicious pining is imminent. How we get to it? I'm not sure. They usually repeat kinds of injuries so I'm leaning more towards trapping him somewhere, but I love the idea of a snake bite. It's happening to someone, based on the fact they had dangerous reptiles on set (or a prop for it). Any way it happens, it'll be amazing, especially if this happens with it.

[bloogers-boogers]

Oooo ask blogs are fun)) Cain and Abel how's parenting going and what do you think about your Dad and Lucifer's situation

Cain: OHOHOHO—! where to fucking start?

Abel: just start by answering the question

Cain: bitch let me speak. Wait, what was the question again?

Charlie: I think they were asking about your thoughts on our dads being together...

Angel Dust: And how y'all do it

Vaggie: they did NOT ask about their sex life

Angel Dust: it was implied

Vaggie: it was not

Husker: just answer the fucking question, kid

Cain: WHO YOU CALLING A KID!?? I'm literally older than all of you hoes!

Abel: we're doing great! Raising Macey has been wonderful so far

Cain: for YOU. Raising Macey is wonderful for you. Do you know how difficult is to tame a kid from wrath?? VERY difficult. It's to be expected by demons who's strengths is rooted through anger. You can imagine all the punches I had to take just to feed her. For a wrath demon it's like the ocean breeze of the beach but for us outsiders that don't belong to the wrath ring is like teaching a rabid hyena how to not bite your arm off. It's a battlefield everyday and this ain't nothing to what we'll expect when she hits puberty.

Angel Dust: if you knew it was gonna be difficult to raise her, why pick a baby from wrath?

Cain: because! ... Abel's from wrath, so.. well he loves challenges. I do too. It just— it fits right?? Okay. Simple as that.

Abel: *smiles*

Cain: *blushes deeply while rolling his eyes* fine. Seeing her reminds me of Abel, and I don't know she's fucking adorable, have you seen her? Also I love getting my arm yanked off every time it's bath time.

*Everyone looks at him in concern*

Cain: it's fucking worth it. It's like when you raise a cat.

Abel: when it comes to our opinions in our dad dating Lucifer it's kinda divided because at first we kinda thought this was genuinely just a professional agreement.

Cain: fuck nah, I knew from the very start that plan would crumble in failure the moment papa called us explaining the situation he was stuck in, our dad's an emotional mess. We know him well enough to call him insane. But I didn't think he'd be wanting the devil's ass. More like, a gay awakening to say the least but not 'wanting the guy that took my wives' awakening y'know

Abel: I mean.. the guy is okay, he's just as mentally fucked up like our dad

Cain: or even worse

Abel: they're very sad old men

Cain: stupid too

Abel: I feel bad for him. But I personally do think our dad's a little confused and shouldn't rush himself into a relationship with the literal devil

Cain: your jealousy is beyond comprehension. He's a daddy's boy. A very overprotective son, picky too

Abel: I'm not jealous. I'm concerned. Neither is stable enough to maintain a relationship

Cain: neither were we

Abel: so you're approving this?

Cain: hell nah. That'll just add more fuel to the theories that I'm Lucifer's spawn. I just think if those two do go official it wouldn't be that bad. Though our papa can score better but then again if you think of it, down here. 'Better' is the open can of beans laying inside sewer water

Abel: we are very grateful that Lucifer did offer himself to far extents as marriage just to keep our dad from being abused and tortured. We haven't yet thank him, with everything that's been happening we haven't had time and he's very awkward around us. Though we still do plan on thanking him when we're given the chance

Cain: most likely when we leave

Abel: point is, we can't say we like him for our dad's actual partner. As an individual he has good intentions, very bad at expressing them, but a genuine okay guy. But if our dad's crazy enough to give the devil a chance, we won't interfere. We just would have a hard time understanding it.

Cain: theres a part of me that thinks our dad's still freaky for our momma *hopeful smile*

Abel: ...

Abel: sure, honey. Whatever makes you sleep at night

Angel Dust: after rereading the ask over ten times I don't think they were referring to the relationship on itself, you guys, I think they were referring to-

Cain: times up! Next question!

[mugiwara-rosewolf]

Hi again. Requests on Sabo at your service 😂 I love it too much 😍 anyway. I'm still here because the first request was great! You write very well. I put you if you allow me in the favorite writers that I discovered on this site! ♥ and also if ever another idea comes to me, let me come back to let you know *bows*

Good ! we're going to go to my dear and adorable Sabo.... I don't know if you write nfsw? Let me know if it's yes or no (so I can see what kind of request I'll send you)

So, reader will be in the revolutionary army before Sabo, she meets him at her mission in fuschia. Then after his accident, she helps him to overcome this ordeal and years later, Sabo discovers that he loves her but how to tell her given how much he is not comfortable with himself and says to himself he doesn't deserve happiness

I don't know if it's angst or not, but it's too hard to be soft... Especially the last sentence. Sabo-chan, you deserve all the stars in the universe, don't think like that 🤧 a happy ending at the end where I (reader) comfort him. I trust you to bring sabo's insecurities to the fore and how reader comforts him

Hello friend! Thank you again for such a wonderful request! I appreciate the compliments and would be honoured to be included among your favourites. I love this idea, and I really hope I did it justice.

(P.S. - I'm okay with writing NSFW stuff. I haven't had the chance to update the rules section of my blog to say so because I am fairly new to the genre, so just a fair warning).

(P.P.S. - HOO-boy, this got out of hand. IDK what possessed me but ~ I'm afraid I'm gonna have to break this fic into two parts. I hope that's okay 😅).

Anyways - Enjoy!

All My Life

Part 1

Sabo x F! Reader

Warnings/Tropes: Slight Canon Divergence, Revolutionary!Reader, Besotted!Sabo, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Amnesia, Light Angst & Mild Cursing.

This was the life - her life. Ever since birth, she'd been raised under the credo of the Revolution. It was as a favour to Dragon himself that Y/N and her parents left HQ to live under deep cover in the East Blue. A secret of the highest clearance was hiding there, he told them. The orders were to 'guard it with your life'.

She'd been born this way. The Army's youngest ever spy.

And that's precisely what she did. The moment she met a kid named Monkey D - she knew her mission had begun. Guard it with your life. Guard it with your life. Her leader's words rang in her ears for years after that. Keeping a razor-sharp eye on those blasted pirates that blew in and out of town with the wind. Biting the hands and feet of those blasted bandits whenever they invaded. Their leader, 'the Bear,' would never risk the humiliation of admitting half his wicked scars were from the end of her daggers.

When young Monkey D came away from those tumultuous times with merely a few stitches under his eye (self-inflicted, mind you), Y/N was half tempted to consider her mission a success. Little did she know -- the lion's share of her protective duties had only begun.

***

He wouldn't remember this for years. For years. And part of him was still ashamed to admit it to this day. He wouldn't remember the (h/c) girl with those fierce (e/c) eyes and that wicked pair of daggers at her sides. He wouldn't remember how she was his brother's first protector. Bandaging his rubber-skinned wounds and wiping his cry-baby tears with calloused hands. He wouldn't remember how the dappled sunlight of the jungle would play across her hair, sparking the flint in her eyes. How she could swing from the branches as limber as the wind and carve all their initials into the trunk of their tree house. Years went by, with him never knowing those golden days existed.

What he remembered, instead, was a hospital room. Bandages prickling his skin from head to toe. The smell of cotton was overpowered by night sweats and disinfectant. Not to mention the stench of Ivankov's various perfumes and powdered shoved in his face as soon as he awoke. Y/N would always laugh remembering that part, telling him he 'screamed like a monkey'. She'd be laughing so hard she'd be wiping tears. Mostly happy ones, he thought.

She was right there at his bedside when he woke up. Gripping the brim of his hat so tight, her knuckles were white. She handed it to him so he could see his name embroidered on a little tag on the inside. Sabo. Part of him feared he wouldn't remember that much if not for her.

When Dragon and the others discussed the idea of sending him home...remembering that jolt of fear of panic stills sends a shudder down his spine to this day. He cried out against it. Begged them to let him stay. He's not sure his please would've worked if Y/N hadn't protested alongside him. Telling them about the horrors she'd witnessed in Grey Terminal. The cruelty of the Goa Kingdom. When she spoke, there were tears in her eyes.

Years passed, and together they stayed.

She brought him books while on bedrest. Told him stories when his eyes got tired. Shared meals with him by candlelight in that lonely hospital den. Not all the stories were happy, but that was okay. Cause her voice captured each emotion expertly. Even when she wandered to his bandaged side, he learned to read her voice as clearly as any picture book. Learned what it sounded like when she smiled when she laughed.

She was right there beside him when he woke up from night terrors. Or when the headaches set his vision on fire. When shivers wracked his body, locking his bones together till he couldn't breathe. She was right there beside him. Her calloused hands pawed at hospital sheets when they finally removed the bandages. He saw his fingers for the first time. Her breath caught. She wouldn't think he heard her, but he did. How could he not?

The Doctors held up a mirror - and he saw it all. The molten skin coating half his left side gleamed in the dim light like a spider's webbing buried into the cracks of his flesh...absorbing his left eye. The blue of his eye had exploded like those supernovas he had read about in books. He tried to look, to see the doctor without turning his head, but all he saw was a blurry minty white. Like the sheets beneath his hands. Like the pallor on Y/N's face when she finally saw the damage done with her own two eyes. --And she cried.

He never thought it'd hurt so much to hear her cry.

She was on his left side the first time she told him about her family. How mercenaries had captured and tortured her best friend. How her parents had been lost trying to help others escape this huge fire that Nobles had set in the slums of her home. She told him spontaneous fires started there sometimes with discarded metals or glass catching the light in the summertime, but it had never been so bad as that day. From the pit that swallowed his gut, he knew instinctively that fire was no accident. All those people... razed to the ground on someone else's whims. Sabo felt sick to his stomach.

It was the first time he had tried to reach out to someone. What with his squeaking-taut skin, stiff muscles and aching bones. But he swore his heartbeat stopped when she wrapped her arms around his ribs. When she buried her salty tears into his collar, everything paused. Frozen in time. In the moment when her warmth was pressed against him. Where the drumbeat of her heart somehow eclipsed his own.

Looking back now, it seems almost silly how long it took him to figure it out. They knew how much trouble they'd get into sneaking into each other's barracks at night to read, study, or just talk until the candles burnt out - but they did it anyway. Sometimes they'd goof off in class just cause they knew they'd get detention together. He'd volunteer to peel apples and potatoes with her and Koala for kitchen duty. He'd drape his coat over her shoulders when she fell asleep in the library. He knew she'd always pick up his hat if he ever forgot. Or if some punk was dumb enough to try and swipe it off his head. Sabo swore she was even more protective of that hat than he was, sometimes.

She tried to brush him off when he teased her about it. But even though he could no longer see the blur of her hair on his left side - he could still hear how her callouses brushed that little tag stitched on the inside. The one with his name embroidered in small, crooked blue letters. He took that hat and shoved it atop her head.

She squawked and shoved at him, 'What the he-Sabo!'

Sabo laughed. 'Come on, why so serious, Y/N? The hat's just as much yours as it is mine. You can wear it whenever you like.'

Y/N stilled. It took him a few strides to realize he could no longer hear her boot strides beside his. He turned and looked at her. Really looked at her. There, rooted to the spot. Dust mites danced in the sunlight around her, glinting off her hair. Her face was cast in shadow beneath his hat. But her fingers clutched the brim, pale white and trembling. She knew that shiver in her grip. That warbled in her voice, even if it was just one word:

'R-really?'

The ground was swallowed beneath his feet in a matter of seconds. He clasped her shoulders, stilling her shivers. 'Really, really,' He ducked his head. Bowing down just enough so he could see the saltwater glint in her eyes. 'Besides,' he grinned. 'My stuff looks good on you.'

She snorted at that. 'I thought you were just saying this hat was ours?'

'I am,' he straightened. 'The fact that it was mine first just makes it better.'

Another indignant squawk. 'You jerk!' Sabo burst out laughing, dashing down the hall way before she could catch him. 'Hey! Get back here, you!'

Sitting around those crates of apples and potatoes, they'd poke and prod and nudge at each other. Just enough to screw with their carving job and *usually* not enough to result in injury. Then Hack would scold them or Koala would scoff at them something like 'grow up' or 'get a room, you two'. Sabo would duck his head from Hack, rubbing at the burn in his neck. Other times he'd stick his tongue out at Koala, even if he knew he was blushing. But for Y/N, the effect was immediately and vastly different.

She would sit stiff and ramrod straight. Her skin burned red from the crown of her head to the tips of her fingers. Then she'd jerk her head down. (H/c) hair falling and obscuring her face, chin tucked to her chest. Hands nimbly returning to their task with almost machine-like accuracy. Sabo's stomach always swooped at the sight, not in the good way he'd grown to like around her. This was like an icy chill washing down his spine, though he didn't know why.

When he'd turn his head to look at her, the growing darkness on his left side could nearly convince him that Koala and Hack weren't even there. That it was just the two of them. Whittling together to their heart's content. And at that moment, he knew exactly what to say to break Y/N's spell.

'Tell me about the brothers again.'

In an instant, the whole world would light up. As if by magic. Y/n would jolt to look at him. (E/c) blown wide and- and precious. He didn't know how else to describe it. Only when she searched his gaze, it was as if she were raking over his very heart. Searching every nook and cranny until - she smiled. Whether it was a dandelion, sunshine, or a supernova kind of smile, he could never help himself from smiling back. Nodding her along to make sure: go on, I'm listening.

And then off she'd go, launching into one of her infamous tales of 'The Pirate Brothers and me'. She told him about how they'd hunt together in the mountains. All their misadventures learning to beg, borrow and steal from the upper crust of Goa Kingdom. They and their little crew of wild kids saving up to sail into the great unknown. He loved how she gave each of her friends' little nicknames like 'Blondie' and 'Freckles' and 'Meathead' and laughed when she remembered their antics. Sometimes she cried for missing them. Sabo knew it was the good kind of crying, but that didn't make his chest ache any less.

It wasn't until news hit the papers that he knew exactly why.

ROGER'S SON, FIRE FIST ACE, DEAD AT MARINEFORD

The moment he read that headline and saw Fire Fist's, Portgas D, Roger D -- Ace's portrait on the front page news--the floodgates opened. Every nightmare. Every seizure. Prickling fiery pain over his skull. The aching squeak of taut skin. Stiff muscles. Fused bones. Nightsweats and feverish blurs of memory across the back of his eyes. His blind eye burned and ached. But never saw a thing any more.

The burn of water and smoke washed through his lungs. Flashes of sensation flared in his mind, behind his eyes, beneath his skin. The weight of an iron pipe, the breeze of the jungle, the light of the sun - he felt it all. Everything came crashing down at once. His knees cracked against the stone floor. His chest ached. He couldn't tell if he was set on fire or drowning. Everything was damp. He couldn't breathe. Everything within him, every fibre of his being rebelled, shocks along every nerve, pain from every thought. Ace is dead. Ace is dead. Ace is dea- Ace!

He screamed. Everything turned black.

***

27, Oct. 2023: PART 2 OUT NOW!!

[nitewrighter]

Do you think that the other characters forget Efi is only 12 (I think). Like she and Torbjorn spend the day going over super complicated schematics (and she even corrects him once or twice) then she puts on Power Puff Girl pajamas, watches Bluey while eating ice cream before bed? Could we get some fanteractions between her and the others?

I don't know if I discussed it on twitter or on here, but actually in the novel The Hero of Numbani, one of the things I thought was a really cute little world-buildy touch about how Efi interacts with the world at her age is that she often finds herself in these adult spaces, and the adults around her are drinking coffee, and they're like "uhhhh here" and they keep giving her coffee that's like... 50% milk and loaded with sugar--like it's clear they didn't really expect a kid to be in this situation and they're awkwardly doing what they can to try and accommodate her, and she partially recognizes that and also pushes boundaries and feels this need to prove herself.

Also like, 12 isn't really a "powerpuff girl pajamas and Bluey" age, 12 is like.. the age where you semi-convince yourself that you could probably stop arterial bleeding with your little bare 12-year-old hands if the situation called for it. 12 is when you're in a fucked up simultaneous state of "World is big and scary and my body is starting to do things I did not give it permission to do and I'm not ready" and also "I'm Nancy Drew levels of hypercompetent and you can't stop me." Ideally, 12 is where you're starting to push your own boundaries more and more but you're also kind of struggling with the fact that you are outgrowing things you used to really care about. You aren't quite at that asshole stage of "expanding independence but with very little concept of consequences" yet, but it is an age where you are grasping more and more complex concepts. But also your brain is still struggling to really make a leap into abstract/symbolic thinking, which is why algebra really sucks at that age. But again, Efi is a super-genius so developmentally she's at an even crazier intersection of what she can and can't do compared to her peers.

I got off track. Anyway here's Efi interactions.

----

Sojourn: ...You um, you don't have to stand all the way over there. I don't bite.

Efi: *awkwardly shuffles toward her*

Sojourn: ...

Efi: ...

Sojourn: Soooo---?

Efi: *hoarse whisper* You're so much cooler than in the cartoons.

Sojourn: *snrk* I was this cool the whole time.

---

Sojourn: So, I guess I should say, there's really no pressure here. If you did choose to join us, you would just be here as a consultant, and--*deep breath* Okay, the thing is, with Liao gone, you're actually one of the leading minds in the world on AI learning systems, and the way things are with Null Sector, we need to be better at anticipating their next moves. I don't want to put that pressure on you, but given everything you and Orisa have done for Numbani, your willingness to work with Lúcio before, and the position we're currently in, we would be honored if we could get your perspective on certain pieces of intel we have now.

Efi: ...

Sojourn: I get it, it's a very scary situation, and if you just want to stay with your parents and the rest of the civilians, we'll still do everything in our power to keep you safe. Orisa is proving to be an incredible asset on her own. Really, Lúcio just remarked that you seemed very passionate about protecting your home, so if you would be interested in the chance to do that on a larger scale--

Efi: Do I have access to the armory?

Sojourn: Eh--?

Efi: Oh it's not for me, it's for Orisa.

Sojourn: Uhm...

Efi: :)

Sojourn: *clicks tongue* Um--You know what? I'm going to call your parents because there are about 90 more parameters in this situation I need to figure out.

Efi: Oh! They're fine with me having access to the armory.

Sojourn: Yeeahhh I think i'm going to ask them myself.