#and buy the stuff to fill capsules

[trickstarbrave]

Once again had trouble fucking falling asleep. However I think I’m onto smth with the quarter gummy and the valerian root. I’ll need actual pure valerian root and I don’t want to make my own fucking capsules but we’ll see. It might be necessary. But if I take it early, I’m hoping I actually get tired

[ms-spkhd]

thinking about a Blast From the Past steddie au tonight. like, think about it for a second--steve as the sweet, well-meaning himbo raised in a fallout shelter and eddie as the cynic who shows him the world as it is:

The year was 1962, and an atomic bomb had just dropped on top of the Harrington household.

Okay, not really. It was actually a fighter jet that suffered a mechanical failure just above the little plot of land the Harringtons called their home, but Walter Harrington took it differently. Far differently.

See, the thing was that the man was living in a state of paranoid delusion over the Cold War--terrified of the possibility of an outright nuclear holocaust over the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Soviet Union. He had been carefully building a fallout shelter under his home for his wife and possible children to live in with the works--canned food, running water, and even a working television.

And one day they went in and simply never left. The explosion right when they closed the door was tangible proof that the nuclear war was happening right above them.

A few years later, around 1968, a baby boy was born in a fallout shelter with no one but his mom and dad to keep him company.

They raised Steve the best they could, even if Walter Harrington was a mad genius and Madeline Harrington was a borderline alcoholic. Even if the boy was living in a perfect little time capsule of the fifties and early sixties. Walter made sure to educate him right and teach him how to be a sociable gentleman--even if he had no idea what swear words or the concept of sex were. That was for another time. Although, twenty-four years came and went for Steve Harrington, his father still owes him 'another time'.

Steve Harrington grows twenty-four years in perfect seclusion, but that changes at the flick of a switch.

The year is 1992: supplies are dwindling Walter is growing sick, and Steve is tasked to bravely set foot in the nuclear fallout to retrieve more material. (The only reason why Walter assumes they can even get more stuff is because he observed the outside world when the shelter unlocked and mistook it as a post-apocalyptic mutant society.)

The moment Steve made it outside his little bubble, he was utterly fascinated by the world--how different the people were outside of his television and his little books, how bright the sky was outside, how the irritable man on the bus wouldn't accept the money he tried to give him, how the bus moved and didn't fling him right off his seat.

(He even saw an adult bookstore. Dad told him that those things were filled with poisonous gas. How were they even to operate if they were filled with poisonous gas? That's dangerous and totally inconsiderate of the general public's safety.)

Anyway, he tries to follow the grocery list that Mom and Dad gave him the best he can, stocking up on poultry and tissue paper and the works. But by the end of the day, he doesn't know where he came from. Not a single sign or building or person can give him a single clue where to go.

After a few hours of wandering, suitcase in hand, he comes across a store with WE BUY BASEBALL CARDS written on the window.

Golly, Steve loves baseball cards--could look at Dad's collection for hours, and with the collection he has, he could make a pretty penny selling them for supplies. Despite the little hobby store being beside an adult bookstore with poisonous gas, he scampers right in.

"I see you're looking to buy baseball cards," he says breezily to the gruff, scary-looking man behind the counter.

"That I am," he replies.

Steve pulls a few from his jacket's inner pocket. "Well, these are a bit old, you see, but I was hoping you still might be interested."

The gruff man yanks them from his hands, a spark in his eye. He looks delighted to see them, and it fills Steve with an excitement he hadn't felt at all today. Nobody has been this happy over something he's done today. "Woah," he gasps, then covers it with a cough. "Mickey Mantle rookie season...how much do you want?"

"I was hoping to sell all of my cards, actually!"

The man sputters incredulously. "All of 'em? Are you fucking with me?"

"I'm not sure what that means, but all I have are hundred-dollar bills and I need something smaller. Like, uh...ones, tens, fives..."

"Tell you what, I'll give you five hundred in small bills for all you got."

Steve smiles brightly. "Oh, that would be wonderful, sir--"

"Five hundred for a case-full of rookie season Mickey Mantles, Rick, are you fucking joking?" A deep voice cuts through Steve's thanks from the other side of the small store. He turns around to find a man leaning against a magazine rack, arms folded sternly.

The man is unlike Steve's ever seen before. Long, long limbs and big brown eyes that look traced with black and smudged around the edges. Pretty lips, too almost girl-ish, in the way they were big and plush like the women he'd see on the television. The strangest thing about him, though, was the curly hair that tumbled past his shoulders.

He looked mad, though. Madder than mad.

"Tell the poor guy you're fucking with him," long-hair-pretty-lips says to the man behind the counter, who bristles.

"Were you raised in a fucking barn, Munson? Who told you to interrupt on business?" Rick counters. Steve was really not appreciating the amount of f-words dropped in the conversation, it was uncouth.

"Sure I was!" Munson saunters towards the counter and Steve's eyes follow him like a moth to a light. "But my morals go past your business practices at this point. You remember the ninth commandment, yeah?"

"You shut your Goddamn mouth--"

"Excuse me sir, but I really don't appreciate how you're using the Lord's name in vain like that," Steve says firmly.

"See?" Munson smiles. It's like sunlight. "He gets it."

He plucks the baseball card from Rick's hand and holds it over his head when he tries to reach for it again. "See this little thing?" He says to Steve sweetly. "This guy costs six grand alone."

"Get out of town! Really?"

"Oh yeah, big guy. Selling the thing would give you a small fortune, and Rick over here is trying to con you out of it."

Steve frowns. "Is that true?" He asks Rick.

"Nothing but," Munson says in place of him. He slips the card back into Steve's hands and gives them a pat.

"The Hell is even keeping you here, Munson?" Rick sneers. "Did the gig you won't shut up about fall through like they usually do? Better to bum it out here than in your shithole apartment? Stop loitering in my damn store and make like a fucking tree. You're banned."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Munson says rolling his eyes. He looks at Steve, then the door, gesturing at it with a flick of his head. "I'll see you out, Beaver."

He walks them both out the door, stopping to gesture at Rick strangely--hands balled into fists with only his middle fingers up--before stepping outside onto the sidewalk.

"Well merci, Monsieur," Steve says appreciatively, because Dad taught him French was always to be used on such occasions.

"What, you're French?"

"Oh no, I'm"--he thinks back to what Dad told him if a mutant asks where he's from. Gosh, he thinks he's supposed to be--"out on business."

"And you don't even have a clue about the little business trick that Rick tried to pull?"

"No...no, I--"

"Yeah, doesn't matter." Munson shrugs. He smiles sympathetically at Steve before turning on his heel and walking off. Oh boy, what would he do without him?

He follows him like a lost puppy, that's what.

"...You going the same way?" Munson asks incredulously. Steve shakes his head.

"Well, I'm following you."

Munson stops in his tracks, blinking, and Steve almost runs into him in his state. "Me?"

"Well yes! Where are we going?"

"We?" Munson asserts. "I'm going back to my shithole apartment, and judging by that jacket you're wearing, you should be taking the next left and hop-skipping straight to the barber college."

"Oh, I'm lost, though."

"Aren't we all?"

"Say, did you just get banned from that hobby store because of me?" Steve says to change the subject.

Munson sighs. "Seems like I did, sailor. The place was shitty anyways, with that dickhead running the operation. Wayne could get better cards from a different joint."

...dickhead? Steve's never heard that leave the seams of anyone's lips before. "Dickhead?"

"Yeah, he's a real fucking loser. A walking talking penis capable of human speech."

Steve gets queasy at the image he's concocted in his head. He leans against the nearest brick wall, his suitcase tumbling to the ground as he drops into a contemplative squat.

"Dude, what is wrong with you?"

"Well, the mental image that I..."

Munson's eyebrows scrunch before he reaches out a hand to Steve. He takes it, letting the man haul him upward. "Look, man, where'd you park your car?"

"I came by bus."

"Aren't you full of surprises."

"I am?"

"Okay look." Eddie raises his hands, palms splayed in the air. "It's your first time in Los Angeles, right? Everyone wants a taste of it, I know, and you're out for business and fucking famished. You got the opportunity to see the great big world outside of your little bubble and you got excited--but you took a bus and got mixed up in the middle of San Fernando Valley without a clue in the world. Am I correct?"

Steve listens in wonderment. So far, Munson's been correct in a way. He's convinced he might be psychic. He nods slowly and seriously just to see Munson flash that lighting-strike smile.

"Great, great. Which brings us to here. Correct again?"

"Oh yeah."

"Where are you staying?"

Nowhere, at the moment. Steve opens his mouth to say so, but Munson interrupts quickly. "Holiday Inn?"

"Yes, the Holiday Inn!" Steve says totally truthfully.

"Okay, cool. Cool." Munson claps his hands together with finality and starts walking. "The nearest bus station is a couple of blocks away if you take a right--"

"Don't you have a car?"

Munson stops in his tracks again. He turns to face Steve once again. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

Something warm pools in Steve's gut at the pet name. Something about the way those pretty lips form that word sends blood rushing to his cheeks. "Steve," he says.

"Alright, Steve." Oh boy, his name sounds even better when Munson says it. "Rule number one in Los Angeles? Never let a stranger drive you anywhere."

"If it makes you feel any better," Steve says sweetly, "I don't have a gun."

Munson pales, then starts running.

"Hey!" Steve cries and makes haste to follow him. "I must've said something wrong, please forgive me!"

"Nope, nope--get the fuck away from me, man!"

He grabs Munson's wrist to pull him back, which is a bad move since the man starts writhing around in his grip. "I'm not going to hurt you, sir!"

Steve drops Munson's hand and raises his in surrender. "See?"

"...Just let me get to my car."

"I'll give you a Rogers Hornsby if you take me to my hotel," Steve reasons.

Munson stills. "...That's like four grand, don't bullshit me."

He pulls the card from his jacket and presents it as evidence. "See? I was holding it back." He wants Munson to feel safe. "I got two." He reaches for the other cards in his pockets and pulls them out. "And-and all these other ones, too!"

"Okay, okay. You'll give me four thousand dollars if I drive you to your place?"

"Uh-uh!"

"That's it?"

"Yep."

"And I don't have to give you a quickie in the backseat or anything?"

"Yes sir--wait, what?"

Munson blows past his question like it didn't even leave Steve's mouth. "Can you stop with the sir crap?"

"Well, I'm sorry, sir--"

"My name is Eddie."

Eddie...Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. Wow, what a name. It's almost like something he's heard on the television.

"Why, it's nice to meet you, Eddie."

"Tolerable to meet you too, Steve."

Steve smiles shyly, then asks, "So are you a girl?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well it's just your hair...it's so long." Steve points at his as an example. "I've never seen anything like it before."

"Dude, it's 1992, every other guy looks like this--have you been living under a rock or something?"

Something like that. Steve shrugs.

"Well guys having long hair doesn't mean that they're girls, Steve, that's a given. It's not 1962 anymore." Eddie backtracks. "Well, I mean, dudes can have long hair and be chicks and chicks can be dudes too but that's not--"

"Oh, wow, my dad told me about one of those the last time he went here!"

"Oh that's fantastic, sweetheart," Eddie says, sugary-sweet. "But how about I drive you home?"

"That'd be a pleasure, Eddie."

[kafus]

if you ever feel up to it, i'd love to hear how you got the mew. hearing stories about people and their pokemon is really fun.

SOMEONE TOOK THE BAIT LET'S GOOO i wanted to talk about thisSDFFDKS

anyway i got my hadou mew through basically a miracle encounter - back in 2020 i was buying a lot of older pokemon games to fill holes in my collection, either games i never owned or games that i lost over the years from childhood, and as for my missing gen 3 games, i ended up going for japanese copies of firered and sapphire instead of english because having foreign carts is neat but mostly they're just a lot cheaper. buying secondhand pokemon games is always fun because often times the seller doesn't wipe or even check the save file and especially if the save file has a lot of playtime, they're like time capsules from a stranger right. so both games come in and the sapphire has nothing interesting but i'm perusing the boxes of this firered and uhhh

LMAO my initial reaction says it all, i literally just found this thing on a completely random firered cart i bought! it was not advertised to have mew in it on the ebay listing, in fact the seller i bought from sells a LOT of imported japanese pokemon games (and other gba titles) so i imagine he just has a pile of these and he picked out a random one to mail me without so much as checking what was on it.

of course mythical pokemon on gen 3 carts are dubious, it's not like it's particularly hard to gameshark a mythical pokemon, especially considering that i've gotten a secondhand file before with shit like a box full of Deoxys caught at level 2 on the first route in hoenn LOL... so i was pretty serious about checking for legality on this thing as best i could - backed up the save file and inspected it in pkhex, all data was 100% accurate to the event and also reasonable RNG wise, like normal random IVs and stuff... checked for archived versions of this event mew, none of them were identical to online injectable ones, which means the owner couldn't have downloaded and injected it... and most of all, context clues

here's ancient pictures of this mew traded to my english leafgreen so it's readable for everyone - i had not done anything with this mew yet so it's completely untouched from how i found it here. we can tell from looking at this that whoever owned this mew was training it with the exp share as its still holding it and is level 23 despite being met at level 10, and the moveset... solarbeam, mega punch, dragon claw?? very random moveset that i can only imagine a child using. this mew looks like it was played with by its owner legitimately. additionally not shown here, the firered cart had a lot of playtime and like 2/3 of the dex complete, the boxes were full of pokemon that the owner had been breeding and a few unhatched eggs, like i hatched one and it was a completely normal eevee so they may have been getting extra eevees for pokedex purposes etc.

basically i cannot 100% confirm this mew was obtained legitimately without teleporting back in time and getting that japanese movie preorder bonus myself, but there is literally nothing strange about this mew and the save file it comes from is well loved and appeared to be played by a child doing normal pokemon stuff. so for all intents and purposes, this mew is definitely legit to me. actually insane happenstance. i have never gotten anything this crazy from a secondhand file before

think of it this way. some japanese kid in 2005 preorders a pokemon movie > he goes to the store to redeem it for a mew in person. in 2005. in japan. > he plays with the mew a bit > at some point he stops playing pokemon > he sells the game to some random american seller after never wiping the save or removing the mew > the american seller buys jp pokemon games in bulk to resell on ebay so he has a ton of them and probably doesn't check them for what's on them or the old save files > when i order it from this random ebay listing, the american seller picks a random fire red cartridge out of his bulk stash and mails it to me > it ends up in my hands 15 years later after the kid first got this mew

like holy shit it's a small fucking world huh

another old convo from the RM discord because i'm nostalgic about it, i had just started talking here at the time... i'm gonna be honest the ribbon master challenge and the people i met through it genuinely changed my life and this mew came into my life at the perfect time so it means a lot to me on top of being insanely cool

anyways i went on about that longer than necessary but yeah bless my mew i love him

[mothgodofchaos]

Terms & Conditions

This one was cute to write, and it felt good to write again. It was requested that I write a bit of Google, so ask and ye shall receive.

Googliplier x GN!Reader, TW: none Words: 757

“Human, I have observed that it is past your scheduled evening recharging hour. If your charging period does not start soon, your battery will not be sufficiently filled.” “I’m busy, it’ll be fine.” Google frowns at you, glaring you down as you don’t listen to him.

“Am I not programmed to maintain your natural routines and keep the maintenance of the house up to standard?”

“Of course you are, but I have to finish writing this or else I’m fucked tomorrow.” “I do not understand how your writing pertains to intercourse.”

His comment takes you off guard, blinking for a few moments before brushing it off and continuing your work. Your music floats over his mechanical whine, getting louder as he moves to loom over you. He places his hands on the back of your chair, watching you work for a few moments.

“Nothing I am reading is rated important enough to delay your recharging period.”

“Okay one: rude. And two: I have to have this ready to present tomorrow.”

“And if you don’t?”

His question makes you think for a moment, as you begin proofreading what sits in front of you. From your writing, you notice that you’ve already gone past the word count limit, and it’s beginning to spiral into barely coherent sentences. You sigh, your head falling into your hands out of exasperation. “It’s… fine. Perfectly fine.”

“My lie detector says-” “Peachy! Doing perfectly peachy!”

There’s a long period of silence from your android before you’re unceremoniously scooped up into his arms, alarming you.

“Wh- HEY!”

“It is in the terms and conditions of my purchase that I can use force to maintain the work and stasis I was purchased to keep.”

“Well I- didn’t read that…”

“Then I suggest that you begin to give into your exhaustive state.”

You pout at Google, crossing your arms as he carries you from your office to your bed. After being carefully set down, he watches you to start on your night routine. You just stare up at him, continuing to pout.

“Prolonging the period that you are spending awake is not punishing anyone other than yourself.”

“I did not buy you just so you can give me a bedtime!”

“I will once again point out that it was in my terms and conditions.”

“UGH.”

He continues to stand there, waiting on you before going and getting your things himself, setting them in your lap. You groan, making him turn around as you change, and then finish getting ready in the bathroom. Once finished, you plop down on your bed again, glaring him down.

“And what’s to stop me from just getting up and doing stuff once you’re in your capsule. Hmm?”

You can tell he’s processing what you’re saying as his frown deepens, and his whirr gets louder again. 

“I have an effective solution.”

Google lifts you up and puts you under the covers. Once tucked in, he moves over to his charging capsule and pulls out a long extension cord, plugging it into his side. What you weren’t expecting next, is him laying on top of you, wrapping his arms under you to keep you in place.

“Is this sufficient to keep you in place? A full night’s rest is required.”

“Y-Yes…”

He huffs, laying his head down on your chest and settles in. You hesitate for a moment, before running your fingers through his hair. For the first time, you see him relax a bit, which makes you a little smug.

“I didn’t know you liked this, Googs.”

“What I enjoy is irrelevant to my work.”

“Maybe it’s in my terms and conditions to make sure you’re happy.”

“Those have been unavailable to me.”

“So you didn’t read them~?”

Google’s head pops up, and his electric blue eyes shoot daggers at you. But you don’t do anything more than just smile, continuing to play with his hair. His grumbles are cute, closing his eyes and leaning into your hands more. You take off his glasses, setting them aside and kiss his forehead. His eyes widen, and his cheeks flush blue.

“Does that breach your terms of service?”

“...no…”

“Good! Now, if I have to sleep, you do too!”

“...if that is what you wish.”

He snuggles back in, now letting himself enjoy the affection you give him. He’s much more comfortable as a weighted blanket than you would have predicted. You assume the padding around his mechanical structure is thick enough to cushion the sharp edges.

“Good night, Googs.”

“Have a good recharge, spark.”

[stevishabitat]

wodneswynn Hey, listen: We're not gonna get anywhere with this "socialism" stuff unless we can establish solidarity networks that provide. real, tangible aid. And I do mean "tangible" in the sense of "you can fill up a box with it."

Back in the old-timey days, when we didn't have things like a minimum wage or gov- ernment assistance, folks didn't think twice about paying union dues every month out of their meager paychecks. And in those days, when it was a regular, everyday occurrence for union people to get beat up or outright murdered for their union-ing, the unions still managed to win a lot of their fights. Reason for all that? The bigger part of them union dues I mentioned "went into a strike fund",

Time on a picket line means time off the clock. And as for me, in this economy, if I go a week without a check, my family don't eat. I go two weeks without a check, and we're homeless. And them's the brakes.

Rjenroses: In my community we started a co-op in order to, in part, purchase things with mass buying power (i.e, we can get things at wholesale if we order enough of them, so we can, for example, eat organic food for about what conventional costs a lot of the time.)

But we also set aside a little money each time we order, and that money helps pay for donation boxes... and the social network we created when we created the co-op means that if someone has a crisis, someone else probably has the answer. "This family just lost their job and can't afford to buy presents for their kids" may get a response of "Here are presents for every single family member" or it might end up with finding a job for the people looking for work, or both, because the co-op membership is diverse and represents a lot of people who are otherwise. very connected in the community.

When a part of town is out of power, it's usually possible to find a co-op member who can run for ice or bring a meal, or offer use of a washer/dryer for the evening.

We had one year where we were making donation meal boxes for a holiday, found out on the last delivery about a family in severe need, talked about it in the co-op group and ended up showing up at their house with not only a meal, but enough dry goods, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. for a month, plus a credit with the co-op for fresh fruits andveggies.

I cannot overstate the power of networking. in your community. This one started out. in a natural parenting group, but quickly spread beyond that, from college students to retirees. It's like a small town, only more open-minded. We started with about 20-30 families. There are now hundreds of people involved.

I had a trans kid land with me at one point and asked if anyone had size whatever clothes and within a few hours we had a box on my porch, within a couple days we had a bunch of things he needed.

The co-op keeps a lending library of tools and weirdly specific kitchen devices like an Æbleskiver pan, a food dehydrator, a capsule maker and a carpet cleaner. The kinds of things people need once or twice a year, but might not have the room to store.

We periodically do a buy of sensory toys and sensory bin supplies, for example, because we have a lot of autistic members and parents of autistic kids,I have bought socks from the co-op that were purple with unicorns farting rainbows on them. We recently got in Black History: flashcards and we've done a lot of Black Lives Matter and Hate Has No Home lawn signs. Pretty much if people want it and we can find it at wholesale, the co-op will order it.

It even spawned a side-business (more than one, actually, but this is the relevant one) of an online app for co-op managing, called http://managemy.coop so that other communities could take advantage of our experience and start out with an easier tool than the google spreadsheets we started out with.

Anyway... if you want to network within your community, this is a really, really good way of connecting with a broad cross-section of people.

nyshadidntbreakit: All that stuff about unions still applies, too. Unions have hardship funds. If you're a union member and you're broke, or you've been fired, or whatever, you can apply to the union for a grant to help you out. The binmen in Birmingham pulled off a months-long strike. recently thanks to the union paying their living costs. Unions force employers to pay decent pension contributions and have safe sick leave policies,

If you're employed, join your damn union!

solarpunk gnomes: You might check out http://www.transitionus .org/transition-towns too. They're trying to build resilient communities by getting neighbors to talk with each other about stuff.

[666writingcafe]

Shopping Spree Goes Awry

Author's Note: In the original version, MC, Levi, Asmo, Beel, and Mammon are the ones that go out shopping for materials for the costumes for the school festival play. I am swapping out Beel for Simeon. The main reason is that I want to further explore the relationship between MC and Simeon, and I'm using the next few posts to do just that.

Also, wouldn't it be fun to know what the angel was thinking?

Simeon

Leviathan has invited MC and me to go downtown with him to pick out materials to make the play's costumes. Ever since he accepted that I'm the original author of The Tale of the Seven Lords, he has wanted my opinion on every little aspect of his designs.

I should find it endearing that Levi looks up to me that much, but instead I just end up wishing that he trusted his own instincts. I've seen pictures of his cosplay, and he does an excellent job recreating the character's energy.

Of course, our party of three quickly has turned into five. Asmodeus insisted that he tag along, and Mammon just showed up out of nowhere. Levi considers them intrusions, but I for one am glad that they joined us. Their presence will prevent anyone from commenting on how silent I am.

"Hey, check out that lingerie shop!" Asmo exclaims. The mannequins are dressed rather tastefully. The one in the center catches my attention. Both the fit and color would suit---

No. You cannot think about them that way.

"We're buyin' stuff to make costumes, not fill your wardrobe with a buncha junk!" Mammon replies. "Besides, why do you need skimpy underwear like that?

"As an actor, I need proper inspiration."

"Why am I not surprised?" MC asks. "What sort of 'inspiration' are you hoping to draw from wearing lingerie under your costume?"

"The type that make people fawn all over me." MC rolls their eyes.

"You're hopeless."

"Levi, didn't you say that you needed lace for the costumes?" I ask, wanting to give Asmo a legitimate reason to go inside. Levi absentmindedly nods his head, and I send Asmo on his way, instructing him to drop off any relevant material in his brother's room.

A few minutes later, we pass something in a shop window that makes Levi gasp.

"What is it?" MC questions.

"It's the super rare Ruri-chan themed Cup Cuties capsule toy machine!" Levi nearly shrieks. "It's full of little Ruri-chan figurines that you attach to the edge of a cup, and they're super adorable!" Before anyone can stop him, he rushes into the store, presumably to buy the toy machine.

"My brothers are a pain in the ass sometimes," Mammon mutters. "I mean, I understand why Asmo would get sidetracked, but Levi? All he's been doing for the past several days is brag how he gets to make costumes for the great Christopher Peugeot, so you would think he'd take this shopping trip more serious, but no, he has to prioritize his stupid anime over something actually important."

"Are you meaning to sound like Lucifer?" I playfully respond, which causes Mammon to glare at me.

"The temptation was too great for him to resist," MC adds. "You out of anyone ought to relate." It's interesting that they mention resisting temptation, because right now the desire to take them and---

You need to behave yourself.

"Yeah, yeah," Mammon remarks, not really paying attention to MC. "Has Levi sent either one of you possible designs for these costumes?"

"I have sketches," I answer. "They're saved on my phone." Mammon looks over my shoulder as I pull up my photo gallery and swipe through the screenshots I took of Levi's sketches.

"I actually know of a few fabric shops that might have what you guys are looking for," Mammon states once he's seen everything. "They're not in a super glitzy part of downtown, but the people that run them are quite knowledgeable in costume design. Just show 'em the pics, and they'll do the rest."

"What's the catch?" Once again, another dirty look from Mammon.

"Just because I'm a demon doesn't mean I always have bad intentions." Mammon looks over at MC. "I've seen how much stress you've been under, and I wanna help ya make sure this play goes smoothly, that's all."

"I appreciate it," MC replies. "Simeon, are you okay with Mammon taking the lead for a bit?"

"By all means. He's the one who knows where these shops are."

۞۞۞

The three of us are on our way to the House of Lamentation to drop off the multiple bags of fabric in Levi's room when we get stopped by someone clutching onto Mammon's leg.

"Papa!" the little one yells, looking up at Mammon.

"Huh?!" Mammon cries out in shock.

"Papa Mammon! Oh, I missed you sooo much!"

"Isn't that one of the number twos?" MC whispers, leaning over to me.

"You mean the little demons?" MC nods their head. "Looks like it."

"Oh, Papa, I don't believe you!" Number Two continues. "Wandering off and getting yourself lost like that! You're supposed to be an adult! I can't leave your side for one second, can I?"

"Why are you grabbin' onto my rear end?!" I allow myself the pleasure of pulling out my phone and filming the situation unfolding in front of me. Upon seeing what I'm doing, MC shakes their head, clearly not approving of my actions.

At the moment, I don't care. This is just too funny.

"MC!" Mammon shouts. "Pull this thing offa me!"

"Okay, Papa."

"Don't you start!'' Suddenly, Number Two gasps, and before anyone knows it, they've leapt into MC's arms.

"What's the big idea shovin' me away like that?! I almost fell over!"

"Oh Papa, you're so silly. One minute it's 'get off me', and the next it's 'don't push me away'. Really, what am I going to do with you, Papa?"

"Alright, Number Two," MC tells the little demon, patting its head. "I think you've given Mammon enough of a hard time."

"Number Two?" I quietly quit filming and stick my phone back in my pocket. "You're that tiny demon that hangs around inside the Demon Lord's castle, aren't ya?! What're you doing wanderin' around here?" Number Two clasps its hands together.

"Oh, I'm so glad you asked! So, here's what happened: Lord Diavolo and Mr. Lucifer left the castle on an investigation, you see. So I went with them, but then we got separated, and now I can't find them!" The mere thought appears to put tears in its eyes, although I can't tell if they're genuine or not.

"Well then, why not just call 'em on your D.D.D.?"

"He might not have it on him," I tell Mammon. "He may not even have one at all." Number Two turns its head to look at me.

"For your information, I do have a D.D.D., and I do have it on me, but the battery seems to be dead!"

"So, you have no way of contacting them," MC concludes. Number Two shakes his head. "Do you remember where they were headed?"

"The traveling carnival!" There's a traveling carnival? I don't remember seeing anything advertising it, unless I'm so oblivious that I missed it. That is possible.

"Why are Diavolo and Lucifer investigating the traveling carnival?"

"Well you see, they heard this rumor that the carnival is actually a front for an illegal casino!" Mammon looks like he's seen a ghost. "So they decided to go there to find out if it's true."

"We'll help you find them."

"Really? I'd be so grateful!" Mammon definitely knows something about this illegal casino. He's a bit too shifty-eyed to be innocent. His rambling seals his fate.

"You know, I totally forgot I've got this thing I've gotta do that's really important, and I still have to drop these bags off to Levi, so I'm not gonna be able to help you find this illegal casino--not that I know anything about any illegal casino, of course, but anyway, you three can just head to the carnival without me, and we'll catch up later."

"And just like that, he's gone," MC observes.

"I don't mean to be accusatory, but I think he knows about the illegal casino."

"You don't say?" MC looks amused, as though I'm the last one to reach this conclusion.

"Don't you have a pact with Mammon?" Number Two asks MC.

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you use it to make him stay?"

"I want him to think that he's escaped punishment for a bit. It'll devastate him that much more when he realizes we knew from the start." I know that demons have a tendency to rub off on humans, but that doesn't entirely explain the glint in MC's eye.

"In any case, we have to make sure the little one gets reunited with Lucifer and Diavolo," I state, changing the subject. "Which means that we need to head to the carnival."

[moonlit-trolls]

Blood-Red

Content warning: Blood, Mentions of Death, Alcoohol, Smoking

[Docs if you don't like tumblr to read stuff]

Ash is 12 sweeps old, by his 9th hatchday he was already an outlaw. one of the best ones this side of the city. He had been trained by the best ones. At the time he operated during a permanent adrenaline high, call it a byproduct of age, but he was incredible. A thief who worked for other thieves, richer ones at that, they gave him the work to do, the tools to do get in the largest cooperative locations anywhere. Getting data, camera footage or even money from the places he went. 

He had committed a mistake though, the one he vowed to never commit, he stole from his employers, kept a data drive from one of his jobs with himself, tried to pawn it off for a fraction of the price in one of the shops in the slum cities. To this day he still has no idea how they found out, not that it matters now. At the time he thought for sure they were going to kill him, but they told him it was all ok, he even could keep the money, because - with a smile planted on their faces - they would make sure the outlaw would never work again.

They mauled Ash's nervous system with a toxin used by Rebels during the war era. locked up in a motel in the middle of nowhere, his ability burning away nanometer by nanometer

The destruction of his body was minute. precise, and deathly efficient. 

For ash who was used to using his body as little as needed during his job escapades. That was the fall. The flesh became a prison. 

— You goin’ to buy something — the voice sounded rough like it was sanded down — Or you gon keep starin’ off into the nothin’ — Ash turned to the man asking the question. the bartender. Should be about 20. older than him. clearly a veteran. — You look like donnie. and you know he’s banned from here. So you either buy somethin’ else or i’m bootin’ you out —

The voice spoke, as ash sighed in defeat. sliding the last of his money on the bar towards the man. who filled his glass again — Just leave the bottle ratz — Ash spoke. his voice defeated. The ego of one of the best outlaws to ever step foot in alternia missing from his voice.

— That’s extra ash. And you ain’t payin enough to be askin’ for extra — Ratz said, his face contorted into an ugly thing as he tried not to laugh at Ash's face — But for such a good kid I guess I can let you keep it — the faux pity in his voice. the mocking comment it all bubbles up inside. it’s not like there’s anything ash could do, this man was a solid two of him, upwards and sideways.

— Thanks… — your voice left just enough time for him to not consider taking the whiskey away before you swiped the bottle and poured another glass. 

From Star Outlaw stealing data from under the noses of the largest bidders. now to a man who lives in capsule hotels, the cheap kind where they don’t ask for blood color or credentials. living two blocks from the bar couldn’t be good for his health, but to a man who is always in pain the booze makes it easier to deal with.

At the start of this hell-bound spiral, ash had found himself in this city. with little to no money and even less hope to find a cure to his condition. not that the city helped. this place was strange, it hummed with the death of dreams of its denizens, death being a punishment accepted by idleness. no one wanted to try harder than they had. try too hard and everyone knows who you are and your blood is going down in some gutter. try too little and the city swallows you whole. leaving behind nothing

And lost in his memories again ash found himself. staring into the bottle, half hoping the reflection would jump at him and end his misery. if only he could be so lucky. He took a pack of fuchsia grade knock off cigarettes. and before ratz could tell him he can’t smoke in the premises he had already lit it. 

As the smoke filled his mouth then his lungs he felt it again. that Anger. that consumed him the day they destroyed his life. the rage for the entire system. The smoke stayed in his lungs for too long. before he started coughing it out. But the anger never left. as he got up he bumped with a teal. A man in a suit and tie. strange for himself to be finding someone of that stature in a bar of this stature.

– Oldest trick in the book – these words never left his mouth as he was pocketing the money from the back pocket of the teal and dropping the wallet on the ground 

Leaving the bar, during the time he left could be considered an ill thought attempt at suicide. The sun was to rise in fifteen minutes. even worse. Today was the day the drones decided to roam around.

Ash could feel the heat, it burned the tips of every hair in his body not covered by the badly put on shirt and pants. as his body started to warm up he began running towards the hotel he had been at. The thought in his mind was that today would be the day the sun catches him. Today is gonna be the day that everything stops sucking so bad… but if that happened you would not be hearing about ash.

He would be just another troll who decided to try his luck under sunlight. one of the hundreds who get tossed out during the day where not even shade could save someone’s skin. but. contrary to that. Ash ran. and even if his body was not as great as it once was. he got to the hotel. in one piece.

[Friday - 08:30pm ]

Ash wakes up as the moon rises and the sun sets. from a call of someone just called “Bela-luna” on his phone 

— Ash? Aaaash. c’mon if you pick up and don’t say shit i’m gonna ssume you died — the voice was soft on the other side. Almost like she cared

— I’m Here. i’m alive. what the fuck you want — Ash’s voice on the other hand just had vitriol and poison to give

— Deets. on your new job. y’know, the one you cried for me to get you. else you would die in the streets like a barkbeast someone kicked a tad too hard — the mocking tone mimicked the barman from earlier. but this one stung — Anyway. Apparently there’s this Guy who got his hands on some pretty gnarly fleet tech. Something about a Battery Gear, apparently they use it to charge yellowbloods into ships. but you could use it to fix your fucked up body —

The voice giggled behind the phone before turning it off. The red lights kept glowing in the dark Capsule that he called an apartment. they shined on his face, on the walls. filling the room with red. as he got up and left. his mind ran in several circles before left the building proper.

[ Friday - 02:22 am ]

The heat of hope ran down as he attempted to track down the man with fleet tech. Nothing led nowhere, and he felt like he asked too many questions to too many wrong people. The feeling of being followed hit him in the right spot. Through the mirror of a store window he saw the man in the black trench coat following him. every step would be met with the same from the man. Ash was afraid, but. not enough to run. not enough to alert the man that he knew he was being followed.

his blood pumped faster. the red rose to his cheeks, brighter than any troll would normally have. and he took a turn. wrong one. meeting himself in an alleyway. Closed off from the rest of the streets. the trench-coated man followed in. pulling something from his inside pocket. 

— You’ve met your end outlaw — the voice echoed inside ash’s mind like a memory that refused to go away — Someone should’ve done this long ago — He said pointing the gun at ash

Too scared to respond. Ash turned to face the man. his face flushed with red, to be met by laughter — a mutant too? I am doing you a favor, am I not? — the man cocked the gun, ready to shoot ash down. before the eyes turned into a deep yellow. the sclera going dark.

The toxin they implanted on him had consequences. no one noticed because it was made to kill. but when it didn’t, the lusii dna affecting the contents of the toxin. grew, and grew, into tumors sometimes. painful ones. but in the rare cases where the person does not die. They turn into something worse. Something violent.

This is an infectious disease. one with no cure but death. But to someone who death denied once. What is another attempt? Words rushed, the red hot anger felt closer, it felt good. as ash felt himself again, looking down at the warm blue pool under him. his hands filled with. Something. so much blood you could paint a cathedral with it. his lips felt colder than they did beforehand. his eyes darkened sclera and glowed with the color of his blood. A mutant who doesn’t understand when they kill something. is the prime target for culling. So he ran.

Ran away from the scene of the crime. Into a vehicle that was owned by someone far better off than him. and drove off. into the roads. as the phone started ringing in the crime scene. 

– Call From Bela Luna – was the words spoken to ears that could not hear

[ Ashton is open for questions ! ]

[ Belaluna is open for questions ! ]

[fat-hedonistic-hogs]

Android 18 and Videl went from tough and rough delinquents to spoiled house wife’s just because they know the two fattest milfs in the 12 universes.

Chi-Chi was quick to turn her daughter in law into a "proper wife fitting of a saiyan!" She made Videl visit every few weeks to teach her cooking and to make her massive home-cooked meals. Then it was every other week... then every week! Their feeding sessions got more and more personal with Chi-Chi teaching her the best ways to eat and stuff herself into obesity. Not an ounce of muscle remained on her body after a few months of this. Then her stamina went and she couldn't walk without huffing and puffing like a train. Her spunky and rebellious attire was replaced with big poofy granny panties, sun dresses and sexy lingerie for her husband's pleasure.

She was the perfect spoiled breeding sow with capsule corp robots to handle the cleaning and cooking while Videl focused on eating and taste testing every meal she "made". By the time cell max showed up she was completely dependent on a capsule corp hover chair to move around. She fits right in with the other milfs! They spend their meet ups sharing recipes and steamy stories of their love life. And of course they always cram themselves into their mobility aids and hit up all the best restaurants in the city before finishing up the evening blowing up the restroom...

18 went from bad ass to spoiled diva. Bulma pays her royalties for her likeness which she used to manufacture a bunch of capsule corp maid robots. The copy 18's sold like hot cakes and made them both VERY rich. 18 lives the high life in nothing but the most expensive clothes and jewelry covering her fat sweaty body and the best food money can buy filling her gut.

She's still strong thanks to her energy generator and android enhancements but she absolutely refuses to lift a finger even to feed herself. She's above all that and would much rather spend her days with her hubby enjoying the quiet life of luxury She's built for the two of them. Not that she's above showing off rolling around the city in the latest fancy car while she crams melom sized burgers down her gullet~

[baroquepopcorn]

I like the idea of capsule wardrobes and elevated basics, but I have issues with it

Obviously, how you're supposed to do it is just isolate the pieces that you actually wear the most and build outfits out of those

You get rid of all the pieces that you don't actually wear weekly, stop buying new pieces, and get as much as possible out of combinations of those clothes

but that's not always how it's presented

The implication is, you already have these essential pieces in your wardrobe, and you simply have to subtract everything that doesn't fall into that category

But what if you don't have that --- you may have multiple pieces that fill slightly different niches and all overlap at that one item, or you might not wear any outfits that would use something like that item

Luckily consumerism comes to the rescue

by making it seem like the point is you have a list of "essentials" that you Must check off in order to build a complete wardrobe

that if you don't have that then you're missing something

it encourages you to think literally, presenting listicles of exact pieces that conveniently you can Buy Right Here

This is a problem, it seems, with all facets of minimalism

It presents you with the idea that you can consume your way towards minimalism --- throw out absolutely everything and start from scratch

get rid of all of your "weird" pieces or furniture items, make sure everything matches, everything goes with everything else

buy this set of cubbies and dividers and organization tools to declutter your home

but this goes against the very philosophy of capsule wardrobes

you end up buying more, and getting rid of things you can still use, in pursuit of looking like some person in an article

How I see it is. you don't Need "essentials". You don't need to own the platonic idea of a t-shirt or a chore coat or a leather jacket

if you have one of those, even if the cut is weird, or the lining/color is different, or the material is off. then that is one of Your essentials

No, you can't do every single outfit you might want to do, but you can do these things that no one else Can

I don't need a carhartt barn coat, or levi jeans, or checkered vans, or several sets of the exact right steve harvey suit and shoe combinations

I have *my* jackets, and *my* sweaters, and *my* shoes. A lot of it isn't at all the kinds of things you'd find in any article, but they're the essentials for My specific style and life

I am not a capsule wardrobe person. I own way too much, and spend way too much time thinking about thrifting and fashion to ever have a small amount of clothes

But this philosophy is still useful for me

When buying new things, instead of looking for a specific something to create this one outfit, I look at something I like, and imagine how I could use it to create outfits with all of my other stuff

Build your outfits around your wardrobe instead of building wardrobes around a set of "timeless basic outfits"

And that's the key to most things in life: work with what you have, and resist the urge to imagine holes that need to be filled

[molsons112000]

E. coli can be passed from the mother's genital tract to the newborn during childbirth, or sometimes through person-to-person contact with caregivers or other children. 

Generative AI is experimental. Learn more

If you're asking about 

anal douching

 before pregnancy, here are some tips for staying safe:

Use a plain saline solution enema: You can buy this from a drugstore, but don't use a medicated 

laxative

 enema.

Use cool water: The skin in your 

rectum

 is more sensitive than the skin on the outside of your body, so lukewarm is too hot.

Use a soft tip: Gently insert the 

nozzle

 or tube inside your butt.

Don't force it in: You can risk tearing or bleeding in the area.

Start with 10 seconds: During your first try, only squeeze or squirt water in for about 10 seconds.

Hold the water in: You can hold your breath for this.

Repeat the process: Repeat the process until the water comes out clean. 



Planned Parenthood

Do you have to use an enema or anal douche before you have ...

Apr 14, 2023 — Here are some tips for staying safe if you're going to use an anal douche: You can use a plain saline solution enema from the drugstore, but don't use a medicated laxative enema that's meant to make you poop and empty your colon — you only want to gently rinse your rectum (the lower part where a penis or sex toy goes during anal sex). ... You can use a device meant specifically for anal douching, or empty out an enema bottle and fill it with water. ... The skin in your rectum is much more sensitive than the skin on the outside of your body, so make sure you use cool water — even lukewarm is too hot.



WebMD

Anal Douching: What to Know - WebMD

Aug 26, 2022 — Here are some tips to do it safely: Use only warm water. Gently slip the nozzle or tube inside your butt. Don't force it in, as you can risk tearing or bleeding in the area. Use lubricants if necessary. During your first try, only squeeze or squirt water in for about 10 seconds. It may feel strange at first, but you don't need too much water. You only need to clean the first few inches inside your butt. Try to hold the water in for a bit. You can hold your breath for this. To release it, breathe out and relax. Repeat the process till the water comes out clean.



DTAP Clinic

Anal Douching - 7 Things You Need to Know! - DTAP Clinic

Jun 1, 2020 — Enemas for emptying out the rectum and anal canal. It can be seen as a more focused means of cleaning out the area compared to Laxatives. There are however several concerns with enemas. Firstly the solution used in the enemas can change the chemical balance in that area of your body. This can dry out the mucosa and predispose to damage. The tip of the enema should be soft and insert gently, this will prevent inadvertently tearing the mucosa with the tip of the enema. And lastly, do not share your enemas, studies have found that sharing enemas is a risk factor for the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Enemas

 can change the chemical balance in that area of your body, which can dry out the mucosa and predispose to damage. Sharing enemas is also a 

risk factor

 for the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). 

This is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis.

Natural Fertility Info.com

https://natural-fertility-info.com › ...

Colon Colonic: Is it a Must for Preconception Health?

Jul 22, 2021 — This type of colon cleanse flushes out the entire length of the colon. The feces and water mixture are passed out through the tube

They can use before to predetermined need and awards to see if cleansed then given oral probiotics for colon repopulate bacteria good stuff.

The ScotCap Test is a capsule that you swallow, and it contains 2 tiny cameras inside. The cameras take pictures of the lining of the bowel to look for any problems or signs of disease. This test can be used instead of a colonoscopy. The large bowel, also known as the colon or large intestine.Jan 25, 2023



https://www.nhsinform.scot › colon...

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) - NHS inform

A 

capsule endoscopy

, also known as a video capsule endoscopy or PillCam, is a noninvasive procedure that involves swallowing a capsule containing a camera, 

transmitter

, and light. As the capsule passes through the digestive tract, it takes pictures and transmits them to a recorder worn on the waist. A doctor or specialist nurse then reviews the pictures to help identify problems in the digestive tract and formulate a diagnosis. The capsule is about the size of a vitamin pill. 



Mayo Clinic

Capsule endoscopy - Mayo Clinic

Oct 10, 2023 — A capsule endoscopy procedure involves swallowing a tiny camera that's about the size of a large vitamin pill. The capsule contains lights

The capsule contains lights to light up the digestive system, a camera to take images, and an antenna that sends those images to a recorder worn on a belt. The recorder combines the pictures into a video. The test is complete once the capsule has passed through the bowel and out into the toilet. 

Capsule endoscopy can help doctors rule out possible conditions or make a diagnosis for issues such as:

Early signs of gastrointestinal cancer, Abdominal pain, Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, Unexplained bleeding, and Ulcers. 

To prepare for a capsule endoscopy, you should not take any medication in the two hours before test time and do not smoke for 24 hours before the procedure. Male patients may also need to shave the area around the navel. 

This is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis.

So give afterwards to populate.

The colon, in contrast, contains the highest microbial density of any human-associated microbial community studied so far with between 1010 and 1011 cells per gram of intestinal content. These bacteria represent between 300 and 1000 different species. However, 99% of the bacteria come from about 30 or 40 species.



https://en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki

Gut microbiota - Wikipedia

The colon contains up to 1011 cells of bacteria per milliliter, making up the majority of the gut's 100 

trillion

 microbes. The 

gut microbiota

, or microorganisms that live in the gut, is unique to each person and is established one to two years after birth. The gut microbiota includes both good and bad bacteria, and many of the good bacteria live in the gut. These bacteria are essential to survival and influence human physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function. The gut microbiota also breaks down potentially toxic food compounds and stimulates the immune system. 



ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of the gut microbiota in health and chronic gastrointestinal disease

Our gut harbours a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells which influence human physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune function while disruption to the gut microbiota has been linked with gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity.



en.wikipedia.org

Gut microbiota - Wikipedia

The approximate number of bacteria composing the gut microbiota is about 1013–1014. In humans, the gut flora is established at one to two years after birth, by ...



Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

The Microbiome | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health



Guts UK

Introduction to Gut Bacteria - Guts UK

What is the gut microbiota? Your gut microbiota refers to all of the microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) that live within your gut. In fact, the largest population of microorganisms within the body live within the bowel. The bacteria/microorganisms that live within your gut is completely unique to each individual. The human gut microbiota consists of over 100 trillion microorganisms, and weighs around 200g, around the same as an adult hamster!

sciencedirect.com

Causality of small and large intestinal microbiota in weight regulation and ...

The majority of the up to 100 trillion (1014) microbes reside in the colon (1011 cells/mL) [14], where they exert numerous functions such as nutrient metabolism, xenobiotic metabolism, maintenance of gut barrier function, development of the gastrointestinal immune system, and protection against pathogens [15], [16], [ ...



healthline.com

Good vs. Bad Germs: Here's What You Should Know - Healthline

Yet, not all bacteria are bad guys. In fact, our bodies are home to an estimated 100 trillion “good” bacteria, many of which reside in our gut. Not only do we live in harmony with these beneficial bacteria, but they are actually essential to our survival.



health.harvard.edu

Can gut bacteria improve your health? - Harvard Health

Sep 18, 2023 — In many ways, your gut bacteria are as vast and mysterious as the Milky Way. About 100 trillion bacteria, both good and bad, live inside your digestive system. Collectively, they're known as the gut microbiota.

The gut microbiota also maintains the gut barrier, protects against 

pathogens

, and develops the gastrointestinal immune system. Disruption to the gut microbiota has been linked with gastrointestinal conditions such as obesity and 

inflammatory bowel disease

. 

Diet plays a large role in determining the type of 

microbiota

 that live in the colon. Other factors that affect the microbiome include: Family genes, Environment, Medication use, and Exercise. 

This is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis.

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

so since p3r's been out for a while, if you had to choose one and only one thing to change about the remake, what would it be? (I said change not add, so no femc option or og music option lol)

NO SPOILERS (I'm mostly gonna talk about gameplay mechanics)

(Just an FYI how far I've been able to get through P3R with my current sched, I just watched Junpei's believe it or don't Shinji just saved us in the back alley).

I mean if a change is just replacing, rather than adding onto it......

FeMC route instead of P3MC's route. 8U (can't do that with Answer, I mean you can but I'd just have a game about a group of teens bitching at each other for like 5 hours instead of 80 ajlfkdjsf) Same can be said about OG music over new I guess jaskdflafj

But that's not really playing fair so......

Bringing back the key mechanics of Tartarus (aka fatigue and split up).

If not that then.......either bringing back randomizing floors each time (and doing away with fixed for the night floors).....OR getting rid of those fucking Twilight fragments/having the damn clock have the option for monetary spending.

I do not like the twilight fragments, and I find grinding for money early on to be worse than any of the other versions.

Like fr my bf goes to sleep, I've been booting up P3 (OG) and I'm going through Tartarus, and.....I like it more. I think P3R obvie has the better presentation, but just......having the option to run up and down floors and snagging cases filled with money (with tired and no teammates left) feel less grindy or an issue than me running up all the floors hitting those damn breakables hoping for a piece of item that I can sell (for a shit price too). (P3P makes it a tad bit less grindy by keeping teammates there and not having the tired aspect until you leave, AND actually giving you the damn money when they find it TT0TT) But the time I spent playing Vanilla I got A LOT more money saved up than I did in P3R....even after I left and sold all my shit too (both are being played on normal mode). TT0TT I'm not even finished with my run, I still have the dumb driver to kill (and all my teammates have left so woot......solo fight 8U)

I also just think the shiny gold chest is like.....more pleasing to the eye than those damn locked chest. They just put that in there cause P4 and P5 had them, but their thing is less of an issue getting those keys than P3R.

So far you only get TF's if: Liz gives them to you passively, You find them walking around, or you happen across a breakable in Tartarus. (maybe more are possible later, maybe you can grow them, maybe the Fortune teller gives you a boost I dunno)

P5/R you can make those lock picks, and you're encourage to just......make a lot of thief stuff (you get an item and it boost your stats).

P4 is a bit more of an issue, you get them by defeating rare enemies, and iirc you can get two of these keys on rainy days if you go to the capsule machine outside the item store (best way to get them).

P4G makes it a bit easier by giving you growable keys iirc. Which makes it easily passive.

But what P5/R/4/G lack that doesn't make this as much of an issues as P3R is.........those are ONLY for locked chests. It's not ALSO for HEALING. TT0TT And so far for not a way to get them easily (as far as I know atm) it's like......no I shouldn't waste it on healing.

And maybe it's all a ploy to force me to use other characters. Well....they have another thing coming buster, I'm dropping some of these chars the second I'm able to cause I only wanna play with my favs. But I guess it's nice to just use Yukari as a healing fountain instead. Doesn't solve my SP issue but eh......just having to buy a shit ton of mad bulls.

I dunno I just feel like...I have more CHOICE in OG/FES/P3P (and while those have their own little quirks, it's mostly just if they made it easier on you to exploit or not).

Btw I don't really......hate the new Tartarus, it's just different and I'm not used to it. I mean it doesn't help they removed things I did like and replaced it with things that make me go 🤨 Some are good, some are frustrating (ex of good: compendium first day???? amazing, why did it take this long, should've at least been a thing in P3P??? they adopted so much from P4 but not that???) So there's growing pains with that. And I REALLY don't like Twilight fragments. If they just gave me the option to pay with TFs or money at the clock that would be better (I mean money is already an issue in this fucking thing anyway TT0TT)

So yeah like....one of those would be nice on my sanity sljfdlkjfj

[the-firebird69]

There are a few things and they're important we have a scheduled to keep in a lot of items on it and these people are obstructionist to that schedule

-if a large amount of stuff to do it's a matter of fact we need to take over a lot of area and these are the vehicle to do that with and we are going to now and act our plan to do so on a large scale well we already did but okay

-we're taking over large areas of the planet or do it right now and we have to they're very large and they are areas that were above the bunkers area that's more like abandoned and our people are being freed we are grabbing every bunker under there and crushing it and installing new topside we were clearing mostly fully installing bases

-we are going over the math yeah we are sort of but the bases were taking over and bunkers that were property of Mac people and Mac morlok

Huge areas are coming into our possession. Feel the good size and we are recovering practically all of it because the foreigners don't have it in them to fight over it and we're building new it's almost enough materials yes but we're putting other things into it

-we're also a massive wealth we are taking over areas that are used for the financial world is not true but we're finding lots of money we're going in town we're buying land and we're taking you off the land and we're using it for our purposes it's a lot of money cash and it's still good we're finding other things for using gold diamonds Platinum some of them are pretty big in the midwest we took over five parks and Trump had those and he had about 50 diamonds that were 10 miles and we need those so we're taking over the rest of the parks the other things like that are going on the Midwest is cleared the cone is only 50 miles by 20 miles most of the stuff is out no but it was loaded up and they left at 3:30 a.m. that huge photo and it's going to be a lot of water coming down only reach here around 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. the time will be going out in a rip all the crap out just like he saw at the train railway bridge most of the crap is gone it gets pulled out it's going to happen again and at that location when the water swells and swells over there as well cuz it's underwater in the tunnels and it's going to blast it out there's a few other areas that it doesn't the areas near our sun just kind of fill up and empty from the ocean which is good cuz it's salt water

-oxygen levels are steadily increasing here right now it's about 16 during the day and 20 at night steady and he is starting to heal and there is a storm headed this way right now it's a tropical storm if the ships launch before Friday it might hit Florida no they launched before Saturday really into Sunday at the lunch before Sunday then we're in trouble and have to stop it and shut it down and yeah there's a ship over it so we know when they want to launch so we're going to have to cut it short and get that storm out of here by attacking your s*** the other three fleets are at 50% and dwindling the empire ascending 3 billion ships 1 billion each to crush them and they're doing it now and the pseudo empire are nervous they have 200 million ships at each and you can see them approaching and the empire already has about $800 million at each. They are going to try and stick it out in a firing like madness on the clones we can see one fleet joining up with the others and they see it and they are firing on the clones and having capsulated them and are nailing them very fast they're using a lot of firepower and brought big stuff the death stars are just charging every few seconds and those fleets will be disintegrated in a few minutes and all those ships confiscated by the empire

-it's going to be a very big day here in Charlotte county for instance and globally but here is pseudo empire is taking over a bunch of jobs and one of them is to clean up the town of debris from The Storm a year and a half ago a year and several months one was okay one month okay and they're going to come in and pull things out with Town equipment and they're going to go after people while they're doing that because they're going to be bothered they're going to go and bug control and they're going to take over the building department because they can't get their permits in they tried to apply for about 10 they had just sat there looking at him you believe what he's saying and we are going to crush them for their dumb s*** here and encourage Tommy have to try and kidnap our son what time is this stupid routine you people are dumb it's not mathematically correct in the first place secondly they're not going to let you do anything to him of that nature and nobody else will just a dreaming a little kid hold us too hurt he said he's a dreamy little kid who's going to give me hurt and we start pummeling a piece of s*** and nothing bothers him simply attack Australia and tell him to back off he's getting attacked on there now by the Chinese I want the stuff back and they want you to stop raiding and posing as the empire and then blasting you. There's several more instances like that one of them is with Stan he keeps going over to Thailand and bothering them and taking stuff and borrowing things pretty big things huge things yeah yesterday was fun so you just had to sit there and wait till you put the check in you're the one being threatened and they come by and hit him and hit his people and doesn't do much so they called China the Chinese are taking his stuff from bases that are over there and they want them out and they're taking ships they have 50 million ships and it's happening in Russia too they told if I didn't take it out Biden they told him to get out. They have 80 million of his and Mac was expected to leave Maine and Canada and it didn't and the empire is taking his stuff that's where the fleet it was nervous so far the empire has taken about 300 million ships and others took 400 million at a 1.4 billion they have $700 million left and they're continuing and the more locks don't get anything. And they're taking ships from them the more I care about 800 million ships foreigners took 200 million and 100 million was China from bja and he's starting s*** with them and he's going to lose and they hate him. And I don't know those 200 million $150 million are from bja and he only had 400 million so he is going after the Chinese and the rude little boy doesn't get it. And it's going on today he's losing more and the morlock are going to lose tons of ships today I heard on the radio too are you going to get these assholes out of our airspace and right now in case these people launch and we have to stop them from bombing us and they have a lot of ideas on how to do it one is to bomb their Bombay hatch and fire into it that's not a bad idea there's a lot of ships that need out of the way cuz they just sit there and hope that they succeed working for them and they're going like madness now and from the $800 million the schleps had they now have 500 million and the pseudo empire too performs the same job they're down to 600 million and very soon the empire will take a big chunk of that it's about 500 million and they're big stuff and Daniel is asking our son what's up with that and her son says that's the empire that's what they do they consume everybody's stuff Daniel says it like this he's been warning us the whole time and we thought they were on our side because we asked for assistance and it's poor and they always do this and right now they're taking over all their ships and stuff up there and they'll be left with 150 million ships roughly which will be gone from China and other places Russia shortly you're not very happy about it and they're doing fingerprinting and it's not working.

-never far too many people here with serious mental illness and they need to be weed out and we need to do it now

Thor Freya

Olympus

So really big day today Mac will try and grab our my husband because he's lost tons of stuff to the empire by the time he gets up there Mac will probably have lost this whole fleet and we have to do something for things to actually go smoothly

Hera

Usually think we can get away with stuff by allowing it to happen and in this case we'll probably think that I was going to say something else but he knows already and the empire wants them in there too I'm starting to see something else we're all very stupid you do all this work and for nothing to put him in a mental hospital to fight each other

Trump

And I guess the clones would probably want that too more so than the rest of them but they're very weak for this

Zues Hera

And we agree this is a horrible situation these people suck and they're morons there are minority more like here and minorities who are foreigners and they have a fleet above and they don't want them there and Tommy f has to be moved down and these people are all nuts and they're easy picking and we need to take them out tons of them and vital and caught his wife and is organizing his kids and his father and mother is saying it's urgent these dead assholes need to leave in permanently and is way too many trying to put him in the mental hospital or prison they agree too and they're submitting the reports and his race is too and doing it now and we see that they're a little bit of shocked and we are going to come in now and fill in the blanks I don't want to do anything

Thor Freya

Olympus

We have to move now and we have a large Force we have to gather up and we have to get them in there it's urgent like you said they all want him in the hospital or prison and screw them they're so damn dumb come in here and pull them all out is everybody hates them including themselves

Hera

We shall and we're moving out we need more people though and we're asking for people to volunteer temporarily these are leaders and our father is in trouble

Savage opress

We're moving out and getting troops together a big huge pile we have tons of them volunteering or accepting everyone tanks should be informed and we're moving out when they are right now

Olympus

We see it heating and we have to call and yeah these people are all spent

Thor Freya

[spellweavstress]

Healing with Herbs

How to make a tincture

Making a tincture involves steeping the herb or root in alcohol, extracting its oils, minerals, alkaloids, and glycosides so that it is in its purest form. You can use vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar instead, particularly in tinctures intended for children, but they aren’t quite as effective at pulling out the good stuff. You’ll need strong alcohol, at least 80 proof. Everclear works well, as does vodka or brandy. You’ll also need a pint jar to fill with the herb or plant you want—any of the herbs listed above will work here. 

Chop the herb up a bit or bash it around with a mortar and pestle to help it break down. You’ll want the jar to be full, but not pack your herbs in too tightly. Then fill the jar completely with the alcohol. (If you’re using dried herbs or roots, you need only put in enough to reach halfway, and then add the alcohol up to the top.)

Seal the jar tightly. Label and date it, and let it rest in a cool, dark place.

For the first week, shake it once a day, then let it rest for five more weeks. At the end of the resting period, use a layer of muslin or cheesecloth held tightly over the jar to strain out the liquid. Decant the tincture into one of those small, dark glass bottles, preferably one with a dropper, and keep it stored away from direct sunlight. It should last for five to ten years.

How to make herbal oil

It’s more trouble than it’s worth to make your own essential oils. A true essential oil is extracted by boiling the herb in question and skimming the oil off the top—that’s a task best left to the professionals. But you can make your own herbal oil. It may not be quite as distilled, but it can still be effective, and it’s a great way to preserve herbs for use long into the winter. The nice thing about creating your own oils is that you can use any combination of herbs that you desire. You might mix calendula, catnip, lemon balm, marshmallow, mullein, plantain leaf, and yarrow for an oil that is particularly effective for skin care, or lavender, vervain, lemon balm, and yarrow for a soothing oil to rub on the temples. Chop or bruise your chosen herbs and place them in a jar. Fill the jar with the carrier oil of your choice (olive or almond oil works well), covering the herbs by one inch, and leaving one inch of space at the top. Close the jar tightly, and allow it to sit in as much sunshine as possible for a month. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth on an as-needed basis, leaving the rest to continue steeping.

How to make a poultice

A poultice is a soft, moist mass of herbs, cloth, and other ingredients, and it’s an excellent tool for treating topical infirmities. A hot poultice is excellent for drawing out infection, as with bee stings or draining abscesses, while a cold poultice will help reduce inflammation. Gather the herbs you want to use, either fresh or dried. If they’re fresh, you may want to mash the herbs up in a mortar and pestle (the traditional way) or blitz them through a food processor (the modern way). Even if you’re planning on making a cold poultice, add a couple of tablespoons of hot water to your herbs to awaken them, before letting them cool. You can add medicinal clay powder, Epsom salts, or baking soda and combine with water until the mixture becomes a thick paste. For ailments like congestion or insect bites, you can place the poultice directly on the skin, making sure, of course, that it isn’t too hot. To treat a burn or something that could easily become infected, place a clean cotton cloth between the skin and the poultice.

Common herbs and their uses

Ashwagandha: The name translates to “smell of horse.” This herb is hard to find fresh, but powders, pills, teas, and extracts are available. Benefits: Increases energy, boosts the immune system, antiinflammatory, reduces anxiety. Suggested use: Stir ¼-½ tsp. powder into warm milk and honey before bed. Concerns: May increase thyroid hormone levels and lower blood sugar.

Black cohosh: This member of the buttercup family could be grown in a garden. Dried roots, capsules, teas, and extracts are also available. Benefits: Relieves menstrual cramps and arthritic pain. Eases symptoms of menopause. Suggested use: Drink as a tea or mix with honey as a syrup. Concerns: May cause upset stomach, so consider taking with food.

Calendula: Also known as marigold, this herb could be grown in a garden, but is also available as teas, oils, and creams. Useful for dyeing and food coloring as well. Benefits: Helps heal cuts. Good for diaper rash or other skin irritations. Calms an upset stomach. Suggested use: Steep petals in just below boiling water for ten minutes, then drink as a tea. Add dried flowers to coconut, almond, or olive oil as a salve. Concerns: None known.

Catnip: It’s not just for cats! Catnip is easily grown and also available as a capsule, tea, extract, and essential oil. It is also handy as an insect repellent. Benefits: Anti-inflammatory. Good for insomnia, upset stomach, menstrual cramps, headache, and treating the common cold. Suggested uses: Steep for tea, sprinkle essential oil into the bath or rub it on the temples, use in cooking (it’s a member of the mint family, so its flavor is better than some). Concerns: None known.

Cranberry: Easily obtained fresh or frozen and also available in pill form, this herb is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin E. Benefits: Most frequently used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections. Also shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, slow tumor progression in cancer, and help prevent gum disease. Suggested uses: Because they’re so tart, cranberries often come with a lot of sugar. Try to buy reduced-sugar dried cranberries and stay away from most cranberry juices. If you can manage it, drink the unsweetened juice to relieve a UTI, and certainly try making your own cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. Concerns: None known.

Dittany: This is one of those herbs with a long history. It is also known as “burning bush.” Easily grown, it is hard to find in dried or tea form. Benefits: Antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial. Good for the skin and the intestines, and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Suggested uses: Steep in hot water for tea, but use sparingly. Use as an antibacterial balm or poultice. Concerns: If you’ve put some on your skin, stay out of the sun, as it can increase the risk of sunburn.

Elderberry: This herb has been used to battle a flu epidemic in Panama as recently as 1995. It can be grown, but is also available as a pill or an extract. For your personal garden, look specifically for Sambucus nigra, as other elderberry varieties can be toxic. Benefits: Boosts the immune system, treats sinus infections, lowers blood sugar, acts as a diuretic and a laxative, good for skin health and allergies. Suggested uses: They’re delicious! Can be made into a syrup, jams, or jellies—even wine. Concerns: Don’t pick and use wild elderberry unless you’re absolutely certain the plant is Sambucus nigra. Always cook the berries to remove any toxicity.

Feverfew: This is another herb with a long history. Easily grown and available dried, it is most frequently found in capsule form. Benefits: For centuries, it was used to relieve fever, to assist with childbirth, and for fertility. Now it is most frequently used to prevent migraines. It can also help with tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, asthma, and allergies. Suggested uses: It doesn’t taste good, so not recommended even as a tea. Instead, make a tincture or purchase capsules. Concerns: If you do drink it, feverfew can cause irritation in the mouth. If taken in large quantities on a regular basis, stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, so use only as needed. May cause the uterus to contract, so don’t take while pregnant.

Horse chestnut: This is not the kind of chestnut you’d want to roast on a fire, but it is still useful. It is not recommended for personal processing, as the seed contains esculin, a poisonous substance. Purchase an extract or pill instead. Benefits: Shown to be extremely effective against varicose veins. Also good for hemorrhoids and frostbite. Suggested uses: 300 milligrams of horse chestnut seed extract twice daily. Concerns: Don’t consume raw horse chestnut seeds, bark, or leaves.

Lemon Balm: This member of the mint family has a distinct lemony scent. It is also known as “melissa.” It is easily grown, but also available in tea, extract, and essential oil forms. Benefits: Calms anxiety, encourages restful sleep. Good for the skin, improves mood and mental clarity. Suggested uses: Steep fresh or dried to make tea, use in cooking, use to flavor honey or vinegar, use in a hot bath. Concerns: None known.

Marshmallow: Sadly, these are not the things we put in hot chocolate. The root is available dried, as well as in powder, extract, capsule, and tea form. Benefits: Aids with dry cough, represses inflammation in the lining of the stomach, good for chilblains and sunburn. Suggested uses: Drink as a tea, add to a base oil for a salve. Concerns: May cause low blood sugar.

Milk thistle: This herb is easily grown, as it’s pretty much a weed. It’s available as an extract, pill, or tea. Benefits: Milk thistle can protect your liver from toxins—say, for instance, alcohol. It can even be used to treat cirrhosis and jaundice and helps with environmental toxin damage. Suggested uses: Steep in hot water or make a tincture. Not recommended for use in cooking. Concerns: May cause diarrhea.

Mullein: This is the clear quartz of herbal healing. It is easily found and grown and available both dried and in capsule form. Benefits: Known particularly for respiratory relief, including cough, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia, it’s also good for earache, fever, sore throat, migraine, and to heal the skin. Suggested uses: Apply a tincture to relieve ear infection, drink as a tea, use as a salve to heal wounds and bruises. Concerns: None known.

Plantain leaf: Pretty hip these days, as herbal remedies go, plantain leaf is easily grown and available dried or in capsule form. Benefits: Great for the skin, particularly in relieving insect bites, poison ivy, and sunburn. Lowers cholesterol, helps clear up bladder infections, relieves constipation or diarrhea. Suggested uses: Make poultice with clay and water or make a salve with a base oil. Infuse vinegar to spray on the skin to provide pain relief. Drink as a tea. Concerns: None known.

Rue: This herb is also known as “herb of grace.” Easily grown, it is also available dried, in capsule form, or as an essential oil. Benefits: Used to promote menstruation, it provides a sense of calm and well-being and is good for relieving gas, mucus, and arthritis. Suggested uses: As an oil or poultice it can relieve croup or chest congestion. Drink as a tea to ease anxiety. Concerns: This one is serious—it can cause a miscarriage. Use in small amounts, regardless of whether or not you’re pregnant.

Valerian: This is an attractive addition to any garden, with a pleasing scent, but it is the root which holds the good stuff and that does not smell good. Easily grown, this herb is also available in tea, capsule, and extract forms. Benefits: Valerian is very effective against insomnia. It also calms anxiety and depression, and helps with ADHD and headache. Suggested uses: Drink a tea made from the leaves for a mild sedative, or steep the roots for something stronger. Add a tincture to a bath for a gentler, child-friendly alternative. Concerns: None known, but obviously don’t operate heavy machinery.

Vervain: Usually blue vervain is used, but other types seem to work just as well. Easily grown, vervain is also available dried or as an extract. Benefits: Helps with anxiety and sleeplessness. Also provides pain relief, eases tense muscles, and promotes an overall sense of wellbeing. Suggested uses: Steep in hot water as a tea. Not recommended in cooking, though it smells nice, so add a little to a bath. Concerns: May cause nausea.

Yarrow: This member of the sunflower family is easily grown—and quite lovely— and available dried or as an essential oil. Benefits: Relieves fever, as well as cold and flu symptoms. Relieves cramps, provides a sense of calm and relaxation, and aids in restful sleep. Suppresses the urge to urinate (say, during a UTI). Use topically for a rash or small cuts. Suggested uses: Drink as a tea in the evening to induce sleepiness or relieve cold and flu symptoms, or make into a salve for external use. Concerns: None known.

Source: From Practical Magic: A Beginner’s Guide to Crystals, Horoscopes, Psychics & Spells

[ofpineapplesanddawns]

Hmmm Vardy (vampire Hardy), finally admitting his secret to his vaguely sheen looking boyfriend (whether or not they are boyfriends right now up to interpretation) (my vote is for Lucian because Bill is too much of a real person for my taste, but I see the allure of a human) because he is running on empty, nearing collapse because there is nothing the man hates more than self care, and just. Very badly needs blood. Has forgotten to fake heart troubles to go to hospital to buy blood bags secretly. (Presumably his heart would in fact trouble doctors, what with the not beating and stuff)

Vardy made me giggle in delight, not gonna lie, I love it.

But I like this with Lucian! :D Especially because I think Lucian is totally up for giving/getting blood without even a second thought for Hardy.

Warning: blood (do I really need to put this as a warning for a vampire story?), symptoms are similar to low blood sugar (because your author is diabetic and knows how shitty of a feeling this is)

On with the fic!

--

Alright, this was bad, this was really, really bad. And he didn't have anyone to blame but himself, he thought he could last a bit longer, but...

No, he was nearly on empty, Hardy needed fresh blood, or he was going to keel over. And that would probably make this whole situation worse.

Hardy always hated when he pushed his luck this bad, he actually felt terrible pains in his chest and stomach, his body starving for blood at this point. And he could smell it, fresh, pumping, under the warm skin of the man he had only started dating these past few weeks.

He stumbled past Lucian and into his kitchen, going to see if he had anything, anything at all that was blood!

Throwing open the door of the fridge, there wasn't much. Yes, there was food for his daughter, but nothing much else that would really work for him in this state. "Fuck..." He hissed, his head spinning terribly.

His vision blurred for a moment as he reached into the fridge, shoving things aside. Did he really not have an emergency bag of blood in here? He always had something! There had to be something, anything!

He dropped to his knees, feeling sick for a second. He heard Lucian ask his name as he entered the kitchen, but Hardy just snarled. "Go away!" He shouted, tossing something from the fridge. He thought it might be a thing of butter, but he couldn't really tell.

With a groan, the detective fell over, knocking his shoulder against a cabinet, moving to sit on the ground. Oh, he was really running on empty now, wasn't he? Fucking fumes at this point.

Hardy fumbled with pulling out a small bottle from his pocket, filled with dried blood-infused capsules. They weren't much, just for when a dizzy spell would hit, but it was something, right?

"Alec, what the hell is going on?" Lucian asked, suddenly in front of Hardy, when did he get there?

"Hhh... uh, not doing so great, Lucian..." He couldn't get the damn bottle open and ended up dropping it. Lucian picked it up for him, opening it, before sniffing.

"Blood?"

"I need it. Gimme the pills." He motioned, reaching for the bottle, but Lucian took it away.

"This isn't enough for you, is it? A few pills isn't going to make you feel better."

Hardy slowly blinked, trying to focus on him. "What? How do you-?"

"Alec." Lucian frowned, lifting his face up to have them look at one another. "Do you need fresh blood?"

This sent off warning bells in Hardy's head, but he was so fucking thirsty right now, he'd worry about it later. "Yessss..." He could smell it, Lucian's blood, hot and alive, under his skin. Fuck, he was too close, Hardy felt his fangs growing.

Lucian held out his arm, using his free hand to cup the back of the vampire's head, gently pushing it forward. "Drink."

He didn't have to be told twice. Hardy bit down, hard, and he started to drink. It tasted funny, but it was blood, fresh, hot blood from a living person! Not dried flakes in pills or cold bags he had to microwave. Or sometimes the occasional animal if he got the chance.

No, this was blood from someone very much alive, and it was divine.

But even as he drank, the dizziness and the growing darkness around the edge of his vision didn't go away and he pulled away with a gasp, dropping to the floor.

Hardy tasted blood in his mouth as he started to black out, and he swore he could feel his heart beating again, a little too fast for his liking.

--

His head was pounding when he woke up, and Hardy groaned, trying to cover his face. He felt drained, exhausted, but surprisingly very much replenished and no longer in his normal state of dealing with hunger pains.

Shit, he ate, didn't he?

"I see you're awake." He heard Lucian's voice, and Hardy opened his eyes, seeing Lucian walking into the living room, a mug of something in his hand. Hardy sniffed, he smelled blood, microwaved, but it was still something.

"Where did you...?" He started to ask as it was given to him, then he remembered what happened before he blacked out. "Shit, Lucian, I-"

But the man held up a hand. "It's fine, no need to apologize. I gave you my blood willingly." Lucian said as he sat down on the couch. "And I got the blood from the hospital, people there are so easy to bribe."

"They really are..." Hardy mumbled, looking at Lucian's arm. He was surprised to see not a trace of a bite on there, how was that possible? "I'm sure you want answers."

"No."

This surprised Hardy. "No? What do you mean no? Lucian, I drank your blood!"

"I know. And I know you're a vampire."

Well, shit.

Hardy sipped from the mug, bleh, not good enough, not after getting to drink from Lucian. "It was obvious from that, wasn't it?"

Lucian shook his head. "I smelled it on you, vampires have a specific scent to them, no matter the kind. And you smell of it too."

"Smell? How can you smell it? No one else seems to."

The other man tapped the side of his nose. "Special nose, humans don't have it like I do."

Hardy frowned, and realized something. "Oh God, you're not human, are you?"

Lucian smiled, shaking his head. "No, not human, never have been. I'm a lycan."

Lycan? As in a werewolf? "Fuck me..." He said under his breath. "Explains why you're taking this so well."

"Yeah, you get used to it, not much surprises me nowadays. Well, aside from you. A vampire who became a detective, and who doesn't take care of himself at all."

Hardy glowered at him, drinking more of the blood. "I don't like drinking this stuff. It's not... it's not great. Everything else I can deal with, but the blood bothers me."

"I'm sure it does." Lucian nodded, moving a bit closer, until he was pressed close to Hardy. "You're not upset about drinking from me, are you?"

The vampire shifted. "A little, I don't like drinking from living beings, only when I have no choice. And I was stupid and forgot to restock my blood in the fridge, so I had no choice in the matter. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I said you didn't have to apologize. Besides, I healed up just fine, no harm done, Alec. I'm perfectly alright." Lucian smiled at him, and Hardy's now-beating heart fluttered at it. He decided to ignore it with more blood drinking, especially cause it meant he didn't have to talk for a moment.

[dangerouscommiesubversive]

all my tubes and wires and careful notes

Fandom: Kamen Rider Ghost

Characters: Tsukimura Akari, Alia

Song: "She Blinded Me With Science," Thomas Dolby (playlist here)

Note: Thank you to @si-siw for letting me borrow your headcanon and infecting me with this ship! I hope you enjoy the story!

The skies of the Ganma World may be clear, but the ground remains in a state, and so Akari and Igor have been working non-stop for nearly five hours when they hear a quiet, polite cough and look up to see Alia standing in the laboratory doorway. When she has their attention, she says, softly, “Are you on the verge of any particular scientific breakthroughs?”

Igor seems poised to launch into an extended explanation of what they’ve been working on, but Akari cuts him off with, “Not really. Decent progress, but nothing big yet.”

“I see. Thank you.” Then, directly to Igor, “In that case, I will need to borrow Miss Akari for a short period. You should use this time to have a meal, you’ve been working for some time.”

Blinking, Akari makes sure all of her notes are in order and then follows Alia out of the room and down the hall. “What did you need me for?”

She can see the curl of Alia’s tiny smile just from the way it changes her profile, before her mouth has even really moved. “I wanted company for lunch. And,” slightly more quietly, “I thought you might like some time out of Igor’s company.”

“I—yeah, I really do, thank you. He’s not a bad research partner, he’s just…” Akari gestures vaguely as she hunts for the right words and then settles on the diplomatic, “high energy. Plus at some point I’m going to have to explain the whole ‘I’m a lesbian’ thing and I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Is he very persistent?”

“No, you know, he really isn’t, but it’s still a conversation that we’ll need to have.” They turn a corner, go through a doorway, and are unexpectedly in a small sitting room, mostly plainly decorated, although one wall holds a painting that Akari blinks at. “Wait, did Cubi paint that?”

The tiny curl of a smile comes back. “He did. It makes the room brighter. Please, sit.”

Lunch is already served, the small table set with tea and sandwiches, and when Akari sees them her stomach growls, and she blushes. “Excuse me, I guess I am hungry.”

“Then sit down, please, and eat.”

Something seems odd as they sit down to eat, but Akari’s so hungry that she doesn’t bother working out what it is at first, in favor of wolfing down sandwiches as she gives Alia a progress report on the soil research. It’s nothing to do with the food, at least. Not the tea either, although the blend is unfamiliar. Certainly it isn’t Alia’s manner, she’s listening and asking thoughtful questions as always.

It’s—

“I love your manicure,” she’s saying, “sometimes I wish I could do fun stuff with my nails, but I do so much with my—I’m sorry.” She lowers her cup, blinking. “I just realized I don’t think I’ve ever seen your hands before.”

Alia looks down at her own hands, wrapped primly around her teacup. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t have.”

“I, if this is rude to ask then stop me, but do you hide them on ohh.” Akari trails off mid-sentence as a pattern of vividly pink circuitry pulses from Alia’s wrists to her manicured fingertips. “Oh, that’s beautiful.”

There’s a moment of silence as Alia stares at her in faint but obvious surprise. “Do you think so?” She lifts one hand from her cup and turns it in the air, as if she’s seeing it for the first time herself. “They’re prosthetic. My real hands were badly injured in one of the early trials of Eyecon technology. These are lifelike, but as you can see, they aren’t a perfect counterfeit.” The circuit pattern pulses down them again as she holds her hand out to Akari, a stylized eye appearing for a moment in the center of her palm. “My father preferred to address the issue as he addressed many others in his later life, by ignoring it, and so I became accustomed to keeping my hands concealed. In my Eyecon form they were whole, of course, but old habits are hard to break.”

Akari stares at Alia’s extended hand in shock and fascination. “I…wow, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject.”

“It’s all right. It was more than a hundred years ago at this point.”

“Oh, yeah, I suppose it…wait, if your hands are prosthetic then how did you manage the manicure? Are they acrylic?”

“They’re magnetic.” Suddenly smiling, Alia sets down her teacup and removes one of her pointed, painted thumbnails, revealing dull metal beneath, and then puts it back on. “Alain had several sets made for me as a gift shortly after we all returned to inhabiting our original flesh.”

“That was thoughtful of him.”

“He’s always been a thoughtful boy.”

Akari takes a sip of tea, amused by the reminder that of course Alain’s sister still thinks of him as a boy, and the meal continues in companionable silence for a few minutes until she realizes something else. “You were involved in the original Eyecon trials?”

Another one of those tiny curls of smile. “Of course. I was Edith’s research assistant for many years.”

“You were? Why didn’t he ever—of course he never mentioned, why would he give someone else credit. What parts of the project did you work on?”

“Oh, most of them, I’m primarily an engineer but I’ve dabbled in a number of scientific disciplines. And I do some design as well. Would you like to see my workshop?”

“I would love to.”

---

The first thing Akari sees are the notebooks. The heavy bookcase in Alia’s lab does hold some academic texts, but more than half of it is packed with enormous ledgers bound in dark leather, so many that she’s shocked the shelves don’t groan under their weight. Two more lie open on an enormous rolltop desk, their unlined pages filled with with notes and sketches in a tiny, precise hand. On the walls hang several large, heavy parchment sheets, on which are hand-drawn diagrams of machinery, hibernation capsules, an exploded Eyecon, and—

“Is that…Alain’s suit?”

“Yes.” Alia reaches up and trails a fond hand down the edge of the diagram, which is labeled Necrom—for Adel? Alain. “I designed it.”

“Oh.”

“And here is Makoto’s.” The next diagram, Makoto’s name written at the top in ink much less faded than the rest. “And the next one is an early draft of what eventually became Takeru’s, although Edith did some further work with it that he didn’t inform me about. He designed and built the transformation devices, but the suits are my work.”

“Oh, I…” Akari stares up at the diagrammed suits, the close-up sketches of tiny components, more of Alia’s perfect handwriting in notes that she can only partially read. Some are in Japanese, but others are in Latin, and more are in a language that she doesn’t recognize. There are more diagrams, too, rolled up in a wooden bin, each one neatly labeled. Specter 1.0, Necrom (Alternates), Wraith, Manes and Lemures, Eyecon (Prototype), Hands. And the tables—once she can tear her eyes away from the wall she sees that there’s a blank Eyecon disassembled on one table, and on another is an Ulorder with a panel open lying on top of yet another diagram, this one in different handwriting and weighed down at the corners with books. “This is the most beautiful room I’ve ever been in.”

“I am very glad that you think so.”

“I, I just.” A bit of futile gesturing as Akari struggles for words, and then, “Look, can I. Can I buy you dinner?”

Alia…blinks. “Pardon me?”

“I would, um, love to take you to dinner sometime, so we can. Talk. More. Because I really like talking to you. And, and maybe a concert or a movie or something, or there’s a History of Engineering exhibit at a museum near the temple, I know you haven’t gotten to visit the human world much and I could…show you around.”

There’s a long moment where Alia’s just staring at her and Akari considers the very serious possibility that she just messed up big time.

“I,” she starts again, “that is, if you want—”

“I would enjoy that.” Alia takes one of Akari’s hands in both of hers. Akari can feel how cool they are, the odd smoothness of the skin as pink circuits pulse down them, and normally she’d want to know more about that but right now there’s so much other stuff happening even if really it’s only one other thing. “A concert, if you know of one coming up, I think I get enough of engineering in the normal course of my day that maybe the museum might be better saved for a second visit.”

Akari’s ears are ringing. “There’s, um, a performance from a popular violinist coming up next Thursday night? Takeru gave me two tickets, he knows the performer…somehow…”

The curl of smile, small and warm and directly entirely at her. “I enjoy violin music. And we can discuss our work over dinner.”

If she nods any harder she’s going to get dizzy. “That. That sounds wonderful. I’ll, uh, I’ll pick you up at five!”

[avengerscompound]

Running to a Standstill -4

Running to a Standstill: A Captain America Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers x F!Reader

Word Count:  1827

Rating:  E

Square filled: @star-spangled-bingo​ - "Am I renting a bed and breakfast for a bikergang?"

Warnings: none

Synopsis: While on the run from an unknown organization trying to take your son, you meet two super-soldiers.  While they try to help you get to the bottom of who is hunting you and your son, feelings come out and admissions are made that make your personal life even more tricky.

Chapter 4

“Well, well, well, what have you boys been up to?”

Tony’s voice pulled Bucky out of his sleep.  He’d been wrapped around you and Steve’s hand was on his hip, and for a moment he thought someone had drugged him.  Tony kept clattering around the common room followed by a rather exasperated looking Pepper.  Bucky sat up and tried to go over exactly what had happened last night because, for all intents and purposes, he should absolutely not have slept as well as he had.

He’d gone out to ask the guy who had been standing in the alley what he was doing.  The dude had shot at him and the van parked across the road had taken off.  Natasha had come vaulting down the fire escape chasing after the dude with the gun and Bucky had chased down the van.  It had taken him a while but he’d eventually caught up with him.  When the guy wouldn’t talk, Bucky had called Fury for a collection and then dragged himself back to the tower where he was surprised to find you, Steve, and Geo were all camped out in the common room rather than in Steve’s apartment.  He’d really assumed that you’d just shack up with Steve.  The two of you had been dating after all.

He’d been aching when he got back and he’d sat down on the fold-out couch beside you because Geo had stuff spread out all over the other one.  Besides he hadn’t intended to stay.  He was just going to eat, hang out for a bit, and go to bed.  When you’d fallen asleep Steve had admitted he’d set up in the common room because the two of you hadn’t even kissed yet and he wanted to make sure you felt safe.  Bucky had remembered feeling an odd sense of relief hearing that and he wasn’t sure why.  Then he’d finished eating and gone to leave and you’d asked him to stay.

He had gone to sleep expecting to sleep badly.  He’d always slept badly.  He’d been doing a lot of work with therapists and while it had been helping, the nightmares still came.  Not every night, but too often.  He’d assumed that if he ever shared a bed with anyone that the fear that he hurt them in his sleep would keep him awake.  Instead, he’d slept right through.  There had been nothing that would explain that except that he’d been relaxed.

“You could have at least cleaned up after your orgy,” Tony said, picking up the empty food containers strewn over the coffee table.  “Am I renting a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?”

Steve sat up and sighed in that very special way he reserved for Tony, and you sat up beside him pulling the covers up and looking extremely embarrassed.

“Tony, can we dial back the o-r-g-y talk in front of the small child?”  Pepper asked.

Tony spun around and saw Geo sitting up, yawning and rubbing his eyes.  “Small person,” Tony said, sounding shocked.  “When did you get here?”

“Tony, that’s Geo.  We told you about him,” Steve said, stretching and getting up.

Tony looked from Steve, to you, to Geo.  “Oh wow, “ he said crouching down. “Hey, buddy.  You like to talk to computers, huh?”

Bucky hadn’t seen a baseline human move as quickly as you did at that moment.  You scrambled up and dashed over to the couch, picking Geo up.  Geo struggled in your arms but then seemed to just flop all his weight in your arms, obviously used to your protective panic.

Steve moved to your side and put his hand in the middle of your back.  “Why don’t you go up to my floor.  FRIDAY will let you in.  You can have a shower or a bath.  Make some breakfast.  I’ll come up and check on you in a little while.”

“I don’t… what if…?”  You said, quietly.

“No one can get in or out without us knowing about it. This building is the most secure place you can find,” he assured you.  “FRIDAY is everywhere.  She knows who is here and she controls the locks.”

You looked at him uncertainly and gave a small nod.  You grabbed your go bag as you passed Tony and went straight to the elevator.  When the elevator closed Tony went right back to tidying up.  “She’s a mite jumpy, isn’t she?”  He said.

“There were people watching her last night.  When Bucky went to approach them, they shot at him and took off,” Steve explained as he began folding up the blankets and putting them away.  “I don’t blame her for being wary.  Even of us.”

“Did you catch them?”  Tony asked.

“Yeah, Fury has them.  Figured he was the best legal way to hold them,” Bucky said.  “He said he’d question them.”

“The boy can really communicate with electronics?”  Tony asked.

“Why don’t you ask FRIDAY?”  Bucky asked. 

“Oh good idea, tin man,” Tony said.  “FRIDAY, dear.  Has the boy been speaking with you?”

“Yes, Tony,” the AI replied.  “It comes through almost like binary.  But that doesn’t quite describe it properly.”

“Damn,” Tony said and dumped the containers into the trash chute.  “I would love to run some tests.”

“There is no way she’s gonna let you or anyone else run tests on that boy,” Steve said.  “Besides what he can do is irrelevant.  The only thing we need to know is who is after them and how we can keep them safe.”

“Right you are,” Tony said and went into the kitchen, getting out the french press and turning on the kettle.  “So what was going on with you three?  You all -” he made an obscene hand gesture with his index fingers and thumb.

Tony rolled his eyes.  “You got me, Tony,” he deadpanned.  “That’s exactly what we were doing.”

Pepper started laughing and got out the coffee cups.  “They aren’t you, Tony,” she said.

The elevator doors opened again and Hill came striding out with a handful of folders and a clipboard.  She was already dressed and completely together and Bucky vaguely wondered if she ever actually slept.  “There you are,” she said, beelining straight to Steve.  “We have bad news.”

“They’re not talking?”  Steve asked.

“You could say that,” Hill answered, gesturing for Steve to take a seat.  They both sat down on the now-folded up couch and she put the files on the table in front of him.  “They’re dead.”

“What the hell?”  Bucky said, moving to sit next to Steve and looking over his shoulder.

“Cyanide capsules.  We left them alone to think and confer with each other about what they’d said and when we got back they were both dead,” Hill explained.

“No.  I checked them.  I always check them for that,” Bucky said.

“So do we,” Hill said and Tony came over and took a seat on the recliner.  Pepper kissed his cheek. “I’ll go to the office.  This seems like official Avengers stuff.” 

“Shall we have lunch?” Tony asked.

“Sure,” Pepper said.  “I’ll call you when I’m taking it.”

She headed to the elevator and everyone turned back to the files on the table.  “You sure no one on your end gave them to them?”  Steve asked.

“Positive.  I reviewed the tapes.  It was in their teeth.  I’m assuming it’s something new,” she explained and opened up one of the files, with a series of photos showing the men knocking their teeth free.

“They didn’t give you anything first?”  Steve asked.

“Not a lot,” Hill said.   “Both stuck with stories that they weren’t doing anything.  Eventually, the guy in the van changed it to being hired by someone, but wouldn’t give a name.  And given the suicide, I’m going to assume that was a lie.”

“If it was cyanide that means HYDRA right?”  Bucky said.  “HYDRA do that.”

“It’s definitely a HYDRA thing, but they aren’t the only ones,” Hill agreed.

“But, Steve, didn’t you say she said there were things like super strength and telepathy.  That sounds like what they were doing with Wanda and her brother,” Bucky argued.  “And well, the whole super-soldier program.”

“We’re not ruling out HYDRA.  This is newer than Wanda and Pietro,” Hill explained and opened another folder.  “I didn’t have a lot to go off.  You won’t let me question her and I didn’t have dates, the name of the college, nor do I even know what her name actually is.  But I’ve been looking into things based on how old the kid is.  I did find an experiment that ran at Stanford.  It was based on some work by a couple of professors from the University of Manchester named Albert and Lousie Thompson back in the seventies and sponsored by a company called IGH.  That stands for Industrial Garments and Handling which is obviously a red flag already.  The files were all erased and no one is talking but from what I gather it was a program for ‘unlocking the potential people already hold’ for short periods.  Which sounds like a combat enhancement to me.  If you could let me question her...”

Steve shook his head.  “She’ll shut down.  Let me talk to her.  I’ll at least get you dates and names.”

Hill nodded.  “I’ll check the file Natasha released from HYDRA and what we have on the experiments on the twins.  That all goes back further than this but perhaps there are links.”

“Thank you, Hill,” Steve said. “Tell Fury thanks for the assist too.  We’ll have to be more thorough about checking for suicide pills from now on.”

Hill stood.  “I’ll get on it.  Let me know what you find out.”

She strode back out of the room and Tony leaned back in his chair and cracked his knuckles.  “Legolas sure does have a way of dropping everyone into the middle of shit doesn’t he?”

Bucky couldn’t help but laugh while Steve shook his head.  “She needs help.  So we’ll help her.”

“From what I saw that’s not the only thing she needs,” Tony teased.  “Gonna give her that too?  That’s some outstanding service you offer, Cap.”

“Get your head out of the gutter would you?”  Steve said getting up.  “I’m gonna go up and talk to her.  I’ll let you know if we need any help.”

“Sure,” Tony said.  “You know where I am.  I might see if FRIDAY can figure out what it is about the kid that lets him talk to her like that.  Don’t get your hopes up though, it’s not her standard functions.”

Steve started heading to the elevator when he stopped and looked back at Bucky.  “You coming?”

“Oh,” Bucky said, slightly startled.  He had thought that Steve was going to talk to her in private.  The fact Steve had just assumed Bucky would be part of the gentle questioning was both a shock and slightly flattering.  “You sure?”

“Yes,” Steve said, matter-of-factly.  “Who else is gonna make pancakes?”

// NEXT